This episode marks the end of Season 1 of Famous Failures.  If you’d like to stay in touch with me, please sign up for my weekly email list at weeklycontrarian.com. My emails go out every Thursday to 21,000+ subscribers and share 1 idea you can read in less than 3 minutes that will help you reimagine the status quo. Readers call it the “one email I look forward to each week.” Thank you to my podcast producer, Chris Mottram of Podcastily, and to my operations assistant, Brendan Seibel, for his research help.  Thank you to the following individuals and institutions for preordering multiple copies of my bestselling new book Think Like a Rocket Scientist. Orthogon Partners Investment Management Luci McKean Cathy Cheng Tony Martignetti Bill Brent Ramesh Kumar Fred Slete James D. Kirk Timothy Chips Wendy Horng Brawer Tim Oslovich Doug Claffey Christina Guthier Julian Olin Hans Schulte Amy Luo Renu Sharma Ben Creo Laolu Awogbade Jeff McGrath 

Famous Failures

End of Season 1

Derek Sivers has lived many lives. He has been a musician, producer, circus performer, entrepreneur, speaker, and book publisher. His TED Talk, “Weird, or just different?”, has been viewed more than 3.5 million times. His book Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur shares everything he learned from starting, growing, and selling the company CD Baby. You can say hello to Derek at https://sivers.org/contact. In this episode Derek and I discuss: How Derek cultivated a practice of questioning assumptions Why Derek has a Making Room, not a Living Room What a controversial blog post taught Derek about handling criticism Why you should distance your private persona from your public persona What a failed marriage taught Derek about the meaning of failure. Why you should separate your decisions from the outcome of those decisions How Derek cultivates calm in his life References How to ask your mentors for help “7 reasons I switched back to PHP after 2 years on Rails” Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles and Ted Orland The Man with One Red Shoe starring Tom Hanks My book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life, is now out (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop). The book is already a #1 bestseller on Amazon.  We have a special offer for the listeners of this episode with Derek Sivers. If you order the book, forward your receipt to rocket@ozanvarol.com, and mention Derek, you’ll get two special bonuses. The first is a video training with a behind-the-scenes look at my productivity system. You’ll find tips on how to defeat procrastination and get more done in less time. The second is a pack of 12 three-minute, quick-hit videos based on Think Like a Rocket Scientist with actionable strategies you can implement right away.

Derek Sivers on What It Means to Fail

Cathy Heller is the host of the popular podcast Don’t Keep Your Day Job, which was given the #1 spot on iTunes recommended list of shows for the New Year in 2018 and 2019. She started out as a singer songwriter and first found success licensing her music to TV, films and ads. After making a multi six figure living with her music, Cathy started a music agency, and began teaching other artists to grow their own careers. You can subscribe to Cathy’s podcast at https://www.dontkeepyourdayjob.com/podcast or through your favorite service, and follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cathy.heller/ In this episode Cathy and I discuss: Her heartbreaking experience of being dropped from two record labels The lesson we should learn from the Covid-19 crisis How Cathy found her passion through a series of day jobs How Cathy grew an immensely successful online business without knowing how to make an online business work Why you need to give yourself permission to be mediocre How Cathy allows her authentic self to shine through What Cathy thinks our greatest human need is The life lessons Cathy is still trying to learn 

Cathy Heller on the Power of Radical Empathy

Today is the official launch date of my new book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist. In this special episode, I share with you three key insights from the book that will help you make giant leaps in work and life. If you order the book by Tuesday, April 21st (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound), you’ll get two special bonuses. The first is a video training with a behind-the-scenes look at my productivity system. You’ll find tips on how to defeat procrastination and get more done in less time. The second is a pack of 10 three-minute, quick-hit videos based on Think Like a Rocket Scientist with actionable strategies you can implement right away. You can see the full list of videos at rocketsciencebook.com/podcast.  These videos were massively popular when they were first released, and I’m bringing them back for a limited time. To get the videos, order the book in any format by April 21st and send your receipt to rocket@ozanvarol.com.  I’ve been ecstatic about the early reviews of the book.  The book is: * Adam Grant’s # 1 pick of his top 20 books of 2020 * One of Inc.com's "6 Books You Need to Read in 2020" * Named a "must read" by Susan Cain, "endlessly fascinating" by Daniel Pink, and "bursting with practical insights" by Adam Grant * An Amazon Book of the Month for April 2020 Grab your copy from one of these links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound.

3 Key Insights from Think Like a Rocket Scientist

Baya Voce has produced “magic touch” experiences ranging from two-person rituals to elaborate 1,000+-person immersive-theater productions. Whether 20-person Jeffersonian-style dinners or high-end finance conferences at Lincoln Center (and everything in between), Baya’s focus is engineering unforgettable moments. With more than 4 million views, her TEDx talk on loneliness is one of the most-viewed of all time. She has been featured by Forbes, ABC, Fox, MTV, and SXSW for her perspective on experience design and human connection. Sign up for Baya’s newsletter on her website https://bayavoce.com/, and follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/baya_voce In this episode Baya and I discuss: How being on the Real World flung Baya into a canyon of loneliness What advice Baya would give her 21-year-old Real World self The invisible public health crisis Baya is happy to see getting more attention How feeling alone at gatherings led Baya to a career in experience design What business event planners get wrong How Baya cultivates a high emotional response from her guests in designing experiences The importance of turning your event into a story What you should think about if you’re moving your real world event online Resources mentioned Real World: Brooklyn Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope by Johann Hari 1 in 3 U.S. Adults Are Lonely, Survey Shows by AARP The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake by David Brooks Hitch Hero’s Journey The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker 

Baya Voce on the Cure for the Loneliness Epidemic

Dorie Clark is a consultant and keynote speaker, and the author of the books Entrepreneurial You, Reinventing You, and Stand Out, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of 2015 by Inc. magazine. A former presidential campaign spokeswoman, Dorie has been described by the New York Times as an “expert at self-reinvention and helping others make changes in their lives.” Dorie consults and speaks for a diverse range of clients, and teaches executive education. A former award-winning journalist, she directed the environmental documentary film, The Work of 1000, and was a producer for a multiple-Grammy-winning jazz album.  To read any of 500 free articles Dorie has written for publications such as Forbes, the Harvard Business Review, and Entrepreneur, visit https://dorieclark.com.  And if you’d like to build the career you want, you can download the free 88 question Entrepreneurial You self-assessment at https://dorieclark.com/entrepreneur. In this episode Dorie and I discuss: What Dorie learned from being laid off from her first newspaper job Why a diversity of skills is crucial in the modern job market What holds people back from diversifying themselves (and what you can do about it) How being a freelance journalist helped Dorie prepare for the entrepreneurial life Why learning how to run a business didn’t actually help Dorie launch her first business The very first step all entrepreneurs must take The “optimize for interesting” philosophy that Dorie lives by The personal and professional failures Dorie values most My book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life, is now available for pre-order (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound). I’ve been ecstatic about the early reviews. The book was named a “must read” by Susan Cain (NYT Bestselling Author of Quiet), “endlessly fascinating” by Daniel Pink (NYT Bestselling Author of Drive and A Whole New Mind), and “bursting with practical insights” by Adam Grant (NYT Bestselling Author of Originals). The book was also selected by Adam Grant as his # 1 pick among his top 20 books of 2020.  If you pre-order the book, you’ll get digital access to the book to read on your favorite device within seven days of your pre-order. That means you can start reading it months before the book is released to the public. You’ll also get pre-order bonuses worth at least 10 times the cost of the book. You can check out the bonuses at rocketsciencebook.com.

Dorie Clark on Failure and the Entrepreneurial Journey

Dr. Jessica Kriegel is a researcher and expert in generational dynamics. Her insights and solutions offer a roadmap for how you can most effectively transform your culture to attract, retain, and engage all generations in the workplace. Jessica’s book, Unfairly Labeled: How Your Workplace Can Benefit From Ditching Generational Stereotypes, challenges the very concept of "generational differences" as an unfair generalization, and offers a roadmap to intergenerational understanding. She also speaks on the topic of generational dynamics nationally and acts as an adviser and strategist in matters of cultural alignment across all generations. Sign up for Jessica’s mailing list at http://www.jessicakriegel.com/. In this episode Jessica and I discuss: How being the youngest person in the room led Jessica to study generational differences Why older generations complain about millenials Why the established literature on generational differences is wrong Why the public is so eager to buy into generational stereotypes Jessica’s technique for showing how inappropriate generational stereotypes are How stereotypes about different generations lead to poor leadership decisions What companies can do to foster better intergenerational relations The personality trait that Jessica considers a personal failure Why it’s so difficult to project our true selves into the world and what we can do about it   My book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life, is now available for pre-order (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound). I’ve been ecstatic about the early reviews. The book was named a “must read” by Susan Cain (NYT Bestselling Author of Quiet), “endlessly fascinating” by Daniel Pink (NYT Bestselling Author of Drive and A Whole New Mind), and “bursting with practical insights” by Adam Grant (NYT Bestselling Author of Originals). If you pre-order the book, you’ll get digital access to the book to read on your favorite device within seven days of your pre-order. That means you can start reading it months before the book is released to the public. You’ll also get pre-order bonuses worth at least 10 times the cost of the book. You can check out the bonuses at rocketsciencebook.com.

Jessica Kriegel on How You Should Ditch Generational Stereotypes

Neil Pasricha is the author of five New York Times bestsellers including: The Book of Awesome, a catalog of simple pleasures based on his 50-million hit, award-winning blog, and The Happiness Equation, a nine-step guidebook to happiness based on new research.  His latest book is You Are Awesome: How to Navigate Change, Wrestle with Failure, and Live an Intentional Life.  Neil is also one of the most popular TED speakers with his first TED Talk “The 3 A’s of Awesome” ranked as one of the ten most inspiring of all time. His work has been featured in hundreds of outlets including CNN, BBC, The Today Show, The Early Show, The Oprah Winfrey Network, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Fortune, and Forbes. His new podcast, 3 Books, discusses the most formative books of inspiring individuals from all walks of life. Neil graciously offered to hold an ask-me-anything session for the readers of the Weekly Contrarian. In the AMA, Neil answers questions about the relationship between appreciation and happiness; how to expose your true inner, authentic self; how to go from being a glass-half-empty person to a glass-half-full person; and so much more.  My book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life, is now available for pre-order (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound). I’ve been ecstatic about the early reviews. The book was named a “must read” by Susan Cain (NYT Bestselling Author of Quiet), “endlessly fascinating” by Daniel Pink (NYT Bestselling Author of Drive and A Whole New Mind), and “bursting with practical insights” by Adam Grant (NYT Bestselling Author of Originals). The book was also selected by Adam Grant as his # 1 pick among his top 20 books of 2020.  If you pre-order the book, you’ll get digital access to the book to read on your favorite device within seven days of your pre-order. That means you can start reading it months before the book is released to the public. You’ll also get pre-order bonuses worth at least 10 times the cost of the book. You can check out the bonuses at rocketsciencebook.com.

Neil Pasricha: Ask Me Anything

Tara Schuster is an author, playwright, and accomplished entertainment executive, currently serving as the Vice President of Talent and Development at Comedy Central. She was the Executive in Charge of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning Key & Peele, the Emmy Award winning @Midnight, and numerous other shows. Tara’s first book, Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies: And Other Rituals to Fix Your Life from Someone Who has Been There, will be released on February 18, 2020. The hilarious and relatable self-help/memoir tells the story of Tara’s path to re-parenting herself and becoming a “ninja of self-love.” Sign up for Tara’s newsletter to receive weekly self-care tips at: taraschuster.com/subscribe, and find her on Instagram as @taraschuster. In this episode Tara and I discuss: Why Tara decided not to pursue a career as a New York playwright How Tara’s budding playwriting career pivoted into an internship on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart Why Jon Stewart doesn’t believe in “Big Breaks” How cleaning the Daily Show office coffee machine opened doors to Comedy Central for Tara Why Tara strives to be the best at the worst How Tara hit rock bottom on her 25th birthday The first step Tara took to build a sense of self-awareness Tara’s advice for cultivating new friendships as you grow older How Tara managed to be so honest in her memoir How Tara faces the high risk of failure in the entertainment industry Resources mentioned The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron My book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life, is now available for pre-order (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound). I’ve been ecstatic about the early reviews. The book was named a “must read” by Susan Cain (NYT Bestselling Author of Quiet), “endlessly fascinating” by Daniel Pink (NYT Bestselling Author of Drive and A Whole New Mind), and “bursting with practical insights” by Adam Grant (NYT Bestselling Author of Originals). If you pre-order the book, you’ll get digital access to the book to read on your favorite device within seven days of your pre-order. That means you can start reading it months before the book is released to the public. You’ll also get pre-order bonuses worth at least 10 times the cost of the book. You can check out the bonuses at rocketsciencebook.com.

Tara Schuster on Rising Up From Rock Bottom

An entrepreneur, creative thinker, and acclaimed international speaker, Frans Johansson has lived all his life at the intersection. He has started a health-care business, a software company, a hedge fund, and an innovation firm. Frans is the author of The Medici Effect and The Click Moment, and is the founder and CEO of The Medici Group.  Reach out and connect with Frans on LinkedIn or Twitter. To learn more about his company The Medici Group, visit their website at https://www.themedicigroup.com/. In this episode Frans and I discuss: How his early life experiences influenced the work that Frans does today How Frans accidentally ended up attending Harvard Business School The ten-second vision that shaped Frans’s ideas on diversity and innovation Why diversity in the workplace doesn’t work without inclusion How to help diverse teams become more innovative Why Frans thinks that failure and success go hand in hand How people can take away positive lessons from failure What Frans learned from his failed tech start-up My book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life, is now available for pre-order (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound). I’ve been ecstatic about the early reviews. The book was named a “must read” by Susan Cain (NYT Bestselling Author of Quiet), “endlessly fascinating” by Daniel Pink (NYT Bestselling Author of Drive and A Whole New Mind), and “bursting with practical insights” by Adam Grant (NYT Bestselling Author of Originals). If you pre-order the book, you’ll get digital access to the book to read on your favorite device within seven days of your pre-order. That means you can start reading it months before the book is released to the public. You’ll also get pre-order bonuses worth at least 10 times the cost of the book. You can check out the bonuses at rocketsciencebook.com.

Frans Johansson on Why Diversity Drives Innovation

Scott Harrison is the founder and CEO of charity: water, and the New York Times Bestselling author of Thirst: A Story of Redemption, Compassion, and a Mission to Bring Clean Water to the World. In 13 years, with the help of more than 1 million donors worldwide, charity: water has raised more than $400 million and funded more than 44,000 water projects in 28 countries. When completed, those projects will provide over 10 million people with clean, safe drinking water. If you would like to help bring clean water to the world, consider joining charity:water’s monthly donation program, The Spring at thespring.com. If you sign up, forward your receipt to rocket@ozanvarol.com and I will send you a free, personalized, and autographed copy of my forthcoming book Think Like a Rocket Scientist. In this episode Scott and I discuss: How Scott transformed himself from hard-partying nightclub promoter with substance abuse problems to a global humanitarian organization founder How Scott’s first humanitarian mission in war-torn Liberia inspired the creation of charity: water Why being a philanthropic outsider was an advantage for Scott when he started charity: water Scott’s three key elements to great storytelling Why Scott celebrated the workers who crashed a million-dollar well drilling rig What Scott would say to his younger self who founded charity: water Resources mentioned The Spring Video about charity:water’s work in India My book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life, is now available for pre-order (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound). I’ve been ecstatic about the early reviews. The book was named a “must read” by Susan Cain (NYT Bestselling Author of Quiet), “endlessly fascinating” by Daniel Pink (NYT Bestselling Author of Drive and A Whole New Mind), and “bursting with practical insights” by Adam Grant (NYT Bestselling Author of Originals). If you pre-order the book, you’ll get digital access to the book to read on your favorite device within seven days of your pre-order. That means you can start reading it months before the book is released to the public. You’ll also get pre-order bonuses worth at least 10 times the cost of the book. You can check out the bonuses at rocketsciencebook.com. I’m personally donating my royalties from the pre-order sales of the book (up to $10,000) to charity: water. Every 10 pre-orders will bring clean water to 1 person in need.

Scott Harrison on Transforming Himself and Ending the Water Crisis

BJ Fogg is a behavioral scientist with deep experience in innovation and teaching. At Stanford University he runs the Behavior Design Lab and also teaches his models and methods in graduate seminars. On the industry side, he trains innovators to use his work so they can create solutions that influence behavior. The focus areas include health, financial wellbeing, learning, productivity, and more. BJ has a new book, Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything, which came out today, on December 31st, 2019.  To learn more about Tiny Habits, visit tinyhabits.com.  In this episode BJ and I discuss: How Greek philosophy inspired BJ to study persuasive technology Why BJ’s early theories on the future of technology earned him poor grades and puzzled looks What common modern practice will be seen as low-status behavior in the near future How people can adopt new behaviors even when they lack the motivation to change The three strategies that add up to BJ’s Tiny Habits behavioral change method How BJ learned to get over failure and keep trying new things How overcoming compulsive snacking taught BJ empathy toward others How you can the tiny Habits to untangle your own unwanted behaviors Resources mentioned Rhetoric by Aristotle Mobile Persuasion: 20 Perspectives on the Future of Behavior Change, edited by BJ Fogg and Dean Eckles My book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life, is now available for pre-order (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound). I’ve been ecstatic about the early reviews. The book was named a “must read” by Susan Cain (NYT Bestselling Author of Quiet), “endlessly fascinating” by Daniel Pink (NYT Bestselling Author of Drive and A Whole New Mind), and “bursting with practical insights” by Adam Grant (NYT Bestselling Author of Originals). If you pre-order the book, you’ll get digital access to the book to read on your favorite device within seven days of your pre-order. That means you can start reading it months before the book is released to the public. You’ll also get pre-order bonuses worth at least 10 times the cost of the book. You can check out the bonuses at rocketsciencebook.com.

BJ Fogg on How Tiny Habits Can Spark Big Life Changes

Laura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books, including Juliet’s School of Possibilities, Off the Clock, I Know How She Does It, What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, and 168 Hours. Her work has appeared in publications including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Fortune.  If you’d like to keep in touch with Laura, you can check out her short daily podcast, Before Breakfast, to start your morning with productivity advice that will take your day from great to awesome. In this episode Laura and I discuss: How Laura became interested in studying and writing about time management Why Laura focuses on weeks instead of days The first step you should take if you want to improve your own productivity What surprising insight Laura discovered about successful people’s schedules by reading their time diaries How anyone can create extra hours in their week How you can stretch out the good moments in life What Laura learned after her first book flopped and didn’t find its audience. My book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life, is now available for pre-order (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound). I’ve been ecstatic about the early reviews. The book was named a “must read” by Susan Cain (NYT Bestselling Author of Quiet), “endlessly fascinating” by Daniel Pink (NYT Bestselling Author of Drive and A Whole New Mind), and “bursting with practical insights” by Adam Grant (NYT Bestselling Author of Originals). If you pre-order the book, you’ll get digital access to the book to read on your favorite device within seven days of your pre-order. That means you can start reading it months before the book is released to the public. You’ll also get pre-order bonuses worth at least 10 times the cost of the book. You can check out the bonuses at rocketsciencebook.com.

Laura Vanderkam on Why You Have More Time Than You Think

This is a short, solo episode of Famous Failures. Instead of doing an interview, I speak about what you should do when you make a mistake. The episode is based on a blog post I wrote a few months ago, which you can find here. If you enjoyed this episode, you’d love my forthcoming book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life.  The book was named a “must read” by Susan Cain (NYT Bestselling Author of Quiet), “endlessly fascinating” by Daniel Pink (NYT Bestselling Author of Drive and A Whole New Mind), and “bursting with practical insights” by Adam Grant (NYT Bestselling Author of Originals). If you pre-order the book, you’ll get digital access to the book to read on your favorite device within seven days of your pre-order. That means you can start reading it months before the book is released to the public. You’ll also get pre-order bonuses worth at least 10 times the cost of the book. You can check out the bonuses at rocketsciencebook.com. You can pre-order any edition of the book from any bookseller (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound). After you pre-order the book, please forward your receipt to rocket@ozanvarol.com, and your bonuses will land in your inbox.

What to Do When You Make a Mistake

Rene Denfeld is the author of the acclaimed novels The Child Finder, The Enchanted, and The Butterfly Girl. Her literary thrillers have earned glowing reviews from the New York Times Book Review, among other venues. Margaret Atwood, who is the renowned author of Handmaid’s Tale (among other books), has described Rene’s work as “astonishing,” and Rene’s latest novel, The Butterfly Girl, a “heartbreaking, finger-gnawing, yet ultimately hopeful novel.” Rene was the Chief Investigator at a public defender’s office and has worked hundreds of cases, including death row exonerations. In addition to her advocacy work, Rene has been a foster adoptive parent for twenty years. She was awarded the Break The Silence Award in Washington, DC for her social justice work, and was named a 2017 hero of the year by the New York Times. You can get Rene’s new book The Butterfly Girl at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Powell’s.  In this episode Rene and I discuss: How living on the streets as a teenager inspired her latest novel What helped Rene overcome feelings of shame over her past trauma How she preserves the dignity of her fictional characters who survive trauma and abuse How a librarian and a broken typewriter steered her towards careers in social justice and writing The unexpected inspiration she found working with death row inmates Rene’s biggest challenge in writing stories inspired from her personal experience Why it’s never too late to start writing (Rene didn’t become an author until her 40s) What advice Rene has for older aspiring writers My book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life, is now available for pre-order (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound). I’ve been ecstatic about the early reviews. The book was named a “must read” by Susan Cain (NYT Bestselling Author of Quiet), “endlessly fascinating” by Daniel Pink (NYT Bestselling Author of Drive and A Whole New Mind), and “bursting with practical insights” by Adam Grant (NYT Bestselling Author of Originals). If you pre-order the book, you’ll get digital access to the book to read on your favorite device within seven days of your pre-order. That means you can start reading it months before the book is released to the public. You’ll also get pre-order bonuses worth at least 10 times the cost of the book. You can check out the bonuses at rocketsciencebook.com.

Rene Denfeld on Healing Trauma and Telling Her Story

On Famous Failures, I interview the world's most interesting people about their failures and what they learned from them.

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Famous Failures

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