Blog: Perspectives From My Career and Life

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

As we close out 2022, I want to celebrate our young adults.

They helped get us through the November elections without the projected red wave that threatened our democracy. The youngest voters – those 18-29 years old – showed up in record numbers, especially in key elections (and again in last week’s Georgia election!). They overwhelmingly voted to safeguard many rights that are existential for a large share of Americans.

I’ve been thinking lately about how our opinion and respect for young adults has changed dramatically, especially since I was in this cohort. It is well deserved IMHO. 

Workforce Sweet Spot 

When I entered the workforce, young workers had to patiently develop expertise that would lead to incrementally more interesting and engaging assignments and positions. It was very hierarchical. Young folks back then had no special skills except eagerness and energy.

In recent years, things have changed mightily.

Those entering or early in the workforce have prized skills – as digital natives — that are appreciated and needed from day one. As a program manager at the US Department of Energy (DOE), I relied on interns to help me manage the data and communication needs of the public aspects of the Solar Decathlon*. From their first day, my interns got to work on substantive projects organizing our website, creating data bases and weblinks to identify where prior houses are located and writing blogs and posts that would be appealing on social media. They simply had skills that most of the rest of us didn’t have. What they were capable of doing easily would have eaten up our budget if we had to hire expensive contractors to take care of these matters.

I’ve recounted this to every young person I speak to: their generation is appreciated precisely because of its youthful qualities. What a transformation. Gen Z and younger Millennials are in a unique sweet spot that will likely not continue. Going forward it will be the norm to expect digital and technological expertise, a thorough understanding of social media and the ability to figure stuff out via YouTube or whatever comes next.

Saving Democracy 

A couple of days before the November election, my anxiety eased somewhat as I realized it was unlikely pollsters were properly gauging the youth vote. Gen Z and most Millennials simply do not pick up the phone unless it’s a clearly identified parent or grandparent. Also, from what I was hearing about massive TikTok election engagement, there had to be a huge undercounting, given that polling algorithms do not yet capture this relatively new platform.

I even texted my kids to tell them I was excited for their generation to vote in large enough numbers to save our democracy. As many did, I woke up on November 9 hugely relieved and grateful that the youth recognized the importance of voting out MAGA Republicans and their ballot initiatives. Although only about a third of the under 30’s voted, they did so in much larger percentages than in previous elections, making a difference in many close contests.

The “Virgin Vote”

In the first podcast shared below, there is reference to the “virgin vote.” According to these scholars, one tends to stick throughout life with the party voted for in one’s first, or “virgin,” election.

For me, this was Ronald Reagan’s 1980 election. While many viewed the Iranian hostage crisis and skyrocketing inflation as the reason to vote for Reagan, choice was the defining issue for all the women I knew at the time. Paranoia can be a predictor of change. I have stuck with my “virgin” voting pattern – I’ve never voted for a Republican, with choice as the foundational issue. I hope those who never thought Roe could be overturned are doing a mea culpa since the Dobbs decision came out.

The Gen Z voter (born since 1997) has been greatly influenced by Trump and events that happened during his Administration. Current Gen Z voters were in middle and high school when Trump was elected. Rather than learning civics, they are living it.

I saw the effect on my kids and their friends. For example, I overheard a discussion of my daughter’s very diverse dance troupe the night after the 2016 election. To a kid, they were so devastated that their dance teacher wisely encouraged them to just talk instead of dance. They each had friends born in another country and were extremely frightened for their friends and their families. They were incredulous that an immoral, racist, misogynistic liar was now our President. They were fearful for their and our country’s future.

While this generation is not exactly a monolith or especially interested in party labels, they are motivated by values and issues. Their activism stems from concerns about voter suppression, gender rights, racial equity, bodily autonomy, gun violence, climate change and student debt. In addition, some are watching their states curtail common sense education. They’ve had it. Their list of concerns is much longer than the one my friends and I were worried about for our “virgin” vote.

Their Actions Speak Loudly

From what I see, these Gen Z/younger Millennials have a different mindset than those before them when it comes to material things. They are walking the talk on preserving our environment. They are deeply concerned about climate change and are less selfish in how they use natural resources. They tend to purchase gently used worldly goods and clothes on Facebook Marketplace or Goodwill rather than rush to purchase new items. They are less likely to own cars and more likely to rely on public transportation or bicycles to get around. In my home, my kids go apoplectic if I leave the water running for more than a few seconds.

It’s consequential that this age group has gained respect and power relative to earlier times. They’ve had to contend with much more than recent generations and will have to bear the consequences of awful decisions or indecisions made by their elders. Climate change, gun violence, and now abortion rights, among other issues, have been thrust on them to solve. We in the Gen X, Baby Boomer and above generations have screwed up. From Greta Thunberg to the Parkland kids to the young woman who filmed and shared the George Floyd video, youth are using technology and their voices to transform our world. They are active and organized politically and socially to a degree not seen since the Vietnam War era.

Social Media as a force for good

Most discussions about social media, especially as it relates to youth, focus on the negative impacts from exaggerated online profiles and an obsession with selfies. Social media has certainly contributed to social pressure, poor self-image, and cyber bullying to a worrying extent. Add in climate change anxiety, inequality, covid isolation and fear of mass shootings, no wonder our youth are experiencing mental health issues at an alarming rate. We also cannot ignore how violent extremists and the disaffected use online platforms to coordinate and amplify their dangerous efforts and visibility.

Still, I’d like to highlight the positive side. Social media has allowed a greater appreciation of difference and has been a godsend for those on the LGBTQ+ spectrum and others experiencing a medical or other issue. It empowers community and connection for the like-minded. Consider Black Twitter, or those with a religious or social connection, or even for parents trying to figure out how to help their kids navigate college or study abroad. I’ve connected with an online arts community I would never even know exists.

Young people basically live on social media, and it’s where they get their news and cultural cues. For this election, it was a force for good, and was the reason so many young voters showed up.

The younger generation wants to reshape the 21^st century’s political and cultural landscape to be more tolerant, inclusive, moral and innovative, not revert back to the inequitable-for-many 20^th century. Their numbers will inevitably grow in the coming years. Rather than appealing to a diverse society, many Republicans are focused on suppressing these and other voters as the only way to maintain power.

Young folks may have been sidelined until they earned their bona fides during my time, but today’s youth’s ability and appetite to step up, vote and show their commitment to addressing so many of our deficiencies is critical in this moment. I welcome them taking over.

Related Recommendations:

The Power of the Youth Vote from the Now & Then Podcast  

Gen Z Are Building the Future They Want to See from The Michael Steele Podcast

How Do Election Polls Work? The NPR Politics Podcast

*The US Department of Energy started the Solar Decathlon in 2000 as a university competition where student teams design and build solar-powered, energy efficient houses over two-years and then compete head-to-head in a large public event. It has since expanded to almost every continent. My last position at DOE was as Director of the Solar Decathlon. The US edition has since evolved into separate design only and build contests, without a central public event. For more information, see www.solardecathlon.gov

I would love to be more entrepreneurial than I am. As an undergraduate business student in the 1980s, I received a strong message that those who relish risk and start companies are to be the most admired. Ever since, I am fascinated by entrepreneurs and what drives them. A good friend of mine, Michael Potter, defines what an entrepreneur is to me. He started very early in his career building and then selling a telecom company and has been engaged in a wide range of pursuits ever since. He kindly sat down with me to discuss his career path and lessons learned, providing food for thought for those at different stages of their career and life.

A little background first

Michael started out with an interest in nuclear arms control while pursuing a master’s degree from the London School of Economics. While in a related internship in Geneva, he realized he wasn’t cut out for the bureaucratic life. He then moved to Washington, DC (where I met him) and worked in a foreign policy think tank. He focused on an area that received little attention but was on the precipice of a massive paradigm shift – international communications. This was a time when the government-run telephone monopolies were going through privatization and deregulation. Michael left the think tank to start a telecommunications company that took advantage of this colossal shift. His company was successful, went public and later sold, setting Michael up to explore whatever interested him. His next move was serving on the Board of an internet infrastructure company that helped build out European fiber optic cable networks and data centers, again leading to a healthy financial exit. He’s been involved in many endeavors since, including producing several documentaries and investing in start-ups. Currently, he is applying much of his prior knowledge and lessons learned to social impact innovation through his non-profit, Geeks without Frontiers. Its ambitious goal is to bring broadband internet to everyone on earth. Among other activities, Michael and Geeks are helping to rebuild Ukraine. To say Michael is an inspiring superstar is an understatement.

We had a wide-ranging conversation. Below are some juicy reflections and advice from a true entrepreneur.

Know Thyself

Michael reiterated throughout our conversation the importance of honestly assessing one’s strengths and weaknesses. Accepting our capabilities and limitations is crucial to pursuing an authentic, fulfilling and hopefully successful path.

Related to this is making sure the career path chosen aligns with our personal values. For Michael, making a positive impact and leaving the world a better place are core values. Another core value is family, and his early success allowed him to be able to put family first. He and his amazing wife Margaret have formed a supportive team that has allowed them individually and jointly to jump into many ventures and causes while being very present for their kids.

Understanding what one likes and doesn’t like is also essential. Michael feels lucky that he had an early introduction to a government-like bureaucracy that he found frustrating, as it seemed more focused on organizational dynamics than on solving consequential challenges. He realized his personality — intent on problem solving — would not jive with working in a structure like that. That’s why he pivoted away from a government/policy-focused career to a business-focused one. 

Comfort level for risk

How we perceive and accept risk is key. According to Michael, entrepreneurs tend to tolerate more risk because they are incredibly passionate about pursuing a goal even if it’s not rational. He was fortunate to launch his first enterprise in his mid-twenties, before kids and family responsibilities, but he feels nevertheless wired to be an entrepreneur.

He believes entrepreneurs tend to be more motivated by the idea they are pursuing than financial remuneration, at least at the founder stage.  They are comfortable being on the roller coaster — on the edge of being out of control.

While it may seem sexy, he cautions that embracing risk is not for the faint of heart and is not a short-cut to success. It takes a lot to see a risky project through, so one must be comfortable with extreme uncertainty.

Thrive on “No”

Michael’s view is that entrepreneurs thrive on upending existing systems and tropes and are used to being told “no.” They don’t accept defeat and are determined to drive forward and innovate a solution. He relishes overcoming institutional resistance, and finds that once momentum builds, change happens fast.  

Success under such conditions is exhilarating and addictive. It feels like vindication and just emboldens those with an entrepreneurial mindset to seek new problems to solve.

Curiosity

We all accumulate context, experience, and know-how as we go. Entrepreneurs seem to have an elevated sense of curiosity that stimulates their “why not” filter, prompting them to invest their time and resources into endeavors that many of us would never consider. For example, Michael (sometimes with Margaret) has produced several documentaries ranging from exploring the commercialization of the Russian space program to celebrating a courageous female spy in Hitler’s Germany. He and Margaret are extremely inquisitive and have made a ton of connections; this combination has spurred their involvement in a constant stream of seemingly unrelated projects.

Attacking challenges

Michael believes that our greatest challenges often provide our greatest opportunities. Solving problems that are pain points for others feels like a calling to him. He approaches complex problems as if playing with a Rubik’s Cube — breaking a situation down to individual steps that must be overcome to be successful. He views himself as a “fanatical problem solver.”

Building our network

He recommends that everyone build their own networking platform, especially since the traditional system of dual loyalty between employer and employee no longer exists. Establishing a consistent social media presence enables a deeper and richer network that can be helpful if something goes right or wrong career-wise. At a minimum, we should all keep our LinkedIn profile up to date, “like” and share posts, and consider writing an original LinkedIn article. It’s important to keep this up to maintain connections and visibility, and not wait to become active on social media until we are close to a needed career change.

More words of wisdom

Michael has found that it’s helpful to be a good multi-tasker.

Mentors are crucial to help advise us and keep us grounded.

Continuous learning, especially around digital technology, is vital to accepting change and fostering innovation.  

He also cautions about spreading oneself too thin. Having too many balls in the air can limit our effectiveness and impact. That said, I’m in awe of how many balls he’s able to manage.

Most of us enter our career hoping to contribute to the benefit of society. Not all entrepreneurs aspire to do this, but Michael does. He is motivated to leave the world and the next generation with tools and information that might not have been available without his efforts. He’s so much more of a doer than anyone I know. He doesn’t just imagine things; he dives in and gets them done. He also has an upbeat manner and a wonderful sense of humor that just draws in anyone who meets him. His personal qualities and world view make him a fascinating and truly impactful person. If I’m fawning, it’s because he deserves it.  

This is my first interview for my blog. I hope you found Michael Potter’s insights and lessons helpful as you pursue your life and career. Please share your thoughts and reactions.

Recommended listens:

I did not intend to provide a link to our zoom conversation, but Michael has a lot of great insights to share beyond what I could include in this blogpost. If you’d like to hear more from Michael, check it out here. [Please excuse the messy beginning of the zoom).

Cathy Heller’s podcast interview with Kendra Scott on her entrepreneurial journey.

I got inspired to write this blogpost after listening to Meghan Markle’s inaugural “Archetype” podcast episode with Serena Williams. While the theme of the episode was women’s ambition, I was captured by Serena’s description of what her retirement from tennis means to her.  She’s “retiring” because that’s the term used when formally leaving professional tennis, but really, she’s evolving into something new and wonderful.

This is how I view my transition since I left my Federal Government career. I “retired” from the US Department of Energy in 2018, meaning I met the eligibility to leave after 30 years with full benefits. I didn’t retire in the traditional sense. The term “retirement” is weighty, especially for those who are not elderly or infirm when they take the action to leave the traditional workforce. I wish there were a better term, since I made the decision to separate from government service to launch a new, hopefully productive, chapter.

I write this as many of my friends are either in or thinking about a major transition. Here are some lessons I can share from my last 4 years of evolution:

— Departing a job one has held for decades can feel risky even if exciting. Working for the Federal government for so long was a privilege but also kept me from a riskier path. It felt like the right time to embrace a new direction, even if I couldn’t fully envision what’s next. Just as Serena has. [Note: I am mindful that risk for me is less than for those without a pension.]

— Transition, especially if brought on by a stressful situation, invites introspection that we tend not to indulge in when things are status quo. This soul-searching, while distressing in the moment, propels us forward, allowing us to evolve more quickly, and usually for the better. I’ve found this over and over in my life, including in the months leading up to my decision to “retire” from my government position.

— I am grateful to those who told me it takes at least two years to adjust to not having a firm schedule.  For the first time in my adult life, I would determine how I spent my Monday to Friday hours. Especially in the first days, I relished not having a structure imposed by a workplace. I quickly found that I needed to and could create a full and enriching schedule, even if I’m admittedly much less efficient than when I was so time constrained. I’m a work in progress as I continue to evolve what I am doing and learning.

I could not have anticipated most of the things I fill my time with now. While writing this blog was on my list, painting, angel investing (and learning about it), and volunteer service to my local government were not contemplated. For those worried about how you will spend your time in your next chapter, my experience is that you are likely to discover new areas and interests that you can not even imagine in the present. Expecting a period of transition helps in adjusting to any big change.  

— The hardest part about not having a regular paying job is accepting a different sense of productivity. I don’t have externally imposed deadlines that help shape a sense of accomplishment. This has at times been a mind f**ck for me. It’s why I constantly create lists – to make sure I remember I have stuff to do and help me get unstuck when I question my sense of worth.

–People ask me all the time what I do all day, just as I had asked others during my working years. I’ve tried to be intentional about how I shape my time and efforts, with goals for my days and weeks, even if they are modest. I anchor my mornings with a long walk, and usually have a mental list of what I plan to do that day.

It can feel indulgent to be an independent actor, and I do have more time to lounge if I want to. I am incredibly grateful that I get to set my schedule, pursue new interests, enjoy seeing friends during the day, travel a lot, and no longer feel tied to the daily grind. I know I’m privileged to be able to do these things and feel driven to still make a meaningful contribution.

For those in or anticipating a transition, I recommend writing down thoughts (I love the Notes app on my iPhone) – areas or hobbies you want to explore, things you want to accomplish, etc. If you’re like me, you are unlikely to remember an enlightened thought or idea, so jot it down ASAP. Respect these thoughts as they form the foundation of your next or a future action, even if it’s quieting your mind when you have a momentary freak-out.

Above all, relish that we get to have these moments of reflection and the ability to transition and evolve. We may not be the GOAT that Serena is, but we have plenty of options to shape our future direction and impact.  

Recommended Listens:

As referred to above, Meghan Markle’s conversation with Serena Williams in her Archetype podcast.

A wonderful, provocative conversation by Ezra Klein with Richard Powers, who evolved from being a lab scientist to a Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist. This conversation touches on mortality, animism, politics, old-growth forests, extraterrestrial life, Buddhism and beyond.