A couple of weeks ago on A Better Story, I spoke of reaching a new bottom line with respect to the podcast: that I would no longer work on the podcast on deadline day. Now that I've had a little time to explore the significance of that bottom line, I want to share what I've … Continue reading "Episode 85: The Bottom Line, Revisited"

A friend of the show sent me an article that describes the rapidity with which COVID mutates, and it seems now that the best available evidence points to COVID mutating--or, more accurately, evolving--rapidly enough that our vaccines will only ever give imperfect protection. If that is indeed the case, then it follows that the vaccine … Continue reading "Episode 84: COVID Mutates Rapidly. Still, We Will Thrive"

For the first time on LSH/RFB, we are joined by a guest. Michael Gurshtein is a dear friend of mine and a friend of LSH since the very beginning. On January 6th, as I was still reeling from the events of the day, I contacted Michael and asked if he would like to be a … Continue reading "Episode 83: Michael Gurshtein Speaks About the Historical Moment"

In this wide-ranging conversation, Jerry and Benjamin discuss such topics as trusting the vision that drives us forward on the path, what it means to be a master, and the importance of maintaining beginner's mind.

On Tuesday night, I set a new bottom line for myself with respect to work on the podcast, and in doing so--and meaning it!--I discovered a surprising and exhilirating feeling of freedom. In this episode, I share the story and discuss why I believe this action offers a useful perspective when it comes to making … Continue reading "Episode 81: The Bottom Line"

I was on a long drive, musing about why it is that, notwithstanding the constant stress all of us have been under for the last eleven months, most people seem to be doing ... okay. Most people seem to be doing okay. Why is that, I thought? Given what we've been going through, why aren't … Continue reading "Episode 80: The Coming Mental Health Crisis"

With their vote on Tuesday challenging the constitutionality of Trump's impeachment trial, 45 Senate Republicans made it clear that they were going to vote to acquit Trump no matter what. Was it really just two days ago that I put out a podcast episode expressing hope for a better political future for this country? Meanwhile, … Continue reading "Episode 79 (RFB 21.0128): Republican Cynicism, and the Little Guy Disrupts the Stock Market"

Enter our episode, child, for herein lie reflections on the recent ceremony that installed in our great nation a new, and perhaps even decent, leader; on the myriad feelings engendered by said ceremony and its implicit symbolism; and on the ways each of us, walking the path, can use this moment as a foundation for … Continue reading "Episode 78: Inauguration Day and Beyond"

In this episode, Benjamin tells us the way he's practicing optimism about 2021.

Benjamin's reflexive response to a passage in a book he was reading led him to acknowledge the depth of trauma that he (and, by extension, probably pretty much everyone) has internalized around COVID. This recognition led him to ask, "Is it too soon to begin the process of healing?" (This version with the intro restored!)