Cool Hand Dross

Cool Hand Dross
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Cool Hand Dross is a candid podcast about mental health, books, and the stories we carry—especially the ones we avoid until life forces us to listen. The show blends raw monologues, personal storytelling, and cultural reflections to explore anxiety, recovery, identity, creativity, and the pursuit of a more genuine life. Each episode weaves together: 📚 Books & Writing 🧠 Mental Health 🫙 True Tales from the Mason Jar 🎭 Culture Call Outs This podcast is for readers, writers, and deep thinkers who feel restless, reflective, or slightly out of step with the current world—and still believe stories heal, words save lives, and change is possible.

  1. 4d ago

    Michael Blanchard: Youth Sports, Coaching, Parenting & Building Character | Episode 46

    Veteran educator, wrestling coach, father, and author Michael Blanchard joins Cool Hand Dross for a conversation about youth sports, coaching, parenting, leadership, competition, character, and what kids actually need from the adults around them. Michael is the author of The Path Forward: Youth Sports and More, a book that examines the culture surrounding youth athletics and asks an important question: What are youth sports really supposed to be about? Winning matters. Competition matters. But so do growth, resilience, discipline, confidence, teamwork, and learning how to handle adversity. In this episode, Scott and Michael dig into what happens when those priorities get out of balance—when pressure builds, parents become too invested in outcomes, coaches lose perspective, and the scoreboard starts to matter more than the kids playing the game. Drawing from years in education, wrestling, coaching, and parenting three boys, Michael shares his perspective on how adults can create a healthier, more meaningful sports experience for young athletes. They talk about: The purpose of youth sports Coaching young athletes Parenting athletes without adding unnecessary pressure Winning versus long-term development Building character through competition Leadership and accountability Wrestling and the lessons it teaches Handling failure, setbacks, and adversity The role of parents and coaches in athlete development Keeping youth sports focused on the kids And how adults can occasionally remember to behave themselves in the bleachers At its best, youth sports can teach lessons that last far beyond the final whistle. But that only happens when the adults involved keep the bigger picture in mind. Michael Blanchard, author of The Path Forward: Youth Sports and More on Cool Hand Dross. Cool Hand Dross explores mental health, books, culture, life, reinvention, and the stories and experiences that shape who we become. #YouthSports #YouthSportsParenting #Coaching #Parenting #SportsParenting #Wrestling #AthleteDevelopment #Leadership #CharacterDevelopment #SportsCulture #Education #CoolHandDross

  2. Oct 13

    Reading Is Now an Act of Rebellion: America’s Reading Decline and Fight for Your Mind | Episode 45

    Americans are reading less, literacy scores are declining, and our attention is increasingly shaped by algorithms, short-form content, and constant digital distraction. In this solo episode of Cool Hand Dross, we revisit the idea that reading is now an act of rebellion, not because books are disappearing, but because deep reading, critical thinking, and independent thought are becoming harder to protect. The episode explores the decline of reading in America, falling literacy and reading-proficiency levels, the difference between basic literacy and critical literacy, and why authoritarian systems have historically benefited from controlling information and limiting independent thought. We also look at what reading gives us that scrolling does not: patience, reflection, concentration, intellectual friction, and the ability to sit with complicated ideas before reacting. And this isn’t a call to read difficult books just to prove a point. The challenge is much simpler: find something you genuinely enjoy, put the phone down, create twenty quiet minutes, and read. In this episode: America’s declining reading and literacy trends Why critical thinking matters in a democracy Reading, propaganda, and independent thought How algorithms compete for our attention Why deep reading can be meditative The importance of reading for pleasure Helping kids become lifelong readers AI, information overload, and the growing value of judgment How to rebuild a reading habit without turning it into homework Reading is not just about books. It is about protecting your attention, curiosity, and ability to think for yourself.

  3. Oct 6

    Salim Holder: AI, the Future of Work & Reinventing Your Career | Episode 44

    Entrepreneur, brand strategist, educator, and workforce futurist Salim Holder joins Cool Hand Dross for a wide-ranging conversation about AI, the future of work, career reinvention, entrepreneurship, education, mental health, and culture. Salim is the Founder and CEO of The New Trade Program, a career school designed to prepare people for high-demand careers in artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and cybersecurity through hands-on, apprentice-based learning. Before launching The New Trade Program, Salim built major consumer brands in corporate America and co-founded 4th Ave Market, one of the largest Black-owned online hair and beauty retail platforms in the United States. In this episode, we explore the common thread running through Salim’s career: creating opportunity, building ownership, developing practical skills, and helping people navigate a rapidly changing workforce. We also dig into one of the biggest questions facing workers today: As AI transforms industries and traditional career paths, will employers increasingly care less about where you went to school—and more about what you can actually do? Along the way, Salim and Scott talk about: AI and the future of work Careers in digital marketing and cybersecurity Skills-based education and apprenticeships Entrepreneurship and brand building Career pivots and professional reinvention Mental health and personal growth Books and lifelong learning Culture and changing expectations around work Building opportunities outside the traditional college pathway And a riveting True Tale from the Mason Jar It’s a conversation about adapting, learning, building, and creating opportunity in a world where technology is rewriting the rules. Salim Holder, Founder & CEO of The New Trade Program, on Cool Hand Dross. Cool Hand Dross explores mental health, books, culture, life, reinvention, and the strange stories we collect along the way. #SalimHolder #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #CareerDevelopment #CareerReinvention #Cybersecurity #DigitalMarketing #Entrepreneurship #WorkforceDevelopment #SkillsBasedLearning #Education #MentalHealth #Podcast #CoolHandDross

  4. Sep 29

    Siobhan Cleveland: Reinvention, Resilience & The Real Macaw | Episode 43

    What happens when the life you planned suddenly becomes the life you never expected? On Episode 43 of Cool Hand Dross, we sit down with Siobhan Cleveland, entrepreneur, restaurateur, former New York fashion executive, and owner of Naples institution The Real Macaw. Siobhan built her career in the New York fashion world, eventually serving as Director of Wholesale for Roller Rabbit, before returning home to Naples, Florida. After the passing of her mother, Jeanne Harvey—who founded The Real Macaw in 1991—Siobhan found herself taking responsibility for preserving a family business, a legacy, and a place deeply connected to the Naples community. And that legacy comes with some incredible stories. Jeanne once dated Peter Green, co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, and during an extraordinary chapter of her life became friends with—and lived among members of—Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac. Those experiences became part of the larger-than-life story and spirit Siobhan inherited along with The Real Macaw. Then came Hurricane Ian. Several feet of storm surge devastated the restaurant in 2022, forcing Siobhan and her team to rebuild once again—physically, professionally, and personally. This conversation goes well beyond restaurants and entrepreneurship. Scott and Siobhan talk about mental health, books and creativity, culture, career reinvention, family legacy, resilience, rebuilding after loss, rock-and-roll history, and the strange turns that eventually shape a life. From Manhattan fashion to a tropical Naples landmark—and from stories involving Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd to rebuilding after one of Florida’s most destructive hurricanes—this is a conversation about adapting when the plan changes and finding a way to keep moving forward. Cool Hand Dross | Episode 43 Siobhan Cleveland • The Real Macaw • Entrepreneurship • Resilience • Reinvention • Naples, Florida • Hurricane Ian • Fleetwood Mac • Pink Floyd • Peter Green • Family Business • Mental Health • Creativity

  5. Sep 22

    God Speed, Changes, and Old School | Episode 42

    Grief, anticipatory grief, fatherhood, and the bittersweet reality of watching your children grow up. In Episode 42, Cool Hand Dross reflects on the passing of his mother-in-law, Stella, the emotional exhaustion of loss, and the complicated grieving process. From sadness and relief to finding moments of happiness during difficult times, CHD explores why grief doesn't follow a predictable timeline. The conversation shifts to UCF Parent Weekend, where CHD and his wife experience the joy of seeing their son thrive in college—and the unexpected emotions that come with parenting an increasingly independent young adult. With old-school humor and personal reflection, we exlpore changing family relationships, letting go, navigating life's transitions, and finding your footing when everything feels uncertain. Sometimes grief and gratitude coexist. Sometimes showing up is enough. An honest conversation about family, loss, fatherhood, and moving forward. Keep moving.

  6. Sep 15

    Full Disclosure: NO Even Flow, Free Flow Redux | Episode 41

    Hospice care, anticipatory grief, caregiving, mortality, family, and end-of-life dignity take center stage in one of Cool Hand Dross’s most personal episodes yet. As his family navigates home hospice and end-of-life care for a loved one, Cool Hand Dross steps away from the usual format for a brief, unscripted reflection on what it means to accompany someone through the final stage of life. He discusses the emotional reality of family caregiving, the extraordinary compassion of hospice nurses, friends, and relatives coming together during crisis, and why having your financial, legal, and end-of-life affairs in order is one of the greatest gifts you can leave your family. The experience has also raised bigger questions about the sanctity of life, personal health, aging, mortality, peaceful passing, autonomy, and death with dignity. There are no easy answers here, just an honest conversation from the middle of a difficult experience. For anyone navigating hospice, caring for an aging parent or loved one, anticipatory grief, end-of-life decisions, or the loss of someone close, this episode is about being present when life becomes fragile and reconsidering what really matters. Topics include: hospice care, home hospice, end-of-life care, caregiving, anticipatory grief, grief and loss, hospice nurses, aging parents, family caregiving, mortality, health, peaceful passing, death with dignity, end-of-life planning, compassion, and personal growth.

  7. Sep 8

    Blood Meridian Deep Dive: Cormac McCarthy, Judge Holden & International Stomach Issues | Ep. 40

    Blood Meridian Deep Dive: Cormac McCarthy, Judge Holden & International Stomach Issues Former Green Beret and entrepreneur Eli returns to Cool Hand Dross for a deep dive into Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian, Judge Holden, violence, philosophy, McCarthy’s language, and why the novel remains so disturbing and difficult to shake. Eli experienced the Blood Meridian audiobook for the first time, while CHD returned to the novel for his second read, giving the listeners two very different ways into McCarthy’s brutal masterpiece. They also get into Be the Book Club, audiobooks versus reading, psychology, life experience, and Costa Rica and the Philippines. If you’re into Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian analysis, great books, military experiences, psychology, travel, and honest long-form conversation, Episode 40 is for you. Blood Meridian Deep Dive: Cormac McCarthy, Judge Holden & International Stomach Issues | Ep. 40

  8. Sep 1

    Even Flow, Free Flow | Episode 39

    Episode 39 is raw, unfiltered, and completely improvised. This week, CHD talks about the strange reality of telling true stories while protecting the people inside them, his first impressions of Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, upcoming doctor appointments and the reminder that the body rarely lets us ignore what matters, and one unexpected realization as schools reopen across the country: CHD does not miss teaching. No script. No polished transitions. Just an honest free-flow conversation about books, health, identity, aging, work, reinvention, privacy, and the madness of trying to make sense of life while you are still living it. If you enjoy candid conversations about mental health, literature, personal growth, career change, creativity, and the uncomfortable parts of being human, welcome to Cool Hand Dross. Episode 39: Even Flow, Free

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5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Cool Hand Dross is a candid podcast about mental health, books, and the stories we carry—especially the ones we avoid until life forces us to listen. The show blends raw monologues, personal storytelling, and cultural reflections to explore anxiety, recovery, identity, creativity, and the pursuit of a more genuine life. Each episode weaves together: 📚 Books & Writing 🧠 Mental Health 🫙 True Tales from the Mason Jar 🎭 Culture Call Outs This podcast is for readers, writers, and deep thinkers who feel restless, reflective, or slightly out of step with the current world—and still believe stories heal, words save lives, and change is possible.

Information

  • Creator
    Cool Hand Dross
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Cool Hand Dross
  • Show Website
    Cool Hand Dross

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