This rich and intimate conversation centers on Peter Block, a long-time organizational development thinker, and his reflections on mortality, loneliness, freedom, and purpose.

Peter Block is an author and citizen of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the co-founder of
Designed Learning, a training company that offers workshops designed to build the skills outlined in his books. Peter is part of the Common Good Alliance of Greater Cincinnati and was a member of his local neighborhood council. His books include Activating the Common Good, Confronting Our Freedom, Flawless Consulting, Stewardship, The Answer to How Is Yes, Community, and The Abundant Community.

His work is in the restoration of the common good and creating a world that reclaims our humanity from the onslaught of modernism. Peter’s honors and awards include the Organization Development Network's 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award and its 2004 first-place Members' Choice Award in
recognition of his book Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used (1999) as the most influential book for Organizational Development practitioners over the past 40 years. He is the recipient of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) Award for Distinguished Contributions and the Association for Quality and Participation President's Award; he has also been named to Training Magazine's HRD Hall of Fame.

Things referenced in episode:

• The Vitality of Death: Essays in Existential Psychology and Philosophy by Peter Koestenbaum
• Vitality of Death (video of conversation between Peter Koestenbaum and Peter Block)

This episode is sponsored by Queen City Diwan, which leads travel adventures, immersive experiences, leadership retreats and religious pilgrimages.Queen City Diwan is excited to share its fall schedule, including an October ‘umrah in Saudi Arabia, a January trip to Andalucía just for college students—and, over Thanksgiving break, we’re planning an incredible tour across three countries. Learn more on our website. Avenue M is produced by Bespoken Live with music by Zach Swelber, who plays in Circle It and Mosant.