Life 2.0

Gridiron Glory Days

There is something just this side of sacred, when I have the opportunity to reconnect with my former college football teammates. Huddling up once again, the decades simply disappear, and we are instantly transported back in time, to the glory days of the gridiron. This reunion turned out to be a master class in success (not only on the field, but more importantly off) as the lessons of the game, had carried over into our civilian life, giving us the three most needed tools for winning seasons. Fundamentals are never fun, but they work.

Karma 101

"Cause and effect" is the simplest way to explain karma. So, when I failed the test that was about reaction vs. response back in September, I knew it would come back around again. Lessons are repeated until learned, so when another test popped up a couple days ago, I recognized it for what it was, and what is was not, and made the choice to respond, and not react, saving myself (and the other guy) from an altercation that would have not been good, thus avoiding a negative karmic kickback in the future and a possible visit to the dentist for new front teeth. Not mine...his.

Thanksgiving with Earl Hamner

To me, it was more than mere coincidence that I came across a cassette tape with Earl Hamner's name on it (in a box with hundreds of other shows) as my guest from 20 years ago to the very date, just before Thanksgiving in 2001. Earl was the creator of "The Walton's" one of the most popular television shows of its time (that still airs in worldwide syndication) and his soft Virginia accent, simple way of seeing life, and his thoughts around Thanksgiving two decades ago, is a great gift. Enjoy

Remembering Capt. Jerry Coffee

When I received word from that my great friend Capt. Jerry Coffee USN (Ret.) had passed away, I set about building a remembrance episode to the one person among all the thousands I've known and worked with that has made the greatest impact on my life. 

Captain Coffee flew low-level reconnaissance missions over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which provided photographic proof of Soviet nuclear-tipped missiles, turning the tide of the dangerous Soviet – U.S. standoff. During the Vietnam War, Jerry was flying a combat mission off the USS Kittyhawk when he was shot down by North Vietnamese anti-aircraft guns. Immediately captured, he was held prisoner for over 7 years in the infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton’ communist prison where torture and solitary confinement were routine.

He was the living embodiment of forgiveness. Godspeed my friend.

Veterans Day 2021

For nearly a decade, we've been hearing that 22 veterans a day take their own lives, a number that has become a rallying cry for advocates trying to call attention to suicide among vets, especially those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. That number kicked off a flood of people pumping out 22 pushups a day for 22 days, and became a fad of sorts, in order to bring attention to the number, that my own digging confirms is slightly less, bringing that number to between 18- 20 per day.

That's 18-20 too many.

This episode of the Life 2.0 podcast attempts to pull back the layers of this situation, as well as focusing on how each of us, myself included, can make a difference in the lives of our veterans, of which I am one.

Couldn't resist adding a few memories of my time in the United States Coast Guard, and the lessons learned, that are with me to this day, as well as the ongoing educational piece to remind people of the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day.

Semper Paratus.

 

 

Every Moment Matters

Later this morning, I will be in front of a sold-out venue of real live humans (first time in 2 years) at the All Souls Weekend, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I'll be sharing the Human Math concept, as well as one of the experiences in my book "Phenomenon-Sacred Moments, Messages, Memories & Other Sh*t I Can't Explain." None of what I am doing today (or have done for the past 28 years) would even be in play if it wasn't for one man coming along and reminding me that my voice mattered. For those of you unable to attend, this is a virtual version of the talk I will give at All Souls.

Near Life Experiences

Dr. Jeff O'Driscoll M.D. has had extensive experience with shared death phenomena during 25 years as an emergency physician in a level-one trauma center. He has welcomed souls arriving into this sphere of existence and bid farewell to others who were leaving. He terms these events as "Near Life Experiences" and its a fascinating conversation about the meaning of life, the challenges we face that are disguised as opportunities for growth, and how empathy can change everything. Jeff is the author of the best-selling book Not Yet-Near Life Experiences & Lessons Learned.

My Dad-Jarrett Payton

On November 1st, 1999, Walter Payton passed away at the age of 45. The world mourned the loss of perhaps the greatest running back in the history of the NFL, but for his son Jarrett Payton, the impact of his father's death is a loss that can only be filled by putting his energies into maintaining and building on his dad's legacy. 

The Count

50 weeks out of the year, my dad was a mild mannered, buttoned down banker, but for the two weeks prior to Halloween, he transformed into a combo of Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee as..."The Count." For 20 years, hundreds of people flocked to our house (aka The Haunted Castle) and endured the maze of horrors in the basement, to the great delight of my father. A retro podcast on my Halloween memories, and a bit of radio theater as I read "The Tell-Tale Heart" to wrap up this All Hallows Eve broadcast. 

Hanging with Weigel

I spent about 15 minutes trying to come up with some clever title for this episode with award winning journalist, best-selling author and force of nature Jenniffer Weigel. Mostly because what Jen adds to our conversations, (both on and off the air) is often just this side of indescribable in terms of insights, inspiration and humor. She has the ability to make the ordinary into the extraordinary, and in this outing, we cover everything from Neti pots to the low level behavior in radio to finding higher ground on the journey of life. Just hanging out on the air with one of my favorite people.