Good Human Award – THE ANTIDOTE FOR THE NEWS

Jen Hardy [00:00:11]:

Welcome to the fabulous over 50 Podcast. We’re here to uplift, encourage, and empower women to live their best lives. I’m your host, Jen Hardy. And whether you live on an island in the mountains or an apartment in the inner city, living a fabulous life is all about mindset. Today we’ve got a fabulous guest. He’s neither a woman nor over 50. So why is he here? Because we are starting a brand new thing today. It’s so exciting. It’s called the Good Human Awards. And the reason is that when you look on TV or you look at the news or see what’s happening, there’s so much negative out there. Oh, my goodness. And I cannot take it. The depression levels are rising. The anxiety levels are rising. Why? Because it’s all negativity. We are starting here with the Good Human Awards to really focus on the good, the good people, what they’re doing, and I want to recognize them formally. I want this to be a movement. We’re going to start small and we are going to grow. And why here on the fabulous over 50 podcast? Because I know that you need to hear about the good, just like I do, so you get to hear it. And please share this with everyone you know that could benefit this, especially the person that I’ve chosen for the very first ever Good Human Award is one of the best people I know. He’s entirely genuine. He has started a podcast and he started a nonprofit corporation, and he’s helping others with autism because he just so happens to be a young man with autism. And here is our interview. Thank you so much for joining us today.

Jen Hardy [00:02:12]:

All right, everybody, I am here with Sam Mitchell, and I am so excited. Sam is the host of Autism Rocks and Rolls, as well as being the executive director of his nonprofit. And Sam, will you tell us a little bit about that? That’s so exciting.

Sam Mitchell [00:02:29]:

Yeah. So, everyone, my name is Sam Mitchell. I run the podcast Autism Rocks and Rolls, and it is about autism and how we cope with daily struggles that you may or may not understand. I ran since October 2019. I have 15K downloads. So my biggest guests are Dr. Grandon and Mick Foley, along with many other amazing guests on the show and through the podcast has grown into a lot because we develop sponsors. I get to plan local events in Indiana, where I’m from, or two big events, really, to say. And then I also get to do international motivational speaking. I’ve spoken in Oklahoma, Orlando, Canada, and Washington, DC.

Jen Hardy [00:03:05]:

That is so cool. I’m going to read one of the reviews from your podcast because I think this kind of epitomizes what you’re doing. The title is eye opening. It says, I’m going to be honest, I didn’t know a lot about autism before this podcast. Sam has done a great job of explaining and providing insight into this world from the eyes of someone who’s on the spectrum. From what I understand, that explanation can be very hard for someone with autism. But Sam does a fantastic job of maintaining conversations and keeping the podcast interesting and fun to listen to. Very impressed, excited to see what comes from him in the future. And I got to say, I have two kids with autism and I’ve learned things from listening to your podcast. And I feel like I can parent better because of what you tell me. So I just want to say thank you for that. I think it’s amazing. How did you decide to it’s awesome. How did you decide to start the podcast?

Sam Mitchell [00:03:58]:

It happened after I joined my high school’s Media Club, and I fell in love with it so much that I decided to start my own podcast. And that was when Autism Rocks Rolls was born. It was really after just deciding to after Media Club, wanting to start early on, finding a career and that’s what happened.

Jen Hardy [00:04:15]:

That is so cool. And you know what I like is some people with autism don’t have a voice and it’s hard to find someone that can articulate and go in front of groups and articulate it because I think for everybody, right. They say most people are afraid to talk in front of people. How is that for you? Is it easy for you or is it a struggle?

Sam Mitchell [00:04:34]:

Once you learn not to care, think of you, you don’t care anymore.

Jen Hardy [00:04:39]:

Yeah. You know what? I think that’s a good lesson for everybody, honestly. All right, so the reason that I brought you on today, I don’t know how much you’ve heard, because I’ve tried to post this everywhere, but I am starting a new thing called the Good Human Awards, and I’m going to read what I wrote just so I say it so everyone understands. It’s a weekly award given to someone who for being a good human. According to the dictionary, it means someone morally excellent, virtuous, righteous, or pious. I feel like those are really big words, but let’s face it, the world has gone whackadoodle. Everywhere we turn, we find proof that people are mean, self serving, and can’t be trusted. But some people defy those standards. They’re willing to be honest, even if it’s to their detriment. They’re willing to help others even what will cost them something. They’re willing to be good even when society tells them that good guys finish last. And these humble awards are honoring these good people. They’re not going to honor people whose names are on the tongues of the multitudes. They’re not statues or made of gold. They’re not a big ring to wear and show off. Just a recognition of goodness by a fellow human who’s thankful to know we share the same air on this great planet. 

I’m Jen Hardy. I’m a mom of seven, wife of a veteran podcaster author, speaker, and community builder. My sphere is small, but that’s where the good needs to start. And my hope is that this grows, because when I look around the world, it can be scary. But I brought seven children up in it and I very much intend for them to have a good world to grow old in, and I’m going to do my part to make that happen, starting now. And so today, the very first good human award is being given to Sam Mitchell. Because, Sam, you are the first person that came to mind when I wanted to start this. I’m, like, teared up. Sam’s spreading awareness about autism through his podcast, speaking gigs and his nonprofit. He’s an exceptional young man who just so happens to have autism. It is not who he is. 

Who he is is a good human, someone who wants to help others, someone who craves to make the world a better place. And that’s why he’s here. As a parent of children with autism, I know what a struggle it can be. And I’m not talking about the challenges of autism. I’m talking about the challenges of dealing with the world the way it is. Sam’s taking on the world and he’s winning. He’s making it a better place. He’s making people understand, and he’s giving a voice to people who literally don’t have one. So, Sam, I just want to say thank you. I don’t think you’re not out there looking for people to thank you. You’re not out there looking for awards or prizes. You’re just looking to spread awareness about autism and to do what you love to do. And you just so happen to also be a very great person, help people out.

Sam Mitchell [00:07:21]:

Just kind of been second age. I never got the opportunity until I started the podcast, but kind of wanted to help out people somehow since I was born. I don’t know why, because world wasn’t nice to me. But here we are today.

Jen Hardy [00:07:36]:

That’s right. Well, for you listening, I hope that you heard that the world has not been nice to him. Some people are not nice when people are different or they’re perceived as different. I mean, we’re all different. I think that’s what I don’t understand. We are all different. If the world, if we all look the same and did the same thing, we’ll be very boring place, right? So it takes people like Sam to be the good, and I just hope that he inspires you to be the good. I really do. Sam, can you tell a little bit? I know autism is different for each person, right? They say every person that has autism is one person that has it. But can you tell a little bit what it is for you?

Sam Mitchell [00:08:17]:

To me, it’s just a different way of thinking. That means, I’ll think, sometimes outside of the box, that means I’ll just sometimes do something that’s kind of unrealistic, but it ain’t going to hurt anyone. That’s my one goal. Is, look, if I got to do something to move on, so be it, but I won’t hurt you. I mean, if it’s unrealistic or not the smartest idea in the shed, but it’s kind of crazy. Who cares if it ain’t hurting anyone? That’s my view.

Jen Hardy [00:08:44]:

That’s right. Well, and it’s different. You know what? I just interviewed somebody who’s completely changing the way that apartments are built so much more efficiently because he didn’t want to listen to how it was supposed to be done. He wanted to try something completely different, and it’s working. Right. So I think thinking in a different way isn’t a bad thing. It’s just different. So I think that’s autism, it’s awesome. And also, there was one episode, and I don’t know, remember the number where you explained about focusing on things and having the things that you’re really passionate about and wanting to tell them to other people and have them listen?

Sam Mitchell [00:09:25]:

I think that’s what I’m talking about. If you’re talking about the obsession pressing for future skills, find the Blueprint, that’s probably what you’re thinking.

Jen Hardy [00:09:32]:

Yes. I highly recommend listening to that episode because I think it’s so good because you’re talking about how you have all this information, and people tell you they only want to listen for a certain amount of time, and you’re like, but why would you do that? I can teach you things.

Sam Mitchell [00:09:46]:

Why not? It may be wasteful knowledge to you, but to me, I get to do something good for you and teach you a little bit about something and do something, give you some fun facts. I think you don’t mind some fun facts, do you mean granted, maybe not 30 hours of fun facts, but what’s wrong with an hour of fun facts?

Jen Hardy [00:10:08]:

Exactly. And we can learn a lot. So what does autism rocks and rolls have coming up in the near future?

Sam Mitchell [00:10:15]:

Well, let me think about that. So next month next month, I will be speaking in Stewart, Florida. I got a neurodiverse retreat, and the I’m coming back to your hometown, Orlando. Or I think you live close to that. But anyway, I’ll be coming back to Orlando for Making Schools Work about education and teaching some special education teachers on what they can do, and that’ll be fun. And then in August, we’re having a summer party where we’re having fun little activities. We have live music y’all Access Band, which is a local band from here, and a local indie boy, Duke Tomato, will be performing.

Jen Hardy [00:10:57]:

That is so cool. And your foundation is setting that up.

Sam Mitchell [00:11:01]:

Yeah. I mean, we’re in the process of planning that right now. We’re hoping that the Flu, the fluidy Foundation, which now I’m an ambassador for, will pay for that one. And then with the Making Schools Work, they just agree to pay for it after months of negotiating.

Jen Hardy [00:11:18]:

That’s awesome. That’s awesome. So if you’re listening and you know somebody who’s been diagnosed with autism or you know, somebody with autism definitely listen to Autism Rocks and Rolls podcast. It’s going to give you tremendous insight. And I know for some parents, it can be a diagnosis that they perceive as scary. But for me, having kids with autism, it just means we live in a different way a little bit, but we embrace it. And it’s not a negative thing, it’s just a different thing. And your child, look at Sam, he’s got his nonprofit, he’s got his podcast, and I just think it’s so amazing. The world needs to see what is happening out there. So Sam, thank you so much. Thank you for being a good human and for sharing your wisdom with the world. We appreciate it. After I looked out at the news and all the things that were happening and the world has just gotten really crazy over the last few years and I thought, if I’m not part of the solution, then I’m part of the problem. And I feel like you’re spearheading being part of the solution, so you had to be number one. So. Thank you, Sam.

Sam Mitchell [00:12:24]:

Got you.

Jen Hardy [00:12:25]:

Bye, everybody. Thank you.

Jen Hardy [00:12:28]:

Thank you so much. Your time is so very valuable and.

Jen Hardy [00:12:31]:

The fact that you chose to spend it here, it means so much to me.

Jen Hardy [00:12:35]:

Thank you for being here, for listening to our interview. And I’m so glad that you got to meet Sam because he is an amazing young man. Do you know he’s just 21? He’s so young to have done all these things. And it just goes to show you that no matter where you are in life, you can do what you want to do. And that’s one of the main things.

Jen Hardy [00:12:58]:

I want to say.

Jen Hardy [00:12:59]:

I want to shout it from the rooftops. Whether you’re younger or older, you still have the ability to make change, make your life the life you want, make the world the world you want.

Jen Hardy [00:13:13]:

You have the power.

Jen Hardy [00:13:14]:

If we all do our small bit, we can make the world a better place. People are struggling with a lot of things, and one of the things they’re struggling with is loneliness. And so one of the other ways that I’ve chosen to help out is by creating Jen’s Friends. It’s a daily email for women over 50 to let them know they’re loved and appreciated and not alone. And we uplift and encourage the with this two to three minute daily video and just let them know that we’re here. They can even respond back. And I’ll talk, I answer every email. So you might know somebody in your life, maybe an older woman, who you think, man, I should be calling her more often.

Jen Hardy [00:14:02]:

I worry about her being alone.

Jen Hardy [00:14:04]:

Sign her up. You can gift Jen’s Friends and let her know that you’re doing this, to let her know that she’s not alone and she’s got somebody. And next week, I’d love it if you tuned in, I have another amazing person. It’s another man who’s not over 50, but he’s so inspiring to me, I had to bring him on the show. So be sure that you stay tuned and stay fabulous.