Products Of The Mind: A Conversation About The Intersection Of Business + Creativity

In this episode, I speak with Erin Passons, the president and founder of Passons Consulting. She has spent her career helping business leaders, managers, and employees improve their performance and effectiveness. Erin works with a variety of organizations to create a Strengths-based approach to performance, leadership development, and team building, providing training and coaching in the areas of management effectiveness, employee engagement, and talent-based hiring. Her goal is to help people do what they do best, at work and in life.  Erin can be found at PassonsConsulting.com I'm happy to use this podcast feed to answer, as best as I can, questions from business owners who are trying to navigate these challenges. You can contact me directly at https://lizerbramlaw.com/contact This episode was recorded on April 9, 2020.

In this episode, I discuss the new Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan that was created as part of the CARES Act (Stimulus) to provide emergency relief to business owners during the coronavirus pandemic. Qualifying businesses are able to borrow up to 2.5x their average monthly payroll and 100% of the loan will be forgiven if the funds are properly applied. I'm happy to use this podcast feed to answer, as best as I can, questions from business owners who are trying to navigate these challenges. You can contact me directly at https://lizerbramlaw.com/contact This episode was recorded on April 1, 2020.

I'm going to be using the Products of the Mind podcast feed to provide information to business owners during the coronavirus - COVID-19 crisis. This is an introductory episode in which I explain the project and cover a few topics briefly. I speak in a bit more depth about the unemployment provisions of the CARES Act, also called the stimulus, which passed on Friday, March 27, 2020. Unemployment benefits now apply to certain self-employed people, which may provide some relief to small and solo business owners who were previously ineligible for unemployment. For a bit more of what's discussed in this episode, go to this blog post: https://lizerbramlaw.com/2020/03/27/what-can-business-owners-do/ I am happy to use this podcast feed to answer, as best as I can, questions from business owners who are trying to navigate these challenges. You can contact me directly at https://lizerbramlaw.com/contact This episode was recorded on March 29, 2020.

Today's guest is Tyler Cowen, a professor of economics at George Mason University. Tyler Cowen's Page at GMU Tyler's blog, Marginal Revolution Tyler's most recent book The Complacent Class Take the quiz - How Complacent Are You?  Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page. Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes. They’re very helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I read every one. Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. Here are instructions on how to subscribe, rate, and review the show in iTunes. The Credits Products of the Mind is produced by Mana Monzavi. The theme music for this episode was provided by Le Chateau. The track name is “Bury You.” Go buy it on Soundcloud! This episode

Welcome to Episode 52 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Allan McKay, founder of Catastrophic FX. Allan has done visual effects for loads of blockbuster movies, including Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Star Trek Into Darkness, 2012, Superman Returns, and Looper (a personal favorite of mine.) We talk about how a visual effect goes from conception to the final product that you see on screen, how the creative process works, and why visual effects production is moving all over the world. The latter topic is addressed in this recent New York Times article (which I reference in the interview) – there’s a race to the bottom which is costing lots of VFX artists their jobs, so we spend quite a bit of time talking this through. Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page. Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast

Welcome to Episode 51 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Paul Bloom, the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science at Yale University. We talk about his recent book Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion. Paul Bloom can be found on Twitter @paulbloomatyale Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page. Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes. They’re very helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I read every one. Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. Here are instructions on how to subscribe, rate, and review the show in iTunes. The Credits Products of the Mind is produced by Mana Monzavi. The theme music for this episode was provid

This is a short episode in which I explain why I'm putting the show on pause for a bit, allude to future plans, and take a moment to thank everyone who's been a guest, a listener, or otherwise helped this show be such a successful creative endeavor. Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page. Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes. They’re very helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I read every one. Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. Here are instructions on how to subscribe, rate, and review the show in iTunes. The Credits Products of the Mind is produced by Mana Monzavi. The illustration accompanying these show notes is by Whit Harris. The theme music for this episode was provided

Welcome to Episode 49 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Lori Steele Contorer, Founder-CEO of Everyone Counts, an electronic voting company. Lori went from knowing nothing about the voting process to founding a company dedicated to making voting easier, more secure, and more transparent. How does paper voting actually work, and what are the downsides of the traditional methods? How did Lori learn everything she needed to know to start this business? How do you convince risk-averse bureaucrats to sign on with your electronic voting startup? Most of us just go to the polls and don’t give much though to what happens after you turn in your ballot and get your sticker. In this episode, we learn all the secrets of the voting process. Find out more about Lori Steele Contorer and Everyone Counts at EveryoneCounts.com. Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page. Also, please

 Welcome to Episode 48 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with cartoonist, lawyer, and advocate Stu Rees. “Everyone knows in their heart of hearts that they shouldn’t, but they use the words ‘fair use’ as a defense in their own mind.” This episode further explores copyright law and fair use issues with lawyer and cartoonist Stu Rees. As a practicing lawyer and professional cartoonist, Stu has much to say on the issue of copyright law, fair use, and artists’ rights. Stu began his legal career investigating the contracts between newspaper cartoonists and major print syndicates, and his passion for protecting up-and-coming artists’ rights is stronger than ever. We talk about copyright law and fair use as it applies to cartoonists and artists in general. We even do a little bit of “fair use roleplay” while we discuss the use of online images. Like previous entrepreneurial guests, Stu basically created his own path by “filling a void” that was needed in the marketplace, so he’ll fill us in on that j

  Welcome to Episode 47 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with singer-songwriter Anya Marina. We’ll hear how writing songs in middle school ultimately led to hosting radio shows and hearing her songs on hit shows like Grey’s Anatomy. Anya fills us in on singing for different bands, smoking cloves outside the coffee shop, and a little bit about the attempt to write a memoir. Although the memoir may not have worked out, the music career did. Anya is very open about the ups and downs of her life and the practical realities of surviving as a well-known but non-superstar artist. How does she go from project to project, and what’s next for this talented musician? Bonus: stick around for the end to enjoy a song from Anya’s latest album, Paper Plane: “Ordinary Dude.” This and so much more with Anya Marina. Links from today’s episode: Anya is @anyamarina on Twitter Anya’s site Swami Sound System Patreon Anya’s song Shut Up on YouTube Anya’s song Orinary Dude on YouTube Thanks for Checking Out Product

Products of the Mind Episode 46: The Best Damn Record Club – Vinyl Me, Please    Welcome to Episode 46 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Vinyl Me, Please founders Matt Fiedler & Tyler Barstow. “As things changed we always had this idea that it would be cool to build just the coolest … music club ever.” Today I chat with the entrepreneurial partners behind Vinyl Me, Please: Matt Fiedler & Tyler Barstow. The discussion is brief, but we get a great rundown from the perspective of the founders: these two discuss how they came together and discovered new music, and ultimately launched “the best damn record club.” We’ll hear about the challenges of being a part-time entrepreneur, as well as managing rapid growth. They’ll recall the logistical challenges they faced as a startup and how the challenge grew when their business expended. They’ll briefly discuss some of their solutions as well as their current philosophy on relationships between vendors and customers. Of course we’ll talk a l

Welcome to Episode 45 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with University of Houston philosophy professor and author Tamler Sommers. “People within honor cultures are very concerned about how they’re perceived within their group…They have certain emotions like pride and shame, that are more highly attuned to the perceptions of other people and where they stand.” Today we get philosophical with Tamler Sommers. Tamler is Associate Professor of Philosophy at University of Houston, specializing in moral philosophy. Tamler also hosts the podcast Very Bad Wizards, a psychological and philosophical discussion of human nature (and other interesting topics)(with a lot of dirty jokes, if you’re into that kind of thing.) And, finally, he’s the author of A Very Bad Wizard: Morality Behind the Curtain, a collection of interviews Tamler did with philosophers and psychologists. If you like this episode, the book will be right up your alley. Today’s episode takes us to the philosophic discussion of free will an

Welcome to Episode 44 of Products of the Mind. In this episode, I provide a brief intro to Trade Secret law. This Episode Includes A definition of Trade Secrets. Description of “Negative” Trade Secrets. How long do Trade Secrets last? Legal protection for Trade Secrets. How do you file a Trade Secret? (Spoiler: you don’t.) How to protect Trade Secrets. What happens when a Trade Secret is breached? Trade secret licensing. If there was anything in this episode that wasn’t perfectly clear, or something you’d like me to expand on, please let me know. Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page. Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes. They’re very helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I read every one. Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get au

Welcome to Episode 43 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Comic-Con fan, blogger, fashion designer for Hero Within, and foster parent Tony Kim. “Ultimately we believe that everyone has a hero within themselves. We all have the capacity to lead and inspire and save, and to be a source of inspiration for others.” Tony talks about growing up, and his relationship with comic-book superheroes. We get first-hand insight into the unique personal and cultural identity issues associated with minorities who “go nerd.” Tony talks about how his identity issues strengthened his relationship with comics, drove him toward his current successes, and reinforced his beliefs. We’ll also discuss the Comic-Con culture and how it has changed over the years; bloggers; the need for heroes; fostering and adoption; and the fascinating relationship between orphans and superheroes. Since being a parent and full time Comic-Con supporter was not enough for Tony, he’ll also tell us his inspiration for Hero Within, his ne

Welcome to Episode 42 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with clinical psychologist, cosplay enthusiast, and life-long Batman fan: Dr. Andrea Letamendi. “It’s important for us to see mental health representation from the point of a superhero experiencing that psychological struggle, but also from the perspective of mental health providers who could be demonstrating an accurate and positive portrayal of mental health delivery." Today’s talk is with clinical psychologist Dr. Andrea Letamendi. Andrea is not merely a psychologist; she’s a lover of all things comics and superheroes, a cosplay enthusiast, and a tremendous resource into the mind of a superhero. Andrea discusses a number of interesting topics related to identity, the ego, mental health, and trauma. Her experience and training as a mental health professional allow her to make psychoanalytic insights into the lives of people and fictitious characters alike. Just as in the real world, the superhero world has a psychological side-story tha

Welcome to Episode 41 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Charles Brownstein, Executive Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. “It’s important to be able to disagree and offend…Its more important to have the opportunity to be wrong or to have the opportunity to be offended than to go through life where nothing challenges or nothing has a rough edge. “ Free speech and censorship are the topics of today’s episode. Charle has been the Executive Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) since 2002. Charles gives us some background on how and when he became interested in both comics and free-speech issues, beginning in childhood with movies like Pump up the Volume and Batman (1989). Charles discusses growing up in the 90’s, and interviewing artists such as Frank Miller, Alan Moore, and Will Eisner for a magazine he published in high school. Most of this interview focuses on the problem of censorship, and how First Amendment rights are at risk as a result of print-media protes

Welcome to Episode 40 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with journalist and world traveler Elizabeth MacBride. “I remember landing in Amman, Jordan and just being amazed at how beautiful it was and how friendly the people were, and that is something that holds true across the Middle East; it’s beautiful and the people are nice.“ Today’s discussion is with journalist and writer Elizabeth MacBride. Elizabeth talks about the progression of her journalism career; beginning with how covering the Amish in Lancaster, Pennsylvania led her to a life-changing trip to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in 1997. Elizabeth also shares some of her more visceral journalism experiences such as reporting on persecuted Marsh Arabs and visiting hospitals in Bagdad where cancer medicine was banned by Saddam Hussein as a response to political and economic sanctions. After being exposed to the beauty of the Middle East, Elizabeth began focusing more on marginalized and minority groups and how these groups are a rising entrepre

Welcome to Episode 39 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with radio host, political commentator, and author Bill Press. “It was a very exciting time to be there. There was just a lot going on. (The Bay Area) was really the center of political activism in the entire country. “ Bill reminisces on his life in politics and tells the story of how he got there. From majoring in philosophy and theology and joining the seminary, we’ll hear how this potential priest ended up in California’s Bay Area during 1967’s “Summer of Love.” Bill talks about living California at the height of the state’s political and social activism. We’ll hear about his first roles in the political realm: covering McCarthy and (Robert) Kennedy in 1968, LBJ’s resignation, and the anti-Vietnam war protests. We’ll also get the inside track on the progression of Bill’s career: from working for California Governor Jerry Brown in the 70’s, to hosting CNN’s Crossfire, to covering national politics in Washington and traveling with Obama

Welcome to Episode 38 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with artist and singer/front man for the Cholo Goth band Prayers, Leafar Sayer. “I’m the type of person that lives multiple realities simultaneously…I’ve been able to adapt in a way that’s not false, it’s authentic and it’s real. “ Stories of the lives of artists are always interesting, and today’s story is no exception. I sat down with Leafar Sayer: author, singer, restaurant owner, and gang-member. Leafar describes his childhood in Sherman Heights San Diego, and how he joined a street gang in order to save his dad’s life. He also gives us privileged insight to gang culture, and how the culture and structure shapes its members. Leafar also recalls his life of trauma and how it helped solidify his love for (and shape his path towards) the arts. Leafar discusses the role of art and music in his journey. We also hear about his influences and how he helped create the genre known as Cholo Goth. We’ll hear about the success of Prayers; Leafar’

Welcome to Episode 37 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with baseball writers, podcasters, and temporary professional baseball team overlords Ben Lindbergh & Sam Miller. Ben and Sam are the authors of The Only Rule Is It Has to Work: Our Wild Experiment Building a New Kind of Baseball Team. Their book tells the story of how two Internet-based baseball writers ended up running the Sonoma Stompers, an independent league professional baseball team. It turns out that their book is about a lot more than baseball. In this interview, Ben and Sam tell us some of what they learned about management, team building, and how to convince a room full of skeptical people to try out some unorthodox ideas. They also talk about how one of their games made national news and ended up being memorialized in the Baseball Hall of Fame after a pitcher they’d signed, Sean Conroy, became the first active pro ballplayer to come out as gay. Plus: life in the politically incorrect environment of a baseball clubhouse, h