Podcasts about sharpies

We're not talking about having a better routine or stricter chore charts (though hey, no shame if those help!). We're talking about your capacity—your emotional, mental, physical, and energetic ability to keep showing up for your kids… even when the house is wild, everyone's hot, and the snack requests haven't stopped since 7:12 AM.✨ Here's what we explore in this episode:What capacity actually is (and why it's the #1 thing affecting your parenting)Why summer drains you faster—and what research says about stress and structure lossWhat happened the summer I lost my mind (Sharpies, goats, pink cowboy boots… you'll see)The truth about yelling (spoiler: it's not a discipline problem, it's a capacity problem)How your child's behavior is information, not evidence that you're failingWhat Alfie Kohn, Dr. Neufeld, and Gabor Maté teach us about connection-based parentingWhy rewards, punishments, and “perfect summers” backfire5 ways to start building more parenting capacity right nowHow to shift from "survival mode mom" to the parent you actually want to beWe'll also talk about what it looks like to create your own Summer Parent Identity—the version of you that leads with presence, play, and calm (instead of reactivity and guilt).☀️ Because summer doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs you—regulated, resourced, and rooted in connection.NO YELL Summer Workshop details --> https://cmp.works/summer• Create a summer plan that works for YOUR family • Learn how to respond to meltdowns with connection (not correction) • Feel confident no matter whatAll for just $7, plus you get lifetime access.Can't wait to help you make this your calmest, most connected summer yet!Andee Martineau Next Steps: Leave a review if you've been enjoying the CMP Podcast My Book: https://cmp.works/1xs My IG: https://cmp.works/ista

Sharpies at the ready? Are the Americans and Ukrainians about to sign the much-anticipated minerals deal? We hear from a top Ukrainian politician - and ask a leading Republican whether Donald Trump is softening his stance towards Kyiv.Also tonight:As the US economy shrinks for the first time in three years, we hear how President Trump's tariffs are going down in China. And as Slade's foray into film - "Slade In Flame" - returns to the big screen on its 50th anniversary, we remember a cult classic that's been called the "Citizen Kane of British Rock Movies".

Since the Pope passed, streaming of “Conclave” is up 3,200%... It's the power of Shelf IP.Uber & VW just hooked up for robo-hippie-van taxis… It captures Uber's Switzerland Strategy.Every company's put their investment plans on ice… We call it the Great Capitalist Pause.Plus, Starbucks bought 200,000 Sharpies… now its new CEO wants a doodle on every cup.$UBER $VWAGY $AMZN $NFLXWant more business storytelling from us? Check out the latest episode of our new weekly deepdive show: The untold origin story of Subscribe to The Best Idea Yet: Wondery.fm/TheBestIdeaYetLinks to listen.“The Best Idea Yet”: The untold origin stories of the products you're obsessed with — From the McDonald's Happy Meal to Birkenstock's sandal to Nintendo's Susper Mario Brothers to Sriracha. New 45-minute episodes drop weekly.—-----------------------------------------------------Subscribe to our new (2nd) show… The Best Idea Yet: Wondery.fm/TheBestIdeaYetLinksEpisodes drop weekly. It's The Best Idea Yet.GET ON THE POD: Submit a shoutout or fact: https://tboypod.com/shoutouts FOR MORE NICK & JACK: Newsletter: https://tboypod.com/newsletter Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-martell/ Connect with Jack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-crivici-kramer/ SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tboypod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tboypodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tboypod Anything else: https://tboypod.com/ Subscribe to our new (2nd) show… The Best Idea Yet: Wondery.fm/TheBestIdeaYetLinksEpisodes drop weekly. It's The Best Idea Yet.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Checkout episode, Kelly Walker and Julie Benhammo of KLIPSTA share the brands they admire, the tech they swear by, and their biggest online shopping fails. Kelly opens up about her midnight Instagram shopping fail, while Julie confesses to accidentally ordering 250 Sharpies instead of one. They shout out the brands doing eCommerce right—July, Who is Elijah and Bed Threads—and reveal the game-changing tools behind KLIPSTA, including Shopify for tracking and ProfitPeak for maximising profitability. Plus, they get candid about the reality of juggling a fast-growing business with kids.Check out our full-length interview with Kelly and Julie here:Main episode linksThis episode was brought to you by: Deliver In PersonKlaviyoAbout your guests:Paris born Julie Benhammo worked in NYC for over 15 years where she led business development and wholesale strategy for brands like Versace and Diane von Furstenberg. After moving to Sydney, she became the General Manager of KLIPSTA, bringing over 15 years of global fashion and luxury expertise to the fast-growing accessories brand. Laser focused on scaling KLIPSTA globally, driving growth, partnerships, and expansion into 12 countries, she is passionate about connecting products with the right markets. She does all this while wrangling two little ones and occasionally enduring The Wiggles on repeat.Kelly Walker is the founder and CEO of KLIPSTA, a solutions focused accessories brand. Starting the business in 2020 she has grown it to a multi-million dollar company with stockists in 12 countries. She is absolutely obsessed with solving everyday problems and making life easier. Kelly arrived from the UK as a 14 year old, obtained a degree in psychology and worked in IT and recruitment before taking time off to have her 3 kids. Now wrangling a global business and 3 teenagers, Kelly is passionate about product development and showing other women that it's never too late to start a business you love.About your host:Nathan Bush is the host of the Add To Cart podcast and a leading eCommerce transformation consultant. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia's Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. Email hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this laugh-out-loud and surprisingly transformational episode of Clutter Free Academy, Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo dive deep—literally—into the drawer that gets no love but causes a whole lot of frustration: your sock and underwear drawer. From chicken footprints and Sharpies to mismatched socks and holy underwear, they uncover the oddities that sneak into this tiny space—and provide the simple steps you need to bring peace and order to your most intimate drawer.  In This Episode You'll Learn:  Why worn-out socks and too-tight undies deserve a swift exit  The magic number of pairs you really need (based on your lifestyle!)  Kathi's favorite affordable organizing tools (spoiler: cereal boxes included)  What to do with all the random stuff hiding in your drawer  Why your underwear drawer should be the least stressful part of your day  Mentioned Resources:  Honeycomb drawer organizers  Bomba Socks  Costco Underwear (non-affiliate link)  Costco Sports Bras (non-affiliate link)  Wirecutter (NYT product reviews)  Download the Free Guide: 

Step into the halls of Syracuse University's Industrial and Interaction Design program, where creativity, innovation, and tradition converge to shape the next generation of designers. In this episode, we explore how this prestigious program is evolving to meet the challenges of an AI-powered future while maintaining its core hands-on approach.Join host Sarah Nagle, a Syracuse alumna turned professor, as she takes us through the program's rich history and speaks with Professor Michael Kowalski about the delicate balance between traditional design skills and emerging technologies. We'll hear from current students navigating this evolving landscape and discover how AI is reshaping design education.But what if the design studio itself could talk? Meet StudioIQ, our latest Vurb that embodies the spirit and wisdom of Syracuse's design program. Listen as this AI companion shares insights about student life, creative processes, and even dreams up its ideal physical form as a mobile workstation dispensing fresh Sharpies and design wisdom.Key Takeaways:The evolution of Syracuse's design program from its 1870 founding to todayHow AI tools are being integrated into design educationThe importance of maintaining fundamental design skills in an AI-driven worldStudent perspectives on balancing traditional methods with new technologiesThe unique culture and community within Syracuse Design StudiosWhat would you ask YOUR design studio if it could talk? Share your thoughts using #AIPoweredByPeople or connect with us on social media!Download the Vurbs app to chat with Studio IQ and other AI-powered companions. Available on iOS and Google Play.#AI #DesignEducation #SyracuseUniversity #Innovation #Design #AIPoweredByPeople #IndustrialDesign #DesignThinking #CreativeEducation #FutureOfDesignFollow Your Host and Guest:Sarah Nagle, LinkedInMichael Kowalsky, LinkedInInstagram: @su_industrialdesignFollow On Social:Instagram | @vurveylabsLinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/vurveylabsVurvey.comProduced and edited by Sarah NagleSocial Media Content by Katie SizemoreNew episodes release every TuesdayVurvey.com

Paul W.S. Anderson has directed some of the most iconic films in genre cinema: Mortal Kombat, the infinitely terrifying Event Horizon, and the British crime drama Shopping, a "reckless orgy of destruction" on screen. Paul has also directed and produced the Resident Evil series with six films spanning nearly 15 years alongside his wife and frequent collaborator Milla Jovovich.  Paul's most recent film brings to life the work of author George R. R. Martin. It's called In the Lost Lands and it's in theaters right now! The film stars Jovovich alongside Dave Bautista as a witch and a hunter who journey into a dangerous landscape.Paul joins Feeling Seen to talk about the film, his early years as a British director in Hollywood, and the persistent fanfare surrounding Resident Evil. Plus, we get into the 1985 coming-of-age film St. Elmo's Fire and MARKER! A potential film showcasing Sharpies.Then, Jordan has one quick thing about the science fiction thriller series Paradise on Hulu. Sterling K. Brown, our personal savior in this post-apocalyptic political hellscape.  Feeling Seen is hosted by Jordan Crucchiola and is a production Maximum Fun. Need more Feeling Seen? Keep up with the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Starbucks is going back to writing names on cups! But to do so they need 200,000 of one thing! Anna, Raven, Producer Julie go out to see if they can find it for the necessary item! Photo Credit: Getty Images

Plus: Our panellists debate discontinued Cherry Blossom chocolates, weigh in on Monopoly updates, and find out what a 'soup drop' is. Featuring Ashley Botting, Miguel Rivas, and Martha Chaves this week with host Gavin Crawford

This month's Deep Dive series is all about useful tips we've acquired over the years! Listen to the whole series on this Spotify playlist. We asked our listeners what minor and yet life-changing advice they have to offer. From bringing Sharpies everywhere, to cleaning the shower in the shower, to milkshakes after doctors' appointments, our lives just got a whole lot better! Margaret and Amy discuss: The correct way to boil corn What really goes in the glove compartment (not gloves) Amy's meet-cute with her husband "Let's Make a Deal" Links! "Bag o' Glass" on SNL We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson. mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid's behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, parental stress, kids stress, decluttering, life tips, useful tips

Rachael Tyrell aims to create art that reimagines classic pinup aesthetics through a contemporary lens. Working primarily with Sharpies and various inks, she crafts pieces that radiate raw energy.Her sculptural work transforms everyday objects into surreal expressions, challenging expectations.Drawing from her background as a model, Rachael's art explores the fluid boundary between being seen and seeing. She wields ink with intention as each permanent line shapes her distinctive visual language.Her autobiographical zines blend intimate narrative with striking imagery and have traveled with her to zine fests in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Portland. They hint at stories untold and adventures yet to come. Beyond her art, Rachael steps behind the decks as a DJ and hopes to be a quiet catalyst for others' creativity. Her artistic universe embraces contradiction and invites viewers into a world where art becomes a shared secret.Rachael's websiteSRTN Podcast Website

⛪️ To learn more about who we are and what we do, visit https://gracepointe.net/about-us

本期是《商业就是这样》“2024年终大盘点季”的第三期——2024失意大公司·全球篇。我们照例选取了五家公司展开叙述它们在2024年的失意。我们在选择这五家公司的时候遇到了不小的挑战，原因不是失意的公司太少，而是失意的公司太多，以至于一些代表性的公司此前我们已经在节目中展开聊过。再过一段时间回看2024年，我们可能会将其视为商业史上的一个重要节点，有的传奇在这一年落幕，有的落幕则可能改变人类社会。| 主播 |肖文杰、约小亚| 时间轴 |01:30 TikTok的危机与转机05:43 留给大众的时间11:24 Northvolt：攒局的寓言18:16 Burberry该选哪条路？21:51 耐克逆水行舟28:49 波音、OpenAI、星巴克、三星| 延伸资料 |商业漫谈Jane's Talk-TikTok在美败诉，特朗普说要救TikTok，能信吗？｜聊聊庭审细节和判决书WSJ-TikTok Isn't Going Away—at Least Not Yet. Here's What to Know.The TikTok Law and the Foreign Influence第一财经 - 10万工人大罢工后，大众汽车CEO与工人谈判时发生冲突ACEA - 2024年前11个月欧洲新车注册量数据《第一财经》杂志 - 手握500亿美元的Northvolt，究竟是何方神圣？In Good Company by Norges Bank Investment Management - Robin Zeng, Founder and CEO of CATLGuardian - ‘Huge losses': Sweden fears for future of batterymaker NorthvoltSifted - From pioneer to bankruptcy: The rise and fall of NorthvoltWSJ-Luxury Brands Have a Strict Hierarchy. Burberry Found Out the Hard Way《Vol.154 卖不掉的奢侈品去哪了？》《Vol.138 谁还在买轻奢》Nytimes-OpenAI Is Growing Fast and Burning Through Piles of MoneyForbes-The Prompt: OpenAI's Legal Battle With Musk Heats UpBOF - Nike's Declining Brand Heat, in Five ChartsSneakerfreaker - 球鞋爱好者角度分析耐克的危机《Vol.172 紧急放送：星巴克“棘手的遗产”》Cinnamon, Sharpies, and the 1990s: Brian Niccol's plan to save Starbucks| 后期制作 |秋秋| 声音设计 |刘三菜| 收听方式 |你可以通过小宇宙、苹果播客、Spotify、喜马拉雅、网易云音乐、QQ 音乐、荔枝、豆瓣等平台收听节目。| 认识我们 |微信公众号：第一财经 YiMagazine联系我们：thatisbiz@yicai.com

Send us a textCelebrating Local Artistry: In Conversation with Teri of Bloom In Art Studio Welcome to the Country Proud Living Podcast: Nurturing Home, Empowered Self, I'm your host LoriLynn.In this episode of Country Proud Living, Lori Lynn introduces Teri, the talented artist behind Bloom In Arts Studio. Teri shares her journey of turning art into a thriving local business and her art can be found in many shops locally.Teri discusses her journey from a marketing director affected by the Pandemic to becoming a well known local artist in Duluth, Minnesota. She is known for her Scandinavian-inspired Dala's made with Sharpies and intricate wood-burning techniques. She has over 33 unique designs and they are beautiful!Hear about her challenges and triumphs, the importance of supporting local artists, and how shopping small can bring joy and connection. This conversation touches on the community connections fostered through art and the significance of shopping local. Settle in with a warm cup of coffee and join the conversation in a cozy bistro setting.Teri's art can be found in Duluth MN locally at Lizzard's Gallery; Art Dock; 47 o (degrees) in Knife River (up the north shore) & Dovetail Cafe and Marketplace in the Duluth Folk School. You can also shop her website, reach out to her on Instagram or Facebook too!  Teri thanks Jeff Schmidt owner of Lizzards Gallery in Duluth for all his help with framing and setting up art shows in the past and also thanks Alison Aune-Hinkel artist and UMD professor for her help with grant writing & connections at the Nordic Center in Duluth, and her constant inspiration and support. Rachel Johnson from Mahtowa for helping her with the wood for her dalas. Links:FB:  Bloom in Art Studio IG: @bloominartstudioEmail: bloominartstudio@gmail.comwww.bloominArtStudio.comTimeline Chapters:00:00 IWelcome to the Country Proud Living Podcast, I'm your host LoriLynn. Thanks for stopping by today! Please subscribe to the podcast by clicking plus follow at the upper right. Click those three little dots at the top right & copy the link to share the show with your friends and family. Please leave me a review. This is truly one of the only ways to help my podcast grow. I just want you to know what it means to me that you're here today. I know everyone's time is valuable and it means a lot. Thank you. Love and light, Lori Lynn.Please share this podcast with your like minded friends and family! Please subscribe to never miss an episode! If you have questions, ideas of topics you would like to learn more about, you want to work with me, or you have feedback both good and bad is welcome it can be sent to info@countryproudhome@gmail.comSHARING ADDITIONAL LINKS TO CONNECT WITH ME: : )IG: www.instagram.com/loriolafsonPODCAST:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/country-proud-living-nurturing-home-empowered-self/id1715855014?i=1000645120377OR for Spotify, iHeart, the pod can be found most anywhere you choose to listen:https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2247458.rssLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olafsonloriMY ART GALLERY: https://lorilynn-o-uter.pixels.com/PINTEREST: https://pin.it/3mX6xMNcR

If you're a fan of the beloved Dork Diaries series, you're in for a real treat! In this episode, host Jed Doherty sits down with the dynamic duo behind the books - Rachel Renee Russell and her daughter Nikki Russell.  Rachel and Nikki share the incredible journey of Dork Diaries, which has now reached 16 books and been translated into 45 languages across 52 countries. Jed even shares a fun story about stumbling upon the series in a bookshop in Ireland - talk about global reach! The two dive into the inspiration behind the latest book, "Tales from a Not So Bratty Sister," which explores the antics of Nikki's younger sibling Brianna. Turns out, Nikki's own childhood mischief, like drawing on the walls with Sharpies, helped shape the storyline.  As the series has evolved, Nikki's illustrations have become more detailed and refined, with plans to transition to full-color in the future. The trio also discuss the importance of reflecting diversity in their characters and the exciting potential for a live-action Dork Diaries movie. But it's not just the Dork Diaries world that takes center stage. Jed also welcomes children's author Jordan Hayes, who shares the heartwarming story behind her new book, "The Magic Pen." Jordan's passion for reading and literacy shines through as she emphasizes the incredible benefits of parents reading with their kids. From building vocabulary to fostering lifelong bonds, Jordan's insights are a must-hear for any parent or educator. She even offers practical tips on creating reading-focused communities within schools to help close the achievement gap. Whether you're a Dork Diaries devotee or simply someone who loves the magic of reading, this episode is a delightful listen packed with inspiration, creativity, and the power of storytelling. Click here to visit our website – www.ReadingWithYourKids.com Follow Us On Social Media Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/readingwithyourkids Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/readingwithyourkids/ X - https://x.com/jedliemagic LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/reading-with-your-kids-podcast/ Please consider leaving a review of this episode and the podcast on whatever app you are listening on, it really helps!  

Shoot us a Text.Happy Election Day! Well, now that we've covered that… today we're talking about how Stellantis listened to dealers and cut prices on some Jeep models, how Tesla has given up on the human-driven affordable EV, and how your name might start being incorrectly spelled on Starbucks cups this fall.Show Notes with links:Stellantis has decided to significantly reduce prices on its 2025 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models to address dealer concerns about high prices slowing inventory turnover.Price cuts range from $3,000 to $7,000, depending on the model, with the base Wagoneer now starting at $61,945, while the Grand Wagoneer begins at $86,945.The U.S. market has shown demand; Wagoneer sales are up 79% and Grand Wagoneer sales up 25% through September, supported by both retail and fleet sales.Standard features have also been enhanced, including adaptive cruise control on the Wagoneer and a passenger display on the Grand Wagoneer.Bob Broderdorf, Jeep North America chief, stated, “By lowering MSRPs as much as $7,000 and enhancing standard equipment... these vehicles have become even more compelling.”Tesla CEO Elon Musk has put to rest hopes for a human-driven $25,000 EV. He recently revealed that an affordable Tesla would only make sense as a fully self-driving vehicle, shelving plans for an anticipated mass-market, human-driven model.Musk called the idea of a $25K human-driven EV “pointless” and “silly” without full autonomy.Tesla's updated plan now features the “Cybercab”, a two-door, two-seat autonomous vehicle priced at $25,000, planned for 2026.This strategy change represents a pivot from Tesla's initial goal of building 20 million affordable, human-driven vehicles annually by 2030.Tesla analyst Seth Goldstein “Tesla realized they were late to making an affordable vehicle versus their Chinese-EV peers… So, they changed their strategy rather than make a large investment to produce a new vehicle.”Get ready for your name to be spelled incorrectly on your coffee cup again. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is bringing Sharpies back into stores as part of his "Back to Starbucks" strategy, aiming to revive a personal touch that Starbucks lost during the pandemic.After three quarters of declining sales, Niccol is cutting unpopular items, like the Oleato, and removing charges for non-dairy substitutes.Sharpies will replace digital stickers on cups, allowing baristas to write personal notes or names, enhancing the in-store experience.Niccol's “Back to Starbucks” plan focuses on creating a warm, welcoming environment that highlights skilled, personable service.“Our fourth-quarter performance makes it clear that we need to fundamentally change our strategy so we can get back to growth,” said Niccol.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email

Hour 1 Segment 1 It is officially Election Day! Tony starts the show by talking about how some election machines have already broken down. Then, Tony talks more about how this election is about men and about a father voting for Kamala Harris because of her future and her ability to have an abortion. Later, Tony talks about his latest electoral college map.   Hour 1 Segment 2 Tony talks about some physical impairments and ballot curing that could take five days after the election in Arizona.   Hour 1 Segment 3 Tony talks about Jon Meachum comments favoring Harris and how the left is a coup. Tony also talks about how the new Starbucks CEO, Brian Niccol, says his new plan to win back customers involves 200,000 Sharpies.   Hour 1 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the first hour of the show playing Donald Trump's speech to his staff alongside Melania Trump saying that voting is going so far so good.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 Segment 1 It is officially Election Day! Tony starts the show by talking about how some election machines have already broken down. Then, Tony talks more about how this election is about men and about a father voting for Kamala Harris because of her future and her ability to have an abortion. Later, Tony talks about his latest electoral college map.   Hour 1 Segment 2 Tony talks about some physical impairments and ballot curing that could take five days after the election in Arizona.   Hour 1 Segment 3 Tony talks about Jon Meachum comments favoring Harris and how the left is a coup. Tony also talks about how the new Starbucks CEO, Brian Niccol, says his new plan to win back customers involves 200,000 Sharpies.   Hour 1 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the first hour of the show playing Donald Trump's speech to his staff alongside Melania Trump saying that voting is going so far so good.   Hour 2 Segment 1 Tony starts the second hour of the show talking about Benjamin Netanyahu firing his defense minister. Tony also talks about people staying home in Dearborn.   Hour 2 Segment 2 Tony talks about Donald Trump's speech in West Palm Beach talking about early voting numbers. Tony also talks about the latest news about inflation and news coming out of Safeway and Vons in California. Later, Tony talks about the battle between Adam Schiff and Steve Garvey for California Senate.   Hour 2 Segment 3 Tony is joined with Dr. Matt Will, economist at the University of Indianapolis, to talk about how the economy could be affected after the election. They also talk about how Wall Street feels about the two candidates.   Hour 2 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the second hour of the show talking Megyn Kelly and Joe Rogan endorsing Trump. Tony also plays Kelly's comments towards Mark Cuban from Trump's Pittsburgh rally last night.   Hour 3 Segment 1 Tony starts the final hour of his show talking about how today is Election Day and talks about Richard Gere endorsing Kamala Harris. Then Tony talks about if the Megyn Kelly and Joe Rogan endorsement for Donald Trump won't move the needle, then neither will the Gere endorsement for Harris.   Hour 3 Segment 2 Tony talks about how the voting totals are going in Jacksonville, Florida.   Hour 3 Segment 3 Tony talks about the latest swing state polls and how the other votes for governor and senates in those states. Tony also talks about the latest report on am Imane Khalif medical report that Khalif is identified as a man. Later, Tony talks about Oprah Winfrey's comments from Harris's rally last night.   Hour 3 Segment 4 Tony wraps up another edition of the show by talking about Google's algorithm on asking where to vote for Trump or Harris.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A daily non-partisan, conversational breakdown of today's top news and breaking news stories This Week's Sponsors:  – LMNT – Free Sample Pack with any LMNT drink mix purchase | Code: MoNews – Boll & Branch Bedding & Sheets – 20% Off 1st Order + Free Shipping | CODE: MONEWS – Factor Meals – Ready-to-eat, chef-prepared delivered meals | 50% Off | CODE: monews50  Headlines: – Welcome to Mo News (00:00) – Four Days Until Election Day: New Polls Show Trump & Harris Neck and Neck (05:15) – Latest Political Controversy: Trump Says He'll Protect Women “Whether They Like It Or Not” (09:00) – The Truth About Lies In Political Ads (12:45) – RFK Jr Says He'll Run CDC, FDA If Trump Gets Elected: Reality Check (13:30) – The Fed's Preferred Inflation Gauge Cooled Overall in September (18:50) – OpenAI Brings Search Features to ChatGPT in Challenge to Google (24:00) – 'Grate Cheese Robbery': Man Arrested After 24 Tons Cheddar Stolen In London (26:40) – Starbucks' Plan To Return To Its Roots Involves 200,000 Sharpies (29:00) – Shohei Ohtani in the World Series Sparks Major Excitement In Japan (32:30) – What We're Watching, Reading, Eating (34:20) — Mosheh Oinounou (@mosheh) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022. Jill Wagner (@jillrwagner) is an Emmy and Murrow award- winning journalist. She's currently the Managing Editor of the Mo News newsletter and previously worked as a reporter for CBS News, Cheddar News, and News 12. She also co-founded the Need2Know newsletter, and has made it a goal to drop a Seinfeld reference into every Mo News podcast. Follow Mo News on all platforms: Website: www.mo.news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mosheh/ Daily Newsletter: https://www.mo.news/newsletter Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@monews Twitter: https://twitter.com/mosheh TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mosheh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoshehNews Snapchat: https://t.snapchat.com/pO9xpLY9

We'll talk about when we might have an official winner of this year's presidential election. This billionaire is a one-man misinformation machine. Tomorrow's jobs report could counter right-wing conspiracy theories. A new report finds that race and ethnicity data can do more harm than good. Plus, we'll tell you why Starbucks' new strategy involves hundreds of thousands of Sharpies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Wall Street to Main Street, the latest on the markets and what it means for your money. Updated regularly on weekdays, featuring CNBC expert analysis and sound from top business newsmakers. Anchored by CNBC's Jessica Ettinger.

Giant Robots On Tour Hosts Sami Birnbaum and Jared Turner introduce Sheng-Hung Lee, a designer, PhD researcher at MIT AgeLab, and board director at the Industrial Designers Society of America. Sheng-Hung shares his journey into design and engineering, emphasizing the importance of interpreting signals in design and the evolving role of designers from problem-solvers to culture shapers. He discusses how designers must now consider broader, systematic issues such as climate change and aging. Sheng-Hung explains that design is a teachable and essential life skill, highlighting the significance of personal experiences and failures in learning design. He elaborates on the concept of signals, explaining that they represent different perspectives and interpretations in design, which are crucial in addressing complex problems. The conversation shifts to practical design applications and Sheng-Hung's work in smart homes for aging populations. He discusses the integration of various smart systems and the importance of designing for different life stages rather than specific age groups. Jared and Sami also engage Sheng-Hung in discussing the worst and best-designed products, where Sheng-Hung mentions his initial skepticism but eventual appreciation for facial recognition technology. MIT AgeLab (https://agelab.mit.edu/) Industrial Designers Society of America (https://www.idsa.org/) Follow Sheng-Hung Lee on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shenghunglee/). Visit his website: shenghunglee.com (https://www.shenghunglee.com/). Follow thoughtbot on X (https://twitter.com/thoughtbot) or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/150727/). Transcript:  SAMI: Hello again, and this is The Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots podcast, the Giant Robots On Tour Series coming to you from Europe, West Asia, and Africa, where we explore the design, development, and business of great products. I'm your host, Sami Birnbaum. JARED: And I'm your other host, Jared Turner. SAMI: If you are wondering, which you might have been for a while now, where are Will or Victoria, well, make sure you find one of our previous podcasts where we introduce the Giant Robots on Tour Series, and you'll understand why you're hearing myself and Jared a little bit more frequently than before. In that podcast, we throw random icebreakers at each other, and we find out that Svenja does not like online banking. And if you haven't listened to our previous podcast with our guest, Ishani, check that out as quick as you can and find out why AI is compared to babies. Joining us today is Sheng-Hung Lee, a Designer and PhD Researcher at MIT AgeLab and Board Director at the Industrial Designers Society of America. Sheng-Hung, I'm going to level with you. I've done my research. I've done my due diligence on the guests that we have on this podcast, and I'm exhausted. SHENG-HUNG: [laughs] SAMI: I've looked through your own website, and I've read as much as I can find about you. And between education, experience, awards, scholarships, there is an incredible amount of things that you're involved in that you get up to. And it really wasn't good for my own self-esteem just to see how much you have going on. SHENG-HUNG: [laughs] SAMI: Jared, a question for you first. Bear in mind, the only thing I've ever been awarded is my own driving license. So, our guest, Sheng-Hung, how many awards do you think he has currently listed on his website? Give a guess. JARED: Oh gosh, I remember looking at the page, and I remember having to scroll. SAMI: [laughs] Yeah, you had to scroll. JARED: Let's pick 33. SAMI: 33. Do you know what? It's not even close. Okay, he's nearly double that. So, he's up at 60 awards that are currently listed. So, we're talking about a guest that you guys do not want to miss. And you want to make sure that you get into this conversation. I always like to go back to the start with my guests. So, everyone has a story. And I'm interested, Sheng-Hung, in your journey and what led you into the world of design and engineering. SHENG-HUNG: My personal definition of design is, like, decoding signals. So, everything in our lives, like, we have different types of signals. How do we interpret the signal? How do we, like, understand, or perceive different types of signals in our lives? And I feel design is more like...not just creation. It is creation, for sure, but also about curation. I feel like, for me, problem-solving or, like, problem-defining is really interesting. And especially you mentioned, like, my very early stage as a designer, the reason I submitted my work to get an award is because I want to show my problem-solving skill. And I realize nowadays, like, the problem is too complicated. It's not just about solving problems, right? I mean, I feel design is more bigger than that, especially now most of the problems are systematic and complex. Climate change, right? Like, you think about aging, and you think about all this, like, sustainable issues. I feel like designers, like, for me, starting from problem solver, as engineer, and now more I've become like a translator, curator, or even, like, a culture shaper. How do you shape the culture you want, right? Especially now, like, AI it's just, like...that really let me rethink about my role as designer, you know, because everyone can have tons of ideas, but the truth is, like, we have so many ideas, but do you know what good taste is about? Do you know what the good qualities of life's about? So, you have to have some personal experiences to really help people to understand or curate the vision in the future. SAMI: That's really interesting. I struggle to dress my kids in the morning from a design perspective, right? I don't get colors, and I don't understand necessarily how they match and how to get things working. In fact, sometimes I'll dress my kids only to find that my wife has redressed the kids. Things are that bad at home. Do you think then design is something which can be taught, or is it something, like, innate? Is it something, in your own experiences, that it's kind of part of your nature? So, you see the world differently to someone like myself or Jared sees the world. Or could that be something which we could pick up on, you know, and learn about? SHENG-HUNG: Yeah, I definitely think design can be teachable. It's skillable. And I feel like, yeah, people talk about this is, like, a hardcore skill. It's a soft skill. No, I think design is a life skill. It's a human skill. So, that includes like, for example, like, yeah, how do you choose the color? How do you choose the clothes for kids? But also about, like, how do you celebrate the quality of lives, right? How do you, like, have better, like, qualities? And I feel like, I don't know, life skill means, like, team building, creative leadership, knows people, listening to people. And, for me, that's part of design because you're decoding different signals. You understand your life. You perceive different types of noises. Or how do you resonate with other people? And that's a life skill, I think. And I also feel most of the design skills I learned is actually not from school. It's from, like, personal life failure [laughs]. SAMI: That's really interesting. I just want to jump in because I don't know if I fully understand what you mean by signals. Can you just elaborate on that a little bit more? And then, I will bring you back up on personal failures. SHENG-HUNG: Signal is like different ways of seeing things, right? So, for example, like, if I go to wait in line for a free bagel, right? You share this with your friends. What I see is it's a free bagel. But what my friends see is like, oh, probably, like, I don't need to wait in line and so many challenges. You know, I have to, like, oh, why should I get this? But I see very clearly I want a free bagel. So, these are different. It's the same thing but different message mixed up, right? And then, for me, I see design, like, it happens every day. It's a life skill. For example, like, I saw the challenges, but what if we think another perspective to rethink about what kind of challenge [inaudible 06:38] or reframe the right questions, right? And all this, like, mixed all together, it feels like it's not just about drawing beautiful sketches or rendering sexy, you know, ideas. It's all about, like, how do you frame these challenges? How do you look at this? Can you see the question from social aspect, from cultural aspect, or you just see this as a solution-driven approach? JARED: In some cases, I feel, there is an element of subjectivity to the designs, but then we also want to measure the success of a design. Do you have any tips for, like, how you go about putting numbers to what defines success for a particular design? SHENG-HUNG: This is such a great question, especially now my research focus is really on services, you know, service design, experience design. Like, how do you quantify this, right? For example, three of us we go to the restaurant, and I feel it's really, really great restaurant. And probably some people feel no, that's not really great. And then, how do we quantify this, right? And then, I feel it's sometimes, like, really by personal preferences. It's hard to measure. Maybe there will be some sort of, like, a principle direction or criteria we can follow, so, for example, service quality metrics or something, like, based on people's life experiences. I feel it's hard to measure, especially now the design challenge the question it's really complicated. Some people talk about demographic. How do you, like, [inaudible 08:09] design? Like, for example, a participant design process, right? Or, like, inclusiveness. People talk about equity, power, power dynamic. And I think it's less of a measure or quantify. It's more about do you show your respect? Can we be more inclusive in this process? Can we really engage or integrate multiple voices in this design process? And I feel like that kind of shows the flexibility, also, the real flexibility of the design, not just that, oh, we look for one single solution. Because, most of the time, we actually want to design for a solution, but, actually, I feel now the shift is from we try to build the condition to let people land on this condition and solve the problem. So, in the end, we'll be like, yeah, we landed here, and we can solve the problem together collectively. So, something I feel a little bit different, but that's a great question. It's open-ended. Yeah. JARED: Yeah. Thank you. There's a lot to think about there. I want to bring it back to failure because this is something I think about a lot in terms of teaching and learning from history versus learning from your own failure. We have, like, thousands of years of history of failure. You think we have made all the mistakes already, and, oh, it should be easy, right? All we need to do is teach all of the young generation about all of this failure, and then they'll remember not to do it. But in reality, it doesn't really work that way. I find the strength of the argument is oftentimes weak compared to failing yourself and really deeply learning that lesson. I'm curious about your thoughts on that. And then, I'm also curious to hear about some of your, let's call them, best failures. SHENG-HUNG: I personally feel like people fail. They fail forward, not backward. So, even if you fail, you move a little bit. It depends on how crazy, right, and how fast you fail. It's an iterative process. The reason I say learning from failure because from traditional Asian family, Asian students, right? Probably in the past, I would say I raised my hand. I want to learn, or I ask senior people. I want to learn. But, actually, more than that, it says, "I want to experience. I want to be part of it," right? So, you're not becoming the manager because you learn to become a...no, you're in that position, and you learn to be a manager. So, I learned that mindset when I worked at IDEO. And one of the senior design directors told me, "No, you should say, 'I want to experience.'" So, that means that you have fully immersed experiences. And one of the best examples for me is that the first two years I worked at IDEO and IDEO Asia, supporting projects in Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore offices, and sometimes European, like, office work; the first two years, my confidence almost collapsed. I have to collect my confidence. It's so hard because I'm eager to learn so many things. I didn't beat myself. And then, after two years, I met an amazing, like, design mentor. And I started the things I'm good at as product designer, a tangible designer. I start as product-focused and thinking about whole design process. And then, I start to collect my confidence. And I realized every single project at IDEO or in my life it's a vehicle, you know. And then, you always connect the dots when you're looking backwards. And you realize, oh, this is failure. Let me know what do you mean by client management? What do you mean by, like, teamworking? Because everyone is from so diverse background. And everyone says, "I'm a designer," but they have different interpretation. And how do you communicate it, right? And how do you keep the conversation transparent and also effective, and how do you empower people? And I feel because of that connect the dots process, also, all the things I want to learn, I want to experience it really helps me to grow at the third year or second year in IDEO. And that really makes me think about, oh, wow, I didn't know. I failed completely. And that's really healthy, for me, because you become very strong. At some point, I started to realize, oh, what do you mean by...what does it mean by design consultancy business? What we can sell. Where's our capacity, our limitation? You know, other than just, oh, everything's, like, imaginative conceptual. I kind of know what happened, and I know the boundary. And I know how can I empower people and also the client. SAMI: Yeah, embracing failure is a real strength. At thoughtbot, we kind of...if we're developing products and we're, let's say, designing or coding, whether websites or applications, we have this concept of failing fast. So, the faster you can fail, the quicker you can iterate towards the right solution. And that's something which is difficult to embrace because the first time you do it, I want this to be perfect, and I want to build it in the way that it works. But, actually, you'll spend a lot of time trying to get towards that perfection, and it's much better to ship faster, fail faster, and then get towards the solution. I noticed as well that...well, I read that the one thing you've been recently working on is designed for the aging population, so more specifically, smart homes for the aging populations. Shout out to my parents if they're looking for a smart home. Sorry, mom and dad. SHENG-HUNG: [laughs] SAMI: I've always found, especially my generation, so I'm about...I'm not about; I am 32 years [chuckles] old. So yeah, there's always been, like, a big gap between kind of my generation, the way we've engaged with technology products, the way my parents' generation have been able to. And I imagine a future where my kids are running around in VR headsets, and I'm still, you know, using a basic laptop. I would love to know more about your work kind of in this area and designing for a different sector of the population. SHENG-HUNG: My master thesis and my master project is focused on redesigning, like, smart footwear for aging population, and then that's part of the smart home ecosystem. And I was actually impressed and surprised. It's like most of the sponsors or clients we talk about, like, people [inaudible 14:38] to think about just the product level, so smart like [inaudible 14:43], smart like a door, or smart like, you know, like a bed or a smart, like, alarm clock. People start to think about how can we integrate all this system together? Because, like, for example, if you bought Amazon, you know, versus Apple and all these different devices, the platform is really a problem because the products cannot communicate with each other. And we want to make sure all the products can communicate and support you, or, like, they can at least receive your data or information to give the appropriate response. So, the smart home project starts to think about from ideas to become more like platform integration. IKEA is the best example, right? Like, I think two years ago, they talk about, yeah, they launched their first app, right? Everything is, yeah, it seems like, oh, what's the big deal about this, right? No, but you think of this from the intention perspective to actually connect the whole system together because they want to make sure their internal designer, developer they really can think through their own internal system to make sure everything's connected, interconnected, not just, oh, you do a part of this. We sell this to a certain Asian, and it didn't really connect. So, I feel like when we designed it, it's really from the system perspective to talk about a smart home. And then, regarding of, like, design across [inaudible 16:04] generation, that's really important, actually, because especially now I'm focused on design for retirement. And I shifted to design for longevity. And then, the cool thing about this is, like, we think about our life in terms of age, but, actually, now we need to think about our life in terms of different life stages, different lifestyle. The book called "Stage (Not Age)", means, like, now we cannot even describe people above 100 years old or 85 years. So, we call them future hood, right? So, like, different life stages. And I feel like that really impacts, as designers, the way we design products or interfaces, right? And it has to evolve with people. When you say, for example, if we have, like, a smart, like, a robot in our home, they have to know your personal routine. And you kind of grow, right? For example, oh, I get older. I move slower, or my mobility is different, and it changes. How does that mean to our product or our smart services? And I feel like across different generations, it's really thinking about design for different people in different life stages. And that's really important, not just about financial planning or about your future education, family, community, right? Now people are probably thinking about aging in place. My parents just bought a second home. They're thinking about retirement life. And so, these are things that really impact all aspects of life. And I feel like the idea of one solution for all the era is kind of over because we have to think about not just one solution, multiple solution tailor-made for multiple different people in different life stages. MID-ROLL AD: Are you an entrepreneur or start-up founder looking to gain confidence in the way forward for your idea? At thoughtbot, we know you're tight on time and investment, which is why we've created targeted 1-hour remote workshops to help you develop a concrete plan for your product's next steps. Over four interactive sessions, we work with you on research, product design sprint, critical path, and presentation prep so that you and your team are better equipped with the skills and knowledge for success. Find out how we can help you move the needle at: tbot.io/entrepreneurs. JARED: And, Sheng-Hung, in one of your articles that I was reading about design for longevity, you sort of say that design for aging isn't just about designing for older people, but rather, I think one of your colleagues asked this question, which I really liked, which is, how can inclusive methods build elegant design solutions that work for all? And I find that a really aspirational goal. But one of the things, say, at thoughtbot, when they're building a product, so we often talk about targeting a specific niche or a specific user base because then we can really optimize for them. And so, you're designing something that's elegant, and that works for all. It doesn't sound very easy. It sounds like a good challenge. And I'm curious about how do you go about that, and do you have any examples you can you can share? SHENG-HUNG: Design for all elegantly also seamlessly. Optimize everyone's needs or, like, design process. I feel...because my topic is focused on financial planning, right? And I think about everyone's income level is different. Their investable income asset is also different. We have a different situation, right? Our family issue, the healthcare condition is also different. And I feel like that, also, if we look at this question, we should think about, okay, how do we define design for all, right? Is it universal design, or is it inclusive design? I think there are definitely some, like, basic or fundamental, like, foundation or criteria we need to meet. Like, for example, human-centered, right? Or, like, we think about accessibility for certain technology. What's the threshold for a certain way of use the technology or product? That could be, like, a universal or, like, basic. Like I said, people's life stages are so different. And can we really make sure our product or interfaces is always dynamic, always change? Design for transformation, right? And I feel the ideas of changing is kind of scaring for most people. Because you don't want to, like, you woke up, and you realize your iPhone just update the whole interfaces, and you suddenly don't know how to use it [laughs]. It changed too dramatically. What I mean by change is like, it's a gradual integration process. And I feel that's kind of beautiful. Like, for example, the way I use my bicycle, the biking, right? They can ultimately adjust my speed, recharging, or understand my personal preferences. That could be something I think is powerful for future for providing the right solution, yeah. But also, it's a benefit of this, but also, there's downsides. Like, maybe because of that, we all live our own personal bubbles pretty well, right? Like, oh, yeah, yeah, I read a newspaper. No, you read the newspaper that I curated for you. So, somehow, the information started different [laughs]. So, there's a gap, but I don't know. It's very cool. It's very great, great question. I think there's still...I don't have the exact same answer, but I feel that could be potential for now. Yeah. JARED: Yeah, I really like that. So, it's not just a one-size-fits-all-all, but, like, it's a sort of an elegant transformation over the course of someone's life. We've discussed a few different things like design for longevity. You touched on there, as we were speaking, human-centered design. I know you've made a distinction of humanity-centered design as well, and there's also life-centered design. I wonder if you could give us and our listeners a little rapid-fire explainer of each of them. SHENG-HUNG: Like, when we talk about human-centered design, right? Like, it's, like, a buzzword. And everyone talks about HCD, and most people think, oh, if you got a post-it note, you're, like, a HCD designer. No, like, what does that mean, right [laughs]? It's very cliché. And they're like, oh, yeah, all these, like, HCD designers bring the post-it notes with Sharpies and go to facilitate tons of workshops, and they sit and know people. And I feel it's more than that, right? Human-centered is really, like, put yourself, designers, in the shoes of clients, users, customers, and participants to know their needs, their desire and address their pain point. And I think for human-centered design like Don Norman said in his latest book, it's not just about design as a discipline. It also covers, like, politics, covers, like, ethical issue, culture. It's broader. And, for me, the simplest version is, like, you design with care. You design with human temperature. We create technology with human temperature. That means that we're now for this technology to [inaudible 23:13] technology. We know why we need that technology. So, for example, if you provide the, like, the cell phone to the developing countries, you probably don't want to send, like, the latest cell phone. You want to send them, like, the adequate technology. What I mean by that is like, it's very, like, stereotype, but I'm trying to explain the idea is like, oh, Nokia could be a great option at this point, for example. You can communicate. You don't need, like, crazy, like, AR VR function. You at least can communicate. So, it's adequate. I think that kind of lens is, like, you think about the culture, the needs, economic, social status. And then, you can start to move on and upgrade the devices. And I feel like life-centered is even broader. It's like, can you design something to the lens of cats, your pets, your animals? So, it's really like, it's really...it sounds a little bit like a speculative design. But the truth is, like, we can shift our perspective to different kinds of species, cross-species, not just focus on human, because everything we design definitely starts from also for a human being. But now life-centered is like, it's longer, broader. And then, for me, it also means like, we just talk about life-centered. It's like, really think through all different stages of life, not just, like, focus on one single age or a single stage, too specific, too narrow. It's, like, broader. So, when we talk about life-centered design, LCD, we really think about a lot of different systems, framework. What's the model we can follow? You know, so we're also thinking about policy, about power dynamic, government, ethical issues. So, this, I think, like, it's broader, and it's really large. Sometimes it's pretty vague, for sure. We have to use some cases or really think about in different contexts. Context is really important, designed for different contextual knowledges and needs. SAMI: Yeah, I think that is actually a really helpful understanding. Myself I don't know anything about those concepts, so to kind of get that theoretical understanding and explanation from yourself is really helpful. In a more practical sense, I have a question, which is a very selfish question. The reason it's a selfish question is because I want to know what do you think? When you look at the world through your designer lenses, what do you think is the worst-designed product you've ever seen or come across? And I think I know the answer to this. I think there is a right answer. While you have a think, I'll share my answer. I don't know if you have this because you said you're based in Boston at the moment. And I'm showing you because we're on camera, but I will describe it to the listeners as well is what they've done with bottles now is when you open, like, a Coke bottle, for example, all other beverages are available...Coke, if you want to sponsor us [laughter], we're happy just to mention you. When you take the bottle cap off, it's now connected to the top of the bottle. So, someone has decided...now, I understand the reason behind it. They're saying that it's for recycling. So, when you throw your bottle away, make sure the cap goes with the bottle. But someone has sat there, and they've designed the bottles. So, when you take off the cap, it's still connected to the top of the bottle. And countless times, I'm either pouring into a cup or pouring into my mouth. And that cap is getting in the way. So, the liquid kind of goes into that cap, and it spills on me, or it spills on the table. This is an absolute design failure, a catastrophe in my eyes. That's my worst design that I've come across in real life. Do you have anything you can think of that you look at, and you're like, who designed this? SHENG-HUNG: This is such a great example because I did have similar experiences when I went to Milan Design Week last year. All the plastic bottle is, like, connected. The cap connects with the bottle. And I didn't know that it's on purpose at the very beginning. I thought, how come it's, like, connected? I want to take it out because it's easier for me to drink. And I realized it's not just this one; all of them is the same [laughs]. Yeah, that's a great example. I think, for me, design for failure adapter, for example, you know, adapter, like dongle, right? Like, we have so many different...this guy HDMI cable, the cable for iPhone, and the magnet for my Apple MacBook Pro. That's painful because you try to find, like, when you go to, like, a talk or a speech or try to present something, I think, for me, the easiest way is, like, AirPlay, right, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to connect to the projector. But in reality, you always need this HDMI cable. And this guy connects with my Mac. There's some problem. It depends on...now I always bring my adapter with me. It's just like, we have that [inaudible 28:04] like, you know, it almost, like, very frequently, if we're meeting, you have to show your screen. How can we design less physical but it's user-friendly, right? People use Mac. People use Apple, use, like, Microsoft. How do you design something like a universal adaptable to everyones, just sharing screen? This is what I need. So, I think this could be one bad design, I think, at this moment [laughs]. SAMI: Yeah, that's a great example as well, and so frustrating. And I wonder if it's, like, a money-making scheme, you know, everyone has their own chargers. And that's a way kind of they make some income as well on the side. Jared, what have you seen in the world? What's your pet peeve? What really grinds your gears? JARED: This was easy for me. It came to me straight away. Any door that has a handle that you can wrap your hand around which signifies it should be pulled that is push. It's just, I mean, what is going on there? It drives me bonkers. SHENG-HUNG: [laughs] SAMI: That is brilliant. I think it's only fair if we flip the question, right? And then, we say, what's the best thing you've seen designed, right? There must be something out there where you've gone, "Oh, that is so useful. That makes so much sense. Why haven't we done that until now?" And have you kind of...I guess this is for Sheng-Hung, like, have you got any inspiration from that sort of thing? SHENG-HUNG: I have to be honest. Like, I really feel like in the past, I'm kind of scared about, like, use your face to unlock your phone. But the more I use it, I feel like, oh my God, this is so convenient. You just look at it. I know it's a bit scary because they have all your biometric data information. I know even you protect under the regular law, but still, I feel like, yeah, it's so seamless connected. And I feel maybe the better answer is like, I feel a great design is, like, to reduce the friction between the transition of devices by devices, right? So, for me, I mean, so interface by interface. So, when I share the data on my phone, what does that mean? From phone to my computer or phone to other people, right? All the different interfaces changing. The less friction, the better. I feel seamless connected. So, you know, AirDrop, super convenient, photos, videos with people, Mac users. But what does that mean for, like, Windows users, right? And so, every platform has their own, like, spec, or criteria. And I feel if the user can feel the seamless friction between these interfaces, for me, that could be a great design solution. JARED: I love that answer. And I love that description of reducing friction. It reminds me a little bit of, I think, my favorite book on UX is by Steve Krug, which is "Don't Make Me Think." And it's just all about doing the simplest thing, reducing confusion, overcoming objections, and reducing friction. So, I really love that. I do have an answer for this one as well. It's a little bit selfish or focused on my own life. So, I have a dog. She's a Welsh Terrier called Rosie. She's just turned one. Whenever we used to go out, you've got to take water for her if it's a hot day. I always used to take a bottle, whether you could unscrew the top or not, I'm not sure, Sami, and, like, a little bowl to put that in, or you use your hands. And, invariably, she's not going to drink all of the water, so you've got waste. You throw that out. The bag gets wet, all of that. Someone has designed this really cool bottle where the top is actually the bowl. It's an all-in-one. And you press a button; the water goes into the bowl. She drinks. Whatever's left, you press the button again, turn it upright. And the water just flows back in into the rest of the bottle. It's such a simple thing. But, like you say, it just reduces that friction. Anytime a problem no longer exists, manual to automatic cars, fight me, I'm all for it. Well, that's a problem solved. That's less friction. That's beauty in the world. SAMI: Yeah, I think it's amazing. When you think about these examples, it really brings out how much of an impact design has. So, you can have the best product in the world, but if you don't get that frictionless design, or you don't get that design that's going to really bring that improvement, it's going to be difficult to make that product a success. And I think there's some, like, when I think about leaders and innovators in this kind of space, so I know you already mentioned IKEA and I think of Apple. And I don't know the answer to this, and maybe our listeners also wonder, like, how do these companies...they seem to keep getting it right. No matter what happens, they seem to set the trends, and they get their design spot-on, and they innovate in that space. How are they so successful in their design? SHENG-HUNG: I think a recent example is like, you know, like, Apple just recently launched the Vision Pro, right? The XR, the goggles. And put the demo time 30 minutes to get in-store experiences. You're booking the demo time with them, the 30 minutes. For me, I wrote an article about it. It is less about the goggle itself. It is about the whole experiences. The time you enter the store, right, and then you're waiting there, who guiding you? The Genius Bar people guiding you. You sit down. You have the prescription and your glasses that get measured, scan the QR code, and find the match [inaudible 33:35] pair of goggles that fit your [inaudible 33:37] of your face. And they put it on. They sit on the side, use the iPad to guiding you, and tell personal experiences or stories. These companies are very design-driven, vision-driven company. They really think about the whole experiences of users, right? And, for me, it's too pricey, for me, the product, obviously, right now. But I have very delightful, positive experiences because of that 30-minute demo. So, I kind of plant the seeds in my heart. Oh, if the second generation or something have discount, I would definitely want to get one for myself. Not really because...it's a great design for sure, but also, the impression I have. And I feel that really, really, like, make a difference, right? It's tiny. It's very subtle. They can, "No, we don't have, like, demo experiences." They can just purely sell the product. But I think they sell something bigger than just product. Branding user experiences, delightful experiences. And I can really feel that, and that's really powerful in the end. JARED: Do you think that that sort of level of design is limited to the companies that can afford it like the big names? Like, obviously, there is a cost dedicated to having the time and to putting the resources to that. Is it always just going to be the big players, or are there things we can do to democratize that availability for the startups, for the SMEs? SHENG-HUNG: I actually think it's about a company's culture. So, another example I would love to share is, like, when we did, like, an inspiration trip in Tokyo, and there's a very famous, like, chain bookstore called Tsutaya bookstore or Tsutaya electrics. So, to my surprise, like, yeah, it's a big bookstore, and we probably think bookstore selling books. No, they're actually selling a lifestyle. So, for example, like, if I want to buy the book around how to use a camera, right, the way they curate it, it's like, yeah, we do have the books around camera, but also, we'll put the real camera, like, near the book. So, they curate the whole experiences. You flip the book. Oh, this is so cool. Thanks, I want to try it. You probably, in the end, you got both. So, very interesting and also very human-centered, like, retail experiences. Why did I say culture? Because when I entered the store, I asked for one book I was looking for. The staff came to me, and she bring two books to me. One is the book I want, unpack. And one is the book...it's the same book, but without the plastic cover. It's brand new. And why she brought two books to me because if I want to buy this book, I not only read inside, but also, I can just get the new one with me to check out. And this is so subtle, right? Because they're not just bringing you, like, the sample. They also bring the final product with you. So, I feel that kind of culture is, like, very strong, customer-centered, think about your needs, think about your next step. So, they kind of plan ahead, and this is so strong message to me. Oh my God, this is such a great design culture, or at least a human-centered culture to think about my needs, my decision-making process. So, I feel connected with that, and I feel like, yes, they have money, but also, like, they really cultivate that culture within the...not just...they also send a message to their customers. SAMI: I feel like, Sheng-Hung, we could speak to you for hours. I mean, you are opening my world and my eyes to a different world of design. I've got one final question for you before we wrap up that I wanted to cover. I've seen from your website, like, you've personally designed products. So, out of all the products you've either designed yourself or you've been involved with, what would you say, and could you describe for us your favorite product that you've designed yourself? SHENG-HUNG: I think my favorite product is, like, I help and re-design, like, Shanghai Library Innovation Space that, for me, is OMG. Oh my God. It's crazy. Like, one single team, my side project and collaborate with the full staff, librarian, the leadership team. What is powerful is, like, library for them in Shanghai, it's a local hub to connect the community and also to teach, to learn for the younger generation how to use the space. For sure, most people use that space for, like, self-studying, you know, activity and all this stuff. But, for me, like, it's so impactful because every single change that means a lot of impact because it's a public space. And also, it's really, really powerful. Like, you think about the decision-making process. You have to think about feasibility, viability, and also desirability, all things to connect together. And it's really hard, not easy process. It took me about a year-long project. And I'm really happy because, in the end, it's really from sketches, concept, prototyping models, all the way they rebuild, modify the design, integrated. And now the new library they build on another area of Shanghai is really based on this model and framework. I'm very happy, and I also feel like, yeah, design can make a positive impact. It's not like a concept. It's real. And it's nice. It's painful, but it's really satisfying, yeah [laughs]. SAMI: That's really cool when you get to a point where you've done something, and then you see people using what you've designed and, like, enjoying that space and benefiting from all that hard work that you've put into. I have to thank you so much for joining us and giving us time today on the Giant Robots On Tour Series of the Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots podcast. Our listeners don't know, but you've had about two hours of sleep. SHENG-HUNG: [laughs] Yeah. SAMI: So, it's probably time for you to get back into bed yourself. But that is your dedication to us. It's been an incredible episode and an incredible chat. I finally understand why Jared does not like doors. I myself, you will understand if you see me in the street and I'm tearing a bottle cap off of a bottle, you'll understand why. And we need to sort Sheng-Hung out with more adapters with just a single charger for all his devices. If people want to get a hold of you, Sheng-Hung, where's the best place they can reach out after listening to this podcast? SHENG-HUNG: Yeah, definitely, you can reach out through my personal website portfolio. Yeah, shenghunglee.com. And I'm happy to respond and discuss about design-related topic. Thanks for having me on this podcast. It's very exciting, and hope we can create all the great stuff for our society. SAMI: Pleasure. There's always a challenge I give to my listeners at the end, and it normally is just please hit that subscribe button. Jared has promised me that he will do a shoey if we can double our subscribers by the end of the series. If you don't know what a shoey is, my only advice to you is do not Google it because you do not want to know. You can find notes and a complete transcript for this episode at giantrobots.fm. If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at hosts@giantrobots.fm. This podcast is brought to you by thoughtbot and produced and edited by Mandy Moore. Thanks for listening. See ya. AD: Did you know thoughtbot has a referral program? If you introduce us to someone looking for a design or development partner, we will compensate you if they decide to work with us. More info on our website at: tbot.io/referral. Or you can email us at: referrals@thoughtbot.com with any questions.

  Thank you for tuning in to Episode 280 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website.   This week's segments included:   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Brainstorming From the Armchair Crafty Adventures Knitting in Passing In my Travels KAL News Events Life in Focus On a Happy Note Quote of the Week   Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Stitched by Jessalu   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins     Silver Spoon Socks Yarn: A Whimsical Wood Yarn Company Pixie Toes Socks in the Silver Spoon Up My A$$ colorway Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry ) Ravelry Project Page About the yarn: peaches and pinks with gray/taupe. At my gauge it is striping (~2 rounds per color). I purchased this yarn at Yarncentric event in Maryland. Started in May 2023. Finished on June 28, 2024 Total for Stash Dash: 262 meters   Baby James' Cozy Clusters Blanket Pattern: Cozy Clusters Baby Blanket by Leelee Knits (free & paid options available on the LeeLeeKnits website) Yarn: Caron Cinnamon Swirl Cakes in the Slush Colorway (purchased 3). 1 skein of Loops & Threads Impeccable in Colorway 01110 [Navy] for the border Hook: I (5.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Bobble Border instructions from this blog Finished size- 30.5 inches wide by 38.8 inches tall (not including the bobbles) Finished on July 2 Total for Stash Dash: 1,010 meters (833 meters Caron Cakes [2.25 skeins] - 178 meters Loops & Threads- less than 1 skein)   Trish's New Orleans Socks Yarn- Cat Tails Yarn in the Chartreux Base (75% Superwash Merino, 15% Nylon, 10% Silver Stellina) in the Christmas Bonfires Colorway (part of the Down in New Orleans Collection) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry ) Trish purchased in New Orleans in 2024 (exclusive colorway for the Quarter Stitch). $34. Finished on July 3 Total for Stash Dash: 259 meters   American Ewe Turn a Square Hat Yarn: American Ewe Worsted Tweed in the Terrace Mountain Colorway Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood ($5 pattern available on Ravelry & Brooklyn Tweed website) Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page About the yarn: 3 ply Merino/Rambouillet Shaniko Wool (89%) with 6% acrylic and 5% rayon flecks. The colorway is a natural with brownish tweedy bits. I purchased the yarn for $15 at Adventures in Knitting in Harwich, MA on the way to visit friends who were staying in Wellfleet. They had a cool display of "used needles" for $4 each. I bought bamboo US. Modifications: I use worsted weight yarn and knit the smallest size, omitting the increases after the ribbing. I knit 6 inches before the crown decreases. Total for Stash Dash: 99.8 meters (109.2 yards), 51 grams   Portland Socks Yarn: Urth Yarns Uneek Fingering in Colorway 3024 Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry ) Ravelry Project Page About the yarn: self striping yarn- cornflower blue, dusty orange, yellowy green, peach, magenta and purple. I purchased the yarn at Knit Wit Yarn Shop in Portland, Maine. You can purchase the same yarn online from them. I held a strand of navy blue nylon thread along with yarn for the heel flap and gusset to give more strength to the heel. I used the Lemonwood Mini Minder (also purchased at Knit Wit) and knit the vast majority of this pair of socks in 2 days walking around Portland, visiting breweries and hanging out with friends. You can see a video I made of this project on Instagram. Total for Stash Dash: 254.7 meters   Welcome to Litchfield Spinning Project Fiber: I purchased two 4oz braid of fiber from Into the Whirled in the Welcome to Litchfield colorway (1 braid Texel & 1 braid BFL Tussah Silk) along with 1 gray  (The Traveler on Cheviot base) braid to ply them together. Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S This means when I'm spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise. Ravelry Project Page I didn't fully spin the gray Traveler colorway braid. Finished Project- 3 braids of 3 ply yarn: 184g= 252.2 meters (275.9 yards) ~Aran weight Total for Stash Dash= 252.2 meters x 4= 1,008.8 meters   Book Holder Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Roving Stripes in Daisy & 1 other mystery colorway (lost the ball band), Premier Yarns Parfait Chunky (mustard) & Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted Ravelry Project Page Hook: 9.0 mm (M/N) I took inspiration from this pattern on Ravelry. (Boho Book Nook crochet pattern- but I was using MUCH chunkier yarn and I didn't want to use the same textured stitches) I chained 21 sts and worked with 20 hdcs across each row- working in the third loop after the first row. I wasn't going to have enough of the Lion Brand Roving to make the whole thing, so I held the Wool of the Andes double for the part that would be covered. I worked a single crochet around the edges, and then sewed the front to back in just 1 spot on either side. I used a chain for the loop to tack it up on the wall. Total for Stash Dash: 128.1 meters   Declan's Adrift Socks Yarn: Patons Kroy Stripes in the Adrift colorway Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry ) Ravelry Project Page About the colorway- short stripes (about 3 rounds each) with 3 shades of blue- navy, denim and cornflower plus orange and brown. Total for Stash Dash: 278.2 meters   Deschain Pattern Deschain by Leila Raven Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm) Yarn. Rowan Creative Linen. Colorway 00624-   Gray. Worsted weight 50% Linen / Flax, 50% Cotton. 200 meters / 100 grams. Bought 4 skeins. Used a little more than 2 Size: Smallest (54 1/4 in bust) Calls for 16-22" positive ease. I should have around 19" Ravelry Project Page Originally finished July 10, 2021. I ripped out in 2024 because the back was far too short. I ripped out the sleeves (tossed) and unseamed the back and front. The instructions call for the back to be 12 inches but the front falls about 17 inches from collarbone to the bottom hem. I knit about 14 inches on the back and then worked a few sets of German Short Rows before the bottom hem instructions. I tried a few options for sleeves and then decided I"d just sew up the ends in a way to tuck/hem the ends under and I love that. In the end I made the body longer and the sleeves shorter Total for Stash Dash: 424.0 meters (463.7 yards), 212 grams   First Point of Libra Cowl Pattern: First Point of Libra Cowl by Laura Aylor Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm) Yarn: Barnyard Knits, Fuse Fiber Studio, One Twisted Tree (shop formerly own Prairie Girl Danie) + other leftover sock yarn Ravelry Project Page Yarn purchased at Vogue Knitting Live January 2020 with Lauren. Planned to make a 2 color shawl. Cast on My Cryptonite by Melanie Berg and never got more than a couple inches in. Here's the Ravelry Project Page for the shawl that's now frogged. I started in October 2022. My November 2022 notes say- I'm losing mojo on this and I don't think it has to do w/ the pattern or my yarn. I like it... but its not getting finished before my trip to the UK so I will need to find other wooly accessories to bring with me. I picked up again July 2024 and it flew off the needles! Modifications: In Section 4, I skipped adding color 4 & 5 (1-3 only). Skipped Section 5. Finished size: 21 inches around. 15 inches tall. Total for Stash Dash: 406 meters   Vera's Christmas Stocking Pattern: Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Family Circle Magazine. Available in this web archive link. I've also saved it to my podcast Gmail Google Drive in case it disappears! Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Red, Everglade Heather and White Hook: F (3.75 mm) Ravelry Project Page Total for Stash Dash: 456.5 meters   8,353 meters for Stash Dash Over 4,500 meters added since the last episode!   On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Wool Ease Hexagon Blanket Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick. Centers in colorways- Fern, Coney Island, Seaglass, Slate. Borders- Wheat & Oatmeal Hook: 10mm (N/P) Notes: started in April 2022. I never talked about it on the podcast.  Inspired by an instagram post from Lion Brand. This WIP has been taking up a ton of space in my craft room ever since. When the pump in my dehumidifer went and we had to move some things to get at it, I decided I had to get this WIP done. 2 rounds of color- 1 round of wheat or oatmeal 18 were done. 30 finished now   Berry Bliss Socks Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock (75% SW Merino/25% Nylon) in the Berry Bliss Colorway (May 2024 Yarnable Box) & Legacy Fiber Artz Glitzy Toes (pink mini from 2023 Advent Calendar) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page About the yarn- lemon yellow, sherbet orange and pink. I worked the first heel in a pink sparkle yarn from Legacy Fiber Artz because I have some spiral striping going on and didn't want to disrupt it. Progress: I've finished the heel on the first sock.   Rafa's Hat Yarn: Malabrigo Rios in the Cielo y Tierra colorway Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) Pattern: Rafa's Hat by Joji Locatelli (free knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Ravelry Project Page: About the yarn: blues/tans that is almost striping at my gauge. The hat is a 1x1 rib that has a cool purl ridge detail. Progress: I've worked two repeats of the pattern   Cold Goat Farm Spinning Fiber: Cold Goat Farm Batt- I believe its Merino/Mohair but there are no details on the business card in my bag. I think I purchased it at Rhinebeck 2023. Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S This means when I'm spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise. Ravelry Project Page   Brainstorming Connections socks! Have you heard about them? You take your Daily NY Times Game- Connections Results and put them into colorwork socks. Suzanne told me about them- and recently saw and loved Wendy's! Here's a link to Wendy's Connection Socks Ravelry Project Page.   From the Armchair Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link. I'll Just Be Five More Minutes (and other tales from my ADHD brain) by Emily Farris. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link. We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link. Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link. Feed by M.T. Anderson. Bookshop Affiliate Link (not available). Amazon Affiliate Link. Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.   Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.   Crafty Adventures I found a small hole in my Mabel Style cross body sling bag and decided to use embroidery floss for a better hold and to add a bit of visible mending color. I received great customer service when I reached out to them! I'm in the midst of a massive studio clean out. It started w/ issues with my dehumidifier and it's really spiraled from there. I'm excited to see how it all comes back together.   Knitting in Passing   Aila FaceTimed me from a friend's house after buying a crochet dinosaur kit at the dollar store. The next day after pool day and dinner we practiced chain and single crochet.   In My Travels Dan and I spent a long weekend in Portland, Maine to celebrate our 20th Anniversary. I was able to go up a night early to attend the knit night at Rising Tide Brewery. I loved meeting Heather from Rising Tide and Jenn & her husband Chuck from Knit Wit. Friday morning, I visited Knit Wit Yarn Shop's new location and then walked around. Dan, Dana and Sheri arrived and we met at Duck Fat for lunch before showing them around to some of our favorite breweries. Saturday we visited local shops and more breweries before going to see comedian Kathleen Madigan. Sunday, I did some shopping while Dan watched soccer then we enjoyed some drinks together and ended up back at Rising Tide where there was a 6p Burlesque show so Dan got us tickets. Really fun end to an awesome weekend.   KAL News Pigskin Party '24 will kick off in the fall (specific date TBD). We're looking for Sponsors for this season. Interested or know someone who is? Sign up for my email newsletter and click the box saying you're potentially interested in sponsoring events and you'll get first dibs on spots. And/or email me for details!   Other current & upcoming events: Summer Bingo with Monica & Cortney of the Craft Cook Read Repeat Podcast Colors of Fall with the Yarniacs Podcast Group. June 20- September 22 Summer Spin In with the Two Ewes Fiber Adventures Podcast Group- May 27 - September 2 Summer Sock Camp with the Crazy Sock Lady The Knit Girllls are hosting their annual Stash Dash Event from May 24-August 31,2024. Here's a chatter thread for stash dash 2024! Stash Dash will run from May 24th-the end of August. Craft all the things and see how your FO pile grows! This is a competition only against yourself. Discord link: knit girllls discord Jasmin (of the Knitmore Girls Podcast) & I are competing again this year. Check out my Stash Dash Spreadsheet here     Events Flock Fiber Festival- August 9-11 in Seattle, WA FIber Revival: August 10 in Newbury, MA Adirondack Wool & Arts Festival; September 21 & 22, 2024 in Greenwich, NY (GREEN-Witch) Vermont Sheep & Wool: October 1 & 2, 2024 in Tunnebridge, VT NY Sheep & Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck): October 19 & 20, 2024 in Rhinebeck, NY Sierra Nevada Yarn Crawl, (CA and NV) - Sept 12-15, 2024 Cape & South Shore Yarn Haul (MA) September 14-17, 2024 Lambtown, Dixon, CA - Oct 5-6, 2024 For more West Coast (US) event- check out the Seattle Knitters Guild Site.   Know of an event I should spread the word about? Let me know!   Life in Focus   Tune in for a health Update on BostonJensMom   On a Happy Note Dan and I took vacation the first week of July. Monday after Portland we just chilled. Tuesday I took Mom for whole brain radiation, then to visit my grandmother (her mother) and out for lunch. Wednesday/Thursday we visited friends renting a house in Wellfleet (Cape Cod) and Thursday/Friday we visited friends in Falmouth. Friday morning we picked up Riley from Camp and brought her to our house before she and I headed to Hornstra to get ice cream for lunch (because that's what vacation is for!) and over to my parents to the pool for the day. Monday 7/8- I met up with my friend Megg to do a 5+ mile beach walk before she headed out to Ireland for the month. Wed 7/10  Mom and I stayed in Boston to save her the back & forth daily for treatment. We met her friend Jacky for lunch. I went back to work in the afternoon. After work, we cooled off in the hotel pool and then had dinner, played Uno and bar trivia at The Hill. We stunk but it was fun! Sunday July 14th pool day at my parents. Jenna, Dave, Gabriella and Zach came over. Within a few hours they were both jumping off the diving board! July 17-18th Mom and I stayed in Boston again after her Radiation treatment. We hit the pool and fared slightly better at trivia but it was hard to be out as long. Mom's energy was much lower, she was coughing more and couldn't speak above a whisper. July 21st we had a pool day at my parents. Jeff, Millie and Garret, Jenna, and the 2 kiddos, Kris, Will, Aila and Matt. We celebrated Will's 17th birthday. Mom's hair had started falling out and the blank spots at the back of her head looked like a butterfly! Mom told us to go find some Sharpies and color it in! It was a hard day for her and by extension us, but this added a bit of fun and whimsy to it! Millie even attached little plastic gems to parts of the butterfly. After the "temporary tattooing" we shaved off the rest of her hair to help w/ the shedding. July 23rd- Mom's last day of Whole Brain Radiation! Coming home to a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Dan. Getting 2 massages this month after missing my scheduled on in June for our Portland trip! I always feel like I need it but I've been going up on weights at the gym and my upper body was screaming!   Quote of the Week “I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.” -Emily Dickinson   ------ Thank you for tuning in!   Contact Information: Check out the Down Cellar Studio Patreon! Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group Instagram: BostonJen1 YouTube: Down Cellar Studio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downcellarstudio Sign up for my email newsletter to get the latest on everything happening in the Down Cellar Studio Check out my Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel Knit Picks Affiliate Link Bookshop Affiliate Link Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada Music -"Soft Orange Glow" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/ Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.  

The Sharpies were probably Australia's most fashionable gang in 1960s/70s Australia.Their clothing was custom made from European tailors and their hairstyles were unmistakable.Our guest for today's episode is Author and Social Worker, Julie Mac. Julie herself was a proud Sharpie in the 1970s, and she's here to tell us who the Sharpies really were beyond the violent headlines. You can purchase Julie's latest book "TAILS" here.You can purchase signed copies of Julie's work here.Australian True Crime LIVE is coming to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne this weekend! It'll be full of special guests and Q+A's, and we can't wait to see you in person. You can find tickets by clicking this link.For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Julie MacExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.comBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Become a subscriber to Australian True Crime Plus here: https://plus.acast.com/s/australiantruecrime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It's a shortened version of this week's more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.The Sharpies were probably Australia's most fashionable gang in 1960s/70s Australia.Their clothing was custom made from European tailors and their hairstyles were unmistakable.Our guest for today's episode is Author and Social Worker, Julie Mac. Julie herself was a proud Sharpie in the 1970s, and she's here to tell us who the Sharpies really were beyond the violent headlines. You can purchase Julie's latest book "TAILS" here.You can purchase signed copies of Julie's work here.Australian True Crime LIVE is coming to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne this weekend! It'll be full of special guests and Q+A's, and we can't wait to see you in person. You can find tickets by clicking this link.For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Julie MacExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.comBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Become a subscriber to Australian True Crime Plus here: https://plus.acast.com/s/australiantruecrime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben from OnX joins me to chat about what we all love, finding new places to chase birds is something we can do anytime with OnX Hunt at our fingertips. We catch up on new dogs, and new hunts from last year. And I reveal my upcoming plan to hunt Sharpies way late into the season.

Wally Feresten, iconic cue card writer for shows like SNL and Late Night with Seth Meyers, Explores his craft's artistry and his journey during the pandemic. He shares how he adapted to the challenges, starting his successful business, Cue Cards by Wally, and the joy of bringing personalized cue cards into people's lives globally. Wally also reflects on his relationships with hosts and performers, stressing the importance of rapport and discussing the unforeseen inventiveness brought about by navigating COVID-19 restrictions. The conversation rounds out with insights into the supportive and creative environment of his work and the significant but often overlooked role of cue cards in live television production.https://notrealart.com/snl-cue-cards-wally-ferestenEpisode Contents00:00 Wally is a lovable, funny, cue card writer.07:33 Discussion of various dimensions of sign painting.12:44 Discussing tradition, design, and obsession in conversation.21:25 Building trust and relationships for successful collaboration.24:03 Building trust with SNL hosts every week.29:50 Grateful for long-lasting job on TV show.36:33 SNL returns with COVID restrictions, logistical challenges.39:24 Wife entrepreneur rejects personalized cue card idea.46:41 Christopher Walken hosts SNL, asks for card.51:39 Sharpies, Power pilot pens, and old markers.57:18 Meeting artists and celebrities can be challenging.01:00:42 Talent, hard work, and kindness matter most.01:05:13 Endorsement for custom cue cards by Wally.Topics DiscussedIntroduction to Wally Feresten- Introduction of Wally Feresten as a guest on the Not Real Art Podcast.- Explanation of Wally's role as a cue card writer for notable TV shows like SNL and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.- Mention of Wally's personal life, including his family and recreational activities.Cue Cards and Artistry- Discussion on the artistic aspect of writing cue cards.- Comparisons made between Wally's work and famous sign painters.- Reflection on the history and evolution of cue cards in the entertainment industry.Business Ventures and Adaptations During COVID-19- Exploration of Wally's business "Cue Cards by Wally" providing personalized cue cards.- How the pandemic influenced Wally to start the business.- Transition to remote work and adaptation of the business model during COVID-19.Operational Details and Employee Management- Insight into Wally's operational and billing practices for shows.- Discussion of employee status transitioning from independent contractors to full-time staff with benefits.- Wally's approach to maintaining a good work environment, highlighting the importance of being nice.Impact of Cue Cards in the Industry- Highlights of famous cue card writers and their contributions.- The preference of cue cards over prompters by traditional hosts.- Story about Wally's mishap during a live show and handling different personalities.Creative Side Projects and Personal Stories- Wally's involvement in creating cards for various personal events and celebrations.- Mention of his sons' careers and personal projects.- Story about Wally's interaction and relationship with fans and other industry figures.Reflections and Philosophy- Wally's reflections on the stability and changes in the entertainment industry due to strikes and other disruptions.- His philosophy on work ethic and the advice of being nice as pivotal to success.- Scott and Wally's shared experiences and appreciations...

smoking that permanent marker with mrs lovett in the pie shop go to patreon.com/slimecountry for all extras

Whether you're a seasoned autograph collector or a casual fan looking to preserve a memorable moment, choosing the right pen can make all the difference. In this episode of the Powers Sports Memorabilia Show, host Matt Powers takes you through the updated 2024 guide to picking the best pens for autographs.  From cards to jerseys, we cover all the types of items.Join us as we explore the latest trends, test out a variety of pens, and discuss their pros and cons. Matt offers expert advice on how to avoid common mistakes and ensure that your autographs remain crisp, clear, and long-lasting. Whether it's a sports memorabilia event or a celebrity signing, get the inside scoop on which pens you should carry with you.Tune in to learn about the top-rated pens, from Sharpies to paint pens, and discover tips on caring for your autographs to ensure they stand the test of time. This is the ultimate guide to autograph pen selection, updated for 2024!https://powerssportsmemorabilia.com/

smoking that permanent marker with mrs lovett in the pie shop go to patreon.com/slimecountry for all extras

Today's okay thing comes from our listener Jennifer who tells us about her favorite way to make art.  _ If you have anxiety, depression or any sense of the world around you, you know that not *everything* is going to be okay. In fact, many things aren't okay and never will be! But instead of falling into the pit of despair, we're bringing you a little OK for your day. Every weekday, we'll bring you one okay thing to help you start, end or endure your day with the opposite of a doom scroll. Created and hosted by Nora McInerny. Find Nora's weekly newsletter here. _ Share your OK thing at 612.568.4441 or by emailing IGTBO@feelingsand.co. _ The IGTBO team is Nora McInerny, Claire McInerny, Marcel Malekebu, Amanda Romani Grace Barry and Michelle Plantan. _ The transcript for this episode can be found here. Find all our shows and our store at www.feelingsand.co.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the FINAL Road to Paris of a long and wonderful 2023 beach volleyball season. This is a comprehensive recap of which teams are all but assured spots in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games – aka SHARPIED! – which teams are favored and in contention of the remaining spots, and which teams are the dark horses vying for the few spots remaining. As always, if you have any questions about the complicated Olympic qualifying process, I'd LOVE to answer them. Always happy to help and chat Olympic beach volleyball. Thank you to everyone for coming along for the ride this season, it's been a blast starting this series. Unless there is a strong preference for another Road to Paris before the onset of the 2024 Beach Pro Tour season, this will be the last episode until the Doha Elite16 in March. Until then, have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy New Year! SHOOTS! *** We FINALLY have an alcohol sponsor, y'all! Bartender In A Box is here. SANDCAST and Bartender in a Box invite you and 12 of your friends to enjoy just one Box of their Premium Bar Quality Libations for around $20 bucks.  Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter have a NEW BOOK! Playbook of Champions: The habits, routines, and stories of Olympians, Champions, and world-class athletes. If you listen to the show – which, if you're reading this, then you are – then this is the perfect book for you, as it is a distillation of the best golden nuggets from our first five years of the podcast. Check it out on Amazon! We are FIRED UP to announce that we've signed on for another year with Athletic Greens! Stay healthy with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter and get your greens today! https://athleticgreens.com/partner/d35ctoffer-strength/en?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=sandcast_d35ct__a3172__o27&utm_term=cac__a3172__o27&utm_content=sport__a3172__o27 We now have SANDCAST MERCHANDISE!! Rock the gear of your favorite podcast today! https://www.sandcastmerch.com/ If you want to receive our SANDCAST weekly newsletter, the Beach Volleyball Digest, which dishes all the biggest news in beach volleyball in one quick newsletter, head over to our website and subscribe! We'd love to have ya! https://www.sandcastvolleyball.com/ This episode, as always, is brought to you by Wilson Volleyball, makers of the absolute best balls in the game, hands down. You can get a 20-percent discount using our code, SANDCAST-20! https://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball Check out our book, Volleyball for Milkshakes, written by SANDCAST hosts Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter: https://www.amazon.com/Volleyball-Milkshakes-Travis-Mewhirter/dp/B089781SHB SHOOTS!

Join CRUSH YOUR CONTENT and learn how to exactly how to Make Money from Social Media, and create content that you are obsessed with! Join NOW and START CRUSHING CONTENT TODAYIf you're binge-listening to this podcast, I'm truly in awe of your dedication. Thanks for hanging out with me, and hopefully you are taking action.Today, I'm talking about crafting content with a fresh perspective. It's a game-changer! You can adapt it to fit your niche, money mindset, workout mindset, social media mindset, or even Sharpies! Get creative and make it a face-to-camera video, a B roll, or a static post.Just remember, the magic glitter sauce is delivering what your audience truly needs.THE STEPS:Choose a niche-specific perspective.Create content: face-to-camera, B-roll video, or static post.Title: "A Perspective that Changed My [Niche] Mindset."Explain how it transformed your life.Connect emotionally with your ideal client.You just need to have that profit-driven strategy and that emotional connection. It is like the perfect orgasm for content creation.Connect with Sam on Instagram or TikTokCheck out all the CONTENT CREATION + SOCIAL MEDIA resources I have at THEGLITTER.ME

Welcome to Episode 12 of Year 7 of Edge of Empire, and tonight we do the following:- Take a look at the new Deamons list Look at the horror lists that the listeners submitted!

On our latest show: We hear about Red-whiskered Bulbuls from listeners in Hawaii and Alaska; we meet the “snowstorm bird”; and we learn about Sharpies and Coops from the Cornell Lab's Eliot Miller.

Somewhere in Montana, I hunted with Nic De Castro (founder) and Trevor Walz (partnership manager) of LandTrust.com ... a new company with an entrepreneurial approach to accessing high quality private hunting land ... sort of an "AirBnB" for folks like us. They make a match between willing landowners and hunters. Following a fascinating hunt, we sat down to talk about their business model, then had a wide-ranging discussion on our day afield, bird dog training and care, prairie bird tactics and strategies, how habitat "givens" are off the table this season, lessons we've learned working with dogs, and more. Enjoy this bonus episode brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, LandTrust.com, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.  

On our latest show: Avian Audio Postcards from Florida, Maine, and Costa Rica. Plus, we welcome the authors of the new book, Birding for a Better World — Molly Adams and Sydney Golden Anderson. And, our man Mike O'Connor talks about Coops and Sharpies…and peanuts.

This episode originally aired March 15, 2022. Eugene Pack knows a thing or two about what it takes to write a compelling celebrity memoir – and yet he's never actually written one. As the creator and co-producer of the hit theatrical revue “Celebrity Autobiography,” developed with Dayle Reyfel, he has pushed audiences to consider what it means to live a book-worthy life and how it is that readers have come to accept the wit and wisdom and worldviews of our most celebrated personalities when they are presented on the page. The show has been staged in theaters all over the country, including runs on Broadway, on London's West End, and at the Sydney Opera House, with guest performers such as Kristen Wiig, Lily Tomlin, Mandy Patinkin, Paul Rudd, Billy Crystal, Maya Rudoph, Whoopi Goldberg and Martin Short helping to give hilarious voice to the so-called insights and dubious reflections of the famous and infamous. “Celebrity Autobiography” was awarded a Drama Desk Award for “Unique Theatrical Experience” when it debuted in New York to rave reviews, and it continues to delight audiences all over the world, drawing on an ever-changing slush pile of source material and an ever-evolving cast. An accomplished playwright, Pack's short original comedies are featured on his uniquely-imagined and endlessly-entertaining podcast, “The Pack Podcast,” performed by an assortment of talented actors, with proceeds going to the Actor's Fund, an organization that provides a safety net for performing artists and entertainment professionals. His full-length plays include “Columbus and Amsterdam,” “Sharpies” and “The Poets of Amityville,” as well as the autobiographical musical “To Be Loved,” written in collaboration with Motown founder Berry Gordy. Pack is also an Emmy-nominated writer and producer, and the creator and executive producer of CMT's longest-running series, “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.” Please support the sponsors who support our show. Daniel Paisner's Balloon Dog Unforgiving: Lessons from the Fall by Lindsey Jacobellis Film Movement Plus (PODCAST) | 30% discount Libro.fm (ASTOLDTO) | 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 when you start your membership Film Freaks Forever! podcast, hosted by Mark Jordan Legan and Phoef Sutton A Mighty Blaze podcast The Writer's Bone Podcast Network Misfits Market (WRITERSBONE) | $15 off your first order  Film Movement Plus (PODCAST) | 30% discount Wizard Pins (WRITERSBONE) | 20% discount

A second brain refers to a method used to organize your reading and research materials. While this concept seems excellent in theory, it often devolves into a messy collection of highlighted excerpts, book notes, and annotations. I've noticed that within a period of three to six months, many people find their note-taking system has become so cluttered that it's practically useless. In this week's show, I'll guide you on how to clean up your second brain, streamline your research, and enhance your note-taking skills.If you liked this episode, don't forget to join The Read Well Community at https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/ Want to build the same reading kit I use? Here are the links: The bag: ⁠⁠Sooez High Capacity Pencil Case⁠⁠ The highlighters: ⁠⁠Sharpies⁠⁠ 3 x 5 Cards: ⁠⁠Oxford Cards⁠⁠ Pens: ⁠⁠Zebra Med⁠⁠ Dictionary: ⁠⁠Webster Pocket Dictionary⁠⁠ Clips: ⁠⁠Binder Clips⁠⁠ Post-It: ⁠⁠Colored Flags⁠⁠About Me:My name is Eddy Hood. I live in Utah with my wife and kids. I always have a book with me, and if you see me on the street, I'd love to hear about what you're reading. To stay in the loop, visit my website at http://www.thereadwellpodcast.com. There, you'll find the latest show information on my weekly podcast, access to previous episodes, and a chance to join my newsletter. I'm also building something special just for you at http://www.highlightish.com. It's a tool to help you make better book notes. We will discover creative ways to capture our thoughts, insights, and reflections as we dive into the pages of our favorite reads together.So grab a drink, open a book, and join me each week to become a better reader. Let's build a community that celebrates the magic of books and supports each other in our reading goals. Together, we'll uncover the secrets to becoming lifelong learners who find solace, knowledge, and fascination within the pages of every book we encounter.Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/eddyhood

Show Summary: I've recently adopted a new note-taking system, and it's been quite the shift. I've titled it "The Daily Note Card." In this week's episode of The Read Well Podcast, I'll show you how it works and how to get started. This change has improved my reading, my personal knowledge management, and my writing. Let me know what you think, and if you have any suggestions for making it better.If you liked this episode, don't forget to join The Read Well Community at https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/ Want to build the same reading kit I use? Here are the links: The bag: ⁠⁠Sooez High Capacity Pencil Case⁠⁠ The highlighters: ⁠⁠Sharpies⁠⁠ 3 x 5 Cards: ⁠⁠Oxford Cards⁠⁠ Pens: ⁠⁠Zebra Med⁠⁠ Dictionary: ⁠⁠Webster Pocket Dictionary⁠⁠ Clips: ⁠⁠Binder Clips⁠⁠ Post-It: ⁠⁠Colored Flags⁠⁠About Me:My name is Eddy Hood. I live in Utah with my wife and kids. I always have a book with me, and if you see me on the street, I'd love to hear about what you're reading. To stay in the loop, visit my website at http://www.thereadwellpodcast.com. There, you'll find the latest show information on my weekly podcast, access to previous episodes, and a chance to join my newsletter. I'm also building something special just for you at http://www.highlightish.com. It's a tool to help you make better book notes. We will discover creative ways to capture our thoughts, insights, and reflections as we dive into the pages of our favorite reads together.So grab a drink, open a book, and join me each week to become a better reader. Let's build a community that celebrates the magic of books and supports each other in our reading goals. Together, we'll uncover the secrets to becoming lifelong learners who find solace, knowledge, and fascination within the pages of every book we encounter.Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/eddyhood

Show Summary:In this week's episode, I'm exploring James Clear's book, Atomic Habits. I'll discuss 10 strategies to enhance our reading sessions in The Read Well Community, aiming for consistency, effectiveness, and enjoyment. I found tons of value in this book and look forward to sharing it with you. Let's dig in!Links to make your reading kit: The bag: ⁠Sooez High Capacity Pencil Case⁠ The highlighters: ⁠Sharpies⁠ 3 x 5 Cards: ⁠Oxford Cards⁠ Pens: ⁠Zebra Med⁠ Dictionary: ⁠Webster Pocket Dictionary⁠ Clips: ⁠Binder Clips⁠ Post-It: ⁠Colored Flags⁠About Me:My name is Eddy Hood. I live in Utah with my wife and kids. I always have a book with me, and if you see me on the street, I'd love to hear about what you're reading. To stay in the loop, visit my website at http://www.thereadwellpodcast.com. There, you'll find the latest show i

Show Summary:Here's a fun change you can make that will improve your reading experience by 10X. In this week's episode, we're digging into my reading kit to learn what it is, how it works, and how you can build your own. Let's do this!Links to make your reading kit: The bag: Sooez High Capacity Pencil Case The highlighters: Sharpies 3 x 5 Cards: Oxford Cards Pens: Zebra Med Dictionary: Webster Pocket Dictionary Clips: Binder Clips Post-It: Colored FlagsAbout Me:My name is Eddy Hood. I live in Utah with my wife and kids. I always have a book with m

On this episode of the Honest Art Podcast, I'm taking a deep dive into my favorite art tools! I know I may be a little biased, but through my years of experience testing out so many different brushes, pens, charcoal, paints, etc., I've learned a lot! And I truly think these are the best of the best.  I talk about… My art tool recommendations How different tools make a BIG difference in how you create art Pairing art tools with different techniques to make the best art possible P.S. — If you want to learn how to make your art go the extra mile, come join my mentorship program, Studio Elite. This is my 6-month mentorship program, where you'll get access to 1:1 coaching from me, plus a group of other artists to cheer you on, help you improve as an artist, and remind you that you aren't alone. Learn more about Studio Elite here: https://www.jodiekingart.com/studioelite  Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art? Email me at amy@jodieking.com!   Resources Mentioned:   Charcoal -Willow charcoal: https://amzn.to/43FZZp3 -Fat charcoal: https://amzn.to/43CPaEZ   Fixative Seal: https://amzn.to/43Ckkvq    Pens & Markers  -Posca Paint Pens: https://amzn.to/3J40Isj , https://amzn.to/3p14ufc  -Sharpies: https://amzn.to/43AAq9C , https://amzn.to/42tGhfo  -Felt Tip Pens: https://amzn.to/43sWFOF  -Micron Pens: https://amzn.to/43veXyB    Graphite -Dainayw Sticks: https://amzn.to/3Nk1ILw -Dainayw Pencils: https://amzn.to/45R18MB    Sennelier Pastels -Sennelier: https://amzn.to/43sf6mA   Brushes and Colour Shapers -Black Gold Brushes by Dynasty: -https://www.dickblick.com/products/dynasty-black-gold-synthetic-brushes/?gclid=CjwKCAjw-IWkBhBTEiwA2exyOzGSt9VGgKCcvJqw2TUnVtAxlt8OF1rC56DNeje8mdLyl3cm-crXrRoC0YMQAvD_BwE    -Colour Shaper: https://amzn.to/45Mw54B    -Sponge Brush: https://amzn.to/3NfltUt    -Fat Brush: https://amzn.to/3CjKpnB    HDX Plastic Sheeting: https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-10-ft-x-100-ft-Clear-4-mil-Plastic-Sheeting-CFHD0410C/204711635    The EDGE Canvases: https://amzn.to/3qzpF8R   Scott Blue Paper Towels: https://amzn.to/3qx3S1o    See all of Jodie's studio tools here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/jodie_king_ Submit your questions here: Question Form For a a full list of show notes and links, check out our blog:https://jodieking.com/podcast/  

Ancient allergy tests, and apparently Rust is the only one that didn't know that Sharpies can be removed from dry-erase boards with a dry-erase marker? Nuggets run away with Game 3. Nikola Jokic is doing things we've never seen. Frank Clark signs with the Broncos.

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Live from the Maven Space in downtown Indianapolis, Aimee Kandrac reunites with Rachel Macy Stafford, best-selling author of Hands Free Mama, Only Love Today, Soul Shift, and more. Aimee and Rachel discuss the challenge of letting go of routine, especially during times of crisis. They also share touching words of encouragement from friends and neighbors, emphasize the importance of looking after yourself, and destigmatize asking for help. Episode Abridged Transcript Aimee: Welcome to Kitchen Chats. Today we are coming to you live from Maven Space in downtown Indianapolis. I am so honored to have my new friend and guest, Rachel Macy Stafford, here with me today.   Rachel: Thank you. So glad to be here.   Aimee: I love to start my Kitchen Chat conversation with the same question. Do you have a moment in your life when you found yourself in the kitchen with someone where there's this major life event, and it's time to talk to a friend about what's going on?   Rachel: I definitely do. After my father-in-law died in 2017, I was just on the tail end of launching my third book Only Love Today. I was coming back from a trip to Canada and grieving, and I just had a really, really dark night where I didn't know if I wanted to stay. I wrote about it because that's the best therapy for me, and I also want people to know that you might see me having this life that seems put together but that I struggle, too. So I put it out there and got a knock on the door within 15 minutes. I do not answer my door, but they were really persistent. And it was my next door neighbor. We're not super close, but apparently she reads everything that I post because she came right over. She is the kind of person that will go there with you. She said, ‘Rachel, I just read your post about your dark night and about the questions that you were having. I want you to know that you don't have to be strong with me. I know you're strong for a lot of people. You can cry with me and tell me how it is.' I carry that with me. ‘You don't have to be strong with me.' I use that with people. Because how often are we told that we don't have to be strong, especially as women who are holding up so much for our families?   Aimee: Thanks for sharing that with all of us. That's not something that many of us are able to admit often. And that is pretty relevant to your book and why you wrote it. It's all about: How are we showing up for our families? How are we showing up for ourselves? You wrote this book during lockdown and COVID. So how was writing this book that is so emotionally touching while you're caring a lot for your family in the world that had to be isolated?   Rachel: I definitely had a different approach to Soul Shift than I did to all my other books. In my house, the pandemic deeply affected my youngest daughter. It was one of those things where when you wake up in the morning and you're not really sure what's going to come at you because things are so unstable. I had to decide I'm not going to have a writing schedule. There was no nice, neat little calendar with chapter one this week. I could not plan a thing. And I know a lot of people during the pandemic, they couldn't plan anything.   Aimee: Even after the pandemic, as we're moving into ‘normal,' when you've got a kiddo who's going through something, you can't keep that schedule. Releasing the requirement on ourselves to have a schedule is not something that I can do very well. But when you're going through a crisis, you just can't have that the same way.   Rachel: One of the things that helped me the most when I was writing a book was self compassion. I talked to myself like I would talk to a friend who was trying to do something really hard at a really hard time. There would be mornings when I would know I'm supposed to be working on this part of the book, and I just couldn't do it. So I would find myself saying, ‘Wait a minute. What can I do today?' I took over the ping pong table in our basement with construction paper, Sharpies, sticky notes. Even though I couldn't put sentences together, I had ideas and had things I wanted people to feel when they went through the book. So I laid out this kind of map on the ping pong table. What transpired is a book that has all this space in it. It has places to doodle, draw, and journal. It just feels like a place you can breathe because that is how I created it.    Aimee: We talked on our last podcast about other ways that we can take care of ourselves, and you love to swing. What are some of your other self care tips?   Rachel: I don't like to use the term self care because it's really been commercialized, and we tend to think of things to pamper ourselves. But realistically, we don't want to put off our self care for once every six months, right? In the book, I called it the practice of looking after yourself. Because we know how to look after other people. We're really good at it. We're not so good at looking after ourselves. During the pandemic, I found these swings all over Atlanta. Sitting there for 20 minutes, I would feel like a different person. I don't think anyone would say self care is getting on a swing. But it's not so much about getting on the swing. It's like listening. Self love starts with self listening. Self love is also this concept that's so vague. What if self love is just listening to your body cues and verbalizing it? Just like when we look after our children, and they tell us, ‘I need this.' And we tend to them.   Aimee: We want to be there for other people, but we can't when we're not in the right spot.   Rachel: Exactly.   Aimee: I don't think any of us ever plan for being diagnosed with something or having an accident or having any of these things happen in life where we need to support someone else or we need to be supported. You had some of that with Avery.   Rachel: Yes, that's when I decided that there should be a term like companion as a verb. I am companioning her through this journey. I can't take this pain away from her. I can't solve this problem. This is something she has to go through. But I can tell her, ‘You don't have to go through it alone. I'll be your companion.'   Aimee: We as friends can do that for our friends who are going through something. We have the opportunity to step in.   Rachel: We often overthink it. ‘Well, I don't know what to say to my friend who's going through this horrible crisis.' Or ‘I just made this loaf of bread but I don't have a dinner to go with it.' Those are things that we need to stop doing. When your heart says, ‘I should reach out. I should take the spread over. I should ask her if I can run to the store.' Nine times out of 10, they're going to say, ‘How did you know?'   Aimee: I read an article this week that really resonated with me. The author suggests three Hs: Do you want to be heard? Do you want to be hugged? Or do you want to be helped? At different times, I would have different answers. I also know there are different times that I can't always help, but I can hear you, or I can give you a hug.   Rachel: We shouldn't underestimate the power of presence. Out of all the passages in the book, this is the one I'm hearing the most people have been writing to me. It was so personal to me with Avery, but apparently, this is something that a lot of people feel. I'm just going to read a portion of this little poem that I wrote after a visit to the doctor that was tough.   I am a companion  on a journey I didn't ask for -- no how-to no instruction manual no gentle guide to lead us. I AM the guide, learning as I go, but too busy holding pieces of pain and fear to take notes.   Yet sealed in my brain, etched on my heart, is encouragement from my fellow companions, those keeping close as our beloveds navigate a difficult journey.   I step off the path for a moment to let the sun warm my face and offer this message to my fellow travelers.   Never underestimate the significance of that hand on their foot,  of that assurance in your voice,  of that belief you managed to grasp out of thin air. Your ability to connect in crisis without a manual,  without a map, is the most direct form of love and comfort you can offer in times of uncertainty.   Aimee: That's really beautiful. And so right. There's no guide. There's no manual. Every situation is different. And that hand on the foot -- I really love the visualization of that. Can I just put a hand on your foot?   Rachel: I had asked ahead of time if I could hold her hand during the procedure. They said no, but her toe was literally right there. I thought maybe they wouldn't catch me holding Avery's foot. I just wanted her to know, ‘I'm here. You're not alone.'   Aimee: Sometimes taking care of someone else is helpful for us. Even if I'm just a companion on the side, there's actually a lot of healing that can happen when you're helping someone. One of the goals that I had when I was starting this podcast was to destigmatize asking for and receiving help. We're supposed to be ready to do all of our own things, especially as women. But when we allow someone else to help us, they're getting something out of it, too.   Rachel: Yes. I remember that same neighbor -- she's very intuitive -- she saw me at the mailbox as I was going through some foot problems. She asked, ‘How are you?' I said, ‘Well, I gotta have surgery on my foot.' And I will not forget what she said to me. She said, ‘When is that procedure scheduled? You better give me the date because it would be my honor to show up for you.' That's what she said to me, and that made me believe that she really did want to help. It would be my honor.   Aimee: It really is a privilege to be allowed into someone's space when they're going through anything. When someone lets you help them, how special is that? But it's hard to do. At least, it feels weird for me, and this is my job.   Rachel: No, it is hard to ask for help. But the more I do it, the more I see that we're not supposed to navigate life alone. We're not designed for that.   Aimee: Humans are social creatures. We're not all supposed to have the same skills. We're not all supposed to have the same needs. But we all need that connection, and we all get so much healing when we allow everyone else to come together.   Rachel: I think it'd be important to note also that sometimes we can take the helper role too far. That's important to bring up because although it's wonderful to help someone when they're in crisis, we also have to remember that we can't fix it. I was going through that with Avery. I was reaching out for every resource under the sun and just spending enormous amounts of time like it was consuming me because I wanted to help her and support her. My mom's here tonight, and my mom is always the voice of wisdom. She was a therapist for many, many years. I was talking about how worried I was about Avery, and my mom dropped a truth bomb on me. She said, ‘The person I'm most worried about right now, Rachel, is you. And I think that you need to start investing in taking care of healing yourself because she's not the only one who's going through a traumatic event.'   Aimee: It is really hard. Rachel: Basically, we're saying there's no one size fits all. It's why it's so important to get in tune with yourself and to do that self listening. There's so much guidance inside us, and so to trust ourselves in saying, ‘Maybe this is consuming me.' For Avery, I had to say, ‘I'm gonna let you lead.' And that's hard. But we want to empower them to believe: ‘I'm capable, I can get through this.' That's another thing that people need to hear: You are capable of handling this.   Aimee: You can. And I can be here if you want to be heard and you can't be strong today. Or if you want to hug today. I am really fortunate and lucky that I do have enough people who will remind me of those things as I'm going through something. We are getting close to our time. As I close out all of my podcasts I like to ask my guests two final questions. The first one is: What is your favorite thing to do for someone if they are experiencing anything?   Rachel: Well, that's super easy. I am the care package queen. I love to make care packages.   Aimee: You're going to have to talk to my mom about this.   Rachel: We could put our talents together.   Aimee: I am so thrilled that there are people in this world who love to do care packages. It clearly gives you so much joy. Please don't ever make me do a care package. The final question is: When you are going through something, what is the best thing that someone has done for you?   Rachel: I had a situation about a year ago, and I just had this huge dilemma in front of me regarding what was going on with Avery. I didn't know what to do. I texted my friend Shannon, who's mentioned in the book a lot, and told her, ‘I don't know what to do.' She said, ‘Rachel, you do know what to do. You just haven't given yourself the time and the space to listen. You don't have to figure this out right now. You just have to let it have time to surface.' She was right. I went and visited my mom and dad shortly after that conversation. My dad said I had to see the butterfly garden at their retirement home. I was literally sitting in the butterfly garden when I remembered that Shannon had this vision of these flowers just popping up, up, up. She thought it was for Avery, but actually the garden was for me. I just needed to sit and let these seeds have time to grow and root. I needed someone to tell me because I don't think I would have gotten there.   Aimee: Rachel, thank you so much for joining me today. I really appreciate it. And thank you to our audience for listening to us today and joining us.   Resources + Links Rachel's Books: Soul Shift, Hands Free Mama, Hands Free Life, Only Love Today, Live Love Now HandsFreeMama.com Rachel's Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Kitchen Chats on YouTube Aimee Kandrac: Website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn WhatFriendsDo: Website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn   About Aimee and WhatFriendsDo Aimee Kandrac is a speaker, consultant, and the co-founder and CEO of WhatFriendsDo. Her work is instrumental for organizing support during life-changing events, and she speaks to organizations about creative ways to help friends and family during times of crisis. Aimee has been recognized as a Top 50 Mompreneur by Babble.com and is the first female CEO in the state of Indiana to close a $500,000 funding round. She has been featured in Forbes, Time, the LA Times, Oprah.com, the Indianapolis Star, and more. WhatFriendsDo is a simpler way to create organized and actionable support during a time of crisis. The free, online platform empowers healthcare facilities, HR departments, families, and friends to easily coordinate meals, errands, transportation, childcare, communication, and more for those in the midst of a life-changing event. The women-founded and women-led company started as a solution for a friend with terminal cancer. WhatFriendsDo is based out of Indianapolis.

“But if you don't change something ... it's not going to change.”   In this episode of Fictional Hangover, Amanda and Claire talk about an array of Sharpies, slappin' a bitch, mmmmm pretzels, and 6 healthy relationships (and one that isn't) in their discussion of 6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did) by Tess Sharpe, featuring the author for Would You Rather.

We asked our listeners what minor and yet life-changing advice they have to offer. From bringing Sharpies everywhere, to cleaning the shower in the shower, to milkshakes after doctors' appointments, our lives just got a whole lot better! Margaret and Amy discuss: The correct way to boil corn What really goes in the glove compartment (not gloves) Amy's meet-cute with her husband "Let's Make a Deal" Links! "Bag o' Glass" on SNL Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: For trusted protection, choose Pampers, the #1 Pediatrician Recommended Brand. Download the Pampers Club App today to start earning rewards with every diaper & wipes purchase. Author Accelerator's Book Coach Certification program provides resources to help you launch your own thriving business coaching writers. Head to bookcoaches.com/podcasts to find out more. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. If you want to live a more empowered life, therapy can get you there. Visit BetterHelp.com/FRESH today to get 10% off your first month.  Hello Fresh is America's #1 Meal Kit. Go to HelloFresh.com/wfhpod65 and use code wfhpod65 for 65% off plus free shipping! Indeed is the only job site where you're guaranteed to find quality applicants that meet your must-have requirements. Visit indeed.com/LAUGHING to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. You can try Peloton Tread risk-free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial. Rakuten is an online shopping platform that gives you cash back when you shop at thousands of stores. Start shopping at rakuten.com or get the Rakuten app to start saving today. Ritual's Essential for Women 18+ is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/laughing to get 10% off during your first 3 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What to do and know before taking your first Royal Caribbean cruise with your kids. Get insider advice from Mouse Chat, Sharpie, who just returned from his very first Royal Caribbean cruise with his boys.

Did Malcolm Gladwell blow it in his bestselling book Outliers? What if all he did was write a primer for neurotic helicopter parents? To find out, Revisionist History descends on the University of Pennsylvania to run a roomful of eager students through a mysterious experiment, complete with Sharpies, huge white stickers, and a calculator. It does not end well. If you'd like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushkin podcasts, be sure to sign up for our email list at Pushkin.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.