Leaning Toward Wisdom

The Yellow Studio circa September 2019

It only took one day. To dismantle the Yellow Studio.

It took a small generous community of podcast supporters. To help make it become a reality.

Rode Rodecaster Pro now residing inside The Yellow Studio

The donors are now on a special email list where I've been keeping them updated. This group will continue to remain special and enjoy some inside updates. It's just one small way I can thank you for making the Rode Rodecaster Pro possible.

Now, let's geek out just a little bit for those of you interested in the technicalities of podcasting. For the rest of you, bear with me.

Years ago when I built The Yellow Studio there were basically two methods or workflows used in podcasting. The first was by far the most popular because it was the least expensive route, RECORDING. To be fair, all podcasts are recorded. That became the very definition of the medium - serialized, subscribable audio content. People could listen at will. On their own timetable. It was all pretty slick and we were as excited to get an email as we were to get a new episode of our favorite podcast.

RECORDING methodology just required a microphone and some software (much of it free). To gussy up the sound you needed fancier software. This also meant you spent time editing. The first recording wouldn't necessarily be the final version. This workflow demanded significant after-the-fact work.

BROADCASTING was the other methodology. This wasn't nearly as popular because it required hardware. And hardware was (still is) expensive. The benefits are high. The minute you hit "record" the sound is recorded digitally exactly as it will sound when listeners hit "play." Other than editing for content - not for sound quality - it's more of a "what you hear is what you get" process.

I instantly wanted to go the BROADCAST route because I preferred to put my work in ahead of hitting the record button. It wasn't about avoiding work. At least not for me. It was about when to do that work. I wanted to spend time doing the work ahead of recording, not afterward.

This meant investing in gear. Thankfully, I had the ability to make the investment. And I had some expert help in figuring out what I should get.

Click here for the episode I recorded in 2015 to answer the persistent question, "What does your studio look like?"

I embarked on finding and assembling equipment that was mostly broadcast quality. Built to withstand hours and hours of non-stop operating without any problems. In short, I was building a small 2-mic station with just about everything other than a transmitter. My transmitter was going to be the Internet.

The microphones came first. Two Heil Sound PR40 microphones. Others picked them because of longtime broadcaster/podcaster, Leo Laporte. Leo is a tech guy who has enjoyed radio and Internet success. He used the Heil PR40.

Well, I didn't know of Leo when I got the PR40s. But I had heard of Bob Heil because I was very into music. I also had (still have it) a fondness for the sound of great condenser microphones, but I knew my space wouldn't be ideal for a condenser mic because they pick up EVERYTHING. My space was going to be pretty solid for recording, but it wasn't going to be like a professional voice booth (commonly used by voiceover artists) or like a professional recording studio with extensive sound isolation. Enter the PR40. Its large diaphragm has condenser mic qualities in a dynamic mic.

Two Heil PR40s, each on its own boom arm and mounted inside its own shock mount. Those were the first items purchased.

Next came the coveted Aphex 230 microphone preamps. Radio people and voiceover artists alike have run to the Aphex sound for years. Microphones have to be plugged into something that ...

I pulled the trigger on the Rode Rodecaster Pro. You're listening to it now. I'll update you on what's happening here inside The Yellow Studio at the end of the show.

Thanks to everybody who contributed. I'll be reaching out in the next few weeks to get the Skype calls scheduled.

Randy

 

Some nights ago. I don't remember what day. Or night. It's 2:15 am and I'm wide awake. Not uncommon.

I fire up Apple iTunes, where all my music resides, including the thousands of CD's I've burned. And the digital downloads I've purchased.

I slap on a pair of headphones, one of about four within arm's reach. I turn up the headphone amp to about 10 o'clock, plenty loud for me at this hour.

Jamestown Revival album UTAH is calling out to me for some reason. Released in 2014 it's been a month or more since I've given it a go...so why not. I've been practically living on their newer release, circa this year 2019, San Isabel. So it's time to dive into my catalog a bit.

This all happens because revival is on my mind. Their band name sparks it, but my love of their music is the draw. UTAH has a song entitled, Revival. So let's do it. I click PLAY.

It's track 6 and track 7 follows, a song entitled Truth. A theme begins to emerge and intersects what's been on my mind the last week or more.

Vince Gill's new record OKIE is a few weeks old and I've listened to it through a handful of times by now. As I'm pondering revival I start thinking of one particular song from this record, The Price of Regret. So I click PLAY and give it a go. Again.

"Everyone knows the price of regret, the things in life we never forget."

Regret. Revival.

By the time I get to the 11th track of Vince's new record (there are 12 tracks total), I've added a third R-word, reputation. The song is entitled, That Old Man Of Mine. It's followed by the last track, A World Without Haggard. Songs of reputation. Legacy. What we remember about people. What people remember us for.

Regret. Revival. Reputation.

I don't suppose all three are important to everybody. Some people claim to have no regrets. I think that's foolish.

Others refuse revival. Some perhaps because their character is so low they're nothing to revive. Did they ever have it? Maybe. Maybe not.

Some refuse revival because they don't want to revive it. Easier, perhaps more short-term fun, to remain in sin and suffering. No going back to a time when they were more noble, more innocent, more helpful and made a more positive difference in the lives of others.

So reputations are largely earned. Deserved perhaps. And I'm not talking about public reputation or how the masses feel. Most of us aren't subjected to that because we're mostly anonymous to the world. But inside our little corner of the world, we're known. For something. As something. What?

When my kids were quite small - toddlers really - I was spending considerable time with an old man who was an important mentor in my life. Weekly we spent hours together talking and studying. I was burning life's candle at both ends, spending close to 80 hours working and devoting time to church and family. It was exhausting, but I was young and didn't think much of it. Truthfully, my energy was quite high much of the time. So one weeknight each week sitting at his kitchen table - sometimes with my family in tow - wasn't burdensome. I wanted to know what he knew and was anxious to learn all I could.

One evening talk turned to family. He was a father with grown children. I was mere years into my own fatherhood and I inquired about regret. He said he had no regrets.

Here was a man I respected. A man 25 plus years my senior. I remember thinking of my own regrets and I had many years to ...

“It is better to be alone than in bad company.”

― George Washington

Good stories have villains. Enemies. Antagonists.

Good stories have a protagonist. A champion. One hated by the villain. One constantly under besiege of the evil.

Which are you? Do you know?

“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

― Winston Churchill

In my insomnia, I've recently been binge-watching the Masterpiece Theater series, Poldark. It's a classic story set in old England where there is a very clear hero and an even more clear enemy. The villain, George, is a despicable character intent on doing whatever he can to disturb the life of the hero, Captain Poldark. He's a vexing sort of fellow, but I'm sure from his perspective he's constantly being persecuted by the good guy. Truth is, he likely sees himself as a good guy despite his conniving, evil actions.

As I've been watching the story unfold over the course of a few seasons the hero continues to show himself a man of strong conviction and character. He's unwavering. Unyielding. He bends to no one. He's a man of integrity willing to fight whatever fight must be fought.

Lots of tension. Lots of uncomfortable moments. Much like your life. And mine.

Enemies. Opposing sides.

People without compassion opposing people driven by compassion.

Evil people behaving poorly. Good people behaving with valor and honor. Mostly.

But even the good show signs of great weakness under the strain of life. Mortals behaving like humans who aren't able to always hold it together.

Betrayal. Heartbreak.

Love. Romance. Sentimentality. Passion.

Hatred. Bitterness. Jealousy. Resentment.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”

― Abraham Lincoln

Character. That's what we're talking about. The development, possession, and growth of character. The courage to do the right thing in spite of it all.

“Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”

― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

I don't claim to have expert insights on such matters. Mostly, I have curiosities, wonderings and ponderings.

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”

― Helen Keller

I think Helen had it right. Character isn't built by luxury, opulence, ease or entitlement.

I'm curious mostly about the beginnings of character. The spark that begins. Or the lack of spark.

When I was a boy I loved creatures. Lizards, horned toads, frogs, turtles. Those were among favorites.

One of the most appalling behaviors I witnessed as a boy were kids who mistreated these creatures. I was always very careful with them and wasn't very interested in removing them from their home, the place where I found them. I handled them with care so as not to harm them.

A turtle was found in a nearby creek. As he crawled along the driveway an older boy appeared with a BB gun. He began to shoot the turtle in the head. I was horrified. And angry. He laughed. And kept shooting eventually killing the poor turtle. As you may imagine the boy was a bully of a kid. Despicable. And I've never forgiven him.

Today, I have a grandson who loves these creatures. He's fond of capturing them and carting them off. But around my house I've got a rule. No lizards (we have many) are to be removed. And when he captures them, they're to be returned to the general vicinity where he found them. His parents have no idea - until now - of my deep-seated ideas and how long I've held...

According to the Northwestern website, a spacecraft leaving earth needs a speed of 7 miles per second or about 25,000 miles an hour to leave earth's atmosphere without falling back.

I formed the habit of using metaphors and hyperbolic language to convey ideas in business. Early in my career, while leading and managing sales teams I intended to make things easy to understand and relatable. I started in sales so I suppose I did it because I sat through too many "sales meetings" where technical details, product details, and all the other dry, boring stuff was presented with all the panache of a cardboard box.

When the Eagle landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, I was 12. Maybe that had something to do with it. Business success, I learned, relied on having a successful launch (take off). But what does that mean? Well, it means you don't crash. And in order to avoid crashing, you have to keep flying. If you're flying high, like a spacecraft, then you have to get to orbit where you can safely fly without fear of crashing. That means you have to escape gravity. Technically, it's escape velocity - the speed required to get beyond the earth's atmosphere. Thanks to the brainiac physicists and other scientists we know the speed required - 7 miles per second.

Similar comparisons have been made to other forms of flight. Like regular planes. In business, we often talk about runways. Planes need runways. The bigger the plane, the longer the required runway. The visual is easy for anybody to understand. If a big plane is going to achieve lift-off, it needs a longer runway than some little lightweight single-engine plane. A business enterprise needs runway - cash and capital - to get lift-off.

It's all about getting a lift. Going higher. Getting up in the air. Getting off the ground.

But we're not talking about business. We're talking about leaning toward wisdom. We're thinking about our lives, which very well may include business and careers, but it's more than that. It's the total thing - every aspect of our lives. The complete person that is who we are. And perhaps more importantly, the complete person that is who we want to become. Our ideal self.

We're all trying to escape something. 

"I won't feel sorry for myself," said Elizabeth the character in Poldark, an Amazon Prime TV series about who lost everything including house and status. It's a powerful declaration of a character determined to escape the misfortune that had befallen her. "We'll find economy and rebuild." Without knowing the end of the story, we believe her because she seems determined to build enough momentum to escape her present reality. She's headed toward escape velocity.

History teaches valuable lessons. Recently I revisited the 13 subjects crafted by Benjamin Franklin. He created a list of 13 things he wanted to work on to escape his status quo and go to new heights of achievement. Franklin formed the list while he was a printer in Philadelphia swimming in debt.

His idea was simple but brilliant. He'd devote one full week to each subject. After 13 weeks he'd start over again. By the end of a full year, he would have spent four full weeks on each item.

Little doubt Franklin thought by concentrating on these things he'd be able to escape the mediocrity and failure of his current life.

Here’s what Franklin wrote about these 13 subjects…and in this order:

Temperance – Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation

Silence – Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation

Order – Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time

Resolution – resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve

Frugality – Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e.

Thirty-nine years today - around 6 am - August 17, 1980, a Sunday morning - we had a baby boy. We named him Ryan Dale. And it changed our lives forever. In all the best ways. We were now parents.

Today, he's all grown up. A father of three. A successful business owner, TruVision Property Inspections. A Christian.

It's fitting that I recorded an episode on his birthday. And it's even more fitting that I crafted this particular episode.

My son makes me better in every way and provides a profitable melody that has definitely helped open my eyes through the years. Lord willing, we'll have many more melodies yet to come.

Enjoy the show!



'Cause people need a melody to open their eyes

Like a key to a memory frozen in time

Holding onto everything, you're stuck in the past

Boy, when you gonna learn the world moves fast?

The record is by The Head And The Heart. It was released back in May (2019). It hasn't been very well received by critics. I'm a fan of the band, but this record wouldn't likely make my top 3 for them. Even so, this track got my attention right away when the album was released. And I admit the rest of the record sort of grew on me.

You know I'm a sucker for compelling lyrics, which is why this track - People Need A Melody - got my attention.

People need a melody to open their eyes

I've walked a bunch of miles with this song playing in my headphones. Mostly during the hours of darkness. Ironic that a lyric about opening your eyes to see something more clearly has been listened mostly while walking in the dark. With no light other than what the moon provides.

When I first heard the lyric I admit it caused me to remember something from the Bible in 1st Samuel chapter 16. King Saul was tormented, but when David played his harp and then Saul felt better.

Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher and lecturer known as the “philosopher of pessimism.” Now that's a moniker one could wear proudly, huh?

I don't know of his work and knew nothing of him until I began to search for who people claim first said, "Music soothes the soul." Doesn't much matter who said it because I know it originated in that story of King Saul in the Old Testament. Music soothed his savage soul.

But the words written by Mr. Schopenhauer were interesting to me.

It has always been said that music is the language of feeling and of passion, as words are the language of reason.

Now the nature of man consists in this, that his will strives, is satisfied and strives anew, and so on forever. Indeed, his happiness and well-being consist simply in the quick transition from wish to satisfaction, and from satisfaction to a new wish. For the absence of satisfaction is suffering, the empty longing for a new wish, languor, ennui. And corresponding to this, the nature of melody is a constant digression and deviation from the keynote in a thousand ways, not only to the harmonious intervals to the third and dominant, but to every tone, to the dissonant sevenths and to the superfluous degrees; yet there always follows a constant return to the keynote.

I know enough music theory to be dangerous. Dangerous to music theory, that is. ;) But I have a basic understanding of what Art wrote.

Music and melody is a great, great gift.

I don't trust anybody who doesn't love music. Nor am I likely to enjoy their company. #JustSaying

These ideas - sparked in part by this song - is why I recorded episode 5037 about shutting out the noise and the sights that would distract us from being our best. Last week's show was based on the latter half of the lyrics of the chorus...

Holding onto everything, you're stuck in the past

Boy, when you gonna learn the world moves fast?

I'm fond of this idea,

“All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated and well supported in logic and argument than others.”       ― Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt

I don't have a picture of me with blinders on, but I've got plenty of photos with headphones on.

I've intentionally been leading up to this for a while. My preoccupation for the last year has been learning how humans can be fueled by judgment. We love it. Most of us practice it proficiently. It makes us feel better about ourselves. Superior.

Part of my fascination with watching and learning more about this isn't because of my own perfection, but just the opposite. I've never felt superior to hardly anybody. Ever. I just don't think like that. I can be like most folks...prone to compare myself to others...but I'm more driven to understand people and spend my time working to figure them out. That's my worm-hole...observing, learning and trying to figure people out. So people for whom judgment - harsh, critical judgment - comes easily are a mystery to me that I try to better understand.

My journey includes a strong desire to obtain and maintain peace. It's less about making people like me, but more about working to avoid unnecessary conflict. I'm fond of productive conflict where people vigorously debate viewpoints in profitable ways. That is, when people argue a point with stated reasonings so you can learn why they think what they think. I'm equally unfond of people who want to argue with shallowness. "Why do you feel that way?" --- "I just do!" That's frustrating because it does nothing to help me understand WHY.

I judge people and situations plenty. All the time, in fact. But it's discernment.

the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure

It's the noticing that I can't seem to do anything about. I used to try to avoid seeing things. I can't. In fact, whenever I've tried to avoid seeing things it only intensifies my noticing.

I told a young person this week, "The thing I'd urge you to do sooner than later is to rid your life of the toxic, unsafe people in your life. I wish I had begun that process much sooner."

I currently have very few unsafe people in my life - people who are close enough to me to have any relationship with me. I steer clear of unsafe people because it's how I choose to live. And if they judge me for it, that's not my problem. I don't care.

Which serves to launch forth into the topic of caring. Or more appropriately NOT caring.

How can you stop caring what people think?

Boy do I not have this figured out, but I have made progress through the years. And I'm quite qualified to lay down some logic on you. Unfortunately, it's the emotional head trash that gets in the way. That stuff overrides logic. But reiterating the logic may help us find a path forward to stop letting the opinions of others - especially the people who don't matter to us - get in the way of our success.

I'm launching a new initiative that is hopefully going to be 100% of what I do professionally. Operating professional, paid-for, peer advisory groups for leaders. I'm currently working to build groups of SMB (small to medium-sized businesses) owners. Seven people in each group, with me serving as the facilitator.

I sent an email to a few of my Linkedin connections merely to let them know about it and to invite them to learn more. Once in a while I'll get a reply like this (this is word-for-word what the lady wrote back):

I did not sign up for your emails, please take me off your list.

I made a quick discernment and figured anybody who'd take the time to write that after getting one email, isn't likely somebody I'd enjoy working with. And I moved on. No, I didn't respond. I just closed the door behind her, respecting her request.

According to the book by Dan Pink, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, research shows that the secret to high performance isn’t our biological drive or our reward-and-punishment drive, but our third drive—our deep-seated desire to direct our own lives, to extend and expand our abilities, and to live a life of purpose.

Pink also reveals a new approach to motivation that has three essential elements: (1) Autonomy—the desire to direct our own lives; (2) Mastery—the urge to get better and better at something that matters; and (3) Purpose—the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves.

Dr. Alan R. Zimmerman's book, Pivot: How One Turn In Attitude Can Lead To Success, provides a 9 step attitude revolution to help the reader:

Evaluate your status quo

Choose your mental strategy

Curb the negativity blocking your success

Improve your confidence

Build stronger relationships

Experience an instant boost in enthusiasm

Make every day a successful day

Stop worrying

Overcome failure

I can't (well, I could, but I don't want to) count the number of books I have that preach a message of positive change, making a mental turn toward a more positive life and taking steps to climb out of failure so you can achieve success. If words would do it, I'd have done it decades ago. If words would do it, you'd think I'd expand the podcast and release daily episodes. But you'd be wrong. ;) We need words. Encouragement. But we need something more. Much more.

Do you know why thousands of books are published each year on dieting, health, and fitness? Well, sure. Because it's one of the biggest selling markets on the planet, but why is that? Why do people buy these books in droves?

For starters, most are likely searching for the magic bullet. The one trick that will finally provide the answer they've looked for all their fat out-of-shape lives! They'll keep looking until they find something that sounds easy enough for them to try. And if it works, "Eureka!" If not, they'll keep looking at those new releases.

Others aren't keeping an eye peeled on the books published. Timing is right and today, they're driven to search out an answer for their circumstance. Like a guy driving to work without a care in the world - especially no concern about his tires - they weren't looking at these books before today. But on his way home, he has a blowout. Now, he's very interested in tires. Twenty pounds later, in a scale staring epiphany a person decides, "Man, I've got to get a grip on my weight!" Now, they're looking at the various books.

Maybe it's all timing. Timing of the message. Timing of reception of the message. And let's not discount how the message is delivered. Spend some time at YouTube and if you're old like me, you won't hear much new, unless it's technology-based. All the expert testimony about human behavior is the stuff I grew up reading and hearing. And it wasn't new then either.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 "That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun."

Indeed. There's not much new under the sun when it comes to human behavior and what we chase. Or even in how we chase it.

As for books...

Ecclesiastes 12:12 "And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh."

Truer still. Books and books and more books. Largely a regurgitation of very ancient maxims wrapped in new clothing. I can buy a new suit, but it's the same old body underneath.

Sometimes we likely look like the apostle Paul did to Festus in Acts 26:24 "Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul,

Two documentaries about musicians prompted today's show. The artists are very different. One, I'm a big, big fan. The other, not a fan at all. I couldn't give you the title of a single album or song. But I'm happy I watched the documentary. And it was a far better-produced documentary than the one on the artist who I love.

I saw them on the same day, but I watched them in the order of today's title. The first, a documentary about The Jonas Brothers entitled, Chasing Happiness. The second, a documentary about Adele entitled, Adele - The Only Way Is Up. Both are available on Amazon Prime.

If I gave them a star rating I'd give Chasing Happiness 4.5 stars and I'd give Adele - The Only Way Is Up no more than 3 stars. I'm favorably biased toward Adele and her music. I was unfavorably biased against The Jonas Brothers. This just proves how dangerous it can be to fill in the gaps of our ignorance with our own biases. I don't mean biases that are the subjective nature of music. We like what we like. Both artists are labeled POP, but I'm not a big fan of POP. Certainly not the bubblegum pop that I associated with The Jonas Brothers.

Can an artist or group truly know why they experience a breakthrough? Both of these artists broke through with reasonable speed. Neither of them languished playing small out of the way venues for years before getting a break. Both of them found fast stardom.

The documentary provided evidence that The Jonas Brothers resonated with all the young girls (their dominate audience, especially early on) because they performed with such happiness. During the documentary, the brothers state that the audience wanted to see them having a good time. At some point during their heyday, they stopped having fun and the success suffered.

By contrast, Adele found an audience that could easily relate to her struggles and pain. Her songs were autobiographical, raw and honest. Anything but happy.

One artist - The Jonas Brothers - representing what we all most want. To be happy. To smile. To laugh. To have a good time.

The other artist - Adele - representing what we all fully understand. Struggle. Pain. Suffering. Heartbreak.

Both amassed tremendous audiences and found enormous success. Both went their own way. One, The Jonas Brothers, sorta lost their way and are now on the road back to doing what they love. They're currently on a tour, Happiness Begins.

Adele is reportedly working on a 4th studio album due out December 2019.

Two gigantic musical acts who approached their music from completely different viewpoints. And found quick success because people could relate to them, their songs, their persona and their talent. It all matters. So did their timing.

Lately I've been focused on how to best make people feel safe. Well, actually it's been a lifelong fascination with unsafe people. They puzzle me. Always have.

Emotional safety has been a lifelong pursuit. And I do mean pursuit. Both in trying to become increasingly more safe myself and in finding people with whom I can be safe.

No, I've not found it very often, but to be fair - I'm cautious and have always limited the number of people in my inner circle. I'm not overly guarded I don't think, but I may be. It mostly stems from my introversion and the fact that my personality is seriously drained by being around too many people. Sometimes it's more difficult than at other times.

You've heard me say it before - if given the option between two rooms to enter, where I could spend the next 3 hours - one filled with hundreds of interesting people and one filled with just six ordinary people - I'm dashing into the room with 6 people. I can't fully explain it. It just is what it is. And I don't judge anybody who would choose the other door.

The other day I was listening to some guys on the radio (yep, I still listen quite a lot to the radio, but that's because we've got a great one here in Dallas - The Ticket). Go to TheTicket.com and download their app so you can stream it free.

They were talking about the sweet spot of being on the planet. Artificial intelligence prompted the conversation which had started because of an article that talked about an AI-driven robot defeating 6 players at Texas Hold 'Em poker. The machine had played trillions of hands and learned how to win through deception, which is a big component of winning poker (so I'm told).

Then this past week that face app was all the rage with people taking selfies that could project, with alarming realism, what they may look like when they're old. With my face, I don't need no stinkin' app! I've got the real thing.

The phrase "deepfake" is now in our consciousness. The question being debated by the morning radio guys was, "How are we gonna ever know if what we're seeing is true or not?" Technology is allowing us to manipulate reality with convincing evidence.

Some think the robots - armed with AI capabilities beyond what we may be able to currently imagine - will destroy us. That prompted the notion that being a Baby Boomer is likely the ideal. Those of us born to the World War II vets between 1946 and 1964 fit that bill.

I'm one of them, born in 1957 in Ada, Oklahoma - a town not known for much of anything really until Blake Shelton hit big. He even released an album featuring the town water tower in 2014 entitled, "Bringing Back The Sunshine."

My family left Ada when I was in the 3rd grade moving to Louisiana. But I've lived in Texas far longer than any other state. I'm still an Okie. It's hard to explain, but I'll try. And along the way let's see if I can bring you some value as you figure out who you are because that's really the subject. Self-awareness. Self-identity. And the realization that somewhere, deep inside, we're still the little kids we once were. Roots run deep for most of us. And it's not just place that follows us the rest of our lives, but it's also time. The time when we grew up. And how.

So feel free to think about your childhood. Consider the days of your youth. Reminisce. I hope your memories are mostly good, but whatever they are - I hope you find a way to leverage them to make your future better.

Willis Alan Ramsey is a local DFW guy who grew up in the grand privilege of Highland Park, the wealthiest section of Dallas. He released one brilliant album in 1972. On it was a song about another Okie, Woody Guthrie..."Boy From Oklahoma."

The chorus goes like this...

Just a boy from Oklahoma

On an endless one-night stand

Wan'drin' and a-ramblin'

Driftin' with the midnights and

He played the blues and the ballads

And all that came between

His heart was in the Union

And his soul was reachin' out

For the servant's dream

I really grew up in Louisiana and I have a special fondness for the culture, music, and food of southern Louisiana, but I have always felt more connected to Oklahoma.

Sooner football was important early. I recall playing in the leaves in our yard in Ada tossing a football to myself, pretending to be a star athlete wearing the crimson and cream.

Sooner state born people were always on the radar. Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench (even though I was not a baseball fan), Tony Randall, Dale Robertson, James Garner, Ron Howard (hey, Opie) and of course, Will Rogers, the state's favorite son. These were the Okies of my youth.

Merl Haggard wrote and sang "Okie From Muskogee" but he was from Oildale. A city in California. But both his parents were Okies who migrated like tons of others during The Great Depression.

Today, I went outside The Yellow Studio to record this special episode. I'm soliciting your input and insights.

Thanks for listening and for all your support of this podcast.

Should Project Craving Encouragement becomes something more than an episode (or two), or a regular segment of this podcast? If so, what should it be?

Get your thinking cap on and let me know.

Randy