1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, it's Bill Courtney with an army of normal folks. 2 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: And we continue now with part two of our conversation 3 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:14,239 Speaker 1: with Rodney Smith Junior. Right after these brief messages from 4 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: our general sponsors. So you got all these kids, and 5 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: then I've read you decided I'm gonna cut I'm gonna 6 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 1: cut some grass in every steak. 7 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 2: Yeah that was a crazy idea. What that was a 8 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: crazy idea? 9 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: Yeah? That was nuts. 10 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 2: Because because the farthest. 11 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: How many miles your car got on it? 12 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 2: Which one? 13 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: Because because okay, well I guess what I'm saying is 14 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: you're going to class. Yeh, in between class, you cut 15 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: you yard. Now you're talking to people all over the 16 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: country about T shirts and things, and you ain't got 17 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: no money. So you promised the lamows you don't know 18 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: how you pay for. And then you decide I'm gonna 19 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: go to every state in the United States and cut 20 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: somebody's grass and I still ain't got no money. Yeah. 21 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 2: Well, I tell you everything I went through to get 22 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,680 Speaker 2: to that point where the idea of moving someone's long 23 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 2: east stage is crazy? Because so who organization made me 24 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 2: find my true purpose in life? That's helping people. So 25 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 2: after the get my bachelor's computer science, I went back 26 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: to get a master's and social work. So, yeah, I 27 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 2: know too much. 28 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,119 Speaker 1: You don't do that, You're never gonna make anything out 29 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,839 Speaker 1: of your life. And you have remember that. 30 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 2: That's what they told me. 31 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: So you, after you got a degree in computer science, 32 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: you went back and got your masters in social work. Yeah, 33 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: that's phenomenal. Why are you cutting grass? Okay, So anyway, 34 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: the fifty state ding. 35 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, So after getting went back to school get my 36 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 2: master's social work. So my first year of getting my 37 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 2: masters and social work, I was on my internship and 38 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 2: I was on my lunch break watching this video and 39 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 2: Netflix of this guy that traveled the world on the 40 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 2: acts of condness to others. So he's going around the 41 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 2: world doing acts of condness. And that gave me the 42 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 2: idea of fifty states, fifty loans. I mean, this came 43 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: to me. Fifty states, fifty lawns. I'm gonna go to 44 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:32,399 Speaker 2: old fifty States and mow lawn. 45 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 1: How are you gonna get alar mode of Hawaii? 46 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 2: You can? I didn't know at the time. So that's 47 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 2: that was the idea. 48 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: And you've literally said I'm gonna get my car and 49 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: drive this. 50 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 2: And the funny thing is before that, the first I 51 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 2: have a drive was like to Atlanta, which is about 52 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 2: three hours away. So I'm thinking about driving to old 53 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 2: fifty states. So at this point Breaks and stretton the 54 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: world's largest makers and small lawnmower engines. They came down 55 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 2: and done like a short video on the organization, like 56 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 2: a two minute video. And then I was real cool 57 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 2: with the PR guy And as soon as I came 58 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 2: with the idea, he's the first guy called say, look, Jake, 59 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 2: I'm going into all fifty states to make people aware 60 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 2: of the organization and encouraged kids to sign up for 61 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: the fifty yard Challenge. I said, can you ask Breaking Shredding, 62 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: would they give me a lawnmower? Second, taking my car 63 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 2: and go to all fifty states? Give you one, give 64 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: me one. I just need one or one more. And 65 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 2: he said yeah, let me let me call them and 66 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 2: see and then we hung up. 67 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: And you've literally put this thing in your trunk. Yeah, 68 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: what kind of car were you driving? 69 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 2: I was driving at that point. I was driving a 70 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: Infinity nineteen ninety nine. 71 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: How many miles were on it when you finished? 72 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 2: Oh? So no, So I got we got a backtrack. 73 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 2: So at that time, I had Infinity, I was about 74 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 2: to graduate. I was about to graduate my bachelor's and 75 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 2: that's when support of the organization, they raised about fifteen 76 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 2: thousand dollars to get me a new car. 77 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: No kidding. 78 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, the people that support people. A lady by the 79 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 2: name of Lindsey, she lived in she lived in a 80 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 2: who was it, New Jersey. She she'd done a secret 81 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 2: fundraiser and she raised fifteen thousand dollars to get me 82 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 2: a bigger car. And I got a two thousand and 83 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 2: seven Ford Edge once I graduated, and I took that 84 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 2: car and went to Old fifty States my first time. 85 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 2: And yeah, it started like that. And but back to Britain, Stratton, 86 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: I asked for one law more. They said they loved 87 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 2: the idea so much of me going to Old fifty States. 88 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 2: They wanted to fund the project, me to go my 89 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 2: first fifty state tour. They wanted to fund it. They 90 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 2: asked how much would it cause I just said, like 91 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 2: eight thousand dollars. 92 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: Hold, They asked you you asked for one law more. Yeah, 93 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: and they said, nah, we'll run the whole deal. 94 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:53,359 Speaker 2: And a loanmore. 95 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: Yeah. 96 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, So I'd done that. Man. 97 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: Hold it. So you started in Huntsville, I guess. 98 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: I think the first one went to Huntsville. 99 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, all right, so Alabama's off the list. Yes, I 100 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: said you went to Georgia. 101 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I went to oldy States. So we had supporters 102 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 2: across the country. So I said, the first one was 103 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 2: finding one ali disabled, single parent or a veteran. So 104 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 2: if anyone knew anyone in the fifty States, let me 105 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 2: know and I'll put them down for the state. And 106 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 2: just went a wround to old fitty States. I had 107 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: everything mapped up before I left, so everyone was pre arranged. 108 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: So I didn't think there was any grass in Arizona. 109 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: How did you find some grass to cut out there? Yeah? 110 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 2: The grass in Arizona just grass cut by his rocks. 111 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: Oh no, just grass. And people get grass out there, 112 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: and and Nevada people get grass out there. Hawaii got grass. 113 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 2: I mean Alaska got grass. But yeah, the grass everywhere. 114 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: How did you get to Alaska? You flew? Yeah, you 115 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 1: had to flow Alaska? 116 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 2: And why I flew? 117 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: What did you do with your lawnmower? 118 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 2: I rented one and Hawaiian did along. Yeah, home depot, 119 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 2: you can rent no more. 120 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: I will tell you something. You should be sponsored by 121 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: Briggs and Stratton like you are. But Ford Edge out 122 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: to tell that story and sponsor you home depot. 123 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 2: I gotta tell you another story. You ready for the 124 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 2: other story, So yeah, I love them. Fast forward in 125 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: so today today I've been. 126 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: To don't go too far. We're gonna get to that, okay. 127 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 2: So the first few fifty state tours for the elder 128 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 2: disabled single parents Invernents. Then I started customizing lawnmowers for 129 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 2: different causes. So one of the first causes I customized 130 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 2: the lawnmower for was for for military. I went to 131 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: office states and thank veterans for the service. So I 132 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 2: moved veterans laan in each state, and I had a 133 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 2: pre made letter just thanking veterans for the service, and 134 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 2: they got to meet veterans from World War two, Vietnam 135 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 2: and just moving the lawn and sitting down and interviewing 136 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 2: them and sharing the story, capturing the story and sharing 137 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 2: it with people that support organization. And I've done that one. 138 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 2: Then I done another one called moeing with cops. So 139 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 2: I customized the lawnmower that looked like a police car, 140 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 2: had a light bar on top. 141 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. You had a light but you 142 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: had a lawn more or like a rodder? 143 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 2: No push or push more? 144 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: Is that push that you may look like a police car. 145 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, at the light bar. I wanted to come up 146 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 2: with the idea and spent and looked online for a 147 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 2: company that made a light bar, and I found a 148 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: way how the power of the light bar on the lawnmower. 149 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: So I've done that. 150 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: Meant to offer the States and you you you were 151 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: cutting cops. No, no, you had cops help. 152 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. So for for the for the Moaning with Cops tour, 153 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 2: you will find someone LDI, disabled, singaparre, a veteran, and 154 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 2: the officers will come out and they will come out 155 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 2: and mo with me. So they big departments will come out. 156 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 2: So like in Boston, like four or five police officers 157 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 2: come out, came out to mo with me. The biggest 158 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 2: place was Rhode Island. They had about fifteen seventeen cars. 159 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 2: They had the sheaff, they had the police officers that detected, 160 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 2: they had to sweat team. The lady I was mooning 161 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 2: force said what what's going on? Because the whole department, 162 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 2: the whole World Island police force came out the moon 163 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 2: and it was a lot of cops. The people thought 164 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 2: it was a big drug boss or something and they 165 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 2: came out the mo with me and and that was 166 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 2: a powerful image because at that time the police was 167 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 2: taking a hit in the media. People really didn't back. 168 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: So you wanted to give the cops. 169 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 2: Exactly exactly, and I found that free loan care and 170 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 2: police officers. It made it just made made sense. And 171 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 2: after that fifty state tour with the. 172 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: To connect the cops back to the community exactly. 173 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 2: And these these special mores I made with light Bard, 174 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 2: I told Toro the idea, I want to make these 175 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 2: lawnmowers and give them donate on police officers across the country, 176 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 2: and they do. They need me ten law mowers to 177 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 2: customize into these police mores, and I donated them to 178 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 2: officers and departments across the country, and officers to this 179 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 2: day they go and they canmunity and. 180 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 3: Use they building that bridge between officers in the community 181 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 3: because like if a kid sees that special lawnmower with 182 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 3: a light bar and a police officer monity, that kids 183 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 3: can come up to that police officer and say that's 184 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 3: pretty cool. 185 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 2: And that's going to start a conversation. So a kid 186 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 2: that probably didn't trust the officer because of the parents 187 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 2: or whatever, they're now interacting with that officer and they're 188 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 2: building that relationship in the community. And that was the idea. 189 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 2: And to this day, I'm making these lawnmowers and given 190 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 2: them to departments across the country and they're going out 191 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 2: in their community and they're building building relationships with their 192 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:36,599 Speaker 2: community with these with these moors. So that was the 193 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 2: whole alive said, sadly, he's no longer. 194 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: How how how long? How much of this did he 195 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 1: get to see development? You had to have gone back 196 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: and talked to him. 197 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, but I think he So I met him in 198 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 2: twenty fifteen. It was sometime in twenty sixteen. He passed away. 199 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: But did he get to see what your one happenstance 200 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: meeting had started to become? 201 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 2: He didn't see them. He didn't see that much of them. 202 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 1: No, sadly, don't you wish he had? Yeah, he's smiling 203 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: down on heaven from you. I gotta believe that, broh. 204 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:27,839 Speaker 1: So after the cop lawn more extravaganza, what else did 205 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: you do? Yeah? 206 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 2: So another one was I've done another tool for veterans 207 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 2: So my tour forty states, again moving for veterans and 208 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 2: thinking them for the service and for this particular one 209 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 2: at American Flavor. 210 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: And again you're going to every state in the country, 211 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 1: cutting grass every state of veterans to illuminate. 212 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 2: Just think veterans for this tour, and particularly just thinking veterans, 213 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 2: because I've learned that America is what it is because 214 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 2: of the veterans. You know, I'm able to do what 215 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 2: I can in America because of veterans. Because it wasn't 216 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 2: for them, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm 217 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 2: doing now. They risk people, risking their lives. And that's 218 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 2: why I even tell kids in the program, you have 219 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 2: to do stuff for people that do stuff for you. 220 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,839 Speaker 2: The veterans are important. That's why I try to instill 221 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 2: two kids in the program. You know, you have to 222 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 2: get back to veterans. All way of giving back is 223 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 2: to free loan care. So that's it don't matter how 224 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 2: big the lawn is, We're gonna move for that veteran. 225 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,959 Speaker 2: There's a gold Star family out where I live in Huntsville. 226 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 2: This is when I had to push more his goal start. 227 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,599 Speaker 2: He lost two kids, two kids in Iraq, and Afghanistan. 228 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: What's he a veteran too? 229 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 2: He was a veteran as well, and his two sons 230 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 2: at last two acres, I push it. I push two acres. 231 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 2: It doesn't matter how big it when. If a veteran 232 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 2: doesn't no questions, I'm gonna move the lawn. And that's 233 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 2: why I try to instill in these kids. 234 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: Do you ever get people that you that you or 235 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 1: your your kids do work for that are so over 236 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:03,439 Speaker 1: come with your kindness that they become emotional? 237 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 2: You could say that there's been a few people that 238 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 2: come real emotional breakdown and cry. 239 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: What does that make you feel like? 240 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 2: Man, it just makes me feel like. You know, the 241 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,679 Speaker 2: service that we're offering of offering means so much, you know, 242 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:23,079 Speaker 2: because especially the elderly, the disabled, even the veterans, a 243 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 2: lot of more fixed incomes, you know, that really struggling. 244 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 2: So when we can come cut it for free, that 245 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 2: now frees them up and they can use the extra 246 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:33,439 Speaker 2: funds for things they really need, food and medication and 247 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 2: stuff like that. There's even been some times where one 248 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 2: time in Texas, this lady was telling me that there's 249 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 2: people that go around they measure your grass with a stick, 250 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 2: if it's at a certain height, you get fined. So 251 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:51,319 Speaker 2: you know, the service that we're offering is so important, 252 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 2: you know, and that's why I'm trying to get more 253 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 2: kids involved. And it's not just moving, you know, we 254 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 2: also include raking leaves and snow shoveling and stuff like that, 255 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 2: so it's a year round. It can give back and 256 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: help and serve their communities. 257 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: So have you ever rolled up to a lawn that 258 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: you thought these people could be cutting their own grass 259 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: and they're using me. 260 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 2: There's been times where you have that feeling, you know, 261 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 2: there's been when we first started. There's I remember one 262 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,439 Speaker 2: time meant to move for an elderly and a younger 263 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 2: couple came up, Oh yeah, you can to move my mother, 264 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 2: she's inside sor right. Once we get done, you'd like 265 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 2: to meet her, say, just speak to her. Moved a 266 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 2: lawn and then just they played us. They just literally 267 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 2: played us because it wasn't for the elder mother, it 268 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 2: was for them, you know, people who took advantage. You know. 269 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 2: It's one or two stories like that. 270 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: You know what the reason I ask is, it's important 271 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:59,680 Speaker 1: that people know that anytime you reach out to do something, 272 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 1: there's always going to be a few bad apples. But 273 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:02,679 Speaker 1: you can't let that. 274 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 2: Discourage You can't. You can't. You just got to keep 275 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 2: keep on pushing and just find bat the ways to 276 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 2: you know, filter those foot to those own. 277 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 1: So there was a story about I remember reading about 278 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: a lady whose grass was so high she couldn't even 279 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: cut it, and then she felt bad when you showed 280 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 1: up because the grass was so high it was going 281 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: to take forever. Do you remember that story. 282 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 2: It's been it's been a few of those, so I 283 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 2: can't remember the exact story, but it's been a few. 284 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 2: Like you just shruped to a. 285 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: Lawn like, wow, this like looks like a jungle. Yeah. 286 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 2: And the crazy thing is like, for the for the 287 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 2: first seven years, I was only using push mores, and 288 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 2: just this year someone donated a rotting more. So the 289 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 2: first seven years just using a push more of all 290 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 2: these big lawns, you know, pushing big told us me 291 00:14:58,560 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 2: using a push more, not just me. 292 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: It's a grass five foot high. 293 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 2: Man, There's been something like that. 294 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: Why in the world do you even cut it? 295 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 2: Pray to God, you just have to push it, go 296 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 2: over it a few times. But it's been lawns like that. 297 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 2: It's been really been a few lawns like that and 298 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 2: you just just got to get figured out. Yeah, I 299 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 2: just got a free. 300 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: What's the worst looking yard you ever rolled up? 301 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 2: Toy? Been a few men. I have to go back 302 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 2: and look at some pictures because you know, each loan 303 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 2: we do, we take before and off the pictures. Yeah, 304 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 2: but there's been been a few bad lungs, Like how 305 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 2: can it get so bad? Whoa jungle? 306 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: Like I'm just completely out of control? Don't you wonder 307 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: if some of these elderly people that got lawns like that, 308 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: where's their family? Yeah? 309 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 2: You have to ask yourself like, man, this was my 310 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 2: mother father. 311 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: I wouldn't let it get like this exactly. 312 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 2: But you speak to them and be like, no, my 313 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 2: live in this another state, and you know they don't 314 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 2: contact me no more. 315 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: That's like whoa do you just your presence and just 316 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: showing them that you're there. It's got to make them 317 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: feel cared for too, Yeah, because you know it's a 318 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: lot more in cutting grass. 319 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you get it, especially with the veterans after 320 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 2: you more the lawn, like wow, they feel so prideful 321 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 2: about the lawn, you know, if it's overgrown and stuff 322 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 2: like that, the down but the moment you cut the 323 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 2: lawn and make it look brand new almost again, they 324 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,920 Speaker 2: feel so happy. Oh look at my lawn to come up. Wow, 325 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 2: I can see outside now. 326 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: And the kids you have with you get to see 327 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: the immediate reaction from the fruits of their kindness. 328 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 2: Yep. You know there's been stories like one kid named 329 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 2: Wesley Shy, quiet kid kept himself, you know, before he 330 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 2: started a program. But once he started it, you know, 331 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 2: mom will tell me, you can't more friendly. Started getting 332 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,440 Speaker 2: out there and meet people and you know, build relationships 333 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 2: with the people that he moved for. 334 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: That's crazy. So there's I think you've done. Did you 335 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: cut fifty yards and fifty states for breast cancer awareness? 336 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 2: Yeah? So breast cancer wwuitness was not the cause I 337 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,360 Speaker 2: moved for. So I customized whatever cause I moved for, 338 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 2: customize lawnmower for that cause. So I had to pink 339 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 2: lawnmore and I meant to go for the states I 340 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 2: moved for those who had breast cancer, those who lost 341 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 2: love want to breast cancer, those who survived breast cancer. 342 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 2: Moved the lawn. Then after I interviewed them and got 343 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 2: to learn their story and share their you know, share 344 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 2: the story with my audience online and encourage men and 345 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,680 Speaker 2: women to get you know, checked for breast cancer because 346 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 2: I didn't realize that men could get breast cancer as well. 347 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 2: So that's something I learned on the tour. So each 348 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 2: tour that I moved for, you know, just try to 349 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 2: make it educational as well. So I'm for breast cants, 350 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 2: I moved for Donald syndrome. I moved for autism officers, veterans. 351 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 2: I've got a few few more normre customized right now 352 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 2: for different causes as well. 353 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: So during COVID, obviously you can't go hug and pose 354 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 1: for pictures like you've always done. And so COVID created 355 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: a little bit of a challenge and that you still 356 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: are doing your your service and you're still doing your philanthropy, 357 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: but it created a different set of challenges. But I 358 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: understand that you then use the showing up to cut 359 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: people's lawns to also deliver food and supplies and hand 360 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: sanitizer and other things to people who needed it. How 361 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: did that work work? 362 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 2: Pretty good? I call them moo and drops. 363 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: You call what I call them moo and drops, mow 364 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 1: and drop. 365 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, so mow the lawn, then I drop them groceries 366 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 2: and other things they need, especially the elder people you know, 367 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 2: was stuck inside couldn't come out because been COVID frust 368 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 2: came that they made it sound like it was you 369 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,399 Speaker 2: go outside, you're gonna die or something like that. So 370 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 2: a lot of the elderly people will stayed inside. We'll 371 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 2: take pictures, but it'll be at the door. They'd be 372 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 2: inside and I'll be outside and take pictures, but I 373 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:16,640 Speaker 2: would go out and buy them groceries and then drop 374 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 2: it to the door after I got done. 375 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: Rodney, I think you're the Ben and Jerry of lawnmowing. 376 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 1: Ben and Jerry's took a simple thing as ice cream 377 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: and made like ninety thousand different versions. Yep, you've taken lawnmow. 378 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 1: You've taken mowing a lawn and come up with every 379 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 1: possible scenario of things that you can tag onto it 380 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: simply to do something kind for other people. 381 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 2: Yes, what's next, I don't know yet, but it's gonna 382 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:50,399 Speaker 2: come to me. 383 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. I know we're talking about four 384 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:22,440 Speaker 1: thousand kids and I don't know how many lawns, but 385 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 1: my math says, it's well over two hundred thousand lawns, 386 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 1: maybe a quarter of a million lawns. But other than 387 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: mister Brown, which has to be the paramount story because 388 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: it's what got it all started. Do you have an 389 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: absolute favorite story of a lawn that you've got. 390 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean Miss Gibbs. 391 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: Miss Gibbs where Miss gips from. 392 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 2: She's from Huntsville, Obama. She's I think her photos was 393 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 2: one of the ones that went viral at the beginning 394 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,640 Speaker 2: and moved alone or to be up to this year. 395 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 2: This year she sadly passed away. But you know, I 396 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:04,640 Speaker 2: remember meeting her for the first time. Person next door 397 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:06,679 Speaker 2: used to move alone, but he was charging her and 398 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 2: she couldn't afford it cause she's gonna fixed income. And 399 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:11,919 Speaker 2: be sure that story and that went viral back in 400 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:16,360 Speaker 2: twenty sixteen. But we just we just had a special connection, 401 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 2: just bonded. Every time more alone, she'd come out, bring 402 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 2: lemonade and stuff like that. After moving alone, we just 403 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 2: sit on her porch and we talk and every time 404 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 2: we moved alone, take a picture with her. 405 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:28,400 Speaker 1: And people. 406 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 2: Just love Miss Gibbs and she's like a grandmother to me, 407 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 2: both my grand all my grandparents had passed away and 408 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:40,359 Speaker 2: she became like that other grandparent and then you know, 409 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 2: I gave everyone the sad news this year. I think 410 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 2: it was in May that she passed away, and they 411 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 2: were heartbroken because they just love to see her smile 412 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,679 Speaker 2: every time we took that picture together and you know, 413 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,479 Speaker 2: just just a sweet lady. And one of the one 414 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 2: of the goals for me is to start a scholarship 415 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 2: fund for the organization and the first scholarship will give 416 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 2: away will be in her honor. The mis Gibbs Gives 417 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 2: some fun. So there's one kid named Quinton, one of 418 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 2: the kids from his grandmother that signed up being in 419 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:17,120 Speaker 2: Ohio married Ohio at the start. He's about to graduate 420 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 2: high school. So my goal is to and made it 421 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 2: go up to him and give him the fresh official 422 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 2: scholarship in honor of mis Gives and yeah on a miskap. 423 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: And you know, most people would say, well, that's a 424 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 1: really kind of thought where some money going to come from? 425 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: But I guess if I ask you, you will tell 426 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: me you'd have no idea where the money's going to 427 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: come from, but you're going to find it. 428 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 2: Well, the organization people donating all the time, now, and 429 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:46,879 Speaker 2: I think we have enough funds to start a scholarship 430 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:50,679 Speaker 2: fun and even still, I believe if I mentioned it 431 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 2: to the audience on social media, people would would would 432 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 2: help fund it and start the scholarship fun because you 433 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 2: know a lot of the kids come from low income families. 434 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:02,919 Speaker 2: So I think it's important to invest in education. Doesn't 435 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 2: have to be a four year college. It could be 436 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 2: a trade school as long as they get that the 437 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 2: education where they can you know, they can do something 438 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 2: with their life. You don't want to be home doing nothing. 439 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 2: You know, you become anything you want to. I just 440 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 2: want to help kids to become whatever they want to become. 441 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: So I got to ask you, you couldn't get a 442 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 1: job when you're in college because you couldn't get a 443 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: green card because you're on a what an education visa? 444 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: Is that what it's called? What is your immigration status? Now? Yeah? 445 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 2: So right now I'm still on a visa, but I'm 446 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 2: able to work and stuff. I'm still working on my 447 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 2: green card. I had immigration situation come up and immigration 448 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 2: law firm has took my case on pro bono, So 449 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:49,400 Speaker 2: hopefully this year I have my green card in hand. 450 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,480 Speaker 1: If there is any immigrant on the face of the 451 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 1: planet that deserves for this kid taken care of. It's you. 452 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 1: I mean, dude, you've done more for American veterans, the 453 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: ninety nine point nine to nine percent of us, and 454 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 1: probably a lot more than the people who make the 455 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 1: decisions about getting green cards. I mean, for gosh sakes, 456 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:12,880 Speaker 1: what's the hold up? Why is it? What's the deal? 457 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 2: Immigration is just just a sticky situation. It's long situation. 458 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 2: It costs money. But luckily, like I said that law 459 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 2: firms Stephen David said, Maner and Cooper they took my 460 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 2: case on pro bono and man, they've been a joy 461 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:32,439 Speaker 2: that they got my new visa which allows me to 462 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:36,120 Speaker 2: work and stuff like that. I mean, if it wasn't 463 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 2: for them, I probably be back. How I had to 464 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 2: go back to Bermuda last year. 465 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: Do you just want to be a US citizen? 466 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 2: Oh? Yeah, that's my goal. So once I got the 467 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 2: green card, I had to be five years to be 468 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:49,879 Speaker 2: a citizen. But the five years, so the woman I'm 469 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:53,400 Speaker 2: eligible for to become a US citizen, I'm gonna run 470 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 2: to it and become Ronnie. 471 00:24:55,600 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: I gotta ask you something. I'm from Bermuda. You overcome 472 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:06,679 Speaker 1: all the challenges of your learning disability. You end up 473 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: with the Masters, and you're doing all that you do 474 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 1: across our country for people because of some compassion you 475 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 1: once shared for a man named mister Brown. And you're 476 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 1: having to have spend money and go through legal hoops 477 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 1: just to get a green card to then wait five 478 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: more years to become a citizen of our country. Meanwhile, 479 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: you've driven all over this country many times, gone to 480 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:45,120 Speaker 1: all fifty states, and you must pass people all day 481 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 1: every day that take this country and their citizenship for 482 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:53,879 Speaker 1: granted and don't put one ounce of the effort into 483 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: it that you've devoted your life to. What do you 484 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: think when you compare your journey with someone whose journey 485 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 1: was given to them and doesn't do anything with it, 486 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:13,200 Speaker 1: How does that make you feel? What goes through your brain? 487 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 1: You have to recognize that. 488 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:17,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, like I have some friends that are 489 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:22,199 Speaker 2: born here. You know they're just lazy. Like you have 490 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 2: the opportunity to become anything you want to be in America. 491 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,200 Speaker 2: You can't do that anywhere else. You can't just start 492 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:31,920 Speaker 2: something and become a successful anywhere else in the world. 493 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 2: Don't think you could do that here, So just get 494 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 2: out there and do it. Don't come up with his gouoses. 495 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:40,680 Speaker 2: I don't know it. 496 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 1: Just do you talk to you the kids that you 497 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 1: work with about those kinds of things. 498 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, tell them. You can become and do anything you 499 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 2: want to anything, I mean anything anything. If you want 500 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 2: to become a billionaire, you can become a billionaire if 501 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 2: you have that idea. If you want to become a 502 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:02,119 Speaker 2: basketball player, well it's a little risky, but if you 503 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:04,479 Speaker 2: train every day and that's what you want to do, 504 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 2: aim for it, you can become anything. You want to 505 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 2: become a lawyer or doctor, you can do that if 506 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 2: you have your mind focused on that. 507 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:15,640 Speaker 1: Or if you want to become a lawnmowing savant. 508 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:19,400 Speaker 2: Exactly lawns like me, you can do that. You can 509 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 2: do that in America. You become anything you want to become. 510 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:25,160 Speaker 2: You can't do that anywhere else. Like all the stuff 511 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 2: that I'm doing right now, I couldn't do that in Bermuda. 512 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 2: I couldn't do that in England. I couldn't do that 513 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 2: in Asia or something like that, you know, but I 514 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:36,880 Speaker 2: could do that in America. In America, if you can 515 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 2: think it, you can you can become it. 516 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:43,440 Speaker 1: So what you're saying, is just a normal old person 517 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 1: who has challenges throughout their life can do extraordinary things 518 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 1: in this country and you can change laves. 519 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I didn't. This is not the path 520 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:56,919 Speaker 2: that I dreamed on, but this is my purpose. And 521 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 2: I found my purpose while I was in school, and 522 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 2: I came, of course the elder man. And every single 523 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 2: day I get the chance to wake up and do 524 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 2: something I love. Get the visit kids when they finished 525 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 2: the fifty yard challenge. Like even after this, I'm headed 526 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 2: to Kansas and I'm going to visit two brothers that 527 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 2: compete to fifty yard challenge. 528 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,959 Speaker 1: You're gonna go, so you still go deliver lawnmown. 529 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I'm still After the next week, I'll be Uh. 530 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 2: I had it to Michigan, two brothers out there, and 531 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 2: then after that I had it to New York to 532 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 2: two kids out there that finished the fifty yard challenge. 533 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 2: So I'm always on the road. If I'm not mowing, 534 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:32,440 Speaker 2: I'm on the road delivering more to kids. 535 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 1: How many kids have registered across the United States. 536 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 2: So today we have over four thousand plus kids across 537 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 2: the United States, at least one in each state. Texas 538 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 2: has the most kids with over like four hundred kids or. 539 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 1: Something like that, four thousand kids, four thousand kids cutting 540 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 1: lawns for free, four. 541 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 2: Thousand kids for the YEP, and four thousand kids in 542 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 2: total in the organization, plus kids in eight other different countries. 543 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 2: So we have what countries kids in Canada, Bermuda, England, Australia, Germany, Japan, Sweden, 544 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 2: and South Africa. 545 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 1: All cutting lawns because one day you pulled over and 546 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 1: asked mister Brown if you could help them? Yes, sir, 547 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: do you ever pinch yourself? Yeah? 548 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 2: I mean because I would have known, Like, especially when 549 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 2: I came across mister Brown, if you would have asked 550 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 2: me at that moment, where do you see yourself in ten, 551 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 2: ten years, seven years, it wouldn't be this. But it's 552 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 2: like it's like a book. Every year is a new chapter, 553 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 2: something else happens, and like I had to go through 554 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 2: all of that to get to where I am today. 555 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 2: Like when I got that car, I didn't tell you that. 556 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 2: One of my fifty state tours Ford Motor Company in Michigan, 557 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 2: I was on a veterans tour. They told me, oh, 558 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:49,960 Speaker 2: come move for a veteran, won't we want to film 559 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 2: that experience. So I said okay, and it came out 560 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 2: Ford Motor Company. This is Ford Motor Company. It's like, okay, 561 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 2: I moved for the veterans. After moving that lawn, they 562 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 2: gave me a brand new food Edge. 563 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 1: You're kidding. 564 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:07,000 Speaker 2: That could only happen in America because they saw what 565 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 2: I was doing for veterans, they gave me a brand 566 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 2: new car. And then just last year, so the Ford 567 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 2: add is a small s u V. So that's how 568 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 2: I was delivering more than that to kids than last year. 569 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 2: A guy by the name of mister Neil Hawks. I 570 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 2: posted a picture of me going to visit some kids 571 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 2: to drop lawnmowers, and he says, look like you need 572 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 2: a new vehicle, a bigger vehicle. I said, juggling. 573 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: Yeah. 574 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:35,840 Speaker 2: He said, send me an inbox. I sent them an inbox. 575 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:37,840 Speaker 2: He said, I want to help you. I want to 576 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:38,840 Speaker 2: get you a bigger vehicle. 577 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:40,760 Speaker 1: I didn't know. 578 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 2: I said, okay, I mean you can't take anyone serious. 579 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 2: Sometimes you want to get me a car that doesn't happen, 580 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:49,760 Speaker 2: she said, gave me a call. I gave him a call. 581 00:30:50,440 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 2: He says, gonna look into it. Next day, he calls me. Oh, 582 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 2: my buddy owns a owns a car dealership up here 583 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 2: in Missouri. I'm going to buy this two thousand and 584 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 2: seven Team Cargo van. I'm gonna buy it. Can you 585 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:10,720 Speaker 2: fly up? Yes, yes, sir? I hung up. A few 586 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:13,400 Speaker 2: days later, I flew up to Missouri, met him and 587 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 2: his wife at the airport. They had the van. Shook 588 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:22,920 Speaker 2: the hand and we talked and and I drove to 589 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 2: van Hum to Huntsville, Alabama, and just just see him 590 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 2: seeing what I was doing for the organization. Because he 591 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 2: just came across that post. He's saying. What resonated with 592 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 2: him was he used to move loans when he was younger, 593 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 2: and he sees what we're doing with the kids, and 594 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 2: to this day he's a big supporter. 595 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 1: Rodney. What do your parents think? 596 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 2: The problem? The problem? The shock that I've come this 597 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 2: far because they I guess they didn't see all this happening. 598 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:59,680 Speaker 1: Have you do you go back to Bermudo to visit? Yeah? 599 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:00,200 Speaker 1: I try to. 600 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 2: Like right now, I can't fly back there because I 601 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 2: have to get this immigration stuff situation, But yeah, I 602 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 2: fly back when I can. 603 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:08,480 Speaker 1: Would you do me if I ever? Next time you 604 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 1: go back, go find that teacher and say you're wrong 605 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 1: if she's still teaching. Man, it's amazing, Rodney, your story. 606 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 1: I tell a lot of stories, yes, And I set 607 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 1: across from people and listened to their stories. Right, And 608 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:40,480 Speaker 1: it's not just the words. It's it's not just what 609 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 1: you say, but how you say it. But it's also 610 00:32:42,720 --> 00:32:46,880 Speaker 1: the body language and the inflection. And you are so 611 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:54,760 Speaker 1: genuinely kind and compassionate. And yeah, the work you've done 612 00:32:54,880 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 1: is amazing, but what is so endearing is how humble 613 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:04,520 Speaker 1: you are about it. You're just a guy cutting lawns 614 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 1: and this thing's gone crazy, and I think you still 615 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:12,320 Speaker 1: get that sense about yourself. And I have a big 616 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 1: appreciation for that humility. 617 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 2: The way I see it is if you ever see 618 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 2: a horse and a race, they have these blinders on 619 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,240 Speaker 2: the eyes. And that's what I believe what God is 620 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:23,400 Speaker 2: doing to me. I have these blinders on my eyes 621 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,400 Speaker 2: to keep me straight, so I understand what we're doing 622 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 2: is important, it's a movement. But God has these blinders 623 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 2: on my eyes to keep me humble, to keep me 624 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 2: straight on the mission. 625 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 1: That's beautiful, man, So just keep straight. You know, we've 626 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:45,800 Speaker 1: talked about the fifty States and the fifty lawns. And 627 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 1: you've done all kinds of tours, but that's not the 628 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,880 Speaker 1: only kind of tour. If you've done yeah, what's the other? Yeah? 629 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:56,600 Speaker 2: So in total, just finished one. But in total I've 630 00:33:56,600 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 2: done fifteen fifty stick tours. Ten have been for mowing 631 00:34:02,240 --> 00:34:04,440 Speaker 2: and five have been something called Hope for the Holiday. 632 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 2: And that's when I go to old fifty States. It 633 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 2: really started with me going to all fifty states dress 634 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:12,000 Speaker 2: as Santa Claus, and I went to all three states 635 00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:13,759 Speaker 2: and I met a homeless person in each state, and 636 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:17,960 Speaker 2: then I gave them ten sleeping bigs with backpack and 637 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:18,840 Speaker 2: things they need. 638 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:21,920 Speaker 1: And then do you get this stuff to give them? Yeah? 639 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:24,600 Speaker 2: Social media? So on social media. For the first one, 640 00:34:26,160 --> 00:34:29,720 Speaker 2: I made Amazon whistless with ten sleeping bigs, hygiene kids, 641 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 2: hand warmers and stuff like that and put them on 642 00:34:32,160 --> 00:34:34,399 Speaker 2: an Amazon wistless and supporters run another and they bought 643 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 2: these items. And that's where I at least met one 644 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 2: homeless person in each state, gave them these items and 645 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:45,319 Speaker 2: everything was wrapped in Christmas rap and you just all. 646 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:47,480 Speaker 1: Right, now, the homeless people, they're not reaching out to 647 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:51,279 Speaker 1: you on Facebook? Are they? So you just literally let 648 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:54,520 Speaker 1: me get this right, dude, you riding up fit all 649 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:58,880 Speaker 1: fifty states. You ride up dressed like Santa Claus to 650 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:02,040 Speaker 1: a homeless dude with a timp well tent. 651 00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:05,720 Speaker 2: Tent is wrapped up and then in the backpacktors hygiene 652 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:07,600 Speaker 2: kids sleeping eggs in the world. 653 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:10,959 Speaker 1: Do they think when you ride up, dress like Santa Claus. 654 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:13,680 Speaker 2: Pop out of your car with Santa Claus is real? 655 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:19,800 Speaker 1: And you've done this five times? 656 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:24,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, So first ones with the homeless mental fority states. 657 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:26,399 Speaker 2: I'll give them these items and I'll ask them what's 658 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:28,919 Speaker 2: one thing they want for Christmas? Some said they wanted 659 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 2: a hot shower, so I'll go out and I would 660 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:33,080 Speaker 2: buy them a two or three nights stay in the 661 00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:35,959 Speaker 2: hotel room. Some would say they wanted a ticket home. 662 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:39,400 Speaker 2: I will go out and buy them a Greyhound ticket 663 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:41,359 Speaker 2: so they can get home and stuff like that. And 664 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:44,960 Speaker 2: this is from people that support organizations dressed like Santa, 665 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:47,719 Speaker 2: dressed like sand and people would donate while I'm on 666 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:49,920 Speaker 2: the road, and I would just use those funds to 667 00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:53,360 Speaker 2: buy these items. And then I teamed up with my 668 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:56,600 Speaker 2: friend Yuri Williams. He's in kind of California and he 669 00:35:56,680 --> 00:36:00,600 Speaker 2: dresses up as different superheroes. And we went to oll 670 00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:03,920 Speaker 2: for the States and we went visited kids that got bullied, 671 00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:07,520 Speaker 2: kids with cancer and other disabilities, and we give them 672 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:10,400 Speaker 2: gifts for Christmas. And we just finished our most recent 673 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:14,160 Speaker 2: one a few days ago in Hawaii, and again over 674 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:18,000 Speaker 2: the States. We found kids with cancer, other disabilities. We 675 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:20,560 Speaker 2: even found kids who have low incomes that might not 676 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:22,440 Speaker 2: have had a chance to have Christmas gifts. We gave 677 00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 2: them gifts. And that's all because the people around me. 678 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:28,640 Speaker 1: You're dressed as saying, and he's dressed as a superhero. 679 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:30,800 Speaker 2: He's dressed a superhero for this one. We both have 680 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:35,120 Speaker 2: elf elf jackets on, so we're playing the Elf this time. 681 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:41,040 Speaker 1: Dude, you continue to come up with ways to just 682 00:36:41,160 --> 00:37:01,800 Speaker 1: give phenomenal story, We'll be right back. You know, Rodney, 683 00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:05,680 Speaker 1: I've just I can't add the miles up, but it's 684 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:09,239 Speaker 1: millions that you travel and you clearly spend I mean, 685 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:13,400 Speaker 1: if you're going around delivering lawnmowers to all these kids, 686 00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:16,560 Speaker 1: you spend a lot of time outside of huntspitaling on 687 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:23,440 Speaker 1: the road. And you know, uh, what's that mean for 688 00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:25,359 Speaker 1: for you and a family life? One day? 689 00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:29,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, hopefully I could start a family eventually only thirty three, 690 00:37:29,680 --> 00:37:32,000 Speaker 2: so you know, kind of young, kind of young. So 691 00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:35,040 Speaker 2: the next few years, like to start a family right 692 00:37:35,080 --> 00:37:37,920 Speaker 2: now with me being in a road so much, you know, 693 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:39,240 Speaker 2: I can't. 694 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:41,880 Speaker 1: But you're gonna have to have a mode, win a bgo, 695 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:46,520 Speaker 1: a win Ago, a motor home. Oh yeah, yeah, just 696 00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:48,640 Speaker 1: load them up at that and go and just. 697 00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:49,680 Speaker 2: Go and bring the family with me. 698 00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. 699 00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:53,640 Speaker 2: But if yeah, I like to start one, but with 700 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:57,520 Speaker 2: me being a road so much, you know, it's kind 701 00:37:57,520 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 2: of impossible. 702 00:37:58,480 --> 00:37:59,799 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, But like. 703 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:01,480 Speaker 2: If I the family right now, I won't be able 704 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:03,040 Speaker 2: to do all the things that I'm doing right now. 705 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:08,520 Speaker 2: I'll probably be divorced. You get your time, Yeah exactly. 706 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:10,480 Speaker 2: But you know, right now I have the freedom to 707 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:12,640 Speaker 2: do what I do, what I want with the organization. 708 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:16,120 Speaker 2: So next few years, as the organization grows and start 709 00:38:16,239 --> 00:38:18,719 Speaker 2: chapters across the United States, you know, people can step 710 00:38:18,840 --> 00:38:21,959 Speaker 2: up and they can start delivering nomars for their state, 711 00:38:22,800 --> 00:38:24,280 Speaker 2: and I just oversee the organization. 712 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:27,279 Speaker 1: What will you see makes good sense? Make a bunch 713 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:32,279 Speaker 1: of little Rodney stuffs all over the place. Yeah, I 714 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:37,080 Speaker 1: cannot imagine that there's not parents listening to us right now, 715 00:38:37,520 --> 00:38:40,960 Speaker 1: who are thinking I need to get my fat, lazy 716 00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:43,360 Speaker 1: kid off the couch and out of the video games 717 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:47,600 Speaker 1: and doing something for somebody other than themselves. And so 718 00:38:48,160 --> 00:38:52,839 Speaker 1: if somebody wants to reach out to you and get 719 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:58,160 Speaker 1: their kid involved and be part of Raising Men, how 720 00:38:58,239 --> 00:38:58,840 Speaker 1: do they reach you? 721 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:01,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, so they can go to my Twitter at I 722 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:05,080 Speaker 2: am Rodney Smith on there, we have a link that 723 00:39:05,360 --> 00:39:07,279 Speaker 2: takes them to the fifty yard Challenge. And it's not 724 00:39:07,400 --> 00:39:09,640 Speaker 2: only raising men now, we also have Raising Women. So 725 00:39:09,719 --> 00:39:11,719 Speaker 2: it's raising men and women. So we're trying to en 726 00:39:11,719 --> 00:39:14,000 Speaker 2: courage both boys and girls to get out there and 727 00:39:14,080 --> 00:39:16,920 Speaker 2: make a difference. So I think the first three years 728 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:19,600 Speaker 2: was just raising men. Then a few girls was starting 729 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:22,600 Speaker 2: to sign up, and we just giving them Raising Men 730 00:39:22,719 --> 00:39:25,000 Speaker 2: t shirts. They didn't sit well with me, so I 731 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:27,840 Speaker 2: came up with Raising Women. So when girls sign up, 732 00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:30,120 Speaker 2: they get a Raising Women's T shirt col And we're 733 00:39:30,120 --> 00:39:32,600 Speaker 2: seeing a lot of young ladies signing up. And I 734 00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:34,719 Speaker 2: gotta tell you that some of these young ladies they 735 00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:36,120 Speaker 2: can move better than these guys. 736 00:39:36,239 --> 00:39:38,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, they outwork the fat light for sure. 737 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:42,799 Speaker 2: It's like wow. They pay attention to details like wow. 738 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:45,040 Speaker 2: But you're trying to encourage both boys and girls to 739 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:47,400 Speaker 2: get out there and make a difference. But yeah, they 740 00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:49,239 Speaker 2: go find us on social media at our website that 741 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:51,640 Speaker 2: we are Raising men dot com or we are Raising 742 00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:53,960 Speaker 2: women dot com or Raising Men and Women dot com 743 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:55,840 Speaker 2: and will take them all to the same website and 744 00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:58,120 Speaker 2: they can go to the fifty yard Challenge page and 745 00:39:58,280 --> 00:39:59,960 Speaker 2: just sign their kids up. And once they sign up, 746 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:03,040 Speaker 2: I'll send them a white T shirt along with the 747 00:40:03,080 --> 00:40:06,120 Speaker 2: safety glasses and your protection and a letter with some 748 00:40:06,600 --> 00:40:09,320 Speaker 2: tips on how to stay safe and stuff like that, 749 00:40:09,520 --> 00:40:10,960 Speaker 2: and they can get started. 750 00:40:11,560 --> 00:40:22,040 Speaker 1: That is phenomenal. You know what, You've literally cut grass, 751 00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:26,160 Speaker 1: cut your You've literally mowed your way across the United States. 752 00:40:26,480 --> 00:40:32,799 Speaker 1: It was just phenomenal. And if you're sitting around thinking, boy, 753 00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:35,200 Speaker 1: I'd like to do something good in my community, but 754 00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:38,160 Speaker 1: I just don't know how. All you got to do 755 00:40:38,320 --> 00:40:41,240 Speaker 1: is listen to your story. You're a guy who literally 756 00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:44,680 Speaker 1: stopped one day to help an utterly man mow his 757 00:40:44,840 --> 00:40:48,719 Speaker 1: lawn and ask creator a movement that's reached over four 758 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:53,040 Speaker 1: thousand kids and I guessed over two hundred thousand or 759 00:40:53,120 --> 00:40:55,640 Speaker 1: so long and so far, and all the hearts and 760 00:40:55,760 --> 00:41:00,520 Speaker 1: minds you've touched through your generosity and your compassion and 761 00:41:00,680 --> 00:41:04,120 Speaker 1: have turned in a simple act of mowing a lawn 762 00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:10,080 Speaker 1: into a mentorship for kids about how to give back 763 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:16,160 Speaker 1: and how to grow community, how to raise awareness for autism, 764 00:41:16,680 --> 00:41:21,480 Speaker 1: breast cancer, how to try to reconnect police officers with 765 00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:25,759 Speaker 1: the community, how to help people who couldn't get out 766 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:30,520 Speaker 1: of their homes during COVID. All of these things from 767 00:41:30,680 --> 00:41:35,440 Speaker 1: cutting mister Brown's grass one day. And if you hear 768 00:41:35,520 --> 00:41:39,239 Speaker 1: this story and you still can't figure out a way 769 00:41:39,320 --> 00:41:42,480 Speaker 1: to go do something in your community, you're just not trying. 770 00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:52,440 Speaker 1: And you are a beautiful illustration of you don't have 771 00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:58,040 Speaker 1: to come from anywhere to become somebody, and to overcome disabilities, 772 00:41:58,560 --> 00:42:01,800 Speaker 1: to overcome green car art issues, to overcome going to 773 00:42:02,080 --> 00:42:06,719 Speaker 1: boarding schools at sixteen, to end up with a master's 774 00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:10,120 Speaker 1: and social work, and be doing the things that you've 775 00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:14,960 Speaker 1: done and accomplished so far. I'm just I'm humbled by 776 00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:17,839 Speaker 1: your story, man, And I know you hear it all 777 00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:21,279 Speaker 1: the time. Now you have to, and I know that 778 00:42:22,960 --> 00:42:26,520 Speaker 1: you know everybody that hears your story has got to 779 00:42:26,600 --> 00:42:30,160 Speaker 1: be so inspired by it. But I want to tell 780 00:42:30,160 --> 00:42:31,480 Speaker 1: you from a guy who talks to a lot of 781 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:34,520 Speaker 1: inspiring people who do a lot of inspiring things. Bro, 782 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:38,600 Speaker 1: you are you are a special human being. Thank you, 783 00:42:38,760 --> 00:42:40,920 Speaker 1: and it is my honor to get to know you. 784 00:42:41,200 --> 00:42:43,560 Speaker 1: And I really appreciate you joining me. I appreciate you 785 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:52,200 Speaker 1: having me, and I appreciate all of you for joining 786 00:42:52,320 --> 00:42:56,560 Speaker 1: us this week. If Rodney or another guest has inspired 787 00:42:56,640 --> 00:42:59,440 Speaker 1: you in general, or better yet, to take action by 788 00:42:59,560 --> 00:43:03,080 Speaker 1: taking art in the fifty yard Challenge, donating to raising 789 00:43:03,200 --> 00:43:06,320 Speaker 1: men and women, law care service, or something else entirely, 790 00:43:06,920 --> 00:43:09,320 Speaker 1: please let me know. I'd love to hear about it. 791 00:43:09,640 --> 00:43:14,400 Speaker 1: You can write me anytime at billatnormalfolks dot us, and 792 00:43:15,080 --> 00:43:18,320 Speaker 1: I swear to you I'll respond. And if you enjoyed 793 00:43:18,360 --> 00:43:22,160 Speaker 1: this episode, share it with friends and on social subscribe 794 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:25,239 Speaker 1: to the podcast, rate and review it all the things 795 00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:29,319 Speaker 1: that will help grow an army of normal folks. I'm 796 00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:31,399 Speaker 1: Bill Courtney. I'll see you next week.