I'm back from a Short Gal pause:

• International Podcast Day
• The impetus behind my podcast
• Podfest Multimedia Expo
• She Podcasts
• Adobe Audition
• ATR2100
• Focusrite 2i2
• Libsyn: podcast hosting
• Ecamm
• High performers
• What's next...
• Where to listen to podcasts
• The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary
• Find me on Twitter @FabianaLowe or drop me a line at [email protected]

The Short Gal is back after a much needed break. Episode 010 is all about documentary filmmaking. I had the pleasure of interviewing Niel Guilarte, an award-winning producer, director and editor from the Tampa Bay and Orlando area about The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary. - What the Short Gal has been up to [00:03] - About this episode [00:43] - About The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary [00:50] - About the creator and executive producer, Chris Krimitsos [01:02] - About my guest, Niel Guilarte [01:12]

• Wildstyle Media
• All Things Post Podcast

- Podfest 2017 [02:00] - Pre-order The Messengers - About the documentary [04:00] - Story behind the documentary [06:02] - Pre-production of The Messengers [08:00] - Production equipment [10:35] - Canon T.2.1 - Canon 60D - Blackmagic 4K - Tascam DR60D Recorder - Rode Wireless Kit - Audio production [12:00] - Drone DJI Phantom 4 [14:10] - Music selection [15:54] - Apple library - Audiojungle extended license tracks - Anecdotes from the various locations [18:36] - Podcast on behind the scenes of documentary [20:50] - Dave Jackson, School of Podcasting - Difficult times during filming [21:55] - Inspiration to start The Short Gal Show [24:24] - About the joys of podcasting [26:45] - The All Things Post community - Post-production equipment [33:10] - FCPX - Advice for aspiring documentary filmmaking - Distribution [40:00] - Amazon and Netflix [41:46] - Flipping the microphones next week

This episode offers some advice and insights on business travel. The Short Gal will offer her very own tips to make domestic business travel more tolerable and enjoyable. She will later interview Tammy Robbins about her own experiences traveling for work.

• About the Short Gal’s business travel experience and some random memories [00:40]
• The Short Gal’s business travel system/planning [01:56]
  1. What to wear and pack
  2. Luggage and bundling packing
  3. Use what hotels offer
  4. Getting in and out of cities
  5. Getting some sleep on planes
  6. Loyalty programs
  7. TSA Precheck and Global Entry
  8. What the Short Gal does on planes
  9. Dealing with time zones
  10. Routines while traveling
  11. Eating while traveling
• About Tammy Robbins [06:25]
• About Shriners Hospitals for Children
• Traveling through the Midwest [07:38]
• Tammy’s planning and the importance of bringing comfortable shoes [10:29]
• Favorite business destinations [14:04]
• Staying in cities to see friends [16:18]
• Tammy’s habits when traveling [17:15]
• Interesting story on a Southwest flight [21:48]
• Packing tips [27:00]
• Travel tips [28:38]
• Technique to calm and center oneself while traveling [30:12]
• Upcoming bus trip with patients from Shriners Hospitals for Children [31:25]

• The Short Gal’s background in language teaching [1:46]
• Childhood as the best time to learn a language [2:20]
• Benefits of language learning according to the Business Insider [2:52]
• Swedish study on neuroscience regarding language learning [3:31]
• Benefits of language learning explained by the Short Gal [3:51]
• About, guest Bill Yanson [5:20]
• What is philology [6:19]
• Yanson’s background in languages and philology [8:45]
• Yanson’s fluency in Latin and German [9:22]
• Cultural implications of learning a language [11:22]
• Cultural prejudices of learning a language [12:52]
• Richness of culture in Spanish [18:26]
• Old learning methods [20:15]
• Immersion as a method for learning [24:37]
• The worst time to learn a language [28:43]
• Myths of learning a language as an adult [32:31]
• Online resources available [34:19]
• Yanson’s tips for language learning [39:40]
• The Short Gal’s steps to learn a new language [41:43]

On this episode I talk about my own challenges with a mind that has always been driven to distraction and what has helped me focus and be in the moment.  I tell you here a little bit about my experience with ADHD and other techniques I apply to this day.

• Disclaimer: I am not your doctor [ 00:49]
• ADHD [01:50]

Actionable items to avoid distraction:

1. Meditation and mindfulness [04:53]
   • SATANAMA meditation [06:03]
2. Creative distraction [06:58]
3. Appreciation using a rosary [07:25]
4. Task batching [07:50]
   • Tony Robbins
   • Tim Ferriss
5. Working one-on-one with an expert [08:22]
6. List making [08:37]

• Some pros of having a distractible mind [08:45]
• Headspace app [09:30]

Episode 006: Interview with Pilar Ortiz: Change, Reinvention, Entrepreneurship and Personal Growth Pilar is a successful bilingual (Spanish/English) international TV host, spokesperson and speaker. As an experienced journalist, she has left her mark as news director and anchor for Univision, participation in Telemundo and CNN Latino. Also, she has been chosen to co-host the Voices of Experience for National Speaker Association (NSA). She is the first Hispanic Female to be hosting the podcast. She is a former president of Hispanic Professional Women’s Association, a mentor of up and coming leaders and a member of the NSA. As a speaker she delivers keynotes, workshops and trainings. She is originally from Colombia.

• About Pilar and her background on television [3:36]
• Facing sudden change in her professional career [5:07]
• Next steps after sudden change and finding opportunities [6:07]
• On being doubtful about starting her own business and getting to the realization that this was limiting [8:46]
• On trusting the process [9:31]
• Shifting the focus on who is going to make the change and her inner dialogue [9:54]
• Changes in her routine and reality [11:19]
• Tapping on other skills and believing she could take the next step [12:44]
• Pilar’s typical day and new habits: mindfulness and being in alignment [13:34]
• On not going back to the news business [14:58]
• Her thoughts on a limited mindset [15:46]
• Pains and challenges of being an entrepreneur and how she faces these challenges [17:13]
• On not dealing with fear [18:39]
• On covering Pablo Escobar’s death as a new reporter in Colombia and lessons on focusing on opportunities [20:30]
• On the fear of change [24:20]
• On making small consistent changes [25:20]
• On being careful with words [24:40]
• On not focusing on fear and on following the steps of others who have done something before [25:24]
• Reinvention and growth [29:13]
• On learning the steps to becoming an entrepreneur and constant reinventions [30:29]
• New reinventions: retreats and online programs for her business [32:33]
• The importance of putting health first [36:15]
• On losing weight to improve her health and be an example for her clients on goal-setting [36:45]
• On the teachings from the book * “The Four Agreements” [41:09]
• On taking control of her calendar [42:23]
• Techniques to say no [45:10]
• Other techniques and weekly information via email, visit PilarOrtiz.com [50:08]
• Books that she recommends * [51:06]
  • Influence
  • Now, Discover your Strengths
  • Unlimited Power
  • A Leader’s Gift
• On multitasking [54:04]
• On confidence [54:54]
• What she would tell her younger self [57:16]
• Appreciation [59:43]
• 5 valuable tips from a high performer [1:00:42]
  • Appreciation
  • Enjoy the journey
  • Meditate
  • Take the power back
  • Believe in a bigger plan
• Connect with Pilar on social media or through her website [1:04:37]

*The Short Gal Show is not sponsored by Amazon.com

I truly love technology and those who know me well, know that I enjoy the world of zeros and ones and devices and I cannot deny that I love video production gear. The challenge really comes when looking or researching technology becomes a source of great anxiety and creates a sense of wanting to get the latest and the newest all the time. It also creates a sense of competition and to go to extremes, a little bit of an addiction of getting new gear. I don’t have an addiction to buying clothes or shoes but boy, I love a new gadget.

• On being an early adopter of technology [1:17]
• Result of the Stress in America, Coping with Change from the American Psychological Association [2:23]
• My own experience with getting technology [3:38]

1. Technology is inevitably a part of everyone’s day to day activities. There is no going back on this
2. It’s part of my job to stay current with computer technology and audio and video equipment as well as mobile technology.
3. Recently we heard the announcement from Apple about the new iMac coming out in December.
4. I have gotten really tired of getting stuck in the hamster wheel of buying new gear but for those in the audio/visual industry.
5. This changing world creates perceived needs through great marketing from big brands that make you believe that you need to upgrade when in fact, sometimes the changes in the new upgraded product are not significant.
6. The amount of waste that is generated by old technology is not helping mother earth so this is another thought that I keep in mind.
7. Some of the things that I look at regularly look at are: cameras, lenses, camera accessories, computers, VR technology, drones, wearable technology… video technology in general

• What I’m doing to keep my desire to buy technology in check – 10 tips [5:35]

1. Unsubscribe from store email blasts.
2. Delete all Amazon suggestions, in the same vein as point #1
3. Do you suffer from some serious gear FOMO (fear of missing out)? If you do, your wallet better be huge.
4. Re-purpose and try to achieve great results with what you have or buy an accessory that will enhance what you already own.
5. Rent what you don’t think it’s worth keeping for more than 3 months.
6. When I’m looking for something specific, I do an ROI assessment and ask myself if I will use the item at least once a month for the next year. I try to calculate at least a one-year – ideally 4-year shelf life.
7. If I must upgrade, I try to let go of something that I don’t use. You have a very short window of time to re-sale equipment and still get something reasonable for it.
8. I try to diversify and make sure technology blogs, articles and podcasts are not all I read or listen to as this keeps my mind thinking about what else to buy all day.
9. Forget about keeping up with the Joneses or attend trade shows all the time.
10. I try to avoid regret of buying something you really didn’t need. I also don’t buy the day something becomes available.

• On looking for opportunities to test equipment [8:45]
• Don’t be unethical [9:00]

I had the chance to record my very first Short Gal Show interview with a fascinating lady. Vanessa Felix and I went to school together. In Peru most private schools go from Elementary to High School (K to 12, basically) so I’ve known her since we were little. We weren’t best friends but we were friendly throughout school and I’ve gotten to know her better as an adult. She is a Chef and studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Lima and has held several positions as a professional chef since graduation. She currently owns V’s Gourmet to Go, a grab and go gourmet meal service in Indiana. She is also the proud mom of two boys.

• About Vanessa [2:20]
• On moving from Peru to Indiana [3:26]
• On her career as a chef and building confidence in her profession [4:36]
• On “Salads in a Jar” delivery business [5:41]
• On her new business V’s Gourmet to Go and changing the menu every day [6:34]
• On delivering her jars herself and bundling tasks [8:20]
• On competition and inspiration for meals [10:11]
• On making her own Moonshine [11:10]
• On offering cooking lessons [11:49]
• Getting inspiration from other chefs [12:58]
• On scheduling what’s important [13:50]
• The daily routine of a busy entrepreneur [14:35]
• On not having expectations [17:43]
• On raising a smart and kind teenager [19:09]
• On her passions and hobbies [23:03]
• On being an immigrant [27:08]
• 5 tips of someone who is busy but still finds the time to do what she wants to do [30:29]

1. Take care of your health
2. Make sure that you surround yourself with a great support group
3. Be true to yourself
4. Don’t forget where you come from
5. Anything is possible