The MultiPod

The MultiPod is now also on video! You can watch today's episode on YouTube here.

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The MultiPod is back, and we've changed.

Discover the new format of our long-running podcast, relaunched with a focus on intention and action.

The MultiPod remains a resource for multipotentialites, a place where we explore topics and themes that get to the heart of this identity and lifestyle.

And we continue to structure our episodes around the stories, offers and gifts of our people: fascinating folks from all walks of life, from around the world, full of inspiration and relatablility.

But, each guest now comes to The MultiPod with a task:

What is (at least) one thing that you would like to connect with somebody about?

It could be their latest business offer, a new rabbit-hole discovery that they want to learn more about, or a long-standing passion that they love to share with others.

Each guest is looking for contact, conversation, feedback and ultimately, connection: the chance to have a meaningful exchange with someone, that goes beyond a like, a share or a sale.

That means that for you, the listener, you now have a call to action as well:

If there is something you hear from our guests that piques your interest, that you would love to converse with them about, reach out!

Send them a message or an email. Follow up and schedule a call. Now you know that they exist; let them know that you're out there too!

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Ok, let's move to the 1st person now: I'm excited to bring The MultiPod back with this renewed vigour and intentionality. It's something I've been stewing on for months, and in true multipotentialite fashion, it needed to find its time and place to become reality. Now, the moment feels right and I'm glad to be back underway.

I will always be thankful to the Puttyverse and Joel Zaslovsky for the tremendous support and encouragement since we started the podcast in January of 2018. Although The MultiPod now shifts away from the Putty umbrella to become something independent and standalone, there will always be strong links and connections to the community. Just not in a formal way. Thank you to Joel for your support in this new direction.

The MultiPod has always intentionally been a team effort, since Day 1, and so it is a strange yet exciting feeling to bring it under a more personalized banner. But my thanks to the many people who have contributed over the past 7+ years: the many guests, guest-hosts, and of course our founding team, Sandrine, Michael and Sara.

But particularly, thanks to Vanessa Hennessey who has been the steady and joyful co-host for so many years. Vanessa will still be around I'm sure, we hope to hear your voice again in an episode whenever it works out. You'll always have a chair here behind the microphone.

Thanks everyone for listening, and watching. You can catch our new episodes coming out on the 1st and 15th of every month, on YouTube and in your favourite podcast app.

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The MultiPod also now has a renewed presence online!

Visit our new website, www.themultipod.com, for more show info, and our entire archive of 111 full episodes, plus bonus episodes and the Everything Conference miniseries.

We also have a new guest application form, where you can send in your ideas for topics and who you would like to meet, and we'll set a recording date!

Meanwhile, I'll be posting clips and updated on Instagram, @tedcraggpodcasting

And, The MultiPod now has a sponsor!

Quick Edit Podcasts

Yes, this is my own podcast production business. But I owe everything to The MultiPod for giving me that foundation in skills and experience in podcasting. Quick Edit Podcasts provides on-demand audio and video production, ideal for one-off episodes, when you don't have time (or feel like) doing the editing yourself.

And we love to produce short-form podcasts, miniseries, seasonal podcasts and other projects that are ideally suited for busy, multitasking multipotentialites!

Visit the website to learn more: www.quickeditpodcasts.com

or book a free 15-minute Quick Call and let's chat about your podcasting idea!

This podcast is a proud member of the Bold Departure Network, a collection of podcasts for those craving an authentic and unconventional life, on their own terms. Discover more of our shows at bolddeparturenetwork.com

Our podcast miniseries comes to an end, with some reflection on the Everything Conference experience, takeaways, calls to action and next steps.

With all the business and routine of getting back to every day life, the Everything Conference may feel like a mirage, a fantasy. Did that really happen? Did I dream it? Or in truth, did it just go by too fast and I didn't take the time to appreciate it? I think I can honestly say that not only have these worries not come true, I feel like we're all actively ensuring that the ETC 2024 is still alive and well. Message threads remain active, online and real life events and get-togethers are being planned, and projects are being discussed, all in that wave of momentum and enthusiasm.  

I review the various conversations of this series, each with distinct angles and perspectives on both the ETC weekend, and multipotentiality in general. My thanks to the friends who sat down with me, either in person or virtually, to share their thoughts:  Thomas Beutel,  Christine Lozada,  Rachel Blanford,  Joel Zaslofsky,  Alyson Wagner,  Heather Ussery-Knight,  Tomoko Ito,  Lindsay Gordon and  Ned Andrew Solomon. There are so many other people I want to talk to, and many I couldn't get into this miniseries. So let's keep that momentum going, podcast-style. Like Alyson said, the door is always open, and let's not dwell on our standardized perception of "time." You could be listening to this 6 months from now or beyond, but if you want to share your story here on 

The MultiPod, please don't hesitate to reach out, if I haven't done so already!   There have been numerous "calls to action" in this series, so I think it's best to recall and highlight them here, all at once. 

1.  Go out there and meet people, nothing compares to meeting folks in person 
2.  Reach out to the guests here, follow and support them, as well as all the members of our extended community 
3.  Join the Puttyverse! It is such a positive and resourceful community for multipotentialites 
4.  Visit Minneapolis-Saint Paul: I hope after this series you have a sense of what the metro area is like, and how much there is to see and do 
5.  Send me your feedback on this miniseries, and The MultiPod in general: what else would you like to hear? What topics, themes or advice would be interesting and useful going forward? 
6.  Start a podcast! Especially a short-form podcast, which may either rejuvenate your love for the medium, or get you started and on your way to years of enjoyment. Don't forget to review the 3-part miniseries on "How to Start a Podcast" that I did with Christine. 
7.  How can I help you with your podcasting: 

My company, Quick Edit Podcasts, does everything from audio production of various detail to podcast trailer, intro and outro production, transcription editing, coaching and direction, and short form podcast production. It is an on-demand service, so order as much as you need, when you need it, with the pricing up-front and no hidden costs.

Visit quickeditpodcasts.com to learn more, book a free call, or send me an email at [email protected] This brings to an end our miniseries, The MultiPod @ the Everything Conference, but you will undoubtedly see more episodes coming up before long with some familiar names and voices. They'll likely slot back into the regular episode feed.   My goal was to bring all of us along to the Everything Conference, particularly those who weren't able to make it.   But I've realized just as much in putting this miniseries together that it also brings 

me back to that magical weekend, something I'm very thankful for. And I hope for those of us who were there, you're feeling the same.   The MultiPod @ the Everything Conference miniseries © Quick Edit Podcasts, 2024 Production and original music by Ted Cragg   ---- Stream more episodes of The MultiPod on our site, on YouTube, or or on your favourite podcast app.

Our initial ETC series comes to a conclusion with a conversation with the one and only Ned Andrew Solomon, whose life is a wonderful example to multipotentialites, and who was a delightful addition to the Everything Conference.   Ned came with his wife Gina Lynette, a familiar friend to those of us in the Puttyverse and/or at the first ETC. It was an easy ask to get Ned Andrew to come along to this year's conference.   Once we get past some initial existentialist comparison regarding our names, we quickly get into Ned's winding path of interest jobs, make-ends-meet jobs, and ultimately a great Einstein job that gave the family stability and security, while allowing him time and resources to pursue interests like writing and visual art, but his greatest passion is music. Something we both share.   This conversation alone was fun to geek out on some of our favourite recording artists and inspirations, including a few from Canada, and if you're a fan of folk rock, jazz rock, prog rock and more, you'll be hooked right in, just like a great Walter Becker/Donald Fagen chord progression.   We cover: 

•  What brought Ned from New York City to Nashville, via Baltimore, and the many twists along the way 
•  The idea of how although multipotentialites have many interests and even passions, often there's one or two that stand out and stick throughout our lives 
•  The music scene in Nashville, and whether local audiences prefer to hear original material or good cover bands 
•  Meeting so many intelligent, creative and welcoming people at the ETC 

  Tips include: 

•  Advice for getting back into old passions, and picking up where you left off 
•  Finding motivation and purpose in the face of tremendous, life-changing obstacles 
•  Looking at your life to realize you're a multipotentialite too 

  No matter what he was doing or where life has taken him, including with his recent diagnosis of vascular dementia, Ned has always come back to the music. He's a gifted songwriter and guitarist, but he had to completely reteach himself guitar just over the past year or so.   It's hard to imagine the shock and frustration of not being able to remember lyrics, chord shapes or fingering, things you've done your whole life.   Fortunately, Ned and Gina found a surprising solution that's got him back on track, playing writing and even recording, and we share some of his music here in this episode.   Encouragement links:   nedandrewsolomon.com Ned Andrew Solomon on YouTube Blue Night Blue, the full track (excerpt at the end of this episode)  The Legacy Music Project, Ned's gift of song A Step Along the Way, Ned's LP album from 2012   Photo Credit: Vanessa Tharp   The MultiPod @ the Everything Conference miniseries © Quick Edit Podcasts, 2024 Production and original music by Ted Cragg   ---- Stream more episodes of The MultiPod on our site, on YouTube, or or on your favourite podcast app.

Little did I know that just a couple weeks before the Everything Conference, Lindsay Gordon herself was in Montreal for a visit, just up the road from my little town. So our conversation today launches straight into the French language, the experience of English speakers when visiting (particularly the different experience between Americans and English Canadians when in Montreal), and how the French in Québec is different from that in France.   And Lindsay in fact spent a year in Belgium way back when, who have their own dialectical differences.   That was just the prelude to our conversation. I do a quick run down of Lindsay's various experiences, jobs and projects, going by the fabulous multipotentialite-friendly About page on her website. This starts about 9 minutes in, if you want to bookmark it. Let's just say, it's all over the place, and it's amazing.   So what happens when someone like Lindsay, who is grudgingly accustomed to deflecting and explaining her life choices to those who love to critique, gets to an Everything Conference, surrounded by people with a similar life story?   You don't have to explain. Just be.   We cover: 

•  Whether Lindsay's career coaching business is marketed towards multipotentialites, or if they simply gravitate her way 
•  We're at a solid, running theme now of folks finding a second wind for those interests and projects they had set aside, or even forgotten about, but which now feel reenergized thanks to this weekend 
•  Publishing a book, or a short-form podcast, and how that gives you an anchor for your brand and identity for years 
•  The thought that Las Vegas, Lindsay's adopted home town, might just be a perfect place for multipotentialites, and a place we should consider for a future group meetup 

  Tips include: 

•  How to integrate two completely unrelated interests into one business, or at least a regular schedule 
•  Creative ideas on promoting a major project, in Lindsay's case her book, to stand out and have fun simultaneously 
•  Learning what's "Right for You" and making decisions that bring us happiness, fulfillment and a healthy work life balance 

  To celebrate the book launch in 2022, Lindsay came up with the idea of doing a YouTube live stream, telethon-style, where people could actually call in with special pledges, the milestones of which would be celebrated by a change of outfits. It's original and hilarious, and veterans of the first Everything Conference, the first Camp Indie, and many other similar events will recognize a familiar face in the background!   Encouragement links: A Life of Options, Lindsay's career coaching business Lindsay's About page, a case study for multipotentialites Lindsay on LinkedIn "Right for You," the book (Amazon) The YouTube live stream that launched the book   Photo credit: Lindsay Gordon   The MultiPod @ the Everything Conference miniseries © Quick Edit Podcasts, 2024 Production and original music by Ted Cragg   ---- Stream more episodes of The MultiPod on our site, on YouTube, or or on your favourite podcast app.

I crossed paths with Tomoko Ito at the Everything Conference, but not as much as I had hoped to, so The MultiPod comes to the rescue again with a chance to follow up with each other and record a conversation.   Tomoko is now back home in the LA area, where she maintains strong connections to her native Japan. I wasn't aware that she is a business coach for Japanese multipotentialites, which raised some interesting questions and curiosity about how multipotentiality is viewed and understood in Japan, if there are strong cultural differences between Japan and North America, at least, and how people adapt over there.   Tomoko is very well-placed to observe the contrasts on either side of the Pacific ocean, and we dove right into it (after another quick shout out to the brag bags and their lasting impact).   We cover: 

•  Is there as much pressure in Japan as anywhere else to specialize and commit to that one career 
•  How we each pursue our multiple interests, and the fact that it doesn't always have to be for money 
•  Poetry and baking as a couple activities Tomoko's pursued in the last little while, regardless of there being any money involved in it 
•  Toying with an idea for a YouTube channel that does virtual tours of the world, via Google Maps, Streetview etc. If you caught Episode 3 of this series where I showed some of the neighbourhoods and highlights of Minneapolis and St Paul, you'll get an idea of what it would be like 

  Tips include: 

•  Considering the side-hustle approach to gain anything from extra income to skills and experience 
•  Letting go of the pressure to make money from your interests can be a tremendous release, if it makes sense to do so 
•  The benefits of the Offers & Needs exchange, which remains something available to all, not just those who were there at the in-person networking session 
•  Setting yourself up for success, but equally only starting a project from a place of fun and enjoyment 

  On the subject of Offers & Needs, as I said to Tomoko, if it's something you'd like to organize for your own community or network, I'm happy to help give you some direction and overview as to how it works. Just send me an email at [email protected]   Encouragement links:   tomokoito.com Tomoko on Instagram   Photo credit: Jeff Brumley   The MultiPod @ the Everything Conference miniseries © Quick Edit Podcasts, 2024 Production and original music by Ted Cragg   ---- Stream more episodes of The MultiPod on our site, on YouTube, or or on your favourite podcast app.

I've known Heather U-K for over 7 years, she predates me in the Puttyverse by about a year and a half. She's been on the podcast a couple times, we cross paths in huddles and online Offers & Needs Markets, and various groups and discussions.   In fact, we've "known" each other so long that it almost felt like we had already met! But of course, this was another one of those goosebump moments: seeing Heather herself walk in, right there in front of me. She's taller than I expected!   Heather and I hung out a bit over the course of the weekend, attended a couple workshops together, I showed her over to a fabulous secret coffee shop on Friday before it closed for the weekend (she bought me a latte, cheers).   She was there at pickleball and at the delightful Persian restaurant around the corner from the Mac that Joel introduced us all to. That place almost became a second home by Sunday night.   We decided to wait to record something from back home, another example of making the most of our time in the moment and be present with the people around us. Plus some time to reflect on the weekend and our thoughts therein.   We cover: 

•  How the ETC has helped us reconnect with past interests 
•  Getting back into routines and injecting new life into old projects 
•  The importance of meeting in person for building stronger relationships 
•  The experience of meeting online first and then maintaining the connection in person, and how that changes a relationship 

  Tips include: 

•  How to recognize the right level of trust with someone, in a particular moment 
•  Telling and retelling the story of the ETC to those we see in person, which keeps the experience alive 
•  How the Everything Conference is helping to break down barriers to momentum and recognize the projects we want to prioritize   

On the outside, it may seem like all those deep connections came together very quickly. But Heather and I reflect on how there's a progression over time towards having deeper conversations. Each relationship has its own levels of trust and comfort, but I think there's also a loving degree of joy and empathy amongst us too.   Encouragement links:   Heather's website, Lizard Dreaming Heather on LinkedIn https://gotfiero.com/writing   Photo credit: Thomas Beutel   The MultiPod @ the Everything Conference miniseries © Quick Edit Podcasts, 2024 Production and original music by Ted Cragg   ---- Stream more episodes of The MultiPod on our site, on YouTube, or or on your favourite podcast app.

Our series switches now a bit to the post-ETC reality: back home, back to regular routines and just trying to preserve as much of that wonderful spirit as possible.   On the plus side, the audio experience will be much better... I was a little disappointed with the quality of the lavalier lapel mics I bought before the conference, they sounded far more muffled and dampened than they should have. Tech and equipment can be a little hit and miss sometimes, but we can just keep testing and learning for the future. My thanks again to Jeff Long for his help and expertise with the audio repair.   Alyson Wagner has been a member of the Puttyverse, but someone I haven't crossed paths with very much, whether digitally or in person. We made a point though to connect after the conference on The MultiPod, and reflect on the shared experience.   Alyson was at the first ETC, and is well-positioned to talk about basking in the warm energy afterwards through texts and notes, and trying to hold onto the momentum and energy after returning home. There are a number of folks she has kept in touch with over the past 5 years, while carrying on with regular responsibilities and routines, not knowing if they would ever meet in person again.   But you have to express a willingness to keep in touch with people met at conferences, and let go of that pressure to communicate frequently.   We cover: 

•  How being at the 2nd ETC felt like a "reverse family reunion," seeing old friends again in person 
•  Absorbing so much energy and socializing, and then going back to your room later to thoughtfully process it all 
•  How physical keepsakes and handwritten notes also go a long way to maintaining connection 
•  Contrasting the conference experience with everyday life, normal "Chronos time" vs. "Kairos time," where time slows down and has a different perception 

  Tips include: 

•  The importance of simply keeping doors open to staying in touch 
•  Alyson's suggestion of creating a scrapbook for the notes she received 
•  Keeping up with people online and their activities, and actively showing them support 
•  Embracing the momentum of ideas and enthusiasm for projects, both new and old 

  One great way to keep up with Alyson and what she's up to is her newsletter, Snail Steps, which shares practices for slowing down and creating meaning in life. Alyson helps you find intentional moments to pause and reflect, and encourage others in this practice too.   Encouragement links:   Snail Steps newsletter alysonwagner.com Alyson on Instagram Alyson on LinkedIn   Photo credit: Alyson Wagner   The MultiPod @ the Everything Conference miniseries © Quick Edit Podcasts, 2024 Production and original music by Ted Cragg   ---- Stream more episodes of The MultiPod on our site, on YouTube, or or on your favourite podcast app.

Today is Sunday, August 4th. The Everything Conference has just come to an end. 

Or, has it?

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Yes, we are heading home, or on to our next destination, tomorrow. But in this episode of reflection, post-ETC, I sit down in a quiet corner of the University of Minnesota campus, around 10 o'clock at night, crickets chirping and a gentle breeze blowing past, to start the process of reflection. 

One can only comprehend so much, so quickly, after an intense and emotional weekend such as this. But that in turn may be a reason why the Everything Conference spirit will continue in earnest, even though we will no longer be together physically.

Our challenge is to maintain this momentum and connection, and I think the podcast can play a role in helping us achieve that.

But first, enjoy the ambience and quiet calmness of this final evening; a last, live, spontaneous capture of the moment.

There will already be lots more to come: interviews and conversations recorded on-site, ambient sounds and quirky features of Minneapolis, and undoubtedly follow-up recordings over the days ahead, all of which to be shared with you here, on The MultiPod.

Thanks for joining me, and joining us. Believe me when I say, you have been there in spirit.

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The MultiPod @ the Everything Conference miniseries © Quick Edit Podcasts, 2024 Production and original music by Ted Cragg   ---- Stream more episodes of The MultiPod on our site, on YouTube, or or on your favourite podcast app.

One of the highlights of the Everything Conference for me was to be able to sit down, in person, with Joel Zaslofsky and record a podcast episode together.   We had in fact met already, just over a year ago when he and his wife Melinda came to Montreal, and I popped into town for the better part of a day. We had lunch and explored the city a bit, but it wasn't the best moment to do any recording.   So this time, we made sure to make it happen.   I have Joel to thank for getting me set up in podcasting in the first place, way back in 2017 when I asked him if we could start a podcast for the Puttyverse. Joel had already been podcasting for years at that point, and gave a few of us a crash course in audio editing, podcast hosting setup, planning and structure, all the systems you can imagine. We then launched The MultiPod in January, 2018, and here we are, 6.5 years later, still going strong.   Our theme for today's conversation had to be the Everything Conference itself, and Joel's perspective as one of the hosts and organizers. The ETC came together thanks to the collective efforts of Joel, Cory Huff and Vanessa Tharp, but as the local amongst the three, having highlighted and spearheaded choosing this venue in particular, I was curious to get Joel's take on how it's turned out.   We cover: 

•  Balancing spontaneity and structure when facilitating events 
•  Watching joyful experiences and conversations among participants 
•  Recognizing when things are running smoothly, people are enjoying themselves and it's time to just step back and observe 
•  Witnessing acts of bravery and vulnerability from attendees 
•  The scarcity of similar events, and the importance of meeting in person 

  Tips include: 

•  How to facilitate events 
•  Getting the right mindset on financial realities, coupled in this case with the lack of focus on making money 
•  Understanding the time commitment and the extensive preparation required 
•  How to build an event that allow people to step out of their comfort zones 

  As an introvert, I appreciate yet marvel on how extroverts feed off the energy of people. Can even Joel ever get to overload status? Maybe!   Finally, we talk about finding further opportunities, and the collective effort I think we are all capable of making to organize get-togethers in the future.   For my part, I will state again here and for the record: come visit in Québec! I'm just over an hour outside of Montréal, an hour and a half north of Vermont. We have a spare room, central location and a pool. Come explore, practice your French and say hello!   Encouragement links:   joelzaslofsky.com/ Joel on LinkedIn Information on Offers & Needs Markets, including the Facilitator Guide   My thanks to Jeff Long for his help with audio repair and processing for this episode. You can find him here at Zigzag Along with Deana & Jeff   Photo credit: Joel Zaslofsky   The MultiPod @ the Everything Conference miniseries © Quick Edit Podcasts, 2024 Production and original music by Ted Cragg   ---- Stream more episodes of The MultiPod on our site, on YouTube, or or on your favourite podcast app.

  Our next episode dives into our host city, or I should probably say cities: Minneapolis-St. Paul. Now, technically we are in Minneapolis for the Everything Conference, as the McNamara Center is on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis (side note I don't know if I've ever seen so many Ms and Ns in one place as over this weekend).   But are we obligated to mention St. Paul at least at some point whenever we mention Minneapolis? Or just say "Twin Cities"? Does the other one feel left out otherwise?   In order to sort this out, one must talk to a local. We are blessed to have quite a few in attendance this weekend, and for this conversation I reached out to my friend and Minneapolis native Rachel Blanford, who I know from the Location Indie community and whom I had already met twice! in person, at Camp Indie in Connecticut the past two years.   It would have been in 2023 therefore when Rachel said, as she is wont to do, "You should come visit in Minneapolis, I'll show you around." Of course, I said, "Sure," but what were the odds that would happen any time soon?   Turns out, pretty good.   Here we are just over a year later, sitting down in the living room of a beautiful Vrbo rented house, with Becca, Josh, Lindsay, Cory, Rachel A., Annie, David and Dustin all milling around in the background.   We cover: 

•  Do citizens of both intermingle and go between? Or mostly keep to one or the other? 
•  How the Twin Cities have both pursued wonderful cleanliness and beautification schemes, from parks and public spaces to public art and murals initiatives 
•  How the banks of the Mississippi have been largely de-industrialized and returned to green space and nature, which is lovely to see. 
•  The feel of the city (does it feel "big" to a local?), population and diversity, and the Twin Cities' influence on the midwest and the country as a whole 

  Tips include: 

•  It's a metropolitan area that punches above its weight. See how many influences, cultural, economic and political, you can come up with 
•  Subtle art installations and effects to look out for when you visit 
•  Where to find the giant murals of Prince and Bob Dylan, amongst others 
•  Check out one of the many theatres and auditoriums when you visit, especially in winter 

  Minneapolis/St. Paul is like a hybrid between the big cities of Chicago, LA or New York, with their cultural influence, yet far more than just another Midwest city. It's a place that has certainly had, and continues to make, an impact.   And by the time you finish this episode, you should know what to call a local: Minneapolitaniter. I think.   Encouragement links: 

• Rachel's VA business website
• Rachel on Instagram

My thanks to Jeff Long for his help with audio repair and processing for this episode. You can find him here at Zigzag Along with Deana & Jeff   Photo credit: Rachel Blanford   The MultiPod @ the Everything Conference miniseries © Quick Edit Podcasts, 2024 Production and original music by Ted Cragg   ---- Stream more episodes of The MultiPod on our site, on YouTube, or or on your favourite podcast app.