The Better Show

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Better Bedding for Better Sleep Jan 29, 2019

Show notes

We discuss better bedding so you can get the perfect night's sleep. We interview bedding enthusiasts on the best sheets, pillows and more.

Show Notes

2:25— We discuss our interest in bedding and what inspired us to do this episode.
4:35— We recap recommendations from The Better Show community on what they do to create their ideal bedroom environment.
10:12— A listener, Rachel, shares what motivated her to begin to search for the perfect pillow.
13:42— The ideal sleep position and a healthy sleep posture according to doctors.
15:00— Finding the right balance between soft and supportive with your pillow.
15:57— The different pillows types for side, back, and stomach sleepers.
18:55— Appearance versus comfort in pillow selection and the trial and error process of finding the right pillow for you.
23:05— Pros and cons of memory foam, goose down, polyester filled, water gel, coconut, and bamboo pillows.
27:13— Chantell tells us about her favorite pillow — the Hyrdaluxe pillow.
29:30— Sometimes a teddy bear is the perfect community.
30:41— Pillows to help make sleep more comfortable during pregnancy.
33:15— We discuss the trend of hotels offering pillow menus to guests.
35:58— We discuss the basics of bed sheet construction — materials, weave, and thread count.
39:04— Winter sheets versus summer sheets.
40:49— Chantell tells us about a new innovation in bed sheets that she now swears by: eucalyptus sheets.
43:10— The environmental benefits of eucalyptus as a manufacturing material.
45:15— Other issues that people run into with bedding and some of the solutions available to address them
48:01— Giving the gift of nice bedding and the t-shirt sheets from Oprah’s Favorite Things episode from 1996.

Mentions

👍 Product: Hydraluxe pillow
👍 Product: Coconut Bliss pillow
👍 Product: Snoogle Maternity pillow
👍 Product: Quick Zip sheet
👍 Product: Primary Goods bed sheets
👍 Product: Sheets & Giggles

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Better Relationships Redux Jan 14, 2019

Show notes

How to deepen relationships with your partner, friends and family. We’ll explore why healthy relationships are so important and share tips & techniques to ensure your relationships are in tip top shape.

Show Notes

1:45 — Why relationships matter
4:39 — Impacts of isolation: from prisoners to monks
7:33 — Week long silent retreats
8:47 — How humans experience loneliness at a cellular level
9:54 — Aristotle's Golden Mean and relationships
10:54 — 3 keys to defining a good friend
14:48 — Ian's story of reconnecting with his best childhood friend after 10 years
19:50 — March's story of reconnecting with his first friend since moving to the US
22:51 — Ian's theory of why people hate high school reunions & love college reunions
25:04 — Uniqueness of experiences = strongest relationships
26:21 — How March burst into tears and confessed his undying love for his future wife
30:05 — They critical component to March's early relationship with his wife
31:32 — Ian explains the "group friend"
33:20 — How Ian founded The Brunch Bunch to strengthen his relationships
37:12 — How Darren met his wife at his birthday party & told work she was his fiancé before he asked her
44:34 — How the Gottman "The Art and Science of Love" workshop strengthened March's marriage
48:12 — March's tips from Gottman's "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work"
54:51 — Darren & Ian's tips from "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman
1:01:48 — Tips for dealing with the physiological responses of stress in relationships
1:04:06 — Darren's secret weapon for improving all his relationships
1:12:23 — Ian's tips for dating in the modern world
1:20:28 — How to use your smartphone to maintain relationships from afar…and invented Snapchat before Snapchat
1:26:20 — Ian's story of how pre-planning helps him maintain key relationships
1:26:20 — March will experiment with weekly thank you notes to express gratitude
1:26:20 — Darren will experiment with trying the Gottman seminar March mentioned
1:26:20 — Ian will experiment with eating alone less often, especially during the work week

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Building Better Habits Jan 07, 2019

Show notes

We discuss the secrets of building better habits, including the 4 laws of making or breaking habits, physical totems, the paperclip story, and habit competition apps. We share our 2019 habits we're trying to create and break, and how we're going to do it.

Show Notes

2:55— Why do habits matter?
9:52— Willpower & habits
15:05— Our 2019 habits we want to create
20:09— The habits we want to break in 2019
23:13— Our personal experiences with habits
31:55— Tips & hacks for habits
43:22— 4 laws for making or breaking habits
1:12:42— Quick hits: physical totems, competition app, the paperclip story, batching habits
1:21:15— Our 2019 habit experiments

Products Mentioned

Atomic Habits Cheatsheet
Habit Contract Template
Ian's first 2019 book review: Become Financially "Unshakeable" in 2019
Subscribe to Ian's 2019 book reviews
SPAR! Social habit building app
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Atomic Habits by James Clear

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New Year's Resolutions Redux 2019 Dec 31, 2018

Show notes

In this episode Ian, Darren & March talk about New Year’s resolutions — what makes a good resolution and how to make them stick. We’ll share why resolutions can be helpful, our personal experiences and tips you can try to make resolutions work for you. We cover a lot of ground, including:

Show Notes

2:39— March on the origin and history of New Year’s resolutions
3:15— March shares data on the typical success rate for keeping one’s resolutions. (Spoiler alert: it ain’t good.)
4:38— March counts down the top 5 most popular New Year’s resolutions from 2017
6:21— March shares a tip on how to increase your chances for sticking to your resolutions
11:40— Ian reveals and reviews his 2016 New Year’s resolutions
24:45— March describes his experience with The 4-Hour Body
28:35— Tips on how to set resolutions that will stick
30:45— The SMART method for setting goals and resolutions
40:05— Tips for learning a new language
43:18— Tips for saving money in the new year
44:41— Tips for finding a new job
47:16— Tips for exercising more
57:00— Ian, March, and Darren make their own New Year's Resolutions for 2018
1:13:16— BONUS CONTENT: It's New Year's Eve 2019 and Ian, March, and Darren reflect on how their resolutions from 2018 have gone.

Products Mentioned

Way of Life app
FitStar (now called Fitbit Coach after being acquired by Fitbit)
Oak meditation app
The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss
Rosetta Stone and Duolingo
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Ian’s 2016 New Year’s resolutions

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Ian & March's 5-Day Fasting Experiment Dec 24, 2018

Show notes

This week's episode is a day by day diary of an experiment in extended fasting that Ian and March did in November of this year. Their plan was to fast for five days using a protocol created by Dr. Valter Longo, an expert on the positive health effects of fasting. Fasting is known to have a host of benefits ranging from helping to correct metabolic diseases like diabetes to strengthening the immune system and reducing the risk of cancer. Dr. Longo's fast mimicking diet involves eating only a few hundred calories of food each day for 5 days. This makes it easier to maintain than a water-only fast while having many of the same health benefits. So let's hear how they got on!

Show Notes

00:00 - What is a fast mimicking diet and why would you do it?
01:40 - March & Ian discuss doing a 5 day fast
03:58 - Ian hatches the plan to record the fasting daily diary for the show
04:37 - Ian wants March's warnings about what to expect - including hunger pangs and the 'keto flu'
10:55 - Ian wants to know if he can exercise while fasting
11:57 - Day 1 diary
12:47 - March had a foggy day, maybe not enough coffee?
15:12 - A fan tells Ian the seaweed snack from our meal plan is super popular in Taiwan
16:10 - Day 2 diary
16:45 - March's sleep starts to get way better while fasting
17:06 - Ian suffers through eating vast quantities of spinach
18:08 - Something weird happens to Ian's teeth
21:29 - Ian starts measuring his ketones & blood glucose
24:16 - Day 3 diary
24:51 - Ian and March are delighted to realize their fast will end on Friday night, not Saturday!
26:50 - March makes the mistake of watching The Great British Bake-Off while fasting
28:20 - Ian wakes up feeling pretty shaky
29:39 - Ian figures out the mystery of his weird teeth thing
32:00 - Day 4 diary
32:46 - Ian has heart palpitations and is understandably freaked out
38:02 - Day 5 diary
38:36 - We find out whether Ian's racing heart caused him to quit the fast early
40:17 - Ian & March discuss missing food and their new found empathy for anyone who goes hungry
49:41 - How to measure poverty and how hunger fits into it
52:40 - Conclusions
52:30 - Ian & March have a bumpy end to their five day fasts
1:01:00 - The risks of fasting & dieting for people suffering from disordered eating
1:03:10 - Ian & March talk about whether they'll do another fast in the future

Mentions

Ian & March's 5 Day FMD meal plan

Green tea & water ad libitum

DAY 1 (1180 KCAL)

2 avocado 322kcal
57g salted macadamia nuts 408kcal
100g spinach (raw
or lightly steamed) 46 kcal
200g steamed broccoli 34kcal
1 bouillon
cube 16kcal
2 cloves steamed garlic 8kcal
5g package dried seaweed 24kcal

DAY 2-5 (858 KCAL)

1 avocado 322kcal
57g salted macadamia nuts 408kcal
100g spinach (raw or lightly steamed) 46 kcal
200g steamed broccoli 34kcal
1 bouillon cube 16kcal
2 cloves steamed garlic 8kcal
5g package dried seaweed 24 kcal

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Better Home Automation Dec 17, 2018

Show notes

What are the benefits of having a smart home and can you avoid the pitfalls? There has been a surge in new internet connected devices you can use to make your home smarter - everything from video doorbells & smart speakers to devices that measure your water usage and lock up your house at night. We want to know whether all these gadgets are worth it? Can you avoid the risks to your privacy created by having internet connected microphones and even more hackable electronics in your home?

Show Notes

5:40— Are smart home gadgets actually useful?
7:34— We break down four types of home automation solutions— smart-speaker systems, telephone/cable company systems, home security systems, and professional high-end systems.
14:26— The story behind the Ring camera-enabled doorbell.
15:44— The usefulness of a camera-based doorbells to thwart package thieves during the holidays.
20:35— The trend of new buildings being built with automation systems as part of the normal building systems
24:30— The concerns and controversy around data collection from smart home devices and an alternative home automation solution that avoids these issues.
36:06— The most surprising thing about home automation is that you are probably already
43:00— Using a smart lock to automatically unlock your door.
45:13— What’s the best way to get started trying out home automation.
49:13— Where do we think home automation is going in the next several years.
55:25— Home automation options for apartment dwellers.
1:00:43— The story behind the Mattel Aristotle children’s toy.
1:08:49— What is the killer app for home automation.

Mentions

📰 Darren's blog post on The secret behind Amazon Alexa's success
💻 IFTTT skill to connect Alexa and a Trello to do list
💻 IFTTT skill for syncing Alexa to-dos with iOS reminders
👍 Product: Amazon Echo Dot
👍 Product: Google Home Mini
👍 Product: Ring doorbell
👍 Product: Nest thermometer
📰 Blog post: Brendan Mulligan --- on a journey of home automation
📺 Video: Pee Wee's Breakfast Machine: The Breakfast Machine

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Better Remote Work Dec 10, 2018

Show notes

We ask the question, can you succeed while working remotely? There is a growing trend among employees, freelancers and entrepreneurs of working away from the office but suspicion and controversy still abound. Combining our own experience with experts in the field we explore the pros & cons, the cultural shift that is driving remote work and what the future will look like.

Show Notes

1:13— How March's move to Ireland made remote work very personal, very fast
3:30— The rise of remote work
6:44— Controversy around remote work
12:04— The challenges of working remotely
23:28— Tips & tricks from remote work experts to make it work
38:43— Twitter's feedback on remote work
43:11— The power of remote work
45:57— The big takeaway on remote work

Mentions

Telecommuting trend data (July, 2018)
Amazon hiring 5,000 remote workers this year (CNBC)
Apple seeking employees for work-from-home positions (Apple)

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Better Holidays, Gift Giving & Relationships Dec 03, 2018

Show notes

It's the gifting time of year and we're here with advice on how to make the most of it. For the next episode we are pulling one of our most popular episode from the archives to help you choose thoughtful gifts for your loved ones. You'll hear all about how to choose gifts that show you care and provide a lasting memory.

Show Notes

1:16 — The Better Show is growing like a weed: quick update on how many countries we have listeners in worldwide.
2:44 — What is the most popular holiday in the world?
4:30 — Why do holidays matter?
6:41 — The Tail End insight about the time you spend with family
12:11 — How to have better conversations during the holidays
17:26 — Gift giving tips from Darren's wife Mardee
22:35 — Ian's "Buy One, Get One" trick for gift buying
24:07 — The Pajama Fairy story
26:15 — Giving the gift of choice with a personalized gift catalog
28:13 — How experiences can be some of the best gifts
29:12 — Does Ian have a bad gift giving habit?
33:49 — Maintaining routines during the holidays
43:23 — The Averaging Effect on gift giving
46:36 — The value of the surprise in gift giving
50:22 — The power of batching when gift giving
52:52 — Pinterest, Amazon Universal Wish List and more for inspiration and organization
55:32 — Asking questions of people's personal experiences to build empathy and avoid conflict
59:53 — Using your family history as a shared common background for family discussion
1:04:53 — March will experiment writing Thank You notes for gratitude this holiday
1:06:46 — Darren will experiment with small gifts, mostly experiences, and being more present this holiday season
1:07:34 — Ian will experiment with sending hand-made holiday greeting cards to family & friends
1:10:28 — Darren recommends Postagram for sending quick thank you cards

Mentions

💻Website: Base word list
📱 App: Flash card tool
💻Website: Supermemo
💻Website: TinyCards by Duolingo
💻Website: Official list of Sniglets

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Better Language Learning Nov 27, 2018

Show notes

We discuss proven methods to make learning a new language easier and why it’s good for you.

Show Notes

4:36— March describes an interaction he had attempting to communicate with a farmer in the Czech Republic.
6:46— We learn about how Ian is learning some new languages from his new fiancee who is fluent in English, Arabic and French.
10:28— Darren talks about the value of learning Latin for his college entrance exams and discusses why he thinks it’s a huge advantage from a business perspective to learn Spanish and Mandarin.
12:35— March quizzes Ian and Darren on facts about languages around the world.
18:12— Why we speak so many different languages.
21:11— Why should one learn a language when we have smartphones that can translate
23:19— How learning a new language is good for your brain.
32:05— March’s top 5 secrets to learning a new language. 💡 Tips 💡
39:00— Spaced repetition and the “forgetting curve”.
43:13— March quizzes Ian and Darren on their knowledge of some recently created words and phrases in the English language (and it gets embarrassing).

Mentions

💻Website: Base word list
📱 App: Flash card tool
💻Website: Supermemo
💻Website: TinyCards by Duolingo
💻Website: Official list of Sniglets

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Better Health Through Yoga Nov 19, 2018

Show notes

We discuss the history, varieties and benefits of yoga. Darren shares his experience of practicing yoga with Ian & March and surprises them with the unexpected benefits of the ancient tradition.

Show Notes

2:20— What do we mean when we talk about “yoga” and what are the origins of yoga?
6:42— The health benefits of practicing yoga including relaxation, physical flexibility, and moderate strength training.
9:53— How yoga is a fusion of physical training and mental discipline.
14:44— Why it’s common for athletes to practice yoga and how relaxation can often lead to better precision and better performance.
17:22— Darren explains the major branches of yoga from a spiritual-philosophical perspective and explains in detail the different styles of Hatha (physical & meditative) yoga including the
21:59— Is it necessary to attend a class to practice yoga or can one practice at home?
22:29— The difference between discomfort and pain and the yogic principle of honoring oneself by never pushing your practice to pain.
24:19— Tips for trying out yoga for those who find it a little intimidating.
28:45— Darren shares his experience when first starting to practice yoga 9 years ago.
30:24— Ian shares that the home cycling Peloton has group yoga classes as part of their fitness subscription program.
31:58— The practical benefits one gets from practicing yoga in the near-term and over the long-term.
35:50— We discuss how someone with a very scientific mind can appreciate and find value from a practice, like yoga, that has its roots in spirituality.
39:45— Darren shares his experience visiting the Chichen Itza pyramids during the Summer Equinox as an example of how to stay true to your own worldview while respecting others’ philosophy and unique worldviews.
45:15— When should one NOT do yoga. (The answer might surprise you.)
47:20— Darren shares his opinion of the most important thing someone should learn if they want to become an expert in yoga. (Again, the answer might surprise you.)
49:25— Ian and March reflect on their surprise at how yoga has a lot in common with other mindfulness and exercise practices.
52:40— Darren shares the names of several leading yoga influencers.

Mentions

📰 Article: What is pranayama?
📱 App: Freedom
📱 App: YogaGlo
💻 Website: Gaia --- apps for smart phones, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire TV. Heads up that Gaia is a bit of a new age website so there is some "way out" content here.
💻 Website: Gaiam --- popular online yoga community & retailer of yoga products
📱 App:Pocket Yoga
📱 App: FitStar Yoga
📱 App:Down Dog
📱 App:Daily Yoga
🙆 Yoga influencer: Kathryn Budig --- author, yoga teacher & advocate
🙆 Yoga influencer: Donna Farhi --- author & advocate
🙆 Yoga influencer: Tara Stiles --- Founder of Strala Yoga
🙆 Yoga influencer: Paul Grilley --- Founder of Yin Yoga
🙆 Yoga influencer: Shiva Rea --- Founder of Prana Flow yoga
🙆 Yoga influencer: Chip Wilson --- Founder of Lululemon Athletica
🙆 Yoga influencer: Baron Baptiste --- Founder of Baptiste Power Vinyasa yoga