April 17, 2025 • 49 mins
Meet Nathan Hogg, a 20-year-old from Richmond, Indiana, already stepping into leadership with a voice wise beyond his years. In this powerful episode of BeTempered, co-hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with Nathan for a raw, inspiring conversation about resilience, identity, and the impact one young person can make.
Nathan opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, which started at just six years old with a lemonade stand and a dream to own a restaurant. But when COVID-19 disrupted his freshman year of high school, he spiraled into burnout—until a TikTok video introduced him to the power of daily affirmations. "I would write 'I am worthy' twelve times, 'I am blessed' twelve times... three times a day," Nathan shares. That simple practice became a turning point.
Out of his desire to help others, Nathan launched Hogg Helps, connecting young people with local job opportunities and mentorships. His initiative caught the attention of community leaders, and today, he's a communications major at IU East with minors in political science and public administration—still pouring into the next generation by teaching affirmations to 5th and 6th graders.
For Nathan, success isn't about status—it's about surrounding yourself with people who lift you up. His favorite quote from Shirley Chisholm says it all: "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair."
Tune in to hear how Nathan Hogg is building his own table—and inviting others to sit with him.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, my name is Allie Schmidt.
This is my dad, dan.
He owns Catron's Glass.
Thanks, allie.
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Final replacement windows fromCatron's come with a lifetime
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Also ask for custom showerdoors and many other products
(00:20):
and services.
Call 962-1636.
Locally owned, with localemployees for nearly 30 years,
kitchen's best, the clear choice.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Welcome to the Be Tempered Podcast, where we
explore the art of findingbalance in a chaotic world.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Join us as we delve into insightful conversations,
practical tips and inspiringstories to help you navigate
life's ups and downs with graceand resilience.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
We're your hosts, Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr.
Let's embark on a journey tolive our best lives.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
This is Be Tempered.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
What's up everybody?
Welcome to the Be Temperedpodcast, Episode number 50.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Big 50.
Big 5-0.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Big 50.
Getting closer to that, episode52.
Oh yeah, coming around thecorner, which we'll go ahead and
make that announcement, thatepisode 52, which will be a
podcast on May 2nd, we areactually going to record a live
roundtable event on Monday,april 28th.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Now, we can't go back on it.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
No, now we have to do it.
So we'll put all thatinformation out on all the
socials, but we're going to havea live event that we hope can
be interactive with um any ofour, our fans or those of you
out there that listen.
You'd be able to, uh, to listenand to watch and to do all
those things you know, while weare alive.
So we'll be under a little bitof pressure, but that's okay.
(01:39):
That'll be episode 52, our yearin advance, and we're excited.
But today, on the Be Temperedpodcast, we have the privilege
of sitting down with a young manfrom right here in our region,
richmond, indiana, who's alreadymaking an impact with his work
ethic, his heart and hisperspective on life.
(02:00):
Nathan Hogg is someone whorepresents the next generation
of leaders, not just because ofwhat he says, but because of how
he shows up.
Whether it's in the way hecarries himself, the challenges
he's faced or the goals he'schasing, nathan brings a level
of maturity and drive that'sworth paying attention to.
I'm excited to dive into hisstory, his mindset and what
(02:24):
shaped him into the man he istoday.
Nathan, welcome to the BeTempered Podcast.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Thank you, Dan, for having me.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
How are you?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Yeah, we're doing great man Good, it's truly an
honor.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, we're glad to have you up here and excited to
share your story.
You are our youngestinterviewee, uh, we appreciate
that.
You know you and I had met uhthrough a mutual, mutual friend
and uh, you came into the officeand we sat down and talked and,
man, you walked out the doorand I'm like I'm inspired.
I'm inspired by you.
(02:55):
You are a uh, you're a youngleader, you're enthusiastic,
you've got a lot of uh visionsand goals of where you want your
life to go and I'm excited foryou to share your story.
So, as we get going, we like tostart this off by you telling
us your story about growing uphere in Richmond, indiana, what
life was like for you as a child, and then where you are today.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Okay, so yeah, my name is Nathan Hogg.
You know, I'm from Richmond,indiana, born and raised at the
old hospital actually, and mybrother was born at the new
hospital, so we tend to go backand forth about that as somebody
who works at Reed right now.
So I have a big family,actually the second biggest
African-American family, the Hogfamily, so really huge family.
(03:36):
I have seven siblings, so a lotof siblings as well.
I'm six, I'm six out of seven,so, and I'm the total opposite
of all of them.
So I'm the one that's outtalking and moving and shaking,
and then the rest of them arereally, really introverted.
So we're just total opposites alot of times.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
So so what brought that out of you?
If your whole family'sintroverted, why are you
extrovert?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
I don't really know.
I've always just loved talking,like my dad would always, you
know, get on me Like all right,you're talking too much, you're
talking too much, and so I wasjust always the talker and the
rest, like my brothers, were insports.
So that was never me, I neverwas really into that.
So I was just like I got tofind my own way somehow and so
(04:25):
for me, that was talking, thatwas writing in my diary, that
was just.
You know, how I express myselfis through my words.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Okay, so talk about some pivotal moments in your
childhood, growing up, that maybe shaped to who you are right
now.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Oh yeah.
So ever since a young boy Iknew I always wanted to be an
entrepreneur.
So I remember like I wouldalways have my mom sit outside
on the corner with me and wewould sell brownies and lemonade
.
I mean, like a young boy, likefive, six, and I always knew I
wanted to have this restaurantcalled Hog Daddy's always.
And so I still have some of thesigns to this day, which I
(04:58):
created at six years old,talking about, you know, Hog
Daddy's home of the best I'vedone shoe cleaning kits.
I've done the lemonade stands.
I've sold cakes, cookies, piesUm, I had a t-shirt business.
So, just all around, I knew, um,growing up, like my dad was
like, hey, if you want poolmoney, if you want this, you
(05:18):
better do some chores, youbetter do something to get that
money.
And so I knew early on thatthat that was only way to go was
, you know, to find my ownhustle.
And and it brung out somethingin me because I felt like I've
really worked for this money.
You know what I'm saying, Notjust, oh, my dad handed me this,
no, I really worked for it.
And so for me, that's what Ispent a lot of my summers doing.
(05:39):
Is is making money and doingthe side jobs or whatever I
needed to do.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
And community service is nothing new to me which
we'll talk about that later,yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
So where did that drive to be an entrepreneur come
from, do you think?
Uh, I don't really know.
I, I, that's just me.
I, I think maybe because Iwasn't surrounded by it.
Like my dad worked at a factory, my mom always worked at, like
you know, little odd jobs justto try to make ends meet.
So I knew I wanted to stand outin that in that way and I knew,
like, like I was telling youguys earlier, I'm not meant to
(06:14):
sit behind a cubicle.
I always joke like that.
I love being people center andso really being an entrepreneur
to me, or just being publicfacing, allows you to talk to
different people and meetdifferent people and create a
good network.
So that's always what it's beenabout to me in a way.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Were there any challenges as a young kid that
you had that?
That maybe shaped that as well.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Yeah, so I think really it was just finding my
way, finding those people whoare who, who are like-minded, um
, and finding that community wasa challenge for me until I got
to high school and then Istarted finding that community.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Okay, there was a pivotal time in your life that
you told me there a week or soago where we met, where you
watched a TikTok about writingin a journal.
Can you kind of tell that story, how it started and what
inspired you to do what you didand then talk about doing that?
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Yeah, so I when we were in high school, you know I
had a very weird high schooljourney just because of COVID.
So I finished my first semesterof freshman year and the second
semester COVID happened.
So you know, you're in a timeof uncertainty, you really don't
know what's going on, like youknow whatever, and so we were
kind of isolated.
(07:28):
It was kind of this state ofyou know.
Our parents were scared, so wereally didn't get to hang out or
anything.
So I would say, around the endof my sophomore or junior year I
went through just a bad burnout, like I just was very, very sad
, I just didn't have any purpose, like I went through just a bad
burnout, like I just was very,very sad, just I just didn't
have any purpose, like I didn'thave anything to ignite that
fire.
(07:49):
And so I remember, late at nightone day I was late at night one
night I was watching Tik TOKand it talked about
manifestation.
So I was really really worriedor kind of nervous about what
manifestation was, cause I waslike I've never heard of this.
You know, is it witchcraft?
Like I just genuinely didn'tknow.
So I started just looking at itand kind of seeing in it and it
(08:09):
ended up changing my lifeforever and I and I didn't
realize it.
So I have the, I had thisjournal and I would write to
myself 12 times, three times aday, and I would write I am
worthy, write it out 12 times, Iam blessed, 12 times, yada, so
forth, and I would repeat thatto myself three times a day.
And so what it basically didwas shift my mindset when I'm
(08:33):
telling myself I believe it andI internalized it and I and it
and it changed my life in waysthat is really indescribable and
it helped me really get out ofthat funk.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
That's amazing for a 14, 15, 16 year old kid to uh to
do that and um talk about fromfrom that time once, once you
had done that manifestation,what came from that for you know
, when you went back into school, maybe your junior and senior
year?
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah.
So once I got into my it wasthe end of my junior year Um, I
again, I just was after writingthat stuff down and telling
myself that because there wasn'tat this time you know, I didn't
really know a whole lot ofpeople, so there were really
wasn't a lot of people tellingme that kind of stuff so it I
had to take it upon myself totell myself that, to internalize
it and to believe it.
(09:19):
Once I did, it boosted myconfidence.
So I ended up getting connectedwith Carl Reinhart and we, um,
he owns a nonprofit calledfuture achievers, so we just
started talking.
We did a black history monthproject together and I've never
really been good with likegraphics or like videos, and so
he really challenged me to dothat and that's how we ended up
(09:40):
becoming really close.
He challenged me, I did it and,and it was great, I put it out
on Facebook.
It got like 15 shares.
So to me that was a big deal,um, but the real blessing came
out of, you know, just by havingthat connection talking to him
again, somebody that waslike-minded.
Um, I attended a conference withhim called Wayne County cares
(10:03):
and it was through Purdueuniversity, and it was through
Purdue University and it waslike this big community meeting.
So we're in this group of likea hundred something people,
massive group of all communityleaders, people I've never even
seen before or heard of, and sothere was like different topics
on like workforce development,hunger, transportation, y, yada,
yada, yada, and you weresupposed to like bring a project
(10:26):
out of these different areas.
So I was on the workforcedevelopment because I didn't
know what that was.
So I was interested in seeingwhat that was going to be like.
So I had a job at 14 years old.
I worked at the Leland at thetime and a lot of kids my age
would be like oh my gosh, likeyou're working, you've got your
own money.
Like we can't believe it, howcan I get a job?
(10:47):
And so all throughout highschool I would hear people ask
me where can I get a job?
Where can I get a job?
And so that kind of birthed theidea of Hog Helps.
And after working with Carl andI was on the workforce
development team and with allthese community leaders and you
know they're instilling in melike you can do it, you can do
it.
That committee was moving tooslow for me.
(11:08):
I'm in high school, I'm like Igot stuff to do.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
I've got stuff to do.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
So then I created a website in a matter of like four
days, created a website,started going to local
businesses.
I was doing it and that birthhog helps, and it was to empower
youth for future careers andfuture careers and knowledge in
the workforce development orsomething along those lines.
So it was really justconnecting those local
(11:35):
businesses and those connectionsthat I was starting to
cultivate.
It was connecting my peers andyouth to those connections, and
so it was.
It was a great blessing, bigblessing.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Can you talk about any successes that came from
that?
Do you know off the top of yourhead of maybe some friends or
someone who had some success byusing that?
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Oh yeah.
So some of my friends, you know, got really good jobs.
Like my dad, I worked with mydad through Primex and you know
we had like a little partnership.
It was nothing official becauseI mean I was in high school, so
nothing like business, but Iwas just connecting people.
One of the major successes thatcame out of for me was I then
got connected to my mentor andmy second mother, really, sherry
(12:16):
Harlan, and so I ended upgetting an internship at Reed
through all my communityengagement initiatives that I've
been doing.
And so here we are four yearslater and I'm still doing that.
So just great, greatrelationships that were
cultivated through Hog Helps andI didn't know it was possible
because I didn't have peoplelike minded, like me in the home
(12:37):
.
You know that was, you know,into that kind of stuff, and so,
like I said, it birthed thatcommunity in which, which I
value so deeply.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
And it's amazing to hear this from you who?
What are you?
21, now 20.
You're 20.
And at the time, you'd havebeen 17, 18 years old 16, 17.
To have to have that vision atthat young of an age to want to
help others who are like you,want to get a job and make that
(13:07):
connection with the communityand not only just make the
connection.
But you had to go out and meetwith those businesses, right?
Oh yeah, talk about thosestruggles walking in the door of
a business and what was yoursales pitch?
Speaker 4 (13:18):
So you know, I think, when, well, when I put the uh
hog helps out on Facebook, itgot like over 200 shares, so
this outpouring like communitysupport.
And so people were just hittingme like I got involved with the
chamber of commerce and I'm like, well, wait a minute, what is
the chamber?
And so people were just holdingmy hand, showing me talking, so
(13:38):
it's kind of that um and andthat was kind of how the
relationships got formed, solike a successful um
relationship that I say reallyhelped me was Roxy Deer invited
me to the uh to a chamberbreakfast and it was with the
Lieutenant Governor of Indiana.
Uh, ms Suzanne Crouch up givingthe lieutenant governor a shirt
(14:06):
.
She saw hog help, so, um, andwhat I was doing out in the
community and so for me againlike 17, 18, to be noticed by
the lieutenant governor was likewhoa, huge.
And she ended up like followingup and staying in touch with me
, which was great um, but Iwould have never had that had it
not been for just sticking myneck out on the line and saying
I'm willing to take the risk andmeeting people like roxy,
sherry, carl, whoever that'sreally helping me out because
(14:29):
they see a young man withpassion and drive who's trying
to make a change.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah, that's, that's amazing.
So you get through high school.
What's next for you?
Speaker 4 (14:39):
Yeah.
So when I, um, like I said,told you I had that bad burnout
and so I had no desire, so thisHog Helps helped me get out of
that funk.
Really, my mentor, sherry,really, really helped me,
because I had no plans on goingto college, I was kind of just
like, oh, I'm going to do this.
And she talked some sense intome and she's like no baby,
(14:59):
you're going to college.
And so again, just having thatsomebody who's you know,
continuously pushing out on youand telling you, hey, you need
to do this, you need to get outof your zone, you need to, you
need to, and so for me that washuge.
And so she's an IU grad and sheencouraged me to go to IU East,
and so that was like one of thebest decisions I've ever made.
(15:20):
I went through a summer programcalled Group Scholars at IU East
and little did I know thatprogram would change my life.
So the Group Scholars programis a summer bridge program for
freshmen at IU East and it'swithin all the IU schools, but
it was founded in Bloomington in1968.
And so I was the first groupscohort at IU East.
(15:43):
So we made history.
So, coming into East, we'remaking history, being part of
this first groups cohort, I gotconnected to, you know, other
people who I never even metbefore.
That went to other schools inthe county.
We went on local business fieldtrips.
(16:05):
You know, just met and, youknow, got to network with
faculty and staff on campus andjust the main thing it did was
boost my GPA from like a 2.5 toa 3.7.
Wow, so really, really helpedme.
You know, I got involved on thecampus because that program
means so much to me, gotconnected and now I have a
work-study job in the office ofthe chancellor and so I work for
the chief of staff.
So just those relationshipswere cultivated and looking back
(16:28):
now I would have slapped myselfin the face for saying I'm not
going to college because collegeand higher educate well
knowledge is power yes and so,to me, the more I know, the more
I can do in the, and if I knowbetter, I do better, and so I'm.
Higher education has really,really helped me overcome a lot
of challenges.
(16:49):
You know, when I think aboutthat burnout that I went through
in high school, it's likealmost silly, because I'm like
here you are bearing on morethan what you can, than you
could ever imagine now, and youand and you just keep going, you
keep pushing, and that was whatcollege was is about.
To me is just pushing along andand, like I said, those
relationships and that communitythat I built has been so
(17:12):
instrumental in my life.
So I love IU East and I loveeverybody who has been part of
my journey this far.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Yeah, there's no doubt they love you.
Yeah, for sure.
So we talk a lot on our podcastabout success, failure, about
going through the fire.
Is there a time in your lifeyou can can reflect back on on
your young life?
I'm used to asking thisquestion to 40, 50, 60, 70 year
(17:39):
olds.
So got to put it in perspectivewith a young man like yourself,
being 20, but are there?
Are there fails, failures inyour life that have helped to,
to shape you, to shape your,your vision forward, uh, to
guide you to want to be betteror to do more?
Is there specific instances youcan think of?
Speaker 4 (17:58):
Oh yeah, so, um, what I'm trying to say.
So a lot of people on Facebookthey see the smiling me, they
see me with a plaque, they seeme with an award, they see me
(18:23):
with an award, they see me withI'm in this newspaper, I'm on
this billboard, I'm doing this,I'm doing writing.
They don't see all the homeworkI have to do, they don't know
all the board service that I'mdoing.
And so a recent bump in theroad I don't want to call it a
failure because it's not afailure to me.
It was a learning experience.
It's really not.
(18:48):
It's a bump in the road, and soI'm going to call it a bump in
the road.
I was nominated to run as astudent trustee for Indiana
University, so that means you'rea board member of IU.
It would have been a huge honor.
I would have been the firstperson from a regional campus,
first student from a regionalcampus, and one and one of the
youngest students to get it.
So again, that was whycommunity is so important.
(19:10):
So one of the women at IU Eastdrove me around, so I went.
Iu has nine campuses.
I went to six of nine IUcampuses had a letter from local
business leaders.
You know state leaders to dothis, and so you know, and part
of me was, you know, I've alwaysbeen getting stuff on my first
(19:33):
try or I've been successful this, this and that.
So I call it a bump in the roadbecause I didn't get it, and so
it kind of like I wouldn't saystar struck me a little bit, but
it shaped my perspective.
And to know that it's okay tohave a bump in the road but that
doesn't mean life's over, itdoesn't mean that your journey's
over, the journey is actuallyforward and great things are
(19:53):
going to continue to happen, andso that really, really shaped
my perspective.
And when I put it on Facebook, Ididn't want people to be like,
oh, he failed, really put it outthere to show, or I really put
that Facebook post on Facebookto show that, um, you know,
(20:18):
there are bumps in the road, andit's not always just smiling,
it's not always just I've wonthis award, but to really, um,
be vulnerable with people andshow that it's not everything
isn't going to be success, um,that that you're going to trip
up and fall off in your, in yourjourney, and that was so
important for me to share.
And and again, I was tiredafter going through all that I
mean there was, it was a prettylengthy process, and so then
(20:41):
again, that's why community isso important, because even
though I was sad I didn't get it, but also seeing like all these
people say you know, you meanso much to Wayne County, you've
done great, you've done that,and so that that filled my cup,
that really did, and so I'mthankful for for that community.
That has really uplifted me.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Yeah, that's great.
It reminds me of uh, you know,we just recorded another podcast
and we talked about rejectionand we've said it on the show
before is rejection is God'sprotection.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
That's what I was going to say.
Yeah, rejection is God's divineprotection.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Yeah, so you know there's a reason that you didn't
get it right, but what did youlearn from it?
And you just said you know youlearned how important community
is.
So talk about success then.
What does success look like fora young 21-year-old man?
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Honestly, I don't know.
Like I said, the journey isforward and there's so much more
that I have to do and I need todo.
I would say success for me sofar is just looking, just being
able to get up and breathe andjust to to really have I keep
hitting this word community, butjust to have people that are
there in your corner we're goingto uplift you on the hard days,
who are going to tell youeverything's going to be okay.
(22:00):
That's, that's really beensuccess to me.
It's nothing reallymaterialistic, or all the wards
I have or the plaques I meanthat stuff's great, yes.
However, I do believe thatpeople that know you and value
you and want to hear your likethis is success to me.
(22:21):
You have asked me to come hereand share my perspective and
share my story with you guys andI don't even know you guys but
just for giving me a platform inwhich to share and, hopefully,
to motivate our viewers andmotivate other people, that's
success.
It's not, like I said, it's notmaterialistic, it's not.
You know, those plaques arenice.
(22:43):
However, I think being peoplecentered and being here in
places like this, where I get totalk to people and share,
that's success to me.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
That's a great answer and I hope all the young people
out there listening hear thatanswer because you know we
talked about it.
You talked about it a littlebit.
What people see on social mediamay look like and seeing your
billboard on the east side oftown, you know you got that
awesome smile and and all thatcharisma that that you have, um,
(23:13):
but they don't see those thoseearly mornings or those late
nights or that grind that you'rein constantly because your
close friends do.
Yeah, cause you're pushingyourself to be better.
Can you talk about any othermentors?
You've mentioned a couple, uhany any mentors that?
Mentors that have continued tohelp shape you on a daily basis?
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Oh yeah, I would definitely say, like you know,
Sherry has been a huge mentor.
I mean, there are so many, sowhy?
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Sherry, what does she do that helps you so much?
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Well, there are many people.
So, you know, I'll kind ofhighlight all of them that I can
think of.
So excuse me if I, if I don'tcall you out by name, charge it
to my mind, but don't charge itto my heart, not my mind, um,
you know, but Sherry stands outbecause she, she caught me when
I was young, 16, and again,right through the middle of that
burnout, um, I think of herlike a second mother, like you
(24:09):
know that just that person Ididn't have.
And when I say like minded, youknow she really took my hand.
It wasn't just here, go to thisand you kind of I'll just help
you and you just do it.
No, she took me by my hand andshowed me and walked with me,
prayed with me, cried with me.
She is there.
Whenever I call, she is there.
(24:30):
When I didn't have a car, shemade sure I got to school when I
didn't have, you know, if Ineeded money, she was helping me
.
I mean, just whatever I needed,she was there.
And it was those day-to-dayconversations in which we had
and, like I said, I call herevery morning when I get off
work at 9 am to make sure she'sokay or does she need anything,
and we really have thatrelationship.
(24:51):
She got me involved in churchand so I ended up getting
baptized because of her and youknow, just like I said, her
being an IU grad and she knowswhat it's like firsthand to be a
college student, so she puts mein rooms of opportunity.
She put, I mean, just like Isaid, just a God sent angel that
I didn't know I needed in thislife until until I met her.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
That's awesome Talk a little bit about your faith.
Is that something that's newfound to you?
Speaker 4 (25:19):
Um, I've always been surrounded by it.
Like I always say, I'm builtupon my grandma's prayer.
So my grandma's 85, my greatgrandmother's 85.
Um, so you know, prayer isnothing new or anything.
However, I just didn't go tochurch being younger because I
really just didn't know until Istarted meeting Sherry and we
(25:39):
went to church together and Iwas going through some things
kind of like my freshman year,and so I think one thing that
stood out is when she walked meup to the altar and we sat and
prayed together.
That's kind of how I knew rightthen.
And there she I mean that thatthis relate, this, this
connection that we have is realand, um, you know, people always
(26:03):
see us again, always see ussmiling, always see us with the
plaques and awards, but theydon't know what I mean, what we
do day to day, and so she shewas the reason why I got my
internship at the hospital at 17years old.
So, just all around, a greatperson.
Another mentor that I have is,you know, yemi from IU East.
Like I said, we really startedbuilding connection when she
(26:27):
drove me across the statethrough the student trustee.
I can't tell you how many timesI cried because, again, you're
dealing with nine campuses, youknow you got people hitting you
all way which way, and so shewould, you know, help me.
We, um, we would walk throughit.
You know, she would help mesort my life out like I can't
tell you how many times she wasthere when I needed her, and and
(26:47):
so those experiences, like Isaid, those experiences shape
you into who you are in thatcommunity being cultivated.
I know I keep saying the wordcommunity, but it's so important
to build.
Another male figure that I haveis Dr Cal.
So, dr Cal, I met him before Ieven went to IU East and so I
(27:10):
took one of his classes, and hecontinuously puts me in
opportunities.
We've been on conferencestogether, where we went to
Indianapolis, we go to lunchevery Tuesday, we talk, and so
that's a male figure that I'mthankful for.
My dad, you know, my brothers,my uncles I mean there are just
so many.
My VP, my boss Jess.
I brothers, my uncles, I meanthere are just so many.
(27:31):
My VP, uh, my boss Jess, I meanthe chancellor there.
There are just so many people,my best friend, amir, um, that
are that are just.
You know, like I said, god sentangels that really came, come
through for me.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Well, and I think it shows you at a young age how
important mentors have been inyour life and what that'll do
for you to be a mentor to othersRight.
Can you talk about some of that?
I'm sure you've done some ofthat mentorship with the younger
, younger kids Can you talkabout that.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Actually, it was just funny because I thought you saw
my Facebook posting.
That's where you was going withthat.
So I was asked to be a mentorthrough communities and schools.
Are you guys familiar with whatthat is?
No, go ahead and explain it.
So communities and schools is anon-profit.
That that's in like all thecounty schools and this may not
be like exact, but I know theyhelp you with like resources.
(28:18):
They have a mentorship program.
Um, they have like snacks thatthey so kind of like how sherry
is to me, but just in aclassroom or just being out of
school.
So that way kids have somebodythat maybe isn't their classroom
teacher or whatever, orprincipal or whatever.
So they do amazing work.
But they asked me to be amentor.
So I agreed to be a mentor,kind of a lunch buddy, so I meet
(28:41):
with them every Wednesday andwe have lunch together.
We talk about what it means tobe a student, we talk about
leadership and just what it'slike to be a kid, and so I'm
sure a lot of the mentors areprobably older, I would assume.
I think I'm one of the youngestones, so you know fifth and
sixth graders.
I got seven of them, and sothey all knew me through the
(29:04):
billboard.
And they were talking to me asif they know me, and it was
through the billboard.
And so we just started talkingand I did some leadership
exercises with them and had themdraw out a web and like, write
their name in the middle of thecircle and like, who do you look
up to?
You know what is?
What is a good leader?
Describe a good leader, whatmakes a good leader?
(29:24):
All this different stuff.
I do daily affirmations withthem, so that manifestation.
So at the end of our lunch I'llgo all right.
Everybody repeat after me I amworthy, I am blessed, I am
thankful you know that kind ofstuff to instill that into them
and it works, and just to seetheir faces light up when I come
(29:45):
and see them.
But they were raving about thisbillboard and so I had printed
off the billboard picture andwrote a personalized message to
them.
So I wrote to so-and-so, keepreading because that's going to
get you far.
And then I signed it and soeach one of them got to see, you
know, got to have their ownpersonalized picture, and to see
(30:08):
their faces light up waspriceless.
And you know, something sosmall means so much to people,
cause I'm like in sixth grade Ican't even remember, you know
what, whatever we were talkingabout in sixth grade, but I mean
it was.
It fills my cup up weekly beingwith these kids because they
need somebody.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Yeah, and that's awesome.
I, I, I think of, uh, thephrase when you're feeling
helpless, get helpful.
And I think you know you'vealready recognized that as a as
a young 20 year old, you knowthat um, the impact that those
mentors had on you and your lifeand continue to have to this
day, because you are still veryyoung and you got a long way to
(30:48):
go, but you are doing someamazing things.
Talk about what the futurelooks like for you.
When you look ahead into thefuture, what do you see yourself
?
Five, 10 years, 20 years downthe road?
Speaker 4 (30:59):
Oh yeah, so you know, um, well, I didn't.
I forgot to explain what I'mstudying in college.
So I'm studying communicationswith a double minor in political
science and publicadministration.
I always joke.
I know I'm not meant to bebehind a cubicle or being on the
telephone or whatever.
I know I'm meant to be people,people focused, and and I live
(31:20):
by that.
So I know I want to do somekind of community engagement.
I'm good at it, I value that,um, and so that's that's kind of
what I'm thinking about doingis doing some kind of community
engagement, whether that be fora local business or out of the
state or just whatever.
I know I want to do some kindof that, some type of community
(31:40):
engagement or advocacy work.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Yeah, that's great, that's great.
What do you do for fun?
Um, what do you do for fun?
Speaker 4 (31:48):
So I like to go on vacation.
I love shoes, I'm a sneakerhead, Um.
I love shopping, so I'm just.
Whenever I I try to make surethat I do self-care things, so I
like going to the outlet mallsin Cincinnati, you know those
type of things, or just simplyjust laying down and sleeping.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Do you set goals?
Yeah, can you talk about any ofthose?
Speaker 4 (32:14):
So I like to have like a journal of, like weekly
goals that I want to accomplishand so, whatever that may be, if
it's like right now it's finalsweek and so right now or it's
finals month, I should say soright now goals are for me is
pass your finals and get and getout of there so you can start
summer break.
So, um, I try to encouragemyself to make sure you know you
(32:36):
work at least on a halfassignment, a quarter of
assignment.
Just try to do something everyday so you're not stressed um at
the end and you're, and you're,you're, you're ahead.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Sure You're prepared.
What's the summer look like foryou and?
Speaker 4 (32:50):
you're, you're, you're ahead.
Sure, you're prepared.
What's the summer look like foryou?
So, through the group scholarsprogram, so we're going on year
three, um, so I'm going to beworking with those group
scholars this year and and as afirst cohort member, I'm going
to be working with them.
We're going to go on fieldtrips, I'm going to be in the
classroom with them, and so I'vebeen helping the group scholar
advisor, michelle holiday.
Um, I'm still going to be doingstuff for re working with
(33:12):
mentor working with my mentorSherry.
So I know I'm going to be doingthat kind of stuff, um, and
then I and then I'm going to tryto plan me some vacations, any,
any place specific you want togo?
Um, I'm thinking about going tosee, going to see my old pastor
in Washington DC, so I'mthinking I'm going to do that.
And then I have another cousinthat lives in the tip top of
(33:34):
Georgia, so I'm going to driveand go see her as well.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
So oh, that's good.
Yeah, that's important.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
I need the self-care.
Yeah, you do you do.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
It's important and you know you're a very driven
young man and a lot of goals andaspirations, you know with
where you want your life to go,but it's important to take a
step away to you know, for your,for your mental capacity to
reset.
So, ben, you got any questionsyou can think of?
Speaker 3 (33:59):
So what's been?
How long have you been doingthis school, Like where you've
been going and sitting with thefifth and sixth graders?
Speaker 4 (34:06):
So I just started last month.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
So I'm going to finish.
Speaker 4 (34:09):
They end in May, so I'm going to finish up with them
at the end of the year.
I told them, if they're goodfor me and they're interactive,
and they do what I ask them todo not in a mean way but if
you're interactive with what Ihave to bring, I'll bring them
pizza and we'll have a pizzaparty, and so this is all
they're looking forward to isthis pizza party.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
So has there any been like any like eyeopening
conversations or anything withthem that were like man, like I?
Wouldn't expect that from afifth or sixth grader.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
Oh yeah, so just some of the challenges.
I think mental health is isbigger than what we think it we
think it is, and it impactsyounger people.
So I have a little girl whoreminds me that she, she, has
depression, anxiety, and sothat's where that manifestation
comes in.
You know you're worthy, youknow you're great, you're going
(34:55):
to do big things.
And so I make her tell herselfthat.
So, instead of saying I haveanxiety and depression, no, no,
no, no, you're great, you'reworthy, you're going to do big
things, you're going to pass.
And so I make her say it toherself and she does, and why
that may not work, you know, orshe, but just those seeds that
(35:16):
are being dropped in the bucket.
How?
Speaker 3 (35:23):
how, what was done to me?
Right, and it's just at thatage group.
I, you know, I remember helpingkids, like we used to have um,
where seniors would go back andtalk to that grade, and there's
things that that were said, andI was like man, like I don't
remember dealing with that whenI was that age, you know, and
hearing like depression, anxietyat fifth and sixth grade.
It's just something where thisregime we're in, is you?
Speaker 4 (35:38):
know it's it's.
We're in different times.
I think the world is just soheavy.
You know the media is, is, isalways get feeding you your
worst fear, and so just you knowthe world is heavy right now.
You know what people see athome.
What people see online is heavyright now.
(35:59):
You know what people see athome.
Um, what people see online.
You know I, one of the kids inmy group always talks about
being on fortnight and I'm like,dang boy, do you not ride a
bike like?
I roll down the streets ofrichmond and I don't even see
anybody on a bike, and me and mybrother were always so happy to
get a new bike right, I'm like,well, wait a minute, you know.
so, instead of like doing screentime, like what else are you
guys doing?
And so we talked about growthand fixed mindset, and so I made
(36:20):
them identify issues that orchallenges that they've had,
which almost all of themcompared to video games, but
kind of just expanding your mindand doing other things in which
you normally wouldn't do.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
Yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
So talk about you mentioned growth.
How do you push yourself togrow?
Because it's that's not an easything to do, right?
I mean, you are.
It's obvious that you're driven, that you're motivated, that
you want more.
But there's times when I'm sureyou kind of get stuck in the
mud and talk about how you pushyourself to grow and to push
(36:55):
through those times.
Speaker 4 (36:56):
Yeah.
So the biggest thing that Iwould say is, when I go through
something hard, what I like todo and a lot of times it's when
I'm really feeling really heavy,loaded with all the external
world things or just day-to-daythings and what I like to do is
like power my phone off and Ireally prioritize sleeping.
That's kind of like a copemechanism for me because I'm so
(37:17):
busy I'm always doing things.
I really prioritize sleeping.
That's kind of like a copemechanism for me because I'm so
busy, I'm always doing things.
I really don't really sleeplike that.
Anyways I do, but you know Iwork early in the morning, so I
like to, you know, just try toget myself away from things.
I like to just sit on my couchand so I try to prioritize once
a week where I just have a lazyday and I don't answer phone
calls, I don't answer emails, Idon't work.
(37:39):
I just simply just lay in thehouse or go do something that I
want to do, and so for me thatthat helps push my growth.
I think telling myself it's OK,you know you're able to take
days and you're prioritizingyourself, is so important.
And once I tell myself that,then I'm fine yourself is so
important.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
And once I tell myself that then I'm fine.
Yeah, you know well, you wentthrough COVID, you know when you
were a freshman sophomore inhigh school, right, and you know
I have a daughter who is just ayear younger than you in
college and, um, you know, I Ireflect back on that time as a
parent and you didn't realize itat the time how it was
affecting, you know, the kids inschool by not being in school
(38:20):
and by doing the e-learning orthose online classes and those
different things.
But that's one aspect of it.
But the other aspect is how didit affect them mentally?
You know you were able to pushthrough that, but how many other
kids came out of that moresecluded, because they were away
from people?
And I think we see that.
I see that a lot in some of mydaughter's friends and my kids'
(38:44):
friends who are, you know, arevery quiet, very reserved.
You know nothing like you.
You know where you're out inthe community, there, you know
you shake their hand and it'slike a limp noodle and they
don't make eye contact.
You know what I'm saying, butbut you, you are different from
that.
But how do you see it?
I'm sure you've got friendsthat are the opposite of you
right?
(39:05):
Talk about that a little bitand maybe how you try to help
them to be a little more.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Um, I, I, I wholeheartedly agree with you
that there are kids that arethat fell through the crack and
um, and it's actually calledopportunity youth.
So it's like 16 to 24, you know, they're not in school, they're
not, they're just kind offloating.
So that is a real thing.
(39:31):
Like I said, it all just goesback to that community, I think,
is what is what I always leanon when I'm going through
something or when I just needhelp with something and, like I
said, I'm thankful to have thatbecause not everybody has that.
However, all my friends knowwhen you're with me, we're going
to roll, we're going to go dosomething through through me.
(39:51):
You know they've met, they'vemade connections.
You know I tell them hey, we'regoing to do this or do you want
to come?
So I always, always, always,always try to include my friends
in whatever I do, if I can.
I always try to do that becauseI know the value of it and I
know that not everybody getsthat opportunity.
So if I can share thatexperience and that opportunity,
(40:11):
I absolutely will.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
Yeah, that's awesome If you could have a conversation
with someone, living ordeceased.
Who would it be and why?
Speaker 4 (40:23):
That's a really good, really good question.
Well, kind of a backstory is.
So my cousin, tyra, had severeepilepsy and so I think kind of
that's where that kind-heartedcaringness that I have kind of
has been, because me and mycousin are 30 days apart, so she
(40:44):
was born on August 13th, I wasborn on September 14th, so our
moms were pregnant at the sameyear.
So, you know, my cousincouldn't talk, couldn't walk,
you know, was stripped away, andso I think she, you know she
(41:07):
had 30 seizures a day.
And so I will remember justseeing this as a young child and
I would always ask what isgoing on, what is going on?
And so for me it was soimportant to be her keeper, and
so I remember a lot of times Iwould just go sit with her, or I
would just go get her her sippycup, or I would go do whatever,
and um, you know just kind ofhow that it would fill my heart
(41:28):
with joy.
And everybody got to know Tyrathrough me because I would
always be like, you know, in thesummertime I'm taking my cousin
on a walk and we're the samelike you know she was.
We're the same like height,weight, you know.
So she's just as big as I am.
But you know I continuously dothat.
I worked with her nurses, youknow.
(41:48):
So I was always looking out formy big cousin.
So her 18th birthday, I rememberI was like, dang, my cousin
ain't never had a birthday partythis big.
So I remember I calledeverybody I knew because this is
when I'm just starting to getthose connections I call
everybody, I'm like, hey, thisis what I need, we're having a
party.
I remember because I had anevent that day.
(42:10):
I remember, coming back, thewhole block was filled with cars
, there were so many people inthe yard and I didn't know that
would be her last birthday.
Um, cause she died right Acouple of days.
No, it was a couple of daysafter her birthday.
No, it was a couple of daysafter my birthday.
Sorry, um, she died onSeptember 17th and so she was 19
(42:34):
.
So I remember that that lossthat was really really hard for
me, really really heavy for me,and so if I could talk to her
right now or she could talk tome, I know that I'm being guided
through her, I really do, and Ibelieve that a lot of the
blessings that I may may receivehas been through her Because as
a young boy, you know, I'mhelping my cousin who couldn't
(42:57):
help, and so I always tellpeople Jesus helped the homeless
, jesus helped the hungry, jesushelped the disadvantaged, the
marginalized, theunderrepresented, and so, um, I
kind of keep that same mindsetto help those folks.
And you know, obviously mycousin was helpless but I, you
know, I'm a big believer.
(43:17):
She's got her wings and she'shelping me write my story page
by page, and she's writing itwith her pen and she's really
helping me.
And when I'm feeling lost orhopeless I think of her and I
think of her life and I'm likeman, I don't have it nearly as
bad and that that makes me wantto push that much harder, but I
(43:38):
know she is watching me, that'sbeautiful man, that's amazing.
Speaker 2 (43:41):
That is beautiful.
Are there any closing thoughts,any words of wisdom, any quotes
you live by?
You know when, when times aretough to get you through.
Speaker 4 (43:50):
Yeah, so actually I was at a conference a couple of
weeks ago, uh, at IU,indianapolis, and what?
And I seen a Shirley Chisholmquote that my professor gave to
me and it said if you, if theydon't give you a seat at the
table, bring a folding chair.
And I like that because and Iwould encourage anybody never
(44:12):
stop, don't ever give up on yourpassion, no matter who tells
you you can't do it, because,best believe, I've been told, oh
, you're too young, you don'tknow whatever, and it's like no,
that actually feeds me.
I'm going to keep going, nomatter what you say.
And so I would say, even whenthey tell you no, keep showing
(44:34):
up, keep making your voice heard, because that is where the real
representation comes, is whenyour voice is being heard.
So I always encourage people tomake sure your voice is heard
and bring that folding chair,because, guess what, you can
fold that chair up and move itfrom table to table, no matter
who wants to hear you or not.
If they don't want to hear you,fold your chair up and take it
(44:56):
to another, take it to another,take it to another.
And so that's what I reallylike about that quote.
But I would you know I've beenhitting community.
This whole podcast has beenabout community, community,
community, and you know it's notjust a word.
I float around freely, eventhough it may seem like that.
But build that community,cultivate that community and
(45:18):
cherish those in that communityin which cherish, cherish those
relationships, because if thereare people who are willing to
give you a chance, don't mess itup.
Take it and take everyopportunity that has been given
to you.
That's what I do is, even if Idon't feel like doing it, I
don't know what I'm going tolearn out of it.
(45:39):
You know I don't know, but I'mgoing to take it and I'm going
to run with it.
And even if I meet one person,that's one less connection I
didn't have, that's one moreconnection that I do have now.
And so take advantage of theopportunities.
Don't be scared.
Like I don't know, I didn'tknow Dan at the time, you know
he said hey, come to my business, I want to talk to you.
(46:01):
I'm like I don't know what I'mgetting myself into but I'm
going to do it, I'm going totake advantage of that
opportunity.
You know, our mutual friend cameto IUE, shook my hand on his
birthday, brung me a book andsaid hey, I want to give you
this.
I've been following you, youknow, throughout all the last
couple of years.
I'm like what, I don't evenknow you, but he, you know, he
(46:30):
gave me the opportunity and Itook that opportunity and ran
with it and here I am being ableto share my story.
So there's.
So there's God's in theblessing business.
I always that's the best way Ican put it.
God's in the blessing business.
I always that's the best way Ican put it.
God's in the blessing business.
Speaker 2 (46:38):
For sure, tell us those manifestations again,
those three manifestations thatyou wrote down.
Speaker 4 (46:43):
So I wrote down a whole bunch of them.
But I am worthy, I am great, Iam blessed, I deserve to be here
.
I think there was like 10 ofthem that I would write, but I
would alternate, but I stillhave that journey journal to
(47:05):
this day.
Um, so when I, when I thinkabout how far I've come, I
reflect back on that journalwith my 10th grade writing in it
, you know, and to see that, hey, you're a sophomore, you was a
sophomore who was going througha burnout.
You know you were ready tograduate.
You didn't know what, quitewhat you wanted to do.
But going into my junior yearof college, I'm like, thank God
you didn't give up, thank Godyou did not throw in the towel
and you kept going and you keptpushing, no matter what it looks
(47:27):
like, you kept going.
And so to my younger self,thank you for never giving up.
And to my older self, I hopeyou never give up and I hope you
keep pushing, no matter what itlooks like.
And bring that folding chair 20years old.
Speaker 2 (47:43):
20 years old.
True leadership Isn't about age.
It's about the courage to standfirm in your values, the grit
to keep going when it's toughand the vision to make tomorrow
better than today.
Amen, that's you, brother.
Speaker 4 (47:57):
Thank you so much, I so appreciate this.
Speaker 2 (47:59):
I can't thank you enough for coming on here.
I can't thank Brian Ballingerenough, our mutual friend, the
one that gave you that book onhis birthday.
He's the one that told me aboutyou.
So thank you, brian.
I know you're listening and weappreciate you making this
connection.
Speaker 4 (48:16):
Absolutely.
Thank you, brian, yeah.
Speaker 2 (48:18):
And you know, obviously, if you've listened to
Nathan and his story, you knowthere's big things ahead for
this young man and I'm excitedfor you, you know.
I hope our friendship can growfrom this.
Oh, you've got a friend in me.
Speaker 4 (48:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (48:36):
And you can help me, and I can help you, and, and I'm
excited to see where it goes,and, uh, excited for you and and
for those that you come incontact with.
Speaker 4 (48:44):
Well, thank you so much for having me.
I really appreciate it, yeah.
Speaker 2 (48:48):
All right, everybody be sure to share this episode.
If there's some young peopleout there high schoolers,
college age kids you need tohear Nathan's story, so be sure
to share, to comment, to likeand do all those things and go
out and be tempered.
Speaker 1 (49:02):
Hi, my name is Allie Schmidt.
This is my dad, dan.
He owns Catron's Glass.
Thanks, allie.
Things like doors and windowsgo into making a house, but when
it's your home, you expect morelike the great service and
selection you'll get fromCatron's Glass.
Vinyl replacement windows fromCatron's come with a lifetime
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Also ask for custom showerdoors and many other products
(49:22):
and services.
Call 962-1636.
Locally owned, with localemployees for nearly 30 years,
catron's Glass the clear choice.
Hi, my name is Allie Schmidt.
This is my dad, dan.
He owns Catron's Glass.
Thanks, allie.
Things like doors and windowsgo into making a house, but when
it's your home, you expect morelike the great service and
selection you'll get fromCatron's Glass.
Final replacement windows fromCatron's come with a lifetime
warranty, including accidentalglass breakage replacement.
Also ask for custom showerdoors and many other products
(00:20):
and services.
Call 962-1636.
Locally owned, with localemployees for nearly 30 years,
kitchen's best, the clear choice.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Welcome to the Be Tempered Podcast, where we
explore the art of findingbalance in a chaotic world.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Join us as we delve into insightful conversations,
practical tips and inspiringstories to help you navigate
life's ups and downs with graceand resilience.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
We're your hosts, Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr.
Let's embark on a journey tolive our best lives.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
This is Be Tempered.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
What's up everybody?
Welcome to the Be Temperedpodcast, Episode number 50.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Big 50.
Big 5-0.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Big 50.
Getting closer to that, episode52.
Oh yeah, coming around thecorner, which we'll go ahead and
make that announcement, thatepisode 52, which will be a
podcast on May 2nd, we areactually going to record a live
roundtable event on Monday,april 28th.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Now, we can't go back on it.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
No, now we have to do it.
So we'll put all thatinformation out on all the
socials, but we're going to havea live event that we hope can
be interactive with um any ofour, our fans or those of you
out there that listen.
You'd be able to, uh, to listenand to watch and to do all
those things you know, while weare alive.
So we'll be under a little bitof pressure, but that's okay.
(01:39):
That'll be episode 52, our yearin advance, and we're excited.
But today, on the Be Temperedpodcast, we have the privilege
of sitting down with a young manfrom right here in our region,
richmond, indiana, who's alreadymaking an impact with his work
ethic, his heart and hisperspective on life.
(02:00):
Nathan Hogg is someone whorepresents the next generation
of leaders, not just because ofwhat he says, but because of how
he shows up.
Whether it's in the way hecarries himself, the challenges
he's faced or the goals he'schasing, nathan brings a level
of maturity and drive that'sworth paying attention to.
I'm excited to dive into hisstory, his mindset and what
(02:24):
shaped him into the man he istoday.
Nathan, welcome to the BeTempered Podcast.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Thank you, Dan, for having me.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
How are you?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Yeah, we're doing great man Good, it's truly an
honor.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, we're glad to have you up here and excited to
share your story.
You are our youngestinterviewee, uh, we appreciate
that.
You know you and I had met uhthrough a mutual, mutual friend
and uh, you came into the officeand we sat down and talked and,
man, you walked out the doorand I'm like I'm inspired.
I'm inspired by you.
(02:55):
You are a uh, you're a youngleader, you're enthusiastic,
you've got a lot of uh visionsand goals of where you want your
life to go and I'm excited foryou to share your story.
So, as we get going, we like tostart this off by you telling
us your story about growing uphere in Richmond, indiana, what
life was like for you as a child, and then where you are today.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Okay, so yeah, my name is Nathan Hogg.
You know, I'm from Richmond,indiana, born and raised at the
old hospital actually, and mybrother was born at the new
hospital, so we tend to go backand forth about that as somebody
who works at Reed right now.
So I have a big family,actually the second biggest
African-American family, the Hogfamily, so really huge family.
(03:36):
I have seven siblings, so a lotof siblings as well.
I'm six, I'm six out of seven,so, and I'm the total opposite
of all of them.
So I'm the one that's outtalking and moving and shaking,
and then the rest of them arereally, really introverted.
So we're just total opposites alot of times.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
So so what brought that out of you?
If your whole family'sintroverted, why are you
extrovert?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
I don't really know.
I've always just loved talking,like my dad would always, you
know, get on me Like all right,you're talking too much, you're
talking too much, and so I wasjust always the talker and the
rest, like my brothers, were insports.
So that was never me, I neverwas really into that.
So I was just like I got tofind my own way somehow and so
(04:25):
for me, that was talking, thatwas writing in my diary, that
was just.
You know, how I express myselfis through my words.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Okay, so talk about some pivotal moments in your
childhood, growing up, that maybe shaped to who you are right
now.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Oh yeah.
So ever since a young boy Iknew I always wanted to be an
entrepreneur.
So I remember like I wouldalways have my mom sit outside
on the corner with me and wewould sell brownies and lemonade
.
I mean, like a young boy, likefive, six, and I always knew I
wanted to have this restaurantcalled Hog Daddy's always.
And so I still have some of thesigns to this day, which I
(04:58):
created at six years old,talking about, you know, Hog
Daddy's home of the best I'vedone shoe cleaning kits.
I've done the lemonade stands.
I've sold cakes, cookies, piesUm, I had a t-shirt business.
So, just all around, I knew, um,growing up, like my dad was
like, hey, if you want poolmoney, if you want this, you
(05:18):
better do some chores, youbetter do something to get that
money.
And so I knew early on thatthat that was only way to go was
, you know, to find my ownhustle.
And and it brung out somethingin me because I felt like I've
really worked for this money.
You know what I'm saying, Notjust, oh, my dad handed me this,
no, I really worked for it.
And so for me, that's what Ispent a lot of my summers doing.
(05:39):
Is is making money and doingthe side jobs or whatever I
needed to do.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
And community service is nothing new to me which
we'll talk about that later,yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
So where did that drive to be an entrepreneur come
from, do you think?
Uh, I don't really know.
I, I, that's just me.
I, I think maybe because Iwasn't surrounded by it.
Like my dad worked at a factory, my mom always worked at, like
you know, little odd jobs justto try to make ends meet.
So I knew I wanted to stand outin that in that way and I knew,
like, like I was telling youguys earlier, I'm not meant to
(06:14):
sit behind a cubicle.
I always joke like that.
I love being people center andso really being an entrepreneur
to me, or just being publicfacing, allows you to talk to
different people and meetdifferent people and create a
good network.
So that's always what it's beenabout to me in a way.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Were there any challenges as a young kid that
you had that?
That maybe shaped that as well.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Yeah, so I think really it was just finding my
way, finding those people whoare who, who are like-minded, um
, and finding that community wasa challenge for me until I got
to high school and then Istarted finding that community.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Okay, there was a pivotal time in your life that
you told me there a week or soago where we met, where you
watched a TikTok about writingin a journal.
Can you kind of tell that story, how it started and what
inspired you to do what you didand then talk about doing that?
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Yeah, so I when we were in high school, you know I
had a very weird high schooljourney just because of COVID.
So I finished my first semesterof freshman year and the second
semester COVID happened.
So you know, you're in a timeof uncertainty, you really don't
know what's going on, like youknow whatever, and so we were
kind of isolated.
(07:28):
It was kind of this state ofyou know.
Our parents were scared, so wereally didn't get to hang out or
anything.
So I would say, around the endof my sophomore or junior year I
went through just a bad burnout, like I just was very, very sad
, I just didn't have any purpose, like I went through just a bad
burnout, like I just was very,very sad, just I just didn't
have any purpose, like I didn'thave anything to ignite that
fire.
(07:49):
And so I remember, late at nightone day I was late at night one
night I was watching Tik TOKand it talked about
manifestation.
So I was really really worriedor kind of nervous about what
manifestation was, cause I waslike I've never heard of this.
You know, is it witchcraft?
Like I just genuinely didn'tknow.
So I started just looking at itand kind of seeing in it and it
(08:09):
ended up changing my lifeforever and I and I didn't
realize it.
So I have the, I had thisjournal and I would write to
myself 12 times, three times aday, and I would write I am
worthy, write it out 12 times, Iam blessed, 12 times, yada, so
forth, and I would repeat thatto myself three times a day.
And so what it basically didwas shift my mindset when I'm
(08:33):
telling myself I believe it andI internalized it and I and it
and it changed my life in waysthat is really indescribable and
it helped me really get out ofthat funk.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
That's amazing for a 14, 15, 16 year old kid to uh to
do that and um talk about fromfrom that time once, once you
had done that manifestation,what came from that for you know
, when you went back into school, maybe your junior and senior
year?
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah.
So once I got into my it wasthe end of my junior year Um, I
again, I just was after writingthat stuff down and telling
myself that because there wasn'tat this time you know, I didn't
really know a whole lot ofpeople, so there were really
wasn't a lot of people tellingme that kind of stuff so it I
had to take it upon myself totell myself that, to internalize
it and to believe it.
(09:19):
Once I did, it boosted myconfidence.
So I ended up getting connectedwith Carl Reinhart and we, um,
he owns a nonprofit calledfuture achievers, so we just
started talking.
We did a black history monthproject together and I've never
really been good with likegraphics or like videos, and so
he really challenged me to dothat and that's how we ended up
(09:40):
becoming really close.
He challenged me, I did it and,and it was great, I put it out
on Facebook.
It got like 15 shares.
So to me that was a big deal,um, but the real blessing came
out of, you know, just by havingthat connection talking to him
again, somebody that waslike-minded.
Um, I attended a conference withhim called Wayne County cares
(10:03):
and it was through Purdueuniversity, and it was through
Purdue University and it waslike this big community meeting.
So we're in this group of likea hundred something people,
massive group of all communityleaders, people I've never even
seen before or heard of, and sothere was like different topics
on like workforce development,hunger, transportation, y, yada,
yada, yada, and you weresupposed to like bring a project
(10:26):
out of these different areas.
So I was on the workforcedevelopment because I didn't
know what that was.
So I was interested in seeingwhat that was going to be like.
So I had a job at 14 years old.
I worked at the Leland at thetime and a lot of kids my age
would be like oh my gosh, likeyou're working, you've got your
own money.
Like we can't believe it, howcan I get a job?
(10:47):
And so all throughout highschool I would hear people ask
me where can I get a job?
Where can I get a job?
And so that kind of birthed theidea of Hog Helps.
And after working with Carl andI was on the workforce
development team and with allthese community leaders and you
know they're instilling in melike you can do it, you can do
it.
That committee was moving tooslow for me.
(11:08):
I'm in high school, I'm like Igot stuff to do.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
I've got stuff to do.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
So then I created a website in a matter of like four
days, created a website,started going to local
businesses.
I was doing it and that birthhog helps, and it was to empower
youth for future careers andfuture careers and knowledge in
the workforce development orsomething along those lines.
So it was really justconnecting those local
(11:35):
businesses and those connectionsthat I was starting to
cultivate.
It was connecting my peers andyouth to those connections, and
so it was.
It was a great blessing, bigblessing.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Can you talk about any successes that came from
that?
Do you know off the top of yourhead of maybe some friends or
someone who had some success byusing that?
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Oh yeah.
So some of my friends, you know, got really good jobs.
Like my dad, I worked with mydad through Primex and you know
we had like a little partnership.
It was nothing official becauseI mean I was in high school, so
nothing like business, but Iwas just connecting people.
One of the major successes thatcame out of for me was I then
got connected to my mentor andmy second mother, really, sherry
(12:16):
Harlan, and so I ended upgetting an internship at Reed
through all my communityengagement initiatives that I've
been doing.
And so here we are four yearslater and I'm still doing that.
So just great, greatrelationships that were
cultivated through Hog Helps andI didn't know it was possible
because I didn't have peoplelike minded, like me in the home
(12:37):
.
You know that was, you know,into that kind of stuff, and so,
like I said, it birthed thatcommunity in which, which I
value so deeply.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
And it's amazing to hear this from you who?
What are you?
21, now 20.
You're 20.
And at the time, you'd havebeen 17, 18 years old 16, 17.
To have to have that vision atthat young of an age to want to
help others who are like you,want to get a job and make that
(13:07):
connection with the communityand not only just make the
connection.
But you had to go out and meetwith those businesses, right?
Oh yeah, talk about thosestruggles walking in the door of
a business and what was yoursales pitch?
Speaker 4 (13:18):
So you know, I think, when, well, when I put the uh
hog helps out on Facebook, itgot like over 200 shares, so
this outpouring like communitysupport.
And so people were just hittingme like I got involved with the
chamber of commerce and I'm like, well, wait a minute, what is
the chamber?
And so people were just holdingmy hand, showing me talking, so
(13:38):
it's kind of that um and andthat was kind of how the
relationships got formed, solike a successful um
relationship that I say reallyhelped me was Roxy Deer invited
me to the uh to a chamberbreakfast and it was with the
Lieutenant Governor of Indiana.
Uh, ms Suzanne Crouch up givingthe lieutenant governor a shirt
(14:06):
.
She saw hog help, so, um, andwhat I was doing out in the
community and so for me againlike 17, 18, to be noticed by
the lieutenant governor was likewhoa, huge.
And she ended up like followingup and staying in touch with me
, which was great um, but Iwould have never had that had it
not been for just sticking myneck out on the line and saying
I'm willing to take the risk andmeeting people like roxy,
sherry, carl, whoever that'sreally helping me out because
(14:29):
they see a young man withpassion and drive who's trying
to make a change.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah, that's, that's amazing.
So you get through high school.
What's next for you?
Speaker 4 (14:39):
Yeah.
So when I, um, like I said,told you I had that bad burnout
and so I had no desire, so thisHog Helps helped me get out of
that funk.
Really, my mentor, sherry,really, really helped me,
because I had no plans on goingto college, I was kind of just
like, oh, I'm going to do this.
And she talked some sense intome and she's like no baby,
(14:59):
you're going to college.
And so again, just having thatsomebody who's you know,
continuously pushing out on youand telling you, hey, you need
to do this, you need to get outof your zone, you need to, you
need to, and so for me that washuge.
And so she's an IU grad and sheencouraged me to go to IU East,
and so that was like one of thebest decisions I've ever made.
(15:20):
I went through a summer programcalled Group Scholars at IU East
and little did I know thatprogram would change my life.
So the Group Scholars programis a summer bridge program for
freshmen at IU East and it'swithin all the IU schools, but
it was founded in Bloomington in1968.
And so I was the first groupscohort at IU East.
(15:43):
So we made history.
So, coming into East, we'remaking history, being part of
this first groups cohort, I gotconnected to, you know, other
people who I never even metbefore.
That went to other schools inthe county.
We went on local business fieldtrips.
(16:05):
You know, just met and, youknow, got to network with
faculty and staff on campus andjust the main thing it did was
boost my GPA from like a 2.5 toa 3.7.
Wow, so really, really helpedme.
You know, I got involved on thecampus because that program
means so much to me, gotconnected and now I have a
work-study job in the office ofthe chancellor and so I work for
the chief of staff.
So just those relationshipswere cultivated and looking back
(16:28):
now I would have slapped myselfin the face for saying I'm not
going to college because collegeand higher educate well
knowledge is power yes and so,to me, the more I know, the more
I can do in the, and if I knowbetter, I do better, and so I'm.
Higher education has really,really helped me overcome a lot
of challenges.
(16:49):
You know, when I think aboutthat burnout that I went through
in high school, it's likealmost silly, because I'm like
here you are bearing on morethan what you can, than you
could ever imagine now, and youand and you just keep going, you
keep pushing, and that was whatcollege was is about.
To me is just pushing along andand, like I said, those
relationships and that communitythat I built has been so
(17:12):
instrumental in my life.
So I love IU East and I loveeverybody who has been part of
my journey this far.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Yeah, there's no doubt they love you.
Yeah, for sure.
So we talk a lot on our podcastabout success, failure, about
going through the fire.
Is there a time in your lifeyou can can reflect back on on
your young life?
I'm used to asking thisquestion to 40, 50, 60, 70 year
(17:39):
olds.
So got to put it in perspectivewith a young man like yourself,
being 20, but are there?
Are there fails, failures inyour life that have helped to,
to shape you, to shape your,your vision forward, uh, to
guide you to want to be betteror to do more?
Is there specific instances youcan think of?
Speaker 4 (17:58):
Oh yeah, so, um, what I'm trying to say.
So a lot of people on Facebookthey see the smiling me, they
see me with a plaque, they seeme with an award, they see me
(18:23):
with an award, they see me withI'm in this newspaper, I'm on
this billboard, I'm doing this,I'm doing writing.
They don't see all the homeworkI have to do, they don't know
all the board service that I'mdoing.
And so a recent bump in theroad I don't want to call it a
failure because it's not afailure to me.
It was a learning experience.
It's really not.
(18:48):
It's a bump in the road, and soI'm going to call it a bump in
the road.
I was nominated to run as astudent trustee for Indiana
University, so that means you'rea board member of IU.
It would have been a huge honor.
I would have been the firstperson from a regional campus,
first student from a regionalcampus, and one and one of the
youngest students to get it.
So again, that was whycommunity is so important.
(19:10):
So one of the women at IU Eastdrove me around, so I went.
Iu has nine campuses.
I went to six of nine IUcampuses had a letter from local
business leaders.
You know state leaders to dothis, and so you know, and part
of me was, you know, I've alwaysbeen getting stuff on my first
(19:33):
try or I've been successful this, this and that.
So I call it a bump in the roadbecause I didn't get it, and so
it kind of like I wouldn't saystar struck me a little bit, but
it shaped my perspective.
And to know that it's okay tohave a bump in the road but that
doesn't mean life's over, itdoesn't mean that your journey's
over, the journey is actuallyforward and great things are
(19:53):
going to continue to happen, andso that really, really shaped
my perspective.
And when I put it on Facebook, Ididn't want people to be like,
oh, he failed, really put it outthere to show, or I really put
that Facebook post on Facebookto show that, um, you know,
(20:18):
there are bumps in the road, andit's not always just smiling,
it's not always just I've wonthis award, but to really, um,
be vulnerable with people andshow that it's not everything
isn't going to be success, um,that that you're going to trip
up and fall off in your, in yourjourney, and that was so
important for me to share.
And and again, I was tiredafter going through all that I
mean there was, it was a prettylengthy process, and so then
(20:41):
again, that's why community isso important, because even
though I was sad I didn't get it, but also seeing like all these
people say you know, you meanso much to Wayne County, you've
done great, you've done that,and so that that filled my cup,
that really did, and so I'mthankful for for that community.
That has really uplifted me.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Yeah, that's great.
It reminds me of uh, you know,we just recorded another podcast
and we talked about rejectionand we've said it on the show
before is rejection is God'sprotection.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
That's what I was going to say.
Yeah, rejection is God's divineprotection.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Yeah, so you know there's a reason that you didn't
get it right, but what did youlearn from it?
And you just said you know youlearned how important community
is.
So talk about success then.
What does success look like fora young 21-year-old man?
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Honestly, I don't know.
Like I said, the journey isforward and there's so much more
that I have to do and I need todo.
I would say success for me sofar is just looking, just being
able to get up and breathe andjust to to really have I keep
hitting this word community, butjust to have people that are
there in your corner we're goingto uplift you on the hard days,
who are going to tell youeverything's going to be okay.
(22:00):
That's, that's really beensuccess to me.
It's nothing reallymaterialistic, or all the wards
I have or the plaques I meanthat stuff's great, yes.
However, I do believe thatpeople that know you and value
you and want to hear your likethis is success to me.
(22:21):
You have asked me to come hereand share my perspective and
share my story with you guys andI don't even know you guys but
just for giving me a platform inwhich to share and, hopefully,
to motivate our viewers andmotivate other people, that's
success.
It's not, like I said, it's notmaterialistic, it's not.
You know, those plaques arenice.
(22:43):
However, I think being peoplecentered and being here in
places like this, where I get totalk to people and share,
that's success to me.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
That's a great answer and I hope all the young people
out there listening hear thatanswer because you know we
talked about it.
You talked about it a littlebit.
What people see on social mediamay look like and seeing your
billboard on the east side oftown, you know you got that
awesome smile and and all thatcharisma that that you have, um,
(23:13):
but they don't see those thoseearly mornings or those late
nights or that grind that you'rein constantly because your
close friends do.
Yeah, cause you're pushingyourself to be better.
Can you talk about any othermentors?
You've mentioned a couple, uhany any mentors that?
Mentors that have continued tohelp shape you on a daily basis?
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Oh yeah, I would definitely say, like you know,
Sherry has been a huge mentor.
I mean, there are so many, sowhy?
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Sherry, what does she do that helps you so much?
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Well, there are many people.
So, you know, I'll kind ofhighlight all of them that I can
think of.
So excuse me if I, if I don'tcall you out by name, charge it
to my mind, but don't charge itto my heart, not my mind, um,
you know, but Sherry stands outbecause she, she caught me when
I was young, 16, and again,right through the middle of that
burnout, um, I think of herlike a second mother, like you
(24:09):
know that just that person Ididn't have.
And when I say like minded, youknow she really took my hand.
It wasn't just here, go to thisand you kind of I'll just help
you and you just do it.
No, she took me by my hand andshowed me and walked with me,
prayed with me, cried with me.
She is there.
Whenever I call, she is there.
(24:30):
When I didn't have a car, shemade sure I got to school when I
didn't have, you know, if Ineeded money, she was helping me
.
I mean, just whatever I needed,she was there.
And it was those day-to-dayconversations in which we had
and, like I said, I call herevery morning when I get off
work at 9 am to make sure she'sokay or does she need anything,
and we really have thatrelationship.
(24:51):
She got me involved in churchand so I ended up getting
baptized because of her and youknow, just like I said, her
being an IU grad and she knowswhat it's like firsthand to be a
college student, so she puts mein rooms of opportunity.
She put, I mean, just like Isaid, just a God sent angel that
I didn't know I needed in thislife until until I met her.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
That's awesome Talk a little bit about your faith.
Is that something that's newfound to you?
Speaker 4 (25:19):
Um, I've always been surrounded by it.
Like I always say, I'm builtupon my grandma's prayer.
So my grandma's 85, my greatgrandmother's 85.
Um, so you know, prayer isnothing new or anything.
However, I just didn't go tochurch being younger because I
really just didn't know until Istarted meeting Sherry and we
(25:39):
went to church together and Iwas going through some things
kind of like my freshman year,and so I think one thing that
stood out is when she walked meup to the altar and we sat and
prayed together.
That's kind of how I knew rightthen.
And there she I mean that thatthis relate, this, this
connection that we have is realand, um, you know, people always
(26:03):
see us again, always see ussmiling, always see us with the
plaques and awards, but theydon't know what I mean, what we
do day to day, and so she shewas the reason why I got my
internship at the hospital at 17years old.
So, just all around, a greatperson.
Another mentor that I have is,you know, yemi from IU East.
Like I said, we really startedbuilding connection when she
(26:27):
drove me across the statethrough the student trustee.
I can't tell you how many timesI cried because, again, you're
dealing with nine campuses, youknow you got people hitting you
all way which way, and so shewould, you know, help me.
We, um, we would walk throughit.
You know, she would help mesort my life out like I can't
tell you how many times she wasthere when I needed her, and and
(26:47):
so those experiences, like Isaid, those experiences shape
you into who you are in thatcommunity being cultivated.
I know I keep saying the wordcommunity, but it's so important
to build.
Another male figure that I haveis Dr Cal.
So, dr Cal, I met him before Ieven went to IU East and so I
(27:10):
took one of his classes, and hecontinuously puts me in
opportunities.
We've been on conferencestogether, where we went to
Indianapolis, we go to lunchevery Tuesday, we talk, and so
that's a male figure that I'mthankful for.
My dad, you know, my brothers,my uncles I mean there are just
so many.
My VP, my boss Jess.
I brothers, my uncles, I meanthere are just so many.
(27:31):
My VP, uh, my boss Jess, I meanthe chancellor there.
There are just so many people,my best friend, amir, um, that
are that are just.
You know, like I said, god sentangels that really came, come
through for me.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Well, and I think it shows you at a young age how
important mentors have been inyour life and what that'll do
for you to be a mentor to othersRight.
Can you talk about some of that?
I'm sure you've done some ofthat mentorship with the younger
, younger kids Can you talkabout that.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Actually, it was just funny because I thought you saw
my Facebook posting.
That's where you was going withthat.
So I was asked to be a mentorthrough communities and schools.
Are you guys familiar with whatthat is?
No, go ahead and explain it.
So communities and schools is anon-profit.
That that's in like all thecounty schools and this may not
be like exact, but I know theyhelp you with like resources.
(28:18):
They have a mentorship program.
Um, they have like snacks thatthey so kind of like how sherry
is to me, but just in aclassroom or just being out of
school.
So that way kids have somebodythat maybe isn't their classroom
teacher or whatever, orprincipal or whatever.
So they do amazing work.
But they asked me to be amentor.
So I agreed to be a mentor,kind of a lunch buddy, so I meet
(28:41):
with them every Wednesday andwe have lunch together.
We talk about what it means tobe a student, we talk about
leadership and just what it'slike to be a kid, and so I'm
sure a lot of the mentors areprobably older, I would assume.
I think I'm one of the youngestones, so you know fifth and
sixth graders.
I got seven of them, and sothey all knew me through the
(29:04):
billboard.
And they were talking to me asif they know me, and it was
through the billboard.
And so we just started talkingand I did some leadership
exercises with them and had themdraw out a web and like, write
their name in the middle of thecircle and like, who do you look
up to?
You know what is?
What is a good leader?
Describe a good leader, whatmakes a good leader?
(29:24):
All this different stuff.
I do daily affirmations withthem, so that manifestation.
So at the end of our lunch I'llgo all right.
Everybody repeat after me I amworthy, I am blessed, I am
thankful you know that kind ofstuff to instill that into them
and it works, and just to seetheir faces light up when I come
(29:45):
and see them.
But they were raving about thisbillboard and so I had printed
off the billboard picture andwrote a personalized message to
them.
So I wrote to so-and-so, keepreading because that's going to
get you far.
And then I signed it and soeach one of them got to see, you
know, got to have their ownpersonalized picture, and to see
(30:08):
their faces light up waspriceless.
And you know, something sosmall means so much to people,
cause I'm like in sixth grade Ican't even remember, you know
what, whatever we were talkingabout in sixth grade, but I mean
it was.
It fills my cup up weekly beingwith these kids because they
need somebody.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Yeah, and that's awesome.
I, I, I think of, uh, thephrase when you're feeling
helpless, get helpful.
And I think you know you'vealready recognized that as a as
a young 20 year old, you knowthat um, the impact that those
mentors had on you and your lifeand continue to have to this
day, because you are still veryyoung and you got a long way to
(30:48):
go, but you are doing someamazing things.
Talk about what the futurelooks like for you.
When you look ahead into thefuture, what do you see yourself
?
Five, 10 years, 20 years downthe road?
Speaker 4 (30:59):
Oh yeah, so you know, um, well, I didn't.
I forgot to explain what I'mstudying in college.
So I'm studying communicationswith a double minor in political
science and publicadministration.
I always joke.
I know I'm not meant to bebehind a cubicle or being on the
telephone or whatever.
I know I'm meant to be people,people focused, and and I live
(31:20):
by that.
So I know I want to do somekind of community engagement.
I'm good at it, I value that,um, and so that's that's kind of
what I'm thinking about doingis doing some kind of community
engagement, whether that be fora local business or out of the
state or just whatever.
I know I want to do some kindof that, some type of community
(31:40):
engagement or advocacy work.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Yeah, that's great, that's great.
What do you do for fun?
Um, what do you do for fun?
Speaker 4 (31:48):
So I like to go on vacation.
I love shoes, I'm a sneakerhead, Um.
I love shopping, so I'm just.
Whenever I I try to make surethat I do self-care things, so I
like going to the outlet mallsin Cincinnati, you know those
type of things, or just simplyjust laying down and sleeping.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Do you set goals?
Yeah, can you talk about any ofthose?
Speaker 4 (32:14):
So I like to have like a journal of, like weekly
goals that I want to accomplishand so, whatever that may be, if
it's like right now it's finalsweek and so right now or it's
finals month, I should say soright now goals are for me is
pass your finals and get and getout of there so you can start
summer break.
So, um, I try to encouragemyself to make sure you know you
(32:36):
work at least on a halfassignment, a quarter of
assignment.
Just try to do something everyday so you're not stressed um at
the end and you're, and you're,you're, you're ahead.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Sure You're prepared.
What's the summer look like foryou and?
Speaker 4 (32:50):
you're, you're, you're ahead.
Sure, you're prepared.
What's the summer look like foryou?
So, through the group scholarsprogram, so we're going on year
three, um, so I'm going to beworking with those group
scholars this year and and as afirst cohort member, I'm going
to be working with them.
We're going to go on fieldtrips, I'm going to be in the
classroom with them, and so I'vebeen helping the group scholar
advisor, michelle holiday.
Um, I'm still going to be doingstuff for re working with
(33:12):
mentor working with my mentorSherry.
So I know I'm going to be doingthat kind of stuff, um, and
then I and then I'm going to tryto plan me some vacations, any,
any place specific you want togo?
Um, I'm thinking about going tosee, going to see my old pastor
in Washington DC, so I'mthinking I'm going to do that.
And then I have another cousinthat lives in the tip top of
(33:34):
Georgia, so I'm going to driveand go see her as well.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
So oh, that's good.
Yeah, that's important.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
I need the self-care.
Yeah, you do you do.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
It's important and you know you're a very driven
young man and a lot of goals andaspirations, you know with
where you want your life to go,but it's important to take a
step away to you know, for your,for your mental capacity to
reset.
So, ben, you got any questionsyou can think of?
Speaker 3 (33:59):
So what's been?
How long have you been doingthis school, Like where you've
been going and sitting with thefifth and sixth graders?
Speaker 4 (34:06):
So I just started last month.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
So I'm going to finish.
Speaker 4 (34:09):
They end in May, so I'm going to finish up with them
at the end of the year.
I told them, if they're goodfor me and they're interactive,
and they do what I ask them todo not in a mean way but if
you're interactive with what Ihave to bring, I'll bring them
pizza and we'll have a pizzaparty, and so this is all
they're looking forward to isthis pizza party.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
So has there any been like any like eyeopening
conversations or anything withthem that were like man, like I?
Wouldn't expect that from afifth or sixth grader.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
Oh yeah, so just some of the challenges.
I think mental health is isbigger than what we think it we
think it is, and it impactsyounger people.
So I have a little girl whoreminds me that she, she, has
depression, anxiety, and sothat's where that manifestation
comes in.
You know you're worthy, youknow you're great, you're going
(34:55):
to do big things.
And so I make her tell herselfthat.
So, instead of saying I haveanxiety and depression, no, no,
no, no, you're great, you'reworthy, you're going to do big
things, you're going to pass.
And so I make her say it toherself and she does, and why
that may not work, you know, orshe, but just those seeds that
(35:16):
are being dropped in the bucket.
How?
Speaker 3 (35:23):
how, what was done to me?
Right, and it's just at thatage group.
I, you know, I remember helpingkids, like we used to have um,
where seniors would go back andtalk to that grade, and there's
things that that were said, andI was like man, like I don't
remember dealing with that whenI was that age, you know, and
hearing like depression, anxietyat fifth and sixth grade.
It's just something where thisregime we're in, is you?
Speaker 4 (35:38):
know it's it's.
We're in different times.
I think the world is just soheavy.
You know the media is, is, isalways get feeding you your
worst fear, and so just you knowthe world is heavy right now.
You know what people see athome.
What people see online is heavyright now.
(35:59):
You know what people see athome.
Um, what people see online.
You know I, one of the kids inmy group always talks about
being on fortnight and I'm like,dang boy, do you not ride a
bike like?
I roll down the streets ofrichmond and I don't even see
anybody on a bike, and me and mybrother were always so happy to
get a new bike right, I'm like,well, wait a minute, you know.
so, instead of like doing screentime, like what else are you
guys doing?
And so we talked about growthand fixed mindset, and so I made
(36:20):
them identify issues that orchallenges that they've had,
which almost all of themcompared to video games, but
kind of just expanding your mindand doing other things in which
you normally wouldn't do.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
Yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
So talk about you mentioned growth.
How do you push yourself togrow?
Because it's that's not an easything to do, right?
I mean, you are.
It's obvious that you're driven, that you're motivated, that
you want more.
But there's times when I'm sureyou kind of get stuck in the
mud and talk about how you pushyourself to grow and to push
(36:55):
through those times.
Speaker 4 (36:56):
Yeah.
So the biggest thing that Iwould say is, when I go through
something hard, what I like todo and a lot of times it's when
I'm really feeling really heavy,loaded with all the external
world things or just day-to-daythings and what I like to do is
like power my phone off and Ireally prioritize sleeping.
That's kind of like a copemechanism for me because I'm so
(37:17):
busy I'm always doing things.
I really prioritize sleeping.
That's kind of like a copemechanism for me because I'm so
busy, I'm always doing things.
I really don't really sleeplike that.
Anyways I do, but you know Iwork early in the morning, so I
like to, you know, just try toget myself away from things.
I like to just sit on my couchand so I try to prioritize once
a week where I just have a lazyday and I don't answer phone
calls, I don't answer emails, Idon't work.
(37:39):
I just simply just lay in thehouse or go do something that I
want to do, and so for me thatthat helps push my growth.
I think telling myself it's OK,you know you're able to take
days and you're prioritizingyourself, is so important.
And once I tell myself that,then I'm fine yourself is so
important.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
And once I tell myself that then I'm fine.
Yeah, you know well, you wentthrough COVID, you know when you
were a freshman sophomore inhigh school, right, and you know
I have a daughter who is just ayear younger than you in
college and, um, you know, I Ireflect back on that time as a
parent and you didn't realize itat the time how it was
affecting, you know, the kids inschool by not being in school
(38:20):
and by doing the e-learning orthose online classes and those
different things.
But that's one aspect of it.
But the other aspect is how didit affect them mentally?
You know you were able to pushthrough that, but how many other
kids came out of that moresecluded, because they were away
from people?
And I think we see that.
I see that a lot in some of mydaughter's friends and my kids'
(38:44):
friends who are, you know, arevery quiet, very reserved.
You know nothing like you.
You know where you're out inthe community, there, you know
you shake their hand and it'slike a limp noodle and they
don't make eye contact.
You know what I'm saying, butbut you, you are different from
that.
But how do you see it?
I'm sure you've got friendsthat are the opposite of you
right?
(39:05):
Talk about that a little bitand maybe how you try to help
them to be a little more.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Um, I, I, I wholeheartedly agree with you
that there are kids that arethat fell through the crack and
um, and it's actually calledopportunity youth.
So it's like 16 to 24, you know, they're not in school, they're
not, they're just kind offloating.
So that is a real thing.
(39:31):
Like I said, it all just goesback to that community, I think,
is what is what I always leanon when I'm going through
something or when I just needhelp with something and, like I
said, I'm thankful to have thatbecause not everybody has that.
However, all my friends knowwhen you're with me, we're going
to roll, we're going to go dosomething through through me.
(39:51):
You know they've met, they'vemade connections.
You know I tell them hey, we'regoing to do this or do you want
to come?
So I always, always, always,always try to include my friends
in whatever I do, if I can.
I always try to do that becauseI know the value of it and I
know that not everybody getsthat opportunity.
So if I can share thatexperience and that opportunity,
(40:11):
I absolutely will.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
Yeah, that's awesome If you could have a conversation
with someone, living ordeceased.
Who would it be and why?
Speaker 4 (40:23):
That's a really good, really good question.
Well, kind of a backstory is.
So my cousin, tyra, had severeepilepsy and so I think kind of
that's where that kind-heartedcaringness that I have kind of
has been, because me and mycousin are 30 days apart, so she
(40:44):
was born on August 13th, I wasborn on September 14th, so our
moms were pregnant at the sameyear.
So, you know, my cousincouldn't talk, couldn't walk,
you know, was stripped away, andso I think she, you know she
(41:07):
had 30 seizures a day.
And so I will remember justseeing this as a young child and
I would always ask what isgoing on, what is going on?
And so for me it was soimportant to be her keeper, and
so I remember a lot of times Iwould just go sit with her, or I
would just go get her her sippycup, or I would go do whatever,
and um, you know just kind ofhow that it would fill my heart
(41:28):
with joy.
And everybody got to know Tyrathrough me because I would
always be like, you know, in thesummertime I'm taking my cousin
on a walk and we're the samelike you know she was.
We're the same like height,weight, you know.
So she's just as big as I am.
But you know I continuously dothat.
I worked with her nurses, youknow.
(41:48):
So I was always looking out formy big cousin.
So her 18th birthday, I rememberI was like, dang, my cousin
ain't never had a birthday partythis big.
So I remember I calledeverybody I knew because this is
when I'm just starting to getthose connections I call
everybody, I'm like, hey, thisis what I need, we're having a
party.
I remember because I had anevent that day.
(42:10):
I remember, coming back, thewhole block was filled with cars
, there were so many people inthe yard and I didn't know that
would be her last birthday.
Um, cause she died right Acouple of days.
No, it was a couple of daysafter her birthday.
No, it was a couple of daysafter my birthday.
Sorry, um, she died onSeptember 17th and so she was 19
(42:34):
.
So I remember that that lossthat was really really hard for
me, really really heavy for me,and so if I could talk to her
right now or she could talk tome, I know that I'm being guided
through her, I really do, and Ibelieve that a lot of the
blessings that I may may receivehas been through her Because as
a young boy, you know, I'mhelping my cousin who couldn't
(42:57):
help, and so I always tellpeople Jesus helped the homeless
, jesus helped the hungry, jesushelped the disadvantaged, the
marginalized, theunderrepresented, and so, um, I
kind of keep that same mindsetto help those folks.
And you know, obviously mycousin was helpless but I, you
know, I'm a big believer.
(43:17):
She's got her wings and she'shelping me write my story page
by page, and she's writing itwith her pen and she's really
helping me.
And when I'm feeling lost orhopeless I think of her and I
think of her life and I'm likeman, I don't have it nearly as
bad and that that makes me wantto push that much harder, but I
(43:38):
know she is watching me, that'sbeautiful man, that's amazing.
Speaker 2 (43:41):
That is beautiful.
Are there any closing thoughts,any words of wisdom, any quotes
you live by?
You know when, when times aretough to get you through.
Speaker 4 (43:50):
Yeah, so actually I was at a conference a couple of
weeks ago, uh, at IU,indianapolis, and what?
And I seen a Shirley Chisholmquote that my professor gave to
me and it said if you, if theydon't give you a seat at the
table, bring a folding chair.
And I like that because and Iwould encourage anybody never
(44:12):
stop, don't ever give up on yourpassion, no matter who tells
you you can't do it, because,best believe, I've been told, oh
, you're too young, you don'tknow whatever, and it's like no,
that actually feeds me.
I'm going to keep going, nomatter what you say.
And so I would say, even whenthey tell you no, keep showing
(44:34):
up, keep making your voice heard, because that is where the real
representation comes, is whenyour voice is being heard.
So I always encourage people tomake sure your voice is heard
and bring that folding chair,because, guess what, you can
fold that chair up and move itfrom table to table, no matter
who wants to hear you or not.
If they don't want to hear you,fold your chair up and take it
(44:56):
to another, take it to another,take it to another.
And so that's what I reallylike about that quote.
But I would you know I've beenhitting community.
This whole podcast has beenabout community, community,
community, and you know it's notjust a word.
I float around freely, eventhough it may seem like that.
But build that community,cultivate that community and
(45:18):
cherish those in that communityin which cherish, cherish those
relationships, because if thereare people who are willing to
give you a chance, don't mess itup.
Take it and take everyopportunity that has been given
to you.
That's what I do is, even if Idon't feel like doing it, I
don't know what I'm going tolearn out of it.
(45:39):
You know I don't know, but I'mgoing to take it and I'm going
to run with it.
And even if I meet one person,that's one less connection I
didn't have, that's one moreconnection that I do have now.
And so take advantage of theopportunities.
Don't be scared.
Like I don't know, I didn'tknow Dan at the time, you know
he said hey, come to my business, I want to talk to you.
(46:01):
I'm like I don't know what I'mgetting myself into but I'm
going to do it, I'm going totake advantage of that
opportunity.
You know, our mutual friend cameto IUE, shook my hand on his
birthday, brung me a book andsaid hey, I want to give you
this.
I've been following you, youknow, throughout all the last
couple of years.
I'm like what, I don't evenknow you, but he, you know, he
(46:30):
gave me the opportunity and Itook that opportunity and ran
with it and here I am being ableto share my story.
So there's.
So there's God's in theblessing business.
I always that's the best way Ican put it.
God's in the blessing business.
I always that's the best way Ican put it.
God's in the blessing business.
Speaker 2 (46:38):
For sure, tell us those manifestations again,
those three manifestations thatyou wrote down.
Speaker 4 (46:43):
So I wrote down a whole bunch of them.
But I am worthy, I am great, Iam blessed, I deserve to be here
.
I think there was like 10 ofthem that I would write, but I
would alternate, but I stillhave that journey journal to
(47:05):
this day.
Um, so when I, when I thinkabout how far I've come, I
reflect back on that journalwith my 10th grade writing in it
, you know, and to see that, hey, you're a sophomore, you was a
sophomore who was going througha burnout.
You know you were ready tograduate.
You didn't know what, quitewhat you wanted to do.
But going into my junior yearof college, I'm like, thank God
you didn't give up, thank Godyou did not throw in the towel
and you kept going and you keptpushing, no matter what it looks
(47:27):
like, you kept going.
And so to my younger self,thank you for never giving up.
And to my older self, I hopeyou never give up and I hope you
keep pushing, no matter what itlooks like.
And bring that folding chair 20years old.
Speaker 2 (47:43):
20 years old.
True leadership Isn't about age.
It's about the courage to standfirm in your values, the grit
to keep going when it's toughand the vision to make tomorrow
better than today.
Amen, that's you, brother.
Speaker 4 (47:57):
Thank you so much, I so appreciate this.
Speaker 2 (47:59):
I can't thank you enough for coming on here.
I can't thank Brian Ballingerenough, our mutual friend, the
one that gave you that book onhis birthday.
He's the one that told me aboutyou.
So thank you, brian.
I know you're listening and weappreciate you making this
connection.
Speaker 4 (48:16):
Absolutely.
Thank you, brian, yeah.
Speaker 2 (48:18):
And you know, obviously, if you've listened to
Nathan and his story, you knowthere's big things ahead for
this young man and I'm excitedfor you, you know.
I hope our friendship can growfrom this.
Oh, you've got a friend in me.
Speaker 4 (48:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (48:36):
And you can help me, and I can help you, and, and I'm
excited to see where it goes,and, uh, excited for you and and
for those that you come incontact with.
Speaker 4 (48:44):
Well, thank you so much for having me.
I really appreciate it, yeah.
Speaker 2 (48:48):
All right, everybody be sure to share this episode.
If there's some young peopleout there high schoolers,
college age kids you need tohear Nathan's story, so be sure
to share, to comment, to likeand do all those things and go
out and be tempered.
Speaker 1 (49:02):
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This is my dad, dan.
He owns Catron's Glass.
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