All That Matters

You ever feel at the end of your rope? Like you must tie a knot at the end of it to simply hold on? Jan celebrates two remarkable poets, Lucille Clifton and Ada Simon, who help us see both our own power in shaping ourselves and how we can join the spring trees who unfurl new leaves of hope as if to say to the world in front of them: " I'll take it all."

Have you ever spoken truth to power? We each would like to think we could, and some of us perhaps have. Jan shares a personal story about a remarkable prosecutor/Krav Maga hero/dear friend, a big time Hollywood producer, and the possibility of making a film with Tom Cruise. And how saying NO taught Jan, as it teaches all of us, a bit more about what we stand for.

Recently a school in Miami-Dade objected to the fierce and electrifying inauguration poem, The Hill We Climb by then 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, being available to children. They moved it into an older section of the library, away from the eyes of its younger students, claiming, the poem will "lead to confusion and indoctrination..." and was, therefore, a threat. Jan highlights the poem and the pow...

Sometimes forgiveness and music go hand in hand. Jan shares the true story of how his childhood Rabbi forbade music at one of the most important moments of his life, and how that man's grandson has, poetically become one of the gods of contemporary rock n'roll and a fitting tribute to his own grandfather's eventual expansive vision.

Sometimes if we go just a wee ways beyond our comfort zone , we find the real soul of our lives. Jan shares the true story of a stranger's challenge for him to truly see Scotland and the miracle of a panhandler on Skid Row. Here's to second impressions!

Our family stories are integral to who we are and who we can be! Jan shares the story of his grandfather, a country doctor, and the remarkable horse that saved his life so he could save others.

Jan shares an interaction with bestselling author Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People , who recently died. Kushner shows a new way to understand the Book of Job and how to more clearly see that unfairness doesn't have to destroy you but can deepen you and lead to good, if you allow it.

Jan revisits an ATM podcast from a year into our broadcast, the message reverberating with a tool of empowerment. With dialogue from the Academy-Award winning, Cher-starring movie Moonstruck he reminds us all the uplifting self-message that comes from reaching for clarity, knowing at who we are and what we really stand for.

Jan's mom, Roberta Goldstein, an award-winning poet, raised him to delight in words. He shares 3 poems from Dickinson, Wordsworth, and Oliver, that empower us with new ways to see light and life through the poetry of Spring.

Where do you want to go today? What if we shared the attitude of A.A. Milne's verse: If you were a bird, and lived on high, You'd lean on the wind when the wind came by, You'd say to the wind when it took you away: "That's where I wanted to go today!”  Jan shares the power of improvisation and meeting the child within you.

The question: Are we the person we hope our child or young people growing up will become? Jan introduces you to the words of a poet who captures the path to humanity and kindness that can elevate life.

Up in the air with a missing wheel. Life on the line. And a stranger steps in and helps rescue you. Jan shares the true story of Taylor Hash and Chris Yates and reveals how each of us both need guardian angels at moments in life, and, maybe more importantly, can be one!

There are moments in life where luck can drop out of the sky and change the way you look at things. If we're open. Jan shares the power of luck in his life and the path to seeing life not as a cup half-empty-but half-full, awaiting us to fill it.

What purpose makes you happy? What about it brings you joy? The power of cheering on ourselves and others, even facing impossible odds, is part of the magic of Sister Jean. Jan shares the story of a 103 year-old nun whose life reminds us to see the miracles in one another.

Speaking truth to power has to be one of the most difficult of ethical challenges, yet essential to who we are and hope to be. Jan shares his personal story when his livelihood was threatened for speaking out and those who've inspired him with their "culture of candor."

Everyday we perform rituals, large and small, that beg the question-why? Our lives may answer, as does the famous milkman from the hit musical, "it's a tradition!" Traditions of all kinds are they so important to us, in small and larger ways. Jan shares a bit of his own Tevye as he celebrates the rituals of our lives.

Jan shares memories of his boyhood tailor and his parents' local business friends as he commemorates the anniversary of his Dad's passing. We recognize that the good stuff from our past, and the people who touch us, are course corrections for negativity. You deserve the positive. Remember it!

What is the most unusual place you have ever met someone? And what gift, unseen at the time, unfolded in the future from that meeting? Jan shares the personal story of two men who met on a frozen lake long in the past, men he would never meet himself but men who would, without knowing, change his life forever.

How can a soapdish enable us, the latch of our window awaken us to freedom? Jan shares the magical words of the Anglo-Irish poet, David Whyte, who urges us to consider the familiar and the fortuitous nature of our lives.

Trees can inspire us. Especially the redwood that teaches us about support and interconnection. Jan shares a bit of the tree magic that can remind each of us how best to grow and thrive!

Sometimes you end up in a place you didn't expect to be, having an experience that changes you somehow. Jan shares the day he was cast on a national TV drama, the wonderful actress opposite him and the Basketball All-Star boyfriend who made the change uncommonly human. And yes, that's the correct spelling of his name!

What gift have you received that you consider most precious? What gifts have you given that meant the most? Jan shares the exciting chapter from his novel ALL That Matters (following the 2 chapters from last week), a scene where an opening to life and hope begins.

What do the young and the elderly have to teach one another? Jan shares an excerpt from his novel, ALL THAT MATTERS, featuring a young woman ready to give up and her grandmother's desperate magical race against time to help her fall in love with life.

A player falls and the world holds its collective breath. We make a wish. Jan shares the impact of one of his heroes, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, and a lesson in wishes that has changed lives, one that could lift us all.

Jan shares with us the new year's message from actor Sir Anthony Hopkins who celebrates 47 years of sobriety with a message of hope and empowerment for each of us. Tell others, won't you? Happy 2023!