Simple stories can give a sweet taste of wisdom.
Cued by a compact wisdom tale passed on by friend and colleague William Hall, co-hosts Ted and Lisa wonder about purpose, sweetness, and gratitude in the midst of certain danger. The episode starts with a game that Ted created a while back but hasn’t gotten to play much and a Monster Baby milestone (2:51) before moving on to some quick life updates. Ted recounts his tale of vaccination and shares that he might be heading out of the country for a bit (7:30) before Lisa explains the role she’s taken in helping people get registered to vote (17:19). Eventually, the pair turns to the teaching story at the heart of the episode, along the way considering “clown neutral,” birth and death tigers, and the frightening legacy of Squeezy the Chocolate Milk bully (24:21). Ted raises the question “What’s your strawberry?” and proposes his own answer before hearing Lisa’s take (34:05). Lisa then articulates a difference between play and creativity (37:03) before wondering if life is anything more than just hanging on (39:00). Ted mentions the curious deed that helps him feel like a “raw jungle guy” (40:56) and Lisa details a recent tarot card draw (42:28). The pair considers what tigers, cliffs and strawberries have to say about improvisation (51:21) and appreciates how good teaching stories offer multiple interpretations (57:35). Before closing the episode, Ted notes that Monster Baby Podcast email may have been down for some time—if you’ve sent a note in the last few months, please re-send it as it’s likely we never got to see it!
Speaking of sending a note, if there’s something in the episode that brings you particular joy—or raises a question—feel free to write us at info@monsterbabypodcast.com.
To subscribe so you receive immediate notice of future Monster Baby releases, head over to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com.
And lastly, if you’re needing some inspiring Monster-Baby based words to get you through these wild times, order a copy of Ted’s Monster-Baby-inspired book, Playful Mindfulness remember you can order a copy from www.playfulmindfulness.info. (Ask nicely and Ted will surely sign it for you if you like!)
Lisa Rowland and Ted DesMaisons
San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived.
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