Lucas Brenner » Personal Podcast

About This Podcast

In this podcast I introduce myself in 10 episodes of one to three minutes each. I talk about myself, my life, my ways of thinking and my working methods.

This gives you the opportunity to get to know me better and more personally than through a simple resume.

The idea of this kind of podcast comes from David Perell.

Episode 1: Welcome!

Transcript

Welcome to my personal podcast! My name is Lucas Brenner, Lucas with a c, and you can get to know me better in each episode. Feel free to visit my website at: LucasBrenner DOT com. I hope you enjoy … Episode 1: Welcome!

In this podcast I introduce myself in 10 episodes of one to three minutes each. I talk about myself, my life, my ways of thinking and my work ethic.

The idea of this kind of podcast comes from David Perell. You have the opportunity to get to know me better and more personally than through a simple resume.

In this podcast, I will talk about the role that music and reading play in my life. I'll also talk about my work ethic, my time in school, sports, and technology. In the final episodes, I'll talk about stoicism, the reason I write, and why I want to travel the world.

I invite you to listen to all episodes so you can get a better idea of who I am.

Don't be afraid to drop me a line. Whether you have feedback, questions

Thank you so much for listening! I hope you enjoyed this episode and you will listen to another one. Feel free to contact me through my website if you have any questions or feedback. I look forward to hearing from you!

Lucas Brenner … Dot com, 2021.

Episode 2: Music

Transcript

I've loved music all my life. It all began with me playing the glockenspiel as a toddler. When I was about six years old, I started playing the clarinet with my grandfather. First, he gave me lessons, but after a few years I went to the music school.

I did solo performances, played in a quartet and also in an orchestra. In the orchestra I even performed a concerto as a solo clarinet.

Since then, I have never given up music. Of course, especially as a teenager, I didn't always feel like practicing, but my love for music has always been present.

Recently, I also started playing the saxophone with my other grandfather. Around Christmas time, we recorded the following song…

[Music: “Jingle Bells” with two saxophones]

Music is a really important part of my life that has also helped me in my personal development. On the one hand, playing an instrument is beneficial for your brain, and on the other hand, I've been able to gain experience on stage through my performances. This has not only made me more confident, but also more balanced.

I can handle stressful situations better because I have been on stage regularly since a relatively young age.

The pandemic has limited that regularity of course, but I still feel comfortable on stage.

Practicing my instrument is exhausting, but in a different way than sports or studying. For me, the connection between mind and body is a big reason why I love music so much.

I've been able to learn a lot through music and have made many new friends. I also got to travel around a bit through concert tours. For example, I travelled to Paris in France.

I'm very grateful to my parents and my grandparents for introducing me to music at such an early age and for encouraging me! Without them, I would have missed out on a wonderful hobby!

Lucas Brenner … Dot com, 2021.

Episode 3: My Work Ethic

Transcript

I enjoyed my time at school. I never found learning difficult and I had no problems with discipline or concentration. Therefore, my academic performance was very good and it was natural for me to work for school.

Of course, it wasn't always easy and some stress built up, especially in the last years before high school graduation. Still, it was worth it to do so much for school because I was able to learn a lot about my study habits.

I like learning new things and being able to fully focus on an assignment.

I would describe myself as a very planful person who loves to develop strategies. Through these plans, I gain mental clarity and find it easier to focus. Of course, I can't come up with a plan for every situation, but I find it especially crucial for important projects.

I want to finish the things I start in the best possible way. I'm ambitious and want to get everything out of myself and my abilities. This has the advantage that I work hard on tasks and that I don't give up easily. I sometimes struggle with perfectionism. However, I'm able to turn this weakness into energy for improvement and I'm not paralyzed by it.

On the contrary, my ambition makes me take feedback seriously and I always look for ways to improve. As a result, I grow from my challenges and get better from project to project.

My work ethic can be described as focused, improvement-oriented and ambitious. I work best with people who share a similar way of working, but I'm also able to motivate others. Collaboration and sharing, in my opinion, are not only important in group work, but can help with any project.

No matter how different the work projects are: The best ideas and solutions come from talking with other people. I try to incorporate this exchange into my work ethic by taking constructive feedback to heart.

In my opinion, the best results are achieved with planned and focused work and with a mindset which is open to criticism and feedback. I think that only this way, great innovations or success are possible.

Lucas Brenner … Dot com, 2021.

Episode 4: Sports and Me

Transcript

My relationship with sports is complicated. While I was in elementary school, I played in a badminton club. Then when I got to high school, I stopped doing that and went into a phase during puberty where I didn't feel like working out.

Thanks to “good” genes, I still looked athletic, even though I didn't work out regularly. I preferred to read and write instead. My brother was the exact opposite of me, but that's another story.

Then in high school, things changed radically again after I read “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. Through this book I got such a big motivational boost that I started running and working out every day.

I maintained my new habits because I felt great. I was able to cut multiple minutes off my five-kilometer-time in the first few weeks. In addition, my father and brother ran with me regularly, so that motivated me, too.

Around the same time, my interest in badminton came back. Currently, I plan to rejoin a badminton club as soon as the pandemic allows. I'm looking forward to playing sports with other people again.

I now believe that sports are just as important as reading and learning. The saying “a healthy mind in a healthy body” is right, in my opinion.

To maintain one's health, both intellectual challenges and physical exertion are important. That's why I also try to develop myself physically to the best of my ability. I started with a daily workout and three 5km runs a week. Later I started to run ten kilometers as well.

My goals for the future are to make my workout more challenging and to run even longer distances.

Lucas Brenner … Dot com, 2021.

Episode 5: The Foundation of Knowledge

Transcript

Reading has always been an important part of my life. I started reading very early and then never stopped. In the beginning, I read a lot of novels, preferably fantasy and science fiction. I loved to immerse myself in fictional worlds and learn more about their geography and cultures.

In elementary school, I regularly became the “reading king” of my class in a contest. I read for an hour every night before bed.

Later, I started reading non-fiction books as well. I read numerous books on history, psychology, philosophy, stoicism, finance, art, and geography.

In 2020, I started taking notes on the books I read. This has allowed me to get even more out of them. Reading has opened many doors for me and rewarded me with a lot of knowledge.

I have never stopped reading, nor do I plan to. As Mark Twain said, “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” For me, reading is not only a fun pastime, but also a way to develop and improve myself.

Through reading, I also discovered my fascination with writing. I can only be grateful to the many authors whose books I have read. The world of literature is very fascinating and I'm still excited by the thought of reading the next book.

Reading and my notes on the books are the foundation of my knowledge. You can learn everything through books, because all the knowledge of mankind is stored in them.

Over time, I have built up a large database of notes that I can read and search at any time. I can quickly refresh old knowledge, look up the key messages of interesting books, and make individual book recommendations for friends and family members. Plus, my collection of knowledge inspires me to write new articles for this website.

For me, these notes are priceless. I can only recommend everyone to read as much as they can and take notes on the books they've read.

Lucas Brenner … Dot com, 2021.

Episode 6: Technology and the Internet

Transcript

I loved technology since I was a child. I remember how proud I was when I got my father's old laptop with Windows Vista. From time to time, I was allowed to use Word on my dad's MacBook and I can claim to have used every letter template that exists at least once!

Then, in 2012, I got my own MacBook. I was never really concerned with video games or anything like that. Of course, I played some games, but mostly I was interested in the possibilities the computer offered me.

Besides Word, I also experimented with PowerPoint, Excel, a website builder from Apple and of course the Internet. This gave me an understanding of how my computer worked and today I'd describe myself as an advanced user of macOS and iOS.

Later, I discovered YouTube, where I found a lot of fun videos as well as the opportunity to expand my knowledge alongside school. I was particularly fascinated by English videos because they allowed me to improve my language skills.

In recent years, I have also started to watch videos on double speed, when it comes to research. For enjoyment or fun, I watch videos or movies on normal speed, of course, but if I'm doing some research, I increase the speed.

There was also a time when I was very interested in video editing and filming. I'm not particularly advanced in that area, but I tried it out.

For example, in 2019 I filmed and edited a video about the summer vacation of my family. In the process, I was able to try out different functions and editing techniques, which was a lot of fun.

Then in 2020 and 2021, I started programming my own website. I not only had to learn HTML, CSS and PHP, but also configure the internal web server of my Mac for testing purposes. I also had to deal with web hosting and domains.

Of course, I'm not an expert in this field, but thanks to my ability to understand new concepts quickly, I was able to learn a lot.

If you're interested in how exactly I programmed my website myself, you'll probably enjoy the article “Programming Without Previous Knowledge.” You can either search my website or visit LucasBrenner.com/articles/programming-without-previous-knowledge/.

I'm definitely a technology enthusiast. I enjoy learning about technology and about how it works.

That doesn't mean I buy a new phone every year. As of 2021, my laptop is still from 2012 and I own an iPhone 8. This year, I'll buy a new laptop and give the old one to my mom.

In my opinion, being a technology enthusiast is not a reason to buy a new device every year and throw away the old one.

Overall, I would describe myself as a technology enthusiast and advanced user.

Lucas Brenner … Dot com, 2021.

Episode 7: Stoicism

Transcript

A philosophical topic like this may seem inappropriate for people my age, but I have become more and more interested in philosophy in recent years. Since I was 16, I started reading philosophical books, for example by Yves Bossart, Richard David Precht, Marcus Aurelius and Ryan Holiday.

Ryan Holiday's books introduced me to Stoicism and I was very impressed. From that point on, I tried to integrate the central teachings of this philosophical school into my life. This has not only improved the quality of my life, but also my relationships with family and friends.

I also began to meditate, because that made me feel more balanced. I have also noticed that I come up with a lot of ideas after I meditate because my mind can calm down. Doing nothing is very important in my opinion, especially in an age with the mantra “Higher, further, faster!”

Meditation takes me back to the roots of life. It sharpens my mind and offers me a new perspective.

Along with Stoicism, meditation is an important part of my life.

Of course, I am not a philosopher, but these topics still interest me. With Stoicism, I have found a school of thought that I can identify with.

I hope that philosophy can be brought back into the modern consciousness through writers like Ryan Holiday. Younger generations often think of philosophy as an ancient, outdated discipline. But in my opinion, it is much more than that: Philosophy is always relevant to the present and deals with issues that affect everyone's everyday life.

The core of philosophy is not old books written in incomprehensible language hundreds of years ago. The core of philosophy is life itself. Therefore, I believe that everybody should deal with it at least a little bit to learn more about themselves and life.

Lucas Brenner … Dot com, 2021.

Episode 8: Why I Am Writing

Transcript

Writing is an important part of my life. I write both for myself, for example in my journal, and for other people, for example on my website. At the same time, writing is not always easy, but requires a high level of concentration and a lot of time.

But writing offers me many advantages. When I write a text, I am forced to research the topic intensively and to think about it. Unlike in a conversation, it's not so easy to hide holes in your knowledge in a written text.

Writing helps me better understand my own thoughts. I engage with my views more than I would otherwise and can support or correct them if necessary.

I also want to share my views with other people. Of course, I'm not an expert or guru whose opinion is correct at all times. But I do my best to provide value to the visitors of my website and to write about what I've learned or tried out myself.

I believe that others can benefit from my experiences. All people can benefit from each other through their life experiences.

I believe that I can help other people through writing. And even if I only help one person, that's enough for me.

After all, writing is a challenge. It is not always easy to write and publish articles. Publishing brings all the perfectionist thoughts, insecurities, and fears to the surface.

Especially in the beginning, publishing your articles is scary. Later, it gets easier and you become aware of the many benefits that come with it.

Stepping out of your comfort zone is very important in order to move forward and develop. Although it's uncomfortable, you are rewarded with experiences, new contacts and opportunities.

For example, I'd never have learned programming without this website.

Of course, you have to enjoy writing to keep it up. Without motivation or enjoyment, there's no point in writing.

I love to write and I enjoy the clarity I get from my journal, for example. Getting out of my comfort zone and seeking new challenges are important to me.

I hope that I can help other people with my articles and texts. But even if only a few people visit my website and read my work: It is enough for me if I help one person or if another person benefits from my work.

I write for other people, but also for myself.

Lucas Brenner … Dot com, 2021.

Episode 9: Wanderlust

Transcript

I was lucky enough that my family was able to finance trips when I was a child. Even as a toddler, I regularly went to the North Sea in Germany. When I was old enough to remember going on vacation, I flew to Gran Canaria and Mallorca with my family. I also had the opportunity to experience two student exchanges to France.

Traveling has always impressed me. Especially in Europe, you only need to travel a few hours and you are in another country where people have a completely different culture and speak a foreign language. I am very fascinated by what you can learn and experience while traveling. I feel like I learn something and grow from every trip and every vacation I take.

I experience what is called wanderlust a lot. “Wanderlust” is a German term and that's how it's actually pronounced!

I'm particularly impressed by the nature and foreign cultures of other countries. No matter if I stay in a hotel, on a camping site or with host families, I enjoy every trip.

For me, it's important to break out of the familiar and gain new experience. By traveling, I step out of my comfort zone and expand my knowledge.

Of course, my geographical interest also plays a big role. Geography is also about nature, culture and travel.

I am a big fan of traveling. However, two things are very important to me. On the one hand, you should make sure that you travel in a climate-friendly way. For example, you can avoid flights or donate money to certain organizations so that the carbon dioxide released can be filtered out of the air again by newly planted trees.

On the other hand, one should treat the locals of the visited countries, their cultures and their environment with respect. Especially in mass tourism, the cultural, social and financial needs of the locals are ignored and exploited. Therefore, it's important to me to treat the locals with respect and to be friendly.

Unfortunately, many tourists ignore that the locals are also people and not animals in a zoo. For me, this also includes following local customs and norms as best as possible. For example, one should pay attention to special holidays, wear appropriate clothing, and maintain a calm atmosphere in religious sites.

If you follow these points, I think nothing will stand in the way of a sustainable trip.

There is a lot to consider when traveling. However, I think this is the least one can do. Through a trip, you gain new memories, experiences and knowledge. Paying a reasonable price for it is not only responsible, but necessary so that future generations can still travel like we can today.

Lucas Brenner … Dot com, 2021.

Episode 10: Thank You!

Transcript

I am glad that you have made it this far! I hope you enjoyed this little insight into my personality.

Of course, there is much more I could tell you, but that would have gone beyond the scope of this podcast. If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to contact me through my website.

Thank you for your attention and for listening!

If you've been inspired by this podcast to do a similar project on your website, that's great! The original idea came from David Perell as I mentioned in the first episode. Feel free to create your own podcast.

By the way, English is not my native language. Therefore, it's possible that I made some mistakes and that I mispronounced some words. Feel free to contact me and point out errors. I will fix them as soon as possible. Thank you very much for your help.

Thank you again for your interest and time. If you haven't read my biography yet, now is a good time to do so. Otherwise, feel free to read the articles on my website or visit my LinkedIn profile.

Have a nice day, goodbye!

Lucas Brenner … Dot com, 2021.