Best Story Ever: Recent Episodes
Compelling Stories And Life's Lessons by Rabbi Nachum Meth
Antonio López de Santa Anna, of Alamo infamy, ruled Mexico at least 12 different times during the mid 19th Century. Famously, his prosthetic leg was captured by the US Army during the Mexican-American War. And you might not believe how he lost that leg in the first place.
Belmont, MO, Cairo, IL, Fort Henry, TNTwo things these cities have in common are (A) virtually no one has ever heard of them and (B) I visited these forlorn places with my family for the kids’ winter break. Now, you might ask: if (A) then why (B)?
My studies of American history lead me to believe that there was, very broadly speaking, a subtle shift in slaveholders’ attitudes between the generation of the Founding Fathers and the generation that followed them. The cause of that shift is profoundly relevant to us all.
We all want to be successful; we all want to be great. But how do we get there? A story from the meteoric rise of Wayne Gretzky - The Great One - teaches us what it takes.
It is hard to comprehend John D Rockefeller’s wealth. Calculated for inflation, his peak net worth was $423 billion in today’s dollars or more than 3 percent of the United States’s GDP. But, as Paul McCartney has pointed out, there are things that money just can’t buy.
Although many warnings sirens were going off in the cockpit, the pilot did not believe that they were in an emergency; the statistical probability that all of those things were going wrong at the same time was impossible. But he was wrong.
Between 1978 and 1995, a series of 16 bombs were delivered throughout the country, killing 3 and injuring 23. The bombings were connected, but authorities could not even come close to identifying the bomber.
Will grows up in the 80s. He is smart, athletic, and plans on going to Yale for college. He has a bright future ahead of him. But then, an injury derails his plans. How should he view his setback? How should all of us look at setbacks?
The 1952 Republican National Convention would be a turning point in the career of Congressman Howard Buffet, father of Warren Buffet. It would also be another example for Warren of the “inner scorecard,” a flawed theory on human behavior.
Kamel Amin Thaabet was a wealthy Syrian business living in Argentina who liked to play things fast and loose. He used his wealth to built relationships with powerful and influential people. But he wasn’t who he said he was.
Mordechai Noah was one of the first influential Jews in the United States, and in 1825 he decided to save all of the persecuted Jews around the world. He called it Ararat, and it was located right near Niagara Falls, and the story teaches us all about planning.
Elizabeth Everest was a simple woman, virtually anonymous in history. She never achieved any fame. She never had much money. She wasn’t a particularly accomplished person. She never married and didn’t have a family. However, if not for her, your life would probably not be the same; in fact the entire free world today would likely be a totally different place.
It is hard to overstate how brilliant Albert Einstein was. In 1905—within a span of just a few months—he produced four paper: each one of them on its own revolutionized the way scientists understood the universe. But his genius was not without flaw.
William Rockefeller, born in the early 1800s, was a remarkable doctor - traveling across the midwest from town to town offering his medical services. The results of pills, potions, and remedies were unbelievable.
In 1985, Mexico City was rocked by a devastating earthquake, leaving much of the city in ruins. The story of how an unlikely country from around the globe joined in the relief effort teaches us a powerful lesson in gratitude.
The War Of 1812, like all wars, was costly: more than 2,00 soldiers were killed and thousands more were injured. Washington, DC, was burnt to the ground. And I believe that most people today don’t even know why the war was fought.
Although Benjamin Franklin was one of then most accomplished Americans ever, he was estranged from his son William. The source of their rift is highlighted by a lesson the Torah teaches us about relationships.
Andy showed up drunk to an important event. Jim got into a fight with a friend and threatened to stab him. Lynn was vulgar in his actions and speech. We’ve all encountered inappropriate people who have poor conduct. But their behavior is not their biggest failure.
Major General John Sedgwick was loyal and dedicated to his soldiers and country. So when he saw a gap in his artillery lines at the Battle of Spotsylvania, he bravely charged to the front to reposition his division. It was a terrible mistake.
In commemoration of the second Yahrzeit of my dad, Dr. Sheldon Meth. Two seemingly random events on two seemingly random mountaintops separated by a few miles and a few millennia dramatically changed the course of history.
Wilmer McLean was a simple grocer living a quiet life in a quaint home in Manassas, VA. When his neighborhood took a turn for the worse and his house was vandalized, he decided to move farther south and bought a different quaint home. What happened next was no coincidence.
Catalina Island is a beautiful island of of the coast of California, and in 1952 a young athlete attempted to swim its 26-mile channel. The story of her dramatic swim is an inspiring lesson in determination, perseverance, and personal growth.
In 1924, Congress passed the World War Compensation Act—a payment to soldiers who fought in the first World War. But then came the Great Depression and everything changed. An insight from the Torah explains one man’s success and another’s failure, and is a critical lesson for solving friction in our relationships.
A young man moved to the San Fransisco Bay area in the 1850s looking to get rich quick. It’s the gold rush, it’s a boomtown; what could go wrong? A lesson from one man’s failures becomes an insight for success.
- John Quincy Adams’s Greatest Accomplishment John Quincy Adams was one of the most brilliant people to ever serve as president. He was also one of the most qualified. Yet, he would be the first to tell you that his presidency was a complete failure. But the story doesn’t end there.
Mr. A lived a life of failure, personal tragedy and sorrow. Mr. B lived a life of success, personal victories, and happiness. Their lives go in very different directions. You know who they are; can you guess their identity? Here is a hint: it's a trick question.
By mid-summer of 1781, things looked pretty bad for General Washington’s army. Outmanned, outgunned, and without any real plan for victory, they were desperately close to destruction by the British.You know that the story ends well for Washington; but how did it happen?
“Out of many, one” is the motto of the United States. But what if the country is splintered? What if the political divide is toxic? How can the country survive? A lesson from history and an insight from the Talmud gives hope.
When making decisions about ambiguous situations, we hunt for clues; pieces of information that can help us formulate answers. Psychologists refer to these clues as anchors. An at-home experiment as well as a tragic story show that sometimes anchors do not work.
They are all around us. We use them all the time. They are handy devices that, barring the occasional jammed or squeaky wheel, we don’t think about much. Where did shopping carts come from? The story of their rise in popularity highlights a defining element of our very humanity.
In early 1948, Harry Truman was conflicted about supporting a future Jewish state. Although he was sympathetic towards the plight of European Jews, pressure from his cabinet leadership was pushing him to oppose its creation. What motivated Truman to ultimately appreciate the need for a Jewish state?
Frank had a stable childhood. Frank had great parents. Frank went to a top college. Frank became an accomplished attorney. Frank went on to become a congressman and then a senator. Is Frank a successful person?
The 1880 Republican National Convention was coming apart at the seems as a bitter division threatened to split the party in half. The compromise ticket of James Garfield for president and Chester Arthur for vice president kept the party together and profoundly changed the country—and Chester Arthur.
The Green Bay Packers are an iconic football franchise. However, their 1958 season was their worst season ever. The next season they hired the legendary head coach Vince Lombardi who transformed them into champions. How did he achieve such a remarkable turnaround?
- Höger Day Was No Routine Day In Sweden by Compelling Stories And Life's Lessons by Rabbi Nachum Meth
My dog Tebow is well behaved. Except that he occasionally eats food from off our counters when no one is looking. How do we deal with his bad behavior? With the same approach that a hospital in San Fransisco recently implemented that is now saving lives.
A nightmarish situation unfolds mid-flight on a small twin-engine plane with Doug White’s wife and children in the back of the plane. His response is a lesson in how to build trust.
The Russians were first to launch a satellite into orbit. The first to send an animal into orbit. The first to send man into orbit. Yet, they never got man to the moon. Why not?
Take a moment and visit www.centennialbulb.org There you will find a live video of a dimly lit light bulb. In the background, you’ll probably see a firetruck and a few people walking past while pointing up at the bulb. And if you look carefully, you will also discover the reason why you aren’t achieving your goals.
In the 1890s, Wilhelm Von Osten discovered that his horse was brilliant. A lesson from his horse’s wisdom could have prevented one of the greatest tragedies in Jewish history, and can teach us how to improve our most important relationships.
What do you know about John Adams? You probably know that he was the second president of the United States. But do you recall anything that he did while he was president? Most Americans probably can’t, and that—strangely— was Adams’s great accomplishment.
Want to win the Tour de France? You will need to think big, have big plans, have big goals—right? Sometimes, what we actually need is to think small. One coach’s brilliant small approach to success at Le Tour is a valuable insight that reaches far beyond cycling.
- The Miracle Of The American Revolution by Compelling Stories And Life's Lessons by Rabbi Nachum Meth
Breast cancer is a devastating illness that touches countless lives. Thankfully, there are several effective treatment options that are available. However, the story of the development of one therapy is a cautionary tale for us all.
We love our teams, and, not surprisingly, we spend an incredible amount of time, resources, and money rooting for our favorite teams. But why do we root for the teams that we do?
Dr. Barry Marshall was a middle-of-the-pack doctor at a middle-of-the-pack hospital in Australia. Yet, in the early 1980s, this average doctor’s idea would completely overturn conventional medical thinking and change the world.
John Tyler is a classic anonymous American President that has been long forgotten by history. Aside from the obscure history buff, does anyone really remember his presidency? He lived in a time that was so long ago—or was it?
I’ll bet you don’t know all that much about the history of pistachio farming in the United States. But I’ll also bet that once you learn about it, you will never forget it.
Chicago was one of the fastest growing cities in the mid-1800’s. But with that rapid growth came a major challenge. One engineer had a plan to solve the city’s problem—a plan that would change Chicago from its very foundation.
Researchers investigated what would happen when a doctor called in an order for nurses to administer a prescription to a patient in their care. Their response demonstrates a fundamental pitfall in human psychology.
An autograph that a football star sent to a young fan turns out to be one of the most important signatures of his own life. An insight from the "Wisest Of Men." Together, these messages highlight how loving others and caring for others is the best thing we can do for ourselves. Inspired by a touching presentation from NFL Films.
Why did Blockbuster go out of business? I know what you are probably thinking, but I don’t think it is the answer. The deeper reason is a lesson that the New England Patriots utilized to win Super Bowl 53.
In 1994 Quaker bought Snapple for $1.8 billion. Three years later, Quaker sold Snapple for $300 million; losing $1.5 billion. For those who are wondering, that is a lot of money. What happened?
Lance Armstrong was one of the greatest professional cyclists, if not the greatest cyclist, ever. His seven Tour de France victories are the most ever. Sort of. Armstrong’s banned substance use resulted in his wins being voided. One of the most fascinating elements of the Lance Sage were his initial forceful denials of the allegations—a powerful example of the challenges in honesty that to some degree we all face.
Something very strange was happening in Seattle in April of 1954, and it was turning into an unsolved mystery. Thousands of people began noticing holes and dings inexplicably appearing in their car windshields. The cause might surprise you!
In the mid-1970s, Miami introduced a ban on phosphates in laundry detergent. What happened? People started smuggling in detergent with phosphates illegally from counties that had not issued the ban. And they began hoarding them. What happened next will surprise you!
5 Lessons From The Worst President Ever “Worst. President. Ever.” by Robert Strauss is a fantastic book I recently read about our 15th president, James Buchanan, who—as the title points out—is often considered the worst president ever. But are we being a bit too harsh?
Ulysses Grant’s middle name wasn’t a name. It was just a letter. S. The story behind the story of how he mistakenly got that middle name/initial/letter offers a remarkable lesson in growth.
Mr. A served in army for six years, was a wounded war veteran, served in Congress, the Senate, became part of the Cabinet, and married daughter of a president. He is a real American patriot, right?
If I gave you choice: you can earn one million dollars a year to push a crank that is connected to nothing or you can become a social worker with bad pay, an annoying boss, not enough resources, but you get to help others—what would you choose?