But I Can Still Play Ping Pong
Building a Better Dave
In this episode, Dave shares a candid account of his recent health updates, and it's a mix of challenges and victories. From starting the year with new exercise routines to discovering unexpected health issues, Dave opens up about how turning 60 has brought a wave of concern regarding blood sugar, blood pressure, and thyroid issues. With a dash of humor, he recounts the quirks of testing his blood sugar and the surprise diagnosis of diabetes. Yet, amidst the medical hurdles, Dave finds a silver lining—a triumphant return to the ping pong table despite the obstacles. Join us as Dave...
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Father Time is Undefeated
Building a Better Dave
Today I share some insights as I deal with the loss of a friend. Death sucks, but when you lose people who are YOUNGER then you, with no warning, it really sucks. Today I talk about losing my friend Niel Guilarte who I worked with during the making of We got to room with each other at events, and we just clicked. We always made each other laugh. My favorite was when Niel would start laughing and he couldn't finish the story he had started. When you start to see your heroes get old and some cracks around the edges, it's sad, but it's a warning sign. Niel was here, and the next day...
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Someone Stop This Train
Building a Better Dave
This was recorded during my last few minutes of being 59. Life is dragging me kicking and screaming into my 60s. I'm not happy about it. Don't you get it? I'm 23 honest. I've been 23 my whole life? Have I made my last trip to Dairy Queen? It turns out everything I eat is poison. That's something you know but don't care, and it turns out you should've cared a little more than you did. John Mayer has a great song called "" that has a line John Had a talk with my old man Said, "Help me understand" He said, "Turn 68" "You renegotiate" I was able to renew my drivers license for 8...
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I'm not a Car Guy
Building a Better Dave
Episode Summary In this episode, Dave reflects on his recent struggles with his car in frigid Ohio weather and how it reminded him of the "old days" of dealing with unreliable vehicles. From the quirks of old, hand-me-down cars to the challenges of modern, fuel-injected engines, Dave humorously recounts the learning curves of car maintenance. The episode dives into the importance of adaptability, whether in fixing a car, keeping up with evolving technology, or navigating life’s unexpected hurdles. If you like this show, you can . Main Takeaways Winter Woes & Car Troubles: Dave shares...
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The Gift of Covid
Building a Better Dave
A Christmas Conundrum: What do you do when the much-anticipated family gathering is jeopardized by an unexpected bout of COVID-19? Dave recounts his experience, offering a candid and touching perspective on the true meaning of the season. Reminiscing with Friends: From cherished childhood memories to the pains and aches of getting older, Dave and his best friend embark on a nostalgic journey, bringing laughs and poignant moments. The Gift of Adaptation: Learn how Dave turned a disappointing holiday season into a moment of gratitude and reflection, even dubbing COVID-19 as an unexpected...
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An Easy Way to Make $50 a Month
Building a Better Dave
I filed for Bankrupcy in 2004. I know there is a difference between being poor and being BROKE. Today I share a strategy I've been doing for most of this year and it's saving me close to $50 a month and I don't have to do a thing. A bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and Max is $30/month Peacock $14/month Paramount and Showtime $13/month. Total: $57 (and yes, I know there are more). Rotate Your Streaming Services: Cancel all but one streaming service at a time. Saves up to $50 a month by only paying for one service at a time. Focus on quality content, avoiding time wasted on subpar...
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What's Wrong with My Brain? Dealing with Self-Doubt and Recognition
Building a Better Dave
In the latest episode, I share my personal experience with podcasting, detailing how I ended up in podcasting post-divorce while living in my brother's basement. Despite successfully establishing myself over two decades and earning recognition, I still struggle with imposter syndrome. Reflecting on accolades like being called an influencer and my moves within the industry, I discuss the complicated feelings of self-worth and acceptance. Wrapping up, I share some cozy moments from my day-to-day life, which help ground me amid these introspective thoughts. Clips from Like the show? .
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Get Your Money Working For You
Building a Better Dave
Welcome to another episode of Better Dave! Today, I'm diving into the fascinating world of personal finance and exploring how we can get our money working for us. I've spent over three decades with the same bank, but recently, I've rediscovered the benefits of modern financial tools like SoFi and Acorns. As I monitor my income and outcome in Monarch, I have noticed the more attention you spend on your money, the more money there is to manage. Whether you're drowning in debt or just looking for smarter ways to manage your finances, there's something here for everyone. So, let's get...
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Losing Everything to Gain Perspective- A Story of Hope and Humanity
Building a Better Dave
Today's story reminds us there's still hope in humanity. In this episode, our host, Dave Jackson, shares a personal mishap that turns into a surprising testament to the goodness of people. After a pleasant bike ride in Ohio, Dave discovers he’s lost his wallet, containing all his essential cards and cash. His frantic search proves futile, leading to setbacks as he navigates the day without his wallet. Lessons Learned: Do not put ALL of your cards in your wallet. Enjoy the show? .
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The Unforgettable Jim Blackstock: Lessons and Laughter at a Memorable Funeral
Building a Better Dave
On the latest episode of Better Dave, titled "Putting the FUN in Funeral," host Dave Jackson shares a heartwarming and humorous tribute to his favorite teacher and mentor, Jim Blackstock. This episode takes us on an emotional yet uplifting journey, emphasizing the profound impact a great teacher can have on our lives. Here are three key takeaways from this poignant episode: - **Integrating Humor in Education**: Dave underscores how Jim Blackstock's unique teaching style, blending humor with education, made learning enjoyable and memorable, influencing Dave's own teaching approach. - **The...
info_outlineIt's hard to watch a friend get canceled. My friend Daniel is a devout Christian.
Currently, there is the worry that Roe Vs Wade will be overturned and abortion will be illegal.
Daniel left a comment on a tweet that was pro-choice. "“Stopping the mass murder of blacks and women, along with all the other babies, will be wonderful for the USA. How anyone could be so barbaric to endorse the murder of nearly 1 million babies every year is unbelievable." (He later deleted this tweet)
Daniel at the time was a Governor for the Podcast Academy. The TPA has a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion declaration on their site that reads,
We celebrate and support the industry of audio storytelling and fight to uplift and center the diverse communities of people doing this work.
We acknowledge the historical inequities that have existed in the space. We understand that to dismantle these inequities; it will take intentional efforts and commitments aimed at the communities that have long been subject to these inequities, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, immigrants, and people across the spectrum of socio-economic class.
We encourage our members to hold us accountable, but we also realize that it is not the responsibility of marginalized communities to do this work for us. For these reasons, we invest funds into external, BIPOC+ led resources to help us continue in this work.
This policy is a living document that grows as we do, and we look forward to continuing to evolve through our ongoing education, outreach, and efforts for mutual understanding.
After his comments went viral people started a petition to get him removed. They called him a racist, homophobic, and a misogynist.
Another fact, the Podcast Academy is 69% female.
Daniel was asked to resign, and when he declined he was fired.
Abortion
Mike Tyson said everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face. I think everyone has their views on abortion until they find out they are pregnant. I don't have a vagina, so I keep out of that conversation.
Racist
In the book, “Uncomfortable conversation with a black man” the author says to white people, I imagine some of you are thinking if black people can't decide which term to use, then how and why should white people be expected to know which term to use? Point taken? To the extent I can speak for anyone else, black is the most inclusive choice. There's no one label that will satisfy all.
I sued Google and found many websites stating THIS is the term that white people should use. They were all different.
Some wrong words are obvious (the N word) and others have white people asking, "Can I say this?" When I hear that people are saying he should stop breathing because he didn't put a capital on the "B" in blacks, it feels a bit extreme.
I asked this question in a group, and the group could not give me an agreed-upon answer. SO know that white people are trying, but it's confusing.
Learning
You don't learn when you talk, you learn when you listen. It's hard when we get upset. When we don't feel heard our voices get loud. That is being human, but you have to realize that we were all raised in our own bubbles of culture and are probably missing pieces when it comes to understanding others.
The internet can bring us all together to learn from each other if we are willing students with open minds.
There will be times when we agree to disagree. I am driving to PA next week to see a friend of mine who is an atheist. I am not. We talk about everything and anything - except religion. He's not changing my mind, and I'm not changing his. If we have questions we know where to go.
Dialogues
At a podcast event, there were two left-leaning, two right-leaning, and one LGBQT+ person and we all listened and talk about our experiences. This was the first time I realized what I learned in school is not accurate. Daniel was nothing but respectful. This was such a cool conversation that I remember it, and so does David Hooper (one of the guys at the table). It was like, "Hey remember when people could have a dialogue?"
A Better Use of Your Time?
Instead of digging through years of old tweets, right not reach out and ask to have a conversation. Steven Covey in the book the 7 Habits of Effective people says we should "understand before being understood."
John Mayer
In 2001 I pre-judged John Mayer as "another pretty-boy singer-songwriter who is going to make the girls scream."
I would overlook him year after year. 14 years later a friend told me I should give him a listen. I did, and it turns out he is an AMAZING guitar player. I had missed out on some great guitar playing, lyrics, and music.
My point is if we can take a second to get to know each other we might benefit from understanding each other. It may not always be easy, but anything of value rarely is.
Mentioned in this Episode
John Mayer Belief (Lyrics video)