Fields of Work: Recent Episodes
Sam & Max Spurlin
Sam and Max are brothers. One is the oldest. The other is the youngest. One is a corporate consultant. The other one is an organic farmer. What’s up with that? Let’s talk about it.
Low energy chill time with the boys. Thanksgiving discussions abound. Cold end-of-year times at the farm. Sam goes into a surprising amount of detail about his two projects. Can Max be Crypto Jesus? Maybe.
Max walks us through the last few unseasonably warm weeks at the farm. The boys test a special podcast-within-a-podcast concept. Sam shares his race report from his first half-Ironman.
We kinda forgot to podcast through Max’s busiest season so we do a quick whistle-stop tour through the highlights: Max has bonded with a farm hawk, it turns out Max didn’t irreperably screw up the direct seeding he’s in charge of, and working for a larger outfit definitely has some perks (like PTO!). Sam also talks us through his last couple of months, with way too much time focused on triathlon stuff considering how bad he is at it.
A lot can happen in a month. Vegetables grow, cows escape, hail falls, airplanes sit on runways, and projects end. But brotherly love persists.
Sam went on all sorts of adventures — triathlons, super secret Washington DC social clubs, New Zealand — a little bit for everyone. Max has basically turned his farming into a puzzle video game involving intricate irrigation strategies. The boys are both living their best lives, you could say.
Max is out in the fields and doing farmer things now. Planting seeds, moving tarps around, driving tractors — all the classics. Sam just got back from The Ready’s latest company retreat and is getting ready for a long trip to New Zealand. Listen closely for the point where he realizes he’s using the wrong microphone and switches over to the good one. Also, his tummy was jumbly so cut him some slack, okay?
The boys are back! Max, like a human grizzly bear, has emerged from his winter cocoon and is rustling around in pursuit of vegetables. He's moved north, back to the Spurlin native homeland of Michigan, to continue his illustrious farming career. He talks about his new gig, which is actually starting to sound a little bit like Sam's gig.
Sam is still here, too. On his same bullshit, for the most part. We all know Max is the real star of this show, though, so let's stay focused on him.
Welp, it's that time again. Fields of Work calls it quits on another season as Max walks us through the last of his farming year. And this one is extra special because he has decided to move on from his current farming gig in Tennessee and to an as-of-yet new adventure.
Bringing a chill vibe to this one. Sunday morning energy. End of farm season energy. Max had a big frost at the farm, which is, you know, not great for plants. Sam went on his honeymoon and the most recent The Ready retreat. He talks about some strategic shifts that the company is making and what that means for his role. Very cool episode. Very chill.
Max is psyched to be moving into the fall, even if the outdoor temperature doesn't really reflect it. His favorite candle scent is John Steinbeck. I'm not even joking. Sam did his last triathlon of the year and is getting ready to go on his honeymoon (yes, that's a pretty great work update, right?)
Max is making hay, figuratively. The farm has already made as much money as it did all of last year and it's only the end of July! How cool is that? Somehow it keeps making money even though a woodchuck is going ham on the veggies. Max tried to catch him and only managed to get a possum instead. Amateur hour. Sam went on vacation to Cape Cod but forgot his swim buoy so he's sad. He's also starting a new "regular" project so he isn't purely a crypto boy any longer.
Episode 5, take two! After a little recording mishap last week, Sam and Max are back together to chat about what’s been going on the last month. Sam’s popsicles have spoken and summer is officially here! Here is how it has been going: Max hurt himself and ended up at urgent care twice, dealt with some brutal weather and has been working to try and catch up at the farm; Sam got married and he also ended up at an urgent care this month (unrelated) and is only one triathlon away from finishing the trifecta.
Sam has completed his first triathlon and begins what is sure to become a new famous segment on the podcast, “Triathlon Talk.” He shares some important tricks to having a successful race. Things like, being honest with yourself about your swimming capabilities, learn the course so you don’t repeat any legs of it and most importantly remember to lube up your whole body. Max is up to his ears in strawberries. The CSA has started and the veggies are pouring in. Also, he is concerned about how hot it is.
Max continues to have chicken problems. Apparently they don't swim so good. But before that, there's an important chat about where we're going when we get to the zoo and what we're stoked is in our lunchbox. Sam continues to do fun DAO things and be generally inscrutable to the average person!
The boys kick things off with one of their more profound check-in questions and then quickly move into discussion of the wetter parts of being a farmer; namely, cow birth and lubing egg bound chickens. It’s super gross and that’s why Max likes plants better. Sam went to Canada and visited various eating establishments. Then he had a horrible time trying to get home.
The boys are back in town (as The Beach Boys said…) and season four is officially here! Is it going to be any different? No, not really. The boys talk about what Olympic sport they could have played, hypothetically. Sam and Max then bond over their general fear of horses —they’re just so big and seem like they know things. Max talks about what his off season has been like and what new things are coming to the farm this year. Sam talks briefly about his new initiative at The Ready and tries to give us a quick run down of what a DAO is. Max struggles to understand. Foreshadowing for the rest of this season? Probably!
Welp, this is it folks. The last episode of season 3. Max plays us out by recapping how his first year farming in Tennessee went. What went well? What would he do differently? What advice would he give his past self? Max shares all the salacious details of his year of farming. You won't want to miss it.
It’s been a month, Sam’s sabbatical is over and this episode they talk all about it. What did he learn? What does he regret? Did he get really good at skateboarding? You’ll have to listen to find out. Oh and Max is still just farming except now it’s colder.
Sam and Max catch up after a month off. Max is winding down for the season as cooler weather finally approaches. Also he has a kitten now. His name is Poblano. What more do you need to know? Sam is nearing the end of his sabbatical and is trying to answer the age old question, what do you do with your last two weeks of no responsibilities?
It's finally here. The moment we've all been waiting for -- Sam goes to Tennessee to work with Max for a week. What kind of shenanigans does he get up to? Does he drive the farm into the ground? Does he come up with some great new ideas? You'll just have to listen to find out.
It’s a hot one out there, so Sam and Max share their favorite water activities. Sam shares his personal stand up paddle-board story. Max is fighting the heat and trying to keep his plants alive. The summer fruits are flowing and the weeds are growing twice as fast. Max finds his new motto, “Every hole in the leaf is a chance for disease to get in.” Sam gives Max his newest business idea, a worm farm. Sam went on a big walk and is still paying the consequences of that.
Sam and Max are finally back. They start by chatting about what they have been reading recently. Max gives a long farm update now that summer is officially here. He’s hired an employee, started prepping for fall and begun the almost daily harvest of summer fruits. Sam on the other hand is two weeks deep into his sabbatical. He talks about what all he has been up to and what might be on the horizon for him.
Sam and Max are back after having some technical difficulties, mainly Max’s “farm internet” and thank goodness they are because this week they talk about important things. Like why corn is the taste of summer and Sam’s journey to find the best facial hair for him. Also, Sam describes what it is like being in the epicenter of a big bug event. Max shares some of the struggles of marketing a farm. Lastly, Sam is going on sabbatical. He talks about how The Ready came to this decision and what the next four months might look like.
Sam and Max are racing a storm in this week's episode. They share their feelings about bugs and it turns out it is all about context. Sam is starting to get into baseball, well kind of. Things are cruising along at the farm, the heat is here and all the plants are going in the ground. Max educates Sam on planting sweet potatoes. Sam asks the very important question of, “How do you feel about cantaloupe?” Sam is finishing up with the client he has been working with for the last two and a half years. They are going to unpack that in the next episode. Lastly, Sam teases the idea of maybe working a week on the farm.
Sam and Max get serious. They talk birds. Most importantly, they pick the best bird(s). They rehash their brief trip home to Michigan and share stories of the great fence raising. Sam’s Roomba bites the dust and Sam shares his favorite stories from his brief life. Max’s snake count is up to 3. Other than that, he has just been planting like crazy and trying to work around the ever changing weather. He also shares a secret, all veggies are the same. Sam shares some thoughts on his work helping The Ready make some decisions about its governance approach.
Sam and Max share the story behind their names. They finally get their big break with a shoutout in The Ready’s newsletter. So hello all you new listeners...or listener. Things are settling in at the farm a bit but there is a new count underway -- snake count: 2. Also, Max continues to complain about his potting soil and compost. Sam does a quick walk through of a recent “structure” workshop he did.
Sam gives us a beautiful rendition of the song that plays in his head whenever he enters a room. Max asks Sam a few more questions about what working at The Ready is like. What does it mean when you get to set your own salary? Max gives the farm update, mainly that the weather has been all over the place but plants are growing. He’s also been battling mice, again.
Sam talks about his early days of making websites and how he would like to get into programming. Sam and Max share their very different half marathon experiences. Max is on a planting spree at the farm, catching up after the cold snap last week. He also talks about what is stressing him out on the farm these days; it is mostly clumpy soil. Sam is now a powerful vaccinated boy after struggling through some side effects. He is also starting a new experiment and getting a virtual assistant.
Sam and Max talk about their favorite things about Sam’s fiancee, Emily. It’s good and wholesome. Max talks about scary farm time and how the farm barely avoided being washed away. The weather keeps changing and now Max is preparing for frost. Lastly, he shares his worst night-farming experience. Sam and Max share their love for corn. Sam’s project is still in flux, kind of, as things at the client continue to settle. Sam talks a bit more about what working at The Ready is like and answers Max’s questions about the inner workings of the company. There will be more discussion to come as Max finishes watching the video about The Ready next week. Check the video link below!
Aaron Dignan talking about The Ready at Teal Across the World
Fields of Work is back, two weeks is a long time to go without getting your regular dose of two dudes talking. Sam recalls the hockey rivalry of his youth and how he has tragically lost his golf swing. Max gives updates on the farm: beds being shaped, seeds being sown, harvesting shrooms. Sam learns the difference between an aardvark, armadillo, and anteater. Max has a rooster problem now. Sam has some chang’em ups happening at his current client and is in a bit of an in between state. Lastly, Sam gives Max some homework for next week's episode.
- Aaron Dignan talking about The Ready at Teal Across the World
We want to apologize to all our Norwegian listeners in advance. Sam and Max talk about their ideal place to travel. Sam just wants a beach. Any beach, anywhere. Max gives the much anticipated trellis update. He also shares some of his least favorite farming experiences, mainly the time he stabbed some sweet potatoes. Sam has also started farming and his plants are thriving. He teaches Max about different types of meetings and introduces the idea of “meta strategy”. So strap in!
This week Max talks about his inaugural sunburn. They get literary and talk about the best books they read last year. Max updates Sam on the farm life and talks about rotating chickens, making beds and burning things. He also gives an update on his relationship with the goose. Sam tells us all about his perfect day. Also he quit social media, but like, for real this time. He talks about why he made this decision and some of the changes he’s noticed in his everyday life as a result.
Max poisoned himself. We find out Sam has always been into data and Max loves rocks. Max talks about how he ended up on the farm in Tennessee and what even has he been doing on the farm?! We also meet the newest villain/hero of the show, Flossie the Goose. Lastly, Sam has been living in a virtual world this week.
Fields of Work is back! It’s technically season 3 but we are treating it like season 1. The same two lovable hosts and that high quality content you know and love.
In this episode, Sam and Max talk about their cringey high school fashion sense. We learn how Sam once ran right out of his shorts and Max went through lots of phases, none of them good. They recap the premise of the show and reintroduce themselves. Max talks about how he came to be an organic farmer and Sam shares his story of how he became an organizational consultant.
Sam and Max talk about their brief moments of fame. Max is in the weird in between times of work and talks briefly about what he’s been doing to stay busy (it’s mostly reading). Sam is still in the thick of his current work project, however there is potentially some light at the end of the tunnel. Max pitches his new business idea, garden consulting.
Well, it has been two months and a lot has changed and a lot hasn’t. Max’s life has been a whirlwind of change while Sam has been a steady source of consistency. Max gives updates on his last few months, his new location, and the end of his farm season. Listen closely and soak in the last lamb and pig updates for quite awhile. Sam excitedly announces his new engagement and talks briefly about his current work project and retreat.
Sam and Max do a late recording. Max talks about his love of hot wheels and his favorite car. They both reminisce about K’Nex demolition derbies. A pig got loose and Max tells the tale of catching it. Sam is a busy boy. He updates us on “The Month of Sit” and they tease a few ideas for the next episode. Lastly, Sam is a golf guy now.
Sam and Max talk about swimming and their favorite food growing up. Max gives a much needed lamb and pig update. Max recaps the last couple weeks on the farm...mostly things are growing. Sam talk about his leisurely two weeks of vacation. He updates us on his new focus for the month of August and talks about how his month of move went in July. Lastly they give some hockey predictions.
New week, same quarantine. Max and Sam reminisce over childhood vacations and talk about the magic of the “road trip box”. Max gives the usual farm updates except this time, there are pigs. Sam talks about his virtual work retreat and his new internal project. He’s also doing push ups and riding his bike a lot, which can only mean one thing: it’s the “month of move”. Lastly he brings his epic office saga to a close.
It was a late Sunday morning recording, and Sam and Max wanna apologize if it’s a bad one. They talk quite a bit about things the viewer can’t really see at home.
After a two week break, there is a lot to catch up on. Sam is on the bread train. Max updates Sam about what’s new at the farm. Mainly lots of stuff is in the ground growing. Sam talks a bit about his “hard reset” and why he does it.
Mouse count: 9
Summary
Thanks to some technical difficulties, Sam and Max have a lot to catch up on. They each decide what cereal they’d be, you know, if they were turned into cereal. Max talks about being back at Gibbet Hill and his new bond with the lambs. Sam discusses his month of read and how he is ready to go surfing...as long as there aren’t sharks. Lastly, Sam has some questions to answer, what should next months theme be? Should he keep his new office?
A special Mother’s Day episode...so of course they talk a lot about mice? Sam tells us about “Dope Salads” and chocolate chip banana bread. It’s cold on the farm and Max describes what that means for the plants. Also, Max announces his return to Gibbet Hill Farm. Sam and Max talk about how the Coronavirus may affect their respected fields and what it could mean for the future.
NOTE: Please excuse Sam's audio. It gets better after a couple minutes.
After a long three week break, Fields of Work is back. Sam and Max catch up on life and talk about their favorite things to collect growing up. Max reiterates his hate for winds and describes the crazy weeks at the farm. Sam concludes his “Month of Write” and talks about what he learned and his new routine for writing.
Max’s Instagram
Carving out your space to contribute
Personal development is an expedition, not an exercise in perfection
“Month of Sit” Recap & a Look at April
The Deliberate
Yes PLZ Coffee
Gaining Ground’s Instagram
Sam and Max offer up some innovations for airlines. Max updates Sam on his week at the farm, and they get into the nitty gritty details of farming: how to trellis peas, how regenerative agriculture builds soil health, how to build a caterpillar tunnel. Sam ran a retrospective with a new team and is ramping up the next phase of the project, creating a coaching program. Lastly they talk about Sam’s writing habit. Oh, and Max is a handkerchief guy now.
Sam and Max catch up during these wild and uncertain times. Sam recaps his “Month of Sit” and talks a bit about his meditation practice. Max began working at a new farm and is learning all types of new things. Sam shares the saga of the harmed kite.
Zafu and Zabuton
Month of Sit by Sam Spurlin
Gaining Ground
BCS Tractor
Paper Pot Transplanter
Let My People Go Surfing
Summary
Sam and Max talk about these super normal times. Not much going on really. Max is looking forward to farming again and Sam updates us on his “Month of Sit” as well as his recent digital declutter. They briefly discuss the apocalypse and their plan if things get real, real bad. Lastly they briefly touch on what this could mean for the future of work.
Links
Gaining Ground: https://gainingground.org
The Ready’s Medium publication
Itamar’s article
The 2020 Camry
Gibbet Hill Grill Instagram
After three long weeks away, Sam and Max have a lot of catching up to do. Max has been trying his hand at the food industry and breaking plates along the way. He has also dabbled in flooring as well as vintage markets? It’s been a weird month. Sam has himself a new fancy office, and a brief moment of podcast fame, almost. He recaps his month of writing and preps for a month of meditation. Lastly, Max shares his theme for 2020: Prepare yourself for The Year of Experimentation.
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Sam’s fancy new electric kettle: https://fellowproducts.com/collections/heat/products/staggekg
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Why We Sleep
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Hyperion #1
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East of Eden
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One Hundred Years of Solitude
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The Martian
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A recap of Sam’s “Month of Write”: https://medium.com/@samspurlin/the-end-of-my-first-month-of-write-5ff91aca823c
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Hue and Shade Vintage on Instagram
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Make Offices at The Wharf
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Sam’s yearly theme article: https://medium.com/@samspurlin/the-year-of-intensity-simplicity-5dcf12ab7f71
Sam and Max use this episode to continue catching up. This isn’t season 2 yet, we think? Sam talks about his theme(s) for the upcoming year. Max’s theme is a work in progress, stay tuned. Lastly, Max talks about how working in the restaurant makes him very anxious. Good thing he’s mainly a farmer.
Where's Season Two? It's not here, yet. But this in-betweener is! Sam and Max talk about Max's winter UPS endeavors. He's full of knowledge about the big brown company.
Does something feel different this episode? It’s the end of season one of Fields of Work! This week Sam and Max talk about best Halloween costumes and childhood trick or treating. Max gives a final farm update and recaps the season. Max shares his car troubles. Sam went to a work retreat in New York and tells us about the new initiative he’s in charge of. Lastly they talk about the future of Fields of Work.
Thank you for following along and listening to the first season of Fields of Work. It’s been a lot of fun sitting down to record every week and share a bit about our work lives. This first season has been a real trial period and we are excited for some of the ideas we have for the upcoming months. We hope you’ll follow along as we prepare for season 2!
Sam and Max are a bit rusty. You may hear some interjections from Siri or a seventh month old puppy. Sam and Max catch up after a long break. They reminisce on the genius of Super Mario Strikers. Max talks about why he loves fall farming so much. Hint: it involves less work. Sam gives an update on his project. Things are going well. They need more “Action Meeting” facilitators. Anyone? Lastly, they tease next week’s topic. What is Sam actually doing at work?
Max goes on a Boston adventure, eats food, and sees Important History Places. Sam went to Florida for work and did not see any Important History Places (but did travel with no backup pants). Max got a new job where he can exercise one of his core competencies, moving things hither and thither. Sam is getting ready for another Florida trip and in a real twist-em-up Sam teaches Max a new weeding game.
Sam and Max talk about superpowers. Max gives a final lamb update. Max talks about how his season is coming to an end. Sam recounts his travels last week and explains what a “silent meeting” is. Lastly, Sam describes his ideal consulting company.
- https://medium.com/the-ready/creating-an-organizational-design-consulting-firm-for-the-21st-century-6150f15668c5
SummarySam and Max recap their Labor Day travels. Sam drove through Manhattan and attended the US Open. Max describes his ideal farm — or at least tries to.
Sam apologizes for mistakes he made on the last episode. Max shares why farming goes well with his love of lists. Max gives a very big lamb update and talks a bit about crop failures. Sam talks about leadership and the future of work. They bond over their love of rewatching shows.
Sam relives his glory years. Sam and Max talk about their favorite desserts. Max learned how to naturally dye fabric. They discuss how well their jobs line up with their personalities.
Sam saw Hamilton. Max and Sam talk about what vegetables they are. Max gives a lamb and pig update. Max shares his horror highway story. Sam tells us about his walk to work. They pitch their new business venture, farm to table diner. Max talks about his flying experience and Sam gives his flying advice.
What’s that? Sam and Max are in the same room?! A Fields of Work first. Sam gives us a lamb update and pig update. Max recounts his week, from baking to trips to vets. Sam needs a beard barber. Sam is going to see Hamilton. Sam tells us what he is tracking these days.
Max recounts his birthday weekend. Sam hosted a meeting on meetings. Max updates everyone on the sick lambs. Sam and Max do a quick check in round. Lastly Sam tells us what makes a good consultant.
Sam and Max decide they are going tosee the penguins. It’s Max’s birthday, kind of. Max gives a lamb update and reads a poem. Sam talks about his week and his current project. Max talks about what makes a bad farmer versus a good farmer. Sam tells us what he thinks a farmer does. Max ends the show with a bit of farm lore.
It’s hot y’all. Max watches farming YouTube videos. Max talks about when he feels the most like a farmer and Sam says what makes him feel most like a consultant. Sam shares a hay story. They talk about the worst possible occupation for them. They name Max’s sourdough starter and Max shares more cooking adventures. Sam updates us on his current project. They tease the next episodes topic: What differentiates a good from a bad farmer?
Max did his homework. Sam ate his body weight in lobster. Sam also learned that weather involves science. Max talks about how used bookstores sometimes make him angry. Max describes what a farm dinner is. Sam went on a work retreat in New York and feels pretty dang good about the future of The Ready. Sam missed his chance to go on The Blob. Lastly, they quickly discuss tennis and who is going to win Wimbledon.
Sorry for the bad connection/audio. Sam had a popsicle accident. Max baked some bread. Max needs overalls and maybe a straw hat. Max talks no-till farming and what that means for the farm and the overall soil health. Max rambles about farming and food. Max briefly talks about his opinion of the future of farming. Sam tells us his reading plans for vacation.
Sam and Max complain about the heat. Max talks about the new pigs and running the cattle run. Sam’s main project is in flux. He breaks down what that means for the future of his work. Sam prepares for a big decision which turns out wasn’t really necessary. Sam mulls over what it would look like to do a tour of duty as an internal consultant. Sam lays out his three vacation goals.
Sam eats a popsicle. Max has a cat neighbor and he adopted a dog. He talks about the trials and tribulations of dog parenting. Sam tells us he ate a dog treat (when he was like 13). Max talks about weeding on farms, specifically flame-weeding. Sam tells us about his trip to New Jersey and his atrocious travel diet. Sam explains why you have to eat chicken off the bone. Lastly Sam recounts how he went from teaching to consulting and how his blog and writing led him to the world of personal development.
On this episode Max talks about getting a “farmers tramp-stamp.” He also gives a much anticipated lamb update and describes his beetle squishing technique. Sam learns his cactus might be dying. He is also making big changes with his task management system. They briefly talk hockey. Max describes his “big boy hike” and lastly, Max talks about how he got into farming and what his farming education has been like.
We picked a name! Welcome to Fields of Work. On this episode Max talks about what happened at the farm this week. Sam names a lamb and wants a pet pig. Sam makes a guest appearance on another podcast. They discuss Brave New Work and how it applies to the world of farming. Max talks about how innovation happens on a farm. They discuss the Lean Farming movement. Sam invents farm segways. Max challenges Sam to start cooking new things. Max is getting a dog.
Max complains about wind and getting sunburned. Sam faced a tornado head on, kind of. Max updates everyone on the lambs and Sam asks the pivotal question, when does a lamb become a sheep? Sam talks about his habits and how he splits up his work. He also describes the ups and downs of work and how he tries to diagnose the cause of that change. They discuss bees and the next great Disney movie idea. They discuss writing and journaling habits.
Sam and Max introduce themselves. They discuss farm strong versus corporate strong. Max talks about organic farming and moving to Massachusetts. Max attempts to explain what Sam’s job is. Sam clarifies and explains what it is he really does. They discuss what kind of things this podcast is going to be about. Max gives Sam a quick farm crash course. Like what is a pea tendril? What is a transplant? What is a microgreen?