The Path

1:00 Books, Reading, the Anti-Library 10:30 Zettelkasten 13:00 Originality 18:00 Paying attention to your own attention 26:00 Imbalance, Balance, Minimum Standards 40:00 Lenses 49:00 Losing power by “keeping your options open” 58:00 Uncertainty and admitting we don’t have the answer 1:06:00 Money, Identity, Time 1:18:00 Choice, Thought, Goal Setting 1:41:00 The Valley of Frustration 1:54:00 Democracy was never a guarantee

1:00 Nutritional Therapy 3:30 Joe’s story 6:15 Massive decline in male reproductive health and fertility (lower sperm count/quality; lower testosterone, increased reproductive pathologies) 12:00 Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC’s) in personal products and in food 17:00 Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, Free Radicals, Antioxidants, Nutritional Co-Factors 22:30 Testosterone, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), Androgen Receptors 29:00 Testosterone Optimization: Body weight; Nutrients (Vit A, Vit D, Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc); Sleep; Exercise; EDC’s; Textile choice and loose vs. tight clothing 36:30 Types of dietary fat, evolutionary biology, food intolerances, immune reactions, nutritional ketosis 43:00 Joe’s Routine 46:00 Clinical Results

Kathleen Kiker is a software engineer at B612. B612 is a company that develops tools to understand, map, and navigate our solar system and protect our planet from asteroid impacts. She has a BS and MS in physics. 0:00 Asteroid Day 3:30 Board Games 6:00 B612 Foundation 10:00 Asteroid Discovery and Mapping (ADAM) 16:00 Tracket-less Heliocentric Orbit Recovery (THOR) 21:00 Discovery & Precovery 27:00 1.3 million asteroids and planetary defense 40:00 Artificial Intelligence, Art, and Beauty 47:00 How much do we care about life that does not resemble us?

Arno Koch is a relationship coach based in Malibu, CA. 00:00 – triggered by a 2 year old asking “Why” – relationship advice should go full circle. “why” is a triggering word because it reminds us of other things. Replace with a “How” or “What” question – all advice goes both ways 3:30 – empathy while balancing authenticity and learned skills 7:30 – move perceptions away from your personality: “it seems/looks/sounds like” – have the chance to be wrong and not fixed to your perceptions – assign the issue to a behavior, not to a person 13:00 – “I can’t make you feel anything” & feelings are immediate and unconscious 18:00 – gratitude, kindness, presence, cortisol, adrenaline, creating safe and nurturing environments 30:00 – two or three sides to a story? “Set and enforce your boundaries, with love” 38:00 – a refusal of the call to adventure is a refusal to give up one’s own preferences/routines – in the hero’s journey and in love / state your preference and offer a true choice is the most powerful thing you can do 43:00 – the difference between justifiable things to do and say and the right things to do and say 49:00 – the fear may be real, but the danger is not 51:00 – books “the happiest toddler on the block” “never split the difference” “seven principles for making marriage work “ “nonviolent communication” 54:00 – if you don’t feel heard, you need to listen better / comparisons can be one of the biggest source of growth and learning, just don’t take it personally 59:00 – choices based on empathy

Anna Bruffy is the founder of Sea Side Fiber Arts in Virginia Beach, VA. Sea Side Fiber Arts focuses on sustainable natural dyeing of animal and plant fibers (such as sheep wool and banana tree fiber) with tree wood, plants and insects. She collaborates with the Iwokrama rainforest research center in Guyana, South America [0:30] Sustainable dyeing using insects (cochineal and lac) and plants (osage orange, sequoia wood) [4:00] Environmental consciousness and the history/process of dyeing [10:00] Waste products and water use [14:30] Guyana and the humble banana (1,000+ types of bananas in the world!) [22:00] Banana: Medicinal use, Pseudo-stems, Carbon Sequestration, Insulation, Rhizomes [31:30] NIH Study: “An experimental study on the effects of different type of textiles on conception” [34:00] Microplastics, PFAS, Abaca Tree, Styrofoam, Banana Paper [46:30] Fair Trade, Circular Economies, Surama Eco-Lodge, Iwokrama Research Center [52:30] Dyeing yarn [57:00] There are no shortcuts to the mountain top [58:00] Physiology and aesthetics of natural dyes vs. synthetic dyes [1:04:00] Waste: a cultural creation?

Randy Swaty is an ecologist at The Nature Conservancy with an interest in conservation science, landscape ecology, mycorrhizal fungi, and LANDFIRE state and transition modeling. [1:00] Defining wildlife habitat and how to protect it [7:15] Complexity [10:45] Beavers, Woodpeckers, and Mistletoe [18:30] The Landfire Project: Satellite mapping of vegetation and the terrestrial environment [30:45] Soil, Fungi, Biomimicry [36:15] Ecosystem change [42:15] Climate change [46:30] Measures of ecosystem health [50:45] Plantations and problems of scale [55:15] Landfire’s challenges [1:03:45] Landfire’s priorities [1:05:15] Crowdsourcing, citizen science, and “gamify-ing” nature [1:08:45] Two cliffhangers: Conservation Data Lab and working with students/young professionals [1:09:45] Randy’s current enthusiasm

Elaine Ingham is a microbiologist and soil biology researcher and founder of Soil Foodweb Inc. She has a PhD in microbiology, was previously chief scientist for the Rodale Institute, worked as a postdoc at the Natural Resource Ecology Lab at Colorado State University, and was a research fellow at the University of Georgia. Timestamps [1:00] Early years: falling out of trees and examining E. coli [3:30] Starting a company [6:00] There are no minerals lacking in the soil: it’s lacking microorganisms [14:30] Plants send signals to microorganisms for food and nutrients [16:30] How could I have a conversation without talking about sauerkraut? [20:30] Getting nutrients into plants [25:30] Bacteria/Fungi have been around over 3.5 billion years yet we’ve only started to understand them [27:30] The silica bilayer [31:30] Lava Fungi: Microbes exist 16 miles under the Earth [35:00] Biomass of microorganisms in soil vs. minerals [40:30] Nitrogen [44:30] Where else could microorganisms be used? [47:00] Enough phosphorus in one grain of sand for an acre of crop species [50:30] Soil illness destroys civilizations [56:30] A theory on why humans exist [1:00:30] Eating soil and soil foodweb benefits [1:06:30] Next time: decomposition of toxic materials [1:10:00] Visit www.soilfoodweb.com to learn more! Cliffhanger for part two: Decomposition of toxic materials

Chuck Watts is a retired limited partner with Edward Jones Investments, holds a Master of Divinity degree, and founded the Empathy Surplus Network. Our conversation is centered around linguistics, empathy vs. cruelty, vision, values, and how to be a leader. Timestamps [1:45] Social entrepreneurship [3:15] A clean healthy environment is a human right [8:45] The Empathy Surplus Network [12:15] Reframing around empathy is a form of social change (unconscious talking to conscious framing) [16:15] When you have empathy, there is no room for cruelty. Like sauerkraut. [20:15] Raise the level of moral and political dialogue via relationships and framing [23:45] Progressivism, “To promote the progress of science and useful arts” [27:15] All policies have two components: empathy and implementation [29:45] Measuring success and seeing results [33:15] Inwardly digest, Invest, Implement, Invite [38:45] Facts don’t move people. What does? [44:15] United Nations pocketbook - how do we learn empathy? [54:15] Stronger America, Progressive Markets, Better Futures, Effective Government, Mutual Responsibility [1:06:45] Cliffhanger! The Carbon Pollution Blanket

Lauren Craig is an entrepreneur in the home-made, regenerative, toxin-free cosmetics field. Timestamps [2:30] A “pregnancy-induced rampage” [6:30] Scalability, Ingredients, looking to nature for answers, ethics [16:00] The FDA’s lack of regulation in the cosmetics industry [19:00] Waste streams and bioaccumulation [22:00] Biodegradale and sustainable packaging; Business and start-ups [34:00] Biggest hopes and fears for the cosmetics industry [39:00] Having a child leads you to ask new questions and see the world in a different way [42:30] Stay local when possible. Your dollar is your vote. Be ethical. Make conscious decisions.

Mike Garcia is a landscaper, entrepreneur, and steward of proper land management. Timestamps [3:00] Guiding principles of Mike’s work: 3rd generation resident, noticing changes in the Earth through time. Find the source of the problem. [8:00] Are we teaching our professionals how to kill the planet? Pay now or pay later. [11:00] What is the most important thing in life? [17:00] Everything starts with soil [25:00] The skin of the earth and materialized sunshine [26:30] Permaculture: the problems are complex, the solutions are simple. [29:30] Regenerative landscaping [35:00] Bees, Pollinators, Almond Monocrops, Native/Invasive Species [41:30] What does a “save the planet garden” look like [42:15] Aquaponics, Aeroponics, Indoor Agriculture [44:00] Lawns [50:30] Entrepreneurship [55:00] Don’t let fear win [57:00] Keep the team together

Kim Nace is the Co-Founder and CEO (from 2011 to 2021) of the Rich Earth Institute, a research institution in Battleboro, Vermont. Their vision is of a world with clean water and fertile soil achieved by reclaiming the nutrients from our bodies as elements in a life sustaining cycle. Does this mean you are flushing liquid gold down your toilet? It is possible… listen and read to find out what you can do! For more information visit their website, https://richearthinstitute.org/ Kim Nace holds an M.A. in International Administration from World Learning and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Keene State College. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Botswana and has taught children of all ages. She coordinated research funded by the MacArthur Foundation and later served as an Elementary School Principal in rural Vermont and in Chennai, India. She has been passionate about sustainable sanitation alternatives ever since creating an educational video about composting toilets for her 1989 master’s thesis project. [2:00] Urine fertilizer – taboo or just an ascribed attitude? [4:40] Urea fertilizer shortages [8:50] Kimmerly Nace’s story: school principal, Peace Corps, entrepreneur [12:45] “The Big Necessity” by Rose George; this is a large, very contextual problem [14:20] New York City and Detroit centralized sewage systems [18:00] Wastewater, nutrient reclamation, space toilets, cleanliness [24:30] Decentralized sewer systems [31:45] Context, soils, composting systems vs. pipes and sewers, climate resilience [34:45] The paradigm shift: waste to resource, hydroponics, algal blooms [35:45] “The Facts” and saving 11,000 gallons of water per year [42:45] How the Rich Earth Institute's system works [47:00] Research trials: urine versus conventional fertilizer [53:00] Where does your fertilizer come from? [59:00] “Waste is just a resource out of place” [1:01:00] Rich Earth Summit, Policy, Dr. Nancy Love, Tove Larson [1:10:00] What will happen if we don’t transition to a productive sanitation model? [1:16:00] Efficiency [1:30:00] Entrepreneurship [1:38:00] If you have an idea about anything that will make the planet work better, don’t wait for somebody else to do it

Sandor Katz is a fermentation revivalist and a graduate of Brown University. His book The Art of Fermentation won a James Beard award and is a NYT Bestseller. He published a book in November 2021 titled Sandor Katz’s Fermentation Journey. Please enjoy the conversation, then consider making a jar of sauerkraut. To learn more about him and his work, visit his site: https://www.wildfermentation.com/ Timestamps [1:15] Our globalized food production infrastructure; degenerative vs regenerative food systems [9:00] The relationships humans have with nourishment [12:30] Fermentation is not a fad, it is a fact [21:00] Sandor’s start and journey into fermentation [30:30] Storytelling, journeys and adventures with fermentation [36:45] Thinking small solves half the problem, slow down, enjoy the simple pleasures [45:00] Restoring a cabin, teaching fermentation workshops [49:30] Fermentation makes you more observant [51:00] Teaching and small business [56:00] Culture [59:30] Soil and gardening [1:04:00] Microbiomes on our body [1:07:30] Fermentation created humans [1:10:30] Other uses of fermentation: composting, disposal of human bodies, fiber/building arts, energy production, skin care, aromatherapy, bioremediation, waste management [1:20:00] Health [1:22:00] Current fermentation projects [1:25:00] Book recommendations [1:29:30] Fermentation recommendations: go do it!

Dr. Rattan Lal is a Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science and Director of the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. He was awarded the World Food Prize in 2020, the Japan Prize in 2019, and a Nobel Peace Prize Certificate in 2007. His areas of research include soil carbon sequestration, climate change, soil degradation and restoration, global food security and conservation agriculture. “Soil has the divine power to change death into life” Timestamps [1:20] Soil degradation [7:40] Soil health [12:00] Ecosystem services provided by soil [18:15] Dr. Lal’s story [25:00] Putting carbon back [28:30] The human footprint: Hunter-Gatherers vs. modern humans [32:30] Soil-less agriculture [36:30] The Law of Return [40:00] Soil education / translating science into action [43:40] Soil Rights - a paradigm shift [51:50] Carbon [1:02:00] Norman Borlaug [1:05:00] The Green Revolution [1:16:30] Regenerative Agriculture [1:20:00] Strengthen our local food production systems [1:26:00] You, yes YOU, good reader, can make a difference!

Dr. Kenneth Ford is the founder and CEO of the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC). IHMC investigates topics related to human cognition, perception, locomotion and resilience. Dr. Ford received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Tulane University, his MS in systems science from the University of West Florida, and a BS from New Hampshire College. [1:00] IHMC Vision: Start with the human [2:00] Dr. Ford’s experiences with philosophy, computers, and the US Navy [7:15] Wrestling [9:30] How IHMC is different than traditional academia in culture and structure [13:15] How IHMC determines research focus areas: “hire the best people” [16:00] NASA, Scientific Boards, and the three cornerstones of computing [22:45] US Air Force Scientific Advisory Board [25:30] Artificial Intelligence (AI), Evolutionary Mismatch [32:30] National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI)’s Final Report [40:00] The Turing Test: not a sensible goal for AI [47:45] Human-Machine Teaming: interdependence, not independence, is the key [50:30] Observability, Predictability, Directability [53:15] Statistics, models, and errors [55:00] Developing trusted systems [57:30] Science fiction, TV, movies [1:04:00] The enhanced warfighter and a meaningful life [1:10:00] Endogenous vs. exogenous ketones [1:14:00] How we understand the world [1:23:30] Dr. Ford’s creative endeavors [1:28:00] Robert Heinlein quote

Dr. Joel Mozer is the Director of Science, Technology, and Research for the US Space Force. He is the principal scientific advisor to General Raymond, the Chief of Space Operations. Dr. Mozer has a BS in physics, a MS in atmospheric sciences, and a PhD in physics. [1:00] Dr. Mozer’s work and vision [5:20] Capability gaps, technology surprise, deep investment [9:50] Innovation, Education, Curiosity [18:30] Superhuman Technologies and Human Augmentation [26:40] More-than-human capabilities [31:00] The US Space Force ideals [34:20] Industrial Age to the Information Age [38:10] Technology Layers [41:20] Roles of machines vs. humans [44:00] Prediction [53:30] “The Future of Space 2060” AFSPC Document [1:10:10] Wade Davis Ted Talk [1:11:15] Decentralization [1:16:45] Storytelling, Science Fiction, Isaac Asimov [1:20:00] Dr. Mozer’s hero’s quest [1:25:00] Future space predictions [1:34:10] Advice to students: strive for wisdom, not information [1:38:50] Space technologies [1:47:00] The future is uncertain [1:47:40] Kevin Kelly: “What Technology Wants” [1:49:30] Book Recommendations [1:52:00] Recent changes of mind [1:53:40] Calls to Action

Steve Melink is founder and CEO of Melink Corporation, a pioneer company in clean energy since 1987. Melink’s headquarters consists of two Net-Zero Energy office buildings and a growing fleet of electric cars. He earned a BS degree in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Duke University. He is the author of two books. Timestamps: [0:00] Steve’s background [0:45] One of the world’s greatest and most irreversible problems [3:15] Callings and entrepreneurial leanings on Steve’s path [6:15] Climate mitigation = enriching + energizing [8:05] Three words on how to build a company [11:00] Green buildings and exposure to nature [17:00] Can companies be sustainable and competitive? [19:30] How climate and energy are related to politics [22:30] “Electrify Everything” [28:30] Storytelling [32:10] Eradicate the demand, not just the supply [36:50] Can renewables provide enough energy? [41:10] Transition to clean energy and the Biden’s infrastructure bill [42:55] Carbon credits [49:10] Visceral impacts of climate change [52:15] “False Alarm” by Bjorn Lomborg [56:45] Energy freedom [58:45] Other frontiers Steve is developing/learning about [1:02:15] Calls to action and the greatest opportunity in the 21st century

Timestamps: (Note: There are a few intermittent audio degradations during the show. If you keep listening, they reduce in frequency/intensity. I appreciate you listening through them!) [1:15] Current force construction in the USAF and writing as “Colonel Ned Stark” [11:15] Self-Reflection: don’t chase someone else’s dreams [14:30] 360-feedback [21:00] Effective and ineffective communication [25:15] Design a system that incentives and rewards the behaviors you want [30:00] Judgments of occupational performance vs. Who you want on your team [39:00] Choosing your team: skills and caring [41:30] Emotional Intelligence, authentic engagement, and finding what is meaningful [46:45] Great ideas poorly executed [52:30] Training focused on outcomes and behaviors [58:00] Innovation [1:05:30] Bureaucracy [1:11:45] Pursue education that you are passionate about [1:15:00] Indicators of a great mentor [1:17:30] Ender’s Game: challenge your assumptions [1:24:45] Artificial Intelligence for job placement [1:28:15] USSF's Guardian Strategy release

In this episode, I speak with Colonel Jason Trew, PhD. Presently, he is the Vice Commandant at The US Air Force's Squadron Officer School. Jason Trew is also a a senior pilot and a graduate of the US Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies(SAASS). His doctoral dissertation, "No One Comes Close: The Technological Paradigm of US Airmen” offers an original analysis of USAF culture through the History of Technology field. Timestamps: [1:30] Not following a “path” [7:00] Icarus and Daedalus (note: at 7:40, Icarus dies, not Daedalus) [11:25] Taught versus intuitive storytelling; how to be a storyteller [14:15] Stanford design school; Dr. DeGraffe, University of Michigan [18:15] Useful fictions; Iliad/Odyssey [26:35] Narrative Intelligence [32:20] Lessons from Joseph Campbell and Nancy Duarte [40:30] Proactive curiosity; empathy; malicious stories [56:00] Effective storytelling [1:02:15] Art-Science-Design [1:07:55] Innovation [1:30:30] Suffering [1:41:00] Play [1:50:30] Military