Soul Forge Podcast

SHTF: Survival Prepping - 227

What is SHTF? Do you know anything about the survival prepping community? Up until a few weeks ago, I had no idea about any of this stuff. One random video on YouTube sent me down a rabbit hole of anxiety. SHTF: Survival Prepping is your guide to what I have learned recently.

My YouTube interests have always varied greatly. Most often I watch videos about philosophy, Star Trek, history, Ebay and Etsy, and a few other things. I came across a video about guns. That video sent me on a voyage of discovery.

An underground bunker is something I have always wanted to have. Being somewhat prepared for an unknown emergency always seemed like a good idea. The hosts in these videos are quite intense. And do they ever enjoy their acronyms. Do you know what SHTF means? What about MAG or EDC?

In this episode, I will tell you about the supplies you may need in an emergency situation. We will talk about your everyday carry. And we will discuss your bug-out bag and your make it home bag. In a survival situation, will you try to be a lone wolf, a grey man or be part of a community?

Supplies you will need or should have include: water, fire starter, paracord, carabiners, battery bank, multitool, tactical pen, flashlights, life straw, blankets, tents, emergency food, first aid kits, saws, knifes and about a hundred other things.

We are living in uncertain times. It never hurts to be prepared.

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Quick Shots Round Two - 226

Quick shots round two is the second attempt at something. Originally I called them the tactical mini. They are short mini episodes that focus on one topic. But then we string them together into a completely random show. This gives you, as an audience member, a nice mix and variety. Who knows what the next topic will be?

From the show notes of episode 113: A tactical mini is an idea. It is an idea with such focus that it cannot be expanded upon. Each mini will touch on a feeling that is unable to be contained. Single ideas. Single topics. Focus. Depth. Call them quick shots or tactical minis -- the name has not been locked down as of yet. The basic idea is that something has come to my attention and is intruding upon my mind. I need to get it out of my system. Therefore, I drill down into the heart of an issue and get it off my mind, and I free my soul.

These tactical minis or quick shots are only three to five minutes in length. The concept is such that the topic of the mini is too small to become an entire full length episode. Therefore, I have recorded 4 minis and put them into this one episode. It is the first of its kind - an experiment of sorts to see if this whole idea is workable.

Your feedback is encouraged and appreciated. What do you think of this idea? You are more than welcome to record a tactical mini of your own to be played on a future episode of the Soul Forge Podcast. Send your emails to soulforgepodcast@gmail.com or tweet your feelings on the show to @soulforgepod

We hope you enjoy this second attempt. Quick shots round two!

This week's podcast promos: Watchathon of Rassilon, 42 Cast, Best Saturdays of Our Lives, But First Let's Talk Nerdy

Nothing to Fear - 225

Nothing to fear is freedom. Everyone feels fear from time to time. Various levels and intensities as we are all unique with a wide variety of experiences and tolerances. Someone's nothing to fear is another person's greatest fear.

Nothing to Fear was originally going to be a spooky Hallowe'en episode. The idea was to have a few guests to talk about scary movies. The timing did not work out, so it has become an episode about the various types of fear.

We begin the show by talking about my fear of the dark. This gets us into the topic and we delve into 4 types of fear. A huge fear that many people have is the fear of not being accepted. I give several examples from my own life. There is also the fear of failure which has held me back at various times in my own life. And then we chat about the fear of following ( or not following ) our dreams. So many people are afraid of success. We round out the show by talking about the fear of losing people we love.

Nothing to fear is not the spooky episode I had in mind. It has evolved into something much more complex. I hope you enjoy it. And I hope you're able to take something good away from what you hear.

This week's podcast promo: ThunderTalk, Vaccine PSA

A Feast For The Mind - 224

A feast for the mind in every episode of the Soul Forge Podcast! So many fun and different topics to cover in this week's episode. Every show is a feast for the mind, but this time, I actually use that phrase. Find out why when you listen to this one!

La Brea is the latest show I have started watching. I find it really fun and entertaining. It had me hooked in the first 5 minutes. I'll be giving you a quick overview on the first 3 episodes. Minor spoilers are revealed, but because the show is so new, it should not matter.

My Etsy shop is called Rusted Robot Toys. A recap of my last 4 months worth of sales is discussed. I also talk about how I pack my orders and ship them out. What's included in every package? You'll find out in this episode, and maybe you'll want to buy something! Find the shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/rustedrobottoys/

I was listening to the latest episode of the Delta Flyers podcast and one of the hosts mentioned a book. After looking into the book, I decided to purchase it. Because it sounds like a great read, I share it with you. Perhaps you will want to purchase a copy as well.

Speaking of buying things, I just ordered a few more items from Eaglemoss. They sell Star Trek starships and other fun items. I used the Honey plug-in on my computer to get a discount. Try Honey to save yourself some money. This is not a paid plug lol.

Finally, we talk about my recent fake name change. Trent does not suit me. My demeanor and lifestyle is quite different from Trent. Therefore, I'm just gonna be me!

This week's podcast promo: The Monster Scifi Show, Vaccine PSA

The 5 Love Languages - 223

The 5 love languages are 5 different ways of expressing and receiving love: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. Not everyone communicates love in the same way, and likewise, people have different ways they prefer to receive love. The concept of love languages was developed by Gary Chapman, Ph.D., in his book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, where he describes these 5 unique styles of communicating love, categories he distilled from his experience in marriage counseling and linguistics. 

1. Words of affirmation

People with words of affirmation as a love language value verbal acknowledgments of affection, including frequent "I love you's," compliments, words of appreciation, verbal encouragement, and often frequent digital communication like texting and social media engagement.

2. Quality time

People whose love language is quality time feel the most adored when their partner actively wants to spend time with them and is always down to hang out. They particularly love when active listening, eye contact, and full presence are prioritized hallmarks in the relationship. 

3. Acts of services

If your love language is acts of service, you value when your partner goes out of their way to make your life easier. It's things like bringing you soup when you're sick, making your coffee for you in the morning, or picking up your dry cleaning for you when you've had a busy day at work.

4. Gifts

Gifts is a pretty straightforward love language: You feel loved when people give you "visual symbols of love," as Chapman calls it. It's not about the monetary value but the symbolic thought behind the item. People with this style recognize and value the gift-giving process: the careful reflection, the deliberate choosing of the object to represent the relationship, and the emotional benefits from receiving the present. 

5. Physical touch

People with physical touch as their love language feel loved when they receive physical signs of affection, including kissing, holding hands, cuddling on the couch, and sex. Physical intimacy and touch can be incredibly affirming and serve as a powerful emotional connector for people with this love language. The roots go back to our childhood, Motamedi notes, some people only felt deep affection and love by their parents when they were held, kissed, or touched.

Take the quiz to determine your love language: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language

This week's podcast promo: Ring of Thunder, Vaccine PSA

Change Your Name, Change Your Life - 222

If you change your name, does that change your life? We are about to find out in the second half of the episode. First, we must talk about trees, and the Fall, and travel, and selling things to nerds. And then, change your name, change your life will be discussed, debated and deliberated upon!

So, this past weekend I drove the nearly 6 hours it takes, to the Soo. That's Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada for those not in the know! About 2 hours into the drive, I turned onto a different highway. The change was immediate. The trees were popping with the brilliant and exuberant colours of Fall. We don't have colours like that back home in Timmins. I suddenly realized that this is what I miss most about living further south than I do currently.

And then I was in the Soo. I was a vendor at the 3rd Steel City NerdCon. My car was loaded with totes of various pop culture items. Selling off my collection has been a goal of mine for about 5 years. Sadly, I didn't sell everything. In fact, I sold about half as much as in previous years. You will hear the tale in this episode.

Change your name, change your life! Is it possible to change the fundamental nature of who you are? Hard to know. This is an experiment I am currently undertaking. Never have I liked my name. So, I changed it on Facebook to see how it feels. Kinda weird is how it feels. You will hear the entire saga in the second half of this episode.

This week's podcast promos: ESO Patreon, Pop Culture Cosmos, Dr. Geek's Vaccine PSA

Fast and Loud - 221

Fast and loud is an episode about excitement, adventure, fandom, health and more. Sit down, strap in and get ready for the thrill ride of your life!

First, we are talking about the new CPAP trial that Shawn is partaking in. What is CPAP? A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is the most commonly prescribed device for treating sleep apnea disorders.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes interruptions or pauses in your breathing, often because your throat or airways briefly collapse or something temporarily blocks them.

A CPAP machine sends a steady flow of oxygen into your nose and mouth as you sleep. This keeps your airways open and helps you breathe normally.

The next topic is this weekend's upcoming Nerd Con event is Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. This is the third event. I have attended each one so far. My mission is to sell off as many of my collectibles as I possibly can.

SideShow Toys has a new statue up for preorder. It's THE PICARD! Expected to be shipped in late 2022, this thing is highly detailed. It comes with multiple posing options. The only downside is that it costs upwards of $2000. And I want it.

In this week's Rusted Robot Pop Culture segment we look at some exciting news. The Ice Road on Netflix is surprisingly entertaining. Night Court is getting a sequel series. And Babylon 5 is coming back to television under the guidance of the original creator.

This week's podcast promo: Nerdbliss, Dr. Geek's Vax PSA

The Grief Portal - 220

The Grief Portal is the gateway to nostalgia. It can also be a place to be sad, a place to wallow in self-pity if you're not careful. The Grief Portal can either be a positive place or a negative one. Everything depends on your level of healing. If you are in a place where you can reflect on your losses in a healthy way, the portal is merely a place to pause. However, if you are deep in your misery, the portal can be a dangerous and terrifying place. The choice is yours, and much depends on your healing journey.

What is grief? Grief is the natural reaction to loss. Grief is both a universal and a personal experience. Individual experiences of grief vary and are influenced by the nature of the loss. Some examples of loss include the death of a loved one, the ending of an important relationship, job loss, loss through theft or the loss of independence through disability. Mourning can last for months or years. Generally, pain is tempered as time passes and as the bereaved adapts to life without a loved one, to the news of a terminal diagnosis or to the realization that someone they love may die.

In this episode, I give specific examples of loss from my life. I have done other tribute episodes in the past, but this one is different. This show was recorded on what would have been my mother's 63rd birthday. She has been gone for just over 7 years. I felt the need to mark that anniversary. Also, you can blame Marc Maron's WTF podcast for a portion of this episode.

This week's podcast promo: Metal Geeks, Vaccine PSA