The Having Initiative Podcast: Recent Episodes
havinginitiative
The Having Initiative Podcast. A podcast discussing and analyzing various concepts and ideas that are often taken for granted. We seek to empower the individual to seek out their own answers.
Empathy is a word being thrown around a lot these days. So much so the word is losing its meaning. While words with positive connotations have their place, they are being abused.
In this episode I talk of how the words empathy, sympathy and compassion are being used for malicious ends.
Why is art important? Art has been created all over the world, all throughout human history. An analysis of the art across time can reveal more than just culture.
This week I discuss art across time, modern art, gatekeepers and more.
Art is often held up in high regard. But what is it?
The term is being thrown around a lot and there's lots of disagreement about what it is.
In this episode I discuss a very common definition of art and how intentional a work can be and still be considered art.
In the previous episode I discussed factors that can influence a persons political alignment. In this episode I discuss these leanings in action and how they can lead to division and contempt.
Topics discussed include political projection, tribalism, challenging personal views and more.
[ 1:30 ] - Chapter 1
[ 7:49 ] - Chapter 2
[ 14:28 ] - Chapter 3
[ 26:55 ] - Chapter
[ 32:07 ] - Chapter 5
[ 37:30 ] - Chapter 6
[ 41:06 ] - Chapter 7
[45:03] - Chapter 8
Politics. You can't go anywhere without hearing about politics it seems. People can't understand why others would disagree with something so obvious. Or rather, something so virtuous. But are political views truly about common sense?
In this episode I discuss various ways that people's politics are influenced by factors that are not conscious choices. Hopefully we can understand why others so stubbornly disagree with us. Or better yet, we might take a hard look at ourselves.
In the previous episode I talked about what people say is wrong with education. This week, I discuss alternative solutions and things to bear in mind.
Topics vary from how the education system began, cumbersome college demands, learning outside of an institution and more.
Education. Everyone says it is important. Everyone also knows what is wrong with it.
They also know what needs to be taught in schools. Everyone agrees and disagrees at the same time.
So what really is going on with education?
In this episode I discuss various concerns people have about the state of education today.
Part 2 of Helping Others If you want to help someone, you have to actually help them. In this episode I discuss annoying others, teaching, when to say no, homelessness and more. Helping others is virtuous, but good intentions don't equal good results.
Helping others is something that everyone can agree is a noble and important task. So much so the notion is often used to bludgeon others into cooperation.
What does it mean to help someone? When do you say no? Who is helping others really about?
Part 1 opens the conversation on helping people.
This episode features the first interview of the podcast with musician Ron Wilkins.
New York City based musician Ron Wilkins has been performing on tenor and bass trombones, euphonium, tuba, bass trumpet and vocals for over forty years. He has performed at the highest levels touring around the world with his own groups as well as premiere artists.
In this interview, he discusses his career, what it takes to be an elite musician and more.
1:15 - How we met 4:13 - First time on a Trombone 8:50 - Higher education 11:08 - Teaching locally 12:55 - "Funny Girl" on Broadway 23:05 - Striving for excellence vs fun 33:25 - New album: Trombocalist 35:12 - The best you can be 45:00 - Being okay with where you are at the moment 48:45 - Bouncing back, being patient 58:05 - Greatest musicians you've never heard of 1:02:35 - Highs and lows of teaching
We continue the discussion on what is natural when it comes to society, physical activity and general musings on the natural state of humans.
This episode tends to revolve around technology in some way or another and how much we should let it into our lives or the lives of others.
People argue for and against things big and small in all sorts of ways. And an argument that arises often is "What is Natural"?
It is used to justify and criticize all kinds of policies and decisions. But that begs the question: What is natural? And is what is natural what is best?
These questions and more are explored in this part 1 episode. Other topics include Psychology, Diet, Politics.
More discussions on mental health! This week we take a look at some of the more extreme cases of mental health. Additionally treatments in the mainstream will be scrutinized in addition to popular culture's attempts to discuss mental health. This episodes brings everything discussed in part 1 to fruition.
Mental Health is something that is discussed quite a lot today. Even the most cynical will acknowledge the utility it can offer. But what is covered in mental health? Some say we should invest in mental health as if it were as simple as giving water to a thirsty person. Why is it treated as a monolith?
In this first part of the topic we discuss the broad application of the term, treatment ideas and whether smaller issues truly need a heavy approach.
Justice is an idea that all will claim to value. But what is justice? The law or that which makes us feel better? When do we follow the letter of the law and when do we grant mercy? How do we cope with the variability created by our judgement? One outcome will make some rejoice and others cry injustice. How do we come to agree on what justice is? Justice is rarely simple.
These ideas and more are explored in this episode.
Feelings - 9:55 laws - 18:49 By The Law - 32:02 Feelings Part 2 - 44:45
Society is a word being thrown around a lot these days. Unless you live in the woods, you are a part of a society whether you like it or not. But what constitutes a society? Is it the people next to you or the country you live in? How much do you subscribe to what you are surrounded by? And when people say "society tells us..", what exactly is this thing that is telling us what to do? These ideas and more are covered in this episode!
Chapters:
5:38 - Scope
15:35 - Homogeneity
28:30 - Moral claims
Final Episode of Season 1 is here!
In this episode I talk about Self Reliance and how we aren't doing enough of it. Conversations about the natural state of humanity, top down vs bottom up solutions, the individual's relationship to society, our responsibility to ourselves and others and much more!
Thank you for joining and I hope to see you in season 2!
This week is about Debates vs Arguments. We all talk to each other and try and sway people to our viewpoints.
But are we being productive? Fair? Honest? I explore the ways people engage in discourse and sometimes play dirty.
2:32 Chapter 1 - Debate 12:27 Chapter 2 - Argument 22:44 Chapter 3 - Discourse 31:15 - Housekeeping
This week's episode is about "Full Potential"
People everywhere think we should live up to it, but how do we know when we've reached it or just plateaued? When comparing yourself to someone can be a good thing, being honest with ourselves and more are covered this week.
In this week I talk about competition. There are some misconceptions going on about it and it is being discouraged in some areas and encouraged in others. I give my take on how it is misconstrued and how it can be of benefit to anyone in some way or another.
4:53 Chapter 1 Harmless Fun
15:30 Chapter 2 Sweep the Leg
22:26 Chapter 3 Necessity
34:30 House Keeping
In this week I talk about leadership. Attributes and roles that a leader may or may not have. These are by no means the only attributes, but they are the ones I noticed are the most prevalent.
4:32 Chapter 1 Charisma 9:50 Chapter 2 Decision Maker 15:37 Chapter 3 Delegator 18:20 Chapter 4 The Example 25:00 Chapter 5 The One who goes first 27:10 Chapter 6 The Voice/ Arbitrator 32:45 Would you rather? 34:45 Housekeeping
This episode is the first in the standard format for this podcast.
In this episode I explore the way that we treat evidence as valid. I present a way take inventory of our knowledge and what it truly conveys. This one is kind of deep. Enjoy!
Table of contents = 3:45
Chapter 1 What we know = 4:20
Chapter 2 What we don't know = 22:25
Chapter 3 What we can know = 25:29
Chapter 4 What we can't know = 26:38
Word Problems = 28:43
Housekeeping = 35:52
A podcast discussing and analyzing various concepts and ideas that are often taken for granted. We seek to empower the individual to seek out their own answers.
This episode explains the why and what of the comping podcast.