Hi guys, this is David Ecklund. Good to see you. I wanted to give you a quick update about the future of this channel. I’m rebranding! I’ve been working with expat dads, offering coaching specifically for them, and I’ll continue doing that. I’m happy to work with all expat dads—I am one myself, and it’s a big part of my life. However, it’s not the most essential part of what I have to share or the main focus I want to work within moving forward.
Expanding the Focus: Beyond Expat Dad Coaching
While I’ll still address topics like intercultural relationships, fatherhood, masculinity, and conflict resolution—skills I still have and services I still offer—I’m going to broaden the focus. When I look for a coach or someone I can confide my deepest struggles to, I need to know they’re in the same world as me, sharing similar values and perspectives.
The Challenge of Finding Like-Minded Support
We live in a time where there’s a “great divorce” in meaning-making. People often look at the same events and interpret entirely different sets of facts and meanings. So, if I don’t deeply know someone, it’s challenging to develop a supportive relationship with the vulnerability required to share deeply personal struggles. It’s hard to confide struggles in marriage or self-growth with someone who might have a completely different set of values or worldview.
The worst-case scenario is working with someone highly skilled but who wants to turn you into something you don’t want to be. It’s not just about showing skill—it’s about aligning with the values and aspirations of those I’m coaching. I realized that if I need this in a coach, I need to provide the same clarity for my clients.
Introducing the New Brand: Wisdom of Man
So, here it is—my new brand is Wisdom of Man. This name is a translation of “Anthroposophy”: anthropos and sophia. Anthroposophy, or spiritual science, is a form of esoteric Christianity founded by Rudolf Steiner in the early 20th century. It’s unique for its practicality, inspiring fields like Waldorf education, biodynamic farming, anthroposophical medicine, and more.
Anthroposophy and Its Influence
I come from this tradition, and I’m going to be exploring it further in my content. One of the key works I’ll focus on is Joy and Poetic Imagination, along with C.S. Lewis’s Great War with Owen Barfield. For those unfamiliar, C.S. Lewis, one of the most influential Christian apologists, was deeply impacted by his friendship and “Great War” of ideas with Barfield, an anthroposophist.
Why This Matters for Christians
If you’re a Christian, consider the role Anthroposophy played in C.S. Lewis’s journey. His friendship with Barfield opened him to new perspectives that ultimately led him to Christianity, making him a tremendous cultural force in the Anglophone world. So, if you’re curious or even skeptical about Anthroposophy, I encourage you to consider its indirect influence on Christian thought through Lewis.
Big Ideas Made Practicable
In my content, I aim to bring big-picture ideas down to earth, making them practical. I’ll dive deep into big concepts, but if you’re not into that kind of thinking, I’m probably not your guy—and that’s okay! However, if you or your friends are interested in big ideas and practical philosophy, I’d love for you to stick around and check out the channel.
Authenticity and the Next Stage
I’m still offering coaching to expat dads, but this rebrand allows me to authentically reach a wider audience. I’m excited for this next stage of the journey, and I look forward to sharing it with you. Thanks a lot, and I’ll see you next time!