From Adversity to Authenticity: Jon Emery's Journey of Resilience and Connection | EP085

Shannan Mondor: 00:00:00

Hello, everybody, my name is Shannon Mondor and I am your host for my podcast Fulfilment In Faith. So today, our guest is Jon Emery. Welcome, Jon, how are you?

Jon Emery: 00:00:13

Doing? Well, thank you for having me.

Shannan Mondor: 00:00:15

I'm so excited. You're here. So Jon, I want you to tell my audience members a little bit about yourself where you're from. And then from there if you can go into your story. Okay,

Jon Emery: 00:00:28

so a little bit about myself is I am a father of two, I have a dog, I work full time, and I've run a podcast. And I also like and dive in, further down and down the road, about my business and stuff, but I enjoy hiking, some biking outside, you got to get out there and enjoy the weather and nature. And that's what I really like to do, if I could do it all the time, right. So for me, my story, I'll start where I was about 1920 years old, or whatever. And I like to start here, because I want people to kind of get a frame of where I'm coming from. And I don't know if what I'm going to share with you actually created who I am today change me in any way through the stuff that I went through. But I want to believe in home, you know, with my family. And it was me, my mom, my mother, my father and a sister of mine. She's a year younger than me. So I left my mom and my, my sister decided to go into the Navy. And I moved out into an apartment, I was on my own had a job and everything. And I don't know, the timeframe, maybe a couple months after, you know, I moved out and then my sister decided to go to the Navy. My mom came over, she knocked on my door and she said, I'm leaving your father, you know. And then, you know, I was shocked, right? And what I came to find out is that they weren't married for a very long time. So they wound up getting divorced when I was young. I don't know how young I was. But I do remember a story. My dad told me after the fact that I found out that he said I was eight and I asked him where his brain was. And he said, that's your mother, and I'm your father. And that's all you need to know is what he told me. That's what he told me back then. So it was a shock. You know, I couldn't, I couldn't even fathom and like they lived together for so long. So that mean, my sister could grow up and I guess, in a sense, have a family but yet they were probably dysfunctional in a way. You know, I'm sure you know, I would imagine it's got to be tough, like, you know, and people say Don't people say do it and don't do it, you know, because it does affect the kids. Right? So that might it.

Shannan Mondor: 00:02:42

Could you second I got a question. I'm confused here. So your your parents were together, they got married, living together. Then they were divorced, but still living together? Yes.

Jon Emery: 00:02:53

Okay. Somewhere when I was a young child, they got a divorce. Okay.

Shannan Mondor: 00:02:57

Yeah. But they still decided to live together to raise the children in a home with Yes, very father. Okay.

Jon Emery: 00:03:05

I never knew I never knew about the divorce. And they were on, you know, on their own and way until I was 1819 years. Yeah, that's a big secret. Wow. Yeah. And apparently other people knew about it.

Shannan Mondor: 00:03:18

Yeah, okay. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Yeah. But

Jon Emery: 00:03:22

yeah, so that so that's kind of like, where I'd like to start it because what I what happened for me was I want to, you know, getting to know a woman at the time at a young girl because I was 19. And we met each other then. And we wound up getting married we up went up having a house had I had a steady job. And we got married and had kids so I had a job for the same job from the 1819 years old all the way up till 4039 39 Yep. And they decided to close it was about 20 years I was there I was employed there and I was able to move around in the company a little bit and so I lost my job and you know, for so long I wanted out right? Like I was like it wasn't for me like after a while I just got tired of doing the same thing over and over again. So I found myself in like self improvement stuff with listening to podcasts go figure and you know just started to think you know, how can I improve myself how can get get out of this so what I did was I started to do real estate you know thing and that would help and you know, I chose stuck with it and I just wound up having kids and my distractions so I didn't keep on going with it. After that, of losing my job. I was like, I felt free like I have an opportunity I have a chance to at first it was like oh no what we do right but the fear sensing

Shannan Mondor: 00:04:51

right. Oh my god.

Jon Emery: 00:04:54

Yeah. Like yes, you know, I can finally decide a different path. And what that was, I did not know. But I, I didn't feel like doing a nine to five. So at the time, I knew somebody and I still know him, guy that does life insurance. And so he's like, oh, you know, I'm trying to bring on a team. So he thought it'd be a good fit, I tried it out. And I enjoyed learning what I needed to know about the insurance industry, I got my license, and I was like, okay, you know, I'll start connecting with entrepreneurs start to get know what they are, you know, what they're doing. And what I had to offer would help them more, they would understand it differently than some other people's is the idea. So I wound up doing YouTube videos, I went to, you know, going through all this stuff I'd never did before, you know, and it was an I found myself to enjoy it. Mind you, this was like, a little bit during the COVID time, so the kids were home, sometimes from school, they were going to half school or whatever they were doing. So I'd be watching them. And you know, at night, I'd be doing whatever I can to try to get myself out there and try to see about this insurance business. So came up to about February of that year. So within the same year that I lost my job. You know, there were some issues going on at home and in a relationship with me and my kids mother now. I wound up finding in May, sitting at the dinner table, and she says she wanted a divorce. So I knew there was a there was a part maybe where it was explained that it was the job. So I wound up shutting down the insurance part. And I wound up getting a job got insurance, health insurance and stuff like that. And that didn't fix anything. Right. You know, and, you know, I don't know if you know anything about man, but they try to like, you know, focus on things sometimes. So, you know, I tried to fix everything I could or try to understand. And it was just too late, in a way. Right. So long story short, he came to that table of divorce. And I was like, Okay, I'm ready. You know, I mean, because I'll be honest with you. For months, like when it was kind of like fuzzy in January, February, I couldn't sleep I was trying to figure things out is, you know, a bunch of different behaviors going on that I couldn't understand. And I couldn't understand why me losing trusts losing loyalty, and somebody else that I knew for most, I mean, we were married for almost 15 years, been together for almost 20 years, about 2021 or so. And so like that, that is what I couldn't understand. So I didn't believe anything that I could find to be wrong. You know, I mean, I didn't want to go searching for wrong. So it took me a while I lost like 20 pounds, I couldn't sleep at night, you know, and just remember, I didn't have a job. So I'm still like stirring around at night, you know, trying to figure things out and during the day when she wasn't here. So I share that because when it when the Jan January, February, I listen to another podcast that I haven't listened to, like in two, three years prior to that. And it was it's called the dad edge. And he might have changed the name by now. But so I listened to it again. And it's like, oh, you know, join this tribe. They call it you know, men, right? And they had all these little groups and stuff. And so I don't know what made me say let's do it. So I did. I never got onto the calls. I wish I did. But I just didn't feel like I had a time where I could spend the energy to sit down and then have my kids at home and try to focus on that at the same time. But I was able to connect with like, I'm gonna say four or five men, not nowhere near me. So one in Canada, you know, I'm in Pennsylvania, and another one in Virginia. And another one I think was out west and just recently moved. Three that I can offer my head there's other men I spoke with, but these were the main three and it was a blessing, right? So because I'm trying to figure stuff out and they're like, Well, I think this is good. What's gonna happen like one guy said, I think you're gonna go through a divorce. Just be ready. I'm like, what I mean. Yeah, he's like,

Shannan Mondor: 00:09:22

for you though. Were there any flags prior to that? Did she ever you know, bring anything up to you about okay, this is bothering me. Maybe we need to work on this. There's got to be some sort of sign somewheres or or we're just so focused on the insurance and and all of that that you are just like, kind of put it on the backburner. i

Jon Emery: 00:09:43

Okay. So here's what I'll say to that is yes, I feel like I could have been focused on you know, because I was like, this is this is like my job right? If I don't do something here, I won't make money and I don't think the other I don't think their mother saw that as a way to make money when it wasn't steady, right? That's how I saw the difference there. Looking back. Other than that, there might have been small, like, pass through the hallway kind of communication when it should be like, let's sit down and talk about this. And there. The it wasn't there, the communication was not there. And looking, I can see it, I can see everything now.

Shannan Mondor: 00:10:22

Yeah, yeah.

Jon Emery: 00:10:24

But it's. So I unfortunately, things drifted where, you know, their mother was probably seeking advice from other people. And you know, and that's where other thoughts and emotions stuff stirred up, right? So I'm not saying this to bash their mother in any way. That's not what I'm intending. It's just the difference and looking back and see how things could change. Maybe if we both both of us wanted to and I wanted to in the beginning, like I mentioned, therapy and stuff. And that was not what she wanted to do. So, yeah, so I was talking to these men. And they were kind of guiding me, right. And the one guy, I would consider him like a coach. So I jumped on this one call, he had like a four week program. He called it out SQ 180, or whatever. So then I found that feminine and the masculine polarity shifts and stuff. I'm like, Well, this is interesting. You know, so I went down that rabbit hole for a little while. And it made sense, right? So I'll be honest with you like the first it was me, him and another guy on a zoom call. And like the first two, like, there was times when I was just like bawling. Like I'm trying to figure you know, I just couldn't figure it out, then I think it was the third one. And I, I was, he said, it was different. He's like, he's like, you sound better, you look better. You know, and, you know, you kind of get your head back, getting, getting it out of your head, right? One of the things he told me was, Don't overthink things like and just don't dissect stuff, right? And that's what a lot of people do, they keep it in their head and dissect things. So when it when it came to that moment, when she said, divorce, I was prepared. And I don't know, if I would have been prepared. If I didn't talk to these guys, if I didn't go through his four week program or whatever, they tried to see if it was going to help me or not, you know, it was never like, just in case, you know, we're preparing you and it's divorce comes up. That was not the intention. But I felt like I was in a different frame to say, good, you know, and I did, I said good photography now, but

Shannan Mondor: 00:12:33

you are in a different frame as well to from the moment that you started to release that energy from your body by you letting it go by crying and everything, right. So you are already starting to be on your path of healing and releasing and whatever that releasing aspect meant. So that's why I feel that the divorce the word divorce, and all of that, you you were already prepared for that. within your body. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah.

Jon Emery: 00:12:57

I totally agree. Yeah. So from there on out, you know, I had, I wound up getting a job, you know, we went through a divorce, and I wanted to get another job after that, or after it was mentioned, which I currently hold now. And so for me, it's just been, it was a big, a big shift in my life, like, I never would have thought of going through divorce. It was never in my head. Right. And, and, you know, knowing what my parents did, and I know, my dad's side, for most of the his side of the family, they all went got divorces, you know, so that was always like something over my head, like, I'm never gonna, you know, and unfortunately, fortunately, unfortunately, right now, I'm looking back like, Hey, this is a blessing in disguise. Because I'm doing so much different stuff now than I never would have before. And I can share that with you in a little bit. But, uh, some of the things I think, that could help people with relationships is definitely communication. Definitely sitting down and knowing each other's values and stuff like that. These are the deep dives I've gone through since then. And, you know, really, really understanding communicating connection. I know, I've said it so many times, but I think that's really the heart of it for people to get to know each other more. And it's not just a yes or no questions, you know, to get these yes or no answers. It's like, what and how, and, you know, where you see your life, you know, and now I'm on 43. So it's like, everything's different now. I feel like I'm almost 20 Still.

Shannan Mondor: 00:14:37

Exactly right. And that's one thing with my journey. The more that I went through, the more honest I became with myself, the more that I share with people. So now, what you see is what you get, like I I have nothing to hide anymore. That's probably the same same for you too. You're not afraid to speak your truth. So me communicating in a relationship. Oh, man. I've never been more honest in my entire life, sometimes I'm actually too honest. But you know what, I can't help it. I have to be my true authentic self, whatever that is. And if somebody doesn't like it, I know that that's not my problem. That's their problem. That's, that's what they've got to deal with. And if there's a trigger that I sparked up in them, that's something that they need to deal with in their past. And it's that's just the way that I am. You know, it's an you're the same way.

Jon Emery: 00:15:30

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. It's exactly what it is. So, I mean, so for me, my story, you know, after after the divorce, I was like, and this is like, not just divorce paperwork is filed, right? It's, it's like, okay, we're going our own way. You know? So I start to figure out, well, how am I going to live? How am I going to handle things, you know, and obviously, we'll figure out the kids sometime down the road. But so I wanted to going through for me was working on my emotions, mental health, in a way, not that I ever contemplated suicide. But the one guy, I know, he did say that 10 Men do kill themselves every day because of divorce, you know, and I didn't want to be one of those people. And thankfully, I didn't turn out to be one of them. So when I share this, I hopefully reaches somebody that might, you know, be thinking that and they don't do that, because there's other reasons to live. So I worked on myself mentally. And, you know, what I did was I started a morning routine. Currently, what I'm doing now is meditating for about 10 minutes and nothing crazy. You know, sometimes you can phase out sometimes you don't, you know, I also pray by listen to some kind of positive YouTube video or, you know, some kind of message in a way, right. And I'll write down what I'm grateful for, you know, three, three things. I'm grateful for every day. And that's, that's what I've been doing for probably a year, if not more now, where it got more concrete, there's probably like, there's a few things I played with, like journaling and stuff. It's never really been one of those things, too.

Shannan Mondor: 00:17:08

I got a question for you. Who's your favorite? podcaster?

Jon Emery: 00:17:13

Who's my favorite? I like ed ed, my lead.

Shannan Mondor: 00:17:17

Okay. I absolutely love Rob dial. Have you listened to rob Das? Yes. Like he puts out four short podcasts a week, I'm addicted to him. Like I and I follow him on Instagram and everything. I just love the his messages. There's so much like mine. I think that's why I'm so attracted to him. Right? And like, I, you're the same way as me. I've got my morning routines. And yeah, like, I don't barely watch TV hardly at all anymore. If I'm not doing my work, you know, podcasting interviews, being interviewed, you know, working on my mentorship, any of that, like I'm listening to a podcast. And I used to be, I used to love Dateline. What like listening to Dateline, the podcasts and all of that. And now because I'm so aware of my energy, anything that really sucks me down, it's like, no, I don't want to be in that because I was there for years and years, right. That used to be my normal. And it's like, no, I'm not going back there. so odd. So that's why, yeah, I only listen to upbeat podcasts like that anything inspirational. Yeah. But I was curious. I wanted to know what is who do you listen to? Yeah.

Jon Emery: 00:18:22

Yeah. And he's one of them. I listened to for a while there, too. Yeah. You know, and you're a podcaster, too. So we bounce back and forth.

Shannan Mondor: 00:18:30

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. No, that's fun. So looking back at your whole entire journey that you went through? What is the biggest thing that you learned? That really stood out for you?

Jon Emery: 00:18:43

Yes. So being yourself. I felt like looking back now, I probably was not myself, I got molded in this mold of going to work every day doing the same thing over and over again. And then coming home, taking care of like, I get it like that's what we do, right? Take care of the kids care house, do the few chores, right? And go to bed and wake up and do it all over again. Yeah,

Shannan Mondor: 00:19:08

the hamster wheel, the hammer. Yeah, get caught up in it, you don't even realize you're in it. And people live that life day in, day out day in day out. And it's so funny. Because the young lady that I interviewed earlier today, and then I had a meet and greet with a young lady yesterday, as well. And we got talking about that, you know, there's so many times with the work that we do, and then we think to ourselves, why am I doing this? Like because we do get frustrated, right? It's like, you know, are we making a difference in the world? You know, because we didn't a lot of times we don't even see the ripple effect or anything, right? And the one the one gal was talking to me about that, you know, we're there's days where she gives up and I'm like, No, you're not going to give up. And the reason I'm going to tell you that you're not going to give up is because you cannot where you are now you're so enlightened. You're elevated. Could you ever Imagine yourself going back to a nine to five job. And she's like, No, I can't. And I'm like, there you go. And I said, and then she started talking about, I'm sure you've seen that meme or whatever out there to where, you know, we will you wake up in the morning. And it's like, you start your day out. And then you know, you're you're excelling, you're doing whatever you're supposed to be doing right, and the skies basically open up. But then there's some of us that totally quit right before, right before we hit that goal jackpot. So there's the guy digging, and then there's about, you know, this much left where there's that pot of gold. And so she was talking about that. And I said that, that little meme or whatever, knowing that just on that other side, like whether it's an hour away, or whether it's a week away, we can't quit. Because our jackpot could be there, you know, whether it's celebration of ourselves, or whether we're helping somebody else, or whatever it is. And that's what always keeps us going. And she's like, I know she goes, because if I give up? What, what am I missing out on? And I said, that's always going to push you that's going to pull, pull, pull. So always remember, you know, just keep going no matter what, because there we are making a difference in the world. And I said, and it's people like us, I said, What are we I go like, we're at like about 2% of the people which are becoming so enlightened now. And that percentage is getting bigger, and bigger and bigger. And that's what I love about it. You know, like, how many people have you changed their lives, you know, and now they're doing the exact same work. And that's what happened to that one girl that I was talking with today on her podcast, she was literally had me crying. She goes because just watching you listening to you following you. And and you know, she goes, You gave me now the inspiration to write my book. And now she's got big deals and stuff like that's coming up for her. She can't really tell me what's going on. But she's like, this is what started with you talking with you connecting with you. And isn't that beautiful? How we're changing people's lives?

Jon Emery: 00:21:57

And you know, sometimes you don't even know it, right? I know. Yeah. Yeah, I, you know, you don't know where your podcast is gonna go.

Shannan Mondor: 00:22:04

I have no idea. I have no idea. And there are days where I think to myself, Oh, Jesus Christ, I don't want to do another interview. And I overbooked myself today. But once I get on it, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Jon, once you get on it, and you're connecting with that individual on that screen. It's like, wow, this makes me feel so good that that person is being vulnerable and sharing their story on my podcast, right? Absolutely.

Jon Emery: 00:22:31

Yeah. And yesterday, I had it. I had one. Come on, I was on one. And I met with somebody for like, 20 minutes in between. And I still work a full time job. So like, I'm hoping that like five and I did it to like almost feel for almost nine o'clock at night. So it was, it's crazy. But yeah, you have those days. And then you have days that you're not doing and you're focusing on everything else. So but it's fun. I love it. But yeah, I don't I don't know if we want to go off topic with the whole podcasting thing here yet. But yeah, I enjoy understanding and communicating with people now. And like I said, being yourself, like, authentic has been one of my values, I've written down that that's what I want to be, and this is who I am. So with that being said, I'd like to share real quick. My dad had a bar when I was growing up like a tavern and my grandmother. So unfortunately, I think he might have drank himself to death and you know, at a young age, but so I didn't drink until 22. And you know, and I never got heavy into it. Yeah, you have those moments, right. But I decided to quit the almost two years now that I haven't had a drink. Just because whoever I run into whoever that person is going to be they're going to get who I am not what something else is making me to be. So that that was something I wanted to change. And even even me showing up for my kids. Right. You know, I wanted to Yeah, so that was a big change in my life as well, too. Yeah, yeah.

Shannan Mondor: 00:24:03

So along your journey, and especially with the area of communication and the whole marital, you know, which is very sad for the kids. It's it's sad for absolutely everybody. And there are so many people out there that are living in that hamster wheel of marriage too. And they're doing it for their kids and whatever. What is the biggest advice that you can give somebody that literally is going through that hamster cycle life of marriage that you did it? What advice would you give them?

Jon Emery: 00:24:35

I think you should Well, one of the things I learned towards the end was like the day night thing, like I get that, you know, like having a good time going out once a week, maybe nothing crazy. But you have to separate yourself from everything that you've been doing like work and the kid events and stuff like that you have to break away otherwise, you lose track, you lose attraction to each other. You know, you don't know who that person is. Stan, you know, their mom could be taking them over here, and you're going over here for some reason, and you just see them at night when you get home. And that's when you go to bed.

Shannan Mondor: 00:25:10

The reason and that's so true because, like, my kids are in full sports, and especially like I, a lot of times, I just see the mom, or the dad or the dad never together through the whole volleyball season, because the other parent is with the child that's at hockey. And I know that that's becomes that has become everybody's norm now. And we're talking like 6567 nights out of the week that parents are running with their kids, and they're not even seeing each other. Yeah,

Jon Emery: 00:25:44

I don't know how you can change that, except for maybe both of them go to one and both go to another. You know,

Shannan Mondor: 00:25:51

don't have as many kids.

Jon Emery: 00:25:54

What do you do? Yeah. I mean, that's, that's one thing. And obviously, like communication, like, you know, sit down, and, you know, I'm a what, let's go back to sit down and, and go into a deep conversation. So you know, you're both on the same page. Right. And, you know, we all go through this struggle in life, but let's do it together. And the other thing I really learned is focus on the problem, not your partner as being the problem. So, like, let's, let's focus on this, this, we're in this together to beat this, right? And if you don't have that partner with you, that's going to jump in and fight with you. Then there's something wrong. Yeah. Yeah. That's, that's the other thing. I think I had something else to share. But that's I fell off my head right now.

Shannan Mondor: 00:26:50

Okay, so now, the last question I've got for you. And so we can get back into the podcast mode and everything here, because that's your big thing is where are you now?

Jon Emery: 00:27:02

Yeah. So where am I now. So I still have a nine to five job, which is what I need to provide right and make sure the kids are good. Other than that be besides that, I have a podcast and I It's life's check mark. So I have people like yourself, you came on, I didn't watch your episode yet, but it's coming. And they come on, they share their journey life, whatever it is, I don't, I don't really care, right? I mean, I care. But I don't really care what it is, as long as you're going to be open, vulnerable, honest, authentic. Any word you want to use to say, like, let's just be real, you know, that's what I'm looking for. And I've had some wonderful guests, just like yourself, come on. And it allowed me to grow as a person to understand what they went through and how they went through it. And hopefully, it reaches those people, the listeners in the water to people watching on YouTube, to see how others are doing it. Because other people are struggling and nobody's speaking up. Nobody's saying a word that, hey, this is where I'm at, I need help. It's, it's a big problem going on, you know, whatever the problem is you have, but people are not stepping up and saying I need help because they're scared. You know, they think society is going to put them down. Well, and

Shannan Mondor: 00:28:15

what I like about these types of podcasts, too, is they're real people sharing their real stories, their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. And I was actually listening to a podcast here about a month ago, it wasn't Rob dials, it was a totally different one. And there was a psychologist on there talking and they were talking about podcasts like ours that are popping up and we're not professionals. And we don't have this background education and all this other stuff. And I'm when I'm listening to this, I'm thinking to myself, are you kidding me? Like you guys are degrading our podcasts, but we're bringing people on to our podcasts that are sharing their real life stories. And this is what people really need to to hear. Because it's us that are getting vulnerable. And we're giving these individuals the strength to actually start to share their stories and to heal. And yeah, no, we are not, I'm not a professional. But you know what my feelings are real. And I did something about those feelings to make me heal. And if I can provide one tool, that's all I'm saying is one tool that can get you on the road so that you can start to heal and find the greatest version of yourself within then downright so I'm going to continue on with these stories. And I'm going to have people all over the world which I do what you do, too, you know, so that's, that's why we're here. That's, that's our life purpose. And we know that

Jon Emery: 00:29:37

I agree and allows you to become a better communicator, a better listener. Right? And I've found value in connecting other people that have had as guests with other guests. Wherever that connection goes, I'm not so sure but I've been getting many thank yous you know and see what I'm glad to hear. You know, I'm glad somebody besides yourself. I know you're in Canada, right? Yeah. So somebody in Canada, I was able to connect them to somebody South Africa and how they work together somehow. And you know, it's just, it's just great to hear stuff like that. So

Shannan Mondor: 00:30:10

yeah, the connection, just amazing. And it's not only just podcasters or whatever, like this tube, show my podcast, you know, I did a meet and greet. That's how I found my TED Talk coach, like these, these types of meetings, get you in connection with all of these different areas in your life where you're being guided to go, you know, you know, and now I've got a publicist in New York, and like, all of these have just come together to all these different connections. And it's, it's, it's amazing. I must, I love because imagine yourself even before you started podcasting, right, like our world seems so small. And now it's like, Oh, my God, I'm connecting with people in Australia and England. And you know, me and my two younger kids. We're going to England in August. And some of the people that were on my podcast, we're actually going to meet in person. Like, How incredible is that? You know,

Jon Emery: 00:31:04

that's amazing. Yeah. Yeah, and you already know, all right. Yeah, we

Shannan Mondor: 00:31:10

already know right. Now. I actually get to be actually hugger. Like, it's amazing, isn't it? Yeah, Bobby. Yeah. Okay, so, um, tell us a little bit more about yourself a

Jon Emery: 00:31:24

little bit more about myself?

Shannan Mondor: 00:31:25

Yeah. Like with with your podcasting? Oh,

Jon Emery: 00:31:28

yeah. Yeah, so with the podcast? Yeah. So I'll share it. I do. Watch it. Once a week. You can watch it on YouTube and stuff like that. And, you know, I have a lot in the backlog. So I'll be shooting them out as soon as I can. I keep getting people that want to come, I don't want to, you know, as long as they're gonna be like, Yeah, let's I'm gonna be real than I don't want to push them away. Right. And that one story or journey that they might be able to share, might change somebody else's life. And that's the mission of mine. So my podcast, but so since I started podcasting, I basically did on my own, I had to figure everything out along along the way. I'll, here's when I was doing the insurance. I did 10, Facebook Lives with entrepreneurs. And I was I met somebody at breakfast. And he was asked, and it was at an event. He said, Oh, what do you want to do? I'm like, Well, I want to start podcasts. And I told him about these 10 Facebook Lives. And he said, well just take them stripped them, you know, make them the audio to start your podcast, it's 10 episodes. I sat on it for like six months. And then I figured out how to do it. And then I launched and it's not it, you can listen to my intro, you know, my episode zero, it was not my focus, but it was enough to get me going. And then that's when I started to go, here's this is what life's check mark really is right? And everybody started lining up to be guests. But that's what got me going. So I created a course I created a community, and I'm coaching people to go through and start a podcast, there's a reason there's a desire that, you know, people like yourself, and I chose to start one and I want to see that happen to these people that, you know, have that desire. So I want to be that person to hold them accountable to keep going. Right. So I've been doing this for about a year and a half, and I'm not going to stop and enjoy it so much. I'm learning more with AI, I'm learning more with, you know, connecting with people trying to meet up with them in person. And, you know, I just want to grow. So I want to see other people start a show and grow. You know, I was talking to somebody yesterday on their podcast about the statistics and stuff. I don't think it's episode 10 or 20. Where, you know, people don't even make it that far. You know, they might do one and they just shut down because they they didn't line up 10 episodes. And that's that's

Shannan Mondor: 00:33:49

what I was really I didn't know that. Really. Yeah. So

Jon Emery: 00:33:53

it's like, I it's 10 or 20. If you get past that you're in the top 1% of the podcast, not like number of downloads or something, but that you're still going right that you're still active. That's that's where it's at. So the latest I know is there's 700,000 active podcasts that keep launching every week. There might be the ones that do the seasons and stuff. But they're not always as active. So they don't always count sometimes. But there's millions of there's millions of podcasts out there. And that's what people are afraid of. They're like, Well, everybody's got pockets. No, I mean, how many? How many routers are out there? I don't know how many of them right? There's millions of them. Right?

Shannan Mondor: 00:34:34

There's an abundance for everything if you that will desire and faith in yourself. Exactly. Yeah, just keep going. Keep going. Just keep believing in yourself and it's going to come to you law of attraction, right? How it works.

Jon Emery: 00:34:47

I told this person I was on podcast yesterday. I said I didn't start to create an audience. I just wanted to get to know people and how they dealt with things and and it just grew from there and You know, that's that's how I look at it. So I started with not anticipating people to listen, right? I just want to start something

Shannan Mondor: 00:35:09

like me, I don't worry about the amount of people that are listening. I worry about people telling their stories. So people have the opportunity to listen, if they want to

Jon Emery: 00:35:17

salute. I love it. That's a good way to put it. Yes. Yeah.

Shannan Mondor: 00:35:21

So, um, in all of the podcast notes, this is where Jon's information is going to be. So Can people just contact you through the information if they want to get on your podcast? Yeah,

Jon Emery: 00:35:35

if they want to get on my pocket is the best way it'd be my email. So I think that'd be the best way. And then if they want to check out what I have to offer with, you know, starting their own podcast, that's life check mark.com. They can also watch the podcast on YouTube and subscribe to download on Spotify, Apple and all these other ones out there.

Shannan Mondor: 00:35:54

Perfect. Perfect. Is there any final words that you would like to say to the audience members?

Jon Emery: 00:35:59

I've said it before, you know, be yourself. You know, do what you love, enjoy life. And don't give up right? So remember why you started? So because there's gonna be that point where you go. I'm gonna stop. It's not taking me anywhere. And you just said that gold, you know, you're talking about gold and stuff. And you just, it's just right around the corner. It's just that one more person. One more thing you gotta do. Yeah, it's all quit. Be

Shannan Mondor: 00:36:26

strong with that. What if? What if? What if, you know? So, oh, Jon, thank you so much for coming on. This was this was a great podcast, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your story and your journey and, and everything. And you and I always have such great conversations that we can always just talk. I know. Oh, my God, we talked a lot before we even got on this podcast. So no, I want to thank you so much for, you know, us getting to know each other. And I know there's always going to be a connection between you and I just being on my podcast and really being a part of my journey. Like you make my world an absolutely better place. And I want to thank you for that.

Jon Emery: 00:37:10

Same here and I appreciate that and thank you