Episode Summary
In this thought-provoking episode, Eric explores the paradox of human behavior in abundance versus scarcity through the lens of pop culture and history. Starting with his experience playing Ali Hakim in his high school production of Oklahoma!, he examines how fictional narratives about post-apocalyptic scenarios reveal more about our current reality than our potential future. The episode delves into the deeper question of what drives us to build "fences" - both literal and metaphorical - that separate us from one another, even when we live in abundance.
Drawing from John Steinbeck's observations in *The Grapes of Wrath* and contrasting zombie apocalypse fiction with real-world examples of human cooperation during crises, Eric challenges listeners to consider whether our tendency toward division stems from genuine scarcity or from something deeper: the psychology of ownership and control.
Thanks for reading The Better: True Community, Purpose and Rest! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Key Themes/Topics Covered
- **The Paradox of Abundance**: How having more can sometimes make us more selfish rather than generous
- **Fictional Narratives as Social Commentary**: What post-apocalyptic stories reveal about our current anxieties and assumptions
- **Historical Context**: The real range wars between farmers and cowmen in the American West
- **Human Nature in Crisis**: Examining whether catastrophe brings out our best or worst impulses
- **The Psychology of Ownership**: How control over resources shapes our identity and relationships
- **Community vs. Individual Survival**: The tension between "I" and "we" thinking
Memorable Quotes
- *"Maybe we build fences long before we build fences."*
- *"This is the beginning—from 'I' to 'we.' If you who own the things people must have could understand this, you might preserve yourself... For the quality of owning freezes you forever into 'I,' and cuts you off forever from the 'we.'"* - John Steinbeck
- *"So is it that when we have so much, we become our worst? Or when we face great catastrophe, we become our best?"*
- *"What makes us want to hoard our resources even when we have an abundance? What separates us from one another? Ownership. Control."*
- *"I just hope that one day it does not take a zombie apocalypse to make the cowman and the farmer be friends."*
## Resources Referenced
- **Oklahoma!** (Musical) - Rodgers and Hammerstein
- **The Grapes of Wrath** by John Steinbeck
- **The Watchmen** (Comics) by Alan Moore
- Historical context: Range wars in the American West
- 9/11 and its aftermath as an example of crisis bringing people together
Reflection Questions
1. In your own life, where do you see evidence of abundance making you more protective rather than more generous?
2. What "fences" have you built in your relationships or community that might be more about control than genuine protection?
3. How do you think you would respond in a genuine crisis - would it bring out cooperative or competitive instincts in you?
4. What does Steinbeck's observation about the "quality of owning" freezing us in "I" thinking mean for how we approach community today?
5. Where in your life do you operate from scarcity mindset even when you have abundance?
Episode Timestamps
- 0:00 - Introduction: Playing Ali Hakim in Oklahoma!
- 2:30 - The real history behind the farmer vs. cowman conflict
- 5:15 - Post-apocalyptic fiction and what it reveals about us
- 8:45 - Steinbeck's insights on abundance vs. scarcity
- 12:20 - The psychology of ownership and control
- 15:00 - Examples of crisis bringing people together
- 17:30 - Personal ownership and family identity
- 19:45 - Closing thoughts and challenge
Call to Action
Subscribe to The Better on your favorite podcast platform and share this episode with someone who might benefit from thinking differently about community and abundance. Leave a review to help others discover these conversations about building authentic community in our fractured world.
Preview of Upcoming Episodes
Next time, we’ll examine the difference between performative and authentic inclusion in community. Through a childhood baseball story, we’ll explore what it means to move beyond just checking diversity boxes to creating spaces where each person’s unique contribution is not just welcomed but essential to the whole.
Photo Credit: https://www.pexels.com/@cottonbro/
---
*The Better is a podcast exploring what it means to experience true rest, community, and purpose in our lives and neighborhoods. Hosted by Eric Tomeo.*
Share this post