Glenn Fleishman, a freelance journalist and type historian, shares his insights on the evolution of tech writing and his creative projects, including a book on typewriters. He discusses how Apple Silicon is transforming device usability and upgrade cycles. The fascinating history of comic production reveals how technology revolutionizes the industry. Additionally, Glenn highlights the organizational power of Scrivener for writing, along with Mac productivity tools that enhance efficiency, featuring anecdotal humor about using AirTags in everyday life.
The hosts express excitement about an upcoming sabbatical, viewing it as an essential opportunity for personal reflection and recharging after a successful fundraising campaign.
The podcast celebrates reaching a significant milestone in their fundraising efforts for St. Jude's, highlighting the community's generous support in raising over four million dollars since 2019.
Glenn Fleishman shares insights from his diverse career in technology and writing, emphasizing the importance of specific tools like Scrivener in enhancing the writing process.
Deep dives
Sabbatical Announcement
One of the hosts announces an upcoming sabbatical, expressing excitement for the break to recharge and focus on personal time. This pause is not due to any negative circumstances but is seen as a well-deserved opportunity after concluding a successful fundraising campaign. The sabbatical coincides with the changing nature of work and life post-pandemic, allowing the host to step back and reflect. The other host acknowledges the contributions of various guests lined up during this time, indicating an ongoing commitment to providing valuable content to the audience.
Fundraising Success
The podcast hosts celebrate a remarkable milestone achieved during a fundraising campaign for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, surpassing one million dollars raised for the first time. Since its inception in 2019, the campaign has collectively raised over four million dollars, showcasing the support and generosity of the community. The hosts express deep gratitude for all donations, both large and small, emphasizing the personal connection and significance of the cause. This achievement is framed as a heartwarming testament to the community's commitment to making a difference.
Guest Introduction and Background
The podcast features Glenn Fleischman, a tech journalist with a diverse background—from graphic design to web hosting—which significantly influences his insights and perspectives. Fleishman shares anecdotes from his early career in the 90s, including hosting one of the first web hosting companies and interacting with notable figures such as Werner Herzog. These stories highlight his journey through the technological evolution, illustrating how his experiences have shaped his current work in writing and reporting. His multifaceted career adds a rich context to the conversation about technology and media.
Technology and Writing Tools
The discussion shifts to the relationship between technology and writing, focusing on tools like Scrivener and BBEdit that facilitate smoother writing processes. Glenn shares his positive experience with Scrivener while writing a book on comics history, praising its organization and usability features that cater to writers. They also weigh the pros and cons of different writing environments, touching on how specific tools meet individual needs. Tools like Grammarly are discussed for their helpfulness in improving grammar and structure, though there's a shared skepticism about AI's role in rewriting content.
Personal Technology Preferences
Glenn and the hosts engage in a lively conversation about their favorite tech tools, highlighting applications like PopClip and TextSniper that enhance productivity. They detail how these utilities simplify tasks such as text conversion and screen text recognition, emphasizing their day-to-day usefulness. The dialogue also includes a humorous exploration of techniques for managing digital clutter and workflow efficiency through various third-party apps. Their enthusiasm for personalized tech solutions underscores the importance of adapting tools to meet specific needs in a productive work environment.
Glenn Fleishman, freelance journalist, book author, editor, and comics and type historian, joins to share what he's up to and some of his favorite workflows.
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Glenn Fleishman, freelance journalist, book author, editor, and comics and type historian, joins to share what he's up to and some of his favorite workflows.