The Ten Thousand (10,000) Heroes Show

For historian Nico Slate, heroism is the process of “consistently and courageously struggling to live up to one’s values”. Nico gives us a historical perspective on heroism that applies to every single one of us.

We also touch on:

The role of his older brother in shaping his notion of heroism,

How to acknowledge our imperfections without seeing them as an obstacle,

How our understanding of history shapes our relationship with ourselves,

The balance between being our best selves while constantly evolving,

What inspires us about the life of Mahatma Gandhi, and

Navigating the benefits of discipline vs. eating a lot of mangos.

Nico also shares 3 of his powerful daily practices:

• Awareness of mortality (“I’m going to day”)
• Gratitude (“I’m incredibly lucky”)
• Impermanence (“Tomorrow is a new day”)

Finally, we investigate what we need to actually believe in ourselves and our own ability to change.

References:

Nico’s personal website: www.nicoslate.com

Professor Slate’s book on Gandhi’s Diet: https://www.amazon.com/Gandhis-Search-Perfect-Diet-Eating/dp/0295744952

Nico’s favorite (“[it] speaks to me of love, trust, and wonder.”) short film clip to watch these days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfKvIXAi7MM

When Rebecca Bell was a child her father told her a special date on the Jewish calendar on which a prayer would be that much more potent. Rebecca set an alarm to wake up in the middle of the night. She rushed to her window, threw it open, and sent a prayer up into the Brooklyn sky. 

“God, please make me feel important”

Rebecca takes us through her journey of discovering purpose and meaning over the course of her life. 

We discuss:

How her grandfather enlisted the Klu Klux Klan to help him build the first Synagogue in Ulster County

What it was like to make a name for herself in the male dominated newsrooms of the mid-twentieth century

How being escorted through the rose garden to the press area by Jimmy Carter invited the scorn of her male colleagues

Being handed an Emmy by Henry Kissinger

What really happened to Jimmy Hoffa

The effects of reporting from within war zones on her mental health and how she found her own personal path of healing

Resource Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Hoffa

https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/irish-republican-army

https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Jesus-Transforming-Mind-Perspective/dp/1590305809

http://spiritualpractice.ca/what_practice/six-spiritual-traditions/the-contemplative-tradition/

Interfaith Imam Jamal Rahman joins us in exploring...

What constitutes a hero?

Where is divinity located?

What is the role of the heart?

How to maintain awareness in a world of opposites

The 3 stages of faith and 2 kinds of knowledge

How to align personality with our transcendent nature

The importance of community (the sangha)

What are Circles of Love

When diversity is valuable for society

Three cups of tea: listen, respect, connect

Spiritual holding

... and much more!

Some references from the interview:

Uncle Jamal’s website:  http://www.jamalrahman.com/

Uncle Jamal's instagram: @imamjamalrahman

Interfaith Amigos TEDx talk: https://youtu.be/tPnZArtsG_c

Sacred Holding: http://www.jamalrahman.com/practices/sacredholding.html