When you hear the word racism do you ever think of Asian Americans and how they are treated? Since the pandemic, the rise in hate crimes and violence to Asian Americans has increased by 164%. That is a staggering number but this is not the first experience with racism that the Asian American community has endured in our country. 

Today’s guest, Linda Tamura, who is a Sansei (third generation Japanese American) and daughter of a World War II veteran, is talking to us about the racism that Asian Americans experienced in the 1940’s when Japanese Americans were incarcerated in camps because of the war. She is the author of two books on the subject Nisei Soldiers Break their Silence and Hood River Issei. We also discuss the recent rise in hate crimes to the Asian American community and her ideas on what we can do to make things better.

A Professor Emerita of Education, Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, she is very involved in projects, exhibits, and organizations educating and celebrating the history of Japanese Americans and inclusion in Oregon. As a former elementary school teacher and university professor, Dr. Linda Tamura is a teacher of teachers and an educational leader.

Notable Quotes:

“I think that would be what I try to do as a teacher and what I try to continue to do now and that is simply to be a positive role model and a positive ally to others.”

“What can we do to make life better for ourselves but mostly for other people too?”

In this episode, you will hear:

- Linda’s history and how she became an advocate for educating and helping Asian Americans

- Why she made the choice to write her books

- What we can do to make things better for Asian Americans and all people

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

https://lindatamura.weebly.com/linda.html

https://www.voanews.com/usa/anti-asian-hate-us-predates-pandemic

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/12/countering-stereotypes

http://niseistamp.org/ 

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**

Over the past two years, we all probably know someone who had a mild case of COVID but how about someone who barely survived it? My guest today, Rick Barde, joins us to tell us about his experience surviving and recovering from COVID-19. Rick is a recently retired school teacher who spent nearly two months in the hospital battling this disease. His case was so severe, he was placed on ECMO (advanced life support equipment called Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) where 40% do not make it off and was placed in an induced coma to rest his lungs. He is truly thankful to be alive. He credits his recovery to all of the support he received from his wife, his school community, and the amazing nurses and doctors.

You will hear about his experience through the worst parts of this disease, his recovery that he is still dealing with today, how this has changed him, and what he wants others to learn from his experience.

Notable Quotes:

“When I know how many hundreds of thousands of people have died, and I didn’t, and mine was such a bad case, I am fortunate, I am thankful, I am grateful to anybody and everybody who has been a part of my recovery.”

“If I can impact one person to make a choice to better the world by taking the vaccine or wearing a mask or whatever it may be, then I feel I am doing my job. We have to have more people out there who are making a clear choice to wear a mask and get vaccinated. It’s the only way we are going to get through this. I have hope that we’ll get there.”

“It’s changed me in that I am much more grateful for life. I get emotional about how close I was to not making it.”

“If people are thinking about getting vaccinated, I say ‘ I had COVID and you do not want to get what I got.’ ”

In this episode, you will hear:

- What Rick went through and what he remembers while battling COVID

- His recovery and the symptoms he still deals with today

- How COVID has changed him

- What he wants others to learn from his experience

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**

Do you know what your purpose is? Do you love what you do and are you happy? The reality is that most people don’t. My guest today, Stu Massengill, is on a mission to change the statistic that 80% of people don’t love what they do. He wants to help people find their true passion in life and give them the beautiful gift of waking up every morning excited to tackle and live a life of passion and fulfillment.

Stu is a Peak Performance Strategist and National Trainer for non-other than Tony Robbins. He is the Founder of Finding Direction University and Podcast where he helps people go from being lost in life to a life of passion and fulfillment. Listen in to hear about Stu’s life journey from creating successful organizations to battling cancer to how he found his purpose; and how he is now helping others find theirs.

Notable Quotes:

“Every single day I’m looking at how can I find happiness in that I have air in my lungs, how can I find happiness that I woke up today, that my eyes are opened.”

“I am such a believer that the seeds in our mind grow and that creates our life.”

“There’s 3 decisions you make every single moment of your life, it’s 1.What are you going to focus on? 2. What’s the meaning that you give that? 3. Ultimately, what are you going to do from that?”

“One day I had this massive realization that if I’m successful in this business, it’s my fault. And if I’m not successful, it’s also my fault. And I think that transcends to life. If you’re happy, that’s your fault.”

In this episode, you will hear:

- How Stu finds happiness and joy especially with the backdrop of 2020

- How having cancer shaped Stu’s life and view on happiness

- His advice and how he guides people to find their joy and passion

- What choices you can make to live a happy life right now

Connect with Stu:

Websites- https://www.stumassengill.com/

https://www.findingdirectionuniversity.com/

Podcast- https://www.stumassengill.com/findingdirection

3 Steps to Finding Direction in Under 10 Minutes- https://www.findingdirectionuniversity.com/3steps

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**

Our guest today, Terre Steinbeck, shares her story of riches to rags to riches again (and truly finding herself!). She was riding the real estate market wave back in the early 2000’s- driving a Range Rover, living in the best part of town, and wining and dining her friends and clients, when the market crash of 2008 hit. All of a sudden, she had no income coming in and with no savings, she faced decisions and choices she never thought she would have to make. 

She talks with us about her darkest days, the choices she made to turn her life around, and how even though it was a painful experience, she is grateful for the experience. She also gives advice for what someone can do if they find themselves in a similar situation.

Notable Quotes:

“Your head just takes you in horrible, horrible places when you are going through something you’ve never gone before.”

“My advice would be- exactly what I did- grab a hold of your friends, it doesn’t matter who they are, and if you’re homeless, grab a couple of homeless people. Figure out your goals, where do you want to be?”

“Having a group of people in the same spot that you’re in is truly helpful- and everybody is good at something.”

“Living within your means is paramount. I mean, that is something I was never taught how to do, and now I do it. I’ve been doing it for 10 years and I tell you, I can sleep at night.”

In this episode, you will hear:

- Terre’s story of having it all, losing it all and finding her true self

- The choices Terre made to turn her life around

- The importance of living within your means

- Her advice to others who may be in a similar situation

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**

2020, COVID-19, Pandemic- these words have such profound meaning on our whole world and what we have all experienced this past year. For seniors in high school, this has meant a lot of change, disappointments, and loss. Their last year of high school has not turned out the way they had once expected it would. 

Today we are going to hear it straight from the words of five high school seniors who talk to us about this past year, their experiences, and what it has been like being a senior in high school while living through this pandemic. They talk through what has been the most difficult for them, the impact of social media and their usage, the positives about the pandemic, how they have changed, and what they have learned through this unique year that no one will ever forget.

Notable Quotes:

“I feel like there’s no closure because I’m not going to be able to have my senior activities and have my last year on campus.” Julia

“School was really tolerable and I really enjoyed school because of the social aspect and I got to see all my friends so it made it really hard to just be locked up in my living room with my teacher assigning essays.” Jake

“I feel like I’ve grown up a lot in a short span of time.” Sami

“I’ve used a lot of social media even prior to the pandemic and I think this just kind of boosted it to a point where it’s a little bit even unhealthy.” Nick

“I’ve accomplished a lot of things I’d been putting off for a long time because of school.” Matt

In this episode, you will hear:

- What has been the most difficult thing about this past year

- How they have used social media to stay connected and what effect it has had on them

- The positives from the pandemic and what they have learned through this year

- How they now have a different outlook on the world and a new sense of appreciation for what they have

If you are a teenager, please seek out support and help if you need it. And if you are a parent, please make sure and talk to your kids.

Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**

Immigration. America is a country made up of immigrants. My parents are immigrants and probably many of your parents or grandparents are as well. It is an important topic and my guest today is the stories of immigrants. Sankar Raman, an immigrant himself who came to America to attend college, ended up working and retiring here. It was around the time of the 2016 election that Sankar was preparing to relax and enjoy his retirement. When he heard the anti-immigration rhetoric and the theme of scapegoating immigrants and immigrants of color, he knew he could not sit back and watch. He had to take action and do something.

Sankar started interviewing and telling immigrants stories to counteract the rhetoric of hate and negativity against immigrants. He has now interviewed over 180 immigrants and, through these stories, is able to hold true to his mission- to foster empathy and build a more inclusive community by sharing immigrant stories.

Notable Quotes:
“A lot of times we don’t take the time to understand our neighbors.”

“I think if you look at the common theme, these folks are resilient. To give up everything to come, to come to a new country without knowing the language. In most cases bringing a dollar or two with them, that’s what America.”

“And I think that is the beauty of human nature. And I think people are helping each other, giving a hand, at the same time once you are in a position to help, you return the favor.”

“This America is full of stories of all of us. You know, your story, my story, everyone’s story is what is the America’s story.”

In this episode, you will hear:
- Why he started the Immigrant Story program and what he hopes to accomplish through it
- Some of the profound changes he has seen with the conversations
- The common themes through the different immigrant stories
- Changes he would like to see regarding policy on immigration

Resources and links mentioned during this episode:

Link to my parent’s stories: https://theimmigrantstory.org/holocaust/?fbclid=IwAR1Hr_yM2pon0kFyrEEpviRUZipu-lJxQA_MV6tjHZ6IUkuyMS_asztn7Hs
Website: https://theimmigrantstory.org/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/many-roads-to-here/id1534252582
https://theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads/

Sankar is always looking to interview immigrants to share more stories. If you would like to tell your story, drop a note through the contact form on their website: https://theimmigrantstory.org/contact-us/


Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.

Coaching Information:
If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.
Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook .
If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**