Finneran's Wake

Barry Brown is an author, cowboy, horse breaker, bull rider, and rodeo competitor to whom the nickname, “The Bionic Bull Rider” has been, I think, very fittingly applied. 

Barry began competing as a bull rider at the tender age of 15. Despite its perils, he fell in love with the sport, in which he continued to participate (either as a competitor or a judge) for the next four decades of his life. 

During the course of his long career, he broke just about every bone in his body.

Fittingly, he received the nickname, “The Bionic Bull Rider” after he underwent an unprecedented surgery to repair a fractured sternum (with which he competed, unmended, for many years). 

I was honored to have him as a guest. 

On a scorching hot summer day, Barry was attired in proper cowboy garb: tall black leather boots, thick denim jeans, a long-sleeve Wrangler shirt, black neckerchief, and trusty cowboy hat. As he sat there fielding silly questions from me, absorbing the heat of the hot sun, he was completely unperturbed. 

He was as patient, stoic, thoughtful, and gentlemanly a man as I’ve had the pleasure to meet. 

He manifested, in the best possible way, the true “Cowboy attitude” to which I’ll be working on conforming myself in the coming months. 

In the meantime…

Be sure to check out my Instagram page for shorts from this and prior episodes: @danielethanfinneran https://www.instagram.com/danielethanfinneran/

Twitter: @DanielEFinneran

Website: finneranswake.com

Send emails to finneranswake@gmail.com

My sister project, PNEUMA, on which I put out sleep stories, meditations, mindfulness content: @pneumabydanielfinneran  

Pneumameditations.com

Be sure to subscribe to this channel if you enjoy the conversations. Share them with family and friends. 

Purchase Barry’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Bionic-Bullrider-Barry-Brown/dp/0979091918/ref=sr_1_4?crid=12HGBFR562WIH&keywords=barry+brown&qid=1687097647&sprefix=barry+brown%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-4

Tell me in the comments below: Do you think America can rediscover its “Cowboy/girl Swagger”? How can you implement the “Cowboy Attitude” in your daily life? 

I can tell you this much: I’m going to begin by purchasing a proper hat! 

With affection,
Daniel 

What is Finneran's Wake?

Finneran’s Wake – where the ART OF CONVERSATION lives.

Here, no topic is untouchable, no idea inadmissible, and no one too heretical to be heard.

As the great French essayist Montaigne once said, “To my taste, the most fruitful and natural exercise of our minds is CONVERSATION. I find the practice of it the most delightful activity in our lives”.

It certainly is the most delightful activity in my life. I want it to be so in yours as well.

To that end, I humbly welcome you to my channel.

Here, we'll exercise our minds together. Here, we'll practice this delightful activity as friends. We'll engage, now and forever, in the art--the highest and most human art--of conversation!

With affection,
Daniel