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What is it really like working in product design and the board game industry?
In this episode of Time We Discuss, host Dan sits down with product designer Dougal Grimes to explore his career designing toys and games for global brands. From studying product design engineering in Scotland to working in games marketing and product design, Dougal shares what it takes to build a career in the tabletop game industry.
This conversation dives into how creativity and engineering come together in product design, the role of education versus hands on experience, and how board games have continued to grow even in a digital world. Dougal explains why tabletop games remain important for connection, creativity, and face to face interaction, especially as screen fatigue becomes more common.
You will learn how Dougal broke into the toy and game industry, what product design teams actually look like inside major companies, and what the day to day reality of designing games is really like. He also shares honest advice for anyone considering a career in product design, game design, or the board game industry today.
Topics covered in this episode include:
If you are interested in product design, board games, creative careers, or learning what different jobs are really like, this episode is for you.
Listen to more episodes of Time We Discuss and explore careers through real conversations with professionals from a wide range of industries.
Be sure to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy learning about unique career paths and creative industries.
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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:43 - Talking product design
1:52 - Proper education for product designers
2:57 - Getting started in the game and toy industry
5:18 - Marketing and games
7:15 - Industry outlook from the inside
10:36 - The best way to get into the toy and game industry
13:11 - Types of jobs in product design
15:53 - Remote and in-person work for product designers
18:40 - Difficulty in breaking into the games industry
21:17 - What's not to like about this work?
23:39 - Talent has the floor
25:03 - Outro
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Guest Information:
Dougal Grimes
Also Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:
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Time We Discuss Links:
Official Website: Time We Discuss Website
Original Music: Original Music furnished by Dan Swift
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What is it really like owning an independent publishing company
In this episode of Time We Discuss, host Dan sits down with Susie Schaefer to explore what it is actually like running an independent publishing company. From helping authors publish their first book to guiding experienced writers through complex industry decisions, Susie shares what happens behind the scenes of indie publishing and why understanding how the industry works is critical for success.
Susie launched her publishing company in 2019 after decades of experience in human resources, media, and hospitality. What started as a career transition quickly became a thriving business, even during the COVID pandemic. In this conversation, she explains how transferable skills, strong systems, and relationship building play a major role in building a sustainable publishing business.
You will hear why publishing still matters in a digital world, how independent publishing gives more people the opportunity to share their stories, and why preserving personal and historical narratives is so important. Susie also breaks down common mistakes new authors make, including why simply uploading a manuscript to Amazon often leads to disappointment.
This episode is especially valuable for aspiring authors, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about careers in publishing. Whether you want to publish your own book, start a publishing company, or understand how books really make it into bookstores and libraries, this conversation offers practical insight and real world experience.
In this episode, we discuss
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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:52 - Why create a publishing company?
2:11 - Creating a company during COVID
3:23 - Get noticed easily online
4:46 - Useful skills for starting an indie publishing company
6:05 - Revisiting, why publishing?
7:52 - Typical day in a publishing company
9:01 - Pitfalls to avoid for self published authors
10:28 - Time needed to publish
11:15 - On publishing other people's books
12:14 - Getting clients and authors
13:19 - Effective advertising
14:01 - Least favorite part of the day
15:24 - Importance of hiring a business coach
16:21 - This job isn't for you if
17:48 - Pain points for starting a publishing company
19:46 - Networking groups specifically in this industry
22:15 - Reacting to sudden changes in the industry
23:41 - Talent has the floor
24:27 - Outro
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Guest Information:
Susie Schaefer=================================================================
Time We Discuss Links:
Official Website: Time We Discuss Website
Original Music: Original Music furnished by Dan Swift
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This is the official wrap up of Season 2 of the Time We Discuss podcast. This episode looks back on more than 60 guests who opened the door to some of the most fascinating careers you can imagine. From astrologers and exorcists to sommeliers, ballerinas, voice actors, beekeepers, and registered patent agents, this season proved that you can build a career from almost anything.
In this episode, Dan shares Spotify achievements for 2025, highlights fan favorite moments, and retells the most inspiring stories of the year. You will also get a preview of Season 3, launching January 4th, which includes conversations with a web designer, grant writer, home stager, herbalist, and even an animal telepath.
If you love discovering real career stories, subscribe and stay connected for another season of fresh and surprising interviews.
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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:47 - Spotify Achievements
1:33 - Some highlighted careers from season 2
2:10 - Registered Patent Agent
2:45 - Grammy-Nominated Musician
3:09 - Video Game Voiceover Artist
3:38 - Beekeeper
4:20 - Professional Paranormal Podcaster
4:34 - Late Night Show Host
5:07 - Big Story - Pool Cleaner
5:58 - Sommelier
6:25 - Raising money to fight cancer
7:17 - Anyone can do anything
8:27 - Coming up in Season 3
9:12 - Outro
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Also Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:=================================================================
Time We Discuss Links:
Official Website: Time We Discuss Website
Original Music: Original Music furnished by Dan Swift
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Do many people dream of being a small business consultant focusing on improving processes?
If you run a small business and feel like your days are filled with putting out fires, this episode of Time We Discuss will feel like someone finally turned on the lights. In this conversation, Dan interviews small business consultant Marty Dunn, whose specialty is helping service based companies transform their operations through clear and sustainable process improvements.
Marty works with electricians, plumbers, landscapers, marketing firms and many other owners who are great at their craft but overwhelmed by the constant stress of running a business without dependable systems. Throughout the episode he breaks down how better workflows, documented steps and predictable operations can turn a chaotic business into one that grows with confidence.
You will hear how Marty analyzes bottlenecks, redesigns communication pathways and teaches leaders how to support their teams while building repeatable systems. He explains why process improvements are the foundation of profitability and how strong leadership habits make it easier for teams to follow new procedures. Marty also shares valuable real world advice about networking, early stage entrepreneurship, emotional resilience and the shift from employee to owner.
What you will learn in this episode
Whether you are an established owner or considering leaving a full time job to start your own business, Marty offers clear steps and relatable stories that show how powerful process improvements can be. His company, Mingma, helps business owners create documented workflows, strengthen their operations and build teams that work with consistency and confidence.
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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:27 - Typical day like as a process improvement consultant
1:07 - Background before consulting
4:10 - Education background for consulting
5:41 - Forming the company
7:27 - Relating music and sports to business
12:16 - Pivoting into consulting
14:34 - Importance of networking for small businesses
19:34 - Talent has the floor
20:52 - Outro
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Guest Information:
Marty Dunn=================================================================
Time We Discuss Links:
Official Website: Time We Discuss Website
Original Music: Original Music furnished by Dan Swift
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In this episode of Time We Discuss, meet Dave Benson of the Dave Benson Show! Dave's late night style show highlights musicians, directors, actors, writers, etc. and gives those artists with a quieter voice (among the noise) a place to talk about their craft.
Learn how to create a successful YouTube channel from scratch and grow your audience. Discover the best practices for optimizing your videos, creating engaging content, and increasing your visibility on the platform. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced creator, this video will provide you with valuable tips and strategies to help you achieve your goals and build a loyal following.
In this episode of Time We Discuss, host Dan sits down with Dave Benson, creator of The Dave Benson Show, to explore what it is really like running a late night style talk show in the digital age. Dave opens up about his creative journey, how he built his show from the ground up, and why he focuses on spotlighting actors, directors, filmmakers, musicians, and creative professionals who rarely get attention on traditional talk shows.
Dave shares how consistency, commitment, and a clever use of LinkedIn helped him grow from sporadic episodes to a fully booked guest list months in advance. He also walks through his weekly workflow, balancing a full time career in another city while writing monologues, researching guests, filming, editing, and releasing a new episode every Monday.
We dive into his signature monologue process, why he avoids politics and focuses on fun stories, and how he added segments such as YouTube creator news and a sixty second movie review. Dave also explains how his background outside the entertainment world shaped his creative approach and how a simple work presentation awakened his passion for video production.
Other key topics include
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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Hosting the Dave Benson Show
1:34 - Why the late night show style?
2:49 - What makes the Dave Benson Show different from other shows?
4:11 - How do you find your guests?
7:50 - Balancing a job and being a YouTube creator
10:02 - Inspiration for the monologue
12:43 - How did you get the education to do all of this?
15:24 - What is the best part of being a YouTube creator?
17:30 - Tips for creators - what works and what doesn't?
20:35 - Fun facts for the host of Time We Discuss
22:23 - Strongman competition
23:24 - What do you like least about being a content creator?
25:03 - All about editing and social media
27:21 - Talent has the floor
28:08 - Outro
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Guest Information:
Dave Benson
Also Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:
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Time We Discuss Links:
Official Website: Time We Discuss Website
Original Music: Original Music furnished by Dan Swift
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Spotify: Time We Discuss on Spotify
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From Jackson, Michigan, we're speaking with Gilbert Chocolates owners Brian and Sally Krichbaum.
Discover the sweet world of entrepreneurship as we delve into the life of a successful gourmet chocolate business owner. Learn the secrets to running a thriving business in the competitive world of artisanal chocolates. From crafting unique flavor profiles to managing a team and expanding a customer base, we'll explore the highs and lows of building a brand that's synonymous with luxury and indulgence. Whether you're a chocolate lover, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the inner workings of a successful business, this video is for you. Get ready to indulge in the rich world of gourmet chocolate and learn what it takes to make a business truly successful.
Brian and Sally share how they went from engineering and raising a family to becoming chocolatiers. They explain what a typical day looks like in a working chocolate factory, how they maintain original recipes created in the eighteen hundreds, and how they keep century old equipment running while still innovating with new flavors.
You will hear how they revived classic products, introduced new creations based on customer trends, and learned to work together as partners both at home and in the factory. They also talk about navigating modern challenges, growing a historic brand, building customer loyalty, and supporting the local community.
If you love gourmet chocolate, small business stories, or behind the scenes looks at unique careers, this episode offers a rich and memorable deep dive.
Topics covered include:
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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:48 - Typical day for a chocolate business.
2:19 - When did you purchase the chocolate business?
3:28 - Transferable skills for a successful chocolate business
5:42 - Why buy a chocolate business?
7:13 - Unexpected perks of owning a chocolate business
10:33 - Advice for new chocolate businesses
12:50 - Sales and fads
14:26 - Filling knowledge gaps leading to success
19:17 - Keeping fresh with recipes
21:31 - Who creates new recipes?
23:41 - Talent has the Floor
25:07 - Outro
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Guest Information:
Brian and Sally Krichbaum=================================================================
Time We Discuss Links:
Official Website: Time We Discuss Website
Original Music: Original Music furnished by Dan Swift
YouTube: Time We Discuss on YouTube
Spotify: Time We Discuss on Spotify
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Thanksgiving in 2025 leaves me feeling thankful for my visitors, subscribers, guests, and other podcasters. It's important that we take a minute with mindfulness at the forefront and recognize the wonderful things that we each have.
Remembering that my goal is to help others that are lost professionally or are unfilled in their career, I remember several key guests and videos from 2025.
This episode has a little something for everyone. Whether you are a creator, seasoned professional looking for fulfillment, or kind of quirky, this one can help steer you in the right direction. All hope is not lost!
Stay tuned to gain valuable insights and inspiration from the experiences of professionals working unique and fulfilling jobs.
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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:52 - LinkedIn post.
1:37 - Theads post.
2:23 - Thankful for comments
3:02 - Thankful for views and subs
3:32 - Special thanks to my guests
4:00 - Thank you fellow podcasters
4:12 - The Challenge
4:41 - Building a successful small business
5:11 - How writers can make money
5:33 - Become or find a mentor
6:11 - Professional speakers
7:03 - Completely weird and unusual jobs
8:15 - Outro
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Also Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:
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Time We Discuss Links:
Official Website: Time We Discuss Website
Original Music: Original Music furnished by Dan Swift
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In this episode of Time We Discuss, meet Gordon Southard, founder of Mandatory Fun Trivia, about learn how he turned bar trivia into a thriving business that helps companies improve team building, morale, and employee engagement. The best part, he gives a step-by-step guide on how you can do exactly the same thing!
Gordon reveals what it takes to design trivia events that get even the most reluctant participants laughing, talking, and working together. From crafting questions that connect coworkers to mastering public speaking and managing a business, Gordon shares how trivia became a tool for genuine connection and corporate engagement.
Whether you’re interested in starting a trivia hosting career, planning better company events, or discovering how to make work more fun, this episode is packed with practical insight and inspiring ideas.
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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - Preparing for an Event
3:45 - Reoccurring clients and Lead Time
4:29 - Why a Trivia Company?
6:47 - Engaging the Audience
8:10 - Getting a First Client
9:21 - Getting Started, Step-by-Step
11:47 - Importance of Education
13:41 - Bridging Business Knowledge Gaps
17:17 - Prizes for Winners
18:45 - Unexpected Perks of Running a Trivia Company
19:50 - Hurdles to Overcome
22:10 - What is the Busy Season if Any?
24:20 - Mixing Business and Personal Life
26:20 - Talent has the Floor
27:36 - Outro
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Guest Information:
Gordon Southard
Also Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:
=================================================================
Time We Discuss Links:
Official Website: Time We Discuss Website
Original Music: Original Music furnished by Dan Swift
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College isn't for everyone, have you considered learning one of these best trades jobs? Start 2026 off on the right foot with one of these jobs that pay the most in trades AND are in demand trades jobs that (almost) no one is talking about. High pay is important, but equally important are career opportunities that are growing and the jobs in this episode fit the bill.
One of the best high paying jobs that I talk about energy management and the current job market, highlighting positions like wind turbine technician. We'll explore fastest growing jobs, offering insights to help you plan your career in the trades.
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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:26 - Aircraft and Avionics Technician
1:30 - Wind Turbine Technician
2:30 - Elevator / Escalator Installer and Repairer
3:43 - Electrical Powerline Installer/Repairer
5:01 - Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
5:56 - Outro
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Time We Discuss Links:
Official Website: Time We Discuss Website
Original Music: Original Music furnished by Dan Swift
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Ever wondered what it’s like to be a caricature artist or silhouette artist?
In this episode of Time We Discuss, we hear from Emily Byrne, a talented live event artist who brings smiles to weddings, corporate events, and festivals with her creative and lightning-fast silhouette portraits and caricatures.
Emily shares her inspiring journey from drawing rock stars as a kid to becoming one of the most in-demand caricature and silhouette artists in the industry. She explains what it’s really like working live at events, how she balances the creative and business sides of her work, and why live art still captivates audiences in the age of AI.
Topics we discuss:
Emily calls her craft "ripple effect entertainment" because her art creates joy not just for her subjects, but for everyone watching.
If you love learning about creative careers and real-world artistic journeys, this episode is for you.
Discover the art, skill, and emotion behind every live caricature and silhouette.
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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Typical day as a caricature artist
1:01 - Where can you find work as a caricature artist?
2:01 - Getting started as a caricature artist
5:07 - Silhouette portraits or caricature art?
6:50 - Starting the silhouette portrait.
8:21 - Time to create caricatures and silhouette portraits
10:11 - The importance of college education for these mediums
11:34 - The best place to get started (resources)
12:12 - Finding fairs
13:29 - Creating and distributing caricatures online
15:45 - The place of AI with caricature art
16:18 - Learning the business side
17:47 - More about finding fairs
18:44 - Filling the calendar
20:17 - This is not for if ...
23:18 - Extreme caricatures?
24:04 - Talent has the floor
25:28 - Outro
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Guest Information:
Emily Byrne=================================================================
Time We Discuss Links:
Official Website: Time We Discuss Website
Original Music: Original Music furnished by Dan Swift
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