This morning, I’m sharing a Living Strong conversation with a good friend… Kelly Mariano. Kelly is someone I’ve had many conversations with over the years… and every time we sit down, there’s always something real that comes out of it. Not forced… not planned… just two people talking about life as it is. And that’s what this conversation is. A moment to sit down… reflect… and speak on what it means to continue moving forward with purpose. Kelly has lived, learned, and continues to grow through his experiences. What stands out to me is how he processes life… how he takes what he’s learned and continues to apply it… and how he keeps building from where he is. That’s Living Strong. In this conversation, we spend time talking about: What life teaches us over time How we take those lessons and actually put them into practice And how we continue to create something meaningful… right where we are Because that’s the work. Not just learning… but practicing… and continuing to build. What I appreciated most about this conversation… was the honesty. The willingness to speak from where we are today… not from where we used to be… and not from where we think we should be. Just… where we are. And that brings us back to something I say often: We are in great shape for the shape we’re in. And from here… we build. Take a few minutes today and sit with this conversation. Listen to it… reflect on it… and more importantly… look at your own life and ask: What am I learning right now? How am I putting that into practice? What am I creating from where I am? This is what Living Strong looks like. The conversation is right below. Living Strong.

I had the opportunity to sit down with a good friend of mine, @Kelly Marianno, and spend some real time talking about life… the kind of conversations that don’t get rushed. We talked about the Living Strong Method… what it means to learn from life… to actually practice what we learn… and then create something better from it… one day at a time. We got into defining moments… being wise enough to recognize where we are in life… and having the courage to live strong right there… not waiting for perfect conditions. And something that really stood out for me… how important it is for us to share our lives… our thoughts… our experiences… because you never know who needs to hear it. Just two guys… talking about life… with some great moments in there as well. Kelly… I appreciate you, my friend. Thank you for taking the time and sharing this space with me. This conversation will be released Sunday morning on my YouTube channel, The Living Strong Method. If you’d like to check it out, I’ll have all the information down below in the comments… and also on my Living Strong Community wall. Living Strong… always.

Last night, I sat in the audience at Bristol Riverside Theatre for opening night of Jelly’s Last Jam… And I’ll tell you straight— I didn’t just watch a show. I stepped into a living, breathing experience. 🎺 The Living Strong Lens When I go into a theater, I’m not sitting there with a clipboard. I’m asking something deeper: Did they take me somewhere? Did they pull me out of my world… and bring me into theirs? And last night? Yes… they did. Opening night carries its own energy. There are nerves, there are moments still settling, and there’s discovery happening in real time. But by Act Two… They weren’t searching anymore. They were becoming. 🔥 Performances That Carried the Story The man embodying Jelly Roll Morton—Stanley Martin—brought a voice and presence that grounded the entire show. Forrest McClendon as Chimney Man… That voice didn’t just sit in the room—it moved through it. And Renee Reed as Anita… That Act Two duet? That’s where everything locked in emotionally. And I’ve got to say this as well… The Honeys. Three women who helped carry the storytelling alongside Chimney Man—and my wife, @Renee Chambers-Liciaga , as Honey Number Two. They moved beautifully through the show, guiding the story, supporting the rhythm, and yes… They looked fantastic. Confident. Expressive. And very sexy in the way the story calls for. Because this is real life being told. And Jelly Roll Morton’s world? It wasn’t polished. It wasn’t filtered. It was bold. It was human. And the show doesn’t shy away from that. And there was one scene that really stood out to me… An edgy moment—beautifully directed and staged—where Jelly Roll Morton and Anita begin their love affair. The way they used the bed… the music… the timing… the physical storytelling of that intimacy— It was done with taste, control, and intention. I remember when the scene began, thinking to myself, “Oh… they’re going there…”

There’s something powerful about starting fresh… not from scratch—but from experience. That’s exactly what I did on April 1st when I launched my YouTube channel, The Living Strong Method. And I’ll tell you straight… I didn’t go into this trying to be flashy, trendy, or chasing algorithms. I went in with one thing in mind: Speak to the man who’s lived a little. The man who’s taken some hits… The man who’s had some wins… The man who’s still standing—but maybe asking himself, “What’s next for me now?” And something interesting started happening right away. The Shorts—those quick, straight-to-the-point messages—started connecting. Not with everybody… but with the right ones. Men 40 and older. Men who don’t need motivation screamed at them… They need truth spoken to them. Men who aren’t looking to “start over”… They’re looking to **build from where they are**. That’s who this channel is for. This isn’t about hype. This isn’t about perfection. This is about Living Strong in real time. It’s about learning how to think better… move better… respond better… and live with a sense of direction and purpose—no matter what season you’re in. What I’m sharing on this channel comes from years of living, not theory. From the streets of the Bronx… to stages around the world… to the mats… to being a father… and now… as a grandfather. Every lesson has been earned. And now I’m putting it into simple, direct messages that you can take with you into your day. So if you’re a man… 40, 50, 60 and beyond… And you’re not done… You’re not finished… You’re not interested in slowing down—you’re interested in leveling up… I’m talking to you. Check out The Living Strong Method. Watch a video or two. Take what hits. Leave what doesn’t. And if something connects with you… I’d like to hear it. Because this isn’t just about me talking. This is about us… men who are still in the fight, still in the game, and still choosing to live strong.

I go deeper in this video 👉 https://youtu.be/1jAOOghmZQ4?si=b1gIwINRxsdE44Bg