Books Shows Tunes & Mad Acts

Lucy Westcoff from the Committee to Protect Journalists joins us to talk about CPJ's statistics on journalists who are killed or injured while on the job and how dangerous the current climate has become. She discusses threats to female journalists, including online harassment and intimidation, and efforts to raise awareness about safety, especially after the murder of Kim Wall. We also talk about...

Labor and employment relations professor John Logan joins us to talk about unionizing in the modern era, particularly recent activism during the pandemic, the state of union membership, and how the crisis might affect labor organizing. We also talk about the large numbers of essential employees who are endangering their health and lives to feed and take care of the rest of us and what safety provi...

PEN America writers Viktorya Vilk and Nora Benavidez join us to talk about their investigative report, "Losing the News: The Decimation of Local News and the Search for Solutions." We talk about the state of newspapers and other media outlets across the country, how the pandemic is bringing the importance of journalism to the forefront, and some potential funding options for local news. We also te...

Two of the creators of the brand new website moneyduringcorona.com, Ben Hsu and Paul Klein, join the show to talk about the inspiration for the project, how the creators found each other, their vision for the jobs website, and how it's catching on. We also chat about hourly jobs versus remote work, what jobs are being created, unemployment, income inequality, SMS, and have a laugh about the need f...

Microbiologist, research scientist, and co-chair of the Cambridge City COVID–19 Expert Advisory Panel (and my sister!), Jill Crittenden, joins us to talk about what face masks can do for you and people around you, what masks work best, how to make your own, and how to use masks safely. She provides science-backed information about how the coronavirus is transmitted and the best safety measures for...

Associate dean and professor at Syracuse University, Joel Kaplan, joins us to talk about historical trends in journalism, its golden age, some legal points about sources, safety for journalists, current issues with the media, and how coronavirus might affect how we consume and pay for the news. A fascinating episode during a pandemic. 1/10 Episodes on Journalism and Journalists The Newhouse School...

Covid-19 has created a surge in food needs. Jim Floros, executive director of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, joins us to talk about how this independent nonprofit is coping with longer lines and people's rising concern about a lack of food. He talks pivots, an entrepreneurial spirit, a business-like approach, investment, collaboration, community, gratitude, and the need for money. A...

In honor of April Fools' Day, we tell the story of Typhoid Mary, a carrier of typhoid fever although she herself was without symptoms. She infected a number of families and was eventually forcibly quarantined for 26 years. Lots of interesting issues to unpack here about the ability to work, the importance of references, dangerous employees, public health, and freedom. A short and fascinating episo...

First-time author and life coach, Corrinn Davis, joins us to talk about her new book, "Useful Questions: A Guide to Self-Coaching." According to Jack Canfield, the book should be read by "anyone serious about living a happy, successful, and fulfilling life." Corrinn shares her own personal development journey with great stories and tips to keep us mentally strong during difficult times and feed th...

Christine Dinan, an attorney with A Better Balance, a worker advocacy group, joins us to talk about how the pandemic is bringing the lack of adequate leave policies into sharp focus. She discussed the recent sick leave legislation and who it leaves out (some surprises there). The US lags behind other developed countries in its leave policies, and this is creating another crisis for struggling fami...

In our 100th episode, we change things up a bit to talk about creative projects people might be contemplating during the pandemic and what to consider in choosing between publishing books or other written materials and podcasting. We look at potential reach and difficulty for each option with some observations about costs and eventual impact. A good starter episode for people thinking of putting t...

Jennifer Jacobus of the San Diego Employers Association joins us to provide updates about the latest legislation regarding sick leave and what problems employers are facing during this public health crisis. She discusses strategies companies are using to mitigate the economic impact and take care of their employees, increasing flexibility and remote work. She also looks into her crystal ball and t...

Futurist and expert on productivity and rest, Alex Pang, talks about the challenge of remote work, organizing your day, how to facilitate your most creative moments, and how to be productive even when you're not working! Also, how the pandemic might be disruptive in a good way, forcing us to rethink unhelpful beliefs and creating opportunity to make work better. A positive and profound episode. Al...

Wayne Turmel of the Remote Leadership Institute joins us to talk about some basics of effective remote leadership, pitfalls, how remote work can exaggerate poor management, how to establish ground rules, and to pivot between staff in the office and those working from home. We also talk about why using a webcam will make you happy. A valuable crash course for managers new to remote leadership. Wayn...

Content creator and influencer Ted Bauer joins us to talk about email blasts and other news releases during the pandemic and why some fall flat with generic communication or blatant sales "slimy-ness." We also discuss how the crisis provides an opportunity for businesses to demonstrate real leadership with relevant, helpful, and reassuring messaging and forge a new kind of relationship with their...

Coach Helena Demuynck talks about strategies to stay positive, creative, and forward-looking during difficult times, in order to contribute and pursue our purpose. We can help others by dodging negative energy, overcoming our reptile brain, and keeping our head straight when our kids and partners are stressing us during quarantine. A practical episode for an unusual phase of our lifetime. Contact...

During this time of Corona, we're all learning the risks of working remotely. From pets, kids, and naked roommates appearing on camera to unmuted mics and other technical mishaps to discovering what your partner's work persona is *really* like, we cover what #WFH peeps are reporting. A funny episode after a tough week. Professor Kelly and Daughter Miriam's viral video: https://www.youtube.com/watc...

Humor researcher Barbara Plester joins us to talk about the four types of humor, why jokes sometimes offend, how managers can embrace humor and reduce its risk, and an effective response to an offensive comment. We also go deep on why some people think a fake used condom, a poster about punching a woman, and a Catholic-eating alligator are funny–and others don't. An insightful and practical episod...

Stuart Gaston and Jennifer, both fans of the movie, Office Space, chat about the evolution of the film into cult status, why it's been called a "brutal portrayal of workplace misery," its iconic moments and related memes, its continued relevance, as well as Mike Judge's subsequent projects. Lots of laughs, along with some diversions into Buddhism and the importance of absurdity. An episode to ligh...

Futurist and author Alex Pang joins us to talk about his new book "Shorter: Work Better, Smarter, and Less - Here's How" and his discoveries about companies that have implemented four-day work weeks or six-hour work days. Fabulous insights into productivity, creativity, flexibility, retention, and families. The book launches today and is highly recommended. About the book: https://www.amazon.com/S...

Welch biographer and early skeptic, Tom O'Boyle, joins us to talk about his book "At Any Cost: Jack Welch, General Electric, and the Pursuit of Profit," Welch's legacy, and how it has developed over the past decades since his retirement. GE was a powerhouse during Welch's tenure as CEO, growing in market value from $12 billion to $410 billion. Welch was lauded as a genius and named by Fortune as "...

Entrepreneur and author Sherry Stewart Deutschmann joins us to talk about her new book "Lunch with Lucy" that comes out next week and the unique culture she created at her printing company, including an egalitarian profit-sharing plan, generous benefits, a new way to calculate a living wage, and even an unconventional organizational chart. She also talks about her new venture to provide assistance...

Working parents are often overwhelmed and looking for advice about how to handle all their responsibilities. I can't say that I was particularly successful, but I share here some things I learned that helped me reduce stress, accomplish more, prioritize, and live better. I also share some awful stories of stuff I got wrong. A personal episode. Comments welcome! A related episode about productivity...

Ever wonder how on earth it came to be that we get our health insurance from our employer? How did that happen, what changes have transpired since the 40s, what changes were brought by the Affordable Care Act, and how might insurance change in the future? In this fascinating episode, former CEO and author, Rick Lindquist, discusses the forces that brought in employer-provided health insurance and...

We discuss the various terms used for female people: ladies, women, gals, and girls, their connotations and use, to good and bad effect in the workplace. Book we talk about: https://www.discreetguide.com/product/whats-a-guy-to-do/ Follow the host on Twitter: @DiscreetGuide