Purpose in the Process

I got a lot of positive feedback from the New Year's show, which was the first non-interview episode. I'll be continuing with interviews, but that feedback also made me realize that people appreciate thoughtful content even without a guest on the show.

In that same feedback I got a lot of questions that mostly centered around one topic: moving beyond goal setting to goal accomplishment. So I asked my wife Trisha to join me for this show (since she joins me every year for this process) and we discussed what we do each year to both set and achieve our goals.

Our conversation on working your goals to achievement covers:

• The importance of starting with purpose before setting goals for the year

• Goals versus habits

• Habit development tips

• SMART goals

• Reducing goals to definite tasks

• Integrating your responsibilities into the overall process

• Creating a master list of weekly tasks as an output of thinking through your goals, habits, and responsibilities

• A final three step process we have used for years for working our own goals, which, if you follow, will result in the creation of an "ideal week" that you can use to guide each week, and each day of the week.

As I mention in this podcast episode, stay tuned for something NEW in 2019 called "10 minute takeaways" where I'll summarize in 10 minutes or less the high points and takeaways from each interview or show. This was the result of other great feedback from people in my audience - so thank you! My regular long-format interviews will continue, but these will be useful for people who just want to go back and get a quick summary after enjoying the conversation, or for people who just don't have the time that week to listen to the entire interview but want to benefit from the highlights. To allow for visuals, and just to reach non-podcast folks, I plan to format these new short bonus episodes both for IGTV (you can follow me on Instagram @bartlebytx to get ready for these), as well as for YouTube, and of course we will also release them in the same high-quality audio format on the website and through your podcast subscriptions for our regular podcast listeners.

Enter your email at shilohcoleman.com to get announcements for when these new shows come out, and for other inside news!

Links and More Information on this Topic:

https://michaelhyatt.com/ideal-week/ (and his Excel template at https://michaelhyatt.com/myresources/my-ideal-week.xls). I'll work on getting my own up at some point, but this is a great starting point that I used to figure out my own.

David Allen's great book on productivity (which started my own journey in productivity years ago) Getting Things Done

The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Jay Papasan and Gary Keller (you can listen to an interview with Jay Papasan in episode 6)

https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/rheti/

https://getfive.com/blog/thinking-starting-business-start-seven-stories-exercise/

https://www.selfauthoring.com/

http://productiveapp.io/

Lieutenant General (Dr.) Mark A. Ediger retired last year after serving as the Surgeon General of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va. General Ediger served as functional manager of the U.S. Air Force Medical Service. In this capacity, he advised the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff, as well as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on matters pertaining to the medical aspects of the air expeditionary force and the health of Air Force people. General Ediger had authority to commit resources worldwide for the Air Force Medical Service, to make decisions affecting the delivery of medical services, and to develop plans, programs and procedures to support worldwide medical service missions. He exercised direction, guidance, and technical management of a $6.1 billion, 44,000-person integrated health care delivery and readiness system serving 2.6 million beneficiaries at 76 military treatment facilities worldwide. Prior to that assignment, General Ediger served as Deputy Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va. General Ediger is from Springfield, Missouri. He entered the Air Force in 1985 and has served as the Aerospace Medicine Consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General, commanded two medical groups, and served as command surgeon for three major commands. He deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Southern Watch. Full bio.

I was so thankful that General Ediger, who retired just last year after 32 years in the military, agreed to be interviewed for the podcast to discuss a distinguished career spanning six administrations. We had a great conversation about everything from combat medicine advancements to tips on leadership, and even some quick advice on staying healthy and fit. His rise to the top of medical leadership the United States Air Force, from joining as a reservist to eventually becoming the Air Force Surgeon General, was (as he explains) the result of a quest for life-long learning, staying open to new experiences and opportunities, and building strong relationships with solid mentors. Truly great advice for all of us - and our kids!

We discussed several important topics during this episode, including:

• Advancements in combat medicine that he witnessed serving from the Cold War until now

• The remarkable ways in which the modular and agile USAF expeditionary medical systems (EMEDS) are being used to support special forces missions in the fight against ISIS (as well as to assist civilian populations caught in the crossfire of war and in other humanitarian crises)

• The role of a flight surgeon in keeping airmen fit and ready for difficult roles, whether as jet fighter pilots or special forces missions

• The rewarding mindset that comes from focusing on serving others, regardless of occupation

• Advice for anyone considering a military career

• His thoughts on what made his own career so rewarding and successful

• What it's like to be deployed, and how we can support veterans and their families as they transition back to civilian life

Links and More Information on this Topic:

Here are links to a few of the things we discussed:

Here's a link that will take you to the national website for the BSA Explorers, and you can also find several posts in your own area specializing in medicine, fire, police, and so on. https://www.exploring.org/about-us/

The Civil Air Patrol (the USAF Auxiliary unit that includes both cadet and senior opportunities for service and exposure to Air Force). https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/

The article on health concerns arising from the youth vaping epidemic: https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/news/2018/09/statement-on-fda-youth-e-cigarette-prevention-campaign.html

Joseph and I had a good time recording this impromptu conversation for a special New Year's show!

We discussed:

• Ways to more thoughtfully approach "screen time" and social media, including specific apps and methods for nudging things in the right direction for families and people concerned with the issue

• A broad look at podcasting including software, gear, hosting, and other advice (including an 8-step general process for anyone looking to get started with a podcast in 2019)

• Practical approaches to getting your bearings and discovering purpose before setting goals and resolutions

• We also briefly reviewed the high points of initial episodes of the podcast from 2018

Links:

We discussed a variety of resources in today's show - here are links to find out more!

https://futurism.com/new-research-screen-time-changing-childrens-brains

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/26/style/phones-children-silicon-valley.html

https://heyfocus.com/

https://freedom.to

https://www.opendns.com/

https://www.qustodio.com/en/

https://www.bitdefender.com/

https://www.canva.com/

https://www.libsyn.com/

https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/rheti/

https://getfive.com/blog/thinking-starting-business-start-seven-stories-exercise/

https://www.selfauthoring.com/

http://productiveapp.io/

All great writers have a "voice" - a way of expressing the written word in a way that is immediately recognizable as their own. Finding and harnessing your creative voice, in any art form, allows for the expression of emotional authenticity that leads to a true connection with the audience. For many people who make their living creatively, however, that's easier said than done. After all, where exactly does that unique voice come from, and how can it be expressed "on-demand," not just when inspiration strikes?

Screenwriter Peter Ostebo, a 2017 Nichols Fellowship quarter-finalist, is discovering and learning to rely on structured processes that allow for professional consistency and collaboration, while still expressing the distinct voice that gained him attention in the first place. In today's episode, Peter answers my questions about some of those processes, and walks us through a few of the ways he has learned to overcome the challenges that all writers and creatives face.

Peter and I talked about:

• Creative collaboration, and the importance of staying true to an original vision

• Tapping into creative energy and discovering your own voice

• The importance of connecting with an audience by first feeling what you want them to feel

• Getting past procrastination and fear

• Tips for getting motivated, and approaching writing as a professional

• Structuring and outlining in the midst of developing story and characters

• Set-ups, pay-offs, and exposing the "world" of a script

• Getting the first draft done, then knowing what to take out

• The importance of feedback and notes

• Why there's actually no such thing as a bad script

This is a great episode for anyone interested in learning more about connecting with their own creative voice, and reaching any audience in a more authentic, personal way. We also covered a few craft questions and tips that any screenwriter will appreciate hearing more about. I hope you enjoy!

Links and More Information on this Topic:

Peter Ostebo is a video and film producer in Austin TX. Currently he is the lead video producer for marketing at Fjord and Accenture. With over ten years of experience, he has worked on numerous projects that have gained world wide attention. Additionally, he is an avid screenwriter, working on numerous short films, feature films, and TV pilots. He has also edited short films that have played major film festivals nationwide.

Peter's script After the Invasion, gained attention after reaching the 2017 quarter finals of the Nichol Fellowship screenwriting contest of the Academy of Motion Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

You can connect with Peter on Instagram and Twitter (@peterostebo) and check out what he's up to on his website: peterostebo.com.

Great artists and artisans are driven by a passion that expresses itself from within. In the case of world class food, wine, and even hospitality, we get to experience the results of that passion in a tangible way that involves all five senses. Yet, when sitting down for a meal or opening a bottle of wine it can be easy to take for granted the talent, work, and drive that culminated in that moment. Discovering and presenting the stories of great chefs, winemakers, distillers, and restauranteurs, is what drives the literary work and honest, journalistic approach of today's podcast guest.

Food and wine author Jessica Dupuy's desire for her readers to truly understand and genuinely benefit from the passion driven purpose behind some of Austin's best chefs and restaurants makes itself clear in both the subjects she chooses to write about, and the story-driven way she reveals their ingredients, methods, and historical foundations. Jessica's own journey as a writer, and the journalistic integrity with which she continues to intentionally approach her work, made for an incredibly fascinating interview.

We touched on a wide ranging number of topics, including:

• The importance of "looking back" to recognize the value of past experiences

• How difficult decisions must be made when charting your own course, and the necessity of "the pivot" when chasing down a dream

• The unique challenges faced in journalism today (and what we can all do about it)

• The burgeoning Austin food scene (and why some restaurants stand the test of time)

• Texas wine - where it's been, where it is, and where it might be going

• Introductions to just some of the stories behind some of Austin's best restaurants (more in her books!)

• The rewarding dream projects of summarizing and presenting Texas and Southern cuisines

• Jessica's advice for picking wine, and for hosting your guests this holiday season

This was definitely one of my most enjoyable interviews - and it made me very hungry (I probably shouldn't have been on the tail-end of an intermittent fasting cycle!). So, pour a great glass of wine to enjoy, and make sure you have snacks nearby, as you listen to Jessica tell the story of her own passion driven purpose as an author and journalist in the fascinating world of wine, spirits, food, and travel.

Links and More Information on this Topic:

Jessica Dupuy is a native Texan who writes about wine, spirits, food, and travel. She is a contributing wine and spirits columnist for Texas Monthly magazine and has regular credits for Imbibe magazine, Wine Enthusiast magazine, Wine Review Online, and Fodor's travel publications.

Her magazine work has also been featured in National Geographic Traveler, The Hollywood Reporter, Texas Highways, and numerous Austin publications.

She has also written Uchi: The Cookbook, in conjunction with James Beard Award winning Executive Chef Tyson Cole; The Salt Lick Cookbook: A Story of Land, Family and Love on the iconic Texas barbecue restaurant; the Jack Allen's Kitchen Cookbook about revealing the true flavors of Texas through its seasons and farming community; and The United Tastes of Texas and the United Tastes of the South in collaboration with Southern Living magazine.

Dupuy holds a BA in History from Trinity University and a MA in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

In her coverage of Texas wine and spirits for the past decade, she's discovered a deeper passion for the world of all things fermented and distilled. She is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, an Advanced certificate holder for the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust, and is a Certified Specialist of Wine and Spirits through the Society of Wine Educators.

She is a member of Les Dames D'Escoffier–Austin. Dupuy lives in Austin with her family. Among the things she enjoys most are cooking with her kids, Gus and Ashlyn, sharing great wine with friends, and fly fishing with her husband, Myers. You can read more of Jessica's past work, and follow her future projects via her website jessicadupuy.com and on instagram @jdewps.

Leadership as a topic has been written about and discussed ad nauseam, yet good leadership remains elusive for so many organizations and teams. How can the subject of such exhaustive research and discussion continue to be the glaring root cause of business failures, mission-killing morale problems, and weak vision at the top of otherwise strong organizations? Perhaps it's because talking about optimal leadership will never replace the disciplined practice of good leadership. That's why for today's episode on leadership, I wanted to talk to someone who has actually walked the walk of trust based leadership to peel back the layers on what works, and what doesn't. It didn't take me long to think of who that would be.

All of us can think back to those leaders we have both respected and admired. One of those people for me is Fraser Pajak, a business veteran who has spent most of his career serving in leadership positions in the ICT industry, at one point having responsibility for 1,275 employees and a $133 million budget while running coast-to-coast operations and networks for the second largest telecom carrier in Canada. Fraser later served as chairman and CEO of a global quality benchmarking and standards organization, leading paid staff and volunteer teams across the Americas, APAC, and EMEA regions in responding to the rapid technology changes that have now become the norm for today's quickly evolving telecom industry.

In this wide ranging interview full of real-world war stories and practical advice, Fraser and I discuss his pragmatic tips, lessons learned, and workable strategies for leading teams through organizational changes, power struggles, culture shifts, and other challenging circumstances.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why gaining trust is more important than having the answers (and how to earn that trust to begin with)

• The importance of leadership as a learned discipline

• How to use anger appropriately (the distinctly Canadian way)

• Dealing with negative players on a team

• Stepping into a new leadership role within an existing organization

• Backing your people

• The importance of "the inevitable test" and standing your ground

• Understanding what truly motivates people (and what doesn't)

• Articulating a vision for "the galvanizing goal"

• Managing change

• Tips for leaders in hiring right, and getting hired

• The proper perspective of mentorship

• The unseen aspects of adventurous living (bonus topic!)

I hope you enjoy this show as we talk to Fraser about the purpose in the process of trust based leadership.

Fraser Pajak is the former CEO and board chairman of QuEST Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of products and services delivered to customers of information and communication technologies (ICT). Fraser has over 30 years' experience in the ICT industry, having served as VP of National Service Infrastructure Support for TELUS Communications where he directed a team of over 1,200 of the most highly skilled technical people in Canada. Fraser's team took care of incident management, escalation, resolution, root cause analysis, change management and service performance for the wireline, wireless, internet and TV networks and data centers across Canada. In his spare time Fraser likes spending time with his wife Maggie and their four children as well as flying his airplane, snowboarding and waterskiing. Fraser is an investor and active partner in the Vancouver based 33 acres brewing company, voted best brewery in B.C. for 2018.

Canadian olympic coach and business school professor Dr. Peter Jensen wrote the book The Inside Edge: High Performance Through Mental Fitness, recommended by Fraser in learning to use anger productively and in a controlled manner. Here's also a link to Dr. Jensen's website covering a variety of topics in sports psychology and more.

Some other tools mentioned that you might want to consider for your leadership toolbox:

• Fraser alluded to Theory X and Theory Y - here's what he was talking about that we didn't have time to delve into further.

• Here's a good summary of Herzberg's 2 factor theory of motivation from toolshero.com.

• An explanation of the Hawthorne effect (the impact of observation).

• The ITIL change management process

"If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!' If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And—which is more—you'll be a Man, my son!" — If, by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

It was almost called the "success habit." Instead, Jay Papasan and Gary Keller released their popular book on purpose driven productivity as The ONE Thing, which went on to sell over 1.3 million copies worldwide, made 400 appearances on national bestseller lists (including # 1 on The Wall Street Journal's hardcover business list), and was translated into 30 different languages.

The reason for the book's success is clear: learning to ask the all-important "focusing question," and figuring out your own "one thing," can be a true game changer. While application of the books' principles of highly leveraged action may be focused onto a different priority for each of us, the common starting point in everyone's journey is a determination of purpose. In this episode, Jay goes into detail on how purpose driven priority helps reveal the road map for a productive life of fulfillment and meaning.

As Jay explains, it's not as hard as you might think to get started in the right direction. In today's podcast, Jay introduces us to the concepts in the book, and offers examples and insightful explanations that have no doubt been informed by the hundreds of hours he has spent speaking and teaching on these principles to scores of audiences worldwide.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The importance of taking failure out of the equation through practice of fundamentals, developing positive habits, and getting the basics right

• How travel helps shape our perspectives

• Application of the economics and quality management theory known as the Pareto Principle (also called the "80/20 rule") to everyday life

• What is the focusing question, and how does that reveal your own "ONE Thing"?

• Why it's more important to set a direction, rather than picking a destination, when determining purpose

• The myth of a balanced life

• Happiness - no, it's really not about money

• Building purpose driven culture as a leader

• Daily techniques for protecting time and priority

• Common thieves of productivity

I hope you enjoy this show as we talk to Jay about the purpose in the process of figuring out your own "ONE Thing"!

Links and More Information on this Topic:

Here's a direct link to the ONE Thing on Amazon (just in time for Christmas!)

About Jay:

Jay's curiosity about why some people get extraordinary outcomes and others do not helped fuel his work with Gary Keller to write The ONE Thing, which has sold over 1.3 million copies worldwide, has garnered more than 400 appearances on national bestseller lists (including #1 onThe Wall Street Journal's hardcover business list), and has been translated into 30 different languages. Whether working with his wife Wendy to raise funds for Heroes for Children, inspiring others to take action toward their goals, or aiming to be the best husband and father he can be, Jay strives to remain awake and aware – with clarity and focus on his values and goals. Jay Papasan is a bestselling author and Vice President and Executive Editor at Keller Williams Realty, Inc., the world's largest real estate company. He is also co-owner, alongside his wife Wendy, of Papasan Properties Group. They live in Austin, Texas with their two kids, Gus and Veronica, and their dog, Taco.

Here are links to the other books mentioned in the show:

Mastery, by George Leonard

Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg

Essentialism, by Greg McKeown

Happiness Hyphothesis, by Jonathan Haidt

And here's a link to Reid Hoffman's great podcast mentioned by Jay: Masters of Scale

Law enforcement is a difficult job. Not many people would argue with that. Today's 24-hour news cycle and the proliferation of citizen video journalism has allowed an ever-closer view into the outwardly visible world of police officers like never before, but the average citizen remains unaware of the actual processes, rationale, and training that inform and dictate how our police departments respond to today's critical incidents.

I wanted to shed light on some of the inner-workings of public safety, and talk about the purpose behind various processes of the very difficult job done every day by the men and women of law enforcement. To do so, I interviewed my friend and former colleague Dave Klug, now a 22-year veteran police lieutenant, whose career (still ongoing) has already given him a wide range of experiences, including working in patrol, as a detective, in narcotics, internal affairs, and even SWAT. In addition to this real-world experience, Dave also happens to hold a Master's degree from UC Irvine in Criminology, Law & Society, and he has completed graduate studies in public policy from Cal State Long Beach. Needless to say, Dave was the perfect person to interview about this topic!

In this episode, we discuss:

• The importance of good training

• The multi-factored problem of errant police shootings

• How the societal issue of implicit bias impacts law enforcement

• The internal affairs process, and what actually happens when a complaint gets filed against an officer

• The challenging problem of police response to mental health related incidents

• How police are training to respond to the continuing epidemic of mass shootings

• Prevention of school violence, and what our kids can do to help

• What the war on terror looks like, at a local level

Links and More Information on this Topic:

Harvard's free online implicit bias test. Try it - you might be surprised by the results! Also, here's an article from the National Institutes of Health on how implicit bias impacts the medical profession, and an American Bar Association article addressing the issue from a legal perspective.

LAPD's YouTube channel, featuring (among other things) critical incident videos released to inform the community about what occurred long before such videos would have normally have been released under previous policies.

The full FBI report on active shooter incidents in 2016-2017.

Here's an informative video from the city of Houston on the "Run Hide Fight" tactic we discussed. Here's also a video on the ALICE protocol for responding to active shooter incidents that was referenced as well.

While the majority of Dave's time is spent serving the public, he also makes himself available in an off-duty capacity to assist businesses and other organizations who want to take prevention and preparation for handling the worst case scenarios like those we discussed in today's episode to the next level. You can reach out to Dave directly, at [email protected].

I hope you enjoy this very important episode of the podcast, and maybe even learn something that will improve your personal safety, and that of your loved ones. You can sign-up to hear first about upcoming guests, special shows, and inside news at shilohcoleman.com. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get the podcast and if you like the show, leave a review and tell a friend - thanks!!

Austin's film industry really is full of talented, hard-working, independent people. I had the pleasure of sitting down with two of them just one week before the Austin Film Festival. Jim Flores (cinematographer) and Lee Rothenflue (Producer/Post-Editor) gave us their impromptu thoughts about the "work" of storytelling through film in general, and what it's like to make movies in Austin, specifically. Whether you're considering a career in filmmaking or are just curious about what goes on behind the camera and on a set, this episode of the podcast offers an informative and yet informal look at what it really takes to be part of getting a film, commercial, or any kind of video production made.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What filmmakers look for in a production crew

• How to get started in the industry, and how to earn a good reputation

• Should you go to film school?

• The importance of trusting the process (and who you work with) in any collaborative art form

• The unsung heroes: all those people in the credits

• The importance of staying focused on the story being told

• How it all starts with writing…or it doesn't!

• What makes Austin a truly unique place to work in the film industry

Links and More Information on this Topic:

Lee Rothenflue is an Austin, Texas-based Producer and Editor with over 18 years of experience in film and video production. He has thousands of hours in producing and post-production ranging in scope in the narrative, commercial and documentary storytelling formats. Lee has experience overseeing the production and post production of many different types of film and video projects, including feature films, documentaries, corporate promos, and commercials. He has worked with clients like Charles Schwab, Google, Red Bull, Seton Hospital, the Tiger Woods Foundation and PetSmart, among others. His attention to the specific needs of every project and creative ability helps projects finish on time, within budget, and beyond expectations.

Jim Flores is a Cinematographer who believes nothing captures emotion like the moving image and that serves it's ultimate purpose... storytelling. With fourteen years experience, he brings creative and technical expertise to every project and feeds his visual passion through commercials, narrative storytelling, documentaries, and corporate branding. Jim has had several award winning projects and his work has been broadcast on NBC Sports, ESPN, GAC, and PBS. Recently Jim had a short film selected as one of 6 films for the Houston Film Commission's Texas Filmmaker's Showcase as well as winning a Silver Addy Award for Best Cinematography for a branding film he DP'd. He has worked for major brands including Accenture, Verizon, Buick, MasterCard, LG, HP, Dell, Samsung, Charles Schwab, NBC Sports, ESPN as well as regional brands and non-profits. Jim grew up in Daytona Beach, FL, which is also known as "The Worlds Most Famous Beach", and he now resides in Austin, TX with his wife and daughter.

The Austin Film Festival just celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Industry professionals and film aficionados from all over the country come together for conference panels and discussions, as well as competitions for screenwriting, teleplays, playwriting, digital series, fiction podcasts, and even films! Jim was a cinematographer on Texas Cotton, a feature that was selected to screen at AFF.

Jim mentioned his recent work behind the camera for this awesome music video for the song Daylight, by Blue October.

Lee made reference to the "hero's journey" in the context of storytelling, which is a reference to the well known Joseph Campbell book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces." Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in telling stories of any kind!

I hope you enjoyed the show! You can sign-up to learn first about upcoming guests, special shows, and inside news at shilohcoleman.com. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get the podcast and if you like the show, tell a friend - thanks!!

The ancient disciplines of silence, solitude, and fasting have been, and remain today, a constant in many faith practices and belief systems spanning continents and cultures.

Why is that, and what can be gained by the practice of intentional self-denial?

We've all heard how important it is to learn to say "no" to the ever-growing list of distractions and external demands on our time and energy to stay productive; and we have all been on one kind of diet or another. In this episode, however, we will look at how the importance of learning to say "no" to yourself might actually go far beyond productivity and nutrition. We do this by talking to an "expert" on the subject: Justin Marler, a former monk who ditched a lucrative record contract as a punk rock musician to instead dedicate the next 7-years of his life to the daily practices of extreme self-denial in two Eastern Orthodox monasteries (one of which was on a remote, sparsely populated Alaskan island). That's just the beginning of a remarkable story that continues to play itself out today in how Justin and his wife Nova view their family's personal and professional priorities, and continue to selflessly pour into others.

Whether for spiritual, philosophical, or practical purposes, the process of self-denial remains a time-honored and universally recognized way of connecting with something deeper within. We see this in the context of the Stoic's intentional practice of poverty (as endorsed by the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca and his Greek counterpart Epicurus), with modern day minimalists who, often without any faith-driven intentions simply choose to do without, and of course with spiritually motivated asceticism adopted by monks in the dedication of their lives to faith (whether Buddhism, Jainism, Vaishnava, or Christianity).

Although this podcast will not always discuss religion and faith, we certainly don't avoid it. I'm personally a follower of Christ, and so is today's guest. That said, I am always seeking to gain perspective by learning about people and practices from diverse backgrounds, and I would encourage my listeners to do the same. There's a lot to be gained from Justin's story for anyone who wants to choose to live more humanely in our modern tech-infused society.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What it's actually like to live as a monk in a monastery

• The spiritual connection of the mind, heart, and will

• The distinctions between Eastern and Western views on suffering

• The similarities between the teachings of Christianity and the rebellion of punk culture

• Contrasts between the early Christian church and that of today

• Prayer as a "state," and how that relates to the practice of meditation

• Why monasteries are sometimes referred to as hospitals

• The benefits of being surrounding by nature

• The necessity of "rejection" for a purpose (rather than despair)

• How spiritual disciplines can help us become more self-aware

• The purpose and benefits of fasting as a practical method of self-denial

Links and More Information on this Topic:

The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in its Proper Place, by Andy Crouch, the book that brought Justin and I together during an impromptu conversation about the need for solitude, especially when surrounded by our tech-infused modern lifestyle.

Justin's Hymns for the Apocalypse music project, along with fellow musicians Jim Watson and Tony D'amato, launched with the mission of raising awareness and funds for the millions of people of all faiths and backgrounds worldwide who are suffering in extreme circumstances due to war and persecution. 100% of proceeds go directly to those in need.

Justin's own site dedicated to, as he puts it: "the practice of warring with ones deficiencies, faults, sins and passions in order to restore ones life and relationship with God" by looking at the virtue and prayer of "early Christian monks, mystics, theologians and saints as preserved by the Eastern Orthodox Church for over 2,000 years." This is a well-designed and easily navigated site which has a wealth of information and resources on the subjects discussed.

The monastery in Alaska where Justin spent some of his time in solitude.

The (now online) Death to the World - The Last True Rebellion 'zine originally started by Marler in his early days as a monk, as the website explains: "a 'zine to inspire the truth-seeking and soul searching amidst the modern age of nihilism and despair, promoting the ancient principles of the last true rebellion: to be dead to this world and alive to the other world." Very interesting articles, as well as a shout-out to its co-founder and the publication's now 21-year history on the about/history page.

I once again made mention of Dr. Madeline Levine's eye-opening book, The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids. Dr. Levine is a well-known clinical psychologist who writes about the epidemic of emotional dysfunction of modern American youth contributed to by the intrusive parenting practices that inhibit healthy self-development. I mention her work in other episodes as well (I hope I get to interview Dr. Levine at some point in the near future!).

Other bands and acts mentioned during the show were Sleep, The Sabians, and Om (with Marler's former Sleep bandmate Al Cisneros). As the current projects Justin spoke about get released, we'll be sure to update the show notes here with additional links.

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