Podcasts about uss houston

Chief Petty Officer Otto Carl Schwarz Jr. served in the Navy in World War II. He was born in the Netherlands, but moved to the US with his family during childhood. He enlisted in the US Navy in January 1941 with the permission of his parents. Schwarz served stints on several ships before making his way to the USS Houston, a heavy cruiser, in June 1941.  During the Battle of Sunda Strait in February 1942, the Houston was sunk by enemy torpedoes and gunfire. Those who escaped the Houston came under machine gun fire from the Japanese as they floated in the water. In total, 700 men were lost.  Like most of the 368 men who survived, Schwarz was captured by the Japanese and sent to a work camp. He was transported via a “Hell ship”.  Hell ships earned their moniker from the allied prisoners of war who were unlucky enough to board one. They were requisitioned merchant ships that were extremely overcrowded with POWs. Described as “floating dungeons”, inmates had “no access to the air, space, light, bathroom facilities, and adequate food or water.” You can learn more about them here.  Schwarz was first sent to Bicycle Camp, a POW camp in modern day Indonesia. There he experienced the best treatment during his time as a prisoner, but it didn't last long. He was transferred to Changi Prison in Singapore, and then to a prison camp in Moulmein, Burma. There he was forced to work on the Burma Railway, also known as the Death Railway. According to Britannica “More than 11 percent of civilian internees and 27 percent of Allied POWs died or were killed while in Japanese custody; by contrast, the death rate for Allied POWs in German camps was around 4 percent.” Over 60,000 allies were forced to build it, and over 10,000 died during its construction. Conditions for these POWs were unfathomable. They were underfed and overworked, they suffered from numerous diseases and illnesses, they were given little to no medical attention, they faced harsh weather conditions, they had to deal with insect infestations, and they were often subjected to beatings by their captors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the night of February 28, 1942 descended on the calm waters of the Sunda Strait, a sense of foreboding hung in the air. It was a fateful night that would etch itself indelibly into the annals of naval warfare history. The stage was set for one of the most gripping naval battles of the Pacific War during World War II - The Battle of Sunda Strait. To the north, the fall of Singapore had shattered the Allies' bastion in Southeast Asia. To the south, Australia anxiously awaited the outcome of the impending battle. Sandwiched between these crucial points were the Dutch East Indies, a coveted prize for the Imperial Japanese forces, as their control would give Japan access to vital resources and a strategic vantage point. This was the high stakes backdrop against which the USS Houston and HMAS Perth, two gallant but beleaguered Allied cruisers, found themselves pitted against a formidable Japanese force. Outnumbered and outgunned, these ships sailed valiantly into the mouth of danger, their fate resting in the hands of the men who served aboard them. Their tale, their heroism, and the furious combat they engaged in that night form the essence of our narrative. We delve deep into the events that led up to this night of inferno, the decisions and miscommunications that sealed their fate, the minute by minute recounting of the battle that took place under the hauntingly beautiful moonlit night, and the profound implications this battle had on the broader theater of World War II. We honor the legacy of the Battle of Sunda Strait, a legacy that still resonates in the hearts of those who know its story. It is a story of valor and sacrifice, of strategic gambits and costly mistakes, and ultimately, a story that shaped the destiny of nations during the most devastating conflict the world has ever seen. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ww2-stories/support

Eric and Dave are joined by Jesse Chaney, a Sonar Technician Chief, who served aboard the USS Toledo and the USS Houston. The Toledo was a hot runner, with a Captain full of vim and vigor, and who is now the subject of a famous internet submarine meme that you have definitely seen, but might not know the full story behind... Jesse's story is -like so many - a combination of ups and downs, but in the end it is a story about overcoming the demons which afflict so many. It is a story that proves that there is help and there is hope for tomorrow...

What's that? A radio is being broadcast across the entire ship. Not a man is moving as everyone has their ears listening closely to the announcement from President Franklin D. Roosevelt from radio signal coming in from CBS and NBC Radio. PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT DECLARING WAR ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1941 AFTER JAPANESE EMPIRE BOMBED PEARL HARBOR ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1941 I rushed back up to the place I had landed my time machine, and was quickly lifted away until I found myself nestled in the bed in my quarters on the USS Houston. It was near sunset on February 28, 1942 The ship I was on, the U.S.S. Houston, Admiral Tommy Hart's former Asiatic flagship, had vanished off the radar without a trace somewhere off the Northwest coast of Java. The mystery of this great warship remained complete until the war ended and small groups of survivors were discovered in Japanese prisoner of war camps, scattered from the island of Java through the Malay Peninsula, the jungles of Burma and Thailand, and northward to the Islands of Japan. Of the 1,008 officers and men who manned her, including myself, approximately 350 escaped from the sinking ship, only to be captured in the jungles of Java, or as they floundered helplessly in the sea. Of the original survivors, only 266 lived through the ordeal of filth and brutal treatment brutally handed out to them in the Japanese prisoner of war camps. To me the story of the U.S.S. Houston, especially during the last three weeks of her valiant battle against overwhelming odds, is one of the greatest epics of the United States Navy, yet historians of World War II seem to have neglected it almost completely. Not only that. In 1970, my mother was given a typewritten manuscript from my Uncle who was one of the 266 who lived through the ordeal of… as I put it… filth and brutal treatment. My story today is long overdue. In 2016, I wrote a novel called “The Galloping Ghost from the Java Coast,” which finally told the story of the brave and gallant 266 men, but I was asked not to publish it. It still sits quietly on my computer, but I have decided to tell part of the story in the 2-Part Podcast as a memorial to all the brave men on the USS Houston during World War II. My time machine comes in really handy but I could have been killed just as easily as any other man on that fateful night back in '42. What happened to the USS Houston that night was a nightmare of many years standing, yet each incident of that wild battle still lives on in my mind as vividly as though it happened only a few minutes ago. In reality, it actually did, but jumping from one time to another can be very exhausting as you have heard in previous podcasts. So, thanks everyone, from me, Sidney St. James, author of “The Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast, and your host TODAY of this Part I of II podcast as I tell my Memorial Day story that has been passed by historians around the world for a very long time! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sidneystjames/message

SEASON 3, EPISODE 13 PART II of MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE TO THE USS HOUSTON Greetings to everyone on this Memorial Day 2022. Sidney St. James, with you for the dramatic conclusion to my Memorial Day Tribute to the USS Houston in World War II. Before continuing where I left off, I should mention that today's idea came from my earlier podcast about Superheroes. Well, in that broadcast was a mention of Dr. Strange in the newest movie coming out. In that episode, I talked about not the magical powers of that superhero but how you wonder how in the world he could climb back up time after time after being left for dead so many times. He had the nine lives of a cat! Well, so did the USS Houston. While the Japanese reported it sinking more than once, it was hundreds of miles away, still floating… still fighting. Knowing this, let me continue where I left off… It's been a very long day, and it was nearing sunset as I watched the sun sinking into the waters of the Java Sea. The sea's surface was covered with clouds of black smoke, which made it difficult for us to spot the enemy. However, it was discovered that Japanese cruisers were closing in on us from every direction, and our destroyers were ordered to attack with torpedoes to divert them and give us time to reform. Although no hits were reported, the effect of the attack did what it was supposed to and turned the Japs away. At this point, the engagement was broken off. The daylight battle had ended with no decisive results; however, there was still the convoy, which we would attempt to surprise under cover of nighttime darkness. A word from Winston Churchill and then the rest of my story. God Bless Our American Soldiers Around the World!!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sidneystjames/message

This episode is brought to you by the Museum's Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy.   Today we are traveling back to February 27, 2012. Where we had the pleasure of hosting best-selling author James (Jim) Hornfischer, so he could discuss his book, “Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston.” For which earned Jim the United States Maritime Literature Award.   Jim was a dear friend and frequent speaker at the Museum, and though we were all saddened by his passing in 2021, we are honored to be able to continue sharing his vast knowledge and passion for the subject of the US Navy in World War II.

A REPLAY: Memorial Day Tribute to Friendship & Patriotism 'Home Alive By ‘45' Operation Magic Carpet 2021 Operation Magic Carpet was the most extensive combined air and sealift ever organized during wartime. Elmer A. Struss, my father, was an officer in the Navy, one of many assigned this task and helped bring back home millions of soldiers at the end of WWII. It was called… by all the servicemen and women as the scope expanded worldwide as “Home Alive By '45!” My special presentation on this Memorial Weekend is of the First Nighttime Torpedo Drop in Naval History, Operation Magic Carpet, and action in the theater of Northern Africa. Today, my words are a tribute to the patriotism about Eagle Lake, Texas' Three Musketeers, as they were known in school in the 1920s and 1930s… Robert Jack “Coogie” Ney, Elmer Struss and Freddie Frnka.. Over my entire life growing up, I heard some pretty wild stories of these three men who fought for our country during World War II. The stories I heard and some treasured pictures from the 1920s dug out of Antonio & Cleopatra cigar boxes go way back before the War. As a matter of fact, before relating their wartime contributions, I want to talk about something else amazing between the three… their FRIENDSHIP with each other. Let's first talk about friendship and the differences in levels of friendship. Good friends are those that care for each other…close friends really understand one another… but ladies and gentlemen, TRUE FRIENDS, stay forever…beyond all words and beyond all distances, beyond all boundaries… wherever they might move to and between one another and absolutely beyond time itself…! You know, speaking from personal experience, we all have made friends in our lives over the years. I suppose I got started in Mrs. Mina Kveton's Kindergarten Class in 1956, and still to this very day, some of those friends I made then as a six-year-old are true friends… even though we lost contact with each other as we grew older. We make as adults and stay in touch with other friends as long as we live close to, and it's convenient to stay in touch, but then over time, one moves away, or busy schedules slowly pull us apart, and we start to lose touch. Those friendships fall into what I call the good friends' category. But then, there's that last group of friends – those we all call our true friends or, in my granddaughter's language of today, BFFs – they are those we have a mutual caring about. We understand each other's hearts, and where bonds are formed between us that span any distance in proximity… from one side of the world to the other and where the bonds run so deep that no amount of time apart or lack of words being said between us, will change the way we feel about those friends. These, my loyal listeners, are our true friends, and when one comes into your life, cherish it for all its worth! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sidneystjames/message

Alois (Al) Kopp was born at Raleigh, North Dakota, on this date in 1918. During the 1930s, jobs were hard to come by so in 1937, Al joined the Navy, becoming a Pharmacists Mate on the heavy cruiser, USS Houston.

George Wallace - Retired Navy Commander & National Best-Selling Author George Wallace served 22 years in the Navy as an officer on nuclear submarines. It was his time in the service that led him to become a National best-selling author, taking his knowledge and experience to craft submarine stories. During his time in the Navy he commanded the Los Angeles class attack submarine, the USS Houston, working exclusively with the SEAL community. A few years after retirement in 1999, George teamed up with Don Keith to begin writing the Hunter Killer Series. He has written seven books in this series, with more in the works, and independently authored Operation Golden Dawn. Hunter Killer Series The first of the series, Final Bearing became a best-selling novel. It was their next book, Firing Point, that was used to produce the major motion picture, Hunter Killer, staring Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman. There are now six books published in this series, with the seventh, Silent Running coming in 2022, which is currently available for pre-order. Learn More Website:  https://wallace-keith.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WallaceandKeith/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeawallace/ VeteranCrowd Network Our "forever promise" is to build the veteran and military spouse community a place to connect and engage. VeteranCrowd is simply a national network of veterans, veteran led businesses and the resources they need to prosper. Subscribe to stay in touch, or consider if Individual or Corporate Membership in the Network is a fit for you.   About Your Host Bob Louthan is a VMI Graduate, Army veteran, and executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and private capital formation. He founded the VeteranCrowd Network to bring veterans and veteran-led businesses together with each other and the resources they need to prosper.      

HMAS Perth (1) a cruiser of the same class as HMAS Sydney and commissioned into the RAN in 1939 was sunk by an overwhelming Japanese force in the Sunda Strait on 1st March 1942. USS Houston was also sunk.  More than half of the crew of 681 died in action. The survivors had to ensure appalling conditions on the Thai-Burma railway and some survived a second sinking in 1945, this time by American submarines who were unaware the transport ships carried POWs.  Some spent 6 days in the sea before being rescued.  Of the entire crew, only 1 in 3 returned to Australia. The HMAS Perth (1) Memorial Foundation has been established to raise funds to construct a memorial which will be located with the naval cadets training unit, TS Perth, in East Fremantle.  Their aim is to complete this in time for the 80th anniversary of the sinking. Mike Bailey, President of the HMAS Perth (1) Memorial Foundation told Harvey Deegan that it is time for a fitting permanent memorial to the ship and her crew. Governor Kim Beazley (their Patron) will be officially opening an exhibit at the Perth Town Hall on 27th February.  For more information go to www.hmasperth1memorial.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Sumatra lost the Allies know that Java is next. ABDA Commander Gen. Archibald Wavell prepares his meager forces as best he can. One asset is the heavy cruiser the USS Houston, but can this make up for the overwhelming Japanese forces coming their way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the 34th Episode of the Two Tankers and a Cat Podcast!  Closely related to the SU-85, the SU-100 Soviet Union Tank Destroyer incorporated much of its design, revolving around the new D10 100 mm (3.94 in) antitank gun.  The SU-100 arrived in operational units in October 1944 and immediately became popular with Russian crews.  During the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba, The USS Houston, an American troop and supply vessel, was damaged by several FAR rockets and Castro himself shooting it from his command vehicle the SU-100, its captain then intentionally beached the ship on the western side of the bay.  You can contact us at twotankersandcat@gmail.com  Thank you for listening and as always Happy Tanking and have a great week!   Russel, Charlie & Lightning!

This week, Travel Today with Peter Greenberg comes from the Hotel Alessandra in downtown Houston, Texas. Joining Peter is William T. Harris, President and CEO of Space Center Houston, who talks about celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing and dispels the misconceptions and reveals Neil Armstrong’s real experience when he stepped on the moon’s surface. Then, Jim D. Hornfischer, Author of Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, tells the riveting story of the doomed ship: her history, tragic demise and how she’s remembered today. Plus, Jim Parsons, Programs Director at Preservation Houston, on why Houston is “a new invention,” how it has evolved in the last few decades and the city’s extensive — and surprising — open green spaces. And, David Bomford, Curator of The Museum of Fine Arts Houston reveals more about the largest Vincent van Gogh exhibit in North America. All this and more as Travel Today with Peter Greenberg comes from the Hotel Alessandra in Houston, Texas.

This week, Travel Today with Peter Greenberg comes from the Hotel Alessandra in downtown Houston, Texas. Joining Peter is William T. Harris, President and CEO of Space Center Houston, who talks about celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing and dispels the misconceptions and reveals Neil Armstrong’s real experience when he stepped on the moon’s surface. Then, Jim D. Hornfischer, Author of Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, tells the riveting story of the doomed ship: her history, tragic demise and how she’s remembered today. Plus, Jim Parsons, Programs Director at Preservation Houston, on why Houston is “a new invention,” how it has evolved in the last few decades and the city’s extensive — and surprising — open green spaces. And, David Bomford, Curator of The Museum of Fine Arts Houston reveals more about the largest Vincent van Gogh exhibit in North America. All this and more as Travel Today with Peter Greenberg comes from the Hotel Alessandra in Houston, Texas.

Radical Abundance - It's a Way of Thinking Steve: Welcome to all of our Becoming Your Best Podcast listeners wherever you might be in the world today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger, and we have a fascinating guest today. I'm really looking forward to our conversation. She has helped and inspired many people on how to improve their lives. So welcome Dr. Sharon Spano. Dr Spano: Thank you so much, Steve. I'm very excited to have this time with you today and to share what I have to offer to your listeners, and to learn more about you as well. So, looking forward to this opportunity. Steve: Well, thank you. Well, now, before we get started, I'd like to tell you a little about Sharon's background. Sharon has a P.h.D. in Human and Organizational Systems. She's an author, a corporate business strategist, a workforce expert, professional speaker, former radio host of Work Smart Live. She and her husband actually run three businesses. And so she understands what it's like to have business challenges, and success, and setbacks, and overcoming those. She empowers business leaders and entrepreneurs to maximize performance. Also works on employee engagement and how to increase bottom-line results. She is a certified professional coach, she loves helping other people, and especially, stepping into radical abundance. And we're gonna talk about that shortly. Her research focuses on wisdom, adult development and leadership, and her work and her new book, The Pursuit of Time and Money: Step into Radical Abundance and Discover the Secret to a Meaningful Prosperous Life. So there you go. This is somebody we wanna have some fun and listen to. Dr Spano: Well, I appreciate it, Steve. I appreciate it. What a great introduction, thanks so much. Steve: Well, you bet. All right, well, let's jump right into things. So, tell us about where you grew up, what it was like growing up, and what experiences, Sharon, helped you to see that you could be successful? Dr Spano: Well, I think that's a great question, Steve, because we all have our story, right? And so, my early childhood story. My parents were divorced and I was literally dropped off at my paternal grandmother's home at probably around the age of five, my sister and I, in the inner city of Los Angeles. And so, we were kind of thrust into this different lifestyle as children, and it was a pretty intense environment back in the day. I can remember growing up and there were gangs and a lot of things like that. But my grandmother in her wisdom, put us in catholic school, which was not an easy thing, even at $15 a month. I mean, we were very poor, so it was difficult for her to make that happen. But that was the saving grace, I think, because she was worried about us being in the public school system with all the gangs and the things that were going on at that time. And I got a very, very good education with the nuns. And so a lot of my success, I attribute to those early years, because the emphasis was on literary work, and reading and writing, and I learned early. I'm a lifelong learner and I'm an avid reader. And so I would say, most of my success, if I could attribute it to any one thing, which of course there never is just one thing, is there? But it has to do with my willingness to learn, but also the ability to communicate, both in the written and spoken word. That has been really, just a big plus for me throughout my entire career. Steve: Well, that is quite a background, not only cultural, from Los Angeles, and that kind of experience in the inner city, but also that type of a tremendous education. Your grandmother must have been some woman. Dr Spano: Yeah, she was. She had nine children, she buried two husbands, lost her younger son in the war, which I've just recently learned his story because I grew up kind of under this cloud, if you will, of an uncle that she always expected to come home. She believed that he was captured by the Japanese. And I only just literally a month ago found out that he actually went down with the USS Houston. So, it was interesting in many ways, in that, I now have come to see how she prepared me spiritually, but she also prepared me for loss of a son, because I lost my own son in 2008. And so, her strength, her spirituality, her wisdom, you know, sometimes when you're growing up, you don't realize how all that's impacting you, but it's really had a tremendous impact on how I've carried myself through the adversity in my own life. You know, and particularly learning Roy's [SP] story now, in my later years and realizing how she handled, you know, that grief and that uncertainty, you know, never knowing for sure what had happened to him, was quite an amazing thing to grow up, you know, under and have within the household. And I didn't realize how much it prepared me, you know, for the loss of a child. Watching her, you know, witnessing her strength all those years. Steve: Having great role models like that have a far greater impact sometimes than we realize, and how fortunate. And I'm grateful for the wonderful women who have had such a big impact on my life, as well as the great role model men. So, good going on that. So, Sharon, what's been the biggest challenge or maybe one of the biggest challenges in your life, whether personal or in your business life, and how did you handle that? Dr Spano: Well, I think it's really to what I alluded to a moment ago. My husband and I, you know, met, I was pretty young when we met. We've had a very strong and long lasting marriage for over 43 years. We've been very blessed in that. Steve: Way to go. Dr Spano: But our son Michael was born in 1981 with a very rare metabolic disorder. So that was sort of the first adversity that hit us. As a very young couple, that certainly wasn't what we had expected to have happen. And he was at that time diagnosed, he was supposed to live till the age two. So those first years were very, very challenging for us. But we transitioned from Los Angeles, moved to Florida for my husband's business in the early 80s. And Michael wound up living till the age of 27. So we had a very full and rich life with this young man, who was wheelchair bound throughout his life. But there were a lot of adversities and ups and downs, as you can imagine, through that process. And we're both entrepreneurs, running our businesses, you know, trying to stay ahead of the game with him. And his death was certainly, probably without a doubt the biggest challenge of my life. Because he was critical for four years, in and out of hospitals. And of course, my business was booming at that time, and, you know, you're at the height of all of that, and of course, if you knew that you're near the end of, you know, this journey with him, I probably would have quit everything, but you don't know that. You're just kinda living day to day thinking tomorrow is gonna be a better day. And as it turned out, it was a very great opportunity for me to exercise resilience, because managing the business and managing his illness, you know, my husband and I just, again, that was the value of being entrepreneurs. We would just pitch ship for each other, and, you know, be what we needed to be for him first, but still kept the businesses going somehow. And then when he passed, in '08, that in and of itself was such a dramatic event, but one that really made us appreciate the sacredness, I guess, of that kind of life transition. We both buried parents, grandparents, but obviously, it's a very different thing when you burry a child because it's unnatural, right? That our child would pass before us. So, you know, really helped me grow spiritually, helped me appreciate the work that I have and how God has blessed me to serve people in the corporate environment. And I love the work that I'm about. I feel very purposeful in it, and I just have a very, very passionate perspective on the value of life and the legacy that I wanna create moving forward. And I feel like God's timing was perfect, in that, if we had to lose Michael, we lost him at a time where we'd had a wonderful experience with him. Really, as a family, you know, we did so much together. And then, yet at the time of his passing, we're both young enough to still, you know, carry forth our businesses and contribute. I mean, that's really what I want, you know, the fourth quarter, as they say, to be about. How do I contribute to making people's lives better and offer what I can in terms of my wisdom and knowledge to those in business and in corporate America. Steve: Yeah. Well, that...I appreciate you being willing to share about that experience. I'm certain that our listeners, every one of them have challenges. Some are more severe than others at different times in life, and just like the type that you've described anyhow, it's probably different for everybody in a sense. But nonetheless, in many ways, it feels the same way, which is, we wanna do what's important and balance things, and... So, if you were to give some advice to our listeners in the midst of their adversity, the challenge, these heavy weights, and yet still try to balance life. Any thoughts on that? What would you suggest? Dr Spano: Well, I think for me it goes back to purpose, you know. I mean, whatever role or whatever business you're in, you know, how do I be the best in that every given day? Steve: I like the sound of that. Dr Spano: Well, and just fulfill that purpose, you know. And I know that sounds very cliché for some people, and if you're in a job or a position where you hate what you're doing, you know, that's certainly a bigger challenge. But part of the work that I'm about Steve, and I know that you're about is, how do we help people really dive deep enough to figure out how to be their best version of who they are. You know, for me, that's a very spiritual matter because I've been blessed in growing that spiritual line of development and knowing who God is and what he's called me to do. You know, for someone who may not have a traditional belief system to lean on, you know, there is so much out there right now to help people, and that's what I love about the integral coaching work that I do, is we really...we're less about goals in our interaction. When I finish with you today I'm going to meet a CEO who is very clear on his purpose, but he's struggling with some of the changes in the economy and the systems and whatnot. So it's, how do we take all of his strengths and match them to another level of purpose such that we maybe shift his consciousness so he can step up into this new role, in a bigger and better way. So, for me, it goes back to purpose and then staying focused. And then how do I continue to develop my own consciousness so that I'm growing, and moving forward, and adapting. Because as you know, today's leaders have to adapt constantly. I mean, every day, things are moving and shifting so quickly. And we're a global diverse society now. And so, that requires a different type of leadership than we've seen certainly, in generations before. And I think it's exciting, you know, it's an exciting opportunity for each of us to dig deeper and ask ourselves that question. You know, what can I do each and every day to make the world a better place? And for me, when I get up with that perspective, there is usually something miraculous that happens in the course of my workday. And that's kind of what I try to get my clients to see is, what is...even in the most adverse moments, what am I being called to learn? What am I being called to lean into, in terms of my own growing edge? And how can I step up and into that growing edge, such that I become a bigger better person, and realize my potential on the other end of it. You know, certainly through the years of my son's adversity and suffering, I had to dig really deep to be what I needed to be for him, for my husband, and for my clients. And I know I'm bigger and better and stronger on the other side of it for having risen, you know, to that adversity. That's part of my research around wisdom, by the way is, we know that leaders who exhibit wisdom handle adversity a bit differently, and they do a lot of what I've just talked about. When they're in the midst of it, they're looking for what is the lesson here and how can I be my best self in the midst of this. Steve: Okay. Well, let's talk about leadership a little bit more. Every one of us, each one of us is a leader of course, and the mental construct that we have on how to be successful is such an important influence in our personal lives as we deal with others, as you've mentioned, relationships, and professionally. So, let's discuss for a second some different aspects of achieving success, and especially from the point of view that, from your background, your experience. So let's start with radical abundance. It's part of your book, what is it, and why is it important? Dr Spano: Well, I think it's vital and it's a lot of things, in that, it's more about a mind shift, less about what you actually have. And of course the focus of the book is on the experience of time and money, and I'm looking at it through a developmental lens. And by that, I mean, what we know through the research is there are 12 of what we call stages of human development. Obviously, beginning from, you know, birth on up. The average American, we know that 60% of those Americans fall within what we call the expert and achiever levels. And so, part of what I'm exploring in this work is, based on your level of development, what are your paradigms or belief systems around time and money? And I came into that quite by accident, if you will, because I saw so much human suffering in corporate America around these two very important resources that impact us daily, and in every decision and choice that we make, but often at subconscious levels that we're not even aware of. So when we talk about radical abundance, I'm talking about developing, again, those growing edges, the awareness of consciousness, such that you can have a meaningful life of joy and prosperity, no matter what your life circumstances are. No matter how much time or money you actually have. It's a place to come from more than it is a place to get to. And so, I'm really trying to open the conversation, getting people to examine their worldview, their paradigms, and often in the contest of those early childhood stories, because that's where it all begins. What were the things you were taught or heard about time and money, you know, and how is it impacting you in terms of your daily choices today. And what we're finding is, when we can open the discussion, and of course, we have instruments where we can actually measure where people are developmentally. That helps a lot, for them to see where they are and to see that you don't have to be stuck there, you can grow in these developmental, what we call developmental lines. There actually 26 lines of development that we enjoy as human beings, that we're aware of today. And I focus in my integral coaching work and in my strategic work with leaders on six of them. And so we can literally see where people are and where there might be some short falls or some faulty premises, as I like to say. Ideas or ways of being, ways of action that are inhibiting you from realizing and maximizing your potential. And then when we can do that, we can coach or help people shift those paradigms, such that they step into more radical abundance. Steve: Okay. So you're saying radical abundance is something that's within us? It's a way of thinking? Dr Spano: Yes. I'm saying that it's a way of thinking, it's a consciousness, if you will. And if you think of the stages, kind of the easiest way that I explain it, even though they're not a hierarchy per se. If you imagine a mountain top, Steve, and you're climbing that mountain. Stage one might be at base camp, okay? And then as you mature, and grow up and into higher states of consciousness and stages of consciousness, imagine yourself at the top of the summit. So, one is not necessarily better than another, but it is a broader perspective. So, for someone who grew up in the inner city like I did, your story, the story that's given to you as a child is, you can never get out of here. You're not smart enough for an education, and you'll never get a really good job. And so, you know, that's why people get stuck in ghettos, right? For some reason, that never resonated with me, and I don't know why, because I always knew I will become educated, and I will get out, and I will have a different life. But for many, they don't even know there is another life outside of that environment. And that's part of the opening that I'm trying to create. Because as you mentioned moment ago, we're all leaders. And I've taught that for years and years, because I don't believe that leadership is a title. I believe that it's...also, it's a mindset, it's a place to come from. You know, you can step into leadership and whatever role you play within an organization. And so, that's part of the exciting work that I've been blessed and able to do, is to help people see, when we change your paradigms and the actions flow from that. And more importantly, when we can shift your consciousness and your whole way of seeing the world, anything is possible. I mean, it really is. And so, you know, that's the work that I wanna be about, and that's the conversation I wanna open up within people whenever I can. Steve: Okay. Well, that's very exciting. So you're really working on transformation with people. And so, it sounds like what you're saying is the experiences we have in our childhood has a big impact on how we see time and money? Dr Spano: That is what we've been researching and we're seeing more and more evidence of that as a reality. And so, one of the examples that I like to give for instance is, as a child, I grew up, again, living with my grandmother and my dad who was supposedly to be the provider, really never was around very much, right? My dad, you know, did his best as most of our parents did, but he wasn't a guy that was really invested in his children. And so, I grew up hearing stories of, "Your dad isn't around. Your dad isn't paying for you. You're a charity case. You know, you're lucky to be here." That was from my aunts, not from my grandmother, of course. And so, the message that I received was, my parents don't value me and I'm not really worth their time and money. Now, as a child, you don't know that. You know, I didn't internalize it to that degree. But later in life, it played out, in that, I didn't think I was worth, you know, the salary, or the raise, or the promotion. You know, and it took me many years to unravel that. Well, then fast forward years later, I'm seeing this in CEOs, I'm seeing it in clients, you know, left and right. And when you get down to, you know, what is the scarcity mentality that's running you? Whether it be corporate wide or just in terms of your own personal life. Almost always they'll go back to a story that says, "Well, that's what I was taught." And the interesting thing, Steve, that I'm finding, that I'm so excited about is, it's fairly simple when we look on the spectrum because we have an assessment that we've developed called, "the time lining instrument." And it's an inventory that will help the individual see where they fall on the spectrum between scarcity and abundance. Scarcity is fairly clean and obvious as is abundance. Where it gets really challenging is when you're in the moderate range. Because for instance, someone who's in moderate scarcity might look like and believe themselves to be highly responsible. And so, they're doing all these theoretically right things that might look like they're coming from abundance, but often, those very same things are fear driven. And so, for instance, it's the father who, and this is a real example that I often share. Who saves, and saves, and saves, you know, from the time he's a young man for retirement, but he saves to the point where, you know, they can't even go to dinner or his kids have never been to a theme park because we don't have money for that because we're saving...we're doing the responsible thing and saving. So the lifestyle is affected. And what the children learn is how to be fearful and worry about both time and money, because that's what dad does. Steve: Okay. Dr Spano: Does that make sense? Steve: Yeah. And there is a big difference between the scarcity mentality and an abundance mentality, and how we treat everybody, and our experiences. So that's a very interesting level of research that's going on. How do we help somebody that may not have had the type of childhood that positions them for the type of success they could have. How do you give them hope? How do you help them with that transformation? Where do you focus? Dr Spano: Well, I think, you know, for me, I always say that with the first moment of awareness comes opportunity for change. And so, what I find is, a lot of the things that I'm talking about here, particularly get into the scarcity, they're very much at a subconscious level. So I might know for instance, that I'm worried all the time, that I'm fearful all the time, or that I feel like I'm being chased by the clock, but I don't know what to do about it. And so, part of the work that I do with groups or even with individuals is, we bring those thought processes to a level of awareness. And then we start to talk about what would a new way of being look like. You know, I'm this way now, but what if I were this way. What would that look like? Because the other thing that we know about development is that people, particularly in the earlier stages, don't always have the capacity to see things moving forward. Like, they can't see things a year out or two years out. Or they don't often understand consequences of certain actions. And so, when you start to connect the two, when you think this way and behave this way, this is the outcome, you start to... I mean, it's literally like you put a mirror in front of them and they're seeing themselves for the very first time. And it takes a while, but once they have that awareness and then you start to, together, paint a picture of how things might be differently. And then of course, obviously, when I'm working in companies, we're looking at infrastructures and systems and processes and all of those kinds of things. Because a leader, whether it be corporate or entrepreneurial who's coming from scarcity, it's gonna impact obviously not only how he leads, but how he builds or fails to build the infrastructure for the organization. And so, you know, we get into a lot of that. And it can be sometimes a very quick process. It can lean on just how open the individual is to change. And sometimes it takes months and months and months, maybe even years. And a lot of times I work with a leader who goes off, and then I hear from them two years later because now they're at another...what we call another growing edge. They're moving into another stage of consciousness, and so now we have to kinda revisit things again. But that's what's cool is, you know, the progress is being made and it's a process. Steve: So, these things that cause success and you talk a lot about, Sharon, time and money and how it correlates to what we value most in life, right? Dr Spano: Right. Steve: So, there is hope for people then, that they can develop these skills? Dr Spano: Well, the skills are the outcome of the shift in consciousness. So, one of the things that I talked about is the cycle of freedom, which I believe begins with understanding the essence of stewardship. And that's a big word that means a lot of things. You know, some talk about it in terms of sustainability, but I'm talking about it in the context of, where your treasure is, there is also your heart. So, I'm gonna put my time and money, I'm gonna utilize these two most important constructs or resources based on what I value and treasure the most, right? So, stewardship is a part of how I make those choices and decisions. And then from that, I believe grows greater compassion, generosity, a greater sense of gratitude, and then eventually, even a greater love for myself and others, because self is a part of it. You know, if I don't value myself, I'm not gonna take the time for instance to nurture my mind, body, my spirit, you know, those things. And then that translates to how I love and care for others, and even my love and care for greater humanity. So, it's letting go of the fear and then stepping into this radical abundance of, there's enough for me and for others, and for me to be generous and to give, and to focus my attention. So like, one of the examples that I like to talk about is, there's this young child that comes from an environment where nobody wanted to invest in me. And then I meet this amazing man who lives in abundance, who believes in the flow of money, and that there is always enough. And when there isn't, he just creates. But he's always invested time and money in me. So, he's kind of the opposite of what I knew as a child. You know, he's the nurturing, loving, caring, generous husband, who, you know, is the president of my fan club, who is always willing to invest in whatever it is that I'm about. And that's a pretty big deal for someone like me because I could have just as easily married an abusive guy, coming from the environment that I came in. Steve: Got it. That's a good example. Dr Spano: I mean, it's truly a blessing, right? That I kind of stumbled into the right guy. I don't know what that says about me, but... Steve: No, I had a friend one time who is the CEO of a major utility company in the United States. And I was the young man and he said, "Now, let me just share with you the three biggest things that will have the greatest impact on your happiness." I said, "Okay, great. I've got my pen ready." He said, "Number one is the person that you choose to spend your life with, to marry." He says, "That's one of the three biggest decisions that will impact your happiness." And it's fortunate that you've found that somebody that helps you see what can be possible. In our language, that helps you see that, you know, you can work on becoming your best. And it's different for really everybody, but to have people like us that can help like that is helpful. Number two, he said is the career that you choose. So you wanna choose a career that you can love, that you can make a difference in. And then number three was interesting, is the first major company that you work with. He said, it will have a huge impact on, you know, on your future, your career. So this kinda deals with what you've just been talking about of creating an abundance mindset, and how it affects everything else. Your time, your money. Well, tell us as we wrap up. I'm always amazed how fast time goes, what was the impetus behind you writing your most recent book? Dr Spano: Well, a lot of what I've discussed and I think anyone can...who's been in business can relate to the idea or the experience, I guess I should say, of hiring someone who wasn't the right fit. And years ago, I had a guy that I hired that I thought had great potential, and he was quite brilliant, and I just was never able to get this guy to make money. I mean, he couldn't get any clients, he couldn't make any money, and I just couldn't figure it out because I had invested quite a bit of time, money, and energy into him. And one day I just asked the question, "You know, what do you believe about people who have money?" And he said, "I think they're oppressive, greedy, and egocentric." And in that moment, Steve, I went, "Well, wow. No wonder I can't get you to make any money. Why would you wanna be like those guys?" And he was one of those guys who came also from the inner city of New York, and he'd had a rough life. And even though he was brilliant, he just could not step into the type of radical abundance, you know, that I'm talking about. So he sabotaged his entire career and even his home life. And it kind of opened my eyes and it began, kind of it was like the first stages of curiosity for me to begin to study this further. And then of course, once I got into the developmental work, I started to see the correlations between where people were developmentally. And I just got very excited about, you know, wanting to be an interruption to some of that in a more concrete way. So that was really the impetus behind the book and some of that earlier research. I mean, my whole body of work is not only on time and money, but time and money to me are just the symptom of the other things that are going on within this. Because again, there are two very important resources that can define, you know, our life if we let them. And what I'm really saying is, have awareness of how you utilize them. Have awareness of how they're impacting your relationship so that you can make better choices, and live a life of radical abundance. Steve: Okay. Well, that's great. Yeah, I had a friend one time say, "You know, money is not the most important thing in life." But it is right up there on the list with oxygen. Dr Spano: Yes, it is. Unfortunately, it is, and we have to learn to be good stewards of it. Steve: Exactly. Okay, well, Sharon, tell us how our listeners can learn more about what you're doing, tell us about your book. I think it's coming out, right? Or is it here already? Dr Spano: Yes. Well, the pub date is August 1st, and they can go to the www.timemoneybook.com/becomebest/, and we have some resources there. One is a manifesto that I've written on radical abundance. The other is, they can have access to our research based time, money, inventory. It's all confidential, but it'll help them see where they fall on the spectrum between scarcity and abundance. So that's the timemoneybook.com. And certainly, they can visit my website, which would also get them there, at sharonspano.com, to learn more about my overall work and the work that I do, you know, as a consultant and integral coach. Steve: Well, congratulations Dr. Sharon Spano. What a great job you're doing. Dr Spano: Well, thank you, Steve. And I would say the same to you. And I appreciate so much the opportunity to be on your show, and to hopefully, have an impact on some of your listeners on some of the thing that they're thinking about, as they too, begin to embrace what it means to maximize performance and step into radical abundance. Steve: Well, great. Well, I'm sure that that will be the case and we appreciate you being part of the show today, you've done a great job. We certainly wish you all the best because you're certainly making a difference in the world. Dr Spano: Thank you, Steve. Steve: And to all of our listeners, never forget, you too can make a difference every single day of your life. I'm Steve Shallenberger, with Becoming Your Best Global Leadership, wishing you, a great day. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

During the dark days after Pearl Harbor, as the Japanese advanced unchecked through the Pacific, the cruiser USS Houston fought bravely against that unstoppable tide. Though her fate was sealed, she fought to the very end, sinking with her guns still firing, and the sacrifice of her crew inspired the nation. This week we talk about the USS Houston, the Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast.

Pattie Wright. 2012 marks the 70th anniversary of the sinking of the HMAS Perth I and USS Houston in the plucky Battle of the Sunda Strait on 1 March 1942. Pattie will discuss the men's attempts to survive, escape and the POW years on the Thai Burma Railway and in Japan.