Coach Dan John

265. Dan John on Never Let Go

Coach Dan John discusses the importance of reverence, perseverance, and appreciation for education. We have been on a journey for several episodes exploring the philosophies of The Sword in the Stone.

I am grateful for Dan’s friendship and wisdom. Dan has a knack for uncovering profound life lessons during our discussions and I am fortunate to be on the receiving end of these treasures.

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Perry Yung

225. Perry Yung on racism, listening and HBO’s Warrior

Perry Yung is best known as Father Jun in the HBO series Warrior and fan-favorite Ping Wu in Steven Soderberg’s Cinemax show The Knick.
He was the founder of the Asian American performance collective SLANT Performance Group and is also a traditionally trained Japanese shakuhachi flute craftsman and musician.

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148. Yulma Lopez on life as a DACA student

Hi Everyone, today I had the pleasure of speaking with an inspiring young woman named Yulma Lopez. There are very few conversations that have left me feeling so emotional. After speaking with her today, I needed a moment to cry a little and took some time to be grateful for everything I have in my life.

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Sheriff Jerry Demings

73. Sheriff Jerry Demings on his vision as Orange County Mayor

Today I talk with Sheriff Jerry Demings on his vision for Orlando as he runs for Orange County Mayor.  I appreciated his thoughts on immigration, diversity, sustainability, and affordable housing.  As you know, I have been a little politically charged of late.  I feel it is our job to demand more of our public officials and I am hopeful that the changes and policies that Sheriff Demings envisions will become a reality for us here in Orange County, Florida.  I encourage you to listen openly and leave a comment.  No matter what, register to vote and be involved! I endorse Sheriff Demings for Mayor and hope after hearing his vision for Orange County, you will too.

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34.Antje Wiegand on cultural barriers

I have been enjoying all of my conversations, but I feel especially privileged to have spoken with strong women who inspire me. On previous podcasts I’ve spoken to real life Wonder Women like Hailey, a transgender gay woman who had to fight for her identity; Helena, a woman who left her religious cult to save her life; and Commissioner Sheehan, the first openly gay elected woman in Central Florida, who discussed her fight with politics and the aftermath of the Pulse shooting tragedy. Today I had the privilege to speak with Antje Wiegand. Antje had to overcome her own challenges being born with hip dysplasia and being bullied as a child. Today, she teaches others about Cultural Awareness to dismiss stereotypes amongst the community in Germany. She also shares some emotional stories of her work with Syrian and Nigerian refugees. Although I see myself as someone who advocates for diversity, after speaking with Antje, I learned that having true respect is more than just embracing someone’s culture, but embracing them simply as humans.

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33. Alex Hernandez on space opera, biopunk, and the family genealogy

September 15 marks that start of National Hispanic heritage month, and I was happy to chat with Alex Hernandez, a Cuban-American science fiction writer based in South Florida. He blends the sub genres of space opera and biopunk into his stories. Many of his books often themes of migration due to his family history with immigrating from Cuba. We discuss his heritage, genealogy, and how his life influences his work. Don’t think you are a fan of the genre? Once I learned what it was, I was surprised to learn that I like space opera and biopunktoo, being a fan of Star Wars, Cowboy Bebop, and Orphan Black.

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