Authbition Weekly — Grandma Riding Shotgun Saved My Ass
A road trip story told on the road
Welcome to the weekly newsletter for Authbition—it’s Authenticity and Ambition. It’s the best of the best, built on vulnerability, non-attachment, caring, thoughtfulness, and whole-mindedness.
This week was different. I wasn’t in the studio or the Airstream. I was in the passenger seat of a car on a road trip — and decided to read a road trip story while on the road.
The essay I chose was Grandma Riding Shotgun Saved My Ass. It’s the story of a 1,000-mile overnight drive in 1991, when my grandma surprised me by hopping into the car for the ride. She wasn’t just a passenger; she was my protector, my co-conspirator, and ultimately the reason I made it to my sister’s wedding instead of a jail cell.
Reading the story out loud brought me back into that car: blasting mixtapes, feeling the rush of the open road, and then facing the terrifying moment when state troopers surrounded us with guns drawn. And through it all, the steady presence of my grandma — fearless, twinkle-eyed, and fully alive.
It’s one of my favorite family legends. One that makes me reflect on the risks we take, the people who keep us safe, and the joy of turning wild adventures into lasting stories.
If you listen, you’ll hear the road noise in the background. It’s not perfect audio — but in a way, that’s the point. It’s raw. It’s real. And it puts you right there with me, reading a road trip story on a road trip.
Watch or Listen to the Podcast
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This Week’s Highlight
Every week, I also share an essay from another writer that has stayed with me. This week, it’s Rebecca Bridger, PsyD. Her reflection on the cultural pull of “never enough” hit home. She asks what it means to stop chasing more, and to notice that the moments we think we’re working toward — meals with family, time outside, space for creativity — might already be right here.
👉 Read Rebecca’s essay: The Psychology of Enough
Together, these two stories — one about speed, one about stillness — remind me that life’s tensions aren’t either/or. They’re invitations to find the best of the best.
Thank you for taking the time to read, listen, and watch Authbition. I appreciate you.
Sharing Authbition with your friends and letting me know what resonates is the fuel that keeps this road trip going.
Health, happiness, kindness, respect
for every being and all things.
— Andrew
