Podcasts about embracethespace

Jason Feifer is Editor-In-Chief of Entrepreneur magazine, and host of not one, but two podcasts—Pessimists Archive, about the history of unfounded fears of innovation, and Problem Solvers, about how entrepreneurs solve unexpected problems in their business. He is also the creative mind behind viral sites such as Crossing.us, Heat Fan Sounds, Bad NBA Songs, and Selfies at Funerals. And he just co-wrote a novel with his wife, titled Mr. Nice Guy, which comes out this October. Jason has been an editor at Fast Company, Men's Health, Maxim, and Boston, and has written for New York, ESPN, Slate, GQ, The New York Times, Washington Post, The Guardian, and others. We begin this wide-ranging interview with the topic of parenting, and I ask Jason how he knew when he was ready to become a father. From there we talk about a skill every new parent (as well as the rest of us) could benefit from picking up—juggling numerous projects at the same time. Jason is a master multitasker. He explains how he finds the energy to keep so many different plates spinning at once, as well as the apps he uses to increase productivity and stay organized. There’s a great part in this interview where Jason talks about knowing your worth and getting what you deserve. Part of that is laying out all of your skills and making sure you’re fully activating them to further your brand or business. Jason recently grew his personal business to include speaking engagements, and one of my favorite tips in this interview comes when Jason explains how he is able to nail a speech without memorizing a single line. Of course, there is a ton of advice for newly minted entrepreneurs, like how to know when your new business or product is ready to take to market. Here, Jason talks about putting yourself to the test before you put your business to the test. And no Feifer interview would be complete without talking about selfies. Jason is widely regarded, by media around the world including the New York Times, as the international authority on selfies. He tells the story of how a simple Tumblr page became an overnight viral sensation, and how he parlayed that opportunity into a whirlwind of media attention. In that same vein, we cover strategies for growing your audience, as well as what to do with that megaphone once you get it, to maximize your resources for the greatest return. Also, today’s episode is a special one, for me personally. Not only is Jason one of the people who encouraged me to create this podcast, this conversation is the first interview I recorded for the show. And there’s evidence of that. As it turns out, some microphones have a front and a back. And if you speak into the back, instead of the front, your voice sounds distant. Fortunately, Jason sounds great, because it was in fact my mic that was flipped the wrong way around for this interview. Thankfully, this show is about the guests—not me. And few people out there can impart as much practical knowledge, and in as accessible and relatable a manner, as Jason Feifer. ______________________ This episode is brought to you by Altra. I was introduced to Altra a couple of years ago, and their running shoes—known for their signature Footshape toe box and Zero Drop platform—have since become a sort of secret weapon for me. I break them out for especially punishing runs, and when it’s time to go off-road, their trail shoes are the only ones I’ll wear. (The Lone Peak is my personal favorite.) This spring, Altra wants you to #EmbraceTheSpace and get fired up for taking your runs outside with their lineup of fast and light road shoes. One model to check out, for sure, is the Altra Duo, which features 31mm cushioning beneath both the forefoot and the heel, and weighs in at a crazy-light 7.5 ounces. If you’re interested in checking out the Altra Duo, you can head to fleetfeetsports.com. They’ll be available there through March. AltraRunning.com

Aly Teich is one of the toughest, most inspiring women I have ever had the pleasure to meet. She is also one of the most connected and knowledgeable people in the fitness industry. Aly is the founder of The Sweat Life, a popular fitness blog and online video series, which I’ve been a fan of for years. Since leaving the corporate world behind to pursue her now ubiquitous fitness startup, Aly has grown her brand to over 70.000 Instagram followers and collaborated with some of the largest brands in the world, including Adidas, Clif Bar, and many more. Aly is also president of The Talent Hack, a newly launched website that connects professionals to brands in the fitness industry. In this wide-ranging interview, Aly recounts, in detail, what it was like to detach from corporate America and start her own business. We discuss all the emotions, expectations, highs, and lows that came with that decision, as well as how she overcame specific challenges along the way. At the heart of Aly’s success—aside from an immortal work ethic and a genuine compulsion to make people healthier in their daily lives—is her skill as a networker. In this conversation, Aly explains the tactics she employs when reaching out to a brand for the first time, as well as the strategies she relies on to convert an idea into a conversation and, ultimately, a business deal. In that vein, she provides some great insight into the inner workings of The Sweat Life—particularly how she designed the architecture of the site to support a booming partnership business from day one. We also talk about Aly’s three pillars for personal wellness, which support her energy, creativity, and mental health, as well as the behaviors she avoids—including incessant social media interactions—in order to remain healthy, happy, and focused. This episode is truly one for everyone, and, as always, I encourage you to listen all the way through. It’s a powerful one. ______________________ This episode is brought to you by Altra. I was introduced to Altra a couple of years ago, and their running shoes—known for their signature Footshape toe box and Zero Drop platform—have since become a sort of secret weapon for me. I break them out for especially punishing runs, and when it’s time to go off-road, their trail shoes are the only ones I’ll wear. (The Lone Peak is my personal favorite.) This spring, Altra wants you to #EmbraceTheSpace and get fired up for taking your runs outside with their lineup of fast and light road shoes. One model to check out, for sure, is the Altra Duo, which features 31mm cushioning beneath both the forefoot and the heel, and weighs in at a crazy-light 7.5 ounces. If you’re interested in checking out the Altra Duo, you can head to fleetfeetsports.com. They’ll be available there through March. AltraRunning.com

Brian Mazza began his career in hospitality as a bottle runner at a nightclub. It was there that he laid the foundation for what would become a bulletproof reputation for hard work, and it wasn’t long before he began ascending the ranks of the New York City restaurant scene. Today, Brian is President of the Paige Hospitality Group—a premier operations and hospitality company specializing in high-end event planning and production—and is responsible for running several high-profile restaurants in the tri-state area. Given the rigors and demands of the hospitality industry, it’s especially impressive then that Brian is also one of the fittest human beings you’ll ever meet. A former Division 1 soccer player for the University of Rhode Island, Brian is the definition of an athlete, and calling him competitive would be an understatement. At home, in New York City, he channels that energy into Tone House—widely regarded as the toughest workout on the east coast. In fact, by the time this episode airs he will have completed almost 900 classes. This past year has been an eventful one for Brian—even by his standards. The same year he landed on the cover of Men’s Health, he tore his Achilles tendon—sidelining him from physical activity—or, at least that’s what you’d expect. He also became a dad, which, of course, comes with its own set of challenges. In this wide-ranging, in-depth interview, Brian shares the game-changing habits, routines, philosophies, and principles that have allowed him to achieve repeated success, both professionally and personally. Having worked his way up from the bottom, Brian reveals the valuable lessons he’s learned, including advice for dealing with difficult people, launching a successful marketing campaign, and making strategic lifestyle adjustments to benefit a long-term goal. We also talk about the opportunities that lie in social media, and what you can do to take advantage of these tools to further your personal brand—and what kind of behavior to avoid. Needless to say, we cover a lot of ground. ______________________ This episode is brought to you by Altra. I was introduced to Altra a couple of years ago, and their running shoes—known for their signature Footshape toe box and Zero Drop platform—have since become a sort of secret weapon for me. I break them out for especially punishing runs, and when it’s time to go off-road, their trail shoes are the only ones I’ll wear. (The Lone Peak is my personal favorite.) This spring, Altra wants you to #EmbraceTheSpace and get fired up for taking your runs outside with their lineup of fast and light road shoes. One model to check out, for sure, is the Altra Duo, which features 31mm cushioning beneath both the forefoot and the heel, and weighs in at a crazy-light 7.5 ounces. If you’re interested in checking out the Altra Duo, you can head to fleetfeetsports.com. They’ll be available there through March.

Bar Malik is the Director of Performance and Science for the New York Knicks. Now in his sixth season with the Knicks, Bar is heavily involved in player development, working with some of the biggest stars in the NBA. He travels with the Knicks throughout the season and helps to ensure players are optimizing their time, both on and off the court. From exercise to recovery, he takes a 360-degree approach to performance, and some of his insights are just plain fascinating. One of my favorite things about this conversation—and, really, this is the goal of every Gamma Project episode—is that regardless of whether you’re a diehard NBA fan or don’t know a basketball from a bar of soap, there is a lot for you here that can be applied to several different aspects of your own life, no matter what you do professionally or where you’re currently at in the grand scheme of things. That said, if you are interested in sports, particularly how pro athletes train and continue to improve their performance over time, you’re in for some really cool insights from behind the scenes. Here, Bar talks about the most productive habits he sees in his players, all of which you can adopt for yourself. He describes, in detail, the tactics he uses—and that you can use—to optimize both physical and mental performance. And then we also get away from the court to talk about things like how to deal with the loss of a loved one—which, if you remember, also came up in Episode 1 (Phillip Picardi: Building a Brand, Becoming Fearless, and Finding Calm in Chaos), but it’s something we all end up dealing with eventually, so it’s worth the revisit. We also talk about journaling; accountability; the importance of connecting with friends, family, and nature; and much, much more. During the first few minutes of the episode, we spend quite a bit of time talking about the path that led Bar to where he is today—both professionally and personally—and that is because I’m a huge fan of context. One of the things I am always interested in is how successful and influential people arrived at the jobs they have, because what you often find—almost always, in fact—is that it’s not simply a case of showing up for the interview and getting the job. Relationships, persistence, grit, and failure are almost always part of the story—and Bar’s case is no exception. So, we start by getting into all of that, to paint a fuller picture, and ultimately set the scene for what comes next, which is a full-court press (to employ the only basketball term I will use in this entire episode) of practical strategies, tips, and tactics that you can absorb into your own routine and reach whatever goals you have for yourself. ______________________ This episode is brought to you by Altra. I was introduced to Altra a couple of years ago, and their running shoes—known for their signature Footshape toe box and Zero Drop platform—have since become a sort of secret weapon for me. I break them out for especially punishing runs, and when it’s time to go off-road, their trail shoes are the only ones I’ll wear. (The Lone Peak is my personal favorite.) This spring, Altra wants you to #EmbraceTheSpace and get fired up for taking your runs outside with their lineup of fast and light road shoes. One model to check out, for sure, is the Altra Duo, which features 31mm cushioning beneath both the forefoot and the heel, and weighs in at a crazy-light 7.5 ounces. If you’re interested in checking out the Altra Duo, you can head to fleetfeetsports.com. They’ll be available there through March.