Bellingham Podcast

Milestone episode brought to you by YOU and the numbers 1-5-0. Big thank you to all our listeners.


Life and work in the Covid-Era

* An introvert in isolation during the work week is not the best scenario. Wife has heard all my joke material.
* Full immersion in screens is starting to make me detest them. See also: working in an ice Cream shop.
* If you are not in a dedicated office in your home, remove as much distractions as possible from your desk view.



New Things?

Chris
* Seattle Symphony weekend performances (https://seattlesymphony.org/watch-listen/live) - Easter weekend is Schumann Symphony No. 2
* Vice TV - Dark Side of the Ring (https://www.vicetv.com/en_us/show/dark-side-of-the-ring) mini-documentaries
* 9128.live (http://9128.live/) - Live streaming audio from A Strangely Isolated Place

AJ
* Great episode with Deran of Zulu Alpha Straps
* Discovered Bandcamp (https://bandcamp.com/)- help out an artist you know or respect in these times
* dryhope
* Chillhop


Artists to check out on Bandcamp:

Chris:

* Archives Dub Music - New ambient soundscapes
* Kwajbasket - “...an exploration into ambient minimal guitar music.”

Headphone Roundup
Chris

* Apple AirPods I
* SoundCore Life P2

AJ
* Rowkin Ascent Micro
* SoundCore Life P2
* Soundcore Liberty Air 2

Points of Reference (recommendations to check out)

VIDEO GAME (PS4)- Kings Quest

* Calls to your inner 10 year old and days of Choose Your Own Adventure books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krEV9a3dQ0U

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

This episode is a special edition of The Analog Explorer x The Bellingham Podcast for our #watchfam listeners. The guest on this episode just how 'air tight' a good idea and design can be. His name is Darren, owner and creator of the Zulu Alpha Strap and a very good friend of ours in the watchfam.

Read about my use of Zulu Alpha Straps on my blog: "From the Office to the Trailhead" https://ajbarse.com/from-office-to-trailhead/

Hopefully you all wherever you are in the world are in good form and good health.

Zulu Alpha Straps
Instagram: @zulualphastraps: https://www.instagram.com/zulualphastraps
Web: zulualphastraps.com

The Analog Explorer:
www.theanalogexplorer.com

The Bellingham Podcast
www.bellinghampodcast.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

Observations around Bellingham since Covid

https://quip.com/cUVAEALtXoZ

* “Nobody on the road, nobody on the beach...I feel it in the air, people are out of reach. Empty stores, empty streets, the sun goes down alone....”
* More people are waving hi and smiling - from a safe distance
* Less complaining while waiting in grocery store lines. More acceptance of the situation?


https://quip.com/VIcAEA4FVCJ

* Home improvement stores are bustling
* so many people out walking
* So much more social media- if thats you- just use it for good yo!
* Store shelves can look bleak at times- remember your neighbors as you shop yo! Some family's have allergies

Things we are doing to get work done

https://quip.com/cUVAEALtXoZ

* Dressing for the workday like I’m still heading into the office.
* Closing the door to my new office in the guest room to limit family distractions. I’m in work mode. DND.
* Fighting my lizard brain: “I’m going to give eight hours of 100%” Not expecting to accomplish superhuman results. Taking a chunk of work and hitting it hard.

https://quip.com/VIcAEA4FVCJ

* What Chris said. +forming a normal routine to this abnormal time (morning coffee and the commute just look a little different in the home)
* Standing. Sitting. Moving. Not JUST sitting on a couch
* Block out time for email- as opposed to dealing with the continuous trickle
* Sharing content as much as possible

Things we are doing to prevent going bonkers

https://quip.com/cUVAEALtXoZ

* Permission granted: 5-minute chat with my wife outside my guest room office, a 10-minute video break downstairs in the family room TV, lunchtime dog walks out of the house. *We don’t need to be chained to our desk for eight consecutive hours.*
* After work I watch a few 80s-era MTV music videos on YouTube to make me smile and think back to my days of youth. A simpler time.
* Think of three things that I will do once we’re allowed to head back into society, e.g. Hana Teriyaki lunch at the Tom Glenn Common at the Bellwether, spending an hour at Caffe Adagio with my notebook and device, strolling around the B’ham Farmers Market
* Check one national news site and one local news site once in the morning and once after work. So many directives, proclamations, and orders flying around, it’s important to know what’s going on. In moderation.

https://quip.com/VIcAEA4FVCJ

* Even more creative with cooking; and discovery of Bham’s own Hosa hot sauce https://hosasauce.com/
* Yard work
* Cartoons with kiddo

History of the word: Quarantine
https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/historyquarantine.html

VIDEO - We got this, America

https://youtu.be/LhwLYMHyRNU

VIDEO - AJ’s transparency pool of working from home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU_ADAzGH9o&feature=youtu.be

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

On this episode, Chris may have met his match when it comes to quick wits and fast come backs. As we continue with our reoccurring mini-series of our Community Connection Conversation Series (or whatever alliteration Chris comes up with for it), we sit down with Fairhaven's own master of the mic, as well as with personal finance, Shannon Day. A 'Tall Red Head Girl' with "a mic" who's charisma is infectious, and her genuineness for helping her clients is infectious. Tune in.


Alter egos for Shannon:
https://www.tallredheadgirl.com/about-me.html
https://www.edwardjones.com/financial-advisor/index.html?CIRN=IIzYUkxgrJNMKvrCuGoBkzG7lqrg6SJjkvviMDmybFsipTkGBanmj%2BH1UO8U03pd
https://www.facebook.com/girlwithamic/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

On this episode, AJ and Chris continue with where they left off last episode, going little personal with talking about stress the stress they deal with in their life. Both of them are still fighting terrible chest colds so don't adjust your radio, AJ's vocal range is an octave lower, and Chris is the human manifestation of bass.

*Listener shout-outs*
@RisingSunSailor (Dan) TwoWheelTherapy : https://www.instagram.com/rising_sun_sailor/
Deran (Trinidad and Tobego) culturally, the Carnaval.

*Personal notes*

*Coronavirus here in Wa. State:*
On behalf of the the BhamPodcast we hope everyone stays healthy and just practices good common sense with hygene. COVID-19

If you really want to know beyond headlines:
WHO: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
WHO’s Newsroom https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Wa DOH: https://www.doh.wa.gov/emergencies/coronavirus

What history tells us about stress: https://humanstress.ca/stress/what-is-stress/history-of-stress/
“The Centre for Studies on Human Stress (CSHS) is dedicated to improving the physical and mental health of Canadians by empowering individuals with scientifically grounded information on the effects of stress on the brain and body.”

“Over the next 30 years researchers conducted experiments showing that although the type of stressors resulting in the release of stress hormones are different for everyone there are *common elements* to situations that elevate stress hormones in *everyone*.”
In essence, they discovered the recipe for stress: *N.U.T.S. (https://humanstress.ca/stress/understand-your-stress/sources-of-stress)*!
*N*ovelty
*U*npredictability
*T*hreat to the ego
*S*ense of Control


*What STRESS do we feel personally? *

Chris:

* Unreasonable standards or expectations
* Impostor symdrome (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome)
* Not being able to fix everything

AJ

* Uncertainty
* Disconnect from the constant buzz helps
* SSDD
* Sh*t just keeps on breaking

*New- What we do*
AJ:

* via AJ’s wife: steam off: https://www2.aston.ac.uk/sport/tips-information/top-10-health-benefits-of-visiting-steam-rooms-and-saunas (Aston University Birminham UK) https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/saunas-and-your-health (Harvard)
* Harrison Hot Springs
* TwoWheelTherapy
* Whidbey Island: Langley
* Saltwater Fish House & Oyster Bar


Chris:

* Caffe Adagio
* Taylor Dock walk from Chrysalis to Boulevard Park
* Driving to work in the morning along Roeder Street along the water. Nice stretch of 35 mph cruising
* Playing my bass



*Quote:*
In the darkest hours, the struggle is to keep on pushing, to keep on advancing ...Carrie Mae Weems American photographer, artist
http://carriemaeweems.net/news.html




Find us on the Web

AJ: ajbarse.com (http://ajbarse.com/)
Chris: chrispowell.co (http://chrispowell.co/)


“Community-Powered KMRE, 102.3 FM airing our show Saturday at 3pm and streaming worldwide at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

On this episode, AJ and Chris go a little personal and talk about stress. Both of them are fighting terrible chest colds so don't adjust your radio, AJ's vocal range is an octave lower, and Chris is the human manifestation of bass.

Listener shutouts :

* Shout out to newly launched Zulu Time Podcast 🇬🇧
https://open.spotify.com/show/4JCYXahqWtuXJYtsDD0pfM

* Mention on Two Broke Watch Snobs. Ep 162 “Instagram trends that need to die”
https://soundcloud.com/twobrokewatchsnobs/ep-162-instagram-trends-that-need-to-die


*AJ & Chris’s personal notes*
-AJ been dealing with some stress within the family, seeing good colleagues have to seek medical help caused by stress. Been a rough winter.

-Chris has reached a level of patience, understanding, empathy, and grace in dealing with clients at their worst, but it erodes.

-CanvasInsider.Blog and podcast, episode 009 just hit the airwaves

*So what actually IS stress (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003211.htm)?*
“Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous.
Stress is your body's reaction to a challenge or demand. In short bursts, stress can be positive, such as when it helps you avoid danger or meet a deadline. But when stress lasts for a long time, it may harm your health.“
two main types of stress:

* *Acute stress.* This is short-term stress that goes away quickly. You feel it when you slam on the brakes, have a fight with your partner, or ski down a steep slope. It helps you manage dangerous situations. It also occurs when you do something new or exciting. All people have acute stress at one time or another.
* *Chronic stress.* This is stress that lasts for a longer period of time. You may have chronic stress if you have money problems, an unhappy marriage, or trouble at work. Any type of stress that goes on for weeks or months is chronic stress. You can become so used to chronic stress that you don't realize it is a problem. If you don't find ways to manage stress (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001942.htm), it may lead to health problems.

TLDR- BOTH BE BAD

*SIGNS OF TOO MUCH STRESS*

* the headaches, the excessive drinking or self soothing, etc
* Be aware about how you take it out on other people/family/ your friendly neighborhood techs that JUST want to get you to happy hour sooner.
* Over doing your self to “take out your aggressions” ie through physical activity
* Over use of caffeine?


*What we do*

AJ:
Mental North
Mental day away
Hygge
"Chill Hop music"
Find one small thing to look forward to, to help get over the hump
via AJ’s wife: steam off: https://www2.aston.ac.uk/sport/tips-information/top-10-health-benefits-of-visiting-steam-rooms-and-saunas (Aston University Birminham UK) https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/saunas-and-your-health (Harvard)

Chris:
Integration, left-right-left-right. Dog walks, walking outside in the fresh air.
Visualizing the 10-foot-fogbank. View things from the client’s perspective.
Perspective. Are lives in danger? What is exactly at stake with the stress? Then-what exercise.
Ambient waves of sound to let my mind process.


*Quote:*
In the darkest hours, the struggle is to keep on pushing, to keep on advancing ...Carrie Mae WeemsAmerican photographer, artist
http://carriemaeweems.net/news.html




Find us on the Web

AJ: ajbarse.com (http://ajbarse.com/)
Chris: chrispowell.co (http://chrispowell.co/)


“Community-Powered KMRE, 102.3 FM airing our show Saturday at 3pm and streaming worldwide at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

This one should "spark" some joy if you are into science, 80's references, and of course good ol fashion radio.

Spark:
https://www.sparkmuseum.org/

Abby Russell, the director of programs at SPARK
https://www.sparkmuseum.org/spark-museum-a-treasure-in-the-community-for-teachers/

SPARK social media
https://www.facebook.com/sparkmuseum/
https://www.instagram.com/sparkmuseum/?hl=en

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

Word of Note Series - Fika - The Swedish ritual of spending quality time

Hygge is hard to accomplish at work… so the Swedish have Fika!

From Sweden’s official website - “Fika is Swedish for a coffee break that’s more about socialising than drinking coffee. And something sweet is also welcome. It is much more than having a coffee. It is a social phenomenon, a legitimate reason to set aside a moment for quality time. Fika can happen at any time, morning as well as evening. It can be savoured at home, at work or in a café. It can be with colleagues, family, friends, or someone you are trying to get to know. It is a tradition observed frequently, preferably several times a day.


Origin of the name
The word fika actually derives from the 19th-century slang word for coffee: kaffi. Invert the word kaffi, and you get fika. http://www.swedishfood.com/fika

Proper breaks, dedicated time, allowing permission for us to press pause on the day. Proactive measures to decrease stress in the workplace. Can it actually increase productivity?

Where in Bellingham can we experience Fika… Without resorting to a coffee shop?

Chris:

At work - In my online calendar scheduler, I have three choices for where to have the meeting with my client: my office, another location (their office), or a walking meeting.

Know thy companion - My mental rolodex of friends/family likes, dislikes, and personalities helps me pick a venue to enjoy Fika. My brother-in-law, who enjoys a pint, may not be the best place to enjoy FIka with my 17-year-old daughter. While LaFeens may be a bullseye for my daughter, my health-conscious wife may not enjoy the venue.

AJ:

My wife and the boulangerie effect whenever we travel

Rocket (rip)

Magdalena




Get your Hip-Toss on

5CCWrestling - Local wrestling promotion in Bellingham. Recently at Eagles Hall in Bellingham.



Find us on the Web
AJ: ajbarse.com
Chris: chrispowell.co

“Community-Powered KMRE, 102.3 FM airing our show Saturdays at 3 pm and streaming worldwide at kmre.org”

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

Chris and AJ are finally thawed out from Bellingham Snowpacalypse 2020. Hope this episode finds you all well and staying warm this winter season. Now with that said, you might feel cabin fever...so in Bellingham, this episode is dedicated to Happy Hour. And Chris goes down a personal black mirror though exercise as a technologist with Android. All that and more on this episode of the Bellingham Podcast.


Chris’ One Night Stand with Android: OnePlus 7 Pro
To Disengage from life with iOS
* •Music alternative
* •Group Chat iMessage
* •Apple Maps
* •Fantastical - Never Outlook on Android
* •MySudo
Needed another device (iPod touch) to still maintain iOS life


Now that we’ve made it through the snowstorm, it’s time for a drink.
Where should we go for
Happy Hour?

AJ
Aslan Dépôt: https://aslanbrewing.com/depot
Black Sheep Bellingham (do. The. Tacos. You can thank me later) https://www.blacksheepbellingham.com/
The Loft at Latitude 48.5 https://w: ww.facebook.com/latitudeloft/
Baby Greens : https://www.plantshopbaby.com

Chris
Bellingham Cider Co: https://www.bellinghamcider.com/
The Blue Abode Bar : https://www.theblueabodebar.com/
Undisclosed Coffee Shops around Bellingham



Find us on the Web
AJ: ajbarse.com
Chris: chrispowell.co

“Community-Powered KMRE, 102.3 FM airing our show Saturdays at 3 pm and streaming worldwide at kmre.org”

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

Join us Saturdays at 3pm on Bellingham's community radio station; KMRE 102.3 FM.
"Join us at 3 on KMRE"...hey that rhymes.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com