Shows
QUOTATIONSEpisode 192 - Romain Gary on the Value of HumorRomain Gary was a successful author and man of mystery and intrigue. He even tricked the nation of France into awarding him two of the same award, normally only given to a person once in a lifetime. His autobiography is seen to be somewhat inflated and enhanced, but his observations on the value of humor to our lives is profound.
2024-03-0612 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 191 - David Whyte's Consolations - Part 5: DisappointmentIn the final episode of this 5-part series on David Whyte’s book Consolations. This week, we discuss disappointment, an integral part of any journey of self improvement. We need not reject it or avoid it, but instead embrace it as a catalyst to our transformation. It reveals the potential future us, perhaps beyond what we could have imagined.
2024-02-1415 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 190 - David Whyte's Consolations - Part 4: ConfessionIn this, the 4th of 5 episodes on David Whyte's book Consolations, we examine confession. Not the religious form, but the broadly applicable form. It is a type of self-aware rejection of the old ways and an adoption of the new, even at the expense of image or prestige.
2024-01-2412 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 189 - David Whyte's Consolations - Part 3: LoveIn this, the 3rd of 5 episodes on David Whyte's Consolations, we explore love and closeness. They are not without risk, but the potential beauty in the act of laying down our arms and dropping our defenses can be incredible.
2024-01-1716 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 188 - David Whyte’s Consolations - Part 2: AngerIn the 2nd episode of this 5 part series, we examine anger through author David Whyte's words, both its origins and its impacts to identify that which we hold most dear. It's an important lesson as life is full of opportunities to be angry and therefore opportunities to grow and to learn.
2024-01-1012 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 187 - David Whyte’s Consolations - Part 1: CourageDavid Whyte is an author and poet and his book Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words is one of my very favorite books. In this series we will explore his words and seek deeper meaning. We begin the new year with, appropriately, a quote on Courage.
2024-01-0313 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 186 - Bill Whitaker on Dark DaysBill Whitaker is a host of the critically acclaimed 60 Minutes broadcast and has covered many challenging stories for years. He has seen the best and worst of humanity through the lens of a camera and at the end of a microphone. His message from a 2021 episode of the show is as accurate and encouraging today as it was then.
2023-12-2806 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 185 - Charlotte Perkins Gilman on Duty to SocietyCharlotte Perkins Gilman lived around the turn of the 20th century and was a strong advocate for social change. She edited and published a magazine entitle The Forerunner and in it she explored a wide range of topics. She challenged the status quo for parents and children and the world took note. Her quote on a young person's duty to society is the topic of today's episode.
2023-12-2012 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 184 - Barbara Bush on GivingFormer first lady Barbara Bush had both influence and wealth, yet one of her most quoted lines is about giving. As we are amid the holiday season, it is useful for us to remember that giving does more than make us feel good...it takes us out of ourselves and makes us aware of others. This is a lesson worth remembering year-round.
2023-12-1312 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 183 - Austin von Letkemann on Subordinate StrugglesAustin von Letkemann is the creator of Mandatory Fun Day, a comedy/satire social media page that pokes fun at the military and all its quirks. He also drops some very profound and challenging thoughts on leadership. Today's quote is one such thought. Austin challenges us to challenge our subordinates but not waste their time, to be stable for them and not inject more friction than already exists in their lives.
2023-12-0615 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 182 - Ed Helms on the Good Old DaysEd Helms portrayed the memorable character Andy Bernard on the hit show, The Office. Andy was quirky and unique and not unlike a coworker many of us would recognize. In the series finale, he delivered a truly memorable quote and punch to the gut to remind us to cherish where we are before it's over.
2023-11-2909 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 181 - Poetry Explication #13: Dust If You Must by Rose MilliganThere isn’t a lot of well-known poetry by Rose Milligan, but Dust if You Must is one you should know. It’s a fantastic reminder that life can be cruel and short and that spending our time on superficial things that matter little might just be the thing we regret the most in the end.
Today’s episode is dedicated to my good friend Kenny Brown, who lost a shipmate and close friend early this year. He read this poem at her funeral and it is a fitting one indeed.
2023-11-2217 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 180 - Alan Rickman on the Cost of WarToday's quote is delivered by the late actor Alan Rickman in the movie Eye in the Sky. It is a challenging quote and is fitting for the week after Veterans Day/Armistice Day. Veterans bear a burden for their service but do appreciate the acknowledgement and appreciation we receive.
2023-11-1513 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 179 - Steve Jobs on HelplessnessSteve Jobs was the cofounder of Apple and an icon in the modern technological age. He made more money than most of us could ever hope to make and his influence is felt around the world to this day. Yet, he often took time to write brief notes to his future self highlighting his basic humanity. Today's quote is one such note, sent in 2010, reminding himself of his place in the world.
2023-11-0813 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 178 - Intro Quote #4: Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue DotI released a previous episode about Carl Sagan and his affinity for books. In today's episode of Quotations, I explore his famous quote from his book The Pale Blue Dot. The famous photo of Earth taken by Voyager 1 from 3.7 billion miles away shows us clearly just how small we really are in the grand scheme of things. It's a smallness worth remembering when the world seems to large.
2023-11-0115 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 177 - Intro Quote #3: Lupita Nyong’oLupita Nyong'o has starred on the stage and on the silver screen. She won an Oscar for her role in 12 Years a Slave and during her very brief acceptance speech took a few moments to remind herself and the world that dreams are valid, regardless of from where you come.
2023-10-2509 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 176 - Intro Quote #2: We Shall Fight on the Beaches by Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill led his nation through one of the most trying times in human history by the strength of his will and his incredible speaking abilities. Naturally, I had to include a quote of his in my introduction music for this podcast. Today's quote comes from one of three incredible speeches he gave in the first two months of his time as Prime Minister of England in 1940. His words stir the soul and stiffen the spine.
2023-10-1814 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 175 - Intro Quote #1: ”If” by Rudyard KiplingIn this, the first of four episodes in which we will explore the quotes snippets that are a part of the show's introductory music, we revisit Rudyard Kipling's famous poem "If." It is, arguably, one of the most recognizable and memorable poems of all time. I originally examined the poem in 2022 with my good friend Sean Powell in Episode 111. I enjoy this poem very much and it teaches me something every time I read it.
2023-10-111h 04QUOTATIONSEpisode 174 - Aimee Lehto Schewe on ImpossibilityAimee Lehto Schewe is a designer and marketer. Her words, the subject of today's episode, are often incorrectly attributed to the great boxer, Muhammad Ali. This means she is definitely good at her job! There were, in fact, part of an early 2000s ad campaign Aimee helped to create for the brand Adidas. Behind the words are great power and motivation.
2023-10-0411 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 173 - Eddie Vedder on NeedEddie Vedder...accomplished lead singer of Pearl Jam and solo artist and songwriter has a voice we all recognize. What makes today's quote so compelling is not only his voice but the words and meaning behind them. Society certainly is a crazy breed...and today we consider, pause, and ruminate on sufficiency, contentedness, and peace from his song, Society.
2023-09-2715 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 172 - Poetry Explication #12: When You are Old by William Butler YeatsWilliam Butler Yeats was a famous Irish poet of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He wrote a lot about loss and death in war, but today's poem is a bit different. It's about loss in a different form, a loss of love. Sad, but accepting. Sorrowful, but kind. It is the type of poem with which we can all relate. Join me as we explore When You are Old.
2023-09-2014 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 171 - A Quote on Courage & MeeknessMeekness is not a word we use regularly in society. For many it connotes weakness or passivity. This is not necessarily what it truly means in practice. Humility and meekness go hand in hand and employing humility in equal measure to our certainties is a surefire way to make the world a better place. Today's quote is about exactly that.
2023-09-1315 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 170 - Pearl Cleage on SolitudePearl Cleage is an author, poet, and playwright with a resume full of challenging works on difficult topics. Her accomplishments and publications are many and she is no stranger to late nights and long hours of hard work. That said, she also understands the importance of downtime and caring for ourselves amidst the hustle and bustle. Today's quote highlights that need and shows us the difference between solitude and loneliness.
2023-09-0615 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 169 - Alfred North Whitehead on the Art of ProgressAlfred North Whitehead was an accomplished mathematician and philosophy of the early 20th century. He taught the great Bertrand Russell and published long-lived titles in both academic disciplines. His writings, while challenging, are deep and insightful. His description of progress and how both change AND order collaborate within it is the subject of today's memorable quote.
2023-08-3014 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 168 - Epicurus on the Role of a PhilosopherEpicurus was a Greek philosopher who believed that philosophy should enhance the lives of its constituents, reducing their pain and suffering and fear to near zero. He provides us with a solid litmus test for those claiming to be philosophers or espousing philosophical certainty. His words we should apply broadly and relentlessly in our lives.
2023-08-2313 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 167 - Helen Keller on the Result of EducationHelen Keller was a remarkable woman. Struck deaf and blind by childhood illness, she spent her entire life striving and achieving. She did more in her life than many people without the same disabilities could ever hope to achieve. She was the first deaf-blind woman to graduate with a bachelor's degree from Harvard, cofounded the ACLU, and met with and influenced Presidents for decades. Her message was simple...be educated, be tolerant.
2023-08-1615 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 166 - A Quote on Green GrassIt's easy to think that everyone else has it better than we do. It's tempting to hold others in higher esteem than we hold ourselves. We always find that, despite these thoughts, that the grass is not always greener on the other side. But where is it greenest? Where we water it.
2023-08-0912 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 165 - Marc Chagall on Our Sense of WonderMarc Chagall was an artist who understood the magic of his work. He understood that artists fulfill an important role for us. They maintain our sense of wonder. They push back against our (and their) tendency to want to sleep (or simply drift through life). His words are a challenge to us to maintain that wonder.
2023-08-0215 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 164 - Stephanie Hunt on Reading for GrowthStephanie Hunt is an author and writer whose works have touched numerous publications. In addition to her writings, she teaches others to write, contributes to a non-profit radio station in South Carolina, and finds time in between all of that to read. Reading is so important and so powerful and Stephanie's words in today's quote highlight just how vital it is.
You can find Stephanie and her works at https://stephaniehuntwrites.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stephhuntwrites/?hl=en
2023-07-2614 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 163 - William Faulkner on the Human SpiritWilliam Faulkner was a Pulitzer Prize winning author and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1949. At that time, the fear of nuclear annihilation was significant and everpresent and would be for decades to come. Faulkner used his few short moments at the podium to graciously (perhaps begrudgingly) accept his award and then turned his attention to the young authors and writers in the crowd and abroad. He chose to encourage them and forego applause, self-aggrandizement, and monetary gain, all to make them better. He challenged them then as his words challenge us now.
2023-07-1915 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 162 - (REWIND) Anatol Rapoport on How to CriticizeThis week, we revisit one of my favorite episodes about Rapoport's Rules for critical commentary. I still struggle with this to this very day. I hope this challenges you as much as it does me.
2023-07-1228 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 161 - Michael J. Fox on Sustaining OptimismMichael J. Fox has been an actor for decades. He starred in Back to the Future, Spin City, & Family Ties. He also happens to be an actor with Parkinson's. Despite that diagnosis, he maintains palpable optimism. How? Today he tells us the magic ingredient to sustained optimism...it's gratitude.
2023-07-0514 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 160 - Oliver Warbucks on the Limited Value of MoneyOliver Warbucks is the fictional multi-millionaire in the classic musical Annie. Though he is not a real person, he offers us valuable advice as we scramble for evermore success, wealth, and notoriety. As you might expect, he reminds us that those things are not everything. Of course, this is easy for him to say...but it doesn't mean there's not truth behind his words.
2023-06-2812 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 159 - Poetry Explication #11: How Did You Die by Edmund Vance CookeEdmund Vance Cooke's poem is full of hardship, difficulty, and challenge. It's also full of hope and should embolden us to stand still, with stiffened spines, as life's challenges confront us. Let us have a good answer to the question "How did you die...?"
2023-06-2112 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 158 - Chuck Palahniuk on Being an AmalgamationChuck Palahniuk is the author of Fight Club, Choke, Invisible Monsters, and many other novels, often with troubled main characters and difficult circumstances. Today's quote comes from one such character, Brandy, in Invisible Monsters. We are the amalgamation of the people with whom we most often and closely associate. Importantly, we can (and should) curate that group carefully.
2023-06-1413 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 157 - Augustine on the Test of TruthAugustine of Hippo is a saint in multiple churches and penned a fascinating autobiography entitled Confessions. In it, he describes his shortcomings as if to a priest and we, the readers, are able to get a unique glimpse into why he did what he did in life. In today's quote, Augustine cautions us to beware the smooth talker AND the imperfect one as neither is guaranteed to be telling us the truth.
2023-06-0713 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 156 - Barbara de Angelis on Curing SocietyThere is trouble all around us. Society is frustrating and counterproductive and sometimes seems downright impossible to change. Today's quote by author and public speaker Barbara de Angelis acknowledges that we cannot singlehandedly fix all the injustices we see...but...we can initiate change and it's far easier than it seems.
2023-05-3113 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 155 - Michel de Montaigne on TormentMontaigne was a 16th century French philosopher and essayist who wrote short, single-page essay and far longer ones. Today's quote comes from one such essay and sets the tone, right from the start, that WE control how we respond to the inevitable hardships and torments of life. We can, with effort, choose not to be victims of circumstance and allow them to perpetually harm us, but instead repurpose them for good, both for ourselves and for others.
2023-05-2413 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 154 - Steven Pressfield on the Role of an OfficerSteven Pressfield has written many amazing books. His story of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, Gates of Fire, is among the finest. In this week's episode, we explore Dienekes and his officership in the face of certain death at the hands of more 2 million Persian fighters. He stood strong, steadied his men, and we can all learn something from that.
2023-05-1715 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 153 - Augustine Mandino on How to Treat PeopleAugustine Mandino was a highly successful salesman, author, and public speaker. He wrote and spoke extensively on success and, in today's quote, shows us how important it is to treat people well. If we do, then our lives will never be the same again.
Here's a great 10min speech of his that I reference in the episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV0Vmth4kT0&t=924s
2023-05-1014 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 152 - Maya Angelou on WritingMaya Angelou is one of the most well-known poets from the United States. She wrote and published for decades and had such an impact that her legacy will live on for centuries to come. Today, we explore her words about exploring ourselves. She encourages us to express ourselves through our creations and thus, to show the world both who we are and to show ourselves the same.
2023-05-0312 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 151 - Ryan Holiday on ObjectivityRyan Holiday, author of The Obstacle is the Way, and other books is a modern stoic and has thought a lot about how we can and should deal with hardship and difficulty, the universal certainty of human existence. His perspective on objectivity, taken directly from his book, is a great starting point.
2023-04-2614 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 150 - Coolio on Living and DyingCoolio was a rapper whom many of us remember from our youth. His song Gangster's Paradise is as well known as any song out there. In the song, which is catchy and memorable, he talks about death and how near to all of us it is at any moment.
We've talked about death a lot recently and this is another reminder to live and enjoy living every moment that you can because you never can know when your time is up.
2023-04-1910 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 149 - Evelyn Waugh on Artistic AchievementEvelyn Waugh was a writer in the early to mid-20th century. In a book review, of all places, he penned today's quote which highlights for us, once again, the potential creation of beauty from the ugly. We are equally capable of being both.
2023-04-1214 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 148 - Tecumseh on Our Death SongChief Tecumseh was a Shawnee Chief and a warrior who spent the majority of his life fighting. As such, he was familiar with and accepted death as a constant companion. His words on death, both preparation and respect for it are as accurate today as they were more than 100 years ago.
2023-04-0513 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 147 - Sam Harris on FinitenessToday's episode features a quote by Sam Harris from his podcast Making Sense. In it, Sam talks about the finiteness of life. We do everything for the last time at some point. We often don't even realize we're doing a thing for the very last time. This means that we have the opportunity to savor each moment, even the unpleasant ones, as we may never repeat them again. This is a perspective changer, to be certain.
2023-03-2916 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 146 - Poetry Explication #10: September 1, 1939 by W. H. Auden, Part 2This is our explication of the second half of W.H. Auden's September 1, 1939. Though the poem depicts a very dark day, it ends in hope and...a lesson to all of us.
2023-03-2214 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 145 - Poetry Explication #10: September 1, 1939 by W. H. Auden, Part 1W. H. Auden was a British-American poet who wrote an iconic poem about the day WWII officially began. In September 1, 1939, he gives us a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of a speaker living through what was the beginning of a multi-million casualty war. The poem describes how we got here and, importantly, how we might emerge. This is the first of a two-part series.
2023-03-0820 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 144 - Thomas Macaulay on a Societal Turning PointThomas Macaulay was a historian, author, and British Secretary of War. He wrote a massive tome on the history of England from 1685-1702, covering 5 volumes. He also wrote a collection of essays on various topics, compiled into a book entitled Critical and Historical Essays. It is from this work that we draw today's quote.
If you've ever felt like the world is coming to an end or that your or our way of life is threatened, Macaulay has salve for that concern. The trajectory of the world is, in fact, upward, not downward.
2023-03-0115 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 143 - Joseph Rost on InfluencersJoseph Rost was a professor of leadership and published a fantastic book on the topic Leadership for the 21st Century. From that book, I examine today's quote about leader-follower influence relationships. They can be difficult to establish and maintain, but well worth the effort when systemic change is needed.
2023-02-2215 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 142 - Lawrence Kushner on the Puzzle of OurselvesRabbi Lawrence Kushner has practiced his faith and led for decades. He's a regular contributor on NPR and in this week's episode, we explore a pearl of his wisdom from his 1977 book Honey from the Rock. He compares each of us to incomplete puzzles, wholly dependent on others to complete our puzzle and us theirs.
2023-02-1514 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 141 - Pink Floyd on TimePink Floyd is one of the most recognizable and unique-sounding bands of all time. Their music is as memorable as it is haunting. In today's episode, we explore the lyrics to Time, a hit from their Dark Side of the Moon album of 1973. Time is precious.
2023-02-0813 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 140 - Renana Brooks on The Character MythRenana Brooks is a practicing Psychologist and, in 2003, penned an article in The Nation entitled The Character Myth. In it, she describes how a fallacious outward appearance of morality and character does not necessarily indicate character beneath. This episode serves as a caution to us to be wary of those who claim to have "strong character" without the sustained, outward manifestations of that character.
2023-02-0112 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 139 - Barbara Drescher on World-View EscrowBarbara Drescher is a cognitive psychologist and writer for Skeptic.com. She is highly accomplished and published in her field and today's quote is all about rational behavior. Sometimes we do stupid things, things we know better than to do, and yet we do them anyway. Why? And more importantly HOW do we avoid doing them? Drescher has a solution...escrow.
2023-01-2513 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 138 - Brian Greene on Scientific ProgressBrian Greene is the Director of Columbia University's Center for Theoretical Physics and the Chairman of the World Science Festival. In 2011, he published an article titled On Being a Physicist. In it, Greene lays out how he came to love the sciences and desire to "push the rock" himself. His words are motivating and give us meaning and purpose in our sometimes seemingly pointless and unending endeavors.
2023-01-1816 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 137 - Poetry Explication #9: ”Hustlin’ and Bustlin’” by Nandini SethiNandini Sethi is a poet and lead fundraiser at Justice Without Borders. She works tirelessly to raise money to help exploited and trafficked persons get what is rightfully theirs. Not only is poetry excellent, but her work is noble. I can't think of a better challenge to start the new year than the one she lays out in this poem.
2023-01-1117 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 136 - Bertrand Russell on HateHappy New Year and welcome to 2023!
What's a better way to start the new year than another challenge from a great thinker of the last century?
Bertrand Russell was a logician and philosopher who was known for his eloquent dissent and even suffered some jail time for his beliefs. But still, he kept on. He warns us this episode that hate can ruin us and the world....
2023-01-0416 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 135 - Frances Wright on EnquiryFrances "Fanny" Wright was a prolific feminist and abolitionist long before it was popular to be either. She spoke on equality and liberty in the 19th century and did so with compelling words. Her quote today is presented in challenge to "blind faith," though she did use that exact phrase. She implores us to question what we believe and why we believe it.
This is not only wise, but a worthwhile way to end this year and begin a new one!
2022-12-2814 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 134 - Tom Stoppard on Sacred WordsTom Stoppard is a highly acclaimed and accomplished playwriter and screenwriter. He has even been knighted. His expert ability to craft words on difficult topics into his plays is what makes him stand out to me. The dramatic effect of his lines on the viewer is profound. Today's quote is about sacred words and their power. It strikes right at the heart of what this podcast is all about.
2022-12-2114 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 133 - A Quote on a Happy MarriageRelationships can be wonderful while also being challenging. We get the best and the worst of a partner the more time we spend with them. Today's quote teaches us how to have the best relationship, marriage or otherwise, that we can with one simple action.
2022-12-1412 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 132 - Geddy Lee on the StageRush is a classic rock band from Canada with dozens of hits and a multi-decade career on the stage. They knew first-hand the challenges of fame and notoriety. While, on the outside, it might appear to be an easy life, it's not. Their song Limelight lays that out and it is the topic of today's episode.
2022-12-0718 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 131 - Vivian Clayton on Wisdom vs. IntelligenceVivian Clayton is an accomplished professor and author in the field of geriatric neuropsychology. She's studied what makes and keeps people smart and wise through their lives and into their old age. Her words bring something we think we know into full clarity today. Join me as we explore both intellect and wisdom.
2022-11-3013 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 130 - A Proverb on HeroesA centuries-old proverb from France is the subject of today's episode. Who originated it, we may never know. What we can know is that it holds a valuable lesson in humility for all of us.
2022-11-2312 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 129 - Charlie Chaplin on Dictators, Pt. 2In this, the second in a series on Charlie Chaplin's film The Great Dictator, I look at the second half of the closing speech, in which Chaplin's acting skills really shine. His delivery is phenomenal, his words moving, and his message long-living. His call for peace and justice and freedom is as valid and important today as it ever was.
2022-11-1619 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 128 - Charlie Chaplin on Dictators, Pt. 1Charlie Chaplin wrote, produced and acted in dozens of films during a career that spanned more than seven decades. In one of his most enduring and iconic films, The Great Dictator, Chaplin boldly denounces facism and dictatorial behavior in ways only he could. His speech is so grand that we'll cover it in two episodes, the first of which focuses on the part of the speech related to the goodness in humanity.
2022-11-0923 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 127 - Steven Novella on Our BeliefsSteven Novella is a neurologist and professor at Yale. He is also a skeptic, steeped in science and doggedly in search of what's right over what's comfortable. In this episode's quote, he cautions us to beware our emotions, lest they lead us to incorrect, simple conclusions that we then retroactively reinforce with our logic.
It is an important lesson for all of us.
2022-11-0215 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 126 - Daniel Burnham on PlansDaniel Burnham is one of the most accomplished American Architects of all time. In addition to numerous buildings of note still standing today, he was also the driving force behind the 1892 Chicago World's Fair. He made grand plans and set out to accomplish them, piece by painful piece. His thoughts on how and why we make plans are the topic of today's episode.
2022-10-2618 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 125 - John Adams on StudiesJohn Adams was the 2nd President of the United States. He also served multiple very long periods overseas doing the duties of his fledgling nation. While he was away, he wrote to his wife often. In a letter from 1780, while on assignment in France, Adams told his wife of all of the wonders of the city and then told her of the things he must do so that his children may live a better life than he. It's solid advice for all of us today.
2022-10-1915 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 124 - Alex Honnold on PerformanceAlex Honnold does what few others can or would even dare. He climbs some of the world's most challenging rocks, hundreds and thousands of feet in the air, without safety equipment. No ropes, no helmet, no crash pads. To do this, Alex must perform at the highest levels of focus, skill, and determination. We can learn a lot from him.
2022-10-1215 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 123 - Ralph Waldo Emerson on Saying ThingsRalph Waldo Emerson's work Letters and Social Aims contains many words of wisdom. They've survived the test of time, though not always in their original form. Today we look at the true, original words of Emerson himself. He reminds us that who we are is far more important than what we say.
2022-10-0518 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 122 - Poetry Explication #8: Boats in the Bay by Winifred HoltbyWinifred Holtby was an early 20th century feminist poet who wrote and edited numerous newspaper and famously, the feminist magazine Time & Tide. Her poem, Boats in the Bay puts forth, in very easily understood prose, a challenge we all face.
2022-09-2820 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 121 - Ansel Adams on Our LegacyAnsel Adams captured a sense of awe in all of his photographs that lives on to today. His images captured both the sights and feelings of the moment and he took took them to compel others to protect the lands he held so dear. We have him to thank, in part, for the more than 5 dozen natural parks and scores of monuments and other protected spaces in the United States today.
2022-09-2110 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 120 - Interview with Jason MercheyToday I speak with author and philosopher, Jason Merchey, whose book Living a Life of Value is one of the very best modern-day collections of quotations. This makes it and our interview instant favorites for me.
When you're done listening, be sure to check out his website and quote database of more than 35,000 searchable quotes at www.valuesofthewise.com.
If you'd like a copy of Living a Life of Value, reach out to Jason via the contact form at https://valuesofthewise.com/contact/.
2022-09-141h 32QUOTATIONSEpisode 119 - William McRaven on PaddlingAdmiral William McRaven (USN-Ret.) gave a wildly popular commencement address at the University of Texas in 2014. In it, he laid out 10 edicts to the class so they (and we) can change the world. While many of you are familiar with the "make your bed" edict, you may not know today's by heart. McRaven advises the class of 2014 and all of us that we simply can't change the world alone...
2022-09-0715 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 118 - Elon Musk on Accepting FeedbackElon Musk is an entrepreneur and tackler of hard problems. He aims to make electric vehicles affordable and ubiquitous, take human beings to Mars, and enable rapid subterranean transportation, among other things. To solve these hard problems, he actively seeks and internalizes feedback. So should we.
2022-08-3113 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 117 - Carl Rogers on SunsetsCarl Rogers, father of Humanistic Psychology understood deeply that humans are good and unique. He developed a complex theory on the subject that persists to today and influences therapists around the world. His quote today compares people to sunsets and we'd be well-advised to remember it.
2022-08-2412 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 116 - Neil deGrasse Tyson on Attaching to OthersNeil deGrasse Tyson is an astronomer, astrophysicist, author, and science educator. He is truly one of the greats with a CV longer than some books. He has written and spoken a lot and has documented opinions and statements about many things, most profound and easy to digest. But he resists answering one question in the way many wish he would. In today's quote, he cautions us to be careful in what we think we know of a person based on association.
2022-08-1716 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 115 - William George Jordan on CalmnessWilliam George Jordan was a writer, editor, and speaker. He recognized the importance of measured approaches to things, to remaining calm in the face of inflammatory things. He published a book, available online in PDF for free, called The Majesty of Calmness. In that book, he describes calmness as the ultimate goal and compares it to a Heron's calmness in the face of an attacking Eagle. Be the Heron, not the Eagle.
2022-08-1013 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 114 - Clint Smith on Not KnowingClint Smith is a writer, author, father, and poet. He is a staff writer at the Atlantic and a few years, he tweeted something that has stuck with me since then. With his 240 characters, Clint described an interaction with a teacher that changed his perspective. His tweet changed mine and hopefully this episode about that tweet about that interaction changes yours.
2022-08-0316 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 113 - Richard Dawkins on the Lucky OnesRichard Dawkins is an accomplished scientist and author whose incredible book Unweaving the Rainbow provides a scientist's view of the world of art. He writes of the improbability of our very existence and it is those words that are the source of today's episode.
2022-07-2721 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 112 - Jessica ”Dixie” Mills on Trail LifeJessica Mills, or Dixie, as she's known on trail, has extensive backpacking experience, having completed more than 10,00 trail miles and the Triple Crown of backing, the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. She shares her experiences and lessons on her YouTube channel, Homemade Wanderlust. She serves as an inspiration and source of knowledge on all things long trail there and her quote today is particularly profound, both on and off the trail.
2022-07-2019 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 111 - Poetry Explication #7: “If” by Rudyard Kipling, With Guest Sean PowellSean Powell is a dear friend of mine and today he joins me on the podcast to discuss and dissect "If" by Rudyard Kipling. The conversation meanders from poetry to leadership to discipline to education. Enjoy!
2022-07-131h 02QUOTATIONSEpisode 110 - Donald Rumsfeld on What We KnowDonald Rumsfeld served in the United States Navy, as a member of Congress and was twice the Secretary of Defense. While not without his faults, in today's quote he gives us much to consider about we approach what we know and don't know. Internalizing this lesson will shape the way we think about the world, the people in it, and how certain we really can be.
2022-07-0618 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 109 - Interview with L. David MarquetDavid Marquet is a retired Navy Submariner as well as a student and teacher of leadership, in addition to be a twice-published author. I had the privilege to interview David and dig into his thoughts on empowerment vs. emancipation, leading vs. managing, and how we might implement leadership best practices, as seen through the eyes of an accomplished naval commander on one of the most technologically sophisticated platforms in the United States Navy.
2022-06-2940 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 108 - Mitch Hedberg on Fear of What Might BeMitch Hedberg was one of the most unique comics. His subjects, delivery, and demeanor are unreplicated. In his humor were often hidden small lessons on life. This week's quote is no exception. While we all lost Mitch too soon, his legacy lives on in humor and in the hidden value of his words.
2022-06-2214 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 107 - A Quote on Getting BetterWhile the provenance of today's quote eluded me, the words resonate with me. The mysterious originator of the quote clearly spoke to something inside of me, the tenacious part that refuses to just give up and must "take the road less-traveled."
Whomever said it knocked down many of the common, easy paths which lead to nowhere and replaced them with a challenge...to get better.
2022-06-1513 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 106 - David Foster Wallace on Learning How to ThinkDavid Foster Wallace was an author and professor of English and Philosophy. Sadly, he died in 2008, but not before delivering one of the finest, most raw and real commencement addresses of any age. In it, Wallace conveyed real life in a brutal but truthful way to the graduates of Kenyon College. We are fortunate to have a recording of this speech and more fortunate still that his words are as true in 2022 as they were in 2008, and I suspect they will be for countless years to come.
2022-06-0816 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 105 - Iain Thomas on Being SoftIain Thomas is a world-renowned author and poet. His I Wrote This For You blog contains countless gems of thoughtful, insightful prose and poetry. Today's quote originates there, in the aftermath of a traumatic life experience that led Iain, then a very successful career professional to put his talents to use to improve the lives of others. To give them hope and happiness and joy. To encourage others to see the world as a beautiful place.
2022-06-0115 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 104 - Michelle Obama on Opening DoorsMichelle Obama is a lawyer, a mother, a wife, a former First Lady, and has done a lot in her life for the benefit of others. In her book Becoming, she outlines for us both the importance of and the method for opening doors to others. If we take her advice to heart, we will likely see our world differently, the people in it differently, and make the world one tiny little bit better for our efforts.
2022-05-2515 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 103 - Derren Brown on This MomentDerren Brown is a mentalist, illusionist and author. In his show Miracle, he shows us some wonderful and captivating illusions and explain a bit about the human mind. He also begins with a challenge to live life all the time, not just in the milestones or at the end. We're supposed to be dancing...
2022-05-1817 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 102 - Poetry Explication #6: Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred OwenWilfred Owen died at age 25 while fighting on the front lines in France during the last days of WWI. He died for his country, but not before penning this haunting poem. In it, he describes the horrors of death by gas attack, all too common in WWI. He cautions us to not glamorize or view through rose-colored glasses, what is, and always will be, the nightmare that is war.
2022-05-1120 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 101 - John Stuart Mill on the Truth of OpinionsJohn Stuart Mill was a utilitarian thinker who spent a lot of time considering what was "right" and how we can be reasonably certain of our rightness before we act. In his book, On Liberty he attempts not to define "rightness" but rather to provide us with a litmus test for the rightness (or wrongness) of our opinions. That test is the topic of today's episode.
2022-05-0419 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 100 - Albert Schweitzer on GratitudeIn this, the 100th episode of Quotations, we'll explore the words of the great Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Missionary, medical doctor, and Nobel Laureate. He paved a way for many to follow in humanitarianism, kindness, and altruism. He also understood that gratitude is a necessary response to the assistance we receive during the challenges we face. Today, I thank you, listener, for standing by me through 100 episodes.
THANK YOU
2022-04-2717 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 99 - Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Living a Meaningful LifeRuth Bader Ginsburg, or "RBG" as she was often called, was just the 2nd woman ever sit on the highest court in the United States. As you would expect, she had a lot to say in her years on the bench and today we'll look at just a few of those words and see that underlying the professionalism and capability of this frontrunner was a heart built of compassion, empathy, and community.
2022-04-2015 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 98 - Mike Rowe’s S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, part 2This is the 2nd episode about the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge and in it we discuss statements 7-12 of the pledge required of all MikeRoweWORKS scholarship applicants. What's important is not just the contents, but that we recognize and acknowledge that we need not be pursuing a trade or a scholarship at all. These statements, together with the first 6 comprise a list from which we can all learn something. Perhaps then...it is a pledge we should all take.
2022-04-1314 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 97 - Mike Rowe’s S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, part 1Mike Rowe is a household name. You've likely seen him on Dirty Jobs or Deadliest Catch or heard him on The Way I Heard It. He also runs a scholarship foundation called MikeRoweWORKS. Applicants for his scholarships must read, internalize, and sign a S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, which stands for "Skill & Work Ethic Aren't Taboo." In this two-part series, we'll explore the pledge, looking at each statement for its value to us. This is the first part covering 6 of the 12 statements.
2022-04-0619 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 96 - Ulysses S. Grant on Getting Out of The WayUlysses S. Grant, General, President, and protector of the Union, was as imperfect as the rest of us. He fought well at Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Petersburg and others, but was nearly undone by his imperfections as President. When Grant interacted with Sheridan at Charlestown in 1864, he showed his finest leadership. He knew the plan, kept it in his pocket, and got out of the way...
2022-03-3016 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 95 - A Glimpse at John Harbaugh’s LeadershipJohn Harbaugh has led the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League for more than a decade. He's seen ups and downs, winning seasons and losing seasons. He's made hard decisions...some good, some bad. In this episode, we get a glimpse at how he handled a tough situation WITH his players near the end of the 2021-2022 NFL season.
2022-03-2317 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 94 - Martin Luther King Jr.’s Wisdom from a Birmingham Jail, part 2In part two of our analysis of the many great words held within Martin Luther King's Jr.'s jailcell response to his critics, King moves from uniting the cause to igniting the cause. He has plead his case for unity and for his methods, and now he reminds us all, then and now, that justice and equality will not be freely given, but must be demanded.
2022-03-1616 minQUOTATIONSEpisode 93 - Martin Luther King Jr.’s Wisdom from a Birmingham JailMartin Luther King Jr. is the most well known civil rights activist in American history. His speeches and writings have long outlived him and hold truths and lessons in many forms. So many, in fact, that I couldn't narrow it down to just one today. We'll examine multiple quotes from his days spent in jail for resisting the powers of the day, unjust as they were.
2022-03-0917 min