Take Your Second Wind - Shannon Cason's Homemade

Summary

Podcast Summary: Shannon Cason's Homemade – "Take Your Second Wind"

Episode Overview In the December 30, 2024 episode titled "Take Your Second Wind," Shannon Cason delves deep into personal reflections, exploring themes of fatigue, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. Drawing from his rich history in storytelling and podcasting, Shannon shares his journey, confronts self-doubt, and reinvigorates his commitment to his craft. This episode serves as both a candid confession and a motivational call to action for listeners facing their own challenges.

Personal Reflections and Fatigue Shannon opens the episode with raw honesty about his exhaustion:

"I'm fucking tired, man. Seriously, I'm about over with it. I'm thinking about hanging up this storytelling podcasting thing maybe." (00:00)

He articulates the emotional toll that constant creativity and public performance have taken on him, highlighting the universal experience of reaching a point of weariness in one's passion projects.

The Power of Vision Boards and Collages A significant portion of the episode centers around the nostalgic practice of creating vision boards:

"Growing up in the 80s, I used to see the OGs of that time... They had a vision of their futures." (04:15)

Shannon reminisces about the collages and poster boards he and others created, using images from magazines like Jet Magazine’s "Beauty of the Week." These visual representations served as tangible dreams, capturing aspirations ranging from material possessions to personal achievements.

Dreams, Desires, and Unfulfilled Goals Reflecting on his past, Shannon shares his old notebooks and voice recordings that documented his ambitions:

"A book signing in a foreign country. The red carpet at my book's movie premiere. I'm a popular speaker at top stages and conferences worldwide..." (08:30)

Despite his successes—winning story slams, performing on esteemed platforms like The Moth and TEDx, and collaborating with major companies—he acknowledges the lingering sense of unfulfilled dreams and the fatigue that accompanies it.

Confronting Self-Doubt Shannon candidly addresses moments of self-doubt:

"Am I really any good at this? And what can I make of it now?" (14:45)

This introspection leads him to question his continued path in storytelling, a sentiment many listeners may find relatable.

Testing His Storytelling Prowess Determined to gauge his true capabilities, Shannon decides to re-engage with his roots by participating in a Moth Story Slam:

"I just did what I could really do, and I won that too. I just had fun with it." (23:10)

His decision to "put himself to a test" results in winning both a local Moth Story Slam and the prestigious Moth Grand Slam. This triumph serves as a reaffirmation of his talent and passion, countering his earlier feelings of exhaustion and doubt.

Encouragement to Listeners Using his experience as a backdrop, Shannon extends a heartfelt message to his audience:

"Remember those dreams, even test them, get confirmation. Nothing like the start of a new year to give it another go and then never stop going." (32:00)

He emphasizes the importance of revisiting and validating one’s aspirations, urging listeners to persist despite setbacks.

Plans for 2025 and Beyond Looking ahead, Shannon outlines an ambitious roadmap for the coming year:

"My mission for 2025... podcasts, YouTubes, newsletters, social new projects, new sponsors and more." (40:20)

He aims to launch his first solo show, self-publish books, conduct workshops, and pursue traditional publishing. This proactive approach underscores his renewed commitment to his storytelling journey.

Final Message: Choosing to Be the Author Shannon concludes with a powerful metaphor about agency and creativity:

"Are you the author? The creative decision maker? ... Choose to be the author or the pen." (48:00)

He advocates for taking control of one’s narrative, encouraging listeners to actively shape their stories rather than passively experience them.

Conclusion "Take Your Second Wind" is a poignant exploration of perseverance and self-belief. Shannon Cason’s vulnerability about his struggles, combined with his triumphant return to storytelling, provides a compelling narrative that resonates with anyone facing fatigue in their pursuits. By sharing his journey, he not only reaffirms his dedication but also inspires listeners to reignite their own passions and continue striving for their dreams.

Notable Quotes

"I'm fucking tired, man. Seriously, I'm about over with it." (00:00)
"They had a vision of their futures." (04:15)
"Am I really any good at this? And what can I make of it now?" (14:45)
"I just did what I could really do, and I won that too." (23:10)
"Remember those dreams, even test them, get confirmation." (32:00)
"Choose to be the author or the pen." (48:00)

Key Takeaways

Resilience in Creativity: Even when feeling exhausted, pushing through can lead to reaffirmed passion and success.
The Importance of Vision: Visualizing dreams through tools like vision boards can keep aspirations alive and motivate continued effort.
Self-Validation: Testing one’s abilities can provide the necessary confirmation to overcome self-doubt.
Encouraging Community Support: Sharing struggles and successes with others fosters a supportive environment for mutual encouragement.

Final Thoughts Shannon Cason’s "Take Your Second Wind" is more than just a storytelling session; it’s a testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure and thrive. Whether you’re a fellow storyteller or someone navigating personal challenges, this episode offers valuable insights and heartfelt encouragement to keep moving forward.

Transcript

Shannon Cason (0:00)

Before we start, I don't really have anything to say. Let's just get to it. Welcome to Homemade. I'm Shannon Cason, and I'm fucking tired, man. Seriously, I'm about over with it. I'm thinking about hanging up this storytelling podcasting thing maybe. Podcasting, storytelling, writing, stages, books, cool projects. Was just a Detroit pipe drink. But even though I'm exhausted, I remember tired. Doesn't mean it's over. It just means keep going for your second win. It's the beginning of the year, and this is usually a time for a lot of clutch lodges and vision boards. People gather together with poster boards and old magazines. Magazines are hard to come by nowadays, but people find them and they all get together with scissors and glue sticks. It's mostly women, but men make vision boards too. Growing up in the 80s, I used to see the OGs of that time, the uncles and older guys in the neighborhood paste magazines on boards and walls, even on dashbo their vans. They had a vision of their futures. And the pictures were mostly Jet Magazine Beauty of the Week pages, which is a creepy vision, but it was a vision nonetheless. By the way, I hope you never got in any of those vans when you were a kid. If you did, I'm praying for your healing. Seriously. I even saw my dad do it. They were on poster boards in the basement with pictures of Cadillacs and Lincoln Continentals and Jet Magazine Beauty of the Weeks. He was creepy too. And I'm gonna be honest, we all are. I'm speaking for men. I made my own collages and vision boards, too. There would be Porsches and Hummer H1s, and it wasn't Jet magazine Beauty of the Week pages. Instead, there were beautiful women on beaches, in remote locations, cities with skyscrapers, urban loft apartments, theater marquee lights and people at podiums, people talking on large St. Doing panels and keynotes. I kept notebooks and journals. I recently pulled down some of my old notebooks going back to the early 2000s, and I looked at the dream list on them. A book signing in a foreign country. The red carpet at my book's movie premiere. I'm a popular speaker at top stages and conferences worldwide, a mentor to thousands to help them find freedom through their own stories. Take my mom on a trip to Hawaii. I have old voice recordings of myself sharing the desires of my heart that came to mind on these inspired long drives. I've been telling stories for a bit now. I'd say I started in 2009. I won a Moss Story Slam in Chicago in 2011, and I won the first Chicago Grand Slam that same year. I went on to tell stories on the platforms and stages of countless podcasts, radio programs, TEDx Keynote said two podcast movements killed on stage at the Nokia Theater and countless large theaters across the country, working with championship athletes and celebrities in companies from Spotify to Google to Ford Motor Company to University of Michigan and more colleges and universities than I can even count and even more stuff than I can even remember right now. And I'm grateful for all that. But sometimes I look at the collages and poster boards and notebooks and listen to the old voice recordings and I say, I miss so many dreams and I'm so tired. You ever second guessed yourself? I chose storytelling. But I asked myself recently, am I really any good at this? And what can I make of it now? So I put myself to a test. I went back to the beginning to go do a moth story slam and tell a story just like old time. I've told stories at Moss story slams before, but I usually go to just practice, just get in front of an audience and be on stage and work my muscles for a bit. But I usually leave it unfinished enough to not win. I'm not trying to be dismissive of other stories, storytellers who try to win story slams, but I truly wanted someone else to win. However, recently I went to a moth story slam and I figured I'd just do my best. I won't hold back. I'll just be me as a test to see if I'm really good at this. The moth audience judges each story at the end of the story. And at the end of my story, I received a perfect score. The judges are instructed to only give perfect scores if purple unicorns and fireworks come from the stage. Well, I guess my story of a stripper's interest in tattoos were explosive in that way. I tested it at the Moth Grand Slam, where all the previous winners tell stories on a bigger stage. I just did what I could really do, and I won that too. I just had fun with it. But I made an actual effort to win. So the sign I asked for with my test was confirmed. I'm a storyteller. Mm, mm, mm. I tell you all of this because I know some of you relate. You have dreams and desires and you've left them on poster boards and notebooks, voice recordings, even on the dashboards of Econoline vans. Remember those dreams, even test them, get confirmation. Nothing like the start of a new year to give it another go and then never stop going, shit. This is life. Your story isn't done yet. Are you the author? The creative decision maker? With the vision or the pen? At the mercy of whatever author picks you up? Choose to be the author or the pen. I'm an author and this is my second win. I want to thank you for listening. Trust me, I live a very good life. Great projects. I'm in the best shape of my life and I really have some great things on the horizon. But I still have unfinished business and unfulfilled dreams. So my mission for 2025 if you're a friend of Homemade, occasional or faithful listener, supporter and or Patreon member, my mission is to make you almost tired of hearing from me this year. Podcasts, YouTubes, newsletters, social new projects, new sponsors and more. I work towards my first solo show, my first self published books and workshops, and push for traditional publishing too, and many other exciting projects. I still have a lot to say, to be honest, even more than ever before, and I'll just have fun with it. But I'll make the effort to win, just like in my recent Moff show. And of course over time I'll get tired and discouraged just like you and everybody else. But let's encourage one another this year. We don't have to say much. I don't even care for a lot of hoopla. But we can just remind each other to take our second win. Send a note my way and I'll send a note your way. Take your second win. Happy New Year and much love from me. If you enjoy Shannon Kacen's Homemade, become a friend of the stories@patreon.com Shannon Casey I post videos on a regular clip, more stories, tips on storytelling, reviews and life of a storyteller, or support the stories directly on Cash app. I'm Dollar sign Shannon Casen and if you want to stay up to date with everything that's happening, go to shannoncasing.com and sign up for my newsletter. I'll send you my 10 rules of storytelling. And there's so much more to come in 2025. So remember this. Take your second win. Don't give up. Keep going. I know you tired. I'm tired too. We got so much more to do. Take your second win. Now that's Homemade.