Seeking Excellence with Nathan Crankfield

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In this conversation, Nathan Crankfield explores the complexities of life, the illusion of equality, and the entitlement mindset prevalent in modern society. He discusses the moral implications of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the tension between scientific advancements and faith. Nathan emphasizes the importance of understanding life as a gift rather than a right, and the challenges of maintaining moral consistency in the face of personal circumstances. He draws connections between entitlement, the teachings of Christianity, and the significance of the Eucharist in navigating these dilemmas.

Chapters

00:00 The Entitlement Mindset and Lack of Control

04:41 The Dangers of Creating Equal Outcomes

09:05 IVF as the Modern-Day Tower of Babel

15:46 The Hardest Catholic Teaching: IVF

18:48 Entitlement in Christianity and the Need for Consistency

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Dr. Paul Kengor is a professor at Grove City College and the executive director of the College’s The Center for Vision and Values. He is also a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace at Stanford University. Kengor is a frequent television political commentator and opinion page contributor, as well as the author of several best-selling books.

In this episode, we discuss his new book The Stigmatists. It's an incredible read about the lives of several great saints who were willing to suffer in immense ways for the salvation of souls.

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Summary

Nathan Crankfield discusses the importance of having multiple streams of income and evaluating opportunities. He emphasizes the need to be open to opportunities and discern which ones to pursue. He also highlights the balance between providing for the family and fulfilling the vocation of fatherhood.

Tim Urban shares his personal experience of juggling multiple businesses, a firefighting career, and an MBA program, and how he managed his time by delegating tasks and adjusting his schedule. He encourages finding a balance between pursuing passion projects and fulfilling duties.

In this conversation, Tim and Nathan discuss the balance between work and family life, the importance of time management, and the role of faith in achieving success. They emphasize the need to delegate tasks and focus on leadership rather than micromanagement. They also discuss the importance of open communication with spouses and the support of a supportive wife. They highlight the importance of focusing on virtues and character development rather than solely pursuing professional success. They also discuss the tension between greed and providing, emphasizing the need to set goals and prioritize virtues over financial success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Tim Urban

05:20 Tim's Personal Upbringing and Background

08:06 Tim's Entrepreneurial Journey and Balancing Work and Family

12:53 Challenges and Support in San Francisco

16:16 Transitioning and Managing Multiple Ventures

25:13 Focusing on Opportunities and Evaluating Priorities

27:04 Creating Opportunities and Multiple Streams of Income

30:29 Discerning Opportunities and Finding a Balance

36:41 Time Management and Balancing Work and Family Life

39:59 Balancing Ambition and Contentment

48:08 Faith as a Guiding Force in Work and Family Life

53:24 The Importance of Open Communication with Spouses

59:43 The Role of a Supportive Partner in Personal and Professional Growth

01:04:35 Finding the Balance: Ambition, Greed, and Prioritizing Family

This episode discusses the troubled history of NFL player Tyreek Hill, focusing on his violent past in his personal life. Nathan criticizes the media's rush to make the situation about race and highlights the importance of considering all perspectives before forming an opinion. The comparison between Hill and another athlete, Scottie Scheffler, is deemed absurd. Nathan emphasizes the need to be cautious about defending individuals with a history of violent behavior and not automatically giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and discussion of Tyreek Hill's situation

01:53 The tendency to jump to race in incidents involving black individuals and the police

03:44 Comparing the incidents involving Tyreek Hill and Scottie Scheffler

06:37 The importance of hearing both sides of the story

09:56 Examining Tyreek Hill's character and behavior

14:40 Considering the individual's history and actions in evaluating behavior

15:16 Tyreek Hill's Troubled History

18:55 Comparing Treatment of Tyreek Hill

21:12 Propping Up Troubled Individuals

23:07 Different Reactions to Police Contact

25:59 Forcing Compliance with Police

28:36 Caution Against Giving the Benefit of the Doubt

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In this episode of the Seeking Excellence Podcast, Nathan Crankfield and guest Nathan Price discuss the importance of dressing well, particularly for men. They emphasize the significance of taking oneself seriously and the impact that dressing well can have on one's self-confidence, relationships, and representation of the faith. They also address the misconception that dressing well is vain, highlighting the importance of finding the middle ground between sloppiness and excessive vanity. The conversation draws from the teachings of St. Francis de Sales and emphasizes the virtues of propriety, cleanliness, modesty, and simplicity in dressing.

In this conversation, Nathan Price provides practical advice on dressing well for men. He emphasizes the importance of grooming and dressing appropriately for different occasions, such as Mass and dates. He suggests starting with what you already have and gradually investing in quality clothing that fits well. He also discusses the significance of accessories, such as watches and bags, in completing a polished look.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

12:07 The Importance of Dressing Well

16:18 The Role of the Younger Generation in Turning Things Around

21:29 Finding the Balance: Modesty and Vanity

25:54 Taking Yourself Seriously and Dressing Well

30:48 The Moral Obligation to Dress Well

40:45 Defining 'Suitably Dressed' for Mass

44:59 Going Beyond the Minimum: Dressing Well for Mass

45:43 Dressing Intentionally and Appropriately for Different Occasions

56:47 The Significance of Shoes and the Psychological Impact of Dressing Well

01:00:35 The Importance of Fit and Color Theory

01:11:37 Avoiding Throwaway Culture and Investing in Quality Clothing

01:17:41 Wearing Pants to Mass, Serious Dates, and Flights

01:19:45 Choosing Accessories that Communicate Intentionality and Maturity

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In this episode, Nathan Crankfield shares his thoughts on various topics, including fatherhood, the importance of rest, the dangers of excessive complaining, the crisis of masculinity, and the desire for practical holiness.

He also praises the PBD podcast and encourages people to seek excellence in all areas of their lives. In this part of the conversation, Nathan Crankfield discusses the concept of seeking excellence and how it encompasses both spirituality and practical aspects of life.

He reflects on his experience at Franciscan University and how he noticed a tendency to over-spiritualize things. He emphasizes the importance of actively participating in our own salvation and the blessings that God wants to give us.

Nathan also talks about the solution to anxiety, the importance of mindset, motivation, and methods for success, and the need to speak up and not embrace cowardice.

Chapters

06:50 The Joy and Blessings of Fatherhood

11:59 The Importance of Rest and Sabbath

16:29 The Dangers of Excessive Complaining

19:29 The Crisis of Masculinity in Boyhood

23:18 The Desire for Practical Holiness

25:23 Active Participation in Our Salvation

35:23 Mindset, Motivation, and Methods for Success

40:39 Choosing Whose Criticism to Take

42:41 Rejecting Silence and Embracing Courage

We all know that last year, I released an episode that got a lot more attention than I anticipated. I spent the majority of 2023 having conversations with fellow Catholics and Protestants about nonprofits, capitalism, and self-fundraising missionaries.

I learned a lot from these conversations. I learned from many former or current missionaries. I also learned from the family members and friends (and many former friends) of missionaries.

I heard some stories demonstrating the dark side of some of these models. Like any good system, it has the potential to be abused.

My conversations led to a podcast, which led to me having a private meeting at FOCUS headquarters. This was fitting since they were by far the organization that was most upset by the episode.

Despite invitations to come on the podcast to clear the air, I was never able to have a public conversation with anyone to help bring clarity to this topic. I recorded this episode after another year of waiting, praying, discussions, and negative experiences with *mostly* active FOCUS staff.

The message of this episode is clear: many of us believe there needs to be some reform to the model of self-fundraising used by certain organizations. We may be wrong about that, but it's what we believe. Non-profits are supposed to thrive on transparency. And that is ultimately what I'm requesting on behalf of the many, many fellow disaffected FOCUS supporters.

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In this conversation, Nathan Crankfield shares 31 lessons he learned in his 31st year of life. Some of the key themes include the importance of avoiding major mistakes, the value of patience, the beauty of having a stay-at-home wife, the significance of setting clear expectations in relationships, the challenge of living on one income, and the need to prioritize and accept that we can't be excellent at everything.

In this conversation, Nathan Crankfield discusses the controversy surrounding Ephesians 5 and the rejection of God by some individuals. Nathan also highlights the need for respectful dialogue and open conversations about sensitive issues within the Church.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Patience

06:04 Supporting Your Spouse's Dreams

09:43 Challenges of Providing for a Family on One Income

16:39 The Importance of Fair Wages

16:39 Avoiding Stupidity: The Power of Small, Consistent Actions

19:47 Unspoken Expectations: The Path to Resentment

29:25 Choosing What to Suck At: Embracing Personal Limitations

32:08 The Holiness of Daily Challenges and Inconveniences

37:21 Gender Roles in the Church: A Controversial Topic

47:39 Accepting or Rejecting God: The Freedom of Choice

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:50 The Importance of Giving Things Sufficient Time

09:22 Investing in Yourself: The Key to Success

16:27 Navigating the Hypocrisy of Promoting Ideals

23:31 The Essentiality of Daily Prayer

25:55 Expressing Yourself Through Custom Clothing

29:10 Exposing the Effeminacy of Our Generation

39:06 The Importance of Thorough Preparation

41:38 Recommended Books: 'Introduction to the Devout Life' and 'Father Elijah'

44:07 Fatherhood: A Journey of Love and Fulfillment

46:59 The Significance of Intentional Community for Holiness