Need A Lift? with Tim Shriver

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Need A Lift? with Tim Shriver

Join Tim Shriver on his quest to find reasons to believe in us — from people we can believe in. Let’s be real: there’s a lot bringing us down. And seemingly endless examples of crisis and division have taken a toll on our spirit. But hang on, because there are extraordinary Americans among us who see it another way. Join me, Tim Shriver, as each week I talk with wise people modeling individual and community change — athletes, parents, experts you might not expect — all united by their ability to transform some of the most painful moments in their lives into purpose. Between tears and laughter we’ll dig deep, unearthing powerful truths and simple practices to help strengthen our spirits today. If you're like me, you could use a lift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Why Friendship Is Part of Finding Your Purpose

    Comedians, screenwriters, and best friends, Matt Ritter and Aaron Karo are “champions of friendship.” Every year on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, they gather with seven other friends at a steakhouse in Brooklyn to vote on who had the best year. The winner takes home a “man of the year” trophy, a tradition that has sustained their friendship for almost 40 years.  As a response to a survey which found that 49% of Americans reported having three or fewer friends and 12% reported having zero close friends, they launched the Man of the Year podcast in late 2022. They’re on a mission to show men why true contentment is a byproduct of healthy relationships and how deep connections have the power to shift the trajectory of your life. On the show, they provide “Friend-Ed” (friend education), offering men advice on everything from the art of the “boy’s night,” how to support a grieving friend, and how to tell your friend “I love you.”  “One tip we give to our listeners is to start with thank you. We say, ‘Thanks is a gateway emotion.’ So you start with “thank you”…make your way up to “I love you.”” Aaron Karo says.  In this episode, they model their friendship-expertise in real time, offering Tim advice on a recent friend-breakup of his own, and they make a case for why friendship might be the antidote to America's “loneliness epidemic.” “I consider our deep friendship sort of an extension of family… We share values, we share goals and community,” Matt Ritter says. *** Matt Ritter and Aaron Karo are comedians, screenwriters, and best friends for almost 40 years. They co-host the “Man of the Year" podcast where they help listeners make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and build lifelong social fitness. You can check out the show on Youtube or wherever you listen to podcasts. *** Our theme music was written by Andy Ogden and produced by Tim Lauer, Andy Ogden and Julian Raymond. All other music that you hear in this episode is courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min

  2. 20 NOV

    How to Protect Black Mental Health Now

    As a college student majoring in psychology, Dr. Rheeda Walker quickly discovered her calling after recognizing Black people were largely absent in her field. “People who looked like me didn't seem to be represented in the psychology texts. Not in the theories, not in the stories, not in the hypotheses, not in anything,” she says. Today, as a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Walker focuses on suicidal ideation and the prevention of suicide and the urgency it has in Black mental health. In 2016, she noticed a troubling pattern. Research showed that the suicide rate among 5 to 11 year old Black children exceeded the rate of white kids at the same age. Additionally, while suicide rates for white children declined, they'd actually increased for Black children. When these statistics only worsened through repeated studies, Dr. Walker knew that she had to act.  In 2020, she wrote a book called “The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health” arguing that “in this era of discrimination, invisibility, and psychological warfare, Black people need so much more than mental health or well-being. They need an impermeable web of protection for [their minds].” Dr. Walker calls this "psychological fortitude” and she believes it goes beyond serving individuals. “It's about healing the community…then we're able to not just heal ourselves, but maybe be a model for a larger society,” Dr. Walker says. *** Dr. Rheeda Walker is a licensed clinical psychologist, psychology professor at Wayne State University, and author of several books including “The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health.” You can find more of her work on her website rheedawalkerphd.com.  *** Our theme music was written by Andy Ogden and produced by Tim Lauer, Andy Ogden and Julian Raymond. All other music that you hear in this episode is courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  3. 13 NOV

    Practice Episode: How to Manage Our Fearful Thoughts with Byron Katie

    In 1986, after two marriages, three children and a successful career, Byron Katie found herself in a downward spiral. She was so depressed she could barely leave the house and her family walked on eggshells around her. After years of feeling hopeless and isolated, she enrolled in a halfway house to get some help. And one day while she was there, she had an epiphany: our thoughts are so powerful they can create a painful reality that doesn’t actually exist. This breakthrough provided the foundation for “The Work” or self-inquiry, a simple four-step technique.  Byron Katie models this practice, guiding Tim from anxious thoughts about the future into the beautiful reality of the present. “A fearful mind is a dangerous mind,” Byron Katie says, “so when I question what I was believing, then it shifts my world.” She says that practicing the work “leaves you freer to do important things in the world” by helping you live with an open mind ready to “love the world without conditions.”  *** Byron Katie is a self-taught practitioner, speaker, and bestselling author of “Loving What Is.” You can visit her website thework.com to find her book, her podcast, and upcoming events. *** Our theme music was written by Andy Ogden and produced by Tim Lauer, Andy Ogden and Julian Raymond. All other music that you hear in this episode is courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min

  4. 6 NOV

    How Unconditional Love Helps Us Recover from Our Deepest Wounds

    We’ve all been wounded (some more than others) and “we’re all in need of recovery,” Killian Noe says. After four decades of working with people healing from all kinds of addictions, she has found that the most powerful support we can offer is a caring community where people can show up fully as themselves, without judgment.  In 2003 in Seattle, Killian co-founded Recovery Cafe, a community center that provides everything from meals to barista training to medical care to people in recovery. Guided by the truth that every human being is precious and worthy of love, the cafes appoint “ministers of presence” whose focus isn’t to fix the person in front of them but to sit with them and listen to their story. Killian talks with Tim about how presence shows up in her own life, guiding him through what she calls “a practice of return to unconditional love,” an exercise that helps her deal with shame, anger, and pain. “At any point in the day, [I can] return to that place of unconditional love… where my true identity lies,” Killian says.   *** Killian Noe is the founding director of Recovery Cafe. Before starting Recovery Café in 2004 with Ruby Takushi, Killian co-founded Samaritan Inns, a nonprofit in Washington, D.C. which provides transitional and longer-term drug- and alcohol-free, community-oriented housing for people recovering from homelessness, addiction, and other mental health challenges. She has written about Samaritan Inns in Finding Our Way Home and about Recovery Café in Descent Into Love.  Learn how to bring a Recovery Cafe to your town or city at recoverycafenetwork.org. Killian’s team will provide the training, support and all of the community you need.  *** Our theme music was written by Andy Ogden and produced by Tim Lauer, Andy Ogden and Julian Raymond. All other music that you hear in this episode is courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min

  5. 30 OCT

    Cultivating Connection Amidst Division

    On his hit shows “On the Road with Steve Hartman” and “Kindness 101,” CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman shines a light on the extraordinary human beings he meets across the country, the nuggets of wisdom they share, and the compassionate actions they take in response to the needs of those around them: a girl raising money to grant ‘wishes’ for local nursing home residents, popular kids ensuring students on the fringes never have to eat lunch alone, or a man who simply takes the time to sit and listen to his neighbors. “We all need examples,” Steve says, “We can't just be told to do these things. We need to see people doing them and see the results that they earn before we can really want to internalize it and make it part of our lives.”  In moments when the country feels especially divided–like this election year–Steve’s secret is that he refuses to dwell in negativity. He believes that focusing instead on the very best in humanity, one story at a time, especially in news coverage, is the key to finding our way back to one another. “You put seeds out there and they may not grow right away. A seed can sit in the soil for 20 years and still come up,” Steve says, “Changing our course starts with empathy…and helping others.” *** Steve Hartman has been a CBS News correspondent for almost thirty years. He’s best known for his weekly feature segment “On the Road With Steve Hartman” modeled after the late, great newsman Charles Kuralt’s long-running series of the same name. On the show, Steve shares heartfelt stories about the incredible people he meets as he travels around the country. With the help of two of his kids, Meryl and Emmett, he hosts a segment called “Kindness 101,” airing weekly on CBS Mornings. They cover everything from purpose, altruism, gratitude, and empathy. Stories that are now being used to teach character in classrooms all around the world.  You can find more of Steve’s work on CBSNews.com and watch his stories from On the Road and Kindness 101 on the CBS Evening News and CBS Mornings YouTube channels.  Watch the stories mentioned in this episode: Kindness 101 with Steve Hartman: How to find courage (Gerald Hodges)Kindness 101: A lesson in listening (Al Nixon)11-year-old girl grants wishes to nursing home residents (Ruby)At one high school, no one eats lunch alone (We Dine Together)Stories about dads with Steve Hartman and more (George Hartman) *** Our theme music was written by Andy Ogden and produced by Tim Lauer, Andy Ogden and Julian Raymond. All other music that you hear in this episode is courtesy of Epidemic Sound.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min

  6. 23 OCT

    A Special Olympics Gold Medalist on Authenticity and Play

    Before running 26 marathons and winning 6 gold medals in the Special Olympics, Loretta Claiborne dealt with a lot of anger. She was bullied for her intellectual disability by both her peers and teachers. But when Loretta discovered running, she found a way to process her emotions as well as a community where she was cherished. She compares discovering her identity as an athlete to finding a new pair of pants that fit perfectly. Loretta believes that teamwork and play have a spiritual quality, one that can bring us together. “Everybody says, ‘Oh, we're all the same.’ We're not all the same. We are different. But it doesn't matter, we have a common bond,” Loretta says. *** Loretta Claiborne is runner, motivational speaker, and Special Olympics Athlete. You can find out more about her work at lorettaclaiborne.com. *** Our theme music was written by Andy Ogden and produced by Tim Lauer, Andy Ogden and Julian Raymond. All other music that you hear in this episode is courtesy of Epidemic Sound.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min

  7. 16 OCT

    Simon Sinek Believes that Idealism Belongs In the Workplace

    Simon Sinek’s mission is to figure out how to build a world where we’re more connected to each other through shared purpose and service. His research, which included studying businesses around the country and being embedded in the military, has brought Simon to some surprisingly simple truths. “Every single person who is at work is a human being,” he told Tim. “And it turns out all human beings want the exact same things. They want to feel seen. They want to feel heard. They want to feel understood. They want to feel like they're a part of something bigger than themselves.”  His TED Talks have been seen by millions of people, and his book “Leaders Eat Last” is a bestseller. But his approach isn’t complicated. He told Tim that if we treat people better, they’ll be more engaged and ready to treat other people better, too. That ripple effect could have world-changing possibilities. “I believe in idealism. And if you want to call me naive, I think every idealist on the planet is naive. We're so stupid to believe that we can actually build a better world… Idealism is naive. That is the exact point.” *** Simon Sinek is an author and host of the podcast "A Bit of Optimism". You can find out more about his work at his website: simonsinek.com *** Our theme music was written by Andy Ogden and produced by Tim Lauer, Andy Ogden and Julian Raymond. All other music that you hear in this episode is courtesy of Epidemic Sound.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min

  8. 9 OCT

    Practice Episode: Taking Off Our Masks through Confession with Fr. Mike Schmitz

    It’s hard to admit when we’ve failed. What if we’re judged? What if our shame is too heavy to bear? Or what if we’re seen as unlovable because of what we’ve done? Father Mike Schmitz believes that in order to be loved, we need to take that risk and show others our true selves, flaws included. “As long as I hold the mask on,” he told Tim, “...as long as I say this is the version of me that I want others to see, [that] I want God to see… We will never let ourselves be loved.” As a Catholic priest, Fr. Schmitz sees the act of confession, also called reconciliation, as an opportunity to let go of shame and to let another person (and God) see your whole self, the good and the bad. “What reconciliation is meant to be is not only… reconciled to God, but also reconciled to the community.” In this practice episode, we explore why the act of confession is an important practice for Catholics, and why it is a vital skill for all of us to learn. *** Fr. Mike Schmitz is the director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and Chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He hosts "The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast" and "The Bible in a Year" podcast. You can find out more at: bulldogcatholic.com *** Our theme music was written by Andy Ogden and produced by Tim Lauer, Andy Ogden and Julian Raymond. All other music that you hear in this episode is courtesy of Epidemic Sound.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
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About

Join Tim Shriver on his quest to find reasons to believe in us — from people we can believe in. Let’s be real: there’s a lot bringing us down. And seemingly endless examples of crisis and division have taken a toll on our spirit. But hang on, because there are extraordinary Americans among us who see it another way. Join me, Tim Shriver, as each week I talk with wise people modeling individual and community change — athletes, parents, experts you might not expect — all united by their ability to transform some of the most painful moments in their lives into purpose. Between tears and laughter we’ll dig deep, unearthing powerful truths and simple practices to help strengthen our spirits today. If you're like me, you could use a lift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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