We hope you’re happy with the new format and find this episode interesting. We look forward to hearing about your experiences and wisdom on this topic in the Better Show Cafe on Facebook.

Give us a call on the Better Show community line at +1 971–333–8007, or drop us a note on Instagram to share your story with others in The Better Show community. You can also email us at hi@bettershow.io. We look forward to hearing from you!

Here are some highlights from this episode:

• 11:58 — What is an NFT and why would someone pay for one?
• 33:20 — March and Ian summarize the significance of blockchain technology and how it will change much of how we
• 34.45 — March shares a “quick hit” book that has piqued his curiosity lately, Buddhism without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor.

We’d love to benefit from your wisdom on NFTs, DAOs, and the blockchain so drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter and share your story with others in The Better Show community. Or you can email us at hi@bettershow.io. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Show Notes

• 1:32 — Where we’ve been with the show and how COVID gave us a chance to pause and reflect on what we want to accomplish with the show.
• 4:02 — Our goals for show and how we want to bring more to our listeners and the Better Show community.
• 9:54 — Ian shares his curiosity about NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and DAOs (distributed autonomous organizations)
• 11:58 — What is an NFT and why would someone pay for one?
• 16:00 — How NFTs relate to works of art.
• 22:05 — What is a DAO (distributed autonomous organization)?
• 23:50 — Darren provides an example of how a Coke machine could work as a DAO.
• 26:31 — Ian describes how a DAO works as a democratic organization.
• 29:35 — The operational (and trust) benefits of a DAO.
• 33:20 — March and Ian summarize the significance of blockchain technology and how it will change much of how we
• 34.45 — March shares a “quick hit” book that has piqued his curiosity lately, Buddhism without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor.

Mentions

• 📖 Book: Buddhism without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor.
• 💬 Community: Better Show Cafe on Facebook

Show Notes

• 1:55 — We recap our conversation in part 1 about why coffee matters.
• 7:07 — Darren and March discuss Bulletproof coffee.
• 8:40 — Darren tells the story of how he first became interested in coffee and espresso.
• 13:22 — Ian explains the art of roasting coffee beans.
• 18:43 — The trade-off between acidity and bitterness.
• 20:58 — The chemistry of coffee roasting and the importance of drying out the beans.
• 26:26 — Ian explains how different coffee roasts are defined and how roasting coffee is a little like popping popcorn.
• 34:40 — The goal of a good coffee roaster and how they balance different flavors in the bean roasting process.
• 37:10 — The 5 stages of roasting coffee and what happens at each stage.
• 37:44— How sugar content is affected by the roasting process and what that means to the final flavor of the drink.
• 39:39 — The chemistry of caramelization and the joys of a good crème brulee.
• 43:01 — March finds some similarities between coffee roasting and aging whiskey.
• 43:59 — March introduces his new puppy, Leonard, to the YouTube audience.
• 47:10 — Acidity versus bitterness and how we taste the different flavors.
• 51:05 — Acidity versus aromatics and a short diversion to reflect on the taste of crayons. 🙂
• 54:00 — Ian previews part 3 where we do a live coffee tasting (also called a cupping).

Mentions

• 📖 Book: World Atlas of Coffee
• 📺 Documentary: Barista
• 📺 Documentary: Baristas
• 📦 Product: Library of coffee aromas

Show Notes

• 8:05 —Ian answers the question why does coffee matter and why you might want to start exploring the world of coffee.
• 11:40 —The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd “waves” of coffee history.
• 12:05 — The connection between coffee and cultural histories across the world.
• 15:25 — The depth of the world of coffee and how it compares to the world of wine.
• 19:19 — March shares how he was first introduced to coffee and how he consumes it today. and
• 26:31 — Darren shares how he discovered espresso in anticipation of a trip to Italy.
• 31:19 — Darren recommends Zimbabwe coffee.
• 32:41 — Ian shares his journey of becoming passionate about coffee and shares how he was first introduced to coffee at the famous Espresso Vivace.
• 36:20 — What is commodity coffee and how does it differ from specialty coffee?
• 41:40 — Ian shares the source of his fascination with the world of coffee.
• 46:45 — What is the difference between the origin of coffee and its variety?
• 55:55 — Ian breaks down some of the best varieties of coffee.
• 1:08:30 — Different ways to process coffee.
• 1:12:46 — How coffee is graded and what does a coffee’s “grade” actually mean.

Mentions

• 📖 Book: World Atlas of Coffee
• 📺 Documentary: Barista
• 📺 Documentary: Baristas
• 📦 Product: Library of coffee aromas

Show Notes

• 0:58 — Ian gets hungry for fresh veggies and Darren realizes that he knows someone who can help.
• 4:58 — Darren welcomes Carmen Johnston to the show.
• 7:19 — Darren learns a French term for a “kitchen garden”.
• 7:59 — How gardening has become more popular since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 9:02 — Carmen gives us all permission to kill plants on the journey of learning how to do it.
• 10:01 — How to get started without the need for a lot of space.
• 12:30 — How to tell whether you are buying good soil.
• 14:50 — Carmen weighs the pros and cons of use seeds versus starters.
• 16:41 — Identifying the easy veggies to start growing.
• 17:33 — Gardening as an exercise for home schooling.
• 19:27 — Why you really want to grow tomatoes at home if you can and tips for growing tomatoes.
• 23:22 — How to keep your herbs from “going to flower”.
• 26:48 — How to know when (and how much) to water your plants.
• 31:30 — How to know which plants will grow in your area.
• 35:26 — The social aspect of gardening and how to leverage your local community to expand your knowledge and share your produce.
• 38:21 — The magic of gardening in motivating kids to try new foods.
• 41:40 — Carmen gives us her email and offers to provide personal advice to The Better Show community.
• 44:29 — Ian, March, and Darren reflect on the tips from Carmen.
• 46:19 — March makes a connection between gardening and venture capital.
• 48:20 — The incredible growing environment of Ireland.
• 52:40 — March reflects on the tips from Carmen that stood out most to him.
• 55:16 — Ian is surprised at how many aspects of life can be improved by gardening.
• 58:08 — Darren is inspired by the community aspect of gardening and how it can help strengthen our social fabric.
• 59:20 — March shares resources for community gardening and community supported agriculture.

Mentions

• 📰 Blog: Four container gardens to plant today
• 📰 Magazine: Southern Living Magazine
• 📰 Website: Carmen Johnston Gardens
• 📷 Social Media: Carmen Johnston on Instagram
• 📦 Product: Grow Box for vegetables
• 📰 Online Tool: Growing Calendar from Burpee.com
• 📦 Product: Kitchen Herb starter kit

Show Notes

• 3:47 — March discusses his interest in this topic and the benefits of music including increased ability to concentrate, improved performance in mathematics, improving mood and reduction of pain.
• 4:55 — Darren and Ian share their relationship to music and their background with playing instruments.
• 13:01 — Darren recommends an episode of Every Little Thing podcast titled “Secrets of the Symphony”
• 13:55 —March shares his experience learning to play piano and the profound experience he had after picking it up after a long break.
• 24:01 — Why does listening to music have so many benefits?
• 27:37 — How educators use music to aid in memorization.
• 29:42 — How to use music to improve your cognitive function.
• 30:30 — What is music therapy.
• 37:51 — Using music to improve your health including how to use music to motivate yourself to move.
• 44:09 — Using music for pain reduction.
• 46:04 — Using music to improve your mood.
• 48:31 — The inclusion of music on the Voyager space probe.
• 49:58 — Ian is curious about whether it’s important to listen to a wide variety of music.
• 53:29 — The benefits of playing music.
• 56:30 — We recommend our “Better Next Step”.

Mentions

• 📱 App: Endel personalized soundscapes
• 📱 App :Bubl Draw —creative drawing with music for kids
• 📦 Product: SleepPhones comfortable headphones for sleep
• 🎙️ Podcast: Every Little Thing podcast titled “Secrets of the Symphony”

• 3:28 — We discuss why the topic of equity is important and why we were inspired to explore this topic further.
• 6:40 — March welcomes Andrew Grant-Thomas to the show and we learn a little about his background and how he began his work on EmbraceRace.org.
• 10:06 — Andrew discusses the resources that EmbraceRace provides and how those tools address different aspects of racial equity.
• 13:47 — Becoming more aware of racial inequities in everyday life and how to begin talking to your children about race and racial justice issues.
• 17:55 — How tying school funding to property taxes is a factor in continuing racial inequity.
• 21:19 — How are the recent developments in the US and abroad have increased the level of interest in the resources that EmbraceRace.org provides.
• 26:50 — Andrew recommends a few practical things that people can do if they want to help support the cause of racial equity.
• 32:15 — Ian, Darren and March reflect on the interview with Andrew and some of the things that resonated most with us.
• 35:45 — Ian reflects on how children might be an underserved group when it comes to racial education.
• 41:04 —Ian noted the comment that Andrew made about “there may not be a sideline to stand on anymore”
• 42:25 — Darren reflects on how there are a variety of ways to contribute to the cause of racial justice and how at some level we are all on a journey towards being better.
• 47:17 — “Just because you know what’s going on doesn’t mean that you know how best to address the problem.”
• 51:10 — March shares some historical polling data on trust in the police and speculates how the numbers might have changed recently.
• 53:17 — Darren shares how Andrew’s example of how unconscious bias in how people shop for schools was a point that really resonated with him.
• 57:14 — We explore the issue of inequity of schooling and practical ways to help improve equity in schooling.
• 59:56 — Ian proposes a more constructive way to frame the conversation by focusing on what society gains by increasing racial equity rather than what some people need to give up for the benefit of others.

Mentions

• 📰 Website: EmbraceRace
• 👥Social Media: EmbraceRace on Facebook
• 📺 Webinar: Supporting Youth Leadership and Activism
• 📺 Webinar: “How do I make sure I’m not raising the next ‘Amy Cooper’?”
• 📖 Book: So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Show Notes

• 3:10 — We take a moment to recognize the importance and express our support of the racial justice movement in response to the recent killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
• 5:26 — We share a list of reputable organizations working to further the cause of racial justice.
• 14:30 — Is a pet store a good place to find a pet to adopt?
• 15:00 — What is a puppy mill and what kinds of conditions do animals endure in puppy mills.
• 18:49 — Darren recommends a Netflix series called Rotten that exposes the realities of our food chain.
• 20:26 — How to find a reputable pet seller.
• 22:02 — How to identify a responsible breeder.
• 24:40 — Darren shares how he and his wife, Mardee, confirmed that the rescue they worked with in Texas to adopt Ellie was reputable.
• 26:28 — Online resources for finding a new pet.
• 28:00 — What to expect when adopting a new pet including what fees and costs are appropriate.
• 31:13 — Using the breeder or rescue organization to learn about your new pet.
• 36:26 — Resources to find service animals.
• 39:30 — How to help your local animal rescue services.
• 40:30 — Different categories of service animals.
• 43:25 — Other things to consider before adopting a new pet.
• 47:35 — The surge of adoptable ducklings and rabbits that occurs right after Easter.
• 48:30 — Darren advocates for pet insurance.

Mentions

• 💲 Pet Insurance research: Consumer’s Advocate review of pet insurers
• 🐕‍🦺 Organization: Dogs for the Disabled
• 🐕‍🦺 Organization: Canine Partners for Life
• 🐕‍🦺 Organization: American Foundation for the Blind
• 🐕‍🦺 Organization: Canine Good Citizen program from the American Kennel Society (AKC)
• 📰 Website :Petfinder.com
• 📰 Website: Adopt-a-pet.com

Show Notes

• 2:46 — Darren shares that he and his wife recently adopted a new puppy, Ellie and he discusses his motivation for focusing on this topic.
• 4:10 — The benefits of pet adoption including companionship, stress reduction, and better mental health.
• 7:01 — March shares his past experience adopting a large dog in his small apartment.
• 13:04 — March reflects on the differences between pet ownership in Ireland and the US.
• 13:50 — Ian reveals that he and his family are long-time cat people.
• 15:27 — We take a moment to enjoy a view of Ian’s dream of owning a baby giraffe. 😄
• 19:21 — Darren shares a story from his youth about owning an evil poodle.
• 21:32 — The importance of preparation and a little bit of research when choosing to get a new pet and the difficulty of finding a new home for a pet that doesn’t fit your lifestyle.
• 23:30 — Deciding what you want out of a pet — exercise companion, cuddle companion, etc.
• 24:49 — Selecting your pet species and the breed.
• 26:30 — Questions to ask yourself when choosing a pet and a breed of dog or cat.
• 27:01 — Online resources to help you learn about different dogs and cats.
• 28:55 — The right flavor of giraffe for your home and lifestyle.

Mentions

• 📰 Article: Research on pets and mental health
• 📰 Article: Best pets for mental health
• 📰 Article: Why Some People Think of Pets Like Children and Others Don’t
• 📖 Doc: Google Doc from Seattle Humane Society with a collection of Learning Resources
• 📺 Videos: PAWS Academy (videos to learn about animals)
• 📰 Website: Petcube blog

Show Notes

• 4:15 — Why habits are important to pay attention to and what role they play in our lives.
• 8:09 — Ian, March, and Darren share their personal experiences with building good habits and breaking bad ones.
• 14:14 — Ian explains the core concepts behind BJ Fogg’s methodology in Tiny Habits.
• 15:28 — Why the “tiny” component is so important to the process.
• 17:10 — The Fogg Behavior Model and what it tells us about forming habits.
• 21:45 — Ian explains why being highly motivated can actually be a bad thing for creating a new habit.
• 23:43 — The concept of “magic wanding” and how to figure out which behaviors to focus on.

• 28:49 — The relationship between ability and the formation of habits.
• 32:18 — Anchoring a new desired behavior to an existing habit.
• 35:50 — The relationship between emotions and habits.
• 39:58 — Ian explains why BJ Fogg says that it’s wrong to try to “break” a bad habit.
• 43:23 — Tactics to break bad habits by increasing the effort required to engage in those behaviors.
• 46:39 —Supporting others in their quest to adopt a new good habit.
• 50:00 — The Tiny Habits Recipe Card.

Mentions

• 📰 Website: Free Tiny Habits 5-Day Program
• 📖 Book: Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg