Why? If I’d asked them, they would probably have said: to reduce distractions and improve focus. Programming a computer is a bit like repairing a very tiny machine with precision tools while looking under a microscope. Quiet and calm help facilitate that process. Programmers may also just prefer the dark.
Hey look, “quiet and calm” has the literal calm of calm technology. Bright, flashing lights are preceded by trigger warnings for a reason. I’ve been cultivating warm-toned lighting, and earth tones, in my working spaces for a long time. I cut my teeth on the Internet with VT-100 terminals, green type on black, cathode ray tubes and “screen burn-in” was a real hazard. These days a lot of my screens have ‘paper-white’ backgrounds with the black text. It’s been nice to watch the world catch up over the last few decades.
At least a quarter of the messages he receives from readers express one idea—“The world is shit,” as he put it. “That has a sort of range: from people that just see everything is corrupt from a political point of view, to people that just see no value in themselves, in human beings, or in the world.” Cave recognizes that outlook from his “nasty little guy” days—but he fears that nihilism has moved from the punk fringe to the mainstream. The misery in his inbox reflects a culture that is “anti-sacred, secular by nature, unmysterious, unnuanced,” he said. He thinks music and faith offer much-needed medicine, helping to re-enchant reality.
For there is much about which to be enchanted. Certainly a lot of technology things—planes, chemistry, computers, and our endless fascination with building things. But technology is only the obvious target of enchantment, and its allure is finally wearing off. The reality we need to again find enchanting is the outside world. The literal source of our experiences.
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What would make podcasting easier and more enjoyable for you? →
In the last year or so, it’s been making the time to just listen to podcasts.
When I started, I went through phases where I was consuming podcasts for particular reasons. Learning about how interviews are done. Learning about narrative structure. Learning what it takes to create highly-produced shows. (And probably more reasons that don’t occur to me now.)
Now, I make the time to listen just for the enjoyment. There are certainly many ways I can improve my podcasting, but I no longer need to be vigorously honing my craft. It can simply evolve at a leisurely pace, freeing me to simply enjoy the audio medium. That seems to feed back into my enjoyment of creating audio.
When looking for similar feedback loops in human interactions, Bateson saw that they didn’t always exist, or operate in the way they should. As a result, he recognized that there were two kinds of systems: ones that relied on feedback to create stability, and others that tended to escalate and create runaway trends.
I will admit this is the first I’ve ever heard of Bateson, and based on Gioia’s article, I seriously considered buying his Steps to an Ecology of Mind. I definitely recommend reading Gioia’s article.
The theory about big decisions is that they require a tremendous amount of thought, and that investing in all these thought results in better decisions. There are many classes of decisions where there is a right move. Deliberate planning around complex issues involving different people with varied goals is essential to making a correct decision.
I say “start walking” not only because that’s the only way to get where you need to be. It’s also the easiest way to begin. Far too often I overthink things when simply taking action would get me what I truly want to know: Will it work?
They had this idea, just one shot in which three very, very unlikely people were seen as NASCAR drivers. And I think they approached Julian Schnabel, Lou Reed, and me. (Laughs) And we were all supposed to be wearing the uniforms and the helmet, walking in slow motion with the heat haze. That would have been fantastic, but all of us couldn’t do it.
I was a junior in high school when Rushdie’s, Satanic Verses was published in 1988. The book was widely mentioned; It wasn’t really discussed, but rather it was just that everyone knew about its existence, and everyone had an opinion about it. Thinking back, I’m sure my opinion was simply a *hunh* and “that’s interesting.” To this day, I’ve not read the book, not for any particular reason but simply because there are way to many books I have reasons to read. The whole thing (back in the 80s) now feels like some sort of mirage: Real, vivid, and important, but in the end it wasn’t a real thing. The mirage was about a real thing, but it wasn’t real.
Remember we employed a visual to help us understand this. We said that the Dream is like a tree in the middle of a sunny meadow. The tree casts a shadow.
I find Pressfield’s metaphor to be striking. The tree in the meadow casts a real shadow. I was struck by the layers in this metaphor: light and darkness, the singular clarity of lone tree in an open space as a symbol of a life’s purpose, the proportional relationship of the larger the tree the larger and darker the shadow, and that one’s ability to avoid or at least escape the shadow is a choice we make.
By extension then, if one attempts to nurture multiple callings, visions or projects, one has multiple big trees. That’s at least a copse of trees whose shadows merge together creating something much more significant to avoid or escape from.
While rock climbing (outdoors, on real rocks, at real heights) I was once told that there are three types of fun: Type-1 fun is when something is fun, right now. Type-2 fun is when it’s not fun now, but is nonetheless great because of the experience, stories and learning being gained. …and then there’s Type-3 fun when nope, this is bad, mistakes have been made, and I want out of here.
I wonder if a big part of what draws me to be professional about what I do is that it’s really just Type-2 fun?
We don’t want reactions. We don’t want first impressions. We don’t want knee-jerks. We want considered feedback. Read it over. Read it twice, three times even. Ponder. Sleep on it. Take your time to gather and present your thoughts — just like the person who pitched the original idea took their time to gather and present theirs.
Sure, a little bit of snark. The point stands. It’s so easy to raise the first objection that comes to mind. (As if that hadn’t already been thought of.) What’s harder is to read, reflect, and then put in some actual effort to reply. This level of engagement certainly isn’t necessary in every interaction, but there are many interactions that would be vastly improved by it.
What does redefining success look like after you’ve lost everything?
Podcasting becomes a vehicle for self-discovery, long-form connection, and client engagement.
I’ve talked to a lot of podcasters. I’m able to talk to people for roughly 60 minutes without any interruption. It nourishes my soul, and I love it. That’s the real foundation.
~ Tim Winders (19:18)
This conversation explores the origin and evolution of the long-running podcast, Seek. Go. Create., and its relationship to Tim Winder’s personal and professional journey. Tim describes how the podcast began as a response to a client’s needs, but quickly became a spiritually driven endeavor. He was encouraged to share personal stories, including difficult experiences like financial collapse and homelessness. Over time, the show developed into a platform that not only supports a coaching business but also nourishes a desire for deep, uninterrupted conversations.
This conversation also touches on the structure and process behind maintaining consistency over hundreds of episodes, the relationship between control and creativity, and the integration of podcasting with writing and coaching work. Tim explains how the podcast serves as both an outlet and a tool for building content across platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn. There’s a recurring theme of redefining success, with reflections on audience size, personal growth, and the impact of letting go of expectations.
Takeaways
Passion and discipline in creative work — Staying consistent with a long-form podcast over six years requires both intrinsic motivation and structured systems.
Spiritual foundation and calling — The podcast began with a directive to share personal stories, rooted in a spiritual sense of purpose.
Redefining success — Personal hardship and shifting values led to a reevaluation of what constitutes meaningful achievement.
Homelessness and recovery — A journey from living in a mansion to being homeless influenced the depth and direction of the content.
Audience clarity — Over time, there was a realization that the audience consists of mature, critical thinkers rather than the masses.
Content repurposing — Long-form conversations are mined for short clips and articles to extend reach on platforms like YouTube and Medium.
Use of systems and strategy — The production relies on detailed checklists and project management tools to maintain quality and consistency.
Role of the podcast in coaching — The podcast supports coaching by offering thought leadership and lightly integrated calls to action.
Illusion of control — There is acknowledgment that striving for control causes stress, and much of the journey involves releasing that illusion.
Fiction writing as expression — A novel emerged from the same journey, written to reach men reconsidering the meaning of success.
Contemplation of stopping — The work continues only as long as the speaker feels nourished by the conversations; there’s comfort with the idea of ending when the interest fades.
Branding reflections — While the podcast title “Seek, Go, Create” is occasionally reconsidered for discoverability, it remains due to its deep personal significance and consistent branding.
Resources
SeekGoCreate.com — Tim’s website for the podcast and related content.