Podcasts about indesign

No matter how long you've used your favorite creative tools, there's always one more shortcut, hidden feature, or unexpected workaround waiting to surprise you. In this episode, Theresa Jackson and Mike Rankin share a collection of practical tips and "wait, you can do that?" discoveries submitted by CreativePro Week speakers. You'll hear tips for favorite tools from Acrobat to PowerPoint, including clever ways to edit faster, move between apps, customize layouts, animate designs, manage masks, and make AI more useful in real workflows. Theresa also talks with PageProof founder Marcus Radich about PageProof Intelligence (PI) and learns how a proof can mark itself with AI. Episode Highlights Hear why Mike Rankin is looking at Affinity as a useful add-on to Adobe workflows, including an easier way to use images as custom bullets Learn where to find your Firefly generation history, including the prompts you used to create past results Discover how to export video with transparency from PowerPoint Follow Theresa and Mike through practical "round trip" workflows, from editing PDF images in Photoshop to moving Firefly Boards assets into other Adobe apps Hear Amy Balliett's tip for getting better AI results by using more than one AI tool Learn how Ben Willmore uses keyboard shortcuts to build masks faster in Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom Discover Dax Castro's simple InDesign alt-text tip that can save time when adding descriptions to multiple images Resources CreativePro Week 2026: Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026. https://creativeproweek.com/ CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/ Event Savings: Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/ Membership Discount: Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/ PageProof Intelligence: https://pageproof.com/pageproof-intelligence José Semidei: Tips for Creating Gradient Mesh Effects in Illustrator: https://creativepro.com/tips-for-creating-gradient-mesh-effects-in-illustrator/ How to Edit Photos in a PDF with Photoshop: https://youtu.be/aak26NToW5g?si=_ZQBnAU3AkyU6XXV

In this episode, I chat to my 'graphic design daughter' Robin Son, a branding designer and podcast host who has built a thriving creative business in just three years without any formal training. Robin shares her incredible journey from working at KFC to launching her design career during maternity leave; all while sitting in the corner of her mum's kitchen during newborn nap times. We discuss the power of learning on the job, the efficiency of the "One Concept Method," and how Robin strategically used social media to grow an audience of over 100,000 followers. This episode is sponsored by Ivy Malik. Ivy has created a free training to help you understand how higher-paying clients actually think, behave and buy, so you can attract and sell to them more confidently. If you want sales to feel more natural (and less awkward), head to lizmosley.net/Ivy to watch the free training. Key Takeaways The Best Way to Learn is by Doing: Robin and Liz both agree that the fastest way to master complex tools like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign is to have a real client project with a deadline. Confidence Over Credentials: Despite being self-taught, Robin's willingness to say "yes" to projects and figure out the technical details later allowed her to scale quickly and attract international clients from day one. Maximize Your Content: Robin grew her following by repurposing single projects into multiple types of content, including mood boards, process reels, and logo suites. The Power of the One Concept Method: Presenting only the strongest design concept can save time and reinforce your authority as an expert. Episode Highlights 01:40 - Robin's backstory: From retail jobs to starting a design career during maternity leave 04:40 - The "fake it 'til you make it" approach to learning Adobe Illustrator 05:10 - Liz's first big project: Learning InDesign on the fly for a charity annual report 07:00 - Pricing and the panic of those first few $50 client projects 10:50 - Why Robin has used the "One Concept Method" since her very first client 14:50 - The strategy behind growing from 2k to 20k followers in just six weeks About the Guest Website: https://brandsbyrobin.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandsbyrobin/ Robin's podcast: https://podfollow.com/creativeconfessions   I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft ( lucylucraft.co.uk) If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review!

Brett records an episode without Christina and Jeff and chats with Melissa Davis (The Mac Mommy) about her start as a mommy blogger and longtime Mac podcaster, her tech-support work, and the strange lack of closure when online friends disappear. They trade mental-health and chronic-illness updates, Adderall vs. Vyvanse, difficulty finding curious doctors, and being labeled “worried well.” Don’t worry, they nerd out on mechanical keyboards, Karabiner, and remapping keys. GrAPPtitudes include Bartender 6 Pro, Sortio for AI tagging, Sketch Party TV, and Karabiner. Sponsor OneSkin improves your skincare routine with science-backed skin care products. With over 10,000 five-star reviews and validation from clinical studies, OneSkin has made a name for itself in the skincare industry. If you’re interested in trying OneSkin for yourself, you can get 15% off your order with the code OVERTIRED at oneskin.co/OVERTIRED. Chapters 00:00 Meet Melissa Davis 00:56 Early Podcast Days 02:20 Tech Support Seniors 05:52 Digital Legacy Work 06:50 Sponsor: OneSkin 08:14 Mental Health Check In 08:34 Insomnia And Focus 13:19 Doing Time Tracker 16:04 Suspenders And Stenosis 20:18 Mobility And Home Hacks 22:10 Melissa Health Update 23:25 ADHD Meds And Mutations 25:25 Curious Doctors Matter 27:59 Vyvanse Vs Adderall 30:26 Tracking Mood With Data 32:27 Cane And Somatic Therapy 36:09 Somatics For EDS 36:50 Yoga Modifications 38:19 Polycystic Liver Shock 39:20 Fatphobia In Healthcare 40:56 Pole Dancing Reality Check 41:55 Mechanical Keyboard ASMR 45:56 Nail Art And Picking 49:09 Keyboard Layout Rabbit Hole 01:00:59 Shortcuts And Muscle Memory 01:03:12 GrAPPtitude App Picks 01:14:07 Karabiner Power Tips 01:17:30 Wrap Up And Thanks Show Links hEDS Doing Timing Royal Kludge Keyboard Gamakey Silent Linear Switches EPOMAKER Switch Benefit Section EPOMAKER AegisSil Keycaps Set SketchParty TV Karabiner Sortio Bartender Pro Day One Join the Conversation Merch Come chat on Discord! Twitter/ovrtrd Instagram/ovrtrd Youtube Get the Newsletter Thanks! You’re downloading today’s show from CacheFly’s network BackBeat Media Podcast Network Check out more episodes at overtiredpod.com and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Find Brett as @ttscoff, Christina as @film_girl, Jeff as @jsguntzel, and follow Overtired at @ovrtrd on Twitter. Transcript Nails and Keys with Melissa Davis (The Mac Mommy) [00:00:00] Meet Melissa Davis Brett: Hey, this is Brett Terpstra. I am without my usual cohorts, Christina and Jeff. Um, so I, I wanted to, you know, get a, get an episode out for all of you listeners, and I reached out to Melissa Davis, known as The Mac Mommy. Um, I don’t, I, I don’t know if they’re still known as The Mac Mommy, but in m- in my lifetime they have been. Um, Melissa, why don’t you introduce yourself, let people know, like, M-Ma- long time, like Mac personality, podcaster. Tell us where you came from. Melissa: Where did I come from? Outer space. Uh, I came from being a mom. I, I, I will admit, this is hard to admit, But I will admit I started out as a mommy blogger. That’s, like, kind of a bad word nowadays. Brett: back, back, yeah, this is way Back when Melissa: [00:01:00] Yeah. Early Podcast Days Melissa: so we’re talking, like… Well, my oldest is gonna be 20, Brett. My oldest is gonna be 20 this summer. End of, end of June he’ll be 20 years old. So that’s about how long I’ve been doing podcasting. I mean, I started, I started, like, when… Well, you know what? I started listening to Adam Christianson’s The MacCast Brett: But you know what? I started Sure. Like one of the very first podcasts, Yeah. Melissa: still, I still listen to him on the Mac Geek Gab. Like, his voice is just so soothing to me. I used to… Like, that was the f- Back when I had, I had, I remember I had, like, an old G4, uh, Quicksilver Mac, and in the stinky little back room of our old house. And I used to, I used to download the podcasts, burn them on a CD, put them in my Walkman, ’cause I didn’t have an iPod yet at the time. I wasn’t that… I was never really that cutting edge. And I’d burn them on a CD, I’d put the CD in my Walkman, and then I would sit and nurse, I would nurse my baby. I, [00:02:00] and I would have to tuck the, uh, the headphones, you know, I’d have the ear- the, the wired, kinda like I have now, uh, and tuck it behind my back, like, behind my shoulder, because otherwise he’d, like, yank on the cord. And I would just listen to podcasts while I nursed. And I… And then, uh, then I met Victor Cajiao, and I started just kind of being, like, a serial podcaster, showing up here and there, and then it just kinda grew from there. Tech Support Seniors Melissa: Um, and I do… So I do tech support. I’m an IT tech s- tech support person. I… People call me their computer guru. I mostly work with, uh, the senior population, our, our vintage people, which I, I’m slowly becoming one of them. We’re all, we’re all gonna go that way. Brett: I feel like anyone who does Mac tech support deals with probably an, a, a population that skews older. Melissa: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, it’s actually, it’s actually more– I will say it’s actually more difficult to work with somebody younger. Like, especially people my age or people [00:03:00] that are like, say, in their sixties I consider pretty young, 70 even. Uh, yeah, so but it’s, you know, the people are so, so interesting. You can learn so much. I love working with this population because they’re like encyclopedias, and the stories they tell you and the things you learn, it’s pretty amazing. And I could just, I could just spend– I have actually spent all day with some of them. Some of us just have really great chemistry and, you know, it’s… They– I, I’m also– I have ADHD, that’s no secret. And I think when you get older, um, not– it doesn’t affect everybody, but I do see a lot of what could be either they, they have ADHD or it’s like a– Brett: they have Melissa: of creeps in and it’s just a natural process of aging, cognitive decline. So, yep. Brett: have a lot of patience. Sure. S- some of my, some of my most interesting relationships over the last 10 years have been with, uh, Mac users in their late 70s, [00:04:00] 80s. And, uh, like they’ve been– They’re very– Like, they’re definitely… The people that I’ve known have been technically capable and very interested in learning. That’s why they follow me. That’s how I meet them, right? They’re like, they read my blog, which is just all nerd stuff. And, and so they’re, they’re technically competent, and they’re doing things that I can only aspire to be doing in my 70s and 80s. Um, I had a guy who was writing his memoirs at, in between like mountain bike rides. And so here’s the thing, though, is when you, when you know someone online and they’re in their 80s and you stop hearing from them for a Melissa: Yes. Yes. Brett: you have to assume that they have passed on. and that is sad, and you never really get any closure because you don’t know their friends or family. You [00:05:00] never get like a notice, an obituary. You don’t, you don’t know where these people go, um, and you don’t know how to check in on them once your normal channels of communication are severed. Melissa: Yeah, we’re at that age where we probably start reading the obituaries. Like, I haven’t heard from so-and-so in a while. Let me check the obits." Brett: I had, I had– Before NVUltra went on for, what’s it, like five years now, uh, without a release, um, I had a project called BitWriter with David Halter. And Melissa: remember you mentioning that, yeah. Yeah, and you wondered. Mm-hmm. Brett: he stopped responding. Melissa: you find out any at all? Any, Any, concrete… Brett: Nothing. I have put feelers out everywhere I can think of. I have no idea what happened to him. Melissa: went Richard Simmons, huh? Brett: yeah. Yeah. With less Melissa: No contact. No contact. Aw. Digital Legacy Work Melissa: I, I’m lucky that, uh, in my line of [00:06:00] work, I do typically hear from the family if they’ve passed on, because I form kind of a bond with a lot of people. I, I typically don’t lose clients unless they die, so… Brett: and you have some, like, in real life connections to Melissa: Oh, yeah. Yeah, I do, I do both. I do… I have some clients where I’ve never met them in person, I’ve only ever done remote. Uh, and then, but most of my clients are, are local, the majority of them. But I, I still s- see them remotely too, so yeah. I’ve, I’ve actually been hired by some people, um, mostly I’ve had two male clients who they got a terminal illness, they knew they were terminal, and they followed me online and they pretty much hired me to take care of their surviving spouse. So that, that was… that’s a difficult thing, but I’m just honored that they chose me to, to help them out with that. So I’ve kind of been a bit of a digital undertaker in that regard. Sponsor: OneSkin Christina: I want to take a moment to share something that has significantly improved my skincare routine, OneSkin. [00:07:00] So we all have those days when our skin doesn’t feel its best, and I’ve certainly been in that boat, especially recovering from surgery. And I was tired of navigating through endless products that promised results, but often fell short. And that’s when I discovered OneSkin. It was founded by scientists dedicated to longevity, and this brand stands out for its commitment to real science over marketing hype. They tackle the fundamental question of how to actually slow down skin aging rather than just masking it. And their groundbreaking ingredient is, uh, ZeroS01, and it’s a proprietary peptide designed to help deactivate the damaged cells that contribute to aging skin. Since incorporating OneSkin into my routine, I’ve actually been noticing some improvements. My skin feels smoother. It looks more vibrant. Um, it’s definitely more moisturized, and so this is benefiting from its focus on supporting collagen and strengthening the skin barrier. With over 10,000 five-star reviews and validation from clinical studies, OneSkin has made a name for itself in the skincare industry. If [00:08:00] you’re interested in trying OneSkin for yourself, you can get 15% off your order with the code OVERTIRED at oneskin.co/overtired. That’s 15% off at oneskin.co/overtired using the code OVERTIRED. Thank you for supporting our show by checking them out Mental Health Check In Brett: Um, so do you wanna do a mental health Melissa: Sure. Brett: I, I know, I know you’ve listened to the show before. I know you know how this works. Melissa: how this works. Brett: Would you like to start? Melissa: I think I would like to hear you start, and then I’ll, I’ll add on Brett: that sounds good. Insomnia And Focus Brett: Um, so sleep continues to be a major issue for me. Um, I actually for four days in a row last week, I got eight hours of sleep a night, which was insane. I felt so good. Um- The first night… So I take [00:09:00] Lamictal for bipolar, and if I miss my evening dose, I crash and I sleep in the next morning, and I sleep soundly. Like, it’s the best sleep I can get. And then I wake up and all of a sudden the withdrawal kicks in, and then I’m shaky and dizzy for half an hour after I take the dose. Um, but that’s after, like, a solid night of sleep, and it never works two nights in a row. And, like, I’ve tried, like, maybe if I take Lamictal in the mornings instead of the evenings, maybe I’ll sleep through the night. It doesn’t work after that first missed dose. Um, but then I just, without making any changes in my lifestyle, started sleeping, and I thought finally after, like, two years of insomnia, I had turned a corner, because I can’t remember the last time I got eight hours of sleep for more than two nights in a [00:10:00] row. And then it ended, and then I was up. I’ve been up since 2:30 today. Melissa: I wondered, yep. Brett: I mean, I went to bed at 8:00, so that’s still nine, 10, 11, 12, 11, Melissa: I actually dozed off on the couch around 8:30. Like, if only I could just be in my bed right now, just be, like, transported. Yeah. Oh. Brett: Oh, I, I wish. If I could go back to bed… Like, sometimes I’ll, I’ll lay back down around 7:00 or 8:00 and get, like, another half hour of sleep, but it’s really that, like, uninterrupted block of deep sleep that I need, not… I take naps during the day, and I can usually fall asleep for half an hour, um, given that I’m usually functioning on five hours of sleep anyway. But anyway, um, I– That, that’s just kind of par for the course for me, so, like, any, any of our listeners know that that’s gonna be the first thing I report. Melissa: are you, [00:11:00] like, kinda competing? Like, are you trying to get eight hours because that’s what’s prescribed? Have you ever thought about Brett: be- actually, what works eight and a half, like I’ve, I’ve… Back when I had the option to sleep more than five hours, like, I did a lot of kind of experimentation and Melissa: know where your sweet spot is. Brett: Well, it… See, the sweet pot- spot changes as you age, though, and you need less sleep as you get older. So, so I can’t say for sure that eight and a half hours is still my sweet spot. Um, and I think honestly, if I can sleep seven hours, I feel pretty good, and I consider seven hours a good night’s sleep. Melissa: Yeah, ’cause mine’s like between four and six. Brett: really? Yeah. See, Melissa: feel Brett: I don’t function well. Oh, I don’t function well on anything less than seven hours. Melissa: I just have a love-hate relationship with sleep. I just don’t– I just hate to sleep. I just would rather be doing other things. Life is [00:12:00] just too interesting. Brett: I get that. I– get that. I– as someone who’s bipolar and has had like manic episodes where I’m up for five days straight, like I, I love not sleeping. Um, w- when, when I have the mania to give me energy and back it up. It’s when I’m just dragging all day and feel like a zombie. The thing– The, the plus side to it is the more tired I am, up to a certain point, the better I can focus. Like my brain slows down and it’s really easy for me to get into hyperfocus. And like most mornings I’m up at, you know, 2:30, 3:00 and I just start coding. And I can not only hyperfocus, but I can switch focus between three or four different projects like simultaneously. I hit compile on one, I move on to the next one, and I can rotate [00:13:00] through them and like keep track of all of it. And then right around 10:00 AM, my ability to do that ends and suddenly I like flip to a project and I cannot for the life of me remember what I was doing, which is why I’ve spent my life building note-taking apps and, and time tracking tools. Melissa: Yep, same thing. Doing Time Tracker Brett: dude, h- d- I don’t… You might not be familiar with my project Doing. Melissa: N-no, but I– you alluded to something. that’s not what you’re working on with Dan though, is it? Brett: No, no, that’s gonna be Melissa: Dan on that too. I, I, don’t know what it is yet, but yeah, I’m, I’m Brett: Oh, it’s… Yeah, it’s gonna be cool. Melissa: that’s so exciting. Brett: no, Doing is a command line tool where you can type things like, “Doing now podcasting with Melissa,” and it starts a timer for like what I’m doing now, and then I can ask it if I leave and come back, I can say, “What was I doing?” And it’ll tell me, [00:14:00] “You’re podcasting with Melissa.” Obviously, that’s a weird example ’cause I’m not gonna leave in the middle of this. But then it can give you like totals, time, tag-based time totals, uh, for your week and everything. It can show you like what you finished yesterday. Um, it’s not so much a task tracking app as it is a tool for keeping track of what you’re doing in the moment. Um, for, for people like me who switch between four projects at once, it’s really handy. And some guy, some fucking guy Melissa: Some fucking guy. Brett: it, rewrote it in Rust, and it is really good. it is really good. Uh, he like, I- Oh yeah, I use Melissa: Okay, ’cause Brett: This is, this is separate. this is this is a little more ‘ intentional than Timing. Um, I use both. They kind of work together, and Doing can actually import Timing’s JSON exports. So you can turn your, you can turn [00:15:00] all your Timing data into command line, uh, readable Doing files. Um, but anyway, this guy rewrote it in Rust with my permission, and he gave me full credit on the page. And I think I’m switching ’cause Doing is written in Ruby, and Ruby is slow, and Rust is fast. And like my Doing file where it stores all of my current projects, like my Doing items, gets so big that it can take Doing like up to five seconds to respond when I ask it, “What was I doing today?” Which is five seconds is a long time on the command line. Um, and his Melissa: pretty instantaneous. Brett: his version is like 100 milliseconds. Boom. But anyway, Melissa: It’s almost like you built your own little AI thing. Like, what was I doing? What Brett: kinda, kinda, yeah. Melissa: you doing, Dave? Brett: This is, this [00:16:00] was built long before AI was a common thing, but the other thing that’s contributing to my mental health Suspenders And Stenosis Brett: is suspenders. Melissa: Ah, yes. Brett: So I have I have gained 100 pounds, um, not, n-not of my own choice, but like I had rapid weight gain and I recently got a stenosis diagnosis, which I hate the Melissa: telling you, I’m telling you, we’re like 23 and me here. I’ve got that too. Brett: apparently during one of my, like when I gained 50 pounds in like six weeks, my body was looking for places to store all the new fat and decided my spine might be a good place for that. Um, so I have fat in my spine and I have degrading discs. This is separate from my love of suspenders, so I’ll get back to [00:17:00] that. I, um, Melissa: Wait till you get it in your eyeballs. Brett: Oh, for real? Melissa: Yeah, you can have… I have, um, what’s it called? Cholesterol. Yeah, if you look at your eyes really close, if you see like a white kind of w- ridge around your irises, that’s cholesterol. Brett: Oh, wow. Yeah, I hope, I hope that hasn’t happened yet, but who knows? Um, Melissa: Brings out Brett: I– So I have all this, I have all this extra weight and I had a lot of trouble with belts. A, belts hurt ’cause they dig into my, my gut, and they don’t really work. I, every, every time I stood up, my butt crack showed and I had to like wiggle my pants up. And then I I tried a pair of suspenders and it was like a l- a switch had been flipped. All of a sudden my pants just stayed up without any constriction around my waist, just like they just stayed with me wherever I went. And now I can, [00:18:00] I can tuck my shirts in and it actually looks kinda cool when you got the suspenders look going on. Which means, so like for a long time I only wore one brand of shirt, um, and because they, it was, it fit my belly and it was long enough and like it wasn’t, wasn’t baggy around the top and didn’t hang off my belly like a muumuu. Melissa: Mm-hmm, Brett: And like, so I, I, I only wore this brand of shirt and I own like 15 of them, and I would just cycle through Melissa: dresses, they’re just your Walmart $10 cotton tank dress. Love it. Brett: Yeah. But now that I can tuck my shirts in and feel okay about it, I can buy those extra large nerd shirts, ones with funny slogans and stuff on them. And normally those would hang straight down off my belly, and I hate the way that looks. But now I can tuck those in, which means I can get back to wearing funny, [00:19:00] ironic T-shirts, and it, it’s like opening up a whole new world of possibilities Melissa: That is a bonus for mental health. Brett: every day now I put on my suspenders and it makes me happy. Um, Melissa: wonderful. It’s almost like a, like a mobility aid. Brett: Kinda, yeah. Melissa: yeah. Brett: of, I– So I, I have a monopod, um, like a tripod that folds up into a walking stick, and it’s nice and light and it is an adjustable height ’cause it’s designed to be used as a camera tripod. Um, and I’ve started walking with it Melissa: yeah. kinda like you’re Brett: I c- yeah. Yeah. Like one of my fat friends has s- literal like ski poles. They’re like half height ski poles and they walk with them and it helps them a ton, and I Melissa: Yeah, hikers use those. Brett: try that out. But a walking stick [00:20:00] really does help with my stenosis, but I can still, even with a stick, I can only walk for about five minutes, which is about .3, Melissa: Yeah. Brett: 3, .3 miles. Um, and then I have to stop and sit, and it’s been a real pain, literally. Mobility And Home Hacks Melissa: And is standing difficult, too? Brett: standing is worse than walking. Melissa: thing, yeah. Standing’s worse. Brett: Yeah. Like if I am in the kitchen and I’m at the stove cooking, before the onions start to brown, I have to sit Melissa: Yeah. Yep. Brett: Uh, so we now have a stool in our kitchen, Melissa: Do you have one in the shower? Brett: yes. Well, our shower, our shower has a nice, like the back of the tub is a seat. Melissa: Oh, okay. Yeah. Brett: I don’t know if this house was designed by old people or not, but, um, but it’s certainly everything is relatively [00:21:00] accessible in that way. Um, but the stool in the kitchen means I can cook dinner. Emptying the dishwasher is the worst for me. That just like bending over, picking stuff up, and then just moving back and forth, like the five feet across our kitchen. My– I, it takes me three stops, three rests to get a dishwasher emptied. Um, and then I’m kind of ruined after that. I hate it. And I hate that I Melissa: stress mat? Brett: What’s that? Oh, you mean Melissa: mat to stand on? Gotta get, gotta Brett: think that would help? Melissa: Oh, yeah. Yeah, I have Brett: used to have one Melissa: and one in front of the kitchen, and I don’t even, I don’t even, do the cooking. Brett: Ha. I used to, I used to have one of those in front of the stove when I w- when I didn’t have pain, but just because I was really getting into cooking and I was spending a lot of time, and I was starting to feel it in my knees. Um, yeah, maybe I should do Melissa: I think it’s a fatigue [00:22:00] mat, I think they call it. Brett: Yeah. Melissa: Yeah, Brett: That sounds Melissa: plus they look cool if you get little designs on them and stuff. Yeah. Oh, we could spend the day talking about just mobility aids and ergonomics and all that kind of stuff. Melissa Health Update Brett: Well, it’s your turn. Talk about whatever you like. Melissa: Yeah, you give me some ideas to talk about. Um, yeah, I struggle with a lot of the same things that you do. Um, I’m always like kinda comparing notes every time you post something. I’m like, "Oh No, ‘Cause you talked about Have you … You haven’t started the injections yet, have you? Brett: No, and they just delayed those. I don’t get them until like June 20th or something. Melissa: nervous about those for you, because I’ve had those and I’ve decided to just swear off them, so I’ll just kinda give you just a heads-up. I mean, it does raise your blood sugar, so that’s not great, and, um, it can give you the roid rage, kinda make you angry, so that’s something to watch out for, and more weight gain, so …But it’s like one of those things where you just have to kinda try [00:23:00] it and see if it works, because if it does work, then you could be more mobile and then maybe drop a few pounds and get some of that weight off of your spine. But if it doesn’t work, just know that that can happen, Brett: my doctor did not mention any of those side effects, so good to Melissa: Yeah. Yeah. It’s, it’s the chronic life, so that’s, that’s what, that’s what, uh, affects my mental health, so I’m, I’m really good at faking it. I am actually … I will say I’m actually feeling a little bit more even. ADHD Meds And Mutations Melissa: I’m on, uh … I love when you talk about different prescriptions and stuff. Uh, I just mentioned, so I’m taking Adderall. That is, ugh, it’s a mixed bag. Um, I wanted to ask you about Vyvanse, cause that’s the next thing for me, but it’s, like, super expensive, so I’m trying to make Adderall work as best I can, but I’m, I’m in the process of playing with the dosage. But I think she told me, like, the highest was 30. The thing is, uh, I’ve had genetic testing done, and [00:24:00] I have this condit- not a condition, but it’s a I’m a mutant. It’s a genetic mutation called, it’s, it’s just initials. It’s MTHFR, lovingly known as Brett: you process your, your, chemicals twice as … fast. I have Melissa: Yes, faster processing in the liver. So that’s when she told me, ’cause she started, uh, me out on methylphenidate, and I was like, “Well, what about Adderall?” Because it, I see it work for my kids, you know? The kids are chip off the old block, right? And so I’ve had them tested too, and all three of us are positive for that. It’s lovelin- lovingly known as the motherfucker gene mutation. Um, yeah, so, and it is. It’s, it’s quite a bitch, um, ’cause it causes a whole bunch of other problems. And of course, we’ve talked about Ehlers-Danlos, so I have, uh, hypermobile Eh- Ehlers-Danlos. I’m having a hard time … I’m just having a hard time with that in general, mental health wise, because there’s just not enough awareness about it, enough people, and doctors, doctors and nurses. And you know, I’ll, I’ll say I wanna, I would love to be able to get [00:25:00] to a point where I can just say, “I have H-E-D-S,” or heads or what- however they’re gonna pronounce it, and, like, somebody know what that is when I go in for an appointment. But I still have to explain it, you know? And then that, that cuts into my time. ‘Cause they only … When you’re, when you’re our age, they only give you, like, 15 minutes, if that. When you’re much older, ’cause I’ve had to take, I’ve had to take family members to the doctor, they get a whole lot more time. But, uh, you know, it’s like, "Oh, you’re, you’re too young to be this sick. You’re too young to be this old," Brett: Right. Yeah. Curious Doctors Matter Brett: Um, I did– I found that doctor for me that knew exactly what all those acronyms meant, knew exactly, like, not only did they know what POTS was, they knew like seven different kinds of POTS and what tests to use to narrow it down. And then she got called up to National Guard Melissa: Oh, I wondered, I wondered, what happened to that doctor, ’cause it sounded so Brett: I waited. I was on a, I was on– I w- I had an appointment scheduled that was gonna be six months from the time she [00:26:00] left. Um, and I had it scheduled, and it was on July 7th. And then I got a letter in the mail saying that her Guard duty had been extended, and now I can’t see her again until September. And, like, I’ve, I’ve tried seeing other doctors that work with her, but none of them have the knowledge she has, and it was such a relief Melissa: Is this the curious one? Okay. I always think about you whenever I’m either looking for a provider or in the, in the midst of, of getting, you know, shuffled around to a new provider. I’m like, “I hope they’re curious,” ’cause that made– that meant so much to me when you explained about how a doctor needs to be curious. I’m like, “That’s what I need.” I need somebody… Or even just my therapist. I have a new, a new therapist that I see, and she’s really curious, and I really, really like that about her. That’s something that helps with mental health, is when somebody’s curious, ’cause I’m Brett: it goes h- it goes hand in hand with credulousness. Like, [00:27:00] first they have to be willing to believe you, and like, especially when it comes to invisible issues like EDS. Like, you have to be willing to believe a person and then be curious enough to look for answers. Like, the first step is believing, and the second step is curiosity. Melissa: Yes. I’ve already had my patient record marked as… Have you ever heard this one? Worried well. Brett: No. Melissa: I looked it up. It’s basically hypochondriac. Brett: Yeah, that’s what I was gonna guess. That Melissa: Yep. I actually– I was proud of myself because I actually did confront the doctor about it and I said, “What does this mean?” I said, “I, I looked it up and it kinda concerns me ’cause it makes me look like a hypochondriac.” And she said, "Oh, no, no, that’s just a, a code that we use when we don’t have something else to assign to it so that insurance will pay." Bullshit. Brett: Yeah, right? I feel like that’s exactly the kind of [00:28:00] thing insurance doesn’t pay. Melissa: Mm-hmm. so Vyvanse Vs Adderall Brett: what do you wanna know about Vyvanse? Melissa: Um, a- and I know it’s different for everybody, but I just kinda wondered what your take was on it. Um, how– can you compare it to Adderall at all for me, Brett: Yeah. Melissa: no comparison? Brett: it’s basically a non-abusable, I would call it lower lying version of, of Adderall. Like, it’s in the same family of stimulant as Adderall, but it can’t– It isn’t processed or it’s… I don’t remember how the mechanics of it work, but you can’t snort it basically. Like, it doesn’t, it doesn’t do anything Melissa: Which I wouldn’t wanna do anyway ’cause there’s nothing up here. Brett: Sure. Sure. And then, yeah, I’m not suggesting that was gonna be a problem for you. Um, but it’s also, like, it’s way, um, for me anyway, it’s way calmer. [00:29:00] Um, and there are people that say it doesn’t do anything at all. Um, especially a lot of people, a lot of people say the generic version doesn’t do anything, um, and that the name brand version does, but I haven’t found that to be true. Like the generic, which you’re correct, still costs like 200 bucks a month, um, for the generic. Um, but it is– It’s not my favorite. Melissa: I wondered why– what made you stop taking it. Did it just not work for you? Brett: No, I still take Vyvanse. Um, yeah. Um, I used to take, um, Focalin, which I loved. Melissa: That really worked for my kiddo, yep. Brett: but it also triggered my mania, Melissa: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Brett: so I was always walking this line of like, do I wanna be super productive and manic with like weeks of depression in between, [00:30:00] or do I just wanna be somewhat productive and stable? Um, which is why I’ve stuck with Vyvanse, and my doctor loves it enough for me that she won’t, she won’t prescribe anything else for me at this point. Like, I’ve asked about switching. I’ve asked about moving back to Adderall and things like that, but, Melissa: It seems like you’re, like you’re kinda on an evening out. Brett: Yeah, I haven’t had a manic episode for a couple years now. Tracking Mood With Data Melissa: Do you track it? Do you– Like, have you ever seen those– I keep seeing these ads for it ’cause, you know, the algorithm feeds us the stuff for wearables that are, um, called– I think it’s called Visible, so it makes your symptoms more visible instead of invisible. Like, do you track it? Do you Have you nerded out on your own data? Brett: like my mania and depression? Melissa: Yeah, like do you track it and look at graphs or anything like that to Brett: See, I’ve never had to use an external tool because I can just look at GitHub contribution graphs, and I can look at [00:31:00] my RSS feed, and I can see exactly, like for a period of like eight years, I can pinpoint exactly where my manic episodes were, um, because that data is historically preserved out there on the internet for all to see. Um, it’s, yeah, it’s– Well, and that’s, like I built tools that gathered that, those various sources of data. Um, and then there was a, a tool called, um, I forget. Melissa: cool, though? Hmm. We’ll think Brett: But it could pull, it could pull in all that data. Um, Bell Beth Cooper, Hello Code, I can’t remember the name of the app. Melissa: Yeah, it’ll come to you eventually. Brett: sure. Uh, but it could pull in like your GitHub, uh, commits along with like what the weather was at the time, how many songs you listened to that Melissa: Oh, day one sorta does that, yeah. Brett: Does it now? Melissa: A little bit, yeah, your locations, [00:32:00] um, if you turn on some of those things. Like not– I don’t think it does the music and things like that, but Brett: I haven’t used it for a while. I haven’t used it for a Melissa: I was gonna switch to the journal app. I was actually really… I held off on upgrading to Tahoe for the longest time, but that one kept nagging at me ’cause I thought, oh, you know, maybe. I mean, as much as I love Day One, I, I thought about, I thought about actually switching over, but no. I tried it. I’m, I’m gonna stick with Day One. Brett: Cool. All right. Cane And Somatic Therapy Brett: Um, so did you have, did you have more to add to your Melissa: Oh, I was gonna, I was gonna add on to what you were talking about with the suspenders. I did start… I think you probably… Well, yeah, you commented on it. Um, I started using a cane, and that I have mixed feelings about that. Um, I should have brought it in here so I could show you. I’ll show you later, ’cause, uh, anyway, it’s, it’s purple. I did get a pimp cane. That’s what my husband calls it. I thought, damn it, if I’m gonna use, like, a cane, then it’s gonna be [00:33:00] purple, and I’m gonna like looking at it, as much as I hate to use it, so. So I’ve been trying to use it. I… What you were talking about with, uh, with finding a curious doctor, I do have new physical therapist, um, so I’m really happy about that. Same kind of thing where she’s super booked. I think that’s just how it is. Like, the really good ones, they’re good, and, you know, it shows because it’s, it’s hard to get in to see them. So yeah. So I’m, I’m looking forward to that. We’re gonna be doing… Have you heard of somatic therapy? Brett: Yeah. Melissa: Yeah. So ha- have you tried it? Do, do you like it? Okay. That’s, that’s what I’m embarking on. Brett: I actually have a friend who teaches classes in it. Melissa: Oh, Al probably knows about that. Brett: y- yeah, Melissa: Yeah, I’ll, I’ll Brett: and it is, it is amazing how hard just doing things, doing motions you’re used to, but doing them very slowly and intentionally. It is like you– Just like, Just like, doing y- like a clamshell where you drop your knee, you’re [00:34:00] on your back and you drop your knee down to the side and bring it back up. Like that motion, most of us, even infirmed people can do that okay. You try to take… You try to do that and take like five breaths in each direction, and you’ll start shaking. It’s very Melissa: Ah, uh-huh. Yep. Brett: Yeah, but it’s good. Like it’s g- it really retrains your muscles. It really, it strengthens, retrains, and helps with, uh, finer motor control. Melissa: Oh, that’s interesting. Yeah, I, I’m, I’m a little bit on the skeptical end of it, so that’s why I’m, I’m glad that, that you, you vouch for it too. It’s like I know that it works, but I just… I guess I wanna understand the science of it a little bit more. Like, for example, I’ve tried, uh, acupuncture, and I just didn’t feel like it did, did anything for me. I think you have to be, like, a believer, and I just Brett: think so. Melissa: I, I, I even did that on purpose knowing that I kinda felt like it wasn’t gonna work. I was like, well, what if I just go into this? ‘Cause, [00:35:00] ’cause I talk to people and they’re like, "Well, you have to believe in it." I’m like, but what if I don’t? I just don’t, you know? I’m, I see it Brett: it’s not medicine if you have to believe in it. Melissa: Yeah. I mean, I see it work for other people. I know there’s, you know, such a thing as placebos and things like that, and I don’t know, it’s, it’s woo-woo and I, I, I like woo-woo stuff. I, it just, it didn’t do anything for me, so… It’s not to say that it doesn’t work for other people, but it just did not work for me, and I, I kind of, I, maybe I just, uh, did that on purpose when I, I try- probably just tripped myself up going into it thinking, well, I just don’t believe it, so if it works, then there must be science behind it. And then, then, I’ll believe. But it didn’t work out, so. So the, I’m a little bit on the fence about the somatic thing, but the, the, the gal that I’m working with is just so, she has EDS herself, and like, like what you were saying, like, she, she knows all about it and she could even, you know, tell me the, the type that she has, and I was like, I met, I met, actually last week I met two zebras in one week. [00:36:00] You, you’re familiar with the, the zebra mascot? If you, uh, the saying goes, if you hear hooves, think horses. But we’re not horses, are we? Yeah, so Yeah, so that’s, that’s our, our Somatics For EDS Melissa: EDS Brett: somatic– somatics you don’t have to believe in for them to work. Melissa: Okay, that is Brett: it’s an actual physical therapy method that trains the finer muscles, um, that surround your larger muscles and, and strengthens those, and it– Yeah, it’s for real. It’s, yeah, it’s not like a… It’s soma- I think, Melissa: w- totally Brett: ’cause I I had the same reaction when someone said somatics, ’cause I think, “Oh, that’s some holistic idea of the body, um, of soma,” and it’s… No, it’s, it’s got legit physical therapy behind it. Melissa: And, Yoga Modifications Melissa: you used to do a lot of yoga too, so that probably makes Brett: I still do. Melissa: Yeah? That’s [00:37:00] wonderful. Brett: it’s gotten really hard. Um, I can’t, I can’t– So I get dizzy Melissa: Yeah. Brett: going from sitting to standing, um, and my back gives out if I am in, like, horse or warrior two for more than a couple minutes. Um, and I can’t do cobras because I have a belly like a nine-month pregnancy. Um, so I have to do, like, prenatal yoga, um, which is actually a thing. Melissa: that’s a good idea. I’m glad you brought that up. I should look Brett: a- and I do chair yoga, um, where I I take the class that everyone else takes, but I modify it to work with… Like, there, there are defined moves that you do with a chair instead of. Instead of doing down dog, you do, like, a 90-degree down dog holding the back of a chair. Um, and you put, like, a knee on the chair to do warrior two, so you’re actually [00:38:00] resting. And Um, and you can do it fully seated too and get at least the arm exercises out of it. So I’ve been trying to maintain, maintain flexibility and some endurance. I’m not doing yoga the way I used to do it, but I am still Melissa: I’ve seen some of your poses. It’s pretty impressive. Brett: Yeah, back in the day. Melissa: W- when you could be upside down. Polycystic Liver Shock Melissa: I should look into that because I, you know, although I’m done having babies, like far done having babies, I have… You probably know about this too, I have polycystic liver disease, which is a really rare type of liver disease, and it’s not fatty liver. Oh my God, I have to keep telling doctors that. That’s the other thing. It’s like, it is not fatty liver. It is not. It- they’re cysts. It’s a totally different thing. I’m basically full of bubbles. So I… But it feels like that’s why I went in to get it. I didn’t actually get that checked. I found it accidentally when I went in for an heart, for a heart CT. That’s when they found it, and for a, a breast MRI, so [00:39:00] both those, those types of scans caught it. The other parts were fine, so my heart’s fine, so that’s a relief. But yeah, so this was a bit of a shock. And so I don’t know exactly what it means moving forward, um, but my entire liver is, like, engulfed in cysts, so. Right? But my blood work is, is fantastic right now, so I’m just gonna keep Brett: That’s good. Melissa: hoping it stays that way. Brett: That’s something. Fatphobia In Healthcare Brett: Um, I I have heard for a long time about, um, doctors being fatphobic and, and always assuming that, um, always assuming that your health i-issue is because you’re fat and not even looking for underlying issues, which has been an interesting experience for me because that really never happened to me. Melissa: Mm. Brett: Um, at least not once I switched to Gundersen from, like, a local clinic. Then I realized that it’s not just being fat that gets you [00:40:00] stigmatized, it’s being a fat woman. Melissa: Mm, I was gonna say try having a uterus and being Brett: yeah. Yeah. Um, like I talked to one of my best friends, April, who he’s, has been on Melissa: by, women doctors. Brett: Yeah. Yeah. And that’s, that’s what April tells me. She tells me all these horror stories. Even after finding care she trusted, she still has to deal with people saying, “Well, if you just lost some weight.” Like, she’s been fat her whole life. She’s in better shape than most skinny people Melissa: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Brett: I mean, she does sit-ups with 50-pound plates and does, like, five, 10 miles at a time on her, like, on her bike and, like, she’s in great shape and still has to walk with the ski poles, and she’s getting her second knee replaced this week. And, like, it, it’s just infuriating to hear the way that doctors dismiss Melissa: You know what the problem is, Brett? Brett: goes through [00:41:00] when Pole Dancing Reality Check Melissa: Not enough doctors have watched fat pole dancers. That is the problem right there. They need more education. Brett: Um, yeah. There’s, there are a couple of, um, queer burlesque shows Melissa: shows, yes. Brett: in my area that almost always include a plus-size pole dance, and it is amazing to Melissa: Oh, it’s mesmerizing. It should be an Olympic sport. Remind me to send you the, the link to, unless you’ve already seen it, have you seen the Deadpool pole dancer? Brett: No, I don’t think Melissa: you are in for a treat. We might just have to put that in the show notes, but I don’t know, I don’t know if your listeners are that, are into that It’s fully clothed, but it’s, there’s even blue Crocs involved. Brett: So this is nobody that you’re seeing on the Melissa: I wondered, yep. I wondered, yeah. Aw, he looks so soft. Mm. Mechanical Keyboard ASMR Brett: So you’ve [00:42:00] gotten really into mechanical keyboards. Melissa: have, I have. In fact, uh, I was gonna, I was gonna see how this might sound, but I, I brought my little box of key caps to show you so that I could say, welcome to my ASMR channel. Brett: That would… is is that a thing? I bet there are ASMR, like, key switch testing. Melissa: yeah, yeah. I’ve run across a couple of videos where, you know, they’ll have a hashtag ASMR in there, and that’s, that’s what it is. Do you experience ASMR yourself? Brett: No. Melissa: No? So when you listen to those videos you don’t get like the s- the tickling of the spine and stuff? Brett: No. Melissa: I do. It actually, it goes, it… I forget. I always forget what the acronym stands for, but it, you know, has something to do with the meridian. So if you can i- imagine your brain like split in half, and I feel it right on this side. It goes, it goes like the, down the back of my head, behind my ear, and down into my shoulder. It [00:43:00] is the funkiest feeling, and I love it. I love it so much. Even when we were talking about animals in the, in the beginning and I even had a cat that would come and just like kind of lick my ear and, oh, I just, I love that. Most people cannot stand that sound. They have the opposite condition where they can’t handle somebody chewing gum. My grandfather had that. Um, some, some kinda, it ends in a tonia. Misatonia or something like that, um, where… I don’t know. Do you have any of those like sound sensory issues? I have a lot of Brett: really don’t. I’m very, I’m very, like, sound Like, I like loud, heavy music. Like, that does something for my psyche. Um, but general sounds, they neither bo-bother me nor stimulate me. Melissa: imagine what that’s like. I just can’t. I’m So bothered, and my kids too, and you know, ugh, God, Brett: So El Melissa: has been problematic. Brett: El is, El is, definitely sensitive to sound, um, in a way that Like, even my [00:44:00] mechanical keyboards can’t be, can’t be on the same floor of the house as Elle. We pretty much live in silence, and that’s fine for me most of the time because, like, it just doesn’t affect me either way. So, like, keeping things quiet is easy, and I focus well in silence. And then when Elle’s gone, I blast my music, and w- when I’m in the car, I blast my music, and then the rest of the time I live in the quiet place. Melissa: Mm-hmm. In The Quiet Place. Brett: Yeah. Melissa: Yeah, we have- something a little similar, but m- my husband and I have, uh… We have our his and hers kind of setup here in, in the, in our den, in our inner study. So he’s got his side and I’ve got my side. So we’re together, and he does a lot of grading papers, and he’s really good about putting his, his earbuds in and just tuning the whole world out. He’s… It’s fascinating to watch that man just [00:45:00] execute. I mean, I just am so envious of people who can just execute. But the, the, the, yeah, the sensory, it’s all about the sensory stuff for me when it comes to keyboards. I actually thought about… I don’t know how popular it would be, but I also thought about making a podcast, a video podcast, that would highlight the intersection of nail art and mechanical keyboards. Because I’ll tell you, that’s actually what… I’ve always loved mechanical keyboards, but yeah, the, the one that I had, someone had given me a, a Matias, and oh, it’s, it’s so loud, but it’s like high-pitched. It’s kinda sharp. And it was even kind of annoying to me after a while. And then it does not, it’s not a mechanical keyboard in that you can’t pull the switches out, so you’re kinda stuck with what you got. Like, you might be able to change the key caps if you could find them, but couldn’t change the switches. And something happened to the S key, and I was like, “All right, it’s over,” so. But I can’t get rid of them either, so one of these days I wanna have like a display of, of keyboards. [00:46:00] Nail Art And Picking Melissa: But what got me, what got me into saying, “Okay, I’m finally, I’m just gonna invest in a keyboard because it’s ergonomically important to me,” is I have… And I can’t pronounce it, so I’m not even gonna try, but there’s a condition, and it’s a self-diagnosed thing. But I, I am a picker. I pick my skin a lot. Um, I think it’s called derma something Anyway, so I wasn’t gonna try to pronounce it. But, uh, I’ve always had that condition since I was a kid. I didn’t even know it was a thing. I just thought everybody get, uh, picks. But then during the pande- during the pandemic, it got super bad. Like, I had, I had, um, some panic attacks and, you know, as a lot of probab- people probably did. But it got so bad to the point where I had picked my fingers and they were bleeding and they were throbbing and they were hurting. And I said to one of my kids, I said to my youngest, I said, “Can you just, like, if I, if I’m picking, can you just let me know?” And then I regretted doing that because then he took it on as this, like, full-time job, you know? And it kinda [00:47:00] gave him anxiety, and I thought, “Oh, okay, that, that was a bad thing to do.” So I s- I let him off the hook. I said, “No, you don’t have to tell me anymore.” Um, because, yeah, ev- even if I went to, like, just kinda, like, clean under my nail or something. So it was actually causing a real problem for the family that I was just picking so much. And it’s not just my fingers, it’s, like, other parts of my body. So I thought to myself, “Well, what can I do about this?” And so I started putting fake nail tips on. And I hate to be all, like… I don’t know, I’m not, I try not to be, like, a very vain person, but I really started kinda falling into the nail art side of things, and I, I just recently learned how to do gel and work with, um, uh, what’s it called? Uh, not resin. So I… Oh, that’s another ASMR thing. Do you like to watch resin pours? Brett: I do, actually, yes. Melissa: that’s… Okay, so if you like resin pours, if you like to watch the viscosity and the way the, the chemicals, like, form together and when they, when they mix colors in and stuff, [00:48:00] that’s what it’s like with nail art but on more of, like, a macro level because it’s, you know, you’re working with small stuff. Like, just, just recently I learned how to do… So I’m showing Brett this on, on camera, but I recently learned how to do the kind of nail polish that you take a magnet and you run the magnet along it, and it makes this, like, a cat’s eye. Brett: Yeah, that’s cool. Melissa: I love it. So, so that, so combining nail art then, and I thought, “Well, now I’ve got these long nails,” but all of my keyboards have been these flat, really low-profile keyboards. And, you know, I just, I started to dread it. So then I was kinda caught between a crossroads. Like, either I leave nails off and I can type really, really fast and have high accuracy with no nails, but then as soon as, as soon as I get, like, a little snag or something, then I start picking and then it’s just, it’s all over then. Or I try to find a way to work with these nails. So that’s what I started thinking, “Well, maybe if I had higher keys.” And so then I just, yeah, rabbit hole. [00:49:00] Went down the rabbit hole, and I’ve, I’ve just kinda been there ever since. And, uh, it really, I think, uh… Let’s see. How long ago did this start? It’s only been about maybe like six months or something like that, so. Keyboard Layout Rabbit Hole Melissa: But in that time so I’ve started, um, building a collection of switches. So I’ve been really interested in both the key caps and the switches. Um, I’ve got my baseboards. I like my Royal Kludge the best. This is… I’m gonna show Brett my Royal Kludge. So, so this is what it’s looking like right now. Brett: Yeah. Melissa: It is very purpley. Um, I did post some pictures. I can… I don’t know if you do pictures in show notes, but I could take some pictures for you It’s got a knob. It’s got, um… Let me see if I can do it real Brett: Do you use the knob. I have a couple keyboards with knobs and even a joystick, and I never actually use them Melissa: Good question. Um, I, I use it, I try to use it for volume at [00:50:00] times, and that’s probably what I use it for the most. But this one does have a… Let’s see if I can get this into focus here, backwards and upside down. It’s gonna be upside down, but you see how you can put, you can put your logo Brett: Oh, yeah. Nice. Melissa: got my The Mac Mommy little logo on there. Otherwise, it gives you the time in military format, so that’s kind of handy to have. Um, but yeah, it’s… To be honest, I, I love the, I love this Royal Kludge because it’s nice and heavy, and I love the form factor. It’s got a number pad, um, because I’m, because I am a grown-ass adult and I need a number pad. Um, but it’s nice and heavy. It doesn’t, it doesn’t move around my desk a lot. I kind of have to type, like, kind of crooked, ’cause that’s just the way my neck goes to the wrong way and stuff like that. So I like being able to fit it on my desk. I have a, I had a larger one made by Red, uh, what is it? Redragon. This is the one that I started [00:51:00] out with. Gonna make lots of noise here. But as you can see, this one is way bigger. And it was, as much as I liked it, I mean, I fell in love with it, but what was happening was my accuracy was, like, really thrown off because I fe- I kept feeling like it just needs to be, like, a couple centimeters to the right or a couple centimeters to the left. It just wasn’t centered very well. So this one, my husband gets all the hand-me-downs, so that one went over onto his desk. Uh, and then I also have a baby keyboard here, and this is another Redragon. This is my little mini one. Brett: that’s, that’s the kind of keyboard I mostly use, like a 70% keyboard. Melissa: Yeah, I think this one’s even 60. Um… Brett: My– The one I’m using right now is, uh, 60. There’s no, there’s no function row, there’s no arrow, there’s no keypad or, like, arrow pad. Um, Melissa: No [00:52:00] arrows? How do you live without arrows? Oh, do you, you mapped your keys to something Brett: so it looks like this, Melissa: nice. I love the Brett: that the, the space bar is split in two. Yeah, my, my, my partner says it looks like, uh, gay ’80s. It’s all pink and blue and purple. Um, but the, the space bar is split, and the right half of mine functions as something called a mod key, and when I hold that down, then my I, J, K, and L keys become arrow keys. Melissa: Oh, wow. Brett: once you get used to it, you never have to take your hand off the home row. Melissa: Oh my God, that must be amazing. Brett: It– Yeah, once you get used to it, it, it’s so… Like, g- moving to a keyboard that doesn’t have that is kind of tortuous. On my MacBook Pro, I have remapped it using Karabiner so that Melissa: [00:53:00] That’s what I’m using. Brett: if I hold, the semicolon down with my pinky, then H-I-J-K-L become, Melissa: Oh, nice. Brett: become arrow keys, so I still don’t have to move my hand all the way down and to the right. Like, that’s such a inefficient movement that then I have to, like… Because I don’t have great feeling in my fingers, so finding, on a low-profile keyboard, finding the, the homing buttons again Melissa: Oh, do you use the humming buttons? See, that’s the thing, I was never taught that. I mean, I took like a ty- I took like a typewriting class back in high school, and I just didn’t like it. I, I just taught myself. I just… I’m an autodidact that way, so I just taught myself. Brett: my dad, back in 1984, we had a typing program on our PCjr, and I Melissa: It wasn’t Mavis Beacon, was it? Brett: remember. I don’t remember. All I know is, like, It taught you touch typing, and it would give you [00:54:00] these lessons, and you would basically just mirror what was on screen. And at the age of seven, I was typing at about 68 words per minute on an, on an old IBM PCjr keyboard. Um, got a lot faster through high school and everything. But yeah, I was, I was, from day one, I was raised to be a touch typist, and, and I took all the classes they had in school. Melissa: But you still touch Brett: labs. Yeah. Melissa: Uh-huh, yeah. So you don’t do the home rows. Brett: No, that is touch Melissa: Oh, touch typing, so you do feel… for the bumps. Brett: Yeah, I feel for the bumps, and then I just, like, my f- my key, my fingers never really leave the Melissa: Oh, yeah. See, I wish I could do Brett: centered home row. Yeah. It’s, it, it’s good. Um, Melissa: And you’re using the split, so my gosh. Brett: What– You get used to that too. Um, like, [00:55:00] I can’t do it with the split far apart. I’ve seen people use, like, splits, like, way out to the sides, and I can’t, my, my brain doesn’t do that. Like, my hands have to be within, like, six inches of each other. Melissa: I always thought, it would be so cool to have something where you could have it, like, raised up like this, right? And use your hands sideways. Brett: Yeah. Well, that’s I mean, that’s essentially, I have, on the bottom of this keyboard, I have these risers. Melissa: Oh, uh-huh. Oh, Brett: So it sits, right now I have it at about a 45-degree tent, tent, tent. Um, but it can go up to more like an 80-degree tent, where you’re actually Melissa: Wow. Brett: uh, almost like you’re clapping, you’re typing. Um, I don’t Melissa: of that. I have a, a, handshake mouse. Brett: Vertical mouse. Melissa: You like… Is that what you have for a mouse too? Brett: no, I, I love Melissa: Trackballs. Oh, trackpads. Oh, okay. Brett: Apple’s Magic Trackpad changed my life. I’ve never used– I’ve never gone back to a [00:56:00] mouse since the first Magic Trackpad came out. Melissa: So you’re all about the gestures then? Brett: yeah, Melissa: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. That’s great. Brett: Bet- bet- better touch tool for the win. Melissa: You know what it is for me, is because of the type of work that I do, and this is very much true for both of us, you do these things because of the type of work that you do. The type of work that I do, I’m in everybody’s homes, so I have to ty- I have to be able to type and use their mouse and, I mean, it’s actually a very dirty job. So I keep hand wipes with me everywhere. Um, that, that was why during the pandemic I was like, “I am not coming to your house and I am not touching the stuff that you just picked your nose and…” Yeah, mm-mm. But, so, so i- it’s been kind of keeping me almost like a purist in a way as far as keyboards have gone all these years. I, I finally just kind of let go and embraced this recently, th- which is why I’m so excited and why I’m just kind of nerding out on it, because when, when I worked [00:57:00] in, like, I’ll call it the industry, um, I got my f- my start in prepress. So I worked in prepress, I was a typesetter, and we had… That’s what I kind of miss. We had the old clunky beige keyboards, and I had my muscle memory such that I think my o- my Option key would have, like, the indentation of my nail on it. You know? ‘Cause I had, just like you have, keys that are programmed. I could… I was a Quark queen. I don’t know if you’re familiar with QuarkXPress? Brett: Oh, yeah. Yeah. I was a graphic designer. I I know Quark. Melissa: Yeah, I loved it. I was… And, and I used it back in the OS 9 days, OS 7 really, is when I started out. Uh, I did not like the OS X vers- OS 10 version of Quark. Did not like it at all. Brett: No, but that’s Melissa: it was slow. Brett: Adobe came out with, what was, what was Adobe’s… InDesign. Yeah. By the time I had started, by the time I had started my own ad agency, we were all InDesign. Melissa: Oh, [00:58:00] nice. Okay. I mean, it was a Brett: and none of the, none of the print shops expected Quark files Melissa: Yeah. Oh, it was so expensive. I remember I had to buy it when I was in college, and I remember it cost, like, $800. I’m probably still paying for that, damn it, in interest. Yeah, so that, that’s how I got my start originally, and that’s how I was doing… I, I went to… So I have, I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts. I went to college in order to be a designer. I wanted to be a designer designer, and that’s what I, what I thought I was good at and thought that I liked doing, ’cause, you know, “Oh, you’re a girl. Go to art school. You like to draw.” You know? I’m always bitter about that because I really wish that I would’ve been able to go… I mean, this was, you know… I’m, I’m 51, so this was back in the day where girls, girls don’t do computers and girls don’t do coding. G- girls don’t do computer science. They didn’t even call it computer science. They didn’t even call it graphic design back then. It was commercial art. Um, so I studied that and, you know, I liked it ’cause I thought, “Well, this is what I could, I could take my art and make [00:59:00] a living into it.” And then fast-forward, um, I just started to fall in love with the technical troubleshooting side of things. So as, as good as I was at the technical typesetting and the technical, like, putting prepress things together, you know, um, uh, key sheets and s- you know, things like that. Do you remember, was there, uh, did you ever use a program called Quick Keys? That was one of the ones Brett: familiar. Melissa: you could map your own keys to things. So w- when I was in prepress and doing typesetting, I used that program and I, I mapped all my keys, and I had all these quick keys and stuff so I could go really, really fast, you know? So when they wanted something done fast, they gave it to me, and I could just fly through documents with this. But then as people learned that I was good at this kind of stuff and troubleshooting, they’re like, “Oh, hey, Roger needs, you know, has a problem. Can you go help him?” So I’d go over to his cubicle, I sit down, and he’s got nothing. You know, he’s got [01:00:00] no quick keys, no nothing, and you just kinda get lost because your muscle memory just adapts to it. And I couldn’t help people the way… And, and that was what it was about for me. I really liked more helping people and troubleshooting and the technology side of things than the actual design process. So I kind of went to the other side with it. And so I just kind of, like, vowed that, okay, I’m not gonna do any kind of, like, customization on my own workstation because then I’ll, my, my muscle memory will map to it, and then when I go to sit down to help somebody else, I won’t… You know, I’ll be so much in my own world that I won’t be able to help them. And so I just kind of, like, remained a, a pu

In this episode of Chax Chat, Chad and Dax tackle one of the most complex and misunderstood topics in document accessibility: table cell IDs. While most people understand basic table structure, things quickly break down when you introduce merged cells, multiple header levels, and real-world design patterns. They walk through how tables are supposed to work, why scope alone isn't always enough, and where things start to fail for assistive technology. From explaining how screen readers interpret parent and child relationships within tables to sharing practical strategies for fixing complex structures, this episode dives deep into both the "why" and the "how." Whether you're working in Word, InDesign, or remediating directly in Acrobat, you'll gain a clearer understanding of when cell IDs are necessary and how to implement them efficiently without spending hours doing it manually.

In this episode of the podcast where "Production Values go to Die," CC and I give the ten-thousand-foot view of writing, editing, and producing a self-published book. Google AI gave us these stages of production:Manuscript Development & EditingProduction & DesignDistribution SetupMarketing & LaunchPost-Launch & ManagementThe two of us are always deep into one of these stages, and since we often have overlapping manuscripts, we can be at different stages at the same time. Sometimes we forget how complex these stages are. Just in this podcast, we mentioned these partners who help publish our books:Jack in the Box (coffee!), Red Adept, Teri Case, Comma Coffee, Sierra Arts Foundation, 99Designs, Book Sirens, Brewery Arts Center, Atticus, Amazon, Kobo, Draft2Digital, Google Books, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, InDesign, and Microsoft Word.(Reminder: Two Moore Books, LLC does not receive financial compensation for promoting third-party businesses and websites. We are speaking to our specific experiences. Your mileage may vary.)Appearances:– I'm at Comma Coffee two or three times a week. Stop by and say hi.– May 10: We'll have a table at the Mother's Day event at the Carson Mall.– May 25: I'll be doing an author talk at the Churchill County Library.– June 6: We're setting up a booth at the Sierra Arts Foundation Bookfest.- June 13: We may be at Nevada Pride via the Brewery Arts Center.– July 18: We may be back at the Reno Public Market.– August 25: CC will be doing an author talk at the Churchill County Library.- October: many events. More information as we get closer.Manuscript Status:– The sequel to #passionrestored is with CC. Release in June.– CC is also digging into Battle Born Bride. She talks about fast-drafting it.– The sequel to Finding Salvation is at Red Adept.– I'm tapping at a new book. Details will come out later.That's all for now. Be especially careful out there. LYL!+++Cassidy Carson and JT Hume (“CC & JT”) are independent writers, publishers, and co-owners of Two Moore Books, LLC out of Carson City, Nevada, USA. Our human-authored book catalog can be found on our bookstore and the major platforms. Our podcast, “The CC and JT Amateur Hour,” has recorded hundreds of episodes, and our mission is to “help writers write.” We support the Nevada Author Network with the Sierra Arts Foundation out of Reno, Nevada.Two of our books were “Finalists” in the 2025 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards. We received the 2024 Women in Podcasting Award in the “Best Authors and Books Podcast” category from the Women Podcasters Network. JT was voted as one of the top three most popular authors in Carson Now's “2026 Carson City Local Favorites.”New and current newsletter subscribers can receive a free epub or PDF of “Finding Salvation Part One” by subscribing to our newsletter! Reach out to us via our Contact Page for more information. You can also read our books for free through your local library.Our Website: ⁠www.carsonhume.com⁠Who We are: ⁠https://carsonhume.com/about/⁠Our Books: ⁠https://carsonhume.com/books-2/⁠Our bookstore: https://carsonhume.square.site/Our Business: ⁠https://twomoorebooks.com/⁠For those who listen on their way to work, we are on these fine podcast platforms: ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple⁠, ⁠Pocket Casts⁠, and ⁠Radio Public⁠.Note: Two Moore Books, LLC does not receive financial compensation for promoting third-party businesses and websites. We are speaking to our specific experiences. Your mileage may vary.⁠please buy us coffee!

Kendol Mason is a graphic designer, brand identity specialist, and design educator. He helps businesses and personal brands communicate clearly through consistent visuals, stronger messaging, and brand systems that build trust fast.He also coaches designers and students in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, helping them improve their skills, confidence, and creative process. Kendol's work focuses heavily on perception, and how design influences what people believe about a brand within seconds.Contact Kendol Mason:If you're getting attention but not getting enough conversions…or people keep asking “so what do you do exactly?”…and you're tired of feeling like your brand isn't doing your business justice,I can email you a simple clarity checklist to tighten up your brand and message.Just visit giftboxcreative.com and click book a callLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kendolmason/Dr. Kimberley LinertSpeaker, Author, Broadcaster, Mentor, Trainer, Behavioral OptometristEvent Planners- I am available to speak at your event. Here is my media kit: https://brucemerrinscelebrityspeakers.com/portfolio/dr-kimberley-linert/To book Dr. Linert on your podcast, television show, conference, corporate training or as an expert guest please email her at incrediblelifepodcast@gmail.com or Contact Bruce Merrin at Bruce Merrin's Celebrity Speakers at merrinpr@gmail.com702.256.9199Host of the Podcast Series: Incredible Life Creator PodcastAvailable on...Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/incredible-life-creator-with-dr-kimberley-linert/id1472641267Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6DZE3EoHfhgcmSkxY1CvKf?si=ebe71549e7474663 and on 9 other podcast platformsAuthor of Book: "Visualizing Happiness in Every Area of Your Life"Get on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cmTOMwWebsite: https://linktr.ee/DrKimberleyLinertThe Great Discovery eLearning platform: https://thegreatdiscovery.com/kimberleyl

Canva's mission is to empower the world to design, and by most measures, it's working. Millions of people create content in Canva every day, which means design is no longer something that belongs exclusively to designers. Now, with the acquisition of Affinity, Canva is making a move into professional territory. So what does that actually mean for those of us who make a living in this space? In this episode, Theresa Jackson sits down with Steve Caplin to dig into Affinity by Canva: what it is, how it works, and why the conversation around it goes well beyond the software itself. They give an honest take on where Affinity genuinely impresses and where it still comes up short for professional work, covering the same questions a lot of designers are already wrestling with about their role in a changing industry. If you've felt friction between your design team and the non-designers who use Canva, or if you've found yourself wondering how your job is evolving, this one's worth your time. Episode Highlights Switching between Vector, Pixel, and Layout within a single document is a departure from everything most designers are used to, and Theresa and Steve get into why that matters Theresa calls Affinity Canva's "olive branch" to professional designers, and unpacks why that framing deserves a second look Affinity's live filters and real-time previews create a noticeably different editing experience, and the episode explores what that unlocks "Free" as a pricing strategy has real implications for who gets to call themselves a designer The episode covers what Affinity still lacks, particularly around publishing workflows, automation, and accessibility, and why those gaps keep professionals anchored to InDesign and Adobe The tension between design teams and non-designers using Canva is real, growing, and worth talking about openly Designers are once again being asked to justify their value, and this conversation doesn't shy away from that The bigger question isn't which tool to use; it's what's shifting in the design industry and how to position yourself within that shift Resources CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026: https://creativeproweek.com/ CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/ Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/ Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/ Steve Caplin: https://stevecaplin.com/ Theresa Jackson's Self Portrait with Photoshop Displacement Map Filter: https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_3840_webp/00bfb313226357.56271a3df0ccf.jpg Canva Create Keynote: https://www.youtube.com/live/9HkO8masPT0 Affinity Download: https://www.affinity.studio/download Affinity for Photoshop Users by Steve Caplin: https://creativepro.com/affinity-photoshop-users/ YouTube: Displace Filter in Affinity: https://youtu.be/_9ZFMs1GkPg

In this episode of Chax Chat, Chad and Dax dig into a deceptively simple topic that has a big impact on accessibility: lists. While bullets and numbers may seem like basic formatting choices, the way they are structured behind the scenes can dramatically change how assistive technology interprets and reads content. They break down the anatomy of a properly tagged list in a PDF and explain why those tags matter more than most people realize. From real-world examples of how screen readers behave when list structures are incorrect to surprising quirks like how certain bullet styles are announced, this episode highlights the gap between visual design and actual usability. Whether you're creating documents in Word, InDesign, or remediating in Acrobat, you'll walk away with practical insights to help ensure your lists aren't just formatted correctly - but truly accessible.

Kevin did a brand redesign for an old colleague two years ago — got paid, and moved on. Now the client's new marketing manager is asking for the original InDesign source files to update the brand guidelines internally. Kevin knows the owner, considers him a friend, and doesn't want to damage the relationship. But he also doesn't want to just hand over his work and forfeit any future opportunities. Preston and Clay dig into who really owns those files, what the law says versus what good business sense says, and how to turn a potentially awkward situation into goodwill — maybe even a Google review. Support our show sponsors → ⁠⁠https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors⁠⁠ Submit your own question → ⁠⁠https://freelancetofounder.com/ask⁠⁠ Check out Clay's business → ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://golinus.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Article 19 is back! After a hibernation, we're ready to bloom again. Listen to Katie and Kristen interview longtime listener, first time caller, Raquella Freeman, as she shares her disability journey with us. While ableism and sexism tried to keep her down, Raquella leaned hard on the voices that lifted her up and is now an advocate for those who follow. At the end of the episode, Katie gives Raquella a unique gift, and Raquella undergoes a surprise metamorphosis. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.    Learn more about web accessibility at Tammaninc.com and document accessibility, and accessibility training and consulting  at ChaxTC.com.     00:00:00,171    Article 19 Intro Recording: Expression is one of the most powerful tools we have. A voice, a  pen, a keyboard.    Eleanor Roosevelt Recording: “The real change which must give to people throughout the world their human rights must come about in the hearts of people. We must want our fellow human beings to have rights and freedoms which give them dignity.”    Article 19 Recording: Article 19 is the voice in the room. (tech Music bed)    00:00:25   Walt Zielinski: So for me, the moment that I realized digital accessibility was something I wanted to learn more about was when it dawned on me that the same sort of fight for gay rights and being visibly queer was sort of the same exact fight being fought for people with disabilities. Accessibility is all about championing people whose voices are inherently, by society, stifled or shut down because they exist outside of the typical space. And when I realized that it was all part of the same fight, that my fight for religious freedom, for queer liberation, was the same as the fight for disability rights, it became very obvious that it was something that I had to pursue in some way.    00:01:23   Rose Bliesner: I was drawn into digital accessibility when I first met people who worked in this space. When I learned that digital accessibility was something that people had careers in and  something that people dedicated their lives to, I was intrigued. I met several accessibility  professionals and learned that they are the most empathetic, most passionate people, and that they really, really love what they do. And so their enthusiasm for their craft really motivated me to educate myself on how to make the world more accessible. And I have loved every minute of it.    00:01:55   Rob Underwood: When I got hired by Chax to remediate InDesign documents for assistive  technologies it was the very first time I realized that digital accessibility was something that I  wanted to learn more about. I've been teaching InDesign for 20 years, but I never knew how to make an accessible document. When I was hired, I was taught the process of document  remediation in small, incremental steps at first. I learned about the importance of headings and document structure. Once we got into color contrast, tables, and the pack checker, I understood the importance of the job we were performing, and how accessibility wasn't a nice-to-have, it was a must. The real aha moment for me was the first time DAX showed us what the documents we created sounded like with a screen reader. For the first time, I could finally grasp how people interact with assistive technology. It was then that I realized that my skillset could provide value to the team and that I wanted to learn everything I could about document remediation. Being part of a team that is at the forefront of accessibility makes me feel good about the work I'm doing. For the first time in my life, I feel like I'm working at a job that gives me purpose.      00:03:07   Taylor Kellar: When I first started working for Chax, I had a very vague understanding as to what digital accessibility meant. I thought that because technology was ever evolving, that  accessibility was something that was already being automatically considered. It wasn't until I  realized that programs that I use as an able-bodied individual, like Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat, have barriers that my coworkers who don't utilize technology in the same way have trouble accessing. What inspires me to learn more about digital accessibility is my co-workers. I feel very lucky that I get a first-hand experience learning tips and tricks on how to make my own content more accessible, and as a world that's primarily online, I think we owe it to ourselves to make content accessible for everyone.      00:03:51   Katie Samson, (cohost): Hello, everyone, and welcome to Article 19. What's up, Kristen?  Kristen Witucki, (cohost): Oh, it's been a minute, Katie. We're, you know, we've taken a little  break, and it's really great to be back with you again and with our producer, Markus Goldman.    00:04:06   KS: Yes, we got the band back together.   KW: Yeah, we did.  KS: We're going to have some great music, some awesome topics coming up in 2026. And we figured we'd start a little bit easy, starting internal to Tammann and Chax.    00:04:20   KW: with our most ardent listener, our loyalist fan, perhaps our only downloader, but  nevertheless, she's been there through it all and a lot more.  KS: So let's bring her in. Welcome everyone to the kickoff of 2026. Article 19. Raquella  Freeman. Hello.  Raquella Freeman: Hi, everyone.  KS: So glad to have you with us.  RF: Long time listener, First time caller. Thank you. So excited to be here and be a part of this  for sure.    00:04:53   KS: Raquella, can you tell our listeners where you are situated right now?    RF: So I am in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It is the heat of winter, which means it's about negative  something out there right now. And I think we're about to have a snowstorm beginning tonight and into tomorrow.    00:05:11   KW: So you mean another snowstorm, right? Another snowstorm. Not the first snowstorm.    RF: Correct. We had our first snowstorm last week, so this will be our second snowstorm, and  it's only the second week of December, so we're doing great.    00:05:26   KS: Wow. Those Wisconsinners, you guys really earn your seasons, I gotta say.    RF: Yes. We spend most of our time in winter, and we really look forward to those three months of summer.    00:05:38   KS: Well, it's so great to have you with us and to kick off what I think is going to be, you know, an exciting year for us. We've got a little bit more flexibility to explore some topics. You know, you're one of our faves. So we had to do the call out first. Kristen, you want to kick us off with a softball question?    KW: Yeah, yeah. Well, Maybe not the softballs, I don't know. Softballs are hard, though. I've  been hit with one. So let's just start at the beginning. If you think about your family, Raquella, and your beginnings, because this is going to sound sort of random, but it all leads to the great pinnacle of you being with us now. When you think back to your, you know, your birth and your early childhood, how do you think your parents would have described those early years and how did they discover or diagnose your disability needs?    00:06:33   RF: That's a fun question. My early years were really complicated. I had health conditions right away. I was born about a month, almost two months early, and this was in the early nineties. So medical practice wasn't what it is today. And I had health complications, spent over a month in the hospital, and they weren't sure you know, what would happen after having a brain bleed. You know, they had no way of knowing what my life would be like until I grew up a little bit. And then as the years went on, my parents tell me that I was a very precocious child, like I was talking circles around them even starting as early as three years old. I could tell you about everything that ever happened and I wanted to tell you everything that I had in my head, but I couldn't sit up. So you had a child who could talk your ear off, but physically I was barely crawling, had limited mobility and couldn't sit up without a lot of support. So they knew something was going on, but the local doctors in my small town that I grew up in didn't know what it was. And they said, Oh, she'll catch up. Don't worry about it. She'll catch up. You know, we were getting older and my parents were like, this doesn't feel like a she'll catch up thing. So they took me to a more advanced doctor in Milwaukee, which is one of the bigger cities in Wisconsin. And they have a great children's hospital there where I met my doctor, Dr. Schwab, who diagnosed me within like a second of meeting me. They said they barely even walked into the exam room and he was like, Oh, so she has cerebral palsy. Like, let's get working on how we can support her and get her the support she needs. And it was him who, you know, helped my parents figure out what my diagnosis meant, started helping me get the medical equipment I needed to get support, get physical therapy and kind of get that process started in my life. And he was also the guy who did all of my surgeries for all of my young years, the surgeries that I've had. And he was great. Like he, he really did change my life. and like help my family and me figure out what the next steps were, but never held me back from anything I wanted to do. Just made sure that I had everything I needed to be successful.    00:08:53   KS: We've talked a lot, Raquella, about just the physical barriers that we have to face as  wheelchair users, navigating winter, navigating a lot of things. How did you learn in those early years and in your own life about all of the barriers, I guess, and then, you know, the ableism that comes with it? Did you start to see signs of that when you were a child, when you were trying to get involved in certain activities, or did it start to kind of creep in, yeah, over time?    RF: It was there pretty early. I think, you know, maybe my earliest memory of it, you know, I  was… In kindergarten, I think when I started to go to school was when I noticed students  treating me differently and people not knowing how to interact with me. Like that's how it began early on. And I had to learn very quickly that like this was going to be part of life for me and how to navigate that space, which I credit my grandmother for. giving me the words to work in those spaces, which because she was the one who told me, hey, people aren't going to understand how capable you are. They might make fun of you, but what's most important is that you just show them that you're just like they are. And then maybe you need a little support. Like she gave me the language to be like, Hey, you know, don't make fun of me. Like I'm good. Like gave me the strength to stop people from putting me down instantaneously and said, no, you have a voice in these spaces to do that. Which is why I think only every year after that moment was I got stronger and stronger in my convictions to not let anybody tell me what I could or could not do whether it was an education or any time in my life. And I just kind of still hold on to those words today. Any time it comes up that someone says, oh, I don't think you can do that. I hear my grandma in the back of my mind going, you can do anything and don't let anybody tell you, you can't.    00:10:56   KS: God bless grandmothers, right?    RF: Absolutely.    00:10:59   KW: Yes, definitely. I can relate to some of that growing into our advocacy self, especially like that late elementary, middle school passage of life when like your whole brain is opening up that you kind of thought about one way and it's sort of more innocent childlike frame of mind suddenly gains depth and complexity and hardship sometimes. And I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about some of the middle school struggles that you were telling me about before and how they shaped you.    RF: For sure. Middle school, as I'm sure everybody knows, is a tough time for everybody. No  matter where you're from, middle school is complicated and mine was no different. One of the most wild times I had in middle school was during gym, which wasn't my favorite class ever, but it was one that we all had to do. So I would go even though half the time I would spend doing more of a study hall when I couldn't really easily participate in some of the sessions that they had. But one that they always had us do was the presidential fitness test that we did every year, which I couldn't do probably 90% of the presidential fitness tests like well or at all. But the one section I could do was the push-ups section. I have very strong upper body strength. Not so much anymore, but back in my younger days when I used a walker for a majority of my mobility, I would use my arms to move around. So my arms were very strong from carrying my whole body all day. So needless to say, you can put me on the floor and I could do over a hundred push-ups in a minute with perfect form and in like the full style. Like I love doing push-ups and I like felt so good about myself for how good I was at push-ups because every other aspect of gym class I was not good at but I was really good at that. So good that the phys ed teacher actually was like, hey I'm going to use you as my example student for the perfect push-up. of like how to align your body perfectly and how to do it right and for somebody like me whose physical body mostly doesn't ever do what I want it to to have somebody say in this moment your body is a show of like perfection was a big highlight for me. So I did that and it was great. Flash forward to a couple days later, we were revisiting the topic and I was told by that same teacher that he had gotten calls from students' parents, those students happened to be boys in my class, that called and said, hey, you can't be using her as an example because my son was upset. that you were using the girl with a disability to show off the perfect pushup and not them. And so I was told at that point that I was no longer allowed to be the example student because I had hurt feelings of the boys in my class because it was me and not them. That one hurt me. I think that one still hurts me a little bit to this day because I'm in my thirties now and I still remember that moment extremely vividly. I was like realizing that even something as simple as doing push-ups in gym class would lead to somebody in my class doing something like that to show them even though I couldn't do anything else in class I could do that and they didn't  appreciate that I had showed them up in some way.    00:14:37   KW: That's quite an intro to ableism and sexism like in one shot.    RF: Yes, for sure. It makes me sad even to this day.    00:14:45   KS: I mean, talk about teachable moments, not only for the boys, but for the parents and for the gym teacher as well. Who's protecting who in that situation? And, you know, I can't imagine it did those boys any favors in their adult life by learning that lesson. But in a way, as a transition, I would say you are paying it forward in a really cool and awesome way. And I love the work that you do and the service work that you do for young people with disabilities. And we've talked a lot about our camp times during the summer where we go off and explore and have adventures with our like-minded disabled groups. And I wonder if you could talk about some of that work and the advocacy that you do for young people and where it's led for you today in that involvement and some of those lessons that you learned, you know, albeit painful as a child and how that kind of informs your practice with this camp and your service to your community.    RF: So I work with an organization called Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum. I've been a part  of it in some capacity since 2011 when I myself was a delegate. It changed my life in that  moment. It gave me a new community of people because the theme of the camp is that you're spending a week away from home in a college campus in dorm rooms with other students with disabilities who are high school age and you spend the week learning about advocacy not only for yourself but also for future planning and goals for your career and how to achieve that, and the best thing about YLF is that they also majority of the staff is also persons with disabilities. So you have all students with disabilities, and I would say probably 90% of the staff has some form of disability as well, and we're all just working together, and it's beautiful as a delegate, you get to not only meet more students with disabilities, but you also get to meet and witness staff with disabilities, working hard and doing some really cool things and I think that can be really powerful to see from both sides of not only are you participating in this camp, but people like you are running this camp. I think that just makes it even more powerful. The whole week is about building community, growing together, thinking about your future because most of these kids are one to three years at most away from graduating high school. And so their future is kind of in their hands. Do I want to go to college? Do I want to go straight into the workforce? And whatever their goals are, you know, we're sometimes one of the first people who has them really thinking about it beyond like you know the high school guidance counselor that might just have like their standard script of things that they give every student you know we're really saying no what do you want to do let's let's really talk about your goals and like what do you need what supports do you need to be able to achieve this career that you want whatever that may be and like showing them that the doors aren't closed to anything as long as and there are people out there that can support them and for so many of these kids we've been they've told us like oh i've never really thought about it because nobody asked me or you have some who have really thought about it but they're like i want to do this thing but i don't know how and i don't know who to ask for help and in this seven days together You know, we're talking with these 20 plus students about this and watching them grow and build community with each other. And it's honestly one of the most amazing things that I get to be a part of, not only as a staff member during the week, but I'm also a board member. I'm actually the president of the board at the moment. So I get to really make sure that this organization is successful and continues to grow for years to come because it is truly so important to me because I've seen the impact it can have not only as a delegate, but as somebody who's worked on staff and made connections with young people who I still am connected with today and like, you know, check on them and see how they're doing. And we have past graduates who, you know, are going to legislative meetings or going to talk to their senators or getting careers in spaces where they can use their voice for others with disabilities and knowing that they came through our program and many of them say, you know, I might not have done this legislative talk had I not been in YLF. That was the spark that they needed. And I would say personally for me that that was a spark that I needed back in 2011 as I was getting ready to graduate high school was like the first time that I did advocacy that wasn't just for myself or for like other people in my direct circle where I had met people outside of my small town and realize that there was a whole world of young people and adults doing really great things to better the lives of people with disabilities. And I wanted to be a part of that somehow. Like that's where it really, really clicked in for me that this was going to be a part of my life for the rest of my life.    00:20:08   KW: Well, and that's such a powerful message for people, young people with disabilities or anyone with disabilities to hear and internalize because, you know, I think many, many programs may be well-meaning but might communicate a very different message like, oh, we expect you only in these sorts of jobs or, you know, so that's really powerful that you really absorb what people want to be and are trying to figure out how to help them. When you think about your own journey of getting a job, were there any challenges in getting a job that aligned with your skills and your values?    RF: Yeah. I think the working world is complicated for most people, but like with many things, ableism exists. And I found there to be plenty of ableism when it came to starting my career in the working world. I knew right away that I needed to get a degree because every job that I thought I'd be interested in needed one to like to make that career work. And I knew that I was not only battling for a job in general, but that I had to, or at least I felt, this is my personal feeling, I would say it's not necessarily true for everybody, but personally for me, I felt I needed to be even better than the average person, even at a basic job, because I had to make them forget about my chair. I had to make them see that I was worth the time and the money, regardless of my mode of getting around space. And so I went to school and I did well, and went out and got a job. I mean, I will say my degree probably wasn't the smartest choice if I actually wanted to say it and have somebody understand what it was and give me a job for it. If I'm being honest, it was definitely a liberal arts degree with a name that wasn't helpful. I have technically a community leadership and development degree. Nobody knows what that is, but.    00:22:13   KW: basically... Oh, it does resonate from your camp, though.    RF: It does, yes. The better way to say it is non-profit management degree is what I have. So I started working in non-profit spaces, found my way in through City Year, which is an AmeriCorps program. That was the first, like, quote-unquote big girl job that I had was my City Year job, which was just a sad little stipend that got me moved to Texas, where I spent a year working in a school in San Antonio with sixth graders in English, and it was wild. Those kids were amazing. I loved them. They were why I got up every morning at 4 a.m. and braved wild transit systems to get to them to make sure that I was there for them and it was great, but I had to do a stipend job where I wasn't really making any money and I was just kind of working to exist to kind of start to get noticed in career spaces. It was my first way of finding my way into a role that worked with my degree and paid me to do something. After that, I went into other nonprofit roles that started to slowly see my experience. Most places I worked, I would start at the very, very bottom, you know, and then somebody would recognize that I had a skill and I'd be like, Oh, do you want to move into this next tier? and do other things. And the other answer was always, yes, I want to do more. Yes, I like to do things. Please let me do things. And then I would work my way through. So I kind of learned for a while that that was how my career path was going to go. It was a lot of people not really seeing me, but feeling like, oh, she's got something. There's something there. So let's put her in and we'll see how she does, and see where it goes. You know, I wasn't always ideal and I wanted more for myself, but I think it's safe to say that after, you know, over a decade of really trying to find a workplace that saw me for me and didn't just, you know, throw me a bone because my resume was decent, that finally I realized that I had enough under my belt and had the passion that I needed and applied for. a job at Tamman and Chax and found my way here. I will say I manifested this job in my own way because I loved Article 19 and ChaxChat and just wanted to work here so bad that put my resume out and just crossed my fingers and but we're here today so it's proof that you can manifest your own dreams if you really try hard.    00:24:53   KW: Seriously I mean the story is incredible and let me just back up a tiny bit and you know  when I think about your life compared to mine as a blind person, you know, but both of us  having experienced disability from the beginning is, you know, it's really interesting when I think about you heading into a building or a house and maybe in a lot of cases, they tell  themselves at least that they're grandfathered in, they don't really need to make an accessible building for you or, you know, they think it's for you and not just for everybody. and like that's the challenge but it's so pervasive in our society that many people don't even notice until they're confronted with it and you know but when I think of what your work is which is to you take a document that maybe somebody thought was grandfathered in, and you're stripping away those barriers to the building for someone like me. And I don't know, I'm just really fascinated by your commitment to erasing barriers. And I wondered if you could talk a little bit about how you got into that checks thing specifically.    RF: So I didn't start out as a document specialist. That wasn't where I thought I would end up. but it just so happened that I was working at a non-profit. I was in their development department doing fundraising and things when I overheard them say, hey, we need to start making our documents accessible because, you know, the laws are changing and it's really important that we're doing that. Do we know anybody who can do that on our team? Because we need somebody. And needless to say, I didn't know how to do it, but I was very quick to raise my hand and go, I like to learn. I'll learn, I don't know what this is, but I'll learn how to do this. And that's how I found Article 19 and ChaxChat and started learning how to do document accessibility from nothing and found out very quickly that I loved making documents accessible. That the process of walking through the tags tree and making tags for a document so that it reads in a way that if you can't see it, that it makes sense and you can still understand the information. I thought that was so powerful and so important to be able to do that. And the fact that people didn't recognize that as a thing that was necessary, unless somebody asked for it, like really hit home for me. And that's when I decided I needed to be a part of a company like Tamman and Chax that saw how important that type of work was. So I worked hard and learned as much as I could and I continue to learn to this day and I'm grateful that I'm now part of the Chax family in the way that I can continue my learning and growing and now also help others learn a passion for making documents and the web accessible for people because you don't know what you don't know. I think that's the beauty of the work that we do is not only do we make documents accessible and we know how to do that, but we provide education on how to make those things accessible and to see, you know, when we're teaching classes, that spark that happens. And you can see it finally clicks for the person on the other side of that screen of like, Oh, this is why it's important. Like when we finally say the thing that helps them. really see the benefit of doing the work because it's not always the most glamorous job and sometimes it's hard and a document is complicated and you're spending hours fighting the tags tree, but when you get it  just right and it sounds good and it makes sense and you know that when I pass this off to  somebody they're going to be able to read it and understand it in a meaningful way. It makes me happy. Every time I finish a document and it sounds good I get excited and that's why I love my job so much because I just know that what I'm doing it means something to somebody else besides me.Like whoever is going to read it is going to have a good experience and I played even a small part in that journey.    00:29:05   KS: I love how it's your joy for the work is really infectious. And I think, you know, our listeners would be interested in sort of learning the hard skills and also the soft skills. You talk about like patience and fortitude, like getting through the document. And, you know, I think some of that is ingrained in your personality and, you know, your 100 pushups. And also, you know, thinking about some of those hard skills of like, what did you need to learn in order to become a document accessibility specialist? Did it start with Adobe and then InDesign or did you have to learn a little bit about the design tools first and then get into like the tags tree and sort of what is, I guess, the code at the back end of a document? Because I think, you know, some people just think of a document as a document and they don't really realize that there's a way you can manipulate it. And it's never locked, right? And that whole, like, once you create a PDF, it's locked for good. And, you know, at Chax, we unlock a lot of documents. So yeah, I wondered if you could talk a little bit about that, because you could be without even meaning to planting a seed in a lot of our listeners mind, like, Oh, maybe this is something I can do.    RF: Absolutely.So getting started, I did focus mostly on learning Adobe and the basics of like  what making a document accessible meant in that space.Because I would say still to this day, about 90% of the documents we see on a regular basis are going to be PDFs. You know, we have some source files as well, but my early days, it was very much focused on getting the PDF to be accessible because most of them, even if they were originally created as a Word doc, the final results were PDFs. So starting there is that's usually the gateway.I think, I think it's a, it's a smart way to get your feet wet in the world of accessibility is starting in the PDF. And for me, it was actually Chad's LinkedIn learning course is where I got started. And that went over a little bit of everything. Went over a lot of PDF, a little bit of Word, a little bit of all the basics you need to know. to kind of get started. And I mean, I think the best way to start is create your first tag, you know, watch the video on, you know, where do you find the tag street and what's the process of highlighting the content and creating that first tag. And I think it starts from there is just kind of learning about the heading structure and you know, why headings matter and. and if you can at least give a document some headings and some paragraphs, it's better than it was with no tags. There's a lot more steps to it, but if you can start there and if you find that interesting and you liked the process of that, then you might have a new little career on your hands. And it's definitely something that is so important and meaningful that, you know, it's, if you enjoy it, it's worth doing. I will say, honestly, I've talked to people about the work that I do offhandedly, whether it's my family or friends who ask what I do for work. And I try to explain that I spend my day adding tags to documents that can be anywhere from one page to hundreds of pages long. and that sometimes a document can take me hours or days and I say that story and I tell them how I make a list and it requires a list and a list item and an L body and a label tag and their eyes get big and then gloss over and go And I go, yeah, but it's so satisfying when that list is done and it looks good and it sounds good. And, you know, a lot of my friends go, you have the mind for this. I can't imagine the work that you do every day. And people say to me, I don't think I would enjoy the work that you're doing.    00:33:02   KW: Well, a lot of people don't understand that what a document looks like and what it sounds like can be very different experiences. They think it's very similar. They don't mean to not make it accessible, but they're just like, hey, if I make this font big, then it's a heading. It's like, no. It's a very basic example.    RF: But it's true.    00:33:23   KW: A list needs a list tag, but nobody who looks at a list would necessarily figure that out.    KS: Yeah, it would almost be like going back to elementary school and working in graph paper when you were doing math problems. Like, I always sort of wonder, like, we'll just take Microsoft Word, for example, like, couldn't they have a toggle that you could toggle back and forth and sort of see the tags tree as you're building the document? So it's like, it's built into the software in a sense that there, you're seeing the structure in real time as you're writing it. So it's sort of like the equation is laid out. And then it also brings that awareness. Because I think what all of these software companies did is they tried to make all of these systems look like a notebook, or like a real like you're writing on a pad of paper, right to sort of simulate like, it can be just as good as writing or transcribing or whatever. and disguising all of the tech, wherein the tech is what is so important for the accessibility components too. I sort of was having that thought because oftentimes I feel like in technology, they're just always trying to simulate the real environment in some way. It never quite looks or works. Forget about AI, but just like some of these like old school models that we're still working with. And yeah, I think it would be really interesting to be able to see the back end a little bit more.    RF: For sure. I mean, I just wish looking back that more of these systems thought about  accessibility at the beginning instead of having to be retroactive about it at the end. I mean, I'm grateful that Microsoft accessibility is part of their mantra and they are making steps to make it better and make it more efficient. Um, in terms of accessibility, but I think, you know, one of our biggest. Motto that Chax has to think about accessibility at the beginning, before you even start designing that document is to consider the accessibility within it before you get to the end. Because when you think about accessibility at the end, it can be so much more complicated to implement that accessibility. But if you think about it at the beginning and throughout the process, your whole project becomes more beautiful and easier to make beautiful in accessibility space because there is that misnomer that accessibility means not pretty. That does not have to be the case as long as you're considering it from the beginning rather than having to retroactively correct it at the end.    00:35:57   KS: Yeah, that's really important.I would say you wear a lot of hats at Chax, even though your  title is Document Accessibility Specialist, that you're embedded in the culture and community at Tamman. You help lead the study group. You're also a trainer, you know, an educator. So I  wondered if you could kind of walk through, I guess, like a work week. So, you know, dealing  with clients, getting into documents, because I think a lot of a lot of what you do is building from the strength and that scaffolding that you learned, you know, almost kind of from the nonprofit world where you kind of have to do everything, especially if you're tiny, but mighty.    RF: Right.    KS: And so, yeah. Can you talk us through that work week? or work day, depending on what the day is.    RF: Yeah. Sure. So my average week, I probably spend a good portion of my time doing quality assurance or QA. So I'm working with documents that are provided by our client and I'm adding tags or, you know, working with the team to have tags added to the document. And then we go at the end and we listen to all of our documents to make sure they sound good because sometimes tags can be deceptive. They can look great. But sometimes how they sound isn't always perfect, so you've got to make sure you listen to your documents. So I spend a good bit of my time listening to documents.When I'm not listening to documents, it likely means I am either providing technical assistance in a training for another trainer, or I might be teaching my own training, whether it's individualized for one of our clients, or I'm teaching a drop-in class. And then when I'm not doing those things,it probably means I'm in a book talk or another fun culture-based activity within Tamman and Chax and doing work there as well. So like those are my three main things that I spend my week doing and I love all of them equally and I will say there's more that I could do, can do, sometimes get thrown in to new projects on a whim, but I am not somebody who likes to say no because even now when I have work to do. I like being busy and I like learning new things and like supporting my team as best as possible because all these new things that I can learn just ensure that our work is done well and in a timely manner that I appreciate. Working with the amazing team that we've built, Tamman and Chax, I think just makes that easier too. when I love being able to step away for an hour once a month to go to a book talk. And like, we get to just enjoy each other's company and talk about books. And the fact that that's part of the culture of the workplace is such a beautiful thing. Because not everywhere can you say, oh, it's part of my work day at least once a month to go and talk about a book. Or I happen to run a board game session in the evenings on Monday nights once a week. It's after hours, but I have created an online board game group that we meet, you know, for an hour once a week and play a board game together. It's those little moments that make the work that keeps me busy even extra special because I have a great community of people who care about the work as much as I do, but then we can also enjoy each other's company.    00:39:18   KW: Yeah, I felt so lucky and like a little bit bowled over too, to be honest. Like how did the  entire company, how is everybody such a nice, caring person? And like, you know, we're not all the same, but you know, that I felt very lucky that I've landed among such a great community of people. And I just wondered if there's anything you're looking forward to next year in, well, this year, by the time the podcast comes out in 2026, you know, just like a goal that you have or, skills that you're working on or anything that you're looking forward to? That's fun.    RF: Well, I mean, in general, I'm just looking forward to what next year brings. I think we have a lot of cool plans on the horizon. I'm continuing to work with the amazing collection of clients that I have that consider me their main person and building those connections even further. I am really looking forward to, I'm teaching more drop-in classes in 2026, so I will be taking over a lot of the introductory classes of, you know, how to make a document accessible in Adobe and how to test with a screen reader are some of the classes that I'll be taking lead on in 2026, which feels very special and a great opportunity because, you know, these are classes that Chad and Dax created and have fostered for a long time now and the fact that they're willing to pass these classes along to me feels very, very special and something that I will cherish the fact that I earned their trust to take over these classes and help continue to teach new people in the accessibility space how to make documents accessible is a big dream for me. I'm looking forward to what that will mean for me in the next year. Even if it means doing less quality assurance all the time and more teaching, that's great. It's not something I ever thought I would have as a job. is to do, like, direct teaching to people, even though everybody always told me that I should be a teacher someday. I said I never wanted to have a class full of children that looked up to me, but now I can have a Zoom class full of adults. So I think it's the step in a direction that I didn't expect, but I'm so excited to get started on in 2026.    00:41:25   KW: We're thrilled that we get to work with you every day, every week, and I can imagine, I  haven't talked to Chad and Dax about it personally, but just knowing, you know, how much  you've worked on your CPACC, which is the Certification in Accessibility Core Competencies,  and then the ADS, which is the document certification that Chad and Dax basically helped to  design the exam for. And now that you are one of those crowned with it, you know, I'm sure that they're just over the moon excited about that and that you can help them grow what they've started.    RF: I hope so.    00:42:00   KS: Well, Raquella, thank you so much for coming on the podcast and opening yourself up to all of our questions and being really vulnerable. And I so appreciate it.    RF: I'm so happy to be here.    00:42:13   KS: I know we said at the beginning of the podcast that we were getting the band back together, but I have some news. I am transitioning away from Chax Training and Consulting and Article 19 to take on a new position as Community and Programs Director of the West Collection in Philadelphia. I'm very excited and also a bit melancholy to be leaving all of you behind because this has been...    KW: We'll miss you Katie.    00:42:41   KS: I know, I know it's been such a wonderful year and a half, and I've developed such  incredible friendships and relationships that I know will continue, especially among the three of you, Markus, you two in the back. But I thought, while we're here and while we're in this  episode, it might be a good opportunity to, you know, literally get down on one knee, since I  can't physically, and propose to you, Raquella, will you merry, your skills with the crew at Article 19 and take over as co-host of this podcast.    RF: Wow. I have dreamed of a day like this for years now, since I started listening to Article 19. I would love the opportunity to join Kristen and Marcus on this adventure for sure. Thank you.    00:43:34   KW: We would love it. And it really is the Article 19 pattern. You talk on it for one episode and then all of a sudden you're hosting. Katie and I both went through that. We would love for you to continue our wonderful Article 19 traditions.    RF: I look forward to it. Absolutely.    00:43:49   KS: Awesome. Well, and I, you can't get rid of me too easily. I will be back in any capacity that is needed or whatever. It's a revolving door open door. I don't know whatever we want to call it, but you can't get rid of me.    KW: Yeah, no, it's all a cycle. So we know that you'll. do great things in your new role, and we're really excited to hear about your journey. And always, you're always welcome back. We might even interview you for the next episode. We have no idea what we're doing yet, so.    00:44:16   KS: Awesome. Well, thanks again, and I can't wait to hear the next episode for Raquella and  Kristen.    KW: Thank you so much, Raquella Freeman, for sharing your lived experience and your journey with us. And also, deep thanks to Rose Bleasner, Taylor Kellar, Rob Underwood, and Walt Zielinski for offering their thoughts on accessibility for the episode. Our producer is Markus Goldman, and Katie Samson and Kristen Witucki co-hosted this episode. You can find any of us on LinkedIn.Just hit us up with your ideas or your thoughts about future episodes. Article 19 is a call for others to join us in a bigger conversation around the ADA, accessibility, and access to information. We are working to build the inclusive world every day. And to do that, we need all of us working together and learning together. Thank you so much for listening and being a part of our journey. Take care.       

What's the best tool for making PDFs accessible? It's the question we get constantly, and the honest answer might surprise you. There isn't one. In this episode of Chax Chat, Chad and Dax break down how the "best" accessibility tool depends entirely on your starting point. Are you working in Word, InDesign, PowerPoint, Google Docs, or Canva? Do you have a tagged PDF, an untagged PDF, or a scanned document? Each scenario changes the strategy. We discuss why "born accessible" is always better than heavy remediation, when Adobe's auto-tagging can actually help, why tools like MadeToTag and Access Word continue to be game changers, and how platforms like CommonLook, PDFix, PREP, and Grackle fit into the workflow. We also talk about handling scanned PDFs, the realities of screen reader testing, and why bookmarks aren't the navigation solution many people think they are. If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to choose the right accessibility tool, this episode will help you stop chasing a magic solution and start making smarter decisions based on context. Every other week, we unravel accessibility so you can build more inclusive, compliant, and practical documents.     Screen Readers NVDA https://www.nvaccess.org JAWS https://www.freedomscientific.com/products/software/jaws Apple Voice Over https://www.apple.com/accessibility/vision   Color Checkers TPGi Color Contrast Analyzer https://www.tpgi.com/color-contrast-checker WebAIM Color Contrast Checker https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker 8-Shapes Contrast Grid https://contrast-grid.eightshapes.com Microsoft Color Simulations https://www.microsoft.com/design/color Sim Daltonism https://michelf.ca/projects/sim-daltonism Daltonizer https://play.google.com/store/apps/ Adobe Illustrator https://www.adobe.com Adobe Photoshop https://www.adobe.com Color.Adobe https://color.adobe.com/   Acrobat Plugins CommonLook PDF https://commonlook.com Callas PDFgoHTML https://www.callassoftware.com   MS Word Plugins CommonLook Office https://commonlook.com axesWord https://www.axes4.com   Google Extension Grackle Docs https://www.grackledocs.com   InDesign Plugins MadeToTag https://www.axaio.com/madetotag   PDF Remidiators Adobe Acrobat Pro DC https://www.adobe.com/acrobat Adobe Bridge https://www.adobe.com axesPDF https://www.axes4.com Abby Fine Reader https://www.abbyy.com/ PDFix https://pdfix.net Responsive Table Generator Tool https://ianrmedia.unl.edu/website-resources/responsive-table-generator-tool/ Grackle PDF https://www.grackledocs.com/grackle-pdf Vengage https://venngage.com PREP (Continual Engine) https://www.continualengine.com/prep   PDF Checker PAC Checker 2026 https://pac.pdf-accessibility.org CommonLook Validator https://netcentric.allyant.com/accessibility-software/pdf-validator/   InDesign Scripts Keith Gilbert InDesign Scripts https://gilbertconsulting.com   Virtualization for Mac Parallels Desktop https://www.parallels.com Windows OS https://www.microsoft.com/windows Karabiner-Elements https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org    

In this delightfully chaotic, laugh-filled bonus episode of The Short(er) List, we dive deeper into a hot topic in proposal document creation: InDesign Books. Designers Becky Ellison and Lauren Jane Peterson unpack when and why to use them, share tips to keep you sane, confess the joys and terrors of page numbering, and honor the sacred role of the all‑powerful ‘Keeper of the Book'. They also share real‑world war stories from huge AEC proposals, swap workflow hacks, and do their best to make sense of managing multiple people editing multiple files.And because this is The Short(er) List, expect tangents including reading recommendations, animals, Lauren Jane's incredible hair, and whether InDesign files have souls. (JK… kind of). It's nerdy, it's fun, and there's something for everyone, whether you're trying to stay up on InDesign best practices or just have a laugh with MO6's graphic designers. And it makes a great companion to Episode 76: InDesign Rumble (Part 2)!

The panel looks at Adobe's past dominance, current challenges, and uncertain future as AI tools and lower-cost alternatives reshape the creative landscape. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Web Bixby, Jim Rea, and Jeff Gamet cover how generative AI, subscription fatigue, collaboration gaps, and competitors like Affinity, Canva, and Figma are changing who really needs Adobe services such as Creative Cloud, while reflecting on historical tech shifts and whether Adobe's next chapter has already been written. A documentary recommendation wraps up this session. MacVoices is supported by Incogni. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Get 60% off an annual plan at https://incogni.com/chuck and use code "chuck" at checkout. Show Notes: Chapters: 00:00 Adobe's past, present, and AI disruption 01:12 How AI fits into professional creative workflows 03:09 Adobe's difficulty pivoting in a fast-moving market 04:29 Desktop publishing history: PageMaker, Quark, and InDesign 07:09 Public perception of AI "replacing" Adobe tools 09:26 Photoshop Elements and missed marketing opportunities 12:41 Subscription fatigue and rising alternatives 14:04 Collaboration challenges and Canva/Affinity momentum 17:45 Shift from print-centric tools to digital workflows 22:13 Designers leaving Creative Cloud behind 25:12 Adobe's legacy status and future positioning 31:31 The Thinking Game documentary recommendation Links: Adobe's stock has slumped more than 45% since the end of 2023, reflecting analyst concerns over the threat of AI-driven disruption to SaaS companies https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-13/adobe-analysts-turn-most-bearish-since-2013-as-ai-threat-looms The Thinking Game | Full documentary | Tribeca Film Festival official selection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d95J8yzvjbQ Guests: Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but prefers Bluesky. Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at embolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet. David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud. Dr. Marty Jencius has been an Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University since 2000. He has over 120 publications in books, chapters, journal articles, and others, along with 200 podcasts related to counseling, counselor education, and faculty life. His technology interest led him to develop the counseling profession 'firsts,' including listservs, a web-based peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Technology in Counseling, teaching and conferencing in virtual worlds as the founder of Counselor Education in Second Life, and podcast founder/producer of CounselorAudioSource.net and ThePodTalk.net. Currently, he produces a podcast about counseling and life questions, the Circular Firing Squad, and digital video interviews with legacies capturing the history of the counseling field. This is also co-host of The Vision ProFiles podcast. Generally, Marty is chasing the newest tech trends, which explains his interest in A.I. for teaching, research, and productivity. Marty is an active presenter and past president of the NorthEast Ohio Apple Corp (NEOAC). Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He's been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @provuejim@techhub.social on Mastodon. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:      http://macvoices.com      Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

Season 5 of The Shortlist kicks off with a fan-favorite: InDesign Rumble (Part 2). Wendy Simmons, Becky Ellison, and Lauren Jane Peterson continue their spirited conversation on how AEC marketers actually use Adobe InDesign, workarounds and all.This episode explores how even seasoned designers evolve their skills in a tool most learned on the fly. The MO6 team dives into efficiency-boosters like automation, AI features, data merge, CC Libraries, and paragraph styles. They also call out "common pitfalls" found in inherited files, from hand-built tables to overbuilt parent pages, and discuss when a quick workaround becomes a project liability.The takeaway? There's rarely one "right" way to work. Whether you're an InDesign expert or a self-proclaimed "level 6," this episode will spark new ideas to streamline your next pursuit. Listen in to unlock major gains in efficiency and clarity.CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 4

Su frustrante experiencia con Photoshop e InDesign le llevó a fundar Canva, valorada en 42.000 millones de dólares, más accesible para cualquier usuario y adaptado a las redes sociales. Melanie Perkins ysu pareja, Cliff Obrecht, idearon herramientas intuitivas con las que crear fácilmente presentaciones, carteles para redes sociales y editar vídeos sin necesidad de descargarse ningún programa, una fórmula ganadora con la que se anticiparon a cualquier gigante tecnológico. El portal sufrió para ser un negocio rentable, pero el crecimiento exponencial de sus ingresos, que en 2024 alcanzaron los 3.300 millones de dólares, lo llevó en 2022 a registrar sus primeros beneficios. En agosto de este año, lanzó una venta de acciones para empleados que situó su valoración en los 42.000 millones de dólares, convirtiéndose en la start up más valiosa del mundo fundada por una mujer. Los redactores del periódico Amaia Ormaetxea y Antonio Santamaría analizan su legado en 'Genios de las Finanzas', un pódcast realizado por Tamara Vázquez y dirigido por Amparo Polo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this energizing episode of the Authors on Mission podcast, host Danielle Hutchinson sits down with Sue Day—ADHD coach, author of ADHD Brilliance, and founder of Pathways Forward Coaching. Diagnosed in 1988 when ADHD in girls was rarely acknowledged, Sue shares how she reframed her journey from dropout to nonprofit finance leader, and now to author and coach helping others embrace their “quirky brilliance.”Her book offers a four-step transformational journey designed for ADHD minds—accessible, visual, and deeply validating. From overcoming imposter syndrome to designing her own layout in InDesign, Sue's story is a masterclass in resilience and creativity.

Aujourd'hui, je rencontre le studio F451, fondé par Domitille Debret et Quentin Creuzet. Tous les deux viennent du design graphique, mais travaillent là où le graphisme rencontre le code, dans cette zone un peu floue qui n'entre pas vraiment dans les cases classiques de l'UX, du « front » ou du « back-end ». Eux se présentent simplement comme des designers qui font des sites internet – même si derrière cette formule modeste, il y a une réflexion très profonde sur le web, ses outils, ses contraintes et ses imaginaires.Avec F451, on parle de HTML et de CSS comme d'un artisanat, d'un langage structurant qui oblige à organiser le contenu, à revenir à la base de ce qu'est un site. On parle aussi de génération, de bidouille sur Linux, Skyblog, Tumblr, de scripts dans InDesign, de cette envie de tout automatiser un peu par flemme mais surtout par curiosité. On évoque les commanditaires, l'économie des sites web, la manière de construire un devis, de négocier avec les contraintes techniques, écologiques, politiques, sans céder aux effets spectaculaires ni aux logiques de tracking qui se cachent derrière le vocabulaire de l'« expérience utilisateur ».On discute enfin de la place du web dans le champ du design graphique, de cette hiérarchie implicite qui valorise encore l'affiche et le livre plus que le site internet, et de la façon dont F451 revendique une pratique à la fois très artisanale et pleinement créative. Une conversation sur le code, oui, mais surtout sur la manière d'habiter le web autrement.➡️ @f451.studio f451.studio @domitilledebret @ccccccccreuzetLes références : Ray Bradbury, auteur de Fahrenheit 451François Truffaut, réalisateur du film Fahrenheit 451ESAAT Roubaix – BTS Design graphique, option médias numériquesDesign Academy Eindhoven – Master Information Design (Domitille Debret)HTML / CSS / JavaScriptVisual Studio Code – éditeur de codeKirby CMS – Content Management SystemFigma – design d'interfaceFlash – ancien outil d'animationTerminal (Mac/Linux) – scripts, automatisationsLinux – environnement d'exploitationSkyblog – plateforme de blogs (customisation avec du code)Are.na – plateforme de recherche et de curationType in use : TimesPour faire un don et soutenir le podcast.Pour vous inscrire à la newsletter mensuelle de Graphic Matter.Pour suivre le podcast @graphicmatterpodcastMerci pour votre soutien, on se retrouve toutes les deux semaines pour une nouvelle rencontre. Conception, production, curation, graphisme : Louise GomezHébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Affinity gratis para siempre: Canva convierte Affinity en una suite profesional gratuita con inteligencia artificial.  Por Félix Riaño @LocutorCo  Escucha este y más episodios en Flash Diario en Spotify y compártelo con tus amigos creativos.  El mundo del diseño digital acaba de cambiar para siempre. Canva, la herramienta que millones usamos para crear presentaciones, logos o publicaciones, acaba de liberar su versión profesional: Affinity Studio. Es una aplicación completamente gratuita que combina edición de fotos, diseño vectorial y maquetación de documentos, todo en una sola interfaz. Y sí, usa inteligencia artificial para ayudarte a crear como un experto, sin pagar nada.  Affinity fue durante años el nombre de un trío de programas de pago que competían directamente con Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator e InDesign. Pero ahora Canva la ha transformado en Affinity Studio: una plataforma unificada y gratuita que pone herramientas de nivel profesional al alcance de cualquier persona.Esta nueva versión combina tres mundos en uno: imagen, texto y diseño vectorial. Todo funciona dentro del mismo espacio, sin tener que saltar entre aplicaciones distintas. Además, incluye inteligencia artificial integrada que puede ayudarte a recortar imágenes, mejorar colores, crear composiciones y hasta eliminar fondos en segundos. Canva promete que será “gratis para siempre” y que no hay versiones limitadas ni suscripciones ocultas.Un software gratuito desafía el dominio de Adobe en diseño  Durante más de una década, Affinity fue la gran alternativa profesional a las costosas licencias de Adobe. Su popularidad creció porque ofrecía calidad, precisión y rapidez sin depender de cuotas mensuales. En 2024, Canva compró Affinity por unos 380 millones de dólares, y hoy lanza Affinity Studio, una nueva era en la que cualquier persona puede descargarlo gratis y usarlo sin restricciones.El programa combina lo mejor de tres disciplinas creativas: fotografía, diseño gráfico y maquetación editorial. Todo sucede en un solo lienzo, con herramientas que se adaptan automáticamente al tipo de trabajo que estás haciendo. Su motor de rendimiento permite hacer zoom de hasta diez millones por ciento sin perder detalle y manejar miles de capas en tiempo real.  El anuncio sorprendió incluso a los diseñadores más experimentados. Muchos temían que Canva convirtiera Affinity en un servicio por suscripción o que limitara sus funciones gratuitas. Pero el mensaje fue contundente: Affinity Studio es libre, para siempre, y para todos.La estrategia tiene una lógica clara. Canva quiere ampliar su ecosistema profesional conectando Affinity con sus servicios colaborativos y con Canva AI Studio, su sistema de inteligencia artificial. Quienes paguen Canva Premium podrán usar herramientas avanzadas como Generative Fill, edición con IA y ampliación inteligente de imágenes, directamente desde la interfaz de Affinity.Eso abre un debate interesante: ¿cómo puede sostenerse un software tan potente sin cobrar? Canva responde que lo hace como una inversión para impulsar la creatividad global y atraer nuevos usuarios a su plataforma principal.  El movimiento de Canva ha sacudido a toda la industria. Mientras Adobe mantiene suscripciones obligatorias, Affinity se convierte en una opción libre, veloz y abierta. El nuevo Affinity Studio conserva la precisión de siempre, pero suma fluidez, colaboración y personalización. Cada usuario puede crear su propio “estudio” con herramientas adaptadas a su flujo de trabajo y compartir configuraciones con otros.La nueva identidad visual de Affinity refleja ese cambio. El logotipo, los colores y la tipografía fueron diseñados por equipos internacionales para simbolizar una comunidad creativa diversa. Los tonos carbón, papel y verde lima evocan materiales reales, mientras que la tipografía Affinity Serif combina elegancia con un toque rebelde.Y más allá del diseño, hay un mensaje potente: el acceso a las herramientas creativas ya no debe depender del dinero. Canva y Affinity apuestan por una era en la que cualquiera pueda crear, aprender y publicar sin barreras.  El nuevo Affinity Studio admite los principales formatos del sector: PSD, AI, PDF, SVG, TIFF e IDML, lo que permite abrir y guardar proyectos compatibles con Adobe y otras plataformas. También introduce un nuevo formato propio, .af, pensado para mantener la máxima calidad entre los distintos tipos de diseño.La inteligencia artificial integrada puede automatizar tareas repetitivas como recortes o ajustes de color, y lo hace directamente en tu dispositivo, sin enviar datos a la nube ni usarlos para entrenar modelos de IA.Canva también presentó su Canva Design Model, un modelo de inteligencia artificial que genera diseños editables, no imágenes planas. Además, añadió Ask Canva, un asistente que responde dudas dentro del proyecto y sugiere mejoras en tiempo real. Todo forma parte de su nuevo sistema operativo creativo, el Creative Operating System, que busca integrar diseño, marketing y publicación en un solo entorno.  Canva lanzó Affinity Studio, la nueva herramienta profesional gratuita que une foto, vector y maquetación con inteligencia artificial. Es rápida, libre y está disponible para todos.Descárgala, pruébala y cuéntanos tu experiencia.  Canva lanza Affinity Studio, un programa profesional gratis con inteligencia artificial. Foto, vector y maquetación en un solo lugar.  

InDesign 2026 is here—and so are David and Anne-Marie! In this episode of The CreativePro Podcast, David Blatner and Anne-Marie Concepción bring back InDesign Secrets and dig into the newest release of Adobe InDesign (v21). They explore what's fresh, and what's just plain weird. From the new Flex Layout feature to live text editing in the browser, they unpack the good, the bad, and the future potential of InDesign's next chapter. Along the way, they share favorite finds, event updates, and a few classic "InDesign Secrets" throwbacks—complete with the return of the Obscure InDesign Feature of the Week (-eek!). Highlights: Who are David and Anne-Marie? Anne-Marie's LinkedIn Learning courses David's LinkedIn Learning courses InDesign User Group: 20th Anniversary Adobe MAX Obscure Feature of the Week: Emit CSS InDesign 2026: Flex Layout makes its debut (similar to CSS Flex Layout) David explains how Flex Containers let designers control spacing, alignment, and relationships among multiple objects. InDesign's "InCopy on the Web" (beta) Despite the confusing name, this new feature introduces true browser-based text editing for clients and collaborators. Cloud collaboration Cloud Documents Cloud documents now autosave, sync live edits, and support share-for-text-editing links. Math Expressions evolve Math Expressions MathML integration improves with a dedicated panel and the long-awaited ability to copy equations directly from Microsoft Word into InDesign. Jean-Claude's script to convert math expressions to RGB to CMYK Context Bar gets smarter (and slightly more confusing) The floating context menu now includes quick access to paragraph and character styles. Adobe Express template integration The new "Templates" option on InDesign's Home screen opens the Express web app, not native templates—an unexpected (and debatable) choice. Links & Resources Free Webinar: Bullets and Numbering in InDesign – Now available on demand Design + AI Summit – November 13–14, 2025 CreativePro Week – Coming to Nashville, June 29–July 3, home of Hatch Show Print Listeners can save $100 on any CreativePro event with the discount code: PODCAST CreativePro Membership – Unlock the magazine, downloads, and exclusive resources

In this Rich Reflections session, Rich explores everything from spider webs and wild hawks to the power of publishing and the politics of personal bias. Set against the rhythms of farm life and the coming harvest season, the episode invites us to examine our patterns—what we avoid, what we collect, and what we truly value. He reflects on designing books, learning tools like InDesign over the past years, and his creative relationship with Paris—from coasters and cultural appreciation to asset-gathering for future art. Rich also discusses procrastination, the depth behind our dislikes, and the distinction between speed and velocity. With quiet observations about nature, honest self-reflection, and exciting updates on new book releases, this session is a grounded and expansive meditation on doing the work, following your curiosity, and leaning into the things we often resist. As always, the session ends with a powerful reminder: clarity fuels velocity. Subscribe to the email newsletter for inspiration, self-development, & updates: https://richhebron.com/ Questions from this session: What are we grateful for? What's a relationship we have that would surprise someone? What is a goal we have? What is an obstacle to advance? How would we analyze our personality? What are our greatest skills? What music are we listening to lately? What skill surprised us? What items do we intentionally have placed in our space to frame our mindset? In our time, what is an invention we appreciate exists? What's something we have been putting off that we could do right now? What are we energized for in the next week?

In this episode, Theresa Jackson and Mike Rankin go behind the scenes at CreativePro. They share how their similar career beginnings in prepress connected them at their first meeting many years ago, and how they now share overlapping roles at CreativePro. You'll hear from Mike about the CreativePro Magazine evolution from InDesign-only coverage to a broader creative focus, and other changes that make content faster and easier to digest. This is followed with a conversation about community connection and their ideas for sustaining the energy of CreativePro Week year-round. Mike shares his newly formed Office Hours, and Theresa teases similar new community initiatives on the horizon. Along the way, they preview upcoming events and dive into a candid discussion about AI in design—what excites them, what makes them uneasy, and why creativity and foundational skills still matters most. The show wraps with Mike's top InDesign career tip—one you won't want to miss.   Links & Resources CreativePro Membership – Unlock the magazine, downloads, and exclusive resources: https://creativepro.com/membership/ CreativePro Magazine Article MATE: Your AI Helper in InDesign and Illustrator https://creativepro.com/mate-your-ai-helper-in-indesign-and-illustrator/ Office Hours – Join the conversation: https://creativepro.com/office-hours/ Design + Accessibility Summit – September 16–19, 2025: https://creativepro.com/event/design-accessibility-summit-2025/#overview Design + AI FREE Webinar – September 30, 2025: https://creativepro.com/event/free-webinar-unlocking-the-potential-of-ai-in-video/ Design + AI Summit – November 13–14, 2025:https://creativepro.com/event/design-ai-summit-2025/ The InDesign Conference – December 9–12, 2025: https://creativepro.com/event/indesign-conference-2025/ Rob de Winter's Flux Kontext Photoshop Plugin – https://www.robdewinter.com/flux-kontext-plugin-for-photoshop

#195 Something very easy to do for document accessibility is to add a few bits of metadata. Find out why metadata is important for accessibility, what metadata to add and how to add metadata to a document.

Mastering Book Cover Design for Amazon & Kindle: A Practical Guide. In the crowded world of self-publishing, your book cover is more than just a pretty picture—it's your first impression, your marketing powerhouse, and the visual hook that can make or break a sale. Whether you're publishing a paperback on Amazon or a Kindle eBook, designing an effective cover is essential. Here's how to make sure yours stands out in the crowded Amazon marketplace. Why Your Book Cover Matters You've heard the saying, “Don't judge a book by its cover,” but let's be honest: readers absolutely do. On Amazon and Kindle, your cover shows up as a thumbnail alongside hundreds of others. A compelling design can make readers stop scrolling and click—while a dull or unprofessional one may get overlooked entirely. Key Differences: Kindle eBook vs. Paperback Cover Before you begin designing, understand the format you're creating for:Kindle eBooks: Require only a front cover. It should be optimized for digital screens and look good at small sizes (thumbnail view).Paperback Books (KDP Print): Require a full cover including front, back, and spine. You'll need to factor in the trim size, page count, and bleed areas.Amazon provides a Cover Calculator & Template Generator for paperbacks:https://kdp.amazon.com/cover-calculator Design Specs for Amazon & Kindle Covers Kindle eBook Cover Requirements:Dimensions: Ideal ratio is 1.6:1 (e.g., 1600 x 2560 pixels).Minimum size: 1000 pixels on the shortest side.Maximum file size: 50MB.File type: JPEG or TIFF.Color: RGB only.Paperback Cover Requirements (KDP Print):File type: PDF for print.Resolution: 300 DPI.Color: CMYK.Bleed: Typically 0.125" on all sides.Spine width: Depends on page count and paper type.Design Principles That Sell 1. Know Your Genre Each genre has visual cues. Romance uses soft, emotional imagery. Thrillers often use dark tones and bold fonts. Non-fiction covers tend to be cleaner and typography-driven. Look at the top 10 books in your category for inspiration. 2. Typography is CrucialUse no more than two fonts.Title should be readable at thumbnail size.Avoid script or decorative fonts unless genre-appropriate.Author name can be smaller but still legible.3. High-Quality Images Avoid using pixelated or stocky-looking images. Invest in high-resolution assets or create custom illustrations/photos. Sites like Unsplash (free) or Shutterstock (premium) are great sources. 4. Balance and Hierarchy Design with clear visual hierarchy:Title firstSubtitle second (if applicable)Author name thirdLeave breathing space. Don't overcrowd. 5. Thumbnail Test Shrink your design to 100 x 160 px. Can you still read the title? Is it still eye-catching? This is how it will appear in Amazon search results. Tools for Designing Book Covers For DIY Authors:Canva (Free & Pro): User-friendly with KDP templates.BookBrush: Designed for authors, with genre templates.Adobe Express: Quick designs with good typography options.For Professional Designers:Adobe Photoshop or InDesign: Full control for advanced design and print-ready files.Affinity Publisher: A powerful InDesign alternative.Using Amazon KDP Cover Creator (Optional) If you're not comfortable with design tools, Amazon's built-in Cover Creator is simple and free. It has templates, font controls, and lets you preview in 3D. However, it's limited in customization, so it's best for basic layouts. Avoid These Common MistakesUsing low-res images or blurry graphicsCentering everything by defaultOveruse of effects like drop shadows or bevelsInconsistent visual tone with the genreMisaligned spine elements on paperbacksIgnoring bleed and trim linesPro Tip: Hire a Designer If You Can A professionally designed cover can significantly boost your credibility and sales. If you're serious about publishing, consider hiring a freelance designer from platforms like Reedsy, 99designs, or Upwork. Always provide your book's genre, blurb, tone, and any visual references you like. Final Thoughts Your book cover is a visual handshake with your reader. On Amazon and Kindle, it's your billboard, brand, and storefront rolled into one. Invest time and care into it. With the right tools, creative direction, and an understanding of what sells, you can design a cover that attracts, engages, and converts browsers into buyers.

Just for fun: Bad Advice (and Good Lessons) Interview with Marcus Radich from PageProof Obscure feature: Show Transparency Grid Links: Bad Advice The "Bad Advice" thread on Facebook Sara Rosinsky's Em Dash shirt Interview with PageProof: New Proofing Add-in for Microsoft Office Centralizing the Proofing Process with PageProof News: Adobe engineers did an Ask Us Anything 24-hour marathon on the InDesign subreddit (forum) of Reddit.com. Creative Cloud Members get 3 months of LinkedIn "Premium Career" membership (which includes LinkedIn Learning). See Adobe CC Benefits page Obscure Feature: Show Transparency Grid More information on Creative Cloud Libraries

Topics: Great lessons from the archives (that you may have missed) First look at InDesign 20.3 Obscure Feature: Delete All Guides on Spread Sponsor: PageProof is a simple-to-use but powerful online proofing platform that makes giving feedback on creative work effortless See David's latest conversation with PageProof founder, Marcus Radich Links: Old InDesign Magazine articles that are definitely evergreen: From issue 1: Recipes for Applying—and Ignoring—Text Wrap in InDesign issue 2: Fast Formatting with Nested Styles in InDesign issue 7: InDesign Tips of the Trade issue 8: Working with Anchored Objects in InDesign What's new in 20.3 Fixed Issues What's New Peter Kahrel's Latex to MathML script Issues with Generative Fill in InDesign News: Members can now download the Tables Superguide of articles CreativePro Week (use the code CPSECRETS to get $100 off that or any creativepro event) Obscure Feature: Delete All Guides on Spread Shortcut for selecting all guides

#192 If you're new to creating accessible PDFs from InDesign, Word, PowerPoint or if you don't have an efficient process, then you may face certain challenges. Get 5 tips for creating accessible PDFs efficiently.

Adobe InDesign is a must-have tool for AEC marketers, but let's be honest—many of us honed our proposal design skills on the job, often under a deadline. Even experienced users sometimes wonder: Am I using the best approach? In this episode of The Shortlist, host Wendy Simmons sits down with some of Middle of Six's InDesign "power users" Allison Tivnon, Becky Ellison, and Lauren Jane Peterson to explore the many ways designers approach InDesign for proposals and marketing collateral. From file setup and text layout to graphics and formatting, every designer has their own techniques—but is there really a "right" way? The discussion covers key differences in workflow, including parent pages, grids, pagination, text styling, and shortcuts. They also rumble over linking vs. embedding graphics, managing color palettes, table styles, and columns vs. threaded text. With so many ways to get the job done, sharing insights can lead to game-changing discoveries. Whether you're a meticulous organizer or a creative risk-taker, this episode will challenge the way you think about design workflows. CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 4 

Let us know what you think!Unlock the secrets of turning your family's rich history into a dynamic digital treasure trove with the help of Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing. Discover how digital publishing not only facilitates easy distribution but also creates a lasting resource for family reunions.1. Prepare Your Book for Publishing2. Publish via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)3. Choose Distribution Settings4. Set Your Pricing5. Share the Book with Your Family6. Gifting Copiesorder copies of your book at the author's cost (for print books) send gift copies of the Kindle versionFor Document conversions:Website: https://calibre-ebook.com/Related Blogs:"Reads over Royalties""EPUB with InDesign, Page Breaks""Secrets with the Trees" by John A BrandtBe sure to bookmark linktr.ee/hittinthebricks for your one stop access to Kathleen Brandt, the host of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen. And, visit us on YouTube: Off the Wall with Kathleen John and Chewey video recorded specials. Hittin' the Bricks is produced through the not-for-profit, 501c3 TracingAncestors.org.

Includes: Favorite font tricks Interview with Theresa Jackson InDesign 20.1 Obscure feature: Match Pasteboard to Theme Color News: 20.1 is in release rollout multi-find/change is now free Old (but still relevant!) InDesign Magazine articles, now on site: Designing Photo Albums in InDesign by Khara Plicanic Getting Started with GREP Styles in InDesign by Steve Caplin Working in Microsoft Word by Jamie McKee Designing with Type: Grunge, Punk, and Futurism by Nigel French InDesign Nightmares by David and Anne-Marie Theresa Jackson: Articles and videos Old (but fun!) Interview Font Tricks: How to change the underlying default font for a document (see Don Ayer's comment at end for an easier solution) OpenType text and text frame adornments Obscure Feature: Match Pasteboard to Theme Color

In this episode, the Team chats with Haley Moore, VP of Design, about her career path from designer to manager and how she came to terms with embracing her natural ability to lead projects and being comfortable managing a team of very skilled designers. She discusses taking leaps in her career in order to not lean away from her natural skillsets, even if they are hard to recognize, and being ok with the concept of not being the best at something. Haley also discusses the traits and qualities she looks for when hiring a new designer, including how to share a bit of yourself with your interviewers. Kristen discusses Bigfoot (again), and Haley unwinds with snacks on the floor to deal with burnout.Host, Producer, & Editor - Mark CelaHost, Director, & Script Writer - Kristen PericleousHost, Social Media Manager, Social Media Content Creator, & Editor - Dan LawsonHost, Website Director - Lauren DeMarks

We're kicking off the new year at Did I Do That? with something old, something new (to some of you), and something borrowed, so don't be blue: it's our live show from Seattle Design Festival 2024! Seattle's own Terry Marks joined Sean on the mainstage in Lake Union Park to talk through Hey Reb!'s proportions, the curse of eternal life (via stock photo modeling), and InDesign's spellcheck dictionary.If you want to find more about Terry's work, the best place to visit is tmarksdesign.com! While I am happy to direct any calls back to Terry, feel free to reach out to him if you're interested in the reprint edition of Mr. Crumbley Dreams a Tiger.While this is an audio-only version of the outdoor recording, you can watch the video version of this episode on SDF's YouTube channel. Too, while I've done my best to clean up the ambient noise present on the day, you may hear the odd bit of wind noise as well as more than a few seagulls. May these soothing sounds of summer help warm you through a chilly January.Big thanks to Terry Marks for being a part, as well as to the whole crew at Seattle Design Festival! It was such a treat to be a part of it! Thanks to Annalee Shum for coordinating and programming us, to our volunteer Maxine to helping with the production, and to Adrian Pacheco who both worked the boards for the event and was kind enough to share these files! Thanks, and goodnight, Seattle! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Follow-up DIGI Sun sensors, Jared Isaacman, Blue Origin New Glenn, Deep Space Gateway, Re #677 → NMBS ziet definitief af van wifi in Belgische treinen Onderwerpen De eindejaarslijstjes, het beste (of slechtste) van 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ Beste film

Table Scripts: Switching Rows and Columns in an InDesign Table Sort tables Setting Table Column Widths Easier Table Formatting Sizing Columns and Rows with a Script Calculations in InDesign Active Tables plug-in from DTP Tools Fixed Issues in InDesign 20.0.1 CreativePro Events: The Design + AI Summit, CreativePro Week, and more Obscure Feature: Cell Division

Ep 247Cloudflare took down our website after trying to force us to pay 120k$ within 24hBelkin Recalls BoostCharge Pro Power Bank With Apple Watch Charger Due to Fire HazardApple's Find My enables sharing location of lost items with third partiesApple Under Pressure to Remove Geo-Blocking Restrictions in the EUBleepingComputer:VMware has announced that its VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation desktop hypervisors are now free to everyone for commercial, educational, and personal use.YT/dosdude1: UPGRADING a Brand NEW M4 Mac miniMac mini (2024) SSD Module - Apple SupportPaul Haddad: Holy low idle power usage Batman. M4 non pro. Mini pro idles at around the same 1.2/1.3W with nothing connected.Jeff Geerling: The M4 Mac mini's RIDICULOUS efficiencyAlex Cheema: M4 Mac Mini AI ClusterKen Case: A fun discovery this week is that a Mac mini M4 (not Pro, 4P + 6E) does a clean build of OmniFocus 1.45x faster than an M1 Ultra Mac Studio (16P + 4E).optimum: Apple has my attention - M4 Mac MiniInside M4 chips: E and P cores (The Eclectic Light Company)Uglavnom, radim u Adobe suite na PC već sto godina, većinom Illustrator, InDesign i manje Photoshop, pripremam razne materijale za tisak. Trenutno vrtim PC s Intelom i9-13900K, 64 GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT na dva 4k monitora. Sve to radi OK ali mi je zapeo za oko novi Mac Mini M4 pa me zanima ima li uopće smisla (pored ovog PC kojeg imam) nabaviti novi Mac mini i da li bi on radio brže/bolje s Adobe paketom? Nekako gađam Mac Mini M4 Pro, 48 GB RAM i 1T disk. Ne zanima me igranje na Macu, isključivo Adobe paket i eventualno QGis.ArtIsRight: Testing All M4 SoC MacBook Pro, Which one is best for Pro Photo/Video Workflow?Apple Releases Final Cut Pro 11 for MacApple Releases Logic Pro 11.1 for MacBill Atkinson Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer - TidBITSHarry McCracken:Tom Kurtz, who co-invented BASIC—probably the piece of software that has meant the most to me — has died at age 96.ZahvalniceSnimano 23.11.2024.Uvodna muzika by Vladimir Tošić, stari sajt je ovde.Logotip by Aleksandra Ilić.Artwork epizode by Saša Montiljo, njegov kutak na Devianartupastel na papiru

What's New in InDesign 2025: Adobe's update page How to Avoid Print Problems with MathML in InDesign New Accessibility Features in InDesign 2025 James Wamser's New Features Guide Creative Cloud Storage: Where Does Your Work Go? New "wow" products at MAX Project Neo Substance 3D Viewer Amazing ProjectTurntable from Sneaks Interview with: Karen Brewer, Adobe Obscure Feature: "Show Subset" Five Ways InDesign Libraries Are Better Than CC Libraries

News More CreativePro events coming up Update on InDesign 19.5 *beta* feature CreativePro Magazine 25 Years of Tips and Tricks! Catch Anne-Marie Sept 19 at the L.A. InDesign User Group (online) Sponsored by PageProof The Benefits of Online Proofing for the Creative Workflow PageProof review PageProof's website Update note on InDesign 19.5 Remember that GenAI stuff in 19.5 is beta! Three interesting InDesign Secrets forum posts How to get text to sit outside the text frame More on First Baseline Offset How to compare two PDF files PDF Comparator from Premedia Systems Comparing images or pages using effects blend modes The background to my AI or PDF files is no longer transparent Understanding InDesign's Place PDF Options How to Place CC Library Items with Transparency Obscure Feature: Contextual Task Bar (everyone loves it… not)

We're excited to have professional Photographer Todd Kuhns on this episode, where he talks about the state of photography as an industry, advice for young photographers and designers, and how design could learn from the last 20 years of how photography has evolved.  Todd's work may be found at his website and YouTube channel:Studio12online.comTodd Kuhns on YouTubeHost, Producer, & Editor - Mark CelaHost, Director, & Script Writer - Kristen PericleousHost, Social Media Manager, Social Media Content Creator, & Editor - Dan LawsonHost, Website Director - Lauren DeMarks

News InDesign 19.5 released 2024 CreativePro Week available on-demand More CreativePro events coming up CreativePro Magazine latest issue Sponsored by PageProof The Benefits of Online Proofing for the Creative Workflow PageProof review PageProof's website Unboxing InDesign 19.5 InDesign 19.5 Adds Generative Expand, History Panel, and Find/Change Text Case Adobe's What's New in 19.5 page Change Case: Peter Kahrel's script  GREP Solution to Flawed Title Case Feature History panel: The way we used to do History panels  Accessing Document History Obscure Feature: .joboptions More on PDF presets      

At Live bootcamps people always ask how you can get the inside scoop. Carina always says what no one likes to hear and that is, you have to pay to play. That means you have to go to shows, network, join programs, and anything else that will help you learn the industry and talk to buyers and manufacturers. This is a key component that so many creatives miss because they are unwilling to put themselves out there.Episode 457  What Got Me The Inside Scoop When I Had No Network_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Have you ever wanted to create your own personalized planner. Whether you want to create one just for yourself or you want to sell your unique planner, you will not want to miss my workshop coming up on July 24th. This is a 3 hour workshop on Illustrator and InDesign and it's currently 50% off. Join athttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/planner-workshop

Carina goes through several of the "Day in a Life's from Erin Austen Abbott's book How to Make It. She looks at the daily activities of people who are doing their creative work for a living and things you can do to mimic their activities.Episode 456 How to MAKE it: Lessons From the Book of 25 Creatives_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Have you ever wanted to create your own personalized planner. Whether you want to create one just for yourself or you want to sell your unique planner, you will not want to miss my workshop coming up on July 24th. This is a 3 hour workshop on Illustrator and InDesign and it's currently 50% off. Join athttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/planner-workshop

If you are wanting a "do over" in your creative process, Carina talks about two things you can do that she teaches on from the Artist's Way. She has recently been working on a new course from the University of Arts & Design Business that incorporates the principles from the Artist's Way. Learn how these two things that help you be more creative than ever before!Episode  455  Revitalizing Your Creative Process with the Artist's Way_________ Have you ever wanted to create your own personalized planner. Whether you want to create one just for yourself or you want to sell your unique planner, you will not want to miss my workshop coming up on July 24th. This is a 3 hour workshop on Illustrator and InDesign and it's currently 50% off. Join athttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/planner-workshop__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Have you ever wanted to create your own personalized planner. Whether you want to create one just for yourself or you want to sell your unique planner, you will not want to miss my workshop coming up on July 24th. This is a 3 hour workshop on Illustrator and InDesign and it's currently 50% off. Join athttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/planner-workshop

244 - Welcome back to the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast! I'm your host, Nicole Begley, and today we have a very special guest, Daniel Usenko, the creative force behind Pixellu, developers of my favorite album design software, Smart Albums.Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting to explore the possibility of adding albums to your services, this episode is packed with insights that will inspire you to not only streamline your workflow, but also potentially utilize albums in your marketing. Daniel will share how Smart Albums can transform the tedious task of album creation into a swift, enjoyable process, enhancing both your product offering and client experience. So, buckle up as we uncover the potential for offering gorgeous albums to your clients.WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:The Value of Print:Daniel discusses the importance of printed albums in today's digital age and how they can distinguish your services from others, providing a tangible product that clients treasure.Advice for Incorporating Albums into Your Business:   Daniel gives practical advice on how photographers can seamlessly integrate album sales into their offerings, enhancing client satisfaction and boosting their bottom line.Improving Photographer Efficiency: Discover how Smart Albums can drastically reduce the time spent on album designs, enabling photographers to pre-design albums for sales sessions and increase their profitability.The Origins of Smart Albums:   Daniel shares the journey from the early days of album design, which required days of work using Photoshop or InDesign, to the development of Smart Albums, which now allows photographers to design beautiful albums in less than 10 minutes.Utilizing Albums for Marketing:   Explore innovative ways to use albums as a marketing tool, whether it's showcasing your work at events or creating bespoke client albums that drive new business.Resources From This Episode:Ready to save 15% on your first year of SmartAlbums?  Use the code: FREEDOMFOCUSHair of the Dog Academy Elevate Coaching ProgramFreedom Focus FormulaJOIN THE PARTY: Connect with us on Instagram Explore valuable pet photography resources here Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers. Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that. Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

News InDesign 19.4 new features Note: 19.4 wasn't fully released when we recorded this podcast! You can learn more about the new features here. Online Events and CreativePro Week CreativePro Magazine latest issue Kara Plicanic interview Khara's web site Interview with Khara Khara's CreativePro articles and videos Secrets of the Live Preflight Panel Finding Overset Text With Preflight Customizing a Preflight Profile Finding Hidden Items With Preflight Profiles Use Live Preflight to Manage Page Sizes How to Create Preflight Profiles in InDesign Using the Book Panel to Preflight Multiple Documents More Preflight articles Obscure Feature of the Week: Recompose All Stories When Modified Anne-Marie's post and comment about it InDesign documentation Recompose All Text keyboard shortcut: Control-Alt-/ or Command-Option-/  

News Fixed issues in 19.3 Earn an InDesign Certificate on LinkedIn Learning Online Events and CreativePro Week Hot Threads: How to create a grid of images (or images and captions) so they'll autoflow and are easy to rearrange? Swapping Images script Auto-Reflowing Images in a Grid Loic's Inline Merge script to create a grid Video on using Data Merge scripts Using Kelly's TOC trick Client wants the font to be "a little heavier" after the almost-final proof, best way to do that? Obscure Feature of the Week: Proxy

Is your agency leveraging CRMs to tailor personalized client experiences and nurture long-term client relationships? Are you tracking customer interactions from first message to delivery? In the dynamic world of agency-client interactions, CRM tools play a pivotal role in streamlining operations and enhancing customer experiences. Today's guest has made customer satisfaction his focus even since his start as a graphic designer and now offers a CRM system designed specifically with agencies in mind. Tune in to learn valuable insights on client management and relationship-building strategies for agencies. Steve Holm is the CEO of Copper, a CRM company that helps agencies track clients from initial interest to project delivery. He discusses the importance of building better relationships with clients and shares his background as a graphic designer and his experience in digital product development. In this episode, we'll discuss: How design can translate to customer value. Crafting a success path for designers at your agency. How to effectively use CRM to navigate customer relationships. One CRM designed specifically for agencies. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Understanding How Design Can Translate to Customer Value Steve's journey began as a graphic designer, crafting yearbooks for elementary schools using InDesign. He then transitioned to digital design at an agency collaborating with Facebook on feature and product development. Through his network of industry connections, Steve ventured into partnerships with various companies, eventually assuming a leadership role in product management. His background in design and product management equipped Steve with the skills to create a vision and roadmap for his company based on the impact they aim to have on customers. Since the beginning, Steve has seen that design can directly impact customer satisfaction and, as a result, business success. To him, the most important thing to keep in mind as you design is “what is the value this is giving to customers and how can I make a connection between my design and the value they're receiving?” Making this connection leads to increased revenue or reduced turnover. In his view, this approach translated well into the role of CEO, as he understood the significance of prioritizing customers, designing with the end consumer in mind, and working backward to the technology, rather than starting with the technology and trying to sell it. It's a philosophy very similar to that of Steve Jobs, who believed in designing products that cater to the needs and desires of customers. Establishing a Clear Path to Success for Designers at Your Agency As a designer who eventually transitioned to management roles, Steve knows that trajectory depends on the person. Throughout his professional journey, he has strived to elevate the role of design within strategic discussions to provide more avenues for designers to find fulfillment. Establishing a clear career path for designers, encompassing both technical expertise and management responsibilities, is crucial for retaining top talent. However, not all designers aspire to or are suited for managerial positions; some excel as creatives and prefer to stay in that role. The problem is that in certain organizations managerial roles are perceived as the sole route for designers to have a significant impact on the broader vision. At his organization, Steve focused on granting design a strategic role in project development. Addressing the issue of impact makes it easier to understand a designer's motivations for role transitions, their objectives, and how to support their success. When designers only see themselves getting ahead by moving into manager roles, Steve perceives it as a flaw in company operations. Designers should have more participation in strategic decisions. By exposing them to the right conversations and strategies, agencies can leverage their expertise to drive innovation and create customer-centric solutions. Navigating Your Agency's Customer Relationships with CRM Customer relationship management (CRM) is a crucial aspect of any business and, as such, agencies should provide world-class relationship building across every touchpoint in the customer journey. It's the way to engage prospects and close more deals, as well as, retain existing clients to grow those accounts. With ten years of experience in CRM and looking at it from end to end Steve believes it's important to provide the utmost quality at every step of the process. How are you engaging with customers from the moment they reach out? How are you interacting? Are you making sure to get feedback on what went well and what can be improved post-interaction? The right answers to these questions will help you remarket and grow your business from existing clients. For Steve, a key practice in this process is to have a CRM that tracks all these interactions, documents, and tasks for the post-sales, and project delivery stages all in one place, as well as trying to automate as much as you can. Automating relationship building at scale will allow you to improve overall efficiency across the customer journey. Two Key Aspects to Get Better Results from Your CRM System The main problem with CRM is data integrity because it is only as good as the data you put into it. Do you have the right data in the system? Without accurate and up-to-date data, the CRM system becomes ineffective and may lead to missed opportunities or miscommunication with clients. In this sense, Steve recommends automating data entry and integration with other tools such as email and calendar platforms to ensure your CRM system remains reliable and useful for managing customer relationships. Another key aspect of using CRM effectively is customization. Different businesses have unique workflows and processes, so it is essential to have a CRM system that can be easily customized to fit specific needs. This includes setting up multiple pipelines for different types of customers or projects, and being able to adjust and tweak the system as needed to align with changing business requirements. The CRM Designed Specifically for Agencies Copper CRM, Steve's business, recently reset their focus to relationship-intensive businesses, such as agencies, consulting firms, and financial services, which rely heavily on building and maintaining strong relationships with their clients, rather than focusing on high-volume leads and deals. Copper serves as both a CRM and project management system, which sets it apart from similar businesses. This integration allows clients to seamlessly track the entire client relationship, from pre-sales to post-sales, in one tool. With Copper, agencies can focus on growing their business knowing their CRM is set up for success. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Follow along and subscribe/rate/review at https://www.briancovey.com/podcast/We all have a purpose! In order to succeed we have to continually learn who we are, what we're called to do, and show up as our authentic selves..When it comes to personal branding, following the trends or mimicking popular influencers in your industry won't get you far. If you want to grow your network and your wealth, you need to own your greatness and do what you've been hard-wired to do!On the latest episode of Finding Your Competitive Edge, guest Roland Cochrun - Founder of InDesign, Speaker, and Coach - breaks down what it takes to be successful & fulfill your purpose in your personal brand and your life.“Imagine if you trusted yourself…it's my belief that if you can learn that you are here for something and you can start to listen to it rather than obsessively hiring coaches and obsessively reading every book…the ROI is different and, if you're measuring it monetarily I'm going to tell you right now there's no promise that your purpose is going to make you a ton of money…I can promise you this though: it will give you a sense of fulfillment that is better than money.” -Roland Cochrun

Follow along and subscribe/rate/review at https://www.briancovey.com/podcast/When it comes to personal branding, following the trends or mimicking popular influencers in your industry won't get you far. If you want to grow your network and your wealth, you need to own your greatness and do what you've been hard-wired to do!On this episode of Finding Your Competitive Edge, guest Roland Cochrun - Founder of InDesign, Speaker, and Coach - breaks down what it takes to be successful & fulfill your purpose in your personal brand and your life by continually learning who you are, what you're called to do, and showing up as your authentic self.“Imagine if you trusted yourself…it's my belief that if you can learn that you are here for something and you can start to listen to it rather than obsessively hiring coaches and obsessively reading every book…the ROI is different and, if you're measuring it monetarily I'm going to tell you right now there's no promise that your purpose is going to make you a ton of money…I can promise you this though: it will give you a sense of fulfillment that is better than money.” -Roland Cochrun

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