You could see artificial intelligence as a kind of frontier, then, which moves forward as computerized machines take over the tasks humans previously had to do themselves.
~ Colin Marshall, from Isaac Asimov Describes How Artificial Intelligence Will Liberate Humans & Their Creativity: Watch His Last Major Interview (1992)
I prefer the metaphor of the horizon: always just out of reach. But it’s our curiosity to see what’s there which pulls us ever-forward.
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Whilst we converse with what is above us, we do not grow old, but grow young.
~ R. W. Emerson
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Questions alone are not enough. Context matters. The mind-set that people bring to the room matters. How people came to be in the room matters. The room itself matters. The social structure of how people talk to each other matters. The action of the leader/convener matters.
~ Peter Block
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How does podcasting facilitate personal growth and the exchange of insights?
Podcasting invites both hosts and listeners into transformative spaces of thought.
Doing this work can be playful… and giving others the opportunity to listen in when insight happens is a pretty cool thing.
~ Corey Schlosser-Hall (19:11)
The conversation explores the multifaceted nature of podcasting, particularly its potential to create and share insights. Corey reflects on his podcast “On the Verge,” which captures moments of inspiration before they manifest into tangible outcomes. Craig and Corey discuss how meaningful exchanges in conversational formats provide fertile ground for reflection and personal growth.
They also examine the concept of “emergence” in communication, debating whether conversations simply elicit pre-existing knowledge or foster the creation of new ideas. They agree that podcasting serves as a unique medium for these emergent moments, with its challenges and rewards—including the variety of approaches it enables, from intimate dialogues to larger production endeavors.
Takeaways
Capturing inspiration — Moments before ideas become tangible can be deeply insightful.
Insight through dialogue — Conversational podcasts enable reflective and emergent thinking.
Creative challenges — Balancing pre-recording, live recording, and post-production has unique rewards and difficulties.
Emergence in communication — Interactions can construct new meaning rather than just reveal existing thoughts.
Playfulness in podcasting — Creating and sharing content can feel enjoyable and spontaneous.
Adaptability — Different podcast formats and experiences provide ongoing opportunities for growth.
Ownership transitions — Navigating podcast ownership when shifting organizations poses challenges.
Resources
On the Verge podcast — Focuses on capturing moments of invisible inspiration before they become visible.
Calendly — Scheduling tool used for organizing podcast interviews.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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If there is any person to whom you feel a dislike, that is the person of whom you ought never to speak.
~ Richard Cecil
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It’s broadly agreed these days that consciousness poses a very serious challenge for contemporary science. What I’m trying to work out at the moment is why science has such difficulty with consciousness. We can trace this problem back to its root, at the start of the scientific revolution.
~ Philip Goff from, A Post-Galilean Paradigm | Edge.org
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I once had a mathematics professor make a comment that it’s fascinating that mathematics is able to explain reality. I double-clutched at the time. And every single time I think about the point he was making, I still pause and my mind reels. If one is looking at—for example—classical mechanics, and one studies the ballistic equations, one can go along nicely using forces and trigonometry, and understand golf balls and baseballs in flight. Soon you realize your mathematics is only an approximation. So you dive into fluid mechanics, which requires serious calculus, and you then understand why golf balls have dimples and why the stitching on baseballs is strictly specified in the rules. All along the way, mathematics models reality perfectly!
But why? So you keep peeling. The math and physics gets more and more complicated—stochastic processes, randomness, quantum mechanics, wave-particle theory, etc.—as each layer answers another “why”… but it’s … is “cyclical” the right word? No matter how far you go, you can always ask “why” again, for the most complex and most accurate system you model and explain.
Down there at the bottom, that’s where Galileo declared there was a distinction between physical reality, and consciousness and the soul. We’ve had hundreds of years of progress via science on what Galileo divided off as “physical reality.” (And that progress is a Very Good Thing.) But as this article explores, is there actually a distinction? What if making that distinction is a mistake?
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When Pac-Man needs a break from his endless cycle of hunger and pain, there is a simple trick he can use. When a new level starts, move Pac-Man one space to the right and three spaces up, then stop; the ghosts will leave him alone for about fifteen minutes or so. So when you’re feeling like life is completely hopeless (and it is), find yourself a cozy little corner to cry in. I can’t guarantee that your demons will leave you alone for at least fifteen minutes, but you’ll feel a lot better regardless.
~ Syd Lexia from, Pac-Man: An Accurate Simulation of Your Meaningless Life
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Turns out… Pac Man is an accurate simulation of your meaningless life.
My dad and I dropped bajillions of quarters into cabinet games back in the day. I can still vocalize Pac Man’s little jingle… bloo-dee doo-dee doodle-eedle doodle-eedle doo! wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka bee-ooh ee-oo ee-oo ee-oo ee-oo oop!
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People who are interested in doing something will do it when it’s convenient. People who are committed will do it no matter what.
~ Bob Proctor
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On Castbox.fm — Adam McClellan, Caitlin Pontrella, & Alan Tran | Art of Retreat 2019 Recap
How can events like retreats foster personal growth, collaboration, and community-building in specialized fields?
Discover how open schedules and shared creative spaces redefine the meaning of collaboration and innovation at events.
Something new that we did this year was open schedule […] an open forum where anyone could add a session or workshop or something informal, to the schedule during our blocks of open time, which was really well received.
~ Caitlin Pontrella (0:54)
This discussion revolves around the role of retreats in fostering personal growth, community-building, and collaboration. Adam, Caitlin and Alan describe the unique atmosphere of the retreat, emphasizing the importance of an open schedule that allows participants to contribute sessions spontaneously. This format lowers barriers to participation, inspiring individuals to step into leadership roles and share their expertise. Additionally, the conversation highlights the retreat’s design, which fosters vulnerability, connection, and a sense of belonging through shared meals, cozy settings, and creative activities.
The group also explores the challenges and opportunities of organizing international retreats. Topics include reducing economic barriers for attendees, creating cross-cultural connections, and leveraging sponsorships to enhance inclusivity. They stress the significance of helping participants take the retreat’s transformative energy back to their local communities, translating it into actionable insights and long-lasting impact. A key theme is the interplay between deliberate planning and organic participant-driven creation, which collectively define the retreat’s unique success.
Takeaways
Creating space for spontaneous sessions — This fosters inclusivity and encourages new voices to emerge as potential future leaders.
The role of environment — A retreat’s physical setting significantly contributes to its emotional and social impact, enhancing connection and memory.
Barriers to accessibility — Efforts to reduce economic, geographic, and social barriers ensure more diverse participation.
The power of shared meals — Communal meals are designed to build intimacy and create a warm, homelike atmosphere.
Cultural exchange in international retreats — Cross-cultural understanding and shared learnings enhance the global community’s impact.
Emphasis on personal agency — Participants are encouraged to take ownership of their experience, tailoring it to their needs.
Connection beyond the retreat — A focus on enabling participants to take back ideas, skills, and inspiration to their communities.
The hero’s journey framework — The retreat experience is framed as a journey of personal growth and transformation.
Resources
Art of Retreat — Official website for the retreat, offering event details and registration.
Parkour Visions — A partner organization supporting the retreat.
Parkour Generations Americas — A key partner in organizing and supporting the event.
Zen Planner — A sponsor providing resources for event management.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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(Part 29 of 37 in series, Study inspired by Pakour & Art du Déplacement by V. Thibault)
After too many readings to remember, I’m still at a loss to summarize my thoughts. The difficulty is that this is an area of my life with which I currently struggle daily.
There is a basic challenge-level to reality: There is a stone in my shoe. It’s time to mow the lawn. This bill should be paid. I’m great at handling huge numbers of these basic sorts of challenges. Unfortunately, the positive thinking of chapter 17 doesn’t give me a handle on solutions to basic challenges. …and I am completely swamped with these sorts of basic challenges.
Don’t conflate basic with easy. All of the easy, basic challenges I have under control; They are already done, or are managed by reliable systems. What I’m left with are the remainders—a pile of difficult, basic challenges. Things for which positive thinking still gives me no purchase.
I don’t have much of a grasp on this chapter. But then, that’s why I’m studying this book and using its chapters as jumping-off points for my thoughts.
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Where’s the Puffin? Chillin’ in Newark as I work on episode 7. If you zoom and squint, you might be able to make out episode 7’s guest’s name…
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Lunch at The Barn (local yummy restaurant) before T drops me at bus station…. I *really* hope she slows down before pushing me out of the car.
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There is a difference between being true and being useful… These are not mutually inclusive things.
~ Brad Pilon from, Eat less and move more. Nonsense? – Brad Pilon’s ‘Eat Blog Eat’
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(Part 5 of 14 in series, John Briffa's "A Good Look at Good Health")
Quelling insulin will help protect against these conditions, and will facilitate fat loss too. One way to quell insulin levels is to eat a diet largely devoid of the foods that cause surges in blood sugar such as those [of] added sugar as well as starchy ‘staples’ like bread, potatoes, rice pasta and breakfast cereals. Another way, though, to moderate insulin levels is to extend the time between eating. This, in essence, is what intermittent fasting is about.
~ John Briffa from, «http://www.drbriffa.com/2012/03/01/my-times-piece-on-intermittent-fasting/»
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The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.
~ Albert Einstein
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@dmuth “a tale of Georgetown intrigue and eccentricity. And murder.” Doug? I thought you were in Philly ;)
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