Books Shows Tunes & Mad Acts: Recent Episodes
Jennifer Crittenden
Mostly books but also TV & movies, & music, & stuff people make or do, author & creator & fan interviews with host Jennifer Crittenden.
Steve Boyle and Webb Wilder join us to present a project that has been in the works for decades and will emerge this year, we hope, on a radio near you! In the 1980s, Steve and Webb began working on a neo-noir detective series, riffing on the anti-commercial commercials that they produced for Hard Rock Cafe back in the day. It came from Nashville, first in the form of a proposed TV series, then a script, then a book, then an audiobook, and now a full-fledged radio show. You'll also get to hear the teaser for the show in this fun episode.
The website for the project:
https://webbwilderlastofthefullgrownmen.com/
Webb's website:
https://www.webbwilder.com/
The First Amendment Project that Steve talks about:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a3rRNYU8m8
The Radio Station Webb talks about and where you can hear Webb in the afternoons:
https://www.wmot.org/program-schedule#weekly-schedule
City Without a Subway, Steve's documentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocsn3yRN0w4
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Post.News:
@JenCrittenden
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Join us as author David Sax returns to talk about two books, "The Revenge of Analog" and "The Future Is Analog," one written in 2016 and the recent one written during the pandemic. Jennifer and David talk about the analog / digital aspects of education, work, and housing, as well as delving into teaching, books, humans, and virtual headsets. David's observations are astute, thoughtful, and often funny. Don't miss this fun episode with a lively guest.
This episode is sponsored by: mypostglow.com
David's website: https://saxdavid.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Post.News:
@JenCrittenden
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Dr. Christiane Wrann, researcher at MGH and associate professor at Harvard, has published some exciting new discoveries about the effect of exercise on the brain, potentially slowing cognitive decline and in some cases even reversing brain deterioration. She takes us through her work in mouse models, how her lab selects and "exercises" the mice, how cognitive decline is measured in mice, and the role of irisin, a hormone that appears to be linked to exercise and brain health. In everyday language, she explains this scientific research, what its limitations are, and what its future potential might be for Alzheimer patients and their families. She also offers practical advice about incorporating exercise into your daily activities, what kind and how much is most beneficial, and ways to make it enjoyable, instead of just another thing to stress out about (although exercise helps reduce stress too!). An essential episode.
Follow Dr. Wrann on Twitter:
@WrannLab
The McCance Center for Brain Health Test Dr. Wrann mentioned:
https://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/mccance-center/clinic/brain-care-score
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Trina Robbins was memorialized as the first of Joni Mitchell's Ladies of the Canyon with her sketches and second-hand clothes, but, don't be fooled, Trina is a serious archivist of feminist art history. She drew for underground newspapers during the Women's Lib movement of the sixtes and has published multiple anthologies of early women in comics. In this episode, we discuss many of her books, including her memoir, Last Girl Standing, and the documentary she is featured in, They're Beautiful When They're Angry. And she still loves clothes! So we talk about her favorite era, vintage clothes, and where to find them. Trina was the first woman to draw Wonder Woman, so we talk about her and what it was like to be an early female cartoonist in a man's field. We also discuss the weather and the pros and cons of New York versus California. A really lovely episode. With Bill Aho.
Come find Trina at the San Francisco FanExpo this weekend, Nov 25-27!
https://fanexpohq.com/fanexposanfrancisco/
Trina's memoir:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/last-girl-standing-trina-robbins/12493623?ean=9781683960140
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Join The Walking Dead co-producer and entrepreneur Oleg Livits to talk about this phenomenal show whose eleventh and final season is airing now. The Walking Dead poses as a zombie show, but it is about so much more: survival, lawlessness, community, morality and death. Based on a comic book series, this record-setting and acclaimed AMC+ series has generated 177 episodes and multiple spinoffs; it also boasts an enormous and engaged fan base. Oleg takes us through the show's history, the commitment of its contributors and stakeholders, and the challenges that arose during the pandemic. We also talk about a new project that he is developing, Friendly Heat, which is a travel docu-series about saunas and their health benefits. Oleg is observant and entertaining—you don't want to miss this episode.
The Walking Dead Wiki that we refer to:
https://walkingdead.fandom.com/wiki/The_Walking_Dead_Wiki
Oleg's Friendly Heat project:
https://vimeo.com/759369294?utm_source=email&utm_medium=vimeo-cliptranscode-201504&utm_campaign=28749
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Translator Tiffany Tsao joins us to discuss her recent project, the first publication in English of Indonesian writer Budi Darma's collection of short stories, "People from Bloomington." So much to talk about with this book! Darma's usual absurdist but very human eye crosses over here into more realistic fiction although readers familiar with Bloomington, Indiana may find the town rather transformed. The collection was originally published only in Indonesian, so Tiffany takes us through her process of capturing his voice in English with the kind of earthy and often very funny tone he used to present the odd Midwesterners. We also talk about cross-cultural writing, especially between east and west, and how book marketers struggle with books that have a truly global perspective, even though they are more reflective of our current world. Darma wrote his dissertation on Jane Austen in Bloomington, and we also chat about his literary influences, as well as his doctoral advisor and longtime Indiana University English professor, Don Gray. A wonderful literary episode.
An upcoming online event to honor Budi Darma:
https://burlingame.libcal.com/event/9407717
Learn more about Tiffany Tsao here:
https://tiffanytsao.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Jeff Berkley, musician, producer, and go-to guy for all things music in San Diego, talks about the current climate for musicians, as well as the old days at Java Joe's in Poway and Ocean Beach. With many projects in the works, he brings us up to speed on who is doing what in town and his new band "Jeff Berkley and the Banned" (we also feature one of their new songs!). Jennifer, Bill, and Jeff mull over some ideas to promote and enhance the music scene in San Diego, and Jeff brings his customary good humor and pragmatic approach to today's challenges in the music industry. With Bill Aho (he's also back!).
Jeff's website:
https://jeffberkley.com/
Jeff Berkley and the Banned Facebook page:
https://m.facebook.com/JEFFBERKLEYANDTHEBANNED/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Poet and novelist Sarah Blake joins us to talk about her new genre-bending novel, Clean Air, a post-apocalyptic narrative centered on one small family and town that (as if they don't have enough to worry about) must cope with a serial killer. It's a fascinating original book about survival, anxiety, and motherhood, but also funny and hopeful. Sarah talks about world-building, her own health experiences, the models for her characters, biology, and writing in general. I loved this interview, and I think you will too.
Sarah's website:
https://sarahblakeauthor.com/
Follow Sarah on Twitter:
@blakesarah
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
CEO and co-founder, Josh Simons, joins us to talk about Vampr, the world's premier social network for musicians. Founded by two sympathetic Australian musicians, Josh (of Buchanan) and Baz Palmer (of Hunters & Collectors), Vampr has grown to over one million users and has facilitated over seven million connections. Josh takes us inside the algorithms to explain how like-minded musicians find each other and how the platform matches musicians with those of similar skill levels, in part with a philosophy of quality through quantity. Josh and Jennifer also discuss the challenges of networking (why people hate it), best attitudes for finding useful connections, and how to leverage those connections to build lasting, productive relationships. With Vampr, Josh hopes to accelerate the typical musician's path to "quitting your day job" and doing music full-time, so that young people don't have to endure those typical hard years. No matter how romantic "paying your dues" may sound, it's a barrier for too many, and we all lose out when that talent gets lost. An interesting reflection on the state of music and musicianship today, especially for those just starting out.
More about Vampr,
https://www.vampr.me/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Something that makes the United States special is our constitutional protection of free speech. CEO of Pen America, Suzanne Nossel, joins us to talk about her new (really great) book, Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All, and important aspects of open discourse in today's political and social context. Suzanne addresses the tension between free speech and equity/inclusion considerations, how to talk about free speech without antagonizing people, and that we shouldn't confuse speech with violence. Her straightforward and well-written book outlines appropriate behavior for speakers, listeners, citizens, and policy makers to preserve our essential protection from government repression. Suzanne further addresses in the podcast how to balance free speech with harassment and misinformation, particularly by government agencies and social media platforms. A quintessentially American episode.
Suzanne book at bookshop.org
https://bookshop.org/books/dare-to-speak-defending-free-speech-for-all/9780062966049
Follow Suzanne on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/SuzanneNossel
The PEN America website:
https://pen.org/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Author and anthropologist Levi Vonk joins us to discuss his book Border Hacker, co-narrated with Axel Kirschner, a fascinating character caught between countries. Guatemalan by birth but raised in Queens, Axel was deported from the US and met up with Levi when they both joined a migrant caravan traveling through Mexico. Border Hacker is the story of their friendship, their adventures in navigating corrupt systems and entanglements, and the cruelty of American immigration policies. The book is fascinating, and Levi offers an unprecedented window into immigration issues, on an individual and global basis. A heartbreaking and heartwarming episode.
The book:
https://www.boldtypebooks.com/titles/levi-vonk/border-hacker/9781645037057/
Levi's website:
https://www.levivonk.com/
Levi on Instagram and Twitter:
https://www.instagram.com/levivonk/
https://twitter.com/vonklevi/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
On the occasion of the publication of his new book, join scientist and author, Danny Nielsen, to talk about writing, reading, and other matters. The new book, Straight Flossin' and Other Stories of the American West, is an exploration of desert landscapes and the flora, fauna, and human characters who inhabit them. Danny talks about what motivates him to write and offers advice for how to keep at it and enjoy it, as well as his background growing up in Alabama surrounded by brothers. Danny has an unusual perspective on the world, and we think you will like this episode.
Buy the book! Early bird discount at:
https://www.whistlingrabbitpress.com/product/straight-flossin-and-other-stories-of-the-american-west/
Danny's website:
https://dannynielsen0.wordpress.com/
Follow Danny on Twitter:
@Touching_Grey
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
An irreverent, saying-the-quiet-part-out-loud look at the publishing industry from the Big Five of traditional publishers to self-publishing—particularly the financial aspects of your options. We focus on the likelihood of landing a Big Five contract, whether you even want that, and what you can expect from that experience. We talk in depth about the pros and cons of using an Author Services company, including those masquerading as publishers, and predatory practices to watch out for. Jennifer discusses some of the horror stories she's heard over the years and talks about the financial model she uses for her boutique publishing company Whistling Rabbit Press. Practical information you won't get any place else.
A related episode: "Publishing versus Podcasting: Either, Neither, or Both"
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/episodes/2020-03-29T05_00_00-07_00
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Join William Stout, artist and illustrator, with a specialization in paleontological art, to talk about his long career and getting famous slowly. The span of his work is enormous, both in terms of time, from the sixties to now, and across media: murals, posters, record covers, comics, trading cards—and over 70 movies. He is known for bootleg album covers, such as Who's Zoo, and his cover of Firesign Theatre's In the Next World You're On Your Own. His movie work includes the poster for Wizards and design work for the Conan films and Masters of the Universe. His dinosaurs are everywhere: the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Natural History Museum, many other museums, traveling exhibitions, and books, such as, Ray Bradbury's Dinosaur Tales, The Little Blue Brontosaurus. A terrific and uplifting episode with a hard-working creative individual whose work has touched and influenced many. With co-host Bill Aho.
Some places to see Bill Stout this year:
https://www.comic-con.org/cci
https://www.dragoncon.org/
Bill's website:
https://www.williamstout.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Join Paul Rock and David Jenkins of The Wild Honey Foundation, a non-profit that raises money for charitable causes through cultural events, passing on the passion, creativity, and idealism found in music to future generations. Paul and David reminisce about some of their greatest shows going back decades honoring The Lovin' Spoonful, The Kinks, Brian Wilson, Buffalo Springfield, as well as their live renderings of whole albums, such as the Beatles' White Album and the Band's Music from Big Pink. One of their notable causes is autism, and Paul shares some news about the progress of his son who is now communicating through typing. If you're a music fan, a musician, or have ever heard about this thing called music, you'll enjoy the enthusiasm and spirit of this episode.
The Wild Honey Foundation's Facebook Page (where you can find out about upcoming shows):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WIldhoneyfoundation
Some of The Wild Honey Foundation's shows on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC96qlWKL8rk5wBeX3BS8b7g
A video of Cry Baby Cry featuring Iain Matthews and the great Christine Collister:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHcpCL8j_zc
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Writer and podcaster, Dan Stalcup, is back to talk more about Enlightened, the HBO show about Amy Jellicoe, who returns from rehab determined to change the world. In this second of two episodes, we discuss the larger themes the show wrestles with: capitalism, meaning, and work, while never missing a chance at a funny line. Written by the great Mike White, the show was before its time and did not find a large audience, but we are sure many viewers would enjoy this nuanced, funny, and endearing show. Highly recommended.
Dan's podcast about movies:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-goods-a-film-podcast/id1534000134
Dan's website:
https://earnthis.net/
Dan on Twitter:
@StalcupDan
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Returning guest, writer and podcaster, Dan Stalcup, is back to talk about the HBO show Enlightened, written and produced by the great Mike White and starring Laura Dern, Luke Wilson, Diane Ladd, Sarah Burns, Timm Sharp and Mike White himself. Laura Dern as Amy returns from rehab to her corporate job, fired up to share her newly-discovered spiritual enlightenment with the world only to discover the world is not quite ready for her. This endearing comedy drama explores the complexity of humans, especially those who are seeking meaning in their small-ish lives, and how their explorations backfire, self-destruct, and embarrass us while also eventually becoming relatable and sympathetic. A heart-warming episode.
Dan's podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-goods-a-film-podcast/id1534000134
Dan's website:
https://earnthis.net/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Join Indiana University English Department Chairman and word nerd Michael Adams to talk about a recent acquisition of an enormous collection of dictionaries and associated material by the Lilly Library. The Kripke Collection is a lexicographer's dream, full of books on slang, pirate terms, erotic language, obscenities, regional terms, as well as ephemera, pamphlets, archival material about making and selling dictionaries, and much more! Michael talks about the history of early dictionaries and the behind-the-scenes drama that arose as passionate experts tangled over words and attribution. We also discuss the politics of dictionaries, how decisions about what is included and how it is defined are made by people (for better or worse), and how dictionaries present a moment in time in a particular cultural context. Michael explains what criteria could be used to evaluate the quality of a professional dictionary and shares his enthusiasm for lay dictionaries and glossaries and how those represent the human engagement and creativity that underlie efforts to share what we know about the words we use. Jennifer tells a story about finding herself creating a Wardaman-English dictionary for an Australian aborigine rock art study. A fun and lively episode.
An article about the acquisition:
https://libraries.indiana.edu/lilly-library/KripkeCollectionAcquired
The bilingual dictionary collection Michael mentioned:
https://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/lilly/exhibitions_legacy/shorttitle/dictionary.html
Some books he recommended:
The Professor and the Madman
https://bookshop.org/books/the-professor-and-the-madman-a-tale-of-murder-insanity-and-the-making-of-the-oxford-english-dictionary/9780060839789
The Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
https://bookshop.org/books/the-making-of-the-oxford-english-dictionary/9780198826163
The Word Detective
https://bookshop.org/books/the-word-detective-searching-for-the-meaning-of-it-all-at-the-oxford-english-dictionary/9781541697218
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries
https://bookshop.org/books/word-by-word-the-secret-life-of-dictionaries/9781101970263
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Today we sit down with Lisa Sanders, longtime San Diego musician and recent Hall of Fame inductee, and hear about her many projects, from new songs to furniture making, as well as her long association with other musicians and local venues. She reflects on her long career and the various rabbit holes that have brought her to now. She also provides valuable advice for musicians who are just starting out and shares a beautiful song about love. A quintessential San Diego episode. With co-host Bill Aho.
Lisa's website:
https://lisasanders.com/
Upcoming events:
https://lisasanders.com/lisa-shows
Lisa Sanders & Brown Sugar "Live Above The Chateau Above The Garage" Most Thursdays on Facebook 7 Pacific 9 Central 10 Eastern
https://www.facebook.com/lisa.sanders.942145
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
Life coach and author Corrinn Davis joins us in the midst of the current crisis when so many of us seem to be on edge or full-blown mad, as reflected in road rage and homicide statistics. We talk about how anger can displace other painful emotions, for better or worse, and how it can be redirected in positive ways. We speculate about what we're seeking when we feed on other people's anger. She provides some questions to monitor yourself before you lose control—and for when you've gone off the deep end, like, who benefits when you're angry? Stories, advice, self-coaching techniques and insights make this an essential episode. Let's change the world.
Corrinn's websites:
https://www.citstation.com/
https://calrockranch.org
Corrinn's book:
https://www.whistlingrabbitpress.com/product/useful-questions-a-guide-to-self-coaching/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Jennifer on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
Jennifer on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Discreet Guide Training:
https://training.discreetguide.com/
English writer, classics teacher, and former police officer, Mark Knowles, joins us to talk about Reacher, the Amazon series; Killing Floor, the book it's based on; and its British author Lee Child. We analyze what's the same or different between the show and the book, what we like about Reacher, and how he resembles a classic Homeric hero. We also talk about stuff that got changed in the show and whether or not we approve (like the thing with the dog and some woke additions), plus some challenges inherent to transferring a monosyllabic loner to the screen. Spoilers! A fun episode with a fun guest.
Mark's website
https://www.markknowles.info/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Welcome to the world of Curio and Co where founders, Cesare Asaro and Kirstie Shepherd use their flair for nostalgic design to create souvenirs from a past you wish had existed. They join us from Vienna to talk about the sense of playfulness their creations spark, as well as the research, analysis, and plain old work required to make design elements that hit the mark. They talk about being development partners, as well as work they find inspirational like that of James Gunn, or Oceans 11, or Peanuts. A joyful episode. With co-host Bill Aho.
Curio and Co's website (this is really worth a visit):
https://curioandco.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
The Dutch Oven Daddy, Ned Adams, joins us to talk about all things cast iron: what it's good for, how to evaluate it, how to maintain it (especially the secrets of proper seasoning), and how to bring it back from a rusted state, using science! Ned also talks about his personal journey with cast iron, what got him started with it and its meaning to him today, as well as where to find the cast iron community of cooks and collectors. A lovely wide-ranging conversation about tradition, families, food, and chemistry.
The Dutch Oven Daddy website (don't miss the photos of the e-tank!):
https://www.dutchovendaddy.com/
Where to buy Buzzywaxx to season your cast iron:
https://buzzywaxx.com/
One of the Facebook groups Ned mentioned:
https://www.facebook.com/CastIronCommunityCIC/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
After working in record stores for over 30 years, Eleni has heard it all—and knows a lot! She shares her approach to providing information to those in need and to writing music reviews that can help a searcher find music they love. Raised in a large Greek family and exposed to a wide variety of music, Eleni moved to the desert as a teenager and began her career in music retail. Here she regales us with stories of bands, Elvis Costello, producers, and customers, as well as providing many recommendations. We throw in a rant or two. With co-host Bill Aho.
Read Eleni in the Coachella Valley Weekly:
https://coachellavalleyweekly.com/category/music/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Join Professor Jason Aukerman, Director of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies, to learn about Bradbury's life and work, the creation of the center, and surprising discoveries in the archives. We discuss Fahrenheit 451 in which Bradbury cautioned us about the danger of mass media and censorship, topics even more relevant today. Jason discusses his approach to teaching writing and Bradbury's literary strengths, as well as the role of an archivist in protecting and evaluating a lifetime of work. We conclude with a bio of Bradbury and a reminder about the McCarthy era. A great episode for writers and readers.
The Center for Ray Bradbury Studies, including the Virtual Tour we discuss, a timeline of Bradbury's life, and where you can sign up for the newsletter:
https://bradbury.iupui.edu/
The link to donate to the Center:
https://bradbury.iupui.edu/top-level-menu-folder/support-us.php
Follow the Center on Twitter:
@BradburyCenter
One interesting interview with Ray Bradbury:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTXckvj7KL4
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Singer/songwriter, blogger, and memoirist Amy Rigby joins us today for a wise and fun conversation about her 30-year career, including her CBGB days, having Ronnie Spector feature one of her songs, meeting Wreckless Eric, writing her memoir, and work during the pandemic. Known for her clever, funny, and sometimes vengeful lyrics, Amy is beloved by her fans (including Jennifer's mom!) for her insights into everyday living and surviving. This conversation is no exception with Amy reflecting on legacy, mortality, murder and tea towels. An unforgettable episode. With co-host Bill Aho.
Amy's website:
https://www.amyrigby.com/
Amy's blog:
https://diaryofamyrigby.wordpress.com/
Amy on Bandcamp:
https://theamyrigby.bandcamp.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Join author Rosanne Tolin to discuss her book More Than Marmalade, the only biography of Michael Bond, the author of the beloved Paddington stories. Did you know Paddington was inspired by the Kindertransport refugees fleeing Germany and arriving in London with just a suitcase and a name tag? Bond, a dropout, worked for the BBC and as a struggling writer for many years before finally finding success with Paddington, a story concept suggested by his literary agent. Rosanne talks about her research, Bond's life and work, and offers advice about writing for the middle grades. A great episode for Paddington fans and writers.
Where to buy the book:
https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/more-than-marmalade-products-9781641603140.php?page_id=21
Rosanne's website:
https://www.rosannetolin.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Join singer/songwriter, musician, producer, composer and radio host Ben Vaughn talking about his many hats, how he got started in music and his gypsy career. In a wide-ranging, informal, and fun discussion, he describes doing a sound check in two different Ramblers (yes, the car) to pick the right one, getting a gun pulled on him in the producer's booth, his love for Mickey Lee Lane's Shaggy Dog, growing up listening to The Geator with the Heater, and the importance of always learning. We also share a fabulous version of Too Sensitive for this World. With co-host Bill Aho.
Ben's website:
http://benvaughn.org/
The movie about recording Rambler '65 in his car:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h45s7PsWreU
Ben's weekly radio program:
https://xpn.org/xpn-programs/many-moods-ben-vaughn (or listen through Apple podcasts!)
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
A Norwegian pig farmer may not sound like a femme fatale, but Belle Gunness lured dozens of men to their death and became Indiana's most notorious serial killer. Author and researcher Jane Simon Ammeson joins us to discuss her new book about Belle, including the latest discoveries about her gruesome deeds and mysterious disappearance. A creepy but fascinating episode.
Jane's websites:
https://janeammeson.com/
https://shelflife.blog/jane-simon-ammeson/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Join Jennifer Hartman, director of Rogue Detection Teams, to talk about using rescue dogs in scientific work to locate and analyze threatened animal species. We cover dog selection and training (though the dog bounders are often learning as much from the dogs), the physical requirements of the work, what can be learned now through DNA analysis of animal scat, the benefits of using dogs in a non-invasive way, and the challenges posed by long solo trips into rugged wilderness. Specifically, we talk about the project in the Eastern Sierra to learn about the elusive Sierra Nevada red fox, and the lone Nevada individual who traveled from the Great Basin join his buddies in the Eastern Sierra. I loved this interview, and I think you will too.
More about Rogue Dogs:
https://roguedogs.org/
https://www.facebook.com/roguedogs/
https://www.instagram.com/roguedetectionteams/
https://twitter.com/roguedetection
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCij7s9rwMGma9GS_rp3rbZw?view_as=subscriber
Contact Jennifer at contact@roguedogs.org
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Join relationship expert Melinda Blau while she discusses her book about the importance of acquaintances and weak ties in building networks, expanding our boundaries, and just making us feel better. With specific examples and tactical advice about how to initiate a conversation, nurture a relationship, and let it go, she gives us food for thought for the new year. She also presents the science of casual connections and explains their surprising impact, as well as what we are learning about internet relationships. A wonderful uplifting episode.
Melinda's book co-written with psychologist Karen Fingerman:
https://melindablau.com/books/consequential-strangers/
Melinda's website:
https://melindablau.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Christmas music seems to be unstoppable with new songs and albums coming out every year, so Bill and Jennifer have a lot to talk about from traditional, classic tunes, whether they're overplayed and fall out of fashion; to innovative covers; to novelty and funny songs, new and old; to caroling and kids' TV shows; to artists who unexpectedly turn in an awesome song; and those we'd rather forget, especially if they included their kids on the recording. Whether Christmas is a happy or sad time for you, we've got recommendations. With co-host Bill Aho.
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Music we discuss:
Bestselling: Elvis, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Kenny G, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Pentatonix
New: Norah Jones
Funny: Bummed Out Christmas (Christmas in Jail), Masked Christmas
Novelty: Snoopy's Christmas, All I Want for Christmas, Nuttin for Christmas (Barry Gordon), Jingle Bells by the Singing Dogs, Christmas Don't Be Late by the Chipmunks, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, Rudolph the Redneck Reindeer (Joe Diffie), 12 Days of Christmas (McKenzie Bros), Dominick the Donkey, Santa & the Satellite
Compilations: Maybe this Christmas, A Very Special Christmas, Celtic Christmas, Billboard Christmas
Misc: John Prine: Christmas in Hawaii, Tom Petty: Christmas All Over Again; Natalie Merchant: Children Go Where I Send Thee; Sheryl Crow: Blue Christmas; Asleep at the Wheel: Swingin' Drummer Boy; Dolly Parton: Hard Candy Christmas; Jack Johnson: Rudolph, Mellencamp: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Lisa Loeb: Jingle Bells; Rilo Kiley: Xmas Cake
Controversial: Baby It's Cold Outside, I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus
Classics: Chuck Berry: Merry Christmas, Baby, The Christmas Song, I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Let It Snow
New: Kelly Clarkson: Christmas isn’t Cancelled, Just You; Carly Rae Jepsin: It’s Not Christmas Til Somebody Cries
TV Specials: Peanuts Christmas, Rudolph, The Grinch, Rankin/Bass
Albums: Ella Fitzgerald, Lee Ann Womack's A Season for Romance, Jazz: Fourplay's Snowbound, Boney James, Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong; Shawn Colvin's Holiday Songs & Lullabies, Chris Isaak
Videos: Carla Williams & Billy Dean: Merry Xmas Darling; Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello: The Christmas Song' Elton John and Ed Sheeran: Merry Christmas; Meghan Trainor w/ Earth Wind & Fire: Holidays
New: Amanda Shire's I Want You Gone for Christmas; Leona Lewis: One More Sleep; Steve Wariner: Feels Like Christmas Time
RamsesThePigeon: Where Is the Comma in "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" Supposed to Go?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxfxy-3dGz0
Michael Nesmith, the cap-wearing Monkee, passed away last week. Jennifer and Bill talk about Michael's life and legacy in depth, from fleeing Texas to landing in the concoction that was the Monkees, and then moving on to myriad projects in music, video, and prose, often with instincts before his time. Productive, thoughtful, with a playful side, he has left us a big legacy of gifts that keep on giving. An episode for music and music video fans. With co-host Bill Aho.
Michael's website that we mention:
https://www.videoranch3d.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Jon Teichman and Geoff Walker join Bill and Jennifer to talk about the allure and resilience of vinyl LP records. Jon and Geoff are experts about vinyl and organize the multi-day and multi-city Ore Dock Record Show which features 10,000 LPs and thousands of visitors from around the world. Here they talk about sound quality, equipment, bootlegs, what people are buying, music communities, and more. They tell wonderful stories of found treasures and how music works like a time machine. You don't want to miss this heart-warming episode. With co-host Bill Aho.
Follow Geoff on Instagram: @MichiganRecords
Follow Jon on Instagram: @Emporiumfeaturingvintagevinyl
Jon's store in Marquette, MI: Emporium Featuring Vintage Vinyl, 317 W. Washington St
Ore Dock Record Show: March 24-27, 2022 in Marquette, Michigan
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Join LolaGeek, a former sales consultant for LuLaRoe, for the lowdown on that business and other multi-level marketing schemes. Get the insider's view on how LuLaRoe, a billion-dollar direct sales clothing company, recruited, targeted stay-at-home moms, manipulated its messaging, enriched its founders and impoverished its workers, and ultimately became the subject of multiple lawsuits. An eye-opening tale about a pyramid scheme in lamb's clothing.
Follow LolaGeek on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/LolaGeek/featured
LuLaRich, the documentary we discuss:
https://www.amazon.com/LuLaRich-Season-1/dp/B09CFXPNSX
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
A galloping mile-a-minute ride through the career of Elliot Kendall, from his early days as a struggling musician in the Bay Area to waiter days in LA, his dream job as the Catalog Guy at Universal for 13 years, and now his constant reinvention. What fuels him? What's happening today with music promotion? How do we find good music? Does radio matter? Elliot answers these questions and many more. A lively and entertaining episode. With co-host Bill Aho.
Find Elliot on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-kendall-a3476563/
Podcast episode Elliot refers to with Howard Bloom:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/episodes/2020-06-02T05_00_01-07_00
Radio Station Jennifer refers to, KSRW 92.5 Sierra Wave:
https://sierrawave.net/ksrw-925-radio-program-guide/alt-92-5_wave/
Musicians Jennifer refers to:
Andrew Bird: https://www.andrewbird.net/
El Vy (mispronounced their name on the show, sorry about that): http://www.elvy.co/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Join social scientist and poverty expert Mark Rank to discuss his recent book, "Poorly Understood: What America Gets Wrong about Poverty," and common misconceptions about being poor in the US. He explains that not only do many millions find themselves in poverty today, the risk of YOU finding yourself in poverty at some point during your life is surprisingly high. We consider poverty statistics, policies, the economic cost of poverty, and why it—and the myths around it—persists. An accessible and eye-opening episode.
The website Mark refers to:
https://confrontingpoverty.org/
Mark's book:
https://bookshop.org/books/poorly-understood-what-america-gets-wrong-about-poverty/9780190881382
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Join Jenny and Jeanne Abel as they discuss the life work of hoaxer Alan Abel, the genius behind such pranks as The Society for Indecency to Nude Animals, the fainting incident on Phil Donahue, presidential candidate Yetta Bronstein, Omar's School for Beggars, and mockumentaries, such as Is There Sex After Death. Daughter Jenny and wife Jeanne describe Alan's early career and progression into comedy, as well as the documentary Abel Raises Cain, which Jenny created with Jeff Hockett and which won many film festival awards.
Link to the documentary:
https://abelraisescain.com/abel_raises_cain_movie.htm
Where to buy Alan's books, including How to Thrive on Rejection:
https://abelraisescain.com/alan_abel_books_records_films.htm
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-acts
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Music with the Michiganders
Jennifer, Bill, and Doug discuss their first memories of music and early influences that turned them into giant life-long music fans, starting with bubblegum music and novelty songs. They talk about the importance of friends, a band’s covers, and passion versus production. They also celebrate the breakdown of musical genres and the many ways to access and discover music now, even if we have to work a little harder to discover and share music now. They also make some recommendations you don’t want to miss.
Follow the host on Twitter: @DiscreetGuide
The playlist:
The Doors: Light My Fire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq8k-ZbsXDI
Chuck Berry: My Ding-A-Ling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr-YF_dTTZM
Lena Lovich: I Think We’re Alone Now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJRGdQSvwjU
Popcorn:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjxNnqTcHhg&t=37s
Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods: Billy, Don’t Be a Hero
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qndq4pYqgk8
Lemonheads: Mrs. Robinson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvMFm5nKeUc
Who: Summertime Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC4S13jcki4
Mose Allison: Young Man Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpTSVy3yzts
The Rolling Stones: Jumpin’ Jack Flash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-JDB_K6s_Y
The Clash: I Fought the Law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHC2Mnf_HXo
Grateful Dead: Uncle John’s Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD1naKNQuF4
Talking Heads: Take Me to the River
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RHZEzVUBPk
Talking Heads: Crosseyed and Painless
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyDb4szpWmc
Nirvana: The Man Who Sold the World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz3tmYDl6XI
Dire Straits: Sultans of Swing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fAQhSRLQnM
Tracy Chapman: Fast Car
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwrHwZyFN7M
Tina Turner: What’s Love Got to Do with It
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpUt4gmEYaU
Ink Spots: If I Didn’t Care
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvwfLe6sLis
Replacements: If Only You Were Lonely (demo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxN1q09knqo
Todd Rundgren: Bang on the Drum All Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Tcggo45TQ
Recommendations:
Abbey Road Remastered 2019 on Vinyl
https://www.discogs.com/release/14183308-The-Beatles-Abbey-Road
McCartney 3,2,1 Documentary on Hulu
https://www.hulu.com/series/mccartney-3-2-1-e168480d-849e-4f2d-aaf2-a5276723d68d
Happy New Year, everybody. Ta-da! The new show will be called "Books, Shows, Tunes & Mad Acts." It will be classified on Podomatic under Art: Books, but if you have trouble finding it, write me at jennifer@discreetguide.com or catch me on Twitter @DiscreetGuide, and we'll hook you up. See you on the other side!
Nick Brown is back! Former IT guy and now psychologist, Nick talks about some counter-intuitive policy changes for improving the efficiency and lowering costs of IT, by actually making users happier. It's a recognition of the importance of treating co-workers as humans instead of enemies, and an argument for a new way of thinking. This is a great episode to end our run with, as we have been moving toward these ideas over our last 200 episodes. We will have a new show in 2021, with a new format and focus. Tune in on New Year's Eve for more information and the new name of the show. And thanks for listening!
Follow Nick on Twitter:
@sTeamTraen
Our previous episode with Nick about debunking psych studies:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2019-11-26T10_05_55-08_00
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https://www.discreetguide.com/
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Upon the launch of their new book, Jack Schneider and Jennifer Berkshire, join us to talk about what forces have been at work undermining public education in the US. We talk about public funding of religious schools, edupreneurs intent on pocketing tax monies, and edu-marketing, especially of online schools--all ways of diverting money away from traditional public schools--and the growing gap between privileged and disadvantaged students. We also discuss curriculum decisions and why parents might not be the best at recognizing education as a public good, but how our common desire for an excellent education for our children could be just the thing to reunite the country post-election. A lively and accessible episode.
Jack and Jennifer's book:
https://thenewpress.com/books/wolf-schoolhouse-door
Their podcast "Have You Heard"
https://www.wolfattheschoolhousedoor.com/podcast
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https://www.discreetguide.com/
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The Hades Factor, a bad-guys-with-a-virus story, was written by Gayle Lynds based on a treatment by Ludlum and published in 2000 shortly before his death. Ludlum wrote 21 books on his own, but his brand marches on, having produced another 26 books after his death, including 13 of the Bourne series. His decline after heart surgery and the death of his beloved longtime first wife was accelerated by an unhappy second marriage and a terrifying and mysterious house fire from which he never recovered. His literary legacy is preserved by his devoted fans, but his brand has become a larger-than-life cash cow, spawning books, movies, squabbles over money, and a sordid death or two.
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University of Virginia professor and director of EdPolicyWorks Jim Wycoff joins us to discuss efforts to tie teacher pay to performance. Following on research about teacher effectiveness, especially in low-performing schools, Jim reviews programs in New York and Washington DC that emphasized teacher evaluation and rewarded high performance with significant financial compensation. He explains how some of those lessons learned, including discussions with teacher unions, can be transported to other districts and reviews what factors contributed to their success (some may surprise you!). Some valuable takeaways here for policy makers and parents in this accessible and uplifting episode.
The EdPolicyWorks website:
https://curry.virginia.edu/faculty-research/centers-labs-projects/edpolicyworks
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Education researcher and Indiana University professor Chris Lubienski joins us to talk about what charter schools are, how they were and are created, what their promise was, how they are marketed in the US and abroad, and what the research shows about their effectiveness, especially in Indiana where the state has encouraged their formation in the name of school choice. Chris discusses Horace Mann's ideas about a Common School and how that has played out in the modern era, as well as data regarding segregation and the achievement gap. An accessible and clear-eyed episode about a controversial topic.
The resource Chris mentions:
https://nepc.colorado.edu/
Follow Chris on Twitter:
@CLub_edu
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Rebecca Makkai's 2018 book The Great Believers was a finalist for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in fiction, for good reasons. It is two stories, one about the AIDS epidemic moving through a gay community in Chicago in the 80s and another of a mother searching for her daughter in Paris in 2015. The book is about death and grief, but that means it's also about love and life, and so invigorating and a reminder of how to live, now, when we are lucky enough to be here at the same time and in the same place as our loved ones. With the election bearing down upon us, enjoy the episode and hope that the center does hold.
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On October 16, 2020, a French history teacher was beheaded by an Islamic terrorist while walking home from school. Controversy had arisen around the teacher when he used several satirical cartoons depicting Muhammad earlier in the month in a section on free speech. Demonstrations and tributes have followed, as well as aggressive action by French authorities to identify all those involved and shut down radical Islamic organizations. That, and strong words by Macron, have been decried as Islamophobia, along with calls for a boycott of French goods. We unravel this tragic story and pay homage to the legacy of this dedicated teacher. An important episode in the series on education and teaching. #JeSuisProf
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We review a virus-related thriller published in March 2020 and written by Chris Bohjalian. A beautiful cover and an intriguing beginning set in Vietnam sadly lose their momentum in this thriller which suffers from minimal character development, a weak climax, and sloppy writing, perhaps because of hurried writing. We check in on reviews from the NYT Review of Books (loved it!) and the Amazon crowd (some, not so much). We engage in an editing exercise to see how to strengthen, clarify, and tighten a paragraph, and we also tell a story about trying to trap a rat. A good episode for writers and editors.
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Indiana University education professor David Rutkowski joins us to talk about school assessment tools and outcomes inside the state of Indiana, across US states, and internationally, with lots of surprises. Going beyond the headlines and politics, results may not be what you think. David explains why schools are more than their assessments and why it's important for us to be smart about these measurements. We also touch on school finance and racial deviations, and Jennifer talks about her experience going to a Parisian lycée in the eighth grade. An accessible episode about an essential national topic.
To find out more about David's and his colleagues' work:
https://embracingheterogeneity.com/bio/
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Published in April 2020, the book has been acclaimed for its ability to predict what would happen during a pandemic. Well, kinda, Wright got some things right, but Covid-19 is not nearly the apocalypse that he predicted. More problematic is the organization and editing of the book; the raw material for an interesting product is there, but it doesn't hang together as a novel: long educational sections about viruses, epidemics, laboratories are roughly spliced into personal drama. We speculate here about how that happened, along with other reviewers, including Roxane Gay. A timely book and review as part of our Literary Sunday series.
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Labor economist Dan Goldhaber joins us to talk about research findings regarding teacher scarcity and the correlations between teacher qualifications and their measurable impact on student learning. He explains how typical pay schedules reward or ignore teacher characteristics that seem to be related to student gains. He also discusses some research about non-credentialed teachers who come from programs like Teach for America. Another in our series about education and teaching, this is an eye-opening episode about a misunderstood topic.
The research centers about education that Dan mentions:
http://cedr.us/index.html
https://caldercenter.org/
Follow Dan and Cedr on Twitter:
@CEDR_US
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Peng Shepherd's first book, The Book of M, received some accolades when it was published in 2018 though it doesn't quite fit in the post-apocalyptic genre and creeps over into fantasy. We take a critical look, along with other reviewers, at what makes this story intriguing but how ultimately the writing doesn't live up to the tantalizing premise that losing your shadow means losing your memories. We discuss the impact of flawed writing on the reader and the importance of detailed editing and word-by-word analysis in producing a high quality work. A literary Sunday episode which explores the nuts and bolts of good writing.
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USC School of Ed professor Larry Picus talks us through the nuts and bolts of local, state, and federal financing of school districts in California, including Prop 13, school bonds, and this year's Prop 15. He explains how districts are equalized, adjusted for special student populations, how differences persist, and compares other states' systems. We also talk about how money is generally spent (some surprises there) and what it tells you about education quality. Larry also offers some observations about teaching as a career and finding a home district. This practical and informative episode is the third in our series about education and teaching. An accessible and critical episode.
Larry's website:
https://picusodden.com/lawrence-picus/
Find Larry at the Rossier school:
https://rossieronline.usc.edu/about/our-faculty/profile/larry-picus/
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We discuss both Contagions, one, a medical thriller by Robin Cook, that turns out to have nothing to do with the 2011 Steven Soderburgh movie with the same title that continues to freak people out today. We learn about the careers of both creators and how these two works have stood the test of time, especially the movie seen through today's experienced and knowledgeable Covid-19 lens. We also talk about Soderburgh's other movies, especially Sex, Lies and Videotape, a forerunner in the independent movie era. We touch on this month's Atlantic Monthly article "How the Virus Won."
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We take on the toughest topics in teaching today with Doug McKee who teaches or has taught economics at Cornell and Yale: what makes a good teacher, teaching like a scholar, what good are grades, why we love our teachers, are students now worse than they used to be, avoiding burnout, why use group work, and recent research findings about effective online teaching. This is the second in our series on education and teaching. Don't miss this one.
Doug's website/blog/podcast:
https://teachbetter.co/
Find Doug on Twitter:
@TeachBetterCo
Econ Stuff on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8I_tVy_9O1Yo7lG0FrGcYQ/videos
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https://www.discreetguide.com/
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American sci fi writer Greg Bear has written over 50 books during a career that has spanned 50 years. Blood Music was an early prize-winning novel about an infection caused by nanotechnology which took over reality. Published 15 years later, Darwin's Radio explored the notion of a prehistoric retrovirus that spread around the globe and caused evolution to take a giant step forward. We explore the two novels, Bear's career, and his thoughts about writing, science fiction, and current events. An interesting episode about how readers react to these two novels, particularly the differences in the writing and plot pacing.
Greg's website:
https://www.gregbear.com/index.php
Greg's Tedx talk we mention:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u902ckKXNMI
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https://www.discreetguide.com/
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Law professor and public education policy expert Derek Black joins us to talk about his new book "Schoolhouse Burning: Public Education and the Assault on American Democracy." In this informal but profound discussion, we review how the country's founding fathers and early government documents linked public education to the survival of the new democracy and where we have arrived today with public school funding, vouchers, and charter schools. From Betsy DeVos's promotion of religious schools to small-government advocates and libertarians' desire for choice, public education has been under attack during the past decade while recent years have also seen large demonstrations in support of teachers, bringing the nation's commitment to public education to a critical juncture, accentuated by the pandemic. This critical episode is the first in our new series about education and teaching.
Derek's new book:
https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/derek-w-black/schoolhouse-burning/9781541788442/
Derek's Ted Talk he mentions:
https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_black_a_well_informed_citizenry_fact_vs_fiction_in_american_media_then_and_now
Follow Derek on Twitter:
@DerekWBlack
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A modern-day town crier gets some ominous messages to read about impending pestilence in Paris while mysterious backwards 4s begin appearing on doors. The 2001 policier by French crime novelist Fred Vargas was translated into English by David Bellos and adapted into a movie by Régis Wargnier. Colorful characters, understated humor, and the complexity of Chief Inspector Adamsberg come through in the translation, not so much in the movie — although it still holds up as a competent urban thriller. A sophisticated who-dun-it with a twist of plague.
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San Diego native, percussionist, guitarist, and producer Jeff Berkley talks about his musical evolution, his band Berkley Hart, song writing, record production, and why we keep coming back to acoustic music. Most unusually, he relays the nuts and bolts of making a living as a professional musician and shares some occasions when things they thought would be funny on stage didn't quite work out. He also talks about the power of music and what a live performance can do. A fun and intimate episode with a pro.
Jeff's website:
https://jeffberkley.com/
The Facebook Live event we talk about:
https://www.facebook.com/berkleyhart/videos/352669735914142
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In this zombie-apocalypse novel, literary novelist and dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker Colson Whitehead imagines three days in the life of a "sweeper," a civilian who works as part of an operation to clear NYC of zombies so it can be re-inhabited. The story is imaginative and exciting (after the first day), and the writing is expressive, arresting, cynical, and amusing. Whether you love or hate zombie stories, this is an enjoyable read. The 19th in our Literary Sunday episodes during the pandemic.
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Robin Kardon, author of "Angel Flight," the new second novel in the Flygirl trilogy, joins us to talk about love and work in the life of an ambitious female pilot who is trying to succeed in a male-dominated environment. The fast-moving story finds Tris falling for a handsome captain with a mysterious past who she then discovers is competing with her for a promotion. We talk about romance at work, mental health issues among pilots, planning for death, and drama in the air, with a nod to 9/11. With help from our audience, we also offer some advice for these times: always think ahead of your airplane, and don't judge people at their worst. A timely episode about an exciting story.
The episode with Robin about the first book:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2020-06-05T05_00_00-07_00
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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The correct starting place to negotiate the base salary for a position is its value on the open market. Happily, that information is now usually available. Unhappily, certain laws and corporate policies have been advanced that work against open dialogue and fair negotiation. For example, California's law prohibiting companies from asking for salary history ends up exaggerating the gender pay gap, something it allegedly was designed to combat. Further, company policies which place a cap on salary increases for internal candidates openly reinforce any historical pay inequities. And companies which proclaim they don't negotiate salaries -- well, what can we say except, that's a lie. A clear-minded important episode about salaries.
A related episode about "How To Make More Money"
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2019-06-11T10_12_48-07_00
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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Mann began his novel The Magic Mountain with the intention of exploring comedic elements broached by Death in Venice, but World War I intervened which distracted him into writing about German culture and nationalism. When he returned to the novel, his attitudes had changed, and so the novel is Bildungsroman mixed up with a bunch of philosophical and mythological characters and ideas. The setting is a sanatorium in Switzerland, which also happened to be visited by the Manns, where our young hero discovers he might have a touch of TB and ends up staying for seven years. It gives us an excuse to talk briefly about tuberculosis but mostly to explore Mann's political thoughts through both World Wars and the anti-communist inquisition in the US. A literary investigation.
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Rebecca Jade joins us to talk about her musical history, how she ended up in San Diego, and why she stays. She talks vocal technique, musical education, career development, and clapping on the beat. We also talk about playing on the trolley and with Peter Sprague--and most importantly, where the best places to go for music are in San Diego. Finally, Rebecca offers advice to aspiring professional musicians. A warm and homegrown episode with a wonderful song from Rebecca Jade and the Cold Fact.
The online concert with Peter Sprague that we discuss:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wiRcp70dIM
Lady Rebecca Jade's website:
http://www.rebeccajade.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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New York journalist Pete Hamill passed away this month after a stellar career as a columnist, essayist, and author. He and Jimmy Breslin inspired a generation of newspaper reporters, including our guest Brian O'Neill, a columnist in Pittsburgh for the last 30-some years. We talk about Pete's interest in people, how his writing revealed New York, and why his writing is so relevant and timeless. We also read from his columns about Trump in the 80s and the assassination of Bobby Kennedy when Pete was in the galley kitchen where Bobby was shot. We also discuss newspapers as the "rough draft of history" and their importance today. A moving and historic episode.
Brian's book about Pittsburgh "The Paris of Appalachia"
https://bookshop.org/books/the-paris-of-appalachia-pittsburgh-in-the-twenty-first-century/9780887485091
A collection of Pete's columns including one about the assassination of Bobby Kennedy and one about Trump in the 80s:
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/reading-pete-hamill-iconic-newspaperman-1935-2020?utm_source=pocket-newtab
Our series on journalism started here with Joel Kaplan of Syracuse University:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2020-04-05T05_00_00-07_00
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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Thomas Mann's 1912 novella is about an esteemed artist suffering from writer's block who travels to Venice and becomes enamored with a beautiful Polish boy just as the city is falling prey to a cholera epidemic. It was made into a striking film in 1971 by Luchino Visconti starring Dirk Bogarde and then into an opera by Benjamin Britten as his last work. A simple story belies the torment of passion and disturbing feelings exposed by Mann, not only in his fiction but in his personal diaries, when our heart takes us down an unplanned path with unintended consequences. An episode kind to complicated humans.
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Being a boss is a big responsibility, even before you realize that your employee's poor performance is your fault. Yikes. We talk about reporting lines, performance appraisals, monitoring performance, and performance improvement processes. We provide a simple but effective tool for providing feedback and course correction in an informal context and how that leads into performance evaluations that are fair, thorough, and objective. We also discuss the steps of a performance improvement process that is employee-oriented, positive, and designed for the best possible outcome. Finally, we review the best ways to handle a termination and how to gather information about employee turnover. An essential episode.
Last week's episode about The Basics of Good Management:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2020-08-21T05_00_00-07_00
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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Stanford professor Nick Bloom shares his research about working from home: who likes it and why, what it does to productivity, what it exposes about performance metrics, some thoughts about face-to-face meetings, and what the office of the future might look like. Although he explains that "now is odd," a terrific understatement for the pandemic, we have learned a lot about working from home in the past few months, what makes it successful or not, and we have an opportunity to increase our productivity and enhance our management metrics. An entertaining and enlightening episode.
Nick's website: https://nbloom.people.stanford.edu/
Nick's Ted Talk from 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiUyyZPIHyY
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In a continuing effort to improve our workplaces, particularly where management is concerned, we return to first principles in this episode to re-discover the value of longtime, hardworking employees who, although they don't appear on the balance sheet, really are your greatest assets. We review your responsibilities to nurture and grow them and how you trade resources and support for their knowledge and expertise, especially when, as so often happens, you as the manager don't know enough to do their job and don't understand their challenges. We discuss how you balance the company's interests with the need to train your employees to advocate for themselves. We discuss the requirement for excellent communication skills and how to intervene when conflicts arise, and finally, the respect and honesty that should be extended to every employee. Management is hard, but the basics are not. An episode to get started on the right foot.
An episode on hiring that we reference:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2019-03-18T17_37_32-07_00
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Harvard economics professor Rebecca Henderson's new book "Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire" outlines how capitalism has let us down in recent decades, how free markets have been thwarted, how government has been weakened and corrupted, and how Americans and our planet have suffered. Chockfull of data and evidence, the book is ultimately inspirational, pointing out where businesses and powerful people have taken steps to restore the aspects of last century's economic system that did work well. Her message and call to action are timely and urgent.
Where you can find her book:
https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/rebecca-henderson/reimagining-capitalism-in-a-world-on-fire/9781541730151/
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This 2014 novel starts with the death of a Shakespearean actor followed quickly by a pandemic which wipes out most of humanity and causes the collapse of civilization. We pick the story up 20 years later. Despite its dystopian setting, I found the book uplifting, ultimately hopeful, and surprisingly nostalgic. Of the 16 books of our Sunday pandemic literary series so far, this is the first I recommend reading now.
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Today we honor Takoda, Ayla, Journey and Buster, real SAR or recovery dogs who work in the Eastern Sierra. Although their work might seem a bit grisly, they don't think so and demonstrate their enthusiasm and pride through their work ethic and good spirits. We talk about their breeds (Golden retriever, Swiss shepherd, Border collie, and Black lab), training, talents, and experiences. Some have been featured in the media, especially Buster, whose nose took him overseas to discover the remains of many MIA marines, and some toil in relative obscurity, even if their discoveries are very meaningful in the cases of those who are missing or dead. A warning that we do discuss cases of war, murder, and mayhem.
The book the episode is based on:
https://www.whistlingrabbitpress.com/product/working-dogs-of-the-eastern-sierra/
The first episode we did about avalanche dogs:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2020-06-23T14_16_28-07_00
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Biographer Bob Kealing talks about his book "Life of the Party," the story of how an ambitious saleslady rose to be a top seller of Tupperware, an executive in the company, and on the cover of Business Week, only to be forced out and written out of the history of Tupperware. Kealing's research reveals new behind-the-scenes glimpses of jealousy, discrimination, and vindictiveness of this remarkable tale. Listen in for an interesting piece of Florida history.
Bob's books on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Bob-Kealing/e/B001JS7WJE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
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W. Somerset Maugham's 1925 novel concerning an unfaithful wife whose husband takes her to China during a cholera epidemic was adapted into a 2006 movie starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. We contrast the surprisingly edgy and page-turner style of the book with its dreamy romantic representation in the movie. The book presents some themes about sexuality and feminism ignored by the movie while the movie is more cognizant of colonialism and the current events of the day. A fun episode if you're familiar with either the book or the movie, or both, or neither!
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We talk about the immigrant experience where second generation Americans express their appreciation and respect for what their parents went through to get them to where they are, whether it was working menial, low-paying jobs, multiple jobs, being underemployed, or being invisible to their employers. We talk about what occupations are likely to be filled by immigrant workers and what typical pay rates are. The future of the American workforce lies with the second generation, and their stories are similar to those other second-generation Americans back through the last century. You don't have to scratch very hard to find the immigrant in your own family. We also talk about how your parents' jobs can affect your own job choice. An episode of shared American experience.
The LA Times article we discuss:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-05/readers-share-inspiring-family-stories-about-parents
The podcast with my mother:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2020-01-14T10_10_26-08_00
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Joe Payne, the CEO of Arcturus Therapeutics, is back to talk about exciting progress on their messenger RNA Covid-19 vaccine and answer questions about testing for antibodies versus T-cell immunity, potential longevity and timing of the vaccine, and what countries are signing up for the potential Arcturus solution. He also talks about what we might expect after the pandemic slows and how Covid-19 might be similar to or differ from the seasonal influenza, and how public education will be key. Another must-listen episode to stay current.
The Arcturus website:
https://arcturusrx.com/
The UCSF Grand Rounds talk we mention:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNADw5io9Ms
The first episode with Joe from April 2020:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2020-04-26T05_00_00-07_00
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Yay! Another novel about a dystopia caused by a virus! This time, Canadian Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's Tale, presents her view of an over-engineered world of capitalism run amok, leaving it vulnerable to mad science. Despite its length, it's a simple tale of love and morality, and, as it is the first in the MaddAddamm trilogy, there must be some hope left. Another in our Sunday literary series during the pandemic.
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Here are five ways to quickly improve your spoken English and improve your understandability. I've been offering the Your American Voice program for many years, and I find people often think that improving their English is going to be harder than it is. These tips include learning stress inside a word, rhythm inside a sentence, better pronunciation of just a few sounds, making connections between words, and having a good starting position, all of which will make you sound more natural and more American. These can all be practiced on your own by copying other people or using resources online, and should bring significant results. Let me know how it goes!
An article about "singing along," a technique that we talk about:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/one-way-reduce-your-accent-improve-understandability-today/
More information about the Your American Voice program:
https://www.discreetguide.com/other-programs/
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Linguist Nick Enfield joins us to discuss ways that humans collaborate during a conversation, from turn-taking with split-second timing to using continuers to encourage a speaker. He also explains how filler words like "um" and "uh" can serve as traffic signals and how a listener can help or derail a storyteller. We also discuss how nuances of conversation reveal relationships and the subtleties of the communication taking place under the surface. Finally, Nick elaborates on how language can be viewed as a tool to form associations and how that might help us understand the current state of public discourse. All fascinating stuff if you're interested in language and humans.
Nick's book that we discuss:
https://bookshop.org/books/how-we-talk-the-inner-workings-of-conversation/9780465059942
Nick's website:
http://nickenfield.org/
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Maxwell's semi-autobiographical novel is told in three parts from the perspective of two young sons and a husband who lose their mother and wife to the 1918 Spanish flu. It's a moving work, full of vignettes of the objects and home that make up a domestic life in the Midwest, and heart-wrenching in its eventual portrayal of loss from an epidemic. Here, we shed the tears so you don't have to and explore the the parallels to today's moment, as well as examine Maxwell's life and career as a longtime editor for the New Yorker. An episode of extraordinary writing and thoughtful analysis by John Updike and Brendan Gill.
The Eastern Sierra Book Festival we mention (Kendra Atleework's interview begins at the 1 hour 10 minute mark:
https://www.facebook.com/EasternSierraBookFestival/videos/1491816557686727/
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Extolled by management societies and consultants, Taylor's Principles of Scientific Management, published in 1911, laid the groundwork for a clear demarcation between labor and management: management was for planning, guiding, and measuring, and labor was for moving stuff around and doing as it was told. Controversy still rages over the genius or evil of this approach and what it has meant for a capitalist system. We look at Taylor's life and his work's impact and consider what bearing it has on today's world.
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When McDonalds posted a sample budget to demonstrate to employees how they could live on minimum wage (including a second job), it triggered a hostile reaction from media, comedians, and everyday people. Here, we take a look at the estimated expenses, and consider how realistic they are, especially in light of comments on social media from workers around the country. We review briefly the intention of minimum wage (though more of that will come in future episodes). Finally, we consider the struggle and fortitude of people who do survive on minimum wage jobs.
The budget we discuss:
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/mcdonalds-sample-budget-sheet-laughable-its-implications-are-not-2013-07-27
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Bulgakov's science fiction novella, The Fatal Eggs, set in 1928 post-revolutionary Soviet Union, is an absurdist satirical tale of dead chickens, monstrous frogs, bureaucratic bungling, and a miraculous red ray of life. Bulgakov struggled in obscurity, and many of his works were banned because of "ideological nonconformity," but he has now been recognized as an outstanding Russian writer of the 20th century. His humor, insights, and cleverness are on full display here, along with notable contemporary parallels. A funny, escapist episode.
An online version:
http://onlinereadfreenovel.com/mikhail-bulgakov/page,4,33681-the_fatal_eggs.html
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Studs Terkel was a Chicago broadcaster, author, and actor, whose oral histories came to represent the voice of Americans during the 20th century. His book, Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, was celebrated as a masterpiece of American thought and feeling and a presentation of real people. Despite being published in 1974, its stories, a few of which we read, still seem relevant today and worth considering in light of the current disengagement and dissatisfaction of the American workforce. We close with a song by James Taylor from the musical based on the book. A heartwarming episode.
Working, the Book:
https://bookshop.org/books/working-people-talk-about-what-they-do-all-day-and-how-they-feel-about-what-they-do/9781565843424
The Studs Terkel Archive:
https://studsterkel.wfmt.com/
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When you start adding things up, it's not looking very good for baseball right now. Sports journalist Andrew Pridgeon and I talk about the truncated 2020 season, the coronavirus risk to the players and their families, attitude of the owners and commissioner, the unrelenting blackout policies, cost of viewing packages, and number of big names dropping out. And that's just this year. What about the aging fans, lack of support for the minor leagues, professionalization of youth baseball, and endless rise in the cost and inconvenience of trying to be a baseball fan? If all this is a window into the owners' thinking, maybe we need to recognize that baseball in its current configuration is not long for this world. But does that provide an opportunity for a better model to come forth, or, even, come back? A thought-provoking episode about a beloved sport.
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Computer scientist Brian Kernighan joins us to talk about Dennis Ritchie, creator of the C programming language and co-developer of the Unix operating system along with Ken Thompson. Ritchie never sought the limelight, but his impact on the computer world is still visible everywhere from a multitude of operating systems to programming languages, search engines, car engines, and websites. Brian takes us through what made Ritchie's work novel, profound, inspiring, and long lasting. In a wide-ranging conversation, we talk about writing, Bell Labs, office configurations, motivation, and legacy. Brian even quotes a bit of Latin and offers some great takeaways about finding success and happiness at work. A historical and timely episode.
Brian's book "Unix: A History and a Memoir" that we discuss:
https://bookshop.org/books/unix-a-history-and-a-memoir/9781695978553
The Penn & Teller prank we discuss:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxMKuv0A6z4
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Commercial real estate broker Scot Ginsburg of the prestigious tenant rep firm Hughes Marino joins us to talk about what is happening and is likely to happen with office space. Are we going back to the office? Will available sublease space skyrocket? How will landlords react to a potential economic downturn? Scot shares what indicators are appearing on the horizon in California and elsewhere. He also discusses how office layouts may change and what attributes are always popular. Finally, he offers some great takeaways for small businesses or anyone who is negotiating a new lease. A practical and essential episode.
Connect with Scot on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotginsburg/
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Published in 1982 and set in 1996, The White Plague, written by Frank Herbert, the acclaimed author of Dune, describes the unleashing of a female-specific virus created by a bioterrorist (before the word was even known) seeking horrific revenge for the murder of his family. Whew. The book is a pretty hard read, but you can appreciate it with this episode and save a lot of time.
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From disasters with ice cream and cheese sauce to exploding milkshakes and smoothies, to garbage and blueberries ending up where they shouldn't, and inevitable Ranch dressing nightmares, work catastrophes can be really funny when they are on someone else's watch. We recount and make some observations about training and management, though mostly we just laugh. A good time-for-a-break episode.
Related episodes:
IT Screwups: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2020-01-07T15_45_47-08_00
More Screwups at Work: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2019-10-18T10_51_55-07_00
The Biggest F***-Ups at Work: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2019-02-22T18_47_38-08_00
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Behavioral scientist Natasha Ouslis explains how diversity training can backfire, as well as irritate and shame your employees. Implicit bias testing and training focused on the individual are especially flawed. Instead, companies can take positive steps to improve their workplaces by targeting negative behaviors and procedures that restrict access and opportunity. She outlines the components of an effective diversity action plan which will have better results and save money. A must-listen episode in this moment.
Natasha Ouslis's website:
https://natashaouslis.com/
Connect with her on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashaouslis/
Follow her on Twitter:
@natashaouslis
Some articles she recommends:
Behaviour modeling training:
https://scienceforwork.com/blog/training-make-change-stick/
Don't do unconscious bias training - part 1:
https://www.tidalequality.com/blog/dont-do-unconscious-bias-training
Don't do unconscious bias training - part 2:
https://www.tidalequality.com/blog/dont-do-unconscious-bias-training-2
The Training Industry article on gender diversity training we reference:
https://trainingindustry.com/articles/compliance/now-is-the-time-for-gender-diversity-training-the-right-kind/
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https://www.discreetguide.com/
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Joanna Ross's science fiction book The Female Man published in 1975 is still hailed as one of the most influential feminist books. It concerns four women in four different worlds, one of which is "utopian" because all the men have been killed. Another is dystopian because men and women are engaged in a literal battle of the sexes. Many find the book's criticisms of patriarchy still highly relevant; others think it's drivel. We try to make fun of just the parts that merit it and educate you so you can talk big and impress others without having to read it. A time-saving episode.
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Pop music aficionado Dan Stalcup joins us to talk about Adam Schlesinger, musician, singer-songwriter, producer, who passed away on April 1st from COVID-19. The list of Adam's contributions seems to surpass what one man could create: co-founder of the bands Fountains of Wayne, Ivy, and Tinted Windows, writer of Crybaby, Josie & the Pussycats, and for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend along with dozens of shows, as well as a multitude of songs covered by other artists. We discuss his versatility, his humor, his evolution, and his talent for finding the extraordinary and humanity in everyday people, an appreciation that has been returned to him many times over since his passing, from big-name music people to heart-broken listeners who found such solace in his music. A gem of an episode.
Dan Stalcup's website and article about Adam:
http://earnthis.net/adam-schlesinger-in-memoriam/
Follow Dan on Twitter:
@StalcupDan
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https://www.discreetguide.com/
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For a change of pace, we talk about a different working species today—dogs! We introduce four avalanche dogs, three from Mammoth Mountain and one from June Mountain, as profiled in the book Working Dogs of the Eastern Sierra. We discuss breeding, puppy assessment, training, personality, and the zest that they bring to their work. We also review the origin of Eastside K-9, the nonprofit that provides medical care and insurance for the dogs. We finish with some information about the Eastern Sierra Book Festival's virtual event this year. A celebratory episode with fun dog stories.
The book we reference:
https://bookshop.org/books/working-dogs-of-the-eastern-sierra/9781950835003
Eastside K-9 on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Nonprofit-Organization/Eastside-K-9-164105230315109/
Eastern Sierra Book Festival website:
https://easternsierrabookfestival.com/
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https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
We discuss Mary Shelley's life and her 1826 dystopian novel set in 2073 after a plague has wiped out everyone but one. Shelley's turbulent life had tragic elements of love betrayed, financial woes, and the loss of children and lovers. She used all of it in her writing along with explorations of the Romantic era and individualism. We also take a peek at a feminist literary analysis of the opening scene of The Last Man. A retrospective episode of the tribulations from 200 years ago.
A link to the novel:
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/18247/pg18247-images.html
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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USD econ prof Ryan Ratcliff joins us to talk about unemployment, its various measures, and the shape of the potential recovery (is it a V, a U, a swoosh, or none of the above?). He explains the ripple effect of a recession, why the stock market seems out of sync, and why economists fight. He also offers some career advice for aspiring economists and various jobs they could hold. Finally, he explains why economics is not like physics. An entertaining and enlightening episode.
Follow Ryan on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-ratcliff-a42bb91/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Attorney Lisa Bildy joins us to talk about the freedoms that are put at risk by mandatory diversity statements that are growing in popularity from law societies to universities to other employers. With a nod at the history of totalitarianism, she explains how these nice-sounding initiatives actually work to undermine real diversity and how they threaten the foundations of our democracies. As an example of a practical way to defeat one such initiative, she recounts how she and other attorneys successfully rolled back the requirement of a Statement of Principles by a Canadian Law Society. A crucial and accessible episode.
Follow Lisa on Twitter:
@LDBildy
James Lindsay's website we mention:
https://newdiscourses.com/
Episode with James Lindsay that we mention:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide/episodes/2019-12-13T10_14_21-08_00
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide
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https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
This gothic short story spawned a bunch of fictional viruses from Earth Abides to the Stand and the Red Plague. It concerns Prince Prospero who welds himself into his castle with 1,000 of his best mates to party and wait out the disease. On the night of a masquerade ball, as the huge ebony clock tolls midnight, an uninvited guest appears, ending the party. We also consider the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, by Wallace Walpole, as well as a quick review of Poe's life and his poem, The Raven.
Read the short story here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1064/1064-h/1064-h.htm
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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Boston band Ward Hayden and the Outliers, formerly Girls Guns and Glory, join us for a candid conversation about what it takes to sustain a hard-working touring band for 15 years. We talk about the band's work ethic, day jobs, staying healthy on the road, the forced intimacy of touring, the relationships that grow out of creating music together, and the experience that they hope to offer their fans. They also discuss the business of running a band: managing rock and roll gigs in Norway, learning the hard way about what labels or publicists can really deliver, and even the type of personality that is suitable for a longterm band member. A remarkable intimate portrait of a band on the road.
Don't miss the band's Friday streaming party 5 pm ET on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/wardhaydenandtheoutliers/photos/a.10151840114187277/10158410273477277/?type=3&theater
The band's website:
https://www.wardhaydenandtheoutliers.com/
Ward Hayden and the Outliers on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/wardhaydenandtheoutliers/
Find them also on Instagram, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon.
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Under attack? Or feel like you are? These specific, practical tactics allow you to respond powerfully but with dignity, and to model good behavior so we can disarm bullies and engage in productive dialogue. Times may have gotten uglier, especially online, but good can come from conflict if we utilize the longstanding tools of effective argument, debate, and discourse. Don't let fear of difficult conversations keep you from engaging, at a time when we need cool heads and reasonable voices. Here is some weaponry to protect you, help you rise above the battle, and emerge unscathed, flying the flag of progress and civility.
Book we reference:
https://www.discreetguide.com/product/you-not-i-exceptional-presence-through-the-eyes-of-others/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide
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@DiscreetGuide
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A survivor in 2073 looks back at a plague that killed off most of humanity in 2013. He describes to his great grandchildren what the world was like then with wireless communication, monorail transportation, over population, inequities, and how civilization collapsed under the terror of an uncontrolled pandemic. London wrote this in 1910 (!). We also take a brief look at his career and work. A literary pandemic Sunday episode.
Read the story:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/21970/21970-h/21970-h.htm
Listen to the story:
https://librivox.org/the-scarlet-plague-by-jack-london/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide
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https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Former attorney and pilot R.D. Kardon joins us to talk about her novel Flygirl in which she describes the obstacles that lie in the path of an ambitious female pilot, particularly twenty years ago when R.D. herself was rising through the ranks. We talk about gender and racial bias, and R.D.'s cat weighs in about hate. A timely episode about the career damage and personal hurt inflicted by discrimination.
R.D.'s website:
https://www.rdkardonauthor.com/
Where to buy the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Flygirl-R-D-Kardon/dp/1947392220/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1546459195&sr=8-2&keywords=FLYGIRL
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Music publicist Howard Bloom joins us to talk about his new book Einstein, Michael Jackson and Me: A Search for Soul in the Power Pits of Rock and Roll, a free-wheeling romp through the music scene of the 70s and 80s. Bloom discusses his marketing strategy of delving into a musician's story to understand their drive and who they speak for. He talks PMRC's attempted censorship, John Mellencamp, Michael Jackson, long hours, and how his disciplined approach eventually made him the most successful press agent of his time. A blast from the past for music fans.
Howard's website:
https://www.howardbloom.net/
Where to buy the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Michael-Jackson-Me-Search/dp/1493051679
Follow Howard on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/HowardxBloom
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Science fiction readers have long been electrified by Stewart's 1949 novel Earth Abides, a post-apocalyptic story of a small community near Berkeley after most of humanity is killed by disease. Stewart was a diverse writer with a strong interest in history, name, place, and the environment, but this thoughtful novel is his most famous work and inspired Stephen King's The Stand, various musical efforts, and the video game The Last of Us. An exploration of what is civilization with some surprisingly contemporary themes relevant during the pandemic and civil unrest.
A song we mention:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGiWolvE_gY&feature=youtu.be
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
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Recent episodes about entrepreneurship have reminded me of this phase of my teenage life when I was trying to make enough money to get back to college so I took any kind of odd job I could get, from dishwashing to housecleaning to detassling corn and even some jobs that lack description. A funny personal episode about my own dirty jobs.
Got a dirty job? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
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TV producer, Dave Barsky, talks about Dirty Jobs and its seven seasons featuring dangerous, bizarre, and, yes, even filthy, jobs. The show was fun and sensational, full of vicarious thrills, but also serious in its intention to honor men and women who do these behind-the-scenes jobs that require real skill and training. Some of that came from host/apprentice Mike Rowe who would argue that the US has lost its appreciation for skilled labor. The episodes of Dirty Jobs, from bat caves, sewage plants, termite infestations, fishing on the high seas, radio tower installations, head lice treatments, and snake research, are particularly relevant now as they are put into sharp focus through the lens of the pandemic. An entertaining episode with an inimitable guest.
Dave on Twitter:
@producerbarsky
Episodes on the Discovery Channel:
https://www.discovery.com/shows/dirty-jobs
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
In February 2020, Twitter erupted with the theory that Dean Koontz's novel Eyes of Darkness had foreshadowed the Covid-19 pandemic with its Wuhan 400 virus. We review some goofy conspiracy theories, as well as dissecting the plot of the novel (spoilers galore), and finish with a brief review of Koontz's career, his writing style, his many pen names, and his own witty comments on Twitter. A fun, short, escapist episode.
The Twitter moment:
https://twitter.com/NickHintonn/status/1228896027987660800/photo/1
Follow Dean Koontz on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/deankoontz?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Journalist and author David Sax joins us to talk about his new book in which he researches what drives people to start up a business, from immigrants, to those who pursue a lifestyle business or carry on the family business. He debunks the myth of the Silicon Valley boy genius, along with other destructive corollaries, that failure is good, venture capital money is always good, and that bigger is always better. He sounds the alarm that there are fewer startups in every industry now and that millennials are the least likely to start a business going back multiple generations. A timely episode with many small businesses hanging in the balance and an opportunity for us to think about what owner-operated businesses bring to our community and our economy.
Where you can buy the book, from an online store that supports independent bookstores:
https://bookshop.org/books/the-soul-of-an-entrepreneur-work-and-life-beyond-the-startup-myth/9781541736009
Follow David on Twitter:
@saxdavid
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/deardiscreetguide
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Tamara Jacobi, who started the Tailwind Jungle Lodge on the coast of Mexico with her parents 15 years ago, joins us to talk about her new book, "Wildpreneurs," and its practical advice about money, work, grit, and customers. Lots of stories, including jungle challenges with ants and litigious visitors, as well as the voice of experience about working on a family business and the dating life of an entrepreneur. An entertaining and not-to-be-missed episode (with the sound of jungle birds in the background).
1/ series on entrepreneurship
The Tailwind Jungle Lodge website:
https://www.tailwindjunglelodge.com/
Tamara on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tailwindjunglelodge/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
We take a look at Camus' novel, The Plague, published in 1947 after Camus had fought in the French Resistance and become disillusioned with communism. He explores the tendency to downplay the severity of the infestation, by both citizens and authorities, and the eventual moral dilemma faced by an intrepid band of humanists who find there is no other choice but to leap into the fray. We consider the work in the context of Camus' philosophical evolution and review his life's work as a moralist and reluctant existentialist. A reckoning relevant right now.
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
A look at barter, truck systems, company scrip, and historical compensation methods, that may be more applicable than ever. Consider beer, for example :) The problems facing us during a time of massive unemployment and lack of liquidity might give rise to creative solutions as used in the ancient past or by recent startups. A fresh look at labor, its value, and how we as a society "pay" for it.
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
In a personal episode, Jennifer recounts her early days of going to the local library as a young girl to check out giant stacks of books, beginning to volunteer there, looking for work, and then eventually getting a job as a page. She talks about commuting by bicycle or by parent, learning about policies and conflict, and her brushes with nascent technologies, such as the infamous randtriever. She also talks about how those experiences shaped her view of and interest in work. A nostalgic look back in time to a different era.
A photo of the old library:
http://guides.idsnews.com/happenings/event/stitched-with-love-family-quilts
A photo of the randtriever:
https://p-upload.facebook.com/dmacclibraries/photos/a.1054044274640478/2423114584400100/?type=3&theater
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Career coach and creator of the Wharton Career Discovery Seminar, Jane Finkle, discusses her new book The Introvert's Complete Career Guide and her advice about asking for a raise or negotiating a starting salary. We discuss specific tactics for making your worth known, speaking up in meetings, and breaking into a conversation at a networking event, as well as preparing for difficult conversations. A useful episode with specific takeaways.
Jane's website:
https://janefinkle.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
We discuss "Pale Horse, Pale Rider," Katherine Anne Porter's work which covers the 1918 Spanish flu, along with a review of her long career with relatively sparse output, as spitefully described by Truman Capote. Porter's insights into people's behavior during a war or crisis offer a perspective for today, and her acerbic tongue is delightful as long as it isn't directed against you. She also reflected on how her own near-death experience changed her. As part of her participation with a leftist group, she protested the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti and wrote a clear-eyed and biting essay near the end of her life about how bias can affect justice. A literary episode with a surprise.
Porter's essay we discuss:
https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/flashbks/oj/porterf.htm
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
An ombuds office can offer a safe space for informal problem solving and conflict resolution, neatly sidestepping some of the conflict of interest problems inherent in HR departments. Selina Shultz, ombuds, mediator, and former divorce attorney, joins us from the Conflict Lab to talk about the nuts and bolts of a good ombuds office and the benefits it can offer to senior leadership, employees, and even our poor beleaguered HR personnel, including potentially heading off litigation, dispute resolution, mitigating conflict, reducing turnover, and providing an important communication pathway to upper management. She also reads the conflict pledge! A solutions-oriented episode.
The Conflict Lab:
https://www.theconflictlab.com/
The International Ombudsman Association Selina mentions:
https://www.ombudsassociation.org/
Selina on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/selinajshultz/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Employment attorney Chris Olmsted joins us to talk about employees' free speech, protected speech, speech that might get you fired, and speech that's just a bad idea. He talks about employers' rights, responsibilities, keeping the peace, and background checks into candidates' social media. He also deftly dissects some specific cases we throw at him on the fly and closes with some rational advice for all of us during a fraught election year. An essential episode.
Employer information Chris references:
https://ogletree.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Garment Worker Center Director Marissa Nuncio joins us to talk about the history of the garment industry in LA, its so-called sweatshops, typical wages and conditions, how the pandemic has ravaged these low-paid jobs, even as some are currently redeployed as essential workers to make masks and PPE, proposed legislation, and signs of hope and awareness in the fashion industry. The GWC is currently running a donation campaign to provide financial assistance to garment factory workers to pay for food and medicine. An important episode if you wear clothes.
The GWC's website:
https://garmentworkercenter.org/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
We look at the origins of The Stand, a post-apocalyptic nightmare after Captain Trips, a virulent influenza, has killed off most of the world's population. An epic battle ensues between good and evil, personified by two memorable characters, one of whom, Randall Flagg, makes his first awful appearance, though it won't be the last in King's novels. We cover the difficulty of producing the work and where it fits in King's legacy. We also review his book On Writing, part-memoir, part how-to guide, and read some sections on being a hack, stupid criticism, and why to write. We also talk about some dogs. Also F-bomb alert. Even if you're not a King reader, I think you'll get something out of this episode.
A link to the audio of King reading from The Stand about how a virus spreads:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwN5vYGiZws&feature=youtu.be
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Joya Dass worked as business reporter and TV anchor for twenty years, reporting from the floor of the stock exchange. She joins us to talk about her early inspiration by Tom Brokaw, the grind of TV reporting, notable stories that she reported on, and her advice for people coming into the public eye and providing content for an audience. Excellent takeaways from this episode.
10/10 Episodes on Journalism
Joya's current endeavor:
https://ladydrinks.com/
Follow Joya on Twitter:
@JoyaDass
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
We discuss his recent book with Michael Jaccarino about the Darwinian epic battle between the New York Daily News and the New York Post. He recounts the madcap behind-the-scenes shenanigans to one-up the other paper that he and other runners and shooters engaged in to get the "wood" and win the day. From covering tragedy and death to getting the scoop on Miss New Jersey, Spitzer, and Derek Jeter, the stories are a fascinating peak into a different era, but Mike also shares his personal journey of evolution from a get-the-story-at-all-costs cub reporter to a place where he just couldn't knock on one more newly-minted widow's door. A fantastic interview, if I say so myself.
9/10 Episodes on Journalism and Journalists
The book:
https://www.fordhampress.com/9780823287383/americas-last-great-newspaper-war/
Follow Mike on Twitter:
@mjaccarino1
Where Mike works now:
https://theweek.com/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
In March 2001, Bethany McLean made history by raising questions about Enron's financials in a Fortune article. This was before Enron went bankrupt, its officials jailed, and its accountants investigated, before its jaw-dropping level of corruption and greed was documented in The Smartest Guys in the Room, a book Bethany co-authored, and further disclosed in the ensuing documentary. Bethany tells us about her career, how that article thrust her into the limelight, how perseverance and not being automatically good at something can help you, and some thoughts on business reporting and ethics in today's world. A must-listen.
8/10 Episodes on Journalism and Journalists
The infamous article:
https://www.webcitation.org/5tZ26rnac?url=http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/13/news/companies/enronoriginal_fortune/index.htm
Follow Bethany on Twitter:
@bethanymac12
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Time for a laugh! We take a look at people's humorous takes on working from home, being quarantined, and their own foibles during the pandemic. People show their humility and humanity through signs, photographs, and acts of random and bizarre kindness. A quick and funny episode.
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Journalism professor and author Rob Wells joins us to talk about his book, The Enforcers, the scandalous Keating Five, and why the trade press is so important. He also talks about the state of journalism, news literacy, interesting collaborations underway, and some takeaways that would improve the media industry. An important addition to our series on journalism.
7/10 Episodes on Journalism and Journalists
Note that we recorded this episode before we knew about the pandemic, so, yay! not one word about coronavirus to be heard here.
Rob's book:
https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/39sqh8ta9780252042942.html
Rob's website:
http://www.robswells.com/
Follow Rob on Twitter:
@rwells1961
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
We talk about The Andromeda Strain, Michael Crichton's first book under his own name, which tells the story of an alien bug brought to earth by a military satellite. That microorganism goes on to kill a whole town and create an unholy climax involving a potential nuclear disaster. We read an excerpt and talk about Crichton's reaction to Robert Gottlieb's criticism as his editor and read from Gottlieb's book, Avid Reader, about the process. Finally, we consider the Odd-Man Hypothesis and explore the case of a real scientist who thought he was a fictional character.
Spoiler alert!
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
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@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/
Joe Payne and Neda Safarzadeh of Arcturus Therapeutics, a San Diego biotech, join us to talk about their progress on developing a vaccine against COVID-19 with a Singapore partner. Joe explains about messenger RNA vaccines, their advantages in safety, manufacturing, and efficiency, as well as regulatory processes and a potential timeline, and why some vaccines have to be modified each year. He also tells us what Arcturus means. A highly educational episode about a critical issue.
Arcturus Therapeutics' website:
https://arcturusrx.com/
Follow Arcturus on Twitter:
@ArcturusRx
Joe Payne on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jepayne/
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Patrick Wright, HR expert and one of HR Magazine's Most Influential Thought Leaders, joins us to talk about the events from the 70s to today that have affected the HR profession. He also talks about how major shifts in the economy and law have highlighted the importance of HR inside an organization, and how those are on full display today, where nearly every aspect of the pandemic requires HR guidance. We discuss ways for the HR departments to contribute to company success without sacrificing profits or people. A realistic and hopeful episode.
Center for Executive Succession:
www.moore.sc.edu/ces
Patrick Wright on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-wright-a4668483/
Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:
https://www.discreetguide.com/
Follow the host on Twitter:
@DiscreetGuide
The host on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/