podcast

Dec 18

Michael S. Gutter

By Chrissy Bernal Author, Community, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, get ready for a fiery and thought-provoking episode as we sit down with Jewish historian and author Michael S. Gutter to dive into his powerful book, Never Again Still Means Never Again. Tackling racism, anti-Semitism, and the societal complacency that allows hate to persist, Mike brings his bold, unapologetic voice to the conversation, delivering a message filled with passion, insight, and hope for a brighter future.

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!)

(Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any Mike Counsil Plumbing and Rooter service!)

In this Episode:

Antisemitism in Modern Society: How it manifests today and why we need to address it head-on.
Lessons from History: What Hitler’s rise to power teaches us about the dangers of ignorance and indifference.
Debunking Nazi Myths: Revealing hidden truths and dispelling misconceptions about Nazi Germany.
The Evolution of Political Dialogue: How shifting political landscapes affect Jewish representation and broader societal dynamics.
Righteous Anger & Humor: How to balance passion and levity when addressing difficult topics.
Dismantling Hate: Why ignorance persists despite access to information—and how we can effectively counter it.
Jewish Diplomacy & Rising Anti-Semitism: Are traditional strategies enough to combat today’s challenges?

Quotations:

“The media portrayed it one way. And I think that’s one of the things about the election, whether you like it or not.” ~ Michael S. Gutter

“If somebody wants my opinion, I’ll give it to them. If they feel there’s something incorrect in my opinion, I’m gonna look up your research.” ~ Michael S. Gutter

“Democrats have been so dumb and they’ve been so elitist that they forgot who runs the country; it’s always the middle class, it runs this country, and if you could somehow attach to them and they believe in you.” ~ Michael S. Gutter

“To kill somebody, you know, it probably isn’t easy, but you do it if you’re protecting somebody.” ~ Michael S. Gutter

“One of the worst ways you could possibly die is starvation. Like from the time you stop eating your last bite of whatever until death.” ~ Michael S. Gutter

“I’ve always said to people when they vote for president because, you know, everybody, when these presidents are in debates, they’re asked 100 questions and they have 100 answers. Okay. They’re not right on our 100, not even close.” ~ Michael S. Gutter

Bio:

Michael S. Gutter is a Jewish historian and antisemitism expert committed to dismantling hate groups and promoting justice through truth and education. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, he grew up in a loving family with four sisters and found his community welcoming and respectful.

Mike’s life has been marked by diverse ventures—from co-founding one of the largest recycling companies in the U.S. to acquiring a craft soda line. His passion for writing is fueled by his love of non-fiction and a drive to confront antisemitism, inspired by both personal experiences and his struggles with OCD.

Now based in Houston, Texas, Mike continues to write and engage in creative pursuits, including a Broadway musical, a screenplay, and a sitcom. His upcoming book will explore the past, present, and future of American Jewry, aiming to inspire action and understanding.

Through meticulous research and heartfelt insight, Mike remains dedicated to addressing critical issues like racism and homophobia, hoping to empower readers to join him in spreading awareness and advocating for change.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://neveragainmeans.com/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/p/Mike-Gutter-100006726197993/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/neveragainmeans/

Dec 11

Love15

Raymond Watt

By Chrissy Bernal Leadership, Personal Growth, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, join us for an insightful conversation with Raymond Watt, a remarkable leader balancing multiple roles as Chairman at Rimar.ai, Co-founder and CEO of Omnislash Inc., and Chairman Emeritus of YPO. Discover Raymond Watt’s incredible journey from his roots in South Africa to leading global businesses in the heart of Silicon Valley. His story is one of gratitude, strong family values, and an unwavering passion for helping others thrive.

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to tell them Gary sent you so you can save 20%!)

In this Episode:

Follow Raymond’s transformative journey and the powerful lessons he picked up along the way.
Discover how his unique upbringing shaped his leadership style and parenting philosophies.
Go behind the scenes of YPO’s mission to build better leaders and create lasting impact in businesses, families, and communities.
Raymond shares practical tips for raising kids grounded in integrity and empathy—no matter how much success surrounds them.
Learn why exposing kids to diverse cultures is one of the greatest gifts you can give.
Raymond’s unexpected journey into the entertainment world as a member of the Television Academy will leave you inspired and curious!

Quotations:

“The beauty of being raised in Africa, as a backdrop and a canvas for me growing up, I think is probably the biggest gift that I ever could receive.” ~ Raymond Watt

“I think we need to recognize that most religions have a huge component of gratitude built into the doctrine, which I think is beautiful.” ~ Raymond Watt

“We do not pray to ask for things. We pray to recognize and say thank you for things.” ~ Raymond Watt

“There’s a huge part of the business that’s just linked to the actualization of other humans, whether it’s your clients or whether it’s your employees or whether it’s your shareholders. If you truly are passionate about them finding success and getting to the point where they wanna be, it sort of makes you a good-ish businessman.” ~ Raymond Watt

“The idea of peer learning and sitting and listening actively to people around you and listening and learning from them, which is the base of YPO, is why I love this organization because it helps me to become better. But I would definitely not list businessman as one of my greatest skills.” ~ Raymond Watt

“Business leadership is definitely one of those mechanisms of hopefully making the world better.” ~ Raymond Watt

“If you really don’t want your clients to be unhappy, if you don’t want your employees to be unhappy, and you don’t want your investors to be unhappy, you’re sort of treading the line towards being a good businessman.” ~ Raymond Watt

“If you dream it, you can really achieve it.” ~ Raymond Watt

“I still learn from so many people.” ~ Raymond Watt

“I think the narrative is what drives humanity. And the better we can understand which stories people connect to, the better, you know, probably we can use the word successful, that the more successful we become.” ~ Raymond Watt

Bio:

Raymond Watt is the Chairman of Rimar.ai, a big data analytics company that develops quantitative models for its own hedge funds and managed accounts, and Co-founder and CEO of Omnislash, Inc., a data-aggregation platform transforming the esports and gaming space, and is the Chairman Emeritus of YPO. Raymond received his B.Sc. in Computer Science from NorthWest University and an MBA in Information Technology from Bond University in Australia.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.ypo.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymondwatt/

Dec 04

Love14

Benjamin L. Smith

By Chrissy Bernal Author, Podcast, Science No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, we dive into an eye-opening conversation with author, award-winning coach, and health advocate Benjamin L. Smith as we explore his transformative book, Why Are You Sick? How to Reclaim Your Health with the Ultimate Health Model. Benjamin takes us on his journey—from a childhood fascination with science, inspired by his dermatologist father, to becoming a successful entrepreneur and eventually a passionate advocate for holistic health.

Tune in now to discover the powerful insights and actionable steps Benjamin shares to help you reclaim your health and transform your well-being!

This episode is sponsored by:

(Effortless solution to your junk removal needs!)

In this Episode:

Benjamin’s Inspiring Journey: Discover how a devastating personal loss and a relentless curiosity about the human body propelled him to uncover a groundbreaking approach to health and healing.
The Hidden Power of Structured Water: Could water hold the key to unlocking optimal health? Explore its fascinating role in biology and its revolutionary potential for transforming agriculture and beyond.
The Web of Wellness: Uncover the surprising connections between your daily habits, hydration, and even the health of the soil—proving that everything truly is intertwined.
Transformative Health Hacks: Learn simple yet powerful changes in your diet, hydration, and lifestyle that can help you regain control of your health.

Quotations:

“I read a lot of science stuff. I just like a lot of science because I’m so into the way things work.” ~ Benjamin L. Smith

“For the last 10 years, I’ve read thousands of articles to come up with this book. But no, it’s not for pleasure. It’s more just to learn.” ~ Benjamin L. Smith

“I remember watching a video one time and a doctor came on; he was talking about what he learned in medical school, and they said the teacher told him that 50% of what you are gonna learn and you’re gonna find out is incorrect. And thought, wow, that’s interesting.” ~ Benjamin L. Smith

“Native American cultures just worshiped water. And I just wondered why. So I kept diving deeper and deeper. And I realized that water, like I write in the book, is consciousness.” ~ Benjamin L. Smith

“On my model, I said mineral deficiencies cause chronic dehydration.” ~ Benjamin L. Smith

“Water is all there is; it’s consciousness expressing itself.” ~ Benjamin L. Smith

“When you’re dehydrated, it’s taking essential amino acids that are used to make the protein melatonin, which is needed to help for sleep and causing that problem.” ~ Benjamin L. Smith

“There are the plants, then the animals, the squirrels, and then the insects, and the birds eat the insects. It’s just that everything works together. And when we mono-crop, we’re destroying that system. And in turn, we are causing really a lot of problems.” ~ Benjamin L. Smith

“The reason sugar is bad is because it thickens the blood. just like if you mix water and sugar together and make a meal and you’re cooking. That’s what nobody really talks about. They talk about how we need insulin to get that sugar out of the blood, which is super important, but they don’t really say why. The why is that it thickens the blood. If you don’t get the sugar out of the blood, you’re gonna die because it’s not gonna flow. That’s what insulin does.” ~ Benjamin L. Smith

“Chronic stress can contribute to chronic disease.” ~ Benjamin L. Smith
“One of your main jobs is, and exercise builds mitochondria because it builds muscle. The more muscle you have, the more mitochondria you have. So these are things like I said, people don’t talk about or know.” ~ Benjamin L. Smith

Bio:

Benjamin Smith is an Award-Winning Health Coach & Advocate for Wellness. His journey to becoming an award-winning health coach is rooted in a lifelong curiosity about the human body and a passion for uncovering the “why” behind health and disease. Inspired early on by his dermatologist father, Benjamin’s philosophical questions about life and science laid the foundation for a lifelong interest in wellness.

Although he spent 30 years running a successful automotive detailing business, his fascination with health persisted as a personal pursuit. In 2012, his world changed when he lost his sister to cancer—a moment that ignited a deep dive into understanding chronic disease. Driven by the question, “Does the body want to kill itself?” Benjamin became obsessed with finding answers and discovered the transformative properties of water, including its capacity to hold memory.

By 2019, Benjamin felt a calling to share his knowledge and help others. He earned his certification through the Primal Health Coach Institute, aligning his values with a holistic approach to wellness. Teaching and lecturing soon became his passion, leading him to author a groundbreaking book that encapsulates a decade of research, hundreds of articles, and insights from experts.

Through his work, Benjamin strives to empower others with hope and practical tools to prevent and combat chronic disease. His mission is simple yet profound: if his model can save even one person, he considers his work a success.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://ultimatehealthmodel.com/about-benjamin-smith/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ultimatehealthmodel/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ultimatehealthmodel01

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UltimateHealthModel

Nov 27

Love14

Jeremy Piven

By Chrissy Bernal Comedian, Film, Movies, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, we sit down with the multi-talented Jeremy Piven—known for his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning role as Ari Gold in Entourage and his captivating performance in Mr. Selfridge. Jeremy takes us behind the scenes of his remarkable pivot from Hollywood actor to full-time stand-up comedian, performing 200+ shows a year.

This episode is sponsored by:

(Effortless solution to your junk removal needs!)

In this Episode:

Discover how growing up in an acting family shaped Jeremy Piven’s journey and ignited his passion for the craft at just 8 years old.
Learn about the exhilarating highs and unique challenges of stand-up comedy, as Jeremy shares how he connects with audiences in over 200 live shows a year.
Explore the behind-the-scenes story of his upcoming film The Performance, a project 14 years in the making.
Uncover how Jeremy transforms pressure into a powerful source of energy and motivation in both his acting and comedy careers.
Discover the social relevance of Jeremy’s roles and why he believes storytelling has the power to spark meaningful change.

Quotations:

“I really love talking about myself. It’s what I do best.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“The harder you work, the easier it looks.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“We need to laugh right now. Everything is, you know, people are frustrated, so let me make sense of things and make you laugh.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“Once you do the work and you dig in and then you go to set, it’s time to play.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“Pressure is a gift. I love pressure. I thrive on it.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“I’ve been a drummer my whole life. So I understand rhythmically; if you tell me what the taps sound like, I know how to stick the landing.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“I’ve done something and I’ve achieved something that I’ve never done and that I thought I had in me and I actually do. So there’s an immense sense of pride.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“I wasn’t a great standup, but I was ready for the moment. I was prepared. And so I don’t let that stuff bother me.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“I feel ready for the moment and they can feel that you’re ready.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“Life is very interesting.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“It taught me a lot of lessons about balance, that you to have balance in this life otherwise you’ll burn out.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“Nerves and fear are an energy. It’s palpable. And you can either let it handcuff you or you can use it to propel you. It’s your choice. And it’s all how you label it.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

Bio:

A household name for his 2x Golden Globe and 3x Emmy Award-winning performance playing the fast-talking, acerbic Hollywood agent ‘Ari Gold’ in the HBO series Entourage, actor, comedian, and podcast host Jeremy Piven also achieved significant success playing the title role in the British/PBS television drama series Mr Selfridge, the semi-fictional story based on the life of Harry Selfridge, who founded the London department store Selfridge’s. Piven has also appeared in numerous successful films, including Grosse Pointe Blank, Singles, Very Bad Things, The Family Man, Black Hawk Down, The Kingdom, Heat, PCU, Old School, Rock N Rolla, Serendipity, Smokin’ Aces, and Runaway Jury.

Piven appears as Joel Lapchick the man responsible for helping Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton break the color barrier in the NBA in 1950 in the movie Sweetwater, which dropped on Angel Studios on September 26th, soon to be available VOD. His next film, The Performance, is an adaptation of an Arthur Miller work due out in theaters on December 27th, 2024. The film is receiving rave reviews with Jeremy on the shortlist for an Academy Award for his role.

He was recently seen in the feature film Last Call opposite Oscar winner Bruce Dern and Orange is the New Black star Taryn Manning. Other recent and upcoming films include American Night opposite Oscar nominee Emile Hirsch, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, which screened at the Venice Film Festival, period drama film The Walk opposite Justin Chatwin and Oscar nominee Terrence Howard, and The System which teamed him up again with Terrence Howard and Tyrese Gibson.

Piven also released the popular podcast “How U Livin’ J Piven,” where he interviewed influential guests such as Jamie Foxx, Tiffany Haddish, Common, Mark Cuban and UFC stars Rashad Evans and Jorge Masvidal, in an intimate and in depth format that showcased his dynamic personality in a never-before-seen way. The show is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Piven now tours the country with his successful stand-up comedy show, flexing a comedic muscle that few actors have been able to transition over to. The tour will see him across the entire continental U.S. and also take him internationally to the U.K. and beyond.