I am SO excited to share this episode with you! While having my own brother on my show screams of favoritism, I promise you that you will not want to miss this one. Gerrit is a teacher and literacy expert who inspires children all around the world to love reading, he's an incredible athlete (marathons! triathlons! iron mans!), and he is actually *doing* something about climate change by re-wilding and re-greening New Orleans (and, eventually, you know, the world).

While I know him (reasonably!) well, I was curious to learn about how his three (seemingly unrelated!) worlds fit together. Not only did I learn this, but I also learned some powerful lessons about how we can all get out of our own way -- including the importance of mindset shifts, the power of a playful approach to even the most serious of endeavors, and why professional martyrdom is overrated.

Thank you, Gerrit, for joining the show, for all your work out there in the world, and for sharing your wisdom with us. Also, sorry for being a jerk to you when we were growing up.

Follow Gerrit!

• https://www.instagram.com/gerritalacarte/
• https://www.instagram.com/literacymoves
• https://www.instagram.com/graytogreen_neworleans/

The podcast episode Gerrit referenced: https://tim.blog/2020/12/28/jim-loehr-2/

I'm also loitering around the internet:

• https://www.instagram.com/jonesrooy/
• https://twitter.com/jonesrooy
• www.jonesrooy.com

Majoring in Everything is edited by Eric P. Stipe and is a proud member of the World's Smartest Podcast Network.

Kasha Patel was recently named one of the top undiscovered comedians in the United States. She's also an accomplished science journalist with expertise in climate change. She's also ALSO one of the pioneers of the growing field of science comedy!

Join us to hear about how she came to combine her two worlds, why it's so powerful (and fun), and who can get involved (hint: everyone!). I'm so grateful Kasha joined the show -- and I'm biased of course, but science comedy truly is one of the few things that gives me hope for the world. Thank you, Kasha!

Follow Kasha:

• https://www.instagram.com/kashablanca/
• https://twitter.com/KashaPatel
• https://www.kashapatel.com
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasha_Patel
• https://www.youtube.com/@kashablanca
• Kasha's TED talk, Sneaking Science into Standup!

I'm also hanging around the internet:

• https://www.instagram.com/jonesrooy/
• https://twitter.com/jonesrooy
• www.jonesrooy.com

Majoring in Everything is edited by Eric P. Stipe and is a proud member of the World's Smartest Podcast Network.

If you're already a fan of the popular Skeptics' Guide to the Universe (SGU) podcast (and books, and live shows, and more), then you already know that Jay Novella is completely awesome. If you're not already familiar, well, get ready to meet your new favorite person! Jay is a brilliant podcaster, producer, author, and promoter of critical thinking -- among so much more. I'm so honored he joined the show -- tune in to admire his journey from poetry major to world-traveling performer and producer; to learn about the surprisingly (to me, anyway!) power of collaboration; and to be inspired by his ability to think up amazing things and then ... make them happen!

More by Jay:

• Watch the SGU livestream every Friday (plus other content)!
• Watch Alpha Quadrant 6, his sci-fi review show!
• Check out the awesome game show Boomer vs. Zoomer!
• Follow the SGU on Instagram!

I'm also on IG, Twitter, and a good old-fashioned website.

Majoring in Everything is edited by Eric P. Stipe and is a proud member of the World's Smartest Podcast Network (WSPN).

I am SO honored that the brilliant Lisa ('Lisbug') Schwartz joined us here at MIE to talk about her many lives and talents! Lisa is a YouTube star who was one of the very first adopters of the platform back way before it was cool in 2007, and now has two million subscribers and counting. We talk about the highs and lows of life in the spotlight -- and truly the importance (and ongoing challenge) of being authentic.

In addition to posting new videos *every* day, she's also an actor, host of the hilarious and wild ride of the podcast Ungroundable (along with her awesome mother!), author of the 2019 hit book Thirty-Life Crisis: Navigating My Thirties, One Drunk Baby Shower at a Time, and SO much more. Tune in to be inspired by her many lives and talents, as well as her contagious energy, and be ready to take on the world after listening to Lisa. And for heaven's sake: stay authentic!!

• Follow Lisa on YouTube!
• Check our her podcast!
• Listen to it on Apple (or wherever you get your podcasts)
• Follow her on Instagram!

I'm also loitering around the internet on IG, Twitter, and my own darn website.

Majoring in Everything is edited by Eric P. Stipe and is a proud member of the World's Smartest Podcast Network (WSPN).

Chris Duffy is a comedian, TV writer, and podcast host -- and he has some great advice for all of us looking to forge our own paths. Tune in to hear how he parlayed early employment challenges(!) into an exciting and multidimensional career in comedy, media, performance, education, and more!

To give just a flavor of his impressiveness: Chris currently hosts TED's podcast, How to Be a Better Human, he wrote for both seasons of Problem Areas with Wyatt Cenac on HBO, and he hosts (and created) the streaming game show Wrong Answers Only in partnership with the National Academy of Sciences. You also may have seen/heard him on Good Morning America, NPR, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, performing live at Lincoln Center, and/or teaching fifth grade, which he did for many years!

I so appreciated his taking the time to talk with us here at MIE -- and I hope you learn as much from him as I did. Now back to figuring out how to create things that don't disappear quite as fast as sand...!

Follow Chris (and listen to/watch his many shows!):

• https://www.instagram.com/chrisiduffy/
• https://linktr.ee/chrisiduffy
• https://chrisduffycomedy.com

You are also invited to follow me if you like:

• https://www.instagram.com/jonesrooy/
• www.jonesrooy.com

Majoring in Everything is edited by Eric P. Stipe and is a proud member of the World's Smartest Podcast Network (WSPN).

Talking with Natalia always energizes and inspires me to be more courageous in my own life -- and this conversation is no exception. Tune in to hear her stunning story of realizing what she wants to do in life -- and being brave enough to make it happen -- and her brilliant reminders of the power of unconventional paths. Any time you feel like you're doing the "wrong" thing by having more than one interest, I urge you to listen to Natalia. I, for one, am so grateful she's out there being herself in a world that tries its darnedest to make us pick just one path -- we are all better for it. And I cannot wait to see where her many talents take her (and all of us) next. Thank you, Natalia!

Follow Natalia on Instagram, and all the things!

I am also on the internet, including instagram, and also generally here.

Majoring in Everything is edited by Eric P. Stipe and is a proud member of the World's Smartest Podcast Network (WSPN).

Stephanie Humphrey was an accomplished engineer at a big deal company, but something felt off in her life. Tune in to learn how she discovered a more fulfilling path for herself, how she found the courage (and made the plans!) to change her life, and how she now combines her skills in engineering and public speaking to empower others to use technology to improve their lives.

• Follow Stephanie on instagram and twitter
• Watch her 10-minute-tech break series.
• Buy her book!
• And learn more (including invite her to speak!): https://www.tildeathdoyoutweet.com

Follow me, if you like:

• https://instagram.com/jonesrooy/
• https://twitter.com/jonesrooy
• https://tiktok.com/@jonesrooy
• https://www.jonesrooy.com

Majoring in Everything is edited by Eric P. Stipe and is a proud member of the World's Smartest Podcast Network (https://www.worldssmartestpodcastnetwork.com).

Dean Obeidallah is a radio host, comedian, journalist, political analyst, activist, co-producer of "Stand Up for Peace", CNN contributor, and a former lawyer, and SNL page -- and he's about to be your new favorite person!

Join us to learn why I have finally become moved to go to law school (don't worry, I won't); how his interests in law, comedy, and politics helped him get where he is today; and why it's so important to stay active in politics even when (especially when) it's totally miserable. If you're feeling sick of all the bad news, Dean will snap you out of it and inspire you to keep fighting for democracy. I know he did so for me!

(Note: this is a nonpartisan show, but my not-so-liberal listeners may disagree with some things here :).)

Be sure to catch Dean's show every night on SiriusXM Progress Ch. 127 from 6-9p ET and follow him on all the things!

• https://twitter.com/DeanObeidallah
• https://www.instagram.com/deanobeidallah/
• https://www.facebook.com/DeanofRadio/
• https://deanofradio.com
• Sign up for his (awesome) newsletter: https://t.co/Ci9MQGianj

Heck, follow me, too:

• https://instagram.com/jonesrooy/
• https://twitter.com/jonesrooy
• https://tiktok.com/@jonesrooy
• https://www.jonesrooy.com

Majoring in Everything is edited by Eric P. Stipe and is a proud member of the World's Smartest Podcast Network.

The hosts of the World's Smartest Podcast Network (WSPN) get together to save the world once again! In this bonus episode, we talk Billy Eichner, film, and higher education. All the important stuff!

Subscribe to our partner podcasts, The Political Orphanage and Lost in America at https://www.worldssmartestpodcastnetwork.com!

And follow our World's Smartest Hosts:

• Andrew Heaton (the Political Orphanage)
• Turner Sparks (Lost in America)
• Michael Ira Kaplan (Lost in America)
• And me :).

Majoring in Everything is edited by Eric P. Stipe (thanks, Eric!) and is a proud member of the World's Smartest Podcast Network (WSPN).

If you're a fan of Tyler Whitman, you already know he's one of the kindest, wisest, and inspiring people out there. If you aren't yet a fan, (a) where have you been?! and (b) congratulations, you're about to meet your new favorite person!

I'm so grateful to Tyler for joining us for this candid conversation about his journey -- with all its twists and turns -- and for sharing his thoughts on the importance of -- and challenges around -- being true to yourself.

If you can't get enough (and I know you can't), be sure to subscribe to his fabulous new podcast, Glitter and Gay!

Follow Tyler on Instagram and Twitter; and follow The Whitman Team!

Follow me: IG, Twitter, TikTok, and https://www.jonesrooy.com.

Majoring in Everything is edited by Eric P. Stipe and is a proud member of the World's Smartest Podcast Network.