Shows
Linen Suit & Plastic TieRewind: Where Are Your Roots? ft. a Non-Fiction Graphic Novelist (Craig Thompson)Rewind Time! This week, we celebrate the graphic novel release of Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson with a rewind of our chat with Craig in Season 3. Pick up the Ginseng Roots graphic novel in your local comic book store!Why is the American agriculture story relevant to you (yes, you)? Is comic book a genre or a medium? Why should you care about where your food comes from? How does the story of an herbal root connect the US-China trade?Kevin stumbled upon an issue in the series and...2025-06-0546 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhy Connection Beats Perfection? ft. a Stanford MBA Professor (Matt Abrahams)Why does saying the wrong thing make you a better communicator? How do we manage stress in any form of talking? How does martial arts make you better at communicating? How do you communicate with a Gen Z audience?This week, we talk to Matt Abrahams, a lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business (Stanford GSB), where he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. Matt hosts the award-winning Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast, and is the author of Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the...2025-05-2247 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Wishes Do Games Fulfill? ft. Executive Producer @ Marvel Games (Eric Monacelli)What does Gorav think about his first video game in years? How can arts, pre-med, music, and writing backgrounds set you up for a video game career? What do Spider-Man, MLB 2K, and Call of Duty have in common? This week, we learn from the captivating story of Eric Monacelli, Executive Producer at Marvel Games. Before that, Eric has had a decorated career experience across video game studios such as Naughty Dog, 2K Games, Capcom, Infinity Ward, and Atari. He is also a published author in Primary Psychiatry.2025-05-0844 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Will AI Shape Our Stories? ft. a Pulitzer Prize Finalist (Vauhini Vara)What storytelling lens do gen AIs have, and how does ChatGPT think about a book that talks about it? What does ChatGPT itself recommend this episode to you? This week, we chat with Vauhini Vara, author of the genre-bending non-fiction Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age.Vauhini started her career in tech journalism at Wall Street Journal and later contributed to various well-known news platforms. In her subsequent creative writing career, she wrote The Immortal King Rao and This is Salvaged. Gorav discovered Vauhini's work because ChatGPT recommended it to him.2025-04-241h 10
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Brings a Brand LIFE? ft. a VP of Creative @ Liquid Death (Andy Pearson)Finally, we're talking about Liquid Death, one of Gorav's favorite brands. How do you bring life into a brand? What makes canned water work? How does being healthy & sustainable become cool? This week, we chat with Andy Pearson, VP of Creative at Liquid Death.After 12+ years as a copywriter and creative director at ad agencies, Andy now creates and leads creative with an incredible team at Liquid Death on its evil mission to make the world healthier and more sustainable.2025-03-2754 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Should We TALK About? ft. a Harvard Business School Professor (Alison Wood Brooks)Why and how should you prepare Topics for every conversation? When are you Asking the right questions? How do you bring Levity? Why does Kindness come from storytelling?Welcome back to your storytelling journey! To kick off Season Five, we're having a great talk with the author of TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves , Alison Wood Brooks. At Harvard Business School, Alison teaches an award-winning course in the MBA curriculum called “TALK.”2025-03-061h 05
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Makes Animation So Magical? ft. a Psychologist (Dr. Drea Letamendi)What are some of our favorite lessons from this season? What is the unique storytelling power of animation? For our season finale, we welcome back our dear friend Dr. Drea Letamendi. Drea is a clinical psychologist at UCLA, a psychological consultant for film, TV, graphic novels, and books, and a unique storyteller who draws important connections between pop culture and the story we tell ourselves.2024-12-1946 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhy Do We Love Bookstores? ft. a NYTimes Bestseller (Evan Friss)Why do you love being in bookstores? What is the story of bookstores in American history? How did Barnes & Noble switch onto the underdog's team in the bookselling industry? What are the common traits of booksellers? This week, we chat with Evan Friss, author of New York Times Bestseller The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore, and Professor of Urban and Public History at James Madison University.2024-12-0546 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Can Stories Shape the Future of Education? ft. a Stanford Education Innovator (Isabelle Hau)What is the dangerous story about technology in education, and where does the opportunity really lie? How should we revamp our reigning education system's core story and design for the past 200 years? What is Relational Intelligence, and why should we develop it in children? We chatted with Isabelle Hau, the executive director of Stanford Accelerator for Learning, about her own childhood education story and her insights into education tech. Isabelle has dedicated her career to innovating and investing in early childhood education, leveraging the latest science, data, and technology for two decades.
2024-11-2143 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieStorytime w/Gorav & Kevin - LSPTPod 4-Year Anniversary SpecialHas four years of exploring the power of storytelling ruined anything for ourselves? How have the lessons from our expert storytellers seeped into our day-to-day lives? What are our stories this year? Here's a special recap for LSPTPod's 4th anniversary. Thank you for joining, and we hope you're learning as much as we are.2024-11-0741 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow To Build Your Own Sonic World? - Storytime ft. a Sound Aficionado (Dallas Taylor)How do the sounds we hear affect the story we tell ourselves? Why and how should you curate the sounds in your life? Is silence a sound? In a conversation that felt much too short, we chat with Dallas Taylor - sound aficionado, host and creator of the amazing Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast, and Creative Director of Defacto Sound.
2024-10-241h 15
Linen Suit & Plastic TieCan Video Games Be Educational? ft. a Religious Theory Professor (ProfNoctis)What makes video game a promising educational medium? How does playing a game make you remember the story differently than watching it? What can you learn about religions through a video game? How did a video game teach Kevin about parenting? This week, we chat with Prof Wade Langer (ProfNoctis) at University of Alabama, who teaches Judeo-Christian Kingship using a popular video game Final Fantasy XV.
ProfNoctis' dissertation was on Judeo-Christian Kingship through Final Fantasy XV, a video game.2024-07-0459 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Are Venture and Broadway Investing Alike? ft. a Harvard Business School Professor (Christina Wallace)What do Broadway and Silicon Valley have in common? Why is storytelling crucial to navigating an interdisciplinary life? Why should we "expire our stories"? Welcome back to part 2 of our chat with Christina Wallace, a "human Venn diagram".
Christina Wallace has crafted a career at the intersection of business, technology, and the arts. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, where she teaches entrepreneurship and leads HBS Startup Bootcamp. She is author of The Portfolio Life, and a co-producer to multiple Tony-nominated musicals.2024-06-2036 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat is A Human Venn Diagram? ft. a Harvard Business School Professor (Christina Wallace)What is a "portfolio life", and how does that help us tell the story about ourselves? How do we find our identity and sense of safety in an ever-shifting professional world? Listen to part 1 of 2 of our chat with Christina Wallace, a "human Venn diagram".
Christina Wallace has crafted a career at the intersection of business, technology, and the arts. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, where she teaches entrepreneurship and leads HBS Startup Bootcamp. She is author of The Portfolio Life, and a co-producer to multiple Tony-nominated musicals.2024-06-0637 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Do You Write Your Own Story? ft. a Memoir Author (Carrie Sun)Why should you read the author's bio of a book? Where do we find the most compelling and powerful story from our lived experiences? How do you protect your own memory when telling a story about your past? This week, we chat with Carrie Sun, author of Private Equity, a memoir from her unique experience working for a Wall Street hedge fund billionaire and her deeply personal self-discovery journey.
Carrie Sun was born in China and raised in Michigan. She holds an MFA in creative writing from The New School. She graduated early from MIT, worked as a quant, dropped...2024-05-2350 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieCan Gaming Transform the Paper of Record? ft. a Head of Games @ the New York Times (Jonathan Knight)Did you know that The New York Times has been one of the hottest gaming companies in the past few years? YA THE NEWSPAPER. So, What are "New York Times games", and why does Wordle fit so perfectly with New York Times' brand? How does The Sims enable storytelling for players? This week, we chatted with Jonathan Knight, Head of Games at The New York Times.
Before joining the New York Times, Jonathan worked on some of the best-known IPs and game franchises, including Quake, Wolfenstein, The Sims, Harry Potter, and The Simpsons.2024-05-0942 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Are The Stories Behind Our Decisions? ft. a Behavioral Scientist (Nuala Walsh)When making life decisions big and small, are you choosing the best option on paper, or the best option for YOU? How can storytelling trick people in their decision making, and how do we see through the trickery? To kick off Season Four, we chat with Nuala Walsh, a behavorial scientist, one of 100 Most Influential Women in Finance, and former Marketing executive at some of the best-known investment banking firms.
In her new book Tune in: How to make smarter decisions in a noisy world, Nuala delves into the common traps when we make...2024-04-2544 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieSeason Four TrailerHere's a sneak peek of something new for LSPTPod Season Four ;) We believe that storytelling is the essential skill that makes us human, and we invite you continue this journey with us. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @LSPTPod and LinkedIn.2024-03-2900 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Do You Love Your Mind? ft. a Chief Content Officer @ Headspace (Morgan Selzer)How do you bring a centuries-old tradition to a modern audience? How did Gorav keep up a 1800+ day (and counting) meditation streak? What do "unexpected" partners add to your brand story? Is there a simple way to cope with our ever-restless minds? For Season 3 Finale, we chat with Morgan Selzer, Chief Content Officer at Headspace, to understand the Headspace story.2023-11-3041 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Did a TV Movie Save the World? ft. a Communications Professor (David Craig, Apocalypse Television)How did a TV film save the world from nuclear destruction? What do we miss out on if we dismiss social media? Why do we have so many dystopian sci-fi stories but few in the opposite light? This week, we talk to David Craig, Clinical Professor of Communication at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
An expert on Hollywood and social media entertainment, David's new book Apocalypse Television accounts an important period in TV and world history around The Day After: a film that contributed to what historians describe as "Reagan’s Reversal” in the 1980s, whic...2023-11-1643 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieStorytime - LSPTPod 3rd Year Anniversary Special (w/ Dr. Drea Letamendi, Craig Thompson, Mark Chavez)Why is college NOT the best years of your life? Why do people like horror & crime stories? What goes into deciding what to omit from a half-memoir? What do sci-fi and rom-com have in common? What does it mean to "break the story"?
For the 3-year anniversary of LSPTPod, we rewind the tape to bring you some bonus content: fun stories where we went off a tangent that didn't make it into our released episodes. We're diving back into some bonus content from our chat this season with Dr. Drea Letamendi, Craig Thompson, and Mark Chavez. We're glad and grateful...2023-11-0256 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieCan AI Help Write A Novel? ft. an AI-Experimenting Novelist (Stephen Marche)At this point, you've probably heard so much about ChatGPT and language model AI, but can it actually help write a book? How is an AI-written novel really created? Amid all the craze and myths of the recent "AI boom", we chat with Stephen Marche, a novelist who was tasked to create an "AI-generated novel," Death of an Author, (with Pushkin) to really understand the capabilities and limits of language model AI / linguistic AI, and how we should treat this tool.
Stephen Marche is a novelist and essayist. He has written features and essays for The New...2023-10-0543 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat is Your Golden Moment? ft. a fmr Director @ MasterClass (Davis Carter)How do you create master classes with some of the most influential people in the world? How do "golden moments" shape our lives and stories? How do we decide what to leave out of a story vs. what to keep in? This week, we chat with Davis Carter, former Director of Content at MasterClass. Davis has worked as Director of Content at MasterClass, where he oversaw more than 20 projects including classes with President Bill Clinton, Metallica, Amy Tan, Neil Gaiman, and Chris Voss.2023-09-2141 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhere Are Your Roots? ft. a Non-Fiction Graphic Novelist (Craig Thompson)Why is the American agriculture story relevant to you (yes, you)? Is comic book a genre or a medium? Why should you care about where your food comes from? How does the story of an herbal root connect the United States and China?
This week, we chat with graphic novelist Craig Thompson about his latest autobiographical comic book series Ginseng Roots. Kevin stumbled upon an issue in the series and got super curious - what could an American artist possibly say about Northeastern China and an herbal root best known in Chinese medicine? He ended up loving...2023-09-0744 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Is Cable's Legacy (Part II)? ft. a fmr. Cable TV Executive (Doug Herzog)How do a channel's advertisement and content creation fuel each other to strengthen its story? How does the late night / day time / prime time distinction affect content styles on cable? What is cable TV's legacy to entertainment and storytelling? This week, we finish up our conversation with Doug Herzog, delving into more questions we have about cable as a storytelling medium. Following his illustrious career as President of Viacom (MTV and Comedy Central), Doug now co-host the Basic! podcast, where he documents the history of basic cable TV and its impact on American lives.2023-08-2435 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Story Does Cable Tell (Part I)? ft. a fmr. Cable TV Executive (Doug Herzog)What are the stories of MTV and Comedy Central? How has The Daily Show changed through different eras (Craig Kilborn, Jon Stewart, Trevor Noah)? What will become of late night TV? This week, we welcome to our show Doug Herzog, former President of Viacom. Following his illustrious career of bringing MTV and Comedy Central to their respective primes, Doug now co-host the Basic! podcast, where he documents the history of basic cable TV and its impact on American lives.2023-08-1036 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Do ASL and Comedy Make a Physician? ft. a Medical Doctor (Dr. G)How do American Sign Language and improv comedy make you a better family physician? This week, we sit down and chat with Dr. G (Deborah Gilboa)! Dr. G is a family physician, keynote speaker on stress and resilience, and ASL interpreter. She shares with us her fascinating life journey between theater, ASL interpretation, improv comedy with Steve Carrell and Stephen Colbert in their early days, and path to a medical doctor career. We also chat about stress as the innate mechanism through which we respond to bad things and good things, and how to navigate the kaleidoscope of fantastic lives...2023-07-2744 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Do You Auction A Story? ft. a Christie's Auctioneer (Lydia Fenet)How does Christie's lead charity auctioneer utilize storytelling in her work? How did a young woman who looked nothing like an auctioneer become Christie's top charity auctioneer? How do you claim your confidence? This week, we chat with Lydia Fenet, Christie’s Ambassador who has led auctions to raise over half a billion dollars total for nonprofits globally, to talk about her fascinating career and her new book, Claim Your Confidence.
Lydia is author of The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You and Claim Your Confidence: Unlock Your Superpower and Create the Life You Want. She also hosts th...2023-07-1346 min
Linen Suit & Plastic Tie"Am I Cool?" - LSPTPod 50th Episode Special w/Benji & SophiaFor our 50th episode, we welcome back a dear friend and unlock a new character for our show. Together, we reflect on the stories we created since we first met, as well as our notion of being "cool". To our listeners, expert storytellers, and friends, thank you for being a part of this milestone.
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The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Hyperfun by Kevin MacLeod
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3891-hyperfun
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license2023-06-1555 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Do You Make Muppets in Moscow? ft. a Sesame Street "Ulitsa Sezam" Producer (Natasha Lance Rogoff)How do you produce a children's TV show in post-Soviet Russia? What's the secret to Sesame Street's international success? This we, we chat with Natasha Lance Rogoff, producer of the Russian Sesame Street (Ulitsa Sezam), about her unexpected crazy true story detailed in her book Muppets in Moscow.
Natasha Lance Rogoff is an is an award-winning filmmaker, journalist and the TV producer/director who, with her team, brought Sesame Street to Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.2023-06-0145 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Do You Make a Sci-Fi & a Rom-Com? ft. a Comedian (Mark Chavez)How do you make a sci-fi or a rom-com? Why do genres and formulas of a story work? How do comedians tell a story? This week, we chat with Mark Chavez, a comedian who made a sci-fi and a rom-com with his co-hosts and made a podcast about the process. Mark Chavez is co-host of CBC's Let's Make a Sci-Fi (Let's Make a Rom-Com) podcast, and part of the comedy duo the Pajama Men.2023-05-1845 min
Linen Suit & Plastic Tie"I Know These Chickens" - Storytime w/Dr. Sahar Yousef"What if we did nothing and got nothing out of it?" For this Storytime, we welcome back productivity expert Dr. Sahar Yousef and talk about NOTHING - for all our obsession with productivity, achievements, and outcomes, what if "doing nothing" is exactly what's missing from our lives? This episode is about nothing, for nothing, celebrating nothing. It's re-shaping our perspectives on life (seriously), and you should really listen to it.
Visit https://shop.becomingsuperhuman.science/ and use code: “LSPT” for 10% off physical products. All proceeds go to supporting ongoing scientific research. Note: we are NOT sponsored in anyway (nor are we re...2023-05-0458 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Makes A Good Friendship Story? ft. a Novelist-Advika & The Hollywood Wives (Kirthana Ramisetti)What stories is the city of Los Angeles brewing? Why do we need better friendship stories? We welcome back good friend of the show Kirthana Ramisetti and talk about the storytelling choices in her new novel, Advika and the Hollywood Wives. Kirthana Ramisetti is author of Dava Shastri’s Last Day, a novel selected a Good Morning America Book Club selection, and is currently in development as a television series for HBO Max. Her second novel, Advika and the Hollywood Wives, comes out in April 2023.2023-04-2043 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhy Do Humans Love Games? ft. a a16z Gaming Investor (Joshua Lu)What's unique about game as a storytelling medium? How can games succeed/fail at film / TV adaptations? Is playing games storytelling? This week, we sit down with Joshua Lu to talk about one of the most interactive and immersive form of storytelling. From competitive gaming, to product management, and now as an Investing Partner at a16z Games (Andreessen Horowitz), Josh has journeyed across many roles and genres throughout his career in gaming.2023-04-0641 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Stories Are Your Brands Telling? ft. a Neuromarketing Professor (Dr. Matt Johnson)How does storytelling affect the essence of products and brands? What does neuroscience have to do with Marketing? This week, we chat with Dr. Matt Johnson, a marketing professor, a neuroscientist, and author of Branding that Means Business: Building Enduring Bonds between Brands, Consumers & Markets. With a PhD in Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience from Princeton University, Matt's journey is full of interesting intersections: academia x corporate, the U.S. x China, and psychology x neuroscience x marketing.2023-03-2345 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Can Villainy Teach Us About Empathy? ft. a Superhero Psychologist (Dr. Drea Letamendi)What makes super villains' stories important? Can you grieve something that didn't actually happen? Are you still a hero if you've never won a single battle? Welcome back to Season Three! To kick off an outstanding season, we welcome back a good friend of our show, Dr. Andrea Letamendi, to chat about The Joker, Loki, WandaVision, and unpacking the "could've been"s during the pandemic. Dr. Drea Letamendi is a licensed psychologist and behavioral health consultant who educates the world on mental health through the lens of pop culture, specializing in trauma work, crisis response, and suicide prevention. She hosts...2023-03-0942 minLinen Suit & Plastic TieSeason Three TrailerWelcome back! Take a sneak peek of what's to come our Season Three, premiering March 9th, 2023 -- lots of great stories coming your way. We believe that storytelling is the essential skill that makes us human, and we invite you continue this journey with us. Follow us on Instagram @LSPTPod and LinkedIn.2023-02-2303 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieRewind - Why Is Music NOT a Universal Language (cont'd)? ft. a Musician (Greg Pliska)For our final bonus episode of Season Two, we bring out an unreleased part of our conversation with musician Greg Pliska, where we talk about the different storytelling choices a musician has to make when scoring a movie/play. Greg is a composer, conductor and orchestrator whose diverse career includes award-winning work in theater, film, TV, podcasts, etc. (CBS Evening News and Face the Nation, IMAX, HBO Feature Presentation, Hulu, Manhattan Night, Trust).2022-12-2924 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieRewind - Why are Botox Sales Going Up? ft. a Cognitive Neuroscientist (Dr. Sahar Yousef)In the spirit of holiday season, we'd like to take you on a rewind and listen back to our conversation with Dr. Sahar Yousef back in Season One, an important conversation about our stress and internal storytelling. We hope it will help us all understand and cope with our stress and internal voices better.
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We ALL have racing thoughts and narratives about ourselves that we can't shut down - our "identity-based beliefs". How do we use that to our advantage? What is "stress" physiologically speaking? Is "video fatigue" real, and why are Botox sales thro...2022-12-2243 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat's A Prediction Machine? ft. an AI Professor (Dr. Avi Goldfarb)What does "AI" really look like in businesses today? What is a Prediction Machine, and what is AI Economics? This week, we chat with Dr. Avi Goldfarb, author of Prediction Machines and Power and Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence. Through a sequence of fascinating stories, Avi helps us demystify the stigma around artificial intelligence, and he helps us understand how AI has transformed and can transform business and industry the way electricity transformed steam-powered factories. Avi is the Rotman Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare and a professor of marketing at the Rotman School of Management, University...2022-11-1745 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieStorytime w/Gorav & Kevin - LSPTPod 2-Year Anniversary SpecialWhat have happened to Gorav and Kevin in the past year? What was the original idea Gorav and Kevin had about starting a podcast? How would we describe each of our guests in one word? What changes have we made in Season Two, and what's coming in Season Three? As we celebrate LSPTPod's 2-Year anniversary, we sit down, look back, look around, then look forward to this journey we've been on with you, and we're so thankful for it.2022-11-0348 min
Linen Suit & Plastic Tie*BONUS* Does Experience Affect Taste? ft. a Wine Journalist (Erin Kirschenmann)We dive deep into more of your random wine questions!
Do you really need a decanter for wine? What are you supposed to do when you order a bottle of wine at a restaurant, and your server pours out a sip for you to taste it? Why do some wine labels never tell you what's in the bottle? For this bonus episode with wine journalist Erin Kirschenmann, we find answers to some of our (and probably your) biggest questions about wine drinking.2022-10-2721 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieDoes Experience Affect Taste? ft. a Wine Journalist (Erin Kirschenmann)Storytelling and wine. Don't think they're related? Think again. This week, we chat with Erin Kirschenmann, Managing Editor at Wine Business Monthly and Kevin's wine tasting instructor (Yes, Kevin's now professionally certified in wine tasting). Erin shares with us plenty of stories about the history and culture of wine, why wine tasting is a thing, Prohibition's impact on the wine landscape in the United States, why the wine industry is in dire need of a new story.2022-10-2046 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhy Do We Love Things? ft. a Love Professor (Dr. Aaron Ahuvia)Let's tackle the big question: what is love? Better yet, how do the things we love affect our stories and identities? Why do we love something, and what do we actually love about it? This week, we chat with Dr. Aaron Ahuvia, the world's leading academic expert on non-interpersonal love. Dr. Ahuvia is Professor of Marketing at the University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Business, who has pioneered the research on love since 1990. He shares with us what it means to love, how the things we love add to our stories and identities, and how products and brands can foster...2022-10-0645 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Can Storytelling Buy You More Happiness (Part II)? ft. a Time Professor (Dr. Cassie Holmes)How can we create happier memories for ourselves with the power of storytelling? How do we make sure to savor moments of joy and not take them for granted? How many things can we get done within your limited hours in a day, and how many more things could we get done if we learn the happiest way to manage our time? We continue our conversation with Dr. Cassie Holmes, award-winning Professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, researcher of time and happiness, and author of Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on Wh...2022-09-2240 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Can Storytelling Buy You More Time (Part I)? ft. a Happiness Professor (Dr. Cassie Holmes)What makes us happy, and what will make us happier? How can the story we tell ourselves about time affect our happiness level? In a world that easily makes us feel "time poor", how do we make the most of our limited time? This week, we chat with Dr. Cassie Holmes, award-winning Professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, researcher of time and happiness, and author of Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most.2022-09-0833 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Did Steve Jobs Become A Storyteller? ft. a Storytelling Influencer (Nathan Baugh)How did Steve Jobs transform Apple with storytelling, and how did he become a master storyteller? How does Twitter work as a storytelling platform, and how has storytelling turned Formula 1 into the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.? This week, we talk to Nathan Baugh, a storytelling influencer. From Batman to sports, Nathan chats with us about how storytelling transforms businesses and ideas, obvious or not. He shares with us one of the simplest actionable step we can all take to sharpen our storytelling minds, and why it's easier than we'd think.2022-08-2544 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieStorytime w/Sophia - A Tale of Sneakers, Logos, and SuitsWhy isn't Kevin a sneakerhead? Gorav raises this question as he ponders buying a pair of sneakers. To answer this question, we first visit the stories that designer clothing tells and how those stories make us feel. Then we get sidetracked, as we try to journey into a little history lesson about suits. In a bizarre sequence of events, Gorav sets out on his self-instigated debate on whether he should buy an expensive pair of sneakers, and Sophia jumps in to tell us her take on it. Instead of our usual lessons of the craft of storytelling, we went spontaneous...2022-08-1155 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Stories Does "Crypto" Tell? ft. an Angel Investor (Stephen Cole)What does storytelling have to do with Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, and what risks and opportunities do these stories create? While we do not explore investments or financial advice on this podcast, we are surely interested in understanding the storytelling involved in such assets. This week, we talk to Stephen Cole, an angel investor in Bitcoin. Stephen shares with us the role of storytelling plays in popularizing a technology, separating the story of a technology leader from the technology itself (i.e. "Bitcoin" vs. "crypto"), and what "money" has meant to societies across different ages.2022-07-1446 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieSeriously, Why So Serious? ft. a Batman Exec Producer (Michael Uslan)Yes, you know who Batman is, but did you know how Batman's (and Joker's) stories became the dark, serious cultural icons today? We kick off the second half of Season Two with the Executive Producer of EVERY Batman/Joker movie you've ever heard of. Michael Uslan spent 10 years of his life to convince Hollywood to produce the Batman that we know and love--from Batman (1989), The Dark Knight trilogy, to Joker (2019) and The Batman (2022), Michael reveals to us Batman's legacy on film-making and our culture throughout the decades.2022-06-3045 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieAm I On Mute? ft. a Storytelling Coach (Mark Dannenberg)Why are we good at preparing a story but bad at practicing it? How do you establish your physical presence when speaking in a remote meeting? How do you keep your audience engaged? This week, we talk to Mark Dannenberg, an actor and storytelling coach about the acting techniques we can all borrow to apply to our storytelling. From Shakespeare and musical theater to standup comedy and TV, Mark has a colorful acting career, and he has been translating the skills that allowed him to succeed in theater into actionable advice to the business world.2022-04-2845 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieCan NFTs Reinvent Hollywood? ft. a Co-Creator @ Stoner Cats (Sarah Cole)What is an NFT, and how can NFTs bring changes to TV, film, and animation? This week, we talk with Sarah Cole, Co-Creator of the star-studded NFT show Stoner Cats, about the origin and future of this unconventional animated show. Before making the bold jump from studio to NFT content creation, Sarah has worked as an Editor for animated features across well-known studio such as Sony Pictures (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Netflix, and Paramount. We chat all about the NFT space: the community-driven style of storytelling, the relationship between studios and NFT content (now and future), and some intriguing fact...2022-04-1444 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Do You Build Corporate Culture? ft. a CEO @ Meetup (David Siegel)What is it like to take over a company from its founder? What is the best approach to interviewing? What was it like to work with Adam Neumann? This week, we chat with David Siegel, CEO of Meetup and author of Decide & Conquer: 44 Decisions That Make or Break All Leaders. Through his career stories and his book, David shares with us how he led Meetup's culture of resilience to evolve and used it to lead the company through the infamous WeWork IPO and the COVID-19 pandemic.2022-03-3147 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Power Lies In Your Name? ft. a Novelist - Dava Shastri's Last Day (Kirthana Ramisetti)Why are we so drawn towards fictions when they're not "real"? What does your name mean, and what legacy does it carry? What should representation in fictions look like? This week, we chat with Kirthana Ramisetti, author of the much-anticipated novel Dava Shastri's Last Day, a Good Morning America and Lilly's Library Book Club Pick. Kirthana shares with us the stories behind creating Dava, the unconventional protagonist who is a celebrity, a billionaire, a woman, a wife, a mother/grandmother, a second-gen Indian immigrant. As a former entertainment reporter for Newsday and the New York Daily News, Kirthana has written...2022-03-1745 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhy Shouldn't You Propose At First Sight? ft. a Chief Measurement Strategist @ Google (Neil Hoyne)Do you judge a book by its cover? How do you avoid "proposing at first sight"? Why does our audience most often not care about what we do, and how do we effectively communicate with them anyways? What do data-oriented and technical-oriented people's unique advantages to storytelling? This week, we chat with Neil Hoyne, he who strategizes measurements at Google. Having graduated from UCLA Anderson with his MBA in the post-2008 financial crisis world, Neil entered the field of data analytics, then found his way into Google, and now works as Chief Measurement Strategist, leading meaningful consumer engagments with the...2022-03-0346 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Do You Make Thinking Cool? ft. a Journalist & a Producer (Kinsey Grant & Josh Kaplan)Thinking can be cool, but how do you induce real, cool thinking? What makes for a good partnership that leads to phenomenal storytelling? What is the creator economy, and how will that shape storytelling? For Episode TWO of Season TWO, we talk with TWO guests who make an exciting podcasting / content creation DUO: Kinsey Grant, host of the Thinking is Cool podcast, and Josh Kaplan, CEO of Smooth Ops. Together, they have co-founded Thinking is Cool and Smooth Ops and are bringing exciting changes to podcast storytelling and the creator economy. Prior to Thinking Is Cool and Smooth Ops, the...2022-02-1745 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow to Scale Your Story? ft. a Chief Economist @ Lyft (Dr. John List)What is behavioral economics? What is “the voltage effect”? How do you know if your business/policy idea will scale? We kick off Season Two with Professor John List, one of the most renowned behavioral economists out there, to chat about storytelling in his impactful work, his new book The Voltage Effect, and how we’ve been approaching scalability the wrong way. If you’ve lived in the United States, John’s work has probably had an impact on your life — he is Chief Economist at Lyft, Distinguished Service Professor at University of Chicago, formerly Chief Economist at Uber (Ubernomics). He also serv...2022-02-0345 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieSeason Two OverviewWelcome back to LSPTPod Season Two! With an informative and fulfilling Season One in the books, we are continuing on our journey to become better storytellers by learning from a wide range of expert, unconventional storytellers. We believe that storytelling is the essential skill that makes us human, and we invite you continue this journey with us. Follow us on Instagram @LSPTPod and LinkedIn.2022-01-2002 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieStorytime w/Gorav & Kevin - LSPTPod Season One FinaleWhat is Kevin's story? What is Gorav's? What is Linen Suit & Plastic Tie's story? What should we (and you) take away from Season One? What's a word that describes every one of our expert storytellers? As we conclude this wonderful Season One of LSPTPod, we look back and forward to the amazing show that you are building with us. Thank you for an amazing Season One, and here's to an exciting Season Two ❤️ 感谢您的收听。2021-11-1846 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieStorytime w/Dr.Prescott-Johnson - LSPTPod 1-Year Anniversary SpecialOn Nov. 4th, 2020, Gorav Menon and Kevin Liu embarked on their storytelling journey with the first episode of Linen Suit & Plastic Tie. On Nov. 4th, 2021, we celebrate our 1-year anniversary of this journey with the expert storyteller who started it all with us, Dr. Tara Prescott-Johnson. How have we changed? What have we learned? How is this podcast impacting our lives? If you were a ghost and could possess people, what would you make them do? After a whole year of incredible stories, the three of us get to sit down and catch up on how our stories have...2021-11-0446 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhy are Botox Sales Going Up? ft. a Cognitive Neuroscientist (Dr. Sahar Yousef)We ALL have racing thoughts and narratives about ourselves that we can't shut down - our "identity-based beliefs". How do we use that to our advantage? What is "stress" physiologically speaking? Is "video fatigue" real, and why are Botox sales through the roof since COVID? This week, we unpack it all with Dr. Sahar Yousef. Dr. Sahar Yousef is a cognitive neuroscientist as well as faculty at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. She has conducted research on brain plasticity, human performance enhancement, and cognitive training. Outside of the academic world, Sahar runs “Becoming Superhuman”, a training and consulting firm wh...2021-10-2141 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhy Do We Need A New Story? ft. a Mythologist (Part 2) (John Bucher)Why do we need a new story & a better story? What story do people tell over and over across different cultures and times? Why can NFT sound like such an intriguing idea? This is Part 2 of our conversation with John Bucher, a Mythologist and professional storyteller, where we discuss the stories we keep retelling and the stories we need for the future. John is Creative Director for the Joseph Campbell Foundation and is also an author, podcaster, and speaker. He has worked with companies including HBO, DC Comics, The History Channel, A24 Films, The John Maxwell Leadership Foundation and served...2021-10-0735 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat’s Happening to Our Old Stories? ft. a Mythologist (Part 1) (John Bucher)It's so important to tell stories that are true, but why are some stories "more than true"? This is Part 1 of our conversation with John Bucher, a Mythologist and professional storyteller, where we discuss what storytelling is at a high level then deep dive into its significance, starting from the oldest stories we have. John is Creative Director for the Joseph Campbell Foundation and is also an author, podcaster, and speaker. He has worked with companies including HBO, DC Comics, The History Channel, A24 Films, The John Maxwell Leadership Foundation and served as a consultant and writer for numerous film...2021-09-3032 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieEver Listen to Yourself Talk? ft. a Podcaster (Avery Trufelman)But actually, have you ever listened to yourself talk? What do podcasters and cartoonists have in common? Why do podcasters' voices drop? Can storytelling be used for evil.. cough... con(fidence) men... cough; This week, we talk to Avery Trufelman, Producer/Host for award-winning podcasts about the interesting things we have noticed about our own voices as we listen to them, among other things. Avery Trufelman’s work features popular podcasts such as The Cut, Nice Try!, 99% Invisible, and Articles of Interest. She is an extremely experienced podcaster and storyteller, who asks questions like "Is Disney a Utopia?" It is a truly...2021-09-1630 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhy is Music NOT a Universal Language? ft. a Musician (Greg Pliska)What goes into creating scores for films and theater plays? Remember IMAX theaters and that epic countdown before the movie starts? Why is music NOT the universal language? Come find out about all of these things with Greg Pliska! Greg is a composer, conductor and orchestrator whose diverse career includes award-winning work in theater, film, TV, podcasts, etc. (CBS Evening News and Face the Nation, IMAX, HBO Feature Presentation, Hulu, Manhattan Night, Trust). Through stories from his diverse music work, Greg introduces us to storytelling in music, how music helps storytelling in film or theater, and why music, like many...2021-09-0229 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Lenses Should You Have? ft. a Product Marketer (Carolina Arguelles Navas)What is Product Marketing? Why is storytelling crucial to it? How has remote working changed storytelling and the way we communicate? This week, we do a deep dive into all these things Carolina Arguelles Navas, Group Product Marketing Manager at Snap Inc. Through Carolina's lens, we look into how we can better connect with others while in front of our cameras, understand why and how to "listen", and learn to tell stories that are relatable, honest, and true.2021-08-1933 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat the F is a FinFluencer? ft. a Gen-Z TikTok FinFluencer (Austin Hankwitz)Just what is the F in FinFluencer? This week, we talk to Austin Hankwitz, a personal finance & investment influencer on TikTok. Having kicked off his influencer career in Feb. 2020, Austin now has almost half a million followers on TikTok. Through Austin's lens, we get to learn what storytelling means within TikTok's unique platform and format, his goals and vision as an investment influencer, why anyone can and should look into investing, and how content creators can more effectively connect brands with audiences in a relevant, storytelling-based way.2021-06-1029 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieStorytime Live w/Sarah NooraviThe LSPTPod is excited to host our first live podcast with UCLA Anderson’s MSBA program & Snapchat Sr. Financial Analyst, Sarah Nooravi!
With 30K+ LinkedIn followers, Sarah has many titles, including Sr. Financial Analyst at Snap, LinkedIn Top Voice in Analytics & Data Science, a Women in Big Data leader, Teacher, Mentor, and many more. We learn about her career journey, her insights on data storytelling, her advice to aspiring data professionals, and how to thrive in today's tech world. Our UCLA MSBA live audience also joins in on the conversation by asking insightful questions of their own. This is not on...2021-05-2744 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhy Do We Love Rivalry? ft. a Marvel vs. DC Historian (Reed Tucker)You probably know about Marvel, DC, and their rivalry, but do you know how they came to be? This week, we talk to Reed Tucker. Reed is a journalist at the New York Post and author of Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-Year Battle Between Marvel and DC. A true expert & authority on the Marvel-DC rivalry, Reed reveals to us the origins and creeds of Marvel's and DC's comic book stories, how their respective corporate structures shaped their storytelling approaches, and the tricks that Marvel adapted from its Comic Universe to the MCU. Slugfest will be adapted into a TV show...2021-05-0629 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieArchie, Riverdale, and Taylor Swift? ft. a Archie Comics President (Alex Segura)This week's expert storyteller is Alex Segura, Co-President of Archie Comics. Alex is a comic book veteran - we learn about how a comic is built, the comic book industry, the Archie brand, the Riverdale reboot, and the neo-noir elements of Taylor Swift? Alex Segura is the author of the acclaimed Pete Fernandez Mystery series and Star Wars' Poe Dameron: Free Fall. Alex has also written a number of comic books, including The Archies, and contributions to the Eisner Award-nominated Where We Live anthology. He is the co-creator and co-writer of Lethal Lit, from iHeart Radio, which was named one...2021-04-0828 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Would You Do with an Elephant? ft. a Social Marketing Mastermind (Eric Toda)You have seen many ads and marketing campaigns on social media platforms, but how much do you know about the thoughts and efforts behind them? This week, we are talking with Eric Toda. Having worked at Facebook when it was still up and coming, Eric has helped shape social marketing to what it is today since its very beginning. After leading digital and social marketing at Nike, Snap, Airbnb, Stitch Fix, etc., Eric is now back at Facebook as the Global Head of Social Marketing. From Eric's perspective as a pioneer of the field, we learn about what social marketing...2021-04-0129 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Do You Animate Superheroes? ft. a TV Writer & Producer (Kevin Burke)How do superheroes stories from the comic book become animated TV series? This week, we find that out with Kevin Burke. Kevin Burke is an Emmy-nominated Writer and Producer for numerous animated TV series, including Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, Rocket & Groot, Transformers, Star Wars Resistance, Stretch Armstrong & The Flex Fighters, My Little Pony, and more. Kevin introduces us to macro vs. micro storytelling in TV producing and writing, the profound responsibilities and messages that animation carries for young audience, as well as balancing consistency and novelty when rewriting popular stories such as Spider-Man and Star Wars.2021-03-1129 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Are Data Stories? ft. a Data Storyteller (Brent Dykes)This week, we are talking with Brent Dykes, author of Effective Data Storytelling. With over 15 years in analytics consulting at companies such as Omniture, Adobe, and Domo, Brent has worked with some of the most well-known brands in the world, and he is now leading Insights & Data Storytelling efforts at Blast Analytics. He tells us about the three pillars of data storytelling: when data story is/isn't necessary, how to build a narrative with your data, and more.2021-03-0429 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Animal Would Be Cutest If Shrunk? ft. a Snapchat Director (Matt McGowan)What Animal Be Cutest if Shrunk Down To The Size Of Cat? This week, we are talking with Matt McGowan, Director and General Manager Canada at Snapchat Canada. Matt graduated from Oxford with his MBA in 2004, since then he has served on multiple boards, led multiple companies to multimillion-dollar exists, served as Head of Strategy at Google, and is now an early-stage venture partner at C2 Ventures. In this week's episode, Matt talks about his unique career path, discovering things he didn't want to do, and how targeted questions can bring people together.2021-02-1829 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Can Data Say about People? ft. a People Analytics Director (Micah Lueck)What story can you tell about people when you combine psychology and data? This week, we are talking with Micah Lueck, Director of People Analytics at Qualcomm. Combining his expertise in psychology, mathematics, and statistics, Micah is leading his team to better understand the employee experience through the lens of data analytics. He tells us about People Analytics and its impact on how we tell stories about employment life cycles, the importance of injecting diverse perspectives into analytics, as well as navigating the data anomaly that was the year 2020.2021-02-1129 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow Do You Sell an Experience? ft. a fmr Disney Marketing Exec (Christopher Connolly)We couldn't talk about storytelling without talking to someone with over a decade of experience at THE storytelling company, The Walt Disney Company. Our guest this week is Christopher Connolly. An entertainment marketing guru, Mr. Connolly has extensive experience in leading marketing efforts - at Hasbro early on, and at Disney more recently. At Disney, he led multi-million dollar marketing campaigns for Disney Parks & Resorts. He was also the CMO/SVP of Consumer Marketing at Disney Consumer Products, leading the campaigns for Frozen, Cars, Mickey, Spiderman, and other Disney merchandise.2021-02-0429 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Is Your Origin Story? ft. a Comic Book Psychologist (Dr. Andrea Letamendi)A Hero lies in YOU! To verify that, we've brought in a clinical psychologist who uses comic book superheroes to help people. This week's expert storyteller is Dr. Andrea Letamendi. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, TEDx Speaker, Educator, Trainer, Mental Health Media Consultant, On-Camera Commentator, and Podcast Host. Dr. Letamendi is featured in Disney+'s Marvel 616, DC's FanDome, Batgirl #20 (2013), and many more publications. Interweaving her love for comic books and psychology, Dr. Letamendi shows us how fictional stories help us understand and cope with the perplexing world around us.2020-12-1629 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Story Can You Engineer? ft. a Principal Engineer (Carey Nachenberg)A Principal Engineer at Lyft, co-inventor of Norton Antivirus, and a college programming Professor? This week, we talk to Carey Nachenberg. From his experience as both a Software Engineer and Computer Science Professor, Carey shares with us why Engineers - who we may think of as recipients of stories - should tell stories themselves, as well as why Storytelling alone is not sufficient for innovations. Carey Nachenberg is Principal Engineer at Lyft, Computer Science Professor at UCLA, formerly Principal Engineer at Google, and the senior-most engineer in Symantec. He is also author of The Florentine Deception - a cyber-security thriller...2020-12-0929 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat is AR Storytelling? ft. a Creative Strategist @ Snapchat (Jeff Miller)How do you tell stories using AR (Augmented Reality)? This week's expert storyteller is Jeff Miller, Sr. Director of Global Creative Strategy at Snap Inc., former Director of Digital Strategy at Gatorade, and former Account Executive at Ogilvy & Mather. Jeff has spent years on top of the advertising industry by tracking technological changes and seeing how new advertising formats enable effective stories. While some view AR as but a shiny toy, Jeff is able to use AR as a way to enhance culturally relevant stories. Listen now to learn more about Jeff's career, how to leverage new technologies in advertising...2020-12-0229 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieStorytime w/SophiaThanksgivings are spent with families, so we are talking to Sophia. This is an episode of a different format. Through our conversation with our friend Sophia Kostas, we will go more in-depth on our stories and our learnings from running this podcast so far. Sophia is a cognitive psychologist, a UX designer, and one of our best friends since college.2020-11-2544 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieHow To SOAR Above The STARs? ft. a Career Coach (Larry Braman)A game-changing Career Coach who used to be an Actor & Writer? This week, our expert storyteller is Larry Braman. Larry is Director of Career Services at UCLA Anderson's M.S. in Business Analytics (MSBA) program. Started off his career as an actor, Larry later applied his creative expertise to the corporate world, using his skills and experience as an actor to help young professionals tell compelling stories about themselves in job seeking. In this episode, we will learn why it is important to be bold, how to tell a story with your resume, how to utilize concepts in drama and...2020-11-1829 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhy, Male Rompers? ft. a Tesla PM (Wyatt Thompson)This week's expert storyteller is Wyatt Thompson. Wyatt is a Product Manager at Tesla, a former Product Manager at Dollar Shave Club, and Co-Founder of RomperJack (Top 1% of Shopify Stores). Wyatt used his non-technical background and Sociology degree to break into product management at one of the most technical companies in the world. In this episode, we learn how to tell a collaborative story, how to follow trends to build an audience, and how to use the power of “Why” to tell a more compelling story.2020-11-1125 min
Linen Suit & Plastic TieWhat Is Your Story? ft. a Storytelling Professor (Dr. Tara Prescott-Johnson)This week's expert storyteller is Dr. Tara Prescott-Johnson, a writing professor, author, and fantasy expert. At UCLA, Dr. Prescott-Johnson integrates comics, graphic novels, television, and other unconventional media into her lesson plans. In this episode, we will learn how to craft our own stories and find the power within even the most mundane experiences. Dr. Prescott-Johnson is the editor of Neil Gaiman in the 21st Century (McFarland), co-editor of Gender and the Superhero Narrative (University of Mississippi Press), and co-editor of Feminism in the Worlds of Neil Gaiman (McFarland).2020-11-0423 minLinen Suit & Plastic TieSeason One - OverviewLinen Suit & Plastic Tie is a brand new podcast where we talk to expert unconventional storytellers about their unique life stories, and how storytelling plays a role in their careers, business, and life. Our goal is for us and you, our listeners, to learn from inspiring and surprising storytellers to become better communicators, better collaborators, and to create great things.2020-10-2804 minLinen Suit & Plastic TieSeason One TrailerWelcome to Linen Suit & Plastic Tie!2020-10-1900 min