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Introduction to Wisdom for Wannabes:
The Why! By Jackie Morreale Published June 7, 2025 Listen to/watch the podcast recording or read the transcript below: |
An Introduction
Hi there, my name is Jackie Morreale. I am the host of Wisdom for Wannabes, a new podcast series. I'm very excited to be with you today for this very first podcast episode. I'm starting it off today by telling you, as the host – who’s usually behind the scenes, asking the questions to other people – a little bit more about me, as the interviewer.
If we start with the basic questions that I typically ask or will be asking over the course of the next 52 weeks, i.e.:
If we start with the basic questions that I typically ask or will be asking over the course of the next 52 weeks, i.e.:
- What is my full name, and where am I from?
- What do I do?
- What is the favorite part about my job?
- So why do this now?
A Marathon, Not a Sprint
Two years ago, I wanted to run a marathon. It had been many years since the previous one. I knew because I had done it in the past that it would be possible to do it in the future. I read somewhere that if you put a few solid months into it, that you could do it. That was enough to start.
Somewhere along the lines of starting to put in the mileage, something like August 2023 – and if anyone else lives in Florida, you know that August is hot to start a running journey – and starting to put in those 10-mile long run Saturdays, I put together a list of goals. (I am a very good list maker, as it seems.)
As I wanted to improve my body and be able to push it to its limits – and it was really limiting at the beginning, just to even run one mile, two miles, three miles, to then go to 26.2 miles in the Miami Marathon – I asked myself:
Somewhere along the lines of starting to put in the mileage, something like August 2023 – and if anyone else lives in Florida, you know that August is hot to start a running journey – and starting to put in those 10-mile long run Saturdays, I put together a list of goals. (I am a very good list maker, as it seems.)
As I wanted to improve my body and be able to push it to its limits – and it was really limiting at the beginning, just to even run one mile, two miles, three miles, to then go to 26.2 miles in the Miami Marathon – I asked myself:
- How do I get to this major goal in life?
- How do I change my life and my body and my mind and spirit to be ready for this?
Body, Mind, and Spirit (or Spirit, Mind, and Body?)
Ever since putting these goals down on paper, it's sort of been a journey of little miracles all along the way of not only bettering myself as a person, human being, also spiritually, and in my mind.
My goals from two years ago were: (These are from the actual paper!)
1. To run. Specifically, run a marathon comfortably.
It didn't have to do with speed, just about the accomplishment, which I was able to do the Miami Marathon on January 28, 2024, and many half marathons since then! I'm excited to check that one off.
But what if what came after that was... more.
Once you start peeling away at the surface it keeps coming, right? Not only did I want to run and improve the way that my body could perform, but I wanted…
2. To learn. I wanted to get a PhD.
This was a lofty goal. It's taken two years, but I'm very excited to say that I am ready to begin my journey, which will start in about a month from now, in August 2025. I'm very excited for the next few years of exploration and attaining wisdom through that PhD program in business.
3. To create. Specifically, I wrote: I want to write worlds that I want to live in.
I'm a creative. I love to write. I love to draw. It was my life's dream to write every single day and put together some stories that would inspire people.
Next up was…
4. To have a clear mind, happiness and peace.
Now this isn't something that's easy to attain. I think all of us want to achieve a clear mind and happiness and peace. It's a meandering path to get there, and many different ways to get there.
The last one on the list is really the way that helped me to get there. I want (still)…
5. To be a better person and a more spiritual person.
It's been two years since I wrote this list and having created many, many more lists as a result of this journey.
Since I started, I've realized that I pretty much needed to flip the list upside down, and start with the spirituality in order to get the happiness and the clear mind and the storytelling ability and the exploration of knowledge and even the ability to run.
My goals from two years ago were: (These are from the actual paper!)
1. To run. Specifically, run a marathon comfortably.
It didn't have to do with speed, just about the accomplishment, which I was able to do the Miami Marathon on January 28, 2024, and many half marathons since then! I'm excited to check that one off.
But what if what came after that was... more.
Once you start peeling away at the surface it keeps coming, right? Not only did I want to run and improve the way that my body could perform, but I wanted…
2. To learn. I wanted to get a PhD.
This was a lofty goal. It's taken two years, but I'm very excited to say that I am ready to begin my journey, which will start in about a month from now, in August 2025. I'm very excited for the next few years of exploration and attaining wisdom through that PhD program in business.
3. To create. Specifically, I wrote: I want to write worlds that I want to live in.
I'm a creative. I love to write. I love to draw. It was my life's dream to write every single day and put together some stories that would inspire people.
Next up was…
4. To have a clear mind, happiness and peace.
Now this isn't something that's easy to attain. I think all of us want to achieve a clear mind and happiness and peace. It's a meandering path to get there, and many different ways to get there.
The last one on the list is really the way that helped me to get there. I want (still)…
5. To be a better person and a more spiritual person.
It's been two years since I wrote this list and having created many, many more lists as a result of this journey.
Since I started, I've realized that I pretty much needed to flip the list upside down, and start with the spirituality in order to get the happiness and the clear mind and the storytelling ability and the exploration of knowledge and even the ability to run.
Kicking off a 52-Week Podcast Journey
I'm very excited to share this journey and to kick off a journey in which I'm learning actively from other people in my life, whether they have been in my life for a few months or for my entire life, for years and years and I know well, but I've never actually had the chance to ask them:
So, this is my why: I want to learn from the people around me. I acknowledge that there's so much more to learn. I can't wait to see what all this will be.
My plan for the next year is:
1. To draw, every day, a little something.
I have this wonderful little doggie Lily. Here's one of my recent drawings of her. So, draw every day…. And it's been a while. I'm just going to draw for the heck of it, whatever inspires me.
2. One interview or book review per week via podcast.
So please tune in where you listen to podcasts, subscribe on YouTube, and see what's up for the next week. And please hold me to it, 52 of these at least, and we'll see where goes from there.
3. To write.
I've kicked off a few writing projects for myself, for my family, with my children and I'm having a blast. I can't wait to share it with you. Please let me know if you're interested. I'm always looking for folks to talk to and I would love to learn more from you.
Please join me as I pursue wisdom for wannabes like me! Have a great day. Take care
- What do you do?
- What makes you tick?
- Why do you care?
- What's your next step?
- What are your dreams?
- What was your breakthrough point?
- Why?
So, this is my why: I want to learn from the people around me. I acknowledge that there's so much more to learn. I can't wait to see what all this will be.
My plan for the next year is:
1. To draw, every day, a little something.
I have this wonderful little doggie Lily. Here's one of my recent drawings of her. So, draw every day…. And it's been a while. I'm just going to draw for the heck of it, whatever inspires me.
2. One interview or book review per week via podcast.
So please tune in where you listen to podcasts, subscribe on YouTube, and see what's up for the next week. And please hold me to it, 52 of these at least, and we'll see where goes from there.
3. To write.
I've kicked off a few writing projects for myself, for my family, with my children and I'm having a blast. I can't wait to share it with you. Please let me know if you're interested. I'm always looking for folks to talk to and I would love to learn more from you.
Please join me as I pursue wisdom for wannabes like me! Have a great day. Take care
Jackie's Running Journey in Photos: Slow and Steady Wins the Race
The photos in this gallery show snippets of:
The "early years" of my running life (first two rows), showing races from 2011-2013, when nothing hurt and my feet floated in memory of my brother Kenny, and the Ken Pribil Jr Foundation 501c3 charity that my family created to memorialize his life, and benefit sarcoma cancer research. The most recent marathon completed during this time was Miami Marathon 2013.
The "re-building years" from 2021-2024 (third row). The sedentary lifestyle of working from home. Being chauffer to two beautiful children and their activities. Every step made every joint hurt... but it was about mind over matter, as well as two sessions a week at the chiropractor to keep things lined up the right way for months before the big Miami Marathon 2024 race. And after nine years, the 26.2 consecutive miles flowed, in an interval style of 4 minutes of running to 1 minute of walking that lasted over five hours. Best part? My family was there to see me cross the finish at Bayfront Park (even my dog!). Second best part? With the interval style of running, I was able to walk the next day, and keep racing for months and now years to come.
And the "now" (bottom rows), in which running has helped build rhythm, creativity, and unity for my life goals, and even brought my family together in a fun way that gives us energy and motivation.
The "early years" of my running life (first two rows), showing races from 2011-2013, when nothing hurt and my feet floated in memory of my brother Kenny, and the Ken Pribil Jr Foundation 501c3 charity that my family created to memorialize his life, and benefit sarcoma cancer research. The most recent marathon completed during this time was Miami Marathon 2013.
The "re-building years" from 2021-2024 (third row). The sedentary lifestyle of working from home. Being chauffer to two beautiful children and their activities. Every step made every joint hurt... but it was about mind over matter, as well as two sessions a week at the chiropractor to keep things lined up the right way for months before the big Miami Marathon 2024 race. And after nine years, the 26.2 consecutive miles flowed, in an interval style of 4 minutes of running to 1 minute of walking that lasted over five hours. Best part? My family was there to see me cross the finish at Bayfront Park (even my dog!). Second best part? With the interval style of running, I was able to walk the next day, and keep racing for months and now years to come.
And the "now" (bottom rows), in which running has helped build rhythm, creativity, and unity for my life goals, and even brought my family together in a fun way that gives us energy and motivation.
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