Ep. 266 The Wheelbarrow

Adam Boyd, U.S. Navy veteran and founder of Optimistic Electron, returns to True Reviewz & Interviewz for another wide-ranging conversation exploring technology, social influence, personal responsibility, and the systems competing for our attention.After feeling overwhelmed by the amount of preparation and research that went into their first conversation, TJ decides to take a different approach this time around. Rather than burying himself in notes and struggling to keep up with every subject, he gets a little stoned, opens his mind, and decides to roll with the punches. A change in approach that leads to a much more comfortable and engaging experience.The discussion begins with Ocean Ramsey (Shark Whisperer), seasickness, Extreme Pilgrim and Eastern philosophy.From there, the conversation takes a deep dive into artificial intelligence, social media algorithms, automated accounts, targeted advertising, and the growing influence of manufactured engagement. TJ even opens Instagram and TikTok live to examine the content competing for his attention, while Adam explores political influence, rage bait, online manipulation, and the challenges of recognizing what's authentic.The conversation also examines the NFL, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, compensation disparities, sex work, and the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for women beyond the circumstances that may limit their choices.Additional discussions explore consumer manipulation, online reviews, data privacy, the 23andMe breach, Germany's right to be forgotten, the Battle of Blair Mountain, and the complicated relationship between laws, corporate interests, and community well-being.Through it all, one question continues to emerge: How much control do we actually have over what captures our attention, influences our decisions, and shapes our understanding of the world?Adam will be traveling internationally, but we look forward to welcoming him back for another conversation when he returns!www.tjregalado.com

TJ returns for another solo episode of True Reviewz & Interviewz, catching up on life, family, work, entertainment, and everything in between.From navigating the kids' first fall break and watching his daughter experience the awkward excitement of young relationships to reconnecting with family and returning to social media after years away, there's plenty to reflect on.TJ also checks in on his weight-loss journey, the challenges of maintaining healthy habits, navigating leadership changes at work, and making progress on his next novel while struggling to find time for new music.On the entertainment side, it's a packed lineup of movie and television reviews, including Tony, Wildwood, Other Mommy, Furious, One Spoonful of Chocolate, the Mike Tyson docuseries, Rescue Me, Them, Special Forces, and The Challenge.And of course, there's plenty happening in sports! TJ discusses the latest UFC action, Navarrete vs. Foster, the upcoming Canelo vs. Mbilli showdown, and the World Series.True Reviewz & Interviewz — Episode 274Website: www.tjregalado.com

Apparently, we have reached a point in society where commercials need to clarify that you cannot actually order Megan Fox. Naturally, I've got some thoughts about that.This week, I'm diving into the chaos of my daughter's first homecoming, awkward parenting moments, unexpected changes at work, and celebrating five years without a cigarette. I'm also sharing some exciting results from my health journey after losing over 170+ pounds, proving there's a whole lot more to progress than what we see on the scale.We've got plenty of sports to discuss, including the Dodgers, Daniel Dubois, Sebastian Fundora, and some unforgettable UFC action.On the entertainment side, I'm reviewing Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Whalefall, Animals, and the incredible Love of Your Life.Plus, Jo Koy, Crystal Lake, Rescue Me, and all the shit waiting on my wachlist.From relationships and fatherhood to filmmaking, personal growth, and the possibility of ordering Megan Fox in a box, we're covering a little bit of everything.www.tjregalado.com

TJ welcomes Adam Boyd, U.S. Navy veteran, world traveler, and founder of Optimistic Electron, for a wide-ranging conversation exploring the intersection of energy, technology, military service, community, and the future of our society.From artificial intelligence, climate change, decarbonization, and the evolution of our electrical grid to political corruption, corporate influence, propaganda, and the responsibilities placed on everyday citizens, the conversation travels in plenty of unexpected directions.Adam shares his passion for engineering, supporting climate-focused startups, expanding access to energy and education, and turning professional expertise into meaningful community impact.The discussion also explores the complexities of military service, personal trauma, suicide intervention, and the different experiences that shape those who serve.And somewhere along the way, we get into parking lots, growing your own food, grilling vegetables, and why getting to know your neighbors might be more important than ever.The conversation doesn't end here! Adam will return next week as we continue exploring the many subjects we barely had time to scratch the surface of.Learn more about Adam's work: https://boydo.tech

Following an incredible conversation with Gilbert in Episode 270, we're back with another round of True Reviewz & Interviewz!This week, a surprise discovery of The End of the Tour sparks a much bigger conversation about creativity, ambition, admiration, and the ethics of turning real-life experiences into stories. When you're a writer, where does creative freedom end and someone else's right to privacy begin? Is it better to ask permission or forgiveness?We're also talking about making time for lifelong friendships, getting older, prioritizing preventive healthcare, and learning to maintain the things that matter before something goes wrong.Plus, Dodgers postseason baseball, upcoming boxing, and reviews of Lanterns, Verity, Forgotten Island, and Below. We're also revisiting Ted Lasso for a lesson in creative problem-solving, exploring the challenges of leadership through youth soccer, and looking ahead to Halloween horror!Oh, and two new novels and an album are officially in the works.www.tjregalado.com

Gilbert Rios returns to True Reviewz & Interviewz for the first time since 2022.Gilbert is the owner of Resilient Responder Coaching, host of the Fit for Duty Podcast, a Marine veteran, former Sheriff’s Deputy, SWAT operator, detective, recruit training officer and task force investigator. He is also the author of Breaking the Blue Wall and The Two Year Life- and most recently has discovered another passion through private cooking and meal prep for clients.In this nearly two-hour conversation, TJ and Gilbert explore what it means to be family while growing up in completely different worlds.While Gilbert was joining the Marines, TJ was getting into legal trouble. While Gilbert was making arrests, TJ was waking up in jail and meeting with probation officers. While Gilbert was competing in bodybuilding competitions, TJ was stopping on the way home from work for five cheeseburgers and a tub of fries... before going home for dinner.Years later, one seemingly random decision by Gilbert to reach out about a weight-loss competition through Resilient Responder Coaching would eventually change TJ’s life.It didn’t work the first time.But after getting another opportunity and finally committing to the process, TJ’s journey has resulted in nearly 200 pounds of weight loss over the last three years. Together, they discuss what that transformation actually looked like, the challenges of coaching someone through change, personal accountability, discipline, setbacks, and what happens when the person being coached has to eventually take ownership for themselves.But the conversation goes far beyond weight loss.Gilbert discusses nearly two decades of coaching, what drew him toward discipline and physical fitness at such a young age, and how that mindset followed him through the military, law enforcement, bodybuilding, business, writing and now cooking.They discuss his deeply personal first book, Breaking the Blue Wall, which explores his experiences in the first responder community and the mental-health stigmas that can exist within those professions—and the surprising transition into fiction with The Two Year Life, a psychological novel about a woman who remembers an entire life that nobody else remembers.The conversation also moves through their shared love of Interstellar, creativity, writing, podcasting, social media, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and the complicated moment when trying to turn something you love into a business begins disrupting the happiness that made you love it in the first place.At the heart of the episode is a shared desire to serve people.For Gilbert, that has taken many forms—from serving his country, to his community, to coaching clients, and now preparing meals for people who simply need a little support making their lives healthier and easier.They also explore the importance of creating for yourself, sharing your work with the world, and refusing to allow other people’s opinions, judgments or criticism to determine whether you continue doing something that brings meaning to your life.What began as a conversation about weight loss became something much bigger—a discussion about discipline, identity, service, creativity, reinvention, family and finding new ways to enjoy the life you’ve worked so hard to build.Breaking the Blue Wall and The Two Year Life are available on Amazon.Follow Gilbert on Instagram: The Resilient Responder Coach.Listen to the Fit for Duty Podcast and learn more about Resilient Responder Coaching.

This week I’m wondering what the fuck a HoCo proposal is, whether individuality ever stood a chance against comparison, and what it’s like watching our kids grow up in a world where everything feels like it’s on display.I get into being an introvert, the occasional need for a good vent session, another weekend of soccer, and an outdoor Ashanti and Trey Songz concert featuring freezing temperatures, questionable drink policies, one extremely drunk concertgoer and—yes—the moment that gave this episode its title.Plus, I officially started writing for the new music project On One and I have in the works, talk Backrooms, and reflect on the Reacher finale and how sometimes the best moments don’t need a single word.And on the leadership side, I talk about being invited back as a KeyMakers alum to speak to the next class—and why I’m genuinely excited about it.Somehow it all makes sense when you listen to it.True Reviewz & Interviewztjregalado.com

This week on True Reviewz & Interviewz, I’m back with another trip through work, life, fatherhood, entertainment, and whatever else has been occupying space in my head.I talk about the anxiety that comes with conducting workplace site assessments and my ongoing challenge of presenting correction as an opportunity for improvement rather than evidence of failure. I recap a packed week outside of work that included an Ice Cube concert, fight night with friends, shredded tacos, a varsity football game with my daughter and her friends, and more.I also reflect on watching my daughter become her own person, trying to stay connected with my son, friends, and the people I care about, and why sometimes we need to stop worrying about being annoying and just send the fucking text.Then it’s time for what I’ve been watching: Doom Patrol, Hulu’s Furious, the Season 1 finale of Rescue Me, and Tuner—a movie that somehow earned a perfect 5/5 from me.More from me, including Hometown Hero, music, film, the podcast, and everything else I’m working on:tjregalado.com

Episode 267 marks another week of trying to figure out what deserves to become content when damn near every interaction makes me think there's something worth talking about.I recap my work week, including my first community council meeting and why I believe transparency matters when organizations enter new neighborhoods—not just selling the mission and good intentions, but acknowledging the very real challenges and community impact that can come with the work. I also talk about onboarding a new direct report and why sometimes being detached from a team's history, drama and complacency can actually be an advantage when you're there to support and lead the people doing the work.Then it's dad life: trusting my teenage daughter to navigate friendships, relationships and independence, questioning how much fear has changed parenting between generations, surviving homecoming preparation, and somehow earning an invitation into the teenage ecosystem for her boyfriend's football game without fucking it up.Finally, I get back to the reviews with deeper thoughts on Why Did I Get Married Again? and One Night Only, plus The Wonder, Don't Say Geoduck, Lanterns, and the rabbit hole that's led me back into Doom Patrol, Gen V, and Rescue Me.Work, leadership, parenting, marriage, movies, television and an inability to experience normal shit without turning it into a talking point. Pretty standard episode at this point.

The Wheelbarrow Lives OnTJ checks in at 227.8 pounds and looks ahead to an upcoming conversation with Gilbert Rios III about the weight-loss journey that has taken him from around 400 pounds to where he is today.Then things get appropriately scattered: a packed family weekend, soccer, the fair, raising teenagers, teaching his daughter the magic of vinyl, the absurd horror of missing garbage day, spending way too much money on pillows, and an Amazon wheelbarrow connected to an idea he can no longer remember—but refuses to kill.Plus, thoughts on Tires, Lucky, The Wonder, The Whisper Man, Reacher, Ted Lasso, The Challenge, upcoming movies, Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn, UFC Noche, and the question nobody asked:At what point did garbage collection and pillow selection become this fucking important?