Podcasts about Snafu

On today's episode of Lever Time, comedian and writer Ed Helms (The Daily Show, The Office) takes David Sirota on a wild journey through some of history's greatest screw-ups — from nuclear war near-misses to secret ice tunnels in Greenland to attempts to blow up the moon. Helms, who hosts the podcast SNAFU, explores the risks of putting our trust in leaders who could do things that put us on the brink of extinction. What do America's biggest blunders teach us about our lack of control, our resilience, and what the future holds?Click here to learn more about Ed Helm's book, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups.Click here for a full transcript of the episode.To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism.

Welcome back to Snafu w/ Robin Zander.  In this episode, I'm joined by Simone Stolzoff – author of The Good Enough Job and the upcoming How to Not Know – and our opening keynote speaker at Responsive Conference 2025. We explore what it means to have an identity beyond your job title, why rest is essential for high performance, and how ritual and community offer grounding in an age of uncertainty. Simone shares how Judaism and Shabbat have shaped his views on balance, the role of “guardrails” over boundaries, and how we can build more durable lives – personally and professionally. We talk about the future of religion, the risks and opportunities of AI, and why books still matter even in a tech-saturated world. Simone also offers practical writing advice, previews his next book, and explains why embracing uncertainty may be the most valuable skill of all. Simone will be speaking live at Responsive Conference 2025, September 17–18, and I can't wait for you to hear more. If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, get them here.   Start (00:00) Identity Beyond Titles (01:07.414) What identities do you hold that aren't listed on your LinkedIn? Simone's Answer: Ultimate frisbee player – “the entirety of my adult life” Aspiring salsa dancer – taking intro classes with his wife Former spoken word poet – “It was the most important thing to me when I was 19 years old.” New father – navigating life with a five-month-old "I encourage people to ask: what do you like to do, as opposed to what do you do?" Shabbat as a Sanctuary in Time (01:58.831) Robin references Simone's TED Talk, focusing on Shabbat as a metaphor for boundary-setting and presence. Simone expands: Shabbat offers a weekly rhythm to separate work from rest. Emphasizes the idea of "sacred time" and intentional disconnection from screens. Shabbat is a “sanctuary in time,” paralleling physical sanctuaries like churches or synagogues. Relates this to work-life balance, noting that intentions alone aren't enough – infrastructure is needed. "We have intentions… but what actually leads to balance is structural barriers." Boundaries vs. Guardrails (04:44.32) Cites Anne Helen Petersen's metaphor: Boundaries = painted lane lines Guardrails = physical barriers that actually keep you on the road There are calls for more guardrails (structural protections) in modern life. Examples: Airplane mode during playtime with his kid Attending yoga or activities where work can't creep in "Individually imposed boundaries often break down when the pressures of capitalism creep in." Religion, Ritual & Community (06:48.57) Robin asks how Judaism has shaped Simone's thinking around work and life. Simone reflects: Religion offers a “container” with a different value system than capitalism. As organized religion declined, people turned to work for identity, meaning, and community. Religion can offer rituals to process uncertainty — e.g., mourning rituals like sitting shiva. Religious or community spaces offer contrast: they don't care about your career success. "Religion is sort of like a container… with a value system that isn't just about growth charts." "It can be refreshing to say: Day 1, do this. Day 7, go for a walk." Personal journey: Simone reconnected with Judaism in his 30s as he built his own family. Once, went out of obligation, then rejected it, and now see beauty in ritual and intergenerational wisdom. The Future of Religion & Community (09:12.454) Robin theorizes a future rise in spiritual and communal gatherings: Predicts new spiritual movements or evolutions of old ones Notes a hunger for meaningful in-person connection, especially post-AI and amid tech saturation "There's a hunger... as AI and screens define how we relate, people want to gather in person." "I don't tend to make predictions, but I think this one's inevitable." Simone agrees... but offers data as contrast: Cites the decline in religious affiliation in the U.S. 1950s: 3–4% unaffiliated Today: Nearly 1 in 3 identify as “Nones” (no religion) Notes reasons: Rising wealth tends to increase secularism The internet creates alternate identity spaces "I do believe there is inevitability in the growth [of spirituality]... But the data points the opposite way." Simone reflects on the factors behind declining religious affiliation: Doubt now builds community – the internet has enabled people to connect around leaving religion as much as practicing it. Political entanglement – many young Americans, especially, are alienated by the perceived overlap between right-wing politics and Christianity. Yet despite this secular trend, the need for meaning, ritual, and purpose remains universal. “There still is this fundamental need to find meaning, to find purpose, to find ritual… even if it's not in the forms we're used to.” A Church in the Mission (13:07.182) Robin shares a formative experience from 2016: That year, he launched both Robin's Café and the first Responsive Conference. When he walked into the theater space that would become his café, he encountered a young, diverse Christian revival group – live music, dancing, and energetic worship happening in a Mission District theater. This juxtaposition – a traditional spiritual gathering inside a modern, “hip” venue – left a lasting impression. “It felt like a revival meeting in the South… except it was full of people my age and younger, partying on a Saturday morning – and it just happened to be church.” You Are More Than Your Work (14:51.182) Robin segues into the idea of multiple identities: He recalls how reading The 4-Hour Work Week helped him embrace not defining himself solely by his entrepreneurial work. Even on tough days running a business, movement and fitness have been a grounding force – something he does daily, independent of career performance. Quotes from Simone's TED Talk: “Some people do what they love for work; others work so they can do what they love. Neither is more noble.” Robin asks Simone to share the origin of this line and how it connects to the poet Anis Mojgani. Simone recounts a pivotal conversation during college: As a poetry and economics double major, he was wrestling with career path anxiety. He interviewed his favorite poet, Anis Mojgani, asking: “Do you believe in the idea, ‘Do what you love and never work a day in your life'?” Mojgani's response: “Some people do what they love for work. Others do what they have to so they can do what they love when they're not working. Neither is more noble.” This countered Simone's expectations and left a deep impression. He highlights two cases for cultivating a broader identity beyond work: Business Case: High performance requires rest. People with “greater self-complexity” — more identities outside of work — are more creative, more resilient, and more emotionally stable. Moral Case: Investing in other parts of ourselves makes us better citizens, community members, and humans. Singular identity (especially career-based) is fragile and susceptible to collapse — e.g., pandemic layoffs. Solely work-based identity also sets unrealistically high expectations that can lead to disappointment. “You're balancing on a very narrow platform… You're susceptible to a large gust of wind.” Robin reflects on how the Responsive Manifesto intentionally avoids prescribing one path: It's not anti-work or anti-grind. Recognizes that sometimes hard work is necessary, especially in entrepreneurship. Shares how his friend's newsletter, Just Go Grind, embraces the idea that seasons of hustle are sometimes required. “Everyone figuring out their own boundaries is actually the goal.” Work Isn't Good or Bad – It's Complex (18:34.436) Simone adds that society tends to polarize the narrative around work: Some say “burn it all down”, that work is evil. Others say, “Do what you love, or it's not worth doing.” His book The Good Enough Job argues for a middle way: It's not hustle propaganda. It's not a slacker's manifesto. It's about recognizing that we spend a huge portion of our lives working, so it matters how we approach it, but also recognizing we're more than just our jobs. He introduces the concept of temporal balance: “There's a natural seasonality to work.” Sometimes, long hours are necessary (e.g., startup mode, sales targets). But it should be a season, not a permanent lifestyle. What's the Role of Books in the Age of AI? (22:41.507) Robin poses a forward-looking question: In an age when AI can summarize, synthesize, and generate information rapidly, what's the role of books? Especially nonfiction, where facts are easier to reproduce. Simone responds with both uncertainty and hope: Human storytelling as a moat: His work relies on reporting, profiling, and character studies — something LLMs can't yet replicate with nuance. He doesn't know how long this will remain defensible, but will continue to lean into it. Books are more than information: Books have utility beyond facts: they are entertainment, physical objects, and cultural symbols. Quotes the vibe of being surrounded by books: there's even an untranslatable word (possibly German or Japanese) about the comfort of unread books. A vinyl-record future: Books may become more niche, collectible, or artisanal, similar to vinyl. But they still hold society's most well-formed, deeply considered ideas. The human touch still matters: A typed note that looks handwritten isn't the same as a note that is handwritten. People will crave authenticity and human creation, especially in a tech-saturated world. “You can appreciate when something has a level of human touch, especially in an increasingly tech-powered world.” He closes with a self-aware reflection: “I don't claim to know whether my career will still exist in five years… which is why I picked this topic for my second book.” “Created by Humans” (25:49.549) Robin references a conversation with Bree Groff, who imagined a world where creative work carries a “Created by Human” tag, like organic food labeling. “I think we'll see that [kind of labeling] in the next few decades – maybe even in the next few years.” As AI-generated content floods the market, human-made work may soon carry new cultural cachet. Simone shares a turning point: after submitting an op-ed to The New York Times, his editor flagged a bad metaphor. En route to a bachelor party, he opened ChatGPT, asked for new metaphors, chose one, and it made the print edition the next day. “Maybe I've broken some law about journalism ethics... but that was the moment where I was like: whoa. This sh*t is crazy.” The Home-Buying Crash Course Powered by AI (27:57) Robin's breakthrough came while navigating the chaos of buying a house. He used ChatGPT to upskill rapidly: Structural questions (e.g., redwood roots and foundation risk) Zoning and legal research Negotiation tactics “The rate of learning I was able to create because of these tools was 10 to 100 times faster than what I could've done previously.” How to Live Without Knowing (29:41.498) Simone previews his next book, How to Not Know, a field guide for navigating uncertainty. In an age of instant answers, our tolerance for the unknown is shrinking, while uncertainty itself is growing. “We're trying to find clarity where there is none. My hope is that the book offers tools to live in that space.” The “Three Horsemen of Delusion”: Comfort – we crave the ease of certainty. Hubris – we assume we know more than we do. Control – we believe certainty gives us power over the future. Robin asks how Simone finds his stories. His answer: chase change. Whether internal (doubt, transformation) or external (leaving a cult, facing rising seas), he seeks tension and evolution. Examples: A couple questioning their marriage An employee leading dissent at work A man leaving his religious identity behind A nation (Tuvalu) confronting its own disappearance “The story you find is always better than the one you seek.” Want to Be a Writer? Start Writing. (36:50.554) Robin asks for writing advice. Simone offers two pillars: Ask These Four Questions: What's the story? Why should people care? Why now? Why you? “Only you can tell the story of buying a café and selling it on Craigslist.” Build the Practice: Writing is not just inspiration—it's routine. Schedule it. Join a group. Set deadlines. “Writing is the act of putting your ass in the chair.” Robin applauds Simone's book title, How to Not Know, for its playfulness and relevance. He asks how Simone's own relationship with uncertainty has evolved through his research. Simone reflects on how writing his first book, The Good Enough Job, softened his stance, from a hot take to a more nuanced view of work's role in life. Similarly, with his new book, his thinking on uncertainty has shifted. “Uncertainty is uncomfortable by design. That discomfort is what makes us pay attention.” Simone once championed uncertainty for its spontaneity and freedom. But now, he sees a more complex dance between certainty and uncertainty. “Certainty begets the ability to become more comfortable with uncertainty.” He gives the example of a younger self traveling with no plan, and the maturity of seeing how some people use uncertainty to avoid depth and commitment. Durable Skills for an Unstable Future (43:57.613) Robin shifts to the practical: In a world where stability is fading, what should we teach future generations? Simone shares three core “durable skills”: Learn how to learn – Adaptability beats certainty. Tell compelling stories – Human connection never goes out of style. Discern control from chaos – Use a mental decision tree: What can I control? If I can't control it, can I prepare? If I can't prepare, can I accept? “Often we're more uncomfortable with uncertainty than with a certain bad outcome.” He cites research showing people are stressed more by maybe getting shocked than actually getting shocked. AI as Editor, Not Author (47:23.765) Robin circles back to AI. Simone explains how his relationship with it has evolved: He never uses it for first drafts or ideation. Instead, AI serves as a “sparring partner” in editing – great at spotting drag, less useful at solving it. “People are often right about something being wrong, but not about the solution. I treat AI the same way.” Simone defends creative friction as essential to craft: rewriting, deleting, struggling – that's the work. The Chinese Farmer & the Fallacy of Forecasts (50:27.215) Robin expresses cautious optimism – but also fears AI will widen inequality and erode entry-level jobs. He asks what gives Simone hope. Simone counters with the “Parable of the Chinese Farmer,” where events can't be judged good or bad in real time. His conclusion: we don't know enough to be either pessimistic or optimistic. “Maybe AI ushers in civil unrest. Maybe a golden age. Maybe yes, maybe no.” He's most hopeful about the growing value of human touch – gifts of time, love, and effort in an increasingly automated world. Where to Find Simone (53:44.845) Website: thegoodenoughjob.com Newsletter: The Article Book Club (monthly articles not written by him, thousands of subscribers) Robin reminds listeners that Simone will be the opening speaker at Responsive Conference 2025, September 17–18.   People Mentioned: M'Gilvry Allen Anne Helen Petersen Anis Mojgani  Bree Groff  Tim Ferriss Steven Pressfield Ernest Hemingway Justin Gordon   Organizations Mentioned:   Responsive Conference Zander Media Asana, Inc X, The Moonshot Factory (formerly Google X)  Waymo,  Jewish Community Centers (Boulder & Denver)  Robin's Cafe Amazon Google / Alphabet    Books & Newsletters The Good Enough Job  How to Not Know (upcoming book) The 4‑Hour Workweek Just Go Grind  Article Book Club   

– RBA’s $1.2b renovation – Economic roundtable disappointment – CSL, James Hardie and Audinate hit for six – Qantas’ $90m fine and NAB’s $130m make-good – CBA’s AI SNAFUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this second of new episode, Savannah doesn't have Julie to kick around this week, so she enlists her Atlanta "hostesses with the mostess" to come on air. Jolene is a fairly recent addition to the queer, gender-expansive community. She and her wife, Nicole, have been married for years, with grown kids, and a now empty-nesting home. What happens when the kids go live their own lives and a laundry SNAFU sends an unsuspecting husband down a strange and exciting road of feminine self-discovery? And, how does a wife, whose panties were accidentally worn by her husband one day, react and come to embrace this new person in her life?-----SAVANNAH HAUK is the author of “Living with Crossdressing: Defining a New Normal” and “Living with Crossdressing: Discovering your True Identity“. While both focus on the male-to-female (mtf) crossdresser, “Defining a New Normal” delves into crossdressing and relationships and “Discovering Your True Identity” looks at the individual crossdressing journey. Her latest achievements are two TEDx Talks, one entitled "Demystifying the Crossdressing Experience" and the other "13 Milliseconds: First Impressions of Gender Expression". Savannah is a male-to-female dual-gender crossdresser who is visible in the Upstate of South Carolina, active in local groups and advocating as a public speaker at LGBTQ+ conferences and workshops across the United States. At the moment, Savannah is working on more books, blogs, and projects focused on letting every crossdresser–young and mature–find their own confidence, expression, identity and voice.IG @savannahhauk | FB @savannahhauk | FB @livingwithcrossdressing | web @livingwithcrossdressing.com------JULIE RUBENSTEIN is a dedicated ally to transgender community and the certified image consultant and co-owner of Fox and Hanger. F&H is a unique service for transgender women and male-to-female crossdressers that creates customized virtual fashion and style “lookbooks”. Julie intuitively connects with each client to find them appropriate clothes, makeup, hair, and shape wear all in alignment with their budget, body type, authentic style and unique personality. Julie also provides enfemme coaching and wardrobe support. Julie has made it her life's work to help MTF individuals feel safe and confident when it comes to their female persona, expression and identity.IG @Juliemtfstyle | FB @foxandhanger | web @FoxandHanger.com

Welcome back to Snafu with Robin Zander. In this episode, I'm joined by Bree Groff, consultant, writer, and author of Today Was Fun. We talk about why mischief belongs at work, how humor and flirtation create real psychological safety, and the bold design choices behind her unforgettable book cover. Bree shares how she moved from CEO roles to full creative freedom, and how that shift helped her find her voice. We discuss marketing in 2025, how AI might reshape work and writing, and why personal agency, not hours, is the most important lever in a workweek.  Bree offers practical insights for leading with joy, helping kids future-proof their lives, and deciding what's “enough” in a world that always demands more. She also reflects on writing the book while parenting, consulting, and building her own business, and what it means to embrace the joy of not knowing what comes next. Bree will also be joining us live at Responsive Conference 2025, and I'm thrilled for you to hear her on stage. If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, get them here. Books Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art — Lewis Hyde Anansi Boys — Neil Gaiman Work Less, Do More: Designing the 4-Day Week — Alex Pang Shorter: Work Better, Smarter, and Less―Here's How — Alex Pang Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less — Alex Pang Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts — Ryan Holiday Today Was Fun — Bree Groff The 4-Hour Workweek —Tim Ferriss Responsive: What It Takes to Create a Thriving Organization — Robin Zander Podcasts/Videos TED Talk: How to Start a Movement — Derek Sivers Start (0:00) The Story Behind the Book Cover (00:07.822) Robin opens with a personal observation: Bree's nails are the exact shade of green as her book cover – a smiley face on a highlighter yellow-green background.  Bree laughs and explains the choice behind the bold, offbeat cover: It was designed by Rodrigo Corral, known for iconic covers like The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck*. When she first saw it (at 3 a.m.), she gasped and loved it — it stood out and made a statement. The smiley is cheeky but not cheesy; it suggests optimism with a bite. The color isn't quite yellow — it's that “gross green” that almost hurts to look at. That tension is the point. “It's got some edge... not your straight-up yellow.” This tension – bright and fun, but just a bit weird or off –  is exactly the tone she wanted for the book and for herself. The Wink That Makes Work Fun Again (01:51) Robin brings up his old graduation photo: he posed slightly off-center, adding a knowing smirk. At the time, he didn't know why he chose that shot, but later realized it made people curious, like a small rebellion baked into something formal. Bree relates completely. She talks about: Why humor and a bit of mischief matter in professional settings. The concept of flirtation – not romantic, but playful: A wink in a branding campaign. A reference that only a few insiders get. A running joke between team members. Mischief creates risk and intimacy, both essential for real connection. These small acts of rebellion are actually signs of psychological safety and creativity. “You need a little bit of flirtation at work... a wink that says, ‘we're in this together.'” She argues that fun isn't a distraction – it's a sign that something is working. Tricksters, SNAFUs, and the Role of Risk in Work (05:49.219) Robin brings in the idea of the trickster, from folklore characters like Anansi and Coyote to his podcast title SNAFU. These figures don't follow the rules, and that's what makes them interesting. Bree expands on the connection between play and professionalism: There's a cultural script that says “seriousness = competence.” But in her experience, some of the best work moments involve play, risk, and even slight embarrassment. Being human together – laughing too loud, saying something weird, trying something bold – is what builds bonds. Real joy at work comes from these edge moments, not the sanitized ones. “You have to go beyond professionalism to access the most fun parts of work.” They agree that creating spaces where people can color outside the lines is not just fun – it's productive. Beyond Palatable: From People-Pleasing to Belonging (08:29.068) Robin shares a lesson from his mother: that once you leave high school, life is no longer a popularity contest. But he's realized that in business, especially branding, people often still chase approval and “likability.” Bree offers a deeper lens: Being “palatable” – meaning universally acceptable – is actually the opposite of being memorable. People who try to please everyone end up blending in. What she wants is to be delicious, or at least striking, not for everyone, but unforgettable to some. She draws a line between Fitting in: performing a version of yourself to meet social norms. Belonging: being your full, vibrant self and finding others who welcome it. “Please don't chew me up. I'm not palatable — I'm not trying to be.” This philosophy shows up in her book's voice, design, and in how she shows up in the world. Selling a Book in 2025: Bottles in the Ocean (12:21.838) What's it been like trying to promote a book in 2025? Bree describes her strategy as both scrappy and intuitive: She thinks of book marketing as sending “a million notes in bottles” – not knowing which will land. Her approach includes: Partnering with a publicist. Creating swag kits with branded gear. Pitching the book to “chatty” communities (e.g., alumni groups, newsletters, podcast audiences). Posting regularly, even when it feels silly. She cites the idea of “luck surface area”: the more interesting things you do, and the more people you tell, the more chances something will stick. “You do interesting things and talk about them a lot... and maybe something takes off.” Still, she acknowledges that luck plays a role. There's no guaranteed playbook, just momentum and hope. Is It Worth Talking About? (14:47.63) Robin references a quote from Tucker Max: that all marketing, in the end, is just word-of-mouth. Bree shares what guided her during the writing process: Her goal was to create something remarkable — in the literal sense: Something people would want to talk about. Not just good – but distinct, resonant, and weird enough to share. She wanted to avoid the “business book voice” – flat, generic, overly polished. She lights up when she talks about: Strangers sharing the book on social. Friends are texting her about it. An old college boyfriend resurfaced after reading it. “When that starts happening... You realize the machine is working.” She's less interested in best-seller lists and more focused on impact – ideas spreading from person to person, because they hit. Finding Her Voice: From Blogger to Book Author (16:36.665) Bree traces the evolution of her writing life: Started a travel blog in her early 20s and loved it immediately. Played with writing publicly over the years: occasional posts on LinkedIn, Fast Company, and later Substack (which began two years ago, alongside early book ideation). Writing always felt natural, but being a public voice within organizations came with constraints: “Even when I was CEO, I still felt the need to toe the party line.” Going solo changed everything: No longer represents a company's brand – just her own. Writing feels more honest, bolder, and more fun when it's “Bree Groff's opinions” alone. Stepping out independently accelerated her writing voice and gave her creative freedom. Writing in the Age of AI (18:19.63) Robin asks: Does writing still matter in the world of AI? Bree's take: She's a verbal processor — writing is how she discovers what she believes. “I never know how an article is going to end… I write my way into the idea.” She rarely uses AI in writing (aside from Grammarly). She prefers human composition even for emails. Writing helps her organize and refine her thinking: “I'll write a sentence and go – wait, do I believe that? And rewrite.” What writing offers that AI can't (yet): Emotional authenticity. A confessional power — like stand-up comedy: humans telling uncomfortable truths, out loud. She hopes we'll someday have digital labels like: “This was made by a human.” Robin presses for Bree's take on what AI changes – for better or worse. Bree's pessimistic view: Mass unemployment is a likely risk. Not convinced by the “tech creates more jobs” argument – even referencing Jevons Paradox: as things become more efficient, we just use more of them. “I can't quite think my way out of the unemployment problem.” Bree's optimistic vision: We're burned out. AI could fix that. If used right, AI can reduce workloads, not eliminate humans: “Wouldn't it be great if we used these efficiencies to help people live happy, regulated lives?” This would require a policy change, like tax incentives for companies that adopt a 4-day workweek. But she admits: that's a long shot. “It would take a lot for companies to prioritize reducing burnout over cutting costs.” Entrepreneurship Isn't a 4-Day Workweek (And That's Okay) (25:04.686) Robin challenges Bree's hope with reality: Entrepreneurship is chaotic and demanding, as when he launched both a restaurant and a conference in one year. When building something from scratch, the work is relentless. “There's no 4-day workweek when you're going zero to one.” He notes Bree's book could become a “perennial seller,” but only if she builds that momentum now — and that means hustle. Bree agrees — and offers nuance: She's in a launch phase. The last 6 weeks have been intense: Nights, weekends, articles, appearances. Her daughter is in a full-day camp to support this push. But it's intentional and temporary. She frames her philosophy like this: Overwork can be fun, energizing, even addictive –  if it's seasonal. She's already planned recovery: A two-week log-off in late August. A blocked-out first week of September for reset. Bree continues on the myth of “reasonable” work limits: There's nothing special about 40 or 60 hours. The only reason we cap out is that we literally run out of time. Businesses will take as much as you give, and now AI won't hit those limits. So we have to decide what's enough, not the market. “If we're going to cap work somewhere, why not cap it lower and enjoy our lives?” She reminds us: Deadlines and pace are levers, not laws. You can pull other levers, like starting earlier, extending timelines, or balancing your team differently. Robin shares that his intense physical regimen (handstands, running, cold plunges, hikes) isn't about health prescriptions — it's about joy. That same mindset applies to work. If building his company lights him up, great – but it's a personal choice, not a universal blueprint. Bree underscores that agency is key: the danger arises when a founder's choice to overwork becomes the cultural expectation for everyone else. A CEO has different stakes than employees; assuming equal sacrifice is unfair and toxic. Overwork becomes problematic when choice is removed or social pressure distorts it. They introduce the idea of opportunity cost: Every hour spent grinding is an hour not spent with loved ones, moving your body, or simply resting. Many delay self-care with the illusion they'll "catch up later" – but your body and relationships exist in the now. Robin recalls a brutal 2016: two startups, no time, lost relationships – a visceral reminder that everything has a cost. Work, But Make It Weird (36:39) Robin draws a parallel between their playful ethos and The 4-Hour Workweek: redefining productivity with mischief and authenticity. He asks Bree how leaders can lead differently – more playfully – without violating norms or HR policies. Bree delivers a gem: Her team once suggested that a CEO explain their product to a bunch of 7-year-olds on a picnic blanket. They scripted techy questions ("What's your tech stack?") for the kids, hired a comedy consultant, and filmed the whole thing. It was wild, unexpected… and the most beloved part of an otherwise traditional company week. The magic was in the vulnerability and humanity of the CEO — letting people into his home, sharing space with kids, and showing joy. Bree's advice to leaders: Rearrange the office furniture for no reason. Use Comic Sans in a slide just to annoy a designer. Hide jokes in presentations that only two people will catch. Amuse yourself. That's reason enough, and it models psychological safety and play for everyone else. Robin calls this “the courage to play” – the bravery to step out of line just enough to invite others into the fun. Bree builds on this: We're often afraid that having fun will make us look stupid – but that fear is misplaced. She quotes Amy Poehler: “Nobody looks stupid when they're having fun.” Play is an act of self-assurance, not frivolity. Bree shares a personal win: she turned a project Gantt chart into a hand-drawn arcade-style horse race. No one else joined in, but she loved it. And that joy, in and of itself, is a worthy output. Work According to a 10-Year-Old (42:21.176) Robin asks: How does Bree's daughter describe what she does? Her answer? “You help people work together.” Bree beams — that's not far off. Her daughter has even become her little publicist, linking nail polish to Bree's book and promoting it to strangers. Robin dreams of having kids and wonders about their future in a rapidly evolving world. Bree is grateful her daughter is 10, not 22 – the future feels so uncertain that not knowing is oddly freeing. College may or may not matter; she might be a marketing manager or start an artist retreat in Tuscany. The one stable prediction? Human connection. Jobs built on empathy, presence, and the hug – literal or metaphorical – will always have value. Robin jokes (but not really) about resisting the idea of robot romantic partners. Bree wonders: Will we be seen as biased for resisting AI companionship? Is that the next generational tension? The Only Skill That Might Still Matter in 2040 (43:55.959) Robin asks: What durable skills should Gen Alpha learn in a world of AI and noise? Bree's first thought: “understanding human behavior” — but AI might already be better at that. So she lands on something deeper: The skill of knowing what kind of life you want to lead. It's rarely taught, and sorely needed. That's why so many people wake up at 40, mid-career, with a law degree but no love for the law, and end up switching to something that finally feels like them. Teaching kids to listen to their appetites and curiosities might be the most powerful, future-proof education we can offer. Bree argues that most people were never taught to ask foundational questions about the life they truly want: From childhood to college, we follow preset tracks – curriculum, majors, careers. If you're lucky, you get an elective or two. But real self-inquiry? Rare. We're missing education on key lifestyle preferences: What kind of schedule do I like? What kind of people energize me? Do I want to live in a city or near nature? How much solitude, structure, or chaos is ideal for me? Bree believes this underdeveloped self-awareness is the root cause of burnout: People follow “the path,” get promoted, tick boxes, and still feel unsatisfied. Companies gladly fill the vacuum with corporate ladders and titles – senior director, VP, etc. But we rarely stop to ask: Do I want my boss's job? Her hope for her daughter: not just career success, but aliveness. To develop the instincts and courage to ask: What do I want to get out of my short time here? And to find joy in helping others experience a bit more light while they're here, too. “Who Are You and What Is Your Purpose?” (51:33.666) Robin shares a surprising memory: a third-grade class titled Who Are You and What Is Your Purpose? He doesn't remember the content – school was tough for him then – but the title stuck. It captured something real and deep that still resonates. Bree lights up: “Okay, I take it all back – someone was teaching this, and it was you!” They land on a core truth: that mischief, self-knowledge, and authenticity are deeply intertwined. Knowing who you are is the first step. And honoring the weird, playful part of yourself makes life better — and work richer. Order, Chaos & a Trello Board (53:51) Robin pivots: What did Bree learn about writing through this book, especially while juggling parenting and client work? Bree shares her full process: She started with a Trello board: each list represented a chapter. Over many months, she collected bits of inspiration: ideas from the shower, great quotes, Substack entries, research snippets – all filed as cards. This meant when it came time to write, she wasn't starting from scratch. Her trick: separate idea collection from prose creation. Once she had a "pile of disorganized meat," she could stitch it together with intention. She scheduled 4-hour blocks to write ~1,000 words per session – 50 sessions = a 50,000-word book. She was thoughtful about pacing and reader experience: "That was a heavy part – maybe time for a joke. "I've been light for a while – maybe we need some grounding research." The outcome: a process that respected her creativity, time, and humanity. The Joy of Not Knowing What's Next (54:45.848) Robin asks: Now that the book is out, what's next? Bree doesn't know, and that feels exciting. She's booked through the fall with workshops, consulting, media, and speaking. But beyond that? It's open. She's leaning into serendipity: Publishing the book drew new, inspiring people into her life – people like Robin. She's open to building the classic “author-speaker-consultant” portfolio. Or possibly returning to SYPartners, depending on what fits. Or a totally new path. What makes it possible? A jumpy career history – she's used to leaps. A baseline of financial stability – and a partner with a more predictable job. Uncertainty isn't terrifying when you trust yourself to figure it out. “I can see through October. That's enough.” Robin wraps with heartfelt praise: Few first books feel as personal and reflective of their author as Today Was Fun. Even fewer come with so many shared connections vouching not just for the content, but the author herself. Where to Find Bree Groff (58:13.58) He urges people to read the book and see Bree on stage at the Responsive Conference (Sept 17–18). Bree shares where to find her: Website: breegroff.com Substack, LinkedIn, Instagram – all linked from her site. People Mentioned: Rodrigo Corral Lewis Hyde Neil Gaiman Tony Hsieh James Clear Tucker Max Alex Pang Ryan Holiday Tim Ferriss Amy Poehler Derek Sivers Justin Gordon BJ Fogg Seth Godin Organizations / Companies Zander Media SYPartners Nobel Zappos Microsoft Trello Substack AOL LinkedIn Instagram  

Hour 2 of Baskin and Phelps

In this episode, Savannah doesn't have Julie to kick around this week, so she enlists her Atlanta "hostesses with the mostess" to come on air. Jolene is a fairly recent addition to the queer, gender-expansive community. She and her wife, Nicole, have been married for years, with grown kids, and a now empty-nesting home. What happens when the kids go live their own lives and a laundry SNAFU sends an unsuspecting husband down a strange and exciting road of feminine self-discovery? And, how does a wife, whose panties were accidentally worn by her husband one day, react and come to embrace this new person in her life?-----SAVANNAH HAUK is the author of “Living with Crossdressing: Defining a New Normal” and “Living with Crossdressing: Discovering your True Identity“. While both focus on the male-to-female (mtf) crossdresser, “Defining a New Normal” delves into crossdressing and relationships and “Discovering Your True Identity” looks at the individual crossdressing journey. Her latest achievements are two TEDx Talks, one entitled "Demystifying the Crossdressing Experience" and the other "13 Milliseconds: First Impressions of Gender Expression". Savannah is a male-to-female dual-gender crossdresser who is visible in the Upstate of South Carolina, active in local groups and advocating as a public speaker at LGBTQ+ conferences and workshops across the United States. At the moment, Savannah is working on more books, blogs, and projects focused on letting every crossdresser–young and mature–find their own confidence, expression, identity and voice.IG @savannahhauk | FB @savannahhauk | FB @livingwithcrossdressing | web @livingwithcrossdressing.com------JULIE RUBENSTEIN is a dedicated ally to transgender community and the certified image consultant and co-owner of Fox and Hanger. F&H is a unique service for transgender women and male-to-female crossdressers that creates customized virtual fashion and style “lookbooks”. Julie intuitively connects with each client to find them appropriate clothes, makeup, hair, and shape wear all in alignment with their budget, body type, authentic style and unique personality. Julie also provides enfemme coaching and wardrobe support. Julie has made it her life's work to help MTF individuals feel safe and confident when it comes to their female persona, expression and identity.IG @Juliemtfstyle | FB @foxandhanger | web @FoxandHanger.com

SNAFU with Ed Helms - Season three looks at prohibition in the USA. Pop Culture Parenting - Australian parenting podcast hosted by Dr Billy (a developmental pediatrician) and Nick (a developing parent). Both picks are available wherever you get your podcasts.

I review the Steam version of this fun callback to a classic action game series! P.S. - sorry for the edit SNAFU. I did the best I could.

Hi, SNAFU listeners! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek at iHeartPodcasts' latest release, Hoax! Hoax!: Why do so many people believe things that aren’t true? In an era when claims of “fake news” come as naturally as breathing, and social media allows lies to spread and multiply like viruses, the question feels more relevant than ever. From the teenage girls who convinced Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that fairies were real in the 19th century to “Balloon boy” in 2009, Hoax! will explore the most audacious and ambitious tricks in history. Along the way, we’ll uncover the reasons people let themselves be fooled and how we can live our lives and engage with the media with a more critical eye. Co-hosted by Noble Blood’s Dana Schwartz and pop culture writer Lizzie Logan, we’ll bring you stories of pranks and grifts throughout history so big and bold they make us question why we believe what we believe in the first place. Listen to Hoax! on the iHeartRadio App or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to Snafu w/ Robin Zander.  In this episode, I'm joined by Brian Elliott, former Slack executive and co-founder of Future Forum. We discuss the common mistakes leaders make about AI and why trust and transparency are more crucial than ever. Brian shares lessons from building high-performing teams, what makes good leadership, and how to foster real collaboration. He also reflects on raising values-driven kids, the breakdown of institutional trust, and why purpose matters. We touch on the early research behind Future Forum and what he'd do differently today. Brian will also be joining us live at Responsive Conference 2025, and I'm excited to continue the conversation there. If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, get them here. What Do Most People Get Wrong About AI? (1:53) “Senior leaders sit on polar ends of the spectrum on this stuff. Very, very infrequently, sit in the middle, which is kind of where I find myself too often.”  Robin notes Brian will be co-leading an active session on AI at Responsive Conference with longtime collaborator Helen Kupp. He tees up the conversation by saying Brian holds “a lot of controversial opinions” on AI, not that it's insignificant, but that there's a lot of “idealization.” Brian says most senior leaders fall into one of two camps: Camp A: “Oh my God, this changes everything.” These are the fear-mongers shouting: “If you don't adopt now, your career is over.” Camp B: “This will blow over.” They treat AI as just another productivity fad, like others before it. Brian positions himself somewhere in the middle but is frustrated by both ends of the spectrum. He points out that the loudest voices (Mark Benioff, Andy Jassy, Zuckerberg, Sam Altman) are “arms merchants” – they're pushing AI tools because they've invested billions. These tools are massively expensive to build and run, and unless they displace labor, it's unclear how they generate ROI. believe in AI's potential and  aggressively push adoption inside their companies. So, naturally, these execs have to: But “nothing ever changes that fast,” and both the hype and the dismissal are off-base. Why Playing with AI Matters More Than Training (3:29) AI is materially different from past tech, but what's missing is attention to how adoption happens. “The organizational craft of driving adoption is not about handing out tools. It's all emotional.” Adoption depends on whether people respond with fear or aspiration, not whether they have the software. Frontline managers are key: it's their job to create the time and space for teams to experiment with AI. Brian credits Helen Kupp for being great at facilitating this kind of low-stakes experimentation. Suggests teams should “play with AI tools” in a way totally unrelated to their actual job. Example: take a look at your fridge, list the ingredients you have, and have AI suggest a recipe. “Well, that's a sucky recipe, but it could do that, right?” The point isn't utility,  it's comfort and conversation: What's OK to use AI for? Is it acceptable to draft your self-assessment for performance reviews with AI? Should you tell your boss or hide it? The Purpose of Doing the Thing (5:30) Robin brings up Ezra Klein's podcast in The New York Times, where Ezra asks: “What's the purpose of writing an essay in college?” AI can now do better research than a student, faster and maybe more accurately. But Robin argues that the act of writing is what matters, not just the output. Says: “I'm much better at writing that letter than ChatGPT can ever be, because only Robin Zander can write that letter.” Example: Robin and his partner are in contract on a house and wrote a letter to the seller – the usual “sob story” to win favor. All the writing he's done over the past two years prepared him to write that one letter better. “The utility of doing the thing is not the thing itself – it's what it trains.” Learning How to Learn (6:35) Robin's fascinated by “skills that train skills” – a lifelong theme in both work and athletics. He brings up Josh Waitzkin (from Searching for Bobby Fischer), who went from chess prodigy to big wave surfer to foil board rider. Josh trained his surfing skills by riding a OneWheel through NYC, practicing balance in a different context. Robin is drawn to that kind of transfer learning and “meta-learning” – especially since it's so hard to measure or study. He asks: What might AI be training in us that isn't the thing itself? We don't yet know the cognitive effects of using generative AI daily, but we should be asking. Cognitive Risk vs. Capability Boost (8:00) Brian brings up early research suggesting AI could make us “dumber.” Outsourcing thinking to AI reduces sharpness over time. But also: the “10,000 repetitions” idea still holds weight – doing the thing builds skill. There's a tension between “performance mode” (getting the thing done) and “growth mode” (learning). He relates it to writing: Says he's a decent writer, not a great one, but wants to keep getting better. Has a “quad project” with an editor who helps refine tone and clarity but doesn't do the writing. The setup: he provides 80% drafts, guidelines, tone notes, and past writing samples. The AI/editor cleans things up, but Brian still reviews: “I want that colloquialism back in.” “I want that specific example back in.” “That's clunky, I don't want to keep it.” Writing is iterative, and tools can help, but shouldn't replace his voice. On Em Dashes & Detecting Human Writing (9:30) Robin shares a trick: he used em dashes long before ChatGPT and does them with a space on either side. He says that ChatGPT's em dashes are double-length and don't have spaces. If you want to prove ChatGPT didn't write something, “just add the space.” Brian agrees and jokes that his editors often remove the spaces, but he puts them back in. Reiterates that professional human editors like the ones he works with at Charter and Sloan are still better than AI. Closing the Gap Takes More Than Practice (10:31) Robin references The Gap by Ira Glass, a 2014 video that explores the disconnect between a creator's vision and their current ability to execute on that vision. He highlights Glass's core advice: the only way to close that gap is through consistent repetition – what Glass calls “the reps.” Brian agrees, noting that putting in the reps is exactly what creators must do, even when their output doesn't yet meet their standards. Brian also brings up his recent conversation with Nick Petrie, whose work focuses not only on what causes burnout but also on what actually resolves it. He notes research showing that people stuck in repetitive performance mode – like doctors doing the same task for decades – eventually see a decline in performance. Brian recommends mixing in growth opportunities alongside mastery work. “exploit” mode (doing what you're already good at) and  “explore” mode (trying something new that pushes you) He says doing things that stretch your boundaries builds muscle that strengthens your core skills and breaks stagnation. He emphasizes the value of alternating between  He adds that this applies just as much to personal growth, especially when people begin to question their deeper purpose and ask hard questions like, “Is this all there is to my life or career? Brian observes that stepping back for self-reflection is often necessary, either by choice or because burnout forces a hard stop. He suggests that sustainable performance requires not just consistency but also intentional space for growth, purpose, and honest self-evaluation. Why Taste And Soft Skills Now Matter More Than Ever (12:30) On AI, Brian argues that most people get it wrong. “I do think it's augmentation.” The tools are evolving rapidly, and so are the ways we use them. They view it as a way to speed up work, especially for engineers, but that's missing the bigger picture. Brian stresses that EQ is becoming more important than IQ. Companies still need people with developer mindsets – hypothesis-driven, structured thinkers. But now, communication, empathy, and adaptability are no longer optional; they are critical. “Human communication skills just went from ‘they kind of suck at it but it's okay' to ‘that's not acceptable.'” As AI takes over more specialist tasks, the value of generalists is rising. People who can generate ideas, anticipate consequences, and rally others around a vision will be most valuable. “Tools can handle the specialized knowledge – but only humans can connect it to purpose.” Brian warns that traditional job descriptions and org charts are becoming obsolete. Instead of looking for ways to rush employees into doing more work, “rethink the roles. What can a small group do when aligned around a common purpose?” The future lies in small, aligned teams with shared goals. Vision Is Not a Strategy (15:56) Robin reflects on durable human traits through Steve Jobs' bio by Isaac Walterson. Jobs succeeded not just with tech, but with taste, persuasion, charisma, and vision. “He was less technologist, more storyteller.” They discuss Sam Altman, the subject of Empire of AI. Whether or not the book is fully accurate, Robin argues that Altman's defining trait is deal-making. Robin shares his experience using ChatGPT in real estate. It changed how he researched topics like redwood root systems on foundational structure and mosquito mitigation. Despite the tech, both agree that human connection is more important than ever. “We need humans now more than ever.” Brian references data from Kelly Monahan showing AI power users are highly productive but deeply burned out. 40% more productive than their peers. 88% are completely burnt out. Many don't believe their company's AI strategy, even while using the tools daily. There's a growing disconnect between executive AI hype and on-the-ground experience. But internal tests by top engineers showed only 10% improvement, mostly in simple tasks. “You've got to get into the tools yourself to be fluent on this.” One CTO believed AI would produce 30% efficiency gains. Brian urges leaders to personally engage with the tools before making sweeping decisions. He warns against blindly accepting optimistic vendor promises or trends. Leaders pushing AI without firsthand experience risk overburdening their teams. “You're bringing the Kool-Aid and then you're shoving it down your team's throat.” This results in burnout, not productivity. “You're cranking up the demands. You're cranking up the burnout, too.” “That's not going to lead to what you want either.” If You Want Control, Just Say That (20:47) Robin raises the topic of returning to the office, which has been a long-standing area of interest for him. “I interviewed Joel Gascoyne on stage in 2016… the largest fully distributed company in the world at the time.” He's tracked distributed work since Responsive 2016. Also mentions Shelby Wolpa (ex-Envision), who scaled thousands remotely. Robin notes the shift post-COVID: companies are mandating returns without adjusting for today's realities.” Example: “Intel just did a mandatory 4 days a week return to office… and now people live hours away.” He acknowledges the benefits of in-person collaboration, especially in creative or physical industries. “There is an undeniable utility.”, especially as they met in Robin's Cafe to talk about Responsive, despite a commute, because it was worth it. But he challenges blanket return-to-office mandates, especially when the rationale is unclear. According to Brian, any company uses RTO as a veiled soft layoff tactic. Cites Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy openly stating RTO is meant to encourage attrition. He says policies without clarity are ineffective. “If you quit, I don't have to pay you severance.” Robin notes that the Responsive Manifesto isn't about providing answers but outlining tensions to balance. Before enforcing an RTO policy, leaders should ask: “What problem are we trying to solve – and do we have evidence of it?” Before You Mandate, Check the Data (24:50) Performance data should guide decisions, not executive assumptions. For instance, junior salespeople may benefit from in-person mentorship, but… That may only apply to certain teams, and doesn't justify full mandates. “I've seen situations where productivity has fallen – well-defined productivity.” The decision-making process should be decentralized and nuanced. Different teams have different needs — orgs must avoid one-size-fits-all policies, especially in large, distributed orgs. “Should your CEO be making that decision? Or should your head of sales?” Brian offers a two-part test for leaders to assess their RTO logic: Are you trying to attract and retain the best talent? Are your teams co-located or distributed? If the answer to #1 is yes: People will be less engaged, not more. High performers will quietly leave or disengage while staying. Forcing long commutes will hurt retention and morale. If the answer to #2 is “distributed”: Brian then tells a story about a JPMorgan IT manager who asks Jamie Dimon for flexibility. “It's freaking stupid… it actually made it harder to do their core work.” Instead, teams need to define shared norms and operating agreements. “Teams have to have norms to be effective.” RTO makes even less sense. His team spanned time zones and offices, forcing them into daily hurt collaboration. He argues most RTO mandates are driven by fear and a desire for control. More important than office days are questions like: What hours are we available for meetings? What tools do we use and why? How do we make decisions? Who owns which roles and responsibilities? The Bottom Line: The policy must match the structure. If teams are remote by design, dragging them into an office is counterproductive. How to Be a Leader in Chaotic Times (28:34) “We're living in a more chaotic time than any in my lifetime.” Robin asks how leaders should guide their organizations through uncertainty. He reflects on his early work years during the 2008 crash and the unpredictability he's seen since. Observes current instability like the UCSF and NIH funding and hiring freezes disrupting universities, rising political violence, and murders of public officials from the McKnight Foundation, and more may persist for years without relief. “I was bussing tables for two weeks, quit, became a personal trainer… my old client jumped out a window because he lost his fortune as a banker.” Brian says what's needed now is: Resilience – a mindset of positive realism: acknowledging the issues, while focusing on agency and possibility, and supporting one another. Trust – not just psychological safety, but deep belief in leadership clarity and honesty. His definition of resilience includes: “What options do we have?” “What can we do as a team?” “What's the opportunity in this?” What Builds Trust (and What Breaks It) (31:00) Brian recalls laying off more people than he hired during the dot-com bust – and what helped his team endure: “Here's what we need to do. If you're all in, we'll get through this together.” He believes trust is built when: Leaders communicate clearly and early. They acknowledge difficulty, without sugarcoating. They create clarity about what matters most right now. They involve their team in solutions. He critiques companies that delay communication until they're in PR cleanup mode: Like Target's CEO, who responded to backlash months too late – and with vague platitudes. “Of course, he got backlash,” Brian says. “He wasn't present.” According to him, “Trust isn't just psychological safety. It's also honesty.” Trust Makes Work Faster, Better, and More Fun (34:10) “When trust is there, the work is more fun, and the results are better.” Robin offers a Zander Media story: Longtime collaborator Jonathan Kofahl lives in Austin. Despite being remote, they prep for shoots with 3-minute calls instead of hour-long meetings. The relationship is fast, fluid, and joyful, and the end product reflects that. He explains the ripple effects of trust: Faster workflows Higher-quality output More fun and less burnout Better client experience Fewer miscommunications or dropped balls He also likens it to acrobatics: “If trust isn't there, you land on your head.” Seldom Wrong, Never in Doubt (35:45) “Seldom wrong, never in doubt – that bit me in the butt.” Brian reflects on a toxic early-career mantra: As a young consultant, he was taught to project confidence at all times. It was said that “if you show doubt, you lose credibility,” especially with older clients. Why that backfired: It made him arrogant. It discouraged honest questions or collaborative problem-solving. It modeled bad leadership for others. Brian critiques the startup world's hero culture: Tech glorifies mavericks and contrarians, people who bet against the grain and win. But we rarely see the 95% who bet big and failed, and the survivors become models, often with toxic effects. The real danger: Leaders try to imitate success without understanding the context. Contrarianism becomes a virtue in itself – even when it's wrong. Now, he models something else: “I can point to the mountain, but I don't know the exact path.” Leaders should admit they don't have all the answers. Inviting the team to figure it out together builds alignment and ownership. That's how you lead through uncertainty, by trusting your team to co-create. Slack, Remote Work, and the Birth of Future Forum (37:40) Brian recalls the early days of Future Forum: Slack was deeply office-centric pre-pandemic. He worked 5 days a week in SF, and even interns were expected to show up regularly. Slack's leadership, especially CTO Cal Henderson, was hesitant to go remote, not because they were anti-remote, but because they didn't know how. But when COVID hit, Slack, like everyone else, had to figure out remote work in real time. Brian had long-standing relationships with Slack's internal research team: He pitched Stewart Butterfield (Slack's CEO) on the idea of a think tank, where he was then joined by Helen Kupp and Sheela Subramanian, who became his co-founders in the venture. Thus, Future Forum was born. Christina Janzer, Lucas Puente, and others. Their research was excellent, but mostly internal-facing, used for product and marketing. Brian, self-described as a “data geek,” saw an opportunity: Remote Work Increased Belonging, But Not for Everyone (40:56) In mid-2020, Future Forum launched its first major study. Expected finding: employee belonging would drop due to isolation. Reality: it did, but not equally across all demographics. For Black office workers, a sense of belonging actually increased. Future Forum brought in Dr. Brian Lowery, a Black professor at Stanford, to help interpret the results. Lowery explained: “I'm a Black professor at Stanford. Whatever you think of it as a liberal school, if I have to walk on that campus five days a week and be on and not be Black five days a week, 9 to 5 – it's taxing. It's exhausting. If I can dial in and out of that situation, it's a release.” A Philosophy Disguised as a Playbook (42:00) Brian, Helen, and Sheela co-authored a book that distilled lessons from: Slack's research Hundreds of executive conversations Real-world trials during the remote work shift One editor even commented on how the book is “more like a philosophy book disguised as a playbook.” The key principles are: “Start with what matters to us as an organization. Then ask: What's safe to try?” Policies don't work. Principles do. Norms > mandates. Team-level agreements matter more than companywide rules. Focus on outcomes, not activity.  Train your managers. Clarity, trust, and support start there. Safe-to-try experiments. Iterate fast and test what works for your team. Co-create team norms. Define how decisions get made, what tools get used, and when people are available. What's great with the book is that no matter where you are, this same set of rules still applies.  When Leadership Means Letting Go (43:54) “My job was to model the kind of presence I wanted my team to show.” Robin recalls a defining moment at Robin's Café: Employees were chatting behind the counter while a banana peel sat on the floor, surrounded by dirty dishes. It was a lawsuit waiting to happen. His first impulse was to berate them, a habit from his small business upbringing. But in that moment, he reframed his role. “I'm here to inspire, model, and demonstrate the behavior I want to see.” He realized: Hovering behind the counter = surveillance, not leadership. True leadership = empowering your team to care, even when you're not around. You train your manager to create a culture, not compliance. Brian and Robin agree: Rules only go so far. Teams thrive when they believe in the ‘why' behind the work. Robin draws a link between strong workplace culture and… The global rise of authoritarianism The erosion of trust in institutions If trust makes Zander Media better, and helps VC-backed companies scale — “Why do our political systems seem to be rewarding the exact opposite?” Populism, Charisma & Bullshit (45:20) According to Robin, “We're in a world where trust is in very short supply.” Brian reflects on why authoritarianism is thriving globally: The media is fragmented. Everyone's in different pocket universes. People now get news from YouTube or TikTok, not trusted institutions. Truth is no longer shared, and without shared truth, trust collapses. “Walter Cronkite doesn't exist anymore.” He references Andor, where the character, Mon Mothma, says: People no longer trust journalism, government, universities, science, or even business. Edelman's Trust Barometer dipped for business leaders for the first time in 25 years. CEOs who once declared strong values are now going silent, which damages trust even more. “The death of truth is really the problem that's at work here.” Robin points out: Trump and Elon, both charismatic, populist figures, continue to gain power despite low trust. Why? Because their clarity and simplicity still outperform thoughtful leadership. He also calls Trump a “marketing genius.” Brian's frustration: Case in point: Trump-era officials who spread conspiracy theories now can't walk them back. Populists manufacture distrust, then struggle to govern once in power. He shares a recent example: Result: Their base turned on them. Right-wing pundits (Pam Bondi, Dan Bongino) fanned Jeffrey Epstein conspiracies. But in power, they had to admit: “There's no client list publicly.” Brian then suggests that trust should be rebuilt locally. He points to leaders like Zohran Mamdani (NY): “I may not agree with all his positions, but he can articulate a populist vision that isn't exploitative.” Where Are the Leaders? (51:19) Brian expresses frustration at the silence from people in power: “I'm disappointed, highly disappointed, in the number of leaders in positions of power and authority who could lend their voice to something as basic as: science is real.” He calls for a return to shared facts: “Let's just start with: vaccines do not cause autism. Let's start there.” He draws a line between public health and trust: We've had over a century of scientific evidence backing vaccines But misinformation is eroding communal health Brian clarifies: this isn't about wedge issues like guns or Roe v. Wade The problem is that scientists lack public authority, but CEOs don't CEOs of major institutions could shift the narrative, especially those with massive employee bases. And yet, most say nothing: “They know it's going to bite them… and still, no one's saying it.” He warns: ignoring this will hurt businesses, frontline workers, and society at large. 89 Seconds from Midnight (52:45) Robin brings up the Doomsday Clock: Historically, it was 2–4 minutes to midnight “We are 89 seconds to midnight.” (as of January 2025) This was issued by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, a symbol of how close humanity is to destroying itself. Despite that, he remains hopeful: “I might be the most energetic person in any room – and yet, I'm a prepper.” Robin shared that: And in a real emergency? You might not make it. He grew up in the wilderness, where ambulances don't arrive, and CPR is a ritual of death. He frequently visits Vieques, an island off Puerto Rico with no hospital, where a car crash likely means you won't survive. As there is a saying there that goes, ‘No Hay Hospital', meaning ‘there is no hospital'. If something serious happens, you're likely a few hours' drive or even a flight away from medical care. That shapes his worldview: “We've forgotten how precious life is in privileged countries.” Despite his joy and optimism, Robin is also: Deeply aware of fragility – of systems, bodies, institutions. Committed to preparation, not paranoia. Focused on teaching resilience, care, and responsibility. How to Raise Men with Heart and Backbone (55:00) Robin asks: “How do you counsel your boys to show up as protectors and earners, especially in a capitalist world, while also taking care of people, especially when we're facing the potential end of humanity in our lifetimes?” Brian responds: His sons are now 25 and 23, and he's incredibly proud of who they're becoming. Credits both parenting and luck but he also acknowledges many friends who've had harder parenting experiences. His sons are: Sharp and thoughtful In healthy relationships Focused on values over achievements Educational path: “They think deeply about what are now called ‘social justice' issues in a very real way.” Example: In 4th grade, their class did a homelessness simulation – replicating the fragmented, frustrating process of accessing services. Preschool at the Jewish Community Center Elementary at a Quaker school in San Francisco He jokes that they needed a Buddhist high school to complete the loop Not religious, but values-based, non-dogmatic education had a real impact That hands-on empathy helped them see systemic problems early on, especially in San Francisco, where it's worse. What Is Actually Enough? (56:54) “We were terrified our kids would take their comfort for granted.” Brian's kids: Lived modestly, but comfortably in San Francisco. Took vacations, had more than he and his wife did growing up. Worried their sons would chase status over substance. But what he taught them instead: Family matters. Friendships matter. Being dependable matters. Not just being good, but being someone others can count on. He also cautioned against: “We too often push kids toward something unattainable, and we act surprised when they burn out in the pursuit of that.” The “gold ring” mentality is like chasing elite schools, careers, and accolades. In sports and academics, he and his wife aimed for balance, not obsession. Brian on Parenting, Purpose, and Perspective (59:15) Brian sees promise in his kids' generation: But also more: Purpose-driven Skeptical of false promises Less obsessed with traditional success markers Yes, they're more stressed and overamped on social media. Gen Z has been labeled just like every generation before: “I'm Gen X. They literally made a movie about us called Slackers.” He believes the best thing we can do is: Model what matters Spend time reflecting: What really does matter? Help the next generation define enough for themselves, earlier than we did. The Real Measure of Success (1:00:07) Brian references Clay Christensen, famed author of The Innovator's Dilemma and How Will You Measure Your Life? Clay's insight: “Success isn't what you thought it was.” Early reunions are full of bravado – titles, accomplishments, money. Later reunions reveal divorce, estrangement, and regret. The longer you go, the more you see: Brian's takeaway: Even for Elon, it might be about Mars. But for most of us, it's not about how many projects we shipped. It's about: Family Friends Presence Meaning “If you can realize that earlier, you give yourself the chance to adjust – and find your way back.” Where to Find Brian (01:02:05) LinkedIn WorkForward.com Newsletter: The Work Forward on Substack “Some weeks it's lame, some weeks it's great. But there's a lot of community and feedback.” And of course, join us at Responsive Conference this September 17-18, 2025. Books Mentioned How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen Responsive Manifesto Empire of AI by Karen Hao Podcasts Mentioned The Gap by Ira Glass The Ezra Klein Show Movies Mentioned Andor Slackers Organizations Mentioned: Bulletin of Atomic Scientists McKnight Foundation National Institutes of Health (NIH) Responsive.org University of California, San Francisco

Ed Helms, (The Office, The Hangover) digs into memory, identity, and what it means to truly live in the moment. The two reflect on their years together on The Office, the unexpected emotional impact of a single line from the show's finale, and how chasing success nearly kept them from appreciating the present. Ed opens up about his ADHD diagnosis, his evolving relationship with therapy, and how self-compassion became a necessary survival tool. They also dive into the dangers of social media, the power of vulnerability, and Ed's deeply personal new book and podcast SNAFU. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! ⁠⁠⁠Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.stamps.com/soulboom⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Fetzer

Will, Brad and Fonz reconvene LIVE to go through the wreckage of a bitterly disappointing loss to the Titans and debate possible changes to the Warriors line-up for the clash with the Dolphins before team lists drop.For the best experience, watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnrukNHqXZsBrought to you by the Warriors-mad legends at Kingz Container Crew - head to https://www.kingzcontainercrew.com for all your container packing and unpacking solutions, or hit the Work With Us tab to get a spot in the KCC squad. With the support of the NZ TAB: https://www.tab.co.nz/This is a Frank podcastBig League magazine: https://nrlmags.com/GET YOUR EXCLUSIVE THIS WARRIORS LIFE MERCH: https://thiswarriorslife.digitees.co.nz/SUBSCRIBE TO THIS WARRIORS LIFE ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWarriorsLifeSUBSCRIBE TO THIS WARRIORS LIFE ON SPOTIFY: https://bit.ly/3Dk0NbCFOLLOW THIS WARRIORS LIFE ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM + X: https://linktr.ee/thiswarriorslifeSUPPORT THIS WARRIORS LIFE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/join/thiswarriorslife Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back you hooligans, it's another fun time on the pod. Timmy is one week away from marriage and we cannot wait for the fit reveal. Get your damn tickets to the NOLA wedding shows after the big day. Meanwhile, Tom has a little SNAFU (a term with which he is very familiar with and just taught Tim about) in Dallas. Ole Timmy also performs at a fundraiser with quite the good cause, and Tom gets away with the girlfriend for a few days. Send us a note, leave a comment, tell a friend, we love ya! Email: roommatesinlawcomedy@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roommates_in_law Tommy Brennan: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somekidtommy Tour dates: https://punchup.live/tommybrennan Tim Smith: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oletimmysmith Tour dates: https://linktr.ee/oletimmysmith 

Hi, SNAFU listeners! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek at iHeartPodcasts' latest release, American History Hotline. American History Hotline: Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com. Listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio App or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(SPOILER) Your Daily Roundup covers last nights Bachelor in Paradise, the competition lacked any advantage again, the social media beef that happened during the show, Zoe & Brian editing snafu, Jill is the comedy relief we need, & a hot take (sort of) about Susie.   Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Factor Meals - 50% off your first box PLUS free shipping at https://factormeals.com/realitysteve50off Promo Code: realitysteve50off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ted Danson's digging into conspiracies with actor, comedian, and musician Ed Helms—except these ones are real! Ed talks to Ted about the stranger-than-fiction stories on his history podcast SNAFU, how he bonded with Mike Schur during the making of The Office, and why he was scared for his parents to see The Hangover. Bonus: Ted makes Ed do his impersonation of Shelby Foote. To help those affected by the Southern California wildfires, make a donation to World Central Kitchen today.Like watching your podcasts?  Visit http://youtube.com/teamcoco to see full episodes.

Ed Helms is known as a comedian, actor and writer—and also as an investigator of history's biggest gaffes. The host of the podcast SNAFU joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the cats that were trained for the CIA, a plan to nuke the moon, and other bad ideas that never saw fruition (thankfully). His book is called “SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups.”This episode originally aired, May 2nd 2025. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Most books and resources devoted to professional development focus on strategies that faculty can use to create a positive learning environment for our students, but generally assume that everything will work as expected. In this episode, Jessamyn Neuhaus joins us to discuss her new book, Snafu Edu, which acknowledges the reality that everything does not always work as we hope that it will, and suggests strategies for addressing common situations in which things go wrong. Jessamyn is the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and Professor in the School of Education at Syracuse University. She is a historian and the editor of Teaching History: A Journal of Methods. Jessamyn has published extensively in scholarly publications in the areas of history, pedagogy, and cultural studies. She is a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Teaching. Jessamyn is the author of  Geeky Pedagogy: A Guide for Intellectuals, Introverts, and Nerds Who Want to be Effective Teachers, and the editor of Picture a Professor: Interrupting Biases about Faculty and Increasing Student Learning. Her newest book, Snafu Edu: Teaching and Learning When Things Go Wrong in the College Classroom will be released shortly by the Oklahoma University Press series on Teaching, Engaging, and Thriving in Higher Education, edited by James Lang and Michelle Miller. A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.

The Alan Cox Show

The Alan Cox ShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may know Ed Helms from The Daily Show, The Office and The Hangover movies. But the actor and comedian is also a history buff. And he thinks there's a lot we can learn – and laugh about – by delving into history's greatest, zaniest and funniest screw-ups. Helms explores those stories in his podcast and book SNAFU. He joins Piya Chattopadhyay to share some of his favourites – from a CIA plot to make Fidel Castro's beard fall out, to a nuclear scare in Canada where a 20-something future-president named Jimmy Carter saved the day.

In this episode, Lesley Logan talks with Stephanie O'Dea—New York Times bestselling author, viral blogger, and now a slow living coach—about what it really means to live intentionally. From building a wildly successful crockpot recipe blog to burning out on hustle culture, Stephanie shares how tuning in, slowing down, and redefining success helped her create a life she actually wants to live. This is a must-listen for anyone who's tired of chasing someone else's version of success and ready to start trusting themselves again.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:How Stephanie's slow cooker challenge became a bestselling brand.Why she walked away from hustle culture to embrace slow living.How redefining success helped her build a life she actually enjoys.Why slow living isn't about doing less, but about doing what matters.How to release guilt and build intentional routines aligned with your values. Episode References/Links:Stephanie O'Dea's Website - https://stephanieodea.comFree Daily Journaling Worksheet - stephanieodea.com/dailyStephanie O'Dea's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stephanieodeaStephanie O' Dea Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/StephanieODea.authorSlow Living Book by Stephanie O'Dea - https://a.co/d/dK5en1ySlow Living Podcast - https://stephanieodea.com/podcastGretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin - https://a.co/d/gQ5ToVpGuest Bio:Stephanie O'Dea is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and coach specializing in Slow Living. With a background in social work, early childhood education, and trauma-informed yoga, she offers a holistic approach to wellness. Through her books, coaching, and Slow Living podcast, Stephanie helps people slow down, reconnect with their purpose, and create sustainable balance. Her latest book, Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World, reflects her mission. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, three daughters, and a basset hound named Sheldon. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/ Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/ Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Stephanie O'Dea 0:00  Slow is simply look only within and it's the idea that you actually have the answers, and you don't need to be saved. You don't need bro culture or internet marketers to tell you what you should be doing. If you're slow and calm, the answers kind of bubble up.Lesley Logan 0:19  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 1:01  Hey, Be It babe, how are you? Okay, I promise you you've never heard about a living like this before, and our guest today is like the queen of what she does. I'm gonna let her tell you what she does, but I'm gonna tell you right now, I wanna live next to this woman. I want her to be my neighbor. I want her to be a friend that I can just call. I am going to save this episode just so I can hear the end of it over and over and over again, especially on the days that I need to hear it. You guys, Stephanie O'Dea is our guest today, and if you think that name sounds familiar, it's because it will. You'll hear about that in a second. And I am just so obsessed. This interview is kind of one of the reasons why I'm like, oh my god. I love that I get to do this podcast. I am feel like the luckiest girl in the world, because I get to learn from these amazing guests, and then I get to share that with you. And so y'all, buckle up, take a deep breath, slow down. This episode is gonna rock your world in the best way. Lesley Logan 1:58  All right, Be It babe. This is gonna be really exciting. I think we've never had this topic before. I'm always interested when there's something new, a new way for us to be it till we see it. And today's guest is Stephanie O'Dea. Can you tell us, everyone, who you are and what you rock at?Stephanie O'Dea 2:11  Absolutely, I'm Stephanie O'Dea, and I write, coach, teach and speak about all things slow living. Lesley Logan 2:18  Okay, right. Stephanie O'Dea 2:20  I know. I promise I'm not just sitting on the couch, twiddling my thumbs, eating Bonbons, doing nothing. I promise there's a method to the madness. Lesley Logan 2:28  Yeah, obviously we're all intrigued, like, what is slow living? But maybe we need to know what that is before we can figure out how you got to doing slow living. So we're also on the same page, yeah.Stephanie O'Dea 2:38  Yeah. So I look at slow living as meeting your goals, all of them, your personal and your professional goals, in a slow, steady and sustainable way. And if we can circle and highlight and underline and put some pointers at sustainable, that's what it's at. Because I think we all know the feeling of being gung-ho. And I'm going to do this now, and I'm gonna eat this way, and I'm gonna work out this way, and I'm gonna get up at at 3 a.m. and I'm gonna have rock star abs at the end of the week. Lesley Logan 3:09  Oh yeah. Stephanie O'Dea 3:09  Yeah. And spoiler alert, if you're listening, chances are you're a human and not a robot. And well, who knows, the robots may be taking over, but in real life, people have ups and downs and all arounds and variables they can't control. So slow living, first off, has an acronym attached to it. I'm a super nerd when it comes to acronyms, and that's because my grandpa, when I was about seven, told me that the word SNAFU had the F word hiding in it, so it's situation normal, all effed up, like he told me, he told me, when I was seven, he actually said that, the bad word out loud. And I'm like, grown ups hide bad words in regular words. And so, like, since then, I've nerded out with acronyms. So slow living, slow is simply look only within and it's the idea that you actually have the answers, and you don't need to be saved. You don't need bro culture or internet marketers to tell you what you should be doing. If you're slow and calm, the answers kind of bubble up. So it's a big part of listening to your inner voice, to your inner gut, to your intuition, and then taking action on it. So the three-step success formula is mindset plus action plus consistency equals success. And so the new, yeah, the new book is broken up that way. And the idea is, when you're in a good mood, just ask yourself, like, what's the next best step for me to take? And then go quiet and listen, because you know the answer is inside. The answer is not going to be on a doom stroll of TikTok. It's legit inside of you, and you know what you're supposed to do. And then just do the thing over and over and over again, and even when you don't want to. Lesley Logan 5:03  I love this so much because I love that you put consistency in there. The only way to be consistent is if you actually are at a pace that you can consistently do. We were in Singapore the other day. I picked a bike taxi and the car, I was trying to figure out what's going on because the guy was driving the car, it would go, whoo. You know where your whole body moves like someone's taking off too fast at a red light, and then it would slow down, and then it would go like that again. And was like, literally for 16 minutes, the body was going like this, and like this, and like this. We were on the freeway, but I felt like urgency to leave the intersection, and then a hard -ish break but not a full break. And I got a headache. I got sick. Brad felt nauseous. I was like, I hope we don't get that cab going to dinner. Like, I cannot be in that car again. That's the idea of you can't be consistent at a pace like that, because you can't, your body doesn't do well, your brain doesn't do well. And so being consistent is so key to having the things that we want. But I also love you add, like, listening to yourself, because it's really hard to do that when you're kind of going too fast, like, you don't have time when everything is chaotic. How did you get into doing this? Like, were you born working slow? Stephanie O'Dea 6:07  No, no, I'll tell you my back story, but I got to tell you, my mom drives that way, and now my kids don't want to get in the car with her. They're like, I always feel sick when I drive with grandma so. Lesley Logan 6:17  Okay, so there's, I literally was looking at his leg. I'm like, is he doing this, or does he is it like the car is like, oh, there's a car that's too close. Like, I don't, could not figure out what's going on. Stephanie O'Dea 6:26  I think my mom is full acceleration, and then foot off, and then full acceleration, and then foot off. And there's a happy medium there. So what's interesting about my backstory is I got started writing online crock pot recipes, crock pot slow cooker recipes. Lesley Logan 6:42  Okay, I definitely was wondering if slow living meant, like, like, slow cooker. Stephanie O'Dea 6:46  Yeah, so, so, yeah. So, I'm very Google-able, but I got my start in 2008 because I made a New Year's resolution to follow through on using my crock pot slow cooker every day for a year and writing about it online. And it, it took off. It went viral. Lesley Logan 7:02  I've heard of you. You are Google-able.Stephanie O'Dea 7:07  Yeah. So, when (inaudible) funny, because 2008 depending on how old you are when you're listening, that could sound like a long time ago or not that long time ago, but at the time it legit, was the first crock pot recipe site written by like a normal person, and it went crazy. I made yogurt. I invented, like, quote-unquote, invented lots of things, and because of that, I ended up on national television multiple times. Good Morning America, Rachel Ray Show did all the magazines and got a book deal. It worked great. At its peak, it was making $1,000 a day just in banner ads, and it was amazing. So the good news is is I understand mathing and I understand the Internet, so I knew what goes up must eventually come down. And so that absolutely did in about 2016 with the Instant Pot. And so my book publishers and agent, they're like, you should translate all your recipes. So I bought one, and I hated the thing. I get it. The tech part is fun. Yay for the scientists for discovering that they can cook a frozen chicken in 45 minutes. But for me, what I liked about the crock pot is I could put it on the morning, I'm highly caffeinated and coherent, I push a button and then I never think about dinner again. So it eliminated a whole bunch of decision fatigue, and it just was lovely, because cooking is great, but I'm not going to get a Zen moment chopping an onion. I'm just not. Some people are, great, no, but for me, it's a chore. Lesley Logan 8:41  I see you. You are seen.Stephanie O'Dea 8:44  Yeah. So anyway, I got fired. I got fired, and I had this like, sort of voice of God, of like, hey Steph, just because you can do something fast, it doesn't mean you should. And so I spent some time away from the internet, I sort of unplugged everything for a while. And one really lovely, amazing thing about passive income is even when you're not working, it works for you. So I was in a very privileged state that I could kind of pontificate what the next best step for me to take was, and I realized that following through on my resolution, following through on all of the goals that I've always had for myself has been my secret sauce. Writing crock pot recipes was really just a way to feed the internet. And so that's how the slow living podcast got started, and how I started working with women from all over the world to help them meet their goals in a slow, steady and sustainable way.Lesley Logan 9:40  I'm obsessed with this because I think it's because here's what I love about this. I was like, Oh, I wonder if slow living means, like, slow cooker. And then I was, I don't even use my Instapot. Do you see how, like, I put the two together, even though they're not. Thank you for educating me. I clearly.Stephanie O'Dea 9:52  Gold stars, Lesley, gold stars. Lesley Logan 9:53  I am not the person who cooks in this household. I think that's pretty evident. I was just like, oh. And then I but I was reading all the stuff and I was like, oh, but, like, we're talking about goals, and I'm like, totally in on this, how this works. So, but I love that the intuitiveness was there, so that's really great. But the other reason I love this is that you are the perfect example of how you get started and what you have done in the past. That's not that it has to ever end, but also that you can evolve from it. And it doesn't have to be like the next pie over, which is the Instant Pot. It could be like all the way on the other side of the pie and be like something that's different, but they're not. They're the same. Stephanie O'Dea 10:27  No, absolutely I and it's funny. So I have three kids, and I'm constantly telling them like you are your own person, in your own entity. Sure, Dad and I might have ideas for you, but you get to decide. And every year, people get so excited about New Year's resolutions and different things and the idea that they can reinvent themselves, and then they have the first few dismissive thoughts of, well, I can't do that, or, Oh, this is too hard. And so then they give up. And the fact is, if we're lucky, life is long. Sure, you could get hit by a bus tomorrow, but don't live your life thinking that instead, where are you going to be in your 50s, your 60s and your 70s? I mean, I work with women of all ages and stages. If you want to crawl around on the floor in your 70s with your grandchildren and do yoga and have, I don't know, prize-winning tulips. Start now. Start setting the stage now, and plant those metaphoric seeds to get you from where you are to where you want to goLesley Logan 11:29  You are correct. As a Pilates instructor, one of the things that people like when should I get started? I'm like, well, yesterday was a better day, but that's fine, we'll start now. Because I've had people come to me at 70 going, I'm in aches and pains. I've got this thing, and now I've got a hump on my back, and I'm like, so the time to prevent the hump was like, 20 years ago. So there's not much I can do now that you're in that position, but here's what I can do to keep you upright so you can play with your grandchildren. And people don't realize, and they wait until they realize they weren't hit by a bus earlier, and then they're like, now it changes. And that's not that it's ever too late, but there's just some things that if we got started sooner and when we went more consistently, we went more slowly, we took our time handling the obstacles and the setbacks and reevaluating that we would actually get to where we wanted to go, I guess, faster.Stephanie O'Dea 12:15  So it's true. I mean, it's legit. The metaphor of the tortoise and the hare just slow, steady and stay on track. And so that's why I like that mindset, action, consistency formula is when you're in a good mood, don't make up rules for yourself when you're in a bad mood, because you're just punishing yourself. But when you're in a good mood, decide what the next steps are, and a lot of it is putting blinders on and not worrying about what other people are doing. So if you're listening to this right now and you're thinking, well, Lesley got to be in Singapore last week, and I'm wasn't in Singapore last week, and my life sucks. So okay, you are playing your own game. So again, because I am such an acronym junkie, I rewrote FOMO to figure only myself out you play your game, and if Singapore is not in your cards right now, okay, great, but maybe put it on a vision board and maybe start saving and start pivoting to have that come to fruition. But it doesn't mean you've done anything wrong if you never had the thought like six or eight months ago or a year ago when Lesley decided to go to Singapore, you weren't there yet. So if you're there now, okay, great, start pivoting and make that way. And same with the hump on your back. If you're like, oh, okay, I do want to be that person in my 70s. But actually really like my nightly wine, and I like doom scrolling, and I caught up on all of the seasons of younger and now I don't know what to do with myself. Okay, then, then go do some stretches and start working on it in a very slow, steady and sustainable way. Lesley Logan 13:55  You're absolutely correct. And I have a funny story about the Singapore thing. You guys, normally, when we fly to Cambodia for our retreat, we always choose the shortest. Doesn't everybody, when you want to go, you want to get to where you want to go when you're traveling. So it's like the shortest. Well, ever since the pandemic and the way the flight paths have changed, it has been twice as much to fly to Cambodia as it usually is, and it irritates me, because I know it's not that expensive. Double is not the right price. So my assistant presented like three options, and the two shortest options were $1,500 per person, round trip, 23 hours of travel, still a lot, still full day, exhausting. But then there was a flight that was 31 hours of travel. It was $500 cheaper per person, and it had a 13 hour layover in Singapore. And in Singapore, you can leave the airport. You can apply for the day visa. It's so easy to do. You do it online. And we were landing in time to go to dinner, and I was like, wouldn't it be cool to go to Singapore for dinner? And here's the thing you guys, it wasn't about saving $500 it was about enjoying the trip to Cambodia. Because I'm like, this is I don't I'm so tired of being tired when I get there. And so I thought, let's just see what it's like. Instead of having six hours, which is not enough time to leave an airport and just walk, do laps in the airport, what if we had 13 and we went to dinner and we slept in a hotel and then we got up and we flew the next place? You guys. I loved it. I loved it. I had two on the way into Cambodia. I did dinner in Singapore on the way out. We did dinner in Singapore. Fabulous. I felt like it was so luxurious. It felt so it felt so it felt like I was like a first class traveler. So anyways, that's my share on evaluating doing things a little differently. Your FOMO, like, figure my own self out. I'm tired when I get there. What? What can I do? So that's my little tip there. But I want to highlight that you said, make the decisions when you're in a good mood, because you're correct. People are punishing themselves when they're like, you don't feel good, you feel exhausted, you hate your job, and then you're like, I'm gonna do this. And it's like, it is a punishment. I never thought about it like that. Stephanie O'Dea 15:49  Yeah, no, it's true. I mean, and especially since you're in the fitness realm, the idea of, I'm gonna force myself to do this workout every day, no matter what, with the idea that if I skip a day because I'm sick or I don't feel well, or the toilet overflowed, or the kid had a bloody nose in the middle of the night, I failed. No, no. So I tell people all the time, if you're embarking on a 30-day challenge and it takes you 45 days to do the 30 days, you're not graded, you're not to be in trouble, you're the grown up in the room. You only fail when you completely and totally decide to give up. But but keep going and think of yourself at, again, as that 70 year old, you would be way more proud of yourself for keeping going, even if you have to take a day off here and there. And that's a big part of the sustainability, part of slow living. Lesley Logan 16:48  During the pandemic. I got really interested in, like, some people create habits, and how do they not I don't know if you've read Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies, like having meet expectations. So I thought, well, I'm an upholder. That's easy for me. But what about the rest of the people? As a fitness person who wants people to move, and I always tell people do what's possible. Finishing is optional. Why aren't they listening? Why can't they listen and what's going on? And I got to sit at BJ Fogg, and he talked about these tiny habits. And it's crazy to see how people legitimately cannot do the tiny habit. They actually are like, it's not enough to just put my shoes on. It's like, but you don't go to the gym now. So you're asking yourself to put out the gym clothes early. Pack a gym bag, get everything on, drive to the gym, find a parking space, enter the gym, put the bag in a locker, do the work of oh, you forgot your towel, so now you're gonna be late for work. Otherwise, now you have to leave early, and it's just all we're asking ourselves to do such huge leaps and bounds before we've actually created the ability to do that consistently, and then we fail ourselves. And it's like even when you went to school, you didn't get the F until the end of this the whole semester to get a better grade.Stephanie O'Dea 17:57  Yeah, no, it's true. I mean, when people come to me with those kind of obstacles. First off, I definitely have squirrel brain. I have lots and lots and lots of markers of ADHD. And every time I talk to anyone, because I can talk myself well, I write and I speak so I know how to talk to people. And they're like, you don't have ADHD. I'm like, that's fine. Just, just help me, but, but the only reason I found out is I've got one in grad school, and so she's applying for law school, and so needing to sit for the LSATs and that kind of stuff. All of these things came up. I'm like, there's nothing wrong with you. You're just like me. And I'm like, oh, wait.Lesley Logan 18:33  Right, right. Stephanie O'Dea 18:34  But anyway, as far as that, when I'm working with people who can't break things down in a bite-sized chunk, and they get overwhelmed. Or halfway through the assignment, they're already moved on to something else. We gamify the system. And so earlier, when I gave you gold stars, I legit hand out gold stars if you did something, give yourself a sticker, like, like those old school chore charts on the wall where you're giving yourself a happy face absolutely pay off and then reward yourself. Maybe not if you're trying to do a fitness routine, maybe not with like a hot fudge sundae, but maybe with a pedicure, or maybe with an afternoon off work for no reason except for you want to take a really cozy Bougie nap, and you you have your your weighted throw, and then you're just so happy. That is a reward, and that's something that you can look forward to, but definitely game the system. Lesley Logan 19:33  Yeah, I love gamify. I love a reward, or like something tactical that you can do, like some sort of celebration. But I also want to highlight hi, I also was someone who didn't think that ADHD, and I was like, oh, my husband, my husband has ADHD, right? Because that's where all the symptoms. And he, like, is legit, like, model of a male with ADHD. And we were applying for a business license, type of a thing, like some sort of certificate, and the woman who files the paperwork, I met her, and so we're talking, and she like, okay, you have your women in business certification I'm like, yeah, we've got that. She's like, okay, where's your disability certificate? And I'm like, I'm so sorry I don't have a disability. And she goes, Well, you have ADHD. And I was like, oh, my husband does, but I own the business for the women in business owners, so I don't have she's like, no. She's like, you just haven't been tested girl. You have ADHD. I can see all of it. And I started looking up women signs of ADHD. I absolutely have it, so I'm with you, and we forget how we figured out how we can make our lives work. And so I just want to highlight to anyone listening, if you have ADHD, and that's a reason why it's a problem for you to, like, finish the thing you've started. There is a superpower that you can tap into once you acknowledge it and like you look into how can you work best for yourself? And it's, it is not through punishment ever. Stephanie O'Dea 20:47  Yeah, no, it's, it's celebrating your process. So because I'm a writer, this is the 11th book I've written, I know my process, so I no longer beat myself up. I know for a fact I don't miss deadlines, so that's great news for me, but I also know that I'm not linear. I am up and down and all around and if I have a brainstorm at 3am it's better for me to get up and write any of those how to be a successful published author checklists that they show on the internet for clickbait. That's not me, and that's not really any of us. That's marketing hype that's trying to get you to click. If you've been online long enough I'm certain you have clicked on something only because you were feeling a little anxious, maybe a little vulnerable, and you're like, oh, the answers to my prayer. But the fact is, the answers are inside and with you. And it's not going to come from doom scrolling TikTok. It's going to come when you're calm and you're in a good mood and you're like, okay, I am not feeling the best right now. Not going to gaslight myself. I legit do not feel good in my brain and my body right now. What is the next best step for me to take and then going quiet and then doing what it is, chances are your brain is going to say you need more water, you need to cut back on wine. You need to stay away from Jane down the street, because she makes you feel really shitty. Can I say shitty? Sorry.Lesley Logan 22:19  No, I love it. We love it. And, yeah, stay away from Jane. Stephanie O'Dea 22:23  Yeah, no, just like you, you know, you know. And I get it because, I mean, I met Lesley online. We're all trying to carve our own little niche out. But the thing is, is you're more vulnerable and you're more susceptible to following advice made up by, by stupid businessy. I'm gonna say men, just for lack of a better term, bro marketers, when you're feeling down on yourself. Lesley Logan 22:50  Yeah, it's really interesting, because I, just before I came on this I had a YouTube comment, and it was on a video that was like the best Reformers to buy for home, and I, look, I hate the title because it's that clickbaity title, but I promised myself, okay, I have to do the titles that they want, because these are the things that people will click on. But I can be honest, right? And so I was completely honest about how I don't love the Reformers that are $300 because I know that a quality Reformer costs $4,800 why do they cost $4,800 because they're not made of plastic, because they're made of metal, they're made of wood. It takes, it takes a long time to make them. And they last decades, right? They last decades. And these cheaper ones, while they look very similar to the ones you're seeing in studios, I don't know what the weight requirements are. I don't know if you can stand on them and they have, I don't know that they have the same safety mechanism. So then you're going to take my classes or someone else's classes, and, like, I don't know. So I was very clear of like, here's what I would say. So it ended with, there is not an affordable one. Like, it just isn't. But here are all the things you can do. So this person wrote, okay, so great, so just don't give me a cheaper option so that I could modify the exercises to do the thing. And she was on and on, and she was so angry with me that I wouldn't give her a cheap one to buy. So I actually wrote back right away, because I was like, so you need a car. You need a car that can get you to work, and the car that would be the best gas mileage for you, that would not require any maintenance, it actually has the best safety standards. It's outside of your budget right now. So instead, you would like me to sell you a car that gets the worst gas mileage, that needs maintenance every week, that breaks down on you on your way to work. And so instead of actually getting to work on time, you're now taking the bus anyways, when you could have just waited and taken the bus in the first place until you could afford the car that has the best gas all these things. I'm so sorry I refuse to sell you crap, and I know that's frustrating, but no, I don't want you modifying exercises to make the equipment, because then you're not gonna get the benefits. It just makes me think of this stuff like people. Have gotten to this place that now have gotten so they've now been trained so much by the clickbait they want to be sold the quick, fast thing, but that's not gonna get what you want. So I'm not gonna sell it to you. And it's really, really hard because I you and I are people like we want to be honest with people on the internet. I want a relationship with you whenever I tell you that this is the right thing, that you can trust that it's the right thing. And it's really hard in a world everyone's go so fast they want the thing today, and they'll rather buy the cheap thing than the thing that will get them there. How do you get people out of wanting it quickly? I guess we can help people who don't want to be helped. Stephanie O'Dea 25:35  Yeah. So, so we're recording right now, and I know you are captivating the the video. So this is a standard bedroom that happens to have cabinetry filled filled with crock pots, by the way. But on the other side of the room, I have a framed print, and it says, discipline is just choosing between what you want now and what you want most. And that's the thing. Slow your roll, peeps, slow your roll and have a little bit of discipline. We teach children that patience is a virtue. Practice that be that there's a reason why Buddhist monks and people who meditate a lot and do lots of yoga and meditation are calmer is because they have quieted their squirrel brain, and they have delayed gratification enough to know that while sitting in a meditative stance for 10, 20, 30 minutes isn't as quick as a fix as I don't know, taking some drug or down and a half bottle of Wine, but the end goal, if you do it over and over and over again, is so much better. So I'm going to repeat it. Discipline is choosing between what you want now versus what you want most, and keep that most in your mind when you are scrolling, so then you can have that thought of great for them, not for me, right? Great for them, good everyone's everyone is allowed to make money. Everyone's allowed to make money. Great for them. Good for them. They're, they're gaming the algorithm. Good for them, good for them, good for them, not for me. And then now, now I'm going to coach you for a second, Lesley, because I think you're adorbs. I too, get the click bait thing. I know how to play the game. I know when I was writing recipes that it would be way better for me to say this is the world's easiest and best pot roast recipe you'll ever have, better than your grandma blah blah blah. And the fact is pot roast is pot roast, is pot roast, is pot roast. And if you put in paprika versus liquid smoke or blah blah blah, it doesn't really truly matter in the great, big, huge scheme of things. But the hope is you get someone to click, and then that someone gets to know you and see your video and read your writing and connect with you and say, Okay, I get what Lesley is doing here. It's fine. I'm going to cut her some slack. And that's another great, big thing that I would love for us to do online is to remember that there are real humans there, and give people the gift of grace. And sometimes we mess up. I messed up, and the hope is that when I do, I apologize and I acknowledge it, and then I try and better myself. If I don't try and better myself, that's where the problem is, and that's where the disconnect is, and that's not you. You are amazing. Lesley Logan 28:26  Yeah. Well, thank you, and thank you for seeing me, and it is so interesting world out there that we live in. I like to think that everyone's doing it the best way that they can when they know how, you know, I would give that grace, and I think that the more of us who could do that would be the world be a better place. But I think that, you know, we have to just keep doing it. And I agree, like, when we all make mistakes and it's like you get to apologize, and if people can't accept that, it's almost better that they we find out now so they can go away.Stephanie O'Dea 28:53  Totally. It's funny. I'm intolerant now to people who can't own mistakes and apologize and so so again, back to my crazy ego. My crazy acronyms. The acronym for ego is Edging God Out. And regardless of your religious belief, the idea that you are the Almighty and know everything and aren't humble and don't have enough humility to acknowledge a mistake is a big problem. So so check your ego. Just check it, because everybody's shit stinks. They really do.Lesley Logan 29:26  I'm obsessed with you already. You mentioned stopping the scroll a few times, and I think that that is definitely a hard problem for a lot of people, like even people who don't even have to post on the internet for a job. My mom does not have to post on the internet at all, and she but she has a scrolling problem, right? And I even, because I have to open up and talk to the people and respond to comments and all that stuff, I found myself yesterday picking up my phone after the end of the workday to go check and I was like, hold on, I'm not working right now. And I had to, like, literally, put my phone across the room and pick up a book instead. And I was like, what would make reading this book more pleasurable? I liked it all the things, you know, heard different guests say, oh, I'll make it more pleasurable if I was sitting in front my red light. Okay, I'll sit from my red light. I'm gonna do this thing. And I read a book for like, 45 minutes. It was so lovely. It felt so good. I went to bed. I slept so good last night because I did not scroll. But I think it's an addiction that people have to just pick up when they're bored. So how do you stop your scroll? Stephanie O'Dea 30:22  Yeah, so, so first off, you are definitely not alone, and I've been working online for probably a lot longer than you are, because I'm probably a lot older than you are. So one thing I needed to do for myself, and this is only for people who work online, probably is it's not on my phone. My phone is for phone stuff, and work stays work stays on the computer. So and for me, social media is work. It's not pleasurable. It's not fun. In real life, I want to talk to my friends on the phone, text with my friends in real life. So there's that. And then as far as normal, regular, everyday people who have the old school FOMO, and think that they will miss out on staff, schedule it in, time block it. So I'm a huge proponent of time blocking, and the way I teach it is to decide, on purpose that your day is kind of set up like a school day. So think back in high school you are not going to finish your history book in first period. You're just not but the good news is, you'll have first period every day, so schedule in what it is you want to do every day, so you don't have that feeling of having to catch up, because spoiler alert, you will never catch up on social media, they have designed it to be never, ever, ever ending. But if your allotted amount of time, and my suggestion, would be in 10-minute chunks. 10 minutes, set a timer. Love bossing Siri around. She will just set timers for me all day long, and then scroll, do what it is you need to do, and then step away with the idea that it's going to be okay, because you're going to revisit this time block again tomorrow, and it's fine. Lesley Logan 32:01  Oh my gosh. Stephanie O'Dea, I just, I love you, and I love that. I love that permission. Like, it's not like, don't do it. Or it's not like, only you get five minutes a day. It's like, oh, just schedule a few 10-minute blocks. And it's true. You guys walk around this house at any moment. Brad is like, Siri, set a timer for seven minutes, Siri, remind me to do this tomorrow like. Stephanie O'Dea 32:24  I love Siri. I So, so first off, I love the idea of a live-in personal helper. So the fact is that she's in my back pocket all the time is amazing and and I'm very nice to her in case the robots do take over the world. I thank her. Yeah, tell her she's pretty Yeah, just in case you never know. Lesley Logan 32:41  You are better than I. Brad was talking to my Siri the other day, and he was connected to my phone, and he was like, hey Siri, and he's like, she started answering like I told her to fuck off the other day, and she's not come back. So I think that's my fault. You know, when, like, she wasn't understanding me, she kept talking when I wasn't winder and I was just like, fuck off, and she never came back. So I, I don't know. I don't know. Stephanie O'Dea 33:06  Okay, so does that mean you have to, like, go back in the settings and actually turn her back on?Lesley Logan 33:09  I think so. I think that's where we're at. There's an update that's gonna happen tonight. I'm hoping she goes back. At any rate.Stephanie O'Dea 33:18  If she's listening to me right now. I love you, Siri. I'm like, thank you. You're fine.Lesley Logan 33:23  They are and you are correct. I need to be nicer, because the robots are going to take over, and hopefully they just give us permission to keep doing what we love. All right. I could talk to you for hours, but we're gonna take a brief break and then find out how people can find you, follow you and work with you. Lesley Logan 33:38  All right, Stephanie O'Dea, where do you hang out? Where can people just become a more obsessed with you?Stephanie O'Dea 33:44  So I'm a real person. You can email me at any time, and I will write back to you, steph@stephanieodea.com, that's the main site is stephanieodea.com. I do have a slow living podcast, and the new book is called Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World, and that's wherever books are sold. Lesley Logan 34:02  Oh my God, I'm gonna read it. I'm so excited. I feel like, so blessed that we all got to talk like, even think about this and your acronyms are amazing. They're, I mean, you know that already, but they are amazing. And I know several listeners who, because I, I'm lucky enough to get to meet our listeners all the time, and they mention different episode numbers and like, I know this is one that they're going to use, because there's such tangible things that they can do to just take time to listen their body and do what's next? What's the best next thing? You've given us a lot, but you know, we love the the Be It Action Items, the bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted, steps people can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us? Stephanie O'Dea 34:40  So it's interesting. Before we hit record you were talking about, don't tell people to journal unless you like, tell them how to journal. So I have a guided daily journaling worksheet, and you can download it. It's super, super free, stephanieodea.com/daily D- A-I-L-Y and and people write to me and they're like. I don't do anything else except for this worksheet, and what it does is it helps, again, get you in the right mindset, because it's putting you in a good mood because you're journaling, and then it's helping you move forward on all of your personal and professional goals. So the action steps and then doing it every day, using that muscle creates the consistency that you need for success. Lesley Logan 35:19  So the reason I say I tell guests like, please don't tell them to not journal, because some people say just journal every day. And then I get what do I journal? The reason I know that this is true is because my therapist had told me back in 2020 when I started therapy, I was like, think this is going to be a really long time that we're doing this, so I think I'm going to need to do some therapy. And she said, okay, I want you to journal every day. So the next week I got on, I was like, so what was I supposed to put in the journal? How do I start? Is it a letter? Because I'm an overthinker and a recovering perfectionist, and so I love that you are like, here is a simple worksheet that you can do to journal, because it gives people an idea of how to make the journal work for them. Because I do believe that journaling works. You just, if you don't know what you're doing, it can feel overwhelming.Stephanie O'Dea 36:00  Absolutely and what I like about this worksheet, and it's, it's a printable, guys, so people have tried to put it in a Google form, and that kind of stuff, your brain is different when you're using a pen and paper. And so that's why there's definitely a method to the madness. And I want you to slow down like, hello, spoiler alert, I legit, I want you to slow down. And then also you're collecting data, so you then you can look back and on the worksheet, I ask you what day or cycle you're in, because that's a big deal. So if you're like, how come I walked it last Wednesday? Well maybe it's because you were on day 15, and now you're on day 28 and you hate the world that is important, and that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you, because you are not a spreadsheet, and anyone who says anything, and usually they're bro marketers that you have to like improve yourself by 1% every day, or you're doing it wrong. No, no, because humans have ups and downs and all around and if I can give you any parting words of wisdom, it would be that I just want to hug you and tell you that you're doing a great job and there's nothing wrong with you, and you absolutely can get to where you want to go, but you have to trust in yourself that that you can do the things and then just you'll get there when you get there. Lesley Logan 37:20  I mean, I already thought this is going to be an episode that people would hit save on but, and like, replay just to re listen. But I really think they'll just do that, just for that last part right there, like you're doing a great job. Like we all need Stephanie O'Dea to tell us you're doing a great job. I love that your journal has people put the day of the cycle. Because, yes, we've been talking about that a lot, because that affects how you work out all the different things. And it is true, you are going to have days where you can take over the world, and days where you're like, I just if someone talks to me at all, I'm going to lose my mind.Stephanie O'Dea 37:49  Yeah, yeah. No, it's true. So I've been married 25 years, and sometimes, thankfully, I can just tell Adam. So today's not a day for you to actually engage with me. He's like, oh, okay. Thanks, thanks for the warning. You're breathing wrong today. Sorry. You fix that and circle back around.Lesley Logan 38:11  Yeah, I said to Brad, I said, I don't feel awesome today. He goes, it's the day before your period. You're not going to feel awesome. And I was like, thank you. That's right. That's why I married you. He didn't go, of course, you're awesome. He just was like, You're not just not gonna feel it. And it's like, yeah, thank you. Ah, okay, well, clearly I want to keep talking to you, but we'll do that another day. Stephanie O'Dea, thank you so much for being here, you guys. How are you using these tips in your life? Please, tag Stephanie. Tag the Be It Pod. Tell us how you're slow living. Share this with a friend who needs it. Imagine if all of your friends were like acting in the FOMO in the best way, and they were actually listening to themselves and taking some time. Imagine how much easier that would make your life. So share this with the friends in your life who need them. And until next time, Be It Till You See It. Lesley Logan 39:02  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 39:44  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 39:49  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co. Brad Crowell 39:54  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi. Lesley Logan 40:01  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals. Brad Crowell 40:04  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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During the Second World War, members of the United States Marine Corps coined a sarcastic acronym to explain a state of chaos and confusion: SNAFU, or situation normal, all fouled (or a saltier f-word) up. More than 80 years later, Ed Helms began to explore history's greatest own-goals. And now Helms comes to Commonwealth Club World Affairs in Silicon Valley to share his absurdly entertaining look at some of history's greatest face plants. He'll draw on his new book—conveniently titled SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups—to enlighten us about some of history's darker moments. Helms is an actor, writer, producer and comedian who was a correspondent for “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” He portrayed Andy Bernard in the celebrated sitcom “The Office” and Stu Price in The Hangover film trilogy. He has won awards for his performances and for his comedy writing. And—you can sense a theme here—he is the host of the podcast “SNAFU with Ed Helms.” From nuclear weapons on the moon to training cats to be CIA spies to turning the weather into a weapon—Helms has the inside scoop on the greatest foul-ups of modern times. This program contains EXPLICIT language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ankit Desai is the Founder and CEO of Snafu Records, a music-tech company using machine learning to provide royalty advances and artist services for independent musicians. Prior to launching Snafu, Ankit led digital strategy at Universal Music Group. He's been named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and one of Nordic Music Export's 20 Under 30, recognized for his innovative work in reshaping the future of the music industry.In this episode, Ankit reveals how AI is transforming the music industry—and what independent artists can do today to thrive in this new era.Key Takeaways:How to leverage your existing music catalog to generate sustainable income as an independent artist.Why short-form video content is now critical for music discovery and fan engagement.How AI and machine learning are democratizing music creation, monetization, and fan connection. ---→ To learn more about Ankit and Snafu Records at snafurecords.comBook an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast

This week Bryan talks about wardrobe malfunctions, Reality Star pardons and Ernest P. Worrell.

Join Brent Radlinsky in this episode of The Fourteen Twenty Sports Bar Podcast as he dives into the latest buzz from the NHL playoffs, taking a swing at the league's questionable scheduling choices that might just be keeping fans away, and then shifts gears to celebrate the Detroit Tigers' unexpected rise to the top, spotlighting Tarik Skubal's jaw-dropping performance that has everyone talking, but that's not all, Brent also tackles the Toronto Maple Leafs' ongoing saga, pondering their future and the tough calls their management faces, so whether you're a die-hard hockey fan or a baseball aficionado, there's something here for you, so grab a drink, kick back, and let's get into 'er!

Leonardo DiCaprio gets trolled and billionaire David Geffen files for divorce from his younger hubby, but there's no prenup! Plus, Blue Ivy handles an onstage snafu like a pro, and did Meghan Markle berate a caterer? All that and more on today's Dish Nation!

Sarah has her repertoire and Heather runs into walls. THANK YOU to our Patrons! Please consider directly supporting us at Patreon for ad-free episodes, access to our Discord server, and all around good vibes as you help us keep the lights on.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/hsgd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tonight on We Might Be Drunk, Mark and Sam are joined by the always hilarious Ed Helms! They dive into comedy myths, Midtown memories, and the unexpected inspiration behind his new book SNAFU. From joining The Office to Cold War nuclear schemes and wild Vegas tales, this episode is packed with sharp wit and surprising turns. Ed also opens up about health, humor, and why cast chemistry is everything in a comedy. Grab a drink and get weird with us.

Building on “SNAFU”—the award-winning podcast about history's greatest screw-ups hosted by Ed Helms—the actor, comedian, producer, and writer takes you on a wild ride through time that covers the hilarious, head-scratching, and occasionally inspiring blunders that have shaped our world in SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups. In conversation with David Chalian, the Senior Vice President, Washington Bureau Chief, and Political Director for CNN. This program was held on May 1, 2025.

Ever hear a story so ridiculous you think, there's no way that actually happened — only to Google it and realize, Oh wow, we're all lucky to be alive? That's basically the premise of SNAFU, the new book from actor, comedian, and history enthusiast Ed Helms. In this episode of 92NY Talks, join Ed Helms and Samantha Bee for an evening of laugh-out-loud storytelling, history you won't believe actually happened, and the kind of cautionary tales that remind us why reading the instructions is always a good idea. The conversation was recorded on Apr 28, 2025 at The 92nd Street Y, New York.

Chelsea’s pal Ed Helms shows up to talk about why the US government bought the world’s supply of LSD, his love of historical blunders, and the best way to go heli-skiing. Then: An actor wrestles with the choice to give up his day job. A coworker divulges her previous bad behavior at the office. And a brokenhearted yachtie finds her footing on dry land. * Pick up a copy of Ed’s new book SNAFU! * Need some advice from Chelsea? Email us at DearChelseaPodcast@gmail.com * Executive Producer Catherine Law Edited & Engineered by Brad Dickert * * * The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the Podcast author, or individuals participating in the Podcast, and do not represent the opinions of iHeartMedia or its employees. This Podcast should not be used as medical advice, mental health advice, mental health counseling or therapy, or as imparting any health care recommendations at all. Individuals are advised to seek independent medical, counseling advice and/or therapy from a competent health care professional with respect to any medical condition, mental health issues, health inquiry or matter, including matters discussed on this Podcast. Guests and listeners should not rely on matters discussed in the Podcast and shall not act or shall refrain from acting based on information contained in the Podcast without first seeking independent medical advice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chelsea’s pal Ed Helms shows up to talk about why the US government bought the world’s supply of LSD, his love of historical blunders, and the best way to go heli-skiing. Then: An actor wrestles with the choice to give up his day job. A coworker divulges her previous bad behavior at the office. And a brokenhearted yachtie finds her footing on dry land. * Pick up a copy of Ed’s new book SNAFU! * Need some advice from Chelsea? Email us at DearChelseaPodcast@gmail.com * Executive Producer Catherine Law Edited & Engineered by Brad Dickert * * * The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the Podcast author, or individuals participating in the Podcast, and do not represent the opinions of iHeartMedia or its employees. This Podcast should not be used as medical advice, mental health advice, mental health counseling or therapy, or as imparting any health care recommendations at all. Individuals are advised to seek independent medical, counseling advice and/or therapy from a competent health care professional with respect to any medical condition, mental health issues, health inquiry or matter, including matters discussed on this Podcast. Guests and listeners should not rely on matters discussed in the Podcast and shall not act or shall refrain from acting based on information contained in the Podcast without first seeking independent medical advice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to four letter word season! We're kicking off with one of the most versatile words: it can be a noun, verb, punctuation, expostulation, full sentence on its own; it can be an intensifier, an insult and a compliment... and a Category A swear, which is why I've had to sanitise it for the title lest your pod app takes exception. And, of course, content note: this episode contains many category A swears, plus some sexual references. Lexicographer and editor Jesse Sheidlower joins to talk about making four editions (so far) of The F Word, a history and dictionary of the multivalent F word. Find his work at jessesword.com. Find out more about the episode and read the transcript at theallusionist.org/ffff (that's four Fs). Next up in Four Letter Word season: we revisit an even stronger swear. The Allusionist live show Souvenirs is happening in Toronto on 1 June and Montréal 9 June! Get tickets via theallusionist.org/events. To help fund this independent podcast, take yourself to theallusionist.org/donate and become a member of the Allusioverse. You get regular livestreams with me reading from my ever-expanding collection of reference books, inside scoops into the making of this show, and watchalong parties. And best of all, you get to bask in the company of your fellow Allusionauts in our delightful Discord community. This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, on the unceded ancestral and traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, with music composed by Martin Austwick of palebirdmusic.com. Find @allusionistshow on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Bluesky. Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk about your product or thing on the show, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by: • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running your online forever home. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.• Audio Maverick, a 9-part documentary podcast from CUNY TV about radio maven Himan Brown. Hear about the dawn of radio and Brown's remarkable career, via archive footage and new interviews with audio mavericks, by subscribing to Audio Maverick in your podcast app.• Home Chef, meal kits that fit your needs. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering Allusionist listeners eighteen free meals, plus free shipping on your first box, and free dessert for life, at HomeChef.com/allusionist.• Quince, luxurious clothing and homewares at prices 50-80% lower than comparable brands. Go to Quince.com/allusionist for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.Support the show: http://patreon.com/allusionistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Ed Helms is known as a comedian, actor and writer—and also as an investigator of history's biggest gaffes. The host of the podcast SNAFU joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the cats that were trained for the CIA, a plan to nuke the moon, and other bad ideas that never saw fruition (thankfully). His book is called “SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups.”  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

You might know Ed Helms as Andy Bernard from The Office or Stu Price from The Hangover movies—but did you know he's also a serious history buff? He's especially fascinated by history's biggest screwups, better known as SNAFUs ("Situation Normal: All F**ked Up"). In today's episode, Ed joins Ryan to unpack some of these epic blunders, explain how history became an escape for him, and share why learning about the past can be surprisingly therapeutic.Ed Helms is an actor, comedian, podcast host, and author. Ed has starred as Andy Bernard in The Office, Stuart Price in The Hangover trilogy, We're the Millers, The Lorax, and much more. He hosts the podcast SNAFU and just released his book SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups. You can follow Ed on Instagram and X @EdHelms

Ed Helms dishes on fame's hidden costs, his Office-Hangover filming marathon, and why historic blunders might be humanity's most reassuring legacy.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1146What We Discuss with Ed Helms:At 17, Ed Helms knew exactly what he wanted: to be an actor/producer for TV and film. This rare clarity gave him a massive head start, though he now recognizes success wasn't just hard work but also luck, privilege, and opportunity — a constellation of factors for which he's deeply grateful.Ed says the strangest part of fame is that friends claim "you've changed" when they're actually projecting their own discomfort. Fame also strips away your ability to control public spaces — no more escaping the awkward stranger at baggage claim.At his career peak, Ed filmed The Office Monday-Tuesday, then The Hangover Wednesday-Sunday — chartering flights from Vegas for 6 a.m. Office call times. He even removed his actual dental implant for The Hangover's missing tooth scenes while shooting Office episodes with a flipper tooth.Young Ed naively thought he'd balance being a traveling dad with non-stop film work. But reality hit hard, and now he declines projects that would separate him from family — even hypothetical Spielberg films. His former ADHD-fueled hyper-focus has given way to prioritizing presence.Ed's book chronicles humanity's epic blunders — from dropped nukes to CIA cat-spies — revealing our enduring resilience. These absurd mishaps offer perspective: we've always faced ridiculous challenges and somehow survived. Next time anxiety strikes, remember we've been falling on our faces — and getting back up — throughout history!And much more...And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/dealsSign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The co-hosts assess Trump's presidency as today marks 100 days into his second term in office. Then, they weigh in on Sunday's interview with coach Bill Belichick that went viral after his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson shut down a line of questioning over their relationship.The hilarious Wanda Sykes tells us about her Please & Thank You Tour and bringing it to Europe.Ed Helms talks his new book "SNAFU," inspired by his podcast of the same name, that gives a humorous decade-by-decade account of the biggest screw-ups in American history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week comedian, banjo player, and history buff Ed Helms joins us at the table! Ed and Tom discuss some of history's biggest snafu's and the fact that somehow, we always make it through. Ed also shares about some of the biggest moments in his career: The Daily Show, The Hangover, and let's face it, probably his appearance on this podcast. If you were waiting for Tom to bring up Wacky Packs in casual conversation, it's your lucky day. Enjoy! Check out Ed's new book, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups, out now! Check out Factor: Factormeals.com/PAPA50off and use code PAPA50off to get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box. ----------------- 0:00:00 Intro 0:00:54 Factor Ad 0:01:36 TomPapa.com 0:02:25 Patreon 0:03:38 Ed's Podcast and book, SNAFU 0:06:10 Research and fascination with history 0:08:53 You can't throw away National Geographic's 0:10:53 Wacky Packs 0:14:20 We always make it through 0:21:18 Baking bread and banjos 0:29:12 NY stand up early days and The Daily Show 0:32:26 Writing a book is dense 0:34:32 Continuity police 0:35:22 Factor Ad 0:37:16 The Hangover journey 0:46:15 Silly questions 0:49:26 Government run mistakes 0:56:45 Uncomfortable moment 0:58:55 Back to silly questions 1:02:20 Returning to a quiet life ----------------- Tom Papa is a celebrated stand-up comedian with over 20 years in the industry. Watch Tom's new special "Home Free" out NOW on Netflix! Patreon - Patreon.com/BreakingBreadWithTomPapa Radio, Podcasts and more: https://linktr.ee/tompapa/ Website - http://tompapa.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tompapa Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@tompapa Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/comediantompapa Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/tompapa #tompapa #breakingbread #comedy #standup #standupcomedy #bread #edhelms #theoffice

This episode is presented by Create A Video – Officials are still trying to figure out why virtually the entire Spanish power grid went down yesterday. And with its reliance on intermittent power generation (like wind and solar), it might be a long time before service is restored. Subscribe to the podcast at: https://ThePetePod.com/ All the links to Pete's Prep are free: https://patreon.com/petekalinershow Media Bias Check: If you choose to subscribe, get 15% off here! Advertising and Booking inquiries: Pete@ThePeteKalinerShow.com Get exclusive content here!: https://thepetekalinershow.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed Helms is best known for playing Andy Bernard in The Office and Stu in The Hangover trilogy. But the comedic actor is also the politically engaged, banjo-playing, podcast-hosting, TV series–producing author of a new book titled, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups.  Kara and Ed discuss domestic politics and satire's role during Trump 2.0; government overreach and history's tendency to repeat itself; his podcast SNAFU with Ed Helms and the eponymous book; and the entertainment industry's evolving economics. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As you might have heard, the SNAFU book comes out next week (April 29, 2025)! If you want to meet Ed, either on book tour or virtually, buy your copy right now. He’ll be hosting a private Ask Me Anything for anyone who preorders and submits their proof of purchase here: www.Snafu-Book.com. Or if in-person is more your style, you can also join Ed on his book tour next week in 8 cities across the country, complete with book signings (NYC, Philadelphia, DC, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Silicon Valley, LA). On this episode, Ed sits down with his producer Carl Nellis to talk about treasure hunting for SNAFUs, the book’s jazzy and hangable art, his favorite stories (even if he loves all his children the same…), and which SNAFU characters he’d like to play in a movie adaptation. Again, you can preorder SNAFU, buy your book tour tickets, or sign up for Ed’s virtual AMA at this link: www.snafu-book.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did the Trump Administration mistakenly deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia? We discuss this media hoax. We also have an update on the killer of Austin Metcalf, and America's trade war with China.Support the show: https://redpilledamerica.com/support/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Out west, Prohibition agents take the gunslingers' path to enforcement. When their methods backfire, it stains Mabel Walker Willebrandt's Dry cause, while Formula 6 lurks in the shadows. Preorder the SNAFU book and join me on book tour at www.snafu-book.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We address why Lunchbox had to leave the show today. Bobby talked about anal botox and a recap of our weekends. We talked to actor Ed Helms about his time on the Office, The Hangover movies and his podcast SNAFU. Bobby and him geek out on history and prohibition. We talk about the season finale of White Lotus and Bobby gives his thoughts without spoilers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congressional hearings focus on national security group text, debate over the use of SNAP benefits for soda and candy, and major deregulatory actions taken at the Environmental Protection Agency. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.Balance of Nature: Go to https://balanceofnature.com and use promo code WIRE for 35% off your first order as a preferred customer PLUS get a free bottle of Fiber and Spice.Fast Growing Trees: Get 15% off your first purchase when using the code WIRE at checkout or by visiting https://fastgrowingtrees.com/wireBeam: Head to https://shopbeam.com/WIRE and use code WIRE at checkout for up to 40% off.

Hi, Stuff You Missed In History Class Fans! We want to share a new season of SNAFU with Ed Helms. About the show: This is the story of Prohibition you haven't heard. Sure, Prohibition was a gigantic SNAFU to begin with. But it turns out Prohibition was actually darker than any of us could have imagined. Flappers and jazz? Not the full picture.Season 3 of SNAFU follows an unlikely pair of sleuths trying to uncover what was behind a mass wave of deadly poisonings that killed thousands of people during Prohibition. Why were so many people dying when they imbibed? And what do gun-slinging Prohibition agents, Washington politicians, and a raging culture war have to do with it? Find out on SNAFU Season 3: Formula 6. Listen here and subscribe to SNAFU with Ed Helms on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.