Derate The Hate

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Nothing good comes of HateI’ve made the statement so many times on this podcast, but I’m reminded daily that nothing good comes of hate. There is no greater reminder in my mind than the speech given this past week, and other things said recently by the current President of the United States. For clarification, THE DTH PODCAST IS NOT POLITICAL. I want to make sure that is clear, but Hate is Hate and I’ll point it out when I see it.People often make the statement, “words matter”. When labels are placed on large groups of people, and then those people are classified as a threat, bad things are bound to happen. Hate, no matter the context, is not healthy. The fact that our current President knows nothing about so many of what he calls “right-wingers” and “ultra-MAGA extremists”, yet boldly spews his hatred for them, made me think of a conversation I recently had with my friend Daryl Davis.The Daryl Davis DiscussionIn episode 99 of the DTH podcast, Daryl Davis and I discuss the question, “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?”. We discuss this question in terms of race. I believe the question is valid for people of all differences. Please check out the replay of this great conversation. Be one of those that asks questions and gets to know those with whom you differ and disagree. Don’t buy the lies and ad-hominem attacks of those who would prefer to keep us divided.What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another, be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on Facebook, MeWeThe world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) The importance of family and family time cannot be overstated. I spoke last week about taking a little time for myself and the family. We enjoyed our little weekend camping trip, and so grateful for the memories. As I was thinking about the importance of family and family time, I began thinking about an early DTH conversation I had with my friend Kendall Qualls. I've pulled that conversation from the DTH archives for this week's episode.Who is Kendall Qualls?Kendall Qualls, president of Take Charge Minnesota, knows the American Dream is possible for EVERYONE, regardless of race. In this interview, Kendall and I discuss how “Critical Race Theory” is nothing but a way for those seeking power to divide, while Take Charge Minnesota has a better goal. Rebuilding and resurrecting the American Black Family through Faith, Family and Education.Kendall and Take Charge Minnesota outright denounce the idea of systemic racism, white privilege and abhor identity politics and the promotion of victimhood. Instead of promoting and perpetuating that perpetual victim mentality, Take Charge MN is an organization that has truly made its mission, for individuals to Take Charge of their own Life, Family and Community. Check out the trailer for the "I Am Victor" documentary by clicking the link below:https://youtu.be/6mJyjwmj_QIWhat have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another, be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on Facebook, MeWe, Instagram, Twitter . Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio. Please leave us a rating and feedback. Send me a meThe world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Friends, what is Freedom if you don't take the time to enjoy it? In the past week it became very apparent to me that I've been neglecting one of the greatest gifts that I have been blessed to receive. That is freedom. As we, my wife and I, were preparing for an upcoming camping trip, I realized how little we do for fun these days. This became evident when I saw an unopened gift my wife had given me for my birthday last year.It took a reality check for me personally this week to ask myself the question, what is freedom if I'm not taking the time to enjoy it? With that said, I am going to be taking some time off in the coming weeks. I will be pulling from the DTH archives some of the great conversations I've done thus far for your listening pleasure. In light of the Islamist militant terrorist attack carried out at a hotel in Mogadishu by Al-Shabaab this past week, I am replaying my first conversation with my friend "Average Mohamed" where we talked about "Battling Extremism with an Alternative Narrative"Please listen and share this timeless and important message with your network of friends. What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another, be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on Facebook, MeWe, Instagram, Twitter . Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio. Please leave us a rating and feedback. SendThe world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Sometimes the prize is the experience itself. In this quick episode, I take on the defeatist attitude that unless you're going to win, why bother trying. That may be an exaggeration of the way it was said, but this comes as a result of something someone said to my wife recently regarding my participation in a BBQ contest.So why do people compete in events when they know they have very little, if any chance of winning? Sometimes the prize is the experience itself. I use as an example, the Boston Marathon. Now, I'm in no way comparing a local BBQ contest to the Boston Marathon. To be clear, this is about the lesson, not the contest itself. The episode is short. I believe the lesson is valuable. I hope you find as much value in the lesson as I did thinking about it. Every contest is not just about winning. Sometimes the experience is all that really matters. Get out there, have some fun! The world needs more of it!!What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another, be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on Facebook, MeWe, Instagram, Twitter . Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio. Please leave us a rating and feedback. Send me a message on any media platform or subscribe directly from our sites. Let us know about someone you think should be on our podcast, and if we book them for a conversation, I’ll send you a free gift! Not on social media? You can share your thoughts directly with me at wilk@wilksworld.comI look forward to hearing from you!Please check out our affiliates page by clicking HERE!The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) What role does fear and trust play in the gun safety debate? I recently sat down for a follow up conversation on the topic of gun safety with 2 friends of mine from Braver Angels. In December of 2021, I conducted a round table event with some friends on the same topic. A lot of things were left unsaid and unresolved in that conversation, as many conversations go when it comes to contentious topics. I asked my friends Mark Beckwith and Paul Norris to rejoin me for this follow-up conversation.Paul Norris graduated from UC Berkeley. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a masters’ in counseling. A gun owner from age 12, he is an NRA Benefactor member and an advocate for gun safety. He worked at Apple Computer and UCSF in software development and the application of software to business and human needs. He is currently retired but still works part time in counseling. He is active in Braver Angels, serving as a moderator and state coordinator. Mark Beckwith Is a a bishop in the Episcopal Church and a long-time gun violence prevention activist. Mark is one of the co-founders of Bishops United Against Gun Violence.  Mark too is a leader in Braver Angels. He is passionate about helping people move beyond the confines of their political and religious silos in order to find common ground. Be sure to check out our show notes for the link to Mark’s recently published book “Seeing the Unseen, Beyond Prejudices, Paradigms and Party Lines”.Mark and I also recently participated in a discussion on the Braver Angels Podcast:Braving the Gun Divide | Mark Beckwith & Wilk Wilkinson with Ciaran O’ConnorWhat have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one anotheThe world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply)  Do you trust that our public health officials are telling you the truth? This question, for me, lead to the Truth and Trust Project. I for one find myself very skeptical these days. As many who’ve listened to the DTH podcast for long know, I’ve been highly critical of the government’s response to the pandemic from the very beginning. How does someone like me have a conversation with someone who had direct influence on the government’s response to the pandemic? Not so long ago, I would say that the conversation would never happen, because my attitude would not have allowed it.The Truth and Trust Project may be one of the most important endeavors of my life. Several times over the past several months, I asked the question, “if you could ask Dr. Francis Collins or Dr. Tony Fauci a question, what would that question be?”. For that question, I received nothing but negative responses. The most common response was some variation of, “I wouldn’t waste my time, they wouldn’t listen anyway”… I asked the question because I am currently involved in a Braver Angels initiative called the  “Truth and Trust Project” with Dr. Francis Collins and myself as partners. The only way we can expect as a country to rebuild Truth and Trust is to have conversations with those whom we disagree. The only way to get results from those conversations is to actually LISTEN to those with whom we disagree and look for the humility and humanity in their position. In this episode, Part 2 of 2, Francis and I discuss:Getting children vaccinatedThe doctor/patient relationshipGovernment mandatesThe casualties of a free societyEmployer vaccine mandates (both in healthcare and the military)Vaccine efficacy and how that messaging has evolvedthe erosion of trust in government and public health officialsWhat have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got, and mThe world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Did you hear about the Nazis at the Turning Point USA event? If those in the media, and more specifically, the gals on The View trying to perpetuate the Hate, you probably wouldn't have. I thought it was another staged bit of nonsense. This is why I called up my friend Jeff Schoep. We live in an age when certain people like to use their big platforms to perpetuate hate and false narratives to drive their own personal agendas. When I saw there were "Nazis" at the Turning Point USA student action summit in Tampa, Fl, I wanted to get the perspective of my friend Jeff Schoep. Jeff is the former head of the NSM ( National Socialist Movement) and the most high profile member of the neo-Nazi movement to leave the movement and devote his life to countering and preventing extremism. You may remember him from our conversation in Episode 70 of the Derate the Hate podcast.Don't miss this short but important conversation! Let me know what you think...The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Do you trust that our public health officials are telling you the truth? I for one find myself very skeptical these days. As many who've listened to the DTH podcast for long know, I've been highly critical of the government's response to the pandemic from the very beginning. How does someone like me have a conversation with someone who had direct influence on the government's response to the pandemic? Not so long ago, I would say that the conversation would never happen, because my attitude would not have allowed it. The Truth and Trust Project may be one of the most important endeavors of my life. Several times over the past several months, I asked the question, "if you could ask Dr. Francis Collins or Dr. Tony Fauci a question, what would that question be?". For that question, I received nothing but negative responses. The most common response was some variation of, "I wouldn't waste my time, they wouldn't listen anyway"... I asked the question because I am currently involved in a "Truth and Trust Project" with Dr. Francis Collins.Dr. Francis Collins is a  physician-geneticist, Dr. Collins took office as the 16th NIH director on August 17, 2009, after being appointed by President Barack Obama. In 2017, he was asked to continue in his role by President Donald Trump, and in 2021, by President Joe Biden. As such, Dr. Francis Collins played an instrumental role in the government's response to the pandemic. There are many things with respect to the government's response to the pandemic that Francis and I disagree on vehemently. As men who dearly love our country and individuals who both hold strong to our values, we also recognize that there needs to be a better way forward. This starts by understanding that contentious topics don't have to result in a contentious conversations.The only way we can expect as a country to rebuild Truth and Trust is to have conversations with those whom we disagree. The only way to get results from those conversations is to actually LISTEN to those with whom we disagree and look for the humility and humanity in their position. In this episode, Part 1 of 2, Francis and I discuss:How we met (origin of The Truth andThe world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) "Don't Believe The Lies, Believe Your Life"... it wasn't but a few months ago when I first heard of Brian Echevarria. Nationally, he was little known with respect to politics but then a video of him speaking in front of his local school board went viral. This episode is not about politics, but about Brian's story. Family is his story...Who is Brian Echevarria? On February 14, 2022, Brian Echevarria was to be the 25th speaker at his local school board meeting in Cabarrus County, NC. Brian is passionate with regard to the controversial issues facing our children in the public school system today. Taboo issues like CRT and transgender athletes can quickly derail school board meetings, but Brian's impassioned & sensible speech got the country talking. The video quickly went viral and he became known as CRT Dad. Brian is much more than the name would imply.  Brian is a Republican candidate for NC House District 73 - Christian, Conservative, Husband, Father, Small Business Owner, and Community Leader.In this episode we discuss:His speech at the school board meetingDon't believe the lies, believe your life... Real life is shutting off the news and getting out there to speak with your neighborsFamily and family values, how politics touches all aspects of our livesLeBron James comments on Brittney Griner and the invisible "Black Tax"The Hate Mail he's received for telling his powerful story and love for his countryHis candidacy for NC House District 73 What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another, be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on Facebook, MeWe, Instagram, Twitter . Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio. Please leaveThe world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Does money buy happiness? If you find your happiness in material things, you might say yes. I would challenge whether that is real happiness. Material things may bring moments, or even periods of joy in one's life, but moments of joy are only a sliver of what amounts to true happiness.Should money be the yardstick by which we measure happiness?There is a concerted effort on the part of so many these days to divide the "haves" and "have nots". Have you noticed this? I make the case in this episode, as I do often on the DTH podcast, that Gratitude is a much better barometer of someone's happiness. Those who are grateful for what they have will always be happier than those who are focused on what they don't have."The greatest source of happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times" ~Zig ZiglarWhy the topic, "Does Money Buy Happiness?"I recently read an article, "Here's how much money you need to make to be happy living in the US, according to study" on our local Fox affiliate that raised for me a larger issue. I think it's terrible that so many continuously drive this narrative that money somehow equates to happiness while never mentioning Gratitude or Personal Accountability as factors. Have a listen, let me know your thoughts...What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another, be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on Facebook, MeWe, Instagram, Twitter . Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio. Please leave us a rating and feedback. Send me a message on any media platform or subscribe directly from our sites. Let us know about someone you think should be on our podcast, and if we book them for a conversation, I’ll send you a free gift! NoThe world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.