What an accomplishment for this little endeavor, 20 episodes! That wraps up Season 1, so in this episode we reflect on how we got here, but more importantly where we're headed with this project. 
I have some big ideas that I want to start expanding on, namely having guests again and a segment we'll be calling, "Uncomfortable Conversations."
I also reflect on the trip we just took and some insights I had while visiting family. 
Thank you to all that have joined us these first 20 episodes, we have more great stuff to come!

Awhile ago, I was struck by the essay, "The American Life Is Killing You" by Erik Rittenberry and how profoundly the subject of our daily grind was laid out. I have thought about it often and decided to read it in its entirety here, then share some of my thoughts on how I feel about over consumerism. 

Given the recent events during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, namely the loss of 13 service members and scores of civilians, I decided to expand on the previous episode, but speak specifically about leadership. I give my thoughts on what constitutes great leadership and some personal examples, as well as what poor leadership looks like on a personal level, as well as international level such as we're seeing. 

As we continue to evolve this podcast and explore new routes and topics, I share my thoughts on what the parallels are between current events in Afghanistan and the state of policing and culture here in America. The gloves may come off frequently. 

In this episode, Ashley is joined again by his college aged daughter Dylan, to pick up on a previous discussion, where the topic of female influencers such as Cardi B came up. This current discussion went much more in depth about what influence social media has on young women and specifically how to combat some of the comparisons made between young women in real life and the false realities of the internet. 

In this solo effort, Ashley discusses an on duty Officer Involved Shooting that he was a part of. This episode was recorded a few days before the anniversary of this life altering event and Ashley attempts to shed some light on incident and aftermath, while navigating life after such an experience.

Why do we struggle with our physical health? Working out, eating right, being healthy. It’s a huge dilemma for millions of people. We cover our own struggles with unhealthy habits and where it has got us, as well as some strategies for improving your current state. 

How important are heroes in today's age? Does the hero archetype still have value? What even does the word hero mean? These are all things we explore in this episode, as we navigate the space surrounding our use of the word hero and the status we attach to that word.