This episode thinks about the power of storytelling—how we shape our lives through the stories we tell, embellish, and pass on. From ancient myths to everyday moments, stories are what connects us, defines us, and influences how others see us. Whether you're living a tale or retelling it, you’re the author of your own narrative.

But let’s be honest—how true are the stories we tell, really? Is any story true, ever? Every time you share that one crazy moment, you probably add a little flair (or forget a few some of the unnecessary details). And that’s okay. In a world where facts can feel forgettable, it’s really the feeling of the story that sticks. This episode asks why we all exaggerate, edit, and reinvent, and how the stories we shape often end up shaping us right back.

Opening song “Chiptune Fighter" written by SCOREWIZARDS.

All production by Cody Maxwell.

Opening graphic assets by motionstate.

sharkfyn.com

maxwellskitchenpodcast.com

Imagine being an explorer. Like a real one. Back when we hadn’t yet discovered it all. What an insane trip to start somewhere and have no idea where you are going or what you will find.

Now we have pictures of every location. Instruments that measure the depths of the sea. Monitors that scan the sky and tell us the approximate location of anything and everything. It wasn’t always this way.

What was it like for an explorer to acquire a ship, assemble a crew, get some food, and take off? How did it feel to leave land behind and be unsure of when you might see it again?

And what kind of people would even want to try this? Who were these people that were willing to risk it all and understand they may never see anyone in their hometown ever again?

This is an era that we can probably never understand as our lives are so dramatically different. Only a few hundred years have gone by - although it might as well be a few millennia. The world is a different place now than it was for Magellan and the other wild dudes who circumnavigated the world.

Opening song “Chiptune Fighter" written by SCOREWIZARDS.

All production by Cody Maxwell.

Opening graphic assets by motionstate.

sharkfyn.com

maxwellskitchenpodcast.com

Ever think about how you only get around 80 of any given day in your lifetime? Eighty birthdays, eighty Christmases, eighty Fourths of July — give or take. How many do you actually remember?

Some stand out for good reasons, some for bad, and most just blur together. What makes a day stick in your mind? Is it the people you were with? What happened? Or just how you felt?

As you get older, do holidays become less about you and more about helping your kids make memories? And when they grow up, will they even remember the ones you tried so hard to make special?

Is it even possible to remember every day? Would you want to? What if you knew which day would be your last — would it change how you spend it?

And if you could choose how many big moments you get in a lifetime, how many would be enough?

This episode reflects on those questions — and on how the days that really matter often aren’t the ones we plan.

Opening song “Chiptune Fighter" written by SCOREWIZARDS.

All production by Cody Maxwell.

Opening graphic assets by motionstate.

sharkfyn.com

maxwellskitchenpodcast.com