What does Kobe Bryant have to do with Shakespeare?

More than you might think.

In this episode of Caller ID, I sit down with Mark Rankin, a Renaissance literature and English professor whose approach to calling, identity, and excellence is shaped as much by the Mamba Mentality as it is by Milton.

We talk about following your passion, but how much work that takes. We also tackle the hard work required to live at the center of ikigai, and why the most meaningful work is often the most demanding. Mark also shares how teaching 12-year-olds has made him a better college professor, and how working with college students has sharpened the way he shows up for younger learners.

This is a conversation about discipline, formation, and becoming who you are called to be, even when it’s harder than you expected.

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Thanks for listening to Caller ID.

You can follow Caller ID wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you’re enjoying the show, a quick rating or review helps more people find it.

New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.

In this episode of Caller ID, we sit down with Dr. Jacob Sands, one of the world’s leading oncologists and an instructor at Harvard Medical School. But before all of that, there was a moment when he walked away.

Dr. Sands shares how dropping out of Ohio University and traveling to Costa Rica on a whim, seeking clarity, learning from a shaman, and sitting with uncertainty, became a turning point that reshaped his sense of identity and purpose. We explore how unconventional choices, risk, and self trust ultimately guided him back to medicine with a deeper commitment to service, presence, and meaning.

This is a conversation about listening to your inner voice, figuring out who you are beneath expectations, and how that self knowledge quietly impacts everything, from career decisions to relationships to the life you build.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to Caller ID.

If this conversation with Mark Rankin resonated with you, share it with someone who’s asking big questions about passion, identity, or calling. These are conversations meant to be carried, not just consumed.

You can follow Caller ID wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you’re enjoying the show, a quick rating or review helps more people find it.

New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.

In the Pilot episode, Brandon Davis Wells sets the scene for the podcast. Who we may hear from, why this podcast can be a place for learning about ourselves, our identity, and how our careers and jobs play a role in all of the above! Tune in as we get rolling to figure out how we can each continue to live into our gifts and skills as we help each other become the best versions of ourselves regardless of whether we're 18, 48, or 75! Let's rock and roll!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to Caller ID.

You can follow Caller ID wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you’re enjoying the show, a quick rating or review helps more people find it.

New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.