My co-host and I discuss a few of the potentially lasting changes (hopefully good ones) from the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

My friend Mike Garrett joins us in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis to discuss the purpose in the process of suffering. Thank you for your patience as I took several months off to “counter balance” a few other goals and projects. I’m glad to be back doing the podcast, especially now, and I appreciate all of the continued positive feedback and support.

Some links for what we discussed in this episode:

• Falling Into Grace, by John Newton (I quote from this book several times in this episode). I found this book in an Episcopal church book store during a break at the Austin Film Festival, and it has turned into my “sleeper hit” of the year, book wise. An unexpected joy to read, and full of deep, applicable truth.

• The Bible Project - great videos, even better podcast (if you’re a fan of deep, long-format podcasts like I obviously am).

My friend Will Blackman returns to help kick-off the second season of the podcast and give us an update. For his first visit, go check out Episode 19!

In this episode, Will and I discussed:

• What Will has learned about the importance of staying in the moment - and how continuously returning to prayer throughout the day can help exercise that muscle

• Taking refuge within, despite “the shuffling of plates"

• How does Will feel about Viktor Frankl’s charge that we should strive to live in a manner “worth” our suffering?

• Learning to accept and embrace love (from both God and people)

• Viktor Frankl’s view on religion being for the salvation of the soul, while logotherapy is for healing. Does God have a real place in our lives if we truly believe we can heal ourselves?

• How constant distraction by the physical can starve us from experiencing the spiritual

• The importance of making room to listen for God

I hope you enjoy our conversation about the purpose in the process of staying in the moment!

Famous chefs don’t become known because of their humility. But as it turns out, their restaurants might.

In this episode of the podcast, I spoke with renowned chef Peter Merriman about his unique approach to hospitality in his restaurants. Why is it that a person always feels welcome when they check-in with his hosts? How does Peter motivate his entire staff to entertain like they are “throwing a party every night,” prepare each and every dish like they are “cooking for their mom,” and consistently go above and beyond to “do the right thing” for every customer they meet?

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why service matters as much (if not more) than the food

• What are his “vital few” that he focuses on with staff?

• The key importance of establishing and maintaining relationships

• How Peter hires right, then gives his people a chance to shine

• What it means to focus on the “internal customers”

• How those who are served can get the most out of our experience as customers

• The importance of sustainability, and connecting with the source of our food

• How customer demand impacts quality

• The importance of humility to the success of any restaurant

Thanks for listening! As always, I appreciate your feedback, and please consider supporting this ad-free podcast by becoming a supporter on Patreon

Links and More Info:

https://www.merrimanshawaii.com/

https://www.monkeypodkitchen.com/

PETER’S STORY:

Peter Merriman has been as a culinary pioneer in Hawaii for 30 years. Known as the original “locavore”, Peter is a vocal champion of Hawaii’s farmers, ranchers and fishermen. His restaurants showcase island grown and harvested foods through simple preparations that reflect the myriad flavors of Hawaii’s multiculturalism. Dubbed the “Pied Piper of Hawaii Regional Cuisine” by The Los Angeles Times, he is a continuing inspiration to Hawaii’s thriving culinary scene. 

Early Years 

Peter was raised in Pittsburgh, where a passion for food was instilled in him from a young age. His mother, Woodene, was a noted Pittsburgh Post Gazette food writer, and by the time he was 16, he was doing “grunt work” for Master Chef Ferdinand Metz at the H. J. Heinz Co. (Chef Metz later headed the renowned Culinary Institute of America.) 

Pursuing the opportunity to play football, Peter attended The University of Pennsylvania and studied Political Science. After graduation, Merriman enrolled in a three-year Chef's Apprentice Program with RockResorts under the auspices of the American Culinary Federation. The apprenticeship program took Peter to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and to Woodstock, Vermont, where he studied at the Woodstock Inn, under the supervision of Chef Hans Schadler. He then went on to various stints in resort areas across the United States and Europe, including a summer working among the vineyards of France’s Champagne region. 

In early 1983, Peter was hired as a cook for the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel. He arrived in Hawaii with one suitcase and $75 in his pocket thinking he would stay a few months at the most. But he fell in love with the natural beauty of the islands and the rich culture of the people who live there. In 1985, only two years after his arrival, he was appointed Executive Chef of the Mauna Lani Resort’s new Gallery Restaurant. 

Chef & Pioneer of Hawaii Regional Cuisine 

At his interview for the chef position at The Gallery Restaurant, Peter was asked what type of food he wanted to feature. Without thinking, he said “regional cuisine” and went on to explain how no other restaurants were serving the local fish and produce. Peter believed that to be able to offer fish that was caught the same morning and to use vegetables harvested the day that they were served was essential to providing the best gourmet Hawaii cuisine. 

When Peter got the job, he had to deliver on the concept, but quickly discovered there were almost no local products available. 

Peter advertised in the newspapers and went out to the farms, ranches and docks to let local producers know he wanted whatever they had. 

“We’re in this together,” he told them, “If you grow it or catch it, I’ll buy it, and we all succeed.” Pretty soon he had built solid partnerships 

and local producers would try to get or grow whatever he needed. 

As he began recruiting other chefs to focus on local foods, “Hawaii Regional Cuisine” was born with Peter as founding president. Peter says it was just the right thing to do. “We were able to serve the freshest, most flavorful food at the restaurant. The bonus is that it benefits the local economy while helping to preserve the land and the agrarian way of life. 

Merriman’s Restaurants 

In 1988, Peter opened his signature upcountry restaurant, Merriman’s, in Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. He was proclaimed, "A gourmet in cowboy country" by Hana Hou!, the Magazine of Hawaiian Airlines. The New York Times raved “Everything at Merriman’s…features the freshest local ingredients paired in exciting ways,” and San Francisco Magazine exclaimed “His Wok-charred Ahi is to die for!” 

It was at Merriman’s Waimea that Peter garnered the attention of the James Beard Foundation and as a result, he was a Finalist in the “Best Chef Northwest & Hawaii” category three distinct times. 

In 1994, Peter partnered with TS Restaurants to open Hula Grill on Maui’s famed Ka`anapali Beach. Hula Grill, touted “the best fish house in the islands” by Honolulu Magazine, brought the concepts of Hawaii Regional Cuisine to a beachside setting. 

Two more fine dining restaurants were added to the Merriman’s Hawaii group in 2008 and 2009 - Merriman’s Kapalua, on the grounds of the scenic resort on Maui’s West Side, and Merriman’s Fish House in Poipu, Kauai. Downstairs from the fish house, Peter offers casual dining at Merriman’s Gourmet Pizza & Burgers. 

In June 2018, Merriman’s Hawaii Group opened for the first time on Oahu, bringing Merriman’s Kaka’ako to Ward Village by Howard Hughes. 

In 2011, Peter launched a new venture in casual dining, Handcrafted Restaurants, with restaurateur Bill Terry. Handcrafted Restaurants is a multi-concept restaurant company operating four restaurants across the Hawaiian Islands: Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman in Wailea and Ka’anapali, Maui and Ko Olina Oahu, Moku Kitchen in Kaka’ako, Oahu, and the Beach House in Poipu, Kauai. 

We go to the doctor with the goal of feeling better, so it should come as no surprise that conventional medicine is often aimed at helping us deal with symptoms, rather than identifying and addressing the underlying cause. Such an approach is all the more likely in an overwhelmed healthcare system where doctors are increasingly unable to spend the time required to identify and address the root issues behind many “chronic” conditions, especially those with no immediately apparent source.

In this episode of the podcast, I spoke with Dr. Hyla Cass about what has fueled her career-long desire to get to the bottom of what ails her patients, whether as a replacement for, or alongside more conventional treatments. As a renowned expert in functional medicine, Dr. Cass has written extensively about topics such as the nutritional supplementation of prescription drugs, alternative approaches to overcoming addiction, and even ways patients can avoid addiction to begin with by employing natural ways to elevate mood, battle stress, and increase energy.

Her latest passion involves the many uses of CBD oil for the treatment of a variety of conditions, which she writes about in her new book Your Amazing Itty Bitty Guide to Cannabis: 15 Key Steps to Understanding the Many Benefits of the Cannabis Plant.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The importance of recognizing emotional trauma in the treatment of physical symptoms

• Prevention and treatment of postpartum depression

• The potential link between prescription drugs and mass shootings

• The influence of economics on healthcare policy and conventional medical treatment in the US

• Her viewpoint as a physician on the challenges facing the US health insurance system

• How CBD oil can be used to address a wide variety of issues

• Recent developments (and historic research) into the use of hallucinogenics to treat mental illness

• The importance of organic eating, moving every day, and social/family activities to promoting health and well-being

Links:

Dr. Cass’ website

Link to the article Dr. Cass wrote about the possible connection between prescription drugs and mass shootings.

Link to the Weed documentary with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Projectcbd.org, a site recommended for information relating to the research behind CBD oil.

ewg.org, the environmental working group site dedicated to empowering people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment.

Link to the Secret Ingredients movie we discussed, about the unexpected impact of the ingredients in our every day foods.

Your Amazing Itty Bitty Guide to Cannabis: 15 Key Steps to Understanding the Many Benefits of the Cannabis Plant

8 Weeks to Vibrant Health 2016: A Take-Charge Plan for Women to Correct Imbalances, Reclaim Energy and Restore Well-Being

Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know about Nutrition

Natural Highs: Supplements, Nutrition, and Mind-Body Techniques to Help You Feel Good All the Time

8 Weeks to Vibrant Health

We go to the doctor with the goal of feeling better, so it should come as no surprise that conventional medicine is often aimed at helping us deal with symptoms, rather than identifying and addressing the underlying cause. Such an approach is all the more likely in an overwhelmed healthcare system where doctors are increasingly unable to spend the time required to identify and address the root issues behind many “chronic” conditions, especially those with no immediately apparent source.

In this episode of the podcast, I spoke with Dr. Hyla Cass about what has fueled her career-long desire to get to the bottom of what ails her patients, whether as a replacement for, or alongside more conventional treatments. As a renowned expert in functional medicine, Dr. Cass has written extensively about topics such as the nutritional supplementation of prescription drugs, alternative approaches to overcoming addiction, and even ways patients can avoid addiction to begin with by employing natural ways to elevate mood, battle stress, and increase energy.

Her latest passion involves the many uses of CBD oil for the treatment of a variety of conditions, which she writes about in her new book Your Amazing Itty Bitty Guide to Cannabis: 15 Key Steps to Understanding the Many Benefits of the Cannabis Plant.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The importance of recognizing emotional trauma in the treatment of physical symptoms

• Prevention and treatment of postpartum depression

• The potential link between prescription drugs and mass shootings

• The influence of economics on healthcare policy and conventional medical treatment in the US

• Her viewpoint as a physician on the challenges facing the US health insurance system

• How CBD oil can be used to address a wide variety of issues

• Recent developments (and historic research) into the use of hallucinogenics to treat mental illness

• The importance of organic eating, moving every day, and social/family activities to promoting health and well-being

Links:

Dr. Cass’ website

Link to the article Dr. Cass wrote about the possible connection between prescription drugs and mass shootings.

Link to the Weed documentary with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Projectcbd.org, a site recommended for information relating to the research behind CBD oil.

ewg.org, the environmental working group site dedicated to empowering people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment.

Link to the Secret Ingredients movie we discussed, about the unexpected impact of the ingredients in our every day foods.

Your Amazing Itty Bitty Guide to Cannabis: 15 Key Steps to Understanding the Many Benefits of the Cannabis Plant

8 Weeks to Vibrant Health 2016: A Take-Charge Plan for Women to Correct Imbalances, Reclaim Energy and Restore Well-Being

Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know about Nutrition

Natural Highs: Supplements, Nutrition, and Mind-Body Techniques to Help You Feel Good All the Time

8 Weeks to Vibrant Health

What accomplishments are you most proud of? When you think of the "top stories" of your life - those where you felt most empowered, full of joy, or simply had a great time doing something you were really good at - which experiences rise to the top? More importantly, what specific attributes seem to be common to each of those stories?

On the heels of a couple deep philosophical episodes about finding “purpose,” I wanted to offer some concrete advice about the “process” someone might use to start figuring out what they want to be when they grow up. I’ve mentioned the “Seven Stories Exercise” in several past episodes and have promised to unpack that process at some point…at long last, here it is!

In this episode, we discuss:

• The importance of doing “the work” in discovering what motivates you, not just what you are good at!

• The Seven Stories process I have used (and have taught others to use) that will help you brainstorm career change ideas; or how you might stay in your current role but in a more meaningful, happy way

• How you as a candidate can use this tool to come up with questions for your next job interview

• I offer a free, practical evaluative tool you can use once you have done this work to sift through potential job opportunities and life changes - I hope it benefits you!

Links:

A pretty good example of someone else’s tool to do the first part of the exercise (i.e., to spot your essential traits)

Then, here’s the simple free tool I designed myself in Google Sheets to compare various opportunities and track my own desired job attributes against those prospects (this tool gives you a final output of the 7 stories process).

In this second part of a two-part special series I focus on the importance, and process, of finding meaning and purpose in life, as found in the book Man’s Search For Meaning, by Viktor Frankl. Frankl explains how responsibility to oneself and others (and to what life is asking of you) is a vital counterpart to freedom, a concept echoed by many present-day authors, including notable thought leaders like Jordan Peterson and Jocko Wilink. If you only listen to one of these two episodes on Frankl’s book, this is the one to listen to for sure, because we talk and reflect on the second section of the book which is where Frankl goes into detail about the actual process of finding meaning in life.

My 15 year old son Joseph joined me for this second part of the series, and offers his generation’s unique perspective on this issue.

We definitely added a lot of our own thoughts to what Frankl wrote about this topic, so I hope you enjoy as we discuss:

• Distinctions between Freud, Adler, and Frankl

• The importance of the pursuit of meaning in general (the will to meaning)

• How meaning is found in each and every moment

• What it means to answering life’s questions for each of us - not just challenges, but gifts as well

• If people aren’t motivated by money and power, then what does motivate them?

• How smiling more can make you happier

• Why is that men tend to have more issues with purpose and meaning?

• What does Peterson mean when he echoes Frankl’s views on how our “rights” are only half of the conversation - what about the responsibilities that come with those rights?

• What responsibilities might come with our rights as “freedom loving” Americans?

• What country might gift the US a statue of responsibility?

• Did Frankl in 1946 predict accurately that technological advancements in AI and robotics would lead to an increase in existential crises from a lack of meaning and purpose?

• What does it mean when a person in the Christian faith says their purpose is found in God?

• How spiritual disciplines fit into the daily practice of seeking purpose in faith

• What does it mean that we find out who we are by discovering who we are not?

• There’s no one particular abstract meaning of life - it is unique to each person

• Our invitation for Jocko Wilink to come on the show and change Joseph’s mind

• The three specific ways Frankl describes as paths to finding meaning

• What can be done to turn the tide on the lack of responsibility in society - if anything

Links:

Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning

The TED Talk on smiling Joseph referred to

Herzberg’s 2 factor theory (Motivation/Hygiene) for what truly motivates people

The Statue of Responsibility prototype at UVU in Utah

Jordan Peterson’s Self-Authoring suite

Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules For Living: An Antidote to Chaos

The 4th Industrial Revolution: A Guardian article about whether a life lived with robots taking over our jobs is really worth living

The authentic manhood program, originally taught by Robert Lewis in 2005, where he described a crisis of masculinity due to an unclear idea of what it means to be a man today (and included rejecting passivity as part of the solution)

Benjamin Franklin’s exhortation to prayer

Jocko Wilink’s Extreme Ownership: How US Navy Seals Lead and Win

The great movie about the importance of outlook and attitude, The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life

In this special episode of the podcast I wanted to respond to a listener request by offering some takeaways from the globally renowned book Man’s Search For Meaning, by Viktor Frankl. I’ve mentioned this book in past episodes when discussing the importance of living a life of purpose with various guests, because at the end of the day Frankl’s message regarding the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life is core to the whole point of this podcast. This is not intended to be a summary by any means, and is certainly not a scholarly attempt to interpret what Frankl wrote in 1946 - but perhaps my amateur musings about such an amazing piece of literature will inspire you to get a copy this important book so you can see for yourself the conclusions that might be reached.

When I interview guests I’m always interested in the processes and stories about what makes their particular journey, craft, skill, or art so unique, but I’m even more interested in the purpose behind those processes. Frankl’s book offers insights as to why purpose is so important to all of us, and how finding meaning in our lives (and even the process of setting out to do so) can help us to overcome many emotional, mental, and even physical challenges.

I hope you enjoy part 1 of this special 2 part series, which covers:

• Life in the concentration camps of WW 2

• How they could tell when a prisoner had lost the will to live, and what that meant for them

• The delusion of reprieve

• Is it true that people can get used to just about anything?

• What does it mean that “love” is the ultimate and highest purpose?

• The importance of taking refuge in the inner-life

• Humor as a weapon for saving the soul

• Freedom from suffering as a form of negative happiness

• How attempting to avoid suffering can often cause it

• The importance of paying attention to inward peace (or lack thereof) in making our choices

• The last of human freedoms: to be worthy of your sufferings

• The dangers of retrospective living

• The importance of naming our emotions

• How loss of hope can have a deadly effect

• The two races of men

LINKS

Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Tara Brach’s article “Tea with Mara”

They say courtesy is not so common anymore - this seems to be especially true on the road. As I start to teach my son how to drive, I’ve been noticing that even some of the most experienced adult drivers are no longer driving in the kind of courteous and safe manner most likely to avoid both accidents and tickets. In this episode of the podcast I summarize a few principles about safe driving, and offer my insights as both a former police officer and attorney into some of the top ways to stay safer on the road, including how to avoid and deal with road rage. I hope you enjoy this episode about the purpose in the process of staying safe on the road!

Resources:

Tips for keeping young drivers off cell phones

NHTSA’s Crash Stats site

AAA’s road rage brochure