Episode 40: What is your career path? Does it involve being location specific, or can you be a digital nomad? Have you ever been to France? Has a rodent with a furry tail been spotted in your bedroom? Well, we talk about it, and interview our special guest, Kyle Del Bonis.

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Meandering Rant: “Career Path” by Christian

Book Report: Interview with special guest, Kyle Del Bonis, digital nomad, couch surfer, life-as-a-social-experiment warrior.

Music Segment: Zaz, brought to you by Patty, featuring the song “Je Veux”

By the way, “Je Veux” means “I want” not “I see”, as mis-stated by Patty on the podcast. Apparently, both she and Christian should stop pretending they know French.

Links to stuff that Kyle spoke about:

• Couch Surfing Social Network
• Tim Ferris’ Blog
• The 4-Hour Work Week Book on Amazon
• Mint.com
• Kyle’s Blog: OneLifeStand.info

The Slacker Factor podcast is recommended for anyone who wants to know something about many things.

Episode 39: The power of words, small-town crime, baked goods as weapons, to share or not to share, internet intelligence, and Swedish music a la West Virginia. Isn’t that enough?

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Meandering Rant: “Words make the World” by Patty

Book Report: Personal Cloud, information presented by Christian

Music Segment: First Aid Kit, brought to you by Rob

During the conversation on Personal Cloud, the band Patty couldn’t think of was Vampire Weekend. Here’s the story about use of photos, in AdWeek.

The movie mentioned is “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia” [video trailer]

Listen to The Slacker Factor and grow your brain. Then, rave about the podcast in iTunes comments.

Episode 38: Want to live a long time?  Plug into life.  Get stuff done.  Enjoy music, especially loud guitars.  Learn something.  Keep yourself interested and interesting.  Listen to The Slacker Factor.

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Meandering Rant: “Do, Then Learn” by Rob

Book Report: A conversation on Longevity, hosted by Patty

Music Segment: Chickenfoot “Sexy Little Thing”, brought to you by Christian

Four out of Five Dentists surveyed say they’d rather be listening to The Slacker Factor podcast than cleaning your teeth.  Floss, brush, and listen.

Now, before you start thinking I’m elitist, or a diva, or even a picky bitch, hear me out…

When I go to the movie theater to see a film, I have certain expectations.  I pay the movie theater a reasonable rate of my hard-earned money.  I would like the theatre and the theatre bathrooms to be clean, the temperature to be pleasant, my seat to be comfortable, and the quality of the projection and sound to be top notch.  I am there to relax and be entertained.  I am not there to complain that the sound is too low, or the lights are still turned up in the theater while the movie is playing, or the bathroom needs more paper towels.

At a restaurant, I have certain expectations.  I would like to be greeted pleasantly when I arrive, be shown to a clean table, be waited on promptly, and eat deliciously prepared, well-seasoned, fresh food.  I am there to relax and enjoy a nice meal.  I am not there to ask for another fork because the tines are all bent and twisted, or request a different coffee cup because of lipstick stains, or send back my soup because it came out cold.

I pay for health insurance and my expectations are that I can go to a doctor, he or she can recommend a therapy for my health concern, I can choose that therapeutic course to address my health condition, and the insurance company will pay.  I have not given them my money so that, when and if I do have to go to the doctor, they can refuse payment and I have to fight for reimbursement.

You get the point.  My examples are few of many you have probably experienced in your own life.  They could apply to the retail industry, the airlines, your internet provider, your bank, the place you get your haircut or your car fixed, your government.

Don’t get me wrong.  I wrote these words not to complain, and, although I claim I want things my way, it is not, really about me.  This is about you, and me, and all of us making things better – together – by doing two, simple things.

The first is to deliver your work, and yourself, with pride.  I know you’re stressed; so am I.  But, we all need to remember and realize that everything we do – EVERYTHING we do – has an impact on others around us and on the world.  When you’re working, ask yourself if you’ve done all you can to make what you’re delivering the best it can be.  Have you?  Did you look at that knife to make sure there was no food on it before you brought it to the table?  Did you check to ensure your vendor is getting back to your client?  Do you think you’re going to get a new job if you don’t wear a tie and jacket to the interview?  Do you feel like you did your best, despite the world crumbling down around you?  If you bring your best to the table, you are setting the stage for others to do the same.  It is not about competition, or arrogance; it is about creating a positive experience for all involved.

The second is to set the tone that you expect the best.  It is about having no fear to ask for what you want, and taking the time to patronize businesses who deliver on your expectations.  It is about thanking people who are good at what they do, or tipping them well, or telling their manager that they are doing an excellent job.  When is the last time you sent a note to a coworker’s boss expressing your gratitude about their helpful contributions?  When something less-than-quality is presented to you, do you take the time to ask for something better or do you settle for what has been given to you out of fear or embarrassment?  When you see someone skipping steps to the detriment of a deliverable, do you step up and ask them why?  It is not about being bossy, or bitchy, or condescending; it is about being grateful for the good things and not settling for the bad.

No matter where you are in life – speak up; Ask, thank, deliver – there is always room for improvement. Want things your way and make things better for others.

< Listen to this, and more on The Slacker Factor podcast TSF23: Soup It Up. >

Episode 37: Amazing things live inside of us, and outside of our houses.  Christian talks giant rodents, Rob likes the songs of Flowers & Sea Creatures, Patty’s folks spot a chupacabra, and special guest, Bryan Davis, teaches us about gut critters.

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Meandering Rant: “A Bunch of $hit that Pisses Me Off” by Christian

Book Report: “Guts & Glory”, our second interview with Bryan Davis of AskBryan.com.  Check out his podcast Doc Fermento Discovers the World.  He reminds us to “Drink the Brine!”

Music Segment: Flowers and Sea Creatures, brought to you by Rob.

Interesting references from Bryan Davis:

• Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride GAPS diet
• Sandor Katz “Wild Fermentation”
• Sally Fallon Cultured/Fermented Food
• Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, and more
• Robb Wolf Paleo Diet/Lifestyle
• Mark Sisson Primal Diet/Lifestyle

Plus, this deal from Christian: Capybara the World’s Largest Rodent.

Spread word of The Slacker Factor podcast, and populate the slacknation.

Episode 36: Our fabulousness and flaws, as people, are on display. Hear from Patty about how every day can be equally frustrating and entertaining, learn from Rob about understanding your personality type, and listen to Christian’s last-minute song selection from Goapele.

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Meandering Rant: “Agh!” by Patty

Book Report: Personality Types, as presented by Rob

Music Segment: Goapele “Break of Dawn”, brought to you bu Christian

Want to know your Meyers Briggs personality type? Learn more here.

Podcasts and rest are good for your brain.  Help a friend’s brain; tell them to listen to The Slacker Factor.

Portlandia is a television series that debuted on the Independent Film Channel (IFC) on January 21, 2011. The show, produced by Andrew Singer and Jonathan Krisel, is set and filmed both in and near Portland, Oregon and features Saturday Night Live cast member Fred Armisen as well as Carrie Brownstein, a member of the now-defunct band Sleater-Kinney and current lead guitarist/singer for Wild Flag.

The name Portlandia refers to the sculpture of the same name above the entrance of the Portland Building on Fifth Avenue in downtown Portland. The statue also appears in the opening montage title sequence.

Episode 35: Jack Johnson uses some percentage of French fry grease to fuel his tour buses, walking in San Diego can spark musical creativity, and living in New Jersey doesn’t guarantee an orange tan-glow. All will make sense when you listen to the conversational lessons of St. Marquis, your favorite Slackers, and the beautiful vocals of Anya Marina.

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Meandering Rant: “Weather Report” by special guest St. Marquis

Book Report: Grease Cars, information by Christian

Music Segment: Anya Marina, brought to you by Patty, featuring the song “All the Same to Me” from Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II http://www.anyamarina.com/

Check out more from St. Marquis, writing as Brett Bickley for the Parsippany Patch.

The EPA’s draft of their findings shows groundwater pollution containing benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), which are health and  cancer causing compounds associated with fracking.

While the reality is that we will continue using fossil fuels and need to find new methods of extracting fossil fuels, it should be done responsibly.

I encourage you to read the complete report

Episode 34: Well-adjusted children, and Perry Ferrell music, and cultured foods get all talked-up in this podcast; plus, we got Bryan Davis. How can you possibly resist?

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Listen to my song, please:
Mediate featuring Tricky (Robert LaFrance Remix) – INXS

Meandering Rant: “How to Raise Well Adjusted, Semi-Sane, Hopefully Successful Children” by Robert LaFrance

Book Report: Special Guest Bryan Davis from AskBryan.com

• Book: Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz and Sally Fallon
• Bulletproof Diet
• Bulletproof Executive
• GT’s Kombucha

Music Segment: Jane’s Addiction “Irresistible Force”

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