A Busy Life...

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:13

Welcome. What it's like. Welcome back. What it's like. What it's like with Bull and J Rock, man. Hope we can keep entertaining but also informative. Very true. I want to make sure that we're doing that and I keep on tuning in. We've got to do exciting things. We've got to do start doing raffles. We've got to start doing call-in surprises, interviews. We're going to start doing little things and giving away swag gear and giving away certain items and things that we want to do for those that are tuning in, listening, and enjoying what we have to say that's on our mind in our brain housing group.

SPEAKER_01 0:47

Oh, yeah, for sure. Once I'm done dealing with the VA, I'll get on that one.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

We were we were we were discussing earlier about the Iran and US deal and things with Israel. And they're right and they're right to feel what they feel too. But where there is a thin line and where there's a gray line, I don't I don't know where things are at in between. But what I do know is individuals are very smart. They want to put away wealth for their family and their generations. And then I had to start thinking, am I being a hater by saying, I don't like you doing that, man? So why you gotta bomb everybody? But that's their choice, that's between them and the Lord, and I know that they will be judged for their ways because if innocent people die as a result, then that's dirty money. I don't want it. But what I'm saying is there's nothing wrong with putting away wealth. Even the Bible states that it encourages that. Put money away for your children's children. You know, so that's that's uh that I pray I do that. I have that. I want that. But that that's you know, that's uh important, man. Uh I feel that, you know. But I still, you know, this deal and people dying still. Changes that need to be made that are not being made. You know, people that need to be people need to stand up for other people and they're not being stood up for, and and they're being persecuted and killed. The safety of people, man, that's that's another thing, man. It's really sad, you know, if you think about it. Because in my life, like I've been homeless before. I've lived in shelters before. In fact, I lived in a shelter when my wife was pregnant, and I had my seven, six-year-old, seven-year-old daughter with us, and thank God, because I was a veteran, they had a veteran area for me in an apartment room. And uh, but God had me there for like a split moment. But I was there, you know, like it did different I did different things. I understand to have and have not, yeah, and to want. You know? There's nothing wrong with that, man. I just the the way of getting it though, the way that people have been getting it and the way that they achieve it, the way that they feel they need to I don't know if it's necessary all the time, man. You know, especially people are dying. You heard me right, not necessary all the time. Like I understand there's a time for everything, there's a moment for everything, but if some things can be avoided, and then if you can put your resources and funds and things that you say you're going to do that are going to better other people, like for instance, if I'm gonna go and let's say I want to go and and overcome this bully, and like the way this bully is treating their people and their family, man. But I'm gonna, you know what, it's time for you to get put in your place. You get put in his place. What contingencies do I have now to that are set in place for him to not come and want to retaliate? Or did I did I just dispose it all and say, hey man, now this is how it's gonna be, because now I'm I'm the big man on the block and I'm running stuff, so you can't be doing this no more, and everybody gets in line? Or do I just I just you know handle my business real quick, beat him up and show him, hey man, I'm boss, don't even get out of line. Yes, sir. I go away for a little bit, then he's it back at it again, doing what he's doing to his people.

SPEAKER_01 4:11

Well, I mean, that's that's part of the reason why when uh how does the saying go? You know, uh you don't live long enough to be the villain or whatever, or the hero, you but you become the villain. And it's because that okay, so in the beginning, you were the person that was getting bullied, and that's okay, you know, but when it comes down to it, let's just say that you know, you turn around and you decide to go all, you know, learn jujitsu and all this other stuff and whatever and flip the tables. Okay, well then what is it? Maybe a couple days, and then basically you're the bully. So you've done nothing but replace them, you know. So to actually fix the situation is a lot more than just, you know, how you deal with the bully. It's because it's well, how do you deal with it? And then how do you make sure that when you walk away, somebody doesn't step right back into that situation?

SPEAKER_00 5:12

That's correct, and that's not what's happening.

SPEAKER_01 5:15

Well, that was that was the problem that always happens whenever they whenever we would get involved in like regime changes and that type of crap. Let's think about our country though. And then what happens? The strongest overtake, and then we end up with who knows what, you know.

SPEAKER_00 5:37

Well, let's think about this. I see how history is repeating, I see what's going on in other countries. So imagine all that happens here in America where everybody is lawless, and they they're making their own decisions because no one's coming to help them. Okay. That that is doesn't get it murdering people doesn't give anybody the right to take a life. To take a life to protect, preserve, to uh make sure that nothing comes to destroy you or those that you love is one thing. When it comes to just blatant, hey, listen, I don't like the way you wear that and that color, and I don't like how what you're talking right now, what you're saying. I'm not even thinking that you're a human being, that you bleed like I do. You're just, I don't like you. So guess what? Hey, hey Tom. Hey, what's up, Billy? Let's go hang them. All right, cool, that's get them. Hey, you're not doing what we like you to do, buddy. You know, that's not okay. That's selfish. Everybody has a right to like say what they want to say in life, man. Thank God for America, you know? But I when I see what other countries we're supposed to be like um the good uncle, so to speak, right? We're the uncle. Think about it. Think about it. If we're we're we're the uncle, if we're helping other countries, right? And then we're like, we're the uncle, and like, hey, listen, I'm tired of you picking on uh Uncle Sam over here, all right? I'm tired of you picking on Sammy. He's good. And you know what? We're done. You know, here comes Uncle gonna step in now, and he's gonna help. All right, mitigate. Cool. That's not happening, bro. And and when I'm seeing news and things that the media is not pushing out, it's kind of upsetting and it's very frustrating because it's sad because it should not be happening in other countries. Christian people should not be dying. All you gotta do is send a few drones and just decimate ISIS, bro, and you'll be good. 100% Africa.

SPEAKER_01 7:29

Yeah, but then you gotta think about all the the kickback from actually doing something that they have to deal with. So it's like okay, they do they well, okay. So let's say they do that. They do one, two, three. Now by the third one, now the Congress and media and what are all over it, so then they can't do it no more. But then they lost the ability to do it. No, no, no. You know, they're doing it with the drugs. Well, they're doing it with what's they're getting allowed to. Oh you know, that's what I'm saying. When it comes down to, I fully agree. I I th I believe that they could wipe out those groups to be able to, you know, keep one button, it would be very easy. But when it comes down to the actual who's gonna, you know, yeah, who's gonna set the target area or whatever, who makes that choice?

SPEAKER_00 8:16

Yeah, they're like this, dude. They're basically like this. Listen, we're tired of them winning the Olympics. Okay, they cannot be here. We cannot allow them anymore. We must destroy them because they're taking over our music, our women, and the Olympics. And they look good in jewelry, their skin tone with their jewelry. It looks better than us, Tom. We have to do something about this, dude.

SPEAKER_01 8:45

I think it's funny. I've seen so many things on the internet and everything of um people from other countries that had never been to America come here and they're like, You guys eat what? Out of how what? And they think we're like the people that are nuts, and it's like, wait, and where are you from? And this person's from like Ireland or something. It's like, wait, isn't that where Haggis comes from? It's like, whoa, whoa, wait. So how did when did you when did you look at our food and all of a sudden go, what are you eating?

SPEAKER_00 9:17

And mind you, not all the food here in America is like that. Like, we got some good restaurants. Shout out to the mom and pop restaurants and family businesses.

SPEAKER_01 9:24

Oh, yeah. There was there's one guy. I I don't even think they said where he was from or whatever. Man, he he he went into talking about barbecue ribs. Like he was all about barbecue ribs.

SPEAKER_00 9:37

Like, one place called Still Smoking is my favorite. Hey, if you're all listening, tune in one day, still smoking, I'll spawn to you. Another one is Arizona grass-fed beef. Like their beef is phenomenal and it's grass-fed, farmed from their resource and place and shipped. So natural, good. I I don't like buying meats anywhere else anymore because I don't know what they're putting in them. I like trusted sources, and I want to make sure my children are being raised healthy in a good environment in life, you know. Uh that means a lot to me.

SPEAKER_01 10:08

So, isn't it so interesting how one of the things that people never really had a metric for on anything is something that everybody is now very much gauging things by, and it's about whether or not they trust the brand.

SPEAKER_00 10:24

Yeah, I mean, I I always see why. Wait, you and I we have that experience though, because think about the time that we grew up and we've seen what lasts, what's been generations, right?

SPEAKER_01 10:34

People would complain about older brands for dumb reasons. Like what? Like what okay, for instance, do you remember when they complained about Aunt Jemima?

unknown 10:43

Oh, stupid.

SPEAKER_01 10:44

See, exactly. Okay, so that was really, really stupid. But when we we look at things, we look at something that comes out new, and it's like, okay, and it's like this is all whatever, and then you look at it and you're like, dude, I can't even pronounce a country that this is comes from. Yeah, no, I'm not doing this. It's like I'm going, I'm going with what we know what was from here in America that hasn't been exported through like 10 different countries.

SPEAKER_00 11:09

So it's what we you know, it's a it's those are in charge nowadays. We were very fortunate to get the type of individual that were in charge of decision making back then. They weren't exploiting too much, obviously, but we were you know, things were different, a little slower. It wasn't as fast-paced. We had to figure it out more. True. You know, now it's just all in your face, get whatever you want quickly, and that's not reality of life. So I don't like that. But if they want to get rid of something, well, how about the damn cartoons? Excuse my language. How about those darn cartoons of you know, what's it called? Warner Brothers back in the day, where they had, you know, let's just say, what uh Fud, right? Elmer Fudd. He's walking, you know, and then he tries to shoot the rabbit, right? And then the smoke goes in his face or explodes because the rabbit tied the barrel in a knot, blows up in his face. Yeah. And then all of a sudden his face is black face, completely black, big lips, and like picket ninety pick pigtails in his hair. That if that's not racist to you, bro, I you know, but that's still being played on America Channel. Let's watch it.

SPEAKER_01 12:24

Okay, but the thing is, is when it when it comes down to situations, which is what I always talk to people about, is when you're watching something, what is it that you're watching it for? Okay. Okay, so cartoons are cartoons, bro. No, no, no, no. Hey, these days, cartoons, and um, but I'm just saying, cartoons aren't just always cartoons, but when it comes down to it, you have to kind of almost look at it like for the purpose that you're you're gonna watch it. So, like if you're gonna watch it because you want a really good storyline or whatever, okay, chances are you're not watching Bugs Bunny, you know, your your your choice is a little bit different, you know. So the like how people not just perceive them, but it's the changes that they've made over time. So there's the perception that you have that you just talked about, okay, but then look at how they've changed some of these other cartoons, especially like the ones that they made, like live action and stuff like that, and how they've changed things in them to go, oh well, we're not gonna do that, we're gonna get around that, or we're gonna change this, or we're gonna whatever. And they got that change, but then they came out with the result that everyone's like, This is kind of stupid. Well, when it comes down to it, it's because that that the change that they made, yes, they got that, but it wasn't about making just the change, it was the storyline that they were working on, and so then they start to go, okay, and then you go through the story with a fine-tooth comb, and then that's how you come back with a reboot or whatever remake or whatever it's gonna be called. Maybe, maybe that is like totally different than the than whatever it came from. And it's like, dude, why didn't they just make a movie kind of like it and just give it a different title and it's a different movie? You know, why'd they have to make a own reboot?

SPEAKER_00 14:30

It's it's just listen, it's ridiculous. It is, it's a waste of time.

SPEAKER_01 14:38

No, okay, you know what's a really interesting waste of way okay, I shouldn't say a waste of time because I don't really know the process for for how it's gonna be, but when it comes down to it, I have to go through a volunteer process for the VA to do my podcast program. When it comes down to it, they want my ID, my fingerprints, like all this other stuff. They want to go through an interview and everything like that, and it's like Well, make sure you're not a terrorist. Well, no, I get that, but I'm gonna give them information that they already have. So it's like why am I doing it? Well, no, but it's rinse the teeth. No, no, no, no, no. But it's like it's like, okay, I'm gonna show up to this. It's like pretty much have what you already have, because I, you know, they um medically retired me at 20, you know, and then going through my rebuilding situations after um coma and all these other things.

SPEAKER_00 15:38

Crazy, man. I haven't done all of that. So you're gonna medically retire me, then that means you're gonna medically pay me more than what you're paying me now, right? Is that what you mean? Because that in itself, I don't understand that. That means that you can't work, but you're gonna medically retire me.

SPEAKER_01 15:57

Well, it means that me not without them helping you. Mean means like me not going out and getting a job. You're not allowed to. Yeah. What do you mean you're not allowed to? I can create my own business. But you can't go on W-2. But I can't like go work for like a Home Depot or something like that. Why? Because that was part of the agreement for my retirement. Forget all that. That's not even cool, man. Well, when it comes to the payment that they were gonna give me and everything like that.

SPEAKER_00 16:35

Did it give you any payment? My You not to say anything. It's okay, man. Wait, what? Did they give me any money?

SPEAKER_01 16:42

Give me what? You mean in like in the very beginning? Like a large sum? Here you go. Yep. No. When it comes down to it, when it comes to how they worked with the pay, they had to gauge in the fact that they were medically retiring me, and my mom um went through a JAG officer and had things to where it was identified where it's like this is gonna be the income that he's gonna be building over time. He can't survive on, you know, um, what is it? Minimum wage, you know, eight dollars an hour forever, because the contract will is forever. But in 20 years, even minimum wage isn't gonna be eight, you know what I mean? Do you get what I'm saying? So it has to grow in its own way, but it had to start at a more livable.

SPEAKER_00 17:34

You know, dang. Sorry, man. See, like some people's life have it, you know, a lot more. Well, being a veteran is not exactly easy. Everyone always thinks that it's, you know. No, it's not easy. It's not easy at all. That's why I tell my wife the same. If I'm going through an episode or going through a situation that I normally go through, which is like I don't try for it to be daily. Excuse me. But I go through episodes sometimes, and my wife, thank God for her. She's my caregiver, so she helps me through them. Imagine if I didn't even have her, or if I don't even I was by myself. Like I'm sitting here like my mind sometimes does not work the way that I think it should. And I struggle. And by the grace of God, I can get through things in life and accomplish things. Period. I I know that. There's certain things that I can turn on that I can do naturally, normally, and I've been gifted to do. And there's certain other things I'm just like I find no interest in. You know, and I'm just living, and and I thank God I have children and my wife, so I can live for something. You know? If God were to decide to take them home, well, I can't change that. I'd still be in the same predicament that I was, but even worse, right? And it would be one of those moments, right? Like it it it because I can still I still feel a certain way sometimes, even my wife is there and my kids are there. I love them, they're awesome. But I get it, I get a certain way, and I'm I get mad at myself about it. I'm like, dude, it'd be better, man. There's so many people that would love to have what I have with children, you know, I'm rich, bro, that way, right? Yeah, and um inner complaining, you know, that's a real thing, man. Even though the outward is not the n-word of complaining, the inward, you know, no, not the n-word, but the inward, right?

SPEAKER_02 19:46

Oh, that was great. The n word. The the n-word. No, not the n-word. The n-word. Your brother has a problem speaking sometimes. You gotta be eloquent. Oh no, it was just the way you said it. You were like, no, not the n-word, the n-word. It was like, wow.

SPEAKER_00 20:02

Somebody told me I'm like the whitest black dude, someone knows. But I'm like, good for you. Good for you. I'm glad I'm the whitest black guy, you know. But it is not about white. It's it's it's simple it's simply educated. I've gone to school, I've read books, I've trained, I've done things in life for decades. And I'm still learning. Just because I talk that way doesn't mean, you know. And maybe, yeah, I I grew up in in beach areas and I grew up city, you know, and Cali, so maybe different vibe, but for the most part, what am I supposed to sound like? And that's a stereotype. Am I supposed to talk like this?

SPEAKER_03 20:44

You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 20:47

Am I supposed to be like Bubba? Negative.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

Oh man. Life is good though, bro. No, I just I I just kind of had a little bit of a flashback of like the first time uh I was in the service, and I started uh hearing people from all these different locations from all over the country that had different accents and shit like that. And like within a row of one people, you'd get so many different and it'd be like, wow, it's like, dude, I okay, whatever. Strange. Well, to me, yeah. I'd never, you know, from Phoenix, we don't have southern people and the Bostoners, and you know, all we didn't have all those ones in there, but then you throw them all together, and it's like, wow, you you like you notice a lot, you know. But it's be I mean, it makes sense because we come from all over the country. We didn't just come from one place, so it makes sense that you're gonna have you know, someone from Chicago and someone from uh New York and someone from Florida and someone from Kansas and someone from Ohio, and you know, but you know.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

Know that's how it works. I remember when I was in boot camp online, you're bringing back memories to me, and there were you're absolutely right. There were people that were in the Ozarks, bro. Like I met that had never seen a black person in their life. And I've met some individuals, right? I met this one dude from Mississippi, Yazoo, Mississippi, won't forget it. Sydney. No, no, no. Johnson, Cruz Johnson. I remember, check this dude out, man. We were standing online, and every and online we're doing this. We just got done taking our shower. We have our web belt around our neck. You know, we're we're being inspected by the drill instructor at the day and the night. And he's coming through and he's looking, make sure. Just like you've seen the full middle jacket, our hands are out, he's looking. Blister, pop that blister, toe jam, cut your nails, you know, like whatever. So he's going through each one looking. And as he's doing this, man, and you need to be straight. No, you cannot break your bearing. You're sitting there at attention, you're doing what the dual search is asking you to do as you're walking by. And bro, the guy, he would be right across from us, and then all of a sudden, he would pull down his underwear and start playing with his thing in front of everybody. And this dude had like a third leg, bro. You know what I mean? What him dude straight from Africa? Excuse me you know, excuse the the raunchiness. I'm not being raunchy. I'm just being real at the moment, booking, my experience. And I was sitting here trying not to laugh. I'm just sitting there because he'd be like doing that, and then drill instructor would stop and look back, and he would real quick and like nothing happened. And then drill instructor go back again, he'd do it again. So finally, you know, the drill instructor saw that, you know, I he did it quick, and then I start he caught me laughing. So from that point on, I had like fire watch from lights out, meaning that everybody goes to sleep and I have to wait an hour to go to sleep, to revelry, which I have to be an hour up before everybody else in the morning. So I had two watches, meaning that my eight hours of sleep that they promised was really only six hours, and my six hours ended up being four hours. And the four hours ended up being that way for the military works like and I'm like to training day 57, that means we're in training day 13. That means 57, that means 44 more days. I have a firewatch where I have to go to bed after everybody before everybody.

SPEAKER_02 24:27

I'm like, it's very easy, it's never easy.

SPEAKER_01 24:31

Hey, dude, no, no, no. When when I was in it, one of the weird things was um I guess there was only two other guys in in training with us that were Hispanic, and everyone said I look Hispanic, even though I'm not. So they would just group me in with them. So it was fun funny because they would always be like, Oh, you can you and blah blah blah go together and dude, that'll be some of the boringest times ever. Like, I'd sit and I'd be fine or whatever, and they're sitting there talking in Spanish and shit. And we're I don't speak Spanish.

SPEAKER_00 25:05

So it's like you guys, you guys turn around and ask them to help you? Like, they say, What you mean, man?

SPEAKER_01 25:10

No, no, no. Like, if I if uh if I needed help with something, I would ask and they would help or whatever, but it's like they thought that putting the three of us together, like we would just all talk amongst ourselves and whatever, and it's like, actually, no, I don't speak Spanish, so you're putting me in a group of people and I can't talk to them like half the time.

SPEAKER_00 25:29

I had some cool, cool Hispanic brothers, man, some cool Latin brothers that I knew. One Gonzalez, I remember his name, Torres, the other. There were some cool guys. I remember one when I got, we just sat down in MCRD San Diego. The bus is gone. We're now they're teaching us training day because we make you stay up for three days. And then the training day comes and they're teaching us how to make a rack and do everything. Still haven't taken a shower, dead tired. This dude tries to jump up and be like, hey man, this is how it's gonna be. The drill surgeons aren't here right now, so this is how we're gonna run it. And I'm like, we're not running anything. We're not gonna definitely do what you say. And he was just like, I can't believe this dad is talking back to me. And I was like, that's how it's gonna be, you know. I just had this fire in me, bro, at the moment because I'm tired and I'm like, listen, I'm not, I'm not taking your stuff. Like, where are you from? I'm from Texas. I'm from California, homie. You know, like it was like this whole little back and forth little battle, and then finally, man, at the end of boot camp, brother, he and I became the best of friends. Every person I have conflict with in boot camp, brother, like conflict that started.

SPEAKER_01 26:39

We became like Did you ever notice those interesting that you always you always may not be become best friends with, but you always meet people that you would have never come across at any other given point in the time?

SPEAKER_00 26:52

Without a doubt. One guy that I remember being in a delayed entry program with, man, Scott was his name, brother. And I remember him, such a cool dude. And um, he was like a down white boy, you know, like from the hood, but he was like the white hood, you know what I mean? Like he was just like, you know, skater type, you know, but could hang out with brothers, went to school with a bunch of brothers and Mexicans, you know, like he was down, dude. He was so cool, man. His mom was the nicest person ever, invited me over, you know, give me the shirt off their back, bro. He and I would work out together, and we went and joined pretty much together under the late entry program, right? We got separated, he went to a different side of boot camp. Bro, years later, I saw him where I was stationed at, and he was part of the reconnaissance battalion. So that's what he always wanted to do. He told me that. He's like, I'm gonna be a recon marine. I was like, what? And then I saw him, he did, he became a reconnaissance marine. I was like, good job, dude. But then he told me a story where he's gonna get him kicked out of reconnaissance. Damn. And I was like, what? And I started, I kind of laughed, and I feel bad. He's like, oh man, that's messed up. And I was like, well, I wasn't trying to, you know, I should have been more mature about it. And Scott, if you're listening ever out there, man, hey man, my bad, I'm sorry. But bro, that that I didn't mean to break his heart that way, but he was already heartbroken because he was getting kicked out for you know conduct unbecoming. So I was like, no way. It's so like we enjoy veterans, bull, like you can agree with me. We all enjoy our uh service, and no matter what you're doing, whether my boy here is in tanks, whether if I'm in the infantry, whether reconnaissance, whether I'm making maps, I don't care what it is, brother. Like, when you're doing something meaningful and you're keeping those standards and you're doing what they're asking and telling you to do, that's that's very important. That's that's how we should be. But when you don't, like that is many, many problems that arise. And you get embarrassed. It's not like one of those, you know, I can just leave and quit and go get hired somewhere else. You're literally stuck. If you if you if your name is Mud, because you made a mistake and you're on base and everybody knows you, yeah. You know, and it is like there's no hiding, you know, and it's it's a scary thing to mess up. We don't want to mess up, and so we have to keep those standards. That's why there's like a stress of anxiety, because we gotta make sure I want to mess up, dude. You know, like just don't get caught. Yeah, don't mess up.

SPEAKER_01 29:24

Well, the thing is though, a lot of the a lot of the times the that and you know, that feeling you, you know, I don't want to mess up, I want to make sure I get it right or whatever, that that causes you to make sure you double check things, triple check, yeah, you know, all that. So I mean, is is it necessarily good to be to have that anxiety when something's gonna happen? Not really. I mean, anxiety isn't really uh isn't really ever a good thing, but in that situation, it's not really bad either because what it's doing is is it's prepping you for um being able to make sure that I don't want to say you're not that you're gonna fail your task because that's not really gonna be a determining factor, but it's gonna help you to make sure that you don't really forget things, you know, or things don't get overlooked because it was a small detail or whatever.

SPEAKER_00 30:20

Well it's teaching you the attention to detail aspect of life because that's why that separates us from the normal civilian. The normal civilian there's some high speed patriotic civilians out there though, too, right? True. And they've been raised correctly, you know. So what I'm saying is that but uh the majority? Okay. So what I mean is we have attention to detail. And we've been that's been ingrained into us from day one. And some of us had jobs where it's life-threatening, so you better have some attention to detail or are you gonna die? You know, and you better, you know, don't drop that and don't push that. You know, we're like, Yeah, bro. Like, you know, and so I'm saying you're like, yeah, it's very important. So when we take that skill set and we bring it to the forefront of our civilian sector life, you know, kind of it overshadows and comes on us. And a lot of people don't understand, but that's what I'm saying. I'm so grateful and thankful I have the wife that I have that she understands. This ticket under like 15 years though, mind you. But I'm saying, you know, we're still getting there. But yeah, man, we're very different. We're very different.

SPEAKER_01 31:34

Well, I mean okay, so for me, I didn't get to do things how I wanted, and so I feel indebted to veterans because hold up, hold up.

SPEAKER_00 31:51

Wait a minute. Don't even Okay Wait, so are you telling me you mean because you didn't get to go over there and blow people up? No, that's what you're saying? You're framing it differently.

SPEAKER_01 32:05

Did you not ride in a tank? Yes. Did you get to shoot a tank? Yes. Okay, okay, but listen, okay, so for me, no, no, no. For me, my view of it is because I wasn't able to help in the way that I was going to. In other words, I wasn't able to go there to replace somebody to allow them to come home, you know, because that's kind of how it works. Like you have to go there so they can, you mean, you know, your exchange system. But but for me, I look at it as I failed on that. I wasn't able to do what I was supposed to do, which was help. So now I'm trying to take those efforts and say, that's okay. So I failed at that. So you didn't fail at that first off. Well, just so then I look at it and say, well, let me uh work on it from this point. Because now I'm doing things to try and benefit all veterans.

SPEAKER_00 32:58

Amen. And I'm we're I'm appreciative, and I know others, I hope they are. And I know your person of your word. I know, you know, if that opportunity ever comes and I'm able to get to that place of work or work for the VA, that'd be great. I would love that. But, you know, what you're saying about yourself, you have a right to feel what you feel that's you. This is who you are. This is what you think, this is what you go through. Got it. Same token though, man. Be grateful that you just weren't another number. Because you could have replaced somebody and then been killed or drowned.

SPEAKER_01 33:29

No, I I I understand that too. My my mom would talk about that and stuff like that. And you know, it's one of those things where you know, it's I can kind of look at things and go, hey mom, I guess you know, you were actually right, you know, because she would always say, you know, no, you didn't go there because you're supposed to do something else. You have a different purpose. That's real. I mean, you know, and so maybe creating this avenue for veterans is that purpose, you know, but yeah, I'm just I'm going with what I can, and it's none of it spawned out of money or anything like that. It just came from wanting to be able to help and try an idea out.

SPEAKER_00 34:08

That's how it kind of came to be, brother, when we went and met at the the rec therapy. It really was like one of those, oh, have you thought about? Let's try it out. Cool, why not? And then we did, and then all of a sudden it was like, I like this, yeah. And it just kept on going and going, and that is a walk of faith.

SPEAKER_01 34:27

Well, but see, there were things that were unintended, you know. I mean, I'm not saying that mental health is something to be ignored, but when it comes down to it, we did not view this as something that was going to help your mental health or help correct the person that was talking, it would help their mental health by being able to basically pour their mind out and no longer have any of that stuff inside. Amen. Which is what a lot of people deal with, and that was I mean, as far as I can remember, I don't think that was even ever part of a discussion that we had. It was pretty much, hey, I want to do this and we can get this done, and we need, you know, ABC, and you know, we need to work on this and figure it out. That was something that came out of it later. Yep. But everybody that's spoken with us has all said, you know, oh, you know, I just felt great afterwards. You know? That's true. Well, I mean, it it it's really basic, but I mean, for some people they don't really have the ability or have an outlet per se, um, to really just, you know, lay things on the table and say, this is what I think and this is how I feel, and this is that. You know, me and you don't always agree, you know. We have, you know, on any of our staff situations and everything like that, there's a lot of times when things aren't agreed upon. Changes are discussed and you know, a middle ground is found. You know, it has to be when it comes down to it, and you know, um new donations or things like that are being created or whatever, it runs through everyone and everyone gets a say. And let me tell you, I can I think maybe there's been one time where I've actually something where something's actually been created, and that was the final go for the whole thing. And I think that was when the um podcast artwork was chosen for bread of life and what it's like. I think that's the only thing where there was never any, you know, oh change, pushback, or whatever. That was just an automatic.

SPEAKER_00 36:48

Yeah, man, that was a that but that was I I'm genius, bro. Like, I like the art of both bread of life and what it's like. The the pathway, what it's like, you know? Like every it was it's just you know, it's God sent man. It was awesome.

SPEAKER_01 37:05

Well, I mean, there's just the work that that was involved is just completely different. And then, like, you know, they want me to do this interview thing and everything like that, and I have to talk about the work that I've put into things. And when it comes down to like researching topics, you know, when um J Rock has to do research for his topics or for the other podcasts that uh he works with, you know, that research takes time. That's not research that you can go Google something and cool, you're done in 10 minutes. You know, you have to look at what you want, but then you have to change that to how you're gonna be able to use it. And then you whenever you do things, you know, you have to give credit to people if you're gonna, you know, copy something from them or whatever, you know, so it's not all just quick one, two, three, and done. It it takes time and um it's not you can't really go to school for it, it's uh an experience-based thing. Yeah, you know. But I can tell you right now, you know, um, with how many times he's had to work with people on doing things scripted and everything like that, he could probably do that crap dude with his eyes closed. He could probably be like half asleep and be like, yeah, sure, I'll help you cool. And be like half half out of it and still make it work. You know? Who you talking about? Well, I mean, there's there there's parts that are really, really awkward, like learning how to do it with your just your phone, which sounds kind of normal. I don't like it though. I don't like the way it sounds. But sounds basic and normal, but it's actually really cool to be able to kind of have like a um, I guess you would say like a traveling studio. Yeah, I guess. You know, you can just kind of put in your pocket and you just need one thing and you take this and whatever. And that is kind of cool. But again, that's one of those things, too, that you're gonna make a lot of screw-ups and probably waste a lot of money if you don't know what you're doing, as opposed to if you talk to somebody that already knows or has already used it, there you from that point right there. Not only are you gonna save money because you're not gonna need to buy things that you don't need or don't work, but you're also gonna spend your money wisely because you're gonna use the best products that will work for what you want.

SPEAKER_00 39:40

Yeah. True. I like it. I like man, the whole everything from the the display board, like microphones, everything that we have. I mean, it can only get better, of course, but it's been good. It's been, you know.

SPEAKER_01 39:56

Well, I mean, yeah, hopefully by you know, the end of this year, we can have video. Oh, that's cool. Not uh, hopefully we're we have our wireless mics. We may get more viewers if we get a video. Having wireless mics though is gonna be interesting because we have to we're gonna have to get J Rock here to remember to turn it off.

SPEAKER_00 40:18

Or settle down too. Moving around a lot, you know. Sometimes I do that. I don't know. That's how it is. Like my boy does that too. I can't get mad he does it. You know, like, man, stop moving around so much. And I'm like, damn, I do that. You know, like what being a bully, man. Dang. I love my boy, he's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 40:45

But we gotta move on to other things. So I would like to remind everyone about our blanket um donation that we have going on. That's going on until I believe mid-December.

SPEAKER_00 41:04

Yeah, you said December 15th, right?

SPEAKER_01 41:06

Yeah, the 15th or the 17th. I'm not exactly sure on the date. Um, and it's ten dollars or a blanket. You know, people ten dollars or a blanket. And you can contact us at uh bull and j rock at gmail.com and from there, you know, facilitate, you know, how we're gonna either pick up the blanket or whatever and manage that, you know. And we're just trying to grow that for manna house. We started that last year, and it's something just to help all these guys that, you know, deserve something that we all probably, you know, don't even think about, and that's just having having a nice, warm, you know, comfortable thing to sleep with.

SPEAKER_00 41:55

You know what would be even better to one day when we get lots of money, would be having a basket. Not only will we have we're gonna have blankets in the basket, we're gonna have, you know, some chocolates maybe, as long as we're not allergic, right? Chocolates. We're gonna have some body wash, you know, maybe some gift cards if they want to go to Walmart or, you know, get some food items at a uh put a shaving put a shaving kit, shaving kit. Oh, great idea. Look at that shaving kit, smell good, blanket, gift cards in a basket or not, doesn't matter, but given to them in the blanket, maybe. We can do like that. We can do whatever.

SPEAKER_01 42:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 42:35

And just here you go and get that fresh feel, fresh start. If they need new clothes, hey, you got a Walmart card, $100. Go get some socks and you know, whatever. And then have a little extra for yourself and relax and feel good about yourself that day. Right? That's so important. I'm I'm knowing that because I've been through that. And if I knew there's areas where people would donate more or I can donate, because I have and I will, please, I do, because it it benefits the veteran, it helps them, it helps them feel fresh, wanted, needed, it helps them with a new start, a new motivation, and they appreciate it so much because you're thinking of them and you know that they're not forgotten, and that what they've done in life is important about holding America, man, like the pillars of America. Only young men and women do that, and that's what they've done. That's what we do, and that's what we keep on passing the block and doing it. So please donate.

SPEAKER_01 43:32

When it comes to um, like I said, a blanket and stuff like that. I mean, you know, when you go to sleep at night, you know, I'm sure you got a blanket. You know, nice comfy one too. I got a few of them. Okay, that proves my point. You got a few of them, but a nice, you know, a nice, comfortable blanket. And you know, even aside from all the other stuff, getting a good night's rest is really paramount and really important to how you just start your day.

SPEAKER_00 44:06

Yes, you know, yes, it so is a good bed, good pillow, good blanket. Wake up, take a shower, good fragrant, you know, whatever. You know, you get up nice clothes to put on something new. You have a motivation of like, I want to. So now we've gone from a blanket to a house remodel and a redoing of your We're gonna do a lot, watch, because God, I believe He's going to anoint what it's like and bread of life, if we have good intentions and our heart is right, and we're here to like help and make a difference. And I believe that we're doing that.

SPEAKER_01 44:45

True. And for any of those out there that feel that they need, you know, um, just a little guidance and kind of maybe a little lost, you know. I mean, we've all been there, all of us vets, we've all had our our time where we've you know had to figure things out and everything. But if you're just a little lost, um try reaching out to the bread of life with JJ at gmail.com and through there you can talk directly to the minister, and it's private. So, you know makes it a little bit easier for some that don't have to, you know. Yeah, we work with him, we'll make sure that he's available. Well, I mean, you know, people don't always feel comfortable like like if you do out an email or whatever and it goes to a company and it has to go through people or you have to call certain people, you know, people aren't always comfortable with that, you know. If it can just be like one time and random, but you know, that's they're just looking for something to kind of guide them at the moment because they're lost. You know what I mean? Oh yeah. So I mean that it helps in a different way, you know. Because of course, you know, if you're having issues, you know, there's the suicide hotline and stuff like that for veterans and stuff like that. But if you're not in that type of situation, maybe you're just having, you know, life troubles and you know, maybe it's some family drama or something like that that you're just not sure where to take things, you know, it's just something to help give you a few gu uh signposts. And other than that, I think we'll let you go until next week because next week we'll be able to tell you about how the interview went, and then we'll have a better idea of what's going on with the podcast program at the VA. Nice. So until next week, everyone be good to each other.