Joan Hanscom: Racing, Outreach, and Intense Passion →

Published September 25, 2021  ·  All posts on Sep 25  ·  

Joan Hanscom: Racing, outreach, and intense passion

What makes bike racing a unique and transformative experience for individuals and communities?

Bike racing is Joan Hanscom’s life; from racing for fun, to professionally organizing races, to running an entire bike racing organization, Joan has done it all. She talks about all things bike racing; from how she got started, to organizing, to the challenges facing women in the sport. Joan discusses her work at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, and the importance of outreach and the larger picture. She shares her insights on passion, training, podcasting, and what a career in the sport means to her.

As a person who’s had a career in bike racing since 2002, I was well versed in knowing what the velodrome was, and it was sort of an honor to be tasked with this role. If there’s one thing that I want the velodrome to be is, it’s fun, because that matters. But I also want it to be a place where little kids Pee Wee Pedalers, Squirts and Weebles Wobbles, all the way up to master’s racers, and everybody in between, elite or not, can come and have fun. To me, it’s a place where we can cultivate this lifelong enjoyment of the bike.

~ Joan Hanscom (20:53)

Joan Hanscom is a cyclist, podcast host, and the Executive Director at Valley Preferred Cycling Center. Her love of the sport helped her build a unique career in race promotion and production, working with organizations such as the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross, Cyclocross World Championships, and USA Cycling. Currently, Joan is the Executive Director of the Valley Preferred Cycling center in Trexlertown, Pa, and hosts the Talk of the T-Town podcast.

It’s the process. It’s the process, no matter what your pursuit is. If you are pursuing excellence in the ballet, it is repetition. It is absolutely repetition. The process of the ballet is every day, there’s a bar, there’s plies, there’s grand plies. There’s jete. It’s a repetition and it’s a process of perfection. Maybe ballet is skewed a little bit more towards perfection than other sports, but it is definitely a repetition and a process and a refinement that you do daily.

~ Joan Hanscom (42:50)

This conversation centers on the multifaceted world of cycling, highlighting its unique sensory and communal experiences. A core theme is the immersive nature of bike racing, from the visceral sounds and sights at the velodrome to the inclusive, community-focused atmosphere it fosters. Joan reflects on her lifelong passion for cycling, tracing it back to her childhood and describing how the sport bridges personal enjoyment and professional achievement. She shares her experiences in organizing races, engaging the local cycling community, and her work at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, aiming to create an inclusive space for all cyclists, from children to elite athletes.

Another key discussion point is the systemic challenges in the sport, especially regarding women’s participation. Joan outlines how structural gaps, like fewer racing categories and opportunities for women, make progression difficult. She emphasizes the need for investment in underserved groups, stressing that fostering diversity and inclusion can strengthen the sport and grow its community. Alongside these insights, Joan connects cycling to broader values of process, repetition, and community building, drawing parallels to other disciplines like ballet and movement practices.

(more…)

Another →

Published September 25, 2021  ·  All posts on Sep 25  ·  

The average man does not know what to do with his life, yet wants another one which lasts forever.

~ Anatole France

slip:4a603.

Feedback →

Published September 25, 2021  ·  All posts on Sep 25

One final note: say the obvious. Sometimes we might feel that something is obviously good or obviously wrong, and so we don’t say it. Or sometimes we might have a doubt that we don’t express because the question might sound stupid. Say it—that’s okay. You might have to reword it a little bit to make the reader feel more comfortable, but don’t hold it back. Good feedback is transparent, even when it may be obvious.

~ Erin Casali from, Asynchronous Design Critique: Giving Feedback – A List Apart

slip:4uaiai8.

If you are a human, and particularly if you ever interact with other humans, I think you’ll like this article by Casali. I’m a level-100 Technology Wizard with a sub-specialization in Explaining Things, and I found several insighs—e.g., “timing + attitude + form = respectful feedback”—that improved my integration of what I know about feedback.

ɕ

Longevity with Callum Powell →

Published September 24, 2021  ·  All posts on Sep 24  ·  

Longevity with Callum Powell

What insights can be gained from a 15-year journey with Parkour, including its challenges, influences, and personal growth?

Parkour becomes a lens to explore passion, longevity, and the evolution of personal practice.

The thing with Parkour, we don’t have enough money in our industry right now to care enough about rehab and pre-hab… strength and conditioning and everything.

~ Callum Powell (18:48)

The conversation focuses on Callum’s 15-year journey with Parkour, exploring how his passion has remained steadfast despite challenges. He discusses the balance between pursuing high-level skills and staying connected to the joy of movement. Injuries have played a significant role in shaping his approach, forcing him to listen to his body and adopt a more generalist mindset. This shift has led to a deeper appreciation for longevity and sustainability in practice.

Another key topic is the cultural and structural aspects of Parkour, including the lack of resources for injury prevention and recovery. Callum highlights his efforts to learn from other sports and share this knowledge with the Parkour community. Additionally, he reflect on the concepts of performance, play, and dedication, emphasizing the importance of adapting one’s goals over time to maintain passion and fulfillment.

(more…)

Intuition with Curtis Cates →

Published September 24, 2021  ·  All posts on Sep 24

What are the challenges and opportunities of using different formats, such as podcasting and blogging, to express ideas and connect with an audience?

The conversation explores the connection between intuition and art as a means of personal discovery.

There is an understanding there. But that’s where intuition comes in. Your intuition understands art better than your logical mind does.

~ Curtis Cates (15:00)

The conversation examines the intersection of creativity and personality, with a focus on how personal traits influence the ways we communicate ideas. It touches on the challenges of moving from blogging to podcasting, emphasizing how the written and spoken word require different skills and mindsets. The discussion highlights how preparation, such as scripting, can bridge this gap for certain personality types.

Another key topic is the appreciation of art and the role of intuition in understanding it. The conversation critiques the barriers imposed by overly academic interpretations of art and advocates for a more personal, intuitive connection. This theme extends into the broader idea of connecting to oneself and others through creative expression. Curtis also shares insights into his podcasts and how these projects intertwine with his personal journey.

(more…)

Exploration with Leekei Tang →

Published September 24, 2021  ·  All posts on Sep 24

How can podcasting be used as a tool for exploration and growth in both personal and professional contexts?

A birthday gift to herself leads to a journey of podcasting without predefined goals.

The fashion business is mostly visual, so [podcasting is] not a medium for the fashion industry and it’s still not… but there are people that are more advanced, like in any sector, looking for new things.

~ Leekei Tang (11:45)

The conversation explores how podcasting can be used as a tool for personal exploration and professional growth. Starting as a birthday gift to herself, Leekei shares how she embarked on a podcasting journey without a defined goal, allowing her curiosity to guide her process. She reflects on her interest in audio storytelling, stemming from her love of radio and recording, and describes podcasting as a medium that facilitates sharing and connecting through stories.

The discussion also highlights her unique approach to podcasting in the fashion industry. Instead of focusing solely on fashion-related content, Leekei interviews people from diverse fields to draw parallels and insights applicable to purpose-driven businesses. She emphasizes the challenges of introducing audio into a visually dominated industry while identifying a niche audience eager for fresh perspectives. The conversation underscores the importance of discovering innovation at the intersections of seemingly unrelated stories.

(more…)

Story with Diane Wyzga →

Published September 24, 2021  ·  All posts on Sep 24

What is the significance and impact of creating concise, structured storytelling through a podcast format?

A podcaster reflects on turning personal experiences into powerful 60-second stories.

The more that we compress what we want to say, how we want to say it into a shorter and shorter time structure, we have to be clear, concise, and cogent.

~ Diane Wyzga (6:45)

The discussion centers on the creative process and philosophy behind crafting 60-second podcast episodes. Diane explains how her journey began through a workshop led by Seth Godin, which emphasized immediate action and developing a podcast concept within strict time constraints. The format’s brevity requires clear, concise storytelling, which she uses to create meaningful content that resonates with listeners. The structure evolves into a system where episodes are themed by the day of the week, balancing lighthearted and reflective topics.

Themes of tension, vulnerability, and connection through storytelling are woven throughout the conversation. Diane emphasizes the importance of creating a space for listeners to reflect, engage, and see themselves in the narratives. She explores how constraints foster creativity and how storytelling, even in a brief format, can inspire change, provide comfort, and encourage introspection. The conversation concludes with reflections on the value of genuine dialogue and how it serves as a bridge for understanding.

(more…)

What did he trust in? →

Published September 24, 2021  ·  All posts on Sep 24  ·  

When Odysseus was shipwrecked and cast ashore … what did he trust in? Not in reputation, or riches, or office, but in his own strength, that is to say, in his judgements about what things are in our power and what are not. For these judgements alone are what make us free, make us immune from hinderance, raise the head of the humiliated, and make them look into the faces of the rich with unaverted eyes, and into the faces of tyrants.

~ Epictetus

slip:4a235.

Elevation →

Published September 24, 2021  ·  All posts on Sep 24

But it was the problem that mattered. It was the customer’s problem that needed fixing, not Charlie’s spiritual state. He took an ordinary thing and elevated it. That’s all. That’s all… In the real world, this is how it’s done.

~ David Essman from, «https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2021/06/09/take-something-ordinary-and-elevate-it/»

slip:4ugabo14.

Suppose I wanted to elevate the art of conversation. What don’t I know about conversations? (That’s not snark, but an actual question for myself.) Who is good at conversations? Who do the masses think is good, and who is objectively good? Actually, what if the art of conversation is just fine— fully elevated so to speak? What if I wanted to elevate others’ conversations to the highest level of the art? How would I do that? Would it be enough to sit in a tower and learn everything there is to know about the art? No, I think I would have to learn as much as possible and go out into the marketplace, (that’s a Diogenes reference,) and have as many conversations as possible. What if I tried to make each conversation intentional— pay attention to it, and try to learn something from each one? What would happen if you intentionally did that thousands of times?

I don’t know. Let’s find out.

ɕ

Listening with Kato McNickle →

Published September 23, 2021  ·  All posts on Sep 23

What insights and strategies from personal experiences can enhance podcast creation, audience engagement, and content sharing?

This conversation explores how passion transforms podcasting into a tool for connection and creative expression.

You begin with looking at the podcasts that you do love, listen to, or what is the kind of audio you enjoy consuming. But the next thing you need to do is start defining the difference between: okay I was in love with what it had to say, versus how did it bring me through and get me to understand what it had to say. So you’re looking at the mechanism.

~ Kato McNickle (13:20)

This conversation highlights how personal experiences, particularly in theater and storytelling, shape an individual’s approach to podcasting. Topics discussed include the interplay of soundscapes, rhythm, and emotional resonance in creating a compelling audio experience. Kato shares insights from directing films and plays, connecting those learnings to podcast production.

Another key theme is the importance of championing others and building genuine connections through shared interests. This approach is contrasted with traditional marketing methods, emphasizing the value of interaction and authenticity in promoting podcasts. Practical advice is offered for analyzing and improving podcast structures by examining admired examples and borrowing elements for creative reinterpretation.

(more…)