Gamification Expert Sophia Burrell Explores the Power of Storytelling and Engagement

In this engaging episode of "Conversations with Joshua T Berglan," host Joshua Berglan interviews special guest Sophia Burrell, a multi-talented professional with a background in psychology and expertise in the field of gamification. Sophia shares her fascinating journey and insights on how she creates custom board games centered around a person, brand, or business, helping them connect with their audience on a deeper level.

Together, Sophia and Joshua dive deep into topics such as mindset, legacy, the power of media, and the importance of gratitude. Their insightful conversation highlights the potential for personal growth and positive change through the power of storytelling and gamification. Viewers will be left inspired to explore new ways of engaging with their audience and leaving a meaningful legacy.

This description includes relevant keywords and phrases that people are likely to search for when looking for information about gamification, storytelling, personal growth, and positive change. It is also well-written and informative, and it accurately reflects the content of the video.

Learn More About Sophia

Sophia Burrell

Founder/CEO/Board Game Designer

Sophia Burrell International, Inc.

sophiaburrellintl.com

A creative space where gamification, psychology and playful critical thinking are integrated.

***Board Game Goddess

***V.I.C.T.O.R.Y. Method

***Gamify Your Goals (.com) to Win Course

Sophia Burrell International, Inc. | board game creators (sophiaburrellintl.com)

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/sophiaburrell 

Transcript

This editable transcript was computer generated and might contain errors.

Sophia Burrell: Okay. Yes.

Joshua Berglan: okay, Sophia Burrell, you are Inspiring to me. And I just want to tell you that.

Sophia Burrell: Okay, thank you.

Joshua Berglan: when I got your email on LinkedIn, I looked over it and…

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: And Even though, I didn't understand everything that you were doing. I just had this strong feeling that you were doing something.

Sophia Burrell: Okay.

Joshua Berglan: So I went digging. and the more I've learned about you, the more I am humbled to talk to you. welcome to conversations with Joshua,…

Sophia Burrell: Thank…

Joshua Berglan: T-barg one.

Joshua Berglan: I am blessed to have you here.

Sophia Burrell: Thank you.

Sophia Burrell: I'm nice to meet you.

Joshua Berglan: Where are you at right now? Because you do business all over the world but you're an East coast now too. You're?

Sophia Burrell: I'm in Queens At the moment. I recently move from Long Island So I'm in Queens right now trying to I'm gonna be transitioning.

Joshua Berglan: 

Sophia Burrell: So this is my transition phase. So I'm here temporarily in Queens. New York.

Joshua Berglan: No and where you're going again.

Sophia Burrell: I originally lived in Long Island, are you familiar with New York?

Joshua Berglan: Okay. I am,…

Joshua Berglan: I Love New York.

Sophia Burrell: Okay, I lived in Long Island. And I know I mean Queens temporarily but I'm thinking of upstate New York or…

Joshua Berglan: Okay.

Sophia Burrell: Connecticut. Because I am not really a city person.

Joshua Berglan: 

Sophia Burrell: I don't really like New York City, I hate the crowd I hate apartment living. Let's put it that way, where there's someone above you under,…

Joshua Berglan: 

Sophia Burrell: you left, and right of It's not something that I like a lot. So I'm transitioning to either connect to cut or upstate.

Joshua Berglan: Connecticut is beautiful too, so It is when I was in healthcare,…

Sophia Burrell: Yes, I know. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: the business that we sold out to, we sold our family business, to a giant national company, and they were bet based in Connecticut.

Sophia Burrell: Okay.

Joshua Berglan: So I got to go up there for the first time and…

Sophia Burrell: Okay. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: What an unreal place. So I mean, it's beautiful But there was also an element to it that I felt like I was 20 years back in time, and…

Sophia Burrell: Mm- Okay.

Joshua Berglan: then there was some areas where I felt like I was 200 years back in time so the Northeast is a very interesting part of the United States but

Sophia Burrell: Yeah. Im No, I was thinking of staying closer to the city which is Fairfield County So I don't want to go anywhere beyond that.

Joshua Berglan: Mm- Okay. Okay. …

Sophia Burrell: So yeah.

Joshua Berglan: you have an accent.

Sophia Burrell: I'm originally from Jamaica. I came to the US three months after 9/11,…

Joshua Berglan: okay.

Sophia Burrell: believe it or not. Yes.

Joshua Berglan: Okay, I'm gonna question then. that's interesting, I didn't know that about What was that coming to America at that time because that time for anyone who lived in America was, they could probably look back and say, that's when everything changed. But coming to America,…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: At that time. What was that like for you?

Sophia Burrell: It's not something that I think about really as it relates to 9/11 because it never really affected me here or…

Joshua Berglan: Sure.

Sophia Burrell: there to be honest with you because I am from another place. I…

Joshua Berglan: Sure.

Sophia Burrell: I wasn't American and so it affected me differently. So, I mean, I came to the US and New York specifically and I just hit the ground running. I would go to Wall Street area, trying to find work and all over the city and it didn't affect me, really? To be honest with you, That. But I did understand the magnitude of…

Joshua Berglan: No, that's

Sophia Burrell: what had happened.

Joshua Berglan: From what I understand about it. I've been to primarily Jamaican areas like in Costa Rica but not actually Jamaica. And so I've heard you…

Sophia Burrell: I see.

Joshua Berglan: different stereotypes. I mean I've seen pictures of Jamaica that are absolutely beautiful but then you hear of some of the violence and other things that happens drug trade.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: Is that? What growing up like and again, I don't know if you grew up around the violence. I don't know any of that stuff. But when you come from a place like that,…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: that has that type of reputation or stereotype to it, being from there, how does that make you feel?

Sophia Burrell: 

Sophia Burrell: I mean it doesn't make me feel any way different. I mean it's not like the violence was right in my backyard or something,

Joshua Berglan: Yeah.

Sophia Burrell: So I was having a conversation with someone a few days ago And I remember in Jamaica, I attended high school. I was an athlete. I was the fastest woman a girl in my school and every morning we had to meet at the National Stadium for training. And I would leave the house at 5 am in the mornings. Throughout high school. And it dawn on me, I think earlier this year, that it was so dangerous for me to do that, but I just never thought of it that way. Because every morning would have to meet at the stadium at six o'clock and…

00:05:00

Joshua Berglan: Yeah.

Sophia Burrell: would have to leave the house at 5:00. Walk to the bus stop. And take that bus, I don't know, maybe about 30 minutes drive and meet the team there. And so, In the violence wasn't necessarily in my backyard. Because I mean, I did that throughout high school and I wasn't in danger or anything. I survived it.

Joshua Berglan: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: I am. And that's interesting because I've heard pretty much the same thing from other people that come from places with stereotypical tons of violence, and crime and…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: gangs, and I've heard the same thing. And then in my own experience and I've lived in primarily big cities, and I've been surrounded by craziness and…

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: violence, and poverty, and…

Sophia Burrell: Right. Right.

Joshua Berglan: homelessness and drug use and all the stuff that comes with Living in a major city. But when you're there, you're just living and What?

Sophia Burrell: Yeah, you just living and my mind there are neighborhoods that are famous for being, there areas…

Joshua Berglan: Yeah.

Sophia Burrell: where there are violence but I didn't live in those neighborhoods. So, you…

Joshua Berglan: Or hang out there.

Sophia Burrell: I didn't experience it today,…

Sophia Burrell: be up what? I'm sorry.

Joshua Berglan: I said We're hanging out there,…

Joshua Berglan: Yeah. I got it. So with your background in psychology, And, of course, the gamification of life that you come up with. And Is just so neat,…

Sophia Burrell: No, I never did. So

Sophia Burrell: yeah.

Joshua Berglan: but what led you into the field of psychology?

Sophia Burrell: 

Sophia Burrell: I'm not sure there's something about learning about human behavior and how the you're thinking affects your behavior and all that kind of stuff. I don't know. I was always fascinated by it and I did really well. I mean there's something that I'm always a little Nervous about sharing is not. I did my master's online. University of Phoenix and so I don't know. For some reason, there's a little stigma to that but I did my psychology degree online and…

Joshua Berglan: Really.

Sophia Burrell: did very well. I got a very high GPA I think because I was so interested in All the topics of psychology. I don't know. I loved it. And so,…

Joshua Berglan: I was.

Sophia Burrell: yeah. Go ahead.

Joshua Berglan: I was drawn to it, always too, and I couldn't explain why. I didn't even enjoy reading. I don't enjoy reading that much. But when it comes to things about…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: how our mind works, how I was drawn to,…

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: criminals and psychopaths, and serial killers, and not that I wanted to be one. but it,…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: but in some way, Because I went through my own trauma and, abuse and other things. And I don't need to go into my story now.

Joshua Berglan: But I saw a lot of things growing up that were dark and…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: evil and conflicting with also growing up in the church, it was,…

Sophia Burrell: Right.

Joshua Berglan: I was immersed in the world of good and evil and the evil side of things seem more fascinating to me because the good,…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: the good seems so unreachable. So, for…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: I was relating more to the dark side again. Not that I wanted to go. Anyone. but how that mind worked and everything from sex addiction to violence to so on and it's fascinating because it almost

Joshua Berglan: We are so fragile as humans yet. At the same time, we are expected and even To have all of this strength and knowing in their identity. But yet everything that we seem to encounter in this life in this world,…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: Seems to be an attack on our identity, to keep us from knowing who we really are. Am I really far off here or…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah. No.

00:10:00

Joshua Berglan: straight somewhere close.

Sophia Burrell: And, I was listening to a podcast, some weeks ago and the person said, Psychology is a soft science. As if it's not important or it was like on the mind in the significance of what psychology is. And I felt insulted that he said that, it might be soft science. I mean I guess to a degree but I mean psychology effects everything.

Joshua Berglan: Everything.

Sophia Burrell: Doesn't it? Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: I'm at this place now where I believe that our mind, I shifted my belief about a lot of things about a year ago and I started to Kind of come to this place where the Garden of Eden tennis Okay. The Garden of Eden.

Joshua Berglan: Seems to me to be the brain. and…

Sophia Burrell: Okay.

Joshua Berglan: that could be far off and that I could go off on a tangent on this. But there seems to be this warfare on our mind, your vision television programming. when we get into this kind of stuff, and I'm really into mind control. And I've read a lot of books on this.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah, my games. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: And I'm tying our external stimuli. All of the different programming.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: All of the different entertainment are multi-screen entertainment. It's on every possible device that we can get some kind of content to fill our minds with. And what do we choose to do that?

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: And so it seems like we are programming ourselves, and I'm starting to work this belief that a lot of these books and movies and other things from the past years past that were showing us a future. it's almost like we by watching this stuff and…

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: talking about it or manifesting these realities that Hum from our television. Is it,…

Sophia Burrell: So funny.

Joshua Berglan: what do you think about that?

Sophia Burrell: Yeah, it's so funny. You should say that because I was watching the History Channel some weeks ago. And this fascination that Americans have with breakfast being egg and bacon. that was someone's a marketing.

Joshua Berglan: Yeah. Look

Sophia Burrell: Tactic some many years ago. what that was marketing and…

Joshua Berglan: That's true.

Sophia Burrell: people just bought into it and it's a natural thing for people now but it was a marketing ploy. I don't know, I don't remember what decade but maybe in the 1900 somewhere but I mean, the way that marketing worked, we now don't even realize that there was someone's idea. Of us,…

Joshua Berglan: Yeah, it is crazy.

Sophia Burrell: it's crazy, isn't it?

Joshua Berglan: And then I mean I would think of boot campaigns

Sophia Burrell: That wasn't much. I think it was a marketing ploy to sell more eggs or something like that. I don't quite remember but it was a marketing ploy.

Joshua Berglan: I remember Pork, the other white meat that campaign when that came out. I mean,…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: yeah, you're right. There's something to that. I mean, they've done it with cigarettes. I mean,…

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: So okay. why you got into psychology and…

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: But the gamification.

Sophia Burrell: Mm-hmm

Joshua Berglan: So I interviewed someone and the timing of this is so interesting because just last week, I interviewed, somebody an amazing woman, her name is Ashton and what she does is she goes into move into business meetings, and it would work with school too, but she just gets sharpies and markers and she's drawing and sketching during this meeting and what she creates for the people that are a part of this meeting is this visual representation of that meeting that for some reason, these pictures that she draws helps everyone in that Get the full benefit of what that meeting was supposed to be out and…

Sophia Burrell: wow.

Joshua Berglan: it somehow brings them all together. And I thought, this is really interesting. And I didn't understand any of it ly, and I still don't fully understand it.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: But what you're doing? Is like to me and I'm not putting down what Ashton does. It all? Because I love Ashton. It's actually one of my favorite people on the planet now. but you're taking, But kind of what that is, but you're doing something far. Almost. It feels deeper and it feels like this process and you correct me if I'm wrong because I haven't read any research or studies, but it feels like by these custom board games that are centered around the person, the brand, the identity, the business, it's helping, then get into the subconscious of who's playing their game. Okay, explain…

00:15:00

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: what you do now for the audience. So I don't, but

Sophia Burrell: So I am fascinated with this gamification process and it started accidentally actually in 2018. my door, I was struggling in my business and my eldest thought of me creating a business kit for my business. now, we went online and look at examples, but none of them seem to Fit what I was doing. But we were brainstorming all morning and what to do and, my brand is the Victory acronym. I'm not sure you're aware of that. So my brand is a victory acronym. And we were trying to determine how we can create a business kit around this acronym. and a board game idea came out of that brainstorming session with my daughter.

Joshua Berglan: Wow.

Sophia Burrell: And I created Conferences At first, it was called Victory Trail Game. Utilizing all the traits within the acronym, so I'm not sure…

Joshua Berglan: Mmm.

Sophia Burrell: if you know that, So I use the word victory as an acronym where each letter represents an enduring quality or attribute that essential to victory. And so, that was what my first game was about these seven attributes. And so I put C represents confidence. And that was in the center of the game. So that was my first game and I used to go into college, I was in Long Island at the time and I would go to Suffolk County and send Joseph's college and have Display the game and get their feedback. And so my love of gamification started based on that. earlier this year, I was hanging out a lot with them. It's a friend of mine here. He owns a plumbing company in Harlem. And I thought of

Sophia Burrell: He has been good to me, And I thought of doing something for him in as a payback basically and that created a game for him but just the game is based on his business. What he does. So there are four areas that people call them about all the time. Overflowing toilet overflow, sewer, overflow kitchen sink overflow, and no heat. And I created a game based on those four. Services. And that was where. Building board games for others came about.

Joshua Berglan: So, you built the game form. Does he sell the game to his customers?

Sophia Burrell: No. No,…

Joshua Berglan: How does that work?

Sophia Burrell: the game was supposed to be for his staff because there are some lower level employees…

Joshua Berglan: 

Sophia Burrell: who need to know the basics of plumbing. And so the game was very in-depth. It's not just for fun. The game was a learning tool as well, but I did a deep dive into plumbing to create that game. so for any of his staff are playing the game, they're learning something about how to do. Certain basic stuff employment.

Joshua Berglan: So okay, so if I was a broadcaster, What kind of game would you create for a broadcaster or…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: am I giving away secrets by asking this question? Okay.

Sophia Burrell: No, of course So I mean a broadcaster. So what we try to do in our game development, is to use the company's story, and their brand message and weave that into the narrative of the game. So I would have to know the story of this broadcaster.

Joshua Berglan: 

Sophia Burrell: I would have to know what their brand message is. and that's the basis of building a narrative in the game.

Joshua Berglan: So what kind of like obviously this is effective because you're working in Africa, the UK Australia, the United States, I miss…

Sophia Burrell: Let me correct you there,…

Joshua Berglan: Europe.

Sophia Burrell: is that? okay, so I build the game for someone in the UK, But I'm the reason…

Joshua Berglan: Yeah.

Sophia Burrell: why I mentioned Australia and Africa is because I'm trademarked in a lot of countries. So, it's not that I actually worked there or…

00:20:00

Joshua Berglan: Okay.

Sophia Burrell: it's not that. I built some game for someone there, but I'm trademarked all over the world. and it is the idea. And the reason why I did that also is because I'm interested working in those areas. I'm interested in working in those countries, so a trademark my stuff there. So, when I get there, there's no confusion, That's what she does and I'm not intervening in other people's. Brand. So, I secured my spot in some countries and I don't actually work there.

Joshua Berglan: Fair enough. But it's too okay. Then either way that actually I'm more impressed by that you have the foresight in the belief and the vision to know that you're going to be doing business there. So you prepared I love that now good.

Sophia Burrell: M- which is why it was fascinating. When I build this game for Guy in London, I actually felt Somewhat comfortable because I'm trademark there. My book is in the library's there.

Joshua Berglan: Yeah.

Sophia Burrell: So I feel it's like, I have all that's those things set up there way before, I visited The place.

Joshua Berglan: What, I'm the world's mayor and…

Sophia Burrell: 

Joshua Berglan: I haven't been all over the world yet and I'm not officially the world's mayor yet, but I own the domain. And but I have a global vision. I have a heart for community And this nickname…

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: how I came about, it don't need to go into the story, but I have a global vision that I am obsessed with in most of where my vision takes place. I have never seen a picture of other than a photo. I mean I've seen pictures of it but never been I have friends and…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: people that I know from there, these places all over Africa is one of them including South Africa. Since I was a child, I've had these dreams.

Joshua Berglan: Of working there and…

Sophia Burrell: Right. Yes,…

Joshua Berglan: serving there. and…

Sophia Burrell: me too.

Joshua Berglan: I'm and…

Joshua Berglan: I've been obsessed with that. My whole life haven't been there yet. But again, my mindset my goals, and how I want to impact the world. it's fitting of that nickname. So it's like I'm just gonna step into that suit whenever the Creator allows it to happen,…

Sophia Burrell: Mm- Yes.

Sophia Burrell: Yes. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: but everything I do is to move towards that goal.

Sophia Burrell: Mm- Yeah. Yes.

Joshua Berglan: Let me ask you this, what kind of mindset for you as a your psychiatrist? Correct. It's

Sophia Burrell: I'm not a psychiatrist. I have a master's Insideology.

Joshua Berglan: That's okay. I wanted to thank you for clarifying. I'm trying to go off of everything. I remember from reading and I don't have notes with me so I'm going off memory.

Sophia Burrell: Okay. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: But that kind of background. What is your mindset? when you have this big goal in this big dream but you're not there yet. What keeps you going? Every day pursuing that goal.

Sophia Burrell: what keeps me going is, from, for many years I've always said, as a matter of fact, I said this in high school And I remember writing it down in one of the back of my book. Before I die, I want the world to know who Sophia Burrell was. And listen,…

Joshua Berglan: Why?

Sophia Burrell: I don't know why I said it at the time. But that was just something within me. And since I realized that I've been living my life chasing this That statement before I die.

Joshua Berglan: 

Sophia Burrell: I want people to know who I am. I don't want to be. this obscure figure that nobody knows about, And I think that was what drove me also to trademark in all the countries that I have. Because my books because tell you what, I did, So drew the pandemic. What I did was I ordered 20 copies of my book. And I mailed it to libraries in, I don't know, maybe in Five Libraries in Africa. In the UK and some places in the Caribbean. And I think that's so, okay, I'm gonna give you the story.

Joshua Berglan: What a great idea.

Sophia Burrell: The first time so was so, I went to Europe in March, right? And my flight.

Joshua Berglan: Yeah.

00:25:00

Sophia Burrell: I was going straight to Paris my business partner lives in Paris. And so I had a connecting flight in London. But because Paris had a strike, the flights were canceled between London and Paris, and so I had to stay over in London for the night. So I'm walking around looking for a cheap place to stay here and I keep passing this library, which it was close to, the Victoria coach station. And I had one copy of my book. And I said,…

Joshua Berglan: Okay.

Sophia Burrell: You know what? I'm gonna go in there. So I know, I went to book the room first, put my stuff down, and then I went back to the library and told them that I asked the guy who was at the front desk. I said is it possible to have put my book on the catalog that you have here? He was giving me a story, some excuses about. The Library of Congress and all that stuff. And I said, okay, and I was actually working out. When I remember that I did mail some books to London. went back to him and I said, I did mail some books to some libraries in London. Could you just check if you have it on your catalog already? And he checked. And my book. Is in the library system in London.

Joshua Berglan: 

Sophia Burrell: I was so shocked because I mean I just did this really you…

Joshua Berglan: Yeah.

Sophia Burrell: sending my books. I just went online to find some library addresses and mail my book with a note on it and they put my book on their catalog. So, I think having that mindset from that time. Is what drove me for is driving me to do these things because I don't want to pass and nobody knows who Sophia Burrell was. So I'm always say to my kids. if I die today. my books will still be in the libraries. and years from now, people will still be, reading my book

Joshua Berglan: I'm gonna ask you a personal question. Because I have the same desire,…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: I would word it differently.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: My words would sound different but it means the same exact thing.

Joshua Berglan: And I say until I want to be famous, but famous for the right reasons not famous as I was an actor. I want to be famous for the work that I do for other people and…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: I help people And that's the legacy that I want to leave, but I want to be famous for making other people. Famous, that's…

Sophia Burrell: as a matter of fact,…

Joshua Berglan: what I want.

Sophia Burrell: yeah, you use that word, sorry that I always use as well, I think having This vision. it's about leaving a legacy and…

Joshua Berglan: Yeah.

Sophia Burrell: you just use that word. it's actually about legacy. It's not me wanting to be famous.

Joshua Berglan: And when I say famous again, it's not from an ego place. It's for the Famous people have wasted an opportunity to do so much damn good in the world. And they have power powers more important than money…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: because power gives you influence.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: When you have power, you can walk into a room and you can make things happen. And I am tired of watching people suffer.

Sophia Burrell: Nothing. Yes.

Joshua Berglan: I am tired of watching voices being drowned out by a corporate media with an agenda. There is no room for truth in this world,…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: or at least. That's what people think. Therefore, they silence themselves.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: Or some people don't even know how to use their voice and they're intimidated to use their voice because of what happens to them when they speak the truth. And I drives me nuts and I want to be part of that change. one of my goals in life is to be a part of it. I know I can't do it alone, but I want to be one of the

Joshua Berglan: Influential fact, that one of the influences behind shattering, the power that lies in the hands of a few of the media,…

Sophia Burrell: Yes. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: I want to shatter into millions of people of pieces to give the power to millions of people and spread it out because that way other people will have an opportunity to get their voices heard. And the truth,…

Sophia Burrell: Right.

Joshua Berglan: though there will be room for truth. And I don't believe that we can heal this conflict between races and religions and everything else. So we have the absolute truth and…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: we don't have that right now.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah, I agree. one has to wonder, why is it that when people come into money they hold on to it. So tightly where they would never help. A community or help another person or often wonder and I know look at Jeff Bridge, Jeff Bezos for example. I don't remember how much is yacht. He has a yard that's cost, I don't know 15 million or something like that. And I'm like I mean, is that more important than sending half of that to some Third World country to help them or I don't know.

00:30:00

Sophia Burrell: maybe if I have that kind of money that I'll think differently. I'm not sure. But it seems like there's so much waste when that money Could be more useful somewhere somewhere else in the world.

Joshua Berglan: I was watching a YouTube video about a month ago and it was about they were showing this warehouse that the Saudi prince had That he had every make and model of every single car ever made in those cars, just set there. And the reason I heard that they had that Was because they have to spend that money or they get taxed to death or something like that. Like they need that.

Sophia Burrell: Always.

Joshua Berglan: Those depreciating assets, that was the reason I heard and…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: it kind of makes sense, but at the same time, there's still a hundred billion dollars and you have God knows what kind of credit. you could go rebuild some communities, there's no reason for homelessness.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: In America at all, there's none. But yet we have a homeless epidemic growing

Sophia Burrell: Yeah. people. Was also saying that Jamaica is indeed crime ridden. And what I mean? I lost my chain of thought. Okay, so people will say a lot of negative things about the Caribbean Jamaican particular. But there are poverty here in America. That's worse than the Jamaica, I…

Joshua Berglan: Really. I haven't been to Jamaica so I don't know.

Sophia Burrell: don't you find?

Joshua Berglan: But I lived in Los Angeles. I've lived in Vegas. I've lived all over California in San Diego too.

Sophia Burrell: Yes. Right.

Joshua Berglan: I've spent so much time in San Francisco and I have a heart for the homeless community.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah. Right.

Joshua Berglan: So I've done a lot of work with them over there, even here that's close to me in Minneapolis. and I've seen some things that are like this is in America, it's skid row point,…

Sophia Burrell: There's not.

Joshua Berglan: you have all of these kids running around and…

Sophia Burrell: .

Joshua Berglan: it's like, How is this allowed? So I don't know…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: what it's like there to be able to comment on it, but I do know. It's some pretty sketchy stuff here.

Sophia Burrell: the homelessness in Jamaica Is nowhere near what was happening in LA. You…

Joshua Berglan: Wow.

Sophia Burrell: and So I grew up in Jamaica.

Sophia Burrell: I have. And So I know that Jamaica is a tropical place. it's warm year round. And so there's so many fruits there to eat. It's like You can't really go hungry. I go to my grandmother's place and there's a cashew tree at the back, there's apple tree, There's guinea, there's Star Pool. There's banana. All those things are in my grandmother's backyard, so it's like a,…

Joshua Berglan: Wow.

Sophia Burrell: you can't go hungry. Maybe there are people there who are going hungry but it was not my experience.

Joshua Berglan: I think that Jamaica's featured in this book, called Happiness in the Blue Zones, Do you know about this…

Sophia Burrell: yeah. No.

Joshua Berglan: It's about the happiest places on the Planet National Geographic, I think wrote the book it.

Sophia Burrell: And Jamaica's woman.

Joshua Berglan: I think Jamaica is one of the places that is listed as happiest on the world.

Sophia Burrell: No. Right.

Joshua Berglan: Costa Rica is one. Switzerland is another.

Sophia Burrell: 

Joshua Berglan: And they talk about there's high taxes. Yes. But all of, this is taken care of. and again, I don't remember exactly.

Joshua Berglan: But I do think Jamaica was there. I know for sure. Costa Rica was too. And the only thing that I think about, when you mentioned the fruit trees and everything is that people live day to day, they live in the moment and they are grateful for what they have in the moment. And that seems to be this underlying across the board with all of those countries and the blue zones. That everyone was grateful for what they had in the moment that was the common theme amongst at all.

00:35:00

Sophia Burrell: Yes. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: And yet in America, because we got to buy the next thing. Gotta buy the newest thing,…

Sophia Burrell: It's a culture,…

Joshua Berglan: got It's part of our culture.

Sophia Burrell: it's the cultural thing I guess. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: You're right. How do you

Joshua Berglan: Because there's a bit of a dopamine fix. When you buy something new, or you get something new and exciting, but it goes away really quick.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: It's kind of like doing a drug like cocaine where you get those few minutes of euphoria and then s***. I got to do another one. And another one.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: And when that has become a culture? and an identity, even How do you reverse that or…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: does it just have to be broken…

Sophia Burrell: What I mean?

Joshua Berglan: but isn't it funny? I don't know.

Sophia Burrell: Even if it's broken, there must be some solution but I don't know. So there's certain things that are so steeped in the American culture. it's gonna be hard to fix, So I don't know how to answer that.

Joshua Berglan: yeah, I always think of, there's a pastor in America, his name's TD Jakes, He, …

Sophia Burrell: I love him.

Joshua Berglan: he's known for saying the blessing is in the breaking.

Sophia Burrell: Yes. yes.

Joshua Berglan: my so every time and that's ultimately when I heard that it kind of made me addicted to

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: Okay, I know this is gonna hurt but I'm doing it. Anyway and…

Sophia Burrell: Yes. He?

Joshua Berglan: not physical hurt, but emotionally hurt where this is another example of me needing to die to myself. This is another part of killing a part of my ego.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: This is I don't want to talk about this, but I need to talk about Whatever it is. going through that pain,…

Sophia Burrell: But that's a mindset. Mm-hmm.

Joshua Berglan: facing that giant going to slay, that dragon is painful and brutal as the experience may be. There's blessings all up in it, it's

Sophia Burrell: Yes, and, I think, that was a mindset shift, right learning that from him and…

Joshua Berglan: Mmm.

Sophia Burrell: it's shifted me as well. I remember that sermon. I still listen to him. Constantly, I love TD Jakes. he has a way of wording things that just makes it so easy To understand and…

Joshua Berglan: Yeah. I 100% agree.

Sophia Burrell: to Lots of takeaways from his sermons.

Joshua Berglan: And what he does I mean As a businessman too, like his knowledge of media.

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: I was inspiring for me, he followed the same format in a blueprint like Oprah going.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: He was independent media before independent media became a thing and…

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: he covered all the bases music and books and speaking in film and production and he was covering all the bases. So he was a huge influence for me, kind of across the board, not even just in ministry,…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: but as a businessman as an entertainment and…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: as a media, he was a massive influence, but I heard him speak at the Rock church in San Diego. He was promoting his book sore.

Sophia Burrell: Okay.

Joshua Berglan: And Soar was another one of the books where they talk about the blessing, being of the breaking.

Sophia Burrell: Yes, yes.

Joshua Berglan: and it changed my life and one of the examples that he gave and I'd like to get your comments on this, but he was talking about An airplane that is just lost a wing.

Sophia Burrell: Okay.

Joshua Berglan: It's coming down and pilot. it can do one of two things. my God,…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah. Yeah,…

Joshua Berglan: I got

Sophia Burrell: panic.

Joshua Berglan: I've got one wing, I'm landing this plane. I'm getting everyone home safely.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: This is what I got and it was focus on the things. You do have it.

Sophia Burrell: Yes, exactly.

Joshua Berglan: Not what you note.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah yeah,…

Joshua Berglan: That?

Sophia Burrell: love that.

Joshua Berglan: That was the story. when you hear What does that mean to you?

Sophia Burrell: I kind of live my life also based on some of the things you say I think I'm a professional optimist.

Joshua Berglan: 

Sophia Burrell: And people can be annoyed with me too being this optimistic. It's like nobody wants to be around an optimistic person all the time. If something goes wrong, I'm like, what is this supposed to mean? what is God's bigger plan? Why He has put me through this difficulty?

00:40:00

Joshua Berglan: Yeah.

Sophia Burrell: That's all I think, but touching back on t. There's something that TG Jakes said, he has so many nuggets out there. But This one, he said nobody would have known Jesus. If it wasn't for Judas Right.

Joshua Berglan: That's true.

Sophia Burrell: Because Judas betrayed Jesus. That's What created this thing around Jesus, So, it's don't Feel offended if you're betrayed or if people don't like you're being criticized. Maybe that's a blessing in disguise. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: There was another saying that was about betrayal and blessings but you can't have the blessing without betrayal or something like that. In another one that I love,…

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: that didn't come from TD Jakes. I first heard it from Ed Mylett and…

Sophia Burrell: Okay. …

Joshua Berglan: that is life happens for you.

Sophia Burrell: I love the mallet.

Sophia Burrell: Hello guys.

Joshua Berglan: I interviewed him three or…

Joshua Berglan: four years ago and I had the best time here.

Sophia Burrell: You want you?

Joshua Berglan: Do I?

Sophia Burrell: He said it met him. did…

Joshua Berglan: Yeah, I interviewed him. yeah,…

Sophia Burrell: Wow.

Joshua Berglan: yeah, it I was when I was living in LA and He was great.

Sophia Burrell: My goodness. No, I'm jealous.

Joshua Berglan: He opened up.

Sophia Burrell: I'm so jealous of that.

Joshua Berglan: He opened up on his relationship with God and I got him to talk differently than he normally does an interviews and…

Sophia Burrell: Right. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: it was great but I got kicked off of YouTube and so I lost that I interviewed somewhere, but I lost it anyway…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah. yeah.

Joshua Berglan: but he is an amazing guy but he said that too in that same stuck out to my head because every time something bad happened. I developed this mindset of going.

Sophia Burrell: Yes.

Joshua Berglan: I know this is happening for me.

Sophia Burrell: For four reasons.

Joshua Berglan: I auditioned for the Miami heat, I can now say it. I to do TV for them and…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: audition and I just found out that I didn't get it. somebody else's got the gig and my first reaction was Something better is coming from me. I got something better and…

Sophia Burrell: Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: I really didn't even really want the job because I'm a Oklahoma City Thunder fan but it would have been a great opportunity. But my immediate reaction was Something God's got something better for me and…

Sophia Burrell: Of course.

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: And I would have never had that mindset if I didn't hear four years ago, life happens for you.

Sophia Burrell: Yes, of course. Yeah. No.

Joshua Berglan: Because I'm not a victim and everything is working out in my favor.

Sophia Burrell: Yes, your favor.

Joshua Berglan: God has proven that every day of my life and even when I was not even walking with God, Looking back at it. When I should have probably been killed,…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: God should have just taken me out. He was still lining my paths, and with all the hardship, all the struggle, all of that. It's all turned out to be a blessing. Every bit of it.

Sophia Burrell: Do you recall this other sermon that he had about the storm? so sometimes No,…

Joshua Berglan: How eagles rise above the storm? and…

Sophia Burrell: no, we're not.

Joshua Berglan: it was, are you talking about How an eagle uses the storm to rise above?

Sophia Burrell: yeah, I know but that one, too, but that's not the one I'm referred to. So,

Joshua Berglan: that's Miles Monroe. They did that one. Okay, good.

Sophia Burrell: so he said, Sometimes, when a the storm doesn't come to hurt you. The storm comes to maybe redirect your path. Yeah, right.

Joshua Berglan: I like that one, too.

Joshua Berglan: I, Man, what a life. You're so fun to talk to. I'm so glad that you came on.

Sophia Burrell: yeah, you do.

Joshua Berglan: I want you to, I mean, we could just keep talking for hours, but I would love for you to please plug your business plug where people can follow you, where people can get their game made and…

Sophia Burrell: Yeah.

Joshua Berglan: and just share anything that's on your heart.

Sophia Burrell: It's Sophia Burrell. I N T L. Dot com. That's the website. And I also have a course called Gamify Your goals. And I recently changed it to gamify yourself. So the course is based on the victory acronym, we spoke of earlier. And you can sign up there at gamify your goals.com.

00:45:00

Joshua Berglan: Excellent, do you have any last words? Okay. Sophia.

Sophia Burrell: That's it nice to meet you, Joshua.

Joshua Berglan: You are a blessing. I'm so glad we got to talk and I look forward to getting to know you more All…

Sophia Burrell: Thank you so much. Have a great day. Bye.

Joshua Berglan: Thank you.

Meeting ended after 00:45:18 👋