Meet Jussi Reponen

I write nonfiction about the subtle aspects of life that shape our experiences: the work we do, the communities we are part of, and the language we use to describe one another. My goal is always the same: to present a blend of research and personal experience through stories that guide rather than condescend.

 

My journey to becoming a writer was not a straight path. I served in the Army, owned a bookkeeping business in Fairbanks, Alaska, and now live on a working farm in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, in the Driftless region. Here, my days are spent with sheep, goats, horses, and alpacas, alongside the woolen mill we operate. As a Finnish-American, my heritage—characterized by a respect for clear communication and hard work—infuses everything I write.

 

Leave It Better Than You Found It, released in 2025, is a memoir about resilience, stewardship, and purpose. It reflects a lesson that the Army taught me and the farm confirmed: whatever you encounter—be it a campsite, a workplace, or a community—you should leave it better than you found it.

 

This principle prompted a deeper question: If we are responsible for the places we leave behind, what about the words we use? My free paper, Backbiting, Belonging, and the Job Worth Doing, was my first attempt to address this question, while Understanding Team Dynamics explores the various factors that influence how people collaborate. Both papers are available for free download because I believe ideas about healthier workplaces should be easily shareable.

 

These papers eventually evolved into my latest book, The Words We Leave Behind: Truth, Kindness, and the Culture We Create, which will be released on November 1, 2026. This book is built around Socrates' Triple Filter: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it useful? It examines how gossip and rumors can subtly erode trust, explores our attraction to them, and discusses how workplaces, families, and communities can make better choices.

 

Together, my work presents a singular argument: that small, deliberate choices about what we do and say are the foundation for building a better culture.

 

Thank you for reading. I welcome your comments.