RockneCAST

in this episode, I cover the last year of US Grant's life.  To me, his last year was one of the heroic chapters in his inspiring life.   Faced with terminal throat cancer, and financially destitute, Grant spent his his hours writing his memoir so that he could leave a financial legacy to his wife and family.  That last year truly demonstrated his character and qualities that ma...

We conclude our multi-part series on one of the greatest actors, philosophers, fighters, and doers of the 20th Century, Bruce Lee.  He was all of those things, but above all he considered himself an artist of life.  We explore some of the last thoughts he left on paper that his daughter shared with us via her book on her father: Be Water, My Friend - The Teachings of Bruce Lee.  Inc...

In this episode, I discuss the inaugural speech, The Difference, that my Grandpa Cole gave in 1963 as President of Texan Lutheran College (now Texas Lutheran University).  When I visited Texas Lutheran a couple of years ago, I obtained what I believed to be the first draft of that speech, which was originally called A Consuming Fire.  I don't know for sure, but I think he might have thou...

We're continuing our series of podcasts on the philosophy of Bruce Lee through the book Be Water, My Friend - The Teachings of Bruce Lee by his daughter Shannon Lee.  Whoa I love this book!  This is podcast is a meditation on what Bruce and Weston did to discover their inner power, that is how that lit the inner fires of their souls to advance their purposes in life.   Bruce's inner...

We continue our mutual journey on the life and teachings of Bruce and Shannon Lee.  I am incredibly inspired by the gift that Shannon has provided through her mediations on the life and teachings of Bruce Lee .  Shannon has experienced an incredible amount of pain in her life, the loss of  her father at four as well as the untimely death of her brother Brandon.  She wouldn't wi...

In this first in our series on the Teachings of Bruce Lee, we explore the seemingly obvious concept of the virtue of keeping an open mind through the Parable of the Empty Cup.  Whoa, Shannon and Bruce have such an intriguing way of teaching simple, yet profound concepts that we think we know, but so often ignore in our own lives.  Bruce's power arose from his ability to self examine and...

I just read an awesome book, Be Water, My Friend, The Teachings of Bruce Lee by his daughter Shannon Lee.   This book is now on my essential reading list along with Walden by Henry David Thoreau and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.  I absolutely loved it!    I am going to do a series of daily episodes about various teachings in the book.  I am no expert on Bruce L...

Whoa... This was probably one of my best podcasts so far.  I interviewed one of the most delightful, balanced, and wise people that I personally know, Mary Elizabeth Williams.  We discuss in depth, her career as an opera star, the obstacles, the triumphs, and the wisdom that she has acquired along the way. Mary and I attended Luther College together in the mid-90s.  I got to know he...

In this episode, I interview Iowa City Councilor John Thomas.  We discuss a recent proposal to convert Market and Jefferson Streets from one way to two ways, and also, discuss some larger urban planning trends in the late 20th and 21 centuries through the lens of Iowa City, including historic neighborhoods, walkability, neighborhood commercial, and suburban development. We also discussed seve...

My friend Brad Lund and I have a conversation about the past, present, and future of liberal arts.  Brad and I graduated in the 90's from Luther College, a small liberal arts college in NE Iowa.  Brad and I met about a month ago in Decorah as his son was visiting Luther College.  I thought it would be fun to have him on the RockneCast.  Brad is a good vibe dude!  We discus...

In this episode, I discuss the awesomeness of Iowan Robert Waller through his essay, "The Turning of 50", an essay in this non-fiction book, "One Good Road is Enough."  He released One Road in 1989, just three years before his phenomenal best seller, "The Bridges of Madison County."  Waller seamlessly wove so many threads into his dynamic life: business, math, music, emotion, logic, and...

In this episode, I interview Dr. Josh White, co-founder of the Community Health Initiative along with Dr. Chris Buresh.  They met at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and later co-foundered this incredible medical non-profit whose mission is to provide high quality medicine to Haitian residents.  We discuss the challenges of non-profits and the learn more about the incredible Ha...

Incredibly grateful that Lynn Begay took time to join me for an interview about his inspiring life story.   In the late 1980s, Lynn and his family met a dynamic teacher named Ozzie Winger while Ozzie was coaching on a Navajo reservation in northwest New Mexico. Ozzie was an inspiring coach, cheerleader, learner and mentor to so many Navajo Youth.  As he reached retirement age, Ozzie...

In this episode, I interview my brother in law Cory Grimm about his year of transformation in Haiti.  We discuss the sun, the sounds, water, Haitian recipes, books, and music from this inspiring culture.   Finally, we feature a new release from Cory Grimm! Check out books and music at rocknecole.com.

In this episode, I interview my friends Stacy and Kevin Billingslea about their transition from Missoula, Montana to international education in Guadalajara, Mexico, Bangladesh, and most recently Singapore.  They explore their decision making process in deciding to make the leap from Missoula, their challenges once they made the leap and their reflections on living abroad for almost 8 years. &...

I had a ton of fun on this episode.  I interviewed award winning playwright Levy Lee Simon.  Currently, an actor and playwright in Los Angeles, California, Simon received his MFA from the University of Iowa Theater Program in the late 90's.  During that time, he finished a play on the great Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture, who led the only successful slave revolt in the W...

In this episode, I interview Jason Zabokrtsky, a friend of mine as well as a fellow Luther College and University of Iowa College of Law graduate.    In 2004, Jason was living a fairly conventional life as a lawyer in a small boutique law firm in Cedar Rapids, IA, but his heart wasn't in it.   The Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota beckoned.  Jason listened to his heart...

In this cast, I discuss a touching moment of support between William T. Sherman and Ulysses Grant that ultimately saved the Union.  It occurred in May of 1862 after the First Battle of Corinth in Northern Mississippi.   I am fascinated by both men, not because of their success or greatness, but because of their intense flaws that they both overcame to save the Union.  I'll take...

Here, I talk about a seemingly boring topic, converting a one way street to a two way street.  The Iowa City staff recently pulled a capital improvement project converting Jefferson and Market Streets without consulting Council, a very troubling decision that I am hopeful that Council will reverse.  Ultimately, decision must be made by Council and not staff.   One way streets a...

One of saddest moments of American History is the Hayes-Tilden Compromise of 1877.  In that Compromise, Southern Democrats agreed to accept Rutherford Hayes as President in exchange for Republicans agreeing to withdraw troops from the South.  US Grant historian, Jean Edward Smith described the Compromise this way: "The rights of African Americans were sacrificed at the altar of national...

My thoughts on using Stoicism to get through these turbulent times.  

In this episode, I am discussing two great habit books Atomic Habits by James Clear, and The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg.     Resolutions are hard to  keep.  Clear is probably the best habit author that I have read in terms of actually implementing powerful life changing behaviors.  He actually shows you how.  Duhigg shows us why habits are so important and...

With this episode, I am getting personal.  In  his book ""The Diabetes Code," Dr. Jason Fung made some significant claims regarding reversing Type 2 diabetes through intermittent fasting.  Did his prediction come through for me? On May 11, 2020, my doctor told me that my fasting blood sugar was at a Type 2 diabetes level and that my blood pressure readings were also very elevated.&n...

Grandpa Earl and Grandma Ethel all used to do 12 and 13 hour daily fasts, which is better than snacking throughout the day and night, but to get some of the true benefits of intermittent fasting, you need to get to 16 hours.   Some very important metabolic transformations happen in the 14, 15, and 16 hours of fasting.  In this episode, I cover how Grandpa Earl and Grandma Ethel will...

In this episode, I cover my first Thanksgiving since I started intermittent fasting. How did I do? Did I gain or lose weight? Did Thanksgiving suck from a food perspective? Holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions can be big concerns as people consider intermittent fasting. How will fasting affect special holidays and other special events? Will the joy be extinguished by rice cakes, kale s...