On this day

November 4th

Why did I start this?

November 4

Your intellectual appetites might include knowing the answer to a mathematics problem; the satisfaction of receiving a text from someone you have a crush on; or getting a coveted job offer. These things won’t necessarily cause physical pleasure. They might spill over into physical enjoyment, but they are not dependent on it. Rather, the pleasure is primarily intellectual.

[…] But, for most people, such joy is fleeting. There is always something else to strive for – and this keeps most of us in a constant, sometimes painful, state of never-satisfied striving. And that striving for something that we do not yet possess is called desire. Desire doesn’t bring us joy because it is, by definition, always for something we feel we lack. Understanding the mechanism by which desires take shape, though, can help us avoid living our lives in an endless merry-go-round of desire.

~ Luke Burgis, from How to know what you really want

I have cancer.

Although I won’t be sharing specifics, I have stellar care and support, from my family, and from a huge team of the best healthcare professionals. My prognosis is excellent. If one must get cancer, you want to have the experience I’m having.

You may have noticed that I’ve not published a podcast episode since something like May. That’s when I started working through my diagnosis, and that’s when I intentionally pressed the pause-button on some of my current projects. I’ve been a guest on a couple of podcasts this year, and that has kept alive a warm ember of my passion for this wonderful art-form.

ɕ

And being on the hook is hard

November 4, 2022

So people are getting what they asked for. Autonomy. Responsibility instead of authority. The chance to speak up and be heard. Most of all, the opportunity to be on the hook.

Not surprisingly, some people, particularly if they’ve been indoctrinated into the industrial mindset, don’t like this.

They can’t ask, “just tell me what to do.” The search for an A, the hope to be picked by someone in charge, the desire for perfect–it’s gone. So is the deniability that comes with following instructions.

~ Seth Godin from, The post-industrial collision | Seth’s Blog

slip:4usete14.

I don’t know if what Godin points out is a common problem. I’m wondering if those who can’t make the shift mentioned by Godin are simply surrendering too soon. Modern life is complicated—the most clever thing the devil ever did was convince people the Internet was easy! The more time you spend knee-deep in technology the sooner you learn that you have to be able to throw your arms up and tap-out. That’s useful in some situations (all of life that touches technology) but would look exactly like idunnoitis in a business setting.

ɕ

Belonging with Ric Lindberg

November 4, 2021

How do tools and human connections shape the development and success of online communities?

Successful communities depend more on leadership and shared purpose than on the platforms they use.

If you don’t have that previous experience that, ‘I’ve been this lost before and it’s okay.’ …or, ‘I have backups. It’s burning, but it’s okay.’ If you don’t have those experiences, poking the box is scary.

~ Ric Lindberg (5:34)

This conversation explores the complexities of building online communities, emphasizing the interplay between human connections and the technical tools used. A significant focus is placed on how platforms like Discourse serve as frameworks for fostering interaction, with insights on their benefits and challenges, including the learning curve for new users. Strategies for onboarding and engaging participants are highlighted as critical for a community’s success.

Another key topic is the balance between structure and organic growth in community dynamics. Practical examples discuss the importance of reducing barriers for new members while maintaining engagement among seasoned participants. Reflections on leadership and intentional design reveal how communities thrive not from technology alone but through careful cultivation of shared values and goals.

Takeaways

Removing barriers to participation — Encouraging exploration and minimizing the fear of making mistakes can boost engagement.

The importance of leadership — Effective communities require intentional design and ongoing support from leaders.

Learning curves in technology — New users face challenges in adapting to platforms, requiring thoughtful onboarding strategies.

Role of shared experiences — Building comfort through shared struggles and support strengthens community bonds.

Value of small groups — Intimate communities foster deeper connections and sustainable engagement.

Balancing free and premium content — Freely accessible resources attract users, while value-added services encourage financial support.

Evolving community needs — Successful communities adapt to meet the changing needs of their members.

Platform limitations — Tools like Discourse are beneficial but not sufficient without purposeful application.

Humanizing interactions — Real-time, informal meetups create stronger interpersonal connections among members.

Resources

Everything is Figureoutable — Marie Forleo’s book exploring a mindset of resilience and problem-solving.

Discourse (platform) — Open-source software used for building online communities.

Ric Lindberg on LinkedIn

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

ɕ

Conversation with Helena Roth

November 4, 2021

What makes a conversation meaningful and how does one cultivate the skill of engaging in impactful dialogue?

The interplay between coaching and conversational skills reveals itself in surprising ways.

[I]t’s more towards the other [end] in my podcast. […] There hasn’t been an agenda. There hasn’t been a set timeframe. There hasn’t been any, ‘this is what we need to get through, or the goal we need to reach, or anything.’ And, surprisingly, you know it’s gone really well.

~ Helena Roth (1:07)

This conversation explores the dynamics of creating meaningful dialogues, with an emphasis on curiosity and presence. Helena and Craig discuss the distinction between structured interviews and organic conversations, highlighting the challenges and rewards of allowing spontaneity to guide the flow. Insights are shared about how to cultivate an environment where natural exchanges can thrive, contrasting the vibrancy of unplanned dialogue with the rigidity of pre-set agendas.

They touch upon the art of listening and the interplay of coaching principles in conversations, including withholding judgment and fostering genuine curiosity. Reflections on well-known podcasting styles illustrate the impact of personal involvement in interviews. Practical techniques, like recording from the first moments to capture authenticity, also surface, underscoring the importance of preparation in producing organic conversations.

Takeaways

Curiosity as a driver — Authentic conversations are fueled by genuine curiosity rather than adherence to rigid formats.

Judgment in dialogue — Skilled conversationalists avoid answering on behalf of others, allowing responses to unfold naturally.

Role of presence — Effective hosts contribute by being present and engaged without necessarily steering the dialogue.

Structured vs. unstructured — A discussion on how agenda-free formats can yield unexpected depth and resonance.

Coaching and listening — Coaching techniques enrich dialogue by emphasizing open-ended questions and a non-intrusive approach.

Recording strategy — Starting recordings immediately helps capture authentic moments often lost in staged setups.

The vitality of conversation — Lifeless exchanges often stem from transactional, pre-scripted interactions lacking spontaneity.

Reflection and evolution — Re-listening to past conversations reveals new insights, demonstrating the depth of recorded dialogues.

Resources

Walter Isaacson — A biographer known for his works on Steve Jobs and others; his style was critiqued in the conversation.

On Being with Krista Tippett — A podcast blending spiritual and intellectual inquiry, cited as an example of presence in dialogue.

Ocean Vuong — Poet and author, mentioned for a memorable conversation with Krista Tippett on “On Being.”

Tankespjärn — Helena Roth’s podcast emphasizing unscripted, organic conversations.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

ɕ

Eggs and omelettes

November 4, 2021

There is no angst. There is no disease, suffering, and death. There is no killing. There’s no lust or envy or avarice of pride. There are no eviction notices or IRS audits.

In other words, it isn’t real life.

~ Gaping Void from, «https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2021/07/19/the-power-of-culture/»

slip:4ugabo12.

But that’s particularly difficult to remember when you are the down-the-stairs end of something monsterous and the up-the-stairs person is going s l o w l y and futzing with their grip. Or when you are traffic. (My omission of the word “in” is intentional.) Or the queue at the security check point is crazy. The children on the bus are unruly. The tire goes flat. The microwave craps out. And on and on. Because it’s precisely in those moments that we choose what sort of person we want to be.

Presume good intent. Trust, (but verify. My fave Russian proverb, btw.) Everyone we meet is fighting a great battle. No one knows how hard I work—read that as “I” in your mind’s reading voice, so it really refers to yourself—therefore, I know not how hard others work. There are lots of ways to aphorize the sentiment, and I use every single one of them, every day, as I don the armor of the Angel of my Better Nature and try.

ɕ

What can be accomplished in a day

November 4, 2020

As usual, I’m forced to face the reality that what I want to get done, will never fit into my today. On one hand, it would be serene to have nothing that I wanted to do; it would be serene to simply “be” through the course of one day. On the other hand, there are things I would deeply enjoy doing which also generate benefit for myself, those around me, and the world at large. This creates tension.

The point of life isn’t to resolve that tension, but rather to live within the tension.

ɕ

Understanding renewable energy

November 4, 2019

The reasons why the Green New Deal won’t really work are fairly subtle. A person really has to look into the details to see what goes wrong. In this post, I try to explain at least a few of the issues involved.

~ Gail Tverberg from, Understanding Why the Green New Deal Won’t Really Work | Our Finite World

slip:4uouue1.

You should read everything Tverberg has ever written about energy. I’ve been following her for about 15 years or so, and she is a font of careful, reasonable discussion.

ɕ

Stem cell research

November 4, 2018

Things that are every bit as great happen every day in scientific labs, and no one cares. Maybe as a society we’ve become anesthetized to science — when really, it’s so exciting. We have so much to gain as a country if we invest in science and knowledge and understanding. I don’t blame the public for not understanding, though, or even legislators for sometimes not wanting to invest. They all look so much like my family.

~ Renee Reijo Pera from, In the Ticking of the Embryonic Clock, She Finds Answers | Quanta Magazine

slip:4uquse1.

There are several science-y details in this interview that really startled me; Our knowledge of embryo development is vastly improved since last I looked.

…but mostly I just like the sentiment of wonder she expresses. “When is the last time I learned something new?” is a question I try to update the answer to every day.

ɕ

Meditations on the wisdom of action

November 4, 2016

To begin reorienting to a life of action requires something which at first appears to be non-action: meditations. We have to contemplate what action is and understand how it plays out in our lives. … At the same time, we can appear to be doing all sorts of things externally without actually taking a meaningful action. As Thoreau asked, “It is not enough to be industrious; so are the ants. What are you industrious about?”

~ Brett McKay from, Meditations on the Wisdom of Action | The Art of Manliness The Art of Manliness

slip:4uaome2.

ɕ