Podcasts about Manhattan

When a young woman showed up at a boarding house in Manhattan, she said her name was Nellie Brown – but that was all she seemed to remember about herself. Soon, people became scared of her. Someone went to the police: "I want you to take her quietly." Stacy Horn's book is Damnation Island: Poor, Sick, Mad, and Criminal in 19th-Century New York. Travis Russ' upcoming play is The Gorgeous Nothings. To hear our special bonus episode about the other end of the island—and get ad-free listening, members-only merch and more—sign up for Criminal Plus. Criminal is going back on tour in February! We'll be telling brand new stories, live on stage. You can even get meet and greet tickets to come and say hi before the show. Tickets are on sale now at thisiscriminal.com/live. We can't wait to see you there! Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts: iTunes.com/CriminalShow. Listen back through our archives at youtube.com/criminalpodcast. We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery. Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop. Episode transcripts are posted on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Manhattan's Grace Church sits at a unique bend on Broadway and East 10th Street, making it seem that the historic house of worship is rising out of the street itself.But Grace is also at another important intersection -- where religion and high society greeted one another during the Gilded Age.Grace is one of the important Episcopal churches in America, forming in 1808 in lower Manhattan literally next door to Trinity Church. But when society began moving uptown, so too did Grace, making its home on a plot formerly occupied by Henry Brevoort's apple orchard. Grace was also one of the most fashionable churches in New York City for several decades in the 19th century. The fashionable weddings and funerals hosted at Grace Church sometimes drew thousands of onlookers, and a few celebrated ceremonies were as raucous and chaotic as rock concerts.But looking past the fashion and frills, Grace Church did create a deep and lasting spiritual connection with the surrounding community which continues to this day.In this episode, Tom and Greg are joined by Harry Krauss, historian for Grace Church, for a tour of this gorgeous, landmark parish.FEATURING: Walt Whitman, Rufus Wainwright, Tom Thumb, the Earl of Craven and a heavenly chorus of hundreds!

Today's guest is Bob Khakal.   Bob has sold 2,283 buildings, totaling $21B+ — the most ever for an individual broker in the history of NYC real estate. Bob previously cofounded Massey Knakal Realty Services, which grew from 2 to 250+ employees and was sold for $100M.   Show summary:  In this episode, Bob Nicoll shares his experiences transitioning from running his own company to working at JLL. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in the New York City real estate market, particularly in land and multifamily properties. Nicoll also talks about the changing behavior of lenders in economic corrections and highlights the differences between the current correction and past ones. He recommends two books that have influenced his career.    -------------------------------------------------------------- Intro (00:00:00)   Bob Nicoll's career journey (00:01:16)   Selling his company and transitioning to JLL (00:03:59)   Lender Behavior in Past Corrections (00:10:52)   Different Performance of Product Types (00:11:58)   Opportunities in the Land Market (00:14:07)   Book recommendations for productivity and delegation (00:21:44)   Closing (00:22:33) -------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Bob:   Email: bob.knakal@jll.com   Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobknakal/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/bobknakal?lang=en   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobknakalnyc/ Connect with Sam: I love helping others place money outside of traditional investments that both diversify a strategy and provide solid predictable returns.     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HowtoscaleCRE/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samwilsonhowtoscalecre/ Email me → sam@brickeninvestmentgroup.com   SUBSCRIBE and LEAVE A RATING. Listen to How To Scale Commercial Real Estate Investing with Sam Wilson Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-scale-commercial-real-estate/id1539979234 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4m0NWYzSvznEIjRBFtCgEL?si=e10d8e039b99475f -------------------------------------------------------------- Want to read the full show notes of the episode? Check it out below: Bob Knakal (00:00:00) - The class back office building market is really facing a lot of challenges today, but the values of those buildings are the same at the same price per square foot that they were 20 or 25 years ago. If you believe the market is going to come back, if you believe in New York, that would seem to be a good investment. I think the land market also significantly below where it could be the peak of every cycle, is greatly exceeded the prior peak.   Sam Wilson (00:00:29) - Welcome to the how to scale commercial real estate show. Whether you are an active or passive investor, we'll teach you how to scale your real estate investing business into something big.   Sam Wilson (00:00:42) - Bob Nicoll has sold over 2283 buildings totaling over $21 billion in volume. He's the most, which is the most ever for an individual broker in the history of New York City real estate. Bob, welcome to the show.   Bob Knakal (00:00:56) - Hey, Sam, great to be with you today.   Sam Wilson (00:00:58) - Man, that's a crazy statistic. I'll just I'll just say that 2283 buildings, as we commented here before the show kicked off, who's actually keeping track? But that's that's actually amazing.   Sam Wilson (00:01:08) - Bob. There are three questions, however. Ask every guest who comes on the show in 90s or less. Can you tell me where did you start? Where are you now and how did you get there?   Bob Knakal (00:01:16) - Well, I started as a college kid at the Wharton School looking for a summer job that would look good on my resume. I wanted to get into investment banking. Investment banking jobs weren't available for college kids. Ended up walking into a Coldwell Banker office thinking it was a bank. They offered me a job, took it even though I didn't want to get into real estate, loved it from day one and went back my next two summers. And then started with CCB in Manhattan when I got out of school, met Paul Massey there. He had just gotten out of a training program. We both were starting in sales day two. On the job. We said, hey, let's work together, see how things go. We'll split everything 5050. That was the start of a 30 year partnership.   Bob Knakal (00:02:04) - And, you know, I've been doing it for 40 years in New York now, for 26 of those years, Paul and I had our own company, which we sold in 2014 at Cushman Wakefield. And, you know, I'm the head of New York Private Capital Group at JLL now running private capital sales in New York.   Sam Wilson (00:02:24) - Wow, that's a colorful career. I mean, there's so many different parts of your story I'd love to love to dig into, but why do you let me start here? Maybe let's start with today. Why do you do what you do today? Like why are you still so active in real estate? You've got an awesome career behind you. You've built a huge company. You sold it. What keeps you going?   Bob Knakal (00:02:45) - Sam, I love it. It's something that I. I truly enjoy. You know, I tell folks it's not only a job for me, it's my hobby. I have a wife and a 14 year old daughter, and they're the most important things in the world to me.   Bob Knakal (00:02:58) - But if they were away for the weekend, on a girls weekend, I'd be working all weekends. So I just really enjoy it. And I think that's the thing that that keeps driving me. And with each, you know, each day brings new opportunities to get wins. I'm addicted to winning. And and that's one of the things that really drives me.   Sam Wilson (00:03:22) - That's really cool. I love that answer and good for you. There's very few people I think that can say that what they do is both their built their career and their hobby. So that's that's really fun and it shines through, I think both in your in your smile when you say, hey, this is what I'm doing and I and I enjoy it and this is, this is why I'm doing it. So that's that's really cool. Good, good for you. Let's talk a little bit about the company that you sold for what was $100 million that you sold your company for. Yeah. What was that transition like? I mean, you're, you know, your knee deep into your own business, you sell it.   Sam Wilson (00:03:56) - And then what did you transition into?   Bob Knakal (00:03:59) - Well, you know, the we sold the business in 2014. We almost sold the business in 2007 for a variety of reasons. We didn't sell it then. We had been offered 50,000,000 in 2007, and that deal didn't happen. But what it did teach us was that when we did sell the business, we would be on five year contracts with whoever bought us. So we actually decided in 2007 that if the market was not really bad in 2014, it would be a great time to think about selling, because in 2015 Paul would be turning 55. We thought the perception would be that our contracts would have more value if we were in our 50s than if we were in our 70 or 80s. So we we get to 2014, the market's chugging along, we hire an investment bank, sell the firm. And in hindsight, it was the absolutely perfect time to sell. 2014 was the peak year. Still, historically, 5534 buildings were sold in New York in 2014.   Bob Knakal (00:05:12) - That was an all time record by more than 10%. That still stands, and it was a perfect time to do it. So we we went to Cushman Wakefield and ran our, our business as a, as a division of of C and W. And then there were some moves that the company made that were not congruent with our contracts. So we shorten our contracts, negotiated some other things. And. And the you know, I left in 2018 to go to jail with 53 people that had been with me at Massey Narco back in the old days. We actually the company, when we sold it had over 250 people in four offices in New York. And, you know, I took 53 of those people with me when I went over to jail.   Sam Wilson (00:06:04) - Wow, wow. That's really that's really a wild, a wild story. And you're to this day still with JL.   Bob Knakal (00:06:11) - Yes.   Sam Wilson (00:06:12) - What's it like over.   Bob Knakal (00:06:13) - Five years now? Which I can't believe. Right.   Sam Wilson (00:06:15) - It happens fast. It happens fast.   Sam Wilson (00:06:16) - What what what's it like now being housed under JL versus running your own shop. And what are some things that you like and maybe, you know, just some things, maybe if you had gone back in time that you would reconsider.   Bob Knakal (00:06:31) - Yeah. Well Sam, I think you, you always look at the difference between having your own shop and working somewhere else. Working at a small company, a medium sized company, a big company. And I tell people there are pros and cons to everything. You know, clearly, if you're running your own shop, you call the shots. There's a lot of freedom associated with that. But then if you're at a big company, you're you're one of 102,000 people and there's somebody who's an expert at everything within that platform. So you have tremendous resources available to you. And at the end of the day, it's all about helping our clients achieve the best results that they can achieve. And when you have all those resources behind you, it just puts you in a different position to to create more value for those folks.   Sam Wilson (00:07:23) - I would imagine that. That's great. Thank you for clarifying that. That's super helpful because I know there's people out here are listening to this wondering, do I do I start my own shop? Do I go work for somebody else such as JLL or any of the other big name shops? But I guess at this point in your career, you can pick who you want to work with. I would imagine, as a client as well, because I'm sure that you are well sought out as a broker there in New York City. So what's what's an ideal client or an ideal product type maybe that you're working on right now that is exciting for you.   Bob Knakal (00:07:57) - Yeah. Well, I've been a generalist selling all kinds of properties my entire career. I think now dovetailing more into doing land sales and multifamily, a lot of the office and retail stuff that were that have come my way. We have actually gone on and and handed that off to other folks in the office that have that as a specialty. But, you know, we've seen that that by specializing in one particular type of property, it allows you to leverage your time a little more.   Bob Knakal (00:08:31) - And that's always a positive thing, because as a broker, you have two main assets. You have your knowledge and your time. You're always trying to to increase your knowledge base, and you have to use your time as efficiently and effectively as you possibly can, because they don't make any more of it.   Sam Wilson (00:08:47) - That they don't, that they don't. Well, let's talk about that land and multifamily. What what does that look like in New York City right now? Yeah.   Bob Knakal (00:08:56) - Well, as you can imagine, there's not a lot of rolling pastures available in New York City. So most of our land deals consist of of acquiring small buildings, demolishing them to create a pad on which to build a new building. And so land really consists of, of taking older buildings that are not in good condition, knocking them down and creating a development site on which a new building can be built.   Sam Wilson (00:09:31) - Is that is that slowing down with the rise in interest rates? Are there any headwinds that are being faced in that particular strategy?   Bob Knakal (00:09:40) - Yeah.   Bob Knakal (00:09:40) - Well, you know, everything has slowed down. If you look at where the market is in terms of number of buildings sold. The market is down about 34% from where it was last year, and down almost 70% from where it was at the peak of the market. So clearly things have slowed down. But interestingly, in this downturn, every product type meaning multifamily, office, land, retail, hotel, every product type is, is performing differently based upon dynamics that are going on with respect to that particular sector. So it's a very, very different downturn relative to the past four big ones that we've had. But you just have to look for opportunity. Keep doing the fundamental things. I always tell people brokerage is a very simple business. It's just very difficult. And you have to do those very simple, mundane things over and over again, day after day, week after week, month after month. And and then you eventually get to your, your objective.   Sam Wilson (00:10:48) - When you say that this downturn is different.   Sam Wilson (00:10:51) - In what ways?   Bob Knakal (00:10:52) - Oh well, it's different. Number one lender behavior in the past, corrections will go back to the savings and loan crisis. In the early 90s, lenders went through a 2 or 3 year foreclosure process, took title to the property, and and then hired brokers to sell it in the in the early 2000 and again during the GFC. Lenders didn't want to go through that process, so they would just sell the debt. Hired brokers does that. This time around, they've been a little more covert about the way they're dealing with their issues. Mainly, I think, you know, Silicon Valley Bank and signature Bank going down created a lot of concern in the marketplace about what their books look like for existing banks. So, you know, they'd be playing everything very close to the vest today. But if banks or any type of lender has been active making loans in the past five years, they have problems on their balance sheet. There's no way you cannot have problems on your balance sheet.   Bob Knakal (00:11:58) - If you were lending in the last five years and they just, you know, are trying to do it in as covert a way as possible, so far, that may change as we get further into this, but so far lenders have been behaving differently than they have in the past. And then the fact that in the past, corrections we've had, every product type was heading downward just to varying degrees. This time, each segment, as I said, is operating and performing kind of autonomously. You look at the retail sector, for instance, I believe the retail sector is on the upswing in New York today because rents have stopped going down. Rents have been on the the downward path for over six years now, but they've stopped going down, leasing activities picking up, and an investor demand is coming back for retail. Now clearly cap rates are up across the board because lending rates are up. But each of the different product sectors is performing differently. That's the other big difference between this correction and past corrections.   Sam Wilson (00:13:07) - Yeah.   Sam Wilson (00:13:07) - And that's that's an interesting one I think to to discern, you know, where is opportunity? I mean that's what a lot of people I think are thinking about. Okay. Well, and we're seeing people pivot out of one thing into the next. You know, maybe they were all into multifamily and maybe they're going into retail, as you're suggesting, or anything else. But I think that's that's one of the questions I have for you is like. What do you see as the best opportunity right now?   Bob Knakal (00:13:31) - Yeah, I think it really depends. You know, I think that if you look at certain asset classes like the the class back office building market is really facing a lot of challenges today. But the values of those buildings are the same at the same price per square foot that they were 20 or 25 years ago. If you believe the market is going to come back, if you believe in New York, that would seem to be a good investment. I think the land market also significantly below where it could be the peak of every cycle, is greatly exceeded the prior peak.   Bob Knakal (00:14:07) - We hit a peak in in the beginning of 2022. That was less than 50% of the peak of the cycle before that. So I think there's pent up value in the land market. But I think you have to really be wise about what you're buying, how you're buying it, and really know the market. As is always the case with real estate, you have to know the market. But I do believe there's a lot of opportunity out there tonight.   Sam Wilson (00:14:31) - There really is. What are people doing with office space? I mean, I've talked to a few other guests here on the show. It's been maybe, oh, probably 3 or 4 months since we've talked about New York City office space. But what are people doing with that right now? I mean, what's the what's the what's the play there, if any?   Bob Knakal (00:14:47) - Well, number one thing, and I think it's important to also differentiate between new construction, Class-A office and everything else, new construction Class-A is doing pretty well. The buildings are just incredible in terms of what they offer a tenant, but it's really the secondary and tertiary space that is facing the biggest challenges.   Bob Knakal (00:15:08) - Some of it is being converted to residential use. I think the city needs more of that to occur. We could very easily have over 100,000,000ft of empty office space in New York, and we desperately need housing, so conversion would be a good thing. But we're also seeing values get to the point where the value of the building and the cost to demolish the building together are less than the land value. So a lot of these buildings, I think, will be demolished to make way for new construction. So again, need to know each sector of the market, each neighborhood, figure out what drives each. And I think there is a lot of opportunity.   Sam Wilson (00:15:51) - That's really, really great. Thank you for taking the time to shed some light on that. Let's talk a little bit about the private capital group that you run. What what what's the story there? I know private is probably the key word, but what's the story there. And I guess what, you know, what are people looking for today from an investment perspective.   Bob Knakal (00:16:09) - Well, the private capital group in investment sales, you have institutional work which is done with the largest corporations in the city, in the in the country, and then private capital. That generally describes high net worth individuals and families who are active in the market. That's where I spend the overwhelming majority of my time. And, you know, what people are looking for is a a reasonable return in a market that, you know, has dynamics and metrics that are moving in the right direction. So we've seen our multifamily market has probably seen the biggest change. The apartment building market here is very closely correlated to public policy. We have rent regulation here, rent stabilization and rent control. And those policies have shifted so far against owner's interests that a lot of the old line New York investors that for decades only bought here are now buying in Florida and Texas and Tennessee. And you know, they won't touch anything in New York anymore. And consequently, that has driven cap rates down around the country. And folks are selling buildings in those areas and coming here to buy in New York, because for the first time ever, cap rates are actually higher in New York than they are around the rest of the country in the apartment building sector.   Bob Knakal (00:17:35) - So really interesting to see how the market ebbs and flows and what folks are looking for. But, you know, people are always looking for something that will provide a good return with relatively low risk. And there are still some folks that are willing to take big risks with opportunistic type of investments. But for the most part, folks are looking for something that can provide a stable return.   Sam Wilson (00:18:03) - Absolutely, absolutely. That's that's really interesting, talking about things that, you know, just watching kind of the psych, not the cycle, but the the path of the money. Like you're saying, the money leaves, it goes to the south. You know, it's heading to Texas, Florida, places where they can get a better return. And as it leaves, then cap rates in New York City, then start to climb. Then the money comes back to New York City and just kind of makes that that circuitous route of, of travel there where the investment gets the best. A turn, as you're mentioning, a place that you're getting a personal return is social media, which I think you mentioned was something that you never thought you would be involved in.   Bob Knakal (00:18:39) - Yeah. You know, I'm kind of old school when it comes to technology and social media fell into that that basket. A bunch of folks are saying, hey, Bob, you really should get on. You have you have great stories to tell. You've been around for a long time, and you know you can make great connections through social media. So in January, I said, you know what? I'll give it a try for three months. See how it goes. I've been really shocked at the reach that it has, the opportunities that it's presented, the folks that I've met. Relationships that I have now. And it's really been eye opening. But, you know, the definitely technology has made the world a lot smaller. And it's been really eye opening to see what what social media affords people.   Sam Wilson (00:19:25) - Absolutely. Yeah. It's one of those things that and and you have more years in the industry than I do. But it's it's it's yeah, it's something it's a discipline I think for, for some of us, you know, myself included, where it's like, well, I don't really necessarily love being on social media, but it's something that.   Sam Wilson (00:19:43) - Need to invest in and need to keep engaging with. So that's really interesting. If you were to rewind your career, go back, what was it, 40 years maybe? Yeah. What's what's one piece of advice you would give to yourself starting out if you could go back and say, hey, Bob, 40 years ago, this is something you should know. Yeah.   Bob Knakal (00:20:00) - Well, number one, Sam, we we did everything by trial and error in the early years and so consequently made thousands of mistakes. Didn't make a lot of them twice, which was good. But I wish that we had reached out and asked more experienced people for input on things before we dove in. At first, you know, in later years we had an advisory board, some of the the top folks in our industry and in business that really provided great insight for us and helped us steer the ship of the company in a very meaningful way. And I wish we had done that. And I also wish that we had hired folks to help, to help us do things earlier.   Bob Knakal (00:20:48) - You know, it seemed like every time we hired a new position, whether it was someone to be the COO of the company or someone to be the CFO of the company, or director of HR, or, you know, someone that took one of the main responsibilities off of all of my shoulders. We seem to get a big bump from doing that. And I think we we probably waited a little bit too long to bring on that additional help, but that was that was a regret as well.   Sam Wilson (00:21:19) - Yeah.   Sam Wilson (00:21:19) - That's a that's an interesting point. And that's something that an email came to you this morning with that same kind of idea in there that obviously the one thing that you can't get back as your time or that your time is one of the most precious things you have. And I think that's a challenge many of us face is knowing when to bring the right people on and when to, you know, get out of your own way, if you will. So that's not.   Bob Knakal (00:21:39) - Yeah, well, I'm a big fan of Dr. Benjamin Hardy.   Bob Knakal (00:21:44) - I've written a couple of great books with Dan Sullivan. Um, ten X is easier than two. X is a recent one where, you know, he says, just look at what you do all day long, and you probably make the overwhelming majority of your money from 20% of the stuff you do, do as much as you can of that 20%, the other 80%, either delegate it to somebody else or or don't do it. And then another one of his books who not how that whenever you ask yourself, you know, how am I going to get this done? You're asking yourself the wrong question. It's who can get this done for me. And so I think, I wish I had those two books available to me way back when, when we started out, because I think it would have helped a lot. But, you know, never too late to to pick up new things.   Sam Wilson (00:22:33) - Absolutely not. Bob, thank you for taking the time here to come on the show today. This was a lot of fun having you on.   Sam Wilson (00:22:39) - You've got a wealth of experience to to share with us. We've talked about a whole variety of things here on the show today, both from your views on the market to your private capital group, to what it was like to build and then sell your own company and then go to work for JLL and just. Yeah, this is a pleasure to have you on the show today. I certainly appreciate it. If our listeners want to get in touch with you and learn more about you, what is the best way to do that?   Bob Knakal (00:23:00) - Yeah, best way to get me is you can email me at Bob at JLL is CNA Michael so Bob McCall at JLL. Or you can find me on social media. I don't know what my particular handles are, but you know, I'm on just about every platform. Just put in Bob Nicole, you should be able to track me down.   Sam Wilson (00:23:23) - Absolutely, Bob. But I do have your social media handles. We'll make sure we include those there in the show. Notes.   Sam Wilson (00:23:28) - If you're looking for Bob's social media handles, we'll have those there. And again, thank you for taking the time to come on the show today. I certainly appreciate it.   Bob Knakal (00:23:34) - You got it. Sam, it was great to be with you.   Sam Wilson (00:23:36) - Hey, thanks for.   Sam Wilson (00:23:37) - Listening to the How to Scale Commercial Real Estate podcast. If you can do me a.   Sam Wilson (00:23:40) - Favor.   Sam Wilson (00:23:41) - And subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, whatever platform it is you use to listen. If you can do that for us, that would be a fantastic help to the show. It helps us both attract new listeners as well as rank higher on those directories. So appreciate you listening. Thanks so much and hope to catch you on the next episode.

I was talking with a fellow designer at a Protospiel about past Spiel des Jahres winners. About how it is sad that some of these games, these games that helped propel the board game hobby to the heights it is today, are no longer available. We then started looking at some of the games, and I couldn't help purchasing a few. One that struck my interest was Andreas Seyfath's Manhattan, 1994's winner. He is better known for creating the 2002 game Puerto Rico. He and his wife won the 2006 Spiel des Jahres for Thurn and Taxis, which is also on my list to procure but it is quite, QUITE, expensive. Anyway, back to Manhattan, the subject of this episode. What caught my eye was the table presence. You are physically stacking buildings to build skyscrapers in the eponymous city.In Manhattan, you and your opponents are fighting to construct skyscrapers in six different neighborhood districts of the island: Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, Downtown, Soho, and Wall Street. Points are scored in three ways: owner of each building (player with the top floor), control of each district (player controlling the majority of buildings in a district), and owner of the tallest building (player with top floor of the building with the most floors). When the game ends, the player with the most points wins. Can you outthink, outwit, and outbuild your opponents?Manhattan on BGG

Episode 269:  We discuss part 1 of the 4 part movie.  We also touch on explosions. 

In simple terms, El Capitán is a Manhattan made with Pisco and garnished with an olive. As is so often the case, though, it's worth noting that this drink is also so much more than that. El Capitán is a snapshot of Peruvian history — a celebration of the country's iconic national spirit. Here to divulge more and dive deeper into all of the above, is Chicago-based Mike Ryan, the corporate director of beverage for Acurio International. Listen on (or read below) to discover Mike's El Capitán recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe! Mike Ryan's El Capitán Recipe Ingredients - 2 ounces Acholado Pisco - 1 ounce sweet vermouth - 2 dashes Angostura bitters - Garnish: green olive Directions 1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. 2. Stir until chilled. 3. Strain into a chilled Coupe glass. 4. Garnish with a green olive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Front Row Classics welcomes celebrated author & film historian Donald Bogle. Bea Bonner ,with NPR Illinois' Community Voices, joins Brandon to discuss Bogle's new book, "Lena Horne Goddess Reclaimed". The book tracks Horne's trailblazing life & career which spanned remarkable triumphs and heartbreaking disappointments. Bogle discusses Horne's early life, activism and groundbreaking stardom.  Lena Horne was the Black performer to attain true stardom. She has finally received her due with this invaluable book featuring beautifully curated photographs. "Lena Horne: Goddess Reclaimed" is available from Running Press and Turner Classic Movies. Donald Bogle is one of the foremost authorities on Black representation in films and entertainment history. His books include Running Press's Hollywood Black; the groundbreaking Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks; the award-winning Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams; the bestselling Dorothy Dandridge: A Biography; and Brown Sugar, which Bogle adapted into a PBS documentary series. He was a special commentator and consultant for Turner Classic Movies' award-winning series Race and Hollywood. Bogle teaches at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He lives in Manhattan.

Why do we call Nancy the queen of pistachios? What secrets can Ruth tell us about critic bait? And is Laurie really the only one of the three of us who loves tripe? Also, can food be too flavorful? These are just some of the things we're talking about in today's episode. We also discuss the vanity of cooking. We dish on show-off chefs and why Nancy says Thomas Keller and Massimo Bottura don't fit in that category. We talk about why we love Sarah Cicolini's Rome restaurant Santo Palato and the Pie Room at London's Holborn Dining Room. Plus, why chefs like Italy's Franco Pepe and Nancy use dehydrators. And could it be that writer and former “Great British Bake Off” finalist Ruby Tandoh is this generation's Laurie Colwin? In addition, for you, our paying subscribers, read on for bonus notes. But first, let's talk pine nuts. Three Ingredients is a reader-supported publication. To receive posts with bonus material, including recipes, restaurant recommendations and podcast excerpts that didn't fit into the main show, consider becoming a paid subscriber.A better pine nutWould you be shocked to learn that the pine nuts you're most likely using in your pesto come from China or Siberia?Nancy, of course, knew all about this. But Ruth remained ignorant until a few years ago, at a market in Italy she noticed that the pinoli were much larger than the ones she buys at home.Back in her own kitchen, she scrutinized the pine nuts in her freezer. (Pine nuts are filled with oil, which means that left in the cupboard they quickly go rancid. It's much safer to store them in the freezer.) Sure enough, the label said something about the various countries the pine nuts might have come from, and not one of them was Italy or the United States.She took out a handful and laid them next to the ones she'd bought in Italy. Half the size! Then she tasted them. Half the flavor! These days she buys her pine nuts from Gustiamo, which owner Beatrice Ughi gets from the west coast of Italy where Pinus Pinea trees, better known as Italian stone pines or umbrella pines, grow. They're expensive. And they're worth it. Pro tip from Nancy, who gets pine nuts from Sicily for her Mozza restaurants but also uses the smaller, more common varieties of pine nuts for big batches of pesto. Use pricey larger Italian pine nuts when you want to serve the pine nuts whole, as in the rosemary-pine nut cookies she serves at Pizzeria Mozza with her famous butterscotch budino — we've got a recipe below. And if, like Laurie, you were wondering why we don't just harvest pine nuts from all the pine trees grown in the U.S., here are two articles from 2017 that explore the issue: Modern Farmer calls “the downfall of the American pine nut industry, a truly embarrassing and damaging loss given that the pinyon species in North America can produce nuts (seeds, technically) worth upwards of $40 per pound.” The magazine cites a Civil Eats report that puts part of the blame on a U.S. Bureau of Land Management practice of clearing “thousands of acres” of piñon-juniper woodlands for cattle grazing between the 1950s and ‘70s because the trees were “useless as timber.” The pistachio queen dehydratesNancy practically lives on Turkish pistachios, which are smaller and more flavorful than the American kind. She's particularly partial to pistachios from Aleppo. There are many sources; one we like in New York is Russ and Daughters. Nancy also loves Sicilian pistachios. But as she discusses in the podcast, if you want to get the nuts both green and crunchy, you're going to need a dehydrator. “That is,” she says, “the best purchase I've ever made.” This Magic Mill is a favorite. Another unexpected chef who uses a dehydrator is Slow Food hero Franco Pepe, who is also Nancy's favorite pizzaiolo. She rarely spends time in Italy without making a visit to Pepe in Grani, his restaurant in Caiazzo outside of Naples. In fact Nancy is the one who persuaded restaurant critic Jonathan Gold (and Laurie's late husband) to come to Caizzo for a 2014 Food & Wine article in which he said Franco Pepe made what “is probably the best pizza in the world." Many others, including our friend and Italian food expert Faith Willinger, who first told Nancy about Pepe, agree.So what does a chef like Pepe, who insists on hand mixing his dough and calibrates his pizzas to show off the freshness of his region's ingredients do with a dehydrator? For one thing, he dehydrates olive and puts them on a dessert pizza with apricots sourced from the volcanic soil of Vesuvius. It's fantastic. Laurie talked to him for the L.A. Times about what tech can do to save pizza's future. Read about it here. The Colwin legacyRuby Tandoh! Ruby Tandoh! If you want to read the article we all love — the one that got Ruth to suggest that Tandoh might be this generation's Laurie Colwin — here it is. Note the excellent title: “The Studied Carelessness of Great Dessert: On croquembouche, Alison Roman, and the art of not trying too hard.” And just in case you don't know Colwin's work, here are two stories, one from the New Yorker and one from the New York Times, that talk about the Colwin legacy. As for Tandoh's Vittles — if you're not reading it, you're missing out. You can find it here.Mind and heartThat is Massimo Bottura trying to make Nancy happy. Which he always does.  You probably know that his small restaurant in Modena, Osteria Francescana, has three Michelin stars and was voted the best restaurant in the world twice on the World's 50 Best list and remains on its Best of the Best list. You might also know that he's a chef with an extremely interesting mind and a huge heart, who is deeply involved with feeding the hungry of the world.We've known (and admired) both Massimo and his elegant American wife Lara Gilmore for a while now. But although Laurie and Nancy had eaten at his Modena restaurant many times, Ruth was late to the game. This is part of what she wrote in 2017, after her first marathon lunch at his restaurant:Leave it to me to go to a four-hour lunch on a day of such intense heat the newspaper headlines all read “Dangerous even for the animals.”  (For the record, it hit 107 degrees.)  … We arrived parched and almost dizzy with heat.Within seconds, we'd forgotten everything but the pure pleasure of listening to Massimo and Lara discuss their various projects (a refettorio in London, another in Burkina Faso and a gelateria in a refugee camp in Greece) — and the meal they were about to serve us.Blown away. That's my instant review.  If you want more, keep reading.For another perspective on Massimo's food, Laurie wrote in the L.A. Times about the meal she ate at Osteria Francescana earlier this summer when the chef was revisiting and reconceiving many of his iconic dishes, including tortellini. “Bottura may break the form of a classic dish,” she wrote, “but he almost always brings the flavor back to the nostalgic tastes of his childhood.”Incidentally, Massimo and Lara have a new book, Slow Food Fast Cars, and they will be discussing it with Ruth on Monday night, Dec. 11, at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan. Come join them!Best comment of this episode? Nancy on croquembouche: “Struggling with your food is not a fun way to cook.”The London Restaurant ListHere are the London restaurants Nancy mentions in this episode.Lyle'sThe Barbary The Palomar: The Pie Room at the Holborn Dining RoomSaborSt. John'sPop Quiz!Can anyone guess the name of the chef standing next to Nancy?Want a recipe from Nancy?In addition, for you, our paying subscribers, read on for bonus notes and the recipe for Nancy's famous Butterscotch Budino with Caramel Sauce and Rosemary Pine Nut Cookie. And we'll give you the answer to the pop quiz above. Get full access to Three Ingredients at threeingredients.substack.com/subscribe

This episode title is a bit misleading (sorry!) because Benny is actually marking 17 years with type 1! He's away at college and while I hope to talk to him for the show soon, we just couldn't swing it in time for his actual diaversary. To mark the date, we're going to replay the first time I talked to Benny for this podcast – which I did along with my husband and my daughter back in 2016. This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider. Find out more about Moms' Night Out - we have announced FOUR LOCATIONS for 2024! Use promo code MOM30 to save $30 off any city This is a longer episode, so I wanted to break it down a bit - and a full transcription is below. 00:00 2023 Stacey introduction, talks about Benny's 17th diaversary 03:55 2016 Stacey explains how the order of interviews and a few housekeeping notes 05:22 Slade 24:27 Lea 40:42 Slade (part 2) 1:12:15 Benny 1:26:07 2023 Stacey wraps it up   Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Take Control with Afrezza  Omnipod - Simplify Life Learn about Dexcom  Edgepark Medical Supplies Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures Learn more about AG1 from Athletic Greens  Drive research that matters through the T1D Exchange The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Twitter Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com  Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com Episode transcription below - our transcription service doesn't speak diabetes perfectly, so please excuse any mistakes. Thanks! Stacey Simms 0:05 This is Diabetes Connections with Stacey Simms. This week is my son's 17th diversity 17 years with type one to mark what's really his entry into being a young adult with T1D. He's almost 19 We're going to take a look back at when he was a lot younger. We've got a replay of the first time I talked to Benny for this podcast back in 2016. It's a conversation that also includes my husband and my daughter. This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider. Welcome to another week of the show. I'm your host, Stacey Simms. And you know, we aim to educate inspire about diabetes with a focus on people who use insulin. I am not great about remembering Benny's exact dye aversary. And most of the reason why is because his diagnosis was very, it was prolonged, I would say it really only took a week, maybe a week or a couple of days from the time that I called our pediatrician and said, I don't like what I'm seeing Something's really wrong to an actual in hospital diagnosis and, and all the education that goes with it. But we had so many bumps along the way. And I've told these stories before, you know, a fasting blood glucose. That was normal, it was 80. And that was on a Monday. And then some subsequent diagnoses of things that we now know were just symptoms, you know, infection, things like that, that they treated, and we thought, yeah, we got it. And then finally, the A1C results, which came back five days after that initial fasting blood glucose, which is when they sent us to the hospital, all of that to say I remember the days of the week, Monday was the pediatrician Saturday was the phone call to go to the hospital. But I never remember the actual dates. Social media memories usually remind me and sure thing they came up this morning. So I'm recording this on Benny's actual 17 year diver serie on December 2, December also means and I need to tell you one quick thing about moms night out that the early bird special for Charlotte is over. I do have a promo code for you that you can use on the regular price to save $30 off. And that promo code is m n o 30. Mom's night out m and o 30. You'll save $30. With that I will put a link in the show notes. You can always go to diabetes dash connections.com. We have a mom's Night Out tab as well there now. If you go there we are announcing our next cities this week, I may have already done so. So follow on social for that announcement or click on over to the website, click on the mom's side out tab. See the new cities registration is not open for them. But you can sign up to be emailed directly when registration does open. And for more information. All right. I am hoping to talk to Benny for a new episode soon. As you know he's away at college. And I cannot wait to get that kid home for winter break. As this episode goes live. I think he's coming home in about 10 days, not that I'm counting diabetes, while he's been away has been fine. But I've tried really hard not to ask him a lot of bout it other than once in a while like you're doing okay. Right? Because we don't follow his Dexcom anymore. And I really don't know much day to day. You know, he's reordered supplies with me. So I know he's he's doing that kind of stuff. I can't wait to talk to him more. I will let you know when we're going to be taking questions for that episode, we'll post to the Facebook group for that. These conversations you're about to hear were recorded in fall of 2016. Benny is in sixth grade, his voice hasn't even changed yet. Oh, my goodness, I left in the original introduction, which gives more context. But I also want you to know, this is a much longer discussion than I remember. So I'm going to do more comprehensive shownotes with some time codes, if you want to kind of jump around on this episode and pick and choose where you want to listen. So here we go. My family's thoughts on one decade. Remember, this is seven years ago with type one. Stacey Simms 03:55 This part of the podcast is usually where I interview somebody else get them to share their story and their thoughts about living with diabetes. This is different. This is my family's story. And let me tell you, this is what I've done my entire career, talk to people interview people since before I even graduated from college. And these are the toughest interviews I've ever done. I was so nervous. But they were they were wonderful. And I was just thrilled that they agreed to even talk to me. My husband and my daughter are really not front and center. Attention people. I don't know how they live that way. But here's how it's going to go. You're going to first hear from me and my husband Slade. And then you'll hear from Leah. We're in the middle of that interview. I'm going to pause the conversation. And then you'll hear Leah's interview, because I had maybe the most Frank, honest and open conversation about our brothers diabetes that we've ever had. And then we'll wrap that up and you'll hear more from me and slay And then finally you'll hear from Benny. Oh my gosh, that kid, if you have a middle school boy, maybe you'll understand that conversation was, let's say it was interesting. There is a bit of overlap in these conversations as you'd expect. I mean, there are some events that we all talk about. So you'll hear about those things more than once, that sort of thing. Okay, here we go. I'm really interested to see what we talked about today because Slade doesn't really talk about Benny's diabetes publicly. I mean, of course, you you're very, very involved, and you talk about it, I'm sure with friends, and things like that. But it's not like you are front and center at functions. And, you know, that kind of thing over the years, I don't Slade 5:41 have a podcast, Stacey Simms 5:43 I could help you set one up. But I've been told in the past, I speak enough for everybody in the family. So I'm really interested to hear what you have to say if your conversation matches mine. Alright, so let's start 10 years ago, Ben, he was diagnosed with type one. He was not yet two years old. And Leo was just had just turned five. What I remember vividly is the month before he was diagnosed, when I was working at WB T, doing morning radio, you got the kids every morning. So you used to text me, like 730 or seven o'clock every morning and say, you know, kids are okay are off to daycare or you know, here's a funny picture. And you texted me one day and said you are not going to believe the amount of pee that came out of this kid. Do you remember that? Like the mattress is soaked in the floor was wet. I Slade 6:35 remember one morning, getting him out of his crib, right? And the entire mattress was soaking wet. Like everything. All the blankets were wet. The pillow was where the entire mattress was. So it was I'm like it didn't make any sense to me. Stacey Simms 6:53 Right. And you know me at work. I was kind of thinking when you trade off like we did because sleep had a restaurant for many years. So I had the kids in the afternoon and in the evening when he was working. And he had the kids every morning because I used to do a morning radio show that started at 5am. And I just remember thinking, not on my shift like you gotta fix Slade 7:14 which I did right away. Of course, drying the mattress out trying to figure out what happened, but we Stacey Simms 7:19 kind of thought it was a one off. Oh, yeah. Because it didn't happen again for a while. Yeah. And then it happened to get about three weeks later. Well, Slade 7:25 we noticed I think from that point on over the next couple of weeks that he was drinking a tremendous amount of liquid for a 18 month old or 20 month old. It was you know, and he would suck down a little 10 ounce sippy cup in like, you know, 15 or 20 seconds. It was absurd. Stacey Simms 7:45 So the the mattress wedding thing was in October, I think late October or something. And then of course, there was Halloween, which I'm sure didn't do him any favors. That was the year the kids dressed up. But it was the only matching costume we ever did. Leo was Ariel and Benny was flounder. And then, at Thanksgiving, we had family photos on the Friday of Thanksgiving that year. And then we went to the lazy five ranch. And I've told this story before one of my brothers was here, right brother David was there, right? And I posted that picture recently on Facebook of David and Benny with a giant glass of orange juice. And then we went to the lazy five ranch and of course Benny couldn't he was still in diapers and he was soaked and he was just laying down and he was exhausted. He felt like garbage. And then that Monday, we went to the pediatrician that Monday right after Thanksgiving, right? And Slade 8:37 then I mean, I think they did a fasting glucose and a few other things. And they thought he had a urinary tract infection knew and I already had suspicions that it was something more like it didn't make any sense. Yeah. And then it was a few days into an antibiotic for what they thought was a urinary tract infection and there was no change. And so his outward symptoms continued to be the same right where he drank tremendous amounts of water and liquid and was always going to the bathroom. Stacey Simms 9:08 Well on that Monday when we went to the doctor his as you said his fasting glucose was normal. It was 80. And then they did a blood draw. They must have found something in his urine, right? They must have found sugar in it because I remember they did a urine test to do a urine test on a kidney. They didn't Slade 9:24 remember that we had to kind of push for them to do an A1C like they it took a week or so. Yeah, Stacey Simms 9:30 but we didn't ask for A1C We just asked for a blood test. I didn't know what we were asking for did I remember holding you had to hold him down? Yes, I did have to hold them down Leah was in the hallway Leah remembers that remember some screaming? Slade 9:40 It wasn't exactly pleasant. Stacey Simms 9:44 Yeah, and then he did that they said I had a urinary tract infection. And I remember when we treated it he seemed to feel better once a day right just from the urinary because he did have one but you know job raucous or pediatrician friend down the street said to me Why would a healthy two year old boy have a urinary You're trying to keep keep looking. So I was convinced at this point that he was he had contracted a fatal disease. I was on the internet. I was looking at all sorts of horrible things. I thought he had kidney cancer. I really did. I was so scared. And then he seemed to feel better. And then on Saturday, they called us and David was still here. And they called us on Saturday and said, like it was an emergency get to the hospital. But they wouldn't. They didn't tell me why. Well, they did tell they thought they told me why because they told me his blood sugar was like, you know, 700, or the A1C correlated to, you know, I don't know what it was. But I remember thinking, He's fine. He looks fine. He's doing okay. Why do we have to rush to the hospital? But we did. Slade 10:33 Yeah. But I remember during that week that we kind of, we were guessing that it might have been diabetes? Stacey Simms 10:42 Oh, well, yeah. Because most people and you know, the symptoms matched perfectly. But I think it was the fasting glucose being kind of normal that threw me off. And I of course, went to worst case scenario, Slade 10:51 you went, you definitely went deeper. But you know, still concern. Yeah. Not knowing. And it's, it's a scary thing, when the doctor calls and says, Take your kid to the emergency room. And you go while he's walking around playing with some toys, he's just fine. So and then, of course, it's just a, it's a crash course. Right? You get admitted in two days later, you're out and you have diabetes and have to live with it the rest of your lives. Stacey Simms 11:19 Oh, you know, one thing I forgot is, when we took him to the pediatrician that first time on the Monday after Thanksgiving, when I called, we knew just enough to say he's got the symptoms of type one. We knew that much that the pain and the drinking, because of all the stuff I'd done with JDRF already and in Charlotte, and my pediatrician, Dr. Scott said, I've never seen it in anybody younger than two. Right, bring him in, and we'll rule it out. And thankfully, you know, they took us seriously because I've heard some nightmare stories of people that don't. But what's funny is, here we are 10 years later, almost every time I go to that pediatrician, and it's one of these big practices with like eight doctors, they all look at Benny's chart and we go in, they say, oh, like he was the youngest one we saw at that time, you know, and now of course, there's lots of kids that are diagnosed younger, unfortunately. But for that practice, it was it was unusual. It's pretty unique. Slade 12:07 Yeah, I just I just distinctly remember that we had to push a little bit. Yeah. To get them to think in that direction. Stacey Simms 12:15 Oh, when he walked in with AD, yeah, they tried to figure out something else. So Slade 12:19 I mean, I think all that really says is, doesn't matter what the age or what you're thinking, you have to be your own advocate, you know, in some way, shape or form, if you're not your voice, then there's an opportunity to miss something. Right? Not get a good look at it. So I think that I think that not going down the you know, the rabbit hole right? To something considerably more catastrophic. And trying to rule that stuff out. You have to, you have to ask and you have to instruct and you have to, you know, your medical team, you have to be part of the conversation, right? You can't just tell me what to do. Stacey Simms 13:04 But it's hard to in some ways, because you don't know what you don't know. But you're I agree with you. You have to we've learned this for many years. Now. You got to push you got to be your own advocate, you got to ask questions. But, you know, if I didn't know, peeing and drinking was a sign of type one, I don't think I would have known what to ask the doctor. Right. But Slade 13:19 I also think that that I don't think doctors are offended by that. I think that that helps them do what they're trained to do is help. Help people get better. And if you're not engaged in the conversation, it's a one way street. Yeah. It Stacey Simms 13:32 would help. Alright, so we're in the hospital now. And I remember he had those things. What are those things called all over you with a stick you the sticky things I had like an Slade 13:41 EKG monitor, right, and he kept pulling Stacey Simms 13:43 them off? Slade 13:44 Yeah, that couldn't have felt good. Stacey Simms 13:48 That was like when we first started using the Hulk analogy, because he was like the baby Hulk pulling everything off. Slade 13:54 Well, it's interesting, and he doesn't have any idea what's going on. Stacey Simms 13:57 But that night, we took turns, you know, you went home. I stayed. And they pretty much didn't tell us until the middle of the night that he had type one. They kind of I think everybody thought we knew. And finally I asked if they had a diagnosis. And they said, Yeah, he's got they would like yeah, he's got type 1 diabetes. I mean, they were nasty about it. But I think everybody thought someone else had told us along the way. Slade 14:19 We didn't see Dr. Werner alto second day or the next day. Yes. We Stacey Simms 14:23 went in on Saturday morning or Saturday, mid morning. We saw nurses and hospitalists there was that one horrible woman. She came in and she smelled. She didn't say anything to us, like not Hello, how are you? I'm so and so she came right in and smelled him. And now I know it was for fruity breath. Right? So when she came in, she smelled him. And you know, I am of course very calm. I said, What are you doing to my son? Who were you? She kind of explained but she kind of left us like you're not coming back and just I don't know what I said. I'm sure it was very nice. But yeah, that night we met the hospitalist. And that was when that was when he said to me, who stays home with Benny, not our endocrinologist, but but just a hospitalist, a doctor who sees people in hospital. And I was already panicking because I had my dream job. And I had health insurance. You had a restaurant you owned a restaurant is that like you can untangle from that pretty easily? You know, I'm closing the doors. When Slade 15:21 we tried to untangle from it, it took a long time. Stacey Simms 15:25 And I was terrified because it couldn't really quit. I wanted to quit my job. But I had to health insurance and I really didn't want to quit my job either. So we said who stays home with Benny? I said, nobody really nasty. And then I burst into tears. And you weren't there. And Vinnie, do not remember you were not there. He was another night. And then then he put his kidneys awake. He's 23 months old. He puts his arm around me. He says it's okay, Mommy. I was like, Dude, you better get your stuff together to myself. You bet this is your 10 year old is comforting you this is not how it's supposed to work. And that was a big turning point for me. And like the guy was great. He said, I'm sorry. He said, What I should have said is what's your situation? He's like, I'm just trying to help you acclimate? And he told us even go back to daycare. And he you know, nobody said no to us. They'll try to help us figure out how to make it work. But that moment was a big turning point for me. Slade 16:14 I don't think I had any big turning points. I mean, the only thing that I realized was, you know, when we finally did come home, and you know, I went grocery shopping. Stacey Simms 16:26 Oh my god, wait. So hold on. Let's get there. So we met Dr. V. The next morning on a Sunday. And he came in and I remember him coming in and saying hi to us and being great. But getting right on the floor with Benny. Yeah, Slade 16:39 and what I remember. And and you have a better memory than I do. But what I remember is him saying listen, based on where we are today with treating this. There isn't any reason he shouldn't have the exact same life he would have without diabetes that he has with diabetes. I mean, that was that was that just set the tone? Right? Stacey Simms 17:00 Yeah, it really did. And I remember, thank you. I will anyway, I remember, like my first questions to him, because what do you know about diabetes? Right? You know, type two, I remember thinking and asking him like, do I have to cut his toenails differently? Like? He was like, Oh, I could see, right? Yeah, take a deep breath. And like, this lady is gonna be fun. But he got right on the floor and met Benny and I don't think he had kids at that point. He did not. Yeah. And he was terrific. But I interviewed him. I said to him, you know, I'm glad to meet you. But you know, I don't know anything about endocrinology, or endocrinologist, or endocrinologist in this town. Right? Of course, I want to make sure that my child has the best. So I asked him a million questions. And he was great. He was really great. Yeah, Slade 17:49 I just think he set the tone that said, hey, what you're going to deal with is lifelong. And then that's the way it is. But it's not life threatening. Yeah. Doesn't have to be life threatening, right? Stacey Simms 18:03 He didn't he didn't come in and tell us a cure is around the corner. He talked a little bit about the artificial pancreas. I remember because I asked him about technology. He he did say that they were one of the first practices in the country that routinely gave pumps to toddlers, because this was 2006. So that wasn't happening all over the place that he thought that Benny we know down the road, we would talk about that. But he was not overly he didn't promise anything. Slade 18:30 No, actually he did. He promised us Benny would have a normal life if he took care of himself. Right? Well, that's true. It didn't make that that's Stacey Simms 18:36 true. And that was very reassuring. And he has been consistent in these 10 years. He said, The three things that he says at almost every appointment, I'm pretty sure he told us then, which was he wants to make sure that he can live a long, healthy life he's supposed to, that he has, he feels good, and can enjoy life right now. And that we find a way to make diabetes fit into what he wants to do, and not the other way around. And we've been able to do that pretty much. It's not you know, when people say, Oh, diabetes can't stop you. I mean, some of that I, you know, I shake my head a little bit or I raise an eyebrow because, you know, obviously diabetes definitely can slow you down. And there are days when it can stop you. That's okay. I mean, you know, when you break your leg, it's gonna stop you. You know, I you know, it's I know, it's a mindset more than a truism. But, you know, I think we've had a pretty realistic look at it. Yeah, I Slade 19:27 think you as you go through, particularly growing up, and there's, you know, there's minefields everywhere, right? It's just one more minefield, right? I mean, it's something else, you have to navigate it and it gets added into your routine added into the way that you think. And it's, yeah, it's a it's a burden because it's different than what a lot of your peers have to deal with. Is it a burden in it in that it can be a roadblock to accomplishing something you want to accomplish? like you and I think that way, I don't think that's true. Stacey Simms 20:02 We try not do not it's not a not a dead end road, you can make it that way. Well, it can be a roadblock that you can overcome, right. But it shouldn't stop you in your tracks. Slade 20:11 You can do a lot of what was me? Well, yeah, well, that's different, right? You can do a lot of what was me, but there isn't. There's a, there's a roadmap to accomplishing what you want to accomplish with diabetes. All Stacey Simms 20:24 right. Speaking of routine, let's talk about that grocery store. Slade 20:28 That was hysterical. So, you know, of course, you know, when you talk about diabetes, you talk about carbs, right. And as you load your body up with carbohydrates, you need insulin, Stacey Simms 20:38 oh, and I should add, we were put on a carb counting regime or a carb counting routine. Immediately. We didn't do any eat to the insulin, it was all give them as many shots as you want, right? And count carbs and dose him that way. Right. I mean, obviously, at first, we tried not to give him a lot of injections. But we were some people go on different routines at first, right? We weren't, we were all carb counting from the beginning, Slade 21:00 right? But it's really all about, you know, the basics of understanding how to take care of yourself is you have to know what you ingest, right? You have to know what you eat. And you can give yourself insulin to help your body, right, continue to move forward and act the way it should act right by adding an insulin. So we're like, you know, maybe we should really go low carb or no carb. So I went to the grocery store, I think I spent two and a Stacey Simms 21:30 half hours. That's what I was gonna say. It was definitely two hours. And Slade 21:34 I it's I think I know the label of every item in the grocery. But I just went and bought everything that was low carb when he came home and put it in the cupboards and put in the refrigerator and he loved some of the food and fed it to him for a few days and then realized we were feeding him fat. Yeah, Stacey Simms 21:50 we did two weeks almost of Atkins, basically. And I lost about six pounds. It was, I'm sure that had nothing to do with being crazy. But yeah, I mean, we went from eating, moderate. Everything in moderation and pretty healthy. I mean, our kids were five and not an almost two. It's not like they were drinking soda and McDonald's all the time. But we were eating things like oatmeal for breakfast and pancakes and stuff. And we went to eating sausage. And I don't it was ridiculous. Like everything Slade 22:19 was a lot of me. Yeah, it was a lot of meat and a lot of cheese. And we realized is we're just gonna, we're just eating fat, and we're gonna kill him. So after a couple of weeks, I actually threw a bunch of that stuff out. But Stacey Simms 22:29 the turning point for me or the final straw was when you were like, how about pork rinds? That's a good snack. He's doing we're Jewish. I mean, we don't keep kosher, but I don't remember. I was like, that's, I know, many people enjoy pork rinds. I'm not. I don't, I bet he would love them. Now. You can find some things, I mean, olives, beef jerky, Slade 22:56 just remember kind of throwing it out and go, that's it, we're just going to, I'm going to feed him the way we would normally feed him. And, and we will treat him medically the way that we are given the tools to do it. And that's what we're gonna do. Stacey Simms 23:08 And we also counted every carb tried to do it exactly. I think it's I think the whole thing, we figured it out two hours of routine to our day, because we had a yellow legal pad, right, we wrote everything down. We've got all the food, the dosage, the routine, but we were counting carbs, and ketchup, and green peas. And I mean everything because that's what we were told to do. Right. And I remember going for a follow up, when you go for free first followed two months later, one month later, and there was a mom and dad was like, really? This is excellent. But you do not need to do with the two cards that are in the ketchup. Well, Slade 23:40 I still think actually, that's kind of important, because you need to understand that it's out there. You need, I mean, their cards, you're ingesting Stacey Simms 23:47 what we need, and we needed to do it then to learn. Yeah. Slade 23:49 And that's what happens is you learn you know, kind of what carbs are, where they are, where they're hidden, how your body reacts to them, particularly how Benny's body reacts to them. And then it's really kind of an art at that point, right? It's not really a science. I mean, there's all kinds of ratios and logarithms and all that stuff. But it really comes down to everyone's body is a little different. And it's it's much more like juggling right than it is like anything else. Stacey Simms 24:27 I'm gonna pause my talk with Slade here and bring in our daughter Leah. She's three years older than Benny four years ahead in school because of where their birthdays fall. And about 40 years older in maturity right now, you know, it's okay to say that I was so happy she agreed to talk to me about this. And this might be the best discussion we've had about her brother and diabetes. I will say I remember a few things a little differently. But this is her story. Alright, so let's start at the very beginning. I when I talked to dad, we talked about when Benny was first day He noticed and one of the things that I brought up was when we had to take the first blood draw. You were outside of the doctor's office. Do you remember that? No, Lea 25:08 I remember the electrodes, but and him always pulling them off. But I don't remember the blood draw. We Stacey Simms 25:13 because you went to the pediatricians office with us. And he was screaming his head off, and you were in the hallway. Because you were just you just turned 508. Lea 25:21 I think I do. Remember I was playing with my LeapFrog. And I was sitting in the hallway. And I was like, I would hear screaming, but I'd be like, Oh, it's whatever. It's fine. I'm gonna play my game. Stacey Simms 25:33 And then we went when Benny was in the hospital. You remember the electrodes and Uncle David was with that Lea 25:38 was funny. I mean, because I didn't understand what was going on. So it was funny, because he had electrodes all over him. And he would just like, pull them off. So they couldn't do anything. And I mean, he was crying and like, you were very frustrated. And I'm just laughing because I had no idea what was going on. Stacey Simms 25:52 And then the next day, we actually went ice skating. It was our community ice skating thing with when we were making the temple. It was like our first time though, into the ice skating rink. Lea 26:01 Did the rabbi go, Stacey Simms 26:03 I don't think they had the rabbi yet. It was just us. And you were very little. Okay, so you remember, okay, so what do you do you remember, like, what kind of things you remember from when you were little. Lea 26:14 I remember very general stuff. I don't really remember like specific instances. Like when he was first diagnosed, I didn't think anything was wrong. But apparently he was like, drinking too much and peeing too much. And I was just like, Yeah, whatever. Because I was not the biggest fan of my little brother. And I remember, as he got older, and I think it was more, I was less of like a small child and more of like, preteen, I was very upset because he'd always get so much attention, which now it's like, you get it, because it's an awful horrible thing and all blah, he needs all this stuff. But as as a small child, it was like, pay attention to me, Mother, I exist to you have a second child who was actually your first child. But you know, it was cool. I was an only child for four years, which was a wonderful thing. Stacey Simms 27:03 It was like, almost three years. Before, it was three Lea 27:07 years. Like for almost four. Stacey Simms 27:10 It was almost three, it was three U turn three, November, whatever. And then he was boring. Okay, very similar. But I remember a lot of when you were very little as you were a big helper. Like when he was first born, you would help me with the help with the baby, you would help with diapers, you would read to him every night, you know, to get sick of him all that stuff. And the same thing with diabetes. You wanted to learn how to do everything. You guys would give shots to the stuffed animals. Lea 27:35 Oh, yeah. The Little Bear and there were like little patches on it. Yeah. That's Rufus the bear with diabetes. Oh, that's fun. Stacey Simms 27:44 That's nice. And right. So you would do that. But you were very helpful to me in the backseat of the car. Because when you have a kid in a baby seat, basically, right, he was in front facing. I don't remember what the requirements were now. But like, you'd have the three point harness the five point harness those kinds of chairs. And so you were next to him? And if he was low, you you actually checked him once or twice for me when you were like five or six years old. You did? And then yes, and then you but not often, but you were very responsible. And you were like I'll do and usually I would pull over if I needed to like if dad wasn't mad. That's I mean, it wasn't making you do it. But you did it once or twice. But you were always willing and helping me the juice boxes and stuff like that. So much Lea 28:23 has changed. Stacey Simms 28:27 But then as you got older, like you said, it became more of a why? Why him? Why are you giving all the attention kind of thing? Lea 28:34 Because I never, I mean, until now I never really fully understood what, like, why he got so much of the attention. It was always just like, you spent so much time like talking to him talking about him, like calling people about it. And just you had all this you had like Lantis and Hume along, whatever all that stuff is just words that I hear around the house. But you had all of these packages shipped, like every couple of months or like, whatever you would go to these conventions and the walks and it was just like, well, let me do my walk, Dude, where's the layup walk? Stacey Simms 29:09 Do you think we should have done a better job educating you about diabetes? Because I feel like we did tell you it's Lea 29:14 not that I wasn't. It's not that I didn't really understand what it was it was just that like, I was a child. And I still am a child, but it's like, pay attention to me pay attention to me. It wasn't that I didn't know that it was some awful thing that he like needed to have all this attention because I knew that it was just like, why can't I also have attention? It wasn't like I was trying to take it away from him. It was just like me to say him. Stacey Simms 29:37 What would your advice be to parents listening to this who have a kid with type one and other kids who don't in the family? Lea 29:43 Well, you certainly don't have to. You shouldn't like take attention away from a child with diabetes just because one of your other children is feeling a little like left out but that doesn't mean that you can be you can totally ignore that child because they're still like They're your child. They're there, they need you. But it's, I think it would be better if you if someone explained to me that, like, if you'd like sat me down, and with Benny, and been like, this is what's happening, blah, blah, blah. This is why we give them so much attention. It's not that we don't love you. And just something like that. And sure, I probably still want to complain, but whatever. Like, it's fine. Stacey Simms 30:23 So like, the little things that we tried to do, like weekends away, or just you and me stuff like that, like spending, Lea 30:29 spending a weekend with my dad or with my mom, like, that's great. Because it's, it shows like, sure you spend basically every second of every day worrying about this other kid. But you still have time for me, which is pretty awesome. Stacey Simms 30:43 So tell me about camp a little bit, because this is something that you and Benny share that you do not really share with me and your dad. You I don't know if you remember, but used to come home from camp. This is the regular summer camp slip away for about a month. And tell Benny, it's gonna be so great. You're gonna love it, you know, can't wait. So you would go and I would always think there's no way. There's no way and you were ready to go when you were eight. And when he was eight, I was not ready for him to go. But we sent him anyway. What? Do you remember why you want them to go? Did you just think he would have fun? Lea 31:14 Well, I mean, when he first went, what unit like, well, how old was I? When he first went? Stacey Simms 31:21 Well, he was bony one. So you would have been three years older than that. I don't know how we can never keep track of those things. Well, he Lea 31:26 was like eight when he when he was eight. So I would have been like 11. Yeah. So at 11 It was still very much like it will because because of the fact that he's had diabetes, and we've known for so long. It's just kind of part of our lives. And I don't think of it as like this huge deal. Like it's just something that he just has to deal with him. It's like whatever, because he's a normal kid. It's not like, it's not like some other things that people can get where like you see, like, what you see the symptoms or you see, like the damage that it does, it's just sort of something that you have to deal with. And it's just like, whatever. So, I mean, it never even occurred to me that like he wouldn't go to a sleepaway camp, because that was just like, oh, yeah, it's like, Andy has diabetes. It's like, he's got brown eyes. He's got diabetes, like whatever. So, I mean, it was it was just, like, such a fun place to like to go and to get away. And it was, like, you get to do so much there that you don't really get to do at home. And it was never, it was never about him. Like, oh my gosh, he's my brother. I love him so much. I want to come to camp. It was like, I want you to experience this wonderful place. But it was it was never, it was never about the diabetes. It was just about him wanting to like go, Stacey Simms 32:37 I don't think he ever would have gone if you hadn't been so excited about it. Because that was part of the reason I wanted him to go because you liked it so much. That was wonderful. Yeah, he's really has a good time there. I mean, I'm so glad you had such a great experience to Lea 32:50 take my place. Okay, Stacey Simms 32:52 okay. All right. So that was great. I can't Unknown Speaker 32:55 go anymore. Yeah, Stacey Simms 32:56 you're too old for camp. Now. That stinks. No, Lea 32:59 but I can go back this summer if I wanted to. Next summer next summer. Yeah, but I don't think I would I might be counselor, be counseling Stacey Simms 33:06 keep your brother in line on the different side of the camp. Okay. Has since since Benny was diagnosed, I know you've met other kids with type one. But you don't come to conferences much. So it's not like this is a hey, it's a type one atmosphere, you know, other than the walks and things? Do you feel that? First of all, have you ever talked with someone and I haven't really been asked this question. But like, do you feel like knowing about Benny's diabetes has maybe helped you get to know other kids with type one better? Lea 33:38 Not really, I mean, most of the people that I talk to, like kids my age, or adults or kids Benny's age, it's always, like, that's just sort of a thing that we both know about them that they have diabetes. And it's we don't, I mean, the most that we would ever talk about is like if they were low, or if like they had to bolus for something, and it would never be like a big deal. And most of the time, we would just talk about like, other things, just because, I mean, for me, I'm just so used to my brother having it. And for them, they have it, so they just kind of have to be used to it. So neither was ever make a big deal out of it. And it's just kind of like whatever, Stacey Simms 34:11 it would be kind of weird. For teenagers, you'd be like, so tell me about your type 1 diabetes. Lea 34:18 You wouldn't. I mean, you can certainly have a conversation with somebody else about it if you don't have it yourself. But I mean, unless you're like you're very new to what diabetes is. It's generally not a big deal. Like if you're talking to somebody who has diabetes, you generally know they have diabetes, and that's why you're talking to each other. So it's never really like a major point of discussion. If that makes any sense. Got it. Did Stacey Simms 34:47 you ever have a moment where you were scared with Benny? Lea 34:51 There was I was like, it was like five minutes where you first showed me an epi pen like in case he got like really low. Oh, the glucagon, glucagon. It's an epi pen. Stacey Simms 35:05 But it's okay. But it looks like the same thing. Lea 35:07 It does the same thing. And I remember like you came up and you showed me and it was like, this big red needle or whatever. I'd never seen anything like it. And you're and you explain the whole thing to me. Like if Benny gets really low, or this happens, or if he passes out, you have to stab him in the thigh with this giant needle. Like, if nobody else was around, you have to do it, or he's gonna die. How old was like nine, five? Stacey Simms 35:30 No, I don't think I'm kidding. I don't remember how Lea 35:35 it was before I turned 10. I remember this. And I was just like, What on earth is this? You want me to stab my brother? If he's like lying on the ground? But and you're like, keeping it in the cabinet downstairs? And it's like, what is this? But I mean, other than that, it's pretty much been totally normal. And Stacey Simms 35:52 it's funny because some of our babysitter's we found because of diabetes, and you've learned to be really good friends with them, which is pretty cool as you've gotten older. Yeah. But Lea 36:01 it was never because of their diabetes. It was just like, oh, you know how to take care of yourself. You can take care of our child. Well, it Stacey Simms 36:07 was for us it was for you had nothing to do with it. What do you care if they had diabetes, it was just one of those things that we felt, we just fell into these great, we found great people. And, you know, like our neighbor, Christina, who was diagnosed as a young adult, and now she's family friends, which is really nice. She's pretty awesome. She is pretty. So family is pretty awesome. Do you worry about Ben growing up with diabetes or being an adult with diabetes? Now? Have you ever even thought about it? Um, Lea 36:29 I'm not worried for him. Not, not with him being able to take care of himself because he's totally capable. I'm just worried about like, what other people might say about it. Because when, because, people when you hear diabetes, you think of like, generally what people think of diabetes I think of as normally type two, which you can get, which is like, generally related to like obesity, or just being overweight and not healthy. But he has type one, which is totally different. And I just, I don't know, kids are mean. I mean, really, kids are kids are mean. And I don't know, I'm not worried about him. I'm worried about everybody else. Stacey Simms 37:06 In what they're gonna say that you'll beat them up if they're meeting of course. Alright, let me just make sure before we start, people had questions. I think they were mostly for Benny, but somebody did so offended. Will do me a question. It gets all the attention. I Lea 37:21 know. Isn't it? Great? Let's see if all this it's okay to complain about your sibling getting all the attention. I think that's a great point. Stacey Simms 37:30 Definitely. It's okay to complain better than season. Lea 37:34 See thing. Don't hate your parents. They're just trying to keep your other sibling alive. Oh, Stacey Simms 37:40 this was an asked these questions. I would love your daughter's perspective. Did it cause her to be jealous? attention seeking, seeking? And how does it feel to have to worry about him? Or do you worry about him? Well, Lea 37:52 I'm gonna go with the second part of this because I feel like I've already addressed like the first part of this question, but I don't really worry about him. Like at all. It's always I know, you and dad worry about him all the time. Because it's like, what if he's not bolusing? What if he's really high? Like what's going on? But I'm just like, whatever, you can take care of himself. You won't let him die. It's okay. There's a hospital down the road, he'll be fine. I mean, I probably should worry just a little bit more than I do. But it's just, it's part of my life. It's part of his life. It's just, it's something we have to do. Well, I Stacey Simms 38:23 think what we tried to do was to make you aware, but not to make it your responsibility. I just never felt like it was your responsibility as a kid, everybody. And if you remember when he got on the bus, he was in kindergarten. So you were in fourth grade. And people a lot of people said to me, Oh, well, it's what a relief that he's on the bus because even though you can't be with him, Leah's there and she can take care of. And I never felt what I told you at the time was, you don't have to worry about his diabetes, just take care of him as a sister and brothers should take care of each other. We told him that to like, if somebody's picking on you, he needs to stand up for you. And vice versa. If you get sick, he needs to holler for help. You know, it's just that kind of stuff. It was never diabetes specific. And I know you guys looked out for each other all the time, or didn't you sit next to each other all through elementary school? Lea 39:08 No, for one grade, Stacey Simms 39:09 I think Did you really say that? I was kidding. No, Lea 39:11 I think it was no, I remember because I was in like fourth grade. So I was I was like, slowly like into like the cool part and like the back of the bus. And I was really excited about it. Because like me and all my friends. We sent like the ferry back and it was like, Oh my gosh, we're so cool. We sent back the bus. But the bus driver, it was Ben he was in like second grade or like, I Stacey Simms 39:30 don't know, I remember this. This was in kindergarten. We foster going to school to major sit together. Lea 39:34 He sat in the very front row, right? They were terrified right behind the bus driver because they were like, what if he like passes out? What if he goes totally insane where he doesn't have any food. And so they made me sit with him? Because I was at SR and like, I knew that they were olders I knew it was going on and I could like call like my mom because I knew your phone number. And I was very I was very upset. But you did Stacey Simms 39:56 that for like a week or yeah, I've been told Does Yeah, there was no, yeah. And then you were like, Mom, we need to address Lea 40:04 this. We have an issue. That's Stacey Simms 40:06 great. I forgot all about that. And he was happy to see you go to Yeah, we Lea 40:10 were both like, Go away. Get away from because my brother like he couldn't talk to females on the bus because they're like, why is your sister with you are like really awkward because like, he was like in kindergarten and I was like a cool fourth grader, not really. And so, and I was just upset because I was like, I want to go sit with my friends. Now. I don't want to do my little brother like ill. Stacey Simms 40:30 And on that note, thank you so much, sweetie. This was great. No problem. You're listening to Diabetes Connections with Stacey Simms. I am so proud of her. Even though I was biting my tongue a bit. I mean, we explained diabetes a lot with her. I am sure you know that, you know. And yes, she knows an epi pen and glucagon are not the same thing. But wow. That was that was nice for me. That was really great to talk to Leah. All right, let's go back to me and Slade. And when we left off, we were started to talk about how we try to make diabetes fit into our life, rather than making life revolve around diabetes. Before before we left the hospital, though. We had a long planned event with our congregation. That that year that summer, we had also decided to help start our temple, right. That was that summer and then this this winter, this happened. But we had a an ice skating. I had planned an ice skating event in downtown Charlotte for the Sunday the day after Benny was diagnosed. So we were still in the hospital. And we talked about it and you said you should go right. And I didn't take Leah. And so you went to the hospital that day, we traded off. And I took Leah to the ice skating rink and I was really nervous. And I was really kind of upset about leaving him in the hospital. I'm so glad I did that. I'm so glad I did that. Because it showed her that life goes on. It kind of convinced me that life goes on. It was a great fun event. And our friends and our community were amazing. They were just amazing. It was so supportive of me. And they made sure we had fun. It was great. I'm so glad we did that. That was cool. Slade 42:17 Yeah, I think that kind of sets or maybe not on purpose, but kind of set the tone for how are you we're trying to normalize we we work really hard and normalizing our lives. In fact, we live our lives first and treat diabetes second, almost, right, because it's just part of what you have to do. It's kind of like you have to put your shoes on if you're gonna go outside, right. So you have to treat your diabetes when whenever you're out and about so. But I think that kind of set the tone for it, right? I mean, because you can you can get into a dark place if you don't. Stacey Simms 42:50 Well, and Dr. Dr. V. also told us probably that day, or the next day, don't buy him a pony for checking his blood sugar. Right. Don't reward him unduly because this is not going away. Yeah, it's not like, you know, oh, boy, I Slade 43:04 think you started looking at ponies Stacey Simms 43:06 I would have looked at I was looking at Porsches looking at everything. It's really funny. You know, it's it's interesting to when you talk about life goes on. I think we put him back in daycare, right? Three days later? Slade 43:19 Well, we're very fortunate. Was it three days high? It Stacey Simms 43:22 was very soon, probably within a week. And we were lucky. Slade 43:25 But we were very fortunate in that the people who are the managers at the daycare center, had had some experience, and then took it upon themselves to go and get more training. Yeah, it was crazy. So we were really fortunate, but that that wasn't common than it was only 10 years ago isn't common, but it's very common now. So I think the challenges that people have about daycare are they're much easier barriers now than when, even just 10 years ago. Stacey Simms 43:56 I would say that there are more resources to help. But I think that daycare is a huge challenge for a lot of people. I don't know how lucky we were. Slade 44:06 Well, no, I don't disagree that it's a huge challenge. But it's there are more and more kids that are diagnosed that come through the doors at daycare centers, and they are their experience level is much higher than it was 10 years. Stacey Simms 44:19 Well, what happened with us was there was a family right before us with a little girl and the mom was a teacher and a nurse. It was crazy. So she had made a whole guide book for them and came in and trained a few people. And so when we brought Benny they knew more than we did I wanted him to sleep there. I kind of did no no. And and Rebecca who was the manager who really just became part of the family for a while. And one or two of the teachers, as you said they did more training. I sent them to one of the JDRF training days and they learned along with us they were absolutely amazing. Then that little girl moved just like three days after we came back from the hospital so they weren't even there. And then the other thing I remember, I should probably stay chronological but I'll skip ahead We had a planned trip with my friends, my college roommate with Beth and Dave, to Las Vegas in. Slade 45:06 But you know, back to the daycare thing, I think the key, the key to that is, and it's kind of the way we've always dealt with it is, our objective is when we put our son in the care of somebody else, particularly early on, our objective was to make them feel as comfortable and as confident as possible, that they that they could take care of them there or, you know, we didn't put pressure on them to say, you know, you were worried you're not going to be able to, or we were scared parents, we let them know that, you know, it's if you have to dial 911, you dial 911, it's okay, you do the best that you can with the tools that we're giving you and the tools that you have. And I think that that's, that's a hard hurdle for people to get over. But I think if you get over that, you get a lot more help. Right, and you get a lot more people who, when they're when your child is in their care that they feel confident, we all know that feeling confident, no matter what you're doing, helps you perform better. So we really worked hard at trying to instill confidence in the people that were at times across the years taking care of our son. Stacey Simms 46:16 I think we were also the beneficiaries in a weird way of less or no social media. You're not on Facebook a ton, and you're not in all these diabetes groups. But I think if if I had been when Benny was diagnosed, my outlook might be different. Because some of them have 1000s and 1000s of people in them and everybody's experience is different. And you know, it is on Facebook, you only see the best and the worst. And people post a lot of nightmare stories that other people assume are the norm, and they're not. And I think I would have been more frightened, I would have loved the support. I mean, we had nobody up here for the first couple years. We didn't know anybody. But I think that that that has added to I don't want to do a whole thing on social media here. But I think that has added to some of the fear was, Slade 47:01 I think that and because social media wasn't as prevalent as it isn't, it's the same thing, right? You believe half of what you hear and less than what you read, right? I mean, it's you have to make decisions based on your own experiences. And it's okay to view other experiences and see how they might, might influence what you're doing. But you can't, you can't say it happened to that person. So it's going to happen to me. Exactly. Stacey Simms 47:26 And I will say he was great. I mean, he had highs, he had lows, he was always safe and happy, which as you know, if you listen, that's my goal is not perfect, but safe and happy. And the one time he went to the hospital was Was he he just got his thumb caught in the door. You remember he did Slade 47:41 the same thing that other people do at daycare, they get hurt falling down, you know, somebody threw a block at his head, right? I mean, that's the same kind of stuff. And you Stacey Simms 47:51 needed stitches. That was the one thing. And I was so nervous, because that wasn't too long after diagnosis, maybe a couple months, and I'm still nervous, because my oh my gosh, how are we gonna manage diabetes? Fine. It Slade 48:01 was fine. It was easy. Stacey Simms 48:02 It was easy. So the next big thing that happened in terms of life goes on was we went to Las Vegas with my college roommate. And I called my mom because she was going to come watch the kids and my parents lived in Florida. And I said, you know, I don't know if we should do this, you know, should we stay? And life goes on. You have to go you have to go. She said, You know, this is not you know, I'll do it. I'll do it. So as we started talking about she said, but I can't give them a shot. I got it. And you know what? I think she would have if she had to she would have right? Yeah. But we were very fortunate one of the girls from daycare, who was as she was trained to be a nurse, right? She was nursing student, Kristen. She was so she came over. I met her she stayed here. But she came over and did all the insulin at the weekend. And you know and mom called us a ton we were in was the Aladdin was it? It was it was the end of the Aladdin right? Because they Slade 48:59 Yeah, it wasn't. Oh, yeah, it was yeah, they return it they were tearing Stacey Simms 49:03 down around us. And so I remember distinctly like taking a call from her getting in the elevator on the Aladdin and losing the call. And then she called me back. So when we when we mean it, but we had a great time. Slade 49:15 Was that before the show we went to what show the show when Dave Stacey Simms 49:19 No, that was that was months after the show was the following weekend. It's what you tell us. Okay, so when you tell I'll tell the story. So one week after diagnosis. We're so fortunate. My brother in law David Slate's brother says four older brothers. And David is closest in age to him. So David was staying us for like a month after Thanksgiving. It was great. He was in between jobs. And he's just so close to my kids. It was wonderful. Unfortunately for him, he was here for diagnosis. So we had tickets to spam a lot. Me and you that following weekend. So again, David's like go go I've got it. I mean, David knew just as much as we did at that point. Yeah. So we get three numbers into spam a lot. I mean to know if it was that lady of the Like, I don't know where that is, or maybe I made it up. And, you know, in the phone rings, so you go out to take the call and like 15 minutes later yeah, it wasn't because I saw three numbers I think you saw like, and I went out to see what was going on. And he thought, you know, when you think about how you dose a little kid, he was 27 pounds. He was 23 months old, and he got like little puffs of insulin. But we were using syringes, right? So he would get like a quarter of a unit or you tried to estimate a half a unit and I think he was supposed to get a half a unit and David gave him six units or something like that. Or two, you couldn't have taken two units. I mean, he had this tiny little dose and David thought he gave him four times as much right? So we couldn't figure it out. So we just said forget it. We went home. As I remember Slade 50:43 on our way home. We were driving home and he had it under we never stopped him. Did we? Yes, of course. We Stacey Simms 50:49 came home. Okay, we we didn't come home. I thought we went right to the NATs house. Okay, so he's but But what happened? Is we checked or he checked. Isn't that funny? I can't remember either. We're getting old honey. So he checked or we checked and his blood sugar never felt right. He was perfectly fine. He was like, I'll make it up. He was like 150 all night. I mean, never fell. So he couldn't have possibly either do injection? Or he never miscalculated, right? Or, or Benny snuck a pizza in the middle of the night that we didn't know about. And so we were on our way home, right. And a friend of ours had had a holiday party going on that night. We're like, I will just go there Slade 51:22 just fine. So the we left the show early, right. I mean, we're 20 minutes into the show. We laughed. We're driving home talking back and forth with David and realized he was fine. So we kept going went by the house and went to a friend's holiday party. Stacey Simms 51:35 We're terrible parents. No, we're not. I don't think we're gonna terrible parents either. That's really funny. Yeah, and that we never saw spam a lot. No, I still haven't seen it. Slade 51:48 I mean, I want to I don't know if I could bring Benny Stacey Simms 51:55 All right, um, I promise we won't go year by year, day by day through the 10 years. But just a couple of quick things about the Look at me. Like, are you sure? Slade 52:06 I don't have a good enough memory to do that, please. Stacey Simms 52:10 Benny, God has insulin pump. We talked about that with Dr. V. Right from the beginning. And he got his pump. We went to our educator to Lynette Right. And, and we said, I remember saying give me the one that's easiest for me to use, and will be the best for him. Because I was really scared of how complicated it was gonna be. And we wound up with the atom is 2020, which is what they had back then. And I showed it to Benny, and he threw it across the room. Got Slade 52:40 your hand and chucked it. Stacey Simms 52:44 Maybe this won't work out so well. But he was two and a half. You know, we kind of explained to him what the deal was. And you know, this will be a big shot every three days. But not all the shots in between that by this point. He didn't care. You could give him a shot. Slade 52:55 He would just stick his arm up like shot, he raised his arm you give me I put his arm down. He Stacey Simms 52:59 didn't care at all. At that point. He was so so good. And so used to it. But that night when he had the pump, because we had the sailing trial for a couple of days, he said, I said do you want it? I didn't know he was gonna sleep in. So I kind of said, Do you want me to take it off? And he said no mine. And that was it. He loved it. He's just he wouldn't give it up after that. So that was really good. And we had a little trouble with the very first inset we ever did. We had a capillary, there's a lot of blood member and then we weren't sure it was going to work. And we like geniuses, we decided we were going to go away to start the pump. So we went to my parents house where this was in the summer. So you I went to my parents house for a week, because when you start an insulin pump, and they probably still do this now you have to check every three hours around the clock for the first couple days to get the level, you know, close to right. I'll go with, I'll stay with my mom. My parents spent the summers in New York at that point. I'll spend the summers spend the week in New York. And then my mom can spot me with the kids. It'll be great. I'll sleep when I sleep. And you had a golf tournament with Bill in Vermont, in Vermont. And I said, Oh go I can do this. Go ahead. And you know, I'm fine. I'll be with my parents. So I remember thinking when we first had that bad inset, this isn't I'm never gonna get on a plane. This is not working. And I remember we changed it and he was, you know, we've checked in right before we got in the car to go to the airport. And luckily it was fine. So I was much calmer. We were crazy to do this Slade 54:20 as well. And I remember I was in Vermont and I don't know if I think I was supposed to pack up the diabetes supplies. Stacey Simms 54:29 I don't know. That guy was yes, you packed all the diabetes supplies and I for the record. Slade is fastidious, he is an excellent Packer. Usually what happens is I put out clothing and then you pack it. Yeah, I mean, he's really, I would trust him more than myself in terms of remembering things. So I'll give you that much credit. Yeah, well, you blew this one. Oh, I forgot to add Slade 54:51 the cartridges that you refill and then put back in the pump. And I'm in Vermont and you we're scrambling, we're on the phone, you're scrambling trying to figure out what to do. And Bill had a good friend whose son had type one. And he was on a pump. We had no idea if it was the same. But like, he calls them at like eight o'clock at night, we go to his house, he gives us a couple of cartridges. I mean, it was really, and we were ready to drive back to Manhattan, right? Or back to New York, to bring it to you. And you guys had figured out another way to Yeah, Stacey Simms 55:27 but it was really funny. Because again, before Facebook, yeah, I probably could have put out a message and said, Does anybody have this within 30 miles and somebody would have helped me out. So what happened was, we went to change the cartridge, and I'm all proud of myself, because I've got it all laid out, and I'm calm. And so we had a good start to the pump. We really, we didn't need a lot of adjusting for whatever reason the dosing worked out pretty easily pretty quickly. So when I went to change the cartridge, I was feeling maybe overconfident. So I had everything else spread out everything right. And I realized where the cartridges were the cartridges. So I called our endocrinology office, and I called our educator and the endocrinologist called back first and said, You need a luer lock needle, and what the heck and you can't get it at a pharmacy. So my dad is gone. I'm going to the hospital. And he goes to get the luer lock needle so he can say you can screw it on to the cartridge and I had insulin I had an insulin vial. So then Lynette our educator calls me back, she says, We're gonna MacGyver this thing. And she teaches me over the phone, how to, you know, open up the cartridge had to make sure that you have enough space in it and and then we just injected the insulin and it was a regular needle. So she was really helpful, and she was so happy to do it. She was fantastic. I also had called the Animus, and they couldn't do anything that night. But the next morning, they came to my mom's house in rural Westchester County, which if you're not familiar with Westchester County, there's like old she is less than I said rural Westchester County it is what is it? It's not like there are farms there. I mean, they're like Ralph, Lauren owns a farm. But what I mean is they're tiny roads, they're not well marked. I can't say that. It's Slade 57:11 like any other street it has. Your house has a number in his street name, I find it to be very confused. Like it was unmarked land and her whole western neighbor fought Stacey Simms 57:20 with machetes to get to my mother's. I was impressed that they came over the next morning, and they gave me different cartridges, different sam

Bill explains how New York City is in trouble. Originally only available in the New York City area, Bill's Empire State O'Reilly commentary addresses local New York issues, but those issues have implications, impact the country, and mirror problems in other states. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The College Basketball Experience (@TCEonSGPN) of the Sports Gambling Podcast Network give out their College Basketball Picks for December 5th. On the show Colby Dant (@TheColbyD), Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac), and Noah Bieniek (@NoahB77_) give out their College Basketball best bets and break down every game on the slate. Who will make a statement at the Jimmy V Classic tomorrow night? Will Danny Hurley and the UConn Huskies bounce back at their second home, Madison Square Garden against Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels? Will Dusty May and the FAU Owls make a statement once again on the national stage where they went to the Final Four when they take on Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini? Is this a great spot for Tom Izzo and Sparty in East Lansing with Greg Gard and the Badgers coming off the court storm win over Marquette? Who will win the Wildcat Matchup in Manhattan when Jerome Tang and Kyle Neptune square off in a game that both programs both desperately need? Can Grand Canyon and their unbelievable crowd get a marquee program win over the visiting San Diego State Aztecs? Can Porter Moser and the Oklahoma Sooners remain unbeaten against an underrated Providence Friars team in Norman? Can the Michigan Wolverines get back on track in Ann Arbor when the Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers come to town? Can Leon Rice continue to be a wagon up north in Boise against the North Texas Mean Green? Can the Akron Zips get revenge on the Bradley Braves? Will the South Dakota State Jackrabbits get back against the Kent State Golden Flashes? Can the Southern Illinois get a Power 5 home win in Carbondale against the Oklahoma State Cowboys? The College Basketball Experience give out College Basketball picks for December 5th best bets, and discuss all of the day's storylines and more on the episode. ===================================================== Support us by supporting our partners Gametime code SGPN - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code SGPN for $20 off your first purchase - https://gametime.co/ Underdog Fantasy code SGPN - 100% Deposit Match up to $100 - https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-sgpn Discuss with fellow degens on Discord - https://sg.pn/discord SGPN Merch Store - https://sg.pn/store Download The Free SGPN App - https://sgpn.app Check out SGPN.TV Follow The Hosts On Social Media Colby Dant - / thecolbyd Ryan McIntyre - / moneyline_mac Noah Bieniek - / noahb77_ NC Nick - / nc__nick Patty C - / pattyc831 Watch the Sports Gambling Podcast YouTube - https://www.sg.pn/YouTube Twitch - https://www.sg.pn/Twitch Read & Discuss - Join the conversation Website - https://www.sportsgamblingpodcast.com Slack - https://sg.pn/slack Reddit - https://www.sg.pn/reddit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eric J. Robertson is the Executive Vice President of ReDefine, as well as a Producer, Cinematographer and Entrepreneur. As part of the DNEG Group, ReDefine leverages an incredible legacy of creative and technical innovation to cater to projects that benefit from their agile boutique approach. The studio designs solutions that are tailored to the requirements of each show and always delivers to the highest levels of quality. The list of their credits includes DUNE: PART II, BORDERLANDS, WACO: THE AFTERMATH, and so many more! Prior to joining ReDefine, Eric co-founded a New York based VFX Studio Mr. X Gotham. Over the course of his career, he supervised and produced visual effects for over 50 feature films and worked with some of film's most respected directors including Ron Howard, Jonathan Demme, Sam Mendes, Joel and Ethan Cohen, Jim Jarmusch and Charlie Kaufman. With a career that spanned all genres, Eric enabled Sacha Baron Cohen's General Alladeen to walk a tightrope above midtown New York in THE DICTATOR; he transformed Phillip Seymour Hoffman's vision into a vast warehouse that enclosed the entire island of Manhattan in SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK and convinced moviegoers that they're watching Richard Nixon's confessions in real time in FROST / NIXON. Eric's creations go from exhilarating and hilarious, to emotional and engaging, all with the visual effects integrated seamlessly with the storyteller's vision.  Eric is also an accomplished photographer and cinematographer whose 20+ years of experience in production gives him a storyteller's eye along with the technical skills that encompass all aspects of the filmmaking process, from script to screen. Eric was instrumental in expanding the V.E.S. into an NYC section and served as its first Secretary / Treasurer. He is a member of IATSE Local 600. In this Podcast, Allan McKay interviews the Executive Vice President of ReDefine Eric J. Roberson about overcoming challenges and pushing the limits in visual effects; teaching filmmaking principles to the next generation of VFX Supervisors; the future of streaming content in 2024 post industry strikes; as well as Eric's career in visual effects and the legacy of DNEG in ReDefine's work and international presence. For more show notes, visit www.allanmckay.com/432.

The College Basketball Experience (@TCEonSGPN) of the Sports Gambling Podcast Network give out their College Basketball Picks for December 5th. On the show Colby Dant (@TheColbyD), Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac), and Noah Bieniek (@NoahB77_) give out their College Basketball best bets and break down every game on the slate. Who will make a statement at the Jimmy V Classic tomorrow night? Will Danny Hurley and the UConn Huskies bounce back at their second home, Madison Square Garden against Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels? Will Dusty May and the FAU Owls make a statement once again on the national stage where they went to the Final Four when they take on Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini? Is this a great spot for Tom Izzo and Sparty in East Lansing with Greg Gard and the Badgers coming off the court storm win over Marquette? Who will win the Wildcat Matchup in Manhattan when Jerome Tang and Kyle Neptune square off in a game that both programs both desperately need? Can Grand Canyon and their unbelievable crowd get a marquee program win over the visiting San Diego State Aztecs? Can Porter Moser and the Oklahoma Sooners remain unbeaten against an underrated Providence Friars team in Norman? Can the Michigan Wolverines get back on track in Ann Arbor when the Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers come to town? Can Leon Rice continue to be a wagon up north in Boise against the North Texas Mean Green? Can the Akron Zips get revenge on the Bradley Braves? Will the South Dakota State Jackrabbits get back against the Kent State Golden Flashes? Can the Southern Illinois get a Power 5 home win in Carbondale against the Oklahoma State Cowboys? The College Basketball Experience give out College Basketball picks for December 5th best bets, and discuss all of the day's storylines and more on the episode. ===================================================== Support us by supporting our partners Gametime code SGPN - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code SGPN for $20 off your first purchase - https://gametime.co/ Underdog Fantasy code SGPN - 100% Deposit Match up to $100 - https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-sgpn Discuss with fellow degens on Discord - https://sg.pn/discord SGPN Merch Store - https://sg.pn/store Download The Free SGPN App - https://sgpn.app Check out SGPN.TV Follow The Hosts On Social Media Colby Dant - / thecolbyd Ryan McIntyre - / moneyline_mac Noah Bieniek - / noahb77_ NC Nick - / nc__nick Patty C - / pattyc831 Watch the Sports Gambling Podcast YouTube - https://www.sg.pn/YouTube Twitch - https://www.sg.pn/Twitch Read & Discuss - Join the conversation Website - https://www.sportsgamblingpodcast.com Slack - https://sg.pn/slack Reddit - https://www.sg.pn/reddit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Direction Memphis dans le Tennessee, au bord du Mississippi. Le plus long fleuve des États-Unis (3.766 km) connait une sécheresse historique, avec des conséquences visibles du nord au sud du pays. L'eau salée remonte depuis le golfe du Mexique, et le trafic fluvial est fortement ralenti car le débit du fleuve n'est plus suffisant. Chaque semaine, le mardi, Arnaud Tousch nous adresse une lettre d'Amérique. Un podcast sous forme de courrier audio, posté depuis Manhattan, à New York. Une carte postale sonore pour nous aider à mieux comprendre cette Amérique à la fois si familière et parfois totalement déconcertante.

The one and only Paul Dano shared some of his best childhood memories with Seth and Josh! From growing up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in a 1 bedroom apartment he shared with his whole family, to moving to Connecticut and the fun times he had at the Ranch, there were so many good stories Paul told! Airbnb.com Thanks again to Nissan for sponsoring this episode of Family Trips and for the reminder to find your more. Learn more at NissanUSA.com. https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/download-app.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAo7KqBhDhARIsAKhZ4uiBZme79FOIX8IvDM5Q7xb4_f4Xg3QGcoMy3jRzaMA_WwzX7oy3T_oaArhxEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds Go to usbank.com/altitudego to learn more about how you can earn 20,000 bonus points, worth $200, if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days of opening your account. Eat out or eat in, with the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card. Limited time offer. The creditor and issuer of this card is U.S. Bank National Association, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Some restrictions may apply.

Victor in Manhattan talked with Mark about President Biden being the worst President. Rich in Queens talked with Mark about Biden appearing on Wheel of Fortune Stuart from South Carolina talked with Mark about the potency of Marijuana.

Hey everyone! James Scully here. I'm doing a webinar and walking tour this week in conjunction with the audio fiction soap opera set in 1835 NYC I've developed called Burning Gotham — http://burninggotham.com/ The walking tours have been very popular. I'm doing one this coming Saturday 12/09/2023 in Lower Manhattan with Eyes on Manhattan at 1PM — https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/eyesonmanhattan/items/506819/calendar/2023/12/?flow=no&full-items=yes And for those who can't come and are interested in this wild period of U.S. and NYC history, I'm doing a webinar with the New York Adventure Club this Friday 12/08/2023 at 5:30PM eastern time — https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1830s-nyc-a-decade-of-social-political-geographical-upheaval-webinar-registration-752806914747/ Also, next Saturday, December 16th, is the 188th anniversary of the Great Fire of 1835. It burned the entire financial district to the ground under very interesting circumstances. I'll have two tours that day. Included here are links where you can buy tickets to all of these. This week's webinar is $10 and Saturday's walking tour is $35 — https://linktr.ee/thewallbreakers I'd love to see you there!

We're exploring the intersections of design, music, and social impact with this week's guest, Sam Viotty. Not only is Sam an extremely knowledgeable program and experience designer, but she's also the co-owner of a record label and she's an adjunct professor at Loyola's Quinlan School of Business. And that's just scratching the surface!We started off by defining program design and experience design, and from there Sam talked about her label, Rosedale Collective, and her dedication to showcasing BIPOC voices in country music. She also dove into her previous work at The Obama Foundation, and how that opened her world to the importance of design in project management and social innovation (and for starting her own company, Viotty Design Studio). Sam even talked a bit about her current role at Adobe, and shared her plans on what she hopes to accomplish in the near future.Sam's career is a lesson in how we can all reshape our perspective on the conventional borders of design — something important to learn in this ever-changing world!LinksSam Viotty on InstgaramSam Viotty on LinkedInSam Viotty on Twitter / XFor a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========Donate to Revision PathFor 10 years, Revision Path has been dedicated to showcasing Black designers and creatives from all over the world. In order to keep bringing you the content that you love, we need your support now more than ever.Click or tap here to make either a one-time or monthly donation to help keep Revision Path running strong.Thank you for your support!==========Follow and SubscribeLike this episode? Then subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite shows. Follow us, and leave us a 5-star rating and a review!You can also follow Revision Path on Instagram and Twitter.==========CreditsRevision Path is brought to you by Lunch, a multidisciplinary creative studio in Atlanta, GA.Executive Producer and Host: Maurice CherryEditor and Audio Engineer: RJ BasilioIntro Voiceover: Music Man DreIntro and Outro Music: Yellow SpeakerTranscripts are provided courtesy of Brevity and Wit.☎️ Call ‪626-603-0310 and leave us a message with your comments on this episode!Thank you for listening!==========Sponsored by Brevity & WitBrevity & Wit is a strategy and design firm committed to designing a more inclusive and equitable world. They are always looking to expand their roster of freelance design consultants in the U.S., particularly brand strategists, copywriters, graphic designers and Web developers.If you know how to deliver excellent creative work reliably, and enjoy the autonomy of a virtual-based, freelance life (with no non-competes), check them out at brevityandwit.com.Brevity & Wit — creative excellence without the grind.==========Sponsored by the School of Visual Arts - BFA Design & BFA AdvertisingThe BFA Design program at the School of Visual Arts consistently produces innovative and acclaimed work that is rooted in a strong foundational understanding of visual communication. It encourages creativity through cutting-edge tools, visionary design techniques, and offers burgeoning creatives a space to find their voice.Students in BFA Advertising are prepared for success in the dynamic advertising industry in a program led by faculty from New York's top ad agencies. Situated at the center of the advertising capital of the world, the program inspires the next generation of creative thinkers and elite professionals to design the future.School of Visual Arts has been a leader in the education of artists, designers and creative professionals for over seven decades. Comprising 7,000 students at its Manhattan campus and more than 41,000 alumni from 128 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world. For information about the College's 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, visit sva.edu.

As Malagasy prime minister Rainilaiarivony tries to distance his kingdom from French commercial interests, the French strike back. Eager to avenge his country's recent defeat in Europe, the French head of state becomes increasingly invested in colonial conquest. In an effort to drum up international support, Malagasy diplomats make a trip to London, Paris, and New York City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Mr. Richardson and Mr. McDonald are joined once again by Eddie, the Man of a Thousand Shows, to do a post observation review of season 1 of “Gen V.”3:23 Background Knowledge: Gen V4:52 What is the Premise of the Gen V? 6:20 How successful was season 1 of Gen V?12:22 What would you change about season 1?13:12 Senior Quote: Best Line of the Season.16:35 Most Rewatchable Moment of the Season20:14 Funniest Moment.21:11 What didn't make sense?24:48 Star Student 29:34 What would you steal from the set?31:07 What do you want to see in season 2?37:30 Final Letter Grade for Amazon's "Gen V"Thoughts on the show? Comments? Questions?Text or leave a voice mail for the Fandalorians at (631) 494-3632‬ SPONSOR: LJ PhotographyTis the season for photos. LJ Photography is run by a full time teacher and mom.  She understands the last minute hustle and bustle for family photos.  If you live on Long Island and are looking for family photos they have you covered.    LJ photography is ready to capture the beautiful memories for you and your loved ones.  Check them out on instagram @LJ_photographyli for more information!SPONSOR: The Adla Real Estate TeamIf you are buying or selling anywhere in New York from Manhattan to Montauk Point, please call the Adla Real Estate. If you mention "The Fandalorians" you can receive up to $2,000 back at closing.Website: adlarealestateteam.comSend all email to Thefandaloriansmailbag@gmail.com all emails will be read on the podcast. Follow us on Twitter at @FandalorainspodAlso follow us on Instagram at fandalorians.podcastWant to buy some merch where 100% of our cut goes to the Laney's Legacy of Hope https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-fandalorians-teachers-by-day-nerds-by-night

Dane McCarthy is a former rugby player who pursued a career in finance before joining salesforce.com. After several years in financial services, he was transferred to New York. During the pandemic, he quickly realized the different workout culture in the US compared to Australia, where people often train in groups. That eventually led him to start Village Athletic . . . which helped unite people in their fitness journeys and filling the absence of the social training element that he missed back home. He discusses the unique concept of squads, the importance of consistency in training, and the strong sense of community it fosters. Join us as we delve into Dane's entrepreneurial journey of building a fitness brand centered around building strong relationships and driving results. Regarding getting the venture off the ground, McCarthy states, "This was completely self-funded from initial Venmo payments. And given where we were in COVID, we had no equipment. When we first started, we just had square boxes basically drawn on the floor . . .  and at that moment I thought, 'Hell, this could work because people are joining a squad. They're not joining a modality. They're not joining facilities, and they're certainly not joining for amenities!'" Some key moments:  Played rugby, worked in finance, missed camaraderie, creates social hub for Manhattan professionals. 30% member return, 5-6% turnover monthly. Self-funded fitness group overcame COVID limitations. Started squad, winter, gym, lease negotiation, business. Hiring fitness professionals for diverse training approach. Annual fundraising event brings together diverse interests. Spread the message, attract more people, get results. A few key takeaways: 1. Specialized Squad Training: Dean's model focuses on creating specialized training squads within the HALO sector, emphasizing team-based workouts over traditional transactional gym experiences. 2. Emphasis on Relationships and Community: The approach prioritizes building a sense of community and camaraderie among members, addressing the loneliness and mental health challenges that tend to be prevalent in urban environments. 3. Holistic Experience: The focus on creating a consistent and sustainable workout routine, combining interval strength training with steady-state training, and promoting accountability and socialization beyond the gym sessions. 4. Non-Traditional Marketing Approach: Unlike conventional fitness facilities, the emphasis is placed on the squad experience rather than the facilities, with a deliberate focus on transparency and self-selection for individuals seeking comprehensive community-oriented fitness programs. Click here to download transcript.  Resources: Dane McCarthy: https://www.instagram.com/mccarthydane/  Village Athletic: https://villageathletic.com/  The Athletic Clubs: https://www.instagram.com/the.athleticclubs/  Prospect Wizard: http://www.theprospectwizard.com Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com  Connect With Us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehaloadvisors/?hl=en  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Integritysquare  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@halotalks  Twitter: https://twitter.com/thehaloadvisors  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/integrity-square/  Website: https://www.halotalks.com  Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: www.ratethispodcast.com/halotalks and don't forget to check out the HALO Academy for Executive Education opportunities.

Supposedly, Matt Rhule visited Will Howard in Manhattan, over the weekend.

We're going back to Old School Guys on this episode of The Chazz Palminteri Show! This week I sit down with one of pioneers of Hip-Hop, Sal Abbatiello.   Sal Abbatiello is an executive in the music business. Abbatiello created and produced the freestyle, urban/dance-pop trio, The Cover Girls, whose hits include "Show Me" and "Wishing on a Star". Abbatiello is also the owner of Fever Records.   Sal is Bronx born and a native, starting as a bartender in his father's bar. The disco era was taking over the club scene in Manhattan with Studio 54, two years later in 1972 at the early age of 19, knowing this was the new music of that time, he went on to open his own club, it was the first disco in the Bronx, called the Playhouse. This is where he started promoting his own shows by handing out flyers and selling tickets himself.  

In this intriguing episode, host Rion Willard takes us to Manhattan for a live round table event. The discussion revolves around a highly sought-after role in the architectural world: becoming an architect developer. This concept is alluring, promising freedom, creativity, and ongoing financial benefits from self-initiated projects. The episode features a diverse group of speakers, each bringing their unique experiences and insights into architect development. The conversation delves into various facets of this role, including the challenges and rewards, and how it allows architects to express their ideologies while contributing to society. The speakers, a mix of seasoned professionals and innovative thinkers, share their journeys, revealing the complexities and triumphs of architect developers. They discuss their projects, strategies, and the impact of their work on communities and the architectural landscape. Discover how a Philadelphia architect transitioned from traditional projects to a groundbreaking self-initiated development. Learn about a trailblazing architect's journey, including challenging zoning laws and creating award-winning modular homes. Hear from an architect who expertly navigated the COVID-19 pandemic to support local businesses, marking a significant impact on the architectural community. Uncover the story of an architect who combines real estate development with design, shaping the New York City skyline.   This episode is not just a discussion; it's a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration for anyone interested in the intersection of architecture and development.   ► Transcription: https://otter.ai/u/WGsmM3LvgqNJ3S9fHnkT1k-kCbM?utm_source=copy_url ► Feedback? Email us at podcast@businessofarchitecture.com ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9idXNpbmVzc29mYXJjaGl0ZWN0dXJlLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Carpe Diem!

DNA evidence has taken center stage in the ongoing murder case against Rex Heuermann, the prime suspect in the deaths of three women near Gilgo Beach in 2010. A recent development reveals that a cheek swab taken from Heuermann's estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, matches the DNA found on the burlap that was used to wrap the victims' bodies, according to sources close to the investigation.    Asa Ellerup's DNA sample was collected on July 13, the same day her husband was arrested and charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello. This revelation has raised questions about the potential implications of her DNA being found at the crime scene.    Ellerup's lawyer, Robert Macedonio, downplayed the significance of the DNA match, suggesting it could be the result of a "hair transfer inside the house." He emphasized that Ellerup has not been accused of any involvement in the alleged murders and was out of the country when each of the crimes is believed to have taken place.    Meanwhile, experts have noted that Rex Heuermann's hair was also found under Megan Waterman's body. This hair contained mitochondrial DNA, which could provide additional genetic clues. However, Heuermann's lawyer, Michael J. Brown, has asserted that mitochondrial DNA does not directly identify a suspect, as it could potentially match thousands of individuals in the area.    "There is nobody on the face of this Earth, that is credible, who is going to say the hair is from my client," Brown stated. "That is impossible under science standards. What they can do is say potentially he [Heuermann] is a donor. But so could thousands and thousands of other persons in our area."    Suffolk prosecutors have previously indicated that Heuermann's DNA matched samples found on a discarded pizza box near his Manhattan office. This match is among the evidence linking him to the murders of the three women.    Rex Heuermann, a 60-year-old man, has been accused of killing the three women and dumping their bodies along Gilgo Beach in December 2010. Additionally, he is considered a prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25. Police have relied on various sources of evidence, including cellphone records, witness accounts, and DNA analysis, to establish these connections.    Notably, Asa Ellerup filed for divorce following her husband's arrest, indicating a strained relationship in the wake of the murder charges against him. The recent revelation of her DNA matching evidence at the crime scene adds another layer of complexity to a case that has garnered significant attention over the years.    The question of how significant this DNA match will prove to be in court remains uncertain. As legal proceedings continue, both sides are likely to scrutinize the DNA evidence, attempting to establish its relevance and reliability. This development raises new questions in a case that has already spanned more than a decade, leaving the public and legal experts eager to see how it will ultimately unfold. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

DNA evidence has taken center stage in the ongoing murder case against Rex Heuermann, the prime suspect in the deaths of three women near Gilgo Beach in 2010. A recent development reveals that a cheek swab taken from Heuermann's estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, matches the DNA found on the burlap that was used to wrap the victims' bodies, according to sources close to the investigation.    Asa Ellerup's DNA sample was collected on July 13, the same day her husband was arrested and charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello. This revelation has raised questions about the potential implications of her DNA being found at the crime scene.    Ellerup's lawyer, Robert Macedonio, downplayed the significance of the DNA match, suggesting it could be the result of a "hair transfer inside the house." He emphasized that Ellerup has not been accused of any involvement in the alleged murders and was out of the country when each of the crimes is believed to have taken place.    Meanwhile, experts have noted that Rex Heuermann's hair was also found under Megan Waterman's body. This hair contained mitochondrial DNA, which could provide additional genetic clues. However, Heuermann's lawyer, Michael J. Brown, has asserted that mitochondrial DNA does not directly identify a suspect, as it could potentially match thousands of individuals in the area.    "There is nobody on the face of this Earth, that is credible, who is going to say the hair is from my client," Brown stated. "That is impossible under science standards. What they can do is say potentially he [Heuermann] is a donor. But so could thousands and thousands of other persons in our area."    Suffolk prosecutors have previously indicated that Heuermann's DNA matched samples found on a discarded pizza box near his Manhattan office. This match is among the evidence linking him to the murders of the three women.    Rex Heuermann, a 60-year-old man, has been accused of killing the three women and dumping their bodies along Gilgo Beach in December 2010. Additionally, he is considered a prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25. Police have relied on various sources of evidence, including cellphone records, witness accounts, and DNA analysis, to establish these connections.    Notably, Asa Ellerup filed for divorce following her husband's arrest, indicating a strained relationship in the wake of the murder charges against him. The recent revelation of her DNA matching evidence at the crime scene adds another layer of complexity to a case that has garnered significant attention over the years.    The question of how significant this DNA match will prove to be in court remains uncertain. As legal proceedings continue, both sides are likely to scrutinize the DNA evidence, attempting to establish its relevance and reliability. This development raises new questions in a case that has already spanned more than a decade, leaving the public and legal experts eager to see how it will ultimately unfold. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Today's guest is Joseph Woodbury.   Joseph Woodbury, Founder and CEO of Neighbor.com, is redefining the $500 billion self-storage landscape by empowering individuals and businesses to monetize their unused space and generate tens of thousands of dollars a month in passive income.   Show summary:  In this episode Joseph Woodbury explains how Neighbors started as a manual process and evolved into a software company that builds trust in the shared economy. Woodbury highlights the various customer groups that benefit from their platform, including homeowners, small businesses, and large real estate portfolios. He also shares the story behind acquiring the domain name "neighbor" and how Neighbors stands out as the first hyper-local marketplace.   -------------------------------------------------------------- Intro (00:00:00) The early days of Neighbors (00:01:14) Scaling the business through automation (00:03:08) The $300 Monthly Increase (00:09:43) Investing in Neighbor Properties (00:09:43) Small Businesses and Ancillary Income (00:10:54) Acquiring the rights to Neighbor (00:20:50) The significance of the Neighbor brand (00:22:05) How to get in touch with Neighbor (00:23:25) -------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Joseph: Web: https://www.neighbor.com/   FB: https://www.facebook.com/storewithneighbor/   IG: @tryneighbor   TW: @neighborstorage   LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neighbor   LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephwoodbury/   Connect with Sam: I love helping others place money outside of traditional investments that both diversify a strategy and provide solid predictable returns.     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HowtoscaleCRE/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samwilsonhowtoscalecre/ Email me → sam@brickeninvestmentgroup.com   SUBSCRIBE and LEAVE A RATING. Listen to How To Scale Commercial Real Estate Investing with Sam Wilson Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-scale-commercial-real-estate/id1539979234 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4m0NWYzSvznEIjRBFtCgEL?si=e10d8e039b99475f -------------------------------------------------------------- Want to read the full show notes of the episode? Check it out below: Joseph Woodbury (00:00:00) - This space is sitting there totally unused. Whether they're a small business or a homeowner, or even a large commercial office. They're not earning any money off of this space. So we can go to them and say, look, this is an ancillary revenue opportunity. You could earn meaningful cash every single month. Let's post your space.   Intro (00:00:19) - Welcome to the How to Scale Commercial Real Estate show. Whether you are an active or passive investor, we'll teach you how to scale your real estate investing business into something big.   Sam Wilson (00:00:32) - Joseph Woodbury is the founder and CEO of neighbors. They are redefining the $500 billion self-storage landscape by empowering individuals and businesses to monetize their unused space and generate tens of thousands of dollars a month in passive income. Joseph, welcome to the show.   Joseph Woodbury (00:00:49) - Hey, thanks for having me.   Sam Wilson (00:00:51) - Absolutely. The pleasure is mine, Joseph. There's so many questions I have as we looked at. If you're listening, if you've not checked out, neighbor, go check it out. But as I even looked at your website, I'm like, oh man, this is going to be a fun episode and I'm really looking forward to this before.   Sam Wilson (00:01:05) - But before we jump in, there are three questions I ask every guest who comes on the show in 90s or less. Can you tell me where did you start? Where are you now and how did you get there?   Joseph Woodbury (00:01:14) - Yeah. So we started from having the problem ourselves. My co-founder needed a storage unit and had the same experience. I think most people have where, you know, all the facilities close by were full and they were expensive. So he found a friend that let him store in his garage. And four months later, when he picks his items up, he just thought this was such a better experience. I saved a bunch of money. I felt a lot more, you know, security, having it in a nice neighborhood than in a dirty storage facility. There's got to be empty space in every neighborhood in the country. Why doesn't someone create a directory or a marketplace where you can go find it? So we started working on it. It turns out a lot of people have the same problem, and now we're the only storage provider in the country that offers storage in all 50 states.   Sam Wilson (00:01:58) - Wow. And that's really cool. I mean, so you say you're the only storage provider and yes, you are providing storage, but what you guys have built really is, is a software company more than necessarily storage, is that right?   Joseph Woodbury (00:02:12) - Yeah, that's a great point. And that's something we talk about internally is actually our hosts. They're the ones running a business and renting storage. Our business is trust. That's what we sell.   Sam Wilson (00:02:25) - Got it. Yeah. And it goes back to the shared economy sort of idea between Airbnb to Uber to whatever it is. I mean, all of these different. Services like what you guys have built. It's just this happens to be in the storage space. Well, tell me about it. I mean, how do you go from. All right. Cool. Hey, you know, I want to store stuff in my buddy's buddy space. And then I think that was an easy deal to. Now you own a full fledged website. I mean, you even had to buy the domain neighbor, which I want to hear.   Sam Wilson (00:02:56) - How in the world you secured the rights to that one? Because I'm sure that was an inexpensive purchase. But, you know, how did you go about turning this from just a, hey, great experience into the business that it is today?   Joseph Woodbury (00:03:08) - Well, you know, like a lot of businesses, we started with a super manual process. Those that wanted to use our service, we literally would call them and ask them how much they wanted to rent their space for, and we would connect them with renters who we called as well and ask what they were willing to store. And over time, as we got more customers, that became non scalable. So then we had to build in software processes. We built a, you know, a map where they could find each other and and know what the price is day one. And they could book it all without ever talking to us. We built full payment systems in place. We built all sorts of trust and identity verification systems. We, you know, took over all of the customer support between the two so they don't have to worry about dealing with anything.   Joseph Woodbury (00:03:56) - We're happy to to help facilitate any conversations they need to have. We actually built a full messaging platform where they could easily talk back and forth without ever having to leave our platform. And so just over time, what I'd say is we took things that we were doing. With humans, and we automated them through software. And that's how it's scaled nationwide. Yeah.   Sam Wilson (00:04:17) - No, I love that. I mean, so in the early days, you guys were manually calling potential hosts and manually calling potential people to rent that space and seeing if you could pair them up with the right spot.   Joseph Woodbury (00:04:31) - Yeah, yeah. In the very early days when we were only focused on homeowners and residential, before we moved into commercial, we were processing payments through Venmo. The renter would Venmo us and we would Venmo out the host. And and that's how it worked. And and of course, now we use major payment providers. We use the same payment provider that Amazon does to process payments.   Sam Wilson (00:04:55) - Sure, sure. Wow. At what point in time or what at what point in time did you know you were on to something? And maybe if you maybe if the answer to that is day one, was there ever a point in in building this business that you're like.   Sam Wilson (00:05:07) - Man, this isn't going to work.   Joseph Woodbury (00:05:11) - Yeah.   Joseph Woodbury (00:05:12) - Definitely. Marketplaces in general are very difficult businesses to get off the ground because unlike every other business where you have one customer in a marketplace, you have two customers. And if you can imagine a city, I think you said you're in Memphis. If you've got a host on one side of Memphis and a renter on the other side of Memphis, those don't work for each other. And so a host has no reason to join the platform if there's no renters, and a renter has no reason to join the platform if there's no host. So how do you ever even get that started? And in launching new markets, there was always this thought of, how are we ever going to get these, these people to trust us and join our platform with no promise of any success until we can get critical mass, and then the platform really starts moving.   Sam Wilson (00:06:07) - Right? How did you do that?   Joseph Woodbury (00:06:10) - I mean, we, you know, we go after the hosts first in these markets because the hosts, this space is sitting there totally unused, whether they're a small business or a homeowner or even a large commercial office.   Joseph Woodbury (00:06:25) - They're not earning any money off of this space. So we can go to them and say, look, this is an ancillary revenue opportunity. You could earn meaningful cash every single month. Let's post your space. It may be a while before you get your first reservation. And then we start driving the renters to their space, and then the flywheel starts and later hosts that we acquire in the market. We don't have to tell them that, because we know they're going to get booked very quickly, because consumers have found out in that market that we're the best, cheapest, safest, closest storage option in their city.   Sam Wilson (00:06:58) - When you enter a new market, what is that ramp up period or what? Have you seen it historically? Maybe you're over that hump where you don't have to worry about it as much anymore.   Joseph Woodbury (00:07:07) - Yeah, we we are pretty much in the early days, we would launch markets individually where we had a market launcher and a GM in the market, very similar to how Uber launched City to City.   Joseph Woodbury (00:07:21) - And we did a lot of kind of guerrilla marketing in the city, you know, just getting the word out flyers, door mailers, events, things like that. And we were able to continually accelerate that process. We got to a point, kind of, as you hinted at, where we became well known enough that we stopped launching individual markets and we just pursue a nationwide strategy right now. So we do we do large marketing campaigns across the country, and we actually have a lot of word of mouth on the platform as well. It turns out if you're a small business and you're in $50,000 a year on neighbor, you're probably going to tell your friends about.   Sam Wilson (00:08:02) - It, probably going to tell your friends. Absolutely. You're going to tell your friends about it. How long ago was it that you guys launched NBA.com.   Joseph Woodbury (00:08:10) - We launched in 2017. So that's what 5 or 6 years ago.   Sam Wilson (00:08:14) - 5 or 6 years ago. And now you're in all 50 states, which that's I think that's that's fantastic. And I mean let's talk a little bit about just the opportunity, I think I think we all get the idea of maybe an unused driveway or something like that where it's like, okay, so somebody wants to maybe it's not covered, but they can park a boat, they can park an RV, something along those lines.   Sam Wilson (00:08:34) - But your business has gone way beyond that, I would imagine. So break down some of the other kind of ancillary revenue streams that you guys have figured out in this business. And yeah, just just give us some color on that if you can.   Joseph Woodbury (00:08:47) - Yeah, yeah. I think we have kind of four different types of customers. There's the residential hosts that you talked about renting out a garage, an RV pad, a bedroom, and we'll put someone's boat or someone's boxes from your neighborhood mean it's very close proximity in your space. And you may earn 200, $500 a month. You're earning several thousand dollars a year. Then the second would be real estate investors. These are individuals that buy rental properties. They're kind of investing locally. Maybe they have ten, 15 rental properties, and they're kind of capped on how much they can make mean they can increase the rents at the end of the contract each year, but that's about their ability to increase prices. If you think about a property, you know, in Salt Lake, if you own a townhome, you may make the mortgage is $2,000 a month and you make 2300 a month and rent off of that.   Joseph Woodbury (00:09:43) - Your delta is $300 a month. So if you can earn an additional $300 a month on each property through neighbor, you've now doubled your net returns on every single property. So it's really meaningful for those guys. In addition, some of them start even investing just in neighbor properties. I'll use another Salt Lake example. $500,000 would buy you roughly a townhome here. Um, and you maybe make 2530 K in rents off of that a year if you did it for short term rentals instead, like Airbnb, you can maybe earn 40 K a year off that property. If you instead took that $500,000 and bought an empty lot, that would get you about an acre and a half to two acre lot here. That would earn you $100,000 a year on neighbor. So we're talking meaningfully more returns. So we get some investors. They just start acquiring neighbor properties. That's the second group. The third group is going to be small businesses, gyms, nail salons, uh, where they're they've got space inside in the back they're not using.   Joseph Woodbury (00:10:54) - They would love to rent that out to another business to small store their business inventory. It's closer anyway. They've got parking spaces that the city required them to build, but no one ever parks in them, and half of them are in the back of the store. They love to rent those out for long term vehicle or even fleet storage and and they can earn, like I said, you know, we've got a gym in LA that earns $50,000 a year just renting out space around their gym. That's game changing for that small business owner. And then the final category would be large real estate portfolios, large multifamily groups, large retail groups, large office groups. We work with most of the large most of the billion dollar retail REITs in the country. We work with the largest owner of multifamily in the country. And similarly, we'll go to them and we'll say, hey, you've got properties in 50 cities. Give us the 10% of your spaces that never rent out. You've they've all got those two retail pads in the back that no one wants, or that office space on the ground floor that no one wants, or those storage lockers you built in your multifamily unit for the residents, but they never rent them.   Joseph Woodbury (00:12:08) - And so we can rent them out to the community. And then all three office, they've got empty parking garages because no one's coming to the office multifamily. They've got space around their building that the city required them to build. And for a large portfolio that can result in millions of dollars in ancillary income, which is a game changer to your IRR.   Sam Wilson (00:12:30) - What are people doing? Let's go back to your $100,000 on two acres in Salt Lake City example. What are they doing with that to drive that amount of revenue on a two acre parcel that's on a vacant two acre parcel? What? What are they doing?   Joseph Woodbury (00:12:47) - Almost nothing. So they've got to sometimes make improvements like if it's a if it's just a dirt lot, then we'll recommend putting down gravel or even asphalt, which is fairly cheap. We're talking a dollar to a square foot. We also recommend putting up a fence around the perimeter that's not required. We have we have literally empty dirt lots that are fully occupied because there's such a demand for vehicle storage.   Joseph Woodbury (00:13:12) - There's we get millions of renters a year on our platform that we are unable to service because there's not enough space for them in their location.   Sam Wilson (00:13:22) - I mean, are they storing what types of vehicles are getting stored? I mean, is this all tractor trailer storage? Is this I mean, what's that?   Joseph Woodbury (00:13:30) - It completely depends on the market and it also depends on the host. So some hosts are very particular about what types of vehicles they want to store. And so they can select on our platform. They can say I only want RVs and boats or I'm in a downtown area, I want only cars. Or, you know, I like dealing with the fleet guys because they're bigger. I only want the semi trucks or the box trucks. Most hosts though, they just want to earn as much money as possible. It's an empty lot. So what we fill it up with is first come, first serve. We're just renting out their spaces for the highest price possible and getting their lot full as fast as possible.   Sam Wilson (00:14:09) - That's kind of wild. Yeah. I mean, and that would go again. I'm going back to the to the, to the vacant lot idea. Like you would think that you would have to have dedicated tractor trailer parking or dedicated box truck parking or dedicated. But it sounds like you're saying you fill it up and then figure out what you're going to put in there and how you're going to.   Joseph Woodbury (00:14:27) - We actually have this really cool tool that we built for these people. We call it blueprint. You can go on our website and you can put in your address and some specs about it, and we will actually pull up a satellite view of the lot. And we have a tool that allows you to drag out parking stalls and select the length of those parking stalls, so you can put some ten by 50 over here. For large tractor trailers, you can put some ten by 20 over here. For cars you can put some ten by 30 for for like camper trailers and boats. And our system will automatically tell you what you should price each space at.   Joseph Woodbury (00:15:09) - And it'll sum it up and we'll say here's how much you can expect to earn on this total lot. And then you can push publish on that. And we will literally take what you what you designed through our blueprint tool, and we'll just publish all those spaces for you so you don't have to do anything.   Sam Wilson (00:15:27) - Oh, that's really, really cool. Do you have a background in software or tech? I mean, is this is this just second nature to you or how did you guys how have you successfully scaled all of these different aspects of your business?   Joseph Woodbury (00:15:43) - Yeah, I have absolutely no background. You know, my backgrounds and, you know, a little bit of an investment banking and private equity. And then ultimately I worked for a consulting firm called Bain and Company. So, you know, boring professional services. Super grateful to our, you know, the engineering team, the software engineering team that we've built out. You know, our VP of engineering. He was long time, worked for Microsoft for a decade plus, ran the largest genealogy organization in the country website, worked for the largest edtech company in the country.   Joseph Woodbury (00:16:21) - So he understands software like the back of his hand. And that's how we've been able to build the really cool software that we have.   Sam Wilson (00:16:29) - Man, that's awesome. That's very, very cool. I love what you're doing. What are some applications or some problems you guys are solving that I haven't thought about yet?   Joseph Woodbury (00:16:40) - I mean, just generally I kind of touched on this, but a lot of, a lot of real estate industries are seeing decline right now. Office is is really in a world of hurt, especially with term loans starting to come due. You're you're literally getting a lot of these office buildings just handed over to the bank right now. Retail is kind of in a longer term trend. With the advent of e-commerce. It's put a lot of pressure on retail over the last ten years. Storage however, is this very stable non cyclical industry zero eight recession when all of real estate collapsed by 60 to 80%. Storage grew by 5%. I mean it is it's had a 15% kegger for 30 years.   Joseph Woodbury (00:17:27) - And so demand consistently outpaces supply. So it's got the highest occupancy rate of any real estate asset class. 95% is the nationwide average right now. And if you're 95% occupied, you should be building more. I mean, there's money left on the table. We spend about $5 billion a year just on new construction of storage in the United States. And it's still not enough. The occupancy rate still keeps going up, even with $5 billion in capital deployed every year for new builds. Here's a here's a crazy one for you because. Our brains aren't very good at understanding billions and all of that. But we have now built and I'm not talking neighbor. I'm talking the industry we've now built in the US more storage facilities than we have McDonald's, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Burger King's, Wendy's, Domino's, Walmarts, Home Depots and Costcos combined. Wow.   Sam Wilson (00:18:28) - That's crazy. That's crazy. And we're. And you're telling me that there's there's still more demand, but obviously you guys are filling this. And would you what's the ratio? Let me ask you that because I was going to say, obviously you're filling this with a lot of vehicle storage it sounds like.   Sam Wilson (00:18:43) - But what's the ratio from good storage to vehicle storage to the other things that you guys are storing, like how do those percentages break down on the whole?   Joseph Woodbury (00:18:53) - Yeah, that's a good question. I don't have the exact percentages handy. It's definitely going to vary by market. So like in a in a New York you're going to see a lot of demand for goods storage. I mean there's just not enough space in a more rural market. You're going to see more demand for vehicle storage because you tend to have more space in homes for items, but you still just don't have room for those vehicles or those toys that you buy. Um, I'll tell you a crazy story. Again, we work with a lot of these large, very professional, pristine spaces where we'll actually build out units in the space. At the same time, we also work with some very unique spaces. I saw a listing the other day. This woman has a studio apartment in New York City and downtown Manhattan, and she listed her closet for rent, and she listed the space under her bed for rent.   Joseph Woodbury (00:19:54) - And she listed like a spot in the corner. And all three of her listings are completely booked. That's how that's how crazy the the demand is in downtown Manhattan, because the storage companies, they can't build space there. There's no way.   Sam Wilson (00:20:14) - That's hysterical. That's mean. You're renting the storage under your bed. Who would have thought? Who would have thought? Man, that's wild. I love what you've put together here, Joseph. This is really cool. I guess my last question here for you is acquiring the rights. I mean, you guys have you guys have clearly spent a lot of money and a lot of time building the product that you have. I know this this required a lot of upfront both time and money investment. But how in the world did you guys secure the rights to neighbor? That seems like a tough one to to have come across here in the last, I guess seven years or six years even.   Joseph Woodbury (00:20:50) - Yeah, it it took us a bit after we started the, the domain was owned by a guy who had owned it since 1997.   Joseph Woodbury (00:21:00) - So a long time I mean, over what is that? Over 20 years he'd owned it and he'd never done anything with it. He literally just been sitting on it for 20 years. This amazing domain. We reached out a few times, wasn't willing to talk. We reached out again. And finally, you know, he gave us a price that was just absolutely so high. And were these these recent, you know, founders that have, you know, we've raised a small seed round at that point. And so we just had to walk away. We just kept reaching out every 3 to 6 months. And finally he said, you know what, here's a reasonable price. And we got to terms. And he was willing to meet us, and we were willing to meet him, and we acquired it. And it's amazing. I mean, it just really speaks to our brand. We've we've been called neighbor even before we got the domain. That's what we've been from day one. And that's because we view our platform as connecting people who are close to each other.   Joseph Woodbury (00:22:05) - We're the first hyper local marketplace. You know, you stay in an Airbnb in another city. You're probably never going to talk to that host again. You use an Uber, you're probably never going to talk to your driver again. But neighbor, we're connecting people that live two doors down from each other to do storage, or small businesses that are literally in the same office park, but one doesn't have enough space and the other does. And now they're connected. And I mean, you talk about opportunity, some of these small businesses that rent out to the community, it's a great way to get to to help people become aware of their business. You go, you've never heard of this small business and then you rent their space on neighbor. You go store your stuff and then you're walking through and you're like, oh, this is a cool business. And then you become a customer of that business. We love the concept of community and bringing people together that way.   Sam Wilson (00:22:56) - That's cool man. Great story. On how you guys acquired the the domain there.   Sam Wilson (00:22:59) - I'm always curious how that how that works out. There's a few in my back pocket that I've been trying to get for a while, and just haven't seemed to figure out the the secret sauce yet. So for those of you who are listening, that that can be a very challenging and very expensive process. So I'm very, very glad you guys were able to find NBA.com. And I guess that is the last question I always have for guests to come on the show. Joseph, if our listeners want to get in touch with you and learn more about your business, what is the best way to do that?   Joseph Woodbury (00:23:25) - Yeah, we've tried to make it as easy as possible. So as mentioned, we're not hard to find. If you go to the App Store or the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, where the number one ranked storage app. So just type in storage or neighbor or RV storage or boat storage, whatever will come up first on our website. On our homepage, you'll notice there's a spot for residential where you can easily go access our residential.   Joseph Woodbury (00:23:51) - If you scroll down further on the page, there's a neighbor for business section. So if you're a larger business, especially a major real estate portfolio, you can apply there. And we'll actually have set you up with more of an account management solution where we'll help you onboard lots of space. All the residential stuff is very easy. Self serve if you own a lot. Like I mentioned we have this blueprint tool that's it's all self serve. You never have to talk to us. It will help you lay out your space and design it. It takes about ten minutes and then you know you're on your way to make an 20, 30, 40, $50,000 a year or more off of this space.   Sam Wilson (00:24:28) - That's fantastic. Joseph, thank you again for your time today. Certainly appreciate it. It was great to have you on the show.   Joseph Woodbury (00:24:34) - Yeah. Thanks to you as well.   Sam Wilson (00:24:35) - Hey, thanks for listening to the How to Scale Commercial Real Estate podcast. If you can do me a favor and subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, whatever platform it is you use to listen.   Sam Wilson (00:24:48) - If you can do that for us, that would be a fantastic help to the show. It helps us both attract new listeners as well as rank higher on those directories. So appreciate you listening. Thanks so much and hope to catch you on the next episode.

After a decade of indulging his darkest vices as a nightclub promoter, Scott declared spiritual, moral, and emotional bankruptcy. He spent two years on a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia, saw the effects of dirty water firsthand, and came back to New York City on a mission. Upon returning to NYC in 2006, having seen the effects of dirty water firsthand, Scott turned his full attention to the global water crisis and the (then) 1.1 billion people living without access to clean water. He established a small core team in a tiny Manhattan apartment and created charity: water. Sixteen years later, with the help of more than 1 million supporters worldwide, charity: water has raised over $740 million and funded over 137,000 water projects in 29 countries. When completed, those projects will provide over 17.4 million people with clean, safe drinking water. Support Theology in the Raw through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw

As our 23 loyal listeners know, we're solid fans of Bjarke Ingels and his wildly successful design practice Bjarke Ingels Group spanning London, Copenhagen, New York, and China.  With projects like the combination incinerator and ski slope in Copenhagen, and Via 57, One Hudson, the Spiral, and the BIG U flood protection barrier wrapping around most of Manhattan, the firm continues to do amazing projects, even designing habitats for the moon and mars. George was back at the Bjarke Ingels Group offices recently to interview BIG partner Martin Voelkle, who has overseen the design, development, and completion of projects such as 2 World Trade Center in New York, the Smithsonian master plan in Washington D.C., and the King's Cross Google Headquarters in London. He's also manages BIG's few but high-profile house designs.