Episodes

Learn how REI’s Soho location wasn’t just a place to buy hiking boots or camping gear; it was a quiet refuge in a city that never seems to pause. Supporting links 1. REI [website] 2. REI [Wikipedia] 3. REI Co-op Store Closing...

Learn how Health care access shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code, your income, or the politics of your state. This story is a reminder that when ideology drives health policy, it’s everyday people — not politicians — who pay th...

Learn how flooding used to be framed as a coastal problem or a once-in-a-generation disaster. This story shows that’s outdated thinking. Supporting links 1. New York City’s Next Superstorm [YouTube] 2. Superstorm Sandy/New Yo...

Learn how security in the modern age is as much about resilience, literacy, and adaptability as it is about spies and soldiers. The battlefield is no longer somewhere else—it is embedded in the systems we rely on every day. S...

Learn the sobering lesson about the long-term consequences of student debt, especially for Generation X—a generation that bought into the promise of higher education as the surest path to success, only to find that promise tr...

The story of the Austrian nuns reminds us that aging with dignity isn’t about rules or institutions, it’s about home, belonging, and the power of community to stand by us when it matters most. Supporting links 1. nonnen_golde...

Learn how the loss of faith in institutions and leaders fuels instability, with some leaders exploiting divisions rather than uniting the country. Supporting links 1. Thomas Friedman [Wikipedia] 2. National Security Strategy ...

Learn how nations or individuals, relying on external saviors, can be precarious. Change often starts locally, with people finding ways to adapt, resist, and build resilience while pushing the world’s powers to do more. Suppo...

In this episode, Tracy Pullman shares her transformative journey from being laid off to becoming a successful entrepreneur. She discusses the challenges of navigating uncertainty, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the importa...

Learn how reinvention is a practice, not a moment. Wings was not just a band—it was a way of running toward the future, refusing to let the past define the possibilities ahead. supporting links 1. Paul McCartney [Website] 2. ...

This story teaches that if there's a single overarching message from modern active threat training, it's this: You have more control over your survival than you think. Supporting links 1. Active Shooter, How To Respond [Homeland Security] 2. Attacks in Crowded and Public Spaces [Ready] Gun Control …

"My Beloved Monster" by Caleb Carr is more than a cat memoir—it’s a moving exploration of trauma, resilience, and the healing power of the human-animal bond. Charting Carr’s 17-year journey with Masha, a half-wild rescued kitten, the book blends personal memoir, psychological insight, and animal be…

Learn how FoundHer House, an all-female hacker home in San Francisco, where women in A.I. are rewriting Silicon Valley's future, one startup at a time. Supporting links 1. FoundherHouse [Purple MA.I.'a] 2. FoundherHouse [Webs...

Learn about Rachel Maddow’s journey from academia to MSNBC, her books, podcasts, and her influence as a leading progressive voice in journalism. Supporting links 1. Rachael Maddow [Official Personal Website] 2. Rachael Maddow...

Learn from one of the world’s foremost experts on habit formation and personal growth. James Clear is a writer and keynote speaker focused on habits, decision-making, and continuous improvement. supporting links 1. James Clea...

Learn how the book, We Did OK, Kid, by Anthony Hopkins, is a classic “rags-to-riches” story and an introspective meditation on one man’s life — its triumphs, its regrets, its unanswered questions. supporting links 1. Anthony ...

The refusal of senior economic officials to stand up to Trump — even when they knew better — reveals a collapse of ethical leadership. Their silence wasn’t neutral; it was a green light for political manipulation. Authoritari...

Learn how Robert Fortune, a classic figure of his age—a man whose scientific passions and professional ambitions aligned perfectly with imperial interests, enabling activities that would change not just gardens and botanical ...

David Edward Byrd developed iconic swirling and psychedelic posters and illustrations associated with the best of the rock and theatre era. Supporting links 1. David Edward Byrd Posters [ArtPal] 2. David Byrd Creatives [Laetr...

Learn how American humanitarians risked everything to save Jewish refugees and political dissidents from the tightening grip of the Nazis during WW II. supporting links 1. Deborah Dwork [Wikipedia] 2. Robert Jan van Pelt [Wik...

At its heart, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is a quiet protest against the commercialization of the holiday season. Supporting links 1. Charles Schulz [Museum] 2. Lee Mendelson [Los Angeles Times] 3. Peanuts [website] 4. How Charles M Schulz created Charlie Brown and Snoopy [YouTube] A Charlie Brown …

If you’re a fan of the WTF podcast, this book by Marc Maron, is a rich distillation of its most powerful themes: love, addiction, failure, mental illness, creativity, recovery, and redemption. supporting links 1. Marc Maron [...

The charming city of Gouda, renowned for its world-famous cheese, is facing an existential threat. As sea levels rise, this historic hub of Dutch cheesemaking is slowly sinking. supporting links 1. Why the Netherlands is worl...

Learn how Leo Yoshimura walked into an interview for a job on a show he’d never heard of and took a chance. Sometimes, seizing an unexpected opportunity—despite not knowing exactly where it will lead—can launch a long and ful...