Soul Forge Podcast

Get Your Drivers License - 203

It is super important to get your drivers license. And I'm going to tell you why in this new episode of the Soul Forge Podcast! Get your drivers license -- don't wait!

But not only that, I also give some updates on last week's episode. In that episode, I discussed my ideas for a new business, a toy store to be exact. Some progress has been made. I do qualify for the mortgage. However, the down payment just might be more than I can handle at this time. So, we have to wait to see what will happen.

Julie and I have decided to get our COVID vaccines. We were hesitant because of the blood clots we hear about in the news. Apparently, the clot issue is so rare, it is not even worth considering. So, despite our uncertainty, we will be getting our shots. We may even end up with a cool mutation like flight or invisibility!

Finally, we talk about driving. My grandfather was one of my driving teachers. That was scary. And yet, I also went to formal driver training. Sure, I failed 2 times, but I did eventually get it. I also talk about the graduated licensing system that Ontario introduced in the mid 1990s. And I talk about all the cool cars I wanted.

If you'd care to support the show, tell your friends about Soul Forge. Leave a 5 star review. Or, send a couple bucks our way with our ko-fi link: https://ko-fi.com/rustedsoul

This week's podcast promos: Thunder Talk, Vaccine promo, ESO Patreon

My New Business Idea - 202

My new business idea is to open a really cool toy store. Actually, this isn't my new business idea. This is something I have dreamed of doing for nearly 30 years. Now feels like the perfect time to launch this passion project.

As far back as I remember, I have been a lover of pop culture. I have also been collecting pop culture items for nearly that long. Recently, I decided it was time to lighten the load. My collection is massive and overwhelming at times. A store front would be an ideal place to sell some of these things that I no longer need or want.

So, my new business idea is to open a pop culture and nostalgia store here in Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Will it work? There is no way to know. Do I want to do it anyway? Yes! Absolutely yes! There are a few hurdles and obstacles to overcome, and yet, I think I have the drive, knowledge and will to persevere and succeed. Only time will tell.

This episode is all about my new business idea. It will give you a brief history of my collecting and selling. Would you like to be my business parter or angel investor?

This week's podcast promo: Monster Sci-Fi Show

Disappointment - 201

What is disappointment?

As an emotion, researchers describe disappointment as a form of sadness—a feeling of loss, an uncomfortable space (or a painful gap) between our expectations and reality. When we believe that there's something we must have to be happy and fulfilled, we can set ourselves up for disappointment.

The noun disappointment comes from the Middle French word disappointer, meaning “undo the appointment,” or “remove from office.” It is true that a friend canceling your plans or losing your job is a disappointment, but today disappointment can describe anything that crushes your hopes, ruins your day, or otherwise lets you down.

7 strategies for getting over disappointment:

1. Give yourself a limited time to feel bad. 

Acknowledge the letdown but don't get mired in it. If you didn’t win the lottery, give yourself an hour to feel bad. If you didn’t get a promotion or if your bonus was less than you hoped for, give yourself a day—but then move on.

2. Don’t ruminate about what might have been. 

The more you dwell on the disappointment, the more it will hurt and disrupt your ability to focus, concentrate, problem-solve, or be creative. So be careful not to feed the disappointment and deepen your emotional hurt.

3. Avoid self-pity.

Self-pity comes with a price—it takes away feelings of empowerment and agency and makes us feel as though we don’t have control over our lives. So indulge it at your peril; it can foster a bad mood and even depression if you get stuck for too long.

4. Use self-compassion.

Be sympathetic toward yourself and compassionate about the fact that you hurt. Don’t beat yourself up or become self-critical; doing so will only hurt your confidence, damage your self esteem, and make you feel worse.

5. Put it in perspective.

We often feel disappointed about things we are unlikely to remember in a month’s time. How many of us will think back from five years in the future to that day in 2016 when we didn’t win the lottery? Very few. If the disappointment you experienced was significant, try to focus on the larger picture of your life and remind yourself of all the things that are going well and for which you can be grateful.

6. Identify the next opportunity.

This is easier to do with lottery tickets, of course, than with more significant events in your life that cause disappointment, but as they say in baseball: There’s always next season. Regardless of what disappointed you, spend a few moments figuring out when and how you can try again.

7. Remember: Success does not equal happiness.

Research on lottery winners has found that their level of happiness rises dramatically after they win, but then reverts to the same level of happiness they felt before they won—usually within a year.

This week's podcast promo: The Con Guys

200 - Random Thoughts

200 fun-filled episodes all come down to this! Have you been a listener of the Soul Forge Podcast from the very beginning? Did you start somewhere along the way? Could this be your very first episode? It does not matter when you started listening. The only thing that matters is that you do listen. Our episodes run the gamut from funny to serious, to melancoly, inspirational and totally off-the-wall random. You never know what you're going to get with the Forge!

This episode is a celebration of the last 3+ years. Episode 200 is not a clip show. While that could be a fun idea, the editing would be horrendous. It would probably take many weeks. So, instead, I have decided to create a fun show with random ideas and thoughts. You could almost consider it multiple mini episodes in one tidy package.

Topics I touch on this week are varied and do not necessarily relate to one another. Therefore, I am providing a list here of some of the things I will be covering in a brief manner. These topics include: the end of the Rusted Robot Podcast, downsizing my toy collection, puppy life, the Dukes of Hazzard, bad teeth, the colour purple, zoos, phobias and a whole lot more.

If you have comments or feedback, you can email the show at soulforgepodcast@gmail.com and if you would care to make a small donation you can do so at https://ko-fi.com/rustedsoul

This week's podcast promo: Ring of Thunder, ESO Patreon

When Good Things End - 199

When good things end is the 199th episode of the Soul Forge Podcast. And yet, it's so much more than that. This episode is a kind of eulogy for the Rusted Robot Podcast. Rusted was my baby for more than 7 years, and I did everything I could to make it successful, entertaining, and fun. Those days are over now, and this is a nostalgic look back at something I put my heart and soul into. Enjoy!

The Final Episode of The Rusted Robot Podcast

April 18, 2021

It's been a long road getting from there to here. From humble beginnings, to a pop culture phenomenon, the Rusted Robot Podcast has been around a very long time. We have met so many amazing people along the way. We would like to thank you all for the support you have shown us over the years.

The podcast began in January 2014, and with only a few breaks here and there, it continued on for almost 7 and a half years. It started with Shawn and his wife Brigitte sharing their love of all things geek. It was an attempt to bring a bit of culture to a small northern Ontario town better known for hunting, fishing, drinking and drugs. Once their marriage fell apart, they continued on for awhile but times changed. After a brief hiatus, Shawn recruited Josh as a new co-host. When Josh wasn't available, there would be solo episodes and other guest hosts.

This episode is a farewell to a huge part of Shawn's life. The episode is filled with nostalgia and absolutely packed with clips. So many people were a part of this episode in particular, and of the podcast in general. Make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCataaeTRQltObb7n1GHW_qw/videos

You can also find Shawn continuing his podcast journey with the boys of the Cosmic Pizza Podcast, and by his self on the Soul Forge Podcast which can be found at http://www.soulforgepodcast.com/

If you would still like to support the show, visit https://ko-fi.com/rustedsoul

And make sure to join our Facebook page for any and all updates on future podcasts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therustedrobot/

Thank you all for an amazing journey!

This week's podcast promo: Cosmic Pizza Podcast

I Tried Yoga - 198

I tried yoga! My brother made me do it. I tried yoga and it wasn't actually all that bad. This episode of the podcast details my experience. Not only that, brother Curtis shares tips and tricks and everything he has learned about yoga. I tried yoga, and so can you!

It’s time to roll out your yoga mat and discover the combination of physical and mental exercises that for thousands of years have hooked yoga practitioners around the globe. The beauty of yoga is that you don’t have to be a yogi or yogini to reap the benefits. Whether you are young or old, overweight or fit, yoga has the power to calm the mind and strengthen the body. Don’t be intimidated by yoga terminology, fancy yoga studios and complicated poses. Yoga is for everyone.

Ask any yoga practitioner to define yoga, and you’re likely to get a myriad of answers. For some, it’s a way to feel good in their bodies. For others, it’s a spiritual practice, and for many, a way of life. But regardless of your approach, yoga can help reshape and unravel your habitual or unconscious patterns.

Practicing yoga helps provide a foundation and tools to building good habits, such as discipline, self-inquiry, and nonattachment. This exercise is also a pathway to empower you to make conscious choices to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Today, many agree that the word yuj — which yoga derives from — refers to greater internal states, such as clarity, peace, and happiness.

This week's podcast promo: ESO Patreon, Pop Culture Cosmos

Curtis, Debbie and Kate: Marriage Success - 197

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

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

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

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

This week's podcast promo: Nerdbliss

Puppy Love - 196

We got a new puppy!

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

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

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

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

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

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

This week's podcast promo: Mighty Marvel Geeks