Soul Forge Podcast

Friends! Who are they? What are they good for? How many friends do you have/need/want? This week's episode tackles the nature of friendship! And it all came about because of a meme I happened to come across. I shared the meme. It touched people's souls. They shared and commented on the meme. Turns out friendship is a delicate and complicated topic/feeling. My friend Dan was especially moved by the topic. As he explored the idea of the meme, and saw that other people could also relate, he began to suspect that perhaps the statement is so general, it could apply to anyone. So, also in this episode, we talk about the Barnum effect! Barnum Effect, also called Forer Effect, in psychology, the phenomenon that occurs when individuals believe that personality descriptions apply specifically to them (more so than to other people), despite the fact that the description is actually filled with information that applies to everyone. The effect means that people are gullible because they think the information is about

Bear naked controversy is episode 218 of the Soul Forge Podcast. Many subjects are touched on in this episode. It's a kind of mixed grab bag of topics. This episode also includes the first instance of the Rusted Robot Pop Culture News segment. Last week I celebrated my 45th birthday. I suppose I should have been upset that the day wasn't all about me, but I wasn't. I actually took everything in stride. You will hear more details in the actual episode, but my birth day included work, flyer preparations, a funeral, a lousy dinner and an unexpected text message from my father. Bear naked controversy does not include any actual nudity. However, the bear I saw on route while delivering mail was definitely now wearing clothes. The actual controversy stuff is all about the covid vaccine. I'm really tired of all the negativity and the anti-vaccine propaganda. Also included in this episode, I share more details and news from my Etsy store. I'll be selling some things at a booth during Nerd Con in Sault Ste. Marie i

Your host is both wired and tired on this week's episode of the Soul Forge Podcast. It's a fun, random episode filled with the usual irreverant humour you have come to expect! Why are we wired and tired? Well, Shawn has been exhausted and irritable as of late. This has been going on for many months. He is often out of breath and has a short fuse. So, the doctor hooked him up with a sleep lab study. In this episode, you hear all about that experience. Just take a look at the cover art to see how it looks to be hooked up! Because I posted the picture of me with all the wires on Facebook, some controversy erupted. You see, I didn't put any caption to give the photo context. My aunt freaked out. My dad (who I have not spoken to in nearly a year) called me a dumbass. It's quite a fun story! Other random topics are touched on in this episode. I'm thinking of doing a Rusted Robot pop culture segment. I'm going to have an ax enthusiast on an upcoming episode. I also talk a bit about my Etsy shop. Yard sales and ne

Fun from childhood is an episode about memory. This week we are remembering fun times we had as children. Everyone (I hope) has happy memories from when they were kids. Your experiences will obviously be different from mine. Listen, and see how many things we may have in common! My mother is part of my 2 earliest memories. I recall sitting at the edge of the ditch and looking at tadpoles and then running home in the rain. Eating fried cheese out of a cast iron skillet is another cherished memory with my mother. Mom and I used to have so much fun. And then there was the time I tried to kill my brother Curtis. I didn't. I actually ended up saving him. Saving him from the peril I put him in. Jealousy can make you do crazy things. Camping is a great memory. Every summer we would go to Beals Lake. The adults would catch crawdads and I'd play with them in the morning before tossing them back into the lake. Swimming, hiking and treasure hunting were all part of the camping life. Other fun things included going t

A positive spin on a negative situation is a good plan. Naturally, it is not always easy or possible to put a positive spin on something, but it's always worth a try. This week's episode is all about the positive spin. Join me on this podcasting adventure as we turn those frowns upside down! To start with, Julie and I got our second Covid-19 vaccinations last week. We weren't going to get the vaccine shot at all. However, it seemed like the wisest course of action. So we did it! With vaccine passports coming soon, it might be wise for everyone to just get it over with. Obviously there is lots of controversy and dissenting opinions on this. Also in this episode, I touch on my Etsy shop. Customer service is important. My etsy shop is all about customer service. We try to make the buying experience as positive as we can! Check out my shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/rustedrobottoys/ A positive spin is important for our mental health. Here are some of the topics I try to put in a positive light: fires and dr

It's about time to have a Soul Forge episode about time! This time on the show we will be discussing various aspects of time. We are covering topics such as television shows, the passage of time during travel and a good deal more! The episode starts with a brief introduction to time. I read the definition of time according to wikipedia. That definition is kinda crappy, so I added my patented personal touch on the topic. Naturally, this leads to me talking about Star Trek. And I talk about Seinfeld. The way time moves doesn't always seem to make sense. Your actual experience and the reality of time do not always meet up in a happy or convenient way. Travel is done in miles or kilometres. And yet, we measure distance through time. Or, I do, at least. It takes so many hours to get to this place. And this place is that many hours from this other place. I know more about the hours it takes to get somewhere, than I do the actual unit of distance. Other topics this week include a recent trip to Ottawa and how lon

Trees, Traumas and Anniversaries is the 213th episode of the Soul Forge Podcast! On this week's episode we are celebrating 4 years of the Forge with an unconventional episode. This is pure stream of consciousness folks! I didn't take any notes, I didn't plan ahead. There were a few topics I wanted to touch on, but that's the extent of my prep for this week. Trees, Traumas and Anniversaries might very well be your new favourite episode. I have always had a knack for remembering dates and anniversaries. Could be that I gained this skill from my mother who was famous for recalling obscure events. Perhaps my work as a mailman has something to do with it. Whatever the reason, I've always been pretty great at remembering useless information. From my dad, or maybe my mom, I gained the collecting gene. My parents were big-time hoarders-collectors. So was my mom's brother actually. My dad once had all of his 40 acres filled with things and stuff. I'm not quite that bad, but it was starting to get overwhelming. That'

Black Widow is the official title. They should have called it Butt Shot Deluxe. Why Butt Shot Deluxe? If you have seen the film you will certainly understand, but I will explain in more detail during this episode. Next week will be the 4 year anniversary of the Soul Forge. If you have any words, thoughts, comments, concerns, questions, or anything else you would like to say, now is the time. You can always email the show at soulforgepodcast@gmail.com Yard sales and travel have opened up again. The world was on pause for the last 16 months, but we are almost all ready to get back into the swing of things. This last weekend Julie and I travelled to North Bay/Mattawa for a bit of a visit. We stayed with my friends Frank and Martha. I picked up almost half of the 2000 VHS tapes Frank found for me. We did a bit of yard sale shopping. Junk and antique stores were visited. Julie got to take a small tour of North Bay where I went to university. A great time was had by all. Black Widow is now in theatres. Julie, he

Buy that purple El Camino? While many people on Facebook are encouraging, they do not know my car buying history as well as I do. Just because you want something, doesn't mean you should get that thing. That statement could be a mantra for my entire life actually! In this episode we are talking cars, VHS tapes, selling things, movies and a few other topics! Are you on YouTube? Did you know that Soul Forge is on YouTube? Almost every episode we have published has been uploaded. There are also many episodes of the Rusted Robot Podcast which no longer exists anywhere else. Additionally, there are several videos of me and my awkwardness on YouTube. Check out my channel and subscribe by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCataaeTRQltObb7n1GHW_qw/videos I also want to give a huge shout-out to the listeners in Kuwait. The people of Kuwait have been keeping me on the top charts in the mental health category for over a month. Just a quick acknowledgement to express my gratitude to all the listeners

Baby, it's a classic! Classic Retro Rewind is the 210th episode of the Soul Forge Podcast. It is also what I believe to be our first mostly repeat show. What you are about to hear is an episode that I released back on September 5, 2017. Episode 12 was all about celebrating birthdays, and why we do such a thing. I talk about the history of birthdays, and actually go into some pretty good details. You will learn about the Germans, the Romans, the Greeks and the Egyptians. The earliest recorded birthday party in Western annals appears in Genesis in the Old Testament, as the Egyptian pharaoh whom Joseph served is described having one to mark his. Many polytheistic civilizations marked birthdays in conjunction with astrology, in hopes of using that to predict their future destinies, although celebrating birthdays was usually reserved for those potentates who could afford it. Judaism, in contrast, never mentions anyone’s birthday, although it does mark one’s 13th with the rite of passage of a bar or bat mitzvah, s

Ask and receive! This episode is about getting whatever it is that you want. There are rules. There are guidelines. The problem with asking generic questions of the universe is that you won’t know what the answer looks like. Until you can say, with some degree of certainty, what you actually want, how can you possibly know whether or not you receive it? We all ask the universe for things; it’s not always a conscious process, but through our hopes and dreams, every one of us puts in requests in one form or another. What that power is and how it works is a matter for debate – God, the universe, the source, cosmic energy – it doesn’t really matter. Asking for something can work. Whatever you believe in, the process of asking and receiving is the same. It’s not enough to just ask, you have to keep the following steps in mind to reap the full benefits: Be sure, be precise Ask and let it go Be patient Watch for signs Trust that the universe knows best Send reminders now and again Be thankful Here's a fun

I'm sorry - simple words that can be highly impactful. Apologizing can be one of the most difficult aspects of being human -- there's a certain amount of vulnerability involved. And yet, simply saying you're sorry can make a world of difference in someone's life. This episode is my apology for last week's episode. Effective apologies are simple if you know what to say. When you've made a mistake or hurt another person, there are many good reasons why you should apologize. By apologizing, you are able to: Acknowledge that you were wrong. Discuss what is allowed and not allowed in your relationship. Express your regret and remorse. Learn from your mistakes and find new ways of dealing with difficult situations. Open up a line of communication with the other person. A sincere apology can also bring relief, particularly if you have guilt over your actions. An apology alone doesn't erase the hurt or make it OK; it does establish that you know your actions or words were wrong and that you will strive h

Boss Level Sweet Tooth and other updates! This week is a bit of a mixed bag. No major topic of discussion, but we do have many smaller, bite-sized things to discuss. Just enough to whet your appetite and bring you back for next week's episode! Starting off with Father's Day. It's coming up this Sunday. What did you get your father-figure for his special day? For those of you lucky enough to have a father, or a good relationship with your father, I hope you make the most of this time! Kickstarter campaign news! We're talking about the latest figures from my first attempt at fundraising. It is not going so well. As of this recording we are only 9% funded. I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos as of late. I'm learning everything I can about antiques and how to set up a store. I'm also a bit obsessed with G.I. Joe Classified action figures. Dog stuff! We have a couple updates about the puppies. In fact, you can hear Daisy the Golden Doodle barking in the background. Nimoy the teacup Yorkie is doing we

Kickstarter My Heart - Episode 206 of the Soul Forge Podcast. This week I am discussing the Kickstarter campaign I have recently launched. This campaign is in support of the toy and antique store I am planning to open in the near future. This is a dream I have had for more than 3 decades. I will detail my plans to you in this episode. But first I discuss the weather. What is a podcast without a personal weather story? This week has been brutally hot. As a mailman, I work outside for most of my day. We were given an early start option on Monday. A great idea in theory which did not work out so well for me. You will need to hear the episode to find out what happened in my attempt to beat the heat! Another update is my toy collecting obsession. I am currently in the midst of trying to downsize my collection. As a kid I never got to have my own G.I. Joe action figures. HASBRO has decided to re-release these toys in an all-new 6 inch version. I want them. I don't need them. It's an issue! The bulk of the episo

Mighty fine ideas are coming at you left and right on this week's episode of Soul Forge! Brother Robin joins Shawn to discuss so many weird, wacky and wonderful ideas. Although the audio quality this week is not up to our usual standards, there is still a lot of good information to be found. We present some mighty fine ideas indeed! First we start off with an update on Shawn's business idea. As this episode was recorded on the weekend, more progress has already been made than what is mentioned here. Perhaps next week will have tons more good news! And then we come to some interesting Robin updates. His life is filled with excitement and adventure. It turns out that Robin has been doing some physical labour. This is quite a departure for him. He is helping his buddy with his lawn care and landscape business. In a surprise twist, he's been working on our other brother's property! Additionally, Robin is still working on his t-shirt and mask making business. And finally, Robin tells us about his wrestling video

The entertainment special is a look at some recent movies, television and books that I have been consuming. This week I wanted to share with all of you some things you may have missed or not been made aware of. Whether you are an avid reader or TV watcher, there are likely some items on this list that you haven't come across. Prepare to be entertained by the ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL! This episode starts with an update or two. I'm talking about our COVID vaccinations, and I'm talking about the building I'm trying to buy. If all goes well, there will be a new toy store in Timmins in 2022! Now I'm just going to list all the shows and movies I mention in this episode. Also, the author profile this week is Mitch Albom. He's a fantastic writer and you should seek out his works. As for things to watch, there are many. Here's a list of things I have been enjoying: Lucifer, 13 Reasons Why, Master of None, Love, Flaked, Disenchantment, Castlevania, She-Ra, Love, Death and Robots, Voltron, Black Mirror, Stranger Things,

It is super important to get your drivers license. And I'm going to tell you why in this new episode of the Soul Forge Podcast! Get your drivers license -- don't wait! But not only that, I also give some updates on last week's episode. In that episode, I discussed my ideas for a new business, a toy store to be exact. Some progress has been made. I do qualify for the mortgage. However, the down payment just might be more than I can handle at this time. So, we have to wait to see what will happen. Julie and I have decided to get our COVID vaccines. We were hesitant because of the blood clots we hear about in the news. Apparently, the clot issue is so rare, it is not even worth considering. So, despite our uncertainty, we will be getting our shots. We may even end up with a cool mutation like flight or invisibility! Finally, we talk about driving. My grandfather was one of my driving teachers. That was scary. And yet, I also went to formal driver training. Sure, I failed 2 times, but I did eventually get it.

My new business idea is to open a really cool toy store. Actually, this isn't my new business idea. This is something I have dreamed of doing for nearly 30 years. Now feels like the perfect time to launch this passion project. As far back as I remember, I have been a lover of pop culture. I have also been collecting pop culture items for nearly that long. Recently, I decided it was time to lighten the load. My collection is massive and overwhelming at times. A store front would be an ideal place to sell some of these things that I no longer need or want. So, my new business idea is to open a pop culture and nostalgia store here in Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Will it work? There is no way to know. Do I want to do it anyway? Yes! Absolutely yes! There are a few hurdles and obstacles to overcome, and yet, I think I have the drive, knowledge and will to persevere and succeed. Only time will tell. This episode is all about my new business idea. It will give you a brief history of my collecting and selling. Would

What is disappointment? As an emotion, researchers describe disappointment as a form of sadness—a feeling of loss, an uncomfortable space (or a painful gap) between our expectations and reality. When we believe that there's something we must have to be happy and fulfilled, we can set ourselves up for disappointment. The noun disappointment comes from the Middle French word disappointer, meaning “undo the appointment,” or “remove from office.” It is true that a friend canceling your plans or losing your job is a disappointment, but today disappointment can describe anything that crushes your hopes, ruins your day, or otherwise lets you down. 7 strategies for getting over disappointment: 1. Give yourself a limited time to feel bad.  Acknowledge the letdown but don't get mired in it. If you didn’t win the lottery, give yourself an hour to feel bad. If you didn’t get a promotion or if your bonus was less than you hoped for, give yourself a day—but then move on. 2. Don’t ruminate about what might have been

200 fun-filled episodes all come down to this! Have you been a listener of the Soul Forge Podcast from the very beginning? Did you start somewhere along the way? Could this be your very first episode? It does not matter when you started listening. The only thing that matters is that you do listen. Our episodes run the gamut from funny to serious, to melancoly, inspirational and totally off-the-wall random. You never know what you're going to get with the Forge! This episode is a celebration of the last 3+ years. Episode 200 is not a clip show. While that could be a fun idea, the editing would be horrendous. It would probably take many weeks. So, instead, I have decided to create a fun show with random ideas and thoughts. You could almost consider it multiple mini episodes in one tidy package. Topics I touch on this week are varied and do not necessarily relate to one another. Therefore, I am providing a list here of some of the things I will be covering in a brief manner. These topics include: the end of th