Our mission, as podcasters is to say “I don’t know” when that is the case, and even more importantly, to make our guests feel delighted to say they don’t know when that’s the case.
At the end of the day there’s an awful lot of what I do as an actor that I don’t necessarily understand – nor should I. One of the necessary evils of acting is doing an awful lot of interviews, which is interesting when you’re asked good questions but it can sometimes be mind-numbing. You feel like, “Why do I have to explain myself? I have nothing to say.” You’re not allowed to say, “I don’t know,” but you don’t always know why you did what you did.
Every time I talk about this subject caring people ask if I am okay. I am right now, thanks for asking. Someday, sooner or later, I won’t be; that’s the way the disease works. When that happens, I’ll ask for help. Please join me in that promise.
Every time I talk about this subject caring people ask if I am okay. I am right now, thanks for asking. Someday, sooner or later, I won’t be; that’s the way the disease works. When that happens, I’ll ask for help. Please join me in that promise.
While others may find beauty in endless dreams, warriors find it in reality, in awareness of limits, in making the most of what they have. […] Their awareness that their days are numbered—that they could die at any time—grounds them in reality. There are things they can never do, talents they will never have, lofty goals they will never reach; that hardly bothers them. Warriors focus on what they do have, the strengths that they do possess and that they must use creatively. Knowing when to slow down, to renew, to retrench, they outlast their opponents. They play for the long term.
People who came here from my old blog, http://www.popehat.com, will remember my long-time co-blogger and friend Patrick. Patrick, another irascible trial lawyer, wrote at Popehat for more than a decade. He shared our Twitter account for years, and went on to co-author the wickedly satirical @dprknews account and his own Twitter account @PresidentDawg. He died yesterday.
Dang! That’s a eulogy. You should read the whole thing. And you should follow all of White’s links from therein. I’ve been following White and Patrick and “Popehat” from the beginning and it’s every bit as awesome as White suggests in retrospect.
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.
Takeaways
Performance and play — The duality of structured skill progression and unstructured enjoyment enhances long-term practice.
Longevity in movement — A focus on listening to the body and adapting goals ensures sustainable engagement in Parkour.
Impact of injury — Challenges like back pain can lead to profound shifts in mindset and training philosophy.
Cultural growth — The Parkour community’s lack of resources for rehab and pre-hab presents opportunities for learning from other sports.
Role of identity — Letting go of peak-focused identities allows for more holistic and fulfilling movement experiences.
Sharing knowledge — Writing and teaching become powerful tools for giving back to the community.
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.
Takeaways
The role of personality types — The conversation discusses how introversion and extroversion affect creative work and interaction with audiences.
Differences in mediums — Challenges in transitioning from blogging to podcasting reveal key differences between written and spoken formats.
Art appreciation and intuition — The importance of intuition in understanding and enjoying art is emphasized, contrasting with academic approaches.
Connection to self through art — Art is presented as a means to explore and connect with one’s deepest self.
Preparation in podcasting — Scripting and structured preparation are identified as essential tools for certain creators.
Museums as a safe space — A personal connection to museums as comfortable and inspiring places is explored.
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.
Takeaways
Curiosity-driven podcasting — A podcast can start as a personal exploration with no specific goal.
Unconventional guest selection — Inviting guests from outside the industry enriches content with fresh perspectives.
Niche focus in a visual medium — Fashion remains a visual field, but niche audiences are open to exploring audio.
Storytelling techniques — Highlighting less-known aspects of a guest’s story adds value and uniqueness.
Intersection of ideas — Innovation often arises at the intersection of unrelated fields or perspectives.
Thematic connection for listeners — Structuring introductions helps audiences relate diverse topics to their interests.
Challenges of consistency — Regularly creating quality episodes demands time and effort, particularly in the learning phase.
Resources
David Nebinski — Mentioned as a leader in the Akimbo Podcast courses.
Seth Godin — Associated with the email that inspired her to start podcasting.
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.
Takeaways
The impact of constraints in storytelling — Compressing time and structure sharpens clarity and creativity in podcasting.
The evolution of a storytelling system — Structured themes for daily episodes enhance both creativity and consistency.
The role of vulnerability in content creation — Authenticity deepens the listener’s engagement and personal connection.
The universality of challenges — Sharing personal experiences fosters understanding and shared humanity.
The dynamic interplay of tension and structure — Tension, like in storytelling or material engineering, strengthens narratives and creates growth opportunities.
The importance of story as conversation — Storytelling bridges divides and connects people beyond transactional communication.
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.
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.
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?
A long time ago, a social studies teacher had been giving the same multiple-choice, high school, final exam, every year, for [as I recall the story] decades. The catch was two-fold: First, each year he cut the exam into strips separating each question. Yes, by hand, with scissors. He then shuffled the strips, scotch taped them onto a new sheet which did have sequential numbers on it already, and then ran it through the mimeograph machine. There was no way to create a “cheat sheet” for this exam based on previous years (even if we could have gotten a previous test.) Second, the test was insanely long; hundreds and hundreds of questions long. In fact, it was—intentionally—impossibly long.
When he graded the exams, he noted the total number of questions each student attempted. To be clear: He’d note the number of the last question you answered. So if one skipped around, you’re doomed since you definitely get wrong, the ones you didn’t even try to answer. So the incentive is to start at the beginning and just work straight through; recall, they’re totally shuffled. He then computed the average number attempted, and that average was used as the total possible points on the test. If you scored above the possible points (unlikely, but possible,) the points got added to your semester’s total points. (So if you score +2 on the final, the first extra point, brought up your 9/10 quiz score to 10/10. That second extra point brought a homework up from 5/7 to 6/7.)
Have you spotted how you game this system?
Bonus question: I regret what we did, (there were 3 of us.) But, can you tell me why I regret it?
Before you require a second factor to login to your accounts, you should understand the risks, have a recovery plan for when you lose your second factor(s), and know the tricks attackers may use to defeat two-factor authentication.
I repeat: Do not enable two-factor authentication until you understand how it works and what you are doing. You know who is usually locked out of your car, house, etc. right? You are!
This is a great article surveying a myriad of things you should consider before enabling two-factor security. Yes, it is more secure, but that means it is also more likely that you’ll lock yourself out, permanently.
So…
Are you currently really good at keeping track of passwords and security questions? Do you use a unique password for every service and web site? …are the answers to your security questions completely random things you made up and stored in your security system, or did you really use your easily-learned mother’s maiden name? …and is your “security system” not post-it’s on your monitor, but rather a real, secure, system?
And how about…
Do you have a system in place to give your beneficiaries access to your stuff—and ways to permanently lock-and-destroy things you don’t want passed along?
…if not, then turning on two-factor is not a good idea. You’re about to make things even more complicated when you are currently not doing the basic things well. Instead of blindly enabling two-factor authentication, you should move off of the bell curve and stop being an easy traget.
Step one: Learn how to use a password manager like 1Password or LastPass, and start using unique passwords.
It’s hard to convey the sheer scale of the rock faces in Red River Gorge. These photos are from the walk into the Middle Gorge. About 20 minutes of steep hiking, and suddenly these ~200 feet tall rock faces appear overhead through the trees.
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