Conversations with Caleb Lee

Dan Suh is the one you’d ask probably one too many questions about his thoughts on raising kids. His expertise is on the correlations between spatial skills/language and STEM abilities. In other words, what helps your kids become better at calculating/critical thinking? There were literally too many directions to take the conversation that I ended up back tracking a few times. But I’m glad I did. Dan gives tremendous insight that is very accessible, and shares his thoughts on topics ranging from his thoughts oh PhD, his field, how he’d raise his kids, and being a Christian at a high level of education that requires critical thinking rigor that only a few of us would be able to tolerate. Thanks for joining me, and I hope you gain a nugget of insight or two…or a hundred. Below is the outline I barely followed. Thanks for joining in and inviting me and Dan into your personal space! Timeline: 3:10 – What is spatial skills? 4:10 – How did you get into studying spatial skills? 5:50 – Defining Spacial concepts and Spacial Language & It’s applications 10:50 – Spatial skills & Tech & kids/infants – application theory to practicality 13:55 – How would you raise your kids to have the best ability at spatial skills? 17:01 – Why not Med school and why PhD? 25:40 – Has there been anything you found out that was surprising? 29:35 – What type of studies do you do/data collection 33:30 – The challenges of PhD students… 35:03 – PhD students & professors seem very stressed; how do you cope? 36:08 – Publish or perish 38:15 – Being a Christian in a scientific setting 41:00 – Evolutionary viewpoints & interpretations 47:30 – Where do you want to be in 10 years? 48:15 – If you can put 1 message on the front homepage of google, what would it be? 50:40 – How can I develop my spatial skills? JOB – ACTUAL DESCRIPTION What do you do? So how would you describe to a 10 year old what you’re actually studying What are some of the most exciting correlations you have seen so far, either in your own data or in others? How can your field really help people practically in 10-20 years from now? Are there differences in spatial skills between Korean and US children? Describe to me some of the kinds of test you do technology have on spatial skills and what does this mean? If I have a kid, how do I best help my child develop spatial skills? To what extent does spatial skills have an actual impact on ones life? Tell me one thing that you have found surprising during your studies Why a Phd? PhDs are long thought of as marathons. I don’t think people understand the length it takes, the amount of uncertainty, and the stress of having to develop an entire thesis. Is it all true? PERSONAL VIEWS & INSIGHT Describe to me, your personal worldview of this world How does this perspective coalesce, or cause friction with your field? How is your personal beliefs received among other colleagues? How politically correct do you have to be? The post Daniel Suh – PhD student in developmental psychology at NYU appeared first on Conversations with Caleb Lee.

en Arnoux is a postman for the US Postal service. He’s also making a RV schoolbus and has worked on video jobs for businesses. Ben shares his life experiences from overcoming stuttering, being raised by a single mother, then to have a scary stepfather, and to raising kids now. Join me in my conversation with Ben as he shares on all facets of his life, from work, projects, his 4 kids, and his beliefs. You can watch the interview here:   6:56 – the introverted mailman 9:52 – what if you were postmaster general? 14:18 – personal life 15:44 – how the bus RV started 18:16 – origins of photography and video 20:04 – how he got his first gig 22:17 – hack to being brave 25:34 – being raised by a single mother 26:20 – Stepdad enters at 10 28:30 – Not desiring a mentor 30:45 – a scary stepfather 32:34 – how ben overcame stuttering WHAT DO YOU DO Is there an official title that you go by? What is your working schedule? What is something unique to being a US postman versus any other job you can think of? What did you have to do to become employed at the USPS? What are some challenges working for the USPS? If you could change one thing about the USPS what would it be? Are there things that caught you surprise about the USPS once you started working for it? PERSONAL PROJECTS Tell us about your bus project; how long do you project it will take to finish? You’re also a photographer/videographer. Do you plan to take this into a full time job? PERSON CHALLENGES Tell me about your upbringing. You told me  you were raised by a single mother and then a stepfather at 10. Looking back, how did this shape who you are today? You told me you used to stutter, well into your 30s. How bad was it? How did you overcome it? What is your personal worldview? How did you come to it? GENERAL QUESTIONS: If you could put a message under the search bar of google’s home page, what would it be? If your children watch this in 10 years from now, what would you want to tell them? The post Conversations with Caleb Lee (#5) – Ben Arnoux – Postman Superman appeared first on Conversations with Caleb Lee.

After having dedicated pretty much his entire 20’s to studying and hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans, Randy is finally at the finish line of his studying career. In his last year of his fellowship (extended residency specialty), Randy has been prepped by the best of the medical system to become a gastroenterologist. The process of becoming a doctor, including grueling residency, tons of debt, and nearly a decade of studying, is a journey that only doctors can understand. Randy gives us insight as to some of the process, including the notorious residency burnout, and also shares his personal worldviews and how being a Christian in the hospital can be both complementary and challenging at the same time. Thanks again, for subscribing and inviting me into your personal space. I hope you enjoy this episode of Conversations with Caleb Lee. TOPICS TO ADDRESS: JOB & ACTUAL DESCRIPTION – WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY DO? Tell me in one minute or less your average day What are some common types of illnesses you diagnose or treat How bad is it to be on call? How often? How many patients do you see on average per day? How different is it to be employed by a hospital versus being self-employed? Why do a fellowship? Why GI? How much Continuing Education do you have to do? JOB AND INDUSTRY PEOPLE – WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE LIKE Do you find that certain types of personalities are attracted to being doctors? How many doctors do you feel prioritize money over patient care? What are some weird quirks you see in other doctors? Of the doctors you know, how many you would personally go to or have your family go to? I saw a TED talk by a doctor that compared batting averages to surgeries. I know you’re not a surgeon but surely there must be misdiagnoses or mistakes. How often do doctors admit mistakes to their patients or their families? JOB & INDUSTRY/FIELD INSIGHTS – WHAT DOES THE INDUSTRY LOOK LIKE? Is it worth it? The cost, the stress, your entire 20s… I’ve heard of some scary residency stories, including those who couldn’t complete them or suicide. What’s really going on? What are your thoughts on AI and it’s affect on the medical industry? It’s no doubt doctors are making less and less comparatively to decades ago. How far do you think this trend will go? Do you get reimbursed more for how many patients you see in a hospital? What about private practices? JOB ASSUMPTIONS AND BIASES – PEOPLE AND SOCIETY’S VIEW ON THE INDUSTRY; VERSUS WHAT IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE What are some common misconceptions of doctors? Of GI doctors? What are the biggest limitations doctors have? If you can change one thing about the entire medical industry, what would you change? PERSONAL VIEWS AND INSIGHTS WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? What do you believe? How did you come to this belief? How has your beliefs affected your view on your job? On death? What lines can you cannot cross at work in terms of personal beliefs? I have this notion that most doctors are either Jewish, Muslim, or atheists; are Christians a minority in the medical field? If Yes, why? Tell me about how you internalize death as I’m sure doctors are more aware of death and pain What lessons can we learn from pain, as unpleasant as it is? Give advice to: Aspiring doctors Current patients with bad doctors Current medical students Christian doctors The post Conversations with Caleb Lee #4 – A NY Doctor’s perspective appeared first on Conversations with Caleb Lee.

“You are going to suffer…” These are the words Rich’s father said to him the day he dropped his son off at the airport and left him in the US, with nothing but a cash paying job at a restaurant. In today’s interview, Rich redefined for me what rock bottom looks like. I invite you to hear the story of not just his, but countless immigrants who arrive to a country with nothing but his parent’s hopes, grit, and passion. Rich Adofo started by living in a commercial office space illegally to start his passion in videography with a used camera from Walmart and now regularly takes on large budget jobs to create art. Quick disclaimer; my dedicated audio recorder failed for this episode, so I used the onboard camera, which resulted in a continual clicking auto-focus sound. I apologize for this inconvenience, and ensure you this will not happen again in the near future. Thanks for your understanding, and enjoy this episode of Conversations with Caleb Lee. I don’t have a list of questions as I didn’t expect for the conversation to take such a rich turn. His openness is absolutely stunning and his source of energy calming and inspiring at the same time. The post Conversations with Caleb Lee (CWC) #3 – Rich Adofo – From Ghana to UK to USA. Pure Hustle. Pure Humility. appeared first on Conversations with Caleb Lee.

I can confidently say each and everyone one of us has had that one teacher who we will always remember. That teacher that actually saw something in us, or actually cared. It’s quite powerful to think that just one person can have such a strong impact on our lives. This made me think of the question of what makes a good teacher? Who are the people who are spending more time with our kids than we do? Soo An is a teacher at a new charter school in NYC. Her day starts at 5AM to get to school and prepare before the kids arrive. She shares her thoughts on why she went into teaching, and how none of that had to do with vacation days at all. She shares her experiences as to what it’s like to become a new teacher in the NYC public school system, and then some. 3:30 – How to become a teacher 5:00 – Why did you want to be a teacher? 8:00 – How to find out if a passion is different from something you just enjoy 11:45 – what is it really like to be a teacher? 18:15 – What makes a really good teacher vs bad teachers? 20:15 – What are you allowed to teach or not allowed to? 24:00 – On the DOE hiring 9 executive superintendents for $2.5 Million summer of 2018 27:40 – Why get up every morning/what drives you? 30:15 – Growing up in a broken family 35:00 – Why did you cling to God instead of turning away? 36:00 – thoughts about suicide 42:20 – Not getting involved 45:15 – advice for people want to be teachers & for those who are struggling over faith   1. What do you do? 2. When did you decide that you wanted to be a teacher? 3. What does your daily schedule look like? 4. I find that reality is always different from theory. With that said, how does being a teacher differ versus the idea of being a teacher? 5. What does it mean to be a teacher in 2018? 6. What can you not talk about in the classroom? 7. What would happen if you were to talk about these things? 8. What is the best part of actually being a teacher? 9. What is the world part of being a teacher? TOPICS TO ADDRESS: 1. JOB & ACTUAL DESCRIPTION 1. What do you do? 2. What do you actually do? 3. Does your grade involve standardized exams? 4. How much what you do revolves around standardized exams? 2. INDUSTRY PEOPLE INSIGHT 1. I feel a lot of people consider becoming a teacher, but I don’t think just anyone should be a teacher. What are some traits you’ve seen in great teachers? 2. Teachers are placed in one of the most interesting positions. I’ve had experiences with teachers and classes that have made me either love or hate a topic. What differentiates a good teacher from a bad teacher? 3. Do you find certain types of people are attracted to being teachers more than others? 4. What are some possible wrong reasons to want to become a teacher? 3. INDUSTRY FIELD INSIGHTS 1. Teachers on average make just over $45,000 per year according to salary.com. What are your thoughts on that? Are they underpaid? And why are they underpaid? 2. How much did you end up spending on class material? 3. I remember my high school had constant teacher cuts, even though it was in a great school district in the Suburbs of NY. Why do I feel that teachers are constantly being fired? 4. What are things that are mandatory in your school to teach? Are there? 5. What are things that are NOT allowed to be taught by either law or school policy? 6. If you can change one thing about being a teacher, what would it be? 4. JOB ASSUMPTIONS DOE – The New York City Department of Education is the department of the government of New York City that manages the city’s public school system. The City School District of the City of New York is the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,800 separate schools. Wikipedia Did you know that principles have the right to pass failing kids? https://nypost.com/2018/06/12/doe-principals-have-free-reign-to-pass-failing-kids/ https://nypost.com/2018/08/27/doe-names-educational-veteran-as-new-chief-academic-officer/ 1.

Dayhanna Vieda is a rare breed of human being. Her laughter is infectious, and there’s depth to her eyes that is backed by deeper stories. Her perspective on being a vet-tech, and the sudden transition from completely changing her life of bad company and drugs to the complete opposite is one that is both refreshing and inspiring. In this conversation, we go into topics ranging from what a vet-tech’s life looks like, how one distinguishes being an animal lover on instagram versus actually wanting to be in the vet industry, and the bigger questions of why does she do what she do. 1:50 – Behind the story of Diana’s name 3:35 – What do you do? 3:50 – Vet vs Vet Tech 4:55 – Why Vet tech vs Vet? 6:25 – Vet tech schooling 8:20 – Difference between an animal lover vs being a vet tech…story of the rat 10:46 – Advice to an aspiring vet tech 12:30 – What do you actually do? 15:43 – Personal Beliefs 17:00 – I’m the only Christian there 19:15 – On becoming a Christian in the midst of drugs and partying 22:05 – Turning to prayer in depression 23:20 – The old manager 25:12 – The lady and encouragement 27:30 – The transition 29:30 – Living fully as a Christian Below is the outline that I followed when asking her questions. If it helps, follow along! JOB & DESCRIPTION First and foremost, your love for animals, and cats in particular. It makes sense that you’re a vet tech, but when did you first know you wanted to be a vet? Choosing a job profession can be really hard. I think a lot of people think of becoming vets and vet techs. What do you think is a good sign that you should pursue a life of caring for animals? What are some differences of wanting to be a vet tech, versus actually being one? INDUSTRY INSIGHT What would you tell someone who’s considering becoming a vet tech? When do you consider NOT becoming a veterinarian and just a vet tech? I think a lot of people love animals..cats and dogs and all types. What’s the real difference between let’s say raising a cat versus making it an actual profession? ASSUMPTIONS/BIASES What are things that professionals in your industry advise, that you would avoid? PERSONAL VIEWS AND INSIGHTS There’s a strong emphasis on God in your earliest posts, with a mix of either cats and lets say a LOT of random stuff. Was there a drastic change in your life in 2012? What happened? What is a shocking example of the kind of person you were before? When you were living this kind of life, was there ever a gnawing voice in the back of your mind? Becoming a true born again Christian is a drastic change. What are some of the hardest transitions you’ve had to make early on, and now, 6 years later? How do you reconcile living and investing in heaven, while also maximizing your life now? What are common misconceptions about being a reformed Christian that you have experienced early on, and now? How do you reconcile all the evil and brokenness of this world? Ultimately, what advice would you give to someone who is looking to be a vet tech? What perspective would you give to someone who has considered pursuing Christianity? The post Conversations with Caleb Lee (CWC) – Dayhanna Vieda – Vet Tech & The Transition to Becoming a Christian appeared first on Conversations with Caleb Lee.

Every intro to podcasting says to start with a short intro…something about ranking higher on itunes by adding more than one post when launching. But it’s also to allow listeners who may chance upon a new podcast to know what they’re getting into. Making this intro to me was more than just telling a listener about what I will be doing. It was introducing you to my voice, to my style, to my cadence. It was fun thinking about how I sounded. When was the last time you listened to yourself talk? I found that I was generally a slower talker, and made some funny grammatical errors. But I don’t know too many people who talk with perfect grammar. Who knows, maybe it adds character. It can also really bother someone. And for those who might think my talking is too slow for them, I’m glad that they found out in this intro. If someone is also a grammar nazi, I hope that they find that my level of speaking grammar will drive them far, far away. But for those who can see past those things, you and I might have a great time. Enjoy this intro that I put together for you, and also if you’re interested, a video version that I will try to include with all podcasts!     The post The Unofficial Introduction appeared first on Conversations with Caleb Lee.