Inside Our Minds
Your hosts, Ashama and Robbie, want the world to know that their disabilities don’t define them.
Inside Our Minds
EP14: The Robbie McIntosh Show
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In a special takeover episode, Robbie McIntosh steps into his dream role—hosting his very own radio show. With Aaron and Ashama along for the ride, Robbie leads the conversation and asks the questions, diving into the importance of finding a healthy balance with screen time in today’s world.
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Welcome to Inside Our Minds Podcast. I'm your moderator, Aaron Collier, and I'm joined weekly by two amazing co-hosts, Robbie McIntosh and Ashama Rucker. Robbie has autism and Ashama has Noonan syndrome, but that doesn't stop them from living life on their own terms. Every episode we take you into the minds of Robbie and Ashama as they share their perspectives and experiences as adults who don't let their disabilities define them. Keep listening to be inspired.
SPEAKER_05Good morning and happy Monday. I am Aaron Carrier with the two best hosts in the whole entire world. Robbie McIntosh. And we are back for a very fun episode 14. Yes. Yeah, and it's gonna be great. It's gonna be so great because we're giving it all to Robbie.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_05Macintosh, right? Yeah, it's gonna be the Robbie McIntosh show. Yes. And we are fired up. I know last week you could tell how much fun and excitement we had talking about that topic, right? And one of the best parts about our discussion last week was Robbie's intro to his new show. You know what I mean? Right. So I was like, you know what? Why not give Robbie his show this week? Let him plan, let him do whatever he wants. And we you came up with some really good stuff, man. Was it hard to plan for?
SPEAKER_00It it seemed hard in the beginning, but then when it came time for me to go to work yesterday, I said, like I said to myself, you know what? I'm just gonna plan this right before I leave because when I come back home from work later tonight, I'm gonna have no time to plan at all. Because you said to me yesterday it needs to be the questions need to be sent in by tonight tonight. And I thought to myself, I need to plan for this really quickly if I'm gonna moderate and do all that stuff tomorrow. And so thankfully I did. I used Google AI to help me in with some of it. And and long story short, you know, it gave me all sorts of ideas. And one of the ideas it gave me, I thought it would be very appropriate to discuss with not only our panel but our listeners today. So just like that, I came up with stuff and I planned another one.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, 100%. And we uh so when we usually dive into questions, like like after after our our theme song plays, right? And then we dive into questions, that's gonna be the Robbie McIntosh show, and it's gonna be so cool. So instead of me saying, Hey, let's get let's get into it, let's get into questions, you're gonna hear Robbie with an intro to his show. And this is a first-time thing for us, and we are super excited depending on how it goes, which we know it's gonna go great. Yep. We know it's gonna go great. We might do this a month, like every month or so. You know what I mean? So Robbie might even continue this in his own apartment because I'm giving him some podcasting equipment today, aren't I?
SPEAKER_00Yes, you sure are. Yes, you're saving me a whole bunch of money by having me to having me buy some myself.
SPEAKER_05I know, right? So, dude, I uh man, I'm I'm super, super, super excited before we get into it. Ashama, would you have a good week? What'd you do?
SPEAKER_01Yes, I went to the baseball game on Tuesday. Even though we lost, we had fun.
SPEAKER_05We did lose. We kept it competitive, though. It was a competitive game.
SPEAKER_01We had fun. Um, last Friday I cooked with uh Robbie and Saturday um Friday, my daughter spent the week the weekend with me. And Saturday we went to the movie to watch the Michael movie. Dude, it was so good.
SPEAKER_05Yes, it was so good.
SPEAKER_01It was excellent, and I really like I felt like I want to go go back to the movie theater and watch it again. I went home and started moonwalking.
SPEAKER_05Well, attempting to. Like, you know what I mean? I I literally went home and I started doing the moonwalk. My wife was like, What are you doing? I have no rhythm at all. Like none. I'm actually so like long story short. So Susan, right? You know Susan. Yeah. So she's in like a Monday or Tuesday, Tuesday, like workout class. And it's for like seniors. It's uh what's uh what's the silver sneakers? So it's a silver sneakers class, but and I usually just go in there and observe, like sit with Susan. She's been begging me to work out in this class. I'm like, okay, like and it's like dancing, line dancing, Macarena. So I'm like, all right, you know what? Whatever, let's do it. It's so fun, but I have no rhythm. Like, I mean, I look like an idiot in this class. I mean, you've seen me dance. Like, I mean, I it's it's crazy.
SPEAKER_01Like to me, I ain't been dancing since I was about eight or nine years old, and they called me people be calling me the best, the um best dancer. My mom, she called me that. When I was in day support, they called me that, and they gave me a certificate for it. You are definitely the best dancer.
SPEAKER_05I mean, a hundred percent. But um, maybe you need to teach me some news so I stop looking like an idiot in this class. So, but uh Robbie, I know you're excited, man. Are you ready to dive in and have it all? Yes, definitely. Well, then it sounds like it is time to welcome you inside our minds.
SPEAKER_00We're starting this week with a bit of a digital audit in an era where our work, social lives, and even our hobbies are behind a glass screen. How do we reclaim our focus? Well, today we are discussing digital wellness and screen boundaries. And I'm joined by my panel here to figure out how to live with tech without being lived by it. So, Aaron, I'll start with you. On a typical Sunday night, do you feel recharged by your devices or do you feel a sense of scrolling dread for the week ahead?
SPEAKER_05Uh, usually Sunday, I'm pretty busy. I mean, I'm I'm at the house, I'm trying to get things done, laundry, just kind of recoup, get ready for the week. I do scroll a little bit, but I I do try to get into a routine, like a healthy routine at night. I try to do no screen time before bed. So if I'm like, all right, I want to go to bed at 9.30 tonight, at 8:30, my screens are off and I'm reading my book. Gotten in a really good habit lately of reading a book before bed and it really helps. Like instead of scrolling on my phone and the blue light really strained in my eyes, I open my book up, I read. Then when I get too tired to really understand what's going on in the book or read, I close the book and I fall right to sleep. And it's really, really helped me. And especially on Sundays, right? Because then I get that I feel like the the night where you need to get the best sleep is a Sunday night because it's the night right before Monday, right before your week starts. So I think it's really important to get really good sleep on month or on Sunday night, and that starts with no phones an hour before bed.
SPEAKER_00Well, yeah, and you know, I I totally agree with that because you know, I'm kind of the same way. You you seem to be living, Aaron, a healthier sleep style life. Because obviously, when I have to get up early on a Sunday morning to go to church, I'm kind I'm kind of the same way. I I keep a schedule, you know, I I do all that sort of thing. But by the time I go to bed on Sunday night, then by the next day on Monday, I'm extremely tired. And Monday's is indeed the most tired day, not only for me, I think, but for all of us. But by the the time it goes by and the days go by, I'm not really that tired most days of the week, other than Monday or possibly Sunday. So very good answer there. 100%. Um, Ashama, what about you? On a typical how do you feel on a typical Sunday night, recharged? So on a typical Sunday night, do you feel recharged by your devices or do you feel a sense of scrolling dread for the week ahead? What about you?
SPEAKER_01Well, um I watch videos like on Facebook and on TikTok, and then if they boring, I cut it off. But when I go to bed, I have everything shut off. The only thing that I keep on is like the TV and Laura because my dog she gets up at night while I'm sleeping, um, twirling around in the cage. So she has to have that light. So knowing me, I go to bed. I'm in I'm in the bed.
SPEAKER_00So Yeah, that that's that's pretty good that's a good explanation there because basically, you know, when I was at my sleep doctor, and you know I struggle with this all the time, you know. Basically, um one of the things my sleep doctor told me is don't have any light an hour before your bedtime. So maybe I ought to follow what you're doing, read a book an hour before bedtime and do all that sort of stuff. So give me a couple of things.
SPEAKER_05There's so many books too out there. You could definitely find one that really interests you. Like I guarantee, if you type in something that really interests you, there's a book on it. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So, Aaron, how do you signal in your brain or in your mind that the work day is over?
SPEAKER_05Fantastic question, Robbie. Really, really good question. And I'm excited to answer that for you. With me, it's kind of it's easy for me to know when it's bedtime just because I live such a hectic schedule. You know what I mean? I I coach two baseball teams, I work a full full job schedule. So, I mean, I get up at 6 30 a.m. I go to work. I'm at work about 7, 7.15, work all day, then I go to the ball field all night. And then when by the time I get home, I'm so smoked and so tired. And the other thing, too, Robbie, is not just reading. I feel like that's a mental exercise. But I make sure to also go to the gym for at least 30 minutes every single day. That's a physical exercise. So by the time I'm done with all my duties of the day, I'm mentally tired and I'm physically tired. So it's a lot easier for my brain to shut off. By the time I get home, I'm so tired that it's actually pretty easy to go to bed, if that makes sense. So I feel like I don't really need a signal because the signal is already there when I'm done with my work day. Does that make sense?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. I I I think I think that's a uh a perfect sense. And maybe your mention about the gym reminds me, you know, I'm I'm kind of working towards the same thing. Maybe I ought to start doing the same thing to maintain a healthy life and make sure that I live longer and do all that stuff. Just make sure I live a healthy, long life here. 100%. Ashama, how do you signal in your brain or in your mind that the work day is over?
SPEAKER_01Well, I I I'm up at six. Um, well, sometimes I oversleep until about seven. Um so basically I get up, and the things that I do is make sure I get myself together, and then I take care of my dog. Um, make sure she does her walking, eating, and you know, going to the bathroom and stuff. And then it depends on what time I get up. I take a nap. And then I stay up till about like maybe eight or nine o'clock. And after that, I go straight to bed.
SPEAKER_00That sounds like a good schedule there. Great answer. Aaron, how much of your screen, how much of our screen time is actually productive versus just passive consumption that leaves us feeling behind or inadequate?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, no, I I like this question a lot. And I think I think using our phone as entertainment is a good thing. Like it really is. I mean, at the end of the day, it's it's there's so much you can do on the phone. And I just think you got to be cautious about how much time you're spending there, right? I um the phone is a great tool, but it can also be a not so great tool. And I I think I love how you worded this question. It's what what's the difference, right? Like what's a healthy amount and what's like an unhealthy amount. And I think that really kind of varies per person. But I mean, I would say as long as you're making sure you're getting everything done in your life that needs to get done, I think you can really use your phone as much as you please, right? Like as long as I'm putting 100% into the job that I work at, if I'm putting 100% into you guys, if I'm putting a hundred percent into the kids that I coach, if I'm putting a hundred percent into my mental health, if I'm putting a hundred percent into my physical health, then I can be on the phone as much as I want to, right? So as long as I'm getting done all my duties, I don't think there's really a set number of how much screen time is necessarily healthy as long as I'm putting it away early enough where I can go to sleep at a decent time because sleep is the best thing ever for the brain. Like waking up energized after a good night's sleep, like there's nothing better than that. I like that a lot. Good answer.
SPEAKER_00Ashama, what about you? How much of our screen time is actually productive versus just passive consumption that leaves us feeling behind or inadequate?
SPEAKER_01Well, basically, if I'm cleaning, I don't normally be on my phone. The only time I be on my phone, like if a staff calls or my sister calls, but anybody else, they would have to wait until after I get everything done and you know, and I don't be on my phone while I'm cleaning up because basically that's a distraction. So I be on my phone afterwards. If I got games on my phone, if I want to play a game, I play a game or I I put my phone down and watch TV, or you know, I just listen to music is like different ways. That's a good answer.
SPEAKER_00Okay, Aaron, last question. Um, beyond just eye strain, how has your f how has your physical environment changed to help you stay away from screens? Do you have any no phone zones in either in your house?
SPEAKER_05I'm gonna be honest with you, Robbie. Uh my house is the complete opposite of a no phone zone. I uh I I have a lot of electronics. I like electronics, and that that that's what I'm saying. Like I think they can be good if you use them for entertainment purposes, at least as long as you're getting your stuff done, right? As long as you're getting like I'm a married man, so if I was to go home and use all my screens all the time and I didn't help my wife out with the laundry or trash or cooking, then that that's unhealthy, right? But when I do all that stuff, I think it's it's okay to actually use the screens as entertainment. Like I love to play video games, just like a shaman. So I have a video game room that I love to play video games in. So I got screens in that room, I got screens in my living room, got screens in my bedroom. Like I have screens in all my rooms that I use for entertainment. So no, I I don't have a no-phone zone, but I I'm very I'm very good at making sure that I I have a really good like balance of hey, I'm using my phone for entertainment or hey, I need to get this task done.
SPEAKER_00Sure. Absolutely. Um, Ashama, what about you? Beyond just ice train, how has your physical environment changed to help you stay away from screens? Do you have any no phone zones in your apartment?
SPEAKER_01Well, if I'm playing a game, my Xbox, I don't be on my phone really like that until after. Because when I'm playing the game on my Xbox, I try to concentrate on what I'm doing. Like if I'm playing basketball, the sh the make a basket or do missions. And so I don't even be on my phone until after, and I only be on my Xbox like for an hour and 30 minutes. So it it tells me how long I've been on my TV and on my game, and I cut it straight off. I've been on the game for an hour and 30 minutes. Oh, it's time to cut the game off.
SPEAKER_00So, you know, and I'd say that's a good answer because basically, you know, one of the I go to therapy like on a regular basis, so to say, either once or twice a month. It's pretty much every other week. And one of the things I'm recommended by my therapist, and this is hard to do, here's what I do. Restrict your phone time. I think there's some part of the settings on your phone that says use block certain things for a certain use certain things from a certain number of time, like from 8 a.m. in the morning to like nine o'clock at night or so ice or so. I'd say d using stuff like that, you know, is pretty much uh a really good thing to help you stay focused and help you get good enough sleep and help you stay focused. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Since I had an iPhone, I learned to put my phone on sleep mode. So my sleep mode is at 10 o'clock at night and to six o'clock in the morning. So basically, when the alarm clock hits six o'clock, that means that the phone will be off sleep mode. So like if people was to call me and I'd be sleeping, they call me around 10 or 11. I'm not gonna get the notifications until after six o'clock in the morning, and that's how I program my phone.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, yeah. I would I would say too, I've I've kind of done that in the past, but when I get up in the morning, I would sometimes struggle to hear that loud sound too.
SPEAKER_05So anyway, I will say this too. Like, I I I do think, so the one one of the questions was, Do you have any no phone zones in your house? And I don't. However, I think I need to put one there. And I've been doing really, really good at this lately. But a couple months ago, like we were eating dinner at the dinner table. My wife was like, Do you realize how much you get on your phone while we eat dinner? And I was like, Wow, like you're right. Right. So now I've actually when we eat dinner, I go put my I have a charger in my kitchen, right? And so I always keep the charger in my kitchen. I've actually done really, really good lately. Like when I get home from my work day or when I get home from baseball, I haven't seen my wife much. So I don't want to be on my phone. I want to be with her, you know what I mean? Right. So I put my phone on the charger in the kitchen and I just leave it there. Like if we're watching TV or if we're eating, I just leave my phone there so I can just be fully engaged in my life. You know what I mean? And I've been doing that while we've been eating dinner and while we've been just hanging out, and I'll tell you, it's awesome.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's awesome.
SPEAKER_05Just living in the moment.
SPEAKER_01You know, I have been doing that too. Like I record um on TikTok about dinner and serve, but I don't be on my phone when I'm eating dinner. Like basically, if I'm cooking, I'm doing a video of it. But other than me eating my food, I don't I don't be on my phone eating and eating at the same time. Cause that's that's very distracting. And your food could get cold, and you know, so I don't even do that neither.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's one of the things my mom t t keeps telling me because although I struggle with stuff I've done in the past, I prefer to either I get stuck in the past or future, but as my mom always says, live in the moment. So that's a that's a good point there. Well, um, guys, uh, I guess that wraps us up for questions um for this week. Do you guys all have any closing statements?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I'll go ahead and go. And I just want to say I appreciate you having me as a guest on your show today. I had so much fun, and I truly you are a great, fantastic host. So thank you for having me on the Robbie McIntosh show. And right. I hope my answers were pretty good. And yeah, I think your questions were amazing. And I just wanted you to know I had really, really a lot, a lot of fun. And guys, stay off your phones as much as possible and just live. I mean, that God created a beautiful world, and sometimes we get so distracted by that because we're so invested in our screens and a fake reality. Open your eyes, look outside. The sun's beautiful, the light blue skies are beautiful, the weather's beautiful. Get off your phone, go enjoy life.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I will add to that, you know, live your life as it's meant to be lived, is what I frequently tell people, and as I frequently say, you know, because the day will come once you pass away that because as I am told in the scriptures, God does see everything past, present, and future is one eternal now. I definitely am looking forward to that someday, but just gotta focus on my life on earth and what I'm I was sent here to do. So great closing statement. Ashama.
SPEAKER_01So I enjoyed this episode for today, and I learned a lot through the questions, which is very important about our phones that we should not be on our phones. Like basically, when I go out, um, places like I could walk to your apartment or anybody's apartment. I listen to music. So basically, my phone will be in my pocket, and I'll be walking down the street just jamming the music instead of just having my face in my phone, because you know that's dangerous when you're walking and you have and you have your phone in your hand. So I put my phone in my pocket and I just do my normal thing. I just listen to music and you know and stuff like that. So basically, if you're listening to music, that's something different, but always have it turned down so you can listen to if people was calling you or this and that, but don't always be on your phone because your phone can also cause an accident when you are walking. Just like if you was playing Pokemon Go and you walk into the lake and you wasn't paying attention or you walk into a pole or a building, you know, stay off your phones and pay attention to your surroundings.
SPEAKER_00I like that. Good closing statement there. And we are, I believe we all should be very good at being connected, you know, socializing with others and doing something rather than just being on our phones and listening to stuff. I mean, I struggle with that some, but basically, instead of being on our on our phones all the day, as my mom frequently says to my dad, when she sees my dad do something like that, she's like, talk to us. I mean, talk to me, or talk to anyone or your ma your wife or your mom or dad or those around you. But but but stay, live in the moment, and stay connected to the world. That would be my advice there. Well, guys, that uh Um wraps up, I guess, this episode of the Robbie McIntosh show. And hope you guys have enjoyed it. And I encourage you all to tune into few future episodes where I will be the host and just look forward to seeing you then. And so for the Robbie McIntosh show signing off, this is Robbie Macintosh. And um I will see you next time.
SPEAKER_02Inside our minds, we will shine, they say we can't, we don't care, we write our own headlines. Inside our minds, we will shine. Where goal set, goal get, and we always stay kind. Inside our mind, inside our minds, inside our mind.
SPEAKER_03Welcome inside our mind.