2 Pages with MBS

Michael shares stories from his own journey, from academic rule-breaking to the creative tension between precision and chaos, inspired by Joyce's work. He invites us to consider how we say goodbye and the ways that art can shape life. Get book links and resources at 2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at 2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Michael reads from Ulysses by James Joyce. [Reading begins at 03:13] Hear me discuss: “This is the final episode. This is the final chapter. So it's me saying goodbye, and me reading two pages from a book that meant something to me.” [00:00] | “The Molly chapter is quite famous in literary circles. It's written without any punctuation …” [00:50] | “Joyce called ‘Yes' the most positive word in the English language. That's how he wanted to finish this book. So that's how I want to finish this whole series.” [06:35]

Neil Pasricha reads from A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz, a novel celebrated for its humour and philosophical musings and sharing insights on balancing ambition with contentment. He reflects on how embracing life's uncertainties can lead to growth and joy. Neil discusses his journey from personal challenges to finding meaning in simple moments and the power of living authentically. Today's guest is Neil Pasricha, author of The Book of Awesome series and host of the 3 Books podcast, where he explores the 1,000 most formative books. Neil's work centers on celebrating life's small joys and finding happiness through simplicity. His reflections offer guidance on balancing ambition and cultivating contentment while navigating life's complexities. Neil's reflections reveal the importance of stepping away from the noise, embracing vulnerability, and rediscovering what truly matters. Get book links and resources at 2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at 2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Neil reads from A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz, introducing its compelling, layered storytelling that resonated deeply with him. [Reading begins at 28:05] Hear us discuss: “Almost all problems are solved by going on a walk. Your body is soothed by something we have less of today than ever before: exposure to nature.” [13:02] | “Inside of me, there is always this wrestling match between ambition and contentment.” [17:17] | “Life is long if you know how to live it.” [23:45] | “Get more and more comfortable with feeling like if I were to lose everything, I would be okay. That's kind of where you have to be.” [24:01] | “Keeping your thoughts as wide as possible is hard in an era of homogenization... Be wary of what you find through search and be seeking of what you find through serendipity.” [41:14]

Greg M. Epstein reads from E.B. White's essay, Once More to the Lake, and Madeline Ostrander's essay on the ethics of bringing children into a world facing climate uncertainty, reflecting on how nostalgia and future anxieties shape our understanding of legacy and purpose. He explores how our connections to the past and future influence not only how we experience the present but also how we find resilience in facing today's challenges. Today's guest is Greg M. Epstein, the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard and MIT and author of Good Without God. For two decades, Greg has built a community of secular and non-religious students and thinkers. He discusses how humanism, self-reflection, and embracing vulnerability can lead to meaning and connection, even in the face of existential challenges. Greg's reflections offer insight into staying grounded and finding purpose amid overwhelming change. Get book links and resources at 2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at 2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Greg reads from two essays: first, E.B. White's Once More to the Lake, and then Madeline Ostrander's How Do You Decide to Have a Baby When Climate Change Is Remaking Life on Earth? contemplating memory and time. [Reading begins at 14:27] Hear us discuss: “What if I could have, with the opportunities that were available to me, lived more deeply, appreciated more fully, connected more passionately, and done more to help others?” [04:27] | "I learned to feel regret at a young age... I regretted being who I was because I felt that it was incredibly important to be somebody else." [10:29] | "If we didn't grieve, if we didn't take time to feel deep sadness when we lose someone... then we wouldn't be paying them proper respect and in the sense we wouldn't be paying proper respect to the energy and time that we've invested in them. | “The pursuit of perfection is the biggest force taking us away from our ability to experience beauty and meaning.” [43:28]

Today's guest is Frankie Thorogood, an entrepreneur who has navigated the intersections of creativity, business, and sports. Frankie shares his insights on finding fulfillment, balancing ambition with self-acceptance, and how creativity has played a pivotal role in his personal and professional life. Frankie's reflections bring insight into the complexities of leadership, balancing ambition with fulfillment, and finding joy in the process of creation. Get book links and resources at 2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at 2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Frankie reads from Tricks of the Mind by Derren Brown, focusing on the idea of how we can reshape our thinking to redefine our limitations. [Reading begins at 24:00] Hear us discuss: "I don't remember a lot of the times that I didn't win, or I shift the memory and manipulate it so that I feel like I did win, even when I didn't." [05:00] | "The goalposts very quickly shifted. All of a sudden, I needed more." [08:00] | "The more we lean into that, the more animated our response to all of it can be." [12:00] | "The best of who we are emerges from the quality of the relationships we have with the world around us." [17:00]

Today's guest is Dr. Angel Acosta, a leading voice in healing-centered education and leadership development. With a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, Dr. Acosta is the founder of the Acosta Institute, a Fellow at the Mind & Life Institute, and the Director of the Garrison Institute's Fellowship Program. His work bridges social justice, mindfulness, and leadership, emphasizing the importance of healing-centered approaches in education and AI. Dr. Acosta's journey is defined by his commitment to creating healing-centered learning environments that empower individuals and communities. Through his work, he explores the balance between the promise of technology and the necessity of cultivating spaces for reflection, connection, and personal growth. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Dr. Acosta reads from The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman, highlighting the duality of technological progress: its potential to unlock new possibilities and its risk of creating unintended consequences. [Reading begins at 20:41] Hear us discuss: "Healing isn't about reaching a final state; it's a continuous process of restoration and grounding." [04:06] | "The disorientation from unprocessed experiences becomes a source of curiosity and growth." [05:54] | "Slowing down doesn't mean stopping; it's about checking for alignment as you move." [12:01] | "The fate of humanity hangs in the balance, and our challenge is to balance the promise and the peril of AI." [22:43]

Jeremy Lent reading from the Tao Te Ching and discussing the importance of interconnectedness, the essence of a life-affirming civilization, and finding meaning beyond the material world. We discuss the complexities of existence, the influence of relationships, and how we can shape a future that values harmony with the environment. Today's guest, Jeremy Lent, is an author, speaker, and founder of the Deep Transformation Network. Described by The Guardian as "one of the greatest thinkers of our age," Jeremy's work investigates the underlying causes of our civilization's existential crisis and explores pathways toward a flourishing, ecological future. His books, The Patterning Instinct and The Web of Meaning, integrate science and traditional wisdom to provide a new vision for humanity's place in the universe. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Jeremy Lent reads two pages from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. [reading begins at 19:41] Hear us discuss: “The spiritual path is about looking at how things relate to each other rather than focusing on the things themselves.” [08:15] | “The world is a spirit vessel which cannot be acted upon. One who acts on it fails.” [23:00] | “To pursue learning one increases daily. To pursue Tao one decreases daily.” [22:37] | “There is no calamity like not knowing what is enough, and he who knows what is enough will always have enough.” [26:26] | “We are all part of this nonlinear complex system that is human society.” [45:00]

Katherine Morgan Schafler reads from Elizabeth Gilbert's “Big Magic” and discusses creativity, perfectionism, and trusting yourself. We explore how we can balance striving for excellence while also letting go of control, and why we should show up for the work even when inspiration seems far off. Today's guest, Katherine Morgan Schafler, is a psychotherapist, writer, and former on-site therapist at Google. She holds degrees from UC Berkeley and Columbia University and is certified by the Association for Spirituality and Psychotherapy in New York City. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Katherine Morgan Schafler reads two pages from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. [reading begins at 23:48] Hear us discuss: “All people really want is a connection—to be seen, to see others, and connect.” [04:16] | “We don't understand the difference between self-worth and self-esteem.” [15:26] | “Progress is not linear; it's two steps forward, seventeen steps back.” [38:07] | “There are many right ways to do something.” [19:47] | “If we can just keep showing up day after day after day, something will bloom.” [30:04]

Today's guest, Raj Sisodia is the FEMSA Distinguished University Professor of Conscious Enterprise at Tecnológico de Monterrey and Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Conscious Capitalism Inc. He is a renowned author and thought leader on the role of business in society. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Raj Sisodia reads two pages from Gandhi: His Life and Message for the World. [reading begins at 16:39] Hear us discuss: “There's always a better way. It doesn't matter how good things already are.” [12:23] | “If you do the right thing, you don't need to worry about the outcome.” [22:12] | “We must connect with the spirit and the heart, in addition to the mind and the wallet.” [38:20] | “To bring about a better world for all, we must heal ourselves first.” [40:48] | “The decade of determination: We have to make these changes and really pivot.” [35:16]

Today's guest is Will Guidara, author of the national bestseller Unreasonable Hospitality. Known for transforming Eleven Madison Park into the number one restaurant in the world, Will shares insights from his journey in the restaurant industry and beyond. Will embodies the delicate balance between two seemingly opposing forces: perfectionism and empowerment. As a former restaurateur and co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, he has always been passionate about creating memorable experiences through exceptional service. His book, Unreasonable Hospitality, is a testament to his belief in being as relentless in pursuing people as other restaurants are in pursuing product quality. Will reads two pages from Setting the Table by Danny Meyer, his first boss and a mentor who profoundly influenced his career. These pages capture the essence of Will's leadership philosophy—what he calls "constant gentle pressure"—a method of maintaining excellence without sacrificing the dignity of those around him.  [reading begins at 17:54] Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Hear us discuss: "I made the choice to be as unreasonable in pursuit of people as the other restaurants on that list were solely in pursuit of product." [02:05] | "Hospitality and excellence are not friends. But if you pursue them both with persistence, you can achieve something truly remarkable." [09:29] | "Every superpower, if left unchecked, can be your villain story." [10:06] | "I pray the things that we are being forced to do today are things we choose to do tomorrow." [32:19] | "Ask yourself what right looks like and do that." [37:11]

A favourite quote of mine, a call to action really and one that I reference in How to Begin, is “give more to the world than you take.” Jacqueline Novogratz said it, and she's the founder of Acumen a venture capital firm that invests in non-profits making the world a better place.  I find it powerful because it's about the long game. Over your lifetime, give more than you take. There are some seasons when you need to harvest, of course. You trying to build a good life for yourself. But there should be other seasons when you plant, and when you build. Adam Grant's first book was about giving and taking, and the core insight from that book is that people who give, paradoxically, tend to be the most successful, so long as they give in a sustainable way. The people who give without boundaries tend to fail over time. I suspect on balance that many of us could get better at giving. I also know that for many of us, we have to learn to also receive. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Kumi Naidoo reads two pages from Letters to my Mother. [reading begins at 20:56] Hear us discuss: “My area of focus right now is very much asking the question, what will it take for activism to win bigger and faster? And if I write that up as a book, I'll probably call it The Reflections of a Failed Activist.” [09:10] | “When we think about health and self-care, we tend to often think more about physical health and we're not sufficiently ready. to embrace the idea that we are dealing with a colossal global mental health crisis right now, from eco-anxiety, from climate anxiety, and also just a sense of injustice that people feel.” [19:42] | "Vulnerability is expressing strength and courage, not an acknowledgment of weakness and failure." [35:12] | "Activism is about people who look at the world, say 'this is an injustice,' and contribute in a way that makes a difference." [37:14] | "The moment of history we find ourselves in, pessimism is a luxury we simply cannot afford." [42:51]

If you're an anglophile and of a certain age, then you'll know the comedic operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance, Trial by Jury, The Mikado. They are all classics. I mean, I am an anglophile of a certain age, so I can sing the entirety of I Am a Very Model of a Modern Major General. I mean, really:  “I am the very model of a modern major general. I've information, vegetable, and animal, and mineral. I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical, from Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical. I'm very well acquainted, too, with mathematical. I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical. About binomial theorem, I'm teeming with a lot of news. Ha ha, with many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.” Now, tell me, do you get that from any other podcast? I don't think so. And you may laugh, but I've won a pub quiz by being able to recite that. Now, Gilbert and Sullivan were actually all about the laughs. Their operators are very funny. But outside that partnership, they were both hungry to do more serious work. Now, really the only work I know is by Sullivan, Arthur Sullivan, and it's a song called The Lost Chord. And he wrote it on the deathbed of his brother. And the opening lyrics go like this.  I was seated one day at the organ. I was weary and ill at ease, and my fingers wandered idly over the noisy keys. I know not what I was playing or what I was dreaming then, but I struck one chord of music, like the sound of a great amen. One chord, the sound of a great amen. It is such a powerful way to name a moment of insight, of awareness, of presence, of deep familiarity, of awe. So, are you listening for your one chord? Because hearing it can make all the difference. Marcus Collins, a creative at heart and a product of Detroit, brings a unique perspective to the podcast with his background in advertising, music, and academia. As a researcher and author of "For the Culture," Marcus delves into the complexities of human behavior and cultural influences. His experiences as an outsider and insider have shaped his empathetic approach to understanding the forces that shape our interactions and behaviors in society. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Marcus Collins reads two pages from Predictably Irrational. [reading begins at 26:47] Hear us discuss: "Understanding the impact of the Ten Commandments and curbing dishonesty might help prevent the next Enron-like fraud." [28:47] | "The truth is subjective, right? The world manifests through your meaning making system based on how you see the world." [33:38] | "Culture is always evolving. It's always changing. But those things could change the vector. It can go left or right. It can go negative or positive." [44:22] | "We traverse the world believing that we have all the agency there is that we wake up in the morning, decide what we're going to wear, where we're going to go, we're going to do, who we're going to marry, if we're going to marry." [45:37] | "The influence of the social world in which we navigate is far greater than we give it credit for." [45:24]

The year is 1888. Queen Victoria is celebrating her 50th year ruling over an empire on which, famously, the sun never sets. Her loyal subjects, as well as colonizing the heck out of the world, are breeding. And to signify whether they've got a little girl or a little boy in the family, sometimes the offspring break out from the usual white gowns and get dressed in their gender-assigned colors. For girls, blue. For boys, pink.  Blue, it was thought, is a more delicate and dainty shade and also the color associated with Mary Magdalene, the ultimate mother of Christendom. And pink, connected to red, is the stronger color with martial overtones. The British redcoats, after all, were the greatest fighting force of their time. And in fact, it wasn't until the 1940s that things got flipped and pink got stapled onto girls and blue to boys. Today's guest is Kassia St. Clair, a distinguished historian and author with a unique focus on color, textiles, and the everyday aspects of life that often go unnoticed. Her book, "The Secret Lives of Color," delves into the fascinating stories behind different colors throughout history. With a background in design and style writing, Cassia brings a blend of curiosity and discipline to her work, bridging the gap between academia and popular culture.  Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Kassia reads two pages from Homing: On Pigeons, Dwellings and Why We Return. [reading begins at 16:34] Hear us discuss: "I think the writer comes to the subject both because of this childhood experience, but also because he himself is struggling with the idea of home." - 00:20:55 | "Home is those friendships, many of which I still am lucky to have. Home is what I'm creating for my daughter. And home is London." [25:03] | "History books are given to subject matter experts and professional rivals. You will quite often see that mistakes are made. People don't tend to agree on the facts, and that's why history keeps on moving forward." [36:20] | "I think it's one of the fundamental dances, that dance between freedom and commitment." [38:56] | "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose. You know, that sounds both lonely and also at times a little enticing." [39:07]

Who holds up a mirror to you? We're all on our journeys forward, trying to figure things out and understand our destination, and it's really hard to do that alone. So, travel with people. Travel with someone. Travel with a group of people. Now, one of those people, I think, should be someone who can say, this is who I think you are right now. This is where I think you are right now. It's the same person who can then say, look how far you've come. Look how you're a different person. They can see the growth and they can celebrate the change to find that person. Also, be that person for someone. Travel with them and speak what you see. Today's guest is Lauren Crux, a multifaceted individual with a diverse range of talents and experiences. As a psychotherapist, author, photographer, and performer, she brings a unique perspective to her work. She embodies the essence of self-discovery and growth, inspiring others to explore their own paths with courage and curiosity. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Lauren reads two pages from The Book by Mary Ruefle. [reading begins at 17:16] Hear us discuss: "The far horizon has become the near one. So what do you do when you're looking over the edge? What becomes important?" [01:38] | "I just continue to learn and do my best to figure out how to love life even though I suffer a lot, you know, that sort of thing." [02:07] | "I love the wit and the humor and the absurdity. She uses this formal form of ‘one would, one doesn't.' These phrases, “I am of the surest that you would be…” It's ridiculous." [23:02] | "I love the ordinary everyday that becomes magical. And sometimes it just remains mundane." [24:43] | “I do a lot of fertilizing and a lot of watering and replanting. And I work at it. It's easy work, but I do work at it." [32:11]

Today, we're pulling one of our best episodes from the vaults, featuring the brilliant W. David Ball. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Where do you find your people? I think I'm still looking for mine, and perhaps you are, too. What often happens is there's an initial rough sort where you get thrown in with others who have similar labels - but that's just the start of it. It's up to you to find your people amongst everyone. I realized that I keep looking for people who make me both think and laugh, meaning I need to seek them out to give them the opportunity to do so. Of course, sometimes your people don't actually need to be found, they need to be rediscovered; they're already there, waiting for you to reach out to them and say hello.  Today's guest is a law professor with articles published in the Columbia Law Review, Yale Law & Policy Review, the American Journal of Criminal Law, and many more. His full name is W. David Ball, but I know him as my friend Dave, someone I met when we were newly minted Rhodes scholars at Oxford in the early 1990s. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Dave reads the poem, ‘Ulysses' by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. [reading begins at 16:45]   Hear us discuss:  “I'd decided that I was going to be me, because there's no way I could fake that.” [9:25] | How to keep your artistic spirit alive: “The essence of creativity is being in touch with who you are, what you want to say to others, and how other people have moved you.” [11:48] | The process of keeping an open heart in your closest relationships. [24:20] | Sitting with ambition (as a Rhodes scholar). [28:13] | Work in the criminal legal system: “I have calluses - not in the sense where I don't feel, but where my skin isn't being burnt off.” [33:01]

Vicki is the “Founding Activator” of Coralus, a venture capital company with a unique approach to reimagining the world of entrepreneurship. With a background in social entrepreneurship and a deep commitment to radical generosity, Vicki is a highly hopeful and optimistic individual who is dedicated to making a positive impact on the world. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Vicki Saunders reads from "Astonishing the Gods" by Ben Okri. [reading begins at 18:40] Hear us discuss: “I can feel myself being pulled two ways because definitely things are atomizing. Content is coming in shorter and shorter clips. Even paragraphs are shrinking. Shrinking, just like my attention.” [00:00] | "I just don't understand why we… make money, and then give it away to make things better, to solve the crappy things that we did when we made money." [03:04] | “How much energy is this taking? Is it actually creating any impact? And so at some point in the last 30 years, I was like, you know, changing the system is not why I'm here. It's to build a new one.” [11:05] | “How do we want to be together and live together? How do we want to be with one another, to witness each other's gifts, and to share ours with others in this act of reciprocity?” [21:15] | "Dreaming is a muscle. Courage is a muscle. You need to work it, stress it, be kind to it. That's how muscle grows. That's how muscle stays healthy." [37:07]

Scott is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, a podcast host, computer programmer, and an avid reader. He's also an autodidact, who spends his time teaching people how to learn. Scott is the author of “Ultralearning” and “Get Better at Anything,” and he has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, TEDx, Pocket, Business Insider and more. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Scott reads two pages from “The Principles of Teaching Based on Psychology” by Edward Thorndike. [reading begins at 20:30] Hear us discuss: "Mastery is a journey that diverts and separates individuals, leading them towards their unique style, voice, and signature move." [01:58] | "The mind is made of specific building blocks, not broad faculties." [26:14] | "The road to improvement is long but sure." [30:26] | "The mysteriousness of talent is that when you get someone who is a real skilled practitioner, they often can't even articulate what the building blocks are." [43:27] | "I feel I'm hungry to find more gaps, not fewer." [44:56]

Kaya Thomas is an app builder and creator of the We Read Too app, a mobile directory of children and young adult books written by authors of color. With a background in working with well-known companies like Slack and Calm, Kaya's career has been a journey of blending her expertise in coding with her passion for promoting diversity in literature. Though the book is closing on the We Read Too app, her work has touched thousands of young lives. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Kaya Thomas reads two pages from "Positive Obsession" by Octavia Butler. [reading begins at 15:51] Hear us discuss: "I think a good mentor listens and understands what the person that they're mentoring really needs, where they're trying to go in their journey and help them just guide them and help them shape their goals." [14:05] | "Positive obsession is about not being able to stop just because you're afraid and full of doubts. Positive obsession is dangerous. It's about not being able to stop at all." [16:16] | "I think for me, it doesn't always manifest in like one particular skill, because for me, I'm not trying to be the best programmer ever or the best software engineer. But I think for me, it's more project based, right?" [18:40] | "Success just looks like more young kids being exposed to these books, because it's important, I think, for all children, no matter their background, to read these types of stories and to realize that difference can be celebrated." [29:13] | "I think for me, WeReadToo is a resource, and it's a free resource. And I always intend to keep it as a free resource. It's not an income-generating thing for me, and that's not the purpose." [30:30]

Mark Brackett is a psychologist and professor at Yale University, known for his groundbreaking work in emotional intelligence and the impact of emotions on daily life. He is the founder and director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Through his book, “Permission to Feel,” and his work at Yale, Marc helps others give themselves permission to feel, and teaches them to create a safe space for emotional exploration. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Marc Brackett reads two pages from “7 ½ Lessons about the Brain” by Lisa Feldman Barrett. [reading begins at 11:57] Hear us discuss: "Emotions are signals to approach or avoid. People's facial expressions, body language, and tone all send signals. I wanna be with you, I don't wanna be with you. I like you, I don't like you, I respect you, I don't." [20:12] | "All emotions are information. The idea that there are good and bad emotions is a myth. Emotions are a product of things happening in our body and mind, based on our life experiences." [25:54] | "Just because you have a proclivity to experience strong emotions like anxiety or frustration doesn't mean you're not good at dealing with it or labeling it. It just means that you have a tendency to feel that way more." [26:47] | "We're endlessly making predictions based on what's going on inside of us and what we're observing in the world around us. That's our emotional life." [36:59] | "The core of this work is that concept that we have to give ourselves the permission to be our true, full, feeling selves, nonjudgmental, compassionate, self-scientists." [38:30]

Jay Papasan is the best-selling author of The One Thing, which has sold over 3 million copies and appeared on numerous bestseller lists. Jay's career trajectory has been a series of evolutions, from working in publishing at HarperCollins, to freelance writing, to finding a deep expression of his mission to create impact working in collaboration with Gary Keller. Jay's journey exemplifies the courage and (useful) restlessness to pursue a calling and make a difference in the world. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com. Jay reads two pages from “Turning Pro” by Steven Pressfield. [reading begins at 27:25] Hear us discuss: “When we wrote The One Thing, what became really clear from the success stories is that the people that achieve the most, the businesses that achieve the most, the athletes, the artists, were driven by some inner drive.” [12:16] | “If I'm focused on impact, whatever I'm working on has to matter to me and others. And I don't define the scope of others, because that's a trap.” [21:28] | "Sometimes, when we're terrified of embracing our true calling, we pursue a shadow calling instead. That shadow career is a metaphor for our real career." [29:51] | “The first question we ask is, when someone finishes this book that we haven't written yet, what's the first thing they're going to say about it? And what's the first thing they're going to do differently?” [43:12] | “The things that come with maintaining success are not what got you there.” [52:24]

Amy Elizabeth Fox is a transformative figure in the realm of leadership development and personal growth. As the co-founder and CEO of Mobius Executive Leadership, she brings a unique perspective to the field, emphasizing the importance of inner transformation for effective leadership. Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com/ Amy reads two pages from Attuned by Thomas Hübl. [reading begins at 23:03] Hear us discuss: "Trauma energy creates a filter over our perception. Where we are traumatized, our perception of the world is distorted and limited. Awareness is reduced and overshadowed." [26:51] | "Genuine healing has the power to restore distortions and bring about inner and outer coherence, including improved relationships." [27:24] | "In precision is love. Being precise about who you're talking to and present." [30:15] |"We need to get rid of the bifurcation of a leadership development path with the cultivation of spiritual, psychological, and spiritual intelligence. They can't be two separate things." [39:15] | "We naturally care about each other. We naturally care about the world we live in. It's only a traumatized society that doesn't take that as a premise." [40:47]

It's not just our tech-enabled world that runs by algorithm. We meat machines, we humans, we one and all have our own programming, our deeply embedded rules that determine the decisions we make, the paths we walk, and who and how we show up in the world. Often the first part of growth and development is figuring out what our rules are, finding language for our own programming. The second part of growth and development is often unbugging the program and rewriting the maxims, so you become the person you want to be rather than the person you once were. So, here are three rules, three algorithms, three maxims that I bet you haven't considered, at least not fully. Number one, don't wait until you know who you are to get started. Number two, learn to take a punch. And number three, the ordinary plus extra attention equals the extraordinary. Each one of these is taken from a different book written by our guest today, Austin Kleon. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Austin Kleon is a prolific writer and artist known for his innovative approach to creativity and self-expression. He is the author of several bestselling books, including "Steal Like an Artist," "Show Your Work," and "Keep Going." Austin reads two pages from “What It Is” by Lynda Barry. [reading begins at 49:24] Hear us discuss: The importance of finding inspiration and guidance from mentors and teachers in one's field."The great thing about dead masters is they can't refuse you as a student."  [36:18] | The significance of community and how it can shape one's creative journey. [21:25] | The impact of encountering individuals who open doors to new creative possibilities. [42:31] | The value of simplicity and restraint in creative work. "Creativity is subtraction." [49:12] | The power of self-reflection and questioning in the creative process. "Is this good? Does this suck?" [50:14] | The transformation from enjoying creative work to feeling pressure and self-doubt. [50:45] | The importance of maintaining a sense of play and joy in creative endeavors. [51:53]

With the new year, we're doing something new with 2 Pages with MBS. Twice a month, you can listen in to the same excellent conversations, and we'll also be dedicating a YouTube channel and newsletter to the show. With that said, I didn't want to leave you without anything to tide you over until February. In this episode, I read from Seth Godin's book, “Purple Cow,” and ask you the question: are you going to sit out the next round, or will you be a Purple Cow? [Reading begins at 05:25] Get access to full transcripts and past episodes at https://www.MBS.works/podcast

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages Do you have a posse of people with whom you create “good trouble?” A small group you can collaborate with to stir the pot, strengthen one another, and step to the edge of what you think is possible? I often wrestle with how to build that type of relationship, and what I should bring to the table as a member. In this interview, we not only get an inside look at relationship building but also, how to identify and overcome the stress that can make us less effective collaborators. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Modupe Akinola is a professor at Columbia Business School, host of the TED Business Podcast, and part of a trio of ladies who set the standard for creating “good trouble.” Modupe reads two pages from the Genesis, the first book of the Bible. [reading begins at 30:52] Hear us discuss: The elusive definition of stress, as given by a stress expert. [00:04:30] | The key factors that create stress in your life: "The demands of a stressful situation can exceed your resources to cope, leading to feelings of stress." [00:05:09] | The first step in addressing the stress: "Noticing your physical and mental state when faced with stress can help you better manage it." [00:06:16] | How to take control and shift your mindset to overcome current stressors. [00:07:02] | Why having stress matters: "Every stressful situation is an opportunity to build resources and overcome future challenges." [00:10:52]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages Today, we're pulling one of our best episodes from the vaults, featuring the brilliant Dave Stachowiak. A famous quote by Albert Schweitzer talks about how small and obscure deeds are far more powerful than public acts that receive acclaim. It goes: ‘[The public acts] were like the foam on the waves of the deep ocean.' Applying this metaphor to the world of leadership, what's just foam on the waves, and what's the sinuous currents of the deep ocean?  A great podcast that I often listen to - and one that I have been a guest on four times - is Coaching for Leaders, hosted by Dave Stachowiak. This podcast is the portal for his Coaching for Leaders Academy, which helps managers and executives develop leadership excellence. Dave is someone who, I think, is a masterful surfer: he knows the foam and the waves, but he also knows the deep ocean. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Dave reads two pages from ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie. [reading begins at 20:55]  Hear us discuss:  “Talk to the people listening.” [11:21] | ‘We all think we're more polarised than we actually are.' [26:29] | Staying present to discomfort. [30:24] | The structure of the Coaching for Leaders Academy: “We learn best when we're struggling with something.” [37:50] | Finding struggle to keep learning: “Seeing your mistakes is one of the most important parts of the learning process.” [40:13]

Today, we're pulling one of our best episodes from the vaults, featuring the brilliant Stephanie Harrison. Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages Christmastime in Australia is in mid-summer. The Northern hemisphere traditions of ugly sweaters, roasted meats, and roaring fires really just don't vibe there. We've even got a Christmas carol about Santa's sleigh being pulled along by kangaroos, rather than reindeer. Many years ago, on a hot Christmas day, my family packed a picnic and headed for Tidbinbilla, the nature reserve about an hour's drive away. When we arrived, we laid out all the food, hung up some wind chimes, and set up a table and chairs in the middle of a river. Sitting there, eating my mum's plum pudding with the water flowing by waist-deep, with my family - I knew I was happy.  Of course, happiness is elusive. The stories and expectations we've internalised about the requirements to achieve happiness are mostly illusions. Stephanie Harrison is a champion for a wiser path to happiness, or as she calls it, The New Happy. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Stephanie reads two pages from ‘The Way of the Bodhisattva' by Śāntideva. [reading begins at 12:40] Hear us discuss: The reluctance to give back to others: “The path to experiencing fulfilment and well-being is the ways in which we relate to other people.”  [16:15] | The process of learning to serve. [20:06] | Transcending ‘The Eye.' [24:48] | Is happiness always a spiritual practice?: “Spirituality is about helping us to be human.” [27:28] | Self-care and self-renewal. [34:35]

Today, we're pulling one of our best episodes from the vaults, featuring the brilliant Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe. Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages What's the language you go to when you think of resilience? Common answers include, ‘bouncing back,' ‘bouncing forward,' ‘what doesn't kill you makes you stronger,' or ‘a regathering of yourself.' I truly believe that the words and metaphors we choose to use around resilience actually influence how accessible that resilience is, to us. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe has spent two decades researching, teaching, and advocating for simple and powerful language around resilience, and the way she puts it is beautiful; resilience is being okay.  Robyne reads two pages from ‘Man's Search for Meaning,' by Viktor Frankl. [reading begins at 20:35]  Hear us discuss:  “The weight of the world becomes heavy to carry with two hands.” [4:02] | Describing resilience: “Resiliency is a verb.” [6:44] | Unlearning what's ‘normal.' [24:49] | What to unlearn about resilience: “Stoicism is not resiliency.” [27:36] | Getting better at falling apart: “Mistakes are not characteristics.” [29:57]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages One of my favorite songs is Hole In The Bucket by Spearhead, the band fronted by Michael Franti. It's the story of someone walking along and deciding whether or not to give to someone else asking for a dime, for a nickel, for a quarter. As we approach the holiday season, perhaps you're wrestling with the same challenge as I am - what does it mean to be charitable? How altruistic are you willing to be? In this interview, there's a twist on that; one that might change everything. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Charlie Bresler is the volunteer executive director of the nonprofit organization The Life You Can Save, and he's truly been central to it becoming a force.   Charlie reads two pages from ‘The Life You Can Save' by Peter Singer. [reading begins at 20:25]   Hear us discuss:  Keeping the connection to your values alive. [8:58] | The relationship between structural change and individual change. [15:11] | A combined view of humankind: “I look around the world and I despair, but I also look at human potential and I'm optimistic.” [27:13] | Overcoming your natural selfishness: “It is a missed opportunity to not see the incredible amount of pleasure you can get from saving lives and helping other people.” [28:21] | The challenges of running a nonprofit. [32:04] | Effective hedonism rather than effective altruism: “You don't have to be an altruist.” [37:51] | The meaning of success. [40:38]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages I remember being in New Orleans some years ago where people were offering to read your palm and tell your future. I was interested – I'd like to know how the future pans out. So, I picked somebody, and she proceeded to provide an amazingly disappointing performance that was mostly a combination of boring, wrong, and clichéd. I didn't get my $20 worth, but what if you could see the future? What would you want to know, and what would you not want to know? Jonathan Brill is an author and a speaker, but perhaps he's also the oracle that I've been seeking. He is, according to his business card, a Futurist. For the first years of his career, his focus revolved around innovation and what products would shape the future. But then he accepted a new role in a new organization, which he assumed would be more of the same. Irony alert – turns out the future wasn't as predictable as he thought. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/    Jonathan reads two pages from ‘The Medium Is the Massage' by Marshall McLuhan. [reading begins at 17:05]   Hear us discuss:  Understanding the shape of a question. [8:13]| Three tips for community building. [11:19] | How to stay engaged, yet be removed. [23:13] | “There are three conversations to have about any situation with another person; What happened? How do we feel about it? And What Happens Next?” [28:15]  | System observation and pattern recognition: “If you have a process for looking at the future, you can know a whole lot more than you imagine.” [30:19]  | Jonathan's book, Rogue Waves: “How do I increase my optionality and potential, no matter what happens?” [36:59]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages Are you living for 70 years, or are you living the same year 70 times? It's one of the great existential questions that writers and creators face, too – Am I writing many books, or am I writing the same book many times? Sure, the “best” answer seems obvious, but I'm not sure the true answer is always clear-cut. Malcolm Galdwell made popular a study that showed the difference between two great artists, Picasso and Cezanne; there's deep and there's wide, and it's an eternal rhythm. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Geoff Dyer is a real writer. He's the award-winning author of four novels, as well as numerous non-fiction titles on D. H. Lawrence, understanding photography, yoga, and more.  Geoff reads two pages from ‘The Country and the City' by Raymond Williams. [reading begins at 23:45]   Hear us discuss:  The relationship between photography and writing. [6:33] | “Write the book that only you can write.” [11:47] | Self-expression as a learnt practice: “I became a very original writer by being incredibly susceptible to influences.” [11:53] | “The writing life is full of surprises.” [35:06] | The most important lessons in writing. [36:53]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages So how are politics going in your country? ... No, no, don't tell me - you're just delighted with how your version of democracy is currently showing up. ... I am truly feeling the pain and the confusion. And the inadequacy, of course, not knowing what to do about it right now. But what if in the future the good guys win? And if you knew that you were one of the good guys - and I think you are - what would that call forth from you?  On Rob Hopkins' website there is a photo of him holding a sign that says, ‘I've been to the future…' Rob is a father, a husband, a speaker. He's an author, he's an artist. He's a gardener. And perhaps central to all of that. He is an activist. Rob co-founded Transition Network and also Transition Town.  Rob reads two pages from ‘We Do This ‘Til We Free Us' by Mariame Kaba. [reading begins at 13:50]   Hear us discuss:  “We need to build what I like to think of as being an imagination infrastructure.” [3:32] | How to sustain energy as an activist. [6:09] | The power of ‘What if?' [11:41] | “And the only reason we're going to do it is if we're able to talk about what the radical transformation of society would be like in a way that is so irresistible and delicious and magnificent that of course, we want to do that.” [18:50] | “What does it mean to be someone whose work unlocks different possibilities and different ways of thinking about the future?” [21:03] | The goal of enlightenment is to free others. [26:41] | “The kind of activist [anyone] can be is entirely something that they shape themselves and is a reflection of what they're passionate about and what they care about and what they grieve for and what delights them.” [39:40]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages ‘The map is not the territory.' This is one of those obvious yet profound insights: the thing we use to try and understand reality, is not reality. It's true for all charts in companies, for instance. While they tell you a lot, they don't have all the answers. Your map of the world, what does it tell you and what does it not?  Tiziana Casciaro is Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and co-author of the book Power, for All: How It Really Works and Why It's Everyone's Business.  Tiziana reads two pages from ‘The Heart is Noble' by the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. [reading begins at 26:25]   Hear us discuss:  The study of the nonobvious. [6:33] | “When you have a lot of power imbalance, in the long run, bad things tend to happen.” [13:46] | The challenges and consequences of power in organizational spaces. [15:11] | “The world would be infinitely better if we were all more aware of how interdependent we are.” [33:03] | Power for all: “Sharing power doesn't mean giving up power, it means empowering others.” [37:00] | Moving from certainty to ambiguity: “Remind yourself of the good in you so that you will be able to appreciate the good in others without fearing they will take over.” [42:33] | How human behavior is influenced by context. [46:41] 

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages What was your first dream that felt big? The first time you set your eyes on something and thought, ‘I'd like to strive for that.' Or, on the flip side, ‘I'm not accepting the status quo anymore, something needs to change.' You were probably young, and though the motives may have not been entirely clear to you, it was a moment of stepping up and claiming your authority; of claiming the next best version of you.  Olatunde Sobomehin is the co-author of the book Creative Hustle, and the CEO at StreetCode Academy, a community-based tech ecosystem that's preparing the next generation of underrepresented tech leaders with everything from basic computing to virtual reality.  Olatunde reads two pages from ‘The Life We're Looking For' by Andy Crouch. [reading begins at 17:45]   Hear us discuss:  “I grew up in an environment where you could believe in the impossible.” [2:13] | What to say ‘yes' to. [5:43] | How to start betting on your gifts. [8:48] | Dealing with resistance: “Holding onto your principles in moments of resistance is what keeps you grounded.” [12:05] | The notion of being known: “We're all looking to be known in life.” [22:18] | The power of a shift in mindset. [27:38] | What it takes to reach out and ask for help. [32:36]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages I did a beginner's class in ceramics earlier this year, and it was a pretty interesting experience to go up against a potter's wheel and lose. Forget actually trying to create a pot, I found it nearly impossible just to get the lump of clay centered on the wheel. I did end up with a few lumpy, bumpy things to glaze - and glazing is its own adventure where you never really know how your project will turn out since every firing in the kiln is different. Do your best, create blindly, have your creation tempered by forces beyond your control, and end up with something unexpectedly gorgeous. Gosh, it's a bit like life, really.   Susan Collett is someone I've shared a glass of wine with more than once on my balcony, as she lives just around the corner from me in Toronto. She also happens to be one of the pre-eminent artists who works in clay sculpture and printmaking, something she's been doing successfully for 30 years.  Susan reads two pages from ‘The Creative Habit' by Twyla Tharp. [reading begins at 14:15]   Hear us discuss:  What art does for the artist, and for the world: “Something good always comes forward out of chaos, difficulty, and struggle, and I want to remind people of their strength amidst fragile times.” [6:32] | How to engage with art. [8:52] | Planning helps the wheel go ‘round. [17:59] | Working through the doldrums as a creator. [20:01] | Our inner critics: “Just because you think it, doesn't mean it's real.” [21:52] | The importance of drawing. [25:55] | The next project: “Within one piece there are ten other pieces.” [27:31] | “The clay, itself, teaches you to let go into the materials.” [30:01] | How to find your audience. [33:49]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages I often get asked how I sold more than a million copies of The Coaching Habit. I wish I had one, but, of course, there is no singular answer - just a combination of things going well and a healthy dose of magic fairy dust. One thing we got right, though, is the design of the book itself. So many books feel heavy - a wall of text - and I wanted a book that felt lighter, accessible, and non-intimidating. In whatever you're working on, what experience are you creating?  Stefan Butcher is an acclaimed graphic designer and illustrator who likes designing books, and questions. When I found him through his wonderful book, 344 Questions: The Creative Person's Do-It-Yourself Guide to Insight, Survival, and Artistic Fulfillment, I already knew we would get along. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/   Stefan reads two pages from ‘The Salmon of Doubt' by Douglas Adams. [reading begins at 19:35]   Hear us discuss:  Disrupting the status quo: “I'm weird … but I'm not a threat to anybody, I'm just trying to make my thing happen and help others do the same.” [9:23] | Performative competence versus embodied competence. [13:29] | How to keep your heart open: “It's not the pain that kills you, it's the numbness.” [24:22] | The difficult choice of what to work on. [28:40] | The essence of collaboration: “We are each other's keeper.” [33:31]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages As I'm recording this, I'm currently in Australia where we're about two weeks out from a national referendum on whether or not to change the Australian Constitution to recognise the first peoples of Australia, by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. I'm embarrassed to say that it doesn't look likely to pass, and by the time you're hearing this we'll know for sure. There's a profoundly worrying general lack of energy and empathy among most Australians, and, to me, feels like a once-in-a-generation opportunity for reconciliation, empowerment, and healing is being missed. It's confronting to recognise that so many of us live on unceded territories of First Nations, and it's not easy to know what to do about it. That's why I'm so grateful to the people doing the work to give the rest of us the chance to do the right things, and make the braver choices.  Bob Joseph has been steadily changing the world for decades. He's the President and CEO of Indigenous Corporate Training Inc, a company focused on teaching others how to work effectively with those people who are native to Canadian land, and also the author of a perpetual best-seller in Canada, 21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Bob reads two pages from ‘BE DiFFERENT or be dead' by Roy Osing. [reading begins at 32:15]   Hear us discuss: What reconciliation looks like: “It took us 137 years to get into this mess, and I'm hoping it won't take us 137 years to get out of it.” [14:54] | The three selves: self-determination, self-government, and self-reliance. [17:00] | “A lot of people doing a lot of little things adds up to a pretty big change.” [40:03] | Knowing when to take control, and when to let it be. [40:59] | How to stay patient: “Watch for the little victories and celebrate those.” [45:08] 

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages The very first hotel that I got quarantined into, I looked out over Darling Harbour in Sydney. I knew just over the rise was the Sydney Opera House. It was my only view for two weeks. It changed constantly. It was on fire, lit up by a sunset. It was looming with threat as a storm passed by. It became lit up at night. It was actually a Ferris wheel, a carnival, like an underworld at my feet. We're constantly searching for what's new. We're constantly distracted. And sometimes it's wonderful to be forced to look and look again at what's right there in front of you.  Miranda Keeling trained as an artist, initially with a degree in glass making, but has gone on to grace the big stage and to attack the tyranny of the blank page. Seeing small differences is Miranda's thing; noticing the details of everyday life and elevating them with the various forms of art that she makes. And to be honest, this is something Miranda's done from the very start.  Miranda reads two pages from Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow. [reading begins at 14:54] Hear us discuss: What do you have to let go of to fully embrace the identity of being a writer? [8:36] | Writing and courage: “You're not swept along by somebody else's agenda in the same way you've got to set your own agenda, you've got to go into wherever you work and start and look at that blank page and it's a very different way of being.” [11:16] | “The simple things that you might not notice are the things that could be the most important.” [18:23] | How to ‘slow down' and get in tune with your thoughts: “There's a meditation technique I did years ago, and I sometimes do still where you imagine that your mind is a blank theater and the curtains are open and you just wait to see what comes onto the stage. You try not to follow it or get too emotionally entangled, but you notice the players move across the stage.” [26:40] | Elevating the ordinary: “In the hot shop, there'd be lots of debris left over from [the glass blowers'] work, and I would take that glass debris from the floor and use it in my pieces… And my point being that's, again, me taking something pretty ordinary. … And I'm trying to get the best I can out of it and elevate it into something else.” [32:42]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages What does it take to be an ambassador, to be a diplomat? …If you had to list three core characteristics, what do you think they should be? Now, for me, part of me goes all espionage... You know, it's about blending in. It's about staying skeptical, perhaps wearing tweed. Part of me, of course, thinks of my brother Nigel, who actually works for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Australia and has actually played ambassadorial roles in Ankara, Turkey and in Berlin. Now, Nigel is the soul of discretion. He has a deep curiosity, also not that much tweed. But after this conversation, which you're about to listen to, a conversation where I realized that perhaps we all play the role of a diplomat and wondering if the key skills are actually empathy, rebellion, and a good left hook.  Tom Fletcher is the principal of Hartford College in Oxford University. …I invited Tom because in his lifetime, he's been a diplomat and also a writer and a campaigner. But along the way, there were several things he was not, or at least not successfully. “Having felt evangelical about the importance of diplomacy,” Tom says, “I left diplomacy to write a book about why diplomacy matters so much and looking particularly at the way that technology is changing statecraft. That was The Naked Diplomat [which] came out in 2016, and that did well. So I then got to write two more books. 10 Survival Skills for a World in Flux is about the future of learning… And then in August, I put out my first novel, which was called The Ambassador…” Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Tom reads two pages from The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. [reading starts at 17:25] Hear us discuss: “But I guess all that adds up to this conclusion that education is upstream diplomacy. And that basically, if I want to make a real influence on the future of the country and the planet, then actually being here, developing young people, head, hand and heart is where I should be.” [4:07] | “A great diplomat, it's about the last 3 feet, as Edward Murray said. It's about that ability to really understand the person you're talking to, know what baggage they arrive in the room with, and to almost zoom out of a situation in a room and use that empathy to understand what's going on.” [6:32] | Modern-day trends, including the rise of distrust, which makes it harder to govern. [24:05] | Ten skills for the future, including taking control of your life and becoming an active participant in shaping the future. [27:03] | “And here, because of the way the power structures work, it's much more important to lead from behind. Much more of it is about setting the tone, the sense of the overall direction and letting then the strategy emerge, rather than trying to dictate some sort of top down.” [32:40] | “There is space for hope.” [37:35]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages My great grandparents feel fictional to me. Sure, I've seen pictures and I know their names, but do I feel their touch and influence? No, not really. My grandparents, however, are four presences I definitely notice. What have you learnt from your ancestors? And how might they be present in you, today?  Sarah Lewis is an art and cultural historian, author of The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery, founder of the Vision & Justice initiative, and a professor at Harvard. She's much more than that, though, and as she reminds us, we are all more than our pedigrees.  Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Sarah reads two pages from the speech-turned-essay, ‘The Artist's Struggle for Integrity' by James Baldwin. [reading begins at 16:30]   Hear us discuss:  “The narrative you construct about who you are, and who the world should be to accommodate you, is foundational for your life.” [8:50] | Success ≠ safety: “Your achievements don't accompany you when you have to produce all over again.” [24:43] | Prioritizing projects and saying no to distractions. [26:50] | The diverse perspectives and approaches to tradition. [28:59] | Unlikely teachers: “I take lessons now from greater sources than I did in the past.” [33:21] | Filling the role of the elder as you age. [36:02] | “The seeming accident oftentimes never is.” [43:20] 

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages The idea at the heart of my book, How to Begin, is that we unlock our greatness by working on the hard stuff. Now, when I wrote the first draft of that book …and I shared it with friends, the feedback I got was it was confusing and a deeply underwhelming mess. And so when I picked myself up off the floor and I picked through the rubble to see if there's anything that could be rescued, the most precious thing was, in fact, that line, ‘We unlock our greatness by working on the hard stuff.' But here's the rub. What that is saying is this: how will you disrupt what's comfortable for you now? How will you stir things up? How will you confuse and disappoint and anger some people around you? How will you make them and you nervous? …When you step up and you work on the hard stuff, you step forward into the unknown and to that ambiguity, you find something thrilling and important and daunting. I first came across Tony Stubblebine because, back in the day, he started Coach Me, an early habit tracker app. He turned that app into a successful coaching business, in part by becoming one of the most successful writers on Medium, a platform devoted to publishing, writing about human stories and ideas. When the founding CEO of Medium wanted to step down, Tony welcomed the opportunity to step into that role, and grow Medium and widen its impact. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Tony Stubblebine reads two pages from Once A Runner by John L. Parker, Jr. [reading begins at 21:41] Hear us discuss: The desire to create your own company. “A lot of entrepreneurs have a lack of trust. [A belief that] I cannot put my career in the hands of other people.” [7:00] | When you say yes to something, you're saying no to other things. Tony talks about what that meant for him when he was called back to be the CEO of Medium. [10:00] | “People especially are like, well, we got to put a bunch of ideas out and let them compete, and the best ideas will win. I think what we found is the best ideas don't win and the loudest ideas, the most toxic ideas, often are the ones that are winning.” [15:00] | Endurance athletes can experience expending all of their mental and physical resources; going to and tipping right over the edge of what is possible by observing and accepting what is happening rather than negotiating whether or not they can do it. There are benefits to this type of focus for everyone, and mental conditioning such as meditation can help you achieve them. [24:55] | “People always want a quick fix, but the most reliable fix is a massive amount of work.” Tony shares how increased calm and mental awareness can help you use what you know more effectively, even when you're under great pressure. [34:16] | When you look beyond habits you find identity and belief which have a greater influence on the choices that you make. [41:40] | What can change for you when you think about your life in terms of a cognitive budget, and reducing the number of opportunities you have to make choices that aren't aligned with your identity. [50:35]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages In today's fast-paced world, change is the only constant. Yet, how do we truly understand, manage, and channel the emotions that accompany transformations, both personal and organizational? Whether you're an individual seeking personal growth, or a leader aiming to steer an organization, understanding the emotional dimensions of change can be a game-changer.  Dr. Hilary Jacobs Hendel is a prominent psychotherapist and author. Driven by her personal experiences with anxiety and depression, Hilary embarked on a journey into psychotherapy. Her profound insights into emotions, coupled with her unique approach to therapy, has been an eye-opener for many. Hilary ventures into her experiences and the pivotal role of Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) in her practice. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Hilary reads two pages from The Transforming Power of Affect: A Model for Accelerated Change by Diana Fosha. [reading begins at 17:38] Hear us discuss: The connection of body and mind: “I noticed the sensations of tension in my chest that told me that I was anxious, and I breathed, as I was instructed to do, and voila, the anxiety went down, not up.” [5:58] | The 7 “selfish” emotions and why you shouldn't judge them: “You can't stop emotions from happening. All you can do is be aware when they happen and change your response to them.” [17:13] | Do our emotions weaken us, or make us stronger? [22:51] | What is the role of others in helping us hear the whisper of our emotions? [26:28] | “A basic education in emotions is the path to a more peaceful world.” [34”25] | How being in tune with your emotions brings out your authentic self: “Emotions are physical experience, they're there for a good reason, and if we avoid them, we really lose a connection to our authentic self and to others.” [41:46]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages Tolstoy famously started his novel Anna Karenina, “All happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” A twist on that: stories of success are all alike. Stories of failure are where things get interesting.  I love someone who knows how to share their failures well. When I get introduced as a keynote speaker, I have them mention that I was banned from my high school graduation and left law school being sued by one of my professors. And that's just a start. If I say so myself. My failures are what's helped me find my edge.  Suneel Gupta presents as a success. He's an entrepreneur who founded and led Rise, a breakthrough wellness company. He is a bestselling author and a speaker and a visiting scholar at Harvard Medical School. But that's not where he started. At one point, he was literally the face of failure. “Today,” Suneel says, “I make a career out of studying what I think are some of the most extraordinary people on the planet at their most disappointing moments to understand what it was that helped them endure through that.” Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Suneel reads ‘The Alchemy of Opposites' by Rodolfo Scarfalloto. [reading begins at 15:45]  Hear us discuss: Long-term success can come from short-term embarrassment, if you know what to do with it. [2:26] | Your purpose is “already inside of you. And the work, for lack of a better word, is really just to strip these layers away to understand what that essence is.” [10:25] | Merging ambition and joy is about “figuring out what makes you come alive.” [20:00] | “What I realized over time is that this journey that we're on, is an everyday journey. …you don't need to wait for big moments in order to put what you're learning into practice.” [25:40]

Today, we're pulling one of our best episodes from the vaults, featuring the brilliant Kathryn Mannix. Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages What makes you uncomfortable? And, how do you hold yourself when you're in that space? Some years ago, I noticed that a pair of leather shoes I was wearing was badly creased across the top of the right shoe. A friend of mine pointed out the problem - when I get nervous in a group, I sit on the edge of my seat and jiggle my right leg. When I do this, I'm on my toes, and I crease the leather, damaging the shoe. If being in a group makes me nervous, what's it like to sit with death?  Dr. Kathryn Mannix is a woman who has spent her life being in the presence of death. Not only that, but doing it with grace, tenderness, humor, and kindness. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Katheryn reads two pages from ‘Gratitude' by Oliver Sacks. [reading begins at 17:45]   Hear us discuss:  “The most important skill at the bedside of dying people is knowing how to be.” [10:30] | The preciousness of being alive. [22:56] | The importance of listening in living an essential life: “I've got nothing, but I'm here.” [25:44] | What a tender conversation calls for. [29:23] | “Stories are the way we understand everything.” [33:16] | The lost value of silence. [42:46]

Today, we're pulling one of our best episodes from the vaults, featuring the brilliant Brian Christian. Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages One thing I don't mention often is that the thesis I wrote for my law degree was an attempt to combine my interest in literature with a perspective on law. So I wrote about the phenomenon of plain English: that's trying to write law without the legalese. And I tried to write about it through the lens of literary theories of language. I honestly did not understand what I was trying to do. And also nobody in law school understood what I was trying to do. What I can see now, with the benefit of hindsight and some self-esteem and some marketing speak, is that I was a boundary rider. I've come to learn that the interesting things often take place on the edges, those intermediate areas where X meets Y and some sort of new life is born. Brian Christian is a boundary rider too. He's just way more successful and interesting than law school Micheal. He thinks deeply and writes about deep patterns of life through technology and AI and algorithms. He's the author of The Most Human Human, the Alignment Problem, and Algorithms to Live By. After the introduction I just gave you, you're probably going to guess that Brian isn't just a science guy. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Brian reads from Godel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter. [Reading begins at 15:10] Hear us Discuss:  Metaphor can be one of the main mechanisms by which science happens. [6:20] | Rules that are delightful to break. [24:35] | “I have this deep conviction […] we are on to some philosophical paydirt here. There is a very real way in which we are building [AI] systems in our own image, and as a result they come to be a mirror for ourselves.” [28:40] | What is the heart of the human experience? [38:10] | “Humans are not so special.” [42.50]

Today, we're pulling one of our best episodes from the vaults, featuring the brilliant Haesun Moon. Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages I'm a bit of a geek about models, specifically the ones that reveal patterns and invite new possibilities, helping us expand our understanding of what the world is. My favorites are: the periodic table and its various alternatives, the Roman architect Vitruvius' three attributes for a building, and finally, the alphabet. A book I love is Edward Gorey's The Gashlycrumb Tinies, an alphabet book telling the tale of the demise of young children. If this isn't your style, the good news is that not all alphabet books have grisly endings.   Haesun Moon, Ph.D., is an academic, a communications scientist, a teacher, a coach, and an author. Her new book is a wonderful addition to the world of coaching, Coaching A to Z: The Extraordinary Use of Ordinary Words. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Haesun reads two pages from ‘On Dialogue' by David Bohm. [reading begins at 15:05]   Hear us discuss:  “The gap between what I heard and what you said is sometimes larger in familiar relationships.” [21:12] | Creating shared meaning on a more societal level: “Culture is nothing more than the accumulation of micro conversations.” [22:08] | How to create shared meaning when different truths exist. [27:01] | Remaining curious rather than defensive. [30:20] | Coaching A to Z. [34:09]

Today, we're pulling one of our best episodes from the vaults, featuring the brilliant Madeleine Dore.  Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages I still remember reading my first Nicholson Baker book, The Mezzanine. This extraordinary book slows down the pace of life to one where all the details are able to be noticed. For someone like me–a little bit in my head and moving too fast–reading the book resembles bullet time from The Matrix movies, only with the detritus of everyday living zipping past, instead.  Madeleine Dore reminds me of myself; both a great author and a great asker of questions, though they differ a bit from mine. She's made a career out of asking obvious questions to important people, with all of the answers she's received ending up in her best-selling book I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt.  Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Madeleine reads two pages from ‘Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life,' by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. [reading begins at 12:12]  Hear us discuss:  Making more generous assumptions. [16:24] | The relationship between playfulness and routine. [17:15] | Knowing what's essential vs transitory about yourself: “It takes a long time to become who you are.” [20:12] | “Things are just experiments and projects—we're not tied to anything forever.” [25:28] | The complexity of awaiting your next project. [26:35]

Today, we're pulling one of our best episodes from the vaults, featuring the brilliant Caroline Webb. Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages How are you labeled? How have you been labeled by others? And how have you labeled yourself? You listen to this podcast, which means that you're the type of person who thinks about who they are in this world, who they've been and who they're becoming. One of the ways we claim a sense of self is by the labels we give ourselves. What at first can be a helpful handhold can soon become a straitjacket, what William Blake would call a “mind forged manacle”. I'm wondering how your current labels serve you. And I'm wondering how they don't. Caroline Webb is a renowned expert in the field of behavioral science and how to apply its insights to improve your daily life. She is the author of the popular book How to Have a Good Day. Her career began as an economist working on public policies, but she soon realized her true passion was in the human aspect of economics, specifically what makes a good team and leader. She eventually returned to behavioral economics, where she continues to work as a leadership coach and executive coach. Webb is known for her courage to step out of her comfort zone and take voyages of discovery, she encourages others to do the same. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Caroline reads two pages from ‘How Emotions Are Made' by Lisa Feldman Barrett. [reading begins at 10:52]   Hear us discuss: Looking for the “sticky” or resistant parts of change when you're trying to make a decision. Ask yourself, “What if I were not fearful about that? What would I do? Could I do that in a small way?" [5:05] | “Your emotions are just your brain's best guess at trying to make sense of what's going on, both in what you're experiencing and perceiving from the outside world, but also what you're noticing in your body." [15:12] | “We don't want to reinvent or question everything all the time, because this is actually the way that our brain navigates, see trillions of pieces of data at any given moment. We need to have an interpretation hypothesis." [21:10] | "Maybe what we're experiencing in our heads is a simulation, but that doesn't mean it isn't a wonderful life." [32:23] | "I think of my personal mission in life as being of service to others and helping other people thrive." [33:42]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages The previous guest on this podcast was W. Dave Ball, a fellow Rhodes scholar whom I met at Oxford. One of the things I remember from my time there is the signs that were everywhere: Don't walk on the grass. Entry forbidden. Don't bring a naked flame into the Bodleian Library. Fair enough - I understand the last one, but most of the signs just made me feel like rebelling against them. Maybe this was the artist in me. There's something about transgression that can be extremely powerful.  Stuart Semple is a British artist who never really had a choice about what he wanted to be when he grew up. Today, he's not just an artist, but also an activist. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Stuart reads two pages from ‘Just Kids' by Patti Smith. [reading begins at 8:40]   Hear us discuss:  “I believe an artwork isn't truly finished until it meets an audience. I think art happens when people connect with the things that we make.” [6:24] | The sacrifices of an artist. [15:12] | Seeking inspiration: “Ideas find you.” [16:53] | The role of failure in the success of creating art. [18:07] | “There's a peak in your work when it's the best it'll be, and if you fiddle about with it any more, you're actually doing damage.” [21:34] | Criticism of your work does not equal criticism of you. [21:57] | The story of Black 3.0 [24:29] | What it takes to be a great collaborator. [27:28]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages Where do you find your people? I think I'm still looking for mine, and perhaps you are, too. What often happens is there's an initial rough sort where you get thrown in with others who have similar labels - but that's just the start of it. It's up to you to find your people amongst everyone. I realized that I keep looking for people who make me both think and laugh, meaning I need to seek them out to give them the opportunity to do so. Of course, sometimes your people don't actually need to be found, they need to be rediscovered; they're already there, waiting for you to reach out to them and say hello.  Today's guest is a law professor with articles published in the Columbia Law Review, Yale Law & Policy Review, the American Journal of Criminal Law, and many more. His full name is W. David Ball, but I know him as my friend Dave, someone I met when we were newly minted Rhodes scholars at Oxford in the early 1990s. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Dave reads the poem, ‘Ulysses' by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. [reading begins at 16:45]   Hear us discuss:  “I'd decided that I was going to be me, because there's no way I could fake that.” [9:25] | How to keep your artistic spirit alive: “The essence of creativity is being in touch with who you are, what you want to say to others, and how other people have moved you.” [11:48] | The process of keeping an open heart in your closest relationships. [24:20] | Sitting with ambition (as a Rhodes scholar). [28:13] | Work in the criminal legal system: “I have calluses - not in the sense where I don't feel, but where my skin isn't being burnt off.” [33:01]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages I remember reading that one of the ways to become luckier is to consider yourself a lucky person. So - whether or not you think of yourself as lucky - if you had to name your lucky break, what would it be? That moment when things tipped in your favor, when you inadvertently unlocked the secret to the next level or noticed a clue to a hidden door; that moment when things changed?  Dr. Emily Balcetis is one of the most sought-after voices on Motivational Science. Her research sees her delving into the differences in judgments and behaviors from person to person. Emily shares what she finds out through her keynote speaking and her writing, and continues to shape and define the cutting-edge research in her role as Director of the Social Perception, Action and Motivation Lab. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Emily reads two pages from ‘How to Change' by Katy Milkman. [reading begins at 14:55]   Hear us discuss:  What to trust in the world, and what to not: “Sometimes what we're going to know, is that we don't know. And what you do know is that you might not be right.” [9:21]  | Navigating failure and being kind to yourself: “It doesn't need to be a failure, the experience can be labeled a learning opportunity.”  [19:55] | The complex relationship between the journey and the reward. [25:15] | How optimism and pessimism affect the pursuit of goals: “The fear of the unknown stands in the way of people hitting the reset button.” [31:01] | Must you say no to the present in order to say yes to the future? [33:48] | “Don't hesitate to seek out additional perspectives.” [38:34]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages For the final episode, I chose a chapter that's about resetting a relationship that's gone through a tough spell. Though I hope that's not how you'd describe these past few episodes, it's a nice segue back into normal programming with some of my fantastic guests. Our last storyteller is Sanyin Siang; coach, leadership expert, and recipient of the first Thinkers50 Marshall Goldsmith Coaching award. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  Michael reads from Chapter 18 of his newest book, ‘How to Work with (Almost) Anyone.' [reading begins at 1:25]    Hear us discuss:  Why reset a relationship? [2:57] | Should we begin again?: “Avoid the reset, and the relationship will likely continue to deteriorate. Take the opportunity to plant the seeds of recovery, and you'll likely strengthen it.” [4:55] | What to think and talk about when starting over. [5:19] | How do we finish this?: “All things, BPRs as well, have their season.” [6:20] | Sanyin Siang reveals one of her best working relationships: “A great way of showing someone that you care about them is to give them honest feedback about what they're doing well, as well as what they could be doing better.” [10:00]

Recommend this show by sharing the link: pod.link/2Pages As it's book launch day, I picked one of the deep-dive chapters titled How to Amplify What's Good to share with you, and towards the end you'll hear from Leadership Strategist, author, and my good friend, Dan Pontefract. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/   Michael reads from Chapter 21 of his newest book, ‘How to Work with (Almost) Anyone.' [reading begins at 1:33]   Hear us discuss:  Exercise 1 - Archetypes. [3:05] | Exercise 2 - The Boasting Friend: “Even if we have some inkling of what makes us great, we are unwilling to name it out loud.” [5:25] | “When you see yourself through another's eyes, you often see things you may not have noticed before.” [7:44] | Dan Pontefract talks about his worst working relationship: “Being punctual is not poisonous; being present is actually perfect.” [8:02]