text:
How to Ship a 50-Foot Serpent to France
Goli Mohammadi
I'm a word nerd who loves to geek out on how emerging technology affects the lexicon. I was an editor on the first 40 volumes of MAKE, and I love shining light on the incredible makers in our community. In particular, covering art is my passion — after all, art is the first thing most of us ever made. When not fawning over perfect word choices, I can be found on the nearest mountain, looking for untouched powder fields and ideal alpine lakes.
Contact me at [email protected] or via @snowgoli.
View more articles by Goli Mohammadi
By Goli Mohammadi
July 5, 2016, 10:45 am PDT
Multitalented makers Kyrsten Mate and Jon Sarriugarte need no introduction in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their large-scale mobile art pieces bear their signature style of old-world metalwork worked into otherworldly design infused with electronics. Their repertoire includes a gorgeous snail-shaped vehicle named The Golden Mean. Its design is based on the golden ratio, it was built on a 1966 Volkswagen Bug chassis, seats six, shoots flames from its antannae, and was conceived by Kyrsten in a dream. Then there's the perfectly patina'ed futuristic version of a prehistoric trilobite built on a wheelchair base and made of hand-hammered sheet metal and forged steel, named The Electrobite Olenoides.
But we certainly can't forget the Serpent Twins, Jormungand (Midgard) and Julunggul (Rainbow), each 4-foot-wide and 50-foot-long, encrusted in an array of over 15,000 individually addressable LEDs capable of creating rainbows, plasma fields, water drops, fire, and video. Add to this a soundtrack of serpent calls designed at Skywalker Sound by Kyrsten, played on the 2,000-watt sound system built into each head, and you have an unforgettable encounter. Jormungand graced the cover of Make: Volume 35 with Kyrsten, Jon, and their daughter Zolie.
Made for the Burning Man festival and shown multiple times at Maker Faires in the Bay Area, the Serpent Twins are making their way to Nantes, France, for the first annual Maker Faire Nantes, taking place July 9 and 10 at the renowned Les Machines de l'île. We were dying to know how one goes about shipping two 50-foot serpents across the globe, so we caught up with Kyrsten and Jon en route to France.
How did the opportunity to take the Serpent Twins to France come about?
Jon: We talked to Bertier Luyt (lead organizer of the French Maker Faires) at Maker Faire Bay Area about coming to Maker Faire Nantes and bringing all our animals from the U.S.: the snail, our serpents, our trilobite, and the giraffe.
When Les Machine came to visit the Bay Area, we had dinner and talked more about our coming to Nantes. After dinner, we gave François Delarozière a ride in the snail. He didn't want to go back to the party. We all really wanted to bring the snail, but shipping her was just too difficult.
Check out Boing Boing's test drive of the Electrobite:
What are the logistics of shipping over large-scale works of art like the Serpents?
Jon: Unlike the snail, we designed the serpents to fit into a shipping container. We had to make a custom rack to double-stack the bodies, but everything fit perfectly into a 40-foot box. The worst problem was the carnet, the temporary export papers for the art to leave the country and return without being taxed. This was quite a learning curve for us, and I have to give a big thanks to Michelle, who runs my office, for her work in getting it all done. Also a big shout out to Burning Man for paying for the shipping costs to get us to Nantes. We had fun tracking the ship as it progressed around the world, stopping at several East Coast ports, England, and finally France. The mythology of the serpents talk about them circling the world swallowing boys and spitting out men. A few more tours and we will do just that! Kyrsten can fill in the myth better.
Kyrsten: Jormangand is the mythical serpent that encircles the Earth biting his tail. Mostly because he is ornery, he refuses to let go. But Julunggul is the rainbow serpent, which makes one think of traveling and optimism. They are both always traveling, always moving, in their own way.
Have you taken any of your pieces overseas before?
Jon: When Zolie was 2 years old, we took our vortex fire cannons and the shock-wave cannon to Robodock in Amsterdam to perform with Survival Research Labs (SRL). It was quite a show, and we were very impressed with the theater of the EU work. We were also taken with the fact that every piece of art seemed to have revenue stream, beer sales, food, and gifts. It was a great way to pay for art one drink at a time.
We took the concept home and created the Boiler Bar and later the stage show. We took this to the early Maker Faires and even shipped the Boiler Bar and stage to Texas for Maker Faire Austin, where with the power of the Boiler Bar we managed to levitate a large tent.
The Robodoc show was also the first show we did with Les Machine! I think it might have been the first show they did too after they split from Royal Deluxe. This Maker Faire Nantes show is the 10-year anniversary for them!
Have you seen any of Les Machine's creations in person before or worked with them previously?
Jon: At Robodock they had created a wonderful bar and a music machine with circus-like performances. I really took to heart the theater and costumes we saw them use. We are always incorporating these into all of our work. I've never seen any of their current work in person. I've admired their work for years and hoped we could find the time to visit them. I never dreamed we would be performing with them. It's such an honor to be part of their show!
Kyrsten: It's an understatement to say we're huge fans of Les Machine. Their creations' beauty and character expressed through metal and machinery was the inspiration for the Golden Mean (the snail) and later the Serpents as well. Especially the concept that the Serpents are giant puppets, that their movement is part of their artistic concept. All of Les Machine's pieces have such personality; they transcend the materials that make them. I can only hope we bestowed the same sort of character into our pieces!
How will the Serpent Twins be displayed at Maker Faire Nantes? Any plans to collaborate with the Les Machine pieces?
Jon: We'll be just outside the Maker Faire in the Camp of the Artists. Here, we'll set up the Empire of Dirt camp from Burning Man with lighting and sets made by our crew members Toast, Jillian, and Be from Because We Can. I can picture the nimble Serpents dancing around the feet of the elephant with the Electrobite nipping at its heels. I hope they're thinking the same!
The Serpent Twins, in concept as well as creation, are a nod to the old world and new world coming together, as are Les Machine's pieces. And to take the Twins from the States to a place with as much history as France adds yet another layer. What is most exciting to you about all of this coming together?
There's so much to think about. We just landed in Paris and walking around town makes me so excited to be in the hub of the masters of art and architecture. I love the history of metalwork from the E.U. and the new artistic twist the Bay Area has added to it. Big art is hard to place, but now that we have become accustomed to seeing it at places like Burning Man and in Oakland, California, it's a natural fit to see it now in the plazas and streets of Europe.
Will you be showing off the Serpents anywhere else in Europe?
Jon: We sure hope so! We plan to tour them and the Electrobite for the next year, possibly visiting other Maker Faires. We're really into inspiring young makers, and old ones too. We're looking for events that celebrate art and making. We really want to show the old-world craftsmanship that we use in our metalwork mixed with new technology. The Serpents are crusted on the inside with Wi-Fi, networking, and sound and light controllers, with a mix of off-the-shelf controllers and custom boards.
You always seem to have wonderfully sublime outfits that go with your creations. Do you conceive of these while you're making your pieces or do you just have a great wardrobe?
Jon: Both! Kyrsten is the costume goddess and seems to have something in the basement for every event. She knows her stuff and is great at creating a new look for each of our projects. The crew has been great at adding to the mix, too, and we always look so together as a group. You can always tell who is with us!
Are you working on any new pieces currently? What's next for you?
Jon: We're currently working on a new project called EMPIRE (Early Manned Planetary-Interplanetary Roundtrip Expedition). It's a lost mission to Mars from 1965 that returns to Earth half alien and half vintage NASA. We'll be completing this over the next year. Stay tuned!
People can support our travels through our shade structures, furniture, lighting, and fire pit kits.
For all the information you need to join the Serpent Twins and a whole incredible array of maker-made projects at Maker Faire Nantes, head to the site!
Nantes Maker Faire


A possible scenario is to use same functionality in most of the tests in the project. It is possible to implement a method which will be available in each code behind test files in the project. The approach to this problem is to extend the BaseWebAiiTest class and all test files to inherit from the new extended class.
4. Re-open the project, add a WebTest and a coded step inside. Then in the step it will be available the PrintMessage() defined in the ExtendedBaseWebAiiTest class. Below is given a sample of the code behind file of the WebTest.


T. Thorn Coyle is an internationally respected visionary and teacher of the magical and esoteric arts. The author of Make Magic of Your Life, Kissing the Limitless, and Evolutionary Witchcraft, she hosts the Elemental Castings podcast series, writes the blog Know Thyself, and has produced several CDs of sacred music. Thorn's spiritual direction and soul reading practices help people worldwide. Pagan, mystic, and activist, she is founder and head of Solar Cross Temple and Morningstar Mystery School and lives by the San Francisco Bay. For further information, please visit ThornCoyle.com.
T. Thorn Coyle https://media.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/default-thumbs-patheos/default/default-img-relaxed-man.jpg?h=300 3/4/2015 5:00:00 AM Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.
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Maidstone Borough Council calls for sites
Ahead of a consultation on its Local Plan Review later in 2019, Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is calling on interested parties to propose sites that could be suitable for future development.
A key early step in the preparation for the Local Plan Review, MBC is asking landowners, developers and interested parties to propose sites for all types of development in the Borough. This is to give the Council a starting list of sites, from which it can select the best to meet its future development needs.
The 'Call for Sites' is an open request for information about land which may have potential for new housing, commercial development – employment, shopping and leisure. This also includes proposals for Gypsies and Travellers' accommodation in the future.
Strategic Planning Manager, Planning Policy & Environment, Mark Egerton, of MBC said:
"This is a really important piece of work for Maidstone, to help the Council in its choice of land for future development. We're keen to work with the community, especially with landowners and developers, to map out potential sites and be clear about what development could take place in the future. Maidstone's current Local Plan was adopted in 2017 and it must reviewed at least every five years. It is this statutory review process which MBC is currently embarking on."
Innovative approaches may be required, such as planning brand new settlements or neighbourhoods following 'garden city' principles and MBC have prepared an information pack including a dedicated New Garden Communities Prospectus as guidance for those who are planning to submit a site https://maidstone.gov.uk/callforsites.
For sites to be considered as part of the current exercise, they will need to be submitted by 5pm on Friday 24 May 2019. Importantly, submitting a site through the Call for Sites does not mean that it will be agreed for inclusion in the Local Plan Review, or that it will get planning permission in the future.
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Bins-and-Recycling3
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We study the implications of product and labor market imperfections for equilibrium unemployment under both exogenous and endogenous capital intensity. With endogenous capital intensity, stronger labor market imperfections always increase equilibrium unemployment. The relationship between the long-run unemployment and the intensity of product market competition is not necessarily monotonic, but there is an elasticity of substitution between capital and labor below one such that the long-run equilibrium unemployment is an increasing function of product market imperfections when the elasticity exceeds this threshold. Higher interest rates increase (decrease) the long-run equilibrium unemployment when the elasticity of substitution is below (above) one.


text:
Il distretto di Horodnja () era un distretto (rajon) dell'Ucraina, situato nell'oblast' di Černihiv. Il suo capoluogo era Horodnja.
È stato soppresso con la riforma amministrativa del 2020.

Note

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Horodnja

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
est une espèce éteinte et fossile d'insectes hyménoptères de la famille des Ichneumonidae, de la sous-famille des Ophioninae et du genre Ophion.

Classification
Le nom scientifique de cette espèce a été valablement publié pour la première fois sous le nom Ophion annulatus en 1937 par Nicolas Théobald. Le spécimen holotype Am13 vient des collections du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle de Paris, et provient du gypse d'Aix-en-Provence dans les Bouches-du-Rhône. Il est aussi connu au Muséum national d'histoire naturelle de Paris sous la référence B24399.

Description

Caractères
La diagnose de Nicolas Théobald de 1937 :

Dimensions
La longueur totale est de , la tête a une longueur , le thorax a une longueur  , l'abdomen a une longueur .

Biologie
.

Bibliographie

Publication originale

Voir aussi
 le Muséum national d'histoire naturelle de Paris

Liens externes

Notes et références

Notes

Références taxonomiques

Notes et références

Ophioninae
Animal de l'Oligocène
Paléontologie en France
Espèce d'Apocrites préhistoriques (nom scientifique)
Insecte décrit en 1937
Taxon fossile décrit en 1937
Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
Taxon fossile décrit par Nicolas Théobald


text:
The trial and execution of the three unfortunate men, that were executed between the 2 lodges on the Castle-Hill, Norwich, on Saturday April 12th 1834: one for an attempt to murder, and two for arson
Norwich: G. Stewardson, Magdalen-Street, [1834]
Many broadsides gave what purported to be a full and detailed account of legal trials and the fate of criminals and their victims. As with the modern popular press, however, they did not always tell an unbiased story. The case of Gilpin Reynolds is particularly interesting. This account makes his execution look disproportionate to the damage caused by the fire. Reports from the Norwich Mercury on 29 March 1834, however, provide more details.
Reynolds was exposed as one of a gang who had committed several arson attacks in the area. The gang operated by night but on the evening in question several men were watching for poachers in fields around the village. These witnesses gave evidence disproving Reynolds' account of his movements. The most dramatic evidence against Reynolds was collected by the land agent for the farm in question, who found footprints in the mud at the scene of the crime, then cut out the dried footprint in the mud (complete with a large piece of earth attached) and produced it in court. It was found to match Reynolds' footwear exactly, down to the marks of repairs and the pattern of the nails in the sole.
The Norwich Mercury account of the execution of the three men provides a more personal account than this broadside: that Gilpin was survived by his pregnant wife and one child, and that finally on the day before his execution he confessed that he had in fact committed the crime. The image is a stock image used to illustrate several executions at Norwich Castle; compare the image used for the account of the trial of Richard Knockolds.
Broadsides.B.83.7
Not on display in physical exhibition
Open Digital Library


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The Subsidies Conundrum
Semira N. Nikou and Cameron Glenn
Iran has subsidized petroleum products, basic foodstuffs, medical goods and utilities since 1980, first to manage hardships during the eight-year war with Iraq, and then to prevent political and economic challenges after the war.
Since the 1990s, four presidents have tried to cut back subsidies that are estimated to cost Iran between $70 billion and $100 billion annually.
In 2010, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won parliamentary approval for a controversial plan to phase out subsides. The cutbacks came at a time the government already faced serious economic troubles and tougher international sanctions.
Under the plan, universal price controls were replaced with small cash payments to families and direct support of industries. From its onset, cash payments have been available to everyone–wealthy and poor alike–though the government has repeatedly asked the wealthy to refrain from signing up, albeit few have done so. With 95 percent of Iranians receiving the payments, the program has been much more costly than anticipated.
Price increases in gasoline and other products along with more robust sanctions and loose monetary policies subsequently contributed to a dramatic rise in inflation, which reached 40 percent by 2013. Although by 2015 the inflation was reduced to around 15 percent, rising prices had dropped the value of cash payments–which have remained steady–to one third of their original value.
President Hassan Rouhani pursued additional subsidy cuts after taking office in 2013. Despite raising energy prices twice, the government still faced a budget shortfall in funding the cash payments by 2015. The near universality of cash payments continues to drain the state budget.
Energy prices remain below free market levels. If reform ultimately succeeds, however, the program could help reduce waste, shrink state outlays, enhance efficiency and productivity, and help redistribute income.
The 1979 revolution was carried out in the name of "the oppressed," and the Islamic Republic has been a welfare state committed to "social justice" ever since. The government introduced rationing soon after Iraq's 1980 invasion generated new economic hardships. To appease a war-weary society after the conflict, the theocracy kept consumer prices for energy, basic foods, medicines and utilities (water, power and sewage) well below market prices. But the economic burden soared as the new theocracy initially encouraged population growth, which almost doubled the population from 34 million to 62 million in a mere decade. The cost of subsidies, in turn, also soared.
The Islamic Republic has long been vulnerable economically. Politicians in both the executive and legislative branches have been reluctant to take badly-needed reforms for fear of political backlash. President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's austerity plan in the early 1990s sparked riots across the country, forcing him to shelve free market reforms and subsidy cutbacks. President Mohammad Khatami was unable to mobilize support from conservatives in parliament for either subsidy reforms or a plan to gradually increase gasoline prices. Under Ahmadinejad, the announcement of gasoline rationing triggered unrest and attacks on gas stations in 2007.
Ahmadinejad proposed new subsidy reforms in 2008, but the plan was deferred until after the 2009 presidential election. He had to wage a heated political battle, and a compromise was eventually reached with the intervention of the supreme leader, in 2010. Yet for the first time, Iran's major political factions agreed that the burden of subsidies was unsustainable, despite fears of severe economic and political consequences.
Subsidy reform encountered significant roadblocks in the first three years, largely because cash payments under the program exceeded significantly the revenue the government recouped from price hikes. Rouhani continued providing monthly cash payments and resumed subsidy cuts after taking office. But by 2015, Iran's government still faced substantial challenges in financing the cash payments.
"To continue this system is indefensible," says Iran minister of Ahmadinejad handouts http://t.co/vEXK84QxMS #Iran pic.twitter.com/aeHZ31jZC2
— Arthur MacMillan (@arthurmacmillan) May 19, 2015
The case for reform
Subsidies have been costly. They were estimated to eat up around 25 percent of Iran's gross domestic product (GDP) of $335 billion in 2009. Subsidies for energy products alone accounted for 10 percent of Iran's GDP in 2010, according to the World Bank. Iranians paid as little as 38 cents for a gallon of rationed gasoline, cheaper than bottled water. Gas cost 10 cents per liter, while a liter of bottled water cost around 25 cents.
Without reforms, costs would have only continued to grow as Iran's population increased – even though innovative programs by previous presidents brought the population growth rate down, from a height of 3.9 percent in 1986 to 1.3 percent in 2008. In 2010, as he was simultaneously pushing subsidy reforms, Ahmadinejad also called for new population growth, including a $950 incentive for each new baby and a $95 annual stipend until the child turns 18. But a higher birth rate could be a further drain on the economy, and even conservatives moved to block institutionalizing his initiative.
The subsidies program was plagued by two fundamental flaws. First, cheap prices fostered wasteful behavior. By 2010, Iran's energy consumption had increased five-fold in 30 years, while the population had only doubled, according to former International Monetary Fund economist Jahangir Amuzegar. Official Iranian figures claimed energy consumption had actually increased nine-fold since 1976. Cheap gas had, in turn, contributed to chronic pollution, environmental decay and massive traffic overload in urban areas.
Second, subsidies helped everyone, not just the poor. Those benefitting the most from subsidies were middle and upper income Iranians. Iran's richest 30 percent reaped the benefits of 70 percent of government subsidies, according to Iran's ministry of economics and finance.
The first phase of subsidy reform began in December 2010, codified by the Targeted Subsidy Reform law. It included the following provisions.
Subsidies would be phased out over five years, ending in 2015.
The government could cut back up to $20 billion of subsidies within the first year. In subsequent years, parliament would have to approve additional amounts through the annual budget process.
Immediate cutbacks could affect the price of petroleum products, wheat, rice, cooking oil, milk, sugar, postal services, as well as airline and railway services. The government had discretion on which subsidies to cut first.
Medical services and products would not be affected by the plan.
In lieu of subsidies, the government would distribute small sums of cash to individuals.
A new government body—a subsidy reform organization—would hold most of the funds that were once allocated for subsidies. It would plan and supervise the distribution of cash payments as a substitute for subsidies. Parliament insisted on making the organization subject to audit.
The funds accrued from subsidy cuts would be divided:
50 percent for direct cash payments to people who qualify for aid;
30 percent to industries that rely heavily on subsidies, and to improve the energy sector and public transportation;
20 percent directly to the Treasury to cover government costs of implementation and reduce dependence on oil revenues.
Ahmadinejad's reform plan was widely interpreted as a policy reversal. He won the presidency in 2005 on a platform of increased social services and aid to the poor—and putting Iran's oil wealth on the dinner table. But his cash payments did little to improve living standards or reduce growing income gaps. The purchasing power of Iranians, particularly the poor and middle class, weakened as inflation spiked, hitting nearly 30 percent in 2008, according to the Central Bank of Iran. Critics argued that Ahmadinejad's profligate spending also drained the Treasury of billions from oil revenues, while contributing little to improve Iran's aged and ailing infrastructure.
Unlike his two predecessors, Ahmadinejad initially rebuffed proposals for reform by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. But tough economic realities apparently changed his mind. His original proposal called for an even more drastic plan to eliminate subsidies within three years.
Many economists and members of parliament argued that Ahmadinejad's original shock-therapy strategy would have dire consequences. They urged a more gradual transition to avoid a dramatic spike in inflation for families and industries that relied on highly subsidized energy supplies and already faced a competitive disadvantage due to sanctions. Parliament also wanted supervisory power over distribution of funds, which Ahmadinejad rejected. After a year of intense debates, a compromise bill—lengthening the transition and creating the subsidy reform organization (SRO), which was subject to parliamentary oversight through its audit authority – was passed in 2010.
The government implemented the changes in December 2010. Energy prices tripled and bread prices doubled overnight, offset by the monthly cash transfers to Iranian households that replaced subsidies. At first, the reforms yielded positive results. Consumption of liquid fuels fell three percent in 2011 compared to 2009 due to price increases. Within the first few months of the program, the number of Iranians living below the poverty line declined by five percent as a result of the cash payments.
But by 2012, the program already faced severe setbacks. The system for distributing monthly cash payments, set at 455,000 rials (worth roughly around $40 in 2012) per person, was wracked with flaws. The government originally decided to divide the population into three income brackets and distribute financial assistance to the bottom two. But Iran did not have an effective data-collection system on family income. Most data was gathered by self-reporting to Iran's Statistical Center, and many families did not want to disclose their assets for tax and other reasons. The government then revised its plan and indicated it would distribute cash payments to a wider segment of society. Without a reliable method to target low-income families, more than 70 million people – or 95 percent of the population – signed up for the program and began receiving cash payments. The government recouped funds from higher energy and food prices, but the cost of the cash payments exceeded these funds by one third.
The government began printing money to cover the deficit, causing inflation to skyrocket. The declining value of the rial reversed some of the program's initial gains. Other expensive programs as well as greater sanctions against Iran also created economic shocks in the country, further contributing to inflation and the rial's devaluation.
The second phase of subsidy cuts was scheduled to begin in 2012, but parliament voted to suspend the reforms as economic growth stalled and inflation continued to rise. As a result, monthly cash payments continued, but the government did not pursue further price increases for subsidized goods. By 2013, inflation had jumped to nearly 40 percent.
Source: World Bank, 2014
Sanctions impact
The United Nations, the United States and the European Union tightened sanctions against Iran after the subsidy reform program went into effect, notably U.S.-imposed financial sanctions in December 2011. The new sanctions were at least partially responsible for the spike in inflation and the decline of the rial after 2010.
The regime had calculated that reducing subsidies and increasing petroleum prices would force consumers to change excessive consumption habits, thereby mitigating the effects of sanctions. While subsidy reform has decreased the rate of increase in consumption, however, it has not decreased consumption.
The new round of sanctions had a particularly damaging effect on Iran's lucrative oil and gas industry, forcing Iran to delay or cancel development projects and reduce crude oil exports. At the same time, the industry did not reap the intended benefits of subsidy reform. The 2010 subsidy reform law specified that 30 percent of the revenues recouped from subsidy cuts would go to key industries – including the oil and gas sector. But Ahmadinejad did not comply with that ratio, as the cost of cash payments surpassed the revenue that price increases generated.
Rouhani's reforms
Since taking office in 2013, President Hassan Rouhani has attempted to reverse some of the economic damage from the Ahmadinejad years. While his administration has criticized the implementation of the subsidy reform program, it has pursued new rounds of price hikes and continued providing cash payments to the population. Rouhani has also inherited some of the same challenges that undercut the program under Ahmadinejad. In particular, the administration's inability to find an effective way to target cash payments to the poor remains a problem.
Rouhani's administration initiated new rounds of energy price increases, though at a more gradual pace than under Ahmadinejad. In 2014, the price of rationed gasoline rose to 7,000 rials per liter and 10,000 rials per liter for unrationed gasoline (amount in excess of 60 liters per month per car). In 2015, the government eliminated the rationing system and set the price for all gasoline at 10,000 rials per liter–an amount that was still far below the free market price.
Iran to raise gasoline prices by 40 per cent amidst cutting subsidies: Report #business http://t.co/0fdk3lWb4V pic.twitter.com/9FGu2erkCe
— World Business News (@WordLinkBIZ) May 25, 2015
In its 2015-16 budget, the Iranian Parliament (Majles) mandated that the administration target its cash payments and reduced the total amount of cash the government could disperse. Previously, in April 2014, the government sought the help of Iranian celebrities and clerics to engage in a campaign encouraging wealthier Iranians to refrain from reapplying to the program. Less than three million listened, while around 73 million people re-registered. The government eventually began to slowly remove individuals from the program itself, aiming to drop close to another four million by March 2016. Individuals who believe they were wrongly cut off from cash payments, however, have the opportunity to contest their removal.
Under Rouhani, Iran's central bank also took steps to reduce inflation and control the money supply, according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation was already on its way down before Rouhani took office and, by mid-2015, it dropped to 15.6 percentfrom 40 percent in early 2013. Despite progress, Rouhani's government still faced a budget shortfall in 2015. The cash transfer program remains unable to pay for itself through price increases and continues to drain from the support program intended for industries.
Trendlines
Although President Rouhani has made some progress in reversing the economic damage of the Ahmadinejad years, subsidy reform is far from complete. The universality of cash payments remains problem, though the administration is slowly removing individuals from the program.
Despite subsidy cuts, energy prices remain below market prices. Therefore, further price hikes may be necessary. To avoid a backlash, Tehran must avoid a further drop in employment, a slowdown in the economic growth rate and a significant increase in inflation.
Iran is poised to regain access to billions of dollars in assets as part the final nuclear deal, which lifts sanctions in exchange for Iran scaling back its nuclear program. The funds could help Iran cover its deficit, but the additional cash may also reduce pressure to prioritize subsidy reforms.
Subsidy reform alone will not solve Iran's chronic economic problems. To improve Iran's overall fiscal health, the government also needs to pursue structural changes and other free market reforms to reduce inefficiencies plaguing state-owned or state-affiliated industries. The government otherwise may still be forced to support key sectors that depend on the state's protection or business.
Semira Nikou formerly worked at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Cameron Glenn works in the Center for Middle East and Africa at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
This chapter was originally published in 2010, and is updated as of August 2015.
PDF Economy_Nikou_Subsidies.pdf202.8 KB
"The Iran Primer" -- Overview
The world's most comprehensive website on Iran, "The Primer" brings together 50 experts—Western and Iranian—in concise chapters on politics, economy, military, foreign policy, and the nuclear program. It chronicles events under six U.S. presidents. It also has leader bios, timelines, data on nuclear sites—and context for what lies ahead. New articles are at the top.
Robin Wright's Blog
Are the U.S. and Iran Really on the Brink of War?
Garrett Nada's Blog
Iran's Influence Challenged in Iraq


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Episode 64: Therapist Content Marketing & Tech Startup Consulting [featuring Michael Fulwiler]
Do you ever feel frustrated that you are available to take clients and tons of people are looking for therapists, but you hardly ever get the calls?
Have you made a Psyc Today profile, but after months of being "visible" online, nothing has really improved for your private practice?
Have you started to wonder if you should consider using those therapy tech startups, but question if they are ethical and if you can even make a livable income through them?
Well, this episode is for you.
In this episode, I talk with Michael Fulwiler, a marketing professional specializing in mental health spaces (including the Gottman Institute) and a consultant for mental health startups.
Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:
Understand the best ways to approach content marketing for therapists.
Learn what alternatives there are to using social media and how to find the right marketing outlets for you.
Learn what therapists can do to ensure they don't get taken advantage of by the sketchy tech startups (because not all are created equal), as well as how they can play a part in improving the quality of care for clients and therapists through consulting with those tech startups.
So, if you are looking to find ways to connect with your ideal clients and get your caseload filled, this episode will give you the basics to get started.
Content marketing can feel intimidating sometimes, so it's important to position yourself in the way that best aligns with your preferences and time. And if you love or hate something, there is still a way to make marketing work for you, so listen in to hear more about what paths you can take and find the best one for you.
More about Michael:
Michael operates at the intersection of marketing and mental health. He leads brand marketing at Heard, a venture-backed startup that helps therapists with their bookkeeping, taxes, payroll, and related services. He is also the founder of Fulwiler Media, a marketing consultancy for mental health companies, and the author of Therapy Marketer, a popular weekly newsletter for therapists. He is the former Chief Marketing Officer of the Gottman Institute.
Michael's Website & Newsletter: therapymarketer.co
Michael's Twitter: @MichaelFulwiler
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PATRICK CASALE: Hey everyone, you are listening to another episode of the All Things Private Practice Podcast. I'm your host, Patrick Casale, joined today by Michael Fulwiler. He is in… just butchered his name, Michael Fulwiler.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Good start.
PATRICK CASALE: Good start so far, it's one of those days on a Monday. He is a marketing professional. He works with Heard. And he's been in a lot of different mental health spaces, including The Gottman Institute for some time, a couple of jobs back, and we are going to talk a little bit about content marketing, which is a passion of his and also a specialty, growing an audience, but also, the types of questions that you as therapists, as helping professionals need to be asking some of these tech startups if you're going to be working for them, or working with them, or consulting with them because there are a lot of questions right now that are coming up, just with the whole tech startup boom in the mental health field.
So, Michael, I'm really happy to have you on and just want to have you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you're doing.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, thank you, Patrick, for having me on. I've been part of your Facebook group for quite a while now. And when I saw that you were launching this podcast, I definitely wanted the opportunity to come on. So, really appreciate you having me.
PATRICK CASALE: Not a problem. So, tell us a little bit about what you're doing currently because I'm still not as familiar with Heard, some of the other companies, definitely, there's so many new ones coming into the space all the time, it's sometimes hard to keep track of who does what and who's really doing the good quality work that we want to align ourselves with.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, so I've worked as a marketing professional in the mental health space for the last 10 years, first eight and a half years at The Gottman Institute, and then I run my own business for the last two years consulting with mental health professionals, you know, on their marketing, as well as with mental health startups.
And the types of startups that I really enjoy working with are startups who empower mental health professionals as entrepreneurs to, you know, help them to be successful in private practice, instead of just employing them as a 1099 contractor, and, you know, leveraging them, you know, as workers in their company.
And so, Heard is a company that I started actually working with as a consultant and then came on as a full-time employee in the last few months. And Heard is building the financial back office for mental health professionals. And what that means is we handle bookkeeping, payroll, and tax filing services for therapists.
They actually started as a therapist matchmaking platform, kind of helping therapy seekers match with therapists who are a good fit. And what they found through hundreds of interviews with mental health professionals is that therapists really struggle with the financial side of their practice, right? Like, when you go into private practice, that's probably like the last thing that you want to do, is your own bookkeeping and taxes. And so, really uncovered that as a pain point for therapists. And we're excited to be, you know, working on a solution.
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, it's definitely a pain point. I can say with a surety that there is not a lot of training that goes into running a business for mental health professionals. So, the ability to have some of the things done for you or supported really makes a big difference.
Now, I like that you've been a part of a bunch of different institutions that are really trying to help therapists in one capacity or another because there are a lot of companies out there right now that are kind of taking advantage of therapists and their lack of know-how or their lack of understanding of marketing or their lack of understanding of how to build a business. So, it sounds like that's really been more aligned within your values in terms of who you've decided to partner with or who you've decided to work for.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, absolutely. You know, when you look at the mental health space, there's been a huge boom in demand for mental health services, right? Which for an investor is extremely attractive. What that means, though, is that these companies, you know, are contracting with therapists, and, you know, offering affordable therapy by underpaying therapists, right? So, the money has to come from somewhere. And unfortunately, it's at the expense of therapists.
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, and I think a lot of therapists have a hard time understanding that that could be true. And thinking like, "Oh, this is just a quick way to get clients and bring money in the door." Which is not untrue. However, I think that it's often overlooked. Like, you'll see a lot of people who will say, "Yeah, this platform is so great because the clients get access to services so easily and it's affordable."
And it's like, well, it's affordable for who, right? Because the client is paying the fee, you're just not seeing it. And that doesn't mean that you're doing yourself any sort of service. And, you know, the clients tend to suffer in a lot of those environments too, unfortunately, with companies that I cannot name on the air, but don't need cease and desist letters coming to me tomorrow.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah. Well, I will just say they're two, that, you know, I don't blame the therapists who work for these companies, either. You know, I think it's comparable to someone, you know, driving for Uber or Lyft, you know? Sometimes you just need the extra money. And you need to like pick up, you know, a shift or two in the evening. And that's okay. Like, I totally empathize with that situation, you know? What, just like, really gets me going is the companies that, you know, exploit their labor. And I think like, that's where the attention needs to be. It is becoming more so in the spotlight, kind of, in the last few months,
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, yep, there's a lot of stuff that's coming to the forefront. And we're seeing a lot of shifts for sure, for those of you who are working in the internet and online spaces. So, you mentioned before that, you know, your specialty is content marketing, kind of a passion of yours. You worked for Gottman Institute for a while doing a lot of their marketing too. Their reputation kind of speaks for itself now. And I feel like it's, you know, a place that couple's therapists aim to be or get trained from.
Now, tell us about content marketing, in general, for therapists because I think that is a place that a lot of therapists do struggle with because of the lack of know-how or understanding of what has to go into content marketing in general.
MICHAEL FULWILER: I think there's a misconception that marketing is selling yourself, you're promoting yourself. And a lot of therapists really don't like that idea. And so, when they hear the word marketing it brings up a lot of those feelings.
And the way that I explain content marketing to therapists is really that content marketing is a value exchange, right? And so, as a therapist, you're providing value to your audience, to your ideal client through content. And that can be written content, can be blog posts, can be audio content, can be a podcast like this, can be video content, through social media, can be graphic content, right? There's all of these different types of content as ways to provide value to your target audience, which builds relationship, it builds trust, and sort of the other side of that value exchange, right? If you're providing value, then you can receive value in exchange. And that kind of the other side of that value exchange is payment for your services.
And so, we think about content marketing as a way of providing real value that helps people, then marketing becomes, you know, a lot less intimidating, you know, maybe it becomes more interesting and more fun for folks.
PATRICK CASALE: It's a good point. So, I do think you're right, the first instinct that people tend to have when they talk about marketing is salesy, sleazy, I don't know how, I don't want to, etc. And the thing I run into a lot in the therapist's world with the coaching clients I have, or just the comments I see are, "I'm not getting enough clients in the door." Or I'm not getting the right clients in the door. What do I need to be doing differently? I've got a Psych Today page up."
And I always try to talk to them or talk about the fact that you need to do so much more, right? It's more about how you show up in a certain space. And that you don't necessarily have to show up in every space. And that oftentimes is not really a strategy that's useful. But you do need to decide what kind of content do you enjoy creating and make content. And it can just be storytelling. It doesn't have to be, you know, the typical therapist memes that circulate or graphics that circulate that everyone just presses share. And then, like, you know, here's five self-care tips written by someone, but it's been recirculated and… can't speak today, redistributed like thousands of times, but it's not your idea, right? So, it's not really showing, or highlighting your personality, or your take on something.
So, I think a lot of therapists get lost in that in terms of just feeling really intimidated by what to do, and how to start, and honestly, even some action steps that could be like, how do I get my story out there? How do I get my brand, my name, my thoughts out there in a coherent way that is actually going to attract people coming in the door?
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, and I think the way that you do that is by providing content that's valuable to them, right? Like, I was talking to a therapist recently who they were explaining to me that they weren't getting any engagement on social media. And you know, we pulled up their Instagram, their Facebook, and every post was promotional. It was as a promotional, like an ad for an event, or a workshop, or a course that they were doing, or a webinar.
I explained to them, like, what is the value that someone is getting from this piece of content? Right? Like, maybe it's making them aware of an offering, which is inherently valuable. But if they don't know who you are, or you don't have that relationship with them, they're probably not going to click on it and, you know, sign up for your course or for your offering.
And so, really, going back to, okay, who am I trying to reach? That has to be step one, right? I've heard you talk on this podcast a lot about getting clear on your ideal client because that really drives everything, right? Like, if your ideal client is a college student, the way that you market, the way that you show up, the type of content you create, is going to be totally different than if your client is say, a high-performing executive, right? Like, and so, really getting clarity on who you're trying to reach with your content is step one, and I find often like, that's where the work needs to be done when therapists are struggling with their marketing.
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, I think you're right. I think that's usually when you see too broad of a picture trying to be painted. As I always say, you can't be the Applebee's of therapy. So, you really can't speak to everybody. And you really do have to be kind of specific and have some good clarity and sense into who you're trying to connect with.
Now, one thing I hear a lot of the time is, I'm not really great on social media, I don't know where to spend my energy. Is it Instagram? Is it TikTok? Is it Facebook? Is it Twitter? Is it LinkedIn?
And I do think it depends on the client you're trying to reach. But in order to start building an audience, if, you know, for those who are listening, some good steps for them, I mean, you don't have to be creating really beautiful graphics at first. It really just has to be, there has to be clear messaging, right? Like, there just has to be value in what you're trying to put out into the world.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, yeah, totally. And I would say like, less is more. When it comes to social media, I think that folks think they have to be on every channel. And you know, I encourage people to choose one, just choose one, and be really good at it. Like, it's better to be really good at Instagram and nowhere else than to be on six different channels and have average content.
I also think that it's super important to be authentic. You know, I like to say that I think I've heard you say something similar that, you know, marketing is most impactful when it's authentic. And so, you know, you should really only be creating content that you feel comfortable doing. You know, if you hate the idea of your own voice then, you know, a podcast probably isn't a great channel for you, if you don't like to create videos, you know, Instagram or TikTok like probably isn't the right channel for you. But if you like to write, then Twitter, or a newsletter, or LinkedIn may be a better channel for you.
Personally, like, I focus on Twitter, and that's just like where I hang out online. I've been able to build like an engaged community there. And it's been really great for my business. It's allowed me to grow a newsletter that now I sell sponsorships for and able to monetize. But it's just only one channel. Like, I don't create content for TikTok, for Instagram, and just because, like for me showing up on Twitter is where I feel like I can be the most authentic and where my humor can come through writing.
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, that's a really good point for anyone listening is really to just find one outlet because I think we get caught up in the mindset of I have to do everything, and I have to be everywhere. And I was actually talking to someone about this today.
And, like Michael said, if you don't like making videos, TikTok is probably not going to be the place for you. You know, I always think about colleagues of mine who have really big Instagram followings and they do really well on Instagram. And I'm like, "Man, I kind of hate Instagram. Every time I post something I don't really get the engagement I want."
All of my engagement has come from a Facebook group that I've started, and nurtured, and fostered, and grown. You know, that may not be for you either, where in order to do so you really have to be involved in it. You have to be setting the tone, you have to be involved in the culture and the creation. So, it really is important to figure out where would you like to spend your time?
And if your answer immediately is like nowhere? Well, that's something to think about because as a small business owner, you do have to have some social media presence. Would you agree with that?
MICHAEL FULWILER: It's an interesting one. I think my personal opinion on that is that it depends, and I think that's just a way of me getting out of answering the question, but I think at the minimum having some, you know, social footprint is helpful because if someone, you know, a potential client looks you up, like, just the fact that you exist online is good.
With that said, it really depends on your goals. Like, if your goal is to fill your private practice with 20 to 25 clients per week, you don't need to be on social media to do that. Like, you can do that through SEO, writing good content, through referrals. If you're not, like, I know therapists who aren't on social media and they have a full practice.
Now, if you, at some point want to sell info products, like a course, if you want to write a book, you know, if you want to do speaking, if you want to diversify your income as a therapist, I think having a social media following is a great launching pad, right? Like, if you hadn't built that Facebook group and you started this podcast with no audience, it would be very hard to promote it, right? But you have this baked-in audience now that you have built relationships with and that allows you to do other things, right? You have your coaching, I know you have your retreats, like you're able to do all of these things and really grow your business because of the audience that you've built for yourself. So, I think that it can only help you.
PATRICK CASALE: Sure, yeah, absolutely. I think it can only help you. And I do think you're right, if your goal is I want to have a 20 to 25-person caseload private practice, you probably don't need social media. I still would argue that it doesn't hurt to have a social media presence, given that the markets are so saturated with therapists at this point in time. And so many people connect virtually now that it's just useful, especially, for those of you who are not in small villages, or towns, or rural communities, where you are competing for business.
And I was doing this exercise with someone the other day here in Asheville. Even though we're a city of 90,000 people, we have, I mean, I can't even count how many private practice clinicians, got to be in the hundreds, and they're just on Psych Today, alone. I believe there are 35 pages of therapists on there. And you just have to be able to connect with other clinicians, and therapists, and professionals. And maybe that doesn't have to come through social media. But networking is really crucial in this too. And I think I would add that to the mix as well.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, absolutely. And I think when therapists think about social media, they think about connecting with potential clients, right? But social media is also a great way to connect with other therapists. I think Facebook groups are great for that, you know, you're a great example. I've been able to connect with a lot of therapists on Twitter, and there's like, a lot of, you know, kind of good conversation that happens there. And so, you know, thinking about, like, how can I leverage social media, not just to build my practice and get clients, but to connect with other therapists and build my referral network?
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, building the referral network is probably one of the best usages of your time when you're starting a business and you don't have a lot of clients coming in the door because you have free time. And a lot of therapists, you know, you should be writing content, and connecting with other people in the community, I believe, wholeheartedly, that networking is a crucial component of having that successful business structure, especially, for someone, you know, if you're in a community where you refer out and refer in, I think, as human beings, psychologically, we're more inclined to refer to people we've met, or connected with, or talked to, instead of just like a cold call email or a Google search in terms of like, if I have to send a client somewhere that I can't support, I want to know they're getting a good landing spot.
Is that always a possibility? No. But do I think it's really, really important? In terms of relationship building I really, really do. And I think there are so many things that people can do to get their businesses off the ground that are low cost or, you know, within their wheelhouse and are just being missed a lot of the time.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Absolutely. You know, the demand for therapy exceeds the number of therapists, right? And there's a lot of therapists who've been in private practice for a long time, who have built up their referral network, they've built up their reputation, they have a full caseload, they have a long waitlist, right?
And so, when they get clients reaching out to them, they go to their referral list, right? And make the referral. I talk to therapists all the time who if they don't have kind of an active referral list, or if they don't know kind of who in their area, or who on that list is currently, you know, has availability, they'll go to Psychology Today themselves, right? And they'll look through profiles, and try to find a therapist who's a good fit.
So, I think I agree with you. I think the best thing you can do, especially, when you're first starting out in private practice is to build a referral network. And I think the most important thing about building your referral network is, again, having a very clear ideal client, right? Because if I know who you specialize in working with when that client profile, you know, contacts me, you're the first thing that I think like, "Oh, this is like, a perfect client for Patrick, let me make that referral. But if you're a generalist, you know, if you kind of see everybody, I may not think of you to refer clients to.
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And you know, like you said, that well-defined niche, that well-defined ideal client population, that you know how to speak about pretty confidently, that does play a role into your content creation, too, and to your content marketing.
So, writing your web pages, making social media content, blog posts, all the things that come with that, it's really hard to do when you're just kind of writing generally, if you're not kind of addressing some pain points, or some specific topics, or issues it gets really challenging. It can feel really much more like a chore or something you have to do instead of something that feels useful.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, it's really interesting how your marketing gets so much easier when you have clarity on who you're marketing to, right? Like, inherently, it's more effective because if you're trying to market to everyone, you're not really marketing to anyone. But it also becomes easier because when you have a clearly defined ideal client, you probably have a pretty good idea of the things that they're struggling with, you know, the types of questions that they have. And then you can write website copy and you can create content around those topics.
Like, that's why, for us at Heard, the fact that, you know, we're not just an accounting software company, we're an accounting software company for mental health professionals, it gives a lot of clarity on the types of content and the topics, you know, of content to create.
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, so that's like a niche within a niche, right? So, we're a accounting company or software company, but we're then specifically for mental health professionals. So, that for me is like someone who says, I work with men struggling with anxiety. It's like, okay, well, that's fine. And then, once you niche down into that, it's like, well, I work with high achieving men who are in the, you know, or high achieving professionals and their workplace anxiety. Like, then you can start to get more and more specific.
And the more specific you can become the better the storyteller you can be through your content creation. And I think that sets yourself up nicely to become an expert in whatever the population is.
And I think that's a big misconception, too, is, you know, in order to be an expert in A, B, and C, I need to have 25 years of training in these topics. And for some things, yes, don't get me wrong, that's very important. But for others, no, not so much. It really is just about the way that you capture the pain points and get what the client is looking for.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yes, pushback I hear around focusing is that I don't want to go too narrow, right? Like, I don't want to pigeonhole myself. So, I'm curious, how do you respond when therapists express that concern?
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, it's a good question that comes up a lot. You know, if I niche in, then I'm going to lose all of these clients who might need support. And in reality, you know, it's not true. You've got to be able to learn how to content create in a way where you are capturing your client's pain points, but you're writing in a way where people can read what you've written, and one statement resonates. And like, if we can write that way, you're actually not casting a small net. You can actually still pick up other clients when they read one or two things that you've written, and they're like, "Oh, yeah, I deal with that." Or, "Yeah, I've experienced that."
Because, like, if you're not writing with clinical terminology and jargon all the time and sound like a walking DSM-5, you know, which the majority of people don't talk like, anyway, you know, they're reading what you've written, and they're like, "Oh, yeah, this is relatable, I want to call this person." And if you can do so in a way that doesn't sound like every other therapist out there, you know, writing the same things, it makes an even bigger difference.
So, what I like to do in exercises is have my coaching clients read some Psych Today profiles that some of my other coaching clients have created and ask them if they can guess who they're talking to. And 99% of the time they do guess it correctly, but it could also be talking to persons struggling with this or something like with this person with this issue going on. It doesn't have to be so finally narrowed in that it's like, these are the only people who are allowed to call me.
So, I think there are lots of ways if you can get into a content creation process, where if you are really being descriptive without using clinical terminology, you're actually able to capture quite a bit.
And the good news is, at least if you're able to tap into your personality, and the pain points, and the experiences, you probably won't get calls from people who don't identify with who you're looking to write to. And that's a big part of this too.
MICHAEL FULWILER: I think also, it can be helpful to look at kind of your goals as a therapist too, right? Like, if you're trying to fill a private practice with 20 to 25 clients, like, we're not talking about getting thousands of customers, right? And so, there's likely 20 to 25 client's kind of any niche or specialization in any given area, right? Like, it's more likely in the, you know, hundreds or thousands of potential clients. And so, I think that can be helpful, sort of as a reframe of like, yes, this is really narrow and specific. But there's probably a lot of people who actually fit this profile and to your point, like, I think that I've been personally, you know, I can't speak for others, but I've been surprised at how it kind of, like, universal, the general human experience is, I think, you know, like a lot of people struggle, you know, with the same things, you know, whether they or not they fit into a specific, you know, client profile.
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, for sure. It's a really good point, you know, for those of you who are thinking, "I want to start a private pay practice and I need to get 25 to 30 clients." Like, that's a relatively small number in the scheme of things. And it really does just mean that your content creation has to work pretty well and you have to be consistent.
And it also just doesn't happen overnight. I think there's a lot of people who can kind of fall into that comparison mindset of, "I saw so and so post in this Facebook group, and they were full in three days, and they've already made $300,000 this year." Don't fall into that, you know, headspace. It's not going to serve anyone well, depending on what your goals are.
Transitioning to a different topic because you and I were talking about this before you jumped on here if therapists want to work with a company, a tech startup company, questions they should be asking, things they should be looking out for?
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, it's a great question. So, I think, as a therapist, if you're evaluating whether or not to work with a tech company to deliver therapy services, I think, getting clear on compensation, how much do they pay? You know, are there terms around that level of compensation? Asking about benefits? You know, is this a W-2 full-time job? Is this a 1099 job? Like, are there certain cut-offs for number of hours? Do they pay per session or per client? Or do they pay per hour? Just really understanding kind of how they pay is super important so you don't get into a situation where you're, you know, underpaid as a therapist.
I think really understanding any sort of non-compete agreements, you know, that before you sign a contract, definitely read it over. But you know, if you're able to have a lawyer look at it, just to make sure you're not signing anything that would limit your ability to create income. I know, in some states, like, non-competes are now illegal, but always something to be mindful of.
And then, also, just asking around, like, because it's a tech company, you know, they're likely collecting data on both you as the provider as well as the client. And so, what are they doing with that data? Are they selling it? You know, like, what are they doing it to keep it secure, just to make sure that, you know, everything is the stain compliant.
And with some of these companies, they're just acting as the platform, you know? They're not delivering the service, you're delivering the service. And so, making sure that you understand kind of your role in that system, and like you have the appropriate insurance and all that.
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, the big one that stands out for me is the client data piece that a lot of clinicians are just not, they don't know off the top of their head or at the forefront when they're accepting this job that this is what's happening with client data. Or why would this be happening with client data?
And to realize that a lot of these companies are tech and marketing companies, not necessarily, you know, starting this platform for therapeutic care or mental health support, so it is just a platform, something to really remember and try really hard to be getting as transparent as you can in terms of communication when you feel like I really need to know what's happening behind the scenes here. And that will also be a good tell for you depending on how that question is answered.
Now, you were mentioning too, now we're talking about working for a platform where you can do clinical work. What about a platform where you can do consulting work? I know that's something that you've kind of mentioned before, too.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, so I've operated as a marketing consultant with mental health startups. And I know therapists and I've actually helped coach therapists to consult with mental health startups really, not to deliver clinical services, but to really serve as a subject matter expert. And so, that can sort of play out in different ways.
The biggest one I see is therapist consulting around content, say, for a mental health startup, who is creating content, having a clinician involved in the process, just to make sure that, you know, the content is accurate.
I've also seen, you know, clinicians consult around, you know, how to work with therapists. And so, kind of on the operational side.
Also, you know, as a therapist, you can consult not just with mental health startups, but also with larger organizations around kind of employee mental health. And I think there's a lot of opportunity to do that work, you know, if you're looking for kind of a change or to kind of take a, not necessarily take a break, but you know, just do a kind of a different type of work than clinical work.
PATRICK CASALE: I'm really glad you named that last part because I talk about that a lot with some of my guests who, you know, are consultants in the therapeutic community or in the mental health world space. And there are just so many ways to use your therapeutic skill sets that don't just translate into 60-minute increments of clinical time in your office and be able to help with employee mental health culture, or organizations, and leadership, development and communication, and all of the things that go into running a successful company. I mean, mental health is at the forefront. So, lots of ways to get involved if you know where to look and how to start looking for other opportunities that exist. So, I'm really happy that you mentioned that.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, and I think this is, again, where having a specialization, having a niche can be valuable in terms of, you know, where can you leverage your expertise in other ways, you know?
I know, a therapist who specializes in disordered eating. And there's an app recently that received some funding to kind of help people around eating disorders. And so, I was able to introduce her and now she's consulting with them and sort of working with them on not just kind of the content side of things, but just on sort of the whole strategy and sort of their business plan. And so, there's definitely an opportunity to get involved and have a seat at the table, which I think is important. Like, I don't think that, you know, we should be building these mental health tech companies without a mental health professional involved.
PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, that's really well said. I think that's perfectly put. And, you know, a lot of these companies, they have great ideas, but maybe they don't have the implementation or really, you know, the actual work experience, or training, or education. And that's where you come in. So, really trying hard to figure out who your specialty is or what your specialty areas are and just doing more of it and more of it, and really trying to become the expert in that arena because it can lead to so many different avenues for you financially and professionally.
Michael mentioned writing books before, that could be an area, coaching programs, training programs, you know, podcasts, all the things, so, lots of things that you can do with your degree, especially if you're starting to feel like I'm getting either bored or burnt out which or maybe both, which we're seeing more and more of anyway, as it is. So, there are lots of things to do so that you can take care of yourself and also take care of your passion as well.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, and if you're listening, and that feels overwhelming, you know, you don't need to be doing those things. Like, if all you want to do is do really great clinical work and see clients, and, you know, check out at five o'clock, that's great. You know, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I think, you know, the message that I want to deliver is that there is an opportunity, and I think that we're talking about mental health more than we ever have. I think it's become part of a conversation coming, you know, from the pandemic and kind of this mental health crisis that existed previously but I think has become, you know, de-stigmatized. People are talking more openly about going to therapy, of fleets and, you know, celebrities doing so. And so, I think it's a really great time to be a therapist, and there's so many opportunities for you as an entrepreneur if that is something that you're interested in exploring,
PATRICK CASALE: Yep, I couldn't say it better myself. And I like that every time I said something that felt kind of black or white, Michael decided to jump in and make it more ambiguous, great. But that's a good point because none of this is binary. And I think the good takeaway here too, is that your career doesn't have to look one sort of way. And it may look like something today, and you may expect this to be the finish line and five years from now be doing something completely different. And that's okay. And you may be a therapist in private practice for the rest of your life. And that is absolutely okay. And I think that's the beauty of small business ownership, is that it's very individualized and things can change day by day, hell, minute by minute sometimes.
So, I hope everyone got a lot out of this and follow Michael on Twitter. I've actually never been on Twitter in my life, so I can't follow. If I was on Twitter, I would do it and-
MICHAEL FULWILER: Thank you.
PATRICK CASALE: [CROSSTALK 00:36:03] his newsletter, too. And tell the audience where they can find you though, for those of them who are interested.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Yeah, so yeah, as I mentioned, I'm, excuse me, most active these days on Twitter and my handle is just my name, Michael Fulwiler. If you're interested in reading the newsletter that I write weekly it's called Therapy Marketer, and the website is therapymarketer.co. It's free to sign up.
PATRICK CASALE: Thank you so much. And that will be in the show notes for everyone listening, including how to spell Michael's last name, which I mispronounced when we started. But thank you for everyone listening out there and supporting, and if you want to find more of me, you can go to allthingspractice.com for retreats, podcast episodes, coaching programs, upcoming events, the All Things Private Practice Facebook group, and the All Things Private Practice Podcast is on all major platforms. Like, download, subscribe, and share. New episodes out every Sunday morning. And doubt yourself, do it anyway. And we will see you next week. Michael, thank you so much for being on here. I appreciate your time.
MICHAEL FULWILER: Thanks, Patrick.
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