TED Talk.. Ayeeee

TED Talk time.. ayeee jokes.. Just a podcast to let you know if an event that I did that was a good experience and helped not only some students but ME. Don't get jammed of the Tik Tok influencers bashing hahaha.. It's just jokes, but my personal opinion, But it's all love. Really I love you Tik Tok people 

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SPEAKER_00 1:05

Yo, what's up, ladies and gentlemen? Good morning, good morning, good morning. I hope you guys got a good night's rest for you guys that are just now getting off work. Please get home safe for you guys that are going to work. Please get to work safe. Oh man, I so I left Chiprock. I left Chip Rock. I was just in a state of prayer. Uh praying to the creator to be a to have a good day today, to put people in my life that need to be in my life, and just not to have distractions today. Oh, I apologize for my voice. My voice is still raspy today. Uh, as you guys, some of you guys know, I've been battling a cold for the last couple of days, and I am the biggest baby when it comes to coals. Hey, um, but it is getting better. Uh, just got a slight cough there. But man, May is halfway through. It is May 14th. The month is halfway gone, and it is going by super super fast and super super quick. And oh man, I can't cannot believe how fast time is flying. Uh, today is a good day. As I was getting ready, as I left from work, I um read a text from my daughter. Uh, as you guys know, she's back from school. Oh my gosh, I'm so happy. I'm super proud of her. Uh, she has matured and getting more beautiful. Hey, um, but I read a text from her this morning as I was getting ready, and the text read to me, Dad, thank you for being awesome. Thank you for sticking beside me this year in school, this semester, when I thought that work was overwhelming. I can't even begin to imagine. I'm reading her text. I can't even begin to imagine what you go through, not only as a father, as an employee, as a son, as an uncle, but just as a person with a big heart. I was barely stressing about school, my grades, and what I was going to eat for the evening. That's my pubs right there. But you, you seem to carry carry the whole world on your shoulder and never complain about it. Daddy, I don't know how you do it. I am so grateful that you're my dad. I am so grateful that you are the example of what a dad is, what a father is, what a son is, what an uncle is, and what a what a brother is. I know Papa would be very proud, and I know everybody that's in your life is proud of you. Thank you so much for everything, Dad. I appreciate you. I love you. I will always be here for you. Brooklyn. Man, she said that the other day, and today I I got up. I was feeling a little some type of way, a little some type of way, uh, not because of anything bad, but okay, so as you guys know, um, I've worked with uh Central Consolidated Schools. I've worked with them as a vendor, as an employee, uh for about 25 plus years. So I got a call from a very good friend of mine, and she had recently changed jobs. She went from one position uh or a company, and now she's with central consolidated schools. I have no beef with central consolidated schools up until this point. Hey, yeah, no, just joking, just joking. But so about two months ago, she reached out to me. She was just like, hey, Mikey, she was like, This is so and so. She's like, Hey, I just want to let you know that I'm with Central Consolidated Schools now. I am their like youth coordinator, counselor, whatever. And so we are planning an end-of-the-school year event, and our theme or whatever is gonna be TikTok influencers. You guys know, you guys know how I feel when it comes to TikTok influencers. Uh, my opinion, they do not do shit. Some people might think that they're milk motivational speakers, some people might think that they're doing good for their community, but it is all just a show. And some of them are on live 24-7. I'm just like, damn. If I did not have any bills, if I did not have any responsibilities, I would probably do that too, and just just be that, you know. But anyways, so like I said, I've worked with Central Consolidated Schools. I've been a vendor, I've been an employee, and if you guys know, I was actually supposed to have been a coach over at Shiprock High School, but some personal feelings with another coach arose and threw a big deal about me skipping the whole interview process because I was recommended, because I was a good coach. I just withdrew my candidacy from being the JV Girls coach at Chibrock High School. This was like going like four years ago, maybe. Um that's another that's a whole different story right there. Or maybe story time. Alright. Let's go. Okay, so um I just got I just got done coaching over at Northwest High School. Uh, some of the girls that I've coached over at Northwest High School were leaving Northwest uh just to pursue bigger opportunities within basketball, I guess you could say. So some of them went to Navajo Prep, some of them went to Farmington High School, and a majority of them, a majority, a majority of them went to Shiprock High School. I didn't have any problems with it, I didn't have any beef with it or whatever. But before preseason, my name got brought up at practice, a preseason practice meeting or something, and because they were looking for a JV coach at that time, and my name got brought up at that time. I was good friends with the athletic director. Uh, so she reached out to me. She was like, Hey Michael, um, a lot of you girls from Northwest are here at Shiprock High School now. Uh, they are speaking highly of you when we said that we are looking for a JV coach. So I'm reaching out to you. Wanted to see if you might be interested in coaching here at Shiprock High School. Okay, cool. I was excited about it. It was always been a dream of mine. Uh, so I told her, okay, what do I need to do? Um, what's the process? I'm pretty sure I'm still I'm I'm still in there as a vendor, as an employee, whatever. Uh, I probably just need to update a lot of stuff. So she's like, okay, just write me a letter of interest, send your resume, and then once I get that, we'll go forward from there. Did all of that within a date. Sent her my letter of interest, sent her my resume, and sent it over to her. She got it within two, three hours, or whatever. She's like, Okay, go to the business office, get your picture taken, get your fingerprinted, pay the $35 background fee check, whatever. Okay, I did all of that, got hired on, was freaking ready to go two weeks before the actual preseason. She called and said, Hey, we have a little issue here. Um, one of the coaches that that um is gonna be coaching, she's she's kind of having a fit of why you didn't get interviewed, and she did make she made a whole big deal about it. She even went as far as going to the board, the school board. Uh, not the athletic director, but another coach. I don't know what beef she had with me. If I've only met her like three or four times, uh, so it was a big old deal. It was a big old deal, and so I withdrew my candidacy from coaching at Shiprock High School. I was like, okay, cool, whatever. I'm not trying to make a big deal about it. I'm not trying to, you know, Shiprock High School girls, they were already, you know, the news around it was that they were gonna have a losing season again or whatever. Because Shiprock High School girls have been struggling. Uh, but this year they actually did really well. So shout out to the Shiprock girls basketball team, the coaches, and the coaching staff there, you guys did awesome. But at that time they were struggling. So I didn't want to bring that much heat on the high school as well as this the the girls team there and the girls, uh, the girls basketball team. So I left it, I would drew my candidacy. I said, you know what? I said she can take it, it's totally fine with me. Um, if she wants it that bad, that's cool. I don't want to put um a sour taste or yeah, sour taste in anybody's mouth. So I'll I'll just take I'll just take my candidacy out. Thank you so much. Maybe next time when when the position opens again, we'll go through the right way. I'll apply, I'll get interviewed, all this stuff, you know. You guys know me. I'm not confrontational, I do not like confrontational, so I I left it uh that season, the girl sucked. Anyway, so back to the story. My friend reached out to me and said, Mike, um we want to do this end of the year thing. Uh we're we're wanting basically a field day. Uh, we're wanting to invite these TikToker influencers or whatever around the Navo Nation, blah blah blah, all this stuff. And I wanted to know. I know you're not a TikToker, I know you're not on social media, but I want to incorporate you as a person, as a DJ, your story, what you've been through, into this whole thing. And she was like, I don't I don't want you to be a part of that. And she started naming some of the names that were gonna be there. I'm just like, wow, like, holy cow! Like, all right, well, these these guys um they live double lives. I know that for a fact. Why? Because when you're in quote unquote entertainment, when you're a DJ, when you DJ all over the place, you see people that are not supposed to be in places, in places, you know, doing things too as well. And some of these TikTokers are not shameful of what they do on their lives, on their social media or whatever. But it was crazy because I had to jump through hoops with central consolidated school um to get clearance because with central consolidated school, it it you have to go through a whole process pretty much now. The background check, and just they they just don't bring in anybody without the proper documentations or whatever, you know. And some of these people that are on this bill for today, like I said, I am not hating. Please do not take this as hate, please do not take this as um as as that, like I'm I'm being hateful or whatever, but I'm just saying some people some people um just put on a show because of social media. Uh like I've always said, I let my my my life, my actions speak for itself. And again, I always say that if you guys want to know who I am, if you guys want to know what I'm all about, come hang out with me for a day. Come hang out with me when I DJ, come hang out with me when I do things. Um, as a son, as a brother, as a father, as an uncle, whatever. You know, come hang out with me. Come hang out with me, and you'll see, you'll you'll you'll you'll get the full experience of Michael. I don't know why my voice cracked on that one. Michael, freaking hit puberty on that one. But anyway, so she was like, I don't she was like, I don't want to put you in this in this little thing with them, uh, because they're there basically for a meet and greet. They're there basically to entertain the kids, which is fine. Uh, they're there basically just to be on their lives, mind you, and get paid for it without any accountability, I guess you could say. And again, I get it, these kids, they look up to them. They they they they see somebody that's on a live, they see somebody with that with that quote unquote platform and think, oh man, they're they're freaking, they're doing it, they're celebrities, whatever, you know. Um, but after when when the live ends, I've always said it, when the live ends, when reality really starts hitting, that's when your real self, I guess you could say, comes out. And I just kind of disagreed with some of the people that are on there. I'm just like, okay, you know, they're they're they're not all that who they say they are, you know. Again, like I said, I probably shouldn't even be speaking on this because I am probably the the the worst person to believe or whatever, you know. I've never said that I was perfect, I've never I never wanted to be on a platform, I never wanted to be on this pedestal that some people put me on as a DJ, as a podcaster, as a quote unquote, just because I've done some motivational speaking as a motivational speaker. I've never, I've never, never, never once wanted to be in that position. All I wanted to do was to be an encouragement. All I wanted to do was tell my story of grief, of pain, of going through certain situations, of how to how to deal with being a single father and the struggles of life. That's all I wanted to do. And yeah, DJing has took me places that I've never dreamed that I would go. Djane has has allowed me to meet people that I've dreamed I've never would ever meet before in my life. And yes, DJing has put funds in my account that I've I thought that I'd always be broke. And as well as hip hop, you know, like like I said, you know, as you guys know, I was kind of a quote unquote rapper before DJ, before all of this, so that has taken me places, and I'm super, super grateful for that. I appreciate everybody that's ever supported. I've appreciated everybody that's ever showed up to an event, to a show. I appreciate you guys so much. But like I said, I've always always tried to be transparent and and let my actions speak louder than my words. Uh, I'm not perfect, I fuck up, man. I am the first person to tell you that I suck. I am the first person to tell you that that I am not right. That I've made mistakes. Holy shit, I've made mistakes. Damn, damn, I've made mistakes. Like I said, and somebody invented the time machine. Please let me go back in time and I'm going to make them again and again. Hey, uh, but no, I've I've never said that that I was perfect, I've never said that I I'd done wrong. Um, I'm just as human as any of you, any of you guys, and like I've said, I probably shouldn't even be speaking on this, but I was just a little upset with central consolidated schools, knowing, knowing their process of having people on their campus, knowing of having people behind a podium. And you know, this year with central schools, like it kind of went, I don't know, their vision, their vision of everything has has gone downhill. And I'm just like, holy shit. But, anyways, long story short, I apologize for going on the rant. It's it's uh it's Thursday, it's baby Friday, and again, happy baby Friday. I hope you guys got rest. I hope you guys slept good. If you again be safe if you guys are on your way back from work, be safe if you guys on your way are on your way to work. I am on my way to work right now, but this was just kind of buggy me just a little bit, and I wanted to speak on it. Um, not only because of that, because I was encouraged by my daughter um of everything, I guess you could say. So, again, back to the story. Friend reached out to me, she was like, this was like about yeah, about two months ago. Mikey um doing this thing for the school, wanted to know if you want to be a part of it, but not just as that uh I know your backstory, I know you personally, and things in this school has been kind of rocky lately. Things in the community has been kind of rocky lately. So I want to bring you in on a separate account to do kind of almost like a TED talk to talk to these kids during the school assembly. I was like, all right, cool, let me go ahead, uh let me make sure that my status is good, my vendor is still good with central schools. So I did the right thing, you know, called the business office. Hey, this is Michael, you know. I used to be a vendor, this is my old vendor number. I don't know if I'm still active, and they're like, Oh, yeah, you know, you're still in our system, but we just would need an updated background check, we would need an updated fingerprints, and then you should be good to go. So, okay, I did all of that. I did the background check, paid the fee uh for Navajo Nation State, uh, did my fingerprints, everything was good, and then she was like, Okay, Mike. She was like, We we got everything set up, and this is this week, all right. This is this week. I was sick, I was feeling like shit. I I I you know, like I said, if you guys know me best, I am a big baby when I get sick. I am a big baby when I get sick, and so this was uh Tuesday. Tuesday, let me see. Uh yeah, Tuesday. So Tuesday. Tuesday afternoon. I was at school. I'm not gonna say the school. Um I didn't I didn't expect it to be what it was. I walked in to the to the cafeteria, to the gym or wherever, and to see all these kids, middle schoolers, to see all these kids just waiting, anticipating, what's this guy gonna talk about? Is this guy gonna be boring? Is this guy is this guy going to be just another guy that's says what he says and then leaves us? That's what got me the most was that because afterwards I I I talked to this young lady and it broke my heart, like holy shit, it broke my heart. Her story, what she's going through now, and the young woman that she's becoming, it broke my heart. So basically, she's raising herself. She says she never sees her mom. Her mom's always working, her mom always puts a male in front of her, and she's she's an eighth grader, she's gonna be a freshman next year. And she was like, Michael, she's like, I'm scared. She's like, I'm scared of high school, I'm scared of what's gonna happen in high school, I'm scared of my peers next year because we're a year older, and man, she was super smart, she's super mature for her age, and you know, she reminded me, she reminded me of of my daughter, she reminded me of Brooklyn, and she was like, Michael, she was like, How real are you? When she said that, I was like, holy shit. And I asked her, I said, What do you mean? She said, if I got you contact information from Miss, oh, I'm not gonna say her name, from the school counselor, and said that I just needed somebody to talk. She was like, Would you be there? Or are you just another person out here that's using this platform, I guess you could say, whatever, um, to put on your resume. And I was like, holy shit. I was like, this kid is freaking smart because we're talking and she said she said the same thing about people that are gonna be on the bill today at at the school. And mind you, it's just a big meet and greet for for these TikTokers, for these quote unquote influencers. It's just a big meet and greet. I'm pretty sure some kids can relate to them. I'm pretty sure some kids can can you know relate to some of their stories, but like I said, that's just a show. That's just what. They do some of them. TikTok is their job. Some of them being on live is their job. That's how they make money. That's how they get you guys to send them money, and then they're going off and they're eating somewhere, and they could give a shit about you. They could care less about you. Some of you guys might think, oh man, their story relates to mine, which is cool, which is cool. Like I said again, I am not bashing them. Please do not get this wrong. I am not bashing them at all. I'm just saying, when everything stops, when everything stops, who's that person for real? Who's that person that gets off the mic, that gets off the live? How are they treating their family? How are they treating their friends? And this girl, she was like, man, she's like, I watched some of their lives. She's like, I've seen some of their lives. Some of them were drunk on their live, some of them were cussing up a storm, some of them were starting beef with people. And she was like, There's even some on here that are old enough to be my mom, my grandma that are on live being stupid. And they're like, and she was like, There's some of these guys that are on here that could be my dad, they could be my uncle, that could be my grandpa, not even acting their age. And holy shit, that was a slap in the face for me. Like I said, you know, I've been in my dad phase. Excuse me. I've been in my dad phase. I've been in my dad phase. I've embraced that I am not cool anymore. I've embraced that I am not young anymore. The way that I dress, the way that I talk, or whatever, you know, I am not young anymore, and I am going to be officially an old man this year, this month, actually. And that was a freaking slap in the face because there were times where I thought that I was still young. I thought that I was still cool. And I forgot, you know, I forgot the purpose of why I was put in certain positions, you know. But I was reminded again that day that I that I did this little speech, did this little talk or whatever. And she brought me in to talk to the kids about grieving, about dealing with death, and again, I am the worst person, I am the worst person to even talk about death, to even talk about grieving. Because I've said time and time and time and time over and over and over and over again, I run. Like I run. Anything bad happens, I run. Why? Because I'm not trying to deal with it. Why? Because even though the person on the other side says that they're going to get hurt, I get hurt too. The only difference is I am not going to express it out loud that I'm hurting. I'm not going to express it out loud that I have feelings. So I'll take the blame. I'll take the blame for everything, and which is fine. Like I said, which is fine. I'm not trying to put blame on anybody else in relationships. Yeah, I'm probably the one. I'm the one that fucked it up. Not probably, but I'm the one that fucked it up. In certain life situations, I'm the one that fucked it up. Like I said, I sabotage things. But I was there, I was talking about going with grief, going through grief. Again, as you guys know, I'm still going through the grief of my dad. Still going through that. Holy cow. Still still trying to process it. Still trying to adjust to it. Still trying to, man, still trying, you know? And I was sitting there and I was talking and I started talking about my mom. And I'll and I told the I told the kids there, I said, man, I said, I shouldn't even be here. I said, the person there should be talking to you guys about this. I said, is my mom. Freaking put my mom in a pedestal. I said, man, I said, my mom's been a freaking champ, yo. I said, been a freaking champ. I said, since the day my dad passed away, I said, my mom freaking held up the family. As you guys, if you guys know me personally, again, if you guys have ever met my family, if I've I've talked about the traits that I inherit from my mom and my dad, patience. I get patience from my dad. I get patience. I get that listening. I get that being a gentleman, opening the door, buying you stuff. I get that from my dad. I see my dad do that to for my mom. I see my dad do that to my for my sisters. And again, my dad always embedded in that, you know, with the daughter. Mike, you better treat that girl like a princess, you better treat that girl like a queen. I don't want you to ever get mad at her. I want you to ever raise your voice to her. And I just did that just with my with my baby. Spoiled little kid, hey. My dad was the most patient guy that I've ever known. When people say, Oh, he has patience to watch paint dry. My dad literally could watch paint dry. My dad could probably paint a whole house and just sit there and watch it dry. And not say, Man, I wish this would hurry and dry. I wish this would hurry. My dad was patient. Holy cow. And I'm so glad that I inherit that from him. I got patience. Like, you guys that know me best know that I have patience. That it's it's crazy. Yeah, patience. I have patience is crazy. That's not even not even trying to brag. That's freaking facts, man. When it comes to my mom, faith, holy cow, and at that time when my faith was like super, super crazy. My mom's faith is nuts, yo. My mom is the living, breathing example of faith. When people say that faith moves mountains, man, my mom can move a mountain. And since my dad passed away, my mom has been a freaking champ. Been upholding the family, been texting and saying, Sonny, I'm praying for you. Son, I'm praying for you, I'm praying for you, I'm praying for you. And it's not been an easy process for me. It's not been an easy road, it's not been an easy journey for me. And I'm still trying. I really am. But man, this Mother's Day, man, I loved on my mom. You know, talked to my mom, told her how much I'm in love with her and how much I appreciate her. Not only for for what she's instilled in me, but for just being that stronghold, for being that person in my life. And I was as I was telling the kids, you know, I was just like, man, I said, Mother's Day was just this past Sunday. And I said, how many of you guys, you know, told your mom you love them? I said, even though you might not have a mom, I said, how many of you guys told your aunties you love them? Told your sister you love them, or that person, it's a mom figure. And I said, Father's Day is coming up. And I said, I know some of you guys don't have a father. I said, I know some of you guys, you know, don't have that father figure in your life. I said, but man, I said, It's not easy. I wasn't trying to make him an excuse, you know. I told him, I said, it's not easy. And I told him, I said, my mom's been a freaking champ. And I said, ever since I lost my dad, I said, I've been a wreck. And I said, this is probably the second hardest, the third hardest, I take that back. I said, this is probably the third hardest death that I've ever had to go through. And I said, the first one, I said, was my was my older brother. My brothers, you know. I I talk about my brothers all the time. My brothers, they passed away, you know, they got hit. Innocent, innocent people, they got hit by drunk drivers, you know. And then a very good friend of mine. Man, my best friend, holy cow, man. And then my dad. I was sitting, I was standing there, I was talking to these kids, and and uh, you know, I started to tear up talking about talking about, you know, these people that had an impact on my life. And one one that stood out was was was my friend, my best friend. I I've not talked about it. Felt like I couldn't. Felt like I didn't have I didn't have that that oh man, what's the word am I looking for? Felt like I didn't have felt like I couldn't. Felt like if I did, I would get in trouble for it. So I left it. I put it in a back burner. I was like, alright, cool, you know, I I I I can't I can't talk about it, I guess. I can't I can't say that I miss him. I can't say that, you know, I can't I can't say that I miss his presence. I can't say that that man that I miss talking to him, I miss getting a text message, funny, stupid text messages. And if you guys know me and my friend, like we were inseparable. He was my best friend, he was my brother. Thought of him as my brother, we were always together. And yes, and the other day, Tuesday, when I was talking about this, I didn't realize that I was still grieving about it. I was standing up there and I was talking about it, I was getting teary-eyed. I was like, I told people I was just like, how many of you guys have a best friend here? Somebody that you can rely on, somebody that that you know that that's just a text away that knows that will show up, that's gonna show up. And the whole like everybody raised their hand. And I was like, man, I said that's awesome. And and I started talking again about my friend, and I broke down. I broke down and I was like, Man, I miss him, I miss him, I miss him. I said, I miss those freaking text messages, I miss those freaking phone calls, I miss those freaking voice memos of like, hey Mike, you listen to this, and you know, it's a freaking funny, you know, funny voice memo or freaking funny meme or something that's just like freaking funny, you know. Man, I miss this so much. And as I was standing there, I was talking about him, and I didn't I didn't use any names, I didn't say, oh, this is so this was A was or whatever, you know. I was just referring to Man as my brother, because he was my brother. And man, I've I've I've never dealt with that. It's gonna be two years since since his passing. And like I said, I don't I don't I don't like to talk about it too much. I don't I don't like to talk about it and and what had happened or anything like that, but man, it was so good to say out loud that I missed him because I felt like I couldn't, felt like I didn't have that, I didn't have that um that right to say that I miss him. I didn't have that right to say that, man, I I just wish that he was here, you know. But man, Tuesday, it was it was so good to say that out loud. Tuesday, it was it was so good. And and I didn't tell anybody about this. I didn't tell anybody that that I was doing this. Um, like I said, I I move in silence when it comes to things like this. Why? Because I don't I don't want people to to overpraise it. Because for me, I have no right being up there talking to kids. I have no right being anywhere talking to anybody trying to give advice, you know. I have no right because why? Because I'm a dumbass myself, man. Like I said, I'm I'm barely growing up. You know, I barely like like I barely at that stage of my life where I was just like, damn, you know, that was stupid of me. Tuesday as I was talking, excuse me, Tuesday as I was talking, I said out loud too. I said, man, I said I am blessed, I am privileged, privileged to be here. I said, I don't know how many times I should have died, and I was being honest, I said, I don't know how many times I should have died. If you guys have listened to the old podcast, the stories, near death experience stories, dumb stories, and if you guys know me personally, the true stories, the true stories, man. I don't know how many times from me being in fights, a shootout kind of, I guess you could say, yeah, to just freaking near-death experiences. Like, I don't, and I I stood there just talking to these kids, being honest with them, being truthful to them, telling them, you know, you matter, you matter, you guys, you're you being here, you matter. And then afterwards, you know, um, again, young lady came up, and she was like, Michael, she's like, that's exactly what I needed to hear. She's like, but she's like, but, but, and I knew, and and you know, it it was a test. It was it was a test. And I told her, I was I said, you know what? I said, uh, I said, yeah, I said, I'll be there for you. I said, even, I said, as a friend, I said, I'll be there for you. And I told her. I said, your eighth grade promotion, I said, let me know. I said, I'll be there for you. As soon as I said that, tears started coming down her face, tears started streaming down her face. And she was like, Can I just give you a hug? And I gave her a hug. And as I, you know, I gave her gave her a hug, gave her a side hug. Because you know, um I'm a father, I'm an uncle, I'm a brother. I know that feeling of of rejection. And afterwards, you know, I I told her, I said, I said, get, I said, get my information, I said get my uh email address after from Miss, you know, whatever. I'm not gonna say her name again. Yeah, get get get my information or or talk to her so she can talk to me, and that way, you know, like we can um that you know I'll make sure that you're okay. And I told her, I said, when it when it's time and you're graduating, I said, when you graduate high school, I said, let me know. I said, I'll be there. And man, she just lost it. She just started crying, and she was just like, I appreciate that. She was like, that's the first time that I've ever had that. And you know, said to me. And I told her, I said, man, I said, you're still here. I said, I'm proud of you. I said, you are still here. I said you were strong enough to come and talk to me and tell me what was going on. I said, man, I said, I can't even do that. I can't even do that. I said, as a freaking adult, I said, I can't even do that. And I said, man, I said, you came over here, you talked to me. I said, complete stranger. And I said, man, I said, you got, I see, more power to you. I said, you, I said, you are going to make a great person. I said, you are gonna make an awesome woman. I said, you one day, I said, if you get a if you get a boyfriend, a husband, I said you're gonna make an awesome girlfriend, you're gonna make an awesome wife. And I said, just know that you always gonna have somebody in that in your corner. And I said, hey, I said, I'm here. And she was just like super thankful about that. And this morning as I got up, I was praying. Um, you know, just thank, like I said, thanking the creator for for everything. I was just looking back on all the dumb shit that I've done in my life, and I was humble and I was like, God, I was like, why would you use anybody like me? Why would you use anybody like me to even stand in front of all these kids and tell of my hurt, of my pain, and tell them that I'm still hurting, and tell them that that I'm not perfect, that I'm still going through these situations. Like, God, why would you use me? Like, why would you use me? I wasn't expecting the answer from God. Like I said, you know, God, God's timing, God shows us, God, God tells us in his timely manner. So I wasn't like mad when I didn't hear an answer, but just on this drive to work, man, I was reminded why I'm still here. Freaking this amazing drive, freaking the best job I have in the whole entire world, friends, you know, my work bestie. You know, people are in my lives, loves, you know, they they freaking are why I'm still here. And I wanted to come on here and tell you guys why you guys are still here, why you guys are listening to this podcast. Some of you guys might need it, need might have needed to hear this, but man, you are doing an amazing job. Again, I know I've said it over and over, but man, you are doing a hell of a job. Mothers out there that are raising kids on your own. Holy cow, man, you guys are freaking queens. You guys are freaking champs. Fathers that are out there, they're actually in their kids' lives, they are being that father figure to them. You guys are freaking kings, yo. Take a bow, take that crown, put it on. You guys are doing an amazing job. If you guys haven't heard it yet, and you guys are out there and you guys are running on empty, hey, keep on, keep on. That gas station is just up on that hill right there. That gas station to get refill on life, is just on that hill right there. And I'm just riding along with you, man. I freaking ride shotgun with you. We'll freaking ride fumes, we'll ride fumes all the way to that gas station until we can fill up again, man. And I just wanted to remind you guys that I'm in your corner. Like, holy cow, I'm in your corner. I might not see you all the time, I might not talk to you all the time, I might not tell you how much I love you all the time, but I am in your corner. I am going to be your biggest fan, and man, you make a difference in this world. Why? Because you are still here, yo. You are freaking still here, man. And I appreciate everybody this in my circle. I appreciate everybody that that reaches out to me, that calls me, that texts me, and it's not a lot. Like, holy cow, like, if you guys are around me, seriously, my phone is fucking dry as fuck. I just leave my phone all over the place now. Why? Because ain't nobody texting me, ain't nobody calls me, you know? And that that's that's totally fine. You know, I I am okay with that. I'm okay with that. Because I've said time and time again, I know people have lives, I know people are busy, I know people are dealing with their own stuff, but I wanted to re-re reassure you guys that I'm here. If you guys ever need you know somebody to talk to you, somebody to hang out with, you know, I'll I'll I'll do my best to be there for you, but I will be there for you. If you guys need somebody to cuss out, hey, your baby mama's being a bitch, hey, yeah, your baby daddy's being an asshole, shit. I'll be there, yeah. You can fucking cuss me out, man. Cuss me out, eh? You know, but man, just to let you guys know that you guys are awesome, man. I love each and every one of you guys. Thank you guys so much for again always being with me on this journey, this podcast journey, allowing me to come on here to share my feelings. Besides being with Shells, you know, besides that comedy part, there is there is a serious side of Michael. And that serious side is the one that stands in front of 800 kids and talks about his hurt, talks about his pain, talks about things that lot that he lost in his life. Talk about the brokenness, talk about the being unperfect and being transparent and being telling them that you know what I'm a father, but I make mistakes. I'm a son, but I make mistakes. I'm a I'm a friend, but I make mistakes. And you know what? It's okay to make mistakes. It's okay to make mistakes. Because how are we gonna learn from those mistakes if we don't make them? Being able to do that is freaking amazing. And like I said, you know, I I I never I never thought that I would I would be in that position to even say that, to even tell people that. And why, why, why they choose me? I have no idea. But but I am so blessed, like I am so blessed to have even been put in that position. And it's all because of you guys, you guys is uh um encouragement to me to keep on. Um and I I do it because like I said, you know, people people need to be on this earth, people need to stay on this earth. We lost too many people to dumb shit, we lost too many people to to um you know the the the mental health mental health crisis. We lost too many people to alcoholism, we lost too many people to you know drunk drivers hitting them. And it just sucks, it sucks, it sucks. And for me to be up there to tell people that I love them, strangers, people that I don't even know. Now, now they're all my friends. Look at them as all my kids. Hey, now I have 800 kids, hey but but to be able to do that is a freaking blessing, like I said. Um at the end of at the end of my little speech, my little TED talk or whatever, I had all these kids coming up to me saying, Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. And I was like, I don't even know what you think, what you know, like like I said, I feel I felt like a pee. I felt like a pee. And you guys know that I don't eat peas. Hey, you guys don't know I like peas, eh? But I felt like a pee, you know, because I'm just like in my mind, I was like, man, these kids, these kids are just barely starting out their lives, and for them to have all this burden is crazy because at my age, when I was a middle schooler, all I wanted to know is if she liked me or not. That was the biggest concern in my life. Was did she like me or not? Did Stephanie see me do that maze on bitch? Hey, still mad, did she even know? That was for and all these that was my biggest concern, but nowadays, man, these kids they got bigger concerns. They got, does anybody love me? If I was to do anything to myself, would anybody care? Some people, some of these kids are like, man, I'm raising myself, I'm by myself. I have nobody that loves me. I go home to an empty home. I go home to an alcoholic mom. I go home to an alcoholic father. Some of them have probably been sexually abused and we don't know about it. And I'm like, man, that's that's that's a lot for a middle schooler. Like I said, back in my day, I was just concerned on shoot, man, if she liked me or not. And I'm saying this to end this, just just just to let you guys know. If you guys have kids that are in that rage, please check on them. Please make sure that they are being loved. Please make sure that they know. Even though you know it might be a hate or love-hate relationship of like, oh man, they don't listen, you know, they do whatever they want, whatever. Just check on them, make sure they're good. Make sure that their mental health is good. Mental health is is crazy, especially within our young kids today. Holy cow. I know some adults try to use that as a clutch for people to feel sorry for them, but it's it's it's getting deeper and bigger within our kids, within our young people. And just to get that text from Brooklyn, man, was was the best thing ever. Like I said, my kid's gonna be 20 this year. Holy cow, man. But just to know that she still she still sees herself as daddy's girl, as daddy's little girl, you know, it brings joy to my heart. Knowing that when times do get rough, she still comes to me, you know? And man, love life, love life to the fullest, man. I can't tell you guys that enough, man. Love life to the fullest. And remember, man, I love you guys. I love you guys, man. As always, man, you guys are in the favor of the creator. Again, just wanted to jump on here and share this little story. Uh, like I said, I I I I didn't talk about this. I didn't I didn't there's a lot of things that I'm doing on on on the low that I'm not announcing. Why? Because it's just it doesn't need to be announced. Some things just do not need to be announced. Uh, I'll talk about it after it happens. Hey man. But man, I I thank you guys so much for just again, always just being with me on this journey, always just reaching out saying, hey man, that podcast with you and Shells was funny as hell, but I needed to hear the serious side too. Um man, that that always brings joy to my heart. That always puts a smile on my face. And man, again, you guys are freaking amazing. You guys are freaking awesome, man. Don't you guys forget it. Don't you guys forget it. I love you guys so much. Ladies, ladies, as we conclude to that, uh, as we conclude to that, just want to just, you know, want to say um a little prayer with you guys before I get off this podcast. Um, but God, I come before you right now, give you thanks, I give you praise, thank you for this day, another day here on planet earth. God, I thank you for all these listeners that are listening right now. God, I don't know their situation, I don't know what they're going through, but all I know is that we need them here on earth. God, I don't know their pain, I don't know their suffering, I don't know what they've been through, but God, all I know is that we need them here on earth. God, and I pray, God, that you speak to them, you give them peace, you give them comfort, you give them wisdom, you give them knowledge, and God, you give them direction in their life. God, I lift them up to you right now, God, and I pray blessings upon their life. God, I pray for their job, I pray for their journey, I pray for their kids, I pray for their family. God, most importantly, I pray for them, I pray for their hearts. God, if there's any kind of unforgiveness, God, I pray that you start to break that wall down. God, that you start the healing process in their life. And God, know, God, let them know, God, that you are there for them, God, as well as I am as well, God. God, I pray that you protect them throughout their day. God, you put a smile on their face because their smile is so contagious. God, I pray, God, that you show yourself to them, God, and let them know that you exist and that you are the creator of all things. We pray this all in your name. Amen. I know some of you guys are like, man, that's weird. Mikey prayed. Hey, I gotta pray inside, you know what I'm saying? Just because I don't do it all the time doesn't mean that I have faith, you know. Uh, but man, I just again I want to tell you guys that I love you guys so much. Again, thank you guys so much for listening to the podcast. Word around the campfire, ladies, smile because your smile is so contagious. Men, man, you guys are handsome way beyond you give yourself credit for. And remember, as always, you guys are in the favor of the creator. I love you guys, man. May 26th, May 26th. Let me just throw this out there. May 26th. Acoustic heartbreaks drops. Man, thank you guys so much for everybody that pre-ordered, uh, that pre-saved. Man, it is uh freaking amazing. Don't forget to share with all your friends. Don't forget to share this podcast with all your friends. Like, subscribe, and most importantly, man, don't forget to stop to not stop being awesome. All right, be awesome, be awesome, be awesome. I love you guys so much, man. Again, if you guys didn't hear around the the campfire, then it probably wasn't true. She's let's go, man.

SPEAKER_01 49:56

Thank you for tuning into the podcast.