Welcome to the experiment. Simple questions for one hundred people. I'm Bill Correl, and this is my investigation, my research project to gather data from one hundred beautiful human beings for the sole purpose to see what actually happens across the interviews. Questions are all fixed and the interviews will remain consistent with the variable being the actual participants themselves
and their answers. It's as if I'm having you, Luke, come sit on my porch to share your thoughts, so I can learn about people looking forward to what we're going to learn when we're done, if anything, but we're also very interested in the folks in the process and in your particular story. So it's my distinct pleasure to introduce my guests. Well, how about I let you do it for me. What is your full name?
My full name is Luke Dominant.
Luke Dominant. That's really cool. Say that last name again. The way it rolls off your tongue is like butter.
My it from my dad, Dad started her family. And the way I always like to say it or he likes to shay it a felt usual way, which if you're not familiar with the German uh throwing language. It's it's kind of confusion, you know, a couple of times sometimes people want to throw in with an R or jay because they think it's when jumping, but it's actually just a dee at the end of it. So it's actually kind of just kind of a comical side of.
Life in general, because I'm sure we could have a discussion for hours just on that one word, and it's you know, the etymology of where did it come from? How did it get here? Yes, so it's it's a great it's a great name. I mean your middle name again, But.
So my middle name is dominant and I actually got that from my grandfather, who unfortunately is no longer wish that she was very he's a very good man and he's very inspirational to me. And uh, I never really I never really felt like I got to know him as much as I should have. And it's what you get. Even though he's no longer wish to us get, I still think about him quite a lot. So it's kind of how it is.
Loved ones, I'm sorry for you, and he's still with you. Yes, So, Luke, what's your favorite nickname that most people don't know?
So I honestly, don't think I have one. It's always been Luke for me. I'm blessed that I have in it or in the middle name of Dominic because of my grandfather. But I never really considered asking somebody to call me Dominic. So, I mean, now that I know what's an option, it's just something that I've never really thought about.
Yeah. So, and no family members have a pet name for you.
I mean within the family, you know, it's usually Buddy or Bubba or you know, stuff like that. But you know, out in public, it's kind of Luke or a are you man? Nothing nothing really, I don't gift like Buddy, but every once in a while it's like I have an actual name.
So if they know that, then I'm sure that that they're going to stay on track for you, unless they're trying to either make points or take points right. Yes, yeah, so when did you first notice what color hair you had?
So it's difficult for me because I had a had a difficult childhood dealing with two types of cancer y I uh. I am a proud survivor of neuroblack doma and I was diagnosed with that at four months old and a proud survivor of Leukemiah did I was diagnosed with at seven years old. So if I if I take into account what age I really know, if my hair color, it would probably be between the ages of three and five. But also with the treatment and all that nonsense, a lot of the time I involved because
my hair would fall out. So yeah, I would say between three and five.
Yeah, I'm really pleased to hear you know that you say proud survivor, because there are variations on the theme, and some are not so proud, Some never recover, and it's one hell of a psychological challenge for most people to go through dealing with something they can't see, you know. And I really think I've had a couple of My goddaughter, as a matter of fact, went through It was about
about two and a half years long. The treatment process that she went through and the you know, harvesting of T cells and all the rest of that sort of thing, and being isolated from the rest of the family, especially for two daughters, That in and of itself is grueling, let alone the surgeries and other things that go along with it. So God bless you, and you are a proud survivor, and thank you for sharing that with us.
I really appreciate that. So what's your favorite thing to do to intentionally waste time?
Luke so ask. It's interesting you're aft kind of thought about it and what as amazing as modern technology, it's also horrible to think about what it's actually doing to our bodies because and I know the sheep bad for me, but at the same time, it's kind of programmed within me to just was not intentionally waste time during the day, but by wasting time, I'm on my phone constantly for at least three to six collargy a day, which did not seem it. It's not healthy and doesn't seem healthy.
But unfortunately there's more. I know that there's more that we can do because we essentially have a computer in our hand, but we don't always take into account that we can actually do something from our phone. So so most of the time I'm just playing games, watching TV or being watching TV shows and movies because it's like, I know, I'm not supposed to, but there's just a little bit of satisfaction from it. It's not always worth it, but it's you know, every once in a while you need it.
Do you have a particular kind of show that you like to watch for a particular kind of.
Movie, mostly sci fi and kind of community because a bigger, bigger topic they don't want to touch upon it that I feel like most of this stuff like Community, truck in Friendship even missed a lot in the world right now, and a lot of people feel alone, which when you feel alone, lead to depression and just being mentally and physically unstable.
Yeah, I think I think the statistics bear out exactly what you're saying, you know, the people who are numbing themselves, you know, through through some sort of mechanism or alcohol
or drugs or something of that nature. It's probably the highest it's ever been, and it's pretty easy to access, and obviously people are not careful about it as evidence the number of fentanyl deaths that we that we are experiencing on a weekly bad basis, and all of that can be exacerbated by what you see in movies and
on TV. But at the same time, I bet you there is a go to movie that you've got that you've probably watched a bunch of times if you're if you're like many people, what is your your favorite movie to watch alone?
Sort of one that I actually watched recently with the Greatest Showman because it shows it shows how people can come from humble beginning and find people a long way to basically make their new family that they never had. So, like I was saying, it's up with and it's show community, and it shows trust, and that's what that's what life should be a built. But most people don't understand what
it takes. Two. Most people are in a most people want to be in a win win situation, but I feel like a lot of people are in wind lose yes, meaning that they put them jilves out there to win just for them killed, and they don't think about the bigger picture.
So diving in, I like what you're you're kind of weaving together here. We look at the P. T. Barnum story and especially how the you know that that movie and it's used of popular music and just a wonderful, uplifting sort of a thing with ups and downs, and what what is it about that that really kind of appeals to you.
I think it's the fact that even though it's a movie,
it feels like real life. The idea itself can actually happen, and when it does, it just makes everything it makes everything complete, and it also gives everybody hope that there's more to look for in life, because you know, I'm sure at moments when in people's professional lives, when they became part of re surface was just challenging for them because they're like, Oh, I have this extraordinary ability, but nobody in the real world really achieved me for what
I am. So maybe your surface you're a good way to kind of distract myself and also grow close with people who have shame or different abilities like mine.
Yeah. So, yeah, do you want to say some more about that?
I mean, I would say that in this world, in the world we live in right now, that's not taken into account and people are just really mean about it. Not not not that they're trying to be mean about it, it's just every experience that person has can either make or break them. So it depends. It's kind of like two elements at play. That person who's being either talked down, talk down to, or talked up to can either choose
to go above it or go below it. And if they go below it, they you know, fall into depression or just jadness or basically not knowing who they are, or they go and if they're talked up to, they can really create their own story.
So it's amazing what can come from just conversation and language. Isn't it correct?
Correct?
Yeah? I think you and I both would agree that our future comes out of our mouth every day.
Yes.
No, And it sounds to me like you've done some real study in this area.
Yeah, I've done. I've done from research recently in the last couple of years to just kind of really figure out what it means to heal. Yeah, because a lot of people I think are distracted by issues on the surfish. Yeah, and what they really need to focus on age getting to the root cause of why they're feeling a certain way.
So yeah, and sometimes in the quest of why that that's never answered, there's something else that's tripped over that actually brings some relief and some healing.
I agree.
Yeah. So all right, this is really cool. If you were to have an action figure made of you, Luke, what superpower would it have and what colors would its uniform be?
So I would say tall, strong, trustworthy, and people and a power would be they would have the ability to kind of read people thought from a distance and just in a warm and inviting way, kind of like did that distant friend that you once had who would always take the time to listen to you and care for you because they know you're suffering and they want you to just take the take the time to really just either pour out or relax all those pent up emotion
that even feeling for anywhere from five to thirty years.
Well said, and there is nobody who gets through this existence without going through that. This is, I think, what is fundamental to being human, and we mostly don't recognize that very much in our culture either, do we. So I really appreciate your choice of superpowers for this wonderful action figure. And what colors? Would the uniform be?
Black and white? For sure? Because everything in wit which is black and white, meaning that it wouldn't be darkness or there wouldn't be white. It wouldn't be white without dark witch right, So black, white, and then purple. I don't necessarily know where the purple came from, because the combination of black and white would be gray. When I said, oh, that'd be kind of dull. So I guess the purple is a spiritual side of our existance, which, unless unless
you're begin to Western medicine and Western practice. I don't think a lot of people really understand the power of spirit or spiritual practice, not so much religion, just because I feel like you can practice spiritualism without being religious, but that that first point in my belief. But I'm not going to shoot down I'm not going to shoot down anybody who has a preference to practice spiritually which religion.
So yeah, yeah, I particularly love that it resonates with a little bit of work that I've been doing lately that got kind of kicked off by a meme with a Buddhist monk saying that people erroneously label Buddhism as a religion, and it's not. It is a spiritual practice, and it's all about the you know, knowing the self. It's not necessarily to connect with any particular you know, higher power or supreme being other than the fact that we're all part of everything, We're all part of the
all in all, and not a religion. But most people do consider it to be one of the top four or five religions in the world. And I see it be you know, in print all the time. So it's it's a remarkable thing to be able to listen to a teacher and not have to believe what they say. That's the core of Buddhism. You know, it doesn't matter what it means to me. What matters is what does it mean to you? You know?
Well that's the other thing. It really has caught my eye recently, it did you know? It's people are like, oh, I have IF problem and IF problem and if problem and that problem, and although there are solutions, what makes you and me different? They get we're unique? Where unique human being? No two human beings are waiting or ejaction, even twins. It looked different on the outside, but that doesn't mean any shame on the inside.
Yeah, job, Yeah, I completely concur and I have nieces and nephews, a set of twins and a set of troublets and boys. They get older, they could not be more different. But when they were five, six and seven, it was hard to tell them apart. Yes, and they would do the you know, the parent trap stuff every once in a while where they act like they were the other one and just to confuse people. So now
we'll go set the way back machine. Sherman, what did you want to grow up to be when you were five years old?
So at the time, I was preoccupied with just healing and processing wire fresh a five year old because I was just like I went to one, I came back alive. Nothing else really matters right now. So you know, I don't know if I necessarily took the time to really be a kid because my mind was always kind of blocking out part of it. Yeah, because if you like, that was all that was all I knew how to do. It was protecting me from some of the stuff that
I probably don't want to remember. However, if I was, if I was given the opportunity, I probably want to be a hockey player. There you go, my my favorite sport when I was younger.
Because they're tall and brave, aren't they. Yes, yes, good for you. Have you watched much live hockey by the way.
Yes, yes, I'm a huge I'm a huge NHL fan.
Huh yep, I was picking that up non verbally from you. I mean, there are as far as most people are concerned, there are only two h two teams in the in the n h L, you know, and then one the Rangers and the other ones the Bruins.
So yeah, Deva they've expanded, Dava. They've come from the original Kick to now being thirty two teams in the NHL.
It's amazing the money goes into sports, isn't it.
Yes?
Oh my goodness, So hockey player, do you have a preference for where you would be?
So it's actually your funny story. So I didn't start playing ice hockey until I was about twelve, and I joined a special hockey league because of my size. I was only forty forty nine inches maybe forty nine inches tall, so I couldn't necessarily be in a on a high school hockey team. I could just go out and gate and uh, you know, kind of meat uh, kind of meet some more uh, some more people who were dealing with a whole variety of health issues from authors, autism
to teasures too, just you know, being mentally unstable. And it was it was an eye opening experience to shoot at. Although everybody had different health issues. It was community. It made it feel that much bigger because you give that, you know, I personally I never developed any friendships whenever playing with them, but it would get cool to seat it even though a lot of them had health issues, that they could come together as community and be part of something bigger.
Still, that's a whole different breed of wonderfulness, isn't it? Yes, it is good for you, and it's it's really an uplifting thing to know that it's out there and available to people. And if there were somebody who was in your situation where they're probably not going to be competitive with with kids their age because of different reasons, how
did you get in touch with these folks? And and is it something that's typically available in most areas or just you were you lucky that there was some some around you.
So there's a program and work on called their Devil and they way out of they called it there Devils because the actual New Jersey Devils used to practice there and the yeah Cody Cody Mountain Arena or something like that in West Orange, And uh, that was the first group I got involved in. And then I mean they really took off from the time that I was there to the time that I was playing with a forward group out of uh the ice House and hacking Jack called the Avalanche, and you know, I'd gone to a
couple of tournaments and uh, it gets, it gets. The numbers grew so much they have to have like three or four games. They add like three or four games because of how many kicks they have.
That's fantastic.
Yes, at far position I started, I started on offense er you're not familiar with hockey, to the jenner or the right wing and the left wing. I would start
like one of the wingers. Then I dropped back to defense industries over a couple of years, and then funny enough, I started playing the position my dad played when he was playing hockey, which was goalie, which is in it of itself, is a tough position to play, but it's so much fun to keep you either flop and completely mixed the balk sometimes I know, or you know, make a really good shave. But funny story about my dad and how he got to play got to play in
goalie in the sport itself was he went out. He went out one day and uh said, you know, I'm gonna go play hockey, and I think it was, you know, probably do some ball and dick at the time. And uh, he came back and he's and he had his front teeth knocked out. So he gets he gets back home and then he shaked you, and he shaked to his mom, Hey, I got my front teeth knocked out and she said, well, you gotta learn how to put you got to form
a position where you're wearing a helmet. And he goes, the only position in hockey where you wear a helmet a goaltender, and she goes, well, you got to learn how to play goalie. S So, uh, he learned how to play goalie, and then I guess he to a break from playing goalie or decided to go out and fry out for a team. And again, you know, it's the same story where you're going, Uh, I'm going to try out for the hockey team. Yeah, and uh, money Shape will make sure you wear a helmet. And he's like,
he's like, he's like, no, don't worry about it. What are the chances are good? Happening twice and turn off. He he was in a petition way we to dick out the rolled off the shaft of sticks and hit him in the mouth. Show for the second time. Uh you gotta front knocked out.
So yeah, how you you wouldn't be able to stand uh you know, not being able to have that same opportunity.
Yeah. Yeah, So I still have my I still have my original front teach intact. So that's one one thing my dad, I can't have.
It's kind of amazing. So I'm really appreciating this, this this interview.
And I'm glad, I am too, I'm you.
I'm want to ask you know, what is your greatest accomplishment, Luke, what would you say, is is the thing that is the greatest thing that you've been able to do?
So my greatest accomplishment is being a proud survivor of cancer twice and it has it has proven to me that even though life can be hard food not only me, my family, well it get People should know that life is really going to throw challenges at you. Yeah, but the one thing that they should keep in mind is taking taking the time to really process what's going on, and you shining when it's a good time to push through. Because no matter what they get there going through, there's
always light on the other side. There's always light on at the end of it, at the other end of the tunnel, and that unfortunately, a lot of people don't really think that way all the time and like, Okay, I'm gonna get through this. I'm gonna get through this. Really underneath, a hope is kind of running out because they don't truly believe it, they'll be able to push through and get through whatever they're currently dealing with.
Yeah, there's there's a lot of work that's going into the psychology of that. And I share your your your your choice of greatest accomplishment. I really agree you being here is uh, that's pretty damn cool. You know. So who's your favorite person to listen to?
So my uh, I don't have one person. I think it's more of a variety. So that with includes doctor Godfena because she doesn't want to work with this energy and how you're connecting your energy to your manifestations or thought profits because the one thing that I learned from him is your dought becomes your actions, your actions become
everything else. And if you're thinking in a you doing negative way or positive way or even optimistic way, it's not always going to go your way, but it's the fact that you took your time to really consider what you're thinking on a day to day basis. Another one is mel Robbins, just because every once in a while you'll have an interesting video that will make me you to write something down for myself personally because it affected me in a good way. The guy brought the name
of Jay Shetty. He actually has an interesting story. When he was I think he Shetty was eighteen years old, he dropped out of college. I think it was either he dropped out of either I went to high school and he went and became a monk. He was big a monk for a couple of years, and when he got back to the modern world, he was like, well, everybody's really distracted not just by you know, what they're doing on their day to day life, but also, like
I said, before, modern technology. Yeah, do you part what? He has a podcast called Diary with CEO, and he actually wrote the book before he wrote the book Diary with Ceo before starting a podcast. And then the last one, the last person I listened to, Age Vision Lakiani. He's the owner of Mine Valley, and I like to kind of switch it up every now and then because each each of them will affect me in a different way,
like something I didn't see before. Mm hmm. So I wish him to Doctor Joe, and he was he had to say about something, and I'll get another person perspective on what do you think of it? Because more more information can't help, can't hurt, right, So it's good to be. It's good to ignowe that everybody had a different opinion.
It's also, uh I think a good thing to be open to it as well. It's kind of a thing that I find a little more lacking these days than it used to be with good reason. Uh So I appreciate that. That's quite a it's quite a list of people to listen to.
Mm hm.
And so let's let's go, you know from here, Yes, please complete this sentence. When I grow up, I'd like to.
I'd like to be a natural resource for help, kind of guide, flash influencer because you know, taking this I guess research journey is what I'll call it has proven to me that there are message out there. There are short videos that don't cost anything for anybody, that are free. That part of the reason I love to use YouTube
is because you can find almost anything on there. If people are given the opportunity to look at some of the stuff, it may help them in the moment not feel helpless and hopeless, because unfortunately, the way that our our country right now is a get everything modern medicine, and I feel like people don't always have a shay in what they want, what they can, what they can do and what they can they know to but if they had another source of information to choose from, it
could be better on a multi throuer level.
Oh yeah, completely thinking about the short statement that RFK Junior said that we are packing our kids lunch boxes with food that makes them sick so that we can you know, sell them drugs to get over you know, what's making them sick. And it is kind of time that people take a moment and start thinking thinking about what it is that we're doing here and how we're
going about it. Yeah, people are are being kept alive longer, but I'm not really sure that the quality of life at the end end of days is you know, what people are looking forward to their entire life sometimes. So, yes, I can definitely see you as a great resource person, you know, and perhaps you'll be doing your own podcast here soon and having people on that you can you know, pick their brain and be an inspiration to other folks
like you and not like you. Okay, So with that in mind and whatever else you want to bring, what's the most important thing to you right now?
Probably what I touched upon earlier when we were discussing movies and connection and community and because without it were It's interesting to me because humans actually thrive better when they're connected to other people. But right now we're living in a world to feel so bewittled and kind of in a way shove to the side, like we don't really matter too much to the bigger people. And not that I'm saying that we need to do something to
fix that. I'm just saying that community be probably the bigger picture rather than trying to throw up the system.
Yes, community is what's called for. Yes, and the word fix doesn't belong in community, the word workability and some other things, and so integration and trust, yes, and a feeling of belonging and all of those wonderful things that come along with community. I agree with you. I think that that's very very important. Whether I agree with you or not, it really doesn't make any difference. But it just seems like we're on kind of similar energy wavelengths.
Here would you like to leave in the world after your life is done?
I would like to leave them with a better understanding of what they do every day and what they feel every day, which we sure you get can help them feel better. And it's funny I wrote down Western medicine because people in those countries seem to be happier. They seem to be happier with little to do and practice, you know, just their daily program get help them kind of just feel good and run more positive throughout today
without really being nuded by anything negative. It's almost like a slug negative off or gets a bug on their shoulder. For us over in the US, we have so much going on and as soon as something attacks us, it just kind of like, get off me as soon as you can. And even though we have that mindset, it doesn't really work because I think we confuse thin get annoyer within that we should be taking into account and processing and breaking down so that we really understand why
we feel before I think we move. We move too fast to really understand what it is would be trying to reach us. Yeah, we're trying to get through.
Yeah. When you're a goalie, you don't have to You don't have to catch everything that comes your way. There are some things that are more important to catch than others, aren't there. Yes, And when you can bring some thought process into the into the picture and you know, kind of increase the time between stimulus and response, then you can I think have a more authentic reaction to what's really going on as opposed to the one that's automatic.
Yeah.
Yeah, good, So, Luke, do you go to the bakery at all.
Every once in a while. Who doesn't need a sweet treat? Yeah?
Exactly. My baker does really neat things. If you buy a dozen donuts or cupcakes or whatever, he always gives a thirteenth one. Okay, and so you're going to get a thirteenth Baker's question here? What is it that? What's the thing that most people misunderstand about you?
Even though the thank that I had been through meet me brave, wrong, inspirational, What if we want to call it, I'm I steel carried it scared child with me, I know, you know, And that's something that I haven't really thought about until now, because you know, everybody around me always think, oh, look, he's doing so well, and it's just like not always, not always some day, you know, or harder than others.
And who knows. Maybe that's why I'm constantly hiding myself is because I don't actually have all the answers or I've been I've been scared for so long that I don't know how to reconnect with myself or the world because I'm just trying to get by and I don't really always know the way forward.
Yeah, it's it's kind of interesting how people choose to use you or the idea of you or the story you know. Yes, and I wonder how many people take the time to actually listen and get to know you. Yeah, yeah, well that that is wonderful. It's it's been a really remarkable conversation. I appreciate you. Do you have any questions for me before we sign off?
What do you think the world need more of.
What we're doing?
Okay?
I think what we what we need a lot more of is people to be willing to consider questions as opposed to as viewing answers. And I think we really we owe it to each other as human beings to honor the human being. You know that we're sitting across from time to set the phone down for a while or maybe even turn it off and get into discussions that have something to do with learning, like what it is to be a human being. And that's one of the main reasons that I started this podcast almost almost
two years ago. I really wanted to go out and find out what people are thinking and find out whether all this stuff about identity is true or not. And quite frankly, what I'm finding out is is that nothing could be further from the truth in terms of people, you know, being completely different in their thought processes. They actually most everybody is worth listening to. And I learned something in every single podcast and I absolutely love this.
Anything else, Yeah, to add to what you're saying, I recently read more debt. A lot of people don't use their rational brain, rational part of their brain when experiencing something. It's mostly just pure emotion and it's only after the fact that they realized why would I show shad by that news? Why would I so angry when person A said that to me? Why do person be just ignore
the fact that something big show happened. It's just kind of mind boggling in it in itself, because it's just like we have this program, but do we necessarily always know why or do we even have a reason as to why?
Yeah, fantastic. I appreciate the perspective and your thoughts, and I also appreciate the work that you've done to be where you are on your journey, and I want to thank you again Luke for being on with me today, and all you folks at home. This is Simple Questions for one hundred people, and I'm having the best time ever. And one of the neat things that I'm getting out of this, hopefully is to become a better listener and
a better questioner. So with that in mind, we'll sign off now and thank you all for listening to us and Luke have the best day ever. Please yes, Bill, you bet you bye now bye.
You've been listening to Simple Questions for one hundred People, part of the x udio podcast network. You can find every episode at xvadio dot com, slash podcasts, the Apple podcast app, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and wherever you find podcasts.
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