James Talarico

Sure, it's fun.

There's no end.

And I think the thing that's encouraging about both this podcast but also the format in general is that it is long form.

And so it forces you to pay attention in a different kind of way, right?

Your attention on TikTok or Instagram or some of these other platforms, it is so superficial and shallow and that attention I think is abused on those platforms.

And I think I've talked to people in my own life who feel like the more time they spend on those platforms, the less you're able to pay attention to something.

Right?

In your daily life.

But the fact—and what you mentioned about martial arts is this focus, right?

I mean, you can't do anything great in your life without that focus.

I mean, I'm going to sound like a Buddhist, but the ability to kind of control your own mind—

and focus that mind and that spirit on something right in front of you on the here and now.

I mean, that is the key to all success.

And whether you're doing a podcast, whether you're doing sports or politics, but it feels like there's a whole generation of kids who are growing up who aren't getting that training for their attention.

And it's just getting abused and shot

I've just noticed just in this conversation we've had that you have a gift for listening.

And I think this is something these platforms or most of our cable news or most of our media environment doesn't value anymore is actual listening and learning.

It is now all about listening.

what you say, what your opinions are, rather than actually creating a connection with another person.

Well, and the fact that you have people from such different perspectives on, I think – I just don't – I don't think we have very many platforms like that anymore.