We had the good fortune of connecting with Colton Marschik and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Colton, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
“Ignorance is Bliss”

It’s a common opinion that we can and should find peace in our ability to ignore the challenges we face. Unfortunately, bliss doesn’t arise from this lapse in knowledge as the only way to face challenges in the world around us is by first admitting that the issues exist. Once one gains awareness of what problems need to be changed in the society around them, only then can we address the issues and ultimately move ourselves towards a state of bliss that we all claim to desire.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My largest venture over the past few years is my podcast The Future of Thought.

This business, however, is not a business in the conventional sense. While it does provide a service to those who listen, it is designed similarly to a social enterprise. While making money is one of many goals, this money is only used to reinvest into the company to further propel its mission. The Future of Thought podcast is designed to address our inability to hold conversation today which is leading to increasing division in society. This is, as you might expect, easier said than done.

Throughout the process I have faced many challenges. The largest challenge in this space is deciding how much you are willing to “platform” an opinion of differing views in the name of dialogue. As a hopeful supporter of free speech, I find that I can have dialogue with even the most controversial people, as long as I come prepared with well-researched talking points and thoughtful ideas for conversation. My experience with sanctioned ethical debates throughout my early 20s supplemented this mindset by teaching me more and more about the value of open-minded dialogue, even when initially hoping to pursued another individual.

The biggest thing I’ve learned from podcasting over the last few years is that even the people we disagree with the most are often staunch supporters of their beliefs not because they crave attention or want to be contrarians, but rather because in their heart of hearts they are compelled towards their view in the same way we are. Only through conversation can we travel along this journey towards truth in a meaningful way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Admittedly over the last couple of years I have spent most of my time not in the city, but rather in my home. While I wanted to protect the health of those around me during this COVID-19 pandemic, this time was not wasted as it’s forced introversion allowed me to expand my online presence and improve virtual recording sessions for the podcast. That said, with the world opening back up, I plan on heading back down to RiNo district. This a great place to go if you don’t have a particular spot in mind and simply want to walk around and experience the night life on a nice evening. Stop at a restaurant that stands out, hop on the Cherry Creek trail, or do anything else you’d like; it’s a great spot.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Mama Marschik

My mother deserves more credit than I have the ability to give. To say that I am a product of my environment is an understatement beyond belief. My preference towards optimism, ability to see opportunity in failure, love of conversation, open-mindedness towards opinions different than my own, and much more are all able to be credited to her. Being able to spend so much time with her through shared hardship we grew immensely close, and fortunately, the perspectives of hers that influenced my own are those I am proud to claim and grateful to have been given.

Website: https://www.thefutureofthought.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefutureofthought

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coltonmarschik/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofthought

Other: Podcast: https://anchor.fm/thefutureofthought LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-future-of-thought Email: thefutureofthought@gmail.com

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