Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger and not thine own lips.

In this episode, Martinez talks about the value in celebrating others. He reflects on ways in which he has celebrated others over the past few weeks. First and foremost, he celebrated his brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Brice Bozeman, as they got married. Second, he talked about celebrating MSG Meeder during his farewell. Finally, Martinez talked about celebrating the achievements of students who have graduated from courses he has supported over the past few weeks.

Martinez encourages us to think about how we feel when we are celebrated and when we are not celebrated. He also encourages us to think about ways in which we can celebrate others. We cannot always physically show up in this rapidly changing world, but there are other ways in which we can show up and celebrate others. Other ways include taking a trip, calling or texting, giving a gift, providing encouragement, and even giving public praise which includes social media.

On June 22nd, 2024, CEO of the Bless The Streets organization, Courtney Cammon, held the Break The Violence Peace Walk to spread love and positivity throughout his community and to encourage the youth to stop the violence. Martinez supported his fellow friend and classmate by providing a Peace Talk.
The four major points covered are:
1. Street Violence
2. Leadership
3. Things The Youth Are Lacking
4. Building Relationships With The Youth
#blessthestreets #peace #love #positivity #community #discipline #leadership #mentorship #rolemodel #accountability #decisionmaking

In this episode, Martinez reflects on a question he was asked by a member of his team. During breakfast, he mentioned the names of Kristian Story, Camron Dooley, KD Hutchinson, and Jordan Walker. He showed highlights of each player and talked about how they were all great athletes who made it to play sports at the college level. All four players are from Chambers County, AL, the same county Martinez grew up in. Story and Dooley are defensive backs at the University of Kentucky. Hutchinson is a wide receiver at Western Kentucky, and Walker is a defensive back at Chattanooga.

The specific question Martinez was asked was, "do you ever wonder if you could have played at the next level had you been bigger, stronger, and faster?" Without hesitation, Martinez answered that he believed he could have played at the next level based on his talents, abilities, and skillset. However, he admitted that he would have needed to put on some weight. He also admitted that he lacked the dedication and commitment he would have needed as a high school player to make it to that level.

Martinez went on to talk about other great athletes he competed against who played collegiately and even former collegiate athletes he has competed against throughout eight years in the military in basketball, football, and even track and field. Not every great athlete played college sports or made it to the pros, but it does not mean they were not great athletes. As a man and an 8-year Army veteran with various competition victories, Martinez has the confidence, dedication, and commitment that he lacked as a young man. He encourages everyone to strengthen their belief system and to work hard at the things they want in life. For young athletes who have aspirations to be great, he wants them to understand that talent alone is not enough. The greatest of athletes such as Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Muhammad Ali, Serena Williams, and so many more were not only talented. They put in a tremendous amount of work. They were also dedicated, committed, and driven to succeed at all costs.

In this episode, Martinez interviews Ms. Shelia Leverette, CEO of The Abeze Project and Mental Health Services Coordinator of LaFayette High School. In addition to breaking the stigma attached to mental wellness, The Abeze Project focuses on helping people improve and balance mental wellness, emotional wellness, spiritual wellness, physical wellness, and even financial wellness. If you are ever in need of mental help, you can call the 988 Hotline or even visit your local emergency room to ask for help. In addition to informing us about The Abeze Project, Ms. Leverette shares what it was like growing up with seven girls, being raised by her father and one of her aunts, and spending a lot of time with her grandmother. She shares her motivation for becoming a mental health professional and for advocating to break the stigma that is attached to mental health. She shares her powerful mission statement, and she gives a powerful testimonial after hearing Martinez speak earlier this year.

In the first episode of Season 3, Martinez gets back to the grind. After taking a break between Season 2 and Season 3, he is excited to be back. While being deployed over the last four months, Martinez has taught classes, studied Spanish, and helped others learn English. He has invested in a new website, completed Season 2 of the podcast, worked on adding an audiobook and a Spanish version to the A Butterfly In The Wind collection, and continued networking even while being overseas. He is currently working with a publishing and marketing agency on releasing the book globally.

As the summer has come to an end, Martinez talks about the back-to-school grind for parents, students, and educators. He provides tips for parents to help their children perform better in school, sports, and other extracurricular activities. He provides guidance to students which includes focusing on the lesson, respecting others and themselves, and addressing faculty members properly. For college students, Martinez talks about learning more about yourself, becoming more independent, and embracing challenges. Finally, Martinez provides guidance to the high school graduates who have gone straight into the workforce. Advice for those includes being punctual, being professional, and applying your best effort. He also stresses the importance of saving your money, focusing on your goals, and not getting stuck on a job if it is not what you want for the next few years of your life.

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.