All That Matters

Adolescents often seek their place in the world and where to fit in. Adults do, too.Jan shares a personal story of a single mom and her teenager and their struggle to fit in. He asks us all to flip the question-- not, how can we fit in, but how can we take what is unique about ourselves and make the world more fit?

In the darkest of times, we must turn on the light. Jan shares findings from the 2026 World Happiness Report, suggesting where in the world people say they are happiest, and why?

"Write what should not be forgotten," says Isabel Allende.Jan shares his experience working on his new novel and how writing can be a metaphor for living in full our most precious lives.

The Yiddish language shares much wit and wisdom, including how, in some ways, we are all connected: reminding us, "Di gantse velt iz eyn shtot." (The whole world is one town.)"Jan shares some insights of a language once spoken by close to 13 million Jews before the HOLOCAUST, sayings from which we can still learn.

Learning little known facts about the universe around us can actually help us discover new facets of ourselves. Doing that, we get to see a bit more of how wonderful a world we can be.

The luminescence of nature's dancing aurora borealis can be manifested in our own lives, if, as Dickinson says, we "dwell in possibility."

There are people we come across, some often, some not, who make human connection an unexpected gift.Jan shares the story of a wondrous woman and an everyday diner who serves up a positive spin on the mundane, turning it into magic to live by.

On the passing this week of my father-in-law, Matthew Solomon, I return to my first book, Life Can Be This Good, and the exit interview I imagine could take place when we transition from this life. One that tests our AQ-our awareness quotient of the gifts the universe is sending us each and every day. Matt's was through the roof!

I, and many countless individuals, mourn the passing this week of an inspirational friend, teacher, prosecutor, and seeker of justice, Darren Levine. Here is my tribute to him, and a reminder to treasure those who help model for you a life of meaning and mindfulness, love, and light.He was, and is, a blessing.

Recently actor Noah Wyle discussed the power of John O'Donahue's Book of Blessings in writing for the hit TV show, The Pitt. He says the verses help tune health workers towards finding strength and small miracles each day. Jan shares several examples from the poet to help each of us find clarity of light, and uncover the small miracles waiting for us each and every day.

Often to get at what is really going on in our lives, we have to find clarity as to the central conflict with which we are dealing. Jan shares the true story of how the landmark musical Fiddler On The Roof found its opening song, by finding what the conflict of the story was really all about, "Tradition," and through it, fashioned a musical for the ages.

The news of the world can sometime deaden the spirit. Time to bring ourselves into the sweet darkness, to choose that which brings us alive. Jan shares two poems that do just that, reminding us that boundaries can sometimes be opportunities for self-expansion, and can serve our own souls.

There is good in each of us; values to live by and love by. How do we serve it, find it, tap it for direction that brings optimism and opportunity?Jan shares 5 power prompts from his book, Sacred Wounds, hailed by Deepak Chopra: "Jan Goldstein helps tune our hearts to the miracles that exist all around us."

Many cultures have created circles of stone that we marvel at, wondering their purpose. To conclude 2025, Jan shares the story of a personal stone circle, reminding us of the permanence of memories and what matters most in our lives.

Why do some race toward danger in moments of crisis? Recent events underscore the very human reaction to choose "we" over "me." Jan shares the true story of a hero on Bondi Beach during a recent terror attack against the Jewish community, and how a Moslem helped stand up for them and for humanity, and, in doing so, helped kindle more light.

Each one of us has the ability to discover the positive nuggets inside painful and negative experiences. Jan shares the true story of his encounter with the late writer, activist, and playwright, Elie Weisel, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and the tears they shared when art turned to palpable hope right there backstage.

Essential to living a life that can be good for us, we must find our way to hope. Studies show that optimism and hope generate healthier, more purposeful lives. Jan shares the gift of uncovering the hero within each of us.

Up in the air with a missing wheel. Life on the line. And a stranger steps in and helps rescue you. Jan shares the true story of Taylor Hash and Chris Yates and reveals how each of us both need guardian angels at moments in life, and, maybe more importantly, we can each be one! Enjoy this reprise!

What is a quote other than two that has stayed with you throughout life? What motivates you? Jan shares a handful of quotes that can help retune us to the power in each of us to shape and live our lives.

Each of us has experiences that shape the way we see ourselves and the role we want to play in life. Jan shares the story of a welding genius, Richard Hunt, whose art has taught the world what freedom can look like when you fashion with your hands the visions of your heart.

We each have someone we know, maybe even went to school with, or perhaps closer to home, who blame themselves for problems they didn't create but lead them to spiral. Jan shares the true story of a friend who grappled with the same issue and found a way, before it was too late, to let go of that negative energy, save his own life, and claim a future he hadn't dreamed of. So can we all.

The pain we endure in life can be used to help illuminate a deeper ability to succeed. To do so, we must 'drain the profane' of that wound, the negative energy, to uncover the light. As Jan shares in the story of his own divorce and the death of his father in the same week, we are then able to find the miracles inside of us that help us heal and encourage us to grow.

IN a reprise, Jan introduces you to the story of Snowflake Bentley who taught us no two snowfall crystals were alike, each original, just like each of us. Asked as a teen to write the theme song for the local PBS production on Bentley's life, he discovers the inspiring creativity found in nature that definitely leads to more of the good stuff of life.

We need people who can lift us and remind us to believe in ourselves. In a reprise ATM, Jan shares the story of the day he was contacted by one of the giants of music and creativity, a call that helped shape his life.

Our positivity podcast takes us on a visit to a zen koan, a mini-teaching, at first bewildering until Jan leads us through an understanding that can help us claim the present and the wisdom of wounds we've suffered along the way. Jan shares the dying words of a "wealthy but poor" man who urged him to share this brief profound lesson he'd learned too late.

Trees can inspire us. Especially the redwood that teaches us about support and interconnection. Jan shares a bit of the tree magic that can remind each of us how best to grow and thrive and begin again!

Living life means opening ourselves to the wounds that come with it. Jan shares the story of a Japanese artist whose approach to his art carries lessons for how to live life with everything we have.

What does it mean to pull us out of the life cycles that deaden us and into the light that illuminates and warms us?Jan shares the words of John O'Donahue, a Catholic priest who chose to leave the activity ministry to follow his creative heart in pursuing writing, poetry, and philosophy, falling in love with the natural world and lifting our souls in the process.

When the world's news is filled with ancient hatred and violence towards persons of differing ideologies, we are in need of balancing it all in small, uplifting ways. Jan looks at some unusual facts about nature and life that can help refocus and reconnect us to the wit, wisdom and whimsy of the world in which we live.

Having been wounded in life, one can be broken open in ways that make life deeper. Hidden in these recesses are gifts of light to help us and those with whom we interact. Jan shares his own wounds of wonder that left him weeping on a lake in Scotland and filled him with an understanding that has helped him live a life richer and deeper because of life's pain.

Some of us in life are broken by suffering and loss. Some are broken open, allowing light and healing in.Jan shares the true story of Yvette, a nun he met as a teen, who not only became a good friend but taught him and others how one might use their life's journey and hardships to rediscover purpose and the most important lessons of love.

Life is filled with the call of adventure. It can lift us to new heights, spiritually and physically. Jan shares the story of explorer Jacques Cousteau who explored the seas of the world and the personal connection by way of his brother Mark who once crewed for the renowned ocean explorer.

Sometimes we need a little help when the fire of meaning and purpose burn low within us. Jan shares the gifts three poems give us and how they help us resource ourselves to reignite the spark of living.

Jan shares a recent study on global well-being and explores the ways we might raise the level of our well-being through connecting to our values and clarifying our sense of purpose. In short: walking our talk.

Sometimes it's the wounds we suffer in life that lead us to the greatest enlightenment. Jan shares a personal story of a loss he suffered, and the weathered rocky perch on the Atlantic that taught him about the power of his own heart.

Life is often governed by questions we put to ourselves: What's in it for me? What's the worst than could happen? Who's it going to hurt? Jan shares the personal story of a stranger who called him to his death bed to pass on a life lesson of positivity that the man had learned from a life of manipulation, hoping to help others before it was too late.

rRemembering is a privilege and a duty that can elevate our lives. Jan shares a recent visit to Omaha Beach, meeting ghosts of D-Day and discovering the rich gifts of the spirit.

Celebrating the Small Wins is essential in finding the good stuff in life. Jan shares his personal sense of triumph at the 250 episodes recorded for this podcast (and counting) as together we celebrate all that matters!

A world without words would be a poet's nightmare. Jan introduces you to poet m. nourbeSe Phillip, a Canadian poet who challenges us to imagine what we are without life's gifts and, in so doing, helping us to find all that we can be when we realize what we do have.

At times life sends you a NO that we can either accept or turn into an even more powerful YES! Jan shares a recent meeting with a vivacious young woman, Ella, who did just that and, together with her wonderful partner, Florent, has fashioned an uplifting coffee shop in Paris serving terrific cups and a joyous dose of joie de vivre.

Jan celebrates our roots, the meaning of childhood experiences, and the way your own story can propel your imagination.

Retelling a story of his dad and late brother, Mark, Jan celebrates the incomparable love and gifts that they gave him, and calls on all of us to cherish the possibility of discovering light in the darkness.

Sometimes it is the wisdom of our wounds in life that provides us with a new lens on how to deepen our purpose and passion in living.Jan shares the parable of the miller and the farmer, and the power of paying it forward.

Sometimes forgiveness can be found in the most unpredictable of place and one is transformed.Jan shares the incandescent moment when he was wrapped in the wings of an angel, bridging years of injustice.