THINK BETTER SOON *the positive podcast

Summary: In this episode, Jason shares heartfelt reflections on his daughter's wedding day, from morning routines to emotional dances, highlighting the significance of family, memories, and love.

Keywords: wedding, family, memories, father-daughter dance, celebration, love, gratitude, special moments.

Key Topics

• Father's morning routine and thoughts
• Significance of wedding venue and memories
• Father-daughter walk and emotional moments
• Special wedding songs and their meanings
• Family and friends' sacrifices and presence
• Reflections on love, gratitude, and future hopes

• Cherish the small moments that build lifelong memories
• Music can evoke powerful emotions and symbolize relationships
• Express gratitude and love openly during special occasions
• Family and friends' sacrifices highlight the importance of community
• Reflecting on past and future helps appreciate the present

• "It was a big hug and anticipation."
• "That's my daughter in the water."
• "I lost every time I fought her."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and purpose of the episode

01:31 Morning thoughts and routine on the wedding day

04:11 Writing and preparing the wedding speech

08:21 First look and emotional reactions16:02Father-daughter dance and its significance

20:07 Reflections on love, future, and family

23:54 Gratitude for family, friends, and the day’s moments

29:51 Closing thoughts and hopes for the future

Think Better Soon — Jason’s Father of the Bride Toast

Jason Newland and JP Bradley work through Jason’s toast for his daughter Andrea’s wedding. The conversation is part rehearsal, part family reflection, and part honest discussion about what it feels like to see a daughter enter marriage.

Key topics

• Jason explains the six-part toast structure: introduction, acknowledgments, Andrea, Connor, words of wisdom, and the toast.
• JP helps Jason think through the ideal length and worries the toast may run longer than planned.
• Jason shares a full draft, including thanks to guests, memories of Andrea’s childhood, and appreciation for family.
• The draft highlights Andrea’s growth, resilience, academic success, and personality.
• Jason explains why he feels confident in Connor and their relationship.
• Both hosts discuss marriage, commitment, compatibility, and the importance of staying together through difficult seasons.
• Jason reflects on why the wedding feels more like gratitude than grief.
• JP shares his more emotional and protective perspective as a father.
• The conversation touches on faith, control, worry, and trusting the next chapter.
• Jason closes with a goal of keeping the toast under seven minutes.

Timestamps

00:00 - Opening the wedding week and setting up the toast rehearsal
01:56 - JP gets drafted to give the father of the bride toast
02:22 - Jason explains the six parts of a wedding toast
03:30 - Thanks, acknowledgments, and the missing “words of wisdom” section
04:20 - Toast length and the fear of going long
05:24 - Why Father of the Bride hits home
07:50 - First draft of the toast begins
08:45 - Traveling guests, family mentions, and gratitude
10:07 - Early childhood memories and Andrea’s baby book
11:03 - Music, resilience, and Andrea’s personality
12:02 - Andrea’s academic success
12:25 - Connor’s character and love for Andrea
13:22 - Final toast lines and blessing over the couple
14:16 - JP reacts to the draft and the timing debate
16:23 - Why Jason feels grateful rather than sad
18:01 - JP’s emotional view of watching daughters marry
19:47 - Jason’s perspective on control and acceptance
23:57 - Marriage advice: good times, bad times, and becoming one
24:38 - Loving a daughter more than oneself
26:15 - Why permanence matters to a child of divorce
27:09 - The baby book joke and whether it lands
29:42 - Matthew 6, trust, and letting go of worry
31:31 - Wrapping the episode as a wedding-week time capsule
32:26 - Looking ahead to listening after the wedding

Notable quotes:

"This is an artificial intelligence free zone.”

“I’m Jason, the incredibly proud father of the bride.”

"If this were to go over ten minutes, you’ve lost everybody.”

Think Better Soon:

Taking Stock of the Store, the Story, and the Words We Use

Jason Newland and JP Bradley talk through a practical, people-first way to evaluate a business, starting with gratitude and first impressions. The episode centers on how retail experiences are shaped by the guide, the guest, and the environment, then shifts into how careful word choice and daily discipline affect both leadership and culture.

Key topics

• In this episode, Jason and JP reflect on being grateful for where things stand, both at home and at work, and how that mindset shapes leadership.
• Jason shares a retail framework based on story structure: every shopper is the hero, the employee is the guide, and poor store conditions become the villain.
• JP explains why first impressions matter in his negotiation work, where trust and perception are established immediately.
• The conversation breaks down what customers actually want in a transaction:
• Jason uses the example of “Virginia” to illustrate the ideal customer journey:
• They contrast great shopping experiences with frustrating ones, using messy racks, apathetic staff, and long waits as examples of what drives people away.
• The discussion highlights the difference between satisfied customers and loyal customers, with loyal customers both returning and spreading the word.
• Jason and JP talk about “scripting” and why careful word choice matters in sensitive conversations, especially in business and HR settings.
• JP shares how he used Claude AI to rehearse a difficult meeting, refine his responses, and avoid triggering or disrespectful language.
• The episode closes on discipline and habits, especially the value of a structured end-of-day routine and escalating complaints to someone who can actually help.

• Hero, guide, villain framework
• R and R
• 10-point close
• Scripting

Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome back and settling into the new office
02:00 - Gratitude as the right starting point
03:30 - Why first impressions matter in business and church
05:27 - Borrowing from books and thought leaders to keep improving
06:50 - Every story has a hero, guide, and villain
07:18 - A bad shopping experience described through the Ross example
08:25 - What makes a transaction feel good
09:08 - The three things customers want in a deal
09:35 - Meet Virginia and the ideal customer journey
10:04 - The retailer as the guide, not the villain
10:51 - Why great experiences create repeat business and referrals
11:19 - Seeing, greeting, and serving people well
12:13 - What happens when the guide shows up
12:24 - Value City, messy racks, and why some stores lose customers
14:18 - A prized Thurman Munson figurine and the power of memorable products
15:50 - Why people return when the experience is strong
17:12 - The importance of scripting and choosing words carefully
18:29 - Speaking respectfully in sensitive workplace situations
21:15 - How JP used AI to rehearse a difficult meeting
23:08 - Editing language to avoid loaded or triggering terms
25:32 - The 10-point close and the power of daily discipline
26:55 - Night routines and shutting down the mind for tomorrow
28:41 - Complaints should go to someone who can fix the problem
29:19 - Why useless complaining poisons culture
30:55 - The exception of Festivus and airing grievances
31:47 - Why the annual grievance ritual still matters
33:09 - Jason reflects on his mom’s retail legacy
34:38 - StoryBrand, heroic experiences, and treating people right

Notable quotesC

“Every hero has a guide.”

“Recommend and repeat.”

"If you have a problem, make sure you’re taking it to somebody that can help fix the problem."

What Are You Devoted To?

This episode explores the idea that no one is truly free from commitment, habit, or obligation. Jason Newland and JP Bradley argue that the real question is not whether we are bound to something, but what we choose to bind ourselves to, using stories of Eric Liddell, Dick Hoyt, and JP’s father to show how devotion can become a source of meaning rather than loss.

Key topics

• In this episode, Jason and JP challenge the modern myth that freedom means keeping every option open.
• They frame commitment as a tradeoff: real devotion closes some doors, but it also gives life shape and purpose.
• Oliver Burkeman’s 4,000 Weeks is used to underscore human limits, mortality, and the value of choosing well.
• Ryan Holiday’s memento mori idea comes up as a reminder that remembering death can clarify how to live.
• Eric Liddell’s refusal to race on a Sunday is presented as an example of conviction over public success.
• Liddell’s later life in China and his service in a Japanese internment camp show devotion turning into sacrifice and purpose.
• Dick Hoyt and Rick Hoyt’s story illustrates daily, physical commitment over decades and the idea of “loaning” a body to someone you love.
• JP shares how his family approached his father Calvin Bradley Jr.’s paralysis by focusing on what he could do, not what was lost.
• The conversation turns practical with a simple test: ask whether a commitment enlarges you or diminishes you.
• They close by arguing that we are all bound to something, so wisdom lies in choosing that devotion intentionally.

Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome back and setting up the episode theme
00:36 - The modern myth of freedom as unlimited options
01:35 - Why the word “slave” can make the real question harder to face
02:57 - Why constant optionality can leave people anxious and empty
04:08 - Oliver Burkeman’s 4,000 Weeks and the reality of limited time
05:05 - Ryan Holiday, Stoicism, and remembering mortality
06:45 - Memento mori as motivation instead of something morbid
07:02 - Why the best seasons of life often involve being “all in”
07:35 - Choosing what matters means closing doors on purpose
08:50 - A personal reflection on missed moments versus meaningful ones
09:47 - The core question: what deserves our devotion?
10:03 - Eric Liddell and the Sunday race he refused to run
10:59 - Liddell’s gold in the 400 meters and the cost of conviction
11:42 - Liddell’s life after the Olympics and his service in China
12:51 - Why devotion did not make Liddell smaller
13:28 - Introducing Dick and Rick Hoyt, also known as Team Hoyt
14:16 - How one charity race became a lifetime of marathons and triathlons
15:04 - “Loaning his arms and legs” and what that devotion meant
16:46 - JP’s father, paralysis, and the family’s response to loss
19:11 - Choosing daily to solve problems instead of grieving helplessness
20:21 - Finding ways to stay active and included despite paralysis
21:38 - The question Burkeman asks: does this choice enlarge me or diminish me?
22:12 - Devotions that diminish us, like addiction, approval-seeking, and doomscrolling
23:00 - Romans as a faith-based echo of the same idea
23:50 - A practical challenge: examine your calendar and habits honestly
24:36 - Real freedom as deliberate devotion, not no commitments at all

Notable quotes

“The real question is not whether we serve something, but what are we serving?”

“Missing out on other stuff is actually the price of something mattering at all.”

“Real freedom is choosing deliberately what deserves your devotion.”

The Pain of Losing a Favorite Reporting Tool

Jason Newland and JP Bradley unpack a very personal business frustration: the loss of a long-loved reporting system and the emotional fallout that followed. What starts as a story about software turns into a sharp reminder about grief, communication, and how quickly feedback can shift from solving a problem to hurting a person.Jason Newland shares the core story and the business context. JP Bradley helps frame the emotional side, challenges the assumptions, and closes with a scripture-based takeaway about wise speech.

Key topics

• A long-running reporting system gets shut down
• Why the old system felt indispensable
• The emotional response looked a lot like grief
• The replacement system was not a true one-for-one substitute
• A support escalation turned into a turning point
• The real lesson became how feedback landed
• Perspective from JP on communication
• Age and hierarchy affect how messages are received
• Touch points matter
• The episode ends with a practical warning

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro and microphone banter
02:19 - Jason starts the story about the lost reporting tool
04:43 - Real-time KPI access changed how they operated
06:46 - The legacy report site gets taken offline
09:00 - Why the old dashboard mattered so much
11:32 - Denial and the first stage of grief
12:30 - Support calls confirm the tool cannot do what they need
13:27 - Building a 16-page case with screenshots and receipts
14:26 - Bargaining and trying to influence the outcome
15:52 - The company’s response and the plan for a third platform
16:22 - Jason’s angry reply and immediate regret
17:31 - Realizing the message hurt the engineer
19:16 - Trying to represent frustrated users responsibly
20:13 - The moment he lost control of his response
21:58 - Depression and the sense of losing a superpower
23:10 - The scoreboard analogy and what it means to adapt
25:02 - Feedback starts to feel like criticism
25:28 - The Maya Angelou quote and why it hits differently here
26:27 - He realizes the engineer will remember how he felt
28:46 - Sleep loss and the personal cost of the conflict
29:14 - The key mistake was making it about delivery instead of the issue
30:44 - JP’s mirror lesson about how words can hurt
31:56 - Age, authority, and how feedback lands differently
32:43 - Copying others makes the message feel even heavier
33:13 - Every touch point can build trust or damage it
34:08 - Robert Greene’s rule: say as little as necessary
35:08 - Why the focus shifted from software loss to communication failure
36:11 - JP closes with Proverbs 12:18

“Between stimulus and response lies our choice of how to respond.”

“People will forget what you said and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Unreasonable Hospitality, Part 2: Systemized Graciousness and Low Cost, High Meaning

Jason Newland and JP Bradley continue their conversation about Unreasonable Hospitality, focusing on how great service is rarely about grand gestures and almost always about preparation, intention, and culture. They connect the book’s ideas to real life, from workplace stress and union negotiations to family life, travel, and the small acts that people remember longest.

Key topics

• In this episode, Jason and JP revisit the Dreamweaver concept from Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality and explain why the best hospitality starts with noticing recurring moments before they happen.
• They discuss the difference between surface acting and genuine care, drawing on the idea of emotional labor and how forced friendliness can burn people out.
• JP shares a recent workplace example where sincere concern for an employee’s family situation changed the tone of a difficult negotiation.
• They explore “permission, not performance” as the healthier model for service, where systems and expectations help people become more gracious instead of merely acting gracious.
• Jason connects the idea to Ritz Carlton style empowerment, where staff can solve problems without waiting for approval because trust matters more than budget.
• The conversation emphasizes internal hospitality first, arguing that leaders must care for their own people before expecting them to create magic for customers.
• JP shares how his wife created the atmosphere for youth group meetings at home by setting the table and handling the background details so he could focus on people.
• They return repeatedly to the idea of touch points, especially the peak moment and ending of an experience, and how those are what people remember most.
• Jason encourages listeners to practice being interested rather than interesting, especially in moments of grief or stress, where true empathy matters more than relating back to yourself.
• They close with examples of low cost, high meaning hospitality, including a hot dog moment in New York and JP’s childhood story about his mom turning manila folders into a handmade city.

Timestamps

00:00 - Catching up on a big life transition and the stress of moving03:07 - Revisiting the Dreamweaver idea from Unreasonable Hospitality05:59 - What recurring moments should hospitality systems prepare for?07:47 - Oscar the doorman and why culture can create graciousness09:22 - When systems help people feel better, not just act better10:31 - Emotional labor and the burnout risk of mandatory magic13:11 - A real workplace moment where sincere care changed the room15:38 - Why hospitality theater fails when the basics are broken17:12 - Ritz Carlton, empowerment, and trust over approval18:02 - You cannot pour from an empty cup19:49 - Hospitality at home and the value of setting the table23:05 - Mapping touch points and engineering a peak plus ending24:15 - Be interested, not interesting25:42 - A practical weekly challenge: listen instead of centering yourself27:21 - Internal hospitality starts with one gracious act for your own team28:00 - The two dollar hot dog story and low cost, high meaning28:38 - JP’s childhood memory of manila folders becoming a city30:27 - Earn the right to delight, then go be unreasonable

Notable quotes

“Permission, not performance.”“

"The improvisation that looks effortless is almost always deep preparation.”

“Small is the whole point."

Content Type Interview

Primary Goal Educational

Summary

In this episode, Jason Newland and JP Bradley explore the principles of unreasonable hospitality as exemplified by Will Gadera's book 'Unreasonable Hospitality'. They discuss how small, intentional gestures can create memorable experiences that foster deep connections and loyalty.

KeywordsUnreasonable Hospitality, Customer Experience, Service Excellence, Memorable Moments, Business Relationships, Leadership, Customer Loyalty, Service vs Hospitality, Peak End Rule, Grand Gestures

Key Topics

• Unreasonable hospitality principles
• The story of Eleven Madison Park's transformation
• The importance of making customers feel valued
• The concept of turning dead time into memorable moments
• The peak end rule and its impact on customer memory
• The difference between service and hospitality
• The role of frontline staff in creating experiences
• Grand gestures that leave lasting impressions

• Peak End Rule
• The Five Principles of Hospitality

• Identify all touch points in your customer journey
• Make intentional grand gestures that can be scaled
• Train frontline staff to be present and attentive
• Create memorable endings to experiences
• Use small gestures to turn dead time into positive moments

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Unreasonable Hospitality and Will Gadera

02:07The story of Eleven Madison Park's rise to number one

03:58The importance of making guests feel special

06:00The hot dog story: turning a small gesture into a memorable moment

08:06The power of magical moments and how they are created

09:59Service vs Hospitality: The difference and why it matters

11:57The five principles of unreasonable hospitality

14:05The importance of being present and attentive

15:54Mapping and improving every touch point

18:02Turning dead time into positive experiences

19:51The peak end rule and designing memorable endings

22:01Grand gestures and their impact on customer loyalty

23:55Examples from Chewy and other companies

25:54Personal stories of creating meaningful moments

28:02Practical tips for implementing unreasonable hospitality

Carla Harris’s eight pearls of intentional leadership

This episode breaks down Carla Harris’s framework for intentional leadership and why she says courage is the strand that holds everything together. Jason Newland and JP Bradley discuss eight practical habits leaders need to build trust, clarity, and stronger teams, with examples drawn from business, faith, and everyday relationships.In this episode, they focus on how authenticity builds trust, why clarity is a form of respect, and how decisive leaders reduce fear and confusion. They also connect Carla Harris’s pearls to biblical leadership themes, especially courage, voice, and creating other leaders.

Key topics

• Carla Harris’s background as a former Morgan Stanley vice chairman, Harvard MBA, and performer, and why her presence gives weight to her leadership message
• The central metaphor of the episode: eight pearls tied together by a strand of courage
• Authenticity as a distinct competitive advantage, and why shrinking yourself to fit a room weakens your leadership
• Trust as something earned through consistency, including the idea of offering value before asking for anything in return
• The idea of building relationship currency so you have something to draw on when a relationship needs repair
• Clarity as respect, not control, and why no one can exceed an expectation that was never clearly set
• Creating other leaders as the real job of leadership, including building capacity so others can take on more
• Decisiveness as essential in an information overloaded world, with fear defined as false evidence appearing real
• Innovation as a long term culture builder, where teams must feel safe to try, fail, and speak honestly
• Inclusivity as a practice, not a policy, and the importance of making people feel seen and valued
• Voice as the courage to call a thing a thing, especially when silence would avoid discomfort but harm the team

• Eight pearls of intentional leadership
• Fear as false evidence appearing real
• Relationship currency

• Ask one person, “What does success look like for you in this role right now?”
• Make one deposit before making any ask
• Hand off one task you are good at so someone else can grow through it
• Name one fear you are carrying and test whether it is real evidence or false evidence appearing real
• Say one true thing you have been avoiding saying, with care and directness

Timestamps00:00 - Opening banter and the yellow room joke
02:46 - Introducing Carla Harris and why her leadership message stands out
04:39 - The eight pearls of intentional leadership
05:15 - Courage as the strand that holds the pearls together
06:17 - Authenticity as a competitive advantage
08:27 - Trust built through repeated value and consistent deposits
11:06 - Clarity is respect, and fog is not humility
12:50 - Leadership means building other leaders, not just doing everything yourself
16:06 - Decisiveness in an era of overload and fear
19:19 - Innovation as a safe place to try, fail, and learn
20:57 - Inclusivity as a practice of seeing people
23:29 - Voice and the responsibility to call a thing a thing
27:36 - Clear is kind, and why hard conversations matter
28:20 - Stoic framing of fear and imagination
31:52 - Weekly action steps and practical applications
34:15 - The pearls only work when they are worn with courage
36:05 - Closing thoughts on courage and speaking truth

Think Better Soon: Chasing Failure, Gratitude, and the Questions That Reframe Life

Jason Newland and JP Bradley unpack a counterintuitive idea inspired by Ryan Leake: sometimes chasing failure can move you further than chasing success. They use that lens to explore self-awareness, negative self-talk, collaboration, gratitude, and why the only real failure is never trying.

Timestamps:(00:00) Opening the episode and the “chasing failure” premise(01:50) Ryan Leake’s background and why his story stood out(02:35) Cold-emailing every NBA team for a tryout(03:24) The Phoenix Suns say yes(04:20) The tryout, the rejection, and the documentary that followed(05:29) “Great learners ask better questions”(05:57) Question 1 - What’s it like to be on the other side of me?(08:29) Android vs iPhone as a funny example of relational friction(10:25) The assignment - ask 2 or 3 people and take notes(11:50) Question 2 - What story am I telling myself?(12:57) Stinking thinking and the repeated negative loop(14:05) Helping kids replace the worst-case story(15:09) Question 3 - What is my part to play?(16:47) Clear roles, collaboration, and fuzzy expectations(17:02) Question 4 - Who can I pave the way for?(18:15) Mentors, family, and investing in younger people(19:19) Question 5 - Am I enjoying it?(19:47) Gratitude determines enjoyment(20:51) Question 6 - What would I do if I knew I couldn’t fail?(21:21) Chasing the failure anyway(22:28) Shame, fear, and avoidance as the real trap(23:43) The parable of the talents and the fear of trying(24:12) Teddy Roosevelt and “the man in the arena”(24:50) Sarah Blakely’s dinner-table ritual around failure(25:45) The research-based correction - failure is not automatically a teacher(26:06) University of Chicago findings on failure feedback(27:01) Why “fail fast” can become lazy thinking in business(28:46) Learning from other people’s mistakes(29:03) Amy Edmondson’s 3 types of failure(30:03) Three conditions for healthy chasing(32:05) Reframing the whole idea - the chase is about what you learn(32:53) Weekly action steps from Jason and JP(35:20) Wise risk, recovery, and the one failure you can’t recover from(37:22) Closing reflection on the counterintuitive

Jason and JP discuss "The Future of Work and Thinking in the Age of AI"

Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work, think, and learn. In this episode, we explore insights from an article by David Brooks on the evolving relationship between humans and AI, and how different mindset groups will adapt or struggle in this new era.

Main Topics:

• How AI is increasing work intensity and multitasking, contradicting expectations of reduced effort
• The importance of mental effort and relationship to cognition in distinguishing future collaborators with AI
• The three mindset groups: Deep Thinkers, Reluctant Optimizers, and Marathoners—how they will fare with AI
• The risks of cognitive decline due to over-reliance on AI, including loss of critical thinking and navigation skills
• Strategies for harnessing AI to augment human cognition without diminishing our mental muscles

• The Atlantic - Who Will Thrive in the AI Age? (search for the article by David Brooks)
• ActiveTrack Study on AI and Work Intensity
• UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
• MIT Media Lab
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Siguen Wu's Research on AI Motivation
• Alberto Romero – AI Tutor Design

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to The Positive Podcast: Exploring AI's impact on work and cognition00:45 - The paradox of AI: Work becomes more intense despite expectations02:10 - The relationship between mental effort and thriving in the AI age04:01 - How AI shifts work patterns and expectations: From productivity to brain fry07:35 - Understanding the three mindset groups in the context of AI09:48 - Dangers of low effort use: Cognitive decline and diminished skills11:20 - The impact of AI on critical thinking and memory retention12:37 - Navigation skills eroding with GPS and implications for AI reliance15:07 - The importance of critical engagement and avoiding cognitive surrender17:42 - Deep work and the necessity of pushing back against AI overreach19:39 - How deep, analytical work can be enhanced with a strategic partnership with AI28:29 - The generational divide: AI's impact on youth and the importance of human effort32:43 - The "marathoners": high cognition individuals and their drive for mastery34:41 - Practical tips: Asking AI for hints, not answers; redesigning AI tools for growth37:08 - The cultural shift: valuing effort, struggle, and authenticity in the AI era38:29 - The importance of conscious choice in how we relate to AI and technology40:08 - Closing thoughts: Balancing AI's power with human judgment and integrity