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Mike is on a mission to find everyday people who are Delightful... The people I interview have attractive energy and a positive outlook on life, and I want to provide a platform for them to share their journeys and stories with you! I will uncover the life experiences of my guests, which have enabled them to look at life in such an inspiring and delightful way. Is it possible... while in our Darkest hours we are given the tools and gifts, we personally need, to find the light which leads to our greatest Delights?
Episodes
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Halee is an incredibly strong woman who faced more as a young girl than most do in a full length lifetime. This is a really neat episode as her mother, Cori Valdez, was on Episode 35, and her wife Chelsea Watters was on Episode 25, so if you would like to here the version on both sides of the story it is absolutely worth it listening to both of them share.
Both Halee and Cori share their experiences with their very own Pain, Shame, and Challenges that their separation brought into their lives. She is an incredibly strong woman and has had to be even as a little girl to survive what she has been through. As you listen in to her share her experiences you will see clearly that she had no choice but to "roll with the punches" for the majority of her youth. Moving from apartment to apartment, never really having a place of her own to call home, and the divorce of her parents at an early age, didn't provide Halee with much opportunity for security and structure in her life.
This is when Tragedy struck... Halee's mother Cori was beaten nearly to death in a church parking lot by her Step Father, who left her to die. By the Grace of God a Father and Son out for a walk later that night saw Cori laying on the ground and called 911. You can imagine the Trauma this would bring not only to Cori, but also to Halee. Because of this event and the pain Cori endured she became addicted to drugs to help her cope, and her life became unmanageable to the point that she felt she had to sign away her rights to Halee and her little sister. Halee describes the last time that she ever saw her mother as a young girl and how she watched her walkaway for what could have easily been forever. Halee was so young she didn't know how to process feelings of abandonment and as young children do, she held onto hope that one day she would be with her mom again, but the pain was there and it was real as she often wondered why she wasn't good enough for her mother to return into her life.
Hearing Cori's Episode and being able to feel and understand the pain that she was going through, and feeling unaccepted even by her own family, makes this story incredibly compelling. It is nothing short of a miracle that Halee and Cori were able to reunite years later. After hearing both sides to the story, I believe that both of them manifested hope that they would be reunited one day even though they didn't know how it was possible. Never doubt the faith and hope of a little child. Years later as Halee's grandmother was in the hospital nearing death and as she went to the hospital to say her goodbye's, her mother Cori, out of respect, communicated to Halee through a family member that she would leave out of respect, and Halee's empathetic response to that truly shows that she had wisdom beyond her years as a result of enduring so many heavy and difficult things. She let her family know that her mom should stay and that she would come anyway. A short time later Haylee found herself standing face to face with her mother, and the feeling that overwhelmed her and her mother was love and a sense of longing to be together again. Haylee said Forgiveness came immediately, and she didn't even have to think about it. Cori and Halee are now best of friends, they truly love each other and have each others backs always. They have been able to hear each others stories, process the pain they both dealt with, and come together in love to be a family again.
I am so grateful to know Halee. She is an incredible person and has such a kind, good, and compassionate heart, that said, this is another of the countless examples I have seen in my life, how a persons trials, challenges, and pain create a tender heart and an empathetic soul capable of showing up for others when they are hurting.
Halee, you are incredible, I am inspired by your strength, your faith to keep going. We live in a world that tells us "Nice people finish last", but your story is a witness that this idea is completely false... You are as kind a person as I have met, and because you held onto hope and love rather than bitterness and anger, things shifted in your world causing miracles to happen around you, bringing healing into you and your mothers life, love into your own, and the sense of belonging that we all hope for during our lives on earth. Way to go! Thank you for sharing your story with us and for inspiring me and so many. I am better because of the opportunity to learn from you.
Wednesday May 19, 2021
Wednesday May 19, 2021
Nathan Hale is so fun to listen too. His passion and enthusiasm for life, his wife, his kids, God, The Savior Jesus Christ, and just overall believing that life is awesome are absolutely contagious! I could hardly keep up with his pace and excitement in sharing how God showed up for him when he desperately prayed and cried out for help.
As a young boy, Nate's Parents divorced which was very hard on him, he stopped engaging in school resulting in poor grades, and became involved with friends that chose to find their freedom, independence, and a release from the pressure of life through partying, drinking and drugs. After years of partying, run in's with the law, and as a full blown Alcoholic and Drug addict, Nate had become so reliant on drugs each day that he began stealing checks from his Fathers Dental practice and cashing them in large amounts. When Nate’s father discovered what was happening Nate thought his father would turn him in to the police and that his life would be over, and as he was frantically getting his belongings together to make a dash for Mexico, his Father showed up at his house unexpectedly.
Nate shares the incredible way that his Father showed up for him at this time. Nate thought for sure his Dad was coming in absolute anger, but instead, like the Father of the Prodigal Son with tear filled eyes, his Dad asked Nate to stop, rest, slow down, and come home. Unconditional parenting is incredible and you can sense the love and respect Nate has for his Father as he shares this part of the story. Even after this touching and love filled experience of forgiveness Nate had just experienced, Nate's addiction didn't just disappear.
It takes a lot of effort to become an Alcoholic/Drug Addict, and it takes a lot of work to get out of it. It wasn’t until he called a friend in an attempt to go to a club that the unexpected happened and Nate became willing to slow down and look for light in his life. His friend, also a drug addict, turned Nate’s offer down until after his meeting with two Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Reluctantly, Nate went to his buddies house with the sole purpose of getting to the club after his friend was done. When Nate arrived the Missionaries began teaching and Nate explains that it was almost as if he and one of the missionaries were in a different place, and he felt like he had known this missionary for a lot longer than his years on earth. Although this is the religion Nate’s parents belonged too and he was surrounded by throughout his life, he didn’t want anything to do with God or religion at the time because it interfered with his lifestyle; However, that all changed when Nate’s heart was truly opened up because of the spirit that he felt as the missionaries taught about Jesus Christ.
Things started to change for Nate. His heart started to soften towards God, and the idea that there was something very special about the message the Missionaries shared. He began trying to engage, and at first it was difficult and awkward, but he continued to try. During this time he had a miracle happen as he prayed to God, trying to find out if God is real. Like a flood of light ideas and thoughts began pouring into Nate's mind and Nate knew that these thoughts and personal revelations were coming to him directly from God. His life has done a 180 degree turn since. He is an incredibly inspiring and good man and is now giving back in efforts to help those who find themselves in dark places trying to find Light.
Nate, thank you for taking time to come share your message with me and the audience. You are an incredible man that has overcome some huge trials in your life. Continue to use your story of redemption to point others to Jesus Christ. God bless you and your family my brother.
A compelling article was written about Nate's Story in 2018. If you would like to read it here is the web address: https://www.storiesofgodsgrace.com/site/2018/4/2/nates-story-cpr-for-the-soul
This is an excerpt from Nate's Story, and you will hear him share it in this Episode.
"But this was incredible. It was powerful. The Spirit was speaking to me. The young missionary told me, “You are going to change. You’re going to influence thousands of people. You’re going to do great things — I can see it.” He prophesied my life. The room seemed to glow. I wondered if I was tripping on LSD or something because it was so potent. I wondered, “What kind of drug is this? This light and this hope…” It’s like I had been in a dark cave, and somebody ripped the top of the cave, and all this light came pouring down on me. It was a beautiful feeling that went clear through me. I knew what he was saying was true. The Spirit was burning through the room so strongly. The missionary said, “Can you feel that? That’s the Spirit!” Caught up in the overwhelming transformation taking place, he stood up and shouted, “I have never felt it this strong! Wahooooo!” Something in me changed at that moment. I was still addicted to drugs, but my heart started beating again. The missionary told me, “I want you to go to church, even if you’re sedated.” I told him, “I can’t do that. It’s rude to go to church while I’m high.” He disagreed strongly. So I made a commitment that I would keep going to church with my dad on Sundays. There were times when I’d walk into church, even though I had just popped a bunch of pills. I was like, “I’m here. I’m barely here, but I’m here. I’m sorry I’m wasted. I’m sorry I’m high, but I’m here, and I’m going to continue on this pattern. I am going to turn my life around.”
To listen to this Episode, you can find 'Come Towards Delight' the Podcast on any podcast platform or click the link below. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/come-towards-delight/id1514528066
Wednesday May 12, 2021
Wednesday May 12, 2021
Rosie Card, Author, Blogger, Podcaster, Business owner, Dog lover, Started the company Q.NOOR in 2015, after sitting in the Temple and recognized that the women’s temple dresses were uncomfortable to wear and looked very outdated. Research has proven that when women feel comfortable in what they are wearing, they actually learn more because their minds are able to focus and engage more efficiently. Feeling lead to take on the challenge to make women feel better in temple clothes, she approached a temple worker, Sister Samuelson, who empowered Rosie by listening to her and encouraging her to do it. Rosie mentions that the moment she shared with Sis Samuelson in the temple could have “squashed” her belief in taking on this project, but instead she encouraged, supported, and empowered Rosie to do it.
Great lesson for us all when we think about our relationships with others. Are we lifting and inspiring people with our words or are we “squashing” belief. Rosie then talks about her journey creating her new clothing line Q.Noor and how it has not only grown in to a temple dress company but a women’s clothing line.
Because of Rosie’s strong belief and faith in Jesus Christ she has determined in her life to recognize what Jesus Christ would do and who he would serve if He were here on the earth Himself. She has used her “platform” to speak up and stand up for women, marginalized groups and others who feel in a way cast out by society. I encourage you to follow Rosie on Instagram @rosiecard , the is full of light and her love for all of humanity is contagious.
Rosie also shares her feelings about culture and how we can make sure to include all people, including single adults. No value is lost because a woman is not a mother, no value is lost if a man is the stay at home parent. Love, is willingness to learn, listen, and grow, and if we do that we recognize that all people are of infinite value and worth, and we can learn from them. Badges, titles, popularity, do not matter… hasn’t history clearly proven that when someone puts all of their time and energy into reaching certain “statuses” in society, they sacrifice the most important things to get there i.e. family, marriage, service opportunities?
I love the way Rosie talks about Heavenly Mother. We often talk about Heavenly Father but we cower to let the word Heavenly Mother out of our mouths and use ideas like “she is too sacred to talk about” to keep us from talking about her as a foundational truth. Jesus, was born to a mother, He spoke to His mother while on the cross and asked His disciples to “Behold thy Mother” telling them to see her, and then after His death and victory over the grave the first person He appears to is Mary, a woman.
I really enjoyed our conversation about some of the traditions we hold onto for no reason other than that they keep us comfortable and they fit into mainstream society. So many of these things need to change so that more people feel seen and heard. LOVE! We men can do a better job following this council from Rosie, “Hype the women around you, make room for them, and listen to them.”, I couldn’t agree more, and truly appreciated the opportunity to learn from Rosie and talk about so many important topics soul to soul.
Rosie, you are an incredible woman, with so much love for Humanity. Thank you for sharing your story and so many important ideas with us, inviting us to love unconditionally, and to seek out those that feel like they belong on the outside and bring them in. Keep up the great work, you are making a huge impact!
Q.NOOR website: www.https://qnoor.com
Follow Rosie on Instagram @rosiecard, @q.noor
Thursday May 06, 2021
Thursday May 06, 2021
Becky Davidson, is an incredible woman! Her work is groundbreaking and she is doing things that will change the way we think about education, and how to practice and teach emotional management and work through being uncomfortable. Becky Davidson, Teacher, Coach, Friend, and incredibly wise and creative human, comes from a wonderful family of storytellers.
From an early age she began to learn why people she loved would turn to drinking and smoking often in their lives. When we don't want to face certain uncomfortable emotions that come, we tend to use substances enabling us to forget or escape. Becky lost a younger brother to alcoholism, and a mother to lung cancer due to smoking, Her father is also an alcoholic and it has been hard for Becky to see those she loves suffer as they have turned to these options. On her way home from teaching a college class at Utah Valley University, Becky recognized that she didn’t “bring it” to the class today, and as a result she let her students down.
Becky started to get curious about why she was feeling the way she did, it was uncomfortable. As she dove into what her feelings meant, she recognized that she wasn’t giving her self grace which is something she has always tried to give to others. She learned that the inner voice, we often give space to, is very loud in our lives and got curious to learn more about it. That said, She began to give her self permission to be a “Learner” when the uncomfortable feelings showed themselves, so she could learn from them in an effort to understand them. Becky talks about some of the trait’s we pass onto/receive from family members. She saw that members of her family would become very disappointed and down on themselves and she began to recognize that she was doing the same thing.
As a determined learner, she committed to “sit” with her uncomfortable inner critic, she began meditating (sitting) and as a literary researcher she found some amazing people who were guides of meditation and she began feasting on their practices. This is where she truly began “sitting”. Early on she discovered that the uncomfortable feelings we feel such as pain, anxiety, fear, move through us. Emotions do not come to sit inside of us and stay forever, they truly move through us. She said “When we become comfortable in our own minds, if we are willing to sit, we learn that we are optimized and we have the power and ability to allow these feelings to move through us and learn from them”.
Becky teaches that “often times we contract around the feelings we don’t want to feel, and when we do this we in a way choose to keep that feeling we don't want within us. Uncomfortable feelings will move through us if we allow them, and when they do we open ourselves to enlightenment on the other side of those feelings, which enables us to discover other feelings that exist within us that we are also holding on to." "As soon as you sit and get quite, whatever needs your attention comes to the surface. The more you sit the better you get at identifying the feelings and what is causing them."
In her research she learned that naming the emotions or “demons” is a good idea, and while you sit and the "demons" surface, we can talk to them by name. Doing this allows us to have a friendship with those emotions so we can learn from them and understand why those feelings come. “We can’t always choose the thoughts that pop into our head, but we can consciously choose the memories that we want to embrace and carry with us. After learning to “sit” herself Becky was equipped to respond to her son and daughter at times they were in need. Her children were dealing with some anxiety and fear, and Becky worked individually with them, teaching them to “sit” and feel their own emotions. To help active kids learn to “sit” she followed an impression she received to tell a story while they practiced meditating. The stories she shares involve “journeyer avatars” who have an adventure ahead of them, filled with obstacles, puzzles, strategic workarounds, world building, etc… Her children, the practicing meditators, took part in claiming a bit of transformative wisdom, and Becky saw the deep impact as her daughter melted into her arms and released many pent up emotions.
This is where Becky, with the encouragement of family and friends, developed Lotimus. Becky describes Lotimus as an opportunity where, “Body goes still, mind goes on a Journey”. She describes Lotimus, saying "Yes, your body will be still but I’m going to launch your mind into a world with a narrative provided, inviting the listener to allow their imagination to soar. This is a Journeying practice in first person that you are the hero of." Lotimus gives the listener an opportunity to discover who they are, and to unlock their imagination and creativity. It maybe uncomfortable at first, but on the other side of our willingness to sit in uncomfortable feelings, we will experience Knowledge, and self discovery which empower you to uncover who you are and what you are capable of. "This is an opportunity to discover peace, ease of “being”, even bliss, if you are willing to pay the price and “sit”." If you are interested in how to Meditate or in “Sitting” as Becky, and now Michael, call it. Becky highly recommends the book written by Jack Cornfield called “A Path With Heart”.
Website Address: www.lotimus.com
If you would like to listen to these incredible Journey’s created by Becky and her team, you will receive two FREE batches of complete journey’s, which include three exercises, and beautiful music. Becky has also generously offered my listeners a discounted price when you enroll to the full Lotimus experience. To take advantage of this discount, enter "DELIGHT" into the Coupon Code space.
I have listened to some of the stories, and love the what I have experienced. This concept is ground breaking and so needed in our day. School classrooms give us the tools needed to get a career and work, but they miss the mark when it comes to emotional health and education, which has a huge impact on Mental, Spiritual, Social, and Physical Health. My family now "Sits" in these stories when we are putting the kids to bed, and it has been a huge hit! Best part... The kids actually LISTEN!! LOL! Becky would love if you would check out Lotimus and reach out to her with feed back.
Please check out Lotimus, and let Becky know your thoughts by sending her an email to, becky@lotimus.com . She is extremely grateful in advance for any of you that will do so.
Becky, my friend, you are incredible. I learned so much from you and cannot thank you enough for the opportunity to meet you, talk to you, and partake of your genuine goodness and wisdom. You have a passion for education and creativity, coupled with a sincere love of Humanity, so it makes complete sense that God has inspired you with such a impactful mission. Your work will educate, heal, and lift many. You are brilliant! I can't wait to talk to you again soon!
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Tuesday May 04, 2021
My friend Author, Coach, Christ Lover, Podcaster and Golf Fanatic, Tommy Thompson shares his life, faith, and family with us. He is devoted husband to Weezie his wife, who he has been married to for 40 years, and loving father.
Tommy is very optimistic and inspiring to listen to. He doesn't shout with a voice of thunder to wake anyone up, rather his calm and humble tones and love for God is palpable. I honestly could have carried on a conversation with Tommy for a day, no problem. He gives us a message that in spite of the difficulties, in spite of circumstances, no matter what circumstances we are up against, we have the ability to choose how we respond. He says, "People often feel like they have to control their own circumstances and drive them to avoid any difficulty or darkness, but it's in the effort to control that we often lose ourselves".
In the early days of his profession, Tommy and his brother partnered together to start and run multiple companies. He studied Seminary at Davidson University, Go Steph Curry! Where he found his passion in teaching and especially teaching people how to grow and create better lives, and marriages. Life seemed to be calmly passing by without too many tough trials, when the call came from Weezie. On March 4th 2010, His healthy young 20 year old daughter Perrin, a Junior in college, was experiencing back pain and after a visit to the doctor she was diagnosed with cancer. She had Kidney Cancer that had metastasized into her spine causing intense pain. She was very active, bright, and joyful and it just seemed that this kind of thing would never happen to someone like her. Tommy explains his life turned upside down, and questions to God of why is this happening when I’ve lived right and the way you’ve asked began to come, almost as if why would you allow this to happen to us. Tommy's daughter battled the cancer for 6.5 years with determination and Grit, and although those 6.5 years were without question some of the hardest and darkest days of their lives, Tommy expresses that they were years full of incredible joy, and happiness as well. They were year’s of “Pain beyond description, and Joy beyond description at the same time”.
Perrin was a bright light during those years and she experienced as much or more joy in that short timeframe than many of us do during an entire lifetime. Inspired to write a book Space to Breathe again, Tommy talks about the inspiration that he felt from God in writing it. He says that it is most often faithful believers who struggle the most because we stretch ourselves so thin sometime in our efforts to serve God and others. At times, the faithful are the ones that need to slow down the most and take the time needed to stop, reflect, and listen. Tommy shares a lot of wisdom on busyness and making sure that we slow down to give ourselves and God space. He says, “my job is to have faith, once I do that I then trust that God will take care of the rest”. Living that way brings peace, joy, and comfort in our lives. At the foundation he lives by Grace. No matter how hard he pushed and tries he falls, and he often falls hard. He expresses gratitude for Gods limitless grace for him and literally survived the pain of losing Perrin because of that Grace.
Tommy talks about all of the people who followed Perrin through her Cancer journey, and still to this day years later, people reach out and share stories with him about how she inspired them. Perrin lived with Joy, even during times of extreme pain, and she always gave God glory, never blaming God for what she was experiencing. She never denied or lost trust in Him, and neither did Perrin's dad, Tommy. More determined than ever to help people view life much like his daughter, with joy, hope, and happiness. Tommy has set out on a ministry to heal broken hearts, and help people find the joy in letting go of the speed and craziness of the world so that they can slow down and feel God through his peace and stillness.
I encourage you to listen to Tommy's podcast, he is a remarkable man that I feel very blessed to have met. Tommy you are awesome my friend. Sure love you brother, let's connect again soon.
Podcast: Space to Breathe Again, can be found on any podcast platform i.e. Apple, Spotify, or his website www.tommytompson.org/podcast , Personal website: www.tommythompson.org/links/
Follow Tommy on Instagram under user name: author_tommythompson
His book, "Space to Breathe Again" can be found on Amazon Please feel free to reach out to Tommy. He would love to hear from you.