Scree – Page 135 – Craig Constantine

Richard Feynman →

Published November 9, 2021 · All posts on Nov 9 · Perspective

I hesitated. “I’m sad because you’re going to die.”
“Yeah,” he sighed, “that bugs me sometimes too. But not so much as you think.” And after a few more steps, “When you get as old as I am, you start to realize that you’ve told most of the good stuff you know to other people anyway.”
~ Danny Hillis and Richard Feynman from, Richard Feynman and The Connection Machine – Long Now

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When I’m reading, pull-quotes leap out. It hard to catch the actual process, but what I think happens is that my mind free-associates to something that resonates. I think it’s the strength of the resonance that slams my attention onto the particular bit I’m reading. My mind races off along connections. It is rare that I read something through, and then think: “I should share this,” or, “I should write about this.” It is rare that I have to hunt around for something to quote; Rather it’s the usually metaphorical blinding flash, but sometimes visceral embodied flash, of the pull-quote that tells me I should share it.

After the third blinding flash of, “that’s a pull-quote I have to share,” I stopped counting. I spent an hour with this short read—it’s only a few minutes of reading. Over and over I was struck by some bit, and my mind raced off. Each time, delighted to see where I was going, and with no intention of reigning in my train of thought.

…but this bit that I pull-quoted — I really hesitated. It’s almost a bit of spoiler. I certainly hope you don’t feel like it’s a spoiler. I certainly hope you do go over and read it.

Opportunities with Heat Dziczek →

Published November 8, 2021 · All posts on Nov 8

How can pursuing multiple creative passions and approaches shape personal growth and productivity in podcasting and beyond?

Balancing creative chaos with focus highlights the challenges and rewards of pursuing diverse passions.

[At] first I was like, ‘Oh, you know, I have these ninety seven ideas for a podcast.’ Okay, now I’ve got a whittled down to twelve, now I’ve got it whittled down to seven, now I’ve got four. I’ve got four ideas for a podcast and I was talking to a mastermind group that I have from a a workshop and they’re like, ‘Why don’t you just do all of them?
~ Heat Dziczek (3:01)

The conversation discusses the creative and practical aspects of podcasting, emphasizing the freedom to experiment with diverse ideas. Heat reflects on the challenge of narrowing down topics and deciding to integrate multiple themes into a single podcast. She shares the liberating realization that she can design her work in a way that aligns with personal goals rather than external expectations.

Another focus is personal growth, including learning to express positivity and overcoming negativity. Heat explains how this shift has influenced her creative pursuits and interactions. She also touches on balancing the pursuit of creative endeavors with financial sustainability, sharing insights into the complexities of monetizing passion projects without compromising their intrinsic value.

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Potential with Boston Blake →

Published November 8, 2021 · All posts on Nov 8

What drives the unique satisfaction and challenges of creating and hosting a podcast focused on storytelling and community building?

Exploring myths and conversations showcases the depth of storytelling’s impact.

[S]o many people have incredible stories and incredible wisdom to share, and they just need a platform. But they’re scared to stand on the platform for whatever reason.
~ Boston Blake (12:01)

The conversation explores Boston’s experience with podcasting, emphasizing its rewards and challenges. Topics include the art of storytelling, the technical tools like Descript that streamline the editing process, and the fulfillment derived from creating platforms for diverse voices. Podcasting’s ability to provide meaningful connections during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic is also discussed, highlighting its unique role as a social outlet.

Additionally, the discussion dips into the difficulties of building and sustaining online communities, particularly for niche topics such as mythology. Boston shares insights on how podcasting acts as both a medium for personal growth and a means to empower others, while grappling with the challenges of audience engagement and creating dialogues beyond the episodes.

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Recent work →

Published November 8, 2021 · All posts on Nov 8 · Podcasting

I had a cool conversation with Susanne Mueller for her podcast, Take it from the Ironwoman. She published part one as, Cool to Collaborate for Change in the Chaos of the World. 5 new episodes of the Podcaster Community’s companion show are published, and 2 more for Movers Mindset.

That escalated quickly →

Published November 7, 2021 · All posts on Nov 7

The answer from computer science is precise.
~ Stewart Brand from, Brian Christian, “Solving Hard Decisions” – Long Now

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‘When to stop’ is an insidiously difficult problem. Which has been solved. Whether or not you want to read that and learn some crazy heuristics, you already know the power of heuristics. They’re great when they work, until they don’t. So many Americans—whose heuristic is to glance left then step off the curb and then glance right—get wacked by cars in parts of London, they paint, “Look right,” in the street.

…which is great. Unless you’re Craig and your heuristic goes: Look left, look right, look left, and then step off. I look left, notice the words on the street, and look right. Then I go to look left, notice the words again… and look right, instead of left… then my brain screams OMGBECKY look left! Then I go to look left, notice the words again… and look right.

The TV in the other room →

Published November 6, 2021 · All posts on Nov 6

It may surprise you that the words keep coming even if you’re not entertaining them, just as a TV program keeps showing itself to an empty room. You can always hear it carrying on, but it’s up to you whether to go in and sit on the couch.
~ David Cain from, How to Get out of Your Own Head

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Funny, but I don’t ever recall the TV being on in the other room. I certainly have spent a lot of time—that’s a vast understatement—directly sat before the TV. But somewhere somehow somewhen I must have developed the habit of turning it off when I left the room. Which strikes me as very odd.

No great epiphany here. Just: That strikes me as very odd.

Play with Alyssa Serpa →

Published November 5, 2021 · All posts on Nov 5 · Movers Mindset

Play with Alyssa Serpa

What influences the balance between seriousness and playfulness in physical training and movement practices?

Physical challenges highlight the intricate relationship between personal growth and self-reflection.

I think that there is a lot of creativity for one— but also, just progression, that happens in the space of being playful, goofing around, and not taking your practice too seriously.
~ Alyssa Serpa (13:07)

The conversation focuses on the interplay of seriousness and playfulness in Parkour and how each can influence personal growth and training outcomes. Insights are shared on the importance of reflecting on one’s commitment to training and how shifting priorities shape practices. A nuanced discussion emerges around how environmental factors, such as the pandemic, have impacted community interactions and travel.

Another theme explored is the role of injuries in redefining one’s approach to physical movement. Recovering from injury led to creative exploration and a greater focus on playful practice. The dialogue underscores the importance of striking a balance between structured training and unstructured play, with a strong emphasis on the joy and personal autonomy gained through movement.

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Reflection with Joe Wehbe →

Published November 5, 2021 · All posts on Nov 5

How can podcasting be used as a reflective tool and integrated into personal and professional growth?

Understanding how solo podcasting can refine public speaking and storytelling skills.

I knew I wanted to start a podcast just because it was a great format. I was going to learn a lot, and it was going to be interesting to have conversations around a lot of things I care about and people’s perspectives.
~ Joe Wehbe (1:29)

The conversation explores podcasting as a medium for personal growth and professional integration. Joe describes how starting a podcast as a solo endeavor helped refine public speaking skills and brought clarity to his thoughts. The discussion emphasizes the iterative relationship between writing and podcasting, where written content often serves as a foundation for podcast topics and vice versa.

Joe shares insights on reflective practices, mentioning the interplay of writing, conversation, and podcasting as tools for self-awareness and development. He highlights the unique role of podcasting in creating reusable resources and fostering connections. The conversation also touches on feedback and audience engagement, illustrating the evolving nature of the podcasting space.

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3.5 each →

Published November 5, 2021 · All posts on Nov 5 · Snark

I don’t know why, but I never learned to solve a Rubik’s Cube. I am exactly the right age; the durned things appeared on the scene just before I got to primary school and they were common in my high school. But I never got into it. I had one, of course. I pretty much immediately took it apart (very carefully) to see how it worked… just honestly curious about how it worked, not trying to solve it. When I put it back together, I put it together in the solved state because it seemed obvious that if I put it together randomly it couldn’t be solved by then trying to rotation-solve it as usual.

Aside: Yes, of course I did. Any time I found a cube, I’d surreptitiously mechanically detach and flip a few pieces, and then scramble it. Few people are good enough to quickly figure out what has happened.

…and then I never was interested in solving one after I understood how it worked. Tetris? Okay, yeah, that game ate years of my life—because you can’t solve it, you just do it. Anyway, I’m 50 and I just got a Rubik’s Cube.

And what am I doing? Measuring it: Let’s call it 2.2 inches on an edge. How many of them are there? Wikipedia says 350,000,000. Crap, that’s a lot of plastic. How big a pile is that? How big are 350,000,000 2-inch cubes? …and I was hoping Wolfram Alpha would give me units of Empire-State-Buildings or something. Instead, I learned something about the total number of Angels according to the Bible. (That should get you to click, no?)

What’s that? How many ESBs is it? …oh, sorry, it’s 0.0583 ESB. I know right? We’ve only 6% filled the ESB with Rubik’s Cubes?! We need to ramp up production.

Belonging with Ric Lindberg →

Published November 4, 2021 · All posts on Nov 4

How do tools and human connections shape the development and success of online communities?

Successful communities depend more on leadership and shared purpose than on the platforms they use.

If you don’t have that previous experience that, ‘I’ve been this lost before and it’s okay.’ …or, ‘I have backups. It’s burning, but it’s okay.’ If you don’t have those experiences, poking the box is scary.
~ Ric Lindberg (5:34)

This conversation explores the complexities of building online communities, emphasizing the interplay between human connections and the technical tools used. A significant focus is placed on how platforms like Discourse serve as frameworks for fostering interaction, with insights on their benefits and challenges, including the learning curve for new users. Strategies for onboarding and engaging participants are highlighted as critical for a community’s success.

Another key topic is the balance between structure and organic growth in community dynamics. Practical examples discuss the importance of reducing barriers for new members while maintaining engagement among seasoned participants. Reflections on leadership and intentional design reveal how communities thrive not from technology alone but through careful cultivation of shared values and goals.

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