Epics Podcast

Epics Podcast Network
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Epics Podcast

Welcome to the Epics Podcast where we tell Epic Stories from Epic People. My name is Alex Wait, host of Epics Podcast. We have not been told all of the stories worth telling. Through interviews and reflection, on the Epics Podcast, we will hear from the “ordinary”, the ignored and the broken of our communities, and what their stories are. Together, we will work to gain an understanding of hardships that are unfamiliar to us. Our intention is to find a common ground with one another from which we can start creating real change. Subscribe now to hear the next epic story!

  1. 25. Mac McGregor │The Gender sensei teaching about the yin & yang of gender norms. A journey of transition after years as a world class female athlete.

    04/28/2023

    25. Mac McGregor │The Gender sensei teaching about the yin & yang of gender norms. A journey of transition after years as a world class female athlete.

    In this episode of the Epics podcast, Alex interviews Mac McGregor, also known as the Gender Sensei, who is an activist and public speaker focused on creating a world where people can be their authentic selves. Mac talks about how martial arts impacted his life, his transition, and the importance of looking at gender norms in a new way. He also discusses his book, Positive Masculinity Now, and his self-help workshops for men to develop healthy masculine qualities and overcome toxicity. This conversation is an insightful exploration of how to combat hate and discrimination through understanding and education. Mac McGregor is the author of Positive Masculinity Now and is known as the Gender Sensei. Before his transition, he was a successful female athlete and inductee to the U.S. Karate Hall of Fame and a business owner. Mac has served as the Seattle City Commissioner from 2011-2016 and acted as a keynote speaker on the subjects of masculine behavior and sexuality. He runs several self-help workshops for men to develop healthy masculine qualities, learn about the queer community, and to overcome toxicity. Mac is a dedicated, heartfelt activist and educator who focuses every part of his existence on creating a world where people can feel free to be their authentic selves. The listener will learn about Mac's background in martial arts, their personal journey with gender identity, and their work as an activist and educator on topics of diversity, gender, and healthy masculinity. The episode offers insights on how to look at gender norms in a new way, including the importance of re-examining gender biases and stereotypes, challenging traditional gender norms, and embracing differences. Mac also discusses the concept of yin and yang energies and how they relate to gender norms and masculinity. Timestamps: [00:01:34] Martial arts as a soulmate. [00:06:05] Positive Masculinity. [00:09:42] Gender neutrality in martial arts. [00:13:02] Rare opportunity in sports. [00:16:11] Transitioning as an athlete. [00:20:23] Women's rights in sports. [00:24:10] Creating change from within. [00:27:38] Gender journey and martial arts. [00:31:56] Men learning from women's experiences. [00:35:48] Gender socialization and beliefs. [00:41:30] Redefining gender norms. [00:43:53] Masculine and feminine energies. [00:50:55] Masculinity and nurturing. [00:53:46] Challenging traditional masculinity norms. [00:55:27] Learning from Different Experiences. [01:00:27] Safe space at conventions. [01:02:54] Don't Miss Our Epic Stories. I started this podcast because I believe that the foundation of hate and discrimination in our world comes from a lack of understanding of those who are different from ourselves. We plan to combat that by hearing everyone's stories, that we can better understand them, be a part of creating real positive change. 🎙 Show Notes: EpicsPodcast.com/episodes/macmcgregor Mac’s Links: Website https://www.positivemasculinitynow.org/  Book https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Masculinity-Now-Emotionally-Intelligent/dp/B0B34V8HTZ  TikTok  https://www.tiktok.com/@positivemasculinitynow/  Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/positivemasculinitynow/  FB Page  https://www.facebook.com/Positivemasc/  YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/@positivemasculinity3458  🎙 EpicsPodcast.com 🎙 EpicsProductions.com 🎙 SHPE Out Loud Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shpe-out-loud-leading-hispanics-in-stem/id1640180728 🎙 Patreon: Patreon.com/EpicsPod 🎙 Join Podcasts with Purpose Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60d0ce05a462d91c1971b4dc Alex’s IG: @alexraywait

    1h 4m
  2. 24. Janell Jones │Breaking Barriers and Empowering Women. From teenage mom to best selling author.

    04/14/2023

    24. Janell Jones │Breaking Barriers and Empowering Women. From teenage mom to best selling author.

    In this episode, Alex announces an exciting referral program for his production company Epics Productions, where for every successful referral that results in a new podcast with Epics, the referrer will receive $500. The focus of the podcast remains on sharing stories and promoting understanding between people, and the guest for the week is Dr. Janelle Jones, a Ted X speaker, life coach, author, and therapist who overcame poverty, violence, and teenage motherhood to achieve success. Dr. Janelle Jones is a clinical therapist, author, and entrepreneur. She was born into poverty and raised in the projects of Columbus, Ohio, where she lost her father and sister to intercity violence as a child. Despite these challenges, Janelle was determined to live a life different than the one she saw playing out around her. She founded her own company, Melon and Grace Publishing, and created the Mahogany Beautiful Bright Me program to help girls with self-love and self-acceptance. Janelle is also the host of the Girl You Got This podcast, where she empowers women to live their dreams. Janelle's journey includes overcoming barriers to become the first-generation high school graduate on route to earning her master's degree, writing several books, and starting many businesses to support and empower women. Her story is one of resilience, determination, and hope. Dr. Janelle Jones shares her experience of teen pregnancy and overcoming barriers to become a successful entrepreneur and advocate for women's empowerment. They will also learn about Janelle's background, personal journey of self-discovery, and her work in helping women identify their passions and expertise. The episode covers various topics such as childhood experiences, societal norms, breaking generational cycles, and the importance of sharing personal stories to help others. The listener will also be provided with links to Janelle's work and encouraged to support her. I started this podcast because I believe that the foundation of hate and discrimination in our world comes from a lack of understanding of those who are different from ourselves. We plan to combat that by hearing everyone's stories, that we can better understand them, be a part of creating real positive change. 🎙 Show Notes: EpicsPodcast.com/episodes/janelljones Books  It All Begins With You: 9 Affirmations to Help You Love Yourself and Know Your Worth  https://bookshop.org/a/40214/9781733643900  Beauty in Mahogany https://bookshop.org/a/40214/9780692872055  IG  https://www.instagram.com/janelljonesempowers/  Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-janell-jones-msw-lsw-tedx-speaker-23530028/  FB:  https://www.facebook.com/janelljonesempowers  LinkTree https://lnk.bio/drjanelljones  YT https://www.youtube.com/@drjanelljones  Courses:  https://janelljonesempowers.com/courses  Ted talk  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVi_n169BVk&t=3s  Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6rUKV9W7MaCGOspjBtLRn6  🎙 EpicsPodcast.com 🎙 EpicsProductions.com 🎙 SHPE Out Loud Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shpe-out-loud-leading-hispanics-in-stem/id1640180728 🎙 Patreon: Patreon.com/EpicsPod 🎙 Join Podcasts with Purpose Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60d0ce05a462d91c1971b4dc Alex’s IG: @alexraywait

    1h 3m
  3. 23. Emily Anne Vargas │A latina engineer and graduate student to inspire and encourage others.

    03/31/2023

    23. Emily Anne Vargas │A latina engineer and graduate student to inspire and encourage others.

    Today’s episode is a joint episode that is being released both here on the Epics Podcast but ALSO on the SHPE Out Loud Podcast! SHPE (the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is the nation’s largest association dedicated to fostering Hispanic leadership in the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) field. There is a huge disparity between the Hispanic population and their representation in STEM.SHPE raises awareness, provides access, and prepares Hispanic students and professionals to become leaders in STEM. Our members are driving innovation, the global economy, and a prosperous Hispanic community. I have had the privilege of producing their podcast, SHPE Out Loud and our joint episode today is a preview to an upcoming series on their podcast. In November I got to be a part of their National conference recording testimonies of their amazing members.These testimonies are being released weekly on the SHPE Out Loud podcast and I highly recommend you going to listen to them because I was able to interview so many incredible people there! One of the great people I had the pleasure of interviewing in November was Emily Anne Vargas, who is our guest this week! Emily Anne is a Ph.D. student at the University of Southern California. Her story is one of breaking barriers and achieving success in the face of adversity. As a first-generation college graduate and engineer from a family of Cuban immigrants, she has paved the way for future generations to follow in her footsteps. Emily Anne has also been actively involved with SHPE since 2013, serving in multiple leadership positions, including as the youngest Vice-Chair for the SHPE National Board of Directors in nearly 50 years.  On this episode we dive into her unique journey and gain insight into the importance of representation and community support in pursuing a career in STEM I started this podcast because I believe that the foundation of hate and discrimination in our world comes from a lack of understanding of those who are different from ourselves. We plan to combat that by hearing everyone's stories, that we can better understand them, be a part of creating real positive change. More info on our Epic Referral Program! 💰💰: EpicsProdcutions.com/referrals 🎙 Show Notes: EpicsPodcast.com/episodes/emilyannevargas Follow Emily Anne on Social Media: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyannevargas/  Instagram @vargasemily12 : https://instagram.com/vargasemily12  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vargasemily12  🎙 EpicsPodcast.com 🎙 EpicsProductions.com 🎙 SHPE Out Loud Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shpe-out-loud-leading-hispanics-in-stem/id1640180728 🎙 Patreon: Patreon.com/EpicsPod 🎙 Join Podcasts with Purpose Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60d0ce05a462d91c1971b4dc Alex’s IG: @alexraywait

    53 min
  4. 22. Sherisse Bisram │Taking the pain and hardships she has faced and using them to become the authentically empowered version of herself that she has always wanted to be.

    03/24/2023

    22. Sherisse Bisram │Taking the pain and hardships she has faced and using them to become the authentically empowered version of herself that she has always wanted to be.

    This week I have the pleasure of sharing with you the story of Sherisse Bisram.Sherisse is a professional dancer, dance teacher, now an empowerment mentor, public speaker and Someone that has never fit into a box or conformed to societal expectations. Growing up in a volatile household and as a woman of color in a predominantly white area added understandable hardships and like all young women, Sherisse faced unwanted attention. In addition, she was undermined by society for being outspoken in her opinion rather than playing to the expected norm of being “seen and not heard”. Understandably she was forced to build resilience, and as a result, at 23 she noticed that she had difficulty showing vulnerability and emotions. Sherisse realized that this was not a healthy way to live, with this in mind, she decided to embark upon her own journey of self discovery. Sherisse has taken the pain and hardships she has faced and used them to become the authentically empowered version of herself that she has always wanted to be. If anyone wants to continue to follow Sherisse on her journey I will have links to her website, her social media AND her new podcast “Permission to Shine” which is out now! I started this podcast because I believe that the foundation of hate and discrimination in our world comes from a lack of understanding of those who are different from ourselves. We plan to combat that by hearing everyone's stories, so that we can better understand them, be a part of creating real positive change. 🎙 Show Notes: EpicsPodcast.com/episodes/sherissebisram  https://linktr.ee/sherisse.bisram  www.sherissebisram.com  https://open.spotify.com/show/6wieY1qeXjz81jzF4cmleH?si=638fc9d291b84734  Youtube @sherisse_bisram IG  @sherisse_bisram Tiktok @sherisse_bisram 🎙 EpicsPodcast.com 🎙 EpicsProductions.com 🎙 SHPE Out Loud Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shpe-out-loud-leading-hispanics-in-stem/id1640180728 🎙 Patreon: Patreon.com/EpicsPod 🎙 Join Podcasts with Purpose Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60d0ce05a462d91c1971b4dc Alex’s IG: @alexraywait

    1h 5m
  5. 21. Shermin Kruse │ From fleeing war in Iran to mastering empathy and stoicism.

    03/17/2023

    21. Shermin Kruse │ From fleeing war in Iran to mastering empathy and stoicism.

    My guest this week on the show is Shermin Kruse. Shermin has a widely diverse background and range of expertise, but more importantly is just a beautiful human being. She is a , lawyer, speaker, professor, TEDx producer, writer, and idea curator, currently teaching at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Sher is a TED and TEDx talk producer (having produced more than 60 different TEDx talks and various TEDx music videos), a TEDx speaker, and a negotiation and leadership consultant specializing in weaponizing empathy and stoicism. On the list of many things we were unable to talk about is her best-selling novel “Butterfly Stitching,” which was inspired by the true experiences of herself and the women in her family before and after the Iranian revolution. We were able to spend some time talking about her childhood in Iran during that dangerous time as well as her experiences as an Iranian woman in law school during 9/11 and so much more. I highly encourage you to watch her TedTalk, and if you are interested in buying her book I will have a link to that as well! As always, if you use my link to buy her book it will not only support her as the author but it will be buying it from a local bookstore, AND the Epics Podcast will get an affiliate commission so you will be supporting us as well! I started this podcast because I believe that the foundation of hate and discrimination in our world comes from a lack of understanding of those who are different from ourselves. We plan to combat that by hearing everyone's stories, that we can better understand them, be a part of creating real positive change. 🎙 Show Notes: www.EpicsPodcast.com/episodes/sherminkruse   📖 Shermin’s Book Butterfly Stitching: https://bookshop.org/p/books/butterfly-stitching-shermin-nahid-kruse/11090941?ean=9780996050203  www.sherminkruse.com  Follow Shermin on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/sherminkruse/    https://www.linkedin.com/in/shermin-kruse/   https://www.instagram.com/sher_kruse/   2021 TEDx Reno talk, "Negotiating From a Place of Weakness Using Cognitive Empathy":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJGSbqgdQGk  2017 TEDx Talk, "How to Change the World": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK5aiZGu8L0  🎙 www.EpicsPodcast.com  🎙 www.EpicsProductions.com  🎙 SHPE Out Loud Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shpe-out-loud-leading-hispanics-in-stem/id1640180728 🎙 Patreon: Patreon.com/EpicsPod 🎙 Join Podcasts with Purpose Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60d0ce05a462d91c1971b4dc

    51 min
  6. 20. Evelien Kong│Finding humanity if we are willing to look for it. A life in the media searching for stories.

    03/10/2023

    20. Evelien Kong│Finding humanity if we are willing to look for it. A life in the media searching for stories.

    This week I have a fellow podcaster join me, and her name is Evelien Kong. A producer and Director by day Evelien Kong founded Reppin Podcast with more than 25 years of experience and a myriad of credits that range from producing award winning documentaries with MTV to crafting digital content with Law and Order SVU. She’s worked with Hollywood heavyweights like Mick Jagger, Mylie Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon, Kerry Washington, JJ Abrams all the way to President Biden. As the founder and host of Reppin, Evelien is committed to sharing stories of people from all walks of life and cultures to bring true representation to the media. Evelien is a Chinese American and proud new yorker, but more importantly an amazing person. We chat on this episode about being the daughter of immigrants, recently being made aware of her ethnicity, her career in entertainment, and a lot about storytelling and finding the humanity in life. What part of Evelien’s story impacted you today? Reach out on social media @EpicsPod everywhere and let me know what your favorite parts of this episode are. Be sure to follow and subscribe to the Reppin Podcast as well as the Epics Podcast so that you don’t miss the next epic story. I started this podcast because I believe that the foundation of hate and discrimination in our world comes from a lack of understanding of those who are different from ourselves. We plan to combat that by hearing everyone's stories, that we can better understand them, be a part of creating real positive change. If you believe in what Epics is doing and love the content that we are creating, I would be so grateful if you supported us on Patreon so that we can spend more and more time bringing you epic guests to share their stories with us! 👉  Patreon.com/EpicsPod 🙏  🎙 Show Notes: EpicsPodcast.com/episodes/evelienkong Follow the Repppin Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?__coig_restricted=1 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Reppinpodcast/featured The Reppin Podcast: https://www.reppin.tv/ Listening available on several platforms: https://www.reppin.tv/listen-to-reppin 🎙 EpicsPodcast.com 🎙 EpicsProductions.com 🎙 SHPE Out Loud Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shpe-out-loud-leading-hispanics-in-stem/id1640180728 🎙 Patreon: Patreon.com/EpicsPod 🎙 Join Podcasts with Purpose Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60d0ce05a462d91c1971b4dc Alex’s IG: @alexraywait

    1h 4m
  7. 19. JP Der Boghossian│What it means to be both queer and Armenian. The journey of identity that led to the founding of the queer Armenian library.

    03/03/2023

    19. JP Der Boghossian│What it means to be both queer and Armenian. The journey of identity that led to the founding of the queer Armenian library.

    Our guest on this week’s show is J.P. (DARE Boh-goh SEE Yahn). JP has done many different amazing things in his life including being a classically trained shakespearean actor and Chief Diversity Officer. Given the amazing person that JP is I’m sure that we could have easily made whole podcasts about either of those, but the reason that I invited JP on is because he is the founder of the Queer Armenian Library. We were able to talk about his childhood in multiple countries, deciphering the multiple identities that he grew up with and searching for the Home that he belonged in. The absolute hardest thing about producing this podcast is limiting our conversations, because JP and I really could have gone on for so much longer about anything and everything! Among the topics that we were unable to cover is JP’s podcast. JP is the host of “This Queer Book” where he has conversations with guests from across the LGBTQ rainbow about the queer books that saved their lives. I was really moved by JP and his story. Being able to hold what appear to be contradictory identities so gracefully and so naturally wanting to share with others that they are not alone is so inspirational. It’s a story that we can all learn from regardless of who we are. 🎙 Show Notes: EpicsPodcast.com/episodes/jpderboghossian JP’s Socials: @thisqueerbook @jpderboghossian (on Twitter and Instagram) @thisqueerbook on Facebook JP’s WEBSITES: queerarmenianlibrary.com thisqueerbook.com jpderboghossian.com 🎙 EpicsPodcast.com 🎙 EpicsProductions.com 🎙 SHPE Out Loud Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shpe-out-loud-leading-hispanics-in-stem/id1640180728 🎙 Patreon: Patreon.com/EpicsPod 🎙 Join Podcasts with Purpose Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60d0ce05a462d91c1971b4dc Alex’s IG: @alexraywait

    1h 13m

  8. 02/24/2023

    18. Ethan Nkana │The life of a black man in corporate America and starting a sports marketing agency for doctors.

    Welcome back to the Epics Podcast. I started this podcast because I believe that the foundation of hate and discrimination in our world comes from a lack of understanding of those who are different from ourselves. We plan to combat that by hearing everyone's stories, that we can better understand them, be a part of creating real positive change. This week on the show, I am sharing with you my conversation with Ethan Nkana. I reached out to Ethan as a fellow Denverite and entrepreneur and I was thrilled that he was able to come on the show and share his story with us. Ethan began his career in hospital administration as a Human Resources intern after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration & Public Relations. Over the next decade, Ethan would grow his skill set to include leadership roles in hospital finance, physician contracting and compensation, hospital operations, and healthcare strategy. He earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Dayton, and in 2020 before the pandemic Ethan found himself jobless for the first time in his career after having spent 10+ years working in hospital leadership, which ultimately led to him starting RMPA (Rocky Mountain Physician Agency), a sports management agency whose clients are physicians instead of elite professional athletes, because physicians are at a distinct disadvantage when negotiating contracts and salaries with hospital executives. Ethan is a real kick ass person above all else and.. I was able to talk to him about so many meaningful topics such as moving to Puerto Rico in his childhood, Creating a career in hospital admin and leadership and world that he had to live in that was different from the world his white counterparts inhabited. And ultimately we got to talk about Ethan starting RMPA and how that has enabled him to live his life as the fullest and best version of himself as the Jerry Maguire for Doctors. Ethan and I joked before recording that he woke up on a different side of the bed today and was ready to go off. And I’m so grateful that he did because he shared so much vulnerable insight from his story that made a really powerful impact on me coming away from our conversation. 🎙 Show Notes: EpicsPodcast.com/episodes/ethannkana https://rmpa.co/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethannkana/ https://www.instagram.com/physicianagency/ 🎙 EpicsPodcast.com 🎙 EpicsProductions.com 🎙 SHPE Out Loud Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shpe-out-loud-leading-hispanics-in-stem/id1640180728 🎙 Patreon: Patreon.com/EpicsPod 🎙 Join Podcasts with Purpose Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60d0ce05a462d91c1971b4dc 🎙️ Epics Podcast: anchor.fm/epicspod Alex’s IG: @alexraywait

    1h 20m
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About

Welcome to the Epics Podcast where we tell Epic Stories from Epic People. My name is Alex Wait, host of Epics Podcast. We have not been told all of the stories worth telling. Through interviews and reflection, on the Epics Podcast, we will hear from the “ordinary”, the ignored and the broken of our communities, and what their stories are. Together, we will work to gain an understanding of hardships that are unfamiliar to us. Our intention is to find a common ground with one another from which we can start creating real change. Subscribe now to hear the next epic story!

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