Mikkal Harris, LCPC, a Clinical Division Director, relationship and interpersonal skills coach, and the Founder and Host of “The Blue Room Podcast,” unravels the complexities of these differences that contribute to misunderstandings and tensions between partners. In this thought-provoking conversation, we aim to provide valuable insights and practical strategies for couples striving to cultivate understanding, respect, and harmony in their relationships.

Whether you're navigating the early stages of marriage or seeking to strengthen an existing partnership, this episode offers valuable perspectives and tools for fostering greater connection and intimacy amidst the inherent differences between men and women.

Discover:

• Why critiquing your husband or mate can be heard as "You're trying to be my daddy!"
• Why it’s hard for men to learn from their wives what they should’ve learned from their fathers
• Why we can’t learn from someone that we don’t see ourselves in, don’t identify with
• Why rites of passage into manhood are important to having healthy relationships
• How a lack of healthy role models sets us up for unhealthy relationships
• How your spouse or partner are your mirror – reflecting your values, standards & generational patterns
• Everyone has expectations for marriage but often lack the emotional skills to create their vision
• Are you in love with a fantasy, not the reality of your spouse or mate
• How lack of self-awareness, fantasy, unexpressed expectations, unconscious family blueprints, and making your spouse responsible for your happiness undermine and damage relationships & marriage.
• The importance of adaptation, flexibility, negotiation & accountability to maintain connection and like-mindedness as people change over the course of a marriage.

If you don't want the same thing and aren't going the same place, then what are you doing?! Divorcing! 

Mikkal Harris, LCPC, has more than 15 years of clinical experience, is a Clinical Division Director, a relationship and interpersonal skills coach, and Trauma Trainer who brings healing to men with past trauma. He’s also a dynamic public speaker and the Founder and Host of “The Blue Room Podcast,” where he provides a space for men to heal and to be seen, while challenging them and helping them grow in all areas that matter.

Links

YouTube.com/@moveyourlf

FB: www.facebook.com/mikkal.harris.3

IG: www.instagram.com/mikkalharris

LI: www.linkedin.com/in/mikkal-harris-54aab873/

Andrew Sendejo: From Gritty Safety to Savvy Entrepreneur.

12-year NFL veteran Andrew Sendejo transitioned seamlessly from the gridiron to the boardroom. This San Antonio native defied the odds, rising from an undrafted All-American at Rice to an NFL starter. His journey is a testament to resilience and business acumen.

On the Field: Sendejo’s work ethic propelled him from the UFL to a starting role on the Minnesota Vikings’ record-setting defense (2017).** Off the Field:** He established Dejo Capital, a thriving real estate investment firm.

A Career-Ending Concussion ignited a new passion. Sendejo co-founded BrainTree Nutrition, a research-driven brain health supplement company committed to athlete well-being. BrainTree donates to Alzheimer’s research, reflecting Sendejo’s dedication to the cause.

Beyond Business: Sendejo actively supports Rice Athletics. He secured the first team-wide NIL deal with BrainTree and mentors student-athletes. His philanthropy extends to the Andrew Sendejo Nutrition Center, providing state-of-the-art facilities for Rice athletes.

Sendejo’s entrepreneurial spirit extends to angel investing with 4th & 1 Ventures. He’s a leader both on and off the field, empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Andrew Sendejo’s story is one of grit, vision, and giving back. He’s a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs, proving that success can be built on resilience and purpose.

Piper Hays is an Americana-soul singer/songwriter from Los Angeles.

She began her musical journey overseas while on various adventures through Africa and Europe.  Piper realized the traditional path was not for her, so she packed a backpack and her guitar and started playing on the streets of Spain, Germany, and England to survive while so far away from home.

Her music can be described as soulful Americana music, but Piper herself refers to it as “Astro-Soul” which is a mix of all her various influences including Billie Holiday & Norah Jones to Lead Belly & Led Zeppelin, Shakey Graves and Florence and the Machine and many more.

Her producer Matt Ross-Spang explains that “Piper’s music has moments of cool darkness with a real grown-up groove”. During the pandemic, Piper redirected her path from helping others through music to working directly with people struggling with mental health and substance use disorders which she has been doing for the past 4 years. She is excited to dedicate more time to music and continue helping people wherever she can.

More About Piper Hays at; Instagram: @piperhays www.instagram.com/piperhays/

Florence Weinberger is the author of six published collections of poetry, most recently These Days of Simple Mooring, winner of the Blue Light Book Award.

Six times nominated for a Pushcart, her poetry has appeared in literary magazines, including Nimrod, Poetry East, Rattle, Baltimore Review, Calyx, The River Styx, December, North American Review, The Los Angeles Review, Shenandoah and numerous anthologies.

Anika Paris is an award-winning singer/songwriter for theater, television and film. Her poems have appeared in Poetic Voices without Borders II, The Mom Egg, Extreme, Ghost Anthology, Whirlybird Anthology of Kansas City Writers and is a co-author of the book Woven Voices: Three Generations of Puertorriquena Poets Look at Their American Lives (Scapegoat Press) which was nominated for the International Latin Poetry Award. Most recently, her poetry has been chosen to be on NASA’s Codex Polaris rocket mission to the moon in Nov 2024! Anika’s written two music educational books (Hal Leonard) and teaches at UCLA and the Grammy.

Artist/ Author/ Educator

Anika Paris is a CRIA double platinum singer/songwriter, recipient of ASCAP’s Abe Oleman Scholarship, and ASCAP Plus Award. She received an HOLA Award for outstanding music in a musical, and was nominated for the International Latin Poetry Award for her poetry book Woven Voices with Scapegoat Press. Anika is also a Hal Leonard author with two books Making Your Mark in Music, and most recently a co-authored book The Five Star Music Makeover.

Her songs can be heard in major motion pictures starring Ben Affleck, Gwenyth Paltrow, Mira Sorvino to name a few and on HBO Sex and the City, network television shows like Ellen, Oprah, The Bachelor and many more. A classically trained pianist, she composes for Warner Bros Telepictures, Multistages, and the League of Professional Theatre Women. She recorded three solo CD’s, toured the world sharing the stage with luminaries Stevie Wonder, John Legend, and John Mayer.

Anika is an adjunct professor at Musicians Institute, UCLA’s Creative Arts Studies Extension and guest lectures at the Grammy, USC and more. Currently, she and her writing partner Dean Landon have been commissioned to record a new EP scheduled for release 2017.

Lee Rossi is a winner of the Jack Grapes Poetry Prize. He is the author of five poetry books Say Anything (Plain view Press) Darwin’s Garden (Moon Tide Press, 2019), Wheelchair Samurai (Plainview Press, 2011), Ghost Diary (Terrapin Press, 2003) and Beyond Rescue (Bombshelter Press, 1992.

Individual poems have appeared in The Southwest Review, Rattle, Spillway, The Chiron Review,
The Southern Review and many other venues. He is a member of the National Book Critics Circle and a Contributing Editor to Poetry Flash.

Gloria Vando’s is the author of three poetry books, Promesas: Geography of the Impossible, Shadows and Supposes (Arte De Publico) and Woven Voices (Scapegoat Press) and has won numerous awards, including the Poetry Society of America’s di Castagnola Award, Latino Literary Hall of Fames: Best Poetry Book of the Year, and others. She’s founding publisher/editor of Helicon Nine, which received the Kansas Governor’s Arts Award, is a contributing editor to the North American Review, and serves on the boards of the Venice Arts Council and Beyond Baroque in Los Angeles.

Robert Kinkel is a music producer, composer and keyboardist best known for his role as a co-creator/co-producer/co-composer and musical director of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

He co-wrote TSO’s 2 hit multi-platinum selling songs “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)”, and “Wizards in Winter” resulting in sales close to ten million.

In the past 30 years, Bob has worked with artists such as Five for Fighting, The Who, Aerosmith and Genesis, as well as creating and being the voice on the infamous jingle for Hefty (“Hefty Wimpy”).

He was educated at Columbia University & Hamilton College, and has received honors and awards from Williamsville Education Foundation and Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.