SUMMARY

This episode hosts Paul Dolman the author of Hitchhiking with Larry David among other books. Paul narrates of his adventures hitchhiking and the amazing experiences he had with the people who picked him up including Seinfeld producer and co-creator Larry David.

He talks about his relationship with his parents and how a conversation with his father made him realize that when you walk in a person’s shoes you really empathize with them and understand how they are the way they are.

Paul believes that it’s synchronicity that caused him to meet the amazing people who have mentored him and thus he mentors anyone who seeks any advice from him. He feels that everyone he has met has made him wiser. Everyone could be fascinating if you paid attention. 

He talks of the great conversation he had with billionaires when he did not have a ‘get rich quick’ agenda with them as many people do. He talks about meditation and suggests that everyone should at least try a form of meditation. It may be difficult at first but once one gets used to it, it becomes simple and it is very calming.

Paul shares his favorite books by different authors and believes that gifting someone a book could seem like a small thing but it could turn out to be a really big thing.

He says that we need to uplift women, go past racial discrimination and learned to share. He goes on and says we need to go green as there’s no reason in destroying the earth. 

NOTES

0:50 – Paul says he was always hitchhiking in Martha’s Vineyard but not in the US Mainland because he thought the likes Charles Manson and Ted Bundy would be lurking

1:07 – That summer he was hitchhiking in Switzerland he came across Larry David the creator of the television series Seinfeld. Paul had never watched any of his Larry’s shows because he wasn’t a TV person but his parents loved his (Larry’s) shoe religiously.

1:36 – He knew who Larry was because he loved pop culture.

1:40 – Larry pulled over and after getting in they started bouncing ideas back and forth. And Paul was surprised at how open he was in forthcoming with deep, authentic aspects of himself

2:00 – Larry said that unfortunately nobody had ever asked him about spirituality, success, higher powers. So it’s like he and many others were just waiting to be invited to share a deeper part of themselves rather than small talk.

2:40 – Paul believes that when we create space, and we’re open, and we want to be authentic, and we invite the other people in, it’s a beautiful, experience because we discover ourselves and each other through each other.

3:04 – He believes that it’s synchronicity how he met Larry on and off during that summer. He says there seemed to be almost an accelerated and intensified version of timing. So he was constantly listening to his inner guidance, his inner compass, his heart and when he listened, amazing things happened. He says it will work for you to if you have faith and love instead of fear and distrust.

6:25 – He says that he was in a spiritual awakening/spiritual trip during that summer and it still continues to this day.

7:58 – He met with Billionaire Bob who works hard not just for money, but to accomplish and achieve.

8:28 – Paul realized that people who have a lot of money are cautious with other people because when, they’re constantly approached by people who think they have some great idea that the billionaire can make happen. Or those who want a share of the pie.

8:48 – When Paul Didn’t have an agenda with Ted Danson, he actually had a great conversation with him and he (Paul) did the same with Billionaire Bob.

9:51 – Paul talks about meeting and spending time with The Hollywood Birdman who has mentored him. He says that he always mentors a younger person or anyone who asks him for advice because so much has been given to him.

13:09 – He feels like each person he has met has made him wiser.

13:48 – Paul talks about how amazing his parents are. He say’s that his dad just turned 93 and his mum has dementia so he has to look after a lot. Regardless of that he says they are wonderful people who are full of love.

17:44 – One time when he was hitchhiking, his dad picked him up. He realized that when you walk a little bit in someone else’s shoes, even for a moment, it kicks in empathy, compassion and understanding and it is a beautiful thing to experience.

19:03 – Paul wasn’t trying to write a book about his hitch-hiking adventures until he had a dream that he should write a book at the end of that summer.

21:37 – He believes that you cannot run away from polarity

22:19 – He believes that the world is being run into the ground by unconscious white men mostly.

23:04 – Everybody should get equal opportunity

23:24 – The world has more than enough for everyone but we so divided that one person has 4 or 5 billion while another can die because they lack drinking water. Though some may say that that is life, Paul believes that that is our unconsciousness, greed and our cruelty.  

24:04 – Paul says that we need to balance uplift women, going past skin color and learn to share. He goes on and says we need to go green as there’s no reason in destroying the earth.

25:17- Be kinder, be compassionate. Do your own work, start meditating or journaling or praying, whatever it is, take less, give more. Don’t feel entitled. Be grateful. And you’re going to be a lot happier

26:36 – You cannot hide from polarity or pain. It’s just not the way this thing set up. It’s like a fish trying to not get wet, it’s impossible.

27:18 – Paul thinks you cannot avoid suffering but he can make it easier by not choosing insanity or dumb things he knows won’t work and having his mind ego try to power through it.

27:58 – Paul suggests that everyone should try meditation.

29:12 – Meditation can be many things. For Paul it is biking, swimming, walking in the woods or even watching a butterfly

30:29 – Everyone can be fascinating if you paid attention.

33:35 – Paul loves playing the piano just for fun I would love to just for fun when he was in Maui he tried to get a job playing the piano. He says that music was probably his first meditation. /He says music is really good for the soul.

36:49 – He met Maggie Ryan at a small café. Maggie had previously gifted Oprah a book by the name of The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle which Oprah did a feature on. Millions of people tuned in and their lives were changed by reading that book.

37:39 – Giving someone a book might seem like a small thing but then it could turn out to be a really big thing.

38:01 – You never know when magical will happen. Just stay open because it’s waiting to be invited in. so invited in.

38:34 – Paul’s inspiration to write is self-generated. He writes because he feels a need to express himself whether it’s a Facebook post something on Twitter, Instagram, whatever. It’s just being creative.

39:17 – Paul loves reading books and the ones he reads over and over are, 

1. Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach, 
2. Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity by David Whyte 
3. The River Why by David James Duncan

He recently read Kevin Hart’s Biography that he wrote with author Neil Strauss – I Can’t Make This Up, and thought it was really good and honest.

40:39 – If Paul was to gift someone with a book it would be his own book Hitchhiking with Larry David. He says it isn’t the best book ever written but it is a soul opening book which will open you if you are open minded

43:44 – Paul has a gift for coming up with nicknames like his paternal grandfather.

44:16 –  One thing that Paul could pick from his story, journey, experience and knowledge is to trust life, life is friendly, life is love, even if it appears to be harsh, to slow down, stop, get quiet, get in touch with who you really are, and then see where that aspect of what you are would like to do here on earth. Find out what matters most to you and then live from that place.

45:45 – The kingdom of God is spread amongst here with yet man does not see it.

46:33 – If Paul sees you out there and it’s a safe place he will be happy to pick you up.

Mentioned People

Charles Manson

Ted Bundy

Jerry Seinfeld

Larry David

Billionaire Bob

Ted Danson

Hollywood Birdman

Donald Trump

Bernie Sanders

Hillary Clinton

Elon Musk

Jeff Bezos

Taylor Swift

Maggie Ryan

Oprah Winfrey

Eckhart Tolle

Kevin Hart

Jack Kerouac

The Beatles

Books Mentioned

Hitchhiking with Larry David – https://www.amazon.com/Hitchhiking-Larry-David-Marthas-Vineyard/dp/1890115088

Beverly Hills Hobo – https://www.amazon.com/Beverly-Hills-Hobo-Story-Misfortune-ebook/dp/B07CZ6WD8B

The Power of Now – https://www.amazon.com/Power-Now-Guide-Spiritual-Enlightenment/dp/1577314808

A New Earth – https://www.amazon.com/New-Earth-Awakening-Purpose-Selection/dp/0452289963

Illusions – https://www.amazon.com/Illusions-Adventures-Reluctant-Richard-Bach/dp/0440204887

Crossing the Unknown Sea – https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Sea-Work-Pilgrimage-Identity/dp/1573229148 

The River Why – https://www.amazon.com/River-Why-David-James-Duncan/dp/031626122X

I Can’t Make This Up – https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Make-This-Up-Lessons/dp/1543619037

Paul’s Podcast

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