In this episode, inspired by my Brunch essay “The Happiness of the Cleanup Pitcher,” I reflect on an unexpected moment at a Korean baseball stadium with my daughter. What began as a simple family outing turned into a meditation on losing, resilience, and the quiet strength required to stand on the mound when the game is already slipping away.
Watching a young relief pitcher—assigned to finish a game his team was destined to lose—I wondered: What motivates someone to walk confidently toward a certain defeat? What keeps them throwing with such dignity and power?
I realized that his mindset mirrors moments in my own life: job rejections, shattered confidence, and seasons when I felt like the pitcher sent in only to “manage the loss.” But the pitcher’s presence told a different story—one about hope, tomorrow’s possibilities, and the small acts of courage that keep us moving forward.
This episode explores:
Why a “cleanup pitcher” embodies a unique form of hope
How losing situations reveal our deepest mindset
What Korean baseball culture teaches about resilience
How to recondition the mind when the scoreboard says you’re losing
A reminder that even when today feels like a loss, tomorrow is a new game waiting for us.