Spark My Muse

Rolf Potts is a celebrated author and vagabond travel writer. Besides writing articles, essays, best-selling books, teaching a writing workshop in Paris American Academy each summer, occasionally hosting a television travel show, and inspiring the polymath phenom Tim Ferriss to embrace the Vagabonding philosophy and give Potts' book of that same name the coveted spot of "first book in the Tim Ferriss book club", Rolf Potts lives in rural Kansas and saves up for extended world travel adventures that he usually takes alone and with little baggage or limited technological encumbrances.

This is a fascinating discussion that will help us realize that travel is not a luxury for the privileged and living well starts by not being a tourist of our own lives, no matter the environment.

A LIVE discussion with Rolf will take place on OCTOBER 20, 2015 at 8pm EST / GMT -4

Join in and listen or ask him a question by going to blab.im/lisadelay to find the scheduled event. Subscribe to be a part of it. If you miss it? Watch the replay at sparkmymuse.com

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• How Rolf started traveling and the change that has brought along the way

• What are the biggest changes in 20 year of traveling the world

• What he recommends for doing it well and having the best experiences.

• The real wealth of our lives is how we spend our time.

• His thoughts for traveling and experiencing the world instead of being a tourist of your life.

• On counting Selfie Sticks in Paris.

• On the gift of traveling and exploring alone.

• His recent trip to the French countryside.

• A best places to travel that people don't consider visiting.

• His comic book he wrote that depicts a long-forgotten travel story from ancient Egypt. (His young nephew illustrated it and profits go to a children's refugee fund)

• His foray into writing about the gangsta rap of the Geto Boys and the 5th Ward of Houston (psycho-graphical writing.)

SHOWNOTES include photos and video, don't miss it!

visit sparkmymuse.com

WANT more DETAILS and LINKS to things mentioned in the show?

Shownotes at the sparkmymuse.com website include photos, the occasional embedded video, links to related people, places, books, references and resources mentioned in each show.

LIVE Interaction each week:

Do you have a question you’d like to ask a guest? Each week we gather and converse about the show. Tuesdays 8pm EST (GM-4) on https://blab.im/LisaDeLay (visit to subscribe to lurk, listen, learn, or join in and ask questions)

Ready to be a little SPARK?

Spark My Muse survives only through generous, intelligent, and engaged listeners, like you, who are not just “consumers of content” but listeners who become friends. As each listener donates a few dollars, it can continue. Thank you for helping!

Go to the PayPal donation page to be awesome: http://bit.ly/1PqWUwX (or the button at sparkmymuse.com)

GET UPDATES:

If you’re interested in getting updates with links to the latest show and other pertinent announcements, you can get on the email update list that goes out 2-3 times per month. Subscribe to that here http://lisadelay.com/blog/get-updates/

May you be enriched by the project and growing community that is Spark My Muse. Now heard in 125 countries! Be sure to stop at the sparkmymuse.com website and let me know if you liked the show and if you have suggestions!

Thank you for listening.

-xo

~Lisa

An EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION with Lori Neff:

When her 18 year career in broadcasting at one of the nation's premier Christian Radio Networks came to an abrupt end, Lori Neff was jarred by a myriad of powerful emotions and decisions. What just happened? What should she do next? Who was she now that her dream job was gone?

How she dealt with the end of Midday Connection, what she learned along the way, and what she's up to now is a fascinating and encouraging story of joy mixed with sorrow and pleasure mixed with pain which most of us can related to. Lori is a wonderful testament to feeling deeply the full scope of life and gives us the courage to carry on in whatever messy or beauty we find ourselves in. Plus, an special announcement Lori and I have about a collaboration!

GO-LIVE with us. Here's an invitation just for you!

Lori will be available to take your questions -live- on October 18th (2015) at 8 pm EST/ GMT -4 HERE https://blab.im/lisa-colon-delay-ask-lori-neff-of-midday-connection-sparkmymuse-com-podcast-after-party (Find the replay at sparkmymuse.com if you miss the LIVE event.)

WANT DETAILS and LINKS from the show?

Shownotes at the sparkmymuse.com website include photos, the occasional embedded video, links to related people, places, books, references and resources mentioned in each show.

LIVE Interaction each week:

Do you have a question you’d like to ask a guest? Each week we gather and converse about the show. Tuesdays 8pm EST (GM-4) on https://blab.im/LisaDeLay (visit to subscribe to lurk, listen, learn, or join in and ask questions)

BE a SPARK

Spark My Muse survives only through generous, intelligent, and engaged listeners, like you, who are not just “consumers of content” but partners and friends. As each listener donates a few dollars, it can continue. Thank you so much for all the love and help!

Go to the PayPal donation page to be awesome: http://bit.ly/1PqWUwX (or sparkmymuse.com)

Micro Patrons are listeners who donate $1 or more per month and get special privileges like access to bonus material and all the exclusive REPLAYS of the LIVE interactive post-podcast discussions with the guest-of-the-week. Watch them all here http://patreon.com/sparkmymuse

GET UPDATES:

If you’re interested in getting updates with links to the latest show and other pertinent announcements, you can get on the email update list that goes out 2-3 times per month. Subscribe to that here http://lisadelay.com/blog/get-updates/

May you be enriched by the project and growing community that is Spark My Muse. Now heard in 125 countries! Be sure to stop at the sparkmymuse.com website!

Thank you for listening. Be blessed.

-xo

~Lisa

An EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION with Lori Neff:

When her 18 year career in broadcasting at one of the nation's premier Christian Radio Networks came to an abrupt end, Lori Neff was jarred by a myriad of powerful emotions and decisions. What just happened? What should she do next? Who was she now that her dream job was gone?

How she dealt with the end of Midday Connection, what she learned along the way, and what she's up to now is a fascinating and encouraging story of joy mixed with sorrow and pleasure mixed with pain which most of us can related to. Lori is a wonderful testament to feeling deeply the full scope of life and gives us the courage to carry on in whatever messy or beauty we find ourselves in. Plus, an special announcement Lori and I have about a collaboration!

GO-LIVE with us. Here's an invitation just for you!

Lori will be available to take your questions -live- on October 18th (2015) at 8 pm EST/ GMT -4 HERE https://blab.im/lisa-colon-delay-ask-lori-neff-of-midday-connection-sparkmymuse-com-podcast-after-party (Find the replay at sparkmymuse.com if you miss the LIVE event.)

WANT DETAILS and LINKS from the show?

Shownotes at the sparkmymuse.com website include photos, the occasional embedded video, links to related people, places, books, references and resources mentioned in each show.

LIVE Interaction each week:

Do you have a question you’d like to ask a guest? Each week we gather and converse about the show. Tuesdays 8pm EST (GM-4) on https://blab.im/LisaDeLay (visit to subscribe to lurk, listen, learn, or join in and ask questions)

BE a SPARK

Spark My Muse survives only through generous, intelligent, and engaged listeners, like you, who are not just “consumers of content” but partners and friends. As each listener donates a few dollars, it can continue. Thank you so much for all the love and help!

Go to the PayPal donation page to be awesome: http://bit.ly/1PqWUwX (or sparkmymuse.com)

Micro Patrons are listeners who donate $1 or more per month and get special privileges like access to bonus material and all the exclusive REPLAYS of the LIVE interactive post-podcast discussions with the guest-of-the-week. Watch them all here http://patreon.com/sparkmymuse

GET UPDATES:

If you’re interested in getting updates with links to the latest show and other pertinent announcements, you can get on the email update list that goes out 2-3 times per month. Subscribe to that here http://lisadelay.com/blog/get-updates/

May you be enriched by the project and growing community that is Spark My Muse. Now heard in 125 countries! Be sure to stop at the sparkmymuse.com website!

Thank you for listening. Be blessed.

-xo

~Lisa

An EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION with Lori Neff:

When her 18 year career in broadcasting at one of the nation's premier Christian Radio Networks came to an abrupt end, Lori Neff was jarred by a myriad of powerful emotions and decisions. What just happened? What should she do next? Who was she now that her dream job was gone?

How she dealt with the end of Midday Connection, what she learned along the way, and what she's up to now is a fascinating and encouraging story of joy mixed with sorrow and pleasure mixed with pain which most of us can related to. Lori is a wonderful testament to feeling deeply the full scope of life and gives us the courage to carry on in whatever messy or beauty we find ourselves in. Plus, an special announcement Lori and I have about a collaboration!

GO-LIVE with us. Here's an invitation just for you!

Lori will be available to take your questions -live- on October 18th (2015) at 8 pm EST/ GMT -4 HERE https://blab.im/lisa-colon-delay-ask-lori-neff-of-midday-connection-sparkmymuse-com-podcast-after-party (Find the replay at sparkmymuse.com if you miss the LIVE event.)

WANT DETAILS and LINKS from the show?

Shownotes at the sparkmymuse.com website include photos, the occasional embedded video, links to related people, places, books, references and resources mentioned in each show.

LIVE Interaction each week:

Do you have a question you’d like to ask a guest? Each week we gather and converse about the show. Tuesdays 8pm EST (GM-4) on https://blab.im/LisaDeLay (visit to subscribe to lurk, listen, learn, or join in and ask questions)

BE a SPARK

Spark My Muse survives only through generous, intelligent, and engaged listeners, like you, who are not just “consumers of content” but partners and friends. As each listener donates a few dollars, it can continue. Thank you so much for all the love and help!

Go to the PayPal donation page to be awesome: http://bit.ly/1PqWUwX (or sparkmymuse.com)

Micro Patrons are listeners who donate $1 or more per month and get special privileges like access to bonus material and all the exclusive REPLAYS of the LIVE interactive post-podcast discussions with the guest-of-the-week. Watch them all here http://patreon.com/sparkmymuse

GET UPDATES:

If you’re interested in getting updates with links to the latest show and other pertinent announcements, you can get on the email update list that goes out 2-3 times per month. Subscribe to that here http://lisadelay.com/blog/get-updates/

May you be enriched by the project and growing community that is Spark My Muse. Now heard in 125 countries! Be sure to stop at the sparkmymuse.com website!

Thank you for listening. Be blessed.

-xo

~Lisa

* What makes something funny?

* Can the science behind what makes us laugh teach us something about how to make better decisions, or how to getting along better with others?

* Why do some people find things offensive that others find hilarious?

* What factors influence humor and can they be altered for desirable outcomes?

* Can the brain recover from major damage and how plastic is it?

All these questions and many more are studied using experiments and FMRI brain scans at the Goel Neuroscience Lab at Toronto's York University to unlock the role of emotion in decision-making, mental systems, and human behavior.

Scroll down to click the LISTEN button.

Dr. Vinod Goel is my guest today. He is a neuroscientist of note, but he is currently on sabbatical in Zurich, so he will not likely be joining us for our LIVE discussion portion on humor on October 13.

Enjoy my recorded conversation with him for the podcast and scroll down for shownotes.

Caleb Warren, behavioral researcher from the Humor Research Lab, with Pete McGraw author of the Humor Code,  is stepping in to answer your questions and discus the science of humor on October 13 HERE. (or click to watch the replay)

The Spark My Muse Project is little listener-supported endeavor with a mission to be a spark in the world. It’s not just a podcast, website, and resources, but a partnership AND a fellowship of kindred spirits. Thousands of people n 171 countries are listening and helping too.

• If each listener contributes just a bit per month, we can keep the Spark!

Ready to help today?

Do that HERE.

SHOWNOTES

MIN

1:30

The way the brain understands a joke works the same way any mental set shifts work. By studying what the brain does with humor, we can understand how the brain understands and perceives the world in symbols, language, abstraction, and in social contexts. Using FMRI scans that study of the brain has revealed some interesting and surprising findings.

3:00

Basic jokes rely on non verbal set ups that become funny when the expectation is not met and advance jokes are semantical and often involve a shift in thinking about a social norm.

4:30

Why uneducated people get offended at jokes.

6:30

Physical humor and language-based humor. It depends on triggers.

7:20

Study show that tickling rats cause a kind of laughing response. Are they REALLY laughing?

8:20

How are humor develops, starting in childhood and moving toward abstract concepts. The social context and the semantic network of association develop to understand much more.

10:40

His study of the role of emotion in reason and decision-making.

The impetus was watching American politics.

12:30

The manipulation of emotion in advertisements to bring people to an illogical conclusion. Different portions of the brain are not used that would help make a good and logical decision.

14:00

Arguments laden with emotion don’t engage the reasoning part of the brain found in the left dorsal lethal prefront...

* What makes something funny?

* Can the science behind what makes us laugh teach us something about how to make better decisions, or how to getting along better with others?

* Why do some people find things offensive that others find hilarious?

* What factors influence humor and can they be altered for desirable outcomes?

* Can the brain recover from major damage and how plastic is it?

All these questions and many more are studied using experiments and FMRI brain scans at the Goel Neuroscience Lab at Toronto's York University to unlock the role of emotion in decision-making, mental systems, and human behavior.

Scroll down to click the LISTEN button.

Dr. Vinod Goel is my guest today. He is a neuroscientist of note, but he is currently on sabbatical in Zurich, so he will not likely be joining us for our LIVE discussion portion on humor on October 13.

Enjoy my recorded conversation with him for the podcast and scroll down for shownotes.

Caleb Warren, behavioral researcher from the Humor Research Lab, with Pete McGraw author of the Humor Code,  is stepping in to answer your questions and discus the science of humor on October 13 HERE. (or click to watch the replay)

The Spark My Muse Project is little listener-supported endeavor with a mission to be a spark in the world. It’s not just a podcast, website, and resources, but a partnership AND a fellowship of kindred spirits. Thousands of people n 171 countries are listening and helping too.

• If each listener contributes just a bit per month, we can keep the Spark!

Ready to help today?

Do that HERE.

SHOWNOTES

MIN

1:30

The way the brain understands a joke works the same way any mental set shifts work. By studying what the brain does with humor, we can understand how the brain understands and perceives the world in symbols, language, abstraction, and in social contexts. Using FMRI scans that study of the brain has revealed some interesting and surprising findings.

3:00

Basic jokes rely on non verbal set ups that become funny when the expectation is not met and advance jokes are semantical and often involve a shift in thinking about a social norm.

4:30

Why uneducated people get offended at jokes.

6:30

Physical humor and language-based humor. It depends on triggers.

7:20

Study show that tickling rats cause a kind of laughing response. Are they REALLY laughing?

8:20

How are humor develops, starting in childhood and moving toward abstract concepts. The social context and the semantic network of association develop to understand much more.

10:40

His study of the role of emotion in reason and decision-making.

The impetus was watching American politics.

12:30

The manipulation of emotion in advertisements to bring people to an illogical conclusion. Different portions of the brain are not used that would help make a good and logical decision.

14:00

Arguments laden with emotion don’t engage the reasoning part of the brain found in the left dorsal lethal prefront...

What happens in the brain when we find something funny? Why are some people offended when others laugh? New brain imaging technology is revealing much more about the brain and how it functions than ever before.

Dr Vinod Goel, a celebrated neuroscientist from York University in Toronto, helps us understand this vital part of human interactions and joy in life. His studies are shedding light on mindsets, brain injuries, cognitive development and a host of surprising findings about how we work.

LIVE Interaction each week:

Each week we gather and converse about the show. Tuesdays 8pm EST (GM-4) on https://blab.im/LisaDeLay (visit and subscribe to lurk, listen, learn, or join in and ask questions)

WANT show DETAILS?

Shownotes at the sparkmymuse.com website include photos, occasional embedded videos, links to related people, places, and books, plus references and resources mentioned in each show.

Are you a Spark in your world?

Spark My Muse survives only through generous, intelligent, and engaged listeners, like you. Fabulous people who are not just “consumers of content”, but partners and friends. As each listener donates a few dollars, we continue bring you more to enjoy and experience. Thank you for helping, too!

Go to the PayPal donation page to be awesome: http://bit.ly/1PqWUwX (or sparkmymuse.com)

Micro Patrons are listeners who donate $1or more per month and get special privileges like access to bonus material and all the REPLAYS of the LIVE interactive post-podcast discussions with the guest-of-the-week. Watch them all here http://patreon.com/sparkmymuse

GET UPDATES:

If you’re interested in getting updates with links to the latest show and other pertinent announcements, you can get on the email update list that goes out 2-3 times per month. Subscribe to that here http://lisadelay.com/blog/get-updates/

May you be enriched by the project and growing community that is Spark My Muse. Now heard in 125 countries! May you listen, enjoy, share, and light up your world with goodness.

Thank you for listening!

-xo

~Lisa

The surprises, challenges, joys, and troubles homesteader Esther Emery and her family faced when they chose to make a portable home, provide for themselves and live off the land.

Highlights

If a house and a tent had a baby a Yurt would be born.

The thing about “preppers”

When a hungry bear come sto camp (and your home looks like a candy wrapper)

Choosing a lifestyle that doesn’t need money as the main means of survival

Fueling and powering a homestead

Digitally connecting as a homesteader

Off-the-grid challenges

The thrill of independence

The rocket stove

How emotional baggage fits in a YURT

Wrong-headed romance of life-off-the-grid

Moving to their homemade timber home structure

WANT DETAILS?

Shownotes at the sparkmymuse.com website include photos, occasional embedded videos, links to related people, places, and books, plus references and resources mentioned in each show.

LIVE Interaction each week:

Each week we gather and converse about the show. Tuesdays 8pm EST (GM-4) on https://blab.im/LisaDeLay (visit and subscribe to lurk, listen, learn, or join in and ask questions)

BE a SPARK

Spark My Muse survives only through generous listeners who are not just “consumers of content” but partners and friends. As each listener donates a few dollars, it can continue. Thank you for helping!

Go to the PayPal donation page to help: http://bit.ly/1PqWUwX (or sparkmymuse.com)

Micro Patrons are listeners who donate $1 or more per month and get special privileges like access to bonus material and all the REPLAYS of the LIVE interactive post-podcast discussions with the guest of the week. Watch them all here http://patreon.com/sparkmymuse

GET UPDATES:

If you’re interested in getting updates with links to the latest show, you can get on the email update list that goes out 2-3 times per month. Never miss an announcement or goodies again. Subscribe to that here http://lisadelay.com/blog/get-updates/

May you be enriched and blessed by the project and growing community that is Spark My Muse. Now heard in 125 countries!

Thank you for listening!

-xo

~Lisa

The surprises, challenges, joys, and troubles homesteader Esther Emery and her family faced when they chose to make a portable home, provide for themselves and live off the land.

Highlights

If a house and a tent had a baby a Yurt would be born.

The thing about “preppers”

When a hungry bear come sto camp (and your home looks like a candy wrapper)

Choosing a lifestyle that doesn’t need money as the main means of survival

Fueling and powering a homestead

Digitally connecting as a homesteader

Off-the-grid challenges

The thrill of independence

The rocket stove

How emotional baggage fits in a YURT

Wrong-headed romance of life-off-the-grid

Moving to their homemade timber home structure

WANT DETAILS?

Shownotes at the sparkmymuse.com website include photos, occasional embedded videos, links to related people, places, and books, plus references and resources mentioned in each show.

LIVE Interaction each week:

Each week we gather and converse about the show. Tuesdays 8pm EST (GM-4) on https://blab.im/LisaDeLay (visit and subscribe to lurk, listen, learn, or join in and ask questions)

BE a SPARK

Spark My Muse survives only through generous listeners who are not just “consumers of content” but partners and friends. As each listener donates a few dollars, it can continue. Thank you for helping!

Go to the PayPal donation page to help: http://bit.ly/1PqWUwX (or sparkmymuse.com)

Micro Patrons are listeners who donate $1 or more per month and get special privileges like access to bonus material and all the REPLAYS of the LIVE interactive post-podcast discussions with the guest of the week. Watch them all here http://patreon.com/sparkmymuse

GET UPDATES:

If you’re interested in getting updates with links to the latest show, you can get on the email update list that goes out 2-3 times per month. Never miss an announcement or goodies again. Subscribe to that here http://lisadelay.com/blog/get-updates/

May you be enriched and blessed by the project and growing community that is Spark My Muse. Now heard in 125 countries!

Thank you for listening!

-xo

~Lisa

The surprises, challenges, joys, and troubles homesteader Esther Emery and her family faced when they chose to make a portable home, provide for themselves and live off the land.

Highlights

If a house and a tent had a baby a Yurt would be born.

The thing about “preppers”

When a hungry bear come sto camp (and your home looks like a candy wrapper)

Choosing a lifestyle that doesn’t need money as the main means of survival

Fueling and powering a homestead

Digitally connecting as a homesteader

Off-the-grid challenges

The thrill of independence

The rocket stove

How emotional baggage fits in a YURT

Wrong-headed romance of life-off-the-grid

Moving to their homemade timber home structure

WANT DETAILS?

Shownotes at the sparkmymuse.com website include photos, occasional embedded videos, links to related people, places, and books, plus references and resources mentioned in each show.

LIVE Interaction each week:

Each week we gather and converse about the show. Tuesdays 8pm EST (GM-4) on https://blab.im/LisaDeLay (visit and subscribe to lurk, listen, learn, or join in and ask questions)

BE a SPARK

Spark My Muse survives only through generous listeners who are not just “consumers of content” but partners and friends. As each listener donates a few dollars, it can continue. Thank you for helping!

Go to the PayPal donation page to help: http://bit.ly/1PqWUwX (or sparkmymuse.com)

Micro Patrons are listeners who donate $1 or more per month and get special privileges like access to bonus material and all the REPLAYS of the LIVE interactive post-podcast discussions with the guest of the week. Watch them all here http://patreon.com/sparkmymuse

GET UPDATES:

If you’re interested in getting updates with links to the latest show, you can get on the email update list that goes out 2-3 times per month. Never miss an announcement or goodies again. Subscribe to that here http://lisadelay.com/blog/get-updates/

May you be enriched and blessed by the project and growing community that is Spark My Muse. Now heard in 125 countries!

Thank you for listening!

-xo

~Lisa