David Lidsky's Blog, page 360

How Charlie Health wants to tackle the loneliness epidemic

Company founder Carter Barnhart talks mental health and startup culture on the latest episode of the ‘Rapid Response’ podcast.

Loneliness is reaching epidemic levels, driving up cases of anxiety, depression, and contributing to record-high suicide rates. Carter Barnhart, founder of the virtual mental health platform Charlie Health, says the issue goes beyond simple explanations like social media overuse. Rather, she points to our collective inability to connect. Barnhart seeks to build a collaborative solution to help people relearn the power of authentic connection. (Note: Today’s Rapid Response includes mentions of suicidal ideation as well as sexual assault. If you or someone you know may be struggling with thoughts of suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8.)

Creating and maintaining strong passwords just got easier

NIST’s new password guidelines will help you pick passwords that are stronger—yet also simpler to manage.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently released updated password guidelines that might surprise you in that they’ve made the dark art of keeping yourself secure slightly less cumbersome than before.

Inside the business of a YouTube child star

Ryan Kaji has 37 million subscribers, multiple YouTube channels, a toy brand, and a new movie. His father insists he’s a normal kid.

Ryan Kaji was just three years old when his YouTube channel, Ryan’s World, took off. Initially launched by his parents in 2015 as a way to keep friends and family in Japan updated on Ryan as he grew up in the States, the channel now has more than 37 million subscribers and 58 billion views.

How to scam-proof your life, according to ‘Scam Goddess’ Laci Mosley

The podcaster, actress, and ‘Scam Goddess’ author explains how to apply the confidence of con artists to your life—and thereby avoid getting scammed yourself.

What do Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and a British baker known as The Bread Bamboozler have in common? They’re all artists to Scam Goddess author Laci Mosley, the actor and comedian who admires the audacity of con artists the way others applaud the elegance of painters and poets.

How to (finally) end miscommunication at work

It’s about listening to understand, defaulting to overcommunicating, and finally putting an end to the jargon.

As a writer and editor and manager, my job involves words. One of the most important things I need to get right is getting a message across clearly. And yet still, like all humans, every day has moments of crossed wires and misunderstandings.

How rockets could travel to Mars in half the time with nuclear thermal propulsion

Nuclear propulsion could have a leg up on chemical propulsion for a few reasons.

NASA plans to send crewed missions to Mars over the next decade – but the 140 million-mile (225 million-kilometer) journey to the red planet could take several months to years round trip.

Why seeing is not always believing, and what to do about it

The way we see others, interpret their actions, and assess their character, may have more to do with our own perception and external circumstances.

What if you couldn’t see others as they really are? 

4 questions to avoid asking in a first-round interview

These aren’t necessarily bad topics, but in the early stages of interviewing, it’s important to emphasize your enthusiasm for the role.

You made it to the end of the first interview. Chances are, the hiring manager will ask this final question: Do you have any questions for me? You probably know you should ask something—having a question at the ready will show that you’re interested—but there are some things better left unasked because they can send the wrong message.

‘Oyster sommelier’ is now a job, thanks to this new oyster-education program

Two bivalve experts have pried open a whole new line of work for the hospitality industry.

When Jeremy Benson approaches a restaurant table as a sommelier, he’s prepared to talk about what you might expect: flavor profile, geography, terroir, and mouthfeel. Sometimes, he takes down a map from the wall to illustrate the origin of different varietals from across the globe. 

How business schools can show they’re making a positive societal impact

What is ‘societal impact,’ and can it be measured?

Back in 1970, the economist Milton Friedman famously argued that businesses have a single responsibility: to increase profit. For decades, the so-called “Friedman doctrine” amounted to dogma in certain circles, including at many business schools.