Podcasts about iso

In this episode of the Ern & Iso Podcast, the duo jump into a real conversation about the rise of streamers, influencers, and digital creators — and why it feels like the entire entertainment industry is starting to push back.Are streamers the new power in media?Why are traditional industries like Hollywood, music, and TV struggling to understand the influence of creators like Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed?And is there a “divide and conquer” strategy happening behind the scenes to control the new generation of online stars?Ern and Iso break down:• Why some people are criticizing streamers for taking breaks• How creators became more influential than movie stars and rappers• The power shift from old media gatekeepers to independent creators• Why younger generations are choosing streaming, YouTube, and online hustles over traditional jobs• The generational clash between working the grind vs finding new ways to make money• How relatability made streamers the most powerful voices online• Why staying united might be the most important move for the creator communityThe conversation also drifts into real-life topics including work culture, side hustles, OnlyFans debates, dating dilemmas, and modern relationships, proving once again that the Ern & Iso Podcast is at its best when the conversation just flows.Sometimes the best episodes are the ones where the mics turn on and the conversation goes wherever it goes.If you enjoy real conversations, culture talk, and unfiltered perspectives, this episode is for you.Like, comment, share, and subscribe — because when you talk, we talk back.#ErnandIsoPodcast #StreamersVsEverybody #KaiCenat #IShowSpeed #ContentCreators #PodcastDiscussion #YouTubeCreators #StreamingCulture #InfluencerEconomy #NewMedia #DigitalCreators #InternetCulture #CreatorEconomy #PodcastLife #BlackPodcasts #CulturalDebates #StreamingIndustry #EntertainmentTalk #PodcastCommunity #fyp #ernandiso4president

The episode opens by thanking sponsors NDL Industries, Parker Sporlan, and Westermeyer Industries, then highlights NDL's CO₂-rated components including ball and check valves tested up to 2030 PSI with CE/CRN/UL certifications, high-pressure copper fittings rated to 1,885 PSI, and a CO₂ service tee. Parker Sporlan promotes its Virtual Engineer tool for sizing and selecting components for A2L refrigerant projects, and Westermeyer features RDP series differential pressure monitors for oil separator filter condition, including a transcritical CO₂ model. Brett and Kevin discuss actuator torque challenges on CO₂ valves under high differential pressure, ISO 5211 actuator mounting, and the tradeoff between leak-tight sealing and actuator size. They compare CO₂ adoption in the US (~5,000 systems) versus Europe (~95,000), discuss efficiency gains from improved controls, gas cooler sizing impacts, water restrictions affecting adiabatic cooling, ejectors, split gas coolers, and a Walgreens CO₂ rack using extensive heat reclaim, geothermal, and transcritical operation at about 90 bar.

The episode opens by thanking sponsors NDL Industries, Parker Sporlan, and Westermeyer Industries, then highlights NDL's CO₂-rated components including ball and check valves tested up to 2030 PSI with CE/CRN/UL certifications, high-pressure copper fittings rated to 1,885 PSI, and a CO₂ service tee. Parker Sporlan promotes its Virtual Engineer tool for sizing and selecting components for A2L refrigerant projects, and Westermeyer features RDP series differential pressure monitors for oil separator filter condition, including a transcritical CO₂ model. Brett and Kevin discuss actuator torque challenges on CO₂ valves under high differential pressure, ISO 5211 actuator mounting, and the tradeoff between leak-tight sealing and actuator size. They compare CO₂ adoption in the US (~5,000 systems) versus Europe (~95,000), discuss efficiency gains from improved controls, gas cooler sizing impacts, water restrictions affecting adiabatic cooling, ejectors, split gas coolers, and a Walgreens CO₂ rack using extensive heat reclaim, geothermal, and transcritical operation at about 90 bar.

Send a textAgentic AI stops being “just software” the moment it can take actions across your systems and that's where leadership, cybersecurity, and trust collide. We sit down with Mark Lynd, a globally recognized cybersecurity and AI thought leader and former CIO, CTO, and CISO, to get specific about what enterprise teams misunderstand when they talk about autonomous AI agents. The promise is speed and cost savings; the reality is permissions, accountability, and a threat landscape that changes when agents have identities and privileges.We dig into why “identity is the new perimeter” in an AI-driven world and how attackers target the keys to the kingdom: access, escalated privileges, and the ability to work around security controls. Mark shares how common IAM problems like permission sprawl and forgotten access can become even more dangerous with agents, especially as organizations scale from a few pilots to hundreds or thousands of AI agents. We also talk governance frameworks like NIST and ISO, why frameworks alone don't equal evaluation criteria, and how boards push for innovation while regulators demand control.If you're a CIO, CISO, security leader, or board advisor trying to adopt agentic AI responsibly, this conversation offers a grounded approach: start with small, auditable use cases, keep a real human-in-the-loop model, align every agent to business goals, and build trust through repeatable wins. Listen, share this with a teammate, and subscribe plus leave a review with your answer: what's the first workflow you would trust an AI agent to run?Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Follow The Brand! We hope you enjoyed learning about the latest trends and strategies in Personal Branding, Business and Career Development, Financial Empowerment, Technology Innovation, and Executive Presence. To keep up with the latest insights and updates, visit 5starbdm.com. And don't miss Grant McGaugh's new book, First Light — a powerful guide to igniting your purpose and building a BRAVE brand that stands out in a changing world. - https://5starbdm.com/brave-masterclass/ See you next time on Follow The Brand!

 We interview Pham Binh, a fellow former ISO member whose political development was both shaped by his participation in the organization and his opposition to it.  After Binh left the ISO, he took on some positions within socialism that outraged many fellow socialists.  Even to the point of having to ‘lay low'.  Well, today he returns with us to talk about his political history and trajectory.  We hope this is the beginning of many fruitful discussions on socialism and revolution with Binh. Check us out!2012 'Leninism' debate:https://externalbulletin.org/2014/06/21/the-great-lenin-debate-of-2012/Critique of the ISO:https://links.org.au/mangling-party-tony-cliffs-leninhttps://links.org.au/occupy-and-tasks-socialistsCritique of the U.S. Left Response to the Arab Spring:https://web.archive.org/web/20120925213451/http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=1097http://web.archive.org/web/20130921134507/http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=1896http://web.archive.org/web/20130921072008/http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=1705Libyan Rebel of the Tripoli Brigade:http://web.archive.org/web/20130814023225/http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=2622https://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/the-psl-school-of-falsification-a-libyan-rebel-sets-the-record-straight/https://youtu.be/nItmqkrpWHU To see all our episodes go to:What's Left? Website: https://whatsleftpodcast.com/iTunes: Spotify: Bitchute: YouTube:  LBRY: Telegram :Odysee:  Googleplaymusic: Rumble 

Payments is full of noise: legacy processors, vendor sprawl, duplicate onboarding, and merchants who just want their money faster. We cut through it by showing a pragmatic path from point products to a unified embedded finance stack that actually scales. With Jaris founder and CEO Chris Aristides and VP of Platform Partnerships Matt Thomas, we unpack why “foundation first” beats bolt-on every time and how to make it work across multiprocessor portfolios without ripping out your core.We start with the playbook behind winners like Square and Stripe: remove complexity, unify the experience, and make multi-product adoption effortless. Then we translate that into the realities of processors and ISOs. Chris explains the banking backbone - independent RTN, sponsor bank alignment, and vertically integrated ledgers—that makes settlement reliable and compliant. Matt breaks down managed settlement as the key unlock: a dynamic funding layer that normalizes Fiserv, TSYS, Worldpay, and Elavon flows, enabling split settlement, instant payouts, and automated loan repayment without custom builds for each backend.From there we stack the products merchants actually use. Lending remains a high-margin anchor with powerful retention, while instant payouts reach a far larger share of the base with a clean pay-as-you-use model that works on weekends and holidays. High-yield savings ties it together for cash management, all delivered through one onboarding, one golden merchant record, and a white-labeled UI that honors sub-ISO relationships and trust. The result is tangible: fewer forms, faster activation, clearer visibility for ops, and a material lift in retention and revenue.If you lead partnerships, product, or operations at a processor or ISO, this conversation gives you a concrete framework to touch the other 95 percent of your merchants, modernize onboarding, and launch new revenue lines through a single integration. Subscribe, share this episode with your team, and leave a review to tell us which product you'd launch first.

In this episode of Let's Combinate, Subhi Saadeh speaks with Jen Riter about analytical method validation for drug device combination products. The discussion explores how traditional drug analytical validation under ICH Q2 differs from validating functional and mechanical performance methods used for combination products. These methods often require an engineering mindset that incorporates measurement system analysis (MSA), gage R&R studies, and the use of fabricated surrogate standards when devices cannot be reused for testing.They also discuss platform test methods and how standards such as ISO 11040 and other ISO references can serve as starting points for method development. The conversation touches on the evolving alignment between ISO based device methods and pharmacopeial expectations such as USP . The episode also covers make vs buy testing decisions, when to outsource specialized testing such as CCIT and extractables and leachables, and how sponsors manage oversight of contract testing laboratories.Timestamps00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction00:53 ICH Q2 vs MSA Mindset Shift04:37 Surrogate Standards for Mechanical Testing11:12 Platform Methods and ISO 1104015:14 ISO vs USP Verification Debate20:06 Outsourcing Analytical Testing Strategy24:07 Choosing the Right Test Lab26:20 Sponsor Oversight of Contract Labs30:09 Wrap UpAbout Jen RiterJen Riter is an analytical testing and laboratory leader with nearly three decades of experience working in pharmaceutical packaging, drug delivery systems, and combination products. She has held leadership roles at West Pharmaceutical Services and Kindeva Drug Delivery, where her work has focused on analytical method development, validation, and testing strategies for drug delivery systems and injectable combination products. She is also a contributor to the Combination Products Handbook, where she authored a chapter on analytical testing and method validation for combination products.About Subhi SaadehSubhi Saadeh is the Founder and Principal of Let's Combinate BioWorks, where he helps companies close the gaps between drug and device development, quality systems, and regulatory expectations. He is a Certified Quality Auditor and ISO 13485 Lead Auditor with leadership experience at Baxter, Pfizer, and Gilead Sciences including responsibility for management and oversight of assemble label pack sites and working with device primary, secondary and tertiary packaging suppliers. Subhi previously chaired the Combination Product Working Group for Rx-360, served as International Committee Chair for the Combination Products Coalition, and served on AAMI's Combination Products Committee. He also hosts the Let's Combinate podcast and is a writer and speaker on quality at the intersection of drugs and devices.

In this episode of the Ern & Iso Podcast, we break down the viral internet personality Mr Good Beds and the debates he has sparked across social media. Known for his controversial dating rules and bold takes about relationships, Mr Good Beds has become a TikTok talking point for men and women arguing about money, dating expectations, and modern relationship dynamics.Some people believe Mr Good Beds is speaking hard truths about how dating works today. Others think his views are extreme and designed purely to go viral. In this episode, Ern and Iso take a deeper look at the man behind the clips, his background, and why his content triggers so many strong reactions online.One of the bigger conversations that comes up during the episode is the topic of younger men and women dating older partners.Ern: “Let's be honest Iso… younger people dating older people is something that's been happening since the beginning of time. This isn't some new internet trend.”Iso: “Exactly. It's not new at all. People just see it more now because everything is on social media. The real question is why it bothers people so much today.”Ern: “Right, because historically men dated younger women, and sometimes younger men dated older women too. It's been part of human relationships forever.”Iso: “The internet just amplified it. Now everybody has an opinion about something that's honestly been happening for generations.”Throughout the episode we discuss:• Why Mr Good Beds went viral• Why some men support his dating philosophy• Why critics think his ideas are harmful• The truth about modern dating expectations• Why age-gap relationships trigger so much debate onlineAt the end of the day this episode isn't just about one internet personality — it's about how social media is shaping the way people think about relationships.Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know what you think.#mrgoodbeds #datingdebate #relationshiptalk #modernrelationships #podcastdiscussion #datingculture #internetdebate #ernandiso #fyp #ernandiso4president

What happens when success, hustle, and constant work stop bringing fulfillment? In this episode of Unstoppable Mindset, I talk with marketing strategist and entrepreneur Carlos Hidalgo about business growth, faith, burnout, and the hidden cost of hustle culture. Carlos shares his journey from corporate marketing leader to founder of Digital Exhaust, along with lessons from his book The UnAmerican Dream about work addiction, burnout, and redefining success. Their conversation explores why growth does not need to be complicated, why storytelling builds trust in business, and why boundaries matter more than work life balance. Carlos also opens up about faith, failure, relationships, and the power of honest conversations. You will hear practical insights on leadership, personal growth, community, and building a life that is both successful and meaningful. Highlights: ·  06:04 – Carlos explains how his faith became a personal relationship. ·  17:32 – Why he left corporate work to start his own business. ·  25:40 – His approach to making business growth simple. ·  30:17 – How hustle culture often leads to burnout. ·  42:29 – Why boundaries matter more than work life balance. ·  54:33 – Why real community helps solve loneliness. Top of Form Bottom of Form About the Guest: Carlos Hidalgo is the co-founder and CEO of Digital Exhaust, a growth partner that helps clients make growth simple. Carlos serves his clients as an advisor, consultant, and teacher to ensure they have meaningful engagement with their customers at every stage of the journey and are able to mature and create sustainable growth. Carlos has 30 years of experience working with organizations of all sizes as an advisor, consultant, innovator, and growth expert. He is widely recognized for his expertise in demand generation, marketing, sales, and customer experience and for coaching executives in the areas of leadership and managing change. In addition to his work with his clients, Carlos has won numerous marketing awards and been named to several prestigious industry lists as a marketing leader. Carlos is also the author of Driving Demand, which is ranked as a top 5 marketing book of all time by Book Authority, and The UnAmerican Dream, which was released in 2019. In addition to books, Carlos is a well-known international keynote and TEDx speaker. You can follow Carlos on LinkedIn or on Twitter @cahidalgo Ways to connect with Scott**:** LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosahidalgo/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CHidalgoJr Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cahidalgo_ Twitter/X: https://x.com/cahidalgo About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Well, hi and welcome once again to an episode of unstoppable mindset. Today, our guest is Carlos Hidalgo. Carlos has many facets about him. He's a speaker. He deals with growth and growth management and with his company. He tries to make growth simple for the people who are his clients. I'm interested in learning about that, but he does other things as well. He is also involved with his wife and marriage counseling, which is a little bit different than the one I think I find a lot of people to do. So I think we got lots to talk about. So, Carlos, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here. Carlos Hidalgo  01:59 Thank you for having me. Michael, it's an absolute pleasure. Well, let's Michael Hingson  02:03 start with the early Carlos, why don't you tell us about you growing up and all that sort of thing, and where you came from, where you're headed, or whatever. Carlos Hidalgo  02:14 Sure, I was born one of six children. I was the youngest for about four years, and then my my parents had two more. So I am smack dab in the middle of middle six siblings. Was born in New Jersey, but call where I'm at now home, which is a little town in the Adirondack Mountains. And the reason I call it home, I started coming to camp here when I was five years old. Fell in love with the area, and then my father, in 1983 moved us up here when I was 12, and fell more in love with it. And that lasted for four years. And then my junior of high school, or right after my sophomore year, was told, Hey, we're we're moving I was 16, I was pretty pissed off at the prospect of leaving a place I loved, so I had engineered a plan to stay through my junior and senior high school, which in my mind, made perfect sense in my parents' mind, and for reasons now I understand, because I'm a parent, did not make so much sense, but I came back as often as I could, and then my wife and I moved here back full time in 2021 we also lived here in the 90s for two years, had our first son here so but grew up really charmed childhood was my dad was in advertising, so we got tickets to Great sporting events. We had horses that I took care of, along with some of my siblings, developed a love of the outdoors, which I still hold, which is one of the many benefits of living up here again. And so, yeah, pretty, pretty much, early childhood was, you know, be outside as much as I can run around school work wasn't my strong suit, but I muddled through and I Michael Hingson  04:04 made it. Where in New Jersey were you born? Carlos Hidalgo  04:07 Was born in a little town called Randolph in northern jersey. Spent most of our time in a place called blairis town. Their claim to fame as a prep school called Blair Academy, which I believe is still there. And then, I believe it was the original Friday the 13th was filmed. Part of it was filmed in Blairstown. Yeah, yeah. So I'm dating myself just a little bit. Michael Hingson  04:32 Well, we lived in Westfield for six years, so kind of know, New Jersey, but yeah, while we were back there, my wife always wanted to move back to California. She's a native. I was born in Chicago. She wouldn't let me call myself a native, even though we moved to California when I was five. But yeah, it's okay. Carlos Hidalgo  04:50 Sure, yeah, people get a little touchy about the term native or local and how it's defined, right? Michael Hingson  04:55 Oh, yeah, it varies all around the country, but there's. Nothing. You can't say anything bad about Chicago. They have Garrett Popcorn there. If you've never had it, next time we go through O'Hare Airport, you should get some Garrett Popcorn. Carlos Hidalgo  05:09 Okay, I will do that absolutely. Michael Hingson  05:12 Take a memo. Get Garrett Popcorn. It's it's really good stuff. Well, so what did you do for college? Or did you? Carlos Hidalgo  05:21 Yeah, I went to my first year, I went to a school called Word of Life Bible Institute. So it's a one year intensive program, study of the Bible actually here, not far from, literally eight miles down the road here, from where I live now. And at that point, it was really just an excuse to get back to the Adirondacks for a year, but I learned a whole lot. Met some incredible people, some of who I'm still very, very close with today. And then from there, I transferred to Cedarville University in Ohio. At the time I went there, we were about 2500 students. I think today they're closer to 7500 but I met my wife there, which was that, in and of itself, the three years of tuition that I paid as I transferred in, but study Business Communication, again, I wasn't a great student. What I realized is, if it was the things that I really loved to participate in, it was awesome. I had a really great time studying communication and language and how we speak. I was two years on the debate team, which was such a great education in and of itself. But everything else I didn't really love. I just the general ed stuff. I kind of thought, well, if I can skate by and, you know, get that, get the passing the credits. So that's really how I want about it. And the reality is, the way things are taught today, I'm a very visual and hands on learner, and so to sit in a classroom and try to take notes and go through theory and things like that just makes my brain hurt a little bit. So I but I but I finished. I got the degree and made some great friendships in the process. Michael Hingson  07:04 Well and clearly, based on what you did for your first year, you have a Christian orientation, or definitely a god orientation as well. Carlos Hidalgo  07:15 Yeah, that's that's really my operating system. Michael, I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. I base my life on it. I spend time in it each and every day. And so what's interesting in that regard is, yes, I went to the Bible Institute. So while I had a lot of head knowledge about the Bible and God and Jesus and all these things, it's really been in the last 10 years that I would say I had a deep, meaningful relationship with them, and that came as from a lot of experience in my life, a lot of dark, dark moments in my life that were self induced, unfortunately. But really, what it's done for me is it's just radicalized who I am, changed my heart. And so it's gone from a having a head knowledge of it to a real experience and an engagement with Christ through His Word and through prayer. Michael Hingson  08:11 Yeah, head knowledge is is a fine thing as far as it goes, but there's nothing like personally experience coming closer to whatever it is, including dealing with believing in God and really recognizing what what God brings. And my last book that I wrote that was published last year, called Live like a guide dog, true stories from a blind man and his dogs about being brave, overcoming adversity and moving forward in faith very much deals with with a lot of that, the whole concept of the value and the power of personal knowledge, as opposed to just head knowledge. I talk about the World Trade Center a lot in that book, specifically in terms of what I learned and how I developed a mindset to be able to control fear, rather than letting it be the thing that overwhelmed me or overwhelms anyone and and I've had a couple people on this podcast who talk about it, and they say the same sort of thing that you did. It's not about knowledge that you sort of intellectually know. It's what you really know. So people, for example, in evacuating the World Trade Center, would look at signs, and they would follow those and a lot of people were able to do that, but that's still not knowing that is really relying on something else that you may or may not really have access to. So True Knowledge is the only way to go Carlos Hidalgo  09:38 100% and I find that I gather that through experience, yeah. And so the example I use is, if you ask me about my wife, you know, do you know Suzanne? I would say, Oh, yeah. You know, blonde hair, blue eyes, about five, five. Funny, smart. I could tell you all the different facts, but there's a big difference when you sit and you get to experience being with her, seeing. Her, how she interacts with people, how she treats others, all of those things. Take that knowledge and actually make an experience an experience, yeah. And so that's been the difference for me, as it regard, in my relationship with Jesus Christ, yeah, well, Michael Hingson  10:14 and Suzanne, so that's good. Carlos Hidalgo  10:17 Well, so absolutely, 31 years and we're still going. There you go. Michael Hingson  10:21 Well, keep going. That's that's cool. That's great to have that kind of a relationship. It's all too often we don't see a lot of that in marriage, and just people get married without knowing and that leads to all sorts of potential challenges. So it's good to really get to know someone Carlos Hidalgo  10:41 absolutely, yeah, I'm still, still learning, still studying her and learning all I can, after 31 Michael Hingson  10:46 years, and she is too Yes, she is. Carlos Hidalgo  10:49 She does a phenomenal job. Michael Hingson  10:52 So what did you do after college? Carlos Hidalgo  10:56 After college, I actually moved back up here, where I'm at now. Worked for two years for Word of Life, the same group that ran the Bible Institute. So then, actually, unbeknownst to me, i My heart was really at that point, I wanted to go into law enforcement. My father in law was an FBI agent for 30 years. I'd always been intrigued by law enforcement, so I thought going into and getting a job for a few years, cutting my teeth while I filled out a resume. So started working in the office of donor development or advancement, and that was the first time I really started to get any exposure to anything formal, marketing wise. In the meantime, applied to the FBI, never went anywhere. Ended up applying again, never went anywhere at that point. Then we moved to we left here after two years of marriage and having one child. We moved to Michigan for a brief time, and then we went back to down to from Michigan. We went to Dallas, where we lived for 13 years, and I worked while I was still trying to get into law enforcement. I kept getting marketing jobs and companies. So eventually I gave up the dream of law enforcement and just followed what's unfolding and had a pretty good career in two software companies as a director of marketing to cut my teeth and learn what global business was all about do a lot of travel, which helped me career wise wasn't so great home wise or parent wise when you're away from your kids, but it's been my career for 30 plus years. I've had a heck of a career doing it and very grateful for it, but I still still get intrigued at the whole concept of law enforcement, but I'm afraid I'm a little too old at this point to start down that path. Michael Hingson  12:47 How come you kept not getting anywhere with it? Carlos Hidalgo  12:51 Well, I did get to a point where the FBI I took a test when we lived in Dallas, and just they called after said I had scored well, which made me chuckle, thinking back to my college days of test taking, but and then they said, Hey, do you speak Spanish, which I do not, despite my name, which is very Spanish, Carlo. And they said, Okay, well, we'll keep your we'll keep your application on file. Let you know if anything changes. And that was the last I heard. So at that point, I just thought, okay, I can keep pushing this and trying. But again, as things started to unfold in the software world, the jobs that I had took care of my family. They provided well for us. They gave me opportunities to learn new things, try new things, opportunity to, like I said, international business, which I never done before. So at that point, I just thought, you know, I'm kind of seven, eight years into this thing. What does this look like going forward? And then are we going to have to just hit reset in all facets of our lives, financially, where our kids are settled, for me to go into law enforcement. So I abandoned it, and I'm okay with that. I think it would have been a phenomenal career. I would have loved it, like I said. I'm still intrigued by it, I still have great respect for it, but it just wasn't in the cards for me, and I'm okay with that. I think sometimes the way we grow is through the death of a dream. Michael Hingson  14:21 Yeah, I know I've always been intrigued by law and law enforcement, and I know that they're never going to hire me, and now they won't, right, but, but they wouldn't hire me, but I took, actually, some courses in college dealing with police and other things like that, because I was, and still am fascinated by it, and I have a great respect for the law. And I I admire good lawyers who are knowledgeable, who really are in it to deal with the law. And you can tell those from the typical ambulance type chaser who manipulates, but, but. I really appreciate the law. I in my life have had the opportunity to be involved with some efforts of the National Federation of the Blind, where we've gone several times to Washington to meet with congressional types. And so I've met some interesting people, met Ted Kennedy, met Tip O'Neill when he was still speaker, Senator Saugus from Massachusetts and others, and found and through them, got to meet some people who were truly committed to what they were doing. They weren't in it for the power. They were in it to try to really help the country and help their individual constituencies in their states and so on. It's a lot of fun. Carlos Hidalgo  15:47 Oh, I'm sure, I'm sure it was, I that's quite a roster of people you've been able to engage with, and I'm sure, no doubt, influence well. Michael Hingson  15:57 And we were there to talk about legislation that we needed. But I'll never forget first time we went in and we met Paul Tsongas. We talked about what we wanted to talk about, and he said, Well, it's the end of the day. What are you guys doing now? And we said, well, we're just going to go back to the hotel. And he said, You got a few minutes talk to you about Massachusetts. Well, we ended up staying for two hours. It was a lot of fun. Carlos Hidalgo  16:19 Wow, yeah, that is a lot of fun. I had an opportunity a number of years ago to do a tour of the West Wing, which was just phenomenal. So when you get, when you get those opportunities, I don't care what side of the aisle you may sit on or are partial to, the answer is yes, take it, because you learn a whole lot, and it's it gives you a whole new appreciation for our country. Michael Hingson  16:40 Well, 20 years ago, I was invited to come back and meet George W Bush because a congressman I had met was fascinated by my story and the story of my guide dog, Roselle, and he arranged for us to meet George W and we went back. It was supposed to be a brief, like two minute just photo op. This ended up being like a 15 minute conversation, and then it was a lot of fun. And I hope that we inspired him some, and we made a difference. And, you know, that's always a good thing. Carlos Hidalgo  17:13 Yeah, at the end of the day, right there people just like us. They are, I think the and I've heard that a lot about George W is his investment in people where he knew his you know, everybody in the staff that he knew their names, he knew about their families. So it doesn't surprise me that a two minute Meet and Greet was extended a little bit. Michael Hingson  17:34 We kept the Italian Prime Minister waiting while we finished our conversation, as it turns out, that's fine, Carlos Hidalgo  17:42 but it was good. There you go. There's your there, there's your the two truth and the lie icebreaker that they have. You do sometimes. There's, you can work that in, Michael Hingson  17:49 I could work that in, yeah, that would be, yeah, I should do that. Well, it was, but it was, it was, it was very enjoyable to be able to do that. Well. So now, so when did you start your own company? That's been a little while, at least. Carlos Hidalgo  18:04 Yeah, I started my first company that I started, I co founded with my brother. In 2005 I was working at the software company, and I just, I started to just have an edge of, you know, I should start something. I don't know what that looks like. And I remember one time just talking to my wife, and I said, I don't want to be 7580 years old. And think, what if, yeah, and my wife is very practical. And she said, Okay, so go for it, and if it doesn't work, just go get another job. And when she broke it down like that, I just thought, wow. Okay, she, I think she believes in me more than I do. So in 2005 I left the software company and we started a agency. And really, at that point for me, the Yes, I wanted to start my own company and see if I could do it. But the the big driving factor was my at that point, I we had four children, so we have four, and they were all pretty small, and I was traveling all over the country, and I didn't want to miss their childhood. And I remember coming home from trips and hearing conversations or seeing things that that I wasn't a part of, and I thought this, this isn't right. I need to be here. I need to be home. So I went to the software company, asked them what they thought they became my first client, and I did that for from 2005 to just early 2017 when I resigned my position as CEO there just to get my life back and kind of hit the reset button again, but this time, I meant it, so I left, and they're still going. But that was my first foray into entrepreneurship, and I just kept doing it since I started another consultancy, and now this is my third one, and also been part of about two to three other companies that. We launched, but never made it. So I enjoy the whole process. I love it, but, yeah, it's, I don't know. I mean, I will never say never, but the idea of not working for myself seems rather foreign to me. Michael Hingson  20:16 So the first company you had for 12 years, what did that do? Carlos Hidalgo  20:21 We were a mark. Marketing Yeah, we were a marketing services company. So we worked with business to business companies to help them in their demand generation, acquiring new customers and also customer growth. So that's really where a lot of my career has been sent, centered right, helping companies design them strategies, everything from content to technology to developing personas and putting together strategies on how to reach them when they're looking for something to buy that that client offers. Michael Hingson  20:52 Okay, well, that makes sense and certainly a worthy thing to do. So, when did you form your current company, digital exhaust, which is a very clever name, you'll have to tell me about that. Carlos Hidalgo  21:04 Oh yeah, there's a little bit of a story behind that. So I was working in 2022 early 2022 I had an offer to go be the Chief Revenue Officer of another agency, which I my wife and I talked about it, we prayed about it, and I had a really, really close friend of mine who was their chief strategy officer at the time, so the ability to work with him, stay in the industry and work with some really good clients, I jumped at, so I took that role over that role lasted eight months. I won't get into all those details of why? Never, never, really did get a clear answer. The answer I was given, not exactly. The numbers didn't the number. I'll just say the numbers proved otherwise. All that said that came to an end in 2023 I believe. Yeah, yeah, 2023 and so February, 23 so at that point, I was like, Okay, well, what do I do? I can try to go get a job, which I did. Nobody was really interested in, you know, early 50s, guy coming in. So, you know, did the interview thing. And then I just thought, Well, why don't, why don't I just bet on myself again and go for it. So at that point, the my friend who was the chief strategy officer, he had also left, so he and I started talking and thought, why don't we just do this together? You know, services he loves to implement, I love to sell. Let's just see if we can make a run at this. So here we are now. It'll be four years in or three years, I guess, in February or April of 26 and we're still alive to talk about it. And so that's how it came to be. It was really just, I've done this before. There's no security, no more security. I believe in working for somebody else than working for yourself. So bet on yourself and put out your shingle and see what you can make happen. Michael Hingson  23:06 Where did the name digital exhaust come from? That's a clever name. Carlos Hidalgo  23:10 Oh, thank you. We were, we were batting around so many different names, and we just had a thing, I think we had a running Google Sheet, like, let's just throw names up there. And then I was listening to a recording of a vendor that we had done work with in our early days, and he was talking about how you can track the digital movements of someone. And he said, You know, so basically, you know, they're leaving behind their digital exhaust. And he used the term twice. So I called my then partner, Tracy, and I said, Hey, what do you think about the name digital exhaust as a company? And he was like, Oh, I love it. So I said, Well, before we that, we have to call Dan and see if he would be okay. So I did some looking, you know, the whole trademark search, and when I told our partner about it. He said, Oh my word, I love it. He said, Never, never even thought that that could be a name, but if you guys want it, go for it. So we took it and it is, it's, it's, we think it's pretty unique, and it also describes a lot of what we do with customer data to get an understanding of how do you engage with them, where are they, and how are they going to interact with you and your brand? How so well. Again, he was right. I can look at your digital footprint or your digital behavior. I can see what sites you've visited, what web pages you visited, how much time you spend on a product piece, how much content you engage so I can look at all of that behind the scenes. Start to score that if you're an account that I want to go after, or if I'm a lead based sale, that gives me a lot of intelligence on what you're interested in. And then there's ways to kind of, from a insight perspective, determine where you are in that journey, whether it's your four. First time as a purchase, you're a current customer and you're interested in purchasing something else. So it gives us a lot of insight into that, so that I can message you or I also know when should sales place a phone call to you and start that conversation. So that's why we use the term digital exhaust, because, again, it's a lot of what we do and how we use our customer data. Michael Hingson  25:20 Several years ago, I watched a 60 Minutes program, gosh, I don't know it's actually a number of years ago. And one of the segments there was a guy who was on he was a private detective, and what he said was, I can tell more about you than most anyone else can simply by looking at your trash. And in fact, I can't remember if it was Mike Wallace or not. Who was the interviewer, but they went on investigated some trash cans and and this guy could just tell you so much about your entire life just by looking at what was in the trash can. It was really pretty amazing and and I don't mean that in any way as a negative thing, but it's very clever that people have that insight. So I appreciate what you're saying about digital exhaust. It makes perfect sense. Carlos Hidalgo  26:17 Well, good. I'm glad it does. It means we've hit the mark. I'm not I will say this. I'm not going to go through my customers trash, but I am not surprised that if you did how much you could learn about somebody, 100% but Michael Hingson  26:30 you do look at their their digital footprint and so again, and it makes perfect sense that you can learn so much that can help you, help them grow. Yes, absolutely gives incredible insight. You talk about making growth simple, tell me more about what that means. Carlos Hidalgo  26:51 Yeah, you know, I've been in the space a long time, and that really came a couple years ago. We started seeing different models that would come up different frameworks that would come out from different vendors. Started talking, you know, I talked to a lot of chief marketing officers in my role, and over and over, what we saw was just complexity of taking terms that everybody would know and applying a new term or creating a new term to replace the old term, because you wanted to stay edgy. And I finally had a CMO who said to me, this is all so complex. Is there any any organization out there, or any way to just make this simple? And I thought, Gee, I kind of been thinking the same thing, because I see all these talking heads out there on LinkedIn and at these conferences showing these overly complex, overly engineered models, and I'm like, You got to be a PhD to implement that thing. And again, I'm also a pretty simple guy. I don't think growth needs to be all that hard if you know your customer, what they need, when they need it, and why it's important to them. I'm going to be able to sell you quite a bit. I'm also going to be able to be a better marketing, better partner to you, because I'll be the first one to be able to tell you you don't need that, or you need that, but you shouldn't get it from us, and here's why. And so we just started saying, You know what? Let's create with our models. And we have models and we have frameworks, but we want them to be kind of what Apple is, right, really innovative, where you can use it. You don't necessarily have to have someone to guide you through it. And so let's just make it as simple as possible for our clients to grow their companies without these over engineered models, which mostly a lot of them are created to sell stuff. And while we want to sell stuff more, so we want to help customers be better at what they do. And so that's why we say is we want to help you make growth simple, cut through the clutter, get to what matters and move forward. Michael Hingson  28:58 Yeah, which makes a lot of sense. By by any standard, how do you find storytelling comes into what you do and how you interact with customers? Carlos Hidalgo  29:11 Yeah, it's really important in the beginning, right in the beginning stages. Anytime I'm engaging with you, if I'm a consumer and you're a brand, I want to your brand should tell a story about who you are, the value that the customer gets when they're going to interact with you, they're going to use your product, what you stand for. Can they trust you? Trust is huge. Right now. We live in a trust economy. I want to know that if you say something, I can you're going to stand behind it. So all of those things are come through in terms of story. Now, what I've always said is I think that story is important. But when it comes to now, especially in the world I live in business to business, once I get into maybe I want to purchase something for you or purchase your product. Now I. Moves from a story to a dialog because I started, I start need, needing to know, what are you interested in? What are your challenges? What are your needs, what are your pain points? And as you're telling me that I can respond more in a conversation, I can still use parts of the story, but now it's a two way dialog, even in a digital world. So if I can create that, that's fantastic, then you become my customer. And now I still want to keep telling you stories. I want to tell you a story about why you can trust us. I tell you a story about how I interact with you. I tell you a story about how I deliver service and how I help you onboard. So all that bleeds into what we call, you know, what I call the big customer experience, from brand engagement to what I'm buying to now that I become a customer, all of those are experiential factors that we have to consider. Michael Hingson  30:49 Well, yeah, and I think that storytelling is a very significant part of selling and sales, because it's part of what really helps create the trust, because people can see through it, if you're just blowing smoke or playing games. Carlos Hidalgo  31:05 Yes, they can absolutely. And you only get one shot if that's what you're gonna do only, yeah, once I realized that forget it, I'm not coming back, that brand loyalty is away real quick. Michael Hingson  31:16 Yeah. So do you encounter in the interactions that you have with people with a lot of burnout or who are going that way. Carlos Hidalgo  31:25 Oh yeah. It's, it's something that I went through in 2016 it's, it's a, I mean, the World Health Organization, whatever you think about them, they definitely have listed it as a illness or as a condition. So it's something that I've seen. It's something that I've written against quite a bit. I don't think we need to get there, but I also think it is part of the consequence, or the outcome of when we make work center of our universe, and we make work our God, when that's going to happen then, yeah, you're going to experience burnout. And I think burnout comes in different flavors, but I see a lot of people who are going through it, trying to work through it, trudge through it. I heard the term the other day, manage burnout. I don't know why you would want to manage burnout. I think you need to take steps to avoid burnout, to avoid it. Michael Hingson  32:17 Yeah, why is it so many people face it, and are experiencing burnout is because they just deal with work, they don't relax, or what. Carlos Hidalgo  32:27 Well, I think there's a lot, lot in that. I've done a lot of study, and that was the topic of some of the topic of my book that I released in 2019 the UN American dream is, I think we, especially in our Western culture, we have adopted this idea that the busier I am, the more important, the more valuable I am, and so and the reality is, none of us are well wired to go, go, go, go, go. Rest is actually a gift from the Lord. And you know, I think very few of us. But you know, think about the last time you talked to anybody. How are you? Oh, I'm so busy. We love to be busy. We love to have jam packed calendars, because it makes us feel good. The other part of it is when you think about workaholism, you know, that is an addiction. And the only time in my experience, we engage with or become addicted to something, it's when we're trying to avoid something else. And so think our workaholism, which leads to burnout, is right up there with our rising rates of anxiety, of depression, of loneliness, because we have bought a false narrative that if we go, go go, we jam pack our calendars, we work like and work like crazy until we hit some imaginary number or we can call it quits. That's what life is all about. And I just sit there and you know, my number one question to people who are running that race is, how's it working for you? You don't seem really happy right now, you don't seem fulfilled, and you're living on the promise of some day and some days, not a day in the week, right? Michael Hingson  34:03 I People ask me, How are you all the time? And my response is something actually that I borrowed from somebody else. I just say, I'm lovely. Yeah, I get lots of reactions from that. It's kind of cute, but it's great. You know, I I agree with you, there is a there's a need and a time, and it's appropriate to not work all the time. Yes, we we don't ever take time even just to sit and think about what we did today. We don't take time at the end of the day to go in our own brains. How did this work out? How did that work out? Why didn't this work? Why did this work? What could I do to make it better and then listen for answers? It's like praying. So many people, when they pray to God, they pray to Jesus and so on. They spend all their time praying and saying what they want, never realizing God all. And he knows that, yeah, when are you going to start listening for answers and really listening? And that's, that's the challenge that I see so often people don't listen, and the answers are always there. They're in their inner the the inner voice that they can hear if they but practice well. Carlos Hidalgo  35:17 And I think to part of that is you need to be still, right? And we see that in scripture where we're told be still and know that I am God, if I mean there, there. We have so much noise and so much input with our phones and constant, you know, interaction and constant noise. We don't give ourselves the ability to sit and think and process, to just to be still. And that is something that I would say, really, for me, over the last decade, has come into focus of I enjoy my downtime. I enjoy the silence that I it's one of the reasons when I run, I don't run with headphones. In my own little world, in my head, praying, thinking about things. There are times I'll drive in the car without the radio on, just in silence, and I tell people, then they look at me like, I have three heads. Yeah, I'm like, oh, it's I am so much better for it, because I'm no longer living life reactively. I'm able to live life in a way that brings me a lot of peace, a lot of joy, a lot of happiness. And when I work, I work really, really hard, but it's definitely not the center of my universe. Michael Hingson  36:27 I know people think I'm crazy, but I can go days without looking well, not days. I'll go a day. I do it volitionally, but I can go quite a while without looking at text messages, and when I do, their message is there sometimes, but I know that I could actually go for a considerable length of time without needing to carry my phone around. Now, the only reason I do carry it around, I mean, clearly some phone calls can come in and so on, but I use other tools on it that you have access to in other ways. So I use it for those things. But the bottom line is, is that I don't need to have this phone with me to stay in touch with people all the time. So if I carry my phone more often than not, I will be in a hotel room listening to something on the phone and, sure, relaxing, rather than all the other things that one could do with it well. Carlos Hidalgo  37:25 And the number of people that I talked to and research shows this that, you know, the last I saw was over 60% it's the first thing people do when they wake up is they reach over and look at their phone and I say, sit there and say, What is so important that you can't even wait 15 minutes from the time your eyes open. But we've become addicted. We've come addicted to the noise, to the constant, go, go, go. And then, you know, we have a friend of ours last year was just, I'm so busy. I'm so busy. Told my wife, over the next three months, I only have this one day I can do lunch. And then you start realizing, like, Well, really, that's, that's how you want to live your life over the next 90 days, you only have one day. Now, I didn't believe it when I heard that. I don't think they were trying to make excuse, and I don't think lying. I think in their heads, they really had this belief of, oh, I can. I've only got one day out of the next 90, but we've weed ourselves into believing that this is how we should be living life. Yeah, and it's not how I want to live life. I'll work hard, I'll put everything I've got into my clients and my business and things like that, but I don't want to be that strapped. I was that strapped one time, time wise and work wise, and it made me absolutely miserable. Mm, hmm. Michael Hingson  38:45 I know when I wake up in the morning I do reach for my phone right at the beginning. One of the very first things that I do is reach for it to see what the temperature is outside, to see what the temperature is your house, to see whether I want to turn the heater on, you know, but I don't look at messages. I don't need to do that. I'll do it eventually, but, you know, I So, as I say, I use it for other tools, but I use the phone, because that's the tool that's available to me that gives me that information, and it'll help me decide, do I want to turn the heater on, or do I want to turn the air conditioner off? And that's what I do. And then I put the phone down, and I start visiting with the dog and the cat, and we have conversations which is, which is kind of fun, Carlos Hidalgo  39:29 but yeah, you get to enjoy life. Michael Hingson  39:32 I remember, remember the old technology town? Now it's old Blackberry. Oh yeah, the black and Research In Motion. There was one night when Research In Motion lost communications with all of the blackberries, and every BlackBerry went dead, I think, for about 12 hours. But I heard that even during the time when that occurred, people committed suicide because they had no way to look at their blackberries. And. Get information. And I always thought you're that dependent, that you can't cope for a while, especially at night without that information. Carlos Hidalgo  40:09 Come on. Yeah, it's staggering. The number of, again, over 50% of people said that they would be panicked if they want an app without their phones and so and again, I used to, I used to live that way. So I understand it to a degree, but, well, I understand it. Yeah, I also tell people you don't have to live that way, because people i The people I know who live that way, don't seem very content or fulfilled, right, right? Which is really the issue, isn't it? Yeah, absolutely, because we only go, we only get one shot at this life, and I want to make the most of it. Michael Hingson  40:43 Make growth simple. Carlos Hidalgo  40:46 That's right, personal, personal and business wise, right? Michael Hingson  40:49 Personal and business wise. So what is hustle culture? Carlos Hidalgo  40:54 Well, hustle culture has been promoted by a lot of folks, a whole lot more well known that I am, you know, where Kevin O'Leary for Shark Tank, Shark Tank talks about, you got to be willing to work eight days a week, you know, and give everything you've got, you know. Gary Vaynerchuk talks about, you know, go, go, go, go. And, you know, we just see it out there of this, you've got to be willing to go above and beyond. If you want to have success, if you want to make this money, you've got to just make sure you're willing to hustle at all costs, which to me, there's a place for that. As I said, when I'm working I hustle. I work hard. I get in a zone. I kind of block everything out and and there are some weeks where we require over and above it. You know, 16 or a week is is not something that has never been done. But the difference is, there's a couple of differences. Is I'm going to work hard because that's what I'm told to do. In Scripture, it says that with everything you do, do it with all your might and do it to the glory of glory of the Lord. So I'm going to do that. Plus work was one of the first things that God ever created. He told Adam in the garden, I want you to work now, what we also see is that it was cursed when man sinned, and it was part of the curse in the garden. But I do believe work is noble. I believe it's valuable, I believe it has so many things that can teach us. So I'm working. I'm hustling hard when I'm working, but this idea that I need to give everything I have to my business so that I'm successful. Well, what about our relationships? What about our own our last word, too, right? Our own physical health? What about my marriage? All of these things that require work yet, you know, you got a guy like Grant Cardone talking about 95 hour work weeks. That's insanity. Yeah, at what point, you know, so to me, I really believe, and I've had some people who've argued with me over this. If you want to know what the object of your affection is, show me where you're spending the most time and attention. And it's not time or attention, time and attention, right? I cannot. I cannot be, quote, unquote, working, but I can be with my wife, but my brain is working. My brain is thinking about my work, thinking about my business, thinking about my career. So what good is it to her if I'm there or not? Yeah, I'm not investing in that relationship, and that is just as much work as anything else. And I would I would say the rewards are better and the gratification that much deeper. So can work life balance actually be attained? I don't believe in work life balance. I believe in boundaries, and maybe I'm splitting hairs, but when I see that, over 70% of people say that work life balance is unachievable. It tells me it doesn't exist. It's also the only place in our lives where we talk we try to separate work from life. Nobody talks about finance life, business, kids life, business, marriage life, business. But we talk about work life balance. Now I understand we spend a lot of time at work in our modern day culture, but if I can decide that I'm going to put boundaries around the things that matter most to me, so like work, like my relationships, like my physical, mental and emotional health, my spiritual health, and that's how I've started to live life. Is instead of trying to balance everything, I'm going to set boundaries. So what does that look like? Well, the first thing I do in the morning is not check the phone. I get up, I pray. I have coffee with my wife. Sometimes we have really deep conversations. Sometimes we look just let the caffeine kick in and let it wake up, and then we set time in prayer. So every day, pretty much between 815 and 830 I'm at my desk ready to work, but I've put a boundary around that morning time, which allows me to start the time with with my Bible and with my wife from 830 To about 1230 I'm locked in. I am working. There's a boundary around there's a boundary. And then about 1230 to one, about two o'clock, that's my workout. Either go to the gym or I go for a run, come home, make my protein stuff, and then I'm back working again. And so and then when I'm done work, between 530 and six, I shut it down. Work is over, and now it's my personal life again, and whatever that looks like, and some of that is seasonal, because of where I live, in the summer, it'll get stay light till 930 and the winter, it gets dark by 430 there's quite a disparity. But because I have those boundaries, I know that I'm able to bring the best of myself to each of those areas of my life, and that is far easier than balance. And when one of those boundaries needs to move, I get to have a conversation. Hey, I've got a call tonight overseas. Or do we have anything? Are we good if I take this call at 730 at night? So I take the call at 730 at night, but I have that discussion, and it's it takes more effort to move a boundary, takes very little effort to get knocked off balance. Michael Hingson  46:05 Yeah, and I think that makes perfect sense. I know for me, when Karen was here, we we enjoyed breakfast and we enjoyed dinner, and I think there's a lot of value in that. Now, I was always the earlier riser, but partly because I worked for companies that kind of required that. That is to say I worked, for example, when I lived in the east for California companies. So I ended up being there later. But when I worked in the West, calling the east, I had to be in work by six, because that's what I needed to do. But we agreed on that, and I hear exactly what you're saying. The fact of the matter is that you've got to really make some decisions, but if you're in a relationship, then you both have to agree and make the decisions together, which is what really should happen 100% Carlos Hidalgo  46:58 and those boundaries will change. I mean my boundaries now that I'm an empty nester, you know, had I lived this way 15 years ago, would have looked far different because I still had children at home. And so the boundaries can shift and change. But to your point, you have to talk about that. And what I have come to believe is that if I'm making those decisions in regards to my business, my job, my career, and I'm not having the conversation with my significant other, then I'm not I'm not sacrificing anything. I'm just selfish. And yet, what we see is, Oh, you got to sacrifice for your business. I've said to couples before, if you and your wife believe and want to say, hey, we want to go build this thing and we want to go sell it so we know the next five years we're hardly going to see each other, and we're both on board with that, and this is what we want. Go in peace. I think you're nuts, but Go in peace, but still, you made the decision together. That's right, and that's the difference. And I find that a lot of people do not do that, and I also think it adds to the stress and the loneliness and the anxiety and the depression is because we're chasing something that is so fleeting, and no matter what Empire we may build professionally, we can't take it with us, right? Michael Hingson  48:13 And that's something that I wish more people would truly realize. It would make for a much happier world. Carlos Hidalgo  48:21 It would. But the unfortunate part is, until the pain and consequence of how you're living outweighs the fear of change, most likely you're never going to do anything different, right? 48:31 So tell me, Carlos Hidalgo  48:32 oh, go ahead. No. Oh, okay, tell me about the Michael Hingson  48:36 title of the book, the UN American Dream. Where did that come from? And why did you name the book that, why was that the title? And so on, Carlos Hidalgo  48:42 yeah, and so in 2016 is when I informed the company that I had started with my brother 11 years earlier that I was stepping down. Didn't really know what that looked like. I literally just one day, through the help of a friend and God's good grace, decided that it was time for me to go. And so the way they wanted to handle it in end of the year, and I think this was like end of October ish, when I made that decision, they said, You know what, let's not announce anything. We don't want our clients to get spooked in q4 so let's wait until the turn of the the new year. So that was into 2017 so I made a post, and I published it in February, 2017 about why I was leaving the company, some of the things that I was learning along the way. And what surprised me was the phone calls and emails I got from colleagues who said, Hey, I just read your post. Can we talk? I'm kind of thinking about the same thing. I'm miserable. And it was one email in particular that still stands out, where he said, I'm miserable. I started to think like, wow, okay, this, this is not just me. My circumstances were different. But this seems to be a problem, so I started to just do some research on our obsession with work, the number of hours we work, this idea of balance and hustle culture. Really immersed myself in it, and I thought this isn't what Truslow Adams meant when he coined the term the American dream. We're killing ourselves for what like, for What's the objective here to just add another zero to my bank account. So as I started to do that research, I saw myself and a lot of that same story, and the mistakes I made and how I was, you know, I had put my business first all the things that we've talked about. And I thought, Man, this is really quite un American, really, because we say we're the land of the free and the home of the brave, but we're not free if we're slaves to our company or our jobs or our careers. So I thought, You know what? I think what we're doing to ourselves is un American, and we're chasing the UN American dream, and that's how I came up with the title, Michael Hingson  51:05 who have been some of your greatest influencers? Carlos Hidalgo  51:09 Wow, I have had a lot. Obviously, my parents have been huge influences in my life. My mom is a fierce prayer warrior, and so I fervently believe I would not be where I'm at today if it wasn't for her and her faithfulness and that and my dad is it has been in marketing and sales and advertising. So learned a lot from him, just in life, and then also in business. There's a gentleman who lives up the street who is kind of like a second dad to me, it's an interesting relationship, because his son is also my best friend, but gentleman by the name of Keith Vander wheel who is salt of the earth, wise, just a wise, wise man has loved me, has when needed, given me a swift kick in the rear end, and just really helped keep keep me focused, and been one of these guys that I can go to, and it's a little about almost 20 years older than I am, so he's one that has seen more and done more. So I'm thankful for that. And then I am very fortunate to have about three or four very, very dear, dear friends, close friends, I mentioned one, Keith's son, who spur me on to greater things, encourage me when necessary, rebuke me and help me. And then I would say, more than anything, my wife, I learned stuff from her each and every day, her steadfastness, Her Grace, her strength of character, she is absolutely the strongest person I know, and has been the biggest influence in my life. Michael Hingson  52:45 I when I was in college, did radio, and I've always liked comedy. I've always liked trying to be a little bit flip and so on, yep. But I will tell you that my wife constantly amazed me. She was pretty much a lot more straight faced and straight laced than i But when she came out with a zinger, it came out of left field, and you never saw coming. She was amazing. Clearly, she observed me a whole lot more than I thought she did, right? Carlos Hidalgo  53:18 And what a gift that is to have. My wife and I were just, we went out for brunch today, with it being the holiday, and I just, I told her, I said, I just love how much we laugh. Yeah, what a gift that is to have in your marriage. We're just laughing together and laughing at each other in a way that's not demeaning, but appreciates our differences. And you know, we can tease each other and enjoy it and know it comes from a place of love, yeah. Michael Hingson  53:42 How do we deal with the epidemic of loneliness in our lives and in our world? Carlos Hidalgo  53:48 Wow, that's a great question. It's first of all, I think it's heartbreaking. I see this especially with men. And statistics would show that that men especially struggle with loneliness. I think number one is we have to come to the realization we were not meant to live in isolation. We are communal beings. God created us to live in community, and we need to step into that. And part of that is letting your guard down and being vulnerable and letting people know where you struggle. Now I'm not talking about wearing your heart on your sleeve and walking right every stranger and spilling, but those closest of relationships, and I can say, you know, for me, when I isolated, that's when I became the worst form of myself and went to places I never thought I would go. And so I think loneliness, first of all, get off social media and your phone, because that's not a connection. No, your friends, all of your 1000s of friends on Facebook, are not true friends. They're people, you know, but they're not people that are going to walk with you through some of the hardest times of your lives, and so find those. Group, find that community, whether it's your church, whether it's a small group that you take part in, whether it's people at your work, but really start to invest in those relationships and bring as much to it as you're expecting them to. And for me, it became just with those closest relationships. I'm an open book. I'm not going to BS. I'm going to talk about what's on my heart, what I'm struggling with, what my victories are, what my low points are. And for me, that starts with my spouse. As I mentioned, I've got three other men in my life that are around my age that I can confide in, be open with, and it's the most freeing, wonderful thing, and it's their relationships that I cherish, and I think that's how we end this cycle of loneliness. But I think a lot of people have been duped. Well, I'm on I've got a bunch of friends online, yeah, you know, put the phone down, get off your social media platform and go be human and interact with other people. Michael Hingson  56:01 It gets back to the same thing we talked about earlier. There's a whole big difference between head knowledge and really knowing. And the friends who are truly your friends are people who you know and who know you and that you can truly be honest with and who will be honest with you. And that is not something that you get from all those Facebook friends. Otherwise, you're being awfully silly, right? Carlos Hidalgo  56:23 And I also think we have to get out of this idea in our culture that if I don't affirm you, I somehow don't like you anymore, this idea that tolerance and love are the same thing. Some of my closest friends have been some of the ones that have come to me and said, Hey, here's what we've observed, and we're sure you don't like that about you, and you know this needs to change. And I love that. I love that I friends who will call my stuff and a wife who will say to me, this isn't the best you like what's going on here? I need that in my life, because if all I want to do is have people pat me on the back and affirm me. I'm going to get entitled pretty quick. Yeah, and that doesn't help at all. Right? How do we bring civil discourse to our society? We're in an environment and in a world where we just don't appreciate or have conversations anymore. How do we deal with that? Well, I think a couple of things. First of all, I think we have to get back to an appreciation for and a respect for human life and humanity in general. Michael, I'm sure if you and I spent a few hours together, we would eventually land on a topic that we don't just that we don't agree on. I can be okay with that, and because if I'm open to say, Hey, Michael is a human being. He's smart. He's overcome incredible odds in his life, and maybe if I listen, I can learn something. Doesn't mean I'm going to come to your side of the the position, but I can at least learn something. But I think systematically, over decades, we've been denigrating the the value of human life. I mean, how many millions of babies have we aborted in this country? You know, your your own story, your parents were told, hey, just put him in a home. He's not going to amount to anything because of his blindness. That's insanity, you know. So today, instead of civil discourse, if I don't like you, I berate you online, I make something up about you, or I kill you. And right so and to tell you how far we've gone, not only does that happen, but then we're gonna have people who celebrate in the murder of whether it's an insurance CEO or a Charlie Kirk, or anybody, and I just sit there and say, Okay, we've we've gotten so far right civil discourse. And so I think number one is just a respect and a value for human life, which we have a lot of work to do there. And then number two, again, back to what I said, this idea that if I disagree with you, I somehow don't love you anymore. And the example I use is this idea of, well, you need we need more tolerance and affirmation. There was a time Michael where my behavior within our marriage just was unacceptable. I mean, I was cheating on my wife, and once she found out she still loved me, but she couldn't tolerate the behavior for reasons that I think I need to explain. So at that point, you say, All right, well, how do those two things work together? If I had kept doing what I was doing, I know for 100% she would have loved me till the day she died, but she died, but she wouldn't have been able to stay with me, because you can't tolerate that behavior. She's supposed to affirm that. And so this idea that because I quote, unquote, love you, I affirm you, I actually make the case that if I love you, I'm going to help you be the best form of yourself, which sometimes means disagreeing with you and pointing things out in your life. That are unhealthy, that's fair. So I think we have to get back to that place of we can have disagreement, still have respect for each other. We can disagree vehemently and still do it respectfully, right? And then at the end of the day, I can respect your position because of who you are as a person, and that you know, giving you the benefit of the doubt. This is a well thought out position. And so, okay, great. We agree to disagree. We can still be friends, yeah? Michael Hingson  1:00:27 And we might learn something, or at least be put on a path where we think about it, and we may discover that, oh, that person's right, correct, yeah, which is Carlos Hidalgo  1:00:36 cool, yeah, and it's not that hard. And again, no, do your do your homework. Know what the real issues are, and stop reading headlines on social media. Michael Hingson  1:00:46 Yeah, really, get away from that. What else should we know about you? Carlos Hidalgo  1:00:50 Well, I'm the father of four amazing kids spread all over the country, ages 30 to 20. He'll be 24 in 10 days, and then an amazing daughter in law, soon to be daughter in law, my second son is engaged, gets married next year. I love the outdoors, anything outside. And I would say, if I want your audience to remember anything, it's that what Jesus Christ has done in my life has been nothing short of amazing. And like I said at the beginning, this is my operating system, and it's who I am and my reason for being in each and every day. And I sit here and I just am in awe of the life I get to live. So I'm very, very thankful and very, very humbled by it all. Michael Hingson  1:01:36 If people want to reach out to you and maybe explore working with your company, using your company to help them. How do they do that? Carlos Hidalgo  1:01:43 Yeah, you can email me at Carlos at Digital exhaust.co it's not.com so make sure it.co's or I won't get it. So you can shoot me an email visit our website, which is digital exhaust.co or looked me up on LinkedIn, just Carlos adalgo, H, I, D, A, L, G, O, right. That is correct. Yeah. I appreciate you getting the name right on the introduction. So thank you for that. I worked at it well. Michael Hingson  1:02:12 I want to thank you for being here. This has been wonderful. And as I tell people all the time, if I'm not learning at least as much as anybody else on this podcast, and I'm not doing my job well, which means I do need to listen and think about it. And I appreciate all the insights that you gave us today, and I appreciate all of you being here and being with Carlos and me. Love to get your thoughts. Please reach out to Carlos. Please email me at Michael H i, at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, i, b, e.com, but most of all, wherever you're listening or watching the pod podcast, please give us a five star review and a rating. We love that. We love your your input, please. Of course, I want it always to be positive, but I'll take whatever you send because we we value that. And for all of you and Carlos, you as well, if you know anyone else who ought to be a guest on the podcast. We'd love it if you'd let us know we're always looking to meet more people to help show that we're all more unstoppable than we think we are. And with that, I want to thank you again, Carlos, for being here. This has been absolutely fun. Carlos Hidalgo  1:03:13 Michael, thank you so much. I've really enjoyed it. Michael Hingson  1:03:20 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m

Entrevista Completa==> https://youtu.be/o-aBxzQJbOEOlá sejam bem vindo ao nosso quadro de entrevistas do Podcast da Mineração.Neste programa, entrevistamos Claudio Silva de Sousa é Engenheiro Metalurgista e Mestre em Tecnologia Ambiental, com mais de 25 anos de experiência em grandes setores como mineração, siderurgia e energia. Consultor na Novapech, lidera estratégias de engenharia e governança ESG para gigantes como Vale e ArcelorMittal. Especialista em sistemas ISO e gestão multidisciplinar, une rigor técnico e inovação para gerar valor sustentável e eficiência operacional. Conversamos sobre como descarbonização deixou de ser uma meta de longo prazo para se tornar uma urgência operacional, Como as empresas lidam com o paradoxo de precisar aumentar a produção mineral para salvar o clima, enquanto tenta reduzir sua própria pegada e muito maisCriação de Arte: Maryana BarbosaPatrocinadores Oficiais do Podcast da Mineração:ÍGNEA Geologia & Meio Ambiente - https://www.igneabr.com.br/ - @igneabrVP Transporte Logistica - http://www.vptransportes.com.br/ - @vptransportesltdSX Requerimento Mineral - https://requerimentomineral.com.br/ - @sx_mineralCorona Cadinhos - https://coronacadinhos.com.br/- @coronacadinhosUse o link abaixo e garanta seu desconto na plataforma SX Requerimento MineralLink: https://requerimentomineral.com.br/planos?cupom=PODCAST15Confiram essa e outras entrevistas no canal e Lembrem-se: "Mineração pode não ser o futuro mas não existe futuro sem a mineração"#mineração #tecnologia #technology #podcastdamineração #podcast #inovação #engenheirodeminas #engenhariademinas #futuro #inovação #innovations #descarbonização #descarbonización #pegadaverde #despoluir #industrialização

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niLFK8PzZfA .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/2k0Q4tIQThBIQZ5cCfz5nq In today's M&A landscape, the businesses that achieve premium valuations are rarely those with the best numbers alone. They are the ones with brands that command trust, preference, and pricing power. Yet, brand equity is still one of the least understood and least quantified assets in most deals, often buried in a vague goodwill line and ignored in negotiation. For CFOs, founders, and deal professionals, learning how to value brand equity in an M&A deal has become essential to avoiding underpriced exits and capturing the full economic value of what has been built over years, if not decades. In this episode of The GrowCFO Show, host Kevin Appleby tackles a topic that is rapidly becoming mission-critical in corporate transactions: how to value brand equity in an M&A deal. Traditional deal models lean heavily on EBITDA multiples, revenue, and tangible assets, often sweeping brands into a vague “goodwill” bucket. Yet buyers are truly paying for demand, pricing power, and confidence in future cash flows, all of which are heavily influenced by brand equity. Failing to quantify this asset means many sellers unintentionally give away a significant portion of what they have built. To unpack this, Kevin is joined by Stevey Arroyo, Founder & Partner at The Brand Exit, who explains how a brand can be transformed from something “soft” and aesthetic into a measurable, auditable financial asset. Drawing on ISO 10668 and practical M&A experience, Stevey shows how tools like relief-from-royalty and replacement cost can be used to calculate brand value, justify premium multiples, and de-risk post-deal cash flows. For CFOs, founders, and deal professionals preparing for an exit or acquisition, the discussion offers a structured pathway to turning perceived brand value into defensible numbers that stand up in due diligence and negotiations. Key topics covered: Why treating brand equity as indistinct “goodwill” leads to incomplete valuations and allows sophisticated buyers to capture unpriced upside in M&A deals. How ISO 10668 and the relief-from-royalty approach can convert brand equity into a concrete number using projected revenues, replacement cost, discount rates, and market value assumptions. The role of brand in driving demand, pricing power, and quality of earnings, and why these factors often justify a higher multiple than the standard industry benchmark. Why effective exits start years in advance, with brand audits, evidence-building, and linkage of metrics like CAC, LTV, and ROAS to enterprise value, rather than last-minute positioning. How AI, SEO, and “answer engine optimization” (AEO) are reshaping discoverability, and why being the most specific, trusted brand in a crowded market will increasingly drive both deal flow and valuation. Case examples, from specialist properties to Pimlico Plumbers and Apple, illustrate how targeting the right buyer and properly articulating brand equity can multiply deal value well beyond the underlying assets.  Links Stevey Arroyo on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps:  00:00:00 – 00:05:00 – Kevin introduces the importance of valuing brand equity in M&A and welcomes guest Stevey Arroyo, who outlines his journey from creative agencies to brand-focused M&A. 00:05:00 – 00:15:00 – Why brand is more than logos and design; how brand equity sits behind customer preference, demand, and the very ability to sell a business versus a look alike competitor. 00:15:00 – 00:25:00 – Breakdown of ISO 10668, relief-from-royalty, replacement value, and market value—how these methods turn a brand into a certified, auditable asset in deals. 00:25:00 – 00:35:00 – Exit readiness and due diligence: brand audits, building a multi‑year “log of proof,” and linking marketing metrics to the de‑risking of future cash flows. 00:35:00 – 00:46:00 – AI-driven discoverability, examples like Pimlico Plumbers, and how both buyers and sellers can use brand equity strategically to identify bargains or justify a premium sale. Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Join hosts Mark Kelley of Kelley Defense and Rick Hogg of War HOGG Tactical on this exciting episode of the On The Range Podcast as they dive deep into the action-packed CANCON 2025 Carolinas event – the world's largest fully suppressed range day!    Special guest Jordan from Meprolight USA shares exclusive insights on cutting-edge firearms optics, red dot sights, tritium night sights, and tactical gear innovations that enhance shooting accuracy and performance in low-light conditions.    From suppressed firearms demos and hands-on reviews of Meprolight's battle-proven reflex sights like the Mepro M21 and MOR PRO, to expert tips on tactical training, EDC readiness, and urban combat strategies, this episode is packed with actionable advice for law enforcement, military personnel, and civilian shooters. Discover how Meprolight's ISO-certified optics are revolutionizing the firearms industry, and get a behind-the-scenes recap of CANCON's 40+ shooting lanes featuring top manufacturers. Whether you're into precision marksmanship, self-defense training, or the latest in suppressor technology, this firearms podcast episode will help you be 1% better every day!    Tune in for real talk on tactical firearms, optics upgrades, and suppressed shooting events. Don't miss out – subscribe now and elevate your shooting skills!    #CANCON2025 #MeprolightUSA #FirearmsOptics #TacticalTraining #SuppressedRangeDay #OnTheRangePodcast

In this episode, Etienne Nichols sits down with Staci Miller, a Human Factors and UX Strategist at GenUX, to demystify the role of human factors (HF) in the medical device regulatory pathway. Staci explains that many companies mistakenly treat HF as a "box-checking" exercise late in development, leading to costly submission delays or rejections when the FDA finds the documentation fails to tell a cohesive safety story.The conversation dives deep into the technical distinctions between a Use-Related Risk Analysis (URRA) and a User Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (uFMEA). Staci provides a framework for deciding which approach fits your product, emphasizing that while large conglomerates with post-market data may lean toward uFMEAs, startups and those with novel devices should prioritize the URRA to effectively map out user interactions without the crutch of existing market data.Finally, Staci addresses one of the most persistent myths in the industry: the idea that clinical trial data can replace human factors validation. She clarifies that while the two can overlap in specific, premeditated circumstances (such as complex implants like aortic valves), they serve entirely different masters—one focused on clinical efficacy and the other on the safety of the user interface across diverse environments.Key Timestamps04:12 – The common disconnect: Integrating Human Factors into ISO 14971 risk management.06:45 – URRA vs. uFMEA: How to choose based on your post-market data and predicate device status.10:30 – The "Definition of Done": Tracking the lifecycle of HF documentation from phase zero to market release.13:15 – System errors vs. Use errors: How to identify root causes during summative studies.18:50 – The "Clinical Trial Myth": Why efficacy data is not the same as usability validation.22:10 – Design Inputs vs. Design Outputs: The "Blueprint and the House" analogy for FDA submissions.25:40 – The impact of the "Use Environment": Testing for movement in ambulances and lighting in radiology suites.Quotes"The FDA doesn't put things out there just to have a good time... If they've made human factors a requirement and you're treating it as a 'suggestion,' you're giving yourself enough rope to hang yourself." - Staci Miller"People are obsessed with the product themselves—the design outputs. But the FDA wants to see the design inputs. They want to see the blueprints of how you built that house, not just the wallpaper." - Staci MillerTakeawaysPremeditation is Key: If you intend to use clinical trial data for HF validation, it must be planned in the protocol from the start; you cannot retroactively claim clinical data satisfies usability requirements.Map User Groups Early: Distinguish clearly between primary and secondary users. Bloating user sets without explaining how or why they engage with the device complicates your risk profile.Environment Matters: Documentation must account for the physical "10,000-foot view," including noise, lighting, and motion (e.g., an ambulance), as these are often where critical use errors occur.HF is Risk Management: Human factors should not live in a silo. It must align with the scales of harm (negligible to catastrophic) defined in ISO 14971 and work in tandem with Quality and Regulatory teams.ReferencesISO 14971: The global standard for the application of risk management to medical devices.FDA Human Factors Guidance: The primary document outlining expectations for usability testing and documentation.Etienne Nichols: LinkedIn ProfileMedTech 101: URRA vs. uFMEAThink of a uFMEA (User Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) like a car manufacturer looking at an old model to see why the brakes failed in the past—it relies on known data to fix specific parts.A URRA (Use-Related Risk Analysis) is like teaching someone to drive a brand-new type of vehicle (like a spaceship) for the first time. Since you don't have "crash data" yet, you have to carefully map out every single step the pilot takes and imagine every possible way they could push the wrong button in the heat of the moment.SponsorsGreenlight Guru: This episode is brought to you by Greenlight Guru, the only quality management platform designed specifically for the medical device industry. Whether you need to manage your QMS to stay compliant with ISO 14971 or streamline your clinical data through their EDC solutions, Greenlight Guru helps you move faster with less risk.Feedback Call-to-ActionWe want to hear from you! Do you have questions about your specific regulatory pathway or a topic you'd like us to cover? We provide personalized responses to every listener who reaches out. Send your thoughts, reviews, or suggestions to podcast@greenlight.guru.

Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. This is our 800th edition. In this episode, Tom Fox welcomes back Gerry Zack, who recently attended the SCCE Europe conference in Berlin. They begin by noting the differences from the U.S. national conference, including a stronger European focus on behavioral ethics, culture, and community networking. Zack highlights extensive conference attention to AI, including the shift toward agentic AI, practical compliance uses such as identifying policy gaps, enhancing third-party due diligence, and automating anomaly follow-up, while cautioning about investigative risks if AI-generated interview strategies are scrutinized in court. They discuss AI-driven fraud threats (deepfakes, fake invoices, and improved phishing) and the growing concerns about shadow AI and the improper use of confidential information. Zack also describes a company's experience pursuing ISO 37301 and 37001 certifications and notes ongoing work and limited U.S. awareness around the UK Failure to Prevent Fraud Act. He was surprised by the profession's continued lack of sophistication in risk assessments. Key highlights: US vs Europe Conference AI Keynote and Practical Takeaways ISO Compliance Certification UK Failure to Prevent Fraud Surprises Risk Assessment Gap Resources: Gerry Zack on LinkedIn RiskTrek Tom Fox Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Returning to Venezuela on Amazon.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Published 9 March 2026 e543 with Andy, Michael and Michael – Stories and discussion on LEGO's new Smart Play brick, this is a human brain (cells) on Doom, orc audio for vibe coding, Liquid Death's Spotify urn for playlist immortality and a whole lot more. Michael, Michael and Andy get things rolling with Michael M's delivery of the newest innovation from LEGO, the Smart Play brick!   While Michael's only had a little bit of time to play with the new brick, it is already sparking some interesting ideas.  Check out the show notes below for what others are doing with it, now that the Smart Play brick is out and in the wild!  And of course the audio of the podcast for some of the sounds from the brick! An article about a biocomputing success to play Doom with human brain cells, reminds the cohosts of other biocomputing examples from e504.  The Ars Technica article about identifying anonymous users through LLMs likewise reminds the team of other examples for triangulating identity.  After a story about using the audio from Warcraft III in vibe coding experiences “work, work”, the team takes a look at “Humanity's Last Exam”, which likely has already been handled by an enterprising AI research team.   Turning next to a Norwegian PSA (that is NSFW and funny) on the slippery slope of digital products and services getting worse and worse, the team then considers a story about a partnership between Epic and Google for a new set of metaverse applications.  In yet another back to the future experience, the Niantic gaming functionality may provide a roadmap to how this partnership may grow. The team wraps up with a Liquid Death promo for how you may achieve musical immortality with a custom Spotify playlist played via a bluetooth urn. What songs would be on your postmortem playlist?  Have your bots

Weirdumentary has a forward by Stephen Bissette who wrote a book also likely to be of interest to listeners: Cryptid Cinema (affiliate link) (A follow-up to that book is under construction and will include research by your's truly about the "4-walling" tour of the PGF.) I linked to Feral House's page for Weirdumentary above at the request of Gary. If you're curious about their catalog, we talked with their owner recently about monstrous food and they also produced Al Ridenour's new book about Carnival. This is not a complete list of the films in the book - and it also covers a few TV series including In Search Of... and Arthur C. Clarke's _____ (he had three ITV series covering topics similar to ISO with each season getting a slightly different name). 1970: Chariots of the Gods, The Unexplained 1971: The Hellstrom Chronicles, The Man Who Saw Tomorrow 1972: Bigfoot Man or Beast, Monsters! Mysteries or Myths?, The Devil's Triangle, The Legend of Boggy Creek 1973: In Search of Ancient Astronauts 1974: Deadly Fathoms, In Search of Ancient Mysteries, In Search of Dracula, UFOs: Past, Present and Future 1975: Mysteries from Beyond Earth, The Force Beyond, The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond, The Man of Miracles, The Outer Space Connection 1976: Beyond Belief, In Search of Noah's Ark, Mysteries of the Gods, The Amazing World of Psychic Phenomena, The Legend of Bigfoot, The Legend of Loch Ness, The Miracle Healers, The Mysterious Monsters, World Beyond Death 1977: Aliens from Spaceship Earth, Journey into the Beyond, Mysteries of the Great Pyramid, The Lincoln Conspiracy, The Underground Doctors, The Unknown Force 1978: Are We Alone in the Universe?, Beyond and Back, Curse of the Mayan Temple, Manbeast! Myth or Monster?, Mysteries from Beyond the Triangle, Mysteries of the Mind, Mystery of the Sacred Shroud, Secret of the Bermuda Triangle, The Amazing World of Ghosts, The Late Great Planet Earth, The Lost City of Atlantis, The UFO Journals, UFO - Exclusive! , UFO: Top Secret, Unknown Powers, World of the Unknown 1979: Attack from Outer Space, Charles Berlitz's The Bermuda Triangle, Death: The Ultimate Mystery, Encounter with Disaster, Hypnosis and Beyond, In Search of the Historic Jesus, The Doomsday Chronicles, The Prophecies of Nostradamus, UFOs Are Real, World of Mystery 1980: Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World (TV), Land of Celtic Ghosts, Mysteries of the Mind, UFO Syndrome 1981: Search for the Titanic

Shannon Sharpe, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Iso Joe Johnson react to LeBron James says he enjoys playing game 7s on the road more than at home, and Jeremy Lin tells a Kobe story where they didin’t speak for 5 months, and the Patriots cut Stefon Diggs just after one season and much more! Subscribe to Nightcap presented by PrizePicks so you don’t miss out on any new drops! Download the PrizePicks app today and use code SHANNON to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/NI... 0:00 - LeBron enjoys playing Game 7 on the road14:47 - Jeremy Lin Kobe Story25:14 - Gil Arenas praises Iso on Derrick White’s podcast28:04 - SGA’s Wild Post Game Fit31:03 - Pats and Stefon Diggs parting ways33:46 - Chiefs trade Trent McDuffie to the Rams40:41 - Cardinals inform Kyler Murray that theyre releasing him45:38 - Q & Aaayyy (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) #ClubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this panel discussion from the Inch 360 Conference, cybersecurity experts explore the intersection of compliance, insurance, and risk management. Moderated by Maria Braun (Baker Tilly), the panel features Casey Wheeler (Marsh McLennan Agency), Dan Brown (CISA), and Deb Wells (BECU).Key Topics Covered:The Compliance vs. Security MythWhy having SOC 2, ISO 27001, or PCI-DSS doesn't automatically mean you're secureHow to move beyond "check-the-box" compliance to holistic risk managementThe importance of building security in, not bolting it onCyber Insurance EssentialsTop 5 controls insurers look for: MFA, comprehensive backups, email filtering, security awareness training, and wire transfer verificationHow insurance underwriting works and what carriers assessWhy you should contact your carrier FIRST during an incidentCommon policy pitfalls: waiting periods, coverage triggers, and business interruption termsEffective Risk ManagementHow to run meaningful tabletop exercises (not just compliance theater)Why you need to include the right people: IT, legal, HR, facilities, and your insurance carrierThe importance of making cybersecurity a daily habit, not a one-time eventHow to quantify risks and prioritize using heat maps and business impactThird-Party RiskWhy outsourcing doesn't transfer all responsibilityThe growing importance of vendor risk managementHow downstream attacks can impact your operations We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Send a textSecurity readiness is slipping while threats race ahead—so we zero in on what actually moves the needle. We start with a frank look at why so many teams feel behind: AI-driven attacks, budget constraints, and a hiring market that demands senior talent at entry-level pay. Then we get practical, connecting CISSP Domain 1 concepts to real decisions leaders make every week: how to align risk management with business goals, how to write policies that drive action, and how to use standards, baselines, guidelines, and SOPs to turn strategy into measurable outcomes.From there, we dig into quantitative risk without the fluff. You'll hear how to compute Single Loss Expectancy and Annualized Loss Expectancy, and why ALE clarifies budget asks better than any slide deck. We contrast due care and due diligence in plain terms: patch what's critical now, and keep a repeatable process that proves you act responsibly over time. We also revisit ISC2 ethics, centering the top priority—protect society and the common good—and show how that principle shapes daily choices around audits, monitoring, and vendor assurance.Cloud security gets its own spotlight. When penetration tests are restricted, we show how to leverage SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 under NDA, map those assurances to your control set and risk appetite, and close gaps with compensating controls. Along the way, we challenge common hiring myths, explore smart uses of MSPs, and show why cross-training software engineers into security often outperforms chasing more certifications. The result is a clear, actionable path from policy to practice that helps you harden faster and justify every control with data.If you're studying for the CISSP or leading a team that needs wins now, this session brings usable strategies, not buzzwords. Subscribe, share with a teammate who needs it, and leave a review to tell us which takeaway you'll implement first.Gain exclusive access to 360 FREE CISSP Practice Questions at FreeCISSPQuestions.com and have them delivered directly to your inbox! Don't miss this valuable opportunity to strengthen your CISSP exam preparation and boost your chances of certification success. Join now and start your journey toward CISSP mastery today!

In this episode, we welcome legendary sound mixer and CAS President Peter Kurland, CAS. Peter is a BAFTA-winning, Grammy-winning, 4x Oscar-nominated, and 3x CAS Award-winning Sound Mixer who's worked on films such as Blood Simple, Hoosiers, Raising Arizona, Barton Fink, Fargo, Men in Black, The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Are Thou, The Man Who Wasn't There, Walk The Line, No Country for Old Men, A Serious Man, True Grit, Inside Llewan Davis, and The Tragedy of Macbeth. In our conversation, Peter shares his origin story, about his decades-long collaboration with the Coen Brothers, and stories from capturing sound on set. He also offers insights and advice for the next generation of artists and storytellers today. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Butcher Bird Studios solves common video routing and I/O challenges with AJAStep inside Butcher Bird Studios' hybrid production environment with Technical Director Brian Druckman and Executive Producer MeeRa Kim. They explain how KUMO SDI routers and Io 4K Plus help their team deliver flexible routing, low-latency monitoring, and streamlined I/O inside and outside the studio. Read the full interview.Kodak Celebrates Kristen Stewart, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Joachim Trier and Patricia Keighley at the 8th Annual Kodak Film AwardsChristopher Nolan Presents Inaugural Keighley Award at ASC Clubhouse CeremonyOn March 2, Kodak hosted the 8th Annual Kodak Film Awards at the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Clubhouse in Hollywood, honoring filmmakers and artists whose work continues to advance cinematic storytelling on film. 2026 Honorees included: Debut Feature Award: Kristen Stewart (presented by Corey C. Waters, Director of Photography), Lumière Award: Autumn Durald Arkapaw (presented by Vanessa Bendetti, VP and Head of Motion Picture, Kodak), Auteur Award: Joachim Trier (presented by Jason Reitman, Director), Keighley Award: Patricia Keighley of IMAX (presented by Christopher Nolan, Director, Producer and Screenwriter), Music & Commercial Film Director Award: Salomon Ligthelm (presented by Ali Brown, PRETTYBIRD President/Executive Producer), Television Series of the Year: Fallout (presented by Vanessa Bendetti, VP and Head of Motion Picture, Kodak). Read more hereLos Angeles Event: ZEISS Aatma Lenses - A Conversation with Pascale Marin, AFCTuesday, March 10th | Los AngelesJoin ZEISS Cinema at the Showroom for an in-depth discussion and demo of the new ZEISS Aatma cinema lenses. Director Helene de Roux and cinematographer Pascale Marin, AFC will be on hand to discuss their experience using the lenses to craft the short film Welcoming Grace. Join us from 6pm-9pm on March 10th to be one of the first to experience this unique lens family from ZEISS!RSVP for free hereAttendees will receive free parking validation.Now with Massive 8TB Capacity—Thunderbolt 5 SpeedThe OWC Envoy Pro Ultra now comes in a new 8TB capacity, pairing enormous space with next‑generation Thunderbolt 5 performance. With real‑world speeds over 6000 MB/s and a rugged, bus‑powered design, it's perfect for 4K/8K workflows, on‑location shoots, and fast media offloads. High‑speed, high‑capacity, and ready for serious creative work. Browse hereA New Solution from Atomos:The Atomos Shogun AV-19 Rack-Mounted 4K HDR Monitor/Recorder/Switcher is your all-in-one solution for professional live production, combining a stunning 19” 4K HDR DCI-P3 display with quad-channel switching, real-time ISO recording of up to four camera feeds plus program out, and support for 10-bit Apple ProRes, ProRes RAW, and Avid DNx recording to CFexpress or USB-C media. Perfect for studios, video village, and broadcast environments, it delivers the monitoring accuracy and workflow efficiency your production demands. The Atomos Shogun AV-19 is available for pre-order now for $2,099.00. Learn more at Videoguys.com or call our production experts at 800-323-2325 today!Advertise in The Making Of:Feature your products or solutions in The Making Of and reach over 250,000 film and TV industry each week.To explore a partnership, please email mvalinsky@me.comPodcast Rewind:Feb. 2026 - Ep. 122. Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Quality Hub: Chatting with ISO Experts, Xavier Francis interviews Beau Butaud of Render Compliance to break down what SOC 2 is, who it's for, and whether it's worth pursuing. They discuss how SOC 2 serves as a third-party audit that builds trust between B2B companies handling sensitive data, explain the five Trust Services Criteria with a focus on security, and clarify the differences between SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 reports. The conversation also compares SOC 2 to ISO 27001, outlines typical costs and annual renewal expectations, and offers practical advice for organizations considering certification, emphasizing the importance of planning, proper scoping, and working with experienced professionals.   Helpful Resources: Beau Butaud - Email: beau@rendercompliance.com, Website: rendercompliance.com, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beaubutaud/ SOC 2 Compliance:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/soc-2-compliance For All Things ISO 9001:2015: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-9001-2015 Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at info@thecoresolution.com A Plethora of Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources ISO 9001 Consulting: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-consulting

In this special live broadcast from the WWETT Show 2026 in Indianapolis, host Suzan Chin-Taylor sits down with Drew Lewis of Reline America to debunk the myth that UV-GRP (Ultraviolet Glass Reinforced Pipe) is a "new" technology. We discussed in this episode the 40-year history of the industry, the importance of domestic manufacturing, and Reline America's commitment to being a "one-stop shop" for contractors.Drew also unveils a game-changing piece of equipment: a new compact UV curing unit designed to provide an affordable entry point for smaller contractors looking to enter the UV lining market. As the wastewater industry continues to evolve, the shift toward UV-cured solutions is becoming more pronounced, and Reline America is leading the way with innovative equipment and comprehensive support.Key Takeaways- A Proven History: UV-GRP technology is not new; it dates back to the mid-1980s, with the first installations occurring in Sweden around 1985.- The Power of Support: Reline America focuses on "hand-holding" support and onsite technicians to ensure contractor success rather than just selling equipment.- Innovation for All: A new compact unit reduces the cost of entry from nearly $900,000 to under $300,000, making UV lining accessible to a wider range of businesses.- Education as a Mission: With 10% to 15% annual growth, ongoing education is vital for asset owners and engineers to properly write specifications for UV projects.- Quality Control Standards: As an ISO 9001 certified facility, Reline America ensures every liner meets strict ASTM specifications through rigorous quality control.The conversation highlights how the wastewater industry is rapidly adopting UV-cured solutions for pipe rehabilitation. By lowering the financial barrier to entry with compact equipment and providing domestic manufacturing with high-quality standards, the industry is becoming more inclusive for smaller contractors while maintaining rigorous quality through ISO and ASTM standards.Connect With Drew Lewis:Reline AmericaEmail: alewis@relineamerica.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-l-b4709b243 Website: relineamerica.comI hope you find this episode as informative and as exciting as we have.Please let us know your thoughts about the episode!Connect with Suzan Chin-Taylor, host of The DooDoo Diva's Smells Like Money Podcast:Website: www.creativeraven.com | https://thetuitgroup.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/creativeraven/Email: raven@creativeraven.com Telephone: +1 760-217-8010Listen and subscribe here to your favorite platform:Apple Podcast - Google Podcast - Cast Box - Overcast - Pocket Casts - YouTube - Spotifyhttps://creativeraven.com/smells-like-money-podcast/ Subscribe to the Podcast:https://creativeraven.com/smells-like-money-podcast/Be a guest on our show:https://calendly.com/thetuitgroup/be-a-podcast-guestCheck Out my NEW Digital Marketing E-Course & Coaching Program just for Wastewater Pros:https://store.thetuitgroup.com/diy-digital-marketing-playbook-for-wastewater-pros#WWETT2026 #UVGRP #TrenchlessTechnology #PipeRehabilitation #WastewaterManagement #RelineAmerica #SmellsLikeMoney #InfrastructureInnovation #UVLining #ContractorSupport

For those in the automotive industry, namely suppliers working with European OEM's, you're likely familiar with TISAX but not necessarily with the Standard that many of its requirements originate from. ISO 27001 is the leading Information Management Standard, and its Annex A forms the basis of TISAX, however there are many differences between the two. For Automotive suppliers looking to create a more holistic Information Security Management System, it can be beneficial to implement elements of both even if you don't intend to certify to both. In this episode, Ian Battersby is joined by Emma Coxhill, isologist at Blackmores, to explore the differences between TISAX and ISO 27001, how existing ISO 27001 compliant management systems can be leveraged for TISAX compliance and the benefits of implementing both Standards for automotive suppliers. You'll learn ·      How does TISAX differ from ISO 27001? ·      How does the recertification / annual surveillance for TISAX and ISO 27001 differ? ·      Can a company have TISAX without ISO 27001 and vice versa? ·      How can an existing ISO 27001 certification be leveraged for TISAX? ·      What are the additional benefits of implementing both TISAX & ISO 27001? ·      What is a reasonable timeframe for implementing TISAX? ·      The key role of Internal Audits ·      How can Blackmores support companies in implementing TISAX? Resources ·      Register for our TISAX webinar here ·      ENX ·      Isologyhub   In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – Emma Coxhill joins Ian to dive into the key differences between ISO 27001v Information Security and TISAX, including the benefits of implementing both and how each can be leveraged to assist in the implementation of the other.   [03:10] What is TISAX? TISAX was developed for the automotive industry by the German Association of the Automotive Industry, VDA, and it's managed by the ENX Association. It's based on the ISO 27001 Annex A controls, and was created for the automotive industry because they were looking to standardise the framework for assessing and sharing information security results between manufacturers and their suppliers. [04:20] How does TISAX differ from ISO 27001? ISO 27001 is a general Information Security management Standard, it can be applied to any business, whereas TISAX is only applicable to the automotive industry. ISO 27001 includes a framework of requirements that everyone must implement, whereas TISAX has a more customisable element. With TISAX you can select an applicable level and relevant subject areas for your operations. The last main difference is the fact that ISO 27001 certification ends in a certificate which can be shared and displayed wherever you want. TISAX in comparison has Labels, which are only available through the ENX portal where you have control over who can access them. [05:15] How does the recertification / annual surveillance for TISAX and ISO 27001 differ? The good news is that TISAX is a bit more forgiving than ISO when it comes to a recertification cycle. TISAX does not require an annual Surveillance like ISO 27001, instead once you've earned a Label it remains valid for 3 years. ISO 27001 in comparison requires an annual Surveillance for each year until the 3rd when you have your Recertification Audit. If you have a significant change to scope part way through your 3 years of TISAX, you will need to have a chat with your auditor to see if extra work is required. This will depend on your level, with higher levels likely to require some additional work and for you to adjust your scope within the ENX portal. Overall, a TISAX label is less of a burden than traditional Management System Standards like ISO 27001. However, TISAX is a lot more strict and will require more upfront preparation ahead of earning your Label. [07:30] Are Internal Audits required for TISAX? They are, but the amount and frequency are a lot more flexible than ISO 27001. You can do as many as you like, but at a bare minimum we recommend you conduct internal audits 6 months ahead of your TISAX label expiring to ensure you're ready for re-certification. You can of course carry on with annual internal audits to make sure you're on track. This can be handy if specific clients ask for further evidence of you following processes in accordance with TISAX requirements.   [08:35] Can a company have TISAX without ISO 27001 and vice versa? You can! Both are independent Standards, however they do compliment each other. Organisations that hold both have a competitive advantage, as ISO 27001 applies to all industries and is more widely recognised. However, if you only operate in the automotive space, TISAX may be sufficient. If you supply to multiple sectors, it's worth considering implementing both TISAX and ISO 27001. [09:25] How can an existing ISO 27001 certification be leveraged for TISAX? If you already hold an existing ISO 27001 certification, than you're already 80% of the way there to TISAX compliance. As TISAX is based off of ISO 27001's Annex A controls, a lot of the requirements cross over, so you will already have most of the foundations in place to cover TISAX. It will just be the more automotive specific requirements that will require some additional work. These requirements include considerations for: ·      Data Protection ·      Prototype protection ·      Assets ·      3rd Party Suppliers The amount of additional work will also depend on the TISAX Level you're aiming for, with Level 3 being the most demanding for these specific requirements. [10:55] What are the additional benefits of implementing both TISAX & ISO 27001? Benefits include: Robust Information Security – Having both TISAX and ISO 27001 forms a strong and versatile information security infrastructure that will cover all of your operations. Easy Integration – These two Standards complement each other, and can easily be integrated. If you already have ISO 27001 in place, you have already completed a majority of the framework and will be familiar with what's required to earn and keep both your ISO certificate and TISAX Label. Customer Trust and Long-Term Resilience – TISAX is desired, if not an outright requirement for European based OEM's to work with suppliers. They require this because TISAX is a trusted Standard, a Label displays your commitment to information security within the automotive industry. It also helps to put you in a better position to both safeguard data as well as respond in the event of a data / security incident. Wider market access – If you supply to more than just the automotive industry, than having ISO 27001 in place will grant you access to the wider market that will recognise that Standard over TISAX. [12:05] What is a reasonable timeframe for implementing TISAX? This will depend on a number of factors including the type of organisation, the number of sites, resources available etc. The key thing to note is that this is note a 2 week project, it will take a number of months to get everything in place for your external assessment. A good measure of if you're ready is if you can score at least more than 2.71 on your self-assessment, and have completed a few internal audits to double check. If you already have ISO 27001 in place, than you're looking at between 3 – 6 months. If you do not have ISO 27001 in place than you're looking at 6 months minimum. For Level 2, you will need proof that ,you have everything in place, it's all been communicated and the relevant individuals have been trained. Level 3 requires everything to be in place and operating for a certain amount of time, typically around 3 months is ideal to start building a library of evidence ahead of your external assessment. Emma's top tip: Be honest in your self-assessment. It's there to be a benchmark, and you need to reflect on the reality of your position if you're to accurately assess what Level you are ready to be assessed against. [14:20] Core elements for success: As with any Standard, ISO or otherwise, TISAX will require leadership commitment in order to be successful. The requirements of TISAX need to come from the top down, just like with ISO 27001. The Leadership ultimately drive TISAX's success, by ensuring the relevant resources are in place, and involved individuals have the necessary time to implement and maintain the Label. For those within the Automotive Sector, TISAX is becoming an absolute requirement. It's being pushed as a tender requirement, so you may lose out on business if you opt to not earn a Label. [16:35] The key role of Internal Audits: As mentioned earlier, Internal Audits are a key part of the process for both TISAX and ISO 27001. It acts as a business health check to ensure you're on the right path. They can help identify areas which may be non-conforming or simply highlight opportunities for improvement. For TISAX, there is not outright requirement for 3rd party audits ahead of your assessment, however we would recommend them as a fresh pair of eyes can reveal things you may have overlooked. An external auditor will also be more unbias and can provide an honest review and feedback as to what TISAX Level you are ready for.   [18:25] How can Blackmores support you with TISAX Implementation?: We can provide as little or as much support as needed. This can include a fully guided implementation where we assist you through each step. This can apply to both TISAX and ISO 27001 if you wish to certify to both Standards. Other options include: ·      Assisting with your TISAX self-assessment (aka a Gap Analysis) ·      Conducting a Maturity Assessment ·      Conducting internal audits ·      On-site support during your TISAX assessment audit We are happy to provide whatever level of support you need. Blackmores do not provide a tick-box exercise, we pride ourselves on ensuring an implemented system works for you. [21:10] Upcoming TISAX Webinar – Join us on the 18th March 2026 at 2pm for a webinar where we'll dive into TISAX further and provide practical guidance on how to complete the VDA Self-Assessment. Attendees will also get access to some freebies. So don't delay, register your place here today. We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ●     Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ●     Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

What does it really mean to be a man today — especially in Black culture?In this episode, Ern and Iso dive into the uncomfortable truth behind why being a man often feels like a thankless job. Men are expected to protect, provide, and sacrifice — yet when relationships fail or situations go left, the narrative almost always highlights how the man messed up, while the full story is rarely told.We break down how protection can turn into silence, how accountability has become selective, and why men are still held to patriarchal standards without patriarchal authority. From survival mode narratives to social media-driven blame, this conversation challenges the idea that men are always the problem — and asks what happens when men stop feeling valued altogether.This episode isn't about blaming women — it's about truth, balance, and accountability on both sides.If you've ever felt like your effort went unnoticed, your sacrifices were expected, or your side of the story was ignored — this one's for you.

The labor market is evolving faster than traditional signals of competence can keep up. Roles are shifting, technology is accelerating, and employers are searching for clearer ways to identify real capability. In that environment, degrees remain valuable, but verified skills are becoming increasingly central to hiring and advancement.In a marketplace now saturated with more than a million credentials, clarity has become the differentiator. Some credentials function as marketing tools. Others function as infrastructure for trust. The difference lies in independence, rigor, defensibility, and industry validation.In this conversation with Kathleen McNally, CEO of NOCTI, we explore how high-quality third-party credentials create reliable signals for employers, meaningful exit value for learners, and actionable tools for educators. From ISO-backed certification standards to performance testing and stackable micro-credentials, this episode reframes credentials as essential infrastructure for a more agile, skills-driven economy.In this Episode:Why employers are shifting from degree-first to skills-aware hiringWhat separates a participation badge from a legally defensible certificationHow micro-credentials create flexibility without sacrificing rigorHow “exit value” changes the way we think about graduationWhy performance-based assessment strengthens workforce confidence3 Big Takeaways1. Verified credentials are strengthening the signal in a fast-moving labor market. As job roles evolve more quickly than traditional degree cycles, employers are seeking precise indicators of job-ready capability. Third-party certifications developed with national industry input provide measurable proof of occupational and technical competency.2. Quality and independence determine whether a credential carries real weight. With more than a million credentials available, rigor is what separates noise from trust. ISO-aligned, legally defensible certifications built through independent subject matter experts reduce hiring risk and create consistency across regions and employers.3. Micro-credentials are enabling lifelong learning with structure and momentum. Stackable certifications allow learners to document specific competencies at any stage of their career. Whether entering the workforce, reskilling mid-career, or adding new capabilities such as AI literacy, credentials create flexible on-ramps and sustained pathways for advancemenWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

Dime qué piensas del episodio.Carlos García Ottati es fundador y CEO de Kavak IG@carlosjgarciao.En 2020 lo entrevisté cuando convirtió a Kavak en el primer unicornio de México. La valuación creció 9x en un año. Fondos globales apostando fuerte. Todo era momentum.Después vino la realidad: caída en valuación, down round, salida de países, reducción masiva de equipo, rumores sobre su salida como CEO. El reflector se apagó.Esta conversación no es sobre el hype.Es sobre lo que pasa cuando todo se complica. Sobre cómo reinterpretar el pasado para rediseñar el futuro. Sobre pasar de crecer a cualquier costo a obsesionarte con rentabilidad, cultura e inteligencia artificial como ventaja competitiva.Una masterclass brutal en mentalidad y resiliencia emprendedora.Si estás construyendo algo grande, este episodio es para ti.Por favor ayúdame y sigue Cracks Podcast en YouTube aquí."El futuro está limitado por cómo entiendes tu pasado."-  Carlos García @carlosjgarciaoComparte esta frase en TwitterEste episodio es presentado por LegaLario la empresa de tecnología legal que ayuda a reducir costos y tiempos de gestión hasta un 80% y por Hospital Angeles Health System que cuenta con  el programa de cirugía robótica más robusto en el sector privado en México.Qué puedes aprender hoyCómo lidiar con aplausos y abucheosCómo se ve una compañía AI firstCómo revisitar el pasado para resignificarlo*Este episodio es presentado por LegaLario, la Legaltech líder en México.Con LegaLario, puedes transformar la manera en que manejas los acuerdos legales de tu empresa. Desde la creación y gestión de contratos electrónicos hasta la recolección de firmas digitales y la validación de identidades, LegaLario cumple rigurosamente con la legislación mexicana y las normativas internacionales.LegaLario ha ayudado a empresas de todos los tamaños y sectores a reducir costos y tiempos de gestión hasta un 80%. Y lo más importante, garantiza la validez legal de cada proceso y la seguridad de tu información, respaldada por certificaciones ISO 27001.Para ti que escuchas Cracks, LegaLario ofrece un 20% de descuento visitando www.legalario.com/cracks.*Este episodio es presentado por Hospital Angeles Health SystemLos avances en cirugía robótica permiten intervenciones con menos sangrado, menos dolor, cicatrices más pequeñas y una recuperación más rápida.Hospital Angeles Health System tiene el programa de cirugía robótica más robusto en el sector privado en México. Cuenta con 13 robots DaVinci, el más avanzado del mundo y con el mayor número de médicos certificados en cirugía robótica ya que tiene el único centro de capacitación de cirugía robótica en el país.Este es el futuro de la cirugía. Si quieres conocer más sobre el programa de cirugía robótica de Hospital Angeles Health System y ver el directorio de doctores visita cracks.la/angeles Ve el episodio en Youtube

In this episode, Etienne Nichols sits down with regulatory expert Mike Drues, President of Vascular Sciences, to discuss the "culture shock" international medical device companies face when entering the U.S. market. They challenge the traditional assumption that a device should always launch outside the U.S. first, noting that shifting regulatory landscapes—especially in Europe—have made the U.S. a more attractive primary entry point for many.The conversation pivots to the technical and strategic nuances of "same device, different claims." Mike explains that if a device maintains the same design but utilizes different labeling or indications for use across borders, it is technically a different device in the eyes of regulators. This creates significant complexity for Quality Management Systems and post-market surveillance, particularly concerning reporting requirements for Class III (PMA) devices.Finally, the duo explores the "trap of equivalency," where companies mistakenly assume that a CE Mark or other international approval guarantees a smooth path through the FDA. From differing consensus standards to the strategic use of OUS (Outside US) clinical data, the episode provides a roadmap for global players to synchronize their regulatory and reimbursement strategies early in the development lifecycle.Key Timestamps01:45 - Challenging the assumption: Should you always launch outside the US first?04:12 - Defining the "International Company": Why every developer should think globally from day one.05:30 - The Labeling Trap: Why the same hardware with different claims is a different device.07:50 - Post-market surveillance nuances: Reporting OUS issues in a US PMA submission.11:15 - The "Sniff Test": Does a CE Mark actually help you with the FDA?12:40 - Leveraging Real-World Evidence (RWE) from international markets for US submissions.14:30 - The "Species Expansion" concept: Applying regulatory logic across different use cases.16:15 - Consensus Standards: Why the FDA might not recognize the "most current" version of a standard.20:00 - International Regulatory Strategy: Calculating the "lowest common denominator" for multi-country launches.25:20 - Using 100% OUS clinical data for FDA submissions: The three essential caveats.Quotes"If you're marketing the same device—same design, same materials—but the labeling and claims are different in the EU versus the US, then technically, it is not the same device." - Mike Drues"The regulatory logic is agnostic of the scenario. Whether it's a label expansion or a 'species expansion' from a dog to a human, the underlying logic remains the same." - Mike DruesTakeawaysSync Your Standards: Do not assume the FDA recognizes the same version of a standard (e.g., ISO 10993-1) as international bodies. Always verify via the CDRH Recognized Consensus Standards database.Design for the "Lowest Common Denominator": Identify your top 3–5 target markets early and pool their requirements to avoid redundant benchtop or clinical testing.Rethink Clinical Trials: While the FDA prefers domestic data, OUS data can be used if you can prove the patient population and user profiles (physicians/nurses) are representative of the US demographic.Anticipate "Off-Label" Pressure: If you market a device in Canada with claims not yet approved in the US, be prepared for US clinicians to find that information online and ask for "anticipated off-label use."ReferencesFDA Recognized Consensus Standards Database: Essential tool for verifying which versions of international standards the FDA currently accepts.Greenlight Guru QMS & EDC: Solutions for managing complex, multi-region quality systems and clinical data.Etienne Nichols' LinkedIn: Connect with the host for more MedTech insights.MedTech 101: Label ExpansionThink of Label Expansion like a smartphone software update. The hardware (the phone) stays the same, but the update allows the phone to do something it couldn't do before—like a new photography mode. In MedTech, if you have a stent approved for use in the leg (the "old label") and you want to use that same stent in the heart, you apply for a "label expansion." You aren't changing the device; you're just proving it's safe and effective for a new job.Sponsors: Greenlight GuruThis episode is brought to you by Greenlight Guru. Navigating international waters requires a robust foundation. Greenlight Guru's Quality Management Software (QMS) helps you maintain a "single source of truth" for your design history files and labeling, while their Electronic Data Capture (EDC) solution streamlines the collection of the clinical data you'll need to satisfy both the FDA and international regulators. Whether you are managing post-market surveillance for a PMA or running a multi-center global trial, Greenlight Guru has you covered.Feedback Call-to-ActionWe want to hear from you! Did this episode change your mind about your international launch strategy? Do you have a "culture shock" story from bringing a device to the US? Send your thoughts, reviews, or topic suggestions to podcast@greenlight.guru. We read every email and love providing personalized responses to our listeners.

CBS47/FOX30 FIRST ALERT FORECAST – WOKV RADIO MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2026 METEOROLOGIST COREY SIMMA The WOKV Weather Meter for Today: 7 MONDAY: Partly Sunny & Breezy, Iso. Coastal Shower. High: 72 TONIGHT: Patchy Fog, Cool. Low: 54 TUESDAY: Partly Sunny & Breezy, Iso. Coastal Shower. High: 75 WEDNESDAY: Partly Sunny & Mild. High: 79 THURSDAY: Partly Sunny. High: 83 FRIDAY: Partly Cloudy & Warm. High: 83

Welcome to the Superfast Recruitment podcast. In this episode, Sharon sits down with Sarah Bishop, founder of Recruit Recruit, based in Wolverhampton, and author of the newly published book Scale Up! The Founder’s Guide to Accelerating Growth by Building Dream Teams. Sarah has spent 30 years in recruitment, and her book is built around one of the most extraordinary case studies you will hear in this industry: helping a business called Your Doctor Film and Media grow from zero to £30 million in turnover in just 21 months, in the middle of a pandemic. This is a conversation about what strategic hiring actually looks like in practice, why culture and DNA matter far more than job specs, and how Sarah’s subscription model is changing the way small and growing businesses access great recruitment support. Sarah also shares something refreshingly honest: that despite all her success in helping others to scale, she has found it harder to apply the same thinking to her own business. What Made You Write the Book? Sharon: Before we get into the big case study, tell me, what made you decide to write the book in the first place? Sarah: It was a mixture of things, really. Throughout my career, I have worked with fast-growing businesses. Phones4U, Holiday Hypermarket, HomeServe. But those experiences were always as part of a larger team doing volume hiring. The case study at the heart of the book, Your Doctor Film and Media, was completely different because we were building every single team from scratch across every function. There were genuine moments where I thought I knew something, and then realised I knew it in theory but not in practice. And honestly, the second reason was to prove to myself that I could actually finish something as big as a book. The £30 Million Journey Sharon: So, your book is centred on helping Your Doctor Film and Media go from zero to £30 million in just 21 months, during a pandemic of all things. Walk me through it. What were the big recruitment challenges, and how did you help them see hiring as a competitive advantage rather than just a cost? Sarah: In the early days, it was a malay. Nobody knew what was going on or how long Covid was going to last. Your Doctor Film and Media started by providing Covid testing for the film and media industry at Pinewood Studios, beginning with Jurassic World Dominion, and it just snowballed from there. The turning point came when producers got frustrated that government laboratories could not turn tests around quickly enough. Hollywood producers are fairly exacting about their timetables and budgets, so Your Doctor made the very smart decision to build their own labs. Suddenly we were finding biomedical scientists and a Head of Science who, miraculously, got the labs ISO-accredited in a matter of weeks. I was brought in through Vanessa Deco, a brilliant Chief People Officer and a very good friend. She introduced me to Pete and Dr. Rick, and they trusted me from day one. They gave me access all areas, including board meetings and strategic planning sessions, which meant I could really do my job properly. I cannot take too much credit for the strategic approach. A lot of that was down to Pete and the founding team being willing to stop reacting and start building a proper business. Hiring for Roles That Do Not Exist Yet Sharon: That is such a challenge, is it not? Recruiting for roles that do not even exist yet. How did you figure out what talent was needed before the business even knew what it required? Sarah: The early stages were actually more straightforward than you might think. The first brief was very clear: find people who could interface between film crews and clinical teams, work antisocial hours without complaint, think on their feet, and handle what I called tricky people, meaning Hollywood producers who wanted the impossible done yesterday. I immediately knew that events and hospitality professionals, many of whom had been furloughed or made redundant during Covid, were the perfect fit. Some of my earliest placements were technically overqualified, but I could see they were going to become the future leaders of the business. Laura had spent years with Disney on their cruises and ended up heading up special productions including The Crown. Serge had been Events Manager at the Royal Opera House for 13 years and followed a similar path. The harder roles came later, on the technical and scientific side, where candidates tended to be more risk-averse. Some people I simply could not put in front of the client, not because they lacked the ability, but because they needed structure that did not exist yet and would not have lasted five minutes in that environment. Getting Culture and DNA Right Sharon: Most agencies just default to matching skills and experience when they are under pressure to move fast. How did you get under the skin of Your Doctor’s culture and DNA, and how did that actually change who you put forward? Sarah: Getting the DNA match right is not just about culture and values, though those matter. It is about genuinely understanding what a business is trying to achieve and where it is going, and then working out whether a candidate will actually thrive in that specific environment. I still cringe at the term ‘recruitment consultant’, because too many people in this industry are essentially order-takers. They get a job spec, they try to fill it, and they have no idea where the business is heading. I was very fortunate that Pete, Dr. Rick, and the whole team treated me as an equal, not as ‘the recruiter’. We were never left waiting for feedback. We were in the room. That is what allowed me to do my best work. Pete once said it was so nice to work with a recruiter where you did not feel you needed to arm yourself with a wooden stake and cloves of garlic. He had used all the big London names on previous projects, and I think that says everything. The Subscription Model Sharon: Tell me about your subscription model, because it is quite different from the traditional contingency approach. What drove you to develop it, and why do you think it works better for businesses that are growing fast? Sarah: I cannot believe I did not think of it sooner. Traditional contingency recruitment creates this start-stop-start dynamic that serves nobody. Even if the placements are brilliant, the reactive nature of it means businesses are always catching up. My model is designed to work like an embedded internal talent acquisition team, without all the overhead. Clients get predictable monthly costs rather than surprise fees, which is better for their cash flow. And from our side, we get the time to build proper talent pools, map the market, and do a genuinely good job rather than scrambling to fill an urgent vacancy. We have a startup mode from around four hundred pounds a month for sole traders taking on their first hire, right the way up to established corporates whose finance directors are looking at recruitment spend and do not want a full internal team sitting idle in quiet periods. I should also say, with some embarrassment, that I have not scaled my own business anywhere near as well as I have helped others to scale theirs. Classic physician-heal-thyself. The Hire That Changed Everything Sharon: So looking back over that whole 21-month journey, what was the single hire that you think really shifted things for Your Doctor? The one that unlocked the next stage of growth? Sarah: It is not the hire you might expect. The earliest placements, the events and hospitality professionals we brought in when nobody knew what was going on, had an enormous impact. Not just because they handled the chaos brilliantly, but because they stepped up and became managers and leaders as the business grew. In terms of a single hire that shifted the trajectory, I would point to Katie, the Director of HR. We had brought in Mandy as HR Manager initially, and she was brilliant at the transactional work: getting policies and procedures in place. But the business scaled so fast that it very quickly needed strategic HR leadership, and that was a completely different thing. One of the lessons I share in the book is that in rapid scaling, you need to think carefully about whether you are better off bringing in a senior hire or an interim from the start, rather than assuming you can grow up from a junior level. Getting a critical hire wrong at that stage is serious. At best it stalls you. At worst it could be the end of the business. From Car Sales to Recruitment Sharon: Right, let’s talk about you for a minute. Your background is not a conventional route into recruitment at all. Car sales, Wolverhampton, environmental science degree. How did all of that shape the way you approach this industry? Sarah: I graduated with an environmental science degree in the nineties, which was not especially useful, combined with a fairly significant student debt. My dad had run car yards and dealerships, I had done sales training working in shoe shops on Oxford Street, so I knew I could earn commission. I went in absolutely for the money. But the real lessons I took from that background into recruitment had nothing to do with cars. They were about human behaviour, psychology, and a genuine curiosity about what makes people tick. Understanding people, what they really mean when they say something, is the best skill you can bring to recruitment. It helps with interviewing, with building client rapport, with the DNA-matching work that has become central to everything I do. My autism and ADHD are part of that too. I have always been hypercurious about people, sometimes to an uncomfortable degree. When I joined Extra Personnel in 1996 as a temp controller, that curiosity was already there. As a temp controller you do not interview to a job spec, you interview the person. I have never really stopped doing it that way. Building a Team That Makes You Redundant Sharon: Now this one fascinates me, because there is a real tension in your book between being the external recruitment partner and your goal of building internal teams that eventually make the recruiter redundant. Why on earth would you want to do that? Sarah: I know it sounds like a poor business model, and I will admit it is. But I stand by it completely. A lot of this ties into my autism, which gives me a very finely tuned sense of what is fair and ethical. If I do such a good job that the client does not need me anymore, that is exactly what they brought me in to do. I am not going to sit there worrying about future revenue. And in practice, those clients always come back when they next need someone, because the relationship and the trust are already there. The subscription model does now offer a natural alternative, because not every business wants or can sustain an internal HR and recruitment function. Many HR professionals actively dislike doing recruitment because it pulls them away from everything else they need to manage. So now there is an option that gives clients consistency and strategic input without the overhead. I still stand by making yourself redundant as a principle, but I am glad we now also have a model that makes business sense alongside it. Marketing and Employer Brand Sharon: Your whole approach is very relational and very marketing-led. You think about employer brand, candidate experience, matching people not just for right now but for where the business is going. How does that differ from what most recruiters do? Sarah: I will be honest, our own marketing is very much a work in progress. We do not yet have a clearly defined candidate niche, which makes it harder to market with real specificity on that side, and that is a 2026 project for us. Where we have genuinely improved is in consistency. Having the monthly content from Superfast Recruitment means Marianne and I now have something to work with every single month instead of scrambling or just not getting things out at all. When the resources come through, we genuinely go ‘yes!’, because we can adapt them and get them out there. Our broader marketing philosophy is very relational. There is no corporate speak on our website or in our communications. It is very much us. The role marketing plays for us is simply making sure that when the right client or candidate finds us, they already have a sense of who we are and what we are like to work with. Scaling Your Own Business Sharon: So tell me, Bish. Writing about scaling is one thing, but doing it in your own business is a completely different story. What did writing this book teach you about your own operation? And what would the Sarah of today tell the Sarah who was just starting Recruit Recruit? Sarah: Take my own advice. That is the biggest lesson. I am genuinely good at solving other people’s problems, and I have been pretty poor at applying the same thinking to my own business. Two things really stand out from writing the book. The first came from going back to The E-Myth by Michael Gerber. Just sit down and sketch out the organisation chart for the size of business you want, not the one you have got right now. That single exercise forces you into strategic conversations about what will actually move the needle and who to bring in first. The second is accountability. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that nearly every chapter of Scale Up! was written on a Thursday evening, the night before my weekly call with my writing mentor. When I looked back at my calendar, it was painfully obvious. But the lesson is real: whether you are writing a book or building a business, an accountability partner who simply asks ‘did you do what you said you were going to do?’ makes an enormous difference. For founders picking up the book, the signs it is right for you are pretty clear. If you are juggling too many plates and not moving fast enough, if you find yourself thinking ‘why can they not understand what I want?’, or if you have a sizable team but you are still being pulled into everything because there is nobody senior enough to take things off your plate, that is the book for you. Finally Sharon: Bish, this has been brilliant. Honestly, one of my favourite conversations we have had on this podcast. The story of Your Doctor Film and Media is extraordinary, and I think there is so much in here that recruitment business owners can take and run with. If you want to get hold of Sarah’s book, Scale Up! The Founder’s Guide to Accelerating Growth by Building Dream Teams is available now. If today’s conversation has got you thinking about your own marketing and how to get more visible and consistent as a recruitment business, come and take our free Client and Candidate Attraction Scorecard. It takes about three minutes and gives you a personalised picture of where your marketing is right now and what to work on first. The post How Strategic Hiring Built a £30 Million Business in Under Two Years with Sarah Bishop appeared first on Superfast Recruitment.

Most athletes are not undertrained — they are overworked in the wrong ways.Performance does not come from doing more. It comes from doing the right work with precision and intent.Episode HighlightsIn this episode, Adam Lane sits down with Coach Ryan Paul, founder of New Athlete Incorporated, to break down what it really takes to develop athletes who can perform at a high level without being run into the ground. Ryan explains his approach to intensity and specificity, why many athletes are competing year-round without true recovery, and how tools like isometrics, grip strength work, and performance data can build stronger, more resilient athletes without adding unnecessary volume.Episode OutlineThe problem with year-round competition and limited off-seasonsWhy many athletes are overworked but under-stimulated in the right areasThe role of intensity and specificity in athletic developmentMicro-dosing training to maintain performance during heavy competition schedulesUsing heavy, aggressive stimuli in short sets to drive adaptationIsometrics as a tool for strength, resilience, and neurological efficiencyManaging readiness and avoiding overtrainingThe importance of grip strength in overall athletic performanceApplying data and tracking tools to guide programming decisionsBuilding well-rounded, durable athletes without unnecessary volumeEpisode Chapters00:00 Intro01:23 Ryan's background & origins of New Athlete02:16 From truck bed Vertimax to multi-site facility02:51 Who New Athlete trains: middle school to NFL draft04:33 Year-round volleyball & “no off-season” reality07:19 Parents, clubs & the performance gap10:33 Microdosing training vs constant games17:02 Intensity over volume: real in-season gains21:38 Off-season training: speed, data & bar speed28:41 Isometrics for youth & overcoming ISOs35:50 Long ISOs, conditioning without gassers43:54 Eccentric braking, force, and injury risk56:28 Where to find Coach Ryan & closing remarksAction TakenSchedule and confirm part two podcast episode with the guestRun a pilot ISO-focused training program with a small athlete groupTrack performance metrics and adjust programming based on dataConclusionHigh-level performance is not built on volume alone. It comes from precise, intentional training that matches the real demands athletes face throughout the year. By focusing on intensity, smart dosing, and clear performance data, coaches can support athletes who stay powerful, prepared, and durable even in the middle of heavy competition schedules.CTAListen to the episode and follow Oak Performance Radio for more conversations on athlete development and performance.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakperformancelabInstagram: @oakperformanceThank you for listening and being part of Oak Performance Radio. Keep showing up with purpose and holding the standard for smarter, more intentional training.

En el episodio 200 de BIMrras nos metemos en terreno peligroso. ¿Y si en vez de usar un CDE lo programamos? ¿Y si dejamos de tratarlo como una marca comercial y empezamos a entenderlo como lo que realmente es: un sistema de reglas para gestionar información? Hablamos de qué significa construir un CDE Open Source, de traducir la ISO 19650 a código, de dejar de confundir software con metodología y de lo incómodo que resulta descubrir que no entendemos tan bien el sistema que usamos todos los días. Porque automatizar el caos no lo ordena. Lo acelera. Un episodio sobre soberanía digital, procesos y responsabilidad. Y sobre una idea que puede doler un poco: si no entiendes tu CDE, no estás gestionando información. Estás alquilando comodidad. Bienvenido al episodio 200 de BIMrras! Contenido del episodio: 00:00:00 Introducción y celebración del episodio 200 00:06:00 Origen del proyecto de CDE Open Source 00:10:30 Adaptar el software a la forma de trabajar 00:28:00 CDE como infraestructura frente a plataforma cerrada 00:38:30 Control de versiones y problemas con archivos IFC 00:45:00 Gestión de datos frente a gestión de archivos en BIM 00:57:00 Interoperabilidad, APIs y automatización 01:02:00 Seguridad y copias de respaldo 01:07:00 Open Source y soberanía del dato 01:13:00 Responsabilidades y trazabilidad en el proyecto

This episode puts the spotlight fully on Iso.In Ask Iso I, Iso knocks out questions crafted specifically for him—no filters, no dodging. From real-life situations to deeper personal insight, Iso breaks down each question with honesty, perspective, and the kind of clarity that only comes from lived experience.Listeners get a chance to see how Iso processes tough topics, unpacks real scenarios, and gives answers that are equal parts thoughtful, blunt, and relatable. Whether the questions are serious, funny, or uncomfortable, Iso dives all the way in and gives game you can actually use.This episode is about insight, growth, and real conversation—straight from Iso's point of view.Tap in and see how he answers when the questions are meant just for him.#AskIso #AskIsoI #ErnandIso #PodcastEpisode #RealTalk #Unfiltered #Perspective #DeepConversations #LifeQuestions #InsightfulTalk #PodcastClips #ViralPodcast #fyp #ernandiso4president

On this episode of The Buzz, we tackle a word that might define 2026 for supply chain leaders: velocity. Not just speed for speed's sake, but smarter, faster, more confident decision-making in a world shaped by tariff volatility, regulatory shifts, and rapidly advancing AI. With insights from industry veterans Paul Noble and Nick Dippolito, we unpack what it really takes to lead through uncertainty. Grab your coffee and settle in - welcome to The Buzz, powered by EasyPost!As trade policies continue to shift, including recent tariff developments and Supreme Court rulings impacting international commerce, supply chain leaders are facing mounting pressure to respond quickly without sacrificing accuracy. This episode explores the rising importance of “decision velocity” and why organizations must modernize their data, governance, and verification processes to compete effectively.A major focal point of the conversation is ISO 25500 and its role in strengthening data verification and reliability across supply chain networks. We also explore the double-edged sword of artificial intelligence: while AI unlocks powerful operational efficiencies, it also introduces new risks, including impersonation fraud and malicious activity. The takeaway? Standards, smarter systems, and stronger supplier verification are no longer optional, they're foundational.Tune in and learn:Why decision velocity is becoming a defining competitive advantage in modern supply chainsHow evolving tariff regulations and trade rulings are reshaping global operationsWhat ISO 25500 means for data verification, trust, and interoperabilityThe role AI plays in improving efficiency — and how it can also introduce fraud risksWhy supplier verification systems are critical to preventing impersonation and bad actorsHow to build proactive risk management strategies that maintain agility amid volatilityWhat forward-thinking leaders are doing now to future-proof compliance and operationsIf you're leading operations, procurement, logistics, compliance, or enterprise technology strategy, this episode offers timely insights you can put into action immediately. In a climate where uncertainty is constant and reaction time matters more than ever, strengthening your standards, accelerating your decision-making, and investing in smarter verification systems may be the difference between disruption and resilience.Additional Links & Resources:Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comWatch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-nowSubscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/joinWork with us! Download Supply Chain Now's NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVkThis episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Karin Bursa and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com

Send a textCameron and Gabe sit down with Girish Redekar, co-founder and CEO of Sprinto, to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood areas of security: compliance.Girish built his first startup, RecruiterBox, to 3,500 customers before selling it, and it was the painful, expensive, duct-taped compliance process he experienced firsthand that sparked the idea for Sprinto. Today, Sprinto helps companies move beyond point-in-time audits into something far more valuable: continuous, autonomous trust.In this episode, we dig into:Why passing a SOC 2 or ISO 27001 audit doesn't mean you're actually secureThe three stages of compliance maturity — and how to climb themWhat "compliance debt" is and why it's quietly eating your businessHow smart CISOs use their security posture as a revenue driver, not a back-office cost centerThe "$100/month" challenge: what actually moves the needle for startupsHow AI is reshaping compliance programs — for better or worseWhy Girish spent over a year talking to customers before writing a single line of codePlus: the "sell more jeans" framework every CISO should know, Rich Hickey, The Mom Test, and the toilet paper question.

While its origin is murky, the adage "Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time," is at the heart of this wide-ranging discussion about ethical practices in wildlife photography. From exotic safaris to local birding expeditions, interest in this subject matter has grown tremendously in recent years. Ever advancing camera technologies and increasing ease of use make stunning pictures more accessible than ever, but when these advantages combine with an unbridled enthusiasm for getting the shot, it can often put wildlife at risk. After defining conservation photography as an act that extends beyond image capture to effect a change in the world, we delve into questionable practices that can threaten animal safety and compromise natural behaviors. From avoiding obvious red flags of baiting an animal with food or using audio lures to trigger photogenic results, to more subtle actions of approaching too quickly, getting too close, or staying too long—our guests shed light on alternative methods for ethical behavior in the field. As Melissa states, "You just have to become a part of the landscape and feel yourself within this community of other beings whose voices and whose messages are as filled with meaning as ours are, but we really have yet to tap into it." Guests: Melissa Groo & Bobby Stormer Episode Timeline: 3:56: Defining the term conservation photographer and making a distinction with the term wildlife photographer. 5:25: Melissa's career shift to focus on animal research and her early days photographing wildlife. 12:15: Bobby's expansion from fine art to photography, his shift to photographing animals, plus his passion for local wildlife & animal rescue. 16:49: Bobby's rescue of a fox and her kits, and his work with rehabbers to rehabilitate animals in need. 20:04: The ethics of photographing wildlife, best practices to consider, and mistakes photographers can make that cross ethical lines. 28:59: An increased awareness of wildlife ethics and the importance of sharing best practices in photographing animals to help educate one another. 36:04: Truth in image captioning and the question of sharing detailed location details, plus the distressing truth behind wildlife game farms. 44:42: Episode Break 46:24: The cameras, lenses, and related photo gear Melissa and Bobby pack, plus their camera set-ups. 56:09: Bobby and Melissa talk focusing, aperture, shutter speed, ISO and other considerations for settings. 102:45: Ethical considerations beyond baiting animals and staging wildlife photo-ops at a time when nature and animal photography has gained huge traction. 1:05:57: Concerns related to captive animal photography, plus distinctions between various facilities—from zoos to sanctuaries to animal havens to wildlife game farms. 1:11:08: Wildlife rescue, the path to becoming a licensed animal rehabber, plus discussing the upsurge in interest in wildlife photography during the pandemic. 1:25:45: Advice for anyone seeking to become a professional wildlife or conservation photographer.              Guest Bios: Melissa Groo is a photographer, writer, and conservationist dedicated to telling stories of the natural world. As a leading voice and consultant on ethics in wildlife photography, it's her mission to inspire conservation of the animals she's privileged to witness, and the habitat crucial to their survival. A Sony Artisan of Imagery since 2024, Melissa also serves as an Associate Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers, an advisor to the National Audubon Society, and a contributing editor for Audubon magazine. In 2023, Melissa received the "Jay N. Ding Darling Memorial Award for Wildlife Stewardship Through Art," from The Wildlife Society. In 2017, she received NANPA's Vision Award, in recognition of early career excellence, vision and inspiration to others in nature photography, conservation, and education. Her award-winning fine art prints are widely exhibited and featured in both personal and corporate collections. Additionally, Melissa has served as a juror for numerous competitions—from the Audubon Photography Awards to Wildlife Photographer of the Year and beyond. As an ambassador for Project Coyote, Melissa is equally invested in the importance of carnivores in our landscapes, continually advocating for co-existence with, and appreciation of, these animals.. She also serves on the Advisory Council for Wyoming Untrapped, the Board of Directors for The Little Egg Foundation, and as a volunteer photographer at the Cornell Wildlife Hospital, near her home in Ithaca, New York. Bobby Stormer first picked up a camera in 2010, transitioning from traditional art to photography as a new creative outlet. Born and raised just outside New York City, his early work focused on urban exploration and automotive shoots, but everything changed six years ago when he took a deep dive into wildlife photography. Shaped by both cityscapes and suburban ecosystems, Bobby developed a unique approach to capturing local wildlife, from foxes and owls to black bears, often within minutes of home. His mission is to show others the beauty hidden in their own backyards and foster a sense of coexistence with the wild. But what truly sets Bobby apart is his hands-on commitment to animal welfare. Apart from the image making, he's helped rescue and rehabilitate hundreds of animals. For Bobby, the photo is just a keepsake, his real reward is the moment itself, while letting empathy and respect guide his every frame.   Stay Connected: Melissa Groo Website: https://www.melissagroo.com/ Melissa Groo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissagroo/ Melissa Groo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.groo Melissa Groo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-groo-23252324/ Melissa Groo Linktree: https://linktr.ee/melgroo   Bobby Stormer Website: https://robertstormer.smugmug.com/ Bobby Stormer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b.stormer/ Bobby Stormer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobby.stormer/ Bobby Stormer Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bobby_stormer32/   National Audubon Guide to Ethical Bird Photography: https://www.audubon.org/photography/awards/audubons-guide-ethical-bird-photography-and-videography Melissa's Rolling Stone article on Game Farms: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/photography-game-farms-exploiting-wild-animals-1235002275/ B&H Explora article on the Ethics of Wildlife Photography: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/the-ethics-of-wildlife-photography   Credits: Host: Derek Fahsbender Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein Executive Producer: Richard Stevens  

IEC 60601 has been central to medical electrical equipment safety for decades. From the prescriptive approach of the 2nd edition to the risk-based philosophy introduced in the 3rd edition, the standard has continuously evolved to address technological and regulatory complexity.Now, the upcoming 4th edition represents more than an amendment — it signals a structural transformation.This article explores:The Evolution of IEC 60601• Key shifts from the 2nd to the 3rd edition• Why risk management became central• What lessons shaped today's safety philosophyWhat the 4th Edition Brings• A major rewrite rather than incremental updates• The introduction of “atomic requirements”• Structural clarity for manufacturers, test labs, and regulators• Emerging technical considerations (digitalization, AI, cybersecurity, home use)Impact on Existing Devices• Will re-testing be required?• How to assess validity of existing test reports• Transition strategies with notified bodiesIntegration into Design & Documentation• Embedding IEC 60601 into risk management from day one• Required updates in risk files, EMC documentation, labeling, and usability engineering• Practical advice for SMEs with limited resourcesThe Future of IEC 60601• Greater harmonization with ISO 14971 and IEC 62304• Alignment with digital and AI regulatory frameworks• The long-term outlook for medical electrical safetyFor manufacturers, the message is clear:IEC 60601 is not just a testing standard — it is a design and risk management framework that must be integrated early and strategically.Who is Monir El Azzouzi? Monir El Azzouzi is the founder and CEO of Easy Medical Device a Consulting firm that is supporting Medical Device manufacturers for any Quality and Regulatory affairs activities all over the world. Monir can help you to create your Quality Management System, Technical Documentation or he can also take care of your Clinical Evaluation, Clinical Investigation through his team or partners. Easy Medical Device can also become your Authorized Representative and Independent Importer Service provider for EU, UK and Switzerland. Monir has around 16 years of experience within the Medical Device industry working for small businesses and also big corporate companies. He has now supported around 100 clients to remain compliant on the market. His passion to the Medical Device filed pushed him to create educative contents like, blog, podcast, YouTube videos, LinkedIn Lives where he invites guests who are sharing educative information to his audience. Visit easymedicaldevice.com to know more.  If you need help implementing QMSR or preparing your teams for FDA inspections, contact: info@easymedicaldevice.com If you are located outside the EU/UK/Switzerland and need an Authorized Representative (and possibly an Importer), we can support you as well.LinkLeo Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leoeisnersafetyconsultants/Social Media to followMonir El Azzouzi Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/melazzouziTwitter: https://twitter.com/elazzouzimPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/easymedicaldeviceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/easymedicaldeviceThis podcast is powered by Podcastics, the easiest platform to create and publish your podcast.

In this episode, we welcome Soledad O'Brien, Geeta Gandbhir, and Christalyn Hampton, the team behind the Oscar-nominated documentary short, The Devil Is Busy. Soledad serves as Executive Producer, with Geeta and Christalyn co-directing the film. The Devil Is Busy follows a day in the life of Tracii, the head of security at a women's healthcare clinic in Atlanta, who works tirelessly to protect the safety of the women who walk through its doors. In our conversation, the team shares on the origins of the project, the challenges of making it, and their creative workflows. They also reflect on the state of documentary film — and share advice for emerging filmmakers navigating today's landscape.“The Making Of” is presented by AJA:From cinema to proAV: gaining a competitive edge with streaming knowledgeThe worlds of cinema production and proAV are converging. Cinema-grade equipment is making its way into more stadiums, houses of worship, and concert venues. Because of this, professionals that understand the tools and disciplines powering both will stand out. Get ahead of the curve with the latest streaming insights and gear from AJA.Kodak Announces Honorees for the Eighth Annual Kodak Film AwardsAutumn Durald Arkapaw to Receive Lumiere Award; Kristen Stewart to Receive First Feature Award; Christopher Nolan to Present Inaugural Keighley AwardThe 8th Annual Kodak Film Awards will take place on Monday evening, March 2, 2026, at the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Clubhouse in Hollywood at an invitation-only event honoring Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Joachim Trier, Kristen Stewart, Patricia Keighley of IMAX, Salomon Ligthelm and the acclaimed television series Fallout. Read more hereNow with Massive 8TB Capacity—Thunderbolt 5 SpeedThe OWC Envoy Pro Ultra now comes in a new 8TB capacity, pairing enormous space with next‑generation Thunderbolt 5 performance. With real‑world speeds over 6000 MB/s and a rugged, bus‑powered design, it's perfect for 4K/8K workflows, on‑location shoots, and fast media offloads. High‑speed, high‑capacity, and ready for serious creative work. Browse hereFeature Your Brand:Showcase your products or services in “The Making Of” newsletter and reach 255K film & TV industry pros each week. To learn more, please email mvalinsky@me.comZEISS Aatma – Contemporary Full Frame Primes with a Soulful Legacy LookZEISS introduces the new Aatma, set of nine high-end full frame T1.5 cinema primes (18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 65mm, 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm) designed to marry the benefits of modern optical design with the nostalgic image characteristics that are popular today. Drawing inspiration from some of the most beloved ZEISS lenses of the 20th century, Aatma combines an emotion-driven look with the mechanical reliability, data integration, and workflow compatibility that's expected for current production. Read more hereA New Solution from Atomos:The Atomos Shogun AV-19 Rack-Mounted 4K HDR Monitor/Recorder/Switcher is your all-in-one solution for professional live production, combining a stunning 19” 4K HDR DCI-P3 display with quad-channel switching, real-time ISO recording of up to four camera feeds plus program out, and support for 10-bit Apple ProRes, ProRes RAW, and Avid DNx recording to CFexpress or USB-C media. Perfect for studios, video village, and broadcast environments, it delivers the monitoring accuracy and workflow efficiency your production demands. The Atomos Shogun AV-19 is available for pre-order now for $2,099.00. Learn more at Videoguys.com or call our production experts at 800-323-2325 today!Podcast Rewind:Feb. 2026 - Ep. 121. Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

How real-time security transforms ERP systems in a cloud-driven world, spotting threats instantly, leveraging AI for proactive defense, and closing common blind spots before breaches escalate. Curious about staying ahead of cyber risks?=====Mohammed Moidheen, SAP security architect at Infosys, unpacks why real-time monitoring is vital amid 2,200 daily cyber attacks costing trillions annually. He highlights blind spots like unmonitored access vulnerabilities, ignored audit logs, unsecured APIs, privileged accounts, insider threats, and poor event correlation in S/4HANA Cloud setups. AI evolves detection with predictive intelligence, automated responses, natural language queries, and cross-system pattern spotting, shifting from reactive to proactive security. Real-world cases show systems halting unusual data downloads and insider data exfiltration in minutes. Advice includes aligning with governance, prioritizing crown jewels, setting baselines, training teams, and correlating data. Infosys aids via assessments and foundational builds.Listen now and rethink what ERP can do for your organization!⁠⁠⁠⁠Download Episode Transcript⁠⁠⁠⁠Useful Links: ⁠SAP Cloud ERP⁠Infosys.comFollow Us on Social Media!SAP S/4HANA Cloud ERP: LinkedIn=====Guest: Mohammed Khan Moidheen, SAP Security Architect at Infosys ConsultingMohammed Khan Moidheen is a Senior SAP Security architect with over 12 years of experience securing and operating large scale SAP landscapes across global enterprises. His expertise spans SAP S/4HANA security, ERP platform services, DevSecOps enablement, and designing audit ready security architectures aligned with frameworks such as ISO 27001, NIST, and GDPR.Mohammed is CISSP and CISA certified and I excel at translating complex security requirements into actionable strategies that are practical , strategically aligned and strengthen organisational resilience.Host 1: Richard Howells, SAPRichard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP's ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.Follow Richard Howell on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠Host 2: Oyku Ilgar, SAPOyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP's digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.She holds dual bachelor's degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master's degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape.Oyku's ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠SAP Community⁠=====Key Topics: real-time security, ERP monitoring, cloud threats, SAP S/4HANA, access management, audit logs, AI threat detection, insider threats, privileged accounts, predictive intelligence

Black Men Trust Black Women?A viral clip sparked a much bigger conversation.In this episode, Ern and Iso dive into the heated question shaking social media right now: Do Black men trust Black women? After a clip from actor Clifton Powell went viral across platforms, the internet erupted with opinions, emotions, and personal stories. This episode cuts through the noise to have a real, nuanced conversation.The duo explore what trust actually means in relationships, how past experiences and generational trauma shape modern dating, and why so many Black men and women feel misunderstood by one another. This isn't about blame—it's about honesty, accountability, and figuring out how we move forward.Topics covered include:What Black men mean when they say “trust”Why Black women feel unprotected and unheardHow social media fuels division and viral traumaEmotional safety, loyalty, and vulnerabilityWhether healing between Black men and women is still possibleThis is a grown conversation—raw, uncomfortable at times, but necessary. If you care about Black relationships, community healing, and honest dialogue, this episode is for you.#BlackMenTrustBlackWomen #BlackLove #RelationshipTalk #BlackCulture #DatingDiscussions #MenAndWomen #ViralClip #CommunityHealing #PodcastConversation #fyp #ernandiso4president

Lesley Logan sits down with Brad Walsh, photographer and host of the Empowerography Podcast, to explore what it really means to be seen. Brad shares how his journey from corporate work into storytelling and photography led him to amplifying women's voices—and why resilience isn't just about getting back up, but about creating a path for someone else to follow. They talk about authenticity, body image, and the shift from a “me first” mindset to leading with service. This conversation is a grounded reminder that sharing your story can create impact—often in ways you don't expect. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:How his photography helped women see themselves in a new light.Using resilience as a permission slip for other women's strength.Realizing every body is beautiful regardless of the package.Shifting from a “me first” mindset toward service-driven work.Letting go of comparison by owning what makes your work unique.Episode References/Links:Empowerography Podcast - https://empowerographypodcast.comEmpowerography Podcast Email - https://www.empowerographypodcast@gmail.comEmpowerography Podcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/empowerographypodcastBrad Walsh LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradwalsh70/Brad Walsh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/brad.walsh.56/Empowerography Live Conference 2026 - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D7QAc3hFxGuest Bio:Brad Walsh is a podcast host/producer, photographer, a published #1 International Best-Selling Author and an International Speaker and who found himself wanting to inspire others during the pandemic. He birthed the idea of EMPOWEROGRAPHY, a Top 1.5% Globally Rated Podcast, a platform that highlights strong, inspirational, dynamic women who share their stories of success, triumph, resiliency and transformation. He had no idea that what started as a simple concept would take on a life of its own. He is excited to share this platform with you and continue to EMPOWER, ELEVATE and EDUCATE by amplifying the voices of women all over the world. He is so excited to share this platform with you and continue to EMPOWER, ELEVATE and EDUCATE by amplifying the voices of women all over the world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Brad Walsh 0:00  It is un-fucking-believable. It is so powerful to be able to give that to another human being. And that's the most beautiful part for me as the photographer to be able to do that and show a woman who she truly, truly is.Lesley Logan 0:17  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 1:00  All right, Be It babe. This is a fabulous conversation you're about to hear. I'm so excited. I really enjoyed being on this person's podcast. They had the most amazing questions for me, and I was like, this person is very unique. I need to share their story on my podcast. And I was excited about it when I asked them. And now that I've interviewed them. I'm even more stoked about it. So you're in for a ride. You're in for a great conversation. I hope you feel like you're, you know, you're at coffee with us and chiming in. And I hope that this also inspires you to be it till you see it in a bigger, badder ass way, because you're amazing. That's not even a word, but I'm making it one. So here is Brad Walsh of the Empowerography Podcast and let us know what you think. Lesley Logan 1:47  Hey, Be It babe. Okay, we're gonna have a really fun conversation, because I already have had a wonderful conversation with our guest today, and after having those over on his amazing podcast, I had to have Brad Walsh, our guest today, over here on the Be It Till You See It podcast. So Brad, will you tell everyone who you are and what you rock at? Brad Walsh 2:04  Yes. Well, first of all, I'd like to say thank you so much for having me and bringing me on board on your platform. I'm excited to be here and share with your listeners a bit about me and what I do. So I am based in Toronto, Canada. My name is Brad Walsh. I am the host and founder of the Empowerography Podcast platform, which was created to help elevate and amplify the voices of women through sharing their stories. I also host women's empowerment conference online every year. We did our fifth one this year, and that's that's my thing. I love holding space and sharing, sharing the stage and shining a light on women to share their stories.Lesley Logan 2:40  So cool. Five, that's amazing. Congratulations. The first few are so hard. And then you get to five, and you're like, whoa, I'll keep doing this.Brad Walsh 2:51  Yeah, well, next year, actually, we're doing it live and in person here in Toronto.Lesley Logan 2:55  Oh, my God, that is amazing. In person is so powerful. Okay, but have you always been a storyteller? Like, have you always been like an event producer? Like, tell us the journey.Brad Walsh 3:07  No, the event producing is new because of Empowerography. Well, new. Five years new, I guess. The storytelling, yes, in a way, because I'm a photographer, so I tell stories visually through capturing images, through capturing moments in time. So yeah, storytelling has always been a part of the journey. My photography, that's my first love, my first passion. That's where everything started for me. I took a photography class in high school, and from the first moment I stepped into that class and into the dark room, it was first love. I fell in love with the art form, and I've been in a love affair with photography ever since. So it's been 35 years there around so, yeah, it's been an amazing journey. There's just something so magical about being able to capture an image in camera and then to develop the film yourself and to see an image come to life on a piece of paper is such a magical and beautiful process. I there's not enough words to describe the beauty in that. So that's where my journey began. I worked in corporate for 12 and a half years as an audio visual tech at one of the big four accounting firms.Lesley Logan 4:22  Like you know, I would never have thought that an accounting firm needed an audio visual tech.Brad Walsh 4:27  Oh, yeah, absolutely. Oh for sure, video conferencing, webcasting, meetings, off site events, yeah, absolutely, there's, yeah, there's a huge need for it, absolutely.Lesley Logan 4:39  Oh, well, that's so cool. I mean, least you got to experience the corporate side of things.Brad Walsh 4:43  Yeah, well, it was, it was for the first six years I loved it. The last six and a half were just terrible. I hated going to work. I didn't like my boss. I didn't love the work anymore. I fell out of love with it because I was constantly thinking about my photography, all the while, while I was working full time as an audio visual tech, I was running my photography business part time, but at that time, I was only creating I was creating art. I wasn't photographing people. I had no interest whatsoever in photographing people. That wasn't my thing. It was more architecture, landscapes, urban exploration, although that shifted a little bit for me during my corporate career, because I ended up getting, to put it politely, tasked with the responsibility at my corporate job, with doing the corporate headshots. Yeah, but I fell in love with photographing people.Lesley Logan 5:36  You're like, oh, you do photos? You can photograph a building, you can photograph a face.Brad Walsh 5:41  Yes, of course. And hey, why not? We've got this guy on staff. He could do this. We could save ourselves thousands upon thousands of dollars by having him do it for free. We don't have to pay him, because we're already paying him a salary. So I mean, that's where I fell in love with photographing people. I loved having that one on one time and that connection that you would get when you when a person sat in front of your lens, it just it created a connection there. And so through that, I a few, a few years after that, after my falling in love with photographing people, I was connected through a mutual friend to a boudoir photographer who was based in Florida, and I fell in love with her work and the mission and the message behind that genre of photography, with what you can help women accomplish in terms of body acceptance, self-love, self-confidence. And I ended up mentoring with her for six months. And when I was done my mentorship, it was just one of those light bulb moments. I just knew that that's what I've got to do with my photography business, when I make the jump, and that's where, that's really where my journey into the whole women's empowerment world started, is through the boudoir photography.Lesley Logan 6:49  Okay, this is so cool. I had no idea. So we had, yes, we had a boudoir photographer on earlier, and y'all are probably hearing this in 2026 so earlier in 2025, and I couldn't agree more. Like I, definitely, so back when I lived in LA, I had a girlfriend who wanted to work on boudoir photography, like, can you just, like, be my practice person? I was like, okay, like, whatever. But then you see the photos of yourself, and you're like, I had no idea the eye was so beautiful and like, that looks so amazing. Because, like, you know, first of all, most of all, most of us see ourselves in the lighting of our own homes, which is not always up to par. And you know, mirrors are interesting how they're not consistent. So like, you don't realize, like, the beauty that you have or the power that you have, and until someone does that. And yet, so many people are afraid of doing that, or think that they wouldn't be good enough for that. So I love this. So this is how you got into telling women's stories. And okay, but was it easy to switch? Was it did you have like this? Because I actually am sorry. I'm getting really excited right now. Okay, I'm halfway through my coffee this morning, guys, we are alive. So I love your journey, because it sounds like so many people. It's like I did this, and I kind of fell in love with it, and then I went to corporate, and then I was fine, and then I got bored, and then there was this other thing I was doing. And so I love this, because it's a journey that we all go on. But then to make the big switch to doing something you're really passionate about, there's still so much fear there.Brad Walsh 8:13  Oh, absolutely. I mean, with just back to the photography for a second, that gift that I am able to give a woman of her seeing herself for the very first time, like truly who she is. It is un-fucking-believable. It is so powerful to be able to give that to another human being. And that's the most beautiful part for me as the photographer, to be able to do that and show a woman who she truly, truly is. Because, as you said, you don't think about yourself. A lot of the women don't think about themselves that way. But then when they see the images, and they see who they truly are and how they're captured, it's inner and outer beauty, and it is so magical, the transformation that takes place in a 90 minute session with me is unbelievable. She walks in one woman, she leaves a completely different woman. And that is what it's about, is being able to show a woman herself in a brand new light, or a different light, a light that she's not used to seeing herself in, or a light that she's never seen herself in. That process. It's, it's, honestly, there aren't enough words to encapsulate the power in that. For me as a photographer, it is so beautiful.Lesley Logan 9:31  Yeah, because you're like, we wrote in something like a, like, a storyteller doula, but like, you are like, like, an empowering me, empowering women doula, you're like, and now go off and, like, impact the world, because it's why I do this show. It's probably why you do your your photography. It's like, I'm really good at what I do, and I love what I do, but my bubble of influence is this. It's whatever it can be, and if I can then influence another woman to be it until she sees it and does something that's so incredibly impactful. Her bubble of influence. And so all of a sudden, like, in my world, the way I envision this, it's like we get all these bubbles, and it's, like it can cover the whole world then, right? Because it's not about one person, it's about all the people feeling their power.Brad Walsh 10:14  That's right? And so with the photography, I got to a point I was probably about two years into my business full time, and I started to feel like I love this. This is amazing. What a beautiful gift this is that I get to do this, and I get paid to do this, but I want to reach more people. I want to have a bigger impact. I want my bubble to grow. And so I thought, Why don't I take the purpose, the mission, the values of the work I do as a photographer, and turn that into or transplant that into a podcast where I focus the platform solely on women. At the time and even now, I don't know of any other platform in the world out there that has a man as a host who solely, 100% focuses on amplifying and elevating the voices of women.Lesley Logan 10:57  Not gonna lie, Brad, when I saw what you're doing, I was like, what an interesting dude. I wonder why he does it.Brad Walsh 11:02  I so I thought, Well, I'm gonna give this to I had no experience interview. I had no idea how to interview someone. No clue. I just thought, you know what, fuck it. I'll figure it out. I'm just gonna jump in. So I reached out to seven or eight friends of mine, women who I had met through my photography journey, and I explained what my idea was for the platform, and of course, it was in its infancy back then, but I shared with them and asked them if they would help me get it off the ground by letting me interview them. They all said, yes. I did the interviews, I created the content, and at that same time, my photography business started to pick up traction. I was getting more inquiries, more booking. So I thought, Okay, I have to, I have to shift all of my energy, my focus, to the business. That's why I left corporate. I shut down the and shelved the podcast, focused on the business. And then, of course, we hit March of 2020. Screwed my business. I couldn't be photographing women. So I thought, Okay, well, you got two choices here. You can go through door number one and sit around and commiserate and complain about what's going on with over half the world. Or you could go through door number two and and see this as a gift that we've all been given and use it to put something good out into the world. We could use that right now. So I reignited the podcast, and here we are, five and a half years later, and it's been an absolutely incredible journey. I have interviewed some of the most beautiful, powerful, inspirational, resilient, courageous women. You being one of them, Lesley, and I mean, it has just been such an incredible journey. It has opened so many doors for me. I and at the foundation of it all is my mom, my grandmother. They are the the inspiration for it. My mom left my biological father when I was 10, he was running around on her having an affair. Back in those days, of course, women stayed home to raise the children while the husband was the one working. So when I look back on that, the fact that she had the strength and the courage to stand up after 15 years of marriage and say, No more. I don't have to put up with this shit. I'm taking my boys and we're leaving, and we left with nothing but the clothes on our back. We moved into a one bedroom apartment. Mom slept on a couch. My brother and I shared a bedroom, and she had to get a job after being out of work for 10 years, because she sacrificed to stay home and raise us and so when she was at work, my grandmother would step in. So for me, those two women are my heart and my soul. I wouldn't be the man I am today without them. And then, of course, all of the women that I've had the honor and pleasure of sitting down with and sharing in their stories, they have all contributed to who I am today because of their stories, because of the lessons and the insights I've I've received from all of these women I take inspiration from every single woman I interview, so they have all had a hand in creating who I am today.Lesley Logan 13:47  Brad, I couldn't agree more. Like I feel that in being able to interview people, even people who I don't really always agree with, I'm like, wow, that's an interesting way to be it until you see it. I probably wouldn't do it. But like, even in doing even in doing that, like, your ability to empathize and see people's whole people, because, like, we, we live in a world where people want to go that person did a bad thing, so they're a bad person. This person did a good thing, so they're a good person. And people are so complicated. They're so complicated. And when you know, growing up, you would hear about like, women who left or divorced people. And of course, the woman always gets the shade like because they're divorced, the divorce (inaudible) and knowing what I know now about when she could get a credit card, when she could get a bank loan, when she you're like, whoa, every single one of those women is the biggest badass I have ever heard of, because that would have been the hardest thing to do, like, because they're though the world was against them, and so like what strength and foresight and like to make sure that you guys saw something different. I, I am in the mood of like reading and re listening to women's stories from the past that have been painted in one way, and hearing the full capacity of it, you're like, oh, actually, you know that's that person is is stronger than we thought, or better than we thought, or cooler than we thought.Brad Walsh 15:07  Yeah. And I mean, then you add into the mix, if they've got children, they have to do what they have to do to help those kids. But to your point about hearing the full story, this makes me think of something I just discovered recently is the Salem witch trials, and what bullshit that was and what the real truth is, holy shit.Lesley Logan 15:30  You guys. We are. We are. I might have got chills. I got chills. We are recording this on Halloween. But like, I actually am in love with the acronym of WITCH, which is, like, woman in total control of herself. Like I am, like, obsessed with the song, I'm obsessed with the acronym, but you're correct, like the Salem witch trials, and also just the witch trials in general, which is just like, oh, she is a healer. She had power, or her husband's dead, and she has got money.Brad Walsh 15:53  She has real estate, yes, exactly. Lesley Logan 15:53  And they're just killing these women. Brad Walsh 15:57  I could not believe it when I went down that rabbit hole, I thought, Holy, fuck the amount of lies that we have been told about that and how women have been painted in such a horrible light, which is totally false, totally bullshit. Lesley Logan 16:11  In fact, you know what? Y'all I'm not saying that this is the most accurate statement, but I think if you've ever heard a historical woman being painted as this horrible person, I would just assume that there's probably a 180 story on that, like. Brad Walsh 16:26  Mary Magdalene? Lesley Logan 16:27  Okay, you read my mind. Because, like, you know, you're like, Oh, she's this poor sex worker home girl was fucking rich. She was she was absolutely bankrolling those dudes.Brad Walsh 16:39  It's crazy. The shit I have learned is unbelievable.Lesley Logan 16:43  Like, do you ever okay? Do you ever wonder, like, Is my whole life a lie? Like, was my whole like, my whole life was a lie? And sometimes I'm like, and so I have been reading there's, um, there's an Instagram channel that his name is for, like, I'm not remembering this moment, but she, like, talks about these, like, women in history that, like, we've just, like, erased, didn't listen to and I'm just like, made myself go every day I'm gonna read one, because it just makes me realize, Wow, we are stronger than we've ever been told we are. And in fact, like all these stories of history and people like, I think it's like these little digs to make sure women feel, Oh, I can't do it. Oh, bad things happen, right? Brad Walsh 17:23  Yep, it's horrible. Lesley Logan 17:25  Okay. The like, you've been platforming women, you've brought up the word resilience, and I, I'm someone who, like, everyone is like, Lesley, you're so resilient. And then what? Some days I just want to go fucking tired of being resilient. I just would, like to.Brad Walsh 17:39  I just spoke with someone the other day, and that's exactly what they said. I don't want to be fucking resilient. I'm so tired of that word.Lesley Logan 17:47  Like, I like, I like, I'm like, you know those, like, those punching bags where you hit them and they come back up again. I'm like, I just don't, I don't know if I should get back up or stayed. I don't know anymore. Like, just leave me. Let me be over here. Yeah, I guess, like, since you've interviewed so many women, you told so many stories, why should we want to stay resilient?Brad Walsh 18:10  Because it because I think that staying resilient by doing that you're giving a permission slip to other women. Because I think I see resilience as courage and inner strength being getting back up that eighth time after being knocked down seven times. That's what resilience is to me. And so when I think, when women do that, it's a permission slip for others, it shows other women what's possible. So yeah, I think, as much as you don't you hate the word, and I understand. I get it. I totally understand. But think about the other women that you are inspiring by doing that. And yes, of course, and there's nothing wrong with getting tired of hearing it. And maybe, maybe you don't have to get up every single time. But I think that by doing so it you are inspiring other women and showing you are proof of what's possible, in my opinion.Lesley Logan 19:00  Yeah, you're right. I mean, I'll keep getting back up, but I do, I.Brad Walsh 19:05  Somehow I can't see you staying down anyway. Lesley Logan 19:07  I don't even think I would know how to, but I, but I also, I also want to highlight that you said, like, it inspires others to actually maybe step outside and get outside, and I think, like, I think that's also why women have to tell their story, and I also think that's why your platform has to exist for women to tell their story, to have a platform if they don't have one, you know, because, like, so the other day, you don't know this, Brad, but I'll just tell you. So the other day, I got a comment on my YouTube channel, and it was like, Oh, I've loved your videos for so long, but you've been gaining weight, and it was better before.Brad Walsh 19:48  It was better. The content was better before you gained weight.Lesley Logan 19:50  Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because yeah. So I and first of all, they had they so they wrote in Spanish. Which is fine. Like, that's their language. No problem. There's Google Translate. So I see this, like, common in Spanish, and I know enough Spanish to, like, pick up. And I was like, that's not saying what it what it says. So I put it through, no, it said exactly what I thought it said. And then, of course, a couple of my subscribers on YouTube, like, they defended it in the best way that they could, which is, is fine, the person then doubled down. So even if we thought, like, maybe it's a cultural thing, like, look, we have, we have a place in Cambodia, and they will ask you, like, point blank, like, why don't you have kids? Why are you bigger? Why are you looking so old? And it's not here. We would take that as, like, what an asshole. There, it's like, if you're heavier or you don't work, you must be rich. Like, so, like, you know what I mean? Like, it's a different and that's a whole different thing, right? Like, to have weight on your bones is sign of money, where, here we're, like, a sign of wealth is, like, can you just be as skinny as possible, right? And then also, like, look like a child forever. So anyways, so they doubled down on it. So we are clear that it's not a cultural thing. This is their opinion. So I, you know.Brad Walsh 21:02  And this was a man, I'm assuming. Lesley Logan 21:04  Yes and I couldn't tell from the handle, until when I called them out and I said, Hey, like, I really hope that when your body changes and it will, that you have space and grace for yourself and others in your life that you love. Because I am, for the record, since you've called it out, 40 pounds heavier than the one I started this channel, and I am stronger and I'm healthier, and I have more longevity, and I will not tolerate fat phobic comments on this channel. Thank you so much, right? And then the person, like, didn't apologize, but was like, Oh, I didn't mean to offend you, which is like, Okay. And then they signed off, and it was a man. And I was like, fucking why the fuck, why is it always a man? Why? But then you know what, here's the thing, I will I will clarify. I've had many women say some nasty things too. So, so I, so I went to the point of the story is, I went on my Instagram account and I shared the story, and I said, you know, like, I am saying this for the women who actually do have to walk into a room that people question. Like, I still go, I'm like, thin passing, right? Like, if we're going to talk about, like, like, I can walk into room and no one's going, Oh, is she? Can she do the exercise? Like, you know, like, what is she doing here? Like, I that doesn't happen to me, but there are women who are in bigger bodies that that happens to and so I just, you know, shared like, this is wrong. Like, bodies do not, size of bodies does not determine if they're a good teacher, a good a good athlete. None of this stuff. The every comment was positive. Every comment was thanking me for sharing, because they felt so seen and so to your point, the resilience of like, I'm gonna get up, I'm I mean, like, if I could punch a bag, that's what I would have done. I'm not a violent person, everyone, but I do think you should punch a bag you know.Brad Walsh 22:46  Yeah or scream into a pillow, whatever it is you got to do,Lesley Logan 22:49  Yes, yes. And so I shared it, and we're talking a 500 comments of women, that is, it was overwhelming. How many people like we're saying, this is what I or like they'll say, like, thank you for saying this. Or some of them are saying, this is what I'm afraid of. And I had to say, like, this is why you have to post, because people don't see that real bodies are out there. They're all the only people who feel like they can post are these 20 somethings. And nothing wrong with the 20 somethings. If you're listening, like, enjoy the metabolism you have while you have it like, have the best time. But we do have to, if we have a story, tell it so that we can inspire other people, yeah.Brad Walsh 23:28  Yeah, for sure. And that, you know what this is, something I love about being a photographer too, is I got to photograph all types of bodies, and every body is beautiful. I don't give a shit what anyone says. Everyone's body is beautiful. It's just a different package that we're looking at that's all and I love that you had the courage to post about it and share it. Because again, and this is exactly what I was saying by you sharing, look at all the comments you got. Look at all the women that stepped up and said, thank you. This is exactly why women need to, not need to. I shouldn't say that. This is why women should be resilient and share and be vulnerable. And I know it's not easy sometimes to be vulnerable, to share your your inner stuff. Think of the impact you can have and who you can help. And that's why storytelling is so very, incredibly poor, important because, and I don't care, I've heard many times I don't have a story. Who's going to want to listen to my story. I guarantee you, as I sit here right now, if you share your story, it will impact one person's life, I guarantee it. And that's all that we're here to do, is have impact. So share your story, as scary as it might be, you can you can edit it. You can decide what parts you want to share. I'm not saying you have to go and share every single detail of your story, but share your story because you will inspire someone else, and maybe by you sharing your story and your struggles, whatever it is, maybe you will help prevent someone from having to go through a similar thing by sharing your story, because you're sharing how you got through it. Lesley Logan 24:14  Yeah. Oh, you. Oh, I love this, okay. I also love the idea like sharing your story even impacts one person. Because, like, if we just, like, who knows? Like, maybe, maybe women are 50% of the population, right? Like, let's just make it even, if you share one, if you share your story and impact one person, you can impact the whole other half of the world. You can impact even just the women around but you can impact, I do think that sometimes we get frustrated with with men sometimes, and it's like, Well, did any women in their life ever tell like, did any woman in their life ever tell them like, hey, don't say that thing that actually you know about others, or here's hey, when you said that, here's a story, like, here's my story, how like that might change it and and that takes courage and conviction. It's not always easy. Some family members suck. So maybe it's maybe it's a co worker, maybe it's a neighbor, but I do think it is important that even if we impact one person, we are changing the world and how it sees everybody.Brad Walsh 25:56  For sure, because that will also ripple out to the person that the people that surround that one person. So you are, in effect, impacting more than one person, because yes, you've impacted that one person directly, but indirectly, you've you've impacted the people around her, because it will uplift her and shift her way of thinking. It'll shift her mindset. It'll help her, which then, in turn, helps everyone else around her, because it lifts her up. Lesley Logan 26:21  Okay. So we've been saying that we should, you know, consider sharing a story of ourselves. We, you know, edit how we want. Where do you like? Where do you get started? What makes a good story? Like we got perfectionist listening. They're gonna want to know some action steps.Brad Walsh 26:36  Yeah, just, just be authentic. Don't bullshit. Don't try and be something you're not. Just be genuine. Tell your story shit. Figure out, drill it down to what you want to share. First, figure out to what part of your story you want to share, and then just share it with authenticity. Just be who you are. Don't put on some facade. Don't put on a mask. Take the masks off and share who you genuinely are. Because I think when you are genuine, when you are authentic, and I know authentic, everyone uses that word, but it's true when you're authentically who you are that resonates with people. People want to see the mess. People want to know that you're human if you're portraying this perfect person that's gone through, you know, with no struggles, no hassles, no, come on, be who you truly are. Share your struggles, but again, you could be selective in what you share. Just be messy, because we are all perfectly imperfect, and it's okay. I think people will resonate with that more when you're authentic and you're genuine, it just it resonates for people, I think.Lesley Logan 27:39  I think so. And I know, like, people have really ruined the word authentic. We got to bring it back, because it's such a good word. I really, and I I think, like, you know, I think some people go, Well, you know, Lesley, Brad, I don't have like, a tragic story. Like, I think people because all the stories they hear is like, somebody like, survived, like, falling off a cliff, and then they turned into, like, some TED Talk speaker, and it's like, hold on, like, you know, like it can, like your story is so it, it will make someone else feel so seen. Like it doesn't have to be that you serve you're the lone survivor of a car accident. You can, you know, you can actually have.Brad Walsh 28:17  No, your story matters. Lesley Logan 28:18  Your story matters. You're correct. It could be that you struggled in school, and then you like, led you to like doing art, and it made you realize, like, you know, art tells I think, that we all are harder on ourselves than we need to be.Brad Walsh 28:30  Oh yes, we are own worst critics, our own biggest hurdles. We are terrible to ourselves terrible. And something someone said to me quite a while back, is when, when I, because I went through I negative talk. Of course, we all do at some point here and there. And I had someone say, Would you speak that way to your best friend? Would you speak that way to your mother? No, of course you wouldn't. So why are you doing it to you the most important person in your life? You. Stop, stop the shit. You don't deserve it. You're amazing. You're incredible. Every single person has a beautiful light within them. It's just a matter of finding it and then shining it. But surround yourself with the right people. Find your like and heart minded people to surround yourself with. Community is everything, absolutely everything. Community, connection, it's community is relationships are currency. You need them. We all need them, but share your story. It's so important.Lesley Logan 29:35  So I get like, what comes up for me on that is like, one, I love that you said we are the most important person our own lives. Like, holy moly. Like, I've never heard it so succinctly, and it's just like, Duh I am if I don't feed myself and sleep and like, I'm the most important person. Yes, of course. And so love that. So you know maybe you can share from your own personal experience, or maybe from. Any of the women's stories you've heard. Like, when you are trying to be more yourself, authentic, share your story. Sometimes your community doesn't exactly like cheer cheer for you. Like, sometimes your community puts those little doubts in your head because of their own fears, of their own shit, and it requires us to, like, find either new community or or or new things to say to ourselves. Like, did you have to go through that when you were making a big transition from, like, corporate to being a photographer or being a podcaster?Brad Walsh 30:27  Like, how did you handle that? So there were a few things when I first, before I was when I decided I was going to make the jump, I had so many people saying to me, are you crazy? There's so many photographers out there, how, like, why would you even do that? It's so you have a you have a good paying job, you have benefit, like, but I'm not happy. So why am I going to stay in something? I'm miserable. So many people stay stuck in that position because it's comfortable, because it's easy, because I have benefits, but they don't want to be there. It's not on their heart. So why you think about the fact that we spend so many years of our lives working? Why the fuck do you want to be miserable every day? Find and you know, you hear the excuse, well, I can't, because I can't. I need money for this. I need money for that. I've got better Okay, great. Those are, those are your reasons. That's your reasoning. Find what you love, start doing it part time, until you can build something up enough that you can do that. I know you know, working a full time job and then pursuing this, but I guarantee you, if you find your purpose, your passion, something that lights you up, that just has creates such a fire in your belly, it will change everything for you. I say it's, for me, it was like winning the lottery twice. Once, because I found my purpose, second, because it impacts people. That's what we're all here for. So when I first left, yeah, I dealt with imposter syndrome. Who the fuck am I to do this? Why would anyone want to work with me, all the things, comparisonitis, I would sit there and, well, why is this person, this photographer, so far ahead of me when I'm here? And I thought I would be here, but all of these things and around that piece of it, I thought, well, when I So, the first thing I did was get a mentor. It was the first thing. He helped me get to the point where that comparisonitis and the imposter syndrome. Well, the imposter syndrome was still there a bit, but the comparisonitis stuff he helped me realize that my only competition is me, as long as I can look back at for me as a photographer and see that my work has grown, my work has improved, that's the only competition now, I don't give a shit what that person's doing as a photographer. It doesn't matter. It has no bearing on me. Because first of all, to compare, comparing someone that's at their five year and I'm at my two year, that's like comparing apples to oranges. You cannot compare the two. It's pointless, right? Secondly, no one has, again, speaking about the photography, no one has my eye. No one sees images the way I see them. No one provides the client experience that I can, because no one else is me. That's part of your superpower. That's part of your gift is nobody else on this planet can do what you do the way you do it, I'm saying. Yes, anyone. I mean, look. Lesley Logan 33:31  I love it. I tell people this. I tell people all the time, you are the only person who can do what you do the way that you do it doesn't matter what industry you're in doesn't matter what your dream is. Even if two people are baking an apple pie from the same recipe, it's going to taste different because of what they put into it, what the energy they put into it. Yeah.Brad Walsh 33:50  Give, give three photographers the same image to shoot the same thing to shoot, all three images, I guarantee you will be different in some way, shape or form, because we don't have the same eyes. We don't see things the same way. And so through that mentor helping me with that, I also I had a me first kind of attitude, too. When I first jumped into photography, like I would, I was starting to go in with, go into brands, companies, and say, you know, wanting to collaborate with them. And I was going and say, well, what, what can you do for me? Like, how can we work together? What am I going to get out of this? And my mentor said to me, said that, Brad, I'm You're going nowhere fast. You have to shift that mindset and go into these companies and say, How can I be of service to you? What can I do to help your brand? It will come back to you if you go in with a mindset of service. It's a fucking game changer, I promise you. It will change everything but the comparisonitis, the the imposter syndrome, the nerves, the fears, all of that thing, all of those things. I, the comparison, I just no more. I don't deal with that anymore. I'm done. I've got my tools. And this is the thing is, get a mentor. Watch videos on YouTube. YouTube University. It's a great place, talk to people who are in your industry. Talk to people that are further along in their journey. They have the experience and the wisdom. Ask questions, it can only lead you up. It's it's so helpful. Just trust in yourself, believe in yourself. And I know it's easy to say, but I'm telling you, it will change everything once you start to believe in yourself, don't worry about competition. I'm telling you, it doesn't matter what business you're running, what company. There is no such thing as competition. Competition comes from lack. You are unique. Lesley Logan 35:53  Yeah, I couldn't agree more. We coach a lot of Pilates studios and like, they'll be like, oh, so and so is going with this many classes, and they have this many performers, and I should have the same and I'm like, what are you talking about? You don't even know if they're successful. They look successful because they made it look pretty. We don't know that could be a way that their family is writing off the business and having a loss. It might be purposely there to lose money. And I say that because I had a friend whose whole existence for her business was to bring the couple's money down because their tax bracket was really high. So like, if I was comparing myself to her, who looks like she has it all together, I could have driven my business into the ground. Like, you have to, look, market research is real, do the thing, but then also, like you have to do it for you, and the impact you want to make and the service want to be. I love this so much. And I also couldn't agree more, like getting a mentor is like it was, and this might be a terrible joke, but for those who I went to public school, I was homeschooled, I went to private school. So I can say this, from this experience, I feel like when you get a mentor, it's like taking your your business, or your idea or your passion, and putting it in a little bit of a private school, putting in a little bit of a because you get extra attention, you have smaller class sizes, you you get someone who's really invested in you. And I'm not saying, like, public school teachers, you're amazing. Thank you for all the work you do, but, like, it just takes your thing to the next level, or you can still do all the things for free, but you've got to make sure that you're going, okay, my YouTube University, I this, I It's like I paid for this. I like invest in that to make sure that I'm applying those things I'm learning. Yeah.Brad Walsh 37:31  Comparison is the thief of joy. Do not compare yourself, because no one else is you. And listen, when I first jumped well before I actually jumped into photography full time, I was doing free shoots. Sometimes that's what you have to do, and that's okay. There's nothing wrong with that. I did the free shoot so I could enhance and hone my lighting skills. Because I had never worked with artificial light before. I'd always worked with natural light. I had to learn how to pose women properly. With boudoir if you don't know what you're doing with lighting and posing, forget it. You're fucked. That's it. It's over.Lesley Logan 37:54  Yeah, the opposite effect could happen. Brad Walsh 38:03  Yes, so I was doing free shoots for friends to hone my skills and to learn. That's how you learn. And I know people say, well, I don't have the money for a mentor, and there's nothing wrong with that. But what you can do is trade services, maybe, find someone you could trade services, what you can provide for them, and do it in trade. There's nothing wrong with that either. I'm hearing a lot more people talk about doing things in trade. There's nothing wrong with that. Lesley Logan 38:33  Yep, yeah. And especially, like, I think that it's easier to put a wall up than open a door, you know, and I think, like, if you don't have the money, and I've been there, y'all, I have been homeless. I've had, like, credit cards, max to the brim, student loans, all the things. And today there is a podcast for everything you want to do, and that person is giving you, I promise you, they're giving away all the stuff they coach on for free in the wrong order. So if you have you either have money or you have time, and so what you could do is take that free stuff, figure out the right order through experimentation, and not compare comparison, and you will get to where you can actually take the money and invest it so it will work out for you, but you have to believe in yourself. And I think that's really the hard thing is that so many people are hope, looking for other people to believe in them first. And this is where I don't know how to like, truly help everyone I want to help. It's like, how do we get them to believe in themselves enough to take the first step? Because they really are amazing, you know? And they're just, they don't know it, you know?Brad Walsh 39:39  You just have to support them. You just have and you have, it's conversations like you and I are having right now and then taking the time to sit with someone and talk to them and find out hey, why you feel if it's a friend or someone you want to help, why are you feeling this way? How can we help you get to the next level? What can we do to support you? How can we get you there? Because everyone has the ability within them. Every single person on this planet is capable of doing anything, anything, anything in the world that they want to do is possible, you just have to. It starts here with us. We are the foundation for all of it, you have to do the inner work. Lesley Logan 40:17  Oh, you are so, I could talk to you forever. I really hope this is an episode people like, like, I hope they're as fired up as I am from this, because it really there's, there's so much possibility out there. We're gonna take a brief break and then find out how people can find you, follow you, work with you and your Be It Action Items. Lesley Logan 40:39  All right, Brad, where do you hang out? You said Toronto. But where do you hang out online? How can people hear more of your amazing tips and these brilliant stories?Brad Walsh 40:43  Instagram, at Empowerography Podcast, my website, empowerographypodcast.com, and Facebook, those, those are the three places I'm on LinkedIn. I'm starting to build up a profile and following on LinkedIn as well. But those are the three main is Instagram, Facebook and my website.Lesley Logan 41:03  Yeah, yeah, no, I'm with you. I with you on the LinkedIn, like, oh my God, if you've been listening podcast for the over 600 episodes, where you guys, I still haven't gone. And honestly, here's where I'm at. I'm just gonna have someone do it for me. I I just, like, I'm not a corporate person, so I don't get half the stuff that it's doing. And I just, I just want to do other things. So that will be my 2026, 2027 goal is to just find someone just rock that LinkedIn for me, but, but I do love my I love my platforms I'm on, so y'all go check them out. Follow, check out the podcast. I mean, if you want to hear resilient stories from amazing women, like, what a great way to fill your cup each week, especially if your community isn't doing that for you. Like, you can start with just hearing a story on a podcast. Okay, Brad, you've actually given us some great tips, but we like them at the end, bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us?Brad Walsh 41:56  Something that my father always said is what's meant for you will never go by you. So if you don't get that thing that you are hoping for, and don't worry, it wasn't meant for you, and something bigger is around the corner, I promise you, just be patient. Wait for it. It will happen. The universe always has your back. It will never, ever let you down. So like I said, if you're not, if you don't get that TED talk, or you don't get that job you wanted, you don't get that client you wanted to work with, it's okay. It wasn't meant to be something else. I promise you, bigger is coming around the corner for you. So be patient and wait for it. It will happen.Lesley Logan 42:35  I think there's such a good like mantra to have, like, written somewhere, like, start your day with it, end your day with it. Like, because I have to say to myself too, like, what is for me will not pass me. Like, what is for me will not pass me. Because you do get doors, like, you're like, Oh, I'm excited about that. Someone asked you to do something. You're like, Yes, I'm in. And they go, Oh, we're going a different direction. You're like, Oh, it feels so deflating. And then you're like, but you have to remember that like, there's another reason why that space is open in your calendar, in your life. Yeah, yeah.Brad Walsh 43:05  That's right. I just sent an email off to invite a guest that I really wanted to have on the show. And they came back and they said, sorry, her calendar is full, so no. And I just thought, Okay, well, this I wasn't meant to interview her now, and no means next opportunity.Lesley Logan 43:22  Yeah, at least you got an email back. That's great. Sometimes people just don't even say no. And so you're like, should I bug him again? Like, that's a door open for later on going, like, in the new year, like, Hey, how's that calendar? Like we can we have the whole 12 months where we want to put it? Brad Walsh 43:37  That's right, that's right. Lesley Logan 43:39  Brad, thank you. What a great, well, for me on a Friday, interviewing you, what a great way to like end my week. I feel so fired up. For those of you who listen to us on a Tuesday, thank you for listening to the Be It Till You See It podcast. We are so excited to have you. Please make sure you share your favorite takeaways with Brad at Empowerography on Instagram or Facebook, or you can check out their website and listen to their podcast and share this with a woman who needs to hear it. You know, like, even that can be the helpful thing you can say to your friend, like, hey, you've been feeling stuck. Brad Walsh 44:10  He you should check this out. Lesley Logan 44:11  Check this out. Like, sometimes that's the thing that helps people get out of being stuck or being in a rut or feeling like they're not seen. So thank you for sharing it. Until next time, Be It Till You See It. Lesley Logan 44:21  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 45:04  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 45:09  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 45:14  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 45:21  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 45:24  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join us in this episode as Tyler R shares his First Step at the Noon Zoom Meeting talking about his Intimacy Avoidance and Sexual Anorexia.   Links mentioned in this episode: https://saa-recovery.org/literature/first-step-intimacy-guide-working-first-step-intimacy-sexual-avoidance-sexual-anorexia/ SAA subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/SEXAA/ Retreats: Bay Area, March 13-15: https://bayareasaa.org/announcements/registration-is-now-open-for-the-2026-bay-area-retreat/  San Diego, April 10-12: https://ocisaa.org/2026/02/12/san-diego-saa-retreatapril-10-12-2026/ Houston, April 17-19: https://houstonsaa.org email for details: houstonthewoodlandssaarecovery@gmail.com Book: Flowers in the Dark - Sister Dan Nghiem, MD   YouTube Links to music in this episode (used for educational purposes): Radiohead - Let Down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVgHPSyEIqk Roger Waters - 5:06AM (Every Strangers Eyes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmoNwdyQzB8 Thom Yorke - Dawn Chorus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9vx6J_pLCA Smoky Pitch - Mitch's Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yts5DYy5TDI Heilung - Tenet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOAixAjugUQ Death Cab For Cutie - Expo '86: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r85SJbsKZxE Thich Naht Hanh - The Five Spiritual Powers (Plus One): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiHEvQZ91A0 Vegyn & John Glacier - A Dream Goes On Forever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTlwiSN0QXw   Be sure to reach us via email: feedback@sexaddictsrecoverypod.com If you are comfortable and interested in being a guest or panelist, please feel free to contact me. jason@sexaddictsrecoverypod.com SARPodcast YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn0dcZg-Ou7giI4YkXGXsBWDHJgtymw9q   To find meetings in the San Francisco Bay Area, be sure to visit: https://www.bayareasaa.org/meetings To find meetings in the your local area or online, be sure to visit the main SAA website: https://saa-recovery.org/meetings/   The content of this podcast has not been approved by and may not reflect the opinions or policies of the ISO of SAA, Inc.

Send a textWe sit down with outgoing TR-42 chair Henry Frank to unpack how standards are made, why contracts turn “voluntary” rules into must-do requirements, and what's changing in cabling for extended reach, fiber polarity, and the 568 family. Clear takeaways for installers, designers, and owners on navigating codes, specs, and practical testing.• codes vs standards vs specifications and how contracts make standards enforceable• keeping references current and using “most current including addenda”• what TR-42 covers across media, methods, and use cases• consensus process, ballots, and public review• consolidation of 568.0, 568.1, and 862 into one reference• fiber polarity challenges for AI and high-density links• extended reach over copper and the focus on field validation• myths and marketing terms like Cat 6e and “industrial” categories• why TIA does not use Cat 7 or 7A and how Cat 6A was right-sized• design tradeoffs: room placement, channel limits, and real estate impact• how to participate in TIA, ISO, and BICSI standards workIf you're watching this on YouTube, would you mind hitting the subscribe button and the bell button to be notified when new content is being producedIf you're listening to us on the one of the audio podcast platforms, would you mind leaving us a five-star ratingWould you click on that QR code right there You can buy me a cup of coffee You can even schedule a 15-minute one-on-one call with me after hours, of course And you can even buy Let's Talk Cabling MerchandiseWednesday nights, 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, what are you doing You know I do a live stream on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and anywhere else I can figure out to send the live stream to where you get to ask your favorite RCDDSupport the showKnowledge is power! Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling . Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at chuck@letstalkcabling.com Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH#CBRCDD #RCDD

We dig into how you should set your ISO to minimize sensor noise in your photos and video. Also, IMAX released a new camera with some significant upgrades, and Nikon might be suing Viltrox for making Z-mount lenses? If you enjoy the show, we'd welcome your support on Patreon. It's only $3 per month and helps us keep the show running. You can check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/cameragearpodcast If you prefer to make a one-time donation, you can find us on Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/cameragearpodcast  Want to send us a question or comment, or just learn more about the show? Check out our website at https://cameragearpodcast.com, or email us directly at cameragearpodcast@gmail.com. Also, some of the product links in the notes below are affiliate links, which earn us a commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Notes: Nikon focuses on licensees as it files patent case against Viltrox [DPReview] Nikon Posts Big Losses and Cuts Projections [PetaPixel] Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Wraps with IMAX's New Cameras, CEO Confirms [Y.M. Cinema] BREAKING: First Look at IMAX's Next-Gen 65mm Cameras on the Set of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey [Y.M. Cinema] A new way to look at ISOlessness [Jim Kasson] DPReview forum thread on the above blog post How to Expose Raw Files – Part 1 [LensRentals] How to Expose Raw Files – Part 2 [LensRentals] Photons to Photos Poisson Distribution [Wikipedia]

In this episode, we welcome Adolpho Veloso, ABC, AIP. Adolpho is the Oscar-nominated cinematographer of Train Dreams, which has been nominated for 4 Academy Awards. In our chat, he shares his origin story, how he learned his craft, and all about the making of this period drama. Adolpho also provides insights into both the creative and technical aspects of his cinematography, as well as recommendations for younger filmmakers today. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:From cinema to proAV: gaining a competitive edge with streaming knowledgeThe worlds of cinema production and proAV are converging. Cinema-grade equipment is making its way into more stadiums, houses of worship, and concert venues. Because of this, professionals that understand the tools and disciplines powering both will stand out. Get ahead of the curve with the latest streaming insights and gear from AJA.Kodak Announces Honorees for the Eighth Annual Kodak Film AwardsAutumn Durald Arkapaw to Receive Lumiere Award; Kristen Stewart to Receive First Feature Award; Christopher Nolan to Present Inaugural Keighley AwardThe 8th Annual Kodak Film Awards will take place on Monday evening, March 2, 2026, at the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Clubhouse in Hollywood at an invitation-only event honoring Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Joachim Trier, Kristen Stewart, Patricia Keighley of IMAX, Salomon Ligthelm and the acclaimed television series Fallout.Kristen Stewart will be honored with the Debut Feature Award for her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water. The award recognizes first-time filmmakers who bring a distinctive voice and vision to their inaugural feature. Past recipients of the First Feature Award include Céline Song, Michael Morris, and Melina Matsoukas.Read more hereNow with Massive 8TB Capacity—Thunderbolt 5 SpeedThe OWC Envoy Pro Ultra now comes in a new 8TB capacity, pairing enormous space with next‑generation Thunderbolt 5 performance. With real‑world speeds over 6000 MB/s and a rugged, bus‑powered design, it's perfect for 4K/8K workflows, on‑location shoots, and fast media offloads. High‑speed, high‑capacity, and ready for serious creative work.Browse hereZEISS Aatma – Contemporary Full Frame Primes with a Soulful Legacy LookZEISS introduces the new Aatma, set of nine high-end full frame T1.5 cinema primes (18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 65mm, 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm) designed to marry the benefits of modern optical design with the nostalgic image characteristics that are popular today. Drawing inspiration from some of the most beloved ZEISS lenses of the 20th century, Aatma combines an emotion-driven look with the mechanical reliability, data integration, and workflow compatibility that's expected for current production. Read more hereA New Solution from Atomos:The Atomos Shogun AV-19 Rack-Mounted 4K HDR Monitor/Recorder/Switcher is your all-in-one solution for professional live production, combining a stunning 19” 4K HDR DCI-P3 display with quad-channel switching, real-time ISO recording of up to four camera feeds plus program out, and support for 10-bit Apple ProRes, ProRes RAW, and Avid DNx recording to CFexpress or USB-C media. Perfect for studios, video village, and broadcast environments, it delivers the monitoring accuracy and workflow efficiency your production demands. The Atomos Shogun AV-19 is available for pre-order now for $2,099.00. Learn more at Videoguys.com or call our production experts at 800-323-2325 today!Podcast Rewind:Feb. 2026 - Ep. 120.Feature Your Brand: Showcase your products or services in “The Making Of” newsletter and reach 255K film & TV industry pros each week. To learn more, please email mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

It's easy to go online and find numerous conflicting opinions regarding ISO and aperture in your photography. In this week's podcast episode, I break down some of the most common myths about these two settings as well as talk about my framework to dial in manual exposure in just a matter of seconds, every time.Links from this episode:YouTube Video Covering Similar ConceptsToday's podcast is sponsored by my friends over at ⁠MPB⁠, the place to buy and sell used photography gear. Go online to get a quote for your gear today: https://tinyurl.com/mse6bzk2

AlpenFlow Design spent nearly six years developing their flagship AlpenFlow89 hybrid binding, and today, Jonathan talks with AlpenFlow co-founder, Steven Waal, about that development process. Then they compare / contrast the AlpenFlow 89 to all the major players in the hybrid binding space. You're guaranteed to learn a lot about the “Do-It-All” category of ski bindings.Note: We Want to Hear From You!Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you'd like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.RELATED LINKS:Lone Pine Gear ExchangeSnowbirdEnter Our Weekly Gear GiveawaySee Our Blister Recommended ShopsJoin Us! Blister Summit 2026For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit RegistrationGet Yourself Covered with BLISTER+GEAR:30 ep 357: AlpenFlow Founders' StoryGEAR:30 ep 345: What's New in Binding DesignCHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)TOPICS & TIMES:Sale: Lone Pine Gear Exchange (2:46)Overview of AlpenFlow (5:32)The AlpenFlow 89 Binding (8:05)What's Changed Since the Blister Summit? (13:38)Pin Toes vs Non-Pin Toes (23:44)Release Characteristics & ISO 13992 (33:20)Product Comparisons:Marker Kingpin (39:00)Marker Duke PT (42:35)Atomic / Salomon Shift 2.0 (45:00)ATK Freeraider 15 (46:26)Cast 2.0 Touring System (49:05)ATK Hy 13 (51:22)Tyrolia Attack Hybrid 14 (52:46)Best Question I Haven't Asked You?(53:40)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Ern & Iso, the duo react to a viral clip where a young woman says she left a nice guy to find better — and claims she did. That sparks the return of one of the show's classic debates: What's Your Rank?Ern and Iso break down how men and women subconsciously rank their partners, the unspoken pecking order in modern dating, and why being “nice” might not be enough anymore. Is dating really about love, or has it turned into a marketplace driven by options, status, and perception?They dive into:What “nice guy” really means in today's dating worldHow men and women rank their partners differentlyThe role of money, looks, personality, and potentialWhether people overestimate their own dating valueIs settling choosing peace… or admitting defeat?This episode gets honest, uncomfortable, and hilarious — classic Ern & Iso energy.

"Don't be afraid to say I don't know. - Will Ritter"  Corrosion is expensive, relentless, and easy to underestimate—until a "lasagna battery" turns aluminum foil green and reminds you what electrochemistry can do in the real world. This conversation reframes corrosion coupons as what they actually are: a repeatable field test that can sharpen your decisions—if you treat the process with consistency.  Respect the coupon, protect the data  Trace breaks down why coupons became non-negotiable in his systems: they turn guesswork into usable corrosion-rate intelligence. Will Ritter of MetaSpec (formerly Pacific Sensor) explains the fundamentals—pre-weighed coupons, exposure time, cleaning, and calculating corrosion rate in MPY (mils per year). The point isn't that the coupon is your pipe; it's that the coupon becomes a reliable, relative gauge over time when variables are controlled.  The "five things" that make results repeatable  Will outlines practical failure points that quietly ruin comparisons quarter to quarter: alloy selection (and staying consistent), surface area (and what happens when hardware covers the coupon), surface finish (including why scratches and pits matter), weight accuracy (and why kitchen/postage scales don't belong in the workflow), and protective VCI packaging that prevents premature corrosion in storage and transit.  Brand building, trade shows, and getting comfortable saying "I don't know"  Will shares his path from Pacific Sensor to MetaSpec and what it looks like to merge brands intentionally heading into 2026. The discussion also moves into trade show presence and digital marketing, plus a simple confidence framework: get comfortable saying "I don't know, but I can find out," and build communication reps—he points to Toastmasters as a low-stakes way to do that.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:20 — Trace sets the stage: why corrosion coupons matter as diagnostic data 04:05 — What a coupon is (size, pre-weighed precision) and why tiny changes matter 06:14 — Trace's "four things" water treaters manage (and what microbial control is not)  07:07 — The "lasagna battery": anode/cathode/electrolyte/path in a real-life example 08:50 — Defining corrosion (ISO 8044 and NACE definitions referenced) 09:50 — Corrosion cost perspective: "2.5 trillion" and "3.5% of global GDP" (as cited)  10:53 – Words of Water with James   12:38 – Events for Water Professionals  14:56 — Will Ritter introduction and why the podcast helped him understand the industry 18:30 — How Will got into coupons: Pacific Sensor, mentors, and early AWT exposure 24:36 — Trade show mindset: don't be afraid to say "I don't know" 27:50 — Toastmasters as a practical system for better speaking and confidence 31:25 — Pacific Sensor → MetaSpec; co-branding and planned transition "starting in 2026" 34:06 — Coupon basics and MPY explained in clear operational terms 36:51 — The big misunderstanding: coupons as a relative gauge (not "the pipe") 40:06 — The "five key characteristics" behind usable coupon data 58:10 — Best-practice takeaway: treat coupons like a lab test brought into the field 01:06:35 — Close: why Trace "owes a lot" to that "little slip of metal"    Quotes "Use the coupon as a relative gauge of the corrosivity of the system." - Will Ritter "Surface finish is critical… a change in surface finish is going to impact corrosion results." - Will "Treat your coupons… like you are taking a laboratory test and bringing it into the field." "It's not a piece of metal. It's very special. Treat it as such." "Digital marketing is free… small businesses need to take advantage of free resources."   Connect with Will Ritter   Phone: (713) 882- 1427  Email: williamrritter@gmail.com   Website: Pacific Sensor - Buy Corrosion Coupons and Test Specimens   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamryanritter/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-sensor/about/      Guest Resources Mentioned   Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization by Ed Conway (Audiobook)  Steel Isn't Hard (To Learn) by Shane Turcott (Paperback)  The Goal: 40th Anniversary Edition: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eliyahu M Goldratt (Author), Jeff Cox (Author)  Toastmasters International  Pacific Sensor Corrosion Coupon Installation Guide  Water Treatment Flyer- Pacific Sensor  Metaspec Capabilities Presentation NACE SP0775-2023 Preparation, Installation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Corrosion Coupons in Hydrocarbon Operations  ASTM-G1-25 Standard Practice for Preparing, Cleaning, and Evaluating Corrosion Test Specimens  TP25-18 The Impact of Metal Surface Roughness on Corrosion Monitoring Water Treatment    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Submit a Show Idea  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  The Rising Tide Mastermind 304 Pinks and Blues: Corrosion Coupons  075 The One that's All About Corrosion Coupons  AWT Guidelines on Corrosion Coupons   Corrosion cost perspective: "2.5 trillion" and "3.5% of global GDP"    Words of Water with James McDonald Today's definition is any of the elements found in Group VIIA, also known as Group 17, of the Periodic Table, including fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine, characterized by the ability to disinfect water.   2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

Interchange fees are one of the largest — and most misunderstood — costs in merchant services. But new changes from Visa are reshaping how optimization works and creating new opportunities for payment professionals. In this episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd speaks with Jeremy Layton, CEO of Verisave, about interchange optimization, Visa's new Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP), and how merchants can reduce processing costs without switching providers. They explain how interchange works, why many merchants overpay, and how real transaction data is becoming critical under Visa's new rules. The episode also explores how ISOs and agents can partner on cost reduction programs, unlock new revenue opportunities, and help larger merchants who aren't looking to switch processors. Plus, Patti Murphy's Today in Payments segment covers major industry developments including Europe's move toward a new payment network, rapid growth from Toast and Zelle, and emerging payment innovations. If you're a merchant sales agent or ISO owner looking for new ways to deliver value — and generate revenue — this episode is a must-listen.

In the final chapter of the Epstein Files trilogy, Ern and Iso close the conversation with a more personal lens.Iso opens up about firsthand experiences being around wealthy friends, exclusive parties, and high-profile charity events—offering insight into how those rooms feel, how conversations move, and how power and access quietly operate. The duo reflects on what they've discussed throughout Parts 1 and 2, tying together speculation, skepticism, and lived experience.This episode isn't about accusations—it's about perspective. What do these environments reveal? What feels normal inside them that might look different from the outside? And after everything discussed across the trilogy, what are listeners supposed to do with this information—if anything at all?Ern and Iso wrap up the series by asking bigger questions about influence, accountability, curiosity, and restraint, leaving the audience to decide where they stand.This is Epstein Files Pt. 3—the conclusion of the trilogy.Tap in. Think critically. Conversation continues.#EpsteinFiles #EpsteinFilesPt3 #ErnAndIso #PodcastTrilogy #PowerAndAccess #EliteSpaces #PersonalPerspective #CharityEvents #UncomfortableConversations #CriticalThinking #RealTalkPodcast #QuestionEverything #MediaNarratives #FinalChapter #FridayPodcast #fyp #ernandiso4president