Ba Vojdaan با وجدان

James and Sana delve into the profound meaning of 'Vojdaan,' a Persian term that closely aligns with the concept of conscientiousness.

Sana, who is of Persian heritage, explains that Vojdaan encompasses much more than just being conscientious—it's an ethical and moral compass deeply rooted in Persian culture. The discussion spans various aspects, including how Persian families instill this concept in their children, the emotional and societal implications of Voshtan, and the cultural differences faced by James and Sana as a couple.

The episode also touches on the role of historical Persian figures and literature in shaping these values, and concludes with how Vojdaan influences social interactions and personal identity.

Episode highlights:

00:07 Understanding Voshtan: A Persian Concept

01:43 Cultural Differences and Personal Beliefs

05:29 The Role of Women in Persian Culture

08:11 Voshtan and Emotional Intelligence

11:07 Practical Applications of Voshtan

17:44 Cultural Etiquette and Social Behavior

27:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

James and Sana discuss Donald Trump's presidency as a possible explanation for the local hot pot restaurant being busier than they've ever seen.

Also mentioned is An Affair to Remember, and the meaning of Vojdaan!

In this episode, recorded in the summer of 2021, I share my journey of rediscovering my passion - or better stated, MISSION - for trumpet playing after a conversation with my wife.

This led me to explore the Japanese concept of IKIGAIi, an ancient Japanese concept which loosely translated into English is "the reason for being."

One thing led to another, and soon enough I found through some internet searches Hector Garcia, the author of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.

Hector and I do a deep dive into the idea of Ikigai, discussing its profound impact on life and how it aligns with one's purpose and passions.

Hector shares insights from his own experiences in Okinawa, known for its population of the longest-living people, and discusses the importance of flow in achieving a fulfilling life.

The episode combines personal anecdotes with deep philosophical discussions on living a purposeful and happy life.

Episode highlights:

01:25 Discovering Ikigai

03:13 Meeting Hector Garcia

04:54 Understanding Ikigai

08:08 The Journey of Writing

11:34 Personal Reflections on Ikigai

22:33 Finding Purpose Beyond Yourself

23:53 Balancing Passion and Practicality

24:52 The Struggle of Artists and Day Jobs

29:30 The Concept of Flow

36:14 Living in Japan and Cultural Insights

40:44 Community and Lifestyle in Okinawa

44:48 Conclusion and Farewell

Resources mentioned:

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.

We welcome to the show independent journalist Hollie McKay.

In this interview, Hollie discusses her diverse career, starting from her beginnings in the U.S. after studying in New York, to her time at Fox News, and her eventual shift to independent journalism after becoming disillusioned with the “clickbait factory” her work environment had become (her words ha ha).

Hollie shares her experiences reporting from global hotspots such as Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Sudan, emphasizing the challenges and importance of covering peoples around the world that otherwise are not given the time of day by the Gatekeepers of Polite Society aka “mainstream” media.

Together we explore the hardships of journalism, the need for a conscientious approach to journalism (or whatever work we are engaged in,) and the essential need for authentic, on-the-ground reporting on matters that affect the quality of life in the world’s most neglected regions.

Hollie also highlights the impact of her work on her personal life and the valuable lessons she's aiming to pass on to her 14-month old daughter.

We oftentimes ask ourselves, “What can I do?” when we hear of suffering around the world.

Supporting Hollie’s work is a great way to help people who are truly in need.

Hollie is a person who genuinely desires to improve the world through her work, and has shown tremendous Vojdaan, not to mention personal sacrifice, with her career choices.

Subscribe to Hollie’s free newsletter, and also consider supporting her work financially. This enables people who otherwise fall through the cracks from mainstream news reporting to get the attention they deserve, even if it’s a tiny fraction of the population.

A little Vojdaan goes a long way!

Episode highlights:

00:39 Hollie's Background and Career Beginnings

02:42 The Evolution of Digital Journalism

05:19 Hollie's Unexpected Path to Journalism

09:26 The Universal Language of Music and Soccer

14:29 Challenges in Mainstream Media

19:17 Transition to Independent Journalism

20:57 Experiencing the Fall of Kabul

22:33 Challenges of Freelance Journalism

25:10 Building a Niche in Journalism

31:28 The Reality of War-Torn Regions

37:33 Human Resilience Amidst Hardship

41:16 Supporting Independent Journalism

44:12 Parenting and Professional Life

46:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources Mentioned:

Dispatches with Hollie McKay

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.jamesdnewcomb.com/subscribe

Today we welcome to the show Dr. Zachary Porcu, author of 'Journey to Reality: Sacramental Life in a Secular Age.'

The discussion begins with James sharing his journey into the Orthodox Church, partly influenced by Zachary's book. The conversation delves into the origins and needs that led Dr. Porcu to write his book, emphasizing the differences between ancient and modern Christianity.

James and Dr. Porcu explore the concept of 'Arche' and how it represents the cornerstone of Christian belief, transcending merely being a set of rules to being a worldview. The interview also touches upon the revolutionary nature of Jesus' teachings, the Reformation's impact on Christianity at large, and ultimately leading to the modern secular state.

The interview concludes with a discussion on the importance of sacraments in Orthodox Christianity. Far more than symbolic or ritualistic acts, these are genuine spiritual disciplines embodying the intersection of physical and spiritual truth.

Episode highlights:

00:35 Background of the Interview

02:25 Introducing Dr. Zachary Porcu

03:14 The Need for the Book

03:49 Challenges in Teaching Theology

05:58 Writing and Revising the Book

07:52 Understanding Christianity and Worldview

12:21 The Concept of Arche

22:47 Revolutionary Claims of Christianity

26:22 Modern Context of Christianity

34:44 Critique of the Reformation

42:35 Separation of Church and State

46:03 The Sacramental Way of Life

52:38 Conclusion and Farewell

Resources mentioned:

Journey to Reality: Sacramental Life In a Secular Age by Dr. Zachary Porcu

Unintended Reformation

This episode is a replay of an interview I did circa 2017 with patent attorney Stephan Kinsella.

Kinsella is the author of "Against Intellectual Property," and in our time together, he argues that IP laws, particularly patents and copyrights, are incompatible with traditional property rights and hinder innovation and progress.

The conversation explores the origins of these laws, their impact on musicians and other creatives, and practical advice for navigating the current system while protecting artistic integrity.

The discussion also delves into Austrian economics and how it provides a framework for understanding the issues with IP laws. Kinsella foresees a future where the increasing ease of circumventing these laws will pressure the industry to adapt to more free-market principles.

Episode highlights:

00:24 Stefan Kinsella on Intellectual Property

02:43 Understanding Property Rights

06:45 Austrian Economics and Intellectual Property

20:08 The History and Problems of Copyright

26:59 Practical Advice for Musicians

42:13 Future of Intellectual Property

44:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources mentioned:

Against Intellectual Property by Stephan Kinsella

Stephan's website

About the guest:

Stephan Kinsella is an attorney and libertarian writer in Houston. He was previously General Counsel for Applied Optoelectronics, Inc., a partner with Duane Morris, and adjunct professor at South Texas College of Law Houston. A registered patent attorney, he received an LL.M. (international business law) from King’s College London, a JD from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University (LSU), and BSEE and MSEE degrees from LSU.

He has spoken, lectured and published widely on both legal topics, including intellectual property law and international law, and also on various areas of libertarian legal theory.

You've been listening to Ba Vojdaan!, with James D. Newcomb.

For more information about James, and to subscribe to the podcast, visit https://jamesdnewcomb.com. There you'll find a trove of materials available for immediate download.

And be sure to follow James' travels and adventures on social media. All the info can be found at https://jamesdnewcomb.com.

Thank you for listening!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.jamesdnewcomb.com/subscribe

This episode features a deep dive into the multifaceted life of Abel James, best known for the Fat Burning Man Podcast. In this interview, Abel offers insights from his musical background, detailing how early influences shaped his passions and career path.

Discover how a tragic apartment fire redirected Abel's focus from music to health, leading him to become an influencer in the realm of health and fitness.

Abel also discusses his book 'The Musical Brain,' which explores the cognitive impacts of musical training, and offers a sneak peek into his latest work, 'Designer Babies Still Get Scabies.'

Tune in for a rich conversation about creativity, resilience, and the intersections between music, health, and personal development!

Episode highlights:

01:31 Abel's Musical Journey

06:35 The Musical Brain

11:15 Transition to Podcasting

15:25 Challenges and Realities of Podcasting

27:06 Designer Babies Still Get Scabies

32:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources mentioned:

Fat Burning Man Podcast

Designer Babies Still Get Scabies by Abel James

About the Guest:

My name is Abel, and a few years ago, I made some alarming discoveries. I learned that almost everything that I thought I knew about health, nutrition, and fitness was completely wrong.

After years of frustration, sickness, and increasing flab, I stopped listening to the “experts,” “gurus,” and even my doctors. I buried my nose in the research and experimented on myself like a lab rat until I found the truth. And man, it was a doozy.

It turns out that my “healthy” low-fat, low-cholesterol diet and “effective” running program recommended by magazines, TV shows, and my doctors, were actually causing me to be fat and sick.

Once I did the opposite of what my doctors told me, I dramatically improved my health – reversing hypertension, healing my malfunctioning thyroid, and effortlessly shedding 20 pounds in 40 days.

Skip ahead a few years, and now as host of the award-winning #1 Rated Fat-Burning Man Show, I help folks to improve their relationship with food, activity, and life by circumventing marketing myths, misinformation, and corporate scheming by eating real foods and engaging in effective, science-backed training to make you lean, healthy, and energetic.

But make no mistake: I’m no guru. I do not have all the answers. YOU are the expert on you. Through my podcast, books, and coaching, I am dedicated to helping others optimize their health and reach their ultimate potential by being their own guru.

After all, experts should help you build behaviors that would eventually put them out of a job.

But with the collective health of the country (and beyond) falling off a cliff, it is more important than ever the help reverse the obesity and health crisis. As such, I share the principles and system that enabled me to dramatically optimize my life with folks who want to shed unwanted...

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.jamesdnewcomb.com/subscribe

We welcome to the show Marc Mawhinney. Marc is the host of the Natural Born Coaches podcast, and has helped countless aspiring coaches in just about every conceivable niche build and sustain thriving coaching businesses.

I've often said that the greatest strength of my own craft of podcasting is also its greatest weakness, that being just about anyone can do it.

As you'll hear in this episode, the same can be said of coaching. Anyone can call themselves a coach, but actually finding a paid client, and then guiding them from Point A to Point B is a different matter entirely!

In this episode, Marc shares in detail:

• His email strategy and mindset needed for consistent daily emailing to a specific market.
• His thoughts on what defines a coach
• Overcoming credibility issues in the coaching industry
• The "3 Pillars Strategy" of marketing one's business
• Maintaining personal integrity in the highly superficial digital age

If you've thought about getting into the highly profitable coaching industry, but don't know where to begin, give this a listen and then check out Marc's offerings below!

Episode highlights:

00:07 Mark's Email Streak and Initial Challenges

02:17 Transition to Daily Emails

05:07 The Impact of Social Media and Authenticity

08:51 Coaching in the Digital Age

13:40 Exploring Niche Coaching Markets

18:44 The Three Pillar Strategy for Coaches

21:51 Conclusion and Contact Information

Resources mentioned:

Natural Born Coaches

The Coaching Jungle Facebook group

About the guest:

Marc Mawhinney is a lifelong entrepreneur who has been helping coaches get more clients (without paid ads) since 2014!

He’s the host of the “Natural Born Coaches” podcast, which has almost 900 episodes released, and the Tarzan of “The Coaching Jungle” Facebook group which has over 25,000 coaches in that community.

He's been a speaker at events like “Social Media Marketing World”, frequently makes media appearances, and has contributed for Entrepreneur.com.

You can learn more about Marc at www.NaturalBornCoaches.com!



You've been listening to Ba Vojdaan!, with James D. Newcomb.

For more information about James, and to subscribe to the podcast, visit https://jamesdnewcomb.com. There you'll find a trove of materials available for immediate download.

And be sure to follow James' travels and adventures on social media. All the info can be found at https://jamesdnewcomb.com.

Thank you for listening!

There's more to Iran and Persian culture than what you'll see on Fox News.

That's the main point of today's episode. My wife Sana shared with me a Facebook post that did a fairly deep dive - as deep as you can get with a Facebook post anyway - on some of the highlights of the Persian culture and history.

I asked Sana, who is Iranian, if she would record a podcast and share some of her experiences as an Iranian, and how she views the American culture from that lens.

As usual we stray from the path a bit with the conversation, but manage to stay true to our intent.

In this episode you'll hear about the progressive policies of Cyrus the Great, advancements in science, medicine, and mathematics, to the unique role of women in Persian society.

Once you've finished listening to this, you might second-guess your decisions to rely on mainstream news sources re: that part of the world!

Episode highlights:

00:39 Exploring Persian Culture and History

01:36 Ancient Iran's Contributions to Civilization

04:43 Persian Innovations and Influence

06:06 Gender Roles in Ancient Iran

07:15 Modern Reflections on Ancient Wisdom

09:55 Community vs. Individualism

17:00 Cultural Reflections and Personal Growth

18:21 Understanding American Historical Perspective

19:19 The Importance of Learning from History

22:26 Contrasting American and Persian Cultures

26:03 The Influence of Persian Culture in America

30:31 Encouragement to Explore Persian History

**This interview was originally published on the Brass Mastery podcast in May 2024.

We welcome to the podcast Marcus Reynolds, who with his Stratos Brass device has provided a beacon of hope for the thousands of brass players across the globe who struggle with embouchure issues.

Like many great triumphs in life, Marcus' journey to becoming a tireless promoter of safer and healthier brass playing began with a tragedy. A major lip injury completely derailed Marcus' successful playing career. In an instant his sole source of income and personal identity was gone.

In this episode, Marcus shares in-depth the painful - both physical and psychological - road to recovery, and how a mysterious "nocturnal hieroglyphic" ultimately became the inspiration for a device that is changing lives for the better. Indeed it is no exaggeration to say that Marcus' tireless efforts have even extended playing careers that once appeared to have reached their end.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode highlights:

-Belief in the mission compels a tireless promotion of the solution for the problem...01:55

-A catastrophic lip injury set Marcus through the extreme depths and heights of human emotion...03:50

-The psychological damage was just as profound as the physical...09:35

-A "nocturnal hieroglyphic" circa 2008 is ultimately the genesis of the Stratos Brass device....11:05

-You become a self-psychologist when your identity is taken away from you...18:10

-Clarifying the "upstream" and "downstream" of air flow...24:40

-Success stories from high-profile musicians who've worked with Marcus and his invention...27:30

-The basic physiology of what's going on with your body when you use the Stratos device...33:00

-How Marcus' personality and self-perception has changed after becoming a quasi-celebrity in the brass world...45:05

-"It's very possible that you've had a greater impact in light of that accident than you ever would have had you stayed perfectly healthy"... 54:50

-Plus whatever your discerning ears deem worthy of your time and interest...

Resources mentioned:

Stratos Brass

Brass Mastery podcast w/ Larry Meregillano

About the Guest:

"I am a brass instrument tutor of over 40 years experience in both the private and local government sectors. As well as general brass teaching, I also specialise in embouchure development and rescue for brass players. Building on my experience as a teacher and professional musician I am also the creator of the unique STRATOS Embouchure System. I am also an author of ‘Range without Resistance’. Stratos Encore Pro is an adaptable and adjustable embouchure system that can be fitted to virtually all brass instruments to help players adapt and improve their embouchure. I have also written a series of articles on the brass embouchure which have been published in Brass Band World, Brass Herald and British Trombone Society Magazine.

As a professional musician I have over 30 years experience of recording music and performing live, both as a lead trombonist and a solo artist. I also have many years experience in the role of musical director for several big bands and brass ensembles. I currently play a Rath R12 trombone which I co-developed with Michael Rath Trombones."