Let's Talk Wyoming - 72 Hot Wyoming, Airplanes, Oliver Anthony & Kindness in our Communities

We're lighting up your podcast playlist with a riveting discussion on a variety of topics, from weather analyses to viral music sensations. We've got your forecast fix with a look at the scorching Wyoming summer and what the winter of 2023-2024 might bring. And, hold onto your hats, we're taking you on a thrilling ride through the air show in Billings, Montana. We'll also touch on the intense search for Brianna Mitchell and unpack the profound resonance of Oliver Anthony's ballad about the grind of long hours for little pay.

The mercury's rising, and so is our sense of community. In the face of summer's heat, we're exploring how small gestures can make a big difference. Let's share meals, write letters, and lend a hand to our neighbors in need. There's pride in keeping our communities clean, so let's also discuss how simple acts like picking up trash and recycling can boost community spirit. Hear how extending kindness not only benefits recipients but also enriches our own lives in unexpected ways.

Brace yourselves for our grand finale - the Monthly Mental Health Moment. We'll reflect on the significance of mutual support and the art of self-care, especially in these challenging times. We're navigating the nuances of the 'Code of the West' and its place in Wyoming's identity. This episode isn't just about information, it's about inspiration. We're inviting you to step outside your comfort zones, invest in your communities, and make a meaningful impact. Tune in, engage, and let's make a difference together.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:23

Good morning and welcome to let's Talk Wyoming. I'm Mark Campbell and today we'll be taking a look at our hot Wyoming weather. We'll be looking at current updates, we'll be looking at an air show, we'll be talking about all of our Anthony and we'll also have our August mental health moment. Thanks for joining us and we hope you enjoy the show.

Speaker 1: 1:00

Taking a look at the Wyoming weather here today on the 16th day of August, boy August is flying right on by Warm out there. We're going to be up in the 90s. We had a little bit of a cool over over the weekend on Sunday. It was amazing. Our temperatures have dropped and but we're back in the heat now and I did see some warnings north of us just into Montana for some heat warnings for excessive temperatures. Looks like it's going to stay like this for the rest of the week and it has been cooling down a little bit at night which, as I've said always, is that that's a blessing for around here, but our heat continues on. Doesn't look like any type of weather Disturbances, any type of storms are in place. But you know right, in the middle of August it's always our hot month anyway and I need a little bit of heat. I've got some pumpkins and some cantaloupe and other things and out there that I'd like to continue to grow, and the tomatoes are a little bit slow this year and I know the farmers are still working on their barley harvest. But it's always a big plus having a warmer temperatures, not having to worry about rain and other things, but here in Wyoming it looks like it's going to be right. In the middle of our summer weather. I did see some projections for the winter. It looks like our weather could be about normal winter-wise. I didn't see anything in a major type of issues on any projection. So that's good news Going into our winter of 2023-2024 here in the state of Wyoming, but right now the word is sunscreen and stay cool. Just some other updates here in the state of Wyoming.

Speaker 1: 2:46

An update on Brianna Mitchell last week Thursday, friday, saturday there were some additional search efforts put forward. As we mentioned last week, a group out of Cody came in and then some of the area rescue groups from adjacent counties came in and did a search. Nothing's been no trace of Brianna Mitchell. One thing that was kind of puzzling the sheriff didn't think there was any type of foul play and the comment that I saw and I thought that was a little strange. So they're going to maybe take a look at some other avenues and see where they might lead. But as far as searching in the area looks like that is done outside of Worland. So no, any type of update on these search. But if we do get something we'll make sure we pass it along.

Speaker 1: 3:38

Another happening has got a chance to go up to Billings, montana, over the weekend. Had to make a trip up to Costco. The traffic was heavy over the weekend. On that Saturday just a lot of travel trailers and when you get those travel trailers bunching up a couple people traveling together they travel kind of close together it gets to be impossible trying to pass them. But it wasn't too bad in Billings Now the air show was going on.

Speaker 1: 4:06

I forgot all about that air show and I got to watch some of the planes fly overhead. And people know Billings, it's up on the rim, rocks up above Billings there and so if you can't help but miss those jets when they're flying around and I don't care who you are, I just love those planes when they're flying like that, they're just something you just stop and watch. It's just amazing those jets. Years ago I did quite a bit of work up in Northern Montana, up along the Missouri Brakes, and they used to do the F-16s from Malstom Air Force Base. They would come in from the air guard, would fly in that area. They had a lot of drills and exercises. They'd have exercises with a Canadian Air Force and so it was rather fun watching some of the dogfights that they had that took place in that area and also that was just about the time of Desert Storm Back that many years ago, and the B-52s and the B-1 bombers I should say would fly overhead at low altitude and they would surely give you a start out there as you were driving around with nobody around and all of a sudden the shadow came over the top of you and it was a B-1 bomber. But the planes, they just amazed me their ability and must be unreal to fly one of those things. So air show took place.

Speaker 1: 5:35

I didn't get a chance to stay long enough and take in the Blue Angels, the Navy Flying Group. They were going to perform later on Saturday and on Sunday and that stuff that I've seen. Of that I've never seen them live, but it looks like it's quite a show and other happenings had a chance over the weekend and I guess if you were sleeping somewhere out of the country or away from social media, a sudden viral video came up. A gentleman by the name of Oliver Anthony brought for a song the Rich man North of Richmond, and it was just a great song. I got a chance to take it in a couple of times on video and it has just taken the country over.

Speaker 1: 6:24

His message is unreal, talking about life in general, the way it's going, working a lot of hours and for not much pay and some of the things that are taking place in our country, taxes and just can't seem to get ahead, and he definitely has shot up the charts. He has a following now. I did see some other of his songs that he has produced, and here's a gentleman that was a factory worker and I've already had some issues in his past and he talked about the one video. I saw that most of his songs in the past have been recorded off an iPhone and he does have a couple dogs. Of course I do like him Looks like he has a white German Shepherd and probably that other dog might be a German Shepherd, but he's from Virginia and he's got a voice that's just second to none.

Speaker 1: 7:22

And he plays his guitar and he tells it like it is and he doesn't spare anything about our times and I think that's why it's taken off and why it's gone just through the roof with everybody. It doesn't make any difference anything about race, sex, your political leanings. It is a song for everyone. I tell you it really hits home and I think that's what we need in our country right now. We need all over Anthony's out there that are Talking about what's going on, not hiding it, not Trying to cover it up. Change this subject. How dare you say something like that? He's just bringing the truth. He's not any propaganda. He's not trying to have a message for any political candidate or anyone else. He's just bringing, he's speaking, the truth, he's letting it out, what it really is like, and that's why he has such a big following of people that are out there and I've watched that video a lot again. You've listened to his message and with his voice and the way he talks and and what he's bringing, it's hitting home to people and I hope that he continues on, because he seemed like he's a. He's a true person. He isn't Trying to pretend to be somebody else, he's himself, and that's what we need in our country right now. People like all of our, anthony and I, wanted to share something that all over had on Sunday at the farmers market that he was playing at and he was reading from Psalms 37.

Speaker 1: 9:06

And in Psalms 37 the wicked plot against the righteous and nash their teeth at them. But the Lord laughs at the wicked for he knows that their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those who are upright, but their swords will pierce their own hearts and their bows will be broken. Better than a little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked, for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. The days of the blameless are known to the Lord and their inheritance will endure forever. In the times of disaster, they will not wither. In the days of famine, they will enjoy plenty, but the wicked will perish. The Lord's enemies will be like the beauty of the field they will vanish, vanish like smoke.

Speaker 1: 10:01

The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously. Those the Lord bless will inherit the lamb, but those he curses will be cut off. The Lord delights in the way of the man whose step he has made firm. Though he stumbles, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. I Was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely. Their children will be blessed, turn from evil and do good. Then you will always live securely, for the Lord loves the just and he will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever. But the offspring of the wicked will be cut off. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. Today, in our mental health for the month of August, we have Marcy on board today. Welcome back, marcy.

Speaker 2: 11:08

Hey Mark, how are you?

Speaker 1: 11:09

Very good. What do you have for us for the mental health moment for the month of August?

Speaker 2: 11:14

So I had a request because I go over some different ways that someone could spread kindness in their community and things that you could do that take very little time, energy, money that can often change the mood of someone's day and positively impact your community.

Speaker 1: 11:31

That sounds good. That's something we definitely need right now in our country and everywhere for sure.

Speaker 2: 11:37

So I want to start out with some of these things you might have heard before, but I think they're great to pick one that resonates with you and decide to do one good thing this week or month and kind of pass along the kindness. So the first thing I suggest is make dinner for a family in need. We all know of maybe a single mother whose kid is returning back to school. Someone maybe lost a loved one to cancer. Often they have those meal trains or different things or even just maybe covering the cost of an elderly couple's bill at a restaurant. Food is often very important in our society of how we take care of others. So just think of something that you could do to cover a meal or to help someone out with a grocery bill. That's often a pretty high cost nowadays with increase in cost, so something like that could be very helpful.

Speaker 1: 12:34

You know, something like that is important. I know it's happened before where somebody has bought my meal. I was in a drive-up line and somebody bought my meal for us the person behind me and just a kind of a random act of kindness. So definitely it does make you feel better and makes you want to do it to someone else to provide that same type of feeling.

Speaker 2: 12:57

Yeah, mark, and I think sometimes we often think of you know, helping someone that's maybe homeless or in extreme poverty, but sometimes even someone that maybe you know, even though they're employed or their life situation is different, covering their meal just really can brighten their day. So I think that's a good point.

Speaker 1: 13:17

All right, what else?

Speaker 2: 13:19

So I would suggest writing letters. So often in today's society, I mean, I rarely get letters or messages, and when I do, I feel it's very heartfelt and kind. So instead of texting a friend, maybe that lives in a different city or country, why not send them a fun letter or card, often writing to soldiers, people in the service sometimes don't have a ton of family, and so there's different organizations. That allows you to write cards to people in a nursing home and even just maybe letting us a random thank you to someone in your life that helped you with a flat tire, that that pack fit for you so you could go on that vacation. Just you know, actually having a physical letter or note can really be a great way to remind people that you care.

Speaker 1: 14:11

You know, and I'm glad you bring that up I do sponsor a child in Compassion International and I know I've gotten pretty complacent recently on sending out letters to that person and even keeping track of what's going on, so that's a good one for me.

Speaker 2: 14:29

Yeah, mark. So the next one I want to say is take a day out of a month and only say positive things. Don't allow yourself to complain, or if your coworkers start complaining, leave that conversation. I want to have you notice how you feel by the end of that day. When you only focus on good things in your life. And obviously this is if you're going through like a great loss or some very traumatic things, this might be a little harder. So even just take a day of not complaining. I think that's a great way to fix your mind. We often notice what we focus on. So if we're focused on those small glimmers about positive coffee being bought for us or maybe the friend purchasing your movie ticket, it often builds into seeing more positive around us.

Speaker 1: 15:18

Yeah, that is. I guess we all get a little bit down and with everything that's going on and everything we see in the news and going on around us, it can kind of drag us down. But that is a good point about staying positive.

Speaker 2: 15:31

I also want to say that for kids that maybe are in high school or middle school, what about shoveling your neighbor's sidewalk or picking up the believe someone that maybe physically can't do things carrying in their groceries? Obviously safety needs to be a concern, so make sure your parents are aware, but doing some things around your neighborhood that can help someone in need, but also giving you those skills to kind of learn how to focus on others. Often I think we try not forget that people around us could really use that type of help and a lot of people can't afford to pay people to do these things. So if you're rolling your yard and you notice the neighbor's yard is a little long, maybe checking in, maybe they had a surgery and they can't get to the yard, and so those small things you can do in your own neighborhood can help.

Speaker 1: 16:23

Yeah, that is a good point, providing some assistance to people around you. Sometimes it's hard to find those people and really they're just right in front of you Sometimes, if you'd really take a look.

Speaker 2: 16:34

Yeah, my next point, too, is picking up trash. While there's very popular outdoor areas that often are littered with trash and that could even be waste bags from the pets, bottled water cans, you know un-eating food and we really, when you look around, just walking on your daily walk with your pets, you often can get a bag full of different trash and you know, even though it doesn't feel like much, if we all kind of are more aware of things and even maybe getting a group of you going down to your favorite park and cleaning up the trash and then you can go recycle the cans. So I think, like doing that type of stuff, not just on Earth Day, but having pride in where you live, is very important, I think.

Speaker 1: 17:24

We did that at work. We adopted a section of highway here in the state of Wyoming and so everybody went out on an afternoon and we picked up trash along the highway and then we had something afterwards, went to the local ice cream place or whatever. But it was always a lot of fun and it was kind of a thing of pride because the highway sign had our company name on it. So every time you went by there you thought about that work that you did on that highway and how good it did look.

Speaker 2: 17:53

Yeah, I think that's a great, great idea, mark. Also, I recently have started to watch a lot of videos and how they're associating mental health issues with how we keep our space. So if your home is cluttered and full of things, it can cause anxiety and stress and depression. And so, if you're physically able, I kind of challenge people. I see a lot of videos out there now. Take one space in your home a week, a day, to declutter your stuff. Really go through and decide am I using this item? Can I donate this to the domestic violence shelter? Perhaps? So on Facebook, and then you know, reducing what we have, taking pride in your space, making your bed every morning, those small steps. They don't seem like much, but I don't know about you, but if you can start your day with making your bed, you feel like a lot more motivated because you've got one thing done already.

Speaker 1: 18:49

Right, that's good, a really good point.

Speaker 2: 18:51

And then, lastly, I think that often how we treat others in our community is a big reflection about the people that live there. So I encourage people to take time to volunteer at any animal shelter. I've seen a lot of videos about horse rescue and a lot of those places. They could just use someone to clean up the stalls or maybe even make a few phone calls. It doesn't have to be huge amounts of time. If you have a Saturday or Sunday with your church group, perhaps think about some of these shelters and things that are very full right now and people are training more pets and they could really use more hands-on decks to help those animals in need.

Speaker 1: 19:36

Yeah, that is a good point and I know they need people to come in and even just walk the dogs. That's a big plus and those dogs look forward to that. But it goes across the whole spectrum. There are so many things you can volunteer with with different community organizations and it does make a difference in people's lives.

Speaker 2: 19:56

Yeah, and the last little point. I've done this with friends. You know people in your current life. Instead of giving people a gift set of items, sometimes an act of kindness is even more appreciated. So instead of giving a friend a gift I babysat for free for who has been to have a date night Instead of buying someone something that will sit on the shelf and collect dust, perhaps offer to help them clean out their garden or weed the garden, think of different ways to show kindness to people.

Speaker 2: 20:29

I know we're all kind of pinching our pennies right now, but think of ways to be present for people like hang out with a friend and don't take your phones out. It's really be in the moment. I think different things like that can really help your mood. I think we all need to focus on getting out of our bubbles, doing things with other people and then Thinking about ways to help your community. We always worry about different parts of the world, but a lot of how we can do something now is look like he had said does your neighbor need help with their groceries? Does that single mother maybe need help writing her resume? There's just so many resources out of fingertips right now. It's just nice to. You know, step outside of your comfort zone, think about someone else and then think of how that you, that small act, can help, kind of Be a chain reaction for other things in your community.

Speaker 1: 21:24

Yeah, that's very good, marcy. Again an outstanding Mental health moment here for the month of August. Thanks, marcy, for coming on board. We appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule and we look forward to our mental health moment for the month of September. Thanks for joining us today and we hope you enjoy our podcast. As per the code of the West, we ride for the brand and we ride for Wyoming. Oh, oh.