PODCAST · kids
Not by Accident
by Thomas H Wicke
Becoming and raising good people does not happen by accident. Nothing that is worthwhile, valuable or magnificent happens by default -not a marriage, not a career, not children who grow into happy, kind and accomplished adults. Excellence is not accidental. This podcast is a tool for parents to use as they purposefully introduce their children to high ideals, virtues, and concepts that are essential to becoming a good person. We do this in short 3-5 minute podcasts (borrowing from experiences in history, stories shared by others, scenarios and situations) with the intent to foster conversation between parents and children. No one wants to be lectured or moralized -especially children and teens... especially by their parents. So having some outside voices on matters that will help shape children is invaluable. This of this podcast as a contemporary version of Aesops Fables. Great for parents, teachers, youth leaders or anyone who is looking for inspiring co
Episodes
-
Not by Accident: Football and Musical Theatre -Episode27
Young and old are often pressured, or at least feel a degree of social expectation, from peers to fit a mold. A football player is expected to be tough, certainly not a lover of musical theater, the violyn or anything too intellectual. Friday nights are spent blocking and tackling, not cozying up...
-
Not by Accident: Arthur Brooks Embracing Adversity & Suffering -Episode 26
Everyone faces adversity, suffering and challenges. Contemporary society teaches: adversity is bad, comfort and ease is good. Well, if you want a meaningless and empty life (not to mention more depression), then listen to society. If you want to exprierience a deeper sense of self, of joy, of...
-
Not by Accident: Scott Ruskin and Heroes -Episode25
Scott Ruskin is a hero of the devastating and tragic central Texas floods of July 2025. His story is inspiring but somewhat unexpected. He helped save 165 victims in his first mission as a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer. He volunteered to get out of the rescue heicopter so there would be more room...
-
Not by Accident: Changing a Losing Culture -Episode24
People like to win and to be associated with winning teams or efforts. But the truth of life is that we will often fall short individually and as part of a team. What happens when that team can't seem to come out on top? What happens when one loss becomes two, then ten then fifty? This is not...
-
Not by Accident: The Dark Side of Education -Episode23
Education is one of the top 5 factors that not only transforms an individual's life (including their spouse, children and generations to come) but also to improve the world and mankind's condition. As access to learning (education being the formal system to facilitate learning... at least that is...
-
Not by Accident: Leadership -Episode22
What is leadership and being a leader? While it involves many things -knowledge, judgement, persistence, discipline, motivating others, humiliy- it is fundamentally about serving those you lead and being willing to do the hard work alongside the lowliest follower. In fact, as a side note, one of...
-
Not by Accident: Holidays and Holy Days -Episode21
Valentines day, Veteran's day, the 4th of July, Presidents day and Martlin Luther King, Jr. day are all holidays where we celebrate the sacrifice and character of a person or a group of people whose lives illustrations of the things (virtues and actions) we honor in our society. Unfortunately…
more -
Not by Accident: Sports Winning and Losing -Episode 20
Sports and competition are universal across time, cultures and generations. Since human's existed they have been playing (and creating) athletic competitions. Sports teach us amazing lessons in a dynamic manner. We learn as we do and sometimes we have to learn very quickly. Discipline, teamwork,...
-
Not by Accident: Procrastination and Negative Character -Episode19
There are several -many more than we can count actually- character flaws that are common to any "normal" human. We are judgemental creatures who like to talk about the foibles and shortcomings of others. We would rather take an easy route than the higher and more difficult path. It is much easier...
-
Not by Accident: Is it Worth the Price -Episode 18
Everything we do or want has a price. This is easy to see with products or physical items like a car, a purse or a trip to Hawaii. The price for these is some amount of money. But this truth extends beyond physical items to include things like a talent or non-tangible accomplishment. To be an...
-
Not by Accident: Praising the Meal Maker -Episode 17
To take things for granted is human nature (especially from those we know the most). To begin to expect things from others (becoming entitled) is likewise in our nature. And both of those are ugly qualities that will harm and eventually kill relationships. When is the last time you not only...
-
Not by Accident: Time to put on the Pants -Episode16
What is the process by which we can become people of character? Each person has the same 24 hours in each day. In fact life is a series of cyclical events: sun up to sundown happens every 24 hours. Every 7 days is another week. One revolution around the sun is a year... and we start some things...
-
Not by Accident: Joy at Christmas and in Life -Episode15
Is joy in giving or receiving? Where Christmas is concerned, children will definitely say it is in the receiving. Adults and maturing teens will likely feel otherwise. While this is evident at Christmas, it is more true, although more difficult, in our lives every day. To give of ourselves, our...
-
Not by Accident: Being Good and Working at It -Episode 14
Children, teenagers and adults all spend time thinking and working toward "what they want to be when they grow up". While being a good teacher, a good dentist, a good salesperson or a good business owner is important, it is infinitely more important to grow up and be good. Society won't fall…
more -
Not by Accident: One Person at a Time -Episode 13
We've got it all wrong. In a world of "likes", "followers" and fame, we falsely think the more people like or hear us, the more important we are. We think meaning comes from the number of people who are paying attention to us. And everything around us--from scientific studies to our own personal...
-
Not by Accident: Being Grateful -Episode12
Being grateful--feeling and expressing gratitude--is a quality that has an impact on so many other virtues and the general wellbeing of your life. There does not exist a happy, content and grounded person who is not grateful. And it is not the amount of stuff, friends or comforts we possess that...
-
Not by Accident: You're Going to Fail -Episode11
You are not going to win or succeed every time. In fact, in life you, me and everyone will encounter more disappointments and failures that successes. Simply accepting this reality actually makes life easier. It takes some of the pressure off. It gives us a better perspective when we don't…
more -
Not by Accident: Life is about Others -Episode 10
There is no truly great person who is not fundamentally concerned about the needs of others. While it is important to focus on and work on improving ourselves, particularly developing positive qualities, our intellect, working hard to improve our place in life, so much of happiness, self-esteem…
more -
Not by Accident: Tell the Truth Always -Episode 9
In the training of character we sometimes work on single muscles but there are some qualities or virtues that are so profound and sophisticated that they are an entire muscle group. Integrity is one of these. Integrity includes responsiblity, honor/honesty and truthfulness. This podcast explores...
-
Not by Accident: Medal of Honor -Episode8
Conflict and opposition bring out the best (and the worst) in human nature. War is the ultimate expression of conflict and is, unfortunately, a staple of the human experience. War provides a line in the sand at which men and women say "this is what I believe and this is worth dying for." We need...
-
Not by Accident: Loyalty and Family -Episode 7
Loyalty and devotion are critical components of character. These are especially essential do demonstrate with family and friends. As with any good virtues, these often demand sacrifice and only become meaningful when they are put into practice when there is a steep price to pay. Many people walk...
-
Not by Accident: Ben Carson's Mom -Episode 6
Ben Carson's life changed because of his mom and her decisions for her children. Mr. Carson became a world renown neurosurgeon and was a previous candidate for president of the United States. He shares the experience when his life turned around, all because his mom required him to do some very…
more -
Not by Accident: The Reluctant Wrestler -Episode5
Part of growing up is doing things we don't want to do. Sometimes its inconvenient, sometimes its scarey, sometimes its uncomfortable. Pushing beyond our own comfort zone is something most people, myself included, don't want to do and avoid at all costs. But the truth of the matter is there is A...
-
Not by Accident Birds on Wire -Episode 4
Yoda, Nike and Spencer Kimball all identified the great key to personal and character development so many of us struggle with, not because there is anything broken with us but because it is human nature. We all have aspirations and intentions but so often we just need to "do it". For Nike it is…
more -
Not by Accident: Wilbur's home gym -Episode3
When building character and the corresponding muscle groups--integrity, honor, kindness, patience, persistence, committment to truth, etc.-- you will encounter resistence. All growth is a product of resistence. This often happens in unexpected and unwanted ways. Wilbur Wright is known for…
more -
Not by Accident: Dave's Burden and Greatness -Episode 2
Life will sometimes hand you difficult and undeserved challenges. How we respond not only impacts our own happiness but can lift, inspire and strengthen others. Choosing to be happy, which may be as heroic as any achievment even if done in the quiet and unknown walls of our own home, takes…
more -
Not by Accident: Love takes out the trash -Episode 1
Character training session: Love. How is it manifest in dailey behaviors and what does it reveal about me? Content borrowed from The Jesse Kelly show.
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Becoming and raising good people does not happen by accident. Nothing that is worthwhile, valuable or magnificent happens by default -not a marriage, not a career, not children who grow into happy, kind and accomplished adults. Excellence is not accidental.
This podcast is a tool for parents to use as they purposefully introduce their children to high ideals, virtues, and concepts that are essential to becoming a good person. We do this in short 3-5 minute podcasts (borrowing from experiences in history, stories shared by others, scenarios and situations) with the intent to foster conversation between parents and children.
No one wants to be lectured or moralized -especially children and teens... especially by their parents. So having some outside voices on matters that will help shape children is invaluable. This of this podcast as a contemporary version of Aesops Fables. Great for parents, teachers, youth leaders or anyone who is looking for inspiring co
HOSTED BY
Thomas H Wicke
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Not by Accident have?
Not by Accident currently has 27 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Not by Accident about?
Becoming and raising good people does not happen by accident. Nothing that is worthwhile, valuable or magnificent happens by default -not a marriage, not a career, not children who grow into happy, kind and accomplished adults. Excellence is not accidental. This podcast is a tool for parents to use...
How often does Not by Accident release new episodes?
Not by Accident has 27 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Not by Accident?
You can listen to Not by Accident on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Not by Accident?
Not by Accident is created and hosted by Thomas H Wicke.
URL copied to clipboard!