Over the next who-knows-how-many weeks, we’re going to be exploring the hypothesis that “People Are Good”. At the end, we’ll have an answer. Either people are good or I implode.

Seriously, I am going to take this week by week, diving in to the question of whether people are ultimately good or…not. I will consider a premise each week — a quote, a snippet from a conversation — then collect data in the form of an article or two, an interview, etc. Then I will share a story.

Our first episode begins with a quote from my favorite podcast. I’m a Murderino, a huge fan of “My Favorite Murder” and in episode #185, Karen Kilgarith and Georgia Hardstark nailed it when they said the title of Karen’s next book will be: “Shut Up: You’re the A*****e” — You need to admit, with humility, that you are always an a-hole, and move forward accepting that.

The premise today is that you need to give up being a good person in order to do good stuff.

The story that I use to really drive that home is the story of dearly beloved, all around “good person” and worldwide hero, Winston Churchill.

What I talked about:

* First, The way that Karen K. and Georgia H. nailed what I wanted to talk about today made me want to force everyone I know to listen to their podcast. Yes, there’s true crime. Yes, there’s comedy. I come for that stuff but stay for the free life coaching.

* Second, Scott Jefferies, life coach, writes in his article at Psych Central that you must let go of the idea of being a good person if you want to actually do good. I realted that to Carol Dweck’s idea about a Growth Mindset.

* Third, I tell the story of Winston Churchill with an emphasis on the things he got very very wrong.

* Fourth, The implication may be that, perhaps, the more one holds tightly to the idea that they are 100% good, the more heinous the evil may be that escapes unwittingly. Perhaps.

Notes:

* My Favorite Murder — My Favorite Podcast. Really.

* Why You Should Stop Being A Good Person — Scott Jefferies article at Psych Central

* Growth Mindset — Carol Dweck speaking at Google on her idea of the Growth Mindset

* Quotes (Answers to who said what in the podcast):

* Churchill

* Neither — attributed to Churchill but there is no evidence he actually said it.

* Hitler

* Hitler

* Churchill

Onward — The next few weeks we’re talking about how we’re connected! Look for the Monday morning newsletter, and a conversation from the Wild and Precious podcast episode on Thursday.

What do you think? Are people good? Lets talk about it! (I’m nervous but excited to get a conversation going)

What you can do if you want to support this project:

* Share this post:

* Share this project:

* Subscribe/rate/review at Apple podcasts — or Spotify, or Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

* Subscribe here to the newsletter/podcast combo. Subscribing to the podcast on your favorite platform and subscribing here on substack is a wonderful way to support this project and get great stories every week :)

* Tell a friend. Actually just tell them. With words. Call them, maybe?

* Tell me what you think. It helps - it’s so appreciated!

I am so excited about this project — People Are Good. I can’t wait to share with you research, vignettes, and conversations with experts proving, once and for all, that people are good.

No longer will you have to lie awake all night wondering if people are good.

No longer will you have to worry about whether or not people are good.

No longer will you have to get into messy bar fights with people over the issue.

People. Are. Good.

So let’s dive in. Once a week, in short, easy to digest episodes.