Cover of Not by Accident

Not by Accident

Not by Accident

By: Thomas H Wicke
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Becoming and raising good people does not happen by accident. Nothing that is worthwhile, valuable or magnificent happens by default -not a marriage, not a career, not children who grow into happy, kind and accomplished adults. Excellence is not accidental.

This podcast is a tool for parents to use as they purposefully introduce their children to high ideals, virtues, and concepts that are essential to becoming a good person. We do this in short 3-5 minute podcasts (borrowing from experiences in history, stories shared by others, scenarios and situations) with the intent to foster conversation between parents and children.

No one wants to be lectured or moralized -especially children and teens... especially by their parents. So having some outside voices on matters that will help shape children is invaluable. This of this podcast as a contemporary version of Aesops Fables. Great for parents, teachers, youth leaders or anyone who is looking for inspiring content when driving to school, a soccer game, to the grocery store or beginning your day. Enjoy!

Creator and Host: Dr. Thomas Wicke -a social psychologist who is president of a healthcare college in Denver, Colorado. He is an author, published academic, teacher and speaker on creating effective culture in the workplace through intentional leadership. He consulted with the Department of Homeland Security on community impact of disaster. He is husband for 30+ years to a public school teacher and parent of three children.Copyright Thomas Wicke Literature & Fiction Parenting & Families Personal Development Personal Success Relationships
Episodes
  • Not by Accident: Football and Musical Theatre -Episode27

    Not by Accident: Football and Musical Theatre -Episode27
    20 Oct 2026
    Young and old are often pressured, or at least feel a degree of social expectation, from peers to fit a mold. A football player is expected to be tough, certainly not a lover of musical theater, the violyn or anything too intellectual. Friday nights are spent blocking and tackling, not cozying up to the latest issue of Psychology Today or the Journal of the American Medical Association. Likewise, a ballet dancer would never be found in the mosh pit at a punk concert... or would they? The show, High School Musical is primarily about the virtue and courage of breaking these rigid social stratifications. There is also great social, scientific, and intellectual benefit in pursuing your many interests even if they do not fit narrowly defined or even pragmatic boundaries. This episode is a challenge to break through those arbitrary borders and pursue all your interests, as varied as they may be. Science informs the arts, which informs business, which benefits society and it all brings us closer to gether and helps us be more inclusive, understanding and better people.

    This episode features a short portion of Chris Williamson's Modern Wisdom podcast (specifically episode 1163 with Shaan Puri.
    Modern Wisdom with Shaan Puri
    Check it out, there is some profanity but his episodes are generally amazing!
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    11 min
  • Not by Accident: Arthur Brooks Embracing Adversity & Suffering -Episode 26

    Not by Accident: Arthur Brooks Embracing Adversity & Suffering -Episode 26
    8 Sep 2026
    Everyone faces adversity, suffering and challenges. Contemporary society teaches: adversity is bad, comfort and ease is good. Well, if you want a meaningless and empty life (not to mention more depression), then listen to society. If you want to exprierience a deeper sense of self, of joy, of accomplishment and become a person of profound character, begin by listening to this episode and then embrace the difficult times of life. I know, not so fun in the moment, but it is absolutely true.
    So if you are facing something tough now--whether your fault or by suffering from the consequences and undeserved actions of another--you can do this. Pain and suffering are not the ultimate ends of your situation. A stronger, better, happier you is the end result. Oh, but you've got to face it correctly.
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    8 min
  • Not by Accident: Scott Ruskin and Heroes -Episode25

    Not by Accident: Scott Ruskin and Heroes -Episode25
    17 Jul 2025
    Scott Ruskin is a hero of the devastating and tragic central Texas floods of July 2025. His story is inspiring but somewhat unexpected. He helped save 165 victims in his first mission as a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer. He volunteered to get out of the rescue heicopter so there would be more room for the crew to load survivors they would dramaticall rescue in the flood waters. He found himself as the only rescuer to organize, triage, administer first aid, protect and coordinate the evacuation of scores of children from Camp Mystic. In the chaos and hell of an unfathomable disaster, Petty Officer Ruskin was salvation to scores of children and adults.
    We need heros in our society. Sometimes the work they do is not hanging from a cable connected to a helicopter. Sometimes they swim through raging waters and sometimes they run into burning buildings. But more often heroes quietly do less dramatic work or simply keep committments or consistently show up and bear heavy burdens that others walk away from. Scott Ruskin was unknown before this event. He was not hitting home runs or donating millions to a charity, on the front page of newspapers or a social media influencer. He was quitely and thanklessly preparing, training and learning first aid and protocols for disaster response. He, like teachers, parents and many obscure people was doing the hard work so that they might be ready to make a difference. We have a mistaken idea that heroes wear capes, are super-human, win the super bowl or world cup for their teams. No, some of the most amazing super people quietly do a hard, thankless job, or fight through chronic pain or are kind even when others are mean to them. You can be a super hero but it demaands having character and doing some hard things, preparing yourself and making good decisions.
    Story told by Kagan Dunlap (Instragram site)
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    11 min
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