MODERN ATHENAS

A Year by the Sea, by Joan Anderson

In the year following a separation from her husband, Joan weathers loneliness and makes new beginnings. She spends intentional time reflecting and discovering her needs, possibly for the first time in decades since becoming a wife and mother. She learns through all of her trials in the year by the sea, that there is great value in individuality. Joan’s toughness, drive, perseverance and vulnerability makes her a Modern Athena.

INDEX
00:00-04:49Intro and Background of the Book
04:50-07:39Sit Still and Hear the Answers
07:40-12:42Visiting the Seals
12:43-17:50Taking Chances
17:51-19:56Joan’s Relationship with Her Husband
19:57-23:22Change
23:23-27:19Minimalism
27:20-34:33Meeting Joanie Erickson: Not looking back, Obscuring yourself
34:34-45:44Meeting Joanie Erickson: Friends who Feed You, Leaving Space, Mentors, Beach Glass
45:45-49:01Recommendation of Patience
49:02-52:34The Water Heater and Clamming
52:35-56:38A Parade of Guests
56:39-58:49Joan’s Reflection on the Year
58:50-1:01:20Joan’s Family: The Year Together and Apart
1:01:21-1:02:19 Outro and Next Episode

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The Center Cannot Hold is a book about Elyn Saks’ journey living with schizophrenia. Elyn has survived decades of learning to accept, and living with, her illness. Her book takes the reader through her journey of diagnosis, treatment, and living day-to-day life. She struggles with whether she is defined by her illness, or whether her illness is a part of her. She struggles through the decision to take medication and whether to get ongoing treatment. Throughout the book, Elyn describes the impact of her illness on her personal and professional life, on the people around her, and on her family. We cannot recommend this book enough, as it provides a glimpse into this too often silent struggle, and promotes compassion for all who suffer with the many challenges of mental illness.

INDEX
00:00-02:08Intro and Background of the Book
02:09-07:44Overview of Elyn’s Professional Life
07:45-12:53Schizophrenia: The Illness
12:54-20:03Elyn’s Diagnosis
20:04-25:33Schizophrenia: The Center Cannot Hold
25:34-30:24The Fight with Medication and Her Illness
30:25-35:16Accepting Medication
35:17-42:43Medication: Side Effects
42:44-46:04Disclosing Her Mental Illness
46:05-51:57The Trauma of Mental Illness
51:58-56:54Research into the Human Brain
56:55-59:35Why Elyn Wrote the Book
59:36-1:00:24Outro and Next Episode

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Life in Motion is about Misty Copeland, the first African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, or ABT, in New York. The books winds its way from Misty’s childhood, when she first took up ballet at the local Boys and Girls Club at the urging of her Drill Team instructor, to her first competitions, her first auditions for prestigious summer programs, her entrance into the ABT Studio Team, her ascent to the corps de ballet, then to a soloist, and eventually to a principal dancer. Misty discusses not only her journey but the journey of her family through tumultuous years. Misty finds her way in life through ballet as well as through the guidance of mentors, who are themselves Modern Athenas.

Throughout the book, Misty discusses lessons she has learned about life, about ballet, and about herself. It is these lessons that we are going to focus on today.

00:00-01:10 Intro and Background of the Book
01:11-03:55 Discipline, No Shortcuts
03:56-06:00 The Illusion of Perfection
06:01-11:13 Freedom Through Performance
11:14-14:37 Becoming Less Self-Judgmental
14:38-17:14 Getting Noticed
17:15-21:40 Dichotomies of Life, Finding Balance
21:41-26:02 Believing in Your Purpose
26:03-30:51 Race & Identity
30:52-33:40 Climbing the Ladder
33:41-37:14 Self-Image, Self-Esteem
37:15-42:07 Appreciating What You Have
42:08-46:09 Running Away vs. Confronting Problems
46:10-51:52 Misty's Modern Athenas
51:53-52:47 Outro and Next Episode

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Gertrude was a true Modern Athena in the way she took on risk, stereotypes, and challenging situations. Her work brought new archaeological finds, destroyed stereotypes of what women could be, brought closure to families during World War I, and ended up shaping the modern Middle East.

Georgina Howell's book, Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations, is not just a historically accurate portrayal of Gertrude’s life, but it includes exquisite detail into each of her journeys, the people she met along the way, and the politics of each of the worlds she passed through. It also provides incredible detail on the history of the Middle East and why it looks the way it does today. We urge any of our listeners who have any interest in learning about why the modern Middle East has so much conflict to pick up this book.

INDEX
00:00-01:25 Intro
01:26-03:59 Gertrude's Childhood through University
04:00-09:45 Gertrude's Mountaineering Adventures
09:46-14:38 Gertrude's First Global Trips
14:39-17:52 World War I
17:53-20:25 British Intelligence: Cairo
20:26-21:41 History of Iraq Leading Up to the British Occupation
21:42-24:41 Gertrude in Baghdad
24:42-30:04 Working Towards Iraqi Independence
30:05-33:45 After the Work Shaping Iraq is Done
33:46-39:48 Gertrude's Death and Legacy: 1926
39:49-40:46 Outro and Next Episode

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Runner takes us along on Lizzy Hawker’s ultra running journey, from her first ultra race, the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc, through her racing career, including five first place finishes in the UTMB, three runs from Everest Base Camp to Kathmandu, Nepal, a Spartathlon win, and a 100km World Championship. Lizzy’s running journey is like many of the challenges and journeys we all face in our lives. Her perseverance in tough conditions, focus on her goals, willingness to take risks, and continuously overcoming the odds to achieve greatness make her a Modern Athena.

INDEX
00:00-01:40 Intro and Background of the Book
01:41-07:26 Work on the British Antarctic Survey: Going South
07:27-11:35 Work on the British Antarctic Survey: Stuck in Ice and Prep for her Ultra Career
11:36-14:41 First Run on the Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc: Background
14:42-20:41 First Run on the UTMB: The Starting Line
20:42-26:37 First Run on the UTMB: Running Through Darkness, Step by Step
26:38-30:29 First Run on the UTMB: Winning
30:30-33:02 Daily Disciplines in Everyday Life
33:03-35:18 Living Simply, Pursuing a Dream
35:19-40:37 The Himalayas: First Expedition to Kalang
40:38-46:24 The Himalayas: From Everest to Kathmandu
46:25-49:10 Life's Pilgrimages
49:11-50:51 Knowing the "Why"
50:52-53:50 Overcoming Anxiety
53:51-56:04 Dare to Dream
56:05-57:01 Outro and Next Episode

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As a young teenager, Sarah was a competitive figure skater with her sights set on the Olympics. Her parents both worked in law enforcement and continue to be strong role models for her. Sarah is a CPA and the CFO for a Veteran Owned business in Philadelphia, PA. Sarah has over 26 years in corporate finance, has run for public office, married for 24 years and is the Mother to two adult children. She volunteers with both the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network @PhillyVeterans and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation @MarineScholars and she encourages you to check them out.

INDEX
00:00-01:24Intro
01:25-11:44Parent Role Models
11:45-15:34Childhood Goals
15:35-34:32Career in Finance, How Gender impacts the Workplace
34:33-39:56Running for State Legislature
39:57-49:37Keys to a Strong Marriage and Work/Life Balance
49:38-51:54Volunteer Work with Veterans
51:55-1:02:28Closing Questions
1:02:29-1:03:17 Outro

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Expecting Adam is the journey of Martha Beck and the pregnancy and birth of her son, Adam, who has Down Syndrome. The book opens with Martha taking the reader back to the start of her pregnancy, when she was a PhD student at Harvard. The story winds its way through the triumphs and travails of her pregnancy, including when she received the news of Adam’s condition, and concludes with Adam’s birth. Throughout the book, Martha weaves in stories about Adam, painting an intimate portrait of her son and the way he sees the world. Martha also brings to light the issues of family, hope, destiny, and expectations.

INDEX
0:00:00-0:01:52 Intro and Background of the Book
0:01:53-0:14:10 Surviving Harvard: Imposter Syndrome
0:14:11-0:20:21 Sibyl: The Value of Friendship
0:20:22-0:26:40 Coping with Unexpected Life Changes
0:26:41-0:30:51 Balancing Work-Life Expectations
0:30:52-0:33:27 Asking for Help
0:33:28-0:38:04 The Decision to Keep Adam
0:38:05-0:39:53 Mothering
0:39:54-0:41:50 Being the Parent Your Child Needs
0:41:51-0:45:26 It’s the Little Things in Life
0:45:27-0:49:04 Being Good Enough
0:49:05-0:53:09 Connecting with Others Who Know Pain
0:53:10-0:55:59 Stoicism
0:56:00-0:58:45 Angels in Life
0:58:46-1:01:07 Conclusion
1:01:08-1:02:03 Outro and Next Episode

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Have you ever felt adrift and alone, as though you don’t belong to any one community?
Have you ever been to a foreign country, and not known the language?
Have you ever set out to learn a new skill or area of knowledge and been left frustrated by being unable to grasp the skill as quickly as you would have liked?

In Other Words is centered around the themes of identity, alienation and belonging. As we discuss this book and the author’s use of language to traverse these difficult topics, we invite you to consider your own life and your own feelings of identity and belonging.

00:00-2:40 Intro and Summary of the Book
2:41-6:48 The Lake Metaphor: Facing Challenges
6:49-12:31 The Pocket Dictionary: Security Blankets
12:32-15:20 Language as a Relationship
15:21-23:15 The Locked Gate Opens: Jumping off into the Unknown
23:16-33:58 The Gardener: Importance of Imperfections
33:59-42:01 Discipline in Learning
42:02-45:52 Being Comfortable with Self
45:53-47:49 Why do I Write?
47:50-52:48 Never Reaching Perfection
52:49-58:25 It Will Never Be Enough
58:26-59:18 Outro and Next Episode

Harriet Tubman was a Modern Athena because of her perseverance and warrior spirit. Harriet brought justice to those who could not obtain justice for themselves. Her tireless work to bring slaves to freedom, to assist those in need, and to always give of herself are qualities that are inspiring and extraordinary. We share the account of Harriet's life as written in the book by Catherine Clinton.

0:00:00-0:00:53 Intro
00:54-0:02:39 Background on Harriet Tubman
0:02:40-0:07:16 Harriet's Marriage
0:07:17-0:12:11 Escaping to Freedom
0:12:12-0:15:23 UGRR-Fugitive Slave Law
0:15:24-0:21:18 About the UGRR
0:21:19-0:25:45 Harriet as a Conductor on the UGRR
0:25:46-0:35:01 Harriet's Work Methods on the UGRR
0:35:02-0:40:06 What Made Harriet Special
0:40:07-0:43:41 The Transition Years: 1858-1860
0:43:42-0:47:30 The Civil War: Fort Monroe
0:47:31-0:51:23 The Civil War: Port Royal
0:51:24-0:53:02 Emancipation Proclamation
0:53:04-0:57:34 Combahee River Raid
0:57:35-0:58:13 Heading Home to NY
0:58:14-1:06:55 After the War
1:06:56-1:09:07 Harriet's Legacy
1:09:07-1:09:57 Outro and Next Episode

In this third episode, we discuss the experiences and contributions from the women at JPL (Jet Propulsion Lab) and women of West Computing at Langley. We also share some questions and answers from our listeners. 

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00:00-00:49 Intro

00:50-37:45 Compare/Contrast of Women from JPL and West Computing

37:46-51:47 Listener Q & A

51:48-52:53 Conclusion and Next Podcast