Worth the Drive

Michael Farmer

5.0 (3)
Entrepreneurship

Worth the Drive 🎙️ The people behind the places you love. Real conversations with local creators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders—recorded while driving through the city in a classic car. Stories about culture, identity, and the moments that shape our communities. 📍 Long Beach & beyond 🎧 New episodes dropping weekly ⬇️ Tap in

Aug 3

You Are More Than Your Sport, Julie Schiller on Mental Health, Identity & the Future of Women’s Sports. Worth the Drive

Send us Fan Mail What happens when an athlete’s entire identity is tied to the sport they love? In this episode of Worth the Drive, Michael sits down with Julie Schiller, a former social worker, personal trainer, and now advocate for athlete mental health and mental performance. Julie’s journey has taken her from social work and community service to fitness and sports psychology—and ultimately to a mission of helping athletes build healthier relationships with competition, identity, and themselves. Julie and Michael dive deep into the mental side of sports: burnout, injuries, pressure, toxic coaching cultures, boundaries, and what happens when an athlete suddenly loses the sport that has defined their entire life. They also talk about the importance of helping young athletes develop an identity beyond their sport, why rest and recovery should be part of performance, and why mental health support needs to begin long before an athlete reaches a breaking point. Julie explains how her own experience of leaving sports earlier than she wanted continues to shape the work she does today. The conversation also turns toward the rapid growth of women’s sports and the need to build a healthier culture from the ground up—one that supports athletes not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. Julie’s “why” is simple: she believes women’s sports are on the brink of something incredible, and she wants to help make that future better. This is a conversation about sports, but it’s really about something much bigger: who we become when we stop defining ourselves by just one thing. Because whether you’re an athlete, a parent, a coach, or simply trying to navigate life, the lesson is the same: You are more than what you do. Support the show
Jul 28

Long Beach is a lifestyle, Atira Rodriguez : Worth the Drive

Send us Fan Mail Behind every great community is someone committed to telling its story. In this episode of Worth the Drive, Michael sits down with Atira Rodriguez, publisher of Long Beach City Lifestyle, to talk about the power of local storytelling, entrepreneurship, and building community through authentic connections. Tira shares her incredible journey from New Jersey to Long Beach, how she helped guide the Long Beach Post through years of change, and the leap of faith that led her to launch Long Beach City Lifestyle. Along the way, she opens up about navigating career uncertainty, personal loss, motherhood, raising a son with autism, and trusting that even life's hardest seasons can prepare you for your greatest purpose. The conversation explores why print still matters in a digital world, how meaningful stories create trust, and why celebrating the people who quietly make a city better is more important than ever. If you've ever wondered what it takes to build something meaningful, lead with integrity, or simply make your community a better place, this episode is for you. Because Long Beach isn't just a city—it's a collection of neighborhoods, stories, and people who prove every day that they're Worth the Drive. Support the show
Jul 20

Joe Rivera: Worth the Drive

Send us Fan Mail This week on Worth the Drive, Michael sits down with Joe "Joe Future" Rivera—a DJ with over 40 years behind the turntables, wedding officiant, relationship coach, and one of the most respected personalities in Southern California's wedding industry. Joe shares the incredible story of how a childhood love of music, inspired by his grandmother, grew into a lifelong career that kept him out of trouble and led him to thousands of unforgettable celebrations. From spinning records at just 13 years old in Compton to DJing weddings, officiating ceremonies, coaching couples, and mastering the art of reading a room, Joe reveals what it really takes to create moments people remember for a lifetime. Along the way, Michael and Joe dive into the psychology of music, the importance of human connection, the evolution of weddings, and why great DJs do far more than play songs—they manage emotion, energy, and memories. Joe also opens up about personal struggles, lessons learned through divorce, becoming a better listener, and how those experiences shaped his work helping couples build stronger relationships. This episode is packed with hilarious stories, behind-the-scenes wedding insights, and meaningful conversations about purpose, growth, and the power of showing up for people. Whether you're planning a wedding, love music, or simply enjoy hearing how passion can evolve into purpose, this is one drive you won't want to miss. Support the show
Jul 14

Turner's Cubs: Worth the Drive

Send us Fan Mail What makes someone worthy of trusting with your child? In this heartfelt episode of Worth the Drive, Michael sits down with Nesha Turner, founder of Turner's Cubs, to talk about one of the most important jobs in the world—caring for the next generation. Nesha shares her journey from working with law enforcement with the Los Angeles Unified School District to taking the leap of faith to build an in-home childcare program centered on love, structure, and emotional development. Together, they explore the challenges parents face in finding childcare they can truly trust, why kindness and emotional intelligence matter just as much as ABCs and numbers, and how the smallest acts of compassion can shape a child's entire future. This conversation is about more than daycare. It's about community, the village it takes to raise children, and the responsibility we all share in creating a generation that's more compassionate, confident, and connected than the one before it. If you've ever wondered what it really means to invest in the future, this episode is a reminder that it starts with the people who care for our children every single day. Because the future of our community is sitting in today's classrooms—and the people who guide them are absolutely worth the drive. Support the show
Jul 7

"Trust" Us with Wendy : Worth the Drive

Send us Fan Mail Some people think estate planning is about preparing for death. This conversation reveals it's really about protecting the people you love while you're still here. In this episode of Worth the Drive, Michael sits down with Wendy Brown, founder of Brown Legacy Law, Army veteran, and Long Beach estate planning attorney, for one of the most honest conversations you'll hear about family, money, and legacy. Wendy shares the deeply personal story that shaped her career—from watching her grandmother build a successful real estate empire to witnessing how a lack of financial education caused that legacy to slowly disappear. She opens up about family struggles, military deployments, loss, financial abuse, and the lessons that inspired her to help others protect what they've worked so hard to build. Together, Michael and Wendy explore the difference between wills and trusts, why probate can cost families far more than they expect, how to choose guardians for your children, and why passing down wealth without passing down wisdom can create more harm than good. Whether you're a homeowner, a parent, a business owner, or simply someone who wants to leave the people you love in a better position than you found them, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Because your legacy isn't measured by what you leave behind—it's measured by how well you've prepared the people who receive it. Support the show
Jun 30

The Loneliest Drive: Worth the Drive

Send us Fan Mail For the first time, the passenger seat is empty. In this deeply personal solo episode of Worth the Drive, Michael opens up about a conversation that too many men never have—mental health. As Men's Mental Health Month comes to a close, he reflects on the lessons boys are taught growing up: don't cry, be strong, walk it off. He explores how those messages shape fathers, husbands, sons, and friends, often leaving them to carry pain in silence. Through stories from his own life, his relationship with his father, and the perspective he's gained raising two sons, Michael shares what he's learned about vulnerability, loneliness, masculinity, and the courage it takes to ask for help. This isn't an episode about having all the answers. It's about starting the conversation. Whether you're a man who's been carrying more than anyone knows, or someone who loves one, this episode is a reminder that strength isn't found in suffering alone—it's found in connection, honesty, and the willingness to say, "I'm not okay." Because every person has a story, even the ones they never tell. And every story is worth the drive. Support the show
Jun 23

Katie Reid: Worth the Drive

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the people who are supposed to love you most reject who you truly are? In this deeply personal episode of Worth the Drive, Michael sits down with Katie Reid—founder of Reid’s Real Estate Group, longtime advocate for the Deaf community, and a proud Long Beach resident whose journey is defined by resilience, grace, and purpose. Katie shares the painful story of coming out, being asked to leave her family, and arriving in Long Beach searching for a place where she could finally belong. What followed was a journey through heartbreak, healing, forgiveness, motherhood, and discovering that community can become family. Together, Michael and Katie dive into faith, LGBTQ+ identity, unconditional love, adoption, accessibility, raising children with acceptance, and the power of choosing purpose over pain. They also explore Katie’s work serving the Deaf community during COVID, her passion for restoring homes and building community through real estate, and why living authentically is the greatest legacy any of us can leave behind. This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt rejected, alone, or unsure where they belong. Because sometimes the people who have been hurt the most become the people who love the hardest. Support the show
Jun 16

Dr Evelyn Carter: Worth the Drive.

Send us Fan Mail Can people overcome the beliefs they were raised with? In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Michael sits down with Dr. Evelyn Carter, author of Was That Racist?, to explore racism, empathy, history, and the possibility of growth. Dr. Carter shares her experiences as a Black woman, mother, educator, and researcher, while Michael opens up about being raised in a white supremacist family and the difficult process of unlearning hate. Together, they discuss everything from subtle microaggressions and generational trauma to the role history plays in shaping our understanding of race today. Through honest storytelling and challenging conversations, this episode examines how racism is taught, how empathy can be learned, and why confronting uncomfortable truths is essential if we hope to create a better future. This is a conversation about accountability, compassion, and the belief that who we become is not determined solely by where we come from. Sometimes the hardest journeys are the ones most worth taking. Support the show

5

out of 5

3 Ratings

Worth the Drive 🎙️ The people behind the places you love. Real conversations with local creators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders—recorded while driving through the city in a classic car. Stories about culture, identity, and the moments that shape our communities. 📍 Long Beach & beyond 🎧 New episodes dropping weekly ⬇️ Tap in

Creator

Michael Farmer
Years Active

2026
Episodes

15
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 Worth the Drive
Show Website

Worth the Drive