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Name: Times New Roman Release Date: 1932 Designers: Stanley Morison and Victor Lardent Classification: Mixed Transitional Old-Style (Serif) Owned By: Monotype Claim to Fame: The typeface commissioned by The Times and the most widely installed serif typeface Times New Roman may remind you of the good old days in high school, with countless MLA style papers or even “professional” yet boring looking resumes. It might even remind you of the long instruction manuals you most definitely read and don’t throw out... We’re all guilty, don’t you worry. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “No one even uses Times New Roman anymore,” or “Times New Roman is so outdated.” But I assure you, Times New Roman is still an important typeface to look at. I mean even after a century, nine decades it’s been, it can still be found everywhere. Let’s start at the beginning. Why was Times New Roman created in the first place? Well believe it or not, it actually began as a challenge. Stanley Morison, a well known and esteemed type designer, criticized London’s newspaper, The Times, for being out-of-touch with the modern typographical trends at the time; and so, The Times reached out and asked him to help rebrand themselves by creating a fresh new typeface for them. With the help of draftsman Victor Lardent, they were able to create the typeface we know today as - you guessed it - Times New Roman! While creating this new typeface, Morison had two goals in mind: efficiency and readability. Since he knew his typeface would be specifically used in newspaper printing, he really wanted to make sure that it was economical - meaning that he wanted to maximize the amount of type that would fit on a line and thus on a page - while also still making it enjoyable to read over time. “How did he do this?,” you wonder. Well let's look at - I mean hear about - some specifics. Morison increased what is known as “x-height” - the distance between the top and bottom of a lowercase letter that doesn’t have any ascenders or descenders, like the letters c or n. More simply put, x-height is literally the height of a lowercase x. The x-height can also be described as the amount of space between the median and the baseline. But enough about x-height. Morison also achieved efficiency by reducing the “tracking,” which is known as the space between each letterform. By adjusting these two type features, Morison was able to create a more condensed typeface. So that was how he achieved his first goal of efficiency, but what about readability? Onto that now. Morison paid particular attention to the shapes of his letterforms. He designed his letterforms to ensure that more typographic contrast was present - meaning that there was a clearer difference between the thick and thin parts of letters. For example, the vertical strokes in a lowercase “n” were widened and the intersecting strokes were thinned. By doing this, it kept the typeface from appearing too dark or congested in the newspaper, and gave it a more rounded appearance, thus increasing its legibility. After countless testings, Times New Roman was officially showcased in The Times and introduced to the public on October 3, 1932. The Times owned the rights of the typeface for a year, and then in the following years American publishers slowly started to adopt it. Why were they slow to adopt though? Because in order for it to look its best, it required a certain amount of ink and quality of paper that American newspapers were initially unwilling to use. But Woman’s Home Companion was the first magazine to adopt it in 1941, and then shortly after in 1953 the Chicago Sun-Times began to use it as well. It’s important to remember that Times New Roman was designed specifically for newspaper printing and not book printing. It was originally intended to be used in shorter line widths (like the columns of a newspaper); but a wider version of the typeface was later created in order to be used in longer linewidths of text, but I won’t get too much into that. Though Times New Roman may seem outdated now, the reason it remains relevant today is primarily thanks to Microsoft and Apple. Technically speaking, Times New Roman (owned by Monotype) is one of Microsoft’s core fonts and Times Roman (owned by Linotype) is one of Apple’s. They are basically the same font but the original typeface hardware was created by the pair of foundries. Both Monotype and Linotype made their own typefaces available, just with slightly different names. Apple ended up choosing Linotype’s and Microsoft chose Monotype’s. Confused yet? It’s okay, I’ll move on now. In the early computer days, most documents were still printed, and Times New Roman was not only designed for print but was widely available as well since everyone either had a Windows or Apple computer at the time. On top of that MLA or Chicago style required Times New Roman, 12 point font! Full circle. So whether or not Times New Roman brings you nostalgia, it’s always nice to learn about how things came to be and know where typographical trends were in order to further understand where they are heading. Thank you for joining me on this episode of An Incomplete History of Type. References Baron, M. (2021, January 8). Times New Roman, Arial, and Helvetica: The font favorites, but why? BOOK RIOT. Retrieved from https://bookriot.com/history-of-popular-fonts/ Bigelow, C. (2019). Typeface features and legibility research. Vision research, 165, 162-172. Retrieved from https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/science/article/pii/S0042 698919301 087?via%3Dihub Butterick, M., & Garner, B. A. (2015). A brief history of Times New Roman. Typography for Lawyers: Essential tools for polished & persuasive documents Mann, M. (2014, December 9). Where Did Times New Roman Come From? The New York Public Library. Retrieved from https://www.nypl.org/blog/2014/12/09/times-new-roman About Our Guest Host: Maya Navarro is a recent graduate of the Graphic Communications Management program at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). She completed a minor in Communication Design as well as a concentration in Digital Graphic Output. Maya was also a four year recipient of the Canadian Printing Industries Scholarship Trust Fund (CPISTF). Currently, Maya works as a Project Coordinator / CSR at Annan & Bird Lithographers and looks forward to growing her career and applying what she has learned from her four years in the GCM program. Music (public domain): TRG Banks - Above the Earth Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Welcome to the future… font futures: a three-part miniseries dedicated to what will continue to evolve as it relates to design, technology and the greater societal shifts that the world type can help facilitate. Part of what we can expect is new innovative ideas that are pushing the boundaries of typeface design. One of my very favourite things that I’ve been able to do with this podcast Is lift incredible student work out of the black hole of the assignment dropbox where too often never again seen after a course is over. I am so genuinely proud of all of my students who demonstrate hard work and dedication to the topics explored in class. Today’s episode features two students in my Advanced Typography class this semester and the work they’re sharing today are their original typeface designs: Sarah Zahavi and Nate Evangelista. Before we get to Sarah and Nate, allow me to tease you with the next two episodes in this mini-series. The legendary Charles Nix, Type Director of Monotype, gives us the ins and outs of variable font technology. And we will speak with Toronto-based type designer, Kevin King, about his work in helping to revitalize and preserve indigenous syllabic letterforms in a digital space. Nate (who you’ll meet in this episode) helps me cohost the next two episodes as well. You’re in for an awesome 2 1/2 hours of conversations dedicated to the typography of tomorrow. aqua: An original typeface by Nate Evangelista NEGATIVE SPACE: An original typeface by Sarah Zahavi About Our Guests: Nate Evangelista (he/him) is a graphic designer whose work revolves around creating more accessible and inclusive content that helps to improve user experience and interaction. Currently, he works as a Graphic Layout Artist at TC Transcontinental. During his undergraduate career, Nate went from studying human anatomy and absolutely dreading it to studying the anatomy of type and becoming completely obsessed. If he were a typeface, he would probably be Didot. On his free time, Nate likes to make clever puns, tasty recipes and lasting memories with his family, friends and boyfriend. His mantra is "live to express, not to impress." Sarah Zahavi is a graphic designer based in Toronto, Canada. She is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University's class of 2022 with a major in Graphic Communications Management, a concentration in Publishing, and a minor in Communication Design. A lover of books, music, and art history, Sarah draws her inspiration from all forms of media, and loves to explore past aesthetics with a modern twist. Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Monplaisir - Fire Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

I first learned about The Little Friends of Printmaking through one of their many awesome process videos that they share online. The duo creates these incredible, whimsical and captivating prints to share with the world. I immediately reached out (as I’d love to do) and I was so happy when they said that they would be down for a chat about all things nerdy and awesome in printmaking. JW and Melissa Buchanan are The Little Friends of Printmaking, a duo of printmakers, illustrators, & designers living in Pasadena, California. Their clients include Disney, FX, Nike, and Cartoon Network. The Little Friends were ADC Young Guns honorees and have won awards from American Illustration, Print Magazine, and Communication Arts. In addition to their work as illustrators and designers, they continue their fine art pursuits through exhibitions, lectures and artists’ residencies worldwide, spreading the gospel of silkscreen to anyone inclined to listen. In today’s conversation, JW, Melissa and I discuss The Little Friends of Printmaking’s origin story, the way printmaking bridges the gap between technical and creative pursuits, how the medium of print offers a wonderful constraint, the how-to of silk screening, as well as The Little Friends’ creative process. (We even dive into trapping, GCM students!) The duo shares the surprising physicality of the silk screen process, interesting techniques they like to explore (marbling, matte vs. gloss, etc.) and tips for getting started. Finally, Melissa and JW share what they’re working on now and what we can expect in the future. About Our Guests: JW and Melissa Buchanan are The Little Friends of Printmaking, a duo of printmakers, illustrators, & designers living in Pasadena, California. Their clients include Disney, FX, Nike, and Cartoon Network. The Little Friends were ADC Young Guns honorees and have won awards from American Illustration, Print Magazine, and Communication Arts. In addition to their work as illustrators and designers, they continue their fine art pursuits through exhibitions, lectures and artists’ residencies worldwide, spreading the gospel of silkscreen to anyone inclined to listen. Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Christoph Schindling - Coconut Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Name: ITC Benguiat Release Date: 1977 Designers: Ed Benguiat Classification: Serif Display Owned By: International Typeface Corporation Claim to Fame: The typeface used in Stranger Things About Our Guest Host: My name is Ian Ugale and I am a freshly-graduated Graphic Communications Management student from Toronto Metropolitan University. Since high school I’ve always wanted to work in graphic design. I'm currently working at a small screen printing shop located in North York. At this job I am able to combine my love of design and technical skills I gained while studying at GCM. Music (public domain): TRG Banks - Above the Earth Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Good morning! As this series about what’s at the intersection of listening and creativity comes to an end, I’m sharing the soundtrack that has been layered underneath each early start for me this spring season as I work on writing, editing and producing this podcast series. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening to and learning from the 11 guests; their multidisciplinary understanding of the who, what, when, where, why and how of listening has opened my eyes to new ways of thinking. I plan to translate these new ideas into action, in both my personal and professional lives. In today’s final episode, we hear from Dr. Christine Wozniak, a chiropractor and acupuncturist who understands the intimate relationship between stretching our bodies and improving our ability to listen through a process of attunement. In our conversation, Christine explains what attunement is, how to achieve it through the act of stretching and how it can positively impact our ability to listen. Like our interconnected bodies themselves, this episode helps us understand the links that exist between mind, body and creativity. Listening Invitation: Your listening invitation for our last episode is to stretch in a way that feels good for you. Make stretching tight muscles a daily routine to not only feel better physically, but also emotionally, opening ourselves up to receiving what others have to say. In fact, I encourage you to act right now. As you’re listening to the final couple of minutes of this episode, stop what you’re doing (really, stop) and stretch as you listen. ---- In this series you’ve heard from a music composer who’s calling to create music at the cost of his stable career meant listening to himself, just as much as it requires listening to the music he creates with others. A morning TV news producer whose job it is to both listen to her team, as well as listen to the world's news in order to distill it for a Canadian audience. An improvisational theatre expert who explained what we can learn about the power of listening from the stage. A mediator whose job it is to find creative solutions when groups of people are unable to develop solutions themselves. A professional jazz vocalist whose job it is to listen deeply to the musicians around her in front of a live audience. A clinical psychologist – a professional listener – who identified what it means to actively listen and how we can tap into her techniques. A former radio show host who embarked on a three-month vow of silence, discovering the truths emerge when our only choice is to listen. A dog trainer and rehabilitation expert who shared what we can learn from dogs about tuning into subtle energies and non-verbal cues. A family lawyer who uses listening in high-stakes situations to better understand how to resolve emotional disputes and uses listening as a tool to step back and question ‘why’. An Emmy-award winning creative strategist, author and design educator who teaches his students how to listen between the lines to arrive at creative solutions. And a chiropractor who helped us understand tapping into listening through our bodies, specifically through the act of stretching. I’d like to finish the 7 hours of content over 11 episodes with this except from the final page of Kate Murphy’s book You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters: “Listening is often regarded as talking’s meek counterpart, but it is actually the more powerful position in communication. You learn when you listen. It’s how you divine truth and detect deception. And though listening requires that you let people have their say, it doesn’t mean that you remain forever silent. In fact, how one responds is the measure of a good listener and, arguably, the measure of a good person. In our fast-paced and frenetic culture, listening is seen as a drag. Conversations unfold slowly and may need to be revisited. Listening takes effort. Understanding and intimacy must be earned. While people often say, “I can’t talk right now,” what they really mean is “I can’t listen right now.” And for many, it seems they never get around to it. This, despite what we all want most in life – to understand and be understood – only happens when we slow down and take the time to listen.” About Our Guest: Dr. Christine Wozniak is a Chiropractor and Acupuncturist practicing for over 25 years. She owns and runs a multi-discipline family-based health care centre in the heart of the Markham Village, including care through the modalities of acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathic and osteopathy. Music: Peivast Waltz - Emad Saedi Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

In reading author Celeste Headlee’s book We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter, I marked up, underlined, highlighted and starred passages throughout the entire book. It’s been an incredible resource for my personal and professional growth. The final chapter (simply entitled ‘Listen!’) contains particularly helpful insights that relate to today’s guest and listening’s role in being creatively strategic. On page 217, Celeste says this: “It’s not easy to break the habit of simply waiting for someone to take a breath so that you can speak again, but it can be done. First, try to listen for ideas. While the other person is talking, think about the deeper meaning of their words and their thoughts. Watch their facial expressions and gestures. What are they really trying to say? You can ask questions like, “Does that mean that…?” or “Are you saying that…?” Perhaps they’re hinting at something. What is it? Why are they telling that story at that moment? What’s the big idea?” After two additional pages of advice, Celeste aptly states: “Listening is work.” Today’s guest knows the important role that listening plays (particularly listening below the surface) in the creative process. Douglas Davis is an Emmy Award-winning designer, author, speaker and educator. He wrote Creative Strategy and the Business of Design (which will be available in an audio book format this month) and his resource helps creatives be more strategic in their process, allowing them to turn the rational language of business into the emotional language of design. In today’s conversation, Douglas generously shares the way listening is critical to the dynamic of understanding communication gaps that can exist between various stakeholders in the creative process and how listening allows creatives to be more strategic, including the importance of listening for the questions behind the questions. He also shares how learning to control our emotions is something we must learn how to do within the context of the creative process through listening to our own bodies, as well as his take on imposter syndrome, drawing parallels between today’s creative climate and that of the turn of the new millennium (in the early days of web design). Finally, Douglas reminds us that listening is required to allow creative people everywhere to remain on brand, on strategy and on message. You can see Douglas at RGD’s DesignThinkers Vancouver 2022 conference in early June. Let’s get this party started. Illustration Credit: Dean O'Callaghan http://www.behance.com/deanocallaghan Invitation: Today’s listening invitation encourages you to pick up on the subtleties in conversation that Douglas Davis mentioned in a strategic context, but I believe can be applied equally in everyday conversation, too. The next time someone asks you a question, take a minute to uncover the motivation – the why – the question behind the question. Listen to the question and question the answer that the person you’re speaking with is looking for. For example, one that hit home for me this very morning was speaking with my eldest daughter before I left on the train to head downtown. She asked me: “Will you be working on the train?” I responded with: “Yes, I’ll be working on the train…” (as I often like to do on the ride into the city that offers 50 minutes of uninterrupted time to focus). We both sat for a minute while she continued to think about my answer. So I thought about the question a little more deeply. I realized that she didn’t want to know if I’d be working on the train. What she really wanted to get a sense of is if I would get all my work done on the train or if I’d still have to do work when I got home. So I added: “I’ll be working on the train so that I can finish what I’m doing and come home and play with you.” That seemed to more directly get at the heart of why she asked me the initial question. She seemed much more satisfied with this answer. So question the question. Become aware of the underlying narratives, concerns, fears or motivations behind why someone is asking you something. And if you really aren’t sure about the underlying why but your gut tells you that there’s something deeper, just ask. Asking is way better than assuming. As Brene Brown reminds us: “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” About Our Guest: Brooklyn-based Douglas Davis enjoys being one of the variety of voices needed in front of and behind the concept. His approach to creativity combines right-brained creative problem solving with left-brained strategic thinking. Douglas is an Emmy Award-winning strategist who serves on the advisory boards of the Poster House Museum CMYK council, The Type Director’s Club, The University of Oregon’s Masters in Advertising and Brand Responsibility, and City College’s Masters in Branding and Integrated Communications. He has found an international audience interested in his approach to blurring the lines between advertising, design, and business education. In 2016, Douglas wrote Creative Strategy and the Business of Design, a title translated into Mandarin and released in 2020 by Beijing Normal University. He is the former Chair of the B.F.A. in Communication Design program at New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn and holds a B.A. in Graphic Design from Hampton University, an M.S. in Communications Design from Pratt Institute, and an M.S. in Integrated Marketing from New York University. Strategist, Author & Professor who depends on what day. douglasdavis.com Photo Credit: Rain River Images https://www.rainriverimages.com/ Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Jahzzar - Flutter Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

One of the resources that encouraged my deep dive into listening is called You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters by journalist Kate Murphy. Her conversational tone in communicating deeply-researched information makes it easy to listen to (so to speak). In Chapter 7, Kate Murphy explains listening to views that oppose your own. She summarizes the chapter on page 88 this way: “To listen does not mean, or even imply, that you agree with someone. It simply means you accept the legitimacy of the other person’s point of view and that you might have something to learn from it. It also means that you embrace the possibility that there might be multiple truths and understanding them all might lead to a larger truth. Good listeners know understanding is not binary. It’s not that you have it or don’t. Your understanding can always be improved.” I love challenging my own beliefs, and by extension, helping my students challenge their beliefs about the grey that lives between black and white, right and wrong, yes and no. Inspired by the work of Ellen Lupton, as well as Nadine Chahine, I’ve spoken with my students a lot this semester about the typographic non-binary and innovation possible when we take type out of their traditional classification buckets; discovering what happens when one spills into another, into another, into another. All of a sudden even huge, overarching, “fundamental” categories like “serif” and “san serif” begin to feel outdated, unnecessary and even a blockade to future innovative work in the space. I love hearing Kate Murphy use the framework to discuss the ways in which we think about listening, multiple truths made possible when we’re open to opposing sides. Furthermore, organizational psychologist and author, Adam Grant, expands on this idea by explaining that “The highest compliment from someone who disagrees with you is not “You were right.” It’s “You made me think.” Good arguments help us recognize complexity where we once saw simplicity. The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It’s to promote critical thinking.” Both of these passages are particularly fitting in the case of today’s guest, Jenna Beaton. Jenna is a Toronto-based family law litigator and a partner at Beaton Burke Young. She and I discuss the patience and restraint often needed while listening as a lawyer, as well as the directive component to listening (controlling the conversation parameters) often required in law. We explore the importance of asking the right questions, separating emotionality from the content in high stakes listening and the importance of asking ‘why’ to question the status quo. Invitation: In the same way that Jenna asks why the law is the way it is to impact change, we can each ask ‘why’ in personal exchanges to deepen our understanding of our conversational partner. Once we begin to really, actively listen to another person, empathy can form as we better understand another person’s underlying values and core beliefs. This listening invitation is all about genuinely wanting to better understand your conversational partner. Engage in a conversation with a friend or family member. One person should act as the conversation starter and the other as the respondent. The conversation starter will ask: “What is the best thing that’s happened to you today?” The respondent will answer this question and at natural breaks throughout the conversation, the conversation starter will ask three additional questions, all of which start with ‘why’ (without switching focus to themselves). The respondent will genuinely answer the questions. Half way through (after about 4 minutes or when it makes sense to), switch roles. Here’s an example exchange that illustrates the power of asking why with my then 4-year old, Charlotte: Me: What was the best thing that happened to you today? Charlotte: I got to play with a horse puzzle at school today. Me: That’s neat! Why do you like playing with horse puzzles? Charlotte: Because horses are like unicorns and I love unicorns. Me: Fantastic! Why do you love unicorns? Charlotte: I love them because they have horns and are sparkly. The next time I’m looking to surprise my daughter with something, I now know that it comes down to the importance of the horns and the glitter. 🦄 ✨ About Our Guest: Jenna Beaton has been a family law litigator for the past 10 years. She specializes in assisting clients with complex financial issues and complicated corporate structures. Jenna is a trial lawyer who has represented clients at all levels of court in Ontario. In addition to her active litigation practice, Jenna advises clients on domestic contracts, including marriage contracts, and frequently represents clients in mediation. She prides herself on pursuing practical and cost-effective resolutions for her clients. She appreciates that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for families going through a separation. https://www.bbylaw.ca/ Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Jahzzar - Julia Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

In January 2018, our family was looking to adopt a dog. Our previous family dog (a Shetland Sheepdog named Molly) left the world the previous November. We looked around at a number of adoption sites online to find a dog that would fit into our family. After searching and searching we came across Osa, a dog who had just been relocated to Canada from Mexico by a rescue agency. She was just over one year old, about 30 pounds and looked a bit like a cross between a German Shepherd and a Collie. She seemed perfect so we set up a time to meet her at her foster home. When we arrived she was just as we had imagined… and then she tried to eat our faces off. That should’ve been clue number one. After not even being able to approach the dog because she was so anxious and so protective of her personal space, we obviously said… “We’ll take her!” Oh boy were we naïve. We learned about Osa’s backstory; a really sad tale with some missing pieces, but what we do know is that she had a litter of puppies when she was barely out of puppyhood herself and someone (whether intentionally or unintentionally) hit her with their car. She lay in the street, broken, until a kind soul scooped her up, brought her to the rescue agency DIBS (Dogs in Better Spots) and got her the surgery she desperately needed for her broken hip. When strong enough, she was then flown to Canada to start a new life. When Osa was dropped off at our house a few days later she inspected her new space and she had thankfully moved on from wanting to attack us. However, as she settled into her new space that (we later learned) represented control and safety to her, she was willing to guard it with her life. She was willing to do anything to protect it, including not allowing anyone to step foot in her new space. She was great with us but aggressive with others on leash, as well as anyone who dared enter our home. The final straw was a couple of months after we got her and my mom was visiting. My mom got in between Osa and our then 18 month old and Osa connected. She bit my mom and that was the final straw. We’d been taking her to obedience training but she needed way more than those classes could offer her. She needed a therapeutic approach for her unresolved issues. We had no idea what to do or how to help her. We felt at a loss and it hurt us so much to do this but we told the agency we needed to give her back. We couldn’t risk the safety of our family and friends, especially the children in our lives. In a long email to DIBS we told them all this and more. They replied by saying that there was an incredible dog trainer who works out of Oakville, Ontario who could help Osa. We were skeptical because we felt that we were already doing so much to try and help her and nothing was working but we were willing to give it one last try. And this is my connection to today’s guest, Jenna Kingston who runs Highfives for K9s Training. Jenna is a dog trainer and rehabilitator who specializes in working with traumatized dogs, using clear communication and the pack to help dogs manage their emotions and control aggressive behavior, among other issues. She’s incredible. If you’ve ever seen the dog whisperer, Cesar Milan, you already have a sense of the kind of magic Jenna works. Within the first eight hours of a two week live-in rehabilitation, she already had Osa walking on a leash showing no aggression. Jenna talked to us about eventually letting Osa off leash in a pet store. My husband and I looked at each other and laughed out loud, imagining her terrorizing everyone and everything in that store. Only a few days later Jenna sent us a video of Osa sitting nicely in a dog bed off leash in a pet store. Whoa. And while Osa is not perfect and we are not perfect dog owners, we feel so grateful to Jenna for helping our family be able to keep Osa. To give you a sense of her before and after, check out the show notes at www.talkpaperscissors.info for a link to a 3-minute video of the incredible progress she made with Jenna. (You will also find plenty of cute dog spam in this episode’s show notes!) In this conversation Jenna and I discuss how dogs listen to one another and to the humans in their lives. Jenna explains the power that intuitive energy plays in canine listening, as well as how dogs in a pack communicate with one another. Dogs teach us that calm energy is required in a chaotic environment because you can only control yourself and not the world around you. Lastly, Jenna shares her thoughts on being willing to remain quiet and listen so that we can learn from every situation. As a funny aside, while Osa looks like a shepherd/collie mix, a DNA test revealed that she is a cross between a springer spaniel and parson terrier with a hint of chihuahua. Ha! Osa's progression through Jenna's board and train program... Osa living her best life after Jenna's training... About Our Guest: My name is Jenna Kingston. I am a dog trainer residing in Oakville Ontario. Starting out my career 15 years ago by walking packs of dogs allowed me to learn how to communicate with another species without relying on verbalization. I also learnt to be creative when translating dog language into human terms so that the average dog parent would be able to apply the same techniques in order to maintain harmony in the relationship with their canine companion. Breaking down the walls of limiting beliefs is something I strive to achieve as well as teach in my business and personal life. Our Philosophy on my website - https://www.highfivesfork9s.com/about-us Insights #1 - https://www.highfivesfork9s.com/insights/own-your-bubble Insights #2 - https://www.highfivesfork9s.com/insights/10-be-the-protector Pack demo video - https://youtu.be/cVsZb-uLBCg Music: Dandy by Ketsa, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Today’s guest has a very interesting life story. Here’s the abridged version: Drew Marshall was adopted, grew up in a funeral home, dropped out of school in Grade 9 and ran away to California to be a wrangler. He traveled around North America volunteering for charities and tried to be a firefighter and a rodeo cowboy. Drew was a stay at home dad, he’s worked a little in film and TV, became a Pastor in Australia, studied standup comedy and improv at Second City Toronto… and so much more. Drew also hosted The Drew Marshall Show, Canada‘s most listened to spiritual talk radio talk show for 16 years, having interviewed hundreds of celebrities about their beliefs or lack thereof. He’s interviewed the likes of Kristin Chenoweth, Alice Cooper, James Brown, Larry King, Chuck Norris, Rainn Wilson and Deepak Chopra. He’s currently under contract with a major publisher to write a book about it all. What Drew and I will be chatting about today is his three month vow of silence as he traveled along the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James); a nearly 1000 km walk in northwestern Spain. In our conversation Drew shares what led him to walk 1000 km in silence (what he calls ‘accidental intentionality’), his insights about the importance of asking questions as a precursor to listening and why his vow of silence gave everyone involved permission to dive below surface level in conversations. Drew shares a powerful story about what happens when we make assumptions, including how listening can open our hearts and minds to receiving new people and new experiences. Finally, Drew explains the way in which life slowed down when he went silent, how silence affected his creativity and his approach to ‘chasing the why’. A lot can happen when we intentionally say nothing; when we listen more and speak less. Allow me to share one of my favourite kids books that demonstrates the power of silence in the presence of others to help preface this episode. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld Over to you, Drew. Let’s listen in… Invitation: Inspired by Drew’s efforts, I took my own teeny tiny vow of silence, the day after our conversation. While mine only lasted about eight hours, I did manage to get to the zoo with my kids during that time. I definitely slipped up a few times, accidentally breaking the vow while interacting with my kids (“Who’s stinky?” and “big fat squirrel” were two of my slip-ups). I learned a lot during the short time. For example, I learned that time slows down when I stop talking. It felt like there was nowhere to go and nothing to prove. The speediness that so often dictates my days temporarily vanished. My typical desire for inputs was almost nonexistent. This included very little desire to look at social media or watch TV or listen to music. I simultaneously had no desire to work (which is unusual for me), while also having huge creative flow in an uninterrupted divergent stage of creative ideation. Pages and pages of thoughts and ideas and action items became louder when I quieted my voice. I kissed my kids more. It was a really interesting few hours. I invite you to practice your own vow of silence. Whether for an hour a day or a month, I can guarantee that you will learn something when you shift the focus from talking to strictly listening. If you have others in your life that rely on you and therefore the challenge seems unrealistic, your vow of silence could mean only speaking when spoken to for a period of time, refraining from prompting discussion. Or it could mean listening only to someone else’s story and concerns. Just listening. Being there for them and showing up to listen to what they have to say without actively needing to solve anything or giving unsolicited advice. Happy listening. About Our Guest: DREW WHO? Since 2003, Drew Marshall has talked to everyone about whatever it is they believe, in a very light-hearted manner and with absolutely zero agenda, aside from a genuine personal curiosity to understand “belief”. Drew was adopted, grew up in a funeral home, survived a teenage suicide attempt, dropped out of school in Grade 9, ran away to California to be a wrangler, played semi-pro football with NFL/CFL tryouts, drove around North America volunteering for charities, tried to be a firefighter & a rodeo cowboy, was a stay at home dad, has worked a little in film and TV, became a Pastor in Australia and studied stand-up comedy & improv at Second City Toronto. These days he’s a hospital chaplain and hosts Canada’s most listened to spiritual talk show. He’s interviewed hundreds of celebrities & cultural icons about their beliefs or lack thereof. Struggling with his own faith, Drew sacrificed his eyesight for the last week of Lent, paid non-believers to go to church, drank with witches, celebrated with Wiccans, visited with Satanists, walked 1000 KM’s on the Camino de Santiago, then spent time writing in a monastery on an island off the coast of the Western Sahara during a three month vow of silence. Basically, he’s “Red Letter”, wandering, autodidactic iconoclast with agnostic tendencies and a microphone - a skeptical believer on an irreverent search for the sacred! Music: Drop by Ketsa, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

The ways we show we’re actively listening can differ from person-to-person, group-to-group, culture-to-culture. A few months ago I came across a post by the author Priya Parker who wrote the book, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters. She introduced me to a term in communication and listening called ‘cooperative overlapping’. It started with her reposting NPR journalist Sam Sander’s content on December 8, 2021. Sam shared an email he got from a listener, along with his reply. The listener criticized his “constant grunts and murmurs… when a guest is speaking”. The message from the unnamed listener continued: “I don’t know if these sounds are involuntary or if he wants to show he’s paying attention, but it’s rude to guests and distracting to listeners.” Sam’s response contained insightful info about cultural differences in listening. He said this: “What you’re hearing is a linguistic tradition very prominent in Black culture and the Black church. Public speaking, oration, and conversation in the Black community is consistently peppered with call and response. The congregation tells the preacher “Amen” so he or she will keep going, the grunt or uhhmm and ahhh to show support and encourage the speaker to continue. In everyday conversation, Black people push conversation forward with interjections as well. There’s a linguistic term for this. It’s called Cooperative Overlapping.” In a fascinating chase down the Internet rabbit hole, Priya explored where this term came from and how it became popularized today, which surprisingly (or maybe unsurprisingly) is through TikTok. She shared an opinion essay from The New York Times by Deborah Tannen, a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University. In the piece, Deborah shares information about her research transcribing a conversation between New Yorkers and Californians. At first look at the transcript, it appeared as though the New Yorkers were rudely talking over one another, which (to the Californians at the table) they were. Upon closer inspection of the entire conversation, there were differing assumptions about overlap in the communication, the New Yorkers at this table were engaging in their regular style of dialogue. “Participatory listenership” is the umbrella term Deborah uses for listening and cooperative overlapping is an active listening technique that sits under this umbrella. There are many other forms of active listening, many of which we’ve explored in other episodes, but this type of cooperative overlapping – amping up the conversation and encouraging the speaker to continue sharing – is particularly culturally-specific. Anthropologists and linguists have described this type of overlapping conversation in a variety of cultures around the world throughout history. In other words, while silence is golden in conversation, it’s not the only way to demonstrate engagement. That said, when listening styles differ greatly, a well intentioned overlap can feel like rude interruption. Domination of the conversation can result and the speaker may feel like they’re not listened to or even attacked. Deborah ends the article by offering this interesting piece of advice: “If you’ve been waiting in vain for a pause, you might push yourself to jump in. And if you feel interrupted, try continuing to talk, instead of stopping.” Today’s guest is Dr. Jennifer Hunter. She is a Clinical Psychologist who listens for a living, as well as conducting important research in the field and teaching Master of Social Work students about her area of expertise. She and I get into the nitty-gritty about different types of listening exchanges (some similar to cooperative overlapping), as well as how to tap into our emotional states as a way to listen on another level. We also dive into the imbalance we feel in how communication is taught (speaking vs. listening) in classrooms of all levels, as determined by metrics like participation grades. Jenn identifies listening’s transformational power, listening’s role as a precursor to creative thinking, the role self-esteem plays in listening and she positions the act of listening as a gift we can offer others. Phew, it’s a good one! Listening Invitation: In thinking more about this conversation after it was over, I began really trying to figure out how to incorporate the evaluation of listening into future courses. Active listening can be demonstrated in a whole range of ways, including overtly apparent techniques (eye contact, nodding, leaning forward, open body language, paraphrasing someone’s words back to them for clarification, asking questions, explaining the concept to someone else, etc.), as well as covert techniques (thinking deeply, sense-making, expanding on and connecting ideas, etc.). I’m going to continue to iron out the details, however I’m excited to include a participation mark that includes a combination of overt and covert active listening techniques into my courses. This might look like asking students to put away their devices for a portion of the class to really focus on listening and/or encourage asking clarification questions throughout the class and/or paraphrasing key ideas on a piece of paper they submit at the end of class. Furthermore, there will likely be a self-evaluation component to help provide an assessment of their active listening that I can’t see. Continuous evaluation throughout the semester will be more helpful to course-correct and learn from rather than a single grade at the end. I also think it will be important to introduce listening as a topic in a 10-20 minute discussion of what, when, why, where, who and how of listening to gain student buy-in and clarify exactly what active listening is all about. Part of this assessment item’s purpose is to get back to basics with the critical skill of listening. Part of the purpose is to provide space for practice and to experience quiet contemplation in a noisy world. And part of the purpose is to level the playing field with naturally inquisitive but quiet, shy or introverted students who don’t enjoy engaging in traditional class discussions where participation marks are often held. However I choose to move forward with this assessment of listening, I must keep each of these goals in mind to create a fair and equitable assessment item. It won’t be completely ironed out until I try it a few times, but I’m excited to continue exploring the effects this could have on positively changing the dynamics of the classroom so that everyone feels heard and (hopefully) engagement naturally increases with the focus shifted from talking to listening. For this episode’s listening invitation, I’m going to wear my teacher hat and ask you to evaluate yourself. In the book You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy, she provides the following 3-question self-assessment prompt when leaving a conversation. I encourage you to ask yourself the following: What did I just learn about that person? What was most concerning to that person today? How did that person feel about what we were talking about? This type of awareness in others and in yourself can change future interactions for the better, inciting greater empathy, changing your world and then changing the world, one conversation at a time. About Our Guest: Dr. Jennifer Hunter is a Clinical Psychologist. She has a private practice providing psychotherapy and psychological assessment to adults and couples, provides research support to North York General Hospital's Adult Eating Disorders program, and is a sessional lecturer in the University of Toronto's Master of Social Work program. Jennifer is honoured to support clients in re-imagining their lives and healing old wounds, and feels lucky that she has the privilege of working with such amazing clients, colleagues and students. Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Ketsa - Wallow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Can listening to music make us more creative? Some sources point to ‘yes’, others to point to ‘no’. In a fascinating 2019 article by TIME entitled ‘Does Listening to Music Stimulate Creative Thinking or Stifle It?’, author Markham Heid shares the results of a series of studies, the findings of which point to both yes and no. For example, a 2019 study published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology found that listening to (familiar or unfamiliar, vocal or instrumental) music while you work “significantly impairs” creativity. However, it’s important to note that the tasks participants were asked to complete in this study were a series of word puzzles that likely required significant focus. So while these types of analytical tasks demand silence, there are other types of open-ended creative tasks in which studies show that creative thinking can be heightened through listening to music. A 2017 study in the journal PLOS ONE found that listening to “happy” music (defined as “classical tunes that were upbeat and stimulating”) helped participants tackle divergent thinking tasks. Think about a traditional brainstorming session that includes coming up with unexpected combinations of ideas and linking information together in unconventional ways. This is the type of open-ended creative thinking that music can help promote. Happy music can help us ‘ think outside the box’. While researchers in this study can only theorize about why happy music helps, the team suggests that music energizes the brain to promote a more flexible thinking style. Furthermore, music can lower anxiety and improve mood, which promotes an environment that facilitates creative insights. Further research suggests that music can stimulate the brain’s default mode network, which allows us to connect disparate ideas to produce creative insights. So listening to music can be the subtle diversion our brains need to relax and but still ponder the task at hand. If you’re looking for creative inspiration, crank up the jams. If you’re looking to focus and work on a detailed creative task, hit pause. In an interesting interdisciplinary initiative by the auto manufacturer Kia (in partnership with SoundCloud and working with DaHouse Audio and world-leading synth builder Arthur Joly), the world now has access to ‘The Kia Instrument’; a free digital synthesizer that anyone can use to compose music derived from “the sounds of movement from nature” that have been scientifically proven to enhance creativity through the production of ‘pink noise’. Pink noise increases alpha waves in the brain and induces a flow state that facilitates creativity. There are four neuroscientific parameters that Kia suggests considering when composing music using the Kia instrument for maximum impact: Beats Per Minute: 120 BPM is the tempo suggested to synchronize to one’s heartbeat, eliciting positive and calm focus. Harmonic Progressions: Harmonic variations are better remembered by the listener and have been shown to activate areas in the brain. Melodic Intervals: These create a sense of movement and establish a sense of anticipation; “pleasurable longing” being central to inspiration. Texture: Layering the sounds of movement in nature to create layered pink noise. There are eight recorded sounds: thunder, geiser, forest, forest birds, wind, water, beach and forest night. I’m not 100% sold on the Kia instrument’s advertised benefits, but I do think it’s an interesting approach to what I can imagine being an elaborate marketing vehicle used to enhance the auto maker’s redesign and rebranding efforts as an innovative organization. The instrument was used to create Kia’s new “sound logo”, the backdrop underlaid in their commercials when their visual logo and slogan “movement that inspires” is shown. The instrument has also produced sounds that chime in Kia vehicles. My best guess is that they designed the Kia instrument to elicit global publicity, hoping for organic virality through the campaign. The Kia instrument’s ‘story behind its creation’ video plays as a two minute commercial, interweaving images of the instrument’s interface, fashionable people walking through nature wearing impractical outfits and Kia vehicles. The marketing angle to this story is for another conversation on another day (I sound a little salty, but I do actually think it’s a pretty neat initiative). However, as it relates to listening and creativity, I’m curious as to how music made through the Kia instrument would perform under the same conditions as the first study I mentioned. My prediction is that it wouldn’t perform well on these same types of focused tasks, just as all other familiar or unfamiliar, vocal or instrumental music proved unhelpful in this process of solving creative puzzles. Furthermore, the brains of participants who listened to music made on the Kia instrument were studied using EEG technology, which demonstrated that the music brought them closer to a state of flow. I’d be curious to see how other “happy” music performs under the same test conditions. My guess is that it would fare just as well. Clever marketing aside, it’s clear that music (either produced through the Kia instrument or traditional means) has its place and time in the creative process. And today’s guest lives and breathes the world of music. Kalya Ramu Is a professional jazz vocalist (and also an incredible visual artist) whose voice you’re hearing right now. As a bandleader and performer, Kalya has a passion for storytelling and reinventing old jazz music. In 2019 Kalya released her debut full-length album Living in a Dream, from which the title track (an original song) was featured on the soundtrack of CBC show Frankie Drake Mysteries. In this conversation, Kalya describes how listening is quintessential to performing live music, as well as how making music happens in a virtual environment. Kalya shares how she actively listens to a piece of music as a professional and how we can all benefit from this type of meditative music listening experience too. On with the show! Listening invitation: Whether on vinyl, a cassette tape, CD or MP3, I invite you to try listening to a piece of music in the way that Kalya described. Take a few minutes to dedicate to listening – really listening – to a piece of music. Put away all your distractions, crank up the volume and sit back to listen. Aim to listen to the instruments and the voices, trying to identify what you hear and where. For someone who is actively overcoming the guilt of inefficiency, this one is hard for me. But I’m going to try my best to really make listening to a piece of music an experience. I anticipate friction and frustration and wanting to do something else while I listen, however I think I owe it to myself to really try this exercise and see where it takes me. I encourage you to do the same. I’ll leave you with Kalya’s Beautiful voice. Enjoy. About Our Guest: Canadian vocalist, composer and visual artist, Kalya Ramu, is a rising star in Toronto’s current Jazz scene. As a bandleader and performer, Ramu has a passion for storytelling and reinventing old jazz music. She began her musical journey at the age of 12, participating in Toronto jazz jams and performing with community big bands. At 22 she graduated from the Humber College Bachelor of Music Degree Program and jumped straight into building her career as a performer. She has performed with several heavy-weight musicians in the Toronto scene including Barry Harris, Ted Quinlan, Jackie Richardson, Ross MacIntyre and Reg Schwager. In 2019 Ramu released her debut full-length album Living in a Dream, from which the title track (an original song) was featured on the soundtrack of CBC show Frankie Drake Mysteries. Ramu’s latest work, Duo, is a short album of all original material performed by piano and voice. All tracks were cowritten with and feature pianist Ewen Farncombe. As a visual artist, Ramu focuses on watercolour portraiture. She is currently working as an illustrator for smART Magazine (by Lighthouse Immersive) and was recently published in their second print issue! She has designed album art for Canadian musicians Marshal Herridge, Chris Platt, Tayua, Claire Coupland, Shealagh Rose, and Trevor Peverley. Website: www.kalyaramu.ca Instagram: @kalyaramu @kalyaramuart Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalyaramujazz New Album: https://kalyaramu.bandcamp.com/album/duo Music by Kalya Ramu (in order of appearance in episode): 1. The Things I Do 2. Find in Me 3. Comfort Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Saturday Night Live might have been a total flop. After all, in looking back at the writers in the very first year of SNL, the big personalities in the room, all competing to have their ideas front and centre could have been disastrous to the success of the show. The writers were a ragtag bunch who could very well have not collaborated or worked together to create the magic that they ended up making. But who or what is attributed to making it work? It was Lorne Michaels (Executive Producer and creator of SNL) and his belief in the power of ‘ostentatious listening’; “showing that everyone is listening by picking up on non-verbal cues or drawing people into the conversation”. This, in turn, helped create a space that was psychologically safe. Specifically, when in a meeting, Lorne Michaels wouldn’t let anyone get up from the table until everyone had spoken. Everyone must contribute to the conversation and every other person is listening as closely as possible to what’s being said. SNL is a success because Lorne Michaels creates psychological safety so that everyone’s ideas are heard. There’s an awesome short video by author Charles Duhigg that explains SNL’s listening strategy as a way to cultivate high-performance teams. And it was today’s guest who showed me that video. Oliver Martin is a mediator, facilitator, workplace consultant, and leadership coach. He provides conflict resolution, negotiation, mediation, and leadership training to organizations and the general public throughout Canada, the Caribbean and the United States. He also works with organizations to provide workplace restorations and with leaders to address challenges within their workplace. The desire to transform relationships in neighbourhoods and communities led Oliver to begin practicing mediation in 2003. Since then, he has mediated numerous interpersonal, organizational and community conflicts regarding various issues. Listening is critical to effective mediation and I recently stumbled upon a thought by author Adam Grant that bridges the gap between professional conflict resolution and remaining open to everyday creative conflict. He said this: “Don’t listen to people because you agree with their answers. Listen because you respect the intellectual integrity they bring to their questions. You learn more from people who challenge your thought process than from those who affirm your conclusions.” Yes! In moving ahead with today’s episode, I recommend that you keep an open mind to what we can learn from a professional mediator as it applies to our small, daily conflicts. In this conversation, Oliver articulates what active listening looks like, why our brains make it so difficult to actively listen, as well as why listening is hugely important as a means to help others clarify their own thoughts. Oliver reminds us that listening is a superpower in the pursuit of what it means to be human and connect with others, offering strategic approaches to becoming a better listener today. Let’s get compassionately curious. Listening Invitation: Silence can feel uncomfortable, but a lull in conversation is fine (nay, encouraged!) as it opens doors to increased confidence in ourselves as communicators, as well as what can emerge in a conversation when we pause a few beats longer. This listening invitation requires that you get into a room with another person, whether in-person or virtual. With your phones away and other distractions minimized, sit in silence with your partner. Level up by maintaining eye contact throughout. Refrain from speaking. After about 4 minutes is up, take a couple of minutes to jot down any thoughts, ideas or insights that arose from the experience. You can learn a lot in a silent 4 minutes. About Our Guest: Oliver Martin is a mediator, facilitator, workplace consultant, and leadership coach. He provides conflict resolution, negotiation, mediation, and leadership training to organizations and the general public throughout Canada, the Caribbean and the United States. He also works with organizations to provide workplace restorations and with leaders to address challenges within their workplace. Oliver is a past Director of Training for the Stitt Feld Handy Group, a division of ADR Chambers, and a past Director at the ADR Institute of Ontario. He received Alternative Dispute Resolution training from the University of Windsor Law School and York University and has a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University. The desire to transform relationships in neighbourhoods and communities led Oliver to practice mediation in 2003. Since then, he has mediated numerous interpersonal, organizational and community conflicts regarding various issues. Oliver combines his experiences dealing with conflict in communities and corporations to train and coach others on managing conflict, resolving disputes, and communicating more effectively to achieve their goals. Music: Where the Sun Set by Ketsa, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash