The Happiness Quotient

When that day finally arrives… Yes, you know what I’m talking about, death…what words will you need to share with those closest to you? Will the life that you’ve lived be sufficient enough? Or, are there secrets inside that you must share before it’s too late? In Episode 16 we explore the transformation that happens to us before death. We'll also talk about life after life and near death expe...

In Episode 15 I’ll explain why I’m grateful for the Grateful Dead. When people turn on to kindness and togetherness, there’s no downside. I also share the story of one of my best friends called Running for His Life, by Tim Gillis. If tears don’t come to your eyes when you listen to it, well, maybe you’re not a human being ;) It’s really that beautiful. I also tell you a little bit about my good fr...

What is the surest way to achieve self liberation, enlightenment? Some tout the use of hallucinogens such as LSD or psilocybin mushrooms in order to take the short path to a spiritual upgrade. Others tout the slow path via years on the meditation mat. In this episode Thom explores his chosen path and the realizations that he encountered along the way. Thom also shares insights learned from his mys...

Episode 13 is the first episode also recorded on video and available on YouTube. This episode features the first meeting between Thom and a learned shaman named Swayu, a descendant of the Coast Salish of the Pacific Northwest. This remarkable friendship enlightened Thom to heretofore unknown wisdom.  His story starts as Thom opened a brand new journal, in which he detailed the teachings of this le...

Two of my favorite subjects are Paul Butterfield, the blues harmonica master who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, as well as Mount Everest, the mountain I climbed for the first time after three attempts, dating back to 1999. Paul Butterfield was inducted into the Rock Hall after three attempts at getting him in. It was through my efforts and those of others in the produc...

When I walked into Friendly River Music in Cornish, Maine (of all places!) I could hear angels singing...er, maybe it was a stack of Marshalls blowing a '50 amp fuse' as Mick  sings in You Can't Always Get What You Want. I'd found guitar-lovers Nirvana, then promptly spent my savings on a Fender Strat and Princeton Reverb amp. John Barton, the shop's founder, owner, propri...

For all intents and purposes, the guest for Episode 10 should have died a hundred times over given the odds stacked against him from a young age. Instead, his is a story of inspiration. Tourette Syndrome is a type of Tic Disorder. Tics are involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations. In addition to the medical and behavioral challenges that come hand-in-had with TS, children also face chal...

What are the qualities that make a leader? What qualities make a good fighter pilot? Believe it or not, those qualities that make a fighter pilot are those that make one successful in other areas of life. Meet Uva Rama, an F-16 pilot from Singapore who has devoted his so-called retirement years to giving back to the community. Interviewed in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he makes his home, Uva now has t...

We are all endeavoring to surmount various obstacles en route to our goals and aspirations. For some, it might be in tackling a 30 mile race over mountains. For others, it might be in facing an employer to ask for a raise. For others, it might be the decision to allow a relationship to end, despite the abyss of the unknown staring us in the face. Either way, if we practice a simple exercise, we ca...

There are billions of human beings living in ignorance, destined to die that way only to come back again in the next incarnation to do it all over again. Cool! Funny thing is, when offered the opportunity to step out of ignorance, most turn away because they're happy not knowing the answers. Go for it! All that said, if you want to be a better dad, sister, brother, mom, friend, human being......

When we sit in limbo wondering whether to take the leap and follow our truth, our own true path in life, we are never going to be truly happy. I'm not saying just hit the road and leave it all behind. The due diligence is to go deep and see if our choices are serving our higher good, our higher self. Our higher self is all knowing. When we know, we KNOW. There are consequences when we choose...

The key to functioning at high levels is in clearing our mind of distractions. At Human Horse Balance Healing Foundation in Center Conway, New Hampshire, one must also clear the mind of distractions when working with horses, as horses live in the here and now. They have no past or present. Paula Lambie is a healer, Reiki master and a veritable horse whisperer. Paula brings together her special kno...

A first ever before heard interview with legendary mountaineer and philanthropist Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to stand atop Mount Everest in 1953. Our accomplishments mean very little if we do not feel and express gratitude and humility. Sir Edmund Hillary became the first man to stand atop the world's highest mountain with Tenzing Norgay. His legacy, however, is in all that he gave bac...

While training for my fourth expedition to Mount Everest on the slopes of Mount Washington in New Hampshire I reflect on the knowledge passed down through my mentor, the late Bradford Washburn, cartographer of Mount Everest, the Grand Canyon and Denali. Brad was the world's greatest aerial photographer, as well as the founder of the Boston Museum of Science, pioneer of 13 first ascents in Ala...

Those who follow the musical course of their heart experience collateral damage along the way. However, within the sacrifices those same people often discover their greatest masterpieces. After hearing an interview wherein Neil Young spoke about following our musical course, Thom Pollard decided to begin producing a film called Dream Heart, about people following their passions and living their ow...

In this introductory episode of Baker Street with Thom Pollard we’ll explore why we exist, the real meaning of life and meet a special guest who understands that we can make our intentions a reality by choosing love over fear. Everest climber, adventurer and public speaker Thom Pollard shares some personal stories in this episode, including the tragic avalanche on Mount Everest in 2014 that claime...