149 – Armed Memorial Veterans Day

149 – Armed Memorial Veterans Day

Question of the Week

How is the Archery Team?

We are having a blast!! Come down to Reedy’s Archery and join the fun.

The Word – Armed Memorial Veterans Day

Armed Forces Day

Many events across the United States take place on Armed Forces Day to honor Americans in uniform who served their country in times of war and peace. Those who are honored on this day include people who serve the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in May because of their unique training schedules.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May.  It commemorates all men and women, who have died in military service for the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season.

If you visit a grave for Memorial Day, it’s a great idea to bring flowers and other small gifts of your appreciation.

Veterans Day

Veteran’s Day is the day we celebrate (and say thanks to) those who previously served in the military.

In the USA, Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended the World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918.

69th New England Irregulars’ Decals

As of today, these stickers will be available today for purchase. $2 for for the 3″ or 2 for $3. $1.50 for 1.5″ or 2 for $2. All funds go back to support events for your local veterans. Helps pay for camping sites, kayak rentals and raffle prizes. Thanks for your support! – https://www.facebook.com/groups/175247576462652/

New England Center & Home for Veterans – Marine Corps Marathon

Contact Nicole Hand – Nicole.hand@nechv.org

Thanks to my sponsor Joyce Asack for supporting Veterans!

Email: joyce@asackrealestate.com

Phone: 508-942-7146

Website: asackrealestate.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsackRealEstate/

146 – 4th Annual Massasoit Radio Conference

146 – 4th Annual Massasoit Radio Conference

Keith and I had a great time with our audience

Four years ago I went to Massasoit Community College to learn more about podcasting. I have said before that podcasting appealed to me because I could use my voice and I could create my path for Veteran’s Advocacy. Over the last couple of years Keith Hayes of Whoobazoo has asked me to come along to watch and participate on some level. The 4th Annual Media Day proved to be memorable in so many ways.

LiveCast for 4th Annual Media Day

The 4th Annual Massasoit Radio and Digital Arts and Media Conference took place on April 25th. This year Keith asked me do my podcast live. I was excited. This was chance to showcase my “rig” and make it work for us.

I brought my streaming PC, Zoom H6, Microsoft Web Cams, and microphones. The goal was to show that all these items can work together to make the experience good for those watching and listening.

The room started filling up and during the livecast people came in and out. Keith and I got asked some great questions. I thought it was awesome that Massasoit and high school students were making their own podcasts! Four years ago podcasting was nothing like it was today.

A big thanks to Keith Hayes and Anthony Arnold of Whoobazoo for taking the time with me those years ago. Dr. Lisa Zinsius Supka, I appreciated the opportunity to present what Oscar Mike Radio is to an interested audience.

Make sure you go to – https://www.facebook.com/RadioMassasoit/ and check out all the photos and information about Radio Massasoit. I am already looking forward to 2020. I can’t wait to see what will happen before year five.

Setup for LiveCast

Thanks to my sponsor Joyce Asack

Email: joyce@asackrealestate.com

Phone: 508-942-7146

Website: asackrealestate.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsackRealEstate/

145 – Scott Lobaido – 22 – 13 Creative Patriot Artist

145 – Scott Lobaido – 22 – 13 Creative Patriot Artist

I saw this article – https://abington.wickedlocal.com/news/20190412/traveling-art-installation-on-veteran-suicide-to-visit-weymouth/

The article was about Scott Lobaido. He is an artist, and his mission to raise awareness and advocacy for PTSD. I liked that an artist wanted to do this. Since it was in Weymouth, MA there was no reason not to go.

I went the first night and talked briefly with Scott and Secretary of Veterans Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Francisco Urena. Scott asked me to come back the following night to talk with him more.

Talk with people and Scott

The next night was windy in a way that made recording any audio a real test. There was a guy on a Harley – Davidson Sportster named Anthony. He told me that the VA could have done more for his brother.

I never realized what it does to mother to have her child serve. Conversations like I had with Jacquelyn make me stop and consider the cost of PTSD. It is not the soldier who bears this alone. Family can be asked to pay a heavy price as well.

Scott was gracious to give me some time, and we talked about his work. His art is about conveying a feeling of pride in being an American and loving our great nation. You need to go to his website (http://scottlobaido.com/gallery/) and check out his work. Which piece is your favorite?

The last person I spoke with was Conor Sullivan. Conor is an Air Force Veteran. 19 months ago he got a heart transplant. Two weeks ago, he ran the Boston Marathon. Aim High indeed, well done Brother. Conor is a member of the Veterans Brotherhood Motorcycle Club. It was good seeing these guys at the exhibit.

Scott proves that anyone can do any thing to make change where they are. I won’t look at artists the same way ever again. Thanks Scott.

Scott brings his vision to light allowing us to understand the scope of loss.

144 – Joyce Asack – Oscar Mike Radio’s First Sponsor

144 – Joyce Asack – Oscar Mike Radio’s First Sponsor

I met Joyce at a the Brockton Veteran’s Day Parade in 2016. I was getting ride with my Marine Corps League Detachment. Detachment 1115 Ist Lt. Brian McPhillips Metro South. She walked up and thanked me for my service. I had just met Mayor Carpenter so I asked what she was doing here. She whips out her business card and introduced herself as a real estate agent and someone who works in the community. I told her about Oscar Mike Radio, and she asked me for my card. I didn’t have cards at the time and Joyce said I needed to fix that. I gave her the link to the podcast and asked her tell me what she thought of the podcast.

As time went on, Joyce would tell me about podcasts she liked and didn’t like. She told me she enjoyed working with Veterans and wanted to find out more on how to help. Joyce started looking into programs the VA and other providers offered to help Veterans get financing for home loans.

I was getting a crash course in how to market myself and Oscar Mike Radio from Joyce. Knowing what to do to “sell” myself does not come easily, so I took her advice and made changes that worked for Oscar Mike Radio.

About 8 months ago, Joyce and a couple others approached me about supporting this effort in a substantial way. It took me a while to warm up to the idea. Joyce was the first to bring it up and I liked that concept she has of working hard to achieve one’s goals. A simple idea that this Marine could understand.

I am humbled and honored to proudly welcome Joyce on board as Oscar Mike Radio’s first sponsor. It is my desire to keep working and improving to make Oscar Mike Radio the best podcast it can be. Thank you

Joyce’s Contact Information

Email: joyce@asackrealestate.com

Phone: 508-942-7146

Website: asackrealestate.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsackRealEstate/

143 – Sacha’s Questions

143 – Sacha’s Questions

Introduction

Sacha reached out to me on Facebook Messenger. She wanted to ask me some questions about podcasting. Here are my answers that I wrote her. This podcast is the oral answers to the same questions, but come off differently. In a way, these are questions that many people have asked me over the course of making Oscar Mike Radio.

Question One: Why did you start making podcasts? What were your inspirations?

When I was thinking over the concept of Oscar Mike Radio, there was a lot of things going on in the Veteran Community. There were issues around Veteran’s Suicide, and other Veterans were trying to build their lives after serving their country. I wanted to do something that would provide hope, allow Veterans to connect with each other and tell stories about the military one wouldn’t hear anywhere else.

I liked radio growing up. However doing a conventional radio show would be costly with no real idea if it would even be effective.

I met a man named Keith Hayes at the Ist Annual Dale Dorman Media day and he said go for it. We got together later and he showed me how to do podcasting and not quit!

Question Two: What do you think is the hardest part of the process? (uploading regularly? Coming up with content ideas? Finding people to collaborate with?)

Doing anything with sound is very technical. I did not have an audio engineering background so learning what equipment did and did not work was frustrating. It is much easier now, but I am always learning. So I would say learning about making sound technically good is hard.

The other difficult part is making a story or situation connect with people that listen to my podcast. It can be challenging making a story about a military aircraft appealing to someone who doesn’t know anything about military airplanes.

The rest is simply being adaptable, open to learning, and not quitting. I can’t say this enough. There are times when the process (story search, audio setup, editing, blogging, and promotion) is challenging, but not quitting is the key to overcome any difficulty.

Question Three: In your opinion, what makes podcasts stand out from other formats such as radio shows or blog posts?

I don’t believe there is any other format that allows someone to connect an idea, advocate for cause, or tell a story like podcasting. You can take a simple recorder or an advanced sound studio and tell a story your way. Your way, how you want the story to be told on your terms. 1 person may listen, or 100,000 people might listen, but the point is, they chose to listen to what you produced. You can take a podcast and use it to effect change locally, be that ripple in the pond that keeps going. Look at this answer now, I don’t know why you reached out to me, but if I wasn’t podcasting we would have never crossed paths. Maybe, something I am doing here will allow you to move your podcast forward. There is a possibility you may learn something from my mistakes that allow your podcast to shine.

You can’t connect like this with a TV show or movie. YouTube is one thing, but people get distracted easily looking at their phones.

Blog posts are great, and I do one for every podcast, but nothing beats the sound of the human voice in your ear. There is simply nothing like podcasting.

Question Four: Do you make any money making podcasts? Does your listener count matter to you? If not, why do you still do it consistently?

I do not make any money at this point in time. That is not to say I wouldn’t like to get a sponsor or sponsors;). Wishful thinking is I will be the next “King of All Media”, but I learned something from guest I would like to share with you.

Steve Kimball owns Kimball Painting. I did a podcast on him in #120 (https://whoobazoo.com/oscarmike/2018/11/09/episode-120-army-veteran-steve-kimball-owner-of-kimball-painting/)

I asked Steve for some feedback about his experience. I told him it was to improve and grow. Steve looked at me and said if I approach guests with the mindset of adding value to their lives, cause, or business, the rest will take care of itself. Sure enough, when I quit worrying about downloads, subscribers, Facebook Likes, and ensured my podcasts were about adding value people gravitated to what I am doing.

This method keeps me honest and constantly looking to improve what I am doing while having fun doing it.