Best Zebra Developers Podcasts (2025)

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How Japan's Astounding Bootmaking Culture Grew—And Where It's Going 31:39

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2d ago31:39

31:39

It’s not a stretch to say there is no quality footwear culture quite like Japan’s. But WHY does the Japanese passion for making and wearing great boot and shoes exist? Well, I had to go to Tokyo to find out. As the final piece of our five-part Sole Searching: Tokyo YouTube series, I sat down with Michiya Suzuki—ex-Red Wing Japan GM and co-founder o…

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Palliative care with Anne Front LMFT from California 41:22

8d ago41:22

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Send us a text What’s the difference between palliative care and hospice? Why is palliative care still misunderstood—and how can it support people with cancer, rare diseases, and other serious conditions long before end-of-life? In this powerful episode of Rare Connection, host Joanna Ball welcomes Ann, a licensed psychotherapist, breast cancer sur…

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TNRC6B With Keyundra From Arkansas 59:12

19d ago59:12

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Send us a text In this powerful episode of Rare Connection, host Joanna Ball sits down with special needs mom and author Keyundra, who shares the emotional and medical journey of her son Zaire — a child living with multiple rare conditions, including: 🫁 Laryngomalacia – a rare airway disorder 🦠 Neutropenia – a rare immune disorder 🧬 TNRC6B gene mut…

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Idiopathic Intercranial Hypertnsion with Stephanie From Maryland 46:47

22d ago46:47

46:47

Send us a text In this episode of Rare Connection, host Joanna speaks with Stephanie from the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, who shares her journey living with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH)—a rare neurological disorder involving increased pressure around the brain with no detectable cause. Stephanie opens up about the long pat…

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Neil Williams (BFI) on transforming organisations through digital, comparisons between the civil service and the cultural sector, working in the open, and intentionally not empire-building 57:19

22d ago57:19

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A conversation recorded in-person (hurray!) with the BFI's Exec Director of Technology and Digital Transformation, Neil Williams. Neil writes a regular 'fortnight notes' post on his blog, which you can find here neilojwilliams.netBy Digital Works

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How to Do YouTube Product Reviews Without Losing Your Soul, with The Iron Snail 1:28:44

1M ago1:28:44

1:28:44

The Iron Snail, aka Michael Kristy, is one of my favorite YouTube inhabitants, thanks to his legitimately unique approach to reviewing, historicizing, and manufacturing crazily high-quality footwear and clothing. I sat down with Michael to chat about his favorite historical nuggets from the footwear he's covered, how he manages to deliver accurate …

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CLCN6 With Paul From California 54:40

1M ago54:40

54:40

Send us a text In this powerful episode of Rare Connection, we meet Paul, the president of Cure CLCN6 and the father of Paxton, a young boy diagnosed with an ultra-rare visit mutation on the CLCN6 gene. Paxton’s journey began with developmental delays and years of unanswered questions. After extensive genetic testing, his family finally received a …

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Sarcoidosis With Regina From Indiana 49:32

2M ago49:32

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Send us a text In this episode of Rare Connection, host Joanna speaks with Regina, a sarcoidosis patient, author, and creative advocate who’s transforming her personal health journey into a source of awareness and empowerment. After her sarcoidosis diagnosis, Regina launched UniquelySarc, a handmade earring line dedicated to raising sarcoidosis awa…

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Glutaric Acidemia 1 with Serena From New Zealand 2nd Anniversary episode 1:18:06

2M ago1:18:06

1:18:06

Send us a text In this special Rare Connection Live episode, host Joannal celebrates 2 years of amplifying rare voices by welcoming Serena, a rare disease advocate and parent from New Zealand. Serena’s daughter lives with GLUT1 Deficiency Syndrome, a rare metabolic disorder that impairs glucose transport to the brain — leading to seizures and neuro…

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Developing Leather for Red Wing and More with SB Foot's Lacy Schumann 1:28:16

2M ago1:28:16

1:28:16

Since 1986, SB Foot Tanning Company is most known as the tannery owned by Red Wing, and with good reason: every bit of leather used on Red Wing Heritage footwear is developed and made by SB Foot just a few miles from Red Wing’s US manufacturing facility. But the tannery itself and its relationship with Red Wing stretch much further back—to the late…

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Women's Shoe Icon Stuart Weitzman on Nudists, Aretha Franklin & The First Shoe He Ever Sold 1:03:32

2M ago1:03:32

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No conversation about the all-time great women's shoe designers is complete without a very long segue into Stuart Weitzman. Born into a shoemaking family who manufactured for decades in longtime US shoemaking hub Haverhill, Massachusetts, Weitzman quickly established himself as the rare shoemaker to both the stars AND literally any woman who just w…

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Tash Willcocks (TPX Impact) on navigating uncertainty, intellectual humility, leadership in turbulent times, why zebras don't get ulcers, the importance of structure in enabling agility, how to actually ... 56:03

2M ago56:03

56:03

A wide-ranging chat with Tash Willcocks (Head of Learning Design at TPX Impact) on organisational culture, leadership, and how to deal with change and uncertainty. Tash mentioned a whole load of ideas, articles, books, and thinkers - a few of which I've linked to below: Tash's Medium lives here: https://medium.com/@tash-willcocks This is the first …

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Ank 3 With Tami from Kansas 32:00

2M ago32:00

32:00

Send us a text In this episode of Rare Connection, host Joanna sits down with Tami — a teacher, advocate, and mother of 7-year-old Jonathan, who lives with a rare ANK3-related disorder. Tami shares her family's diagnostic journey, how Jonathan's multiple conditions impact their daily life, and how she balances caregiving with her work in early chil…

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How to Become a Bootmaker, With Oldspeed MFG's Dave Corey and New River Boot's Dave Mills 1:52:52

2M ago1:52:52

1:52:52

I had an absolute gas with Dave Mills of New River Boot, and Dave Corey of Oldspeed Manufacturing on this one. After years of being two of my favorite people on the internet to talk about footwear with, I was lucky enough to spend time with both of them last October at our Stitchdown’s Boot Camp expo—and I guess I needed more. Both Daves have in so…

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Mental Health and Rare Disase with Frank From New York 49:07

2M ago49:07

49:07

Send us a text 🧠 Mental health is rarely optional when you're living with a rare disease. Join Joanna, host of Rare Connection, for a powerful live conversation with Frank, a rare disease patient and mental health advocate who's working to make support more accessible for our community. 🌍 Living with sarcoidosis and other chronic conditions, Frank …

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Orphan Disease of HLA-B27 With Brenda From Florida 53:52

2M ago53:52

53:52

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Brenda, a woman navigating the challenges of a painful, disabling, and unnamed orphan disease. Despite testing negative for VEXAS, relapsing polychondritis, and MAGIC syndrome, Brenda continues to suffer from spontaneous tendon tears and systemic inflammation. One key clue? She is HLA-B27 positive, a …

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Judd Fink-Spiritual Path Coaching 34:08

3M ago34:08

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Send us a text Hi, I'm Judd Fink From as early as the age of four, I’ve felt a profound connection to the universe, receiving intuitive messages from Source and those who have passed on. These insights have been my guiding light, shaping my life and empowering me to help others on their journeys. My purpose is to guide you toward this same clarity …

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Dan Reeves- From Alcoholic to reclaiming that which was lost! 26:04

3M ago26:04

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Send us a text Hi, my name is Dan and I’m an alcoholic At 45 years of age my alcoholism and addictions came crashing down on me, I was facing 6-20 years in prison, I had given away a 17 year marriage and was on the verge of losing everything. Even with those consequences hovering, I was unable to stop consuming the very chemicals that put me in thi…

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Custom Cowboy Bootmaker Jake Houston on Preserving Knowledge, León Mexico, and Zebra Races 1:46:54

3M ago1:46:54

1:46:54

About a half hour from Reno, there’s a place called Virginia City Nevada, where everything feels like it’s 1859 and the US’s largest silver deposit was just discovered. The bars say saloon and look the part. The cemetery is definitely haunted. And of course there’s a custom hatmaker—who shares a space in one of Virgnia City’s oldest surviving build…

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Neuromyoitis Optica with Nicki From New York 1:36:49

3M ago1:36:49

1:36:49

Send us a text In this episode of Rare Connection, host Joanna Ball speaks with [Guest Name], who shares their powerful journey with [Rare Disease]. Together, they discuss diagnosis challenges, treatment paths, daily life, and advocacy work. Whether you're a patient, caregiver, medical professional, or just curious—this conversation brings rare ins…

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Seiji McCarthy is Making Some of the World's Greatest American Bespoke Shoes—In Japan 1:31:00

3M ago1:31:00

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Tokyo-based, half-American/half-Japanese Seiji McCarthy discusses his uniquely late path into shoemaking, the development of his vintage-Americana-inspired bespoke line, why he feels more American in Japan, and why it’s sometimes better if your bespoke shoemaker doesn't make your shoes entirely themselves. https://www.seijimccarthy.com/ Support the…

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Familial Adenomatous Polyposis With Jenny From Oklahoma 40:10

3M ago40:10

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Send us a text In this milestone 50th episode of Rare Connection, host Joanna sits down with Jenny, the powerful voice behind the blog Life’s A Polyp. Diagnosed with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) as a child, Jenny underwent a total colectomy at age 9, followed by a series of life-threatening complications that led to multiple surgeries, an i…

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Is Turriff Functional Footwear Making the Best-Quality Barefoot Shoe on the Market? 1:38:29

3M ago1:38:29

1:38:29

This week we've got a chat with Andrew Turriff, a Canadian shoemaker who studied at Cordwainer’s Footwear Design program in London, worked for some big sneaker brands, and did pattern work for fellow Canadians Viberg and time in the orthopedic world before deciding to make a zero-drop, anatomical, barefoot shoe with of top-end materials—and also ma…

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Dr. Sharnael-The Science of Miracles: RE-Membering the Frequency of Love 27:47

3M ago27:47

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Send us a text Dr. Sharnael Wolverton Sehon is a captivating multidisciplinary expert who seamlessly blends naturopathic /energy medicine, spirituality, and quantum science to empower individuals on their journey to wholeness. As the founder of True TV and author of five groundbreaking books, including her international best seller "The Science of …

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From Researcher to Lymphocytic Colitis Patient Ben From South Dakota 1:29:05

3M ago1:29:05

1:29:05

Send us a text In this episode of Rare Connection, I sit down with Ben, a rare disease researcher and advocate with over 15 years of experience in cell and molecular biology, clinical research, and leadership. Ben shares his personal journey living with lymphocytic colitis and oral lichen planus—two often misunderstood conditions—and his profession…

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How Tariffs Are Already Impacting the Footwear Industry, with FDRA CEO Matt Priest 46:58

4M ago46:58

46:58

Matt Priest, President and CEO of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, came on the Shoecast the morning after 104% tariffs on Chinese goods into the US hit in a rapidly-moving-target trade war with the United States and just about every other country. What ARE tariffs? How might tariffs and general uncertainty impact massive shoe bra…

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Unnamed Chromosomal Disorder With Melissa From Minnesota 43:56

4M ago43:56

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Send us a text Melissa was 17 when she had her first child Evan. Evan was born with a cleft palate and developed 30 other conditions throughout his life. He wasn't expected to live and doctors told her to take him home and let him pass naturally. She was given what she calls a never list (He will never sit up, he will never talk, he will never stan…

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Emma Keith (National Theatre) on NT Live, remote audiences, experimentation, learning, thinking about value, leadership, and the importance of pilots 56:27

4M ago56:27

56:27

A great chat with the National Theatre's outgoing Managing Director - Digital, Emma Keith. We talked about how digital practice has developed at the NT and how that differs from other performing arts organisations. The history of the NT Live programme, and the importance of pilots and testing ideas. The hidden value of digital infrastructure, remot…

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RareGen's Impact: Khartik Uppalapati on Science, Policy, and Patient Empowerment 37:12

5M ago37:12

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Send us a text Guest: Khartik Uppalapati, Co-founder of RareGen Youth Network Episode Description: In this episode of Rare Connection, host Joanna welcomes Khartik Uppalapati, a remarkable young leader at the intersection of biomedical research and rare disease advocacy. Khartik shares his personal journey with rare conditions, which ignited his pa…

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Cerebral Cavernous Malformation With Elizabeth From Oregon and Allison from DC 2:19:52

5M ago2:19:52

2:19:52

Send us a text Guest(s): Allison & Elizabeth Episode Summary In this episode of Rare Connection, I’m joined by twin sisters Allison and Elizabeth, who both have familial Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM)—a rare genetic condition that causes clusters of abnormal blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord. They share their personal diagnosis jour…

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Jeff McDonald CEO Kythera Labs 1:03:35

5M ago1:03:35

1:03:35

Send us a text Rare disease patients often face long diagnostic delays, limited access to clinical trials, and challenges in finding treatments. Traditional medical records don’t always capture the full picture, making it harder to identify and support these patients. But what if advanced data and AI could change that? In this episode of Rare Conne…

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Beks Leary (National Gallery) on the challenges & opportunities of working in larger vs smaller teams, different ways of thinking about audiences, and the value of building meaningful relationships with ... 31:35

5M ago31:35

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A chat with Beks Leary, Senior Social Media and Content Lead at the National Gallery in London. We talked about Beks's career, which has encompassed working at a diverse range of organisations including the Bush Theatre, BBC, and National Theatre before Beks's current role at the National Gallery. Beks explained the opportunities and challenges tha…

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Noah Tetzner-From a bullied kid to a successful podcast producer! 27:41

5M ago27:41

27:41

Send us a text Join us on a heartfelt exploration with Noah from his roots in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was homeschooled in an evangelical Christian environment, Noah found solace and self-expression in the world of community theater. His journey into podcasting began with a show on Viking history, which surprisingly opened up opportunities fo…

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Sjogren's Syndrome with Mimi From Florida 1:24:05

5M ago1:24:05

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Send us a text In this episode of Rare Connection, Mimi shares her 20-year battle for a Sjögren’s syndrome diagnosis—a disease often misunderstood as just a "dry eye disorder" but one that led to respiratory failure and lung scarring in her case. She opens up about her journey with pulmonary fibrosis, nightly oxygen therapy, and the challenges of b…

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Elise Morgan-Dynamic life coach, author, speaker, podcast host, and healer. 59:06

5M ago59:06

59:06

Send us a text Elise Morgan is a former personal trainer and IFBB Professional Fitness Athlete, turned dynamic life coach, author, speaker, podcast host, and healer with a bold and sassy yet compassionate approach to personal empowerment. With a master's degree from the school of hard knocks and certifications in life coaching, NLP, and sacred cere…

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Alpha 1 Atrypsijn Deficiency With Mr,. Ohh From Ohio 1:11:43

5M ago1:11:43

1:11:43

Send us a text In this episode of Rare Connection, I sit down with Chris, aka Mr. Ohh, who shares his journey of living with AATD, undergoing weekly infusions, and facing the challenges of this condition—all while using humor as his greatest weapon. We dive into what it’s like to navigate daily life with AATD, the lung-liver connection, and how lau…

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Heather Murphy-Certified somatics coach, trauma informed breathwork facilitator and expressive arts. 51:20

6M ago51:20

51:20

Send us a text Heather Murphy is a certified somatics coach, trauma informed breathwork facilitator and current expressive arts therapist in training. She wants you to know that whatever is desired by you is destined by you. You have the power to create and manifest the life of your dreams. And through somatics, energetics and expressive arts she w…

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Hemochromatosis With Michael from Guatemala 2:04:22

6M ago2:04:22

2:04:22

Send us a text Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HHC) is a genetic condition that causes the body to absorb too much iron, leading to serious health complications if left untreated. Many people go undiagnosed for years, mistaking symptoms for other conditions. In this episode of Rare Chef, I sit down with Michael J. Tallon, an author, traveler, and rare …

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All the Shoes & Boots Derek Guy Loves—and a Few He Really Doesn't—From Bespoke to Workboots 1:29:31

6M ago1:29:31

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Derek’s an OG forum junkie turned menswear writer for Put This On, mass publications like The New York Times, and his own always-excellent blog Die Workwear!. In the last few years, Derek has become, to many, Menswear Guy on Twitter, where his sharp cultural insights on style and complete lack of brevity break every rule of the platform in such a w…

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Mike Keating (Art Fund) on the collaborative development of AI policy, balancing the priorities of being both a membership and sector support organisation, and the impact of COVID on Art Fund's digital ... 35:44

6M ago35:44

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A conversation with Art Fund's Associate Director of Digital Experience, Mike Keating. Most of our chat focused on Mike's relatively recent work in developing Art Fund's first AI policy. The collaborative, open, and pragmatic approach that Mike and colleagues took to this work feels like a useful model that other cultural organisations could borrow…

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Alan Gompers- From Maximum Security to the True Meaning of Freedom! 1:13:11

6M ago1:13:11

1:13:11

Send us a text Alan Gompers is a nationally recognized author, insightful lecturer, expert on recidivism, mentor to at-risk youth, and beloved authority on meditation and Self-Actualization. Prior to his startling transformation in prison, Alan’s insatiable need for recognition and power drove him to make and lose fortunes on Wall Street, betray fa…

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What Opie Way's Justin James Lost in Hurricane Helene—and What He Found 1:17:56

6M ago1:17:56

1:17:56

In 2019, Justin James started Opie Way, a recraftable sneaker brand made right in Asheville North Carolina, USA, using incredibly high quality materials—something that basically didn’t exist previously. Then suddenly, Justin's factory and brand didn't exist. In 2024, Hurricane Helene brought six feet of rampaging water tore through the Opie Way fac…

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Sofia Risberg, Ph.D-Former Historian, Animal Communication and Healing Insights. 36:27

6M ago36:27

36:27

Send us a text Sofia Risberg, Ph.D. is a former historian who started learning BodyTalk in 2020. After taking courses, she has been intuitively guided to use that modality as a basis to work primarily with animals to help them find assistance with anxiety, trauma, ancestral patterns, and other issues that affect them. Sofia’s been on a deep spiritu…

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Acromegaly With Risa From Colorado 1:04:54

6M ago1:04:54

1:04:54

Send us a text Join me as I talk with Risa about her diagnosis with Acromegaly (A rare benign cancer). Learn about Risa's Symptoms and how she deals with her condition on a day to day basis. Risa decided shortly after having surgery to go on a 1845 mile bike ride from Colorado to Mexico despite her doctors advising against it. You can read more abo…

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Skateboard Legend Jamie Thomas Goes Inside a 300° Oven To Explain How Skate Shoes are Made 1:12:45

6M ago1:12:45

1:12:45

Jamie Thomas is one of the most revered skateboarders of all time—and also a footwear designer and serial skate shoe brand founder. The release of his latest brand Warsaw seemed as good an excuse as any to have Jamie take me through the history of skate shoes and the sponsorships that arose around them, how and where they're made (and with what mat…

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PKU With Danielle From Maryland 41:53

7M ago41:53

41:53

Send us a text In this episode I talk with Danielle, a parent of a daughter Elsa with PKU and children's book author. Her book Rosey Racoon Has PKU is available on Amazon, See link below. In this episode I talk with Danielle about Her daughter's diagnosis with PKU, and the fears and challenges she went through as a parent, her daughter's symptoms w…

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How to Make Your Leather Footwear Last Literally (Possibly) Forever, With Pure Polish's Andy Vaughn 1:11:47

7M ago1:11:47

1:11:47

The idea that well-made, resoable footwear can last almost literally forever is one of its core allures—but it’s a promise that simply won’t come true if it’s not cared for properly. Especially the leather. But what’s the best way to do that? And for different types of leather? Well you’ll know a ton more after my fantastic chat with Andy Vaughn, o…

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Abby Havermann-Coach, Speaker & Writer 48:45

7M ago48:45

48:45

Send us a text A psychotherapist turned coach, Abby Havermann is a dynamic speaker, skilled trainer and an illuminator of the unconscious self-betrayals that drive our everyday challenges. Combining psychology, neuroscience, and ancient wisdom, she teaches you how to rewire habitual patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior to thrive instead of su…

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Shoecast BONUS Episode Preview: Shop Talk With Brett Viberg & Shuyler Mowe of Nicks Boots 45:17

8M ago45:17

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It's our first-ever BONUS Shoecast episode—in a brand new format called Shop Talk. The idea is simple: -1 moderator (Ben from Stitchdown) -2 guests—this time, Brett Viberg of Viberg Boot, and Shuyler Mowe of Nicks Boots. -3 questions apiece—which can be about absolutely anything, and the other guest MUST answer meaningfully. And boy did it end up b…

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Holly Henry on the Cowboy Bootmaking Community's Sustaining Power (Also: Saddles) 1:05:48

8M ago1:05:48

1:05:48

I will tell anyone who dares listen that handmade bootmaking—and perhaps specifically, cowboy bootmaking—is the highest form of leatherwork as functional art. And then I started paying attention a bit more to saddlemaking and was like damn ok maybe they’re tied. Parker, Colorado-based custom bootmaker Holly Henry knows a ton about both. Holly grew …