The Better Show

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**The Better Show**

The Better Show is a weekly podcast for people who want to get better at all aspects of life, made by people who love getting better. Each week we focus on a single topic relevant to day to day life – such as sleep, managing stress, reducing clutter, relationships and healthy eating. We discuss why that topic matters, stories from our personal experience with that topic, tips & tricks our audience can apply themselves and end with a discussion of things we’re going to try out and report back on.

To join the community go to: www.facebook.com/thebettershow

Latest Episodes:

**Book Review: Tiny Habits** Jun 02, 2020
Show notes

Show Notes
**4:15** — Why habits are important to pay attention to and what role they play in our lives.
**8:09** — Ian, March, and Darren share their personal experiences with building good habits and breaking bad ones.
**14:14** — Ian explains the core concepts behind BJ Fogg’s methodology in Tiny Habits.
**15:28** — Why the “tiny” component is so important to the process.
**17:10** — The Fogg Behavior Model and what it tells us about forming habits.
**21:45** — Ian explains why being highly motivated can actually be a bad thing for creating a new habit.
**23:43** — The concept of “magic wanding” and how to figure out which behaviors to focus on.
**28:49** — The relationship between ability and the formation of habits.
**32:18** — Anchoring a new desired behavior to an existing habit.
**35:50** — The relationship between emotions and habits.
**39:58** — Ian explains why BJ Fogg says that it’s wrong to try to “break” a bad habit.
**43:23** — Tactics to break bad habits by increasing the effort required to engage in those behaviors.
**46:39** —Supporting others in their quest to adopt a new good habit.
**50:00** — The Tiny Habits Recipe Card.
Mentions
📰 Website: Free Tiny Habits 5-Day Program
📖 Book: Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg

Better Recovery Days May 26, 2020

Show notes

Show Notes

1:15 — How we arrived at the topic this week.
3:40 — March reflects on how losing his sense of curiosity is an indicator of burnout for him.
12:45 — Darren shares a gesture of gratitude that his sister-in-law received from the principal at her school.
14:14 — Ian shares how he has been experiencing burnout lately.
15:20 — March reflects fondly on a recent recovery day and the different types of recovery days in his life.
17:30 — Zen and the art of home repair.
21:40 —The characteristics of a recovery day for Darren including getting away from obligations.
23:29 — Darren proposes instituting a holiday on the first sunny Friday of the year.
25:17 — Ian talks about how the definition of a recovery day has changed for him over the past several years.
30:15 — Prioritizing your own recovery and the Eisenhauer Matrix.
34:01 —March shares how his perfect recovery day would unfold including time in nature and being productive with his hands.
40:20 — Some things that didn’t work for March when trying to recover.
47:29— Ian shares his tactic of unplugging from his normal routine including unplugging from his phone’s notifications.
47:29 — Ian shares one way he unplugs is by reading something old.
54:31 — Rediscovering old pleasures like classic video games and old movies.
56:44 — Finding your highlight for the day.
59:20 — Ian waxes poetic on his love for the sauna.
1:02:04 — Darren describes his perfect recovery day including waking up with the sun, going for a swim in the ocean, and enjoying the conversation at a local coffee shop.
1:08:50 — March’s “better next step” is a portable sauna.
1:10:02 — Darren leans in on creating high-quality cocktails.
1:11:19 — Ian is going to schedule more mental health days.

Mentions

📦 Product: Luminara flameless candles with timer
🎵 Music: Kind of Blue album by Miles Davis

Better Video Conferencing Tips: Part 2 May 20, 2020

Show notes

Show Notes

6:15 — What to do about background noise including an AI-based software solution that cancels background sounds and a pro-level solution that uses audio hardware to block unwanted sounds.
11:31 — Why it’s important to pay attention to keeping your face centered in your webcam.
13:00 — Tailoring your backdrop so you look professional.
14:55 — Ian suggests using software or a good camera lens to blur your background.
17:19 — Green screen solutions for less than $10.
18:24 — How kids are using custom backgrounds to trick teachers into thinking that they are paying attention in virtual class.
19:49 — Picking a good router to ensure that you have adequate bandwidth to stream good quality video.
24:18 — How to get the most out of the software you use to connect with others.
29:29 — Maintaining a sense of presence while engaging with others via a video call.
32:10 — Gaze correction software.
33:19 — Darren shares his experience with video conferencing with friends and family using the Facebook Portal TV.
34:17 — The etiquette of using the mute button.
37:15 — The etiquette of activating your video versus broadcasting in the dark.
40:01 — Several nice things you can do as a participant to make a video conference more pleasant and productive for everyone involved.
45:59 — Tips for business-focused video conferences including recording calls for those who cannot attend.
54:00 — Ian gets inspired by the Fraiser sitcom. 😁
55:01 — Zoom fatigue and how to recover from it.
58:55 — March discusses his experience using virtual reality for some of his video conferences with his friends.
1:01:30 — Darren shares some ideas for things you can do to mix up your video calls with family and friends including cooking together, virtual poker, and a virtual wine or spirit tastings.
1:04:55 — Ian, Darren, and March invent a new video conferencing game based on Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Mentions

📦 Product: TP-Link Archer 20 wireless router
📦 Product: Eero Pro + 2 Eero Beacons
📰 Article: How to make a cheap green screen
📦 Product: Netflix Together Chrome extension
📰 Article: Table quiz (100 questions to get your started)
📰 Website: Roll20
📰 Website: Tabletopia
📰 Article: Best Use of Zoom Goes to Katie Nolan
📦 Product: Surface Pro X gaze correction
📦 Product: iOS 13 gaze correction

Better Video Conferencing Tips: Part 1 May 12, 2020

Show notes

Show Notes

7:19 — The benefits of connecting with others via video and why a quality video conferencing setup matters for you and for the people with whom you are connecting.
12:15 — Ian shares his experience with video conferencing and confesses that he’s never really given much thought to the quality of his setup for video calls.
15:52 — March discusses how his move to Ireland necessitated that he pay additional attention and make some additional investment in the quality of his video conferencing setup.
20:48 — We kick off the tips & tricks part of the show with tips on high quality audio.
22:44 — The importance of good quality audio and options to improve the audio you project to others, including a dedicated headset and a product called the Blue Yeti.
26:20 — Microphones that will upgrade you to a professional level of audio.
25:35 — Tips for good camera placement and also a few things to avoid.
31:19 — The good, better, and best options for webcams.
34:20 — Using your smart phone as a video camera.
36:39 — Using an DSLR camera for video conferencing and which models to look for when shopping for an inexpensive DSLR that you can use for video conferencing.
42:35 — The importance of lighting and tips to get your lighting just right.
46:09 — The very best option for lighting: key lighting.
49:10 — The rise of online video streaming among gamers and a supplier of premium hardware and software for streamers.

Mentions

📰 Article: Good, Better, Best: Creating the ultimate remote worker webcam setup on a budget (Scott Hanselman, Microsoft)
📰 Article: 7 things you need for better video calls (Wirecutter)
📰 Article: The best podcast microphones on the market (The Podcast Host)
📰 Article: How to look good on camera, according to Tom Ford (NYT)
📰 Article: How to look good on video calls for Zoom FaceTime Skype (HotandFlashy)
📰 Article: Use your Canon camera as a webcam! (Scott McKenna)
📦 Product: 3 Best Smartphone Tripod Mounts (Think Media)
📰 Article: How to make a $300 camera look pro! (Nigel Barros)
📦 Product: Godox SL60W Video Light Review (Sam Holland)
📦 Product: Recommended camera to use as webcams

Things We're Grateful For Right Now May 05, 2020

Show notes

Show Notes

1:27 — We reflect on our sense of exhaustion with COVID-related news.
4:49 — Why gratitude can help us through challenging times.
8:10 — Darren reflects on how his parents have been an example to him of how to practice gratitude every day.
9:44 — March marvels at the power and expanse of the Internet and the positive impact it has had on the world.
14:48 — March shares a visualization of the network of satellites orbiting the Earth.
16:19 — Darren explains what a traceroute is and plugs a business idea he had 16 years ago called www.agreener.com.
22:10 — Ian explains his belief that anonymity on the Internet will eventually go away.
23:45 — Ian shares his most recent passion: coffee and explains why he views coffee as a modern wonder of the world.
26:50 — Ian explains what a “pour over” is and the nuance in the technique in crafting a pour over that determines the flavor of the finished beverage.
30:01 — We discuss “single origin” coffees and the difference between the different geographies including coffee from Yemen.
41:01 — Darren shares a book he discovered titled Shantaram by David Gregory Roberts that has become his favorite book of all time.
44:20 — Darren reads one if his favorites a passage from the book.
46:20 — Ian shares a book he’s recently heard about that is getting good reviews.

Mentions

📰 Website: Visualization of the Internet
📖 Book: Shantaram by David Gregory Roberts
📦 Product: Chemex pour over coffee container
📖 Book: Exhalation by Ted Chiang
📰 Article: www.agreener.com
📰 Article: Messages of Hope, Gratitude And Safety Replace Ads in Times Square (NPR)
📰 Article: Gratitude in the Face of Crisis (NYT)
📰 Article: 50 Questions That Will Help You Feel Grateful and Good About Life (Tiny Buddha)
📰 Article: Amazon: Coronavirus Tests So Hard To Get We’re Building Our Own Lab (Forbes)
📰 Article: Thanks to Sheltering in Place, Animal Shelters Are Empty (Wired)

Things we've learned during COVID-19 Apr 28, 2020

Show notes

Show Notes

5:59 — March describes experiencing a “background stress” with a source that is hard to pinpoint.
7:29 — Ian and Darren joke about how one of the most stressful things about sheltering in place is the never-ending "bad hair days" now that we haven’t been able to go to the barber.
8:41 — We take a detour to appreciate the Floebee! self-haircutting product from the 1980's.
10:50 — Ian shares his difficulty in setting boundaries between his “work time” and his “personal time”.
14:02 — Darren is completely losing track of the days of the week confusing Wednesdays with Saturdays.
15:57 — March reflects on how quickly all of our circumstances changed.
19:19 — Darren is surprised by how much we still don’t know about this strain of Coronavirus and how different the guidance from experts changes from day to day.
20:51 — Ian is enjoying working from home way more than he would have expected and no longer feels like an “outsider” when attending meetings remotely.
26:02 — Ian is grateful for the reduced pollution and positive impact social distancing has had on the environment and hopes we find ways to use this moment as a turning point for changing destructive habits we otherwise haven’t considered.
29:17 — March takes solace in the improved sense of solidarity among his community in Ireland.
30:50 — Darren describes a silver lining for him for the shelter at home situation is having more quality time with his wife, Mardee, and their Boston Terrier, Maggie.
32:12 — March is surprised by how effective the “stay-at-home” orders have been in the West despite the cultural value on individual liberty.
34:55 — Darren describes how he was briefly rendered speechless by the sheer magnitude of the jobless claims in the US.
36:33 — Ian reflects on how people’s social circles are defined by the value of relationships instead of geographic proximity.
38:35 — March has a deeper appreciation for the impact of technology as a force for good in the world.
40:37 — Darren shares the heartwarming feeling he’s had watching communities globally appreciate the brave work of medical front line workers.
42:10 — Ian applauds the respect finally coming to the role teachers play in our society.
43:50 — March and Ian share some additional observations about the result of the COVID-19 pandemic including: the public’s awareness of medical data, the role of the office in one’s work experience, and the idea of anonymity being a thing of the past.
48:52 — Darren calls for planning to start on some publicly significant way to celebrate our successful emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mentions

📰 Article: America is in a depression. The challenge now is to make it short-lived.
📰 Article: Wait But Why: 10 Types of Friendships
📰 Article: A 2-Year Stanford Study Shows the Astonishing Productivity Boost of Working From Home
📺 YouTube channel: Some Good News with John Krasinski, Episode 1

Interview with Kevin Hancock Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

Show Notes

2:33 — Ian wishes Kevin happy birthday. 🎂
3:55 — Kevin discusses why it’s important for us to think about leadership and how it is changing.
6:01 — Why it is difficult for organizations to disperse power.
13:46 — Kevin talks about the empowerment that comes from answering a question with a question.
20:58 — How can we all get better at shared leadership?
23:00 — Kevin shares how he was inspired by observing how power is dispersed in nature.
25:25 — Ian is curious about whether the concept of shared leadership is limited to business environments or can it be applied in other aspects of life.
32:10 — Kevin discusses the lesson from his experience that stands out most for him: that listening is for understanding, not for judgement.
36:02 — Kevin asks a profound question, “What if everybody on earth felt trusted, respected, valued, and heard?”
38:00 — The one thing that Kevin suggests we all do to help release our own true voice.
41:50 —Kevin shares a concept from the Native American Sioux tribe “We’re all brothers. All things are one thing. We are all related.”

Mentions

📖 Book: The Seventh Power by Kevin Hancock

Our Favorite YouTube Channels Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

Show Notes

2:32 — We announce the introduction of The Better Show on channel on YouTube.
5:11 — Darren shares his pick for most useful YouTube channel: This Old House.
9:13 — Ian shares his pick for most useful channel: NutritionFacts.org
12:05 — March’s pick for most useful is MedLife Crisis.
14:59 — Ian shares his coffee addiction with James Hoffman — Coffee.
18:09 — March shares a celebration of maker culture with Adam Savage’s Tested.
20:30 — Darren shares Mr. Puzzle a fun channel where the host finds and solves puzzles in real-time.
22:40 — March shares his most esoteric pick with 3Blue1Brown.
25:00 — Darren shares a channel from Vihart on math that, among other things, explains the history of hexaflexagons.
26:39 — Ian shares a music-related channel from Sam Johnson called Voice Teacher Reacts.

Mentions

📺 YouTube channel: The Better Show channel on YouTube
📺 YouTube channel: This Old House
📺 YouTube channel: NutritionFacts.org
📺 YouTube channel: MedLife Crisis
📺 YouTube channel: James Hoffman — Coffee
📺 YouTube channel: Adam Savage’s Tested
📺 YouTube channel: Mr. Puzzle
📺 YouTube channel: 3Blue1Brown
📺 YouTube channel: ViHart
📺 YouTube channel: Voice Teacher Reacts

Interview with John Zeratsky, Make Time Author Apr 09, 2020

Show notes

Show Notes

1:22 — Ian welcomes John to the show.
2:39 — John talks about what has changed since the book came out in late 2018 that makes the topic of time management more important.
6:01 — John discusses how the need to work from home during the COVID-19 lock down has changed the routines for nearly all of us.
8:44 — The different way we perceive time now that we are spending all our time at home.
10:15 — The effect of adding more intention to your days.
15:25 — John talks about the circumstances in his life that led to the creation of Make Time.
19:26 — How John’s time management habits have changed since his transition from a full time employee to entrepreneur.
22:19 — John discusses the importance of finding the things in life that give you energy.
24:22 — How the use of social media affects our in-person interactions and why it’s important to be conscious about it.
29:07 — John offers some new tips that he’s discovered since writing the book including the use of a “calendar template”.
30:01 — John shares what’s on his personal “calendar template”.
33:10 — John discusses the concept of “iceberg yes” and how to use it to avoid getting overwhelmed.
38:30 — John explains what a “charge cabinet” is and
40:33 — The importance designing your physical space to reinforce good time habits.
41:22 — Using “social jujitsu” to increase the quality of your social interactions.
43:40 — The reality that many of structures and routines that we have relied upon in life are no longer there and we need to find new ways to support healthy routines.
45:40 — How the news can be a source of acute anxiety and the importance of moderating one’s news consumption.
50:35 — John shares his tip for the single biggest quality of life improvement you can make.

Mentions

📖 Book: Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky
📰 Article: MakeTime.blog
🎙️ Podcast: The Better Show Episode 19: Nourish Your Mind with a Better Media Diet

Make Time - How to Focus on What Matters Every Day Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

Order your copy here: Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky

Show Notes

1:42 — The authors’ backgrounds and why they were uniquely qualified to write a book about focus.
3:31 — Ian discusses why this book, in particular, is a valuable resource in helping you make improvements in your system of focus and why the method in this book is different than other productivity methods.
8:30 — March discusses his personal strategies for maintaining his focus including the way he uses his calendar and estimating the time required for each task on his to-do list.
12:52 — Darren reflect on his favorite tool for maintaining focus — The Productivity Planner — and some of the similarities between its method and the method outlined in Make Time.
14:45 — Ian talks about his desire to be more intentional in the way he spends his time.
15:59 — Ian provides an overview of the 4-step Make Time process beginning with the highlight of your day.
18:41 — What is the “busy bandwagon” and what is an “infinity pool”?
23:40 — Setting new defaults for yourself starting with selecting your daily highlight.
28:10 — What are the characteristics of a good daily highlight?
30:50 — Ian describes several of the methods offered in Make Time for how to make time for your highlight.
32:50 — How to get (and stay) laser-focused on your highlight during your day.
34:17 — March’s tip for using YouTube’s “watch later” list to batch his distractions.
35:10 — Ian describes a super-tip offered in Make Time called “random question time.”
37:02 — The importance of staying energized to reinforce your focus and productivity.
39:30 — How the Make Time method uses the scientific method for continuous improvement.
44:01 — Darren, March and Ian’s key takeaways and the things they are going to incorporate in their lives.
39:30 — We identify the “better next step” for listeners who want to incorporate one key thing from this episode.

Mentions

📖 Book: Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky
📖 Book: Sprint by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky
📦 Product: Productivity Planner by Intelligent Change

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