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Lessons From Coach: Restoring Empathy, Curiosity, and Being Present One Flight At a Time.
Nov. 18, 2026
I conducted a six-year social experiment where I booked flights to anywhere (Boston, Seattle, Phoenix, etc.) in hopes of being able to interview the passenger next to me on the plane and get their story...remind them that they matter. I ended up doing 33 interviews in 36 attempts, with 14 passengers crying on my shoulder as they shared their story. I took those interviews and wrote a book called Lessons From Coach: Restoring Empathy, Curiosity, and Being Present One Flight At a Time. In this instance, coach is in reference to the back of the plane where I conducted the interviews. When I speak to groups like Rotary, the topic is usually about how we can make ourselves more available to the people in our path. A lot of the projects and work that Rotary does for the good of the community is amazing. But how can we engage with someone at the coffee shop, the gym, or the grocery store to be of service to them in an impromptu moment? I like to share the two things to look for in people, one thing to remember about people, and one thing to do to better engage with people. Lessons From Coach has become a favorite among book clubs, is being used as curriculum at a college in Illinois, and has been featured on podcasts and WCCO radio.
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Wayzata American Legion
Dec. 09, 2026
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