The Armen Show

When you think of a corporation, you think of its products and services, but in the case of Samsung, its history is connected to families, dynasties, and its tie to the economic prosperity of South Korea. In Samsung Rising: The Inside Story of the South Korean Giant That Set Out to Beat Apple and Conquer Tech, author Geoffrey Cain discusses the people involved and the path taken by the large entity known as Samsung.

Geoffrey Cain serves as a skilled foreign correspondent, author, commentator, anthropologist and scholar of East and Central Asia. He was a former correspondent at The Economist, and is a regular commentator in The Wall Street Journal, Time, and The New Republic, and a frequent guest on CNN, MSNBC, BBC and Bloomberg. He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Show notes:

• how Samsung is connected to the country of South Korea in more ways than being a corporation
• the interest behind writing this book and getting into the company structure
• what it was like interviewing a variety of people inside the company
• some ways that Samsung had to compete with Apple, and continues to do so, while also cooperating in some capacity
• the way that Samsung is different from a large company in the US
• some of the features or releases that impacted the growth of Samsung
• and more

You can check out Geoffrey on his website, Twitter, or see Samsung Rising on Amazon.

There are a select few individuals who have gone through such a recent moment of intensity and pressure as Dr. Maryam Baqir, M.B.B.S., of Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. As Covid-19 cases quickly ramped up in the epicenter of the virus, doctors like her began to respond to an onslaught of cases that turned hospitals into treatment zones far more packed and adaptive than would be the case in calmer times.

Dr. Baqir specializes in Internal Medicine, and received her medical/surgical degrees from Aga Khan University in Pakistan. She grew up in Karachi, though she was born in Tehran, Iran (similar to myself). We met in Manhattan, along with her companion Shan of episode 258. Our discussion in this episode involved much about her recent experience, life messages we both understand and take note of, and a deeper view of what an active response to life challenges looks like. Much was shared and expressed.

Show notes:

• how she got into this career path, and what it means to her at this time
• what it is like to live in the area of Brooklyn, and how Dr. Baqir got there
• the difference in culture between Pakistan and the US
• what the response to coronavirus entailed on its initial run-through
• how the hospital had to adjust in order to be able to treat all the new patients of one specific condition
• processing what occurred, and what the main issues were in relation to the virus, as far as equipment/resources
• the feel of the patients, and what it is/was like for them getting treatment from individuals behind masks and shields
• empathy shared with patients and their families in a time of anguish
• seeing trucks show up because of the out-flux of those who passed away
• healthcare workers deciding whether or not to self-quarantine at their home
• some of the impacts of in-hospital aerosolization of the virus
• fighting for patients for an extensive period of time, and decisions a doctor has to make along the way
• how procedure priorities were changed at the hospital, and how doctors were switched from their specialty to tackling the current epidemic
• the influx of volunteers from around the country to Dr. Baqir’s hospital, among others, in order to meet the response requirements
• connection/unity between healthcare workers on a shared mission
• resilience and strength shown in various stories of the moment
• how some of the responses to the pandemic were come up with on the spot, or served as an impromptu training
• some of the improvements that have been arrived at through these few months of trials and understanding in relation to the virus
• comparing symptoms of individuals in similar proximity, and noting differences
• use or non-use of shame as a response to public hygiene/safety habits, such as the use of a mask
• some of the growth felt by Dr. Baqir during these months
• the value of human compassion, and the difference that makes in care
• a range of emotions that you feel during an intense experience, and not holding back on showing/expressing them
• the concept of not living while being alive, and accepting mortality
• preparing for end-of-life care before it gets to an emergency situation
• the passing of Maimonides Medical Center Chief of Medicine Dr. Stephan Kamholz due to Covid-19, and his career and impact
• a closing message for all people

It was wonderful to have Dr. Baqir on the show. We were able to cover her experience and related life messages in a free-flowing and spontaneous discussion full of detail. You can follow her on Twitter at @MaryamBaqir.

We breathe our way through the day, with 25000 breaths taking place each time. How you breathe, and the ripple effects of that habit, effects much of your waking day. Author and journalist James Nestor takes us through this information in his book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art.

James has written for many publications, including Scientific American, the San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and many more. His previous book was titled Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves.

Show notes:

• some of the differences between mouth-breathing and nasal-breathing
• how the way you breathe can impact your health and well-being
• changes in physiology that can result from each type of breathing
• the history of breathing from long ago
• and more

It was good to have James on the show. You can check out Breath on Amazon.

Physical therapist and content creator Brian Dy joins us again on episode 266 of the show. He previously took part on episode 223, and returns now with a collection of content on his YouTube channel.

Being a content creator involves a lot of editing, researching, and more.

Show notes:

• finding your voice, and what that means
• why collaboration with others is a good idea
• thoughts on Brian and his content production plans

Glad to have Brian on the show.

We live through chapters, as though we are a book. In episode 265, I talk about this concept, how we must take advantage of the key moments when we sense them, and what kind of predictive nature we live through

Our book is being written, and we write it with key parts that matter to us, and we leave out all the rest that doesn’t bring us to life.

Welcome to episode 264, with a return to our roots of the host discussing a topic or two, along with a stream of consciousness. This one involves breaking things down into parts, or phases, and what it takes to make your world bigger.

Your world is the stuff right around you, whether it be your table, or your vehicle, or the energy around you. Adjusting these items can come from a focus on them, and this concept is discussed in the episode.

There are few things more valuable than regular walking and activity in this pandemical time of 2020, and neuroscientist Professor Shane O’Mara brings us the value and basis of walking in episode 263. We discuss his latest book In Praise Of Walking: The New Science of how We Walk, and why Its Good for Us.

Professor O’Mara is Professor of Experimental Brain Research at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. He explores brain systems, memory, cognition, behavior, and organizations. He got his DPhil from the University of Oxford, and currently does work for the Institute of Neuroscience at Trinity. He has also written past books Why Torture Doesn’t Work, and A Brain for Business.

Show notes:

• how Professor O’Mara got into the field of brain research
• brain regions, and specifically the subiculum, and how each one can be relevant to the brain as a whole
• the value of walking, and what it brings to the table for personal health
• the way that we are walking minds, with the body connected below the brain heading the whole framework
• impact on creativity that comes from walking times, whether during or after
• some cities that have good walkability, and what walking value means for cities and their further development
• our mental map of where we are and where we are going, through the activity of walking, or even for planning out our life
• the value of journaling, and how it can put our time together into a map
• how walking doesn’t lead to the same kinds of damage that regular running does
• some researchers Professor O’Mara has liked, included Dr. Robert Sapolsky

Glad to have Shane on the show – you can check out his material on his website, his article in The Guardian, or his latest book on Amazon.

Welcome Professor Matthew Cobb of the University of Manchester, author of The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience, to episode 262 of the show. His latest book is about the history of neuroscience, and its recent roots, and how that develops the idea of the brain, while our current understanding of the brain is still very limited. Inspirations come from other researchers, as well as Danish scientist Nicolas Steno of the 17th century.

Professor Cobb is is Professor of Zoology at the University of Manchester, and got his Ph.D. in Psychology and Genetics from the University of Sheffield in England. He had a postdoctoral position at the Institute of Psychiatry in London. Others books of his include The Egg & Sperm Race and Life’s Greatest Secret: The Race to Crack the Genetic Code. He has studied animal behavior, human psychology, science history, and more.

Show notes:

• how Professor Cobb got into the study of the mind, neuroscience, and fly larvae growth and processes
• the way that Nicolas Steno informed the way Professor Cobb looks at the mind
• the reductionist view, and how it does not allow for picking up on information regarding detailed nuance
• his upcoming book on smell, and how that relates to the virus of our current pandemic, with its attachment to smell receptors
• how one structure of the brain is not alone in processing information, separate from other regions of the brain
• Eve Marder, and her study on the small number of neurons in the lobster’s stomach, with associated models of these neurons
• research in the field done in Manchester and the UK region
• fly maggots and their neurons, as well as the priorities that their narrow neural system requires
• how maggots have biological clocks in the same light as humans and other animals
• replacement of neurons and memories in small animals
• being skeptical of science that has come before, versus going with the research that has been read (question inspired by Professor Cobb’s recent interview with past interviewee Michael Shermer)
• a message for all

It was good to have Professor Cobb on the show. You can check out The Idea of the Brain on Amazon, his upcoming book Smell with Oxford University Press, follow on Twitter @MatthewCobb, or look at his academic biography.

Welcome Emma Rose Bienvenu, attorney, L.L.M., and Master of Finance and Economics, to episode 261 of the show. I came upon Emma through her article on Medium’s Marker business subsection, entitled “7 Predictions for a Post-Coronavirus World“. The article details the path that our world can take in upcoming months and years, based on the pandemic, and provides insight into elements we can all benefit from examining.

In her own work, Emma is focused on international trade, commerce, finance, and technology. She has worked in global asset management, public and private mergers and acquisitions, and international arbitration. She has an L.L.M. from U Penn Law and Wharton, a J.D. from McGill, and a Master of Economics and Finance from Sciences Po in Paris. Her experiences have taken her through many regions, including Hong Kong, London, France, and her current region of Quebec. She brings her depth and expertise to the table in our discussion.

Show notes:

• Emma’s background, and some of her career accomplishments
• how Emma has ended up more in the legal field, from a family of lawyers, and where she contributes in the category of law
• what Emma wrote about international arbitration, which was included in a multi-page international law textbook excerpt, along with an example
• places lived in by Emma, including France, Hong Kong, London, and more
• her article “7 Predictions for a Post-Coronavirus World”
• how e-commerce, delivery, and related services will take off following the pandemic (“bits and boxes”, as put succinctly by Emma)
• where Esports will go based on the momentary push into the virtual world
• the way that some work will be unable to go remote, whereas those tasks that could be done remotely will be impelled to that direction
• changes to manufacturing that have room to develop
• how time is being saved through the non-commute and lack of unsubstantiated work time
• where seminars and online learning can go, or what the default may become
• impact on supply chains globally, and how there is a balance between efficiency and resiliency
• how countries benefit by relying on each other
• the ways that surveillance will increase, with its publicity based on protecting people and their health
• depth of cooperation between nations that can be established in coming years, as required to have a functional response
• illumination of societal dynamics, and Quebec’s quick ability to unite for a common goal
• relevance of placing value on experts, as opposed to those not as apt in a field
• risk-taking, as associated with business in relation to government
• value of being bilingual, and its connection to personality or growth
• qualities that Emma finds to be valuable in colleagues, and a message to all people about their own ability

It was wonderful to have Emma on the show, and you can follow her on social such as Medium, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Feel free to check out her article at 7 Predictions for a Post-Coronavirus World. To more great content~.

Handling the stages of grief after a loss is challenging, but grief therapist and author Claire Bidwell Smith brings her knowledge and experience to the table in this category with her latest book Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief. In it, Claire details how one can handle the anxiety that is associated with a loss. She lost her mother and father to cancer by the time she had turned 25, bringing about a level of understanding normally reserved for those at a much later time in their lives.

Claire has written multiple books, including The Rules of Inheritance and After This: When Life Is Over, Where Do We Go? As an author, speaker, and grief expert, she has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, The Guardian, and many more publications. She has a Master’s Degree from Antioch University.

Show notes:

• how to deal with the loss of loved ones, whether from family or friends
• why anxiety is one of the key stages of grief to be addressed
• some of Claire’s story regarding how she got to be a grief therapist
• what kinds of issues she normally helps clients with
• what people are currently facing in New York and other regions due to the epidemic, and how they can better handle end-of-life management
• the way to prepare for a loss prior to it being a huge issue

You can check out Claire on her website, Instagram @clairebidwellsmith, or on Amazon for her book. Glad to have her on~.