Tag: president

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Tola Talks all things Millennial with Hollywood Writer, Ben Smith

Another great show on Columbus Day talking all things millennial with my good friend and Hollywood writer, Ben Smith.

Since moving to LA LA Land eight years ago, Ben has managed to survive by developing websites while pursing his passion as a screenwriter. He’s also become a much better writer and continues to hone his craft by taking show-runner classes at UCLA.

As a follow-up to last week’s “If I Were President”, I would raise the Federal Minimum Wage and require our unemployed receiving benefits to get their hands dirty, helping America achieve the cleanest streets in the world…no doubt!

In other news, Tola Talks Hollywood movies and gives a 5-star review to George Clooney’s The Ides of March, bestows the The Get Your Shit Together Award to a Judge in Michigan, plus “nudge” theory with this year’s winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in Economic Sciences.

Check it out below…and remember to get your workout in! Peace – R

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100 Days of TOLA YOGA in Seattle

This past weekend I celebrated my 100th day of living in the Emerald City while teaching Tola Yoga to more than 700 students in 63 classes.

And just like Seattleites love their coffee strong and flavorful, there’s no doubt they love my fitness style of Tola Yoga – which is also strong and flavorful. And if there’s anything more plentiful than a corner Starbucks in this town, it has to be these two elements: hills and rain.

No doubt.

Coming from a fitness and yoga dude who spent 100 days living in San Francisco (in 2012) and walking up California Street once a day, you gotta believe me, it’s true. Just try walking to the top of Queen Anne Avenue starting at Denny Way, or better yet, walk up James Street from Yesler Way to Broadway and you be the judge. And good luck if you’re carrying a 20 pound gym bag full of books, water and yoga gear – like I always do. Well, at least I can say I’m in the best shape of my life. As for the never-ending rain, well, it’s one of those things you get used to. I suppose 🙂

On that note, here are the five key highlights of my first 100 days in Seattle:

  1. Explored more than two dozen neighborhoods and cultural attractions including the iconic 605-ft-tall Space Needle, the beautiful Olympic Sculpture Park and Northlake Marina overlooking downtown Seattle (see pics),
  2. Established myself at six health clubs and yoga studios around town – currently teaching six weekly classes including one corporate client near Safeco Field (Go Mariners!),
  3. Spent three days kicking-the-bricks in the very clean and cosmopolitan, Vancouver, BC,
  4. Re-read five classic books including The Power of One, The Fountainhead, The World According to Garp, Tess of the D’Ubervilles and Great Expectations, and
  5. Worked out 100 days plus took a plethora of yoga classes with some wonderful yoginis.

Hope your previous 100 days were as plentiful and exciting as mine were.

Have an amazing St. Patrick’s Day everyone!

Peace – R

PS…if you haven’t read a good book lately – and I’m talking about the good ‘ole fashioned hard copy kind – then give one of mine a try.

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Tola Talks Homeless Man’s Kindness & Happy People

Tola Talks about the homeless man who fed his friends with $100 from YouTuber Josh Paler Lin, the woman who had a baby in the front seat of her van, CNN’s 5 lessons to make you extraordinary, plus the “best-of-the-best” with Taylor Swift, Chris Pratt & Kim Kardashian. On WTF Wednesday, Rich also discusses the 8 primary traits of happy people (thanks to Anne Parker). Weekdays on youtube.com/tolatalks. Merry Christmas Everyone!

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Tola Talks w/ Founder of Stage 32, Richard (RB) Botto

 

Tola Talks with Founder & CEO Richard (RB) Botto of Stage 32, the ultimate social networking web site for the entertainment industry, as well as entertains us with the latest news including the Irish Rock Band U2’s Bono requiring surgery from a bicycling accident, the new Jeep Renegade selling for well below $20,000, and the passing of legendary Hollywood Director, Mike Nichols. On Throwback Thursdays, Rich also talks about moving the show over to YouTube.com/TolaTalks Monday, November 24th and takes us back to the highlights of 1963.

Stage 32 Richard Botto Tola Talks Rich Tola

 

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Tola Talks w/ Celebrity Photographer & Director Scott Nathan


Tola Talks retirement income & America’s oldest worker (102), killer bees & America’s most expensive Zip Codes, plus the Get Your S#!T Together Award for chop blocks in the NFL. On Throwback Thursdays, Rich interviews celebrity photographer and director Scott Nathan, and discusses the highlights and pop culture of 2009. Plus, check out Scott’s new music video “Silence” that he directed with 21 year-old Cooper Phillip.

Weekdays on youtube.com/tolatalks.

Tola Talks' Rich Tola with Celebrity Photographer and Director, Scott Nathan
Tola Talks’ Rich Tola with Celebrity Photographer and Director, Scott Nathan
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Tola Talks w/ Author & Past Life Specialist Noreh Millar


Tola Talks past life flashbacks, deadly viruses, sex clubs in NYC and the new detective-mystery novel, Detour on the Road Home. On Throwback Thursdays, Rich interviews Author Noreh Millar…who also takes us back to her version of 1942 and her latest detective-mystery novel, Detour on the Road Home. Watch weekdays on youtube.com/tolatalks.

Tola Talks' Rich Tola with Author and Past Life Specialist, Noreh Millar.
Tola Talks’ Rich Tola with Author and Past Life Specialist, Noreh Millar.
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Raise the Minimum Wage to $12

As President of the United States, that’s what I would do. That’s right, and I’d slash corporate taxes to offset the increased labor costs, thereby creating a zero-sum game of sorts – so the government gets their fair share of taxes and companies can still make profits and thrive.

Let me explain.

For the past 6 years I’ve lived a creative life that wasn’t about the white-collar world and its 9-to-5 days filled with coffee breaks and softball games (or maybe now it’s soccer). In the creative world, getting a job to support your passion is all about blue-collar and minimum wage, not to mention how difficult it is to even get a job. And who can live off $8 an hour? Do the math: $8 x 7 hours (with your mandatory breaks) equals $56. After the government takes their share, let’s be generous and call it $50. Times 5 days a week equals $250 – a measly $1000 a month.

Now who can claim their Independence – let alone afford health insurance – on $1000 a month?

Nobody can, unless you share a studio apartment with 3 other people and eat peanut butter and bananas every day. Sure, you can get lucky and land a server or bartender job where you’ll earn tips on top of that, but it’s not that much more. Trust me, I know. And the work is stressful and grueling, so always remember to tip your wait staff. And go for the 20%…it makes a difference.

Today the news said that 20% of Americans are struggling to meet their financial needs on a day-to-day basis. That’s 1 out of every 5 Americans who can’t make ends meet. Way too many.

So what should we do? Raise the Minimum Wage to $12

Happy Independence Day everyone…and don’t forget to get your workout in!

Enjoy – R