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Showing posts from November, 2017

#podtheme, Supplements / Fasting

So this topic is always of interest. Funny enough some think that unless you're an elite performer Supplements are an expensive expenditure with shaky ROI. However, I always find it fascinating. I think my first exposure beyond the Four Hour Work Week was a School of Greatness interview with Dr. Amen, ever since and as a Crossfit regular I always had my ears open. Good old Lewis Howes, just the right amount of let a talker talk...I listened to this episode two times, bought the book and recognized that actually some things in the interview don't appear in the book. https://lewishowes.com/podcast/h-dr-gundry/ Here is the School of Greatness Episode with Dr. Amen. https://lewishowes.com/podcast/dr-amen/ When Kevin Rose relaunched his podcast to tackle conversations in tech, biohacking, etc it was no surprise he chose Dr. Rhonda Patrick as his first guest. Holy cow, she knows everything and explains it with ease...even if it remains above your head. https://www.kevinrose...

#podtheme, Music

There are some great shows about music Planet Money did an extensive behind the scenes look at the costs to create a number one hit. https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/07/05/137530847/how-much-does-it-cost-to-make-a-hit-song Just a general good show about music, I almost walked into traffic and got flatened by a London double decker thanks to their SXSW show and the discovery of Tuneyards...when you hear it for the first time on headphones,...man can't replace that http://www.soundopinions.org/ This episode of Revisionist History shows the legend of a good songwriter, and how the perfect version transends them. http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/07-hallelujah Radiolab and the legend of the Blues http://www.radiolab.org/story/199705-crossroads/ http://www.radiolab.org/story/letting-devil-tune-your-guitar/ If you ever dismissed country music http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/16-the-king-of-tears

#podtheme, Fashion

So if you remember the scene in Devil wears Prada where, she goes ..."what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns..." Well there is more to this story... 99 percent invisible did an amazing show about the preselection of fashion, on trend means there needs to be consensus...and not from the public. https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-trend-forecast/ Also a fun episode from Planet Money tracing the endless supply chain to make a T Shirt...and man I wish I would have bought the "Animals Spirits" shirt back in the day. https://www.npr.org/2013/12/02/248151300/planet-money-explores-the-economics-of-t-shirts

#podtheme, Entrepreneurship 101

First, the whole How I Built This catalogue should be required listening for an entrepreneur. There are then podcast like FailOn by Rob Nunnery that get under the hood a bit in a laid back and vulnerable discussion with people with successes and failures. This interview with the CEO of Starbucks shows its a long road. https://one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId=551874532:554086519 The How I Built this With Ben and Jerry's founders shows the step by step process they took, they didn't fast forward they took time in envisioning a plan, then invested time in executing it. https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=562899429 This interview with Former Starbucks President Howard Behar shows you that character can still exists in a fortune 500 company. http://www.pivotmethod.com/podcast/truth This interview with Jayson Gaignard, offers sincerity in the reflection of a man on the edge. One of the best podcasts I've listened to. http://communitymade.com/epi...

#podtheme, Food

Tropickle and other podcast adventures in food. Walmart's newest foray into food development and licensure. https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=564963483 What do you get when a storyteller like Malcolm Gladwell obsesses over French Fries for one hour...really damn hungry. http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/19-mcdonalds-broke-my-heart The battle between slow food and the future of food by Freakonomics. http://freakonomics.com/podcast/eating-and-tweeting-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/ Here is the flip side of Nathan Myhrvold's Intellectual Ventures (non-food related). https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/441/when-patents-attack This is a crazy history of Cheese in Switzerland, trust me. https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=485000196 When looking at the worlds increased appetite for cocoa beans, its crazy the extent required to tip the balance. https://www.npr.org/2015/02/19/3874207...

#podtheme, Charity

Funny enough in a recent interview about Bitcoin, they mentioned the effects it might on effectively distributing money to charities. Thus in addition to this I recalled a couple other Charity centric podcast. This podcast is entirely about Bitcoin, but 3/4 they touch on the lasting effects of Bitcoin, including positive disruption in charity compensation and distribution. https://www.kevinrose.com/single-post/andreas-antonopolous This interview with Lewis Howes and the founder of Charity Water really impacted me. It made me want to gift my birthday...Hell maybe this year I will. https://lewishowes.com/podcast/scott-harrison/ Freakonomics had a great take on poverty and microloans. http://freakonomics.com/podcast/fighting-poverty-with-actual-evidence-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/

#podtheme, Bitcoin

Long ago walking along Lake Constance in Germany I listened to a planet money podcast about Bitcoin. It was entertaining and pointed out the tumultuous ride. And even though the roller coaster has continued, WOW, don't I wish I had bought some bitcoin then. But what's interesting, is behind the actual investment material is the disruption that is brought with it. Here are some interesting podcast over the years. I would note as well, I've been avoiding Bitcoin podcast, but finally gave in. Damn you Tim Ferriss and your band of Eustress generating inspiring innovators. Kevin Rose Show This interview is DEEP. But it really educates you and also points out quick or lengthy resources to tap into. This is probably the greatest investment you can make right now...the actual understanding of the technology. When it truly shifts, you want to jump in and understand what the hell is going on. https://www.kevinrose.com/single-post/andreas-antonopolous Becoming Superhuman podcas...

Captain Obvious, some time savers

1. Use spacebar to pause Youtube video. 2. Count in pairs 3. Use spacebar to scroll down on webpage. 4. Use speak selection to listen to any email, text, or web based article while doing the dishes for example. 5. Use dictate to write your messages, you speak at 2x the speed of typing, BUT proofread before sending. 6. Grammarly 7. Apple Split View, Hold down the full-screen button in the upper-left corner of a window. Move it to either side.

Its simple. GTD.

In June 2017 I finally buckled down and listened to a podcast between one of my favorites Jonathan Levi and David Allen, someone he mentioned to Chris Bailey as trying really hard to get on the pocast. What an amazing interview, the approach was simple yet profound. I had encountered GTD on a plane flight many moons ago, between 2008-2011. But I didn't think much of the book, I was enjoying 4 Hour work week, but wasn't swimming in productivity streams just yet. As I've listened to 13 interviews with Chris Bailey , the fact that GTD is still his favorite book holds some weight. However, I assumed the book might be antiquated. it is 15 years old. I can reread How to win friends, but 7 habits feels dated. Thus, I've pretty much dismissed it no matter how strong the endorsement. But, with that change in mindset post podcast, I'm a full-fledged convert. I'm sorting out my life a bit, so waiting for the summer to actually read and reread but here is my initial ...

The Disney language learning hack

So for the poor insufferable parents who've endured Frozen or Maona, here is the silver lining. I met a fellow American in Paris, whose son was stuck on Moana recently. Of course, the songs popped in my head and it reminded me of this phenomenal video showing "How Far I'll Go" and the lyrics are sung across the globe, but in each country's own language. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g29Wg4oyek Then it struck me. DISNEY = KIDS = SMALL BITES = LANGUAGE LEARNING HACK. I'm now going to put AppleTV/Netflix to good use, and start watching some Disney flicks in French. I will let you know the success, but what's the harm...you already know the plot, probably the lyrics and maybe even the dialogue. Another thing I noticed was watching Narcos in a foreign language. When staying at my In-laws we stumbled on Narcos and it was a fun way to unwind and for my father in law to relive his Spanish speaking glory days. However, this meant I was watching a show...

Duke Ellington and the 1% rule

“What I do tomorrow will be the best thing I’ve ever done.” - Duke Ellington I recently listened to the Kara Swisher interview of Tim Ferriss, Decode / Recode. I heard Tim Ferriss repeat that he lives his life in 6 month experiments with daily/weekly improvement. I've heard this before, similar to listening to 8 Chris Bailey interviews and noticing he mentioned GTD 8 times, and I ignored it 7 times. So Mr. Ferriss also mentioned that "If depression is being stuck in the past, Anxiety is being stuck in the future". Man, I'm not one to get depressed, mood swings ok, but Anxiety lately is killing me. I have aspirations to follow the FI blueprint, but it feels a million miles away. Depression is linked to entrepreneurs, I have to dig up the article. Thus, take it daily/weekly with only 6 months on the horizon. If you have that attitude, try to be 1% better everyday (James Altucher among others), then Duke is right tomorrow will be the best thing you’ve d...

Tropickle, we are indeed in a pickle

It is interesting, in an age of information overload. We are also watching our choices spiral out of control. I love Snickers, and actually, think Hazelnut Snickers is a stroke of genius for Nutella lovers. However, after hearing a recent Planet money podcast episode about Tropickles from Walmart and watching The Minimalist, coincidently that same night. We are at a turning point. Frugal FI'ers who defy logic and retire early are a minority, and I think will remain so. Minimalist will also be a freak fringe. Consumers are a product and aren't going to find an antidote soon. If companies indeed start inventing new foods just to get us in the shops, Fast Fashion has transcended beyond. Ironic that clothes have insanely diminishing value these days. But what about pop food, it will be a new fad that isn't fully consumed and reaches the dump quicker that our taste buds adapt to a hybrid of unnatural colors, flavors and smells (this exists already, I'm not naive). But...

Swipe on the left, to save fractions of second

So, I observed that every time I swiped down my iPhone (browsing LinkedIn or the like), I naturally use the field to the right of the center of the screen. If I swiped on the left of center, could this save time everytime I click LIKE? Simple things like this compound, kind of like people who still enter six digits to unlock an iPhone. And for the next generation, Face ID... https://9to5mac.com/2017/11/01/face-id-versus-touch-id-speed/

newsletters, there is not such thing as free

I recently went on the website for the Arab World Institute, an architectural marvel. Immediately there was a pop up for a Newsletter subscription,...thank you, Dean Jackson (whom I love you by the way). I simply clicked no and let it go. But...It got me thinking. Then on my phone, I got an email from the train company for cheaper holiday travel. Sure, I might save a little money, but how much time is it costing me to monitor the weekly emails from the train company. If a Newsletter is free, then it means my attention devoted to the newsletter is a cheap compromise. Am I selling myself short? If we use thee Rory Vayden principle of Money Value of Time (MVOT), and it takes up to 15 minutes to regain your focus after a distraction. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/rory-vaden/money-value-of-time_b_4453136.html Newsletters are costing you how much? Sure, you might miss an opportunity to save a little, but does it offset your finite resource time. The opportunity c...

Never to early to enhance your memory

On Sunday we watched a movie called Leap!, the main character is a girl named Félicie who goes by a pseudonym most of the film. Later that night my daughter and I tried to recall the name Félicie, but as it's very uncommon name it escaped us, and we both just let it go. The next morning while eating breakfast I asked my daughter a question and no response. Then she said, "sorry Daddy, I was lost in my head". two seconds later, "Daddy you know what, the girl in the film was called Felisie, you know because it's easy". Even though she is at a montesorri school I highly doubt they are teaching pnyemonic memory technics. This little moment blew me away. I'm not sure if its common at the age of 5 to identify pnemonic devices to remember information, but I think it should be encouraged.

Tomorrow Prep & The Checklist Manifesto

AIM : Create a nightly routine to eliminate decision fatigue for routine morning tasks. A couple years ago I noticed that my father would get up from the living room around 9:30 (mid TV program a the commercial break) and started fussing around in the kitchen, then he would take the dog for a spin and wind down for bed. I didn't think much of it until I started embracing the hack of setting up tomorrow the night before. The book, The Checklist Manifesto was mentioned a couple times, on The Tim Ferriss Show by Malcolm Gladwell and Ramit Sethi. I read the book in 2016 and adopted the idea of implementing a checklist to follow in the morning to eliminate decision fatigue. It worked brilliantly, I no longer need a physical piece of paper, it's a simple habit that between 6:10 to 6:30 I get the house ready for the family to start the day. In January of this year 2017, I read The 5 AM Miracle Book and The Miracle Morning . Great books to unlock more time in our busy live...

Chasing Field Mice

Recently I picked up Lewis Howes twitter feed for how to turn off the noise, maybe episode 293 a five minute friday (which are genius by the way). I love Lewis Howes, he threw a rope ladder down into my well and helped me climb out of a period of darkness and reach new heights. However, I find limitations with the podcast/blogging medium. Mostly because its a lot of content stretched out over time, whereas a book is a lot of content compactly packaged for a shorter lead time. Thus I drew the parallel from a Keith Farazzi story in Never Eat Alone, from Newt Gingrich. A Lion can feast on field mice all day, but will never satisfy his appetite, sometimes he has to get off his ass and catch an antelope. Therefore, As the 20's might be for learning and 30's for earning, I would reckon, feed on podcast early, but at a certain point you need to switch to a greater ROI via books, and 10x this ROI by using Blinkits. If your transition into your thirties includes a couple stumbles a...

Idea life support

So in an effort to keep my sanity, and let my ideas not languish, I will start collecting ideas here. ALPHA: Tribe Marketing. After reading Never Eat Alone, I had a thought how conferences could be better. Why isn't there as special networking session which groups us based on interest, it would break down the barriers if you know the guy next to you also has a love of Italian Sports Cars, wears and is obsessed by his Fitbit, or (). It reminded me of a fun time of year in High School where you fill in a survey and the results would match you with your soul mate. The horror for the girls that got paired with my nerdy old self. WHY doesn't this exists in the business community, essentially a dating approach to networking. Might be easiest to initiate at actual speed networking event, but ultimately this is a great way to provide value at conferences and build lasting relationships. BETA: If penny art is successful with Abe Lincoln then why not use Euro Centimes for the same t...

Is the cult of entrepreneurship, avoiding delayed gratification

I heard a recent interview in the Jayson Gaignard "Community Made" podcast. Jayson interviewed Jordan Guernsey, who was battling cancer. As Jayson framed it, the 4D's of shutting down a business are divorce, death, disease, divorce, and disruption. As the interview reached midway point, they were talking about the enlightenment that follows brushes with death. And how hard it is to navigate divorce, disease, etc. But as Jordan mentions shifting priorities and mindset will put you ahead of the game because there is more to life than business. I recognized as entrepreneurs struggle to build a business at the expense of health and marriage, it's essentially the same as implementing the principle of delayed gratification in efforts to avoid the 4 D's. It's a lot easier to navigate something if it never occurs. Thus I want to evaluate two things. Is Entrepeneureship an addiction, and what are some proactive steps (delayed gratification) to be invested during your ...