Jim Eagar Talks Repotting & Retirement on the Focused Podcast

My good friend Jim Eagar appeared on the Focused podcast last week to discuss the four phases of retirement and how to find our meaning and purpose in life.

I’m not even close to retirement, yet I found so much value and insight that applies to my experience. Regardless of where you are in your life, give this episode a listen. We all hope to grow old, and there are some thoughtful ideas here on how to do that with intentionality instead of by accident.

The Pax Romana Podcast

If you find the history of the Roman Empire as fascinating as I do, check out The Pax Romana Podcast by Professor Colin Elliot.

From the show’s official description:

This podcast, hosted by historian and professor Colin Elliott, brings to life the stories and sources from the pivotal and fascinating age that followed the death of Julius Caesar and ended just after the reign of Marcus Aurelius. This period was called the Pax Romana—or the Roman Peace—and it was an age to remember—an age of emperors, wars, conspiracies, love affairs, decadence and so much more. New episodes each week, mid-week.

I’d start from the beginning, episodes aren’t long and you can really get a feeling for this era of history thanks to the style and storytelling skill from Professor Elliot.

Podcast Recommendation: Make Me Smart

Let me set the scene. It's 7 am. I'm driving West on a nearly deserted Massachusetts Turnpike heading to work. Because I was considered an "essential employee" and provided onsite operations leadership, I was on my way to the office. There were almost no other cars on the road. I had a LOT on my mind. I needed to keep my team's morale up and keep people safe. I had to assist another leader in showing a group of sixteen and seventeen-year-olds about proper mask usage, something they probably weren't thinking much about in the months prior. I had to help procure PPE. The list went on.

It was mid-spring, 2020. We ALL know what was going on then. The pandemic was hitting hard, and it was a scary and overwhelming time. I was looking for information, a way to keep up on what was happening as a first in 100-year pandemic swept our globe.


Enter Make Me Smart, which had just begun doing daily short episodes to keep up with the news and make sense of what was going on. The previously once-weekly podcast, launched in 2017 and hosted by Kai Ryssdal and Molly Wood, was one of those lifelines that I looked forward to every weekday morning. They didn’t always have the answers, but they were measured, well researched, and, sometimes most importantly, human. Both Kai and Molly had moments of sadness, grief, and anger during the height of the pandemic, and hearing their emotions truly helped me handle mine. Additionally, both found time for moments of levity and even humor (Banana Pants! Hollowed out shell Thursday If you know, you know).

My favorite feature right now is Economics on Tap, something they do on Friday to unwind a little. The hosts have a drink of their choice, and the show is usually lighter. It feels like getting a drink with colleagues or friends at the end of a hard week. The Friday show used to be live-streamed on Youtube but hasn't happened lately. Nevertheless, it was a fun watch, so I hope they bring that back.

Molly did leave the show at the end of November and is now working with the VC firm Launch. However, she is still podcasting, so we can continue to enjoy her perspective.

I enjoy the Make Me Smart newsletter too. It’s delivered Friday morning and provides more insight and feedback from listeners. If you like newsletters, it’s worth checking out too.

Is there a podcast you enjoy? Let me know.

Be Creative

David Sparks over at MacSparky posted about this Bloomberg article that suggests new entries into the podcast market are happening faster than the growth of the audience, which may cause issues for new shows as they try to reach new listeners. I received the link in today’s Morning Brew and read it in the quiet moments after I dropped my daughter off at daycare, and immediately thought it was a bit of a pessimistic take on the situation.

It’s helpful to hear that David heard similar feedback when he started Mac Power Users some years ago, and I’m glad he didn’t listen to it. His attitude that more art is always welcome is one of the reasons why I’m a fan and supporter of his work. As he put it:

Nobody looked at a Picasso painting and said, “That’s it, folks. We’ve reached Peak Art. There is no point doing any more painting.” The fact is that everything is evolving and every new voice leaves its mark.

I struggled with the idea that my contribution to the blogging world was worthwhile, and I am thankful for those who support new voices. One of the subjects I plan to write about is building time and intention around creativity. I hadn’t prioritized it for years, and now that I am again, I feel more complete. I’m glad I didn’t wait any longer to launch this site and begin my journey, and I encourage you not to wait any longer either.