Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Finneran.
Hi Daniel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story begins in the cramped, unfinished basement of my childhood home.
Against the wall nearest the stairs wheezed an old computer–an overworked, yellowing Dell on which I illegally downloaded lectures. (I still miss LimeWire.)
Opposite it stood my father’s Jack Lalanne weight set. Old enough to be the virus-laden PC’s grandfather, its plates were rusted, its leather was frayed, but I loved it!
All my spare time was dedicated to learning and lifting. I sought to embody the Latin maxim, mens sana in corpore sano–a healthy mind in a healthy body.
At university, inspired by these twin goals, I pursued biology and philosophy–one to understand the body, the other to understand the mind.
Years later, Pneuma, my podcast, would become their meeting place.
(Available for download on all reputable streaming services. No illicit LimeWiring required).
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle has been my ongoing wrestling match with self-doubt. If you haven’t met him, he’s a tenacious adversary with whom, I fear, I’ll forever be grappling.
If you couldn’t tell by the description of my basement, I’m just an average guy from humble origins. Nothing in my early life suggested I’d someday be talking into a microphone and sharing ideas with strangers across the world.
Often, I’ll finish recording an episode and wonder, “why on EARTH would anyone want to listen to me?”
No sooner do I begin this descent into the abyss of self-doubt than a message appears in my inbox. A listener will tell me that something I said was helpful, or comforting, or merely made her feel less lonely.
Immediatley, I’m uplifted. A single kind word reminds me that self-doubt isn’t necessarily an impediment, but an unavoidable part of the journey.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a physical therapist by trade. Since 2016, I’ve practiced in a variety of settings. Along the way, I came to realize that my strength lies not only in treatment, but in communication. I had a knack for demystifying big ideas and putting people at ease.
Patients and colleagues would tell me, repeatedly, that I have a soothing voice and a “winning way”. At first, I brushed these remarks off. Eventually, I began to wonder if these attributes might not serve a higher end.
About five years ago, I launched my podcast, Pneuma. It’s an intoxicatingly musical, metaphorically rich Greek word meaning both “breath” and “spirit”. Through it, I hoped to build a space in which every facet of wellness–physical, emotional, and intellectual–could be probed.
I began with no grand expectations. Even now, roughly half a decade on, I hesitate to declare the undertaking a “success”. Regardless of its reach, I’ve been absolutely overjoyed by the responses of my listeners. They remind me that the simple act of speaking–of breathing ideas into the world–can be profoundly therapeutic.
Any big plans?
In October of this year, I married the love of my life, Lucia. Together, we hope to start a family.
Professionally, I’m focused on expanding and refining Pneuma. Beginning in the new year, I plan to host and interview an assortment of guests. To date, almost all my episodes have been solo.
While I never tire of hearing myself speak (as Oscar Wilde once quipped, “I like hearing myself talk. It is one of my greatest pleasures”), I’m teeming with excitement to share my platform with others.
I also plan to heighten my social media presence, start a weekly newsletter, and begin coaching clients in a more formal way.
That said…
If you’re interested in collaborating or connecting, I’d love to hear from you: pneuma.finneran@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pneumameditations.com
- Instagram: @Danielethanfinneran
- Twitter: @DanielEFinneran
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b9DBhemWHvEy0wiiBHwYo?si=5187815d1da7430f
Image Credits
My father took these photos.
