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While I was out in New Zealand, I caught up with Amaury Pierron to unpack the highs and lows of the past couple of seasons. From those incredible wet-weather wins at the Val di Sole and Les Gets World Cups, to breaking his collarbone in La Thuile and then coming back to take the win in Lenzerheide later that season. Then we're joined by SRAM Race Tech Craig Miller and RockShox long-travel product manager Jason Blodgett to go deeper into how they work alongside Amaury and the Commencal Muc-Off Team to find World Cup-winning pace. We get into some of the latest RockShox tech and explore how a close athlete/engineer relationship not only benefits those at the top of the sport, but also us everyday riders. This is a rare insight into the relationship between athlete and engineer at the sharpest end of the sport. So sit back, hit play and check out this episode with Amaury Pierron, Craig Miller and Jason Blodgett. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Amaury on Instagram @amaurypierron4 and over on YouTube here. You can find RockShox on Instagram @rockshock and SRAM @srammtb and also over at sram.com. Podcast Stuff Sponsoring Partners This episode is a paid partnership with SRAM and RockShox, you can check out their new DH suspension and drivetrain, plus the updated Mavens over at sram.com. Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Sven Martin
Welcome to Channel Nine. This week Chico Brenes sits in with us to talk about the new Antihero video "Dumpster Dive" featuring Finn Pope, Gus Gordon & Crew, the downtime video out of Portland, Budget Or Buttery, The Retail Report featuring 8Five2 shop in Hong Kong and much more! Become a Channel Member & Receive Perks: https://www.youtube.com/TheNineClub/join New Merch: https://thenineclub.com Sponsored By: AG1: Get a FREE Welcome Kit worth $76 when you subscribe, including 5 AG1Travel Packs, a shaker, canister, scoop & bottle of AG Vitamin D3+K2. https://drinkag1.com/nineclubLMNT: Grab a free Sample Pack with 8 flavors when you buy any drink mix or Sparkling. https://drinklmnt.com/nineclubWoodward: Purchase camp with code NINECLUB and receive a $150 discount off of summer camp. https://www.woodwardpa.comMonster Energy: Monster Energy's got the punch you need to stay focused and fired up. https://www.monsterenergy.comYeti: Built for the wild, Yeti keeps you ready for any adventure. https://www.yeti.comRichardson: Custom headwear for teams, brands, and businesses crafted with quality in every stitch. https://richardsonsports.comEtnies: Get 20% off your purchase using our code NINECLUB or use our custom link. https://etnies.com/NINECLUBéS Footwear: Get 20% off your purchase using our code NINECLUB or use our custom link. https://esskateboarding.com/NINECLUBEmerica: Get 20% off your purchase using our code NINECLUB or use our custom link. https://emerica.com/NINECLUB Find The Nine Club: Website: https://thenineclub.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenineclub X: https://www.twitter.com/thenineclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenineclub Discord: https://discord.gg/thenineclub Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/nineclub Nine Club Clips: https://www.youtube.com/nineclubclips More Nine Club: https://www.youtube.com/morenineclub I'm Glad I'm Not Me: https://www.youtube.com/chrisroberts Chris Roberts: https://linktr.ee/Chrisroberts Links We Talked About: Antihero: Dumpster Dive | Finn Pope, Gus Gordon & Crew: https://youtu.be/BVEMwYhCnmY?si=Dd7cug4ggNYcWx9w downtime: https://youtu.be/IfqTLkHDgMs Chico Brenes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicobrenes Chico Stix: https://www.chicostix.com 8Five2 Website: https://shop.8five2.com 8Five2 Instagram: https://instagram.com/8five2shop Timestamps (00:00:00) Channel Nine (00:00:20) Chico Brenes is in the Building! (00:06:00) Chico Stixx Preview (00:14:00) Bed Time! Legendary tour stories from Chris and Chico (00:17:00) Chico Brenes sponsor me tape (00:32:00) The Retail Report: 8Five2 Shop in Hong Kong (00:55:00) Downtime video review (01:04:00) Budget or Buttery (01:12:00) Anti Hero "Dumpster Dive" review (01:22:00) Thank you Chico! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thanks to Tourism Tasmania I recently travelled to Maydena where I got to sit down with the one and only, Ed Masters. Ed's at a really interesting point in his career right now, so we get into what's changed for him, why he's moving away from a full Enduro World Cup schedule, and how his perspective on racing has evolved over the years. We talk a bit about the state of enduro,where the discipline sits right now, the challenges it's facing, and why things feel quite different to a few years ago. From there, the conversation continues, touching on the resurgence of downhill, the new generation coming through, and just how fast the level of the sport keeps moving. Along the way, we also chat about Ed's plans for the season ahead, what's keeping him motivated, and plenty more besidesSo sit back, hit play and check out this episode with Ed Masters. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. Thanks to Tourism Tasmania for making this episode possible. Tasmania is a dream MTB destination and you can find info on all their amazing riding spots here. You can follow Ed on Instagram @edmasters and on YouTube here. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes
Are you supposed to be able to mark doom during the part of the game that's all about relaxing and resetting? Dunno if it's rules-as-written, but it happened. Pilfer cooks up a staff stew. Master Brickithon finds out where his palantir went. Oleg gets a new son. • • • Patreon: patreon.com/improvtabletop Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / TikTok: @ImprovTabletop Email: ImprovTabletop@gmail.com Donations: ko-fi.com/improvtabletop • • • Audio Credits The theme song for The Tension Builders is "Melodic Marauders Scared Stupid" by Ned Wilcock. The following songs also by Ned Wilcock. “Fuguenchillen” The following songs are from tabletopaudio.com. All of the 10 minute ambiences on this site are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). “Dark City” “Arcane Athenaeum” The following songs are used courtesy of the YouTube Audio Library License. “Birdseye Blues” by Chris Haugen “Nicolas MF Cage” by Ezra Lipp Professor Umlaut by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4243-professor-umlaut License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license • • • This actual play episode uses the Bump in the Dark RPG rules by Jex Thomas and Last Pine Press. This is a fanmade work of parody. Improv Tabletop is not affiliated with the LEGO brand or its owner The LEGO Group.
Grammy-winning artist Miguel joins science historian Jimena Canales for a live taping centered on his song “Nearsight [SID]” from CAOS. What begins as a conversation about a lyric — “slow it down for me” — opens into a wide-ranging exploration of time itself: how it feels to speed up as we age, how music can stretch or compress our experience of the present, and why certain moments seem impossible to hold onto. Drawing on her work on Einstein and Bergson's philosophy of time, Canales helps unpack the tension between measurable, physical time and lived, emotional time — while Miguel reflects on fatherhood, memory, and the urgency behind wanting to slow a fleeting moment. Taped live at the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts on February 14, 2026.
In this episode, we're making the case for building breathing room into your overseas golf itinerary and why it's something captains need to plan for upfront, not figure out on the fly.Drawing from Member feedback, we discuss the tension between wanting to play every marquee course and the reality of what makes a trip truly memorable. We cover strategic timing for days off, low-key golf alternatives, and the unexpected highlights that emerge when you give your group permission to explore, decompress, or simply do their own thing for a day.Whether it's a walking tour in Edinburgh, a pub crawl in Belfast, or an impromptu round that becomes a trip favorite, we break down why less golf often leads to better stories.Additional ResourcesPermission to Pause - Why Your Golf Trip Needs Some Downtime
My newsletter: https://simonowens.substack.com/ In 2011, as the golden era of glossy newsweeklies was fading, former Time correspondent Nathan Thornburgh made a bet that serious journalism didn't have to look the way it always had. Alongside food writer Matt Goulding, he launched Roads & Kingdoms as a scrappy Tumblr experiment, using food as a gateway into geopolitics, history, and culture Over the next decade, Roads & Kingdoms evolved from a bootstrapped digital publication into a creative hub for Anthony Bourdain—who invested in the company and used it as a base for ambitious editorial and branded projects. After Bourdain's death in 2018, the outlet was forced to reinvent itself. Nathan and Matt shrank the operation and rebuilt it around high-end culinary travel experiences. Now, they're relaunching the media arm with a membership-driven model and an annual print magazine In a recent interview, Nathan reflected on the collapse of legacy media, the perils and possibilities of brand-funded journalism, and why he believes independent, reader-supported publishing offers a more durable path forward.
Alright, thanks to Tourism Tasmania I've been on the ground here in Maydena, bringing you some great conversations. This week, it's Aaron Gwin. Five-time overall World Cup champion, but that's history. This episode is about what's next. We dive into the move to Frameworks, his plan to ‘go dark' and get back to his very best, and what Hardline Tasmania was really like from inside the tape. We talk about sharing the pits with teammate and phenom, Asa Vermette, and how that dynamic is shaping up. He also opens up about rebuilding his fitness, the motivation that's still driving him, and what he expects from the season ahead. It's a laid-back chat with one of the greatest the sport has ever seen, heading into what could be the most exciting downhill season in years. So sit back, hit play and check out this episode with Aaron Gwin. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. Thanks to Tourism Tasmania for making this episode possible. Tasmania is a dream MTB destination and you can find info on all their amazing riding spots here. You can follow Aaron on Instagram @aarongwin1 and on his YouTube here. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Callie Horwath
In this episode, Jeff Mains sits down with Michael Ferranti, a veteran of developer tools and cloud-native infrastructure with over a decade of experience at companies like PortWorks, Teleport, and Unleash. Michael shares insights on feature management, the critical role of feature flags in modern software delivery, and how to effectively market to developers. The conversation explores why "friends don't let friends build their own feature flag system," the evolving landscape of product-led growth, and how AI is reshaping go-to-market strategies for developer tools.Key Takeaways[5:27] - The Common Thread in Category Creation[7:17] - What is Feature Management?[11:56] - The Cost of Downtime[18:28] - The Race Car Analogy[19:59] - Marketing to Developers[24:18] - User vs. Buyer[30:30] - Easy to Try is Essential[35:30] - Organic Search is Declining[36:29] - AIO (AI Optimization)[40:26] - The PLG Myth[44:17] - The AI ShiftTweetable Quotes"The thing that makes product development and success in SaaS really easy is when you have a product that solves real problems in a market that's big enough.""Friends don't let friends build their own feature flag system. You're not writing your own version of Git—feature management is no different.""Feature flags are like brakes on a race car. They don't slow you down—they let you go faster by allowing you to take turns safely and accelerate out of them.""Marketing to developers is no more complicated than marketing to dentists. People are people—they respond to emotion, logic, and pain.""The biggest objection to feature flags is that people think it's gonna slow them down, when in fact it's all about speeding them up.""If you're doing go-to-market the same way you were doing it 12 months ago, you're probably doing it wrong. Now it's six months. Now it's three months."SaaS Leadership Lessons1. Market Size Trumps Perfect Execution Even with the best product and conversion rates, growth will plateau if your addressable market isn't large enough. Evaluate market size as rigorously as you evaluate product-market fit.2. Speed Requires Safety Mechanisms The fastest-moving teams aren't reckless—they've invested in systems (like feature flags) that allow them to ship confidently and recover instantly. Build your "brakes" before you try to accelerate.3. Know Your User vs. Your Buyer Developer tools require a dual strategy: serve the hands-on-keyboard users who will love (or hate) your product, while convincing budget holders of business value. Neglect either and you'll struggle.4. Friction is the Enemy of Adoption In developer tools, the ability to try your product without a sales conversation isn't optional—it's existential. Whether through open source, free trials, or freemium models, eliminate barriers to first value.5. Proprietary Data is Your AI Moat As AI reshapes discovery, the companies that win will be those with unique data sources that LLMs cite as authoritative. Think "Zillow for home prices" in your category.6. Adaptability is the New Competitive Advantage The pace of change has accelerated to the point where strategies have a 3-6 month shelf life. Build a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and rapid learning rather...
Siamo arrivati alla "Puntata Spiegone" in cui i giocatori si beccano frontalmente tutte le info su come questo gioco vorrebbe affrontare il Downtime.Non ho realmente idea se questo possa essere di vostro interesse, ma questo podcast è actual-play, quindi vi beccate anche questo!Titolo: Dungeons in the Dark Sistema: Forged in the DarkSetting: High Fantasy High MagicGenere: Heroic Fantasy
A broken commercial garage door can cost your business up to $1,000 per day—and 75% of failures are preventable. Discover how planned maintenance slashes emergency calls, extends door lifespan by years, and keeps operations running smoothly. Overhead Door Company of Joliet City: Rockdale Address: 48 Meadow Avenue Website: https://overheaddoorjoliet.com/
In un'epoca in cui Internet è diventato il sistema nervoso della nostra società, sempre più servizi dipendono da un numero ristretto di provider cloud come Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure e Google Cloud. Negli ultimi mesi abbiamo assistito a una serie di disservizi globali che hanno colpito milioni di utenti: dal blackout di AWS che ha reso irraggiungibili innumerevoli siti per 15 ore, ai problemi di Cloudflare, Azure e altri giganti del cloud che hanno paralizzato servizi come ChatGPT, Zoom e Shopify. Questi episodi alimentano la percezione che Internet sia diventato più fragile. Ma è davvero così? O è solo il riflesso di come l'infrastruttura di rete è cambiata negli ultimi decenni? In questa puntata analizziamo come il passaggio da server distribuiti al cloud centralizzato ha trasformato la resilienza di Internet.Nella sezione delle notizie parliamo di NanoIC, il nuovo impianto europeo per la produzione di semiconduttori, del progetto europeo REPper e infine di come la NASA ha autorizzato l'utilizzo di smartphone personali a bordo delle prossime missioni spaziali.--Indice--00:00 - Introduzione01:08 - La strategia UE per la sovranità tecnologica (Europa.eu, Luca Martinelli)02:27 - Il progetto REPper per le riparazioni (AltroConsumo.it, Davide Fasoli)03:29 - NASA autorizza gli smartphone nello spazio (Wired.it, Matteo Gallo)04:53 - Internet è diventato più fragile? (Luca Martinelli)18:06 - Conclusione--Testo--Leggi la trascrizione: https://www.dentrolatecnologia.it/S8E7#testo--Contatti--• www.dentrolatecnologia.it• Instagram (@dentrolatecnologia)• Telegram (@dentrolatecnologia)• YouTube (@dentrolatecnologia)• redazione@dentrolatecnologia.it--Brani--• Ecstasy by Rabbit Theft• Moments by Lost Identities x Robbie Rosen
Thanks to Tourism Tasmania, I've been on the ground in Maydena for Hardline Tasmania week and got to have a catch up with Neko Mulally, as well as a ride on their brand new Frameworks enduro bike. Frameworks Racing is a team that's making some serious waves in the world of downhill. From building his own bike 4 years ago, to having a race team made up of some of America's most talented riders. They've got new bikes, new ideas, and a new superstar signing in Aaron Gwin. To give us the inside story, we're talking to Neko Mullaly, the man behind the team. He'll take us through the strategy behind the bikes, the thinking behind signing one of the biggest names in the sport, and what it's like managing a team at the cutting edge of downhill racing. So sit back, hit play and check out this episode with Neko Mulally. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. Thanks to Tourism Tasmania for making this episode possible. Tasmania is a dream MTB destination and you can find info on all their amazing riding spots here. You can follow Frameworks on Instagram @frameworksracing and @rideframeworks. You’ll find their YouTube channel here and their website is rideframeworks.com. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Tanner Stephens
In this episode of ThimbleberryU, we dive into an increasingly common experience for those working in the tech industry: burnout. We begin by acknowledging that tech burnout is unique—fast-paced roles, unpredictable compensation, constant decision-making, and job instability combine to create chronic stress. Amy Walls shares how burnout shows up not only emotionally, but also financially, and how we can use financial planning to move from depletion to clarity and control.We explore how burnout rewires our ability to make decisions. Stress from long hours and mental overload shrinks our decision-making capacity. This leads to automatic, often reflexive spending as a way to cope—ordering food, shopping online, or subscribing to convenience services not out of indulgence, but survival. Many of us say we make good money, yet still feel stretched. Amy explains this disconnect through the lens of decision fatigue and lifestyle inflation as coping tools, rather than conscious choices.Then, we walk through Amy's Burnout Blueprint, a three-pillar framework for using financial planning to support mental and emotional wellbeing. The first pillar is intentional spending. We learn to distinguish between energy-saving expenses, like cleaning services or meal prep, and stress-coping spending that signals a deeper need for rest or support. We hear how small shifts—like outsourcing chores—can buy back time and change our relationship with money.The second pillar is career pacing. Amy shows how financial clarity gives us room to pause, reassess, or even take sabbaticals. Instead of being chained to the next RSU payout or promotion, we can model what “enough” looks like and make career decisions from a place of health, not fear.The third pillar is structured downtime. Real rest requires more than intention—it requires the freedom to disconnect without guilt or financial worry. Whether it's a full sabbatical or just a microbreak, planning for rest helps rebuild energy and perspective. We also look at underutilized workplace benefits that can support recovery and reduce costs.To wrap up, Amy leaves us with a powerful reminder: burnout isn't a personal failure—it's a mismatch between demands and energy. Small, intentional changes around spending, work, and rest can restore control and support our overall wellbeing. To get in touch with Amy and her team at Thimbleberry Financial, call 503-610-6510 or visit thimbleberryfinancial.com.The ThimbleberryU Podcast is produced by JAG Podcast Productions - https://jagpodcastproductions.com/
Thanks to Tourism Tasmania, I've been on the ground in Maydena this week for Red Bull Hardline, a race that sits right on the limit of what's possible. The course demanded full commitment all week, and when heavy rain hit on race day, any margin for error vanished. The course crew did everything they could, but it simply wasn't safe for the riders. Even without a race, the riders pushed the limits throughout the week, testing their skills, on one of the most unforgiving tracks in the sport. Afterwards, I sat down with Eliot Jackson, Neko Mulally and Asa Vermette to chat about the week and to break down what really went on: how decisions were made, and why not running the race was the only call possible. So sit back, hit play and check out this Hardline Tasmania post-race show with Eliot Jackson Neko Mulally and special guest, Asa Vermette. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can find Maydena Bike Park on Instagram @maydenabikepark or their website maydenabikepark.com. Thanks to Tourism Tasmania for making this episode possible. Tasmania is a dream MTB destination and you can find info on all their amazing riding spots here. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Sven Martin
In this episode of Shoptalk, David Carothers dug into total cost of risk with a focus on downtime, disruption, and distraction as hidden drivers of long term expense. Using real manufacturing examples, he explained how equipment breakdown, supply chain delays, and even severe workers' comp injuries can create operational losses far beyond what shows up in loss runs. He also outlined how middle market producers can use a year-round cadence of touch points to control costs, strengthen submissions, and create clear wedges in prospecting. The episode ends with a note that this is part one, with part two continuing next week. Key points: Downtime is a Business Threat Not Just a Claim Issue David explains that equipment breakdown and specialized machinery delays can shut production down for weeks. He shared a story about a printing operation where a simple mistake destroyed equipment and required overseas technicians and parts, resulting in four to six weeks of downtime. The bigger point is that downtime can create losses that linger well beyond the repair window. Shelf Space and Reputation Loss Can Be Permanent For manufacturers selling into major retailers, downtime can cost more than sales for a single season. David breaks down how hard it is to earn premium placement and holiday displays, and how quickly retailers replace brands that cannot fulfill orders. Once that shelf space is lost, it is often gone for good, creating a long tail financial hit. Workers' Comp Injuries Can Trigger Operational Chaos A severe injury is not only a claim cost. It can shut down equipment, trigger investigations, delay production, and reduce productivity across the floor. David described an extreme degloving incident tied to bypassed guarding on machinery and highlighted how fear, disruption, and compliance activity stack costs for years. Total Cost of Risk Changes the Sales Conversation Instead of reacting to bad loss runs with tactical fixes like consent to rate or a PEO, David pushes producers to quantify all hidden costs. That includes downtime, out of pocket claims, administrative time, and disruption impacts. When clients see total cost, the conversation shifts from price shopping to strategic planning. This is a Year Round Process Not a Renewal Project David emphasizes that total cost of risk is not a spreadsheet exercise done once a year. It is a 365 day approach built on consistent accountability and structured touch points. He recommends using a twelve subject cadence to stay in front of accounts, strengthen renewals, and build trust over time. Risk Management Actions Can Create Underwriting Leverage He shared a practical example where a manufacturer lost power for over a week after hurricanes. The solution was putting a generator company on retainer so a large unit could be delivered when storms approached. David explains how actions like this protect reputation, reduce downtime, and can be positioned to underwriters for potential credits. Trusted Advisor Positioning Wins Even at Higher Cost David compares advisory insurance work to paying for high quality legal or accounting help. Clients may pay more upfront, but the long term savings and control are what matter. He argues that better stories, better frameworks, and measurable risk control results eliminate late stage price objections and create stronger referrals. Connect with: David Carothers LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Visit Websites: Power Producer Base Camp Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes
Thanks to Tourism Tasmania, I'm on the ground in Maydena this week, riding the trails, soaking up the atmosphere, and bringing you content straight from Red Bull Hardline. After day two of practice, I was invited to host a live show in front of a packed Maydena crowd, where I sat down with three riders taking on Hardline for the very first time, Mikayla Parton, Ryan Gilchrist, and Aaron Gwin. Different backgrounds, different careers, same task ahead of them. We talk honestly about the fear that comes with hitting these features for the first time, how each of them is working through that, and what it takes to go from simply surviving the track to actually riding it at race pace. This is a fun, open, and insightful conversation with three of the best in the sport, recorded live in Tasmania. So sit back, hit play and check out this Hardline Tasmania live show with Mikayla Parton, Ryan Gilchrist and Aaron Gwin. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can find Maydena Bike Park on Instagram @maydenabikepark or their website maydenabikepark.com. Thanks to Tourism Tasmania for making this episode possible. Tasmania is a dream MTB destination and you can find info on all their amazing riding spots here. You can watch the racing live here. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Downtime Podcast
This week, on a shorter-than-usual episode, Ashleigh and Flint take their collective feet off the accelerator and approach things in a more thoughtful way. But there is still some news talk! Including: CW: This episode contains a discussion around the actions of ICE, in the USA. There's no easy way of going over this. Closer to home, the Council of Europe has voted to ban conversion therapy, despite the best efforts of a certain anti-trans group... In fact that particular group had a double-whammy of deserved disappointment and we'll tell you all about it in Loser's Corner. Followed by a considered conversation about how, in these difficult times, are we to rest. Maybe there's ways of passing time that are in and of themselves radical. From the immortal Terry Pratchett: "It's not worth doing unless someone, somewhere would much rather you weren't doing it." References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep148
Thanks to Tourism Tasmania, I'm on the ground in Maydena this week to experience the incredible trail network and to bring you content from Red Bull Hardline. So, following our World Cup style approach, you'll be getting a pre and a post-race show from the event. For today's pre-race show, we're joined by the man behind Maydena Bike Park and Hardline Tasmania, Simon French, alongside racer, local legend and last years rider of the week, Dan Booker. We'll be hearing about changes to the course, sneaky inside lines and what it's really like to ride this beast. We talk about some of the riders we're excited to see on track, wether the world cup racers might be holding back a little to stay safe ahead of the season, and how this track compares to the original Hardline in Wales. It's the first big race of 2026 and there's plenty to discuss. So sit back, hit play and check out this Hardline Tasmania pre-race show with Simon French and Dan Booker. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can find Maydena Bike Park on Instagram @maydenabikepark or their website maydenabikepark.com. Thanks to Tourism Tasmania for making this episode possible. Tasmania is a dream MTB destination and you can find info on all their amazing riding spots here. For more on the event itself, head to Red Bull TV here. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Nick Waygood / Red Bull Content Pool
Jackson Goldstone's first two elite seasons weren't straight forward, but in 2025 we really saw what he is capable of. Coming back from injury, Jackson faced the pressure of expectation, the chaos of a packed race calendar, and the challenge of finding more speed while the rest of the field was doing the same. In this episode, he breaks down what actually went on behind the scenes, from mindset shifts and race-day decision making, to testing new bike parts mid-season and learning how to stay in control when momentum really starts to build. We talk about chasing flow state, handling media and fan attention after both big wins and big losses, and why focusing on one race at a time became the key to his most complete season yet. It's an honest look at what it takes to unlock the next level at the very top of downhill racing, from one of the best we've ever seen do it. So sit back, hit play, and enjoy this episode with Jackson Goldstone. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Jackson on Instagram @jacksongoldstone and on YouTube here. Podcast Stuff Sponsoring Partners This episode is a paid partnership with One Up Components who helped us bring you this conversation. Check out their entire range of products over at oneupcomponents.com. Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Sven Martin
On today's show, Jase wants an E bike, Mike's deep in sport chat, and Keyzie wants to try something new. DOWN TIME:(00:00) Intro: Swagged out(03:34) Humidity Chat(08:24) REURGYER(11:53) Jase gets offered an E Bike(15:36) TV TIME(21:07) Intro: How to say Burger(23:08) Seafood keyzie(28:31) Grammy News(33:00) BACKBONING VIA BENCH(34:51) Intro: Keyzie has an affair(37:00) Sports Chat(42:33) Synthony(44:57) MEATPATTYNIPS69 (49:11) CYA Follow The Big Show on Instagram Subscribe to the podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts!Featuring Jason Hoyte, Mike Minogue, and Keyzie, "The Big Show" drive you home weekdays from 4pm on Radio Hauraki.Providing a hilarious escape from reality for those ‘backbone’ New Zealanders with plenty of laughs and out-the-gate yarns.Download the full podcast here:iHeartRadioAppleSpotify Follow The Big Show on InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It is time to find out what is going on at the base and level up the mechs in preparation for the next mission. Character sheets and battle map images for this episode are available at Patreon.com/MajorSpoilers RSS Feed Subscribe via Apple Podcasts Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at Patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure Critical Hit continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching require significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep Major Spoilers strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.
You're a new exhibitor, and you're excited and anxious about your first visit to the PLRB Claims Conference. How will you handle the rushes of attendees and the breaks between them? How will you build relationships that will last after you leave the Expo floor? What tone will you strike with members? Gemcor has been attending PLRB since 1984, just three years after our dad founded the company. It's the one conference we commit to every single year, and today we'll share our perspective. Notable Timestamps [ 00:58 ] - In this scenario, a new exhibitor is hoping for success at the upcoming PLRB conference. [ 03:27 ] - The team discusses their favorite conference locations. [ 07:59 ] - Successful exhibitors emphasize consistency and face-to-face connection as the core driver of lasting client relationships. [ 10:57 ] - Every conversation counts, even if someone isn't a potential client at that moment. [ 12:07 ] - Conferences surface real-time industry trends and information, from informal hallway conversations. [ 13:19 ] - Downtime isn't wasted time if it's used appropriately. [ 14:55 ] - Follow-up is critical to keep the momentum going after a conference. [ 16:40 ] - Booth presence matters: engaged, approachable exhibitors attract more meaningful interactions. [ 17:49 ] - Dana summarizes the key points above. Your PLRB Resources PLRB Events: Upcoming Events - https://members.plrb.org/events/ Claims Conference: Event Site - http://www.plrbclaimsconference.org/ Affiliate Membership: Which PLRB Affiliate Membership Is Right for You? - https://www.plrb.org/affiliate/ Employees of member companies also have access to a searchable legal database, hundreds of hours of video trainings, building code materials, weather data, and even the ability to have your coverage questions answered by our team of attorneys (https://www.plrb.org/ask-plrb/) at no additional charge to you or your company. Subscribe to this Podcast Your Podcast App - Please subscribe and rate us on your favorite podcast app YouTube - Please like and subscribe at @plrb LinkedIN - Please follow at "Property and Liability Resource Bureau" Send us your Scenario! Please reach out to us at 630-509-8704 with your scenario! This could be your "adjuster story" sharing a situation from your claims experience, or a burning question you would like the team to answer. In any case, please omit any personal information as we will anonymize your story before we share. Just reach out to scenario@plrb.org. Legal Information The views and opinions expressed in this resource are those of the individual speaker and not necessarily those of the Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB), its membership, or any organization with which the presenter is employed or affiliated. The information, ideas, and opinions are presented as information only and not as legal advice or offers of representation. Individual policy language and state laws vary, and listeners should rely on guidance from their companies and counsel as appropriate. Music: "Piece of Future" by Keyframe_Audio. Pixabay. Pixabay License. Font: Metropolis by Chris Simpson. SIL OFL 1.1. Icons: FontAwesome (SIL OFL 1.1) and Noun Project (royalty-free licenses purchased via subscription). Sound Effects: Pixabay (Pixabay License) and Freesound.org (CC0).
Agile in Construction: The DOWNTIME Strategy—Eliminating Waste Before Adding Process With Felipe Engineer-Manriquez Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. "My first rule is that I will do no harm. And if something goes wrong, I will take full responsibility with leadership. My neck is literally on the line." - Felipe Engineer-Manriquez Felipe shares his change strategy for introducing Lean and Agile into construction projects, and it starts with an unexpected principle borrowed from Hippocrates: do no harm. He explicitly tells teams this promise, putting his neck on the line to build trust. But the real magic happens in what comes next: instead of adding new processes, Felipe first helps teams stop doing things. Using the DOWNTIME acronym (Defects, Overproduction, Waiting, Transportation, Inventory, Motion, Excess processing), he identifies wasteful activities that don't add value. In construction, 60-80% of every dollar doesn't add value from the customer's perspective—compared to manufacturing (above 50% value) or agriculture (90% value). Felipe's approach: eliminate waste first to create excess capacity, then introduce new processes. On a project that was 2 years behind schedule with lawyers already engaged, he spent just 5 minutes with the team defining a visible milestone goal on a whiteboard. Two weeks later, they met their schedule and improved by 4 days—the first time ever. The superintendent said, "Never in the entire time I've worked here have we ever met a schedule commitment." The secret? Free up capacity before adding anything new. In this episode, we refer to the 8 wastes video by Orbus and WIP limits. Self-reflection Question: Before introducing your next process improvement, what wasteful activity could you help your team stop doing to free up the capacity they need to embrace change? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Podcast: Industrial Cybersecurity InsiderEpisode: The Patching Gap Putting Industrial Operations at Risk: IT vs OTPub date: 2026-01-27Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationCraig and Dino tackle one of industrial cybersecurity's most critical challenges in this Rewind episode: the massive gap between IT and OT patching strategies. IT organizations patch constantly—think Patch Tuesday. OT environments rarely patch at all, creating dangerous vulnerability gaps across connected networks. The hosts explore why this disconnect exists. Production floor downtime costs are astronomical, making patching a risky business decision. OEM restrictions complicate matters further. Many vendors won't support systems or warranties after unauthorized updates. Managing decades-old equipment alongside modern systems creates another layer of complexity. Legacy PLCs weren't designed with patching in mind. The consequences of not patching are mounting. Insurance companies are tightening requirements and regulatory pressures are intensifying. Craig and Dino offer practical solutions that don't require shutting down production lines. Virtual patching technologies can protect legacy control systems without traditional software updates. The hosts emphasize the urgent need for IT-OT collaboration. All stakeholders—including OEMs and system integrators—must be part of strategic cybersecurity conversations. This episode is essential listening for CISOs, plant managers, and anyone responsible for protecting industrial operations. The connected world isn't waiting for OT to catch up. Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction to Patching Challenges00:01:08 - IT vs OT Patching: Key Differences00:02:55 - Understanding the Cost of Downtime in OT00:03:32 - Overcoming Challenges with Legacy Systems00:05:21 - Navigating OEMs and Safety Concerns00:06:45 - The Role of Safety in OT Patching00:08:52 - Exploring Virtual Patching Solutions00:13:11 - Enhancing Vendor Collaboration and Risk Management00:16:48 - Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Cybersecurity00:18:33 - Addressing Insurance and Compliance Issues00:20:12 - Significant Consequences of Not Patching00:23:14 - Building an Effective Collaborative Cybersecurity Strategy00:24:03 - Conclusion and Actionable InsightsLinks And Resources:Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedInCybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedInBW Design Group CybersecurityDino Busalachi on LinkedInCraig Duckworth on LinkedInThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you'd like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Industrial Cybersecurity Insider, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3273: Dan Erickson reminds us that the pressure to stay constantly busy often comes at the cost of our well-being. By choosing intentional downtime, we not only improve our mental and physical health, but also deepen relationships, sharpen focus, and reclaim a more meaningful life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nosidebar.com/downtime/ Quotes to ponder: "Too much busyness can lead to mental health struggles." "When we slow down and do a single task at a time, we can become a master." "Slow down. Be intentional. Create more downtime in your life." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For Axess Intense Factory Racing, the 2025 season was full of high highs, and some really low lows. Injury. Uncertainty. Financial pressure. And moments behind the scenes that most race programmes never talk about publicly. But those lows are exactly what pushed Joe Breeden and Olly Morris forward with new partners, a bigger budget, and an exciting new setup for 2026 as the Nukeproof Axess Racing team is born. This is a conversation about pressure, vulnerability, and what it actually takes to keep a race team moving forward when everything's on the line. So sit back, hit play, and enjoy this episode with Joe Breeden and Olly Morris. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can find everything Nukeproof Axess Racing on Instagram @nukeproof_axess_racing and the Axess website is here and Axess Racing is on YouTube here. Podcast Stuff Sponsoring Partners This episode is sponsored by Wahoo Fitness. Over the last few years, the Wahoo KICKR has become in invaluable part of my training. They’ve recently launched the Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 to provide an incredible trainer with pro level features at entry level pricing. Check it out over at wahoofitness.com. Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – @sursunbikeholidays
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3273: Dan Erickson reminds us that the pressure to stay constantly busy often comes at the cost of our well-being. By choosing intentional downtime, we not only improve our mental and physical health, but also deepen relationships, sharpen focus, and reclaim a more meaningful life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nosidebar.com/downtime/ Quotes to ponder: "Too much busyness can lead to mental health struggles." "When we slow down and do a single task at a time, we can become a master." "Slow down. Be intentional. Create more downtime in your life." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The guys discuss what they would do in a temporary production shutdown in the current market conditions
Mountain bike media has always been shaped by the riders, the bikes, and the culture around them. But right now, that landscape is changing faster than ever. Today's guest has seen that shift from the inside. Drew Rohde started his career at Decline, right at the heart of print media, before going on to found the independent mountain bike platform, Loam Wolf. In this episode, Drew and I talk about how he made that jump, what it takes to build sustainable MTB media today, and whether the rise of platforms like Meta and AI content and search puts specialist MTB media at risk. We also dig into what riders are actually asking for, how e-bikes have changed both coverage and audience expectations, and where Drew thinks bikes, and e-bikes in particular, are heading next. This is a conversation about media, bikes, business, and the future of the sport we all care about. So sit back, hit play, and enjoy this episode with Drew Rohde. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can find everything Loam Wolf at theloamwolf.com and on their YouTube channel here. Podcast Stuff Sponsoring Partners This episode is sponsored by Wahoo Fitness. Over the last few years, the Wahoo KICKR has become in invaluable part of my training. They’ve recently launched the Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 to provide an incredible trainer with pro level features at entry level pricing. Check it out over at wahoofitness.com. Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Loam Wolf
Empowering Industry Podcast - A Production of Empowering Pumps & Equipment
Charli is joined by Christopher Spiteri this week to talk about his journey with EBARA and the upcoming AHR ExpoFind us @EmpoweringPumps on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email podcast@empoweringpumps.com
In the first episode of the year, Spencer and I ease back in by talking about holiday games, including Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D and revisiting classic Final Fantasy. From there, the conversation turns into a long discussion about AI tools in games, Sony's rumored AI player bot, and why accessibility options don't need to threaten how anyone else plays. It's a relaxed but thoughtful episode about time, burnout, and what players actually want from games in 2026.
I'm always asking questions. The fun begins when you start researching for answers. Such as… What's the better health plan? Daily stretching exercising or pumping up the weights? Plus…we are guilty of tagging ourselves to certain days of the week and its proving to be a bad decision. I'm Arroe… I am a daily writer. A silent wolf. I stand on the sidelines and do nothing but watch, listen study then activate. I call it The Daily Mess. A chronological walk through an everyday world. Yes, it's my morning writing. As a receiver of thoughts and ideas, we as people tend to throw it to the side and deal with it later. When a subject arrives, I dig in. It's still keeping a journal! By doing the research the picture becomes clearer. This is the Daily Mess…Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.
I'm always asking questions. The fun begins when you start researching for answers. Such as… What's the better health plan? Daily stretching exercising or pumping up the weights? Plus…we are guilty of tagging ourselves to certain days of the week and its proving to be a bad decision. I'm Arroe… I am a daily writer. A silent wolf. I stand on the sidelines and do nothing but watch, listen study then activate. I call it The Daily Mess. A chronological walk through an everyday world. Yes, it's my morning writing. As a receiver of thoughts and ideas, we as people tend to throw it to the side and deal with it later. When a subject arrives, I dig in. It's still keeping a journal! By doing the research the picture becomes clearer. This is the Daily Mess…Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.
Eric McDonald built CHP Paint Co.'s culture on a simple principle: you can't out-produce bad culture. After experiencing severe burnout in 2021, he made drastic changes—4-day work weeks, comprehensive benefits, employee recognition programs, and a two-week December shutdown. The results? Productivity increased, profitability soared, and December's "planned loss" became the strategic investment that transformed his entire year. Eric shares how to budget for culture and why bottom-line thinking beats chasing top-line revenue every time.Today's Podcast is brought to you by Red Key Solutions
Upright Downtime: Traps to Entertainment by Good News Baptist Church
For the last three months, I've been working on my nutrition with Chris Lowe, to do what a lot of us want to do… lose fat and build muscle. But I was very clear that this couldn't come at the expense of not having enough energy to work, train and live life in general. Honestly, the biggest surprise hasn't been the results, it's been how easy it's been and the other benefits that have come alongside the fat loss. In this episode, Chris will be sharing the methodology that we've been following, to enable sustainable fat loss whilst maintaining energy and building healthy habits. Find out how to periodise your nutrition to deliver what you need, when you need it. Hear how Chris approaches dialling in calorie deficit and why following Chris' approach means you get the weight loss done once and never need to do it again. Whether you're riding bikes, training seriously, or just trying to feel better day to day, this is one of the most practical conversations I've had about nutrition. No extremes, no fads, just habits that actually work long term. So sit back, hit play, and enjoy this episode with Chris Lowe. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Chris on Instagram @chrislowenutrition, or at his website here. You can find more podcasts from Chris here. Podcast Stuff Sponsoring Partners This episode is sponsored by Wahoo Fitness. Over the last few years, the Wahoo KICKR has become in invaluable part of my training. They’ve recently launched the Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 to provide an incredible trainer with pro level features at entry level pricing. Check it out over at wahoofitness.com. Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Chris Lowe
Downtime takes a turn for the weirdJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/5YGEPY4mvbThis episode is brought to you by the generous donations of our amazing Show Sponsors: Laura Pickrahn, Irene Viorritto, Darrell DeLaney, Charles Compton, Deviouspoptart, Nastasia Raulerson, David Scrams, Elizabeth Clark, Rebekah Gowman, deviouspoptart, Eðvarð Arnór Sigurðsson, Michael Clark, Jerry Theuns, Mark Stanley, and Shelby Johnson.
In this episode, Dr. Rena Malik, MD welcomes Dr. Aaron Fischman to discuss prostate artery embolization (PAE) as a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Together, they explore the short-term and long-term outcomes, potential complications, recovery expectations, and the evolving techniques that aim to improve patient results. The conversation provides listeners with practical insights into candidate selection, procedural advancements, and why expertise and patient preparation are key for successful outcomes in PAE. Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content: renamalik.supercast.com Schedule an appointment with me: https://www.renamalikmd.com/appointments ▶️Chapters: 00:00 Post-embolization symptoms 01:11 Downtime and activity limits 02:25 Readmission and symptom management 03:11 Long-term success and recurrence 06:29 Expected side effects 08:15 Radiation exposure risks 09:45 Ideal candidates for embolization Stay connected with Dr. Aaron Fischman on social media for daily insights and updates. Don't miss out—follow him now and check out these links! X - https://x.com/bonesz?s=21&t=capJF_nC6iMJjJWqHuZeYw LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-fischman-md-fsir-fcirse-fsvm-213a234?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app YOUTUBE - https://youtube.com/@aaronfischmanmd?si=wP7jb0Za32H9Y_mE Let's Connect!: WEBSITE: http://www.renamalikmd.com YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@RenaMalikMD INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/RenaMalikMD TWITTER: http://twitter.com/RenaMalikMD FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/RenaMalikMD/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renadmalik PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/renamalikmd/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/RenaMalikMD ------------------------------------------------------ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is purely educational and does not constitute medical advice. The content of this podcast is my personal opinion, and not that of my employer(s). Use of this information is at your own risk. Rena Malik, M.D. will not assume any liability for any direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this podcast including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Upright Downtime: Introduction by Good News Baptist Church
An airless wheel loader tire from Evolution Wheel is designed to cut downtime and extend wear life for operators running mid-size loaders. The company's 20.5-25 all-terrain wheel loader tire was on display at Agri-Trade in Red Deer. Designed for machines such as a Cat 930, the tire features an L5 tread with roughly three inches... Read More
CES Breakdown, How to Handle Lifes Downtime the best Gaming Podcast 566Hot times hotter takessubstack https://substack.com/@acgreviewhttps://amzn.to/43LY1Gv Amazon Affiliate LinkJoin this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5zKbGokI0oI6SeZrHTfJjA/join Each Friday ACG and some pals Silver, Rej, Abssi, and Jonny from https://www.twitch.tv/jonnyplayslive get together to discuss games, life, books, movies and everything else. New home of the ACG Best Gaming Podcast Follow me on Twitter for reviews and info @jeremypenter-JOIN the ACG Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/ACGVids/ https://www.patreon.com/AngryCentaurGaming
Today we're joined by Kriss Kyle. Kriss found his fame in BMX and more recently has brought that style and creativity onto the mountain bike. From living in a skatepark, to jumping over a moving formula one car, Kriss has been on quite the journey. We talk about the crossover from BMX to MTB, how skills, style, and fearless thinking translate from ramps to trails. We dig into the pressure of performing, the risks of big projects, and the process behind turning wild ideas into reality. Kriss is a truly unique addition to the MTB world and it was fascinating to find out more about him. so sit back, hit play, and enjoy this episode with Kriss Kyle. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Kriss on Instagram @krisskyle, find him on YouTube here and watch his latest MTB edit here. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Eisa Bakos / Red Bull
To round out the year, we're joined by Chris Kilmurray to get behind the results and into the data of the 2025 downhill season. Winning margins. Track difficulty. Rider consistency. Junior depth. Elite pressure. Chris Kilmurray is a coach, an analyst, a man who lives in the numbers. So, together, we're breaking down the 2025 season, statistically, objectively, and honestly. What the juniors told us about the future. Why some tracks separated the field… and others didn't. Which riders redefined expectations and which comebacks mattered most. From tyre performance to suspension trends. From French dominance to the rise of the USA and what all of it means as we look ahead to 2026.. There’s heaps to chat about, so sit back, hit play, and enjoy this episode with Chris Kilmurray. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Sven Martin
In this 2-for-1 holiday week episode, Mike and Wes discuss the loss to the Bears (:21), how the team moves forward (5:41) and the struggles in the red zone (12:28). They also preview the upcoming matchup with the Ravens (19:20), looking at the QB situations (20:12), the keys to victory (28:24), and other important Week 17 games (35:31).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bill rambles about down time, alternate mixes of songs, and the pros of having sex with a witch. Hims: To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit http://www.Hims.com/burr Quo: From solo operators to growing teams, Quo helps businesses stay connected and look professional. Try it for free when you go to http://www.Quo.com/burr SimpliSafe: This month only, take 50% off any new system. Go to http://www.SimpliSafe.com/burr and lock in your discount.
We are releasing an extra episode for you as you enjoy your winter holidays. This is an episode from a while back that I think will be a great addition to your podcast listening queue in this quieter week. It's episode 345: How to Approach Holiday Downtime. This is the time when we move from the scurry of holiday preparations and schedules to just like suddenly being home with little to no agenda, and that can be kind of hard. So this bonus episode might be just for you. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode #320: How to Feel Good About Free Time Episode #258: The Seven Kinds of Rest and How to Know Which One You'll Need Episode #212: A Guide to Summer House Rules Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Welcome to the final episode of Downtime Debrief for 2025 and our last episode before Christmas. As many of you will know, this is 3 friends and fans of the sport, chatting about what we love. In this episode, we talk about our World Cup withdrawal, our favourite 2026 team rumours and our own plans to return to downhill racing next year. Ben and Jonny then turn the tables and grill me about the podcast. There's heaps to talk about, so sit back, hit play and listen to this final episode of Downtime Debrief with me, Ben and Jonny. Podcast Stuff Sponsoring Partners Downtime Debrief is proudly sponsored by Fox Racing, Wahoo, Continental, Magura and Sprung Suspension. Listener Offers Downtime listeners can now get 10% off of Stashed Space Rails. Stashed is the ultimate way to sort your bike storage. Their clever design means you can get way more bikes into the same space and easily access whichever one you want to ride that day. If you have 2 or more bikes in your garage, they are definitely worth checking out. Just head to stashedproducts.co.uk/downtime and use the code DOWNTIME at the checkout for 10% off your entire order. And Just so you know, we get 10% of the sale too, so it's a win win. Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – JWDT Photography
How can you be more relaxed about your writing process? What are some specific ways to take the pressure off your art and help you enjoy the creative journey? With Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie Lefebvre. In the intro, Spotify 2025 audiobook trends; Audible + BookTok; NonFiction Authors Guide to SubStack; OpenAI and Disney agreement on Sora; India AI licensing; Business for Authors January webinars; Mark and Jo over the years Mark Leslie LeFebvre is the author of horror and paranormal fiction, as well as nonfiction books for authors. He's also an editor, professional speaker, and the Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital. Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. Mark and Jo co-wrote The Relaxed Author in 2021. You can listen to us talk about the process here. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights, and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Why the ‘relaxed' author Write what you love Write at your own pace Write in a series (if you want to) Schedule time to fill the creative well and for rest and relaxation Improve your writing process — but only if it fits with your lifestyle You can find The Relaxed Author: Take the Pressure Off Your Art and Enjoy the Creative Journey on CreativePennBooks.com as well as on your favorite online store or audiobook platform, or order in your library or bookstore. You can find Mark Leslie Lefebvre and his books and podcast at Stark Reflections.ca Why the ‘relaxed' author? Joanna: The definition of relaxed is “free from tension and anxiety,” from the Latin laxus, meaning loose, and to be honest, I am not a relaxed or laid-back person in the broader sense. Back in my teens, my nickname at school was Highly Stressed. I'm a Type A personality, driven by deadlines and achieving goals. I love to work and I burned out multiple times in my previous career as an IT consultant. If we go away on a trip, I pack the schedule with back-to-back cultural things like museums and art galleries to help my book research. Or we go on adventure holidays with a clear goal, like cycling down the South-West coast of India. I can't even go for a long walk without training for another ultra-marathon! So I am not a relaxed person — but I am a relaxed author. If I wanted to spend most of my time doing something that made me miserable, I would go back to my old day job in consulting. I was paid well and worked fewer hours overall. But I measure my life by what I create, and if I am not working on a creative project, I am not able to truly relax in my downtime. There are always more things I want to learn and write about, always more stories to be told and knowledge to share. I don't want to kill my writing life by over-stressing or burning out as an author. I write what I love and follow my Muse into projects that feel right. I know how to publish and market books well enough to reach readers and make some money. I have many different income streams through my books, podcast and website. Of course, I still have my creative and business challenges as well as mindset issues, just like any writer. That never goes away. But after a decade as a full-time author entrepreneur, I have a mature creative business and I've relaxed into the way I do things. I love to write, but I also want a full and happy, healthy life. I'm still learning and improving as the industry shifts — and I change, too. I still have ambitious creative and financial goals, but I am going about them in a more relaxed way and in this book, I'll share some of my experiences and tips in the hope that you can discover your relaxed path, too. Mark: One of the most fundamental things you can do in your writing life is look at how you want to spend your time. I think back to the concept of: ‘You're often a reflection of the people you spend the most time with.' Therefore, typically, your best friend, or perhaps your partner, is often a person you love spending time with. Because there's something inherently special about spending time with this person who resonates in a meaningful way, and you feel more yourself because you're with them. In many ways, writing, or the path that you are on as a writer, is almost like being on a journey with an invisible partner. You are you. But you are also the writer you. And there's the two of you traveling down the road of life together. And so that same question arises. What kind of writer-self do you want to spend all your time with? Do you want to spend all your time with a partner that is constantly stressed out or constantly trying to reach deadlines based on somebody else's prescription of what success is? Or would you rather spend time with a partner who pauses to take a contemplative look at your own life, your own comfort, your own passion and the things that you are willing to commit to? Someone who allows that all to happen in a way that feels natural and comfortable to you. I'm a fan of the latter, of course, because then you can focus on the things you're passionate about and the things you're hopeful about rather than the things you're fearful about and those that bring anxiety and stress into your life. To me, that's part of being a relaxed author. That underlying acceptance before you start to plan things out. If the writing life is a marathon, not a sprint, then pacing, not rushing, may be the key. We have both seen burnout in the author community. People who have pushed themselves too hard and just couldn't keep up with the impossible pace they set for themselves. At times, indie authors would wear that stress, that anxiety, that rush to produce more and more, as a badge of honor. It's fine to be proud of the hard work that you do. It's fine to be proud of pushing yourself to always do better, and be better. But when you push too far — beyond your limits — you can ultimately do yourself more harm than good. Everyone has their own unique pace—something that they are comfortable with—and one key is to experiment until you find that pace, and you can settle in for the long run. There's no looking over your shoulder at the other writers. There's no panicking about the ones outpacing you. You're in this with yourself. And, of course, with those readers who are anticipating those clearly communicated milestones of your releases. I think that what we both want for authors is to see them reaching those milestones at their own paces, in their own comfort, delighting in the fact their readers are there cheering them on. Because we'll be silently cheering them along as well, knowing that they've set a pace, making relaxed author lifestyle choices, that will benefit them in the long run. “I'm glad you're writing this book. I know I'm not the only author who wants peace, moments of joy, and to enjoy the journey. Indie publishing is a luxury that I remember not having, I don't want to lose my sense of gratitude.” —Anonymous author from our survey Write what you love Joanna: The pandemic has taught us that life really is short. Memento mori — remember, you will die. What is the point of spending precious time writing books you don't want to write? If we only have a limited amount of time and only have a limited number of books that we can write in a lifetime, then we need to choose to write the books that we love. If I wanted a job doing something I don't enjoy, then I would have remained in my stressful old career as an IT consultant — when I certainly wasn't relaxed! Taking that further, if you try to write things you don't love, then you're going to have to read what you don't love as well, which will take more time. I love writing thrillers because that's what I love to read. Back when I was miserable in my day job, I would go to the bookstore at lunchtime and buy thrillers. I would read them on the train to and from work and during the lunch break. Anything for a few minutes of escape. That's the same feeling I try to give my readers now. I know the genre inside and out. If I had to write something else, I would have to read and learn that other genre and spend time doing things I don't love. In fact, I don't even know how you can read things you don't enjoy. I only give books a few pages and if they don't resonate, I stop reading. Life really is too short. You also need to run your own race and travel your own journey. If you try to write in a genre you are not immersed in, you will always be looking sideways at what other authors are doing, and that can cause comparisonitis — when you compare yourself to others, most often in an unfavorable way. Definitely not relaxing! Writing something you love has many intrinsic rewards other than sales. Writing is a career for many of us, but it's a passion first, and you don't want to feel like you've wasted your time on words you don't care about. “Write what you know” is terrible advice for a long-term career as at some point, you will run out of what you know. It should be “write what you want to learn about.” When I want to learn about a topic, I write a book on it because that feeds my curiosity and I love book research, it's how I enjoy spending my time, especially when I travel, which is also part of how I relax. If you write what you love and make it part of your lifestyle, you will be a far more relaxed author. Mark: It's common that writers are drawn into storytelling from some combination of passion, curiosity, and unrelenting interest. We probably read or saw something that inspired us, and we wanted to express those ideas or the resulting perspectives that percolated in our hearts and minds. Or we read something and thought, “Wow, I could do this; but I would have come at it differently or I would approach the situation or subject matter with my own flair.” So, we get into writing with passion and desire for storytelling. And then sometimes along the way, we recognize the critical value of having to become an entrepreneur, to understand the business of writing and publishing. And part of understanding that aspect of being an author is writing to market, and understanding shifts and trends in the industry, and adjusting to those ebbs and flows of the tide. But sometimes, we lose sight of the passion that drew us to writing in the first place. And so, writing the things that you love can be a beacon to keep you on course. I love the concept of “Do something that you love, and you'll never work a day in your life.” And that's true in some regard because I've always felt that way for almost my entire adult life. I've been very lucky. But at the same time, I work extremely hard at what I love. Some days are harder than others, and some things are really difficult, frustrating and challenging; but at the end of the day, I have the feeling of satisfaction that I spent my time doing something I believe in. I've been a bookseller my entire life even though I don't sell books in brick-and-mortar bookstores anymore—that act of physically putting books in people's hands. But to this day, what I do is virtually putting books in people's hands, both as an author and as an industry representative who is passionate about the book business. I was drawn to that world via my passion for writing. And that's what continues to compel me forward. I tried to leave the corporate world to write full time in 2018 but realized there was an intrinsic satisfaction to working in that realm, to embracing and sharing my insights and knowledge from that arena to help other writers. And I couldn't give that up. For me, the whole core, the whole essence of why I get up in the morning has to do with storytelling, creative inspiration, and wanting to inspire and inform other people to be the best that they can be in the business of writing and publishing. And that's what keeps me going when the days are hard. Passion as the inspiration to keep going There are always going to be days that aren't easy. There will be unexpected barriers that hit you as a writer. You'll face that mid-novel slump or realize that you have to scrap an entire scene or even plotline, and feel like going back and re-starting is just too much. You might find the research required to be overwhelming or too difficult. There'll be days when the words don't flow, or the inspiration that initially struck you seems to have abandoned you for greener pastures. Whatever it is, some unexpected frustration can create what can appear to be an insurmountable block. And, when that happens, if it's a project you don't love, you're more likely to let those barriers get in your way and stop you. But if it's a project that you're passionate about, and you're writing what you love, that alone can be what greases the wheels and helps reduce that friction to keep you going. At the end of the day, writing what you love can be a honing, grounding, and centering beacon that allows you to want to wake up in the morning and enjoy the process as much as possible even when the hard work comes along. “For me, relaxation comes from writing what I know and love and trusting the emergent process. As a discovery writer, I experience great joy when the story, characters and dialogue simply emerge in their own time and their own way. It feels wonderful.” — Valerie Andrews “Writing makes me a relaxed author. Just getting lost in a story of my own creation, discovering new places and learning what makes my characters tick is the best way I know of relaxing. Even the tricky parts, when I have no idea where I am going next, have a special kind of charm.” – Imogen Clark Write at your own pace Mark: Writing at your own pace will help you be a more relaxed author because you're not stressing out by trying to keep up with someone else. Of course, we all struggle with comparing ourselves to others. Take a quick look around and you can always find someone who has written more books than you. Nora Roberts, traditionally published author, writes a book a month. Lindsey Buroker, fantasy indie author, writes a book a month of over 100,000 words. If you compare yourself to someone else and you try to write at their pace, that is not going to be your relaxed schedule. On the other hand, if you compare yourself to Donna Tartt, who writes one book every decade, you might feel like some speed-demon crushing that word count and mastering rapid release. Looking at what others are doing could result in you thinking you're really slow or you could think that you're super-fast. What does that kind of comparison actually get you? I remember going to see a talk by Canadian literary author Farley Mowat when I was a young budding writer. I'll never forget one thing he said from that stage: “Any book that takes you less than four years to write is not a real book.” Young teenage Mark was devastated, hurt and disappointed to hear him say that because my favorite author at the time, Piers Anthony, was writing and publishing two to three novels a year. I loved his stuff, and his fantasy and science fiction had been an important inspiration in my writing at that time. (The personal notes I add to the end of my stories and novels came from enjoying his so much). That focus on there being only a single way, a single pace to write, ended up preventing me from enjoying the books I had already been loving because I was doing that comparisonitis Joanna talks about, but as a reader. I took someone else's perspective too much to heart and I let that ruin a good thing that had brought me personal joy and pleasure. It works the same way as a writer. Because we have likely developed a pattern, or a way that works for us that is our own. We all have a pace that we comfortably walk; a way we prefer to drive. A pattern or style of how and when and what we prefer to eat. We all have our own unique comfort food. There are these patterns that we're comfortable with, and potentially because they are natural to us. If you try to force yourself to write at a pace that's not natural to you, things can go south in your writing and your mental health. And I'm not suggesting any particular pace, except for the one that's most natural and comfortable to you. If writing fast is something that you're passionate about, and you're good at it, and it's something you naturally do, why would you stop yourself from doing that? Just like if you're a slow writer and you're trying to write fast: why are you doing that to yourself? There's a common pop song line used by numerous bands over the years that exhorts you to “shake what you got.” I like to think the same thing applies here. And do it with pride and conviction. Because what you got is unique and awesome. Own it, and shake it with pride. You have a way you write and a word count per writing session that works for you. And along with that, you likely know what time you can assign to writing because of other commitments like family time, leisure time, and work (assuming you're not a full-time writer). Simple math can provide you with a way to determine how long it will take to get your first draft written. So, your path and plans are clear. And you simply take the approach that aligns with your writer DNA. Understanding what that pace is for you helps alleviate an incredible amount of stress that you do not need to thrust upon yourself. Because if you're not going to be able to enjoy it while you're doing it, what's the point? Your pace might change project to project While your pace can change over time, your pace can also change project to project. And sometimes the time actually spent writing can be a smaller portion of the larger work involved. I was on a panel at a conference once and someone asked me how long it took to write my non-fiction book of ghost stories, Haunted Hamilton. “About four days,” I responded. And while that's true — I crafted the first draft over four long and exhausting days writing as much as sixteen hours each day — the reality was I had been doing research for months. But the pen didn't actually hit the paper until just a few days before my deadline to turn the book over to my editor. That was for a non-fiction book; but I've found I do similar things with fiction. I noodle over concepts and ideas for months before I actually commit words to the page. The reason this comes to mind is that I think it's important to recognize the way that I write is I first spend a lot of time in my head to understand and chew on things. And then by the time it comes to actually getting the words onto the paper, I've already done much of the pre-writing mentally. It's sometimes not fair when you're comparing yourself to someone else to look at how long they physically spend in front of a keyboard hammering on that word count, because they might have spent a significantly longer amount of a longer time either outlining or conceptualizing the story in their mind or in their heart before they sat down to write. So that's part of the pace, too. Because sometimes, if we only look at the time spent at the ‘writer's desk,' we fool ourselves when we think that we're a slow writer or a fast writer. Joanna: Your pace will change over your career My first novel took 14 months and now I can write a first draft in about six weeks because I have more experience. It's also more relaxing for me to write a book now than it was in the beginning, because I didn't know what I was doing back then. Your pace will change per project I have a non-fiction work in progress, my Shadow Book (working title), which I have started several times. I have about 30,000 words but as I write this, I have backed away from it because I'm (still) not ready. There's a lot more research and thinking I need to do. Similarly, some people take years writing a memoir or a book with such emotional or personal depth that it needs more to bring it to life. Your pace will also shift depending on where you are in the arc of life Perhaps you have young kids right now, or you have a health issue, or you're caring for someone who is ill. Perhaps you have a demanding day job so you have less time to write. Perhaps you really need extended time away from writing, or just a holiday. Or maybe there's a global pandemic and frankly, you're too stressed to write! The key to pacing in a book is variability — and that's true of life, too. Write at the pace that works for you and don't be afraid to change it as you need to over time. “I think the biggest thing for me is reminding myself that I'm in this to write. Sometimes I can get caught up in all the moving pieces of editing and publishing and marketing, but the longer I go without writing, or only writing because I have to get the next thing done instead of for enjoyment, the more stressed and anxious I become. But if I make time to fit in what I truly love, which is the process of writing without putting pressure on myself to meet a deadline, or to be perfect, or to meet somebody else's expectations — that's when I become truly relaxed.” – Ariele Sieling Write in a series (if you want to) Joanna: I have some stand-alone books but most of them are in series, both for non-fiction and for my fiction as J.F. Penn. It's how I like to read and write. As we draft this book, I'm also writing book 12 in my ARKANE series, Tomb of Relics. It's relaxing because I know my characters, I know my world; I know the structure of how an ARKANE story goes. I know what to put in it to please my readers. I have already done the work to set up the series world and the main characters and now all I need is a plot and an antagonist. It's also quicker to write and edit because I've done it before. Of course, you need to put in the work initially so the series comes together, but once you've set that all up, each subsequent book is easier. You can also be more relaxed because you already have an audience who will (hopefully) buy the book because they bought the others. You will know approximately how many sales you'll get on launch and there will be people ready to review. Writing in a non-fiction series is also a really good idea because you know your audience and you can offer them more books, products and services that will help them within a niche. While they might not be sequential, they should be around the same topic, for example, this is part of my Books for Authors series. Financially, it makes sense to have a series as you will earn more revenue per customer as they will (hopefully) buy more than one book. It's also easier and more relaxing to market as you can set one book to free or a limited time discount and drive sales through to other books in the series. Essentially, writing a book in a series makes it easier to fulfill both creative and financial goals. However, if you love to read and write stand-alone books, and some genres suit stand-alones better than series anyway, then, of course, go with what works for you! Mark: I like to equate this to no matter where you travel in the world, if you find a McDonald's you pretty much know what's on the menu and you know what to expect. When you write in a series, it's like returning to hang out with old friends. You know their backstory; you know their history so you can easily fall into a new conversation about something and not have to get caught up on understanding what you have in common. So that's an enormous benefit of relaxing into something like, “Oh, I'm sitting down over coffee, chatting with some old friends. They're telling me a new story about something that happened to them. I know who they are, I know what they're made out of.” And this new plot, this new situation, they may have new goals, they may have new ways they're going to grow as characters, but they're still the same people that we know and love. And that's a huge benefit that I only discovered recently because I'm only right now working on book four in my Canadian Werewolf series. Prior to that, I had three different novels that were all the first book in a series with no book two. And it was stressful for me. Writing anything seemed to take forever. I was causing myself anxiety by jumping around and writing new works as opposed to realizing I could go visit a locale I'm familiar and comfortable with. And I can see new things in the same locale just like sometimes you can see new things and people you know and love already, especially when you introduce something new into the world and you see how they react to it. For me, there's nothing more wonderful than that sort of homecoming. It's like a nostalgic feeling when you do that. I've seen a repeated pattern where writers spend years writing their first book. I started A Canadian Werewolf in New York in 2006 and I did not publish it until ten years later, after finishing it in 2015. (FYI, that wasn't my first novel. I had written three and published one of them prior to that). That first novel can take so long because you're learning. You're learning about your characters, about the craft, about the practice of writing, about the processes that you're testing along the way. And if you are working on your first book and it's taking longer than planned, please don't beat yourself up for that. It's a process. Sometimes that process takes more time. I sometimes wonder if this is related to our perception of time as we age. When you're 10 years old, a day compared to your lifetime is a significant amount of time, and thinking about a year later is considering a time that is one-tenth of your life. When you have a few more decades or more under your belt, that year is a smaller part of the whole. If you're 30, a year is only one-thirtieth of your life. A much smaller piece. Just having written more books, particularly in a series, removes the pressure of that one book to represent all of you as a writer. I had initial anxiety at writing the second book in my Canadian Werewolf series. Book two was more terrifying in some ways than book one because finally, after all this time, I had something good that I didn't want to ruin. Should I leave well enough alone? But I was asked to write a short story to a theme in an anthology, and using my main character from that first novel allowed me to discover I could have fun spending more time with these characters and this world. And I also realized that people wanted to read more about these characters. I didn't just want to write about them, but other people wanted to read about them too. And that makes the process so much easier to keep going with them. So one of the other benefits that helps to relax me as a writer working on a series is I have a better understanding of who my audience is, and who my readers are, and who will want this, and who will appreciate it. So I know what worked, I know what resonated with them, and I know I can give them that next thing. I have discovered that writing in a series is a far more relaxed way of understanding your target audience better. Because it's not just a single shot in the dark, it's a consistent on-going stream. Let me reflect on a bit of a caveat, because I'm not suggesting sticking to only a single series or universe. As writers, we have plenty of ideas and inspirations, and it's okay to embrace some of the other ones that come to us. When I think about the Canadian rock trio, Rush, a band that produced 19 studio albums and toured for 40 years, I acknowledge a very consistent band over the decades. And yet, they weren't the same band that they were when they started playing together, even though it was the same three guys since Neil Peart joined Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. They changed what they wrote about, what they sang about, themes, styles, approaches to making music, all of this. They adapted and changed their style at least a dozen times over the course of their career. No album was exactly like the previous album, and they experimented, and they tried things. But there was a consistency of the audience that went along with them. And as writers, we can potentially have that same thing where we know there are going to be people who will follow us. Think about Stephen King, a writer who has been writing in many different subjects and genres. And yet there's a core group of people who will enjoy everything he writes, and he has that Constant Reader he always keeps in mind. And so, when we write in a series, we're thinking about that constant reader in a more relaxed way because that constant reader, like our characters, like our worlds, like our universes, is like we're just returning to a comfortable, cozy spot where we're just going to hang out with some good friends for a bit. Or, as the contemplative Rush song Time Stand Still expresses, the simple comfort and desire of spending some quality time having a drink with a friend. Schedule time to fill the creative well and for rest and relaxation Mark: What we do as writers is quite cerebral, so we need to give ourselves mental breaks in the same way we need to sleep regularly. Our bodies require sleep. And it's not just physical rest for our bodies to regenerate, it's for our minds to regenerate. We need that to stay sane, to stay alive, to stay healthy. The reality for us as creatives is that we're writing all the time, whether or not we're in front of a keyboard or have a pen in our hand. We're always writing, continually sucking the marrow from the things that are happening around us, even when we're not consciously aware of it. And sometimes when we are more consciously aware of it, that awareness can feel forced. It can feel stressful. When you give yourself the time to just let go, to just relax, wonderful things can happen. And they can come naturally, never feeling that urgent sense of pressure. Downtime, for me, is making space for those magic moments to happen. I was recently listening to Episode 556 of The Creative Penn podcast where Joanna talked about the serendipity of those moments when you're traveling and you're going to a museum and you see something. And you're not consciously there to research for a book, but you see something that just makes a connection for you. And you would not have had that for your writing had you not given yourself the time to just be doing and enjoying something else. And so, whenever I need to resolve an issue or a problem in a project I'm writing, which can cause stress, I will do other things. I will go for a run or walk the dogs, wash the dishes or clean the house. Or I'll put on some music and sing and dance like nobody is watching or listening—and thank goodness for that, because that might cause them needless anxiety. The key is, I will do something different that allows my mind to just let go. And somewhere in the subconscious, usually the answer comes to me. Those non-cerebral activities can be very restorative. Yesterday, my partner Liz and I met her daughter at the park. And while we quietly waited, the two of us wordlessly enjoyed the sights and sounds of people walking by, the river in the background, the wind blowing through the leaves in the trees above us. That moment wasn't a purposeful, “Hey, we're going to chill and relax.” But we found about five minutes of restorative calm in the day. A brief, but powerful ‘Ah' moment. And when I got back to writing this morning, I drew upon some of the imagery from those few minutes. I didn't realize at the time I was experiencing the moment yesterday that I was going to incorporate some of that imagery in today's writing session. And that's the serendipity that just flows very naturally in those scheduled and even unscheduled moments of relaxation. Joanna: I separate this into two aspects because I'm good at one and terrible at the other! I schedule time to fill the creative well as often as possible. This is something that Julia Cameron advises in The Artist's Way, and I find it an essential part of my creative practice. Essentially, you can't create from an empty mind. You have to actively seek out ways to spark ideas. International travel is a huge part of my fiction inspiration, in particular. This has been impossible during the pandemic and has definitely impacted my writing. I also go to exhibitions and art galleries, as well as read books, watch films and documentaries. If I don't fill my creative well, then I feel empty, like I will never have another idea, that perhaps my writing life is over. Some people call that writer's block but I know that feeling now. It just means I haven't filled my creative well and I need to schedule time to do that so I can create again. Consume and produce. That's the balance you need in order to keep the creative well filled and the words flowing. In terms of scheduling time to relax instead of doing book research, I find this difficult because I love to work. My husband says that I'm like a little sports car that goes really, really fast and doesn't stop until it hits a wall. I operate at a high productivity level and then I crash! But the restrictions of the pandemic have helped me learn more about relaxation, after much initial frustration. I have walked in nature and lain in the garden in the hammock and recently, we went to the seaside for the first time in 18 months. I lay on the stones and watched the waves. I was the most relaxed I've been in a long time. I didn't look at my phone. I wasn't listening to a podcast or an audiobook. We weren't talking. We were just being there in nature and relaxing. Authors are always thinking and feeling because everything feeds our work somehow. But we have to have both aspects — active time to fill the creative well and passive time to rest and relax. “I go for lots of walks and hikes in the woods. These help me work out the kinks in my plots, and also to feel more relaxed! (Exercise is an added benefit!)” –T.W. Piperbrook Improve your writing process — but only if it fits with your lifestyle Joanna: A lot of stress can occur in writing if we try to change or improve our process too far beyond our natural way of doing things. For example, trying to be a detailed plotter with a spreadsheet when you're really a discovery writer, or trying to dictate 5,000 words per hour when you find it easier to hand write slowly into a journal. Productivity tips from other writers can really help you tweak your personal process, but only if they work for you — and I say this as someone who has a book on Productivity for Authors! Of course, it's a good idea to improve things, but once you try something, analyze whether it works for you — either with data or just how you feel. If it works, great. Adopt it into your process. If it doesn't work, then discard it. For example, I wrote my first novel in Microsoft Word. When I discovered Scrivener, I changed my process and never looked back because it made my life so much easier. I don't write in order and Scrivener made it easier to move things around. I also discovered that it was easier for me to get into my first draft writing and creating when I was away from the desk I use for business, podcasting, and marketing tasks. I started to write in a local cafe and later on in a co-working space. During the pandemic lockdown, I used specific playlists to create a form of separation as I couldn't physically go somewhere else. Editing is an important part of the writing process but you have to find what works for you, which will also change over time. Some are authors are more relaxed with a messy first draft, then rounds of rewrites while working with multiple editors. Others do one careful draft and then use a proofreader to check the finished book. There are as many ways to write as there are writers. A relaxed author chooses the process that works in the most effective way for them and makes the book the best it can be. Mark: When it comes to process, there are times when you're doing something that feels natural, versus times when you're learning a new skill. Consciously and purposefully learning new skills can be stressful; particularly because it's something we often put so much emphasis or importance upon. But when you adapt on-going learning as a normal part of your life, a natural part of who and what you are, that stress can flow away. I'm always about learning new skills; but over time I've learned how to absorb learning into my everyday processes. I'm a pantser, or discovery writer, or whatever term we can apply that makes us feel better about it. And every time I've tried to stringently outline a book, it has been a stressful experience and I've not been satisfied with the process or the result. Perhaps I satisfied the part of me that thought I wanted to be more like other writers, but I didn't satisfy the creative person in me. I was denying that flow that has worked for me. I did, of course, naturally introduce a few new learnings into my attempts to outline; so I stuck with those elements that worked, and abandoned the elements that weren't working, or were causing me stress. The thought of self-improvement often comes with images of blood, sweat, and tears. It doesn't have to. You don't have to bleed to do this; it can be something that you do at your own pace. You can do it in a way that you're comfortable with so it's causing you no stress, but allowing you to learn and grow and improve. And if it doesn't work but you force yourself to keep doing it because a famous writer or a six-figure author said, “this is the way to do it,” you create pressure. And when you don't do it that way, you can think of yourself as a failure as opposed to thinking of it as, “No, this is just the way that I do things.” When you accept how you do things, if they result in effectively getting things done and feeling good about it at the same time, you have less resistance, you have less friction, you have less tension. Constantly learning, adapting, and evolving is good. But forcing ourselves to try to be or do something that we are not or that doesn't work for us, that causes needless anxiety. “I think a large part of it comes down to reminding myself WHY I write. This can mean looking back at positive reviews, so I can see how much joy others get from my writing, or even just writing something brand new for the sake of exploring an idea. Writing something just for me, rather than for an audience, reminds me how much I enjoy writing, which helps me to unwind a bit and approach my projects with more playfulness.” – Icy Sedgwick You can find The Relaxed Author: Take the Pressure Off Your Art and Enjoy the Creative Journey on CreativePennBooks.com as well as on your favorite online store or audiobook platform, or order in your library or bookstore. The post The Relaxed Author Writing Tips With Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie Lefebvre first appeared on The Creative Penn.
The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker
Andrew Martin reads his story “Risk, Discipline,” from the December 22, 2025, issue of the magazine. Martin is the author of the novel “Early Work,” and the story collection “Cool for America.” His new novel, “Down Time,” from which this story was adapted, will be published in March. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices