Adult Talk: Catching Up With Digno

Zeke: One thing, is um I remember in 6th grade. During like um award ceremony. I jumped on the stage in the auditorium. I was like in the back. And as I’m walking then I started running. Then I was like you know what? I can make it. Then I landed on the stage. I didn’t, think about I really didn’t think about like, now like I don’t even think about. All I thought about was like jump on the stage and land. I didn’t think if I fall if I hurt myself, and it was just my brain was like a b.

[Music]

Zeke: I’d like to welcome everyone to another episode of the Let’s Gather Podcast. I’m your host Zeke. In this episode I have my friend Digno, to speak about teaching and growing up. I like to give a content warning for any strong language used in this episode. And I hope you have a nice day and enjoy the show. 

Zeke: Let’s record. Yeah. So what did they get for joining the podcast? Alright.

Digno Melo:Thanks, bro. Appreciate it. Glad to be here.

Zeke: Nice. Nice. So we like to start the episodes often is I like to ask you what would your origin story be, it can be a real or fake story. And then I like to ask how you like to represent that origin story.

Digno Melo:I guess a little bit about myself. So I guess a little bit about myself real quickly. I don’t know where to start. I mean, obviously, I guess To start off, I mean, to start with something random. I mean, I love math, a lot of people hate math. So, I mean, I always started from there. Love this, the numbers of crunching numbers. Just makes sense, right? Because even when you have like a conversation with someone, even what they say, it’s hard to interpret. But if the numbers are there, you know, it just makes more sense. So I always love the numbers. That’s why I decided to like become a math teacher for students. Because like, if kids that are early evening math, really despite, that’s what my career path led me to always love math ever since. And then now teaching So continuing that. So yeah, I mean, math, I think you’re not loving it. Like how can you not love math? Yeah, man,

Zeke: How would you represent it, like a a math problem somebody got to solve it and then tell your story?

Digno Melo:Well, I mean, well think about it, like, in order to be like, well as solving math overall, like you need from like, reading a branch or like being able to like really dissect something is like something you need to know in the real life overall anyways. So like, I think that’s why a lot of students hate math overall, because it’s not the math part. I think it’s more of like having two really long scenarios or whatever, for them. So I think to make it more engaging for them, I always try to make it stuff that they know about. Because if you’re reading a problem, and you know that meme about those watermelons, nobody goes to a store and buys honey Waterman. Like right, that’s not relatable. So I guess it’s making it more relatable as possible, because that’s when people are able to understand not only my problems, but even each other. So just trying to make it more relatable and accessible. For them pretty much.

Zeke: Be like, as the day goes on Stock X and buys the sneakers with this via investment, how much will real value increase? So over time.

Digno Melo:Yeah. And I mean, you you’ll be surprised with how many of them know it. As soon as you mentioned, like something that they do on a daily basis. Like, if you think about it, kids are on tik tok. 24/7, right? I’m on Tik Tok now, like, Tik Tok is like taking over a lot of things. But like, it helped me because that’s where I’m able to, like relate with them. I’m like, Alright, if you have 10 views today, and you know, it increases by 30% the next day, like how many views do you have in total? And like a kid instantly gets in like does the math but as soon as you switch it to like, Oh, Mr. Melo made this much I was God and then it wasn’t 10% increase their head, they’re out the window, and they’re like, do I even do right? So I guess always finding that relatable midpoint. To make, you know, both parties easier when it comes to like discussion, talking. Whatever the case may be.

Zeke: Nice, nice. That’s one thing we both share. We both love math. Me I retired from math high school. I had got one jersey retired. Yeah. Me and math say something like the first mistake the first day I got into they understood this. And they were like a positive reinforcement. Like I’m good at some like they’re doing more what that means for math.

Digno Melo:Yeah. I think that’s what helps a lot. Like, if you think about, like, if you tell someone like, oh, you’re really good at this, and like you keep telling them that, even though they may not be good at it, like, eventually, they’re like, Yo, I’m the best at this, like, no one’s better than me. And no one’s ever going to be better than me. Like, you start to believe it so much, that at the end of the day, no one can take you out of that mindset. So it was like, that’s what people can tell themselves. Like, I’m good at this, I’m good at this. I’m good at this and just keep going for it. Because the more you tell yourself, then the more able to push forward. And again, it’s not a lie. You’re not lying to yourself. You’re just trying to trick your mind, right? It’s not a lie this trick, right, trying to trick your mind to help you push forward. Because at the end of the day, as soon as you say it out loud, or like, say like, Oh, I give up. You don’t do it. You stop. That’s it, you stop doing it. And then you’re like, Oh, I’m not a booth anymore, because you know, I’m bad at it. So you have to just do the opposite. That way, you get better results for what you want.

Zeke: To do understand English as my worst subject. I’m gonna say No, what? I could be halfway decent at this at best. I’ll need to be the most eloquent writer, I just need to be able to communicate. Yeah, the only?

Digno Melo:Yeah, thank you. I mean, let’s be honest, like in English. We learn all these fancy words, we read all these fancy words like, yeah, it’s gonna help us with like being able to communicate and all that other good stuff in our job. But at the end of the day, how much are we using those words that we’re learning? Right? We may hear here and there and be like, Oh, yeah, I know what that means. Bahamas, we actually use it. Right? We’re different. Anywhere you go, you’re going to use math. Like, there is no way to avoid it at all. So yeah, like English cool, obviously, talk sophisticated, and all of that, like, awesome. But like, Can you really cut down the numbers and like, figure out, like, for example, I was at Staples, I was buying supplies for students. And there was a thing that said after 12 notebooks, right, the rest are 50% off each. I’m already doing the math in my head to figure out how much I got to spend. Right, and then like, the cashier, she’s barking boom, whatever, she don’t have things she’s dying. And then she had to do about 20 notebooks in total. So you know, after 12, the rest 50% off. And like, she did the math, and she got it completely wrong. And I’m just looking at her like a frog. And like, she just started like talking like, sophisticated. I’m like, I’m not trying to come at you. And I’m not trying to say any pendants. effectful I’m just trying to let you know that the calculator just did was incorrect. And here’s why. And then like she did it on a calculator. And like, she was like, Yeah, but look, I’m like, yeah, it’s gonna give you because you’re punching it in wrong, you see is not. Right. So like, this is her job. Right? So it’s like, she’s going to talk to me how sophisticated she wanted to. But at the end of the day, if the math is wrong, the math is wrong. So the numbers are going to tell the whole story.

Zeke: Math isn’t everything you do with how things are built, how things operate, how you operate. Everything is a calculation.

Digno Melo:Yeah, it’s crazy. how some people really don’t see like the little moving pieces of everything. And, and how every little detail, like with math goes with it. It’s just like, like, like, if you mess one thing up, like the rest is going to trickle down and like spiral. So that’s me, that’s personally why I love math and like, why makes sense to me and I why I try to like, you know, spattered it all over to let people know about it. But you know, it’s always going every as always, everything’s gonna have its pros and cons. Like this. Like I can’t do too much.

Zeke: So like, I was, I didn’t really know you were a teacher. He kind of like um you kind of like walked away into it like, with different experiences? How would that like journey?

Digno Melo:Yeah, I mean, so I teach in the Bronx, which I love. I’m excited about that. Coming up till the end of my second year. And I mean, you see a lot of things, right? This whole thing about opportunity guy, achievement guy, you know, some people think it’s not real or some, some people don’t really understand how really far away are these guys. But when you’re in the classroom, and like, you have 30 students that are having difficulty multiplying double digit numbers, something that you and I probably do every single day, you start to wonder, like, what is causing this to happen, and my first instinct was teachers in the classroom, for the simple fact that it’s not that they don’t know it away, but it’s not that they can’t do it, it’s just that someone has not been there to teach them it correctly. Right? Because if I see someone that talks like me, looks like me, or at least understands the way I think they’re able to teach me better. It’s just the way it is, like, even when you’re at work, and I, there’s a co worker that, you know, you’re bumping heads, like I don’t really understand each other, is because there’s some barrier there. Right, but, but you have another co worker that your man cool, where for some weird reason. But the actual reason that you’re cool with them is because you understand each other and you’re able to relate, you know, which goes back to what we were talking in the beginning that relatable is, hey, for able to relate, we’re able to have a very fluid and an easier way of communicating. So I think what I came in my experience and didn’t go into the whole prints are coming from, I didn’t want to go in there and teach. because anybody can do that. I want to go in there and basically like, change either one student to students, wherever they are, that’s what I that’s what I’m doing. Like I have their, their lives in my hand. Basically, that’s a lot of carry. So it’s like, I can make it the best, or I could make it the worst. So like, I have a lot to balance. And I have to keep that in mind every day, I’m stepping into the building, and not forced my ideologies on them, but let them think for themselves and come to that conclusion. Because they’re not walking in as a blank slate. Like, they know a lot of stuff probably way more than you and I. And we’ll both be surprised. Because it’s funny because my students thought I was like 40 something. And in my head I’m like, What all because I came in with a suit and tie the first day I come on everyone, like, look at this baby face. Like You got to be kidding me.

Zeke: Like I’m least 30 say that.

Digno Melo:Yeah, but that’s pretty much what I came in my experiences were just like, I need to really think about what I say how I say it, and what I do in front of these students. Because they’re looking at me, because again, they’re seeing someone that looked like them talk like them in front of them. So the way I represent myself there, they’re going to take you something, you know, more to their hearts than if another teacher were to do a certain action. So no, although in the back of my mind, pretty much every day stepping into the building.

Zeke: I feel like that role model that they might not have at home or in their neighborhood is over like that person who they can see like, okay, cool, this is something I can do. Okay, this and this it’s not exactly but in that area.

Digno Melo:Yeah. And, and it’s like again, like this place may be the only place like they see enjoyment or like have friends to talk with. Because we don’t know the situation at home and to get to know the students. And that’s really rough when you have a student that’s like bouncing from like different homes, and then they’re having a bad experience at school. So now they’re starting to think like do I even belong anywhere. So I got that responsibility becoming a teacher. Not everyone can do it. I if I personally see like people are not for like, I let them I let them I let them know, like, like, have you considered this, like, you’re really you really have a big role to play in the students like life like, you know, be careful what you tell them what you say. So I was like, I always have to be that saver, quote unquote, because I, um, that, you know, men of color in the classroom, and I have to educate these other teachers about it. It’s ridiculous for me, like, Why do I have to do that? No need for that I, you, you should know, what you’re stepping yourself into, especially in the rock, like, you should know the population ready at this point?

Zeke: What everything, experience very best. So other news how is life in general?

Digno Melo:I think good, man. I mean, during quarantine, not much you can do besides like exercise and self improvement. And read a lot of books, I guess, watch shows. I mean, personally, for me, what I’ve been mostly doing is just trying to get ahead as much as possible. Right? Finding that stuff balance, too, because I think a lot of people are having that difficulty. Right? Where does it meet the point where I just want to to for the hour, or do I have to do from the for work in this hour. So just trying to find that balance, while just also keeping in mind my self care. Because I’m not trying to drain myself at all. So I felt like been in general just trying to find that balance, which is hard to do. And just trying to keep myself occupied as much while still being informed. I feel like what’s happening on the news and all of that, which is like crazy, because every day there’s like something new happening, a new press conference. And sometimes it does be a lot.

Zeke: Take those days of for yourself. I ain’t going to do much this is this.

Digno Melo:Oh, yeah, definitely, I definitely try and take those days off. Like we need them like I, I’m not a machine, I can’t wait to seven days a week. My God need those days off. And, and that’s what people need to understand like, having a day off doesn’t mean that you just backtrack yourself. Having a day off means you just rejuvenated and now you’re ready to move forward even 10 times harder than what you were doing last week. So just be mindful of that, that even if your children looked like was eating ice cream and watching Netflix all day, like go for it. That’s what you do. Or if you’re chill days, just like, Yo, I’m going to run for like these two hours, come back, eat and then take a nap and then do the same thing over again. Fine, do it. Right, it’s whatever works for you on those two days, because it’s your two day. Like there’s no such thing as a proper today. Like, bad. Fatty trying to normalize something, when it’s not even close.

Zeke: Over here is building up an empire brick by brick. Somebody’s got to do it.

Digno Melo:Yeah, that’s true. That’s true. I mean, you know, if no one does it, then like, are we just going to be there waiting all day? Right. So like that, like someone has to build that Empire, someone has to make that first step. Which, you know, it can be scary, because some people are looking at you like, hey, are you gonna make that first step or do I have to do it like, and then there’s like that just that look you give each other like but I mean, it can’t be done alone. That first step it could be done in groups. But definitely taking that first step to whatever you want down the road at the end of the day. Yeah.

Zeke: 2020 2021 my fault tired but like. I suppose. So. Everything currently, what do you do? What do you do for fun?

Digno Melo:What I do for fun. No one has asked me that question a long time and it’s so funny. Yeah, I don’t know anymore. To be honest with you, I don’t know anymore. I feel like everything I do has a purpose as not fun. Which is crazy. But I guess the last time I do something for fun, I guess exercise nowadays. That’s what I’m doing for fun. I’m trying to get back into like self-improvement reading. I did start that at like the end of college. And I’ve totally slacked off. But yeah, I think those would be like, my two things. Have fun. That doesn’t involve me, like, beating my brain up or having a big purpose for it. I do it because I want to. So yeah, bam, I haven’t given it much thought to be honest.

Zeke: After your causes, like, hobbies, again, everything, I love all my hobbies. And I get back into playing video games again.

Digno Melo:Yeah, because as you know, like, I used to play basketball I used to go out have fun and all of that. And it’s like, I don’t want to blame quarantine. But that’s also backtrack from that. But also like to work and everything overall has backtrack to like, that’s why I need to find that middle point. Because I need to be back to who I was. Right, not left will not let works and trolled me, but like, me control my own life. And that’s been really hard. As you can see that I can’t even answer what do I like to do for fun type of question. Which is ridiculous. But But hopefully they were people that are listening, like really understand, like, how deep that is that? You know, a simple question like that, that. If you were to ask me this two years ago, or a year ago, I would have told you like, yeah, I play basketball, play video games, I like to run I do all that. Now it’s like, I don’t know, what do I like to do for fun? Good question. Like, it’s really crazy, how far like things have gone. And like how fast we grow who, which is crazy. Because I feel like it was just yesterday, we were in college, trying to figure out what we wanted to do overall, like, now over here grown up, you got a podcast, and like everyone’s doing their own thing. Like, that’s, that’s a big right there.

Zeke: Yeah, I keep thinking like, I used to be young. I’m still young, I used to be younger. And the way I used to be different. And to have more time I was happier.

Digno Melo:Yeah, that’s so crazy. Because I do feel like we have more time. I do feel like we have more time, which is crazy. Like, I felt like our days will last forever. Like we will be in class and will be like, is ever going to end? Or like, we’ll finish all our work? And like, we’ll have more hours. And we’ll be like, what do I What do I do now? What do I do now? Now, it’s much different, as you probably know, like you’re editing videos, you’re like doing all this agenda stuff? Like, what are the hours? Like I thought I just took an hour doing this but actually took three hours. And like time just those trickling down is, and this is crazy how tangent doesn’t mean anything to us, in this society or in this generation? Because we’re so easy to like, add things to our agenda or just wasted by doing these new you know, a meaningful things in life. Sort of like have we really valued time this whole time. Have

Zeke: Like they say when you’re younger, enjoy, enjoy your youth while it last, and you don’t understand why. And the oldest your business shorter. Retired gives you less free time. There’s like, more pressure that oh, now, I understand why.

Digno Melo:Yeah. And I think it kind of has to do with like, you know, you want to do all of this fast or all at once. So at the end of the day, when you’re going to retire or like, if you just want to stop working right? You want to have it all done. Right when we’re young the The first thing you’re thinking about when you’re young is I want to be older. You could ask any young person in the world and they’ll say I want to be older guys, any older person, they’ll be like I want to be younger. So it’s like do, is there ever a choice of perfect enough for us Whether that for a lifestyle is going to fit us properly, because we’re never satisfied with what we got, or what is going to happen, we never are. Right? We never are right, now we can hit the jackpot and win a million dollars. And we’ll still be like, why didn’t I get $2 million? It is ridiculous because I know you just won something, or you did something amazing, but just enough outside and you want something else. And that and that’s the same thing with time. Like, we, we did a lot, and I were drained, our brains are drained. But in the back of our minds, we’re still like, I still want to do more, because I still like want to get this all over. Like, chill. You just did this. You almost killed yourself doing? Like, slow down. And I just think we’re just not used to slowing down here. We’re just not like, if you see somebody moving slow. Your first thing is like, you need to hurry up, or you need to speed up. So like we’re just not used to it at all. Which is funny, because when we get older, we want to slow down. So yeah. 

Zeke: And also watching or reading and that is because you noticed last thing as you get older because you that you usually already made like the mental mapping ahead, okay, but the tables are to my last, like a classroom tomorrow, right? So you don’t have to like, notice that you just get all operate constantly around it.

Digno Melo:Yeah, that’s true will become habit, right? We start building habits, that we don’t even think about it. And it becomes natural to us. But if you really think about it, like, we all have some type of habit that we do, and we don’t even notice. But other people notice it. Like, for example, I have this habit from time that I just randomly bite my nails. I randomly do it. Right? It’s not because I’m nervous is not because like I’m anxious. I just randomly do it. And it’s something that sometimes I don’t even feel like I’m doing and then someone who looks at me be like, bro, what are you doing? And you’re like, Oh, I don’t even notice it. Because we’re like thinking about 1000 things at the same time. But we’re our bodies are doing something else. And that’s how I’ve always been fascinated with like the brain. I was watching like a video the other day that was saying that, you know, we have a conscious mind. And we have an unconscious mind. And the first seven years of our life. information gets stored in our unconscious mind. And this is where we do certain habits, that we don’t even think about what has happened. And I’m like, they tell me my first seven years where I really defined Why would you crazy, because we’ve always been told, oh, you’re really good. define who you are, you know, after you become a teen or grow up. So I’m here now thinking like, everything I’ve done before, before I was seven is really who I really am right now. And like when I have the conversations with like my mom or whatever, and she tells me like, Oh, yeah, you used to do that when you’re little. And you’re like, I used to do this when I was little like, what? When you start thinking about it, you’re like, hmm, that makes sense. Right? Because when we’re little we don’t really think about things we do do them without feeling embarrassed or thinking about time. But when we’re older, right, we don’t do certain actions because we don’t want others to think that we’re different or whatever. Or we have so much other things to do. And it was interesting, like how our brain works and just how things fall into place so easily.

Zeke: Yeah, two things in one thing, is um I remember in 6th grade. During like um award ceremony. I jumped on the stage in the auditorium. I was like in the back. And as I’m walking then I started running. Then I was like you know what? I can make it. Then I landed on the stage. I didn’t, think about I really didn’t think about like, now like I don’t even think about. All I thought about was like jump on the stage and land. I didn’t think if I fall if I hurt myself, and it was just my brain was like a b.

Digno Melo:Boom, that’s all we think about a and b. We don’t care how we don’t care how we get there. It just you know, I need to get from point B, some way somehow I’m going to get to point B even if I have to kill myself doing it. That’s literally what we think about. And it’s funny because if we were to plan it out our brains will be like, yo, that’s a lot of work. Like, I don’t feel like doing that, like, I don’t even want to get to a point B anymore. Like I’m satisfied. We’re just getting halfway through. But as soon as we just do it just to do it, we’re like, oh, wow, that was pretty quick are pretty easy. That’s crazy. Huh? So I mean, so like, does it make sense that? Should we think about things before we do them? Or should we not? Because it’s all vary.

Zeke: I think it’s like a mix up a mixture of both. But you need to need that attitude, just do it. Because you need to get it done. We also need a planet. Because, like just the case, like worst case scenario, you get easily pivot if you please have a plan of okay, all this happened. It may not work, we still have like a recent pivot to a new bike they’re planning to like, see what you’re doing, which you need that just do attitude to at least get it done. So it was like the beginning of like a planning an article?

Digno Melo:Yeah, totally makes sense, right? That way, in case it doesn’t go, right? You know, you can go back to the plenary adjustment. But then now we have to think about, like, how many people really take the time for planning? How many people really take the time to go back and readjust. Because again, as we were talking about, like, as soon as it doesn’t work out for someone, the first thing they say is like, Yeah, I just can’t do it. I just can’t. But if you have that don’t do it. attitude. Then you’re like, No, I’m gonna do this, like, forget all of you, I’m gonna do this. I really am. So like, you do the real mixture of both. And some works, some doesn’t work in some situations. But having a mixture of both, I think will help you. with whatever situation comes to mind. Pretty much.

Zeke: Yeah. Because I was gonna say that now. I’m like, I’m old. I’m way more a lot more than wasn’t child, like, even more than when you start. Now those factors come in to play um at 11 I was like, I could do this.

Digno Melo:Yeah, we will. I mean, we make excuses for everything. And I think that’s also like, hurts us the most. Like, if you think about it, you know, if somebody were to hit me up right now and be like, yo, Melo, like, let’s go out and do this. I’m already thinking about three excuses that I can say that I don’t that I don’t want to. So I won’t have to do it. And think about it. Like, in the past week, we’ve all have done that, at least one, set an excuse to not have to do something. And it’s like, why do we do that? Like, why do we need to be better at that we can have the open time, when we could be free make you literally do nothing. Now, I don’t feel like I gotta do something with my mom. Or you, I gotta help all my neighbors, something you tell that person or whoever the whoever it is, just so you don’t have to do it. And it’s like, why? Like, why do we do it? Like, is it really that we’re valuing our time? Or is it because like, we’re so selfish, that we just want to? Not, you know, not please anyone else or do not do anything that has to do with someone else?

Zeke: The brain is where they operate.

Digno Melo:Yeah. I mean, it depends what type of person you are at the end of the day as well, too. Like, it depends who you are. Again, like, we were saying, like, if you’re that go getter, like you’d be like, yeah, sure, like, let’s go do that. Let’s do quick. If you’re not one of those type of person, like, you’re you’re going to find that excuse at the end of the day.

Zeke: And to jump back through like a memory day, because I remember my first year of college pretty easy. When we see the second third or fourth it starts to get fuzzy, and those of more recent then the first year.

Digno Melo:Yeah, yeah, that, that that second, third and fourth year of college is where it’s like, people really start thinking like, do I really want to stay in college? And it’s and it’s due to the fact that it’s like, this is where you have to decide what do you want to do? Right, you have to pick a career path at this point. Because you need to make credits or whatever the case may be. So for me, it was always like, I needed to find some type of enjoyment while doing all this hardship, thinking. And either it’d be like hanging out with friends playing basketball, or whatever the case may be. Because if I just dedicate myself to like just college, college college, like, it could get the best of me. And I wouldn’t want to do it at all. So like finding that balance. So that’s second and third year is crucial. Because Can you really decide what you want to do? Or, you know, if college even like for you some time, is it just too much going on that you just really can’t like figure it out? Or is it just you do not have the like, best support system during these years? Because it’s the pivot point, right, you have to decide on a major, you have to pick which classes you want to make on your own, like, so many things are being thrown out to the you like, yo, like, relax, right? So I have a life outside of this place. But it really gets the best from people that they’re like, I’m just, I’m good, I’m just not gonna do it. I’m just not going to do it. I’ll come back later down the road, and do with and that’s why you have like 40-year-olds, 30 25-year-olds, like doing college later, because of that simplified, like, they haven’t gotten their like life together, or whatever the case may be, to really find the balance and and go through college at a reasonable rate. At that time.

Zeke: We all see.

Digno Melo:Yeah. So I mean, and I’m not trying to say like, you have to stay in college, and like finish in four years, I definitely not right, take your time with it, because it’s your experience. But as soon as you get out of there, you’re on your own kind of is crazy, because you can have the best support system in college, or whatever the case may be. But it’s a whole different world when you get out of there. Right? We both we both know that. And that’s why I take your time with college. And I do what you have to do and make it an experience that you have. Because you can’t take those those years back. So just be mindful of that as well.

Zeke: Because I feel like I miss college like no, I miss my friends, don’t miss college.

Digno Melo:Yeah, negative. Yeah, like I mean, if you think about your social life, now your social life in college, completely everyone, right? I imagine like, you know, like, you and I both, you know, social butterflies will talk to everyone will know, everyone, like, now it’s a little bit different I, we don’t really talk to who we used to talk to in college. And, you know, because everyone went their own ways, or everyone started growing up and started saying like, you know, these are not my true friends. So, so many reasons for that to happen. But that’s why like many people, when they get out of college, they lose connection, or they become a different person. Because, you know, we adapt to our environment, right? That’s who we are as we adapt to our environment. So, right, as soon as I step inside the classroom, I’m different than who I am outside of the classroom, because of the environment. Right, and the way you on the podcast is obviously different than who you are outside, because that’s just the way everything is. Right. So now we have to think about, okay, we could have that, but as to what we’re adapting to it, who we truly are. Right? And adapting and co switching are two different things. Right? So just letting people keep that in mind. But as we, as we adapt, are we being not true to ourselves? And in college, a lot of people are not true to themselves, because they’re trying to find that niche, that group of people that they’re cool with. But it’s like, why do you have to change in order to find that group? Right? That’s why when we become older, is much harder to find the group because when we’re older, we’re like, I’m gonna be who I am. No one’s gonna take that away from me. So I don’t care who am I job, things differently. That’s how we think but in college, it was so much different is like, yo, look at all these people like having fun, like, they, you know, they act a certain way like I want to act that way. Right? That’s not a bad thing. That’s not being true to who you are. And that’s just pretty much code switching, in my opinion. So it is really two different things that goes into that extra life. Why? in college and outside of college? Not because we want it to be different is because sadly, they have to be different. Unfortunate, unfortunately.

Zeke: I used to have like 500 conversations a day, a week. Now I speak with 10 people constantly, like this is a different experience.

Digno Melo:Yeah, yeah, I mean, I’m totally which you might. And if you think about it, those 10 people that you speak to, like, they either know you in a personal role, like they know who you truly are. And those 500 people that you used to talk to, they just knew you, above the surface, right? They just know who you how you look like probably what you probably define, but they didn’t really get to know you on a more personal level. And that’s why you lose those connections. And some people take it, you know, very, very hard. Like, wow, like, I’ve used to have so many people that you still talk to now only, like 10 but now they were like okay, I got 10 but I have no the realest 10 these are my realest 10 people that I know, or whatever the case may be. Which is the way we should think. But we don’t, because an actual switch topics, but like social media, and everything has caused us to think something else about this whole, like, the more followers or the more likes that you got, like you’re popular, no.

Zeke: What about the impact? When you meet people?

Digno Melo:That’s a good question that impact? Yes, I do agree like the more people that you know, follow, you know, you have a greater impact. But then, now you have to think about, okay, you’re impacting that bad individual, right. But does it get passed along? Right, does it really get passed along? Because I can impact 1000 individuals, but it can stay within those 1000 individuals. But now, if I impact two or three, and then they’re impacting those other two or three, and then those other two or three are impacting more and more, or more than my impact is stronger than the person that did 1000. And you have a point about the impact, but then he gets to the point that how is the impact being spread, right? And that’s why I think mentorship is really key. Because if you mentor somewhere, or you have a great impact in them, then they’re gonna want to do the same for someone else. So on and so forth. So, yes, you can have those 1000 followers and like, make all the impact. But you have to think about is it being passed along? It is something that can be passed along anyway. Right? Because then if you are able to pass that along on and the trend continues, then that’s where the impact becomes greater.

Zeke: Yeah, because um my favorite YouTubers. He was talking about how he didn’t have most followers or or has about 60,000 on YouTube, but when he does, (inaudible) podcast, the rule that a lot of people get down on his code to download. So he has a greater impact than those with big numbers he does because of his influence.

Digno Melo:Yeah, that makes that makes total sense. And then I think we’ll probably have to like YouTube. Yeah. I mean, it depends what platform they use and know whatever the case may be. I’m I’m not too knowledgeable and back. But yeah, if you’re able to impact more people in a certain platform or or cause that impact to trickle down, I think it’s more meaningful than impacting like upset every like the same individuals every day and age is staying at that rate. then that becomes questionable as to like, is what I’m doing really meaningful because You know, if you think about if you’re a podcast, right, you’re creating a podcast. And like, it has probably caused somebody else to create one because they’re like, yo, Ezekiel just did one. And like, he’s boom, and he got over 1000 downloads and like, he keeps flourishing like, I like that. Right? Boom, now you’ve got someone else that did a podcast and like, wants to do similar content, or like boost, or like half of the similar in their book. Right? That’s, that’s big right there. Right? It’s not like someone that, you know, here’s your podcast, you’re like, okay, we have a podcast, that’s cool. Right, you had an impact on them. But is that impact gonna be spread to someone else? You see what I’m trying, you see what I’m trying to say like, that’s where like, the bigger impact come.

Zeke: To pay the forward.

Digno Melo:Yeah, that paying it forward piece like that, that’s the key for everything like, like, is just paying it forward. And I know, like we’ve talked about so many topics, this like, small little bit of time. But if I think if someone has to just take something out of this, I think is paying it forward part, like you need to pay for because at the end of the day, we don’t know how we’re going to look like how the world is going to be or you know, what’s going to happen with us. So, we have to be very conscious of how we pay it forward, and you know, being available for those who need us for whatever situation, because, you know, we don’t know when we’re going to, we are going to need a helping hand from them, or vice versa. So just paying it forward, and just continuing to empower those people that empowered you. And pushing that forward to the next generation account. So again, if anybody can take one piece from this, that paying it forward piece, it will be it. 

Zeke: We do like an hour. So going back to like 10 people I always wonder why the TV shows. Like you say the husband or the family only has like he’s the father. And then you just tell why as I guess, like proximity distance to see around the area. And I guess it doesn’t people who were the (inaudible) convention with long ago for small group of four people together.

Digno Melo:That is interesting. Having him in them was thoughts. I do know what to say. And I haven’t given a that much power just.

Zeke: Like a Simpsons is Homer, the black guy, and the other guy, then Family Guy, it Peter, Greg Meyer, Cleveland. And all the guy in the wheelchair got his name.

Digno Melo:Yeah, but I really haven’t given them that much thought to it, you know, because he like, those little things I have. We don’t pay attention to those little things. I know I have a little thing. And now that you bring it up, like it’s having me things, and like having me to watch those shows and be like, wow, like, why is it like this? Why is this specific matter? revenue like content, right to see like what people like to see. Yeah, I mean, that’s tricky is a tricky piece. To really get to, I’ll have to give that a lot of thought to be honest with you.

Zeke: Watching tv like a lot of tropes is repeated is the family. The husband, the wife, and the wife has a friend who single either the sister or like a neighbor. And then we go to the same same translator, okay. But they episode like trapped in the closet episode.

Digno Melo:Yeah, it’s like so cliche, like I think so, like, predictable. And I think that’s because, like what we want to see, because I think if it was something else, like, it wouldn’t have that many audience members watching it. But it also like the typical household if you think about it, too, right, just as you were mentioning, the husband, the wife and not a single friend, whatever the case may be. It’s like that typical type of lifestyle. But I think we feed off of that we want like yeah, I want that. Like you know, my, my wife. You know my kids and you know, the neighbor honestly, the neighbor that looks okay. You know, we see For that little typical lifestyle, we like put ourselves in that situation. Like, if I was like Peter and I was cracking those deals or making those funny situations, like, I know, like, my neighbors will love me because I’m just that funny guy. And same thing with like Omar like his work to like, the people that he works with, like his lifestyle as well, like what bar or whatever the case may be. Like, we feed off of that, because then we started making like, little imaginations in our head, like, Oh, my lifestyle was like that. Like, I wouldn’t have been this different. Or I know, like, this would have been much easier for me. Bah, bah, bah, like, we just start creating, like little images in our head. And I think that just we just feed off of it. Why don’t we see?

Zeke: Yeah, that formula that YV, kind of circular formula that they have to like.

Digno Melo:Yeah, they, I mean, I might, you may collect a lot of data about like human behavior, and like, our thoughts and all of that. Which makes sense, like, like, you don’t know who’s going to who’s going to see your show. So you need to know, like, what the other person on the other side of things. Which is pretty hard to do overall. Because, you know, we think depending on how our day is going, or whatever the case may be. So I mean, I imagine the amount of work that goes into that. Overall, trying to figure out what people think and how we think, and why we think, you know, endless amount of mysteries down that road.

Zeke: Yeah. There’s a good conversation. We’re passing into our Yeah. So the final question is voting. I mean, what would you name your origin story?

Digno Melo:What would I need? Yeah. What I name my my story. Yeah. Question. What I mean, my story. If I had made my story, a day in the life of a Bronx kid, I wouldn’t say typical Bronx kid. I want to say Ben’s day in the life of a Bronx kid. Because there’s no typical lifestyle. Day in the Life. I think that’s how we name my story. Yeah, I think that pretty much sums it up a little bit.

Zeke: Thank you for coming on. You’re welcome.

Digno Melo:Thanks, bro. Thank you for having me. 

Zeke: It was a pleasure to catch up forever.

Digno Melo:Yeah, it’s been a long time. A long time that we tap really long. So good having this conversation, especially on this platform and and I wish you the best of luck. I mean, everything go see the progress. So keep pushing man.

Zeke: Keep inspiring youth to make better versions of us.

Digno Melo:(inaudible)

Zeke: Yeah. Super spy.

Digno Melo:Like, what would I say to you?

Zeke: Like keep aspiring the youth

Digno Melo:Oh, thanks. Hey. Yeah, yeah, keep this find the youth. Yeah, and I mean, I got to man I, somebody needs to do it right. And how we talked about somebody needs to do it as well. I gotta keep going. Can ‘t stop now? I gotta, we got a lot of work to do. Right? We as in everyone.

Zeke: That brings another episode of the Let’s Gather Podcast to a close. Again, I thank my friend Digno for joining the podcast. For next week I have my friend Jean to speak about his story. I hope you continue to have a nice day and hope to see you there.

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