Pundit Review - Frank Warren - PostSecrets.com

Yeah. And welcome back pundit review radio voice of the new media. You're an AM succeeding WRKO. This is a huge throw from being -- a huge fan of this website is my guilty pleasure every Sunday and read it each and every Sunday. When it's updated. It's the largest most traffic is most trafficked know on average our advertising free blogs in the world. It's called post secret dot com. And its creator Frank Warren is with me on the line frank welcome to WR Kalin thank you so much for coming on. It the F Franca I really appreciate you coming -- I'm a huge fear on the website they just know that this so many demands on your time. Really preachy taken time on your weekend to join us here. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Eleven years ago I had a crazy idea to invite strangers to share their secrets with me so I printed out 3000. Self addressed postcard to my home address on the back handed them out. People on the streets of Washington DC. And on the postcard I asked them to write down a secret something they never told anyone before and to decorate -- -- -- to. To kind of further convey the emotion behind the secret. And pretty quickly the idea began spreading viral. And people began to buy their own postcards and make their own postcards I started receiving. These secrets it's not just from Washington DC but it started arriving at my mailbox from Texas and California and new York and New Zealand. And Iraq can and down -- seven years. I've received over half a million postcards -- -- the most extraordinary secrets in the world. Secrets can be pretty powerful things. Both for the people that hold them and then for the people who learn them. I was thinking of you Francona written story not to our NATO. 99 year old Italian men to become world -- is divorcee. Divorcing his wife was 77 years. Because he came across some letters. That he found you know in an old case in the attic. Would that indicated that his wife back in the 1940s. Had an affair with a man. And they -- while talk about the power of a secret and the implications guy married seven years is getting divorced because of that secret. There are five -- bigger book on the fourth book it's called. A lifetime of secrets the entire range because chronological order he could have come from from young people. Preteens all the way at this secrets at the end of the book by people under -- expert users Ebenezer eighties and really. We are hearing that story from you reminds me of some of the secrets that I read on postcards coming from people who. We're holding on to them for for decades and decades and I think those are are the most powerful to read hopefully the most liberating this year. It's amazing the website is a roller coaster each and every Sunday. Within four -- five post 'cause you can be. Incredibly moved incredibly saddened. Left -- rear end off. It's just it's an absolute roller coaster I can't recommend that any higher to our listeners here at WRKO. Host secret dot com. Men behind if Frank Warren is our guest tonight and absent proof for me. 61726668686172666868. Coal free 877469. 4322. Frankie just mentioned over the years know how this is taken off and how many secrets you've collected. I -- some wondering. In the aggregate. Is there a theme -- a thread that runs through the secrets are they do they tend to because you get -- from all around the world from people of all ages. Do they tend to have to do with things like shame or guilt or embarrassment is there a thread that runs through them or is it just to diversity something like that. That's a great question I I get -- secret that reflect every human amount. You know they can be achieved that laughed out loud funny they can be that -- they can be hopeful are painful and confusing -- philosophical. The most common -- -- kid has probably I'd be in this hour. But on the other end of the spectrum. Maybe the most common kind of secretly get it either expressible. Dozens of different ways every week. Secrets from people. Trying defined now one person -- vacant title all secrets to. You know some money that they can be their full and -- as well well and in some ways maybe. -- secret is just. And -- -- in there against -- -- -- we can -- find that that right person that we can really trust. -- -- -- -- It was there's just some great ones that we're even on -- today and of course and trying to find that it was about to. The person who was adopted and they wanted their apparent that to put him up production to know that they had found love them and happiness and that was the secret. -- and sometimes a little secrets are are -- -- -- somebody who they can't speak to and that can be a powerful secret to read sometimes. Reading a stranger secret you can almost feel like get to threatening view. Four or you might think to yourself you know that that's sounds like my uncle or my friend just had that experience or I think in the most moving cases. But no stranger to secrets and articulates something that we're struggling with the and it just as he has spared by someone else out there. And some ways maybe that could allow our burden to feel a little bit lighter whatever -- -- is -- we're not alone. And -- it's a thing to my next question perfectly frank. One of the great things about the web and -- -- blogs and the whole purpose of this program for almost eight years will be eight years next month. And our charter here has been to bring the best to the Blogosphere -- the radio and your blog is the most trafficked. None what most traffic website without advertising in the world is that correct. Yet the powerful. I guess the point is that I've got to counter at the bottom of my my web site. And -- eleven years we've had over 500 million. That's that's money that that's like apple impressive that's. Well I think but what people find those crazy as I never had a paid dad on the replied I've never. Use the web site to generate any ad revenue and I think that's one of the reasons. Somebody's strangers have trusted me with their deepest concessions because they know they emailed me a postcard it's coming to my home. It's not going to appeal boxer can stadium and redid them keep that to. I'm not an exploit it for for advertising revenue when it treated with the respect and dignity I think. I think I've been able to and gender relationship with strangers. That -- that -- to. And I would hate to do any thing that would violate that are from Maceda. Well I think you've taken the right tact in that. We talk about the web is it that this great tool one of the great things he's into on the web -- build communities -- mean that's with social media FaceBook postings are all about is building communities frank. I'm showing you sent out those first couple thousand postcards you never could have imagined but talk a little bit if you could for a listeners -- might be unfamiliar with post secret. Talk about the community that's developed around what you've done I mean this is bigger than just sending a postcard. You've got as you mentioned this gigantic online presence he's got books out there you give a lot of talks now there's even play. Talk a little bit about the community that sprung up around this wanna do you had to. That's really been an amazing part of the project here you're right does that almost constituency. Or community. People still connected to the project to. To the voices behind the secrets and it's expressed some leeway is there either for post five post secret books the last one wasn't number one -- -- time spent a dollar. That this FaceBook page has over a million fans and as you mentioned there's a -- of play were talking about I did it. -- Ted talks about a month ago that -- hundreds of thousands of views and I think what it is. Is it. Mean you'd hear about reality TV that these -- it's really conveys something just wrong. And exposing it and and vulnerable. And I think you consent that in the words and it just and actually just somebody's never met before in ways that. I think. Can make it -- feel -- over what little lonely at times. And you've reached out and kind of connected I guess. People with post post secret folks with various the united I think of seeing at the bottom of the page -- -- -- suicide prevention hotline and you share posts from people who. Read you know they read as someone secret they say you know I had that experience and they're able to tell them like you mentioned union on alone -- of the people out there. You've probably literally saved a lot of lives. Well I don't think -- yet I don't think there's a direct connection between post secretive and suicide but I have flocked to. Opposite the number and a friend to suicide and type of -- sort of post secret I was a volunteer on -- one I was working. That midnight to 4 AM shift answering phones so it was like prevention hotline. And so I knew I started the project I wanted it to be more meaningful than just a place to raise revenues so we do have. Lincoln actually the link is to the most complete and comprehensive suicide prevention hotline database. In the world and that was created by the volunteers on post secret who dedicated their time and effort to put that resource together. One thing you've created from this relatively simple idea of frank to mean it's. We've talked to a few people over the years -- under review radio who've. Had their lives is going totally unexpected directions because of an idea or because of just following a dream or a particular passion. And I can't think of anyone who set a bigger impact than you. Well this project has turned my life upside down I sold my business plan and a a document delivery service and hours spends forty to fifty hours -- week on secrets and you're talking about community and pursuing an idea. And the web makes a lot of those possible I could even go further and say that. I think. Kind of the magic behind post secret is I stumbled upon away tentative. Voice to those who were being heard. And the web gives us all great potential to do that I didn't know that much about the web I don't have any artistic background but it's. I was able to kind of stumble along and find a way to -- the untold stories. And I think if you can do that you'd didn't build this conversation. You know every week I choose about two point postcards. From the thousand or so that are mailed to I've posted on the web site -- post secret dot com. I think those postcards. That a couple million peoples in the week as a model. For this secret that people share the following week and so there's there's some most of pants between mean in the community. That allows us to have a conversation that I think we we both won here but that nobody's going by themselves. The site is amazing post secret dot com and check it every Sunday when it's updated and it's one of those web -- frank with -- a five minute visit. Can leave you thinking about things her until the next Sunday I mean really it's something that stays with you a lot longer than the time you spend on your site. Well it does for me for sure and there's some postcards that the change -- Liam. I could talk about level I'd be talked about several of my am -- secret polished talks but want all share with you. Arrived early on the project came from among other things that that won her young daughter died. -- cream made -- her and then she tasted her daughter's actions. And secret like that just scratch your heart is an -- kind of fall into that story but for me the first time I read it I felt that sense. Well you know that's kind of weird I had a negative reaction to it but. You know I'm I'm a father myself I've got. But daughter and as days passed and as we -- I kind of meditated on that part to kept pulling me back to that story. And I started feeling. More and more. The level of grief of that mother must have been experiencing. Through that. And eventually. It worked on me and it changed me and I felt more compassionate and understanding and empathy for that person and her story. And I think that's that's not an uncommon reactions that these secrets. However they have statue initially after awhile you'd be -- two. To maybe -- the world a little bit differently maybe through the eyes. Of the storyteller. Frank Warren is our -- he created post secret dot com. No one of the most of all amazing website you could ever visit I highly highly recommend it can also check out and any find bookstore like borders are. In his honor an independent one if you can find them these days they sell the post secret books which are kind of coffee table collections of the postcards. Frank Warren created this site and it's not the most trafficked. -- advertising free website in the world it's actually amazing. Frankly I think one thing -- you just talked to vote being so moved by some of these cars and you give a lot of talks you also include your own secret or a secret in every single book that you put out. And I guess between that you're emotional connection to the cards in the -- interaction with the community through talks and on line. That -- just really hope you stay centered and you know connected with your community and is one of the things it's almost like a virtuous circle. Yeah I think the live event especially for example tomorrow I'm implying that the organs for couples -- secret event and at these live events I speak for about an hour hour fifteen minutes and I try and create this safe and nonjudgmental. Days by sharing the secrets by entering my own stories. And hopefully. Find a place where where audience members feel comfortable enough to stand up and sometimes in front of hundreds of other sometimes over a thousand. Share their own secrets. Live and on -- a microphone. And and I can be really the most cathartic emotional and memorable part of the project for me. Frank tell the story if you don't mind of that you told that during -- Ted discussion -- vote. Meeting a bunch of people after woods and then receiving a postcard about talking to people after one of your speeches -- -- Post ticketed event like this thicker around afterwards and and sign books and take pictures with the students and not long after one of these events I received a post card in the mail made out of one of the photographs. That somebody had taken -- mean about five or six of the student. And -- secret they mailed to -- was written around that photograph and erode. You didn't realize. You've had your wireless microphone on before the talks started and everybody in the audience. -- -- So these -- this project can be humbling at the same time I saw you with the tickets -- -- point that I could. Buddy US they Franco's watching the White House correspondent yeah I do you see it product I'm -- you heard of I couldn't help but think review unit -- -- in the the president for those you haven't seen it started his comedy routine at the white house correspondents' dinner. By watching us states saying I'll be right back I'll be right back. And essentially did the same thing you went off into the bathroom and still had the Mike on who's doing a whole bit about heaven though. You know follow Jimmy Kimmel and all this other stuff and then you -- the toilet flush -- minutes ago this is like frank. It's pretty funny when you pretend that it's not so funny when it actually happened. I thought this is true is is very true -- and as I guess his amazing website post secret dot com this is a throw for me. Frank I played the Ted talked. For some family members over lunch today. And none of them were familiar -- post secret let me just say they watched all eleven minutes of it and it was eye opening and jaw dropping. Well thank you had gotten -- really positive feedback from that I think what it has been affecting people the most is that voicemail message that I play that that was saved on. A young girls. Cellphone it was the last message she ever heard from her grandmother and what -- story -- secret that is. That was amazing that -- the other one they're really stood out for me was talked tell us about the young men and how he took what you're doing with post secret he came up with something around digital photography. You know what an inspiring story is just an example of how followed the way there's just wide open for anybody who has. Not necessarily good idea that crazy idea and believes that it. So do that the candidate named -- was inspired by a post -- postcard. Posted on the web that's dead. I found your camera all the pollutants in at all the pictures developed and I'd love to get them back to you. And the speaker itself came on a photographed. Just -- joyous full meal being cheered by five or six. Kids making faces that the case and it was just so endearing and unfortunately that picture has never been returned back to the person who -- -- but Matty was inspired by that secret to start his own website. A web site that he calls. I found your camera. And his website is one where he tries to be clearing house to -- lot of photos. So -- invites people who have found a digital camera that's been lost. Or or founded memory stick with a lot of photos or and so it goes on it he has then mail those devices they have. He takes the pictures off the camera. Any post them on his website and thousands of people come from all over the world to see if they can find. Photos and it might have lost or help somebody else who might be desperately searching for their their off camera. In in three or four years. He's been able to return thousands of these lost photos than he's seen the photos and has been return back to the person who lost it's it's just heart warming. Some of them are wedding photos. For photographs to -- Asian pictures. Old Stanley pictures of relatives. He'd married showed me this email and fax from a mother. Who's. In her message to -- thank -- thank you thank you. You have no idea how much these pictures mean to -- she went on the day. My son's -- was on that camera in these terms for tomorrow. It's pretty special. We was frank. Oh okay -- that that that is that's pretty special stuff. The -- both -- cricket has how much -- you mentioned you speak for Aaron -- facility Ted talk was eleven minutes and they can't imagine. How long it took you to settle on. You know this is a hard thing to describe post -- given the the variety. Of the secrets that you get on all different topics is pretty hard thing to put in the ten or eleven minutes and and discuss it and what goes into it how do you pick and choose. You know which ones did you try to cover all the bases you know we need to something late something heavy something you thought provoking. -- play a lot of things I've learned is. People are that intimidating test my views are commentary on the secrets I've discovered that through applauding for seven years. And so what I trying to use to get out of the way in just let the speed secrets speak for themselves. So with the Ted -- I I'd just. Quickly gave a brief overview proposed secret is for people who had never been introduced to it before. And and I got just right to the most jaw dropping secrets that have ever been sent to me secrets. -- the secrets that really are standards you know. One I received on a postcard. Is headed in the age of the Twin Towers and the -- read. Everyone in new -- before 9/11 believes I'm dead. I'm still trying to figure that -- People have discussed this for quite a bit off line some people think that. Somebody and mine has been involved with. Bad marriage or had horrible deaths -- was struggling with foreclosure. They just left the scene that started in life someplace else. Others think that the secret referred to somebody's -- who changed their life internally and are no longer the papers they were before so it kind of -- a metaphor. Oh yeah and -- yeah I spent some time just on that one pondering because you know it it's the first reaction as well someone just up and took off put. You know a little bit. Secrets to world like first line to inaudible. They just invites you into the story. That's that's that's that with so many possibilities. Of them. -- the great thing about it though frank is that the next card that you read could be the one that came to you on a Starbucks cup that said. I give decaf to people who were mean to me. I like how that -- demonstrates. How at that core of some of these secrets that are there can be this kernel of truth or wisdom that we can grow from. Or learn from you know you -- secret like that and you know may be the next week when you're buying your copy you leave the better. From may be -- will be kinder to the guy who in -- elected to the -- And it's almost like the Liberty Mutual TV ads in -- way. You know -- paying it forward a little bit there was one last week that I thought of and it was funny that my first reaction was. Oh isn't that terrible and a half the speculators is -- over until. It was a judge people who don't put hot sauce on the food is being boring. -- less than those for less economic all that's off element that have a second later medicis -- -- that they give them that too. Kind of an idiosyncratic because of the -- to sneak up on it. Is there -- You know if you're in an elevator Franken you had to give one or two secrets to folks so we know what would you give his. A excellent represented of secret. Well at least it's tough digit share verbally you know each one has amazing artwork on the car. Yes indeed still on time people put into their 'cause it's much more than just sending a postcard. But look like it like a ritual it's an art project it's meant. And so you lose something despite saying it's can just kind of describe this poster at the post -- with maybe couple dozen. Male celebrities. You know movies stars. You know DiCaprio. -- Now just doesn't and the economic cards says one of these men and as the father of my it is you know a lot to keep -- secret. And he's the all these these things that I remember that -- don't lose too long. You can totally understand that the problem. The -- no it -- it begs the question which one and and you know it's a postcard it's just six inches by four and says its -- really not a decision that develop full story and so these are almost like. Clinton's -- to news from somebody's life. Speaking of life's Franken mean you mentioned you showed your wife and Ted talks standing next to -- enormous pile of postcards. Mentioned you have children yourself. So you know just to you mentioned your own life is just totally change in mean. Did you have to one point Sadie -- wife that you know we got to cut the corner what we knew was our life and in this thing is gonna swallows up we have to run more than I mean. I guess how did that whole thing come about did you just reach a certain volume in critical mass to cities will really make a difference there we're gonna go for it. Well I didn't not to -- -- for twenty years I had my own business and I had reached a point where I was operating it is an absentee owner. So the the post -- project was started takes so much of my time there really wasn't. Dedicating enough myself to my previous business so we just we sold it to the workers the people were actually doing in order. Which which worked out pretty well and allowed me to really focus more time to to travel and that the books together worked on the app and work on some in the side projects that the secrets. It's an amazing community this sprung up from the say did Franken. Has a mention though -- throats -- interview on this thrilled that you spent some time Willis and honored that I've had a chance to speak to you directly is this someone who's enjoyed we've been doing for a long time. Well I really appreciate that your your great questions about opening do it again. I would love to do it again and thank you so much -- urge everyone who's never checked it -- secret dot com and it'll. Five minutes stay with -- all week franks -- so much and a good luck with everything you're doing with -- secret dot com. Yes please francoeur and everyone check him out. Get a chance to watch his Ted talk it's -- video at post secret dot com you can just pick it up and watch it by visiting his site -- secret talk. I can guarantee eleven minutes he will be blown away. The selections that he picked him. Just the style of frank and I love the guy who his style the way he speaks his and a soft approach. Just everything about the guy and about his website works forming. And it it's a little different it's in the -- do politics but it's pretty fabulous -- say. And it's a great experience every Sunday you never know what you gonna get it's an emotional. Wrote coastal forest Gump would love that. Box of chocolates and -- secret stuff. Did the man behind the glass thanks put together a great show. Professor Morris cutting him from UMass Boston thanks for coming in to visit -- was great to meet you. In the grey Bruce -- thank you once again for another edition someone should know. They soliciting. Keep the conversation going all weeklong pundit review. Dot com.