002: A chat with Chris Brogan.

2/17/2014

New Media Expo, January 2014, Las Vegas, NV.

Intro Song = "Arcane". Outro Song = "Firebrand". Both by Kevin MacLeod. Available under Creative Commons Attribution License.

SHOW NOTES:

* Last month I attended New Media Expo, to learn about podcasting.

* While there, I met Chris Brogan, author of "The Freaks Shall Inherit
The Earth: Entrepreneurship for Weirdos, Misfits and World Dominators" (affiliate link), due out March 17, 2014.

* For entrepreneurial mentorship, I recommend the Owner Mastery Foundation Group (OMFG).

* Monchu = Okinawan for "one family."

* Jill blogs about permaculture at www.withintenttolive.blogspot.com.

* PoeticFlow:

Shadow behavior. Seeking a savior. From ourselves.
I want to loose a LOVE story, about Nature's GLORY,
and how She gives us EV-E-RY-THING.
Everything we've ever sipped, eaten, worn, written on, lathered with, lived in…
ALL of our basic needs are met by Her resources.
Rich forces of good, wood, vegetable, fruit, oil, cotton, seasonings, paper, pigment…
where do we think these commodities come from?
Wal-Mart? Not originally. The earbuds or speakers you're using
to listen to this RIGHT NOW,
were sourced from something deep down inside Her.
It's right to pause... and calmly reflect on those gifts. With thanks.
She offers up PHYSICAL ELEMENTS for our human experiments
and, honestly, the least we can do is respectfully acknowledge
the Living Source from which our luxuries flow.
If we could hear the pulse that beats behind the purchase,
would we feel differently about it?

7 Comments

Jill link

2/16/2014 10:08:03 pm

This episode really resonated with me!

I liked that you placed emphasis on the Earth as being a source for many of the things that we need to live and enjoy having while we're here-- from food to ear buds!

At one time we were more connected to the processes that provide sustenance, but over time have become separated from that connection. Many of us are no longer **directly** engaged or responsible for providing for our basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, nor do we live in communities where that is a primary concern.

I believe this makes it more difficult to see and understand the impact of our actions and how in turn that influences the choices we make.

Great podcast!

Erika Harris link

2/16/2014 10:30:31 pm

If one word could be credited the cause of our collective ecological amnesia, I believe that word would be "separation." And I hope each episode will, in any small way, create a Sweet Remembering of our primal, terrestrial connection :-) You give a full + fantastic elaboration above. Thanks so much for that, Jill!

Barry DeCarli link

2/17/2014 07:49:23 am

Hi Erika, thank you for another interesting podcast. Chris Brogan's comments carried a lot of meaning. I especially enjoyed and identified with the title for his new book, The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth. While I've never considered myself a "freak" while others may have, the idea associated with that resonates with me. Your comment about letting your freak flag fly reminded me of a recent conversation with the young woman (she's 21 and I'm 66), Nikki, who cuts my hair. She asked if I used to have long hair and I brought up the David Crosby song (which she hadn't heard), "Almost Cut My Hair" and his lyrics,

"I almost cut my hair
It happened just the other day
It was gettin' kinda long
I could-a said, it was in my way
But I didn't and I wonder why
I feel like letting my freak flag fly
And I feel like I owe it to someone

I recalled my college days in the 60s when I thought I could speak my beliefs without a word from across a room just by not cutting my hair or beard and "letting my freak flag fly..." Eventually though, conformity to norms became a sort of survival call and so much fell to the wayside.

So, what you are talking about and doing opens those doors again to promote personal growth and authority. We "owe it to someone" in our past, present and future to do just that. Fulfilled people being and becoming who they are can carry our communities forward. I think we have to give ourselves permission to gain the authority that you're talking about - we have to release the hold that the "norm" may have on us to proudly be who we are and who we want to be. Our survival depends on finding a new, better way to live.

2/17/2014 09:43:38 am

That reminds me of my Dad, who opted to make a statement with his hair. He too refused to cut it and make it "neat" even though he was a manager at a prominent telecommunications company.

In response to my "admonishments", he would mischievously reply, "I comb my hair once a day, whether it needs it or not!"

He woke up each day and picked up the norm flouting gauntlet with joy and great gusto!

2/18/2014 12:43:00 am

Barry, I hope you'll let your hair grow long again. It'll give you renewed power. Remember Sampson? :-)

Clara I Gonzalez-Herndon

2/18/2014 10:14:52 am

Hi Erika!
Thank you for another great podcast! I enjoyed your interview with Chris who gave a great definition of personal authority and perhaps being perceived as a freak as you make a choice to manifest in a personal, non-conformist way.

"Our weirdness is our magic power..." That was priceless!! Our unique expression that at times is misunderstood is our magic. We just need to be courageous to allow that magic shine.

For many years I pretended to be a clone that would not be rejected by a society that conformed to what is considered "normal." But that is slowly changing and liberating to happily fly the "freak" flag. :-)

Thanks again for challenging us to re-think our views and exercise the personal authority that frees us live happier lives.

2/19/2014 04:03:01 am

Clara, you raise such a great point! There *are* benefits and perks that come with "pretending to be a clone... not rejected by society..." Acceptance feels good. As does security. But only until the conforming asks you to betray yourself and your values. Then, it is most definitely time to fly the flag :-)

002: A chat with Chris Brogan.

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