The ideal agent’s frame of reference is thus her whole life, represented as accurately as a human being can remember its history and imagine its future, and lived as intelligently as a human being can exploit its possibilities.
~ Lawrence Becker
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Remember that it is not oly a desire for riches and power that makes you abject and subservient to others, but also a desire for quiet and leisure, and travel and learning. For the value you place on an external object, whatever it may be, makes you subservient to another.
~ Epictetus
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Anicet Desrochers slips the small, crowbar-like tool underneath the lid of the beehive and cracks the propolis seal, a glue that bees make from resin. He puffs a smoker over the box as he pulls and examines the honeycomb frames with bare hands. The smoke, he says, disrupts the bees’ alarm pheromones, making them groggy, while also causing them to gorge on honey and nectar, a possible response to believing there is a fire. When they’re full, they’re less likely to sting.
~ Shaun Pett from, How a Canadian Beekeeper Breeds New Queens – Gastro Obscura
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Let me think about that… NO. But it’s a great article that explains the bee keepers’ extreme efforts to breed the Queens. Fascinating stuff.
…but I’m not putting my bare hands in no bee hives.
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How does persistence shape the creative and personal processes involved in podcasting?
Audio’s timeless richness offers a counterpoint to the overwhelming world of visual media.
Every time I finish an episode I step right back into my little recording booth and think, ‘What’s next?’ It sort of builds that cycle back up again. So that’s been a really positive experience.
~ Bruce Devereux (2:18)
The conversation explores the role of persistence in podcasting, reflecting on its significance in sustaining creative momentum and overcoming challenges. The discussion highlights the iterative process of producing episodes, where the cycle of finishing one and immediately conceptualizing the next becomes an energizing force. Persistence is seen not only as a key to podcasting success but also as a framework for managing the broader challenges of creative work.
Additionally, the conversation goes into the distinction between audio and visual storytelling, emphasizing audio’s unique ability to engage listeners in an immersive, focused experience. Bruce contrasts the richness of audio with the ubiquity of visual content, advocating for simplicity in both podcast production and lifestyle. Themes of managing creative thoughts, balancing personal input with guest presence, and crafting meaningful soundscapes also emerge, painting a holistic picture of the podcasting journey.
Takeaways
Persistence as a foundation — Sustains creative momentum and fuels the iterative cycle of podcast production.
Audio’s unique appeal — Offers a deeply immersive experience compared to the saturation of visual media.
Balancing personal and guest input — Reflects the challenge of deciding how much of oneself to include in creative work.
Creative simplicity — Minimalist approaches enhance focus and manage mental overload during the process.
Nature as a refuge — Provides a means to reset and manage the mental demands of production.
Crafting sound environments — Focuses on creating immersive and engaging audio spaces for listeners.
Resources
HowSound Podcast — A show exploring the craft of audio storytelling and production.
Transom.org — A resource hub for audio producers and storytellers.
Audio Playground — A creative audio prompt-based project for honing production skills.
Hindenburg — Audio editing software mentioned as a tool for podcast production.
David Attenborough’s work — Recognized for its inspiring narrative style and immersive production quality.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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The teachings of your instructor constitute only a small fraction of what you will learn. Your master of each movement will depend almost completely on individual, earnest practice.
~ Morihei Ueshiba
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In the past, I’ve enjoyed posting these sort of photo essays. (For example, there are several of them from a 2014 adventure in Colorado.) The hard part, of course, is getting somewhere and taking the photos.
Back in August, we spent a half-day at the Corning Museum of Glass, in Corning, New York. (Yes, the Corning, New York, of Corning Ware repute.) It turns out that Corning is quite the hot spot—sorry, couldn’t resist—for glass work in general. To wit:
If you’re going to make a gallery for displaying glass, this is the way to do it. More glass than not in the ceiling with hung-vertically dividers; The entire space is flooded with natural light, but you don’t see the light’s source, unless you look straight up. The ceiling is flat; the space is not rectangular.
Note the three “trees” at the far end of the room. They are not what they appear to be.
In another space, just around the corner…
Murano, as in the islands in Venice, Italy. In the top-right of that Carrion’s photo, you can see this piece…
And this sphere, for which I neglected to snap the description. It’s composed of folded ribbons of glass, and it’s appearance is the same whatever direction you look at it. There’s a bright, omni-directional light inside. The glass wall behind the piece extends the entire height of the building, not just the floor of this gallery. There’s an applique that is about half-round holes, half opaque white—so the outside world is visible curiously obscured as if by fog.
Hey, I’m pretty good at this photo essay stuff! Not. The trick it to have spectacular things to photograph. Like this iconic piece by Dale Chihuly. It’s “simply” hundreds of similarly blow glass pieces which are individually, (each has a hole in the interior end,) slid onto the countless small pins sticking out of the central armature.
In another gallery, there were countless, large cases with displays like this, where I kept going, “wat? holy crap!” (I’d make a great, R-rated, museum tour guide.)
Really. Holy crap!
Finally, I’ll leave you with this piece. (I have photos of many more, and there were thousands of things I gaped at and didn’t photograph.) This was very difficult to capture in photographs. There are two, four-legged figures inside this case. They have legs made from square-sided bottles. The two figures are similar, but not identical, and are posed marching, one after the other. I’ve taken a photo from before them, looking past them on one side and the other. The case is a size that you could put your hands on either end and is in a darkened area in the museum. There are only two figures in the case— everything else is repeated, internal reflections…
In summary: WOW.
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Choose, then, which you prefer, to be loved as you used to be by those who loved you formerly by remaining like your former self, or to be better and not meet with that same affection. For if this latter course is preferable, direct yourself at once to that, and do not let the other considerations draw you away from it; for no one can make progress while facing two ways.
~ Epictetus
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It seems likely that Jack Sparrow’s admonishment about attitude is an echo of Aurelius’s reminder to himself two thousand years earlier. This idea that the attitude and assessment is most important has really helped me relax. Things will never be done, and I create all of my problems. I’ve come to understand that concrete goals and clear progress are detrimental to my health. They’re necessary, yes, but detrimental. The more goals I set, the more clear progress I can measure, the worse off I become; Mentally and physically those things grind me down.
Since they’re necessary—without them, it seems I’d simply devolve to being a blob on a sofa—I must have something in my life which counters the damage so that I can continue setting some sane number of goals and measuring some concrete progress. One of those things is practicing my attitude and assessment. I set aside time for this each morning. It’s not meant to take long. 15 minutes is really long enough. I read through a prompt from a set that I’ve created for myself. I read through a selection from some key books. I write in my journal, usually copying a single new quote from my collection as the beginning of the journal entry. I write some thoughts. I write some observations from the previous day.
Unfortunately, just about every morning, my urge—affliction? addiction?—to measure and create goals creeps into my morning reflection. Why am I taking all this time? (I’m up to something like 4,000 hand-written pages of journals!) Am I getting benefit from all this reflection? What’s the optimum “dosage” of reflection which yields the most benefit? How do I even measure the benefit? Is that page—that one I just wrote, an instant before these questions pop into my mind—worth writing? If I read that page in a year, will it in any way help me? Is the entry for today long enough? Should it have more “here’s what I did yesterday,” type stuff, or less? Maybe I should be also making a small note on my mood, or how I feel physically? Maybe I should… Oh, crap.
Close the journal, and go on with today!
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What motivates someone to transition to farming and podcasting, and how do these pursuits interconnect with larger societal and environmental issues?
Discover how personal passion for storytelling evolves into impactful podcasting about regenerative farming.
We sort of got to this point in our careers and we just looked at each other and went, ‘Oh, this is not fulfilling.’
~ Kate Field (7:50)
The discussion explores a transition from urban life and academic careers to a rural farming lifestyle, driven by dissatisfaction with consumer culture and a desire for meaningful, fulfilling work. Kate describes the initial challenges of establishing a farm, including the hard labor and the steep learning curve. She shares how cheesemaking became a practical entry point into farming and an opportunity to align their values with their lifestyle.
The conversation touches on broader themes such as the importance of sustainable farming practices, the environmental impact of agriculture, and the misconceptions surrounding food production. Kate emphasizes the role of agriculture in addressing climate change and how their podcast helps amplify this message. She also discusses the social transformation that comes with rural living, highlighting the strength of local community bonds and how these relationships differ from those in urban settings.
Takeaways
The significance of curiosity and connection — Podcasting is a way to explore ideas and engage with others in meaningful conversations.
The true cost of food — Many people misunderstand how much effort, resources, and environmental considerations go into producing food.
Climate change and agriculture — Sustainable farming has a crucial role in mitigating climate change, contrary to some narratives blaming agriculture.
Rural versus urban social dynamics — Moving to a rural area fosters stronger community bonds compared to urban living.
Challenges of farming — Starting and maintaining a farm requires immense labor, infrastructure investment, and long-term perseverance.
Value of storytelling — Sharing personal experiences through podcasting helps bridge the gap between producers and consumers.
Resources
Farming for the Future Podcast — The speaker’s podcast focusing on sustainable and regenerative farming.
Australian Government Climate Change Information — Provides insights into agricultural impacts on climate change.
Cheesemaking Courses in Tasmania — Resource for learning about artisan cheesemaking.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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What role does podcasting play in fostering creativity, community, and economic development?
Podcasting emerges as a bridge between personal creativity and broader economic impact.
My business website is art hero dot biz and if you show up there the very first thing it says is making business fun is a rebellious act.
~ Johanna Patrice Hagarty (14:49)
The conversation centers on the intersection of podcasting, creativity, and community building. It highlights podcasting as a platform for storytelling and thought leadership, enabling meaningful conversations and fostering economic development in creative industries. Johanna discusses the value of using podcasting to share diverse stories, especially those of artists and art professionals, and emphasizes the importance of collaboration in sustaining creative projects.
Another key topic is the practicality of podcasting. Tools and strategies, such as batching episodes and leveraging support from teams, are shared to streamline the process. Johanna explains how her work integrates podcasting with broader goals in creative business coaching and economic development, aiming to make business fun and accessible while building community and creating impact.
Takeaways
The significance of thought leadership — Podcasting as a way to lead conversations and drive change in communities and industries.
The diversity of creative voices — Artists, writers, musicians, and professionals share unique perspectives through podcast platforms.
Practical strategies for podcasting — Tips like batching episodes and exploring supportive tools to maintain consistency.
The integration of audio and creativity — How audio formats open up new opportunities for different types of creators.
Collaboration in creative endeavors — Building a supportive network is essential for sustaining long-term projects.
The authenticity of audio platforms — Apps like Clubhouse facilitate genuine, informal interactions.
Economic development through creativity — Leveraging creative projects like podcasts to drive business growth and innovation.
Resources
Art Hero — A business website focusing on making business fun and accessible for artists.
The Joanna Patrice Haggerty Show — A podcast hosted on Biz Radio Asheville focusing on creative professionals.
Clubhouse — An audio-only social platform fostering authentic conversations.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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The aim of an argument, or of a discussion, should not be victory but progress.
~ Karl Popper
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And who can never be hindered? The man who sets his desire on nothing that is not his own. And what are those things that are not our own? Those that are not in our power, either to have or not to have, or to have them of a particular nature, or under specific conditions. Our body, therefore, is not our own, its parts are not our own, and our property is not our own. So if you become attached to any of these as your own, you will be punished, as he deserves to be who sets his desire on what is not his own.
~ Epictetus
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Aside from this blog, here’s some other new work I’ve done in the past week:
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Does the road wind uphill all the way?
~ Christina Rossetti
Yes, to the very end.
Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?
From morn to night, my friend.
Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
Of labour you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
Yea, beds for all who come.
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This was a sample data set from 1996 through mid-2019, but maybe the most shocking number is the 2018 one: after just a year, one in every sixteen links from the Times’ website to an external source had stopped working. The Times already has an attribution problem; this just makes it worse. The researchers point out that URLs within U.S. Supreme Court opinions fare even worse, with about half of links not working as originally intended.
~ Nick Heer from, The Collective and Rotting Hallucination That Is the Internet – Pixel Envy
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I’m not picking on the Times nor the Supreme Court, link rot is everywhere. Heer does a nice job of laying out what’s really going on; it’s not just that the links are ceasing to work, but also that the actual contents of digital stuff is changing. (And that’s all in addition to problems with data corruption and degradation.) However, his article is really about highlighting some of the neat things people are doing to preserve things. It’s worth clicking through just for the anecdote about how “Nookd” curiously appears in one edition of War and Peace.
And on the other hand, we’re all painfully aware that our lives are becoming more public and we’re losing our privacy. If you put it anywhere on the Internet, we can generalize and assume it’s eventually going to become public. In some cases, it’d be exactly what we want for things to rot— or maybe it’d be better to say:
In some cases, it’d be exactly what we want for things on the Internet to evaporate.
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And say while you are training yourself day after day, as you do here, not that you are pursuing philosophy (to claim that title would surely be pretentious), but that you are providing for your emancipation. For this is true freedom.
~ Epictetus
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Some time around 2005—if memory serves, which it probably doesn’t—I discovered the work and blogging of Merlin Mann. Back then, he was neck-deep in a project called 43 Folders: Time, Attention, and Creative Work. It’s self-described as, “[a] website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.” The first post there is dated 2004, and the last is gloriously frozen in place from 2011.
There are so many things to mention about that project. Ahhhhhhh, the halcyon days when we all thought “website” was a cool word. (I’m now in the “web site” encampment.) Mann is the guy who, for better [my opinion] or worse [many others’ option], brought “inbox zero” to everyone’s awareness. He also spent years experimenting with processes, and I went on a magical, multi-year journey experimenting with something called the “hipster PDA.” If forced to choose, I’d say Mann is the guy who most greatly influenced my process thinking.
There’s a phrase in cooking, mise en place, meaning to have everything in its proper place before starting. (The classic example of failure in this regard is to be half-way through making something only to realize you’re missing an ingredient and having to throw away the food.)
Well Mann is the guy who—in my opinion—has done the most to improve processes for knowledge workers and creative people. I’m not sure if he’s ever said it explicitly, but a huge part of what he did was to elevate knowledge workers and creatives by cultivating a mise en place mindset.
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Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,
~ William Shakespeare
So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Each changing place with that which goes before,
In sequent toil all forwards do content.
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But then I realized a larger, unsettling truth: Much of the food grown in this country isn’t the medicine it should—or used—to be. We’re collectively getting sicker, not healthier. And for others to have the same healing I was privileged to experience; we must start with the soil.
As a man named J.I. Rodale once said:
“Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People.”
~ Jeff Tkach from, Our Healing Begins in the Soil – Rodale Institute
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When you’re growing up, you don’t really notice where you are doing it. Your parents, (or legal guardian(s) or perhaps even the State,) chose where you were planted. Bereshith, you’re planted in a very tiny space, then gradually moved to progressively larger spaces with fewer physical boundaries. Until one day you realize there’s basically no one left telling you what to do nor where to do it. If you never really thought about it, and nothing forced you to move, you’re probably still close to that original very tiny space, and probably still close to the progressively larger spaces too.
Then one day—I really do hope—you start to wonder what’s happened before, in the wherever you are now. I’ve a litany of, “woa, that’s cool!” historical bits and pieces found in my surrounds. But that the idea of “organic”—all of it, the word, the principles, everything—originated with one guy, within walking distance of my home, that’s sort of amazing. Rodale, (the family members, and the eponymous companies,) have done a lot—some good, some bad—but I find it unsurprising they did it here, in the Lehigh Valley. There’s a lot this area has going for it.
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How does the creative process of hosting a podcast foster meaningful connections and insights for both the host and listeners?
The exchange examines the balance between preparation and spontaneity in meaningful dialogue.
The intention of the podcast was always just listening to flow. Let’s allow the creativity to flow through us. So now sometimes when we are so focused on our mind about what is next, what’s going to be said next, and planning ahead, we close ourselves to the possibility of allowing for the insights that can come from a deeper place, more wisdom that can bring more light to the conversation.
~ Claudia Velandia (1:46)
The conversation explores the creative dynamics of podcasting, emphasizing the role of flow and intentionality. Claudia describes how her podcast began as a way to capture the insightful, spontaneous conversations she shared with friends. Over time, the podcast evolved to include guests whose journeys provide value to listeners. She reflects on the challenges of staying present and resisting the urge to overly plan, as such planning can limit the emergence of deeper insights and wisdom.
Claudia shares how setting intentions before recording helps create an open and authentic environment. She discusses how mindfulness practices, such as meditating and grounding oneself, foster connection and creativity. The discussion also touches on broader themes of success, which Claudia defines as staying aligned with her purpose and enjoying the process. She emphasizes that even a single listener connecting with the podcast’s message makes the effort worthwhile, reinforcing her commitment to creating meaningful content.
Takeaways
The importance of flow in conversations — Allowing spontaneity and creativity to emerge can lead to deeper insights.
The role of intentionality — Setting clear intentions shapes the tone and outcome of interactions.
Staying present — Being mindful during a conversation creates a stronger connection with guests.
Evolving creative projects — Starting with personal inspiration can lead to broader engagement and impact.
Redefining success — Success can be measured by alignment with one’s values rather than external metrics.
Mindfulness practices — Techniques like meditation help in grounding and setting the stage for meaningful work.
The power of small audiences — Even reaching a single person meaningfully validates the effort of creation.
Resources
Wake Up: How to Get Out of Your Mind, Stop Living on Autopilot, and Start Choosing Your Best Life — A book written by the guest that reflects her approach to intentional living and personal development.
The Art of Living Podcast — The guest’s podcast exploring meaningful conversations and personal growth.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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