In this Side Salad segment of The Salad Bowl Podcast, host Kevin Thompson takes a moment to remind us of something simple yet deeply powerful—we all have the right. But the right to what? That’s where the conversation gets interesting.

Through his signature blend of storytelling and reflection, Kevin challenges listeners to pause and think about the freedoms, choices, and ownership we sometimes overlook in our daily lives. It’s a quick episode with a big message—one that invites you to consider how you show up, what you stand on, and why it matters.

Whether you’re in the car, on a walk, or just looking for a spark of inspiration, this Side Salad serves as a bite-sized reminder that personal growth and authentic living start with claiming the rights that are already yours.

Tune in, lean in, and see what resonates.

In this episode of The Salad Bowl Podcast, I sit down with my friend, mentor, and former colleague Darius Griffin — a former Marine Corps Career Recruiter (8412) whose leadership and people skills set him apart. After years of service, Darius transitioned into the corporate world, where he now thrives with Verizon, applying his unmatched expertise in sales and marketing.

Our conversation takes us across many layers of life:

• The realities of Marine Corps recruiting duty and how it shaped his career
• The transferable skills that fuel his success in corporate America
• The joys and challenges of fatherhood
• His grounded, refreshing perspectives on life and how he gives back with his platform, Sports Told By Youth

Darius brings wisdom, humor, and authenticity to the mic. Whether you’re military, corporate, or just navigating your own journey — this is one episode you do not want to miss.

In this inspiring episode, Kevin sits down with Maria Rivera — a leader, mentor, and content creator known on TikTok as @boldincammies. Maria shares her powerful story of navigating life’s challenges and overcoming organizational obstacles in the Marine Corps.

From the recruiting office to the digital space, she’s mastered the art of leadership in multiple arenas — guiding Marines in uniform, mentoring others through social media, and using her platform to inspire resilience, purpose, and growth.

Listen in as Maria opens up about the lessons learned from her military career, how she channels her voice to empower others, and why authenticity is at the heart of her influence. Whether you’re in the military, a leader in your field, or simply looking for motivation, this episode delivers insight, energy, and a few truths you didn’t know you needed.

📲 Follow Maria on Instagram: @maaarrriiiaaavictoriaaa and TikTok: @boldincammies

🎧 Catch The Salad Bowl Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify

#TheSaladBowlPodcast #Leadership #Mentorship #MarineCorps #MilitaryLife #WomenInLeadership #OvercomingObstacles #Resilience

In this deeply reflective Side Salad segment, host Kev explores a powerful truth: “You saw the decision—but not the options.”

Through real-world lenses of leadership, parenthood, and social judgment, this episode challenges listeners to look beyond outcomes and consider the hidden pressures, impossible choices, and untold stories that shape people’s decisions.

Kev speaks directly to leaders making hard calls, parents navigating survival, and communities like post-Katrina New Orleans who’ve faced harsh judgment from those who never saw the full picture.

💡 Key takeaway: A simple explanation can heal a lifetime of misunderstanding—and silence often causes more damage than intention ever could.

Whether you’re in charge, looking back, or trying to understand someone else’s path—this episode calls us to lead with curiosity, not critique.

🎧 Listen in, reflect, and remember: Normalize authenticity. Ask the hard questions. Share the hard truths.

In this episode of The Salad Bowl Podcast, we sit down with Orlando Primo — a proud Guyanese community influencer making powerful waves in New Orleans. From the sports fields with @the18thward, where he serves as Program Manager and coach, to the healing, soul-shifting rhythms of his drum school @majekfingers, Orlando is a living testament to what it means to lead with intention, passion, and cultural pride.

We dive into his journey from Guyana to New Orleans, his love for youth mentorship, and how the drumbeat became both his sanctuary and his message. This episode is a celebration of identity, rhythm, and the impact one person can have by showing up authentically in every space they enter.

🎧 Tap in as we explore how Orlando adds depth, movement, and meaning to the salad bowl of life.

#thesaladbowlpodcast #normalizeauthenticity #guyana #neworleanssports #drumcircle #drums #feeltherhythm #neworleans #guyanesepride #communityleader #blackexcellence #youthmentorship #caribbeanculture #coachlife #nolabound #majekfingers

For some, this title proves to be an unequivocal truth. On this Side Salad segment, we dive into the perspective that may support or disprove this narrative.

Tune in as the host Kevin gives us an insight on the history, statistics and systems that surrounds this "truth".

Strap in for this one...

#TheSaladBowlPodcast #SideSalad

In Episode 11 of The Salad Bowl Podcast, I sit down with my brother in service and spirit — Joseph Pagart, a proud Louisianan whose love for the Saints, Pelicans, gumbo, and good people runs deep. But this conversation goes far beyond sports and hometown pride.

Joseph opens up about the highs of fandom and the heartbreaks of real life — from the courtside excitement of the NBA to navigating personal loss and the silent battles of depression. His story is raw, real, and a reminder that strength isn't just about staying tough… sometimes it's about staying open.

Whether you're here for the sports talk or the soul talk, this is one of those episodes you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Tap in, and take a ride through NOLA culture, emotional resilience, and the kind of vulnerability that can only come from someone who’s lived through it.

The Salad Bowl Podcast — where every story adds flavor.

🎙️ In this Side Salad segment, we dig into something that too often gets pushed off the plate—feelings. Why is it that the moment emotions enter a conversation, people start scrambling for "just the facts"? As if the way something feels isn’t personal, relevant, or real.

Host Kevin flips that tired logic on its head, making a compelling case for emotions as essential tools, not distractions. Feelings, he says, are data—pointing us toward understanding, connection, and truth. So why are they treated like a problem?

With sharp analogies and heartfelt reflection, this short episode challenges the gaslighting of emotional expression and calls out the discomfort many people have with emotional depth. Because in this bowl of life, feelings aren’t the garnish—they’re part of the main course.

Tune in and start normalizing authenticity—one feeling at a time. 🥗💬

#TheSaladBowlPodcast #SideSalad #EmotionalIntelligence #AuthenticityMatters #NormalizeFeelings #PodcastClip