My guest is Michael D’Albor. Some of you will remember his last appearance on the podcast in August 2019. Several listeners have said it was their favorite.
Michael and I go way back. We were baseball teammates during our time at Nicholls State University. Since then, he’s ventured into commercial banking, earning his MBA along the way. Recently, he received a promotion and now works as an “acquisition banker.”
But perhaps his most significant role is that of a dedicated single-father, caring for his special-needs child, Jolie.
In this episode, we chat about Michael’s work and fitness routine in the post-COVID era. Doing more remote work post-Covid, we discuss whether he goes to the gym or sticks to home workouts. He shares that he’s a member at four gyms, thanks to his company’s insurance plan. Although he still works out at home, 90% of his workouts are at the gym. He’s also been doing yoga, spin classes, and sauna sessions for a well-rounded wellness experience.
We also talk about Michael’s recent trip to Europe. He recently embarked on a memorable trip with a buddy—exploring Munich (Germany), Hvar (Croatia), Naples (Italy), and the Amalfi Coast. According to Michael, the Amalfi Coast is “breathtaking.”
Michael’s “island-hopping” in Hvar was his favorite part of the trip. (It was the best part of a trip I took to Hvar too.)
Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!
Other topics discussed:
- People loving the first Michael D’albor episode
- Michael’s work responsibilities as an acquisition banker
- Shifting to remote work post-COVID
- Going naked in the sauna
- Growing popularity of pickleball
- Why Brad didn’t buy a facility to develop his own pickleball courts
- Meeting lots of people from Australia during Michael’s recent Europe trip
- Visiting the Dachau concentration camp & its historical significance
- Other cool spots to visit in Munich: Neuschwanstein Castle, Salzburg, and Berchtesgaden (Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest)
- Netflix’s Band of Brothers
- Michael’s conversation with a 90-year old local in Berchtesgaden
- The architectural history of The Eagle’s Nest
- The beauty of Lake Königssee
- Difference of work-life balance between Americans vs Europeans
- Why Vienna keeps getting voted as the top place to live in the world
- Train rides from Prague to Vienna and Prague to Budapest
- The value of creating separation in relationships
- Enjoying being alone thanks to healthy habits
- The positive impact of reading on communication skills and vocabulary
- Michael’s greatest struggle—the prospect of not being able to provide care for his special-needs daughter
- Jolie’s diagnosis (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome) and the possibility of a shorter life-expectancy
- Using steroids in college baseball & whether Michael “dabbled”
- Tucker Carlson getting more views on Twitter than he did on Fox News
- The future of technology and communication (holograms and virtual reality)
- Living to 400-500 years old
- Work habits and accessibility, both at home and while on vacation
- Two-sport stars Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders
- The physical and mental challenges of playing two professional sports
- Retired athletes transitioning into sports broadcasters
- Remembering the Ickey Shuffle dance
- Eating a second dinner at Taco Bell after baseball practice
- “Disgust” as a motivator to “get your ass in gear”
- Delaying gratification and maintaining healthy habits
- The significance of taking one’s health seriously
- The role of discipline and discipline-building environments
- Balancing financial habits and avoiding lifestyle creep
- Meeting like-minded people and building relationships at the gym
- Instagram, Reels, TikTok
- Using social media for marketing and business promotion
- The convenience of having a cellphone vs the era before texting
- Why Michael chose to buy a 2017 Honda Accord
- Investing in assets, including primary residence and investment properties
- Michael’s diversified investments
- Investing in travel, life experiences, and things that bring joy & fulfillment
- Michael’s preferred travel destinations for an extended 30-day trip
- The advantage of having friends who have traveled to your chosen destination
- Anthony Bourdain’s lifestyle & net worth at the time of his death
- The importance of relationships & expressing love and gratitude
- Prioritizing family & being present for special moments
- The value of making memories over financial gain
- Building relationships with people who share healthy habits
- Alcohol addiction
- Advice for young people to “make the most of their youthful energy”
- Balancing leisure & fulfilling experiences in life
- Gratitude for living in a prosperous nation & acknowledging its privileges
- Brad’s travel experiences & encounters in Africa
- Elon Musk’s biography & his unique upbringing
- Reading is a powerful skill
- Playing the guitar as a way to combat waning attention spans
- The benefits of walking outside in nature and “grounding”
Questions asked:
- How’s work going?
- What is your title right now?
- Do you work from home a lot more post-COVID (than you did pre-COVID)?
- Where are you going to the gym or do you still workout at home?
- Do you go shirtless in the gym sauna?
- Have you played pickleball?
- Tell me about your recent trip to Europe
- What was your favorite part of the trip?
- Are you amazed at some of the wealth you encountered in Europe?
- DId you see topless beaches?
- Did you go to a concentration camp? Which one?
- Did you also make it to Neuschwanstein Castle?
- Is spending time alone something you’d say you still struggle with?
- What are you reading right now?
- What would you say is your greatest struggle?
- Have they ever given you a life expectancy for your daughter?
- When we played college ball, were you ever tempted to use steroids? Did you dabble?
- Did you ever have a reason for not doing it [steroids]?
- Are you on Twitter (now X)?
- Have you noticed Tucker Carlson is on there now?
- Have you ever met real people and think “you spend way more time online than off?”
- If you could live to 400-500 years old, would you?
- So when you were in Europe, did you operate the same way [being able to work anywhere] or turn everything off?
- How long were you in Europe?
- What about “Coach Prime”–is that dude a stud or what?
- Why do we not see any two-sport stars anymore?
- Do you remember what they said about Deion running the 40-yd dash backwards?
- Did you happen to watch the Colorado vs Colorado State game the other night?
- DId you see when the Colorado State DB targeted that receiver?
- Do you know how much money George Foreman made with the Foreman Grill?
- Do you think the reason people don’t take their health seriously is because they’ve never had a scare?
- What kind of car do you drive and why?
- Do you think you’ll finance your next car and what do you think your payment will be?
- Are you ever tempted to buy a Maserati or something like that?
- How many assets do you have that make you money right now?
- Where do you invest, primarily?
- Did you find rocks to jump off when you were “island-hopping” in Hvar, Crotia?
- Do you know how much Anthony Bourdain was worth when he died?
- Have you taken anxiety medications?
Fun questions:
- If Michelle Obama were to run for president, do you think she’d get elected?
- Which social media app do you use the most?
- If given the opportunity to travel somewhere for the month of October, for 30 days, where would you go?
- Word association: tell me the first word/phrase that comes to mind when I say:
- Dating in 2023
- Europe
- America’s south border
- Life before the internet
- Marijuana
- Pornography
- Getting wiser
- LSU football
- Drew Brees
- Odell Beckham
- Coach Prime
- October
- Barack Obama
- Donald Trump
- Your dad
- If you could have $500 cash on January 1, 2024, or see LSU win the National Championship this year, which would you choose?
- Are you drinking coffee these days?
- What’s your favorite animal?
- What’s been your favorite part of this episode?
Listen here:
Books mentioned:
- The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
- Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
