All Things Connected

#7: Calm the Chaos

Leadership/life coach and author Nicola Taggart joins the podcast to discuss the journal she published, https://www.freepeople.com/shop/calm-the-chaos-journal/?color=000&countryCode=US&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpLmGvfK26gIVTNbACh0fzQaqEAQYBSABEgK35fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&inventoryCountry=US&size=One%20Size ("Calm the Chaos: A Daily Practice for a More Mindful Life" ), the research-based practices behind it, and other topics related to mindfulness and gratitude.
Nicola and Jared discuss the research underlying the importance of taking time for gratitude and self-reflection, the importance of daily rituals and maintaining structure in our days, the asymmetry between what feels good in the moment versus what’s good for us in the long term, research supporting the idea that our brains have a negativity bias, and other topics.
You can learn more about research supporting the importance of practicing daily gratitude https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good (here)
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#6: Where do the Homeless Pets Go?

Founder of both https://rescueinstyle.com/ (Rescue in Style) and https://rescuechi.com/ (Rescue Chicago), a registered 501C3 animal rescue organization, Christine Nendick joins to discuss the state of homeless dogs and cats in our country. Many people are not aware that we euthanize more than 733,000 dogs and cats every year in the U.S., most of them entirely healthy.
While Christine and Jared largely discuss issues related to rescue, including the causes of the vast number of homeless pets, some of the myths around rescue dogs and why they are not valid, why often adopting or fostering a dog can be a safer choice than going through a breeder, the problem with puppy mills and the link between dogs for sale at a pet store and puppy mills, breed discrimination particularly against pit bulls, the importance of visiting one’s local animal shelter, etc., they also discuss larger topics in social good like the best way to influence behavior change amongst friends and family, whether charitable causes fall on a continuum of good or whether all social causes should be viewed as equally important, the importance of recognizing others’ priorities might not match our own, and others.
For every review of this episode or forwarding the episode to a friend I will donate $5 to https://emancipet.org/ (Emancipet,) which provides low-cost spay/neuter in at-need communities, or to an animal rescue of your choice.
https://rescueinstyle.com/ (Learn more about Christine) or follow her https://www.instagram.com/rescueinstyle/ (on Instagram)
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#5: Why Optimism is the only Superpower You Need

CEO and Founder of https://bucketlisters.com/select_city (Bucket Listers )Andy Lederman joins to discuss the importance of optimism, whether an optimistic mindset is compatible with a focus on tackling the problems in the world, pivoting during a pandemic, how anyone and everyone can be a role model, shifting to a long-term focus in one's life and in business, why focusing on values as opposed to "milestones" is the best approach to achieve happiness, the upsides and downsides of screen time and social media, the one problem in the world he would solve if he could, why everyone will have the opportunity to go to space within our lifetime, and other fascinating topics
If you would like to support Bucket Lister's campaign to send dinners to healthcare heroes in NYC you can do so here
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#4: Higher States of Consciousness

CEO of the David Lynch Foundation for Australia, public speaker, and meditation teacher https://markbunn.com.au/ (Mark Bunn,) who has practiced https://my.captivate.fm/tm.org (transcendental meditation) for 30 years joins the podcast. In this conversation, we discuss the various modalities of meditation practices available and how they are differentiated, what distinguishes transcendental meditation from other practices, the four states of consciousness and how TM enables individuals to access higher states, the longitudinal research associated with TM and health benefits like optimal neurological functioning, cardiovascular health, longevity, IQ, alleviating ADHD and PTSD, and other fascinating topics.
Background reading:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ6zUzm16JM&t=643s (Transcendental Meditation: A Scientific Perspective) by Quantum Physicist John Hagelin, PhD
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/drugs-and-the-meaning-of-_b_891014 (Drugs and the Meaning of Life) by Sam Harris
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180405093257.htm (Seven-year follow-up shows lasting cognitive gains from meditation )(Science Daily)
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#3: Live Better

Co-Founders Bret Gornik and Jason Loebig of the Chicago-based mindfulness and wellness lifestyle company http://livebetterco.org/ (Live Better) join to discuss the different facets that encompass well-being, how to decide whether your personal passion should also be your career, and practical advice to do that, how to form a daily gratitude and mindfulness practice, the distinction between goals and systems, holding one’s self accountable to achieving goals, how to avoid getting “tracked out,” what the world would look like if everyone knew they had freedom of choice, and other interesting topics.
Bret and Jason also have their own insightful podcast, the Live Better Podcast
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#2: The Enduring Power of Fiction

LA-based writer of fiction and screenplays and the co-producer of the Cannes nominated short film “Panofsky’s Complaint" Jackie Berkman joins the podcast. to discuss the enduring importance of fiction writing, whether the stereotype of the “suffering artist” is valid, whether one must experience personal suffering to make great art, the difficult concept of maintaining artistic creativity, dealing with public criticism and scrutiny, whether writing and creativity are innate gifts or a process to be learned, the value of procrastination, how to deal with social comparisons, and other fascinating topics. 
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#1: Why Great Entrepreneurs (Should) Always Do The Right Thing

CEO and Founder of Cooper Street Cookies, Cooper Street Kids, a registered 501C3 charity, and the Principal at the Surnow Company Max Surnow, joins the podcast to discuss what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, the pitfalls of social media, lessons learned in business and in life from his late father, Jeffrey Surnow, the one problem in the world he would solve if he could, and other fascinating topics.
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Trailer: All Things Connected

Introducing:
What the show will be all about
Who it's for
Why you should listen, given all the things you can do with your time
How the show is differentiated from other podcasts and journalism
A little https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredhocking/ (about me), your host
All Things Connected explores the most pressing and fascinating issues of today with experts in their field. Discussions span broadly across topics like the biodiversity crisis, wealth inequality, climate change, the environment more broadly, balancing personal contentment versus pursuing purpose, success in business, entrepreneurship, how the internet is shaping our lives, mental health, mindfulness, animal welfare, music, popular culture and many more. 
Please remember to subscribe for new episodes and leave a review providing honest feedback. If you would like to leave feedback directly, you can use this https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpg9VhaDIlIKnZVhzd-5gGDX5GGz-8eVlyWn47KzrQ97DBFA/viewform (Google Form) or email me at jhocking@umich.edu
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