In 1963, Eric Berne wrote a book that still sells well today: "Games People Play." It is about ridiculous, repetitive patterns that people fall into, like "I've Got You Now, You Little S.O.B.," and "Kick Me." In this episode (third in a series), I discuss several more of these self- and other-destructive games, as well as two of Dr. Berne's other insightful concepts: "Rackets" and "Stamps." You'll like it! I also provide resources (like other books on this subject, like "Born to Win" and "Scripts for Life.") This episode is #3; the first two were #227 & #229.

"(I've Got a) Wooden Leg"..."(You've Got a) Blemish"..."Kick Me"...and "Look What You Made Me Do!" These are four more Games that People Play. 

In the 1960s, psychologist Eric Berne noticed that some people repeat the same silly arguments &/or patterns over & over again. He called these destructive patterns "games." But even though they prevent people from having fun, solving problems, and getting along, they are common. In this episode, I cover four more, as well as get into Berne's solutions. Careful...you don't want a game to become a life-script. 

(This episode was recorded on Jan. 25, 2025.)

Spencer Steinert is a guide at Wonder, an Acton Academy which was featured on Jordan Peterson's podcast when Dr. Peterson interviewed Zach Lahn, the founder of Wonder. And now Spencer is opening his own Acton Academy, in Overland Park, Kansas, in August 2025.
 
Acton Academies are hard to describe—but they are catching on like wildfire, with over 300 of them in the U.S. and other countries, since the first one opened in 2009.
 
I’d like to say more about Spencer: he is a startup veteran, Innovation Design Expert (he has an M.A.), and a passionate educator who teaches kids to be entrepreneurial, and to tackle their projects (which they choose) with self-discipline and verve. And he's a great marketer.

Read more about Acton (and Spencer) here:

a) https://www.daringtowonder.com

and also here:

b) https://www.actonacademy.org/find

And listen to episode #221 (“Jacob McKnight Is Opening an Acton Academy”) of this podcast. 

* * * Contact at [email protected] * * * 

"Games People Play" is a book that explains the social and relationship games that people play. These are no-win situations that we should avoid. I cover three: "I've Got You Now, You Little $$#@!," "Ain't It Awful," and "Yes, But." I also discuss the author, Dr. Eric Berne's solutions. Even though this book is sixty years old, it still sells well because it's so flippin' good. I found it eye-opening. Enjoy!

(This episode was recorded on Jan. 20, 2025.)

Apparently, law school makes people strong, smart, and gives them mesmerizing stories to tell. Reed just completed his third semester; it was agonizing and exhilarating, and (in my view) it made him into a better man in every respect. 

(This episode was recorded on Jan. 9, 2025.)

Law school is a stark adjustment for most people. How did Sam Dierberger fare? It lead him to question practically every aspect of his life, and also his beliefs.

(This episode was recorded four days ago.)

Even though I've had a two-drink limit for myself for decades, I decided last March that maybe I'm done. Since then, life has gotten very interesting.

Books & podcast resources included.

(This episode was recorded Jan. 4, 2025.  The artwork features athletes drinking water.)

Awarded "Teacher of the Year" by his peers, Michael Consiglio is a teacher and a coach who, all his life, has been willing to take on brand new challenges.

This is a replay of the very first episode of Seemingly Ordinary, which debuted in 2020.

I ask Lee Ann Oches, a smart lady with six kids, what she would do differently if she had $20M and unlimited help in educating her six kids. Plus, we discuss at least eight jobs that one or both of us think every person should have for six months or longer. 

(We recorded this episode on Dec. 14, 2024.)

This is a new kind of school, although there are 300 of them, worldwide, and they've been around since 2009. They help kids perform 1, 2, or even 3 grade levels ahead, and they teach kids to start their own businesses, start their own charities, write their own plays, or otherwise build something that matters to the public. They are very different. Jacob & Caitlin McKnight are opening one: OriginsKC, in Pleasant Valley.

You can reach them here:
https://www.originskc.com and [email protected]

Or use the QR code that is this episode's thumbnail.
Or this: https://qrfy.io/r/KwAk6oDDHL

(This episode was recorded Dec. 6, 2024.)