Best 611 Productions Podcasts (2025)

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611. Ilya Druzhnikov and Alex Lugosch, Using Cold Calls to Find Product-Market Fit 43:25

Play Pause

25d ago43:25

43:25

Show Notes: Alex Lugosch and Ilya Druzhnikov, founders of True PMF, explain that True PMF is a rapid prototyping and discovery service for startups and established companies who are releasing a new product or testing a new market and don’t have the tools or six to eight months to try new experiments for product market fit. The firm uses cold callin…

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What Do Medieval Nuns and Bo Jackson Have in Common? (Update) 36:13

2d ago36:13

36:13

In this episode from 2013, we look at whether spite pays — and if it even exists. SOURCES: Benedikt Herrmann, research officer at the European Commission. Steve Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics and host of People I (Mostly) Admire. Dave O'Connor, president of Times Studios. Lisi Oliver, professor of English at Louisiana State University. E.O. Wils…

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615: Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six 34:14

4d ago34:14

34:14

Have we talked about Spider-Man more than any other superhero on this show? Maybe Batman is up there. And Gary has definitely shoehorned “Turn Off the Dark” into more episodes than is necessary. But this is the first time we’ve really camped out on the Sinister Six, one of the more incoherent supervillain groups of all time. Also, take a look at Sp…

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636: The 40+ Summer Travel Blueprint: How to Stay Lean While Enjoying Your Family Vacations & Social Life - Part 1 31:10

4d ago31:10

31:10

Summer’s officially here—beach days, vacations, barbecues, and a ton of chances to fall off track with your fitness. In this special series, Ted brings back his most practical, action-packed episodes to help you make this your healthiest, most confident summer yet. Today’s episode is all about how to stay fit on the go—without missing out on the fu…

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637. What It’s Like to Be Middle-Aged (in the Middle Ages) 45:54

7d ago45:54

45:54

The simplicity of life back then is appealing today, as long as you don’t mind Church hegemony, the occasional plague, trial by gossip — and the lack of ibuprofen. (Part two of a three-part series, “Cradle to Grave.”) SOURCES: Jordan Cavalier, performer at the New Jersey Renaissance Faire. Matt Schwarz, harpist at the New Jersey Renaissance Faire. …

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635: How To Unlock Your True Potential in a Stressful World with Dr. Chris Friesen, Ph.D. 1:13:03

11d ago1:13:03

1:13:03

Are you setting goals… but still not feeling fulfilled? In this episode, Ted sits down with renowned neuroscientist and performance psychologist Dr. Chris Friesen to unpack the psychology of achievement, motivation, and purpose. Learn how to align your goals with your values, boost your energy naturally, and unlock your best self. Listen now!…

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614: Black Eyed Peas Experience 35:30

11d ago35:30

35:30

Folks, Gary chose to harm all of us by picking this game for Abject Suffering. Part of the shovelware dance game craze of about fifteen years ago, the Black Eyed Peas Experience ranks pretty low on the list of things we’ve covered. And that list is long. Support Abject SufferingBy Duckfeed Productions LLC

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636. Why Aren’t We Having More Babies? 50:28

14d ago50:28

50:28

For decades, the great fear was overpopulation. Now it’s the opposite. How did this happen — and what’s being done about it? (Part one of a three-part series, “Cradle to Grave.”) SOURCES: Matthias Doepke, professor of economics at the London School of Economics. Amy Froide, professor of history at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Diana…

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An Economics Lesson from a Talking Pencil (Update) 39:52

16d ago39:52

39:52

A famous essay argues that “not a single person on the face of this earth” knows how to make a pencil. How true is that? In this 2016 episode, we looked at what pencil-making can teach us about global manufacturing — and the proper role of government in the economy. SOURCES: Caroline Weaver, creator of the Locavore Guide. Matt Ridley, science write…

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613: Guardian War 32:52

18d ago32:52

32:52

Covering Guardian War right after Paperboy 64 is a one-two punch of some of the most hideous games we’ve played. But looking past its shoddy veneer, Guardian War is kind of interesting, if insufficient. Of all of the 3DO games we’ve played, this is the one that’s most like an actual video game… being a kind of over-the-shoulder tactics RPG. Gary al…

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Special Masterclass Invitation 2:38

18d ago2:38

2:38

Tired of strict diets that don’t work and workouts that leave you drained? In this special invitation, Ted shares how you can book a free 40-minute strategy call to uncover why your fat loss efforts are failing—and what to do instead. Discover the smarter way to get lean after 50. Listen now! Book a call here:…

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How My Clients Go From Feeling Old, Tired, and Embarrassed to Looking 10 Years Younger + Building Lean Muscle and Lose 15-20 Pounds in Just 8 Weeks... 36:46

18d ago36:46

36:46

Struggling to lose weight after 50, even though you're crushing it in business? In this special Masterclass episode, Ted shares a smarter way to drop 15–20 pounds, boost energy, and feel confident again—without sacrificing your lifestyle. Listen now to discover the faster, simpler fat loss strategy built for high achievers! Watch the video Mastercl…

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635. Can a Museum Be the Conscience of a Nation? 50:55

21d ago50:55

50:55

Nicholas Cullinan, the new director of the British Museum, seems to think so. “I'm not afraid of the past,” he says — which means talking about looted objects, the basement storerooms, and the leaking roof. We take the guided tour. SOURCES: Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum. RESOURCES: "Inside the British Museum: stolen treasures an…

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612: Paperboy 64 36:11

24d ago36:11

36:11

Would you believe that the Paperboy game for the N64 would be one of the ugliest things we’ve covered for this show? It seems like that would be hard to accomplish, given the competition, but this game’s spindly polygonal horrors are genuinely unnerving. Support Abject SufferingBy Duckfeed Productions LLC

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634: How To Lose Weight and Build Muscle Over 40: Natural Bodybuilding Strategies with Eric Helms 1:15:14

25d ago1:15:14

1:15:14

Do you find it hard to navigate all the fitness and nutrition advice out there? In today’s episode, Ted interviews Eric Helms, a pro-natural bodybuilder known for his evidence-based approach. Eric debunks common myths and shares valuable scientific insights on getting in shape, even if you're over 40. Listen now!…

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634. “Fault-Finder Is a Minimum-Wage Job” 1:02:15

28d ago1:02:15

1:02:15

Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, is less reserved than the average banker. He explains why vibes are overrated, why the Fed’s independence is non-negotiable, and why tariffs could bring the economy back to the Covid era. SOURCES: Austan Goolsbee, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of …

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611: Gon' E-Choo! 37:29

1M ago37:29

37:29

Make no mistake: This is a game created for a furry vore comic… but it’s such a mild example of what we can only assume is fetish material that all we’re left with is a pretty okay Popeye arcade game clone. So we talk about the many faces of Gordon Ramsey instead. Support Abject SufferingBy Duckfeed Productions LLC

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610. Vanessa Liu, Co-founder & CEO of Sugarwork 23:12

1M ago23:12

23:12

Show Notes: Vanessa Liu, co-founder and CEO of Sugarwork, talks about how this tool helps enterprises capture tacit knowledge by acting as a guide. Sugarwork helps companies capture specific information at scale and enables sharing, and guides companies to ask specific questions to elicit the required insights. How the Sugarwork Platform Works Vane…

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633: Sleep Smarter, Perform Better: Here’s What the Sleep Experts Want You to Know 27:46

1M ago27:46

27:46

If you're struggling with sleep, you're not just tired—you're stuck. In this episode, Ted brings together three top experts to reveal how poor sleep affects your fat loss, recovery, focus, and long-term health—and what to do about it. Listen now to learn practical, science-backed strategies to sleep better and perform at your best!…

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633. The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of 1:05:42

1M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. Javier Blas and Jack Farchy, the authors of The World for Sale, help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of commodity traders. SOURCES: Javier Blas, opinion columnist at Bloomberg News. Jack…

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How to Succeed at Failing, Part 4: Extreme Resiliency (Update) 52:50

1M ago52:50

52:50

Everyone makes mistakes. How do we learn from them? Lessons from the classroom, the Air Force, and the world’s deadliest infectious disease. (Part four of a four-part series.) SOURCES: Will Coleman, founder and C.E.O. of Alto. Amy Edmondson, professor of leadership management at Harvard Business School. Babak Javid, physician-scientist and associat…

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610: Sneak King 43:05

1M ago43:05

43:05

People have been asking us to cover the Burger King games for as long as this show has existed. They fit the remit of Abject Suffering so perfectly! But emulation is difficult, and we wanted to make absolutely sure we could play these games perfectly, so we could avoid talking about them and instead dwell on how the Burger King corporation wasted a…

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609. Ami Parekh, Chief Health Officer at Included Health 35:43

1M ago35:43

35:43

Show Notes: Ami Parekh discusses the business model and services of Included Health, a company that provides personalized healthcare. Included Health partners with self-insured employers and health plans to improve the way working Americans and their families receive healthcare. Included Health Services About a third of Fortune, 100 companies, and …

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632: Ask Ted: How to Train Smart with a Knee Injury (and Still Make Progress After 50) 28:10

1M ago28:10

28:10

In today’s Ask Ted episode, Ted is going to answer the question: "How can I adapt my training for a knee injury and general aches and pains?”. He dives deep into understanding acute versus chronic injuries, emphasizes the importance of seeking proper medical attention, and suggests tailored exercises to strengthen muscles around the knee without ex…

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How to Succeed at Failing, Part 3: Grit vs. Quit (Update) 1:03:37

1M ago1:03:37

1:03:37

Giving up can be painful. That's why we need to talk about it. Today: stories about glitchy apps, leaky paint cans, broken sculptures — and a quest for the perfect bowl of ramen. (Part three of a four-part series.) SOURCES: John Boykin, website designer and failed paint can re-inventor. Angela Duckworth, host of No Stupid Questions, co-founder of C…

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How to Succeed at Failing, Part 2: Life and Death (Update) 53:19

1M ago53:19

53:19

In medicine, failure can be catastrophic. It can also produce discoveries that save millions of lives. Tales from the front line, the lab, and the I.T. department. (Part two of a four-part series.) SOURCES: Amy Edmondson, professor of leadership management at Harvard Business School. Carole Hemmelgarn, co-founder of Patients for Patient Safety U.S.…

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609: Ace of Seafood 34:32

2M ago34:32

34:32

One of our least favorite game coverage schticks is pretending that a game’s concept is so wacky that you can’t understand it. You play as a mosquito who’s tormenting a family, and it’s a flight sim? Okay, cool, I get it. A domino wants to run little courses? Sure, why would I try to stop him? A studio’s whole deal is putting aquatic life in strang…

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608. Sarah Dobson, Design of Brand for Entrepreneurs 31:29

2M ago31:29

31:29

Show Notes: Sarah Dobson, founder and creative director at Design of Brand, discusses their niche in helping founders of companies establish their brand identity. They offer a process that includes brand strategy, naming, and creating a visual identity system for launch or relaunch. She explains what a brand identity entails and provides examples o…

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631: The 3 Most Important Nutrition Principles to Lose Weight Before Summer 22:42

2M ago22:42

22:42

Summer’s around the corner—and you want to look good at the beach, at the pool, at the barbecue. That’s why in this episode, Ted breaks down the 3 most important nutrition principles for fat loss so you can still get results in time. Listen now!By Ted Ryce

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How to Succeed at Failing, Part 1: The Chain of Events (Update) 55:38

2M ago55:38

55:38

We tend to think of tragedies as a single terrible moment, rather than the result of multiple bad decisions. Can this pattern be reversed? We try — with stories about wildfires, school shootings, and love. (Part one of a four-part series.) SOURCES: Amy Edmondson, professor of leadership management at Harvard Business School. Helen Fisher, former se…

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608: Mercenary Force 34:05

2M ago34:05

34:05

Listen, Mercenary Force isn’t a bad game at all. It’s actually quite interesting, if a bit too hard. A side scrolling shooter where you control four feudal Japanese warriors? It’s a good premise! Nobody knows what Gary was thinking when he brought this one. “Why is one of the hosts named differently? What happened!?” Kaye is transitioning! Find out…

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607. Chad Oakley, Current State of the Job Market for Consultants 56:15

2M ago56:15

56:15

Chad Oakley, CEO of Charles Aris, a second-generation executive search firm, discusses their 55-year history and their focus on four areas. Charles Aris specializes in strategy and go-to-market practice, which places individuals into corporations, private equity firms, and portfolio companies. Chad explains their areas of expertise and mentions tha…

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630: Building Muscle & Getting Fit in Your 40s: Expert Secrets for Long-Term Success 20:35

2M ago20:35

20:35

Think building muscle after 40 means grinding yourself into the ground? Think again. In this special episode, Ted shares expert insights from Dr. Eric Helms, Cliff Wilson, and Dr. Jorn Trommelen—giving you a science-backed blueprint to build strength, fight muscle loss, and stay consistent without burning out. Listen now to learn the real keys to l…

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632. When Did We All Start Watching Documentaries? 54:21

2M ago54:21

54:21

It used to be that making documentary films meant taking a vow of poverty (and obscurity). The streaming revolution changed that. Award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler talks to Stephen Dubner about capturing Billie Eilish’s musical genius and Martha Stewart’s vulnerability — and why he really, really, really needs to make a film about the New York Me…

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607: James Cameron's Dark Angel 36:15

2M ago36:15

36:15

Given how many super soldiers there are out there, you’d think there would be more social support for them. Groups, meetings, organizations. Shit, did I just reinvent the Venture Bros. from first principles? Come in and find out! “Why is one of the hosts named differently? What happened!?” Kaye is transitioning! Find out more here. Support Abject S…

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606. Joe O’Mahoney, Helping Boutique Consulting Firms Scale Up 41:52

2M ago41:52

41:52

Show Notes: Joe O’Mahoney is a part-time professor of consulting at Cardiff University and a leading authority on the growth and sale of boutiques and small consultancies. He has spent 20 years researching consultancies and interviewing hundreds of owners and senior leaders. He has developed a growth drivers model, which includes factors like leade…

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The 50+ Comeback Blueprint: How a 7-Figure Mentor Got His Body, Energy, and Confidence Back 13:06

2M ago13:06

13:06

Meet Laurens, a 53-year-old entrepreneur who was working out consistently but feeling stuck. He struggled with a shoulder injury, workout confusion, and lack of motivation. After joining Ted’s VIP Intensive, Laurens experienced a complete 180° breakthrough — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Listen now!…

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631. Will "3 Summers of Lincoln" Make It to Broadway? 46:19

2M ago46:19

46:19

It’s been in development for five years and has at least a year to go. On the eve of its out-of-town debut, the actor playing Lincoln quit. And the producers still need to raise another $15 million to bring the show to New York. There really is no business like show business. (Part three of a three-part series.) SOURCES: Christopher Ashley, artisti…

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Is It a Theater Piece or a Psychological Experiment? (Update) 37:13

2M ago37:13

37:13

In an episode from 2012, we looked at what Sleep No More and the Stanford Prison Experiment can tell us about who we really are. SOURCES: Felix Barrett, artistic director of Punchdrunk. Steven Levitt, professor of economics at the University of Chicago. Philip Zimbardo, professor emeritus at Stanford University. RESOURCES: “Philip Zimbardo, the psy…

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606: Jurassic Park (SNES) 42:20

2M ago42:20

42:20

This week a patron demand takes us into a discussion about a game that Gary likes quite a bit. The Jurassic Park SNES game is open world, mixed perspective, and overall a huge surprise, since Ocean doesn’t usually do work this interesting. Support Abject SufferingBy Duckfeed Productions LLC

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605. Chris Freeberg, Building deck.support, which brings MBB-tools to GSlides 41:23

2M ago41:23

41:23

Show Notes: Chris Freeberg is the co-founder of deck.support, a company that brings some of the best tools for PowerPoint into Google Slides. Chris and cofounder Dimitri Limberopoulos recognized the need for increased functionality in Google Slides as more companies were switching from PowerPoint to Google Slides but wanted a larger variety of tool…

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629: Ask Ted: How To Reverse The Aging Process: 3 Science-Backed Strategies 25:17

2M ago25:17

25:17

In today’s Ask Ted episode, Ted is going to answer the question: "What are the top 3 science-backed strategies to reverse the aging process?" He will dive into the science behind aging and share insights about the nine identified hallmarks of aging, will provide practical advice on three science-backed strategies to improve your health and longevit…

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630. On Broadway, Nobody Knows Nothing 1:01:30

2M ago1:01:30

1:01:30

A hit like Hamilton can come from nowhere while a sure bet can lose $20 million in a flash. We speak with some of the biggest producers in the game — Sonia Friedman, Jeffrey Seller, Hal Luftig — and learn that there is only one guarantee: the theater owners always win. (Part two of a three-part series.) SOURCES: Debby Buchholz, managing director of…

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605: MegaRace 44:29

2M ago44:29

44:29

It’s the future. You’re on a gameshow. You need to wipe out the speed gangs with vigilante car violence, murdering every last one of them… for real! But not really though. But really, it’s VR. But it’s LIKE death. But not death. We can’t emphasize enough how unlike and like real death this is. Support Abject Suffering…

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628: How to Lose Weight the Right Way Before Summer Starts 33:08

2M ago33:08

33:08

Are you looking to get in shape for summer? In today’s episode, Ted shares a step-by-step plan for making that happen. You will discover the perfect diet, exercise, and lifestyle factors you need to apply to achieve sustainable results before summer. Listen now!By Ted Ryce

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629. How Is Live Theater Still Alive? 59:43

3M ago59:43

59:43

It has become fiendishly expensive to produce, and has more competition than ever. And yet the believers still believe. Why? And does the world really want a new musical about ... Abraham Lincoln?! (Part one of a three-part series.) SOURCES: Christopher Ashley, artistic director of La Jolla Playhouse. Quentin Darrington, actor. Joe DiPietro, playwr…

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Policymaking Is Not a Science — Yet (Update) 45:28

3M ago45:28

45:28

Why do so many promising solutions in education, medicine, and criminal justice fail to scale up into great policy? And can a new breed of “implementation scientists” crack the code? SOURCES: Patti Chamberlain, senior research scientist at the Oregon Social Learning Center. John List, professor of economics at the University of Chicago. Lauren Supp…

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604: Dennis Miller: That's News to Me 36:16

3M ago36:16

36:16

Cybermania ‘94 [See Adaptation Decay 97, true believers!-- Grinning Gwen] reminded us that there’s a Dennis Miller game on the 3DO. And we figured we might as well take a deep dive into a guy who sucks, via talking about a very strange multimedia product from the nineties. Support Abject SufferingBy Duckfeed Productions LLC

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627: Are You on Track in 2025? How to Achieve Your Fitness Goals in Q2 14:04

3M ago14:04

14:04

The end of the first quarter of 2025 is in the books. So, how are your results so far? How much weight have you lost since January? If you’re not happy with your results, there is STILL TIME! Listen in to find out what to do to finally get the results you deserve!By Ted Ryce

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628. Sludge, Part 2: Is Government the Problem, or the Solution? 48:31

3M ago48:31

48:31

There is no sludgier place in America than Washington, D.C. But there are signs of a change. We’ll hear about this progress — and ask where Elon Musk and DOGE fit in. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES: Benjamin Handel, professor of economics at UC Berkeley. Neale Mahoney, professor of economics at Stanford University. Jennifer Pahlka, founde…