The Walk

Whether it is about Star Wars: The Acolyte, about politics or about faith: online debate seems to be stuck in a negativity loop that is hard to avoid nowadays. Before you know it, you get sucked into the vortex of online negativity and you feel worse as a result. In this episode, I explore the root causes for this online behavior and I share with you how I try to counterbalance it by 'reprogramming' my own behavior using a simple morning routine.

For months I have been working behind the scenes on creating a new home for my community on my own website. I have finally started the process of bringing people over from Patreon to the new system, and I am ironing out the last wrinkles. It is the kind of work that I always forget to 'count' at the end of the day, because it doesn't immediately result in tangible output. But thanks to the 'Got Done' List I add to my journal at the end of the day, I'm starting to become more aware of the fact that I do way more work every day than I give myself credit for. The vision for the new community site is for it to be a 'home' for my followers, a place where they find a supportive and friendly community. If you are supporting me through Patreon right now, you will soon receive an invitation to move your membership over to the new community.

I am writing a new book about my method to create online content that reaches new people and forms community around my podcasts and videos. I have been developing this method for the past 20 years, from my early days as a Star Wars blogger to my recent adventures as an Anime commentator on TikTok. I talk about the focused way in which I am writing this book: by following a specific outline and by writing 1000 words each day of the month of June.

Yoda’s famous words—“Do, or do not. There is no try”—resonate beyond the Star Wars universe. But in our daily lives, it’s not always easy to put into practice. Join me as I explore the struggle between productivity and rest. I’ve struggled with endless To-Do lists must as much as with allowing myself some rest and recovery by doing nothing. Like Luke Skywalker during his training, I keep trying. However, there’s one thing I often forget: I’m actually pretty good at ‘having done things.’ I just don’t always acknowledge my accomplishments. Maybe it’s time to change that. In this week’s episode of The Walk, I discuss the power of recognizing what we’ve achieved and finding fulfillment beyond mere effort.

I often dream of living like a Hobbit. A life in which the only thing I have to worry about is which meal comes next, or in which I only have to follow a wizard and a bunch of dwarves on an adventure. But in reality, I am very good at worrying about almost everything. Instead of living care-free, I am always planning, strategizing and going over all the possible scenarios that life can throw at me. And when reality doesn't match my plans, I get upset and stressed out. In this podcast, I share an idea I found in Thomas Salerno's latest blog about the difference between architects and gardeners that helped me look at my life in a different way. You can read his blog here: https://thomasjsalerno.substack.com/p/a-garden-of-words

After the first LEGO movie came out, I was so inspired that I created a short animated video with Lego minifigures in which I explained the meaning of Pentecost. It was an instant hit and was viewed hundreds of thousands of times all over the world. It taught me how much of an impact your message can have if you communicate it in a language that your target audience (in this case: kids and their parents) can understand. Isn't this the core message of Pentecost? The Holy Spirit teaches us new languages to help us reach out with the Good News of God's love for us. In this episode, I share how I want to help others with my media experience by explaining my communications method in my next book. Link mentioned in this episode: 'Pageturning' by Thomas J. Salerno at https://thomasjsalerno.substack.com

I share my personal journey of joining the 501st Star Wars cosplay group, along with my commitment to becoming a healthier individual. I share how intermittent fasting not only helps me lose weight, but also reminds me of the importance of setting and prioritizing goals.

On Monday, I got a tour behind the scenes of the Tropical Reef Aquarium of Burger's Zoo in Arnhem. It was a fascinating experience. Our guide explained how the zoo makes its own, high quality sea water, eight million liters in total! This water is first distributed to the most important and most demanding part of the Aquarium: the thriving, colorful coral reef, the largest living coral reef in Europe. From there, the water flows to the other, connected parts of the aquarium. While I was riding my bike back home, I reflected on the way I have been organizing my media work over the years. The world of social media and online content has changed quite a bit since my early days of podcasting on Saint Peter's Square. Now that I'm on the verge of opening the early access fase of my new communities on fatherroderick.com, it is a good moment to rethink the way in which I connect with my followers and how I can serve them best. Similar to the way in which Burger's Zoo creates its own sea water and makes sure it reaches the most important and valuable parts of the aquarium first, only to flow to connected areas later, I'm planning on focusing my efforts on the creation of one content pillar, aimed at my primary target audience first and foremost. In a subsequent step, I can repurpose that content and distribute it to the various connected audiences on my social media channels next.In this episode of The Walk, I explain my thought process and what it means for my future workflow.

Last weekend I spent two full days at the biggest fantasy and costuming festival in Europe: Elfia. In this episode of the Walk, I share how over the years, I have managed to overcome my social restraints and how I'm learning to engage with total strangers on a deeply personal level. I also share what the new communities will offer you now that we are transitioning to the new website environment and I reflect on the various ways I hope to serve you with my podcast episodes, with my videos and live streams and with my coaching. Make sure to subscribe to my email newsletter to be informed about the upcoming changes: sign up at www.fatherroderick.com/free and get my newest book for free!

I recently discovered why social activities often wear me out: in many situations, I feel that I have to 'put on my happy face' instead of being fully myself. It is an ingrained habit of 'masking', and I have noticed that the more I feel free to 'unmask', the more I actually enjoy social company. What are some of the reasons that we sometimes force ourselves to behave in a way that other people expect of us, instead of fully being ourselves? When can this be useful, and when can it become harmful? In the premium part of the episode I share with my patrons some ideas for monthly masterclasses, retreats and pilgrimages.