The last time we talked about singleness and dating on this show was 3 years ago (Ep 19: What We've Learned From Being Single)! But new developments have emerged...   Daree hates long-distance relationships (LDRs), but she unexpectedly met someone special on her last trip... and he lives on another continent. (It feels like he's in another galaxy far, far, away lol.)   Whether you're in a LDR now, or considering it, listen in as she gets some advice from Daj (whose had her own LDRs). We discussed how to deal with the circumstances, being wary of your emotional and financial investment in the LDR, and more:  

• Daree explains how her LDR came about (in Colombia) 4:10
• Daj's 3-year relationship that turned from local to LDR (in Italy) 6:18
• Overextending yourself and things to think about for LDRs 15:21
• Being used when you appear to affluent or unaware 19:18
• Daj's 2-year LDR & engagement  21:18
• How to evaluate "where this is going" and decide if a LDR is right for you 28:37

  Have you ever been in an LDR? How did it turn out? Let us know:   @thecmonsonpod [email protected] Voicemail: 757-204-5495     Background: Daree's 2022 Colombia vlog

We're giving you all our favorite movies & shows, as well as pop, R&B, hip hop, Dance, Afrobeats and Reggaeton songs released in 2022. What were your faves?   What we loved watching:

• TV & Streaming
• Movies (19:03)

  Songs:

• Pop (23:39)
• R&B (29:03)
• Afrobeats (33:23)
• House (33:48)
• Hip hop (34:46)
• Techno/Electronica/Dance (36:22)
• Latin/Reggaeton (40:34)

  @thecmonsonpod [email protected]   Voicemail: 757-204-5495

Sometimes you make choices in life that others don't understand, like, or support.   Daj thought she would never be able to have her own biological children, and recently made an intentional decision to pursue motherhood without a partner. She shares her fertility journey thus far in this episode. We also talked about societal expectations, why some men become gynecologists, and how she's preparing herself for the inevitable naysayers.

We're back for Season 4 of the C'mon Son podcast, and we did the most this summer! We've got some stories and updates for ya.  

• Summer recap (including first-class treatment) 2:04
• Observations after mom got a scooter 14:38
• A primer on accessibility, disability, and inclusion 22:34

    Resources The social model of disability (infographic) Lakefront Brewery pics on Daree's Instagram UX Content Collective Accessibility course - use the code uxwcadvanced25 for 25% off!

Daj shares an update on her weight loss (92 pounds and counting!), and unexpected physical and practical things she's dealing with during this process.   This is an update from episode 51: https://thecmonsonpod.libsyn.com/we-gon-use-wegovy-for-weight-loss     Reach out at: @thecmonsonpod [email protected] Voicemail: 757-204-5495

Apparently May 21 was National Streaming Day. That's what Roku told us.   We decided to rant about the overwhelming streaming services (and piling fees) we encounter trying to keep with all the entertainment choices out there. The second half of the show is focused on Netflix, the one who started it all.       Reach out at: @thecmonsonpod [email protected] Voicemail: 757-204-5495  

We FINALLY went to Havana, Cuba after a nearly 3-year wait. We're giving you our reflections about the Cuban culture and how life-changing it was to visit this island during the pandemic.     References:

• Friendly Planet
• Blog:
• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Vlog

    Reach out at: @thecmonsonpod [email protected] Voicemail: 757-204-5495

In this episode, we reviewed the recent 2021 TrustRadius report about women in tech from a DEI perspective. We talked about 5 findings about upward mobility for women of color (particularly those who want to be promoted at work, but have too many barriers). We also discussed our personal thoughts about being promoted to management, and what that means for the work we currently enjoy.   References:

• TrustRadius report: https://www.trustradius.com/buyer-blog/women-in-tech-report 
• Productivity concerns working from home (3:40): https://thecmonsonpod.libsyn.com/return-to-work (episode 54)
• Name shame (8:00): https://www.instagram.com/p/CG4uT-LBPUD/

      Reach out at: @thecmonsonpod [email protected] Voicemail: 757-204-5495

Should employers dictate whether to go back to 100% f2f work or a hybrid model? Is it right/ethical to make people get vaxed in order to return to work? Are all those video meetings every day helping our productivity? Do companies actually implement feedback from those mandatory employee surveys?    We discussed all that, and more findings from this nice summary work-from-home report courtesy of HubSpot at https://www.hubspot.com/hubfs/HubSpot%202022%20Hybrid%20Work%20Report_FINAL.pdf   TechEquity Collaborative’s Contract Worker Disparity Project: https://contractwork.techequitycollaborative.org/    

• Resistance to masks and vaccines - 3:04
• The case (and the data) for getting vaccinated - 6:20
• Daree's remote interview experience (17 years remote) - 11:24
• Remote-first companies and the case for remote/hybrid work - 17:22
• HubSpot hybrid work report 19:40
• Microaggressions against Black people & survey feedback about the workplace 22:58
• The effect of multiple video meetings on productivity 31:52

    Reach out at: @thecmonsonpod [email protected] Voicemail: 757-204-5495  

Daree talks about reaching the milestone of 10 years being a published author, and behind the scenes issues with self-publishing lessons learned. She also shares how to bounce back from the fallout from writing an honest memoir, and giving yourself permission to own your own experience regardless of how others feel about your written words.   Reference on where we talked about our 2022 goals: https://thecmonsonpod.libsyn.com/processing-2021-and-beyond  

• So What’s Your Story? http://bit.ly/writeyourmemoir (self-publishing e-course)
• What Does Self-Love Look Like?: 10 Tell-tale Signs
• Self-love worksheet
• Book excerpt and book description
• Original Book Trailer
• Book launch video

Some of Daree's struggles with self-publishing on the Blogger to Author podcast http://bit.ly/2pSMbUQ

Daree talking about book launch parties and other things authors need to know on the Get Published podcast https://getpublishedpodcast.libsyn.com/website/daree-allen-hosting-book-launch-parties

Kickin' it with Daree podcast - http://kickinitwithdaree.com/episode/10th-anniversary-books

    Reach out to us at: @thecmonsonpod [email protected] Voicemail: 757-204-5495