2 Pages with MBS

Neil Pasricha reads from A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz, a novel celebrated for its humour and philosophical musings and sharing insights on balancing ambition with contentment. He reflects on how embracing life’s uncertainties can lead to growth and joy. Neil discusses his journey from personal challenges to finding meaning in simple moments and the power of living authentically.

Today's guest is Neil Pasricha, author of The Book of Awesome series and host of the 3 Books podcast, where he explores the 1,000 most formative books. Neil’s work centers on celebrating life’s small joys and finding happiness through simplicity. His reflections offer guidance on balancing ambition and cultivating contentment while navigating life's complexities.

Neil’s reflections reveal the importance of stepping away from the noise, embracing vulnerability, and rediscovering what truly matters.

Get book links and resources at 2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at 2pageswithmbs.substack.com.

Neil reads from A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz, introducing its compelling, layered storytelling that resonated deeply with him. [Reading begins at 28:05]

Hear us discuss:

“Almost all problems are solved by going on a walk. Your body is soothed by something we have less of today than ever before: exposure to nature.” [13:02] | “Inside of me, there is always this wrestling match between ambition and contentment.” [17:17] | “Life is long if you know how to live it.” [23:45] | “Get more and more comfortable with feeling like if I were to lose everything, I would be okay. That’s kind of where you have to be.” [24:01] | “Keeping your thoughts as wide as possible is hard in an era of homogenization... Be wary of what you find through search and be seeking of what you find through serendipity.” [41:14]

Greg M. Epstein reads from E.B. White’s essay, Once More to the Lake, and Madeline Ostrander’s essay on the ethics of bringing children into a world facing climate uncertainty, reflecting on how nostalgia and future anxieties shape our understanding of legacy and purpose. He explores how our connections to the past and future influence not only how we experience the present but also how we find resilience in facing today’s challenges.

Today’s guest is Greg M. Epstein, the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard and MIT and author of Good Without God. For two decades, Greg has built a community of secular and non-religious students and thinkers. He discusses how humanism, self-reflection, and embracing vulnerability can lead to meaning and connection, even in the face of existential challenges.

Greg’s reflections offer insight into staying grounded and finding purpose amid overwhelming change.

Get book links and resources at 2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at 2pageswithmbs.substack.com.

Greg reads from two essays: first, E.B. White’s Once More to the Lake, and then Madeline Ostrander’s How Do You Decide to Have a Baby When Climate Change Is Remaking Life on Earth? contemplating memory and time. [Reading begins at 14:27]

Hear us discuss:

“What if I could have, with the opportunities that were available to me, lived more deeply, appreciated more fully, connected more passionately, and done more to help others?” [04:27] | "I learned to feel regret at a young age... I regretted being who I was because I felt that it was incredibly important to be somebody else." [10:29] | "If we didn't grieve, if we didn't take time to feel deep sadness when we lose someone... then we wouldn't be paying them proper respect and in the sense we wouldn't be paying proper respect to the energy and time that we've invested in them. | “The pursuit of perfection is the biggest force taking us away from our ability to experience beauty and meaning.” [43:28]

Today’s guest is Frankie Thorogood, an entrepreneur who has navigated the intersections of creativity, business, and sports. Frankie shares his insights on finding fulfillment, balancing ambition with self-acceptance, and how creativity has played a pivotal role in his personal and professional life.

Frankie’s reflections bring insight into the complexities of leadership, balancing ambition with fulfillment, and finding joy in the process of creation.

Get book links and resources at 2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at 2pageswithmbs.substack.com.

Frankie reads from Tricks of the Mind by Derren Brown, focusing on the idea of how we can reshape our thinking to redefine our limitations. [Reading begins at 24:00]

Hear us discuss:

"I don’t remember a lot of the times that I didn’t win, or I shift the memory and manipulate it so that I feel like I did win, even when I didn’t." [05:00] | "The goalposts very quickly shifted. All of a sudden, I needed more." [08:00] | "One thing, very work-specific, is letting go of the need to grow at all costs. I realized that if you're happy with your business and you enjoy the work, why push for relentless growth?" [13:00] | "I’ve tried to set a principle for myself: not to say yes to things out of guilt or fear. Do I want to attend this event? The answer is no, because I just don’t want to; I’d rather be at home." [15:00]

Today's guest is Dr. Angel Acosta, a leading voice in healing-centered education and leadership development. With a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, Dr. Acosta is the founder of the Acosta Institute, a Fellow at the Mind & Life Institute, and the Director of the Garrison Institute's Fellowship Program. His work bridges social justice, mindfulness, and leadership, emphasizing the importance of healing-centered approaches in education and AI.

Dr. Acosta’s journey is defined by his commitment to creating healing-centered learning environments that empower individuals and communities. Through his work, he explores the balance between the promise of technology and the necessity of cultivating spaces for reflection, connection, and personal growth.

Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com.

Dr. Acosta reads from The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman, highlighting the duality of technological progress: its potential to unlock new possibilities and its risk of creating unintended consequences. [Reading begins at 20:41]

Hear us discuss:

"Healing isn't about reaching a final state; it’s a continuous process of restoration and grounding." [04:06] | "The disorientation from unprocessed experiences becomes a source of curiosity and growth." [05:54] | "Slowing down doesn't mean stopping; it's about checking for alignment as you move." [12:01] | "The fate of humanity hangs in the balance, and our challenge is to balance the promise and the peril of AI." [22:43]

Jeremy Lent reading from the Tao Te Ching and discussing the importance of interconnectedness, the essence of a life-affirming civilization, and finding meaning beyond the material world. We discuss the complexities of existence, the influence of relationships, and how we can shape a future that values harmony with the environment.

Today’s guest, Jeremy Lent, is an author and speaker exploring the roots of our civilization’s existential crisis and pathways to a life-affirming future. His award-winning books, The Patterning Instinct and The Web of Meaning trace the flaws of the dominant worldview and propose an integrative approach for a flourishing future. He founded the Deep Transformation Network, a global community focused on ecological civilization and deep transformation toward a regenerated Earth.

Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com.

Jeremy Lent reads two pages from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. [reading begins at 20:53]

Hear us discuss:

“The spiritual path is about looking at how things relate to each other rather than focusing on the things themselves.” [06:40] | “To pursue learning, one increases daily. To pursue Tao, one decreases daily.” [23:22] | “The world is a spirit vessel which cannot be acted upon. One who acts on it fails.” [23:58] | “There is no calamity like not knowing what is enough, and he who knows what is enough will always have enough.” [26:58] | “We are all part of this nonlinear complex system that is human society.” [46:20]

Katherine Morgan Schafler reads from Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Big Magic” and discusses creativity, perfectionism, and trusting yourself. We explore how we can balance striving for excellence while also letting go of control, and why we should show up for the work even when inspiration seems far off.

Today’s guest, Katherine Morgan Schafler, is a psychotherapist, writer, and former on-site therapist at Google. She holds degrees from UC Berkeley and Columbia University and is certified by the Association for Spirituality and Psychotherapy in New York City.

Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com.

Katherine Morgan Schafler reads two pages from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. [reading begins at 23:48]

Hear us discuss:

• “All people really want is a connection—to be seen, to see others, and connect.” [04:16] | “We don't understand the difference between self-worth and self-esteem.” [15:26] | “Progress is not linear; it’s two steps forward, seventeen steps back.” [38:07] | “There are many right ways to do something.” [19:47] | “If we can just keep showing up day after day after day, something will bloom.” [30:04]

Today’s guest, Raj Sisodia is the FEMSA Distinguished University Professor of Conscious Enterprise at Tecnológico de Monterrey and Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Conscious Capitalism Inc. He is a renowned author and thought leader on the role of business in society.

Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com.

Raj Sisodia reads two pages from Gandhi: His Life and Message for the World. [reading begins at 16:39]

Hear us discuss:

“There’s always a better way. It doesn’t matter how good things already are.” [12:23] | “If you do the right thing, you don’t need to worry about the outcome.” [22:12] | “We must connect with the spirit and the heart, in addition to the mind and the wallet.” [38:20] | “To bring about a better world for all, we must heal ourselves first.” [40:48] | “The decade of determination: We have to make these changes and really pivot.” [35:16]

Today’s guest is Will Guidara, author of the national bestseller Unreasonable Hospitality. Known for transforming Eleven Madison Park into the number one restaurant in the world, Will shares insights from his journey in the restaurant industry and beyond.

Will embodies the delicate balance between two seemingly opposing forces: perfectionism and empowerment. As a former restaurateur and co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, he has always been passionate about creating memorable experiences through exceptional service. His book, Unreasonable Hospitality, is a testament to his belief in being as relentless in pursuing people as other restaurants are in pursuing product quality.

Will reads two pages from Setting the Table by Danny Meyer, his first boss and a mentor who profoundly influenced his career. These pages capture the essence of Will’s leadership philosophy—what he calls "constant gentle pressure"—a method of maintaining excellence without sacrificing the dignity of those around him.  [reading begins at 17:54]

Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com.

Hear us discuss:

"I made the choice to be as unreasonable in pursuit of people as the other restaurants on that list were solely in pursuit of product." [02:05] | "Hospitality and excellence are not friends. But if you pursue them both with persistence, you can achieve something truly remarkable." [09:29] | "Every superpower, if left unchecked, can be your villain story." [10:06] | "I pray the things that we are being forced to do today are things we choose to do tomorrow." [32:19] | "Ask yourself what right looks like and do that." [37:11]

A favourite quote of mine, a call to action really and one that I reference in How to Begin, is “give more to the world than you take.” Jacqueline Novogratz said it, and she’s the founder of Acumen a venture capital firm that invests in non-profits making the world a better place. 

I find it powerful because it’s about the long game. Over your lifetime, give more than you take. There are some seasons when you need to harvest, of course. You trying to build a good life for yourself.

But there should be other seasons when you plant, and when you build.

Adam Grant’s first book was about giving and taking, and the core insight from that book is that people who give, paradoxically, tend to be the most successful, so long as they give in a sustainable way. The people who give without boundaries tend to fail over time.

I suspect on balance that many of us could get better at giving. I also know that for many of us, we have to learn to also receive.

Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com.

Kumi Naidoo reads two pages from Dearest MaRiky by Louisa Zondo. [reading begins at 20:56]

Hear us discuss:

“My area of focus right now is very much asking the question, what will it take for activism to win bigger and faster? And if I write that up as a book, I'll probably call it The Reflections of a Failed Activist.” [09:10] | “When we think about health and self-care, we tend to often think more about physical health and we're not sufficiently ready. to embrace the idea that we are dealing with a colossal global mental health crisis right now, from eco-anxiety, from climate anxiety, and also just a sense of injustice that people feel.” [19:42] | "Vulnerability is expressing strength and courage, not an acknowledgment of weakness and failure." [35:12] | "Activism is about people who look at the world, say 'this is an injustice,' and contribute in a way that makes a difference." [37:14] | "The moment of history we find ourselves in, pessimism is a luxury we simply cannot afford." [42:51]

If you're an anglophile and of a certain age, then you'll know the comedic operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance, Trial by Jury, The Mikado. They are all classics. I mean, I am an anglophile of a certain age, so I can sing the entirety of I Am a Very Model of a Modern Major General. I mean, really: 

“I am the very model of a modern major general. I've information, vegetable, and animal, and mineral. I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical, from Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical. I'm very well acquainted, too, with mathematical. I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical. About binomial theorem, I'm teeming with a lot of news. Ha ha, with many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.”

Now, tell me, do you get that from any other podcast? I don't think so. And you may laugh, but I've won a pub quiz by being able to recite that. Now, Gilbert and Sullivan were actually all about the laughs. Their operators are very funny. But outside that partnership, they were both hungry to do more serious work. Now, really the only work I know is by Sullivan, Arthur Sullivan, and it's a song called The Lost Chord. And he wrote it on the deathbed of his brother. And the opening lyrics go like this. 

I was seated one day at the organ. I was weary and ill at ease, and my fingers wandered idly over the noisy keys. I know not what I was playing or what I was dreaming then, but I struck one chord of music, like the sound of a great amen.

One chord, the sound of a great amen. It is such a powerful way to name a moment of insight, of awareness, of presence, of deep familiarity, of awe. So, are you listening for your one chord? Because hearing it can make all the difference.

Marcus Collins, a creative at heart and a product of Detroit, brings a unique perspective to the podcast with his background in advertising, music, and academia. As a researcher and author of "For the Culture," Marcus delves into the complexities of human behavior and cultural influences. His experiences as an outsider and insider have shaped his empathetic approach to understanding the forces that shape our interactions and behaviors in society.

Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com.

Marcus Collins reads two pages from Predictably Irrational. [reading begins at 26:47]

Hear us discuss:

"Understanding the impact of the Ten Commandments and curbing dishonesty might help prevent the next Enron-like fraud." [28:47] | "The truth is subjective, right? The world manifests through your meaning making system based on how you see the world." [33:38] | "Culture is always evolving. It's always changing. But those things could change the vector. It can go left or right. It can go negative or positive." [44:22] | "We traverse the world believing that we have all the agency there is that we wake up in the morning, decide what we're going to wear, where we're going to go, we're going to do, who we're going to marry, if we're going to marry." [45:37] | "The influence of the social world in which we navigate is far greater than we give it credit for." [45:24]