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Articles by Sam Sager
Forecasting asbestos liabilities: Pitfalls of sole reliance on epidemiological curves
For more than two decades, actuaries, econometric modelers, and legal teams have grappled with the challenge of forecasting asbestos liabilities, which stubbornly refuse to taper off. A commonly accepted actuarial method for estimating asbestos claim costs has been to apply a decay pattern based on epidemiological mesothelioma incidence curves, namely, the Nicholson Curve, Stallard Curve, and Price Curve.
On Becoming Our Parents
Sometimes we discover something about ourselves and our shared humanity in the strangest places, like a TV commercial. Sure, most of them are focused on getting us to buy crap we don’t need or even want. But occasionally, they tap into something universal, evoking strong emotions or highlighting humorous and relatable behavior. Like the Snickers Hangry commercial, which reminds us that we’re probably just irritable because we need a snack.
Defining Enough
When I started gardening, I went from zero to one hundred overnight. I ordered a bunch of books and mapped out dozens of projects. I ripped up our yard, built raised beds, and spent every free moment researching and buying plants to transform our landscape and feed us or the wildlife. Now, it was the summer of 2020, and before we had kids, so I had a lot of time on my hands. But if I’m honest, or if you asked my wife, this is a common pattern for me. I never dip my toe in the water. I just jump in.
Healing Modern Addiction
Throughout history (and to this day), it’s common for many to view addiction as a moral failure. Yet, back in the 1930s, an Army veteran and New York stockbroker, Bill Wilson, also a struggling alcoholic, embraced a different perspective.
Finding the Humanity in Healthcare
Healthcare in America feels like a pot that has been simmering for the last five years (probably longer) and has finally reached a boil— so much pain, so much suffering, and so much frustration. So little humanity. I was on vacation last week with my family, and after five days of soaking up the sun and basking in our kid’s enjoyment of the beach, we all got hit by a brutal stomach bug. I got so dehydrated that I couldn’t stand, and my body started cramping.
Gathering Around The Fire
“I don’t believe you.” I had just shared an update on a work opportunity I was exploring. I felt tense and a bit tired, but thought I’d given a compelling overview. I wondered—Did I not provide enough context? Did I not highlight the benefits well? I asked— “What do you mean? The other guy doubled down— “It sounds attractive, I just don’t think you actually want to do it. I didn’t feel any connection or excitement when you spoke.” In most contexts, I’d be taken aback by such direct feedback.
The worth of water
This past weekend, I ventured west to upstate NY for a retreat. The drive out was beautiful, but as I crossed the Hudson River, everything looked shockingly dry, crusty even. The land was begging for a glass of water and signs indicated a full ban on outdoor burning. I later learned there had been recent wildfires in Hudson Valley, a rather unprecedented occurrence for the area.
Dancing with Stress
Welcome back to The Ripple. I’m excited to begin writing again now that life has settled a bit after the birth of our son. It turns out that having two kids is a good bit more to balance than one! As a refresher, this newsletter explores how we can reconnect with our bodies, learn from nature, and embrace change. Now on to today’s post about Dancing with Stress. One of the surprising things about becoming a parent is how much disagreement there is about, well, pretty much everything.
Discovering Joy Through Embodied Exercise
Good morning from New England. Two weeks ago, our second child was born. He’s settling in nicely and our two-year-old is having a blast with her little brother. These early days have been a whirlwind and I’m grateful for the space to savor them. Most of my writing this month has been a series of letters to our kids, inspired by Tim O'Brien’s beautiful and funny “Dad’s Maybe Book”. It’s been a fun way to embrace the moment while also reflecting backward and forward.
The Shape of Seasons
It finally feels like spring is arriving here in New England. The days are longer, the sun is brighter, and the birds are back. Just yesterday, I stumbled upon our first spring flowers and a very happy bee. This moment feels familiar and special to me. For almost twenty years of my life, my world centered around it. Every year structured around this date. The start of baseball season.
Building Healthy Soil
One of the most frustrating experiences with behavior change is “losing steam” and “falling off the wagon.” After weeks or months of momentum, the progress halts. We regress. Sometimes we stop the activity altogether. We go from running every day to not at all. From writing every week to barely ever. We forget to floss and never start again. We finish thirty days of Whole30 and immediately revert to old eating habits.
Dysregulation in Different Domains
A week ago, my friend published a book called Creative Dysregulation. The next day she entered a 10-day silent meditation. Talk about a mic drop. So she has no idea how the book is landing. The curiosity would kill me. I can’t imagine sitting in silence in the wake of releasing such a vulnerable project. But that's not even the craziest part of the story. It's the fact that she wrote the book in five days. After being challenged by to write a short book in less than a week, she actually did it.
Running with Expanded Awareness
Exercise is like art. You’re not going to get really good at it without putting in the reps. It’s not always going to feel easy or fun. Yet, it’s hard to imagine a great painter who hates painting or a great writer who hates writing. At the same time, you don’t have to pursue greatness to enjoy making art. Kids don’t fall in love with writing or painting because they experience the grind of it.
Metabolism and Mental Health
What if all mental disorders are actually metabolic disorders of the brain? This is the bold argument proposed by Harvard Psychiatrist Christoper Palmer in his book Brain Energy. His basic theory goes like this: “Metabolism is how our body creates and uses energy… And we can think of problems with metabolism as energy imbalances” “Metabolism affects the structure and function of all cells in the body” “Mitochondria are the master regulators of metabolism...
Reconsidering Intervention | #6
Good morning from New England. This is the Renewal Rundown. Each month, I share a few updates, ideas, and sources of inspiration on applying self-renewal to ourselves and the world around us. It’s been a challenging month. I knew moving was hard but underestimated the toll it would take this time. Turns out uprooting your life with a 10-month-old is a different beast. At least she seems unfazed by the chaos. One bright spot has been exploring our new property and the surrounding forest.
Building a fitness menu
On Saturday, I took a Peloton Class. I was craving intense cardio but it was -15°F here in New England. I love a sprinkling of cold exposure, but this was too much even for a sucker for punishment like me. Normally when I ride, I listen to music and do a slow self-guided zone 2 ride. I try to keep my heart rate between 120 and 130 beats per minute, breathe slowly through my nose, and feel into my body. Yet, given the cold creeping through our windows, this wasn’t going to cut it.
The Origin of Intuitive Fitness
A few weeks ago, a friend asked me why I was so passionate about fitness. As I started to answer, I realized I needed to share my own journey with exercise. Here is that story. I was fifteen when my body first failed me. I was chasing my younger cousin on the beach and felt an unprecedented level of physical exhaustion. Instead of the normal voice claiming tiredness, I heard a primal scream from my body. As if my cells were yelling: "we can't do this". I had always been an active and energetic kid.
Exploring Senses
Good morning from New England. This is the Renewal Rundown. Each month, I share a few updates, ideas, and sources of inspiration on applying self-renewal to ourselves and the world around us. A few days ago, I was out on my morning walk and noticed that my mind felt unusually calm while my body buzzed with energy. I always love this time outdoors yet something about this morning was different. I slowed my pace, felt the squish of the thawing ground, and looked around.
Revisiting our Narratives
Today’s post is about the stories we encounter around exercise. My intent with the Intuitive Fitness project is to encourage people to reflect on these narratives and reimagine what exercise looks like to each of us. If you’re interested in exploring a new story around exercise, I’m running a virtual course in April called Foundations of Intuitive Fitness.
Playing with Strength Training
Good morning from New England. It finally feels like spring is around the corner here. So I’ve been sneaking out more for runs on the trail behind our house. I’m excited to share today’s post on strength training and an update on my upcoming course “Foundations of Intuitive Fitness." When many people think of strength training, they imagine a sleeveless dude grunting while doing bicep curls in the mirror.
Exploring Our Why
There’s so much beneath the statement: “I want to exercise more”. “Why?” It’s rarely a simple answer. Often, people will respond with a common goal like lose weight, gain strength, or be healthy. This is typically just the tip of the iceberg.
Embracing Community | #5
Good morning from New England. This is the Renewal Rundown, where I share a few updates, ideas, and sources of inspiration on applying self-renewal to ourselves and the world around us. It’s become popular to shit on new years resolutions: “why wait?”, “they all fail”, “systems over goals”,etc, etc. I understand the sentiment but think the criticism misses two valuable pieces. There’s a collective energy toward change and a tangible sense of a fresh start in the new year.
Savoring a transition | #3
Good afternoon from North Carolina! I’m in the midst of packing up our house as we prepare to move to New England in early November. This is the Renewal Rundown a monthly newsletter where I share a few updates, ideas, and sources of inspiration on applying self-renewal to ourselves and the world around us. Let’s jump in! The word savoris on my mind as we pack our life into boxes. I’m prone to steer my attention forward, focusing on the rush of getting somewhere new. It’s exciting but costly.
Cultivating Confidence
I've been thinking this week about milestones on the path of Intuitive Fitness. Uncovering your own motivation is a big one. Yet, there's another milestone that I most enjoy seeing people experience. It's the moment they first feel deep confidence in their own approach: “It’s working. I can do this. It’s only a matter of time” I’ve become fascinated by how more people can experience this faster. It’s hard to enjoy and sustain exercise if you lack belief in it: “Is this what I should be doing?
Learning to Walk
Last month, our daughter started walking. Over three days she went from stumbling a few steps to walking with great care to running like a maniac. Her pace of improvement was rapid and her determination was inspiring. The excitement at her newfound abilities poured out in gleeful shouts. Within a few steps, she’d thrust her hands up in celebration with so much enthusiasm that she’d topple over. Soon, she realized her victory dance was hindering her progress and channeled her energy forward.
The Power of Transition Zones
Welcome back! I’ve spent the last few months offline and immersed in our local community. Today’s essay is about how I’ve slowly learned to embrace the space between. As a reminder, I write about reconnecting with the body, learning from nature, and nurturing our capacity to adapt. I also share about Intuitive Fitness and host the On Renewal podcast. Over the last year, I’ve become a bit obsessed with transition zones. It all started when we moved to our new house, which is surrounded by a forest.
Discovering Joy Through Embodied Exercise
What words come to mind when you hear exercise? For many, it’s things like should, grind, and even hate or hurt. For others, it’s fun, play, and even love or pleasure. You’ve likely been told that you haveto exercise. Maybe you’ve even been given a list of ten activities that you must do. Today, I’m here to give you permission to let go of all that external pressure. Instead, I invite you to reimagine how you think about exercise and rediscover your own body.
Honoring Seasons
Good morning from New England! We’re finally settled into our new home and adjusting to a new place and routine. This is the Renewal Rundown where I share a few updates, ideas, and sources of inspiration on applying self-renewal to ourselves and the world around us. It’s cold and dark here. The days start more slowly and end more quickly. There is something magical about experiencing a place as winter emerges.
Unlocking Movement
Exercise helps us feel good in our bodies. Movement is often the best medicine for stiffness, lack of energy, low mood, and many other ailments. It unlocks our body, restores our balance, and increases our capacities. A huge piece of this is our mobility. This is our capacity to move freely and easily. It’s our ability to control movement through a range of motion. A lack of mobility restricts us or causes pain during activities of daily life.
Integrating Movement
Good morning from New England. This is Intuitive Fitness, a newsletter exploring how to make exercise more enjoyable by embracing it from within. The land around our house is bursting with life and it’s been fun to integrate exercise into the spring activities around the garden. Last week, I mowed the grass for the first time and experienced how hilly our land truly is. As I pushed the lawn mower up the slope, I felt my heart rate and breathing quicken.
Reimagine Exercise from Within
Welcome! You’ve stumbled into a corner of the internet built around a surprisingly controversial idea: exercise can be enjoyable for everyone. Fitness is a loaded word. For some, it represents one of their favorite activities. It’s a source of joy, excitement, and pride. Yet, for many others, it evokes a flood of negativity. It’s a reminder of dread, failure, and guilt. Our focus here is exploring the shift from someone who forces themselves to exercise to someone who loves it.
The Power of Transition Zones
Welcome back! I’ve spent the last few months offline and immersed in our local community. Today’s essay is about how I’ve slowly learned to embrace the space between. As a reminder, I write about reconnecting with the body, learning from nature, and nurturing our capacity to adapt. I also share about Intuitive Fitness and host the On Renewal podcast. Over the last year, I’ve become a bit obsessed with transition zones. It all started when we moved to our new house, which is surrounded by a forest.
Embracing Community | #5
Good morning from New England. This is the Renewal Rundown, where I share a few updates, ideas, and sources of inspiration on applying self-renewal to ourselves and the world around us. “a community immersed in nature” It’s become popular to shit on new years resolutions: “why wait?”, “they all fail”, “systems over goals”, etc, etc. I understand the sentiment but think the criticism misses two valuable pieces.
Reconsidering Intervention | #6
Good morning from New England. This is the Renewal Rundown. Each month, I share a few updates, ideas, and sources of inspiration on applying self-renewal to ourselves and the world around us. It’s been a challenging month. I knew moving was hard but underestimated the toll it would take this time. Turns out uprooting your life with a 10-month-old is a different beast. At least she seems unfazed by the chaos. One bright spot has been exploring our new property and the surrounding forest.
Returning Home
A few weeks ago, I was walking around Providence, Rhode Island with Rob Hardy aka and experienced an unexpected sensation. As we walked along the river, I felt each step connecting me more and more with the ground. A pleasant familiarity flowed up from my feet. As I pointed across the water at the different neighborhoods, I felt an unexpected pride. A bubbling up of warm energy in my chest. An appreciation and love for this city. I was at home. With a deep sense of rootedness.
Exploring Senses | #7
Good morning from New England. This is the Renewal Rundown. Each month, I share a few updates, ideas, and sources of inspiration on applying self-renewal to ourselves and the world around us. A few days ago, I was out on my morning walk and noticed that my mind felt unusually calm while my body buzzed with energy. I always love this time outdoors yet something about this morning was different. I slowed my pace, felt the squish of the thawing ground, and looked around.
Savoring a transition | #3
Good afternoon from North Carolina! I’m in the midst of packing up our house as we prepare to move to New England in early November. This is the Renewal Rundown a monthly newsletter where I share a few updates, ideas, and sources of inspiration on applying self-renewal to ourselves and the world around us. Let’s jump in! The word savoris on my mind as we pack our life into boxes. I’m prone to steer my attention forward, focusing on the rush of getting somewhere new. It’s exciting but costly.
Discovering Joy Through Embodied Exercise
What words come to mind when you hear exercise? For many, it’s things like should, grind, and even hate or hurt. For others, it’s fun, play, and even love or pleasure. You’ve likely been told that you haveto exercise. Maybe you’ve even been given a list of ten activities that you must do. Today, I’m here to give you permission to let go of all that external pressure. Instead, I invite you to reimagine how you think about exercise and rediscover your own body.
Honoring Seasons | #4
Good morning from New England! We’re finally settled into our new home and adjusting to a new place and routine. This is the Renewal Rundown where I share a few updates, ideas, and sources of inspiration on applying self-renewal to ourselves and the world around us. It’s cold and dark here. The days start more slowly and end more quickly. There is something magical about experiencing a place as winter emerges.
Learning to Walk
Hi there, It’s been a couple of months since I shared a post on Intuitive Fitness. If you’re curious as to what I’ve been up to, I wrote about my experience returning home and creating space here. One realization that emerged during this period is a desire to integrate my newsletters into a single publication.
The Origin of Intuitive Fitness
A few weeks ago, a friend asked me why I was so passionate about fitness. As I started to answer, I realized I needed to share my own journey with exercise. Here is that story. I was fifteen when my body first failed me. I was chasing my younger cousin on the beach and felt an unprecedented level of physical exhaustion. Instead of the normal voice claiming tiredness, I heard a primal scream from my body. As if my cells were yelling: "we can't do this". I had always been an active and energetic kid.
Reimagine Exercise from Within
Welcome! You’ve stumbled into a corner of the internet built around a surprisingly controversial idea: exercise can be enjoyable for everyone. Fitness is a loaded word. For some, it represents one of their favorite activities. It’s a source of joy, excitement, and pride. Yet, for many others, it evokes a flood of negativity. It’s a reminder of dread, failure, and guilt. Our focus here is exploring the shift from someone who forces themselves to exercise to someone who loves it.
Integrating Movement
Good morning from New England. This is Intuitive Fitness, a newsletter exploring how to make exercise more enjoyable by embracing it from within. The land around our house is bursting with life and it’s been fun to integrate exercise into the spring activities around the garden. Last week, I mowed the grass for the first time and experienced how hilly our land truly is. As I pushed the lawn mower up the slope, I felt my heart rate and breathing quicken.
Foundations of Intuitive Fitness
Today’s post is your official (and final) invitation to join me for the April cohort of Foundations of Intuitive Fitness. I’m closing enrollment on March 27th and wanted to share a full overview of the experience so you can determine if it’s a good fit. On April 3rd, I’ll begin leading a group through a month-long exploration of exercise in their own life. The purpose of this virtual course is to help you become someone who enjoys exercise and has the confidence to embrace it from within.
Playing with Strength Training
Good morning from New England. It finally feels like spring is around the corner here. So I’ve been sneaking out more for runs on the trail behind our house. I’m excited to share today’s post on strength training and an update on my upcoming course “Foundations of Intuitive Fitness." When many people think of strength training, they imagine a sleeveless dude grunting while doing bicep curls in the mirror.
Revisiting our Narratives
Today’s post is about the stories we encounter around exercise. My intent with the Intuitive Fitness project is to encourage people to reflect on these narratives and reimagine what exercise looks like to each of us. If you’re interested in exploring a new story around exercise, I’m running a virtual course in April called Foundations of Intuitive Fitness.
The Origin of Intuitive Fitness
A few weeks ago, a friend asked me why I was so passionate about fitness. As I started to answer, I realized I needed to share my own journey with exercise. Here is that story. I was fifteen when my body first failed me. I was chasing my younger cousin on the beach and felt an unprecedented level of physical exhaustion. Instead of the normal voice claiming tiredness, I heard a primal scream from my body. As if my cells were yelling: "we can't do this". I had always been an active and energetic kid.
Curious Humans | Jonny Miller | Substack
Literary microdoses on addiction, psychedelic healing, meaning-making, and the culture of work Never miss an issue. Olo is one of the deepest meta-modern thinkers I've come across — just take a look at his archive and you'll see what I mean. Exploring how we can build the capacity to respond to change and create the conditions to renew ourselves, our organizations, and the world around us A newsletter about seeing more, feeling more, and asking better questions.
Cultivating Confidence
I've been thinking this week about milestones on the path of Intuitive Fitness. Uncovering your own motivation is a big one. Yet, there's another milestone that I most enjoy seeing people experience. It's the moment they first feel deep confidence in their own approach: “It’s working. I can do this. It’s only a matter of time” I’ve become fascinated by how more people can experience this faster. It’s hard to enjoy and sustain exercise if you lack belief in it: “Is this what I should be doing?
Building a fitness menu
On Saturday, I took a Peloton Class. I was craving intense cardio but it was -15°F here in New England. I love a sprinkling of cold exposure, but this was too much even for a sucker for punishment like me. Normally when I ride, I listen to music and do a slow self-guided zone 2 ride. I try to keep my heart rate between 120 and 130 beats per minute, breathe slowly through my nose, and feel into my body. Yet, given the cold creeping through our windows, this wasn’t going to cut it.
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