The Pass It On.com Podcast

In the mid-1800s, Milton Wright was a devoted preacher traveling the Midwest while his college-educated wife Susan nurtured their children's curiosity at home. When Milton brought home a simple toy—made of bamboo, cork, paper, and a rubber band—he couldn't have imagined it would spark a revolution.

His sons, nicknamed Ulam and Bubz, became obsessed with the mechanics of flight. Despite dropping out of high school and their father's constant worry, the boys channeled their mother's gift for problem-solving into experiments that would come to change the world.

On December 17, 1903, those two boys, Orville and Wilbur Wright, achieved powered human flight at Kitty Hawk. A decade later, when Milton finally agreed to fly with Orville, he shouted three words that captured everything he'd tried to teach them: "Higher, Orville, Higher!"

Discover how a mother's dedication to teaching her kids creativity and a father's gift of a toy launched humanity into the skies.

Meet a young woman whose life changed forever at 18 when a routine medical procedure left her paralyzed from the waist down. While most teenagers were preparing for college and planning their futures, Mallory Weggemann was learning to navigate a world that had suddenly become unrecognizable. In the depths of despair she discovered an unexpected truth... that the words her father whispered to her every night as a child would become her lifeline: "You're the best. You can make a difference, and you can change the world." From a hospital bed to Paralympic gold, from anger to forgiveness, from impossibility to world records, learn how Mallory transformed a tragedy into personal triumph becoming one of the most decorated Paralympic swimmers in history.

Meet a boy who in 1906 would revolutionize how the entire world shares stories. While other teenagers were content with farm chores and simple pleasures, one extraordinary young man was dreaming up technologies that wouldn't become reality for decades. Born into a world without electricity or plumbing, Philo Farnsworth would go on to become the inventor of television. Learn how Philo took his curiosity, intellect, and a belief that anything is possible to invent something that the whole world uses each and every day.

Journey back to 1900 to meet a woman who defied every expectation of her time. While high society ladies sipped tea in elegant parlors, one extraordinary woman was braving blizzards, bandits, and wild animals in the rugged Montana wilderness.

Born into slavery and freed at age 30, Mary Fields would go on to become the first African-American woman to deliver U.S. mail—earning her legendary status as "Stagecoach Mary." Armed with grit, an unbreakable spirit, (and firearms) she carved out her own path in the American West, becoming a beloved figure.

This is a story about breaking barriers, finding your calling, and the kind of resilience that legends are made of. Listen about the extraordinary life of Mary "Stagecoach" Fields—a true pioneer whose legacy reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely heroes leave the most lasting marks on history.

What if I told you that one of history's most influential scientists was once labeled 'unteachable' and 'talentless' by his teachers?

Listen to the remarkable story of Ernst Mach—a name you might recognize from supersonic flight as in "Mach 1 speed"—whose journey from academic failure to scientific genius is truly extraordinary.

As a shy Austrian teenager in the 1850s, Ernst Mach struggled with classical languages while his teachers wrote him off as 'unteachable'. What they couldn't see was that Ernst's mind was already grasping the fundamental forces of our universe. He would go on to revolutionize physics and inspire Albert Einstein himself. Einstein called Mach the precursor to his theory of relativity.

But perhaps Mach's greatest achievement wasn't in the laboratory at all. It was in the classroom, proving that sometimes the most unconventional students become the most extraordinary teachers.

This is a story about second chances, the power of hands-on learning, and how one seemingly dismissed student changed the way we understand space, time, and reality itself.

In this second part of our two-part series with Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal, we dive deep into the practical side of building resilience. If you missed part one, she introduced us to life's challenging "three C's" (challenge, change, and complexity) and shared her powerful insight that we all have the ability to overcome because resilience lives within each of us.

Today, we're exploring her five transformative practices of highly resilient people. From her personal journey overcoming undiagnosed dyslexia in third grade to studying the lives of remarkable leaders like Nelson Mandela, Dr. Stejskal reveals how resilience isn't about bouncing back unchanged—it's about bouncing forward, forever transformed by our experiences.

You'll discover why vulnerability tops her list of resilient practices, learn the art of productive perseverance, and understand how to cultivate the kind of connection, gratitude, and positive thinking that turns life's darkest moments into light for yourself & others.

Get ready to strengthen your own resilience toolkit as we uncover the science and art of struggling well.

Listen to Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal, a world-renowned expert in resilience, mental health, and well-being, share powerful insights about the fundamental human capacity for resilience. Beginning with her personal story of overcoming dyslexia in the 3rd grade, Taryn reveals how resilience is not just something we need—it's actually part of our DNA. Through extensive research interviewing hundreds of people about their life's challenges, she discovered that while challenge, change, and complexity are an inevitable part of everyone's life, our inherent resilience gives us the tools to face them successfully. This podcast offers a refreshing perspective: resilience isn't about avoiding struggle, but rather about developing the skills to struggle well, turning trials into triumphs, and ultimately building a foundation for better mental health, stronger relationships, and greater happiness.

Most world records celebrate the fastest, strongest, quickest or most extreme human achievements but this episode is about patience, perseverance, and perhaps the most unusual Olympic comeback story in history.

Get ready to meet Shizo Kanakuri, an amazing long distance runner from Japan who happens to hold the world record for the longest time ever to complete a marathon. From starting a marathon in Stockholm in 1912 to a heartwarming reunion decades later, this story proves that sometimes, the most memorable races aren't about how quickly you reach the finish line, but about having the courage to eventually finish what you started.

Meet Michael Wunderli, a former high school wrestler turned attorney, who credits the mental toughness he developed on the mat for his success in life. Join us as Michael shares how a pivotal tournament and the wisdom of his coach taught him to face life's challenges head on rather than retreat from them. Michael's inspiring story reminds us that sometimes the greatest gift we can give each other is simply believing in them—especially when they might not believe in themselves. Who do you know that needs you to believe in them?

From starship captain to real-life astronaut, William Shatner has boldly gone where few have dared. But beneath the Hollywood fame is a man who claims he's just "stumbling along with everybody else." In this episode, discover how the legendary Star Trek (and other amazing shows & plays) actor & musician turned setbacks into comebacks, and at age 90, proved it's never too late to literally reach for the stars. Enjoy to our new episode featuring William Shatner's inspiring story. Boldy Go... Pass It On.