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Russ RantzEpisode 49: The Anchor In The AthleteTruly I tell you, this is a marvelous treat to introduce this week's guest! We have the awesome, persevering, humble, and smart Atlee Simon hanging out with us on the Russ Rantz Podcast. Atlee has had a fun, tough, crazy, and storied journey through collegiate football (holds numerous touchdown and rushing records for the U of Regina Rams), a unique, teachable adventure through the CFL (Canadian Football League), and now he's strutting his stuff as a high-school teacher and basketball coach.
That's the surface, but the juicy stuff is where Atlee allows us to s...
2023-03-041h 07Russ RantzEpisode 48: I Forgot How To Draw (Guest: Raymond Bergin)Have you ever forgotten about a hobby? No, seriously, have you ever forgotten about something that long ago, or even recently, you fell in love with that just gave you innocent, powerful, internal joy? I mean, just recently my 7-year-old son showed me this new yo-yo he got at school. He's in LOVE with it. It's all he does, and it puts a huge smile on his face. I forgot about yo-yoing! I used to do it all the time!
What's my point? Well, sometimes I feel like in life we're so busy just t...
2023-02-161h 05
Russ RantzEpisode 47: CapacityIt's ironic, but shortly after regarding this episode on watching your "fuel gauge" or "capacity," I actually left the stream early. That kills me, but it just comes to show that you can have the BEST of intentions, and still burn out in the end if you don't have balance in your life. In this episode you'll hear from a very weary and worn Russ as he verbally processes what he himself should probably work on better.
Enjoy
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2022-05-0927 minRuss RantzEpisode 46: W KeyDo you know what "W Key" means? Did you know that it's gamer lingo for "full speed ahead!"? It's a term used for hyper-aggressive players who only ever try to push forward, regardless of the risks and low chances of success. The funniest thing is, it's not typically a positive term of endearment, but rather a label for people who have no regard for caution or calculation.
Well...we're going to spin that another way today as I'm wrestling with a concept:
We all hate the "F word," right? Yo...
2022-04-3040 minRuss RantzEpisode 45: Beat The Mind MathHey guess what? You, like me, may be accidentally forfeiting the notion of a great or fun hobby, challenge, or life choice because we do "Mind Math" in advance that dissuades us. Hey, guess what? That doesn't HAVE to be the case.
Mind math is an innate human response. It's an instinct to mitigate failure, and prevent us from harm. What if that's accidentally cranked to the nines? What if it's accidentally not just protecting us, but stunting us? You've heard me already state that I'm trying to wear through this crazy fear of failure I struggle w...
2022-04-2540 minRuss RantzEpisode 44: It Takes A Village...Do you remember the dark side of the pandemic days? You know, the extreme isolation? The lack of in-person connection and community? Well...in today's episode, Russ re-visits some of his own days during that season, and what that showed him about his "village," and how greatly that concept affects us.
We need people, not always tons of people, but a key "some" that resonate and synergize with us. What's your village like? Because you need to know...it takes a village to raise a person.
Enjoy!
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2022-04-1637 minRuss RantzEpisode 43: Grateful But Not ContentWhat does enrichment even mean? Is it valuable, powerful, relevant, worthwhile? On my end...I haven't hit it, and that concerns me. The other day someone asked me what I "enjoy" doing, and none of my answers could be produced without leading me to explain what those things achieved, rather than what they did for me while I was doing them.
How can you be grateful, but not content? How can you balance ambition, and yet "enjoying the wow that's happening now" (kudos to Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood for that gem). I'm not sure, but w...
2022-04-0942 minRuss RantzEpisode 42: What Does Will Smith Want In The End? What Do I Want In The End?Ya ya, I'm sorry gang, but Will Smith JUST resigned from the academy, and we're all still processing his infamous slap of Chris Rock since last week's awards...It's tough because I think a lot of us have been in Will's shoes, and though his response is "understandable" I don't believe it is "commendable." But, that's not actually the main story we're going to go over in this week's Rantz episode...guess you'll have to listen in order to see what I mean. Have fun, and let me know w...
2022-04-0235 minRuss RantzEpisode 41: Unique-Less UniqueHoly mochachino WE ARE BACKKKK!! Hello hello it is so good to be back in front of your ear-holes with a brand new, BRAND NEWWWW release, re-launch, re-vamp version of the Russ Rantz Podcast (man does that feel weird to say!). We've had some time away, but now we're rip, roaring, and ready to go with some introspective, ridiculous, and marvelous ranting. To kick us back off into this new age, I go into a bit of an observance of the "instant gratification" social media market that we find ourselves bombarded with every day, a...
2022-03-2640 minRuss RantzEpisode 40: My ConondrumHey Everyone! Yup it's been quite some time since we last touched base! I'm afraid this return episode is a bit anti-climactic, but I will say that it's an important one. The truth is, I need your help. I have a bit of an inner conflict going on right now, and I'm open to, and actively seeking, your advice. The dreams and desires haven't stopped, but I feel that I've hit my head against the wall enough to know what my capacity can handle right now, and what it can't. I've done a lot of so...
2021-05-2427 minRuss RantzEpisode 39: The Pilot Hustler (Guest: Ajit Oommen)You know how sometimes you meet someone who, after talking with them for a bit, you can't help but feel inspired, challenged, or like there was a fire lit under your hineY? Well, that's EXACTLY what this week's brings to the table!It is my absolute pleasure to present Ajit Oommen. This gem of a human being has been a longtime supporter of this podcast's platform, and one of my biggest cheerleaders. BUT, here's something else I want you to know: Ajit PACKS A WALLUP of passion, wisdom, and insight into the realms of business, dreams, and...
2021-03-1258 minRuss RantzEpisode 38: Permission For CompassionHey all!Yup, it's been a while, but it's for good reasons, and yet I find myself wrestling with the inner conviction that I should be doing better for you. Well, you're in luck! Today I quickly address some stuff that I've been going through personally, WHAT I'm doing to ensure a successful and awesome 2021, and how I think we all struggle a bit with 2 voices that battle for our attention.Curious? Good! Enjoy.
2021-02-2434 minRuss RantzEpisode 37: Breathe To Believe (Guest: Sarah Novak)I consider myself to be a pretty open minded person; a person who's game to try out most methods and techniques to improve my life. No joke, a few years back I was introduced to a public speaker who taught on breathing...and I was BEYOND skeptical. He was a business coach, and he advised that he used breathing techniques to calm and balance his clients. I mean, come on, breathing? It's so basic and boring; we're doing it right now and I don't feel any different, how could these be something that business coaches do?At...
2021-01-2046 minRuss RantzEpisode 36: Play The Table Game RightWell happy new year Russ Rantz fam! The strenuous times haven't stopped, but I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Years holiday celebration. That being said, I'm a bit "fed up" with some of the interactions I've observed on social media these days, and I've decided to respectfully take a swing at the whole concept of...conflict. Ya, ya, I know you're not thrilled about this topic, but you came here to here a Russ rant, and by george are you going to get one. I go off on how I see people incorrectly, a...
2021-01-1345 minRuss RantzEpisode 35: No Mission Without Pain (Guest: Kim Ward)Merry Almost Christmas! Thank you for tuning in for this end of the year edition of the Russ Rantz podcast! WE DID NOT HOLD BACK FOR THIS FINALE! 2020 has been absolutely nutso, and you know that I've been on a tear lately on how we don't have to let this crazy time period define us. We can truly overcome adversity if we recondition our minds to see the conquerors and champions that we truly are. Thus I find it marvellously fitting that our special guest, Kim Ward, is our end of the year participant. Kim Ward is the CEO of a...
2020-12-2356 minRuss RantzEpisode 34: Take It BackWe just found at last week from the government that we wouldn't be able to celebrate Christmas with anyone else than our immediate household. That's right, no grandma or papa, no aunts or uncles, and especially no travelling amongst family homes during this special season. It's crushing, frustrating, and shocking. This got me thinking, I could either let this be a final crushing haymaker to the face from 2020, or I can fight for perspective and see if there were any "wins" I could draw back out from this cray cray year. And you know w...
2020-12-1641 minRuss RantzEpisode 33: Much Ado About What We Like To Do (Guest: Liam Blanchard)After a few episodes in a row of more sobering and linear topics it's just nice to have a pleasant chat with a friend, and, trust me, I needed it. I'm pleased to bring to the floor Liam "Ordan" Blanchard. Liam is an 18 year old who's wise beyond his years, passionate about culinary (I'm not trying to track down passionate cooks, ok?!), freedom to choose your own path, annnnnnd BEATBOXING. My goodness we go through so many cool, awesome, and relevant topics in this episode and I regret ZERO of it. Let's release some tension for a bit and enjoy s...
2020-12-021h 02Russ RantzEpisode 32: Fat or Frail, For My Birthday (Hallmark Edition, JK)Well happy birthday to me! Not to toot my own horn....but I made it to 29; that's nice I guess. In all seriousness I had hesitations about recording this episode because of how uncomfortable I felt CALLING MYSELF OUT. No really, I decided that it'd be a good idea to lay bare one of my most glaring problems (taking care of myself emotionally) and have a recorded confession and commitment to improve in my next year of life. As we go through this episode you'll see me literally self-realize how balance HAS TO happen in life regarding bei...
2020-11-1842 minRuss RantzEpisode 31: The Cost Of Putting A Dent In The UniverseIf I offered you a billion dollars to walk away from your family and friends, would you take it? What about unlimited power? No you say? Well, I'm not shocked. Phrased in that question it seems like a morally easy decision (to most; some of you wouldn't even hesitate to take the money and run lol). However, what if those things followed in the wake of your current dream/desire? Is there anything in your life that you've staked so much, invested so much time, research, and heart into and you'd love for it to become successful? Well, I reflect on...
2020-11-0451 minRuss RantzEpisode 30: The Music Of MemoriesMusic, sometimes it's the faintest of notes that can trigger a whole swath of emotions, while other times we find a song that's our "anthem" we carry with us through high school and our angsty teen days. Whatever it may be, we can all have moments in time captured and easily remembered via music. If you actually took a purposeful look, you'd probably notice that certain genres, bands, or playlists symbolize key periods of time in our existence. Today's guest remarks on these revelations and then some as we have the one and only Bryce "Gremlyn" Plante o...
2020-10-2152 minRuss RantzEpisode 29: What The Chef?!Kraft Dinner? You bet! PB & J? Yupppp. Chicken and Rice? Heck, that was my lifeblood meal growing up (thanks mom). Fine cuisine and excellent dining? NOT. A. CHANCE. The cooking world scares me. I don't know anything about the right ingredients, proper presentation, or what a "pinch" of anything is! Thankfully, this episode's guest (Ryan Dean Dexton: Instagram & Youtube) is a young, ambitious, and amazingly solid dude who also happens to be a marvel at cooking. Mr. Dexton is an up and coming Suis Chef for his Restaurant in Vancouver, BC and he's graciously blessed us with h...
2020-09-3042 minRuss RantzEpisode 28: Making Sure You Have Your Hangups!Wow, what a journey to get to right where we are right now! It's been forever, but I'm pleased to announce that the Russ Rantz Podcast is not only BACK, but it's here to STAY! In today's episode we're going to explore the power of influential relationships in our lives! You think that sounds hokey? You're wrong! I'm going to talk today about the power of "Hanging Up" with people, and how you should make it a priority in your life to find people that are going to yank you UP rather than tear you DOWN! It's good to be b...
2020-09-1444 minRuss RantzEpisode 27: I'm Ok, Actually.Yup. Surprise. I felt it would be good to clear the air on how I'm actually doing so far in 2020. I've left some accidentally cryptic posts over the last few months and some of you lovely, wonderful people have reached out wondering if I'm truly alright. Well...the truth? I am. Doing alright doesn't mean I "feel" amazing, but it does mean that I'm on the right track. I've done some introspective thought and research on myself, and I've learned that I'm sabotaging myself before I truly get started in a lot of positive things in my l...
2020-02-1742 minRuss RantzEpisode 26: Public Service Announcement Of Future DiscomfortLife is all about self-discovery. It's also about failing forward, and failing fast (my good friend's saying). I've been on a wild ride since late last year when I endeavored to pursue my own podcast platform. It's been an incredible experience, and it's far from over...but it is going to look different from here onward. Please take a moment to listen to this brief episode as I'll be sharing with you all my next steps of growth in my Russ Rantz journey. It's not a guarantee, it's a bit risky, and it may c...
2019-09-3027 minRuss RantzEpisode 25: Dream Jobs and Baby OctopusesI don't know about you...but I hated the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" It wasn't because it was offensive, or because I thought, "DUDE GET OFF MY BACK; LEMME LIVE MY LIFE AND FIGURE IT OUT!" No...I just honestly had no idea, and it freaked me out. As you'll hear in this episode, I changed my mind a few times...and that's ok. I still haven't even figured out what my "dream job" is. Buuuuut, I was asked what my dream business would be if I h...
2019-09-1840 minRuss RantzEpisode 24: Get Out Of That Bunker!Oh man! Not only did my beloved computer die on me moments BEFORE my last episode, but I also got deathly sick LAST week and missed you all. It's crazy, but these last 2 weeks have made me realize how comfortable I've tried to make myself while producing this podcast. Comfort isn't a bad thing if you use it to rest and experiment, but when it becomes your GOAL to try to obtain comfort and ease at all costs...there's something wrong. It may not feel like it while it's happening...but maybe it's stunting y...
2019-09-1141 minRuss RantzEpisode 23: He's From Georgia...But "Konichiwa!" (Guest: John Overstreet of Assortment Gallery)You know what I think would be tough? Starting a business. Do you know what I think would be tougher? Starting a business while living in a foreign country? Do you know what would be EVEN TOUGHER?! Starting said business, in said foreign country, and have that business be in an industry where you don't have a lot of experience. Try that challenge! Thankfully, you and I don't have to (unless you want to, of course) because today's guest has done just that! It is my pleasure to introduce to you all John Overstreet, t...
2019-08-2856 minRuss RantzEpisode 22: Look In The MirrorFor me, nothing is worse then the end of a vacation. Nothing is more exciting then an opportunity to escape reality for a bit; that's what makes getaways so amazing. But what happens if we never stop chasing the get away? So for this episode I decided to touch on the "vacation hangover" syndrome I was feeling. Seriously, this is just a straight up observance of how holidays/weekends affect me, and how maybe they affect you too. Silly thought, or provoking thought? Enjoy.
2019-08-1541 minRuss RantzEpisode 21: Overcoming Addictions With a Courageous Relationship (Guest: Patrick Thomson - Courageous Relationships)Becoming a father changed my life. From the moment I held my eldest son, to the most recent memory of announcing that my wife and I had a daughter, becoming a parent has been one of the most rewarding, and punishing things of my existence (I say that lovingly of course). I can't imagine what I'd do, or how I felt if I lost one of my kids. It'd break me. I don't know how I'd cope with it, process it, or even overcome it...Patrick Thomson had to d...
2019-08-0754 minRuss RantzEpisode 20: Fostering The Complexities Of The Heart (Guest: Carmen Ross)We throw around the word "bravery" a lot sometimes. We throw the phrase, "Diving in head first," a lot sometimes... What do these two things have in common? Becoming an insta-parent. I'm talking about the incredible, crazy, and amazingly beautiful journey of becoming a foster parent. My guest this week is the wonderful and lovely Carmen Ross, and I am so excited to have her share her story with you. It's amazing how life sometimes pushes us into things we'd NEVER EVER consider...let this be something you ponder as you hear this terrific t...
2019-07-241h 07Russ RantzEpisode 19: I Suck At Pickup LinesI hate uncertainty...and I equally hate rejection. Isn't that great? The biggest thing I find frustrating in life is that there are no guarantees. There are no assurances that you're "nailing" the right objectives in life. I wish that life had a report card that told you EXACTLY where you were at. That way, if you were failing, wasting your time, or making a fool of yourself you could at least adjust course. BUT! Life does not work that way, and because of that ever steady uncertainty I have often tried to avoid c...
2019-07-1748 minRuss RantzEpisode 18: That Time I Became A Hobbit...In The Tropics...Things I like: 1. Tropical Getaways2. Leisure Time3. Said Leisure Time At A BeachThings I Don't LIke: 1. All of that being ruined by one stupid mistake that would teach me a very important lesson. Why the Hobbit reference? Is this a Lord Of The Rings Episode (no.), is it a reference to a costume party (no.), or is it related to something terrible that happens to me? Yes. Go with that. I hope you enjoy this latest episode of Russ Rantz. Thank as always for your...
2019-07-1040 minRuss RantzEpisode 17: Does It Take A Nurse To Help You Break The Crazy Cycle? (Guest: Addison Byrd)Awkward customer service altercations always bug me...I don't know why, but seeing staff provide terrible customer service, and furthermore seeing the staff then pat themselves on the back after the customer leaves because they think they handled that situation PROPERLY, just makes me crazy! An incident such as this recently happened to me, and it got me to thinking: How do you help someone see, that they can't see, other people's true needs and feelings? Well...I don't promise all of the answers, but I can promise you a NURSE on set today! M...
2019-06-2649 minRuss RantzEpisode 16: A Business of Making Things PersonalIn my life, with my personality, the two scariest things are...:1. Having to fold jeans professionally2. Confronting breathing human beings and calling them out on not being up to the understood standard. GOOD THING I HAD TO DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS AT ONCE AT ONE POINT IN MY LIFE.If you know me at all, you know that I'm an emotional guy. I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I let my emotions fuel me. I have never been good at making business d...
2019-06-1953 minRuss RantzEpisode 15: Maybe It's Not "Have Your Cake And Eat It Too;" Maybe It's, "You Need More Cakes!" (Guest: Lyndon Byrd)If you had told me that I'd have 23,000+ subscribers on Youtube by the time I was 15 years old I wouldn't have believed you. If you also told me that I'd walk away from those 23,000+ subscribers without much warning (again, at 15) I would've told you that you're crazy. If you also told me that through experimenting through multiple jobs and opportunities after that Youtube experience I'd have finally gotten a handle on balancing passion and practicality, I would've been relieved. Enter my youngest brother Lyndon Byrd. He's my IN STUDIO guest this week, and he c...
2019-06-0649 minRuss RantzEpisode 14: Ukuleles and Game Development (Guest: Dustin Williamson)Do you enjoy board games? Yes? No? Well regardless, if I came up to you and said, "Hey you, make me a board game right now!" How would you go about it? Would you know where to start, would you know what would work? Would you have a lot of cool ideas and concepts? How on earth would you implement them so that people enjoy it? Why do I ask this? Well, my good friend Dustin Williamson is a game developer at EA and he has graciously agreed to be my guest this week t...
2019-05-301h 13Russ RantzEpisode 13: I'm Not Game For Going At Your ThronesI'm not a big GOT fan, but its' not for the reason you may think! I don't live under a rock, I don't hate amazing storytelling, and contrary to popular belief I am not squeamish at the sight of blood. Instead, I just am not a TV watcher overall (other than sports of course). BUT, I will come to this TV show's allegedly subpar season for a reason! What reason could I possibly have to come to its aid? I guess you'll have to listen to this week's podcast. Let me know your thoughts on...
2019-05-2244 minRuss RantzEpisode 12: We're PAST The Endgame Now *SPOILER WARNING* (Guest: Super-Dave Thomason)I know, I know. The Russ Rantz podcast isn't a movie review podcast...and I'm proud of that. BUT, we are in the midst of cinematic history with the current Marvel's Avengers movie being the biggest and most anticipated in years! My good friend, Super Dave (from my previous podcast, Wondertilt), joins me allll the way from Regina, SK to discuss this awesome movie. *SPOILER WARNING* We're going to summarize the plot, talk about our most and least favourite parts, and finally where is the MCU headed. This is NOT...
2019-05-141h 03Russ RantzEpisode 11: Vegas Baby!I am NOT a seasoned world traveler....heck, up until my 18th birthday the only area in the United States I had been to was Montana! Yet, a little while ago I got to jump on a plane and hit up the jewel of Nevada: Viva Las Vegas. I didn't know what to expect, and I didn't know how to prepare. Only after we landed did I realize...You can't prepare for Vegas...you just DO Vegas! This is my brief synopsis of my experience as well as my thoughts on the crazy/beautiful...
2019-05-0734 minRuss RantzEpisode 10: Quiet, I'm Trying To Stay Sane!So...I'm going to Vegas! But! That's not what I want to talk about today. I actually would prefer it if I didn't talk, but that's not an option in this podcast. My mind is running like crazy, and I hit a point where I wasn't happy with the person I was becoming...As a result of this my mind gave me a mini flashback to a trip to Central America I took a long time ago...and I realized what I had been missing from my life. What is it? Shhhhhh....just listen...
2019-04-2339 minRuss RantzEpisode 9: My Kid's Entering School Soon...And I Was Homeschooled...Yes, I've hit that milestone every young parent must face: Where will your kid go to school, and how are you going to approach that process?...Well, I was homeschooled so it's not as clear-cut as I thought it'd be, but thankfully my wife has a game-plan. ALSO! I'll even debunk a few homeschool myths for free for you! There's a reason I'm this awkward in public (jk...)!LET'S DO THIS! RUSS RANTZ IS BACK BABY!
2019-04-1443 minRuss RantzEpisode 8: Who's Your Robert De Niro?I'm not the largest movie buff, but with the Oscars come and gone I can appreciate a good film when I see one. My wife made me watch this feel-good movie a few years back, and the concept of it struck me the other day. Don't take for granted the relationships and interactions you have around you. Try to maximize them...or at least figure out if they're your Robert DeNiro. Confused? Listen to this latest episode!Twitter: Russrantz1Instagram: RussrantzEmail: Russrantzreal@gmail.com
2019-02-2536 minRuss RantzEpisode 7: Does My Wife Even Know When We Got Married?! (Guest: Paola Byrd)I got married quite young (20) and some people find that strange. I didn't really have my life "put together" and yet I, and my beautiful wife Paola, decided to take the plunge and embark on forming our lives as one. I'm forever grateful that she's mine, and I'm also glad she's as silly as I am. That's why she's our FIRST TIME EVER guest in-studio. Give her some love and give this episode a try. I think you'll gain some entertaining insight (almost too much in fact) into our marriage. Happy listening!
2019-02-1232 minRuss RantzEpisode 6: Getting Punched At A Group Home...Obviously life isn't perfect; neither are some of our decisions on what we want to pursue career-wise for the rest of our lives. I'm no exception. Early on in my life I decided I was going to give social work a shot...And the results were a bit...violent?
2019-02-0246 minRuss RantzEpisode 5: Over Correction and LIfe and Death ExperiencesI almost died once...well, actually many times, BUT THIS ONE PARTICULAR TIME IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE. Let's start 2019 off strong and NOT do what I did in my beautiful first car. You've been warned. Twitter: RussRantzInstagram: RussRantz1
2019-01-1533 minRuss RantzEpisode 4: Merry Christmas Gong Show!What do Post Malone, de-humidifiers, and my new mini-studio have in common? Why, this latest episode of the Russ Rantz Podcast of course! Here's a totally random bit of thought-processing I've been doing as we ramp up for the holidays. Thanks for sticking around, and I swear you're going to start hearing from me more consistently. RANT ON!**Lame catchphrase I will now attempt to have catch on in social platforms...
2019-01-1532 minRuss RantzEpisode 3: Times A Wastin’Goodness do I hate time! No, like I don't hate having it, but thinking about it always ticking away drives me nuts sometimes... What about you? Do you care about how much time you have, or what you're spending it on? Do you prefer to party hardy, or try to cram as much stuff into your life as possible? Either way I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject, and maybe you can check out mine!
2019-01-1538 minRuss RantzEpisode 2: Why on earth am I talking about hockey? (NOT A SPORTS EPISODE)Do you think life is about getting what you give, or am I off my rocker?Trust me. This IS NOT a podcast episode about hockey...but it does include an observation I've made about the sport and how it applies to life. What do YOU think?
2019-01-1536 minRuss RantzHow Tap Dancing...Led To Podcasting?!Thanks for tuning in to my first episode! It's just a quick episode where I briefly give a history lesson on the oh-so promising dancing career of the amazing Russell...and how it instead led me to really disliking my parents, but causing me to fall in love with Radio...Weird right? Ya...you'll get that in Russ Rantz.
2019-01-1528 min