Creating space for wisdom, mentorship & transformation
Notes on Wisdom grew from a personal journey to a newsletter and podcast, and now into a space dedicated to supporting and guiding people on their journey of pursuing timeless wisdom and transformation.
I started Notes on Wisdom as a newsletter in January 2025 thanks to the encouragement of friends to share some of my writing. Several months later, another friend told me I should start a podcast to go with the essays I was writing. That same year, I finished my first book, Every Man's Journey.
Notes on Wisdom grew from a personal journey to a newsletter and podcast, and now into a space dedicated to supporting and guiding people on their journey of transformation. If you join today, you'll get full access to the website as well as our private podcast channel and email newsletters. Your support makes Notes on Wisdom possible, and allows us to continue to support people on the most important journey.
Scroll down to read more about the story behind Notes on Wisdom and how it works.
Access all areas
By signing up, you'll get access to the full archive of everything that's been published before and everything that's still to come. Your very own private library.
Fresh content, delivered
Stay up to date with new content sent straight to your inbox! Our private podcast channel will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen.
Meet people like you
When you sign up you will be joinign a group of people on the same journey. We host monthly virtual events as well as periodic in-person gatherings.
Connection not transaction
Our goal is to support you; that's why we offer multiple payment tiers for the same membership. Choose what you can afford; if you can't afford to pay for it, then just let us know, and we will ask a donor to scholarship you. We never want money to get in the way of the journey.
How and why it started
20 years ago, I was reading Proverbs about how wisdom is the most valuable thing and that if we pursue it, we will find the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God. I decided that for the rest of my life, when I saw wisdom, I would stop what I was doing and go and get it. So that is what I have done. When I meet someone with wisdom, I go and spend time with them; when books are recommended to me, I read them. Over the years, that has added up to thousands of hours with mentors and just as many books.
This has always been my personal journey. Prior to January of 2025 I never talked publicly about the transformation I was experiencing. Then I felt led to start Notes on Wisdom, and in March of 2026 I published my first book. That is when everything began to change. I have been honored to see peoples lives changed through the notes I have shared from my journey.
Most people don’t want to pursue wisdom these days, but I have been encouraged by how many people have reached out to let me know they want to join me on the journey. It is incredibly humbling to see that what has been a private journey for so many years is resonating with others and awakening something in them.
A friend and mentor asked me recently, “Where do you go to learn wisdom?” Culturally we have forgotten what wisdom is and how to pursue it. Let’s be honest, we are saturated with information, content, and people telling us how we should think and live. Yet with all of our knowledge, we have forgotten what wisdom is and why we need it. Every Church, and university should be a wisdom school, but they aren’t. Every thought leader should be a wise man, but they aren’t. Old men should be mentors, but most aren’t.
As the world frantically speeds up in this age of AI, more than ever, we need timeless wisdom to guide us to the way of life we were made for. The Pursuit of wisdom is a journey; it takes time, repetition, and a willingness to engage with challenging thoughts, prayers, and practices. It leads us out of our comfort zone. It is undoubtedly the most challenging and worthwhile pursuit we can have in life. As Proverbs makes clear, the pursuit of wisdom leads us to God. It also leads us to understand who we are in relationship with God, ourselves, and others. It’s easy to just give our life to the pursuit of hobbies, career goals, fun, and distraction. In this fast-paced modern world, we must rediscover the timeless journey of pursuing wisdom.
Notes on Wisdom is an invitation to people who hunger for wisdom to walk with me on this journey. Regardless of where you are in life, I guarantee this is for you if you want it to be. It’s never too late or too early to create more space in your life for wisdom. If this is a journey you want to go on, then I want you to walk with me. I am not the expert with all the answers; I'm a student who’s committed his life to the journey. Below are some details about the Notes on Wisdom journey.
About The Journey
The Journey is a membership group for people who want to pursue wisdom with us. Through a private podcast, website, Zoom events, and weekly emails, I will share discussions with mentors, people’s stories, notes, prayers, practices, book recommendations, and thoughts to live by. I purposely try to make everything I share more easily accessible and applicable in our lives. For instance, everything is audio and video-based, so you can engage with it on the go (You can still read it if you prefer). I also share short-form content as much as possible in order to make it easier to engage with more frequently in the margins of life. I also host live workshops, interviews, and discussions for those who want to attend.
The Notes on Wisdom Journey is designed so that you can engage with it as you are able. You are not committing to attend meetings or complete courses. When you join, I will share the best resources I can with you, and you can engage with it as you are able. The pursuit of wisdom cannot be a program or a formula, it’s a journey. My goal is to support you and guide you as much as possible on that journey.
I am asking Journey members to pay what they can monthly or yearly to help support our work. Whether you can pay $25, $50, or $100 a month, you will still get the same access to everything on the journey. If you can’t afford the suggested amount, then please let me know, I never want money to be a barrier. I will ask donors to sponsor those who need financial assistance. We have also partnered with a Non-profit so that you can make tax-deductible donations if you would like to support our work beyond the suggested amount.
If you have any questions, please reach out to me; I would love to talk with you!
John Walt