Episode 151 - The Home with the Most Ties to American History With David Deputy

What if the home you lived in was a secret portal to 250 years of American history, connected to the Revolutionary War, the Kennedy assassination, and the Apollo 11 moon launch? For David Deputy, a retired brigadier general, historian, and former state trooper, that's exactly what he discovered when he moved into a 19th-century mill house in Delaware. In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with David Deputy, author of The Spring Grove Mill House, to explore how an eight-year investigative journey into the history of his home uncovered astonishing links to America's most defining moments. David shares how his childhood instincts, career as a major crimes detective, and intuitive leadership style all converged into a unique research process he calls "investigative history." Gerald and David dig into the neuroscience of gut instinct and intuition, what it means to be a quiet, observational leader, the discipline of working a 250-year-old cold case, and how patience and organization are the hidden engines of any long-term creative project. David also reveals why he structured his book to make readers flip to the last chapter first, a bold and brilliant storytelling device that puts the reader on a personal journey before the history even begins. Whether you're a history buff, a writer, a researcher, or simply someone curious about the story hidden beneath your feet, this episode will inspire you to start asking the questions beneath the questions. Ready to dig deeper? Listen now and discover how one ordinary home connects centuries of extraordinary American history. What We Discuss [00:00] Introduction [02:01] Introduction to David Deputy [04:15] The power of the mind [04:33] Keys to a successful career [06:36] The essence of true leadership [08:07] The Spring Grove Mill House [10:16] Historical connections uncovered [10:51] War of 1812 connection [11:50] Kennedy assassination connection [13:27] Apollo 11 connection [14:03] The research and investigation process [17:14] The investigator's mindset [19:44] The gut-brain connection [21:40] A moment of discovery [24:50] Balancing storytelling and investigation [27:38] A unique reading suggestion [31:07] Start your own home history [32:39] Where to get the book [33:29] Final wrap Notable Quotes [05:13] "Growing up with a lot of emotional situations in the family, trying to read people and feel their feelings — that's been a very powerful source for me throughout my career." – David Deputy [06:08] "I'm actually solving problems before they even happen. The problem never happens because you were able to lead the group through it before it materialized." – David Deputy [15:11] "I could feel the stuff, and then I started digging and digging. It was eight years of investigating, because new things just kept popping up." – David Deputy [15:50] "To me, it was like a 250-year-old cold case. And this was the ultimate cold case." – David Deputy [17:22] "I have layer switches. I can turn my ego switch off and analyze everything. I have a logic switch and a skeptic switch — I can run through what I'm thinking and come to conclusions." – David Deputy [21:30] "Unfortunately, it took me 45 years to get to that point. I wish I'd figured it out in my 20s — but once you understand how your gut is tied to your heart and your brain, you can use it even better." – David Deputy [23:18] "It's human nature — we see things that are strange, but when we see them every day, they're not strange anymore. We stop asking why." – David Deputy [25:46] "I call it the Jimi Hendrix approach. He wasn't formally trained — he created a whole new way of doing it that was unique and ended up being very special." – David Deputy [30:48] "You can't rush it. You have to be organized in what you're doing so that you don't get stagnant. It wouldn't have been nearly as special if I had tried to rush through it." – David Deputy Resource and Links David Deputy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-deputy-7a560952 Book: The Spring Grove Mill House Productivity Smarts Podcast Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com Gerald J. Leonard Website - geraldjleonard.com Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopmindsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.