Podcasts about Digital

BONUS: Consulting is Different—How Consulting Contracts Work Against Agile Development, With Jakob Wolman and Wilko Nienhaus  In this BONUS episode, we explore the critical differences between building software as a consultant versus inside a product company. Jakob Wolman contributed an insightful article to the Global Agile Summit book examining how third-party software development operates under entirely different constraints than in-house product development. Joined by Wilko Nienhaus, CTO of Vaimo, a consulting company in Estonia, we dive into ownership dynamics, misaligned incentives, contracting challenges, and the business pressures that shape consulting—along with practical stories from the field about what really works. The Cobbler's Shoes Problem "I come back to the office from this workshop, and suddenly, with these eyes on looking for improvements in process, I just suddenly am hit by this revelation of why things are so slow here? Why are we working so inefficiently?" Jakob describes the striking paradox many consultancies face: they excel at helping clients improve their processes while their own internal operations remain inefficient. This "shoemaker's children" phenomenon reflects a fundamental challenge in consulting—the difficulty of investing in your own improvements when all energy flows toward billable client work. Digital agencies often have outdated or poorly implemented websites despite building sophisticated solutions for others, illustrating how consultancies struggle to apply their own expertise internally. Misaligned Incentives Create Antagonistic Dynamics "It's almost as if the clients are actually paying us to be slow, because our incentive is to spend more time on achieving what the client wants, because we get paid by the hour." The incentive structures in consulting create inherent conflicts that don't exist in product companies. Consultants typically bill by the hour, creating a perverse incentive to spend more time rather than deliver efficiently. Meanwhile, clients pursue business outcomes and want results as quickly and cheaply as possible. This fundamental misalignment leads to: Clients adopting a procurement mindset, treating software development like ordering from a catalog A "wall" between stakeholders and development teams that's even stronger than in product companies Antagonistic relationships where scope changes feel like financial traps rather than necessary learning Contracting processes that reinforce waterfall thinking even when both parties claim to want agility Wilko emphasizes that contracting has a huge impact on these dynamics, and companies must deliberately change their engagement models to break free from these patterns. The Budgeting Trap and Specification Overload "Because of this budgeting process where you now need to motivate what this budget does, or you need to spend that budget, you essentially create this necessity to define everything." Consulting projects often suffer from the same problem that plagued waterfall development: annual budgeting cycles that force stakeholders to cram everything into a single specification. When there's only one chance per year to secure funding, everyone stuffs the requirements document with every conceivable feature, leading to: Massive specifications that attempt to predict all needs upfront Endless discovery meetings and documentation that add cost without improving outcomes Developers working from outdated assumptions with delayed feedback Clients who don't really know what they want but feel pressured to specify everything Jakob points out the frustration that "we've already fixed this problem" in product development through iterative approaches, yet it keeps reappearing in consulting because of the separation between entities. Ownership and Quality in Consulting Environments "Skilled engineers will be frustrated if they're not allowed to do a proper job. People that have spent a lot of time in an environment where they're never allowed to do a proper job, or maybe even punished for doing a proper job, they will have given up, and not care." The difference in ownership between product and consulting development profoundly affects how engineers think about quality, technical debt, and long-term design. In product companies, developers know they'll maintain their code, creating natural incentives for quality. In consulting, the transient nature of engagements can erode quality standards. Key challenges include: Engineers knowing they won't return to the codebase, reducing long-term thinking Clients who lack technical expertise dictating approaches they don't understand Pressure to complete fixed-scope contracts regardless of quality trade-offs The role of estimates in forcing teams to "just complete this thing" even when learning suggests changes Wilko notes that teams controlled by clients versus teams managed as stable units by the consultancy show markedly different levels of ownership and engagement. Engineers want to do great work, but without real-world feedback loops, they may either overengineer based on theoretical ideals or give up on quality entirely. Breaking the Cycle: Going Live in Two Weeks "We said to them, what if we try to actually go live in a single sprint, which in most companies is 2 weeks. And they were like, nah, we're not so sure. And we said, don't worry, you're going to get everything you want in your scope by the end. But just let's try these first 2 weeks." Wilko shares a transformative story about an e-commerce project where his team convinced a client to abandon their two-year roadmap and instead focus on going live with something—anything—in two weeks. The goal: enable one existing customer to place one order for one product they already knew. This constraint forced radical prioritization. The team didn't need images, extensive product catalogs, or elaborate descriptions. They delivered a minimal but functioning system, and the results were revelatory: The client's internal discussion shifted from "we need everything" to "what should we prioritize next?" Real customer interaction revealed unexpected problems, like internal incentive conflicts where salespeople wouldn't direct customers to the website because it threatened their commissions Senior leadership embraced the iterative approach more readily than middle management The faster feedback cycle enabled genuine agility even in a consulting context This story demonstrates that iterative approaches are more likely to lead to success in consulting, and that senior leadership is often more receptive to faster feedback cycles than people expect. The key is changing the dynamic from "deliver a complete spec" to "let's go live quickly and learn." AI as a Game-Changer for Consulting Dynamics "The groundbreaking thing that's happening right now is AI, and it really feeds into this direction. Because instead of speaking, you can actually be building, you can see things, you can do stuff that you can really test in a much more real way than you could just a few years ago." Both Jakob and Wilko see artificial intelligence as a potential solution to many consulting challenges. AI tools enable rapid prototyping and visualization, allowing teams to show rather than tell. This addresses the fundamental problem that clients don't know what they want until they see it, by dramatically reducing the cost of creating tangible demonstrations that generate meaningful feedback. If you want to know more about how AI is reshaping programming, check out our AI Assisted Coding series of episodes.  Quality and Testing Should Not Be Negotiable "I just simply think it shouldn't be a choice. We have to be very firm on this is how we work. We are the experts you are paying us." When clients ask to skip testing, reduce code reviews, or cut corners on infrastructure, Jakob argues consultancies must stand firm. Quality practices shouldn't be line items that clients can negotiate away. One consulting company that works strictly with Extreme Programming principles demonstrates this approach—they don't explain every detail to clients, but they clearly establish that "this is how we do all our projects. It's not a choice." Wilko adds that testing often saves time rather than adding cost, serving as a development tool that eliminates repetitive manual verification. The challenge comes during estimation, where padding for testing can make consultancies less competitive, creating pressure to compromise on quality. Jakob emphasizes that some responsibility lies with consultancies themselves, which sometimes over-promise and underbid to win business, then struggle to deliver quality within unrealistic constraints. This "race to the bottom" hurts the entire industry. The Path Forward: Deliberate Collaboration "It is fixable in a consultancy setting as well. I've seen it. I've been part of it. But you have to be very deliberate in your collaboration with the customer." Success in consulting requires deliberately designing the engagement model to support iterative development: Working backward from customer needs, not forward from specifications Establishing short feedback loops with both client stakeholders and end users Creating stable teams rather than assembling ad-hoc groups based on client requests Changing contracting models to align incentives (as explored in Sven Ditz's article in the Global Agile Summit book on delivering incrementally) Being firm about quality practices while remaining flexible about features Using AI and rapid prototyping to generate early, concrete feedback The consulting model doesn't have to default to waterfall, but it requires conscious effort to overcome the structural forces pushing in that direction. Recommended Reading In this episode, we refer to multiple resources for further reading. Here's a list of those resources:  Secrets of Consulting by Gerald Weinberg The Global Agile Summit book, including articles by the speakers at the conference Real World Agility by Daniel Gullo The #NoEstimates book by Vasco Duarte Extreme Programming principles About Jakob Wolman and Wilko Nienhaus Jakob Wolman is an experienced engineering leader who knows how to build great software, and how to mess it up. He has worked in both product companies and consulting environments, giving him unique insight into the contrasts between these models. You can connect with Jakob Wolman on LinkedIn. Wilko Nienhaus is CTO of Vaimo, a consulting company in Estonia, where he focuses on the challenges of delivering software in a consulting environment. He concentrates on delivery mechanisms and technical solutions for challenging projects. You can connect with Wilko Nienhaus on LinkedIn.

Todays Topics BKFC Ice Wars "Fight Week" My preview show with my co-host from the Brews'd and Battered show Jay We breakdown every fight and ill give information on each fighter Episode 476 Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code THPN. That's code THPN to get $200 in bonus bets instantly when you place your first $5 bet — plus over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTubeTV. In partnership with DraftKings — The Crown Is Yours. Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (four six seven three six nine). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit ccpg dot org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas). Twenty-one plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Fees may apply in Illinois. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook dot draftkings dot com slash promos. NFL Sunday Ticket offer for new subscribers only and auto-renews until cancelled. Digital games and commercial use excluded. Restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday Ticket terms at youtube dot com slash go slash n f l sunday ticket slash terms. Limited time offer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

AI is transforming medicine at a speed never seen before. In this episode, you'll discover how digital twins and artificial intelligence will revolutionize drug discovery, eliminate human trials, and personalize your biology for longevity and high performance. Host Dave Asprey breaks down how AI can now simulate virtual cells and tissues, running clinical experiments in minutes instead of years to create truly individualized medicine. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Dr. Derya Unutmaz is a world-renowned immunologist, systems biologist, and professor at The Jackson Laboratory. With more than 150 scientific papers, he's a leading expert in immune system research and one of the first scientists to pioneer the concept of digital twins for biology. His groundbreaking work uses AI to model how immunity, metabolism, and aging interact—creating new possibilities for personalized medicine, disease prevention, and lifespan extension. Host Dave Asprey and Dr. Unutmaz reveal how AGI will soon outperform doctors, accelerate functional medicine, and optimize human biology far beyond today's standards. You'll learn how the immune system drives inflammation and aging, how to re-engineer it for resilience, and why compounds like GLP-1 and metformin may add years to your life. You'll Learn: • How digital twins will end human drug testing • Why AGI could replace doctors and computer jobs within five years • How AI models immune function, metabolism, and aging • The role of mitochondria and inflammation in longevity • How GLP-1 drugs and metformin extend lifespan • What continuous biological monitoring means for health tracking • How AI is transforming functional medicine and personalized care • Why NAD and energy metabolism are key to human performance They explore how artificial intelligence, biohacking, and systems biology intersect to create a smarter approach to health and longevity. You'll also learn how understanding immune balance, metabolism, and mitochondrial function helps build resilience and extend your lifespan. This is essential listening for anyone serious about biohacking, hacking human performance, and extending longevity through personalized medicine, functional biology, and cutting-edge AI innovation. This is essential listening for anyone serious about biohacking, hacking human performance, improving mobility, and extending longevity. You'll also learn how neuroplasticity, metabolism, and brain optimization all connect to the way you move. Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. Keywords: AI medicine, Digital twins, Functional medicine, Biohacking, Longevity, Immune system, Inflammation, Personalized medicine, GLP-1 therapy, Metformin, NAD boosters, Mitochondrial function, Metabolism, AGI, Clinical trials, Human performance, Aging research, Systems biology, Immunology, Smarter Not Harder Thank you to our sponsors! BrainTap | Go to http://braintap.com/dave to get $100 off the BrainTap Power Bundle. MASA Chips | Go to https://www.masachips.com/DAVEASPREY and use code DAVEASPREY for 25% off your first order. Our Place | Head to https://fromourplace.com/ and use the code DAVE for 10% off your order. ARMRA | Go to https://tryarmra.com/ and use the code DAVE to get 15% off your first order Resources: • Keep up with Derya's work: https://x.com/derya_?lang=en • Business of Biohacking Summit | Register to attend October 20-23 in Austin, TX https://businessofbiohacking.com/ • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 • Dave Asprey's BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey's New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 00:00 — Trailer 01:25 — Intro 02:26 — AI's Role in Extending Lifespan 02:56 — Regulatory Frameworks and Medical Adoption 05:19 — Problems with the Immune System 08:19 — Chronic Fatigue and Long COVID Research 10:32 — Modern Testing and Multi-Omic Analysis 14:07 — Personal Longevity Strategy and Supplements 15:17 — Understanding Exhausted Cells 23:43 — Personalization in Medicine and AI Analysis 31:35 — Longevity Escape Velocity 36:13 — AI Doctors and Prescriptions 39:55 — Data Quality Concerns in AI Training 43:19 — The Future of Wearable Technology 45:50 — Revolutionizing Education with AI 49:04 — The Future of Higher Education 52:03 — Future of Work and AI Agents See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

First Sasquatch CapturedA veterinarian specializing in large animals graduates from the University of Kentucky and opens a private practice in 1995 before joining Tennessee's Elk Reintroduction Program in 2000. There, he monitors radio-collared elk in the North Cumberland Wildlife Area, aiding in anti-poaching efforts and tracking migrations. On September 19, 2017, an erratic signal from a dominant bull elk's collar leads him, a game warden named Rick, and park ranger Brian into the woods to investigate. Tracking blood trails and fleeting signals, they stumble upon carnage from the elk's leg and pursue what seems like a poacher. Instead, an elderly Native American medicine man, the Ayunini, emerges offering the collar, explaining that the Tsul'Kalu—a reclusive, hairy, ape-like creature allied with his people—took the elk to feed its newborn mate. When Rick arrests the man, a massive, nine-foot-tall beast with black eyes, flattened nose, and muscular build roars from the shadows. The vet fires two tranquilizer darts, allowing them to collect samples before the creature staggers away. The medicine man vanishes, leaving behind only discarded handcuffs and fog. Government agents in black SUVs soon confiscate their phones, packs, and evidence, enforcing a cover story of feral dogs killing the elk and threatening their jobs. Digital backups mysteriously vanish, prompting the vet to resign and reopen his practice. He reflects on the secrecy surrounding two Sasquatch tribes—the peaceful, human-avoiding Tsul'Kalu and the predatory Judaculla—questioning the government's motives while vowing to seek answers independently.Join my Supporters Club for $4.99 per month for exclusive stories:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-if-it-s-true-podcast--5445587/support

This is Matt Reustle. Today, we are exploring the world of media deals. My guest is Blake Saunders. Blake has been in media investment banking for almost two decades. When I first met him, he was a banker, so I wasn't expecting to lean into this relationship, but I often introduce Blake to others as the banker. We delve into the current deal landscape and some of the realities of the media market, exploring how companies are navigating this new era, and then determine who's best positioned for the next chapter. Please enjoy this Breakdown of Media with Blake Saunders. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page⁠⁠ here.⁠⁠ —- This episode is brought to you by Portrait Analytics - your centralized resource for AI-powered idea generation, thesis monitoring, and personalized report building. Built by buy-side investors, for investment professionals. We work in the background, helping surface stock ideas and thesis signposts to help you monetize every insight. In short, we help you understand the story behind the stock chart, and get to "go, or no-go" 10x faster than before. Sign-up for a free trial today at portraitresearch.com — Business Breakdowns is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Business Breakdowns, visit⁠⁠ joincolossus.com/episodes⁠⁠. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠). Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Business Breakdowns (00:04:52) Meet Blake Saunders: Media Investment Banking Expert (00:06:53) The Evolution of Media: From Newspapers to Digital (00:08:07) Challenges and Changes in the Media Landscape (00:10:53) Blake's Career Shift and New Ventures (00:12:57) The Future of Media Deals and Buyer Dynamics (00:22:16) The Importance of Content and Premium IP (00:27:43) The Value of Sports and IP Libraries (00:28:33) Reimagining Content with Technology (00:31:22) The Role of Key Individuals in Media Brands (00:33:53) The Importance of Platform Exposure (00:36:38) The Event Cycle Post-COVID (00:43:18) The Impact of AI on Society and Economy (00:48:31) The Rise of Independent Content Creators (00:49:47) Lessons From the Media Industry

Today's episode is about what it's like when tech feels tricky in midlife and why digital overwhelm isn't about age When it comes to technology in midlife, it's easy to believe that you're too old and it's just too late to be able to use tech without stress. It can seem impossible to believe that tech doesn't have to be hard and problematic for you in life and business. Learn more: https://suzyrosenstein.com/podcast/ep-428-when-tech-feels-tricky-in-midlife-why-digital-overwhelm-isnt-about-age/

In this second episode of The CEO Spot, Rick Watson sits down with Matt Harris, Founder of Harris Digital. The interviews were conducted at Shoptoberfest 2025, discussing the state of B2B e-commerce and the challenges of 'hard commerce' faced by manufacturers and distributors.Harris explains that many companies struggle with legacy ERP systems, analog data management, and complex pricing models involving tiered and customer-specific discounts. He emphasizes the importance of product information management (PIM) systems in cleaning and centralizing data before launching e-commerce platforms. Harris shares his background, starting in the 1990s, with early e-commerce projects and how his agency helps mid-market manufacturers (with up to $1 billion in revenue) modernize sales by augmenting—not replacing—existing ERP systems. He discusses the friction caused by generational mindset shifts and private equity consolidation in these industries. On AI, Harris notes that while small-scale AI and analytics are useful, most enterprise AI projects fail to deliver revenue due to siloed data and unrealistic expectations; he advocates for building unified data lakes and warehouses as a foundation for future AI-driven business improvements.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Todays Topics BKFC Ice Wars "Fight Week" My guests are Mike Arcamone and James Dalzell   Episode 475 Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code THPN. That's code THPN to get $200 in bonus bets instantly when you place your first $5 bet — plus over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTubeTV. In partnership with DraftKings — The Crown Is Yours. Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (four six seven three six nine). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit ccpg dot org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas). Twenty-one plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Fees may apply in Illinois. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook dot draftkings dot com slash promos. NFL Sunday Ticket offer for new subscribers only and auto-renews until cancelled. Digital games and commercial use excluded. Restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday Ticket terms at youtube dot com slash go slash n f l sunday ticket slash terms. Limited time offer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a textIn this episode, Matt and Enn continue Winter's Heart from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series! This week we cover Chapters 11 & 12 - thanks for joining us!Ch. 11: Ideas of ImportanceCh. 12: A Lily in Water-------------------------------------------------------------Purchase Enn's First Book!!!: https://a.co/d/hyrYwW5Radiant (Words of Power Book 1) is available NOW in Paperback and Digital!! (Enn's pseudonym is Jordan Willis Bright)Follow Enn's Author page on IG: @Jordanwillisbright - https://www.instagram.com/jordanwillisbright/ Follow Matt's Art Account: @DrawnwiththeWindFabulous https://www.instagram.com/drawnwiththewindfabulous/ Support the show

Still selling digital files? It's costing you more than just income—it's costing your clients the heirlooms they deserve. In this episode, Sarah reveals why the digital-only model is broken, how it sets you up to lose against AI, and what to do instead if you want a business that's profitable, sustainable, and deeply fulfilling. • Why the digital-only model leads to burnout and low profit • The mindset and strategy shift that leads to multi-thousand-dollar orders • How to stop feeling like a “charity” and start running a real business This isn't just about pricing—it's about purpose. Let this episode give you the permission (and the plan) to change everything. RESOURCES:  Photography Business Tools to Get Started 37 CLIENTS WHO CAN HIRE YOU TODAY https://info.photographybusinessinstitute.com/37-clients-optin   INSTAGRAM – DM me “Conversation Starters” for some genuine ways to strike up a conversation about your photography business wherever you are. https://www.instagram.com/sarah.petty   FREE COPY: NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING BOOK FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS www.photographybusinessinstitute.com/freebook    BOUTIQUE BREAKTHROUGH – 8-WEEK WORKSHOP www.photographybusinessinstitute.com/boutiquebreakthrough   FREE FACEBOOK GROUP: Join and get my free mini-class: How I earned $1,500 per client working 16 hours a week by becoming a boutique photographer. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ditchthedigitals    YOUTUBE: Check out my latest how to videos:  https://www.youtube.com/photographybusinessinstitute   LOVE THE SHOW? Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/worth-every-penny-joycast/id1513676756

If your days feel like swimming against a current you didn't choose, you're not imagining it. Researcher and communication coach Dr. Craig Mattson joins us to map the hidden “rip tides” of digital life—why tools that promised efficiency now burn our attention, how inboxes became group chats in disguise, and what it actually takes to protect focus without disconnecting from your team or your values.We trace Craig's path from small-town roots and radio work into scholarship on modern work culture, then dig into practical fixes that are humane and realistic. We look at email through Cal Newport's “hyperactive hive mind,” share ritual-level tactics to reduce chaos, and talk about Oliver Burkeman's reminder that constraints aren't flaws—they're the shape of a life. Craig brings a surprising companion to the conversation: the wisdom books of Job and Ecclesiastes. Awe, finitude, and the acceptance that most work won't be immortalized can lighten the pressure to make every task meaningful—and still point us toward daily joy, craft, and integrity.We also explore two slippery topics many teams miss: using AI as scaffolding (not a substitute for voice and judgment) and the power of indirect communication—those signals around the words that matter most for people with less organizational sway. If you've wondered whether to quit a job that feels hollow, we offer a grounded way to test redesign vs. exit, name harm clearly, and move with patience instead of panic. By the end, you'll have a clearer map for navigating overwhelm: fewer threads, cleaner decisions, kinder culture, and a practice of waiting that makes room for better choices. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what's one change you'll try this week?Let me know what you think of this episode? Support the showSupport the Podcast. https://buymeacoffee.com/dorseyrossSocial Media Links, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dorsey.ross/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DROCKROSS/ My Book Amazon Book Overcomer https://bit.ly/4h7NGIP

AI therapists and caregivers. Digital tutors and advisors and friends. Artificial lovers. Griefbots trained to imitate dead loved ones. Welcome, to the bustling world of AI-powered chatbots. This was once the stuff of science fiction, but it's becoming just the stuff of everyday life. What will these systems do to our society, to our relationships, to our social skills and motivations? Are these bots destined to leave us hollowed out, socially stunted, screen-addicted, and wary of good-old-fashioned, in-the-flesh human interaction? Or could they actually be harnessed for good? My guest today is Dr. Henry Shevlin. Henry is a philosopher and AI ethicist at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI) at Cambridge University. In a series of recent papers, Henry has been exploring this brave new world of "social AI" and its philosophical, ethical, and psychological dimensions. Here, Henry and I sketch the current landscape of social AI—from dedicated platforms like Replika and CharacterAI to the more subtly social uses of ChatGPT and Claude. We consider several tragic cases that have recently rocketed these kinds of services into public awareness. We talk about what's changed about AI systems—quite recently—that's now made them capable of sustained relationships. We linger on the possible risks of social AI and, perhaps less obviously, on the possible benefits. And we consider the prospects for regulation. Along the way, Henry and I also talk about his 81-year-old father, his teenage self, and, of course, the kids these days; we consider whether social AI, in its potential harms, is more like social media or more like violent video games; we talk about "deskilling" and it's opposite "upskilling"; and we of course take stock of a certain elephant in the room. Alright friends, this is a fun one. We've been wanting to explore this dawning age of social AI for some time. And we finally found, in Henry, the right person to do it with. Enjoy!   Notes 3:00 – The piece in The Guardian—'It's time to prepare for AI personhood'—by Jacy Reece Anthis. 5:00 – The Replika subreddit.  9:30 – News coverage of recent research on the bedside manner of AI systems. 10:30 – For a recent paper on AI by the philosopher Ophelia Deroy, see here. 11:30 – For some of Dr. Shevlin's recent writing about "social AI", see here and here. 13:30 – OpenAI's recent report, 'How People Use ChatGPT'. 16:30 – For examples of popular media coverage of recent (tragic) cases involving chatbots, see here, here, here, and here. 21:00 – The paper by Rose Guingrich and Michael Graziano on how users describe their relationships with chatbots. 24:00 – The precise quote by Mark Twain is: “Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.” 25:30 – The classic paper on Mary's room by Frank Jackson. 27:00 – Dr. Shevlin has also worked on questions about animal minds (e.g., here), as well as a number of issues in AI beyond “social AI” (e.g., here, here). 30:00 – The classic essay by Isaiah Berlin on hedgehogs and foxes. 32:00 – The classic paper on ELIZA, introduced by Joseph Weizenbaum in 1966. A version of ELIZA that you can interact with. For work by Sherry Turkle, see here. 34:00 – Dr. Shevlin's recent paper about the “anthropomimetic turn” in contemporary AI. 41:00 – For recent work on whether current chatbots pass a version of the Turing test, see here.  45:00 – Ted Chiang's story, ‘The Lifecycle of Software Objects,' was re-published as part his collection of short fiction, Exhalation. 46:00 – For Dr. Shevlin's recent writing on machine consciousness, see here. 48:00 – For more on the possibility of consciousness in borderline cases (like AI systems), see our past episodes here and here. 52:00 – The study on whether people attribute consciousness to LLMs. 54:30 – A recent paper on griefbots by scholars at the University of Cambridge. A popular article about the phenomenon. 55:30 – A blogpost describing the so-called DigiDan experiment. 1:00:00 – Some of the potentially positive social qualities of AIs are discussed in this essay by Paul Bloom.  1:19:30 – For more on Iain Banks' culture series, see here. 1:20:30 – A popular article on the phenomenon of hikikomori.   Recommendations The Oxford Intersections: AI in Society collection The new podcast, Our Lives with Bots   Many Minds is a project of the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute, which is made possible by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation to Indiana University. The show is hosted and produced by Kensy Cooperrider, with help from Assistant Producer Urte Laukaityte and with creative support from DISI Directors Erica Cartmill and Jacob Foster. Our artwork is by Ben Oldroyd. Subscribe to Many Minds on Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also now subscribe to the Many Minds newsletter here! We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. Feel free to email us at: manymindspodcast@gmail.com. For updates about the show, visit our website or follow us on Bluesky (@manymindspod.bsky.social).

In today's hyper-connected world, many of us are experiencing a paradox—more digital interactions, but deeper loneliness. In this episode of Unlearn, I sit down with Dr. Ben Rein, neuroscientist and author of Why Brains Need Friends, to unpack why human connection isn't just emotional—it's biological. From the neuroscience of loneliness to surprising acts of generosity in mice and minnows, we explore how your brain interprets social disconnection as a threat, and why a full calendar of Zoom calls doesn't satisfy your social diet.As someone who experienced this firsthand—working remotely, starting over in a new country—I share my own journey to unlearning the myth of self-sufficiency and redesigning my life to engineer real connection. This conversation is a call to rethink how we connect, show up for each other, and take our social health as seriously as sleep, diet, or exercise.Key TakeawaysLoneliness Is a Biological Threat: Your brain interprets social disconnection like hunger or pain—not just a mood, but a warning signal.Small In-Person Moments Matter: Even brief, face-to-face interactions boost mood and cognitive function more than digital ones.Isolation Damages the Brain: Chronic loneliness raises cortisol, shrinks memory centers, and can shorten your lifespan.Introverts Still Need People: Social time benefits everyone—introverts just hit their saturation point sooner.Generosity Is Hardwired: From rats to dolphins, the impulse to connect and give is deeply embedded in our biology.Connection Requires Unlearning: Independence and solitude aren't always virtues—sometimes they're survival myths in disguise.Additional InsightsSocial prediction systems in the brain were scrambled by COVID—and many people still haven't recalibrated.Most people think they're worse-than-average at socializing, which fuels avoidance and false self-judgment.Digital tools remove the social cues—tone, expression, touch—that our brains need to feel emotionally nourished.Empathy is not automatic—it's biased and trainable, shaped by exposure to difference and intention.Rebuilding community isn't just good for you—it's essential for physical, mental, and societal health.Episode Highlights00:00 – Episode RecapBen Rein discusses the importance of socializing, likening it to sleep, diet, and exercise, and emphasizing its role in overall well-being.02:07 – Guest Introduction: Ben ReinBarry introduces Dr. Ben Rein, neuroscientist and author, and outlines the episode's focus on the biological necessity of human connection.03:43 – How COVID Broke Our Social PredictionsBen shares his neuroscience background and explores how societal shifts and the pandemic disrupted the brain's expectations for everyday interaction.08:23 – Barry's Story: “You Sound Lonely”Barry recounts a personal moment of realization and how a friend's observation pushed him to rebuild his social life with intention.11:29 – Why We Miss the Signs of LonelinessBen explains why loneliness often goes undetected, how it manifests as stress, and why virtual connection isn't enough.16:44 – The Hard Work of Making FriendsBarry reflects on the discomfort of building new friendships as an adult—and why it's worth the effort for mental and emotional health.21:10 – The Neuroscience of Social FearBen breaks down why we underestimate the value of interaction, how fear...

An interview with Peter Ledermann of Soundsmith. Peter has a very long history of research and development in audio. From his time at IBM to amps to turntable cartridges, Peter has long sought to educate and enlighten the twisting technicalities of HiFi. In this interview we chat about why audio is sometimes pros, cons and compromise. It is an evolution that attempts to help to solve a host of problems, while sometimes creating new ones. But most importantly, it's weeding out things that break over time so consumers have a lifelong product. We also chat about turntables and is analog better than digital? Do Turntables have sample rates? Measurements, cantilever material, why mono karts might be better, cable burn in and how “getting used to something” really effects how we can form preferences. Video coverage: https://www.youtube.com/@PT-Audio The pt.AUDIO Record Weight In Walnut : 230 Gram S13E3 Sponsors: AUDIOVISIONSFdotCOM - San Francisco Oct 18-19 In-Store HiFi Celebration AUDIOQUESTdotCOM — High-Performance Cables & Power Products — Made for You MUSICHALLAUDIOdotCOM - No Nonsense, Just Great Sound SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designed & Built in Texas, Starting At $49 PTdotAUDIO - Great Sounds Meet Good Times PASSLABSdotCOM - Rediscover Your Music Like Never Before

Nick Constantino and Brian Jungles dive into the surprising resurgence of direct mail marketing. From data-driven targeting to fraud-free impressions, they unpack why this “unsexy” channel is outperforming digital in today's AI-saturated landscape. Learn how tactile media is reclaiming its place in full-funnel strategies and why marketers should rethink their approach to brand and lead generation.✅ Key Takeaways:• Direct mail offers 100% deliverability and high-value targeting using PII and layered data.• Digital ad fraud is rampant—up to 50% of traffic can be fake or wasted.• Direct mail impressions are tactile, memorable, and often live in homes for weeks.• Integrated campaigns (mail + digital + CTV + retargeting) outperform siloed efforts.• Unique offers and strong creative are essential—don't reuse billboard/web ads.• Measurement tools like QR codes, call tracking, and A/B testing are now standard.• Success requires repetition—one-off mailers don't work.

Podcast "Panorama Digital" de la página www.andresbarriosrubio.com Análisis de temas coyunturales de Colombia y el mundo. Esta semana "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Del M-19 a la Casa de Nariño con el mismo libreto" #Opinión Escuche los testimonios de los protagonistas #MauricioGómezAmín #CarlosFelipeCórdoba #MaríaJoséPizarro

Hablamos en Lima con Omar Coronel, profesor de ciencia política de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú; en La Paz con Raúl Peñaranda, director de "Brújula Digital", y en Ciudad de México con el abogado Javier Cruz Angulo

Over the past decade, “griefbots” and deepfake avatars have become commonplace, allowing the bereaved to chat with simulations of their dead loved ones. Virtual reality revives not only the deceased's image, voice, or way of conversing, but a virtual simulation of their physical selves. Now, some researchers believe the technology could also help treat prolonged grief disorder, a diagnosis that has been applied to individuals whose grief severely interferes with their daily life for at least a year. Would this artificial form of psychotherapy eradicate the notion of grief? Is our destiny to become one where we will no longer have emotions organically? Could this be evidence that the digital world is overtaking the spiritual world? Listen to Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis M-F from 7-10 pm, pacific time on groundzeroplus.com. Call in to the LIVE show at 503-225-0860. #groundzeroplus #clydelewis #griefbots #virtualreality #counseling

CLL #2615 (feat. The Love Between The Two Hosts) 10/06/2005 – Thursday Night Show Source – Tucker Stream Recording (2005) This episode is 100% complete with a medium audio upgrade. The infamous “fisting” call and Anderson gets on mic to share his love of film. The Love Between The Two Hosts – CLL on Youtube, with Video for select episodes. https://adamanddrdrewshow.com/1743-loveline-nostalgia-with-superfan-giovanni/ https://account.venmo.com/u/GiovanniGiorgio Paid Link – As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Music Provided by Rich Banks Check out His Website and Soundcloud to hear more of his awesome work and perhaps commission him for your next project. Venmo

Have you ever gotten that unwanted sexual message or pic on a dating app? You're certainly not alone, which is why we need to talk about digital sexual consent and what dating apps are doing about it. We're joined by Dr. Mindy DeSeta, a sexologist and advisor for the dating app Hily, to talk about the shocking types of messages that are sent without consent, what types of safeguards and precautions are being put in place to reduce unsolicited sexual behavior, and why consent actually can help heat up a connection on the apps when used intentionally.Follow Dr. Mindy DeSeta @drmindydeseta and check out: https://www.insight-miami.com/Download the dating app Hily: https://hily.go.link/kuZOyTake the Dating Archetypes quiz now: https://howtobedateable.com/HOW TO BE DATEABLE IS OUT! Order now: https://howtobedateable.com/Follow us @dateablepodcast, @juliekrafchick and @nonplatonic. Check out our website for more content. Also listen to our other podcast Exit Interview available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.WE WROTE A BOOK! HOW TO BE DATEABLE (Simon & Schuster, Jan 2025) is available now: https://howtobedateable.com/Our Sponsors:* Bioma Health: Get 3 essential ingredients your gut needs at gobioma.com/dateable* Blueland: Get 15% off cleaning products at https://blueland.com/dateable* Happy Mammoth: Try Prebiotic Collagen Protein and Hormone Harmony risk-free AND get 15% off your order at https://happymammoth.com with the code DATEABLE* Kensington Publishing: Check out House of Rayne by Harley Laroux wherever books are sold in print and in eBook. The gorgeous deluxe hardcover first printing is only available for a limited time so grab yours before they are gone: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Quince: Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/dateable* Washington Red Raspberries: Check out https://redrazz.org to learn about Washington Red Raspberris and get recipes and more!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/dateable-your-insiders-look-into-modern-dating-and-relationships/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

SPONSORS: 1) MOOD: Discover your perfect mood and get 20% off your first order at http://mood.com and use code JULAN at check out! 2) RIDGE: Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code JULIAN at https://www.Ridge.com/julian #ridgepod PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey (***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Mike Yeagley is a data strategist, defense contractor, and one of the early architects of ADINT — Advertising Intelligence. He's known for showing U.S. intelligence how ad-tech location data, the same data used for marketing and mobile tracking, could expose troop movements, covert facilities, and even Vladimir Putin's entourage. Yeagley's work bridges big data, national security, and digital surveillance, redefining how modern governments harvest information in the name of protection — and control. FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/ INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ****TIMESTAMPS**** 00:00 - Intro 00:55 – Phone Data, Cookies, Ad ID, Tim Cook, Tommy G, Julian 10:58 – Public Info, Gov Use, Who is Mike?, Data Analysis, Yemen, Syria 21:41 – Delta Force Covert Op Exposed 30:35 – $600K Data, Privacy, Gov Defense, Beijing App 40:49 – Tactical Data, OpSec, Privacy Norm, Switzerland 50:45 – UnPlugged, Industry Shift, UTS 59:59 – Putin Bodyguards, Alexa, Amazon Ads, Data = Oil 01:07:42 – Human Behavior, Balance, Compliance 01:19:04 – Data for Good, Digital vs Physical, Prove It 01:25:29 – Roenick, Airports, Passports, Khashoggi, Israelis Arabs 01:33:37 – Israeli Intel, Pegasus, China Data Power 01:51:43 – China Apps, Social Media, Isolation, Chaos 01:59:03 – Tariffs, Fentanyl, Bureaucrats, Evil Path 02:08:01 – TikTok, Morality, COVID, Humanity 02:18:09 – Whistleblower, Gov Contract, 2017 Vegas Shooter 02:26:56 – Vegas Shooter Paddock, HVTs, Buried Story 02:39:26 – Gov Shift, Putin, Metadata, Identity 02:52:46 – China, UFWD, Article 7, Balance 03:10:49 – Poindexter, DARPA, Family 03:17:03 – Mike's Work CREDITS: - Host, Editor & Producer: Julian Dorey - COO, Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ - In-Studio Producer: Joey Deef - https://www.instagram.com/joeydeef/ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 343 - Mike Yeagley Music by Artlist.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Derek Dombeck is a seasoned real estate investor, national speaker, and international bestselling author who has navigated the ups and downs of real estate since 2003. Known for his expertise in creative deal structuring, private lending, and relationship-based investing, Derek has completed thousands of transactions while helping investors gain control over their financial futures. Today, he leads Generational Wealth, where he teaches others how to build lasting legacies through intentional business and personal vision.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.     Key Takeaways Learn to operate without banks by mastering creative deal structures and private lending. Building relationships—not relying on institutions—provides flexibility and resilience in any market. Investors must prioritize communication and integrity to maintain trust with lenders and partners. Success is rooted in having a clear vision for life first, and building business strategies around that. Control and freedom come from understanding “why” you want wealth, not just “how” to achieve it.     Topics From Losing Everything to Creative Control Derek started in the early 2000s with bank financing but lost nearly everything in the 2008 crash. Learned to rebuild through creative financing and raising private capital instead of relying on institutions. Founded a private lending business averaging 20–25 loans per month, lending over $3 million monthly. Why Relationships Beat Banks Institutional lending is transactional—private lending is relational. Investors who communicate transparently with private lenders can work through tough times and maintain trust. Reputation and reliability are worth more than a few basis points in interest savings. Raising Private Capital Raised over $25 million by building genuine connections and paying investors before himself. Early mistake: not developing a network soon enough. Now teaches investors to focus on building long-term trust and a solid track record. Creating a Vision-Led Life Entrepreneurs often trade a 9-to-5 job for a “5-to-9” grind—without defining what they actually want. Derek emphasizes creating a written life vision first, then building a business to support it. The question isn't how much money you want, but why you want it—and how it supports the life you envision. Rethinking Goals and Ownership Many chase status symbols (like beach houses or luxury cars) without questioning their purpose. Derek explains how experiences can be enjoyed today without waiting decades—like renting a dream home instead of owning it. True wealth is freedom to live intentionally, not accumulation of “stuff.”    

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, bringing you the latest workplace stories that actually matter. News Round Up Digital Hangover - The New Workplace Epidemic That feeling when you've been on your laptop all day, mindlessly scroll Instagram, and suddenly feel wired but weirdly drained? That's a digital hangover. Psychologies Magazine article: https://pocketmags.com/us/psychologies-magazine/oct-25/articles/the-science-of-wellbeing-how-to-shake-off-a-digital-hangover?srsltid=AfmBOorVwGPxFvEpTNB5EZru-bMQUVahEMrR_Nk5KLVp4daxRgI7CV3W Is Workplace Humour Too Risky? New research from Peter McGraw, Adam Barsky, and Caleb Warren suggests workplace humour might be too risky to attempt. Research article: https://phys.org/news/2025-09-funny.html MrBeast's Vibe Check: Smart Hiring or Commitment Avoidance? The world's biggest YouTuber has introduced 90-day trial periods for all new hires, complete with temporary housing and rental cars. The goal is testing whether someone can adapt to high-speed, high-stakes production work. Business Insider article: https://www.businessinsider.com/why-mrbeast-vibe-checks-new-hires-2025-10 Truth or Lie? Are Tall People Really More Successfully The verdict: TRUE, but with massive caveats. Research shows height correlates with career success - each inch predicts about £600 more in annual earnings. Since 1900, the taller US presidential candidate has won 81% of elections. But height explains only 7% of earning variation, leaving 93% to actual skills, education, and other factors. The effect operates through perceptual bias (we see tall people as more leader-like), modest correlations with intelligence and health, and self-fulfilling prophecies from being treated like a leader from childhood. Workplace Surgery Real listener questions this week: How do you build a reliable team when you're used to doing everything yourself without losing quality control? What do you do when you have to let someone go even though they're trying their best and improving? How do you keep great people when you can't compete on pay with bigger companies? Mental Health Support This episode discusses workplace stress, burnout, and the impact of digital overload on mental wellbeing. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health: UK: Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7 helpline) - https://www.samaritans.org/ Mind: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 - https://www.mind.org.uk/ US: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7) - https://988lifeline.org/ NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) - https://www.nami.org/ International: Befrienders Worldwide: https://www.befrienders.org/ (directory of crisis helplines worldwide) International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ (global crisis center directory) Connect with Your Hosts Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork Chat with us on X: @truthlieswork YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork Want a chat about your workplace culture? hi@TruthLiesandWork.com Got feedback/questions/guest suggestions? Email podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com

Today, I'm joined by Dr. Lisa Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Twin Health.   Replacing population averages with personal biomarkers, Twin Health leverages digital twin technology to address root causes of metabolic conditions like obesity and diabetes.   In this episode, we discuss how machine learning is transforming disease management.   We also cover:   Building a GLP-1 off-ramp Balancing AI with human support Achieving a 71% diabetes reversal rate   Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast  Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe  Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider    Twin Health's Website: www.twinhealth.com  Dr. Lisa Shah's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-shah-4a297b19/ Twin Health's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twinhealthusa/ Twin Health's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twinhealthusa Twin Health's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/twinhealth/   -   The Fitt Insider Podcast is brought to you by EGYM. Visit EGYM.com  to learn more about its smart workout solutions for fitness and health facilities.   Fitt Talent: https://talent.fitt.co/  Consulting: https://consulting.fitt.co/  Investments: https://capital.fitt.co/    Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (02:00) Digital twin technology explained and healthcare applications (04:15) Why digital twin technology is finally possible now (08:30) Turning 3K daily data points into actionable guidance (11:15) Balancing digital twin AI with human care team support (15:00) Clinical outcomes and New England Journal of Medicine study (19:15) Root cause solutions vs symptom management (21:15) Scaling from employer benefits to consumer prevention (24:00) Value-based care approach vs. direct-to-consumer model (27:15) Digital twin complexity across multiple health systems (31:00) Building trust through real-time feedback loops (33:00) Agentic AI applications in healthcare delivery (37:42) Future roadmap (40:15) Conclusion  

BOSSes, Anne Ganguzza is joined by her superpower co-host, Lau Lapides, to discuss a critical issue in the voiceover industry: brand alignment and navigating controversy. Sparked by the American Eagle/Sydney Sweeney campaign, the hosts explore how a voice actor's ethics and personal brand are intrinsically linked to the clients they represent. They emphasize that in the age of social media, protecting your digital reputation is non-negotiable for long-term career success. 00:00 - Anne (Host) Hey bosses, Anne Ganguzza, you know your journey in voiceover is not just about landing gigs. It's about growing both personally and professionally. At Anne Ganguzza Voice Productions, I focus on coaching and demo production that nurtures your voice and your confidence. Let's grow together. Visit anneganguzza.com to find out more.  00:25 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) It's time to take your business to the next level, the boss level. These are the premier business owner strategies and successes being utilized by the industry's top talent today. Rock your business like a boss a VO boss. Now let's welcome your host, Ganguzza.  00:47 - Anne (Host) Hey everyone, Welcome to the VO Boss podcast and the Boss Superpower Series. I'm your host, Anne Ganguzza, along with my awesome superpower co-host Lollapetas.  00:56 - Lau (Guest) Hello, Annie, it's so good to be back. I love being in this Zoom room with you. Or it's not Zoom, but it's Riverside, but I love being in this space room with you. Or it's not Zoom, but it's Riverside, but I love being in this space with you, I know I look forward to it.  01:10 - Anne (Host) We get to see each other and it's been so long it's fabulous when we get back together because we have so much to catch up on. I know, I know oh my gosh.  01:19 - Lau (Guest) By the way, I love your outfit today. You look great.  01:23 - Anne (Host) Why thank you my, my jean shirt or my denim shirt? No, what's really cool about this is this is kind of well, I should say it's it's. It's deceiving, maybe because it looks like it's denim but it's actually like French Terry, and so it's super, super comfortable. But you know, speaking of jeans, I was going to say what color are your jeans.  01:50 Well, you know, I have good jeans and advertising campaigns for our businesses. I mean gosh, it's all over the news. I mean the American Eagle campaign with Sydney Sweeney. I mean, you know, she's got good jeans, and so it's a really interesting debate. I think it's something that we could absolutely relate to our own voiceover businesses in terms of associating with now, first of all, like associating with a brand that may or may not be controversial or may or may not be on the side of you know where your feelings align. I think that would be a really, really interesting topic.  02:30 - Lau (Guest) Lau I love that topic because we hear that word floating in the industry now for quite a while branding. Branding is connected to marketing, is connected to selling right and how you represent yourself and who you're connected to. That helps you represent yourself as well. And making some of those concerted decisions on who you want to be attached to and connected to, that really help you design your ethos of your business.  02:58 - Anne (Host) Well, they can help you. They can help you be successful in the industry, or maybe not. They can help you be controversial in the industry, or maybe not. They can help you be controversial in the industry. It's such an interesting. Now you know one thing about that campaign for me, when I first saw it, I didn't think anything of it, because I am a woman of a certain age and I remember the Jean campaign with Brooke Shields and Calvin Klein, and I just remember it, with Brooke Shields and Calvin Klein, and I just remember it, you know. And so, as a girl in, I think it was in elementary or high school. I can't remember when that came out, but it was the 80s, right? All I know is that I wanted a pair of Calvin Klein jeans because I wanted to look like Brooke Shields. Now today, didn't we all did not we Right?  03:41 No, I thought nothing of it, right, I thought nothing really horrible of it. But then it did become controversial because obviously she was, you know, she was young when she did that ad and it was a little bit sexually, you know, promiscuous, some people would say. And so, you know, today that type of advertising wouldn't fly and I think people are comparing Sydney Sweeney with that, because of she's got good genes, you've got an attractive female and a pair of jeans, and you know, of course, american Eagle says you know, it was always all about the genes, it's not always not about the, not about the misconception that jeans J-E-A-N-S is similar to G-E-N-E-S, so there's a lot to unpack there.  04:25 I don't know how did you react to it when it first came out? What were your thoughts?  04:29 - Lau (Guest) Well, you know what's so funny about the Brooke Shields thing that you bring up? That's the first thing I thought of is that everyone who's outraged about it is not old enough to remember the Brooke Shields and that's what they were really copying. I think that was a copycat from 45 years ago Going back to the old let's sell.  04:45 Yeah, but if you remember, annie, it was there was another controversy hooked on to Brooke Shields at that time, based on that commercial, because that was right around the time that she had shot Blue Lagoon, blue Lagoon, yeah, and she was only like 11, 11 or 12.  05:05 - Anne (Host) I think it was 13.  05:05 - Lau (Guest) Well, by that time she was about 13. But she was still very young and the mother was managing her and so there was a huge blowup and controversy about this young girl doing these so-called sexually explicit commercials about my sexuality and my body, about my sexuality and my body. And I remember thinking, and when I saw it again I thought wow, how did she get those jeans on without showing us anything, right in front of us, Like I was amazed and, as a young girl, I yeah, it was a Cirque du Soleil act.  05:35 It was amazing. Yeah, you know, as a young girl, media is so influential right.  05:41 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) So, influential.  05:41 - Anne (Host) The thing is that, as voice actors, we really have a part in playing into the media, right, because our voices are representing brands, and for me at the time, I didn't consider anything wrong with it. All I know is that I wanted to look like Brooke Shields in those jeans and therefore I wanted the jeans. And I'll tell you what it was an expressly popular campaign that made Calvin Klein a ton of money, a ton of money.  06:09 - Lau (Guest) But if you look at it now as an adult and you listen from a voiceover perspective, her voice was very, very young very kidlike and very straightforward. She was trying to be, if anything, a little bit smart or intellectual versus overly sexy and centralized, but yet the perception, the visual right Was that was that.  06:34 - Anne (Host) That's exactly it. So there's a lot of, there's a lot of things there, and if you were the voice of a campaign that was controversial, right would. If it was something you believed in or didn't believe in, is that something that, as a voice actor, would you accept? And I think, or an actor, I mean any kind of role right? Do you accept those roles if they align with your belief system or your morals or your ethics or whatever that is, and how can it propel your business forward or not?  07:07 I mean, there's just so much that we have choices in, and as well as influence in, as voice actors, and we think sometimes we're hiding behind this microphone, but no, we're still a very intricate part of a media campaign. And so, really, as a voice actor, how do you decide? Really, is you know, oh, this could really propel my campaign if I decide that I want to align with this brand and be the voice of it, or sometimes it's not even about being the voice of it. It's maybe working with that brand in any capacity. You know, how is that going to affect your business? Because people have opinions, people always have opinions, and gosh aren't they all over the place.  07:56 - Lau (Guest) Now that social media is prevalent, they're the Wild West we like to call it right, Annie, it's the Wild West.  07:59 And I would say in my mind it's likened to all the people, not just women but men too. In my mind it's likened to all the people, not just women but men too, but certainly all the women, who have said for many years you know, I am interested in doing romance novels, exotica work, triple X, adult swim as a voiceover talent, but I'm concerned about how my business is going to be viewed. I'm going to use an AKA, an alter ego, another name, another business name, and so I think that voiceover talent have been making these decisions for a very, very long time. Even though we don't have the visuals for the voiceover talent, we may have the visual for the work and so for the work itself may give visuals and vocals that are not aligned with the talent's vision of their business, and sometimes you don't even know.  08:49 - Anne (Host) Sometimes you don't even know, right. I mean you can tell a lot by the context of the script sometimes, but sometimes you can. You don't know where that's going to end up. And again, now that makes me think of, like, you know deep fakes and AI and you don't know where your voice is going to be used. But if you are, you know, an active participant and you are aware, I think really the best thing you can do if these things are concerning to you, right, the more you know, the more you're educated, the better off you're going to be, because you can make those decisions to determine if you want to be aligned.  09:24 I mean there have been careers ruined by, you know, wrong brand alignment, and gosh knows with today's you know political climate. I mean it comes down to and you know what, laura, it comes down to if you think about it. We're in a business. We need to make money, right, and guess what? So are companies that are advertising, right. They're in the business to make money and so a lot of times our decisions are based on money. Yeah.  09:52 - Lau (Guest) Wake up, smell the coffee right, and it's like who is to judge what one person or one brand identity or one company should or shouldn't be doing. It's really in the eyes and ears of the audience. It's really the perception. So, as many people really disagree, fervently disagree and are angered and outraged by that particular American Eagle campaign, you have a mass swath of people who are buying everything.  10:24 - Anne (Host) That gene that she is, they can't keep. I'm just saying or buying everything that gene, that gene that they can't keep it on the proverbial shelf Exactly.  10:29 Right, Exactly so yeah, and it's interesting because I read a couple of. I read a couple of articles about it and they, of course, american Eagle says it's all about the genes. It's always been about the genes and in reality it kind of is like a return back to marketing. You know, marketing for the last few years has been very concerned with, of course, the shift, notice how the shift in cultural trends, right to making sure inclusivity, diversity, you know, every body type is shown and everybody is represented, which I thought was great. I mean I love that. But apparently, like, if you're in the business, I mean, did it sell? I thought it did.  11:09 Personally, I aligned with it better and I bought, I consumed, just like I did before. However, there is a a huge, there's a huge another aspect to this to unpack, about influencers, right, I mean, in reality, I mean she's a famous actress, right, and so just like Brooke Shields. So if she's going to wear these jeans and feel good in them and look good in them, then that's going to really entice other people to buy and you know, or not, right? And If they, I mean how many times? Lau and I I have very strong ideas about like companies and what they do with their money. So like if they're known to, you know, I don't know, do bad things. I will not support of things that companies do behind the scenes and therefore, when I do find out, I then have a choice, to make a decision whether I want to consume that, you know, buy that or not. And I think that, again, as a consumer and as a voice actor, the more educated we can be, the better decisions we can make to determine if we want to align with that.  12:21 - Lau (Guest) I would totally agree and I would say the irony to me about talking about influencers online is why are they called influencers? Yeah, yeah, they're called influences because they have powerful influence over mass swaths of people who want to look like them, sound like them, live like them, whatever. Of people who want to look like them, sound like them, live like them, whatever. So if we were to make a value judgment, we would have to make it evenly across the board between network television and social media and voiceover and radio and TV, that that is just a no-go, which, of course, no one's going to do. We're not going to do that because you know it's a free country and people are going to run their businesses how they run their businesses girls on Instagram to get that facelift or to get those eyebrows or to get those lash extensions, to feel good about who they are.  13:27 - Anne (Host) Well, oh no, okay, you bring up a really important point here, right To feel good about who you are. So what I do because you know I do a little bit of fashion influencing- I know you are an influencer, actually.  13:39 - Lau (Guest) My well, oh my goodness, put your influencer hat on.  13:42 - Anne (Host) So my influencer hat is and I've been, I've been multiple sizes, I've been big and I've been small, right, I mean, I don't know, I've never considered myself small, but that's a whole nother podcast. So, depending on the size right, I followed different influencers. I found and for the most part, if you think about it, when I was a little bit bigger, I had an influencer who I loved her because she was bigger and she was confident and she was beautiful. And I said, gosh, if I could just be confident. And you know, and as a matter of fact, people in my life I've known, I'm like gosh, she's bigger and she's confident. I wish I could be confident like that. I could be confident like that. And then when I, when I started to lose weight, then I it's funny because I switched, following the one influencer who her body type was a little bit bigger, to an influence it was a little bit more my, my body type size, or maybe even smaller, because it was then helpful, it was motivating for me, or inspiring to me.  14:36 And so, in reality and in every instance, right, the influencer made me feel better about myself. Right, I was either motivated or inspired. To well, people are going to say it might be healthy if you say, oh, I want to look like them. But in reality, when it came to my weight, my body size, it was more about becoming healthy. I needed to become healthy, right. And yeah, the clothes were pretty. I didn't have that option with these clothes at this particular size. So, yeah, there was something inspirational and motivational. And then there was the girl who I still follow. She's a bigger girl who is just beautiful at whatever size she's at, and it's really the message that she's saying. That's really the most important thing.  15:17 - Lau (Guest) But I have a question about that, annie, and I know we're getting a little farther away from the voiceover aspect, but from a performance and business aspect, voiceovers need to be thinking about all of this and how you represent your brand and how you think about what you do. Well, absolutely, my question is you have a lot of these people, including, like Lizzo, for instance she was the first one that came to my mind, yeah who made it very public that they lost a ton of weight and that they are very happy they did that and very happy that they're healthier and very happy at whatever they're at.  15:51 - Anne (Host) Yeah.  15:52 - Lau (Guest) So it makes you question well, wait a second, is this for branding sake, to have those brands out there because they know, like a big part of the population is, say, has a certain look or a certain size or a certain sound? Well, yeah, the biggest demographic, the biggest demographic, right? Yeah, versus the reality of the person actually feeling good in their life, I'm going to argue that they're performers and they're performing and that many of them don't feel good about some of the choices they've made in their life and therefore they go and change it. Or their company representatives say you need to change this brand because it is not resonating with the majority of our audiences and we will never know.  16:38 Never know how much influence comes from which direction. We will really not know, that right.  16:44 - Anne (Host) Absolutely. I mean and again this is I mean for bosses out there if you think we're going off topic, in reality we're not, because we're not talking about marketing and advertising, which directly affects us. I mean, that's where we I mean our voices are representing brands that have fluctuations in the way that they advertise and in the way that they market their products, and it's important for us to understand where it's headed, where the trends are and really what is it that matters. And then, what is it that matters to you as an actor, being a part of that campaign, resonating with a brand that may or may not be controversial? Right, Brands change.  17:26 - Lau (Guest) This is where you have to forgive yourself they shift and change trends over time, because that's the natural state of being a human being, is that you age, you change, trends change whatever. Another one that comes to my mind one of my favorite original rappers and then became actress was Queen Latifah. Yeah, yeah. Who I loved for so many reasons. Yeah she's awesome Right.  17:50 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) Rubenesque woman beautiful woman.  17:52 - Lau (Guest) Well, she went on a whole campaign I can't remember what it was, whether it was Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem or whatever it was, but she became the brand ambassador of them to lose weight and she had trouble doing it and she never reached the target weight. When she didn't, they dropped her. Yeah, yeah, okay. So my point is was that her and it made you feel like, it made me feel like you know, when you use Tide or use a laundry detergent and then, all of a sudden, you've been using it and it's been good for years, and then it's like no, all new developed. You think, what have I been using that whole time? It wasn't really good. That's how it made me feel.  18:31 - Anne (Host) Well influencing you know and marketing advertising, influencing in their way influencing right as opposed to, and I think that's why influencers became really popular, because it was real people, it wasn't companies. Well, it was the illusion of real people, right?  18:47 Well, they are real people Right right, oh look, I'm not being paid for this but a lot of times, influencers, they get a little bit of a cut. I mean I, you know, hey, I got a little bit of a cut. I'm encouraged to, you know, try this top or this, you know, this pants set or whatever, and then talk about it so that I can get a little bit of a break or a deal. But I creatively love to curate outfits and, to be quite honest, the amount of time I spend at this point because I don't do it full time the amount of time that I spend, you know, putting together videos and stuff, it takes a lot of time. That's my, that's like a, that's a day of my weekend in reality, and I don't make I don't make half as much money as I do when I'm doing voiceover. So for me that's just like a passion project.  19:31 But what is it that voice actors you know need to do? I mean, I think that you either don't realize that you are an intrinsic part of a brand that could or could not be, you know, I mean, you probably know if they're controversial. It's the same thing with political voiceover, Right, we talked about this like not so long ago. What's you know? Are you on a particular side of the fence? Are you? Is your voice, your voice being speaking things that align with your, what you believe in and your morals and your ethics? Or are you just voicing things to make money, because it happens to be something that pays the bills?  20:09 - Lau (Guest) Right and really paying attention to what your audience is identifying your value as. Like I can come in and say, well, I'm going to provide this, I'm going to do this, but I may not have the calling for that. I have to pay attention. Where is the calling of the audience?  20:27 And then go to the. If I want to go to the full extent of that brand, give them awareness of what it is, awareness of my, you know, professionalism, my ethos in it. Whatever that is, it's not always what I'm starting out to be is what it's going to be. I see that all the time like a mismatch of brand knowledge. Someone would say, well, I do this all the time, I play this all the time and I say, right, but what are you being hired for? What you're being hired for might be very different than what you do in your side life.  21:01 - Anne (Host) And if you think about it, like if you align yourself with a style of voiceover that is, you know, has a message, right, that may or it on levels with brands that I've been associated with, where, if you're not careful and you know I mean with the VO Boss podcast, right, if you're not careful people will associate you with those brands as well, and you know that can be detrimental to your career, to your livelihood, and that is something it's sometimes. It's not an easy decision. It's not an easy decision to make. It's not an easy decision.  21:42 - Lau (Guest) It's not an easy decision to make. It's not an easy decision. You have to realize you're performing a part. So whenever you are in that what I call the awareness zone that's like the industry awareness of who you are Like I feel like I play two parts. One is the real person in the larger world, who may or may not know me, and then the person, the mama, who knows me, who people know me in the larger world, who may or may not know me, and then the person, the mama, who knows me, who people know me in the industry. And when I play that role, I know I'm always to some degree on, you're always on and having that awareness that there is a performance value to what you do. How?  22:15 - Anne (Host) interesting because your brand, since I've known you, has evolved into Mama Lau, which you know what I mean. Because I want to say it's because I started calling you Mama Lau, because that's what I called my mother, and then it turned into Mama Lau, but now as Mama Lau, known as Mama Lau in the industry. Right, you now need to be considerate of. Okay, what does this brand speak about me? And if you were to do something, that would not be Mama Lau.  22:42 - Lau (Guest) Right, so I'm not going to go to Vegas and become a stripper anytime soon. Are you going to?  22:47 - Anne (Host) be an erotic. I mean, would you be an erotica audiobook narrator? I mean, well, maybe not under Mama Lau but, here, you are here you are with. Unless you're going to be a character voice, right, here you are, I know your voice. And unless you're going to be a character voice and I don't recognize that voice, right, our voices are recognizable.  23:07 I mean, some of us have immediately, like I know, this person's voice from you know long you know, far, far away, I can tell that voice and I have that with some of my students that have distinctly unique voices, right, I'm thinking they probably can't go into you know erotica character work if they don't want to know other people to know about it. Yes, you know, if you want other people to know about it, that's fine. But for you, under that brand, you have to. There's a responsibility to that brand, right?  23:34 - Lau (Guest) Yes, there is.  23:34 - Anne (Host) In what you do. It reminds me of. It reminds me of oh my gosh, who was it? Who was it? He was a comedian. He was fired in 2011 due to offensive tweets he made about the Japan earthquake and the tsunami. And it is, oh my gosh, gilbert Gottfried. There you go.  23:50 - Lau (Guest) Oh wow, how could we not?  23:52 - Anne (Host) remember that, yes. I know right Gilbert Gottfried.  23:55 - Lau (Guest) I didn't know that.  23:56 - Anne (Host) Yeah, oh yeah, and it was. It was. That was, I think, when it first, at least when I was in the industry, when it first became evident that social media and what you do outside of your job in voice acting, will have a direct effect, if it's offensive enough, right On your job. And you know, nowadays people have to be careful on social media what they're posting. And because companies can now go check out your social media, because companies can now go check out your social media, and so for you as a voice actor, again, it has to come to mind that if you are known, or if you are known in social media, now your actions, if people were to look you up on social media and find that you're associated with a brand or find that you are, you've done something that I don't know is not something that aligns with their ethics right, it can affect your business.  24:52 - Lau (Guest) So in a way, annie, it's kind of like we're blurring the lines of our real reality of living a life as a person, with our business and our performance career, that there is kind of that expectation that you sort of represent it all of your life, all of your life, and you're not going to go through anything. That's antithetical to that image that is being put out there, which I mean. For me it's easy because I'm kind of like, I'm a mama type anyway, but for the average person I think that would be hard, that would be a challenge.  25:27 Mama Lau as mama Lau would not go to a Coldplay concert and get yourself caught on the probably not. I'd be the person standing outside with food, waving my hand, going what did you do in there? What did you do?  25:37 - Anne (Host) And we should bring that up, because yet there's another like CEO of you know, of a company, and then the director of HR, the director of the people I forget what they call it now. I'm like director of HR, no people, ceo of people. Forgive me for not knowing what her title was. She was HR, wasn't she?  25:55 - Lau (Guest) The head of HR. Yes, Like top HR, you know? Executive.  26:00 - Anne (Host) I think PMO is a people. I forget what it is, but anyways, see it, you know. So, really, if you think about it, what did that do those actions do to the brand? Right To the brand. Yes, they say all all, what is it? All publicity is good publicity, but do you think that this was good publicity for the company?  26:24 - Lau (Guest) No, no, I don't either. I don't think there was any redeeming value to that and that felt to me it could have been happenstance, but it felt like a setup. It felt like someone tipped someone off to put them on the jumbotron.  26:37 - Anne (Host) Oh interesting, I didn't think that it didn't just feel random.  26:40 - Lau (Guest) There was like, like, how many people were there?  26:44 - Anne (Host) 50,000? I don't know. I think I, I didn't think it, I don't think they were set up, I mean, unless you have somebody in the company that's like. Well, I mean, first of all you have to, you have to know the person that's, you know, focusing on the Jumbotron and say, oh my God, wouldn't it be funny if you know I hate that guy or whatever? But think about it?  27:01 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) I don't know.  27:02 - Anne (Host) Your actions in life right can be directly affected these days because of social media, because of the now back in the day when I had to walk to school 10 miles up a hill in the snow. When there wasn't social media, it was a little easier to get away with, I would say, indiscretions like that.  27:24 - Lau (Guest) But now, maybe even now with being a voiceover talent. You've got that anonymity to some degree.  27:31 - Anne (Host) But not as much anymore. I'm saying not as much anymore, remember, because voice actors, we're all about social media, aren't we? Because, guess what we need to get work and what are we doing? We're trying to showcase're all about social media, aren't we? Because guess what we need to get work and what are we doing? We're trying to showcase our brand on social media, and when you do that, you really have to be prepared for repercussions. If you are going to voice a campaign, associate yourself with a brand that may be controversial, and you know something that is a concern for your business. That may not have been so much of a concern maybe 20, 30 years ago.  28:06 - Lau (Guest) It's true, because I think with probably the third generation now, or what would we say, maybe the second generation now, millennials and Gen Zers, who are digital natives, growing, up online on social media like their life online on social media like they didn't see the commercial.  28:23 Their life- is on social media. So their lines are very blurred, like I would say, arguably our generation x not as blurred like I know. When I was younger I used to think, oh, the Brady kids are really like that. Now I realize they're separate people, right, they're separate people than what they did in the sitcom. But nowadays it's like oh, everyone thinks that anything you do online is you, is really you, and so it puts a lot of pressure on those people to say okay, am I in alignment with the kind of brand that I want to have out there or not?  29:02 And a lot of people will say well, you know what do they say? All good, all press, bad press, negative press is still good, press, it's still good. I don't know about that. I don't know about that. I don't think that's true. Yeah, I don't think that's true.  29:15 - Anne (Host) I mean in a way. I mean in a way who said?  29:19 - Lau (Guest) that. Beyonce, who said that Someone big said that I don't even remember, but in a way, american Eagle is benefiting from the controversy.  29:27 - Anne (Host) However, there's really good arguments on either side of it. Again, they're promoting to a crowd you know who are their best sellers. Do you know what I mean? Because, as I and you also talked about in the beginning, we have a certain familiarness with advertising from 30 years ago, right 40 years ago, and so for us, maybe that ad was like oh okay, I didn't think anything of it, but then all of a sudden, because of the younger generation, right, who are like hey, what is this? Or you know, or why, especially with political things going on, what do you mean? Genes like G-E-N-E-S Is that? Then it became a political thing. So I think that we have to be really, really careful, as voice actors on social media, to make sure that we're aware, be aware, educate yourself and be aware of what your voice, what your presence, what your social presence means to your business.  30:33 - Lau (Guest) And I also would add on to that, annie, that we just had a discussion because my group was in New York showcasing of actors and I was really tough, talk about mama, tough. I was really tough and saying listen, I'm just going to tell you this right now If you don't go into your social media right now, before you audition for those agents, those casting directors, those producers, and clean it up and scrub your stuff, scrub it.  30:57 Get reputation defenders. Do whatever you need to do to scrub it. Keep your ideas and ideals separate, because you don't want to alienate people and their whole audience before you even meet them and audition for them, do you? I mean, do you to be a really good note to leave on Digital Digital?  31:25 - Anne (Host) We are digital. We are digital.  31:27 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) Your footprint's there.  31:28 - Anne (Host) Digital is traceable, just saying Digital is traceable, you are. Have you ever tried to? And again, we've never really covered this in depth, but if you think about it, if you ever tried to make a comment and then delete it and then it didn't really delete or did, how many people took a screenshot of that? Yeah, you know, before you deleted it.  31:48 So again, things are digital and things, and because we've gotten again on your phone, on your computer, just assume that people are tracing and I know, yes, you can get it's not right and I get that, but just assume and just you know, honestly, just be aware, be aware and protect your business, protect your voice, protect your business and protect your bossness. Guys, be a bossness.  32:16 - Lau (Guest) And I'll leave on this note in saying yes, and I'll piggyback by saying, even just for who you are as a person, be happy and content with the brand you're creating. Because, you're going to have to live with that for a long time. As long as you have your business, you'll have to live with it.  32:34 - Anne (Host) I have people.  32:35 - Lau (Guest) Annie when I go to a conference or something screaming across the room hey mama, how are you? If I didn't like that, I didn't want that, I'd have to change it. I'd have to really change it and make a concerted effort to do that so be happy with what you're selecting and what you're choosing and what your audience is giving to you and, if not, strategize elsewhere, redirect it.  32:59 - Anne (Host) Good stuff, good stuff, amazing Bosses. We would love to hear your thoughts honestly. So you know, write us at theboss, annaviobosscom. We'd love to hear from you right in our community Facebook page. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this. So, Lau, it's been amazing, amazing, as always. Big shout out to our sponsor, ipdtl. You too can connect and network like bosses. Find out more at IPDTLcom. Bosses have an amazing week and we'll see you next week.  33:30 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) Bye, see you next time. Join us next week for another edition of VO Boss with your host, anne Ganguzza, and take your business to the next level. Sign up for our mailing list at vobosscom and receive exclusive content industry revolutionizing tips and strategies and new ways to rock your business like a boss. Redistribution with permission. Coast to coast connectivity via IPDTL.     

Exposing the Technocratic Assault: AI Slavery, Surveillance, Biodigital Convergence, and Pathways to Resistance Join me, Courtenay Turner, as host and MC for the complete recording of the Omniwar Symposium, held on October 4, 2025. This 5.5-hour event, presented by the Study Group on Technology and Power, features in-depth analyses from leading scholars on the escalating threats of technocracy to human autonomy, sovereignty, and societal integrity. From the weaponization of digital technologies in class warfare to the esoteric roots fueling transhumanist agendas, this symposium unpacks the mechanisms of control shaping our world. Featured Presentations: Patrick Wood: “Building Empire on the Backs of Digital Slaves” – A historical and contemporary dissection of technocracy's drive for global domination via AI and blockchain. David A. Hughes, PhD: “Digital Technologies as Weapons” – An examination of GovTech, agentic states, and cognitive warfare as tools for algorithmic dictatorship. Jacob Nordangård, PhD: “Externalizing the Agentic AI State: A Spiritual Path Towards Digital Enslavement” – Tracing the fusion of New Age philosophies and transhumanism in the creation of a digital “world brain.” Google's “The Selfish Ledger” Interlude: A leaked internal video illustrating Big Tech's vision of data as an evolutionary tool for behavioral engineering. Daniel Broudy, PhD: “Born Again: The Convergence of Man and Machine in the Spirit of AI-god” – An eschatological analysis of transhumanism as idolatry, blending prophecy and psycholinguistics. Followed by a panel discussion on intersections of technocracy, spirituality, and resistance strategies, plus a dynamic Q&A addressing audience queries on solutions, globalist agendas, and nanotechnology. This recording is essential for anyone seeking to understand and counter the biodigital convergence threatening humanity. Download, share, and discuss—knowledge is our primary defense. For chapter breakdowns and resources:  https://open.substack.com/pub/courtenayturner/p/omniwar-symposium-recap-academia Support the speakers: Patrick Wood: technocracy.news | Substack: patrickwood.substack.com X: @StopTechnocracy David A Hughes: dhughes.substack.com Jacob Nordangård: jacobnordangard.se | Substack: jacobnordangard.substack.com | X: @JacobNordangard Daniel Broudy: ResearchGate |  Propaganda in Focus Courtenay Turner: courtenayturner.com | Substack: courtenayturner.substack.com | X: @CourtenayTurner #Omniwar #Technocracy #AISlavery #BiodigitalConvergence #Transhumanism #FreedomFighters Share Recorded October 4, 2025.  Presented by the Study Group on Technology and Power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Digital Drama 10-7-2025 …Derek isn't complaining about the Rooster cause he's banging Kara …Mike is already laying down the “Trick or Treat” Rules

I'M READY FOR A DIGITAL CLONE and have been for years. What am I talking about? Futurist Thomas Frey says having a digital clone is right around the corner and I'm ready. We may also talk about the three rules of Exponential Capabilities to make us feel a bit better about all the jobs lost to AI. If there's time, we'll discuss space data centers too. Find Thomas by clicking here.

Todays Topics BKFC Ice Wars "Fight Week" My guest is "Chef" aka Bare Knuckle Mobb https://www.youtube.com/@BareKnuckleMobb IG https://www.instagram.com/bareknucklemobb/ Episode 474 Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code THPN. That's code THPN to get $200 in bonus bets instantly when you place your first $5 bet — plus over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTubeTV. In partnership with DraftKings — The Crown Is Yours. Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (four six seven three six nine). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit ccpg dot org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas). Twenty-one plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Fees may apply in Illinois. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook dot draftkings dot com slash promos. NFL Sunday Ticket offer for new subscribers only and auto-renews until cancelled. Digital games and commercial use excluded. Restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday Ticket terms at youtube dot com slash go slash n f l sunday ticket slash terms. Limited time offer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Christiana Smith Shi is a seasoned leader in global, multichannel retail, co-author of national, best-selling book Career Forward: Strategies From Women Who've Made It, founder and principal at Lovejoy Advisors, LLC., and an experienced corporate director on multiple Fortune 100 boards. Christiana made an early career pivot from finance to join McKinsey & Company, where she ultimately served as Senior Partner. After 25 years in management consulting, Christiana became the President of Direct-to-Consumer at Nike. In 2016, she retired from Nike and founded Lovejoy Advisors to help provide guidance around digital transformation for consumer and retail businesses. She joins Roy to share insights into navigating a rewarding career, talent lessons from McKinsey and Nike, and much more. Highlights from our conversation include:The timely issue that prompted her to write a book (3:58)Why Christiana puts career first, job second (9:18)How to take a strategic long view with your career (10:55)Advice for building “professional equity” (15:27)What it means to “think like an investor” when it comes to your career (16:58)Christiana's core leadership philosophy (22:20)Her perspective on the value of leadership coaching (25:38)The role of feedback as a leader (26:47)Lessons learned about hiring and talent and the major differences between hiring at McKinsey and Nike (30:25)How Christiana worked to integrate her team into the culture of Nike (35:35)Identifying strengths and opportunities of a team (37:20)How to avoid what she calls "benevolent stagnation” (42:09)How Christiana has applied her career experience and strategies to her work on boards (45:19)Advice for landing board roles (46:45)The ultimate payoff of a rewarding career and what Christiana is thinking about for the future (55:05)Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode.Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.Subscribe to How I Hire:AppleSpotifyAmazon

What if people trusted you more than your brand? In this episode of Unemployable with Jeff Dudan, Jeff sits down with Brooke Budke — a cancer survivor, former President of Title Boxing Club, and now the Founder & CEO of Momentum Brands, a fractional CMO firm helping emerging franchise brands grow through authentic personal branding, not paid ads. Brooke shares why 80% of consumers would rather follow the founder than the brand, the psychology behind trust in the post-COVID marketplace, and how leaders can use platforms like LinkedIn to build real authority. They also unpack the future of search, the rise of AI, how to humanize automation, and why franchise CEOs must stay congruent with their mission to win trust online and offline. In This Episode: Why personal brands outperform corporate brands The 5 content pillars of authority How to build presence on LinkedIn (without being cringe) The evolution of Google → Gemini → ChatGPT search Balancing authenticity and leadership in franchise systems Guerrilla marketing tactics that still work in 2025

Digital strategist Deja Foxx went viral for speaking up at a town meeting — and then learned the harsh cost of being in social media's crosshairs. She welcomes us to the “girl internet,” a growing ecosystem of women-led platforms that prioritize privacy, community and respect. "We're building a new, better way of being online, no matter your generation or your gender," she says.TED Talks Daily is nominated for the Signal Award for Best Conversation Starter Podcast. Vote here!Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:TEDNext: ted.com/futureyouTEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-viennaTEDAI San Francisco: ted.com/ai-sf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the gift of tears and the importance of allowing ourselves to cry. We reflect on our experiences with crying and talk about how tears, especially in painful moments, can be a powerful expression of surrender, lament, and hope when offered to God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, our sensitivity and capacity to cry reflect the way we were beautifully created to respond to what breaks God's heart. We discuss the vulnerability of crying, the pain of resisting it, and how Jesus crying out on the cross reveals the value of our own cries. Whether you're too tired to cry, afraid to show need, or already feel safe expressing emotion, we invite you to see crying as an act of worship and intercession. In our sorrow, God meets us with love, truth, and the hope that He can actually do something with our pain.   Heather's One Thing - Spirit Breathe by Sarah Kroger and Echo Harbor Worship Sister Miriam's One Thing - Beloved Son by Carrie Daunt Michelle's One Thing - Her new back porch!   Other Resources Mentioned:  Pope Leo XIV's General Audience of September 10, 2025 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer   Journal Questions: When was the last time I cried? What would it look like for me to cry well? Where has my heart been repressed? Where do I need to cry out?   Discussion Questions: How did Pope Leo's words change your perspective on crying? How are you tempted to give in to cynicism? In what ways are you self-reliant in this season of life? How can you be an empathetic witness to someone crying out in their life?   Quote to Ponder: “Finally, she asks God to give her a gift of tears to draw his mercy down upon the world, and especially upon his church.  In one of her visions, Catherine records having been told by God: “If you open your mind's eye you will see that the Holy Spirit weeps in the person of every one of my servants who offers me the fragrance of holy desire and constant humble prayer.” (St. Catherine of Sienna, The Dialogue Study Edition)   “We are accustomed to thinking of crying out as something disorderly, to be repressed. The Gospel confers an immense value to our cry, reminding us that it can be an invocation, a protest, a desire, a surrender. It can even be the extreme form of prayer, when there are no words left. In that cry, Jesus gave all that he had left: all his love, all his hope.” (General Audience, September 10, 2025, Pope Leo XIV)    Scripture for Lectio: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1)   Sponsor - Beata Home: This episode is sponsored by Beata Home, a boutique-style print shop founded by Katie, a wife and mom of four. The word Beata is derived from the Latin word for “blessed,” and that is her hope, that each piece will be a blessing to homes and families. Born out of the conviction that beauty has the power to evangelize, Beata Home makes it easy for Catholic families to surround themselves with art that reflects their faith and lifts hearts and minds to God. Beata Home offers something for every family and every budget: Digital downloads for instant access and affordable printing Fine art prints in sizes from 8x10 up to 30x40 inches Ready-to-hang framed artwork in seven different frame styles Artwork is printed on museum-quality paper with archival inks, ensuring beauty that lasts for generations. Whether it's a small image for a prayer corner or a statement piece for your living room, Beata Home makes it simple to bring beauty and faith into your everyday spaces. The heart of Beata Home is sacred art, but the collection also includes carefully chosen vintage artwork because all beauty points to the Creator. Visit beatahome.com to explore the growing collection, and as a gift for Abiding Together listeners, use the code ABIDING10 for 10% off your first purchase. Support a Catholic family business and bring beauty into your domestic church with Beata Home!   Chapters:  00:00 Beata Home 01:14 Intro 02:04 Welcome 03:58 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder 05:11 The Pain of Resisting Tears 06:58 Crying Out is Vulnerable 08:50 Tears are a Gift 11:45 A Remedy for Self Reliance 13:23 What Happens When We Stop Crying Out 15:25 Crying with Others 17:53 Being Needy vs Having Needs 20:41 Sometimes All We Can Do is Cry 22:54 God Speaks to You Though Tears 24:30 Slowing Down 26:37 Crying as an Intercession 28:46 One Things

CLL #2614 (feat. The Love Between The Two Hosts) 10/05/2005 – Wednesday Night Show Source – Tucker Stream Recording (2005) This episode is 100% complete with a medium audio upgrade. Some fans think the second half of this show is a Sleeper Classic. Decide for yourself. The Love Between The Two Hosts – CLL on Youtube, with Video for select episodes. https://adamanddrdrewshow.com/1743-loveline-nostalgia-with-superfan-giovanni/ https://account.venmo.com/u/GiovanniGiorgio Paid Link – As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Music Provided by Rich Banks Check out His Website and Soundcloud to hear more of his awesome work and perhaps commission him for your next project. Venmo

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we're diving into one of the most avoided — yet absolutely essential — conversations in personal finance: estate planning. Host [Your Name] sits down with Alexandra Sepulveda, Head of Legal at Trust & Will, to break down the myths, cultural taboos, and emotional barriers that often keep us from preparing for the inevitable.Alexandra shares her deeply personal journey that began after a close brush with tragedy in her own family — and how that experience ignited her passion for helping others protect their legacy. Together, they discuss how to start the conversation with loved ones, why estate planning isn't just for the wealthy, and how digital tools like Trust & Will are breaking down barriers to make legacy planning more accessible than ever.From defining what an “estate” really is (hint: it's everything you own!) to understanding the difference between a will and a trust, this episode is your crash course in protecting your hard-earned assets and ensuring your loved ones are cared for — without the financial chaos.

Ready to find out how I made $158K in just five days? And no, this isn't another "look how amazing I am" story—this is me pulling back the curtain on the exact Black Friday strategy that's been game-changing for my business and hundreds of my students.I'm spilling all the tea on my 5 Days of Deals method that I literally invented back in 2019 when I was desperately trying to figure out how to make Black Friday work for course creators. Back then, I had exactly two products and was in the middle of pivoting my entire business. Fast forward to last month, and this same strategy brought in $158,584 in revenue with 246 buyers.But here's what makes me proud—this method I created out of desperation is now being used by big names across the industry. Ellen Yin, Dallas Travers, and countless others have adopted my 5 Days of Deals approach. The problem? Most people are copying the surface-level stuff without understanding the real psychology behind why it works.In this episode, I'm breaking down the complete strategy—from my humble $8K beginnings to last year's $158K success. I'll walk you through each day of my recent campaign, share what my students are doing with lists as small as 800 subscribers, and explain why this isn't just about the sales you make that week.What you'll learn:The exact breakdown of my $158K Black Friday campaign (day by day, offer by offer)Why I created the 5 Days of Deals method and how it became industry standardThe three key elements most people miss that make or break these campaignsReal case studies from students who've made $10K-$100K with small email listsWhy audience priming matters more than audience sizeHow strategic email sequencing drove 50% of sales in the final 6 hours each dayWhy Black Friday is really about validation, momentum, and list-building (not just sales)The psychology behind urgency and exclusivity that makes this strategy workGET BLACK FRIDAY IN A BOX: https://gemmabonhamcarter.com/black-fridayBLACK FRIDAY CASE STUDY: HOW I MADE $158K IN 2024 (FREE): https://gemmabonhamcarter.com/casestudy  Support the show

DON'T MISS the dental event of the year, November 7-8. Nowak Dental Supplies (https://www.nowakdental.com/) is hosing NOLA Lab Fest (https://www.nolalabfest.com/) in New Orleans, Louisiana. Head over to nolalabfest.com to see the line up and to register. A HUGE thanks to Aidite North America (https://www.aidite.com/) for hosting the podcast at their booth. Come find us and be on the podcast! In this episode, Elvis and Barb welcome Ed Molina, a dental technician and trainer with a fascinating journey from retail work to becoming an influential figure in digital dentistry. Ed shares how his brother and mentors like Dr. Art Mirelez and Fernando Polanco guided him into the dental field, eventually leading him to help pioneer digital workflows and facially driven design systems such as InstaRisa (https://www.instarisa.com/). With a background in both clinical and lab settings, Ed discusses the evolution of his career — from assisting with surgical guides and imaging to mastering Exocad and teaching offices how to transition from analog to digital dentistry. He explains the importance of facial scanning, photogrammetry, and digital workflow efficiency while emphasizing the human side of adapting to new technology in dental practices. Now running his own training business, Ed helps clinicians integrate digital design and facially driven workflows into their practices, balancing his passion for innovation with a strong appreciation for mentorship and collaboration. Looking for a way to unlock the full potential of your digital dentistry workflow. Take it from Elise Heathcote, associate manager of digital services with Ivoclar. This is all about the Cam Academy. They have a new in-person training experience designed specifically for dental technicians. This hands-on course explores the full potential of programmable Cam software, helping you take your digital workflow to the next level. Learn directly from Ivoclar experts, refine your skills and bring new precision and efficiency to your lab. Cam Academy is more than a course. It's your next step in digital excellence. To reserve your spot, visit the Ivoclar Academy website (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/academy/learning-opportunities?page=1&offset=12&filters=%5B%7B%22id%22%3A%22dateRange%22%2C%22selectedLowerBound%22%3A%222021-12-09T07%3A30%3A45.534Z%22%2C%22selectedUpperBound%22%3A%222022-06-09T06%3A30%3A45.534Z%22%7D%2C%7B%22id%22%3A%22type%22%2C%22advancedFilter%22%3Afalse%2C%22values%22%3A%5B%22In-house+trainings%22%5D%7D%5D) or contact your local Ivoclar sales representative today. Special Guest: Ed Molina .

Todays Topics BKFC Ice Wars "Fight Week" Jordan "The Warden" Christie Reid "The Spaz" Krasowski Episode 473 Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code THPN. That's code THPN to get $200 in bonus bets instantly when you place your first $5 bet — plus over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTubeTV. In partnership with DraftKings — The Crown Is Yours. Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (four six seven three six nine). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit ccpg dot org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas). Twenty-one plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Fees may apply in Illinois. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook dot draftkings dot com slash promos. NFL Sunday Ticket offer for new subscribers only and auto-renews until cancelled. Digital games and commercial use excluded. Restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday Ticket terms at youtube dot com slash go slash n f l sunday ticket slash terms. Limited time offer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode of the Identity at the Center podcast delves into the complex topic of death and the digital estate (DADE). Jim McDonald hosts Dean Saxe, Heather Flanagan, and Mike Kiser, who discuss the importance of planning for digital assets after death, the cultural implications of digital identity, and the evolving role of technology in managing these assets. They emphasize the need for individuals to take proactive steps in documenting their digital estate and the challenges posed by varying legal frameworks and cultural perspectives. The conversation also touches on the future of digital identity in the age of AI and the ethical considerations surrounding it.Episode Links:Death and the Digital Estate (DADE) Community Group: https://openid.net/cg/death-and-the-digital-estate/Connect with Dean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanhsaxe/Connect with Heather: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hlflanagan/Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-kiser/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Identity at the Center Podcast00:10 Introduction to the Death and Digital Estate (DADE) group03:07 The Role of Identity in Digital Estates06:01 Understanding Digital Estate and Its Components09:09 Community Groups vs. Working Groups in Standards11:59 The Importance of Digital Estate Management15:09 Cultural Perspectives on Digital Death18:12 Legal and Ethical Considerations in Digital Estates20:59 Future of Digital Estate Planning24:03 Conclusion and Call to Action31:33 Cultural Frameworks and Digital Estates35:12 The Importance of Protocols in Digital Estate Management39:30 Navigating Digital Wills and Estate Planning42:19 Challenges in Digital Recovery and Access45:18 Actionable Steps for Digital Estate Planning48:52 Personal Reflections on Digital Legacy50:57 The Future of Digital Remembrance54:25 Final Thoughts and Community EngagementKeywordsdigital estate, death, identity management, OpenID Foundation, digital assets, cultural perspectives, technology, legal considerations, AI, planning guide

Selfies are more than fleeting images—across India, they shape how people imagine themselves, connect with others, and inhabit spaces. In this episode of the Nordic Asia Podcast, Prof. Xenia Zeiler from the University of Helsinki talks to Prof. Avishek Ray about his co-authored book Digital Expressions of the Self(ie): The Social Life of Selfies in India. This book explores how the digital selfie, unlike traditional photography, turns the lens inward while reconfiguring social identities, gender norms, power relations, and everyday interactions. Drawing on rich, situated examples, it shows how selfies operate as acts of self-making and place-making in contemporary India. At once playful and political, intimate and public, selfies offer a fascinating entry point into the fast-changing cultures of digital media and visual expression. Avishek Ray is Associate Professor of Cultural Studies at the National Institute of Technology Silchar, India. His research spans mobility, marginality, and digital culture, with a focus on South Asia. He is the author of The Vagabond in the South Asian Imagination (Routledge, 2022) and co-author of Digital Expressions of the Self(ie): The Social Life of Selfies in India (Routledge, 2024). A Fulbright-Nehru Fellow (2021), he has held visiting fellowships at institutions across Europe, North America, and Asia. Xenia Zeiler is Professor of South Asian Studies at the University of Helsinki. Her research and teaching are situated at the intersection of digital media, culture, and society, specifically as related to India and global Indian communities. Her focus within this wider field of digital culture is video games and gaming research, in India and beyond. She also researches and teaches digital religion, popular culture, cultural heritage, and mediatization processes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Selfies are more than fleeting images—across India, they shape how people imagine themselves, connect with others, and inhabit spaces. In this episode of the Nordic Asia Podcast, Prof. Xenia Zeiler from the University of Helsinki talks to Prof. Avishek Ray about his co-authored book Digital Expressions of the Self(ie): The Social Life of Selfies in India. This book explores how the digital selfie, unlike traditional photography, turns the lens inward while reconfiguring social identities, gender norms, power relations, and everyday interactions. Drawing on rich, situated examples, it shows how selfies operate as acts of self-making and place-making in contemporary India. At once playful and political, intimate and public, selfies offer a fascinating entry point into the fast-changing cultures of digital media and visual expression. Avishek Ray is Associate Professor of Cultural Studies at the National Institute of Technology Silchar, India. His research spans mobility, marginality, and digital culture, with a focus on South Asia. He is the author of The Vagabond in the South Asian Imagination (Routledge, 2022) and co-author of Digital Expressions of the Self(ie): The Social Life of Selfies in India (Routledge, 2024). A Fulbright-Nehru Fellow (2021), he has held visiting fellowships at institutions across Europe, North America, and Asia. Xenia Zeiler is Professor of South Asian Studies at the University of Helsinki. Her research and teaching are situated at the intersection of digital media, culture, and society, specifically as related to India and global Indian communities. Her focus within this wider field of digital culture is video games and gaming research, in India and beyond. She also researches and teaches digital religion, popular culture, cultural heritage, and mediatization processes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

CLL #2613 (feat. Disturbed) 10/04/2005 – Tuesday Night Show Source – Tucker Stream Recording (2005) This episode is 100% complete with a medium audio upgrade. David from Disturbed returns for the band’s final appearance of the Adam era. The Love Between The Two Hosts – CLL on Youtube, with Video for select episodes. https://adamanddrdrewshow.com/1743-loveline-nostalgia-with-superfan-giovanni/ https://account.venmo.com/u/GiovanniGiorgio Paid Link – As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Music Provided by Rich Banks Check out His Website and Soundcloud to hear more of his awesome work and perhaps commission him for your next project. Venmo

Digital exhaustion is real. We're working across more apps than ever before, and since they're always accessible, work-life boundaries have disappeared. Combine this with our personal tech, and we've got a recipe for burnout. Paul Leonardi is a Professor of Technology Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. After decades of business consulting, he's had a front-row seat to employees' digital burnout. What he saw led him to create concrete solutions, which he outlines in his latest book, Digital Exhaustion: Simple Rules for Reclaiming Your Life. These are smart and sensible strategies leaders can put into practice to improve employees' quality of life – and work. Episode Links Developing a Digital Mindset Are Collaboration Tools Overwhelming Your Team Interview with Gloria Mark The Team Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here. Support the Podcast If you like the show, please rate and review it on iTunes or wherever you subscribe, and tell a friend or family member about the show. Subscribe Click here and then scroll down to see a sample of sites where you can subscribe.

⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technologyhttps://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com _____ Newsletter: Musing On Society And Technology https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/musing-on-society-technology-7079849705156870144/_____ Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/nFn6CcXKMM0_____ My Website: https://www.marcociappelli.com_____________________________This Episode's SponsorsBlackCloak provides concierge cybersecurity protection to corporate executives and high-net-worth individuals to protect against hacking, reputational loss, financial loss, and the impacts of a corporate data breach.BlackCloak:  https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb_____________________________A Musing On Society & Technology Newsletter Written By Marco Ciappelli | Read by TAPE3A new transmission from Musing On Society and Technology Newsletter, by Marco CiappelliReflections from Our Hybrid Analog-Digital SocietyFor years on the Redefining Society and Technology Podcast, I've explored a central premise: we live in a hybrid -digital society where the line between physical and virtual has dissolved into something more complex, more nuanced, and infinitely more human than we often acknowledge.Introducing a New Series: Analog Minds in a Digital World:Reflections from Our Hybrid Analog-Digital SocietyPart II: Lo-Fi Music and the Art of Imperfection — When Technical Limitations Become Creative LiberationI've been testing small speakers lately. Nothing fancy—just little desktop units that cost less than a decent dinner. As I cycled through different genres, something unexpected happened. Classical felt lifeless, missing all its dynamic range. Rock came across harsh and tinny. Jazz lost its warmth and depth. But lo-fi? Lo-fi sounded... perfect.Those deliberate imperfections—the vinyl crackle, the muffled highs, the compressed dynamics—suddenly made sense on equipment that couldn't reproduce perfection anyway. The aesthetic limitations of the music matched the technical limitations of the speakers. It was like discovering that some songs were accidentally designed for constraints I never knew existed.This moment sparked a bigger realization about how we navigate our hybrid analog-digital world: sometimes our most profound innovations emerge not from perfection, but from embracing limitations as features.Lo-fi wasn't born in boardrooms or designed by committees. It emerged from bedrooms, garages, and basement studios where young musicians couldn't afford professional equipment. The 4-track cassette recorder—that humble Portastudio that let you layer instruments onto regular cassette tapes for a fraction of what professional studio time cost—became an instrument of democratic creativity. Suddenly, anyone could record music at home. Sure, it would sound "imperfect" by industry standards, but that imperfection carried something the polished recordings lacked: authenticity.The Velvet Underground recorded on cheap equipment and made it sound revolutionary—so revolutionary that, as the saying goes, they didn't sell many records, but everyone who bought one started a band. Pavement turned bedroom recording into art. Beck brought lo-fi to the mainstream with "Mellow Gold." These weren't artists settling for less—they were discovering that constraints could breed creativity in ways unlimited resources never could.Today, in our age of infinite digital possibility, we see a curious phenomenon: young creators deliberately adding analog imperfections to their perfectly digital recordings. They're simulating tape hiss, vinyl scratches, and tube saturation using software plugins. We have the technology to create flawless audio, yet we choose to add flaws back in.What does this tell us about our relationship with technology and authenticity?There's something deeply human about working within constraints. Twitter's original 140-character limit didn't stifle creativity—it created an entirely new form of expression. Instagram's square format—a deliberate homage to Polaroid's instant film—forced photographers to think differently about composition. Think about that for a moment: Polaroid's square format was originally a technical limitation of instant film chemistry and optics, yet it became so aesthetically powerful that decades later, a digital platform with infinite formatting possibilities chose to recreate that constraint. Even more, Instagram added filters that simulated the color shifts, light leaks, and imperfections of analog film. We had achieved perfect digital reproduction, and immediately started adding back the "flaws" of the technology we'd left behind.The same pattern appears in video: Super 8 film gave you exactly 3 minutes and 12 seconds per cartridge at standard speed—grainy, saturated, light-leaked footage that forced filmmakers to be economical with every shot. Today, TikTok recreates that brevity digitally, spawning a generation of micro-storytellers who've mastered the art of the ultra-short form, sometimes even adding Super 8-style filters to their perfect digital video.These platforms succeeded not despite their limitations, but because of them. Constraints force innovation. They make the infinite manageable. They create a shared language of creative problem-solving.Lo-fi music operates on the same principle. When you can't capture perfect clarity, you focus on capturing perfect emotion. When your equipment adds character, you learn to make that character part of your voice. When technical perfection is impossible, artistic authenticity becomes paramount.This is profoundly relevant to how we think about artificial intelligence and human creativity today. As AI becomes capable of generating increasingly "perfect" content—flawless prose, technically superior compositions, aesthetically optimized images—we find ourselves craving the beautiful imperfections that mark something as unmistakably human.Walking through any record store today, you'll see teenagers buying vinyl albums they could stream in perfect digital quality for free. They're choosing the inconvenience of physical media, the surface noise, the ritual of dropping the needle. They're purchasing imperfection at a premium.This isn't nostalgia—most of these kids never lived in the vinyl era. It's something deeper: a recognition that perfect reproduction might not equal perfect experience. The crackle and warmth of analog playback creates what audiophiles call "presence"—a sense that the music exists in the same physical space as the listener.Lo-fi music replicates this phenomenon in digital form. It takes the clinical perfection of digital audio and intentionally degrades it to feel more human. The compression, the limited frequency range, the background noise—these aren't bugs, they're features. They create the sonic equivalent of a warm embrace.In our hyperconnected, always-optimized digital existence, lo-fi offers something precious: permission to be imperfect. It's background music that doesn't demand your attention, ambient sound that acknowledges life's messiness rather than trying to optimize it away.Here's where it gets philosophically interesting: we're using advanced digital technology to simulate the limitations of obsolete analog technology. Young producers spend hours perfecting their "imperfect" sound, carefully curating randomness, precisely engineering spontaneity.This creates a fascinating paradox. Is simulated authenticity still authentic? When we use AI-powered plugins to add "vintage" character to our digital recordings, are we connecting with something real, or just consuming a nostalgic fantasy?I think the answer lies not in the technology itself, but in the intention behind it. Lo-fi creators aren't trying to fool anyone—the artifice is obvious. They're creating a shared aesthetic language that values emotion over technique, atmosphere over precision, humanity over perfection.In a world where algorithms optimize everything for maximum engagement, lo-fi represents a conscious choice to optimize for something else entirely: comfort, focus, emotional resonance. It's a small rebellion against the tyranny of metrics.As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of generating "perfect" content, the value of obviously human imperfection may paradoxically increase. The tremor in a hand-drawn line, the slight awkwardness in authentic conversation, the beautiful inefficiency of analog thinking—these become markers of genuine human presence.The challenge isn't choosing between analog and digital, perfection and imperfection. It's learning to consciously navigate between them, understanding when limitations serve us and when they constrain us, recognizing when optimization helps and when it hurts.My small speakers taught me something important: sometimes the best technology isn't the one with the most capabilities, but the one whose limitations align with our human needs. Lo-fi music sounds perfect on imperfect speakers because both embrace the same truth—that beauty often emerges not from the absence of flaws, but from making peace with them.In our quest to build better systems, smarter algorithms, and more efficient processes, we might occasionally pause to ask: what are we optimizing for? And what might we be losing in the pursuit of digital perfection?The lo-fi phenomenon—and its parallels in photography, video, and every art form we've digitized—reveals something profound about human nature. We are not creatures built for perfection. We are shaped by friction, by constraint, by the beautiful accidents that occur when things don't work exactly as planned. The crackle of vinyl, the grain of film, the compression of cassette tape—these aren't just nostalgic affectations. They're reminders that imperfection is where humanity lives. That the beautiful inefficiency of analog thinking—messy, emotional, unpredictable—is not a bug to be fixed but a feature to be preserved.Sometimes the most profound technology is the one that helps us remember what it means to be beautifully, imperfectly human. And maybe, in our hybrid analog-digital world, that's the most important thing we can carry forward.Let's keep exploring what it means to be human in this Hybrid Analog Digital Society.End of transmission.______________________________________

In the latest episode of our podcast, we delve into the complex interplay between technology, society, and spirituality. Titled "The Four Kingdoms and the Beasts," this episode explores the implications of the digital ID rollout and its connection to the pandemic and mass vaccination efforts.As the world becomes increasingly digital, the concept of a digital ID raises significant questions about privacy, control, and individual freedom. We discuss how the UK plans to implement a digital ID system by 2029, which many are comparing to the "mark of the beast" mentioned in the Bible. This discussion leads us to examine the historical context of such systems and how they relate to current events.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-realist-the-visionary--3304218/support.Check out our website:https://www.therealistthevisionary.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-realist-the-visionary--3304218/support.Follow us on IGFollow Us on TikTok

CLL #2612 (feat. Jenna Fischer) 10/03/2005 – Monday Night Show Source – Tucker Stream Recording (2005) This episode is 100% complete with a medium audio upgrade. Jenna proves to be a dynamite guest who could have been a regular. So good on the show you wish her career had popped sooner just for her to have had more opportunities to appear alongside Adam and Drew.  The Love Between The Two Hosts – CLL on Youtube, with Video for select episodes. https://adamanddrdrewshow.com/1743-loveline-nostalgia-with-superfan-giovanni/ https://account.venmo.com/u/GiovanniGiorgio Paid Link – As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Music Provided by Rich Banks Check out His Website and Soundcloud to hear more of his awesome work and perhaps commission him for your Read More →

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Comedians Jason Ellis & join Big Jay Oakerson, Luis J. Gomez & Dave Smith to discuss the Harrington vs. Jake boxing match, the rules of the Riyadh Comedy Festival, and Crack Amico's new diss track. Plus, the guy make some much needed updates to their table display characters, and the guests face off in a Shock Collar Spelling Bee! All This and More, ONLY on The Most Offensive Podcast on Earth, LEGION!!!Original Air Date: 09/30/25Support our sponsors!Go to YoKratom.com - home of the $60 kilo!Visit cornbreadhemp.com/LEGION with code LEGION to get 30% off your first order!Support the show and get 20% off your 1st Sheath order with code SKANKS20 at sheathunderwear.com!Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get 20% off + free shipping with promo code LEGION at shopmando.com!Check out BodyBrainCoffee.com and use promo code LOS25 for 25% off your order!---------------

CLL #2611 (feat. The Love Between The Two Hosts) 10/02/2005 – Sunday Night Show Source – Fan Stream Recording (2005) This episode is 100% complete with a medium audio upgrade. Bizarre and lazy call night. The Love Between The Two Hosts – CLL on Youtube, with Video for select episodes. https://adamanddrdrewshow.com/1743-loveline-nostalgia-with-superfan-giovanni/ https://account.venmo.com/u/GiovanniGiorgio Paid Link – As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Music Provided by Rich Banks Check out His Website and Soundcloud to hear more of his awesome work and perhaps commission him for your next project. Venmo

Modern life places near-constant demands on our attention, which can lead us to feeling overwhelmed. In today's meditation, we hibernate in our own analog warmth and presence. This podcast is made possible with great thanks to our subscribers on Patreon. Join our community at Patreon (dot) com (slash) theMeditationPodcast Now, let's begin.