Episodes – Page 2 – The Fixerpunk Podcast

Facing opposition and challenges way beyond what you expected? Feeling like you’re always being kicked when you’re down? Noticing a strange pattern of being called weak and small, while you’re being treated as the biggest threat in the world? It could be a sign you have strong potential and will succeed in a bigger and better way than you expect. Whether you are an activist for a marginalized community, trying to advance from a lower socioeconomic status, building a business with a new, unconventional set of ideas, or doing anything that bucks the establishment, you don’t want to miss this episode. Develop a strong, fighting mindset, don’t internalize the ways they make you seem to be weak, overcome the ridicule, and stick to your values and uniqueness to gain success in advocacy and in your personal goals.

This episode introduces what I have termed the Repressed Warrior Paradox, where those with strong potential are held down and being fought back against out of proportion with what they expect, and they don’t realize that is because of their extremely strong potential to create both social change and personal victory. Because they don’t see their own potential, they will back down or be blindsided and are prepared to be the kind of fighter they need to be, and are on the inside to ultimately achieve their potential for unexpected victory. This is the first of three parts, in three episodes – this episode is focused on describing the typology. Next are individual steps if you are facing this experience to feel more confident and achieve success, and discussing the systemic designs that keep people with strong potential down, and how we can create better policies in a better society that allows more people to achieve at their highest level.

Notes:

You’re an activist and realize that somehow weak, lazy people are the biggest threat in the world to conservatives. Why?

Major principle: Today’s nuisance can be tomorrow’s champion

The Repressed Warrior Paradox typology:

You are being beaten up on, you just want to live your life, but can’t.

Wondering why things are so hard for you.

You just can’t fit in and nothing can go your way, and everything is harder for you, but you just can’t point out why

Ridiculed even when doing the right thing.

You just can’t do things the way others can do them, but you can do a lot more than them

A lot of potential but just cannot make it in conventional spaces and manners

You are frequently a failure, but not because you’re bad, but because you disagree or you just cannot stand how things are done.

You may be strong but viewed as excessively sensitive

Even little stuff may seem harder, this sometimes comes along with neurodivergence but is not the same)

Has to do more with an anti-authoritarian attitude

For seemingly no good reason, being knocked out for extended periods of time. Left defeated, confused, and helpless.

You’re called weak, lazy, a whiner, despite of how hard you work, and are also somehow a massive threat, public enemy #1

You feel you’re not conventionally strong or smart but there’s a small voice that tells you that vou are better than you are being told. Maybe you have shown strong potential and achievement in the past but maybe not now.

Oppressed populations have this happen more often, so if you are a POC, LGBTQ+, disabled, it’s more likely.

Kicked when you are down. Why? Maybe it’s because you are a threat and stronger and more capable of victory than you think.

Happens to anyone who has the ability to validate or spread ideas the establishment does not like.

They want to knock you out before you can ever win. Interference comes to take you out ahead of time because you are a big threat, a bigger threat with more of a chance of victory than you ever believed.

Simply put: the better of a fighter you are, the more likely you are to get badly beaten up. And this has less to do with physical fights than it does potential and oppression.

Orange Cassidy – sometimes staying low-key and underestimated can be a strategic advantage

Embrace that you are a warrior and capable of victory

This comes with needing to live a more high performance lifestyle, and taking steps to stay prepared. I will explain more on the practical steps to feel better and start succeeding on the next episode.

You have a lot more power. You need to be more careful than normal and show control. It’s easier to hurt someone with a 90 mph fastball than a 60 mph fastball.

www.Fixerpunk.com

Got questions or comments about this episode? Is there another political or social issue you’d like me to cover? Are you realizing you are a repressed warrior seeing how opposition indicates you have more potential than you think and want to tell your story? Have you faced oppression, have a story about bad bosses, a corrupt company, or another injustice you want to vent or spread the word about? I’d love to hear from you! Call in and leave a voicemail any time, day or night, toll free at 844-477-PUNK (7865)

Or submit your question by email:

greyson@offspeedsolutions.com

Off Speed Solutions provides strategy and consulting for advocacy communications, community engagement, day-to-day operational support, and media ecosystems. Proudly serving nonprofits, political organizations, individual advocates, media and content creators, and socially responsible enterprises. Learn more at http://www.offspeedsolutions.com

If you suspect any medical or mental health concern, please promptly consult a qualified physician.

This content is for entertainment and general informational purposes only. We do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information herein. The viewer should not rely solely upon such and consult a competent professional before deciding to follow any course of action.

June 4, 2023June 5, 2023

Use Respect and Hospitality, Not Force, to Get Homeless Into Hotel Rooms

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Inside Safe, the initiative created by new Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to move unhoused people out of encampments into hotel and motel rooms and ultimately more permanent housing has recently come under fire for poor, unsanitary conditions, uncaring staff, lack of food, poor communication, and sometimes ridiculous policies. Mutual aid groups, and other advocacy organizations involved with the homeless have termed the program “Inside Starving” and established a website showing atrocious stories of incompetence and poor quality services from the program: http://www.insidestarving.com

This is a perfect example of how homeless service programs fail on the basics of customer experience and make themselves ineffective by not doing the little things right. It also shows the pervasive attitude of not treating unhoused people as equals which ultimately results in negative publicity, a bad reputation of services amongst the unhoused community, poor adoption of the services by unhoused people, reluctance to accept future services, and ultimately program failure. Just by following the same steps of hospitality one would show to a customer in the private sector, or even a guest in your own home and having a systemic attitude shifters towards such, we can make these programs actually work without having to resort to the use of force.

The episode is a little rough and ran longer than expected, so my apologies.

Notes:

Inside Safe program is way better than other efforts but could use some improvement to say the least

No food, jail-like conditions, very

unsanitary, roaches, etc., no toiletries, not able to go to their work

Someone’s tent got thrown away and didn’t get a room because he was in the hospital getting amputation surgery. This is who needs the help!

The homeless service people all ordered themselves food but didn’t get food for anyone else

Homeless service providers should listen to marketers. We also make people do things they don’t want to do, but we can’t hold a gun to your head to make you buy something.

My approach includes both policy expertise and marketing and sales knowledge, which is somewhat uncommon among social service providers, who see their customer as donors only and those people who know only work with donors

Inside Safe’s “customer” is seen as those adversely affected by encampments

The solution is not more coercion, it’s better services!

Overall patronizing inconsiderate attitude, even if they want to help and care, this is part of the system

They wouldn’t do this to someone they invited over their house for example

A decent meal is cheap! Anyone organizing some kind of event knows this.

Homeless communities stick together, have a form of solidarity, and inform each other.

Word of mouth spreads

It’s just like product reviews, but why don’t we see it that way?

Capitalism makes it so that when we provide a service to one type of people we feel like we can do it badly, even when it’s easy to do it better.

Give them something nice! People are happy when you treat them (and feed them) well. Doesn’t take much more money than what you were already spending

There’s a major difference in how the private and public sectors do temporary housing. It’s not impossible to get it right. I got temporary housing through insurance. It was great. This isn’t hard.

Make them feel good about their decision, like it’s exclusive and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

Call staff “concierges” and little,stupid stuff like that, along with the substantive things that hospitality and human decency would call for.

Feed them! You do that at sales presentations to get them to talk to you. Give them the continental breakfast when you show up or something like that.

Or give them a brown bag once on the bus so it creates incentive, if you must make it only for those who accept the offer.

People who stay in the encampment are your top of funnel prospects, so still nurture those relationships.

Going through Inside Starving demands

This is an exchange. The homeless people have something the city wants and the city has something they want. The advocates need to get this. The city needs to as well.

You’ve got to give the people what they want, which is safe, accessible public spaces

One of them said don’t focus on aesthetics and “no cameras when council members come.” I think there should be limits and not get credit where it’s not due but this is an exchange. Let them get the recognition for doing something good.

Having a sanitary environment and not having drugs and crime are reasonable.

Both sides are going to posture. Like by saying that they shouldn’t have to give up their tent. But please don’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good.

Got questions or comments about this episode? Is there another political or social issue you’d like me to cover? Have you faced oppression, have a story about bad bosses, a corrupt company, or another injustice you want to vent or spread the word about? I’d love to hear from you. Call in and leave a voicemail any time, day or night, toll free at 844-477-PUNK (7865)

Or submit your question by email:

greyson@offspeedsolutions.com

May 26, 2023

FTFP 14 – Standing Tall and Not Backing Down Amidst Manufactured Crisis

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Fixing The Fixerpunk episodes cover ideas about changing yourself and society from my own self-development process. These are generally far more unstructured episodes.

The inspiration for the title of today’s episode comes from Brandon Cutler’s quote from his match against Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli of the Blackpool Combat Club: “What do you do when the people that stand up to bullies aren’t here anymore? You Stand Tall, You Don’t Back Down, and You Be Elite!” I feel these words are very instructive amidst the manufactured debt ceiling crisis, created by Congressional Republican bullies (whom I will term the Black Pill Combat Club, get it?) who are holding the world economy hostage. I likewise feel they are applicable as pressures from the economic situation and a variety of manufactured crises are being applied to distract and intimidate workers seeking better conditions and a more equitable economy, and to those advocating for changes to create a better society through public investments in our social safety net, clean energy, and other programs that are being put on the chopping block.

TikTok Live coming soon? http://TikTok.com/@fixerpunk
The goal of the livestream is to help others through their journeys
Key principle: Everything takes longer than it should
Our idea of self improvement is based on that people know instinctively what they should do, and it’s the lack of resources more often that stops them from doing it, judgment and authoritarian ideas don’t help
One important “rule”: As soon as you see something go wrong, do not let it linger without taking care of it
Why this podcast has gotten deeper into politics
We need to address the systemic issues and crises that prevent people from reaching their potential
People are struggling out there, but we have to take time away to deal with contrived problems made up by people who want to oppress other people
We get distracted by random crises, pathological or not, in our lives too
A lot of today’s politics, especially with the GOP controlling the narrative, is fake issues designed to distract and take back progress
COVID pandemic created astonishing progress around actually helping people economically
Lots of people’s economic situations improved due to relief programs
Even low-wage jobs started treating people better
From this foundation, maybe now we have a chance to start building a better world.
This debt ceiling situation is designed to get you to believe that our chance to create a more economically just world with less inequality is no longer possible and that your leverage against oppressive bosses is gone.
Remember what your purpose and intention really is before you sell yourself short
Very carefully define what an “opportunity” is to you so you don’t define the scraps they give you in a crisis as your purpose and goal
My purpose is to advocate for others and find solutions to our economic and political state for those who have been oppressed can reach their full potential
The false “wisdom” around economic talks
What Darby Allin and Sammy Guevara can teach us about purpose, bad advice about “playing it safe,” and not selling out when given false “opportunity”
Sammy Guevara retweeted me!
Going beyond what others expect of you,
listening to others can keep you stuck and not achieving your dreams
There is practicality, reality, and time that need to be considered
Having some fun before it all crumbles down
Getting preoccupied with your worries when you are supposed to be having fun
The Superkick Party Ahead of the Apocalypse
Have fun responsibly and it can give you hope, it will help you know why you are doing all that hard work
You have to know why you are putting yourself through the suffering and pain of whatever effort you are putting in
If you lose sight of what will make you feel good, you won’t want to do the hard work
Stagnated in the area of fitness, not feeling as motivated about summer as I expected
Enrolled in a fitness challenge, still not motivated around diet and dropping fat
Being consistent in the gym, getting stronger though
Building a tolerance to dopamine
My key nutrition strategy has been substituting unhealthy foods for healthier, similar ones with protein and fiber
Have a ton of healthier snacks and junk food substitutes like Skinny Pop popcorn, Fiber One 70 calorie brownies, Quest frosted cookies, Chobani zero sugar yogurt, etc.
You have to understand where your body has a limit and isn’t in tune with your goals. No matter what motivation you have, it might just not go.
Have I weakened myself inadvertently? Hard to tell when you can push yourself more
Hard to get experts in coaching for achievement and goals with neurodivergence
Many are not economically able or socially discouraged to seek expert help
Detecting scams and frauds. Maybe a new topic for the show?
Your personal life and household tasks can be a bit too inefficient
Find solutions that work for you
Am I using too many of my resources on things that don’t matter?
It’s okay to do things that you like even if others don’t get it
When you are not able to be yourself, you won’t perform well
Employers try to motivate with shock, anger, threats, and micromanagement, but that doesn’t work, especially long-term
Employers’ motivational tactics won’t work if you are economically deprived and not being compensated well.
“Shut up and go back to work” people don’t realize that this shame and force doesn’t create productivity or performance.
Compensation, respect, and purpose create productivity
The world’s leading high performance experts have moved to a 4 day work week, because they know it improves performance
Standing up politically helps us to be better as we help others

Or submit your question by email:

greyson@offspeedsolutions.com

May 20, 2023May 20, 2023

How Unions Can Help Solve The Student Debt Crisis and Skills Gap

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“Degree inflation” is a known major issue: https://www.tearthepaperceiling.org/the-paper-ceiling
Harvard study: 69% of jobs require a Bachelor’s degree or higher, 50% of workers don’t have one
61% of employers have rejected an otherwise qualified candidate because they didn’t have a degree
A caveat: one downside of emplovers opening up who they will hire is downward pressure on wages.
Employers keep asking for highly specific degrees, so it’s not really any Bachelor’s degree any more
Fast food and retail are the new American jobs, the default, where everyone will need to start or may regress to during economic hardships regardless of their career path. That is why we should care about making them quality jobs. They have replaced factory jobs.
Factory jobs used to serve as a way of bringing people into the middle class without high skills (employers would train them) or a degree, and this was made possible by unions.
WSJ: Employers getting way more selective for higher wage, white collar jobs: https://apple.news/AXW9of8HyS-eXWDJlfVCNxw
People being subjected to nine rounds of interviews, having to create entire marketing strategies and defending them like a thesis before these employers, and having to spend upwards of 20 hours on one employer’s interview process
Constant need for new, specific skills and technologies
People are going to keep having to go into debt every 10-15 years for master’s and doctorate degrees to be able to meet employers’ requirements. This is really adding to the student loan crisis.
Formal education should not have to play the role of job training. It provides the fundamental intellectual toolbox to learn and lead.
Unions have provided apprenticeships traditionally and digital training in modern days
But employers are like “what’s in it for me if they’ll just leave?” Hence they won’t offer training and just keep asking workers to pay for more and more education on their own.
Employer lock in agreements/TRAPs from coding boot camps and even now for PetSmart groomers are capitalism’s crappy solution.
Portability of union training vs employers promotes mobility instead of hindering it
Bargaining for student loan repayment assistance and tuition reimbursement

Or submit your question by email:

greyson@offspeedsolutions.com

May 14, 2023

Economists Say Wages Aren’t Causing Inflation, This Should Change Debt Ceiling Debate (but won’t)

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NPR interviewed a Federal Reserve economist and an economics professor from the University of Massachusetts who explain research that indicates profits are likely driving the majority of inflation, rather than workers demanding higher wages: https://www.npr.org/2023/05/11/1175487806/corporate-profit-price-spiral-wage-debate

Greedflation article from April: https://fortune.com/2023/04/05/end-of-capitalism-inflation-greedflation-societe-generale-corporate-profits/

Latest debt ceiling status: Meetings on Friday between leaders postponed in favor of staff members’ meeting

Politico reports that the White House wants a 2-year deal, but McCarthy wants a 10-year deal
Politico article here: https://apple.news/AfUp5eakPT8eoaw91eEwstg

Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News says Republicans need one item from each of the Limit, Save, and Grow categories: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7txhZ2QBY2EGfvckkx1Y2M?si=VK3SdmReS8u0_v8XMyXoCg

There is no wage-price spiral but rather a Profit-Price Spiral or Price-Price Spiral

Economist Isabella Weber of the University of Massachusetts says inflation = costs + profits, the profit part is what is moving inflation up, argues for price controls or windfall profit tax

I think windfall profits tax could help the government fiscal issues presented now more than spending cuts could

Work requirements and cuts to government spending, causing fear of layoffs, is to put downward pressure on wages and reduce demand overall (but that’s not necessary because that’s not the majority of the cause of inflation)

Central banks are shifting their policies too, UK Central Bank was asking workers to stop asking for raises, now is asking companies to stop raising prices
Fed economist Andrew Glover – Profits have always contributed to inflation after a recession, which we had in 2020
Profit growth accounts for more than half of 2021 inflation
Growth in markup not tied to demand
Companies anticipated inflation – expectation created reality
GOP policies are more about prejudice than economics – see the immigration bill, which restricts immigration, while immigration could fix a labor shortage.
McCarthy is not as economically ideological but could use economic tools as part of the party’s primary priority of oppressing outgroups
This is no longer about fiscal responsibility when it comes to the Republicans. Anti-woke banking laws related to not doing business with banks who restrict fossil fuel and firearms business could cost $300-500 million in interest to Texas taxpayers: https://apple.news/AmT33tQ1ZSVyEjZQKhu4KBw
So economic reality may matter less now than then, which may bode poorly for Dems seeking to avoid Medicaid work requirements, which is the item that is least likely for them to agree to and would have the direst consequences on vulnerable citizens

Got questions or comments about this episode? Is there another political or social issue you’d like me to cover? Have you faced oppression, have a story about bad bosses, a corrupt company, or another injustice you want to vent about or spread the word about? I’d love to hear from you. Call in and leave a voicemail any time, day or night, toll-free at 844-477-PUNK (7865)

Or submit your question by email:

greyson@offspeedsolutions.com

May 5, 2023May 6, 2023

Tips To Make Dealing With The Healthcare System A Bit Less Painful

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On this Advocacy Notes episode, I explain some of the most helpful lessons I’ve learned about dealing with the medical system in America while seeing multiple family members go through health issues over the past few months. Hopefully these tips will help you avoid unnecessary frustration and delays.

Send copies of all records that are needed and check ahead of time they are received
Many offices won’t take documents over email, so you may need to fax things. FaxZero.com is good for one time short faxes, but you may want something like eFax if you are going to be sending documents frequently to medical offices.
Keep printed orders for radiology and lab on hand if possible when you go for a test
Bring paper copies of records if you are not sure they have them
Check your lab or radiology orders and prescriptions before leaving the doctor’s office. They can make mistakes and it is easier to fix them on the spot.
Mind your timing generally
Everything takes longer than it should, from getting the authorization, to the appointment to the wait in the office, especially anything walk in – plan accordingly
Walk-in X-Rays/Radiology the same day of an appointment requires caution and maybe you should do it the day before
Ask about and follow up on authorizations
Know who to ask your questions to, where to ask, and when to ask.
Medical providers are super busy and often do not want to hear extraneous information or about things you are advocating for outside their specific role.
Keep a grievance form “in your back pocket.” Filing a written grievance can be a helpful tool but there are some instances where filing one could hurt your relationship with your doctor/provider.
Leverage and power dynamics in healthcare situations are different from other consumer situations
Grievances can be extremely helpful for billing issues. I explain more on grievances for excessive bills here: https://podcast.greysonpeltier.com/wp/2022/06/14/patient-advocacy-notes-dental-hmo-scams-and-how-to-resolve-most-health-insurance-disputes/
Keep in mind why you’re doing the treatment. What is the goal? What is the timeframe? Are we achieving what we set out to do?
Ask about medications ahead of time before a procedure or hospital discharge (and know when your pharmacy is open)
For longer term medications, local independent pharmacies often offer free delivery, which can make things a lot more convenient
Keep track of insurance deductibles, co-pays, and out of pocket maximums
Know timelines to apply for assistance programs that can save you more on your bill

Or submit your question by email: greyson@offspeedsolutions.com

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April 28, 2023

FTFP 13 – Don’t Let Late Stage Capitalism Gaslight You About Failure, Finance, or Fitness

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Fixing The Fixerpunk episodes cover ideas about changing yourself and society from my own self-development process.

Life and health issues get in the way of everything

The best plan can still fail if things happen, and they do

3 assumptions of all kinds of personal improvement programs. Know these and you won’t gaslight yourself as much:

1 – Committed to that plan for that goal (not multiple competing interests at the same time)
2 – Full compliance
3 – Material circumstances and conditions are and remain conducive
Nothing changes you like material circumstances do.
Expensive fitness programs and gimmicks
Physique program from Ultimate Performance that reportedly costs 5,400 Euros in the UK but is also available in the US: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6354871/amp/Would-pay-5-400-six-pack.html
Financial success stories can be fake
Miraculous, rapid success stories tend to be based on these assumptions being at an ideal level. They are based on people who are in the perfect condition to succeed.
In my opinion, it’s not always bad if you cannot meet these, most people can’t! You can still achieve a lot!
You just have to change things strategically
It requires more expertise to handle complex situations but most experts can’t seem to do this
You can achieve and can improve from a bad situation, but it will look different than someone starting from a better point
Am I fighting hard enough for my goals? It’s hard to know with comparisons that are created by inequality
There is no such thing as total meritocracy in achieving goals
The hope you have for your goal affects your adherence. If it’s not hopeful, you are unlikely to prevail.
We need to create a society with material conditions that create hope for people
Create a clear vision, but circumstances can cloud that up.
People will ask “why try?” when outcomes seem bleak because of conditions in the economy and society
Creating economic hopelessness disincentivizes performance and discipline
Right now, our system is designed to take your hopes and dreams from you, and the only way to change that is to change material conditions collectively
Not an excuse to not be disciplined
We have to create the environment where people have something to hope for, not where the likely outcome is terrible
Coaching for personal change is way too focused only on the individual and not acknowledging the collective and the assumptions behind the advice
Coaches tend to see things through the lens of someone who is in perfect material conditions
The cost of programs and treatments can create a skewed sample and hence skewed success rates
There are alternative ways to achieve goals outside of what a typical program
An example from my fitness approach: Why I track my workouts on a weekly basis instead of per day/workout
Aim for 10-15 sets per week, 8 reps per set near failure
Taking a “harm reduction approach” to diet: I am obsessed with Fiber One 70 calorie brownies, Quest protein cookies, and Skinny Pop popcorn
How Dave Ramsey is killing your gains!
Continuing to go for your dreams under less than ideal economic circumstances
Good to find exemplars who overcame similar economic circumstances, however these are exceptional people and every person is different, so still don’t gaslight yourself
Street Fight Radio has been a big example for me
The collapse of media outlets
The initial vision of The Fixerpunk Podcast to help those who are in less than ideal circumstances perform at their best, solve everyday life issues, and create a more socially conscious vision for personal development
Hoping I can make these episodes shorter…or not. If you like it, hate it, whatever, let me know by calling 844-477-7865 or on social media.

Or submit your question by email: greyson@offspeedsolutions.com

This content is for entertainment and general informational purposes only. We do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information herein. This is not medical, financial, or legal advice. The viewer should not rely solely upon such and consult a competent professional before deciding to follow any course of action.

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April 21, 2023April 22, 2023

GOP Debt Ceiling Plans & Medicaid Work Requirements Are An Attack On Worker Power

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Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans have introduced a bill to raise the debt ceiling that includes a wide variety of cuts, with the most devastating cuts to social safety net programs disguised as “work requirements.” This shows how the GOP agenda is primarily designed to reduce the leverage of workers against exploitation of employers, by changing market dynamics so that workers are forced to obtain and remain in jobs being paid far less than they’re worth and being treated unethically, at the threat of losing their healthcare and food. This puts employees at a massive disadvantage in negotiations with employers, as they know that workers will lose their Medicaid health insurance or be unable to obtain it as a replacement for lost employer health coverage if they quit or are fired, which is not the case now.

The most egregious portion of the bill is work requirements for Medicaid, which has never had work requirements prior to a few states under Trump, which were overturned by courts (save for one state), would result in many becoming uninsured and unable to access life-saving healthcare. The American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, and many other respected health advocacy nonprofits oppose work requirements as they do not increase employment and are more about “paperwork” than work, and are just designed to make people who qualify fall through the cracks and lose health coverage. However, there are also expansions to SNAP (food stamps) work requirements that would make things more difficult for older Americans and those in high unemployment areas.

Apologies for any audio issues, there was a point that got cut off in the middle very briefly.

References:

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/04/19/politics/mccarthy-debt-limit-bill/index.html

https://www.lung.org/media/press-releases/2023-medicaid-work-requirements-statement

https://www.heart.org/-/media/Files/About-Us/Policy-Research/Fact-Sheets/Access-to-Care/Medicaid-and-CVD-Fact-Sheet.pdf

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/toxic-workplaces-are-bad-for-your-physical-health-surgeon-general/

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2020/did-medicaid-work-requirements-achieve-their-goals-arkansas

Full text of the “Limit, Save, Grow Act” here: https://www.speaker.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/LSGA_xml.pdf

Or submit your question by email: greyson@offspeedsolutions.com

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April 16, 2023April 17, 2023

Solving Problems of Trust in AEW, Workplace Democracy, and Decentralized Creative Cultures

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According to numerous media reports, CM Punk is expected to return to AEW on a new show on Saturdays called AEW Collision, with disputes in the locker room reportedly still unresolved, a situation that threatens the existence and identity of the movement itself. AEW has been a beacon of self-governing creativity and alternative culture in pro wrestling. What are the implications of this development on the continuation of the authentic AEW movement and culture? Note that I am trying to be optimistic in this episode and am not speaking in terms of wrestling programming or ideals, but rather putting the “mediator” hat back on. I explained the significant issues associated with his return to AEW in my prior episode on CM Punk and in a few episodes before that as well. Simply put, these are not the best circumstances to be in and had we not had him disturb the order of AEW, we would not need to have this discussion.

I highly recommend you read the Beyond the Gripebomb article I wrote for ProWrestlingMusings.com for a primer on power and leadership in AEW, understanding it for the alternative culture it is, as opposed to business as usual in the sport of pro wrestling: https://www.prowrestlingmusings.com/post/beyond-the-gripebomb-power-and-leadership-in-the-aew-movement-and-alternative-cultures

Starting with the intent we started with: The “vision of” changing the world, as Adam Page would put it, “but the world got into us”
AEW is a tremendous example of spontaneous order, like you’d see in a skatepark
Dr. Neftalie Williams’ (my professor at USC) article about shared language and customs among skateboarders sans rules or formal authority: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/role-non-state-actors-sports-diplomacy
Self-governance has never really existed in wrestling before Young Bucks and Elite Era
Shared trust is key, if you don’t have that you have nothing and you have to start cracking down like we’re seeing
The irony of someone who claims to be punk working people into cheering for Tony Khan to morph into a strongman authoritarian boss, which he isn’t, in order to give Punk what he wants

Just saying “I have a business to run and I need to make money” is the WRONG approach.
Wrestling fans misunderstand the nature of AEW as a social movement and an alternative culture as compared to a business.
The sustainability of the movement, not short-term gains, should be the priority
Much of the following is from Anarchism as a Theory of Organization – Colin Ward: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/colin-ward-anarchism-as-a-theory-of-organization
Workers’ self-management and cooperative governance is a thing, with much academic and practical backing
You can even have self-governance with unruly children: Study of Pioneer Health Centre in London
Letting people have space to create and do what they want.
The ironically named Wayward Youth book shows the success of self-governance among maladjusted youth
Leading architect Walter Gropius “proclaims what he calls the technique of collaboration among men, which would release the creative instincts of the individual..”
Hayek’s conceptualization of worker freedom: do what’s best for profit in the end
Avoiding a situation like Sears where competition destroys from within
This is where libertarian socialist governance within the firm differs from libertarian capitalist governance. Creative coexistence and cooperation versus just competition
If you were really building a cooperative organization, though you would just let CM Punk go for the sake of protecting the workers who have shown they can self-manage and can make the choice
When there is order created from disorder, establishment figures or those indoctrinated in establishment ideas don’t understand it
Had CM Punk not disturbed the successful order in AEW created by The Elite’s cultural approach, we would not have these problems
But when you are in a situation like this, where they have to work together somehow, it’s a necessity to separate adequately to avoid another bad Collision (pun not intended)
The brand split is a necessity and a prudent and good idea under conventional corporate ideas, and also possibly for self-organization
And there’s plenty of precedent in corporate America for competing brands being made by the same company
The Anarchist Systems of Organization article does talk about self-organizing crews in a way, that could be what is being done with Collision
How we will know this is authentic and true to the movement is with 100% buy-in on the principles, even if not the creative direction.
The re-signing of Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Adam Page will be the key sign this is legitimately going to work and not just a money grab

Got questions, concerns, or worries or fears about this situation or any other dilemma in sports, politics, or society today? Call in and leave a voicemail any time, day or night, toll-free at 844-477-PUNK (7865)
Or submit your question by email: greyson@offspeedsolutions.com

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April 15, 2023

How Do You Help Homeless People Who Won’t Accept Help?

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Listener Question:
“When social workers and police poll the homeless people in my town 60% of them say they don’t want any assistance. But the amount of garbage, human waste, needles in downtown and residential areas keep increasing. How do we help those that haven’t decided they need a solution?”

Call in and leave a voicemail any time, day or night: 844-477-PUNK (7865)
Submit your question by email: greyson@offspeedsolutions.com
Or on social media @Fixerpunk on Instagram and TikTok and @GreysonNation on Twitter

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– Unhoused People don’t trust the system and hence cannot rely on promises of help, or just won’t even engage because they have been burned so many times
– Flaws with survey methodologies
– Current services and shelters are so bad they’d rather stay on the street
– Crime and drug infested, unsanitary facilities
– There are peer networks among unhoused people – just like you’d tell your friend if a restaurant was bad or good, word gets out
– Prior episode on the Montana county that got upset by how resourceful homeless people are: https://podcast.greysonpeltier.com/wp/2023/02/22/affordable-housing-shortages-and-nimbys-are-killing-people-in-la-but-private-developers-cant-save-us/
– Street clean-ups, missing items, developing a community, being near resources
– Housing First means unconditional permanent housing with supportive services, not requiring getting sober, mental health treatment, a job, etc. as a precondition, but making the help available
– Giving help and housing without preconditions builds trust
– Law enforcement is especially not trusted by homeless people and even generally with attorneys and civil rights experts advising not to talk to the police
– Lots of negative reviews of “community mental health centers” with overworked, underpaid providers
– Treatment services are often poor quality and punitive Would you want to get services in that way?
– Friendship Shelter success story of getting someone who has been homeless since 1974 into housing
– Santa Clara study on most severe cases of hardest-to-treat homeless with mental illness and/or health problems (UCSF). The results of the intervention were extraordinary: https://homelessness.ucsf.edu/blog/ housing-first-not-housing-only
– Implementation makes a big difference – Houston vs. San Diego
– Houston reorganized all its resources towards Housing First and succeeded
– 10 year wait times in San Diego for housing
– Some feel guilty about getting help
– Lots and lots of past trauma
– Housing first but not housing only
– Housing First was designed as an intervention for mental health patients in NY by Sam Tsemberis, a clinical psychologist
– He stated “If you run the program well…you will have an 80 or even 90% success…”
– Rebuilding trust is a long process
– Today’s nuisance is tomorrow’s champion
– Peer support workers with lived experience being a part of the team and shared governance can help
– There will be a small group remaining but that is inconsequential until we have the resources in place to help even the majority of them
– We then need to hold them accountable in a restorative way, if they are causing harm. Otherwise, people have freedom and can make choices.
– The major importance of Harm Reduction
– Keeping streets clean and safe doesn’t have to wait as we build trust and transition people to housing

Call In with your comment, rant, or problem you’d like me to discuss on the show: 844-477-PUNK (7865)

Off Speed Solutions provides strategy and consulting for advocacy communications, community engagement, day-to-day operational support, and media ecosystems. Learn more at http://www.offspeedsolutions.com

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FTFP 14 – Standing Tall and Not Backing Down Amidst Manufactured Crisis

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How Unions Can Help Solve The Student Debt Crisis and Skills Gap

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Economists Say Wages Aren’t Causing Inflation, This Should Change Debt Ceiling Debate (but won’t)

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Tips To Make Dealing With The Healthcare System A Bit Less Painful

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FTFP 13 – Don’t Let Late Stage Capitalism Gaslight You About Failure, Finance, or Fitness

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GOP Debt Ceiling Plans & Medicaid Work Requirements Are An Attack On Worker Power

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Solving Problems of Trust in AEW, Workplace Democracy, and Decentralized Creative Cultures

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How Do You Help Homeless People Who Won’t Accept Help?

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