Zenlarge Show

Acclaimed author Warren Farrell joins me to discuss couples communication.  We talk about how the human species evolved a certain reaction to criticism which was useful during more primitive times, but is no longer serving us in modern times as we try to have fulfilling marriages.  The focus is primarily on communication with a life partner, but we dip into parenting, education, and communication with friends, co-workers, or anyone!

http://www.warrenfarrell.com/

Meet Warren in person!  Scroll to the bottom to find his latest appearances, including the one discussed on the show in Big Sur:  http://www.warrenfarrell.com/sample-page/

Choice Conversations is now on Facebook.  Stop in, say hi, discuss the shows, and more!  If you like Choice Conversations then "like" me on facebook and share the page with your friends:  https://www.facebook.com/ChoiceConversationsPodcast

Bumper music:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xA84aIAWEk

Darrell Becker from Tragedy and Hope joined Steve Patterson and me to discuss merging the Trivium with Non-Violent Communication.  This was a fun and fascinating journey into melding two seemingly very different things, a strategy for learning and a strategy for connecting with yourself and others, and finding that the sum of the parts creates something greater.

Darrell is the first person I’ve interviewed where he was the one to initiate contact.  He’s been a long time listener, and it was a new and pleasurable experience to have a fan of the show on as a guest. 

Find more from Darrell below:

Darrell’s blog:  http://voluntaryvisions.blogspot.com/

Darrell on Tragedy and Hope, Merging the Trivium with NVC: https://www.tragedyandhope.com/history-merging-the-trivium-method-with-nvc/

Darrell on Unplugged Mom: http://www.unpluggedmom.com/umradio-podcast/8654/

Below you’ll find more information on the topics we discussed:

Previous podcasts on the Trivium:

http://choiceconversations.libsyn.com/episode-115-the-trivium-education-with-jan-irvin

http://choiceconversations.libsyn.com/episode-116-gene-odening-on-the-trivium

http://choiceconversations.libsyn.com/rhetoric-with-gene-odening 

Non-Violent Communication:  http://www.cnvc.org/

Parent Effectiveness Training:  http://www.gordontraining.com/parent-programs/parent-effectiveness-training-p-e-t/

Previous podcasts on Parent Effectiveness Training: http://choiceconversations.libsyn.com/the-basics-of-p-e-t

Pete Gerlach’s site on Inner Family Systems Therapy:  http://sfhelp.org/gwc/guide1.htm

Previous podcasts with Pete Gerlach:

http://choiceconversations.libsyn.com/breaking-the-cycle-with-peter-gerlach

http://choiceconversations.libsyn.com/five-personal-marital-and-family-hazards-with-pete-gerlach

42 Fallacies: http://aphilosopher.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/42-fallacies.pdf

Rhetorical Triangle: http://www.mrgunnar.net/ap.cfm?subpage=347030

The Continuum Concept: In Search Of Happiness Lost by Jean Liedloff:  http://www.amazon.com/Continuum-Concept-Happiness-Classics-Development/dp/0201050714/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377811154&sr=1-1&keywords=jean+liedloff

Choice Conversations is now on Facebook.  Stop in, say hi, discuss the shows, and more!  If you like Choice Conversations then "like" me on facebook and share the page with your friends:  https://www.facebook.com/ChoiceConversationsPodcast

Bumper music:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8ECalN6oXI

Wes Bertrand from the Complete Liberty Podcast joins me to talk about my personal experience with the Virgin Diet, as well as a general look at N=1 experiments.  We spend a good bit of time discussing what makes for good science: removing bias, controlling variables, and so on, while mixing in my own anecdotal findings while trying JJ Virgin's elimination diet.

Choice Conversations is now on Facebook.  Stop in, say hi, discuss the shows, and more!  If you like what you hear from me, "like" me on facebook and share my page with your friends:

https://www.facebook.com/ChoiceConversationsPodcast

Find more from Wes here:

http://completeliberty.com/

http://healthymindfitbody.com/

http://happinesscounseling.com/

http://logicallearning.net/

Bumper music:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8ECalN6oXI

Steve Patterson joined me for a free-flowing discussion, a “BS session” if you will.  A potpourri of subjects was covered, including the following:

Steve breaks up a bit for a minute or two in the middle of the podcast, but the audio quickly improves afterward.  Don’t get discouraged, it won’t last long!

I was privileged to have the chance to speak with legendary investor Jim Rogers.  Jim is one of my favorite authors, as his books are not only full of great investing advice, but they also hold a wealth of lessons that are useful in all facets of life.  We spent much of the time talking about his latest book, Street Smarts: Adventures on the Road and in the Markets, which details his journey to this point in his life.  It is quite possibly his best book yet!

Jim is a hero of mine, having already accomplished two of my personal goals.  One, he “retired” from his day job, and then began “working” for himself investing his own money for a living.  Two, he then became an accomplished world traveler.  I too am working toward both of these goals. 

I have to admit, I was a little star struck during the interview because I admire Jim so much.  If I didn’t have a few talking points written down ahead of time this could have been a VERY short interview, as my mind was blank for much of the time.  :)  Fortunately, Jim cared the day and the show still turned out great. 

Find more from Jim here:

http://www.jimrogers.com/

And definitely check out his books.  Street Smarts and A Gift for my Children are required reading for anyone, not just those who are interested in investing:

http://www.jimrogers.com/books/listing/                                                                  

Bumper music: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xA84aIAWEk

Andrew Craig, author of Own the World, is back for another great discussion.  Andy starts by sharing his journey from working on “The Hill” in DC, to working as a broker in the banking industry, to starting his own business, and recently returning to investment banking.  We learn how he developed his strategies for investing and get a small peak “under the hood” at some of the details of these strategies. 

Check out Andy’s blog:

http://www.plainenglishfinance.com/

Bumper music:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xA84aIAWEk

Today, I’m joined by neurosurgeon Jack Kruse.  Dr. Kruse used foundational laws of science to develop protocols to maximize hormones in the body and optimize health.  This is done by timing when to eat, getting in tune with natural circadian rhythms, using cold thermogenesis, and most importantly utilizing labs. 

Dr. Kruse tells out about the success he’s had, doing such amazing things as adding muscle mass without weight lifting and losing weight while eating more and exercising less!  I considered titling this episode “Live Like a Polar Bear, Eat Like a Great White Shark.”  :)

SPECIAL OFFER!!!!!!!!!!

Check out this spectacular offer from Dr. Kruse:

http://www.jackkruse.com/choice-conversation-special-offer/

Today’s show was just the tip of the iceberg.  Find out more here:

http://www.jackkruse.com/

Bumper music:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_850949&feature=iv&src_vid=XCxFTh-XDy8&v=SB9LXpO6yWo

Gene Odening comes back to continue the discussion of the trivium, this time focusing on rhetoric.  Gene takes us on a walk through many topics: history, philosophy, psychology, politics, education, Non-violent Communication, and tying all of it back to the trivium.  The show ends with Gene detailing ways you can increase your skill with rhetoric.

Trivium Resources:

http://www.triviumeducation.com/

http://www.gnosticmedia.com/triviumstudy

http://triviumbinder.blogspot.com/

http://www.unpluggedmom.com/tag/trivium/

http://www.triviumpursuit.com/

http://board.freedomainradio.com/forums/t/29741.aspx

Rhetoric Resources:

http://librivox.org/rhetoric-by-aristotle/

http://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Book-Intelligent-Touchstone/dp/0671212095/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373312561&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+read+a+book

http://www.amazon.com/Classical-Rhetoric-Aristotle-Student-Guide/dp/1930953445/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373308400&sr=8-1&keywords=rhetoric+aristotle+student+guide

Also discussed during the show:

http://choiceconversations.libsyn.com/who-is-chris-stefanick

http://choiceconversations.libsyn.com/five-personal-marital-and-family-hazards-with-pete-gerlach

http://choiceconversations.libsyn.com/radical-unschooling-with-dayna-martin

http://www.cnvc.org/

http://www.amazon.com/The-Demon-Haunted-World-Science-Candle/dp/0345409469

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemony

http://www.amazon.com/Cartoon-History-Universe-Volumes-1-7/dp/0385265204

http://www.amazon.com/Cartoon-History-Universe-Volumes-8-13/dp/0385420935/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

http://www.amazon.com/The-Cartoon-History-Universe-III/dp/0393324036/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

Here are the show notes Gene promised during the interview:

“The comprehensive self-study course on Rhetoric is:

-

Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle, Student Guide - by Martin Cothran (Note: the books Rhetoric by Aristotle & W. Rhys Roberts, as well as How To Read a Book by Adler & Van Doren are also required for this course.)

_____________________________________________________________________________

-

Thumbnail sketch of Formal Rhetoric

-

RHETORIC - Systematic Wisdom - persuasively expressing or using Knowledge (general grammar) and Understanding (Aristotelean logic).

> (Definition of Art - Anything produced by the "arm" of man ["arm" is being used metaphorically to reference etymology]. This is, again, a broad definition that includes the concept of "fine art" which is the most popular connotation of "art". It can be either an idea having only mental existence or a physical art-ifact produced by the "arm" of man from an idea. An unwritten poem passed on from one person to another is an example of the former; a novel, an opera, a sculpture, a space shuttle, or the protocols of medicine are examples of the latter.)

Systematic Wisdom is not the art of persuasion and explanation itself, but the art of selecting the best means of persuasion and explanation from a set of known principles. 

As a body of Knowledge has been gathered and arranged, and an Understandable summary or conclusion has been made from that arrangement, the choice of how best to communicate this information to others must be considered and, in the process, the subject being examined usually comes into a still sharper focus to the author of the propositional argument. At this point of clarity, the entire propositional argument can be called a "Statement of Rationale". That is, the conclusion, and - of equal importance - the thought processes behind that conclusion have been stated. In a modern context, what is often overlooked when considering the Wisdom Phase is that it can be more than a form of conceptual expression; i.e., of simply being the Art of Persuasion. In times past, civic matters were the major concerns, and the art of having others come to one's point of view was of paramount importance. Today, due to its product of mental clarity, rhetoric can also be used to provide a physical outcome by deducing a "Statement of Protocols" (a set of instructions) from the Statement of Rationale. A physical result or a man-ufactured artifact can be actualized by proceeding from Knowledge, to Understanding, and on through the Wisdom Phase. Again, this is a broader view of rhetoric than the view proposed by the ancients. 

The elements of Systematic Wisdom are:

1. The five stages (or what are called "canons") of composition:

-

1] invention, 2] arrangement, 3] style, 4] memory, and 5] delivery.

2. The three types of discourse: deliberative (political), judicial (forensic), and ceremonial (epideictic). They are related to time: future, past, and present tense, respectively. 

The Past and Future belong to men; the eternally present Now belongs to the gods.

--Aristotle

3. The three appeals: rational, emotional, and ethical. Stated more succinctly in Classical terms: the rational is the Logos of the proposition or argument being presented, the emotional is the Pathos of the audience, and ethical is the Ethos of the author or orator of the proposition. 

4. Types of proofs: inartificial (which is external, objective evidence), artificial (is subjectively devised or invented by the author of the proof or argument). 

5. The topics --

The common topics: genus or kind, comparison, and consequence.

The special topics: the right and expedient (deliberative), the just and unjust (forensic), praise and blame (epideictic). 

> Oration (Wisdom presented in formal speech)

6. Arrangement: the five parts of classical oration: introduction (exordium), statement of facts, confirmation, refutation, and conclusion (peroration).

7. Style: diction (selection of most appropriate words), sentences (length, type, and variety), rhetorical figures (schemes and figures of speech or tropes).

Skilled Wisdom authors can use the discipline in two senses. In its most fundamental form, Systematic Wisdom is the art of efficiently passing thoughts from one person to others. In its most effective form, it is the art of passing "validated" thoughts from one person to others. 

The internet is a valuable adjunct to the concepts presented above. A simple word search on any of the technical terms listed should suffice to bring the proper clarification needed to implement a useful rhetorical dissertation.

A SUMMARY OF WISDOM / RHETORIC

> The work of Wisdom is the cogently expressed communication of Knowledge and Understanding. It leads to a higher levels of knowledge and understanding: the knowing of Knowledge and the understanding of Understanding.

> The effect of Wisdom is to demonstrate the usefulness of Knowledge and Understanding. That is, it is to display the insight - the thought process - in an article of persuasion or in the formulation of an outcome.

>Through the skilled use of rhetoric, all planned human activity can be communicated and directed. This is a two edged sword. Rhetoric / Wisdom can be directed to beneficial or to malevolent goals.

Let us end by reviewing some of the personal benefits which are inherent in the Trivium Method. The following will be most efficiently and effectively realized by using the trivium to train the mind for critical and creative thinking: 1] the path to a challenging, productive livelihood can be intelligently defined; 2] sound physical and psychological health, a judicious ethical standard, a high level of self esteem and the sense of well-being can be optimized; 3] rewarding personal relationships will manifest through the cultivation of beneficial ethics and well being; and 4] the astuteness to best discern the issues (i.e., the quality of information) regarding security will be developed. That is only the beginning. An adherent of the Method can acquire elevated levels of penetrating insight which would otherwise not be available. Through that insight he can also self-teach the contents of a propositional argument or of an entire, formalized subject of knowledge if he chooses to bring his - likewise - heightened focus to doing so. When a culture's government, education systems, and news media are not corrupt, the constant need for "fact checking" is not as critical as it is during the periods of dis-information and propaganda like that which we are currently experiencing. The trivium is the premier method for independent fact checking. The next two benefits of insight are corollaries: 1] a person is truly educated in that he can now thoroughly entertain any idea without necessarily embracing it (this was an observation made by Aristotle); and, 2] traveling somewhat in another direction, he becomes free from the prison of his own prejudicial opinions ... he obtains an open mind. Because the trivium harmonizes subjective thought with objective reality, he could, in fact, develop new and original propositional arguments and entire bodies of knowledge as competently as those respected people who have preceded him. An integral person, one who is fully mindful, is limited only by his or her interests and ambitions.

He is happy, as well as great who needs neither to obey nor to command in order to be something -- 

--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ”

Bumper music:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xA84aIAWEk

Liz Wolfe joins me to discuss healthy skin and hair.  She provides us with practical, natural solutions that you can make at home for shaving, hair care, and more!   There is much more where this came from at her sites below.  Check them out!

Liz’s sites:

http://cavegirleats.com/

http://skinterventionguide.com/

http://balancedbites.com/podcast

As discussed during the show:

http://purelyprimalskincare.com/easy-homemade-toner-for-sensitive-skin/

http://www.amazon.com/The-Vitamin-Solution-Strategy-Problems/dp/0452296889

Bumper music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8ucKaYr7h4

Steve Crandall joins me to discuss Leader Effectiveness Training, as developed by Thomas Gordon.  LET is a method of communication and conflict resolution that enables anyone who has been placed in a leadership position to get better results and to do it in a manner that is pleasant for both the leader and their followers.  It is based on the same principals as Gordon’s Parent Effectiveness Training, which of course has been mentioned numerous times on the show.

To find out more from Steve go to his website:

http://www.crandallpartners.com/

Or send Steve an email:

[email protected]

Gordon Training International’s site a tremendous resource for LET:

http://www.gordontraining.com/

Gordon's essay What Every Leader Should Know:

http://www.gordontraining.com/wp-content/uploads/What%20Every%20Leader%20Should%20Know%202012.pdf

Bumper music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB9LXpO6yWo