On this day

June 17th

Connection with Lindsay McMahon →

Published June 17

How does a podcast serving millions still make each listener feel personally connected?

Discover why “connection, not perfection” became the north star for one of the world’s most-listened-to language shows.

[Do you ever freak-out thinking about 200,000 people listening?] I think that our vision of the human connection is still so strong inside me, that I think about that. I think about that listener who might feel isolated right now because of language. They’re either living in the US and they’re struggling to get connected in their community, or they’re on a call from Japan to New York and they’re cringing because they think they just said the wrong thing and they’re not building the business relationship.

~ Lindsay McMahon (19:00)

This conversation with Lindsay McMahon explores the strategic structure and guiding values behind one of the most successful podcasts for English language learners. Lindsay discusses how the show’s consistency in structure, length, and tone builds trust and supports learning. The format was intentionally designed from the beginning, and every episode follows a clear template. The recurring message, “connection, not perfection,” drives the brand and resonates deeply with listeners around the world. The show targets global English learners, particularly professionals, and publishes five days a week, delivering a sense of reliability and approachability.

Lindsay shares her team-building strategy, including how co-hosts are hired, trained, and retained. She emphasizes treating podcasting as a business (for example, offering benefits like 401(k) matching), which contributes to long-term team cohesion. The show’s monetization model is also discussed, covering courses, sponsorships, licensing, and Apple+ subscriptions. The team uses lead magnets (like quizzes), and consistent calls to action are embedded in every episode. Additional topics include burnout, managing production buffers, and ambitions to expand into live events and podcast coaching.

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Path of least resistance →

Published June 17

Sunday morning was cool, misty and overcast. I was sitting on the patio with a cup of coffee and thought: “The lawn needs mowing.”

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How do you finish with it? →

Published June 17, 2024  ·  

Was the project worthy of us? Was it ours alone, in the sense that we were writing from our own gift … and in the face of our own fears? Did we live up to the goddess’s expectations of us? Did we live up to our own? Did we give it all we had?

There are no spotlights in the writer’s life. There’s no moment of acclamation as we tap in a putt on the 72nd green. Our moment is private. When I wrap a book, a lot of times I won’t even tell anybody.

This is self-evaluation. Self-reinforcement. Self-validation.

~ Steven Pressfield from, Writing Wednesdays: Finishing

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As usual, Pressfield is talking about writing and writers. But it made me think about how I finish with an episode…

It occurs to me that the very last things I do, are social media posts, and usual a final “hey thanks, it’s published” to the guest. I’m left [after reading pressfield’s post] wondering if I could re-imagine being done to be something I enjoy… some way to put a positive “done!” on the end.

What might that be? …maybe I print a copy of the episode notes and put it on a pile, or in a binder. …or some other way to create a visible “there’s the stuff that’s done!”

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The mind →

Published June 17, 2024  ·  

The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.

~ Milton

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Just time →

Published June 17, 2023  ·  ,

[I]t has been said that time is money. That proverb understates the case. Time is a great deal more than money. If you have time you can obtain money—usually. But though you have the wealth of a cloak-room attendant at the Carlton Hotel, you cannot buy yourself a minute more time than I have, or the cat by the fire has.

~ Arnold Bennett

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Longevity with Bryce Clarke →

Published June 17, 2022  ·  

Longevity – with Bryce Clarke

How is Parkour evolving as a practice and community in New York City and beyond?

New York City’s architecture naturally creates countless Parkour challenges waiting to be discovered.

The way that these kids will surpass us one day is going to be amazing.

~ Bryce Clarke (8:48)

The conversation explores the evolution of Parkour as both a practice and a community in New York City. Bryce reflects on how the city’s architecture and public spaces, including playgrounds and scaffolding, provide natural challenges for practitioners. He highlights how grassroots initiatives like Parkour NYC aim to foster community engagement, create awareness, and secure dedicated spaces for training. This effort has led to the development of new Parkour parks and increased recognition of the discipline.

The discussion also touches on the generational progression in Parkour, noting that younger practitioners are starting earlier and achieving greater proficiency. There is optimism that normalization will create opportunities, such as coaching careers and safer training environments. Despite commercialization, the essence of Parkour as an exploratory and inclusive activity remains intact, fueled by shared passion and innovation within the community.

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Skill →

Published June 17, 2022  ·  ,

Skill is earned. It’s learned and practiced and hard-won. It’s insulting to call a professional talented. She’s skilled, first and foremost. Many people have talent, but only a few care enough to show up fully, to earn their skill. Skill is rarer than talent. Skill is earned. Skill is available to anyone who cares enough.

~ Seth Godin

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Three habits →

Published June 17, 2022  ·  

The thing about really deep learning is it actually changes the structure of your brain. You are breaking an old pathway and creating a new neurological pathway. […] The three habits I’ve talked about—seeing in systems, taking multiple perspectives and asking different questions. Those are the natural habits of people who are farther along in this adult development path. If we can encourage ourselves to develop some of those patterns in ourselves, and we can be learning those things in ways that create new neural networks, then suddenly, we are living our way into these more advanced forms of development as we are just going about our daily lives.

~ Jennifer Garvey Berger from ~1h 13m into, The Mental Habits of Effective Leaders with; transcript edited for clarity; The Mental Habits of Effective Leaders: My Interview with Jennifer Garvey Berger

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This episode from Shane Parrish’s, The Knowledge Project, podcast is excellent. About two-thirds of the way through the 90 minutes, they start going really deep into mental habits including specifics of how to change one’s mindset. The title of the episode could well be expanded to, …of Effective People.

I’ve been asked how it is that I do what I do, in podcast conversations. Here Berger and Parrish have explained it; Frankly, I better understand how I do it, now having listened to Berger. These three habits she points out are the magic that I use to power my conversations. I’ve always had the habit—my parents would say, “to a fault”—of asking good questions. About 35 years ago, when I became immersed in engineering, physics, computers, and the Internet I perfected the habit—here I would say, “to a fault”—of thinking in systems. And 10 years ago, as I began my journey rediscovering my personal movement, I realized the magnificent knowledge and experience available to me through others’ perspectives.

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Breath with Nadine Kelly →

Published June 17, 2021

How does proper breathing and posture enhance the podcasting experience and overall well-being?

Confidence and focus emerge from the synergy of upright posture and mindful breathing.

Not only does sitting up nice and tall, or standing nice and tall, benefit your posture, it increases your focus. It’s just good physically. It’s good mentally. It’s good energetically.

~ Nadine Kelly (13:11)

The conversation focuses on the intersections between breathing techniques, posture, and podcasting. It examines how intentional breathing can diminish nervousness, enhance clarity, and improve vocal performance during recording. The importance of proper posture is emphasized, highlighting its benefits for focus, physical alignment, and the quality of breath. Visualizations, such as the “teardrop-shaped balloon,” are introduced as aids for more effective breathing.

The discussion also touches on the role of physical habits and preparation, such as maintaining energy through morning workouts and arranging a workspace conducive to calmness and productivity. Nadine shares insights into crafting moments in podcasting that allow listeners to process heavy topics, underlining the subtle power of breath and pauses to connect with an audience emotionally and physiologically.

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Audience with Elisa Graf →

Published June 17, 2021

How can podcasters understand and utilize statistics, engagement strategies, and listener feedback to improve their shows?

Podcasting statistics spark a deep discussion on what truly matters in creating a meaningful show.

It’s amazing, really, the whole idea— This medium of finding your voice, and then putting something that you really care about out there in the world, and having it have its own life.

~ Elisa Graf (12:41)

The conversation explores various aspects of podcasting, starting with the motivations and themes behind creating a show. Insights are shared about producing content that showcases transcendent stories and meaningful encounters. Discussions include how podcast statistics can both aid and distract podcasters, revealing what metrics are most relevant depending on the goals of the show.

Engagement strategies and experiments are highlighted, such as leveraging social media platforms and featuring specific guests, to boost listener interaction. Personal feedback from listeners is recognized as a rewarding outcome, affirming the value of creating authentic and impactful content. The broader topic of maintaining motivation and balancing analytics with creative passion is also discussed.

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Expectations →

Published June 17, 2021  ·  ,

When you start something, don’t raise other people’s expectations. What is highly praised seldom measures up to expectations. Reality never catches up to imagination. It is easy to imagine something is perfect, and difficult to achieve it. […] Honorable beginnings should serve to awaken curiosity, not to heighten people’s expectations. We are much better off when reality surpasses our expectations, and something turns out better than we thought it would.

~ Baltasar Gracián

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Cordelia Storm | Creating Community & Workability with Your Staff →

Published June 17, 2020

On Castbox.fm — Cordelia Storm | Creating Community & Workability with Your Staff

How can leaders foster better communication and cultivate a healthy, effective team culture?

Effective leadership often starts with recognizing and challenging the automatic stories you tell yourself about others.

People’s concerns will tell you their commitments… People’s concerns are usually the pathway to understanding what they care deeply about.

~ Cordelia Storm (15:56)

The conversation explores the importance of reframing assumptions and biases that arise when working with teams or communities. One central theme is the way automatic labeling can create subtle divisions, which negatively impact collaboration. Addressing these issues through open communication and radical honesty can restore relationships and foster a healthier team dynamic.

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on creating a culture that encourages curiosity and trust. The conversation also touches on leadership development, using Parkour as an analogy for overcoming obstacles in communication and management. Additionally, there is a focus on larger cultural issues, such as using movement practices to address senior fall prevention.

Takeaways

Listening deeply — How reframing stories and assumptions about others can shape relationships and team dynamics.

Curiosity in relationships — Labeling people reduces curiosity and prevents deeper collaboration.

Commitments through concerns — People’s concerns often point to their deeper commitments and values.

Leadership development — Leadership programs can foster greater self-awareness and trust in teams.

Movement culture — Parkour principles can extend into everyday life, influencing communication and public health.

Resources

Cordelia Storm @coryjumps — Cordelia’s Instagram account.

Parkour Visions — A Parkour coaching organization where Cordelia Storm works as Program Director.

Art of Retreat — The Parkour leadership and education retreat where the conversation took place.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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What’s next? →

Published June 17, 2020

It is fascinating that whenever two or more are responsible for something, usually nobody is.

~ David Allen from, Why things don’t get done

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The “doing” is always the easy part. How do you build an awesome wall? You place the first brick, then the next. Placing a brick is easy. The hard part is sitting down and imagining all the things that have to happen first—and realizing that the first step is to search online to find out where I can go look at bricks; Because I need to pick bricks first. I often get pushback when I ask people, “what’s the next action?” or “What’s the first step?” I get pushback because most people aren’t used to thinking about how to do things before they start. I mean really thinking about things, about what’s required to get things done, and what exactly does done look like?

We’ve been trained that if we’re the last one holding the hot potato, we get in trouble at the end. Once I create an environment where responsibility always comes with empowerment, resources, support, and, (if needed,) commiseration, then people can relax and think.

Also, put a date on that next action. No date? No commitment.

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Eyes half-closed →

Published June 17, 2016  ·  

Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half-closed afterwards.

~ unknown

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Honestly mistaken →

Published June 17, 2015  ·  ,

When an honest man discovers he is mistaken, he will either cease being mistaken, or cease being honest.

~ unknown

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A most sincere thank you →

Published June 17, 2014  ·  ,

This entry is part 7 of 72 in the series My Journey

Two years ago today, I showed up at Wescosville Elementary at 4pm and tried parkour. A very big thank you to everyone ( Adam, Josh, Joseph, and Miguel in particular) who has been friendly, happy, and encouraging these last two years. This week I will be attempting the ADAPT 1 certification; I could not have accomplished what I have without all the help from the wonderful men and women of lehigh valley parkour. “allez, allez!”

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Star Wars machete order →

Published June 17, 2013

Should you watch the Star Wars movies in numerical order, or released order? Neither – Use machete order: IV, V, II, III, VI

The Star Wars Saga: Introducing Machete Order » Rod Hilton

There are two obvious options for watching the Star Wars saga.

  • Release Order – Watch the films in the order they came out, recreating your experience with the films for someone new to them.
  • Episode Order – Watch the films in the order George Lucas intends, starting with Episode I and going straight through to Episode VI

There are two critical flaws with both of these orders, unfortunately, that prevent either from being appropriate.

~ Rod Hilton from, The Star Wars Saga: Introducing Machete Order

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Turns out both of those options suck.

Numerical order, (as Lucas’ suggests,) wrecks the greatest movie reveal in history by spending 3 movies explaining it. And release order is also no good because… well… go. read. machete. order.

Seriously. I can’t do Rod’s article justice without quoting the whole thing.

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