Send me a text message! I’d love to hear from you!
Who says you can't wear many hats and excel in all of them? Just ask Scott Posner, a financial advisor, regional leader, licensed Marine captain, private pilot, scuba diver, expert skier, marathon runner, long distance cyclist, self proclaimed volunteer addict, and a dedicated husband and father. Discover his inspirational journey, driven by passion, stepping out of his comfort zone, and creating a legacy. From an enriching conversation about his incredible mother, to how he ventured into the financial advising business, you're in for an incredible ride of motivation and life lessons.
As host, Meghan also weighs in on Scott's role as a financial advisor and his dedication to creating positive impacts in people's lives. But it's not all figures and financial markets. We discuss the importance of volunteering as well. Hear about Scott's dedication to the Deepwells Farm Historical Society and Edward Jones Investments' fight against Alzheimer's disease. And if you're a fan of adventure and supernatural experiences, you'll want to hear about his experiences in the legitimately haunted Deepwells Farmhouse!
As we wind down, we reflect on Scott's family life and the value of travel and adventure. We navigate through the challenging times and how they've found strength in humor, positivity, and each other. Additionally, we underline the transformative power of volunteering and how it can lead to personal growth and community development. As the holiday season approaches, join us as we explore the joy of giving back to our communities and the promises we make to ourselves.
Thank you for tuning in to Meghan's podcast!
Remember, we are all made for more!
Intro voiceovers by her family: son, Billy Alexander; daughter, Mackenzie Alexander; and husband, Bill Alexander.
Music by Bill Alexander
Produced by Bill Alexander
Send me a text message! I’d love to hear from you!
Who says you can't wear many hats and excel in all of them? Just ask Scott Posner, a financial advisor, regional leader, licensed Marine captain, private pilot, scuba diver, expert skier, marathon runner, long distance cyclist, self proclaimed volunteer addict, and a dedicated husband and father. Discover his inspirational journey, driven by passion, stepping out of his comfort zone, and creating a legacy. From an enriching conversation about his incredible mother, to how he ventured into the financial advising business, you're in for an incredible ride of motivation and life lessons.
As host, Meghan also weighs in on Scott's role as a financial advisor and his dedication to creating positive impacts in people's lives. But it's not all figures and financial markets. We discuss the importance of volunteering as well. Hear about Scott's dedication to the Deepwells Farm Historical Society and Edward Jones Investments' fight against Alzheimer's disease. And if you're a fan of adventure and supernatural experiences, you'll want to hear about his experiences in the legitimately haunted Deepwells Farmhouse!
As we wind down, we reflect on Scott's family life and the value of travel and adventure. We navigate through the challenging times and how they've found strength in humor, positivity, and each other. Additionally, we underline the transformative power of volunteering and how it can lead to personal growth and community development. As the holiday season approaches, join us as we explore the joy of giving back to our communities and the promises we make to ourselves.
Thank you for tuning in to Meghan's podcast!
Remember, we are all made for more!
Intro voiceovers by her family: son, Billy Alexander; daughter, Mackenzie Alexander; and husband, Bill Alexander.
Music by Bill Alexander
Produced by Bill Alexander
Hello and welcome to. We Are Made For More. I'm your host, megan Alexander, and this is my podcast, and tonight I have a new guest with me and it is Scott Posner, a dear friend from St James, new York, and we're going to get right into it, hi, scotty. Hello.
Speaker 2:Megan.
Speaker 1:Am I allowed to call you Scotty?
Speaker 2:You can call me whatever you want.
Speaker 1:Just don't call you late for dinner. I hate that joke. I don't know where that came from. These are just like the life things that happen when you're recording and you don't know what's going to come out. But thanks so much for joining me.
Speaker 2:On what we'll call the Jump the Shark episode.
Speaker 1:Jump the Shark? I don't think so. I don't think so. It's funny. My kids have told me that, as I've started these podcasts, that I'm too serious. As I get started and I'm doing it again now they're like Mom, you got to loosen up, just have a good time. Just, you know, get it going. But this is what it is. We're going to have some fun, you ready?
Speaker 2:I'm ready.
Speaker 1:Okay, so for our listeners out there, I'm going to tell them a little bit about you, scott, and we've known each other for 20 years, but not everybody else here knows who you are, so let me share a little bit about Scott Posner. So Scott is married let's start with that fun fact. Actually, debbie is here in the recording studio with us, so welcome Debbie as well. And he's a father to two amazing young ladies, rebecca and Juliana. And let's see, he's got a plethora of facts. We're going to touch on these throughout the night, but some of the things I want to share, to highlight to get us going, is he's an Edward Jones financial advisor. That's the right word.
Speaker 1:We'll talk a little bit more about each of these things, but he's got a lot of really cool things about himself, like he's scuba certified, he's a private pilot, he has a motorcycle license, he's licensed Marine captain. And listen, I'm not going to go through all of the facts right now because I think that's what's going to unfold as we talk tonight, but the amount of volunteer activities that Scott does is quite remarkable and it's really amazing All of the different hats that he wears in life. And, like I said, I've known you 20 years, but, as I think about the people that I want to bring on and talk to, it's people that have inspired me and certainly have inspired a ton of other people, and you certainly came to mind right away, so that's why you're here tonight.
Speaker 2:Why? Thank you.
Speaker 1:But why do you think this is a jump the shark episode?
Speaker 2:Well, I saw your other three guests and they were phenomenally interesting. And now there's me, and you know, let's face it, out of everyone in my life, I'm the least interesting.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't, I don't, I don't agree with that. You know my sisters, I do.
Speaker 2:One of them started an incredibly successful preschool in Brooklyn on her own that's been up and running for 10 years. The other one started a company, brooklyn Piggies, that made it on Oprah's best gift ideas within two years. The other one is a singer traveling all over Europe made the blues hall of fame immediately. And then there's me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, wow, that's it. It is amazing as you talk like that, because you have a family of incredible superstars and maybe some of them will be guests on the show. We'll have to see how this plays out as we go, but you're right, you've got a really talented family, and that's something that's always inspired me is I'm like who is this pose in her family? They all just they're not afraid to just jump in and try new things in life. All of you guys, I mean listen to the things that you just said. I mean, missy is one of them that owns Brooklyn Piggies, and every time I've talked to her she's creating something new, whether she's designing handbags or serial entrepreneur, to say the least serial entrepreneur, to say the least.
Speaker 1:So anyway, scott, we'd love to talk a little bit about. Let's even start there. What do you think it is about your family that makes everyone so like I guess, eager or to get out there in life and explore and do it all?
Speaker 2:It starts with our mom. So my mom friend, who's her own force of nature and the most incredibly kind, sweet, generous person, and wherever you go I mean anywhere you're going to find someone whose life she impacted. We were sitting in a restaurant in Venice, Italy, and from across the room we hear someone scream is that Fran Posner? Oh, my gosh.
Speaker 2:She's been a wait watcher like sure for over 40 years, until she retired recently, and talk about making a positive, impactful difference. And then our father was. I think the best way to describe me is Captain Kirk. Without the ship, he was his own incredible force of nature. They taught us very different things in very different ways and I think that's led to each of my sisters being pretty amazing. Right Me just trying to keep up.
Speaker 1:You're so funny, you're so humble. It's definitely a quality about you that's evident. It always has been. I mean, I'm going to just tell everybody out there Scott's the kind of person that will ride a 50 mile bike ride and he'll do circles around everybody. He'll be able to go up ahead, come back, make sure everybody's doing well and then make everyone else feel like a superstar. Do you know that that's a quality about yourself?
Speaker 2:No, but I do know that I have an assignment on the rides. If you remember, I was what they would call the bone, because there was a certain rider that had too much energy and my job was to sprint out ahead and make this certain rider chase us, because it was like a dog chasing a bone to expend their energy because they had so much. And and Megan, you were that dog that we were trying to tire out because yet talk about someone being special we had these amazing group rides and we had so much fun and it just besides the exercise, more than anything it was the social aspect. And, boy, you don't give yourself enough credit because we were all suffering just to tire you out.
Speaker 1:Right, that's yeah gosh. Just so funny as you're sitting there I'm like you're talking about me back in the day I'll share with everybody that we used to be. But guess, we formed our own bike club, our own Peloton, if you will, because my husband and your wife and we had, um, I guess, four at least four other people are like eight of us that would do it at times, but we started by all getting a road bike because you encouraged us to do it. I remember being afraid to ride with the clips oh, they don't not call clips clipless pedals.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay. I don't know why it's clipless, because you clip in, but clip in, but um, you encouraged me to get my first road bike and then that led to be getting my husband a road bike Next thing. You know we're biking on every Sunday. Do you remember that?
Speaker 2:I was. I remember those days so fine yeah.
Speaker 1:It has been a while. It's probably been 10 years already. I want to say if you.
Speaker 2:well, it's like riding a bike, it's like riding a bike.
Speaker 1:But I remember we started out with maybe 10 mile rides and then you're like, oh, let's, let's do 20. We could do 20 miles and I'm like 20 miles. I mean, back then it was, it was new for me, so we did 25. Next thing, you know, scott, is um getting us to ride 50 mile bike rides, and that was new for us. But you just have a way of, uh, encouraging everybody. I don't know if you know you do that. Oh, thanks, I was just having fun, You're just having fun. But let's, let's extend that a little bit. Let's talk, since we're in cycling, let's talk about something.
Speaker 1:Scott, my biggest ride was 60 miles. I know that yours is significantly more than that. Share with everybody. What's your your longest ride?
Speaker 2:So my longest ride is 565 miles. It was supposed to be 545 miles over seven days, but it was an extra 20 miles cause we're taking detours to get ice cream. And for anyone that has any interest in bicycling and making a difference at the same time, I would highly recommend um looking into many different rides, but one that that I did was Empire State Ride and it's empire state ridecom. It's a. It's a seven day ride from Staten Island to Niagara Falls to raise money for cancer research for the Roswell Institute, and each dollar we raised is exponentially matched by grant work. And what's incredible is seeing the difference you're making along the route. Each night we have different guests come speaking with us, but can I tell you my most inspirational?
Speaker 1:story. Yeah, I'd love to hear it.
Speaker 2:So the first year I decided to do it, my family was incredibly supportive but thought I was out of my mind for doing it.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. It does sound crazy.
Speaker 2:And we did the ride and I did it with my, my brother-in-law Key, and my cousin David, who had introduced us to the ride, and we did it. My family met us along the way. It was incredibly exciting and they got to see the dinners and and we go up to Niagara Falls and I we're standing by the falls the next morning and my wife's with me, and she said you know, I think I want to do this next year.
Speaker 1:Wow yeah.
Speaker 2:And she rode with us a little bit. So, sure enough, the very next year Debbie did the ride, did the entire ride.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:All 545 miles. Yes, and I mean not only did the ride but did it rather well, raising over $10,000 herself in that one year. Our team, which is toward a Ted and named after our company's founder, who passed from cancer, wow, and it's a privilege to race close to $100,000 in the five years we've been doing it.
Speaker 1:That's remarkable. It really is something to be proud of. So Debbie is in the room with us and I wish I could interview her. I don't have a mic on Debbie, but do you, could you? Could you help us? You know, remember why? Why did Debbie want to do the ride?
Speaker 2:Well, I'll tell you why. Debbie was my inspiration for doing the ride. Debbie was diagnosed with cancer and came through it like a champion and besides coming through this, this horrible disease has made a difference in so many other people's lives, and that's really something that is so important to me, and I directly attribute that to my mother, who couldn't keep track of all the uniforms she had to wear because she was volunteering for Boy Scouts, cub Scouts, girl Scouts all at the same time, then going to cancer care meetings, and I just really admired. That type of person wants to make a difference. So Debbie came through her battle amazingly well and then decided she's going to make a difference, and that led to her taking this on and talk about a great example she's been for our kids in doing all this.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, it's a, it's a. Really it's a great story. And how many times have you done the ride now?
Speaker 2:Five, five times.
Speaker 1:I didn't realize it was that much. And every time you've done it, haven't you like, brought in other family members and yeah, the year that Debbie did it with us, we had the largest group.
Speaker 2:Okay Think there were 12 of us, wow, two of my three sisters and we had some cousins doing it.
Speaker 1:And that was that was an incredible year.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I remember, and you do a great job of posting it on social media and getting people to get excited about it and, like you said, you know, donate for an incredible cause while you're doing this remarkable thing. So I love that story. I'm so glad we shared it. I've thought about doing it with you in the past. I don't know if I could handle it these days as we get older, it gets, it gets harder. But you guys are certainly an inspiration on that. So just to kind of stay a little bit close to the fitness part of it, you've also done some marathons, right? How many marathons have you been?
Speaker 2:I've done two full and about 12 halves. I think I remember seeing you on a few of those.
Speaker 1:I did one half with you. That was years ago too, but again, I did it because of you. As we sit here and talk about this, you're reminding me all of these things I've done and kind of the fitness world in that way. Um, you and your family have inspired me to do it, so thank you for that.
Speaker 2:My pleasure.
Speaker 1:In fact, your sister Sarah ran the last, I think, three miles with me of the the half marathon and we were chatting the whole time, so that was awesome too. But um, oh, I wanted to. Let's just continue on this in this track skiing. We didn't even write that on your list of things that you do, but you're kind of a ski addict.
Speaker 2:We love skiing, don't we?
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, not me. You love skiing.
Speaker 2:And I love it because we get to spend time. My favorite part of skiing is being in the gondola or on the chairlift with my wife and daughters and singing.
Speaker 1:Really.
Speaker 2:That's like my favorite part of skiing.
Speaker 1:I think wasn't it you that did you make up a song with my kids on a chairlift yes I wasn't there for that, but I think I remember hearing you did that Because I needed singing.
Speaker 2:When I started skiing, I was petrified. I don't like heights, okay, so singing was the only way when Sarri and I my sister started skiing, we'd actually sing to calm ourselves down.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Going up to chairlift.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love it, I love it, but anyway. So I think, if anyone's listening out there and I hope people are that is the goal of this, but you kind of get the gist of who Scott is. You're kind of an extremist in some ways. I don't know if you realize that, but I'm going to tell you from marathons to 540 mile plus bike rides, you don't just ski, you ski fast and you love really good gear. Yes, yes, Right, of course, why? Yeah, tell us about that. How do you get the best gear? Why is that important?
Speaker 2:It's all in the research. To me, that's part of the fun is getting. When you have a passion for something, you want to get to know all about it. Whether it's bicycling, planes, boats, skiing, you would like to be informed and, let's face it, everything changes all the time.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And that's part of a desire to always want to learn and keep up with things. Isn't that great. You have the opportunity to constantly engage in something you really enjoy and learn new things. Absolutely, absolutely I totally agree.
Speaker 1:In fact, I'm now thinking too. I've also been with you when you've been water skiing that's another thing I've seen you do and I water ski with you and everyone in this room my husband, debbie and that was a blast. But I'm hearing even a theme, and I tend to do this with everyone I talk to. I like the conversation just comes out and then the theme hits me, and I think your presence that encourages other people to step out of their comfort zone and try something new, because I probably would have never gotten on those water skis if it weren't for you either.
Speaker 2:What's that old saying? No growth comes from your comfort zone.
Speaker 1:All right, that's right. You've got to get out of the comfort zone and try new things. Right. So what about you in your life? What have you done that's out of your comfort zone? Because it seems like all these things you just go for it. Everything, Really.
Speaker 2:I was raised a very shy, quiet person. It wasn't until 10th grade where a classmate turned around and said you know, you're really too quiet.
Speaker 2:And then I just thought I have to be a little louder. Or the first time I gave a speech in high school where I started talking and everyone in the front row is going like this and I didn't know why. And then this they finally said stop, okay. And I said what happened? They said you're talking so fast. No one can hear what you're saying because I'm so nervous. So then I just thought I got to get better at that. You know, I can read everyone's future.
Speaker 1:Okay, how so?
Speaker 2:And it's pretty bad, but you know we're all going to end up right.
Speaker 1:Oh, there you go. Yeah, we're not going to be here forever.
Speaker 2:Right, and there's a wonderful poem. So, friends that we both with you know, liz and Jeff, yes, their boat is named the dash, great poem by Ellis. The dash signifies on your birth. On your tombstone there's the year you were born and the year you passed, but it's the dash in the middle that makes all the difference. I love that.
Speaker 2:So the key and I think that's kind of what we live every day in our family is what are you doing with the dash? I love it you know how are you going to make an impactful, positive difference? We all have. You know you have kids, by the way. Your kids need to be a guest. Thank you, you have the most incredible kids. What did you guys do I?
Speaker 1:don't know it wasn't me Right, and I look at our kids.
Speaker 2:I just say, you know, I'm incredibly lucky that I married really well. I have these great kids. You sure did, but that's part of how are you leaving? What wake are you leaving in a boat when you go by? There's a wake, yeah, and sometimes that wake can be damaging if you're going too fast, or if you drop a pebble and a pond, it creates ripples. What kind of ripples are we leaving during our dash?
Speaker 1:That's profound. I love these kind of moments in this conversation when you say that's what it's about. Right it is is the dash. What are we doing while we're here? What difference are we making?
Speaker 2:What are we doing to leave it better for the people that come after us? Because, let's face it, it's pretty good right.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:And it's pretty good because someone before us did something pretty good.
Speaker 1:You bet.
Speaker 2:So there's no accident. So I think it's incumbent on us to keep making it better.
Speaker 1:I'm with you, scott, I'm with you. So let's shift a little bit to your work life a little. You know we do work. Yes, you've made a good living and we kind of kicked off by saying that you're a financial advisor here on Long Island. Do you want to talk a little bit about that? How you got into that, how did you get into that business to begin with?
Speaker 2:That's a. I got into it because I saw an incredible need in my own family. We weren't raised with financial literacy. My grandfather was the first one who taught me a bit about why you should invest and it really changed his life and I kind of found my way into it a little bit by accident. Actually, I found the company I'm with by a big accident probably one of the luckiest things that ever happened, because we share the same ideals.
Speaker 2:It's all about partnering for positive impacts, not just with our clients but with our communities. So our company is the national presenting sponsor for the Alzheimer's walks all over the country, Raised over $38 million, because we see Alzheimer's is terrible disease that afflicts the innocent. It's people who have planned and done so well for their lives and then all of a sudden they wake up one day and their lives get stolen away and it's not just affecting them, it's affecting their families and I'm so proud to be with a company that decided to pick up the mantle of. We want to make a difference in this and we're committed to do this year after year.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Could you say the name of the company?
Speaker 2:Edward Jones investments.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's fantastic and you're based in.
Speaker 2:I'm in St James. Okay, just started there in 1998. Yeah, just a couple years ago. Just a couple years ago.
Speaker 1:Exactly, but you know, could you share a little bit about what your position is there and what exactly?
Speaker 2:Sure, I'm a financial advisor and really what we do is we help people identify what's really most important to them and work together to help them meet their long term goals. Not just financially, though. I mean. If you, if you talk about how do you have a happy life? People make the mistake of money. Well, no, money's a part of it, but there's a lot more. And health. There's no health in money's meaningless. You know there's friends and family. You know what is your social connections. There's your purpose, what's getting you up every day? And then there's the financial aspect. Right.
Speaker 2:So I have the privilege of really getting to know our select group of clients working in partnership with them. I've got a great office staff that helps us Caroline who works in the office is absolutely wonderful and we get to know our clients. We care greatly for them and help them meet the goals that are important to them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, you're doing really important work and I'll just put a plug here for you, because you're also a financial advisor to my husband and I, so we appreciate you and I don't think enough people take those things that you just said into consideration. I think some people think it's not for them, or maybe they don't have enough money to put aside or what have you, because I have a lot of people in that category in my life and you've helped us to see it, doesn't? It doesn't matter, like how much you have. It could be a small amount, but how are you going to save for the future? Because, like you said, we're not here forever and we're not going to work forever, right? So how do you?
Speaker 2:correct. Yeah, hopefully. Hopefully you might not. I mean, my father was 89 years old. Yeah he placed tennis four days a week and he's still talking about his next fire truck deal.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:And here I am. My whole life is predicated on about helping people prepare for and live into retirement and what they're going to do with their assets later on. And people ask me when am I going to retirement? I don't want to. I love what I do. Why would I stop retiring?
Speaker 1:That's fabulous.
Speaker 2:We just renovated our office. Talked about commitment. I doubled down on our office. Actually, my wife now owns the building that I work in and we just renovated the downstairs. So I'm committed for a long time, You're committed for a while.
Speaker 1:Very true, very true, but anyway. So I feel like that's obviously a huge component in your life. But, as you said before, that leads into the volunteer work that you do, and you do a lot of it. So you know, I have a list in front of me for those of you that aren't watching, but we have a list. I'd love to have you just kind of share some of these things you know from a Rotary board member, chamber of Commerce person of the decade. You're a self-proclaimed volunteer addict. You've been named the Suffolk County of Long Island Volunteer of the Year and there's one really significant one that I want to mention as well a founder and president of the Deep Wells Farm Historical Society. I know I've just named a lot, but the reason I'm kind of throwing them out there at once is I use the word before plethora. How do you like that, billy? I'm trying to use some bigger words. Seriously, that's a lot. How do you find the time for these things and what is the enjoyment factor for you?
Speaker 2:It's too much, isn't it?
Speaker 1:No, I guess it's never enough in your book.
Speaker 2:You know, when I got the volunteer of the year for Suffolk County, I think it was my wife who said oh, there's something to be proud of. You did the most for nothing out of everyone in Suffolk County. That is what that award is.
Speaker 2:That is something to be proud of you know it's picture kids sandbox, right, we all have a sandbox that we live and play in and I guess I always wanted to make an impact on our sandbox. So Deep Wells came about when my kids were little and we saw this historic house. It's owned by Suffolk County and we weren't getting enough use out of it and the county couldn't really support it financially. So they were kind enough to go into partnership with the Deep Wells Farm Historical Society that a group of us formed and allow us to do programs that not only support the house but are really fun for the community. And I got to raise my kids going to concerts and movie nights and fall festivals and playing Simon Says and they still talk about it to this day. And now we've evolved into doing this crazy, huge haunted house.
Speaker 1:And it's amazing. I mean it's amazing, it's coming up now. Actually, this is the perfect time to promote it.
Speaker 2:Friday, the 13th, and then it's open for three weekends Fridays and Saturdays and it's very scary. Yes, it is An incredible group of volunteers that put all this together. It's our main fundraiser that allows us to do all the upkeep, maintenance and repair on the house. Not only that, we're able to help the county with the general store. That's great. You know, budgets are strained, as everyone knows, and the general store is having a lighting issue, so we were able to go in and redo all their lighting for them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so how many years have you been doing the haunted house? Oh gosh, that's a, it's been a while now, I think 12 years. Is it 12 years?
Speaker 2:Maybe even more. The haunted house started by accident and it just has been growing each year.
Speaker 1:That's what I've noticed. We've come a number of years. In fact, I volunteered a couple of times to be a scary person behind a door with Debbie and I can attest to how. First of all, how thrilling it is and it is scary, like you've got all these different rooms set up, and it's also really transcended to the outdoors.
Speaker 2:Well, don't forget, we are doing a haunted house in a legitimately haunted house. Okay, it's in multiple books, ghost of Long Island, it's featured in there and we have a number of incidents going on. I'm what they call a skeptic. I'm not an outward believer of this, but I hear enough people tell me some crazy experiences going on.
Speaker 1:I was going to ask if you had any, because you've been at that house many times. Have you had any experiences? We've had a lot. You have.
Speaker 2:So one of my favorites is when the haunted house started to get bigger. We had to have rules. So one of the rules is you have to scare in place. You can't follow people around because it's tight and it's dark, and at the end we would ask people what was your favorite part? And a lot of people kept talking about the little bride. Okay.
Speaker 2:But then they kept talking about how she was just so eerie, the way she floated after us down the hall and I'm oh darn, someone's following people down the hall, yeah she just floated around. It was amazing. This little bride was unbelievable, uh-oh. So at the end of the night we have a meeting in the big volunteer room and I'm asking okay, so who's the little bride? Little bride, little bride, and no one's coming forward.
Speaker 1:Oh boy.
Speaker 2:And no, we couldn't find the little bride. A week later, our paranormalist, who will be at the haunted house, Joji and Quinto does something and he says you know, I'm getting a very strong connection with a little girl in a communion dress. And I said a communion dress, does that look like a wedding gown? Uh you know, so sure enough it does. We have pictures that were taken, that the person who used to put our two still does put our tents up zoomed in and there's a pick of a face in the window.
Speaker 1:Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 2:Or just two years ago, I went to open up the house for the sprinkler maintenance and they were very upset when I got there. I was, I got there at 8.01. Okay, it's supposed to meet them at 8. And they were really upset and I said I'm sorry, I'm, I'm a minute late, A minute, yeah. No, who's the guy inside? The guy he gave us the dirtiest looks and he wouldn't open the door for us. And I said, oh, we're decorating for the haunted house. You must have seen one of the figures which window. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And they pointed to the back door at the parlor where we have all the music events, and there was nothing in that room. Oh my. God and they said no. He spread the curtains apart and glared at us. Wow, so they would not go in the house. So I had to go in the basement with them on the phone telling me what I needed to do.
Speaker 1:They were spooked. They knew something was right what was that. What do you think about all this?
Speaker 2:I'm a skeptic. Okay, the one thing I'll say, and I'm still a skeptic. But when I'm there late at night, one night in particular, I out loud said you know, I don't believe in this. You'd have to give me a strong sign. And as I walked out the door, my pickup door slammed shut. Oh geez, and it's a very heavy. Donor is no wins. So I said, oh, that's a good one, but I'm still a skeptic.
Speaker 1:Right, but you know what? You're there a lot and you're still here with us.
Speaker 2:Correct.
Speaker 1:Everything seems OK, and so I'll take another moment to plug the Deep Wells mansion. It's October right now, and you're doing it, as you say, friday and Saturday nights.
Speaker 2:Friday, the starting. Friday the 13th and then for the it's three weekends Friday and Saturday nights only. That's fantastic. Tickets are available online If you go to Deep Wells, the Facebook page will be there.
Speaker 1:We'll definitely promote it everybody, but I've been there and it's a blast so I highly recommend checking it out. But you do a lot of things for fun too. Like you're not that any of the things we just said are not fun, but some of the fun facts about you that I love we kind of mentioned some earlier is you know your scuba certified, your private pilot like we're talking about airplanes everybody you drive, you could ride it. You drive a motorcycle and you own a boat and you became a captain. So, like I know you talked earlier about you know a little bit of inspiration in your life from your parents to kind of just jump in and do things. But is there anything you haven't done yet that you still want to do?
Speaker 2:Well, if you notice, it's all about going places, yeah, so I want to be sure, if needed, I can fly, ride, dive, I can get places. You know the flying? I got to blame my wife. She brought me my first flying lesson. It's something that I had aspired to do since I was five years old. My first book that I ever read was sticking rudder. My father was an Air Force pilot oh, first generation fighter jet pilot and I always wanted to be like him and do that, but it wasn't until Debbie bought me my first lesson.
Speaker 1:Go Deb.
Speaker 2:I'm a big comfort zone person, believe it or not. It's hard for me to move, but I see that as a constant challenge. And look, look what I live with. You know I got Debbie, who does this incredible bike ride without the prep and training that I did. You know she did train a little bit. I did it with my sister one year who didn't train at all, but didn't?
Speaker 1:both sister Missy and Missy did some training at least?
Speaker 2:Sorry, didn't, didn't train, that's just with sure force of will decide I'm going to do the ride on a bike that they didn't even fit right.
Speaker 1:Maybe this will inspire other people to do the same, to do this ride too.
Speaker 2:Well, I would advise getting ready for just a little bit. A little bit of training, so a little bit, so you're not so stiff, making a more pleasurable experience.
Speaker 1:Exactly, but what it would out of all the things I just mentioned, or any of those like more of a favorite than the other, from scuba diving to piloting a plane or so when you started, you introduced me.
Speaker 2:You said first thing was my wife, yes, second thing was my kids yes, I did. Okay. So that's my priorities. And what I love about every one of those things is that it all involves the family From flying. One of the things you do when you're flying an airplane, before you start the motor, is you scream clear prop. You don't want anyone standing near the prop. Okay, and one of our my thrills was when my daughter was old enough to fly with us. Her job was to scream clear prop. It came out clear pop usually, but all those things are just a thrill because I get to do them. My family, my, my older daughter, became scuba certified and we had Rebecca did Rebecca's scuba certified.
Speaker 1:I did know that because you talked about that. You've seen sharks under there, of course.
Speaker 2:And I made the mistake of showing Debbie the picture of Rebecca with about 30 sharks behind her. Had her, sure it's safe. But and then Rebecca, who you know as very soft right Gentle, I have these two kids that take after Debbie. Debbie did all the traveling when she was a kid. I was. My version of traveling was Epcot. I can see everything in one day. I love Epcot. But we have these kids that are so daring.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, Rebecca went for her open water dive down in Florida where the visibility was about three feet. Good for her. And she's down there and you have to navigate by compass, and so they they. Let me go down to watch the test. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And I was petrified for her because she had to swim away by compass, turn around and swim back, but with no visibility. How do you know? If you're off one degree, you're not going to see us. And I counted, yeah, because she had to make 25 kicks out. I'm counting and in my head it was now uh, oh, plus one, she should be back, plus two, plus three. Right, she's off one degree, because when you turn underwater, how do you know? Luckily, she knew how to use her compass and at plus five, there she came out of the Merck right at us. Okay.
Speaker 2:And afterwards I said Rebecca, what would you have done?
Speaker 1:if you couldn't find her.
Speaker 2:Right away. She knew lost diver surface. She knew the answer right away yeah. And then we have our younger daughter, Julianna, Julie. Julie, Another adventurer. She decided to study abroad and wanted to go where she didn't know anybody Can't believe this.
Speaker 1:She just left right. I wouldn't do that recently.
Speaker 2:And then she left again because she's teaching English now in Valencia, spain, for an entire year and again picked a program where she knew nobody. It's where she wanted to go. Yeah, good for them, he must be so proud of these girls. That's not me. Well no, that's Debbie.
Speaker 1:All right, okay, this is listen. I kudos to your whole family. It's amazing, but you don't give yourself enough credit. I'm just going to put that out there and I know those listening now that know you like I do, will say that I'm right about that.
Speaker 2:Well, I'm sure my mom's probably the only one left at this point. So, mom, hi Fran.
Speaker 1:Hi Fran.
Speaker 2:Again, you had this amazing podcast for the first three.
Speaker 1:You're so funny.
Speaker 2:And now I'm the. I'll apologize in advance.
Speaker 1:No, please don't, Because it's just so fun it really is. I mean, there's other things too, like the amount of travel that you have all done in your family. I mean, how many countries have you been to? Do you keep count?
Speaker 2:I think 27.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But my daughter's, julie's, over 30.
Speaker 1:Is she really?
Speaker 2:She's over 30 because she went and now who knows what, she's going to be up because she's still exploring. Yeah, don't forget, I didn't like traveling until Debbie was the one who introduced me to traveling. Okay, she introduced me to vegetables also. You know, it's funny.
Speaker 1:It's a good match apparently.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I'm not going to say Debbie changed me, because I think change is an insult. You know she didn't marry me, wanted to change me, but she helped me evolve. That's the perfect part, and I got to where I am now because of of Debbie's guidance there and I think we both helped each other evolve in different ways. And I think our daughters kind of the culmination of our ongoing involvement. I mean I look at them and they're way ahead of where I was in their courage and willingness to do things.
Speaker 1:Well it's, you know it's. You're right, though Like I've watched again, no new 20 years. I've watched you and Debbie motivate each other. I've seen you motivate her as well. I've been fortunate enough to be on some trips with you with other friends, like up in Vermont, for example, and I remember a day where we all went out on a bike ride and, okay, we did a great bike ride, we went up these mountainous hills and it was a beautiful view. And then we got back and then we went for this huge swim and then it was like what, what didn't we do? But I think watching you and Debbie inspire all of us. And then oh I forgot to mention this you're a boxer. Next thing you know, you're teaching us all how to box, right, you remember that.
Speaker 2:So we started that day with a hike. We did a bike ride and and I do have a video of you, because at the end of the bike ride and it was after a lot of hills and we were exhausted, and now we're on a dirt, gravelly road and Megan decides to take off- I did. And she looks back and screams kick it into high gear as she takes off into the dust, and I fortunately have that on video.
Speaker 2:I did and it's that spirit, that you know that really I think that's what it was. You know I love the title. We're Made for More right. I just I love that because how many of us I don't think any of us are living up to what we could be doing. Yeah. Because I don't think we wake up with the right mindset typically.
Speaker 1:I love that you're saying that. Tell me more. What do you think that is?
Speaker 2:Because we don't realize that this isn't forever. And again back to that morbid thing. I know everyone's future. I don't know when. But what are you doing each day to make it count and to make a difference? Can you go to bed each night and said that was an enjoyable day? How many of us live in circumstances that are an ideal and we're just kind of used to it? Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, whereas is there something we can do to make it better? I mean, I'm guilty. I need to get in shape, I need to lose weight.
Speaker 1:Hey, I'll get beyond this.
Speaker 2:This is my marathon running week. I mean, I just you look great.
Speaker 1:I think you look great, Scott.
Speaker 2:The good thing about being this way when you run a marathon, people cheer like you wouldn't believe.
Speaker 1:What do you mean?
Speaker 2:I was running with. I had a running group out of St James and and they're all really skinny and they look like runners and you run the New York marathon. We were told, put your name on tape, tape your name, so we'll had our names and tape. And we're running. And all you heard was people cheering for Scott. And I'm running with two sisters, Donna and Nicole, in particular, and they said you know what move? Because I was at the edge and they thought because I was closer, so they made me run in the center and they got to the edge. People would call for that. Nope, they're cheering Scott, because you don't see a lot of big guys like me running a marathon.
Speaker 1:Good for you, first of all. Good for you. I mean, I think like again here you go, again selling yourself short.
Speaker 2:But you know we have our own category. They call us the Clydesdales. How's that for it?
Speaker 1:Well, the Clydesdales are beautiful, so I just want to say that they're beautiful, beautiful creature.
Speaker 2:I want to be a thoroughbred. I'm in the Clydesdale category.
Speaker 1:But, um, you know you're talking about. We are made for more. I'm glad you, I'm glad you touched on that. You know. Clearly that is something important to me. I keep saying this on every episode, at least once that what did we come here to do? Does anyone ever ask themselves that in a given day, it's so easy to get wrapped up in our lives, and whether that's work or what you're doing, or right now I'm going through college application process with my son, or you know the amount of activities my daughter does, and those are all great things. That that's our life, that's what living is. But sometimes I think we get so wrapped up in the things we do that you, you just said it did. We say at the end of the day, did I have you know, was that a great day? Do people ask themselves that enough? Or you just go oh, my God, I'm exhausted, I'm going to sleep. Do you know what I mean? Right, the pause that fit, did we? When do you cherish it? When do you think about it?
Speaker 2:I think I have a little hope for the younger kids than I do for my generation and I look at my in-laws. Unfortunately, we lost my mother-in-law, joan, back in July I'm so sorry. And Joan knew how to have fun and her amazing husband, ralph. They know how to have fun. I mean, they love tennis. They play all the time. They were the ones who had the parties where they would dig a hole and put a pig under the ground and bury it and roast it all day. They would take their kids places I've never heard of you know they. My father-in-law is part of the original explorers club and they knew how to cherish time and do amazingly adventurous, interesting things and have a lot of parties. And.
Speaker 2:I almost think that my generation got so tied into you know, we've got to succeed, We've got to earn more, We've got to advance in life that we're forgetting. We kind of forgot what's important, and and it's is it who we are? Is it what we do, or is who we are who we are? And I just wonder is that a failure? There are so many really successful people out there, right, but is what they're doing to gain that success making an impact positively?
Speaker 1:It's a great point. I love that you just asked that is who we are. What we do, maybe, maybe it is, but maybe it isn't. I think some people define their success by exactly that, like, oh, did I reach the certain level? Right, did, what is that? And it's different for everybody, but sometimes who we are is who we are. What about just that? And thinking about that for a minute and soaking in that we're here for a reason.
Speaker 2:What if you define yourself by things that can be taken from you? If you define yourself by what you do You're a surgeon and, god forbid, you have an accident that doesn't allow you to perform surgery anymore Well then, what are you? So I always think it's healthier to define yourself by who you are and not what you do, because that can't be taken from you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree, I love it. Thank you for pausing and bringing that up. It's definitely an important part of why we're doing this and, like I said before, I wanted to bring you on here. First of all, you have a really interesting life. I'm here to tell you that. You may not think it, but, scott, it's like so fun to read through the list and there's more. I mean like we talked that you're a boxer, but aren't you also ordained? Yes, I'm an ordained minister.
Speaker 2:I had the absolute thrill. This is gonna sound bad when I say I married my sister. I performed the wedding ceremony for my sister. I also performed the wedding ceremony for my nephew Tyler and his wife Nicole, along with her stepdad, and it just I became ordained because I saw this great opportunity to do this really cool thing that I enjoy doing, and actually I also performed at my other sister's Sarah's wedding.
Speaker 1:I know that's amazing and anyone can become ordained.
Speaker 2:It's an internet course, is it? It helps just to take a long time. It's not that hard, it's not that hard.
Speaker 1:But I think you know, as we keep going through it, I love just that. You. It's almost like if there's something to be done, you're the guy that jumps in and does it. That's yeah. Now you're given a look, but it's true. And I could see how the corner of my eye is Debbie his wife is nodding. Yes, and it's true, you're that guy that jumps in and does it. If and that's the thing oh, I'll get ordained, I'll go get my captain's license. So I think that's really inspiring for all the people that are around you in life.
Speaker 2:I think a lot of people are like that. You do, I mean, I do. I look at you and Billy, I look at the entertainment you provided for a whole bunch of us during COVID, the lockdowns, where we were excited, we were giddy about watching the broadcast and the music and it was just, it was a highlight.
Speaker 1:Thank you for saying that that was a fun show for anyone that?
Speaker 1:doesn't know. We did a show during COVID. We called it an evening with the Alexanders and we featured really my husband playing piano and the piano is behind you, scott, in this video clip. But thank you for bringing that up. But you're right, and I said on my last episode that everybody has a story. Everybody obviously has a life story and it's almost like a rhetorical thing to even say that, like that's obvious. But that's the point of bringing people here is to hear about all your different life stories, to hear how do other people navigate, how do other people navigate all the different challenges and still smile every day and come out on top, and you're somebody that does that.
Speaker 2:Well, let's face it, we're all going to have obstacles, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, we sure are.
Speaker 2:You know, and I watched my wife go through a pretty serious health challenge and I watched her make a conscious decision how she was going to handle it. And she handled it with humor, with positivity. We actually got in trouble once during a chemo session for making too much noise.
Speaker 2:We were having so much fun with the other couple that were near us. Next time we went back we got put in chemo detention Because we went to the nice chemo room and they said, oh no, no, you're in chemo B today. We never heard of chemo B. Well, let me. Chemo A had these comfortable lounge chairs, a beautiful window, snacks and TVs at every station. Chemo B was a closet with gauges on the wall with no windows and no snacks.
Speaker 2:And we go into chemo B Wow, what happened? And then three minutes later the other couple we were having fun with walked in. So then we got to laugh at it. Oh, we got put in chemo detention.
Speaker 1:That's hysterical. I love that you make light of it.
Speaker 2:Debbie is well now, and that's not gone, would Not gone, would of course, but that's the positive part of that story.
Speaker 1:So thank goodness for that. Well, a couple more questions. I know we've been talking a while, but I could talk to you all night to be very honest with you. But if you had to kind of say, what are you most proud of? What is something that stands out to you?
Speaker 2:My family. Ok, there you go. Oh, that's it Hands down my family.
Speaker 1:There you go. Let's go to the next question. I actually don't blame you, and for everyone that's been listening to this whole episode, there's a lot of things to be proud of with your family Amazing people.
Speaker 2:I've got an incredible wife who puts up with all the crazy stuff I do, who humors my nutty ideas. I have inspirational children that I'm so proud of and, yeah, I think there's definitely an element of luck. My kids are so different from one to the other, yeah, they are. I'm very lucky that they're both wonderful, but there's definitely an element of luck. We know that so I'm really incredibly lucky.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you are, but you are when we pause and say, of course you are lucky, but clearly you and Debbie are incredible parents that have raised them with the values and the same inspiration that we've been talking about. And, frankly, expectations Not enough people talk about as parents these days. There are expectations of kids and the more that you I'm going to speak for myself that I feel I've had high expectations of my own children and sometimes too tough, but sometimes it's important to be tough.
Speaker 2:OK, so if you're too tough, then I think everyone should go out and get a whip. Because, your kids came out amazing.
Speaker 2:But, I agree with you. I had a really tough father. Fortunately, I had a very understanding mother who balanced it, very loving father, who I had a very adversarial relationship with for most of my life and what was interesting is we became close when the poop hit the fan. We actually became close the last few years. He was alive and I remember my father. We were actually working together in an office one day and he walked in, stood at the door. He said don't worry. I said what? And at this point we were talking multiple times a day on the phone. We were working with each other all day. We really became friends now. I didn't agree with his lifestyle. He didn't understand mine. But he stood at the door and said don't worry. And I what? Don't worry, you're fine, ok? I said what? And he said it a third time. I just want you to know don't worry, it's okay. I said what's okay? And he said you're nothing like me. And.
Speaker 2:I thought that was most impactful statement and it just shows his understanding and he finally came to understand that not only is it okay that we're different, but he had this vision of how my life was going to be and he had shared his regrets. You know, he was the typical workaholic absentee father who would come home and it would be a giant storm when he was there and he knew that I was on a different path and he didn't understand that a lot. And again, this happened before I even had kids. He just saw that I was different and he wanted to tell me at that point, you're going to be fine, my regrets aren't going to be your regrets, and that meant a lot. That was an incredibly inspirational moment.
Speaker 1:I bet I'm just soaking it in myself. I think that's so powerful. Did you have a response to that, or was it not needed?
Speaker 2:I had a very well put together response and I can quote it right now. That was it. I was shocked and it took me a while to even fully understand the depth. He was a really brilliant man.
Speaker 1:I've heard a lot about him. I obviously never got to meet him, but I have heard that.
Speaker 2:You know, he could say a volume in a sentence and that was the example. I've analyzed that statement over the years and each time I look at it there's actually a deeper meaning, and I had the privilege of when I was talking to him over the years. After that I'd bring up that statement a number of times and we'd dig into it more and, yeah, it had a lot of meaning.
Speaker 1:Right, that's incredible that you were able to have that moment with him and to have even the everlasting moments, like you just said, of the years that have gone by, that you've thought even deeper about it, because some people don't even get that moment with somebody they've had a challenging relationship with.
Speaker 2:And you know what? There's a lot I can see in my childhood that I didn't like with the relationship with my father. I don't do well on that. I use that as okay. I want to do things differently and I got his blessing. And then I have my mom, who was the absolute perfect example of how you want to live your life. My mom was not only warm, you know.
Speaker 2:Franny, everyone loves Franny but she had expectations of us. You know she was our disciplinarian as well and I do know that that's where there's a lot of challenge today. Yeah, I've. You know disciplining almost has a bad connotation a lot, but I really think it's important to have expectations, especially of our kids, Absolutely. I see my daughter, who's a teacher now, and she tells me the story of what goes on in the classrooms and it's sad sometimes that you can tell these kids have no disciplinary direction at home. You know they show up with Cheetos for lunch.
Speaker 1:Right, that's so tough. It's so tough. I know there's a lot of difficulties out there in the world.
Speaker 2:And if you remember when we were kids oh, you did not want to have a bad report going home right from the teacher Now the teachers I talked to, it's totally different.
Speaker 1:Really. Why is that?
Speaker 2:when they send a bad report home, it's the teacher who gets in trouble, it's not the kid, it's the. There's going to be a call to the principal. There's going to have to be reckoning. How could you say it about my child? Right? It's a very different relationship.
Speaker 1:Times have totally changed. That's when we were in school.
Speaker 2:Times have changed.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they have I. Some of the things about the times are great, but some things like that that you're describing really aren't, and I think there's something to be said about having values and expectations of people, because it helps you rise to them.
Speaker 2:It writes everything to edge, sort yeah Right, the the internet age of information, wonderful. Can get more information quicker than ever before. Can also get more disinformation quicker than ever before, that's right, Dr Google.
Speaker 1:Dr Google, for example and don't get me wrong, I love Google, but we diagnose ourselves at home and oftentimes we're wrong because we're Googling it and not getting the right information. But I love what you just said, the age of information, and I heard Tony Robbins say recently we're in the age of information and what we're lacking is the age of wisdom, If you think about that because, it is information at our fingertips, but we don't necessarily use wisdom to compliment that all the time, and that's the part we all have to focus in on, if you ask me.
Speaker 2:Well, we have AI now. Why do you need to think at all?
Speaker 1:Well, there you go, there you go, so good transition. We've heard a lot about your life philosophies. Is there anything, scott, on your on your bucket list? Still, I'm sure there is what's on there.
Speaker 2:It's funny, I don't really my I would have to say doing great trips and adventures with the family. Yeah, you know, that's it we. We just came off. My father all came up for the week. We had an incredible experience. We got together with 44 of Debbie's cousins out in Matatuck and I love each. This is the second year we've done this and what's great is each year that someone comes that I never met.
Speaker 1:Really, and I walked up to a guy who's like.
Speaker 2:I don't even know who this is Like. Hi, I'm Scott, and it turns out it's one of Debbie's cousins who I never met, sons that just moved back from Florida, and it's just an amazing experience to come together with family.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I think it's great that's a big family.
Speaker 2:Yeah, she's well one of her cousins of 10 kids.
Speaker 1:Okay, just so you know, I have two cousins. Just to put it in perspective, I literally have two. So I love hearing this. I have four.
Speaker 2:I have to come to a cousin party you have four, I have four.
Speaker 1:All right, we'll come to one of your cousin party. So as we kind of like wrap up here a little bit, you know, before we do, just a couple of little fun questions. If you were a superhero, who would you be? Oh, I know I have to throw a zinger out there.
Speaker 2:Is there a superhero that can get through the buffet table quicker than any superhero? I'd be that one.
Speaker 1:That's you, you know it's funny I was.
Speaker 2:I had this conversation and one came to mind, okay, and I forgot who it was, the guy that can stretch a lot.
Speaker 1:Oh, mr, is that elastic Elastic?
Speaker 2:I like being flexible. Oh, so there was something about that. And then the, the flash the flash. I like getting stuff done quick Okay.
Speaker 1:All right, but these are just fun questions to me.
Speaker 2:I want to be the superhero that my kids look at and think I'm a hero.
Speaker 1:They do, and you know what, scott, that's the perfect you know like to encapsulate this conversation. I know that they do.
Speaker 2:So we do a program through Rotary. I'm with the Smithtown Rotary. One of the programs we do for many years is give don't dictionaries to every single third grader in the school district and we talk a lot about different definitions. And one of the things we talked about was heroes and and what's the definition of a hero? And I think too often we think a hero wears a cape, right. So we drill down and the kids say, well, a hero makes things better. You know, a hero helps people and we ask, okay, who in this room is a hero? And they think about it. And our teachers, those are heroes. So I want to be that superhero that makes a difference without a cape, unless it's during Halloween, then we wear capes. We're all kinds of crazy things.
Speaker 1:I love it. Well, I'm, you know. If you haven't been told lately, I'll be here to say you definitely make a difference, I've got, thank you.
Speaker 1:I've got the list of all the things that you do for all these incredible charities, and so thank you for all that you do. I'm definitely going to post some of this as we, when we post the episode, but even an elf at the annual Angela's house holiday party. I know that you've done that as well, too. Is there anything else that I've missed that you'd want to share with everybody?
Speaker 2:Can I touch on that a little bit Please? So Angela's house is a wonderful, wonderful organization run by Bob Helicastro, where they care for medically fragile, terminally ill children and Bob does this incredible thing where he has the entire IBEW Hall, ibew union hall in Hopog. They do a two day party and they bring the kids in and and I always struggle getting people to volunteer because it's it's tough and emotional A lot of these kids are in rather fragile situations. But what's amazing to me is the spirit of those kids. So they're, they're, they come in wheelchairs a lot of them, and we're, we're trying to, you know, have a great day for them and their siblings, but the attitude and the positive energy that comes from them. And then I go usually from there to a tree, a tree lighting in town, where a lot of young kids are, and I'm troubled sometimes because some of those kids aren't nearly as happy as the kids that we see through Angela's house. So we take so much for granted.
Speaker 1:We do.
Speaker 2:And that's where volunteering for things like that can kind of help reset people's expectations.
Speaker 1:I love that. Is there any? Could you share any words of advice for people that have thought about volunteering but don't know how to get started, like I've had people ask me because I've done a few things myself. Well, what can I do? Call yeah.
Speaker 2:Pick a pick. There are so many organizations out there. Pick one that you're interested in ask people and then call them, say I would love to help. What do you need?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, show up.
Speaker 1:That would be great going into this holiday season as another plug for everybody to just let's. Let's you know if you're listening out there and you've thought about volunteering, pick up the phone before Thanksgiving and try and just offer your services. What can you do for four hours?
Speaker 2:So here's a simple rule we try to live by in our house, and it's a question what if everyone what if everyone? What if everyone and I'll pick a behavior what if everyone threw their Hammogurrapper out of their car window? Well, that wouldn't be good, no. What if everyone picked up a wrapper? What if everyone volunteered to do something? What if every? So you know, that question can can kind of direct you in a lot of ways to well, how can I make that?
Speaker 1:If you want to make a positive, impactful difference, okay, that is something I'm taking away from today and I'm going to apply that to my life tomorrow. I'm not kidding. So, everybody, what if everyone start your day with that question or put it somewhere in your day and and follow it up with a really good question, and maybe we can all do that for ourselves to make a difference?
Speaker 2:And here's the secret yeah, the more you give, the more you get.
Speaker 1:Yes, can you tell a little bit more about that?
Speaker 2:Well, it's like anything else. It's like investing the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. With giving it's so spiritually fulfilling and then you get to see it make a positive impact. It can't not make you a happier, better person and more appreciative of what you have. It makes you focus on what you have instead of what don't I have.
Speaker 1:I love it. That is a perfect way to wrap up this conversation, scott. Thank you so much. As we go into this holiday season I hope everybody and I know it's October, but the coming months there's a lot of holidays coming up and think about that Like the more you give, the more you get in return and the better you feel and the more appreciative you are of what you have.
Speaker 2:And I'm going to make a promise to all of your viewers that I'm sure number five will be better. Hang in there. We made it through. Jump the shark.
Speaker 1:This is not jump the shark. I actually had a lot of fun. I know it's funny too because, knowing you as a friend, here we are in like a serious environment, but I can't thank you enough for doing this with me tonight.
Speaker 2:My pleasure.
Speaker 1:Thanks for having me, you're the best, all right.
Speaker 2:You are.
Speaker 1:Talk to you soon, you got it. Thanks, everybody, peace out.