Legacy Cafe Podcast

When life throws devastating changes at you, be ready for it with Nancy Juetten’s ‘Life Goes On Roadmap’. One of your legacies will be no chaos, no crisis, just a clear road to follow in comfort! In this episode we discuss how to get your Stories, your Will, your Valuables, your Passwords, and many other elements of your life organized, so you don’t leave a mess for your family - tomorrow or decades from now.

This new 14-minute episode of the Legacy Café podcast features the story of man who dramatically refocused his life, and you can take advantage of his work. Dennis was a ‘money guy’…. doing very well. But after losing both parents he realized he never asked them about their values, their wisdom, their life stories. So he left his successful 20 year career and co-founded a global initiative that's saving the greatest body of wisdom in history from being lost forever. This remarkable story can affect your family today and for generations to come. Make sure your wisdom and life lessons aren't wasted by going to LegacyStories.org

15 years ago, Marilyn Norry challenged women actors to write the facts of their mother’s life. She then turned those stories into a stage play. She’s now helped over 500 women write their mother’s stories. And to ensure many mother’s stories aren’t lost, Marilyn has just published “Writing Women’s History. Starting with your Mother.” It will help every woman take stock of their mother’s legacy. At the end of this conversation Marilyn will give you what you need to get started. And yes, wherever your mother is… she’ll help. Get the download at https://legacycafe.org/mother

Is there something you’d love to have in your community… that just isn’t there? Would you like one of your legacies to enhance life where you live? But building it yourself is just, well…. a big challenge. It would be difficult to get it done on your own. Here’s my best advice: Walk in the door of your local Community Foundation. In this podcast Brad Ward will tell us a few stories about how Community Foundations work, and how they can help you build some really cool legacies you’ll be proud of.

What is the lasting gift of Legacy? And - who’s giving that gift? Or not bothering at all? My guest in the Legacy Café is Ken Dychtwald, CEO of Age Wave and internationally recognized author and gerontologist. He recently released a landmark study on legacy and aging as a research project with Bank 0f America/Merrill Lynch. In the study titled, “Leaving a legacy. A lasting gift to loved ones”, Ken discovered that 82% of us will likely be remembered with the phrase: “Well, you left a heckuva mess.” Not good! Turns out 94% of the 3000 people surveyed said they would like their legacy to be “a life well lived with family and friends that love me,” while only 4% said their legacy is the wealth they accumulated. Hmmm... Join my conversation with Ken for a fascinating review of his eye-opening study and what various generations are thinking of ‘legacy’, how each is acting to live it....and give it.

Boe Workman argues that many of us 50+ are living a revolution… determined to leave our mark on the world. "We want to disrupt the traditional aging process so we can spark new solutions that will allow us to live the best life we can." Yes, we want to be more independent, with more intimacy and fun, And yes, more legacy building. We want to lead a richer, more self-sufficient life as we age. But (and it's a big 'but'), are we constrained by a cultural view that aging means deterioration and dependence? Boe is the Director of CEO Communication at AARP and has co-authored several books that shake up some outdated beliefs about aging. He recently co-authored a book with Jo Anne Jenkins, AARP's CEO, called Disrupt Aging, well worth the read. Will the opportunities of aging outweigh the negatives? Give a listen to find out. 

As a listener to The Legacy Café, you know that a ‘Legacy’ is so much more than money and ‘stuff’ handed down to the kids. But - many are blessed with more resources than they need to lead a happy life. With that comes questions: Are children and grandchildren prepared for the responsibility? Have family dynamics prevented you from having the tough conversations? Will your business thrive under the next generation of leadership? Mostly, do you have an intentional, proactive plan to create a thriving, inspiring Legacy? Join Jeff Rogers as Robb asks him about Stewardship Legacy Coaching for high net worth families, and the challenge of clarifying values, virtues, guiding principles, and a giving culture you want to maintain.

When a young person looks at a picture on the wall and asks parents and grandparents “Who is that?”, they’ll be off on a journey that will benefit them thru their lives. With a little encouragement, the research and writing of the story of an unknown relative can ignite the imagination and light the fire of ‘social history’; the stories of those who came before us, and our personal relationship with them. The act of finding and telling those stories can be the Trojan horse to change school’s normally boring social studies courses; create better communicators… and be a make-or-break asset for college and career. Yes, our kids can find and create our legacy stories… and they will be the beneficiaries.

What’s the secret for a happy family? They talk. A lot. Dr. Marshall Duke, a renowned psychologist, is my guest on this remarkable podcast episode. In a research project at Emory University, he created the Do You Know Scale, which asked children 20 Do You Know questions about their family and its history. The results were quite surprising. Turns out the children who knew more about their family's history had higher levels of self-esteem, lower levels of anxiety, were much better at facing challenges, and a whole lot more. Yes, family stories are a critical part of a child's emerging identity and well-being. That's why it's so important to hear Dr. Duke share the remarkable story behind the study in this podcast episode. And don’t feel left out! These stories can and should be told in any family, of any age.

A Conversation with Steve Marken President of the Stewardship Council So, you’ve got some resources you’d like to distribute through your estate plan? You call them your ‘Legacies’. But when you define them, do they give you fulfillment and joy Now? Do you smile as you think how they’ll affect the future? According the Steve, 99% of family estates don’t incorporate any part of the family’s story, values, goals and characters that give the legacies you want to create the richness they deserve. Most financial and legal advisors don’t know how important this is. How do you peel that onion and make it a rich experience discovering what those legacies can be? My conversation with Steve will talk about the two-edged sword of money, about family stories, and about philanthropy that reflects your values. And then Steve will give you all the questions to ask yourself and your family on this journey to discover your legacies.

Do you know where your great grandparents came from? Or what they did to live? Or where their kids went and what they did? You might consider becoming a junior genealogist like me. Genealogy? The dictionary says it’s “a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor”. I knew my great grandparents came from Ireland… but that’s all I knew. Working with a genealogist for 15 minutes I learned they landed in Halifax in 1869, the name of their ship, and the names of the seven kids they brought with them. And as we followed that ‘line of descent’, I learned the names of the next five kids they had, including my grandfather. Join me and Billie Fogarty, President of the Association of Professional Genealogists as we learn about family trees, branches, leaves… and the stories they tell. And if you start your line of descent, have the Kleenex ready!

Starting his career in the early 1900’s, my grandpa was a cowboy, a champion curler, and a beer salesman. But I never learned any of his stories, or wisdom. I spent some time with him in the 60’s, but I was too young to ask: “Grandpa, what do you believe in? What advice would you give me?” 75 yr. old grandpa, John Boden, won’t let the opportunity to talk to his grandchildren escape. He’s ensuring they hear his wisdom, ideas, opinions and stories. He wants to stir their young minds so they become a little wiser, a better person… and maybe grow up to lead happy and successful lives. John’s website is a weekly ‘must-watch, must-read’ by thousands of kids at grandpathephilosopher.com Are you a grandparent? Isn’t it time to ensure your wisdom and stories reach your grandchildren… and great grandchildren, and…

I had a brilliant idea once. Put up an ‘interview tent’ in a busy city and invite passers-by to come in and tell their stories. I didn’t do it. But StoryCorps did! 15 years later they’ve collected stories from over a quarter of a million people, each telling stories about their lives, archiving their wisdom to be heard from one generation to the next. Their Mission? Preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. Join me in this energetic chat with Emily Janssen. Associate Director of StoryCorps. And then watch for that Airstream trailer!

Scott Jeffrey helps  CEOs and entrepreneurs reach their full potential. And the key is that they must know their Core Values. Do you know your core values? What's the real benefit of knowing yours... as well as others around you knowing theirs? Scott takes us through a seven-step process to discover our core values. We start with a clean slate... and keep drilling. When we're finished here, and with the joy of more clarity, accept Scott's free gifts to continue your journey.

N 1982 Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner set out to understand those times when leaders performed their personal best.  What emerged were five fundamental practices common to extraordinary leadership. Great leaders model the way, share their vision, challenge the process, enable others… and encourage the heart. And that kind of leadership leads to extraordinary legacies. But first, what’s a leader look like? What do they exhibit? And do all of us have leadership potential? (This one surprised me). Join Jim and I… for even this chat will make us better leaders!

My father was nearly killed by a piece of shrapnel long before he landed on France’s beaches. The bomb landed next door, the shrapnel embedded itself in the wall, just above his head. Dad looked at that shrapnel as good luck and put it in his kit bag. I grew up with that shrapnel in the living room. Dad had it mounted with the words “Close Call. Aldershot, England, 1942”. But until only a few years ago I didn’t know its story, so I asked him, and he told me. Want your storyteller’s tales? Ask them about the letters, pictures, paintings, trophies… and listen as the stories rush out. Listen to our panelists stories.

Imagine that, centuries ago, you were laying a stone for a building that will take 50, 100, 150 years to complete. You won’t be alive when it’s finished. And those who will lay the final stones aren’t even born yet. But you know everything you do now will have a long-term impact.  You enjoy laying each stone… knowing generations in the future will thank you for starting with that first brick. Your generation works today, but is tethered to the future. “Cathedral Thinking” is ambitious, long term thinking. Cathedral Thinking will take that first step towards a brilliant idea that the future will say ‘thank you’ for. Your legacy is that idea, that 'Cathedral' you started. It’s easy to think short term. But Rick Antonson, author, travel industry executive, and apostle of Cathedral Thinking, will help you lay that first stone of your long-term legacy.

Want to create legacies that give meaning to your life? Well, think differently. Think ‘Generativity’. Generativity is a mindset, and a process.  It’s a mindset that is concerned, and excited, about the future…. and your ability to benefit future generations. It’s a process to arrive at legacies that will enhance lives now, and in the future. Just follow the few steps to ‘Generativity’ that John Kotre outlines here… and you’ll find yourself thinking differently. “I loved this interview with John Kotre” said Robb Lucy. “It affirms that everything we do can affect our lives, and the lives of those that follow. If the world thought and acted in a 'generative way', it would be a very different place. So... let's start!"

A few questions about ‘philanthropy’? Is it about giving away all the cash when I die? NO Can I be a philanthropist without a seven-figure estate? YES Are the money guys changing to care about what I want? YUP, SOME ARE. John A. Warnick is the founder of the Purposeful Planning Institute. He says they’re creating a revolution in the way they work with you, your money… and your ‘story’. The money guys are catching up. They’re learning they need to understand your story so they can organize your philanthropy, so you can build the legacies that are meaningful to you. A scholarship… swings in the park… an international charity.....a special keepsake for the library. Ready to say hello to your angels and heroes?

In the film National Treasure 2, Nicolas Cage’s character said, “Everything I am is because of my ancestors.” Now, was he looking at his family tree… or listening to some family stories? When you say ‘family tree’, that’s Genealogy, tracing the history of your family. These are the hard, cold facts: names, birth and death dates, places, and events like marriage and divorces. And then we ask: does Genealogy help us find those memorable family history stories? Legacy stories that delight us and our descendants years from now? When we find interesting family history and collect those stories, do they lead us back to fill in a few more leaves on the family tree? Back and forth - the science of Genealogy to the joy of family history stories. Then those stories send us back to Genealogy, and the circle continues. So, where should you start: Genealogy… or family history? Join Robb and Jean Wilcox Hibben, a 40 year Genealogist working at circlemending.org, and President of the Southern California chapter of The Association. of Professional Genealogists, in a fascinating conversation about tying your family history to your family legacy.

HANG ON BOOMERS! Michael Adams says we’re ‘self-centered spendthrifts, nostalgic tree-huggers, indulgent parents, aging hippies…. and sell-outs!’ YOWZA! Join Robb Lucy as he asks Michael (with trepidation) how we Boomers, and the generations before and after us, are approaching our legacies. Does each generation look at legacy differently? Michael Adams is the president of the Environics group of research and communications consulting companies and the author of six books, including: STAYING ALIVE: how baby boomers will work play and find meaning in the second half of their adult lives. Michael is a noted commentator on social values and social change in North America, and a popular public speaker, offering topical, entertaining talks elaborating the data presented in his books. Our parents (the ‘Elders’) gave to charities out of a sense of duty and self-sacrifice – nobles oblige. Their kids – the Boomers – don’t give out of ‘duty’. We want results. We want to see how we’ve changed the lives of others. Adams calls Boomers ‘autonomous rebels’, whereas Millennials are ‘engaged idealists’. For instance, Boomers grew up with religion, then rebelled. The ‘post Boomers’ (Gen X + Y) are more exploratory, and less resentful. Boomers practiced traditional politics. Post Boomers aren’t disengaged, but engaged in new ways.

Both Dr. Barry Baines and our host Robb Lucy agreed: when each of them finished their own ‘Legacy Letter’ (or ‘Ethical Will'), they felt a great tranquility and peace of mind. What truly matters in their lives was now on paper. You might call your Legacy Letter the “voice of my heart.” Or think of it as a love letter to your family. Every Legacy Letter is as unique as the person writing it. What can be in it? Your values. Hopes and blessings for future generations. Life’s lessons. Love and forgiveness. You can find much more in Robb's book, or Barry's -"Ethical Wills. Putting Your Values on Paper". Both Dr. Baines and Robb learned a lot about themselves when they wrote their Legacy Letter. After listening to this intriguing podcast, you might find your Legacy Letter helps you lead the life you want to be remembered for.

Many of your legacy stories have already been recorded in old printed pictures and in digital images. Problem is, our old photos are fading away in closets, shoe boxes and albums, while our digital pictures are getting impossible to manage. What to do? Join Robb Lucy’s conversation with Cathi Nelson, Founder of the Association of Personal Photo Organizers (APPO). You’ll learn practical tips and advice on how to turn photo-chaos into organized, and visual, legacy stories.

Have you ever wished you gathered the story of someone whose tale you know would inform and entertain… but whose story is now gone? Join Robb Lucy in a vibrant conversation with his panel of story-finders and story-tellers as they discuss the craft of gathering and preserving those memorable yarns.

Join host Robb Lucy in the first ever Legacy Café Podcast where he will gives his own take on what a legacy is and why we should care.  You'll also be entertained with clips from some of the inspiring conversations he had on upcoming shows. We highly recommend listening to this premier show before any of the others because it establishes the foundation for everything to come. Enjoy!