Clear Choices Podcast Rob Aigner

How can we bridge the gap and bring equality to education in America? How has COVID impacted students who live in low income areas? What can we do?
My guest today, Frank Brown, heads up an organization that is answering the call for how to help those students who are most at-risk for falling behind and not graduating high school. He is Chief Executive Officer of Communities In Schools of Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta was deemed the income inequality capital two years in a row, prior to Covid. This inequality leads to many more problems, including: housing insecurity, inequality in educational opportunities and lack of appropriate health care.

Communities In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta is an award-winning dropout prevention organization that was established in Atlanta, Georgia in 1972. What began in the basement of a modest home in the Grant Park community is now the nation’s largest dropout prevention network with a proven track record of positively impacting graduation rates. Their mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

Listen in to hear how CIS is making such a positive impact in Atlanta and throughout the country and how we can get involved supporting such an important mission.

Notable Quotes:

"I tell my team, if we get it right in Atlanta, it’s a blueprint for the rest of the country, the world, on how to deal with some of the poorest people in this country and get them to become full participants in the American dream."

"There was a report that came out in Atlanta that said only 3 out of 10 black kids will be proficient in reading and math after Covid, that’s 30%. We are talking about whole generations lost."

"Sometimes people look at poverty, and look at people we serve as inanimate objects. They are human beings, they have dreams and aspirations just like you and I and they want to make clear choices, but there's systematic racism and all types of barriers that they’ve been under for years."

"These people sacrifice their own personal good to help these children, to get them to the other side. And the thanks is when you see a child walk across the stage and you know they would never have done it without us."

"In Atlanta, depending on what zip code you’re born in, you have a 4% chance of getting out of a poor zip code. Go to Vegas with 4% chances, you’ll never win. But, that’s the child that I work with every day and I believe that 4% is better than 0%."

In this episode, you will hear:
-The history of Communities In Schools of Atlanta (CIS) and their mission
-The three-tier model that CIS uses at different schools
-Progress and impact of CIS in Atlanta
-Frank’s perspective on education from a global standpoint
-How CIS is helping parents to lead their children to better choices
-Biggest educational challenges and threats for children
-CIS Atlanta’s plans and trajectory for the next 5 years

Resources and links mentioned during this episode:

For donations and more info, visit Communities in Schools of Atlanta
Connect with Communities In Schools of Atlanta on Instagram Instagram, Facebook,  LinkedIn and Twitter.
Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.
Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook .
If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.
Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.
Coaching Information:
If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.
**This post may con

When you hear the word racism do you ever think of Asian Americans and how they are treated? Since the pandemic, the rise in hate crimes and violence to Asian Americans has increased by 164%. That is a staggering number but this is not the first experience with racism that the Asian American community has endured in our country. 
Today’s guest, Linda Tamura, who is a Sansei (third generation Japanese American) and daughter of a World War II veteran, is talking to us about the racism that Asian Americans experienced in the 1940’s when Japanese Americans were incarcerated in camps because of the war. She is the author of two books on the subject Nisei Soldiers Break their Silence and Hood River Issei. We also discuss the recent rise in hate crimes to the Asian American community and her ideas on what we can do to make things better.
A Professor Emerita of Education, Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, she is very involved in projects, exhibits, and organizations educating and celebrating the history of Japanese Americans and inclusion in Oregon. As a former elementary school teacher and university professor, Dr. Linda Tamura is a teacher of teachers and an educational leader.
 
Notable Quotes:
“I think that would be what I try to do as a teacher and what I try to continue to do now and that is simply to be a positive role model and a positive ally to others.”
“What can we do to make life better for ourselves but mostly for other people too?”
 
In this episode, you will hear:
- Linda’s history and how she became an advocate for educating and helping Asian Americans
- Why she made the choice to write her books
- What we can do to make things better for Asian Americans and all people
 
Resources and links mentioned in this episode:
https://lindatamura.weebly.com/linda.html
https://www.voanews.com/usa/anti-asian-hate-us-predates-pandemic
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/12/countering-stereotypes
http://niseistamp.org/ 
 
Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.
Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 
If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.
 
Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.
 
Coaching Information:
If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.
 
**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**

Over the past two years, we all probably know someone who had a mild case of COVID but how about someone who barely survived it? My guest today, Rick Barde, joins us to tell us about his experience surviving and recovering from COVID-19. Rick is a recently retired school teacher who spent nearly two months in the hospital battling this disease. His case was so severe, he was placed on ECMO (advanced life support equipment called Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) where 40% do not make it off and was placed in an induced coma to rest his lungs. He is truly thankful to be alive. He credits his recovery to all of the support he received from his wife, his school community, and the amazing nurses and doctors.
You will hear about his experience through the worst parts of this disease, his recovery that he is still dealing with today, how this has changed him, and what he wants others to learn from his experience.
Notable Quotes:
“When I know how many hundreds of thousands of people have died, and I didn’t, and mine was such a bad case, I am fortunate, I am thankful, I am grateful to anybody and everybody who has been a part of my recovery.”
“If I can impact one person to make a choice to better the world by taking the vaccine or wearing a mask or whatever it may be, then I feel I am doing my job. We have to have more people out there who are making a clear choice to wear a mask and get vaccinated. It’s the only way we are going to get through this. I have hope that we’ll get there.”
“It’s changed me in that I am much more grateful for life. I get emotional about how close I was to not making it.”
“If people are thinking about getting vaccinated, I say ‘ I had COVID and you do not want to get what I got.’ ”
In this episode, you will hear:
- What Rick went through and what he remembers while battling COVID
- His recovery and the symptoms he still deals with today
- How COVID has changed him
- What he wants others to learn from his experience
Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.
Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 
If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.
 
Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.
 
Coaching Information:
If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.
**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**

Do you know what your purpose is? Do you love what you do and are you happy? The reality is that most people don’t. My guest today, Stu Massengill, is on a mission to change the statistic that 80% of people don’t love what they do. He wants to help people find their true passion in life and give them the beautiful gift of waking up every morning excited to tackle and live a life of passion and fulfillment.
Stu is a Peak Performance Strategist and National Trainer for non-other than Tony Robbins. He is the Founder of Finding Direction University and Podcast where he helps people go from being lost in life to a life of passion and fulfillment. Listen in to hear about Stu’s life journey from creating successful organizations to battling cancer to how he found his purpose; and how he is now helping others find theirs.
Notable Quotes:
“Every single day I’m looking at how can I find happiness in that I have air in my lungs, how can I find happiness that I woke up today, that my eyes are opened.”
“I am such a believer that the seeds in our mind grow and that creates our life.”
“There’s 3 decisions you make every single moment of your life, it’s 1.What are you going to focus on? 2. What’s the meaning that you give that? 3. Ultimately, what are you going to do from that?”
“One day I had this massive realization that if I’m successful in this business, it’s my fault. And if I’m not successful, it’s also my fault. And I think that transcends to life. If you’re happy, that’s your fault.”
In this episode, you will hear:
- How Stu finds happiness and joy especially with the backdrop of 2020
- How having cancer shaped Stu’s life and view on happiness
- His advice and how he guides people to find their joy and passion
- What choices you can make to live a happy life right now
Connect with Stu:
Websites- https://www.stumassengill.com/
https://www.findingdirectionuniversity.com/
Podcast- https://www.stumassengill.com/findingdirection
3 Steps to Finding Direction in Under 10 Minutes- https://www.findingdirectionuniversity.com/3steps
 
Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.
Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 
If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.
Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.
 
Coaching Information:
If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.
 
**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**

Our guest today, Terre Steinbeck, shares her story of riches to rags to riches again (and truly finding herself!). She was riding the real estate market wave back in the early 2000’s- driving a Range Rover, living in the best part of town, and wining and dining her friends and clients, when the market crash of 2008 hit. All of a sudden, she had no income coming in and with no savings, she faced decisions and choices she never thought she would have to make. 
She talks with us about her darkest days, the choices she made to turn her life around, and how even though it was a painful experience, she is grateful for the experience. She also gives advice for what someone can do if they find themselves in a similar situation.
Notable Quotes:
“Your head just takes you in horrible, horrible places when you are going through something you’ve never gone before.”
“My advice would be- exactly what I did- grab a hold of your friends, it doesn’t matter who they are, and if you’re homeless, grab a couple of homeless people. Figure out your goals, where do you want to be?”
“Having a group of people in the same spot that you’re in is truly helpful- and everybody is good at something.”
“Living within your means is paramount. I mean, that is something I was never taught how to do, and now I do it. I’ve been doing it for 10 years and I tell you, I can sleep at night.”
In this episode, you will hear:
- Terre’s story of having it all, losing it all and finding her true self
- The choices Terre made to turn her life around
- The importance of living within your means
- Her advice to others who may be in a similar situation
Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.
Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 
If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.
Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.
Coaching Information:
If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.
**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**

2020, COVID-19, Pandemic- these words have such profound meaning on our whole world and what we have all experienced this past year. For seniors in high school, this has meant a lot of change, disappointments, and loss. Their last year of high school has not turned out the way they had once expected it would. 
Today we are going to hear it straight from the words of five high school seniors who talk to us about this past year, their experiences, and what it has been like being a senior in high school while living through this pandemic. They talk through what has been the most difficult for them, the impact of social media and their usage, the positives about the pandemic, how they have changed, and what they have learned through this unique year that no one will ever forget.
Notable Quotes:
“I feel like there’s no closure because I’m not going to be able to have my senior activities and have my last year on campus.” Julia
“School was really tolerable and I really enjoyed school because of the social aspect and I got to see all my friends so it made it really hard to just be locked up in my living room with my teacher assigning essays.” Jake
“I feel like I’ve grown up a lot in a short span of time.” Sami
“I’ve used a lot of social media even prior to the pandemic and I think this just kind of boosted it to a point where it’s a little bit even unhealthy.” Nick
“I’ve accomplished a lot of things I’d been putting off for a long time because of school.” Matt
In this episode, you will hear:
- What has been the most difficult thing about this past year
- How they have used social media to stay connected and what effect it has had on them
- The positives from the pandemic and what they have learned through this year
- How they now have a different outlook on the world and a new sense of appreciation for what they have
If you are a teenager, please seek out support and help if you need it. And if you are a parent, please make sure and talk to your kids.
Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.
Coaching Information:
If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at rob@robaigner.com or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.
Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.
Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . 
If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.
**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**