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In this episode of Hope is Kindled, we turn to Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass—one of the most groundbreaking, soul-stirring works of American literature. Yet when I recently asked a high school senior about Whitman, he had no idea who Whitman even was. And when I typed Leaves of Grass into Google, Whitman wasn’t even the first result. How unbelievable—and heartbreaking—that such a towering voice, once celebrated as the very heartbeat of democracy and individuality, is fading from our cultural memory.

This episode is a call to awaken. We cannot allow literature, wisdom, and hope to disappear from our collective consciousness. As Merlin said in The Once and Future King, “The best thing for being sad… is to learn something.” We must commit to learning, to reading, to seeking out these voices for ourselves. Whitman’s poetry still sings of freedom, of reinvention, of finding beauty in every blade of grass and every human soul.

Join us as we rediscover Whitman’s vision of life and hope—timeless words that deserve to be heard, remembered, and lived. Let this be your invitation: look forward, read deeply, and let Leaves of Grass reignite the fire of wonder and discovery in your own life.

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Sometimes the most meaningful journeys are the ones we never planned. This special, unplanned episode of Hope is Kindled arrives at just the right moment—and for this occasion, we are calling it Hope is Reignited. The new name reflects what this episode is meant to do: to remind us, in a world that feels heavy and uncertain, that the flame of hope can always be rekindled.

In turning to Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, we find a voice from nearly two thousand years ago that still speaks to the struggles of today. Across twelve books, Marcus reflects on leadership, humility, perseverance, inner strength, and the vast order of the universe. His words encourage us to endure with courage, to live with justice, and to hold fast to the quiet citadel within when the world outside feels overwhelming.

This is a timely episode for anyone feeling anxious, weary, or disconnected. It was not part of our plan, but perhaps it was always meant to arrive now—to remind us that character endures, that we are never alone, and that hope, even in the darkest times, can be reignited.

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As I write this, the boys and I are here in the Black Hills—land that still whispers his name, where the wind moves like memory. Crazy Horse. A leader, a visionary, a warrior whose life was marked by both quiet strength and unshakable resolve.

We could never hope to capture the full truth of his story in a single podcast episode—it would take a lifetime, and even then, the fullness of his legacy could never be contained by words alone. But what we can do is honor his perspective, reflect on the wisdom of how he lived, and highlight a life that found meaning and hope even in the face of great adversity.

In this episode, we journey through the history, the landscape, and the enduring lessons of Crazy Horse’s life. His story is not only one of resistance against injustice, but of devotion—to his people, to the land, and to the truth of who he was. Here, in the shadow of Thunderhead Mountain, where the Crazy Horse Memorial rises from stone, we reflect on what it means to live with courage, to stand by your values, and to keep hope alive in the most difficult times.

Annotated Works Cited:

Brown, Dee. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970.

Brown’s landmark work provides historical context on U.S. military campaigns against Native nations, including the events leading up to and following the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Supports your episode’s framing of the government’s overwhelming retaliation after Native victories.

“Chief Henry Standing Bear.” Crazy Horse Memorial®, Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, https://crazyhorsememorial.org/the-story/chief-henry-standing-bear. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
Details Standing Bear’s pivotal 1939 letter to sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, including the quote: “The white man has great heroes… the red man has great heroes too.” Supports your mention of Standing Bear’s motivation for initiating the memorial.

“Crazy Horse—Tasunke Witco.” Crazy Horse Memorial®, Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, https://crazyhorsememorial.org/the-story/crazy-horse---tasunke-witco. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
Provides biographical background on Crazy Horse, his Lakota name, character traits, and leadership style. Confirms details about his humility, refusal to be photographed, and adherence to traditional values.

“Foundation Document Overview—Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.” National Park Service, 2015, https://npshistory.com/publications/foundation-documents/libi-fd-overview.pdf. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
Summarizes the historical significance of the Battle of the Little Bighorn and identifies key participants, including Crazy Horse. Corroborates the account of his strategic role during the battle.

“History—Hear the Story.” Crazy Horse Memorial®, Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, https://crazyhorsememorial.org/the-history. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
Outlines the memorial’s history, from the first blast in 1948 to present-day progress, emphasizing the refusal of federal funding. Supports your narrative on the monument’s origins and philosophy.

“Little Bighorn—Story of the Battle.” National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/libi/learn/historyculture/battle-story.htm. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
Provides a detailed timeline of the battle, Custer’s miscalculations, and Native leadership strategies. Aligns with your battle scene description and the quote from Cheyenne eyewitnesses.

Marshall III, Joseph M. The Journey of Crazy Horse: A Lakota History. Vik

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