On today’s 200th episode of Tola Talks, we share the Top 10 Lessons Learned from Women’s Volleyball, emphasizing the importance of positivity, teamwork, focus, and resilience. We also discuss the highlights of how these principles can be applied not only in sports but also in everyday life, encouraging everyone to celebrate the small victories in life and to always learn from your defeats – all the while maintaining a commitment to good sportsmanship. We also dive into the 1987 romantic drama, Dirty Dancing, one of my favorites, starring the late (and great) Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.
‘Major League’ Review & Hollywood Woes on Tola Talks – Ep #198
On today’s Tola Talks, we discuss various controversies dominating the news including Russian sanctions, White House construction projects, and the Gaza cease fire, before shifting to a nostalgic celebration of Major League Baseball – the 1989 movie starring Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen, Major League – plus a good luck shout-out to the former New York Yankee and bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, Don Mattingly, aka, Donnie Baseball. We also reflect on the decline of Hollywood and the impact of the 1980s on film, sharing my Top 30 movie picks from that era, highlighting their cultural significance as well as my personal memories associated with them.
Have a great day everyone, and as always, get your workout in! Peace – R
Kindness, Domestic Violence & Forgiveness on Tola Talks – Ep #197
In yesterday’s Tola Talks, we discuss the themes of kindness, domestic violence, and self-forgiveness. The conversation begins with a reflection on kindness and its profound impact on our lives and DNA. As October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we delve into the complexities of domestic violence, its effects on individuals and families, and the importance of recognizing and addressing it. The discussion transitions into the theme of self-forgiveness, emphasizing the need to let go of blame and embrace accountability as a path to healing.
If you or anyone you know is a victim of Domestic Violence, please watch this show and share it with your friends! Peace – R
Police Work is Hard & Officer Interview on Tola Talks – Ep #196
Today I interview my longtime friend, Guy LiMato, a retired police officer with a rich background in law enforcement and education. We discuss Guy’s journey into policing, the stress and challenges faced by officers today, and the realities of domestic violence calls. The conversation also touches on Guy’s transition into education, working with special needs children, and the importance of family dynamics in shaping behavior. We also explore the differences between policing as portrayed in the media versus real life, and delve into the roles of the National Guard and ICE in current law enforcement.
And since Guy is all too familiar with K-12 teaching – instructor’s aid for 10 years – we reflect on my new book, The Sub: Tales of an Inner-City Teacher and the challenges of classroom management and the future of education.
Thanks for tuning in, and as always, get your workout in! Peace – R
Enough is Enough on Tola Talks – Ep #194
In this episode of Tola Talks, we discuss the theme of ‘enough’ in various contexts, including media confidence, the US government shutdown, the Gaza war, plus societal standards. We also highlight the recent Gallup poll titled, “Media Trust Falls Again”, that details how trust and confidence in mass media has declined to a low of 28% (down from 72% in the late 1970’s).
And of course there’s some inspiring talk about the commitment to fitness (and of course my favorite, weightlifting), personal motivation, and the importance of adhering to a daily fitness program. I also reflect on personal heroes like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Joe Dodd, including cool movie nostalgia (Pumping Iron, The Italian Job, The Breakfast Club) as well as encouraging everyone to maintain a positive outlook and to stay active.
Finally, there’s some fun talk about me binging on the 1997 series, Law and Order, plus the 12 Hollywood myths that are totally fake. Check it out and Subscribe to watch us LIVE! Peace – R
Baby Boomers Beware on Tola Talks – Ep #193
In this episode of Tola Talks, we discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by baby boomers, emphasizing the importance of purpose in life. We also explore health concerns, particularly strokes, and share the Top 10 preventive measures. There’s also a quick movie review of the 1997 thriller ‘Con Air’ starring Nicholas Cage, plus a shout-out celebration of Taylor Swift’s new 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, highlighting the impact her of music across generations – especially the Elementary School kids I taught.
Thanks for tuning in, and as always, get your workout in! Peace – R
Live-streaming and More on Tola Talks – Ep #191
Hey everyone, Tola Talks is back!
This time around it’s all LIVE, so hope you can join us on YouTube or LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter) or Twitch. For today’s Episode #191 we kept it short and sweet while discussing my new book, The Sub: Tales of an Inner-City Teacher, plus some excellent teachings from the Chinese philosopher and humanitarian, Confucius.
Have an awesome day and as always, get your workout in! Peace – R
Stay Calm and Focused
This simple expression pretty much sums it up regarding the qualities needed to succeed at anything in life. Whether it be the Masters Championship – congrats Jon Rahm on yesterday’s win – or the yearly presentation to your company’s shareholders, or the PTA meeting with your daughter’s Kindergarten teacher, or your daily fitness program for that matter.
Simply put…just do it.
Staying calm and focused helps you “stay in the moment” while remaining free and observant – and absorbent – to perform your very best. Just be prepared and confident to let your talents shine and your fortitude prevail.
As we reach the 100th day of 2023, I hope your goals and aspirations for this year and the future remain alive and well – even when extreme patience is required to reach your final destination. And may your mind, body and spirit, aka your temple, be brimming with strength, power and positivity. Mine is, as well as my plans for a new and improved season of TOLA TALKS bringing back our LIVE broadcast format on YouTube and Spotify – something I’ve been looking forward to since the show first launched on LATalkRadio back in 2017.
Have an awesome Spring everyone…and get your workout in! Peace – R
Nomad Living – The End
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.
At least when it comes to those good things that have a positive impact on your life and are meant to be provisional. That is to say, they’re meant to inspire and empower you in the present moment, but definitely not the long haul.
Like nomad living.
Because any individual who roams about for any length of time will certainly desire a more permanent resting place. Trust me, I should know. After 9 months of transversing this great country – from LA to Plano to Las Vegas to San Diego with many many stops and cities in between – I’ve found my way back to Texas (no kidding). Although I loved every minute of the journey as well as my time in San Diego – a place akin to heaven – it was time to return to the land of the free and home of the brave. Thus, I’m back in Lone Star state.
As for cryptocurrencies, well that’s another story. Since my last post they’ve crashed by more than 50% and have no doubt sent seismic shocks to my portfolio, to say the least. But then again when it comes to anything in life and especially stocks and cryptos, nothing goes straight up. So keep the faith and HODL on for dear life everyone, because like I’ve said many times before on Tola Talks Texas, we’re in the first inning of a very long ball game.
Be kind and stay strong everyone, and no matter what, get your workout in!
Peace – R
Nomad Living – Part 1
Four months ago I packed my shiny new Bronco to the gills and departed California on a beautiful sunny morning (of course). On my way to Texas, with no particular city in mind or specific travel map in place except for my one goal: to find a place to live within a month. Just the right amount of time to visit and explore at least a dozen major cities along the way.
You may call it a long road trip, but I call it Nomad Living. Nomad as in “a member of a people who have no fixed residence but move from place to place”. And that would be me.
The good news is I love to explore and have since adapted to the inconveniences of not having a fixed residence – trust me, there are many. Plus, nomad living is never boring because you’re always scrambling to familiarize yourself with the plethora of unknowns. Until you eventually land and get the lay of the land, like I did in Plano for a few months and where I also produced my podcast, Tola Talks Texas. Opinionated and oftentimes political for sure, and be sure to check out my two favorite episodes Ep 8 – Suicide Sucks and Ep 20 – Never Live in Fear.
Then it was back on the road, again, this time desiring to spend quality time with my father who’s battling liver cancer as well as revisit some old friends and haunts in Las Vegas and of course, my formerly beloved LA. Not to mention a bunch more cities along the way.
All told I’ve driven 12,000 miles in 120 days while heartily visiting the following 30 cities: Yuma, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tuscon, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Flagstaff, Sedona, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, Boulder City, Amarillo, El Paso, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Waco, Fort Worth, Dallas, Denton, Frisco, Plano, Needles, Riverside, Pasadena, LA and most recently, San Diego – as I write this I’m curiously exploring the boatloads of amazing neighborhoods and beaches of SD!
Have an awesome weekend and keep moving forward with your goals and dreams everyone…and get your workout in! Peace – R
