The Jedburgh Podcast #050: The Jedburgh Podcast One Year Anniversary Special With Cleo Stiller & Fran Racioppi
In this one-year anniversary special, Fran Racioppi takes the hot seat as guest host Cleo Stiller, author of Modern Manhood, takes over the mic. Cleo turns the table, pushing Fran to finally tell his story from his days growing up in New England and Florida, to Boston University and the Army. They cover what drove him to study journalism, why rowing was so impactful and what he actually did in the Special Forces.
They also talk about his difficult post-Army career. The highs of business school and the lows of hard lessons learned in corporate America; plus his path to finding maturity to become the person he always wanted to be.
Thank you to all of our listeners, our guests, our sponsors and The Jedburgh Podcast Team for joining us on this journey. We are one year old with this episode. Let's celebrate then get back to work on the next 50!
Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.
Highlights:
-Fran explains why he was drawn to journalism, what he learned watching some of the greatest journalists of all time and how Geraldo Rivera showed him he needed to join the Army instead of becoming a reporter.
-Cleo asks Fran to talk about how his career in the Army first as an infantry officer and later a Special Forces Green Beret was the result of the discipline and teamwork he learned rowing at Boston University.
-Fran describes what he learned working in Africa, the importance of perspective and how his experiences shaped his view of himself and the world.
-Fran’s transition from the military was not the easiest road as he struggled to find himself professionally and personally through a variety of different roles; including Merrill Lynch, Snapchat and a foray into cannabis.
-Fran honestly addresses past questionable behavior, the drivers behind his decisions and what he has learned about himself through his commitment to change.
-The Jedburgh Podcast was born out of Fran’s desire to create impact in people’s daily life. He describes the process of launching the show, the impact it has had on his life and listeners, and a preview of what's to come through the rest of 2022 including the GoRuck Sandlot Jax Fitness Festival and Podfest.
Quotes:
-”I want to be one of those people. I can make an impact there now and later on if I want to be a journalist I can be a journalist.”
-”There were some terrible days in selection…even in the most darkest moments when I was like I don’t know if I am going to be able to do this I would say to myself ‘at least I am not on the erg rowing.”
-”We are really fortunate here in America to say and do all the things we get to say and do. Other countries don’t operate like that.”
-”I applied to a lot of jobs and had a lot of rejection.”
-”I cried when I was in the car. I looked in the rear view mirror and I realized everything I know in life is behind me. Your identity in so many ways is lost.”
-”What highly successful people tend to do is develop an alter-ego.”
-“We’ve taken the long-game approach on this podcast.”
Fran’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:
-Make an action oriented list every day
-Communicate effectively across the sender, receiver and the message itself
-Act deliberately and with intention
This episode is brought to you by Jersey Mike’s, 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.