In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org and a leading voice in moral development, we explore what it really takes to build character and live with purpose.

We discuss: - What Really Drives Action: Why character is about behavior, not just beliefs, and how to act on what matters most. - The Power of Purpose: How even simple goals (like a push-up contest) can provide meaning and motivation. - Rewiring Your Inner Voice: How to reshape negative self-talk through daily value-based habits. - The Role of Environment and Culture: How your surroundings shape your character…and how to build the culture you need to grow.

Challenge: Find an image that represents the kind of character you want to build, and keep it somewhere visible as a daily reminder.

Resources:

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Soar with Your Strengths by Donald O. Clifton

The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt

The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt

Chatter by Ethan Kross

Grit by Angela Duckworth

The Path to Purpose by William Damon

Is empathy enough to create real change?

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org and lifelong advocate for character development, about why empathy alone doesn’t create change, and what it really takes to live with integrity, purpose, and courage.

We discuss: - Why Empathy Isn’t Enough: What most people get wrong about empathy, and how too much of it can block justice and enable harm. - Character vs. Compliance: The difference between doing the right thing because you have to vs. because it’s who you are. - Building A Virtue Habit: How Arthur built a gratitude practice from scratch and why small habits matter.

Challenge: Choose a character trait that doesn't come naturally to you, and create a small daily habit to practice it.

Resources:

FREE VIA Character Survey

Soar With Your Strengths by Donald Clifton (Book)

StrengthFinder 2.0 (Book)

Chatter by Ethan Kross (Book)

Character.org

What if your mind was never meant to fit the system?

In this episode, Perry Knoppert shares what happened after he gave everything up, and what he built. From living without a home to founding the Octopus Movement, Perry explores the power of nonlinear thinking and creating outside the lines.

*This is Part 2 of our conversation. In Part 1, Perry shares how his journey began.

We talk about:

• The moment he realized his brain didn’t belong in a linear world
• The difference between creativity and innovation
• What AI can’t do, and why human intelligence has never been more essential
• How fear shapes our world and what it takes to shift from conformity to connection

Challenge (at 00:43:00): Perry shares a personal technique to quiet your mind and access stillness in a noisy world.

The Octopus Movement Website