Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene

We all have a gift. A God-given talent that provides your life with purpose. These kinds of gifts are expressions of God's undying grace. And, your purpose is to discover it. Your life's work is to develop it. And, the meaning of life is to give it away.

Doesn't it seem like 15 minutes ago you were at a high school football game trying to figure out where everyone was going after the game? You blinked and 20, 30, 40 or 50 years went by in an instant. Which raises the question: does life really speed up as we age? Listen in to find out.

I know what you're thinking: that a big wheelbarrow full of Ben Franklins would make you pretty happy. And, yeah, it probably would. But, there is a diminishing return on how much happier it can make you. Listen to this episode to learn why.

We are living longer. A lot longer. And, that longevity is throwing a monkey wrench into the system. It's creating a generation "sandwiched" between their children and their aging parents. I've created five things that the sandwich generation needs to hear. It's a tough message but it's something we all need to contemplate.

Like water, wisdom surrounds us yet remains largely invisible. It's odorless, colorless and formless. We recognize it's importance, yet it often eludes us. True wisdom manifests not in what we say but in how deeply we listen.

Stoicism is a philosophy that emphasizes self-control, fortitude and living in accordance with nature. It originated way back in 300 B.C. And, guess what, Stoicism is having a moment....again. It's like a philosophical cockroach that survives thousands of years of wars, famine and drought only to reappear under your refrigerator.

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to thrive on being angry or unhappy? They always seem to be upset about something. The problem is that they're simply afraid of being happy. But, why? You'll have to listen to find out.

According to research, social isolation can lead to a plethora of mental health issues and can also lead to premature death. Researchers are learning that even casual interactions with total strangers can have a profound impact on our mental health. Surprisingly, interaction with total strangers also tend to bring enhanced happiness and well-being. In fact, people often share very intimate topics with strangers because the risk is so low. So, the next time you run into a total stranger you might just want to say, "hello, how is your day going?" You might just change the direction of their life.

For all the prosperity and freedom in the US, we ought to be pretty happy. Compared to other parts of the world, we've got it pretty good. But, would you believe that both Israel and Iceland beat us in the annual World Happiness Report? It's true. So, what is it that's causing us to be so miserable that a war torn country and a frozen Tundra are kicking our butts. You'll have to listen to find out.

After decades of declining religious affiliation, the hemorrhage has finally stopped. So, are we really experiencing a spiritual rebirth or is this just a momentary pause in the "Exodus"? Let's find out together.

Over 60% of young men today have no interest in sex. They are twice as likely as young women to be unattached, asexual and lonely. If the 1960's ushered in the sexual revolution, the mid 2020's are ushering in the asexual revolution. Why? You'll have to listen to find out.

Somewhere along the way to adulthood, we lost the ability to be curious about the world. We lost that sense of awe and wonder about things for which we know so little. What happened? And, more importantly, how do we get it back?

Pretty much everyone in the US wants to be rich. Not for the money, but for the fragile promise of happiness that comes with money. But, how much money does it take to be rich today? The answer might just surprise you.

So, what could cause a well-educated, Ivy League Engineer to murder the CEO of a major American corporation? Well, in order to murder someone you have to be a nut job and also a psychopath. But, I also think Luigi Mangione lost faith in our American institutions.

Ever wonder why people in those weight loss ads lose so much weight when you gain five pounds driving past a Dairy Queen? Well, the answer is in the missing evidence.

The digital age has turned the bedroom into a thriving marketplace. Apps like Hinge, Tinder, Grindr and Bumble are making the finding of sexual partners more efficient than ever. But, do these Apps really work. And, if so, how come more people don't seem to be getting married these days. Tune in to find out.

Today, a growing number of young couples are prospectively choosing NOT to have children. Instead of birthday parties and little league games, they're choosing bottomless mimosa brunches and maximizing frequent flyer miles. But, do you think these folks are going to suffer a period of existential dread and regret later in life? Maybe. But, you'll have to listen in to understand this complex topic more clearly.

The American Dream is our collective belief that anyone can be successful here. And that upward mobility is not dependent on anything but our willingness to work hard. But, what is the American Dream today? And, how do our changing views on work, college education, marriage and children change our view of the American Dream. You'll have to listen to find out.

It's almost over. The ads, the debates, the incessant text messages from candidates. Yes, the American Presidential election is almost over. But, before it ends, we ought to talk about how we got here. How we got to a point where the country is split into two teams: red and blue. And, more importantly, how you can best handle what is surely to be a tumultuous few weeks-regardless of who wins. There are two options. One leads to a life of anger and anxiety. The other leads to a life of peace. You get to choose.

We expect and even demand order in all things: our health, our faith and our relationships. But, that's totally unreasonable. Why? Because it's normal and inevitable for life to go through periods of disorder. In fact, it's disorder that brings the biggest opportunities in life. But, you'll have to listen to find out why....

Despite spending more on our healthcare than any other industrialized nation, our life expectancy is falling. We're now below Australia, Japan, Switzerland and Hong Kong. The cause is our inability to steer clear of ultraprocessed foods that are full of poisons. But, I bet you don't know who is responsible for all these engineered foods that are slowly killing us. You'll have to listen to find out and it'll shock you.

There's only one thing wrong with dogs. They age seven times faster than we do. That's why the love of a great do will bring you some of the very best days of your life. And, perhaps, one of the worst. Because every dog owner knows that one day, hopefully long into the future, you'll have to let your best friend cross the "rainbow bridge".

Everywhere you turn these days it appears that we are in a moral free fall. Some would even surmise that the "end of days" is near. But is it true? Are we really in a state of moral decline? You'll have to listen to this episode of Wit & Wisdom to find out.

Have you noticed that you get really anxious when you watch the news these days? It seems like the world is falling apart right before our very eyes. What if I told you that the news media is doing this on purpose? What if I told you that their objective is more about keeping you tuned in and anxious than reporting the news. Well, that probably wouldn't surprise you. But, before you get yourself all jacked up, let me tell you about the Great Horse Poop Crisis of 1894. It'll make you feel a lot better.

Today’s kids are the product of the most mental health interventions, the most therapy, the most anti-anxiety meds, and the most understanding and empathetic parents in history. Yet, Generation Z (Gen Z) kids are suffering record levels of psychological distress. Why? Listen to this important episode and I'll explain why. So, where did we go wrong?

We all worry. It's a uniquely human activity. Maybe it's something at work or an argument about who loaded the dishwasher last night. I don't know. Maybe you're worried about the state of American politics. Or, the recent attempt on a former President's life. It's all a little unsettling. But, here's the thing. None of it matters. In 100 years you and I will both be dead. So will our children, our friends and everyone else we ever met on earth. Yes, it's a short existence on the big blue marble. So, let's not waste our time here worrying about silly things like politics or the dishwasher. I hope you enjoy this though provoking conversation.

Something totally unexpected happened in the US following the Pandemic era. People stopped having sex. That's right. We're at an all time low for sex and an all time high for a bunch of other things that aren't terribly healthy. It raises the question: Are We in a Sex Recession?

Remember when Americans only argued about whether Chicago or New York had the best hot dogs or pizza? Those were the salad days. Today we can't even agree on whether hot dogs can have ketchup or not. A recent WSJ/NORC survey suggests that we are losing faith in things we typically reserved as sacrosanct in our country. Things like patriotism, family, friendship and faith in a higher power. Listen to this episode to find out why we are losing faith in those things that made this country great.

Despite living in one of the most optimistic times in history, younger Americans are more afraid of the world than previous generations. They're a mess when it comes to Anxiety and Depression. The good news is that we’ve made huge strides in destigmatizing those mental health maladies. There is little shame or disgrace in anxiety and most other mental health conditions today. However, in an effort to destigmatize mental health, we’ve opened an entire generation of kids to using their mental health issues as a part of their identity. Listen to this episode to learn why the kids are now self diagnosing themselves with major conditions like Bi-Polar Disorder and Autism....and announcing their diagnosis to millions of people around the world.

Today’s kids are the product of the most mental health intervention, the most therapy, the most anti-anxiety meds and the most understanding and empathetic parents in history. But, the kids are also the most anxious, depressed, medicated, lonely, sad and fearful kids in history. With all this sympathy and intervention, shouldn't our kids be improving? Shouldn't the number of kids suffering from anxiety and depression be going down? (Hint: it goes up every single year.) Tune in to learn why much of the struggling might just be our fault.

The Great Recession in 2008-2009 started a downward trend in the birth rate. The slide continued until we hit an all-time low in fertility 2020. That’s surprising since people were quarantined at home and should’ve been more active in the slap & tickle department. The US population hit a record low the following year. Not good. So, will the next generation buck the fertility trend in order to save Social Security and Medicare before it goes bankrupt? Listen to this episode to find out.

We are living in terribly polarizing times. But, how did we get here? The answer requires a little history lesson....and a little background in architecture. Yes, architecture.

It's that time of year in the United States. A time filled with anxiety and, even, dread. Yes, we are in the window each spring when high school seniors (and their parents) anxiously await to see whether Junior got into his "dream school". Yes, an enormous amount of anxiety is in the air. But, what if I told you that none of this really matters? That your kid's success has very little to do with the their college acceptance or even their college completion. If you're out standing by your mailbox waiting on the mail you definitely need to give this a listen.

There's a violent cultural shift coming. You can't see it yet, but it's rolling down the track like a speeding freight train. When it hits it will reverberate across the land like rolling thunder on a late summer night. So, what's this violent cultural shift? Tune in to find out.

If the past few years have taught us anything, it's that life is uncertain. Everything is fluid. Everything. Our health. Our livelihood. Our family. Our politics. Our peace of mind. It's all fluid. Have you already forgotten about the pandemic? I thought so....

Each season holds meaning in our lives. Some seasons, like spring and summer, create energy with their abundant light. But, winter is a time of rest, stillness and reflection. An opportunity to grow in the midst of uncertainty. It's a metaphor for life. But, fortunately, spring always comes with it's light a green shoots. We evolve stronger, rested and resilient, ready to begin afresh, empowered by the light.

We live in a constant state of distraction. Awash in information; starving in wisdom.

Trying to matter can be an inspiration for an enormous amount of goodness. However, it can be a curse if we spend our entire lives trying to matter for the wrong reasons.

It's the season of giving all around the world. And a great time to focus on those we love and those less fortunate than us. It's also time to recognize the 2023 Altruist of the Year award winner: Jimmy Donaldson. He can cure blindness. How? Well, you're gonna have to tune in to find out.

It’s the single most important question of every man’s life. And, it’s imperative that you know the answer. The answer to this single question can provide much needed grounding throughout the course of your life. But, you'll have to listen to find out what it is.

No matter how you slice it, today's generation of men are lonelier than ever. The pressures of work, marriage and trying to be the "Dadliest Dad" on the planet mean that friendships take a backseat. For most men, there's a sense of guilt associated with maintaining friendships. But, with today's pressures, men need friendships more than ever.

Tough questions: what do you want the end of your life to look like? Do you prefer heroic measures and last-ditch efforts to save your life, like CPR and intubation? Would you want to pursue every possible clinical pathway to life, regardless of the drastic nature of the procedure or the quality of life that might result? Or, would you prefer to enjoy your last days at home, surrounded by friends and family and music and dogs? These are important questions, even if they are incredibly difficult.

We often think of Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos as our benchmarks of wealth. But, that's like comparing your golf swing to Victor Hovland's golf swing. But, here's the secret. Comparing yourself to these gazillionaires will only leave you feeling inadequate. The simple truth is that if you live in the United States, Canada or Great Britain you are already rich. Crazy rich when you compare our incomes and standard of living to other countries. So, how much money does it take to be considered rich in the world's richest countries? You'll have to listen to find out. (Hint: it's not as much as you think.)

The simple truth about men is that our thoughts are not that complex. Most men aren’t thinking about another woman or nuclear fusion or how to cure pancreatic Cancer. In a recent study, researchers established that the average man thinks about sex 19 times a day. (One respondent claimed to think about sex 388 times a day.) But, frankly, most men think about food and sleep a lot more than sex. So, other than these things, what do men think about? You'll have to listen to find out.

Prior to the pandemic, 60% of people worked in an office or other workplace setting. Fast forward a few years and only around 20% of people are back in the office. Listen to this podcast to learn the latest trends following The Great Resignation. Things like Quiet Quitting and Bare Minimum Mondays. If everything is so rosy in the work from home community, why are so many people unhappy at "work"? Lots to uncover in this important episode.

Quick question: What demographic in America has the highest suicide rate? It’s the angsty teens and their social media addiction, right? Wrong. Could it be those middle-aged millennials (25-44)? Nope. Then, it must be the Gen X’ers. Wrong again. The demographic with the highest rate of suicide in the US is..... I guess you'll have to listen to find out.

I’ve been writing about happiness a lot lately, and as I think back on those articles, I realize they can be boiled down to five secrets. So, here we go!

Life’s major milestones, like graduating college, getting married, or achieving a promotion, may feel like reaching that proverbial summit. Here’s the thing though, reaching those milestones is only half the journey. It’s just the beginning of the trek down Mt. Everest. Reaching them is like the starter’s pistol for a new chapter, whether it’s a new career, raising a family, or proving you deserved that promotion. Achieving the goal isn’t the “end goal,” it’s simply a means to an end (goal).

There are instances when worrying can be constructive. I call it “constructive anxiety.” For example, it can help you prepare for something important, like delivering a speech in front of a large audience. Moderate levels of worry can help mentally prepare you for stressful tasks. However, excessive worry drains your energy and instills fear, making it a potentially distracting emotion when used in excess. But, is worry really worth the trouble?

Regret is a thief. It can literally rob your life of joy and happiness. It is the enemy of imagination, creativity, and, most importantly, contentment. You simply cannot be content and regretful at the same time. Regret is the most private feeling or emotion we own. Nobody really wants to air all of their dirty laundry, right? Deep down, we all have a lockbox full of those cringeworthy decisions. Decisions that, when replayed in our minds, can stop us in our tracks.