Awsomology
By Exclamation
AwsomologyOct 24, 2019
Busting Social Media Myths
Welcome to Season 3, Episode 1! We're welcoming a new co-host and breaking down four of our 'favorite' social media myths.
#009 More News From the Home Office
We all know a little something about things not going like planned, right? How about a great example of that happening in the best way possible? This week on Awsomology what we thought was going to be a light-hearted look into our teammate’s home offices and home-work lives turned into a deep conversation about gratitude, attitude, and lessons learned.
Special thanks to Katy and Nicole from the Exclamation Team for spending the time with us, opening up, and just generally being people we’re glad to call our friends. Listen and enjoy!
#008 Remote Work in a Weird World
It seems like the world has changed almost overnight, doesn’t it? Well, at least the view we get of it from our ‘office’ has. With so many of us, our friends, and colleagues suddenly camped out with laptops in home offices, kitchen islands, or wherever we can find space, we thought it would be cool to catch up with some Remote Work Gurus from across the country.
We fired up a conference call and brought some super smart folks together for a face-to-face where we learned about their pain points, their new ‘co-workers’, and gave each other a generous amount of encouragement to keep moving forward. You’ll hear that and so much more on this episode of Awsomology.
#007 A Quick Message from Awsomology
We're keeping things short and sweet this week so we can focus on bringing you the most useful info at a challenging time. Tune in for a short message from our team and we'll see you soon.
#006 We Get the Heebie Jeebies
It's that creeping feeling on the back of your neck, a sound that makes your skin crawl, or sometimes even just the thought of something icky. It's the Heebie Jeebies - or whatever you call them - and they are on our minds this week. What are the Heebie Jeebies, how are they different from person to person, and when do we get them ourselves? No matter what makes you cringe, gag, or shriek, you know exactly what we're talking about.
Useful links to Vince's research:
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-misophonia#1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misophonia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_sensory_meridian_response
#005 A Conspiracy of Wackiness
Fred Flintstone, the Loch Ness Monster, and Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote walk into a podcast studio but it’s no joke, my friend. This week on Awsomology we’re dealing with some delightfully weird theories.
From your favorite (slightly preachy) children’s book, to which celebrities are secretly immortal, we’re covering it all (and more, there’s always more) on this episode of Awsomology.
Useful links to start your journey toward losing hours of your time:
Proof that Keanu Reeves is Immortal
‘Berenstein’ Bears and Parallel Universes
More Kooky Theories from WIRED
#004 A Flow State of Mind
What's the secret to consistently recording 90 minutes of audio for a podcast that's supposed to be less than 30 minutes? Getting in the flow, my friend.
This week we're talking about the beauty of, the science behind, and our own personal experience with the not-so-mythical Flow State. What is it? How can it make you (yes, you) even more awesome at some of your favorite things? Can anybody get there? You'll learn that and so much more on this episode of Awsomology.
Useful links to Vince's research:
A keynote presentation on flow by Stephen Kotler (video).
#003 Kylie Draws a Crowd
Bad puns in episode titles aside, we’re glad you’re here for Episode 3, you awesome and kindred soul.
We’re excited to introduce you to the junior member of our team, Kylie. Unassuming high school student by day, illustrator extraordinaire for the Exclamation Team by… um… late afternoon?
She’s our professional podcast art creator, a top-notch designer, and she’s not even out of high school yet. You don’t want to miss this interview with our very own Wunderkind!
Just wanted to DRAW your attention to these links (sorry, not sorry):
#002 Mark's Amazing Journey
Welcome back for Episode 2, fellow student of all things Awesome! We're joined this week by our friend Mark who is not only a genuinely awesome person, he's the first one to meet the unusually low bar to be our guest.
Sure, that's enough for our egos, but it's definitely not all.
Mark's has an inspiring story that's still being written, and he chose to share it, unfiltered, with our little podcast. Coming from an orphanage in the Philippines, how his childhood experiences informed innovation in Wisconsin credit unions, and the next amazing journey that he's promised to come back and tell us all about. This episode is all of that and more!
Just some links we thought you'd like:
Here's where Mark works, we appreciate them A LOT.
#001 The First Podcast of the Rest of Our Lives
Hello and welcome, fellow Awsomologists, to Awsomology, the show with Sue and Vince where we find awesome things and dish them up just for you.
We didn't want to leave anything out, so this episode is bursting with awesome stuff. New sounds, new segments, and even new beliefs! (Well, maybe...)
And how about that new show artwork? A huge shout out and thank you to Kylie, our Junior Designer Extraordinaire! You made us look 1,000 times cooler than we really are :)
Happy Endings and New Beginnings
Don’t think of this as a goodbye, friend, think of it as ‘See ya later!”. In this episode, we’re talking more about where we came from and revealing some big news about where the Simplicity Show is going.
What can you expect from us in the (very near) future? What’s with all of the secrecy? Well, it’s no fun if we don’t make you listen to find out.
Quality Time with our CEO
Ring in 2020 with our President/CEO Pat Wesenberg hot on the heels of her election to be Chair of the National Credit Union Foundation board of directors. We learned some of what the Foundation does (see the link below for more), how Pat got her start in Credit Unions, and we were reminded how awesome it is to spend time with the best Credit Union CEO on the planet. (Yes, we used a little flattery, she’s the boss, you gotta.)
Ready to spend some time with us as we spend some quality time with a genuine Credit Union believer?
End of Year Spectacular - Part Two
Welcome back for Part Two of the Podcast we didn’t want to end. We did (finally) get to the point and lay out the origins (comical, mythical, and dark) of some of the holiday traditions we know and love. Want to learn about kissing under the mistletoe, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, and even the Christmas Pickle?
Pour yourself some holiday spirit and tune in now to hear learn a little, laugh a little, but mostly scratch your head in wonder at how we ended up celebrating the way we do.
End of Year Spectacular - Part One
Are you ready for an extra-bonus-sized deep dive into 2019, the goals we set, and the roadblocks we met along the way? Well you’re in luck, buddy!!
We sat down to record with the intention of starting with a ‘quick update’ and it turned into such a great chat, that we had to see where it led us. Spoilers: it led to an episode SO LONG that we’re splitting it up into two parts and giving you an extra taste of holiday goodness next week too!
If you only listen to one podcast this year, make it these two ;)
Hungry for Holiday Traditions
As the Holiday Season gets underway for real, we’re thinking (and talking, and dreaming) about our favorite Thanksgiving traditions. Ok, we’ll admit it, it’s mostly about food, but HOW GREAT is holiday food?
If you’ve listened before, you know that our solemn promise to our listeners at the Simplicity Show podcast is that we’ll start with a plan, abandon that plan almost immediately, and wander back to it when the mood suits us. This episode is no exception.
We talked about traditions, we talked about our families, and ultimately, we made pronouncements involving cinnamon rolls. It’s the information you need.
Where Did the Internet Come From?
In this episode, we put on our thinking caps AND our … um… learning socks? .. and invited our friends from IT into the bunker for a chat.
We talked about the origins of the internet, where the technology intersected with our personal timelines, and why we owe it all to Nicola Tesla. And then things got an acceptable amount of weird.
Are We All Just Improvising?
Watching an Improv troop make the most amazingly funny things up on the spot seems like some kind of wizardry, right? Well, it’s not a magical power (well, maybe a little bit), it takes practice, rules, and discipline.
This time on the Simplicity Show, we talk about the process, the science, and a little about the magic of Improv and play our own favorite Improv game “Think About It”.
How to Be the Most Creative You
You (Yes, YOU) are a creative person, and on this episode of the Simplicity Show we're talking all about how you can open up your creative mind, even if you're not in a 'creative' job. Learn a little about the neuroscience, how we open up the flood gates of creative goodness in our work, and get our five tips for doing the same in yours.
Why Do People Love Horror Movies?
Do you love a good, gory jump-scare? Get a thrill out of things that go bump in the night?
Maybe you’re wired to run when something spooky comes your way?
Either way, let us blow your mind. This week we’re talking about the science behind horror movies and why some people, like our special guest, love ‘em while OTHER PEOPLE (that’s us, we’re other people) avoid them like a gross, gooey monster.
Things Get Eventful With Alex
What does it take to plan a great event – or even a pretty ok event – from start to finish? What’s the best? What’s THE ACTUAL WORST?? What does a hungry porcupine sound like?
We’re wrapping up our ‘mini-series’ offering expert advice on a whole range of Marketing work with our friend, teammate, and Special Event Diva, Alex Westerhausen. It sounds pretty straightforward, friends, but things got weird in the best ways.
Talkin' Wisconsin
Whether you believe you have the ‘Wisconsin Accent’ or not, we ALL know that there are things we say that you won’t hear in any other part of the world, ain’t that right?
We asked our team for suggestions, and fer cripes sake, we got so many we didn’t know what to do wit ‘em, dontcha know?
Your Dollars Make a Difference With Ashley Winch
Whether it’s time, talent, or cold, hard cash, we can all give back. How can your dollars can make a real difference in your community? We sat down with Ashley Winch, Executive Director of the Marshfield Area United Way to learn just that. We talked about local programs, dispelled some myths, and learned how every dollar counts.
Sure, there was some shameless plugging of our PB&J sandwich-making skills, but can you really blame us?
The Writing We Do
What do you have to do to make our Simplicity Show co-host/Head writer on our Marketing team SUPER nervous? EASY! Just ask her a ton of good questions and make her formulate smart thoughts without hiding behind her trusty keyboard!
Our Expert Graphic Designer
Can you tell that we love sitting down with the amazingly talented people on our team? Today Ben Bauer, our favorite team leader and expert graphic designer, joined the show.
A repeat guest and fan favorite, Ben talks about his journey as a designer, some tips on how to get started in design, and the role of stock vs. original design in the workplace. And you don't want to miss the part where he rants about the worst movie title typeface choice in the history of the world!
How Our Podcast Happens
We’re on all kinds of journeys, right? From not knowing anything about something, to knowing a little, to knowing a lot, and eventually, if you keep working, feeling like an expert. Some things are easy (but not very many) and some things take longer to get the hang of, but what they all have in common is that you have to take the first step to get anywhere.
Sure, we’re waxing philosophical, but it’s all to explain that on our newest podcast we’re talking about one of our journeys, the one that brought us to this moment right here. And here. And this next sentence too. See? You’re right here with us!
Nicole's Story
It started as a pretty simple invite to Nicole Bird, one of the super-cool members of the Marshfield business community, to join us on the podcast. She loves to help people with their health and wellness through her business Mission Nutrition, we love to drink her tasty drinks so much that we sometimes forget that they’re so good for us. It was a match made in heaven, right?
Yes! But then we realized we had this great chance to have a much larger conversation about who Nicole is, what it’s like for her to navigate life, business, and meeting new people as (often) the only little person around, and how we can all do better about seeing and respecting each other.
It was awesome. Nicole is awesome. And we hope you love it.
How Video Happens
We had so much fun talking to ourselves (we usually do) that we decided to do it again and talk about how we do (or don’t, as the case may be) video production.
Fun fact: we mention upwards of 7000 times in this podcast that we started with almost no experience. That might not be true, but what IS true is that if we can do it, so can you!
Join us as we walk you through the three simple steps to the videos we create, talk about our success and lessons, and generally get lucky enough to spend time talking about something we love to do.
Our Expert Photographer
This time around we sat down to talk to ourselves (which is not that unusual, if you know us) and, turns out, it was a pretty great conversation!
But seriously, for this episode of the podcast, Sue interviewed Vince about his work in photography, where he got started, how we take advantage of having a great photographer on our team, and some tips and tricks that anyone can use to take better pictures right now. (Really, like, today-today.)
Exclamation Goes to Convention
Exciting things are happening on our team! Exclamation Services (our Credit Union Service Organization) had the chance to take the CUSO on the road and talk to some of our Credit Union friends about what we're up to.
We sat down talk to some of Exclamation Services team about their first time at the Wisconsin Credit Union League Convention as vendors (instead of attendees), what a great experience Convention is for basically everyone, and some of the new and innovative ways Credit Unions and their partners work together to make things awesome for members.
Would You Rather...?
This week we make amends for putting our teammates on the spot and answer Would You Rather..? questions 'live on air'. It's a great time to learn more about us, feel awkward as we overshare, and (most importantly) find out where YOU can see the video that inspired it all.
Life Lessons from the Avengers
This week we’re jumping in to possibly our favorite topic of all time - the Avengers.
Is this just a chance for us to nerd out on the MCU? Are there actual real life lessons can we learn from them? You have to listen to learn, Friend.
We chat about how those lessons (spoiler alert) apply to our personal and credit union lives, give a (final?) update on those pesky resolutions, and debate Team Iron Man vs. Team Captain America.
Meet Alan and Learn About Our CUSO
This week we’re introducing you to one of our newest team members, Alan Bergstrom. Well, really he’s a Team Captain, because he’s the new CEO of Exclamation, our CUSO.
What does all of that mean? You have to listen to learn, Friend.
We found out what brought Alan into the Simplicity Family, what kind of cool and useful things Exclamation will do, and even answers to the most important questions we could think of.
Ask Us (Almost) Anything
We're dealing with the big questions on this episode of our podcast.
Why are we here? What did it take to get where we are? Who shot first, Han or Greedo?
That's right, friends, ALL of the big questions.
For this episode of the Simplicity Show we gave our friends on the Simplicity Team a chance to ask us anything and we'll break it all down, just for you.
Erin & Chris Howard
We hope you're not too tired of us bragging about the amazing people we get to work with because we're coming your way with another great example. In this episode of The Simplicity Show, we had some quality time with our friends Erin and Chris Howard, owners of Howard Properties in Marshfield, WI.
The Howards are more than just great landlords, they're visionary property developers, community volunteers, and evangelists for a better Downtown America, wherever you are.
This is How We DO the State GAC
How do 350 CU employees and volunteers showing up in Madison affect your everyday life? What do you learn when you put a whole mess of Credit Union believers in a room with their state representatives? If you haven’t thought you should be on the 1st floor and realized you had to be on the 3rd floor at the last second, have you even experienced the State GAC?
We learned all of this and more when we sat down with some of the cool Simplicity CU teammates to talk about their personal experiences at the 2019 Wisconsin State Government Affairs Conference.
Introverts and Extroverts on the Team
How are Extroverts and Introverts different? What are some common reactions, coping skills, or misconceptions? If you make your boss also be your therapist on company time, do you pay them or do they pay you?
Adam Schnabel: Author and Adoptive Dad
We welcomed our resident Best Selling Author, friend, and teammate Adam Schnabel into the studio to talk about his family's journey to adoption, his journey to publishing, and more.
Are You Resolute this New Year?
As New Year’s Eve comes and goes, we’re faced with the eternal question:
“Can I get away with eating Christmas Cookies for breakfast just one more day?”
No, wait, not THAT question (obviously the answer is ‘Treat Yo’self!’) - the question of whether or not you HAVE to set New Year’s Resolutions. Listen in as we explore the contradictory info you can find on the internet (shocking) and reveal what our resolutions would be… if we set them ;)
Veterans Day 2018
Words & Phrases that Will Change Your Life...
Are You Smarter Than a 3rd Grader?
Getting Emotional(ly Intelligent) with Katy and Kelly
Dynamic Duos with Jen and Sarah
Things Get Stressful
In this episode we talk about the causes and symptoms of stress, what some of our teammates do to handle stress, the likelihood of a raptor attack, and ice pick lobotomies.
BOOM: That's a teaser.
Running the Numbers with Nick Faber
Disclaimer: No Accountants or Marketers were harmed – either physically or mentally – during the recording of this podcast.
Down to Business with Derek Freis
Every time we turn around here at Simplicity CU we see another one of our friends that also happens to be a great resource for all kinds of useful info.
A little while ago, we caught up with our buddy Derek Freis, (recently promoted) VP of Business Lending and picked his ample brain. We talked about how important it is for him to know a member’s story, the effect of the Member Business Lending Cap, and found out who was the Shaggy to his Scooby-Doo.
Retirement & Investment Services with Jason Buchinger
Mortgage Chatter with Sarah Arnoldy
Join us as we sit down with Sarah Arnoldy, one of our very own mortgage lenders, to talk over renting vs. buying, various mortgage grants, and our upcoming Homebuyer's Seminar.