Although just 28, Thorne Pendleton has already lived a few lifetimes.

At 14, he survived a giant fusiform brain aneurysm. By sophomore year of high school he had missed nearly 100 days of school. Detached and looking for discipline, he left home to attend an all-boys boarding school in New England, an experience that helped shape his independence and outlook.

After high school, a planned gap year stretched into something bigger. On his 18th birthday, Thorne made a simple rule: never live more than five minutes from the ocean. That pulled him through Singapore and eventually to Indonesia, where he worked, immersed himself in local life and culture, and explored the islands in search of surf—especially around Uluwatu, Bali.

University followed, on Australia’s Gold Coast. He bounced through a mix of jobs and learned quickly what suited him (and what didn’t). This included scraping boat hulls underwater, modeling, working at Alfred‘s Apartment, laying cement, and technology sales. Over time, one thing became clear: he hates working for other people.

These days, Thorne lives in Jakarta, Indonesia and is building Pasola Farms, a project rooted in cigar tobacco and named after a brutal tribal ritual - choosing farming over screens and distractions as a way back to what really matters.

Not bad for 28.

Welcome to episode thirty-seven.

Elevate the Experience

Help bring better audio, video, and filmed episodes to life: VenmoI tithe 10% of all contributions—half to the All Secure Foundation (supporting soldiers’ transition home) and half to the Academy of the New Church High School.

Stay Connected

Connect: @ethan.c.lewin

A Note from Me

I’m inspired by the stories people carry, the power of honest feedback, and the magic that happens when creative minds connect. If you’re a brand interested in partnering, let’s talk: LinkedIn.

Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!

Intro/Outro Music
Instagram: @julien_buss

From road-tripping across Europe with infants in diapers to immigrating from South Africa to the United States during Apartheid, Carol and her husband Neil — with their three boys in tow — left everything they knew behind. They crossed the ocean by ship, arriving in New York Harbor at sunrise, the Statue of Liberty on the horizon — a symbol of freedom and the life they were about to build, rooted in faith and love.

Carol shares insights from decades of teaching and shaping the New Church education system — especially her love for first graders, which she calls the “miracle of academics.” She believes real education has three essential parts: affection — capturing a child’s attention; truth and goodness — the concepts themselves; and application — it only endures when it can be lived in everyday life.

She also reflects on her love of learning and home economics in school, skills that have served her throughout life, from DIY projects that might inspire young couples to practical lessons on making money go further, all while keeping her community and church at the center of daily life.

At the heart of it all is a marriage that comes first and a faith that carries it through. Carol may call herself an everyday woman, but her story is a powerful example of what a marriage can be.

Welcome to episode thirty-six. 

Elevate the Experience

Help bring filmed episodes to life: VenmoI tithe 10% of all contributions—half to the All Secure Foundation (supporting soldiers’ transition home) and half to the Academy of the New Church High School.

Stay Connected

Instagram: @ethan.c.lewinContact: ethanchaselewin.com/contact

A Note from Me

I’m inspired by the stories people carry, the power of honest feedback, and the magic that happens when creative minds connect. If you’re a brand interested in partnering, let’s talk: LinkedIn.

Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!

A quick note from me!

While it’s essential to focus on what needs improving, it’s equally important to acknowledge what’s already going right. Nina Dewees lives this practice. Despite real challenges, she makes a deliberate, lifelong effort to look for the good.

In the spirit of Rise Above It, Nina honors her parents through the gifts they passed on: her father’s spirit of adventure and her mother’s love of teaching. That adventure led her in her twenties to backpack Native trails in Wyoming and Montana 3 different times for 30 days each, drop out of college, and bike across the country from Oregon to Pennsylvania with, get ready for it: 2 strangers—sharing powerful lessons about life, true charity, and clarity along the way.

Nina has spent a lifetime providing a listening ear for others in spaces like Stephen Ministry, Pay-It-Forward, and Moms & Tots. Today, it was my pleasure to listen to her.

Nina offers a wise reminder: giving matters—but so does receiving. When we allow ourselves to receive, we give others the chance to give.

Join us as we explore what it means to do what is good, just, and useful—without thought of reward, reputation, or merit, whether anyone sees it or not.

Welcome to episode thirty-five.

Check Out:

Nina Dewees - Theta Alpha Speech.pdf

Nina Dewees - Service.pdf

[email protected]

Elevate the Experience

Help bring better audio, video, and filmed episodes to life: VenmoI tithe 10% of all contributions—half to the All Secure Foundation (supporting soldiers’ transition home) and half to the Academy of the New Church High School.

Stay Connected

Instagram: @ethan.c.lewinContact: ethanchaselewin.com/contact

A Note from Me

I’m inspired by the stories people carry, the power of honest feedback, and the magic that happens when creative minds connect. If you’re a brand interested in partnering, let’s talk: LinkedIn.

Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!

Intro/Outro Music
Instagram: @julien_buss

Some conversations just click—thanks to Mr. Frazier, this may be one of my favorite dialogues yet.

Scott Frazier is the Dean of the Theological School at Bryn Athyn College, and the only professor to ever give me a B. Scott’s journey of finding his calling is unique: from being homeschooled in Belgium during his junior year to returning to his hometown feeling invisible, he reflects on how a simple yearbook-signing party sparked a transformation. Once someone who ‘didn’t like people’ and imagined a life of isolation, Scott became a professor and pastor—careers built entirely around connecting with others. A reminder that God isn’t just Divine Love and Wisdom, but also Divine Humor. God is cheeky.

We explore what it means to live intentionally, not just “authentically,” how AI may push education toward a return of monastic-style schooling where kids are intentionally removed from technology to learn how to think, and cultural assumptions around marriage and family—like waiting until 30 or needing tons of money to have kids. And maybe most importantly, we talk about the noticeable pendulum shift of young men back toward faith and conservatism—whether it’s a passing trend or something here to stay—and issue a call to all men, especially those ages 40–50 who “run the world,” to step in, offer direction, and call young men forward with a clear message: we need you.

Without further ado, welcome to episode thirty-four.

Check Out:

Against Empathy

Elevate the Experience

Help bring better audio, video, and filmed episodes to life: VenmoI tithe 10% of all contributions—half to the All Secure Foundation (supporting soldiers’ transition home) and half to the Academy of the New Church High School.

Stay Connected

Instagram: @ethan.c.lewinContact: ethanchaselewin.com/contact

A Note from Me

I’m inspired by the stories people carry, the power of honest feedback, and the magic that happens when creative minds connect. If you’re a brand interested in partnering, let’s talk: LinkedIn.

Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!

Intro/Outro Music

Instagram: @julien_buss

Picking up where Part 1 left off, we continue our conversation with Dr. Feerrar, diving into his approaches to classroom management, mastery of the material, and the strategies that made him an effective educator. We discuss his dissertation and parent-of-the-bride speech — both with fun Harry Potter connections — and the ways he engaged students, from reading letters from local veterans to fostering respect, mentorship, and a love of the outdoors.

Whether you’re a past, current, or future educator, there’s plenty to learn from Dr. Feerrar’s detailed look at what it really takes to teach with impact.

Check Out:

Dr. Feerrar’s Dissertation: The Impact of the Recent Financial Market Downturn on Private Liberal Arts Colleges

Lester & Grace Asplund family history

Elevate the Experience

Help bring better audio, video, and filmed episodes to life: VenmoI tithe 10% of all contributions—half to the All Secure Foundation (supporting soldiers’ transition home) and half to the Academy of the New Church High School.

Stay Connected

Instagram: @ethan.c.lewin

Contact: ethanchaselewin.com/contact

A Note from Me

I’m inspired by the stories people carry, the power of honest feedback, and the magic that happens when creative minds connect. If you’re a brand interested in partnering, let’s talk: LinkedIn.

Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!

Intro/Outro Music

Instagram: @julien_buss

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, I sit down with Dr. Feerrar, my 8th-grade teacher, longtime mentor, and dear friend — a legendary educator whom anyone who had the opportunity to learn from was lucky to have. We explore how his early experiences at home and in school shaped his eventual approach to teaching, walking us through 1st grade to PhD with memorable stories.

Along the way, we uncover his love of history and genealogical detective work, hear the unbelievable story of how he ended up teaching 8th grade at Bryn Athyn Church School, and the car trouble that pushed him to meet his wife Joy — a little nudge from the divine out of his comfort zone that changed the course of his story.

And yes — as part of my permission to record with Dr. Feerrar, I was assigned my first homework assignment since 8th grade… will I earn a “PhD” by the end of Part 2? Tune in to find out in Part 2!

Check Out:

Dr. Feerrar’s Dissertation: The Impact of the Recent Financial Market Downturn on Private Liberal Arts Colleges

Lester & Grace Asplund family history

Elevate the Experience

Help bring better audio, video, and filmed episodes to life: VenmoI tithe 10% of all contributions—half to the All Secure Foundation (supporting soldiers’ transition home) and half to the Academy of the New Church High School.

Stay Connected

Instagram: @ethan.c.lewin

Contact: ethanchaselewin.com/contact

A Note from Me

I’m inspired by the stories people carry, the power of honest feedback, and the magic that happens when creative minds connect. If you’re a brand interested in partnering, let’s talk: LinkedIn.

Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!

Intro/Outro Music

Instagram: @julien_buss

Jeanne Alix Smith grew up shaped by a chapter of World War II few people know. Born in Mauritius, off the coast of Madagascar, she was raised by unsung heroes of the war—her parents, Percy and Berthe Mayer—who served as covert intelligence agents in Madagascar, a region critical to Allied shipping routes and the balance of power in the Indian Ocean. Had they not done what they did, World War II—and the world as we know it today—may have turned out very differently.

This episode explores their story through the eyes of their daughter. We talk about childhood, escape, the joy of simplicity, leaving home, building a life across continents, and why preserving stories like these matters.

Welcome to episode thirty-two.

To read more, see the scanned newspaper article and the book Secret War Heroes linked below.

Check Out:

Durban’s Unsung Heroes Percy and Bearte Mayer

Secret War Heroes: The Men of Special Operations Executive

Elevate the Experience

Help bring better audio, video, and filmed episodes to life: VenmoI tithe 10% of all contributions—half to the All Secure Foundation (supporting soldiers’ transition home) and half to the Academy of the New Church High School.

Stay Connected

Instagram: @ethan.c.lewinContact: ethanchaselewin.com/contact

A Note from Me

I’m inspired by the stories people carry, the power of honest feedback, and the magic that happens when creative minds connect. If you’re a brand interested in partnering, let’s talk: LinkedIn.

Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!

Intro/Outro Music

Instagram: @julien_buss

If you grew up in Bryn Athyn and love cars, you probably remember Ric’s blue-and-white striped Shelby Cobra rolling through the Fourth of July parade or, years later, seeing him fly his original PA-18 Pitcairn autogiro over town.

But if you don’t really know Ric, this episode is the perfect introduction.

Ric’s fascination with speed and risk started young. A lifelong love of flying—sparked by RC aircraft—eventually led Ric to fly for the family business, Asplundh Tree Company, where his grandfather Lester instilled a deep work ethic. That path later culminated in a career at American Airlines, from which Ric retired three years ago. Along the way, Ric spent time restoring antique aircraft at Trenton Robbinsville, helping preserve aviation history.

We talk advice for aspiring pilots, the future of aviation (including autonomous aircraft), the story behind the Pitcairn autogiro, aerobatics, ultralight flying, and—of course—our shared love for pugs.

Welcome to episode thirsty-one.

Elevate the Experience

Help bring better audio, video, and filmed episodes to life: VenmoI tithe 10% of all contributions—half to the All Secure Foundation (supporting soldiers’ transition home) and half to the Academy of the New Church High School.

Stay Connected

Instagram: @ethan.c.lewinContact: ethanchaselewin.com/contact

A Note from Me

I’m inspired by the stories people carry, the power of honest feedback, and the magic that happens when creative minds connect. If you’re a brand interested in partnering, let’s talk: LinkedIn.

Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!

Intro/Outro Music

Instagram: @julien_buss

Gregg had to grow up quickly in the concrete jungle of Philadelphia. His home life was shaped by the weight his father carried home from Vietnam, and by age 13 he was already working. Struggling to find acceptance and belonging, he turned to drugs and alcohol to disconnect. Things began to shift when his wife Kerry introduced him to community, leading him to join SWET, a men’s group that helped him confront his past. More recently, breaking his back forced him to keep facing the pain he’d long carried—guiding him toward becoming a better husband and father.

His journey is a call to men to laugh more, be honest, truly know their friends, and have the real conversations that free us from our past so we can help strengthen the next generation. Every mistake taught him something, and while he wishes he didn’t have to walk through hell to find a bit of heaven, he’s grateful for where it led.

Welcome to episode thirty.

Elevate the Experience

Help bring better audio, video, and filmed episodes to life: VenmoI tithe 10% of all contributions—half to the All Secure Foundation (supporting soldiers’ transition home) and half to the Academy of the New Church High School.

Stay ConnectedInstagram: @ethan.c.lewinContact: ethanchaselewin.com/contact

A Note from Me

I’m inspired by the stories people carry, the power of honest feedback, and the magic that happens when creative minds connect. If you’re a brand interested in partnering, let’s talk: LinkedIn.

Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!

Intro/Outro Music

Instagram: @julien_buss