The thing about status dynamics, though, is that they aren’t in one spot. There isn’t a whole world that is being fully and accurately perceived, except for one blank space that’s being glossed over.
This is an interesting unpacking of some metaphors. If one has a blind spot in vision, simply shifting your gaze or moving slightly, will reveal what one is not seeing. This is a key way in which the “blind spot” metaphor is inaccurate and insufficient for systemic differences (in people, culture, society, etc.). The metaphor of red-green color blindness carries more utility because it points out that the things, or the distinctions, which one can’t see are everywhere; they are not literally in one stationary location (the problem is not simply under this X on this map), and no matter what one does—gaze shifting, moving around, thinking a great deal—those invisible thing are not going to appear.
The only way I’ve found to get through such problem is to engage with others whose literal and conceptual perspectives differ from my own. I’ll sum that up as: Discovery.
How can the experience of working collaboratively in podcasting inform and enhance creative and personal growth?
Supporting others’ podcasting journeys can provide surprising insights into personal creativity.
Listening to that has led me to situations and experiences and people that make—that have me feeling uncomfortable in a good way, uncomfortable in a, ‘Oh, this is the next thing.
~ Cassandra Ellis (19:52)
The discussion emphasizes the importance of relationships in fostering creativity and collaboration, especially in the context of podcasting. Cassandra shares insights about hosting a “creativity potluck,” an event that inspired a collaborative partnership in supporting another’s podcast project. This interaction highlights the value of seeing creative work as part of an artistic continuum rather than a solitary task.
The conversation also explores how discomfort can be a catalyst for growth, urging creators to lean into challenges and follow their intuition. Recognizing podcasting as a relationship-driven process rather than an isolating endeavor provides a framework for discovering blind spots, whether technical, emotional, or creative. The exchange advocates for embracing small acts of courage and openness to serendipity.
Takeaways
Relationships in creativity — Learning happens best in connection with others or with non-human elements like nature.
The value of discomfort — Growth often comes from stepping outside one’s comfort zone.
Collaborative roles — Reframing roles as partnerships enhances creative dynamics.
Continuum of creativity — Podcasting and similar endeavors are part of broader artistic expressions.
Intuition and serendipity — Listening to internal cues can guide transformative decisions.
Blind spots in podcasting — Identifying personal or professional gaps can lead to better outcomes.
Guilt is the emotion that you feel when you believe you have failed to live up to your own moral standards. It is perhaps the most enervating emotion. It makes you want to curl up in a little ball to block it out and avoid it.
This raises an interesting question for me. There’s a lot I’ve considered in how I think when I’m depressed. (I mean, thinking when I’m not depressed, about how I think when I am depressed.) There are a lot of valuable ideas and actionable things in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. For all my efforts though (including professional therapy), I’ve never thought that guilt might be a source. I’ve surely considered it in passing. That phrase up there, “your own moral standards,” however slaps hard. Because I have insanely (using that word in the literal sense), high moral standards for myself. Seems to be that notching down to extremely high moral standards, and paying close attention to adding a modifier, “aspirational,” might be a wise maneuver.
How can podcasting be used as a tool for exploring personal and professional transitions?
Exploring the potential of podcasting reveals its role in both research and personal discovery.
Transitions for me are about spaces of change. And they are exciting to me because there’s movement happening and so the fact that there is movement happening means that if you lean into the movement. You can have a lot of really lovely things come out of it.
~ Jessica Burdett (11:19)
The conversation explores how podcasting can serve as a medium for both personal and professional growth. Jessica discusses the role of podcasting in fostering creativity, allowing space for exploration, and potentially contributing to developmental research in coaching. She reflects on how podcasting can help capture stories that provide insights into transitions and identity development.
A significant focus is placed on transitions as moments of change and growth. Jessica shares her fascination with these periods, emphasizing their potential for identity formation and the role of coaching in navigating such changes. The conversation also touches on Jessica’s evolving perspective on auditory learning, noting how podcasting has helped her recognize new learning strengths and opportunities.
Takeaways
Podcasting as a creative space — Its flexibility supports exploratory learning and creativity.
Transitions and identity — They offer a unique opportunity for growth and identity development.
Story-based research — Exploring stories can reveal patterns and trends in human behavior and transitions.
Coaching and transitions — Coaching methods can align well with navigating periods of change.
The journey from New Jersey to Asheville reveals how a Parkour athlete reshaped his movement training in the wilderness.
Ryan Mallon is a parkour athlete, coach, rock climber, and general outdoorsman. His personal journey includes being an American Parkour sponsored athlete, and an APK ambassador. He’s coached state champion and regional-placing gymnasts, and has competed in World Chase Tag USA. More recently, Ryan spends much of his time in the beautiful mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina, hiking, climbing, and photographing nature.
[Impact is a complicated subject.] I think the best way I can whittle that down—and I think a lot of people tend to agree with this—is bringing things to the public attention always is a double edged sword. […] The more places people know about, and can spread out to, will lessen impact in a singular spot.
~ Ryan Mallon (30:00)
The conversation explores how movement disciplines like Parkour can integrate with natural landscapes. Starting from structured training in a gym, the discussion transitions to adapting techniques for outdoor environments, particularly in North Carolina’s mountainous regions. Topics include the creative process of identifying and utilizing natural challenges for training and the unique perspective gained from exploring untouched environments.
It also touches on ecological concerns and the impact of human activity on natural spaces. Ryan emphasizes a balance between sharing access to beautiful, lesser-known locations and ensuring minimal ecological disruption. Discussions about coaching and community-building underline the value of teaching methodologies that empower others while cultivating personal growth through exploration.
Takeaways
The adaptability of Parkour — Techniques evolve from structured environments to embrace natural challenges.
Coaching as a skill — The ability to break down movements to foundational levels is key to being an effective coach.
Integrating outdoor exploration — Wilderness exploration can serve as a dynamic training ground, blending movement disciplines with nature.
Ecological awareness — Balancing public access with conservation is critical in managing natural spaces responsibly.
Personal evolution through movement — Training in nature fosters growth, creativity, and resilience.
Building community — Combining technical skills and shared experiences strengthens connections among practitioners.
The small choices we make on a daily basis either work for us or against us. One choice puts time on your side. The other ensures it’s working against you. Time amplifies what you feed it.
I don’t truly know if I’m unique. For me, the only way I can manage to feel as if I’ve enough time in my day is if I’m ruthless with myself about not giving my time away. I’ve spent so many decades feeling harried and busy… only to realize, duh, I did that to myself. I’ve spent so many dark days simply wanting some peace… only to realize, duh, all this craziness, I chose that. Somehow, I managed to slowly let this same idea Parrish mentions seep into my bones. Now I feel like I’m able to relax and simply experience being, through most of my days. Sometimes, I even take naps. My 25-year-old self would be horrified.
Ultimately, the goal is not to stop using the internet, or even minimize its use, but to put it back into a box in the basement where it belongs. The first step is to discover what I’m up against. If I find a way to make the internet small again, I’ll write a book about it so others can do it too.
I’ve been beating this drum for years, (eg, here’s a search for “use you”.) I don’t want to put the Internet literally into a box and then stuff it in the basement. (Even setting aside that I don’t have a basement.) The Internet is nothing more than a tool. The Internet, but also TV, food, politics, religion, music, your car(s?), books, or even hoarding [sometimes misspelled “collecting”] things… one can have a dysfunctional relationship with anything. (Truth in blogging: My addiction is TV and snacking.)
Don’t think my little paragraphs here are meant to diminish what Cain wrote. Go read that, it’s better than what I’ve written here. Rather, my point is simply that we each need to figure out—for each of those things I listed above, and every other thing—are we using it, or are we letting it use us.
Maria Montessori’s ideas about education stem from the principles of choice, individual dignity, spontaneous order, experimental discovery, and freedom of movement. They stand in radical contrast to traditional schooling, too often based on authority, central planning, rigid instruction, and force. She once described children in such schools as “butterflies stuck with pins, fixed in their places.”
This is a great introduction to Montessori, both the person and her ideas about education. Back in the Precambrian Era, my school district did a few decidedly Montessorian things. Did those make a difference for me? …were they the most important things in my primary education? Great questions for which I’ve no answer. I will say that my greatest memories—the ones that are about education, not the ones which simply happened in and around my schooling as great as those are—from primary education are from those decidedly unusual-for-that-time methods. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.
How does expertise in book editing influence podcast production and storytelling?
Podcasting challenges traditional storytelling approaches from book editing.
It’s hard finding that story, and everybody of course talks about it— all the [professionals], you know, in their newsletters and books— and I’m like where is it? Where is it?! Help me out. I know it’s here somewhere.
~ Christi Cassidy (6:30)
The conversation centers on the relationship between book editing and podcast production. It explores how skills in editing text, such as identifying verbal tics and structuring content, translate to editing podcasts. A notable challenge is finding a coherent story arc within the fluid and nonlinear format of audio conversations.
Further discussion touches on the creative aspirations for podcasting, including integrating layered audio elements such as music and sound effects to enrich the listener’s experience. The practicalities of podcast artwork and the psychological impact of visual elements in audio media are also examined.
Takeaways
Editing techniques from books — help identify and remove verbal tics in podcasts.
Finding story arcs in podcasts — remains a challenge despite parallels with book editing.
Creative ambitions in podcasting — include layering sound and voices for richer audio.
Visual elements in podcasts — serve as a crucial bridge between social media and audio platforms.
Hardwired human tendencies — show strong attraction to visuals, like faces and album art.
Practicalities of production — involve balancing creative desires with technical realities.
Resources
Moving Along podcast — Hosted by Christi Cassidy, available on major platforms like Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.
Descript — A software tool for podcast editing, utilized for transcript-based workflows.
What role does problem-solving and creativity play in the intersection of programming, parkour, and personal growth?
The discussion reveals how creativity and self-discipline shape one’s approach to challenges in life and movement.
Sometimes the right thing to do is to walk away from the problem or to recognize that it’s not the right time or you’re not in the right place for it.
~ James Adams (14:39)
The conversation explores the intersection of programming, parkour, and personal growth, highlighting the common thread of problem-solving. A discussion unfolds about how programming serves as a versatile tool, akin to a multipurpose screwdriver, allowing for efficiency and creativity in tackling challenges. This framework extends to parkour, where physical and mental obstacles mirror problem-solving in technical domains.
The social dynamics of parkour play a significant role in fostering confidence and personal development. The practice’s non-competitive, collaborative nature offers opportunities for self-improvement and resilience. Topics of balance and burnout emerge, with reflections on the importance of stepping back when challenges become overwhelming. Additionally, James shares insights into his Parkour Clinic project, which provides free sports therapy consultations, blending his technical expertise and passion for movement.
Takeaways
Programming as a tool — Provides efficiency and a creative outlet for problem-solving.
Social aspects of parkour — Enhances confidence and creates a supportive community.
Importance of stepping back — Recognizing when to pause instead of pushing forward on challenges.
Combining interests — Merging technical skills and physical movement to create unique solutions.
Parkour’s mental impact — Encourages resilience and a problem-solving mindset in both physical and abstract contexts.
Non-competitive environments — Cultivates collaboration and individual growth.
What a journey this life is! Dependent, entirely, on things unseen. If your lover lives in Hong Kong and cannot get to Chicago, it will be necessary for you to go to Hong Kong. Perhaps you will spend your life there, and never see Chicago again. And you will, I assure you, as long as space and time divide you from anyone you love, discover a great deal about shipping routes, airlines, earth quake, famine, disease, and war. And you will always know what time it is in Hong Kong, for you love someone who lives there. And love will simply have no choice but to go into battle with space and time and, furthermore, to win.
I’m not sure how many things I’ve linked to over on Popova’s Marginalian project. By now you should be directly following it and reading everything she’s publishing. I’m frozen by indecision; there are so countless many superlative books, and Nothing Personal is yet another one. Drat!
You’ve probably heard this scenario before. It originally comes from Derek Parfit’s 1984 book Reasons and Persons, where he actually answers the question. (Though you may not like the answer.) To answer it, he has to go though a set of even weirder scenarios. Here’s most of them, edited aggressively.
This article turns a number of complicated thought experiments into a disorienting dash through a hall of mirrors. I’ve not read Parfit’s book, but I’ve encountered these sorts of thought experiments before. On one hand I’m drawn to thinking about them because I feel I should be able to have some foundational, (although not necessarily simple,) principles that I can use to answer them. Which is a working definition of, “I want to be rational.” Until I start really digging into the experiments and things get really complicated. Why, it’s as if being a limited-in-resources mind forced to interact with in an intractably complex world, may not be something with a clear, correct, let alone singular, solution.
We often turn it into something bad: I suck for not being disciplined, I suck for not being able to focus, I’m not strong enough, etc etc. But it’s just a part of being human — we all have fear, uncertainty, doubt, resistance built into our survival instincts.
My “I suck” dialog has different vocabulary, and I have a penchant for petulance. Nonetheless, it’s always a good reminder to be aware of it. I can sabotage myself, without fail, by setting expectations—any expectations—for anything I’m working on. The only way I can stay balanced on the narrow, mountaintop spine of rock that is sanity is to pay attention to the next steps. There’s not really much option about where the path along the ridge leads. In recent months I’ve been tinkering on a new project creating something I’ve been curious to try for a long time. It’s interesting, but not particularly difficult work. It’s definitely creative, and I’ve repeatedly found interesting little twists in the path. Am I going somewhere in particular with the project? …not really. I have ideas of what might be farther along the path, but that’s more an interesting additional possibility, rather than the reason for doing the work.
Web pages which neglect to include two of the most important pieces of information: Who and When. Yes, all web pages. Thou shalt always list the author. (“Anonymous” is a legitimate answer to, “who?’) Thou shalt always list at least a general composition/publication date. Online, it is already difficult to place things into context. Having a Who and When gives that many more clues to place things into context.
A simple way to start moving your body more is to swap your sedentary seat for “active sitting.” How much of your body’s work are you giving to the chair? If the back of the chair disappeared, what would happen? Would you collapse backwards? If yes, then the chair-back is doing the work of your core musculature. And obviously, if the bottom of a chair dropped out we’d fall straight down because the chair is also doing the work of the legs.
This is a terrific example of Bowman’s way of looking into human movement. A huge amount of what I do involves computers. Even though have all the various physical types of computer, sedentary is still sedentary. Short of abandoning my entire lifestyle, the best I can do is to change things frequently through my day and this delightful little article has “a few” variations.
Consider sketching on a page, where various ideas or points are connected by drawing arrows or shapes or groupings. When sketching, you aren’t quite sure how to structure your thoughts before you start. And sketching is, in some way, the act of figuring this out. There is something highly nonlinear about this process where your thoughts backtrack to previous ideas and test the strength of old conclusions.
Before I begin, I want to point to these general thoughts about Babble, and to this very interesting series of articles advancing the idea that the antagonistic algorithms Babble and Prune can at least partly model how the mind works.
I’m thinking that one way to have what I’d call a “really good conversation” is when the participants are babbling together. Baby babble is generally incomprehensible, or at least not comprehensible overall. Baby babble has many comprehensible words, but rarely a comprehensible sentence. In conversations which I’d call “good”, the babble has comprehensible sentences, and often comprehensible paragraphs, but may not be comprehensible overall. We’re babbling, and pruning, to see where we end up.
How do different communication mediums influence engagement and interaction in personal and professional settings?
Exploring the interplay between technology, generational habits, and learning styles shapes the dynamics of modern communication.
There is a little bit of a disconnect because there’s that expectation from a generation that says you have to show yourself on video, but the digital natives… don’t care.
~ Jam Mayer (4:33)
The conversation explores the nuanced ways communication mediums affect engagement. It contrasts the experience of in-person training with digital formats, highlighting the energy and connection possible in face-to-face settings versus the challenges posed by video calls. Generational differences in behavior and expectations are examined, with older generations often emphasizing visible engagement and digital natives demonstrating a more relaxed approach.
The discussion goes into the dynamics of online communities, particularly challenges in making platforms user-friendly for diverse engagement styles. Jam and Craig address the difficulty of translating podcast audiences into other forms of interaction and consider strategies for creators to adapt content for various mediums, ensuring accessibility for their audience’s preferences.
Takeaways
Choosing communication mediums — dependent on personal learning styles and context.
Generational differences — younger audiences are more comfortable with digital flexibility.
Energy in interactions — stronger in-person connections compared to digital ones.
Podcast audience behavior — challenges in transitioning listeners to other platforms.
Community space design — balancing simplicity with features for proactive users.
Adaptability for creators — experimenting with multiple formats increases engagement potential.
Resources
Jam Mayer on LinkedIn — Jam Mayer’s preferred platform for professional connections.
Discourse — a community platform with customizable homepage settings.
Reddit — mentioned as a highly active online forum illustrating user engagement challenges.
How do personal exploration, creativity, and cultural influences shape movement practices and artistic endeavors?
Christian Anderson is a parkour coach, athlete, teacher, martial artist, and movement artist. He created his own parkour teaching program, pursues weapons training, and is an artist in other mediums, including drawing, music, videos, and blade-smithing. Christian earned his bachelors in Landscape architecture at North Carolina A&T University.
You don’t have to tell a kid to play, to jump to climb. There’s a lot of innate understanding of movement that I think children have, to be completely honest.
~ Christian Anderson (28:59)
Christian Anderson’s unique interests are wide-ranging; from martial arts and weapons training, to parkour, to art, to creating his own weapons and training set-ups. Christian shares his inspirations and process for learning and creating. He discusses teaching, landscape architecture, and his specific influences and role models. Christian unpacks his personal martial arts, weapons, and movement practices, and how all of them are creatively interconnected.
The conversation explores how personal creativity, cultural influences, and movement intersect in both art and physical practices. Topics range from martial arts and weapon-making to how imagination facilitates movement, particularly in children. The discussion highlights the importance of personal space creation, whether for training or as a sanctuary, and how integrating these elements into daily life fosters growth.
There is a deep appreciation for cultural artifacts, such as samurai films and ninjutsu, which serve as both inspiration and a means to connect with broader traditions. Additionally, the dialogue touches on the challenges of prioritizing projects, maintaining focus, and overcoming impostor syndrome, illustrating the complexity of creative expression and personal exploration.
Takeaways
Creating personal spaces — Spaces designed for training or reflection enhance creativity and personal growth.
Martial arts inspiration — Movement practices often draw from cultural traditions and historical arts.
Childhood creativity — Imagination and play significantly aid learning and physical development.
Overcoming impostor syndrome — Acknowledging and embracing imperfections is key to creative growth.
Interdisciplinary practices — Combining artistic and physical endeavors fosters innovation.
Environmental influence — Nature and green spaces serve as restorative environments for recharging.
Visual motivation — Visual aids and imagery act as powerful tools for focus and inspiration.
Cultural connections — Martial arts offer a window into understanding and appreciating different cultures.
When we conjure up what it will be like to start a new practice, form a new habit, knock an item off a bucket list, we see the fun but not the work. We see an image in which all the drudgery has been edited out, and only the montage of rewards left in.
Great points from McKay. I often enjoy inverting problems like the one he’s describing. Let’s say I thought a lot about the idea and the reality and decided far in the past to start something—for example, a daily podcast of me reading quotes. Then the inversion of the problem McKay is writing about would be to figure out, in the present, if my current experience of the reality matches what I expected the reality to be, back when I made the decision. Because, if I don’t do that, how do I get better at making the idea/reality choice McKay is discussing?
This is one reason I journal. For every project (and much more) in the last decade I’ve journaled about it. An idea begins to appear repeatedly in my journal entries. Sometimes it grows into my laying out the expected reality—the work this is going to require, the physical and emotional costs, the expected outcome(s), the rewards, etc.. Then I regularly reread my old journal entries and see how much of an idiot I was. ;)
How does podcasting facilitate personal growth and the exchange of insights?
Podcasting invites both hosts and listeners into transformative spaces of thought.
Doing this work can be playful… and giving others the opportunity to listen in when insight happens is a pretty cool thing.
~ Corey Schlosser-Hall (19:11)
The conversation explores the multifaceted nature of podcasting, particularly its potential to create and share insights. Corey reflects on his podcast “On the Verge,” which captures moments of inspiration before they manifest into tangible outcomes. Craig and Corey discuss how meaningful exchanges in conversational formats provide fertile ground for reflection and personal growth.
They also examine the concept of “emergence” in communication, debating whether conversations simply elicit pre-existing knowledge or foster the creation of new ideas. They agree that podcasting serves as a unique medium for these emergent moments, with its challenges and rewards—including the variety of approaches it enables, from intimate dialogues to larger production endeavors.
Takeaways
Capturing inspiration — Moments before ideas become tangible can be deeply insightful.
Insight through dialogue — Conversational podcasts enable reflective and emergent thinking.
Creative challenges — Balancing pre-recording, live recording, and post-production has unique rewards and difficulties.
Emergence in communication — Interactions can construct new meaning rather than just reveal existing thoughts.
Playfulness in podcasting — Creating and sharing content can feel enjoyable and spontaneous.
Adaptability — Different podcast formats and experiences provide ongoing opportunities for growth.