Cultivate the Ordinary

In this special episode, Travis interviews his 96-year-old grandfather and 97-year-old grandmother, sharing stories and memories from their lives and the lessons they've learned across nearly 100 years each! They've also been married nearly 78 years!

Harold and Marlys Ostrem share about growing up, their marriage, life on a North Dakota farm, and so much more! Their stories move between hardship and humor, from surviving the Great Depression and brutal winters to laughing about courtship, family memories, and the small, funny details that make a long marriage last.

Alongside beautiful reflections on faith, family, and resilience, they also offer practical marriage advice and share about what keeps them going. What a gift their insights are!

In this episode:

• The early lives during the Great Depression and the hardships faced on the farm
• How immigrant roots from Norway influenced their family and values
• Memorable stories from childhood, including school experiences and farm life
• Marriage advice after 78 years together, emphasizing patience and teamwork
• Insights into historic weather events, including severe blizzards and tough winters
• Their perspectives on raising a large family and the importance of faith and community
• Reflections on aging, legacy, and how they wish to be remembered
• The significance of continuous learning, even at 97, demonstrated through poetry and genealogy projects

Ever feel like life has lost its glow? This episode is all about reigniting that wonder—finding awe in the everyday and living alive with shiny eyes. Travis shares heartfelt stories, inspiring quotes, and powerful reflections on how wonder is essential to truly thriving as humans created in the image of a wondrous God.

Travis includes a heartfelt reading from his book Shiny Eyes, focusing on the theme: “Sparkling with Awe and Wonder.”

Pickup a copy of "Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope"

https://a.co/d/0a3g6lrY

That's So Rad! Podcast

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thats-so-rad/id1810887342

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thatissorad

Transforming Us

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transforming-us/id1823554264

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@transformingus

Stay at their Airbnb retreat:

https://www.facebook.com/shinyeyesretreat

In this episode:

• Travis shares his personal journey of re-engaging with wonder after a break from podcasting and life.
• The importance of cultivating awe in everyday moments to avoid living on autopilot and the dangers of disenchantment.
• How living with a sense of wonder can lead us to a more meaningful, full life—featuring stories of an 80-year-old woman and mountain biking in East Tennessee.
• The significance of being “enchanted” by the world around us, inspired by Gerard Manley Hopkins and Joseph Pieper.
• Richard Beck’s insights on the spiritual power of wonder and the impact of disenchantment in modern culture.
• The transformative power of awe in slowing down, noticing beauty, and living with a sense of sacredness.
• Practical tips for cultivating awe through attention, seasonal practices, and intentionally seeking the marvelous in the mundane.
• The call to embrace joy, curiosity, and wonder as acts of worship—living fully alive as a divine act.
• Final encouragement: see God in your daily life, and let wonder be your lens for a richer, more vibrant existence.

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, hosts Travis and Jess reflect on the past year, sharing personal anecdotes, funny stories, and lessons learned. They each share a quote for the year that best represented what they were most inspired by or learned in 2025. They discuss the importance of finding beauty in everyday life, the power of quotes, and the significance of community and relationships.

As they look ahead to the new year, they emphasize the need for personal growth, curiosity, and the cultivation of positive habits, while also acknowledging the challenges that come with it.

Key Takeaways:

1. Travis humorously describes their podcast roles as interchangeable sidekicks, adding a light-hearted touch to their dynamic.
2. Jess shares a funny incident where she got sprayed with water at a gas station, and instead of getting upset, she laughed it off, showcasing her graciousness.
3. Travis recounts a karaoke night where he was pressured into singing "Barbie Girl," a song he found hilariously awkward, especially when a stranger joined him on stage.
4. Jess emphasizes the importance of embracing play and lightheartedness, reflecting on her word for the year, which was "play."
5. Jess discusses the importance of forgiveness, inspired by a pastor who forgave the man responsible for a tragic event, encouraging her to let go of personal resentments.
6. Both Jess and Travis talk about the significance of community and vulnerability, highlighting how opening up to others can lead to profound personal growth and connection.
7. Jess emphasizes the value of finding beauty in stillness and nature, which has reignited her passion for art and creativity.

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, hosts Travis and Jess get back together after a bit of a break from this podcast. They discuss their recent creative projects, including two new podcasts they've launched. This episode centers on the power of writing, the creative process, and what it looks like to publish a book on your own.

Books and podcast links below:

Jessie is writing her first book and Travis talks about the two books he wrote. They share personal stories about their writing journeys and offer encouragement to aspiring writers. Travis shares some practical tips on what it takes to write a book and get it published. His belief is that everyone has a book in them.

The conversation highlights the intersection of creativity, personal growth, and the transformative power of words.

Travis and Jessie's other podcasts:

That's So Rad! Podcast

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thats-so-rad/id1810887342

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thatissorad

Transforming Us

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transforming-us/id1823554264

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@transformingus

Travis' books:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

Redemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace

Writing or book publishing questions? Contact us on socials or below at:

https://guidedpace.com/

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary Podcast, host Travis explores the themes of rootedness, geography, and personal history as he reflects on his time growing up on a farm in North Dakota. He shares on the importance of place in shaping identity and the innate human longing for connection to our origins.

Through personal anecdotes and reading book excerpts, Travis discusses how experiences in various landscapes influence our character and sense of belonging. He also emphasizes the need for stability in a fast-paced world and the profound impact that specific places can have on our souls.

Because of the freedom of technology and remote jobs, many of us can live in places but not be rooted in those places. That's a big problem and the difference between "being stationed" vs "being rooted" changes how we live life.

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Language of Cottonwoods: Essays on the Future of North Dakota

Dakota: A Spiritual Geography

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, Jessie and Travis explore some exciting things going on in their lives and how they're finding inspiration in these things. They talk some about the current journey of Travis's brother Jeremy, who has faced significant challenges due to a traumatic brain injury (in 2009). They also share some cool stories of all the things he is doing to bring joy and hope to the world despite limited abilities.

The conversation also highlights the joy of music through Travis learning to play the ukulele, the development of a documentary about Jeremy's life, and the importance of community and friendship in their lives. They discuss Jeremy's artistic endeavors, the gift of friendship, and the inspiration they and so many others draw from his story.

Cool stuff to checkout from this episode!

Follow Jeremy on Facebook:

Jeremy's Instagram:

Jeremy painting

Wes performing a spoken word for Jeremy

Jeremy's website: joyindespair

Checkout the band Wasperjaws

Wes' website: https://www.meaningfulscience.com/

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary Podcast, hosts Travis and Jessie explore the theme of beauty through personal experiences, reflections on a recent cruise, and the evolution of their understanding of beauty over time. They discuss moments of astonishment, the connection between beauty and art, and how beauty can serve as a bridge to deeper understanding and connection with the world around us.

Travis and Jessie discuss the profound impact of beauty in our lives, discussing how it can inspire, captivate, and connect us to deeper truths. They delve into the relationship between beauty and art, the importance of imagination, and how beauty can transform our perception of the ordinary. The discussion also touches on practical ways to cultivate beauty in daily life and community, emphasizing that beauty is essential for our well-being and creativity.

Travis' book:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

Podcast:

John O'Donohue- The Inner Landscape of Beauty

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, host Travis discusses the transformative power of gratitude, especially in the face of personal struggles. He shares his family's recent challenges, including health scares involving his brother, and how these experiences have deepened his appreciation for life's gifts.

Through a heartfelt story about his favorite band Carbon Leaf, Travis illustrates the importance of connection and gratitude in difficult times. Times that God is nearer to us than we often feel, and orchestrates gifts and unexpected moments to encourage us in our difficulties. He also shares about the discipline of trying to find more gratitude in the small everyday moments of life.

He emphasizes that joy often stems from gratitude and encourages listeners to recognize and cherish the small moments that make life meaningful.

Checkout some of Carbon Leaf's music:

https://youtu.be/4BItUurqpsw?si=p_dDnDgmJQyAzRGn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlhlHsGE6as

Travis's book:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

Takeaways

• Gratitude can spark a sense of aliveness.
• Personal struggles can deepen our appreciation for life.
• Connection with others can provide comfort during tough times.
• Gratitude is a discipline that can be cultivated.
• Finding joy in small moments is essential.
• Living in radical amazement can transform our perspective.
• Gratitude can help us navigate through suffering.
• The little things in life often become the big things.
• Being grateful for one thing a day can change our outlook.
• Joy is rooted in gratitude, not the other way around.

In this episode of Cultivate the Ordinary, hosts Travis and Jessie discuss their excitement for the new year, reflecting on personal goals and experiences. They explore the concept of bucket lists, the psychology behind New Year's resolutions, and the importance of identity in forming habits.

The conversation emphasizes the need for both motivation and structure in achieving personal growth and setting meaningful goals for 2025. In this conversation, Jessie and Travis explore the themes of personal growth, the importance of influential voices, and the necessity of finding what makes one come alive. They discuss the challenges of burnout and the significance of encouraging each other in their journeys.

The dialogue emphasizes the need for sustainable structures in life, the power of music and community, and the importance of self-awareness in navigating life's complexities.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

book:

Atomic Habits: Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Additional resources from Travis and Jess:

Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offerings

Travis' books:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

Redemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace

In this season finale episode, Travis is joined by his son Asher to talk about curiosity and creativity. Asher sees the world so imaginatively and is full of curiosity. He's also brings the gift of gratitude wherever he is and Travis talks about the ways Asher teaches him as his son.

The conversation steers around Asher's insights into drawing and creating and ends with questions around his favorite things. This has been a great season of inspiring people, stories, and lives that showcase curiosity, wonder, and looking for God's presence in the everyday.

Additional resources from Travis and Jess:

Guided Pace website: resources for coaching, soul care, and spiritual retreat offerings

Travis' books:

Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope

Redemption's Echo: Living in the Reflection of God's Grace