Curtis, Debbie and Kate: Marriage Success - 197

How do Curtis and Kate define marriage success, and just who is this Debbie person anyway?

One of the goals of the Soul Forge Podcast is learning the secrets to a happy and successful relationship. An excellent way of doing so is to conduct conversations with couples who are success stories in their own ways. Episode 140 focused on Josh and Kitty. It has taken a long time to find another successful couple who were willing to share their story with us. This episode deals with Shawn's brother Curtis, and his wife.

This couple (Curtis and Kate) have been together for 15 years. How they met is a fun and entertaining part of their story. Although their lives have been filled with ups and downs, and many roads to navigate, they have managed to build a loving and special kind of love. Each of them brought 2 children from previous relationships into the mix. And now they have one that they share in common.

Have a seat and listen to their story. Find out how they met. What was Curtis's deal-breaker? And just who is this Debbie person anyway?

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Puppy Love - 196

We got a new puppy!

If there's one thing I said I would never do, it's getting a dog. However, the moment I saw Nimoy, I knew I had to have him. This episode is the story of our teacup Yorkie. Dan and Paul from the Cosmic Pizza Podcast join Shawn for a lively discussion about pets.

Teacup Yorkie is a smaller version of the same pure breed Yorkie, also known as Toy Yorkie or Micro Yorkshire Terrier. It’s a tiny dog breed at about 5 to 7 inches tall, weighing between 2 to 4 pounds. The average lifespan of the Teacup Yorkie is around 12 years.

First things first, there isn’t an official definition for Teacup Yorkies. However, breeders strive to produce pups that’ll weigh no more than 4 lbs (1.8 kg) once they reach their full ‘adult’ weight after a year.

This is considerably less than standard Yorkshire Terriers. On average, these weigh 7 lbs (3.1 kg); making the size difference between the two fairly substantial.

Teacup Yorkies require special care and attention. In light of that, here are a few pieces of advice to help steer you in the right direction:

1. You need to monitor your puppy very carefully. Particularly within the first two weeks of getting him. It’s essential that you make a special effort to note how much he eats, drinks, whether he has enough energy to play, and how regularly he goes to the toilet. Teacup Yorkies suffer from hypoglycemia so any changes to the above could be an indicator that a fatal seizure is imminent.
2. Don’t allow your Teacup Yorkie access to the entirety of your house straight away. Instead, designate a specific room where they’ll feel warm and comfortable. It’s best for them to adjust to their new surroundings gradually, so he doesn’t get too overwhelmed. Teacup Yorkies are easily panicked, be sure to ease them in.
3. Offer him a comfortable, cozy bed he can climb on and off of easily. It’s of paramount importance your Toy Yorkshire Terrier pup isn’t forced to jump to reach his sleeping area. Their bones are fragile and easily break, the last thing you want is a nasty accident. This also means you shouldn’t leave him alone with furniture he could jump from, i.e., a chair or a sofa.
4. Keep your eyes peeled. These dogs are incredibly small, so they’re easy to trip over and accidentally kick if you don’t see them coming. Take particular care when walking around your home.
5. If your Teacup Yorkie is between 4 to 8 weeks old, you shouldn’t bath him. Instead, use baby wipes or a damp towel to clean him gently. After you’ve washed your pup, dry him thoroughly. This is vital because they get very cold, quickly. This can be dangerous as well as uncomfortable for your puppy.
6. Teacup Yorkies hardly shed so their coats are super easy to maintain and they considered “hypoallergenic”

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Childhood Celebrity Crushes - 195

Almost everyone has childhood celebrity crushes. To prove it, I asked around and received an overwhelming number of responses. On this episode of the Soul Forge Podcast, we will be going over these lists. For our purpose, the term celebrity is wide open. We  have people who loved singers, actors, actresses, cartoon characters and video game avatars. Stay tuned for a fun list of childhood celebrity crushes.

This episode started off innocently enough. Episodes lately have been kind of heavy. The topics have not been light-hearted. On episode 329 of The Rusted Robot Podcast, I mentioned I had a crush on Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years. Richard, our loyal listener from Australia said that everyone had a crush on Winnie. Naturally, this got me thinking about the other childhood celebrity crushes that I had. Then I thought it might be fun to get examples from other people.

On this episode, you will hear many different perspectives. I got voice clips from co-workers. I got email from listeners. Texts from friends. A huge list on Facebook. Fellow podcasters chimed in. This episode is completely filled with love from our childhoods. In fact, at the end of the show, there's a clip of celebrities talking about their childhood celebrity crushes!

To help support the podcast, click the donate link here: https://ko-fi.com/rustedsoul

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Behind Castle Walls - 194

Ryan Castle from the 2 Stoned Dudes Podcast joins Shawn for a chat about his life, his podcast, his self-esteem issues, and a bit of everything else under the sun!

Ryan is a man from Arizona. Of the many careers he has had, professional wrestler, and member of the US Marine Corps are two of them. We talk briefly about wrestling and the marine corps, and then transition over to how Ryan lost his virginity. Punched in the face for love on multiple occasions, Ryan has lead quite an interesting life. It turns out that having a rough upbringing in childhood can lead to fighting dirty in love relationships.

The episode concludes with talk about some very personal issues. The main topic we cover is self-esteem and addiction recovery. Ryan is a member of Narcotics Anonymous and has also been involved with other 12 Step programs. Recovery, addiction, isolation and self-esteem issues are touched on and explained.

In conclusion, Ryan tells us to tell people what we want. A closed mouth does not get fed. Stand up for who you are and you are less likely to be walked on and over.

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Stench of Cancel Culture - 193

The stench of 'cancel culture' is everywhere these days.

This episode is another one of my imfamous walk and talks. Several times per year, I like to record an episode as I am out and about delivering the mail. I find these types of shows to be more authentic, as whatever I'm saying just comes out naturally. It can be difficult to carry on a monologue while doing a decent job and attempting not to slip, trip or fall.

A bit of a grab bag, this episode touches on several topics. As mentioned, cancel culture is a big part of this show. I touch on the removal of historical statues and the removal of Pepe Le Pew from all upcoming Looney Tunes projects. I completely forgot to bring up the recent decision by the Dr. Seuss estate to stop publishing several 'controversial' books.

Also in this episode, I talk about family history that has recently come to light. It turns out that there are a lot of things about my family that I was not aware of. In addition, I have had a realization about my friend Rene's family and the naming conventions of his kids. And this leads into some Star Trek talk. My oldest friend recently sent me some hand-made props.

If you would like to support the podcast, the easiest way is to make a donation to my |Kofi account. You can do that at https://ko-fi.com/rustedsoul

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Parental Alienation - 192

What is parental alienation? This week's guest is Mike, the head of the ESO Network. Mike is here to talk about his experience with parental alienation. Parental alienation describes the breakdown of the relationship between a child and one of the child's parents, when there is no valid justification for that breakdown. When parental alienation is found to exist between a parent and child, the alienation is attributed to inappropriate actions and behavior by the other parent.

Parental alienation describes a process through which a child becomes estranged from a parent as the result of the psychological manipulation of another parent. The child's estrangement may manifest itself as fear, disrespect or hostility toward the distant parent, and may extend to additional relatives or parties. The child's estrangement is disproportionate to any acts or conduct attributable to the alienated parent. Parental alienation can occur in any family unit, but is believed to occur most often within the context of family separation, particularly when legal proceedings are involved, although the participation of professionals such as lawyers, judges and psychologists may also contribute to conflict.

The theory of parental alienation has been asserted within legal proceedings as a basis for awarding custody to a parent who alleges estrangement, or to modify custody in favor of that parent. Courts have generally rejected parental alienation as a valid scientific theory, but some courts have allowed the concept to be argued as relevant to the determination of the child's best interest when making a custody determination. Legal professionals recognize that alienating behaviors are common in child custody cases, but are cautious about accepting the concept of parental alienation.

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The Map of Tiny Perfect Things - 191

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things is a 2021 American science fiction romantic comedy-drama film directed by Ian Samuels, from a screenplay by Lev Grossman, based upon his short story of the same name. It stars Kathryn Newton and Kyle Allen.

Mark, a teenage boy, has been stuck in a time loop, repeating the same day over and over again. Because of his knowledge of what will happen, and the freedom from consequences provided by the time loop, he spends much of his day engaging in random bizarre activities, such as driving construction machinery through town. At the community pool, he makes repeated attempts to impress a pretty girl by trying to save her from being knocked into the water by a thrown beach ball. One day, a girl named Margaret unexpectedly intervenes. Mark tracks her down and discovers that she is also living in the same time loop. 

A Map of Tiny Perfect Things is not only the name of the film, and the name of this episode, but also a great way of looking at the world. Each and every one of us lives inside a map based on our feelings and experiences. This movie is definitely worth a viewing. It will make you think in new and unique ways. While not a perfect film, it certainly has something to say about life and living. This is the first movie review episode of the Soul Forge Podcast. If you like this style of episode, perhaps we will do more of them in the future.

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I Bought A New Car - 190

I bought a new car! I thought about it for a very long time. There was research. And there were test driving sessions. Money and budget was a concern. So many variable go into the thought process of purchasing a new vehicle. It can be extremely stressful.

This episode of the Soul Forge Podcast is all about the car buying process. What type of vehicle? Do I want a car? Or perhaps a minivan. What about a truck? Maybe a fully loaded and tricked out SUV. Too many options to consider can be a real problem.

Therefore, this episode talks about the entire process. I also talk about the reservations and hesitancy I felt about spending all that money. And yet, I bought a new car. And I'm going to tell you all about it. I'm also going to talk about the feelings that come with the process. There is a part of me that feels like I do not deserve to have nice things. And maybe I should not be spending the money. Hold on to your hats as you embark on the car buying journey with me.

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The King of Obsolete - 189

Joey Barnes (Ice Road Truckers) is the king of obsolete. He joins us here on episode 189 of the Soul Forge Podcast. We talk about his current life, his Ice Road Trucker days, and the books he has been busy writing during the lockdown. The king of obsolete has many stories to share.

In a remote corner of Manitoba, Joey “The King of Obsolete” Barnes has deemed his plot of land  “The Kingdom,” and it’s filled with vintage CATs and trucks from the 1930s to the 1970s. Many of the vehicles are rarities, and he’s re-engineered many of them into his own unique pieces of equipment.

On this episode, you will hear about Naughty Natalie and Love is Trust. We talk about Joey's 1937 Dodge hotrod truck and his time with the bikers of the 1980s. We also spend some time talking about his writing process. Joey believes in one-shot writing, where there is little to no editing involved.

The following is copied from his website and is a list of his books:

Naughty Natalie Series (3 book series) Paperback Edition (amazon.com)

Amazon.com: Dominatrix School: Failing Military Marriage (9798700687997): Barnes KoO, Joey: Books

Amazon.com: Love is Trust: Summer of Fun 1985 eBook: Barnes, Joey: Kindle Store

My Wasted Youth: Alexander Manitoba: Barnes KoO, Joey: 9798700173766: Amazon.com: Books

The Corvette Stingray

Art Bookbindery Recovery Plates

No Fear No Common Sense Flying ---- 10th book

Misc Stories ---- 9th book

The 4 book series on Naughty Natalie are books 5,6,7,8

 Oh My, This is Not Fun ---- 8th book

 Dominatrix School Book ---- 7th book

Love is Trust Book ---- 6th book

My Wasted Youth Alexander MB Book ---- 5th book

King of Obsolete Books Series are book 1,2, (3,4 are not in print)

KoO Book Set ---- 1st & 2nd books

Check out Joey's website at www.kingofobsolete.ca

Get his books on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08V17R5XB?ref_=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_tkin&binding=kindle_edition&fbclid=IwAR1lkmx2tAq5Q8JWntPm1i6HxOPn_ES7RKXP3Hviur5QFKv94OH5HlU3cJw

He's on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzEFqMtbWfRYPoOOl89M7sg/videos?fbclid=IwAR3AkEKEzddSh0Wg9jaCBfgayOIjXXcM46MEzh7aYp6foJQeXip7JyetMxE

You can support the podcast at https://ko-fi.com/rustedsoul

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Hoetry Poetry with Darin Lee - 188

Hoetry. It's poetry about women, sex, connection and pain. Poet Darin Lee stops by the Soul Forge to talk about his latest book, Hoetry.

Who is Darin Lee? He just might be your new favourite poet. Darin has been many things in his life. Besides dabbling in digital marketing, Darin also worked on submarines when he was in the navy. His 2 older brothers are part of his inspiration regarding writing and artistry.

When it comes to writing, Darin has many goals. Future plans include more poetry and self-help books. Other interests include history, politics and possible short stories for children.

Darin's primary focus in Hoetry is the theme of connection. Sometimes this manifests as a lack of connection in some of the writings. He focuses on pain and uncomfortable situations. Hurting, healing and making love are likely the 3 main themes of his work. Chaos and order are also a major part of his poetry.

To purchase a copy of Hoetry, you can simply go to Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/hoetry-Darin-Lee-ebook/dp/B08QVB1JL1/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hoetry&qid=1612311337&sr=8-1

You can also get a signed copy by messaging Darin on Instagram via https://www.instagram.com/darinlee_/

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