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The people have spoken, but no one listens.

Citizens of the United States have a variety of thoughts and feelings regarding the midterm elections that just took place, but an exit poll question was shared on several news networks last week that no one seems to want to keep talking about.

Over SEVENTY PERCENT of voters said that their preference is to have NEITHER Biden or Trump as candidates in the 2024 election. That percentage implies a substantial development from both major groups – of course parties can be dissatisfied with certain candidates, but this matchup in 2020 was one of the most polarizing of our time. We have a very clear majority that want to move on from this madness, and yet the media (along with those in charge) continue to shove this narrative down our throats. These men are too old, too controversial, and (I’m a broken record here) should be at home with families instead of injecting more chaos into our government.

I actively studied politics in high school, and seriously considered majoring in Poly Sci when I was deciding where to go for college. While I would never dream of subjecting my family and friends to the extreme impact of running a campaign for a higher office in this day and age, I continue to be fascinated by the lack of educating oneself that remains the usual voter’s approach to preparing for each election cycle. Endless attacks on one’s personal character/political history because of a random Tweet or commercial you saw one day does not entitle you to a superior opinion, but rather puts you in the majority of those who do less than the bare minimum to learn about candidates before formally casting a ballot.

Let’s visit the notion of the “wave” that normally favors the party not holding the Oval Office very four years. For decades, the Republicans and Democrats have assumed that by attacking the other’s President early on in their term – it is only natural that the nation will follow their lead and empower them in the other government branches to seek a true balance of power. However, 2022 is showing a buck in that trend because of two primary factors: first, the candidates selected from both sides were not exactly what the public wanted to replace incumbents (cue celebrity TV doctors, and others who seem to think democracy is something to be taken from someone else) – and secondly, the MOST influential factor, is that the nation does NOT like the idea of a candidate needing to be “backed” by Trump as a means for getting elected into office over someone else.

We can go back and forth on this all day, as most of you know that I voted third-party in 2020 since my conscience would not allow me to cast a vote for either of these senile men to hold one of the most important positions in the world (and furthermore, I did the same thing in 2022 when it came to replacing our soon-to-be-vacant Senator spot in NC based on the options we were presented with). You can do your best to tell me my vote is “wasted” in this system, but the independents taking office (or forcing run-offs due to percentages not being reached) are implying quite the opposite. If more of you were willing to act on how you feel, the candidates being vetted and polled would be of higher quality and a better reflection of the platform you claim to represent… or you may finally see the light and put some effort into creating a healthier alternative.

Our nation may indeed be approaching its 250th birthday, but when it comes to the discussions had on nearly every platform – you would think that the US is struggling with puberty in its teenage years with acne popping up every other day no matter what kind of facial scrub we use. I hope that the surprising outcomes (I’m defining “surprising” by noting how many races went against polling data) challenge everyone to not merely call the election process into question – the fact that it takes us weeks to count votes amid lawsuits from both sides is just downright depressing – but to take time from scrolling through Reels and TikToks to dig more into what makes someone an ideal candidate to you personally. You might be surprised as to what you find, and I’ll be over here with a cigar to talk about it all when you do.

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The World of Podcasts

Since several of you are constantly asking when you get in my car “what the heck is this” I’m listening to… let’s dive in.

I LOVE podcasts. Whether the commute is short or long, you get the opportunity to listen in to someone else’s take or conversation on a topic you may know nothing about – or on the contrary, get to hear a differing opinion than your own and have the necessary alone time to process and reflect on it.

For those looking for recommendations, I will break them down into a few categories and provide links below. As our world continues to transition to more digital content, I highly encourage you to consider this option in lieu of certain video platforms – or even to make the most of your walk/run instead of music to shake things up.

Faith-Based: This is easily the area I spend most of my listening, as it is of paramount importance to me that I stay in tune with the vulnerable and honest voices that dive deep into issues that concern us all.

1 – Catching Foxes. There can’t be enough said about Luke and Gomer, as their witty banter is the sort that everyone (religious or not) can listen in to and appreciate immensely. The brutal honesty, which often comes with emotional meltdowns as life throws crap at us on the daily, is a refreshing change of pace to listen to in the madness of this world. I often find myself laughing at the start of an episode, and sobbing 20 minutes later… and laughing again by the end, because these guys take you on an incredible roller coaster.

2 – The Gloria Purvis Podcast. This incredible woman has been put through a myriad of challenges as this side of media has played catch up with the rest of the world, and continues to hold her head high and tackle the toughest of topics that most would rather leave alone. The subject matter is often intense (in comparison to what others are willing to converse about), and it is so desperately needed in today’s society – because she does it from a place of pure love for all, no matter what.

3 – Saint Dymphna’s Playbook. As one who believes mental health continues to be widely ignored in our society (or rather, our society makes false claims about addressing the issue), Tommy Tighe has graciously taken the time to develop a fantastic set of episodes on the subject. Not only will he dive deep into topics that others are afraid to speak up on, but he does it in a manner that is prayerful – and I often find myself incorporating these quick bits into my daily prayer life as a way to keep the intention of mental health at the forefront of my prayers.

Humor: Because there are times when I simply need to take a break from the seriousness and let loose.

1 – Correct Opinions w/ Trey Kennedy. There is no denying that this personality has captured the hearts of many who spend too much time on social media, and he takes it a step further by exploring hysterical categories like crazy white baby names (that drive us ALL insane).

2 – AJ Presents The GR8R Good. An old college friend continues to stir the pot with Abbey alumni and on demand listeners alike by stating the pure and simple truths that we may or may not want to hear. Though I may not always agree with his statements, he did do the Lord’s work in convincing me to watch HIMYM and understand just how glorious of a television series it really was.

3 – Riled Up w/ Arielle + Matt. This darling couple takes time out of their insanely busy celebrity lifestyle (sarcasm, sort of) to tell us what really gets them fired up, and I am constantly here for it. Often poking fun at each other and their hysterical relationship, it is a breath of fresh air for many who need to simply let off some steam when it comes to an odd argument or situation encountered during the day – because these two have the willingness to go down that rabbit hole with you of verbally taking a bat to that person’s car.

Motivational / Miscellaneous: Because my interests are all over the place, and it can be hard for you to keep up.

1 – New Mindset, Who Dis?. Case Kenny was someone I stumbled across when I needed this form of inspiration the most – quick bits to get your day/week started with the right frame of mind, no matter what part of life may be bothering you at that moment. Once you get hooked on this guy, you’ll find yourself buying his journals and rocking out to his Motivational Mixtapes – and becoming a 1000% better person as a result.

2 – The Catholic Guy Show. For those who can’t listen to Lino real-time on Sirius XM, this is the next best thing. This option ends up in this category – because if you take the time to listen, you’ll realize that this crazy collection of misfits (even with the show name) doesn’t belong in any assigned category. Though Lino and Mark will often berate Tyler over his refusal to give in and convert already, the faith aspect of the topics they cover can often blend into the background as they celebrate being human… and often, the errors/mishaps that come with that blessing as a result.

3 – Everyday Liminality. I know, it is a couple of guys who wear “weird robes” and all… but no, this one still doesn’t go into the Faith-Based category either. These Franciscan brothers do an incredible job diving into the world of entertainment and really doing justice to the work that creators/writers put in to making these shows and movies what they really are. The titles can often really snag your interest too – “Field of Dreams: The Notebook For Guys” speaks to me on quite a personal level, and I feel obligated to share another favorite with you all.

Honorable Mentions: (may or may not be ones that I have appeared on in the past)

1 – Cut. Light. Connect. (yes, this is our own vlog which is different… but alas, I’m biased)

2 – NC F&B Podcast

3 – Music and Booze with Mo

If you enjoy what you find in the black hole of podcasting, please consider subscribing and supporting these cool cats and kittens in any way you can. I find myself often subscribing to Patreons and finding their live shows in hopes of connecting with fellow listeners and creating a more positive environment around us all. Who knows… if you play your cards right, you may end up convincing me to start up my own.

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Positivity in a toxic climate.

Joe, I’m sorry that everyone is treating you this way. You have lived a wonderful life, filled with blessings and tragedies, and deserve to be somewhere peaceful making the most of what time you have left on this earth with your closest family and friends. Your resolve to make the United States a better place is admirable (whether we agree on any of the ways you plan on accomplishing that or not) and should continue to be commended. It really does bother me that so many in our society resort to hurling insults about your family and the personal obstacles you’ve faced instead of spending more time learning about the vision you have for our country.

Donald, I’m sorry that you’re in this mess too. You seem intent on staying as active as you can, and involving a ton of your family in the process – while I’m sure many of them love and support you, it must take such a toll mentally and physically. As it is with every disaster society faces every few years, you didn’t ask for the opportunity to lead a country through a pandemic – any of us would age 10 years in the span of a single year when trying to do what you have been tasked with. While your demeanor may not resonate well with many in this country, there is something to be said about the strength you showcase in many areas of life as you try to find ways for our country to rebound from the disaster of COVID-19.

Jo, Howie, Brian, Brock, Gloria, Don, and even Kanye… I am SO so sorry that our country can not mature enough to handle dialogue between more than two parties. You have gone above and beyond to get your names to appear on ballots throughout the country, even with so many people putting you down and trying to convince you that the attempt is futile. While many of you embrace platforms that could be considered too radical for much of the country to embrace right now, you are to be commended for sticking your neck out and taking criticism from all sides to try and do the right thing. I sleep better at night knowing there are people like you out there taking it on the chin while climbing uphill in the battle to bring dignity and fairness back to our election process.

You see, it is incredibly easy to get along with people (and even possibly pay them a compliment) yet still disagree with much of their platform and values. While I may share a meme or two that poke fun at some candidates, I also reason with my conscience on a regular basis and get down on my knees to pray for all those running for office as much as I can remember to. By stark contrast, the amount of funds being spent on mailers, spam messages, and commercials spewing catchphrases and slander by Republicans and Democrats is downright horrific, and should motivate all of us to be better.

What does that look like though? For some, it will mean taking the couple weeks of voting to volunteer at local polling centers to help the senior citizens who have done so for decades and have already done their part. For others, it will take a very honest and open conversation with their loved ones about the consequences of trying to run for local office because they feel that it is their calling. Though it has always been looked upon as an honor to serve, the conversations and culture surrounding holding office in 2020 is so toxic that it is scaring away many people (like myself) from considering such a run.

For most of us, being better implies that we need to be more thoughtful about the content we put out for the world to see – be it on our Facebook, Twitter, or front lawn. While it becomes quite comical at times to fall into the black hole that Reddit threads and photoshopped candidate memes can be… we as citizens of this great nation have an incredible chance to show the world that the federal election outcome this year will not reflect what we as a country want as our future – and it will start with our careful selection at the city, county, and state levels. Do just as much research about the neighbors running for city council, and have a conversation with them if you get the opportunity. Each small step will propel us further to a political climate that will make us believe it once again when we sing that we “are proud to be an American”.

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Be that person.

The one who opens the door for a stranger.

The one who helps the elderly cross an intersection.

The one who stays late at work to help a coworker with a tough time.

The one who calls a friend at any hour of the day just to chat.

The one who offers to grocery shop for someone who has health issues.

The one who buys food for the woman on the corner in need of a hot meal.

The one who takes their friend to the train nowhere near your destination.

The one who demonstrates patience in an argument someone else heats up.

The one to give the jacket off your shoulders to someone you’ve never met.

Whatever the circumstance may be – don’t hesitate to be the person with the determined mindset, the heart of gold, and the desire to help. This world could become better overnight with just a little push from each of us every day.