Books Shows Tunes & Mad Acts

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...

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...

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 th...

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. Th...

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...

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...

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 refl...

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...

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 f...

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...

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...

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 Jour...

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,...

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 u...

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: @DiscreetG...

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 Jo...

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 Gottl...

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 als...

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 guid...

In light of comparisons being drawn between the Depression and today's economic crisis, we look at comparative unemployment claims and declines in the stock market. We review the programs of the New Deal, especially which ones have endured, and consider the longterm legacy of those government actions. A historical perspective. Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at: https://www.discreet...

"Shakespeare wrote King Lear in quarantine -- what's wrong with you?" While we are struggling to do our normal work, home-school our kids, and cook during a crisis, it's inappropriate to pressure ourselves to also engage in creative work, but we look here at some historical figures working in quarantine, including Isaac Newton, Edvard Munch, Giovanni Boccaccio, and Thomas Nashe. We read Boccaccio'...

Sports journalist Andrew Pridgen joins us to talk about pro wrestling, its recent classification in Florida as an essential business, and owner Vince McMahon's subsequent immediate layoff of dozens of employees. We talk about the state of affairs with sports right now during the pandemic and the continued decline of organized labor. Andrew also shares his story from cub newspaper reporter through...

SARS, avian, H1N1, covid, plague, Spanish flu—what is all this? If you're like me, it's become a bit of a blur. In this episode we review the major pandemics and epidemics that have swept the globe throughout history to gain a perspective on global diseases and how humanity has fought back to survive and flourish. An ultimately uplifting episode. Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:...

Roy Gutterman of the Tully Center for Free Speech joins us to talk about media repression and the expulsion of journalists during a pandemic, both from China and the US, as well as other parts of the globe. He discusses reporter safety and importance, particularly during a pandemic, as well as how critical the First Amendment and judicial independence is to the freedom of the press and how those a...

Tarcy Connors of the San Diego Union Tribune joins us today. She is currently leading the paperwide effort to cover the coronavirus. She talks about the history of the paper, its various owners, and its near collapse. We discuss the challenges for the reporters who are covering the coronavirus both logistically and to protect their health. Tarcy also takes us behind the scenes to see how stories a...