Leaning Toward Wisdom

Sloping seems more gentle than stumbling. And graceful. But when it comes to growing older it can be inaccurate. We don’t slope toward a face plant. We stumble. We fall. Face-first into the ground. “Everywhere I look I see opportunities,” I said. The conversation was about how we see the world and our place. Me? I have lived life trying to take various hills. Then quickly seeking...

February 1974, Baton Rouge. Near the entrance to Louisiana State University. A record store, my favorite hang out. Leisure Landing. I enter the store and a record is playing. It’s alt-country. Weird. Because the guy’s name is Ian Matthews. Ian isn’t a southern United States name. I grab the album cover and begin to read the back. Two players who I already admire are on this recor...

“The only way to learn how many plates you can spin is to break some plates. The question of capacity guarantees failure.”        – T.S. Elliot He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.   – Jim Elliot ( no relation to T.S. that I’m aware of ) I’m not a plate-spinner. I am able to multi-task, but it’s not actually multi-taskin...

  Galatians 6:7-9 “ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.  And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Show High-Lights Anybody can do e...

  About 15 years into my podcasting journey I recorded an episode entitled, A Virtual Tour Of My Podcasting Studio . I published it 9 years ago today, January 25, 2015. In 2019 I published an update, Welcome Inside The Yellow Studio (This Is How I Podcast Now) . Since then I’ve tried to keep a page on my personal website updated – Inside The Yellow Studio . The technology has chan...

Shameless An adjective meaning insensible to disgrace Retirement A noun meaning a withdrawal from one’s position or occupation or from active working life or the age at which one normally retires The United States adopted an initial retirement age of 65 with the Social Security Act of 1935 . By the mid-20th century, almost all countries had adopted a retirement age of between 60-65. About 40...

Sorry. My usual show notes don’t exist. And I was too lazy this time of year to write them. But I do have a couple of calls to action. One, join us over in the Facebook group if you care. I’d love to have you in the group. Two, support my efforts to lean hard into video in 2024. My goal is to crowd-fund $1000. I’m about 50% there so it’s coming along. But you can help me ou...

I appreciate you all very much. Thank you. Please tell a friend about the podcast! • Join our private Facebook group • Email me Help Me Reach My $1,000 Goal I plan to start vlogging from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas because the place is spectacular. The scenery will make for a great backdrop. Plus, there are many places I’d like you to see. To help, click the link (or the image below) to do...

The Reality Distortion Field. Guy “Bud” Tribble was Vice President of Software Technology at Apple Inc. As Apple was developing the first Macintosh computer in 1981, Bud used the term to describe Apple’s founder Steve Jobs. The term seems to have originated in a 1966 episode of Star Trek when it was used to describe how the aliens encountered by the crew of the starship Enterpris...

There’s a Chinese proverb that declares owning two houses is a path toward madness. That’s probably true, but I wouldn’t know. I’ve never owned two houses ’cause I’ve never been part of the rich and famous. 😉 I’m practical. And I’m not rich by American standards, but I’m extremely wealthy by global standards (and by my own measurements). I&#82...

To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with. —Mark Twain Rhonda and I went on our first date on July 2, 1975. On January 2, 1978 we were married. This coming January 2, 2024 will mark our 46th anniversary. Today, let’s talk about marriage. More accurately, let’s just dip our toe in the water of conversation about marriage. Enjoy this old Vince Gill song about o...

So we can take full advantage of what they know. Their insights, experience and wisdom need to be more easily passed on. Please tell a friend about the podcast! • Join our private Facebook group • Email me Help Me Reach My $1,000 Goal I plan to start vlogging from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas because the place is spectacular. The scenery will make for a great backdrop. Plus, there are many places...

Critics are men who watch a battle from a high place, then come down and shoot the survivors.   -Ernest Hemingway I was 11 when I learned how men will clamor for power and authority. Sitting along side my father I watched men wrangle, argue and get worked up. Cooperation was absent. Collaboration wasn’t even an afterthought. The only objective was, “Who is in charge?” And it was appare...

  Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure.      – Thomas A. Edison Please tell a friend about the podcast! • Join our private Facebook group • Email me Help Me Reach My $1,000 Goal I plan to start vlogging from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas because the place is spectacular. The scenery...

During my first few months at a brand new job – my first job where I wasn’t working for my dad – I had a routine. I’d get out of class, drive to work and within minutes of walking into the stereo shop I would make my way to one of the sound rooms (yep, we had actual rooms with various stereo equipment set up; each room had sliding glass patio doors). I’d slip the viny...

Many motivational speakers talk about having had a bad day. Most go on to share how they lost it all, or how life crushed them down below the ground level. Or left them homeless and destitute. But… The Phoenix will always rise back up. Never mind that quite a few stories we hear are fabricated. But not all of them. Let’s talk about truth though. True stories. Your story. My story. Real...

During a recent summertime hike we approached the bridge. A recent storm had blown through and knocked down a tree that fell across the bridge. Not a big deal. We just stepped over it carefully. Thankfully the bridge didn’t suffer any major damage. Neither did we. It was an obstacle that wasn’t there the last time we trekked through the area. It only slowed us down slightly. Some obsta...

I launched my webcam, put on headphones and sat behind the microphone to record “An Oral History.” Parts 1 and 2 were recorded on March 11, 2011. Part 3 was recorded on January 16, 2017. Part 4 was recorded on June 23, 2022. I gave my children copies of Parts 1, 2 and 3. I haven’t yet shared Part 4. Fifteen to twenty years ago I first crafted a document I named, “When I Die...

“Thank you” is not just a complete sentence, but it’s a complete prayer. Not comprehensive, but complete. Today’s special, unscheduled episode addresses the fear mongering, the pessimism, the mayhem, the poor (pathetic) behavior worldwide and why we ought to intentionally exercise gratitude, optimism and fight! Something or somebody will have dominion over you. You get to d...

  Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers only played this song 60 times. Tom played it by himself just once. I guess after writing the song Tom figured it really was time to move on. At certain points in life, a song like this could serve as a theme. We reach a point where we need a change. Or where we want one. Sometimes, a change is kinda sorta forced on us by circumstances. We need to leave somet...

Be a buffalo. It’s an old tale, which happens to be true. It was also a podcast episode here . Courage is hard. Fear is easy. We’re all afraid, but that’s no excuse to avoid fending off our monsters…and cutting them down to size. Or pulling them up by the roots! Let’s lean harder toward wisdom and away from our foolishness…and our fears. Please tell a friend abo...

Wishing you well on this first Monday in September. I’m hoping to finish 2023 strong. You? Thank you. All of you. For your time and attention. Please tell a friend about the podcast! • Join our private Facebook group • Email me Help Me Reach My $1,000 Goal I plan to start vlogging from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas because the place is spectacular. The scenery will make for a great backdrop....

It’s continuous improvement. That’s the objective. The thing being improved? Storytelling. It really boils down to all communication. I wrote down the title of today’s show in a little notebook years ago. I was thinking about this podcast and the craft of podcasting. I’ve purchased and read many books on storytelling. Exceptional storytellers are rare. Most people are guilt...

A special episode. Answering a few questions, sharing some insights and updating you on the goings on inside The Yellow Studio . Please tell a friend about the podcast! • Join our private Facebook group • Email me Help Me Reach My $1,000 Goal I plan to start vlogging from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas because the place is spectacular. The scenery will make for a great backdrop. Plus, there are man...

mor·a·to·ri·um noun: a temporary prohibition of an activity I caught myself wanting to put a temporary prohibition on something. Frankly, I want to put a moratorium on a few things. You? Please tell a friend about the podcast! • Join our private Facebook group • Email me Help Me Reach My $1,000 Goal I plan to start vlogging from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas because the place is spectacular. The s...