What we’re about
WHEN PODCASTS BECOME CONVERSATIONS, AND CONVERSATIONS
BECOME ACTION, WE ALL COME ALIVE TOGETHER
This group is for you......
...... If you are between age 40 and 70+ and enjoy engaging in respectful discussions in small groups (10-14 per Meetup so that everyone can actively participate)
We get together ~ once/month in person on our deck in West Orange, NJ (weather permitting - ~April to October), or by Zoom (if either weather or covid-status do not allow for in-person gatherings - ~November to March) to dialogue about a specific pre-announced topic.
We will assign ~2-4 podcasts (~60-90 min of listening time - less if you listen at 1.25x o 1.5x that are relevant to the chosen topic). Please listen to these podcasts and think about them before the meeting. Topics will include psychology, sociology, religion, science, politics, relationships, lifestyles, self-growth...
The discussions are always informal, and non-judgmental, and aim to have each of us learn about ourselves and about each other.
Meetups will probably be on the 2nd or 3rd Thursday night of the month (7:30-9:30 pm) for 2 hours if LIVE or 8:00-9:30, if by Zoom.
The first 30 min of LIVE meetings will be informal get-to-know-you time and light chit-chat with snacks and drinks (and wine) that we provide and the next 90 min will be moderated friendly discussion time.
Each member is asked to list their real name and have a profile photo that is a CURRENT picture that CLEARLY shows their COMPLETE face. This will allow us to recognize each other when meeting and is for the safety of all group members.
This group has a “No Show” Policy. Anyone who is a no-show to 2 meetups will be removed from the group. To prevent this, update your RSVP from "yes" to "no" well in advance if your plans change.
This group has a “Last Minute Cancellation” Policy. Anyone who cancels less than 24 hours in advance of a meetup on more than 4 occasions will be removed from the group. To prevent this, update your RSVP well in advance.
$2/pp collected at each LIVE Meetup to help cover costs of running this Meetup site, providing wine, and snacks. There is no fee if we meet by ZOOM.
Upcoming events (4)
See all- December 12, 2024 Topic: Pro or Con -- Rituals Matter --- (BY ZOOM)Link visible for attendees
This meetup will be by Zoom to avoid inclement winter weather
We all have sets of routines that we like to follow, whether it’s common like brushing your teeth twice a day, or unique to our interests like working out the same way each week. For some of us, religious rituals plays a big part of our lives.
- What's the difference between habits and rituals, and how can everyday routines shape our lives?
- How do rituals create meaning, bind groups, help us grieve, and provoke a diversity of emotions?
- How important are rituals to you?
Please listen to the 2 podcasts listed below before the meetup and come prepared for a relaxed 90-min discussion, and to share your perspectives.
1. Curious Minds at Work
How Rituals Improve Our Lives (47 min)
We crave meaning and purpose, yet obtaining them can feel beyond our control, like they're merely products of luck and circumstance. Fortunately, researchers who’ve studied the power of ritual have found they’re more in our control than we think. In this interview, I talk to one of these researchers, psychologist Michael Norton. He shares how rituals, especially ones we create, can provide the meaning and purpose we crave. And, unlike habits, rituals operate on an emotional level that deepens the experience. In his book, The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions, Norton shares what rituals are, why they matter, and how they can help bolster us throughout our lives. .
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/curious-minds-at-work/id1049183266?i=1000653197837
2. Hidden Brain
An Ancient Solution to Modern Problems (51 min)
People in every country and culture mark important milestones, such as births, marriages and deaths, with intricately choreographed scripts. We even appeal to supernatural forces to give our favorite sports teams an extra advantage. This week on the show, anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas explains the psychological power behind the sacred and secular rituals that structure our lives.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?i=1000589941178FUN OPTIONAL ACTIVITY--
RITUALS QUIZ FROM DR MICHAEL NORTON, THE GUEST IN PODCAST #1 -- This does not take long to complete.
If you do it, print out your result and if you are comfortable, share it with the group.
Rituals Quiz: Michael I. Norton | Harvard Professor, Behavior Scientist, & AuthorOnly sign up if you plan to show up.
- If you sign up and can't make it-- please change your RSVP from YES to NO as early as possible so that others can get in
- Jan 16, 2025 Meetup Topic: Is it Better to Give than to Receive? (by Zoom)Link visible for attendees
Meetup Topic: Is it Better to Give or Receive (Advice)
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Meetup is by Zoom (in the winter we do zoom -- we'll go LIVE again in March when the weather is better) --
We gather at 8:00 pm (zoom room opens at ~7:50pm) then spend 90 min in an informal facilitated discussion.
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WARM UP QUESTIONS:- Can you think of a time that you received very helpful advice?
- What is some terrible advice you received?
- Are you someone who struggles to accept and apply advice? Why or why not?
Please listen to all 3 podcasts before the meetup
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(1) Life Kit
To Give Better Advice, Try Less Fixing and More Listening (20 min) i
When someone comes to you for advice, where do you start? This very meta episode of Life Kit explores how to give good advice to the people you care about. Hint: it’s not always about fixing someone’s problems.
https://kite.link/advice-life?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=webplayer(2) Dare to Lead
The Advice Trap and Staying Curious a Little Longer (with Michael Bungay Stanier)” (65 min)
Have you ever been in a situation where someone offered unsolicited advice? It’s tempting to fall into the “advice trap”, which is when we lead with advice-giving instead of pausing to listen to the other person, to consider what they really need, and to ask questions that help them arrive at the answer on their own. Not only is this a better way to ensure that we are truly helping the other person, but it’s also the best way to help them learn to solve problems on their own
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4CrIqIUZphQfjfUbOE4Suh(3) Knowledge at Wharton
When It Comes to Advice, It’s Better to Give Than Receive (17 min)
Much research has been done on the benefits of receiving advice, but little has been done to figure out what the advice-givers get out of it. New research from Wharton’s Behavior Change for Good Initiative (BCFG) finds that when people share their own been-there-done-that advice on what works for them, they get a shot of self-confidence that helps them on their own journey of self-improvement.
https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/podcast/knowledge-at-wharton-podcast/lauren-eskreis-winkler/----------------------------
For newbies: (We love to have you join and share your perspective in this light conversational meetup and lay the groundwork for new friendships)PLEASE Only sign up if you plan to show up (or risk being tarred and feathered).
- If you can't make it-- please change your RSVP from YES to NO as early as possible so that others can get in
- February 20, 2025 Topic: HOW TO BE A GREAT LEADER -- (BY ZOOM)Link visible for attendees
This is the last winter meetup that will be by Zoom to avoid inclement winter weather (Next month we will meet LIVE AGAIN in our home)
ZOOM ROOM WILL OPEN ~7:50 PM
WE START AT 8:00 PM -- PLEASE BE ON TIME- On a National level, it is 1 month after the inauguration and the start of 4 years of political leadership.
- On an individual level, we have the opportunity to lead or follow or to be led by others on a regular basis at work, in a volunteer setting or in a group process
- What is the secret sauce for GREAT leadership?
- Is it the same for politics, or as a CEO in the board room, or as a leader for a volunteer job?
- Do men and women use the same tools for leadership?
- How does one know when to lead and when to step back and let others take charge?
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE 4 PODCASTS (2 are short TED TALKS) BEFORE WE GET TOGETHER AND BE PREPARED TO JOIN IN AN INFORMAL< RELAXED DISCUSSION
(1) TED
What it Takes to be a Really Great Leader (9 min)
The world is full of leadership programs, but the best way to learn how to lead might be right under your nose. In this clear, candid talk, Roselinde Torres describes 25 years observing truly great leaders at work, and shares the three simple but crucial questions would-be company chiefs need to ask to thrive in the future.
https://www.ted.com/talks/roselinde_torres_what_it_takes_to_be_a_great_leader(2) TED
Confessions of a Recovering Micromanager (12 min)
Think about the most tired you've ever been at work. It probably wasn't when you stayed late or came home from a road trip -- chances are it was when you had someone looking over your shoulder, watching your each and every move. "If we know that micromanagement isn't really effective, why do we do it?" asks entrepreneur Chieh Huang. In a funny talk packed with wisdom and humility, Huang shares the cure for micromanagement madness -- and how to foster innovation and happiness at work.
https://www.ted.com/talks/chieh_huang_confessions_of_a_recovering_micromanager?subtitle=en(3) IdeaCast
What the Best Leaders Know (29 min)
If you had the chance to talk to hundreds of business leaders at the top of their game, what habits and patterns would you learn? Adam Bryant has done just that. He's the senior managing director of the ExCo Group and founded the “Corner Office” interview series at The New York Times. Along the way, he has identified the mindset and attributes that the world's best leaders have acquired to truly influence and change their organizations. He shares what they are and how to develop them in your own career. Bryant wrote the HBR article “The Leap to Leader” as well as the book The Leap to Leader: How Ambitious Managers Make the Jump to Leadership.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hbr-ideacast/id152022135?i=1000620784940(4) A Little Bit of Optimism
A Lifetime of Leadership with Joe Biden (32 min)
Leadership is deeply personal. As people change, the way they lead has to change, too.
Few leaders have navigated as much change as Joe Biden. He was elected to the Senate at 29 and will end his time as President at 82. The number of things he has witnessed and been a part of over the course of his career is remarkable. His journey has been shaped by unlikely friendships and profound personal loss.
I had the honor to sit down with President Biden at the White House to reflect on how his experiences have influenced his approach to both life and leadership.
I chose to stay clear of politics and instead focused on the lessons that are applicable to all Americans…and indeed all people.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-bit-of-optimism/id1515385282?i=1000673128564Only sign up if you plan to show up.
- If you sign up and can't make it-- please change your RSVP from YES to NO as early as possible so that others can get in
- March 13, 2025 Meetup Topic: Does Birth Order Matter? (LIVE, IN PERSON)West Orange, West Orange, NJ
Topic: Does Birth Order Matter?
Meetup is LIVE in our LR in West Orange, NJ (address sent to NEWBIES 3-7 days ahead of the event)
We gather at 7:30 for 30 min of refreshments (and wine) and chit chat and then spend 90 min in an informal facilitated discussion based on the assigned podcasts
- Are there any common features of first borns or the youngest in the family?
- Were you treated any differently than your siblings? If you have children, are you treating all your children the same way?
- Can you see any link between where you were in birth order and how you and your siblings turned out?
- Is there a "best place" for birth order?
Please listen to all 3 podcasts before the meeting
(1) Preconceived
Birth Order - Why Siblings Are Different (56 min)
Aside from our genetics, there are many reasons why we might be different from our siblings. It has been well-documented that patterns in parental favouritism and sibling interactions affect our personalities, friendships and intelligence. Dr. Catherine Salmon, Professor of Psychology and author of The Secret Power of Middle Children, joins the podcast.Catherine Salmon's Book http://www.thesecretpowerofmiddlechildren.com
https://pod.link/1458140859/episode/2e927ded60003b5463a67a684410c779(2) The Quicky
Birth Order: Does it Actually Determine Your Personality (16 min)
Sibling rivalry is as old as humanity itself, but are the stereotypes about the oldest, youngest and middle child true or just old myths?
The Quicky speaks to three siblings and an expert to try to uncover whether the order in which you are born really does influence your personality.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birth-order-does-it-actually-determine-your-personality/id1451469361?i=1000508997309(3) The Why Factor
Sibling Birth Order. (24min)
Shivaani Kohok explores why so many people feel that the order in which we are born shapes our character and destiny. Whether you’re the eldest, the youngest or a middle child can make a difference to how we see ourselves and how we relate to others, according to psychologists. And some studies suggest that there economic and educational advantages to being the first or later born child – depending where in the world you live. Herself the eldest of three, Shivaani talks with other sisters of different ages to find out why they love or hate their place in their sibling hierarchy.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sibling-birth-order/id561904920?i=1000407999889Only sign up if you plan to show up.
- If you sign up and can't make it-- please change your RSVP from YES to NO as early as possible so that others can get in
