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Well, we’re back! We have taken a significant break in our podcast this year and soon you will know why! We have already recorded several episodes that will fill in the blanks on our break. The main reason is that this year Eden was experiencing a significant change in life that has resulted in a move from the west coast to the east coast! Along the way, Eden took an extended trip to Europe which included an approximately very long walk on the Camino de Santiago which started in southern France and ended at the western Spanish Atlantic Coast. Our first episode will discuss the origination and growth of this adventurous idea, and the path Eden took just to get to Southern France to start the Camino.  It would be fair to suggest that this show should now be called Edenstories.  It is our hope that with these next few episodes, you too will get inspired to unlock your potential and deepen your understanding of the life that surrounds us. We hope you enjoy the journey!

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Music written and performed by Bobby Knutilla

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This episode continues discussing the question, What Does It Mean to Be a Man? We start by trying to complete some of the discussions in Part 1 around the definitive definition of Masculinity. We discuss societal definitions caused by Movies, TV and Commercials. We then discuss the impact of Chivalry on masculinity. We introduce a satirical book that came out in the early 80s called Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche as a background to discuss the changes around society’s perception of modern Masculinity. Then we introduce our own framework for what we think Masculinity should be through conversations on the Platinum Rule, our thoughts about rules that apply to being a man can be applied to women as well. Finally, we take a stab at what it takes to be a good father and man. Because we are only armchair sociologists, we don’t get too deep, using personal experiences to expound on the idea of Masculinity. While this episode does contain some more serious topics it follows the spirit of openness, compassion and, in some cases, curiosity. Hope you enjoy!

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Music written and performed by Tom Knutilla

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This episode starts with the question, What Does It Mean to Be a Man? Since, it is a topic too big and nuanced to be addressed by a couple of story tellers, this episode focuses on personal experiences. What did ‘My Old Man’ teach me about being a man? How did society influence the definition of manhood? What does ‘No Homo’ mean anyway? How does the Feminism influence the definition of Masculinity. How did Dad’s experience of being in the first class with women at West Point influence his opinions about manhood?  Because we are only armchair sociologists, we don’t get too deep, using personal experiences to expound on the idea of Masculinity. While this episode does contain some more serious topics it follows the spirit of openness, compassion and, in some cases, curiosity. Hope you enjoy!

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Music written and performed by Tom Knutilla

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This episode continues the discussion about events that led us to becoming an Adult or, more accurately, becoming more like an adult. From when we were in our twenties going into the thirties, we both experienced a lot of growth based on being exposed to ‘adult life’. In this episode, we discuss topics centered around family situations such as partners, marriage and babies. We take a look at some of our more enlightening experiences as well as some sad and somewhat tragic experiences that come with married life and the culture of married life, buying a house, seeking parents' permissions for marriage, the why, when, and what of having a baby including risks of pregnancy, and when does a baby go from being an ‘it’ to being your child. These topics are raised from the point of personal experience and not one that covers every aspect of every topic. While this episode does contain some more serious topics it follows the spirit of openness, compassion and, in some cases, curiosity. Hope you enjoy!

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Music written and performed by Bobby Knutilla

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Eden turns thirty! Recently Eden celebrated their 30th birthday. In light of that momentous event, we thought we would discuss events that led us to becoming an Adult or, more accurately, becoming more like an adult. From the twenties into the thirties, we both experienced a lot of growth based on being exposed to ‘adult life’. This will be a two-part series. In this first episode, we discuss topics centered around work and society. Our second episode will focus on family situations. We take a look at some of our more enlightening experiences as well as some sad and somewhat tragic experiences based on situations such as addressing work conflict, developing the ability to be flexible as well as when home situations affect the working world. While this episode does contain some more serious topics it follows the spirit of openness, compassion and, in some cases, curiosity. Hope you enjoy!

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Music performed by Tom Knutilla

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This is the fifth and last episode on our elementary school years. With this episode, we share memories about starting school academically behind, coping with overcrowded schools and the changes that caused, senseless vandalism and other shenanigans, working for lunch money, being on safety patrol , spelling bees and school assemblies as well as other topics. Lastly, we talk about become aware of some of the social upheavals that were happening. We do a short recap of how the content of our topics changed during this series as is appropriate but were pretty thrilled to see the obviousness of our youthful development.  As usual, all topics are covered with humility, personal experience and tenderness.   We have also continued to use Eden’s Kantele music at the start and end of our episode. It is fun to see how their music continues to change and grow. It is as beautiful as it is unique. Hope you enjoy!

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Kantele Music written and performed by Eden Knutilla

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This is the fourth episode on our elementary school years. With this episode, we share memories about our first memories of experiencing the natural world as well as realizing diversity in the classroom. We also discuss our special school pressures when it came to dealing with math especially math competitions and the pros and cons of counting with your fingers! We also talk about childhood role models.  An unusual topic covered is our memories around childhood illnesses including unexpected consequences of taking medicine. Lastly, but not least, we talk about Eden getting their first dog in the fourth grade and where that fit into Eden’s emerging awareness of the world.  As usual, topics are covered with humility, personal experience and tenderness.   Hope you enjoy!

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Music written and performed by Eden Knutilla

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This is our third episode on our elementary school years. Unsurprising but just like our first episode, on First Grade, we covered several areas that were not part of the script! The review of our report card revealed to us that we were both under a more focused attention on books we were reading’. It was interesting giving how topical books and schools are in the US right now. Nevertheless and  as you might expect, Eden was a far more accomplished reader than her ‘Old Man’. We also uncovered our memories of our first experiences with standardized testing which were the same but different at the same time. We do get back on script to discuss our introduction to Social Studies and specifically learning about the United State’s 50 states and the impact that had on our future selves. Lastly, we spend time discussing traumatic events that occurred in the Third Grade that would be the start of our experiencing significant emotional and physical pain and how to deal with it.   As usual, topics are covered with humility, personal experience and tenderness.   Hope you enjoy!

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Music written and performed by Tom Knutilla

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This is our second episode on our elementary school years. To keep us honest, we invited Mom back to join us for this episode.  Just like our first episode, on First Grade, we covered several areas that were not part of the script! The review of our report card would suggest that we both had school in the second grade figured out. Our report cards indicated very little about little Tommy and Eden. However, that conclusion soon is modified as we dive into our first tastes or creative writing, dealing with bullies, working through school solutions to overcrowded classrooms, explore how corporations work to get their products in front of kids, among other topics that seem more adult related than something that a second grader would have to confront. The good news is that we also experienced some wonderful and unique things like our favorite teacher and split classrooms and all of the benefits that come from those experiences! As usual, topics are covered with humility, personal experience and tenderness.   Hope you enjoy!

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Music written and performed by Eden Knutilla on a Kantele, a Finnish five string lyre, which Eden is learning how to pla y.

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We have decided to go back further in time and explore stories from our elementary school years. We were a little worried that our memories couldn’t go back that far. After recording our first episode, on First Grade, we realized our worries were for naught. In this episode we explore our experiences from First Grade. As luck would have it, our moms had saved our report cards from our elementary school years. We start with a review of our report card highlights. That gets us going on other topics such as teacher relationships, learning how to do arithmetic, issues with learning how to read and forms of punishment among other topics. By now, no one should be surprised when Eden compares first grade punishments to our modern problems with criminal justices. As usual, topics are covered with humility, personal experience and tenderness.   Hope you enjoy!

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Music performed by Tom and Bobby Knutilla and written/arranged by Bobby Knutilla and Brian Roberts.

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