//podcastplus.net/feed/tracking-wonder-podcast~58d1f690 The Tracking Wonder podcast, hosted by Jeffrey Davis, is all about helping agile creatives and curious entrepreneurs advance their most important ideas even amidst inevitable challenges. Each week brings you in-depth conversations with leaders, stories from change-makers, and provocative ideas from artists and scientists - all designed to inspire you to shape your best work with more possibility, impact, and - yes - wonder. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 23:42:42 +0000 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP7-FINAL.mp3?dest-id=692237 We’ve spent this season on the podcast exploring the beauty of an excellent life. And our listener-heroes have some difficult questions about the process of daring to excel. You asked: What role does FEAR play in advancing our best work? Is the rise of entrepreneurship bringing with it a destructive rise of SELF-CENTEREDNESS? How do you protect the INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY of your brand’s frameworks? Today, Jeffrey tackles the themes of fear, self-interest and intellectual property in the life of an entrepreneur. He explains how positive stressors can serve to deepen our insight and shares his process of inquiry when catastrophic thinking takes over. Jeffrey also reflects on the difference between self-interest and self-centeredness, discussing Adam Grant’s research around balancing self- and other-interest to have the most significant impact. Finally, he offers several current examples of egregious self-interest AND robust other-interest, addressing what we can do as entrepreneurs to keep our eg... Tue, 26 Nov 2019 08:00:00 +0000 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP7-FINAL.mp3?dest-id=692237 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP6-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237 What happens when the personal and professional life we have planned comes unraveled with a series of setbacks? Is there a way to reframe the most stressful period of our lives as an opportunity? Marc and Angel Chernoff contend that the way we spend our days is the way we spend our lives, and when they came up against back-to-back tragedy, the couple ruthlessly examined their everyday habits. And one by one, they started to incorporate new daily rituals. Little things that got them closer to where they wanted to be. So, how can we work through our own tornado moments and use the experience to grow? How can we learn to excel—even as our world is falling apart? Today, Jeffrey examines the art of life design with Marc and Angel, the creators of the Marc & Angel Hack Life Blog and bestselling authors of Getting Back to Happy and 1000+ Little Things Happy Successful People Do Differently . Marc and Angel share the series of personal tragedies that led to their work in the personal devel... Tue, 19 Nov 2019 08:00:00 +0000 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP6-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP5-FINAL.mp3?dest-id=692237 As humans, we yearn for artistic experiences that disrupt the day-to-day and wow us with a greater reality beyond our to-do list. That’s what draws us to the wonder of film and literature and art exhibits. In the absence of such experiences, we fall down the rabbit hole of digital distractions, scrolling Instagram for the unpredictability, the excitement of discovery we’re not getting from our physical environment. But what if we didn’t have to go to a gallery or a theater to encounter these transformative moments? What if artful experiences were available in ordinary places? What if you yourself could design for disruption and delight on a small scale in your own business and brand? Today, Jeffrey explores the impact of artful, transformative experiences with Vince Kadlubek, cofounder and executive advisor of Meow Wolf , an award-winning immersive arts production company out of Santa Fe, New Mexico . Vince explains how he went from struggling artist to head of a company valued at nine figur... Tue, 12 Nov 2019 08:00:00 +0000 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP5-FINAL.mp3?dest-id=692237 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP4-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237 Corporate culture perpetuates the idea that we need to fake it ‘til we make it, pretending to have all the answers and projecting confidence in our abilities—whether we feel it or not. But what if there are advantages to not knowing? What if living rich, creative entrepreneurial lives requires that we let go of what we think we know, step into new territory and expand our mental map of the world? Today, Jeffrey considers the benefit of naïveté in creativity and entrepreneurship with Sequoia Blodgett, former music video director and founder of Commas , a tech platform designed to help founders build sustainable businesses . Sequoia shares her journey from directing music videos to the tech world, explaining what she did to secure VC funding for her first company and how the failure of that venture led to the creation of Commas. She addresses the vast disparity of women of color in tech, discussing the unconscious bias prevalent on both sides of private equity and her mission to even the playi... Tue, 05 Nov 2019 08:00:00 +0000 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP4-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP3-FINAL.mp3?dest-id=692237 We are barraged by digital distractions to the point where it can warp our perspective. It’s profoundly challenging to hear ourselves think, let along carve out an identity of our own. So, how can we step out of this Matrix-like web of endless bombardment and live our own version of an excellent life? How can we learn to listen to and rely upon our own point of view? What does that take? Are there skills of self-reliance we can practice? Today, Jeffrey explores the art of mastering the entrepreneurial self with John Jantsch, the founder of Duct Tape Marketing and author of the forthcoming book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur: 366 Daily Meditations to Feed Your Soul and Grow Your Business . John explains how his curiosity informed his early days in business, discussing what living a life of excellence meant to him then and what it means now. He describes how the ideas of great mid-nineteenth century American thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Margaret Fuller apply to co... Tue, 29 Oct 2019 07:00:00 +0000 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP3-FINAL.mp3?dest-id=692237 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP2-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237 Do you have an abundance of ideas for potential projects? But never enough time to reach the finish line? What holds you back? Is it really that there aren’t enough hours in the day? And what’s the cost of not finishing the projects that matter? What if you could take steps today to act on your most essential ideas—and get closer to your vision for an excellent life? Today, Jeffrey explores the idea of finishing our most important work with Charlie Gilkey, the Business Growth Strategist behind Productive Flourishing and author of Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done . Charlie shares his strategies for deciding what projects really matter, explaining how finishing important work bridges the gap between where we are and where we want to be. He also weighs in on the pursuit of self-mastery to embolden our courage, discussing actionable practices for expanding our comfort zone and making meaningful progress in the age of distraction. Listen in to understand how Charlie navigates unbi... Tue, 22 Oct 2019 07:00:00 +0000 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP2-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP1-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237 Have you spent years building your one business or brand, honing your craft, refining your core skill set to build out a set of services around your distinct expertise? Or do you experiment with multiple fields, crossing boundaries to pursue excellence with your diverse background? Fearlessly shifting shapes and testing your versatility in new spaces? Is your motivation to excel at your work born from a need to be the best? Or are you driven by something deeper? Today, Jeffrey introduces us to the focus of Season 3, an exploration of the beauty of pursuing a life of excellence. He shares two different approaches to excellence, comparing the song of a wood thrush with that of a lyrebird and offering examples of legendary creatives who fit into each category. Jeffrey also reflects on what motivates us to excel, challenging the idea that we’re driven solely by the desire to compete and survive. Listen in for insight around how we’re motivated by our admiration for others and learn how the beauty and ... Tue, 15 Oct 2019 07:00:00 +0000 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S3EP1-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/TW_Season_3_Trailer-_FINAL.mp3?dest-id=692237 Some social critics argue that the Internet Age has ushered in a culture of mediocrity and amateurism. But maybe there’s another story. Maybe these bewildering times prompt in us a new kind of drive. Almost all of us want to get better at something, whether it is being a better business owner or painter, prototyper or parent. Inherent in this desire to improve is the drive to excel: A daring to flourish in our work, our creativity, and our humanity.   Is it possible that if we dared to excel together – guided by qualities such as wonder, beauty, and compassion – we could enhance our lives and elevate the world around us? Is it possible that qualities such as ambition, openness, curiosity, and an appreciation of beauty can fuel our pursuit of excellence? To dare to excel is to venture into the unknown, to test our limits, to go beyond the bounds of our comfort zone. But this is a risk worth taking for our own benefit and for the sake of making the world a more beautiful place. Join u... Mon, 07 Oct 2019 08:00:00 +0000 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/TW_Season_3_Trailer-_FINAL.mp3?dest-id=692237 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S2EP8-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237 This season on the podcast, we explored the idea of designing our lives and work for more curiosity, more purpose, more openness… More WONDER. We went behind-the-scenes of wonder-making in films, video games and art exhibitions and studied experience architecture in our families and our brand communities. But have you ever wondered how Jeffrey and his team design the podcast itself or the business of Tracking Wonder as a whole? Today, Tracking Wonder team members Jeffrey Davis, Erin Haworth, Britt Bravo and Laine Nickl pull back the curtain on their own work. Jeffrey reveals how he conceived of the idea for the business, discussing the watershed moments that led to his commitment to be a wonder tracker in his own life. They go on to share their top takeaways from this season of the podcast and the nuts and bolts of putting together an episode. Jeffrey walks us through his role in developing the premise, Erin offers insight around the necessary systems and Laine describes the evolution of the imagery t... Tue, 27 Nov 2018 09:00:00 +0000 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S2EP8-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S2EP7-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237 We long to belong. The desire to be a part of a community is a fundamental human yearning, yet broad swaths of Americans have never felt more isolated. In fact, four out of ten report regularly feeling lonely, and very few have more than two people they consider confidants. Why is this happening? What can we do about it? Is there an opportunity for businesses and organizations to fill the void? And if so, how do we design for belonging in brand communities? Today, Jeffrey takes a deep dive into the concept of belonging with executive consultant Charles Vogl, author of The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging . Charles describes his personal feelings around being an outsider and discusses the top three trends contributing to the loneliness epidemic in the US. He shares his experience at Yale Divinity School, explaining the pervasive ‘crisis of belonging’ on campus and how that phenomenon informs his current work. Charles also offers his definition of community as shared mutual concern... Tue, 20 Nov 2018 09:00:00 +0000 http://traffic.libsyn.com/trackingwonderpodcast/Tracking_Wonder-S2EP7-Final.mp3?dest-id=692237