The Drop №. 108 with Guest Alec Emmert

VRB’s weekly list of things to read, watch, listen to, and try that have helped us live better and be better. Brought to you this week by our Guest Alec Emmert.

Alec Emmert recently took on the role of Service to School CEO. The organization is a national non-profit that has supported over 15,000 veterans who are interested in applying to college. Before that, he served on active duty in the U.S. Navy for 8 years as a submarine officer, earned an MBA from Wharton, and worked as a consultant for McKinsey&Co.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust

Listen to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie. My parents were huge Bowie fans, and I always remember car trips with this album playing on the tape deck. It’s been a favorite of mine ever since. It has two of Bowie’s best songs: “Starman” and “Ziggy Stardust,” but it’s a great one to listen to from start to finish.

Invictus

Watch Invictus. The film illustrates Nelson Mandela’s strength as both a leader and person as he utilized a rugby tournament to bring a divided nation together. Great performances by Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon bring an inspirational story to life. Also, some pretty sweet rugby scenes if you're into the kind of thing!

Walking the Nile

Read Walking the Nile by Levison Wood. This is an incredible true adventure story of Levison’s journey from the Nile’s source at Lake Victoria in Rwanda to its mouth in the Mediterranean. This is the book that got me hooked on both his writing and expeditions which include a journey around the Arabian Peninsula, a trip through the Darién Gap in Central America, and a walk across the Himalayas. He’s also a fellow vet who served in the British Army. Must read.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I started training a couple of months ago, and it’s been a game-changer in terms of my frame of mind. BJJ is as much of a physical challenge as a mental one because you’re constantly adapting to situations and finding ways to exploit an opponent’s vulnerability to escape from a bad position (especially as a new white belt). You’re never too old to start; I’m 40 and just got my first stripe. Get in there.