Story Signals

Inspiring interviews and lessons learned on living with purpose, clarity, and meaning

Benny Hsu talks about taking responsibility, creative focus, and the power of limiting beliefs

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I’m happy to have Benny Hsu of Get Busy Living on Story Signals this week, he’s a great guy and a fellow Jacksonville native. Benny is an app developer, author, speaker, and podcaster, making his online home at GetBusyLivingBlog.com. I’ve really enjoyed Benny’s writing and storytelling ability over the past couple of years, and it’s plain to see he’s a guy who communicates well and helps people change their lives.

If you’re joining us at Story Signals for the first time, welcome! The show focuses on lessons we can learn on living with purpose, clarity, and meaning. There are several ways to subscribe and listen, including on your smartphone or computer. Check out your options here.

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After spending a few years in the family restaurant business, Benny was ready to make a change, and the change was initiated by a letter he wrote to his past and future self. Those letters, along with inspiration from Pat Flynn, helped Benny take action and create a change in his life. Enter iPhone app Photo365. Long story short (you’ll hear it on the show), Benny made $30,000 in 30 days on Photo365! His life was changed, though the success wasn’t what he expected.

Back to the interview… Benny shares so many good lessons and tips for us, and I can’t wait for you to hear it. We cover topics like responsibility, habits, internal struggle, family dynamics, creative focus, and so much more. But to me, three lessons really stood out.

  1. You have to take responsibility for your own life and begin taking action. Sitting around and wishing things will change is not the same as intentionally moving towards the change you wish to see.

  2. Focus on one big project at a time. This is where you will see the fastest and most valuable results, whether the project works out or not. It’s difficult to work on several big projects at once, because then you’ll be spread too thin to put the full force of your creativity into the mission.

  3. Don’t limit your beliefs. Remember the story Benny told? Since no one told the student the statistics problem was impossible, he approached it as entirely possible! Jeff Goins talked about this in episode 10 as well, further emphasizing the point of not placing limiting beliefs on ourselves or other people.

Listen here

Great Quotes

My life turned when I realized I had to take responsibility for what was happening in my life. To stop blaming other people and situations, and to start taking meaningful action.

My overnight success was 5 years in the making

Get Busy Livin’ or Get Busy Dyin’ – Red from the Shawshank Redemption

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Connect and Say Thanks!

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Want to help Story Signals hit the front page of iTunes podcasts? Here are 3 quick ways to help.

  1. If you think Story Signals is deserving, leave a 5 star rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Click here for iTunes, and click “View in iTunes” – “Reviews & Ratings” – “Write a Review” (see the screenshots). For Stitcher, click here. 
  2. Subscribe and download the Story Signals podcast! You’ll get each episode delivered the best way for you, whether through iTunes, Stitcher, Downcast, or something else. Here’s the ultimate list of resources to get started.
  3. Share with a friend! I would be very appreciate of your recommendations to family, friends, and social networks. If you mention me, @MattRagland, or @StorySignals on Twitter, I’ll be sure and retweet the share! Just share StorySignals.com – StorySignals.com/itunes – StorySignals.com/stitcher.

Jeff Goins talks about the responsibility of contribution, and why life is not about you

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I’m really excited to have Jeff Goins on this week’s episode of Story Signals. Jeff is a writer, speaker, and teacher who has had a big influence on me and my own writing. In fact, his blog, GoinsWriter.com, was one of the first places I landed to learn about writing and the bigger picture of connecting through a blog. Since that day in 2011, I’ve always received good advice from Jeff, whether online or in-person, and it’s my pleasure to have him on Story Signals.

If you’re joining us at Story Signals for the first time, welcome! The show focuses on lessons we can learn on living with purpose, clarity, and meaning. There are several ways to subscribe and listen, including on your smartphone or computer. Check out your options here.

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Jeff’s circle of influence has grown exponentially since I began learning from him, and the world is a better place for it. He describes himself as a writer who helps other writers succeed. In fact, if you’re looking for a free writing/blogging class, Jeff’s Intentional Blogging course is a great way to start. He generously shares his experience and expertise with everyone, and I simply know Jeff’s class will change how you write and connect with people.

Back to the interview… Jeff shares so many good lessons and tips for us, and I can’t wait for you to hear it. We cover topics like creativity, contribution, boring times, dealing with failure and success, overcoming inner battles, and so much more. But to me, three lessons really stood out.

What You’ll Learn

  1. You have a responsibility to steward and serve others through your unique gifts, and how to find areas to do this in.
  2. Don’t reject yourself before even beginning the conversation with someone. How often do we give up and reject ourselves before the interaction happens? Simply present yourself or your idea in an honest and open way, and see what happens!
  3. Life is not about you. This is such an important lesson, but so easy for us to ignore and forget! We feel the need to take what’s ours, and look out for number one. But instead of going in to a situation thinking “what can I get?” think “what can I give?” I believe you’ll see your relationships and interactions change, and your needs still met.

Listen here

Great Quotes

It’s your life’s task to be who you are

Find something obvious to you and share it with others

You were born to create something, and that is your life, the story you are writing of your life

Resources

Where to Connect

Help Story Signals hit iTunes New & Noteworthy!

Want to help Story Signals hit the front page of iTunes podcasts? Here are 3 quick ways to help.

  1. If you think Story Signals is deserving, leave a 5 star rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Click here for iTunes, and click “View in iTunes” – “Reviews & Ratings” – “Write a Review” (see the screenshots). For Stitcher, click here. 
  2. Subscribe and download the Story Signals podcast! You’ll get each episode delivered the best way for you, whether through iTunes, Stitcher, Downcast, or something else. Here’s the ultimate list of resources to get started.
  3. Share with a friend! I would be very appreciate of your recommendations to family, friends, and social networks. If you mention me, @MattRagland, or @StorySignals on Twitter, I’ll be sure and retweet the share! Just share StorySignals.com – StorySignals.com/itunes – StorySignals.com/stitcher.

Matt Frazier of No Meat Athlete talks about our habits, goal-setting, and being an entrepreneur

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Matt Frazier is the founder of No Meat Athlete, a thriving online community focusing on vegan, plant-based nutrition, and the athletes who are fueled by plants. You may think a vegan athlete site is a strange combination of interests, and five years ago, you’d be right!

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The story begins when Matt was in grad school, and began transitioning in to a vegan lifestyle. At the same time, Matt was running marathons, and saw a lack of advice for vegan athletes. Like many good entrepreneurs, Matt scratched his own itch, and began sharing his findings and experiments at NoMeatAthlete.com. The site grew as more and more people who had arrived at the same crossroads in their journey, and were delighted to find someone was writing and sharing information about vegan fitness!

What you’ll learn

  • Don’t be afraid of a narrow niche! We discuss the crossroads strategy, and how people will find their way to the topic you’re building authority in. Who ever thought of plant-based fitness sites?
  • Be intentional with your time. If there is something you really want to do, whether the dream is something you already do and want to do more of (like read), or a something you don’t currently participate in (learning an instrument, starting a blog).
  • Create value vs consuming content. This is a huge lesson for all of us. I would challenge you to begin creating valuable content instead of just consuming the content everyone else is putting out. You have a unique perspective and gift on a particular topic, I know it! Share it with others, even just your friends and family. Of course we’re not saying all content consumption is bad, but if all you’re doing is taking in, without giving some out, it leaves the world without your unique voice on a subject. Please share it with us!

There are so many other great questions and story lines we follow and wrestle with in this interview, and I know you’ll enjoy the lessons from this episode.

Listen here

Great Quotes

Matt-Frazier-imageIf you’re not ruthless about cutting away stuff that doesn’t matter, it will take over your life.

Pick one habit a day that really matters to you, and do it for 10 minutes. You can build on 10 minutes.

I think we all have something our soul really yearns for, and we should do more of those things.

Consuming content is so much easier than creating, but creating is so much more important.

Resources

Where to connect

Help Story Signals hit iTunes New & Noteworthy!

Want to help Story Signals hit the front page of iTunes podcasts? Here are 3 quick ways to help.

  1. If you think Story Signals is deserving, leave a 5 star rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Click here for iTunes, and click “View in iTunes” – “Reviews & Ratings” – “Write a Review” (see the screenshots). For Stitcher, click here. 
  2. Subscribe and download the Story Signals podcast! You’ll get each episode delivered the best way for you, whether through iTunes, Stitcher, Downcast, or something else. Here’s the ultimate list of resources to get started.
  3. Share with a friend! I would be very appreciate of your recommendations to family, friends, and social networks. If you mention me, @MattRagland, or @StorySignals on Twitter, I’ll be sure and retweet the share! Just share StorySignals.com – StorySignals.com/itunes – StorySignals.com/stitcher.

Brett Henley talks about creative alignment, connection, and great work

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Our guest on Story Signals this week is Brett Henley, who gave this very wry description of himself;

I’m a writer with a long track record of doing everything except writing

One of the things that draws you toward Brett right away is his honesty and ability to cut to the truth of the matter, even when it applies to himself. Brett had several good pieces of advice to share with us in this interview, here are just a few of the things that stood out to me.

  • Why the creative process is supposed to be a struggle.
  • How we can apply the routines of other people in the context of our own life.
  • Why we need to give up on creating the perfect entrepreneur, author, designer, etc.
  • The importance of cultivating personal grace.
  • Why Brett thinks our age of disruption is nearing disruption itself.
  • What the difference is between bookends and rigid brakes.
  • Why our work can’t only be purposeful to us, but be driven by a purpose meaningful to others.
  • What it takes to be compelling, not just build the facade of being compelling.

6672_300Brett and his wife Amber run an independent publishing company called We Craft Stories. They’re currently wrapping up their first major project, Little Girl and the Hill, which describes the dangers of chasing perfection. 

I know you are going to hear great stuff from Brett in this episode, I was furiously writing notes during our chat, and couldn’t wait to come back and edit just so I could hear it again. Enjoy!

Listen Here

Where to Connect with Brett

Resources

Help Story Signals hit iTunes New & Noteworthy!

Want to help Story Signals hit the front page of iTunes podcasts? Here are 3 quick ways to help.

  1. If you think Story Signals is deserving, leave a 5 star rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Click here for iTunes, and click “View in iTunes” – “Reviews & Ratings” – “Write a Review” (see the screenshots). For Stitcher, click here. 
  2. Subscribe and download the Story Signals podcast! You’ll get each episode delivered the best way for you, whether through iTunes, Stitcher, Downcast, or something else. Here’s the ultimate list of resources to get started.
  3. Share with a friend! I would be very appreciate of your recommendations to family, friends, and social networks. If you mention me, @MattRagland, or @StorySignals on Twitter, I’ll be sure and retweet the share! Just share StorySignals.com – StorySignals.com/itunes – StorySignals.com/stitcher.

Episode 7: How the Resistance Attacks, and How to Fight Back

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In this week’s episode, I talk about the Resistance, a destructive and distracting force keeping you from your best work and most meaningful story.  This may be the most important episode so far, and I pull back the curtain on how the resistance attacks, how you can learn more about it, and actionable ways to fight back. Let’s get started!

The Resistance and How to Fight Back

The Resistance 101

5 ways the resistance attacks in our personal and creative lives

  1. Mindlessness
  2. Busy Work
  3. Self-Improvement
  4. Self-Doubt
  5. Shadow Careers

The Resistance Essential Reading

5 books to help you know your enemy in a deeper way

  1. The War of Art – by Steven Pressfield
  2. The Screwtape Letters – by CS Lewis
  3. Bird by Bird – by Anne Lamotte
  4. Linchpin – by Seth Godin
  5. Daring Greatly – by Brene Brown

To Resist the Resistance

5 actions to take in your daily story

  1. Start practicing and working.
  2. Be accountable and put down stakes.
  3. Talk back to yourself.
  4. Raise a ruckus!
  5. Daring greatly and showing your work.

Listen Here

Additional Resources

Win a Resistance Master Books!

I’m giving away a book to some lucky listener this week! Here’s how to win.

Leave a comment on this page letting everyone know an action that you’re taking this week to fight the Resistance in your own life. After the week is over, I’ll draw a name, and the winner will get to choose one of the five books listed in this week’s episode!

Help Story Signals hit iTunes New & Noteworthy!

Want to help Story Signals hit the front page of iTunes podcasts? Here are 3 quick ways to help.

  1. If you think Story Signals is deserving, leave a 5 star rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Click here for iTunes, and click “View in iTunes” – “Reviews & Ratings” – “Write a Review” (see the screenshots). For Stitcher, click here. 
  2. Subscribe and download the Story Signals podcast! You’ll get each episode delivered the best way for you, whether through iTunes, Stitcher, Downcast, or something else. Here’s the ultimate list of resources to get started.
  3. Share with a friend! I would be very appreciate of your recommendations to family, friends, and social networks. If you mention me, @MattRagland, or @StorySignals on Twitter, I’ll be sure and retweet the share! Just share StorySignals.com – StorySignals.com/itunes – StorySignals.com/stitcher.

Episode 6: Jeff Sanders shares the secret of the 5am Miracle

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Our guest this week on Story Signals is Jeff Sanders, host of the 5am Miracle podcast! This is my first time interviewing a fellow podcaster, and Jeff’s attention to detail and ease on the mic was evident, in fact he saved the interview in a big way (more on that later).

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Jeff’s podcast is dedicated to helping you dominate your day before breakfast, by giving listeners (and readers) actionable advice to living with intention and positive energy. In this interview, you’ll learn the value of an early morning and how it can help kickstart your day with greater focus and confidence.

Here’s a great quote Jeff shared with us:

Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity – Albert Einstein

How You Can Find Simplicity in Clutter

I asked Jeff how he returns to simplicity when life feels out of control, and he said there were three simple actions he took in the morning, before any type of work. He calls them his “Back to Basics” re-boot.

  1. Get a good night’s sleep – this starts with going to bed as soon as possible the night before.
  2. Eat a healthy meal – a good breakfast or smoothie to start your day.
  3. Exercise – a run, workout, bike ride, hike, or walk around the neighborhood.

Do these three actions sound simple and redundant? Yes and Yes! As Jeff was describing them to me, I was simultaneously nodding my head and kicking myself over how easily I can get knocked off track from the starting with the basics! Whenever you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, make a concentrated effort to focus on getting back to basics for a few days. It will help!

How Jeff Saved the Interview

We were about 20 minutes in to the show, and I looked over to check on the recording levels.

They were flat. As in not recording…

I was so upset with myself, and spent the last 20 seconds of Jeff’s response thinking about how I was going to tell him. I even muted my end and vented to my wife for a few seconds on my stupidity. When Jeff finished, I broke the news. He paused (to what I felt like was dramatic effect), and then said, “Well Matt, it’s ok, because I have been recording on my end”. What a pro! What feelings of relief!

So once again, thanks to Jeff for being a pro, and always remember to record your interviews.

I know you’re going to enjoy this interview, go ahead and listen below, or even better yet, subscribe and get each episode delivered to your smartphone or desktop!

Resources

Jeff and I talked about a lot of books, services, and apps during the interview, and he gave me a couple others after we stopped recording (for real this time).

Where to Find Jeff

Help Story Signals hit iTunes New & Noteworthy!

Want to help Story Signals hit the front page of iTunes podcasts? Here are 3 quick ways to help.

  1. If you think Story Signals is deserving, leave a 5 star rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Click here for iTunes, and click “View in iTunes” – “Reviews & Ratings” – “Write a Review” (see the screenshots). For Stitcher, click here. 
  2. Subscribe and download the Story Signals podcast! You’ll get each episode delivered the best way for you, whether through iTunes, Stitcher, Downcast, or something else. Here’s the ultimate list of resources to get started.
  3. Share with a friend! I would be very appreciate of your recommendations to family, friends, and social networks. If you mention me, @MattRagland, or @StorySignals on Twitter, I’ll be sure and retweet the share! Just share StorySignals.com – StorySignals.com/itunes – StorySignals.com/stitcher.

Episode 5: Jedd Rose of Topo Designs teaches us about simplicity and an integrated experience

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Jedd Rose is the founder and lead designer at Topo Designs, an outdoor and lifestyle brand based in Colorado. I’ve been admiring Topo products for a while, and really enjoyed getting know the mind behind the mission.

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One striking aspect of Topo Designs’ gear is the retro styling the founders grew up with in the 60’s and 70’s. Jedd and Mark also draw a lot of inspiration from simple Japanese design and craftsmanship, consistently seeking to make a product that integrates with the environment. Adding features is no longer an issue these days, a thousand options lay at your feet. The challenge is making a product and living a life that focuses on the essential elements.

Here’s my favorite quote from our talk…

We want Topo gear to do exactly what is needed in your outdoor adventures, but nothing more. The pack should be a integrated in to the experience, and not conquer it. In a way, we want the gear to get out of the way and allow the outdoorsman to take in the majesty of the outdoors without fussing with his pack.

I think about how often I try and trade up again and again for the latest and greatest, thinking the gear with more bells and whistles will improve my performance or experience. Obviously there’s a baseline of tech which helps, but I think mentally we stuck on the hamster wheel of “if I had this tool things would be better”. The value of continually upgrading isn’t always worth the energy, and I certainly believe the returns diminish quite rapidly after hitting the baseline.

Topo tries to follow this process and mindset of simplicity and experience in the outdoors and in life. Jedd summed up their ethos with this quote:

Think canoe vs. motorboat. We’re the canoe. Handmade, artistic, and gliding smoothly along the water, connected to the environment.

I know you’re going to enjoy this interview, go ahead and listen below, or even better yet, subscribe and get each episode delivered to your smartphone or desktop!

Where to find Jedd

Other Resources

Help Story Signals hit iTunes New & Noteworthy!

Want to help Story Signals hit the front page of iTunes podcasts? Here are 3 quick ways to help.

  1. If you think Story Signals is deserving, leave a 5 star rating on iTunes. Click here, and click “View in iTunes” – “Reviews & Ratings” – “Write a Review” (see the screenshots)
  2. Subscribe and download the Story Signals podcast! You’ll get each episode delivered the best way for you, whether through iTunes, Downcast, AttennaPod, or something else. Here’s the ultimate list of resources to get started.
  3. Share with a friend! I would be very appreciate of your recommendations to family, friends, and social networks. If you mention me, Matt Ragland, or Story Signals on Twitter, I’ll be sure and retweet the share! Just share StorySignals.com or StorySignals.com/itunes.

Story Signals Episode 4: Mike Rohde teaches us about creativity, conflict, and opportunity

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Mike Rohde is one talented guy. Author of the best selling Sketchnote Handbook, illustrator of ReWork, Remote, The $100 Startup, and The Little Book of Talent, and these are just his side projects! Mike is a designer at heart, and the iterations of his career taught him the value of being adaptable and a willingness to embrace change.

Win a copy of The Sketchnote Handbook!

Mike is giving away a copy of his book to a Story Signals listener! To be eligible, go over to the Story Signals Facebook page, then like and share Mike’s post. It will look like this:

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The interview goes live on February 17th, and will close on February 21st. We will announce the winner on February 22nd on the Facebook page.

I first heard about Mike through his illustrations for ReWork (one of my top business books), and loved his approach to visual note-taking and creative thinking. When The Sketchnote Handbook came out, I pre-ordered it and absorbed all the lessons Mike and his fellow sketchnoters had for me. Mike’s approach has improved my own creative process beyond just note-taking, leaking in to design, user experience, process flow, and general art. At the core, sketchnotes have allowed me to tap in to my artistic side, which had mostly lain dormant since childhood.

Here are a couple examples of Mike’s process and work. I hope they encourage you to get out a pen and paper and begin sketching!

Mike & The Sketchnote Process

Storyline Conference Sketchnotes

Memorable Quotes

“The best thing you can you can learn in school is how to learn! The principles of learning remain the same, regardless of the medium”

“As a designer, a lot of times you can arrive at a solution by limiting yourself”

“How do I accept this journey I’m on, and make the best of it, and see the value and lessons of it, so you’re ready when someone else runs in to a similar situation”

Click to subscribe on iTunes

Listen to the Interview

Where to find Mike

Resources

Help Story Signals hit iTunes New & Noteworthy!

Want to help Story Signals hit the front page of iTunes podcasts? Here are 2 quick ways to help, and they all point to the same place.

  1. If you think Story Signals is deserving, leave a 5 star rating on iTunes. Click here, and click “View in iTunes” – “Reviews & Ratings” – “Write a Review” (see the screenshots)
  2. Share with a friend! I would be very appreciate of your recommendations to family, friends, and social networks. If you mention me, Matt Ragland, or Story Signals on Twitter, I’ll be sure and retweet the share! Just share StorySignals.com or StorySignals.com/itunes.

Story Signals Episode 3: Jia Jiang teaches us about overcoming the fear of rejection

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Jia-WebJia Jiang is a blogger, speaker, and soon-to-be-author, focusing on overcoming fear and rejection. His talks at TED and World Domination Summit have been viewed over 100,000 times, and his blog FearBuster.com helps people overcome their fear of rejection every single day.

Click to subscribe on iTunes

I saw Jia speak at Storyline Conference in Nashville, and knew I wanted to have him on the show. Fear is definitely something we all struggle with, and fear of rejection especially! When we take a risk, we are putting our ego on the line, and people can reject us. The question becomes “are you secure enough to absorb rejection?”

The biggest takeaway from Jia’s story is how he believes a fear of rejection closes us off from what the world has to offer. Here’s the quote:

“I felt rejection was so scary, but then people started saying yes. I realized if I started opening myself up to the world, the world would open itself to me”

Another interesting aspect we talk about is the physical and psychological effect of fear. Did you know that when you begin to experience anxiety (fear) on perceived rejection, your body begins to react as if the rejection has already taken place! In fact, research has shown that our rejection and pain receptors share neurocognitive substrates, simply meaning they’re linked in important ways.

Throughout his 100 Days of Rejection, Jia realized that people were not out to reject him. In fact, many people wanted to join in for the adventure! This was the case when Jia asked Jackie to make the Olympic Rings using Krispy Kreme donuts. What happened next was a little bit more than he expected!

Not only did Jackie want to come along in the adventure, she got back in touch with Jia nine days later to let him know she had perfected the design!

Stories like this exist everywhere, we simply need to be willing to open ourselves up to the world, so the world can open itself up to us!

Jia’s favorite quote is from the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. In the scene, Will Smith’s character has just told his young son that the dream of playing pro basketball isn’t very realistic. His son quickly loses interest in the shoot-around, and Dad realizes he’s made a mistake. He tells his son,

Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something, not even me. You gotta dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period.

Now, maybe we can’t all play pro sports, but there are dreams within all of us that we’ve been told can’t work. I find the naysayers are usually attacking from a sense of regret over their own dreams left unrealized. So they try and keep you down. Don’t let them. You want something, go get it. Period.

Listen to the Interview

Where to find Jia

Jia’s Speaking

Other Resources

Help Story Signals hit iTunes New & Noteworthy!

Want to help Story Signals hit the front page of iTunes podcasts? Here are 2 quick ways to help, and they all point to the same place.

  1. If you think Story Signals is deserving, leave a 5 star rating on iTunes. Click here, and click “View in iTunes” – “Reviews & Ratings” – “Write a Review” (see the screenshots)
  2. Share with a friend! I would be very appreciate of your recommendations to family, friends, and social networks. If you mention me, Matt Ragland, or Story Signals on Twitter, I’ll be sure and retweet the share! Just share StorySignals.com or StorySignals.com/itunes.

Story Signals Episode 2: An Interview with Brendan Leonard of Semi-Rad

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Brendan Leonard is a writer and outdoorsman who has been living the type of flexible, work-from-anywhere life many of us dream of. For the better part of the last year, Brendan has been living in an Astro van, exploring and experiencing many of the beautiful and wild places of America. In fact, right after this interview, Brendan spent three weeks rafting the Colorado through the Grand Canyon, a life list worthy trip.

quote-web

Image credit: Patitucci Photo

So how did he find himself willingly living in van, when he has an income level that could certainly pay the rent on a regular basis? Brendan isn’t your normal dirtbag, with a masters in journalism and writing, a popular blog at Semi-Rad, and his new book, The New American Road Trip Mixtape. But when it came to the conventional path of writers, Brendan didn’t conform to the mold.

Listen to his story:

Memorable quotes from the interview:

“You’re not sitting at the coffee shop, writing beautiful things, and someone walks in and says ‘Hey, how ‘bout we give you $80,000 a year to write about whatever you want!’ It doesn’t work that way“.

We’re a nation of watchers now, waiting to be entertained. We’re losing our exploratory gene. What about ____? Where does ____ lead? What’s at the top/bottom of ____?

I don’t remember getting a little behind on bills, or having to scrap around for a few months following the trip. I remember cycling across America with Tony!

Brendan’s Favorite Quote:

Get busy living or get busy dying

– Red (played by Morgan Freeman), in The Shawshank Redemption

Where to Connect with Brendan:

Other Resources

Help Story Signals hit iTunes New & Noteworthy!

Want to help Story Signals hit the front page of iTunes podcasts? Here are 2 quick ways to help, and they all point to the same place.

  1. If you think Story Signals is deserving, leave a 5 star rating on iTunes. Click here, and click “View in iTunes” – “Reviews & Ratings” – “Write a Review” (see the screenshots)
  2. Share with a friend! I would be very appreciate of your recommendations to family, friends, and social networks. If you mention me, Matt Ragland, or Story Signals on Twitter, I’ll be sure and retweet the share! Just share StorySignals.com or StorySignals.com/itunes.