Podcasts about EBay

Mike Nett, GM of Trading Cards and Memorabilia at eBay, joins Passion to Profession to share his path from childhood collecting to running the largest trading card marketplace in the world. We talk about how his experiences at Pepsi, Amazon, and PSA shaped the way he thinks about collectors, sellers, and trust at scale. Mike pulls back the curtain on how eBay makes product decisions, why sellers are the engine of the hobby, what 2025 data revealed about collector behavior, and how small experience changes can have massive impact. This conversation is about growth, perspective, and building for collectors without losing the human side of the hobby. A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! Blair Murphy, an independent filmmaker, and his friends found themselves embarking on a journey into the unknown when they bought the Grand Midway Hotel in Windber, Pennsylvania, all thanks to a unique eBay listing. What they didn't realize was that the hotel came with more than just history—it brought with it ghosts. The Grand Midway Hotel, though no longer operating as a hotel, still plays host to restless spirits, including Martha, a young woman who tragically lost her life on the balcony during a 4th of July celebration. From unsolved murders and human bones discovered within the walls to the tragic tale of a child buried in the basement, the hotel's dark past has left a permanent mark. Adding an air of mystique, the hotel is home to two Guinness Book of World Records: the largest Ouija board on its rooftop and the world's largest Tarot card on its ceiling. Join us as we explore the terrifying and strange stories of the Grand Midway Hotel, uncovering the secrets and spirits that still linger within its walls. This is Part Two of our conversation. If you'd like more information on the hotel, check out their website at grandmidwayhotel.com. #GrandMidwayHotel #HauntedHotel #ParanormalHistory #TrueParanormal #GhostStories #HauntedPennsylvania #TheGraveTalks #RealHauntings #UnsolvedMysteries Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

A Note from James:One of my favorite conversations on this show was with Peter Thiel. Yes—PayPal, Facebook, Palantir, and a dozen other hits. I first ran this episode years ago, and the advice still holds up. The same stories, the same frameworks—and the same challenge to think from first principles. Here's Peter Thiel, one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time. Episode Description:In this redux, James pressure-tests the core ideas from Peter Thiel's Zero to One—why competition is for losers, how real monopolies are built, and why starting “narrow” is often the only path to something huge. They cover Facebook's early moat (real identity), PayPal's network-effect wedge on eBay, and the “10x or nothing” bar for proprietary technology. Peter shares a contrarian read on bubbles, why biotech's slump may be opportunity, and how to hire, divide roles, and keep teams from fighting. The through-line: seek secrets, combine disciplines, and make something so different that it becomes its own category. What You'll Learn:How to pick markets the Zero to One way: start with a “small, winnable monopoly,” then expand in concentric circles. The four classic moats—and which to favor first: proprietary tech, network effects, economies of scale, and brand (with a bias toward real tech). A practical rule for virality vs. network effects: growth is a tactic; enduring value comes from the network that forms once users arrive. Team design that prevents internal warfare: make roles uniquely owned; if two people own the same thing, you're paying for a fight. How to hunt “secrets”: believe they exist, look where consensus is stale, and borrow from adjacent fields to see what specialists miss. Timestamped Chapters:[02:00] A Note from James — Why this conversation still ranks among the best. [03:00] Zero to One, in one line — “Do something new, different, fresh, strange.” [05:17] Competition vs. Capitalism — Why perfect competition kills profits; aim for uniqueness. [07:28] Facebook's original edge — Real identity as the breakthrough vs. MySpace's alt-persona culture. [09:14] Bits vs. Atoms — Stagnation outside software and how biology could become an information science. [12:05] Personality and perseverance — Why mild contrarian wiring helps founders ignore status games. [15:21] “10x or nothing” — The technology and/or experience must be an order of magnitude better. [17:00] Monopoly thinking, ethically done — Create abundance by creating something truly new. [23:30] The PayPal pre-history — Why long-running trust among teammates births more companies. [30:10] Early Facebook investment logic — College-only looked “small,” which was exactly the point. [32:03] Turning down $1B — The boardroom debate, optionality, and founder conviction. [36:23] Moats in practice — Picking the right advantage (and why brand alone is shaky). [37:06] Network effects ≠ virality — How value compounds after growth. [39:54] PayPal's wedge — eBay power-sellers and the $10 incentive as a growth accelerant. [41:22] Beware the “Chinese refrigerator” TAM slide — Start small, win big. [42:01] Uber vs. Airbnb — Investor bias and why some models get over- or undervalued. [44:18] Bubbles and the public — What changes across tech, housing, and today's “government bubble.” [48:00] War on cash & credit — Why Peter favors unlevered, opaque innovation over fixed income. [51:10] Biotech headwinds (and upside) — Regulation, Eroom's Law, and why sentiment can misprice breakthroughs. [53:50] Secrets — If you assume they exist, you'll be the one to find them. [57:56] Interdisciplinary bets — CS × biology; CS × transportation; why university silos miss the action. [59:51] Silicon Valley on HBO — The “Peter Gregory” caricature and what the show gets right. Additional Resources:Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future (book) — Amazon hardcover. AmazonFounders Fund — Peter Thiel profile (bio & portfolio highlights). Founders Fund“PayPal Mafia” overview (alumni companies: YouTube, Yelp, LinkedIn, Tesla, SpaceX, Palantir, Yammer). WikipediaYahoo's 2006 $1B offer for Facebook (background reporting). Business InsiderEroom's Law (pharma R&D productivity; Nature Reviews Drug Discovery). NatureSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does a real million-dollar offer actually look like?In this episode, Russell pulls back the curtain on a rare, behind-the-scenes breakdown of a seven-figure high-ticket offer—how it was structured, why it was created, and what makes it fundamentally different from transactional consulting or equity deals.Along the way, he shares hard-earned lessons on qualifying clients, building leverage through teams, running evergreen events, and why brand, community, and network effects are becoming the only defensible advantages in an AI-driven future.This is a masterclass in high-ticket strategy, long-term thinking, and designing offers that scale without burning out the founder. 

If you wish to support the show and PFC Irvine's Journey you can find his Ebay store here----> PFC NETWORK  Like our Facebook Page: Learning To Deal Podcast Learning To Deal Is a podcast about the host's (PFC Irvine) Journey in being a coin dealer while dealing with life and invisible combat injuries. 

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! Blair Murphy, an independent filmmaker, and his friends found themselves embarking on a journey into the unknown when they bought the Grand Midway Hotel in Windber, Pennsylvania, all thanks to a unique eBay listing. What they didn't realize was that the hotel came with more than just history—it brought with it ghosts. The Grand Midway Hotel, though no longer operating as a hotel, still plays host to restless spirits, including Martha, a young woman who tragically lost her life on the balcony during a 4th of July celebration. From unsolved murders and human bones discovered within the walls to the tragic tale of a child buried in the basement, the hotel's dark past has left a permanent mark. Adding an air of mystique, the hotel is home to two Guinness Book of World Records: the largest Ouija board on its rooftop and the world's largest Tarot card on its ceiling. Join us as we explore the terrifying and strange stories of the Grand Midway Hotel, uncovering the secrets and spirits that still linger within its walls. If you'd like more information on the hotel, check out their website at grandmidwayhotel.com. #GrandMidwayHotel #HauntedHotel #ParanormalHistory #TrueParanormal #GhostStories #HauntedPennsylvania #TheGraveTalks #RealHauntings #UnsolvedMysteries Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Channel Members join us to talk about The Nashville Meetup & Joe's FB Comeback! @MikeMetco   @gemflipper  in this special episode of This Week in Reselling, our channel members join us for a roundtable conversation! We dive into their reselling journeys, share stories from the Nashville Reseller Meetup, and break down how each member sources, lists, and grows their reselling business.We also talk about the wild moment when Joe got kicked off Facebook Marketplace — and the surprising way he managed to get back in. If you've ever dealt with platform bans or glitches, you'll want to hear this story!Whether you're a reseller on eBay, Whatnot, Poshmark, Mercari, or Facebook Marketplace, this episode is packed with tips, laughs, and community vibes.

*SHARE YOUR TOP 5 ON IG USING #PTTFTOP5 In this episode, hosts Mr. eBay and Dr. Chad dive into their experiences at the Classic Card Show, share their excitement for the upcoming Secret Santa event, and discuss their top five cards from their collections. They also explore current trends in the card market, including grading and the impact of community engagement on the hobby. The conversation highlights personal stories behind their collections, the joy of card collecting, and the importance of nostalgia in their choices. Check Out Our Other Content:  New Product Releases with Mrs. Doc - Every Wednesday Fanatics Football Card Auction Review - Every Friday

Episode Title: "Midichlorians Before Midichlorians!" - The Sorcerer's Apprentice Novel Review - Patreon Exclusive Sample HOLIDAY GIFT TO OUR LISTENERS: The Doctor's Beard Podcast presents another special Patreon Exclusive - this time venturing beyond comics into the world of Doctor Who prose! Join John (the Apprentice) and Jim (the Sorcerer Supreme) as they discuss Christopher Bulis's The Sorcerer's Apprentice from the Virgin Missing Adventures line. JIM'S BACKYARD: "I don't know from podcasting... but a good old fashioned book is my bailiwick." Jim reveals his Doctor Who origin story: reading Target novelizations in the late 70s/early 80s (American publisher reprints with Harlan Ellison introductions stating "My Hero, Doctor Who"), then driving to Windsor, Canada with his father to find British Target editions. He sold those collections years ago and now kicks himself regularly. CHOOSING THE BOOK: Jim turned to Facebook Doctor Who groups for recommendations on First Doctor original novels. Two titles dominated suggestions: The Venusian Lullaby by Paul Leonard (First Doctor, Ian, Barbara - takes place between The Dalek Invasion of Earth and The Rescue) The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Christopher Bulis (First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara - takes place between Marco Polo and The Keys of Marinus) Jim chose The Sorcerer's Apprentice because it comes chronologically first and includes Susan. The cover features the Doctor, Susan, and the TARDIS being breathed upon by a fire-breathing dragon - an actual scene from the book! THE MISSING ADVENTURES SERIES: Virgin Books received the Doctor Who license after the 1989 "rest" (not cancellation). They launched: New Adventures: Continuing Sylvester McCoy/Ace stories with ongoing character development Missing Adventures: Original novels set during the first six Doctors' eras DOCTOR WHO THE MISSING ADVENTURES: THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE (1995) Writer: Christopher Bulis The Setup: The TARDIS lands on an Earth-like world with a stereotypical medieval setting - knights, dragons, castles, a king and queen, princess and her fiancé. But there's also real magic. The core conflict: Science versus Magic - the Doctor representing science, the world representing magic. The Twist: Outside this medieval world exists a solar system-spanning empire with spaceships and lasers. Legends and names derive from Arthurian mythology - the planet is called Elbyon (spelled differently from Albion, an old name for England). CHARACTERIZATION - NAILED IT: Jim praises Bulis for capturing the actors' voices perfectly: "I'm reading this and I'm hearing William Hartnell, William Russell, Carol Ann Ford, and Jacqueline Hill. That's what really makes this come alive." Character Rankings: The Doctor - Spot on throughout Ian - "Really strong... there's a particular way you have to have Ian talk" Susan - Well-captured, gets meaty material Barbara - Sadly underused, separated from the group early and relegated to a tangent storyline CLEVER CONTINUITY TOUCHES: Language Mystery: The Doctor and Susan speak to each other in an unidentifiable language Barbara has never heard before - a subtle nod to their alien origins without spelling it out. The Ring Returns: The Doctor's ring (featured prominently in "The Web Planet") plays a significant part in the action. Jim appreciates the callback to their ongoing discussions about when the ring matters versus when it's forgotten. Ian Learns Swordfighting: Ian explicitly states he doesn't know how to sword fight - perfectly placed between "Marco Polo" (where he wouldn't know) and "The Romans" (where he suddenly does). This novel explains where Ian learned! Susan's Difference: Brief references to Susan being "different" from the humans, reinforcing her alien nature without heavy-handedness. NO SMIRKING OR WINKING: Unlike some novelizations that project future Doctor knowledge backward, Bulis respects the 1964 timeline. Jim: "If you really want to be accurate, you have to write it from 'it's 1964 and that stuff hasn't happened yet.'" LISTENER COMPLAINTS ADDRESSED: Jim found limited online reviews, mostly negative: Splitting Up the Crew - Complaint: Early series constantly separated characters. John's defense: You couldn't fit this anywhere in the Susan timeline without that happening Stereotypical Setting - Complaint: Bulis uses standard tropes. John's defense: "We say things like that, but when somebody does something different and out of the ordinary, we criticize them for that too" Jim on fan expectations: "Obviously writers can't kill characters, have them get pregnant, lose limbs, or murder somebody... especially when they tell us exactly where these stories take place in canon timeline." AVAILABILITY: Out of print for nearly 30 years but readily available on eBay and used bookstores for around $10. Jim found both Sorcerer's Apprentice and Venusian Lullaby from American sellers at reasonable prices. JIM'S READING PLAN: Will eventually read The Venusian Lullaby, then plans to read one original novel per Doctor as the podcast progresses, soliciting recommendations from fan communities for each era. LOVE WHAT YOU HEARD? This novel discussion is just one example of Patreon exclusive content! For $3/month: Deep dives into Doctor Who prose, comics, and audio Early access to episode reviews Memory TARDIS retrospectives Live watch parties And much more! Visit patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast to explore all of time and space with us! Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or join our Facebook community. Happy Holidays from The Doctor's Beard Podcast! Hashtags: #DoctorWho #DoctorWhoBooks #DoctorWhoNovels #PatreonSample #HolidayEpisode #TheSorcerersApprentice #ChristopherBulis #MissingAdventures #VirginBooks #FirstDoctor #WilliamHartnell #Susan #Ian #Barbara #CarolAnnFord #WilliamRussell #JacquelineHill #OriginalNovels #Prose #BookReview #Arthurian #MedievalFantasy #ScienceVsMagic #Nanites #Midichlorians #StarWars #ThePhantomMenace #GeorgeLucas #TargetBooks #Novelizations #1995 #90sWho #ClassicDoctorWho #DoctorWhoHistory #LiteraryWho #CanonTimeline #MarcoPoloToMarinus #IanSwordfighting #TheDoctorsRing #AlienLanguage #BookDiscussion #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #PatreonExclusive #FreeEpisode #HolidayGift #Whovian #DoctorWhoFandom #PodcastSample #SupportThePodcast #ReadingWho #UsedBooks #eBay

Rain joins me to dive deep into one of the most unique reptile projects you'll ever hear about — keeping snail-eating snakes and the unexpected adventure that came with it. We discuss everything from how to care for snail-eating snakes, their specialized diet, and how to breed and collect snails as feeders… all the way to the hilarious twist that turned Rain into one of eBay's top snail sellers. SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/241-snail-eaters/SPONSORS: Visit Fauna-Lux Here: https://fauna-lux.com/Visit The BioDude: https://www.thebiodude.com/ JOIN US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/animalsathomePhotos and Video in Episode:Provided by Rain0:00 Intro1:48 Welcome Rain, Discovering Snail-Eaters14:35 Starting with the Snails16:45 TrueChroma by Fauna Lux18:20 Finding Wild Snails23:20 Buying & Selling Snails on eBay31:28 Parasites on Snails & Snail Worms33:25 Selling & Collecting Millipedes 36:08 How Many Snails each Snail-eater needs43:25 BioDude44:26 Raising Snails vs Raising Crickets47:34 The Benefits of Keeping & Breeding Snails55:53 The Species of Snail-Eaters Rain Keeps & Their Characteristics 1:14:54 How they eat1:28:56 A look at Rain's Snail-Eaters1:46:37 What size snail to feed?1:48:56 Feeder variety?1:51:50 Structure for Captive Keeping1:56:28 Setting up the Snail Tubs & Feeding2:02:38 Semi-Slugs2:06:28 Closing Thoughts

Our podcast is now proudly sponsored by Black Arrow Minis.Please check out their website and email contact below:Email: blackarrowgamessales@gmail.comWebsite: https://blackarrowminis.com/Ebay:https://www.ebay.com/str/blackarrowgamesCrown of Command Games YouTube⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC504rUqQda8H0uXRZajBL3g⁠⁠⁠Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thecrownofcommandpodcast⁠⁠⁠Discord community:⁠https://discord.gg/hJXsefB74E⁠Eavy Lead Studios:⁠⁠eavylead@gmail.com⁠⁠Check out our Herohammer Fanzine here:⁠⁠⁠www.herohammer-fanzine.com⁠⁠⁠Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/4274948262546353⁠⁠⁠Contact me:⁠⁠⁠thecrownofcommandpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠Shelter Song by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠

In this episode, Josh interviews Kris Gramlich, an experienced Amazon FBA seller and entrepreneur. Kris shares practical strategies for building customer loyalty, including using product insert cards with QR codes that lead buyers to claim free gifts in exchange for their contact information and order ID. He emphasizes providing value rather than manipulating reviews and discusses sourcing free sample gifts locally to quickly engage customers. Kris also offers actionable tips on optimizing product images, building an audience, and leveraging influencer marketing, all aimed at fostering long-term relationships and driving repeat business on Amazon.Chapters:Introduction to Kris Gramlich (00:00:00)Josh introduces Kris, his background in entrepreneurship, and his Amazon FBA journey.Product Insert Cards & QR Codes (00:01:03)Discussion on using product insert cards with QR codes to engage customers and offer free gifts.Landing Pages & Customer Verification (00:02:00)Explaining the process: QR code leads to a landing page, collects customer info and order ID to verify purchases.Avoiding Review Manipulation (00:04:06)Emphasizing not asking for reviews to avoid Amazon penalties and focusing on providing value instead.Free Gift Strategy & Messaging (00:05:15)Details on the types of free gifts offered, messaging on insert cards, and conversion rates.Sourcing & Sample Packs (00:05:48)Switching to U.S. suppliers for faster fulfillment and offering sample packs as free gifts.Landing Page Experience & Brand Story (00:07:30)Using videos and storytelling on landing pages to build brand connection and encourage opt-ins.Gift Relevance & Opt-In Process (00:08:01)Ensuring free gifts are relevant to the purchased product and using order ID to prevent abuse.Email Follow-Up & Community Building (00:09:16)Using MailChimp for follow-up emails, sharing brand story, and building a community around new product launches.Consumable Products & Customer Satisfaction (00:10:26)Focusing on consumable pet products, offering alternatives if customers are unsatisfied, and prioritizing customer happiness.Actionable Takeaways & Listing Optimization (00:11:46)Josh summarizes three actionable takeaways: optimize listing images, build an audience, and use free samples for subscriptions.Product Launch Strategies & Influencer Marketing (00:13:55)Discussing launch strategies: audience outreach, PPC, influencer marketing, and new affiliate software tools.Where to Find Kris & Closing (00:15:51)Kris shares how listeners can connect with him and offers a free gift; episode closes.Links and Mentions:Tools and WebsitesZapierMailchimpSellozo.comTranscript:Josh 00:00:00  Today I am excited to introduce you to Kris Gramlich. Kris is a professional FBA seller, a podcast host and an account executive at Sellozo. Kris has always been entrepreneurial and enjoyed the thrill of selling items, from selling items at garage sales as a kid to mowing yards and then selling clothes on eBay. Kris learned how to sell physical products on Amazon in 2013, starting out by selling things around the house. He learned the basics of retail arbitrage and started sourcing his own products. Kris launched his first product in 2014 after watching YouTube videos and listening to podcasts. Currently, Kris has four brands and enjoys helping other sellers on Amazon. Kris hosts a podcast with Dustin, another seller, where they talk about industry leaders and other sellers. So welcome to the podcast today, Kris.Kris 00:00:52  That's quite the intro there. Josh. That's pretty good. I'm gonna have to take a couple notes there and kind of implement those on our own podcast. That was really good.Josh 00:01:00  Hey. Well, you have, you have a good bio yourself.Josh 00:01:03  I think that's that's why it sounds so good to you. So I want to dive in a little bit more with, how you're building that audience with insert cards. You know, we do the same thing with our brand. I don't know that I necessarily see that as, like, overly gray. I mean, you look at like a box of, you know, grab some Clorox wipes. Right. What's on the product label for Clorox wipes? it's the P&G website. Right. So like and they have like a, you know, they're not saying like, hey, come register your warranty per se, but like they have links to their social media, right? They have their icons, they have their website on there. So like I don't think people need to be as scared about that. Right. But what are you seeing working really well when it comes to product inserts?Kris 00:01:49  Well if anything good out of Covid came, it's that people were more adapted to QR codes. So people like start to they know what that is now.Kris 00:02:00  And so QR code like that just not people realize, oh I can scan that. So a QR code insert that is has some type of messaging messaging like so thank you. you know, get your free gift. there's, there's things that, that I'm doing now where, somebody scans it, they go to a landing page. in that landing page, they give name, email address, order ID number, and that just kind of verifies that the order matches with Amazon order. So we're not just getting spammed for free gift. Yeah. And they scan it and we just give a free gift out. And, all they got to do is provide us with their name and their email address. we're think about adding their mailing address there, just to kind of have that for like a backup plan to do postcards. I get a random side note here, but I bought something Amazon like literally 60 days later, I got a gift. Like a postcard in the mail. Really? How'd this? How'd this guy know to send me this postcard for another item? So, like, reverse engineering? That's kind of fun for me.Kris 00:03:07  So I'm trying to figure that out, but, Yeah, the insert scan, QR code landing page. Basic information. No first name, last name, email address, and then the order ID. we're using a tool called, It's going away from me. Zapier or Zapier, however you want to pronounce. Okay, that that, links up order IDs so that, when they type in your ID, it matches correctly with the order ID inside your account. and then from there, we send them a free sample and the free sample. You know, it's just something to, like, get them to engage with us, maybe try another product that we're thinking about launching down the road. it also just allows them to, like, feel warm and fuzzy. So maybe that when that review request does come and that that review request is done by Amazon, we're not sending any more like, hey, give us a five star review. We're just leaving it more like providing value. And whenever they get something from Amazon that says, how would you rate your experience with so-and-so brand? Maybe they think, hey, that was a good brand.Kris 00:04:06  I'll leave a five star review, so we're leaving that alone.Josh 00:04:09  So you're not even touching reviews. You're not.Kris 00:04:11  Even to touch.Josh 00:04:12  It. Yep.Kris 00:04:13  Yeah. Just leaving like just value.Josh 00:04:15  Yeah. I agree 100% with the, you know, not even touching reviews. We we've made the same decision because we have opt in flows and all of that. And everybody's like why don't you ask for a review? And it's like, I'm not even touching it with a ten foot pole.Kris 00:04:28  Because not anymore.Josh 00:04:29  That's that's the one thing that like is if Amazo...

eBay's NEW Promoted Listing Policy… Liz (Colorado Reworn) Breaks It Down & We're NOT HappyIn this episode of This Week in Reselling, we sit down with Liz from Colorado Reworn — eBay Ambassador, long-time reseller, and community powerhouse — to unpack eBay's new Promoted Listings policy update… and let's just say, we're not thrilled.Liz breaks down what the new policy actually means, how it affects small and large sellers, and what changes we might see next. We also discuss how this update impacts your margins, visibility, and overall selling strategy on eBay.If you're an eBay seller, part-time or full-time, this is a MUST-watch conversation.We get honest. We get frustrated. And we talk about what sellers can do moving forward.

What if your CEO asked you to double revenue without adding budget or headcount? Robert Chatwani, President and General Manager of Growth at DocuSign, believes not only is it possible - there's never been a better time to make it happen. In this conversation, Robert unpacks the frameworks and organisational changes required to achieve exponential growth with existing resources. From building agile growth squads that operate like engineering teams to leveraging AI agents for hyper-personalised prospecting, he reveals how DocuSign is transforming from an e-signature company into an AI-powered platform. If you're facing budget cuts but still expected to deliver results, this episode offers a roadmap. Guest Introduction Robert Chatwani is President and General Manager, Growth at DocuSign, where he leads the Marketing & Growth organisation to scale its digital strategy across marketing, product, technology and sales. Before joining DocuSign, Robert was CMO of Atlassian, where he helped scale the business to nearly $3 billion in revenue. He also spent more than a decade at eBay, ending his tenure as Chief Marketing Officer for North America where his teams supported $35 billion in trading volume. Robert is the 2023 American Heart Association Bay Area Heart Walk Chair and serves as a West Coast Board Member at the American India Foundation. Key Topics The 2x-10x challenge: Why companies expect exponential output increases without adding resources, and why Robert believes marketing teams can deliver.Thomas Barta's V-Zone framework: Maximising the overlap between customer needs and company needs to drive business impact and secure executive support.The harsh realities facing B2B teams: CAC is up 60% since the pandemic, traditional channels show diminishing returns, and most GTM models are obsolete - creating opportunities for teams willing to rethink their approach.Operating principles over company values: DocuSign's five core principles - "we before me," "dreaming big," "take action," "ignite the way," and "delivering customer delight" - that guide team behaviours and decisions.Growth squads and agile methodologies: Why effective GTM teams operate like engineering teams with two-week sprints, daily standups, and experiment backlogs instead of traditional campaign structures.Building a culture of experimentation: Robert's framework for systematic testing - generating ideas, prioritising experiments, executing with discipline, and scaling what works.AI-powered prospecting in action: How DocuSign used AI agents to turn tens of thousands of exhausted leads into millions in the pipeline, generating 60 replies and 15 meetings within 72 hours.Designing for the future you want: Why leaders must ask whether their current team structure and capabilities match what they would design from scratch to achieve ambitious growth goals. Resources & Links People Mentioned: Thomas Barta-Marketing leadership expert and author of "The 12 Powers of a Marketing Leader"Jeff Bezos-Founder of Amazon, referenced for the "two pizza team" principle Companies & Platforms: DocuSign-Agreement management platformAtlassian-Collaboration softwareeBay-Online marketplaceAmazon-Benchmark for experimentation cultureNetflix-Benchmark for experimentation cultureAirbnb-Benchmark for experimentation cultureUber-Benchmark for experimentation culture Concepts & Frameworks: The V-Zone (Value Creation Zone)-Maximising overlap between customer and company needsThe 12 Powers of a Marketing Leader-Book by Thomas Barta and Patrick BarwiseTwo-Pizza Team-Amazon's principle for keeping teams small (5-8 people) Subscribe to the xG Weekly Newsletter for weekly insights on B2B growth across APAC: https://xgrowth.com.au/newsletter Contact & Credits Host: Shahin Hoda Guest: Robert Chatwani Produced by:  Shahin Hoda and Alexander Hipwell Edited by: Alexander Hipwell Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder APAC's B2B Growth Podcast is Presented by xGrowth

In this episode, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings sits down with Kristen Nichols, WWW's associate director of special projects, to discuss her annual Luxury Report—a comprehensive analysis of the trends, It items, and runway moments that defined this year in luxury fashion. They recap the highly anticipated creative-director debuts we saw at major houses, including Michael Rider's first show with Celine, and they discuss which celebrity partnerships drove luxury sales all year long. Plus, Nichols shares her predictions for the trends we'll see in 2026 as new designers take on big roles at major fashion houses.  Read the Luxury Report here! Shop our editors' eBay picks here!

In this episode, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings sits down with Kristen Nichols, WWW's associate director of special projects, to discuss her annual Luxury Report—a comprehensive analysis of the trends, It items, and runway moments that defined this year in luxury fashion. They recap the highly anticipated creative-director debuts we saw at major houses, including Michael Rider's first show with Celine, and they discuss which celebrity partnerships drove luxury sales all year long. Plus, Nichols shares her predictions for the trends we'll see in 2026 as new designers take on big roles at major fashion houses.  Read the Luxury Report here! Shop our editors' eBay picks here!

Join my online school for eBay sellers here. Get my BOLO books (eBook format) hereGet my BOLO books (printed format) hereContact me for a store review Suzanne@SuzanneAWells.com Follow me on FacebookJoin my private Facebook group here.Find me on YouTube here.Visit my website here.Email your comments, feedback, and constructive criticism to me at Suzanne@SuzanneAWells.com

25 Jahre, drei Branchenriesen und ein gemeinsames Fragen: Wie bleibt ein Unternehmen über Jahrzehnte relevant und menschlich? Payback, Amazon und eBay teilen ihre Momente von Mut, Fehlschlägen und Wendepunkten. Innovation entsteht aus Fehlern, Lernen aus Krise, Echtheit aus Rückschlägen. Es geht um Leadership, Community und das Glück, sich selbst immer wieder zu hinterfragen. Wer Bestand will, braucht mehr als Erfolg – nämlich den Willen, immer wieder neu zu beginnen. Du erfährst... …wie Payback aus 25 Jahren Firmengeschichte Relevanz bewahrt. …welche Innovationsstrategien Amazon und eBay für nachhaltiges Wachstum nutzen. …warum emotionale Kundenbindung bei eBay und Payback entscheidend bleibt. __________________________ ||||| PERSONEN |||||

Welcome back to the EUVC Podcast.Today Andreas is joined by Stefan Roebel, Co‑Founder & CEO of ARX Robotics — one of Europe's fastest-rising defense tech startups.From his 12 years in the German Armed Forces to leadership roles at Amazon, eBay, and Grover, Stefan has lived both sides: the military front line and the global business battlefield. Now, he's combining that experience to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: Europe's ability to defend itself in a new era of war.In this episode, Stefan shares ARX's journey from DIY decoy robots to NATO-backed modular robotic systems already deployed in Ukraine. We dive deep into why Europe must break with its slow procurement culture, how startups can become the “new primes,” and what it really takes to build dual-use autonomy in a defense-first world.Here's what's covered:00:56 | From Afghanistan to Amazon to ARX Robotics: Stefan's unlikely founder journey02:30 | The broomstick that became a digital decoy — ARX's origin story06:34 | The first breakthrough: selling duct-taped prototypes that worked08:30 | ARX's modular robotics suite explained (500kg payload, autonomy, retrofits)10:47 | Educating VCs: how defense tech went from “too weird” to oversubscribed13:55 | Picking investors: big names vs true believers with military insight16:53 | Real deployments in Ukraine: ammo supply & medevac in the kill zone19:49 | Why Ukraine's lessons are shaping Europe's defense future23:24 | The drone war changed everything: solving Europe's “lack of mass”27:31 | Will ARX become a “new prime”? Why incumbents can't move fast enough29:17 | Dual use beyond defense: disaster relief, critical infrastructure & NGOs32:36 | AI in defense robotics: solving missions, not chasing the holy grail35:21 | Hiring for defense: when military background matters (and when it doesn't)40:57 | Why Stefan is hopeful for Europe's defense tech ecosystem44:56 | Veterans, perception, and why “peace comes from strength”

In this episode of Card Talk, hosts Mr. eBay, Dr. Chad, and Mrs. Doc discuss the latest in sports card releases, including Topps Cosmic Chrome Baseball, Topps Heritage High Number MLB, and the highly anticipated Topps Chrome Basketball. They provide insights on product features, pricing, and their personal ratings, while also engaging in light-hearted banter about the hobby and its community. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Card Talk 02:44 Upcoming Product Releases 05:44 In-Depth Product Analysis 08:47 Heritage High Number MLB Discussion 11:52 Basketball Product Insights 14:52 Final Thoughts and Product of the Week Check Out Our Other Content:  New Product Releases with Mrs. Doc - Every Wednesday Fanatics Football Card Auction Review - Every Friday

Hello hello. Here we are, ready to slide through the holidays with ease and coziness. We are calmer this week after a bit of a panicky stretch and great news, our lives have been changed by an ice machine - not an an, just obsessed with pellet ice. We recap our mostly lovely and wonderful Thanksgiving trip to Montana that started with an airport fiasco where Whit forgot her ID and barely made the flight. Then some good Date Night classics - pop culture palette cleansers that include Timothee Chalamet/Kylie Jenner discourse, feelings about Elf on the Shelf, true crime watching habits, best things we ate, and a new working segment: Who Annoyed You Most? We love and adore you. This episode is brought to you by eBay, Care.com, Primal Kitchen, Jones Road Beauty, and Google Shopping. There's always more to discover - eBay has millions of pre-loved finds, from hundreds of brands, backed by eBay Authenticity Guarantee. eBay. Things. People. Love.It's easier than ever to find Primal Kitchen Pure Avocado Oil because it's now available at Walmart. You can find Primal Kitchen in Walmart stores or online at Walmart.com and Primalkitchen.com For a limited time, you can go to Care.com and use my code WHITNEY15 to save 15% off a Care.com Premium Membership or a Senior Care Advisor. Because none of us should have to figure this out alone.This holiday season, simplify your routine with Makeup that's clean, strategic, and multifunctional. Use code withwhit at Jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Gift with Purchase! You have to check out Google's Try On feature. Check it out at g.co/shop/tryon. Trust me, your holiday season just got a whole lot merrier.This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is a look back at the year through the lens of volume, behavior, and decision making.Tory from dcsports87 joins the show to break down what actually mattered this year and what sellers should pay attention to heading into next year.We talk through • Why volume changed the business • How technology shaped the consignment experience • What repackers changed in buyer behavior • Where demand showed up across sports and non-sports • Why certain cards still anchor value across cycles • What sellers misunderstand about growth and scaleThis is not a hype recap. It is a signal check from someone who sees thousands of transactions a day.If you sell cards, consign cards, or track the market closely, this episode gives you clarity on what moved the needle and why it matters going forwardA special thank you to dcsports87 for supporting this series. Check out dcsports87 for your eBay consignment needs and visit the dcsports87 eBay store to find great cards ending every night.Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On HypeGet exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow dcsports87: | Website | eBay | Instagram | Twitter  Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

James and John discuss eBay finds: 1992 Montgomery Ward newspaper ad, lot of Mac Nubus/PCI cards, and a Macintosh on RISC SDK. They look at iPhone Pocket and look back at iPod Socks. News includes a Macintosh Classic bug and Floppy Flopper. Join our Facebook page, follow us on X (Twitter), watch us on YouTube, and visit us at RetroMacCast.  

Why do some people instantly grab attention while others get ignored, even when they're smart?In this episode of Journey To Legacy, host Wayne Veldsman sits down with Anya Cheng, Founder & CEO of Taelor AI, to break down how to talk so people actually listen — in business, marketing, sales, leadership, and life.Anya shares powerful lessons from her journey working at Meta, eBay, Target, and McDonald's, and how she now uses AI and hyper-personalization to help people feel understood, confident, and supported — not just marketed to.You'll learn why personalization beats persuasion, how to adapt your message to who you're talking to, and why great communication isn't about talking more — it's about listening better.This conversation is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, founders, marketers, educators, and leaders who want to connect more deeply and communicate with impact.

Check out my newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://TKOPOD.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join my community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://TKOwners.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠━Beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠beehiiv.com/chris⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠━I sat down with Mindi Reinke and we walked through one of the simplest, lowest risk reselling businesses I've seen in a long time. She shared how she bought pallets of school books for $1, which is what she usually pays, used eBay and ChatGPT to sort and list the inventory, and turned that into roughly $5,000 in revenue. We talked about why curriculum is the real money maker, how book arbitrage actually works, and why this is a business almost anyone can start with just a phone and very little upfront cost. You can find Mindi Reinke on X at https://x.com/hey_mindi Enjoy! ---Watch this on YouTube instead here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tkopod.co/p-yt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask me a question on or off the show here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-ask⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cjk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about my company: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cof⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Twitter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-x⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free weekly business ideas newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-nl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Share this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-all⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scrape small business data: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-os⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---

In finance, success often means getting bigger, yet time and again, the market cheers when a huge company decides to intentionally break itself up. Why does spinning off a subsidiary so often unlock massive shareholder value?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained on FinPod, we break down the strategic logic, mechanics, and critical financial challenges behind corporate spin-offs, making it essential listening for anyone in corporate strategy, M&A, or investor relations.Spinoff Mechanics & Value DriversA spin-off is a powerful, generally tax-free maneuver where the parent company distributes shares of a subsidiary directly to its existing shareholders, creating a fully independent "pure play" company.Here are the four main reasons this strategy often makes the total value of the combined entities much larger than the original conglomerate:Strategic Focus: Separation enables each management team to focus solely on their specific business model (e.g., utility cash flow vs. software growth), thereby removing internal friction and distraction. Valuation Re-Rating (Pure Play Effect): The market hates complexity (conglomerate discount). Breaking the company apart allows analysts to value each "pure play" unit against specific, comparable peers (such as healthcare vs. aviation), instantly increasing the collective value. Better Incentives: Boards can tailor executive compensation (e.g., high stock options for a growth startup) to attract and retain specialized talent, which was impossible under the slow-growth parent. Capital Allocation Freedom: Separated companies can develop capital plans tailored to their specific needs (e.g., one invests billions in 5G, while the other focuses solely on dividends), thereby eliminating internal competition for resources.Case Studies: Breaking Up for GrowthWe examine pivotal spin-offs that redefined industries:PayPal & eBay (2015): PayPal, tethered to the eBay marketplace, was unable to partner with rivals like Amazon. Independence enabled it to launch an aggressive partnership blitz, resulting in its market cap more than doubling in three years due to the strategic freedom it afforded.AT&T & Warner Media (2022): Driven by massive capital allocation issues (feeding both the capital-intensive telecom core and the cash-burning streaming empire). The spin-off allowed AT&T to focus on paying down debt and 5G buildout.General Electric (GE): The ultimate pure play story. Separating the conglomerate into three focused businesses (Aviation, Healthcare, Energy) is projected to unlock significantly higher collective value by removing the devastating conglomerate discount.The Finance Challenge: Pitfalls and ExecutionThe strategy is powerful, but the execution is risky. Finance teams (FP&A, Treasury) must nail these critical areas:Standalone Viability: Building full financial statements from scratch to ensure the new company can survive and thrive without the parent's scale and support. Stranded Costs / Dis-Synergies: The hidden risk where the cost of duplicating shared services (IT, HR, accounting) and building new infrastructure is underestimated, potentially wiping out the expected value.Capital Structure Design: Carefully dividing the corporate debt to ensure both companies emerge with a healthy credit rating and leverage profile that fits their new strategic mission. Investor Communication: Crafting a crystal-clear narrative for investors, providing honest estimates for dis-synergy costs, and proving the math with a robust Sum-of-the-Parts (SOTP) valuation.The next time a spin-off is announced, look past the headlines: Check the clarity of the dis-synergy estimates and whether the new capital structure makes strategic sense. Radical simplification and the quest for pure play are often the most powerful tools in the corporate strategy playbook.

Episode 293 continues with Jeremy Lee, Joe Poirot, and Ryan Veres of Burbank Sports Cards, digging into how Ryan values cards when speed matters: gut feel versus comp tools, why blanket “percentage” buying is a broken way to think, and how eye appeal can completely change the number even when the grade is the same. We also get an update on Burbank's eBay status and the ongoing transition toward Fanatics Collect, why offers sometimes went unanswered in the past and what's changed operationally, plus the real on-the-ground reality of TCG taking up more table space at local shows and what promoters can do about it. Ryan also shares practical advice for anyone opening a shop: build relationships with other store owners, create a strong local network, and do not rely on straight distribution if you want to survive. From there, the conversation touches on what it's like running a bucket list store, whether Burbank worries about copycats, and the competitive mindset that keeps the team sharp. We also get Ryan's perspective on PSA Offers and how Burbank participates as an approved buyer, along with a sober look at shipping theft risks this time of year and why insurance matters when you're moving higher-end cards. We close with talk about the West Coast Card Show and how it feeds the Burbank brand, even if the economics of running a big show can be brutal. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, and the chat is part of the show. Jump in live with your questions, takes, and debates. If you're watching on YouTube, subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don't miss a stream. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow the show and leave a rating and review, it helps a ton. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a hobby friend who'd be into the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join the Discord and Partner with us via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/purehustlepodcast Sign Up with MY RESLLER GENIE with 15% off your first month for the best bookkeeping geared for resellers by using the link below and USE OUR CODE “PUREHUSTLE” all in caps: https://www.myresellergenie.com/?ref=purehustle Get a free $15 on Whatnot by using the link below: https://whatnot.com/invite/purehustlepodcast Get that Skullshaver using the link below and our code "Hustle": https://skullshaver.com/discount/Hustle?rfsn=6980222.2cfe107&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=6980222.2cfe107 Purchase bubble wrap from the best deal available ANYWHERE: https://www.americanbubbleboy.com?sca_ref=650095.KTEipe5MI4&sca_source=YouTube

Hosts: TJ, Brett, & Krissy This week on the show: Segment One (0:00:00: (0:04:52) The weather outside is frightful and Brett is at war with tumbleweeds. (0:17:05) Krissy get some meat processed and gets her permanent lights up on the house. (0:26:34) TJ enjoys a bowling evening of opponent come-uppance and wins on eBay despite losing a sniping battle. Segment Two (0:53:58): (0:57:38) A Florida woman can't get enough of the good times in this week's FGS. (1:09:08) HOT TAKES kicks off with office chair talk and THE GRIM REAPER ROUND UP. (1:13:11) The gang is joined by Carlson child (and TJ's favorite niece), Samantha, as The Carlson Clan reviews Five Nights At Freddy's 2 (1:35:11) GameStop has it's Trade In Anything Day and The Quad M Show looks at some of the items brought in. Segment Three (1:55:26): (1:57:53) KRISSY'S KRAZY KORNER's got Christmas Movies Explained Poorly…. or not. (2:16:16) PICKS O' THE WEEK A masterpiece in crap! It's THE QUAD M SHOW!

In this solo edition of Passion to Profession, Brett shares the full story of how Stacking Slabs moved from a passion project to his profession.He takes listeners back to his earliest days as a collector, walks through the moment he lost his job, and explains why the search for purpose pushed him to go all in on the hobby.He breaks down how fifteen years of professional experience shaped the way he built the brand, the challenges of year one, and the lessons that helped him stay aligned with what matters. This episode gives collectors and creators a clear view of what happens when someone follows the work that gives them energy and commits to it with intention.A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Welcome to the Sports Card Strategy Show, part of the NoOffseason.com Sports Card Network.Paul Hickey and Lefty McKee bring it strong on the Sports Card Strategy Show.On today's show we discuss…2025 eBay Data Recap; Most Searched Athletes Across All Sports CardsTop Raw To Grade F1 Cards!Best Christmas Gift Idea In The HobbyNFL QB buy opportunitiesPanini Releases MORE Caitlin Clark Rookie Cards?We'd love your questions and comments!

As an eBay seller, you're always on the lookout for a bestselling niche product. In this episode of the I Love to Be Selling podcast, you'll discover two profitable but often overlooked eBay categories for which moneymaking inventory is easy to source. Tune in to find out how you can branch out to sell these hot-ticket items.   You'll also gain access to I Love to Be Selling's exclusive free guide The eBay Seller Sleigh List: Christmas Tips that Sell! It's brimming over with savvy strategies for making your listings pop in eBay search plus winning ideas for in-demand inventory. Download your complimentary copy at https://ilovetobeselling.com/ebay-seller-sleigh-list-christmas-tips-that-sell/.   I'm Kathy, and I love to be selling!

In today's episode, I'm continuing what I started in episode 536 and 538 - where I wanted to turn a Rocketeer figurine that I found on eBay in to an articulated action figure.  In this episode, I got into finishing up the first casting and adding joints to that one and subsequent duplicates.  In the end, I accomplished my goal of seeing if I could turn a static Japanese gashapon Rocketeer figurine that I didn't want to destroy into an articulated resin action figure, giving me new ideas on different ways to make customs.Pictures: https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2025/12/15/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-540-and-like-a-hood-ornament-85-wrapping-up-the-rocketeer-resin-casting-project-finishing-the-figures/∞∞∞∞∞∞∞Once Upon a Dream, the second Thirteenth Hour soundtrack, is now out in digital form and on CD!   It is out on most major streaming services such as Bandcamp, Spotify, and YouTube Music.  (If you have no preference, I recommend Bandcamp since there is a bonus track there and you will eventually be able to find tapes and special editions of the album there as well.)  The CDs are out now!-Check out the pixelart music videos that are out so far from the album:-->Logan's Sunrise Workout: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7SM1RgsLiM-->Forward: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9VgILr1TDc-->Nightsky Stargazing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S0p3jKRTBo-->Aurora's Rainy Day Mix: https://youtu.be/zwqPmypBysk∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ Signup for the mailing list for a free special edition podcast, a demo copy of The Thirteenth Hour, and access to retro 80s soundtrack!Like what you see or hear? Consider supporting the show over at Thirteenth Hour Arts on Patreon or adding to my virtual tip jar over at Ko-fi. Join the Thirteenth Hour Arts Group over on Facebook, a growing community of creative people.Have this podcast conveniently delivered to you each week on Spotify,  iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, Tunein, and Googleplay Music.Follow The Thirteenth Hour's Instagram pages: @the13thhr for your random postings on ninjas, martial arts, archery, flips, breakdancing, fantasy art and and @the13thhr.ost for more 80s music, movies, and songs from The Thirteenth Hour books and soundtrack.Listen to Long Ago Not So Far Away, the Thirteenth Hour soundtrack online at: https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/ or Spotify.  Join the mailing list for a digital free copy.  You can also get it on CD or tape.Website: https://13thhr.wordpress.comBook trailer: http://bit.ly/1VhJhXYInterested in reading and reviewing The Thirteenth Hour for a free book?  Just email me at writejoshuablum@gmail.com for more details!

Join Chris Corrado, CEO Americas and President at Squirro, in an in-depth conversation with Gary Fowler as they explore one of the most urgent challenges in AI today: trust. Discover how enterprises can deploy generative and agentic AI responsibly, securely, and at scale while maintaining transparency and protecting business integrity.

Laut einer aktuellen eBay- Studie starten immer mehr Frauen gerade vor der Weihnachtszeit mit dem Onlinehandel – aus finanziellen Gründen, aus Neugier oder weil sie unabhängiger sein wollen. Diese Folge zeigt dir, wie das risikofrei möglich ist! Lisa Haak, Head of Seller & Brand Community bei ebay erklärt, wie ebay Frauen den Einstieg erleichtert – mit echter Begleitung, Community und dem eBay Durchstarterprogramm. Und: Lisa Samhammer, Gründerin und Geschäftsführerin von Second Life Fashion, erzählt, wie sie selbst genau so gestartet ist, wie sie die ersten Verkäufe vom Sofa aus gemanagt hat und daraus ihr eigenes Unternehmen gewachsen ist. In dieser Podcastfolge sprechen wir darüber, – warum der Onlinehandel heute so niedrigschwellig ist wie nie – wie Frauen Unsicherheiten loslassen und selbstbewusst starten – und welche wertvollen Erfahrungen Lisa auf ihrem Weg gemacht hat Viel Spaß mit der neuen Folge “Female Business - Der nushu podcast”

This week AI decided to write our notes for this week again. So here it is   John Cena Figure Collecting Discussion Jefry and Scott discussed their favorite John Cena figures, with Jefry highlighting the Unmatched Fury as his top pick from Jacks and a Mattel prototype figure as his favorite from Mattel. Scott shared that his favorite Mattel Cena figure is the Ultimate Edition from ECW's One Night Stand 2006, while also mentioning the WrestleMania 41 Cena figure as one of his most valuable. They agreed that Cena has been a key figure in the Mattel WWE line.   Wrestling Figures and Sales Updates Jefry and Scott discussed the fluctuating prices of wrestling figures and encouraged playing the long game for better deals. They highlighted the upcoming Black Friday 3.0 sales at RSC and recommended checking shipping dates for gift orders. Scott shared that independent manufacturers are switching to boat shipping due to rising costs, doubling delivery times. They also reviewed the new Adrian Adonis figures from Title Run Toys, including three variants: a Series 2 version, a leg warmer variant, and a biker Adonis edition. Scott expressed a desire for an Ultimate Edition Adrian Adonis figure in Mattel's Coliseum Collection.   Latoonie Figures Quality Discussion Jefry and Scott discussed the prototype pictures of Latoonie Demolition figures, which they found disappointing due to poor face painting and overall quality. Despite this, they expressed hope that the final product would be better and gave Latoonie the benefit of the doubt, acknowledging their unique approach in the crowded wrestling figure market. They also defended Latoonie's retro figures, praising their creativity and quality, while agreeing that Power Town figures were universally poor.   Saturday Night Slammasters Discussion Jefry and Scott discussed the video game Saturday Night Slammasters, which was released in 1993 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Scott shared his positive memories of playing the arcade version and later the home port, praising its user-friendly gameplay and colorful characters. They explored the game's connections to other Capcom titles like Final Fight and Street Fighter, noting how characters and elements were recycled across games. Jefry mentioned that Saturday Night Slammasters is often ranked as the best wrestling game for the SNES, though Scott expressed a personal preference for Royal Rumble. They briefly touched on the game's sequel, Ring of Destruction Slammasters 2, and its updated version, Muscle Bomber Duo Ultimate Team Battle.   Saturday Slammasters Character Analysis The discussion focused on the game Saturday Slammasters, where Jefry and Scott shared insights about its characters, gameplay, and reception. They discussed the roster of 10 wrestlers, including Biff Slambukovich, Gunlock, Titan, and the final boss Scorpion, noting character connections to Street Fighter and differences between the Japanese and English versions. Scott highlighted the game's difficulty and the fun of multiplayer matches, while Jefry provided details on the game's reception, including reviews from various publications.   Saturday Night Slammasters Nostalgia Jefry and Scott discussed their fond memories of playing the wrestling game Saturday Night Slammasters on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), which they both rated highly. They compared it favorably to the Genesis version.. Scott shared nostalgic memories of playing the game with friends in a crowded room with a small TV. They briefly discussed the value of rare SNES game cartridges on eBay, including an overseas version that sold for a significant amount. Scott expressed that he would never sell his copy of the game due to the memories associated with it. They agreed to continue selecting good games for their discussions in the coming weeks.   Pre Orders: Big Rubber Guys - Collectmajor.com Big Bad Toy Store   - Rush - Dralistico - Dragon Lee   Fig Collections - shop.figurecollections.com The patriot Buff Bagwell   Zombie Sailor - (zombiesailor.com) - Zombie is also on BBTS La Toonie Wrestling Toonstars KWK Shopkwk.com use code Fullyposeable to get 10 percent off your order. Also KWK's month of November is Dory Funk Thank you to everyone for keeping this show going!

Episode 185 — O Christmas TreeWelcome back to The Conner & Smith Show, where one simple holiday symbol turns into a full-blown festive deep dive.In this episode, we're talking Christmas trees past, present, and fabulously over-the-top — from the surprising origins of the Christmas tree tradition to the many forms it's taken over the years. We unpack the glory of silver aluminum trees, the undeniable power of a pink Christmas tree, the eternal real-vs-fake debate, and the era of themed trees that defined our personal histories (yes… there was a Madonna tree, and yes… a Cher tree followed).It's part holiday history lesson, part nostalgic spiral, and part aesthetic manifesto — with plenty of opinions, memories, and side tangents along the way. Cozy, chaotic, and unapologetically festive, this episode is a love letter to the trees that made our holidays weird, wonderful, and very us.

Go GTS Live, December 11, 2025: UD The Cup, Leaf Trinity Football, TONS of News - Join host Rob Bertrand, former host of Cardboard Connection Radio, and co-host, James Gale for a fun-filled episode of the best trading card and memorabilia news and talk in #TheHobby! (Season 10, Episode 37, Master Episode 391)  #GoGTSLiveQoftheWeek Poll Question We started the show, as we always do, with our #GoGTSLiveQoftheWeek poll question, where we wanted to know: #GoGTSLiveQoftheWeekPoll – You can select any ONE player to the Baseball Hall of Fame from the steroid era. Who gets your vote? (If not listed, reply.) @baseballhall — Go GTS Live (@GoGTSLive) December 11, 2025 As usual, the we detailed the hobby's top stories during our weekly Hobby Happenings segment. Highlights include: crime news, legal news, record sales, new eBay tools and and much more! Box Breaks We went hunting for

Jim and Lauren ring in the holidays with a very merchy episode of I Want That Too, recorded just after Lauren's family Polar Express adventure. From Disney Visa mailers and annual passholder calendars to Stitch-heavy gift guides, they dig into how Disney is trying to steer your holiday shopping. • Disney's “Home for the Holidays” Disney Rewards Insider issue and the surprise AP calendar reveal a full-court press of plush, Stitch, cruises, and watch-list marketing aimed at shaping your seasonal shopping. • Stitchmas dominates both online and in-park displays, with plush, pajamas, and matching family sets claiming a massive share of holiday floor space. • Disney Parks Blog releases multiple holiday gift guides spotlighting games, books, Frozen favorites, Zootopia tie-ins, and Lorcana must-haves for fans of all stripes. • While Disney pushes big-ticket items like the $399 LEGO castle, Jim and Lauren highlight personal picks including Dick Van Dyke's new book, Disney-branded Crocs, the Tokyo Disney Mickey gnome, and the classic monorail set. • Despite limited Cars Land holiday merch in the parks, Jim notes stronger Cars Christmas selections at Kohl's, Walmart, and BoxLunch, plus his near-purchase of Target's leftover 2021 Winter Series die-casts. • A listener tip confirms the red truck Mickey popcorn bucket sells out nightly at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, creating steep eBay markups. • Looking ahead, Zootopia 2's box office success is backed by a large retail program, while Pixar's Hoppers gets a lighter rollout as Disney gears up for major Toy Story 5 merchandising. • 2025's Toy Story and Tangled anniversary lines show mixed traction, as Jim previews everything from collector dolls to Woody's Clint Eastwood-inspired poncho look and recommends watching for Twice Upon a Year markdowns. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Lauren Hersey - IG: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2 FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic, your go-to source for top-tier deals on Disney and Universal trips, offering discounted tickets and planning tools to make your next Central Florida vacation even more magical. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why did Skype fall out of favour in a world of global video calls?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with the entrepreneur, Sam White, alongside him.Sam never knows what's coming so, at the end of every episode of Toast, she gives her off-the-cuff and authentic professional opinions on why a brand disappeared based on what she has just heard and her own business knowhow. In this episode, we learn how Skype worked by using Voice Over Internet Protocol to send audio and video data over the internet. It connected users through a centralized, cloud-based service which allowed free voice and video calls between Skype users. It really changed the game when it came to keeping in touch with friends and family around the world. It helped grandparents meet their grandchildren for the first time without leaving the house and gave us a way of cutting our phone bills.Sean interviews:- Peter Raeburn - an award-winning composer who worked with Skype's founders to create the iconic sounds that became the familiar sound track to Skype which, at its peak, was used by over 300 million people worldwide. - Andrew Sinclair - a General Manager for Skype for Business who offers his insight into what happened after Skype was sold by Ebay, and snapped up by tech giant, Microsoft.-Sam Shead - a journalist who witnessed how Skype changed the world of communication, soaring and then sinking and has taken an in depth look at the names behind the brand, so what did he uncover?Produced by Linda Walker.Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.You can email the programme at toast@bbc.co.ukFeel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes.

In our 119th episode, Mike Couillard and Jeremy Brewer discuss the draft lottery, a new Hall-of-Famer, and the fallout of the Winter Meetings transactions before diving into the latest baseball card release, 2025 Topps Chrome Update, hitting shelves on Dec. 10.You can find us on bluesky at @cardscategories.bsky.social, @mcouill7.bsky.social, and @jbrewer17.bsky.social. Email the pod at cardscategories@gmail.com.We have Cards & Categories swag for purchase here!Links to things discussed in the pod:White Sox secure first pick in 2026 draftJeff Kent makes it into the Hall of FamePete Alonso heading to Baltimore on a five-year dealDodgers to sign Edwin DiazSchwarber to return to Philly on five-year pactReds bring back Emilio PaganKyle Finnegan re-ups with the TigersAnthony Kay returns from NPB, links up with White SoxCedric Mullins inks one-year deal with RaysPirates send Johan Oviedo to Boston for Jhostynxon GarciaNats deal Jose Ferrer to M's in exchange for package including Harry FordUpcoming baseball card release schedule:12/10: 2025 Topps Chrome Update12/14: 2025 Topps Archives12/17: 2025 Topps Cosmic Chrome12/17: 2025 Topps Heritage High Number12/18: 2025 Topps Black & White Baseball2/11: 2025 Topps MLB MVP CollectionDec: 2025 Panini SelectTBD: 2025 Bowman DraftTBD: 2025 Topps Five StarTBD: 2025 Panini Flawless2025 Topps Chrome Update Overview (54:45) (link to related post on Razzball)Beckett checklistChasing Majors checklistTopps Ripped set detailsLink to the Shohei Ohtani Alter Ego insert eBay listing, while available

Why did Skype fall out of favour in a world of global video calls?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with the entrepreneur, Sam White, alongside him.Sam never knows what's coming so, at the end of every episode of Toast, she gives her off-the-cuff and authentic professional opinions on why a brand disappeared based on what she has just heard and her own business knowhow. In this episode, we learn how Skype worked by using Voice Over Internet Protocol to send audio and video data over the internet. It connected users through a centralized, cloud-based service which allowed free voice and video calls between Skype users. It really changed the game when it came to keeping in touch with friends and family around the world. It helped grandparents meet their grandchildren for the first time without leaving the house and gave us a way of cutting our phone bills.Sean interviews:- Peter Raeburn - an award-winning composer who worked with Skype's founders to create the iconic sounds that became the familiar sound track to Skype which, at its peak, was used by over 300 million people worldwide. - Andrew Sinclair - a General Manager for Skype for Business who offers his insight into what happened after Skype was sold by Ebay, and snapped up by tech giant, Microsoft.-Sam Shead - a journalist who witnessed how Skype changed the world of communication, soaring and then sinking and has taken an in depth look at the names behind the brand, so what did he uncover?Produced by Linda Walker.Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.You can email the programme at toast@bbc.co.ukFeel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes.

In this episode, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings sits down with Senior Fashion Editor Anna LaPlaca to discuss her annual State of Style report. At the end of every year, LaPlaca analyzes the biggest trends and dissects why they took over our feeds. The pair discusses the return of '80s influence in fashion, the uptick in preppy style beyond traditional heritage brands, and, of course, they get into the ongoing debate over whether or not quiet luxury is really dead. Plus, they share their best tips on where to shop to make sure your wardrobe is up to date ahead of the new year.  Read this year's State of Style story here! Shop our editor's eBay picks here!

In this episode, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings sits down with Senior Fashion Editor Anna LaPlaca to discuss her annual State of Style report. At the end of every year, LaPlaca analyzes the biggest trends and dissects why they took over our feeds. The pair discusses the return of '80s influence in fashion, the uptick in preppy style beyond traditional heritage brands, and, of course, they get into the ongoing debate over whether or not quiet luxury is really dead. Plus, they share their best tips on where to shop to make sure your wardrobe is up to date ahead of the new year.  Read this year's State of Style story here! Shop our editor's eBay picks ⁠here⁠!

Stories can increase revenue by 376%, but only if you do them right. In one study, scientists proved that adding a fictional story to a cheap spoon on eBay increased its final selling price by 64%. They found the same result with wine, art, and charitable donations (Those used real stories though. They call it the "Rokia" Effect). Stories don't change the product. They change the value of the product in the customer's mind. But it can be hard to come up with them because we think they have to be about us, our amazing accomplishments, or our lives. THEY DON'T. In this video, I break down: The "Value Inflation" Data: Why stories mathematically increase conversion rates by 30%+. The Revenue Spike: Why a specific type of story can lead to 376% more revenue per customer. The Anti-Personal Brand: How to use stories without ever being the "main character." The Danger Of AI: Why purely AI-generated stories usually cause a 62% DROP in trust (and how to fix it). My Story-Based Workflow: How I use AI (Ojoy) for "Deep Research" and structuring—so I can deploy this strategy without staring at a blank page, making stuff up, or being too boring. It's a cool little system: Use AI to find the story, so the story can sell the product for you.

This week on the Get Thrifty Podcast, Michelle Nguyen shares how she built a purpose-driven fashion brand by reimagining thrifted fabrics into unique designs. From discovering her signature style to shifting her approach after a powerful documentary to finding success selling on eBay, her journey is creative, resourceful, and inspiring. A great listen for anyone interested in sustainability and entrepreneurial thinking.   SHOW NOTES: Developing her own sustainable, purpose-driven fashion label based on reimagined one-of-a-kind looks. How thrift stores have become her source for fabrics for her designs. What she looks for in the fabrics she uses in her upcycled fashion items. How the documentary, "A True Cause," inspired her and changed the way she shopped. Finding her personal style through thrifting. Tips on selling on eBay. All about her clothing swaps. Getting to the heart of her WHY and the purpose behind her business. How she her establishes her collabs with photographers, and others.

The Overtired trio reunites for the first time in ages, diving into a whirlwind of health updates, hilarious anecdotes, and the latest tech obsessions. Christina shares a dramatic spinal saga while Brett and Jeff discuss everything from winning reddit contests to creating a universal markdown processor. Tune in for updates on Mark 3, the magical world of Scrivener, and why Brett’s back on Bing. Don’t miss the banter or the tech tips, and as always, get ready to laugh, learn, and maybe feel a little overtired yourself. Sponsor Shopify is the commerce platform behind 10% of all eCommerce in the US, from household names like Mattel and Gymshark, to brands just getting started. Get started today at shopify.com/overtired. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the Overtired Podcast 01:09 Christina’s Health Journey 10:53 Brett’s Insurance Woes 15:38 Jeff’s Mental Health Update 24:07 Sponsor Spot: Shopify 24:18 Sponsor: Shopify 26:23 Jeff Tweedy 27:43 Jeff’s Concert Marathon 32:16 Christina Wins Big 36:58 Monitor Setup Challenges 37:13 Ergotron Mounts and Tall Poles 38:33 Review Plans and Honest Assessments 38:59 Current Display Setup 41:30 Thunderbolt KVM and Display Preferences 42:51 MacBook Pro and Studio Comparisons 50:58 Markdown Processor: Apex 01:07:58 Scrivener and Writing Tools 01:11:55 Helium Browser and Privacy Features 01:13:56 Bing Delisting Incident Show Links Danny Brown's 10 in the New York Times (gift link) Indigo Stack Scrivener Helium Bangs Apex Apex Syntax Join the Marked 3 Beta LG 32 Inch UltraFine™evo 6K Nano IPS Black Monitor with Thunderbolt™ 5 Join the Conversation Merch Come chat on Discord! Twitter/ovrtrd Instagram/ovrtrd Youtube Get the Newsletter Thanks! You’re downloading today’s show from CacheFly’s network BackBeat Media Podcast Network Check out more episodes at overtiredpod.com and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Find Brett as @ttscoff, Christina as @film_girl, Jeff as @jsguntzel, and follow Overtired at @ovrtrd on Twitter. Transcript Brett + 2 Welcome to the Overtired Podcast Jeff: [00:00:00] Hello everybody. This is the Overtired podcast. The three of us are all together for the first time since the Carter administration. Um, it is great to see you both here. I am Jeff Severance Gunzel if I didn’t say that already. Um, and I’m here with Christina Warren and I’m here with Brett Terpstra and hello to both of you. Brett: Hi. Jeff: Great to see you both. Brett: Yeah, it’s good to see you too. I feel like I was really deadpan in the pre-show. I’ll try to liven it up for you. I was a horrible audience. You were cracking jokes and I was just Jeff: that’s true. Christina, before you came on, man, I was hot. I was on fire and Brett was, all Brett was doing was chewing and dropping Popsicle parts. Brett: Yep. I ate, I ate part of a coconut outshine Popsicle off of a concrete floor, but Jeff: It is true, and I didn’t even see him check it [00:01:00] for cat hair, Brett: I did though. Jeff: but I believe he did because he’s a, he’s a very Brett: I just vacuumed in Jeff: He’s a very good American Brett: All right. Christina’s Health Journey Brett: Well, um, I, Christina has a lot of health stuff to share and I wanna save time for that. So let’s kick off the mental health corner. Um, let’s let Christina go first, because if it takes the whole show, it takes the whole show. Go for it. Christina: Uh, I, I will not take this hold show, but thank you. Yeah. So, um, my mental health is okay-ish. Um, I would say the okay-ish part is, is because of things that are happening with my physical health and then some of the medications that I’ve had to be on, um, uh, to deal with it. Uh, prednisone. Fucking sucks, man. Never nev n never take it if you can avoid it. Um, but why Christina, why are you on prednisone or why were you on prednisone for five days? Um, uh, and I’m not anymore to be clear, but that certainly did not help my mental health. Um, at the beginning of November, I woke up and I thought that I’d [00:02:00] slept on my shoulder wrong. And, um, uh, and, and just some, some background. I, I don’t know if this is pertinent to how my injury took place or not, but, but it, I’m sure that it didn’t help. Um, I have scoliosis and in the top and the bottom of my spine, so I have it at the top of my, like, neck area and my lower back. And so my back is like a crooked s um, this will be relevant in a, in a second, but, but I, I thought that I had slept on my back bunny, and I was like, okay, well, all right, it hurts a lot, but fine. Um, and then it, a, a couple of days passed and it didn’t get any better, and then like a week passed and I was at the point where I was like, I almost feel like I need to go to the. Emergency room, I’m in pain. That is that significant. Um, and, you know, didn’t get any better. So I took some of grant’s, Gabapentin, and I took, um, some, some, uh, a few other things and I was able to get in with like a, a, a sports and spine guy. Um, and um, [00:03:00] he looked at me and he was like, yeah, I think that you have like a, a, a bolting disc, also known as a herniated disc. Go to physical therapy. See me later. We’ll, we’ll deal with it. Um. Basically like my whole left side was, was, was really sore and, and I had a lot of pain and then I had numbness in my, my fingers and um, and, and that was a problem the next day, which was actually my birthday. The numbness had at this point spread to my right side and also my lower extremities. And so at this point I called the doctor and he was like, yeah, you should go to the er. And so I went to the ER and, and they weren’t able to do anything for me other than give me, you know, like, um, you know, I was hoping they might give me like, some sort of steroid injection or something. They wouldn’t do anything other than, um, basically, um, they gave me like another type of maybe, maybe pain pill or whatever. Um, but that allowed the doctor to go ahead and. Write, uh, write up an MRI took forever for me to get an MRI, I actually had to get it in Atlanta. [00:04:00] Fun fact, uh, sometimes it is cheaper to just pay and not go through insurance and get an MR MRI and, um, a, um, uh, an x-ray, um, I was able to do it for $450 Jeff: Whoa. Really? Christina: Yeah, $400 for the MR mri. $50 for the x-ray. Jeff: Wow. Christina: Yeah. Yeah. Brett: how I, they, I had an MRI, they charged me like $1,200 and then they failed to bill insurance ’cause I was between insurance. Christina: Yes. Yeah. So what happened was, and and honestly that was gonna be the situation that I was in, not between insurance stuff, but they weren’t even gonna bill insurance. And insurance only approved certain facilities and to get into those facilities is almost impossible. Um, and so, no, there are a lot of like get an MR, I now get a, you know, mammogram, get ghetto, whatever places. And because America’s healthcare system is a HealthScape, you can bypass insurance and they will charge you way less than whatever they bill insurance for. So I, I don’t know if it’s part of the country, you know, like Seattle I think might [00:05:00] probably would’ve been more expensive. But yeah, I was able to find this place like a mile from like, not even a mile from where my parents lived, um, that did the x-rays and the MRI for $450 total. Brett: I, I hate, I hate that. That’s true, but Christina: Me too. Me too. No, no. It pisses me off. Honestly, it makes me angry because like, I’m glad that I was able to do that and get it, you know, uh, uh, expedited. Then I go into the spine, um, guy earlier this week and he looks at it and he’s like, yep, you’ve got a massive bulging disc on, on C seven, which is the, the part of your lower cervical or cervical spine, which is your neck. Um, and it’s where it connects to your ver bray. It’s like, you know, there are a few things you can do. You can do, you know, injections, you can do surgery. He is like, I’m gonna recommend you to a neurosurgeon. And I go to the neurosurgeon yesterday and he was showing me or not, uh, yeah, yesterday he was showing me the, the, the, the scans and, and showing like you up close and it’s, yeah, it’s pretty massive. Like where, where, where the disc is like it is. You could see it just from one view, like, just from like [00:06:00] looking at it like, kind of like outside, like you could actually like see like it was visible, but then when you zoomed in it’s like, oh shit, this, this thing is like massive and it’s pressing on these nerves that then go into my, my hands and other areas. But it’s pressing on both sides. It’s primarily on my left side, but it’s pressing on on my right side too, which is not good. So, um, he basically was like, okay. He was like, you know, this could go away. He was like, the pain isn’t really what I’m wanting to, to treat here. It’s, it’s the, the weakness because my, my left arm is incredibly weak. Like when they do like the, the test where like they, they push back on you to see like, okay, like how, how much can you, what, like, I am, I’m almost immediately like, I can’t hold anything back. Right? Like I’m, I’m, I’m like a toddler in terms of my strength. So, and, and then I’m freaked out because I don’t have a lot of feeling in my hands and, and that’s terrifying. Um, I’m also. Jeff: so terrifying, Christina: I’m, I’m also like in extreme pain because of, of, of where this sits. Like I can’t sleep well. Like [00:07:00] the whole thing sucks. Like the MRI, which was was like the most painful, like 25 minutes, like of my existence. ’cause I was laying flat on my back. I’m not allowed to move and I’m just like, I’m in just incredible pain with that part of, of, of, of my, my side. Like, it, it was. It was terrible. Um, but, uh, but he was like, yeah. Um, these are the sorts of surgical options we have. Um, he’s gonna, um, do basically what what he wants to do is basically do a thing where he would put in a, um, an artificial or, or synthetic disc. So they’re gonna remove the disc, put in a synthetic one. They’ll go in through the, the front of my throat to access the, my, my, my, my spine. Um, put that there and, um, you know, I’ll, I’ll be overnight in the hospital. Um, and then it’ll be a few weeks of recovery and the, the, the pain should go away immediately. Um, but it, it could be up to two years before I get full, you know, feeling back in my arm. So anyway, Jeff: years, Jesus. And Christina: I mean, and hopefully less than that, but, but it could be [00:08:00] up to that. Jeff: there’s no part of this at this point. That’s a mystery to you, right? Christina: The mystery is, I don’t know how this happened. Jeff: You don’t know how it happened, right? Of course. Yeah, of course. Yeah. Yeah. Brett: So tell, tell us about the ghastly surgery. The, the throat thing really threw me like, I can’t imagine that Christina: yeah, yeah. So, well, ’cause the thing is, is that usually if what they just do, like spinal fusion, they’ll go in at the back of your neck, um, and then they’ll remove the, the, um, the, the, the, the disc. And then they’ll fuse your, your, your two bones together. Basically. They’ll, they’ll, they’ll, they’ll fuse this part of the vertebrae, but because they’re going to be replacing the, the disc, they need more room. So that’s why they have to go in through the, through, through basically your throat so that they can have more room to work. Jeff: Good lord. No thank you. Brett: Ugh. Wow. Jeff: Okay. Brett: I am really sorry that is happening. That is, that is, that dwarfs my health concerns. That is just constant pain [00:09:00] and, and it would be really scary. Christina: Yeah. Yeah. It’s not great. It’s not great, but I’m, I’m, I’m doing what I can and, uh, like I have, you know, a small amount of, of Oxycodine and I have like a, a, a, you know, some other pain medication and I’m taking the gabapentin and like, that’s helpful. The bad part is like your body, like every 12, 15 hours, like whatever, like the, the, the cycle is like, you feel it leave your system and like if you’re asleep, you wake up, right? Like, it’s one of those things, like, you immediately feel it, like when it leaves your system. And I’ve never had to do anything for pain management before. And they have me on a very, they have me like on the smallest amount of like, oxycodone you can be on. Um, and I’m using it sparingly because I don’t wanna, you know, be reliant on, on it or whatever. But it, it, but it is one of those things where I’m like, yeah, like sometimes you need fucking opiates because, you know, the pain is like so constant. And the thing is like, what sucks is that it’s not always the same type of pain. Like sometimes it’s throbbing, sometimes it’s sharp, sometimes it’s like whatever. It sucks. But the hardest thing [00:10:00] is like, and. This does impact my mental health. Like it’s hard to sleep. Like, and I’m a side sleeper. I’m a side sleeper, and I’m gonna have to become a back sleeper. So, you know. Yeah. It’s just, it’s, it’s not great. It’s not great, but, you know, that, that, that, that, that’s me. The, the good news is, and I’m very, very gratified, like I have a good surgeon. Um, I’m gonna be able to get in to get this done relatively quickly. He had an appointment for next week. I don’t think that insurance would’ve even been able to approve things fast enough for, for, for that regard. And I have, um, commitments that I can’t make then. And I, and that would also mean that I wouldn’t be able to go visit my family for Christmas. So hopefully I’ll do it right after Christmas. I’m just gonna wait, you know, for, for insurance to, to do its thing, knock on wood, and then schedule, um, from there. But yeah, Jeff: Woof. Christina: so that’s me. Um, uh, who wants to go next? Jeff or, uh, Jeff or Brett? Jeff: It’s like, that’s me. Hot potato throwing it. Brett: I’ll, I’ll go. Brett’s Insurance Woes Brett: I can continue on the insurance topic. Um, I was, for a few months [00:11:00] after getting laid off, I was on Minsu, which is Minnesota’s Medicaid, um, v version of Medicaid. And so basically I paid nothing and I had better insurance than I usually have with, uh, you know, a full deductible and premiums and everything. And it was fantastic. I was getting all the care I needed for all of the health stuff I’m going through. Um, I, they, a, a new doctor I found, ordered the 15 tests and I passed out ’cause it was so much blood and. And it, I was getting, but I was getting all these tests run. I was getting results, we were discovering things. And then my unemployment checks, the income from unemployment went like $300 over the cap for Medicaid. So [00:12:00] all of a sudden, overnight I was cut from Medicaid and I had to do an early sign up, and now I’m on courts and it sucks bad. Like they’re not covering my meds. Last month cost me $600. I was also paying. In addition to that, a $300 premium plus every doctor’s visit is 50 bucks out of pocket. So this will hopefully only last until January, and then it’ll flip over and I will be able to demonstrate basically no income, um, until like Mark makes enough money that it gets reported. Um, and even, uh, until then, like I literally am making under the, the poverty limit. So, um, I hope to be back on Medicaid shortly. I have one more month. I’ll have to pay my $600 to refill. I [00:13:00] cashed out my 401k. Um, like things were, everything was up high enough that I had made, I. I had made tens of thousands of dollars just on the investments and the 401k, but I also have a lot of concerns about the market volatility around Nvidia and the AI bubble in general. Um, so taking my money out of the market just felt okay to me. I paid the 10%, uh, penalty Jeff: Mm-hmm. Brett: and ultimately I, I came out with enough cash that I can invest on my own and be able to cover the next six months. Uh, if I don’t have any other income, which I hope to, I hope to not spend my nest egg. Um, but I did, I did a lot of thinking and calculating and I think I made the right choices. But anyway, [00:14:00] that will help if I have to pay for medical stuff that will help. Um. And then I’ve had insomnia, bad on and off. Right now I’m coming off of two days of good sleep. You’re catching me on a good day. Um, but Jeff: Still wouldn’t laugh at my jokes. Brett: before that it was, well, that’s the thing is like before that, it was four nights where I slept two to four hours per night, and by the end of it, I could barely walk. And so two nights of sleep after a stint like that, like, I’m just super, I’m deadpan, I’m dazed. Um, I could lay down and fall asleep at any time. Um, I, so, so keep me awake. Um, but yeah, that’s, that’s, that’s me. Mental health is good. Like I’m in pretty high spirits considering all this, like financial stuff and everything. Like my mood has been pretty stable. I’ve been getting a lot of coding done. I’ll tell you about projects in [00:15:00] a minute, but, um, but that’s, that’s me. I’m done. Jeff: Awesome. I’m enjoying watching your cat roll around, but clearly cannot decide to lay down at this point. Brett: No, nobody is very persnickety. Jeff: I literally have to put my. Well, you say put a cat down like you used to. When you put a kid down for a nap, you say you wanna put ’em down. Right? That’s where it’s coming from. I now have a chair next to my desk, ’cause I have one cat that walks around Yowling at about 11:00 AM while I’m working. And I have to like, put ’em down for a nap. It’s pathetic. It’s pathetic that I do that. Let’s just be clear. Brett: Yeah. Jeff: soulmate though. Jeff’s Mental Health Update Jeff: Um, I’m doing good. I’m, I’m, I’ve been feeling kind of light lately in a nice way. I’ve had ups and downs, but even with the ups and downs, there’s like a, except for one day last week was, there’s just been feeling kind of good in general, which is remarkable in a way. ’cause it’s just like stressful time. There’s some stressful business stuff, like, [00:16:00] a lot of stuff like that. But I’m feeling good and, and just like, uh, yeah, just light. I don’t know, it’s weird. Like, I’ve just been noticing that I feel kind of light and, uh. And not, not manic, not high light. Brett: Yeah. No, that’s Jeff: uh, and that’s, that’s lovely. So yeah. And so I’m doing good. I’m doing good. I fucking, it’s cold. Which sucks ’cause it just means for everybody that’s heard about my workshop over the years, that I can’t really go out there and have it be pleasant Brett: It’s, it’s been Minnesota thus far. Has had, we’ve had like one, one Sub-Zero day. Jeff: whatever. It’s fucking cold. Christina: Yeah. What one? Brett? Brett. It’s December 6th as we’re recording this one Sub-Zero day. That’s insane. Brett: Is it Jeff: Granted, granted I’ve been dressing warm, so I’m ready to go out the door for ice related things. Meaning, meaning government, ice, Brett: Uh, yeah. Yeah. Jeff: So I like wear my long underwear during [00:17:00] the day. ’cause actually like recently. So at my son’s school, which is like six blocks from here, um, has a lot of Somali immigrants in it. And, and uh, and there was a, at one point there was ice activity in the other direction, um, uh, uh, near me. And so neighbors put out a call here around so that at dismissal time people would pair up at all the intersections surrounding the school. And, um, and like a quick signal group popped up, whatever. It was so amazing because like we all just popped out there. And by the time I got out, uh, everyone was already like, posted up and I was like, I’m a, in these situations, I am a wanderer. You want me roaming? I don’t want to pair up with somebody I don’t like, I just, I grabbed a camera with a Zoom on it and like, I was like, I’m in roam. Um, it’s what I was as an activist, what I was as a reporter, like it’s just my nature. Um, but like. Everybody was out and like, and they were just like, they were ready man. And then we got like the all clear and you could just see people in the [00:18:00] neighborhood just like standing down and going home. But because of the true threat and the ongoing arrests here, now that the Minneapolis stuff has started, like I do, I was like wearing long underwear just, and I have a little bag by the door ready to like pop out if something comes up and I can be helpful. Um, and uh, and I guess what I’m saying is I should use that to go into the garage as well if I’m already prepared. Brett: Right. Jeff: But here’s, okay, so here’s a mental health thing actually. So I, one of the, I’ve gone through a few years of just sort of a little bit of paralysis around being able to just, I don’t know what, like do anything that is kind of project related that takes some thinking, whatever it is, like I’m talking about around the house or things that have kind of broken over the years, whatever. So I’ve had this snowblower and it’s a really good snowblower. It’s got headlights. And, uh, and I used to love snow blowing the entire block. Like it just made me feel good, made me feel useful. Um, and sorry I cough. I left it outside for a [00:19:00] year for a, like a winter and a spring and water got into the gas tank. It rusted out in there. I knew I couldn’t start it or I’d ruin the whole damn engine. So I left it for two years and I felt bad about myself. But this year, just like probably a month before the first big snowfall, I fucking replaced a gas tank and a carburetor on a machine. And I have never done anything like that in my life. And so then we got the snowfall and I, and I snow blowed this whole block Brett: Nice. Jeff: great. ’cause now they all owe me. Brett: I, uh, I have a, uh, so I have a little electric powered, uh, snowblower that can handle like two inches of snow. Um, and, and on big snowfalls, if you get out there every hour and keep up with it, it, it works. But, but I, my back right now, I can’t stand for, I can’t stand still for 10 minutes and I can’t move for more than like five minutes. And so I’m, I’m very disabled and El has good days and bad days, uh, thus [00:20:00] far. L’s been out there with a shovel, um, really being the hero. But we have a next door neighbor with a big gas powered snowblower. And so we went over, brought them gifts, and, um, asked if they would take care of our driveway on days we couldn’t, uh, for like, you know, we’d pay ’em 25 bucks to do the driveway. And, uh, and they were, he was still reluctant to accept money. Um. But, but we both agreed it was better to like make it a, a transaction. Jeff: Oh my God. You don’t want to get into weird Minnesota neighbor relational. Brett: right. You don’t want the you owe me thing. Um, so, so we have that set up. But in the process we made really good friends with our neighbor. Like we sat down in their living room for I think 45 minutes and just like talked about health and politics and it was, it was really fun. They’re, they’re retired. They’re in their [00:21:00] seventies and like act, he always looks super grumpy. I always thought he was a mean old man. He’s actually, he laughs more easily than most people I’ve ever met. Um, he’s actually, when people say, oh, he is actually a teddy bear, this guy really is, he’s just jovial. Uh, he just has resting angry old man face. Jeff: Or like my, I have public mis throat face, like when I’m out and about, especially when I’m shopping, I know that my face is, I’m gonna fucking kill you if you look me in the eye Brett: I used Jeff: is not my general disposition. Brett: people used to tell me that about myself, but I feel like I, I carry myself differently these days than I did when I was younger. Jeff: You know what I learned? Do you, have you both watched Veep, Christina: Yes, Jeff: you know, Richard sp split, right? Um, and, and he always kind of has this sweet like half smile and he is kind of looking up and I, I figured out at one point I was in an airport, which is where my kill everybody face especially comes up. Just to be clear. TSA, it’s just a feeling inside. I [00:22:00] have no desire to act to this out. I realized that if I make the Richard Plet face, which I can try to make for you now, which is something like if I just make the Richard Plet face, my whole disposition Brett: yeah. Yeah. Jeff: uh, and I even feel a little better. And so I just wanna recommend that to people. Look up Richard Spt, look at his face. Christina: Hey, future President Bridges split. Jeff: future President Richard Splat, also excellent in the Detroiters. Um, that’s all, uh, that’s all I wanted to say about that. Brett: I have found that like when I’m texting with someone, if I start to get frustrated, you know, you know that point where you’re still adding smiley emoticons even though you’re actually not, you’re actually getting pissed off, but you don’t wanna sound super bitchy about it, so you’re adding smile. I have found that when I add a smiley emoji in those circumstances, if I actually smile before I send it, it like my [00:23:00] mood will adjust to match, to match the tone I’m trying to convey, and it lessens my frustration with the other person. Jeff: a little joy wrist rocket. Christina: Yeah. Hey, I mean, no, but hey, but, but that, that, that, that, that’s interesting. I mean, they’re, they, they’ve done studies that like show that, right? That like show like, you know, I mean, like, some of this is all like bullshit to a certain extent, but there is something to be said for like, you know, like the power of like positive thinking and like, you know, if you go into things with like, different types of attitudes or even like, even if you like, go into job interviews or other situations, like you act confident or you smile, or you act happy or whatever. Even if you’re not like it, the, the, the, the euphoria, you know, that those sorts of uh, um, endorphin reactions or whatever can be real. So that’s interesting. Brett: Yeah, I found, I found going into job interviews with my usual sarcastic and bitter, um, kind of mindset, Jeff: I already hate this job. Brett: it doesn’t play well. It doesn’t play well. So what are your weaknesses? Fuck off. Um,[00:24:00] Christina: right. Well, well, well, I hate people. Jeff: Yeah. Dealing with motherfuckers like you, that’s one weakness. Sponsor Spot: Shopify Brett: let’s, uh, let’s do a sponsor spot and then I want to hear about Christina winning a contest. Christina: yes. Jeff: very Brett: wanna, you wanna take it away? Sponsor: Shopify Jeff: I will, um, our sponsor this week is Shopify. Um, have you ever, have you just been dreaming of owning your own business? Is that why you can’t sleep? In addition to having something to sell, you need a website. And I’ll tell you what, that’s been true for a long time. You need a payment system, you need a logo, you need a way to advertise new customers. It can all be overwhelming and confusing, but that is where today’s sponsor, Shopify comes in. shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10% of all e-commerce in the US from household names like Mattel and Gym Shark to brands just getting started. Get started with your own design studio with hundreds of ready to use [00:25:00] templates. 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That was Jeff: Yeah. Cha-ching Brett: they got the chorus, they got the Overtired Christina: You did. You got the Overtired Jeff: They didn’t think to ask for it, but that’s our brand. Christina: shopify.com/ Overtired. Jeff Tweedy Jeff: What was, uh, I was watching a Stephen Colbert interview with Jeff Tweedy, who just put out a triple album and, uh, it was a very thoughtful, sweet interview. And then Stephen Colbert said, you know, you’re not supposed to do this. And Jeff Tweety said, it’s all part of my career long effort to leave the public wanting less. Christina: Ha, Jeff: That was a great bit. Christina: that’s a fantastic bit. A side note, there are a couple of really good NPR, um, uh, tiny desks that have come out in the last couple of month, uh, couple of weeks. Um, uh, one is shockingly, I, I’ll, I’ll just be a a, a fucking boomer about it. The Googo dolls. Theirs was [00:27:00] great. It’s fantastic. They did a great job. It already has like millions of views, like it wrecked up like over a million views, I think like in like, like less than 24 hours. They did a great job, but, uh, but Brandy Carlisle, uh, did one, um, the other day and hers is really, really good too. So, um, so yeah. Yeah, exactly. So yeah. Anyway, you said, you saying Jeff pd maybe, I don’t know how I got from Wilco to like, you know, there, Jeff: Yeah. Well, they’ve done some good, he’s done his own good Christina: he has, he has done his own. Good, good. That’s honestly, that’s probably what I was thinking of, but Jeff: It’s my favorite Jeff besides me because Bezos, he’s not in the, he’s not in the game. Christina: No. No, he’s not. No. Um, he, he’s, he’s not on the Christmas card list at all. Jeff: Oh man. Jeff’s Concert Marathon Jeff: Can I just tell you guys that I did something, um, I did something crazy a couple weeks ago and I went to three shows in one week, like I was 20 fucking two, Brett: Good grief. Jeff: and. It was a blast. So, okay, so the background of this is my oldest son [00:28:00] loves hip hop, and when we drive him to college and back, or when I do, it’s often just me. Um, he, he goes deep and he, it’s a lot of like, kind of indie hip hop and a lot. It’s just an interesting, he listens to interesting shit, but he will go deep and he’ll just like, give me a tour through someone’s discography or through all their features somewhere, whatever it is. And like, it’s the kind of input that I love, which is just like, I don’t, even if it’s not my genre, like if you’re passionate and you can just weave me through the interrelationship and the history and whatever it is I’m in. So as a result of that, made me a huge fan of Danny Brown and made me a huge fan of the sky, Billy Woods. And so what happened was I went to a hip hop show at the seventh Street entry, uh, which is attached to First Avenue. It’s a little club, very small, lovely little place, the only place my band could sell out. Um, and I watched a hip hop show there on a Monday night, Tuesday night. I went to the Uptown Theater, which Brett is now a actually an operating [00:29:00] theater for shows. Uh, and I, and I saw Danny Brown, but I also saw two hyper pop bands, a genre I was not previously aware of, including one, which was amazing, called Fem Tenal. And I was in line to get into that show behind furries, behind trans Kids. Like it was this, I was the weirdest, like I did not belong. Underscores played, and, and this will mean something to somebody out there, but not, didn’t mean anything to me until that night. And, uh. I felt like such, there were times, not during Danny Brown, Danny Brown’s my age all good. But like there were times where I was in the crowd ’cause I’m tall. Anybody that doesn’t know I’m very tall and I’m wearing like a not very comfortable or safe guy seeming outfit, a black hoodie, a black stocking cap. Like I basically looked like I’m possibly a shooter and, and I’m like standing among all these young people loving it, but feeling a little like, should I go to the back? Even like I was leaving that show [00:30:00] and the only people my age were people’s parents that were waiting to pick them up on the way out. So anyway, that was night two. Danny Brown was awesome. And then two nights later I went to see, this is way more my speed, a band called the Dazzling Kilman who were a band that. Came out in the nineties, St. Louis and a noisy Matthew Rock. Wikipedia claims they invented math rock. It’s a really stupid claim, uh, but it’s a lovely, interesting band and it’s a friend of mine named Nick Sakes, who’s who fronted that band and was in all these great bands back when I was in bands called Colos Mite and Sick Bay, and all this is great shit. So they played a reunion show. In this tiny punk rock club here called Cloudland, just a lovely little punk rock club. And, um, and, and that was like rounded out my week. So like, I was definitely, uh, a tourist the early part of the week, mostly at the Danny Brown Show. But then I like got to come home to my noisy punk rock [00:31:00] on, uh, on Thursday night. And I, I fucking did three shows and it hurt so bad. Like even by the first of three bands on the second night. I was like, I don’t think I can make it. And I do. I already pregame shows with ibuprofen. Just to be really clear, I microdose glucose tabs at shows like, like I am, I am a full on old man doing these things. But, um, I did get some cred with my kids for being at a hyper pop show all by myself. And, Christina: Hell yeah. A a Jeff: friends seemed impressed. Christina: no, as a as, as as they should be. I’m impressed. And like, and I, I, I typically like, I definitely go to like more of like, I go, I go to shows more frequently and, and I’m, I’m even like, I’m, I’m gonna be real with you. I’m like, yeah, three in one week. Jeff: That’s a lot. Christina: That’s a lot. That’s a lot. Jeff: man. Did I feel good when I walked home from that last show though? I was like, I fucking did it. I did not believe I wasn’t gonna bail on at least two of those shows, if not all three. Anyway, just wanted to say Brett: I [00:32:00] do like one show a year, but Jeff: that’s how I’ve been for years this year. I think I’ve seen eight shows. Brett: damn. Jeff: Yeah, it’s Brett: Alright, so you’ve been teasing us about this, this contest you won. Jeff: Yeah, please, Christina. Sorry to push that off. Christina: No, no, no, no. That’s, that’s completely okay. That, that, that, that’s great. Uh, no. Christina Wins Big Christina: So, um, I won two six K monitors. Brett: Damn. Jeff: is that what those boxes are behind you? Christina: Yeah, yeah. This is what the boxes are behind me, so I haven’t been able to get them up because this happened. I got them literally right in the midst of all this stuff with my back. Um, but I do have an Ergotron poll now that is here, and, and Grant has said that he will, will get them up. But yeah, so I won 2 32 inch six K monitors from a Reddit contest. Brett: How, how, how, Jeff: How does this happen? How do I find a Reddit contest? Christina: Yeah. So I got lucky. So I have, I, I have a clearly, well, well, um, there was a little, there was a little bit of like, other step to it than that, but like, uh, so how it worked was basically, um, LG is basically just put out [00:33:00] two, they put out a new 32 inch six K monitor. I’ll have it linked in, in, in the show notes. Um, so we’ve talked about this on this podcast before, but like one of my big, like. Pet peeve, like things that I can’t get past. It’s like I need like a retina screen. Like I need like the, the perfect pixel doubling thing for that the Mac Os deals with, because I’ve used a 5K screen, either through an iMac or um, an lg, um, ultra fine or, um, a, uh, studio display. For like 11 years. And, and I, and I’ve been using retina displays on laptops even longer than that. And so if I use like a regular 4K display, like it just, it, it doesn’t work for me. Um, you can use apps like, um, like better control and other things to kind of emulate, like what would be like if you doubled the resolution, then it, it down, you know, um, of samples that, so that. It looks better than, than if it’s just like the, the, the 4K stuff where in the, the user interface things are too big and whatnot. And to be clear, this is a Macco West problem. If [00:34:00] you are using Windows or Linux or any other operating system that does fractional scaling, um, correctly, then this is not a problem. But Macco West does not do fractional scaling direct, uh, correctly. Um, weirdly iOS can, like, they can do three X resolution and other things. Um, but, but, but Macs does not. And that’s weird because some of the native resolutions on some of the MacBook errors are not even perfectly pixeled doubled, meaning Apple is already having to do a certain amount of like resolution changes to, to fit into their own, created by their, their own hubris, like way of insisting on, on only having like, like two x pixel doubling 18 years ago, we could have had independent, uh, resolutions, uh, um, for, for UI elements and, and, and window bars. But anyway, I, I’m, I’m digressing anyway. I was looking at trying to get either a second, uh, studio display, which I don’t wanna do because Apple’s reportedly going to be putting out a new one. Um, and they’re expensive or getting, um, there are now a number of different six K [00:35:00] displays that are not $6,000 that are on the market. So, um, uh, uh, Asus has one, um, there is one from like a, a Chinese company called like, or Q Con that, um, looks like a, a complete copy of this, of the pro display XDR. It has a different panel, but it’s, it’s six K and they, they’ve copied the whole design and it’s aluminum and it’s glossy and it looks great, but I’d have to like get it from like. A weird distributor, and if I have any issues with it, I don’t really wanna have to send it back to China and whatnot. And then LG has one that they just put out. And so I’ve been researching these on, on Mac rumors and on some other forums. And, um, I, uh, I, somebody in one of the Mac Roomers forums like posted that there was like a contest that LG was running in a few different subreddits where they were like, tell us why you should get one of, like, we’re gonna be giving away like either one or two monitors, and I guess they did this in a few subreddits. Tell us why this would be good for your workflow. And, um, I guess I, I guess I’m one of the people who kind of read the [00:36:00] assignment because it, okay, I’ll just be honest with this, with, with you guys on this podcast, uh, because I, I don’t think anyone from LG will hear this and my answers were accurate anyway. But anyway, this was not the sort of contest where it was like we will randomly select a winner. This was the moderators and lg, were going to read the responses and choose the winner. Jeff: Got it. Christina: So if you spend a little bit of time and thoughtfully write out a response, maybe you stand a better chance of winning the contest. Jeff: yeah, yeah. Put the work in like it was 2002. Christina: Right. Anyway, I still was shocked when I like woke up like on like Halloween and they were like, congratulations, you’ve won two monitors. I’m like, I’m sorry. What? Jeff: That’s amazing. Christina: Yeah, yeah, yeah, Jeff: Nice work. I know I’ve, you know, I’ve been staring at those boxes behind you this whole time, just being like, those look like some sweet monitors. Christina: yeah, yeah. Monitor Setup Challenges Christina: I mean, and, uh, [00:37:00] uh, it’s, it’s, it’s, it’s, it’s, and I, I’m very much, so my, my, my only issue is, okay, how am I gonna get these on my desk? So I’m gonna have to do something with my iMac and I’m probably gonna have to get rid of my, my my, my 5K, um, uh, uh, studio display, at least in the short term. Ergotron Mounts and Tall Poles Christina: Um, but what I did do is I, um, I ordered from, um, Ergotron, ’cause I already have. Um, two of their, um, LX mounts, um, or, or, or, or arms. Um, and only one of them is being used right now. And then I have a different arm that I use for the, um, um, iMac. Um, they sell like a, if you call ’em directly, you can get them to send you a tall pole so that you can put the two arms on top of them. And that way I think I can like, have them so that I can have like one pole and then like have one on one side, one Jeff: I have a tall pole. Christina: and, and yeah, that’s what she said. Um, Jeff: as soon as I said it, I was like, for fuck’s sake. But Christina: um, but, uh, but, but yeah, but so that way I think I, I can, I, in theory, I can stack the market and have ’em side by side. I don’t know. Um, I got that. I, I had to call Tron and, and order that from them. [00:38:00] Um, it was only a hundred dollars for, for the poll and then $50 for a handling fee. Jeff: It’s not easy to ship a tall pole. Brett: That’s what she said. Christina: that is what she said. Uh, that is exactly what she said. But yeah, so I, I, the, the, the unfortunate thing is that, um, I, um, I, I had to, uh, get a, like all these, they, they came in literally right before Thanksgiving, and then I’ve had, like, all my back stuff has Jeff: Yeah, no Christina: debilitating, but I’m looking forward to, um, getting them set up and used. And, uh, yeah. Review Plans and Honest Assessments Christina: And then full review will be coming to, uh, to, I have to post a review on Reddit, but then I will also be doing a more in depth review, uh, on this podcast if anybody’s interested in, in other places too, to like, let let you know, like if it’s worth your money or not. Um, ’cause there, like I said, there are, there are a few other options out there. So it’s not one of those things where like, you know, um, like, thank you very much for the free monitor, um, monitors. But, but I, I will, I will give like the, the, you know, an honest assessment or Current Display Setup Brett: So [00:39:00] do you currently have a two display setup? Christina: No. Um, well, yes, and kind of, so I have my, my, I have my 5K studio display, and then I have like my iMac that I use as a two to display setup. But then otherwise, what I’ve had to do, and this is actually part of why I’m looking forward to this, is I have a 4K 27 inch monitor, but it’s garbage. And it, it’s one of those things where I don’t wanna use it with my Mac. And so I wind up only using it with my, with my Windows machine, with my framework desktop, um, with my Windows or Linux machine. And, and because that, even though I, it supports Thunderbolt, the Apple display is pain in the ass to use with those things. It doesn’t have the KVM built in. Like, it doesn’t like it, it just, it’s not good for that situation. So yeah, this will be of this size. I mean, again, like I, I, I’m 2 32 inch monitors. I don’t know how I’m gonna deal with that on my Jeff: I Brett: yeah. So right now I’m looking at 2 32 inch like UHD monitors, Christina: Yeah,[00:40:00] Brett: I will say that on days when my neck hurts, it sucks. It’s a, it’s too wide a range to, to like pan back and forth quickly. Like I’ll throw my back out, like trying to keep track of stuff. Um, but I have found that like if I keep the second display, just like maybe social media apps is the way I usually set it up. And then I only work on one. I tried buying an extra wide curve display, hated it. Jeff: Uh, I’ve always wanted to try one, but Christina: I don’t like them. Jeff: Yeah. Christina: Well, for me, well for me it’s two things. One, it’s the, I don’t love the whole like, you know, thing or whatever, but the big thing honestly there, if you could give me, ’cause people are like, oh, you can get a really big 5K, 2K display. I’m like, that’s not a 5K display. That is 2 27 inch, 1440 P displays. One, you know, ultra wide, which is great. Good for you. That’s not retina. And I’m a sicko Who [00:41:00] needs the, the pixel doubling? Like I wish that my eyes could not use that, but, but, but, Jeff: that needs the pixel. Like was that the headline of your Reddit, uh, Christina: no, no. It wasn’t, it wasn’t. But, but maybe it should be. Hi, I’m a sicko who only, um, fucks with, with, with, with, with, with, with retina displays. Ask me anything. Um, but no, but that’s a good point. Brett: I think 5K Psycho is the Christina: 5K Sicko is the po is the po title. I like that. I like that. No, what I’m thinking about doing and that’s great to know, Brett. Um, this kind of reaffirms my thing. Thunderbolt KVM and Display Preferences Christina: So what’s nice about these monitors is that they come with like, built in like, um, Thunderbolt 5K VM. So, which is nice. So you could conceivably have multiple, you know, computers, uh, connected, you know, to to, to one monitor, which I really like. Um, I mean like, ’cause like look, I, I’ve bitched and moaned about the studio display, um, primarily for the price, but at the same time, if mine broke tomorrow and if I didn’t have any way to replace it, I’ve, I’ve also gone on record saying I would buy a new one immediately. As mad as I am about a [00:42:00] lot of different things with that, that the built-in webcam is garbage. The, you know, the, the fact that there’s not a power button is garbage. The fact that you can’t use it with multiple inputs, it’s garbage. But it’s a really good display and it’s what I’m used to. Um, it’s really not any better than my LG Ultra fine from 2016. But you know what? Whatever it is, what it is. Um. I, I am a 5K sicko, but being able to, um, connect my, my personal machine and my work machine at the same time to one, and then have my Windows slash Linux computer connected to another, I think that’s gonna be the scenario where I’m in. So I’m not gonna necessarily be in a place where I’m like, okay, I need to try to look at both of them across 2 32 inch displays. ’cause I think that that, like, that would be awesome. But I feel like that’s too much. Brett: I would love a decent like Thunderbolt KVM setup that could actually swap like my hubs back and Christina: Yes. MacBook Pro and Studio Comparisons Brett: Um, so, ’cause I, I have a studio and I have my, uh, Infor MacBook Pro [00:43:00] and I actually work mostly on the MacBook Pro. Um, but if I could easily dock it and switch everything on my desk over to it, I would, I would work in my office more often. ’cause honestly, the M four MacBook Pro is, it’s a better machine than the original studio was. Um, and I haven’t upgraded my studio to the latest, but, um, I imagine the new one is top notch. Christina: Oh yeah. Yeah. Brett: my, my other one, a couple years old now is already long in the tooth. Christina: No, I mean, they’re still good. I mean, it’s funny, I saw that some YouTube video the other day where they were like, the best value MacBook you can get is basically a 4-year-old M1 max. And I was like, I don’t know about that guys. Like, I, I kind of disagree a little bit. Um, but the M1 max, which is I think is what is in the studio, is still a really, really good ship. But to your point, like they’ve made those, um. You know, the, the, the new ones are still so good. Like, I have an M three max as my personal laptop, and [00:44:00] that’s kind of like the dog chip in the, in the m um, series lineup. So I kind of am regretful for spending six grand on that one, but it is what it is, and I’m like, I’m not, I’m not upgrading. Um, I mean, maybe, maybe in, in next year if, if the M five Pro, uh, or M five max or whatever is, is really exceptional, maybe I’ll look at, okay, how much will you give me to, to trade it in? But even then, I, I, but I feel like I’m at that point where I’m like, it gets to a point where like it’s diminishing returns. Um, but, uh, just in terms of my own budget. But, um, yeah, the, the new just info like pro or or max, whatever, Brett: I have, I have an M four MacBook Pro sitting around that I keep forgetting to sell. Uh, it’s the one that I, it only had a 256 gigabyte hard drive, Jeff: what happened to me when I bought my M1, Brett: and I, and I regretted that enough that I just ordered another one. But, uh, for various reasons, I couldn’t just return the one I didn’t Jeff: ’cause it was.[00:45:00] Brett: so now I, now I have to sell it and I should sell it while it’s still a top of the line machine Christina: Sell it before, sell, sell, sell, sell it before next month, um, or, or February or whenever they sell it before then the, the pros come out. ’cause right now the M five base is out, but the pros are not. So I think feel like you could still get most of your value for it, especially since it has very few battery cycles. Be sure to put the battery cycles on your Facebook marketplace or eBay thing or whatever. Um, I bought my, uh, she won’t listen to this so she won’t know, but, um, they, there was a, a killer Cyber Monday deal, uh, for Best Buy where they had like a, the, the, the, so it’s several years old, but it was the, the M two MacBook Air, but the one that they upgraded to 16 gigs of Ram when Apple was like, oh, we have to have Apple Intelligence and everything, because they actually thought that they were actually gonna ship Apple Intelligence. So they like went back and they, like, they, they, you know, retconned like made the base model MacBook Air, like 16 [00:46:00] gigs. Um, and, uh, anyway, it was, it was $600, um, Jeff: still crazy. Christina: which, which like even for like a, a, a 2-year-old machine or whatever, I was like, yeah, she, my sister, I think she’s on like, like a 2014 or older than that. Like, like MacBook Air. She doesn’t even know where the MagSafe is. I don’t think she even knows where the laptop is. So she’s basically doing everything like on her phone and I’m like, okay, you need a laptop of some type, but at this point. I do feel strongly that like the, the, the $600 or, or, or actually I think it was $650, it was actually less, it is actually more expensive than what the, the, the Cyber Monday sale was, um, the M1, Walmart, MacBook Air. I’m like, absolutely not like that is at this point, do not buy that. Right? Like, I, especially with eight gigs of ram, I’m, I’m like, it’s been, it’s five years old. It’s a, it was a great machine and it was great value for a long time. $200. Cool, right? Like, if you could get something like use and, and, and, and if you could replace the battery or, you know, [00:47:00] for, for, you know, not, not too much money or whatever. Like, I, I, I could see like an argument to be made like value, right? But there’d be no way in hell that I would ever spend or tell anybody else to spend $650 on that new, but $600 for an M two with Jeff: Now we’re talking. Christina: which has the redesign brand new. I’m like, okay. Spend $150 more and you could have got the M four, um, uh, MacBook Air, obviously all around Better Machine. But for my sister, she doesn’t need that, Jeff: What do we have to do to put your sister in this M two MacBook Christina: that, that, that, that, that, that’s exactly it. So I, I, I was, well, also, it was one of those things I was like, I think that she would rather me spend the money on toys for my nephew for Santa Claus than, than, uh, giving her like a, a processor upgrade. Um, Jeff: Claus isn’t real. Brett: Oh shit. Jeff: Gotcha. Every year I spoil it for somebody. This year it was Christina and Brett. Sorry guys. Brett: right. Well, can I tell you guys Jeff: Yeah. [00:48:00] Brett Software. Brett: two quick projects before we do Jeff: Hold on. You don’t have to be quick ’cause you could call it Brett: We’re already at 45 minutes and I want Jeff: What I’m saying, skip GrAPPtitude. This is it? Brett: okay. Christina: us about Mark. Tell us about your projects. Brett: So, so Mark three is, there’s a public, um, test flight beta link. Uh, if you go to marked app.com, not marked two app.com, uh, marked app.com. Uh, you, there’s a link in the, in the, at the top for Christina: Join beta. Mm-hmm. Brett: Um, and that is public and you can join it and you can send me feedback directly through email because, um, uh, uh, the feedback reporter sucks for test flight and you can’t attach files. And half the time they come through as anonymous feedback and I can’t even follow up on ’em. So email me. But, um, I’ll be announcing that on my blog soon-ish. Um, right now there’s like [00:49:00] maybe a couple dozen, um, testers and I, it’s nice and small and I’m solving the biggest bugs right away. Um, so that’s been, that’s been big. Like Mark, even since we last talked has added. Do you remember Jeff when Merlin was on and he wanted to. He wanted to be able to manage his styles, um, and disable built-in styles. There’s now a whole table based style manager where you Jeff: saw that. Brett: you can, you can reorder, including built-in styles. You can reorder, enable, disable, edit, duplicate. Um, it’s like a full, full fledged, um, style manager. And I just built a whole web app that is a style generator that gives you, um, automatic like rhythm calculations for your CSS and you can, you can control everything through like, uh, like UI fields instead of having to [00:50:00] write CSS. Uh, but you can also o open up a very, I’ve spent a lot of time on the code mirror CSS editor in the web app. Uh, so, and it’s got live preview as you edit in the code mirror field. Um, so that’s pretty cool. And that’s built into marts. So if you go to style, um, generate style, it’ll load up a, a style generator for you. Anyway, there’s, there’s a ton. I’m not gonna go into all the details, but, uh, anyone listening who uses markdown for anything, especially if you want ability to export to like Word and epub and advanced PDF export, um, join the beta. Let me know what you think. Uh, help me squash bugs. But the other thing, every time I push a beta for review before the new bug reports come in, I’ve been putting time into a tool. Markdown Processor: Apex Brett: I’m calling [00:51:00] Apex and um, I haven’t publicly announced this one yet, but I probably will by the time this podcast comes out. Jeff: I mean, doesn’t this count? Brett: It, it does. I’m saying like this, this might be a, you hear you heard it here first kind of thing, um, but if you go to github.com/tt sc slash apex, um, I built a, uh, pure C markdown processor that combines syntax from cram down GitHub flavored markdown, multi markdown maku, um, common mark. And basically you can write syntax from any of those processors, including all of their special features, um, and in one document, and then use Apex in its unified mode, and it’ll just figure out what. All of your syntax is supposed to do. Um, so you can take, you can port documents from one platform to another [00:52:00] without worrying about how they’re gonna render. Um, if I can get any kind of adoption with Apex, it could solve a lot of problems. Um, I built it because I want to make it the default processor in marked ’cause right now, you, you have to choose, you know, cram Christina: Which one? Brett: mark and, and choosing one means you lose something in order to gain something. Um, so I wanted to build a universal one that brought together everything. And I added cool features from some extensions of other languages, such as if you have two lists in a row, normally in markdown, it’s gonna concatenate those into one list. Now you can put a carrot on a line between the two lists and it’ll break it into two lists. I also added support for a. An extension to cram down that lets you put double uh, carrots inside a table cell and [00:53:00] create a row band. So like a cell that, that expands it, you rows but doesn’t expand the rest of the row. Um, so you can do cell spans and row spans and it has a relaxed table version where you don’t have to have an alignment row, which is, uh, sometimes we just wanna make quickly table. You make two lines. You put some pipes in. This will, if there’s no alignment row, it will generate a table with just a table body and table data cells in no header. It also allows footers, you can add a footer to a table by using equals in the separator line. Um, it, it’s, Jeff: This is very civilized, Brett: it is. Christina: is amazing, Brett: So where Common Mark is extremely strict about things, um, apex is extremely permissive. Jeff: also itty bitty things like talk about the call out boxes from like Brett: oh yeah, it, it can handle call out syntax from Obsidian and Bear and Xcode Playgrounds. [00:54:00] Um, and it incorporates all of Mark’s syntax for like file includes and even renders like auto scroll pauses that work in marked and some other teleprompter situations. Um, it uses file ude syntax from multi markdown, like, which is just like a curly brace and, uh, marked, which is, uh, left like a double left, uh, angle bracket and then different. Brackets to surround a file name and it handles IA writer file inclusion where you just type a forward slash and then the name of a file and it automatically detects if that file is an image or source code or markdown text, and it will import it accordingly. And if it’s a CSV file, it’ll generate a table from it automatically. It’s, it’s kind of nuts. I, it’s kind of nuts. I could not have done this [00:55:00] without copilot. I, I am very thankful for copilot because my C skills are not, would not on their own, have been up to this task. I know enough to bug debug, but yeah, a lot of these features I got a big hand from copilot on. Jeff: This is also Brett. This is some serious Brett Terpstra. TURPs Hard Christina: Yeah, it is. I was gonna say, this is like Jeff: and also that’s right. Also, if your grandma ever wrote you a note and it, and though you couldn’t really read it, it really well, that renders perfectly Christina: Amazing. No, I was gonna say this is like, okay, so Apex is like the perfect name ’cause this is the apex of Brett. Jeff: Yes. Apex of Brett. Christina: That’s also that, that’s, that’s not an alternate episode title Apex of Brett. Because genuinely No, Brett, like I am, I am so stunned and impressed. I mean, you all, you always impressed me like you are the most impressive like developer that I, that I’ve ever known. But you, this is incredible. And, and this, I, I love this [00:56:00] because as you said, like common Mark is incredibly strict. This is incredibly permissive. But this is great. ’cause there are those scenarios where you might have like, I wanna use one feature from one thing or one from another, or I wanna combine things in various ways, or I don’t wanna have to think about it, you know? Brett: I aals, I forgot to mention I aals inline attribute list, which is a crammed down feature that lets you put curly brackets after like a paragraph and then a colon and then say, dot call out inside the curly brackets. And then when it renders the markdown, it creates that paragraph and adds class equals call out to the paragraph. Um, and in, in Cramon you can apply these to everything from list items to list to block quotes. Like you can do ’em for spans. You could like have one after, uh, link syntax and just apply, say dot external to a link. So the IAL syntax can add IDs classes and uh, arbitrary [00:57:00] attributes to any element in your markdown when it renders to HTML. And, uh, and Apex has first class support for I aals. Was really, that was, that Christina: that was really hard, Brett: I wrote it because I wanted, I wanted multi markdown, uh, for my prose writing, but I really missed the als. Christina: Yes. Okay. Because see, I run into this sort of thing too, right? Because like, this is a problem like that. I mean, it’s a very niche problem, um, that, that, you know, people who listen to this podcast probably are more familiar with than other types of people. But like, when you have to choose your markdown processor, which as you said, like Brett, like that can be a problem. Like, like with, with using Mark or anything else, you’re like, what am I giving up? What do I have? And, and like for me, because I started using mul, you know, markdown, um, uh, largely because of you, um, I think I was using it, I knew about it before you, but largely because of, of, of you, like multi markdown has always been like kind of my, or was historically my flavor of choice. It has since shifted to being [00:58:00] GitHub, labor bird markdown. But that’s just because the industry has taken that on, right? But there were, you know, certain things like in like, you know, multi markdown that work a certain way. And then yeah, there are things in crammed down. There are things in these other things in like, this is just, this is awesome. This Brett: It is, the whole thing is built on top of C mark, GFM, which is GitHub’s port of common mark with the GitHub flavored markdown Christina: Right. Brett: Um, and I built, like, I kept that as a sub-module, totally clean, and built all of this as extensions on top of Cmar, GFM, which, you know, so it has full compatibility with GitHub and with Common Merck by out, like outta the box. And then everything else is built on top of that. So it, uh, it covers, it covers all the bases. You’ll love it Christina: I’m so excited. No, this is awesome. And I Brett: blazing fast. It can render, I have a complex document that, that uses all of its features and it can render it in [00:59:00] 0.006 seconds. Christina: that’s awesome. Jeff: Awesome. Christina: That’s so cool. No, this is great. And yeah, I, and I think that honestly, like this is the sort of thing like if, yeah, if you can eventually get this to like be like the engine that powers like mark three, like, that’ll be really slick, right? Because then like, yeah, okay, I can take one document and then just, you know, kind of, you know, wi with, with the, you know, ha have, have the compatibility mode where you’re like, okay, the unified mode or whatever yo

#915: Sit down with Rainn Wilson — actor, producer, comedian, and author of Soul Boom, a powerful exploration of spirituality, healing, and meaning. Known worldwide as Dwight Schrute from The Office, Rainn opens up about the years he struggled as an actor, the unexpected rise of his career, and how humor became both a shield and a compass. He dives deep into his spiritual awakening, the inspiration behind Soul Boom, his search for purpose, and how he believes we can build more meaning into our modern lives. This is a candid, inspiring, and surprisingly emotional look at one of Hollywood's most beloved actors — far beyond the character you think you know. To Watch the Show click HERE   For Detailed Show Notes visit TSCPODCAST.COM   To connect with Rainn Wilson click HERE   To connect with Lauryn Bosstick click HERE   To connect with Michael Bosstick click HERE   Read More on The Skinny Confidential HERE   Head to our ShopMy page HERE and LTK page HERE to find all of the products mentioned in each episode.   Get your burning questions featured on the show! Leave the Him & Her Show a voicemail at +1 (512) 537-7194.   To learn more about Rainn Wilson's Soul Boom, including his latest workbook & podcasts, visit https://www.soulboom.com.    This episode is sponsored by The Skinny Confidential Your skincare routine, reimagined. Shop The Skinny Confidential Face Towels today at https://shopskinnyconfidential.com/products/face-towels.   This episode is sponsored by Squarespace Go to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you're ready to launch, http://squarespace.com/SKINNY to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.   This episode is sponsored by Cymbiotika Go to http://Cymbiotika.com/TSC today to get 20% off plus free shipping.    This episode is sponsored by EBay There's always more to discover – eBay has millions of pre-loved finds, from hundreds of brands, backed by eBay Authenticity Guarantee. eBay. Things. People. Love.   This episode is sponsored by Higher Self Go to http://thehigherself.app/skinny and get 4 months free or 30% off the yearly plan. That's literally 53 cents a day to reprogram your subconscious and completely upgrade your life.   This episode is sponsored by The RealReal  Get $25 off your first purchase when you go to http://TheRealReal.com/skinny.   This episode is sponsored by Rebel  Spread some holiday cheer (and serious savings) at http://FromRebel.com.   This episode is sponsored by Neiman Marcus If you're looking for gifts that are guaranteed to surprise and delight, head to Neiman Marcus.   Produced by Dear Media

We start this episode with a cautionary tale from Erin involving a neighbor's house, a craving for sweets, and a "healthy" brownie, leaving her traumatized for years. We also celebrate Erin's co writer Amy running her first 5K, which leads to a recurring nightmare scenario: trying to explain exactly what this podcast is to confused strangers.We then dive into our Thanksgiving recaps, discussing the "Brown Friday" phenomenon that keeps plumbers in business and the dedication of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade dancers who followed the "show must go on" rule despite a massive pile of fresh horse manure in their path. In sports news, we cover the potential bankruptcy of Grand Slam Track, the bizarre black market for marathon medals on eBay, and the controversy surrounding men running in a Nike women's only race. We also discuss a lawsuit claiming Nike Alphaflys caused a runner's stress fracture and question the wisdom of wearing brand new shoes on race day.Finally, "Tea Time" returns with a wild story about a TikTok famous stylist charging $4,000 for hair she barely touched and a dark update on the "Sticker Gate" scandal. We wrap things up on a high note with a wholesome "No Bad News" story about the brotherhood of New York City doormen and a quick plug for the perfect White Elephant gift: the Pizza Pocket Hoodie (use code "NMONLY" at checkout)

Travis catches up with his old friend Todd Lamb, founder of Pure Life Organics, a wellness brand that has generated over $100 million in gross revenue through direct response and DTC e‑commerce. Coming from nearly 20 years in policing—including K‑9, undercover surveillance, and leading a tactical team—Todd shares how a backyard “redneck margarita maker” on eBay pulled him into the online world, and how he navigated the evolution from info products and VSLs to a durable, compliant brand with repeat buyers and lean operations.​ On this episode we talk about: Todd's path from young dad to military, commercial diving, policing, and eventually leading a SWAT (tactical) team before retiring into entrepreneurship​ The first spark: building a DIY margarita machine, selling the plans on eBay in 2003, and realizing the internet could be a real business engine​ Launching fitness and jiu-jitsu funnels, the breakout success of Alpha and flat-belly tea, and the shift from all-affiliate direct response to owning the traffic and the brand​ The difference between direct response and e‑commerce—emotional VSLs versus longer-tail, brand-led journeys—and what that means for refunds, customer quality, and compliance​ Why Todd transitioned early into e‑com, how affiliate abuse blew up his domain reputation, and what it took to rebuild as a white-glove, exit-ready brand run lean by a small, trusted team​ Top 3 Takeaways A “safe” career and lack of entrepreneurial pedigree do not disqualify you; Todd built a nine-figure track record starting as a young dad in the military and then a career cop who experimented online in his spare time.​ Direct response can scale fast, but it comes with higher refunds, compliance risk, volatile affiliate traffic, and brand damage; shifting to thoughtful e‑commerce with strong customer experience creates long-term value and optionality for exit.​ Building lean with people you trust, focusing on LTV, repeat customers, and careful email practices turns a cash-flow machine into an asset that works whether or not you ever decide to sell.​ Notable Quotes "No house with a swimming pool is complete without a margarita maker—and that little eBay experiment made me realize what was possible online." "Direct response is like turning a stranger into a buyer in one emotional shot; e‑com is a longer, more elegant and thoughtful journey." "We stopped emailing for everyone else's offers; we only promote our own products because we want our customers to trust that when we show up, it's actually for their benefit." Connect with Todd Lamb: Website (Brand): https://purelifeorganics.com/ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/followtoddlamb/?hl=en ✖️✖️✖️✖️