Shows
Shit You Don't Learn in School82. Creating 6-Figure Projects Online (With a FT Job!)Technology has enabled more people than ever to support their lives via online side projects. Steph is one of the people who understands this world well, having created multiple six-figure projects over the last few years.In this episode, Cal interviews Steph about her perspective on bringing an idea to life, managing your psychology, maintaining a reputation, how to price projects, and doing all of this while working a full-time job.Check out Internet Pipes: https://internetpipes.com/Discount Code: SYDLISResources:Josh Pigford's project listPieter Levels’ project listPat Walls’ proj...
2024-12-291h 21Shit You Don't Learn in School79. Running Toward a Healthier LifeEverybody warns you that your body slows down with age, but that deterioration so sneaky, we continue to convince ourselves that we’re doing just fine.At least, that’s what happened to Steph over the past decade, going from an athlete in her youth to waking up one day without the fitness she once remembered. This episode is a walk through that story, but more importantly, how she got back on track and just ran her first half-marathon. This year, she’ll surpass over 500 miles and next year, the aim is 1000+.The best part is? Th...
2024-11-1756 minShit You Don't Learn in School76. The Half-Baked Business Idea Roast: Sensory Museums, Zyn Tins, Unrecordable Spaces, and Much MoreThis is the 10th episode back for SYDLIS, so if you want us to continue creating new episodes for the podcast, let us know by leaving a review at ratethispodcast.com/learn. In this episode, Steph and Cal bring a medley of half-baked business ideas to the table. They introduce the origin story of each idea, rate it on a scale of A-F, discuss modifications that would make it better, and most importantly, roast each other when the idea is a little too half-baked.This episode is a part of the broader nudge Steph and C...
2023-11-0650 minShit You Don't Learn in School74. Opportunity is Everywhere: Using Twitter, Wikipedia, Patents, & Niche Databases to Discover TrendsThe internet has a treasure trove of information that you can use to generate business ideas, spot trends, and understand what the future will look like before everyone else. But to benefit from the internet's wealth of knowledge, you need to learn how to use it in the right ways.In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss four unconventional ways that you can use the internet to find good ideas for businesses and products that people actually want.You’ll learn how to:Use Twitter searches to...
2023-10-0754 minShit You Don't Learn in School73. Writing to Save Your LifeWriting is one of the most powerful tools on Earth. But few have mastered the craft.Perhaps because success in writing often actually veers you off course, leading you to a life of talking instead of living -- the very thing that drove the quality of your writing in the first place.One man -- (who has written several novels, thousands of poems, and hundreds of short stories) has some merciless takes on the art of writing. And although merciless, many ring true.In this episode, Cal and Steph dive into the mind o...
2023-09-301h 02Shit You Don't Learn in School72. Inside the Early Days of Digital NomadismFew waves have hit the world quite like remote work; a wave impacting billions of people overnight due to a worldwide pandemic.But in reality, this wave was brewing for decades and thousands of nomads had long been proving there was a different and viable way to work. Calvin and Steph were two of those people, starting in 2016.Now that the world has caught up, they decided to reflect back on what was so special about that period and what, in retrospect, they might've seen then that much of the world had still not (and...
2023-09-2457 minShit You Don't Learn in School70. What Do You Want?!Many people waddle through life without asking themselves a simple, but important question: What do I want? In this episode, Steph and Cal discuss how to figure out what you want and avoid some common traps that take you down unhelpful detours.The episode is based on two of Cal's recent articles, which you can read here:What Do You Want?Calvinball: The Only Game Worth PlayingThis episode is not affiliated with Steph's work at a16z and is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or i...
2023-09-0933 minShit You Don't Learn in School69. Tipping Culture: Have We Gone Too Far?Some people argue for tipping. Some people argue against. But the one thing that unites most people with an opinion on the topic is a lack of understanding of where the practice came from in the first place.In this episode, Cal and Steph walk through the history of tip culture, how that led to vastly different norms around the world, and the confusing place we're left in today – especially in an era of Square terminals and where tipping seems to be infiltrating the unexpected.Has tip culture gone too far? Listen in to...
2023-09-0259 minShit You Don't Learn in School68. The Cost of ExcellenceThe Master Somm test is widely recognized as one of, if not the hardest test in the world. Only 273 people have passed it since it was incepted in 1969, also making it one of the rarest distinctions out there (
2023-08-2659 minShit You Don't Learn in School66. The AI Debate: Where Do You Sit?ChatGPT broke records in adoption, hitting 100m monthly active users in a matter of months... faster than any other web platform prior. Even faster than TikTok!But with fast adoption comes equally swift resistance, surfacing questions around how this technology is changing the wider world. Should AI models be allowed in schools? How about the courtroom? Do stock image photographers have a fighting chance?In this episode, Cal and Steph step into the shoes of many people tackling these difficult questions right now. From the middle school teacher to the college admissions officer, to the o...
2023-02-161h 01Shit You Don't Learn in School65. Finding a Life PartnerOne of the most important decisions in life is who you choose to spend your life with, yet it's also one of the hardest things to get right.Inspired by a recent conversation with a friend that may have unrealistic expectations, Cal and Steph discuss the data behind dating, but also their own very different approaches to it... and if they ever ended up back on the market, how they might do things differently in an era dominated by apps.
2023-02-1044 minShit You Don't Learn in School64. The Weight of Things – From Physical to DigitalHave you ever looked around your home and thought, "Where did all this stuff come from?!"Cal and Steph are currently going through this exercise, as they go through their first move in years.It turns out they're not alone in this feeling of overwhelm and is shared by many others who used to be nomads. The need for *things* is universal, but so is the slippery slope to acquiring too many. In this episode, Cal and Steph explore why weight of stuff – both physically and mentally – and how our decisions are...
2023-01-1936 minShit You Don't Learn in School63. The Best Sh*t We Learned in 2022!Each January, Steph and Cal sit down to reflect on the prior year and this one is no different. You'll find out their...Best New IdeaBest New Life HackBest New ExperienceBest/Worst PurchaseBest/Worst TrendBest Personal Win/Accomplishment#1 Goal for Next YearPrediction for the New YearJumpstart 2023 by doubling down on the best activities and avoiding the worst. It's going to be an awesome year.PS: If you liked the sound effects in this episode, we found them here.PPS: Since Steph now works at a16z, please note that the content here...
2023-01-121h 00Shit You Don't Learn in School62. Opportunity is Everywhere: Lupini Beans, Niche Sports, and MoreA few weeks ago, Steph and Cal had a locksmith come in. It cost $185 and was shockingly quick... just 10 minutes! Little did they know it would also be the fodder for one of Steph's most popular tweets of all time.Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising – people love learning about new opportunities. That's why they decided to record this (hopefully) recurring segment where they share various opportunities they've found in everyday things and how they're crafted a curious lens with time.In this episode, they discuss 6 business ideas:niche sports like freedivingsecond-hand LEGO ma...
2022-11-3041 minShit You Don't Learn in School61. Is Cheating Ever Okay?There has been a wave of recent cheating scandals, from chess to poker to fishing. But cheating is not new, nor is it a rare occurrence. In fact, some articles sport stats like "75 to 98% of college students have cheated" or "over 46% of respondents in a monogamous relationship said they had affairs."In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss when – if ever – cheating is okay. They even share their own experiences of being caught in the act and how it's shaped their perspectives since.
2022-11-2544 minShit You Don't Learn in School60. Generative AI: The Next Big Thing?For years, people thought that artificial intelligence would wipe out repetitive tasks, but leave the creatives untouched. But recent developments have left many people surprised and taken the creative world by storm. Tools like DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion gave anyone with a keyboard and a wifi connection the ability to spin up images from text prompts, far earlier and higher quality than many imagined. So what comes next for the artists... the writers... the musicians...? No one knows for sure, but in this episode Cal and Steph discuss the exciting new world of generative AI...
2022-11-151h 06Shit You Don't Learn in School59. Be a Magnet, Not a JailIt's human nature to worry about the things that can go wrong.But often overlooked is the mentality of attraction instead of detraction, or in other words focusing on what you can bring to the table instead of what you can prevent from happening.While so many companies signal they want entrepreneurial candidates yet don't allow side projects, want out of the box thinkers yet expect them to work in a box (office), and vow they only hire top talent yet pay below market rate... there's power in thinking through whether you're truly focusing on...
2022-11-0243 minShit You Don't Learn in School58. Money x RelationshipsMoney is a leading cause of problems in relationships. It’s not just not having money, it’s conflict around money, lack of alignment, and the downstream effects of that.Money is complicated because it’s influenced by your direct circumstances, but also by your childhood, psychology, and trajectory. It's also complicated because so few people talk openly and honestly about money.In this episode, Steph and Cal open up the kimono and explore how they deal with and think about money in their relationship. They share their current working philosophy on money and stories about...
2022-10-251h 02Shit You Don't Learn in School57. [Part 3] How to Get Married in 10 DaysIn part 3 of our 3-part series, Steph and Cal discuss how they planned a wedding in 10 days, what they did (including traditions kept and scrapped), and the pros and cons of taking a less conventional approach to marriage.
2022-10-181h 03Shit You Don't Learn in School55. [Part 1] The Narratives Behind Love with Amanda Natividad and Marissa GoldbergIn part 1 of our 3-part series, we're joined be Amanda Natividad and Marissa Goldberg – two friends of the podcast – to discuss the traditions that surround love.After getting engaged last year, Steph found herself in a place she didn't expect and with emotions that she didn't feel entitled to have. That led her down a deep rabbit hole of questions, ultimately ending up in a bunch of societal narratives.She discusses them here with Amanda and Marissa, as they share how they navigated the narratives that underpin love, from engagement to name...
2022-10-0858 minShit You Don't Learn in School54. Ask Us (Literally) AnythingIn this special episode, Cal and Steph answer audience questions across a wide range of topics including writing, relationships, finances, and even death. Listen in to find out.Next StepsEssay about the nuance of privilegeIf you liked this episode, make sure to subscribe and leave a review. To receive the latest updates, follow The Sh*t You Don't Learn in School on Twitter.
2022-05-151h 04Shit You Don't Learn in School53. The Promises and Pitfalls of the Creator EconomySteph has some exciting news to share in today's episode! Listen in to find out.In this episode, Cal and Steph also cover the rise of the creator economy -- both its promise and pitfalls.They breakdown why the heightened attention toward creators, whether we can expect a creator "middle class" anytime soon, the importance of IP, and even explore what it truly means to be a "creator"...Is it the things they build?Is it the audience they have?Is it the money the make?They also cover...
2022-05-0657 min
LifeDoneDifferent.lySteph Smith - Life done differently for the risk adverseUntil she went to Sweden as part of a student exchange programme, Steph didn't really question the trajectory she was on. She was going with the flow. A spell in Sweden, a different culture with different people and in particular a different educational system woke Steph up to the idea that she had led a sheltered life and that different was at the very least interesting and at very best, significantly better than the way things were done back home.The idea that there were other ways to do things stuck . . so when it c...
2022-04-291h 27Shit You Don't Learn in School52. Deciding Where to Live with Endless ChoiceWe all know that where you live is one of the most important decisions you can make, but it may be more important than you think. And with more people working remotely, there is no more freedom than ever in deciding where you call "home."In this episode, Steph and Cal discuss how to think about where you should live, why it matters more than you think, and how you can make a decision when it involves two people who have different desires from a location.In one of our next episodes, we'll be answering...
2022-04-1351 minShit You Don't Learn in School51. The Life You Could've LivedLife feels like a bunch of micro-decisions, yet a few macro-decisions often end up determining how you spend most of your time.Perhaps one of the most significant are the degree you choose and the first job you take. The decisions that follow those are inevitably pulled by their inertia.In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss the importance of exploring the diversity of jobs out there and how many people become fixed in a singular path.If you liked this episode, make sure to subscribe and leave a review.
2022-03-2853 minShit You Don't Learn in School50. Making a Difference During WartimeWe believe that the desire to give is universal, but is just as much a skill as anything else in life. In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss the how you can make a difference during your limited time on this earth, with the limited resources you have -- especially during times like these.They dive into...Creative ways that people have supported UkraineStriking a balance between hedonism and altruismMaking difficult problems tractableA breakdown of the gender pay gapImpact starting with small actionsWTF is effective altruism?Whether charities should be structured differentlyIf you'd like...
2022-03-191h 07Shit You Don't Learn in School49. The Hidden Power of LanguageLanguage is one of the most powerful tools that humans have accessible to them.Don't believe us? Consider the fact that someone could walk up to you and say something that could immediately change your mental state.Nothing around you has changed, other than the words echoed through the air.In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss the power of words and how language can shape the way we think. They use untranslatable words to convey these concepts and share how language has been shown to impact anything from our impression of time...
2022-02-191h 04Shit You Don't Learn in School48. It's Time to Leave the CasinoThe allure of getting rich quick is intoxicating.It's even more intoxicating when you're trapped inside and it seems like all your friends have cashed in big.In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss Cal's experience with active investing over the last 20 months and ultimately, why it's time to walk away from the casino.If you liked this episode, make sure to subscribe and leave a review. You can also read Calvin's article on the topic here. And if you're also stuck in the casino, don't be afraid to reach out...
2022-02-1155 minShit You Don't Learn in School47. What Can Happen in 300 Years?"The only constant is change", they say.In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss just how drastically the world has changed and will continue to change.From the iPhone... to the Internet... to antibiotics... to human flight... to to the sequencing of DNA... to perhaps the most important fact that humans now live more than double as long... these developments all happened within the last 100 years.Given that things within a single lifetime can go from being inconceivable to ubiquitous, it's mind-blowing to imagine what might be come.They use the...
2022-02-061h 00
The Audience ExplorerSteph Smith: How to become successful as a content creatorSteph Smith is a growth marketer, writer, and indie maker. She wrote “The Guide to Remote Work That’s Not Trying to Sell You Anything” and "Doing Content Right".Steph and Matthias join on The Audience Explorer for a chat. Steph shares two interesting topics here:1) How she found the audience for her first book (and how she was able to write it in parallel to her job)2) What's absolutely necessary for a content creator to become successfulGreat insights, Steph! Thanks for being my guest!Read the full transcript of the...
2022-02-0342 minShit You Don't Learn in School46. The Life Lessons You Shouldn't IgnoreThere's an endless sea of advice online.Whether it's from a vague Twitter thread or a clickbait blog post, the advice sounds catchy, but if we're honest... often holds little water.However, we all know from experience that the right lessons, sometimes even sitting in plain sight, can genuinely change the trajectory of one's life.In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss the few pieces of advice that they think matter most and shouldn't be ignored.Love this episode? Give it a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/learnResources:
2022-01-251h 11Shit You Don't Learn in School45. Are You Playing Russian Roulette With Life?In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss the hidden side of risk: the infrequent, often unpredictable events that make the biggest differences in our lives.If you look around, rare, high-impact events are everywhere. A small number of days in the stock market drive the bulk of the returns.Large businesses like Google, Amazon, and Best Buy have tested thousands of products, yet have a single profit puppy. Insurance companies make money on most customers, but have to pay out very large claims to a few people.A handful of people have had more of an ef...
2022-01-1546 minShit You Don't Learn in School44. The Best Sh*t We Learned in 2021In this episode, Steph and Cal break down the best of 2021. You'll find out the...Best New IdeaBest New SkillBest New Life HackBest New ExperienceBest/Worst PurchaseBest/Worst InvestmentBest/Worst TrendBest PodcastCreator of the YearBest Personal Win/Accomplishment#1 Goal for Next YearPrediction for the New YearJumpstart 2022 by doubling down on the best activities and avoiding the worst. It's going to be an awesome year.PS: If you liked the sound effects in this episode, we found them here.
2022-01-081h 00Shit You Don't Learn in School43. Technology that People FearedWhat do airplanes, railroads, and jazz music have in common? They were all innovations that people feared.In fact, if you look into any key technology shift from the past, you'll find a wealth of fear, uncertainty, and doubt surrounding it. And while this shouldn't be surprising, we can still learn from the skeptics of the past.We can learn just how difficult it is to predict what's to come and look toward our future with a humble perspective, an acceptance that we probably will get it wrong again.In this episode, Calvin...
2021-12-2850 minShit You Don't Learn in School41. The Future of Work: What Comes Next? (Part 2)In the second part of this series on the future of work, Steph and Cal dive into new products and services, alongside macro trends that they predict are in full flux.These include mass migration, global tax infrastructure, opportunities for services to specialize, increased isolation, UBI, and of course... the metaverse. :)
2021-11-1650 minShit You Don't Learn in School40. The Future of Work: What Comes Next? (Part 1)People say that COVID was an accelerator, forcing trends that may have taken decades to develop, to instead take hold in much less time. Remote work was one of those trends. But we're not done yet!The future of work is constantly evolving and it doesn't just impact whether you can Zoom without pants. :)In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss the second and third order effects of the remote revolution and what's to come. And in part one of this series, they discuss how this equation impacts the individual and companies. In part 2, they'll...
2021-11-101h 06Shit You Don't Learn in School39. 80/20 Habits, Beliefs, and ProductsThe information age gives us access to so much advice that it can be hard to see through the noise.4AM morning routines that don't make sense for you. Productivity hacks that hardly move the needle. Hindsight bias cloaked as success stories.Most advice is well-intentioned, but rarely translates to improvements in another person's life. So this week, Cal and Steph took a step back to ask the simple question: what are the 80/20 habits, beliefs, and products that had an outsized impact in changing their lives.While many of their answers aren't revolutionary...
2021-10-1535 minShit You Don't Learn in School38. Open Salaries and Solving for an Equitable WorkforceWith the exception of a few companies like Buffer and GitLab, 99.99%+ of companies opt to keep their salaries closed. This closed nature creates information asymmetry and at times, inequity in the workplace.Lack of transparency gives companies a hall pass to not develop a robust compensation system, but at the same time, sharing salaries openly isn't without its pitfalls, including privacy and the tendency for people to over-compare themselves to others. In this episode, Steph and Cal debate whether companies should share their pay methodology or even fully open up their book. They share a...
2021-09-3051 minShit You Don't Learn in School37. Should Billionaires Exist?Wealth inequality has been increasing for decades, and recently, there has been a heightened focus on billionaires as we debate what to do about the concentration of large swaths of wealth in a few hands. In this episode, Steph and Cal discuss whether or not billionaires should exist, common proposals for dealing with billionaires, and a few policy proposals for how we can start thinking about tackling wealth inequality.Whether you find yourself saying, "billionaires are evil and don't deserve all that money", "billionaires deserve what they have earned", or "I don't care about billionaires...
2021-09-191h 06Shit You Don't Learn in School36. The Psychology of PricingIn this episode, Cal and Steph discuss the subjective nature of pricing. They explore how a value extends beyond utility or the physical nature of an asset (think luxury items, NFTs, etc) and use these ideas to explore new pricing models, including tiered, retention-based, and completion-based pricing.They also explore how our own psychology can inhibit use as consumers to spend on what's most meaningful and the importance of unlearning certain spending habits.If you find the psychology of money as fascinating as we do, give this episode a listen.Love this episode...
2021-09-1241 minShit You Don't Learn in School35. Does Marriage, Retirement, or the 40-Hour Work Week Still Make Sense?In this episode, Steph and Cal dive deep into traditions, the societal defaults that shape how we think and act in the world. They start by exploring the origins of the 40-hour work week, modern alternatives, and how we can rethink the idea of retirement. In the second half of the episode, they explore how the ways in which commonly held beliefs about monogamy, love, and marriage may not set people up for the life they want to live. If you're interested in questioning the norms and designing a life that works for you, this episode is worth a...
2021-09-041h 04Shit You Don't Learn in School34. Rethinking Productivity & How You Spend Your TimeThe big failure of most productivity advice is the focus on efficiency – getting things done more quickly. We should be focused on effectiveness – making sure we're doing the right things. In this episode, Steph and Cal explore how we can rethink productivity to get more out of how we spend our most valuable resource: time. They cover a variety of topics, including many practical ideas about getting more out of every day, including the Eliminate, Automate, Delegate, and Iterate framework from their new course: Doing Time Right.You can dive deeper into the concepts discussed and learn more...
2021-08-0831 minShit You Don't Learn in School33. Digital Security – Are You Safe?We're all familiar with how to increase physical security – locking our doors, paying attention to our surroundings, putting valuables in a safe, etc. – but what about our digital security? With an increasingly digital world comes a less perceptible risk – the risk of having your information hacked and exploited by someone with whom you will never see or interact. In this episode, Steph and Cal explore the basics of digital security, the risks involved, where many people go wrong, and what you should consider doing at a minimum to move from "at-risk" to "safer" with your digita...
2021-07-0637 minShit You Don't Learn in School32. Are We in a Bubble?At a time where several asset classes are at all-time highs, there's a lot of talk about whether we're in a bubble. That, coupled with crypto assets falling to ~half of their highs, prompted Cal and Steph to dive in to try to answer this question.In this episode, they discuss the markings of past bubbles, the innovation hype cycle, the difficulty in profiting from nascent innovations, the importance of educating yourself and building your own conviction behind your decisions, managing your psychology (offense vs defense), the cyclical nature of market cycles, and of course... the burning q...
2021-06-281h 01Shit You Don't Learn in School31. Surprising Travel Hacks From Visiting 70+ CountriesTravel is fun, but it becomes even more enjoyable once you know how to do it well. Collectively, Steph and Cal have visited over 70 countries while working remotely, learning a bunch of useful tips for better travel along the way. In this episode, they share some of the most useful learnings, including:- How to avoid getting scammed- How to choose a location and plan a trip- How to choose an accomodation that's suitable for work- How to interact with a place- How to get the most out of...
2021-06-1847 minShit You Don't Learn in School30. Was 30 Pods in 30 Days Worth It?30 days ago, Calvin and Steph set out to record 30 pods in 30 days. Today was the final episode of their challenge, where they reflect on what went well, what didn't go so well, and if they plan to continue recording.
2021-06-1028 minShit You Don't Learn in School29. Grappling with Unintended ConsequencesThe world is run by incentives, but what happens when those incentives go wrong? In this episode, Calvin and Steph talk through the Cobra Effect, a phenomena incentives designed to improve society actually end in negative consequences, often resulting in actions counter to the original goal. They discuss several examples of the effect and how people can not only be more aware of it, but also how they can design better incentive structures moving forward.
2021-06-0920 minShit You Don't Learn in School28. How to Quit Drinking Alcohol and Still Be HappyDrinking alcohol is embedded within the social fabric of society, but how do we take control of our relationship with alcohol? For all of the fun it supports, alcohol is a poison that causes unnecessary physical, mental, and emotional harm for many people. In this episode, Steph and Cal interview Taylor Platt, a Princeton graduate and NBA strategist who went sober 3 years ago. Taylor shares why he made the decisions, how he did it, the challenges he faced, and what he learned that might be helpful for you. If you're at all interested in reducing your alcohol or reconsidering...
2021-06-0835 minShit You Don't Learn in School27. Earning the Trust of Your TeamWhether we'd like to believe it or not, age is a signal that people judge others by. In a professional setting, it can signal your level of experience and for that reason, it can be difficult to earn the trust of a team, if they happen to be older than you. In this episode, Calvin and Steph talk through their experiences managing at a young age and what tips they have for effective leadership.
2021-06-0732 minShit You Don't Learn in School26. The 3X Rule and When You Should SplurgeIn recent episodes, Calvin and Steph have discussed lifestyle creep and how when you make more, you have the tendency to spend more. In this episode, they brought on a friend and colleague Ethan Brooks, to discuss in what circumstances it does make sense to splurge. In particular, they discuss their experiences in hostels and when it was time to upgrade.
2021-06-0627 minShit You Don't Learn in School25. How to Make Your Stuff Work For You, Not Against YouWe all accumulate possessions throughout our lives, but how often do we evaluate whether or not all that stuff is helping or hurting us? In this episode, Steph and Calvin talk about what they learned from living out of backpacks for 4 years, how expensive items carry a psychological burden, and how to think about what you buy over time.
2021-06-0519 minShit You Don't Learn in School24. Overcoming Imposter SyndromeNo matter how talented you are, you'll inevitably be a victim of imposter syndrome. But, there's a flipside to every coin and for imposter syndrome, it's the compulsion to always be better. Is is possible to get the upside and limit the downside?In this episode, Calvin and Steph discuss how they've managed imposter syndrome and balance their ambition to improve, with the tendency to compare yourself to others.
2021-06-0416 minShit You Don't Learn in School23. Is the World Actually Getting Worse?Most of us walk around thinking that the world is getting worse. But is this actually true? In this episode, Steph and I walk through a quiz that shows us just how wrong our instincts are about the state of the world and why we consistently believe that things are far worse than they actually are.
2021-06-0220 minShit You Don't Learn in School22. The Importance of Tech LiteracyAs technology becomes more ingrained in our daily lives, the question must be posed: how important is it for people to “keep up” technologically. In this episode, Steph makes a case for the importance of tech literacy and how she believes that with time, technical literacy will be viewed in a similar vein to written and oral literacy today. Calvin and her walk through how people can start dipping their toes into technology, why it matters, and discuss what skills may fade with time.
2021-06-0218 minShit You Don't Learn in School21. What is Financial Freedom and Are You There Yet?Whether we'd like to admit it or not, finances have such a significant impact in our lives, both in micro and macro decision making. We also can't ignore how people have different relationships with their wealth, even at the same level of income.In this episode, Calvin and Steph talk through the concept of being "post-economic", how they think about their "f*** you money" number, and how they manage their relationship with money.
2021-06-0120 minShit You Don't Learn in School20. Will FAANG Be the Dominant Companies Forever?Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix & Google (FAANG) have dominated and become integrated parts of all of our lives in the software era. But if you look at history, time and time again, the leading companies of the present aren't the leading companies of the future. In this episode, Steph and I explore the areas of innovation that might produce companies that displace FAANG and how those companies may approach attracting the best talent.
2021-05-3029 minShit You Don't Learn in School19. How the Fundamental Attribution Error Impacts Your RelationshipsAmong the many biases that we can fall prey to, one of Calvin's favorites is the fundamental attribution error. The bias, sometimes known as the "correspondence bias", is your tendency to assume that someone's behavior is due to the "kind" of person they are, rather than the circumstances impacting them.In this episode, Calvin and Steph discuss the cognitive bias, why it matters, and how we can combat it.
2021-05-2914 minShit You Don't Learn in School18. What Does it Take to Become World Class at Something?With 7 billion people on Earth, it's incredibly hard to be at the absolute top of any field. In this episode, Steph and Calvin discuss what they learned from their brief stints of being "world-class" in chess and golf, respectively. They also dive into the 10,000-hour rule, mastering skills in adulthood, and managing your psychology along the way.
2021-05-2823 min
The Quarterback Option PodcastQuintorris!?We are back....AGAIN! This week, The girl discuss the current events happening in the National Football League. Kelly thinks we need more cocktails as mascots, is more notable than a certain department store, and REALLY wants to go to a Saints game. Steph wants to know what 'buzz' is, reveals Julio Jone's true identity, and doubles down on Arod.
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2021-05-2840 minShit You Don't Learn in School17. The Individual Contributor vs the ManagerIn most companies, there are two major role types: individual contributors and managers. The career track goes one way and not the other; IC upleveling to a manager. But is that the best way? Calvin and Steph share their stories as both ICs and managers, and think through how companies can get the most from their uniquely talented individual contributors.
2021-05-2818 minShit You Don't Learn in School16. Will People Rush Back to the Office?As a follow up from episode 14, Calvin and Steph debate what work life will be like post-pandemic. Will people rush back to the office? Or will they bask in their newfound flexibility?Listen in to find out how they think both companies and individuals may progress over the coming years!
2021-05-2722 minShit You Don't Learn in School15. What is Integrity & Why Does it Matter?Codifying and living by your values is one of the most important skills of adulthood. Values are the guideposts that help you make decisions that align with who you want to be, especially when you're confronted with difficult situations. In this episode, Steph and Calvin dive deep into integrity, how to think about values, and what this means for individuals and businesses.
2021-05-2517 minShit You Don't Learn in School14. Lessons from Years of Location IndependenceThe pandemic resulted in hundreds of millions — if not billions — of people moving their work online. These rapid changes mean that so many people now have the freedom to work and live from where they want. Calvin and Steph had the privilege of being location independent since 2016, so in this episode, they break down the most important lessons they’ve learned about being happy, productive remote workers.
2021-05-2522 minShit You Don't Learn in School13. How to Say No More OftenEven if we’d like to wish otherwise, our time is finite and zero sum. If we spend time on one thing, we’re not spending time on another. But even though it’s our most scarce resource, we often don’t protect it by saying “no”. In this episode, Calvin and Steph discuss why it can be so difficult to say no and how we can develop the muscle to say no more often.
2021-05-2421 minShit You Don't Learn in School12. When is it Okay to be Late?Some people are never late. Others are late consistently. Why is there such a difference in people’s relationship with time?In this episode, Steph and Calvin talk about chronically late insane people (CLIPs), a term coined by Tim Urban. They talk through when it’s okay to be late, when it’s not, and why some people can’t seem to be on time, despite feeling bad about it.Steph also shares her experience as a CLIP and they discuss the four different types of chronically late people, along with how this behavior may differ a...
2021-05-2225 minShit You Don't Learn in School11. The Pitfalls of ZeroismThe pandemic has been a fascinating case study in problem solving, yet remains a topic that parts of the world is deeply divided on. Just like other controversial topics, understanding that there is no perfect solution is both accurate and freeing.In this episode, Steph and Calvin explore the idea of zeroism, or said otherwise, the pursuit of perfection. By identifying the tendency for humans to strive for perfection, they highlight the ways that thinking in absolutes can hinder our ability to make progress.
2021-05-2123 minShit You Don't Learn in School10. How Your Relationship with Money Influences Your Investing Decisions & StrategyWe all need money, but formal schooling fails to teach us how to make decisions based on our unique relationship with money and investing. In this episode, Steph and I openly explore the challenges we've had with investing our money and the many pitfalls we've tried to avoid in our pursuit of building sustainable, long-term wealth.
2021-05-2031 minShit You Don't Learn in School9. Navigating the Complexities of the Modern EraWe have access to more data and opportunities than ever before, but it's hard to separate the signal from the noise. In this episode, Steph and Calvin discuss navigating information overload, how to avoid being left behind, what we can learn from the past, and how we can better prepare for an uncertain future.
2021-05-2028 minShit You Don't Learn in School8. Staying in Touch with Friends and Family in AdulthoodFriendship, family, and community are indispensable to living a good life. But as we get older, it becomes more difficult to stay in touch with the people we care about. Life seems to always get in the way. In this episode, Steph and Calvin chat about the challenges of staying in touch with people, some tactics for doing a better job, and the importance of prioritizing this part of your life.
2021-05-1819 minShit You Don't Learn in School7. How to Build a Rewarding Career & Minimize RegretIt's hard to make career decisions. What industry should you work in? What should you optimize for? When should you quit your job? In this episode, Steph and Calvin talk about how they've thought about navigating the endless nuances and ambiguities of building a rewarding career.
2021-05-1832 minShit You Don't Learn in School6. Learning How to Give Back in Ways That ResonateLike everything in life, giving back is a skill and a habit that takes time to learn. In this episode, Steph and I talk about how we define giving, the ways in which we've experimented with giving back, and how you can get started giving even before you're ready to give.
2021-05-1720 minShit You Don't Learn in School5. Mastering the Art of Learning New SkillsWe all want to learn new things, whether it's how to cook, speak Spanish, write, code, or surf. But how often do you follow through and actually make progress on learning the skill you say you want to learn? Not often enough. In this episode, Steph and I discuss how we approach learning new skills and how you can get better at translating your desires into reality.
2021-05-1530 minShit You Don't Learn in School4. Should Remote Companies Pay People Based on Location?With more companies going partially and fully remote in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Steph Smith and I tackle the difficult question: Should companies pay everyone the same salary, independent of their location, or should salaries be adjusted based on your location?
2021-05-1526 minThe Quarterback Option PodcastNames Are HardOn this week's episode, the Girls talk all things NFL Draft and make some of their own predictions. Kelly shows her support for strong bones, knows what's best for the Bengals, and voices her comtempt for the Houston Astros. Steph's head is spinning with her teams options at quarterback, already hates week 17 and doesn't want to talk about swimming.
Topics discussed:
https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2021-04-0934 minThe Quarterback Option PodcastTouchdown JesusIt's Free Agency Week and everyone is looking for a new home! The Girls discuss the big moves across the league and have another Deshaun Debate. Steph breaks down Kyle Juszczyk's bond with the Niners' GM, is excited for the WFT quarterbacks, and gives a lesson in Catholic school art and architecture. Kelly doesn't know how to speak French, thinks this veteran RB can breathe life into his new team, and sheds a couple tears for Drew Brees.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2021-03-1949 minThe Quarterback Option PodcastMemorials and Agents and PythonsWe're back, baby! Back with some off season news, The Girls go over all the latest headlines with a splash of pop culture. Kelly analyzes Patrick Mahomes' choices, doubts Dak's potential, and is all about The Logistics. Steph knows what a memorial is, thinks we have enough Safari creatures, and thinks she knows where Deshaun will end up.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2021-03-0536 minThe Quarterback Option PodcastNoting To See Her... Just Little Avocado TequilaIt's the end of football season and we're loving drunk Tom Brady. The Girls recap the NFL Honors and Super Bowl and rank Victoria's Secret models. Steph declares we don't know celebrities on a personal level, thinks Tyrod Taylor deserves a fruit basket, and declares the big toe is the most important toe. Kelly struggles with alternative swear words, thinks the Super Bowl streaker is a genius, and would claw at the walls if she was stuck in a room with this player's family.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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This...
2021-02-121h 01The Quarterback Option PodcastWhat is The Super Bowl?It's Super Bowl Week and the blockbuster trades are starting to come through. The Girls make some Super Bowl predictions and choose their winners for the NFL Honors. Steph can't follow directions, can't do math, and isn't worried about a certain Los Angeles area football team. Kelly might be crying on next weeks episode, follows her gut, and has a controversial preference in Gatorade.
Links mentioned in this episode:
*https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2021-02-0537 minThe Quarterback Option PodcastThis Is Also Interesting...It's Pro Bowl Week in the NFL and everyone is depressed that there is only one game left in the season. The Girls review the Conference Title games while addressing a bunch of fun facts and make their FINAL pick. Steph wishes the Bucs could travel somewhere else for the Super Bowl, is fired up for Stefon Diggs next season, and wants people to stop putting random quotes with old Hollywood stars. Kelly has no idea what Matt LaFleur was thinking, wonders if Tom Brady will be bigger than Michael Jordan, and quotes Shakespeare.
Links mentioned in...
2021-01-2932 minThe Quarterback Option PodcastA History of HeartbreakIt's Divisional Playoff Week in the NFL and there are still no gummy bears or salt and vinegar chips. The Girls go over the divisional playoff games and begin to scratch the surface of their football woes. Steph thinks this California QB has got to go, sings even more praise for Tight Ends, and admits that her future is a beautiful mystery. Kelly SWEARS there was snow at Lambeau, struggles to hold in her tears for Drew Brees, and just really likes Aaron Rodgers.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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This...
2021-01-2243 minThe Quarterback Option PodcastDon't Dish It Out If You Can't Take ItIt's Super Wild Card Weekend in the NFL and people are hired, fired, and retired. The Girls recap the Wild Card games and discuss Deshaun Watson's potential future. Steph states that she has the same amount of interceptions as this top defensive player, feels bad for Kevin Stefanski, and gets overly emotional when men cry. Kelly agrees with a Colin Cowherd hot take on Josh Allen, realizes she has a growing hatred for the Seahawks, and sings praises of Nickelodeon broadcasted games.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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2021-01-151h 00The Quarterback Option PodcastDon't Be A Josh Jacobs—Be A Kirk CousinsIt's Week 17 and the coach carousel is in full effect! The Girls review the final week of the regular season and have many opinions on Doug Peterson's actions. Steph remembers Dante Pettis doesn't play in the NBA, faithfully defends the 49ers third string defense, and implores you to not drink and drive. Kelly wants to see Sam Darnold with a specific new team, can't wait to see Jerry Jeudy's full potential, admires the brotherly love between Tua and Fitzpatrick.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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2021-01-081h 15The Quarterback Option PodcastWe're Living, We're Laughing, We're LovingIt's the FINAL week of the NFL regular season and, at long last, a brand new year! The Girls make their final picks for Week 17 to determine who will wear the "picking crown" until next year. Steph finds a nice consistency in this weeks stats, is a temporary Cheese Head, and loves when the skinny guys make big time plays. Kelly gets spiritual with a certain running back, acts as JJ Watt's hype girl, and calls out some QBs who need new teams.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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This podcast...
2021-01-011h 08The Quarterback Option PodcastFrom Gravestones to StickersIt's Week 16 of the NFL and dancing on logos leads to bad JuJu. The Girls review last week's games and still aren't over the crazy upsets that went down. Steph calls her biggest Pro Bowl snub, is rolling with Hurts, and still hates Josh Rosen. Kelly loves Giovanni Bernard's agressive mustache, suggests that the Pats should overhaul their receiving corp, and still thinks the Steelers are overhyped.
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-12-231h 00The Quarterback Option PodcastLive From Inside The BubbleIt's Week 16 of the NFL and Kelly is the bubble. She gives quick break downs for each game and adds small takes from Steph which are deemed as "Steph Nuggets". The Girls will together and back in action next week for our regular banter and hot takes. Stay tuned!
2020-12-1835 minThe Quarterback Option PodcastOne Woman ShowIt's Week 14 of the NFL and Steph is flyin' solo! She does her best to race through the games while simultaneously feeding off her own energy. It's sure to be a treat for the ears. Keep your eyes peeled for our game picks tomorrow on our Instagram!
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-12-1122 minThe Quarterback Option PodcastMitch Trubisky is Like a Box of ChocolatesIt's Week 13 of the NFL and we are neck and neck when it comes to picks. The Girls make their picks for Week 13 and demand that you put respect on Kendall Hinton's name. Steph tells a certain city to "suck it", is reunited with RGIII, and is not a believer in the human swiss army knife behind center. Kelly had a dream about us being professionals, makes a HIMYM references regarding a young QB, and promoted a certain WR from her "sorta boy" to her "BOY".
Links mentioned in this episode:
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2020-12-041h 19The Quarterback Option PodcastWeird Stuff Below the BeltIt's Week 11 of the NFL and we're still in awe of The Catch Heard Round the World! The Girls review last week's games and are not fans of the new haircut of a particular quarterback. Steph thinks the elite quarterbacks get extra help from the refs, wants the Comeback Player of the Year Award to be renamed, and continues to question the use of Jalen Hurts. Kelly creates the Flex Rookie of the Year Award, gives free advertising to the show Survivor, and confuses the orange colored teams.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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2020-11-201h 15The Quarterback Option PodcastLet Wislon FlookIt's Week 10 of the NFL and it's rivarly week on the pod! The Girls go over their picks and give their takes on the Great Brees Brady GOAT debate. Steph gives Frank Gore a new nickname, gives all her love to Josh Allen and the city of Buffalo, and demonstrates her vocal range. Kelly gives Alex Smith a bad nickname, continues to scramble her words, and knows what she wants her gravestone to say.
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-11-131h 13The Quarterback Option PodcastA Fancy Hat TrickIt's Week 9 and Antonio Brown is active on an NFL roster! The Girls go over last weekends games and argue over which young quarterback looks more like a Chad. Steph wishes she was a linebacker, thinks Dalvin Cook is the TRUTH, and loves Kermit the Frog. Kelly practices her play by play commentary, claims Anthony Lynn is her Adam Gase, and breaks down the Mouth Guard Theft fight.
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-11-061h 13The Quarterback Option PodcastShoutout Dr. SeussIt's Week 8 and we have a JINGLE! The Girls go over last weekends games and pick their winners for the upcoming week. Steph swears that she would be an overprotective lineman, learns the difference between a bold prediction and a hot take, and cannot contain her love for Fred Warner. Kelly makes yet another Marvel comparison, demands the NFL teams start their rosters from scratch, and finally admits that Tom Brady is not a systems quarterback.
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-10-301h 09The Quarterback Option PodcastWTF is a Toin Coss?It's Week 7 of the NFL and we have a swashbuckling Pirate dual on our hands! The Girls make their picks for the Week 7 games and reveal that they are both actually Swedish Super Models. Kelly makes a scary Marvel Universe parallel, wants Tom Brady to go international, and is the "Justin Jefferson for OROY" campaign manager. Steph is the Grinch of Los Angeles, wants to personally fire Adam Gase, and has perfect pitch AND color vision.
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-10-231h 27The Quarterback Option PodcastAnimals and Historical HumansIt's Week 6 and we have all decided that Alex Smith is the Comeback Player of the Year. The Girls make their picks for Week 6 and discuss NFL Mascots in depth. Steph gives Kelly a lesson in NFL nicknames, speaks passionately about the Vikings defense, and needs more Jon Gruden in her life. Kelly is disappointed in Michael Thomas, sends her love to Rodrigo, and is crossing her fingers for Claypool.
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-10-161h 24The Quarterback Option PodcastThe Battle of Heart vs. HeadIt's Week 5 of the NFL and COVID is trying to steal the spotlight! The Girls make their Week 5 picks and debate whether logical or emotional game picks pay off in the long run. Kelly confirms that Dan Marino is in fact a real human, channels Paul Rudd, and believes in the power of the Joe Connection. Steph flexes her editing power, cannot stop following her heart no matter how hard she tries, and DEMANDS that you all wear a mask.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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2020-10-081h 15The Quarterback Option PodcastJuJu is Greater Than WoodIt's Week 4 of the NFL and the Detroit Lions won a football game! The Girls make their week 4 picks and send their condolences to Atlanta Falcons fans for the third week in a row. Kelly disrespects Kirk Cousins, wants to "Let Russ Cook", and names her NFL Odd Couple. Steph is jealous of Alex Anzalone's hair, continues to pick winners based on her ancestry, and gasp stands up for the Los Angeles Rams.
Links mentioned in this episode:
*https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-10-011h 12The Quarterback Option PodcastHow Many Times Can We Say ACL In One Episode?It's Week 3 of the NFL and we are almost certain this season is cursed. The Girls make their picks for the week, complain a lot, and deal with a spider in their living room while recording live. Steph goes HARD for Justin Herbert, hates the MetLife Stadium Turf, and stands by her Detroit Ancestry. Kelly takes her chances with football juju, hates on Tom Brady's facial features, and offers to take a cup of water to the face.
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-09-241h 15The Quarterback Option PodcastAre You Listening, Erin Andrews?It's Week 2 and we are very skeptical of EVERYONE. The Girls pick all their game winners for Week 2 and make a new friend in the bathroom at the bar. Steph judges Zeke Elliot HARD, has an Adam Schefter news breaking moment, and thinks Aaron Rodgers is IT. Kelly quotes some Dumb and Dumber, name drops a house elf, and... has a connection to Erin Andrews?
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-09-171h 09The Quarterback Option PodcastFootball is BACK, Baby!!!NFL Football is back and we have LOTS to discuss. The Girls make their picks for which teams will come out winners in week 1. Kelly helps us Remember the Titans and offers up another less-controversial conspiracy theory. Steph offers to body slam a folding table and speaks openly about her obsession with NFL quads and Bird Mascots.
Links mentioned in this episode:
QBOP Website: https://qboptionpod.wixsite.com/qbop
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/qbop
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-09-101h 09The Quarterback Option PodcastAre We Doing This? We're Doing This.On this introductory episode of the Quarterback Option Podcast, Steph and Kelly walk you through their favorite teams, players, and how their fandom originated. The Girls talk about how the QBOP came to be and how a global pandemic finally got them to live their dreams. Kelly puts on her tinfoil hat for some good ole conspiracy theories and Steph takes us back to the year 1980.
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKnU3ETpIT8
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2020-09-0831 minShit You Don't Learn in SchoolWhat the hell is going on with COVID-19?In this episode, I speak with Steph Smith (@stephsmithio), the Senior Analyst for the popular tech and business newsletter, the Hustle. In our wide-ranging conversation, Steph shares her thoughts about the COVID-19 pandemic and what we can expect over the coming months for life and business.We also discuss the complex nature of the virus, why the entire world missed its window to react, how these “black swan events” lead to second and third-order effects, why many people may default to optimism, and what data we should pay attention to.You can find the show note...
2020-04-1446 min