Name Taken Podcast: Who Else Out There Is Named Michael Marshall?

Michael Marshall

According to the US Census records there are at least 2900 Americans that share my full name (Michael Marshall). Unsurprisingly there are many more across the greater English-speaking world. So, I decided to set out and interview the other Michael Marshalls to see what they're all like. Why not right? And it's actually been a riot. Michael Marshalls are rad! Among us are authors, pro athletes, activists, journalists, artists, really cool dads, architects, carpenters, inventors, actors and so much more. Each week I speak to a different Michael Marshall about their own experiences as well as their shared experience of our name. read less

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Ep. 20 "Interview with UK-based skeptical activist and director of the Good Thinking Society Michael Marshall"

Ep. 20 "Interview with UK-based skeptical activist and director of the Good Thinking Society Michael Marshall"

I interview Michael Marshall about his role as a skeptical activist in the UK. Michael's mission is to use his platform with The Good Thinking society to expose fraudulent medical practices like homeopathy and promote a more thoughtful, skeptical society.

Episodes

Ep. 20 "Interview with UK-based skeptical activist and director of the Good Thinking Society Michael Marshall"

Ep. 20 "Interview with UK-based skeptical activist and director of the Good Thinking Society Michael Marshall"

I interview Michael Marshall about his role as a skeptical activist in the UK. Michael's mission is to use his platform with The Good Thinking society to expose fraudulent medical practices like homeopathy and promote a more thoughtful, skeptical society.

Ep. 19 "Interview with Wisconsin-based construction contractor and Jehovah's Witness Mike Marshall"

Ep. 19 "Interview with Wisconsin-based construction contractor and Jehovah's Witness Mike Marshall"

I interview Mike Marshall about his small town midwestern life, his hilarious Mike Marshall mix-up story, and his faith.

Ep. 18 "Interview with Boise, Idaho-based Veterinarian Michael Marshall and his son Michael Marshall"

Ep. 18 "Interview with Boise, Idaho-based Veterinarian Michael Marshall and his son Michael Marshall"

I interview a father and son duo of Michael Marshalls. We talk about the legacy of the name Michael Marshall within their family, Dr. Michael Marshall's veterinary clinic, both Michael Marshalls creative passion projects.

Ep. 17 "Interview with professor of art at University of Hawaii at Hilo Michael Marshall

Ep. 17 "Interview with professor of art at University of Hawaii at Hilo Michael Marshall

I interview artist and faculty member of the University of Hawaii Michael Marshall. We talk about Michael's childhood in segregated St. Louis and how events there shaped his development as an artist.

Ep. 16 "Interview with clinical psychologist, artist therapist & police psychologist Michael Marshall"

Ep. 16 "Interview with clinical psychologist, artist therapist & police psychologist Michael Marshall"

I interview New York-based Michael Marshall about his work as a therapist to artists and as a psychological evaluator of police. Michael and I also talked at length about his arts background and his current filmmaking projects. We also get deep into Michael Marshall mix-ups and reflect on our place in the vast Michael Marshall universe.

Ep. 15 "Interview with Calgary-based financial guru and awesome dad Mike Marshall"

Ep. 15 "Interview with Calgary-based financial guru and awesome dad Mike Marshall"

I interview Calgary's Mike Marshall about his family origins on Vancouver Island. Mike and I talk about his family and career, his experience with COVID, and the funniest roundtable discussions we could host at 'Michael Marshall Con 2021'

Ep. 14 "Interview with psychiatrist and Canadian trans activist Michael Marshall"

Ep. 14 "Interview with psychiatrist and Canadian trans activist Michael Marshall"

I interview Canadian psychiatrist Michael Marshall about his own story of becoming a Michael Marshall. We talk at length about the philosophy of naming. What makes names and naming so important? What does it mean to feel like a Michael Marshall? How do names shape who we are and how we think about ourselves?

Ep. 13 "Interview with R&B singer of 'I Got 5 On It' fame Michael Marshall"

Ep. 13 "Interview with R&B singer of 'I Got 5 On It' fame Michael Marshall"

I interview Michael Marshall (sometimes professionally known as Mike Meezy) about his incredible multi-decade career as an R&B singer. We dive deep into exploring the impact of the hit 'I Got 5 On It' on Michael's life, his solo work, and his contributions to the soundtrack to The Last Black Man in San Francisco. We also talk at length about Michael's musical philosophies and his rapidly growing marijuana business in California.

Ep. 12 "Interview with Australian competitive quidditch chaser Michael Marshall"

Ep. 12 "Interview with Australian competitive quidditch chaser Michael Marshall"

I interview Australian Michael Marshall about his life and background. Michael and I also explore the lives of other Michael Marshalls past and present at length and reflect on our own strengths and accomplishments in our vibrant name-kin community.

Ep. 11 "Interview with L.A.-based battle rap and warehouse party photographer Michael Marshall"

Ep. 11 "Interview with L.A.-based battle rap and warehouse party photographer Michael Marshall"

I interview battle rap and warehouse party photographer Michael Marshall about his extensive knowledge of West Coast rap scenes, his most memorable photography experiences, and the role autism plays in his engagement with his passion for music.

Ep. 10 Pt. 2 "Interview with Grammy-nominated mandolin virtuoso Mike Marshall"

Ep. 10 Pt. 2 "Interview with Grammy-nominated mandolin virtuoso Mike Marshall"

PART 2 of my interview with three-time Grammy nominated mandolin and mandocello virtuoso Mike Marshall. Mike and I dive deep into a lengthy discussion about his incredibly long and musically diverse musical career. In particular we talk about the ways Mike has explored the rich history of the mandolin and how that helped him carve out new musical territories to explore. We talk about the ways mandolin and bluegrass have broken out to mainstream audiences since his beginnings in the 1970's.

Ep. 10 Pt. 1 "Interview with Grammy-nominated mandolin virtuoso Mike Marshall"

Ep. 10 Pt. 1 "Interview with Grammy-nominated mandolin virtuoso Mike Marshall"

PART 1 of my interview with three-time Grammy nominated mandolin and mandocello virtuoso Mike Marshall. Before Mike and I get into a lengthy discussion about his incredibly long and musically diverse musical career, we talk about heritage. Mike and I spend a lot of this episode discussing his genealogy and ancestry in the United States, and how that colors his relationship to the mandolin.

Ep. 9 "Interview with commercial and documentary director Mike Marshall"

Ep. 9 "Interview with commercial and documentary director Mike Marshall"

I interview commercial and documentary filmmaker Mike Marshall about changes in the advertising world over the course of his career. In particular, Mike and I have fun talking about his origin stories as a filmmaker in the burgeoning world of reality tv contests and among the crew of The Blair Witch Project.

Ep. 8 "Interview with South African artist and musician Michael Marshall"

Ep. 8 "Interview with South African artist and musician Michael Marshall"

I interview my first Michael Marshall in the southern hemisphere. Johannesburg, South Africa's Michael Marshall is an artist, musician, producer, and web designer. We talk at length about the vibrant local music scene in Johannesburg and get deeply philosophical. Do we share more than a name? Is it meaningful? How can the world feel so big and so small at the same time?

Bonus Ep. 2 "A deep dive into the study of life's origins and ethics in science journalism"

Bonus Ep. 2 "A deep dive into the study of life's origins and ethics in science journalism"

This bonus episode features additional material from my chat with science writer Michael Marshall from Episode 7. We explore key themes from Michael’s book The Genesis Quest, in which he entertainingly explores the history of the scientific study of life’s origins. We also dive deep into the contemporary ethical challenges of science journalism and communicating scientific findings to the public.

Ep. 7 "Interview with science journalist and author Michael Marshall"

Ep. 7 "Interview with science journalist and author Michael Marshall"

I interview former science writer for New Scientist and the BBC Michael Marshall about his career highlights. In particular we hop down a variety of rabbit holes reflecting on the role technology plays in being a Michael Marshall or having a common name. We also get deep into the the details behind Michael's new book 'The Genesis Quest', a popular scientific history about the study of life's origins on Earth.

Ep. 6 "Interview with world renowned architect Michael Marshall"

Ep. 6 "Interview with world renowned architect Michael Marshall"

I interview Michael Marshall, award-winning architect whose designs are shaping the present and future architectural character of the United States capital. Michael and I talk about his incredible career as well as central roles that heritage, community, and equity play in his work.

Bonus Ep. 1 "More tales from the no-holds-barred world of footbag"

Bonus Ep. 1 "More tales from the no-holds-barred world of footbag"

My chats with Linda Roberts and Bruce Guettich for Episode 5 were absolutely packed with material, much of it about the world of footbag at large. This bonus episode is an excuse to feature a few stunning, non-Michael Marshall related tales from the history of hacky sack.

Ep. 5 "A look back at the life of hacky sack co-creator Mike Marshall"

Ep. 5 "A look back at the life of hacky sack co-creator Mike Marshall"

On my very first historical episode I sit down with with footbag hall of famer Bruce Guettich and mother of hacky sack Linda Roberts to examine and discuss the colorful history and legacy of hacky sack co-creator, Mike Marshall.

Ep. 4 "Interview with East Coast hotelier Mike Marshall"

Ep. 4 "Interview with East Coast hotelier Mike Marshall"

Are you staying somewhere fancy on the East Coast of the United States? Chances are it’s managed, staffed, and promoted by Marshall Hotels and Resorts, run by none other than CEO Mike Marshall.Mike Marshall has a lot to share about the hotel-management experience in the time of COVID, but more than that, he has some of the funniest Mike Marshall mix-up stories I've heard since I started this project.