Bruce Lee was far more than a movie star who was at the forefront of bringing the martial arts genre into the mainstream. He was an accomplished martial artist and philosopher whose pursuit of self-expression through the fighting arts led him to embrace a mindset characterized by the humility that makes one more flexible and adaptive. In this episode we’ll glean some insights from his approach that we can apply in all dimensions of living. Attributions, Links & Resources : Little, John, ed.,...
Mar 14, 2020•20 min
One of the wisdom sayings from the ancient Hebrew manuscript referred to as Ecclesiastes captures what it is to work smarter, not harder: “If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” (Ecclesiastes 10:10) It’s pretty obvious that the idea here is that the intensity of effort isn’t necessarily the most important factor in whether or not any undertaking is going to be a success. Are diligence, effort, discipline, determination, and grit impor...
Mar 05, 2020•18 min
Socialism, which is at its core an economic theory, is somewhat of a hot topic of discussion these days among political candidates and pundits. And it seems to be the case that some potential voters are starting to view socialism as not only not so bad, but perhaps even attractive. How can that be when history shows quite clearly that in practice it has an abysmal record in terms of economic performance and many other aspects related to societal and individual flourishing? What’s needed is a rea...
Feb 29, 2020•48 min
According to Japanese legend, a young man sought to learn the elaborate set of customs known as the Way of Tea. He went to a tea-master who tested the younger man by requesting that he tend the garden. The fellow cleaned up debris and raked the ground until it was perfect, then examined the immaculate garden. But before presenting his work to the master, he shook a cherry tree, causing a few flowers to spill randomly onto the ground. To this day, the Japanese revere the young man as one who unde...
Feb 20, 2020•9 min
Few outside the academy or lab are aware of or are interested in ongoing research in the realms of biology and bio-chemistry as it relates to origin-of-life studies. That’s likely due to the fact that most would ask: “Are any of the findings relevant to how I’m supposed to approach my day-to-day life or is it just a bunch of science mumbo-jumbo best left to the grant-funded brainiacs to discuss and write about?” I’ll answer that question with a question: “Would I invite you into the deep end of ...
Feb 14, 2020•53 min
Is there an existential threat to the human race in the form of an epidemic wreaking havoc on a mass scale this very moment? Indeed there is but you might be surprised to hear that it isn’t Ebola or the coronavirus working its way around the Pacific Rim and spreading, as potentially devastating as those can be or might one day become. In this episode we take a look at the main threat to humanity, which has to do with and is directly tied to decisions people make concerning their health. And sinc...
Jan 29, 2020•40 min
On April 3, 1963 in the city of Birmingham, AL a nonviolent campaign consisting of coordinated marches and sit-ins against racism and racial segregation was launched by the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR) and Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). On April 10, a Circuit Judge issued a blanket injunction against “parading, demonstrating, boycotting, trespassing and picketing.” Leaders of the campaign announced they would disobey the ruling and on April 12t...
Jan 21, 2020•7 min
Doesn’t it seem as if the world is becoming angrier, louder, and more divided; that a strong current of negativity continues to pull us in that direction? This is both a symptom and manifestation of the negative energy that threatens to commandeer our consciousness and suck the joy and goodwill right out of us. Wouldn’t it be best if we all recognized and then acted as if life is too short and precious to cede control of our thought lives to things that lead to disintegration, hurt, dysfunction,...
Jan 15, 2020•27 min
If you want to build up someone you care deeply about you encourage him, affirm him as a human being who is worth knowing and loving, and sometimes challenge him in positive, life-giving ways. What are some things you would say to him that best make that possible? What are some things you would never say to him? Adopting those same principles and applying them toward the person in the mirror can be incredibly helpful as we navigate the challenging landscapes we routinely encounter in our lives. ...
Jan 07, 2020•5 min
As a new year (and a whole new decade) dawns and we take the time to engage in an honest assessment of ourselves, our circumstances, and our life approach it’s at least as helpful to look around and take inventory of all the people, circumstances, opportunities, and material possessions that belong in the “Blessings” column on our life’s ledger. This episode is all about a laser-focused 2020 resolution that turns your blessings list into a source manual or blueprint for how best to breathe life ...
Jan 01, 2020•13 min
Join in the holiday fun as we take a look at some amusing traditions from around the world and examine the true meaning of Christmas with the help of a pretty smart fellow by the name of Einstein. ATTRIBUTIONS : Music and Sound Effects “Away in a Manger,” “We Three Kings,” and “So to Honor Him” from the album “A LiveWires Christmas” by Robert Ellis and the Livewires - www.relivewires.com (Used by artist’s permission.) https://www.instagram.com/relivewires/ https://www.facebook.com/relivewires/ “...
Dec 20, 2019•28 min
Did you know that you are essentially a battery-powered organism? Mitochondria are specialized structures that are found in large numbers in most cells and are behind the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production. Its main function is to break down carbohydrates and fatty acids in order to generate energy as well as synthesize proteins for their particular use, which is why mitochondria is generally thought of as the cell’s battery pack. Just think how great it would be to someh...
Dec 12, 2019•12 min•Ep. 6
Since fear is an inevitable part of the human experience that holds real estate within the domain of our thought lives it is essential that we employ strategies to aid in managing it properly. How can we best develop thinking patterns to lessen the likelihood of being overwhelmed by it? Wisdom sayings (Scripture references) : Proverbs 22:3 “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” Proverbs 21:21 “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prospe...
Dec 09, 2019•27 min
Researchers in the field of neuroscience have concluded that prayer and meditation can lead to the physical development in regions of the brain that enhance our ability to focus, experience heightened senses of compassion and empathy, and even make us less prone to anger and anxiety. And the byproduct of this can be reduced stress and even lower blood pressure that can foster emotional healing and a revved-up immune system. Isn’t that worth considering?
Nov 25, 2019•4 min
Isn’t it true that one of the more prominent messages echoing throughout our culture is that contentment and fulfillment are tied to and maybe even based on “how much and how many” as in how much money we have enabling us to “ fill-in-the-blank” and how many people know it and then acknowledge our awesomeness? In this episode we’ll look into the kind of fame and fortune that is most meaningful and genuinely lasting and identify the animating principles that can move us in that direction. Feature...
Nov 20, 2019•24 min•Ep. 4
It helps to direct our focus toward what we SHOULD do to thrive instead of on the things we SHOULDN’T do. In fact, being intentional about adopting the most life-giving patterns can have the effect of displacing potentially corrosive and toxic things. You can, just do!
Nov 18, 2019•2 min•Ep. 4
There's no avoiding times or even long seasons of feeling as if a Godzilla-sized anchor is pulling you down into a swirling vortex of misery so you'll never see the light of day again, right? However, there are animating principles that can enable us to better endure the slog through the darkest valley and even thrive in the midst of the journey. In this episode we'll mine for insights from some inspiring figures (see below for a sneak-peak) who have shown us that suffering can, by clarifying wh...
Nov 09, 2019•25 min•Ep. 3
Listen in to hear how the fallout from an act of irrational exuberance on the dance floor illustrates the powerful principle that ultimate freedom isn't the absence of restrictions but the presence of the right ones. And the secret sauce fueling the approach is something you have the power to develop and wield: SELF-DISCIPLINE It’s not complicated! Self-discipline takes hold of the fact that true freedom is not in the absence of restrictions but the presence of the right ones. Those restrictions...
Oct 31, 2019•25 min•Ep. 2
The backdrop for this episode are the ascents by world-class rock climber Alex Honnold (one featured in the documentary film, "Free Solo") of Half Dome and El Capitan, the two iconic granite structures in Yosemite National Park that are favorites of climbing enthusiasts the world over. What we discover are some profound, practical, and applicable life principles that emerge in having a close look into Alex's mindset, preparation, and experiences. Attributions: "Discovery" by RRAREBEAR from the A...
Oct 22, 2019•22 min•Ep. 1
Isn’t it true that much about our lives is shaped by how we answer the following questions: “Should I or shouldn’t I; will I or won’t I?” Most things in our lives aren’t necessarily all that complicated, they’re just challenging. What’s complicated is trying to put all the moving parts together so that we can gain traction moving forward and have a better go of it out there. I just want to help! Animation has to do with bringing things to life; putting something in motion. The ANIMATED podcast i...
Oct 21, 2019•59 sec
