Passionately Wrong Podcast
This is the Passionately Wrong Podcast, where we challenge your assumptions, offer different perspectives, and help you make better decisions
My co-host Randy Surles and I are hard at work recording episodes. We will start releasing them soon, so stay tuned!
We've all encountered people who are passionate about their views. Often, it seems they are just as passionately wrong. If we’re honest with ourselves, I think we’d all agree that sometimes we are among those passionately wrong people.
How can we recognize when we’re wrong? And then what do we do? More importantly, how can a former Green Beret and a former S&P 500 General Counsel help?
This is the Passionately Wrong Podcast, where we challenge your assumptions, offer different perspectives, and hopefully help you make better decisions.
We'll discuss various topics from work, fitness, the military, and living overseas, but whatever we talk about, you can be sure that we will try and give a balanced view and not be passionately wrong.
Podcast Episodes
E000: Introductions - Who are James and Randy? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
We were high school buddies who spent much of our pre-college years living in a number of foreign countries and then went in two different directions. James finished college, went to law school and business school, and went on to work as a lawyer…
E001: Does Hard Work Guarantee Success? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Key takeaway: No, hard work does not guarantee success. But if you apply your efforts correctly, hard work can significantly increase your chances of success.
Think of hard work as doing your best whenever you can. Hard work is a realistic requir…
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E002 What Makes You Competitive at Work? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E002What makes you Competitive at Work?Key takeaway: Be positive and a team player. Knowledge and skill in your business are important, but so is working well with others.Topics covered in this video:
Be positive…
E003: How to Be Rich - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E003How to be RichKey takeaway: You can get rich by anyone’s definition with a modest salary, and you can be poor despite making a tremendous salary. Your starting conditions don’t determine where you end up beca…
E4: When Certainty Kills - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E004When Certainty KillsKey takeaway: No one is perfect. Do good pre-mortem planning, listen to others, have contingency plans, accept criticism, and learn from your mistakes.Topics covered in this video:
Open yo…
E5: Don’t “Work From Home” Yourself Out of a Job - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E005Don’t “Work From Home” Yourself out of a JobKey takeaway: There are both benefits and disadvantages to working from home. The biggest disadvantage is that the worker becomes an input that can be interchangeab…
E6: What is the US Military For? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E006What is the US Military For?Key takeaway: Our military is one of the only worldwide military power that is not used domestically. As such, the decision to use them and how to use them is a political decision.…
E7: How Can You Be More Productive in Life and Work? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E007How Can You Be Productive in Life and Work?Key takeaway: Find ways to save time, schedule your time wisely, and then use your time wellTopics covered in this video:
You don’t have to use technology; a piece o…
E008: Why Should You Worry About Staying Fit? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E008Why Should You Worry About Staying Fit?Key takeaway: Just show up! It might be the most important thing you do to live your best life.Topics covered in this video:
Fitness is about setting healthy patterns fo…
E009: Why is Staying Connected to the People in Your Life Important? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E009Why is Staying Connected to the People in Your Life Important?Key takeaway: Relationships take work, so nurture the ones that you treasure.Topics covered in this video:It’s easier to stay connected now than e…
E010: How Can We Be Less Distracted In Our Work? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E010How Can We Be Less Distracted in Our Work?Key takeaway: Distractions come from within, so be tactical and thoughtful about how you schedule your day to get the most done in a way you’ll be happy about.Topics…
E011: Are New Apps and Technology Useful? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E011Are new Apps and Technology Useful?Key takeaway: Ask yourself the question if the tool you are considering will save you time and make your routine tasks easier. You can become a lot more efficient and save t…
E012: Can Risk Management Help Your Career and Daily Life? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E012Can Risk Management Help Your Career and Daily Life?Key takeaway: The purpose of risk management was never to eliminate risk, it was to find an acceptable path forward. The military, as in business, necessita…
E013: How Can You Write Smarter in Business and Life? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E013How Can You Write Smarter in Business and Life?Key takeaway: Put the point of the email on paper up front (Bottom Line Up Front). Write to your audience, simpler and shorter is better. Be specific with your a…
E014: Who is Running Your Life? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E014Who is Running Your Life?Key takeaway: Challenge your assumptions, both good and bad. Take ownership of good and bad accomplishments. Always reassess.Topics covered in this video: When something good or…
E015: Is it Important to Learn Languages? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E015Is It Important to Learn Languages?Key takeaway: There is no doubt that people who learn one or more languages will tell you it helps them personally and professionally. And while learning a language is somet…
E016 No One Cares as Much as You Do - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E016No One Cares As Much As You DoKey takeaway: One issue stakeholders create special issues for their counterparts. The key to learning how to deal with them effectively is recognizing that we are one issue stak…
E017 Foreign Attitudes - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E017Foreign AttitudesKey takeaway: It helps to keep an open mind when visiting other countries or talking with people about your country. There is always a history and context to every topic, and if something see…
E018 Jack of All Trades vs Master of One - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E018Jack of All Trades vs. Master of OneKey takeaway: You may think what you trained to do in school is what makes you successful in your career. But the longer you work, the more important becomes your ability t…
E019 An Interview with the Amazing Elsa P. - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E019Elsa P. InterviewBio: Since the beginning of her career, Elsa has worked at the intersection of Social Science and Humanities (SSH) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. A jurist…
E020 Myths about the Military Part 1 - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E020Myths about the Military Part 1Key takeaway: The military is a subset of society and reflects society. That’s why, for example, not everyone in the military has guns at home. It’s why you’ll see people with h…
E021 - Interview with Army Chaplain Charlie Shields - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Topics covered in this video: Charlie’s start in the military as a Ranger, then departure and theology trainingWhat the Master’s of Divinity training is like and why he sought a Doctorate of MinistryCharlie explains why the Army has Chaplains…
E022 Myths About the Military Pt2 - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Key takeaway: We cover some basics about how people enter the armed forces as enlisted soldiers versus those who enter as officers. Randy describes how the different enlisted ranks and officers would work with one another. We get into some details…
E023 Fitness Habits - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E023Fitness HabitsKey takeaway: Randy and James share their personal fitness journeys and what they’ve learned along the way about how to cultivate a healthy attitude toward fitness. Topics covered in this v…
E024 Felicia Rodriguez, Part 1 - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E024, Part 1Interview with Felicia RodriguezWe hear about sexual assault quite often, but what do we really understand about victims, offenders, the legal system and how our culture, gender roles and unconscious…
E025 Felicia Rodriguez, Part 2 - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E024, Part 2Interview with Felicia RodriguezWe hear about sexual assault quite often, but what do we really understand about victims, offenders, the legal system and how our culture, gender roles and unconscious…
E026 Erek Dorman - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E026ASH Interview with Erek DormanKey takeaway: History is alive and all around us. Erek sees it and helps bring it alive for anyone who’s interestedTopics covered in this video: Erek’s years at ASH and the…
E027 Bill Clayton - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E027ASH Interview with Bill ClaytonTopics covered in this video: Bill’s time in the Hague, in middle school and his senior year of high schoolLondon, New Jersey, Houston, New York, South Carolina - stops on…
E028 The Camino de Santiago - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E028The Camino de SantiagoKey takeaway: Randy decided to hike the Camino de Santiago the year he retired from the military, a 500-mile pilgrimage traveled by 1000s of people from around the world.Topics covered i…
E029 How To Live a Long Life. - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E029LongevityKey takeaway: Randy and James explore a wide range of factors that go into making up a long life, including how to live a good life. While traditional things like diet and exercise play a role, what…
E030 Myths of Lawyers - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Key takeaway: Randy asks James a series of questions about the legal profession. What do lawyers do, where do they spend their time, when should you consider hiring one, and more. We discuss why women struggle, even though more women go to law sch…
E031 Establishing Good Financial Habits - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E031Establishing Good Financial HabitsKey takeaway: Pay attention to small decisions because they add up over time, and use the power of time to your advantage. Imagine your future self, and use that picture to h…
E032 Tools to Keep Better Informed - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E032Tools to Keep Better InformedKey takeaway: Randy and James explore why it’s so hard to feel well-informed nowadays, and what we can do to improve our chances. Among other tools: keep an open mind, be open to…
E033 Working and Understanding the System - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E033Understanding Organization SystemsKey takeaway: To be most effective at work, you need to understand the systems that your organization follows. They may be written or unwritten, but your first task is unders…
E034 Conformity and Nonconformity - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E034Conformity and NonconformityKey takeaway: Conformism vs. nonconformism is an issue that comes up often in life. It comes up when you are young and trying to figure out what to do. It comes up in business. Con…
E035 Myths of Being a Freelance Editor - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Key takeaway: Randy gives an overview of what an editor does, how editors work, and why a writer might benefit from the various services an editor can provide. Suggestions for budding authors and editors. Topics covered in this video: A…
E036 Why Don’t Smart People Agree? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E036Why Don’t Smart People Agree?Key takeaway: Smart people don’t disagree for a variety of reasons, having to do with their background, their sources of information, and their motivation. In this episode, Randy…
E037 Running Marathons and Beyond - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E037Running Marathons and BeyondKey takeaway: A regular fitness habit is key to not just health but happiness and success in life. Randy and James talk about their various endurance exploits, from marathons to sp…
E038 Myths about Enlisting in the Military - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E038Myths about Enlisting in the MilitaryKey takeaway: A military career can be varied and rewarding, but how do you set yourself up from success from the start? Randy provides perspective on preparing for enlist…
E039 Myths about Military Careers - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E039A Military CareerKey takeaway: What a military career is like, and who is suited for oneTopics covered in this video: What kinds of people might be interested and suitedHow military service pays - initia…
E040 Type 1 Diabetes, Mountain Endurance Running, and Hedonistic Stoicism with Natalia Roman Lopez - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E040Interview - Natalia Roman LopezKey takeaway: Career and mountain endurance athlete Natalia Roman discusses her approach to hedonistic stoicism, lessons from ultrarunning, and what she learned after being diag…
E041 What’s Wrong with your Diet? - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E041What’s Wrong With Your Diet?Key takeaway: When it comes to diet, there are more things that seem not to work than are obviously useful. Randy and James discuss various approaches, including restricted calorie…
E042 Myths and Misconceptions about Legal Contracts - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E042ContractsKey takeaway: Contracts - what are they, how they are created, when do we need them, Topics covered in this video: James describes the requirements for contract formation - offer, acceptanc…
PWE043 Russian Personal Finance Author Denis Gorbunov - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E043Interview - Denis GorbunovKey takeaway: Denis shares what it’s been like moving from Russia to the Czech Republic and now Germany, as well as moving from a physicist in a laboratory to a management role, and…
PWE044 Myths about Moving to Foreign Countries - Passionately Wrong Podcast
Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E044Myths about Moving to Foreign CountriesKey takeaway: Randy and James draw on their extensive experience moving to and living in a variety of countries around the world to illuminate pitfalls and share best pr…
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