The Values Sort

The Values Sort

A series of indeterminate length exploring the core things that drive us.

Episodes 39
Avg. Duration 6m
Activity Active
Since Feb 2026
Latest Episode Mar 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
86%
Hosting
api.substack.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Growing up, the path was clear: "Where you go, I'll go. Where you stay, I'll stay." But what happens when the path you were given becomes a betrayal of your very self? Hosted by Nick Walton—husband, dad, and coffee roaster—The Values Sort explores what happens when you have to rebuild your life’s foundation from scratch. After leaving the structure of his childhood church and feeling "lost," Nick found a simple tool: a deck of cards, each printed with a single human value like "Helpfulness" or "Honesty." By sorting them down to five core essentials, he found a new way to navigate the world. In this series, Nick explores the cards that changed his way of thinking, sharing the essays and stories that define them. Whether you are 10 years old or 80, this is an invitation to figure out who you are, five cards at a time.

nickfromoregon.substack.com

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Recent Episodes

S1E37 #37 Responsibility

Mar 30, 2026 9m

Ahh, responsibility. That’s in the eye of the beholder I suppose. I think people think I’m quite responsible. I could be wrong.You know those graphs, negative correlations? I bet the longer people…

S1E36 #36 Loyalty

Mar 25, 2026 9m

Loyalty is important, right? The card says faithful to my friends, group.I am deeply faithful to my friends. Particularly in recent years, as mortality has become so very real to us, a lot of…

S1E35 #35 Forgiveness

Mar 20, 2026 7m

I value forgiveness. I need forgiveness. I feel a weight in my chest when I do not forgive. I feel a weight now. I have wrongs to forgive. I know I do.Recently I started dreaming again after a long…

S1E34 #34 Honesty

Mar 15, 2026 10m

Honesty. It’s such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. So says Billy Joel. So say I. Do you suppose that’s right? Everyone is so untrue?I have been untrue. I have betrayed those I love the most. I…

S1E33 #33 Helpfulness

Mar 10, 2026 9m

When I was young there was this book that came out, The Five Love Languages. It was a decidedly Christian book, but the concept made its way into broader culture. Perhaps you’ve heard of the book or…

S1E32 #32 Inner harmony

Mar 05, 2026 7m

When I was a child I was diagnosed with ADHD. That will come as a great shock to anyone who’s met me. (I kid.)Chaos has been inside my brain for as long as I can remember. The stiller I try to be the…

S1E31 #31 A World at peace

Feb 28, 2026 10m

File SettingsDoneTitleDescriptionThumbnailWill be cropped to a 3:2 aspect ratioUploadScheduled for Mar 5 at 2:16 pmSend email to everyone ∙ EditIt’s difficult for me to talk about a world at peace.…

S1E30 #30 Equality

Feb 25, 2026 11m

Equal opportunity for all. How about that?Women? Transfolks? Racial minorities?God, I don’t even know what to write about equality. My mind only goes to my sweet partner, my dear wife.Yesterday we…

S1E29 #29 Wisdom

Feb 20, 2026 7m

There’s a whole book of wisdom in the Bible. It’s called the book of Proverbs. There are, conveniently, 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs, reading one chapter a day makes for a tidy month of…

S1E28 #28 Social Justice

Feb 15, 2026 7m

Folks I feel strongly about this one. I’m about to come on strong. You ready for some strong? I’m feeling strongly.I do this values sort exercise with everyone I can. All the time. Ask anyone who…

S1E25 #25 A world of beauty

Feb 13, 2026 7m

Now look at those peaches, won’t you? There’s a farm near my home where you can still U-pick. Blueberries, cherries, raspberries apples and yes, peaches. We go there several times each season. This…

S1E24 #24 Protection of the Environment

Feb 13, 2026 7m

I don’t know if I’ve made the mechanics of this exercise clear. Probably many of the folks reading this have done the exercise with me and do not need this primer. But for the rest of you, here is…

S1E23 #23 Privacy

Feb 13, 2026 7m

This is the last card in the section labeled “Self-Direction.” And honestly? I have big feelings about it.None of my five chosen values were found in this “Self-Direction” section. And having taken…

S1E22 #22 Independence

Feb 13, 2026 8m

Do I have a value for independence?Look, I hate to make this a trilogy, but I gotta build on the last two: Freedom and Choice of Own Goals. We have established that I value Freedom (the environment)…

S1E21 #21 Choice of own goals

Feb 13, 2026 8m

​This one is vulnerable for me to write. I thought “Freedom” was the zinger, but this one hits closer to the bone for me on some levels.​I did not choose some key parts of the life I have.I have made…

S1E20 #20 Freedom

Feb 13, 2026 8m

Freedom looms large in my life. Let’s get into it.When I was a child, we sang songs about freedom. I grew up in the land of the free and the home of the brave! Let freedom ring, baby! When I was…

S1E19 #19 Curiosity

Feb 13, 2026 3m

Curiosity is easier the older I get. I think that’s because when we are young, we are terrified of looking stupid. I was. I still am, sometimes. But less so with every passing day. We pretend to know…

S1E18 #18 Creativity

Feb 13, 2026 6m

This card covers a lot for me. When you do the exercise, you have to sort concepts down from 57, all the way down to five. And as I’ve alluded here before, it’s not about finding THE FIVE, the ones…

S1E17 #17 An exciting life

Feb 13, 2026 4m

We are moving from a Varied Life to an Exciting Life. They sound similar, but I think there is a crucial difference.If a Varied Life is external (the things that happen to us, often without our…

S1E16 #16 A varied life

Feb 13, 2026 10m

I have lived what I consider to be an extraordinarily varied life. I think we all probably have. Which I suppose would make it an ordinarily varied life. Who among us knew the trajectory of their…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Values Sort have?

The Values Sort has published 39 episodes since February 2026, covering topics in Philosophy, Science.

Is The Values Sort still active?

The Values Sort is currently active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 6m.

How do I contact The Values Sort for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for The Values Sort, including email and social media links.

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