Grade A Nation

Latest Episodes:

E167: Enjoy the Silence with Authors Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn! Oct 29, 2022

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On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn, authors of the book, “Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.” The book approaches noise and silence in a sophisticated manner that should get people thinking about how the extent of noise and silence in one’s life can play a role in personal well-being and work performance, among other aspects of life. We talk about: -where the book fits within studies of human psychology -the concept of justice including a democratization of silence -whether there is a danger in certain cultures embracing silence to an extreme extent -how people selectively tuning out others that think differently can be a potentially counterproductive type of silence -the value in removing the stigma tied to hyperacusis and autism where individuals have noise sensitivity -how shared communal experiences, even at a noisy rock concert, can potentially allow people to tap into a valuable form of internal quiet And lots more on this fun-filled discussion of complex subject matter. Every Grade A Nation interview is a winner in some way, but this one stands out! To learn more about Leigh and Justin’s book, check out: https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Power-Silence-World-Noise/dp/0063027607/

E166: Definitely Not Fake News with Yasmeen Hassan! Oct 24, 2022

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On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas talks with Yasmeen Hassan, former local TV news anchor and recent co-founder of communications consulting firm H CUE. Areas covered include: -moving around quite a bit as a child and how that prepared Yasmeen for her work in television -starting work in broadcasting behind the scenes as a producer, and what are the aspects people may not appreciate about what goes into getting a news broadcast together -her vivid memories of the first time doing a field report -managing both work as an anchor and a producer while trying to avoid burnout -why trust in the media has declined in recent years -comparing work in media markets like Phoenix, Chicago, and Las Vegas -what it was like covering the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, and the troubling lack of information about the motive of Stephen Paddock -making the transition from television news to consulting organizations and working professionals on how to craft effective messages -how Winston the dog became a TV news celebrity The chat gives a great glimpse into all the sacrifices and hard work that go into a career in broadcasting! To learn more about Yasmeen's consulting firm H CUE, go to https://hcue-llc.com

E165: Get into Night Routine with Steve Maher! Oct 22, 2022

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On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas talks with Steve Maher from the band Night Routine. We discuss a lot, including: -big city life in Boston, Chicago, New York, and Denver and living internationally in Uruguay -what it was like working for a roommate matching service -transitioning to pursuing music and how to make a viable living as a musician -operating frugally when touring by sleeping in housing provided by fans that hopefully won’t hold you captive against your will -dream gigs and the nightmare shows from hell -maintaining friendships with bandmates -the evolution of Night Routine musically -how people have received the band: the good, the bad, and the indifferent -the importance of trust when doing business -side work in podcasting and how the podcast industry is like the music industry We clearly run the gamut of topics, so this show is a must listen! You know what else is a must listen? Night Routine’s music…they have a real cool vibe that fuses together pop, soul, and rock that is worth getting better acquainted with. To learn more about Steve Maher and Night Routine, check out: https://linktr.ee/nightroutine

E164: Hot for Teacher! The Lovely OnlyFans Creator Sarah Juree Oct 01, 2022

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OnlyFans content creator Sarah Juree describes the scary experience of a blogger targeting her in an effort to get her fired from her work as a 5th grade STEM teacher. We discuss what it is like to be at the center of mass media attention, including all the cyberbullying she has experienced. Sarah talks about her challenging upbringing and hardships of being a single parent looking for a new partner. Despite the dark periods, Sarah approaches things with a cheery outlook and this interview is sure to brighten your day! To learn more about Sarah's work, check out https://onlyfans.com/love_misssarah_unlocked

E163: Mr. Slade Gets You Off on the Dance Floor! Sep 30, 2022

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Chris Thomas talks with Mr. Slade, a recording artist based in Canada. We cover his rough childhood where he experienced bullying, how his time at a school for the arts allowed him to blossom creatively and personally, as well as his musical roots in glam rock, 80s hair metal, and 90s alternative. Mr. Slade shares how intoxicating an energy-filled live crowd can be, career goals and worries, and why he hopes his creative work can change stereotypes people might possess. The mutual love Chris Thomas and Mr. Slade have for Duran Duran is addressed in detail! To learn more about Mr. Slade's work, go to https://open.spotify.com/artist/2TqQ9VJggVOUwAGXYt19QL?si=7tIfRh5DQjOlYQ3MW2jZ1Q

E162: Online Dating Success for Men...from a Woman's Perspective! Sep 28, 2022

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Chris Thomas has an excellent chat with Cavil Helm, author of the short book, "A Man's Guide to Tinder as Written By A Woman: A Quick and Easy Guide to Making a Great Profile." Cavil talks about how being homeschooled led her to get acclimated to the digital world at an early age, as well as how her own extensive experience with online dating helped her in developing the book. Cavil's thoughts on love, prejudice, self-esteem, and the future of dating are all covered here, making for a top-notch conversation on Grade A Nation! To learn more about Cavil's book, check it out on Amazon now: https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Tinder-other-Dating-Written-ebook/dp/B0B5CHYPHQ

E161: Making Connections Through Music -- Needle Music CEO Mikhael Porter Sep 13, 2022

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Mikhael Porter, co-founder and CEO of the social media platform Needle Music, discusses how the idea of a digital community oriented around music came about during the COVID-19 pandemic. Why music serves as a special means of bringing people together and the features of Needle Music not seen elsewhere are key areas of our discussion. If you are a music fan or someone looking for an alternative social media platform to connect with others, this is one conversation you do not want to miss out on. To learn more about Needle Music, check out https://www.needlemusic.co.

E160: Learning about Livestreaming app Leam with founder Alex Bystrov! Aug 29, 2022

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Alex Bystrov, founder of a unique livestreaming app Leam, discusses with the Grade A Nation how content creators can create closer connections to supporters they have cultivated online with Leam. Alex talks about his background in web development and design, how he has tackled self-doubt tied to perfectionism, which type of content creators will most benefit from Leam, and how creators on Leam can earn money through tokens from the Voices governance protocol. We have a neat conversation that should excite creative people of all backgrounds, regardless of your background knowledge of cryptocurrency, NFTs, or Web3 innovations. To learn more about Leam, go to https://leam.xyz/

E159: Singing with Soul! A Chat with Singer-Songwriter Amy Evans Aug 12, 2022

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Amy Evans visits to chat about how growing up in Portland, Oregon influenced her as an artist, why Adele is one of several artists she admires, if it is ever possible to turn off the noise of a musical mind thinking about new ideas, her spiritual upbringing, sharing parts of herself in her art, and her new funk fusion EP called Babybird! Amy has a beautiful voice and her music bridges a variety of genres seamlessly. Check out her soulful music and learn more about her at https://www.evansamy.com/

E158: Online Dating Made Easy? Talking Hovalo with Founder Koen Geron! Aug 05, 2022

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Koen Geron saw that working professionals did not have the time to maintain online dating profiles and communicate with their matches. He has founded an online dating management service called Hovalo, where people that are too busy to seek out a connection can have their photos, profiles, and messages handled by Hovalo staff. The ethical and privacy questions raised by a service like Hovalo are discussed, as well as general tips for creating a successful online dating profile! To learn more about Hovalo, go to https://hovalo.com/

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