How to Share Inspiration

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“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So, write and draw and build and play and dance and live only as you can.” – Neil Gaiman

The other day I was at a salon getting my hair done and I couldn’t stop reading bits of filmmaker and philanthropist Peter Samuelson’s book Finding Happy aloud to my hairdresser.

Here’s a snippet of when he made the first pitch for First Star, his organization for educating foster kids in grades 9-12 on college campuses.

I asked for a meeting with the chancellor of UCLA, Gene Block. Back then he was in charge at UCLA. I believe he still thinks I went to UCLA first because I thought it was a top-notch university, which is true. Ranked the number one public university in the United States by US News and World Report, and number eight in the whole world. But actually, I went there first because I lived down the road. I thought, “I’ll start with UCLA…. They’re probably all going to say no, so I might as well start with the closest one.”

Peter Samuelson in Finding Happy

But they did say yes. Now First Star has 10 academies in the US and 3 in the UK.

How did Peter do it? Not just for his philanthropic efforts but also to get films like Arlington Road, Wilde and Revenge of the Nerds made? And how can we borrow from his playbook to get others to join us in efforts to improve the world? I was lucky enough to have Peter Samuelson come on the How To Share podcast to talk about how to share inspiration.

In this episode, filmmaker and philanthropist Peter Samuelson discusses his new book, Finding Happy, exploring themes of inspiration, storytelling, and the importance of empathy in connecting with others. He explains why storytelling is so vital in capturing other’s hearts when pitching an idea. He shares personal anecdotes about his journey, the power of collaboration, and the significance of love and mentorship in fostering resilience among young adults, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19. The conversation emphasizes the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam, or healing the world, and the idea of showing up to make a difference.

Takeaways

  • Selflessness can be selfish, as it often leads to personal fulfillment.
  • Success in life is rooted in storytelling and persuasion.
  • To pitch an idea you have to catch the audience’s hearts to create a window in which they can be moved.
  • Generating empathy through storytelling is essential for connection.
  • Humor can create openness and foster relationships.
  • Every young adult needs someone who loves them unconditionally.
  • People change when they feel cherished and valued.
  • Finding love often requires collaboration and shared goals.
  • Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal development and support.
  • Tikkun Olam emphasizes our responsibility to heal the world.

This is a great episode in which Peter does a fantastic job of catching our hearts to show us how to share inspiration. I know you’ll love it!

Here’s a short clip to give you a taste of the great conversation with the delightful Peter Samuelson.

Here are some ways you can listen and watch to the full episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

How to Share Our Luck with Gil Gillenwater – How To Share

In this enlightening conversation, Gil Gillenwater is with host Wynne Leon and shares his experiences and insights from over 35 years of philanthropic work along the US-Mexico border. He discusses his book, 'Hope on the Border,' which highlights the transformative power of education and community service. Gil emphasizes the importance of enlightened self-interest over traditional charity, advocating for a model that empowers individuals and fosters dignity. He explores the duality of poverty, the need for sustainable opportunities, and the joy found in serving others, ultimately presenting a vision for a more connected and compassionate world.TakeawaysEducation is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.Enlightened self-interest can lead to personal and communal growth.Charity should not be viewed as a sacrifice but as a mutual benefit.Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment.Welfare can disempower individuals and communities.Community service fosters connections and shared humanity.The disparity in wealth is a significant issue that needs addressing.Experiencing poverty firsthand can change perspectives.Creating opportunities in one's home country can reduce migration.The joy of service is a pathway to personal happiness.Links for this episode:How to Share homeHope on the Border at AmazonGil's organization: Rancho FelizGil Gillenwater on FacebookWynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith; Blog: https://wynneleon.com/; Substack: https://wynneleon930758.substack.com/
  1. How to Share Our Luck with Gil Gillenwater
  2. How to Share 1970's Chicago with Doug. E. Jones
  3. How to Share Feedback with Dr. Vicki Atkinson
  4. How to Share the Next Generation with Mari Sarkisian Wyatt
  5. How to Share Impactfully with Social Media Friends with Amy Weinland Daughters

Links for this episode:

More about Finding Happy and Peter Samuelson

Order Finding Happy on Amazon (also available at Barnes & Noble, Target and other booksellers)

First Star

Starlight Children’s Foundation

54 thoughts on “How to Share Inspiration”

  1. Congratulations on the stature of those on your guest list, Wynne. When is Michelle Obama coming on? Really, I wouldn’t be surprised. You might consider some politicians like Mallory McMorrow. She is a firebrand.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Placed an order for the book and the audiobook companion…. we are all chasing happy, but I think we already have it, if we look close enough and turn off the noise. I am going to give the podcast a listen later this morning. I agree with comments above – you would be a hard person to say no to, but I think that might be an inherited trait. Have a wonderful Wednesday.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think you are right about turning off the noise, Clay! I’m so glad you bought the book. I think he has so much to say – especially with all his mentoring experience. I’m curious to know if you it resonates with your experience with young adults as well!

      And I’m laughing about the inherited trait. Thanks, my friend!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I like most this take away “Every young adult needs someone who loves them unconditionally.” And I would like to add that also old adults need someone who loves them unconditionally!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Peter was endlessly interesting, Wynne. Which came first, language or stories? This made me think that stories came first because drawings in caves used no language at all, but still conveyed a story.. Loved the color green story, and the effectiveness of humor. I may just have to check this book out, Wynne, Peter exudes storytelling….like he’s done it all his life. 😊

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oooh – such a good point about language and stories, Melanie! You always have such interesting take-aways!! Peter does exude storytelling – you said it perfectly. It’s a worthwhile read! Thanks for listening!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. “Generating empathy through storytelling is essential for connection.” Oh, wow, love this. If I can see myself or my emotions in your story . . . even just a little, a remnant of connection has been made. I’m willing to listen. I’m willing to see where you’re going. I’m willing to go along for the ride. Good stuff Wynne.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Willing to go along for the ride — so well said, Brian!! As you well know – that connection makes it all flow!! Thanks for the great comment, my friend! And Erin getting engaged — how exciting?! I know I’m mixing my social media to comment on WordPress about something I saw on IG… 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Peter is a tremendous guest, Wynne. His conversational style and clarity had me the entire way. He is full of wisdom, and his ideas resonate with me. Storytelling helps us connect with others. One of the things I love most is how an author’s words can trigger a memory that I haven’t thought about in years.

    Humor is used to create empathy or understanding, which builds connections. When a class’s attention was wandering, I often injected storytelling or humor to regain their attention.

    Just picked up his book and looking forward to reading it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You were such a great teacher (this is no surprise) to catch when attention was wandering and bring it back with a story, humor or humorous story! I think you’ll enjoy the book, Pete — you and Peter share so much in common with your mentoring (and encouraging) young people!

      Thanks so much for tuning in!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. What a treat to enjoy this chat with Peter on my commute to work! 😊 So many wise insights – and it all comes down to the power of storytelling to bring people together and to move people through a project, a pitch or a challenge.

    Love his references to urban legends and jokes as being effective devices. I would also add personal anecdotes to this list. You and Peter nail it when you say that statistics and ROI references are important but they are not what grabs, moves and influenced people.

    I also appreciated learning about “neshama” (hope I spelled that correctly) and people who meet who feel like they’ve known each other a lifetime. It is a blessing when we meet people like that, especially in community or in important collaborations.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Personal anecdotes — yes, so important as well, Ab! Thank you for listening – I love hearing your thoughts after you’ve listened because you have so much great feedback.

      I think it’s n’shuma (I know after doing the transcription and listening to it a few times). I agree with you – those people are blessing in our lives! So many missions get done when we meet people with the n’shuma!

      So grateful for you, my friend!

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Really enjoyed reading your takeaways. The one that stood out to me was “Every young adult needs someone who loves them unconditionally.” A lot of young adults these days are extremely lonely and I think having someone that loves them unconditionally would significantly decrease mental health rates especially for stuff like depression.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I was lucky enough to stumble across your post today, Wynne! I love your takeaways here. I’m adding Finding Happy to my list and will be carving out time for your podcast soon. Congratulations on your guest and content! By the way, this is Crystal from another blog you follow.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I loved this little snippet, Wynne, and you share many great takeaways. This one resonates:

    “Humor can create openness and foster relationships.” I feel like humor plays a universal role in life just like music. The book sounds like a must read! Congrats on another excellent podcast. Have a good weekend! ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much for tuning in. That idea of the three levels of the soul is interesting. I’m not sure I agree that some don’t have it but maybe it’s fair to say that some don’t cultivate it. I really appreciate you listening and taking the time to comment!

      Liked by 1 person

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