The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk - 023: AJ Hawk – Why Does This Show Exist? What Does The Future Hold?

Starting point is 00:00:00 What I have found is that even if you go to some of the places that seem like the worst place in the world and someone has like the mode the word and you look from the outside like man this guy is this is brutal what this person has to deal with day and and out some of those people have the greatest attitudes of all of them of us. That's like the most inspiring thing ever I think when you see these people that look like they have everything that could go wrong has gone wrong like in the in the the lottery of life that they have been given. And they just seem to have an attitude and they seem like some of the happiest people in the world. So I think no matter what your situation, it's obviously how you look at it. Are leaders born or are they made? Our host, Ryan Hawk, believes that leaders can be made through determined, focused work on learning the art and science behind the makeup of other successful leaders. Now it's time to inhale knowledge and exhale success. You're listening to The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk.

Starting point is 00:00:56 Hey and welcome to The Learning Leaders Show. I am Ryan Hawk. Tonight's episode is going to be quite a bit different from all the other episodes that you've listened to here on the Learning Leaders show. Reason being is that I'm flipping the script with this one. My younger brother, AJ, is going to host this episode and he's actually going to interview me. And the reason we're doing this is because I never did an intro episode to this podcast, specifically stating why I'm doing it. it, what has inspired me, why I love the topics of leadership and learning. I talk about it from time and time on the episodes, but never in this type of setting. So this is very loose, very unscripted.

Starting point is 00:01:53 This is AJ and I speaking very candidly about not only why I'm doing this podcast, but we touch on a bunch of other topics too that I hope you find interesting. I also wanted to say, again, thank you so much for subscribing to this show in iTunes and writing ratings and reviews. I've reached some goals of mine that are really great when it comes to the new and noteworthy section of iTunes. I'd love to stay up there. So thank you so much. Without further ado, it's my younger brother, AJ, interviewing me.

Starting point is 00:02:35 Here we are again. Another great episode of The Learning Leader Show. I am not Ryan Hawk, as any of your loyal listeners will tell you, this is younger brother, AJ. We're flipping the script a bit today, and I am going to try to throw a few questions at my brother, Ryan, just to kind of enlighten everybody and let everyone know why he is doing this show, why he is so driven in this arena podcasting, and kind of how he goes about, you know, what he does and the process of everything. And myself included, I am interested in how he has the time to do all this,

Starting point is 00:03:17 and he obviously prepares very well. So without further ado, as we're flipping the script, a little different type segment of the Learning Leader show. I would like to welcome Ryan Hawk, my brother. And I'd also at the same time like to ask him, Ryan, how long can you hold your breath, do you think? Oh, you caught me off guard. This is so unscripted.

Starting point is 00:03:42 I'm going to say, if I'm underwater, yes, in a pool. If I'm not going to move and just sit right above this, right at the surface, I'm going to say, I just watched a video on this guy who did this deep seat diving for like seven minutes where he didn't have any breath. But I could probably go like 75 seconds. Okay, I'll give you 45 seconds. I don't think you can go 75, but it's good to have confidence in yourself. I could go 85 now, actually.

Starting point is 00:04:09 That's out your challenge. Okay. Oh, I'm definitely the champ of that. I would say in the Hawk household of Breathhold. But the thing that I would like to, I try to start it off with, I know you like to throw kind of oddball questions at the guests from the jump, you know, right off the bat, maybe not oddball, but just something a little different than what they normally would get. Where did you come about? Like, where did you hear about that? And I know you do all kind of reading and stuff.

Starting point is 00:04:35 But what is that? You know, why do you think that kind of starts everything off in a nice flow? I think podcast intros for the most part are really, really boring and stupid. So, and I've actually committed some of those podcast crimes myself where I'm just like, hey, buddy, how you doing? And I don't really like that. So I'm trying to change it up a little bit. And sometimes the question hits and it goes great. And other times it doesn't work.

Starting point is 00:04:59 You know, like the Hold Your Breath one was one that legitimately caught me off guard, which it works. Other times, like I said, I've done it where I'm like, ah, it didn't really work out. But I think the episode with Brady was pretty good. You know, we talked about, you know, this favorite musical album and it brought back. great memories for both of us to like high school working out and meathead type stuff. And so, you know, I like to change it up. I think it's a good way to also help the guests feel a little bit more comfortable as they get going instead of just their usual.

Starting point is 00:05:28 You know, a lot of guests I speak with are on other podcasts or they do like radio and TV stuff. And so they're used to the typical, you know, hey, you know, how's it going? What are you thinking? What's going on? And I'd rather them say, you know, hey, you know, what's your favorite movie or what's, who's three people you'd love to have dinner with that are currently alive or something like that, so that it's a little bit different than other shows.

Starting point is 00:05:54 I like it. I agree. After I listened to your show when you talk to people, I try to think of in my head, like, questions that I would ask a guest right off the bat. And it's always hard to come up with. And the one, the holding your breath thing just came. I didn't have that prepared. I'm actually sitting in Cincinnati right now overlooking the Ohio River out here.

Starting point is 00:06:13 and I just saw the water and instantly thought of myself dominating you. And we used to try to hold our breath in the pool. When we were young kids back at Black Oak swimming pool. So that's just a great memory of pure domination I used to have over you in that arena that made me feel good. Well, there's only probably one or two things. So, I mean, if you can hang your hat on holding your breath but not talk about, let's see, tennis, golf, basketball, football only sometimes that you did. Pump the brakes on golf.

Starting point is 00:06:45 You better pump those brakes. All right. I play three times a year. I'll still find a way to beat you. I think we play the same amount now with everything we have going on. That's right. That's the beautiful segue into something I wanted to know and other people I sure would and how my brain works.

Starting point is 00:07:03 I started instantly thinking of like the logistics when I see you recording all these episodes and putting them out like two a week basically right now. It seems like how do you like when do you do this? and how do you fit it in? Because I think you're pretty public about the fact that you have five, five kids, five kids, full-time job,

Starting point is 00:07:23 marriage, you know, everything, have all kind of stuff going on. And then you're recording these episodes as well. Like, how do you, I think it's pretty inspiring to people to see how you're doing all this,

Starting point is 00:07:31 but how do you make it work? Well, I think a lot of them are the time we're doing it right now. It's, it's 833 on a Monday night and where our girls are in bed. and my wife works a lot too obviously so she's working on some things so we both made the decision to be you know make conscious decisions to do something in addition to our current day jobs and she's running a smaller business as well on the side and this is what I chose to do because I wanted

Starting point is 00:08:03 to learn from people who were much much smarter than me who had inspiring stories who were learners themselves in the realm of leadership, because that's where I've always kind of played and where I've been since I was young, as you know. So it's tough, though. I mean, the preparation that goes into it for me is everything. You know, I prep reading about whatever, the next guest, or I'm trying to get the next guest. I'm trying to see what are they currently doing. What are some things they've said? What are some interviews maybe they've done and how I could do it a little bit differently, a little bit better than maybe somebody else, even if they were on national TV. I just talked to Chris Borland earlier today, the linebacker from the 49ers who retired after one season.

Starting point is 00:08:44 And, you know, he was interviewed by these incredible people on national TV in all realms of life, not just football. And I was watching those prior to that interview to say, you know, how could I do it better than this guy who's been interviewing people on TV for 40 years? And so I think that's kind of, I strive to do it great. And I know that if I'm striving to do it great. There's a chance that I'm going to be better than most and hopefully I continually improve. So people who maybe are listening to the podcast a year from now are going to say, wow, man, the one thing I've noticed is that you've continually gotten better. So that's kind of how I do. I think the question you asked was though how and when. When it's usually late

Starting point is 00:09:26 at night. Sometimes I've actually got on Skype with some people like at five and six in the morning for the troopers out there. So I'll do it whenever possible on the weekends, and between soccer games, things like that. I don't really watch as much TV anymore. I think that's kind of how we relaxing on the couch watching TV at night, and we don't really do that anymore. We're working on businesses and things that we're trying to create. And when you say you're trying to create them,

Starting point is 00:09:54 what's the ultimate goal in creating this? I guess it's called a small, it would be considered a small business. Your podcast you have, it's blown up, you know, all over, you know, iTunes, new and noteworthy and getting great traction. Like what would your ultimate goal be with the podcast? I set goals, you know, I wrote them down when I started and really, I'll tell you the few initial goals. One, I did want to be the number one show on iTunes, new and noteworthy, and I knew the biggest

Starting point is 00:10:27 way, the quickest way to get there would be to create great content. People only listen to shows if the content's great. So that goal is achieved and it's still sitting around and hovering around that spot. I also set a goal that I wanted to have 100 people contact me and say that my show has either helps them or inspired them in some way to do something. And so when you study any great business, whether it be Google or Facebook or Instagram or anything like that, if you notice, you know, Instagram was bought for billions of dollars before they made a single penny.

Starting point is 00:11:02 So they made no money, but they created a place that people wanted to go. They created great content, and that's valuable. That's really, really valuable. So as far as me monetizing it or doing something that the end goal, I think my only goal is to create awesome content. And the coolest thing about it is I get to learn so much along the way. You know, Shane Snow, one of my favorite humans on Earth, told me before we recorded an episode together,

Starting point is 00:11:30 He said, you know, Ryan, you're really smart because one of the greatest ways to meet your heroes is to simply ask to interview them because most people don't say no to that. They like being interviewed. And I was like, that's really interesting. And it wasn't a way that I didn't initially think of it that way, but he's right. And so it's been cool for me because I can reach out to somebody who maybe is a hero of mine in the world of, you know, writing or leading or something like that. And I can say, hey, can I interview you for my podcast? and more times than not, people say yes. And so that's been a huge added bonus for me on top of wanting to create great content.

Starting point is 00:12:06 I get to meet people who are, you know, I guess I could say heroes of mine in all facets of life primarily in the space of leadership. And whether those are world class athletes like you or like best selling authors in the fields of leadership, psychology, sociology, all those things. I've gotten to meet some of those people who I've, prior to that, had only was able to read about. So that's been a really, really cool part for me. And I think you, when you said, that's pretty cool what Shane Snow said to you. You can ask to interview them because what I've found, and I think anyone knows, is that people love to talk about themselves.

Starting point is 00:12:45 And it's not even like a narcissistic thing or an ego thing, but it's just, it's cool to, when you start asking people these questions, they start talking about things they maybe have even thought of in years. And then it kind of brings back good memories and then they remember stories. And they start telling things and they have a good time. And then before you know it, bam, 45 minutes and hours already gone by. And it seems like it flies by for the guest and the host. So that's why I think podcasting is so much better than I say it a lot all the time than so much better than, you know,

Starting point is 00:13:17 these quick three-minute sound bites we get on the news or like a local radio spot. It's just it reaches so many people and they can actually get into it and tell their story. And you're not out to, you're not out to get anybody or make them look bad. You're out there to get their, let them get their story out and kind of get some inspiration for yourself. And that, in turn, everyone else around you and that listens to it will get the same. And I think you can feel that when it comes through your, when you're talking to people. But how do you feel about where everything's going, like with podcasting compared to, you know, serious X, radio and we all know if you listen to FM radio there's a good chance you're not listening to

Starting point is 00:13:58 this because great chance when you listen to FM radio and then AM radio whatever that's like for back in the day when Pete Rose was still playing for the Reds and you had to listen to the Reds game on TV or on the radio that's what I feel like I think it's the Stone Ages you know when you when you click on your FM radio to to listen there's obviously some great local radio shows still out there but they're few and far between but so Where do you think in my super long-winded unprofessional question, what do you think podcasting is going and what's going to look like in five or ten years? Well, podcasting is a future.

Starting point is 00:14:34 It's a fact that the numbers back it up. I did a lot of research on that when I was helping with you getting getting yours kicked off and Todd helping you so much as well. But it's going to be in every single car. It's already growing incredible amounts year over year. and the group, the people that listen to podcasts are the smartest most affluent people in the world. That's a fact. And so the people listening right now are the smartest people around probably of the groups of people that they hang out with.

Starting point is 00:15:07 I could bet if they looked around the five closest people to them, they're probably in the upper tier of that small group. That's why advertisers are reading a lot of information about people selling sponsorship deals. the conversion rate of listeners to buyers on podcast is higher than any other medium in the world, including TV, XM, FM radio, whatever you want to say. The podcast listeners, because one, they're smart, intelligent people that listen fully and they trust their host. So they'll do what their host says. And two, they have the money to be able to buy whatever it is that people are trying to sell. So, I mean, it is the future.

Starting point is 00:15:46 It's the future of advertising as well as the future. of information. And the best part about podcast is it's free to the listener. It's completely free. I get to listen to Brian Coppelman interview really, really smart people. I get to listen to Tim Ferriss talk about biohacking his way through life and interviewing Arnold Schwarzenegger. I mean, that's so cool. I can listen to it any time on my phone, whether I'm just walking from literally, I listen. My podcast listening schedule is, you know, when I'm driving in my car, and when I get out of my car and walk to whatever place I'm going to. So, if, let's say it's from my car to my office, you know, that's probably about a four-minute walk.

Starting point is 00:16:24 So I do that about eight minutes a day. So that's five times a week. That's 40 minutes a week just from that small portion. So you can, for these people who say, I don't have time to listen to podcasts, I got other things to do. It's like, it's like saying, you know, have time to read. Of course you have time. You have to prioritize your time to listen to a podcast that are to help you learn and improve and get better. But if or if you're comfortable just, like I said, being stagnant and sitting still and not doing anything, you're probably not listening to the show right now.

Starting point is 00:16:54 I like it. I agree 100%. I right before I was I was messing with my computer to try to get it working to come and do this with you. I was listening to Tim Ferriss interview Rick Rubin sitting in a sauna doing going back and forth from the sauna to like an ice tub. I don't know if you've listened to that episode yet, but it's really good. Really haven't yet. I need to. Yeah, and for whatever reason, Rick Rubin, big long-bearded music producer,

Starting point is 00:17:21 worked with everybody. That was like his one stipulation. He's like, yeah, I'll do your podcast, Tim, but it's got to take place in my sauna why I'm going back and forth from hot and cold. For some reason, that was, like, his deal. Because Rick's gotten really big into, like, fitness and nutrition, and he lost a bunch of weight. So it's really cool that actually they talk about it, and you can hear him every once in a while, get a little bit, like, winded.

Starting point is 00:17:44 And I was to say, does it sound get messed up? It sounds good. Well, that's the thing. So Rick will be, he'll finish up like one of his thoughts. And he's like, I'm going to go get in the cold tub. And so Tim's like, oh, he's like, oh, thank you. I want to go. I need to go too.

Starting point is 00:17:58 He's like, all right back. And all of a sudden, they just go and he'll come, you know, they splice it together. And they'll say, oh, man, that was a cold one there. And they talk about it. So it actually gave him something to talk about because Rick kind of had changed his whole lifestyle and how he, how he approached like his fitness and everything. So it was cool. and you're thinking like, this is never, it's over an hour long too. So you're never going to hear that.

Starting point is 00:18:18 It's never like, try to explain that to somebody 10 years ago and they would think you're crazy. You know, like, wait, well, then you post that online and people like, you know, maybe millions of people will listen to it. That's, it's just so foreign to some people still. And sometimes it's frustrating talking to people. It's, it's crazy when you think about that. It's free. And there are people that charge for the podcast and have like a premium. You can sign for a premium account and you can get like old. archived episodes. I know Mark Merrin has a little thing on his for WTF podcast, which has been going on forever. And it's huge. But do you ever see yourself trying to obviously monetize if advertising dollars are right? I could see anyone would want to do that. But would you ever

Starting point is 00:19:01 charge people? No, I don't think so. I think I like the thought process of focusing on the consumer or the listener. That's my whole thought process is what can create the best podcast. possible environment for them. And so like, like you look at Google, right? They don't, they don't charge their customers. They charge other people and you don't want to compare yourself to them. But I mean, what better way to try to be great than to study other companies or other people who have done great things? That's really the whole point in my show. So I don't anticipate ever doing a model like that. I mean, like I said, I just started this. So it's still only like, we're only like 20 episodes in. And the whole focus is just continuing.

Starting point is 00:19:44 on creating good content. That's part of the reason why I wanted to do this one, because one, I knew that we could have a good conversation completely unscripted and also share a little bit about why I want to do it and why I am doing it because I never had that, you know, some people call the episode zero zero zero or whatever the about me or why are you doing this episode. I never did one of those. I didn't really feel comfortable doing one of those. I just kind of rolled right into it. And so that's partially why we're doing this and maybe why we'll do one of these ever. I don't know, every 20 episodes or so or something like that. Just like we did for your podcast.

Starting point is 00:20:20 Yeah, why not? I mean, that's the thing. Like, if anyone has a mic in any kind of recorder, they can put a podcast out. That's the great thing about it. You obviously want to have good quality and stuff, but it's fun. I have a little handheld H4N Zoom or whatever deal

Starting point is 00:20:35 and mics that I could take around. And I haven't really done much person-to-person, you know, interviews with people. I want to do it, though, because I think it'll be weird. I think it'll be a little different. if you're face-to-face. Have you done any of that, like, in-person interviews? I'd love to. No, I haven't. I mean, I think it's probably based on where I live.

Starting point is 00:20:51 I mean, a lot of the guests I have live in New York City or L.A. or other, I have a couple in Canada, so other parts of the world. I mean, I won't coming up actually in Australia. So, I mean, there's a, there, I don't really live near them. I think, you know, if I were to, I've thought about at some point traveling to New York because that's, that's, that's, there's a lot of interesting people and leaders and writers there that I could do some in-person stuff, but I'd have to get a better setup to do that because right now I don't have, I don't have that equipment yet, but I think it'd be really cool. It'd be completely different, you know, like I'm preps with notes and background and all

Starting point is 00:21:27 the, all the information on my computer and handwritten out in front of me. That's how I remember stuff by writing it down. So, you know, it would be a lot different. I think it could be pretty cool, though. how do you make it because you can tell obviously about listening and that you do tons of prep is there like a tipping point for you where you've almost not too much prep but you too like that you may you feel like you're too scripted or you have follow-up questions and because i've felt myself i've done this myself to where i have a lot of questions written out a lot of information

Starting point is 00:22:04 on the dude or whoever it is and then it takes you focus away from letting it be like the conversational type thing that podcasts should be and the great ones are like where do you ever have that thing where you feel like it's too structured that's an awesome question it really is i i think the reason why i have so much stuff is because i never quite know where it's going to go but i want to be able to go to like 20 different places but the best podcast host the apps absolute best ones. Their first questions are always, they're fine. The best questions are follow-up questions because that shows the host is listening. So I'm listening, you know, that's partially why I kind of like this structure because I haven't, you know, the only really

Starting point is 00:22:48 sense I'm using is I'm listening and I'm writing notes as I'm talking to them. So it's good to have a bunch of questions, but I never get to the questions. I always kind of go off on one or two of these, you know, if you look at the people like a tree, so to speak, and they have a bunch of branches. I usually only get to a couple of them and then I just keep diving in deeper and deeper on whatever specific topic that we get to. But I never really know where it's going to go. You know, I have an idea. I have thoughts. I have a bunch of different directions I could go in, but they really lead it then based on how they answer a question. If you listen to the show, you probably heard where I'll say something, oh, hang on a second. I wasn't expecting it to go here,

Starting point is 00:23:26 but I will because that's interesting and I want to follow up on that, whatever that may be. So it's really, really easy, though, I think, and I probably did this in one of the first couple of episodes to where you get, you can get a little bit too scripted because you're like, okay, I want to make sure I ask this, this, this, this, this, this, this. And you just kind of hammer out your questions. And it's like, anybody can read questions. It's about listening to their answer and then responding with a phenomenal follow. Like any of the best interviewers on TV or anywhere, that's what they're really, really good at. You know, they have great, great follow-up questions based upon. their listening skills and what the person says, not just, you know, rapid fire questions

Starting point is 00:24:06 down the entire episode. Because I don't think people really care to listen to you, say the exact same questions every, at least I don't. I don't like shows. And there are some popular ones out there, actually, where they'll ask the exact same questions to every single guest no matter what. And it's like, that's completely fine. I'm glad that people can have success that way, but that's just not a show that would

Starting point is 00:24:25 interest me because I like learning about people. I want to listen and then ask follow up questions and not just hammer. out, you know, my list. Oh, man. Yeah, I think a guy that I don't agree with a lot of what he says, but a guy that has some of the best follow-ups in the world is Howard Stern. And I definitely don't agree with his recent rant against podcasting. He sounded very out of touch for sure. But I think you can tell, like, he really listens. And I remember I said something to you. I think I sent you a text shortly after I went on. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to make this about me. I just think of all these things we talk about. When I did, I went on Colin Coward's show a couple

Starting point is 00:25:08 years ago. And I just, I was, it was on TV, whatever, and I'm sitting there answering them. And this dude was like looking through me. I saw that picture. He was so intent. He was so, like, he was so into, or at least he made it feel like he was so into what I was saying and what my answers were to his questions. And then bam, bam, bam, bam, he has some awesome follow-ups and then kept it really good and asked me some really like serious questions and had some. some, it was funny at times. It was just, it was, he was so good and I was so impressed by how he, how he just, I don't know, man, he, I'm sure he was super, he's always does crazy prep I've heard,

Starting point is 00:25:44 but then he really just lets it go and trust his instincts, I think. And that's where I was, that kind of turned me on all kind of paying attention to people doing interviews now because you can see that. A guy like Dan Patrick does something very similar. And then when you see guys that maybe aren't as good, you'll start answering, a question and you can watch them like wander off check their phone look down with their notes and they're not even listening at all they can they can make it feel like they care less about what the response is and they're going they're on to their next thing and it's just there's a reason there's

Starting point is 00:26:15 that i think guys are up at the top and on you know a guy like cowherd does four hours of radio by himself every morning yeah i mean i i watch him if i'm home like at lunch or something and just to see how he listens with his eyes it's unreal just like you said i know you got have witnessed it, you know, up close and personal firsthand, but I watch them. I'm like, that's incredible, you know, but you mentioned two guys that are both polarizing people. I mean, Howard Stern, Colin Coward, I happen to enjoy listening to both of them. But that's another topic that maybe we can even talk about was the fact that some of the most successful people are really, really polarizing, meaning there's a subset of people that love them and there's

Starting point is 00:26:56 another group that hate them. And that's one thing that I don't think I'm that I'm that comfortable with. I'm not going to say like I try to get everybody to like what I do because I basically am going to do my show and I think some people are going to like it and other people just won't listen. But those guys are polarizing. They have haters and they have people who love them too or they wouldn't stay on air. But that's an interesting dynamic in this world of podcasting because I think some of the best, like Tim Ferriss has a number of people who don't like him. But he's got a podcast that probably has a million listeners per episode, which are insane numbers on podcast. So I think that's also a whole other topic when it comes to this

Starting point is 00:27:36 world of podcasting that that's a little bit different for me and something that I don't know. I think it's kind of odd. Who's like a, who would be like a dream guest that you haven't had on yet that you want to or you don't even have, you don't even have them in the works. You know, I know you have a bunch of people you're always working that you have set up for months in advance. Who, who's someone that you want to have on? Who's two people, I would say, that you would like to have on that you have not yet? Elon Musk would be number one. Probably.

Starting point is 00:28:08 I'll shoot high, huh? That's a good one. Let's put it out there. Okay. Richard Branson next or what? You know, he was a name that was going through my mind. He'd probably do it, though. That's the thing I got him.

Starting point is 00:28:20 He'd probably come on. You know, one guy who I'm talking to his people, I guess this might be stupid to say this. But Jim Collins wrote the book, Good to Great and Great by Choice. Good to Great is one of the great. It's one of the greatest books in the history of the world. I mean, I really believe it if you're, if you, well, I guess in my niche and my space, but it could, it helps anybody. And so Elon Musk is one that if you shoot for the stars, but you ask.

Starting point is 00:28:44 So, I mean, he's, he's won. And I have obviously researched and looked for ways to find him. And it's close to impossible for him to come on my podcast. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to stop trying. And then, but Jim Collins is a realistic shot. I mean, I don't know. I mean, he doesn't really do podcasts. but he's got a good support team and we've gone back and forth a number of times already and I think

Starting point is 00:29:06 I would I would love for him to to consider it. I actually like filled out like a book report for him. I wrote this entire gigantic thing for his assistant and maybe he's even listening. I hope so. His name is Brandon, but I wrote this big thing for him and he really was appreciative and said that wow, that's that's way more than I asked for but thank you. And so who knows? That would that would be a big one for me especially in the space that I'm in with leadership business, trying to improve from being good to great. I mean, he's the guy who literally wrote the book on it after doing years and years and years of research. So I don't know. I'd love to get those guys. But you say you did like a book report for him. Was that something his assistant asked for

Starting point is 00:29:49 you and fill out like a form or something? It was like there was like 12 questions and they weren't, you know, one sentence answers. It was like each, it was like an essay for each for all questions. at least that's how I answered it for like every single question just to say, you know, what type of value, you know, that the show provides for people and what is it doing? And he might just blow it off, you know, who knows? But like, again, that's part of this, though, is I talk a lot about getting outside of your comfort zone. I know you've heard me say this. I say it on almost every episode, but I firmly believe it, you know, doing that type of work,

Starting point is 00:30:23 you know, writing that at 11 o'clock at night, spending hours on it just to try to get one guest, I mean, that's something that's, that's, I'm putting myself up to be rejected. Just, just saying it on the podcast, I'm giving, you know, I could be rejected. There's a good chance I'm rejected, but I would firmly believe it's much better to take action, to create, to try to get something accomplished than just to sit there and watch TV or go to bed or whatever. I mean, that's, that's what it's all about. And so if other people get here and they're like, whoa, he seriously spent three hours writing Jim Collins assistant, a book report or a novel asking him to be a guest. on a show? Yeah, I did. I did. And I hope it works. And if it doesn't, then at least I have some good stuff that I wrote down about, you know, why I'm doing what I do and my show. And hopefully

Starting point is 00:31:12 that he'll come and do it, even though he doesn't really do those types of things. So, yeah, that's a good question. But that's really what it's all about. Well, regardless, if he, you know, ever does come on, whatever, I'm sure he gets tons and tons of people trying to reach out to have them on different things and shows, but I guarantee you they bump that Brandon has the system. You're at the top of that list of people that might get in front of Jim Collins because, you know, you go above and beyond your, the normal deal that I'm sure most people do. I'm sure a lot of people like, I forget it and wouldn't even send it back, let alone, I'm sure I can't imagine.

Starting point is 00:31:49 I talk about all the time, the detail that I'm sure you had and the grammar, I'm sure it was legit, spot on. So I'm sure it was great. I'm sure they loved it. And so that's like the things that people, I think, need to hear, though, like, oh, you want to do something? Okay, well, guess what? There's no excuse anymore. Do it.

Starting point is 00:32:05 Like, this is, everything is right in front of us now. Like, you can do basically, you can try to do whatever you want. You know, like, look at your whole situation. You want to do a podcast. Bam, started it, and you're just recording episodes all the time. You get five kids, full-time job, tons of stuff to do. Like, there's no excuse. I think it was on that, the consciously speaking podcast.

Starting point is 00:32:27 maybe that you said when people tell you, oh, what annoys you with me? They say, well, with my luck, I'm sure it'll rain tomorrow. You know, the whole woe is me deal. Yeah. That's like, that's an attitude that is very annoying. It's tough to handle and be around people like that. But also, don't you think those people are needed because it lets people like you who jump ahead of them instantly because you are preparing you will do the work?

Starting point is 00:32:50 Yeah, but it's in the same regard. I think it's cool to hear people if they've heard me say that. We do. I mean, and I say that to each other all the time, and I actually read about a lot about this when it comes to that mindset. And Adam Grant wrote about this. I don't know if you've heard of it. We've discussed it. It's called pro-noia. It's P-R-O-N-O-I-A. It's a word in psychology. Productive paranoia? No, that's a little bit different. Productive paranoia is a little bit different. So pro-noia is P-R-N-O-I-A. And what it means is it's the opposite of somebody who's paranoid.

Starting point is 00:33:27 And what it means, proenoya means that you truly believe that the world is out there to help you succeed. And I think if you declare that you believe in that enough, you write it down every day in your five-minute journal, whatever it is that you write in, that it starts to come true. And so, and this might be a weird part for people, but this is something that we talk about all the time. And I think it helps with anything that you're going to do. it helps with success is to have that mindset that the world is out there to help you. Because so many people do say those things like, with my luck, it's going to rain. You know, with my luck, you know, with our luck, our wedding day is going to be rainy and terrible. You know, what we were saying prior to our wedding day, which you obviously remember very well,

Starting point is 00:34:14 you know, we were saying with our luck, man, it's going to be the greatest day of our lives. You know, we're going to love it. The weather's going to be perfect. Our family's going to be there. It's going to be awesome. And that's exactly what happened, you know. And that's not going to work 100% of the time. But I got to believe it's better to live your life thinking things that way with pro-noia than the other way.

Starting point is 00:34:34 And if other people can hear that and say, oh, that's a good point. Maybe I should consider doing that instead of saying with my luck, it's going to rain tomorrow. Then that will make me feel good if people will say, like, I didn't think of it that way. Because that is how I think of it. And does that mean we don't get unlucky? I mean, of course we do. I mean, bad things happen. And, you know, you've known me since you were born.

Starting point is 00:34:56 So I think, you understand. I was like six years old. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So, I mean, things, things, bad things happen to all of us, but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit there and dwell on it or think it's going to happen again. No, I'm going to expect good things to happen in the future. And some people think that's crazy to think and talk that way. And they're thinking, like, this guy is, what's he talking about?

Starting point is 00:35:14 That's just truly how I think. And I think that can only lead to positive things, and including when adversity strikes, because it does strike and it strikes a lot, you know. We have a lot of things going on. It's how you handle it and how you're going to decide. Just like how you handled it when the Packers decided to move on, you're like, listen, I'm going to be appreciative for that time that I had with a great organization. I love it.

Starting point is 00:35:40 I'm going to be completely prepared for the next opportunity. And what happens when the Bengals call, you know, you have a great meeting and they sign you. And it's really, really, really, really hard to play in the NFL. for more than like two years. Well, it's hard to get there in the first place, but to go into your 10th year, you're not going to do that unless you have an incredible work ethic, an incredible mindset to say, I'm going to find a way to be successful, whatever it may be, and that includes having a great attitude and approach to it.

Starting point is 00:36:09 What I have found is that even if you go to some of the places that seem like the worst place in the world and someone has like the mood, you look from the outside, like, man, this guy is, this is brutal what this person has to deal with, day in and out. Some of those people have the greatest attitudes of all of them. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. That's like the most inspiring thing ever, I think, when you see these people that look like they have, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong, like in the lottery of life that they have been given, and they just seem to have an attitude, and they seem like some of the

Starting point is 00:36:42 happiest people in the world. So I think no matter what your situation, it's obviously how you look at it. Yeah. How in the world do we get here to this deep, like, stoicism almost like conversation we're having. Perfect because I'm super deep if you're not. I know. I'm learning. This is great. I had no idea. Can you answer me a question? I had weird. The good thing is I had no idea what you wanted to do here. That's why people are like, oh, they probably script this thing out. It's like, I'm like, hey, two seconds before, what should we talk about? I don't know. I guess he'll just go do it. Yeah, that's usually how it works out best for myself.

Starting point is 00:37:21 at least, but I got a question for you. What? This has nothing to do with your show. Okay. But the question of my daughter asked me, I don't know why. This is so stupid. Edit this out. She said, Dad, how did God create himself?

Starting point is 00:37:36 And I think I've asked someone else on my podcast. And basically all I'm trying to say is it's not a real question for you. But that was something that almost like clicked in my mind. I typed it into my phone instantly and told my wife, Lord, I was like, you got to be kidding me. This four-year-old just asked, like, That's like saying what's the meaning of life? She, just to think that her brain came up with that question out of nowhere, too.

Starting point is 00:37:58 Just out of nowhere. She said, how did God make himself? And I'm like, oh, my gosh, what did you say? I don't even know what I would say. What did you say? First off, I was like so just pumped at the curiosity that she showed. I like, high-fived Laura, first off. I love that.

Starting point is 00:38:11 I love it. And I was like, you know what, Lenin? Her name's Lenin. I'm like, Lenin. I was like, you know what? God just has so much love for everybody. and he treats everybody with so much respect and he's he treats everyone

Starting point is 00:38:24 like he would want to be treated and he's just he loves everybody and hugs everybody and I was on boom there he was did that work? She's like, oh okay dad yeah on to let me watch Frozen

Starting point is 00:38:38 Yeah oh yeah exactly Dad put on the new Bruno Mars video Uptown Funk That's basically how it goes but yeah So I just try to say if you love everybody you know he loves everybody And you got to respect everybody I just try to teach him to be good people

Starting point is 00:38:50 you know yeah but I was stumped like I had to think for like 15 say and then after I still talk to my wife about I'm like you got to be kidding me how does this kid come up with this question when us stupid Neanderthal adults can't ask any like I can't even come up with a good question for you you know why so that's what I always snap back into is like how do you got to be curious like a kid because kids that's all they do is ask why and I wish we would do that more and that's yeah it seems like what you've been doing with your show for sure I always I've been the position to hire people to work at jobs, and I've loved the people that come and are constantly asking me questions. They're not that just turn it around, but they're genuinely

Starting point is 00:39:33 curious people. Those people are probably going to be successful in life. So that mindset that that Lennon had there is something that I hope that she continues to keep. And I think the number one way that she will keep that, though, is by learning from her mom and dad. And so I think that's another reason why this show for me exists is because I can sit there and pull up iTunes. And it's a pretty cool feeling. You know, when your daughter's holding your phone and you put up iTunes and they see your name and your show. And they know that, you know, they see me, you know, as I'm putting in the bed, they go down in the basement to record the show. And they saw me doing it for three months prior to anything even happening. Why do you keep doing that? Why are you

Starting point is 00:40:15 recording it? Well, because I'm putting this podcast here. You'll see, you'll see. And eventually it comes out. But now they see, and they lead, you know, kids learn, and they're going to follow your actions way more than your words. So when they see you going to do something or trying something, and that's why I think it's cool. In addition, like for yours, it inspired me too, you know, in addition to being a professional athlete to say, you know what, I also want to speak with some of the most intelligent, inspiring people in the world. So I'm going to create my own podcast in the middle of playing football in the NFL to do. do that. I got to believe that that type of effort and work leads to your children being, as I would say, massively curious, which is a great, great, great, great trait and quality in any human.

Starting point is 00:41:03 But like I said, kids are going to follow what their parents do. So if they see you taking action, they see you creating something, they're going to take action. They're going to want to create something, you know. I think that's what's really neat. If they see you just going and like, you know, you're upset when you leave the house, you're upset when you come home from whatever it is that you do, and that's all that they see. I mean, they're going to grow up thinking, okay, I'm going to go to college, and then when I get done with college, I got to go do what my dad did, and that was walk out, being upset and come home, being upset. Like, that'd be terrible, you know?

Starting point is 00:41:37 So I think that's another part of, and that's not how I am, obviously, but I know that that can, that's how some parents are leading their kids without even realizing it. So I think it's good to be really, really conscious of the fact that kids, one, are very, very smart, extremely smart. They see everything, they know everything, even at a very young age like Lennon is doing here with those types of questions. So it's on you and on us as parents to lead with action. And that's part of what we're doing here. Yeah, staying in the podcast theme, Triple H said it on Tim Ferriss's podcast. He said, kids don't do what they're told.

Starting point is 00:42:17 They do what they see. So he was just saying how he's got three girls and him and his wife, you know, Stephanie McMahon, Vince McMahon's daughter and Triple H is like Vince's right-hand man. He's basically the guy that's in line to take over the whole WWE whenever Vince goes in 50 years when that crazy man dies. But he was just explaining how busy they are, but how they make time and they see what his, his kids see what he does and they, whatever he wants them to, to learn work ethic from what his parents do.

Starting point is 00:42:48 Is that something you ever think about? Because it's something that I've thought about in the future for when your kids are older, say, like, you know, 20 years from now, they'll be able to dial up your podcast and listen to you interviewing all these cool people. Do you ever think about that? Like, that would be something that you want them to, like, someday you could pass that on to them? All the time.

Starting point is 00:43:10 I think it's huge because it's evergreen. It's there forever. I'll make sure of that. That's one of the things to say, not only, you know, was your dad somebody... The good and the bad or there forever. That's the bad thing, too.

Starting point is 00:43:21 Yeah, you know, it is. That's true, but not only... I'm not saying a bad podcast. I'm saying, like, posted pictures and stuff for... Oh, yeah, I know. You have some great pictures. You have great pictures on Google. People Google, you know, A.J. Hawke.

Starting point is 00:43:33 I'm not going to say it. Anyway, I'm trying to think. I don't even know what you're talking. What are tackling people on golf courses? No. No. On the field. I got you.

Starting point is 00:43:43 Yeah. Are you kidding me? Sometimes inside jokes don't translate well over national TV. Yeah, exactly right. So, but no, like if they can go back and listen, they listen now. I mean, you know, at the age of seven, but go back later on and say, so, you know, part of my thing was always wanting to strive to improve to get better to learn from great, inspiring learning leaders.

Starting point is 00:44:05 And so the cool thing about my conversations is that they're recorded. And now you can always go back and listen to them. because I've had these conversations probably the last 10 years of my life with all different types of leaders. The difference is I didn't record a single one of them. Did I take notes? Yeah, I wrote them down. I have a book somewhere, you know, but that's not the same as someone just dialing up on your iPhone to say, you know, here, you find a learning leader show on iTunes, and boom, and you can just click play and listen to any of the episodes that have been done.

Starting point is 00:44:34 So in a way, that's kind of a question of about legacy, and that's another kind of a deep spa that I didn't expect to get to. But yes, definitely that's on my mind. You're going to give me some more credit here. I'm starting to get offended now. What are you talking about? I ask you a real question. I've never been offended just for anyone that is out there. Don't be offended.

Starting point is 00:44:52 No one. I literally can't remember the last time I've been offended. Even though I just said it, like what could possibly offend me? You want to tell me I'm not good looking or anything? I don't care. I'm not offended, buddy. So let's tell it everyone else. What if they made fun of your hair?

Starting point is 00:45:07 Great. Are you kidding me? I could care. The new hair. People love to make fun of my haircut. Oh, it's amazing. It's kind of spreading now. I see other people are kind of going for that hair.

Starting point is 00:45:15 I'm looking for new styles, believe me, every day. I think you go more like Julian Edelman, but I don't know. If I had the hairline for it, I would do it, but I just don't, which is just, that's the one thing that I can't, I can't get lucky with anymore. I can't be like, hey, I'm going to have this sweet hair. Exactly right. That's exactly right. I'm like, God, I'm just going to have to shave my head someday, but whatever. Who cares?

Starting point is 00:45:42 no idea how we got here dude well no by the way edelman i i saw him with the derby and that's the first thing we talked about was our hair both of us really product we were using and everything oh yeah instantly yeah was he cool man what are you putting there in i was like i want to ask you the same thing you're he's never seems out of place man you're just perfect and he's like nah man mine's a mess like it was hilarious wait he is he a cool dude great dude he's amazing he went to kent state i know he played quarterback at kent state that's why i'm like mac quarterbacks he's awesome I'm like that that would have been sweet to be able to get picked up by the Patriots and go play receiver, man. Oh, yeah, he's a California kid, but went to Kent and what?

Starting point is 00:46:19 Is it really? Yeah, because I was like, how did you get to Kent City? He's like, when I played quarterback, man. Oh, okay, but he was super cool. Love him. What a great dude. And they really passionate about football, too. They were, you know, talking scheme and all kind of stuff.

Starting point is 00:46:31 They, you could tell him. He's not, he doesn't mess around. Was gronk with him? He's tough. Oh, yeah, they were all there. Was he, does Gronk actually? Can he talk football? I didn't, I didn't, I didn't, uh, he was around.

Starting point is 00:46:45 He wasn't around as much. I just met him quickly, but, um, I'm sure he can, man. Yeah, watch him on the field. He knows where to, he knows where to find the voids in the zone and sit down and catch the ball and then get up and juice the crowd up. So yeah, man, they were, uh, there's a reason that they won the Super Bowl. They're great, all of those guys. They, uh, they were, they were living it up in the derby, but I'm not sure how long

Starting point is 00:47:06 you wanted to go here. I had a question before that, before you started talking about the hair situation, but I mean, I was, that's one thing that I'd like to get out there is that people hopefully, like, being offended, like, you're, I guess you're allowed to be offended by what someone would say, but I don't know how to describe it. Like, you know what I'm trying to say when people, people just want to be offended by what somebody says, like this fake outrage. I'm sure you've heard people talk about it. And it's just why, why waste your time with fake outrage is my thing. this is another completely veered off the path of where we were going or what your show is about.

Starting point is 00:47:45 But do you know what I'm talking about? It would be like say someone is interviewing, you're doing, they're listening to your show, and one of your guests decides to say how he's a diehard Republican and, you know, he's a member of the NRA and he loves it and he thinks we should be able to carry guns to school or something. And someone like boycott your show and goes and crazy and goes on, goes on CNN and says that you should be fired from your job and your day job and your podcast should be taken off iTunes. Like, why do you see that? And you're in the, you're also in the business sector where you have to deal with

Starting point is 00:48:19 HR all the time. Yeah. And you guys have to be very politically correct in everything you do because you can get sued. Yeah. What is that? Like, why is that such a, why is it so prevalent? I have no idea. I think certain people want to expend energy on things to be either an arguer or a complainer. And I don't get it because like your brain is like a pretty small muscle, right? It's like five pounds, I think I read recently. And there's only so many decisions you have in that brain to make every single day before you're completely exhausted. And so I, the last thing I want to do is waste any brain power. energy on stupid stuff like that. You know, I want to make, I want to expend an energy on things that's

Starting point is 00:49:09 going to help us improve and get better and learn and prepare for whatever it is next coming up. So I don't, I truly don't understand that. You know, I'm not really easily offended. Some people might say, well, that's weak. You should take a side and fight for that side. And I said, if there's something that's worth fighting for, I guarantee you, you know, I'll be right there with you and we'll be fighting it. But if it's something that that doesn't matter, I'm just not, I'm not going to use any amount of energy on things that I don't deem that important. And, you know, I know that other people are going to see that certain things are important that I don't think are and vice versa.

Starting point is 00:49:43 And that's, I guess it's just the way the world is that we're not always going to agree on things. But I know exactly we're talking about. And I usually choose to remove myself from those situations. Yeah, I'm just trying to make you a polarizing figure like we talked about earlier. No, I told you I'm not really good at it, though. You know, like, what am I going to say? Like, about, like, the gun thing. It's like, you know.

Starting point is 00:50:03 I need to hear your opinion on abortion, on gay marriage. I need to know if you're a Republican, Democrat, a libertarian. And I also need to know where you're at on the Big Bang theory compared to creationism and... A couple more, and CrossFit. Also, I need to hear your reviews on CrossFit. CrossFit.

Starting point is 00:50:22 Actually, yeah, crossFit in with all those, by the way. Does CrossFit, like, what's the definition of that? Like, because I think I do some of it, but I don't know. No, my response to all of those questions was going to be you first, and then you actually have people like pay attention to what you say. That's the thing. I say all the time, I know enough to know that I don't know. And I can, so if I give my opinion on something, I'll be up front and say, hey, listen,

Starting point is 00:50:48 this is my completely ignorant opinion. I do not know the facts. I do not know what the science or what anything. It could be any question in the world. And if I don't know, I'm going to let you know. I'm like, well, if you want my opinion, I can tell you what I think, but I don't know. Like, I'm not going to claim to know. That's just something that I don't know.

Starting point is 00:51:06 Right. As one of my great coaches said, a little bit of information is very dangerous, meaning, like, someone sits there and reads the headlines and reads a little bit of Google, and then they think they're an expert on all areas. No, it's right. But I think your opinion, though, is formed based on the reading and the facts that you hopefully consume or whoever's writing. they deem it's a fact you consume and then you have to form your opinion. But some of these things, yeah, they're not the most, depending on the position that you're in, they're not something that you necessarily always want to get into because there's no

Starting point is 00:51:41 really real need for, unless you are like incredibly passionate about whatever one of those things are that everyone must believe it the way you do. I like talking with people who have different mindsets or mindsets. That's why I really enjoyed the episode that Brian Coppulman spoke with Dave Ramsey. So Dave Ramsey's like this, he's really, really great at what he does in the financial world and helping people and he's very, very religious. He's not shy about being spiritual and it's awesome. And then Brian Coppulman grew up Jewish and now he's an atheist.

Starting point is 00:52:14 And they literally had this really, really interesting conversation because literally their viewpoints on just about every single topic were opposite. And I think that's cool because that's a way you can kind of improve and get better is because you're learning from people like I learn the most from people who have different viewpoints from me on whatever is even if just a small little work thing and I talk to somebody you know I'll talk with a smart person about that topic and I'll say hey I think this and they'll say actually I think it's this way and you're like ah I just learned something so I think that's really what I strive for now that's not always the case on this podcast you know some people

Starting point is 00:52:52 you know we kind of are right in line with everything I mean but it's it's more interesting I think when you find people who you disagree with. Yeah, that's one of the things that I've said forever. I think we need to have a diverse group of friends and acquaintances, people you deal with because it's so boring. Like, you don't want to hang out with people that have the same views as you all the time because you're never, A, you're never going to grow,

Starting point is 00:53:14 you're never going to learn anything. And your life's going to be pretty boring as well, where you guys all just agree on whatever you're talking about and you're not going to ever learn anything new. So that's something that I think is cool from listening to these people. A lot of the guys, I'm aware of some of the guys that you, you've been talking to just because I listen to podcasts and whatever, but a lot of them I'm new to. So it's awesome to hear their message and hear their whole stories on what they've been doing

Starting point is 00:53:38 and how they made themselves so successful. That seems like that's like the main goal of your show. That's the coolest part is I've found an interest in these people from usually reading about them or hearing them or seeing them on TV and say, like, I wonder if I could find a way to reach out to them and meet them and then get to get to record it. and then to put together a pretty cool episode that other people get value out of is definitely the coolest part of doing the entire show. Well, I know, who knows, I'm sure it went longer than you would have, you wanted to,

Starting point is 00:54:14 but there's anything else you want to, want to cover? It's not something we didn't really talk about a time frame of what you wanted going in. I know you like to have a pretty structured situation. You like to enunciate very well when you speak and you're very professional. So I'm sorry for. Is that a, that's a compliment? Is that a compliment? That's a big time compliment, yeah.

Starting point is 00:54:34 But, I mean, you are, you are Dean Keith Hogg Jr.'s son. So, of course. So are you. So are you. Yeah, no. I didn't get that. I didn't, I say it a lot. I say it publicly.

Starting point is 00:54:43 I didn't get that gift of perfect grammar and great, you know, professional sounding. Exactly. I think that's false. I think you have it. You got to be in there somewhere, but maybe it's just my, I just haven't explored it like you have. I haven't tapped into it as much. I don't feel as authentic, you know, when I'm in a professional realm like you.

Starting point is 00:55:09 Well, I think it's pretty good. That's why you're doing the podcast, you know. And we've got to practice. I hear people speaking. And then I start to think, like, man, I got to actually like, I need to enunciate a little bit. You know, do you feel yourself ever, you ever listen to yourself and you feel like hypercritical of how you, even how you, not only how you sound, but obviously have questions that you have liked to. I've followed up with somebody. Every single episode by far and some more than others.

Starting point is 00:55:34 I mean, yeah, completely every time I'm like, ah, I had some of the times, oh, there are other moments where like that was really good, you know. So, I mean, it goes back and forth, but you have good moments and bad moments. And I think that's something where I'm guilty myself. If I listen to somebody else's podcast or anything where it's so easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and know the answer of like it always happens when there's someone's on there and you're trying to come up with someone's name. Like, say you're thinking about an author's name, like, oh, I'm, and you're trying to think

Starting point is 00:56:05 about it. Whoever's listening, there's a million, well, yeah, who knows how many people listening that know that name. They're yelling at their phone to try to have you get it. That seems I'm guilty of doing that. So it's like something about being on the spot and in the, while you're recording it, just sometimes you just can't come up with the words that you need. And is that, is that something you like, do you work on?

Starting point is 00:56:27 You sit there and I bet you do sit there and, like, critique and write and know, on how you felt you did like on each episode. Yeah, I try to listen to the rough cuts and not the finished cut, although I, the initial. What's the difference for you? Well, because the final episode is sometimes is edited, you know, like we just said. And the, the rough cut is obviously just the raw cut of the raw recording of the episode. And so, but I will say, though, the last, I don't know, 10 or 15 that that I've put together, I don't think we've edited them at all.

Starting point is 00:57:00 So I think that's an improvement over the initial ones where if you listen to it, you could probably hear there's an edit here and there. I don't like to edit though. Like I think podcasts are better if they're just live, real shows, you know, where it's like just a conversation. Yeah, sometimes somebody's banging around a table next to their computer like you're doing. You know, I mean, that just happens, you know, or you hear something that's going on outside. Brian Kauffman answered his phone in mine. Oh, yeah, he did.

Starting point is 00:57:26 His son called it. phone. That was cool, though. That was a really, really cool part of the episode. So, yeah, you know. I would never cut that one. No, no.

Starting point is 00:57:33 Like, so I think in a way, you know, I, I told, I said I listened to the rough cuts because I don't want to listen to anything if there potentially were any edits because you want to, you want to improve from the raw footage, right, of what you're actually doing. Because if sometimes, I know some people can send it to like this really, really professional editors and they bring it, they send it back and it's like, whoa, it's a completely different person because they were able to really cut it and splice it. nice, but that's not, you know, how the resources to do that. So I like to, but I do like to listen to the rough one to say, you know, where, where could I have gotten better? You know, my follow-up

Starting point is 00:58:07 question should have been this instead of that. Maybe I should have opened with something different to take it down a different path. I think about, I listen and think about all of those things from time to time. And yeah, there are a lot of moments where you're like, you know, everyone, where most people are their own worst critic and that's definitely the case for me. Oh, for sure. something that everyone will I'm sure it'll go on until the end of time it's not like you're ever going to

Starting point is 00:58:33 record one like boat got it nailed it 100% and wouldn't change a thing if that ever happens I think you're just mailing it in you're always going to want to you're always going to want to you know improve on something I'm sure

Starting point is 00:58:46 that's how most people are that have good podcast no doubt have good anything they're going to be critical but I just want to ask one final question about an interview an interviewer that I think did a great job and I think deserves great props. I don't know if you watched it or not, but Diane Sawyer did the Bruce Jenner interview.

Starting point is 00:59:05 Did you see it? Yeah, I did. I thought she was great. Did you? I was impressed. I think the whole thing was I was very, I don't know the right word, but I was just kind of wondering how in the world is this going to go and is this really happening? I think a lot of people might have been thinking like, is this really like going to happen?

Starting point is 00:59:26 and what people are hyping up. And the way she handled it and the way then Bruce was able to open up and be so comfortable, like it made it an event that people are like, you know, saying he's a hero and all these great things because it's going to, you know, help this sub-segment of people that probably were struggling with something that's really, really tough. And so, you know, other people like really criticize, like, why are you even watching that? I'm like, I watched it because it's a really interesting thing that I don't want to. really know much about and I wanted to learn about it because you know those questions are

Starting point is 01:00:01 going to come up and it's probably going to you know people are going to be for feel better about being in that position now that I was impressed with how she was able to to to make that feel like a comfortable situation for both the you know who she's interviewing as well as the people listening and watching no doubt I was wondering the same thing going in I'm like I don't know what's happening here like what are they going to do whatever and she just did a good job of that had to be very tough going in like for her how do I handle this how do I stay respectful but how do I ask good question and she had great follow-ups like I don't know if you remember I remember one when she uh I think he said he admitted he's like well I'm a republican and she like

Starting point is 01:00:40 fell out of her chair she like what like she she like stopped her in her tracks because I guess she thought like well you know they're the people that were probably railing against you or whatever the conservatives and he's like yeah what do you mean of course I am whatever and so I just felt like she did a good job of being like present and being there being in the moment I know. Well, she's pretty good at her job. And that's probably partially why they, I'm sure that was part of why she was picked to do it. But I was impressed. I did watch it. I watched the whole thing. And now the weird thing now that you do like a podcast, I'm sure the same way where I watch somebody interview somebody else and I almost am taking sometimes like physical notes, but mental notes for ways that they conducted it, whether it be good or bad, so that I could try to then implement some of those things that, those people do and uh i don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing that my brain works that that's that's happening with me all the time now when i see people on tv or doing those types of things oh that's a good thing can only be a good thing as long as you still enjoy watching it now just

Starting point is 01:01:43 straight robot which i'm you're always on the verge of turning into one so we'll see you'll keep you the kids the kids will keep you on it keep you a human for a little bit longer until they all go to college at least oh i know i know continue with your show in the conclusion No, I think it's good. People who want to hear us do it again, I think it'd be cool to, because it's not like we just talked about the podcast the whole time, it'd be cool to do these every once in while, whether it be on my show, The Learning Leaders Show or A.J. Show, The Hawkcast. I think it's a lot of fun.

Starting point is 01:02:16 If you haven't listened to Hiss, which I imagine you probably have, if you're here or watched it, you should, or searched for it on iTunes or YouTube. and then obviously you guys can communicate with us via Twitter is probably the best place. So official A.J. Hawk or Ryan Hawk 12. That's all I got. This episode of The Learning Leader Show is over, but we have plenty more to keep you locked in until next time. Head over to Learningleadershow.com for more information and to request your favorite entrepreneur, CEO, world-class athlete, or anyone else that inspires you.

Starting point is 01:02:52 You can also talk to Ryan directly by reaching out to you. him on Twitter at Ryan Hawk 12. Thanks again and we'll see you next time on the Learning Leader Show.

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk - 023: AJ Hawk – Why Does This Show Exist? What Does The Future Hold?

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