https://simplecast.com “Heroes with Humble Beginnings: Underdogs on the Diamond, At the Movies, In the White House,” by FM Kail As the title telegraphs, “Heroes with Humble Beginnings” is a book about the early, challenging years of some of the greatest ballplayers, movie actors and presidents of all time, about boys whose parents were socially as well as economically deprived. It also explains why we love underdogs, in what way these “humble beginnings” matter and how the lives of these men are intertwined with our belief in the American Dream. 2021 en Sun, 6 Mar 2022 20:42:52 +0000 Sat, 19 Mar 2022 19:03:39 +0000 https://heroes-with-humble-beginnings-underdogs-on-the-diamond-at.simplecast.com “Heroes with Humble Beginnings: Underdogs on the Diamond, At the Movies, In the White House,” by FM Kail https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/6e5c2106-86ef-4cb9-99c5-47ec6cdb2420/c62f9d43-8984-4717-9da7-1b494ddc7cca/3000x3000/podcast-image-for-simplecast.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://heroes-with-humble-beginnings-underdogs-on-the-diamond-at.simplecast.com serial As the title telegraphs, “Heroes with Humble Beginnings” is a book about the early, challenging years of some of the greatest ballplayers, movie actors and presidents of all time, about boys whose parents were socially as well as economically deprived. It also explains why we love underdogs, in what way these “humble beginnings” matter and how the lives of these men are intertwined with our belief in the American Dream. FM Kail no https://feeds.simplecast.com/5PDVhgof F Michael Kail fmkail24@gmail.com 0539a96e-483e-4ce3-8a14-2c64c48906b4 Ep 6: The Myth and Reality of the American Dream Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Sun, 6 Mar 2022 20:42:52 +0000 fmkail24@gmail.com (Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Barry Bardo, Cate Jackson) https://heroes-with-humble-beginnings-underdogs-on-the-diamond-at.simplecast.com/episodes/the-myth-and-reality-of-the-american-dream-57FsEO9z Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Ep 6: The Myth and Reality of the American Dream Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Barry Bardo, Cate Jackson 00:23:44 In this podcast we explore these fascinating questions: What is the origin of the phrase “the American Dream.” Why does it seem to exert such a powerful influence on Americans and others? How do the underdogs chronicled in this book measure up to promise of the American Dream? How well does the American Dream work in occupations beyond the worlds of sports, entertainment and politics? What is the role of factors like parents’ social class and education? Do people continue to believe in the American Dream? How do stories, like those chronicled in this book, figure into that belief? Is the American Dream really alive and well in America – and, if so, will it survive? In this podcast we explore these fascinating questions: What is the origin of the phrase “the American Dream.” Why does it seem to exert such a powerful influence on Americans and others? How do the underdogs chronicled in this book measure up to promise of the American Dream? How well does the American Dream work in occupations beyond the worlds of sports, entertainment and politics? What is the role of factors like parents’ social class and education? Do people continue to believe in the American Dream? How do stories, like those chronicled in this book, figure into that belief? Is the American Dream really alive and well in America – and, if so, will it survive? log cabin to the white house, cinderella story, best paying occupations in the u.s., horatio alger stories, income of movie stars, upward mobility, intergenerational mobility, salaries of movie stars, demographics in the u.s., income of presidents, top wage earners in the u.s., income of baseball players, salaries of baseball players, social class in the u.s., salaries of presidents, rags to riches no full 6 1 e0b0153c-0744-4f64-a7f4-d76e2609caac Ep 5: Childhood Disadvantage and Adult Success: Adversity and Grit Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Sun, 6 Mar 2022 20:42:39 +0000 fmkail24@gmail.com (Raisa Daigneault, Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Cate Jackson) https://heroes-with-humble-beginnings-underdogs-on-the-diamond-at.simplecast.com/episodes/childhood-disadvantage-and-adult-success-adversity-and-grit-JMeqPYot Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Ep 5: Childhood Disadvantage and Adult Success: Adversity and Grit Raisa Daigneault, Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Cate Jackson 00:26:58 When you look at the traits, skills and attributes that were the keys to succeeding in baseball, film and politics, they seem to have very little to do with humble beginnings. Whether it is the stamina, strength and coordination it takes to be a major leaguer, the looks, voice and style it takes to be a movies star, or the confidence, interpersonal skills and optimism it takes to be a great president – none of these are qualities that are class or economically based. Mike Kail posits the one characteristic that is shared by those who make it to the top, a characteristic that may be fostered by struggling at the start. And he shares his views about why we revere the heroes in his stories, even if their early life challenges did not directly impede their rise to fame and fortune. When you look at the traits, skills and attributes that were the keys to succeeding in baseball, film and politics, they seem to have very little to do with humble beginnings. Whether it is the stamina, strength and coordination it takes to be a major leaguer, the looks, voice and style it takes to be a movies star, or the confidence, interpersonal skills and optimism it takes to be a great president – none of these are qualities that are class or economically based. Mike Kail posits the one characteristic that is shared by those who make it to the top, a characteristic that may be fostered by struggling at the start. And he shares his views about why we revere the heroes in his stories, even if their early life challenges did not directly impede their rise to fame and fortune. resilience, grit, perseverance, angela duckworth, paul tough, success, goertzel no full 5 1 d9c65cc5-9035-4fd9-a2da-03e0cf7dd7f3 Ep 4: Why We Love Underdogs: Fables, Fairy Tales, Movies and America’s Roots Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Sun, 6 Mar 2022 20:42:24 +0000 fmkail24@gmail.com (Barry Bardo, Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Cate Jackson) https://heroes-with-humble-beginnings-underdogs-on-the-diamond-at.simplecast.com/episodes/why-we-love-underdogs-fables-fairy-tales-movies-and-americas-roots-UGl7Bx2K Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Ep 4: Why We Love Underdogs: Fables, Fairy Tales, Movies and America’s Roots Barry Bardo, Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Cate Jackson 00:24:05 Join Mike Kail as he explores the many ways in which Americans are enamored of underdogs. What are underdogs, and what influence did the fairy tales, Bible stories and fables we heard as children have on our belief that underdogs could defy the odds and succeed? What role did books and movies have on reinforcing those beliefs as we became adults? Mike encourages you to think about the real underdogs who have inspired you during your lifetime. And he shares his theory that America’s roots -- our immigrant population, our improbable revolutionary leaders, our victory in the Revolutionary War -- had a powerful influence in shaping our attitudes toward underdogs. Add it all up and this podcast will show why rooting for the underdog is indeed ‘baked into the American DNA.’ Join Mike Kail as he explores the many ways in which Americans are enamored of underdogs. What are underdogs, and what influence did the fairy tales, Bible stories and fables we heard as children have on our belief that underdogs could defy the odds and succeed? What role did books and movies have on reinforcing those beliefs as we became adults? Mike encourages you to think about the real underdogs who have inspired you during your lifetime. And he shares his theory that America’s roots -- our immigrant population, our improbable revolutionary leaders, our victory in the Revolutionary War -- had a powerful influence in shaping our attitudes toward underdogs. Add it all up and this podcast will show why rooting for the underdog is indeed ‘baked into the American DNA.’ susan boyle, british north america, miracle on ice, alexander hamilton, dewey beats truman, the little engine that could, american revolution, david and goliath, tortoise and the hare, immigrants to the american colonies, thomas paine, cinderella, john paul jones, emigrants to the american colonies, george washington, 1948 election, the ugly duckling, ben franklin, beauty and the beast no full 4 1 541d534b-2c12-4d07-88e1-d02c5c048166 Ep 3: Movie Icons: John Wayne’s Early Years Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Sun, 6 Mar 2022 03:14:29 +0000 fmkail24@gmail.com (Raisa Daigneault, Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Cate Jackson) https://heroes-with-humble-beginnings-underdogs-on-the-diamond-at.simplecast.com/episodes/movie-icons-john-waynes-early-years-1qBWFGkC Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Ep 3: Movie Icons: John Wayne’s Early Years Raisa Daigneault, Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Cate Jackson 00:26:12 In Podcast 3, we learn about a little boy who had a challenging childhood but still managed to ascend to the height of Hollywood—John Wayne. Podcast 3 explains how the seemingly one-dimensional movie actor, John Wayne, bears little relationship to the boy, Marion Morrison, who took on that adult role. Critical to shaping his childhood was the horrible relationship between his mother, a mercurial harridan of a woman, and his good-natured but hapless father. The future John Wayne was an excellent student, a bookworm and a fine athlete. While he loved going to the movies, he had no interest in getting into the movie business. Though he was a model at school (except for a few occasional pranks), he was a veritable hellion on the weekends. Before he was a teenager, Wayne was working a slew of jobs, both before and after school and on Saturdays and Sundays. These are just a few of the things revealed in the complex portrait of this simple movie cowboy. ”Heroes with Humble Beginnings” also describes the difficulties and deprivations encountered by Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Jimmy Cagney, Gregory Peck, Kirk Douglas, and Sidney Poitier. In Podcast 3, we learn about a little boy who had a challenging childhood but still managed to ascend to the height of Hollywood—John Wayne. Podcast 3 explains how the seemingly one-dimensional movie actor, John Wayne, bears little relationship to the boy, Marion Morrison, who took on that adult role. Critical to shaping his childhood was the horrible relationship between his mother, a mercurial harridan of a woman, and his good-natured but hapless father. The future John Wayne was an excellent student, a bookworm and a fine athlete. While he loved going to the movies, he had no interest in getting into the movie business. Though he was a model at school (except for a few occasional pranks), he was a veritable hellion on the weekends. Before he was a teenager, Wayne was working a slew of jobs, both before and after school and on Saturdays and Sundays. These are just a few of the things revealed in the complex portrait of this simple movie cowboy. ”Heroes with Humble Beginnings” also describes the difficulties and deprivations encountered by Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Jimmy Cagney, Gregory Peck, Kirk Douglas, and Sidney Poitier. stars of the cinema, film stars, westerns, best actors, movie stars no full 3 1 b4512d7d-a4fa-44f6-a0ca-e052dafbce02 Ep 2: Great Presidents: Dwight Eisenhower’s Early Years Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Sat, 5 Mar 2022 23:55:16 +0000 fmkail24@gmail.com (Raisa Daigneault, Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Cate Jackson) https://heroes-with-humble-beginnings-underdogs-on-the-diamond-at.simplecast.com/episodes/great-presidents-dwight-eisenhowers-early-years-G_QM3rmo Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Ep 2: Great Presidents: Dwight Eisenhower’s Early Years Raisa Daigneault, Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Cate Jackson 00:29:48 In Podcast 2, we meet young David Dwight Eisenhower, who was later to become one of America’s most famous and well-respected presidents. We learn how the great success of Dwight Eisenhower’s grandfather psychologically doomed the future president’s father, after he proved a failure in business. We also learn how Eisenhower’s mother, a truly extraordinary figure in the lives of the six Eisenhower boys, compensated for their father’s shortcomings, both as a provider and as a parent. The podcast describes three pivotal events during Eisenhower’s childhood that years later still were sources of trauma and regret. And it gives us a picture of this Kansas boy at home and in school, at work and at play. It ends looking at Dwight David’s circuitous path to West Point, blasting the supposition that his path to the military academy was foreordained. ”Heroes with Humble Beginnings” also covers the traumatic early years of Lyndon Johnson, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama. In Podcast 2, we meet young David Dwight Eisenhower, who was later to become one of America’s most famous and well-respected presidents. We learn how the great success of Dwight Eisenhower’s grandfather psychologically doomed the future president’s father, after he proved a failure in business. We also learn how Eisenhower’s mother, a truly extraordinary figure in the lives of the six Eisenhower boys, compensated for their father’s shortcomings, both as a provider and as a parent. The podcast describes three pivotal events during Eisenhower’s childhood that years later still were sources of trauma and regret. And it gives us a picture of this Kansas boy at home and in school, at work and at play. It ends looking at Dwight David’s circuitous path to West Point, blasting the supposition that his path to the military academy was foreordained. ”Heroes with Humble Beginnings” also covers the traumatic early years of Lyndon Johnson, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama. military, u.s. presidents, white house no full 2 1 c1bbb274-73de-45f3-8ea2-c01ae75c436d Ep 1: Baseball Superstars: Hank Aaron’s Early Years  Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Sat, 5 Mar 2022 03:08:21 +0000 fmkail24@gmail.com (Barry Bardo, Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Cate Jackson) https://heroes-with-humble-beginnings-underdogs-on-the-diamond-at.simplecast.com/episodes/baseball-superstars-hank-aarons-early-years-o2luEYTC  Amazon link to “Heroes with Humble Beginnings”

If you would like to contact the author, please feel free to email him at fmkail74@gmail.com.

Original music composed and performed by Ted Michalek

]]> Ep 1: Baseball Superstars: Hank Aaron’s Early Years Barry Bardo, Doug Pickett, Ted Michalek, Cate Jackson 00:26:09 Podcast 1 opens with a glimpse into the life of Henry Aaron’s grandfather and namesake, a sharecropper leading a hardscrabble existence in Camden, Alabama. It ends with an 18-year old Aaron boarding a plane for his first minor league team in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Join us as we trace his father’s move to Mobile, Alabama, and see the meager lifestyle he and his five brothers and sisters endured. Learn how his early neighborhood games, the prevalence of amateur teams and winter barnstorming by Big Leaguers sparked his passion for baseball. Discover how Henry showed superior talent right from the beginning, from hitting bottle caps with broomsticks, to his uniquely effective but unorthodox batting style, and how this poor, shy boy believed from an early age that he would make it to the Majors. You will find out how wise advice from a mentor, who saw greatness early on, rescued Henry from obscurity and helped him reach the pinnacle of his profession. And you will hear about Henry’s stint with the Negro League’s Indianapolis clowns, forerunner to the Harlem Globetrotters, and his extraordinary feats in this, his first professional stop on the road to the Majors. “Heroes With Humble Beginnings” also tells of the childhood challenges faced by Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, Roberto Clemente, Josh Gibson and the one and only Babe Ruth. Podcast 1 opens with a glimpse into the life of Henry Aaron’s grandfather and namesake, a sharecropper leading a hardscrabble existence in Camden, Alabama. It ends with an 18-year old Aaron boarding a plane for his first minor league team in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Join us as we trace his father’s move to Mobile, Alabama, and see the meager lifestyle he and his five brothers and sisters endured. Learn how his early neighborhood games, the prevalence of amateur teams and winter barnstorming by Big Leaguers sparked his passion for baseball. Discover how Henry showed superior talent right from the beginning, from hitting bottle caps with broomsticks, to his uniquely effective but unorthodox batting style, and how this poor, shy boy believed from an early age that he would make it to the Majors. You will find out how wise advice from a mentor, who saw greatness early on, rescued Henry from obscurity and helped him reach the pinnacle of his profession. And you will hear about Henry’s stint with the Negro League’s Indianapolis clowns, forerunner to the Harlem Globetrotters, and his extraordinary feats in this, his first professional stop on the road to the Majors. “Heroes With Humble Beginnings” also tells of the childhood challenges faced by Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, Roberto Clemente, Josh Gibson and the one and only Babe Ruth. ballplayers; baseball players; baseball stars; baseball. no full 2 1