RE:Productivity

Christine Corbett and Casey Handmer
RE:Productivity

Casey Handmer and Christine Corbett Moran are Ph.D. physicists working and co-parenting together. Re:Productivity is about making progress on life and children and life with children.

  1. MAR 31

    2025-W13 Woolly Mammoths to Watch Faces: Exploring Mars, Education, and Everything Between

    In this week's episode, Christine and Casey dive into their recent adventures and intellectual pursuits. Christine shares highlights from Jeff Bezos' exclusive MARS conference (Machine learning, Automation, Robotics, and Space), including fascinating encounters with colossal mammoth revival efforts, fusion energy breakthroughs, and quantum consciousness theories. Casey discusses his explorations in creating custom watch faces for his new Garmin device. The conversation expands into thoughtful discussions on education systems around the world, examining Finland, South Korea, and America's approaches to gifted education, teacher quality, and standardized testing. They debate college admissions philosophies, curriculum rigor, and the value of challenging young minds with unsolved problems. The episode concludes with reflections on media consumption, journalism ethics, and the importance of truth-seeking in reporting. MARS Conference - Jeff Bezos' invite-only event focusing on Machine learning, Automation, Robotics, and Space Colossal - Company working on woolly mammoth de-extinction through genetic engineering ZAP Energy - Fusion energy company using Z-pinch technology Signal Messaging - Mentioned in context of recent news coverage The Smartest Kids in the World by Amanda Ripley - Examining education systems in Finland, South Korea, and Poland Genius Denied by Jan and Bob Davidson - About education for gifted students The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller (not recommended by hosts) Longitude by Dava Sobel - Historical account of the longitude problem Sharing Space by Cady Coleman - Autobiography of NASA astronaut The Voyage of the Southern Sun by Michael Smith - Account of recreating the historic flying boat route from Australia to England The Tech God Complex: Why We Need to Be Skeptics - Podcast Acquired Rolex Episode - Episode on Rolex  No, poor people aren’t funding your credit card rewards (Complex Systems Podcast) - Patrick Mackenzie's podcast on payment systems and complex systems Off-Nominal and Main Engine Cut Off - Space industry podcasts Tilt Parenting- TPP 178: The Davidson Institute on Supporting & Educating Profoundly Gifted Children - Podcast about raising neurodivergent kids The Davidson Institute - Resources for gifted education Magnus Carlsen Interview on Lex Fridman Customizing Monkey C SDK for wearable devices Beast Academy (from Art of Problem Solving) - Math curriculum for advanced students The Collatz Conjecture - An unsolved mathematical problem discussed when talking about challenging gifted students

    2h 1m
  2. MAR 8

    2025-W10 Garage Scientists: From DNA Analysis to Radio Waves and Beyond

    Show notes: Bento Lab - Portable DNA analysis lab with centrifuge, gel electrophoresis, and PCR machine Bio Bits - Kits for demonstrating protein synthesis with fluorescent indicators Shannon-Hartley theorem - Information theory concept discussed related to signal transmission Rock climbing for kids - REI resource about climbing with children The Martian - Book referenced during discussion of radio communications from Mars Joule-Thomson effect - Physics concept mentioned regarding gas expansion Blue Ghost lunar lander - Recent moon landing discussed Starship test flights - SpaceX's Starship development program Erica DeBenedictis' work - Research on microbial tolerance to Martian environments Moving Mars - Science fiction book by Greg Bear Habit Chaining - Productivity concept mentioned IKEA Poäng chairs - Mentioned as ideal reading chairs Street Parking - Modified CrossFit workout program Christine uses The French Laundry Cookbook - High-end cookbook Christine purchased After Meat - Book about bioreactor technology Acquired Podcast: Lockheed Martin episode - Podcast Christine is listening to Banff Mountain Film Festival - Film festival they attended with their children The Weirdest People in the World - Book by Joseph Henrich Guns, Germs, and Steel - Book by Jared Diamond The Machiavellians - Book by James Burnham His Majesty's Dragon - Historical fantasy novel with dragons Red Mars - Book by Kim Stanley Robinson about Mars colonization 28C3 Cellular protocol stacks for Internet (Harald Walte) - (Video) How to Set Up a Home Biohacking Lab for Education - Christine’s blogpost

    2h 10m

About

Casey Handmer and Christine Corbett Moran are Ph.D. physicists working and co-parenting together. Re:Productivity is about making progress on life and children and life with children.

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