Training prepares your body and, most important, your mind for ascent through consistent, hard, disciplined practice.
~ Mark Twight
Go simply, train smart, climb well.
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Go simply →
Working with the garage door up →
I’m not certain, but this probably will only make sense if you are a certain age, and grew up in a house with a garage. It doesn’t need to have been “dad’s garage,” nor a space dedicated to fixing things, nor even sheltered an automobile. No, it only matters that you grew up in a house with a garage.
There’s magic in having an indoor space with a concrete floor. A floor that clearly has taken a beating, and is ready for more abuse. A space with a slightly different sort of door dividing it from the soft and people-oriented rest of the house. A space where things were maybe a little less organized, but definitely were more out in plain sight. Maybe there was some sort of workbench? Maybe some tools. Maybe a lot of tools? Regardless, pretty much all the “where should we put this?” stuff wound up in the garage. Painting something? Garage. Taking something part? Not on the carpet! …in the garage. Fixing your bike? New wheels on your skate board? You get the idea. You either know what I’m talking about, or you don’t.
Did you do, whatever you did, with the garage door open, or closed? Weather permitting, throwing open that garage door was an invitation to the world—but hopefully, only the nice neighbors—to saunter up and at least watch. Turns out, that’s literally “showing your work.” A huge part of what I’m doing these days is working where I can be seen. There’s collateral recognition of course, but mostly it’s just scratching an itch to toss things on a workbench and throw open the ‘ol garage door.
If you know what I’m talking about, you can even hear that door opening.
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The time for action →
Books? How, or to what end? For is not reading a kind of preparation for living, but living itself made up of things other than books? It is as if an athlete, when he enters the stadium, should break down and weep because he is not exercising outside. This is what you were exercising for; this is what the jumping-weights, and the sand, and your young partners were all for. So are you now seeking for these, when it is the time for action?
~ Epictetus
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Persistent, but not lonely →
To create anything of beauty, daring, and substance that makes the world see itself afresh — be it a revolutionary law of planetary motion or the Starry Night — is the work of lonely persistence against the tides of convention and conformity, often at the cost of the visionary’s aching ostracism from the status quo they are challenging with their vision.
~ Maria Popova from, Coltrane on Creativity, Perseverance Against Rejection, and How Hardship Fuels Art – The Marginalian
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To be clear, I don’t feel I’m out to make the world see itself afresh. I am out to create better conversations to spread understanding and compassion. And while I understand, now having read a bit more about John Coltrane, how a certain type of genius might need a certain type of loneliness to do their work. That’s not me and my work.
I’m finding that I’m thriving on podcasting. It is a stupid amount of work; Yes, I’ve chosen to set things up, and to set challenges and goals, to create that amount of work. It’s even physically challenging, for example, I’m on a road-trip this week with multiple +4-hour driving days. But I know what I’m in for, and I know what’s going to happen once I press record. Magic. Obviously, a big part of that comes from me, but a critical part of it comes from the other people. I’ve always heard talk of how “creative types” can get lonely. I’ve come around to accepting the label of “creative type.” I recharge in alone time. But I think I thrive when creating in concert with others.
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Circumspection with Carole Blueweiss →
How can podcasting, particularly reflective solo episodes, enable personal growth, storytelling, and audience connection?
Reflecting on one year of podcasting reveals unexpected lessons about authenticity and audience connection.
Some ideas that might be cliché—which is another fear of mine, but nevertheless, it was what I learned—that we are all more similar than different. And it’s worth saying that, because a lot of these parents struggle with being sort of put in a category other than what’s considered normal. And what I realized is, first of all, normal is overrated and that there is no such thing as normal.
~ Carole Blueweiss (13:10)
This conversation explores the challenges and growth associated with podcasting, particularly solo episodes and reflective storytelling. Topics include finding an authentic voice, balancing preparation with spontaneity, and the iterative process of creating meaningful episodes. Carole reflects on how removing notes and speaking freely deepened their authenticity, transforming their approach to podcasting.
Additionally, the conversation dips into universal themes uncovered through interviews with parents of children with special needs. These parents’ stories highlight societal constructs like normalcy and disability, emphasizing shared human experiences. The discussion expands to broader societal issues, such as inclusion and accessibility, while expressing hope for creating empathy and understanding through storytelling.
Takeaways
Finding authenticity in podcasting — Removing notes and embracing spontaneity can enhance genuine connection.
The universality of human experiences — Stories from parents of children with special needs reveal shared themes of resilience and humanity.
Challenging societal norms — Concepts like normalcy and disability are critically examined, emphasizing diversity and inclusion.
The transformative power of podcasting — Hosting a podcast changes the creator through unexpected personal growth.
Expanding narratives — Reflective episodes allow creators to explore their own insights, connecting their voice to their audience in new ways.
Resources
Seth Godin’s Podcast Workshop — A course taken to refine podcasting skills and start storytelling with families.
Wisdom Shared Podcast — A podcast featuring stories of parents of children with special needs.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Intelligently →
The ideal agent’s frame of reference is thus her whole life, represented as accurately as a human being can remember its history and imagine its future, and lived as intelligently as a human being can exploit its possibilities.
~ Lawrence Becker
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Subservient to others →
Remember that it is not oly a desire for riches and power that makes you abject and subservient to others, but also a desire for quiet and leisure, and travel and learning. For the value you place on an external object, whatever it may be, makes you subservient to another.
~ Epictetus
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Buzz buzz buzz →
Anicet Desrochers slips the small, crowbar-like tool underneath the lid of the beehive and cracks the propolis seal, a glue that bees make from resin. He puffs a smoker over the box as he pulls and examines the honeycomb frames with bare hands. The smoke, he says, disrupts the bees’ alarm pheromones, making them groggy, while also causing them to gorge on honey and nectar, a possible response to believing there is a fire. When they’re full, they’re less likely to sting.
~ Shaun Pett from, How a Canadian Beekeeper Breeds New Queens – Gastro Obscura
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Let me think about that… NO. But it’s a great article that explains the bee keepers’ extreme efforts to breed the Queens. Fascinating stuff.
…but I’m not putting my bare hands in no bee hives.
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Persistence with Bruce Devereux →
How does persistence shape the creative and personal processes involved in podcasting?
Audio’s timeless richness offers a counterpoint to the overwhelming world of visual media.
Every time I finish an episode I step right back into my little recording booth and think, ‘What’s next?’ It sort of builds that cycle back up again. So that’s been a really positive experience.
~ Bruce Devereux (2:18)
The conversation explores the role of persistence in podcasting, reflecting on its significance in sustaining creative momentum and overcoming challenges. The discussion highlights the iterative process of producing episodes, where the cycle of finishing one and immediately conceptualizing the next becomes an energizing force. Persistence is seen not only as a key to podcasting success but also as a framework for managing the broader challenges of creative work.
Additionally, the conversation goes into the distinction between audio and visual storytelling, emphasizing audio’s unique ability to engage listeners in an immersive, focused experience. Bruce contrasts the richness of audio with the ubiquity of visual content, advocating for simplicity in both podcast production and lifestyle. Themes of managing creative thoughts, balancing personal input with guest presence, and crafting meaningful soundscapes also emerge, painting a holistic picture of the podcasting journey.
Takeaways
Persistence as a foundation — Sustains creative momentum and fuels the iterative cycle of podcast production.
Audio’s unique appeal — Offers a deeply immersive experience compared to the saturation of visual media.
Balancing personal and guest input — Reflects the challenge of deciding how much of oneself to include in creative work.
Creative simplicity — Minimalist approaches enhance focus and manage mental overload during the process.
Nature as a refuge — Provides a means to reset and manage the mental demands of production.
Crafting sound environments — Focuses on creating immersive and engaging audio spaces for listeners.
Resources
HowSound Podcast — A show exploring the craft of audio storytelling and production.
Transom.org — A resource hub for audio producers and storytellers.
Audio Playground — A creative audio prompt-based project for honing production skills.
Hindenburg — Audio editing software mentioned as a tool for podcast production.
David Attenborough’s work — Recognized for its inspiring narrative style and immersive production quality.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Earnest practice →
The teachings of your instructor constitute only a small fraction of what you will learn. Your master of each movement will depend almost completely on individual, earnest practice.
~ Morihei Ueshiba
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