Fits + Starts

We like Notion (sort of), Daniel hates Basecamp, and John is prototyping board games. Then Daniel lays out his unified field theory of software engineering and pounds the table for collective bargaining.

In our season finale, we talk about time and attention. Daniel takes John to task about whether or not time exists. And then we talk about ego. We'll be back with Season 4 soon!

Relay.fm co-founder Stephen Hackett stops in to talk about the perils of finding personal identity in your work, whether or not it's important to "love" what you do, and the weird experience of having an emotional relationship with a corporation.

This week we recap Discipline December. We talk discipline as a tool, the downside of letting fear motivate your work, and using experiments to diagnose your problems. Then John loses his mind over how much he loves “Holy Hour”.

We return to form with this old school episode with no guest. John is having a hard time getting things done, and Daniel has ideas for how to help. We discuss working from home, making good check lists, slowing your roll, and taking notes.

Daniel is going to be disciplined for (almost) a whole month! This is a very meta episode: protestant work ethic, work habits, budgeting, food, exercise, checklists, tidying up, and more! Follow along with our progress in the link in the show notes. If you want to join along, shoot us a tweet. Special Guest: Caleb Porzio. Links: - [Discipline December SPREADSHEET](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fNUtSBERd1PvjjHj_xTDuxbTNQx_5hFwlD5AukTDlNU/edit#gid=0 "Discipline December SPREADSHEET") - [Patreon (our tip jar)](https://www.patreon.com/fitsandstarts "Patreon (our tip jar)") - [Curating a Twitter feed (this week's bonus content)](https://www.patreon.com/posts/15672375 "Curating a Twitter feed (this week's bonus content)") - [Caleb Porzio (@calebporzio) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/calebporzio?lang=en "Caleb Porzio (@calebporzio) | Twitter") — Loves @laravelphp | Developer @TightenCo | Co-hosts @twentypercentfm | just happy to be here - [Caleb Porzio | website](http://calebporzio.com/ "Caleb Porzio |

Long time friend Michael Johnson calls in for our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY. We talk vlogging, managing multiple side hustles, unifying your life, finding identity, and living life without a calendar. Special Guest: Michael Johnson. Links: - [Patreon (Listener Support)](https://www.patreon.com/fitsandstarts "Patreon (Listener Support)") - [In which we try to think up a novel way to release music (this week's bonus content)](https://www.patreon.com/posts/in-which-we-try-15396135 "In which we try to think up a novel way to release music (this week's bonus content)") - [TwillyCo](https://www.etsy.com/shop/twillyco "TwillyCo") - [mmmichaeljohnson - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvdF4jlIjTRR0nw4j8HTIIg "mmmichaeljohnson - YouTube") - [Twice Adapted | BandCamp](https://twiceadapted.bandcamp.com/ "Twice Adapted | BandCamp") - [Brocrisp (Michael's solo music)](https://soundcloud.com/brocrisp "Brocrisp (Michael's solo music)") - [18: Eventually it sucks less (with Merlin Mann)](http://fitsandstarts.fm/eventu

4-time NYT Best Selling Author Nancy French shares her thoughts on being a Conservative writer in the era of Trump. Nancy recently left the Republican party and faced harassment from the Alt-Right. We also get into the relationship between pop culture and politics, and why Nancy pays more attention to Judd Apatow than Mike Pence! Special Guest: Nancy French. Links: - [iPhone X review & late capitalism scams (this week's bonus content)](https://www.patreon.com/posts/15236663 "iPhone X review & late capitalism scams (this week's bonus content)") - [Our tip jar](https://www.patreon.com/fitsandstarts "Our tip jar") - [Nancy French (@NancyAFrench) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/nancyafrench "Nancy French (@NancyAFrench) | Twitter") - [Mitt (2014) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1757800/ "Mitt (2014) - IMDb") - [The Emperor's New Clothes - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_New_Clothes "The Emperor's New Clothes - Wikipedia") - [David French (@DavidAFrench) | Twitter](https://tw

John's cousin Aaron Belz drops by to talk about how businesses use language, the difference between students and young employees, how social media can shape the way people make creative stuff online, baseball, and more! Aaron is a poet and essayist who works in marketing. Special Guest: Aaron Belz. Links: - [Patreon (Listener Support)](https://www.patreon.com/fitsandstarts "Patreon (Listener Support)") - [Captain D's, please! (this week's bonus content)](https://www.patreon.com/posts/14998949 "Captain D's, please! (this week's bonus content)") - [A. Belz (@aaronbelz) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/aaronbelz?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor "A. Belz (@aaronbelz) | Twitter") - [Amazon.com: Aaron Belz: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Aaron-Belz/e/B0030DOFSC "Amazon.com: Aaron Belz: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle") - [Aaron Belz at AEM's 7th Annual Evening of Arts & Entertainment - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjK4NY-Y1Sg "Aa

Mike Rugnetta drops some knowledge about how to improve internet discourse, maintaining a productive comment section, focusing on the right stuff, why people join internet communities, and what it means for something to "end" on the internet. Lastly, we get into a discussion of video games that feel like work, and why we love them. Special Guest: Mike Rugnetta. Links: - [Fits + Starts Patreon (click here to support the show!)](https://www.patreon.com/fitsandstarts "Fits + Starts Patreon (click here to support the show!)") - [John's 15 favorite Idea Channel videos](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvnHTdILuUcQf3i0H8r_eoCW3_2Ffag77 "John's 15 favorite Idea Channel videos") - [Reasonably Sound](http://reasonablysound.com/ "Reasonably Sound") - [What Is Myth? Crash Course World Mythology #1 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeX6CX5LEj0&feature=youtu.be "What Is Myth? Crash Course World Mythology #1 - YouTube") - [Mike on Twitter (@mikerugnetta) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/mikerugnetta?ref

We're about to take a short break! This episode is about where the show has been and where it is going. John sings the praises of incrementalism. Our list of dream guests is getting long. Links: - [Fits + Starts Listener Survey](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1NF2G-it-vfvxLwsJxh9NMSKbaFgVl6kUehizFX-4S3o/edit "Fits + Starts Listener Survey") - [Best way for artists and creators to get sustainable income and connect with fans | Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/ "Best way for artists and creators to get sustainable income and connect with fans | Patreon") - [In Praise of Incrementalism - Freakonomics Freakonomics](http://freakonomics.com/podcast/in-praise-of-incrementalism/ "In Praise of Incrementalism - Freakonomics Freakonomics") - [Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/tanehisicoates?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor "Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) | Twitter") - [patrice o'chill (@patthemanager) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/patthemanager?ref_src=twsrc%

Brianna is running for Congress! She stops by to share her insights about the work of running a campaign, seeking to support people you don't agree with, and why Millennials need to take direct action instead of making symbolic political gestures. We also get into info security, online harassment, and then some inside-baseball talk about Apple and the future of gaming. We really hate asking, but your reviews on Apple Podcasts really do make a difference. Please consider rating and reviewing us there, sharing the show with friends, and subscribing! Also, hit us up on Twitter! We’d love to chat: Fits + Starts: @fits\_and\_starts Daniel: @DCoulbourne John: @johnrudolphdrex Special Guest: Brianna Wu. Links: - [Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/Spacekatgal "Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) | Twitter") - [Brianna Wu for Congress](https://briannawu2018.com/ "Brianna Wu for Congress") - [WWDC - Apple Developer](https://developer.apple.com/wwdc/ "WWDC - Apple Developer") - [Net neutrality - Wi

Merlin stops by to talk about finding a job that fits you, prototyping your future, and manufacturing care. Then we have a lot of rapid fire questions for him. Special Guest: Merlin Mann. Links: - [Independent Writer, Speaker, and Broadcaster - Merlin Mann](http://www.merlinmann.com/ "Independent Writer, Speaker, and Broadcaster - Merlin Mann") - [Merlin Mann (@hotdogsladies) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/hotdogsladies "Merlin Mann (@hotdogsladies) | Twitter") - [You Look Nice Today | A Journal of Emotional Hygiene](http://youlooknicetoday.com/ "You Look Nice Today | A Journal of Emotional Hygiene") - [5by5 | Back to Work](http://5by5.tv/b2w "5by5 | Back to Work") - [Roderick on the Line - Merlin Mann](http://www.merlinmann.com/roderick/ "Roderick on the Line - Merlin Mann") - [Reconcilable Differences - Relay FM](https://www.relay.fm/rd "Reconcilable Differences - Relay FM") - [Do By Friday](http://dobyfriday.com/ "Do By Friday") - [5by5 | Back to Work #1: Alligator in the Bathroom](http://5by5.tv/b2w/1

Anil Dash (Founder / Writer / Speaker / Blogger / Preeminent force on the Internet) argues for a new definition of "open" on the web. We ask for advice on how to be more inclusive as a non-manager. Daniel has some big ideas about infrastructure. Hit us up on Twitter: John: @johnrudolphdrex Daniel: @dcoulbourne Fits and Starts: @fits\_and\_starts Special Guest: Anil Dash. Links: - [Anil Dash (@anildash) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/anildash?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor "Anil Dash (@anildash) | Twitter") - [Fog Creek Software: Team Collaboration and Development Tools](http://www.fogcreek.com/ "Fog Creek Software: Team Collaboration and Development Tools") - [FogBugz - Work Tracking and Collaboration for Software Teams](https://www.fogcreek.com/fogbugz/ "FogBugz - Work Tracking and Collaboration for Software Teams") - [Trello](https://trello.com/ "Trello") - [Stack Overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/ "Stack Overflow") - [Welcome to Glitch!](https://medium.com/glitch/welcome-

Programmer, author, and teacher Adam Wathan stops by to talk about working in public, asking stupid questions, charting a weird career path, and dropping knowledge on your peers. Hit us up on Twitter: Fits and Starts: @fits\_and\_starts Daniel: @dcoulbourne John: @johnrudolphdrex Special Guest: Adam Wathan. Links: - [Adam Wathan's Website](https://adamwathan.me/ "Adam Wathan's Website") - [Adam Wathan (@adamwathan) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/adamwathan "Adam Wathan (@adamwathan) | Twitter") - [Full Stack Radio](http://www.fullstackradio.com/ "Full Stack Radio") - [The $61,392 Book Launch That Let Me Quit My Job](https://adamwathan.me/the-book-launch-that-let-me-quit-my-job/ "The $61,392 Book Launch That Let Me Quit My Job") - [Fits and Starts: 13: Motivating an Animal (with Matt Stauffer)](http://fitsandstarts.fm/13-motivating-an-animal "Fits and Starts: 13: Motivating an Animal (with Matt Stauffer)") - [Tighten Co.](https://tighten.co/ "Tighten Co. ") - [Building KiteTail](https://building.kitet

We just saw each other in Chicago! John is a friend of Tighten.co. The show is changing. John is afraid that his life is too comfortable. Daniel thinks it's all about leaning into your fear. We think that Donald Trump and Smash Mouth are indications that we are indeed living in a simulation. Hit us up on Twitter: John Drexler: @johnrudolphdrex Daniel Coulbourne: @DCoulbourne Fits and Starts: @fits\_and\_starts Links: - [Twenty Percent Time](http://twentypercent.fm/ "Twenty Percent Time") - [Tighten Co. | Product Development for Web + Mobile | Laravel + Vue.js](https://tighten.co/ "Tighten Co. | Product Development for Web + Mobile | Laravel + Vue.js") - [Everything's coming up Milhouse! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M67E9mpwBpM "Everything's coming up Milhouse! - YouTube") - [Woody’s Fish Tacos - Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/woodys-fish-tacos-new-orleans "Woody’s Fish Tacos - Yelp") - [John Legend - I Can't Help It (Master of None)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-GHw8dWSqc "John Lege

Along with our guest Estelle Caswell, we discuss Twitter, YouTube comments, and how to handle negative feedback (especially in public). Then we talk about that magical moment when your work becomes less scary to you. Finally, we talk about Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, and Kendrick Lamar. Hit us up on Twitter! Fits and Starts - @fits\_and\_starts Daniel - @dcoulbourne John - @johnrudolphdrex Special Guest: Estelle Caswell. Links: - [Estelle Caswell (@estellecaswell) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/estellecaswell "Estelle Caswell (@estellecaswell) | Twitter") - [Rapping, deconstructed: The best rhymers of all time - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWveXdj6oZU "Rapping, deconstructed: The best rhymers of all time - YouTube") - [Kanye, deconstructed: The human voice as the ultimate instrument - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgJyhKEZ8QU "Kanye, deconstructed: The human voice as the ultimate instrument - YouTube") - [The Social Contract - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Social_Co

Matt enumerates the differences between venture-backed and bootstrapped businesses. We discuss the difference between “useful” and “good” traits. Matt has some advice on how to talk about your strengths without sounding like a jerk, and then John meets a Titan of Industry. Hit us up on Twitter! Fits and Starts - @fits\_and\_starts Daniel - @dcoulbourne John - @johnrudolphdrex Special Guest: Matt Stauffer. Links: - [Matt Stauffer (@stauffermatt) | Twitter](https://twitter.com/stauffermatt "Matt Stauffer (@stauffermatt) | Twitter") - [Tighten Co. | Product Development for Web + Mobile | Laravel + Vue.js](https://tighten.co/ "Tighten Co. | Product Development for Web + Mobile | Laravel + Vue.js") - [Laravel: Up & Running - An O'Reilly book by Matt Stauffer](https://laravelupandrunning.com/ "Laravel: Up & Running - An O'Reilly book by Matt Stauffer") - [Karani - for Fundraisers](https://karani.co/ "Karani - for Fundraisers") - [thoughtbot](https://thoughtbot.com/ "thoughtbot") - [Less Accounting]

Guest host Jake Thomsen explains the real meaning of great operations / processes. John tries (and fails) to apply economic ideas to his personal life. Daniel blows everyone's mind with some mysticism. And then Jake settles a long-standing debate about the Protestant Work Ethic! Hit us up on Twitter! Fits and Starts - @fits\_and\_starts Daniel - @dcoulbourne John - @johnrudolphdrex Special Guest: Jake Thomsen. Links: - [Jake Thomsen | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakethomsen/ "Jake Thomsen | LinkedIn") - [Overcast](https://overcast.fm/ "Overcast") - [Fits and Starts: 5: Closing the Gap](http://fitsandstarts.fm/closing-the-gap "Fits and Starts: 5: Closing the Gap") - [Music | Twice Adapted](https://twiceadapted.bandcamp.com/ "Music | Twice Adapted") - [Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action | TED Talk Subtitles and Transcript | TED.com](https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action/transcript?language=en "Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action | TED Talk

We discuss the very gross, but very real idea of personal brands. Kelly and Daniel talk about the exhausting plight of the freelancer. We also discuss turning your passion into your career, and mindfulness practices. Hit us up on Twitter! Fits and Starts - @fits\_and\_starts Daniel - @dcoulbourne John - @johnrudolphdrex Special Guest: Kelly Walker. Links: - [Kelly Walker Fine Art](http://kellywalkerfineart.squarespace.com/ "Kelly Walker Fine Art") - [Artstar Custom Paintworks](http://artstarcustompaintworks.squarespace.com/ "Artstar Custom Paintworks") - [Personal branding - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_branding "Personal branding - Wikipedia") - [a16z Podcast: Build Your Personal Brand – Andreessen Horowitz](http://a16z.com/2017/03/13/personal-branding-vets-summit/ "a16z Podcast: Build Your Personal Brand – Andreessen Horowitz") - [Regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory, thinking skills - Harvard Health Blog - Harvard Health Publications](http://www.health.harvard.