Posts by James Newcomb

The notion of AI, specifically ChatGPT, taking over the world is highly unlikely and more aligned with science fiction scenarios than reality. While AI has made significant advancements in recent years, it’s crucial to understand the limitations and current state of the technology. ChatGPT, like other AI models, operates within the boundaries of its programming…

Attention Virginia Beach residents: Stay off the sidewalks. Sana is now an officially licensed driver in the United States! Yes, Sana took her driver’s test yesterday and passed – but not without a bit of controversy surrounding the proceedings. You see, Sana is 42 years old. She learned to drive in Bangkok, Thailand. The streets…

In a podcast I was editing this week, the guest made a statement that really stood out to me. While I don’t recall the exact wording, it was something along the lines of “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” If I recall correctly, the person was referring to something along the lines of embracing that last…

Happy 4th of July! May your celebrations be robust and vibrant, always mindful of the sacrifices made by the fathers of this nation to get together and do things like this: https://www.facebook.com/reel/754116323118315 But it turns out, as I learned yesterday in an email from Connor Boyack, author of the wonderful Tuttle Twins children’s books, that…

Today’s story is a tip of the cap to my good friend and longtime Podcast Artistry™ client, Jennifer Hill who often tells the story of how to “train” a flea. As the story goes, a flea can jump incredibly high compared to its tiny size. However, if you put the flea in a jar and…

This past week, an associate of mine posted on Facebook that a friend of hers was looking to get some work in the podcasting business, specifically as a show notes writer and writing transcriptions. Since I’m taking on some new clients this summer and might be in need of some help with such things, I…

A young and very gifted writer was in a quandary. She had won awards in her school, and had even been published in a few nationally syndicated publications. Her future looked bright and promising. Yet she was stuck in a slough of intellectual mud. This brilliant, once seemingly unstoppable writer had fallen into a deep…

The other day I was driving along here in Virginia Beach and a sign outside a Mazda dealership caught my eye. It said to visit such and such website and, “RESERVE THE MAZDA OF YOUR DREAMS!” Now I’m no marketing genius, but I have never heard the word “Mazda“ and the words “of your dreams“…

Those of you who follow this newsletter know that I’m a spiritual man. In fact, the emails that have an overtly religious theme in the subject line are overwhelmingly the most opened emails, and there’s not a close second, so I can see where I’m striking a nerve with these things. In that spirit, I…

A recent conversation with a new podcast production client led me to this video showing a mother and father eagle teaching its baby how to fly. I had always heard about how eagles will push their babies out of the nest so they’re forced to teach themselves how to fly. What I didn’t understand until…