Room to be Human

A Conversation with Michael Cirigliano on Melancholy as Insight, Writing as an Act of Service, and the Music That Returns Us to Ourselves

Jul 30 • Russell Smith and Michael Cirigliano II

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Walk Where You Are

Walks Around Berea, Kentucky. Part 2

Jul 23 • Russell Smith

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United and Divided in the Dark and Bloody Ground

Walks Around Berea, Kentucky. Part 1

Jul 16 • Russell Smith

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Live in Your Strength

An Appreciation of Ben Wilson and How to Take Over the World

Jul 9 • Russell Smith

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A Flag, A Man, A Country

George Washington in deeds, words and example

Jul 4 • Russell Smith

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June 2026

What I Read Q2 2026

Arthurian romances; Walking with God and on the ancient paths; Yoga, yogis and Brother Lawrence; Money and the meaning of life; and personal favorites …

Jun 25 • Russell Smith

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May 2026

Sarah Landenwich's The Fire Concerto -- Out in Paperback Next Week

To celebrate, here's my conversation with her. We discuss: her writing and walking habits; her persistence in finding an agent; and rediscovering…

May 28 • Russell Smith

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The Gear Issue

Or, Your 2026 Father's Day Gift Guide

May 14 • Russell Smith

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April 2026

Reminder -- TONIGHT's Conversation on Hermann Hesse's Journey to the East

Join me from 6:00pm to 7:30pm ET for a fun discussion on Hesse's novel on faith, persistence and imagination

Apr 16 • Russell Smith

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March 2026

What I Read Q1 2026

A quarter filled with classics -- American and French novels and Buddhist scripture; Dragons and a master myth-teller; health, fitness and fixin' my…

Mar 26 • Russell Smith

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Bryan McGrath on Leadership in the Navy, Writing, Retirement, and His 'Own Walden'

Why "Relentless Excellence" became his command philosophy

Mar 5 • Russell Smith and Bryan McGrath

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February 2026

Staring at a Painting for Three Hours

Reflections on doing the focus exercise from Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks

Feb 26 • Russell Smith

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