Author: Igor

  • Honing Your Vocal Skills For A Successful Podcast

    This year 50% of the population has listened to a podcast and around three quarters know about podcasts and may plan to give them a go in the future. Of course, despite the amount of interest in this growing medium, listeners and success are not a guarantee. You have to offer a niche subject or angle that hasn’t been done before, or otherwise stand out enough as an entertainer or educator to gain the attention of listeners. 

    Regardless of your podcast subject or style, there’s one way that you can boost the success of your podcast and that’s with your vocal skills. With the right vocal improvements, you could find you get a lot more listeners who don’t just try your podcast out, but who also subscribe and want more.

    Image via Unsplash

    Let’s take a closer look:

    Why Is Voice Important For Podcasts? 

    The voice is a given on a podcast, which in reality means it’s an often overlooked asset. When it’s used correctly it can help you to truly connect with your listeners. People will listen to your podcast because of the information you share, the guests and the overall editing and presentation – but they will keep coming back time and time again because they connect with you, which is why voice is so important for podcasts.

    How To Hone Your Voice For A Podcast

    Even if you’re a natural storyteller and you know how to communicate well – there are always various skills you can learn to improve your voice, thus improving your podcast.

    Physical Voice Skills

    The voice is a tool and so learning some physical skills can be a really great thing to do when it comes to honing your voice skills. Here are some important physical skills to improve how you sound, and how you’re able to use your voice:

    • Warm up your voice to avoid throat clearing, hoarseness and a deeper sound that comes from recording cold.
    • Watch what you consume before a recording to avoid throat clearing or other issues. In general, avoiding dairy is a good idea and instead choosing orange segments or soothing teas is helpful. 
    • Work on your posture to boost your breathing abilities and projection. 
    • Work on vocal exercises that help you to have better range, vocal control and power. 
    • Work on your pronunciation – a good grasp of the English language can help you convey the desired emotions to your listeners. 
    • Learn from voice over agency experts and learn microphone control. 

    Extra Voice Skills For A Better Podcast

    There are many extra voice skills you can master for a better podcast including:

    • Storytelling
    • Emotional delivery
    • Learning to avoid filler noises

    These extra skills will help you to use your tool (voice) in a much more powerful and deliberate way. You use the physical skills above to strengthen the voice itself, and skills like storytelling and emotional delivery to drive your messaging and information through in your podcast even more effectively.

    “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” – Benjamin Franklin

    The very fact that you’re here suggests you are already working on improving your podcast skills, which is a great start. The more you work on your vocal skills, the better your podcast will be. It’s always going to be a work in progress, but with lots of effort and growth, the chances are that it will continue to improve and you’ll be growing that subscriber list in no time.

  • Exploring Astoria’s Underrated Stylish Menswear Scene

    When discovering New York City, most trend-seeking men tend to venture into Manhattan and Brooklyn to experience all the tourist-friendly men’s fashion shops along 5th Avenue and Williamsburg. While they’re undeniably cool destinations, Astoria, Queens is one of New York’s most overlooked neighborhoods for anyone seeking stylish men’s clothing within the five boroughs. Ranked among the coolest neighborhoods in the world, it’s a slower escape from Times Square and Columbus Circle without making you feel bored or amiss. New York’s sleepless spirit thrives in all five boroughs, and Astoria is no expectation from the city’s popular nickname (the city that never sleeps). 

    In this trend-focused city guide, we dive into one of NYC’s lesser known neighborhoods to discover the undiscovered stylish menswear scene with shopping and travel tips that we gathered from in-the-know locals. From trendy gastropubs to designer clothing shops, we explore all the dynamics of how and where stylish men’s clothing flourishes in Astoria.

    A Short History on Astoria’s Rich Past

    Astoria was named after John Jacob Astor, one of the wealthiest men of the United States during the early 1800s who gained his profits from opioid and fur trade. He predicted this area of New York would experience rapid economic development without ever setting foot in the city. This still holds true to this day as it’s now a hotspot for international film & TV sets, Michelin-rated eateries, and global corporate businesses.

    What the Trendy Locals Wear

    Like much of New York City, Astoria’s local men’s fashion scene ebbs and flows with the time of day and the mood of the venue. NYC is known to be a concrete jungle crawling with trendy individualists who dress to the beat of their own drum, like the kind of stylish mens clothing on Differio. Although Astoria is slightly more muted than the louder fashions of Manhattan, you can usually spot men in trendy athleisure and men’s streetwear during the day (e.g. skinny joggers and bomber jackets) and bolder going-out clothes at night (e.g. ripped jeans and leather jackets). 

    Must-Visit Avenues for Stylish Men’s Clothing

    Seeing a New York City map from a tourist’s perspective, these neighborhoods might look like an overwhelming maze of avenues, but Astoria offers a less complicated path for finding stylish mens clothing stores.

    Steinway Street

    Steinway Street contains nearly 2.4 miles of cafes, groceries, eateries, and stylish mens clothing shops with a diverse range of popular and local brands. You’ll discover a refreshing mix of big-name men’s fashion brands, as well as local boutiques with independent designers. This is the ideal window shopping destination for stylish menswear that’s also studded with plenty of restaurants because you’ll likely work up an appetite after walking that strip.

    31 Street 

    31 Street runs vertically on the map with plenty of options to buy stylish clothes for men. Head over to this long strip to discover trendy consignment stores, vintage boutiques, and large department stores. Just be aware, this street runs into Long Island City – an up-and-coming residential area – so don’t be surprised if you run into some high-rise apartments after a long walk.

    Stylish Places to Eat, Drink & Instagram

    Nightlife

    Astoria’s nightlife scene is a diverse one where you can always find a fashion-forward crowd wearing the most stylish mens clothing, shoes and accessories, which is especially great if you want to get a glimpse of what real New Yorkers wear on the daily.

    If you’re looking for an intimate, speakeasy-style space, head over to Mosaic, The Last Word, or The Sweet Aston for craft cocktails and gastropub fare; going-out shirts and chinos would be totally acceptable attire.

    Seeking a more low-key ambiance where you can just throw on casual-yet-stylish mens clothing, like skinny jeans and a graphic hoodie? Check out the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden or The Sweet Spot Sporting Lounge & Restaurant for typical bar fare and craft beer selections.

    Museums

    Most people that appreciate fashion also find themselves appreciating art in all its forms, which is why we’ve included must-see museums on this list. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that you don’t need to commute outside of Astoria to get a taste of New York’s historic culture.

    Head to the Noguchi Museum to experience an indoor and outdoor space that celebrates the work of Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi. You can also check out the Museum of the Moving Image for an eye-opening media museum exploring the moving visual arts.

    For proper museum attire, you can most certainly don stylish clothes for men, but just make sure you’re wearing comfortable walking shoes.

    (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hours of operation for all mentioned locations may vary.)

  • Growing Old Disgracefully (Retiring to A City Is The Best Thing You Will Ever Do!)

    You’ll find plenty of city guides on this blog. However, rather than just visiting them, have you ever considered living in one? Well, if you can’t do so right now, you may well be able to in later life. In fact, a city can be the perfect place in which to spend your golden years. Read on to find out why. 

    Old doesn’t mean out of touch or no longer in vogue

    First of all, let’s start by stating that old age is nothing but a number. In fact, being older doesn’t mean that your taste suddenly disintegrates, or that you love for design, culture, and fashion fall by the wayside. Just ask icons like Iris Apfel!

    What we mean here is that just because you have a few years under your belt, it doesn’t necessarily follow you won’t want an active and culturally rich life. That, as well as the reasons below, is why moving to a city later in life is such a great choice! 

    Cities have fantastic public transport links

    One best thing about moving to a city in later life is that many of them like Ghent have excellent public transport. 

    Of course, this is beneficial because you don’t have to run an expensive car if you don’t want to. Something that can help save you some money and make sure you are doing your part for the environment as well.  All without limiting your access to any of the flights that city life has to offer.

    Cities are the perfect place to find others you gel with

    Then there is the element of community that can be much more pronounced in city life, as opposed to the suburbs. In fact, it’s not uncommon for those living in the ‘burbs to have no more interaction with their neighbors than the occasion mod of the head as they go to get into their car.

    However, cities bring together a vast range of people all into close proximity. Something that means you only need to do an online search to find like-minded individuals. Try terms like senior citizen group activities near me, or meet up groups + your particular interest to start. You’ll be flooded with opportunities to join involved in passionate and vibrant communities! 

    Cities are choked full of entertainment

    Finally, and perhaps one of the most appealing reasons that many people choose to retire to a city is because they are so full of entertainment and activities.

    Of course, you have museums and galleries. Many of which are often free or at least discounted for senior citizens. Something that means you can while away an enjoyable time without spending too much at all. 

    Then there are restaurants and cafes to try! Oh, and don’t forget the walking tours, the theatre and cinema events, and all the bars you can frequent too! Thus proving that if you are looking to grow old disgracefully and have the fullest, most fun retirement there is, there is no better place to settle than the City!

     

  • What Do You Want From Your Life?

    Have you ever taken the time to sit and think about what you want from your life? It doesn’t matter how old you are or what stage of life you are at, when you think about the future, what does it look like? Of course, this might change as time goes on, but there is no reason that this should stop you from living your best life right now. In this article, we are going to be taking a look at some of the things that people typically want from life, and how to get them. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more. 

    Picture Credit – CC0 Licence

    A Family

    The first thing that many people want at some point in their life is a family. If you don’t want a family, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, it’s not for everyone. However, if it is something that you would like then you can’t rush it. It will happen when it happens, and there are always ways to speed up the process or get the ball rolling if need be. Just make sure that you are ready for what this entails if you are set on starting a family because otherwise you’re going to be in for a big shock.

    Try to document all of those special moments so that you can look back on them in years to come. For example, look for a maternity photographer if you’re pregnant, and make sure to take pictures of you and your family enjoying those special moments in life!

    A Solid Career

    Another thing that most people want is a solid career. You want to feel secure in the career that you have chosen, knowing that you are good at what you do, while also enjoying it. Some people seem to think that you can’t have both, but you absolutely can. It takes finding something that you enjoy, and then being willing to work to get to where you want to be, making a name for yourself as you go. 

    To Be Happy

    But, the thing that everyone wants is just to be happy. This means that you need to do your own thing that will lead to your best life. Get rid of all the complications and distractions that take you away from doing whatever it takes to be happy. At the end of the day, you need to live your life for you, and you are the only one who will know what will make you truly happy. Follow what your heart tells you, and you will lead a happy life.

    We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do if these are the things that you want in your life. Keep in mind that everyone wants something different, and you should never feel as though there is something that you should want, because this doesn’t matter. It’s all about what’s best for you, so take the steps necessary to live your best life.

  • Label: MADE IN MIMBRE

    Label: MADE IN MIMBRE

    Founded in 2007 by Chilean design studio The Andes House, MADE IN MIMBRE is a brand offering lighting products, furniture and other objects made with wicker. MADE IN MIMBRE’s handcrafted products are characterised by their minimal and simple shapes, designed to maximize the material’s qualities.

    Our Chilean contributing photographer Natalia Hurtado visited MADE IN MIMBRE’s store in Santiago and we interviewed its founders to find out more about this design label.

    www.madeinmimbre.com

    How did you come up with the idea of MADE IN MIMBRE?

    MADE IN MIMBRE was born in 2007 with the idea of producing high quality objects and furniture with good design and manufactured with local materials. It then developed into products only manufactured using wicker as an extension of our design studio The Andes House. 

    Why wicker and not any other material? Did you know from the beginning that you wanted to use this material or did you consider other options?

    When we first considered working with local materials – always keeping in mind our design and quality requirements- we realized that we could use materials such as clay, wood, copper, wool and marble. We decided to choose wicker mainly due to three factors: the way it was produced, its proximity to Santiago and the technique behind the material. 

    What properties can you find in wicker that you can’t find in other design materials?

    You can work with wicker in numerous ways and consider it for projects of different scale.

    We’ve manufactured lighting products, furniture, wall structures with 3Form-Hunter Douglas and architectural objects for the Violeta Parra Museum. The possibilities of wicker are endless and that makes us want to explore it in many different ways.

    You work closely with artisans from Chimbarongo in Chile. Tell us a little more about this process and how your designs come to life.

    Our design process is generated from the information crossover between artisans and designers. The artisan provides the knowledge about the material and the weaving process, and the designer proposes new shapes and concepts.

    The ‘fabric’ that you obtain from weaving wicker is a good light filter and you can vary its intensity depending on the thickness and gaps between the sticks.

    With MADE IN MIMBRE, we’ve developed lighting products through the ‘Molde’ and ‘Principal’ lines designed by The Andes House, and also through our recent collaborations with other studios.

    We currently sell our products at our store in Santiago and we also develop projects through The Andes House, collaborating with architecture studios that propose new techniques and uses for wicker. We’re starting to export our products as well, thanks to having attended a few design fairs over the past 3 years.

    You’ve recently collaborated with Swedish architecture and design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune and you have another collaboration lined-up for 2014. Why is collaboration important for any design studio?

    We’re always collaborating with other designers and studios based all around the world. We’re looking for a crossover between design and cultures that results in a product or collection based on MADE IN MIMBRE’s values. When we collaborate with other people we expand MADE IN MIMBRE to other countries. 

    We launched our first collaborative project at London Design Festival in 2013. Inspired by insects, nature and landscape, Swedish architecture and design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune designed the lighting objects Meduza, Chinita and Bellota. This happened after several meetings and chats at international design fairs between The Andes House and Claesson Koivisto Rune and we started working on the products earlier last year.

    The Andes House is currently manufacturing 7 designs propused by the Swedish design studio, with the help of artisans based in the Chilean region of Chimbarongo, and that will be soon available to be sold in Chile and abroad.

    Thanks to this first collaboration, we’ve managed to get another collaborative project with Italian designer Luca Nichetto. We’ve already started to work on it and we’re planning to launch the collection in 2014 and possibly in Tokio.