Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene
Insightful and open-minded conversations that help you see the world with greater clarity. The bi-weekly roadmap to a more intentional and fulfilling life.
Episodes
Trusting as Little As Possible in the Future
The famous quote "Carpe diem" we all translate to seize the day. But the more important part of that passage is "Carpe diem. Trusting as little as possible in tomorrow". See, back when people only lived about as long as a Labrador Retriever, it was important to seize the day. But, today, we seem to have lost sight that tomorrow is far more important than today. Listen to find out why.
The Inflation of Expectations
Have you ever noticed that you never judge what you have against what you used to have? You always judge what you have verses what everyone else seems to have. It's called the inflation of expectations. That is, our expectations seem to rise in direct correlation to how well everyone else is doing. And, suddenly, our picture perfect life doesn't seem so perfect anymore.
Why So Many Older Men are Giving Up
Men aged 75 and over have the highest suicide rate in the US. It's not just retirement. It's a loss of identity and purpose. But, you can help. Learn the warning signs and phrases and how you can help. Might just save a life.
The "Silver" Split
Meaning, Structure and Belonging
What if I had a secret formula that almost guaranteed that your children and grandchildren would get better grades, avoid drugs and pre-marital sex and prevent anxiety and depression. Wouldn't you want to know about it? Listen to find out.
The Quiet Disappearance of Conversation
We are all communicating more. A lot more. But all this communication and technology is killing something off. We are speaking fewer words per day than ever. In fact, between 2005 and 2019 we lost 3,000 words....every day. And, it's only getting worse. Convenience has a habit of quietly replacing things we never intended to lose.
What Do You Want to Want?
We all know what we want: more money, better sex and six pack abs. But, it's much more instructive to understand "what you want to want". Because sometimes we simultaneously desire and reject the exact same thing.
The Paradox of Progress
Would you believe me if I told you that the happiest young adults were in places like Tanzania, Nigeria and other remote parts of Africa? It's true. And the rest of the kids on earth are struggling in clinically significant ways. You'll have to listen to find out why those kids in Africa have it all figured out.
The Road Not Taken
Most regret doesn’t come from making the wrong decision. It comes from simply making a decision.
Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
From chocolate milk and classroom memories to the simple lessons of kindness, wonder, and slowing down, this heartfelt reflection explores why the values we learned as children may be the ones we need most today.
The Quiet Surrender
Our birth rates are crashing all across the planet. And, at the same time, several companies are mass producing robots. So, how do these two things collide? Listen to find out.
What if the American Revolution Never Happened?
As we celebrate our 250th anniversary as a country it's a good time to question what our lives would be like in the US if the revolution had never happened.
We Suffer More in Imagination Than in Reality
Most of the things we worry about never come to pass. Or if they do, they're never as bad as we think.
The Anatomy of Slow Moving Disasters
I'm not gonna lie, there are enough things going on right now in the world to make me question if I was born in the final chapter of the human race. But, then I'm reminded of Adam's Law of Slow Moving Disasters. It's saved us from certain demise hundreds of times. Tune if to find out why you worry too much....and I do too.
Familiarity Breeds Indifference
For a brief moment in the summer of 2026 we have a brief moment to see America clearly. The scale, ambition, the abundance, the contradictions and the optimism as viewed through the eyes of a foreigner. Let's hope we may never be the same.
Some Things We Have to Learn the Hard Way
There are certain lessons that no matter how many times you are told....you simply have to learn them the hard way. It's a part of growing up...and maybe growing old. Eventually you get punched in the throat by life and everything suddenly becomes clear.
The Fingerprint of Grief
Grief is almost uniquely human. Few animals grief like we do. No other emotion brings out the best and the worst in people. But grief leaves a fingerprint. An identity long after the person we love is gone. And the only way to move forward is to remind yourself that grief is living proof that we've loved and lost. It's a gift unlike any other and one we do not deserve.
Never Give Up; Never, Ever Give Up
Sometimes the worst moment of your life is the turning point of your life. Because, let's face it, you are not the best judge of what your life will become.
The Great Sexual Divide
Something odd is happening. A divergence between the sexes. It's happening around the world. Men and women are growing further and further apart from one another. And, it's impacting dating, sex, marriage and the number of children being born. So when did this happen and, more importantly, why? You'll have to listen to find out.
The World's Most Interesting Man
We all wonder how our days will come to an end. What will we be on our minds as the days grow very short. Ben Sasse knows. He's dying of pancreatic cancer and is already living on borrowed time. But in his last days on earth he's taking the time to teach us how to live and die with dignity and grace.
Nobody Cares
We all live like we are being watched. Like there's some kind of great digital scoreboard in the sky watching our every move. But, as we age hopefully we realize that nobody is paying any attention to us because they are too busy paying attention to themselves.
What an Insane and Remarkable Time to Be Alive
If you listen to enough of the talking heads on television, you might convince yourself that the world is going to hell in a hand basket. Well, let me be the first to throw cold water on that. Because right now just might be the most remarkable time to be alive. But, it's also the most insane.
Why Your Dog Might Be Smarter Than You
We spend most of our lives feeling guilty about enjoying life. We try not to enjoy anything too much: food, sun, sex, etc.? Maybe the best example of how to enjoy life comes from our dogs? What if we all sought to live, love, eat and forgive like a dog. The world would be a much better place, right?
The Quiet Crisis Facing Young Men
Young men are seemingly failing to launch. Spending time gambling on line, watching porn and failing to get out from underneath their parent's protection. Is this a lack of motivation? Is it a laziness? I don't think so. I think it's something totally different but you'll have to listen to find out.
Six Surprising Secrets of Success
All across the US, anxious high school students are watching their emails and busily refreshing their browsers waiting to hear about college acceptances. It's that time in life where seemingly everything is dependent on a few strangers making a decision in your favor. But what if all of that angst is overblown? What if getting into the right school and getting great grades really isn't t
The Age of Impatience
Wisdom used to be something we expected to grow in to, something we earned through years of trails and errors--years of confusion and uncertainty. We still respect wisdom today, but have we grown too impatient to pursue it ourselves?
The Things We Leave Behind
As we get on in age, we often tend to spend time thinking about legacy. About what things we leave behind for others. But that's not the right way to think about legacy. We shouldn't be thinking about the stuff that matters to us. We should be thinking about the traits we pass on. The ones that tend to live on long after we are pushing up daises.
The Hidden Gift of the Detour
Today's conversation started with a simple observation during an ordinary drive. It made me think about how we handle mistakes, detours and the quiet adjustments we are forced to make in life. Those adjustments that often and color and richness to our lives.
The Quiet Discipline of Letting Go
The older I get the more I realize that wisdom and growth isn't always about adding. It's about subtracting; letting go. Because the life you envisioned isn't always the life you actually want.
The American Sobriety Experiment
If you're reading this summary then you likely survived dry January. The time when 1/3 of Americans give up booze for 30 days. Or at least try. It's a nice idea and your liver needs it. Alcohol consumption is down in the US already, way down. But what are the unforeseen consequences of all this sobriety. You'll have to listen to find out.
When Did Empathy Get Hijacked?
The loudest voices, the angriest voices, seem to have taken over the stage. We are naturally empathetic people but only to a point. We used to be able to have a conversation and disagree without being disagreeable. We could have empathy and still disagree. Today empathy is hijacked by movements and you either agree on you're wrong and immoral. How did we get here?
The Growing Pains of Affluence
Parents today have pulled out all the stops for this kids. During a period of unprecedented prosperity today's kids have enjoyed the finest schools, clothes, neighborhoods, cars, etc. All in an effort to give kids the good life. But what if all we were doing was setting the kids up for disappointment later in life when the real world started for them?
You Aren't Meant to Carry the World
Is Civility Really Dead?
We are told constantly that the world is cruel, people are selfish and civility is a relic of a bygone era. Maybe I'm old school but I think that's BS. There are tons of signs that civility is alive and kicking. You'll have to listen to learn why.
The Growing Pains of Affluence
This generation came of age during the most prosperous time in human history. Parents provided their kids with every advantage and allowed them to sample the good life. It came with the message of study hard, stay out of trouble, get into a good college and all your wildest dreams will come true. Now as that generation enters the real world, they're finding out how misleading that dreamy
The Misinterpretation of the American Dream
It's that time of year. The time when we look back at 2025 and figure out which podcasts you liked the most. There were three winners in 2025 that got you really fired up. Jump in and enjoy this "best of 2025" episode of Wit & Wisdom.
The Ultimate Act of Compassion
Nobody wants to suffer at the end of their life, especially me. But is Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) the solution? Last year 60K people voluntarily ended their life in Canada. That seems like an awful lot to me. A number of US states are following the lead. Several now have laws that allow for your doctor to end your life. This is a tough subject but one that deserves a lot
Twenty Five Years of Bowling Alone
Twenty five years ago Robert Putnam noticed something odd. More people were bowling, but fewer people were bowling in group leagues. But, why? The answer has to do with a gigantic sociological shift towards aloneness. And that was before the pandemic, work from home, videoconferencing, the iPhone and the Peloton. It's crazy how far ahead of his time he was. And now 25 years later he's lo
When Everything is Free, Nothing is of any Value
My Dad used to say that nothing in life is free. He was right. So many things we used to hold dear to us are now free. And you and I both know that nothing of any real value is given for free. So what am I talking about? You'll have to tune in to find out.
Why the Kids Aren't Getting Married (long version)
It's been a confusing time to be a young adult. The pandemic and all the various social movements of the past few years has made it hard to be a kid. Record number of college freshman couldn't or wouldn't identify their gender. By 2022 and 2023 the numbers exploded. But then something strange happened in 2025. You'll have to listen to find out what it is.
The Poverty of Abundance
Are you in the second half of life? Are you struggling to find your purpose in life now that things have settled down? Given the abundance of opportunities available, we can often feel overwhelmed or uninspired. Like having 500 channels on TV and nothing to watch. There's an answer to this dilemma but you'll have to listen to find out what it is.
Three Secrets of Resilient People
Today we're having a conversation about something we'll all need at some point in our lives: resilience. Why? Because regardless of your income, your position in life or your age, resilience is usually in short supply. We all have those moments where life takes your breath away. It's at that point that you'll need to lean on your own resilience. Here are three ways resilient people rely
Eight Observations from Eight Decades of Life
I wrote another letter to myself. Yeah, I know, but I promise this is the last one. My 80 year old self wanted to give my "younger self" some advice. Just a few adjustments today will make all the difference tomorrow. Some good wisdom here. Hope you enjoy.
When Did Time Become the Enemy?
Remember when summer days as a kid used to crawl by? And the summer felt like it'd last forever? Yet today it seems as if the days, weeks and even years just fly by. I often wonder if adulthood and technology changed our perspective on time. Listen to find out.
Did the Boomers Ruin Things for Everyone?
There's a lot of noise on the inter webs about the state of our finances in the US. Specifically, younger Americans are complaining about the deck being stacked against them. Home prices are sky high, interest rates are crazy high and the boomers and squatting on all the good homes--just waiting to fleece money out of the Gen Z'ers. But, is it true? Maybe we need to take a stroll down me
Dear Younger Me:
Things are crazy today. So I decided to write a letter to Younger Me back in 2000 so I'd be ready for some of the changes coming my way.
The Death of Shame
There was a time, not so long ago, when shame was a guardrail. It protected us from doing dumb things. But, mostly it protected us from ourselves. But, today, shame is dead. It's the age of moral relativism. That is, the definition of right and wrong is subject to interpretation. That's the kind of thinking that allows young people to have sex in a room full of people while television ca
Five Key Pillars of a Happy Life
When life takes you on a detour through a series of potholes, focus on these five key pillars of happiness and you'll be just fine.
Why Crazy Rich People are Often Miserable
The "Liabetes" Epidemic in America
If you spend any time watching the news, it seems as if everyone is doing it today. I'm not talking about sex. I'm talking about lying. It's become a national pastime. Do we have an epidemic of "Liabetes"?
The Power of Hope
Of the myriad of happy emotions, from gratitude to contentment, the most underrated emo is hope. Hope is the ember at the bottom of the fire that refuses to go out. It's the green shoot that appears from a scorched earth. Because when everything else is stripped away, hope is the last light that remains.
Our Passion Whispers to Us
I bet at some point you went through an existential crisis. A period where you questioned "why am I here?" A period that causes you to pursue that one true thing that defines your passion. But, what if there is no single passion? What if the great learning of life is to be patient and that meaning isn't often found in clarity, but in mystery.
The End of Risky Business
Today's kids are raised differently. They live their lives with structured play, guardrails and constant adult supervision. The days of adventure and courage are long gone. And, it's making an entire generation lack courage.
Fifty Shades of "Greige"
Take a look around. See if you can find the color red. Bet you can't? Why? Because since the 1970's we've been slowly removing color from our world. 80% of all cars sold today are monochrome: gray, black or white. And, that's just the beginning. It's leaking into movies, comedy, food, music and branding. Yes, the world is quickly going "griege".
The Lost Art of Dying
Like everything else today, we've outsourced dying. What was once a family and neighborhood affair has been converted to an institutional and sterile process. One handled by the utmost professionalism and care. But, one that is best managed by third parties, so as to avoid the messiness of it all. This is episode number 139 and you'll likely think differently about life (and death) afte
The New Artificial Frontier
There's something odd happening in the world. Men are finally opening up. Disclosing their most carefully guarded thoughts, feelings and secrets. It's to be applauded. But, here's the catch. They aren't opening up to therapists or friends. Their opening up to ChatGPT. It's fraught with ethical and legal issues. And, there are multiple cases where these Artificial Intelligence application
Do You Really Want to Live to Age 100?
A female born today has a 5% chance of living to age 100. Which raises the question: if you could live to age 100, would you want to?
The Male Sedation Hypothesis
The Male Sedation Hypothesis isn’t just a clever phrase—it’s a glimpse into the quiet crisis playing out in plain sight.
Slowly Rotting From the Inside Out
If you were evil, I mean truly evil, how would you end the world without a gun or a nuclear bomb? Yeah, I know, kinda morbid. But, it's a perfect question to pose to ChatGPT to see how the computers and robots are going to take over. It gave me six, clear steps to destroy our society. The scary part is that most of it is already in process. You won't wanna miss this one.
The Blame Game
The floods in the Texas hill country were gut-wrenching. And, our immediate reaction is often to assign blame to a person, a government or political party for creating the environment for such pain and loss. Sure, it's reassuring to find a culprit. And, it allows for a distraction from our unthinkable grief. But, is that the healthy thing to do at a time of such loss? You'll have to lis
The Power of Remembering
Why is it that I struggle to remember my AMEX card number, but I can remember by 8th grade girlfriend's phone number? And, when did we decide that remembering things like phone numbers, birthdays and anniversaries was no longer worth the effort. Yes, technology is great, but I think it has cheapened thoughtfulness and intentionality. In the process we've slowly trained ourselves to stop
Things We Know Without Knowing
Have you ever had that feeling that you've met someone before? Or, that you've been someplace before but can't recall when or why? We've all been there. But, it's especially maddening to learn later that you had met that person earlier or that you had visited that place in the past. Which made me wonder, how many things are buried so deep in our subconscious mind that we can't easily r
The Illusion of Control
We curate everything today: our news, our entertainment, our music, taxis and even our coffee. But, is all this customization really necessary? And, does it really bring our lives more peace? Or, do all those options make us immediately regretful of the decisions we make? You'll have to listen to find out.
Why Your Brain Thrives on Uncertainty
I get it. You hate uncertainty. But, did you know that your brain actually thrives on uncertainty?
Just imagine trying to explain to someone from 1974 how we book an airline ticket, select our seat, pass through TSA and board a commercial aircraft all without touching a single piece of paper or speaking to another human.
Yet, we’ve all enhanced our lives despite all this change. Why?
The Synchronicity of Life
Have you ever been at a crossroads in your life and started noticing the same number everywhere? Or kept running into people who gave you the same advice? Or had a book fall in your lap with just the right message for the moment? Some call it karma. Others call it fate or destiny. But, in reality, these things are textbook examples of Synchronicity. The questions is whether you're payi
Often Wrong, Seldom in Doubt
Have you ever noticed that the most confident people are typically with ones with the least expertise? It's true and it's the reason why researchers explored something called the Dunning Kruger effect. What is it? You'll have to listen to find out.
Life is a Journey
You've often heard that life is a journey. On that journey we will learn that our greatest impact came from the smallest of gestures. And, that my friend, is the reason why you're here.
The Epidemic of Awkwardness
We're living in the most connected time in history. But, we've never had a harder time genuinely connecting with one another. I blame the pandemic. With all that sheltering in place, we simply lost our social agility. But, this podcast will give you the roadmap for creating deeper connections with people you care about.
The Great Mystery of Life
We all have a gift. A God-given talent that provides your life with purpose. These kinds of gifts are expressions of God's undying grace. And, your purpose is to discover it. Your life's work is to develop it. And, the meaning of life is to give it away.
How Did I Get Here?
Doesn't it seem like 15 minutes ago you were at a high school football game trying to figure out where everyone was going after the game? You blinked and 20, 30, 40 or 50 years went by in an instant. Which raises the question: does life really speed up as we age? Listen in to find out.
Can Money Make You Happier?
I know what you're thinking: that a big wheelbarrow full of Ben Franklins would make you pretty happy. And, yeah, it probably would. But, there is a diminishing return on how much happier it can make you. Listen to this episode to learn why.
Five Things the Sandwich Generation Needs to Hear
We are living longer. A lot longer. And, that longevity is throwing a monkey wrench into the system. It's creating a generation "sandwiched" between their children and their aging parents. I've created five things that the sandwich generation needs to hear. It's a tough message but it's something we all need to contemplate.
We Are Drowning in Words While Starving for Wisdom
Like water, wisdom surrounds us yet remains largely invisible. It's odorless, colorless and formless. We recognize it's importance, yet it often eludes us. True wisdom manifests not in what we say but in how deeply we listen.
Five Timeless Pieces of Advice from 300 B.C.
Stoicism is a philosophy that emphasizes self-control, fortitude and living in accordance with nature. It originated way back in 300 B.C. And, guess what, Stoicism is having a moment....again. It's like a philosophical cockroach that survives thousands of years of wars, famine and drought only to reappear under your refrigerator.
Are Some People Just Afraid of Being Happy?
Have you ever noticed how some people seem to thrive on being angry or unhappy? They always seem to be upset about something. The problem is that they're simply afraid of being happy. But, why? You'll have to listen to find out.
Can Simply Saying "Hello" Save a Life?
According to research, social isolation can lead to a plethora of mental health issues and can also lead to premature death. Researchers are learning that even casual interactions with total strangers can have a profound impact on our mental health. Surprisingly, interaction with total strangers also tend to bring enhanced happiness and well-being. In fact, people often share very intimat
What Makes Life Meaningful?
For all the prosperity and freedom in the US, we ought to be pretty happy. Compared to other parts of the world, we've got it pretty good. But, would you believe that both Israel and Iceland beat us in the annual World Happiness Report? It's true. So, what is it that's causing us to be so miserable that a war torn country and a frozen Tundra are kicking our butts. You'll have to listen
Is America Experiencing a Spiritual Rebirth?
After decades of declining religious affiliation, the hemorrhage has finally stopped. So, are we really experiencing a spiritual rebirth or is this just a momentary pause in the "Exodus"? Let's find out together.
Why Young Men Lost Interest in Having Sex
Over 60% of young men today have no interest in sex. They are twice as likely as young women to be unattached, asexual and lonely. If the 1960's ushered in the sexual revolution, the mid 2020's are ushering in the asexual revolution. Why? You'll have to listen to find out.
Is Curiosity the Key to Happiness?
Somewhere along the way to adulthood, we lost the ability to be curious about the world. We lost that sense of awe and wonder about things for which we know so little. What happened? And, more importantly, how do we get it back?
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