Kickasspirational Podcast

Kelly James Clark has a PhD from Notre Dame and is an international advocate for interfaith cooperation, focusing on the Abrahamic religions. He is project director for “Abrahamic Reflections on Science and Religion” which brings together 36 scholars from 14 countries to reconcile issues in the fields of science and religion.

In this podcast, we discuss how difficult it can be to see our own bias because, as studies show, bias is subconscious and instinctual. Kelly says his in his recent article (linked below):

"Our biases and fears, those of Republicans and Democrats alike, condone and even encourage our sitting idly by as systemic racism continues unabated. Without admitting our biases and our inaction (Republicans and Democrats alike), we will quickly return to the racist status quo as soon as the protest’s last ember is extinguished.

Or our better self, the one that doesn’t want to accede to blinding bias and is more sensitive to the Light of Love and Justice, can and should tell our biased self that America’s systemic racism must stop now."

https://medium.com/@kellyjamesclark/the-subtle-and-corrosive-power-of-racial-bias-54d7bda3c5f1

We also discuss Kelly's book Strangers, Neighbors, Friends: Muslim-Christian-Jewish Reflections on Compassion and Peace and how bias affects religious views of each other.

https://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Neighbors-Friends-Muslim-Christian-Jewish-Reflections/dp/1532619669

Kelly also suggested watching two films, Same God Film and 13th:

https://samegodfilm.com/

https://www.netflix.com/title/80091741

Maybe breaking through barriers in our lives requires that we examine our naturally-occurring biases that inform many of our opinions and actions. Kickasspirational isn't a spectator sport. Whatever else you do this week, please, #BeKickasspirational.

This week is an audio monologue that stemmed from a number of conversations and feedback about how important perspective can be to help us be aware of others and not just our own needs.

At the end of this podcast, I read an excerpt from David Foster Wallace's "This Is Water," a commencement address he gave at Kenyon College in 2005 that was published as a small book and can be found on YouTube. it's a short read, and I hope you take the time to read it as well as watch it (below):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC7xzavzEKY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhhC_N6Bm_s

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316068225/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_BeU0EbHV52K3J

Be Kickasspirational.

This week we get a bit more technical about entrepreneurship with two under-30 founders, John Sherwin and Jai Kim, about how they’ve been able to create one of the fastest growing hydration start-ups via a direct-to-consumer model that is now getting pulled into strong retail partnerships.

John and Jai, came together to solve the problem of dehydration under the pressures of life. Jai was working long hours and pursuing his MBA, while John had been on the start-up grind in Silicon Valley while using his background in biology from Oxford to try various approaches to defeating his daily dehydration. Collectively, the coffee, energy drinks and gallons of plain water weren’t good enough, so they came up with a better way.

Kickasspirational Bro Codes:

Hydrant: If you’re interested in better hydration, simpler ingredients and a great-tasting alternative to sugary re-hydration drinks, our friends at Hydrant are offering 20% off for Kickasspirational listeners. There are both caffeine and L-theanine options as well as caffeine free versions depending on preference. Http://drinkhydrant.com and use code: KickAss20

SuperCoffee: Our friends at Kitu Super Coffee are offering 25% off their delicious, all-natural, sugar-free Super Coffees and Super Creamers (I drink the creamers straight they are so good). Lots of great MCT fats and 3-10g of protein. Https://drinksupercoffee.com and use code: Kickasspirational25

NewAge: The Noni by NewAge immunity bundle combines Tahitian Noni Juice and Cell Defense that can help your body dramatically boost immunity. Use this link to get a bottle of each plus free shipping ($120 value) for $40. https://noninewage.com/roth

Aaron James holds a PhD from Harvard and is professor of philosophy at the University of California, Irvine. He is the author of Assholes: A Theory, Assholes: A Theory of Donald Trump, and Fairness in Practice: A Social Contract for a Global Economy and numerous academic articles. He was awarded a Burkhardt Fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies, and spent the 2009-10 academic year at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. He’s a skilled, lifelong surfer and lives in Irvine, California.

When Aaron and I started this podcast, I didn’t realize it would last roughly three hours…an amazing journey about living authentically, being attuned to our environment, traveling through remote parts of the world to surf epic waves and how monetary policy may save us.

If you’re enjoying this podcast and want more information about Aaron, there was a recent article in Fast Company where he was quoted as an expert because of his work Assholes: A Theory.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90490489/how-reddits-am-i-the-asshole-became-the-definitive-document-of-the-trump-era

You can find more of his titles at the link, and Aaron writes in a popular style that is accessible to everyone:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/150710/aaron-james

Kickasspirational Bro Codes:

SuperCoffee: Our friends at Kitu Super Coffee are offering 25% off their delicious, all-natural, sugar-free Super Coffees and Super Creamers (I drink the creamers straight they are so good). Lots of great MCT fats and 3-10g of protein. Https://drinksupercoffee.com and use code: Kickasspirational25

NewAge: The Noni by NewAge immunity bundle combines Tahitian Noni Juice and Cell Defense that can help your body dramatically boost immunity. Use this link to get a bottle of each plus free shipping ($120 value) for $40. https://noninewage.com/roth

Pete Holmes is a creator and comedian who has brought joy to the world through his stand up, podcast (You Made It Weird), television shows (Crashing on HBO), specials and his latest book: Comedy Sex God (that’s a list and not a descriptor of Pete, although many people are saying he is those things). He has a current stand up tour “Silly Silly Fun Boy” that is currently on hold and will resume when safely possible.

All things Pete Holmes can be found here:

https://peteholmes.com/

This podcast with Pete dug into the deeper side of Pete—how he was raised, how things fell apart for him and how he rebuilt his life in a way that has been deliberately liberating and an inspiration to many of his fans. Rob Bell (also on the podcast this year) introduced me to Pete, and if you enjoyed Rob’s interview about learning to shift gears and move in new directions, I think you’ll find some common themes in Pete’s life and experiences. Most significant to me is how Pete has developed a deep joy and inclusive love for the world that is marked with wonder and mystery. He dives into all of it and has fun-yet-profound insights that mark him as one of our modern philsopher-as-comedian archetype that I find so compelling.

Kickasspirational Bro Codes:

SuperCoffee: Our friends at Kitu Super Coffee are offering 25% off their delicious all-natural, sugar-free Super Coffees and Super Creamers (I drink the creamers straight they are so good). Lots of great MCT fats and 3-10g of protein. Https://drinksupercoffee.com and use code: Kickasspirational25

NewAge: The Noni by NewAge immunity bundle combines Tahitian Noni Juice and Cell Defense that can help your body dramatically boost immunity. Use this link to get a bottle of each plus free shipping ($120 value) for $40. Https://noninewage.com/roth

Jim DeCicco is the oldest of three twenty-something brothers who created Kitu Super Coffee. Jim serves as the CEO for the business and is a part of the RX3 Ventures family (a fund that I’m involved with). This podcast is among my favorites to date for listeners who are interested in figuring out how to launch an idea, and when it might make sense to turn a part-time obsession into a full-time business.

Information on the brothers can be found here:

https://drinksupercoffee.com/pages/family

Jordan, Jake and Jim created Super Coffee while they were in various stages of either being in university of just out. Jim talks about that journey, the value of sports and education as well as the difference between persistence and perseverance (both of which are necessary to succeed). He also how they went from a small start-up to Shark Tank to the hyper growth that they are experiencing today.

Kickasspirational Bro Codes:

SuperCoffee: Our friends at Kitu Super Coffee are offering 25% off their delicious, all-natural, sugar-free Super Coffees and Super Creamers (I drink the creamers straight they are so good). Lots of great MCT fats and 3-10g of protein. Https://drinksupercoffee.com and use code: Kickasspirational25

NewAge: The Noni by NewAge immunity bundle combines Tahitian Noni Juice and Cell Defense that can help your body dramatically boost immunity. Use this link to get a bottle of each plus free shipping ($120 value) for $40. https://noninewage.com/roth

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymolinsky/2019/01/24/jim-decicco-super-coffee-shark-tank-and-great-tips-for-young-entrepreneurs/#4460cae63717