{"podcast":{"title":"Perennial Pen (What Matters Most): A Silver Maple Strategies Podcast with Nate Birt","slug":"perennial-pen-what-matters-most-a-silver-maple-strategies-podcast-with-nate-birt-7833224","podcast_index_feed_id":7833224,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/615900/rss","website_url":"https://sites.libsyn.com/615900","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/c/c/f/3/ccf3c6bcee19d5acd959afa2a1bf1c87/Gemini_Generated_Image_cy20fgcy20fgcy20.png","author":"Nate Birt","episode_count":11,"summary":"Perennial Pen is a podcast for people who miss deep conversation and still believe the best questions in life deserve more than a rushed answer. I'm Nate Birt, and each episode is an invitation to slow down, pull up a chair, and listen in on the kinds of stories, memories, and life lessons that usually don't come out unless somebody makes the time and asks with care. We'll talk about family, faith, regret, joy, keepsakes, growing older, what lasts, and what we hope the people we love will remember about us when all is said and done. This isn't polished advice from on high. It's closer to a fireside chat, a front-porch visit, or one of those long conversations that leaves you feeling more awake to your own life. My hope is that you'll hear something here that helps you ask better questions, tell the truth a little more bravely, and start leaving a legacy now, while there's still life in your veins and people to love. If you're hungry for deeper connection—with your parents, your kids, your friends, your own story, or simply the life you're living—welcome. There's a seat for you here.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-21T00:18:16.294929+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/perennial-pen-what-matters-most-a-silver-maple-strategies-podcast-with-nate-birt-7833224"},"episode":{"title":"#7: Politics Professor: 'Science Does Not Make Us Change Our Ways  of Behavior'","slug":"7-politics-professor-science-does-not-make-us-change-our-ways-of-behavior","published_at":"2026-06-29T11:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/perennial-pen-what-matters-most-a-silver-maple-strategies-podcast-with-nate-birt-7833224/7-politics-professor-science-does-not-make-us-change-our-ways-of-behavior","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/perennial-pen-what-matters-most-a-silver-maple-strategies-podcast-with-nate-birt-7833224","url":"https://2570ab7b-bc69-46ef-85e7-1fcaa2ab09bb.libsyn.com/7-politics-professor-science-does-not-make-us-change-our-ways-of-behavior","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/2570ab7b-bc69-46ef-85e7-1fcaa2ab09bb/06_Perennial_Pen_MST_260610.mp3?dest-id=5372295","summary":"What stories shape the way we see the world — and what stories might help us build something better? In this episode, I talk with Ronnie, a self-described \"recovering academic\" from California, about science, politics, human behavior, sustainability, and the stories we tell ourselves about what is possible. Ronnie spent decades teaching and studying politics, energy, resources, and global systems, but over time, his thinking shifted from purely rational explanations toward a deeper appreciation for worldviews, imagination, power, emotion, and local action. This conversation does touch on politics, and Ronnie shares his viewpoint -- so skip if you so choose! But at its heart, this episode is about something much more personal and universal: how we make sense of the world, how we decide what to believe, and how we might begin moving toward a better future one small step at a time. Ronnie reminds us that facts and science can help us understand what is happening, but they do not automatically change how we live. For that, we need stories — stories strong enough to help us imagine a different future, and practical enough to help humanity take the next step forward. In this episode, we explore: Ronnie's journey from physics and nuclear research to politics, sustainability, and local action Why facts, logic, and data do not always explain human behavior The power of stories, worldviews, and imagination in shaping public life Why local projects can become meaningful models for broader change How healthy skepticism can help us listen more carefully in an age of media, AI, and uncertainty The challenge — and importance — of continuing to talk across differences Reflection question: What is one story you have been telling yourself about your life, your community, or the world —…","meta_description":"What stories shape the way we see the world — and what stories might help us build something better? In this episode, I talk with Ronnie, a self-described…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2484,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/perennial-pen-what-matters-most-a-silver-maple-strategies-podcast-with-nate-birt-7833224/episodes/7-politics-professor-science-does-not-make-us-change-our-ways-of-behavior/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/perennial-pen-what-matters-most-a-silver-maple-strategies-podcast-with-nate-birt-7833224/7-politics-professor-science-does-not-make-us-change-our-ways-of-behavior.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}