Perennial Pen (What Matters Most): A Silver Maple Strategies Podcast with Nate Birt

What happens when you reach the point where you know something has to change? In this episode, I talk with Jamin from Missouri about a recent turning point in her life—one that began with exhaustion, anxiety, and the feeling of hitting a wall, but gradually opened into healing, boundaries, purpose, and a renewed connection with the natural world. Jamin shares honestly about learning to say, "This...

What stories shape the way we see the world — and what stories might help us build something better? In this episode, I talk with Ronnie, a self-described "recovering academic" from California, about science, politics, human behavior, sustainability, and the stories we tell ourselves about what is possible. Ronnie spent decades teaching and studying politics, energy, resources, and global systems,...

What do a grandmother's red dress, a muddy river lot, and an old International Travelall have to teach us about confidence, hard work, connection, and legacy? In this episode, I talk with Amy from Iowa about the life lessons she learned from her grandparents — lessons that have shaped the way she leads, works, serves, and shows up for the people around her. Amy shares the story of her grandmother...

In this episode, I talk with Toby from California about friendship, identity, aging, and the conversations that help us become more fully known. Toby introduces us to the Australian idea of mateship: the kind of trusted connection where someone has your back, listens without judgment, and offers honest perspective when you need it most. From there, we explore what Toby calls narrative worth—the fu...

In this episode, I visit with Nerma from Puerto Rico about entrepreneurship, motherhood, resilience, and the courage it takes to build a life that reflects what matters most to each of us. Nerma shares how becoming a mother led her to pursue entrepreneurship--not as a glamorous escape, but as a practical way to create flexibility, stability, and dignity for her family. Along the way, she learned h...

In this episode, I talk with Jay, a Washington state-based Vietnam War veteran, longtime benefit auctioneer, entrepreneur, and comedian whose life has been shaped by gratitude, endurance, and the healing power of laughter. Jay shares the sobering lesson he learned as a young helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War: Every day is a gift, and none of us knows how much time we have. That experience ha...

What happens when a childhood dream waits quietly for decades—and then finally gets its chance? In this episode, I talk with Mace from Missouri about writing, history, friendship, and the long road between wanting to do something meaningful as an author and finally beginning the journey. Mace grew up on a small farm in northeast Kansas, spent much of his career telling the stories of farm families...

What happens when a long-awaited mountain getaway turns into a 12-hour rescue in a snowstorm? In the first-ever episode of Perennial Pen: What Matters Most , I sit down with Brandy from South Carolina, whose family hiking trip to Mount LeConte in Tennessee became a harrowing test of endurance, trust, and vulnerability. After a peaceful weekend away from her role as a nonprofit CEO, Brandy suffered...

Hello and welcome to Perennial Pen (What Matters Most). Perennial Pen is a family-friendly podcast about memory, meaning, legacy, and the conversations that shape us.  This podcast is hosted by me - hi, I'm Nate Birt, an author, journalist and co-founder of Perennial Pen with my wife, Dr. Julie Birt. Each episode explores what people almost lost, learned too late, preserved on purpose, or wish the...