The Octagon of Mediocrity (Redux)

Transformative Travel: A Conversation with Jack Benz

Jack Benz, a former student of mine and fellow Canisius High School alumnus, embarked on our fourth annual Young Men’s Seminar (YMS) through the Camino Institute [https://www.caminoinstitute.com/young-men-s-international-seminar] this past June to cap off a year of service and travel after high school. We discuss his time teaching at a Jesuit school in Micronesia, and share reflections on the Camino seminar as well as the art of travel. Listen in for Jack’s insights on gratitude, faith, discernment, and rediscovering the “inner child” within each of us. Interested in our 2026 Young Men’s Seminar? Visit the link above and follow our socials. Dates will be posted soon. Paul Cumbo's Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit paulcumbo.substack.com/subscribe [https://paulcumbo.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Love Can Go Where Like Cannot

Fr. Fred Betti, S.J., a close friend and colleague, invited me to offer a reflection during last night’s student Mass at Canisius University. This episode is a slightly abridged recording of that talk focused on the themes of humility, grace, and redemption. If you enjoy this, please consider subscribing to this Substack. Thank you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit paulcumbo.substack.com/subscribe [https://paulcumbo.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Why it mattered: thoughts from Camino Institute alumni

Listen in for first-hand perspectives from Brahm Brooks, Brady Trombley, and Jesse O’Rorke, three Camino alumni. Brahm (26) is currently spending a year traveling in Australia following a few years working in design and marketing. Brady (18) is working full time in Lansing, Michigan. He’s passionate about fitness, charity, and theology. Jesse (24) is in Fort Myers, Florida in his third year of medical school, aiming to specialize in interventional cardiology. We discuss why the experience mattered, specific moments that left a lasting impression, and the value proposition of the seminar. -- If you want to know more about the Camino Institute, and specifically the Young Men's Seminar opportunity in 2025, visit: https://www.caminoinstitute.com/young-men-s-international-seminar [https://www.caminoinstitute.com/young-men-s-international-seminar] Paul Cumbo's Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit paulcumbo.substack.com/subscribe [https://paulcumbo.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Interview with the iHeartMedia Network on WKIP Hudson Valley

Ed Kowalski, host of “Hudson Valley This Morning” on WKIP, was kind enough to have me on his show this week. Have a listen for thoughts about A Path to Manhood and related topics. Paul Cumbo's Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit paulcumbo.substack.com/subscribe [https://paulcumbo.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Octagon of Mediocrity (Redux)

For my second episode (and still getting the hang of recording), I’ve decided to drop a narration of one of my more popular early posts. If you’ve ever been part of a professional development program at work, you might get a chuckle out of this. If you want to know more about the theory and origins behind the “Circle of Excellence” technique I reference in the post, you can find it here: https://inlpcenter.org/circle-of-excellence-nlp/ [https://inlpcenter.org/circle-of-excellence-nlp/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit paulcumbo.substack.com/subscribe [https://paulcumbo.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]