Living a zone full life A new map for flourishing in the age of massive change in the world of AI
Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad...the Radio Man
Release Date: 08/28/2025
Too Real to Be Fake, Too Fake to Be Real: Stan Hustad’s Inconvenient Ideas for a New Media World
Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad...the Radio Man
On the first day of December, while many people are still digesting Thanksgiving leftovers and arguing about when it’s “socially acceptable” to play Christmas music, broadcaster and performance coach Stan Hustad steps up to the microphone with something more than seasonal sentiment. In his new Monday series, Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad, he invites listeners into a world where what we see, hear, and even believe may be—quite literally—too real to be fake and too fake to be real. Stan begins with a memory from his days hosting the early morning show “Morning Sound” on a...
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Leaving Money on the Table: Why It Still Happens—And How to Stop Doing It in 2026
Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad...the Radio Man
A TWiT Talk with Stan “The Radio Man” Hustad On this post-Thanksgiving “Black Friday,” veteran broadcaster and performance economist Stan Hustad explores why so many people still “leave money on the table.” With sharp insights and light humor, this 15-minute TWiT Talk explains the real origin of the phrase and how it applies to modern business, media, and the performance economy. Key Ideas: • The poker-table origin of “leaving money on the table” • How entrepreneurs underprice, under-offer, and underperform • The importance of full performance in the modern economy •...
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“Give Thanks, Be Useful” — A Thanksgiving Eve Message from the Do It Right Collective
Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad...the Radio Man
On Thanksgiving Eve—one of the most meaningful, reflective, and even quietly complicated days on the American calendar—veteran broadcaster and business-performance coach Stan Hustad steps into the “How to Be Useful” virtual studio with a simple story and a profound invitation: Let this Thanksgiving Eve be different. Let it be useful, grateful, and transformational. In a warm and deeply human 10-minute reflection, Stan guides listeners through a practice he began years ago—a practice he now teaches in his performance coaching and encourages leaders everywhere to adopt: ...
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“When I Think of You, I Give Thanks: The Hidden Power of Doing It Right” A Stan Hustad Thanksgiving Reflection from What It Takes Radio
Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad...the Radio Man
As Thanksgiving week arrives, What It Takes Radio brings forward another thoughtful, 10-minute conversation from veteran broadcaster and business performance coach Stan Hustad—a message wrapped in gratitude, wisdom, a touch of humor, and a powerful challenge to do it right in life and business In this Thanksgiving meditation—part encouragement, part coaching moment—Stan reminds listeners that this season isn’t just about turkey and tradition. It’s about relationships, gratitude, and the courage to live and work with intentional excellence. A Summary That Stands on Its Own In “When...
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Gary is still in The Transplant Zone and Dick Cheney has left RIP... And they have very similar stories
Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad...the Radio Man
Living on the Edge — Lessons from a Heart and a Life A Transplant Zone Reflection with Gary Register In this moving short feature from The Transplant Zone, host Stan Hustad sits down once again with Gary Register — a man living day by day in the tension between hope and uncertainty as he awaits a heart transplant. Today’s conversation was framed by the news of the passing of former Vice President Richard “Dick” Cheney, who died at 84 after a long and complex journey with heart disease — a journey that, for many years, mirrored the one Gary now walks. A Shared Story of Fragile...
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Turning Point Tuesday: Donald Trump has the Russians, the Chinese and the Democrats right where he wants them!
Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad...the Radio Man
And he and you must decide what to do next because we are all at turning points. In this latest episode of Inconvenient Ideas with Stan “the Radio Man” Hustad, listeners are invited to step into the Curiosity Zone—that place where everything you thought you knew might be wrong. With his signature mix of humor, insight, and challenge, Stan declares a new national observance: Turning Point Day. Why? Because almost everything—from world politics to personal purpose—is shifting, and every one of us is standing at a crossroads. From the geopolitical to the...
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Donald Trump Is Still King — And Why many of his Opponents and some of Us Are Taking NAPs
Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad...the Radio Man
The Tuesday Truth: Reflections from the Radio Man On a brisk Tuesday morning, broadcaster and performance coach Stan Hustad—known to listeners as The Radio Man—takes his audience on another insightful journey through modern leadership and media reality. His latest episode of Inconvenient Ideas begins, as always, not with politics, but with a principle: “Donald Trump is still the king.” Not, Stan clarifies, the king of America—but the king of the ratings. And that’s no small difference in today’s performance economy, where visibility equals influence and airtime equals authority....
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The King of POP: Why Donald Trump Is Smiling —“Inconvenient Ideas” Reflection with Stan Hustad
Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad...the Radio Man
In this thought-provoking edition of Inconvenient Ideas, Stan Hustad offers a 15-minute story-time reflection on power, personality, and perception — all wrapped around a provocative headline: “Donald Trump is smiling now because he’s the King of POP.” But in Stan’s hands, POP doesn’t mean “Prince of Peace.” It means Power, Opportunity, and Personality — the currency of modern influence. An Idea Worth Wrestling With Broadcasting from the What It Takes Radio studio — standing tall, gesturing, and speaking with his whole body as he always does — Stan begins by reminding...
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Friends, foes, empty threats, & performances you have to make... Welcome to the Performance Economy
Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad...the Radio Man
The latest episode of TWIT Talks with Stan Hustad dives into a topic we all know but rarely name: the strange power of empty threats, the certainty of foes when you try to do good, and the absolute necessity of performing in today’s world. Stan kicks off with a smile and a sting: “If you’re doing well—and especially if you’re helping others do well—you will have foes.” It’s a truth rooted in history, spirituality, and everyday reality. Add to that a few comic tales from Stan’s days as “Mr. H” the high school teacher—like the student who threatened to “pee on the...
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From Stage to Strategy: What Pete Hegseth Teaches Us About the Performance Economy
Inconvenient Ideas with Stan Hustad...the Radio Man
The Curiosity Zone, hosted by Stan Hustad, has always been a place where inconvenient ideas meet everyday wisdom. In his latest program, Stan takes listeners on a thought-provoking ride through media, leadership, and the surprising lessons of a fiery presentation given by former Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Whether you loved the message or loathed it, the performance itself offers a master class in communication for anyone navigating today’s performance economy. The Power of Performance Stan begins by reminding us that podcasting—whether with video or audio—has always been “radio at...
info_outlineIn a timely presentation released as summer turns to autumn, broadcaster and coach Stan Hustad introduced a daring new framework for what he calls a 'Zone-Full Life.' Built on years of reflection, conversations, and teaching, Hustad offers a way of understanding life not as a series of random events, but as a movement through a sequence of zones—each one offering opportunity, challenge, and fulfillment.
Rather than drifting through life or settling for survival, Hustad challenges listeners to identify which zone they are in, which one they are moving toward, and how they might live with greater clarity, wisdom, and generosity.
The Seven Zones of a Life Well Lived
The Curiosity Zone
We begin life with wonder and relentless questioning. Curiosity is our God-given default setting, yet it often gets crushed by conformity and routine. Hustad urges us never to abandon curiosity, for it is the foundation of creativity, discovery, and lifelong learning.
The Impact Zone
As we mature, we are called to 'make a dent in the universe.' This is the zone of productivity, contribution, and achievement—the time when careers are built, businesses launched, and the fruits of labor earned. Impact drives both influence and income.
The Issachar Zone
Named after an ancient Hebrew tribe known for 'understanding the times and knowing what to do,' this is the wisdom zone. It’s where experience, discernment, and perspective converge. Few enter it deeply, but those who do gain the ability to guide others with clarity.
The Transformation Zone
Life is not just about change but about transformation—rebirth after tragedy, breakthrough after struggle, or a new vision discovered in maturity. Here, lives and businesses shift from mere function to radical re-creation.
The Generosity Zone
The happiest people, Hustad reminds us, are not the ones who accumulate, but the ones who give. In this zone, abundance becomes a call to share—time, treasure, wisdom, and compassion. It is the zone of blessing others.
The Encore Zone
Contrary to the myth of retirement, this zone is about launching new projects in later life. It’s where people ask: 'What’s next? What can I do now that I couldn’t before?' For many, this is the most fulfilling zone of all.
The Transcendence Zone
Ultimately, life points beyond itself. In this final zone, we discover the spiritual, the eternal, and the reality that human existence transcends the material. It’s where faith, meaning, and hope for 'something more' come alive.
Things to Remember, Share, and Write Down
• Life is best understood not as a straight line but as a journey through zones of growth, impact, and meaning.
• Curiosity must never die. It is the beginning of wisdom and innovation.
• Impact creates income, but wisdom shapes legacy.
• Transformation is possible at any stage of life—often emerging from pain or crisis.
• Generosity brings joy in ways accumulation never can.
• An Encore Life is not retirement but new beginnings.
• Transcendence calls us to see beyond ourselves and invest in what is eternal.
Motivation for Today
Hustad’s message is not simply a philosophical musing—it is an invitation. Anyone, right now, can step more fully into their zone. Start by asking:
- What zone am I in today?
- What zone am I neglecting?
- What is the next step I can take to live with more impact, wisdom, or generosity?
Living a zone-full life means being present, practicing consistently, and pursuing performance with purpose. It is about knowing when to push forward, when to give back, and when to look beyond yourself.
Call to Action
Stan Hustad and his colleagues are developing a forthcoming book titled The Coaching Zone, designed to help individuals and communities embrace zone-full living. Through coaching, mentoring, and teaching, Hustad hopes to inspire a collective of people dedicated to living wisely and helping others flourish.
The invitation is simple but challenging: Don’t wait. Begin now. Enter your zone, live fully, and share generously.