Sunday, March 22 through Saturday, March  28, 2015

 

Sunday, March 22 (Launching podcast)

Today I worked in preparation of launching the Earning Freedom podcast! Now that I’ve made modifications to the MichaelSantos.com website so that it will be ready to accomodate podcasts, I am determined to launch. I’m now scheduling interviews that will allow me to publish a new podcast every day. The purpose is simple. I want to show others that with a deliberate course of action, anyone can lead a life of relevance and meaning. I’ll record podcasts to inspire people. Through this effort, it’s my hope that others will see that regardless of what challenges or external conditions exist, with incremental steps, we all can move closer to more fulfilling lives.

 

Monday, March 23 (Shannon Swain, CDCR)

Today I had a conversation with Shannon Swain, a leader within California’s Department of Corrections. I’m striving to introduce the Earning Freedom podcast to every prison across the nation. This podcast will allow me to show people who live in challenging circumstances that if they pursue a deliberate path, they can overcome the negativity of their environment. I’ll convey this message by sharing strategies that empowered me through each of the 9,500 days that I served. Also, I will introduce leaders in society who tell me their stories. Those interviews, I anticipate that I’ll be able to demonstrate the validity of programs that I teach. People who live in challenging situations may find inspiration to begin working toward a better life if they hear from a man who emerged from prison successfully as well from leaders they respect. Ms. Swain that the CDCR anticipates introducing the Earning Freedom podcast to all prisons within the next 100 days.

 

Tuesday, March 24 (Mani Dabiri)

I interviewed Mani Dabiri today. Mani is a local defense attorney from Orange County. Prior to working as a defense attorney, Many served as a federal prosecuting attorney. I reached out to Mani through social media and I was pleased when he agreed to participate in the show. We’ve built a friendship. Through our interview, I could show others that if a former long-term prisoner could connect with a former prosecuting attorney, they too could build relationships that would lead to a better, more fulfilling life.

 

Wednesday, March 25 (Ken Denman and Lew Cirne)

I’m very grateful to Ken Denman, CEO to publicly traded companies and to startups, for agreeing to participate in the Earning Freedom podcast. I reached out to Ken through social media, explaining that through the Earning Freedom podcast I was striving to inspire people who lived without hope to build better lives. He graciously gave of his time. Through our conversation, I was able to show those who listen to the Earning Freedom podcast that we all can learn from successful people. Ken spoke about people who influenced him and he offered brilliant insight on strategies that can lead an individual to higher levels of performance.

 

Following my interview with Ken Denman, I enjoyed my initial conversation with Lew Cirne. Lew was the founder of Wiley computers. He started the company with a nominal amount, but eight years later Lew sold that company for $375 million to Computer Associates. Brilliant. Then he began New Relic, a company currently listed on the NYSE with a market valuation of $1.6 billion. Lew agreed to allow me to interview him for the Earning Freedom podcast, and I’ll do so when I meet him in San Francisco on April 16.

 

Thursday, March 26 (Jonathan Shokrian)

Listeners of the Earning Freedom podcast got the treat of listening to Jonathan Shokrian today. Jonathan founded a company called MeUndies. Under his leadership, the young man put a team together that built the startup to north of $15 million in annual revenues in fewer than four years. He’s truly a gifted entrepreneur and I’m grateful that he took the time to share his inspiring story with listeners of the Earning Freedom podcast.

 

Earning Freedom podcast launched on iTunes today!

 

Friday, March 27 (Thad Roberts)

I interviewed Thad Roberts today. That and I formed a friendship in 2003, when we both were being transferred to the Florence Federal Prison Camp. Thad has an interesting story. While working at NASA as an astrophysicist, he made the reckless decision to steal some rocks that astronauts had retrieved from the moon. That promised his girlfriend the moon, and with the moonrocks, he delivered. Unfortunately, that bad decision resulted in Thad’s being sentenced to 100 months in prison. He told his amazing story for the Earning Freedom network.

 

Saturday, March 28 (Chris Samples)

I reached out to Chris Samples today and he agreed to participate in the Earning Freedom podcast. Awesome. I enjoyed talking with the career military man. Chris told us about his philosophy of life, which led to his launching the Journey of Success podcast. It’s a show that ranked #1 on three separate iTune categories today. I was proud to record his story for listeners of Earning Freedom.

 

 

Libsyn downloads as of 7:00 pm, Saturday March 28: 1,283

 

Miles for week: 13.73

Miles for month: 67.03

Miles run for year: 240.65

Weight: 166.5