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In Episode 458, Madden and Kolsky figured out a way to get this thing on tape, which should be enough, as they talk through: The somewhat underwhelming season finalé of Top Chef (0:50) and how not leaving the Carolinas for the final felt strange… The new Apple TV+ series Cape Fear (16:30) and how one of our hosts just isn’t here for this sort of thing, but the other is ALL IN… A look back at a few show-favorite series that wrapped up for good in the last couple weeks: the enjoyable endpoint of The Boys (26:05), the only-sometimes-beautiful mess that was Euphoria’s last season (29:55) and the triumph of Hacks (41:30)… Homework for some time in a couple weeks (48:30), which is TOTALLY UP IN THE AIR other than World Cup and NBA Finals (if necessary), but may also include the return of Colin Farrell’s Apple TV+ show Sugar…
In Episode 457, Madden and Kolsky missed a week, so no time is wasted before discussions of: An eventful two weeks on Top Chef (1:00), which sets us up for a humdinger of a finalé next week… Tatiana Maslany’s new Apple TV+ show Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (30:50) and how her magnetism is at the center of an entertaining experience… Netflix’s new Duffer Brothers-produced series The Boroughs (35:00) and how there are some pretty good pieces but neither host is particularly interested in the central storyline… Netflix’s new crime thriller Nemesis (39:05) and how it’s a good version of a broad, good v. evil sort of populist TV show… A look at the world of sports (45:45) with the NBA set for a Spurs-Knicks Finals, Arsenal winning the Premier League (but not the Champions League!) and the World Cup on deck… Homework for some time next week (1:04:20), including: the finalé of Top Chef, the new Apple TV+ series Cape Fear and Kolsky catching up on the series finalés of Hacks, Euphoria and The Boys…
In Episode 456, Madden and Kolsky discuss their mutual inability to drink alcohol like in the good ole days before snapping their focus to: Netflix’s documentary Untold UK: Jamie Vardy (4:10) and the absolutely incredible story of his rise to the Premier League and eventual league title with Leicester City FC… Amazon Prime’s heist thriller Crime 101 (15:20) and how it’s a fun and pretty great version of a certain sort of movie… A quick show detour to discuss the totality of HBO’s DTF St. Louis (20:55) and how it was a long journey to get there, but it ended up in a pretty solid place… Netflix’s Martin Short documentary Marty: Life is Short (29:35) and how it does a great job of covering the public life of a venerated comedy entertainer… This week’s relatively underwhelming episode of Top Chef (37:15), the ascension of Sherry and Seiger, and wondering whether we’ll ever leave the Carolinas… Homework for next week (48:35), including: the next episode of Top Chef, Apple TV+’s new Tatiana Maslany show Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, the new Netflix show The Boroughs and the new hit Nemesis (also on Netflix)…
In Episode 455, Madden and Kolsky navigate a new recording system as they meander through: A fish-themed episode of Top Chef (1:40), the danger of a simple error and the race to the finish with a good collection of chefs… The brilliance of The Bear’s new mini-movie Gary (25:40) and how the show’s creators continue to build beautiful, vibrant stories… BBC’s Lord of the Flies adaptation on Netflix (31:35) and how it feels like a direct page-to-screen printing of William Golding’s book… The Noah Kahan documentary Out of Body (38:25) and how it does nothing to explain the Noah Kahan phenomenon… Sports talk (44:05) with a bit of Premier League and some NBA playoff thoughts… Homework for next week (1:00:30), including: the next episode of Top Chef, the Amazon Prime movie Crime 101, the Martin Short documentary Marty: Life is Short on Netflix, Untold UK: Jamie Vardy (also on Netflix), and—naturally—more playoff hoops…
In Episode 454, Madden and Kolsky poo-poo Derek’s birthday before hustling through: The latest from Top Chef: Carolinas (1:45) where there was too much mayo for one of our hosts and too much heat for some of the chefs… Netflix’s new action show Man on Fire (19:50) and all the things it gets right… HBO’s new drama Half Man (21:15), from the creator of the highly-acclaimed Baby Reindeer, and how it’s very well done but relentlessly traumatic… Apple TV+’s new show Widow’s Bay (34:10) and whether it can truly be called a mystery or whether it’s a comedy or what the heck is generally happening here… NBA Playoff thoughts (43:10) after a wild first round and a big upset at the start of the second round… Homework for next week (1:08:35), including: the next episode of Top Chef, GARY (Hulu’s surprise drop from The Bear universe), BBC’s Lord of the Flies adaptation on Netflix, and the new Noah Kahan documentary Out of Body (also on Netflix), plus—of course—more playoff hoops…
In Episode 453, Madden and Kolsky react to another missed show countdown before diving right into: The long-awaited and pretty weird Restaurant Wars episode of Top Chef: Carolinas (1:15) and the outlook for the remainder of the season… Netflix’s new series This Is A Gardening Show (24:05), which is DEFINITELY a gardening show, but also a Zach Galifianakis show, and rather delightful if you’re into that sort of thing… The new Sandler Family comedy Roommates (29:00) and how it’s a pretty good version of a particular type of Netflix fodder… Glen Powell’s The Running Man (35:15) and how it’s a little more self-serious than our hosts would hope, particularly from director Edgar Wright… A few sports thoughts (46:20) as the NBA rolls along through the first round of playoff action… Homework for next week (56:30), including: the next episode of Top Chef, the new HBO show Half Man from the creator of Baby Reindeer, the new Apple TV+ show Widow’s Bay, Netflix’s new Man on Fire series, and much more playoff basketball…
We welcome Dr Dana Kolsky from Animal-Free Science Advocacy (AFSA) to discuss animal testing, including the recently released documentary film How to Make Drugs and Feel Great about Everything.Dana's bio:Dana is a dedicated veterinary surgeon whose career is driven by a deep commitment to animal welfare. Since 2018, she has cared for small animals with compassion and integrity, guiding countless families through challenging and complex medical decisions. Before entering the veterinary field, Dana earned degrees in Communications and Film and Television and built a career in media and marketing.A lifelong advocate for animal rights, she has volunteered with many animal welfare organisations, turning her passion into action. Deeply concerned by the suffering caused through animal experimentation, Dana now channels her skills and voice into her work with Animal-Free Science Advocacy — working to end animal testing and help animals not just one by one, but on a much larger scale.How to Make Drugs and Feel Great about Everything is a new feature documentary from Keegan Kuhn, co-producer/co-director of Cowspiracy and What the Health, with director Journey Zephyr, that investigates the process of drug development in the US, uncovering the wasteful, dangerous and absurd use of animal testing in the 21st century. Links:Follow Animal-Free Science Advocacy https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/ and view the quality resources available; from the history of the anti-vivisection movement, right through to case studies, sector news and the AFSA podcast https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/resources/podcast/ Support AFSA's campaign to end primate experiments https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/ending-primate-experiments/ In the What You Can Do section: there is a link to a letter that can be sent to the government, calling to stop the funding of primate experiment, and a unique donation opportunity that allows supporters to name a primate https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/honour-me-with-a-name/ Take action and ask your MP to support AFSA's Federal Budget submission to see better funding of non-animal experiments. https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/fund-the-future/ Global news update from April 9, 2026: From promises to implementation: the latest global moves advancing animal-free research https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/from-promises-to-implementation Ever wondered where animal experiments are happening in Australia? It could be right on your doorstep. Check out this resource to learn more: https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/case-studies/on-your-doorstep/Other ways to support this important work include becoming a member of AFSA and making a donation https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/take-action/ The film: How to Make Drugs and Feel Great about Everything official documentary film website: https://www.howtomakedrugsfilm.com Post-show notes kindly provided by Dana following our discussion: We asked what fish are used for in research. The main uses are: as models of human development and disease; in toxicity testing as subjects for measuring harmful effects of chemicals, and in aquaculture research to expand the farming of fish for food. We asked me about local breeders of animals for research. The main suppliers are Ozgene and Australian Bio Resources. The research institutions themselves breed their own animals. Previous AFSA interviews:Freedom of Species interview with Rachel Smith, CEO of AFSA, November 2024 https://www.3cr.org.au/freedomofspecies/episode/animal-free-science-advocacy-interview-rachel Freedom of Species interview with Robyn Kirby, Primate Campaign Consultant, April 2025 https://www.3cr.org.au/freedomofspecies/episode/animal-free-science-advocacy-primate-experimentation-interview-robyn Music we played on the show:Beautiful Boy by John LennonFly Away by Lenny KravtizI want to break free by Queen Please note that unfortunately due to copyright restrictions, we are unable to include the songs in the podcast. Please contact the FoS team with any feedback at FoSradio@proton.me
In Episode 452, Madden and Kolsky are HAVING A WEIRD DAY, independently and also together, complete with technological difficulties as they attempt to fully attend to: The most recent episode of Top Chef (1:05), featuring weird departures and weirder returns and the weirdest quickfire challenge… The return of the Netflix series Beef (23:30) for its second season, and what distinguishes the anthology-style series from its first go-round… Apple TV+’s new Elle Fanning vehicle Margo’s Got Money Troubles (28:15), its somewhat unexpected delights, and how Apple seems to be doing much of its best work in the complicated comedy zone… Sports thoughts—on Chelsea and Arsenal competing in Premier League misery (34:35) and a so-far-so-good first round of NBA Playoff action (42:25)… Homework for next week (47:00), including: the next episode of Top Chef, the new Netflix series This Is A Gardening Show (with Zach Galifianakis), the new movie Roommates (also on Netflix), Glen Powell’s The Running Man on Amazon Prime, and much more playoff basketball…
In Episode 451, Madden and Kolsky are up late for a special after-dark edition, so don't worry if everyone sounds a little punchy as they chat about:
In Episode 450, Madden and Kolsky return from an extended, travel-filled layoff to get into:
In Episode 449, Madden and Kolsky have a brief and unfortunate conversation about Arsenal's star-in-the-making Max Dowman before putting soccer away to discuss:
SAP and Enterprise Trends Podcasts from Jon Reed (@jonerp) of diginomica.com
Esteban Kolksy, Chief Distiller at Constellation Research, closed out the CRM Playas IRL (In Real Life) event in Atlanta with a provocative keynote the debunked enterprise AI myths, while making a case for where the value in AI truly lies. After Kolsky left the stage, we broke down his main points on why LLMs are becoming commodities, and why proper enterprise AI is superior to out-of-the-box frontier models. Is AI "intelligent" - or a fascimle of intelligence - and why does this matter? We argued, at times, before landing on why Kolsky hates context graphs, and why I believe the misuse of the word "grounding" holds us back. This keynote was worth hashing out: there are big takeaways for customers that want to avoid lock-in, and to accomplish something better with AI by making AI a strategic part of infrastructure, rather than a not-very-smart chatbot.
Esteban Kolksy, Chief Distiller at Constellation Research, closed out the CRM Playas IRL (In Real Life) event in Atlanta with a provocative keynote the debunked enterprise AI myths, while making a case for where the value in AI truly lies. After Kolsky left the stage, we broke down his main points on why LLMs are becoming commodities, and why proper enterprise AI is superior to out-of-the-box frontier models. Is AI "intelligent" - or a fascimle of intelligence - and why does this matter? We argued, at times, before landing on why Kolsky hates context graphs, and why I believe the misuse of the word "grounding" holds us back. This keynote was worth hashing out: there are big takeaways for customers that want to avoid lock-in, and to accomplish something better with AI by making AI a strategic part of infrastructure, rather than a not-very-smart chatbot.
In Episode 448, Madden and Kolsky are arriving on Wednesdays for the foreseeable future, as they respond to:
In Episode 447, Madden and Kolsky address an upcoming pod schedule change before wading through:
In Episode 446, Madden and Kolsky briefly discuss Derek's homework apology before (angrily) diving right into:
In Episode 445, Madden and Kolsky briefly address the results of the Toy Department Derby (if it can be so called) before moving into:
In Episode 444, Madden and Kolsky have a breezy chat about whether or not they'll have a breezy chat about some not-so-breezy content (does that make sense?) before having an [arguably breezy] chat about:
In Episode 443, Madden and Kolsky discuss the various challenges presented by the sub-zero temperatures they're experiencing before launching into:
In Episode 442, Madden and Kolsky are FINALLY back after a LOOOOONG winter break to bring you the best in pop culture conversation, specifically regarding:
In Episode 441, Madden and Kolsky are in a REAL time crunch, so after briefly addressing Kolsky's predictable failure with a specific (Jeff Buckley-sized) portion of the homework, it's right into:
In Episode 440, Madden and Kolsky have a lot to discuss and very little time, so it's right into:
In Episode 439, Madden and Kolsky get started with Derek issuing the dreaded short-show curse before a futile attempt to break it while discussing:
In Episode 438, Madden and Kolsky get right down to business to avoid Kolsky's scheduling conflicts:
In Episode 437, Madden and Kolsky hurry through an intro after Derek applies the dreaded short-show curse, so they can get to:
In Episode 436, Madden and Kolsky must address Derek's continued truancy at the movie theater before they can get deeper into:
SAP and Enterprise Trends Podcasts from Jon Reed (@jonerp) of diginomica.com
In part one of my two part podcast series with Esteban Kolksy, Chief Distiller, Constellation Research, we discuss the AI debate, and our differences with that debate, and each other. Has the AI discussion changed this year at CCE 205? What were the key issues - and is there an AI gap between vendors and customers? We also hash out AI context, and why Kolksy doesn't like the "context engineering" catchprase, and why I have an equal problem with "grounding" of LLMs. Stay tuned for part two, where we shift gears to discuss Kolsky's progress on decision intelligence for executives and boards, why analyst firms are falling short, and how he uses AI (yes, AI) to assist with that research.
SAP and Enterprise Trends Podcasts from Jon Reed (@jonerp) of diginomica.com
In part two of my on-site taping at CCE 2025 with Esteban Kolsky, we get into what he's learned in the past year on curating intelligence for executives. But why is there a need for this service? How are the big analyst firms falling short? Is the AI research disruption real, BS, or some combination? Kolsky walks us through what he's learned in the last year, firming up a curated intelligence offering for executives and boards with Constellation Research. And yes, AI is involved, but with a twist.
In part one of my two part podcast series with Esteban Kolksy, Chief Distiller, Constellation Research, we discuss the AI debate, and our differences with that debate, and each other. Has the AI discussion changed this year at CCE 205? What were the key issues - and is there an AI gap between vendors and customers? We also hash out AI context, and why Kolksy doesn't like the "context engineering" catchprase, and why I have an equal problem with "grounding" of LLMs. Stay tuned for part two, where we shift gears to discuss Kolsky's progress on decision intelligence for executives and boards, why analyst firms are falling short, and how he uses AI (yes, AI) to assist with that research.
In part two of my on-site taping at CCE 2025 with Esteban Kolsky, we get into what he's learned in the past year on curating intelligence for executives. But why is there a need for this service? How are the big analyst firms falling short? Is the AI research disruption real, BS, or some combination? Kolsky walks us through what he's learned in the last year, firming up a curated intelligence offering for executives and boards with Constellation Research. And yes, AI is involved, but with a twist.
In Episode 435, Madden and Kolsky return from an extended absence with Derek running on fumes to discuss:
“This really is the full motivation for my having written the memoir. I want people to know what the process is like; not only what the process is like but what the feelings are that don't really make you think of psychoanalysis as a way of changing your life. We're just living and hoping that things will change without really taking account of the fact that we could be living better lives and in a better way. I began to think of the ways of the world and the wickedness in it. There's so many things that we do to keep us going - me and my aphrodisiacs, and I think other people doing other things just to divert them from the misery and unhappiness that they feel. I don't know how often that's looked at or discussed, so I hope the book does open that up a little bit.” Episode Description: We begin with Beverly's description of her early years of feeling lost and the consequent self-destructive patterns she replayed. Years of sensation-seeking led her to become "exhausted, limp, tarnished, and each time, more profoundly lost." She "landed on an analyst's couch in Little Venice, a section of London. I was paying for someone to recognize me. She did." Beverly shares her analytic journey with us and how vital her discovery of 'kindness' was, first from the outside and then from within. We discuss the early death of her father, her mother's depression and the devotion of her older brother. She closes with "Like life, psychoanalysis is a continuing process. It doesn't stop...issues crop up, new feelings arise...we better understand what those feelings are telling us, and how to make use of them in an environment we have been able to choose for ourselves. And so it goes…" Our Guest: Beverly Kolsky, MSW has worked as a psychotherapist for more than forty years both in America and in England. She trained as a psychoanalyst with the New York Institute for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology also and received training in London where she worked under the auspices of the Tavistock Clinic and the Institute of Marital Studies. Her work has been published in two journals: Mind Consiliums and Voices: Art and Science of Psychotherapy. She had two psychoanalytic experiences in two countries with analysts of two different orientations. Her motivation for writing the book as a memoir was to let others in the community know the transformative and enduring power of psychoanalysis. She was in private practice in Englewood, N.J. and now lives, mostly retired, in the northern Adirondacks. Recommended Readings: Jung, C.G. 1963. Memories, Dreams, Reflections. London: Collins and Routledge and Kegan Paul. Kohut, H. 1984. How Does Analysis Cure? Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Kolsky, B. 2015 Mind Consiliums 15(10), (1-10). Empathy and Secrecy: Discovering Suicide as a Form of Addiction." Kolsky, B. 2019 "The Ghost in You: Psychotherapy and Grief" (Voices: The Art and Science of Psychotherapy.) Paperback The American Academy of Psychotherapists. Kolsky, B. 2019 Voices: Journal of the American Academy of Psychotherapists. Vol 55 No 2 "To Be or Not To Be: A Patient's Search for the Lost Mother." Kuchuck, S. 2021. London: Confer Books. The Relational Revolution in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. Confer Books. Malan, D, 1979. England. Butterworth & Co Ltd. Individual Psychotherapy and the Science of Psychodynamics. Taylor, K. 2002. U.S. Kevin Taylor M.D. Seduction of Suicide: Understanding and Recovering From Addiction to Suicide.
In Episode 434, Madden and Kolsky discuss Derek's upcoming trip to Austin City Limits before zeroing in on:
In Episode 433, Madden and Kolsky literally discuss the weather before they finally get into it with:
In Episode 432, Madden and Kolsky discuss Derek's imminent vacation to Vegas, and general Vegas strategy, before diving into:
In Episode 431, Madden and Kolsky discuss their IRL meet-up between podcasts before getting down to brass tacks on:
In Episode 430, Madden and Kolsky are chomping at the bit after a week off, so it's right on into:
In Episode 429, Madden and Kolsky get into their relative appreciation of getting pounded with heavy metal before they buckle down on:
In Episode 428, Madden and Kolsky discuss Derek's visit to Chicago and assign some extra homework that they forgot about before locking into:
In Episode 427, Madden and Kolsky chat a bit about Kolsky's new recording setup (which did not work as well as hoped) and recent oral surgery before homing in on:
In Episode 426, Madden and Kolsky spend entirely too long on Kolsky's new cold brew coffee formula before shaking it off to discuss:
In Episode 425, Madden and Kolsky wish everyone a Happy Juneteenth before jumping into a holiday recording with:
In Episode 424, Madden and Kolsky are aiming for a short show, so it's more or less right into:
In Episode 423, Madden and Kolsky make haste with pleasantries and hustle their way through:
In Episode 422, Madden and Kolsky have a quick Chelsea FC digression before they dive on in to:
In Episode 421, Madden and Kolsky return after too long of a break to get into a wealth of pop culture, some of it very excellent, at least whatever they can remember of:
In this episode of 'Inspired to Lead,' host Talia Meshiach sits down with Shifra Kolsky, the Chief Accounting Officer at Discover Financial Services. Shifra shares her inspirational journey from overcoming the loss of her father during her teenage years, to working through high school and college, and eventually climbing the corporate ladder. With a special focus on balancing a high-powered career with family responsibilities, Shifra opens up about the importance of self-belief, continuous learning, and effective communication. She discusses her motivations, the challenges she faced regarding Shabbos and Yom Tov in a corporate environment, and the significance of a supportive workplace culture. Listeners will gain insights on the value of asking for growth opportunities, the power of mentorship, and the joy of contributing to both family and community. 00:00 Introduction to Inspired to Lead 01:24 Interview with Shifra Kolsky Begins 02:35 Shifra's Role at Discover Financial Services 06:18 Balancing Family and Career 07:23 Shifra's Early Life and Career Path 23:43 Challenges and Mentorship in Shifra's Career 30:20 Balancing Family and Career Responsibilities 31:15 Navigating Maternity Leave in Corporate America 33:09 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Climbing the Corporate Ladder 34:47 The Importance of Asking for Opportunities 38:04 Creating a Supportive Work Environment 41:04 Balancing Religious Observance with Corporate Demands 46:28 Leadership and Personal Growth 52:14 Final Reflections and Advice About Shifra Kolsky: Kolsky has been with Discover over 15 years and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer in 2020. She was instrumental in driving several key initiatives, including significant accounting changes, major technology implementations and the adoption of robotic process automation in the finance function. She is the executive sponsor of Discover's Jewish Affinity Group. Prior to working for Discover, Kolsky was in public accounting in the audit practice at Deloitte and Arthur Andersen. In addition to her role at Discover, Kolsky is also active in her community, volunteering with No Shame On U, an organization dedicated to ending the stigma associated with mental health conditions; the Chicago chapter of The JWE; and the Kehillah Fund, which supports Jewish educational institutions in the Chicago area. Kolsky's husband is a rabbi who teaches in Jewish day schools and high schools. They have four children and two fabulous kids-in-law. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shifrakolsky Powered By Roth & Co The JWE For guest suggestions, please email Talia: podcast@thejwe.org
In Episode 420, Madden and Kolsky get into some dentistry (and periodontistry?) before circling around to:
In Episode 419, Madden and Kolsky are squeezing a taping into a naptime, so it's right on into:
In Episode 418, Madden and Kolsky return from an unscheduled absence to revisit the world of pop culture, blasting through: