Alrighty folks.

 

Welcome back to SDYT the podcast. I'm Porter. I'm your host. We're covering all 3 of our core values of humor, community, and creativity. This particular episode though, we're talking to really in my opinion a supremely awesome dude.

 

Right? He volunteers at a children's hospital. As a superhero, runs 5 k's and 10 k's dropped half a human over the last couple years and totally a different season in his life.

 

We're gonna talk about all of those things and so much more I'm sure this dude thinks 90 miles a minute and speaks a hundred and 10. So as we get into this, it's gonna be awesome.

 

You're new to the podcast, welcome and if you're continuing listener, welcome back. With that, I'm Porter. I'm your host and this is SDYT the podcast test. Alrighty folks. Welcome back to SDYT the podcast again.

 

I'm Porter. I'm your host. And here on SDYT, the podcast, this particular interview, we've got Mike to the fullest, Mike Gincell. What's up buddy? How you doing? I'm doing great, Porter. Thanks for having me here on SD YC.

 

It's an honor. I appreciate it, man. It's been over a decade, I think, since we've talked and caught up. Right? Am I close? Yes. Yes. Yes. Almost 13 years this fall. It'll be 13 years since we last saw each other.

 

Hey. You don't even look the same. I know you can't see this on on the radio, all the listeners, but but we're on a video called moment and yeah. You don't even look the same. Just a little chopstick and mascara.

 

You know, you're big. Yeah. That's gotta be it. That's gotta be it. I tried to work my foundation today, but I don't think you could tell with my lighting. Well, maybe he's born with that maybe it anyway.

 

Yeah. Let's move past that. So so while we're getting into this interview, you. Before we get into any of these these topics in a little bit greater depth, let's just work on some relatability.

 

Right? So we've got people listening all over the country and in some cases from what I'm seeing at least all over the world.

 

Wow. Yeah. It's pretty legit, man. People can't see you. People may not know you. They may not follow you on Instagram or social media or your progress or projects.

 

So let's just take a couple minutes. How about you just tell everybody where you grew up who you are, aspirations, hobbies, let's build some relatability.

 

Who is Mike Ginselle? Well, funny you should ask. I still ask myself that question every day of who I am. But well, as Porter said, my name is Mike and so I'm 31 years of age.

 

I currently reside in Lake Mary, Florida, which is a northern suburb of Orlando. I'm originally from a small town in New Jersey, I grew up there, and then I moved to Florida when I was 18.

 

I attended a little school called St. Leo University, which is where I quarter in the fall of 2009 where we first started meeting.

 

And then 1 thing led to another, and I moved to Orlando to pursue my career in fatality about 20 13. And I've been down in Orlando for the last about 8 years, and I officially became a Florida resident 6 years ago.

 

So I have had quite the journey of living in Orlando. Aspirations and goals. Well, I mean, a lot has changed for me over the last several years. As you mentioned, I lost half a human in that intro.

 

I didn't think about it that way. But -- Yeah. -- that is that is true. I lost least a third grader, maybe a fourth grader. I'm not sure. About a hundred and 5 pounds, I wanna say give or take.

 

We have operations for modeling a little bit. I do cosplay, which will I'm sure we'll get into in 1 of the segments. For those that don't know, cosplay is a Port Mont 2. It's 2 words put together a costume and play, cosplay.

 

It's becoming more and more mainstream in the media where people dress up as their favorite characters and TV, movies, games, video games, and go to conventions or you don't even go to conventions.

 

They go do photoshoots or they, you know, celebrate those characters, and celebrate them while in their regular clothes or in their costumes, if you will, cause play.

 

So I have aspirations for that quite a bit. I'd like to maybe someday be a college professor, whether it's with hospitality or just with life experiences.

 

If that's human language, and then they should teach in colleges like a life experience course. I think that would be something that would really help people. I just wanna live a happy and fulfilled life.

 

I think, especially the last couple years with my weight loss and health and fitness journey, I've learned more and more about who I am and what I wanna be in my life and be an inspiration to people where no matter where you are on your journey, things do get rough, but things absolutely do get better.

 

We know we are familiar with it gets better campaign, especially in the late 2000 tens where a lot of LGBT youth were you know, harassed and bullied in high schools and colleges across the country and, you know, I think that translates to no matter who you love or where you are, things do get better eventually.

 

If you put in the hard work and you put in the effort, I am living proof of that, where if you really work at it and believe that things can get better, they do.

 

I agree. And correct me if I'm wrong because I I think this is a bit more your forte than mine, but I believe it was maybe Howard Stark you mentioned a happy and fulfilled life earlier.

 

And I think a lot of the time, especially now present day today, that gets defined or at least relegated to the amount of money you have or financial stability or something to that effect but I'm pretty sure it was Howard Stark who said it doesn't matter how much money you have.

 

In fact, no amount of money can buy another second of time. I I think I'm quoting it. That's that's truly true. Yes. You are. That is Tony Stark's dad from I believe endgame.

 

It's either Infini Moore or Endgame. I'm gonna say Endgame, I think, but no amount of money has ever bought a second of time is the quote. And I that is 1 of my favorite quotes Because people really do live by the dollar.

 

I mean, I am someone who loved my side hustles. I have quite a few, and I have a full time gig as well. But realize that money is important, but it's not why we were put on this planet.

 

And it's such a capitalism thing where it's like money they're all money dollar rules all. Were they selling point in, like, earlier time in, like, the, you know, industrial revolution and and then in the 19 60, 70, 80, 90.

 

You know, we have Everyone knew what the American dream was, you know, was to have a house and a wife and 2 kids and a dog and a white picket fence, and we were all taught that growing up.

 

And and just to know that the the the man is the breadwinner and, you know, the wife stays home and, you know, takes care of the house and the kids.

 

And I think what we're realizing with the turn of the century is that that's not really what it is anymore. It's not about working a 9 to 5 being in the rat race and taking a vacation once every once a year.

 

Yeah. No. I agree. A lot of that's changed. But I think it's interesting because even though you can start define things your own way, subjective or respected to whoever you are and whatever your background is.

 

Now present day being successful is still overall the ability to control your own decisions. Control your own life to whatever sliding scale and degree applies but that hasn't changed.

 

And I think in your case specifically you're doing it now. Right? Like in your early thirties arguably by your late twenties, by that definition, you're already leading a successful life.

 

Right? Or at least more fulfilled, I think is the word that you use, the happy and fulfilled life. Right? Do you feel that way? Yeah. I certainly do.

 

I feel like in such in the last 4 years of my life, I have had a more fulfilled and happy life because I had hit my rock bottom when I was almost 300 pounds and not really living life to the fullest as my moniker on Instagram is Mike to the fullest.

 

No casual club for Instagram. But I definitely wasn't living life to where it should be. I think people kind of forget that we only get 1 life and 1 opportunity.

 

I think M and M is saying that and lose yourself. You know, you only get 1 shot, 1 opportunity. You, you know, grab everything you're after or you let slip your fingers, paraphrase the quote.

 

But I think people don't really realize that we only get 1 opportunity. And we don't know when that to the end, and not to sound morbid or anything because, you know, life is a celebration.

 

We're supposed to celebrate life every single day that we're on this planet. I hope my dad always said, every day above ground is a good day. And I firmly agree with that. You know? Sometimes some days are bad, of course.

 

But people don't realize that we're very lucky with the gift of time because time doesn't slow down ever. Going back to what Howard starts then. No no no amount of money can ever buy a second time.

 

Second go away, hours, minutes, stays, all that goes away. Time keeps moving forward. We can't ever stop it. So I think people need to realize that in the back of their head that, you know, time doesn't slow down.

 

Things are gonna happen, whether you like it or not. And I think that was 1 of my big points when I hit rock bottom being 20 when I start my I wanna say 27 28 is when I started my weight loss 20 19.

 

I was turning oh, 27. Yeah. 27, and then I was going into my 20 eighth year for 20 eighth season.

 

And I had realized that I really wasn't giving that my life a fair shot, and I never gave myself that shot. And for me, it was a last chance that turned into a second chance for me.

 

A last chance that turned into a second chance? What do you mean? Yeah. I've I've seen that because when I went to my doctor, I wasn't sleeping well. I was maybe sleeping 5, 6 hours a night, and it wasn't good, relaxing sleep.

 

Like, there are days when you wake up and you know you didn't sleep well. Like, you are tired out of the bed. You are you're like a slugs. You're getting out of the bed.

 

You're just trying to go through the cogs of life. I was feeling that almost every day. I was eating really bad food. I was eating processed, crappy food day in day out I think there was a week where I didn't even see a vegetable.

 

It was just literally McDonald's, Domino's, just a lot of healthy food because that's all I knew and that's what it would make me feel good because I just wanted to feel good.

 

So going to my doctor because I said, I I'm not sleeping well. We went all over all the numbers, and she looked at me and said, you're not living a healthy lifestyle.

 

I get what you're going through. But if you don't change your life's gonna get even harder. And she sent me to a sleep doctor because I wasn't sleep properly.

 

I went through a sleep test in January of 20 19, and it revealed that I had moderate to severe sleep apnea. Mhmm. To where the doctor is looking at the GEDS CPAP machine, at 27, You need a CPAP machine.

 

Now I know some people need the CPAP machine that's not obesity related. It could be just, you know, a narrow nose or another underlying medical issue, but a a majority of people who use CPAP machines are overweight or obese.

 

And we told that at 27 that you need a machine to help you breathe, it's a very jarring thing to hear.

 

And I asked if it was a way to reverse it. He goes, there really isn't much way to reverse it except if you really radically change your you know, even weight loss may not help it at this point, but you can try.

 

And I walked out of that medical pavilion in in downtown Orlando. I cried in my car, and I was, like, I need this I need this more than anything.

 

I need to make this made a turn around. This is my last chance. And over time, I realized that my last chance with actually me getting a second chance at life.

 

And I think that is where my phrase my last chance turned into a second chance really meant that I got a second chance at life because I took care of myself, finally. I put myself in the main character in the driver's solution.

 

Well that's sort of the key. Right? Like once you start to realize that he said in that season of your life but at least in your story line you are your main character. You may not realize it in the moment but you are.

 

And and I think you mentioned this maybe it was yesterday but when we were talking off the air that the other people in your life or just other people in general in their stories you may be the side character the supporting role, the extra Mhmm.

 

Right?

 

But in your story, you are the main character which then that catalyst in that moment is the same as in every other superhero story. Right? There's something big that changes. Now granted, in most of these superhero stories, they die.

 

And then there's some sort of rebirth. So I'm glad that didn't happen first of all. But metaphorically, it did. It was there. It was there. It could've gone down 1 or 2 ways. I could've died.

 

I I and I don't mean to sound dramatic when I say this, but if if I went the other way and just gave up you know, 4 years later, I could be well over 354 hundred pounds on a CPAP machine or, you know, died of a heart attack or I've had a slew of medical issues.

 

And I kind of relates that. A lot of people said that was my superhero origin story when it comes to Cosplay.

 

Because that is where Cosplay started with me, was I my personal trainer is a Thor Cos player based in Australia, and I'll give him a quick shot of Andrew Lutbski, who is a at at andrew Lutbski on Instagram.

 

I found him in late 20 18 when I was going through that rock bottom phase, And when I got all this medical information, I got it to him and said I need help.

 

And I think people don't realize you need help in life. Everybody's help in life. You cannot go through life on your own without the help of families, friends, random strangers on the Internet, anybody.

 

Like, you can find help almost anywhere. And people don't people are either just too stubborn or if you are just like, I can do this or no 1 can understand my journey.

 

No 1 can truly understand your own journey. Everyone's journey is different, but there are people who have been through similar journeys or journeys of their own that can sort of relate to it.

 

I mean, my personal opinion was overweight as a child. And I related to that. He wasn't always the guy who looked like Chris Hemsworth's stunt double. You know, he was a chubby guy himself. My life coach who's also based in Australia.

 

Also named Andrew for the trend. He was a chubby child, a chubby adult, and that was eating eating issue. Much like I don't with an eating issue. And that was something I didn't realize about myself that I had knee disorder.

 

I've been jay. I would eat just to feel something. And it was all that and relating to other people's journeys in a way, it was like a community of people who knew what I was going through in their own way.

 

And I think that was the catalyst and the starting point of my journey in 20 18. Season 27 going to season 28 of my life, that there are people that can relate to me.

 

You know, you look at people with big muscles and just the perfect body of get it. They do. Everyone goes through body image issues no matter who you are, what you look like.

 

And also, that social media sometimes is smoke and mirrors. Remember that too. Yeah definitely and I think it's interesting too where you said well actually let's start out with your coach Andrew.

 

How'd you find him? So that is a great story. So I was on Instagram 1 night just randomly because Shazam, which is 1 of my 1 of the first superhero movies I saw was Suzanne was Zachary Levi in it.

 

1 of the very first I mean, I've seen superhero movies, you know, throughout the years.

 

I think Spider Man with Tot McGuire was my first 1 And I was, like, hooked on that when I was 11. But I didn't really get into the whole Batman dark knight rises superman returns, all the stuff in the late 2 thousands.

 

But the Spider Man movies were the blockbusters that propelled the superhero genre into what it is now in the mainstream.

 

I certainly believe that those blockbusters in 2002 and 2004 from Spider Man 1 and 2 really propelled what Marvel and DC are now doing.

 

But I was excited about Shazam because I saw exactly me by a costume, and I just thought it was the coolest thing ever.

 

And it was like, cool colors, and he would look through a jack in it. And there was, like, a controversy with you if he was wearing a muscle suit or not.

 

And I just dove down that rabbit hole on around 1 night. I'm just looking at Shazam's stuff, and then I found Cosclic. I found 1 of my good friends, Matt, who sent home late on Instagram, who did a Shazam cosplay.

 

I was like, whoa. People actually dressed up as characters. I knew what cosplay was, but I didn't know people did it, like, on Instagram and on social media. And how big the community was.

 

And then just you know how you scroll on social media, you'll find different things. And then eventually, just either the algorithms or state or whatever, brought me to Andrew. And I was like, whoa, dude looks like Chris Hemsworth.

 

He looked just like him. And I clicked on his page a little bit, poked around and realized he was the first trainer in Australia, and he specializes in cosplay transformations and online coaching.

 

And I'm like, that's my guy. So we started talking in November of 20 18, and I saved up some money to coach with him because he wasn't usable at my price range at that point.

 

But I knew that this guy is just talking to him and just how warm and friendly he was to someone he never even met, just a prospective client.

 

And just being very helpful, showing me the app he uses, giving me some advice, a book to read, and just hey, I will save you a spot when you are ready, let me know.

 

And gave me great advice for the first about 4 or 5 months before I trained with him.

 

I started training with him in March of 20 19, but I was on a weight loss journey in January 20 team just started doing just 6 weeks of cardio and just tracking my food. It was very simple in the beginning.

 

It was just the kindness of that man and his heart that made me realize he wasn't out for the money. He was out for someone to to change someone's life, really respected and admired that someone would just take their time.

 

To help me. And I didn't even really know him from, you know, from anything. So I think that was the the trigger in Kyle's point. Of course, I did all the hard work.

 

Course, I'm the 1 that put the blood sweat peers into meal prep and the gym and working on myself. But I truly had 1 of the best trainers in the business with Andrew Lutoneski. I recommended him to all my friends.

 

I've had 2 or 3 friends trained with him at some point. And he is someone that I really have considered become 1 of my close friends. And I think that's a beautiful thing. And for the record, you have actually met him in person.

 

Right? This isn't entirely on Yes. Yes. So Andrew and I met in Las Vegas in July of 20 19. Yes. He went out to Las Vegas for the INBA. I believe that's the it's IMBA. If I'm wrong, I'm so sorry.

 

But the INBA bodybuilding competition, they did their nationals in Las Vegas at the Rio. And he was out there in case, he's like, hey. Maybe captain America. I do Thor. Let's go out there and do, like, a little bit of a meet and greet.

 

Let's do a little bit of a show. I'm like, Okay. It will give me a 2 day thing. I was off I was off work for 2 weeks because my partner at the time was gonna be in town from the United Kingdom.

 

Actually broke things off with him before I flew out to Vegas. So I was already a mess going out to Vegas because I just dumped somebody in Orlando who flew in from k? So I was with my own Dawson Creek telenovela.

 

But when I flew out to Vegas and to aunt, you know, me and Andy met, and it was just like it was such a moment that slowed down when I walked into Rio and saw him and just giving him the biggest hug and just being the man who changed my life who just legitimately from day 1, I had to trust.

 

What people don't realize is your personal trainer, you have to give them a lot and not just physically, But emotionally, you have to be yourself vulnerable to the core.

 

For real change to happen, you have to break down those walls that you have. Everybody has walls especially those who are overweight and obese. Speaking from experience, I had so many walls up.

 

So many walls up. And you had to let those down in order for change to occur. And just seeing this man who absolutely helped me break a lot of those walls, it was an experience in the half.

 

And it turned into a week long adventure. He's like, hey. Just stay out of your more days, let's go explore Vegas. And I changed my flight, and we spent the week.

 

We went to the Grand Canyon first time I ever at the Grand Canyon, I was in a helicopter, doing a helicopter tour, never had flown a helicopter before, was absolutely terrified, but he basically dragged me into that helicopter, which I will always remember.

 

We did the show. It was great. Me and all the bodybuilders, and they were like, we're inspired by you. I'm like, y'all, looks vacuum packed in, like, all the muscles and the spray tan and, you know, the speedos.

 

And I'm like, y'all both your negative 2 percent body fat. Here I am feeling like, I felt the selfie next to them, but they were, like, no, dude. Like, it's talking about bullshit. It's, like, just changing your life. It's amazing.

 

Da da da da. And there was this wonderful thing. And then having a heart to heart with him in in our hotel room and out on the strip and just walking the strip with him as Thor and Captain America. People stopped to photos.

 

We just had a good time. That was a week that forever changed my life because I broke down and realized that III still had some I had a change that I might still had to occur. I lost about 60 pounds at that point.

 

And I wasn't quite where I wanted to be, but I knew that I had to change even more in terms of my emotions, my like e, my ego, and kind of realizing that the creativity of my cosplay was going to unlock more things, more different characters, different ideas, and learning, and listening more than talking as much as I've talked during this whole interview.

 

It's also about listening and understanding where others come from and listening when people give you feedback.

 

I have become better at constructive criticism and feedback because I know that sometimes that can be what could help you propel yourself to the next level.

 

It's interesting you bring that up. Talking about the main character in your own story essentially. Right? Let's just call it for the sake of argument what it is here. It's you're the main character in your own superhero story.

 

Right? Because I think the funny thing about story lines no matter how real even in the movies or comics or TV shows that they seem, some real human wrote those. So there's gonna be elements of just being human in there.

 

1 it makes it more relatable. 2 it makes it more believable. And 3, it anchors it in reality for those other reasons. Right? And so as you're writing it, it doesn't get too far off track, too science fiction.

 

But the interesting part is You don't always realize that what you see in these fantasy movies or in these science fiction type movies or these superhero genres is that there are elements of reality in them.

 

It's not just graphics. It's not just, you know, CGI and special effects. It's the character arc. And the development of those characters that also exemplifies trends in being human like in your case.

 

It wasn't until you had this catalyst of sort of hitting the bottom and rebounding back that you realized it was your own origin story.

 

And then as you started to grow and realize in parallel concept, what powers you had, but realistically, what skill sets you had, what abilities you had, who you were as a person, and self identified, and rebuilt your confidence in your self esteem up into a more powerful version of you.

 

That then you got knocked down. Kinda like when Thor had his power stripped and he had to learn humility before he could become stronger.

 

Yeah. Kinda like it sounds like what happened to you when you got Vegas, like you were making progress, but you needed a reset. And so then, despite losing 60 pounds, and it's my interpretation, so if I'm wrong.

 

Free to shoot me down, but it sounds like once you were hanging out with these bodybuilders and you finally got to meet Andy and go through all these experiences that really shaped your perspective at that point from where you were Despite the progress you had made, it sounds like 1 of those, you know, don't get too comfortable moments to where you get your own new reality check so you can level up.

 

Right? Like, that was your boss Exactly. 100 percent. He and that was probably the words that Andy spoke with me because we were on Fremont Street when we had this chat.

 

You know, learning more and that it's not this journey is is far from the journey never ends. I remember I just slotzilla, which is the zip line course that goes down Fremont Street.

 

It's called slotzilla. Yeah. From the top of the buildings all the way across the strip? Yep. There's 2 levels of it. There's the 1 where you sit and you go down that way.

 

And I did that 4 or 5 years ago, like, in 20 16, I have the photo of it. And then I was skinny enough in 20 19 to do the Superman 1 where you're strapped in and you have the arms out and Yeah.

 

But but face down. Right? But face down and it was terrifying, but I knew that that was something I wanted to do and accomplish. And and you record it, it is on my Instagram.

 

And in that moment, I was gonna say what you you hit the nail on the head with that is that I feel like it was me learning that I had powers that were wild and and I had no idea how to control it.

 

And I had no idea who I was in July of 20 19. I had just broken up with somebody. That was the first sign of I'm playing for myself now, and I don't know what to do.

 

I am starting to feel good about myself. I don't know what to do. Because all I've known is negativity, self doubt, hatred, And that stems all the way back to, like because I had grown up fat.

 

I had grown up different. You know, as a proud member of the LGBT community, I had a lot of things different about me growing up.

 

And then to have this sort of journey, the character arc, the superhero origin story, to where I was now seeing just how powerful I was, it scared the crap out of me to kind of realize, whoa, I have more power than I thought.

 

And I don't know if I deserved and I don't know how I can handle this.

 

And that's when Andy kinda brought me back to reality that you are on a journey and you are going to continue to learn, but you need to remain humble about it and keep learning and keep listening and to keep going.

 

Do not rest on the laurels you've lost its weight already, it's not over. And I went home a different person because of that. And I always When times get really rough and and they got rough, I will say.

 

I always kinda look back on that conversation and look back on what not only Andy, but my life coach, Superman. He's also Andy, we call him Duke. Melbourne's superman, great guy.

 

I've been working with him for about a year or so. I kinda remember what they're what they're telling me and kind of gather strength in that because I am still on this journey. I will forever be on this journey.

 

It it it's a journey that changed my life for the veteran, put me on a better course. I feel like in a way right now, I'm kind of walking out of the first movie of the superhero origin story, learning that I have these powers now.

 

And now I can use these powers for good and continue my story and continue to grow as superheroes do in their future art in their future issues, in their future movies.

 

They they tackle new issues now. They tackle new growth. They go through new stories and new challenges. Much like I will go through new stories and challenges.

 

And I'm hoping that my issues, my articles or my my seasons of past can inspire other people that are just on their starting journey or they're starting season because everyone starts somewhere, and that's the hardest part you start.

 

That will be the hardest thing that you do. Once you have a good groove and you realize just how powerful you are, it gets easier.

 

It does. There is I'm not saying it gets easy as take. They're still gonna be hard shift throughout your journey. But starting it is 1 of the hardest, if not be hardest.

 

Because people always say I could do it tomorrow. I could do it tomorrow. I could do Monday, I can do it next week. The diet starts tomorrow. The diet says next week. I'm gonna go to the gym if you just start today.

 

And just start making progress. Even if it's just little, big things happen. Yeah. Yeah. I agree. Sometimes, the circumstances to reveal those opportunities varies, and it's not always apparent.

 

It's not always obvious. And sometimes even you realize it in hindsight, like, oh, well, that was that would have been a good opportunity address that.

 

And you missed it, but then you rectify it and you move on from there. But but it's that kind of tenacity that makes all the difference.

 

Just taking initiative to get started and then maintaining some level of commitment to move through that as well. Before we get into more of that though, let's take a break for a couple minutes.

 

And we'll come back. We'll talk more about creativity and community and humor. I wanna talk more about team accountable as well or team accountability, which Team accountable.

 

You got it right. Team accountable. So I wanna talk more about that as well because obviously they've had a huge influence on your life, your perspective.

 

And for that matter, I'm sure there's always more room for additional superheroes on the team if anybody listening wanted to join in, where they could find it.

 

And we'll cover more of that when we get back. For the time being, like sit tight for a second, but everybody listening, hang out a minute, we'll be back on SD YT the podcast.

 

Alrighty, folks. This is Porter with SD YT the podcast. If you haven't heard about Anchor by Spotify, it's the easiest way to make a podcast with everything you need all in 1 place.

 

Let me tell you about it. Anker has tools that allow you to record and edit your podcast right from your phone or computer.

 

That means from an app or a desktop or both. When hosting on Anchor, you can distribute your podcast on listening platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, or even Stitcher. And there's plenty more you can choose from.

 

It's basically everything you need to make a podcast all in 1 place, and Anchor is totally free. So you're interested and you want to find some value for your values, download the anchor app. We'll go to anchor dot f m to get started.

 

Hey, everyone. It's Stack's here. I just wanted to take a moment and give a shout out to my wife, Julie. She is artists of sorts, but she has a Facebook page called the b and the Bear creations.

 

And what that page is for is basically if you wanted to do specialized item like a tumbler or a hat or a vinyl or a decal or a shirt, you can go there.

 

You can ask some questions, look through the wares, but then give a DM and try to sort it out, and then work it adjust pricing.

 

But if you're interested something like that, go ahead, like her page is the b and the bear creations on Facebook.

 

So go into Alrighty, folks. This is Porter with SDYT Podcast. If you're enjoying this interview, and you've listened to some of our others, then you already know we're playing on Spotify.

 

You already know we're playing on iHeart Radio? You already know we're playing on Stitcher, Audious, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. But what you may not have known is we're also on YouTube.

 

So if you find yourself with the odd opportunity for some background noise or a decent conversation while you're at work or maybe lunch, You can feel free to log in to YouTube, search survival dad y t, and you can listen to all your favorite podcast interviews as well.

 

Either season 1, or season 2. Now if you have anything you wanna suggest for a topic or if you wanna be interviewed, feel free to send an email to survival dead y t at gmail dot com.

 

Send a direct message on Facebook or Instagram, survival dad y t. Check us out on TikTok or some of our other accompanying episodes and shows like Scott Scott Stories, On the occasion, we'll also have discussions from Dublin.

 

And every now and again, we get a guest host spot from our survival dad y t host to walkabout. Jonesie. So there's a lot going on. And folks from me to you, I appreciate you taking the time to listen and support the station.

 

However, For the time being, for different perspectives with shared values. Guys, I'm Porter. I'm your host, and this is SDYT the podcast where values Still hold value. Alrighty folks. Welcome back to SD YT the podcast.

 

Again, I'm order. I'm your host. I'm here with Mike to the fullest. Mike incel, talking about everything, cosplay, humor, community, creativity, tenacity, being genuine, accountability team accountable.

 

This is crazy. And like I told you in the beginning, fair warning 90 miles a minute. So as we get into this, there's a lot of topics that we're gonna try to organize and dive into.

 

I guess first, before we do anything else, Mike. Welcome back. 90 miles a minute. You know what, Porter? You know what? You ain't lying. But also, I think I've been talking pretty slow for the most part.

 

Cut to me, like, talking at midnight my house a minute in part 1. Yeah. Well, we both know exactly how quick your thoughts aggress. So all things considered I'll give credit where it's due, man.

 

You're doing a great job. Thank you. There is something that I'm curious about. And I gotta preface this a little because for any of our listeners, they really arguably don't know who we are.

 

You and I as individuals or in the context of this conversation, it's still just something cool to listen to and it's a pretty a killer interview. But beyond that, we're just random dudes and voices in a stereo or a headphones.

 

So let me preface my question first and then I'm gonna ask you and let you run. So I think it's interesting that like you said about 13 years ago, I think give or take.

 

When we were at Leo at school, I basically caught you at my ending. Right? And and you caught me basically at your beginning, which is a pretty neat transition in itself.

 

But the impact that we had in each other's lives. I mean, look, first of all, you here now, 13 years later, carrying this podcast. Like, you're you're the you're Benny the Jet Rodriguez, and I'm smalls on a microphone.

 

You know? Like, you're doing crazy awesome things in your life now. And we really only met and and knew each other for arguably 3 months, maybe 3 and a half months.

 

That's crazy. Yeah. And so it started for everybody listening, I guess. With a play in theater called a pretty much terrible tragedy of 1 Opie Diggs. My man. Props out to Dave McGinnis. I hope you hear this.

 

And if you do, for 1, it was an awesome play. And and Mike, I don't know if you know this. But I did a little digging, and 2007 to 2008. In Texas, I can't remember off the top of my head, what it was exact Texas nonprofit theater.

 

It was a playwright competition, and Opie Diggs made it into the semi finals for the state. That's the same. Yeah. Anyways, it was just prior to, I think, at competition or just after that we actually did it at Leo.

 

And anyway, that's where I met you. Right? So you went from supporting role in Opie Diggs. And a supporting role then in guys and dolls -- Yeah. -- to now you're the main character.

 

You know? I I just I know. That's the thing. It is. It's wild and the parallel here that I think is pretty neat though, is you went from acting in theater, you know, in costume still to a degree, but It wasn't a genuine you.

 

It was legitimately acting in almost every sense metaphorically physically on stage whatever as we're coming to find out.

 

And then now or over the last decade, how cosplay has shaped your life from conventions and costumes. And I'm curious to hear more about them this crew that you've been running with Gotham Underground or maybe that you used to run.

 

I'm not sure. We'll touch on that in a second. But either way, you're still in a cost You're still acting in a role.

 

Technically. The different well, there's no technically. It it's a costume. But the difference is -- Oh, yeah. Yeah. -- the difference is now your exempt fying your authentic self.

 

You're really not acting anymore. Right. It it's it's crazy to me that you've gone from what I think we could consider a place of hurt and relative pain to now a place of triumph and how you've used that into your own success story.

 

I I think it's super cool. So first off, awesome job, man. I I can't believe the amount of progress you're making, and and I'm really excited to discuss it.

 

But that's the back story for the listeners. So let me get to this question because I'm sure they wanna hear you more than me. The aspect about all of those things, and and these are your words for the record.

 

But the aspect about all of these things, How essentially you took this relative body dysmorphia and your fears and your insecurities, whether it was from being overweight or to coming out, or to just be more comfortable as you, and your words, big, Debra.

 

Big, Deborah. Yeah. There's little nappy, and there's big, Debra. Yeah. That's a little bit out there. That's just yeah. That's it.

 

And now into a more confident, more powerful little Debbie. Right? So moderate Denise. I don't know. Yeah. No. Moderate, Deborah, Deborah, Denise. No. I don't know. I don't know what the middle of little Debbie in big Deborah.

 

But, yeah, I I can't say credit for that. I've heard that once, I think, on a TikTok or a vine. I was like, yeah, there's little Debbie, and then there's big Debra. That was There's a big Debra.

 

13 years ago at a good old Staint Leo University. Yeah, man. So how did how did this transition over the last let's just say 13 years, decade, 13 years, but how did this transition for you mentally impact you physically?

 

Because there's a lot of negative thoughts and and inhibitions and things that can physically, negatively impact an outcome. But in your case, it positively did. So I'm curious about this mental aspect.

 

How you go from, I guess, acting and arguably being disingenuine in a costume to acting and being authentic and stronger and more powerful, more confident, more self esteem in a costume, to inspire other How did you make that mental shift?

 

Well, order, I think going back to 2009 and, of course, the fall semester, the very first semester of my college experience and your last semester of the college experience, which I think it's still we we talked off air previously that we only were in each other's lives for about 14 weeks And we didn't see each other every day.

 

Like, we did we did play practice for both guys and dolls and for the Obi dig a shot Melissa Hollas, 2 over at Geisingdollars, 1 of our directors.

 

And, of course, Dave and Brook McGinnett gotta give them love to wherever they may be in Alabama doing their thing.

 

It was a very weird time for me going into that first costumes asking because I've acted I remember for Jack in my school's, like, their program.

 

It was, like, the you know, against drugs and all that, and we were, like it was, like, back kind of, like, after school, kinda breakfast club, like, kids next door type thing.

 

And ever since then, I just really love being on stage. I loved performing. Because I wasn't who I was. I wasn't Mike. I was that character.

 

And that's what excuse me. That's where the beginning stages of this was. With Tom, the character I had, Moby Diggs, who he was a very minor character. He was only in, I think, act 1, and I think he only had about 57 lines.

 

But I was something that I wasn't I was not. And then in guys and dolls, I was just part of the court. I was Society Max. I think I know it was my character. And I didn't know how to dance. Didn't know how to sing.

 

And I took vocal lessons for that first semester. I remember that too. That terrifying me. I took vocal lessons with Mel. The first semester. And it was just a ball and a half to hear me screeching the music building at St.

 

Leo, Georgia on my mind. And then performed that at a recital, which was even worse, which was, like, you know, the dance moms nightmare coming true for me.

 

But I remember I actually remember breaking down in the music building during that and realizing who I was.

 

And Melissa was there, and she was there to comfort me because I was struggling with my sexuality at that that very first semester.

 

At Saint Leo, I was struggling with who I was and just realizing how special I truly was in terms of my uniqueness, my different, you know, me liking eyes.

 

I was not used to that. I was not used to being open. About it. So it was that. And then getting into costumes, it was, like, just I wasn't dealing with my issues or my insecurities.

 

I was in another character. And that care doesn't have those issues. Like, my big thing was in hairspray, which was I did the following year, I was in the lead.

 

I was Edna. I was the mom. You know, the mom that famously played by Davain and -- Travaulti. -- wine. Travaulti did in the movie. Devine was the drag queen that did it at 1 point. And then Harvey, I almost had fires.

 

Harvey I almost said Harvey Weinstein. No. That's Different Harvey, hockey Firestein is the 1 who did it in the move in the 19 80 movie and divined it on Broadway, I think. I might lose my gay card for this statement, so perfectly fine.

 

They're gonna come find me. But struggle with her body, her image, and I related to that. That was, like, 1 of the first characters where I felt, like, genuine. But fast forward a little bit to the weight loss journey we were in part 1.

 

I wanted to cosplay badly because I just thought everyone having a good old time, and it wasn't like, I 1 of my great friends, Frank, is was a green lantern at 1 point.

 

And it wasn't it was Frank in a costume being green lantern. It wasn't, like, him being green lantern or him being Frank. It was just him and a care for having a good him and a cost and having a good time.

 

And I was, like, I want that feeling too. So Green Manager was, by very first, caused by and I did it at Hero Hypercon in Orlando in July of 20 19, and I was by that day.

 

I can tell you I drove down to the convention to the hotel that was at. I was in my little green lantern body suit. I had my mask on, and it was even right.

 

The glue was not holding the mask on. That glue stopped. I had to put reapply it so many times in that bathroom of the hotel, I was freaking out. I was so I had by dysmorphia. I was like, I am too fat for this.

 

I cannot do. The minute I walked into that convention room and hall. And I walked around by myself in green lantern. No 1 cared. You know what I'm saying? Like, no 1 went up to me and goes, look at that fat guy in that standex, man.

 

You know, you need to eat salad. Like, none of that popped. None of that happened. Mhmm. And there was a penguin from the Batman this series, you know, that penguin, of course. We know, you know, we love the penguin.

 

The penguin comes about nowhere and looks at me and goes, yo, your movie sucked, which, of course, is a running joke that the Greenland movie with Ryan Reynolds is 1 of the worst superhero movies ever made.

 

Oh, I did. And he he I He tried.

 

He tried to make gold out of a script that was not good. That's just my personal thing. And he even made fun of it in Deadpool -- Yep. -- too, I think it was. In the post credits, he had this script and deadpool shot him.

 

It was, like, the funniest thing. And I was, like, yeah. Uh-huh. And then, like, hey. Are you okay? And I'm, like, this is my first Convention. And I'm, like, really nervous. He goes, oh, dude. Have a great time.

 

We're all just here. Have fun. And little did I know that was Azzy cosplay Azzy cosplay, my friend Joe, who has a group called the Gotham underground, which I became a member of the Gotham underground in January of 20 20.

 

And it's a family cause players all around Florida. There's 3 chapters in Central and South Florida, and they celebrate, you know, body positivity. They do body positivity panels, which I was I got to see their channel at Hero Heights.

 

And then full circle moment at Villicon 20 21, I was a speaker on their body panel about my weight loss journey because that was a huge full circle moment for me. And they are very big on inclusivity.

 

Because we have members who are not only straight, but also part of the LGBTQ community, people who are transgender, people who come from all walks of life all around Florida that have a shared community of cosplay, and inspiring creativity was always characterized.

 

Like, people in our group have such talent to make bodysuits and to make cosplay kind of, like, thrift store stuff in you know, when you get on Amazon or whatever, and I just find so much love and inspiration from my Gotham underground family.

 

And that was the beginning of my cosplay journey to where I had found family and a community and more friends outside of Gotham underground to where I saw that there were people that were just like me, just people who were having a good time and not necessarily going through a weight loss journey, but just enjoying the moment and enjoying the characters that they played.

 

And celebrating the characters would celebrate themselves. I think anyone who can go out there and put on a costume, put on a cosplay, and walk out on a convention floor, or take a photo is a hero.

 

It doesn't matter if it's a 10000 dollar suit or a 20 hour morph suit from Amazon, you are a cosplayer, you are a hero in my book because it takes a lot of guts to walk out there and do that.

 

Whether it's, you know, add the closet cosplay or a suit that was custom made.

 

So I think that was a huge part of the beginning of it. Well, and you have mentioned getting paid for some of these gigs, not that you do or you have, but that it exists.

 

And It does. Okay. And then so there's only paid opportunities? Or did you say volunteer? What what was that? What's that about?

 

Pete, opportunities. A lot of my friends have started their own superhero businesses because of it. And I find that fast I'm trying to do my own research to where maybe someday I can do parties and events and different things.

 

So people hire cosplayers more and more because they're so into the character and they're so into the story that it makes a great I would hire a Spider Man who really is into it because it makes the kid feel great that Spider Man acts actually there at their party or Captain America is really there at their party.

 

And I I have my I had my 1 of my first paid opportunities, you know, doing an event as Batman.

 

And I was really grateful for that. And I didn't think that this was a thing that could happen. I'm not personally in it for the money. I think if anyone who's in it for the money, I think that's a different it's in priority.

 

It's not mine in my world. A lot of people do, you know, commission work, photos. You know, you can get into even the, you know, the scandalous parts of it with only fans and all that and, you know, just keep it pg.

 

But, like, people there are varying ways to make money and cause, like, But that was never my full intention, and I don't think that's my true intention.

 

It's my intention is to inspire people to not it it doesn't have to be costly, but just live out what you wanna do in life, live out your dream, and live it to the fullest.

 

That's why my name is, Mike, to the fullest, because I wanna be myself to the fullest.

 

I don't wanna beat somebody yet. And ironically, you claim other characters made me more in touch with who I was. Beyondage, green lantern, I've done Batman.

 

I've done Robin. I've done Superman, Spider Man. I'm blanking on a few right now. Saw you're in a Star Lord costume recently? Star Lord. Yes. Star Lord is a new 1. That's a borrowed costume, but I am doing that for MegCon.

 

But Starlord and Starlord was a a huge step because I had never played such a masculine character like Star Lord. Star Lord oozes charisma, and he's also, you know, the butt of the joke.

 

But I had never felt that was a huge point for me playing Star Lord or playing Batman because those were more masculine superhero than I'm not really that masculine presenting in a way.

 

I'm more I think I'm more of a feminine kind of person, which is not a bad thing. But I am really appreciating that there are more sides to me than what I originally thought. But, yeah, Star Lord is a great 1.

 

I love him. I can't wait to have him as a character. Yeah. And to do some of those things and to the point you just mentioned as well in how you portray those characters can go obviously any number of different directions.

 

Right? But I think what's understated and underrated is the fact that anybody can have masculine or feminine tendencies or I don't know leanings, I guess. In how you portray anything. Right? But it doesn't make you Exactly.

 

It it it it like for example, to your just because you have more effeminate traits or effeminate leanings in how you portray these characters or in reality, doesn't make you any less of a masculine person doing other things Right?

 

Like, it's not a matter of sex or gender. Just for the sake of clarity and, I guess, continuity and the points that we're making in this dialogue. Any of our listeners feel free to think and view this however you like.

 

If you wanna talk more about it, send me an email, survival dot y t at gmail dot com or obviously you could find my on Instagram and social media too but in the context of this conversation, I think it's interesting that the community surrounding cosplay and the creativity behind the individuals within that community to portray these characters, more importantly, to portray these human emotions personified as these characters can go any direction.

 

Right? Like, the point you just made, you may be more feminine or, I guess, a feminine in your your carriage or your thought process or your creativity or sort of the softer sciences that you prefer to pursue in your life.

 

Like, arguably acting, for example, as opposed to the stereotypical 05:00 shadow with I don't know, hammer in a tool belt.

 

It's not that kind of a dichotomy. I don't think, anyways. It's it's your ability no. It's your ability to exemplify what, as a human being, is more concrete, more solid, more stable.

 

In more of a masculine sense, I you like Batman has no superpowers. He's just really smart and really rich and relies on a lot of tech that he buys with being really rich.

 

But all that's considered as a character arc, he's gone through all sorts of different things in his his personifying the Batman character or role, but Batman as a hero was pretty stable.

 

He's not gonna change much. He's got his go to thing. Right. He's gonna do the same things and that's it. But on the other hand, you've got characters like for example, Green lantern.

 

And and Star Lord, I think falls into that Batman category as well, where he's got a few things he's gonna rely on, but it's pretty consistent, pretty stable, pretty what I would argue to be more masculine trading aligning tendencies like that.

 

On the other hand, You've got characters like Greenland, where their entire portrayal, their entire character arc relies almost exclusively on creatively creativity. Or creatively using their superpowers.

 

And by that definition, it's more malleable so it's a little bit softer. So maybe that's considered or qualified as a bit more effeminate. And there's nothing wrong with either 1 of those things. And so for the sake of just -- at all.

 

-- explaining a bit more clearly in that regard, since it came up, being a more effeminate male or a more masculine female is qualifying emotions and portraying character traits in spite of a gender.

 

Right? Right. Is is that something that you found just because it's a hot topic for today? Is that something that you found is sort of prevailing in the cosplay community as a whole? Or is that just accepted and it is what it is?

 

But it's always there. It's always been there in the cause, like, Fannie. There's a thing called gender bent cause play where people who are traditionally male or female will play the opposite sex character. I've done it at 1 point.

 

I did Jean Gray who is traditionally a female. And I think it's such a hot button topic issue with sexuality and gender. And I know there are so many different opinions on it. People are always having a opinion on it.

 

At the end of the day, I am in the stance of, I think you should truly who you are as a person is what matters the most, whether you identify male, female, non binary, etcetera, I think you should celebrate who you are.

 

I know not everyone agrees with that, and that's perfectly okay. Everyone's allowed to have a wrong opinion. It is a free country, of course.

 

But I celebrate my friends who wanna portray characters any way they want. All caught play is valid cosplay. At the end of the day, you are not we don't gatekeep in the people do in the cosplay community, gatekeep, and that's not right.

 

No 1 can put say, you can't play that character. You can't play that like, I'm a little chunkier. I can't play Spider Man. I can play Spider Man. I anybody can play Spider Man. You could be a man, woman, chubby, not chubby.

 

You whoever you wanna be in the contact community is whoever you wanna be. And I think people need to realize that If it's not affecting you, is it really your issue? No. Like, then let people be who they wanna be.

 

I think that's a huge thing in the causeway community. And that's a huge thing we should learn as human. Yeah. And to your point in portraying Spider Man, like we said earlier, how it's written exemplifies the human condition.

 

Right? It's not the other way around where these characters are then embodied by people. It's people and their tendencies in the human condition as a whole that generated these storylines to begin with.

 

Right? Like watchmen or wherever else and to your Spider Man point, there's a spider verse for that. Now, especially -- Right. -- Spider Man can be anybody.

 

And Stanley said that himself. Stanley said that himself at 1 point that he would want he wanted Spider Man That's why Spider Man that has the mask on because he wanted he he wanted everyone to see themselves in Spider Man.

 

I believe that was a quote he said somewhere in an interview.

 

I don't remember exactly where, but I paraphrasing, but Stanley himself, the creator of Spider Man said that's the reason why Spider Man has a mask is that anyone any kid can look experiment and be like, I can be just like him.

 

I think it's a very important thing. And that's where, getting back to my journey, of being a bit overweight, but still learning is that I could be any cosplay I wanted to be.

 

I was really attracted to the cosplay community because I learned at my first mega calling when I was wearing those costumes and I was doing the photo shoot, I could be any character I wanna be, and I can find beauty I am so critical about my photos sometimes.

 

When I do photo shoots, I'm very critical because I can always zoom it on the belly. I can always zoom it on, you know, you know, double chin or all that.

 

But I'm learning more and more than seeing more and more of the beauty and not to be vain, but you see more of the beauty in a photo, more beauty in the characters that I'm portraying.

 

And just seeing how far I've come in my health and fitness journey and in my own personal journey. And I think Cosplay is something that changed and saved my life.

 

Because I was able to celebrate who I was on the inside, and now that's being more actively portrayed on the outside. I think possibly to me that people come and celebrate creativity but also celebrate who they are as people.

 

I you know, you could see a girl play Star Lord. You could see a guy play Scarlet Witch. You can see a girl be doctor strange, You can see a guy be, you know, Natasha from Marvel, from the black widow.

 

You know? And that's okay. That's someone portraying a character that they love and that they see themselves in. And I think that's the true thing about college play is that we celebrate who people are.

 

All shapes and sizes, all genders. And I think people need to really you know, what happened to people just being nice to each other? What happened to people just allowing people to live their lives the way they wanna live their lives.

 

How who am I a dictate how someone else lives their life? You know, I'm not their main characters, they are their main character. Going back to part 1, they are their main character, and they're celebrating their authentic life.

 

Who am I to say You can't live that way. Sure. Well, it's like we were talking about this human condition within different story arcs, different story lines, I guess, depending on your character, as well but green lantern for example.

 

And I'm only bringing it up because now you got me thinking about the movie but either way, sinistro.

 

The dude who embodied fear and started using that with the yellow ring and, you know, the the what do you call antagonists in the movie or I guess eventual antagonists in the movie.

 

But Oh wait, no, he wasn't. He just accepted the ring at the end of the movie. I totally mess up. Thank you. Yeah. But not the point.

 

So anyway, It's it's a similar set of circumstances I think though where once you learn the in that case, use fear as an incentive or to operate off of people's fear, off of people's ignorance instead of trying to help people.

 

It may not you can't be nice to everybody because you don't get with everybody. And I'm sure it's the same case there in any family in any group or whatever worldwide. Yeah.

 

I think that's what happened. To people not being able to be nice all the time. It never was a thing. But in my opinion, for people trying to be better people accepting that it's okay to not be nice, but you still gotta be courteous.

 

You still gotta be respectful. You still gotta try to educate I think that's To instigate and communicate to survive. And and work with people. 1 of the things that you have mentioned to me earlier as far as volunteering now.

 

I don't know much about the Winnie Palmer Children's Hospital down there. But that's where my questions going. Sure. In enact in enacting these characters and these roles for these kids, what impact have you seen?

 

Oh my gosh. I mean and I think that is absolutely a great tie to seeing who I am as a person. Because when it comes to those performances, it comes to those volunteer events.

 

So to talk about that briefly, concerns with a cause is a group I'm with also based in Florida as well and a little bit in Chicago, a little bit around tree.

 

The 05:01 c 3 ran by a wonderful gentleman named Scott Whipple. So I'll get Scott his moment because I adore him.

 

He's such a great guy. And he has helped create a community of cosplayers who are now donating their time and their costumes and their efforts to help bring smiles to a lot of kids and a lot of communities.

 

1 of the big events we do is with the give kids the world in Tiffany, Florida, which is to make a wish village, they grant wishes for family, if they go to universal for the week, we do mean greet once a month there.

 

Usually, the third Sunday of every month. I'm actually going next weekend as green lantern.

 

So that's gonna be exciting. But I've done green lantern there. I've done mister Fantastic there. I've done Star Lord. I've done hero support where it's just helping with families and taking photos.

 

But 1 of the big things I've gone into is once a month, we go to Orlando Health, admin health, and the busiest pavilion at the hospital. And I've done Batman once, and I've done Batman there at least once or twice.

 

And I have kind of really loved those possible visits because the kids don't care about the accuracy of a costume. They don't care about the look of a hero. They just see Batman. They just see Spider Man.

 

They just see the hero or the villain or the princess up there. And it really makes you stop think what really is important in life. There's kids that are in hospital beds that haven't seen the outside world in a long time.

 

And some kids that you know, are very sick and some kids that are getting better. And just put a smile on their face and, you know, give it a moment of a regular fun, you know, just for those 5 minutes and with them.

 

And I've really come to love my time with cost over the cost because it really now enabled me to give back because I've been on such a journey. I'm more than honored and happy to give my time to help others.

 

Feel good about themselves even if it's just for a few minutes, even just takes away the pain, takes away what they're going through because it makes you feel it makes you feel real grateful for what you have in life, because we get very negative in our day to day lives.

 

Myself included about how I want more of this. I want this. I want that. Why can't I have this? It really humbles you when you are in that hospital and talking to these families and these kids as that means.

 

It really humbles you and grounds you. And I like that. I like that sometimes you need that reality check of, like, you know, people have it way worse than you.

 

And you know, it makes a lot of the issues that we are dealing with in our world. They seem real small because some kids are just simply fighting for their life and just fighting for to get better.

 

It's very emotional. I'm not gonna lie. I I had a tier 2 outside in the hallway as Batman and, you know, Batman doesn't cry.

 

We all know that. Batman, you know, you know, very, you know, I try and do more of a Kevin Conroy, Batman voice than a Christian Bale, gravel swallowing, Batman voice.

 

Just because that ruins the vocal cords. But, you know, just being solemn and being just there for the kids, it's it's very a wonderful heartwarming experience.

 

And it really brings that community of customers with a cause and the creativity and cause play together. And I'm really fortunate for doing that.

 

It's interesting you mentioned that the innocence surrounding a lot of these kids where they don't identify people specifically as people based on their insecurities or based on facades, they just see people as the characters they're portraying.

 

And I think what's neat about that is what is it that we had an interview at the end of last year, the end of I think it was season we're talking about preserving the magic of innocence and the magic behind Christmas.

 

But as it applies to children, And you exemplified a point there that I wanna bring up too where as people tend to get older, they move away for that level of innocence.

 

And I don't wanna say towards superficiality, but to different veils, you become more aware of the haze that's in front of whatever you're seeing.

 

And it can be distracting sometimes as well. But it blurs the reality of the figure behind the curtain.

 

And so as people put up more defenses, thicker and thicker curtains, you lose sight of who somebody actually is. And I think with opportunities like yours, costumers with a cause.

 

And then obviously the Disney pavilion and working with either make a wish or or at Winnie hospital whichever, that it's good sometimes in life to be reminded that innocence isn't a bad thing.

 

And sometimes reinvigorating that level of awe and that depth of perspective helps.

 

So like you said, Bill gratitude bring humility identify people as people and then you can learn a lot more and in some cases upgrade your superpowers. Right? Exactly.

 

I think that that hits the nail on the head, honestly. I really think it does. I think we lose innocence too quickly in our lives. It's not like the whole Peter pants thing where it's like, never grow up, or wouldn't be a kid forever.

 

We all eventually grow up. I get that. But I think having that childlike innocence a reminder every now and then, humbles and brings you down to, like, hey, life's not that serious.

 

I mean, we have our own moments, but life does not always have to be that serious. Yeah. I agree. Before we dive more into that though, let's take a break for a couple minutes.

 

Yeah. We'll come back. We'll talk more about all of these values, and I've got a few other specific questions for you not to catch you off guard. So we'll introduce them in the next segment.

 

But for everybody listening, sit tight for a second. We'll be back on SDYT the pot test. If you're looking for high quality locally sourced groceries, the Keystone farmers mark is the place to be.

 

Alongside our signature homemade boiled peanuts, we strive to offer only the best locally sourced pasta, baked goods, jams and jellies, farm eggs and dairy products, meats, and even seafood, as well as a great selection of fresh produce.

 

That's the Keystone Farmers Market. 12615 Tarpon Springs Road in Odessa, Florida, the place with the boiled peanuts. Right. You haven't even told us the name yet.

 

What are we supposed to tell our families all the metadata have you considered the blockchain? And then when are we supposed to tell our friends anyway? Already going to ensure that all of the listeners know where to find anything.

 

Harry, am I supposed to tune in to a podcast that I've saved to my library? And now is a different name. Are people going to find what, why are the episodes? Why are they changing the name to begin with?

 

What about the listeners? On that 1. These guys, guys, I got it. Alright? It's gonna be a phased approach. We're gonna ensure between April and what's going to be our July fourth interview in SD YT the podcast to transacting value.

 

It fits better. It fits our market, it fits our niche, it fits our intentions better. It's still real people with different perspectives talking over shared values.

 

I'll take care of it, survival dad y t at gmail dot com is still the active email address, Facebook profile, the Instagram profiles, TikTok profiles, everywhere you've been accessing this media, stays the same.

 

I'm still your host. For now, this is still SDYT the podcast. Alrighty folks. Welcome back to SDYT of Podcast. Again, I'm Porter.

 

I'm your host we've been talking about an awful lot with Mike to the fullest, Mike Gincell. So first of all, before we get into the rest of this Mike, welcome back bud. Thank you. Here we are, part 3. Yeah. Alright, man.

 

So if you're just joining the podcast, what we've been discussing I guess thematically overall is is geared towards cause because that's a primary focus of your life and that's contributed to your really your well-being as a human.

 

Right?

 

1 thing we haven't touched on which is sort of a more direction to this podcast and and survival dead y t as a whole is the fact that survival as humans requires communication and so I'm curious as an active member of the cause play community even when you're not talking, you're non verbally communicating with people in how you portray a character in how you make somebody happy in reigniting sort of sparks behind their eyes, you know, and bringing joy to people.

 

But when we're talking about verbal communication, how do you do it?

 

How do you foster open dialogue and understanding and respect? What's your take? I think the cosplay community definitely is a wide variety of people from all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds.

 

I think that is definitely a big thing is that with open communication, you're exposed to things that you've never been exposed to before.

 

And I think that it's very scary, especially with cosplay that there are characters I've never even heard of, people I've never even met, and just a lot of the unknown.

 

And I think accepting part of that is a great way to have open communication because you learn about things that you have no idea what it even is.

 

Whether it's a new character or someone portraying certain character or how they portray themselves in the real world.

 

You're constantly learning about new people and new ideas and how people live their lives, authentic, I think that's a wonderful thing in Cosplay.

 

And I think it's a wonderful thing in life in general how people can just authentically be themselves and you you can either accept it or you can appreciate it or you cannot accept it.

 

And I think what I've learned is with open communication is respecting people for who they are asking questions and just learning.

 

I think that's a big thing in the cosmic community whether it's just, you know, learning how a costume is built or how a character is portrayed.

 

I think asking questions and understand where people are coming from is a huge thing about open communication.

 

We all have our own ideas. We all have our own thoughts. We all have our own actions. But learning about other people's thoughts and actions and how they portray certain things, I think it makes you a better person.

 

Because you can understand different different perspectives not just cosplay but life. I think that's a big thing in the cosmic community is that you learn how to be a better human.

 

Overall, we're all a community at the end of the day. Some people we like, some people we don't like, some things we agree with, some things we don't agree with.

 

I don't agree with certain things in the college like community, and some people don't agree with things that I agree with. But with a phrase of agree to disagree, I think that's a real respectful way of saying.

 

I don't agree with this opinion. I'm not really a fan of that, but I can be an adult and respect that everyone's allowed to have their opinion and how to live their life authentically with their opinions.

 

I can't take that away from someone. And that's not a right thing to do. I think no 1 should invalidate someone else's opinion because they don't agree with it.

 

I think that's just not cool. I think that we're all allowed have our own opinion. We're all allowed to have our own judgment on on things. It's what makes us human. I agree with you.

 

But parents to kids, I think it's different. Right? When you're talking adults to adults or arguably more mature compared to children, more mature individuals to more mature individuals agreeing to disagree, I think is okay.

 

And even sometimes with your kids, I think it's okay. But sometimes as parents, still have to put your foot down and say it doesn't matter whether or not we agree.

 

The fact is you're gonna do things this way because there has to be a a line in the sand. There's gotta be an outline to the picture before you color paper.

 

You know, there's gotta be some guidance -- Of course. -- to learn how to well be a productive human to and grow and thrive and survive within either societal constraints.

 

You don't walk across a busy street without looking for cars. Got it. Fine. Right? But the flip side is And it can be anything, but let's say your kid comes to you and says, I wanna play soccer.

 

And you say, no, because your grades are low. You said, but people can do whatever they want. And you said, you gotta be supportive of people.

 

And you've gotta understand where people are coming from. And I'm telling you, I don't have very many friends. I wanna play on the soccer team. I enjoy soccer. I can learn to be better at it.

 

I'm not very good now, but I can be better. I wanna play soccer. And you as the parent say too bad. No. Not until you get your grades up or not until you prove you can keep your grades up and also play soccer.

 

Am I gonna let you play soccer? With the understanding here that between parents and kids, there's a bit different of an approach that has to take place? Mhmm.

 

Then yes. I agree at least between adults as people. You can have open and honest dialogue to let people be people. Then I totally agree with you in that sense. Yeah. I agree. I was talking solely in the cosplay world, adults to adults.

 

Adults to kids is a completely different scenario, and I am not a parent. So I don't really have a lot of knowledge about that. But, yes, I think kids should respect their parents for who they are.

 

I think that's I think it's a really true point. I mean, I'm grateful for my parents. While I don't agree with all all what my parents think or say, at the end of the day, they are my parents.

 

They brought to this world. They fed me, clothe me and, you know, did what they're saying for 18 plus years and they still are part of my life.

 

I think kids absolutely respect their parents, but I also believe that parents understand that the kids, kids are gonna be rebellious. Of course they are. I was a rebellious child. You were rebellious. I almost have a rebellious time.

 

I think communication between kids and parents are important are absolutely vital, but I do agree I think that kids should also kind of respect their parents As long as the parents aren't being I don't know how to word this properly, but, like, how an adults can at least hear kids out and be, like, why do you wanna play soccer?

 

Why? What but your grades are kind of low. I'm concerned about that and give them a little bit of not not because I told you so, but because, hey, ABC, this is why you can't play soccer right now.

 

Well, that's just mutually fostering respect, I think. Correct. Because I think if you don't if you just immediately shut that off, kids are not our respective parents. I think if you just are flat out shut down immediately.

 

I don't think that really is a great response. But, again, I'm not a parent, but I do agree that kids should respect their parents given that there is a open communication I think that's a huge thing for the kid.

 

Okay. Well, I am so I'll play to your point then that if you have the ability, I I think if anything, if you have the luxury for 18 years to help teach somebody that their opinions are valid.

 

That as a person, they have validity. They're able to be authentic within reason to a certain degree because things cost money because grades are important, whatever. Right? You maybe you put some constraints on that.

 

That who they are is valid, that their opinions carry weight, that they're able to stand up for themselves and build confidence and self esteem and all these other traits that being a human necessitates.

 

When you get older, well then they can apply those characteristics and those processes and learn how to think based on what you've taught them.

 

To then use those processes to think about whatever they want when they're then on their own. And that's a wonderful thing, and I agree with that because my parents taught me great lessons as a kid.

 

And I think all parents should be teaching those lessons to their kid of being a good person and being respectful of others and their opinion because everyone is allowed to have an opinion.

 

That's a big thing. And I think going kind of back to my own journey, I do think my parents taught me to work hard to be respectful of others and to understand that you have to dot the i's and cross the t.

 

When it comes to a lot of things in life, you have to keep your ducks in a row.

 

You be accountable to not just other people, but be accountable mainly to yourself and your own moral benefits. While it's not necessarily what people may agree with, You have to fix your own morals and ethics at the end of the day.

 

And those change over time. You know, when you learn more information, when you become, you know, more well rounded as a human, your world's metrics do change.

 

And I think that's a really positive thing that I have experienced in my last several years. I have grown as a person in confidence to know that, you know, my opinion is just that.

 

It's my opinion. I'm allowed to have it. And that's okay. You're allowed to have your opinion. And I think people just don't get that that we no 1 will universally agree on anything.

 

Period end of story. I think that is a thing that we just will never experience in our in our lifetime where people universally accept the fact of 1 thing.

 

Like, even as someone as beloved as Betty White, you know, we lost Betty White this year. May she rest in peace.

 

Not everyone was a fan of Betty White. Some people were not a fan of Betty White. I was a huge fan, Betty White. I love Betty White. And she's phenomenally talented, an actress and a human, but some people did not like Betty White.

 

And that's okay. I don't agree with that. She was beloved by so many, but there are some people who did not like very much. And that's okay. And I think people need to realize that.

 

I agree. And that's sort of the dichotomy of, I guess you could say relatively successful people as well. And you can label anybody you want as successful. Let's just talk about in terms of social media, you talk V.

 

You look at Steve Harvey. You look at these people that have a relatively large social media following but based on motivational quotes based on things they put out there on the profiles that Okay.

 

Well, based on the size of their following, they're successful. Okay. Yeah. Sure. But based on the amount of time they're putting into their careers, and I don't know, I'm not sliding either of these individuals.

 

This is just an example. What does that mean for their families? What does that mean for their quality time with their families?

 

I don't know that it's anything good, bad, or different, but hypothetically, There are opportunities throughout history over the last several hundred years where you can look back at anybody who's been popular and then wealthy and then influential and also see on the other hand that they can't juggle everything as priority number 1.

 

And that's impactful as well. Right? Like teaching your kids again, for example, how to prioritize and still be successful or how to define what they feel passionate about and build passions and then chase them.

 

And it's like you said, as you get older, morals and ethics can change. People change. People grow. And Change is a good thing. Like in your case, you grew up in Jersey, but really, you developed in a small farm town north of Tampa.

 

Oh my god. You know? No. No. No. Where. Yeah. But so you grew and changed. And then you went from there to what I Qualify as sort of the middle ground.

 

You've got alligators in Florida men and tourists. But whatever, you're in Orlando now, arguably more of a concrete environment middle ground, where you're cultivating who you are and nobody does that alone.

 

To your point, even Superman had crypto. Right? Like, nobody, no superhero, no nothing, human condition, applies here where it's successful alone.

 

And so to you and and your community now at this point, who you've built and designed around you as arguably, in my opinion, the family, let's talk about team accountable for a second because we haven't yet -- Sure.

 

-- in in direct application anyways. We touched on Gotham underground We touched on your volunteer work. I'm trying to counsel the call.

 

Yeah. Yep. But specifically concerning team accountable. Sure. This is this is Lutomski's group. Let's just just tell me about it. What's this? Who is this? So Andrew Thompson, my personal trainer created team accountable.

 

I wanna say about 2 years ago, as a group of people coming together who are cosplay enthusiasts all around the world, primarily in Australia, I think that's where he is from.

 

With a couple people from the US, a couple of across the globe, of just coming together and keeping each other accountable to our goals in health and fitness.

 

And even just beyond, every Saturday, there is a conditioning exercise that we do. My because of the time differences, I'm not always there. But every Saturday, he leaves a group of our accountables in a workout for 15 to 30 minutes.

 

And it's great. We have a group chat on Instagram. We have a group chat through Andy's app. And, you know, I'm always constantly checking on my team of cattle people and see how they're doing.

 

And we cheer each other on, and we support each other. And it's a very great community that we have here in social media land where people I have never even met.

 

I'm just cheering them on for their both. And we have a couple people in the US. I was the 1 the first in the US. We have a couple people in the US as well. And I think that is a huge thing, is that celebrating success is a great thing.

 

And a huge lesson that I've learned is that I inspire people, but I'm inspired by people myself. That's the beauty of it all is that we all are on our own journeys in life.

 

And we all change his people, and that's a beautiful thing. And I think that is what I wanna celebrate in the world. Is that we are all different, and that's a great thing. If we are all the same, it would be a very boring world.

 

It would be a very dull boring world. And I think that's what makes our planet such amazing that there are 6000000000 plus people on the planet and 6000000000 different ways of living life, I think.

 

Person. I don't know if I'm getting 2 grandiose about it, but I think team accountable for me is some people that are going through my own struggle of health and fitness.

 

And buying themselves through this and cosplay add on to it. So I love it.

 

I'm very proud to be part of it. I've been part of it since its beginning, and you know, Andrew Arthur leads it very well, and I love people that are in it. So team accountable is can be found on Instagram at team accountable.

 

Do not know a hundred percent as of this recording if my if my trainer, Andrew, is looking for new clients, but he will always post on his Instagram. And you can always reach out to him if you're looking for personal training.

 

I highly recommend it. You can do it anywhere in the world. But as of this according and not 100 percent sure if he is looking for new clients as of right now, but that can always change.

 

And so just for anybody who is interested in looking into team accountable, or let's just see even cosplay as a whole. If they're able to find you obviously at Mike to the fullest number 2, but at Mike to the fullest on Instagram.

 

Yeah. How do they then find either Drew's page, team accountable, any links, any contacts. What do they do? How do they go about those things?

 

Sure. So I'll share some links right now. On my Instagram, always open at mike, the number 2, mike, to the fullest. I do accept BMs, of course, people wanna come and say, hey, they wanna share some feedback in the episode.

 

That's perfectly to any keep it clean, keep it, you know, keep it, you know, respectful. I think that's because we do talk a lot about everyone's journey and everyone has opinions.

 

Andrew can be found at Andrew Lutomski, LUT0MSKI. He is the leader of team accountable, and he's my personal trainer. At team accountable, EAM, accountable, ACC0USTABLE.

 

That is our group page. Accountable. My life coach, I've mentioned here and there who got a superman, Andrew Lorenzo at Melbourne, newborn, Superman, Melbourne, MELB0URNE, Superman, all 1 word.

 

Those are the people that have trained me and helped me become who I am. And I'm very I will always be grateful to those men. To team to help me become a better person and individual.

 

Customers with a cause can be found at customers with a cause on Facebook, Central Florida chapter, at CW National, I believe, as their Instagram, and then the Gotham underground, which I mentioned in part 2, at the Gotham underground cosplay.

 

On Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, all that good stuff. So those are my links for everyone.

 

This has been quite a journey and quite a episode if you like. Been great. We had great dialogue. And I think it opens up people to kind of see that we live in a big world, and we are all in community.

 

We all share the same planet, 6000000000 plus people. And I think community has people that you agree with. You don't agree with. People that are on their own journeys in life and they can be inspired by pretty much anything.

 

But like I said in part 1, we all have 1 life 1 opportunity on this planet. Let's make the most of it and let's just you don't have to you don't have to agree with everything in this world.

 

But if you can just accept that everyone has a different opinion, everyone has different life to live, think that makes your life a little bit easier.

 

And don't be too hard on yourself. We're all learning and growing every single day. I'm glad you said that. And I think that's gonna round us out.

 

So first of all, Mike, I appreciate your time and sharing your opinion and your perspective and how you've grown and what's made you grow and what you're doing in your life, man. So first of all, thank you.

 

Thank you. I appreciate being here. Yeah. No worries, man. Now secondly to all our listeners, We've talked an awful lot about superpowers, and I'd just like to make a quick statement and say that it's not all science fiction.

 

Right? Every superhero in every character arc in every comic in every TV show and in every movie has found a way to exemplify what makes them stronger.

 

What makes them more relatable, what makes them able to form better teams and work better with other people.

 

And oftentimes those are very human care characteristics and very human traits. It doesn't have anything to do with being kryptonian anymore than it has to do with being part animal or having a glowing green ring.

 

The fact of the matter is that these superpowers, these character traits, this confidence, this self esteem, this ability to help validate other people, this ability to even encourage other people to think outside the box and take care of each other are all very human possibilities and communicating those things to survive in some cases like Mike, you brought up in your case, years ago when your doctor told you explicitly, hey man look, you're going down a bad way and if he didn't or I'm sorry if she didn't tell you those things and communicate that literally never would have changed.

 

But figuratively if the other members in your community in the cosplay realm even in Orlando at places you've worked hadn't been able to non verbally communicate their support with you or through social media people you've never met before.

 

You'd never have made the progress you've made so far, and brought so many other people along with you in a positive direction.

 

So the last thing I've gotta say to round this out, folks just keep in mind with great power comes great responsibility.

 

You would. Oh, come on, it was good. I couldn't pass it up. I couldn't pass it up. BenQuote of Spider Man 1, list and Linda. Okay. Hold on, Karen. You brought up. It was good. You brought up Toby Maguire.

 

It fit. I couldn't help it. I had to. I just had to wait for the right time. Like, it was good. It worked. I will just porter his moment. That was cheesy goodness, man. But with it is true. With great power comes great responsibility.

 

I think uncle Ben spent that really nicely. And I would like to add that a hero is a hero to all. It doesn't matter where you're from or what you do. A superhero always recognizes that they serve the people. And that means everybody.

 

Good, bad, indifferent. And you don't have to wear Spandex to be a superhero. You could be a superhero in your own right, in your own community, just by being who you are and just treating everyone with respect and kindness.

 

We're all going through it in life, man. Just being a little bit more kinder to people. I think really it would help this plan out in more ways that people realize. Yeah. It definitely goes a long way.

 

But again, Mike, I appreciate your time. Thank you coming out. Thank you for talking. If you ever will be back, man, I'd appreciate it. I'd love it. I'm sure listeners would too. But furthermore, to all of our listeners.

 

Thank you for stopping in. Thank you for listening to this conversation. If you've got anything you wanna add, if you've got any questions anytime you want to be interviewed, send an email at survival dead y t at gmail dot com.

 

Send direct message on Facebook. Or Instagram, you can search at survival dead y t, and you'll find the pro file on either of those for a message as well.

 

Also, these are on YouTube. These are on TikTok and anywhere you prefer to hear your favorite podcast, feel free to check us out.

 

Ratus 5 stars, like, follow and subscribe. Alright. With that, folks, I'm Porter. I'm your host, and that was SDYT the podcast. Excelsior.