James’ Daily Emails
Real commitment on display in Orlando
I wasn’t sure I would make the trip to be honest. My friend Tom Woods is about to publish the 2000th (!) episode of his super popular podcast, The Tom Woods Show. If you don’t know of Tom, he’s a legit rock star in the world of libertarian culture and politics. Which essentially means he’s…
Read MoreGive me the theory, reality scares me
Years ago, I attended and received a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Regent University. What’s funny is that I attended Regent online while living in Hawaii, Kentucky, Georgia, N. Carolina and Korea. And the actual campus is in Virginia Beach, which is my current city of residence and I pass by it all the time.…
Read MoreThe real reason I do a trumpet podcast
I sometimes wonder why I do a weekly podcast focused on trumpet. It’s hardly my main gig these days, and I haven’t had a paying gig in over 2 years. Maybe a lot of trumpeters can say that because of Covid, but that’s a different story. But to do a weekly show on something that…
Read MoreWhat it’s like to be separated from the one you love
It has now been 6 weeks since I left my wife Sana in Vietnam so I could attend to some personal business that requires my presence here in Virginia Beach. I knew there would be a possibility of me returning sans Sana as we’re awaiting her visa to reside in the U.S. to be approved.…
Read MoreI wouldn’t miss the NFL if it were to disappear tomorrow
I know that football is the most popular sport in America, so I can see how what I’m about to say might run afoul of whatever passes for acceptable opinion among Polite Society. But my wife Sana and I were talking about it last night and it brought up some thoughts I wanted to write…
Read MoreWhat I’m doing on International Podcasters Day
I’m told today is “International Podcasters Day”. Or maybe it’s “International Podcast Day”; I guess I really don’t know. I’m never been one to fall for silly gimmicks like Father’s Day, Columbus Day, Christmas and the like. But hey, if a few podcasters and the businesses that support them can profit from it, more power…
Read MoreBetter to do it right the first time
Something I’ve said in this newsletter many times is this idea of “one strike and you’re out.” It’s a mentality that I’ve tried more and more to incorporate into my business and life in general. What it means is to approach a project, an interview, whatever the case may be with the mindset of “I’ve…
Read More$100 well spent – or should I say “invested”
Last Thursday morning I injured my hand out in the back of the property where I’m staying. There’s a little marsh that separates the property from some pretty cool walking trails, so I’ve been crossing the marsh which is about 8 inches deep either way, both to and from my morning walk. Not a huge…
Read MoreDiscovering the song in the heart after living in a culture of fear
Imagine existing in a professional music environment where fear is the dominating factor in everything you do. You miss a note and immediately get the stink eye from the maestro, fearful that one more misstep and you’ll be out on the street, without a job and no hope of ever getting one again. The maestro even…
Read MoreThe most passive-aggressive tenant in the history of tenants
This email is kind of funny and is something my wife Sana and I had a good laugh over. As I’ve mentioned before, I recently returned to Virginia Beach after a long stay living with Sana in Hanoi, Vietnam. The place I’ve rented is a bit interesting. It’s technically on farm land but within the…
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