On this day

May 16th

Interactive with Jeff Revilla

12 Hours Ago

What happens when podcasters leave the safety of their studios to record in front of a live audience?

A physical space changes how podcasters, guests, and audiences engage with the medium.

You could actually just get out of your comfort zone, do this thing that you do in your house— do it live at a park and just see what happens.

~ Jeff Revilla (33:02)

This conversation with Jeff Revilla centers on the creation and impact of a physical podcasting theater, which offers independent podcasters the opportunity to record in front of live audiences. We explore how the controlled, familiar environment of home studios contrasts with the dynamic, unpredictable energy of live performance. The discussion covers how live podcasting challenges hosts to let go of production control and embrace spontaneity, leading to new experiences both for them and their listeners.

The logistics of creating the theater space are discussed in detail, including sourcing materials on a budget and designing the space to be flexible and immersive. The benefits of such live recordings are explored from multiple angles: audience feedback, performance energy, and personal growth for podcasters. The conversation also touches on the potential for this model to spread to other cities, encouraging podcasters to seek out or create similar spaces using resources like parks, coffee shops, and libraries.

Takeaways

Getting out of the studio — Shifting from a home setup to a live environment introduces discomfort but creates richer experiences.

Designing live podcast spaces — Flexible theater design enables immersive, close-range audience experiences with podcast creators.

Building on DIY culture — The physical space is assembled with minimal cost and creativity, reflecting a do-it-yourself mindset.

Live audience engagement — Audience reactions offer immediate feedback and energy, unlike the delayed response of online downloads.

Performance dynamics — Mistakes are part of the experience, and audiences are generally more forgiving than podcasters expect.

Hosting in person — Podcasters experience personal and creative transformation by stepping into a live setting.

Reimagining podcast venues — Parks, libraries, and coffee shops can serve as accessible, low-cost venues for live podcasting.

Community activation — Live events create tangible moments that draw friends and family into direct support roles.

Local expansion — There’s a growing opportunity for similar spaces in other towns, creating regional performance circuits.

Monologue vs. conversation — Structured content often falls flat in a live setting; spontaneous conversation resonates more.

Hybrid event strategy — Combining livestreams with in-person seating balances reach and intimacy.

Emerging infrastructure — Mid-sized live venues can help prepare independent podcasters to scale toward larger performances.

Resources

Poduty — The dedicated podcast theater space created and operated for live in-person podcasting.

My Guest Tonight — Jeff Revilla’s podcast.

Poduty Live 2025 — The two-day live podcasting festival planned for the last weekend in September, streamed and staged in-person.

International Podcast Day — An annual celebration of podcasting referenced as part of the event timing.

Indie Pods United — An earlier initiative mentioned in connection with previous live streaming events. (No public web site, but has a presence on various social platforms.)

Todd Glass — A comedian whose ideas on theater design helped influence the speaker’s stage setup.

Marketing Over Coffee — A podcast noted for being recorded in coffee shops.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Which tools you pay for

1 Day Ago

In the most-recent Podcaster Community campfire we got to talking about what tools and services are we currently paying for as part of podcasting. So today I put up a simple post in a few places to ask just that.

It’s one thing to talk about what we prefer, it’s another for us to have voted with our dollars. Me?

  • Hindenburg Pro
  • Zencastr (for recording podcasts)
  • Zoom (for everything except recording podcasts)
  • Vimeo (for hosting streaming video for the Podcaster Community)
  • Discourse (for the Podcaster Community forum)
  • Calendly (for scheduling, integrated with all the complexity of my personal calendar)
  • Otter.ai (for all the various audio I need to transcribe— pod recordings via Zencastr come with a transcript)
  • Podmatch.com

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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.)

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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

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Awareness with Dori Fern

May 16, 2022

How can one effectively initiate and navigate meaningful conversations about race to foster understanding and progress?

Exploring the “messy middle” of personal change brings an unfiltered lens to life’s transformations.

A lot about this time in my life has been to move towards deeply important things where I think I can make a difference.

~ Dori Fern (29:52)

The conversation begins with reflections on a podcast project about navigating the “messy middle” of life transitions. This project explores the emotional and logistical challenges faced during significant changes, particularly focusing on authenticity and openness rather than expertise. Conversations also touch upon societal issues such as race and inclusion, emphasizing the need for candid dialogues to address personal biases and systemic inequities.

A significant part of the dialogue explores the challenges of initiating meaningful conversations about race. Dori recounts personal experiences, including the hypocrisy observed in progressive circles and the transformative impact of diverse friendships. These experiences inform a commitment to fostering understanding and purpose, particularly through confronting difficult topics and engaging with varied perspectives.

Takeaways

Moving towards purpose — Emphasizing the importance of focusing on deeply meaningful issues in middle age.

Confronting hypocrisy — Highlighting the gap between progressive ideals and lived actions in liberal spaces.

Navigating the “messy middle” — Acknowledging the challenges of life transitions and exploring them authentically.

Engaging diverse perspectives — Understanding the value of diverse friendships in broadening one’s worldview.

Creating space for conversation — Identifying strategies to initiate and sustain meaningful dialogues on race.

Recognizing systemic structures — Critiquing the pervasive impact of whiteness in societal norms and education.

Acknowledging friendship dynamics — Exploring how race conversations can shift long-standing friendships.

Addressing fear and exclusion — Understanding the role of fear in resisting inclusivity and progress.

Resources

Life-Changing with Dori Fern — A podcast focusing on life transitions and navigating change.

Co-op City — A historically significant housing complex in the Bronx, showcasing diverse urban living.

Soho House panel discussion — A notable event featuring Bomani Jones, discussing race-related themes.

Bomani Jones — Sports journalist and commentator frequently addressing race and culture.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Balance with Sam Sweet and Ben Klein

May 16, 2022

Balance – with Sam Sweet and Ben Klein

What unique insights and experiences do practitioners of partner acrobatics and group acrobatics share about their journey, techniques, and community-building?

Partner acrobatics is a very deep discipline where you can get into very, very advanced poses that take a long time. […] I’d say it’s got a very friendly start to the learning curve. And then it gets harder from there.

~ Ben Klein (2:11)

Partner acrobatics offers a unique blend of trust, technique, and teamwork rarely found in solo practices.

The mental game of acrobatics, partner acrobatics specifically, is something that I struggle with because I had a stronger… solo practice when I was younger.

~ Sam Sweet (6:17)

The conversation explores the unique aspects of partner and group acrobatics. The discussion highlights the discipline’s friendly learning curve, allowing beginners to perform seemingly advanced maneuvers quickly. Sam and Ben emphasize the mental challenges, such as overcoming fear and adapting to being upside down or off-balance. The dynamics of partnership require trust, communication, and synchronization between participants.

Another major theme is the difference between solo and group movement practices. Group acrobatics introduces challenges of collaboration and safety, especially when multiple participants form complex structures. Ben and Sam also describe the cultural and community aspects of acrobatics, showcasing the blend of creativity, interpersonal skills, and physical strength required in these practices.

Takeaways

Trust and communication — essential for both partner and group acrobatics.
Learning curve — beginners can quickly progress to advanced-looking movements.

Mental challenges — balancing requires overcoming fear and adapting to new orientations.

Dynamic relationships — each participant’s role in acrobatics shifts based on the trick.

Collaboration in groups — adds complexity to movements and communication.

Acrobatic diversity — encompasses elements of dance, yoga, and solo hand balancing.

Cultural aspects — fosters a close-knit, supportive community.
Interpersonal skills — crucial for successful partnerships in movement.

Resources

Cosmic Fit Club — a hub for movement practice and aerial training.

Move NYC Event — a movement-focused event with sessions in acrobatics and parkour, organized by The Movement Creative.

Cosmic Fit Club @cosmicfitclub — updates and insights into acrobatics and classes.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Chesterton’s Fence

May 16, 2022

As simple as Chesterton’s Fence is as a principle, it teaches us an important lesson. Many of the problems we face in life occur when we intervene with systems without an awareness of what the consequences could be. We can easily forget that this applies to subtraction as much as to addition.

~ Shane Parrish from, Chesterton’s Fence: A Lesson in Thinking

I’m going to ‘fess up and say that I don’t recall ever hearing of “Chesterton’s Fence.” If you too just went, “who’s what?” then do check out that article.

That said, I’m nervously thinking everything about it—his fence, that article—seems obvious to me. Not simple, but obvious. Any time I find myself with such thinking, rather than stand on my megalomaniac soap box and yell at “those kids”, I instead begin searching for a clear reason for why I know, what I am claiming seems obvious.

In this case, the knowledge comes from learning systems thinking. Somewhere along my way I learned to think about everything as systems of things. I’m always trying to see how this thing is related to, dependent on, and causative of, some other things. Somewhere along my way I found Chesterton’s fence, (but the fence system didn’t include long-term planning for owner identification and so the fence I apparently found wasn’t labeled.)

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Deciding is the easy part

May 16, 2021

So recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to use it less. About how to get the benefits from the technology without all the downsides.

~ Ryan Holiday from, A Radical Guide to Spending Less Time on Your Phone

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Hey, thanks for deciding to receive this not-so-little email from me each week.

Did you notice how easy it was to decide to get this additional, new interruption? My web site is friendly, the form is friendly, dear Friend all you have to do is put your email in this form . . . But if you decide to leave this weekly email? Well, first you have to have one of the emails in front of you, then scroll down and find the unsubscribe link at the bottom, click that, etc. It’s not much harder than joining, but it is just a little bit harder.

Let’s say you decide—after reading Holiday’s post or this post or that post—to clear the home screen of your phone, (not the lock screen, but the first screen you see after unlocking.) Have you tried to do that? It’s difficult. First you have to manually move those apps, one by one, to other pages… Then you have to keep up with that if your phone throws new apps on that nice clean screen. You have to change how you launch apps; If you simply swipe and find the app, well, that’s going to become a new default habit: Unlock-phone-and-swipe-right will be muscle-memory in a day. To make the blank home-screen useful, you have to also get in the habit of using your phone’s search to launch exactly the app you opened the phone for in the first place. But that is quickly learned by your phone. You have to go in and adjust search settings so that when the search input is blank, it doesn’t suggest the apps you often use. Otherwise the search screen will become just another screen of app icons you’ll tap on via muscle-memory. The phone is designed to try to help, so it’ll feed you a new habit. Then a notification pops up. And you want to disable those, so you have to dive into settings… And get used to telling apps, “no notifications” when they first ask. And then something will break… like suddenly Google Maps can’t use “Siri” so it doesn’t work in Car Play. (Me: “Wait. Wat?”)

It’s not just with fiddly phones. Decide you don’t want to watch Netflix. …but, movie date-night with the spouse is a legit thing we want to do now and then. Decide you want to only own one car. Decide you want to grow some food in a garden. Decide you want to make a few new friends. Decide you don’t want your phone ringing.

My friends, deciding is the easy part. The hard part is doing the really complicated, detail-oriented, 57-step planning, and 2 hours of fiddling, (or days of labor or thousands of dollars in expense,) figuring out how to make the change, how to keep the change in place, and even how to figure out in advance what things depend on the thing you’re deciding to change.

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Not spinning out of control

May 16, 2020

Because, like you, like seemingly everybody, I have also felt as though the world is spinning out of control and there’s nothing we can do about it. I’m exhausted from all the stories of shootings and attacks and bombs and the constant stream of awful stuff that is happening out there. I, too, feel desensitized and dejected from the seemingly constant carnage raging across the planet.

~ Mark Manson from, The Paradox of Progress

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There was a period of time when I felt that the world was spinning out of control. It is not.

Over a couple decades, as I spent less time on dysfunctional social networks, less time on instant gratification, less time on consuming mindless media, less time on bite-sized tripe posing as information, less time on pre-digested opinions… Well, over a couple decades I’ve come to realize that humanity is awesome. Sure, we progress in fits and starts, with setbacks small and large scattered about. But progress we do none the less!

If you see an issue that you think needs addressing, then please do set about affecting change. But do so sans hysteria, sans hyperbole, sans click-baity mindless louder-just-to-get-attention fluff.

The way you make the whole world better is to make one piece of it better; Then repeat.

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Dietary protein increases lean mass

May 16, 2015

(Part 19 of 25 in series, M. Eades' Blog)

I know that many female readers will not want to gain extra muscle.  They shouldn’t worry, however, because in the absence of exogenous anabolic steroids women won’t become ‘muscle bound’ or non-feminine appearing.  What generally happens is that the muscle replaces fat within the muscle.  We’ve all seen marbling in beef, which is fat within the muscle tissue.  With the extra protein, new muscle replaces this fat, and the muscle may even become a little smaller in females while at the same time becoming more dense and stronger.

~ Michael Eades from, «http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/weight-loss/dietary-protein-increases-lean-mass/»

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First, be okay with yourself

May 16, 2013

All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.

~ Blaise Pascal from, Pensées

There are many advantages to having some time alone, (while doing nothing,) each day. Not least of which is some inoculation against the disease of needing to be constantly distracted and entertained.

If you immediately fall asleep when sitting alone, excellent! Your body was trying to tell you it needed sleep, and you weren’t listening. Come back when you’ve finished your cat-nap.

…back? Refreshed?

If meditation seems inconceivable… If the idea of being alone, doing nothing, makes your skin crawl… then start with doing things alone, and work up from there.

You, like many people, might get stuck on the idea that being alone is like having some sort of disease—even if you’re the kind of person that prefers being alone. You might skip movies in the theater if you have to attend in solitude. Or maybe you criticize yourself for eating lunch at your desks instead of with coworkers or friends. Perhaps you spend too much of our time out with others because you just don’t know what to do when you’re by yourself. With a little work, however, you can make your alone time much more productive.

~ Adam Dachis from, How to Use Your Alone Time More Productively (and Actually Enjoy It)

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