Newsletter Apr 5, 2024

Introducing The Good Authority Podcast

As we transition from In/Authentic to Good Authority, we're also stepping into the world of YouTube, with our debut episode already racking up over 63,000 views. Please subscribe to the new channel for video episodes and shorts.

Why Good Authority?

Beyond the obvious connection to the book, Good Authority captures the essence of what we’re going for with the podcast. The book was as much about my own personal journey as it was a guide for other leaders; the leadership philosophy emerged directly from my own painful experiences. Calling the podcast by the same name spoke to me as a way to honor that origin and create a platform for these broader conversations. Maybe the simplest way to say it is if I had launched this podcast back in 2016, I probably would’ve called it Good Authority, so better late than never!

What Changes Can You Expect?

You’ll see this shift impact both our format and guest lineup. The 2-3 guests each month will include thought leaders and authors, but also CEOs who are willing to come on for honest conversations about their own challenges. In addition to interviews, you’ll be hearing more from me directly in the form of monologues and short videos, where I’ll share my perspective on these conversations and topics—on parenting, relationships, sexuality, manhood, spirituality, aging, wellness, and beyond.

In many ways, thanks for your support and for joining me as we take the next major leg of the journey to get Good Authority out in the world.

A Stretch

When I lived in San Francisco in the early 2000s, a city notoriously difficult to find a parking spot, a Buddhist teacher I was studying with found the perfect way to get under my skin.

As you were looking for parking tonight, and you saw someone grab a plum spot right in front of you… for how many of those people did you think to yourself, “Oh, I am so happy for them!”

There’s a Sanskrit word for this process of being happy for others’ happiness and success: Mudita. And, in a moment of deep honesty, I realized that I was terrible at it… and it cut deep. At that point in my life, when I saw others doing well, all I could feel was jealousy or envy, that it ‘should’ve been me’, and other tales of woe and victimhood.

So, I made Mudita my mission. I practiced it daily for a few years—I changed my email address to mudita@ as a daily reminder. I decided that until I could be genuinely happy for others and stop comparing myself, I would stay lost.

Do you have an opportunity to practice Mudita today?

Think of someone who is getting something you want in your life, or maybe someone in the news you think is undeserving, or maybe the person who just got that parking spot. Start where you are.

A Listen

If you're dismayed by the vitriol and divisiveness in our society and curious about the emergence of identity politics and its counter-reactions, The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling offers a detailed exploration of these issues' origins and development. (Especially Episode 3!)

Warmest regards,

Jonathan

P.S. Next week, we'll be exploring a very specific area of parenting in the modern world with Kirsten Jones, author of Raising Empowered Athletes. We dove into the complex issues that led to the loss of pure, unadulterated fun in youth sports and what we can do as parents to bring it back!

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