[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:10] Notice how life just feels?
[00:00:15] Well, it feels like one long road trip.
[00:00:19] Yeah, me too.
[00:00:22] Sometimes you've got the destination plugged in into GPS and every turn is seemingly mapped out for you and every single mile accounted for.
[00:00:39] That's the thing with all of the hustle and bustle of life.
[00:00:45] It all seems to be laid out from point A to point B in the straightest line and the fastest route.
[00:00:57] Other times, it's like a Sunday drive with no care in the world regarding time or duration, distance or even the path chosen.
[00:01:15] I mean to say, there are times that we just have to be at a certain place by a certain time.
[00:01:25] But what about the times when there's no hurry, no worry, just to be happy?
[00:01:36] Maybe there are times when no matter what you do, the bumper to bumper traffic combined with the never ending construction makes you want to pull out your hair.
[00:01:51] And perhaps a podcast or a song can be the right ingredient to add into your plan to keep your hair and your sanity long enough to arrive safely at your destination.
[00:02:11] Well, one can hope anyway.
[00:02:15] Now let's say you're driving back roads with half a tank of gas, listening to a song you forgot you loved, wondering if maybe getting a little lost is exactly what you needed.
[00:02:35] You know, we spend so much of our lives planning, planning this, planning that.
[00:02:43] Planning, planning, planning.
[00:02:47] We are planning careers, planning out education, planning out our finances, and ongoing where we plan our weekends, we plan our relationships, planning who we think we're supposed to become.
[00:03:09] And somewhere in the middle of all that planning, There's a soundtrack happening.
[00:03:22] The songs we sing when nobody's listening.
[00:03:27] The playlists that carry us through long drives, the podcasts that challenge our thinking, and the quiet moments where we ask ourselves, hey, where am I headed today?
[00:03:50] We're talking about plans big and small.
[00:03:54] The dreams we're building, the music that moves us, and the little rituals that reveal more about us than we realize.
[00:04:07] Because sometimes the best way to understand where you're going is to pay attention to what you're singing in the shower.
[00:04:23] Oh, by the way, you missed a spot from the Natural State. This is Public Facing the Podcast with Jo Hulman.
[00:04:43] Thank you, Annabelle, for that. This is the show where real conversations meet everyday life. And where the ordinary things we all do somehow reveal extraordinary truths. Now, this show is scripted yet unscripted. I'm Joe Holman and I'm glad you're here today. Let's get into it as we map the road ahead.
[00:05:09] Plans. Plans are funny. Well, sometimes.
[00:05:15] See, some people color code their calendars six months out, guilty as charged.
[00:05:26] Others, well, they think that long term planning means figuring out what's for dinner.
[00:05:34] And honestly, that's not wrong.
[00:05:39] Both approaches have something to teach us.
[00:05:45] On this day.
[00:05:46] I want to dig into what planning really means.
[00:05:52] Not just logistics.
[00:05:56] I mean direction, purpose, intent.
[00:06:03] We have to ask ourselves, what is it that we want out of life?
[00:06:10] And that's a deceptively simple question.
[00:06:14] So what do we want out of life?
[00:06:18] I mean, not what your boss wants for you, not what your family expects.
[00:06:30] Not even what social media says success should look like.
[00:06:39] Status.
[00:06:40] Hashtag fake.
[00:06:43] No, what you want?
[00:06:47] What do you want?
[00:06:50] Peace, Adventure?
[00:06:53] Maybe Stability?
[00:06:56] How about impact?
[00:07:00] Look, whatever it is, I think too many of us inherit goals that we never consciously chose.
[00:07:12] I'll give you an example.
[00:07:14] Do you have a five year plan?
[00:07:17] Ah, yes, the five year plan.
[00:07:21] Classic interview question.
[00:07:23] You know the one.
[00:07:25] Where do you see yourself in five years?
[00:07:28] And honestly, I think life has taught most of us that five years can rewrite everything.
[00:07:40] If I may be so bold as to ask, five years ago, did you predict where you'd be right now asking, did your plan go as planned?
[00:07:58] Probably not.
[00:08:00] Maybe the better question is, did you make it to where you said you wanted to be?
[00:08:11] Who are you planning to become over the next five years?
[00:08:17] What habits are shaping you as a person now? Even.
[00:08:26] When. When we talk about that, we talk about.
[00:08:29] I mean, let's. Let's break it down to something smaller. Let's talk about weekend plans, because weekend plans are really a reflection of your priorities.
[00:08:43] That's right.
[00:08:45] What's your favorite thing to do on weekends?
[00:08:50] That question right there certainly tells you a lot about someone.
[00:08:57] Some what do they recharge through solitude.
[00:09:01] Some through family connection, and some through productivity.
[00:09:10] All right, raise your hand if you want to organize the closet this weekend.
[00:09:15] You see how we spend our free time.
[00:09:19] It often reveals what we value most.
[00:09:25] I'm going to give you a casual reflection here because speaking on the topic of plans, what are your plans and what, if anything, exciting is coming up?
[00:09:42] Any trips, any projects?
[00:09:47] Any life changes?
[00:09:50] Is there a baby coming?
[00:09:52] Getting married?
[00:09:54] Getting divorced?
[00:09:57] You know, sometimes excitement doesn't have to be huge.
[00:10:02] Sometimes it's just looking forward to Saturday, sitting outside for some fresh air and a morning cup of coffee.
[00:10:12] And believe you me, that counts.
[00:10:19] This segment is brought to you by Rocket Money. You ever make plans for your future only to realize your bank account is funding three streaming services that you forgot existed?
[00:10:32] That's okay. Rocket Money helps you to track subscriptions, to Budget Smarter and to Actually make your money work towards your goals.
[00:10:43] Because five year plan.
[00:10:47] That sounds a lot better when your money has one, too.
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[00:10:56] Onward.
[00:10:58] Gonna bring it up now. Shower songs.
[00:11:01] You know, what do we sing when nobody's watching?
[00:11:06] All right, if you're ready for what comes next, then here we go. Okay, time to get weirdly specific. All right, let's go.
[00:11:18] Shower songs. That's right, Shower songs. This is one of those topics that seems a bit silly until you realize that it says a lot about one's personality and why the shower. Well, there's something to be said about bathroom acoustics, especially shower acoustics.
[00:11:46] You know, the perks, like instant confidence boost.
[00:11:51] Who's with me here?
[00:11:53] You can go from average citizen to arena headliner in under 10 seconds.
[00:12:01] The shower is where people test their vocal courage.
[00:12:08] It's like auditioning for the Voice.
[00:12:12] And I'm here all week, people.
[00:12:16] What's your favorite music to sing in the shower? No, I'm being serious.
[00:12:23] Power ballad songs like Open Arms by Journey.
[00:12:29] It's often been cited as the quintessential power ballad, and it reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and is celebrated for its plea for forgiveness and acceptance.
[00:12:46] How about I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith? Number one hit from the Armageddon soundtrack, featuring soulful lyrics and Steven Tyler's powerful vocal delivery.
[00:13:04] Maybe that's not your speed. Okay, let's go to the drawing board again. Classic rock songs like More Than the Feeling by Boston or Tom Sawyer by Rush.
[00:13:19] Even Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
[00:13:27] If you are searching for a different crowd, then let's look at country heartbreak songs.
[00:13:35] Songs like He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones or Whiskey Lullaby by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss or an old buddy goodie Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus.
[00:13:54] Now, this list, well, it's neither comprehensive nor is it complete, and there's no wrong answers.
[00:14:05] But one thing's for sure.
[00:14:08] The song choice matters.
[00:14:11] Tell me, are you singing in the shower to perform, or are you singing in the shower to process something?
[00:14:24] Or maybe you're singing in the shower to relive a memory.
[00:14:32] Whatever your why is, just remember you're on a timer.
[00:14:39] Hot water doesn't run forever.
[00:14:43] Eventually, it really is like Lou Graham said when he said it's as cold as ice.
[00:14:53] Now you have family members that sing in the shower.
[00:15:01] I mean, seriously, though, what's up with that, right? I mean, seriously, let's. Let's settle something here, because does it bother you when family members sing in the shower?
[00:15:14] Because really, there's really only two kinds of family. Households.
[00:15:21] There's the supportive. Wow, you really hit that note. Family.
[00:15:28] And the Please stop murdering that song.
[00:15:34] I can't listen anymore.
[00:15:36] Family.
[00:15:38] Whatever camp you're in, whatever you fall into, it's going to be one or the other. So now my question becomes who's the best singer in your family?
[00:15:57] You know, there's also, There's times that we, we kind of save back some private music.
[00:16:13] And why private music matters is because those are the songs that we sing alone.
[00:16:21] And they often reveal who we are beneath the performance.
[00:16:26] Sometimes they reveal who we long to be.
[00:16:31] So tell me, what music shows up when no one's grading your taste?
[00:16:41] No matter what songs you're belting out alone.
[00:16:46] That, my friend, that is the real soundtrack.
[00:16:55] Today's shower soundtrack deserves better sound. That's why this episode is brought to you by JBL waterproof Bluetooth speakers. Whether you're belting out classics or discovering new favorites, JBL gives your bathroom concert venue quality sound. Sound warning may increase. Encore requests. JBL waterproof Bluetooth speakers.
[00:17:23] And there's the writhing music, specifically the soundtrack of motion.
[00:17:32] Out on the open road, there's a lot happening.
[00:17:36] There's no music experience quite like driving music. Plus the journey or journey on your driving experience.
[00:17:50] You see, the right song can make a 10 minute commute feel cinematic.
[00:17:58] I'm talking Michael Bay and John Williams caliber for being cinematic.
[00:18:07] But then there's that one wrong song and that would make traffic unbearable.
[00:18:18] So tell me, what's that one song for you?
[00:18:25] Playlist or radio?
[00:18:29] What's your flavor? Playlist or radio?
[00:18:33] There are many options to choose from when it comes to satisfying your listening pleasure.
[00:18:40] People still listen to the radio.
[00:18:44] AM fm, xm, Internet radio.
[00:18:50] Tell me, which do you listen to?
[00:18:53] Or are you strictly playlist controlled?
[00:18:58] Who then is it itunes? Is it Spotify or iHeartRadio or maybe something else?
[00:19:08] Radio has spontaneity playlists, they have precision.
[00:19:16] Both say something about personality.
[00:19:20] Tell me, do you crave discovery or control?
[00:19:27] And there's always something new to discover.
[00:19:31] But is it really the control that you seek? And if so, to what degree?
[00:19:40] What's your motivation?
[00:19:45] Many have favorite genres that they like to listen to when driving.
[00:19:52] You know, some people, they need that aggressive rock.
[00:19:57] And in some they need that smooth jazz.
[00:20:01] And some they need Mozart and that classical feel.
[00:20:09] And some others, they need 80s country to process life.
[00:20:16] No judgment, no matter what.
[00:20:20] It's clear that driving Music is emotional steering.
[00:20:27] It helps regulate energy and can re energize us for what's to come.
[00:20:35] So what about podcasts behind the wheel?
[00:20:40] Correct.
[00:20:41] This is a podcast.
[00:20:43] I know that you listen to podcasts. What I'm asking is, do you listen to podcasts when you're driving?
[00:20:55] There's something powerful about learning while you're a moving object.
[00:21:03] And there's a plethora of choices out there. I mean, true crime, food, psychology, social media, the arts, news, technology, I can keep going, language, and so much more. Right?
[00:21:25] A drive then becomes productive, reflective, at times transformative, empowering, and at times healing.
[00:21:40] Now, some of my best ideas have happened while in throws of a mid drive, mid conversation, mid podcast.
[00:21:53] So how do podcasts on the go work for you?
[00:21:59] Do they add to the experience of the drive and the ride, or do they take away?
[00:22:10] Did they somehow suck some of the life out of that, that.
[00:22:18] That little piece of a journey?
[00:22:22] When it comes to music as a memory, it really gets me going. Because you heard me right. Music is a memory.
[00:22:35] You've heard of muscle memory.
[00:22:37] And you know what's wild about that, is certain songs instantly transport us to another place in time.
[00:22:48] One chorus or one riff, and suddenly you're. Suddenly you're 17 again.
[00:22:58] Music, it doesn't just accompany us through life.
[00:23:04] Nope.
[00:23:05] It acts as the architect and the plans and the driver, the propulsion.
[00:23:18] And then it archives it, ready at a moment's notice for recall.
[00:23:28] This drive is brought to you by Audible.
[00:23:31] Turn windshield time into wisdom time. Whether it's podcasts, audiobooks, or exclusive originals, Audible makes every drive a chance to learn, laugh, or level up.
[00:23:45] Your next great idea might just be one chapter away.
[00:23:49] Visit audible.com.
[00:23:55] And while we're on the topic, though, of the podcasts, these are the conversations that shape us.
[00:24:06] And now a podcast talking about podcasts. Very meta.
[00:24:13] No, but honestly, podcasts have changed how we learn, how we connect, how we think.
[00:24:23] What are some podcast conversationalists that you enjoy listening to?
[00:24:30] Some of my favorites are the Father Mike Schmidt's Catholic Podcast History that Doesn't Suck with Professor Greg Jackson, the TED Radio Hour by npr, Song exploder and Pods Save America.
[00:24:53] What activities pair best with podcasts?
[00:24:59] Now, you've heard of pairing wines with certain foods. Think of this similarly, what do you usually do when listening?
[00:25:10] Are you driving out for a walk?
[00:25:14] Cleaning up the house on workout?
[00:25:19] Maybe you're gaming.
[00:25:22] Maybe you're listening during bath time or working your job?
[00:25:31] Whatever the case that you're doing, podcasts have become companions to Ordinary moments.
[00:25:39] And that's powerful because studies show that people listening to podcasts while engaged in secondary activities, they tend to be more at ease as the podcast content often reduces stress.
[00:25:56] And this is even more so the case when people are listening to music.
[00:26:04] So what kind of podcast do you enjoy most?
[00:26:11] True crime comedy?
[00:26:14] Business history.
[00:26:17] Those long form interviews like Joe Rogan does, like, three hours apiece.
[00:26:25] Your podcast taste, it reveals a lot about your curiosity.
[00:26:32] And you're listening to this podcast proves without a doubt that you have great taste. So thank you for listening.
[00:26:44] But now, what questions are you trying to answer through a podcast?
[00:26:52] And where do you look for the answers to your questions?
[00:26:58] And which podcasts are those answers found in?
[00:27:08] Now, often people give me podcast recommendations. And, you know, one of my favorite things is hearing what people are listening to and why.
[00:27:24] The recommendations, they're. They're windows into perspective.
[00:27:30] They can help write an otherwise twisted situation.
[00:27:36] And they tell us what ideas are resonating right now.
[00:27:42] Not just for us, for others in this world as well.
[00:27:49] And conversation still matters. So let me tell you why, all right?
[00:27:57] In a world built for short attention spans, podcasts, they invite depth.
[00:28:07] See, they're built for one person, like you, my favorite listener, just for you.
[00:28:17] So they ask us to stay and to listen and to think.
[00:28:26] That's rare.
[00:28:32] Got something to say? Great. I've got fantastic news.
[00:28:36] Spotify for podcasters gives creators the tools to record, distribute, and grow their audience.
[00:28:44] Because your voice matters. And somebody out there needs the conversation only you can have.
[00:28:52] You've heard my voice. Now let the world hear yours. Spotify for podcasters.
[00:29:03] Well, we've made it to the part of the broadcast where I like to call it the final word.
[00:29:12] This is our kind of reflective.
[00:29:16] Over the course of the.
[00:29:18] Our time together today, you know, today we talked about plans.
[00:29:25] We talked about the futures that we imagine, the songs that we sing when no one's listening, music that carries us, the podcasts that shape our thinking.
[00:29:43] And if there's one thread connecting all of it, I think it's this.
[00:29:50] Life is built in ordinary moments.
[00:29:55] The Saturday plan, the shower chorus, the highway playlist, even a conversation through your speakers.
[00:30:06] See, these?
[00:30:08] They aren't distractions from life. No, they, in fact, are life.
[00:30:15] And the little things, they reveal the big things, your plans, they reveal your hopes.
[00:30:26] Those songs, they reveal your heart.
[00:30:31] What you listen to, that reveals what you're becoming.
[00:30:37] So as you head into the days ahead, here's my hope for you.
[00:30:46] May your plans have purpose.
[00:30:51] May your soundtrack bring joy.
[00:30:56] May your conversations bring clarity even if you don't have everything figured out.
[00:31:07] That's okay.
[00:31:10] Sometimes the road becomes clear only after we start driving.
[00:31:20] My friend, my favorite listener.
[00:31:24] That's our time for today.
[00:31:27] Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me.
[00:31:32] This has been Public Facing the Podcast.
[00:31:36] If this episode resonated with you, that's great.
[00:31:41] Keep the conversation going and share it with someone who needs a little encouragement this week.
[00:31:49] So until next time, connecting with music, be it in your shower or in your car, it's therapeutic.
[00:32:04] Keep showing up, keep listening and keep moving forward no matter what's coming through your speakers, because there's more out there to discover from the natural state.
[00:32:26] I'm Joe Holman.
[00:32:29] Till next time.
[00:32:31] Bye for now.
[00:32:37] Thanks for listening to Public Facing the Podcast with Joe Holman. Visit us online at publicfacingpod Stream and on
[email protected] publicfacingpod.
