Show Notes
"I never thought I would look forward to getting an email again." Dave is a news junkie and the author of daily email newsletter NextDraft, which he describes as a "modern day news column". He organizes the newsletter into the 10 most fascinating news items of the day, works on it for 3-4 hours in the morning and blasts it out around 1 pm PST. Dave is famous for having 75 tabs open at any one time as he scours the net for news every day. "I lock in pretty hard and open up my laptop, not moving a ton other than getting coffee or water for about 3 or 4 hours." The NextDraft perspective comes from being very well read along with being both curious and horrified by humanity, as well as offering varying perspectives on any given story. If you're looking for a daily wrap up of the most day's most fascinating stories, NextDraft is a fantastic place to start. The real power of NextDraft comes from Dave's personality; when you read it every day it feels like Dave wrote the email just for you and not for the 75,000 email subscribers on his list plus the 120,000 NextDraft app users. Among those users are counted some of the most powerful and plugged in journalists out there, making NextDraft not just a "repeater station" but much more of a high signal to noise operation than you'd normally find. "What NextDraft does is slow the news down and deliver news from a perspective you can learn to trust." Having always wanted to be part of the news business and the media industry, Dave says NextDraft is a joy to write and that shows in every word he types in. In this interview, Dave talks about the genesis of one of the most popular email newsletters on the net, how much feedback he gets, and what he's proudest of. Not only is this podcast well worth a listen, this is an email newsletter worth signing up for. Cheers, Nik & the PT Crew
More from The Nik Hawks Show
Pamela Bergmann takes us deep into the intricacies of balloon technology, from the emerging field of pico balloons to the substantial full-size NASA payload balloons, which can weigh up to 8,000 pounds. Pamela, a former senior program manager for the Google Loon project, shares her journey from fashion design to balloon engineering, highlighting the unique challenges and innovations within the balloon manufacturing sector. The conversation explores the operational efficiencies and potential of small-scale balloons in atmospheric data collection, juxtaposed with the more traditional, larger NASA balloons used for significant scientific missions. We examine the evolution of materials and design, and discuss how advancements in technology are reshaping the future of ballooning. Ultimately, this episode provides a profound insight into the fusion of engineering and creativity in the realm of aerial exploration. Takeaways: In this episode, Pamela Bergmann shares her unique journey from fashion design to balloon engineering, highlighting the unexpected paths one can take in their career. The discussion delves into the intricacies of balloon manufacturing, touching upon the challenges of materials selection and the evolution from traditional sewing to modern welding techniques. We explore the fascinating world of pico balloons, noting their potential for atmospheric research and the increasing accessibility for amateur balloon enthusiasts. Pamela emphasizes the importance of understanding buoyancy and pressure dynamics in balloon design, which directly influences operational success and data reliability. The conversation reveals insights into NASA's large payload balloons, particularly their capacity to carry significant weights, showcasing the advancements in balloon technology over the years. Finally, the episode underscores the collaborative efforts within the ballooning community, as professionals share knowledge and experiences to push the boundaries of what's possible in this field.
"For as long as I can remember, I've made things." Dave Schipper joins us to re-start the pod after I've taken a 5 year hiatus. Dave is a generally rad dude hailing from Moab, Utah, and if you've ever done anything even half-way hardcore in the great outdoors it's reasonably likely you've used a piece of gear he designed. We talk about the paraglider bag we worked on together as well as his experience as a designer & developer to bring the avalung-in-a-backpack into being as well as super lightweight backpacks for adventure racing. Dave can be found using his full (with the -id at the end) first name, then outdoorlabs.com. The pack we discussed in the show can be found here: https://kyk13.com/proto-pack-a-custom-paraglider-backpack/
Principle Investigator at the Anne Andrews Research Group at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Professor of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences Psychiatry is the study and treatment of mental illness, emotional disturbance, and abnormal behavior Leads research on anxiety & depression Trying to understand how neurotransmitters are used in chemical communication by coming up with new sensors to measure what's going on. [Eavesdropping on Neurochemical Signaling in Vivo] Focus on serotonin system & how serotonin transporters influence behavior.
From abalone hunter to national park service law enforcement to viral video cat rescuing star, Shannon Jay is the kind of guy you just love to sit down and listen to. A fantastic story teller, he is one of my favorite people to catch up with.