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‘What’s Up? Podcast’ No. 2 – Transcript

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Duration: 7:00


Hey … WHAT’S UP???
Today is Thursday, February 9th and welcome to our second ‘What’s Up? Podcast’, brought to you from Matsumoto, Japan. My name is John Koons, I’m originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA and I am your host.

Hey, what’s up??? Well, here’s what’s up on my end …

You know what kinds of people or actions inspire me? People who do something a little different and create something that educates us, gives us a new look about something, tells us something interesting that we didn’t know. I especially get inspired by work that people do which has a lasting effect. You remember it and it may even cause you to do good things in your life, to think differently, see things differently or live your life differently.

I recently watched a documentary movie called ‘The March of the Penguins.’ Maybe some of you have seen it. It’s a French production and the filmmaker’s name is Luc Jacquet. I think the French title is ‘Le Marche d l’Empereur’ (and I’m sorry about my very bad French pronunciation! Please feel free to send me an audio file with the correct pronunciation!!)

This film is a wonderful documentary film about the journey that these special creatures take each year. It focuses on their annual ritual, where they brave the elements and walk distances of up to 100 kilometers to a more protected area.

WHY DO THEY DO IT? They take on these hardships – cold weather, storms, predators, fatigue, starvation – so that they can breed in a safer area. It’s truly amazing what these animals go through each year. You have to see the penguin couples sharing duties between the male and the female. They rest their egg on their feet, and they have a special flap of skin that comes down to keep the egg warm. While one parent is keeping the egg warm, the other is walking – that long, long distance – walking back to the sea to find food.

You know what else is amazing and inspiring to me??? That one motivated guy – Luc Jacquet – comes up with the concept for the film, follows his dream, makes the film and look what he’s done. Thanks to him, the very popular film has increased awareness about these special animals and people actually CARE ABOUT the penguins. Before his film, the penguins probably could have just disappeared from earth and very, very few people would have cared. Luc Jacquet makes a wonderful documentary film and now, some people around the world will probably CARE ABOUT these animals. Some people, somewhere, will get involved to HELP the penguins. It’s possible that they’ll survive as a species … because why??? BECAUSE ONE PERSON had a good idea, maybe a ‘dream’ of his, followed through on his plans and ideas and created a wonderful film that is inspiring, interesting, educational and best of all, it creates concern and empathy. We care about these penguins. Wow, great job! Thank you Luc Jacquet.

You know, that’s what I think about these days. Creating something. Something worthwhile. Something that inspires and educates. You feel really good when you first conceive of these kinds of projects, and then you feel even better when you start to work on them. Yeah, this is what life is supposed to be about. Getting good ideas, developing the ideas, feeling the motivation and positive energy – creating, modifying, changing, improving. It’s just a wonderful feeling.

Hey , let’s do it. CREATE, CREATE, CREATE!!! FEEL THE INSPIRATION. INSPIRE AND BE INSPIRED.

Okay. I am outta here!!

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