A Mind for Memory with Brian Skellenger, Survivalist

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A Mind for Memory with Brian Skellenger, Survivalist

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This episode is a family affair! I’m joined by my younger brother Brian Skellenger, the voice and creative spirit behind this podcast’s theme song. I also view him as a Renaissance Person, a label we debate over the course of the episode (in true sibling fashion). In this show, I share how my thoughts around the term “Renaissance Person” and the idea of a “Renaissance Mindset” have been morphing.We also talk about the pros and cons of having a Renaissance Woman as an older sister, how our parents’ careers influenced our mindset, the power of improv, and being drawn to fellow Renaissance People (and NYC as a hotspot for finding them). Plus, I think you’ll be intrigued by Brian’s thought process as he designed this show’s theme song, at least I was!Promised Show Notes Materials (take a drink):Sign up for updates on my podcast and what's happening in the Renaissance People Community.Episode 7 Stephanie CastilloRange: Why Generalists Thrive in a Specialized World by David EpsteinReview of the play “Vestibular Sense” from Minnesota Public RadioTake it With You newsletter for job seekersPacking Your Skillset Suitcase newsletter issueAFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies downloadable list of “the 100 greatest American movies of all time” (released in 1998 and updated with a 10-year anniversary list in 2007, which isn’t actually 10 years so I don’t understand their math)What are Overtones? YouTube Short video by Eric MartinOVERTONES! What are overtones? What do they sound like? Longer YouTube video explaining the science of overtones more deeply by KHensenMusic and all sorts of awesome examples from singing groupsWater Whys Spring 2026 Visual SciComm Seminar SeriesMaking Math Inclusive for Everyone with Microsoft 365 blog post by Peter WuLinkedIn post by Sara Shunkwiler about the new #Microsoft365Math hashtag with link to recording of talk about math accessibility (and the post she’s resharing talks about being a survivor, even more serendipity)LinkedIn post by Ailee Dixon announcing her new role as a Blind Disability & STEM Equity AdvocateMagnet Theater in Manhattan, NYC. Performance schedule for Brian’s improv team, Lil’ Spoon.Follow Brian on Social Media:Instagram | YouTubeA few things Brian and I discuss:2:09 Brian’s rejection of my potential terms for his identity, why he feels like a “survivalist”, and he defines the term.6:22 How my definition of “Renaissance Person” and the “Renaissance Mindset” is morphing9:02 Big sister Sara embarrasses her little brother11:44 Living in the shadow of a Renaissance Person older sibling and finding theater14:52 The impact of our parents’ careers on our mindset20:55 The power of improv (and why Renaissance People are particularly good at it)25:20 Rejecting hyper specialization31:35 Brian’s performance in the show ‘Vestibular Sense” and how his Renaissance Mindset helped him land the lead role’34:50 The toolkit of skills we bring with us throughout our career36:05 How connecting the dots means being empathetic in the arts38:27 Being drawn to fellow Renaissance People42:06 Brian’s though process in creating the Connecting the Dots with The Renaissance People theme song48:28 Improv Game with the snarkiest response yet to “You know you’re a Renaissance Person if…”50:27 Rapidish Fire Questions52:10 Why our childhood jobs at a movie rental store were great Renaissance Person jobs56:07 The challenge of math accessibility for blind or visually impaired learners (and Sara’s upcoming free virtual seminar speakers on the topic)58:07 Why you should go to Magnet Theater if you’re in Manhattan on a Thursday evening to see musical improv (and possibly Brian’s improv team)Quotes from the episode:(Brian) Well, of course I couldn't pick anything that you picked for me!(Sara) Oh, course not! Big sister can't tell you what to do.(Brian) I have to be an original.(Brian) At least maybe other people like you would say that I am a Renaissance Person or something. But I picked a word and then I like looked it up and it has a completely different meaning. So I'm changing the meaning of this word...(Sara) Do it!(Brian) Like, beware Webster's Dictionary. You're getting a new entry!(Sara) He's in a fighting mood!(Brian) Exactly!(Brian) I do agree that, while I don't necessarily consider myself a Renaissance Person, I do think that I have a well-rounded skillset and mindset. And I think part of that was like, I mean, I'm sure some of that is just genetic or whatever. But I think having you as an older sibling to model sort of like, you can be good at everything if you want to be. If you have the aptitude for it. That set the bar pretty high, which was both daunting, but also freeing in a way(Sara) Yeah.(Brian) I didn't feel super self-conscious about like being interested in a wide variety of things when some other kids were sort of hyper specializing.(Brian) I figured out that I could sort of turn something that was an ...

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