Grateful for every step after recovery
At first it was just a tickle in my throat. It was a minor annoyance, like clearing my throat wasn’t possible. That turned into a persistent cough that I couldn’t shake for a few days. Other than that, I felt fine.
I went out for a 12-mile run despite the cough. Wisconsin had unseasonably warm and record-breaking 70-degree days in early November, and I didn’t want to waste them by sitting indoors. I ran in the low 7-minute miles.
The next day, I ran 12 miles again. Ran 7-minute miles again. Felt great.
Meanwhile, my wife started to feel sick…
A barrier-breaking journalist’s career illustrates that man-made rules can be re-written
Gail Collins has written extensively about women fighting for their rights over the years, including this year’s 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. I had the fortune to interview her when I was a sophomore journalism student, weeks after she became the New York Times’ first female editorial page editor. Her career shows that man-made rules — and they are often made by men — can be re-written.
“Learn and obey the rules very well, so you will know how to break them properly.”
— The Dalai Lama
Gail Collins was expecting college to be carefree. A college recruiter who visited…
It’s not too early to learn the lessons of COVID
This is the first book I could finish since COVID. It’s not the first book I thought I wanted to read, especially after our family got COVID. It’s a painful topic I’d rather quickly forget and move on from, like the rest of us.
But veteran science writer Debora Mackenzie’s book isn’t about the illness as much as it addresses the systems that allow outbreaks to flourish unchecked.
I found it fascinating and ultimately empowering to understand the “why” behind pandemics — especially since we’re likely to have another one soon unless we address the underlying factors.
According to the…
Combining his engineering background with podcasting — and beer
In 2021 I’m featuring people on a Creative Journey during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is №6 in the series, featuring Chris Luecke, founder of Manufacturing Happy Hour.
What is your creative venture?
I’ll start by saying this: If you stick with a creative venture long enough and that venture addresses a gap in the market, your creative venture can eventually turn into a business. That’s what happened with Manufacturing Happy Hour, the interview podcast where we take on the biggest trends and technologies impacting modern manufacturers in a current, cool, and approachable fashion.
Why did you start when you did?
I originally started Manufacturing Happy Hour as a short-form YouTube series while…
Remembering when everything changed overnight
Inspired by Will Leitch’s How Long Is a Year, Anyway?
Emails from one year ago are a time capsule, like the March 2020 calendar that still hangs in my office. Here are 10 quotes from emails I sent a year ago, when we hoped this would be over by the end of March… or April.. or maybe summer or fall?
March 1: Your inbox is already filled with updates from everywhere about coronavirus protocol (tl;dr wash your hands for >20 seconds + don’t touch your face).
If only it was that easy!
How to maximize running outside in cold climates
It seems like winter is one long stretch punctuated by sudden fronts that bring snow, sleet and cold.
Winter running can bring dangers from hidden ice patches to decreased visibility to cars in the dark early evening hours. But running in winter is also necessary if you plan on competing in spring races. It just requires extra planning ahead and being flexible in your training days.
Here are some ways to maximize running outside in cold climates as we make our way mile by mile toward spring.
Supplement your shoes
One of the biggest dangers to runners is ice. If you’re an outdoor…
The founder left Google and created a new Point of Sale system for craft breweries and restaurants
In 2021 I’m featuring people on a Creative Journey during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is №5 in the series, featuring David Norman, founder of a mobile Point of Sale system for craft breweries and restaurants.
What is your creative venture?
Arryved is a point of service system designed for craft breweries, restaurants, and any establishment that wants to provide quality service with optimal flexibility. Myself and a former Google colleague, Tom Wrensch, founded Arryved in 2015.
Arryved was born out of the notion that tech does not need to replace service and hospitality, but rather provide tools to augment it — tools that are available…
The jean shorts start-up began as a “chuckle.” Then the founder committed to “doing weird things with weird people.”
In 2021 I’m featuring people on a Creative Journey during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is №4 in the series, featuring Joe Poeschl, founder of JOERTS.
What is your creative venture?
Alright, so my new venture is called JOERTS (as in my name + jean shorts). It’s this ridiculous concept to create the first-ever fashion brand with no actual clothing inventory. I hijack the old jeans sitting in your closet and “upcycle” them into a pair of limited edition JOERTS. It’s a bit thrift, a bit DIY, and a bit punk.
How it works: When you buy a pair of JOERTS, you start by sending me…
His love of audio turned side hustle into a full time job helping others launch and grow their own podcasts
In 2021 I’m featuring people on a Creative Journey during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is №3 in the series, featuring Elzie D. Flenard, III, Mayor of Podcast Town.
What is your creative venture?
My creative venture is a podcast agency named Podcast Town, a full-service agency dedicated to helping our partners grow their podcast show, grow their audience and podcast easier.
I also host 3 shows: Enterprise NOW!, Life.Me and Podcast Town Throwdown. In 2021, I’ll also be writing some songs as well.
Why did you start when you did?
I was sick of corporate America, the restrictions on creativity and the resistance to trying new things. I’ve had a side-gig for…
A family health emergency prompted her to reevaluate her goals — and inspired her to take the leap
In 2021 I’m featuring people on a Creative Journey during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is №3 in the series, featuring Amanda Garry Aliperta, Founder & Principal of Momentum Nonprofit Strategies.
What is your creative venture?
I launched Momentum Nonprofit Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping nonprofit organizations maximize impact by reaching their financial goals. I focus on assisting nonprofits and their stakeholders with development strategy, board development, grant writing, corporate and foundation relations, donor relations and event planning.
Why did you start when you did?
Launching a nonprofit consulting business had been a long term professional goal, and personal and professional circumstances aligned to make the summer of 2020 the…
