Parenting and the American Dream - A Journey of Belonging

In this episode, I finally got to revisit a huge topic I missed last time: the impact of a specific "discovery" and how it shed light on the evolving landscape of modern journalism. I was genuinely surprised and, frankly, a bit disappointed to learn that individuals involved in misleading stories are still active – a stark reminder that the world often isn't fair (00:01). This led us into a fascinating discussion about how journalism has shifted from pure reporting to more of an entertainment medium over the last 30 years (00:37).

I was so excited to hear Max talk about his new Substack, where he shares recipes and memories. It perfectly encapsulates our shared belief in the enduring power of long-form content, pushing back against the narrative that nobody has an attention span anymore (01:43). We delved into the beauty of platforms like Substack that allow for deeper dives into ideas, a refreshing change from the usual short, attention-grabbing articles.

Max's work with "Food and Community" on social media also really resonated with me. I love the storytelling in his reels (06:59), and it highlights a different way of living – one that prioritizes slowing down, enjoying moments, and genuine social interaction, something I believe we've lost touch with, especially after COVID (07:46). This brought us to a deeper conversation about technology's impact, drawing a powerful parallel between social media and the tobacco industry's early days (09:47), and my growing concern about generational knowledge loss.

But what truly inspired me was Max's personal journey from being a "witness" reporting on others' lives to actively "creating" his own. He shared how this led him from a fashion company to making wine, and now to his innovative non-alcoholic drink, GlassRose. This pivot to becoming the protagonist of his own story is incredibly powerful and shows the immense satisfaction that comes from bringing an idea to life (21:54). I particularly admire Max’s "slow way of living" and his philosophy of finding joy in the process (29:23), rather than being consumed by the "grind" culture. His lack of fear of failure and openness to unexpected opportunities, like a simple Facebook message that transformed his life (35:53), is a testament to embracing curiosity.

We also touched upon the nuances of raising children in the US compared to Germany, exploring the educational system's flexibility versus standardization (47:39), and the pervasive "pursuit of happiness" in American culture. Finally, we teased our next episode with a discussion about Max’s journey into sobriety and the unexpected inspiration behind GlassRose (1:12:04). My biggest takeaway from this conversation is the profound importance of embracing the journey, finding joy in every step, and daring to create the life you truly want to live.