Campfire: Compass Calendar

Jake Beech is a director for AJ Tutoring, a Silicon Valley tutoring company. He developed a repetitive strain injury (RSI) that threatened his emotional and professional life. After reading Dr. John Sarno’s Mindbody Prescription, however, he made a full recovery. He discusses the specifics of how he developed and cured his condition, along with how this profound experience changed his perspective.

This interview was conducted as part of the mindbody mini-series (episodes 006 - 008). 

Music: Lee Rosevere's "Southside" (adapted)  (CC BY 4.0)

Camera shutter by soundjay 

Dr. Hanscom is an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon and the Founder of the non-profit Puget Sound Spine Society. He’s treated chronic pain patients, but he also went through 13 years of intense chronic pain himself. He then made a full recovery and developed a self-directed program that helps those in chronic pain minimize or even eliminate their chronic pain

We discuss the specifics of that program, along with how writing, story-telling, and bias can affect one’s chronic pain.

This interview was conducted as part of the mindbody mini-series (episodes 006 - 008). 

Music: Lee Rosevere's "Southside" (adapted)  (CC BY 4.0)

Camera shutter by soundjay 

In the final installment of the series, Ty shares his journey of becoming consumed with and eventually overcoming his chronic pain. His story is analyzed in light of previous topics (bias, victimhood, personality, fear). Finally, guests share takeaways from their experience with chronic pain. 

Cover art by Maddie Hitzeman
Music adaptations from Sound of Picture  (CC Attribution 3.0)
Music adaptations from Kevin MacLeod at incompetech (CC Attribution 4.0)
Music adaptations from Lee Rosevere's "Southside" (CC BY 4.0)
Camera shutter by Benboncan (CC Attribution 3.0)

The second installment of the mini-series introduces the mysterious chronic condition called fibromyalgia, examines how neurology and biology can explain the cause of chronic pain, and touches on the powerful roles that stories, biases, and past experiences play in the occurrence of pain.

Pass Through the “Ring of Fire”, David Hanscom

Cover art by Maddie Hitzeman

Music adaptations from Lee Rosevere's "Southside" (CC BY 4.0)

Camera shutter by Benboncan (CC Attribution 3.0)

In the first installment of the chronic pain mini-series, Ty introduces the topic and its relevance, explores Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI), and compares two contending models for understanding certain chronic pains -- the mindbody vs. the structural.

Cover art by Maddie Hitzeman
Music adaptations from Lee Rosevere's "Southside" (CC BY 4.0)
Camera shutter by Benboncan (CC Attribution 3.0)

Scott discusses his 83-mile ultramarathon, free climbing, and what life lesson he learned from Megadeth.

Many runners aim to complete a 10k, half-marathon, or maybe even a marathon Others have the goal of to complete a triathlon, even an Ironman. For Scott Drum, a two-time state champion and collegiate runner, the ultimate goal was to do something that nobody had ever accomplished (or even tried before): consecutively run Michigan’s National Lakeshore trail and then the Isle Royale National Park trail, covering a total of 83.5 miles or 134.4 kilometers. Scott Drum completed this feat in just over 24 hours, including the time he spent in a float plane flying from one park to the other.

Starting this fall, Scott will start his next big challenge: running 25 "classic" mountain adventure trails across North America and then using the data gathered by his wearable technology to write an evidenced-based book about his experience.

When he’s not on a mountain or in a pair of running shoes, Scott acts as an Associate Professor of Exercise Science at Northern Michigan University.

00:00 - Intro | 01:54 - Characteristics that mark a successful ulta-runner | 04:03 - What makes an ultrarunner durable | 06:04 - The optimal diet for ultramarathon runners before the event | 08:16 - Optimal diet for ultramarathon runners during the event | 11:12 - Scott explains his recent study on the impact of in-class exercise on academic performance | 13:19 - Scott explains his preparation and logistics for his [80+] mile run | 20:03 - How Scott would have prepared differently for his run | 22:10 - Scott explains what it’s like to run at night | 23:36 - Why Scott prefers to not listen to music when he runs | 24:22 - Why Scott is drawn to Mount Rainier and Long’s Peak | 28:01 - Why Scott climbed Long’s Peak without ropes for 5,000 feet | 32:09 - Scott explains his other climbing experiences | 34:31 - The connection between exercise, nature, and relationships in Scott’s life | 37:16 - Scott talks about a personal failure | 40:36 - The lesson Scott learned from this failure | 42:29 - Scott’s relationship with his twin brother, Greg, and his wife, Liz | 49:07 - What Scott would do if he couldn’t exercise | 51:46 - A surprising fact about Scott | 52:27 - Scott’s favorite movie | 53:39 - A message that resonates with Scott | 55: 37 - A few of the kindest things that people have done for Scott

Scott's CV

Scott's Mountain Adventure Book Project

Scott's interview with NewsWise about his run

Scott's articles:

The Isle Royale 40 | What's the Thorn in My Shin? | Heart Stopping

Music credit: Lee Rosevere's "Southside" (adapted) (CC BY 4.0)

Mahmoud Khedr is not your average twenty-one-year-old. He’s an immigrant, a college student, an entrepreneur, a public speaker, and one of the most honest people I know. He’s lived in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and – as of 2008 – the United States. Since then, he’s interned at Google, Facebook, and Echoing Green; he created the Entrepreneurship Club at the City College of New York and co-founded two companies - a food delivery solution named Runr and Flora Mind, a startup focused on educating the youth in mental health and well-being.

Mahmoud’s resume is obviously insanely impressive, but what really made me want to talk to him was his maturity and honesty. I initially saw Mahmoud speak at a conference. I was so impressed that I read one of his LinkedIn articles, entitled "21 year old Muslim Egyptian Immigrant Entrepreneur: 21 failures, 21 successes, 21 goals.” I was so blown away by how vulnerable and ambitious the article was that I decided, for the first time, to reach out to someone I didn’t already know and ask them on the podcast. And I’m glad I did.

Just like in his talk and that article, Mahmoud keeps it real in the episode as he discusses his experience growing up in four different countries, being bullied during school for his faith, how he’s dealt with rejection, and how his “what’s next” attitude has allowed him to do so much in such a short time. Mahmoud is definitely someone to look out for in the next couple years. I have no doubt that he’ll continue to inspire and make amazing things happen, and can’t wait to see his impact grow.

00:00 - Intro | 2:51 - Mahmoud explains what it was like living in four different Arab countries as a child | 6:30 - How Mahmoud’s dad navigated the workforce to help his family | 8:34 - The biggest lesson Mahmoud learned from his father | 10:28 - Mahmoud explains what it was like growing up with so many siblings | 11:50 - What the transition was like when Mahmoud moved to the USA (pizza story) | 14:49 - How Mahmoud was bullied for being a Muslim and how he chose to respond | 20:56 - The stereotypes about Islam that Mahmoud attempts to defy | 24:26 - Why Mahmoud felt like so many of his applications were rejected | 28:10 - How Mahmoud deals with rejection | 33:12 - Mahmoud’s “What’s next?” attitude and how he picks new projects | 36:22 - How Mahmoud tries to balance his ambition with the need to sometimes say decline opportunities | 41:41 - Mahmoud explains how he used to give up his values and beliefs to please others | 44:43 - The books that have had the biggest impact on Mahmoud | 47:59 - The person that has had the biggest impact on Mahmoud | 51:07 - The advice Mahmoud would give to his younger self | 52:41 - Why Mahmoud is so willing to be vulnerable | 56:53 - Some of the kindest things people have done for Mahmoud

Where to find Mahmoud:

Twitter | LinkedIn | Medium

Music credit: Lee Rosevere's "Southside" (adapted) (CC BY 4.0)

Camera: SoundJay's Camera Shutter Click 08

Rob is a Software Engineer, fiction writer, and a bookworm. He grew up in Green Bay and graduated with degrees in Computer Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2014. His professional journey started two years earlier, however, when he became the first Engineer at Swoop Search, a tech startup in Madison, Wisconsin. Throughout the next five years, the company grew from an idea into a successful business. Rob, of course, played an essential role in the company’s development.

In addition to being a great Engineer and teacher, Rob is also a perfect example of someone who refuses to stay boxed in. In the programming world, it’s common for developers to only focus on their area of expertise. For example, a web developer might not always be interested in learning how hardware works. Or a backend developer might not always pay much attention to design or the User Experience. But Rob’s interest and experience traverse the technical landscape - from websites to databases to backend indexers to hardware. And as a writer, he similarly draws influence from different genres like poetry, cinema, and fiction.

I think all types of people will enjoy hearing what Rob has to say. If you’re in the tech or science world, Rob’s take on writing beautiful code might speak to you. If you’re a reader or writer, Rob’s philosophy on storytelling and creating something “magical” might inspire you. And if you’re someone who has interests across artforms and professional fields, Rob’s take on doing what he loves and finding transferable skills will hopefully encourage you to do the same. Please enjoy this episode of Portrait, with Rob Jauquet. 00:00 - Highlights & Introduction | 02:10 - Why Rob only eats twice a day and only wears a coat three months out of the year | 03:08 - Rob tells the story about how he got involved in Swoop and explains what the early days were like | 07:03 - Rob talks about his favorite and least favorite days while working at Swoop Search | 10:10 - Rob reflects on the factors that characterize exceptional software developers | 13:38 - Robs talks about what it means to write “beautiful” code and shares his favorite project. | 18:01 - Rob explains how he would try to learn about programming if he were to start from scratch. | 24:00 - Rob compares his process with for writing code to his process for writing fiction | 27:06 - Rob’s writing routine | 28:00 - How a small book Rob wrote in fifth grade inspired his current sci-fi novel | 31:03 - The authors, books, and movies that have influenced Rob the most | 34:49 - How Rob thinks about storytelling | 36:47 - A childhood memory that Rob holds dear | 39:26 - Rob’s favorite travel experience and his thoughts on solo travel | 42:16 - Rob’s favorite purchases for under $100 | 44:29 - One thing that Rob holds to be true, but that very few people would agree with him on. | 45:55 - Something Rob changed his mind on in the last five year | 46:53 - Rob’s favorite failure | 49:25 - The kindest thing anyone has ever done for Rob

Rob's Personal Website

Painting from Rob's grandma

Music credit: Lee Rosevere's "Southside" (adapted) (CC BY 4.0)

Camera: SoundJay's Camera Shutter Click 03

Larry is an author, an omnivorous reader, a classical music expert, an English Professor, and a close friend. He grew up in Iowa, got his B.A. from the University of California-Berkeley, then his Masters from the University of Chicago, followed by a Ph.D. in English with high distinction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since then, he’s been an English Professor with the Center for Academic Excellence at UW-Madison.

I’ve never met anyone who has a deeper appreciation for the arts than Larry. One art form that has always played an important role in Larry’s life is writing, something he’s been doing prolifically since he was in fifth grade. By the time he was sixteen, he had already written eight novels! To date, he’s finished twenty-five books (four of which were published), over eighty-five short stories (twenty published), several hundred poems (twenty-five published), a dozen movie scripts - four sold and one, Bloodhook (1986), produced. But perhaps his fondest artform is classical music. He started playing violin and learning about classical works as a child. He continued to study music throughout his academic career and now teaches the subject as part of his intensive survey course on the arts.

Larry is one of the few people I know who has figured out how to stay entirely true to himself and his passions. Throughout our conversation, you’ll hear him say that some of his major accomplishments were a result of him simply doing what comes natural to him. He loves writing, so he writes. He enjoys reading, so he reads, and has found a way to do it as a career. And he loves music, so he listens to it constantly and finds ways to weave it into his professional life. When there are so many opportunities to compromise - whether with our careers, relationships, ourselves - it’s refreshing to hear from someone who has stayed true to what he loves.

In addition to talking about literature and music, Larry also shares his thoughts on distractions, his teaching style, and his favorite failure.

00:00 - Intro | 04:56 - Larry’s exposure to music as a child | 08:21 - Why Larry kept studying music through adulthood| 08:53 - Why Larry thinks classical music is difficult for people to get into | 13:40 - Larry’s recommendation for getting into classical music | 15:49 - How music has made Larry a better person | 18:50 - The most impactful books and authors on Larry’s life | 23:06 - Larry’s favorite scene in a book | 25:21 - How Larry managed to write so much during his childhood | 29:31 - How writing helped Larry distinguish himself | 30:49 - Whether Larry ever felt lonely while writing | 31:44 - Larry’s routines | 35:24 - Larry’s thoughts on inspiration and writing | 36:36 - What distracts Larry | 40:17 - Larry’s favorite failure | 43:41 - Something Larry holds to be true, but that very few people would agree with him on | 45:31 - Kindest thing anyone has ever done for Larry

Music credit: Lee Rosevere's "Southside" (adapted) (CC BY 4.0)

Camera: SoundJay's old-style camera

Annie Peyton is an architect, designer, world-traveler, and adventurist. She received her Bachelors and Masters in Architecture from Tulane University. During her time in school, she spent a year studying in Copenhagen, Denmark. After school, she became the recipient of two national fellowships. As a Global Health Corps fellow, she worked in design for a year in Rwanda. As a Luce Scholar, she worked for for an architecture firm for a year in Thailand.

Annie’s outlook on life is perhaps even more impressive than her resume. There are so many qualities that I admire about Annie. The first is her unshakable resiliency. Whether she’s on a bike in middle of wind storm, or at a lunch table when everyone around her is speaking a foreign language, or meeting with a random group of artists in the middle of Bangkok -- Annie is capable of adapting to any situation. Perhaps this is due to her incredibly high emotional intelligence.Throughout our conversation, you’ll hear how Annie is able to recognize her emotions, take ownership of them, and then use them to her benefit. Finally, I admire Annie’s holistic approach to life. She refuses to follow convention or stay in her comfort zone. Instead, she searches for alternative ways to challenge herself. And although she’s had such a diverse background, she’s still able to synthesize all her experiences into a cohesive narrative.

Throughout our conversation, Annie explains her proven strategy for landing big opportunities and shares stories from her year in Thailand. She also explains her most memorable day and a story about the kindest thing that anyone’s ever done for her. But before all that, Annie talks about her recent bike adventure.Over the course of 69 days, she biked from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, California, covering a total of 3,760 miles.And that is where our conversation starts

00:00 - Introduction | 02:59 - What motivated Annie to bike from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, CA | 06:30 - The logistics of packing, cooking, and sleeping while on the road | 11:59 - How Annie responded to the physical challenges of her trek | 14:20 - Annie’s bike route, along with her favorite and least favorite parts of the ride | 17:19 - Annie’s takeaways from the bike trip | 20:05 - Background on the Luce Scholars Program | 22:35 - Annie’s general approach with her written application | 26:15 - Annie’s approach to her first interview | 31:20 - Annie’s daily life in Bangkok, Thailand | 34:40 - Annie’s perspective on learning Thai | 36:30 - Annie’s involvement in the Bangkok Urban Sketchers group | 41:30 - How talking to people informs Annie’s decisions as a designer | 43:32 - How living in Thailand for a year changed Annie as a person | 46:49 - Annie’s philosophy on leading a nontraditional, exciting lifestyle | 50:00 - Annie shares one of her memorable days | 54:33 - Annie shares the kindest thing that anyone has ever done for her

Annie's Blogs at ProFellow

Luce Scholar's Program

Global Health Corps

Music credit: Lee Rosevere's "Southside" (adapted) (CC BY 4.0)