August 26, 2014 at 11:00AM • 1 hour 28 minutes
TOPIC: Is there anything else you want to tell me?
This week, Dan and Merlin discuss what bathrooms can teach us about learning, expertise, and empathy.
August 19, 2014 at 1:00PM • 1 hour 30 minutes
TOPIC: Wait, what'd I DO?!?
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about anger, misunderstandings, and trying to do the right thing. How bewildering (and emotional) it can be to feel misunderstood—as well as trying to better understand what we may have done wrong.
Emotions are armor-piercing bullets.
August 12, 2014 at 3:00PM • 1 hour 27 minutes
TOPIC: Thinking, Thinking, Thinking.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the inextricable links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. They also take some time to fondly remember Robin Williams.
August 6, 2014 at 11:00AM • 1 hour 7 minutes
While Merlin takes a short sabbatical, Dan is joined by special guest David Sparks to talk about presentations, making your thing, balancing acts, iBooks author, paying for your kids' school with side projects, old man glasses, and more.
July 22, 2014 at 3:00PM • 1 hour 10 minutes
TOPIC: Stupid can't stick to me.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the distinction between being against something vs. not having an opinion about it vs. just choosing not to let the world stick to you.
July 15, 2014 at 3:00PM • 1 hour 16 minutes
TOPIC: A Personal History of Personal Publishing
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the constantly-changing landscape of online publishing. How we got from home pages to blogs to social media and beyond. Things move around, things get shorter (or longer), and things get super-weird and unpredictable.
How do you decide where your stuff goes and who do you expect it to reach in this whackadoodle environment?
You won't believe what happens next!
July 8, 2014 at 3:15PM • 1 hour 19 minutes
TOPIC: Yes. Yes.
This week, Dan and Merlin follow-up on their recent 5by5 at the Movies episode about Glengarry Glen Ross, talking more about sales culture, media consumption, how our personal data gets used to close us, and why Dan admires Ricky Roma.
Or, Tony Roma, as you call him.
July 1, 2014 at 1:00PM • 1 hour 20 minutes
TOPIC: Motivation
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about their upcoming 5by5 at the Movies episode on Glengarry Glen Ross, which segues naturally into a discussion of the many aspects of motivation.
Carrots, sticks, bonuses, fear, status, and just growing up all shape our understanding of why we (and, yeah, others) do what we do.
What happens when our motivation starts better accounting for how other people are motivated?
Get them to sign on the line which is dotted.
June 24, 2014 at 11:00AM • 1 hour 15 minutes
TOPIC: (Not) Solving People Problems With Technology.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the challenge of finding business workflows that…actually work. And, what happens if you try to fix a "people problem" with a technical solution.
Also, detailed discussion on Wolverine's healing factor, gruesome hand-shaving, Florida's giant grasshoppers, dangerous bourbon foil, and varieties of elves.
PSA: Hey, if you live in the Bay Area and you like comics and/or Merlin, please come out to Two Cats Comics on Thursday night and hang out with Merlin. [more »]
June 10, 2014 at 6:00PM • 50 minutes
TOPIC: "Creativity" where you din't expect it.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about PIXAR, creativity, and FoldingText before finally succumbing to the treachery of Skype.
