July 22, 2025 • 27 mins
Welcome back to The Latitude Adjustment, where island metaphors meet mental upgrades. In this episode, Erica and Rusty take you from a hammock in paradise to the top of a Panamanian lighthouse as they explore what it really means to keep your mind wild, curious, and sharp—especially as you age.
We’re serving up:
📚 A lighthouse lens metaphor that might just change how you think about thinking
🍽️ A Brain Buffet filled with five delicious categories of mental nourishment
🛠️ Practical tools for living smarter—not just thinking harder
🥂 And a celebratory Intellect Toast to honor the part of you that’s still learning, still wondering, and still joyfully confused by IKEA instructions.
Expect laughter, science, real talk, and a few unexpected challenges for your gray matter.
🎧 Whether you're a lifelong learner, recovering trivia champ, or just someone who’s tired of yelling “where are my glasses?” when they’re on your head—this one’s for you.
Listen now and reignite your wild mind.
#LatitudeAdjustment #AgingHeroes #BrainBuffet #Neuroplasticity #CuriosityClub #MindsetShift #LifelongLearning #WellnessPodcast #PositiveAging #NarrativeCoaching #PodcastForGrowth
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Imagine this. You're lying in a woven hammock
strung between 2 crooked palms on an island where time stopped
trying to impress anyone, the Suns going down just slow enough
to make you feel wise for noticing in your hand, half
finished crossword on your chest, a paperback so worn it's
(00:23):
practically a family member. And just when you start to drift
off into that post rum glow, a little fishing boat pulls up
with a sign painted on the side that reads Mind Maintenance.
Walk-ins welcome. Because even paradise needs a
tune up, especially when you've been arguing with your GPS like
(00:47):
it's a backseat driver from yourpast life.
And so does your brain. Because it turns out coconut rum
doesn't count as a brain food. Who knew who?
Knew. Welcome to The Latitude
Adjustment, the podcast where aging isn't a slow fade, it's a
bold freaking encore. Join Rusty and Erica, 2 rebel
(01:09):
hearted guys with a suitcase full of stories, a camera, a
compass, and 0 tolerance for boring self help.
They're not here to fix you, they're here to remind you you
were never broken. So whether you're craving
clarity, connection, or just a passport stamp for your next
chapter, you've docked at the right port.
Grab your sun hat, loosen your grip on the grind and get ready
(01:32):
to chart a new course. Mind, body and soul.
This is the latitude adjustment.Welcome back everyone.
This is the latitude adjustment and today's episode, it's about
intellect. OK, so don't worry, we're not
(01:53):
going to hand out any pop quizzes or ask you to recite the
periodic table, unless you're the type who gets hot under the
collar for noble gases. No, we're talking about lighting
up the Lantern upstairs, about staying curious, playful, and
yes, even sharp as we age without turning into one of
(02:16):
those people who only uses theirhead to hold up a hat.
This week's metaphor comes from one of our favorite places,
Costco Viejo, Panama. That's right.
Picture centuries old stone cathedral Spires, soft light
spilling through wrought iron balconies, and for two brainy
(02:38):
tourists on the loose, the unexpected jackpot, The Panama
Canal Museum. Yes, we will wander through like
2 nerds on a honeymoon scavengerhunt when we saw it.
Sounds like normal us. It was the top of an old
lighthouse. And not just any top.
This thing had a lens made of thick, concentric rings of
(03:01):
glass, designed to take one flicker of light and turn it
into something strong enough to warn a pirate he was about to
eat rocks. This is 19th century technology
over there. Got to love that.
That lens, That's your intellect, your wild, powerful,
criminally underrated mind. We're here to help you clean it,
(03:25):
rotate it, maybe swap out the bulb.
Because let's be honest, some ofus are still running on dimly
lit moonlighting from 1996. So why does this matter?
Contrary to what your cranky Uncle Larry says between bites
of deviled eggs at family gatherings, intelligence doesn't
(03:45):
have an expiration date. Now, some parts of your brain,
yes, they might take a backseat from time to time, just like
that blender at the beach bar after happy hour.
But others? They expand crystallized
intelligence, the kind built on wisdom, experience, and decades
of wrong turns that turned out just fine, keeps growing, just
(04:09):
like your grandma's tomato vine after a good rain and a hearty
gossip session. And here's the deal.
Your intellect is the best defense against becoming that
person. You know the one sits on the
porch muttering. Kids today don't even know
cursing while refusing to Googlehow to use an air fryer.
I wonder how many folks out there just recognized that
(04:32):
voice. Get off my lawn.
So we love a good back in the day story, especially if it
includes the moonshine and questionable fashion choices.
But let's not get stuck there. We're here for folks who want to
keep adding chapters, even if they come with bifocals and a
side of joint cream. All right, standing in front of
(04:54):
that lighthouse lens, I had one of those moments where your
brain kind of hiccups. I looked at that thing and
thought, wow, I've been letting my mind operate like a lava lamp
in a power outage. And then I saw it, Rusty.
You had that look in your eye like you were about to turn into
(05:18):
full Bill Nye meets MacGyver mode.
You leaned over and whispered, Iwant to light a match and see
how bright that lens makes it, right?
That's classic Rusty. And you come, as ever, whispered
back. Don't make me tackle you in a
(05:40):
National Museum. We do.
Light it we do. Every time we pick up a book,
challenge a belief, learn a new skill, or just ask better
questions. Then what time is dinner?
That lens wasn't just a cool artifact, it was a cosmic nudge.
Even the softest flicker of insight, when focused, can
(06:03):
become a signal strong enough toguide someone through the fog,
preferably without needing to wear a safety vest.
So here's the science of it all.Aging doesn't mean we're doomed
to walk into rooms and forget why we're there.
Although let's be real, I don't know about you, but that
definitely happens to me. The truth is, parts of your
(06:25):
brain are still very much in thegame.
Reading boosts connectivity, learning a new language that
keeps your memory sharp, playingmusic improves your spatial
reasoning and meditation that turns your brain into a Zen
ninja with better boundaries. Even doing a crossword or
(06:46):
figuring out who played the dad on Family Ties counts.
It's Michael Gross, by the way. See, I still got it written down
right in front of me. Here's what matters.
We don't drift into clarity. We paddle there with curiosity
as our oar and brain fog as the squawking seagull we're going to
(07:09):
ignore. And when the paddle breaks, we
duct tape a broomstick to it andkeep on rolling.
Because the brain rewires. It regenerates, but only if you
ask it to. Preferably in the voice that
sounds like James Earl Jones. So here's what we've covered so
far, guys. We've wandered through Costco
Viejo, found a lighthouse lens that made Rusty, question museum
(07:34):
security as usual, and remembered that even the
smallest light can shine if you focus it right.
We reminded you that intelligence isn't just about
how many trivia nights you've won.
It's not. It's about how you think, how
you grow, and how often you're willing to ask what if.
(07:54):
The take away? Your brain is still your ship,
still seaworthy, still full of maps you haven't drawn yet.
Coming up next in Segment 2, we're serving up your brain
buffet sounds. Delicious love.
A bull spread of practices for nourishing that beautiful
(08:15):
noggin, mental push ups, curiosity cocktails, and just
enough weirdness to make your neurons shimmy.
Bring your curiosity. Maybe a crossword.
Definitely you're dancing synapses.
We'll meet you back at the beachbar.
(08:42):
All right, heroes. Last segment, we found ourselves
in an old Panamanian museum, staring at a lighthouse lens and
remembering 1 Little light, properly focused, becomes a
beacon. Now we're taking that idea to
breakfast or brunch, depending on how slowly your hammock is
swinging today. Welcome back to what we're
(09:04):
calling your Brain Buffet. Today's menu includes crispy
curiosity, scrambled patterns and a steaming bowl of whoa, I
didn't know that and also a la carte, an existential croissant
and a bottomless mimosa of mindfulness.
(09:24):
Plus a side of humble pie. Gluten free but ego rich.
Today is about feeding your mindwith the good stuff, the weird,
wonderful. Maybe this will lead somewhere
kind of nourishment. So let's talk mental
nourishment. Your brain doesn't just want
facts. It wants to play.
(09:46):
It wants novelty. It wants to feel like it's at a
mental beach bar where the dresscode is curious and slightly
confused. I'm going to dig through my
closet this this afternoon. Baby, you look so curious and
confused today. That's exactly what I was going
for. Curiosity isn't just inspiring,
it's neurological magic. When you lean into learning or
(10:10):
challenge your thinking, your brain rewires itself in real
time. And who doesn't want that?
New dendrites? Those tiny neuro feelers start
branching out like eager roots. New connections spark.
Growth happens. Literally.
You're building highways in yourmental jungle.
(10:31):
Some that might lead to clarity,others to three hour Wikipedia
rabbit holes. Either way, you're expanding.
And your brain doesn't care if it's chest Aichi or learning how
to moonwalk in your socks. If it's got juice, it's got
growth. So we broke this buffet down
(10:51):
into 5 delicious food groups forthe mind.
Think of it like the intellectual version of Jimmy
Buffett's Margaritaville menu, but with fewer margaritas and
more Mental Floss. Can we do this same exercise
with more margaritas? What's the saying about if
something's not broke? Don't fix it, don't fix it #1
(11:15):
rain sweets. I'm all about leading with
dessert. Right, this is your problem
solving zone. Sudoku, Wordle, crosswords,
strategy games, and writing a short story or building IKEA
furniture without directions. Rusties personal favorite.
Bonus points completing it with all of your sanity and no spare
(11:39):
parts. #2 curiosity crunch. This is where you feed your
wonder. Read an article outside of your
comfort zone. Watch a science documentary.
Ask a teenager to explain cryptocurrency without sighing.
I once spent two hours learning how octopi open jars.
(12:00):
That rabbit hole that was so good I almost sent them a thank
you card. Number three, language and logic
smoothie. Try journaling, Write a letter
to your future self, Start learning Portuguese, read poetry
and let it wash over you like a metaphorical mojito.
Language rewires your brain fast.
(12:24):
It's like a power wash for your neurons with a splash of
literary lime. A slavridad #4 sensory stir fry.
Yum. Your senses and intellect,
they're deeply connected. Try painting with your non
dominant hand, try a new musicalinstrument.
Do something like cook without arecipe.
(12:46):
Decorate your living room with your eyes closed and just hope
for the best. This is intellect embodied
thinking through your fingers. #5 philosophy pie.
This is for your deeper reflections.
What do you believe about time? About purpose, About whether
socks truly disappear into a wormhole.
(13:08):
Have a respectful argument with someone who makes your eye
twitch. Hard conversations build strong
brains, and you don't even have to win.
Just flex that cortex and keep it spicy.
Aging Heroes Challenge All rightheroes, it's time for your
(13:31):
challenge of the week. We want you to build your brain
buffet every day for the next 7 days.
Pick one item from one of the categories we just covered and
do it. Don't overthink it.
Don't wait for the stars to align or the coffee to hit.
Just pick one thing and sample it.
(13:51):
Here's what a day might look like.
Morning 5 minutes of Duolingo Spanish.
See. See.
That's your language smoothie. Afternoon.
Rearrange your workspace so you stop bumping your knee.
That's your sensory stir fry. Perfecto and evening.
Watch a Ted talk on time perception.
That's your philosophy pie. It's MUI delicioso.
(14:14):
Bonus points. Bonus points if you keep a brain
buffet journal. One sentence a day.
Tried finger painting, felt likea toddler on espresso. 10 out of
10 would recommend is that. OK, and don't stress about what
you got out of it. No, this isn't about results,
(14:34):
it's about rituals. Your brain is like a mango tree.
It grows in weird, slow, beautiful ways, and sometimes
the fruit drops when you're not even looking.
What matters most is that you showed up with curiosity instead
of complacency, That you poked your mental muscles with a stick
(14:55):
and said, hey, let's dance. Doing something unfamiliar
activates neuroplasticity, your brain's ability to rewire and
grow. It also boosts resilience.
People who engage their intellect regularly don't just
age better, they age weirder, and in the best possible way.
(15:15):
We're all about that because learning makes you feel alive.
It reminds you that you're not just repeating old scripts,
you're writing new chapters withfresh ink and some really funky
metaphors. You're not just getting older,
you're getting more interesting.Like secret jazz hobby and
speaking Swahili. Interesting.
(15:37):
I have a secret jazz hobby, did you know that?
I did not know that. See, you've learned something
new just now. I felt neurogenesis happening in
real time. Segment 2 Recap Today we served
up your brain buffet, 5 categories of mental
nourishment, and a challenge to keep your cognitive campfire
burning. We gave you permission to be
playful, to be perfect, and to keep on paddling.
(16:01):
Your brain's not past its prime,it's just entering its rum punch
renaissance. Coming up in segment 3, we take
this brain mojo and bring it back to your daily life.
Not just thinking smarter, but living sharper.
Spoiler it's not about dominating trivia night.
(16:21):
Rusty. It's about asking better
questions, telling better stories, and maybe remembering
where you left your sunglasses. Or your motorcycle to eat every.
Day. OK, gyros, you've cleaned your
(16:47):
lighthouse lens. You've piled up a week's worth
of brain buffet snacks, but now comes the part that separates
the island professors from the parrots who are just repeating
stuff. We're talking about living
smarter because being smart doesn't mean being impressive.
It means being effective, havingan agile mind that actually
(17:10):
shapes how you move through the world.
It's not about winning Jeopardy.It's about asking sharper
questions, solving real problems, and knowing when to
challenge your own thinking. So let's get into it.
How do you live smarter, not just think smarter?
Smart habits versus smart thoughts.
Thinking is great, but unless itaffects how you show U in your
(17:34):
relationships, your routines, your goals, then it's just
static. Here's a rule of thumb.
Smart habits beat smart thoughts.
Say that again. Smart habits beat smart
thoughts. Got it.
The person who journals 10 minutes a day learns more than
the one who reads 100 books but doesn't apply them.
(17:56):
Everyday intellect. It looks like asking questions
instead of jumping to conclusions, taking one small
risk to learn something new, noticing a pattern and trying
one change saying I don't know but I'm going to find out.
All right, so here's the toolboxof the smart life Let's talk
(18:19):
tools. These aren't IQ boosters.
These are life navigators. What do you have for us?
#1 the curiosity check in. Ask yourself every morning, what
do I want to understand better today?
It could be your job, your partner, your city, or the human
brain. Then chase it just a little #2.
(18:41):
The Could I be wrong? Reflex Practice this daily.
If something really ticks you off, or if you feel smugly
right, Erica, pause and ask yourself, could I be wrong about
this? Nine times out of 10, you'll
find nuance. And where there's nuance,
(19:01):
there's growth. #3 micro experiments, test your own
assumptions. Think you're bad at meditation?
Try one minute for three days. Hate classical music?
Try one new piece while doing dishes.
The point isn't to prove yourself right, it's to surprise
yourself #4 The no BS budget. If you say learning matters to
(19:23):
you, check your budget. Where do your money and your
time go? That's your actual belief
system. Smarter might mean fewer fast
scrolls and more slow reads, fewer opinion articles and more
primary sources. It's not glamorous, but it's
(19:44):
definitely liberating. Very true.
Want to test your intellect? Try disagreeing with someone
kindly. It's easy to react, gosh knows
it is, But it's harder to listen, paraphrase their view,
and respond with curiosity. One of the most intelligent
things you can say in a conflictis tell me more.
(20:08):
And if someone disagrees with you, don't defend.
Ask what's your experience been with this.
Intellect makes space for insight, not ego.
All right, here's a story. Tell us the one about the debate
on the dock. All right.
A few months ago, we were sitting on a dock with a couple
(20:30):
from Texas. The conversation turned
political. One of those Oh boy, here comes
moments. But instead of shutting down, we
leaned in right not to argue, tounderstand, we asked, what life
(20:51):
experiences LED you to that view?
That one question opened up stories about military service,
small town economics and raisingteenagers during the opioid
crisis. Now we didn't agree, but we
connected it's intellect at work.
Not smarter than, smarter with. In daily life, living smarter
(21:16):
looks like learning how your partner communicates under
stress. It's knowing when your kids need
a hug versus a question. It's reading the room and the
research. It's noticing when your energy
dips and adjusting your schedule.
Intellect isn't cold, it's compassionate.
OK, Segment 3 recap. Today we've talked about
(21:38):
intellect. Not facts and figures, but
flexible thinking, humble learning, smart habits that
shape a smarter life. We offer tools like curiosity
check insurance, micro experiments and the no BS
budget. We told you about the dockside
debate that turned into shared understanding.
(21:58):
Coming up next, segment 4 is theintellect toast.
We're going to raise a glass to your inner lighthouse, the part
of you that's still learning, still wondering, and still very
much on. So keep your lights on.
See you there, wise ones. All right, heroes, you've
(22:26):
rewired your brain, rebooted your rhythms, and wandered
Costco Viejo with us like 2 parrots loose in a History
Museum. It's time to raise a glass of
wisdom and wonder of what's everin your coconut right now, even
if it's just yesterday's coffee and a questionable slice of
(22:48):
lime. This is the Intellect Toast, a
celebration of your glorious Gray matter and the quirky
choices you've made to keep it wild and playful and at least
mildly caffeinated. You didn't just listen today.
You engaged. You poked at your patterns.
(23:10):
You gave your neurons a tango lesson and maybe a pina colada
chaser. So let's honor that, because the
real reward of amping up your intellect isn't being the
smartest parrot at the tiki bar.It's being the most curious, the
most teachable. Oh, that's a big one.
(23:31):
The most joyfully wrong when newtruth washes ashore like a
message in a bottle you didn't expect.
Here's to letting go of lazy certainty, to loving the process
more than the prize, to solving the puzzle.
Not because you should, but because it's fun to try.
(23:54):
And because the back of the box went missing in 1997.
This is your final segment. We didn't toss you another task
or A to do list. We didn't.
We gave you a pause, a deep breath, a sunset moment to
celebrate the mental mileage you've logged just by staying
(24:14):
away and aware. Well deserved.
We raised a glass to the learnerin you.
How cool is that? The part that's still asking
why? Still chasing how, still
laughing when things don't make sense and still showing up even
if you're wearing mismatched socks in yesterday's mindset.
(24:36):
So how long before we start selling Intellect toast mugs?
Let's see, I think I've got thaton my To Do List.
I'm thinking my neurons do yoga fueled by caffeine and cognitive
dissonance. Taking notes, taking notes.
Oh oh I want one that says my prefrontal cortex is in vacation
(24:58):
mode. Honestly, the whole merch line
writes itself. I think.
Let's throw a tote bag in that says ask me about my synapses.
But really, all this moment is more than merch and maracas.
It's a reminder. Don't underestimate the power of
staying open. Stay spongy.
Yes, please stay weird. Absolutely.
(25:20):
Because every time you stretch your intellect, every time you
ask better questions, lean into uncertainty, or read something
that makes you pause instead of scroll, you're not just growing
your own brain, you're giving others permission to do the
same. So here's an episode 13 recap.
(25:43):
Amp up your intellect. We kicked off this episode in
Panama, where a dusty old lighthouse lens reminded us that
a single focused flame can cut through fog.
Then we cracked open the brain science, neuroplasticity, mental
play, and why challenging yourself is like turning your
(26:04):
neurons into salsa dancers and flip flops.
In Segment 2, we served up the Brain Buffet 5 juicy categories
to keep your mind sharp, curiousand hungry for more?
Segment 3 brought it home with real life applications.
How to think more clearly, live more strategically, and not
(26:25):
confuse overthinking with insight.
It's a fine line and we've all tripped.
Over it. And here in segment 4, we poured
the intellect toast. Not because you've arrived, but
because you're still ad venturing.
If this episode hit your heart, it spoke to you.
Share it. Text a friend, tag us and go
(26:50):
follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Aging Heroes.
You can also find our full tribeat www.agingheroes.com.
Next week, Episode 14, sharpen your thinking skills.
We're getting into logic, cognitive bias, perspective, and
(27:10):
how to tell when your mental GPSmight need a reboot.
It's a good one, heroes. Less ego, more clarity.
And yes, plenty of beach metaphors, of course.
So until then, keep your lighthouse lit, keep asking why,
and if all else fails, blame it on the rum and start again
tomorrow. Absolutely.
Imagine this. You're lying in a woven hammock
strung between 2 crooked palms on an island where time stopped
trying to impress anyone, the Suns going down just slow enough
to make you feel wise for noticing in your hand, half
finished crossword on your chest, a paperback so worn it's
(00:23):
practically a family member. And just when you start to drift
off into that post rum glow, a little fishing boat pulls up
with a sign painted on the side that reads Mind Maintenance.
Walk-ins welcome. Because even paradise needs a
tune up, especially when you've been arguing with your GPS like
(00:47):
it's a backseat driver from yourpast life.
And so does your brain. Because it turns out coconut rum
doesn't count as a brain food. Who knew who?
Knew. Welcome to The Latitude
Adjustment, the podcast where aging isn't a slow fade, it's a
bold freaking encore. Join Rusty and Erica, 2 rebel
(01:09):
hearted guys with a suitcase full of stories, a camera, a
compass, and 0 tolerance for boring self help.
They're not here to fix you, they're here to remind you you
were never broken. So whether you're craving
clarity, connection, or just a passport stamp for your next
chapter, you've docked at the right port.
Grab your sun hat, loosen your grip on the grind and get ready
(01:32):
to chart a new course. Mind, body and soul.
This is the latitude adjustment.Welcome back everyone.
This is the latitude adjustment and today's episode, it's about
intellect. OK, so don't worry, we're not
(01:53):
going to hand out any pop quizzes or ask you to recite the
periodic table, unless you're the type who gets hot under the
collar for noble gases. No, we're talking about lighting
up the Lantern upstairs, about staying curious, playful, and
yes, even sharp as we age without turning into one of
(02:16):
those people who only uses theirhead to hold up a hat.
This week's metaphor comes from one of our favorite places,
Costco Viejo, Panama. That's right.
Picture centuries old stone cathedral Spires, soft light
spilling through wrought iron balconies, and for two brainy
(02:38):
tourists on the loose, the unexpected jackpot, The Panama
Canal Museum. Yes, we will wander through like
2 nerds on a honeymoon scavengerhunt when we saw it.
Sounds like normal us. It was the top of an old
lighthouse. And not just any top.
This thing had a lens made of thick, concentric rings of
(03:01):
glass, designed to take one flicker of light and turn it
into something strong enough to warn a pirate he was about to
eat rocks. This is 19th century technology
over there. Got to love that.
That lens, That's your intellect, your wild, powerful,
criminally underrated mind. We're here to help you clean it,
(03:25):
rotate it, maybe swap out the bulb.
Because let's be honest, some ofus are still running on dimly
lit moonlighting from 1996. So why does this matter?
Contrary to what your cranky Uncle Larry says between bites
of deviled eggs at family gatherings, intelligence doesn't
(03:45):
have an expiration date. Now, some parts of your brain,
yes, they might take a backseat from time to time, just like
that blender at the beach bar after happy hour.
But others? They expand crystallized
intelligence, the kind built on wisdom, experience, and decades
of wrong turns that turned out just fine, keeps growing, just
(04:09):
like your grandma's tomato vine after a good rain and a hearty
gossip session. And here's the deal.
Your intellect is the best defense against becoming that
person. You know the one sits on the
porch muttering. Kids today don't even know
cursing while refusing to Googlehow to use an air fryer.
I wonder how many folks out there just recognized that
(04:32):
voice. Get off my lawn.
So we love a good back in the day story, especially if it
includes the moonshine and questionable fashion choices.
But let's not get stuck there. We're here for folks who want to
keep adding chapters, even if they come with bifocals and a
side of joint cream. All right, standing in front of
(04:54):
that lighthouse lens, I had one of those moments where your
brain kind of hiccups. I looked at that thing and
thought, wow, I've been letting my mind operate like a lava lamp
in a power outage. And then I saw it, Rusty.
You had that look in your eye like you were about to turn into
(05:18):
full Bill Nye meets MacGyver mode.
You leaned over and whispered, Iwant to light a match and see
how bright that lens makes it, right?
That's classic Rusty. And you come, as ever, whispered
back. Don't make me tackle you in a
(05:40):
National Museum. We do.
Light it we do. Every time we pick up a book,
challenge a belief, learn a new skill, or just ask better
questions. Then what time is dinner?
That lens wasn't just a cool artifact, it was a cosmic nudge.
Even the softest flicker of insight, when focused, can
(06:03):
become a signal strong enough toguide someone through the fog,
preferably without needing to wear a safety vest.
So here's the science of it all.Aging doesn't mean we're doomed
to walk into rooms and forget why we're there.
Although let's be real, I don't know about you, but that
definitely happens to me. The truth is, parts of your
(06:25):
brain are still very much in thegame.
Reading boosts connectivity, learning a new language that
keeps your memory sharp, playingmusic improves your spatial
reasoning and meditation that turns your brain into a Zen
ninja with better boundaries. Even doing a crossword or
(06:46):
figuring out who played the dad on Family Ties counts.
It's Michael Gross, by the way. See, I still got it written down
right in front of me. Here's what matters.
We don't drift into clarity. We paddle there with curiosity
as our oar and brain fog as the squawking seagull we're going to
(07:09):
ignore. And when the paddle breaks, we
duct tape a broomstick to it andkeep on rolling.
Because the brain rewires. It regenerates, but only if you
ask it to. Preferably in the voice that
sounds like James Earl Jones. So here's what we've covered so
far, guys. We've wandered through Costco
Viejo, found a lighthouse lens that made Rusty, question museum
(07:34):
security as usual, and remembered that even the
smallest light can shine if you focus it right.
We reminded you that intelligence isn't just about
how many trivia nights you've won.
It's not. It's about how you think, how
you grow, and how often you're willing to ask what if.
(07:54):
The take away? Your brain is still your ship,
still seaworthy, still full of maps you haven't drawn yet.
Coming up next in Segment 2, we're serving up your brain
buffet sounds. Delicious love.
A bull spread of practices for nourishing that beautiful
(08:15):
noggin, mental push ups, curiosity cocktails, and just
enough weirdness to make your neurons shimmy.
Bring your curiosity. Maybe a crossword.
Definitely you're dancing synapses.
We'll meet you back at the beachbar.
(08:42):
All right, heroes. Last segment, we found ourselves
in an old Panamanian museum, staring at a lighthouse lens and
remembering 1 Little light, properly focused, becomes a
beacon. Now we're taking that idea to
breakfast or brunch, depending on how slowly your hammock is
swinging today. Welcome back to what we're
(09:04):
calling your Brain Buffet. Today's menu includes crispy
curiosity, scrambled patterns and a steaming bowl of whoa, I
didn't know that and also a la carte, an existential croissant
and a bottomless mimosa of mindfulness.
(09:24):
Plus a side of humble pie. Gluten free but ego rich.
Today is about feeding your mindwith the good stuff, the weird,
wonderful. Maybe this will lead somewhere
kind of nourishment. So let's talk mental
nourishment. Your brain doesn't just want
facts. It wants to play.
(09:46):
It wants novelty. It wants to feel like it's at a
mental beach bar where the dresscode is curious and slightly
confused. I'm going to dig through my
closet this this afternoon. Baby, you look so curious and
confused today. That's exactly what I was going
for. Curiosity isn't just inspiring,
it's neurological magic. When you lean into learning or
(10:10):
challenge your thinking, your brain rewires itself in real
time. And who doesn't want that?
New dendrites? Those tiny neuro feelers start
branching out like eager roots. New connections spark.
Growth happens. Literally.
You're building highways in yourmental jungle.
(10:31):
Some that might lead to clarity,others to three hour Wikipedia
rabbit holes. Either way, you're expanding.
And your brain doesn't care if it's chest Aichi or learning how
to moonwalk in your socks. If it's got juice, it's got
growth. So we broke this buffet down
(10:51):
into 5 delicious food groups forthe mind.
Think of it like the intellectual version of Jimmy
Buffett's Margaritaville menu, but with fewer margaritas and
more Mental Floss. Can we do this same exercise
with more margaritas? What's the saying about if
something's not broke? Don't fix it, don't fix it #1
(11:15):
rain sweets. I'm all about leading with
dessert. Right, this is your problem
solving zone. Sudoku, Wordle, crosswords,
strategy games, and writing a short story or building IKEA
furniture without directions. Rusties personal favorite.
Bonus points completing it with all of your sanity and no spare
(11:39):
parts. #2 curiosity crunch. This is where you feed your
wonder. Read an article outside of your
comfort zone. Watch a science documentary.
Ask a teenager to explain cryptocurrency without sighing.
I once spent two hours learning how octopi open jars.
(12:00):
That rabbit hole that was so good I almost sent them a thank
you card. Number three, language and logic
smoothie. Try journaling, Write a letter
to your future self, Start learning Portuguese, read poetry
and let it wash over you like a metaphorical mojito.
Language rewires your brain fast.
(12:24):
It's like a power wash for your neurons with a splash of
literary lime. A slavridad #4 sensory stir fry.
Yum. Your senses and intellect,
they're deeply connected. Try painting with your non
dominant hand, try a new musicalinstrument.
Do something like cook without arecipe.
(12:46):
Decorate your living room with your eyes closed and just hope
for the best. This is intellect embodied
thinking through your fingers. #5 philosophy pie.
This is for your deeper reflections.
What do you believe about time? About purpose, About whether
socks truly disappear into a wormhole.
(13:08):
Have a respectful argument with someone who makes your eye
twitch. Hard conversations build strong
brains, and you don't even have to win.
Just flex that cortex and keep it spicy.
Aging Heroes Challenge All rightheroes, it's time for your
(13:31):
challenge of the week. We want you to build your brain
buffet every day for the next 7 days.
Pick one item from one of the categories we just covered and
do it. Don't overthink it.
Don't wait for the stars to align or the coffee to hit.
Just pick one thing and sample it.
(13:51):
Here's what a day might look like.
Morning 5 minutes of Duolingo Spanish.
See. See.
That's your language smoothie. Afternoon.
Rearrange your workspace so you stop bumping your knee.
That's your sensory stir fry. Perfecto and evening.
Watch a Ted talk on time perception.
That's your philosophy pie. It's MUI delicioso.
(14:14):
Bonus points. Bonus points if you keep a brain
buffet journal. One sentence a day.
Tried finger painting, felt likea toddler on espresso. 10 out of
10 would recommend is that. OK, and don't stress about what
you got out of it. No, this isn't about results,
(14:34):
it's about rituals. Your brain is like a mango tree.
It grows in weird, slow, beautiful ways, and sometimes
the fruit drops when you're not even looking.
What matters most is that you showed up with curiosity instead
of complacency, That you poked your mental muscles with a stick
(14:55):
and said, hey, let's dance. Doing something unfamiliar
activates neuroplasticity, your brain's ability to rewire and
grow. It also boosts resilience.
People who engage their intellect regularly don't just
age better, they age weirder, and in the best possible way.
(15:15):
We're all about that because learning makes you feel alive.
It reminds you that you're not just repeating old scripts,
you're writing new chapters withfresh ink and some really funky
metaphors. You're not just getting older,
you're getting more interesting.Like secret jazz hobby and
speaking Swahili. Interesting.
(15:37):
I have a secret jazz hobby, did you know that?
I did not know that. See, you've learned something
new just now. I felt neurogenesis happening in
real time. Segment 2 Recap Today we served
up your brain buffet, 5 categories of mental
nourishment, and a challenge to keep your cognitive campfire
burning. We gave you permission to be
playful, to be perfect, and to keep on paddling.
(16:01):
Your brain's not past its prime,it's just entering its rum punch
renaissance. Coming up in segment 3, we take
this brain mojo and bring it back to your daily life.
Not just thinking smarter, but living sharper.
Spoiler it's not about dominating trivia night.
(16:21):
Rusty. It's about asking better
questions, telling better stories, and maybe remembering
where you left your sunglasses. Or your motorcycle to eat every.
Day. OK, gyros, you've cleaned your
(16:47):
lighthouse lens. You've piled up a week's worth
of brain buffet snacks, but now comes the part that separates
the island professors from the parrots who are just repeating
stuff. We're talking about living
smarter because being smart doesn't mean being impressive.
It means being effective, havingan agile mind that actually
(17:10):
shapes how you move through the world.
It's not about winning Jeopardy.It's about asking sharper
questions, solving real problems, and knowing when to
challenge your own thinking. So let's get into it.
How do you live smarter, not just think smarter?
Smart habits versus smart thoughts.
Thinking is great, but unless itaffects how you show U in your
(17:34):
relationships, your routines, your goals, then it's just
static. Here's a rule of thumb.
Smart habits beat smart thoughts.
Say that again. Smart habits beat smart
thoughts. Got it.
The person who journals 10 minutes a day learns more than
the one who reads 100 books but doesn't apply them.
(17:56):
Everyday intellect. It looks like asking questions
instead of jumping to conclusions, taking one small
risk to learn something new, noticing a pattern and trying
one change saying I don't know but I'm going to find out.
All right, so here's the toolboxof the smart life Let's talk
(18:19):
tools. These aren't IQ boosters.
These are life navigators. What do you have for us?
#1 the curiosity check in. Ask yourself every morning, what
do I want to understand better today?
It could be your job, your partner, your city, or the human
brain. Then chase it just a little #2.
(18:41):
The Could I be wrong? Reflex Practice this daily.
If something really ticks you off, or if you feel smugly
right, Erica, pause and ask yourself, could I be wrong about
this? Nine times out of 10, you'll
find nuance. And where there's nuance,
(19:01):
there's growth. #3 micro experiments, test your own
assumptions. Think you're bad at meditation?
Try one minute for three days. Hate classical music?
Try one new piece while doing dishes.
The point isn't to prove yourself right, it's to surprise
yourself #4 The no BS budget. If you say learning matters to
(19:23):
you, check your budget. Where do your money and your
time go? That's your actual belief
system. Smarter might mean fewer fast
scrolls and more slow reads, fewer opinion articles and more
primary sources. It's not glamorous, but it's
(19:44):
definitely liberating. Very true.
Want to test your intellect? Try disagreeing with someone
kindly. It's easy to react, gosh knows
it is, But it's harder to listen, paraphrase their view,
and respond with curiosity. One of the most intelligent
things you can say in a conflictis tell me more.
(20:08):
And if someone disagrees with you, don't defend.
Ask what's your experience been with this.
Intellect makes space for insight, not ego.
All right, here's a story. Tell us the one about the debate
on the dock. All right.
A few months ago, we were sitting on a dock with a couple
(20:30):
from Texas. The conversation turned
political. One of those Oh boy, here comes
moments. But instead of shutting down, we
leaned in right not to argue, tounderstand, we asked, what life
(20:51):
experiences LED you to that view?
That one question opened up stories about military service,
small town economics and raisingteenagers during the opioid
crisis. Now we didn't agree, but we
connected it's intellect at work.
Not smarter than, smarter with. In daily life, living smarter
(21:16):
looks like learning how your partner communicates under
stress. It's knowing when your kids need
a hug versus a question. It's reading the room and the
research. It's noticing when your energy
dips and adjusting your schedule.
Intellect isn't cold, it's compassionate.
OK, Segment 3 recap. Today we've talked about
(21:38):
intellect. Not facts and figures, but
flexible thinking, humble learning, smart habits that
shape a smarter life. We offer tools like curiosity
check insurance, micro experiments and the no BS
budget. We told you about the dockside
debate that turned into shared understanding.
(21:58):
Coming up next, segment 4 is theintellect toast.
We're going to raise a glass to your inner lighthouse, the part
of you that's still learning, still wondering, and still very
much on. So keep your lights on.
See you there, wise ones. All right, heroes, you've
(22:26):
rewired your brain, rebooted your rhythms, and wandered
Costco Viejo with us like 2 parrots loose in a History
Museum. It's time to raise a glass of
wisdom and wonder of what's everin your coconut right now, even
if it's just yesterday's coffee and a questionable slice of
(22:48):
lime. This is the Intellect Toast, a
celebration of your glorious Gray matter and the quirky
choices you've made to keep it wild and playful and at least
mildly caffeinated. You didn't just listen today.
You engaged. You poked at your patterns.
(23:10):
You gave your neurons a tango lesson and maybe a pina colada
chaser. So let's honor that, because the
real reward of amping up your intellect isn't being the
smartest parrot at the tiki bar.It's being the most curious, the
most teachable. Oh, that's a big one.
(23:31):
The most joyfully wrong when newtruth washes ashore like a
message in a bottle you didn't expect.
Here's to letting go of lazy certainty, to loving the process
more than the prize, to solving the puzzle.
Not because you should, but because it's fun to try.
(23:54):
And because the back of the box went missing in 1997.
This is your final segment. We didn't toss you another task
or A to do list. We didn't.
We gave you a pause, a deep breath, a sunset moment to
celebrate the mental mileage you've logged just by staying
(24:14):
away and aware. Well deserved.
We raised a glass to the learnerin you.
How cool is that? The part that's still asking
why? Still chasing how, still
laughing when things don't make sense and still showing up even
if you're wearing mismatched socks in yesterday's mindset.
(24:36):
So how long before we start selling Intellect toast mugs?
Let's see, I think I've got thaton my To Do List.
I'm thinking my neurons do yoga fueled by caffeine and cognitive
dissonance. Taking notes, taking notes.
Oh oh I want one that says my prefrontal cortex is in vacation
(24:58):
mode. Honestly, the whole merch line
writes itself. I think.
Let's throw a tote bag in that says ask me about my synapses.
But really, all this moment is more than merch and maracas.
It's a reminder. Don't underestimate the power of
staying open. Stay spongy.
Yes, please stay weird. Absolutely.
(25:20):
Because every time you stretch your intellect, every time you
ask better questions, lean into uncertainty, or read something
that makes you pause instead of scroll, you're not just growing
your own brain, you're giving others permission to do the
same. So here's an episode 13 recap.
(25:43):
Amp up your intellect. We kicked off this episode in
Panama, where a dusty old lighthouse lens reminded us that
a single focused flame can cut through fog.
Then we cracked open the brain science, neuroplasticity, mental
play, and why challenging yourself is like turning your
(26:04):
neurons into salsa dancers and flip flops.
In Segment 2, we served up the Brain Buffet 5 juicy categories
to keep your mind sharp, curiousand hungry for more?
Segment 3 brought it home with real life applications.
How to think more clearly, live more strategically, and not
(26:25):
confuse overthinking with insight.
It's a fine line and we've all tripped.
Over it. And here in segment 4, we poured
the intellect toast. Not because you've arrived, but
because you're still ad venturing.
If this episode hit your heart, it spoke to you.
Share it. Text a friend, tag us and go
(26:50):
follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Aging Heroes.
You can also find our full tribeat www.agingheroes.com.
Next week, Episode 14, sharpen your thinking skills.
We're getting into logic, cognitive bias, perspective, and
(27:10):
how to tell when your mental GPSmight need a reboot.
It's a good one, heroes. Less ego, more clarity.
And yes, plenty of beach metaphors, of course.
So until then, keep your lighthouse lit, keep asking why,
and if all else fails, blame it on the rum and start again
tomorrow. Absolutely.
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