YouTube video by JLJ Media

YouTube video by JLJ Media

YouTube video by JLJ Media

There’s something strange about packing your bags when you know you’re not the same person who unpacked them. I’ve been in Indiana—and spent some time in Illinois—for about a month now. And now it’s time for me to leave. For now. I keep adding those two words because I’ve learned something during this trip: I don’t really know where life is taking me anymore.

I want to talk about something that I think a lot of people experience but don't always feel comfortable saying out loud. People need to handle their business so that their lack of action doesn't create chaos for everyone else. There. I said it. And before anybody gets upset, let me explain what I mean. I'm talking about taking responsibility for your own life.

Let’s talk about disappointment. Not the kind where your favorite restaurant runs out of the meal you wanted. Although, depending on how hungry I am, that can be a serious situation! I’m talking about the kind of disappointment that comes from people. Someone you trusted. Someone you believed in. Someone you thought would show up for you, support you, love you, or simply treat you with the same consideration you gave them.

There was a time when a business lunch was actually a LUNCH. Not a protein bar eaten while answering emails. Not a salad in a plastic container while staring at a laptop. And certainly not a 30-minute Zoom meeting where everybody is pretending they aren't eating. I'm talking about the good old-fashioned business lunch. The kind where you put on a nice suit, went to a restaurant with actual tablecloths, sat down with colleagues or clients, and ordered something that required a knife, a fork, and possibly a napkin tucked into your collar.

I have been having a LOT of business meetings lately. Meeting new people, discussing potential partnerships, pitching ideas, exchanging contact information, and trying to figure out whether we can create something amazing together. And somewhere between my third Zoom meeting and my fifth introductory conversation, I had a realization. This is starting to feel like SPEED DATING! Seriously! You meet someone new.

A Black Guy Confronts · Episode

Something has been happening in my life lately that I'm really enjoying. I'm meeting new people. Not just new people who are basically versions of people I already know. I'm talking about people from different backgrounds, different professions, different parts of the country, different generations, different cultures, and people who have lived lives that look nothing like mine. And I'm discovering just how…

When I first got into this business 12 years ago, I never imagined there would be people who would actually call themselves fans of mine. The entertainment industry seemed ginormous to me. Television, movies, radio, music, celebrities, producers, hosts, journalists, actors—there were all these people doing big things on big stages. And then there was little ole me. I wasn't coming into the business thinking, …

There was a time when making plans with people meant I actually expected the plans to happen. I know. How naïve of me. We would pick a day. Pick a time. Figure out where we were going. Everybody would say, “Sounds good!” I would arrange my schedule, get myself mentally prepared to leave the house, and perhaps even put on something that required ironing.

Grandparents Day always brings up a certain image. Silver hair. Rocking chair. Fresh cookies. Maybe a cardigan. Someone peacefully enjoying retirement while dispensing wisdom to the younger generations. And then there are grandparents like me. We’re answering work emails, running businesses, paying bills, thinking about our next career move, trying to exercise, figuring out dating, helping our grown children, occasionally still raising children ourselves—and somewhere in the middle of all that, somebody runs into the room yelling:

We use towels every day, but here's a question we don't always think about: How often should we actually change them? A towel may look clean after you use it, but remember—it's getting wet, picking up dead skin cells and hanging around in a warm bathroom. So keeping up with your towels isn't just an organizing issue. It's also about cleanliness and keeping your bathroom fresh.

You organized your linen closet. It looked beautiful. The towels were folded. The sheets were stacked. Everything had a place. Then real life happened. Now you're opening the door and wondering, "Didn't I JUST organize this?" 😂 Here's your Super Tip Thursday: Don't Reorganize It—RESET It! Once a week, spend just 5 minutes resetting your linen closet. Straighten the towel stacks, put stray items back into their proper baskets, refold anything that got shoved onto a shelf, and remove anything that doesn't belong there.

50 PLUS · Episode

Sometimes one small thing goes wrong and suddenly it feels like EVERYTHING is wrong. An unexpected bill arrives. Someone doesn't return your call. A work project hits a snag. Plans change at the last minute. You get an email you weren't expecting. And there goes your peace. I've learned that one of the most important things we can do in those moments is…

Fishing is supposed to be relaxing. But there's nothing relaxing about spending 20 minutes searching for the right lure while your fishing buddy is already catching fish! Here's this week's Super Tip Tuesday: 🎣 Organize Your Fishing Gear by Activity, Not Just by Item Instead of throwing everything into one giant tackle box, create small grab-and-go kits based on how you fish.

Labor Day isn't just the unofficial end of summer. It's not just barbecues, sales, a three-day weekend and one last chance to wear white—if anybody still follows that rule. Labor Day exists because of workers. The holiday grew out of the American labor movement and the belief that the people whose work keeps this country running deserve recognition, dignity and a voice.

There is a kind of caregiving that doesn’t always get talked about. The person you care for isn’t completely helpless. They can still do things for themselves. They can make decisions, have conversations, walk around, handle certain responsibilities, and maintain some independence. And yet, somehow, you have become the default. When something needs to be done, you’re the first call. When there’s an appointment, you’re involved.

There are times in life when you know something needs to change, but you cannot quite figure out what to do next. You may feel stuck in a relationship, a job, a creative project, a family situation, or even inside your own thoughts. You keep thinking about the same problem. You keep replaying the same conversations. You keep promising yourself that tomorrow will be different.

There is something refreshing about doing your work somewhere different. Maybe it is another city. Maybe another state. Maybe even another country. Whatever the distance, changing where you work can change how you feel about the work itself. We get used to routines. The same desk. The same coffee shop. The same commute. The same walls. Even when we like what we do, repetition can make work feel heavier than it actually is.

There is something about having a pet as an adult that is hard to fully explain until you have experienced it. When we are children, pets can feel like playmates. But as adults, they often become something much deeper. They become companions, witnesses to our lives, sources of comfort, and sometimes the one living being in the room who seems to understand us without us having to say a word.

I've been thinking a lot about Dolly Parton and what made her so special. Yes, there was the voice. The songwriting. The hair. The clothes. The humor. The incredible career. But I think there was something bigger. We could all stand to be a little more like Dolly. And I don't mean we need rhinestones and big blonde wigs—although I'm certainly not against either one.

There are stars, there are legends, and then there was Dolly Parton. Dolly had “it.” I've always found it difficult to describe that mysterious quality some people possess. You can't manufacture it. You can't buy it. And you certainly can't teach it. It's that special combination of talent, personality, authenticity and charisma that makes people want to be around you.

Friendship doesn’t always happen between people who are the same age. Some of my friendships are with people younger than me, and for the most part, age isn’t something we think about. We laugh at the same things. We talk about work. We share stories. We support each other. We can sit down for a meal and have conversations that have absolutely nothing to do with how old any of us are.

We’ve all heard the phrase “spinning multiple plates.” It’s usually used to describe being busy. You have work over here, family over there, bills somewhere else, a project that needs attention, people who need something from you, and somehow you’re trying to keep everything moving. But lately, I’ve been thinking about a different version of spinning multiple plates. What happens when they’re all plates you can’t hand off to someone else?

New Weekly Podcast coming from Coach Ryan Dieu and Georgetown Ridge Farm High School Football!

A Black Guy Confronts · Episode

I've had to learn something that sounds simple but isn't always easy to accept: I can control how I treat you. I cannot control how you react to me. I can choose my words carefully. I can try to be respectful. I can approach you with kindness. I can explain myself. I can apologize when I've done something wrong. I can even go out of my way to make sure you understand that I'm not trying to hurt you.

YouTube video by JLJ Media

I have learned something about myself that I probably should have learned a long time ago: When I really don't want to do something, I need to trust that feeling. I'm not talking about being lazy. I'm not talking about those things we don't feel like doing but know we need to do anyway. Paying bills. Going to an appointment. Handling responsibilities.

Dallas Aftershow · Episode

YouTube video by JLJ Media

We say things like, “Life can change in an instant.” It sounds like one of those phrases we repeat because we've heard it a thousand times. But think about what it actually means. One second. Not a year. Not a month. Not even a day. One second can divide your life into before and after. You can wake up in the morning believing you know exactly what your life looks like.

YouTube video by JLJ Media

I love television. I love movies. I love books. I love podcasts. But somewhere in the middle of all of those things is a form of storytelling that has completely captured my imagination: Audio drama. I create audio dramas because they allow me to build entire worlds without needing a camera. I can take you to a small town, a crowded city, another planet, a mysterious hotel, somebody's kitchen or the inside of someone's mind.

Tighten Up · Episode

Hollywood Mini Spotlight · Episode

In Between The Pages with James Lott Jr. · Episode