The Alpha Quorum Show

Dive into a powerful narrative as Taco Mike Spurgin exposes the stark transition from a life riddled with self-deception to one of profound self-discovery. Mike discusses his struggle with addiction, not to substances, but to the deceptive allure of quick fixes and societal praise. He shares insights into the 'maladaptive thinking' that led to a continuous cycle of shortcuts, searching for peace in all the wrong places.Listeners will be captivated by Mike's raw and honest recount of the turning point that propelled him from the depths of despair to a place of spiritual rebirth. He offers a candid look at the moment when he faced the consequences of his actions and chose a path lined with responsibility, discipline, and unconditional love.Key Takeaways:- The dangers of seeking instant gratification and the illusion of shortcuts.- The courage required to confront personal failings and embrace change.- The role of spiritual awakening in breaking the chains of past addictions.- The transformation that comes with aligning actions to the principles of integrity and reverence.Recommended Actions:- Reflect on personal areas of avoidance and how they can be addressed.- Assess the impact of personal integrity on life choices and relationships.- Engage in self-examination to foster growth and genuine leadership.This episode is an invitation to listeners to join Taco Mike on a journey of self-examination and to consider their paths toward true distinction and authenticity. Don't miss this transformative exploration of what it means to lead a life with purpose and integrity.

His mother was a military officer who was harsh and abusive. The seeds of his addiction were planted by passing increasingly erotic, handwritten notes to a girl in high school, but he didn't have sex until college. His first sexual experience resulted in a pregnancy and the birth of his now 25-year-old son.

He used social media for sexting and had sexual relationships with 26 different women while married. His staggered disclosure took 18 months.

He is a business owner and avid golfer and now has three years of sobriety. He is practicing gratitude every morning and putting in some deep work in individual therapy, marriage counseling, and Sex Addicts Anonymous to continue rebuilding his new life where he and his wife are healthier than they have ever been.

In this profound episode of The Alpha Quorum Show, we're joined by Jimmy Durbin, MSW, LCSW, LCADC, to delve deep into the complex web of addiction, emotional pain, and self-awareness. Utilizing their expertise, Jimmy and host Brad Singletary discuss how addiction is often a symptom of a larger crisis, where emotional toxicity and shame create a vicious loop. They explore the idea that the body "keeps the score" and how the overwhelming burden of suppressed emotions can eventually lead to devastating outcomes such as job loss, divorce, and health issues.Drawing from the Red9 principles of Responsibility, Resourcefulness, and Reverence, among others, this episode goes beyond conventional discussions of addiction to examine the root causes. The conversation navigates the duality within each individual—the battle between your higher self and your baser impulses, which Jimmy describes as "Jim versus Jimmy." They discuss how men can become more attuned to their emotional states, which is essential for achieving balance and maintaining a state of homeostasis in their lives. The wisdom shared here is not just for those battling addiction but for anyone striving to master themselves and improve their relationships.

Brad sits down with a 28-year-old man who was a homeless iv heroin user. He hasnt seen or spoken with his biological mother since he was four years old. At age 12 he ran away from home and began numbing with drugs and alcohol. At 15 he was legally adopted by a woman who soon passed away.

He spent years homeless and panhandling, living in the dark flood tunnels running underground in Las Vegas. He then met Taco Mike Spurgin, who showed him love and support when he needed it most. He checked in for treatment at CrossRoads of Southern Nevada for 6 months.

He now has 18 months of sobriety, is in the healthiest relationship of his life, is working as an apprentice in a local glazier union, and helps other men find sobriety. His wisdom and maturity will astound you as you learn from a young man with an old soul who is living life with no excuses.

Today's episode is abut recovery from sexual addiction. Brad interviews James W, a man with years of sobriety from a sexual compulsion that destroyed his peace, disrupted his relationships, mental health and spiritual growth. He realized the power that comes from honesty about his fears, his habits, and his hidden shame.

Our guest describes a lengthy battle with alcoholism and the depths of pain and difficulty he found himself in through his addiction. Although he has two master's degrees and some doctoral work completed, he was once washing up in store restrooms and looking for cigarette butts in gas station ashtrays.

His spiral began in college where he struggled with organic chemistry which interrupted his academic and professional goals. After sobering up and "getting his balls back" his business soared and he began mentoring others and chairing meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. He has found success beyond what he ever thought he was worthy of while doing something he loves. Join us as we continue this series on addiction and recovery.

Today's guest, Dr. Paul Wilkes, is more than a renowned physician; he's a man who's faced the turbulence of addiction while building a luminous medical career. Born into a lineage of medical excellence, he's delivered 14,000 newborns and is a devoted father of three.

Despite his accomplishments, Dr. Wilkes grappled with alcohol and drug addiction. He'll share the hard-earned wisdom that led him to self-forgiveness and making amends. His commitment goes beyond medicine; he serves on the boards of two local foundations and donates his expertise to women's shelters.

A decorated scholar and community servant, Dr. Wilkes is not just a medical expert but a living testament to overcoming life's toughest challenges. He finds balance through writing, CrossFit, and travel. Buckle up for an "all gas, no brakes" journey with this multifaceted king, warrior, magician, and lover of life.

Brad sits down for the first time (in person) with a Las Vegas legend in the world of addiction recovery and treatment. This man helped Brad escape a relapse into alcoholism during COVID. They attended groups and spoke online and Brad now has 941 days of sobriety. Our guest this week is Dave Marlon.

We're kicking off season four, all about addiction. He just completed a doctorate degree in psychology, he also holds two master's degrees, an MBA and a Master of Counseling from UNLV. He's been the CEO of two healthcare companies, built one of the most successful addiction recovery centers in the country, and founded Vegas Stronger, a non-profit dealing with homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse recovery. He has climbed 30 mountains including Mt. Everest and Denali.

He competed in two Ironmans, He's run seven marathons, including the Boston marathon where he pushed his longtime friend with MS in a wheelchair. He's also been featured as an interventionist on A&E's Emmy-award-winning show, Intervention. He's been clean and sober for 18 years and has personally been involved in the addiction recovery process for thousands of individuals. He is a married father with two sons and enjoys fitness, traveling, and boxing.

Dave's Pages:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/davevegas123/

https://www.instagram.com/vegasstrongerofficial/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/dave.marlon.3

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncledaverocks123

VegasStronger.org

In this episode of The Alpha Quorum Show, Brad Singletary delves deep into the components that make you unconquered despite life's adversities. The opening segment kicks off with a call to acknowledge your resilience and fortitude in facing life's multifaceted challenges. Brad explores why shifts in direction are not defeats but rather strategic adaptations that showcase your ability to adapt and prevail.

Inspired by a historical account of a Native American tribe known for their unyielding endurance against overwhelming odds, the episode emphasizes how tenacity and resolve can serve as your greatest allies. Brad further discusses the importance of building a strong community, providing a sense of purpose and direction based on previous successes, and developing a resilient mindset in line with the Red9 principles. Tune in for a power-packed exploration of what it takes to remain resolute, adaptive, and ultimately, unconquered.

Brad Singletary and Andy Giddings go full send on the topic of attitude. We discuss a model that identifies how our attitude is formed, how to recognize our attitude, and how it both precedes and follows action. Andy describes the process he went through as an inmate in an Idaho State Prison where he changed some beliefs about himself, about life, and discusses some of the things he still struggles with. This highly insightful episode will give you an understanding of what impacts attitude and how to correct yourself when you have a $hi++y one.

He was born with severe hearing loss and struggled to learn because of his hearing. His father taught him that to truly pay attention, he needs to use his eyes to hear. He learned to read lips which worked out for him until he went on a church mission to Chile and had to learn Spanish as a near-deaf young adult man. His difficulties were almost unbearable, even with the best of technology at the time. Later, he graduated from college and took advantage of a book-reading program in his job where he could get paid for reading self-improvement books.

That habit has never ended and he never lets a day go by without reading and re-reading from leadership, growth, and spiritual books. He shares the many gifts that have come to him through his lifetime of faith and perseverance, including his entrepreneurial success in owning three locations of the Miracle-Ear franchise. Please join me for this inspiring and extremely uplifting conversation with Mr. Jim Williams from Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Master Trainer Jorge Velilla joins the Alpha Quorum Show and shares extremely useful information about fitness, mindset, and how to go about getting started toward a healthier lifestyle. Jorge has been managing gyms, personal trainers, and construction and renovation projects since the 1990's. He shares how the difficulty of his childhood sparked the fire that burns in him today as he shares wisdom and inspires confidence in his worldwide clientele.

Ongoing contributor Jimmy Durbin returns to headquarters to share some background info about how he moved from being a lost cause to a man of success and integrity. He describes how he identified two characters within him: Jim and Jimmy. Jim is his self-absorbed ego and the part of him that wants to destroy everyone that Jimmy loves. Jimmy is his pure and whole spiritual self where nothing is missing and he is centered on love. He teaches that thoughts are the language of the mind and emotions are the language of the body. Check out this super high-value episode out for wisdom that will bless your life no matter who or where you are.

David Scofield (Alpha Quorum 2022 Man of the Year) comes back to headquarters to report on the alpha things he's been doing this year including getting his daughter into racing and sponsoring a car show at an assisted living facility where he also started a monthly men's group for seniors. He then flips the script and interviews founder Brad Singletary about what events in his life have helped him grow up as a man. Brad discusses the reasons he puts so much time and effort into the Alpha Quorum when there is no benefit to him. We discuss rites of passage and the process of becoming a man in the modern world.

Air Force Veteran and current civilian firefighter at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, and 2023 Alpha Quorum Father of the Year winner Mitch Baxter discusses family leadership and how to be the head of household in ways that foster respect for the man and love for his family.

He discusses some of the models of masculinity he learned under including his own father, his youth leaders, and military and fire leaders. He describes the formation of his blended family and how he manages the stresses of being a stepfather to three children and the father of a new baby boy. He shares the role that his wife has had in his success as a father and tells stories that illustrate how he is learning to become a better man.

Brad Singletary continues the discussion with his nephew, Andy Giddings, who was recently released from prison on five felony convictions. He had never trained a dog before getting locked up but took advantage of his opportunity to learn and grow by being a developmental leader of a 63-man dog training program. Because he was a leader, his first dog was “Primo”, a deaf bully who would chase shadows. Andy ended up developing a very organized group of inmates who worked with dozens of dogs to rehabilitate them. What he found wasn’t just a love of dogs. He discovered himself. He discovered his own wounds. He learned about leadership and gained empathy and compassion in ways he never could before. His program was very successful and many of the men he supervised are now in college and continuing what they started in prison. Andy is also the newest member of the Alpha Quorum’s leadership team where he volunteers his time and talents as the Producer of the Alpha Quorum Show. Listen in; I promise you will gain more than expected in this highly valuable and deeply insightful discussion about how both men and dogs can heal. The keys that Andy highlights that unlock this healing are love and respect, for others and—most importantly—for self.

This dude right here has reached manhood. Boys become men after they've spent three or four decades in the boyhood desert. Paradoxically, both feeding and trying to slay the bad wolf inside him at the same time, he was recently released from prison, spending the better part of a decade locked up after a lifetime of trauma. He chose meth and heroin over everything else.

Finally, he chose prison. Finally, he chose maturity. Recently, I was going to buy him some work boots or whatever he could use, and he declined. I tried to hand him $100 bill and he declined it. He smiled and said, I can't take anything from anyone. It isn't good for me. He has maybe 20 years of learning in his last five.

He developed a pit bull rescue and rehabilitation program and managed 63 men, helping them all obtain their GEDs. Join me for the story of a man who chose prison in order to be free.

Founder and host Brad Singletary describes how this whole thing originated and what our purpose is. He describes the evolution of the podcast and recounts some of the key interviews that we have done with men like Three-time Olympian Bill Schuffenhauer, Retired Coast Guard Admiral Steve Mehling, Licensed Psychologist and Rabbi Dr. David Brownstein, Metro Police Chaplain Dean Sanner and many other guests with PURE alpha wisdom!! Our guests have included first responders, one who was shot in the head, reality TV celebrities and just some regular ole everyday dudes!

Brad explains the goals of the Alpha Quorum and defines the Red9. He teaches about the source of the slogan "ALPHA UP!", and how that was spontaneously coined by legendary entrepreneur, moto master and long-time recovery coach Taco Mike Spurgin. Join us in this celebration of 100 episodes and six YEARS of helping men like you, live life with no excuses.

Meet Sco, a man recognized as one who epitomizes the alpha way: living life with no excuses. He was honored for his attitude and his actions and his many alpha attributes. He's a married father of two girls. He works as a welder. He's a musician, a motorcycle enthusiast, an adventurer and a mechanic. He served in Afghanistan with the United States Air Force and has been a huge advocate for mental health care, especially for veterans and first responders. One of his projects this year included opening the Nevada chapter of Heroes on the Water, a nonprofit that gets veterans and first responders out on the water for fishing and boating adventures. He organized a classic car parade and car show for seniors in an assisted living facility, and has now arranged for men's groups for these senior men.  

He describes his views on spirituality, that the deepest part of us is all the same.  He recounts experiences fishing with his dad, how he got into his career, his parenting philosophy, how he does husbandry and why he is so committed to helping other people.  This dude is inspiring and demonstrates with his life the slogan "No Excuses. Alpha Up." 

My guest today is the son of a Colombian immigrant. He lettered in basketball and football at Fresno State University where he was given a full-ride athletic scholarship. He began to get in trouble with the law and spent 9 years in prison for DUIs. In prison, he learned that he was the master of his own attitude and actions. He learned multiple languages and learned how to play the piano.  Through his involvement with AA, he has remained sober and turned his life around.  He obtained a college degree in business management and now owns three businesses in the Las Vegas area and he is approaching one million dollars in annual sales. He has mastered the art of attitude and is taking actions that help him heal his life and continue living as a devoted family man.  He is the father of six children and is the head coach of a 6u tackle football team.  

https://www.ramseyvenner.com/ebook

In one of the most interesting and widely relevant topics to date, Founder Brad Singletary discusses the problem with most failing relationships: he isn't being a loving and devoted leader, and she isn't being open about how she is actually feeling.  These problems kill relationships and Brad shares some of the work by Zak Roedde and Mark Binet who outline what men and women can do to be more effective in their relationships.  While he doesn't endorse every aspect of this philosophy, Brad observes that this exact pattern is what has plagued every couple he can remember in a career of over two decades working with people's relationships.  He shares some of the basics about how to get a romantic relationship fully polarized by using the nature of both feminine and masculine energies to complement each other's inherent gifts. 

"I'm a work in progress." Reality TV Celeb Colt Johnson teaches some profoundly deep and surprisingly inspirational things about what he has learned as he has "examined himself" as part of TLC's most popular franchise ever: 90 Day Fiance and its various spinoffs.  

Colt shares the truth about who he is and some of the circumstances in his earlier life that have been difficult to manage. He has been loved and hated by millions of people around the globe.  His life has been both messy *and televised for the past 5 years, and his life has been documented through an engagement and marriage, domestic violence, divorce, shallow rebound, affair, second engagement, second marriage, pregnancy, and miscarriage, all while living with his widowed mother.  

But now he is thinking grown-ass-man shit. Where he is now is new and he shares the mature things he is trying to do to make his life meaningful. 

Colt dropped out of homeschool in 5th grade. His over-protective mother and mostly-disengaged father did the best they could.  In his early 20's he walked into his dad's apartment and found him dead.  He has lived with his mother ever since. He has been ridiculed for his codependent relationship with his mom. He didn't learn to drive until he was 28. He eventually graduated from the prestigious DigiPen with a bachelor's degree in computer science and created software for Formula One, Indy Car and The Boeing Company, which awarded him the Boeing Performance Excellence Award in 2014. 

He is currently trying to distance himself from destructive patterns and he shares never-before discussed details of his ongoing development as a man. 

Our guest today is a father of five, an attorney, and a poet who recently published his first collection of poems. He is a podcaster and an actor and starred in a music video for the Killers for their 2018 song titled Rut. His mother died suddenly and unexpectedly when he was 10 years old. It’s only been in the last few years that he started to become aware of the trauma that he suffered as a result and began writing poetry again after a 20-year gap to work through the feelings that remain from that loss.  He believes that men are messing up their lives by abandoning themselves to fit in with others and believes we fix it by learning who we are and taking ownership of the power in our uniqueness. He is currently working to integrate his shadow and says the most alpha attribute in him is learning to be an example of healthy vulnerability. 

https://edgarlawoffices.com

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-poet-delayed/id1626218958

https://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-Sleeps-Scott-Edgar/dp/B0B2TP6231/ref=sr_1_3?crid=23NBK0PTX9GV8&keywords=scott+edgar&qid=1656576475&sprefix=scott+edgar%2Caps%2C1425&sr=8-3

Brad does another epic solo show where he gets down and dirty with some of his own history.  He shares why and how to forgive our fathers (or anyone for that matter) and teaches some very useful approaches about how to do it 

Our guest today is a medically-retired police officer who was severely injured by a gunshot wound to the head while on duty.  Statistically, there was a 90% chance that he would perish from the shooting and the extensive damage to his brain.  After extremely skilled surgeons removed parts of his skull and after he pushed through an excruciating recovery process including months and months of physical therapy and years of psychotherapy and participating in support groups, he is living a life where he is always looking to find the good in the world and look for joy in other people's lives to celebrate with them. He is an aspiring writer and has been published in American Thinker magazine and his first novel is in the editing phase.  He enjoys traveling with his wife, continuing to perfect one-handed firearm operation, enjoying time with friends and fellow officers and exemplifies living life with no excuses. 

https://www.americanthinker.com/author/samuelanthony/

He is a father to eight children, has been a firefighter/paramedic for over two decades, and he comes to share some important life lessons.  The Alpha Quorum Show welcomes 2022 Father of the Year Jason Baker to AQHQ. Jason shares some lessons he has learned about life as a husband and father and the important role of friendships, brotherhood, and the importance of community in maintaining a healthy family fortress.  He describes some of the challenges he and his wife have faced throughout their 27-year marriage, including the parenting ups and downs they've overcome and some that he is personally still working on.  Jason shares some extremely humorous insights and some wit and wisdom in this super uplifting yet raw and honest discussion with a man clearly operating from ultra Alpha energy. 

Moto racer, marathoner, former LDS Bishop, current law practice owner, Harley rider and Las Vegas Rescue Mission volunteer  Donald "Butch Williams" joins the Alph Quorum Show and speaks of the profound lessons taught to him by the mature men in his life.  He shares experiences about struggles early in his marriage and how he and his wife partnered up to heal and build a beautiful life together. This humorous, wise, and gentle teacher, a man of pure masculine energy, shares some unforgettable stories, passing along bold and very charming bits of ALPHA wisdom. You're gonna love this conversation.  🔺 

Our guest today was born in Las Vegas on February 2nd. 1966 He's the youngest of five children. His father worked a variety of jobs when Bush was a kid. His father started the Las Vegas Motocross Club and later the Las Vegas Bicycle Motocross Club. Every Saturday and Sunday, he spent at the motocross and bicycle motocross track with his family organizing and running events.

Butch also raced both BMX and motocross himself. When Butch was about 14 years old. The track was no more feasible to run. His dad started a plumbing company, and Butch began to learn the trade of plumbing, which also worked a variety of other jobs and high school, including being a dishwasher at Marie Calendar's and driving a delivery truck.

When he was 19 years old, he decided to serve in LDS Mission which had joined the church approximately three years earlier. He served in Alaska and had a wonderful time there. Upon returning home, he attended college at UNLV and then received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Management from Brigham Young University in 1991. While at BYU, he met and married the magnificent Paula Jones from Woodburn, Oregon.

They have six children, five of whom are married. They are the grandparents of ten grandchildren, which attended law school at the MCGEORGE School of Law in Sacramento, California. He graduated in 1994 and returned to Las Vegas with his family in 1997. He started his own law practice. He mostly represents contractors and subcontractors in construction issues. He also practices in the areas of real estate and business law.

Approximately seven years ago, his son-in-law, Drew Starbuck, graduated law school and came to work with Butch. Mr. Starbucks practices primarily in real estate planning and probate. They own the firm Williams-Starbuck.

There is some bone-chilling real-talk in this explicit and uncensored episode. In his most impassioned solo show ever, Alpha Quorum founder Brad Singletary goes OFF about the "caricature" associated with the term "alpha" and turns upside-down and inside-out the notion of the "alpha male" being anything of valuable aspiration.  He briefly shares the history of how men have been improperly compared to animals based on their sexual market value alone, and encourages men to dominate only themselves and behave in a way that breathes life INTO and ON TO whatever they touch.

The way he defines alpha behavior in "alpha moments" is a game-changer, both for the worldwide movement of men's growth, and for the worldwide audience of this show and members of the Alpha Quorum.  He shares the background of why he began this entire enterprise and the context behind the use of the word "quorum."

Brad admits that he is not an Alpha and explains why you aren't either.  "Alpha's don't exist; only behavior that produces either good or evil, and motives coming from either love or fear."

Our guest today is an entrepreneur and inventor with multiple patents. He is the Founder and CEO of COCO TAPS, a Las Vegas company that is the first to ever have been certified as a ZERO-WASTE company. He invented a tap device to turn a raw coconut into a drinkable & resealable container! It has been called the Tesla of coconut water. His product is sold on cruise ships and theme parks in Miami, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and many other places including over 20 Las Vegas resorts like Aria, Bellagio, Caesar's Palace, Wynn, Waldorf Astoria, Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, over 60 restaurants, and 40 convenience stores. He was featured on the hit TV shows SHARK TANK and THE PROFIT. He competed in two Ironmans in Hawaii.  He plays the ukulele and the piano, and brings unmistakable energy anywhere he goes. Our topic? DISTINCTION.

Brad and Coco Vinny discuss how to have skills with both things and people, living congruent with your values and beliefs, being respected and trusted, presenting yourself with strength and dignity, and being effective in leadership. 🔺

The level of wisdom shared in this episode may have never been reached on this show and this will be difficult to ever be out-smarted.  Rockford Wright, MD returns to the show to continue the discussion on discernment.

He shares some extremely valuable insights about how a man can make more sense of the ordinary struggles in life through healthy expectations, rational interpretations of triggering stressors, how empathy can shape our judgments, and why listening should be focused on learning and understanding what is being shared.  Dr. Wright teaches about habits and understanding what drives behavior, which realizations will help us be certain all of the elements are in place before we attempt to influence change with others or ourselves.

Profoundly helpful and very useful information in this episode.  Be sure to check out episode 87 which is part one of this two-episode series.

This one's a stunner of a show.  Rockford "Rocky" Wright, MD, joins Brad and Mike Olsen in a stellar conversation on discernment.  Rocky's contribution to this topic is loaded with genius illustrations and stories that make some profoundly deep concepts about discernment easy to understand.  Guaranteed this is an enlightening and edifying experience as he explains the survival benefit of biases and the protective factors associated with judgment.  He details some personal experiences where he learned to see things he had previously not understood in a new way and teaches in PURE ALPHA STYLE what it means to be a fair judge of self and others as a man of discernment.  This is Part I of a 2-part series on this topic.  Check this one out and stay tuned for an even better second half next week. 🔺

Our guest today has been a counselor in a correctional facility for 21 years.  Several years before he started, he was an inmate there, serving 14 months for violent crimes as a juvenile. He paid off $33,000 in restitution by working in the kitchen. He didn't meet his biological father until he was 15.  Three weeks later, his stepfather died by suicide. This led him to years of anger and violence. Once he was locked up, he learned how to deal with his emotions from men he didn't want to disappoint.  He read spiritual texts, competed in sports, and learned to meditate.  He was the first inmate in this prison to later return and work there, continuing the influence he was shown decades before. He is now very close with his father. He and his wife have a blended family of 8 children and he enjoys weightlifting, mixed martial arts and was recently in an episode of the hit show, Yellowstone.

This episode is special.  With our most distinguished guest ever on this podcast, Brad Singletary and Jimmy Durbin interview a man with high distinction, retired Coast Guard Rear Admiral Stephen Mehling.  Our topic is discipline and Admiral Mehling presents some surprising elements of discipline that most men surely never consider.  His military experience spans nearly 40 years which included worldwide impact as evidenced by a chest full of medals awarded for exceptional leadership in extremely high-level roles. He shares some exciting stories of both courage and compassion from profound experiences beginning in 1976 at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Admiral Mehling teaches in pure Alpha style: with both boldness and gentleness, with humor and high value, with both energy and reverence.  This is a remarkable conversation that all men should hear.   

.Part two of the discussion on Endurance.  Taco Mike, Jimmy Durbin, Mike Olsen, and Brad Singletary discuss the following from the RED9:

• How to patiently persevere with fortitude and grit.
• How and why men need to seek help wherever they are, but certainly when the going gets tough.
• Why sometimes, after all possible effort and adjustments have been implemented, and as a valid last resort, the right thing to do is to quit the endeavor, the expedition, the relationship or the job in order to preserve life and prevent further harm and damage to self or others.
  

As always, the guys share very personal stories of darkness and then triumph and how their own maturing process shaped new perspectives about themselves and what is possible and what can be accepted about life's challenges.  Mike O. is confronted about why he can't ask for help even though he is always willing to help others.  This is an exceptional conversation with high-value content.  Share it with people you know. 

"This is a million-dollar conversation." - Taco Mike

Part one of a two-part series. Brad, Taco Mike, Jimmy Durbin, and Mike Olsen discuss one of the principles from the Red9, ENDURANCE. An alpha trains his mind to endure difficulty, he has written goals and adjusts when necessary. This show is improving and is probably our best episode ever.  

Gavin Hillman is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and has been actively engaged in structured and organized physical health for over 25 years. He continues to keep his physical health a priority and regularly takes part in running events, hikes, biking, and scheduled gym time for resistance training.

Tanner Smith is an emergency room Physician’s Assistant and worked the night of the Route91 mass shooting in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017.  He and his team treated 200 victims in two hours as a result of the shooting. He has qualified and completed the Boston Marathon 3 times and has a PR in the marathon running in 2 hours and 52 minutes. In his most recent Boston Marathon two months ago, a runner had a cardiac arrest and Tanner performed CPR saving her life, and still ran another 18 miles to finish with a time of 3:12. He enjoys promoting fitness and helping people stay active by coaching people looking to get into running and leading weekly group runs for Life Time Athletic Club.

In this episode we answer these questions: 

General health topics:

• What mistakes do men commonly make when it comes to the health of their bodies?
• What are the consequences of men who don’t pay enough attention to their physical wellbeing?
• What are the most common medical ailments that lead men to medical emergencies and injuries?

He burns premium fuel. Intentional about food and water.

• When it comes to nutrition and hydration, what really matters most?
• With so many ideas out there, how can men sort through diet approaches that can most benefit them?

He is igorously active to extend strength and stamina.

• What is the role of movement in maintaining optimal health?
• What do you eat, what do you do for physical fitness? What keeps you going?
• If a man has never exercised after middle school P.E., where should he begin?
• What leads to failure in men’s training habits? Why do we quit so easily?
• How can we stay motivated and disciplined with exercise?
• What drives you to compete?  Why not just do it as a hobby?

He judiciously uses supplements and medical treatments.

• Men are stereotypically notorious for NOT doing well with medical care.  Why is that?
• What general habits facilitate healing of the body when something has gone wrong?
• Supplements. Why?  What are the common dietary deficiencies that men need to supplement? How do we start? What’s the best bang for your buck in supplementation for beginners?

He gets proper rest.

• We discuss sleep as a way to improve health and prevent problems.

https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a38005460/meghan-roth-boston-marathon-cardiac-arrest/?utm_campaign=socialflowFBRW&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social-media&fbclid=IwAR2TuiclpQiqYp8bK5Hopr3S17J2zKvTnz4GyVoE0FUMFEC0Sze6V_HQf0Y

If you're like most dudes, no one taught you how to be a man. Instead, you've probably been taught pretty much the opposite. So many personal influences in our lives: our parents, our peers, and society has conditioned us to be obedient rather than strong. We've been taught to be a good boy, follow the rules, not be rude and these ideas have been forcibly injected in our heads since we were able to speak. The problem is it doesn't work and is hardly ever in our best interests. These messages manipulate us into being manageable and compliant, the standards of systems that are about control. Sometimes giving is not right. Sometimes sacrificing is wrong. Sometimes being nice damages us. Today we're going to discuss the book No more Mr. Nice guy by Robert Glover.

Questions answered on this episode:

1. What's wrong with being a nice guy?

2. What does it mean to be integrated?

3. What's the making of a Nice Guy?

4. How do you please the person who matters the most?

5. How do you prioritize your needs?

What ways we can do to be integrated?

Be honest about your feelings, your interactions.

Quit being afraid of new experiences or what's around you.

Learn to surrender what you can't change.

Do what you want to do.

Learn how to get help.

Recognize that people are human.

Stop trying to be perfect.

Stop seeking approval.

Take care of your own needs with integrity.

Stop building such huge walls and let people in.

Don't try to cover up or take attention away from your weaknesses. Don't be afraid of your shortcomings.

Be aware or cognizant of your childhood events and some of the conditions or influences that led you to where you're at today.

Set boundaries.

Be transparent about what you're feeling about things.

Spend more time with men.

Recognize that women, they reject nice guys.

Learn to be more passionate, more assertive, more responsible.

Recognize that you don't have to do everything right, or you're allowed to be flawed.

Don't let the fear of failure or the fear of success.

Go after the life you want, quit settling.

Make your own rules.

In today's episode, we discuss the second part of Alpha Reverence in which we talk about the secular versions of spirituality from the book "The Power of Ritual" by Casper ter Kuile. He recommends taking some of the things from religious teachings and using them in your life. We can be spiritual even without religion. Sometimes our most meaningful rituals are ones that we create. Spirituality is a connection to yourself, to a higher power, and to others. Sacred and transcendental experiences don’t ONLY exist in churches or synagogues, temples, or mosques. Anyone can access those experiences, we just have to learn how, with our intentions, to invite that to happen. It can be achieved through:

1. Sabbath - a day of rest and reflection.
2. Community - synchronized singing or movements (example: CrossFit); and joining a group with a common cause
3. Sacred Texts - you can find wisdom through texts such as reading a book or joining a book club or some community.
4. Meal Time - communal, start with a prayer, or a toast. Prepare it with intention. Sacred intentional thoughts about how amazing it is to eat this food. Rituals where people are asked to share something or end with a board game.
5. Fasting - but not just for health benefits, save calories or get into ketosis. But do it for mental clarity and donate your saved $$ to a shelter.
6. Pilgrimage - a contemplative journey to a sacred place. Going to the ocean to scatter ashes. A pilgrimage has a purpose. To heal? To find forgiveness? To just experience something new or awesome.
7. Seasons - honor the beginning of spring, summer, fall, or winter. Connect with nature with a hike, picnic with friends, donate leftover food to a shelter.
8. Confession groups - such as AA, 12 step type addiction, recovery groups, and other spiritual programs.
9. Sacrifices - giving up something for other people or charity.

Other questions answered in this episode:

• What is humility? And how do we do it?
• What is the value of forgiveness? Why do we need to do that? And how do you do it?
• To seek out sublime experiences enlarges us. What does this mean and how might we do it?
• How do you create and foster gratitude?

The 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant asked these questions: (1) What can I know? (2) What ought I to do? (3) What may I hope for? (4) What is man? These are the basic questions of philosophy.  The root of the word PSYCHOLOGY is  psyche, which is Greek for spirit or soul. An evolved man is many things, he is tender and he is tough. He is humble and he is confident.  He is grateful for what is and yet still constantly seeking.  Today we discuss REVERENCE. This is about deep respect.  This is about respect for life, respect for others, and has to do with the connections we can improve with a higher power, with other people, and even to the natural world. Reverence is about RECOGNITION of the purpose of life, the sanctity of life, the significance of life and it includes spirituality but not necessarily traditional religion.

Questions answered in this episode:

• What makes it so tough for men to have their connection with a higher power?
• Is there any obligation following belief?
• What is religious practice do you do that does help you find that connection to your higher power?

Topics discussed:

Reasons why men find it difficult to connect with a higher power:

• Sometimes people find it difficult to have any concept of a higher power because they come from dysfunctional backgrounds such as having horrible, abusive, and distant fathers.
• Some religious models have unhealthy perspectives. They do things to an extreme which is opposite to the biblical perspective of God wanting to have a balance.
• When a person prays for something that didn’t happen, they don’t have the understanding of the purpose of prayer and that God is not a Santa Claus.
• It all comes down to readiness of being connected to a higher power because nobody is going to be able to make you do it.

The obligation following a belief:

• Find beliefs, systems, structures that work then study those and apply discipline towards them. It’s beneficial to people.
• If religion is a vehicle that works for a particular man, apply with caution and be thoughtfully aware of how much influence it has on you.

Religious practice that can help men find the connection to a higher power:

• Service (voluntary)
• Offering
• Efforts and Time
• Giving and Sharing
• Teaching the Fellowshippers

ATHEIST / AGNOSTIC

How can a person like that explore spirituality? How can a person not interested in the traditional view of God improve their spiritual life?

• It depends on what they are trying to achieve.
• You have a decision to make in improving your spiritual life.
• It can also start on sublime experiences.

Final words, when it comes to a man trying to mend a relationship with God:

• One of the things that God says is that if you seek me, you'll find me. And if you want to find God, the first thing you do is look, and I think you can look in creation. Just like in Google, whatever you're searching for in life, you're going to find it.
• We start with the rules, but eventually, in spirituality, things have to move beyond that.
• There's gotta be more to life than just me, even if it's just others. We connect to God through relationships with others as well, because if he's truly created everybody and we're created in his image, then we can see him in other people.

Host: Brad Singletary Co-host: Taco Mike Guest: Justin Mackie  An alpha is engaged. He lives in the moment, recognizing the value of his opportunities and he seizes them like a soldier captures his enemy. He's a master at influencing the energy around him. He works hard and plays hard, keeping his own emotions and reactions in check and taking care of whatever's important in the moment. He's not just a dreamer, but a doer. And he fearlessly puts himself in situations that bring life to himself and those he is associated with. Today we welcome back a man who epitomizes what it means to be an alpha, especially in his ability to live life with no excuses and instead strives to engage himself in every situation with strength.  We begin talking ADHD and managing distractions.  Justin shares how he has learned to use this condition as a superpower by "making friends with it."  We discuss how to focus on the demands of home life, which include allowing your partner to be "Alpha too." That means that if they are highly invested in order and cleanliness, you can "take orders" without having your value threatened.    Finally, Taco Mike and Justin discuss the value of play, and specifically outdoor adventures with other men as a requirement for lasting friendships and personal fulfillment.     🔺️

Highlights from the soon-to-be-released episode about Alpha engagement with Justin Mackie and Taco Mike.

ENGAGEMENT - he participates with good vibes

✔ He shows up fully present and focused. 

✔ Works hard at home and on the job. 

✔ Enjoys leisure and recreation: he can entertain and be entertained. 

✔ Honors, creates, and participates in traditions.

✔ He connects, listens, laughs, and loves openly. 

✔ Assertively expresses thoughts and feelings. He is bold, honest, respectful.

Brad Singletary and Taco Mike finish the series on Alpha Responsibility with some ultra-valuable lessons about how men can admit wrongs, make amends, accept the things they cannot control and do the next right thing.  

We discuss the language of responsibility: examples of words and phrases that men need to be comfortable with in taking ownership of their failures.  But first, Taco Mike describes how he became so comfortable with the language of responsibility by first getting right with who he is as a person and learning to be comfortable in his own skin, having an identity that was purely his own and not the template that others told him he should be. He describes one of the unlikely ways he did this: refusing to go along with something he once believed and taught others to do because it no longer made sense for him to continue.

We discuss apologies and how they are more harmful than good if they come from a place of victimhood and how words are usually not enough.

Taco Mike describes a moto trip in Mexico with a group of men that went terribly wrong as they became stranded on a treacherous mountainside, the surprising way he went about handling his responsibilities as the leader of the expedition and the outcome that required Alpha-level humility. Find out how things ended up and what he gained from this experience.

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Episode 73 of the Alpha Quorum Show with Taco Mike from TacoMoto. Mike discusses what he's been up to and drops WISDOM. We discuss how the Alpha accepts responsibility, never plays the role of a victim, and never victimizes others. Host Brad Singletary and Taco Mike call men out for their excuses and share some insights about how to Alpha Up and be a man who accepts responsibility.   

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This is for men to be better. We can and must improve. No Excuses, Alpha Up 🔺  

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The Alpha Quorum Show is produced by Evolved Worldwide, LLC. © 2021 Evolved Worldwide, LLC.  While we may feature professionals on the show, this content is meant to be educational entertainment and not to be considered professional advice or 'therapy'.  It's a podcast. But you're gonna love it.

This is the final episode of a 6-part series on our review of the book, "King, Warrior, Magician, Lover." We share some highlights and personal insights about how this information is helping us be better men and what we still need to be working on.  

This episode is about living life as a man with the energy of a LOVER.

When we say “the lover” you may think we are talking about romantic and sexual love, but there a lot of different types of love. You love your homies differently than you love your woman.  You love your mom differently than you love your kids.  The ancient Greeks talked about agape, or non-erotic love, referenced in the Bible as “brotherly love.” They used the term eros to mean sexual love. The romans used amor which means the union of one body and soul to another body and soul. The Latin term libido doesn’t just refer to sexual energy, a general passion and appetite for life, or life energy.

Moore and Gillette say that the Lover energy includes vividness, aliveness, and passion. The Lover is driven to satisfy basic human hunger for sex, food, well-being, reproduction, creativity, and a sense of meaning in life.

This is about sensitivity to the external environment. This has to do with our five senses, sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. It notices colors and shapes, the feeling of different textures, the beauty of sound and the power of aroma. It is also about the internal environment: changes in sensations of incoming stimulus and the feelings those things produce INSIDE us.

We discuss the Lover in his fullness and share example of men living this way. We also discuss the bipolar shadows THE ADDICTED LOVER and THE IMPOTENT LOVER.

This is one of our most important topics and most well-done episodes ever.  Check this out. **ADULT CONVERSATION INTENDED FOR ADULTS. 

Brad Singletary, Clint Albright, and guests Jim and Jay continue a 6-episode series on our review of the book “King, Warrior, Magician, Lover” by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette, who describe the difference between 'boy psychology' and 'man psychology' and give a very effective model of healthy manhood by helping guys rediscover the archetypes of mature masculinity. In this episode we discuss the MAGICIAN.

Topics: 

> Magicians are masters of technology and are the ritual elders

> They have special knowledge that is passed down

> Initiation is important symbolism

> They continue to share magic by giving it to worthy apprentices

> They put themselves in sacred space and understand things both seen and unseen.