“History is a cyclic poem written by time upon the memories of man.”

— Percy Bysshe Shelley

My happy place besides a scenic hike, exotic or cultural food experience, artisanal donut shop, hipster coffee spot, learning about people, volunteering with refugees, disaster relief, a good thick book, a museum, a city tour, a botanical garden is any and all things historical.

When I feel I have really scored is when I engage in Temptation Bundling. Temptation bundling is pairing a pleasurable indulgence with a behavior that provides delayed rewards. Basically, it’s a way to engage in a wonderful, maybe wasteful, time-consuming, utterly magnificently pleasurable, even instantly gratifying indulgence with a behavior that is functional, practical, and beneficial.

Anyone out there likes to iron? UMMMMMM. No One!

Who likes to binge watch let’s say Law and Order, K-Dramas, and the Office? Everyone? So, we bundle ironing and chores with a Binge Watch and everyone is happy. When I say everyone, I mean everyone including the scolding voice on your shoulder (picture Ms. Weinstein your third grade teacher with horn-rimmed glasses wagging her wrinkled finger at you) and the “what evah” voice in your heart (picture the turtle from Nemo, Crush, drawling, “What evah man! Just live life and find yo exit buddy”).

There is even a formula for it according to Atomic Habits by Mr. James Clear:

After/Before [CURRENT HABIT], I WILL [NEW HABIT].

Mississippi Mud chocolate topped with cappuccino coffee sin

He directs you to create two columns and write down the pleasures and temptations that call your name and you enjoy – e.g., chocolate, large Mississippi Mud Chocolate ice cream in a wafer cone, sleeping in. The next step is to commit to writing the activities, tasks, and behaviors that you coulda, shoulda, woulda, DIDN’T, don’t want to ever do such as: exercise, visit the in-laws, tidy-up, cleaning, simplify, spring cleaning, brussel sprouts. What do you hate doing? Please write it below in the comments. The first step y’all, to facing your monster, you got to talk about it.

Once you have established these lists, you have created your template to move forward. If you would like to read more, please feel free to pick up Mr. Clear’s book, Atomic Habits, or read his article.

iPod+Broadcast=Podcast

But September 30, 2023, International Podcast Day - is a celebration of the power of podcasts and how they have enriched planet earth and the people on it. 2003 is the date that historical websites give as the first modern podcast launched by Chris Lydon and David Winer. It was called an audio blog post then. The portmanteau now known as “Podcast” was created by Guardian Writer, Ben Hammersely, combining the words “IPOD” and “broadcast”.

So how can you engage in International Podcast Day?

Internationalpodcastday.com gives a few suggestions:

1. Explain to someone, perhaps choose an elderly person, what a podcast is and get them hooked.

2. Share your favorite podcast with someone (coworker, friend, teammate, senior citizen).

3. Give generous feedback to your favorite podcasters and tell them thank you.

4. Write a wonderful rating and raving review in Apple Podcasts or other platforms.

5. Subscribe to a new show and open it up for discussion using #InternationalPodcastDay.

6. Not a podcaster? Become one! Give it a try.

The Podcast American History Teller on Youtube.

Anything history is what I love. When I came across the podcast “American History Tellers”, it grabbed my attention and hooked me. I was doing research for a class I teach entitled “Ancient Civilizations and Ancient Scrolls”. The subject material was the Salem Witch Trials. This brilliant podcast, hosted by Lindsay Graham created by Wondery, mixes the drama of whatever era they are covering, reenacting conversations, definitively placing you in that time period while fading back to modern day telling the story and the history. It is a brilliantly produced and a wonderful listen if you like history or you would like to help an older student or a friend to appreciate history. Now I binge listen to history when I’m driving for work, cleaning the flat, ironing. I receive mental stimulation, travel through history, relate to people of different time periods, understand a little bit better why things are the way they are, and get stuff done.

American History Tellers , the revolution series, Season 5 is based on the book: “ Revolution Song“ by Russel Shorto which is on my Tsundoku.