Authentic with Paul Jones →

Published August 30, 2021  ·  All posts on Aug 30

What deeper truths about human connection and self-discovery emerge from the pursuit of podcasting and other creative endeavors?

A journey through creative pursuits uncovers profound lessons about authenticity and overcoming self-doubt.

So we’ve got hands that we have to hold things in. But they have to be held lightly, because it’s about the connections that you and I make— that something is going to happen through the fact that you and I had this conversation today.

~ Paul Jones (19:06)

This conversation explores how podcasting serves as a means of personal and communal growth rather than just a technical or creative pursuit. Discussions touch on the inspiration drawn from others’ work, such as the significance of Seth Godin’s podcast episode, “It’s Not About the Chocolate,” and how it encapsulates using a passion as a vehicle to address broader, meaningful goals. Paul reflects on his journey with podcasting, revealing struggles with imposter syndrome, boundaries, and a lifelong pursuit of creative expression. He describes his experience of overcoming fears and how engaging in this medium has allowed him to uncover more about themselves.

The dialogue also highlights themes of human connection and the transformational power of shared experiences. Paul discusses the importance of resilience and authenticity, particularly in the context of navigating societal pressures and personal challenges. Reflections on art, self-improvement, and the value of community emerge as central topics, with emphasis on the balance between technical aspects of creative work and the deeper connections they foster.

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Creativity with Dave Swillum →

Published August 30, 2021  ·  All posts on Aug 30

How does podcasting empower individuals to express creativity, overcome barriers, and connect meaningfully with an audience?

Building immersive creative spaces can transform how artists and entrepreneurs thrive in their fields.

Sometimes it’s one singular person who will send me a message saying, ‘You got me to do it,’ and I’ll keep doing this because that one person matters.

~ Dave Swillum (21:49)

The conversation explores how podcasting democratizes creativity by removing barriers to entry, allowing anyone with a message to share their thoughts with the world. This accessibility has made podcasting a unique platform for authentic communication. There is also discussion about how podcasting compares to other creative mediums, with a focus on its audio format’s emotional resonance. The dialogue emphasizes the power of podcasts to amplify individual voices and foster real connections, especially in an era of technological ubiquity.

A significant portion of the conversation centers around building spaces conducive to creativity. Dave describes his work renovating a historic farm into a studio and living space designed for artists and entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in their work. This concept reflects a broader belief in the importance of reducing distractions to cultivate focus and innovation. Other topics include overcoming imposter syndrome, finding inspiration through collaboration, and maintaining momentum in creative endeavors. Dave shares practical strategies for overcoming creative ruts, emphasizing the value of persistence and connection.

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Execution with Angie Flynn-McIver →

Published August 30, 2021  ·  All posts on Aug 30

What strategies can be used to overcome barriers to starting creative projects, particularly in podcasting and writing?

The conversation highlights how simplifying processes can make creative projects more achievable.

Just do the things. Stop talking about doing the things. Stop making lists about doing the things. Stop taking courses about doing the thing, and do the thing.

~ Angie Flynn-McIver (4:25)

The conversation examines the challenges of beginning and sustaining creative projects, such as podcasting and writing. One significant obstacle discussed is the tendency to overthink and complicate processes, which often leads to procrastination. There is an emphasis on embracing imperfect action by focusing on the essence of creating and publishing rather than getting caught up in technicalities or external validation.

Collaboration emerges as a crucial theme, drawing parallels to theater’s reliance on teamwork. The discussion highlights the benefits of seeking help and leveraging others’ expertise to overcome creative roadblocks. The importance of authentic, in-depth conversations as a tool for growth is also underscored, alongside reflections on how intentional dialogue can bridge differences and foster mutual understanding.

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Family with Steve Mululu →

Published August 30, 2021  ·  All posts on Aug 30

What role does storytelling and legacy preservation play in fostering family and cultural connections?

Cultural heritage is explored through the lens of podcasting as a modern storytelling tool.

The first time I listened to a podcast, it took me back to my very early childhood years because it reminded me how much my own father, how much my own grandfather, how much stories, how much history, they passed to us after every meal in the evening. It was traditional for us to sit down with our elders, for them to tell us about their upbringing, about our culture, about what kinds of foods to eat, how to relate with your brothers, how to relate to your sisters, what kind of future is expected of you as a man— all those things.

~ Steve Mululu (1:23)

The conversation explores how storytelling plays a central role in preserving cultural and familial legacies. Steve reflects on childhood memories of elders sharing wisdom and history after meals, emphasizing the importance of capturing these stories before they are lost. Podcasting emerges as a modern extension of this tradition, allowing such narratives to be recorded and shared across generations.

Other topics include family dynamics and the challenges of maintaining unity in a large family. Steve describes how the lessons and authority of parents can act as a binding force, providing a shared foundation amidst disagreements. This contrasts with the experiences of small families, which may lack this communal grounding. The conversation also touches on values like sacrifice and the transition from individualism to communal responsibility, highlighting cultural differences in these principles.

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The line is drawn →

Published August 30, 2021  ·  All posts on Aug 30  ·  , ,

The line it is drawn, the curse it is cast
The slow one now, will later be fast
As the present now, will later be past
The order is rapidly fadin’
And the first one now, will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’

~ Bob Dylan

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Invincible →

Published August 30, 2021  ·  All posts on Aug 30  ·  ,

The good man is invincible; for he engages in no contest where he is not superior. “If you want my land, take it, and take my servants, take my public post, take my poor body. But you will not cause my desire to fail to attain its end, or my aversion to fall into what it would avoid.” This is the only contest he enters into: How can he fail, then, to be invincible?

~ Epictetus

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What if I just did the thing a bunch more times? →

Published August 30, 2021  ·  All posts on Aug 30  ·  

7. Consistent and repeatable results come from a process. “True style does not come from a conscious effort to create a particular look. It results obliquely—even accidentally—out of a holistic process.”

~ Shane Parrish from, 7 Things I Learned in Architecture School

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That articlette is about a book, 101 Things Things I Learned in Architecture School. The 7th point, in bold, is the penultimate of a best-of-the-best selection from the book. The inner-quoted part is Matthew Frederick, the book’s author.

This point about a holistic process—the idea that mastery isn’t some higgledy-piggledy mish-mash of throwing things together—is an idea I’ve held dearly for a long time. Every time I see it, like in this articlette, I want leap up, flipping my desk over and scream, “Hear! Hear! …and again, louder, for those in the back staring at their handheld devices.”

Every single time that I’ve decided to take a process, and repeat it in search of understanding, (for example, my 10,000 rep’s project,) the learning and personal growth has paid off beyond my wildest dreams. At this point, I’ve done nearly 200 recorded conversations—I’m not stretching the truth, it’s actually hard to figure out exactly how many I’ve done. I’ve started another show recently as part of the Podcaster Community (25+ episodes and counting) and I’ve set up all the moving parts for yet another show as part of Movers Mindset “shorts”. And I keep wondering…

What would happen if I did 500, 1000? …what about 10,000? Not because I want to be famous and whine, “but I did 1,000 episodes why doesn’t anyone love me?!” But because I can see, in myself, how much I’ve learned and grown after 200. What would happen if I did a lot more?

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My own improvement →

Published August 29, 2021  ·  All posts on Aug 29  ·  ,

But what does Socrates say? “As one man rejoices in the improvement of his land, and another in that of his horse, so I rejoice day by day in following my own improvement.

~ Epictetus

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Escalation, Part 2 →

Published August 29, 2021  ·  All posts on Aug 29

Three weeks ago—zoinks, time flies!—I wrote in Escalation that I didn’t want to turn this into a quote-a-day blog. That would also make my weekly email have 7 quotes, plus all the additional daily blog posts.

I’ve got to be honest: I was wrong. I really do want to publish all the quotes, and write all these blog posts. So, “All ahead flank-speed!” This week’s email will be even larger. …and onward thusly we shall proceed.

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Unjustified terror →

Published August 28, 2021  ·  All posts on Aug 28  ·  

Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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