The Next Chapter with Charlie

Show Notes 

Okay, truthfully… today is a show I very much look forward to hosting. It is yet another episode with my dear friend Terry Hershey. Now typically, Terry and I have some rather challenging philosophical issue to discuss and it’s always a blast to do that kind of show.

But today will be a bit different. It’s a hybrid… maybe.  I anticipate a sort of potpourri of catching up on stuff we haven’t talked about for a while. First of all, as of 2 hours ago, baseball is back… and my son has a job again. Next, Terry just spent the morning watching birds… or something like that. So we will chat about our lives and things that really matter.

Before that however, I read a quote this morning by poet David Whyte that has me thinking deeply and I am most interested in Terry’s take on it.

The poet Whyte wrote, “In life we are in the difficult act of disappearing, often against our wills, in order to make way for something we cannot yet comprehend… perhaps the ultimate form of human generosity is that of giving ourselves away to see how and in what form we are given back.”

In other words, “You gotta lose something in order to get something new.”

Just a note. In just a few days Terry will be at the Religious Ed Congress in Anaheim, CA. This coming Saturday March 19, he is giving a speech in the Arena. His speaking time begins at 10:00 AM. You can go to www.terryhershey.com

Terry is bringing 3 brand new books. And, be sure to say Hi, because I am part of the sales force. And I always cheat and give the best deals. Haha

Okay, Okay. I was wrong. I cannot put the Character Strengths Assessment online. It requires a special invite.

So, so sorry!

Show Notes 

Our guest today, Dr Tiffanie Tate Moore, is the poster child for resilience. Raised by an Aunt, in Compton CA, because both her parents were strongly addicted to drugs and alcohol. Dr Tiffany grew up to be valedictorian, an OBG/YN Surgeon, a medical Officer in the United States Navy, and having a successful medical practice in riverside, CA.

All pretty impressive, huh? But that does not take into account that she was abused in early childhood, was shot in her back in a drive-by shooting, and had to quit medical practice at the age of 44 because of a hand injury that prevented her from practicing surgery.

After depression and feelings of uselessness, Dr Tiffanie once again discovered her innate and learned resilience to overcome these challenges to become a woman of great value to her society and to herself.

I can’t wait to learn from Dr Tiffanie Moore just what it takes to overcome horrific life changes to become a person of value, service, honor, a commitment to a life serving God.

Visit Dr Tiffanie in Instagram @DrTiffanieMoore

And on Facebook

You can click the link to find her book, Flowe Try

Show Notes 

I’m loving the title of the new book by our guest today, Dr Pamela Gerali. It’s called The Dance of the Ego and Essence. In our discussion today we will talk about “who we really are” in are in our deepest and truest selves and what it is that prevents us from living in harmony with that truest self.

That is why Pamela Gerali calls the process a Dance. I like that. A delicate a compassionate dance with our own spirit, hour heart, and mind.

I am very much looking forward to this conversation.

Dr Pamela Gerali captivates readers and audiences with wisdom and practical guidance from the Blueprint for the Human Spirit®, her model for conscious and compassionate living. She refers to herself as an architect for the human spirit.

Pamela is a Registered Nurse with a Master’s Degree in Public Health and a Doctorate in Holistic Health Sciences. She is an author, public speaker, leadership mentor, and intuitive healer—something we will define as the show goes on.

Visit Pamela Gerali at drpamelagerali.com.

You can click the link to find her book, The Dance of Ego and Essence.

Show Notes 

What do you think of when you think of Introverts? Typically, the term connotes shy, withdrawn, or maybe even lacking confidence. But I’m not so sure that is the “whole story.”

Our guest today, Steve Friedman, will help us understand much more the strengths and attributes of those, might I say, “blessed” with the gift of Introversion. By using the word “blessed,” I guess I give away the fact that I am an introvert myself, and yet… people rarely see me as one. But believe me, those close to me have no doubt. I thrive on being alone and in solitude.

In fact, when quarantine first began, as an introvert I was proud to say “I’ve been practicing for this my whole life. Haha

My guest, Steve Friedman is the author of two books on introversion. His latest book is The Corporate Introvert, and his first one was a memoir titled In Search of Courage, An Introvert’s Story.

Steve’s latest book is at The Corporate Introvert

Please check out Steve’s first book In Search of Courage

Check out Steve’s website at Beyond Introversion

Show Notes 

I’m so looking forward to our show today. After three consecutive shows of deep and heavy philosophy, today is all about fun. Yippee!

My guest today, Michaela Renee Johnson, practices and preaches a life of excitement and joy, and most of all happiness. Yes. We are indeed allowed to pursue happiness in our own hectic and troubled world.

Michaela is an expert on the subjects of happiness and wellbeing. She is a best-selling author, psychotherapist, life coach, and successful podcast host. She has authored a movement, which includes seminars, workshops, practical tools, and a book titled Be You, Find Happy.

So, I’m happy to bring on our very special and very fun guest.

For more on Michaela enjoy her website at michaelarenee.com

Show Notes 

Today is Part II of our podcast with Radhia Gleis in which we discuss what Radhia learned in her experience of 25 years in a cult and what she desires that all of us can learn.

Please enjoy and take the opportunity to reconsider your opinions regarding who and what you follow.

For me. This is a powerful show.  

Enjoy Part II.

Please check out Radhia’s book. The Followers: “Holy Hell” and the Disciples of Narcissistic Leaders: How My Years in a Notorious Cult Parallel Today’s Cultural Mania.

You can discover more about Radhia at www.radhiagleis.com  

Show Notes 

Have you ever wondered about what it is that draws (especially) intelligent people to join a cult? Well, today we’re about to find out. We will learn first-hand from our very special guest, Radhia Gleis, who was an elder for 25 years in a cult called The Buddha-field.

As a young woman… Radhia went on a quest for to discover nirvana and found herself entangled in a destructive cult. Now, for anyone tempted to judge cult followers as weak-minded and gullible, Radhia has a new book that will certainly shatter those assumptions.

In her new book titled The Followers, she explores the common traits, as well as common needs, that every human being possesses. And, almost ironically, it is in these very common needs that cult leaders find their prey.

Radhia has a message for all of us… to understand… as well as be wary of.

PLEASE NOTE: This episode was so informative and fun that we had to break it into two shows. Be prepared to catch Part II in just a couple days, where Radhia shares what she learned and what we can lean.

Please check out Radhia’s book. The Followers: “Holy Hell” and the Disciples of Narcissistic Leaders: How My Years in a Notorious Cult Parallel Today’s Cultural Mania.

You can discover more about Radhia at www.radhiagleis.com   

Show Notes  Today we’re about to go down deep and stay down long into the subject: Is it morally good to focus primarily on your own personal happiness? Author Peter Schwartz says… “From childhood, we’re taught that helping others is the essence of morality. And most people take this code of ethics for granted. They don’t challenge that premise.” Peter Schwartz does challenge that premise. In his book, The Tyranny of Need, Peter Schwartz explains why he believes that people do not fully understand what altruism calls for. In his view, it shows that what altruism really demands is not that you simply respect the rights of others or that you display benevolence toward them. Rather, altruism demands that you subordinate yourself to other’s needs.

Now… Peter presents a moral alternative to the code of altruism: and that is, rational self-interest. He explains that genuine selfishness is not exemplified by the actions of the likes of a Bernie Madoff. Schwartz argues—the truly selfish individual is committed to moral principles. He lives an honest, productive, and self-respecting life.

His book, The Tyranny of Need, shows you how to uphold your moral right to the pursuit of your own happiness.

Just a bit on Peter…

PETER SCHWARTZ is a retired Chairman of the Board of the Ayn Rand Institute—the pre-eminent organization for the dissemination of Ayn Rand’s ideas—and he is now a Distinguished Fellow there.

As you might imagine, in this episode of the Next Chapter with Charlie, Peter and I engage in quite meaningful discussion of this oh-so controversial topic.

With that, let’s welcome Peter Schwartz to the show.

For more visit Peter Schwartz at www.Peterschwartz.com

Check out Peter’s book: The Tyranny of Need

Show Notes 

When I began The Next Chapter with Charlie back in 2014, I came up with the descriptor which is,The Next Chapter: In Search of Meaning, Adventure, and Awe.

Since that time, I have written and podcasted a boatload about the Meaning of Life, but not as much on Adventure, and even less on Awe. And yet, Awe is one of my personal favorite joys in life. I love art, architecture, nature, and what Terry Hershey calls “giddy” human responses to life and the wonder of life.

Today, Terry and I explore the nature of Awe, as well as our unfortunate proclivity to allow obstacles to get in the way.

So, let’s bring on Terry Hershey to help us navigate that tension between Awe-FULL as opposed to awful.

Visit Terry at www.terryhershey.com .

For more with Charlie Hedges please visit www.thenextchapter.life

Show Notes 

Today is an unusually important show. My friend and CEO of Wells of Life, Nick Jordan, spent all of 2021 battling with Stage 4 colon and lung cancer. The odds of survival were not good. But let’s come to the end of the story right away.

After 2 surgeries, 4 months of chemotherapy, 75 radiation treatments, 2 days of fasting before every chemo session, and a bout with Shingles he was declared cancer free in late December 2021.

During the months of chemotherapy, radiation, and times of surgery, Nick had only his faith, his family, and his friends to lean on. And truthfully, all three were desperately needed because the reality of impending death makes you realize the shortness of life, therefore forcing you to re-evaluate everything you do and believe.

In Psalm 90, Moses writes, “Lord, teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise.” We have much to learn from someone who has been close to death.

Today, let’s discover the value of life from the perspective of very recent cancer survivor.

You can contact Nick at…

• [email protected]
• Call him at 949-584-6166
• Website: wellsoflife.org

You can find the Caring Bridge website by clicking here: Caring Bridge