In this special holiday episode of Route Notes, David and Wes are joined by returning guest and world-renowned St. Nicholas scholar, Dr. Adam English, for a conversation that unwraps the surprising backstory behind the most famous Christmas poem in American history: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

They dig into a centuries-old authorship controversy between Clement Clarke Moore—the wealthy professor long credited with the poem—and Henry Livingston, a lesser-known abolitionist, fiddler, and poet whose life and language align more closely with the spirit of the poem. Along the way, the trio explores how the poem shaped America's Santa Claus mythology and what it means to reexamine the traditions we hold dear.

But this episode is about more than just literary detective work. The conversation takes us from Nicholas of Myra’s ancient acts of compassion—including negotiating grain during famine—to the joy of anonymous giving, Santa conventions, universal design, and the deeper purpose behind how and why we celebrate.

Recorded (unintentionally!) on St. Nicholas Day, this thoughtful, funny, and surprisingly moving episode invites listeners to rediscover Santa not just as a symbol of excess, but as a reflection of justice, generosity, and joy.

In this episode of Route Notes, Wes and David reflect on inclusion, access, and the quiet power of systems designed with care. From a joyful moment of off-road driving with Wes’s newly licensed daughter to a breakthrough theater performance by David’s son Miles, they explore how moments of belonging—when thoughtfully created—can reshape lives and communities.

They unpack the concept of universal design, tracing its implications from curb cuts and classroom accessibility to larger conversations about structural harm and structural grace. Along the way, David shares the remarkable public health story of how replacing coal gas with natural gas in mid-century Britain unexpectedly reduced suicide rates by one-third—an example of how systems can heal.

This wide-ranging conversation weaves together personal stories, policy insights, and a compelling call to design for dignity—creating spaces where everyone can show up fully, thrive, and be heard.

In this episode of Route Notes, Wes and David explore what happens when leaders overshare, overprocess, or unravel in public—and the unintended consequences it can have on teams, trust, and momentum. A strange moment on a delayed flight (where the pilot shares a little too much about what went wrong) widens into deeper reflections on leadership and the tension between authenticity and stability.

They recount one of their most bizarre and hilarious facilitations where the cost of oversharing in leadership moved past vulnerability into volatility.

Plus: David’s detour through Manhattan’s High Line and a Swiftie-approved backup plan for those staying grounded.