Welcome London Business School Professor Dan Cable to episode 280 of the show. He has come out with a new book titled Exceptional: Build Your Personal Highlight Reel and Unlock Your Potential. Building your highlights into a listing of strengths can give you motivation to use moving forward.
He is Professor of Organizational Behavior and received his Masters and PhD in Labor and Industrial Relations at Cornell University. He gives us guidelines for how to envision our life, focus on what we bring to the table, and grow as a person. He has given a TEDx Talk on how to have a Best-Self Activation, and wrote a previous book in 2018 called Alive at Work.
Show notes:
Professor Cable’s background, and how he got into the field he is currently in
focusing on what we do correctly or well in life
looking at what limits us, whether clearly or in a hidden form
what it means to create your personal highlight reel
imagining your own eulogy, and seeing what that says about your life
crafting a life that you want to live, instead of one that is offered to you without specificity to your taste
Welcome actress and producer Kat Fairaway to episode 279 of the show. Depth is something that Kat represents, and depth is something that I find to be valuable. We can see moments as fleeting elements, or explore them further, such that time allows us to understand more.
Kat is known for her work in productions such as Psycho Escort, Kidnapped by a Classmate and Letters from the Heart. Representing characters in filmography is the heart of Los Angeles, and Kat occupies this great county (as I do). We covered quite a bit about her background, thoughts, and had a bit of fun as well.
Show notes:
Kat’s background, and representing parts of Europe
some of her work in movie/content roles she has been in, whether on Lifetime, Amazon, or elsewhere
being at peace through mindset or meditation
fun with accents, and some swell singing (I also rapped)
a Gary Vaynerchuk message about blocking out unsupportive voices
how one can choose their attitude in response to circumstances
how those who have suffered and not ran away are appealing
picking apart life through doubt, or a different way
To look at something holistically is to look at it with a broad view, as compared with narrowing our perspective and leaving out the bigger picture when making decisions. Dr. Joseph Sarkissian handles the world of dentistry in such a way, treating patients with detail that takes their total health into account, and he joins on this episode of the show.
Dr. Sarkissian runs his dental practice in Glendale, California. He studied microbiology at the University of Alabama, and received his dental degree at the University of Goettingen in West Germany. His practice of dentistry was originally on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, and he later relocated to Los Angeles, where his own practice is now located. He is of the Armenian people, similar to myself, and represents well for the nation and its continuity of tradition and exploration of its roots.
Show notes:
a bit about Dr. Sarkissian’s national and educational background, linking to how he got where he currently is
holistic or biological dentistry, and the tenets that are followed under that description of practice
impacting the youth, in terms of health and their aesthetic smiles
how dentistry has changed or improved in the past decade
whether mouth breathing or nasal breathing can be noticed by a dentist, and the impacts each type can have
how much tooth health is connected with overall health
the building of one’s own practice, and what it takes to maintain that
the importance of early dental care and adjustment, in prevention of problems decades down the line
how much regular dental care impacts the need for dental work
complex procedures that are performed, and how skill is built up for those
When it comes to interviewers, few are as currently prolific as Ricardo Lopes, host of “The Dissenter”. He is known for his social commentary, provoking thought, having strong opinions, and still being open-minded to new concepts. He hails from Portugal, and has been doing interviews for a few years now.
On his show, Ricardo has spoken with some of the same scientists and researchers I have spoken with, along with many others, including Steven Pinker, Robert Sapolsky, and Noam Chomsky. A big focus of his is social science, and he has spoken with people based on their insights and research, sometimes solely from their research papers.
Show notes:
how Ricardo starting doing interviews, and where he comes from
what The Dissenter podcast is about, and how it is important to keep open-minded about new information coming in
why Ricardo prefers social science and related fields
What does a little risk taken or effort made today do for you a week from now? How about 10 years from now? We look at life in an extended framework if we want to see it more clearly. Episode 275 is about this concept, how something can build only once it is started, and when the valuable representation of what you did will show up.
Show notes:
how a spark has to be in place for the item to light up years later
why compound gains start off disturbingly slow and pick up speed
looking at past musical artists or content creators, and how their early efforts on the internet set the stage for thousands of people who followed them
What is the damage we’re not attending to, with regards to the pandemic? How does biological and social contagion spread based on population and contact networks? How do scaling laws inform us about efficiency and person/city/network growth and change over time? Last month, researcher and professor Dr. Geoffrey West, author of Scale: The Universal Laws of Growth, Innovation, Sustainability, and the Pace of Life in Organisms, Cities, Economies, and Companies, co-wrote an article on the topic of scale in relation to the pandemic with fellow Santa Fe Institute President and researcher Dr. David Krakauer.
Dr. West is a theoretical physicist, who is distinguished and former President of the Santa Fe Institute, a scientific think-tank in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is able to combine multiple fields of research in ways that were not previously looked at. He is a leading researcher on a scientific model for cities, and is known for the metabolic theory of ecology. His B.A. in Physics is from Cambridge University, and his Ph.D. is from Stanford University.
I originally came across Dr. West’s work through his book Scale, which I summarized chapters of in some of the earliest episodes of this show, specifically 2, 9, and 11. It was informative to me to get a sense of how a population or network develops from early large paths to the smaller nodes at the end, and where there is efficiency in growth that is connected to non-linear scaling ratios. We spoke about the book, as well as a variety of topics.
Show notes:
how Dr. West progressed from his background in the UK to where he is at the current moment
his experience as a researcher and past President at the Santa Fe Institute
progressive from theoretical physics and particles to looking at cities, companies, networks, and global sustainability
fostering collaborations between scientists of different fields, and non-linear thinking as connected with risk-taking
scaling rate as it relates with food requirement for different sizes of organisms
how all organisms are network systems that follow scaling laws
the way that one’s blood vessels share these laws with roads and freeways, trees and branches, and neuron paths in the brain
whether the scaling laws relate with determinism as related to biology, and how biology differs with physics in that regard
our similarities as viewed from a long-distance perspective
the way that one city is similar to other cities, at their respective stages of development, taking into account the specific environmental and cultural variables of the region
Dr. West’s relationship with Dr. Krakauer, and the article they co-wrote
looking at the pandemic as something to focus on, while not forgetting that it is one element of a bigger picture situation humanity is part of
how one item on the planet affects something else on the planet, especially in a heavily interconnected planet
exponential gains, and the lack of understanding that has been associated with the concept
counter-intuitive responses to problems, which require looking at problems with more depth than only repairing directly what is broken at first glance
the reception of science in the public domain, and how that is affecting responses to problems or new scenarios
how higher-level education has been very prolific in its ability to serve as a backbone for society to work from
the way that feel of age can alter based on our current moment
Our time is our own to get things done, for our own form. On episode 273, it is about building your own thing, and not letting your important time slip, though the time not connected to your main projects is not as important.
Show notes:
your self-oriented time
noting the value of moments versus the value of other moments
recognizing that there are some periods of time you can’t afford to let go to any type of waste
Writing in a journal can be the way to some forms of understanding or expression. My recent writings in one contribute to the thoughts in this episode, which is #272 of the show.
Show notes:
How to propel work forward
The way that collaboration can bring out elements that were dormant
Using the “why” behind what you do versus the “how” or “what”
Having a variety of mediums to post on
Moving things around and building kindling for your fire
Imagining how you want your story to go
Little things each day turning into a larger entity
We keep it simple on this fast-paced episode, with insights coming forward in stream of consciousness form. Credit to Toby Emerson for the intro and outro music, and for supporting usage of his music from many years ago for such creative purposes.
Welcome moral and political psychologist Dr. Cory J. Clark to episode 271 of the show~. She has done research in the categories of moral judgment, punishment, free will, political bias, and motivated cognition. Looking at how bias applies in daily discourse or decision-making helps to clear out poor decisions that would have to be corrected at some future instance.
Dr. Clark got her Ph. D. from the University of California, Irvine, in Social and Personality Pyschology and Quantitative Methods, following a B.A. in psychology and philosophy. Some research papers she has contributed to include material on tribalism in different moments of societal condition, political differences in free will belief, and how bias pervades both sides of political landscapes.
Show notes:
how Dr. Clark got into the category of social and personality psychology and quantitative methods at UCI
the way that serendipity and the flow of life can lead us to the next step
connection between punishment and belief of free will, and how that connection affects how people are viewed
how to study individuals seeking out information that supports their beliefs
the better-than-average effect of self-thought in the category of self-serving biases
people bringing out certain sides of personality on social networks, and the mob effect that can apply
the short-term internet response to long-term careers
free will as it applies to the fixed nature of a specific moment in time and the moment that follows it
humans evolving to a point of looking back upon their own thinking in hefty detail
punishment and the moral judgment associated with it as related to a recent death penalty action
the collective nature of people’s actions, as with the internet
a message about perspective to take into account when seeing two-sided issues, which are very common in public discourse
I was glad to have Dr. Clark on the show. Feel free to check out her website, which has all her material well organized, including her research that is easily readable, and her content across other shows.
Welcome guest Dr. Darya Pino Rose to episode 270 of the show~. She has a neuroscience Ph. D. from UC San Francisco, wrote the book Foodist: Using Real Food and Real Science to Lose Weight Without Dieting, and has posted much content in relation to food and health on her website Summer Tomato.
In 2019, Dr. Rose gave a TEDx Talk in Salem, Oregon about the concept of becoming healthy without focusing on the dieting aspect. Changing the focus of how you respond to something is a more nuanced detail than the steps along the way, and I would always agree to look more at the root of an item than the after-effects. Dr. Rose has seen the issue with the mindset involved with short-term dieting, and the focus on countering the negative, versus reaching towards the great benefits of local produce of greens and vibrant colors. We spoke about this topic, habits, aging, broad perspective, her children, and more.
Show notes:
bringing a logical viewpoint to any decision-making in life, whether for health maintenance or weight loss
how the content we put out there can be messages to our past self
some of the simpler things people can do in relation to eating food and keeping health in good order
the way that food can taste delicious and still work in your favor
the farm-to-table movement that had picked up in the Bay Area, and exposition to a different way of taking food in
how habits are very different based on whether they are internally or externally motivated
the connection between habits, willpower, and motivation
how what is presented to us early on in life has such a large impact, and is internalized until we later look back at the time with questioning
When you think of a corporation, you think of its products and services, but in the case of Samsung, its history is connected to families, dynasties, and its tie to the economic prosperity of South Korea. In Samsung Rising: The Inside Story of the South Korean Giant That Set Out to Beat Apple and Conquer Tech, author Geoffrey Cain discusses the people involved and the path taken by the large entity known as Samsung.
Geoffrey Cain serves as a skilled foreign correspondent, author, commentator, anthropologist and scholar of East and Central Asia. He was a former correspondent at The Economist, and is a regular commentator in The Wall Street Journal, Time, and The New Republic, and a frequent guest on CNN, MSNBC, BBC and Bloomberg. He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Show notes:
how Samsung is connected to the country of South Korea in more ways than being a corporation
the interest behind writing this book and getting into the company structure
what it was like interviewing a variety of people inside the company
some ways that Samsung had to compete with Apple, and continues to do so, while also cooperating in some capacity
the way that Samsung is different from a large company in the US
some of the features or releases that impacted the growth of Samsung
There are a select few individuals who have gone through such a recent moment of intensity and pressure as Dr. Maryam Baqir, M.B.B.S., of Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. As Covid-19 cases quickly ramped up in the epicenter of the virus, doctors like her began to respond to an onslaught of cases that turned hospitals into treatment zones far more packed and adaptive than would be the case in calmer times.
Dr. Baqir specializes in Internal Medicine, and received her medical/surgical degrees from Aga Khan University in Pakistan. She grew up in Karachi, though she was born in Tehran, Iran (similar to myself). We met in Manhattan, along with her companion Shan of episode 258. Our discussion in this episode involved much about her recent experience, life messages we both understand and take note of, and a deeper view of what an active response to life challenges looks like. Much was shared and expressed.
Show notes:
how she got into this career path, and what it means to her at this time
what it is like to live in the area of Brooklyn, and how Dr. Baqir got there
the difference in culture between Pakistan and the US
what the response to coronavirus entailed on its initial run-through
how the hospital had to adjust in order to be able to treat all the new patients of one specific condition
processing what occurred, and what the main issues were in relation to the virus, as far as equipment/resources
the feel of the patients, and what it is/was like for them getting treatment from individuals behind masks and shields
empathy shared with patients and their families in a time of anguish
seeing trucks show up because of the out-flux of those who passed away
healthcare workers deciding whether or not to self-quarantine at their home
some of the impacts of in-hospital aerosolization of the virus
fighting for patients for an extensive period of time, and decisions a doctor has to make along the way
how procedure priorities were changed at the hospital, and how doctors were switched from their specialty to tackling the current epidemic
the influx of volunteers from around the country to Dr. Baqir’s hospital, among others, in order to meet the response requirements
connection/unity between healthcare workers on a shared mission
resilience and strength shown in various stories of the moment
how some of the responses to the pandemic were come up with on the spot, or served as an impromptu training
some of the improvements that have been arrived at through these few months of trials and understanding in relation to the virus
comparing symptoms of individuals in similar proximity, and noting differences
use or non-use of shame as a response to public hygiene/safety habits, such as the use of a mask
some of the growth felt by Dr. Baqir during these months
the value of human compassion, and the difference that makes in care
a range of emotions that you feel during an intense experience, and not holding back on showing/expressing them
the concept of not living while being alive, and accepting mortality
preparing for end-of-life care before it gets to an emergency situation
the passing of Maimonides Medical Center Chief of Medicine Dr. Stephan Kamholz due to Covid-19, and his career and impact
a closing message for all people
It was wonderful to have Dr. Baqir on the show. We were able to cover her experience and related life messages in a free-flowing and spontaneous discussion full of detail. You can follow her on Twitter at @MaryamBaqir.
We breathe our way through the day, with 25000 breaths taking place each time. How you breathe, and the ripple effects of that habit, effects much of your waking day. Author and journalist James Nestor takes us through this information in his book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art.
James has written for many publications, including Scientific American, the San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and many more. His previous book was titled Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves.
Show notes:
some of the differences between mouth-breathing and nasal-breathing
how the way you breathe can impact your health and well-being
changes in physiology that can result from each type of breathing
the history of breathing from long ago
and more
It was good to have James on the show. You can check out Breath on Amazon.
Physical therapist and content creator Brian Dy joins us again on episode 266 of the show. He previously took part on episode 223, and returns now with a collection of content on his YouTube channel.
Being a content creator involves a lot of editing, researching, and more.
Show notes:
finding your voice, and what that means
why collaboration with others is a good idea
thoughts on Brian and his content production plans
We live through chapters, as though we are a book. In episode 265, I talk about this concept, how we must take advantage of the key moments when we sense them, and what kind of predictive nature we live through
Our book is being written, and we write it with key parts that matter to us, and we leave out all the rest that doesn’t bring us to life.
Welcome to episode 264, with a return to our roots of the host discussing a topic or two, along with a stream of consciousness. This one involves breaking things down into parts, or phases, and what it takes to make your world bigger.
Your world is the stuff right around you, whether it be your table, or your vehicle, or the energy around you. Adjusting these items can come from a focus on them, and this concept is discussed in the episode.
There are few things more valuable than regular walking and activity in this pandemical time of 2020, and neuroscientist Professor Shane O’Mara brings us the value and basis of walking in episode 263. We discuss his latest book In Praise Of Walking: The New Science of how We Walk, and why Its Good for Us.
Professor O’Mara is Professor of Experimental Brain Research at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. He explores brain systems, memory, cognition, behavior, and organizations. He got his DPhil from the University of Oxford, and currently does work for the Institute of Neuroscience at Trinity. He has also written past books Why Torture Doesn’t Work, and A Brain for Business.
Show notes:
how Professor O’Mara got into the field of brain research
brain regions, and specifically the subiculum, and how each one can be relevant to the brain as a whole
the value of walking, and what it brings to the table for personal health
the way that we are walking minds, with the body connected below the brain heading the whole framework
impact on creativity that comes from walking times, whether during or after
some cities that have good walkability, and what walking value means for cities and their further development
our mental map of where we are and where we are going, through the activity of walking, or even for planning out our life
the value of journaling, and how it can put our time together into a map
how walking doesn’t lead to the same kinds of damage that regular running does
Welcome Professor Matthew Cobb of the University of Manchester, author of The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience, to episode 262 of the show. His latest book is about the history of neuroscience, and its recent roots, and how that develops the idea of the brain, while our current understanding of the brain is still very limited. Inspirations come from other researchers, as well as Danish scientist Nicolas Steno of the 17th century.
Professor Cobb is is Professor of Zoology at the University of Manchester, and got his Ph.D. in Psychology and Genetics from the University of Sheffield in England. He had a postdoctoral position at the Institute of Psychiatry in London. Others books of his include The Egg & Sperm Race and Life’s Greatest Secret: The Race to Crack the Genetic Code. He has studied animal behavior, human psychology, science history, and more.
Show notes:
how Professor Cobb got into the study of the mind, neuroscience, and fly larvae growth and processes
the way that Nicolas Steno informed the way Professor Cobb looks at the mind
the reductionist view, and how it does not allow for picking up on information regarding detailed nuance
his upcoming book on smell, and how that relates to the virus of our current pandemic, with its attachment to smell receptors
how one structure of the brain is not alone in processing information, separate from other regions of the brain
Eve Marder, and her study on the small number of neurons in the lobster’s stomach, with associated models of these neurons
research in the field done in Manchester and the UK region
fly maggots and their neurons, as well as the priorities that their narrow neural system requires
how maggots have biological clocks in the same light as humans and other animals
replacement of neurons and memories in small animals
Welcome Emma Rose Bienvenu, attorney, L.L.M., and Master of Finance and Economics, to episode 261 of the show. I came upon Emma through her article on Medium’s Marker business subsection, entitled “7 Predictions for a Post-Coronavirus World“. The article details the path that our world can take in upcoming months and years, based on the pandemic, and provides insight into elements we can all benefit from examining.
In her own work, Emma is focused on international trade, commerce, finance, and technology. She has worked in global asset management, public and private mergers and acquisitions, and international arbitration. She has an L.L.M. from U Penn Law and Wharton, a J.D. from McGill, and a Master of Economics and Finance from Sciences Po in Paris. Her experiences have taken her through many regions, including Hong Kong, London, France, and her current region of Quebec. She brings her depth and expertise to the table in our discussion.
Show notes:
Emma’s background, and some of her career accomplishments
how Emma has ended up more in the legal field, from a family of lawyers, and where she contributes in the category of law
what Emma wrote about international arbitration, which was included in a multi-page international law textbook excerpt, along with an example
places lived in by Emma, including France, Hong Kong, London, and more
her article “7 Predictions for a Post-Coronavirus World”
how e-commerce, delivery, and related services will take off following the pandemic (“bits and boxes”, as put succinctly by Emma)
where Esports will go based on the momentary push into the virtual world
the way that some work will be unable to go remote, whereas those tasks that could be done remotely will be impelled to that direction
changes to manufacturing that have room to develop
how time is being saved through the non-commute and lack of unsubstantiated work time
where seminars and online learning can go, or what the default may become
impact on supply chains globally, and how there is a balance between efficiency and resiliency
how countries benefit by relying on each other
the ways that surveillance will increase, with its publicity based on protecting people and their health
depth of cooperation between nations that can be established in coming years, as required to have a functional response
illumination of societal dynamics, and Quebec’s quick ability to unite for a common goal
relevance of placing value on experts, as opposed to those not as apt in a field
risk-taking, as associated with business in relation to government
value of being bilingual, and its connection to personality or growth
qualities that Emma finds to be valuable in colleagues, and a message to all people about their own ability
