Welcome to the Venn Network

best story podcasts

by Leave a Comment

#DamnItCarl Podcast 24: B.C.’s Dirty Secret

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

On this #DamnItCarl podcast B.C. Dodge says – I have a dirty little secret… and here it is.   When B.C. was 18 he started smoking – and smoking is dirty!

On this #DamnItCarl podcast B.C. Dodge says – B.C. has a dirty little secret… and here it is.

When B.C. says dirty, he means that in the most literal of ways. If you were hoping to get something else or looking for something beyond PG 13, this might not be the place you should be.

When B.C. was 18 he started smoking – and smoking is dirty!

He did this for seven years. It wasn’t until it started to have a negative impact on his life, and his family, that he made the choice to stop smoking. Which wasn’t easy. 

He did it through with the use of the medication known as Wellbutrin. And while he did stop, the weight gain was significant – which started another whole life long issue. 

But sadly, life had other plans, and amid his divorce he started smoking again. 

Ten one day about a year ago his boss pulled him into their office and had a pleasant, but uncomfortable conversation with him. 

He smelled.

His boss was very tactful in the way that the information was communicated, wasn’t rude about it, or mean. But most importantly, they were right. There wasn’t only the smell, but his fingers were stained, and his teeth were yellowing – the truth is, the smoking was taking its toll on his body.

Shortly after that B.C. tried using a vaporizer. And he found that it did, in fact, meet his need for nicotine and didn’t leave a smell on his clothes, his finger were not stained, and things looked a little better. 

However, now teen are using them in epidemic proportions. And it is threatening the whole vaping industry… and while people under 18 shouldn’t be using these items, should the whole vaping concept be flushed? 

Make sure you subscribe to what will become one of the best podcasts right now. And also check out all the podcasts on the Venn Network and make sure to like, subscribe, and share this the content.

And introducing the new Venn Network t-shirt, which you can own by heading over to Amazon.com. When you buy one of these shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message!

Do you have questions or thoughts on the show?

Drop us an email at bc@damnitcarl.com

by Leave a Comment

Raw Islam 71: Being a Good Parent in 2019

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

On this episode of the Raw Islam Podcast with Imam Azhar – a 2017 Podcast Award nominated podcast – with all that is going on in the world today, how do we be good parents to our children?

On this episode of the Raw Islam Podcast with Imam Azhar – a 2017 Podcast Award nominated podcast – with all that is going on in the world today, how do we be good parents to our children? 

There seems to be so much going on in the world today… with hate, racism, wars, poverty, climate change, and the list goes on and on. 

But with all of this, how to we continue to be good parents and raise our children in a correct way, so that will be good people? 

Is it how much we force them to pray, or should we force them to read more Quran, or maybe we just take their phones away from them forever?

While it is a good idea to unplug for a few hours a day – not Tuesdays at 8pm – we must remember that part of being a good parent is to lead by example. So, what kind of example are you setting for your children? 

The Imam also reminds us that this podcast is just the start to the conversations. While our audience – that is you – gets to pick the topic of conversation from week to week, we do hope that you continue talking about things with your family, friends, and community. It is through conversation that we get to know our neighbors better and come closer together. 

Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. This is surely one of the best podcasts to subscribe to if you are looking for facts about Islam and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims!

And introducing the new Venn Network t-shirt, which you can own by heading over to Amazon.com. When you buy one of these shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message!

Do you have questions for the Imam or
thoughts on the show?

Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org

by Leave a Comment

Raw Islam 70: How Much Charity is To Much?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

On this episode of the Raw Islam Podcast with Imam Azhar – a 2017Podcast Award nominated podcast – the Imam address giving charity and the importance of it, and how it can help not only those around you, but help take care of you too.

On this episode of the Raw Islam Podcast with Imam Azhar – a 2017Podcast Award nominated podcast – the Imam address giving charity and the importance of it, and how it can help not only those around you, but help take care of you too.

In the shadow of Giving Tuesday; which of course follows Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday…you have spent so much of your money on items that you want – not items that you really need. And there is an importance of making a distinction here.

Most of us WANT that new TV or that new video game, but none of us NEED that new TV. We, as humans, in world that has so much disparity, need  to make clear want verses need. We WANT that that bottled water, but people in Flint NEED that bottled water. The resources that we have on this planet, as climate change because more and more evident, will become more and more scarce, and that is one reason we need to think before we spend our money.

Now – where were we? Oh yes, Giving Tuesday and charity…

Imam Azhar reflects on not only this giving Tuesday, but Ramadan time too, and he reflects on all the mail, email, WhatsApp messages, and Facebook posts that he gets from different groups and people asking for money. And he asks – when is enough, enough?  

Make sure to subscribe to this Venn Network production – Raw Islam with Imam Azhar Subedar. This is surely one of the best podcasts to subscribe to if you are looking for facts about Islam and if you want to know what Islam is all about. The Raw Islam Podcast delivers important information about Islam to you weekly, so make sure to subscribe to this Muslim Talk show that isn’t just for Muslims!

And introducing the newVenn Network t-shirt, which you can own by heading over to Amazon.com.When you buy one of these
shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the
hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message!

 

Do you have questions for the Imam or
thoughts on the show?

Drop us an email at rawislam@vennnetwork.org

by Leave a Comment

#DamnItCarl Podcast 23: Addressing the Lack of a Hustle Gene

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

On this #DamnItCarl podcast B.C. Dodge asks– can you be a solopreneur without that hustle gene?

On this #DamnItCarl podcast B.C. Dodge asks – can you be a solopreneur without that hustle gene?

B.C. likes working for himself, he likes being able to pick his projects…he likes being able to work when pants are optional – don’t ask, we don’t.

But loving your work sometimes isn’t enough. You also have to have that hustle gene; that inner voice that says, “brag about yourself now” or “sell yourself/product right here.”

It isn’t a bad thing, and we are sure that it is tied to self-esteem issues, but to work full time for yourself requires not only doing the work that you love but being all the hats in the organization…including heading your sales team.

The ironic part about this is that B.C. is a digital marketer and is good at what he does – except marketing himself or his skills. He has a proven track record of getting traffic to websites and interaction on social media posts – so why can’t he do the same for himself?

There is the old saying that plumbers have the worst the plumbing in their own homes because they spend so much time fixing everyone else’s, that there is no time left for their own.

So is B.C. dealing with a self-esteem issue, or is he simply spending so much time on everyone else’s marketing projects that he doesn’t have the time for his own?

Make sure you subscribe to what will become one of the best podcasts right now. And also check out all the podcasts on the Venn Network and make sure to like, subscribe, and share this the content.

And introducing the new Venn Network t-shirt, which you can own by heading over to Amazon.com.When you buy one of these shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message!

Do you have questions or thoughts on the show?

Drop us an email at bc@damnitcarl.com

by Leave a Comment

#DamnItCarl Podcast 22: Is it a Hobby or a New Career?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

On this #DamnItCarl podcast B.C. Dodge asks – what do you do when you love your hobby more than your job?

Responding to a question from Twitter, B.C. explores how to get the practice and experience that is required to go from hobby to job.

WhileB.C. would love to take full credit for all the ideas in this video, he actually pulls a lot from a video by Roberto Blake titled “How to Start as aFreelancer and Make Money.”

One place that Roberto and B.C. agree on is Fiverr – while B.C. has not had a lot of personal success selling on Fiverr, and he does take full responsibility for that, it’s not Fiverr’s fault, as a buyer he does use it all the time.

The important thing is to take some time and get your hands dirty. The more you work you do the better you will get, and the more your name will be exposed.

Honestly in this time in human history, now is the time to get out there and do what you love. With social media being what it is, you can make images and videos, post to different sites and get the exposer you need.

And of course, the side effect of this simply that the more work you do, the better you will be.

If you have a hobby that you enjoy doing, go and do it – someone out there wants to hear from you or see what you are making!

Make sure you subscribe to what will become one of the best podcasts right now. And also check out all the podcasts on the Venn Network and make sure to like, subscribe, and share this the content.

And introducing the new Venn Network t-shirt, which you can own by heading over to Amazon.com.When you buy one of these shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message!

Do you have questions or thoughts on the show?

Drop us an email at bc@damnitcarl.com

by 1 Comment

#DamnItCarl Podcast 21: Depression and Relationship Sabotage

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

On this #DamnItCarl podcast B.C. Dodge asks – why do we sabotage our relationships when we have a bout of depression?

On this #DamnItCarl podcast B.C. Dodge asks– why do we sabotage our relationships when we have a bout of depression?

In a previous episode of the podcast B.C. asked how you support someone with depression. Building on that, B.C. has had a very rough week and has struggled more than normal.

Through this struggle he has learned that when he starts to get depressed the first thing that he does is push people away. He alienates those around him, this isn’t by accident – it’s more by design than anything.

It is a vicious downward spiral – he tends to alienate people because of a lack of self-worth. As he pushes people away, he personally feels alienated, and he thinks it’s due to people not liking him because he isn’t worth it…so he pushes them away more.

This is not unique to B.C., many people who struggle with depression have this same experience. In fact, according to Med Broadcast “People with depression often frustrate and alienate those around them. Not surprisingly, family members and friends often are unclear as to what they can do to help someone who is depressed.”

At the end of it all B.C. is kind of right back to where he was with his previous episode, and how to not only support those around you…but how to self-care as well.

And how to repair those relationships that you just ruined.

Make sure you subscribe to what will become one of the best podcasts right now. And also check out all the podcasts on the Venn Network and make sure to like, subscribe, and share this content.

And introducing the new Venn Network t-shirt, which you can own by heading over to Amazon.com.When you buy one of these shirts you help, not only support the network, but you also help support the hosts. The Venn Network is growing, and it is only with support from listeners – like you – that we can reach those in need of hearing our message!

Do you have questions or thoughts on the show?

Drop us an email at bc@damnitcarl.com