Stories of everyday courage, from getting a needle in the eye to tackling a purse thief

Audacious with Chion Wolf

Not all acts of courage make headlines. Sometimes, being brave means doing something small, but meaningful.

We’re talking about the quiet, low-key moments of bravery that people carry with them for years: saying yes, saying no, starting over, or simply showing up.

Listeners and past guests share their stories of everyday courage, from snapping turtles to stolen cars to personal reinvention.

Poet and philosopher David Whyte reflects on the true nature of courage - not as grand action, but as deep presence.

And Herman Jagpal, creator of Daily Rejection, explains why he’s spending all of 2025 being told “no,” and being OK with that. Plus, Chion takes one of Herman’s challenges into real life... and attempts to deliver a message to shoppers over a grocery store intercom.

Suggested episodes:

• Forgiveness: How we define it and how it defines us
• How regret teaches us to live
• Awe yeah! Exploring the magic of mind-blowing moments
• Life advice, one Audacious guest at a time
• Are you very superstitious or just a little 'stitious'?
• Kitchen objects with a story. Listen at your own whisk
• What smells remind you of childhood? Hear eighteen answers
• Why you so salty? The anger episode
• The surprising ways we ritual

GUESTS:

• Maggie Downie: a Wethersfield, CT resident and owner of a fitness company, whose email to us inspired this show
• David Whyte: Poet, philosopher, and author of Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words. His most recent collection, Consolations II, continues to explore the human experience through poetry and prose
• Herman Jagpal: a New Zealand resident, who challenges himself to get rejected by strangers every day of 2025 and documents his quest on social media @dailyrejection
• Listeners and past guests (in order of appearance): Nathan Markee, Levi Lomasky, Deanna Birdsong, Cat Thomson, Kelly Papa, David Eric Zakur, Ellen Amalia Force, Michael Leung, Casper ter Kuile, Caroline Teti, LeRoy Mcsmith, Joy Brooker, John Dankosky

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Chapters

1. Stories of everyday courage, from getting a needle in the eye to tackling a purse thief (00:00:00)

2. Marker 01 (00:17:02)

3. Marker 02 (00:33:48)