20 Questions to Ask Your Father on Father’s Day Pt2 | with Al Arnold
06/19/20 • 55 min
If you’re listening to this now, my hope is that you’ve already listened to part 1 of this conversation with my dad. If you haven’t yet it’s available on your Podcast app of choice or CLICK HERE.
As I mentioned in part 1...
For a long time now I’ve wanted to sit down and do an interview with my father to ask him the big questions about life that we seldom (if ever) really discuss. So for this Father’s Day, I decided it was time to prioritize this conversation, even if it meant having to suffer through the perils of recording on Zoom as opposed to chatting face-to-face.
This episode is a very special and personal one that I recorded for me, not for social media shares, not for search engine optimization, and not to grow an email list. This one is for me. But my hope is that listening to today’s conversation inspires you to reach out to your parents (if you’re fortunate enough they are still alive), or your siblings, or those who helped shape the person you are today so you can have an honest conversation just like this one.
This is secon of my two part interview where I’ve created a series of 20 specific questions I’m calling “20 Questions to Ask Your Father On Father’s Day” (which can of course be repurposed to suit your needs). These questions were inspired by a similar exercise from high performance coach Brendon Burchard in this Facebook post.
If you’d like to use the same 10 questions I asked in this second part of this interview, here they are:
YOUR FAMILY
- How did you meet your spouse, when, and how did you know they were the one?
- Were you scared to become a parent?
- What is your proudest memory of being a parent?
- What three words would best describe your approach to being a parent?
- In regards to both their careers and life choices, what is the most important thing my children should focus on?
YOUR LIFE
- What three words would you say best describe who you tried to be in life and how you want to be remembered?
- What were the three best decisions you’ve ever made?
- What are you most proud of in life?
- What message do you have for your spouse that you want her/him to always keep in mind about you and your relationship together?
- What are you most thankful for?
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Useful Resources Mentioned:
[Podcast] Ep44: Kicking Cancer’s A*s, with Jane Arnold (i.e. my Mom)
Guest Bio:
Al Arnold has been working with struggling readers for fifty years as an elementary classroom teacher, elementary principal, and instructor at the university graduate level in a program for certifying reading teachers and reading specialists.
He has always been engaged in studying the science of reading and struggling readers and applying it in his work. The elementary school where he was the principal received an award from the Education Trust in Washington D.C. for improvement in reading achievement.
In 2007 he established a reading clinic to implement and further refine the techniques and curriculum he has learned and developed to remediate struggling readers.
Show Credits:
This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Zack Arnold and published by Glen McNiel.
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content
If you’re listening to this now, my hope is that you’ve already listened to part 1 of this conversation with my dad. If you haven’t yet it’s available on your Podcast app of choice or CLICK HERE.
As I mentioned in part 1...
For a long time now I’ve wanted to sit down and do an interview with my father to ask him the big questions about life that we seldom (if ever) really discuss. So for this Father’s Day, I decided it was time to prioritize this conversation, even if it meant having to suffer through the perils of recording on Zoom as opposed to chatting face-to-face.
This episode is a very special and personal one that I recorded for me, not for social media shares, not for search engine optimization, and not to grow an email list. This one is for me. But my hope is that listening to today’s conversation inspires you to reach out to your parents (if you’re fortunate enough they are still alive), or your siblings, or those who helped shape the person you are today so you can have an honest conversation just like this one.
This is secon of my two part interview where I’ve created a series of 20 specific questions I’m calling “20 Questions to Ask Your Father On Father’s Day” (which can of course be repurposed to suit your needs). These questions were inspired by a similar exercise from high performance coach Brendon Burchard in this Facebook post.
If you’d like to use the same 10 questions I asked in this second part of this interview, here they are:
YOUR FAMILY
- How did you meet your spouse, when, and how did you know they were the one?
- Were you scared to become a parent?
- What is your proudest memory of being a parent?
- What three words would best describe your approach to being a parent?
- In regards to both their careers and life choices, what is the most important thing my children should focus on?
YOUR LIFE
- What three words would you say best describe who you tried to be in life and how you want to be remembered?
- What were the three best decisions you’ve ever made?
- What are you most proud of in life?
- What message do you have for your spouse that you want her/him to always keep in mind about you and your relationship together?
- What are you most thankful for?
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Useful Resources Mentioned:
[Podcast] Ep44: Kicking Cancer’s A*s, with Jane Arnold (i.e. my Mom)
Guest Bio:
Al Arnold has been working with struggling readers for fifty years as an elementary classroom teacher, elementary principal, and instructor at the university graduate level in a program for certifying reading teachers and reading specialists.
He has always been engaged in studying the science of reading and struggling readers and applying it in his work. The elementary school where he was the principal received an award from the Education Trust in Washington D.C. for improvement in reading achievement.
In 2007 he established a reading clinic to implement and further refine the techniques and curriculum he has learned and developed to remediate struggling readers.
Show Credits:
This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Zack Arnold and published by Glen McNiel.
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content
Previous Episode
20 Questions to Ask Your Father on Father’s Day Pt1 | with Al Arnold
It’s amazing how global pandemics, worldwide protesting and riots, and the general upheaval of society as we know it can make you think. It certainly helps to lend perspective on what’s really important in life and the choices we’ve made that led us to where we are right now at this moment.
One of the most important realizations I’ve had is that because of travel restrictions and both of my parents being in the highest risk category for the COVID virus, I have no way of seeing them in person again until there’s either a reliable vaccine or we reach herd immunity. At this point that could be months or even years.
For a long time now I’ve wanted to sit down and do an interview with my father to ask him the big questions about life that we seldom (if ever) really discuss. So for this Father’s Day, I decided it was time to prioritize this conversation, even if it meant having to suffer through the perils of recording on Zoom as opposed to chatting face-to-face.
This episode is a very special and personal one that I recorded for me, not for social media shares, not for search engine optimization, and not to grow an email list. This one is for me. But my hope is that listening to today’s conversation inspires you to reach out to your parents (if you’re fortunate enough they are still alive), or your siblings, or those who helped shape the person you are today so you can have an honest conversation just like this one.
This is the first of a 2 part interview where I’ve created a series of 20 specific questions I’m calling “20 Questions to Ask Your Father On Father’s Day” (which can of course be repurposed to suit your needs). These questions were inspired by a similar exercise from high performance coach Brendon Burchard in this Facebook post.
If you’d like to use the same 10 questions I asked in the first part of this interview, here they are:
YOUR BACKGROUND
- When were you born, where, and what memories come to mind when you think about growing up as a young child?
- What are the most formative memories or experiences you had as a child or dteenager that led you to the person you have become today?
- What is the most important lesson you learned from your mom?
- What is the most important lesson you learned from your dad?
- If your parents were still alive today and could talk to my kids (their great-grandchildren), what would they want to share with them?
YOUR CAREER
- What path did you begin on in life when you first became an adult and why?
- What career path (or paths) have you followed since then and why?
- What do (did) you love the most about your career?
- What makes you successful at what you do?
- What do you believe about yourself that has help you endure difficult times, and what is the most difficult experience you remember teaching you this lesson?
Check out Part 2 of my interview with my dad, Al Arnold here →
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Useful Resources Mentioned:
Ep48: Feeling Lost? It’s Time to ‘Find Your Why’ | with David Mead
Guest Bio:
Al Arnold has been working with struggling readers for fifty years as an elementary classroom teacher, elementary principal, and instructor at the university graduate level in a program for certifying reading teachers and reading specialists.
He has always been engaged in studying the science of reading and struggling readers and applying it in his work. The elementary school where he was the principal received an award from the Education Trust in Washington D.C. for improvement in reading achievement.
In 2007 he established a reading clinic to implement and further refine the techniques and curriculum he has learned and developed to remediate struggling readers.
Show Credits:
This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by
Next Episode
From Out-of-Shape to Running a 240 mile Ultra Marathon | with Wes Plate
“It’s all about how you get to the starting line. That’s the real story.”
– Wes Plate
There aren’t many of us working 12 + hours a day in a dark room in post-production that think about running 240-mile ultra-marathons. We have enough to worry about on a daily basis, whether it’s building an at home work station (and fumbling with complicated WFH workflows) or learning new skills to weather the market during this pandemic, or chasing after our kids while simultaneously home-schooling them (and desperately trying to keep them off screens all day long). The last thing on our minds is training for an ultra endurance marathon.
Today’s guest, Wes Plate, didn’t start out with such a lofty goal either. Wes is a former editor turned software developer for Apple who works on the team developing Final Cut Pro X, so he’s no stranger to working long hours. He was a self-proclaimed workaholic and an alcoholic who hit rock bottom in 2007, weighing 240 pounds. After checking himself into rehab (after hitting rock bottom at a family Christmas party), he knew he had to get his life back in order.
In today’s conversation, you’ll hear the challenges and hard lessons that Wes learned on his journey from being a depressed, overworked alcoholic to a lean and happy Ultramarathoner. He shares the secrets and strategies he uses to overcome injuries and obstacles that life presents along the way. And he speaks in-depth about the mindsets that have led to his transformation into a happy and healthy father, professional, and athlete.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a rut and hopeless to get back on track, Wes’ story will provide inspiration and motivation to get you off the couch and onto your own starting line – however you choose to define it.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here’s What You’ll Learn:
- Wes’ experience working for apple on the team that makes Final Cut Pro X
- How Wes balances a demanding job for Apple with moonlighting as an Ultra Marathon runner.
- His story of hitting rock bottom after gaining weight and putting his mental and physical health on the back burner which led to checking himself into rehab for alcohol addiction.
- How he used a Garmin watch and telephone poles to kick-start a running routine.
- How he used small goals to build habits to improve his health.
- How he signed up for 5K races to get fit enough to join Fitness in Post.
- The importance of nutrition and hydration after finishing his first 50K race and barely being able to walk afterward.
- The real story is how you get to the starting line and not about how you perform in the race.
- How he sees himself as a normal guy, not a super athlete that just wants to do hard things step by step.
- How saying yes to running led to a domino effect of life improvements like meeting his running heroes and being part of the Ultrarunning community
- Why he’s learned to treat failure as just another piece of information to learn from
- The similarities between training for Ultra marathons and the creative process
Useful Resources Mentioned:
Wes’ Moab 240 Endurance Run – 2019 Film (AMAZING! MUST WATCH)
Ep19: From Rehab to Running Ultra Marathons | with Wes Plate
6 Lessons Learned From 6 Months of Training For American Ninja Warrior
From ‘Dad Bod’ to...American Ninja Warrior?
Our Generous Sponsors:
This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity.
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