Jonah Asks

It was a pleasure to reconnect with Jeremy. Jeremy has been a Kindergarten teacher in Salt Lake City for many years. He's recently gone through some major life changes. Our conversation ranges from educational issues to finding community, from learning from life's difficulties to recapturing one's attention and many other topics. Here are detailed show notes, with links to various articles and podcasts mentioned in the episode and a great picture of Jeremy in nature!Please share and subscribe.Keep building community and connections.Thanks for Listening!Jonah

Hello Good People,Maybe, just maybe, I can convince a few people to talk to me about political progress, rebuilding democracy, avoiding cynicism and resignation. In May, June and July, I will be recording something. Either short monologues or conversations with other good people. Take a listen. If you're interested in setting up a summer talk, email me at jonahasks at gmail.Midterms are in November. He won't be in office forever,Jonah

Welcome Back to Jonah Asks,Here's part two of my conversation with Moshe. We discuss: attention, social media, happiness and mental suffering, the human species and biology, artificial intelligence, universal basic income and the future. music: This instrumental piece is an original of mine, based around a piano recording, added effects and then a sampled cello and atmospheric pad loop from samplefocus.com. You can find it on my other podcast, Poems, Guitar and Meditations.https://player.fm/series/poems-guitar-and-meditations/piano-cello-atmospheric-loop-for-sleepParentingBalancing the desire to give attention and support with the need to step back and observe young children. 6 minAttention and FocusMaintaining attention amidst the wave of information and social media's impact.10 minMoshe Chooses HappinessMental suffering - Mental suffering was rampant in Moshe's family. Moshe's aunt was a Holocaust survivor. On her deathbed, her son asked her "Was everything so bad?" She responded, "There were some good things, but we don't talk about that." Happiness seemed unavailable to many who lived through and survived the Holocaust. Moshe has atrial fibrillation. He has to be careful with his heart. Too much stress with atrial fibrillation can lead to stroke. 20 minProgress of the Human SpeciesMoshe is a firm believer in the progress and survival of the human species. "I'm not arguing with the universe. I will argue with reality. My optimism is based on the possibility that the evils of capitalism the way we know it and the development of artificial intelligence and other technologies will force mankind to develop a new paradigm and new understanding of how society should work. 28 minConsidering the Future: 2050 and BeyondWe veer into the future, the impact of artificial intelligence, the possibility of Universal Basic Income, etc. We disagree about how humans will evolve. 37 minTechnology and Techno-UtopianismMoshe sees human progress as an inevitability. Jonah sees human connection as a practice that has been eroding in modern life. 42 minBiology Isn't Bothered By Our Obsession with Technology...or Is It?Moshe believes in biology. Jonah believes in our biological need to make connections. Resources:New Yorker "Two Supreme Court Cases That Could Break the Internet"https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/two-supreme-court-cases-that-could-break-the-internetTristan Harris - Center for Humane Techhttps://www.humanetech.com/who-we-are

Welcome Back to Jonah Asks,Moshe is my neighbor. He is a modern philosopher, with an optimistic outlook, having trained himself in positive psychology. He was born in Israel in 1951 and came to New York City in the early 1970s, before returning to Israel and then eventually landing in the Bay Area. music: Neil Cowley "Eureka Pulse"3 minPositive PsychologyMoshe discusses his study of positive psychology and choosing his own personal happiness and well-being. "Wanting to be happy is a license that I acquired in my years. There is a methodology for it and I think I got. At this point it works for me and I am good with that. I was a sad Jew."9 minSpirituality and Identity Going beyond the self. Fighting to define yourself rather than be defined by a given identity.12 minMoshe's Family History Parents leaving Poland and arriving in Israel during the 1930s. Cold and superstitious places. Pogroms and then the Holocaust. Moshe's father came to Palestine in the mid 1930s, with many Jewish immigrants. Moshe's mother escaped Poland in 1938 via train through Germany, before taking a ship from Trieste to Palestine. 17 minMiddle Eastern history and Moshe's parents. Palestine and the creation of Israel in 1949.23 minMemoryJonah discusses memory and writing. Moshe has been studying philosophy and psychology. He discusses the biological need to recall negative experiences for survival.26 minBeing Jewish Israeli experience compared with suburban American experiencesMoshe explains how the history of Jewish oppression informs the Israeli pride in Judaism.Jonah's mother's childhood: Secular Jews in suburban DC (late '40s into early '60s)32 minPain versus SufferingMoshe discusses Yuval Noah Harari's ideas about pain versus suffering. Pain is contemporary and neurological event. Suffering is spread over time and is often a speculative psychological event.37 minMoshe wrote to Professor Sapolsky, who studies stress. 39 minMoshe in New York City, 1973Moshe was released from Israeli military service in 1973 and found his way to New York City. 43 minMoshe Meets His First Wife, TinaCouch-surfing, squatting, and getting by. Figuring out how to live in the United States, with a tourist visa.A wild pack of cats and a smelly small apartment in New York City.47 minMoshe and Tina move to Somerville, MA then back to Israel then ChildrenFrom New York to "Slummerville." Tina had to hide the relationship from her strict Jewish mother. Eventually, they moved back to Israel and had children. Later, they moved to the Bay Area, in part to get medical treatment for their son, who had a kidney situation.  53 minDivorce and a New Marriage After 19 years of marriage and two children, Moshe discovers Carla at his child's preschool. "I saw this beautiful woman working with a jackhammer, breaking the asphalt."61 minMoshe Is Afraid of Helplessness (Like Many of Us) Through much of his life, Moshe has prized self-sufficiency. He understands this as a reaction to his mother's helplessness.  In his later years, he has accepted the deep love of his second wife and attachment. Many thanks to Moshe for the wonderful conversation. Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon.Links:Yuval Harari's TED talkshttps://www.ted.com/speakers/yuval_noah_harariPositive Psychology TED talkshttps://positivepsychology.com/positive-psychology-ted-talks/

Welcome back to Jonah Asks,In this episode, Jonah Reads.Jack London's "To Build a Fire" (1908). A classic story of a man and a husky traversing the Yukon in winter.It helps to keep in mind the story was written in 1908.

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. This talk with Jeff Alessandrelli is wide-ranging and thought-provoking. Jeff's book And Yet is an experimental fiction novel full of quotations, philosophical ideas around shyness, desire and selfhood. The novel and the conversation both explore many aspects of modern life:*isolation vs connection;*therapy/mental health*living via text vs living in the present moment *vulnerability vs social conditioning/masculinity*creative ambition vs acceptance;*societal expectations vs individual truth. *talking vs self-consciousness*identity and performing the selfLink to Jeff's book:https://pankmagazine.com/shop/preorder-yet-jeff-alessandrelli/music samples: "Me, Myself and I" De La Soul"Saturday in the Park" ChicagoEssay in The Atlantic on the sex recession, Dec 2018https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/12/the-sex-recession/573949/Spalding Gray on Charlie Rose (1997)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geKEoxpPh5Y&tThank You For Listening and Sharing,Jonah

Welcome back to Jonah Asks, This is the second episode with Jeremy. It was recorded at the end of June, but it's finally made its way to the internet. Jeremy is a thoughtful human, a compassionate teacher, and maintains hope for humanity, despite it all. Themes:*Teaching Kindergarten*Five Year-Olds*Labor Rights*Emotional Regulation*Compassion*Emojis and Language*Retaining Hope for HumanityIf you enjoy this episode, please share it.

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. In this episode, I recorded an audio version of a recently completed short story, The Wednesday Meeting. It's a story about a man named Isaac. He's learning how to move forward from a childhood trauma. The written version can be found at https://darkoindex.medium.com/If you enjoy it, please share this episode. Thanks for listening.

A short essay reflection on parenting and supporting a child as we all move forward into elementary school. 

In memory of our Keeshond, Boumie (BOOM-ee) Where do I begin? Put on Nick Drake. Set your old blue harness and leash up here on the wall in the garage. Let it all come out.To see the Medium Post, click here: https://darkoindex.medium.com/dear-boumie-2009-2022-82cfde6dc3edWe're lucky to be with dogs. music: Nick Drake "Northern Sky"Love,Jonah

Welcome back to Jonah Asks.This was a rare in-person conversation between two old friends. I visited Portland, Maine, where I stayed with Mike. We recorded this conversation. We discuss: friendship; masculinity, emotions, strategies for dealing with anger; experiences with anger; childhood dynamics; mindfulness and meditation. I read (and we critique) Ton Mak's A Sloth's Guide to Mindfulness.Thank You for listening. Try to allow patience back in when anger threatens to overwhelm you. Be mindful...when you can. Don't be too hard on yourself. Don't be judgmental. Don't force yourself to smile and don't force anyone else to smile. Be kind. Thank you once again.Jonah (and Mike)

This short episode is about my mostly unknown Eastern European roots. I read entries from the genealogy report I wrote for my social studies class in 8th grade. Considering The Ukraine and Romania and why I (like many American Jews whose families arrived around 1900) don't know much about Eastern Europe or what the experiences of our ancestors was like when they did get out and arrive in New York. 

Welcome Back to Jonah Asks. Meet Jeff Alessandrelli. Jeff is a poet, professor and publisher of poetry. He is the John Stockton of the world of poetry, dishing out assists like its 1989. This is an interview for writers and creative folks. We drift from Erik Satie to Samuel Beckett to Bill Knott to Adam Haslett to our own thoughts on identity, from what it means to write and share your work to the psychology of writers and eventually we discuss nihilism solitude. https://jeffalessandrelli.net/booksJeff reads selections from his poetic biography "Erik Satie Watusies His Way Into Sound"0:08Impressions from Childhood0:15Skateboarding Jeff wrote a book of essays on skateboarding and Biggie.0:24Growing up in Reno and family history0:30NebraskaJeff lived in Nebraska. He earned a PhD in Literature with a focus on Poetry. Later, he returned to Nebraska to teach at a small university.0:45Writing: Samuel Beckett, Bill Knott and Writing IdentitySatisfaction vs endless striving. The creative process vs literary world. Recognition and validation. Poet Bill Knott. Identity -- writing identity versus real life identity.0:59Fonograf Editions Jeff started a non-profit poetry press. It began with putting out albums of poetry on vinyl. The press now releases books as well. Jeff is an editor and curator. "I started reading and finding an identity in books from a very young age. Fongoraf is an extension of that. Fonograf published Mark Leidner's "Returning the Sword to the Stone," which made the NY Times Best of 2021 list for poetry. 1:03Appreciating Jeff's Editing and Assisting in PoetryJeff's literary role: Like John Stockton in the 1990s, Jeff dishing out assists to poets. Jeff edits poetry and runs a small press.http://thefanzine.com/bad-business-is-good-art-fonograf-editions/1:10Writing, Solitude and the Imaginative LifeNobody Marries ThemselvesIn 2003, I read Adam Haslett's story collection "You Are Not a Stranger Here." I finally re-read it a few months ago. Adam Haslett's "The Perpetual Solitude of the Writer""One of the paradoxes of writing...in order to fulfill the urge to communicate something to other people, you end up spending huge amounts of time on your own."Jeff, on The freedom of writing poetry: "One of the beautiful things about poetry, but also challenging, is that there's no money in it."1:36Focusing on Gratitude and Dropping Cynicism1:51Films: "Nebraska" and "The Station Agent"Jeff teaches Nebraska in his composition class. 1:55Writing is Unique to the WriterFind Jeff and his books online at jeffalessandrelli.netFind Fonograf Editions Thanks for Listening and Sharing,Jonah

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. This is part two of my interview with Kyle. Throughout his life, Kyle has traveled with an open mind and compassionate heart. This episode is affecting, because Kyle is a thoughtful, unrushed storyteller...who happens to have many stories. Even as I listened again in editing, I appreciated the ease with which we discussed the big questions, around humanitarian work, humanity, sustaining hope, fatherhood and marriage, and dealing with technology. A native of Northern California, Kyle has dedicated much of his life to Humanitarian Work. During college, he spent a semester in Australia. After college, he spent two years in Malawi, teaching through the Peace Corps. He traveled to India, Nepal and Bhutan, before returning to California and eventually heading to grad school to study International Peace and Conflict Resolution. After that, Kyle was in East Timor and then based in Thailand, directing an anti-human-trafficking campaign in Southeast Asia.  Music samples:of Montreal "Wraith Pinned to the Mist" album The Sunlandic Twinshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8cCPH1qnYI&ab_channel=PolyvinylRecordsSeckou Keita "N'doké"; album Seckou Keita: 22 Stringshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77J78-jb-a4&ab_channel=SeckouKeitaSeckou Keita plays the Kora, a West African lute/harp made of 22 strings. One of Kyle's mentors: Prof. Abdul Aziz Said, started the graduate program, worked on White House Councils, etc. https://www.american.edu/sis/news/20210215-a-tribute-to-abdul-aziz-said.cfmEast Timor / Timor LesteWe discuss the genocide in East Timor and Kyle's work there on peace and reconciliation after genocide.Non-Profit Dedicated to Peace and Reconciliation:Search for Common Groundhttps://www.sfcg.org/0:47Q. When you feel overwhelmed with the problems of the world, what restores you?Kyle describes bringing it back to the individual and the power of connection and kindness.0:50Thailand and South Asia: Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign0:58Q. How do you balance fatherhood with work, marriage and time for yourself?Fatherhood, Relationship, Work and Finding a Balance1:20Habits: Limiting Technology1:24The Difficulty of Just BeingThanks for Listening to Jonah Asks. If you're looking to donate to the Search for Common Ground, click here: https://www.sfcg.org/Please email with questions or comments. jonahasks at gmail dot com

Welcome Back to Jonah Asks and Happy New Year. Let's hope 2022 brings more health, happiness and general peace than 2021. Us humans seem to be struggling. In this episode, meet Kyle. A father, compassionate soul, a traveler, a writer and a  worker in the struggle for humanity who has dedicated many years of his life to making things better for humans. This is a two-part episode. The second part should be up within a week. Stay healthy, safe and kind,Jonah 

Welcome back to Jonah Asks!Meet Chris. A husband and father. A baseball and math enthusiast. A data scientist. 0:03Cape Cod BaseballQ. How did you get involved with scorekeeping in the Cape League? My dad became the general manager of the Chatham Anglers, now the Chatham A's. When I was in high school, he found a summer job for me. I learned how to do the official scoring.On future major leaguers staying at Chris' house while playing Cape League:"These guys have a connection. It's the last time before baseball gets serious. I think everyone has pretty fond memories of it. Getting a taste of what it's like--they play every day--but not quite as much pressure as it is once you start getting paid for it."0:10College ExperiencesFirst attending Harvey Mudd in Southern California, then transferring to Bowdoin, in Maine. "Sports Were a Big Part of My Identity"0:22FamilyChris was in junior high when they divorced. He doesn't have specific memories of the divorce. It just happened. His mom moved to Maine. Chris visited his friend Mike in 9th grade. Part of the motivation to transfer to prep school was math. He was running out of classes at the local public high school. 0:30Data Science "Basically I do fancy counting and then tell people about it."Chris is a data scientist in the Bay Area. He's worked for several companies. He works in order to make money so he can spend time with his family and do the things he enjoys, like play sports and score baseball. "Any app that you use is doing an experiment on you at all times and you don't know about it and someone like me is crunching the numbers in the background."0:36Baseball Scorekeeping--From Cape League to Oakland and SFThe Cape League All-Star Game was at Fenway Park. Chris got to score the game at Fenway. He started to think about how to get involved in MLB scoring. He read a book and contacted the author. He got a lucky break. Since 2013, Chris has scored MLB games in Oakland and San Francisco.0:47Analytics in Baseball and Opening Doors We discuss shifting, stolen bases, walks, strikeouts, and home-runs and how data plays into the changes in baseball. Chris would like to help open the doors for more people of color in baseball analytics and create more opportunities.0:56FatherhoodWatching our daughters become more autonomous. Learning how to maintain patience through meltdowns.1:00Trust  We discuss trust in parenting and relationships in general. 1:07Attention and Technology How We Use the PhoneResourcesMapping Stem Inequality -- UNICEFhttps://www.unicef.org/globalinsight/stories/mapping-gender-equality-stem-school-workFive Great STEM Non-ProfitsKhan AcademyCode.orgScratch AcademyRevolution RoboticsGirls Who CodeSupportTo support Jonah Asks, please share episodes, subscribe, or donate directly via Buy Me a Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasks

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. My brother Ben loves baseball. He passed that love on to me. Or should I say I was indoctrinated at a very young age. Either way, I love baseball, too. In June and July of 1998, we went on an 18,000 mile, 40-42 day road trip around North America and saw thirty major league baseball games, one at each stadium. In this episode, we reflect on that trip, baseball fandom, brotherhood, and how memory works. Hope you enjoy. 

Welcome back to Jonah Asks!Ben Sherman was a high school friend who I also worked and lived with for a couple years in 2002-03. It was great to reconnect with him after a decade or so. Ben has taught philosophy and now works in the non-profit world helping people in workforce development. Ben is thoughtful, compassionate and at times, quite funny. 0:05 Arlington, Massachusetts"The theater crowd at Arlington High School was just...deeply strange. They had their own pagan icon: the sacred oar. Every year, after the final performance, there would be a sacrifice to the sacred oar. My freshman year, they had bought a full-size dead squid from a butcher shop...and it got weirder after that."0:13 The Coin-Flip: Oberlin vs BrandeisBen had to decide between going Oberlin and Brandeis. His dad had left it up to him entirely. 0:17 Experiencing Different Sides of Arlington - Surviving High School: bullying and Social Life, Finding Real Friends, Embracing Weirdness and the Rocker Aesthetic"In the mid-90s, Arlington was right on the edge of gentrification. You said there were different Arlingtons. People who ran the school board would talk about an out-an-out clash between old Arlington and new Arlington and we were right in the middle of it. We were not a ritzy town, we were not a working class town, we were both things at once. That caused some weird splits and polarization."Ben: "In my experience, the portion of the school community that prioritized toughness and toxic masculinity...in a lot of cases, representing the young side of a working class that was being elbowed out of where their families had lived for years, was this hostile force. For me, it was having people randomly gay-bash you. Having people threaten violence."0:24 Identity: Weirdness and Agency0:29 Employment - Ben Works in Workforce DevelopmentThe fight for progress. Employment numbers, opportunities and low wages.0:40 Family and GrievingBen's mom died of cancer when he was 8. He was the oldest of two boys. His dad remarried a few years later. Reflecting back on that time, Ben remembers when he was an early teen, thinking about how few memories he had from the year or two after his mom died. "It was a memory hole even at a time when it was surprising for it to be a memory hole."0:50 Meeting Step-Mom0:54 Mortality, Trust and PsychologyHow we cope with childhood and how memory works.1:00 Polyamory: Ethical Non-monogamyBen explains his definition of polyamory and his experience in relationships.1:35 Waltham, MA, Communal Living in 2002Ben and Jared Make a Vague Plan"Let's find collective housing so we're paying a lot less per room right out of college."Internet cables split ten ways. "You had people who were individually not really competent to run their own lives, but you put them together, you had a pretty good overlapping skill-set."1:45 Bugaboo Creek Steak House"It never could decide if it wanted to be Chuck E. Cheese or a dive-bar. The attempt to be both at once was pretty weird. (While serving steak)."1:48Student Debt, College and Connections1:52Existential QuestionsThe future of higher education, the future of the planet and jobs.

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. Meet Luke Tozour. A wonderful human with a keen sense of how sounds work together to create music. A devoted father and partner. A compassionate fellow. OpeningHow Luke and Jonah met: a park in El Cerrito, California, with our two year-old girls. 0:07Pandemic parentingCaution-Taped playgrounds0:11BalanceFinding balance as a primary parent with work and family in flexible work 0:16Winter Before the Pandemic: 18 months and another world ago0:18Moving: New Jersey to Pittsburgh to Boston to LA0:21 Music Engineering: LA music scene, working and learning.Luke was nominated for a Grammy Award while working on Katy Perry's 2008 album "One of the Boys"0:27Recording Process: One take versus many takes0:31Luke’s production work on OK Go’s new educational project, put together during the pandemic. https://okgo.net/alltogethernow/“Produce like a Pro” – YouTube series with Warren Huarthttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpyUGZeMUtOvt57UACw3H2g0:37First Lines: Songs and StoriesWe talk about the importance of first lines. 0:40Tension and Release in Music2001: A Space Odyssey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwxYiVXYyVs0:41Searching for Silencehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5djwK3DaZV00:46Parenting: Patience and Communication with a Four Year-old“This is developmentally appropriate.” Remembering to understand this is temporary and expected. 1:00Economy, Middle Class and Compassion1:08AppreciationsIf you'd like to support the podcast directly:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksThanks for Listening and Be Safe,Jonah

Welcome Back to Jonah Asks. Meet Carlo: a broad thinker and motivator, a father, a married gay man, and a great conversationalist. Carlo grew up in the Philippines and came to New York City at 18. Carlo and I are both dads of four year-old girls who attend the same preschool in the Bay Area. This was an invigorating and thoughtful talk.If you're inspired and motivated by Carlo and interested in working with him, go to www.carloparsons.comTopics we discuss:*working online*parenting*youth in Philippines*English fluency/accent*family--birth order*large families*dancing*identity formation*attention*motivation *social media*politics*clarity of thought*personal missionThanks for Listening,Jonah.

Welcome Back to Jonah Asks. This was a really enjoyable interview. Martha Grover has written books, created zines, and artwork. Martha doesn't get hung up on the judgment of others and has been creating stuff for over 20 years. Find Martha's books and zines:https://antiquatedfuture.com/artist/martha-grover http://www.perfectdaybooks.com/shopIt was a pleasure to dive into conversation with Martha. We went back and forth telling stories, while discussing the following topics:*creative writing (memoir, essay, fiction, poetry, fantasy)*the process of creating*how books/authors are taught*attention economy*ADD*audiobooks *television*mental health/medication/depression*family dynamics*homeschooling*fundamentalist religion*schools as institutions*marriage*relationships*health*politics and activismIf you'd like to support the podcast directly:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksDon't hesitate. Follow your instincts. Express yourself. Ignore the judgments of others...but keep your ears, eyes, heart and mind open.Thanks for listening to Jonah Asks. Share, rate, and subscribe as you wish. 

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. Well...I did it. I interviewed my Mom. Deep in my gut, I knew I needed to do this interview when I started this project...and I waited nine months and 27 episodes because I knew it would be complicated. I love my mom. I appreciate what my mom did for my brother and I growing up. Our relationship has never been simple. Childhood was often tense and anxious and life was difficult for Mom. Teaching second grade and raising two young boys on her own was difficult. Mom balanced our home life with teaching and also being involved in our schools in Arlington and remaining involved in the school system where she taught, in Newton. A strong individual, Mom is now Grammy on Zoom, still doing aerobics (on Zoom these days) at 75 years-old, and still sorting through her endless boxes. This interview was an important and cathartic one for me, and she thought it came out pretty well, though "a bit rambly." I reminded her it was a conversation, not an outline. Topics we discuss: *education*teaching philosophy (focusing on individual traits in order to encourage and support learning of each student)*asking for support (or not)*routines*writing*childhood memories -- Washington DC suburbs in the 1940s and early 1950s *Helen and Earl (mom's parents/my grandparents)*maintaining joy, wonder and delight*meeting my father in college*getting married and divorced*single-parenting*choosing NOT to remarry*the pleasure of sorting *relationship conflict*divorce and children: psychology*family dynamics after divorce*appreciations***Thanks for listening. I'm glad I did this interview. Sometimes the hardest things are the most necessary.If you'd like to support the podcast directly, click here:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksEnjoy springtime!Jonah

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. Meet Karsten. Dedicated to environmental justice, Karsten is a passionate and thoughtful human who thinks about the durability of new energy policy. Karsten is a husband, a father of two and an occasional piano man. Topics we discuss:*piano*Environment*Growing up in the central valley of California*Geography*Masculinity*Justice Movements*Sustaining Activism*Climate Crisis*Biden Administration Climate Goals*ParentingOrganizations to Support:Donate to the Indigenous Environmental Network www.ienearth.orgDonate to the Sunrise Movement www.sunrisemovement.orgDonate to Fair Fight www.fairfight.comDonate to the Equal Justice Initiative eji.orgRedeem your aluminum cans and use that money to donate.Okay, enough preaching. To support the podcast directly, share it with others, subscribe to it or donate at Buy Me a Coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksI appreciate all of you for listening!Jonah

Welcome Back to Jonah Asks. Meet Pat. In this episode we discuss:*Growing up in Queens, NY in 50s*Irish-American family*Political movements*The 1960s*Woodstock and music*NYC cab driving*Jimi Hendrix*Vietnam and conscientious objections*Fatherhood*Near-death accidents*Woodworking as an outlet*RetirementThanks for listening. If you'd like to support this podcast, please share it with others, subscribe to it if that's something you do with podcasts. You can also support the purpose of this podcast by donating to a non-profit organization of your choice.Fair Fight, Equal Justice Initiative, Donors Choose and Kiva are a few you might look into. Charity Navigator helps you understand where your money goes. Or you can support Jonah Asks by donating directly to the production of this podcast:www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasks

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. This episode holds extra meaning for me and I hope it will for you as well. My high school guidance counselor was Mr. D'Antona. He was a beloved figure at Arlington High School, where he worked for over 40 years and was a positive influence on so many teenagers lives. I was one of those teens. During a tumultuous personal time in 10th grade, Vin's office was a refuge for me. His open-door policy allowed me to catch my breath over the course of a few months when life felt overwhelming and high school was a place I wanted to escape. This interview is wonderful because Vin (now Vincenzo) is as open-hearted and unguarded as any 80 year-old I've ever met. He's lived a full and satisfying life and he has survived life's unending obstacles while remaining optimistic. Thanks to my Mom staying in touch with Vin over the years, I was able to set up the interview over Zoom. Topics we discuss:*Growing up in Somerville and Everett (Massachusetts) in the 40s and 50s. *family dynamics*psychology*teaching*becoming a high school counselor*The 60s*social movements*impact of War on mental health*Vietnam*Italian family*Polish family*depression*bullying*mental health*community*grieving*therapy*empathy*weight*hiking*retirement*COVID*connectionsIf you enjoyed this, please share the episode, subscribe to the podcast, and reach out to people you know who may be going through turbulent times. If you'd like to support the podcast directly:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksThanks for listening. This is temporary,Jonah

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. Meet Jonny. Meet Jonny. A fantasy writer, a cat lover, a Gay Black Jewish man, and a kind soul.In this episode Jonny takes us through his journey, both physically and psychologically, from childhood through the present...for him age 36. Jonny has lived in many cities, had many jobs, and collected oceans of experience as a human. He's a searcher.Topics we discuss:*identity*coming out as a gay man*Southern Virginia*military families*family dynamics*traveling *HIV*writing (fantasy/thriller)*politics*race and democracy*economic equality*minimum wage*cats*bathsThis was a wonderful talk. I hope you enjoy Jonny's stories and wisdom. If you'd like to buy his book, click here:https://www.amazon.com/Collection-Chronicle-Soul-Seed-Novels/dp/B0892792P9If you'd like to support the podcast, click here:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksThanks for listening and stay safe,Jonah

Welcome Back to Jonah AsksMeet Jenn. A thoughtful human who teaches Philosophy, has raised two children, and rejected social media from the beginning. In this conversation, you'll hear quite a journey. Jenn describes growing up in Sacramento in the 70s, getting into punk music, heading to Santa Cruz then Wales for a year, among other places early on in her life. Over time, Jenn got a PhD in Philosophy and became a mother and a professor. Themes we discuss:*adolescence *punk music and politics*college at UC-Santa Cruz*philosophy*parenting*home-ownership*cities*labor rights*social media*trust*Jewish identity: culturally Jewish not religiousTo support the podcast, https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksThanks for listening!Jonah

Meet Eli. A composer of sounds. A newly graduated student, who briefly taught in my Zoom classroom. A thoughtful human.To hear Eli's debut album: https://moonglyph.bandcamp.com/album/fishlandTopics we discuss:*growing up around music*childhood experiences (NYC, FL, Bay Area)*growing up with mom who teaches philosophy*identity and artistic persona*David Bowie*John Coltrane*improvised music*jazz*sustaining creative practices*validation: internal vs external*navigating social mediaTo support the podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksAnother way to support: share, subscribe, and/or rate Jonah Asks. Thanks for listening. Go check Eli's music out!

Welcome back to Jonah Asks.Meet Dave. He's my neighbor and his little girl Kenzie is pals with Rebelle Harmony. Dave is a funny fellow who's worked in various jobs in the medical field. These days, Dave works in nursing administration and online teaching. His work is mainly focused around health policies and regulations. He is the swiss-army knife of nursing administration.To support the podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksTopics discussed:*Growing up in the Florida panhandle *Growing up in the 80s*Becoming an EMT*Nursing*Compartmentalizing*Work-Life balance*Fatherhood*Driving*Vaccine*Pandemic lifeThanks for listening and stay safe.This is Temporary!Jonah

One Muddy Morning: Audio Essays on Time, Creativity, Fatherhood and PatienceThese seven short essays were written in the last two years. Rather than compile them in an audiobook and attempt to promote/sell that, I'm publishing them here. If you enjoy them, please consider clicking the link below.To support my writing and Jonah Asks, please visit:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksBy donating a few dollars, it helps support my addiction to recording and sharing thoughts. 1. One Muddy Morning (0:00 -- 7:50)date: January 4, 20192. Tantrums (8:00 -- 13:55)date: November 7, 20193. How Are You Feeling: A Trip Through Health, Psychology, Adolescence, Fatherhood, Relationships and Emotion (14:00 -- 31:30)date: March 9, 20204. On Creativity, Stillness, Time and Patterns: a Response to Alan Lightman (31:40 --- 41:10)date: April 14, 20205. Time Passing With Child (41:25 -- 46:20)date: December 3, 20206. He Was Not a Typewriter (46:30 -- 51:30)date: February 12, 20207: Six Feet Under, Sixteen Years Later (51:40 -- 59:50)date: February 16, 2021To support my writing and Jonah Asks, please visit:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksThanks for Listening. This is Temporary!Jonah

Welcome Back to Jonah Asks. In this episode, meet Annie. She grew up as a middle child and is now both a mother and a nurse. She lives near Asheville, North Carolina and she's also my cousin. Annie is full of empathy. In the talk, you'll hear what a wonderful mother, dedicated nurse and all-around good human she is.To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksTopics we discuss:*parenting four children*sleeping*family dynamics*identity and personality types (Annie is a peacemaker)*being a middle child*technology, screens and child development*nursing *building community*elementary school on zoom*social media*vaccines and distrustThanks for listening. As always, sharing and subscribing to Jonah Asks is greatly appreciated. To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksStay safe and remember this is temporary,Jonah

Meet Cousin Alex. She is open-hearted and compassionate. We are second cousins, but this conversation was the longest we've talked...maybe ever. It was really cool getting to know her better through this conversation. I think you'll enjoy her positive personality and laugh. For show notes and links: https://jonahasks.medium.com/episode-16-with-cousin-alex-on-family-being-jewish-divorce-building-community-suitcases-and-9638d59dd93dTo support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksTopics we discuss: *identity*childhood and divorce*psychology*being Jewish*family history*being an only child*parenting*dance/yoga*listening/calming*public health work*social mediaTo support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksPlease share, subscribe and rate the podcast. https://jonahasks.podomatic.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jonah-asks/id1537595117For detailed show notes:https://jonahasks.medium.com/episode-16-with-cousin-alex-on-family-being-jewish-divorce-building-community-suitcases-and-9638d59dd93dThanks for listening and stay safe!

Welcome to Episode 15 of Jonah Asks. Meet my brother, Ben. He's four years older than me, and he's a middle school math teacher. In this talk we look back at our memories of childhood. To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksTopics we delve into:*sibling rivalry*parental expectations*divorce*parents as individuals*tennis*psychology and control*teaching*parentingThanks for listening. If you enjoy it, please subscribe, share and rate this episode. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksStay Safe,Jonah

Welcome to Episode 14 of Jonah Asks. Meet Vibraphonist Chris Dingman. Chris makes meditative music. For anyone in need of transporting to a calmer place, this music is a wonderful vehicle. chrisdingman.bandcamp.comTo support the podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksTopics we discuss:*music in childhood*listening and musical influences*categories of music: jazz vs experimental *studying music at Wesleyan*music as healing*exploitation of the artist in the music industry *process vs product*creating music versus promoting music*composing *teaching*losing a parent*universal language of music

Welcome to an Inauguration Day episode of Jonah Asks. Join Mike C and me on a tour of the post-Trump landscape. To support the podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksTopics we discuss:*calls for national unity*life after Trump*social media and truth*future of both parties*white supremacy*empathy*national conversationPlease enjoy responsibly. This episode contains expletives. As always, share, subscribe and rate as you see fit. Stay Safe and Feel Good For Now,Jonah

Welcome to Episode 12 of Jonah Asks. Meet Noah. I have never met Noah in person, but we discovered uncanny similarities in our lives in this episode. It's funny how small the world can seem when you find so much common ground with a person you've only ever interacted with online. This was a powerful episode for me, in that it was like meeting a long-lost younger brother. Noah is a basketball journalist who lives in San Diego. In our talk, we discuss the following themes:To support the podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasks*basketball as a childhood outlet*Jewish mothers*Greater Boston*meditation and therapy*technology and attention*journalism*fatherhood*getting through 2020Please share, subscribe and rate this podcast. And stay safe...remember...this is temporary. 

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. In this episode, meet Carl. I've known Carl since I was a young child. Our families had dinners together and both families had two boys around the same age. We played all kinds of games growing up. Now, we're middle-aged and have families. In this talk, Carl described working in international peace and security and a life dedicated to promoting peace and nuclear governance. Carl has a grounded sense of humanity and purpose that made for a riveting conversation about truth, risk, family, managing time and technology, the complexity of identity, and politics. To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksFeatured in this episode: Edward R. Murrow's wonderful 1958 speech on the importance of television on educating and enlightening the American people. The speech was highlighted in the film Good Night, and Good Luck, which I highly recommend.https://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechgoodnightandgoodluckmurrow.htmlHappy listening. Please share, subscribe and rate this podcast if you enjoyed it. Send any feedback to jonahasks @ gmail . com

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. In this episode, meet Andy. I've been friends with Andy for as long as I can remember...as we grew up our families had dinners together. Andy is a compassionate, kind and funny human being. He loves knowledge and ideas. He's a thinker and a professor, a husband and a new father, a son and a friend. I always love our conversations. Because of our history, I'm almost immediately at ease and ready to laugh with Andy. To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksTopics we discuss:*Joe Castiglione (voice of the Red Sox)*snow and winter*baseball and the changing of the seasons*mortality and COVID*our capacity for acknowledging and absorbing suffering*sports fandom around Boston*football and Trumpism*use of technology and the internet*being younger brothers -- impact on identity *Dr. Thomas Boyce "The Orchid and the Dandelion"*ritual weekday lunches (2012-2015)*choosing to have a child*dealing with the inner critic

Welcome back to Jonah Asks. In this episode, meet Paul. He's a father, husband, son, student, electrician, and an adult baseball player, among other things. He's genuine and thoughtful.To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksTopics discussed in this episode: *movies and psychology*competition*pants and weight*life goals*either/or questionnaire*medication for ADD*childhood dynamics*fathers*facebook as a tool for finding family*fatherhood*healing from childhood wounds*trust and forgiveness*having children and adoptionAs always, any shares, subscribes or ratings are greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening and Be Safe!

On this episode of Jonah Asks, meet Jeremy. A Kindergarten teacher who lives in Salt Lake City, Jeremy believes in the power of kindness. To listen to Jeremy's podcast (Jeremy Says)https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8zZjNkOWI3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3JzcwTo support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksTopics of discussion:-growing up in the desert-identity: being bilingual and brown in rural areas-teaching and building trust-teaching on Zoom-mental health and depression-meditation and silence-letting your feet breatheIt was an open and relaxed conversation. Please enjoy responsibly.

Welcome back to Jonah Asks!Meet John G. He's a friend from college who I've rarely seen over the last twenty years. He grew up in the woods in North Carolina. He now lives in Beijing, China, where he's resided since 2003. Strangely enough, we didn't talk much about China during this conversation. John is a thoughtful and curious person, great at engaging. It's a testament to John has a unique conversational style and ability to convey the process of rolling things over in his mind while speaking, improvising. To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksThe conversation topics include:attention and distraction; psychology and the complexity of identity; fandom; the power of silence; technology in our lives; consuming politics; fatherhood; awareness and social justice.Thanks as always for listening, sharing and subscribing.To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksStay Safe and Remember---this is temporary,Jonah

Welcome back to Jonah Asks!Meet Bridgette. A doctor and mother of two; a Jamaican-American, and a wonderful person in general. To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksPart OneA few of the topics we discuss: parenting; balancing life and work; dogs; trust; childhood dynamics; divorce; schooling; the complexity of identity;growing up and reconsidering your parents.Part Two80:00Parenting; helping patients of color with self-advocacy; history as mythology; racism; polarization; "whiteness" and entitlement; equality. Thanks for listening and Stay Safe,Jonah

Hope in the Dark, by Rebecca Solnit, is a powerful book of essays.These essays are equally personal and political. They ask the reader to consider the ripple effects of a personal commitment to justice and a better future. At an uncertain time when looking toward the future is absolutely necessary, I reflect on Solnit's words which might help guide that path forward. To Support this Podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasks

Welcome to Episode 4 of Jonah Asks. Jonah and Michael have known each other for about twenty years. They met in a writing workshop in college and writing has remained important to both ever since. To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksThemes:brothers runningtenniscreative inspiration writing dogspsychology "fun" during quarantine sustaining a creative life friendship musicThanks for listening and Stay Safe,Jonah

We've made it to Episode 3. I met Erik teaching at a small charter high school in East Oakland about five years ago. Erik and I have shared values around the importance of equalizing the education system and understanding the challenges of young students and families today. Erik shares stories from growing up, learning about himself and his community, building resilience, being the first in his family to go to college, and heading north to Berkeley.To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksThis discussion focuses on the following themes: identity, family;immigration;adolescence and schooling, community and segregation, equality, teaching/mentoring teens;underfunded schools;democracy,Please share, subscribe and rate this podcast.Thanks for listening,Jonah

Jonah and Mike have known each other for over 20 years. They are close friends and enjoy talking and laughing. This podcast is a prime example of their easy rapport. The only time Jonah got annoyed during the entire session was the car segment. Jonah's not into cars. Please enjoy responsibly.To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasks *The Doors (briefly)*dogs (family history and general companionship)*cats (family history, kittens, incest making more kittens)*family dynamics (both)*social status and hierarchy (why are people so obsessed with status?)*baseball fandom (briefly, Red Sox specifically)*technology in our lives and on how we handle news*Internet virality, attention, and "How the Awful Stuff Won" (Tom Scocca's writing)*divorce (Jonah's family)*work and life: a balance (Mike's family)*creativity as a practiceTo support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksThanks for listening and Stay Safe,Jonah

Jonah and Ryan discuss Ryan's journeys through life. From athlete to teacher to entrepreneur to traveler, Ryan is always seeking out new experiences and learning from life. Enjoy.To support this podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonahasksRyan's words can be found here: https://keatingbodyworks.wordpress.com/