Rod Thorn
@rodthorn.bsky.social
I am an adversity alchemist and writer. I transform life's challenges, pain, and struggles into something positive and valuable, like wisdom, strength, purpose, interconnectedness, compassion, and social justice.
substack.com/@rodthorn
substack.com/@rodthorn
Here’s my new Wise Ash Substack post.
I’m grateful for your likes, comments, re-stacks, recommendations to friends, and subscriptions. Especially your paid subscriptions, which help make it possible for me to write. Thank you
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
I’m grateful for your likes, comments, re-stacks, recommendations to friends, and subscriptions. Especially your paid subscriptions, which help make it possible for me to write. Thank you
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Tell Me About A Time You Failed
After many years of interviewing people I’d had enough.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Here’s my new Wise Ash Substack post.
I’m grateful for your likes, comments, re-stacks, recommendations to friends, and subscriptions. Especially your paid subscriptions, which help make it possible for me to write. Thank you
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
I’m grateful for your likes, comments, re-stacks, recommendations to friends, and subscriptions. Especially your paid subscriptions, which help make it possible for me to write. Thank you
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
I love the nights where my head hits the cool pillow and I think, “For the next few hours I don’t have to be anything or do anything. Likely no one will ask anything of me and I won’t be expected to give anything to anyone.”
November 10, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I love the nights where my head hits the cool pillow and I think, “For the next few hours I don’t have to be anything or do anything. Likely no one will ask anything of me and I won’t be expected to give anything to anyone.”
Tesla’s profit fell 37% in Q3 & they’re firing 14K people, but Musk got a pay package worth $1 trillion.
$1T exceeds the GDP of many COUNTRIES, including Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Argentina. In fact, it’s more than the GDP of 180 countries.
Our capitalistic system is broken.
$1T exceeds the GDP of many COUNTRIES, including Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Argentina. In fact, it’s more than the GDP of 180 countries.
Our capitalistic system is broken.
November 7, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Tesla’s profit fell 37% in Q3 & they’re firing 14K people, but Musk got a pay package worth $1 trillion.
$1T exceeds the GDP of many COUNTRIES, including Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Argentina. In fact, it’s more than the GDP of 180 countries.
Our capitalistic system is broken.
$1T exceeds the GDP of many COUNTRIES, including Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Argentina. In fact, it’s more than the GDP of 180 countries.
Our capitalistic system is broken.
Reposted by Rod Thorn
Okay, so I did it. In honor of Sandwich Guy, on what should be the last day of his trial, I figured out the chords. And so, with apologies to the late and great Bob Marley, I banged out this quick and (very) rough rendition of "I Threw the Sandwich." 🤣
November 6, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Okay, so I did it. In honor of Sandwich Guy, on what should be the last day of his trial, I figured out the chords. And so, with apologies to the late and great Bob Marley, I banged out this quick and (very) rough rendition of "I Threw the Sandwich." 🤣
If the U.S. had a good nationwide rail system I’d never fly.
November 7, 2025 at 1:28 AM
If the U.S. had a good nationwide rail system I’d never fly.
The Dodgers should NOT go to the White House. Just go to the governor’s mansion, see Newsom, celebrate their, and with a parade. #worldseries
November 2, 2025 at 4:41 AM
The Dodgers should NOT go to the White House. Just go to the governor’s mansion, see Newsom, celebrate their, and with a parade. #worldseries
I’d give the MVP to Yamamoto. #WorldSeries
November 2, 2025 at 4:21 AM
I’d give the MVP to Yamamoto. #WorldSeries
You may be wondering, what is The Wise Ash? Didn’t he just change the name of his Substack from Things We Carry to Personal Histories? Yes, I did. If you read this Substack essay you'll know why I’m changing it again, hopefully for good.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
What's In A Name?
From Things We Carry to Personal Histories to The Wise Ash
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:21 PM
You may be wondering, what is The Wise Ash? Didn’t he just change the name of his Substack from Things We Carry to Personal Histories? Yes, I did. If you read this Substack essay you'll know why I’m changing it again, hopefully for good.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Ancestry.com says I’m 22% Scandinavian on my mom’s side. Her mom was adopted and spent her childhood in Iowa/Minnesota/South Dakota where many Scandinavians settled in the 1800s. I see DNA matches of people who also have large % of Scandinavian and I wish I could find her birth parents through them.
Ancestry | Family Tree, Genealogy & Family History Records
Ancestry® helps you understand your genealogy. A family tree takes you back generations—the world's largest collection of online family history records makes it easy to trace your lineage.
Ancestry.com
October 25, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Ancestry.com says I’m 22% Scandinavian on my mom’s side. Her mom was adopted and spent her childhood in Iowa/Minnesota/South Dakota where many Scandinavians settled in the 1800s. I see DNA matches of people who also have large % of Scandinavian and I wish I could find her birth parents through them.
I think the Democratic Party should start taking bids for the future demolition of Trump’s ballroom and the restoration of the East Wing to its prior state. Same with the Rose Garden.
October 23, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I think the Democratic Party should start taking bids for the future demolition of Trump’s ballroom and the restoration of the East Wing to its prior state. Same with the Rose Garden.
Thanks for reading more of my personal history and the impact it's had on me. Now I want to read about YOURS!
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
The Humanity of Robots
Attention must be paid
open.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Thanks for reading more of my personal history and the impact it's had on me. Now I want to read about YOURS!
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Some news: My daughter, Sarah Thorn, is in this new play by Tom Hanks (yes THAT Tom Hanks) playing at The Shed in NYC until Dec. 21. Hasn’t opened yet, but tickets will go fast so get ‘em now!
And get @hanks coffee while you’re at it. Every penny made goes to supporting our troops.
And get @hanks coffee while you’re at it. Every penny made goes to supporting our troops.
October 17, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Some news: My daughter, Sarah Thorn, is in this new play by Tom Hanks (yes THAT Tom Hanks) playing at The Shed in NYC until Dec. 21. Hasn’t opened yet, but tickets will go fast so get ‘em now!
And get @hanks coffee while you’re at it. Every penny made goes to supporting our troops.
And get @hanks coffee while you’re at it. Every penny made goes to supporting our troops.
Saw this guy “living” it up today with cards, whiskey and a cigar.
October 13, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Saw this guy “living” it up today with cards, whiskey and a cigar.
Welcome to Personal Histories. New name, new post, same guy. Thanks for your support.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Tales from the Hearth
Personal histories of everyday people living extraordinary lives
open.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Welcome to Personal Histories. New name, new post, same guy. Thanks for your support.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
This indictment is Trump using a childish playground retort: “I'm rubber, you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you!.”
James Indictment Mirrors Her Civil Case Against Trump in Miniature www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/n... via @NYTimes
James Indictment Mirrors Her Civil Case Against Trump in Miniature www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/n... via @NYTimes
James Indictment Mirrors Her Civil Case Against Trump in Miniature
www.nytimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 2:22 PM
This indictment is Trump using a childish playground retort: “I'm rubber, you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you!.”
James Indictment Mirrors Her Civil Case Against Trump in Miniature www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/n... via @NYTimes
James Indictment Mirrors Her Civil Case Against Trump in Miniature www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/n... via @NYTimes
Someone must have spiked the Yankees drinks in Toronto.
Actually, Toronto is just better.
Actually, Toronto is just better.
October 5, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Someone must have spiked the Yankees drinks in Toronto.
Actually, Toronto is just better.
Actually, Toronto is just better.
Saw this 1954 Ford Crestline Skyliner in a parking lot today. I talked to the owner. Apparently it was a limited-production model that had a transparent, blue-green tinted Plexiglas "bubble top" over the front two-thirds of the roof. Red interior. Beautiful car. #cars
October 5, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Saw this 1954 Ford Crestline Skyliner in a parking lot today. I talked to the owner. Apparently it was a limited-production model that had a transparent, blue-green tinted Plexiglas "bubble top" over the front two-thirds of the roof. Red interior. Beautiful car. #cars
What’s the story? Two unopened chocolate jello deserts left on the steps of a parking lot. Forgotten? Left for someone?
October 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
What’s the story? Two unopened chocolate jello deserts left on the steps of a parking lot. Forgotten? Left for someone?
Now, instead of boycotting ABC, there needs to be a boycott of all the stations owned by Sinclair and Nextar who aren’t running Jimmy Kimmel’s show. At the very least, there should be a boycott of anything that runs in what was Kimmel’s time slot.
September 24, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Now, instead of boycotting ABC, there needs to be a boycott of all the stations owned by Sinclair and Nextar who aren’t running Jimmy Kimmel’s show. At the very least, there should be a boycott of anything that runs in what was Kimmel’s time slot.
When churches empty out because of the “rapture” they should be used to house and feed homeless people.
September 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
When churches empty out because of the “rapture” they should be used to house and feed homeless people.
I think the United Nations should be moved to The Hague, an international city of peace and justice.
September 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I think the United Nations should be moved to The Hague, an international city of peace and justice.
How long before Trump starts regulating streaming services?
September 20, 2025 at 10:00 PM
How long before Trump starts regulating streaming services?