Text me and let me know what you think!

Title: Reflections from My Youngest Child’s Wedding

Episode Overview

In this deeply personal episode, John shares reflections on the milestone of his youngest child’s wedding. He explores how family shapes society, how parenting shifts into guiding and persuading, and how stepping into the grandparent role creates new opportunities for purpose and legacy in the final third of life.

Key Themes & Takeaways

1. Life Has Seasons

• Childhood → Raising family → Watching them create families.
• Parenting evolves from provision & protection to persuasion & presence.
• Recognizing the natural progression helps embrace change with grace.

2. Families Shape the World

• Families are the building blocks of society—schools, businesses, governments rest on this foundation.
• Every family sends a message: values, priorities, vision.
• Legacy isn’t private—it’s a public witness.

3. Trusting the Next Generation

• Passing the torch means trusting children to provide and protect for themselves.
• Success isn’t perfection; it’s faithfulness and courage to step up.
• Parents move from “doing for” → to “influencing through wisdom.”

4. Transitioning to Grandparenthood

• New season of life, full of love but distinct from parenting.
• Role: mentor, encourager, supporter—not the responsible provider.
• Creates new space for creativity, purpose, and new ventures.

5. Living Fully in the Final Third

• With less direct responsibility comes new bandwidth for meaningful pursuits.
• Legacy now focuses on guiding, encouraging, and leaving behind what only a grandparent can.
• Importance of embracing change rather than clinging to past roles.

Memorable Quotes

• “What was once all about provision and protection becomes persuasion and presence.”
  
  
• “The way you build your family communicates your values—it’s a public witness.”
  
  
• “Success doesn’t mean you get it right 100% of the time. Success means you stood up and did your best.”
  
  
• “I didn’t feel like I was losing a daughter or gaining a son. I felt like I was stepping into a new role.”
  
  

Listener Reflection Questions

• What season of life are you currently in, and how is your role shifting?
• How does your family—however it is structured—communicate your values to the world?
• Where are you being called to trust the next generation rather than control outcomes?
• What new opportunities or space is opening for you in this stage of life?

Call to Action

• Share this episode with someone experiencing a family milestone.
• Reflect on how you can live so that, at your child’s wedding (or equivalent life event), you won’t need to recount or apologize—you’ll already have said what needed to be said.
• Email your reflections: [email protected]

Text me and let me know what you think!

🎙️ Episode Title:

My Top Ten Travel Annoyances

🧭 Episode Summary:

In Episode 12 of The Final Third, John Mesko counts down his top 10 travel annoyances — those little things that chip away at your patience when you’re just trying to get from Point A to Point B. Whether it's slow walkers clogging the airport concourse or parents philosophizing over buffet fruit with a toddler, John uses humor, storytelling, and a bit of catharsis to highlight what makes travel both maddening and meaningful. It's not about the flight or the seat — it’s about the people. This episode is part therapy, part confession, and entirely relatable.

🔟 Segment Breakdown:

10. The Engagement Assumer

People who can’t read the room — or your silence — and insist on conversation when you clearly want to be left alone.

9. Seat Floppers & Helpers by Default

From passengers who collapse into their seat like it's a recliner to strangers who assume you’ll help them lift or move without asking — the lack of self-awareness stings.

8. Backpack Bashers

Wearing a backpack down the aisle is fine — until you spin around and whack someone in the face without knowing it.

7. The Overhead Bin Wrestler

Oversized bags, wrestling matches with the bin door, and the expectation that others will help — it’s chaos overhead.

6. “This Is My Living Room” Syndrome

Talking loud on the phone, walking laps while on Zoom, barefoot on airport chairs — some people forget they’re in public.

5. Unready Deplaners & Excessively Polite Waiters

If your row is up and you’re not packed — you’re holding up the whole plane. And if you're behind someone who isn’t ready, don’t just wait out of politeness.

4. The Stand-Up Police

You stand when the seatbelt light goes off — not to rush, just to stretch. And yet, some people get very upset about that.

3. TSA Precheck People Who Still Don’t Get It

You paid for the faster lane. Why aren’t you ready? Empty your pockets. Pay attention. It’s not that hard.

2. Buffet Philosophers

"Which slice of watermelon looks good to you?" At a free buffet, this is not the moment for life lessons — just grab and go.

1. Slow Walkers in the Middle of the Airport

People strolling three abreast, oblivious to the traffic behind them — this is not a Sunday at the park, folks.

💬 Pull Quotes:

• “Getting off the plane is not a surprise party. It happens every flight.”
• “Airports are not the scenic route — walk with purpose.”
• “You paid $85 for TSA Precheck… now use it like you mean it.”
• “This isn’t brunch with Oprah. It’s a hotel breakfast buffet.”

Text me and let me know what you think!

🎙️ The Final Third – Episode 11 Bonus Content

Title: Gen X: Born in 1966 — The Culture, Change, and Chill of a Generation
Length: Approx. 45–50 minutes
Type: Bonus Retrospective Episode
Host: John Mesko

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways

• Gen X at the Crossroads:
  Born in 1966, John reflects on growing up in a world deeply shaped by WWII, amidst cultural shifts and looming Cold War fears.
• A Generation of Adaptability:
  Gen Xers were shaped by “duck and cover” nuclear drills, TV fuzz after midnight, and vinyl records. The result? A generation that doesn’t overreact—just adapts and moves forward.
• The Postwar Shadow:
  WWII veterans were still central in business, politics, and society. Their memory of hardship and rebuilding influenced Gen X values: independence, skepticism, and pragmatism.
• Cultural Milestones of 1966:
  Music (Beach Boys, Sinatra), TV (Star Trek, Batman), movies (The Sound of Music, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly), and the rise of color television shaped early media experience.
• Economic Snapshot:
  Bread was 22¢, gas was 32¢, and a new car cost $2,500. Families had one phone, one car, one TV, and eating out was rare.
• Self-Awareness of Gen X:
  Not overly loud or flashy. Even in pep rallies, John recalls his class never cheered the loudest—and he traces that to how Gen X internalized the uncertainty of nuclear threat and cultural flux.

🧭 Episode Outline

Intro (00:00–03:00)

• Welcome to bonus content
• John's birth year: 1966
• Gen X at a unique cultural moment

Segment 1: A World in Transition (03:00–10:00)

• Vietnam War vs. WWII mindset
• Rise of protests and civil rights
• NASA and the moonshot
• Medicare’s debut; early government expansion
• First Super Bowl on the horizon

Segment 2: Culture and Costs (10:00–20:00)

• Gas, homes, and bread were cheap
• Music: Beach Boys, Sinatra, Mamas & Papas
• TV: Star Trek, Andy Griffith, Batman
• Color TV just emerging—still mostly black & white

Segment 3: Life at Home in the 60s (20:00–30:00)

• Vinyl records, rotary phones, film cameras
• One-car, one-phone, one-TV families
• No air conditioning, fast food just arriving
• Eating out as a luxury

Segment 4: History’s Long Shadow (30:00–37:00)

• WWII’s legacy: middle class, GI Bill, Cold War
• Duck and cover drills for nuclear survival
• John’s school memories of lining up in hallways during nuclear drills

Segment 5: The Gen X Personality (37:00–44:00)

• Pep rally story: always the quiet class
• Gen X as low-drama, not too high or low
• Adaptable, skeptical, not easily impressed
• Reflections on how this shapes John and his generation today

Wrap-Up (44:00–End)

• Reflecting on what shaped us
• Inviting listener feedback: [email protected]
• More content to come

✨ Quotes for Social Sharing

🎶 1966 Playlist – Musical Backdrop for the Episode

• “Good Vibrations” – The Beach Boys
• “Wild Thing” – The Troggs
• “Strangers in the Night” – Frank Sinatra
• “California Dreamin’” – The Mamas and the Papas
• “(

Text me and let me know what you think!

Title: Finishing Well — Legacy, Old Age, and Becoming an Elder
Length: Approx. 29 minutes
Theme: This final episode in the Essentials Series reflects on the transition from career peak to elderhood, exploring what it means to finish well and live deliberately in the final third of life.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Aging is a mindset. Life after 55 demands intentionality—time moves fast, and the opportunity to shape the final third shouldn't be missed.
• Career shifts from ambition to wisdom. Eventually, you’re paid more for what you know than what you do.
• Mentorship and legacy emerge. Experience becomes more valuable, and fulfillment comes from adding value through wisdom and relationships.
• Stress in retirement needs balance. Some stress is helpful—it keeps us sharp and engaged.
• True legacy is relational, not material. What lasts isn’t what we own, but how we impact others, especially family.
• Becoming an elder is about presence, not prominence. Cheer others on from the sidelines, rather than clinging to the spotlight.

🧭 Episode Outline

Intro

• Episode 10 wraps up the Essentials Series
• Podcast experiment: low-production, off-the-cuff, personal reflections
• Exploring legacy, aging, elderhood from a 59-year-old's perspective

Segment 1: What Does It Mean to Finish Well?

• Not yet “old,” but seeing life in full arc
• Aging happens fast after 55
• Life doesn’t roll out automatically—you must still shape it
• “We grow old because we stop playing” – George Bernard Shaw

Segment 2: Career Reality in the Final Third

• Climbing the ladder becomes less likely—even if you're qualified
• You shift from doing the hardest work to doing the most important work
• You're paid for your wisdom, not labor
• The plumber parable: it’s not the time—it’s the experience

Segment 3: Learning to Let Go

• Early career intensity vs. seasoned discernment
• Now choosing where to invest energy
• “Pick your battles” applies to professional life too

Segment 4: From Work Identity to Personal Fulfillment

• Satisfaction sets in—ambition gives way to other priorities
• Career is no longer central
• The appeal of stepping back without retiring completely
• Movie reference: “The Intern” – experience still matters

Segment 5: The Value of Continued Contribution

• Mentorship, part-time work, or volunteering as post-career purpose
• Avoid going from 60 mph to 0 overnight
• Stress isn’t all bad—it can create structure and purpose

Segment 6: Legacy Through Relationships

• Who would you want at your deathbed? That’s who matters
• Reconcile with those people now
• Legacy is built in relationships, not possessions

Segment 7: Becoming an Elder

• It's not about gaining a son or daughter-in-law—it’s about supporting their new family
• Step off the center stage and become the sideline coach
• Podcast itself is part of the legacy: recorded wisdom for future generations

✨ Quotes for Social Sharing

• “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw
• “Experience never gets old.” – The Intern
• “Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.” – Shannon Alder
• “Legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”

📬 Listener Call to Action

• Email: [email protected] with comments, thoughts, or questions
• Like, Subsc

Text me and let me know what you think!

📘 EPISODE 9: Sports, Heroes, and Lessons Learned

🎧 Episode Summary

In this heartfelt and nostalgic episode, John reflects on how sports have shaped his life—from childhood play on the farm to his admiration for elite athletes and love of Purdue basketball. He shares personal stories, childhood memories, and life lessons drawn from heroes like Nolan Ryan, Bo Jackson, and Wayne Gretzky. The episode evolves into a meditation on how sports change with age—from competition and aspiration to inspiration and shared joy—and what it means to come through in the clutch, both on the field and in life.

⏱️ Segment Breakdown

Segment 1: Childhood and Early Sports

• Growing up on a Minnesota farm with little to do but shoot baskets and throw at a tree
• Emulating older brothers and sports heroes like Nolan Ryan
• Creating his own fun through imaginative play and practice
• Key Story: The blocked punt and 6-0 win junior year

Segment 2: Competing and Maturing

• High school football and basketball experiences
• The bittersweet end of competitive sports after high school
• Transition to intramurals and solo workouts as life responsibilities grow
• Evolution of being a fan: from wannabe player to appreciative observer

Segment 3: Purdue Basketball and Shared Joy

• Longstanding love of Purdue basketball—history, consistency, team-first culture
• The January trip with Sarah to see Purdue beat Indiana at Mackey Arena
• How sports create connection, memory, and shared experiences

Segment 4: Heroes and Lessons

• Profiles in excellence: Nolan Ryan, Bo Jackson, Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Jack Nicklaus, Secretariat
• Common threads: longevity, humility, clutch performance, and relentless preparation
• Sports as a metaphor for growth, aging, and purpose

Segment 5: Final Reflections

• How our view of sports shifts over time—from performance to perspective
• Importance of getting more out of sports than just wins and losses
• Closing thought: What does your love of sports make you become?

🗣️ Notable Quotes

• “I want to have that ability to come through in the clutch—not for a game, but for my family, my work, my people.”
• “Sports has always been a way for me to use my energy, make my own fun, and aspire to something greater.”
• “Once you get ahead, hold on and do your best—and good things will happen.”
• “Make sure sports is taking you in the right direction—not toward adoration, but toward better character.”

💬 Discussion & Reflection Prompts

1. Who was your sports hero growing up, and what did they teach you beyond the game?
2. How has your relationship with sports evolved over time?
3. What can we learn from athletes who endure—those who keep performing into their 40s or 50s?
4. In what areas of your life do you want to "come through in the clutch"?
5. How can we share our passions (like sports) with others in meaningful ways?

Text me and let me know what you think!

🎙️ Episode Overview

Title: Food, Wine, and the Joy of the Table
Series: Essentials
Episode #: 8
Theme: Our relationship to food goes far beyond sustenance. This episode explores how food connects us to the natural world, our cultures, our faith, and each other—and how slowing down to share a meal can nourish body, mind, and soul.

🧭 Segment Breakdown

Segment 1: Created to Eat

• Theological reflection: God could have designed us differently—but chose to make food essential.
• “Give us this day our daily bread” — dependence on creation is part of our design.
• Our need to eat invites engagement with nature and culture.

Segment 2: Food as Culture and Adaptation

• Examples of dietary adaptation (Inuit fats, Mediterranean slow eating).
• Local foods historically matched local physiology.
• Today’s global food system is a gift—and a temptation to disconnect from seasonality and heritage.

Segment 3: Slowing Down in a Chaotic World

• Modern life rushes meals—"get food over with so we can get to real life."
• Examples of feasts in the Bible (Wedding at Cana, communal meals).
• Stories from Napa Valley & Restaurant Alma: meals as memorable experiences.
• Personal story: the perfect pairing of wine, cheese, crackers, and jam.

Segment 4: The Mental and Emotional Nourishment of Meals

• Meals build relationships and emotional health.
• Studies: Shared meals improve communication, academic performance, reduce loneliness.
• Even simple meals (prime rib, soup, eggs) can feed body and spirit.

Segment 5: Simplicity, Sophistication, and Gratitude

• Da Vinci: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
• Contrast: buffet excess (Fogo de Chão) vs. thoughtful simplicity (a bowl of soup).
• Eating well as an act of self-respect—even when alone.
• Final encouragement: prepare, savor, be present, and give thanks.

🔑 Key Quotes

Text me and let me know what you think!

🎙️ Episode Title: Body and Brain – Health, Fitness, and Aging

📌 Episode Number: Episode #7

🧭 Summary:

In this episode, John explores the intersection of physical and mental health as we age. He shares personal stories, hard-earned lessons, and practical strategies for staying active, maintaining mental sharpness, and living with purpose. Drawing from family history, personal experience, and scientific insight, John reflects on how aging is not about decline but refinement—and how purpose is the key to lasting vitality.

📂 Episode Segments:

1. Opening Reflections

• Aging begins around 25, but its impact accelerates over time.
• Personal reflection at age 59: not “old,” but changes are real.
• The key message: One body, one brain, one life—stay engaged.

2. Body as Machinery

• Mechanical Function:
  • Weight and joint stress
  • Bone density and strength training
  • Fall prevention and balance work
• Key Insight: Staying upright and mobile is essential in later life.

3. Body as Engine

• Biological Processing:
  • Nutrition, toxins, immune function
  • Immune system weakened by sugar and poor sleep
• Diabetes Focus:
  • How it erodes the body over time
  • Connection to poor circulation, infections, amputations, and even cognitive decline
• Quote: “Diabetes doesn’t usually kill directly—it’s the breakdown of systems that does.”

4. Brain and Cognitive Wellness

• Alzheimer’s Risk and Prevention:
  • Aerobic exercise, social engagement, and sleep
  • Lifelong learning and problem-solving as mental fuel
• Emotional Wellness:
  • Processing trauma and negativity
  • Gratitude, kindness, and emotional integrity as practices for brain health

5. The Power of Purpose

• Life needs meaning beyond work or achievement.
• Purpose = fuel in the final third of life.
• Highlights Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning: those with a reason to live endured the unimaginable.

6. Final Thoughts

• Analogy: “The body is the vehicle, the brain is the driver, and the journey is yours to shape.”
• The final third isn’t about decline—it’s about refinement.
• Encouragement to take a small step: a walk, a journal entry, or a meaningful call.

📘 References & Resources:

• Book Mentioned: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
• Health Facts Referenced:
  • Cardiovascular fitness supports brain health
  • Sugar can suppress the immune system
  • Diabetes linked to increased Alzheimer’s risk

🧠 Call to Action:  Encourage listeners to:

• Evaluate their physical and mental routines.
• Consider their purpose beyond job titles.
• Share this episode with someone who might need the reminder that aging is not the end—it’s a new beginning.

Text me and let me know what you think!

🎙️ Podcast Title: Dealing with Difficult People

📄 Episode Number: Episode 6 of The Essentials Series

🧭 Episode Summary:

In this episode, John Mesko dives into a universal challenge: dealing with difficult people. With a listener-suggested topic, he examines four common types—Aggressors, Victims, Narcissists, and Passive-Aggressive personalities—with a special focus on the last. Drawing from personal and professional experience, John offers insights, examples, and practical strategies to help listeners protect their peace and show up with integrity in challenging relationships.

📌 Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction
   • Acknowledgement of listener-submitted topic
   • Clarifying the scope: Not about clinical diagnoses
   • Focus: Recognizing behavioral patterns and managing responses
2. Types of Difficult People
   • The Aggressor
     • Traits: Controlling, intimidating, loud
     • Examples: ROTC summer camp; workplace and family scenarios
     • Best Practices: Stay calm, set boundaries, involve others
   • The Victim
     • Traits: Helpless, blameless, manipulative
     • Examples: Missed deadlines, chronic dependency
     • Best Practices: Support without enabling, expect accountability
   • The Narcissist
     • Traits: Self-centered, charming, lacking empathy
     • Examples: Always taking credit, turning conversations to themselves
     • Best Practices: Keep expectations low, don’t seek validation, document when needed
   • The Passive-Aggressive
     • Traits: Indirect, avoidant, emotionally punishing
     • Examples: “I’m fine” behavior, withholding affection or support
     • Best Practices: Bring them into the open, avoid retaliation, maintain clarity
3. Passive Aggression as Culture
   • Insights into workplaces where passive aggression dominates
   • Challenges for direct communicators in such environments
   • Example of a conflict managed through direct confrontation
4. Final Reflections
   • You can't fix difficult people, but you can protect your own peace
   • Final third of life is too short to be ruled by dysfunction
   • Encouragement to stay grounded, uphold values, and know when to walk away

💬 Pull Quotes:

• "Do not let their volume drown out your values."
• "Victims are very good at making you feel like they need to be rescued—resist the urge."
• "Narcissists are always keeping score."
• "Passive-aggressive people say yes when they mean no."
• "In the final third of life, it’s too short to be ruled by other people’s dysfunction."

📣 Call to Action:

• Email your experiences and thoughts: [email protected]
• Subscribe, like, and share this episode with someone who might need it

📌 Tags:

#Relationships #Communication #WorkplaceCulture #Boundaries #EmotionalIntelligence #PodcastEssentials #TheFinalThird

Text me and let me know what you think!

What happens when you wake up one day and realize a 26-year marriage has reached its breaking point? This raw, reflective episode explores the challenging journey through divorce in your 50s and the unexpected wisdom that comes from starting over during life's "final third."

Walking away from nearly three decades of shared history isn't a decision made lightly. After concluding everyone in my family would be better off if my marriage ended, I filed for divorce—then promptly lost my job. It seemed like rock bottom, but turned out to be the foundation for rebuilding a more authentic life.

Through this personal story, we explore three critical principles for navigating major life transitions with grace and integrity. First, how to show up authentically for people even when your heart is broken. The social contracts we maintain with others don't disappear during personal crisis, and our character is revealed most clearly when everything falls apart. Second, the importance of counting the true cost before making life-altering decisions. While my divorce brought significant losses—friendships, church community, financial stability—sometimes the cost of staying in an unhealthy relationship outweighs the pain of leaving. Finally, the transformative power of committing to personal growth during life's darkest chapters.

When I realized I'd lived roughly one-third of my life before marriage, one-third married, and was now entering my "final third," everything shifted. This perspective gave me clarity about what I wanted next: a balanced partnership without drama or control issues, where we could simply "be awesome together." Whether you're contemplating divorce, recovering from one, or navigating any major life transition, remember—you're still a miracle, and it's never too late to make things better.

Text me and let me know what you think!

📄 Episode Summary:

In Episode #4 of The Final Third, host John Mesko explores the complex and essential topic of agriculture and food. Drawing from his lifelong career in agriculture—as a farmer, researcher, leader, and advocate—John reflects on the history of farming, the rise of industrial agriculture, and the evolving choices we make about what we eat. From the commodification of food to the nuance of organics and the rise of sustainability movements, this episode challenges listeners to think more deeply and intentionally about what’s on their plate. Food nourishes not just our bodies, but our communities and our planet. What does that mean for us today?

📌 Key Themes:

• The personal and societal importance of agriculture
• Food as a commodity vs. food as nourishment
• Industrialization and the evolution of global food systems
• Organic vs. conventional: what those labels actually mean
• Regenerative and sustainable agriculture
• Global supply chains and their impact
• Intentional food choices and dietary shifts
• The risk to children’s nutrition
• How values, health, and community can inform food decisions

🧭 Outline:

I. Introduction

• Welcome and framing the Essentials series
• John’s background in agriculture and food systems
• The unique position of food in our everyday lives

II. A Brief History of Food and Farming

• Early food systems: subsistence, community farming
• The Industrial Revolution’s impact
• Rapid global population growth
• Rise of mechanization and specialization

III. The Shift Toward Commodification

• Farms get bigger, rural communities shrink
• Food optimized for cost, shelf life, and transport—not quality
• Global diets improving but straining systems
• Disconnect between consumers and farmers

IV. Organic and Regenerative Agriculture

• Defining organic—certification, not a guarantee
• Pros and limitations of the organic label
• Introduction to sustainable and regenerative ag
• Misconceptions and marketing in food labeling

V. What Can We Do?

• Eat with intention
• Support local or regional food when possible
• Diversify your plate—focus on variety and freshness
• Be selective about where you spend more
• Educate yourself on what labels actually mean

VI. Food, Health, and Shifting Wisdom

• Examples of changing nutrition science (butter vs. margarine, eggs)
• Importance of balance and moderation
• Kids as the most vulnerable population in dietary quality

VII. Closing Thoughts

• We all play a role
• Know your impact and make informed decisions
• Preview of next episode: Family, Divorce, and Starting Over After 50

📝 Quotable Lines:

• “Food is becoming a commodity—something once sacred is now traded by the ton.”
• “You can be full and still be malnourished.”
• “Organic is a certification, not a lifestyle.”
• “You don’t have to grow your own food to eat well—but you do have to think.”
• “Kids need nutrition the most. They're building the future—literally.”

📣 Call to Action:

If you found value in today’s episode, please consider subscribing to The Final Third, sharing it with someone who might benefit, or sending your thoughts to John at [email protected].

📅 Next Week's Teaser:

Get ready for an emotional and thought-provoking discussion as John tackles Family, Divorce, and Starting Over After 50.