Mike Vardy

Does he have to return the FIFA Peace Prize now?

"We are buried beneath the weight of information, which is being confused with knowledge; quantity is being confused with abundance and wealth with happiness." – Tom Waits

wellesmusic on Instagram: "#sInGeRsOnGwRiTeR #OrGiNaL #cOuNtRy #folk #songView all 579 comments" #sInGeRsOnGwRiTeR #OrGiNaL #cOuNtRy #folk #song

Time is so cyclical. Protest music… On a sharp rise these days. Even U2 is in on it.

But this guy? Next level stuff.

www.instagram.com/reel/DU8giTX...

Also really enjoyed writing this piece about his quiet method a while back: mikevardy.com/jackson-brow...

Jackson Browne

Really enjoyed this conversation with Jackson Browne. open.spotify.com/episode/4XQA...

I don’t think there’s a more 80s-sounding singer than Peter Cetera.

I figure it’ll lead to this: Depth over breadth. Less transactional and more relational.

I’ve changed in the year of writing The Lantern. So why not make the change here, too?

If you read my work and subscribe to my emails, I’d love to hear your thoughts to go along with my own.

Looking at changing up my weekly email, The Lantern.

Currently I write a narrative and then share links to a video, some form of audio, and something written (sections called LOOK, LISTEN, LEARN).

Considering going strictly with a narrative/essay… and then a question to the reader.

Joel Zuckerman Talks About Expressive Gratitude, Impactful Letters, and Lasting Connection Gratitude shows up in a lot of productivity conversations—but rarely as...

🎙️ Just published a new episode of A Productive Conversation: Joel Zuckerman Talks About Expressive Gratitude, Impactful Letters, and Lasting Connection. Have a listen:

I am about to watch Fitzcarraldo. No doubt I will emerge from this celluloid experience forever altered.

The Boy and the Heron and The Work of Time What does the heron represent in The Boy and the Heron? Exploring Miyazaki’s intent and the work of time in shaping meaning.

Some films resolve. Others keep working on you.

I’ve been thinking about The Boy and the Heron through the lens of time—and how meaning shifts between creator and viewer.

mikevardy.com/the-boy-and-...

A Better To-Do List Starts With This One Shift Writing a better to-do list doesn’t require a new system. One small change can reduce confusion and make tasks easier to start.

A vague to-do list creates hesitation. A clear one creates momentum. Writing a better to-do list is simpler than you think.

Here’s how: mikevardy.com/writing-a-be...

A selfie of Mike Vardy, with a slight smile, tussled hair, gearing up for the day.

This is the look of a full day ahead.

Calm anyway. Low-intensity start. Intentional ramp.

That’s productiveness.

If your stances include:

Extremism
Xenophobia
Intolerance
Transphobia

Read the first letters.
Spell the word.
Act on it. Go elsewhere.

Thanks for having this conversation with me. Really appreciate it.

PM Talks S3E2: Poise Under Pressure in a Fractured Moment This episode is the latest in our monthly PM Talks series, where Patrick...

🎙️ Just published a new episode of A Productive Conversation: PM Talks S3E2: Poise Under Pressure in a Fractured Moment. Have a listen:

A photo of Joshua Becker‘s book “Uncluttered Faith“ resting on a gray fabric chair with a green, plush pillow behind it.

You don’t have to be religious to appreciate this. Uncluttered Faith by my friend Joshua Becker is out today.
#UnclutteredFaith

The thing is that none of this is about adoption. Just noticing that someone once paused and said: this naming thing isn’t neutral.

Frank Lloyd Wright once used “Usonian” instead of “American.” Not because it would catch on but because he bristled at the hemispheric grab in the word.

There was “Columbian” too. Made historical sense. Never going to stick.

I went down a rabbit hole because of Bad Bunny listing every country in the Americas. Not as provocation, just a reminder that America is bigger than one nation.

Mike Vardy holding a copy of The Laws of Thought by Tom Griffiths.

This book is already stretching my thinking.

Can’t wait to talk with Tom Griffiths on A Productive Conversation.

It’s interesting how “I can’t understand the lyrics” has never been a dealbreaker for songs like Louie Louie or Yellow Ledbetter.

But when the language is Spanish, it suddenly becomes a problem.

That tells you the issue was never understanding. It was comfort with whose culture is centered.

Screenshot of an etymology entry for the word “antipathy.” The heading “antipathy (n.)” appears in red, followed by text explaining its origins from Latin antipathia and Greek antipatheia, meaning “natural aversion” or “hostile feeling,” derived from roots meaning “opposite” and “to suffer or feel.”

This feels more accurate.

I. Have. So. Many. Takes. On. This.

Final moments of Bad Bunny's performance, as an array of the flags of the Americas fly as fireworks explode and the message "THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE" is projected on a screen

Kendrick Lamar leaning into a human American flag. Iconic moment from his 2025 Superbowl performance

I am absolutely convinced that these past two halftime performances will be studied in textbooks someday.

(tbd on which discipline)

And wth the Super Bowl done, my regular sports-watching goes on hiatus until May.

It seems fitting that a team called the “patriots“ loses this year.

FWIW, the same people that are upset that Bad Bunny is being featured by the NFL contain a percentage of people who were cheering for Bad Bunny when he was being featured by WWE.

Green Day closing the Super Bowl Pre-Game festivities with American Idiot was about as close as we were going to get to an overt protest from the band.

And I’m totally fine with that.

Since I Left You

Mission accomplished, @typeoneerror.com… open.spotify.com/track/1AAYbs...