Why Gratitude Matters Most When Life Falls Apart

Why This Podcast Exists

SPEAKER_01 0:00

This podcast, you know, is really around inviting guests from all walks of life, all perspectives of life, around their wisdom and perspective on how they've overcame adversity. Ultimately, what I'm doing is holding up a mirror for you in terms of can you see yourself in the challenge and adversity that these guests have faced and shared but have overcome it that can help you reframe your perspective on that challenge or adversity. The main theme that we're trying to build here is a sense of community of helping others through guests messaging that I want to be able to promote.

SPEAKER_00 0:31

Welcome to the Yog Nation, the Spread of Gratitude podcast on the OneTech Ration platform. Hello friends, my name is Yogesh Patel, and this podcast explores the themes of bullying, self-awareness, and the power of our inner spirit, including the silent battles we all face. Join me every week as I invite high-profile guests as we explore how adversity shapes us, how gratitude lifts us, and how we can all uncover the inner strength that we all have within ourselves. Join the conversation. I appreciate you listening in.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

And citizens, welcome back to another exciting episode of Yoge Nation's Sprit of Gratitude. This

Behind The Scenes Building The Show

SPEAKER_01 1:08

week I thought I'd do things a little bit different, give everyone a behind the scenes of what it's like to actually build this podcast from the ground up. For the longest time, the guests have been the message, and I've simply been the messenger. But from a branding standpoint, I know the podcast is me, myself, and I to a certain degree. And joining me here today are a fine team from Cirrus Visual, the design firm that I've hired to help me scale the brand so that people know about Yog Nation. They can perhaps go to organic discoverability, find me, find what this messaging is about. But more importantly, though, citizens, it's how the messaging of these guests can do something and add value to your life, whether it's overcoming a challenge and adversity which we all face. And again, I've been so blessed to partner with Sirius Visual in this journey. Today, representing the team is uh art director Chris Carls and trusted design assistant designer Melissa. And so I and so today they've actually come up with uh some design concepts of a new logo. Because the old logo of water and tranquility really doesn't represent and capture gratitude in the manner that I wish to define it as, which is grit. It's about survival, it's taking that next step when you don't want to take it. I think that's a lot of the common themes we see here in society today, whether it's mental health, anxiety, depression, we all just need to take that step forward. And today I'm really excited to see what they have come up with in terms of a few design concepts. So without further ado, Chris, Melissa, yeah, show us what you got.

Discovery Session And The Five Pillars

SPEAKER_02 2:50

Well, first of all, we're not gonna dive right into the logo. We got to review where we started from, right? Okay. Which was last week or was it two weeks ago? Two weeks ago. We did the discovery session. Yes. Discovery session where we sit down and and first I outline the whole purpose of this, right? We decided or determined that this uh this logo is just one element of the brand, right? A brand is more than just a mark. It will, after this, we will continue to build out the you got the messaging, the other colors and patterns and backgrounds and things that will help build your brand. But we got to start with a mark, and that's really what we're started with. Sure. But what we really started with was evaluating your business, your organization, your podcast, right? So we ask questions like, hey, just give me your elevator, elevator speech. What's your 10-second uh you know, quick uh um definition of the podcast?

SPEAKER_01 3:40

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 3:40

I asked you how you'd like to be viewed and kind of like how you're how you're being viewed now.

SPEAKER_01 3:45

And you'd like to be viewed. Could I answer that question about the elevator pitch? Yeah. Yeah. So again, from what your notes here, and correct me if I'm wrong, Chris, but what I've understood the elevator pitch to be citizens is that this podcast, you know, is really around inviting guests from all walks of life, all perspectives of life, around their wisdom and perspective on how they've overcame adversity and and how at excuse me, how adversity has shaped their success through the lens of gratitude around five core pillars around awareness, appreciation, humility, resilience, and courage. Good job.

SPEAKER_02 4:23

You actually did a really good job remembering that because uh in during the discovery session, I take the notes, I put the notes back into this document, which my designer uses as uh inspiration for the design as well of the other comments that we make. So I've retyped everything that Yogi originally shared with me back into this document. I had written down Yoge Nation Spirit of Gratitude Podcasts invites high-profile guests to share perspectives on how living through adversity has shaped success through gratitude. Mm-hmm. Not bad, right? Yeah. There you go. Yep. All right. How we'd like to be currently or how you would like to be viewed and how you're currently viewed. Uh, you're currently not getting enough feedback to understand how you're being viewed, although I noted that you are getting invitations and acknowledgements, you are getting some feedback, just not like the direct feedback.

SPEAKER_01 5:12

Yep. Which is what I need, citizens. I mean, again, I'm yeah, I'm very open to feedback, thoughts, and suggestions on how we as this community can uplift uh society and culture moving forward.

SPEAKER_02 5:23

Yeah, leave your comments, right? Uh, you would like to be a thought leader on gratitude and how to rise above learning from guest stories. And I did note the five pillars of gratitude that you're definitely as a part of that. So that was the foundation of it. Next,

Defining The Voice And The Audience

SPEAKER_02 5:39

we go into core values, core values being uh all I'm looking for is just quick one-word responses to these uh six points. Uh, just a free flow, just let the let the words flow out. I forgot what I said. Well, I'm gonna remind you. And actually, I came up and what and ultimately, I don't know if you can see, but I I end up with some highlighted words that come up with a uh a few words description of it that should define yogi's podcast. It might um it might define other industries, but truly this should be unique to Yogi's podcast specifically. So, of culture, uh the a culture of kindness, uplifting, fiercely loyal, trusted friend. Your audience is 65% 30s to 50s, about 55% female. Human resilience uh watches the Ted Lasso show, empathy, gratitude. There might be some overlap too. I as I uh warned, or not warned, but uh gave a heads up that there might be some overlap in some of these areas, but um, it should all lay a good foundation. Uh your voice is soothing, not sexy yet, because you're currently too monotone. We're taking note of this, though, right? You need to be more yeah, yes, that's it. But you recognize the need to be more dynamic and engaging, however, you are thoughtful and kind. The feels, uh you're reflective, uh reflective feelings, no gotcha moments, intelligent, warm, helpful.

SPEAKER_01 7:10

Uh you're in I try and convey that to the guests as well in terms of the way that I approach the questions for them to give me these answers that again hopefully inspire the audience, uh, whether it's education, um inspiration, uh, entertaining. But more importantly, though, and I think Chris is gonna make mention of this, is ultimately what I'm doing is holding up a mirror for you in terms of can you see yourself in the challenge and adversity that these guests have faced and shared but have overcome it that can help you reframe your perspective on that challenge or adversity. Exactly right.

SPEAKER_02 7:49

Yep. Uh you're impact. No, no. Uh impact, overall impact. You are making an impact because you've gotten a bronze in the health and the anthem awards. Right. Uh, you're making social impact, you're supporting the public, you're inspiring people. The statement, uh, rising tide lifts all boats seems to be a good statement, right? Everybody just helps each other out. Yep. Your X factor, what's the one thing that sets you apart from others? Um you mentioned that as a format was more than just talks. Your interview style, where your storytelling can help others, and that was my key word out of that was the storytelling element of this, right? Built on belief. So my five words as I highlighted them after I discussed with you and thought about these things and tried to like really highlight each of these. I came up with kind, resilient, soothing, reflective, inspired storytelling. Oh, not bad, right? Yeah, pretty groovy. Pretty groovy. Okay. We also here um as part of our process, we establish a fictional character so that we can always reflect back and say, hey, how what would Jeff think about this logo, right? So we came up with this uh character, Jeff Newman. He's uh 46, he's an ex out account executive for a trucking company. He likes to golf, hang with his family, likes to barbecue. He's uh kind to his neighbors and a role model to his family. Sounds like a really upstanding individual. You got some good audience members. I can follow you, man. Good job. Uh what does he need? He needs positive messaging, he needs reminders to keep him going too, right? That's uh, you know, you just got to keep keep being that person. Um, and we always look at how can you exceed those needs? How can we go above and beyond, right? And they're uh applying messages from guests as real world examples, asking what makes them grateful of the five pillars, and then seeing what makes others resilient. And that's what's going to inspire our friend Jeff, right? Is seeing the stories from others.

SPEAKER_01 9:53

There's a lot of stresses that everyone has in life, whether it's emotional, physical, mental, and economic, it just goes on and on. Yep. So a lot of it I think the main thing that we're trying to build here is a sense of community, of helping others through the guests messaging that I want to be able to uh promote.

SPEAKER_02 10:12

Yeah. Yep, nailed it. All right, we're almost there. We're not to the logos yet. You know, we gotta we kind of build up the anticipation, right? Yes. All right, competition. We uh this is uh well, really important for any organization, really, is your competition. Uh, even though if you think you might not have some, there are competition out there somehow, somehow. Uh your competition is based mostly on spirituality, and that you noted that there are few active, and that was a note of like active specializing in gratitude. Uh you did note it uh on purpose and Jay Shady and Mel Robbins, but that you were pretty unique and that you were one of the few that are actively out there promoting this. And a one-man show. Well, that's how you yeah, that's how you differentiate yourself is that you're a one-man show, you're less commercial, authentic. I think authentic is just a wonderful world in general, you know. But yeah, authentic is uh really good word. Thanks. Okay.

Subway Symbolism And Design Preferences

SPEAKER_02 11:09

Uh likes and dislikes. Now we actually start talking about potential design or creative elements, right? We start like, what do you personally like and not like? Are there brands, colors, fonts, textures? Um, even from our very first meeting, you were um, I don't want to say sold, but very much um uh interested in looking at the London Underground Subway in terms of not just the look of it, but all everything that it means about a subway, the New York subway system, right? Which was recently designed and um it's actually came back up in the design channels as news recently. You were a fan of aviation logos for the sense of freedom and for making it, you know. Uh clean lines, round corners, but grit, like in the mud, but moving forward. This is goes back with your whole podcast, anyways, right? If these people are yeah, they're they're surviving through it through the grit and they're and they're moving forward. Noted some colors of turquoise, Caribbean, water, uh, tenacity, survival. And then things that you don't like. There was uh no ness, not necessarily a bias to colors, but you like the New York Subway color codes. And we discussed how that could really be important in defining the rest of your brand as it rolls out, whether it's the website that could use color coding that defines your five pillars and how that relates to the stories. So it makes a lot of sense. The the color coding makes a ton of sense. You weren't a fan of yellow orange-ish, and I have noted in here from daughter, what uh which daughter doesn't like yellow orange-ish?

SPEAKER_01 12:51

The one standing behind the camera.

SPEAKER_02 12:55

Half kidding, don't want to call anybody out, but it actually your dad did call it up there. Out of respect. Out of respect. And we take this into consideration because no joke, I almost like asking what do you not like first? Um, because I do have, I have we have clients that um Melissa's familiar with this client, uh, she doesn't like yellow, orangesh. And if she sees that in anything, she won't look past anything past the color. Well, it's a good thing. Yeah, I mean the whole thing. Well, and you know but it's true though.

SPEAKER_01 13:27

And for me, again, just in terms of the business element of why I've chosen to invest my time and dollars into the branding, what Source Visual does, is because we're all bombarded by media. And you have 0.3 seconds, scientifically proven, I believe, to capture someone's attention. And in that 0.3 seconds, if I haven't demonstrated trust, credibility, designs that capture the eye, that make you want to say, hmm, let me find out what this is about. So that 0.3 seconds becomes three seconds, which hopefully becomes something long-lasting, where hopefully you can like, follow, and subscribe to the channel.

SPEAKER_02 14:08

Exactly. Okay, we actually now we get into some design preference. Now we actually are talking design um and what the thing might look like, or if you if you had preferences. Some people don't have preferences, some people have a pretty distinct vision. You had a fairly distinct vision, and really it was uh, well, a global audience. So we're based here in Tucson, Arizona, but have to see this as a global audience. Obviously, podcasts can reach around the whole world. Gratitude and inspiration can affect everybody. So while we don't for saying that, by the way. Well, it's true. Well, we don't have subways here in Tucson, so it's kind of hard to comprehend that that bridge that gap. But if you think of it on a global scale, people go to cities that have subways, anybody can relate to it.

SPEAKER_01 14:50

Right.

SPEAKER_02 14:51

But if this was only here in Tucson, yeah, it might be a little disconnect. But if a global audience, it makes perfect sense, right? Yep. Then uh you describe why the subway. It's not just the look, you didn't just like the pretty colors, right? It was the feeling of the subway that uh or the um the symbolism or the analogy of the subway where you have to go down before going back up, right?

SPEAKER_01 15:13

Potentially, yep.

SPEAKER_02 15:14

It might get worse before it gets better. Uh, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, right? Like there's like, is that a light? Is it a train?

SPEAKER_01 15:21

Or you're seeing the darkness on the left side. It's like, you know, I'm getting on this train. What is it? Where is it taking me? I have no idea. Right. And then you start to hear the sounds and the lights, and then full stop, and hopefully there's a sign that says where to take you, right? Hopefully to a state of contentment, right? Where your worries fall down and then you're on your merry way forward.

SPEAKER_02 15:45

Yeah, and you're moving forward. Yeah, so that all makes a ton of sense. The um well, as I mentioned, the New York City uh subway was just recently redesigned. It was originally designed by the logo. The logo, well, no, the whole mapping system was all really yes, yeah, yeah. I didn't know it was originally designed by Massimo Vignelli. And um did I say Melissa? I believe it was a pentagram designer that um that redesigned the whole map system. Okay. Uh destination gratitude. So you have like a destination um symbol or you know, analogy with the subway, the lines and the maps, uh, the paths on the map. We talked about possibly again being able to relate that to websites and other other areas. Yep. A little dirty subways can be a little dirty, a little grit, you know. Uh, this was an interesting that uh the gratitude is in your face. Uh it's a different perspective on gratitude than what I was used to, right? That it's uh loud but not obnoxious. You liken it to the uh solo, a deaf leopard solo, which I'm big, I mean I'm a fan of deaf leopard, but pour some sugar on me. Yeah, it's just a different perspective on this, and it's not it really set the stage for this design, and that the design isn't this um, you know, uh I don't know, the lotus flower and the meditative gratitude.

SPEAKER_01 17:09

This is the flowery language, the piano music. What's that? Yes, exactly. Yeah, this could be, but I think the reality of most people in terms of what they get up and worry about is this grit, it's this survival, yeah, it's how to move forward when life does become tough.

SPEAKER_02 17:27

Yep. Yeah, 100%. It's a different, it's a just a different aspect, and I think that's what sets you apart too, is that just your just the angle of gratitude uh instead of that, you know, the peaceful normal us version. Uh path to gratitude, a conduit, your guide. So all of those things are paths moving, it just really helps to um drive home that that subway feel.

SPEAKER_01 17:55

Yep. Yes.

Logo Teaser And A Cliffhanger Close

SPEAKER_02 17:56

All right. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 17:57

Ready now to actually we're not talking pink and blue, folks.

SPEAKER_02 18:02

Um, yeah, so we have two versions. Okay. Uh, and again, the point of this isn't to just sell you on any one of these versions. The point of this is to show you these versions and then allow you to make changes and refine this and really to empower you to be a part of this process. So uh don't expect any one-hit wonders. We don't expect this to be a winner right out of the gate. We expect edits, maybe there's some combinations, usually a typical process. People would, our clients could take a color from one and a font from the other and kind of mix them up, or we can you know redefine. So, but anyway. Okay, that's it. All right, and without further ado, drum roll.

SPEAKER_01 18:40

Well, hold on. Oh, wait, stay tuned for the next episode for the reveal.

SPEAKER_02 18:44

Oh secret little cliffhanger.

SPEAKER_01 18:47

A cliffhanger it is, but let's let's get the teaser. All right.

SPEAKER_02 18:50

The teaser is all right. You ready? You're gonna open this up? Yes. All right, version one, let me uh along here.

SPEAKER_01 18:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 19:00

All right, there we go. Version one, based off of the very similar to the London Underground. Yes, but pulling your own style into it, right? Where we talked about even the you had a little why in your original, one of your original thoughts or concepts that to me I thought it felt like directional or it's kind of a is it a map? Is it a why? But it is the why of the Yoge Nation.

SPEAKER_00 19:26

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 19:27

Um, it's recognizable as it's related back to the London Underground logo, but it's different enough. Like the colors are swapped and they're totally different blues and reds, anyways. Like it's a warm red and a warm blue versus that royal and um, I don't know, sharp red. And then adding the yellow in there as a background to give it some depth.

SPEAKER_01 19:47

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 19:48

And more depth and not just in physical or uh visual depth, but more meaning depth in there too.

SPEAKER_01 19:55

Question will this um not be? I won't get my legal hand slap, will I, in terms of a cease and desist order?

SPEAKER_02 20:04

We are gonna we can run that past somehow, some other way. I think it's been, I think the underground has been utilized enough in terms of I don't want to say ripped off enough, but you know, appropriated enough that you know, a circle with a bar in it, yeah, shifted down, they're different colors, it's the opposite, okay, different fonts and things. But there are ways to make this even more different. If that was a concern, then we could make it more different, right?

SPEAKER_01 20:31

And stay tuned, folks. That's uh gonna be the next episode, Dr. Dre.

SPEAKER_02 20:37

Oh yeah?

SPEAKER_01 20:38

Yeah. Again, the extra G in Yog Nation stands for gratitude or gangsta. So that's just uh part of the OG. Yeah, the OG exactly. Yeah, well, yogi has a Y. OG. Right. Right. Yeah, yeah. Again, just to play on words, folks. But yes, thank you for tuning in. Um, again, I hope you have an understanding of what this podcast really represents, not from just my standpoint, but I think also hearing the opinions of both Melissa and Chris about what we're all trying to collectively do to raise the standards here in society. I think gratitude is one of those foundations. So thank you, citizens, for listening. Thank you so much for your comments, your support. It's so meaningful for me. I wish uh us a successful journey on this mission for us to ultimately become better versions of ourselves. Thank you.