Audible’s Post

In my latest blog post, I have written about the lessons we could learn from Shakespeare’s plays in today’s context, and reasons for his enduring popularity. Feel free to check it out. #writingcommunity #contentcreation #creativewriting Link 👇🏻

It's easy to define executive dysfunction. It's not terribly difficult to come up with examples of how executive dysfunction impacts someone's life. It's hard to explain "well I want to do something but my brain won't let me" even to people who know me. Coming up with an actually understandable, relatable metaphor for a larger population? Luckily (for my co-author Liz and editor for the book we're currently working on) something coalesced from the mish-mash of President's Day weekend, Broadway musicals, and West Wing fandom to create this (sneak peak) tidbit. "Executive function is the brain equivalent of a President deciding to do something and having the US House of Representatives and Senate approve it, so it gets done. Executive dysfunction is like when the President wants to do something but has to convince enough members of the House and Senate to allow it to pass, but most likely is not able to get enough votes." What's the weirdest way you've ever explained a concept? #neurodiversity #neurospicy #writing #libraries #Hamilton #politics #ExecutiveDysfunction #MemesAsEducation

Here is one cat out of the bag from my forthcoming book SHAKESPEARE'S BORROWED FEATHERS, new evidence for Shakespeare’s acting career (look on the content, not the title!) https://lnkd.in/eaVQqvP5

Remember the days of cassette tapes? A trip down memory lane filled with laughter, misheard lyrics, and the delightful chaos of transcribing! Let me share my hilarious adventures and the charm of those nostalgic times. https://lnkd.in/gp24-yjR #cassettetapeadventures #laboroflove #researchmethods #memorylane #transcribingdata

Here's what I learned about public speaking from the recent revival of CATS: The Jellicle Ball. (You heard that right.) For those who didn't grow up listening to Broadway cast recordings, CATS is an 80's mega-musical that tells the story of...a bunch of cats who are at a ball vying to get an extra life from a very old cat (who somehow has the power to grant extra lives to other cats.) At best, it makes no sense. The current revival of CATS: The Jellicle Ball reimagines this story in the context of ballroom drag culture (google this, if necessary), and suddenly the text pops with new meanings around identity, competition, fame, and communal resilience. What’s important here is that this particular group of artists made the material more interesting by bringing their own experience to it. So what does this have to do with your public speaking? You can take ANY text and make it your own. But most of us don’t. Most of us try to be like everybody else. I'm not saying you ALWAYS NEED to do a radical reimagining of every presentation you're asked to give, but I am saying, in certain contexts, it might be good to ask "How can I put my spin on this?" "What parts of my own experience can I bring to these words to make them mine?" My guess is you'll leave your audience with a stronger "Memory." Pun, regrettably, intended. . . . . . #publicspeaking #publicspeakingtips #publicspeakingcoaching #publicspeakingcoach

Samuel L. Jackson raises a compelling argument regarding the significance of reading for actors. He portrays reading as a primary and indispensable tool. In his MasterClass, he highlights the valuable practice of reading, emphasizing its role in expanding horizons, interpreting, and breaking down scripts. Reading aids actors in comprehending various perspectives and gaining insight into unfamiliar occupations they might never personally experience. This exposure to diverse content fosters a deeper understanding of foreign subjects. Likewise, this sentiment applies beyond acting; just as characters in stories can reveal uncharted dimensions, exploring literature and art can unearth hidden aspects of oneself, fostering personal growth and self-discovery. #read #novels #happy #acting #actingtips #whatsinsidematters #wim

Here's a blog post I wrote in celebration of Shakespeare's First Folio: ‘An office to the dead’: Recognising Collaboration in the First Folio https://lnkd.in/e7ZCNWcZ

On Tuesday, I ran a small training at a large company in Chicago and we were discussing the proper way to write queries. For those of you who have never team-written long scientific documents, coordinating the work—and the opinions—across a group of authors pulled in a million directions, you might imagine that lots of questions arise during the drafting process. Knowing how to write a solid, actionable query helps keep the process moving—and, frankly, verges on art. I offered the notion that “Is this OK?” is not a good query—too obtuse and quasi-accusatory—adding that a standalone question mark in the margin is even worse. I went on to suggest that any punctuation aside from periods and commas—that is, question marks and exclamation points—in queries and other professional communications (e.g., emails) does little more than express the frustration of the person writing that query or email. That got laughs. The group was ready for the masterclass. My best boss Barbara taught me decades ago to never use “please” in an email or a query. Its use casts the request as begging and places the querent in the one-down position. Imagine, if you will, a room full of Midwesterners told not to use “please.” The room erupted. This was a workshop on proofreading. Basic stuff. No one knows how to do it, but it's a basic practice. Not in my room. The level of discourse—and the engagement of the group—transcended the basic how-tos. We launched into lively discussions on status, power, stress, and decision-making—all in the context of creating quality documents. The professional is political. That's what I call fun. ⭐ This is an excerpt from my newsletter 3 1/2 Star Thursday---with fresh missives every Thursday. I invite you to subscribe and join the Hope Party!

"..if a monkey types on a typerwriter for a long enough period of time, there is a 100% chance he will write down all of Shakespeare's sonnets by pure chance.." :p #recreationalresearch #contentexperiment #contentdata #mediaslant #constellations #stars #data

I think a lot about the foundations of ensemble performance, which for me centers on the beautiful work that happens during rehearsal. If you love the process, if you love the struggle, I have several new essays written this spring that you might be interested in: https://lnkd.in/eawvW7si