1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to the Friday wrap-up on the streamlined solopreneur. A short episode where I talk about three things. What's on My Mind, recommended reading and recommended media. This is the show that helps you automate your business so you can take time off worry-free. And hopefully this curation will help you think more about your systems. I'm your host Joe Casabona. It is Friday, May 8th, 2026. And here's, 2 00:00:30,260 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: what's on my mind. 3 00:00:33,500 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: I spent last weekend at my alma mater, the University of Scranton, where I serve on the 4 00:00:41,860 --> 00:00:46,300 Speaker 1: university's alumni board. It's a board I've served on for the past few years. I really 5 00:00:46,980 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: enjoy it because it helps me connect with fellow alumni, but it helps us connect more with the 6 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:59,980 Speaker 1: university and with current and future alumni. And community is a really 7 00:01:00,420 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: important aspect of my life. And so I'm very, uh, it is a pleasure to be able to connect with 8 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: this community, which has been such a big part of my life. Now, our meetings are on Saturdays. 9 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:21,820 Speaker 1: On Friday evenings, we usually have some sort of social event. And this time, we spent several 10 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:29,340 Speaker 1: hours doing a guided reflection at the university's retreat house on nearby Chapman Lake. 11 00:01:30,100 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: it is one of my favorite places. I've only been there a few times, and it is so serene, so relaxing. It's really the perfect place for an activity like this. Now, the University of Scranton is a Jesuit university, and so this reflection was an Ignatian reflection. But I think that even if you are not Catholic, non-denominational, it's a very good reflection. We looked at where we, 12 00:01:59,740 --> 00:02:06,860 Speaker 1: came from. We looked at our past and what shaped who we are today. We looked at who we are today, 13 00:02:07,380 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: how we're feeling where we're at, checking in with ourselves, and we looked to the future. What is 14 00:02:13,140 --> 00:02:21,900 Speaker 1: something that is important to us that will shape where we are going? I really enjoyed this 15 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: reflection and we were invited to share our thoughts after. And 16 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:34,700 Speaker 1: I did share mine and where I came from and where I'd like to be and the hill I'm willing to 17 00:02:34,820 --> 00:02:41,420 Speaker 1: die on, which is promote more critical thinking. But that's not what this is about. During the 18 00:02:42,130 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: reflection, several of us mentioned the desire to reduce interruptions in our lives. And this was 19 00:02:50,780 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 1: highlighted by the fact that we were listening to a free music playlist on YouTube where 20 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: the music kept getting interrupted by ads. It really put an exclamation point on this idea that 21 00:03:07,330 --> 00:03:17,460 Speaker 1: we are too connected and we are too consumed by distraction. And as you know, if you've been listening 22 00:03:17,460 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: for a while, I've been thinking a lot about digital detox and this concept I came up with 23 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:28,900 Speaker 1: that is sort of the opposite of FOMO or fear of missing out. 24 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:39,020 Speaker 1: I call it moot, M-O-O-W-T, or missing out on what's there, missing out on what you're doing. 25 00:03:40,180 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 1: I was excited to share this concept with my fellow alumni, given everything we had just talked about. 26 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: And so I told a story about how we managed a strict no-screen policy at Disney World. 27 00:03:55,420 --> 00:03:56,460 Speaker 1: we were there a year ago 28 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:58,500 Speaker 1: and I made it very clear 29 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:00,260 Speaker 1: that we were not going to 30 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:02,820 Speaker 1: bring our iPads to the park 31 00:04:03,420 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: I bricked my phone 32 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: before I left so I can only really access 33 00:04:07,340 --> 00:04:08,020 Speaker 1: like text messages 34 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,500 Speaker 1: and the Disney app and a few other things 35 00:04:11,060 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: but we didn't use our phone 36 00:04:12,860 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: unless we needed to communicate with somebody 37 00:04:14,660 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: or check our reservation or whatever 38 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:17,340 Speaker 1: in the Disney app 39 00:04:19,860 --> 00:04:20,900 Speaker 1: contrast this 40 00:04:21,840 --> 00:04:24,420 Speaker 1: with what I observed at least 41 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: was families who were constantly on their screens, waiting in line for stuff, sitting just on their 42 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: screens at the dinner table. And it really bummed me out because these people were paying a ton 43 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:53,060 Speaker 1: of money to do what they could do for free at home. And I get it. The days at Disneyland and Disney World 44 00:04:53,440 --> 00:05:00,040 Speaker 1: are long. They are tiring. But 45 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:06,720 Speaker 1: generations survived without having a screen 46 00:05:07,140 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: with them at the parks. And if you are going to pay the money to be at the 47 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: park, then you should be at the park. And one particularly vivid 48 00:05:19,140 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: memory for me is from Beast's Castle, a restaurant and 49 00:05:23,060 --> 00:05:30,060 Speaker 1: perfect replica of the castle from the animated film. While my family and I were taking in the 50 00:05:30,180 --> 00:05:35,780 Speaker 1: sights, enjoying the environment, like the lights would change and it would rain, beast would come in 51 00:05:36,100 --> 00:05:43,180 Speaker 1: every so often, and there was lots to see and look at an experience. And while we were doing that, 52 00:05:43,900 --> 00:05:51,020 Speaker 1: there was a family next to us. And they were all on their screens. Mom and dad were on their 53 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: iPhones and the kids were on iPads. And I looked at my wife and I said, what is the point of being 54 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:05,860 Speaker 1: here? You're paying a premium for food because of the experience and you're not experiencing it. 55 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:11,420 Speaker 1: When I was on the focused podcast a few weeks ago, David Sparks, one of the hosts, 56 00:06:11,620 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: shared a similar story from Disneyland, where he is an annual passholder and he will go there 57 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,180 Speaker 1: and he observes the same thing. 58 00:06:21,020 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 1: And it got me thinking that we have such severe foamow for what's online, 59 00:06:27,300 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 1: for what could be, that we're rendering our real life experiences, moot. 60 00:06:35,820 --> 00:06:38,180 Speaker 1: Now, this concept is still a work in progress. 61 00:06:38,380 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: Mood actually works pretty well. 62 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:42,900 Speaker 1: But the sentiment is real. 63 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: Why don't we have a fear of missing out on what's in front of us? 64 00:06:47,940 --> 00:06:54,140 Speaker 1: us, whether it's at Disney World or just out to dinner, right? We don't, we don't let the kids 65 00:06:54,900 --> 00:07:00,100 Speaker 1: leave the house with their iPads unless we are going somewhere where we are spending 66 00:07:00,820 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 1: multiple days. So just an outing, iPad stay at home. If we go out to dinner, we're not on 67 00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:15,140 Speaker 1: screens. We're paying to be out to dinner, to be with each other. I have a more extreme 68 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,980 Speaker 1: stance, I think, I've been told at least, that, like, I will leave my phone in my locker 69 00:07:21,060 --> 00:07:25,620 Speaker 1: at the gym. And I stream music from my watch. But I also have a digital music player. So if I 70 00:07:25,620 --> 00:07:31,740 Speaker 1: didn't have my watch, I would stream it there. I want the gym to be in a wasis of nothingness, 71 00:07:32,260 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: of some music. But like, I don't want distractions. I am not so important that whatever 72 00:07:40,460 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: can't wait 30 minutes or 60 minutes. And I was at the gym, the gym, 73 00:07:45,180 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: morning at 5.30 a.m. and the person next to me was on their phone the whole time and had their 74 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:58,540 Speaker 1: iPad in front of them. And and I don't I don't understand. And some people will say, well, 75 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:04,900 Speaker 1: this is just how people distract themselves from their workout or if if being on Slack gets them 76 00:08:04,980 --> 00:08:15,100 Speaker 1: to the gym. No. I argue that if you are so important that you can't let 30 minutes go, 77 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: by without something happening. If someone needs to get a hold of you immediately within a 30-minute 78 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:32,620 Speaker 1: window, you probably have someone who knows where you are at all times. And so I don't exist when I'm at the 79 00:08:32,719 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: gym. And I think it boils down to can we be bored? Can we sit with our thoughts? Can we 80 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:46,460 Speaker 1: spend some time 81 00:08:47,340 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: reflecting 82 00:08:49,380 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 1: without distractions or interruptions. 83 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: I think we need more of that. 84 00:08:56,900 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: Well, let me know what you think. 85 00:08:58,760 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: Streamlinetofeedback.com. 86 00:08:59,780 --> 00:09:03,220 Speaker 1: I welcome your thoughts. I'm told my view is too strict. 87 00:09:03,820 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: I don't think it is. I think that we should be able to be away from our phone for 30 minutes. 88 00:09:11,560 --> 00:09:14,060 Speaker 1: Now, speaking of reflecting. 89 00:09:16,019 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: My recommended reading is an article called I Deleted My Second Brain by Joan Westenberg. 90 00:09:23,940 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: Now this piece was written about a year ago, and it seems to be making the rounds now. 91 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:33,020 Speaker 1: It's resurfaced in some other content circles where I hang out. 92 00:09:33,700 --> 00:09:34,980 Speaker 1: And I'm really here for it. 93 00:09:35,980 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: She basically talks about how she deleted all of her notes, 10,000 notes and her massive reading list. 94 00:09:43,580 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: And she felt a sense of relief. 95 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: And I am a big proponent of logging your idea so you don't forget them. 96 00:09:55,020 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: My Obsidian Research folder, however, is a glut of text snippets that I am never going to read. 97 00:10:04,100 --> 00:10:12,940 Speaker 1: I wrote about this last year when I said that I was trading highlights for voice notes when I was reading because I'm like a chronic highlighter and I never look back at them. 98 00:10:13,740 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: And so this quote from the article in particular resonated with me. 99 00:10:21,460 --> 00:10:26,620 Speaker 1: In trying to remember everything, I outsourced the act of reflection. 100 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 1: I was mindlessly highlighting things, assuming I'd go back and revisit them, and I do still highlight. 101 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:37,940 Speaker 1: But now I immediately reflect on what I read. 102 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,540 Speaker 1: I will supplement my highlights with my own thoughts, either via paper and pen, 103 00:10:43,020 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 1: or via voice note. If I'm reading in public, I'm not going to do the voice note. I still can't 104 00:10:46,940 --> 00:10:56,220 Speaker 1: really bring myself to do that. But this is important. And I won't make the argument for Joan. 105 00:10:56,460 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: I strongly recommend you read this article. But just highlighting stuff is nothing. It's aspirational. 106 00:11:06,140 --> 00:11:12,900 Speaker 1: And it is procrastination. Because you are putting. 107 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: off processing what you're reading now for some future time. 108 00:11:17,060 --> 00:11:20,020 Speaker 1: So if you're a digital pack rat like me, I highly recommend this piece. 109 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,300 Speaker 1: It might give you the permission you need to delete some notes. 110 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: I certainly am going to right after I record this. 111 00:11:29,460 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: Okay, and recommended media. 112 00:11:33,340 --> 00:11:37,580 Speaker 1: We're talking about missing out on what's in front of us, deleting brains. 113 00:11:38,300 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: And so I think it only makes sense that today's recommended media is Olivia Rodriguez's 114 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,740 Speaker 1: performance of Drop Dead on S&L. 115 00:11:46,980 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 1: Olivia Rodriguez was the combination host and musical guest on S&L last weekend, 116 00:11:53,420 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 1: and her performance of her new single Drop Dead is fantastic. 117 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: The set is amazing. 118 00:11:58,940 --> 00:12:00,220 Speaker 1: The song is a bop. 119 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:06,700 Speaker 1: And I am recommending the live performance specifically because she absolutely 120 00:12:08,580 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: crushes the vocals. 121 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 1: She is singing this super, 122 00:12:12,980 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: cool, somewhat complex song live and she's doing a fan-tastic job. There is a weird nostalgia that I also 123 00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: like to both the song and the official music video. And so once you watch the performance on 124 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: SNL, I would recommend that you check out the music video. It's like very, looks like it's shot on a 125 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:42,780 Speaker 1: handheld video camera. So that is my recommendation for the week. 126 00:12:42,820 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: I've been listening to the song nonstop. 127 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: It is such a fun song, and I strongly recommend it. 128 00:12:49,100 --> 00:12:51,100 Speaker 1: So that is it. 129 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: The three recommendations, my thoughts on missing out on what's in front of us, 130 00:12:57,480 --> 00:12:58,380 Speaker 1: deleting your second brain, 131 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,220 Speaker 1: and Olivia Rodriguez's performance of Drop Dead on SNL. 132 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: Now, before we wrap up, on a sadder note, 133 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 1: Yankee broadcaster, Yankee radio broadcaster, 134 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 1: John Sterling died earlier this week. 135 00:13:12,420 --> 00:13:14,940 Speaker 1: He was 87 years old and lived a very full life. 136 00:13:16,140 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 1: It's easy for fan bases to take shots at him, especially in his later years. 137 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: But he was the voice of the Yankees for 36 years. 138 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:35,340 Speaker 1: Nearly my entire life, certainly, my entire conscious life up until 2024 when he retired. 139 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,300 Speaker 1: He called over 5,000 consecutive games. 140 00:13:39,460 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 1: He was synonymous with the New York Yankee. 141 00:13:42,380 --> 00:13:50,140 Speaker 1: for me. He was a baseball fan through and through. And to say he's anything less than a legend 142 00:13:50,900 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: is to show you know nothing of baseball or broadcasting. So before we wrap up, I just want to share 143 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 1: John Sterling's legendary call when the Yankees won a game. 144 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:09,700 Speaker 2: Ball game over. Yankees win. The Yankees win! 145 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 1: Rest in peace, John Sterling. 146 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:21,860 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening to the Friday wrap-up for Friday, May 8th, 2026. 147 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:27,380 Speaker 1: If you want to join my newsletter and get a written version of this, you can head over to 148 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,020 Speaker 1: streamlined.fm slash wrap. 149 00:14:30,700 --> 00:14:36,380 Speaker 1: You'll also get a bonus automation of the week that is only available on the newsletter. 150 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: So again, that is over at streamlined.com. 151 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: slash rap. 152 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening, 153 00:14:42,890 --> 00:14:43,980 Speaker 1: and until next time, 154 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: I hope you find some space 155 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:47,380 Speaker 1: in your weekend. 156 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 3: Ball game over. 157 00:14:50,140 --> 00:14:50,940 Speaker 3: Yankees win. 158 00:14:51,810 --> 00:14:55,420 Speaker 3: The Yankees win!