Life Unscripted with Kevin Shook
Welcome to 'Life Unscripted with Kevin Shook', a heartening podcast where embracing vulnerability is the key to success. Join your host, Kevin, as he dives into the stories of remarkable individuals who have transformed their lives by opening up, facing challenges, and finding strength in their most vulnerable moments. Each episode features inspiring conversations with guests from various walks of life. Kevin's journey of embracing vulnerability has led him to meet amazing people, and now he brings their wisdom, laughter, and insights to you. Tune in and discover how embracing your vulnerabilities can lead to your greatest victories in life, both personally & professionally.
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Life Unscripted with Kevin Shook
From Chaos to Renewal: Understanding Historical Cycles of Government & Economics
What if history isn't just random chaos but follows a predictable pattern? In our latest episode, we explore the groundbreaking theories from "The Fourth Turning" by Strauss and Howe, discussing how history operates in recurring cycles of 80 to 100 years. Join us as we analyze our current "winter" phase, marked by societal upheaval and diminishing trust in institutions, drawing parallels to periods like the Civil War and World War II. We'll also look at how pivotal events such as the 2008 financial crisis and the end of the gold standard have shaped our era and speculate on the potential for a new age of renewal and unity, possibly influenced by the rise of AI. Don't miss this fascinating discussion on how moments of chaos can often be the precursor to significant transformation and rebirth.
On a lighter note, we'll also share some personal stories about navigating health and wellness challenges. Ever wondered what it's like to wear a "big mask" for sleep apnea, à la Tom Cruise in "Top Gun"? We'll offer humorous anecdotes and practical tips on using the mask, tackling snoring, and making sustainable lifestyle changes like hitting Planet Fitness regularly, eating healthier, and cutting back on alcohol and sugar. This candid conversation combines humor with heartfelt advice, making it a must-listen for anyone on their own journey toward better health and well-being.
Life Inscripted with. Kevin Shook.
Speaker 2:This book that I was reading is called the Fourth Turning and it talks about how things happen in cycles.
Speaker 2:So it's basically like every 20 to 25 years, you have these cycles and it's like a season, so winter, spring, summer, fall, and same thing goes throughout history, american history and we're in a cycle and we're in what's called a fourth turning is what the theory is in this book. This book was written back in the late 90s or early 90s and it predicted a lot of the things that are happening now. So they talk about how we go into a new birth and a new turning, so to speak, in this country. Um, and that follows in 2028 and 2030, and it really does make a lot of sense. That kind of gave me a little bit of like, um, a calm or a grounding to go okay, this is. This is interesting because it looks back at how there's different cycles in history and we're just we're living through.
Speaker 1:I think it's clear as day what we're living through now, you know in the 90s.
Speaker 2:Uh, really yeah but the fourth turning uh strauss and how. How were the two writers? But?
Speaker 2:yeah definitely a cool book to read. Or just go on YouTube and just put in the Fourth Turning. It's like a 12-minute video on it or whatever. But there's other books and ideas that are based off that, but it's something I found really interesting. It syncs up with a lot of things within finance and everything else. So that's the new one. The Fourth Turning is here, but they wrote a second book, but the first one was written in the 90s, but anyway that's some direction.
Speaker 1:It's like, okay, what's going?
Speaker 2:on man Like what's going on in like society. So it shows the patterns and everything else. Basically it's a cycle. So we're in the winter season where things are dying off. They're fading the way that you knew life. The last fourth turning was during World War II, because we're now what 80 to 100 years basically. We're getting close to 1944, so that time frame. So we're entering into that time frame where it gets really crazy, really wild, really wild.
Speaker 2:Trust in government fades things like that and then chaos, and then it turns into something new and then basically a new way of doing things, and that's where AI comes in.
Speaker 1:Let me think about the loss of trust in government, chaos and then fresh clean slate of new things. So, and my thought is that we are on towards the end of the chaos and towards the beginning of the new birth, the new day, yeah, the new cycle. Do you think that's where we're at?
Speaker 2:I think, yeah, Well, and I think you look at this way, the start of this was probably 2008,. The financial crisis. And then you know, so we're, you know, gosh, we're almost 20 years into this. But go back, you know, go back to the World War II and then go back another 80, some odd years, 80, 100 years Civil War. So every 100 years turning, go back another 100 years revolutionary war. So in in it even it's just um really interesting anyway.
Speaker 1:So it's just kind of so where do you think our was our, our loss of trust in government and chaos, part of like covid, and I think it was before that. Do you think it's before?
Speaker 2:yeah, I think it broke. I think it broke down a long time ago some people think that it was when, um, we went off the gold standard, which was in, I think, like 1972 or 73. So president nixon finalized that and so, instead of like the us dollar being backed by gold, it was backed by oil.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah and then you know at least other stuff there too, but that's just I mean it. It's an interesting concept to kind of look at and see, but, like when you see it through that lens, it's like whoa man, this is some crazy shit. So yeah, I think we're towards the end of a cycle as we knew it.
Speaker 2:We grew up in, like, you know, our grandparents, a lot of them, obviously, served in the war. You know they were born into the Depression, served into the war and then, you know, went through this phase in life where they experienced, you know, obviously, inflation in the 70s and this, you know, the 80s, 90s, some of that boom towards the end of the 90s, and now we're in where we're at. So I think there's a new horizon, there's hope, so that's a good thing. Right, you know, is that, um, is it crazy and weird? And all this right now, and people are at, you know, add ins and the team politics thing and all this, but I think, I mean think about how, and I it's like stress when was the last time that?
Speaker 2:To me it was the day after 9-11, when people were putting American flags on their windshields and they were putting it on their radio antennas and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:So I mean, that was like you were, just like there's an American, we're cool Everything was here and look at what's happened in 23 years since then, right, so hopefully there's not an event like that that has to bring us that way. Well, tragedy does bring it, chaos does it, and each does that. Hopefully there's not an event like that that has to bring us that way. Well, tragedy does chaos does it, and each one of those times it was like it, so anyway, um yeah, well, at that point in time they have no other choice to unite but to unite yeah, you're forced to right and you have to be.
Speaker 2:You know um together as one. So right.
Speaker 1:So and and that's even like you know, on the local level, or the fire that we had, a lot of people showed support from all sides, from all walks of life. Yeah, I mean it's.
Speaker 2:You saw how people got the united. The same thing when officer Burton was killed. You know, this community came together and sadly it's during tragedy. So, um, will we figure it out? I don't know, I so, um, I'm cleaning out a house, we're renovating, and there's newspapers. Um, I'm finding from you know 20, 25 years ago, um, finding you know 20, 25 years ago, um, finding some that are over 80 years old, that are like somebody folded these up and put them in a way and hope so, and what's on the newspapers is the same thing that we're seeing on social media and TV. Um, you know, this tragedy, uh, this person was killed. This uh war, uh, north Korea, this, I mean all these little hot buttons, right? So all these little things that we're saying right now, it's oh yeah, you know it was the same thing in newspapers. It's push it out there, right? It gets people talking, it gets you afraid, it makes you think so we live from, we live off of fear yeah we every day.
Speaker 1:We live off of fear.
Speaker 2:Well, Well, it's a motivator.
Speaker 1:It is. Yeah, Justin asked what's your biggest want for Richmond? You're talking straight to the city council.
Speaker 2:Okay, Well, yeah, I know Justin.
Speaker 1:Jason's biggest want is the biggest, baddest development on 37th Street. No biggest, baddest development on 37th street. No, that's a. It wants 15 child care facilities and 600 apartments in in about the same square footage of walmart.
Speaker 2:God no, um, biggest one for richmond, I think is is a major focus on re-establishing pride in being from Richmond. And how that starts is, um, a grassroots door-to-door effort on the streets, talking to people, um, and and really getting involved that way. Um, I think it's a big deal that you go back years and people are, they were proud to be from this area and if you focus on the people, they will sell this community to those from the outside instead of trying to drive people from the outside in. And it's just that's somebody who's lived here my entire life right, it all starts on the inside.
Speaker 2:Everything starts on the inside, yeah, whether it's development, whether what, everything starts well, and I mean, we're in that very rare situation where we are, um, connected to that, uh, that road that runs alongside of our city, that has all the people that drive by it, you know, and you know. So, um, take advantage of those billboards, put arrows that point towards the city, that say fun here, activities here, uh, colleges here. There needs to be an effort there.
Speaker 2:And I think the other thing, too, would be to have spokespeople for the city and the community that are leaders, to be active on social media, on video, answering questions being out there, not just talking to certain groups but actually talking to people, because there's a lot of people in the city that still believe in this area, that are hard workers, that maybe have had a hard knock or they've had situations or they've not been able to punch themselves up and you know they're out there and they believe in the city still, but they don't think people believe in them.
Speaker 1:That's probably where they get discouraged and don't talk. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, they get afraid and fear.
Speaker 1:We do everything under fear. Yeah, that project. It's kind of cool, the councilman's in here.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, you want your brisket breakfast burritos. Oh my God, I love brisket breakfast burritos. We need a Bucky's. Well, we're getting one at Huber Heights breakfast burritos. We need a.
Speaker 1:Bucky's. Well, we're getting one at Huber Heights, so what's the distance to that Hour Right on the other side?
Speaker 2:where 70 and 75 intersect in Dayton, richmond, kentucky is what it's further.
Speaker 1:Two hours yeah.
Speaker 2:So this will be nice. It's closer. I'll definitely probably go there to get a brisket breakfast burrito.
Speaker 1:I'll go with you. Yeah, they have the beef jerky maple syrup flavor.
Speaker 2:You got to stop at a Bucky's whenever you travel. Right, I mean it's insane, but like it's cool.
Speaker 1:I made a couple of videos when I was there one day which they were like what are you doing? I'm like never mind.
Speaker 2:They won't let you stay there overnight, record all kinds of stuff. I mean, we stayed there overnight once on our way to Florida, just because I was like I'm not trying to stay there.
Speaker 1:Do I drive through it? You stayed at Lucky's.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we slept in the Tahoe Nice With a CPAP man. It was good.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, you do that. Yeah, that was good. Oh yeah, you do that. Yeah, I probably should, every American probably should yeah well, it's helped me. What Is it like a big mask.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I wear the big like. Tom Cruise top gun mask. Holy shit yeah.
Speaker 1:You put aviators on. Yeah, I do that. Do you have sex with it on?
Speaker 2:No, I've never done that. I no, I've never done that. I think, chandra, sometimes when I'm sleeping she'll grab it and like, choke it the mask, when you know, to try to get me to wake up. What are you doing?
Speaker 1:She's mean sometimes Justin said we have great people. Well said.
Speaker 2:Proud to be from Richmond, darth Vader, yeah that's for sure, chandra's wife. So no, it hit it's. You have one too. No, uh, nope it. It hit me hard. For a long time I'd snore like crazy, you know, and obviously I'm heavier, and it, um, uh, it just affected.
Speaker 1:You lost a lot of weight. I still got something to do so.
Speaker 2:It's um, it's a process. So what have you been doing? Go to plant fitness, uh, three or four days a week and I try to um, you know, eat less, obviously, and I've cut drinking out a lot. I think I probably had six beers in the past six months. So I just and it's not like anything I just have really slowed that part down because it's like man you know, a lot of empty calories and right focus on other stuff. So, um, that's that's been. You know, when I cut out a lot of sugar.
Speaker 1:Life Inscripted with Kevin Shook.
