Sharing with Susanne Mueller

How does podcasting serve as a platform to connect deeply with people and uncover their unique stories?

Unearthing extraordinary personal tales through the lens of community and endurance.

She does 10 Ironman [races] in ten days, a little crazy… and I said to her: Look some people go to work from 9 to 5. You’re basically doing an Ironman from 9 to 5. And she’s like: Yeah, you get it.

~ Susanne Mueller (17:28)

The conversation explores the intersection of running and podcasting as ways to connect with people and share compelling stories. It begins by examining how shared activities like running foster community, especially during challenging times. Susanne highlights how training in groups and braving harsh conditions cultivates bonds that transcend the sport itself. This shared resilience is paralleled in podcasting, where personal stories are unearthed, often revealing unexpected insights about people’s lives and journeys.

The discussion also emphasizes the role of storytelling in podcasting, focusing on how unique questions can draw out previously untold stories. Susanne shares anecdotes about interviewing runners and other guests, noting that people often reveal personal details not usually shared in formal or public settings. The power of podcasting lies in its ability to humanize individuals, even those perceived as highly accomplished, and to create moments of genuine connection and surprise.

Takeaways

Podcasting as a tool — It serves as a platform to connect deeply with others and share impactful stories.

Running and community — Shared endurance activities create strong, lasting bonds among participants.

Personal storytelling — Uncovering unexpected and deeply personal anecdotes through thoughtful questions.

Language and expression — The importance of being concise and clear as a podcaster.

Humanizing the accomplished — Podcasting reveals the relatable, everyday aspects of even the most accomplished individuals.

Unique interview styles — Asking unconventional questions can lead to remarkable moments of insight.

Resources

Susanne Mueller’s web site

New York RoadRunners — A community and organization tied to the running culture discussed.

Lipstick Leadership — Susanne’s book illustrating diverse leadership styles.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Take a moment

Wherever you go, there you are. But I think Marcus Aurelius’s two-millenia-old version is better. The tranquility is to be found within.

What I like—if you ask me, which I know you didn’t—about going to the beach is the very fact that precious few of my normal behaviors are even possible. The photo above was taken just after sunrise, (that’s the Atlantic Ocean,) during a micro-getaway to a beach campsite. It was hot; cool enough to sleep though. It was vault toilets and cold showers in semi-enclosed stalls with no electricity, (I mean no lighting for the “bathrooms” and “showers”,) and there were plenty of biting bugs in the campsite and on the beach. Everything takes longer when camping; “bathing” and changing and preparing meals and even trying to do a little bit of morning mediation and reading. There’s nothing to do either. You can sit at the camp site or sit at the beach or go for a walk.

And all of that is exactly the point. Is exactly the thing I like about going to the beach. When I go there, there I am and there is nothing else.

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Connections between it all

Digital gardening is the work we do to make an organic mess less messy and more useful. It’s certainly not a new idea but I think it’s something that is becoming a major problem for may digital spelunkers. We’ve never had a greater variety of information inboxes and it has never been easier to capture new information into these boxes. The problem now is with recalling the information and making connections between it all.

~ Gabriel Weatherhead from, On Digital Gardening, Blogs, and Knowledge

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Weatherhead goes on to list several specific problems, but not much in the way of solutions. And that’s perfectly fine; Having a clearly defined problem, (or two, or three,) demonstrates a lot of thinking and a lot of hard work has been done in search of a solution. We even have an adage for that: A problem well-defined is half-solved. He mentions in passing that a lot of his bookmarking, (saving, marking for later reading, staring, adding to lists, etc.,) is done as an aspiration. Becoming aware of this was a key turning point for me.

At some point, someone will carry the last of my worldly possessions… and deposit them in a dumpster. At some point, all of my digital files will be given a shrug and summarily deleted. I currently aspire to stop collecting things “for later” and instead use, read, compose, share, create and inspire now.

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Proper training

What, then, is the proper training for this? Firstly, the highest and principal form of training, and one that stands, so to speak, right at the entrance way to the enterprise, is, that when you become attached to something, let it not be as though it were to something that cannot be taken away, but rather, as though it were to something like an earthenware pot or crystal goblet, so that if it happens to be broken, you may remember, what kind of thing it was, and not be distressed.

~ Epictetus

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Intentional

About a month ago, I was lamenting the loss of some of my Movement mojo. After some soul-searching, we started with a simple change: Rather than waiting for movement to happen as a part of our day, we began asking a simple question, every day:

“What are we doing tomorrow?”

For fun, we set this chalkboard-wall up to encourage activity and to let us savor the decreasing number of days to American Rendezvous, a Parkour event held in Somerville, just across the Charles River from Boston.

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House keeping

A shout-out to Alice who joins us this week. Welcome! :)

The front of my blog includes a random selection of testimonial quotes from readers of this email. It would be helpful if you’d hit reply and write something I could add to those testimonials.

Also, I’ve made a small addition to also show the tags for each of these items. After 10 years and 3,000+ posts, all my tagging along the way has proved well worth the time. If you’re curious, I have two pages for tags; One is an insane “all the tags” page, (there are 1,326 unique tags on my blog,) and the other is a more useful page of “tags with 10+ posts.The latter runs to about 100 tags and is an insightful glimpse into the sorts of things which interest me.

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Instincts with Alexandra DiPalma

What inspires and sustains someone working behind the scenes in podcast production?

This conversation uncovers the struggles and joys of producing creative podcasts with purpose.

The team that I’m working with needs to be cool and needs to be on the same vibe as me, you know? It’s just not worth it to me, at this point, to be forcing myself into a box to work on a certain team.

~ Alexandra DiPalma (3:31)

This conversation explores the personal and professional challenges of working in podcast production. Topics include maintaining inspiration despite the workload, the importance of selecting projects that align with personal values, and the satisfaction of empowering underrepresented voices in the podcasting industry. Insights are shared about prioritizing teamwork and avoiding projects that lack alignment with one’s instincts or mission.

The discussion also touches on collaboration, emphasizing the value of working with peers at similar levels of experience. Alex reflects on how her perspective has shifted over the years, balancing passion with pragmatism, and remaining open to meaningful projects that may not offer immediate financial rewards. The metaphor of an upward spiral is used to illustrate growth and self-awareness, reinforcing themes of connection and the power of thoughtful framing.

Takeaways

Working behind the scenes — Challenges and rewards of producing podcasts as a creative process are explored.

Selecting the right projects — Importance of aligning with a project’s mission and trusting instincts to avoid pitfalls.

Empowering underrepresented voices — Focus on including diverse perspectives both on mic and in production roles.

Collaboration as a strategy — Value of working with peers at similar career stages for mutual growth.

Balancing passion and pragmatism — Navigating personal inspiration while maintaining professional sustainability.

Resources

Domino Sound — A podcast production company focused on amplifying underrepresented voices.

Food for Thought — A podcast hosted by queer, multiracial writers, produced by Domino Sound.

Zen Habits — Blog by Leo Babauta, referenced for the metaphor of the upward spiral of self-awareness.

Tim Ferriss Blog — Mentioned as the source of the “superpower” framing technique in the conversation.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Connection with Fred Martin Gutierrez

What is the unique power of sound as a medium to connect with others and foster understanding?

The essence of podcasting lies in its ability to preserve authenticity and humanity.

I’ve gone through a career as an architect and as a builder, and acoustics are often overlooked […] I always have this dream of building the perfect bar, or the perfect restaurant, because I think the acoustics in those spaces are more important than anything else. That ability to be with somebody, but be in public, and acoustics can influence that dramatically— or make it a horrible experience.

~ Fred Martin Gutierrez (17:16)

The conversation begins with reflections on the unique emotional resonance of sound, emphasizing how podcasting enables connection through its focus on auditory experience. Sound’s unedited authenticity, as seen in music and live conversations, is contrasted with the more curated nature of other mediums. The importance of pauses and space in fostering deeper thought and connection is highlighted, both in podcasting and in writing.

The discussion transitions into technical aspects, such as the role of acoustics in spaces like bars and restaurants, where it can enhance or detract from experiences. The conversation also touches on podcasting as a tool for self-discovery and reflection, particularly during midlife, revealing how it offers an avenue for learning and personal growth. Finally, the talk explores the human connection fostered by shared experiences, whether through podcasts, music, or even reaction videos.

Takeaways

Sound as a medium — It fosters emotional resonance and provides unique space for thought.

Authenticity in podcasting — Unedited content often delivers deeper connections and richer experiences.

Acoustics in architecture — Thoughtful sound design transforms spaces and interpersonal dynamics.

Podcasting as self-reflection — It serves as a medium for learning and personal growth, especially in transitional life phases.

Human connection — Shared experiences, even through digital formats, reveal universal aspects of empathy and compassion.

The process of creation — Crafting high-quality audio requires deliberate effort and iterative refinement.

Resources

Homeowners Institute Podcast — Fred’s podcast about the experience of building and creating meaningful spaces.

Krista Tippett’s “On Being” — A podcast exploring deep and meaningful conversations on what it means to be human.

Nate DiMeo’s “The Memory Palace” — A podcast blending storytelling and sound design for historical narratives.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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The roller coaster

Life is not ever going to be content. Life is never going to be normal. For the rest of your life you’re on a journey that has ups and downs and ups and downs, it is a roller coaster that never ends. Until one day you close your eyes and you’re off the roller coaster. And I think for me, I just want to be on as many different journey’s as possible, so at least if I’m on a roller coaster, there’s a new zigzag and a turn that I didn’t know about before.

~ Scooter Braun

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And sometimes panic sets in

Inspired by a reader’s question to me, I thought I’d ask our followers on Facebook and Twitter for an answer to the question: What books would you recommend someone read to improve their general knowledge of the world.

I must say the number and quality of the responses overwhelmed me. The box Amazon just delivered reminds me that I ordered 9 books off this list.

~ Shane Parrish, from What Books Would You Recommend Someone Read to Improve their General Knowledge of the World?

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I know there are too many books—old books, new books, red books, blue books … A friend of mine just published a book, Before You Say Anything, and Jiminy Cricket I’d love to read it— I hovered on the add-to-cart button. But I paused, managing to trigger my habit-change “wedge” of repeating: “simplfiy. simplify. simplify.” I digress.

I skimmed that list of books from Parrish and felt I should probably read every one of them. Instead—simplify. simplify. simplify.—I noted I’ve read several, have several more already in my possession, and several others on the wishlist. With a life-is-short shrug, I’m passing it along to you and moving on with my morning.

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Discovery with Monika Mašanauskaitė and Anna Szalucka

How can creative collaborations, like podcasting and music installations, drive personal growth, enhance understanding of one’s craft, and foster connections with an audience?

The challenges and rewards of collaborative artistry illuminate surprising pathways to personal development.

I would never have the courage to say things which I have the courage to say when I’m with Anna. Somehow the conversation just flows, and we actually discovered new levels of philosophy or whatever. We become courageous together much more than when we are alone.

~ Monika Manauskaite (15:00)

The conversation centers on the creative journeys of two classical musicians who use innovative projects, like podcasts and music installations, to explore self-discovery and audience engagement. Anna and Monika discuss how engaging with podcasting and vlogging has shifted their mindsets, exposing them to diverse perspectives and helping them grow personally and professionally. Their experiences reveal how artistic collaboration fosters mutual courage and enhances creative outputs, as seen in their ability to explore and express new ideas together.

I realized how much I’m learning. You know, after a few months I realized I’m exposed to so many different worldviews and so many different aspects of people’s lives, and I just felt, you know, a big improvement in my mindset in everyday life.

~ Anna Szalucka (2:15)

Monika and Anna highlight their music installation project, emphasizing its impact on their understanding of their audience. The project challenged stereotypes about young people’s disinterest in classical music, revealing instead a significant curiosity when accessibility barriers are removed. They also reflect on the role of collaboration in combating self-doubt, leveraging shared passion to overcome imposter syndrome and take bold creative steps.

Takeaways

Collaboration in artistry — Discusses how working with others amplifies creativity, courage, and productivity.

Audience engagement in classical music — Highlights how accessibility can attract younger audiences to classical performances.

Self-discovery through creative work — Explores how podcasting and vlogging can reveal personal insights and deepen one’s connection to their craft.

The role of mindset — Examines how adopting a collaborative or experimental mindset can drive innovation in creative projects.

Flow state in performance — Describes the unique dynamics of achieving flow during solo versus collaborative performances.

Combatting imposter syndrome — Emphasizes the value of shared passion in overcoming self-doubt and achieving personal growth.

Innovative concert formats — Presents the idea of interactive music installations as a reimagined classical concert experience.

Resources

The Piano Phase project — Monika’s and Anna’s piano project.

Open Arted Podcast — Monika’s podcast mentioned as part of their exploration into creative and personal development.

Documentary of the Piano Phase Project — Captures their performance and interviews, providing insights into their creative process.

Steve Reich’s Piano Phase — The minimalistic music piece performed during their installation project.

European Capital of Culture Program — A platform where their next performances and cultural events will take place.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Authenticity with Özlem Özkan

How does podcasting foster personal growth, learning, and connection?

Compassion and empathy emerge as essential skills in podcasting and beyond.

I believe by making the show, you are really expanding. I’m expanding my consciousness.

~ Özlem Özkan (19:41)

The conversation centers on podcasting as a tool for exploration, learning, and connection. One of the key themes discussed is the value of preparation in podcasting. Özlem emphasizes the importance of deeply researching and understanding her guests to create meaningful conversations. This preparation leads to authentic exchanges, which highlight the importance of honesty and openness in both podcasting and life.

Another significant theme is the role of empathy and compassion in fostering authentic connections. The discussion touches on the challenges of being a guest or host and how people often strive for perfection, which can undermine their authenticity. Podcasting, Özlem notes, has helped her practice being themselves in various settings, whether in relationships, professional interactions, or creative pursuits. The conversation also examines how listening attentively allows for deeper understanding and helps create safe spaces where genuine connections flourish.

Takeaways

Podcasting as a learning tool — Emphasized as a method for both hosts and guests to grow and gain new perspectives.

Importance of preparation — Thorough preparation allows for better conversations and helps guests feel valued.

Authenticity in podcasting — Discussed as critical for creating meaningful and memorable episodes.

The role of empathy — Highlighted as essential for connecting with guests and understanding their perspectives.

Practical strategies for hosting — Includes pre-recording rituals like music to create a relaxed and open atmosphere.

Challenges of being a guest — Addressed how striving too hard to perform well can lead to inauthenticity.

Listening as a skill — Listening attentively is portrayed as key to expanding understanding and fostering connection.

Podcasting as life practice — Lessons learned from podcasting extend into personal growth and daily interactions.

Resources

The Bridging Podcast — Özlem’s podcast aimed at connecting people and exploring human stories.

Dalai Lama’s Teachings — Referenced for his views on compassion and happiness.

Zencastr — The platform used to record the conversation, optimizing audio quality for remote calls.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Connection with Bryon Howard

How does a supportive community influence the success and motivation of podcasters?

Shared experiences and mutual encouragement shape the journey of podcasting beginners.

The magic of sound comes through… it surprises you every time.

~ Bryon Howard (9:55)

The conversation highlights the impact of community in the podcasting journey, focusing on how collaboration and mutual encouragement help creators persevere through challenges. Bryon and Craig discuss the importance of connections formed during a podcasting workshop, noting how these relationships motivated them to continue their work despite initial uncertainties. Bryon reflects on how a few key individuals in his network were instrumental in his success.

Bryon also examine the technical and emotional aspects of podcasting. The discussion includes overcoming imposter syndrome through listener feedback, practical tips for in-person and virtual recording sessions, and the value of genuine interactions. Bryon explores how podcasting, even as a hobby, can provide meaningful personal and professional growth.

Takeaways

Community as a motivator — The support and warmth of a like-minded group play a significant role in sustaining podcasters’ efforts.

Importance of listener feedback — Positive feedback, even when sparse, can validate efforts and inspire continued work.

Recording in-person vs. virtual — In-person recordings enhance shared experiences and natural timing, creating a richer connection.

Balancing passion and practicality — Podcasting can be pursued as both a hobby and a professional tool, with room for curiosity and personal interests.

Managing challenges rationally — Rational approaches to logistical and health concerns, such as in-person recording during a pandemic, ensure smooth execution.

Resources

Calgary Living: Real Estate and Lifestyle — Bryon’s podcast focusing on Calgary’s lifestyle and real estate insights.

Podcasting Workshop by Akimbo — A structured course designed to teach podcasting skills and foster community.

Movers Mindset Podcast — A podcast exploring the intersection of movement and personal growth.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Men who are mortal

But what if my friends there should die? What else could that signify except that men who are mortal have died? Do you at once wish to live to be old, and yet not to see the death of any one you love? Do you not know that, in a long course of time, many and various events must necessarily happen? That a fever must get the better of one person, a highwayman of another, a tyrant of a third?

~ Epictetus

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Mastery, purpose, and autonomy

A highly influential book for me in designing Automattic was Daniel Pink’s Drive, where he eloquently introduces the three things that really matter in motivating people: mastery, purpose, and autonomy. Mastery is the urge to get better skills. Purpose is the desire to do something that has meaning, that’s bigger than yourself. These first two principles physically co-located companies can be great at. But the third, autonomy, is where even the best in-office company can never match a Level 4 or above distributed company.

~ Matt Mullenweg from, Distributed Work’s Five Levels of Autonomy | Matt Mullenweg

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I’ve read and listened to a bunch of stuff from Mullenweg and he’s consistently someone with his head on straight and his priorities—particularly those related to the many people working for his company—in order. If you just went, “Matt who?” definitely read that little post, and then, perhaps, dip into his podcast, Distributed. (Maybe try the episode, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg on building a fully distributed company, to get a good taste.)

Also, yes, more autonomy for everyone.

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