Don't Assume Podcast

15/01/2022

The Don't Assume Podcast has posted its final episode! Episode 53 - Psychedelics turned out to be the last recording of the show. After taking a bit of a hiatus over the holidays, I've decided I need to chase other adventures and responsibilities. THANK YOU to any and all who have spent any time listening to the show. I learned so much and am grateful to all of my collaborators, guests, co-hosts, listeners, and supporters. This project was transformational for me. So although I won't be posting episodes, I'm still going to do my best to get to know people as people and not base my judgements on stereotypical assumptions that exist. You can still reach me on these social platforms if you so desire. THANK YOU for a wonderful ride!

19/10/2021

New episode of Don't Assume Podcast out today! Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, all of your favorite platforms.
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Episode 53 - Psychedelics

I’ve been surprised by the number of people I know who have used or are currently using psychedelics in some form or another. Some people I know used them recreationally in their youth, but I know of multiple people who have used them as adults for therapeutic purposes. I also keep hearing about celebrities and people of influence who have used them in recent months. Famous comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan has been a major influence in that category, for sure, but the people I personally know aren’t following him. The resurgence in interest in psychedelics appears to be growing at a significant pace across the board.

Angela Allan is an associate marriage and family therapist with Sage Institute in the Bay Area of California. She and her counterparts at Sage Institute use the psychedelic effects of ketamine in their therapy to help patients address needs that are difficult to address. She said that treatment-resistant depression is one of the primary issues that can be treated by ketamine, but the benefits of psychedelics in treatment have yet to be fully realized. I just started my therapy journey, so I’m not sure psychedelics are right for me (or that I’m right for psychedelics). But I think it’s fascinating and hope you’ll find this conversation interesting as well!

I’ve been surprised by the number of people I know who have used or are currently using psychedelics in some form or another. Some people I know used them recreationally in their youth, but I know of multiple people who have used them as adults fo...

14/10/2021

What assumptions do you have about psychedelics? I'll be interviewing a researcher/therapist who specializes in the field for the next episode!

12/10/2021

New episode of Don't Assume Podcast featuring the one and only Carson Niederhauser! It's available wherever you listen to podcasts!
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I saw the movie Backdraft as a kid, and it scarred me for life. I was a pretty emotional and frankly scared boy, and it has taken a lot of years of swallowing my emotions and putting on a mean face to convince myself I’m not still that tender and frightened little ginger. But I knew then just as clearly as I know now that I am not cut out for such harrowing work. I am not an adrenaline j***y, I do not like blood or guts, and I’m certain the firesuit would spark my claustrophobia. Oh, and I have no desire to run into a burning building.

What I am, though, is incredibly grateful for people who are willing and able to be those everyday heroes. My friend Carson Niederhauser is one of those people. He gets excited about intubating people, wrapping mangled limbs, and putting his life on the line to put out fires. I had no idea that the competition to land firefighting jobs was as intense as it is, nor did I expect to be as moved in this conversation as I was. Firefighters deal with intense situations fueled by massive adrenaline dumps, and then they have to process those events when they quietly go home to their families. In reality, some don’t get the chance to do so.

Take a listen, thank a firefighter, and let us know what you think of Carson’s story!

I saw the movie Backdraft as a kid, and it scarred me for life. I was a pretty emotional and frankly scared boy, and it has taken a lot of years of swallowing my emotions and putting on a mean face to convince myself I’m not still that tender and ...

07/10/2021

I'm excited about the next episode of Don't Assume Podcast! What assumptions do you have about FIREFIGHTERS that you want us to tackle?

05/10/2021

New episode of Don't Assume Podcast perfect for kicking off the Halloween season is out today!
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I believe there is purpose to this life and that something awaits us after death. My personal religious dogma gives me some insight into what that may be, but even then the details are fuzzy. There have been a few times in my life where I believe I may have felt a deceased loved one near, but I’ve never seen a ghost, personally. I’ve known a few people who say they have, though. I’m a skeptic when it comes to the traditional portrayals of spooky spirits unable to move on to whatever comes next or anxious to keep the living out of the space they occupied while in their mortal forms. But do ghosts exist in some form in some places? I don’t know... maybe.

My friend Davin Abegg and I used to spook ourselves out all the time as kids. We took a lot of late-night walks around dark streets and fantasized about what might be lurking in the shadows. We watched scary movies and let our imaginations run wild. He said he does believe in ghosts and suggested this topic to kick off October, so I had to bring him in to talk about it.

Thankfully we found the perfect guests. Brandon Schexnayder and Alicia King run the podcast Ghost Tour wherein they interview historians from around the country who give tours of places purported to be haunted. Alicia is a historian herself who provides a ghost tour in Franklin, Tenn., and both are committed to telling factually accurate stories that respect the living who come on the tour and the deceased who may still be near. Check out their podcast and Brandon’s other show, Southern Gothic, (also at on instagram) for some of the best storytelling you’ll hear!

I believe there is purpose to this life and that something awaits us after death. My personal religious dogma gives me some insight into what that may be, but even then the details are fuzzy. There have been a few times in my life where I believe ...

29/09/2021

New episode of Don't Assume Podcast with Dan Truman of the Grammy award winning band Diamond Rio!
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FIFTY EPISODES! What?!? For such a momentous occasion I had to have an awesome topic with maybe the coolest guest we’ve had yet. I love music, though I am not musically inclined. I played the trumpet in fifth grade for a bit, but dropped it when I got braces and had to choose between band and Spanish in junior high. But thankfully I’ve been able to make a few friends over the years who are musically inclined, and I’ve been able to peek behind the curtain of the music industry just a bit.

Dan Truman is one of those friends who has shared some of his industry insight and experiences with me. You may know Dan and/or his work from his 14-time Grammy nominated band Diamond Rio or his faith-based band Nashville Tribute Band or the various TV shows he’s written for or his solo work or or or or…. In this episode he talks about playing in front of international audiences and using a dryer in a garage to heat his band practice before they made it big. He speaks openly about record deals, rules for the tour bus, “selling out,” rubbing shoulders with megastars, and some of the best musicians you’ve never heard of. Don’t forget to like and subscribe and follow to stay up to date on the next 50 episodes!

FIFTY EPISODES! What?!? For such a momentous occasion I had to have an awesome topic with maybe the coolest guest we’ve had yet. I love music, though I am not musically inclined. I played the trumpet in fifth grade for a bit, but dropped it when I...

21/09/2021

New episode of Don't Assume Podcast is out today! This link will help you find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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This week’s topic is quintessential Don’t Assume territory because EVERYONE has an opinion about our subject, and practically no one I talked to in preparation for the episode had an opinion that was positive. We’re talking about salespeople. The pushy, manipulative, money-hungry, arrogant “sweet bros” who are always looking for the easy mark. That’s at least the picture that most of the people I talked to had in their minds when sharing with me their assumptions about “those people” (in all reality their actual friends and neighbors) that we encounter basically every day.

Bjorn Trejo has spent 20 years in the trade in both B2C and B2B sales, and he’s seen it all. He gets where the stereotypes come from, and he’s doing what he can to teach his sales teams that the relationship is more important than the product. No, really, it’s not just about closing the deal for Bjorn. To be successful, a salesperson needs thick skin. Bjorn showed his off by taking all of the assumptions we have about his industry head on and even making a case for all of us to be a little kinder to the next salesperson we encounter. Wait, was he just buttering me up?! Ack! Maybe I’M the mark! Check out this episode and let me know just how much trouble I’m in!

This week’s topic is quintessential Don’t Assume territory because EVERYONE has an opinion about our subject, and practically no one I talked to in preparation for the episode had an opinion that was positive. We’re talking about salespeople. The ...

20/09/2021

What assumptions do you have about professional musicians for an upcoming episode of Don't Assume Podcast?

17/09/2021

What assumptions do you have about salespeople for an upcoming episode of The Don't Assume Podcast?

16/09/2021

What assumptions do you have about ghost stories for an upcoming Halloween themed episode of the Don't Assume Podcast? Why are we fascinated by them? Are ghosts real? What kind of people get into ghost stories, or have YOU seen any ghosts?

14/09/2021

New episode with guest expert Alisia Abegg Essig is live today! If you want to sign up for one of her PlantWhys courses, do it now to get 20% off! A new 6-week course starts tomorrow!
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Episode 48 - Plant-based Diets

So I started my Year of Health this week. At the time of this recording I’m three days in, and I’ve already failed. Okay, failure is relative, but I haven’t yet done perfectly what I set out to do. Specifically I haven’t started my meditation yet, but I’m going to do it today! I also haven’t switched to the high intensity interval training workouts yet, but I’m starting that tomorrow! I have exercised, and I have done well on the diet side of things. At least dieting according to what I committed to do. I haven’t had any refined flour or sugar, it’s been all fresh fruits and vegetables… and meat.

Ali Essig, a certified plant-based nutritionist and this week’s guest, would say I still have some work to do if I truly want to be healthy. I told her that plant-based eaters had a reputation and that meat is delicious and that eating a plant-based diet is expensive and that vegan “cheeseburgers” are not cheeseburgers. I made the case for omnivores, and she made some compelling points as well. Is it really that expensive? Is it hard to get the nutrients one needs while eating only plants? Do I have to stop cold turkey, and will there never be joy in my life again if I switch? Ali answers all of those questions and more in this episode, but if you want to learn more check what she’s doing (AND GET 20% OFF HER PROGRAMS!) visit www.plantwhys.com/programs.

So I started my Year of Health this week. At the time of this recording I’m three days in, and I’ve already failed. Okay, failure is relative, but I haven’t yet done perfectly what I set out to do. Specifically I haven’t started my meditation yet,...

09/09/2021

What do you assume about plant-based diets and those who follow them for the next Don't Assume Podcast?

31/08/2021

New episode alert! Click the link to find your favorite podcast platform!
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When I was in college and people would tell me they were interested in going to dental school, I never really understood it. I mean, they had to take a bunch of chemistry and biology classes just to be considered for dental school where they would go and take more chemistry and biology classes. Taking the DAT, the dental school admittance test, seemed so incredibly daunting for a guy skating by on his way with words. But dentistry was a solid career choice with stability and very good income. At least that was my assumption, a conclusion I came to based on several other assumptions and no real practical knowledge.

But thankfully there are people with real practical knowledge, on whom I can rely for my oral health. I assume dentistry would be a kind of boring and gross job, but I’m really grateful people like Dr. Tyler Rallison do it. I’m a new patient of Dr. Rallison, and he’s the first dentist I’ve seen in my whole life who actually did my teeth cleaning. I genuinely didn’t even know that dentists knew how to do that. I thought they were trained in other things because the hygienist does that. He did a great job on my teeth, and a great job on this episode letting us all in on the life of a dentist. Do they really make great money? What do they say about your grimy mouth when you’re not there? How does insurance affect your oral care, and are dentists real doctors? Tune in to find out that and so much more!

When I was in college and people would tell me they were interested in going to dental school, I never really understood it. I mean, they had to take a bunch of chemistry and biology classes just to be considered for dental school where they would...

26/08/2021

What assumptions do you have about dentists?

24/08/2021

New episode of Don't Assume Podcast is out today!

The housing market where I live is bananas right now. There’s a severe home shortage, and experts are not projecting for it to get any better any time soon. It means great things for our home equity, not great things for property taxes. And I have wondered what this crazy market has meant for home flippers. I imagined it was difficult to even get homes to flip, and with all of the TV shows on flipping properties the market has to be super crowded… right? But there is some allure to the risk and adventure involved. I’ve always been excited by entrepreneurial endeavors, although too scared to chase most of the thoughts I’ve had.

But Caleb and Becky Rigby weren’t. At least Caleb wasn’t when he cashed in his 401k to buy his first flip before he even told Becky. They tell that story in this episode and give a good view into the life and effort involved in flipping houses. They’re still married, perhaps surprisingly, after that first deal and the more than 60 that have come in the roughly six years since then. They make a good team, and are open books when it comes to talking about the ups and downs they’ve had. Check out this very fun episode, then go see what Rigby Home Buyers are up to to learn more!

The housing market where I live is bananas right now. There’s a severe home shortage, and experts are not projecting for it to get any better any time soon. It means great things for our home equity, not great things for property taxes. And I have...

19/08/2021

What assumptions do you have about flipping houses?

18/08/2021

New episode of Don't Assume Podcast is out!

What do you think goes on inside an airplane’s cockpit when you’re 30,000 feet in the air? When I’m actually flying I rarely if ever think about that, and I think that’s a good thing. I feel pretty safe up there, especially now that most airlines have pretty decent in-flight entertainment to distract passengers. But when I do stop to think about it, I picture the plane doing most of the work and the pilots shooting the breeze (although I really hope there are no literal shots or breezes up there). Or maybe they’re napping, or playing cards. Or maybe they’re studying. Haha, of course they’re not studying… right?

Well, my friend Gregg says he is. Gregg (last name withheld) flies for a well-known airline (also withheld because Gregg is not an official spokesperson for said airline), and he said he studies while the plane is in the air. And he’s not alone in that, he says, because pilots have jobs to do and the vast majority take those jobs seriously. [Phew, right?]. Gregg and I talked about the pilot life, the ups and downs - pun intended - and the good and the not as good about life on the road. If you’ve ever imagined the life of a pilot to be a glamorous jaunt around the globe like I have, this conversation with Gregg will help you sort out the truth from the myth and maybe, just maybe, inspire you to give it a go.



https://www.buzzsprout.com/1413535/9040842

What do you think goes on inside an airplane’s cockpit when you’re 30,000 feet in the air? When I’m actually flying I rarely if ever think about that, and I think that’s a good thing. I feel pretty safe up there, especially now that most airlines ...

10/08/2021

New episode out now!

Thankfully I’ve never needed a personal injury lawyer. I’ve known several people who have needed the services provided by one, and I recognize that need may arise at any time for any of us. And while I’ve never needed to call one, I can tell you the slogans of the top firms in my area because they advertise like crazy. I think that advertising plays a part in the general stigma that follows PI lawyers. They have a reputation of being “bottom dwelling” lawyers who prey on the weak and injured. They’re called “ambulance chasers” among other unsavory names, and yet their job is to help people get the help they need and are legally owed. Shouldn’t they actually be seen as the good guys?

This week’s co-host, my good friend Chip Horman, had the same question for guest expert and personal injury lawyer Paul Hoybjerg. Paul represents individuals who have been injured in car/motorcycle/truck accidents, as well as victims of sexual abuse in Utah, Idaho & California. He has obtained multiple seven figure settlements for his clients, been the lead attorney on high-profile cases, and has appeared on NBC and Fox News. He was named a Rising Star by SuperLawyers and has been published in multiple states. Paul represents his profession extremely well through his evident passion for advocating for those who have been hurt by someone else.

Will Paul’s appearance change or fortify your opinion of PI lawyers? Either way you can contact him at (916) 633-3671, [email protected] or visit his website, hoybjerglaw.com for any needs that you may have.

Thankfully I’ve never needed a personal injury lawyer. I’ve known several people who have needed the services provided by one, and I recognize that need may arise at any time for any of us. And while I’ve never needed to call one, I can tell you t...

08/08/2021

What assumptions do you have about airline pilots?

04/08/2021

What assumptions do you have about personal injury lawyers for the next episode of Don't Assume Podcast?

03/08/2021

New episode available now on all the podcast platforms you know and love!

Listen, I know we all have Covid fatigue. You just want to listen to something fun and interesting. Well, so do I. And it’s not every day that I get a chance to talk to an actual epidemiologist about the things I’ve heard and questions I have. Like how worried should we be about the Delta variant? Is this new MRNA technology really safe? How is the rest of the world handling this, and did this virus come from bats or a lab?

John Hustedt is not a TV pundit, but he is an epidemiologist based in Cambodia. We first met him in the first Covid episode we recorded before there was a vaccine and right after I was released from quarantine. He was gracious enough to come back for Round 2 of the conversation and was joined by his long-time friend and now three-time co-host, Sean Smith. You’ll even get to hear how Covid is bringing John back to the States after several years abroad.

Read some of his work here!

Listen, I know we all have Covid fatigue. You just want to listen to something fun and interesting. Well, so do I. And it’s not every day that I get a chance to talk to an actual epidemiologist about the things I’ve heard and questions I have. Lik...

27/07/2021

New episode alert!

Episode 41 - Diabetes

I’m pretty sure I had full blown diabetes some years back. I would get the shakes when I didn’t eat frequently enough, and had these weird dips I would fall into. I saw a doctor about it, and he said I was not diabetic. I came to find out later that while he did test my blood sugar on the day (which was in the normal range), he did not actually test my A1C. A person’s A1C number is the true indicator of diabetes. Regardless of my diagnosis at the time, I started eating a little better and exercising regularly. I dropped a few pounds and was feeling pretty good. I saw a doctor again a few years later and he told me I was right on the border of having diabetes and being pre-diabetic. Neither of those things are good, but I had probably already lowered my A1C a bit by that point. I went militant on my diet, lost a bunch of weight, and got out of the danger zone.

The same was not true of my friend Jenny Cash’s best friend. This young man received his diabetes diagnosis as an adolescent, was in top physical shape other than that, and passed away as a freshman in college from a diabetic coma. Jenny was gracious enough to co-host this episode as we talked to Matt Dinger, an advocate for diabetes care and a patient with type 1 diabetes himself. We learned about finger pricks, insulin pumps, daily manageability, and the increasing difficulty of paying for treatment. Diabetes is an illness that is on the rise, and one that is not readily visible. We hope you’ll learn a little something from our conversation, and check out T1International to learn even more!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1413535/8913493

I’m pretty sure I had full blown diabetes some years back. I would get the shakes when I didn’t eat frequently enough, and had these weird dips I would fall into. I saw a doctor about it, and he said I was not diabetic. I came to find out later th...

20/07/2021

New episode out now!

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live with a disability? Have you thought about what it would be like to be cognitively impaired? Or blind, deaf, or paralyzed? Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live with a disability that is a very real part of your life, but is difficult to detect by others? Well, to be honest, the thought had crossed my mind, but I’d never really taken time to think about it. I tried to be sensitive to people I met, but it frankly was not something I had thought a ton about.

I don’t know if my friend Scott Bell thought about it much while he was a nationally ranked Division I hurdler on a scholarship in college. I don’t know if he thought about it much the day before his accident at a reservoir that left him with the tough decision about whether or not to amputate his lower leg. I do know he’s thought about it a lot since as a member of the disabled community and as an employment counselor for other persons with disabilities. He was gracious enough to join our show to talk about his experience and those of the people with whom he works.

Dr. Gwendolyn Dolske of the Good Is in the Details podcast joined the episode as co-host this week after previously appearing as the guest expert on the college professors episode. Her experience as a professor at times serving people with disabilities brought great insight to the show.

We hope this episode will help you think about what it would be like to walk a mile in someone else’s prosthetic foot!

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live with a disability? Have you thought about what it would be like to be cognitively impaired? Or blind, deaf, or paralyzed? Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live with a di...

15/07/2021

This was a personal episode for me. I love being a dad. There are a few things I think I’m doing pretty well in that arena. Honestly, there are many more that I’m afraid I’m totally botching. My mom and siblings moved mountains to give me a great life and provide strong examples of healthy behavior to me as I grew up. I also had some examples of what not to do, but I don’t think I’m unique in that at all. But as a dad of four trying to raise productive members of society, I figured my own podcast would be a great place to air my insecurities to the world.

Owen, Lila, Liv, and Walter Kimball are the guests in this episode. They’re my kids, and I’m very proud of how they were able to articulate their thoughts. I think this conversation will be significantly different in five years, and then even more different five years after that. But right now, between the ages of 5-10, these four kids opened my eyes to some things about my parenting of which I was not aware. I think they made me feel a little better about some things, and corroborated my belief that I have significant work to do. This episode was not necessarily designed to provide insights into the given topic like most other episodes, rather some ideas on how to garner your own insights in your relationships with your kids and even your parents. I highly recommend the exercise, and hope to hear how it goes in your families.

This was a personal episode for me. I love being a dad. There are a few things I think I’m doing pretty well in that arena. Honestly, there are many more that I’m afraid I’m totally botching. My mom and siblings moved mountains to give me a great ...

12/07/2021

What assumptions do you have about living with a disability?

12/07/2021

Check out Dave's appearance on the What's Our Verdict show!

09/07/2021

What do you think your kids assume about you?

06/07/2021

New episode is live today!

I’ve worked a lot of jobs, most of which did not require a college degree (or even a high school degree, for that matter). I worked on a cement crew, renovated the interiors of elevators, wore a cummerbund to RENT VHS tapes to people who DROVE to the STORE to pick them, sold newspapers, and worked the receiving side of a warehouse. And then I graduated high school. I spent that summer cleaning and inspecting sewer lines, and made an obscene amount of money for an 18-year-old kid. I then spent a bunch of that money to serve two years as a missionary, and went to college after that. Another slew of random jobs followed, and I didn’t make as much money per hour in any job as I did cleaning sewers for quite a few years. Even with a Master’s degree that promised professional success, it took years to top what I was making that summer.

My old friend Nate Denny now runs that sewer cleaning and inspection business and lives a happy and comfortable life. He suggested the topic for this episode because he wanted to dispel some of the assumptions and stigma regarding careers that don’t require university schooling. Spoiler alert: Nate makes a darn good case for rethinking how we talk about careers with our kids. Another old friend, JJ Crowder (check him out on the What's Our Verdict podcast), has spent 20 years in the corporate world without a formal degree himself, and is thriving. We three covered a little bit of philosophy, training, ambition, stigma, and dirt to get to the bottom of the assumptions we all make about what truly leads to a fulfilling and “successful” career.



https://www.buzzsprout.com/1413535/8784849

I’ve worked a lot of jobs, most of which did not require a college degree (or even a high school degree, for that matter). I worked on a cement crew, renovated the interiors of elevators, wore a cumberbund to RENT VHS tapes to people who DROVE to ...

29/06/2021

I used to think I might want to be a high school teacher. There’s something about shaping young minds, staying hip to the latest trends (like not saying “hip to…”), and having the summers off, etc. But as I got older, I realized how much harder it must be than that. There’s drama. There are punk smart alecs who think they know everything (that was me… maybe still is). There is maximum effort for seemingly little thanks or reward. But what do I know? Is it really that bad, or really that great?

Nicole Cox has been teaching high school in Virginia for 15 years, the last six in an “alternative” high school. She didn’t begin her career as a teacher, but ended up there because of her passion for it. She spent two years as a high school student in Utah as one of my classmates, the only person to score higher than me on a 10-page paper in Lark Woodbury’s American History class. But it’s not like I remember it like it was a big deal or anything. My old friend and former roommate Andrew Reeves attended high school in Colorado as a self-described “late bloomer.” He eventually came into his own, and the two of us pressed Nicole on all of our assumptions about picking favorites, grading into the wee hours, and relaxing all summer long.