That’s What I Meant To Say

About That’s What I Meant To Say

The most interesting conversations happen when we move beyond rehearsed answers and discover what truly makes people tick. InToned is a podcast about ideas, experiences, and perspectives that challenge conventional thinking. Hosted by musician, scholar, and conversationalist James Newcomb, each episode explores the stories behind the people, the convictions that shape their lives, and the experiences that have transformed their understanding of the world. From music and the arts to faith, philosophy, entrepreneurship, and the human condition, no subject is off limits. The common thread isn't a particular topic or industry, but a willingness to engage with curiosity, candor, and intellectual honesty. Like musicians bringing their instruments into tune, meaningful conversation requires listening, adjustment, and a willingness to find common ground without sacrificing individuality. InToned. Different voices. Meaningful conversations. In tune with what matters. jamesdnewcomb.substack.com (https://jamesdnewcomb.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

James D. Newcomb

Category

religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Nov 2025

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

32 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Your Divinity Is Your Ability with Laura Burkey

   What if your power is already showing up in the things you’re able to do today?Laura Burkey came on the show to explore the hidden weight of everyday words, and the moments when a familiar word becomes something you actually feel. From pursuing a childhood dream in broadcasting to leaving that career for an unexpected year in Rome, Laura shares how her understanding of purpose took shape through experience.Together, Laura and James explore the disappointment of reaching a long-awaited goal, Laura’s connection between clarity, confidence, and certainty, and her approach to Word Resonance™. The conversation takes a spiritual turn as Laura recounts a dream in Greece that left her with a memorable phrase: “Your divinity is your ability.”It’s an invitation to notice the language you live by, recognize your everyday capabilities, and consider what becomes possible when a sense of calling becomes clear.Episode highlights01:45 — A lifelong fascination with words. A childhood tape recorder, an oversized vocabulary word, and the beginnings of Laura’s love of communication.03:15 — Leaving the dream behind. Why Laura walked away from broadcasting and accepted an unexpected opportunity in Rome.09:00 — The desire to be seen. Laura reflects on the personal ambition and deeper calling behind her childhood career dream.12:00 — “Is this it?” James and Laura explore what happens when achieving a coveted goal leaves you unfulfilled.16:00 — What does clarity actually mean? Laura explains the relationship she sees between clarity, confidence, certainty, and action.22:15 — Recognizing a calling. Quiet afternoons in Rome and the inner images that helped Laura envision her work with people.24:45 — Power as ability. Laura offers a way of understanding power through the capacities we exercise every day.27:15 — “Your divinity is your ability.” A personal spiritual experience in Greece brings the conversation’s themes together.29:45 — Word Resonance™. Laura describes what it means for a word’s meaning to resonate within us.Resources mentionedLaura Burkey Coaching lauraburkeycoaching.com (http://lauraburkeycoaching.com)#InToned #LauraBurkey #WordResonance #PowerOfWords #Clarity #PersonalPower #DivineAbility Get full access to InToned with James D. Newcomb at jamesdnewcomb.substack.com/subscribe (https://jamesdnewcomb.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Rebuilding the Brain, Rebuilding a Life

   herb-brain-training.vibepreview.com After multiple traumatic brain injuries, Herbert Heagh-Avritt found himself struggling with memory, focus, emotional regulation, decision-making, and even the basic ability to function the way he once had. His business collapsed, his confidence disappeared, and for years he searched for something that could help him recover the cognitive capacity he had lost. In this episode of InToned, Herb shares the long road from injury and depression to discovering cognitive brain training—a process he describes as high-intensity training for the brain. Herb explains how repeated cognitive exercises can strengthen focus, working memory, decision-making, and mental processing, and how his own training helped him begin reclaiming abilities he thought might be gone permanently. The conversation is ultimately about more than brain function. It is about the difference between simply surviving and regaining the capacity to meaningfully participate in life. Episode Highlights How a snowboarding accident became the tipping point after a series of traumatic brain injuries Why Herb initially failed to recognize that many of his emotional and professional struggles were connected to brain injury The experience of seeing brain scans that confirmed the extent of the damage The difference between recovering emotionally and recovering cognitive function Herb’s discovery of cognitive brain training and the changes he noticed within his first sessions What Herb means when he calls himself a “personal trainer for your brain” How repetitive cognitive exercises are designed to strengthen focus, decision-making, working memory, and processing speed Why mistakes can actually become part of the training process How improved cognitive function began affecting everyday tasks, emotional control, and Herb’s ability to work again Why Herb believes losing capacity does not necessarily mean losing possibility Featured Quote “The other things kept me alive and brought me back to enjoying life, but this brought me back to being functional in life.” — Herbert Heagh-Avritt Resources Herbert Heagh-Avritt — Cognitive Brain Training (herb-brain-training.vibepreview.com) Combat Brain Training / Kennedy Method Mentioned during the conversation as the cognitive training methodology Herb practices. Dr. Daniel Amen / Amen Clinics Discussed in connection with the brain imaging Herb received during his recovery.

3. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Clarity Comes From the Top with Yocheved Belsky-Schorr

   What is the most important job of a leader? Yocheved Belsky-Schorr has a remarkably concise answer: provide clarity, provide support, and then get out of the way. In this episode of InToned, James Newcomb talks with Yocheved about the difference between certainty and genuine clarity—and why confusing the two can leave leaders and organizations stuck. Drawing on her work with schools, nonprofits, organizations, and individual leaders, Yocheved explains how ambiguity at the top inevitably filters downward. When leaders are unclear about mission, values, expectations, clients, or personnel, the result is inconsistency and organizational dysfunction. The conversation also explores faith, education, organizational culture, and the delicate balance between gathering enough information to move intelligently and gathering so much information that we never move at all. The goal isn't certainty. It's enough clarity to take the next step. Episode Highlights - Clarity is not certainty. You can know what you intend to do while still needing information and context to understand how to do it well. - Confusion at the bottom often begins at the top. Leaders who lack clarity cannot communicate clarity to the people working beneath them. - A leader's job can be surprisingly simple: “Clarity, support, get out of the way.” - Mission and values provide organizational security. When people understand what the organization is, what it values, and what kind of people belong within it, they can operate with greater confidence. - Faith can ground leadership without becoming coercive. Yocheved describes her own faith as part of what keeps her mission-oriented while emphasizing respect, non-judgment, and service across different communities. - Public and private education have different advantages. Public institutions may have greater resources to experiment, while private and religious schools often approach new initiatives more cautiously and deliberately. - Clarity applies beyond organizations. Yocheved extends the principle to families: clearly understood values help families operate from firmer ground as well. - Don't wait for perfect information. The challenge is finding the “sweet spot” between insufficient clarity and endless data gathering so that you can actually move forward. Resources Mentioned ClearSquare Group (clearsquaregroup.com) Yocheved describes ClearSquare Group's work as helping leaders, organizations, and schools strengthen their missions, including leadership clarity, organizational development, funding access, and educational programming.

Contact That’s What I Meant To Say

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.