Author: Linda Silverman

I’m often asked for podcast suggestions since I subscribe to many, of all stripes. As I’ve done the last four years, I’ve reserved my August blog for my recommended podcasts.

As you embark on your August vacation and want to start listening to podcasts, or update your own library, please see my latest list, which includes repeats from years’ past as well as some new ones. (Links to my previous lists are at the end of this post.)

If I’m walking, I tend to listen to them at 1.5 speed. If I’m driving or cooking, I don’t change the speed. There are no embedded links since everyone uses a different source to download podcasts.

Note: I’ve asterisked (*) those that are new this year.

General Interest/News

*Carnegie Connects: This is the podcast of the Carnegie Endowment of International Peace. It is hosted by the well-respected Aaron David Miller (a new friend of mine), who tackles pressing foreign policy issues in conversations with journalists, policymakers, historians and experts. I value its measured, intellectual approach to current events.

*Identity Crisis: This podcast is from the Hartman Institute, an internationally respected Jewish organization. I enjoy host Yehuda Kurtzer’s perspective and interviews with leading thinkers that help unpack current issues affecting Israel and Jews around the world.  

*Impolitic with John Heilemann: John Heileman is one of the most articulate and witty political analysts I know of, and I love his podcast for its insightful views of where we are. He gets the best and brightest guests, so is worth listening to if you need a politics fix.

*On with Kara Swisher and Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway. I revere Kara Swisher, the most badass interviewer I know. She has two podcasts. The first is hers alone. The second is hosted by both Kara and NYU professor Scott Galloway and covers politics and technology’s influence on our society. Both podcasts offer sharp analysis while being very entertaining.

*Unholy: Two Jews on the News: The two Jews referred to in are journalists, one in Israel and one from The Guardian in London. Through their own opinions as well as interviews with well-known journalists and politicians, they provide their take on the latest developments on life and politics in Israel, the US, the United Kingdom and around the world. This is apparently the go-to podcast for many well-regarded US journalists and is more diverting than one might expect.

The Ezra Klein Show: I appreciate the deep thinking of Ezra Klein, who provocatively addresses a variety of topical issues, from anxiety to climate change to politics, in an interview format in this New York Times podcast.

Fresh Air:  Many people know this podcast and its host, Terry Gross.  She and Tanya Mosley, her new co-host, are great at their one-on-one interviews with a wide range of interesting people.

IA from WAMU:  This show took over for Diane Rehm’s daily radio show on WAMU, Washington DC’s NPR station.  It covers interesting, wide-ranging topics, so I often check to see if there are episodes of interest.

The Assignment with Audie Cornish. Audie Cornish was a wonderful anchor of NPR’s All Things Considered, and left to start this podcast, among other things. The Assignment examines people living in the headlines and I just like her approach. I miss her on NPR, so this is how I get my fix.

The Daily:  The New York Times came out with this podcast a few years ago, and it always covers a topic in the news in a really engaging way.  If you miss hearing it on the radio, it’s always worth checking out what Michael Barbaro and his colleagues are covering.

The Documentary by BBC News. This podcast provides in-depth treatment of a variety of international issues. Each podcast covers one topic. I got hooked after listening to several episodes focused on the Ukraine war – from both the Ukrainian and Russian side.

Think with Krys Boyd:  I discovered this NPR radio station (KERA) in Dallas’ podcast by accident, but I think host Krys Boyd is among the best interviewers out there.  This is sometimes focused on Texas topics, but most often on issues of national importance and interest. 

Personal Finance/Business/Retirement

The Long View: One of the hosts of this Fidelity Investment’s podcast is Christine Benz, who is a well-known Fidelity Investment analyst. It covers a lot of investing topics that I’ve found to be informative and interesting.

Her Money with Jean Chatzky:  This is the only show I listen to religiously and have never missed an episode.  Jean Chatzky is known to many audiences for the financial advice she provides in a friendly, nonjudgmental, and well researched manner.  This show covers a range of topics related to women and money.  I always feel empowered after I listen to Jean, who’s enthusiastic and encouraging regardless of how financially knowledgeable one is.  Men should feel welcome to listen too.

Jill on Money: Jill Schlesinger takes questions on personal finance issues and provides her advice as a Certified Financial Planner.

The Retirement Answer Man: This is a weekly podcast covering retirement planning from various angles, but mostly focused on personal finance.

Cooking/Food

The Splendid Table:  This is a very entertaining, light show that has great interviews, information and recipes.  When I’m stressed, I love to listen to Frances Lam’s gentle voice as he takes on a range of food topics.

A Taste of the Past:  This looks at the history of food-related topics. 

Entertainment/Sports/Books

*In the Village and The Podium: If you’re into the Olympics, as I am, start listening to these podcasts, which covers what it’s like to be an Olympian, including in the Olympic Village.

*Books, Beach and Beyond: This is Elin Hildenbrand’s podcast, in which the famed author interviews authors, editors and others in the book publishing business.

*Wild Card with Rachel Martin. This is a new NPR podcast, which is part-game show and part-interview. Martin gets actors, artists and thinkers to open up about their joys and fears in a choose your own adventure discussion format.

*The Plot Thickens: This TCM podcast has been on my list before, but because it changes its focus each year, I’m including it as a new podcast. Each season, the host Ben Mankiewicz does a deep dive into a historically significant Hollywood personality or movie.  This year’s is about the renowned movie director John Ford, who made films from the 1920’s to the 1960’s. I don’t even like westerns, which are his most famous movies, but this podcast series depicts the real story behind old Hollywood, which I found fascinating.

Awards Chatter:  This is one of the Hollywood Reporters podcasts (and my favorite).  The host, Scott Feinberg, is a great interviewer of famous folks, most of whom are up for one of the big award shows, like the Academy Awards, Tony’s or Grammy’s.  It’s very entertaining and well researched.  Go back to previous episodes – he’s interviewed everyone! [Two other podcasts from THR include It Happened in Hollywood and Behind the Screen.]

Even The Rich:  This podcast provides a comical view of a range of rich figures, usually devoting 3-4 episodes for each rich personality or family being addressed.  They’ve covered the Royal Family, Will Smith, Jay Z and Beyonce, Princess Diana, Madonna, the Murdochs and more.  It’s a light but well researched take on these folks.

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Thanks to my friend Janet, who introduced me to this podcast by the amazingly talented Seinfeld and Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Each episode focuses on a different famous woman in her 80s or 90s, who share their life story and wisdom with Julia, who then discusses what she’s learned with her own mom. It’s engaging and heartwarming.

The British Royal Family: I’m one of those Americans obsessed with Britain’s Royal Family (or any royal family) and listen to Dynasty by Vanity Fair; Born to Rule: When Charles is King; and Royally Obsessed (very chatty).  

Podcasts based on TV shows

*Dishing on Julia: I absolutely loved Julia, the Max series based on Julia Child’s early years on television. This podcast covers what was really happening both in Julia’s life at the time and the back story of the making of this series.

*The Official Hacks Podcast: This podcast goes episode by episode on the later seasons of the Max series, Hacks, which I adore.

The Official Gilded Age Podcast: If you loved HBO’s Gilded Age tv series, this is the podcast for you.

And Just Like That: The Writers Room: if you are a fan of “Sex and the City” and the recent series “And Just Like That,” you’ll appreciate this podcast, which speaks to the writers, actors and others involved in making the latest series.

Bridgerton: The Official Podcast: This is a fantastic podcast that goes through each episode of the wonderful Netflix series, with interviews with its stars and a lot of backstage players. I loved this!

History

*American History Tellers: This podcast does deep dives into different historical subjects. Among the interesting ones this year have been Lewis and Clark, and currently, Presidential first ladies.

*For the Ages:  A History Podcast: This is the podcast from the NY Historical Society, and is hosted by David M. Rubinstein, the co-founder of the Carlyle Group, former head of the Smithsonian and new owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team. He interviews historians on a range of topics related to American history. He has a humorous interview style, making this an entertaining podcast.

*The Thomas Jefferson Hour: Noted historian Clay Jenkinson (who also was an expert on my 2019 Smithsonian’s Thomas Jefferson’s North Dakota tour) is an expert on Jefferson, both Roosevelts and now John Steinbeck, among many others. He’s currently mimicking John Steinbeck’s trip across America in his book “Travels with Charley” in his AirStream trailer. He’s just incredibly informative and interviews a lot of knowledgeable and interesting historians and others about America, American history, and Steinbeck. Look for him in many of Ken Burns’ documentaries.

The Bowery Boys: New York History: I love this very informative podcast with historians steeped in everything having to do with New York City. I learned about it when listening to the Official Gilded Age Podcast above. A related podcast is the Gilded Gentleman, which I also recommend.

Dressed – The History of Fashion:  I am a fashion and history buff, so this is a perfect podcast for me.  The two hosts are fashion historians that cover a range of fashion topics that usually relate to current times. 

Rachel Maddow’s Deja News and Ultra. I’m a huge Rachel Maddow fan and will listen to anything she does. Her deep research shows her Ph.D chops, and brings important historical salience to our current political environment.

Stuff You Missed in History Class:  This covers historical events or figures that most of us have never heard of.  I loved the one about the 1918 Flu, which was produced years before the current pandemic.

Miscellaneous

Chasing Life with Sanjay Gupta. Many know Dr. Sanjay Gupta from CNN. He brings his own life and experience to each episode, which I find helps me relate to whatever he covers. He tends to focus on a single topic each season. Last season’s focus was on aging; this season is on happiness.

On the Media. This NPR podcast is also a weekly radio program, but I’ve started listening to it since I often miss its regular Saturday at 7 am broadcast (on my local NPR station). Each week explores how the media treats an issue, and I find its approach and what it covers riveting.

A Certain Age: this podcast deals with a variety of issues that women my age and older deal with.

Learn to Paint: this podcast host interviews artists, working in various media, to discuss their approach to art. Inspiring for painters like me.

WorkLife with Adam Grant: An organizational psychologist, Adam Grant dives into the keys to creating a better work life.

Listening to podcasts makes everything I do more enjoyable — whether walking, cooking, painting, cleaning, driving or looking for inspiration. I hope you find some new ones to listen to. No doubt I’ll have a fresh list next year. Enjoy the last weeks of Summer!

Previous Lists:

Note: many of the podcasts removed from previous lists are because they are no longer active or are not as relevant, not because I don’t still recommend them. Many are likely still available.

2023 Podcast Recs

2022 Podcast Recs

2021 Podcast Recs

2020 Podcast Recs

My husband and I recently took a month-long road trip across our country, visiting family and friends along the way. On one of our stops, we visited the very worthwhile National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. 

When I visit a history museum, I tend to view the content through that historical lens, without necessarily connecting it to my own experience. What so startled me about this museum was how close the conditions that led to WWI mimic our circumstances today, even if the details are quite different.

When I studied WWI in graduate school, I learned that the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary triggered the start. I didn’t appreciate how this was just the culminating event of intense political and social upheaval, as well as known and secret political alignments that compelled many countries to join what came to be a world war. 

It’s hard for us to imagine how much change was afoot in the years before WWI began in 1914. Colonization divided the world among a handful of European powers, leading to significant resentment. European royal families ruled most of Europe, and their perceived excesses exacerbated grievances among the impoverished majority. Technological advancements allowed much more sophisticated warfare, changing the nature of war forever. The recent introduction of electricity as well as mechanical advances raised expectations of a better life for even the poorest. Industrialization brought horrible working conditions for so many migrating from the farm to cramped, dirty cities for little pay. Social upheaval and economic distress were widespread, spawning an appetite for new forms of political philosophy, such as communism and fascism.

Similarities of then and now

This historical event from 100 years ago felt unexpectedly familiar. Deep bitterness had permeated the social order just when technology was changing how society conducted itself.

The common denominator then and now was privation, fear of losing privilege, significant technological change, and narcissistic leaders. What’s starkly different is the type of technological transformation (our current digital revolution vs the industrial revolution of the 19^th and 20^th centuries), and the speed of media, i.e., our 24-hour news cycle and fragmented media.

Imagine how destabilizing the following must have felt before, during and following WWI and WWII: 

• The switch from horse-drawn carriages to motorized vehicles, not to mention the prospect of the flying machine, aka air flight.
• Years of colonization by those who had no interest in understanding the local culture.
• The Russian revolution and murder of the Czar and his family, leading to Lenin and then Stalin’s communist system, and the creation of the USSR and its Iron Curtain across Eastern Europe.
• The horrible loss of life from a war (WWI) while few understood why they were in it.
• Influenza that killed an estimated 20-50 million people world-wide.
• Japan’s invasion of China, which then experienced massive restructuring (and famine) under Mao.
• Severe financial distress, including massive unemployment, stemming from interwar reparations (for Germany), the Great Depression and the breakdown of the gold standard.
• Massive global migration due to economic, religious and political hardship.
• Narcissistic leaders (i.e., Trotsky, Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, Mao) who cared more about power than the welfare of their people.

World War I was to be the war to end all wars, but instead laid the groundwork for WWII and Hitler’s rise. Then, the hard-fought victory over Germany and Japan in WWII led to the new world order, which divided power between Western democracies and the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence for the next forty years.

Are we on the brink?

Is that where we are now – on the brink of a new world order? Political polarization is rampant all over the globe. An aggrieved Russia is trying to avenge its humiliation following the fall of its communist system and empire. Voters in democratic countries are falling for authoritarian leadership around the world.

On the one hand, visiting this museum made me feel comforted that today’s instability is the most common theme in human history. We have been conditioned to think that the relative calm (even including our many limited wars) of the last 80 years is normal, when in fact it’s historically an aberration.

On the other hand, could the conditions we find ourselves in lead us unwittingly into a radical, harmful change, akin to World War I? Our coming election will determine our direction and influence others, since what happens in the United States often affects political directions around the world. Many Americans falling for MAGA don’t realize that their vote would be a gift to China and Russia, whose power-hungry leaders are chomping at the pit to alter the world order – against democracy. 

Controlling despair

I don’t have good advice for controlling the despair I feel about losing democracy and the progress made in the recent past, other than reducing my news intake. Being Jewish, my struggle is balancing how close to 1930’s Germany we are in (when only the wisest, luckiest Jews got out) vs faith in our democratic institutions and their ability to withstand MAGA’s worst tendencies.

Learning history is a salve for me. I appreciate the analysis of Rachel Maddow, who reminds us of earlier periods in US history when we’ve overcame fascist tendencies during and following WWII, and corrupt leaders (i.e., Vice President Agnew and President Nixon) during the Watergate period of the 1970s. Her consistent message in her MSNBC show, her podcasts and books are that individual action matters.

We’ve been saved repeatedly by brave individuals who stood up in the face of powerful, dangerous actors. Will such courage continue and be successful in the future?

Just like in the early twentieth century, we are in a period of fear. Fear of change, suspicion of the other, worry about losing privilege. These fears are provoking a vocal minority to lie, threaten political violence and retribution, and undermine our core values and many social norms that have been the mainstay in the United States for decades or centuries.

For the first time, I as an American can relate to other countries and periods of history when things go south. The United States no longer has the moral authority to think bad things can’t happen here (slavery and treatment of Native Americans notwithstanding).

Darwinian

It seems Darwin was right, even about our social order. Maybe progress can only be made slowly. Electing a black President and expanding gay and gender rights were too threatening to too many in our society. As the old saying goes – “two steps forward, one step back.” I just hope the expected regression of this phase does not result in more steps back.

As our crazy political season ramps up, I will try to stay positive and hopeful that we can rise above our current strife. If you have a good way of coping or framing the situation we’re in, I’d love to hear it. 

Two Recommended Listens from KERA’s Think podcast:

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of grievances” – interview with the New York Times Frank Bruni.

“Congress is not gridlocked. No really” – a more hopeful interview with David Leonhardt, a senior writer at The New York Times magazine.

There’s been so much attention on mental health issues affecting our young folks (teens to thirties). They’ve been particularly impacted by COVID isolation, social media pressures, concern about climate change and gun violence, exorbitant college loans, the high cost of living, drug use (and fentanyl), the Israel-Gaza war, gender issues, etc.  Anxiety is sky high. Having twenty-something kids myself, I’m particularly attuned to issues affecting this generation.

Thus, it was gratifying to hear the podcast, “How to make the most of your twenties” (link below), with a clinical psychologist, Meg Jay, who specializes in the twenties age group.

I’ve long recognized that the twenties can be the toughest decade, as kids transition from an education-focused life to an adult life full of responsibilities and grown-up stuff (and almost no vacation time). This podcast affirms my instincts but with a positive spin.

It’s all about Uncertainty

As Jay says, the angst experienced by twenty-somethings is really about uncertainty. Uncertainty about their careers, who they will partner with, where they will live, their livelihood, and many other issues.

I remember this age well. As a recent college graduate in 1984, I made my way to New York City, with my newly earned business degree but without a job or a firm direction. I found two decent entry-level jobs but was generally unhappy with my career options even while having a blast living in such a vibrant city. I remember feeling stuck, with little confidence that I would be the star that I wanted to be. I wondered if I would ever find a mate or have kids. It was all so uncertain. I now realize that’s how many twenty-somethings feel.

A lot transpires during this decade. Think about being 21, about to graduate from college. Or 25, dealing with a first or second job or graduate school. Or 29, getting more seasoned career-wise and possibly getting married and having kids.

Taking Action

There’s been a lot written about the fear and anxiety that seems all-consuming for this age group. But according to Jay, fear and anxiety dissipates when we take steps to improve our situation. That could mean changing one’s work situation, one’s relationship or bettering ourselves in a way that improves our self-image. Such actions develop self-confidence, which is the crucial link to reducing angst.  

For me, that meant looking for a way out from my less than satisfying job. As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, when working at the World Trade Center in commodities trading, I seemed to be the only one in the trading room more interested in why the market moved than that it moved. I wanted to know what was happening in the world to make the gold price go up or down. My curiosity propelled me to look for a graduate program that would scratch that itch. In an age before the internet, I found a librarian at the New York Public Library to help me identify programs in international relations, a field I had never heard of. The rest is history, as I ended up getting a master’s in international relations. I left New York and have been in the Washington DC area ever since.

Life is a journey and other advice

The twenties mark our entry into adulthood, a very long-term project. Life reveals itself much more slowly than during the education years, when fifth grade is so much different than tenth grade or the first year of college.

My mother’s sage advice when I was starting out is that I likely would have five jobs before I turned 30. More formally, Dr. Joy cites the statistic that most people will have 9 jobs before 35. Knowing that my first job would probably not last calmed me down when my New York City jobs didn’t turn out as I had hoped.

We live in more unsettled, scary, and buffoonish times than I can ever remember in my lifetime. It’s no wonder mental health is a serious concern, especially for younger adults. Here is some advice to deal with the uncertain twenties, gleaned from the podcasts cited below:

• Life is not neat and linear for anyone, even if it appears otherwise. Everyone struggles at some point.

• Be open, thoughtful and a good listener. This draws people to you and helps develop important life and social skills that will always serve us positively.

• Embrace connection as catharsis. Covid taught us how much we humans are social animals and need social contact. It seems harder than ever for young folks to separate from their cell phones, approach others or even make a phone call. However, being the one who reaches out to others – beyond social media posts — will pay dividends. Make the first move and invest meaningfully in friendships. 

• Consider what growth experiences you need. A new skill? New friends? A creative outlet? There’s more access than ever to a solution, so put energy into that.

• Think and reflect. Take the time to process your thoughts about everything. About what you like or don’t like about a job, your relationship, friends. Then, remember to apply these thoughts or concerns as you go through life. For example, apply what you’ve liked in managers (and purposely avoid what you didn’t like) when it’s your time to manage others. Use lessons learned in previous relationships to communicate about how you want to be treated in a current romantic relationship. Think about your decision to say yes or no to opportunities or suggested activities. Do you want to do X or Y? It takes thought to know whether you want to or not, and why. Your phone’s notes app is great to record your thoughts.

Tips for Parents

For parents, Meg Joy says that we need to stop panicking and pathologizing our kids’ struggles.

Our job is to prepare our kids for the path, but not to create the path. Overcoming obstacles and developing their own success is what leads to vital skills development and self-confidence. We are no longer our adult children’s managers. We are only advisors, if asked to be. Often, it’s OUR anxiety that causes us to rush in, not necessarily their needs. Her advice seems obvious but is a good reminder.

As a culture, we tend to be nostalgic for our twenties. But that’s only because with hindsight, we know how things actually evolved. For those in their twenties, the struggles are real. Let’s view this age for what it is – an amazing decade of fun and relatively light responsibilities but at the same time filled with fears about an uncertain future.

Today’s Gen Z and younger Millennials are truly a unique age group. While all generations have had their challenges, today’s young folks are affected by political, cultural, and social craziness to an absurd degree. They also have distinct competence as digital natives and the worldliness that comes with that. Of course, this has positive and negative implications.

For the twenty-somethings I know, I’m in awe of their resourcefulness, clarity of mind and less interest in materialistic accumulation. I am looking forward to seeing how they surmount their challenges, and with this wisdom, lead us into the future.

Recommended Listens:

How to make the most of your twenties with Meg Jay from the WorkLife podcast withAdam Grant

How to Make America’s Young People Happier Again from the Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

This blog updates a November 2021 blog I wrote about “My First Year with Solar.” It’s now been a full three years that my family has had solar panels on our roof. I want to report not only on what’s it’s been like but also how it’s felt. For those who want my version of a solar 101, please see my earlier blog, in which I dig into the details of how we came to our purchase decisions – calculations and all.

Our path to Solar

Having solar on our roof has been fantastic. Instead of focusing on an upgraded countertop or fancy furniture or car, my husband and I decided to put our money where our values are. We paid in full for our solar system, but others without the upfront funds or without a sunny roof, could finance it through green bank programs or purchase community solar (see below).

Some view solar panels as ugly. Not me. I love approaching my home and seeing all 28 panels producing electricity. It’s fun to monitor my app that tells me every day (updated every 15 minutes) how much my system is producing. I like getting my SREC (solar renewable energy credit) payment each month for the solar I produce.

It’s especially gratifying receiving a tiny bill (usually about $8 to cover distribution charges) during the warmest months of the year, when many of my friends complain about their costly electricity bills. Of course, it’s at the sunniest and warmest time of year when my system produces more than enough electricity to power my home and gives a lot back to the grid.

When I worked at the US Department of Energy (DOE), we did a study that showed that once one takes the first step toward climate action, they are highly motivated to take further, more substantial action.

For me this started around 2006 when we purchased our first Prius, a hybrid vehicle that was considered cutting edge. It felt good to thumb our noses at the anti-climate Bush 43 Administration. We then took advantage of every dollar available to increase energy efficiency in our home with the Recovery Act of 2009. We started with the requisite energy audit and blower door test to provide a baseline of what was happening in our home. What followed was air sealing and blown insulation in our attic, as well as ensuring our windows were caulked to prevent unwanted air flow. These all resulted not only in reduced electricity use and bills, but also increased comfort.

When Montgomery County, the Maryland county we live in, started a co-op to help purchasers understand solar and lead a process to find a competent installer that would also provide a volume discount for homeowners, we went for it. After about six months – from initial education session to installation – our system was turned on in November 2020.

We’ve added to our environmental practice with a weekly composting service and purchasing a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) last January. We haven’t gone all the way to a fully electric vehicle because of our range anxiety, but we likely will buy one next time we replace a car.

Latest stats

Figuring out our precise pay-back is not easy because it’s hard to calculate our precise consumption relative to our solar production. Our electricity bill displays our consumption and our excess production, but it doesn’t include the solar we’re using in our consumption. So, in figuring our current pay-back, 2019 data is needed for comparison. This is inexact given that our usage has changed somewhat (kids no longer live in our home part of the year, we have a PHEV car, the weather is variable year to year, etc.), but here’s my updated estimate.

In my 2020 blog, I showed a 5.6-year payback. My latest calculation reveals a slightly lower payback of 5.72 years (undiscounted). What’s changed is the relative price of electricity – mostly up – both for the 50% wind we pay for and even standard offer rates. Also, SRECs in 2021 fetched +$70 and now are more in the +$50 range. We are now powering our PHEV car rather than buying gasoline most of the time, so that increases our electricity use (and reduces our gasoline bills, which I haven’t factored into our pay-back). I expect SRECs to stay in the $50 range or go down as solar becomes more common place. Note that our payback would have been faster had we had the 30% tax credit available now instead of the 26% that existed in 2020. Still, our system will be paid back in less than 3 years from now, and then continue to generate for 15-25 years, as electricity prices are expected to continue to rise.

Be Inspired, not shamed

It’s not my intention to shame anyone who hasn’t gotten on the climate band wagon. Lack of information and inertia are huge impediments to getting started. I spent thirty years working on climate change, so I was more knowledgeable and motivated to jump into this.

This blogpost is meant to inspire interest and hopefully action. It feels great to be doing our part to lower our impact on the environment, especially as we have all begun experiencing the effects of climate change. The possibility of extreme weather events needs to be factored into vacation and other decisions as never before. For example, shoring up our homes to withstand extreme rainfalls will help avoid wet basements, mold and sump-pump failures. I’ve become more mindful about vacation planning, such as avoiding July-August travels to Europe given increasingly hot summers (and less than robust air conditioning).

My husband and I are traveling much more now that we’re both retired, so our effort to lower our personal climate footprint helps atone for the CO2 we’re emitting while flying and driving long distances. We know we have more progress to make – we still use our sunroom (my art studio…) that uses relatively more electricity during the hottest and coldest days, although we’ve installed a much more efficient ductless mini-split than our older, extremely inefficient baseboard heater. Up next: going as fossil fuel-free as possible as we investigate replacing our natural gas water heater, furnace, and stovetop – thanks to another Montgomery County program. This next step is more nerve-wracking, especially in anticipation of any power outages we may have (a la extreme weather…). At some point soon, we hope to have solar-powered battery backup too.

Climate change truly is the existential crisis we’ve all heard about. We don’t get a second chance to reverse course. Our grandkids will want to know what we did to stave off this crisis. Luckily, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides rebates and tax credits to make it easier than ever for individuals, businesses, and cities to take climate action. The IRA represents a huge investment in helping us help ourselves and is the single biggest tranche of funds ever spent by any government to stimulate climate action. No matter what you plan for your next step, it pays to learn as much as you can before jumping in. 

I’d be happy to speak with anyone who wants to learn more about my climate action journey.

For more information about solar energy or community solar:

How to get started with Solar for your home

Community solar

For help in purchasing solar for your home or community solar, check out Solar United Neighbors, which is the non-profit that ran the co-op that got us started:

For folks in Montgomery County, MD, check out this site and this link to Electrify MC

I had planned to publish this blog post the week of October 8. But after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, I was uncomfortable putting out a seemingly inconsequential piece of writing after such a horrible event. What could I write that would seem important enough at this time?

After much thought, I’ve come to realize that this blog’s intended message was maybe precisely what we all need right now.

Even during national or international events that haunt us, we still need to deal with the day-to-day details and concerns of our lives.

So many events are beyond our control. What we can adjust is how we process information or situations. The first podcast referred to below couches it well — we can manage our mood. When we’re feeling crappy about our personal or job situation, we don’t have to dwell on the negative. We can raise ourselves up. It’s cost-free. In many cases, it just requires an attitude adjustment.

As the first podcast interview below attests, current difficulties are often a set-up for better days ahead.

I can vouch for this from many instances in my life.

Work-related struggles

Most of my blog posts recount how I’ve dealt with less than positive job situations. Suffice it to say, in every case, these negative predicaments led to much better times. For example, the job I came to hate while working at the World Trade Center in the 1980s propelled me to search for a graduate program that provided a wonderful learning experience and year in Italy, and a rewarding federal government career in Washington, DC. [Not to mention it prevented me from being at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001!]

Repeatedly during my career, feeling stale or frustrated at work prodded me to look for new and better opportunities. Without such dissatisfaction, I might not have found fulfilling positions in climate change policy, renewable energy, workforce and education, and running the world-renowned Solar Decathlon.

The Trump Administration disaster — horrible for the US and the world — also triggered my earlier than expected retirement. Making the leap to leave was a big deal for risk adverse me. While I was mulling my decision, I found my ongoing, troubling interactions with political appointees and senior career managers counterintuitively helpful. They just reinforced my reason for leaving. While I am glad most people I know stayed, it was untenable for me in the job I had at the time (and had loved).

It was the set-up I needed to take a risk and try new things. It spurred me to search for new interests and develop new passions.

Anyone with a long career will experience the ups and downs that come with changing priorities, budgets, managers, and office politics. Knowing this is normal can help us feel less alone and more hopeful while going through it. Again, it’s managing our mood while traversing the roller coaster that helps weather the storm more gently. It also helps us clear our mind, making it easier to think about what we want from our next move. In addition, a better mood makes us more agreeable to be around, which in turn entices friends and colleagues to help us find new opportunities.

Performance reviews 

I tended to get overly apprehensive in advance of performance reviews. While I know I was doing a good job, at performance review time I would fixate on the things I may not have excelled at. I learned to manage this by keeping an ongoing log of things I worked on, and often by job element. Tracking what I did daily in a somewhat organized fashion made it easier to document my performance, helped my manager understand how I met or exceeded job expectations and minimized my restiveness.

The Personal Angle 

Like many women, I’ve wasted too much time and energy worrying about my weight – very much a first world problem. As I wrote in a recent blog post, I’ve learned to stop trying to be perfect and instead accept being “good enough.” This has helped me to appreciate the amazing things my body can do for me, fully enjoy food and drink, and feel happier and upbeat.

Our mood can be affected by friends – positively or negatively. I had a close friend who tended toward a negative take on almost every situation. I found myself adopting this negative world view. I realized I needed to distance myself from this person. Once I did, I saw an immediate change in myself for the better. Conversely, being around my perennially optimistic, non-judgmental friends reminds me to lead with generosity.   

For those going through a romantic break-up, which can be incredibly destabilizing, wallowing solo too long will not help. Instead, reaching out to supportive friends and looking for new experiences provide constructive distractions and promotes recovery. Although not easy, moving forward, rather than obsessing about what may have been, is the set up for the next, more evolved, and healthy relationship.

COVID

While COVID has shattered so many lives, it brought some positives. In my case, I explored my new-found interest in art. I started taking an in-person art class in January 2020, but went online with everyone else in March 2020. This class continues online, with my wonderful teacher Karen Norman. I’ve not only found virtual art instruction a perfect way to learn but it’s helped build a community that might not have developed as enthusiastically without pandemic-imposed limitations. I’ve also benefited from the vastly increased amount of free, online content available via Zoom and YouTube.  I am amazed at how much more observant I am of my surroundings – all potential subjects to paint! In this way, COVID expanded my world rather than limited it.

Changing our internal tape

No one will escape negative periods of life. But we have much more control than we often appreciate to consciously land on the positive or negative side of an imaginary line. We can change the internal tape we play for ourselves. It’s up to us to intentionally embrace what’s good in our lives – our kids, partner, or volunteer efforts – even while we may be less than satisfied at work.

During this time of extreme stress from national and international events, which I fear will get worse before it gets better, managing our mood is particularly challenging. To deal with especially stressful events, experts recommend that we build our connections with others in our community and limit our exposure to news events. It’s all easier said than done, but worth our effort to maintain our equilibrium. I find myself listening to a lot more non-newsy podcasts to help shield me from sad and scary Mideast news.

Consciously managing our mood is not an excuse to delude ourselves. It’s about applying perspective and effort to prepare for the next, more suitable thing. I am so hoping that what’s happening right now in the Middle East will become the set-up for true and sustainable peace for Israel and its neighbors.

Recommended Listens:

Sheri Salata on the 3 Words to Happiness and How to Find the Glitter on Your Path, from the Cathy Heller Podcast

The Rewards of Stepping Out of Line: A Commencement Address from Kara Swisher

This is the fourth August that I’m providing my podcast recommendations. I’m a huge podcast listener, and often find inspiration for my blog while listening to them. This year, I thought I would showcase just the new podcasts I’ve started listening to this year.

If you’re looking for a more robust list, I would start with last year’s. It’s long but also describes my most beloved podcasts. The previous lists – for 2021 and 2020 – also are a good place to go but some are now outdated. Note that while I subscribe to a ton of podcasts, I only listen to episodes that sound captivating.

I hope my recs prove valuable. Please note that I’m not providing a link to each one since folks listen on different apps.

Here goes:

Chasing Life with Sanjay Gupta. Many know Dr. Sanjay Gupta from CNN. This podcast is not new, but I’ve just started listening because I’m especially interested in this season’s topic – aging (now that I’m over 60…). He brings his own life and experience to each episode, which I find helps me relate to whatever he covers.

I Weigh with Jameela Jamil. My daughter turned me on to this one. Jameela Jamil may be familiar from her role on the tv show The Good Place. This podcast is focused on shame, and I’m impressed with what an intelligent interviewer, activist and thinker Jameela is, and the guests she has on. Plus, she has a superb British accent.

On the Media. This NPR podcast is also a weekly radio program, but I’ve started listening to it since I often miss its regular Saturday at 7 am broadcast (on my local NPR station). Each week explores how the media treats an issue, and I find its approach and what it covers riveting.

Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway. I revere Kara Swisher, the most badass interviewer I know. This is a relatively new podcast, in which Kara and NYU professor Scott Galloway cover politics and technology’s influence on our society. They offer sharp analysis while being very entertaining.

Rachel Maddow’s Deja News. I’m a huge Rachel Maddow fan and will listen to anything she does. I’m saving Deja News for a road trip, but I know I’ll love it. I also recommend her previous podcasts – Ultra and Bag Man. None are more than 7 episodes. Her deep research shows her Ph.D chops, and brings important historical salience to our current political environment.

The Assignment with Audie Cornish. Audie Cornish was a wonderful anchor of NPR’s All Things Considered, and left to start this podcast, among other things. The Assignment examines people living in the headlines and I just like her approach. I miss her on NPR, so this is how I get my fix.

The Documentary by BBC News. I’ve recently discovered this podcast, and really enjoy its in-depth treatment of a variety of international issues. Each podcast covers one topic. I got hooked after listening to several episodes focused on the Ukraine war – from both the Ukrainian and Russian side.

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Thanks to my friend Janet, who introduced me to this podcast by the amazingly talented Seinfeld and Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Each episode focuses on a different famous woman in her 80s or 90s, who share their life story and wisdom with Julia, who then discusses what she’s learned with her own mom. It’s engaging, fascinating and heartwarming.

I’ve admired perfectionists for much of my life. To me, they had higher standards, immense discipline, and unique abilities, and I wished to emulate them. That is, until I came to understand that most perfectionists have trouble completing things. Realizing this helped me appreciate that my non-perfectionist penchant might just be a virtue.

My approach to most things is to do a good enough job and then move on. Does that mean I don’t have high enough standards? Or was I equating perfectionism with expertise? What really is expertise anyway?

Clearly, a Ph.D. scientist exploring diseases has deep expertise that most of us can never claim. Like a medical doctor or lawyer or academic steeped in a specific field, this person may or may not be a perfectionist, but they certainly have the knowledge and experience that qualifies them as an expert. Perfectionism is not what distinguishes them (although we pray our surgeons aim for perfection).

Food Network to the Rescue

I must thank the Food Network and HGTV for showing me that in my own domain, formal training is not always needed. These networks gave me the initial confidence to trust myself to cook a good enough meal and make decisions about the décor in my home. While it’s great to go to delicious restaurants or hire an interior decorator, sometimes we know ourselves and our preferences better than any “expert” could. We can make our own substitutions if we don’t have cilantro or hate it. Being surrounded by bright colors makes me happy and lets me put my own stamp on my clothing and home décor.

Realizing that I could cultivate my own competency was a game changer for me. It’s given me confidence in ways I couldn’t have imagined. It’s also brought me joy in my own creativity. 

Good Enough applies widely

Accepting a standard of “good enough” gave me the guts to write this blog (and sometimes include my watercolor paintings, as above). In fact, I’ve learned that when I’ve lost myself in my message and want to trash it, it’s time to stop editing and hit publish. Another lesson in how perfectionism is BS. Of course, you as my reader can judge whether it’s worth your time to read my blog. . .

Since entering the art world, I endorse the mantra – “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” – more than ever. Learning about well-known artists’ techniques helps improve mine. As much as I may admire their work, I wouldn’t necessarily want to own their art. What I love in a painting may not be what others would praise. For relative beginners like me, expressing ourselves in our art is what makes a piece special. We must accept that our artwork will never be perfect or please everyone.

This extends to body image. Our culture conflates thinness with worthiness. Like many, I’ve spent way too much time dieting and obsessing about what I ate and how I looked. One of the best things about getting older is accepting that I’ll never be the ideal weight or look perfect. Good enough is comforting. It’s nice not to constantly beat myself up. I thank Lizzo and other celebrities for spreading body acceptance to younger folks.

When you think about it, what most captivates us is a person’s essence – their comfort with themselves, being generous towards others, and often, having a self-deprecating, upbeat nature. How one looks is only one component. Anyway, “perfect” appearance can render someone intimidating and unapproachable – like a curse.

In a work context

Looking back over my career, the most effective people I worked with each had flaws, which actually made them more human and approachable. It was those who had an overly inflated view of themselves that were usually the most insecure and difficult to work with. I was relieved when I realized I could stop expecting to be perfect at my job, just as those I most admired were not. 

Forsaking perfectionism doesn’t mean foregoing excellence. It just means that applying another 150 percent of effort is not worth the extra 1 percent improvement in the final product. It’s so much more efficient to allocate time and headspace to move on to other equally or more important tasks. During my time at the US Department of Energy, we were under the gun to get a lot done; effort expended to wordsmith a decision memo or power point slide deck could take time and resources away from accomplishing a more urgent assignment with more consequential impacts.

Our challenge is maintaining a sustainable pace that allows longevity and maximum impact. So, my wish for you is to examine when perfectionism is no longer serving you and embrace a “good enough” attitude.

Related, recommended Listens:

“Julia Gets Wise with Ruth Reichl” from the Wiser Than Me podcast with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

“Steve Martin on finding your authentic voice” from the WorkLife with Adam Grant podcast

Many advancements come from adversity when you think about it. When things are going poorly – either culturally, militarily, economically or at work — we tend to focus on the negative. But with hindsight, it becomes clear that a hard time often jumpstarts a new, more positive path. In many cases, exponential versus incremental progress is the outcome.

World War

War is destructive and devastating. It’s also often a catalyst for constructive change.

During World War I, fighting bacterial infection, a huge source of deaths, became easier with the greatly expanded use of penicillin. Airplane technology also accelerated sharply during this period, making air travel more available and affordable years earlier than would have occurred otherwise.

Women’s clothing became vastly more wearable and less confining when cloth for domestic use was rationed and dedicated to the war effort. Women’s dresses became shorter and less bulky, meaning women could be more comfortable and agile. Following WWI and the 1918 flu pandemic, attitudes about women’s dress and social comportment became even more relaxed during the 1920’s jazz age.

WWII led to greater acceptance of women in the workforce as so many men were fighting overseas. Even though women were discharged back to their housewife roles when the men came home, it became more accepted that many professions didn’t require men’s strength and may benefit from female-oriented attributes.

The Depression

Even the Depression that began in 1929 and into the 1930’s led to positive change. When visiting national parks and other areas, my family and I have marveled at the once-in-a-lifetime public works projects (ex. roads, bridges, landscaping, buildings) built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and other New Deal programs. It is doubtful that many of these supplementary projects would have secured funding had it not been for the need for massive reemployment. Social Security also came out of this period, as did the 40-hour workweek and minimum wage.

I am fascinated by a series of programs that fell under the Works Progress Administration, which subsidized unemployed artists, musicians and writers. In addition to the wonderful art created under the WPA, we continue to benefit from the historical documentation by writers and photographers of our regional differences, which became much less distinctive once TV (and later the telecommunication age) became so prominent. One example is the WPA’s America Eats Project, in which writers were sent around the country to chronicle what Americans bought, ate, cooked and thought about food during the 1930’s. This work is now available via the What America Ate project. Little of this would have happened without the ravages wrought by the Depression.

Covid-19

While no one would ever want to experience a global pandemic again, it has ushered in valuable gains that might have otherwise taken years or decades to achieve.

Zoom, Slack, Teams and other electronic applications have allowed us to work and connect remotely, essentially changing the nature of work and play for so many. We no longer expect that workforce productivity can only happen at the office.

A compelling transformation since covid is the proliferation of car-free streets. Many of our roadways turned into streeteries that enabled us to meet and eat communally in a safe way. While there are those that oppose banning cars, many of us love having greater access to pedestrian and bike-friendly outdoor public spaces, even if it means having to find parking farther afield. Urban planners have learned a ton from this unplanned experiment.

Our downtowns now need to be reimagined because of the change in work routines. The next innovation is retrofitting downtown commercial buildings for residential use, inviting more into city centers and hopefully in a more affordable way. Such zoning changes would have been unthinkable a few years ago.

Covid has led to greater integration of our personal and work lives. It became normal to see kids and dogs during virtual meetings. We now acknowledge and accept that we all have families and obligations external to the workforce. So many are exploring new locales where they can rent an air bnb and work remotely. Not having to commute can feel like a windfall of reclaimed hours each day.

Like others, I’ve become much more attuned to nature. Take birds, which I barely paid attention to before. Since using our deck like never before, I’ve become enchanted with birds and their singing that often accompanies our outdoor meals.  

It’s impossible to anticipate how much our society will be affected by covid over the coming years, decades and even centuries. When my husband and I went to Norway in 2019, we were struck by the impact that the 1340’s Bubonic Plague continues to have on Norway’s structure. Norway lost up to 70% of its population, and most of its nobility, leaving it unable to self-govern. For years until it became a sovereign country in 1905, it was governed either by Denmark or Sweden. Today, the legacy of the Black Plague continues in its small population and its fiercely protected independence. Although it is close to Europe and is a member of NATO (and OPEC), it is intentionally not a member of either the EU or the Eurozone. We have not been hit as hard as Norway was during the Middle Ages, but we are not immune to our pandemic’s lasting impacts.

Work Angst

Many of us have experienced a horrible work ordeal that drove us to search for something else. In the moment, it’s hard to see anything beneficial coming out of our miserable situation, but in most cases, that is exactly what happens. We overcome our typical state of inertia, enter self-examination mode and push ourselves to find a way out. Although no one welcomes work angst, it can be a useful elixir.

History as perspective

I don’t mean to paint an overly rosy view of negative events. It’s hard to find light from the horrible spate of mass shootings, or the Holocaust, or so many racially-or-gender-or religiously-motivated crimes. Covid has shattered lives, disrupted education, and left us with a deep mental health crisis. As noted above in Norway’s example, it will affect us for years and maybe centuries. Our political and social division, and the authoritarian tendencies we are experiencing, will lead to certain change, and we can only hope that this period will in the end lead to positive change.

While there are many reasons to despair, what helps me manage discomfort is looking back. History provides perspective and lessons, much of which proves positive in retrospect. It can be a salve for dealing with difficult times. What’s your perspective on turning negatives into positives?

Related Recommendations:

Making U.S. cities more pedestrian-friendly from KERA’s Think podcast. This was the inspiration for this blogpost.

Take a look at this amazing migratory bird website, in which you can see fascinating information about migrating birds in your county each night Spring through Fall.

New Approaches to Polarization from Katie Couric’s Next Question podcast. This is a fascinating conversation with a Mexican immigrant/son of a Holocaust survivor and philanthropist/founder of Kind bars on overcoming toxic polarization.

I had never thought about the difference between goals and purpose until I listened to two podcasts referred to below.

When we’re young and thinking about our career, we tend to focus on the goal of being uber successful. We think less about our purpose. To simplify the difference, a goal is measured externally while one’s purpose is more internally derived. So, for example, completing college is a goal while being a good parent is more of a purpose.

For the most part, we are encouraged to have goals related to professional success and money and to ignore or suppress our sense of purpose about creativity and societal contribution.

In reviewing my career, I’m reminded that I had to confront this duality repeatedly. I just didn’t distinguish the two in such a meaningful way.

My first time was during the Clinton Administration when Congress drastically cut our budget at the US Department of Energy (DOE). Because the budget cuts would require reduced staff and I was a relative newcomer, I was very close to getting RIF’d – what the government calls laid off. I started looking for jobs outside of government. At the time, I was working on international climate change negotiations. As I explored my options, I came to appreciate just how innovative we in the US Government were compared to anyone outside of the government (not to mention the world at that point). Realizing the value of what we were doing made me more committed than ever to staying in my government job that focused on preserving our environment. Purpose trumped any other professional goals I had. Luckily, I survived that RIF.

Years later, as folks at my level considered applying for Senior Executive Service (SES) positions, I had to decide whether that was something I aspired to. The SES comprise the highest-level, highest paid management jobs at the career level (vs. political appointees) and are extremely competitive and limited in number. From what I had seen, SES managers spend much of their time navigating political issues and dealing with often difficult political appointees and bureaucracy even as they are incredibly powerful and influential leaders. Once I became a mom and time became so precious, I decided that reaching for a senior management job wasn’t worth it for me. Staying where I was would allow me to focus on the content of the work I loved, preserve a normal workday (and at times, a part-time schedule), and better suit my personality. I also recognized that I was a lucky dinosaur – I had risen to the highest non-SES career level (and pay grade) without having to be a formal supervisor – something that just doesn’t happen anymore, at least where I worked.

It’s helpful to periodically evaluate where we are in our career versus where we had expected to be, as well as whether it conforms to our values and circumstances. I had to accept that I was choosing not to move up the senior executive ladder – and external validation — to preserve my more sustainable life. I just couldn’t imagine the stress of a very high-pressured job on top of a 2+ hour commute, especially if it meant I would be less available and agreeable to my kids. Plus, my doctor husband couldn’t cancel patient visits to care for a sick kid or go to a doctor’s appointment, especially at a moment’s notice. I was the on-duty parent.

This is a very personal family decision that I know others may not have made. I am in awe of friends and colleagues who have the energy and wherewithal to juggle both an intense job and family responsibilities.

I’ve second guessed myself at times. I’ve had to remind myself why I made the decisions about my career that I have. It always helps to keep the big picture in mind. I am happy to say I have no regrets.

Minding Cultural signals

It’s sad and troubling that our American culture values those who make a lot of money over those who lead with purpose and contribute to society (usually at much lower pay). If you think about teachers, nurses, caregivers and yes, government workers, we are all indebted to their sense of purpose. For the most part, I bet they are more satisfied than many at the top of the earning heap. I have rarely met a truly happy (but rich) law partner, who regardless of perceived status is still expected to work crazy hours.

The psychological researcher on one of the podcasts (see below) reports that those who lead their lives based on a sense of purpose tend to have better health profiles. This includes a slower rate of cognitive decline, and fewer heart attacks and strokes. The theory is that their approach to life allows them to manage life’s ups and downs in a more even-keeled, less emotional manner. A virtuous cycle ensues. Their appealing nature makes them more likable, leading to better and deeper connections and relationships, which in turn improves health and life expectancy outcomes. I know I am drawn to people who seem upbeat, positive and committed in a welcoming and nonchalant manner.

Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and well-known psychologist, found that those in WWII concentration camps who had a purpose and orientation beyond themselves and toward the future had a greater likelihood of surviving the horrors they experienced.

Andre Agassi, the great tennis player, provides good food for thought. His family groomed him for tennis greatness, which he reached as a world champion and Olympic gold medalist. It turns out he hated tennis. His perch admittedly gave him money and notoriety. He has since devoted his efforts to his charitable foundation, which has raised over $60 million to help at-risk children. He views this as his biggest purpose and achievement.

Structured Life Review

The second podcast interview is with a hospice doctor. His practice was to canvass his patients via structured life reviews to help them evaluate their lives as they were ending. From his many interactions, he found the biggest regrets emanated from the relationships, hobbies and dreams his patients had earlier in their lives but didn’t have the courage to pursue. It was never that they should have worked harder and earned more money.

Our internal sense of purpose is not always obvious. The expert points out that we don’t find purpose as much as develop it. This tends to come from three different approaches:

1. Proactive, gradual approach. Over time, we may realize we’ve developed a purpose through a sustained pursuit of an interest, hobby, or avocation. So, a kid who loves dancing, soccer, birdwatching, or camping may become an adult who follows these passions professionally or as a side passion. Of course, this gradual approach can start at any stage of life.

2. Reactive approach. This is when one’s purpose emerges as a response to a distinctive event, such as an illness, death or a lost job. Those who have dealt with trauma or loss often end up running or volunteering for a non-profit that ensures others are not as affected as they were by negative life events.

3. Social learning pathway. We may draw purpose by watching others who inspire us. We’ve all been blown away by a speaker or person who’s example motivates us to get involved or explore a new interest.

Leading with purpose doesn’t have to be as profound as leading an organization. It could mean just recognizing a creative need or interest and taking the time to pursue it. A purpose may or may not align with one’s career or necessarily focus on helping others. I’m finding so many people in retirement, like me, are blossoming by developing a hobby or jumping into a passion project.

I hope this blog post empowers you to think about your purpose separately from your goals. I’m inspired by the idea of a structured life review, in which we think about the relationships, hobbies, dreams and interests we’d like to pursue, even if we’re too scared or busy to take action. It’s just good to keep checking in with ourselves to make sure we’re designing the life we really want to live, with no regrets.

For much more, take a listen to these podcasts, which inspired this blog post:

“Happiness 2.0: Cultivating Your Purpose” from the Hidden Brain podcast.

Life’s Biggest Money Regrets (And How To Avoid Them), from the HerMoney with Jean Chatzky podcast.

How do you feel when you see an amazing athletic or musical performance? Do you feel invigorated when you observe a stunning view in nature? Are you struck by people who go out of their way to be helpful to others without any obvious benefit to themselves?

According to scientist Dacher Keltner (see first podcast link below), this is “awe.” Awe is an internal feeling that can elevate our mood and perspective. Through hormonal and other measurements, scientists can now demonstrate how laughter, goodness, kindness, and other extraordinary “ordinary” acts can boost our internal bodily response, or our neurophysiology.

We all have experienced awe. What we may not do is pay attention to its beneficial effect on us.  Here are some snippets of awe from my life:

When my kids were babies, I was brought to tears the first time such tiny beings figured out how to coordinate four limbs to start crawling. It seemed a monumental act even though we all eventually do it.

I loved watching how excited my toddler son got from jumping up and down in a puddle of water or riding in a rental car shuttle at the airport. His delight from such everyday activities got me to see the adventure in the ordinary.    

When our kids were young, my girlfriends and I rejoiced when we went out for dinner or a walk. With girlfriend time most often put on the backburner among work and taking care of family, it felt indulgent and decadent in the best way.

Nothing brings a smile to my face like a funny or endearing animal video on social media.

Experiencing a national park or hiking in a gorgeous place makes me feel proud and nourished.

Seeing someone help a stranger hits me emotionally. Toni Morrison called this “allowing goodness its own speech.”

Collective Effervescence

We can experience awe in a group too. Think about how close we feel to others in a giant stadium when our team does well. Or how a beautiful song or dance gives us tingles. Or the camaraderie we feel when hiking in the same place as others we don’t know and just marveling at the scenery together. There is a compelling closeness we feel with strangers when we share such an experience. This is collective effervescence.

According to the science of awe, our vagus nerve is activated when we feel integrated with a larger community or ecosystem. The tingling sensation or goosebumps we feel are our muscles contracting around nerve follicles.

Such neurophysiological responses happen when we experience, for example, birds singing, the whistling wind, sound waves from streaming water and forest smells. This is why we are encouraged to do yoga and mindfulness meditation. It’s why we enjoy game nights, Broadway plays, big sporting events or watching how joyful our kids are while playing. We’re connecting to that which is outside of ourselves and instinctively feel better in our gut.

A salve for grief and anguish

We can search out awe to help us handle grief or a negative state of mind.

Dr. Keltner was devastated when he lost his cherished brother. He looked to walking in nature and listening to especially evocative music to help him deal with his immense loss. He was able to switch his focus from loss to appreciating the beauty in the ordinary.  

Teddy Roosevelt famously went to the wilds of the Dakotas and Wyoming following the deaths — on the same day — of his young wife and mother. Being in nature and among wildlife helped him overcome his grief and restore his reason for being. It also ignited his devotion to conservation, which we are all still benefiting from today.  

Over my career, I now realize I went in search of awe when I was especially stressed or down. I found myself more attuned to basic, nice behavior in others. I noticed how much it helped me when someone I barely knew smiled or said something sweet or silly. When I got home from work, I found extra solace in my kids’ hugs and my dog’s wagging tail. I might not have been as aware of these simple acts when things were better. Their goodness focused me more on their actions and less on my circumstances, bolstering my spirit and attitude.

During the pandemic, taking a robust walk was especially energizing during such a scary time. According to experts, awe and fear elicit a similar neurophysiological response. Communing with the non-human world connected me to the larger ecosystem within which we live. It felt liberating to be outside.

Our special relationship to nature is why many of us are more worried and committed than ever to preserving our environment, now that we have a greater recognition of how we imperil it.

I’m as guilty as anyone about spending too much time on my cellphone, especially if I have downtime. If instead, I used that unstructured time to look around and experience someone or something I’ve never noticed before, it would give me an opportunity to be awestruck. Even by something unremarkable. When I was at the airport recently, I intentionally put down my phone and just looked around. It was stimulating just to notice people – how they were occupying their space and interacting with others.

Sometimes on my walks I challenge myself to discover something new, even though I’ve walked the same path so many times. It always triggers an inner positive feeling.

Searching for awe is shorthand for finding meaning in the everyday. Whether through religion, music, walking outside, talking to others, helping someone, or just noticing something we’ve never bothered to pay attention to before, we can feel connected to the big systems of life.

Feeling awe provides perspective, and a good way for us to manage during our current troubling times.

Recommended Listens:

Dacher Keltner — The Thrilling New Science of Awe from the On Being podcast with Krista Tippett

Maria Shriver: “Coming Through As a Teacher” from Hoda Kotb’s Making Space podcast