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8 Good Things is a curated newsletter of inspirational and informational articles, videos, and quotes sent twice a month by Maria Baltazzi, PhD, MFA.

We curate 8 Good Things with you in mind. Please take our quick survey to let us know how we can make this newsletter a better experience for you. Also, make sure to scroll all the way down to see upcoming trips and programs.

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1The Strange Brain of the World’s Greatest Solo Climber. If you have yet to see National Geographic’s award-winning documentary “Free Solo,” I highly recommend it. It will make your palms sweat, or give you vertigo, or both! The story is about Alex Honnold, the first rock climber to scale Yosemite’s sheer-faced Half Dome without a rope. Talk about nerves of steel, and seemingly a guy with a death wish. There is now a verb named after him, ‘honnolding.’ It means you are in some scary, precarious place with your back to the wall, facing your fear. Yikes! So why can Alex do what most cannot? The key resides in his brain. It seems he does not have the same stress response as us mere mortals. I dare you to watch the trailer for “Free Solo,” then read the article about how his brain works.

2Tony Stark’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Cabin is Available on Airbnb. So ‘Avengers’ fans outed Airbnb when they made a side-by-side photo comparison of a listing that looked strikingly similar to Tony Stark’s getaway cabin. Who has that kind of time??? At any rate, it is the cabin from the film, and you too can have an ‘Avengers’ experience for $800 a night, albeit a more rustic experience sans cool ‘Avengers’ gear, along with a good chance of seeing snakes and spiders. (See this article’s companion story, number seven below.)

3Beautiful Libraries Around the World Every Booklover Should Visit. It is a booklover’s dream to venture into a library. Bet you never thought to make it part of your world tour itinerary. The Trinity College Old Library in Dublin, Ireland looks like something out of ‘Harry Potter.’

4This Glow-in-the-Dark Zip Line Course Really ‘Lit’ Up Our Night. Hey, New Yorkers! If you did not get to leave the city for the holiday weekend, you can still have a super fun adventure that is right at your doorstep on Long Island. Try zip-lining through light-covered trees at night.

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5Tick It Before You Kick It! As if he is not busy enough, “Amazing Race” Host Phil Keoghan has a podcast too. I have known Phil for years, and this is a man who clearly knows how to live life on purpose. However, a near-death experience left even the man who has been around the world countless times, thinking about all the things he wants to do in life, and the people he wants to meet. So, his podcast became his BUCKiT list. My favorite interviews so far have been with Susan Zirinsky, the first woman to head CBS News – by the way Holly Hunter’s character in “Broadcast News” was patterned after Susan, fondly known as ‘Z’ ; Peter Greenberg, CBS’ Travel guru and Travel Detective; Nancy Daniels, Chief Brand Officer for Discovery; and Jane Root, the extraordinary filmmaker behind National Geographic’s “One Strange Rock.” A big thumbs up for this podcast series.

6How to Make the Most Out of Not Having Enough. What happens when you get voted off the television show “Survivor” after twenty-four days? Well, for Kelly Goldsmith, she became a behavioral scientist and professor at the Kellogg School of Management. Today, Kelly goes by Dr. Goldsmith and talks a lot about scarcity. Her time on “Survivor” gave her an interesting perspective. It was a fun walk down memory lane listening to Kelly’s TEDx talk. I was around as a producer during her tenure on “Survivor: Africa.” She was always among my favorite contestants to interview.

7July 4 Song Playlist for Your Barbecue. Here are some tunes, if you plan on lounging nearby the pool with an umbrella drink or grilling up your favorite eats this weekend. Everything from the Boss’ old school rock ‘n roll classic, “Born in the USA,” to Queen Bee-yonce’s hip hop version of “God Bless America.”

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8A Former ‘Mythbuster’ Built His Own Bulletproof Iron Man Suit. It Can Fly, Too. A woman loves a man in a well-designed suit. Well, this one does 😉 Nice that it is bulletproof. I am sure James Bond and every superhero would approve. What is cool is that the suit is 3-D printed out of titanium and it works! (This article is the companion to the one about Tony Stark’s Airbnb cabin. Note, you will not see this suit hanging in the closet.)

” Thoughtful

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”
~ Amelia Earhart

Sojourn Experiences | Inquire About Dates

For years, I have been producing large and small-scale television shows around the world. Today, I also use my producing skills to curate tailor-made adventures.

Walking the Camino de Santiago | Spain
In partnership with Explorer X, small group adventure specialist
9 Days | Sept 10th – 19th, 2019 | From $3,950 per person

Unforgettable Africa | Kenya
In partnership with Nomadic Africa, private luxury safaris
12 Days | From $18,735 per person for 8 guests

Machu Picchu, Peru | Salkantay Horseback Ride
In partnership with Peru EcoCamps, luxury geodesic domes
9 Days | From $5,975 per person for 2 guests

*Pricing varies based on the number of guests and time of year.

Sojourn Programs

Insight Timer App | Silent Wisdom Meditations
As many of you know, I teach meditation. I have been a long-time fan of the practice. Why? It is scientifically proven to reduce stress, control anxiety, promote emotional health, enhance self-awareness, lengthen attention span, reduce age-related memory loss, generate kindness, help to fight addictions, improve sleep, help control pain, decrease blood pressure; and you can meditate anywhere! Meditation is about as close as one can get to a wellness silver bullet. Recently, I started recording meditations for Insight Timer. I hope you enjoy these free guided sessions. And please follow me on the Insight Timer app.

Happiness: The Art of Life Balance
As a longtime television producer, stress was my middle name. I have spent more than a decade studying what to do about it. Now, I help professionals, especially those in the media, to get out of the crazy and into the happy (and yes, I still produce TV shows). I have put together a program that can fit into anyone’s schedule and can be joined anytime.

Happy Weekend!
Maria and Team Sojourn
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