This Show is All About You

Episode 118: "Whose Side Are You On, Anyway?"

JDK focuses this week on a story about Nancy Cunard, an early-twentieth century European intellectual and writer who challenged her fellow writers to take a stand by openly stating their "side" in the Spanish Civil War (1937-39), which pitted a democratically elected left-wing government against the fascist-driven Nationalist movement led by Francisco Franco. For Cunard, it was vital for leading thinkers then to take sides in the larger ideological struggle epitomized by the Spanish Civil War. How applicable is that question to us today in the midst of the political and ideological battles going on in the US, and the literal battles being fought in Ukraine and being threatened in Asia? JDK explores where history can and cannot guide us on this question, and asks us to take a good look at ourselves before we "take a side" on these - and any other - important matters. 

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Episode 117: "When Square Scrubbers Don't Work" 

This week, JDK asks us to consider why we tend to unify with one another over news-breaking tragedies rather than over the day-in-day-out gifts and commonalities of life. Why do we lose our sense of unity with others so quickly after a tragedy? What would it look like if we recalibrated our perceptions of - and approaches to - those with whom we disagree? Using a story from a famous near-tragedy, JDK challenges us to take a better look at ourselves and our capacity for connection and change. 

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JDK relays a story about his recent road trip through rural America, where he found himself in conversations and situations that illuminated a lot about how some define freedom, how others practice it, and how we all understand it for ourselves and for others. In light of the recent Supreme Court rulings, such an examination of what we all mean by "freedom" can tell us a lot about ourselves and, perhaps, about how we want to be going forward. 

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Episode 115: "A Future Needs a Past" 

On this Juneteenth, JDK explores the story of Opal Lee, an activist who led the charge to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Her story is one of overcoming racism and violence, and one of patient - if urgent - advocacy and perseverance. In short, it is a decidedly human story that we can all connect with, should we so choose. 

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Episode 114: "One Man in a Great Crusade"

With the anniversary of D-Day this week, JDK tells the unique story of one man - Norwood Thomas - who fought that day and went on to live a remarkably "normal" life, punctuated by a number of memorable moments later in life. It's a very human story from start to finish, and a way to connect with the humanity of those who lived - and fought - in circumstances quite different from our own. To see Norwood for yourself (and someone else you might recognize), check out this link via show sponsor, Airway Science for Kids: 

https://youtu.be/ekIa7RP9WRQ

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Episode 113: "Four of a Kind"

For the week preceding Memorial Day, JDK tells the story of four young men who served with distinction as fighter pilots in World War II. Each of them achieved the distinction of "Ace" - meaning they shot down at least five enemy aircraft in combat. While each of these men survived the war, their comrades who did not survive remained close to their hearts and minds for the rest of their long lives in peacetime. For these men - as for us - the sacrifices of the men who died serving their country meant far more than any distinctions received by those who came home.

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Episode 112: "Friends For Fifty"

This week, JDK tells the story of three lifelong friends - Matt, Sean, and Jay - whose lives have taken them all in very different directions, yet somehow have nevertheless remained connected across time, space, and life circumstances. It is a story about childhood, growing up, and reflecting back on all facets of life with gratitude first, and everything else second. 

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How many profound changes in our individual and community lives happen without anyone knowing about them? Or are we so besotted with being noticed that no positive change can go unseen or unpunished by someone? Have we moved away permanently from seeing the positive potential in others - particularly our leaders? In this episode, JDK tells a true story from history that offers the possibility of answering a resounding "NO" to those questions, and instead offers up a lesson we can all embrace as the best way to move forward in our own lives.

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Episode 110: "The Power of Potential: A Story About Beth and Ben"

JDK provides some exciting updates on the future of the show, then tells a story of someone quite famous that illustrates something we all have in common - working towards whatever we each define as our potential. Illustrating that Potential is something we can all connect within ourselves and with each other, JDK begins anew his show's discussion of what connects us all as human beings in this often confusing, but also beautiful, world.

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Episode 109: "Parallel Lives to Wartime China and Back" 

JDK recounts the stories of two men who fought in World War II, who at the time had no idea that their lives ran on parallel tracks that would take them across the Pacific and back as part of one of the most daring missions of the entire war. But their remarkable lives were not defined by that event, but how they applied it to their perspectives on life once the war was over.

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