(un)COMMON PEOPLE

“Joel?” “Yes! James? Good to meet you!” The first time I ever laid eyes on James was when I opened the door of my home prior to recording this podcast with him. The experience was a new one for me, being the very first time that I knew no more than a person’s name before having them on the show. James is a friend of a friend, and someone I was told had an interesting life. He reached out to me on his own to express interest in being on the podcast, and I was happy to honour him by having him over to record some of his story with me. James and I sat down not knowing anything about one another. Over the course of the conversation I would come realize that he and I differed from one another in a number of ways — and yet each of us had enough humility and perspective to sit down with the other and talk. I think that far too few of us are really willing to do this: to hear someone out even when we don’t totally agree with them. When was the last time that you shared in conversation with someone totally different than yourself? I know it isn’t something I make a habit of doing. Yet I can say with confidence that this experience was something I grew from, and I am happy to have had it. I hope that this conversation inspires you — to listen to someone else, to hear them out, and to learn, even if only how to disagree with grace. The world is much bigger than you and I, friend. For photos and more info visit my website: joeltimothy.co Original URL: joeltimothy.co/uncommon/035 Music created and provided by Maarten Schellekens Intro: Sunday Morning (Mallet Play with Violin and Piano) Outro: Mallet Play

Interestingly, Jon and I met through my work before I realized that he was the older brother of a dear friend of mine. Having learned that, he and I began enjoying one another’s conversation even more during the short interactions we had while I made his caramel latte, which I did on a pretty regular basis. It was suggested to me by another friend (Jon’s oldest friend in fact) that Jon would be a good guest for the podcast. So plans were made, and a recording was scheduled. Recently I’ve been enjoying making this podcast simply as an excuse to talk with people whose company I enjoy. This episode was certainly one of those times. Knowing Jon already, and reveling in the chance to chat without an espresso machine between us, I didn’t enter into this recording with much planned. We had some whiskey, chatted about nothing of very great importance for a while, and gradually wound our way through topics to end in much the same place we had started: friendship. I hope you listen to this conversation with that in mind, that in listening you’re choosing to sit on the sidelines while two friends chat. This is my encouragement to you, to simply talk with a friend, for fun. Enjoy each other’s company, ask random questions, share stories. It’s one of the greatest privileges we have as humans. For photos and more info visit my website: joeltimothy.co Original URL: joeltimothy.co/uncommon/034 Music created and provided by Maarten Schellekens Intro: Sunday Morning (Mallet Play with Violin and Piano) Outro: Mallet Play

One of the greatest blessings that I’m privy to in my work as a barista is the numerous connections to people that I’m able to build, sometimes with little effort. Cafés are interesting melting pots; you meet just about every sort of person there that you could imagine, and here in Northwest Arkansas there is no shortage of pots full of varied experience. Several of those who I’ve recorded the podcast with recently have been persons I’ve met simply as customers at the shop I work in, who I thought I could have a good conversation with. Sometimes I’m able to begin a relationship that will extend beyond our time shared in front of a microphone, and in this instance I truly hope that is the case. I have had the opportunity to get to know some of Scott’s family before sitting down for this conversation, and have some mutual connections, so I wasn’t going into this recording blind, so to speak — meaning I had reason to suspect that Scott’s story was a significant one, and one I could stand to learn from and be inspired by. I was not wrong in that assumption. Scott has been through a great deal in his life, and not only did I stand to benefit from my time with him, but I was truly encouraged by his words and wisdom as well. A man of overcoming, faith, and determination, a man who has seen tremendous darkness, and held onto something that brought him through to the Light, Scott Wood has a story worth hearing, and a perspective I think we could all benefit from. I truly hope you will listen to this conversation, and give yourself the time to meditate on what it contains. Keep an open mind, friend, and remember: this is only the beginning of the conversation. For photos and more info visit my website: joeltimothy.co Original URL: joeltimothy.co/uncommon/032 Music created and provided by Maarten Schellekens Intro: Sunday Morning (Mallet Play with Violin and Piano) Outro: Mallet Play

Since moving to Arkansas there have been a handful of people I’ve met who have served a certain role in my life — that of being blatantly honest and straightforward with me no matter what the question or conversation. Tuck Johnston is one of those people, and his heart and mind have been of incalculable value to me. If you don’t have someone around you who you know with certainty will tell you what’s true, not merely what you want to hear, then you need to find someone who will. Knowing Tuck, I’ve known for a while that he would be a fantastic person to record a podcast with, though the timing of things would certainly be tricky. Tuck has been through a lot in his life, much even in the last two years alone. Frankly, if I’d been totally in control of when I recorded and with whom, I’m sure more than a few of these conversations would have turned out very different than they did. It just so happened however that when Tuck came over to my place some weeks ago to catch up, we would learn that the time had indeed arrived for him to be on the podcast. So we picked a day, and the countdown began. I was blessed by the conversation he and I shared. We talked about a lot, and yet only scratched the surface of any given topic. I hope you’ll enjoy listening to this episode of the podcast, and keep an open mind while doing so. Remember: this is only the start of the conversation. For photos and more info visit my website: joeltimothy.co Original URL: joeltimothy.co/uncommon/030 Music created and provided by Maarten Schellekens Intro: Sunday Morning (Mallet Play with Violin and Piano) Outro: Mallet Play

In the middle of April of this year I went out for coffee with a friend, and we walked around a little town called Cave Springs and took photos. While we were chatting Joe reminded me that I’d mentioned wanting to record a podcast with someone I’d never met, and told me he’d found the person I should do it with. We joked about how he shouldn’t tell me the guy’s name or anything so I’d be able to start totally fresh with him, but I ended up meeting Louie coincidentally some weeks later. As it turned out, I was glad to chat with him briefly and get an idea of how I’d like to approach recording with him. Fortunately for me Louie was actually keen on being on the podcast, and made time out of his very hectic schedule (which we talk about) to come over to the studio and sit down over coffee with me. The next couple of hours learning about Louie’s life was certainly an adventure, and a fun one at that. I hope you’re blessed by it, and challenged to pursue meaningful conversation in your own life. Remember: everyone has a story to tell. For photos and more info visit my website: joeltimothy.co Original URL: joeltimothy.co/uncommon/029 Music created and provided by Maarten Schellekens Intro: Sunday Morning (Mallet Play with Violin and Piano) Outro: Mallet Play

Welcome back once again to the show. I’m so glad you’re listening today! This episode is a conversation with Paul Schuman, and we go over all sorts of different things in it, from Bitcoin to being in debt and managing money, relationship with God, and facing fears. I was very blessed by this conversation and my time with Paul, and I hope you are as well. For photos and more info visit my website: joeltimothy.co Original URL: joeltimothy.co/uncommon/028 Music created and provided by Maarten Schellekens Intro: Sunday Morning (Mallet Play with Violin and Piano) Outro: Mallet Play

Welcome back to another episode of (un)Common People. The conversation that follows is one that contains adult themes and explicit language, so listener discretion is advised. Zach and I discuss his relationship to drugs and alcohol, walk through his journey to sobriety, and talk about spiritual life and practices. A lot is touched on in this two hours, and I hope you are challenged and encouraged by what you hear. There is always more. Let this serve as an inspiration to you to dive deep into conversation with someone in your life. For photos and more info visit my website: joeltimothy.co/uncommon Original URL: joeltimothy.co/uncommon/027 Music created and provided by Maarten Schellekens Intro: Sunday Morning (Mallet Play with Violin and Piano) Outro: Mallet Play

Welcome back once again to the show. I’m so glad you’ve chosen to listen. This episode is a special one, that’s been a long time coming. I got to sit down with my good friend Nathan Burford and discuss epsom salt, deconstruction of religious perspectives, Nathan’s journey through academia up to receiving his PhD, and lots more. Please enjoy this one, friends. For photos and more info visit my website: joeltimothy.co Original URL: joeltimothy.co/uncommon/026 Music created and provided by Maarten Schellekens Intro: Sunday Morning (Mallet Play with Violin and Piano) Outro: Mallet Play