Beautifully Unfocused
This episode moves differently.
Mike Baker walks through his new album Beautifully Unfocused one song at a time, using music to explain what living with ADHD actually feels like from the inside. Not a release announcement. Not a lesson. Context.
You’ll hear where each song came from. The overload. The hyperfocus. The crashes. The caffeine. The guilt of disappearing. The pride of building something anyway. The quiet moments no one sees. The tools that help. The parts that still don’t.
Some songs swear. Some moments hit hard. Some will feel uncomfortably familiar.
This episode is for people who live inside loud, fast minds. For partners, family, and coworkers who want to understand better. For creatives who struggle with focus but carry depth. For anyone tired of being told to “try harder.”
Headphones help. Let it run all the way through.
Beautifully unfocused. If you stayed this long, you get it.
🎧 Still Here, Still Trying
Episode 29: Christmas, Still Here (A Short Reset for the Week Before Christmas)
The week before Christmas hits hard for a lot of people. The calendar fills up, patience gets thin, and emotions show up in ways that don’t always make sense until you’re in it.
In this short episode of Still Here, Still Trying, Mike Baker slows things down and gives you a grounded reset for the days leading into Christmas. No interview. No hype. No pretending. You get a real conversation about how to move through this week with clarity, steadiness, and a little more room to breathe.
You’ll hear Mike talk about:
Why the week before Christmas feels so intense, even when nothing “big” is happening
Family dynamics, pressure, and the emotional weight people carry into the holiday
How leadership and responsibility follow you home, especially this time of year
Simple ways to protect your energy, stay calm, and avoid unnecessary friction
What showing up looks like when you feel stretched thin
This episode is for you if you’re dealing with holiday stress, end-of-year burnout, anxiety heading into Christmas, or the quiet pressure to make everything feel perfect for everyone else. It’s also for you if you want a Christmas week podcast that feels honest, human, and actually useful.
The episode closes with “O Holy Night” as the outro song, giving you a quiet place to land before the holiday arrives.
If Christmas feels joyful, complicated, heavy, or all of the above, press play. You’re not alone.
Outro song: O Holy Night
Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying
Host: Mike Baker
Episode Title: A Goalie’s Letter to Santa
Beer league goalies live in a different headspace. Warmups start and you’re already in your head. One screen you can’t see through, one weird bounce, one soft goal, and you’re doing therapy in real time behind a mask.
In this holiday episode, Mike sits down with Tom Buck for a goalie-to-goalie conversation that turns into something bigger.
Tom is a longtime audio and video creator and a former high school Digital Media teacher who’s built a welcoming community around cameras, mics, streaming, and podcasting. He’s also the kind of guy who brings calm, humor, and perspective to everything, including the chaos of the crease.
Mike met Tom at Weekend Warriors Hockey Camp this summer, and the goalie chemistry was instant. This episode is framed as a “goalie wish list,” but it’s really about how beer league becomes family and why the position teaches you more about life than you expect.
You’ll hear us talk about:
Screens, blocked shots, and deflections that make zero sense
Goalie interference and the realities of beer league officiating
Power plays, puck handling panic, and why “time, time, time” matters
Why a good bench changes how you play
The adult side of hockey, connection, and the people you meet along the way
Tom Buck: www.himynameistom.com
Weekend Warriors Hockey Camps: weekendwarriorshockey.com
Beer League Players Association: blpa.com
Let Something Be Easy Today
This episode lands right before Christmas, right in the middle of a packed calendar, a messy sleep schedule, and two big nights at The Art Spirit Gallery for No Permission Needed.
Mike talks about:
Heading into Friday night ArtWalk and a community night with friends, endo warriors, coworkers, and neighbors
What “rest” has actually looked like lately: couch crashes, midnight studio sessions, emails with Anne in the Philippines, late-night guitar, and early meetings
Why so many of us only rest when we are wrecked
How small joys and gentle pauses keep us human in the middle of loud opinions and heavy work
You will hear a simple challenge: pick one thing in your life and let it be easy on purpose.
At the end, Mike sends you out with his song “Everyday Magic,” written for Kellie and for anyone carrying quiet strength through ordinary days.
Joy Looks Good on You – Holiday Special
This episode sits inside real December, not the postcard version. I walk through the stories behind my Christmas albums, from Starlight and Silent Nights to the new projects Still Snowing Somewhere, That Christmas Feeling Again, and Lights in the Window.
We talk about:
Writing “letters to the North Pole” as a kid and what that looks like now as an adult
Snowy nights when the world finally quiets down
Fireplaces and small rooms that help your shoulders drop
The Coeur d’Alene Christmas parade with Jake, “Silent Night,” and the lights flipping on over the lake
My mom’s kitchen, packed with cookies, fudge, caramels, and enchiladas, and how those smells still feel like home
I share how I am still learning basic guitar while using AI tools like Suno to build choirs and full arrangements around very human, very personal stories. The tech helps me build the sound. The memories, grief, and joy are real.
You will hear the heart behind songs like:
“Joy Looks Good on You,” “Letter to the North Pole,” “Snow Falls Quiet,” “When the Fireplace Glows,” “Home for the Christmas Parade,” “Back Home for Christmas,” and “Smelled Like Home.”
If your holidays feel complicated, this one is for you. If they feel steady and warm, this gives you space to be grateful for that too. I close the episode by sending you out with “Joy Looks Good on You” and a reminder:
You made it to another December.
Joy looks good on you. More than you know.
God Complex: Narcissism in Life and Leadership
This episode kicks off a new five-part series on personality patterns we face at home, at work, and inside every messy human system. We start with one of the most confusing and emotionally draining patterns out there: narcissistic behavior.
I walk through what this pattern looks like, why it forms, how it shows up in leadership, and how it impacts personal relationships. We talk about shame, manipulation, accountability, boundaries, and what it takes to stay grounded when someone else keeps pulling the room toward themselves.
This conversation is not therapy. It’s insight and observation shaped by research, leadership experience, and years of watching good people lose their sense of worth around ego-driven behavior.
You’ll learn how to protect your peace, how to respond without losing your voice, and how to recognize the difference between intensity and connection. You’ll also hear how to rebuild confidence, reclaim your identity, and create healthier environments that stay steady under pressure.
At the end of the episode, I’ll send you out with my song God Complex, written from the same place this conversation comes from — watching how ego, control, and emotional manipulation tear down trust and how powerful it is when people finally stop bending.
Thanks for listening. Thanks for caring about your own growth.
Take care of yourself and protect your peace.
In this episode, Mike slows everything down and talks about what it means to actually show up in the moment you’re living.
It starts with a hand-painted mirror he found in Palm Springs. Three simple lines hit him harder than expected:
Look back.
Look ahead.
Live now.
From there, he walks through the pull of the past, the pressure of the future, and the work it takes to stay grounded in the present. He talks about leadership, connection, the art show conversations, the tension of moving too fast, and the practice of slowing down long enough to bring people with you.
You’ll hear real stories.
You’ll hear lessons from the week.
You’ll hear practical steps you can try today to feel more human and more present in your own life.
Mira opens the episode with a light, honest check-in.
Mike wraps with a quiet reminder that your life happens in the moment you’re actually standing in.
If this episode hits home, leave a comment, share it with someone, and make sure you’re subscribed.
The Optimist’s Way on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cqSPJKD
Still here. Still trying.
This week’s episode is a steady, honest look back at everything that happened around the art show opening.
Mike walks through the reactions, the confusion, the support, and the noise that hit before anyone even saw the work. He talks about what he learned, why stories matter, how the women in his life shaped the project, and why he’s still growing as a creator.
He also addresses the apology conversation, the impact on the gallery, and the responsibility he’s taking for his part in the chaos. This is a calm reset, not an argument. A human conversation about art, community, curiosity, and change.
If you’ve been following the show, the exhibit, or the online conversations, this episode will give you clarity on where Mike stands and where he’s heading next.
Still here. Still trying. Still creating.
In Episode 23, Mike Baker reminds us that our stories matter more than we realize.
This episode dives into the quiet impact of truth — how the things we survive, share, and speak out loud can become lifelines for someone else.
Mike also opens up about the success of his new art show No Permission Needed at The Art Spirit Gallery in downtown Coeur d’Alene, a powerful project about women’s voices, autonomy, and the courage to be seen.
You’ll hear reflections on failure, family, and the small moments that hold real strength.
And yes, Mike talks about Mira — the Jarvis-inspired AI co-host who helps Mike take the armor off and get real.
If you’ve ever doubted that your story matters, this one’s for you.
📘 Read Mike’s book, The Optimist’s Way: Rising Toward Purpose, Hope, and Light → https://a.co/d/cqSPJKD
🎨 Visit The Art Spirit Gallery to see No Permission Needed in person.
🎧 Listen now and remember — someone out there needs your story.
Episode 23: “Someone Out There Needs Your Story”
My art show went live and the reaction blew up fast. The gallery posted the announcement and the comment sections turned into a storm.
People questioned my intentions, my process, my place in the gallery, and my right to create work connected to women’s health. A lot of people judged the work without knowing anything about the story behind it.
This episode is my version of what happened.
I walk through the impact of the comments, the conversations with my family, the friends who checked in, and the moment on the ice that snapped me back into myself. I talk about the year I spent building this project and the years of women’s health advocacy that shaped it long before the show existed.
If you felt something when you saw the show, listen. If you’re a critic, listen. If you care about art, voice, women’s health, or intention, this gives you the full picture the internet can’t hold.
Thanks for showing up.
Still here. Still trying.
Description:
This episode opens the door to my new art show, No Permission Needed, running at The Art Spirit Gallery in downtown Coeur d’Alene.
These portraits grew out of real stories — women who’ve carried pain, power, and resilience in silence for far too long. The show is built from everything I’ve learned watching the women in my life fight for care, dignity, and the right to be heard.
In this conversation, I talk about the process, the fear, and the purpose behind the work. The imposter syndrome. The late nights. The hope that something honest can still move people.
You can also watch the No Permission Needed slideshow and hear the original song that inspired this episode here: Watch on YouTube.
This project has changed how I see art, leadership, and empathy. It’s personal, raw, and rooted in gratitude for the women who continue to teach me what strength looks like.
Listen in, then come see No Permission Needed during the Art Walk on November 14 at The Art Spirit Gallery.
Episode Title: Veterans Day – Scars in the Light
In this special Veterans Day mini episode, Mike reflects on the people who’ve shaped his understanding of service and strength — his dad, both grandfathers, his father-in-law, cousin Bubba, teammates from hockey, and the veterans who serve today at Heritage Health.
He speaks openly about the quiet courage he’s witnessed, the weight many still carry, and the everyday grace that defines true service. While the artwork for this episode plays on screen — a soldier built from hundreds of faces and memories — Mike invites listeners to see the humanity behind the uniform.
The episode closes with his song “Scars in the Light,” written to honor the veterans in his life and all who keep moving forward, still here, still trying.
🎙️
Still Here, Still Trying – Episode 21: “The Things That Keep Me Sane”
What keeps you grounded when the world won’t slow down?
For me — it’s motion, creation, rhythm, and the people who still give a damn.
In this episode, I open up about the small, real things that keep me from burning out — the late-night drives along Lake Coeur d’Alene, the ten-hour runs to Utah where my brain finally breathes, the act of creating as a way of recovering.
This one’s about rhythm over balance, about learning that sanity doesn’t live in stillness — it lives in motion.
We talk about how creativity heals, how ritual builds resilience, and how connection keeps all of it alive.
It’s an episode for anyone carrying too much, thinking too hard, or just trying to stay human in a world built for speed.
And at the end, I share a song that means more to me than almost anything I’ve made.
“The Voice Is Mine” was born from a stretch where people stopped taking my work seriously because I was creating with AI — like the story behind it somehow stopped being real.
This track became my answer to that.
A line in the sand.
A reminder that technology doesn’t erase humanity — it expands it.
Every lyric, every layer still comes from lived experience.
If you’ve ever been doubted, dismissed, or told that your way of creating doesn’t count, this episode — and this song — are for you.
Listen. Breathe. Drive.
And remember: you’re still here, still creating, still trying.
Thanks for listening to Still Here, Still Trying.
If this episode gave you something to think about, please like, follow, subscribe, and share it with three people who could use it in their lives.
You can find more of my work — music, writing, art, and reflections — at:
🌐 mikebakerhq.com
Grab a copy of my book, The Optimist’s Way:
📚 https://a.co/d/4RqPS6g
Thanks for being here.
Still here. Still trying.
Episode Title: Life Across the Sea (with Cameron Baker)
Description:
In the first-ever interview on Still Here, Still Trying, Mike sits down with his middle son, Cameron Baker, who’s been living and working in New Zealand. Together they talk about what it means to start over in a new country — the pull of independence, the loneliness that comes with it, and the strength it takes to build a life from scratch.
Cameron shares stories from the restaurant world, his growing passion for wine, and the lessons he’s learned about leadership, patience, and finding purpose far from home. It’s a raw, honest conversation about family, culture, and the kind of personal growth that only happens when you step out into the unknown.
🎧 Listen in for a father and son conversation that spans oceans, rooted in love, grit, and the courage to keep trying.
Episode 20: The Art of Staying Human
The noise is everywhere — headlines, outrage, algorithms feeding the chaos.
But underneath all that, there’s still something worth protecting.
In Episode 20 of Still Here, Still Trying, Mike Baker shares The Art of Staying Human — a grounded, honest guide to holding on to empathy, truth, and decency in a world built for division.
He lays out a five-part playbook for staying human when the algorithms pull us apart:
1️⃣ Remember what’s real
2️⃣ Curate what shapes you
3️⃣ Practice slow truth
4️⃣ Create something that can’t be scrolled
5️⃣ Stay kind — especially when it’s unpopular
This one’s part reflection, part roadmap, and all heart — a reminder that connection still beats clicks, and that even in the noise, we can choose to be human first.
🎶 Closing song: “Came Here to Be Kind” by Mike Baker
🎧 Listen, share, and follow to help push back against the negativity feed.
Because the middle still matters — and you’re part of it.
🎙️ Episode 19 — The Middle Still Matters
Somewhere along the way, noise replaced nuance.
Everything became a side to choose, a take to post, a reaction to perform. We started scrolling through outrage like it was oxygen, and somehow forgot how to just… listen.
In this episode, Mike Baker steps back from the static to search for the signal underneath it — the quiet frequency that still connects us.
He reflects on what liberty looks like when truth flickers, on the slow erosion of empathy, and on why the middle of the story — the place between extremes — still holds the power to heal.
Through personal reflection, storytelling, and moments drawn from his art and music, Mike explores how we begin finding our way back to each other when everything around us rewards division.
He shares why he created Human First — not as a protest, but as a reminder. A reminder that connection still matters, that decency still counts, and that empathy is not weakness — it’s survival.
The Middle Still Matters is an invitation to breathe again, to remember who we are beneath the headlines, and to believe — even now — that light still breaks through the static.
🎧 Still Here, Still Trying — with Mike Baker
Music: “Human First” by Mike Baker
What if art wasn’t about what we see—but what we help others see?
In this episode, Mike reflects on how empathy opened the door to his creative life. From the EndoWarrior portraits inspired by his daughter’s journey with invisible pain, to discovering how AI could help capture ideas that move faster than his hands, this conversation is about creation rooted in love, not ambition.
Mike talks about learning to create with ADHD, bridging leadership and art, and finding meaning where humanity and technology meet. He honors traditional artists, challenges the fear around new tools, and reminds us that progress doesn’t erase heart—it reveals it.
This episode also introduces his new visual series, Human / Machine / Light, built around the idea:
And if you’ve seen the Human First T-shirt, this episode carries the same message—empathy, creativity, and connection in motion.
🖤 Get the shirt, wear the message: https://mike-baker-hq.printify.me
🎧 Listen now, and remember: creation still belongs to us.
🎧 Episode 18 – Seeing Differently: Art Beyond Vision“The future of art lives in the space where human and machine meet.”
After a week on the islands celebrating 26 years of marriage, Mike Baker returns home sunburned, grateful, and changed.
In this deeply personal episode, he reflects on the quiet moments that inspired his new album Human First — a project born out of compassion, faith, and the belief that kindness still matters in a divided world.
From floating off St. John with Kellie and writing Stop Making Amy Cry about his sister-in-law’s incredible heart, to wrestling with faith, leadership, and the headlines that challenge our humanity — this episode is raw, real, and full of truth.
Mike opens up about what it means to live with mercy, lead with grace, and create from a place of love instead of noise. He shares the story behind Human First, why he still believes in people, and how we can all help carry the flame forward.
If you’ve been craving something honest — something that cuts through the chaos and speaks straight to the heart — this one’s for you.
🎧 Listen now to Episode 17: “Human First.”
🌊 Like, share, and help spread the message — because the world still needs more light.
Here's the link to purchase a t-shirt
https://mike-baker-hq.printify.me
Episode 16 – You’ve Been Becoming This Whole Time
In this episode of Still Here, Still Trying, Mike Baker leans into one of the quiet truths from his book The Optimist’s Way™: that we’ve been becoming all along, even when it feels like we’re stuck or falling behind.
Mike begins by reading the full passage from the book, then opens it up into reflections on work, art, and life. He shares the unseen growth that happens in leadership at Heritage Health — the kind that doesn’t show up on dashboards or reports but transforms people in small, profound ways. He talks about the music and art he’s created over the years, including songs and images that may never reach the public but still shaped him in ways no metric can measure.
The heart of the episode is family. Mike reflects on the quiet strength he’s witnessed in his daughter as she lives with endometriosis, and how that has changed the way he sees the invisible battles others carry. He speaks about Jake’s move to Boise, and the becoming that happens as a parent when you learn how to step back, trust your adult children, and cheer them on as they build their own lives. He talks about Cameron’s move across the world to New Zealand, and what it has meant to learn how to love across oceans. And he reflects on his marriage to Kellie — how they’ve become more rooted and honest over the years through both laughter and hardship.
This episode is a reminder that becoming isn’t about big milestones or applause. It’s about the ways you grow softer, steadier, and stronger in the daily moments no one else sees. It’s about breathing, noticing, and remembering you are not behind, you are not lost — you’ve been becoming this whole time.
🎶 Featuring the song “This One’s for Me.”
📖 Read The Optimist’s Way™: https://a.co/d/igbHGkK
Episode 15 – The Quiet Victories
When you’re not thriving, but you’re still showing up.
In this episode, I talk about optimism — not the shiny kind, but the kind that survives.
The kind that limps forward when you’re full, tired, and no one’s clapping.
I tell the story of a meeting in D.C. that left me gutted — not because of what was said loudly, but because of what was named quietly.
I talk about how I walked for hours afterward just trying to find my breath again.
And how I ended up making three pieces of art about what it feels like to speak and not be heard.
There’s a reading from The Optimist’s Way™ — my book about leading, healing, and staying human in hard times.
You can find it here: https://a.co/d/igbHGkK
There’s a reminder to come home to what matters.
And there’s a song at the end — “Another Trip Around the Sun.”
A small, steady anthem for anyone just trying to get through the day with their head and heart intact.
This one’s about the victories no one sees.
The ones that count anyway.
Still here. Still trying. And I’m glad you are too.