The Culture Matters Podcast

"The tree that would grow to heaven must first send its roots down to hell." - Friedrich NietzscheExecutive performance coach as well as a fitness and nutrition expert, Fraser Bayley, is making his inaugural appearance on our show and we couldn't be happier to have him here to share his thoughts, experience, and expertise with our listeners.  Fraser and Jay are digging into the influx of men in 2025 who are looking to improve their health and wellness beyond simply getting washboard abs, Fraser's personal journey and the circumstances that made him take risks and make the changes he needed to to become the man he is today, what it takes to go from making day-to-day decisions and simply existing to looking at the big picture, and having the obligation to help those you can with the knowledge and experience you have.  We hope you enjoy this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.https://bayleybuilt.mykajabi.com/labs

"The individual has always had to struggle from being overwhelmed by the crowd. If you try it, you will be lonely often and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Friedrich NietzscheManaging partner of Lion Oakes Healthcare Consulting Dr. David Yerkes is back on the show to continue this series of discussions revolving around the life and contributions of Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, after his life was cut short at a speaking engagement in Utah on September 10, 2025.  As we continue to gather more and more unique perspectives and insights on this terrible event, Dr. Yerkes is able to provide some information on the medical side of things that leads to a better understanding of what actually occurred and why the injury was so devastating.  Dr. Yerkes and Jay are also discussing some of the reasons why Charlie Kirk's passing has affected people so deeply, understanding that no one would come out looking flawless if every moment and debate was recorded and chopped up into convenient sound bites, and a call to continue to argue and debate our different points and perspectives with one another, but to stop fighting.  We should listen to one another, we should debate our perspectives with respect for the people we are debating, but we should stop fighting and reverting to our baser instincts.  Dr. Yerkes has a distinctive outlook on what took place and we're grateful he chose to share it on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

"One word of truth shall outweigh the whole world. Violence can only be concealed by a lie and a lie can only be maintained by violence. Any man who has once proclaimed violence as his method is inevitably forced to take the lie as his principle. At its birth, violence acts openly; even proudly, but no sooner does it become strong firmly established, then it senses the rare faction of the air around it and it cannot continue to rule without descending into a fog of lies, clothing them in sweet words. Violence does not live alone and is not capable of living alone. It is necessarily interwoven with falsehood and the lie can only persist by covering up violence. Any man who has once acclaimed violence as his method must inexorably choose falsehood as his principle. The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie, not to support deceit. Let the lie come in to the world, let it even triumph, but not through me." - Aleksandr SolzhenitsynOn today's episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, we are continuing with our series of guests who are paying their respects to conservative activist and co-founder of Turing Point USA, Charlie Kirk, who lost his life at a speaking engagement in Utah on September 10, 2025.  To continue these discussions on the life an contributions of Charlie Kirk, we have a regular back on the show in the form of Brian Hess, founder of The Pavement Group and Top Contractor School and the host of "The Brian Hess Show".  As we've stated before, the murder of Charlie Kirk was met with a myriad of different emotions and responses and this conversation brings in to focus just how sad an event this was.  Brian and Jay discuss the tragedy of Charlie's kids growing up without him, how not getting the full scope of someone's words is both dangerous and irresponsible, the inspiration Charlie provided for the next generation, and how, eventually, there will be someone who is going to pick up the mantle and continue on.  We hope you enjoy this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

"When you have something to say, silence is a lie." - Dr. Jordan B. PetersonHost of "The Relief Podcast", author of How to Get Your Life Back, and founder of Real Estate Relief Demetri Stakias has made his way back to The Culture Matters Podcast under unfortunate circumstances for this conversation.  We are continuing our discussions on the life and contributions made by Charlie Kirk, who was shot down at a speaking engagement on a university campus in Utah on September 10, 2025.  As the events of that day still stand fresh in our minds, Demetri and Jay are discussing the impact this event has had and will continue to have in the coming weeks, months, and even years.  Demetri and Jay are touching on Charlie's ability to mobilize like-minded people and encourage them to speak up, the fact that programming people to think a certain way or believe a certain thing has become a part of life, and how grieving explicitly manifests itself in one way while grieving implicitly manifests itself in a completely different form.  These continued conversations are bringing new thoughts and ways of looking at the events of the past weeks in different lights and we are grateful to have Demetri Stakias share his views on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

"Economics must not be relegated to classrooms and statistical offices and must not be left to esoteric circles. It is the philosophy of human life and action and concerns everybody and everything. It is the pith of civilization and a man's human existence." - Ludwig von MisesSales expert, speaker, and founder of Sales Connection Kayvon Kay is re-joining the program today as we continue our discussions on the life and contributions of conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk who whose life was taken on September 10, 2025.  Many emotions have been on display since the event took place and have manifested themselves in many ways.  During this conversation, Kayvon gives voice to his frustration and the state of affairs in the world that led to a man's life being taken for exercising his right to free speech.  Kayvon and Jay dig into the senselessness of violence when people disagree with one another's positions on certain topics, whether or not society is too far gone to be able to rectify these violent and unnecessary actions, the hand both sides of the aisle play in disavowing any responsibility for the removal of free speech, and how a lack of respect has helped forge this unfortunate path.  We appreciate this impassioned call for a return to respect and decency from the one and only Kayvon Kay.

"When the tyrant dies, his rule ends. When the martyr dies, his reign begins."COO of the Hubert Vester Auto Group, creator of the "Faith. Family. Fulfillment." podcast, and the author of the book Answers From the Stairs Chris Vester has returned to The Culture Matters Podcast to continue our discussions on the life and contributions of the late Charlie Kirk.  An ardent follower of the Christian faith, Chris is approaching the subject from a faith-based perspective and focusing on the ways that Charlie Kirk used his own belief as a platform from which he spoke his truth and spread the message of his faith.  Chris and Jay are also looking at how Charlie Kirk was able to give give voice to a younger generation brought up with traditional values, how that same generation was given someone to look up to, the culture battle in our society between having faith and not, and asking the question of who will take up the mantle.  The loss of Charlie Kirk was felt by a multitude of communities and perhaps none as deeply as that of the Christian faith.  An inside perspective on how the loss was truly felt in that community awaits during this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

"Prove me wrong." - Charlie KirkMarvin Joles is the owner of Wis-Coat Asphalt Maintenance and the creator of the "Blacktop Banter" podcast and he has made his return to the show as we continue to discuss the life and contributions made by conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, after he was murdered at a speaking engagement in Utah on September 10, 2025.  As we have been examining the fallout of this event over the last couple of days, there has been a theme of courage and standing up for what you believe in.  Those themes are carried over into today's conversation as Marvin and Jay are discussing whether it is a lack of culture that has led to this chaos we are experiencing today or if our culture as a society as merely shifted in that direction, the never-ending quest for knowledge and self-improvement, how a breakdown of mutual respect has enflamed people on both sides of the aisle, and a desire for a more peaceful and fruitful future in the wake of tragedy.  As we continue to navigate these waters, we continue to hope for a better tomorrow where a person is free to say what is on their mind free of fear and with the hope of open ears to receive those words.  

"We must teach goodness to our infants." - Charlie KirkAdvisor, consultant, and business and financial guru Matt McHale is joining us on the program once again, though for a different reason than usual.  Today, we are taking the time to discuss the life and influence of conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, who lost his life at a speaking engagement in Utah on September 10, 2025.  During his time in the public eye, Charlie Kirk acted as a vessel for free speech and for open discussion amongst people who disagreed with one another, and the right for everyone to have a voice.  His loss was felt very deeply by many and today's discussion touches on that loss and the impact it is having on those that followed Charlie Kirk.  Matt and Jay are discussing many aspects of Charlie's message based in his incredibly strong belief in Christianity, the legacy that Charlie left behind and the hope to see his work continued, and why it is important for those who feel compelled to speak up and speak out in their truths to start where they are and make impacts locally.  We hope you enjoy this discussion on the work of the late Charlie Kirk.

"If you believe in something you need to have the courage to fight for those ideas not run away from them or try to silence them." - Charlie KirkOn today's episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, the founder of BBD Solutions, Tom Bove, is joining the show for a discussion and a look back at the life and influence of conservative activist and co-founder of Turing Point USA, Charlie Kirk, who was killed at a speaking engagement in Utah on September 10, 2025.  As an outspoken advocate for free speech and open dialogue among opponents, Charlie Kirk was someone who many looked up to as voice for change and traditional values and his loss was felt very deeply by many people.  In today's discussion, Tom and Jay are digging into the influence that Charlie's words and actions had on both of their lives personally, the need for people in the media to understand the weight of their words, the courage it takes to stand by your convictions even in the face of overwhelming scrutiny, and how this loss should encourage others to live in their truth.  Charlie Kirk meant a lot to a lot of people and, in his honor, we are glad we are able to discuss his life and legacy on The Culture Matters Podcast.

On today's episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, our very own Jay Doran is taking some time to talk sales and storytelling.  One thing that all great salespeople have in common is their ability to tell a story.  That doesn't mean to spin a yarn or say what you have to to make the sale.  Instead, great salespeople are able to put themselves in the shoes of their potential customers armed with all of the information that they can to speak to that customer on their terms and in their language to make sure both sides of benefiting.  The story doesn't have to be a long, drawn-out epic with subplots and twists.  All it needs to be is straight-forward, compelling, honest, and true to make it great.  We're digging into the art of storytelling on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.