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The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
John Mesko
21 episodes
3 hours ago
Text me and let me know what you think! 🧩 Episode Overview (Long Summary) In Episode 21, John Mesko continues his ā€œDifficult Peopleā€ series by focusing on manipulative personalities—those who gain influence not through force but through subtle emotional control. He begins by clarifying that manipulation is a behavioral pattern, not a diagnosis, and it often overlaps with traits like narcissism or dishonesty. Drawing from personal experience, John tells the story of Nancy, a coworker whose mas...
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Text me and let me know what you think! 🧩 Episode Overview (Long Summary) In Episode 21, John Mesko continues his ā€œDifficult Peopleā€ series by focusing on manipulative personalities—those who gain influence not through force but through subtle emotional control. He begins by clarifying that manipulation is a behavioral pattern, not a diagnosis, and it often overlaps with traits like narcissism or dishonesty. Drawing from personal experience, John tells the story of Nancy, a coworker whose mas...
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Personal Journals
Society & Culture,
Leisure,
Hobbies,
Health & Fitness
Episodes (20/21)
The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Dealing with Difficult People: Manipulators
Text me and let me know what you think! 🧩 Episode Overview (Long Summary) In Episode 21, John Mesko continues his ā€œDifficult Peopleā€ series by focusing on manipulative personalities—those who gain influence not through force but through subtle emotional control. He begins by clarifying that manipulation is a behavioral pattern, not a diagnosis, and it often overlaps with traits like narcissism or dishonesty. Drawing from personal experience, John tells the story of Nancy, a coworker whose mas...
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1 month ago
47 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Dealing with Narcissists
Text me and let me know what you think! 🧭 EPISODE SUMMARY This episode continues The Final Third’s ā€œDifficult Peopleā€ series with a deep, structured exploration of narcissistic behavior. John draws from lived experience, research, and reflection — not psychology textbooks — to help listeners understand how narcissism shows up, why it forms, and how to protect themselves while maintaining empathy. Key message: You can’t fix a narcissist, but you can stop fueling them. šŸ” MAIN THEMES 1. Narciss...
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1 month ago
49 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Dealing with Selfish People
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸŽ™ļø Episode 19: Dealing with Selfish People Staying generous without getting used. Selfishness is not just rude—it’s inefficient. The challenge is not to harden your heart but to clarify your boundaries. šŸ” Key Insights 1. Selfishness as Inefficiency Selfish people waste energy and time—the most precious resources.The correction is not punishment but optimization—clarify what you’ll give and when you’ll stop.2. The Mask of Busyness Many selfi...
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2 months ago
22 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Difficult People - Dealing with Bullies
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸŽ™ļø Episode 18 — Dealing with Bullies Series: Dealing with Difficult People Host: John Mesko Length: ~15–18 minutes Tone: Calm, assertive, reflective, INTJ-informed šŸŽ§ 1. Hook / Opening Monologue (1 minute) ā€œEvery one of us, at some point, has faced someone trying to overpower us—maybe with words, volume, or presence. It happens at work, at home, even among friends. You know that feeling—your pulse quickens, thoughts race, and suddenly it’s not about r...
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2 months ago
29 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Travel Hacks, Habits, and Lessons Learned
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸŽ§ Episode Summary In this final travel episode, John Mesko shares decades of lessons learned from traveling for work and pleasure—covering everything from planning and packing to managing money and mindset. It’s a practical, experience-driven guide for making travel smoother, cheaper, and more enjoyable, while still leaving room for spontaneity and discovery. 🧭 Key Segments 1. The Balance Between Planning and Spontaneity Planning prevents costly mistake...
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2 months ago
38 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Travel and It's Impacts
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸŽ™ļø The Final Third – Episode 16Title: Travel and Its Impacts Theme: How travel shapes perspective, reveals biases, and teaches us about ourselves in the final third of life. āœˆļø Episode Overview In this episode, John reflects on a recent trip to New York City. What began as a practical discussion of public transportation, sidewalks, and city crowds became a deeper meditation on how travel impacts our attitudes, our sense of self, and our awareness of ag...
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3 months ago
22 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
How do you show up to the world?
Text me and let me know what you think! Title: How Do You Show Up? Podcast: The Final Third Host: John Mesko Episode Number: 15 1. Episode Summary This impromptu episode reflects on recent tragic events and uses them as a launching point to explore a deeper question: How do we, as individuals, show up in the world? John challenges listeners to think beyond labels, experiences, and grievances to embrace their fundamental responsibility as human beings—do no harm, contribute positively, and...
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3 months ago
23 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Miles, Points, and Perks: The Top 7 Lessons I’ve Learned About Frequent Flyer Programs
Text me and let me know what you think! The Final Third – Episode 14Title: ā€œMiles, Points, and Perks: The Top 7 Lessons I’ve Learned About Frequent Flyer Programsā€ Episode Description: From midnight trips to BogotĆ” to hard-earned Delta Diamond status, John shares real-life lessons from years of navigating frequent flyer programs. This countdown explores the psychology of airline loyalty, the shifting value of miles, and the perks that matter most in the Final Third of life. #7 – The Ps...
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3 months ago
34 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Reflections from My Youngest's Wedding
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸŽ™ļø The Final Third — Episode 13Title: Reflections from My Youngest Child’s Wedding Episode Overview In this deeply personal episode, John shares reflections on the milestone of his youngest child’s wedding. He explores how family shapes society, how parenting shifts into guiding and persuading, and how stepping into the grandparent role creates new opportunities for purpose and legacy in the final third of life. Key Themes & Takeaways 1. Life Has Se...
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3 months ago
28 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
My Top Ten Travel Annoyances
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸŽ™ļø Episode Title: My Top Ten Travel Annoyances 🧭 Episode Summary: In Episode 12 of The Final Third, John Mesko counts down his top 10 travel annoyances — those little things that chip away at your patience when you’re just trying to get from Point A to Point B. Whether it's slow walkers clogging the airport concourse or parents philosophizing over buffet fruit with a toddler, John uses humor, storytelling, and a bit of catharsis to highlight what makes ...
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4 months ago
36 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Bonus - Gen X: Born in 1966 — The Culture, Change, and Chill of a Generation
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸŽ™ļø The Final Third – Episode 11 Bonus Content Title: Gen X: Born in 1966 — The Culture, Change, and Chill of a Generation Length: Approx. 45–50 minutes Type: Bonus Retrospective Episode Host: John Mesko šŸ”‘ Key Themes & Takeaways Gen X at the Crossroads: Born in 1966, John reflects on growing up in a world deeply shaped by WWII, amidst cultural shifts and looming Cold War fears.A Generation of Adaptability: Gen Xers were shaped by ā€œduck and cover...
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5 months ago
33 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Finishing Well — Legacy, Old Age, and Becoming an Elder
Text me and let me know what you think! Title: Finishing Well — Legacy, Old Age, and Becoming an Elder Length: Approx. 29 minutes Theme: This final episode in the Essentials Series reflects on the transition from career peak to elderhood, exploring what it means to finish well and live deliberately in the final third of life. šŸ”‘ Key Takeaways Aging is a mindset. Life after 55 demands intentionality—time moves fast, and the opportunity to shape the final third shouldn't be missed.Career shift...
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5 months ago
32 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Sports, Heroes, and Lessons Learned
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸ“˜ EPISODE 9: Sports, Heroes, and Lessons Learned šŸŽ§ Episode Summary In this heartfelt and nostalgic episode, John reflects on how sports have shaped his life—from childhood play on the farm to his admiration for elite athletes and love of Purdue basketball. He shares personal stories, childhood memories, and life lessons drawn from heroes like Nolan Ryan, Bo Jackson, and Wayne Gretzky. The episode evolves into a meditation on how sports change with age—f...
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5 months ago
34 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Food, Wine, and the Joy of the Table
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸŽ™ļø Episode Overview Title: Food, Wine, and the Joy of the Table Series: Essentials Episode #: 8 Theme: Our relationship to food goes far beyond sustenance. This episode explores how food connects us to the natural world, our cultures, our faith, and each other—and how slowing down to share a meal can nourish body, mind, and soul. 🧭 Segment Breakdown Segment 1: Created to Eat Theological reflection: God could have designed us differently—but chose to ...
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5 months ago
28 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Body and Brain - Health, Fitness, and Aging
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸŽ™ļø Episode Title: Body and Brain – Health, Fitness, and Aging šŸ“Œ Episode Number: Episode #7 🧭 Summary: In this episode, John explores the intersection of physical and mental health as we age. He shares personal stories, hard-earned lessons, and practical strategies for staying active, maintaining mental sharpness, and living with purpose. Drawing from family history, personal experience, and scientific insight, John reflects on how aging is not about dec...
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6 months ago
28 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Dealing with Difficult People, especially Passive Aggressive People
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸŽ™ļø Podcast Title: Dealing with Difficult People šŸ“„ Episode Number: Episode 6 of The Essentials Series 🧭 Episode Summary: In this episode, John Mesko dives into a universal challenge: dealing with difficult people. With a listener-suggested topic, he examines four common types—Aggressors, Victims, Narcissists, and Passive-Aggressive personalities—with a special focus on the last. Drawing from personal and professional experience, John offers insights, exa...
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6 months ago
33 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Family, Divorce, and Starting over after 50
Text me and let me know what you think! What happens when you wake up one day and realize a 26-year marriage has reached its breaking point? This raw, reflective episode explores the challenging journey through divorce in your 50s and the unexpected wisdom that comes from starting over during life's "final third." Walking away from nearly three decades of shared history isn't a decision made lightly. After concluding everyone in my family would be better off if my marriage ended, I filed for...
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6 months ago
31 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Agriculture, Farming and the Business of Food
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸ“„ Episode Summary: In Episode #4 of The Final Third, host John Mesko explores the complex and essential topic of agriculture and food. Drawing from his lifelong career in agriculture—as a farmer, researcher, leader, and advocate—John reflects on the history of farming, the rise of industrial agriculture, and the evolving choices we make about what we eat. From the commodification of food to the nuance of organics and the rise of sustainability movements...
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6 months ago
31 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Myers Briggs and the Art of Self Reflection
Text me and let me know what you think! Theme:Understanding yourself through self-reflection and personality frameworks, with a deep dive into the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Episode Summary:In this episode, John explores the power of self-reflection and how personality frameworks like the MBTI can enhance personal growth. He shares his own journey as an INTJ and how understanding his personality type has shaped his leadership style, relationships, and inner life. John introduces the ...
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7 months ago
33 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Cigars, Bourbon, and the Deliberate Life
Text me and let me know what you think! šŸŽ§ Episode Summary: In this reflective and personal episode, John records from his backyard lanai in Central Florida, exploring the themes of cigars, bourbon, and the deliberate life. Join him as he lights up a good cigar, pours a glass of bourbon, and shares what those mean to him. Rather than focusing on tasting notes or pairings, John shares how these elements help create space for reflection, self-assessment, and intentional living. You d...
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7 months ago
31 minutes

The Final Third: A podcast about life, learning, and growing
Text me and let me know what you think! 🧩 Episode Overview (Long Summary) In Episode 21, John Mesko continues his ā€œDifficult Peopleā€ series by focusing on manipulative personalities—those who gain influence not through force but through subtle emotional control. He begins by clarifying that manipulation is a behavioral pattern, not a diagnosis, and it often overlaps with traits like narcissism or dishonesty. Drawing from personal experience, John tells the story of Nancy, a coworker whose mas...