Author: Craig Constantine

Production with Jason Tieri

May 24, 2023

What are the primary creative and technical challenges faced in podcast production, as discussed by experienced podcasters in terms of editing, scheduling, client management, and creative mindset?

Explore the interaction of audio and video, as Craig and Jason discuss the crucial importance of nonverbal cues, the frustrations of unreliable Wi-Fi, and the irreplaceable value of face-to-face interactions in the world of podcasting.

I had that [imposter syndrome] with my clients too… They can’t start their first episode because they don’t like the sound of their voice.

~ Jason Tieri

In a captivating conversation, hosts Craig and Jason dive deep into the realm of podcasting, sharing their personal reflections and experiences. They explore the reasons behind their aversion to listening to their own work, discovering the mix of imposter syndrome and the fear of uncovering mistakes.

I’m always surprised at actually how good [my episodes] are.

~ Craig Constantine

I think I just don’t want to listen to [my own work] for a third time.

~ Jason Tieri

With a humorous touch, they discuss the perils of vocal quirks and mouth noises, shedding light on how some hosts may unintentionally overlook these aspects. They also touch upon the significance of video in podcasting, highlighting the benefits of nonverbal cues and the challenges of unreliable Wi-Fi. Ultimately, their discussion serves as a reminder of the constant learning and growth that podcasting entails.

Takeaways

Imposter Syndrome — Both Craig and Jason discuss experiencing imposter syndrome, highlighting a common struggle among podcasters and content creators. This psychological phenomenon adds a layer of relatability and vulnerability to their conversation.

Importance of Video — Jason emphasizes the importance of video in podcasting, not only for visual cues but also for better communication and understanding between hosts and guests. This insight sheds light on the multifaceted nature of podcasting and the role that different mediums can play in enhancing the overall experience.

Personal Growth — Jason mentions going through therapy during the course of his podcast, “Threads Podcast: Life Unfiltered.” This indicates that podcasting can be a transformative journey, leading to personal growth and self-reflection for hosts and guests alike.

Balancing Self-Criticism and Appreciation — Craig expresses both surprise at the quality of his podcast episodes and a persistent self-critical mindset. This internal struggle highlights the delicate balance between recognizing one’s accomplishments and constantly striving for improvement, which many podcasters can relate to.

Technical Challenges — The conversation briefly touches upon the challenges of internet connectivity and bandwidth, particularly when recording interviews with guests from different locations. This showcases the practical difficulties that podcasters face and the importance of stable internet connections for a seamless recording experience.

Resources

https://www.heyguysmediagroup.com: This is Jason’s production company, Hey Guys Media Group.

https://gigeconomyshow.com: This is The Gig Economy Podcast, which focuses on gig work and covers topics related to platforms like Uber, DoorDash, Lyft, and Instacart.

https://threadspodcast.com: Threads Podcast: Life Unfiltered is the show Jason recently completed.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

ɕ

Everything unresolved

May 24, 2023

I beg you, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.

~ Rainer Maria Rilke

slip:4a1163.

Work ethic

May 24, 2023

Hedonistic adaptation ensures that I continuously cycle back and forth between, “If this isn’t nice I don’t know what is!” and rage-quitting all my self-assigned should’s. Two things help temper my intemperance: Journalling provides me with some—albeit subjective—perspective, and reading about the reality of people’s actual lives and work ethics relaxes my self-criticism.

A truer answer would have been that he was fiercely private and deeply caring. He often let other people talk, entering a conversation with a single considered sentence. He didn’t smile unless he was really pleased, and his biggest laugh was a small chuckle. His eyes would squeeze shut and his head would tip back and after he chuckled, he would look at you with delight.

~ Alison Fairbrother from, Lessons in Writing and Life from My Grandfather, E.L. Doctorow

slip:4ulile1.

Without Internet cheating, I can’t name a single one of E. L. Doctorow’s works. But I have this diffuse idea that he is (was?) A Real Writer. Someone who got things written, and maybe had a few ideas worth sharing. Darn it if reading Fairbrother’s piece didn’t tug at the ‘ol heart strings, and I might have gotten something briefly stuck in the corner of one of my eyes.

But I came away with a recalibration: I now have this diffuse idea that he was A Real Writer, got things written, had a few ideas worth sharing, and it was made possible by his family and his work ethic.

(Also, maybe help this autodidact out by hitting reply and telling me one thing of Doctorow’s I must read.)

ɕ

Justin Taylor | How to Run a Members-Only Competition

May 23, 2023

On Castbox.fm — Justin Taylor | How to Run a Members-Only Competition

How can a members-only Parkour competition benefit both gym communities and business growth?

Find out how structured competitions drive engagement and long-term membership.

I realized: How is this benefiting me? I’m just throwing a competition for the sake of watching awesome athletes do awesome things. Which I have no problem with— that I have the West Coast Parkour championships for awesome athletes to come and push themselves. But that doesn’t push my gym, that doesn’t push my culture, that doesn’t help retain my students.

~ Justin Taylor (11:31)

The conversation explores the concept of members-only Parkour competitions designed to foster community, improve retention, and generate revenue within gyms. Unlike traditional competitions that attract elite athletes, these events focus on inclusivity, offering challenges that cater to all skill levels. Justin emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment where everyone has the opportunity to feel accomplished, even those who might finish last. Through tailored categories and multiple opportunities for recognition, these competitions build confidence and engagement among participants.

The discussion also highlights how such events extend their impact beyond the athletes. Parents build friendships and deepen their connections to the gym community, while participants develop personal growth, resilience, and teamwork skills. By incorporating preparatory challenges in regular classes and promoting participation through a structured framework, gyms can create a sustainable model that supports both personal and professional growth for all involved.

Takeaways

Running members-only competitions — A gym-focused approach encourages participation and builds confidence among members.

Avoiding participation trophies — Alternative reward structures can ensure every participant feels valued without diminishing achievement.

Strengthening community bonds — Competitions create opportunities for parents and students to connect socially.

Improving retention — Regular, inclusive events keep members engaged and returning to the gym.

Introducing competition circuits — Successful local competitions can serve as a gateway to regional or national circuits.

Building personal growth — Challenges in competitions can foster resilience, sportsmanship, and overcoming fears.

Focusing on inclusivity — Age-specific and skill-level-based categories ensure every participant has a fair chance to succeed.

Resources

Firestorm Freerunning & Acrobatics — A series of Parkour gyms offering classes and competitions.

West Coast Parkour Championships — A competition series for athletes of all ages and skill levels.

Parkour Professor — Instagram profile for consulting and updates related to Parkour.

FirestormFreerunning@gmail.com — Contact for inquiries and information.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

ɕ

Anxiously panicking

May 22, 2023

A couple of weeks ago I started obliterating processes. I’ve often talked about how everything is a process, and I still believe that. However I’d reached a point where I simply had too many processes (I won’t bore you with unbelievable examples) and a couple of weeks ago I decided enough was enough. I spent several days doing nothing but thinking about everything I was doing, and wanted to be doing but wasn’t “getting around to.”

We’re overwhelmed by it all: all the things we have on our plates, all the interruptions and messages and emails, all the things online and on social media, all the news and chaos of the world, all the things going on in our relationships.

~ Leo Babauta from, When You’re Overwhelmed, Simplify

slip:4uzeoe1.

Some things I do can feel like a chore but when I was honest, they are actually things I enjoy doing. Furthermore, they pay off outsized benefits for the time they require. What then made them feel like chores? I think it was the anxiety of the other things I felt I should be doing—after all, I put those other things on a list or made a process so I could chip away at them in sane-sized chunks. I went through everything, and then started deleting things from that “everything else” space.

Is this simply me oscillating between no-planning, planning, no-planning, planning? Is this a 2/3-life (or, if I pretend I’ll live long, “mid-life”) crisis? Have I said a polite-but-clear “no” to some big things? Have I been having some anxiety-free days? YES, to all of those. I’m currently trying to be vigilant to notice the first thing I get anxious about—because I’m going to delete that next.

ɕ

…and some housekeeping

May 22, 2023

Could you contribute a testimonial for 7 for Sunday? I’m always on the lookout for some, “This is better than sliced bread! ~ Craig C.” testimonials. If you’re open to being quoted, please hit reply and send me a testimonial. (They end up getting posted on the front of my site where the main signup is for 7 for Sunday.)

And please consider sharing 7 for Sunday with others. Forwarding the email you received works, but you can also just point people to https://constantine.name/7-for-sunday/.

Thanks for reading! I appreciate your time and attention, and I don’t take it for granted. :)

ɕ

Slow, surreal

May 21, 2023

I’ve embraced this slow philosophy for most of my professional career. As with Stearns, I too have become a believer in how much can be accomplished in normal 40-hour weeks; if you’re willing to really work when you’re working, and then be done when you’re done. It’s nice, however, to see someone so much more eminent than me also find success with this fixed-schedule approach.

~ Cal Newport from, Professio sano in vitam sanam (on balancing work and life)

slip:4ucabo8.

The other day I had a most surreal experience. I was at home. The weather was gorgeous and I spent most of the day on the patio. For about half of the day I did nothing in particular. And I felt—in the moments when I was doing nothing—that that was fine.

I have often experienced this surreality, but always when I have been away. Always, critically, when I had intentionally spent time planning and working to create space to be away. Think of it like getting a running start to coast through the away time; the experience of that surreality had always been while coasting.

“…and then be done when you’re done.” But the other day? I dunno. I did stuff, and then I was done, and that was okay.

ɕ

Failure also

May 20, 2023

Pass on what you have learned. Strength, mastery… but weakness… folly… failure also. Yes, failure most of all. The greatest teacher failure is. Luke, we are what they grow beyond. That is the true burden of all masters.

~ “Yoda”

slip:4a1125.

Consciousness

May 19, 2023

When we consider consciousness, a number of questions naturally arise. Why did consciousness develop? What is consciousness good for? If consciousness developed to help us plan and act for the future, why is consciousness so difficult to control? Why is mindfulness so hard? And for that matter, if our actions are under our conscious control, why is dieting (and resisting other urges) so difficult for most of us?

Why does it appear that we are observers, peering out through our eyes at the world while sitting in the proverbial Cartesian theater? Why do we speak, in William James’s words, of a “stream of consciousness”? Can we perform complicated activities (such as driving) without being consciously aware of it?

Are animals conscious (and if so, which ones)? Are there developmental, neurologic, or psychiatric disorders that are actually disorders of consciousness?

There have, of course, been many answers to these questions over the last 2500 years. We hope to provide new answers to these and a number of related questions in this paper.

~ Andrew Budson, et al from, Consciousness as a Memory System

A longer pull-quote than usual for me. But it’s from a 30,000 word article. o_O

That list of questions reads like the Table of Contents from the Owners Manual that my body didn’t come with. It’s a big deal that there might be an answer to just one of them, let alone the claim in the last sentence, “We hope to provide new answers to these and a number of related questions.”

Having now read some of those plausible answers to those questions—including rebuttals and improvements to some others’ answers to those questions—my take away is: Oddly, I am now less interested in those questions.

ɕ

Opinions everywhere

May 17, 2023

Secondly, I say something like this: “I’m sure you’ve heard the expression ‘everyone is entitled to their opinion.’ Perhaps you’ve even said it yourself, maybe to head off an argument or bring one to a close. Well, as soon as you walk into this room, it’s no longer true. You are not entitled to your opinion. You are only entitled to what you can argue for.”

~ Patrick Stokes from, No, you’re not entitled to your opinion

slip:4uteno3.

Stokes is a professor, and I rarely find myself in a teaching context. When I hear someone express an opinion, I make an assessment of their argument. Did they actually give a coherent argument? Did they give a sketch of one? Do they seem the sort of person who could give an argument in support of their opinion? To be clear, I’m not judging the person, but rather I’m trying to judge the ideas espoused.

Surprising to me, it’s become clear it’s often not obvious when something is a fact versus an opinion.

On the flip side, I try to signal my level confidence in my opinions. I’m trying to banish the phrase, “I think…” because it carries no meaning. Instead I try to say, “It seems obvious to me that…”, “I read somewhere that…”, “So-and-so told me that…”, or “It happened to me that…”

ɕ

Garrett Moore | Parkour & Politics

May 16, 2023

On Castbox.fm — Garrett Moore | Parkour & Politics

How does Parkour intersect with politics, and how can its principles be used to navigate divisive conversations and societal challenges?

Self-interrogation emerges as a tool for understanding societal conflicts through Parkour.

Very rarely are you ever going to convince someone to take your exact view. Oftentimes, the best outcome…is for folks just to consider your viewpoint.

~ Garrett Moore (17:24)

This conversation explores the intersection of Parkour and politics, particularly how movement philosophy can provide a lens for addressing societal and political challenges. Garrett discusses how divisive politics impact communities globally and the need for spaces to reflect on individual values. The conversation emphasizes that Parkour practitioners are a diverse group, challenging stereotypes that they are uniformly liberal. Exercises such as resource distribution scenarios are highlighted as methods used to engage participants in introspection and values clarification.

The discussion also focuses on tools for navigating contentious topics, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and emotional readiness. Garrett highlights the futility of trying to convert others to one’s viewpoint, instead advocating for fostering understanding and finding common ground. The concept of self-interrogation is central, with participants encouraged to reflect on their motivations and beliefs while engaging with the broader societal context.

Takeaways

Parkour as a political lens — Parkour offers a framework for understanding individual and societal challenges.

Community diversity — Parkour practitioners hold a wide range of political beliefs.

Navigating divisive issues — Tools like self-awareness and emotional readiness are essential for difficult conversations.

Role of self-interrogation — Reflection on personal motivations and values is key to engaging with society.

Exercise in resource distribution — Practical activities reveal underlying values and foster dialogue.

Value of dialogue — Genuine curiosity and understanding are more productive than debate.

Resources

@garrett_moves — Garrett Moore on Instagram.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

ɕ

Never reaching the sea

May 16, 2023

What I do now is think up a problem and a resolution to that problem. I then begin the story, making it up as I go along, having all the excitement of finding out what will happen to the characters and how they will get out of their scrapes, but working steadily toward the known resolution so that I don’t get lost en route.

When asked for advice by beginners, I always stress that. Know your ending, I say, or the river of your story may finally sink into the desert sands and never reach the sea.

~ Isaac Asimov

slip:4a1193.