Maxwell Ivey's Blog, page 9

former police officer now speaker, preacher, podcaster, and radio network owner Rob Thibodeau stopped by What’s Your Excuse

Hello again;

Happy to be sharing another wonderful interview on The What’s Your Excuse? Show.

This time my guest is Bob Thibodeau.

Host of The Kingdom Crossroads Podcast.

Rob was forced out of his dream job as a military drill instructor due to downsizing.

Then he suffered an injury that would force him out of the police force.

He found a faith in God and relied on that to transform himself.

Now days he is a Motivational speaker, a top podcast host, a podcaster trainer, and owner of a fifth based radio network.

This one did run a little one, but I assure you it’s worth it.

You will come away inspired and determined to find something to believe in whether that is God, a higher power, the universe, etc.

If Rob can do it then what’s your excuse?

Please support my sponsors.

Chip and Pam Edwards at www.createmyvoice.com

They are responsible for making my blog and podcast available on Alexa and Google.

Because of them you can now say:

Alexa Play the blind blogger.

Or Google talk to the blind blogger.

Or better yet Alexa play the What’s Your Excuse? Show on tune in.

The same applies to Chip’s site:

Alexa start Create My Voice.

Or Google talk to Create My Voice.

If you aren’t on these wireless speaker platforms then you are missing out on a huge potential audience who could be finding your content, listening to your words, and deciding to buy your products or hire your services.

Visit Chip’s site, and schedule a call to have him explain more. Thanks,

Now, on to the show.

Have you checked out the What’s Your Excuse? shirts?

These shirts wouldn’t have bee possible without my designer Heartfelt Keepsakes https://www.instagram.com/heartfeltkeepsakes4u/ U.

Or my shirt provider www.neatoshop.com

As a blind computer user I often struggle with submitting to websites.

This is especially true with sites where I have to submit images.

But Alex has made the process very simple. I email him the image, and he gets the new art work added to the site so that people can see it and then buy it.

His shirts are well made, the printing is excellent, and the prices are great.

I also believe that the commission he receives is pretty fair.

And my price on bulk orders is better than any other site I’ve tried.

If you need a merchandise provider, then I hope you will give Alex and his team a chance to earn your business.

I started down this path a long time ago. I was in the Army and applied for Drill Sergeant (or Drill Instructor) status. Over three years, I personally trained over 2,000 soldiers. I was teaching classes and demonstrating techniques in eight week cycles, often 12-15 hours per day (on easy days)! I developed the “voice” that can carry while giving presentations.

As a Police Officer, I was selected as the assistant to the Public Affairs Officer and filled in for him when he was away. I was soon doing interviews on local and national news outlets during critical incidents and tragedies that occurred in our jurisdiction, live on TV, with no problems (talk about pressure)!

Since retiring from the police force, I started and operate an online Christian radio station (Evangelism Radio). This station has been rated by Shoutcast.com as the #1 online station in the world (in our genre). I have had the privilege of speaking in front of groups over the past nine years promoting our radio station (Evangelism Radio).

I also am a recognized podcasting expert. I have spoken at podcasting conferences and have helped literally hundreds of people either start their podcast or improve their podcasts. I have been podcasting for over nine years. My current podcast is over three years old and has over 600 episodes. I’ve conducted over 400 interviews in that time as well.

Between managing the radio station on a daily basis, my podcast interviews, helping others with achieving their podcasting dreams and helping businesses in their leadership team building efforts, my days are pretty much full. LOL!

Connect with Bob

Website: http://www.bobthibodeau.com

Kingdom Crossroads Podcast: https://kcrpodcast.com

Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/Robert-Thibodeau-888810457927303

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bob_thibodeau

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-thibodeau-291413a

I hope you will help me show my gratitude to Rob for appearing on my show and for having me on his by visiting his site and sharing some of his work with your friends.

As I always say the best way to show a blogger or podcaster gratitude is to put buts in the seats, feet on the ground, or faces behind the screens.

I also want you guys to know that I couldn’t keep doing this without you.

On those days when I feel less than heroic it’s knowing you are depending on me that helps keep me going.

I think Max get off your butt and write that post, record that interview, send those emails, or post on social media.

So many of you have said I inspire you. So, I wanted you to know that I am also inspired by you.

Thanks and take care out there, Max

Former dominatrix Kat McLead transitioned to helping sex workers start healthier businesses and now helps stay at home moms run successful mom-first businesses

Hello again:

I’m back from my trip to Erie Pennsylvania with a new episode of The What’s Your Excuse? Show.

I was in Erie to speak at an event called Disability Insights put on my my good friend www.amybovaird.com

While there I did two other speaking events and three book signings.

I sold four of my new What’s Your Excuse? Shirts.

I was able to do this thanks to help from Alex owner of www.neatoshop.com

His website is easy to use, his shirts are well made, sizes are true, and the prices are reasonable.

And for a blind computer user I really appreciate his willingness to make things easier on me.

He will upload new art work to the site for me. He has offered to send demo shirts to my designer because he knows I can’t really evaluate how the printed shirts look. And he has even processed the bulk order for the event for me saving me a lot of time in the selection and ordering process.

If you need a printer for shirts, bags, and other merchandise; I hope you will visit his site.

My Guest Kat McLead

This time my guest is Kat McLead. And I thought about saying no.

I wasn’t sure if having a former Dominatrix on my show was a good fit.

A missing trash can delayed my flight but didn’t rob me of my positive attitude

Hello again;

Last week I left Houston on American Air Lines headed to Erie Pennsylvania for a series of book signings and speaking engagements.

My plane was supposed to leave at about 3:45, but it was over two hours late leaving Houston Intercontinental Airport.

The pilot tried to say it was a missing piece of equipment like it was something important. But we would later find out from the flight attendants that the culprit was a missing trash can.

Yes, you read that right. The plane was held up for a missing trash can.

And it gets even more interesting. Apparently, you can’t take another trash can off of just any plane. It has to be one from a plane that is the same make and model.

I know because the staff tried to borrow one off of another plane. And they were told that wouldn’t work.

So, we had to wait on the taxi way until they located the right piece of equipment. lol

Then we had to wait while the plane was re-inspected. Other passengers told me this involved about six men in yellow cover alls walking around the plane making sure we didn’t miss anything else.

When we finally got in the air the staff told us that many of the other flights were delayed due to weather. This meant there was a chance that I could still make my connecting flight from Charlotte to Erie.

However, when we got to Charlotte I found out that my flight had left over thirty minutes before I got there.

Now, when I travel by plane I always accept their assistance for people with disabilities.

This meant that there was someone waiting at the gate for me with a wheel chair to transport me to my next destination in the air port.

The man pushing the wheel chair was named Scott. He helped me to a gate agent and made sure they took care of arranging how to get me to Erie.

While waiting I talked with Scott. And I was my usual positive upbeat self.

For starters I told him how the plane was delayed by a trash can. And we laughed about it.

But I followed that up by saying that it was a good thing.

After all,, when people don’t follow the rules of operation people can die. And we don’t want pilots picking and choosing what items on the check list are important and which ones can be ignored.

He thought this was a very understanding way to think about the situation. I told him that while the dangers weren’t as serious in the carnival business that we too had inspections and check lists. And that you didn’t run even a kiddy ride that didn’t pass its daily check.

I also told him how I had confidence that the air line would figure out how to get me where I needed to go. And that since I didn’t have to be in Erie until Saturday afternoon that there was a good chance I’d still make my speaking event.

We talked about other things, and I shared with him about my books and some of my travels.

He commented on how positive I was. He mentioned that he sees lots of people with disabilities and many of them do have positive outlooks on life. But you are like over the top positive and finding the good in life.

Told him that’s the only way I know to be. Also mentioned that it’s easy to be that way when you’ve had lots of practice looking for the positive.

I didn’t tell him this, but I often say that I’m really good at picking myself up because I’ve spent a lot of time on my ass. lol

He was so impressed he asked where he could find my books. I told him that if he had some money on him I’d sell him one then and there.

He happened to have just enough for the price of my New York City book on him. And I signed the book for him after being paid.

Lesson to authors: Carry copies of your books with you, talk about them when the opportunity arises, and you too could make some additional sales.

So, I sold my first book of the trip to the guy pushing the wheel chair through the airport.

I’d like to say that sale bought my dinner that night but all the restaurants were already closed.

Before I left the air port in Charlotte I was given vouchers for a hotel room, a meal, and the shuttle to and from the hotel.

I got in late that night, but did get a few hours of good sleep.

I got up the next morning and went to the air port to make my way finally to Erie.

I used my meal voucher for a great breakfast from Burger King of a Croissandwich, hash browns, and coffee.

I tweeted about that hoping maybe someone at Burger King would want to support The Blind Blogger, but no such luck.

Empowerment strategist and trauma specialist Jennifer Whitacre helps us get unstuck

Hello again;

This week on The What’s Your Excuse? Show I’m blessed to have Jennifer Whitacre. as my guest.

I’ve known Jennifer for over a year after meeting her on linked in.

And we had a great conversation for an interview on her podcast Yes and.

We talked about her growing up in a family with lots of trauma and how that effected her as an adult.

We talked about the various aspects of the human mind and how to help ourselves manage all these different aspects of perspection to become a healthier, happier person.

One important take away is that we are never finished working ourselves. She probably didn’t use those words, but it’s in there.

Jennifer Whitacre

is an Empowerment Strategist and trauma specialist who helps her clients move beyond the self-sabotaging habits and knee-jerk reactions that keep them stuck and feeling lost. 

Because Jennifer understands the power of inspiration, she hosts the Yes, And… Podcast where her listeners hear weekly conversations with guests who have surmounted overwhelm and navigated obstacles to live fulfilling lives they love living.

She is also an emerging writer whose articles are starting to get published, and she has a book coming-out next year!

Jennifer has the education and, more importantly, the life experience to help you move through your stuck places and your fears to achieve success and fulfillment in your life.

Website: https://www.jenniferwhitacre.com

Podcast: https://www.jenniferwhitacre.com/podcast

Face Book: “https://twitter.com/Jen_Whitacre

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-whitacre-gardner-6ba32a7

Wellness Universe: https://www.thewellnessuniverse.com/world-changers/jenniferwhitacre

I want to thank you for listening to my show. It’s very rewarding knowing that these conversations have the power to inspire and motivate people to real change in their lives.

And one of the things that keeps me going is knowing you are out there depending on me. You look forward to my latest stories and interviews as I look forward to sharing them.

Know that you are all a part of my journey and as a result a part of the work I’m doing through this podcast.

Thanks for coming along with me on this amazing journey, Max

Happiness Ambassador Maura Sweeney stopped by What’s Your Excuse to share how to find your own happiness

Hello again;

Today, I’m bringing you another previously recorded interview. This time the guest is Maura Sweeney

This one was recorded back when I was still working with Frederic Bye. The interview was recorded for his Creative Magic Network, and you will hear our intro and outro from that time.

The reason for that is I am just not good at editing. I don’t enjoy it, it takes me forever, and leaving in those few minutes of audio don’t hurt the show at all.

In fact I wish I could deliver my show intro with the volume and sas that Fred used to do it with.

Live on the inside with Alex Sanfilippo of Creating a Brand

Hello again;

Today I’m sharing yet another of my podcast interviews.

This time it was with Alex Sanfilippo host of the Creating a Brand Podcast.

I met Alex while speaking at Pod Fest back in March. We were both speaking in what they call the peach Kulcha format.

It’s always been my practice to stay around after my talks and interact with the other speakers and attendees.

That day I would certainly be blessed for being generous with my time and energy.

Because it seems I made a real impression in Alex and he was waiting for the opportunity to meet me. He tracked me down as I was leaving the event.

He gave me his card, and I told him how to find me online. I didn’t have any cards at that time.

We would connect up after I got home.

He would invite me on the first season of his podcast.

And he would extend a complimentary membership in his new paid community also called Creating a Brand.

At Pod Fest I spoke about how I had been raised from a young age not to be afraid to ask for help or ask for opportunities.

I shared my favorite quote in this area.

When you refuse to ask for help, you rob the other person of the joy they would have received from helping you.

We expanded upon this in our conversation.

We talked about how to ask for help and reasons people don’t do it more often.

We discussed how embracing interdependence is vital to business success.

And we talked about showing proper gratitude both in words and deeds.

And finally we talked about asking from the point of view of the expert discussing how to know when it’s good to say yes.

I thoroughly enjoyed my talk with Alex.

You can listen to our talk below.

About Alex

He started his first business at the age of twelve; selling used golf balls.

From there, he went on to real estate investing and a technology start up which he sold years later.

For the past decade, Alex has been an executive in the aerospace industry.

During his time in corporate America, he stayed active with his side hustles.

Consisted of conference speaking and business coaching.

He runs Creating A Brand with Alecia Sanfilippo is the active co-founder of a highly successful women’s clothing boutique in Jacksonville Florida. Since launching, she has won “best in Jacksonville, Florida” every year. In additional, Alecia is well versed in marketing and social media management along with creating startup businesses.

Connect with Alex

Website: https://creatingabrand.com

Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/alexjamessanfilippo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajsanfilippo

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsanfilippo

As I often say the best form of gratitude is to send a host new traffic.

One of my responsibilities as a guest is to help put faces behind the screens.

Patty Fletcher shares how receiving her guide dog Bubba changed her life helping her to live it so much more fully

Hello Again;

This week I’m posting another previously recorded interview.

As my friend Lorraine Reguly reminded me last night I have to accept that it may take me longer to recover from my travels than it used to.

Ryan Narus shares his journey from someone with no cash contacts or experience to successful mobile home community developer

Hello again;

This week I’m honored to Welcome Ryan Narus owner of The Archimedes Group

To The What’s Your Excuse? Show.

Ryan really is a man after my own heart.

He graduated from college with a batchelers in Psychology, a master’s in business, and a mountain of student debt.

He has gone from living in a mobile home, sleeping on an air mattress, and working all hours to purchase his first property to a man who just completed the purchase of his tenth facility.

But even ow he believes in the value of living in his communities and interacting with his residents.

I think you will learn quite a bit from Ryan.

And I’m sure that by the end of our talk you will be saying if Ryan can do it then what’s my excuse?

Again the show is sponsored by www.createmyvoice.com

They will help you set up your blog or podcast so they can be found on alexa and google.

Just imagine being able to say Alexa play the blind blogger?

Or Google talk to the blind blogger?

If you aren’t already set up for these wireless speaker platforms, then you are missing out on a huge potential audience for your content.

Now on to the show

Best selling blind author Phyllis Staton Campbell talks all things writing on what’s your excuse?

Hello again;

This week I’m honored to be speaking with Phyllis Staton Campbell on The What’s Your Excuse? Show.

Phyllis is a successful author who happens to be blind.

She has written fiction and nonfiction.

Besides memoirs she also written true crime and mystery.

I will confess that I spent a lot of our time talking about writing specifically character creation.

I wanted to know, as I imagine many of you want to know; how does a woman blind from birth create those detailed descriptions so important to character development.

SI will confess to having done this because people have challenged me to write fiction. I have often thought how would I describe my characters in the kind of detail that would make my readers want to fall in love with these imaginary people.

It’s a great reminder that there really are no excuses.

Just like me and Phyllis didn’t let the fact that her computer doesn’t have a camera keep us from recording this interview.

While you will only see me on the video, I still posted it for those who are used to getting my podcast via youtube.

I’m sure that by the end of this talk you are going to be saying if Phyllis can do it then what’s my excuse?

About Phyllis

She was born blind, writes about the world she knows best. She calls on her experience as teacher of the blind, peer counselor and youth transition coordinator. She says that she lives the lives of her characters: lives of sorrow and joy; triumph and failure; hope and despair. That she and her characters sometimes see the world in a different way, adds depth to the story. She sees color in the warmth of the sun on her face, the smell of rain, the call of a cardinal, and God, in a rainbow of love and grace.

Although she was born in Amherst County, Virginia, she has lived most of her life in Staunton, Virginia, where she serves as organist at historic Faith Lutheran church, not far from the home she shared with her husband, Chuck, who waits beyond that door called death.

In addition to her books she writes three columns, two for National Braille Press, and one for The Blind Post. Her work has also appeared in Dialogue, as well as numerous mainstream markets.

Connect With Phyllis

Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/Phyllis-Staton-Campbell-361675114286715

#TheBlindBlogger Sharing with special needs school kids

Hello again;

Recently I connected with an organization called Nepris.

They offer a free platform that connects school teachers with talented accomplished professionals from all over the country.

The goal being to allow these busy people to share knowledge, experience, and encouragement with students without having to interrupt their schedules to visit the school in person.

This also means that teachers and students have a much larger pool of talent to draw from because the meetings are all done virtually.

Last week, I did my first Nepris presentation.

You can watch it here.

I spoke to a group of special needs kids in a school in Chicago Illinois.

These were elementary school kids with a variety of learning disabilities.

Their school is making a concerted effort to get their students in all grades to focus on potential employment.

I want to thank their teacher Michele Lewis.

She made me feel very comfortable.

And I’ll admit to being more nervous about this talk than I was about the one I was scheduled to give later that day to the Mid-Atlantic Podcasters Conference.

But in the end I actually felt more satisfied and more sure of this talk than I felt about the later one.

And it must have went well, because she asked if I would be willing to speak to their junior high or high school students.

Of course, I said yes, and I’m looking forward to making that happen.