Your Brain Is Curating Your World

Synchronized Synchronicity (Or Maybe Just Paying Attention)
Today is Cinco de Mayo:
A holiday many United States of Americans treat like Mexico’s Independence Day.

Cinco de Mayo and Perception

Cinco de Mayo. or, what it really is “5th of March.”

It marks a single battle in 1862, but here in the U.S., it’s been repackaged into something else entirely: a reason to drink.
I’m not drinking right now —
And I’m not sure I ever want to again.

What Is Synchronicity?

This post is about synchronicity. At times in my life, I perceived this phenomenon in an overzealous or spiritual way. I like the idea of mysterious forces working behind the scenes, and I’m sure that plays a big part in our experience. But I don’t want to delve too deep into that side of this here—not because I don’t believe it, but because I don’t want to waste energy trying to prove something that isn’t provable.

My point here is that we all live in the same universe, and that universe is connected to itself. As much as we would like to perceive ourselves as individual participants in the ecosystem, the truth is that through our surroundings, we are all connected to each other.

A Series of Events

What got me thinking about this was a series of events that happened to me over the past month. Actually, all of it happened in the last week.

Let me start by just saying my family loves to go to Babler State Park, just southwest of St. Louis city in Missouri. We go there at least a few times a year.

Leaning Into Community

I’ve gotten fully involved in my local chapter of ATD. (That is the Association of Talent Development in St. Louis.) The local chapter has been very supportive of my trying to grow as a professional into being a better instructional designer and training facilitator. The relationship has grown to the point where I’m now serving on the board as the Director of Educational Technology. Being on the board means that I know a lot more about what’s going on and what’s being offered by the chapter.

So when something came up about networking in nature, I raised my hand right away and said I’m there, whatever you need me to do. I think there were some discussions about what parks we all liked in the area, so I probably mentioned that I like Castlewood, Babler, and Creve Coeur Park. So this event ended up happening in Babler.

Back to Babler

As we were preparing for the event, I was talking with Sarah Garner, who is organizing the whole thing, and I was joking with her. I said, I’m going on a field trip next week—guess where it is? It’s at Babler. She responded with a 😆.

So I went to that event last week at Babler, and our meeting spot was right next to the pavilion that our family always goes to.

Geocaching Enters the Picture

Then, a couple of days later, I was recording a podcast with Dave Smiderle – from Burlington, Ontario, Canada; and since this is GameLayer, we were talking about games and learning. Out of the blue, Dave brought up geocaching. Where you use GPS to find specific coordinates on a map. Someone leaves you a treasure, you fill out the log, put in a new treasure, and then continue on your hike.

Geocaching, a man looking for a hide in a wooden cavity

Two people finding a geocache in the forest. Shallow depth of field with sharp focus on woman.

I mentioned to Dave S. that I’ve heard about geocaching from some art friends in college who loved the adventure of the whole thing.

That episode is dropping soon, and you can hear more about it there.

The Moment of Synchronicity

Just yesterday, I received a text message on an app called ClassDojo from my child’s teacher. She shared that we will be traveling to Babler State Park and partaking in a geocaching activity. Now, in my inner self, I sensed the synchronicity of everything that was happening in my life. In the podcast with Dave, I expressed a deep interest in getting into geocaching, and I meant it. And it feels to me like my sincere interest is what caused the activity at the field trip I’ll be at next Thursday to be geocaching.

A Rational Counterpoint

One could easily argue that I’m making this all up, and I think that is a perfectly rational stance. Here’s why: now I’ve been talking about geocaching more, and a colleague at work named Karen said, “Oh, geocaching—I used to do that with my kids.” Now I’m learning more about the process from her. I’m not arguing that there’s some underground magic happening behind the scenes.

It’s coming up more because I’m thinking about it and talking about it more. …right?

So What’s the Point?

So, what’s my point in all of this, you ask?

My point here is that if you seek something out and set your intention on something, then that thing will find you. Half because you’re looking for it, and half just because you notice it more. It might be a bit of a stretch to argue that the universe is going to rearrange itself around your intentions and desires, but after a while, it really does sort of feel like that.

Bringing It Back to Beer

Let me tie it back into drinking—or not drinking alcohol—Or drinking NA—for Cinco de Mayo. While I was at Babler State Park for the ATD networking-in-nature event, I looked in the cooler and saw my favorite non-alcoholic (NA) beer. It is Athletic. It’s a beer that’s brewed to be nonalcoholic. They are NOT trying to reproduce some other famous beers without the alcohol.

This results in an incredibly delicious beer-like beverage, which just happens to not have alcohol in it. If I hadn’t made the conscious decision over the last couple of years to cut alcohol out of my life, I wouldn’t have known about this beer, and it wouldn’t have been a noticable.

But because I have done that, and because I’ve grown very fond of Athletic brand beer, I brought it up and asked Sarah if she brought that. She said, “I’m an advocate!”

I called out, “Me too!” over the picnic table, and several people looked at us, getting excited about some beer that doesn’t even have alcohol in it. Now, these people are probably concerned about my mental well-being, and that’s fair from their vantage point.

The Pattern Behind It All

The fact of the matter remains: if you start to pursue a certain thought, object, or culture, then those thoughts, those objects, and that culture will start to seek you out as well. Why is that? Because the entire universe really is a single item. It is all connected, and the flap of a butterfly’s wing can cause a wind that in turn leads to a series of events that topple a mountain.

An Invitation

If you’ve made it this far, then I implore you: the next time something seems to find you, let yourself believe that magic is real. Just trust for a minute that the universe itself is consciously providing you with what you desire. Give it a shot—not because it is an entirely provable thought process, but because it enriches your experiences and provides meaning beyond language. And from my perspective, enriching experiences are all that matter.

Final Thought

It very well may not be the case that the universe is out to conspire for or against you. …But I know one thing to be true: human perception is always colored by our previous experience, and when things don’t make sense, the human mind fills in the gaps without us even knowing. Our perception of the world is provably inaccurate. Also, the human mind is an infinitely creative machine, and it feeds on what you give it. So be mindful of what you’re feeding it, because it literally shapes your perception of the world around you. And in turn, your perception recreates the world you live in.

Closing Quote

Talent is the ability to let ideas
manifest themselves through you.

~ Rick Ruben

To Link-Out or NOT Link-Out: on LinkedIn

Welcome to Improvement Dave, I am Dave. I will be your guide on your journey to “Choose to Improve.”

I recently wrote a post on Linked In about how it is not beneficial [for the health of you post] to link to something outside of LinkedIn. That sounds confusing and after you finally process it counterintuitive:

Here is a link to that post.

I chose to link to that post instead of linking this post to that post. Explain that to your grandparents!

image links to LinkedIN post.

Understanding Linked In’s Algorithm: The Link Paradox

A recent connection, and dare I say new friend, called Christian Gossan, had a beer last week, Outback on the other side of the world, with a friend I don’t know. A friend who posts on LinkedIn and gets millions of views. (Something I have never done but now aspire to…) He had some advice after seeing one of my posts about a podcast I recorded last year with Christian. “Don’t link outside of thah platform, ya NOOB! The algorithm dudn’t like that, MATE!” Here I was… sitting around thinking that linking to an outside learning artifact I created looks cool, when in reality, it was hindering my reach!

What is the outcome? I have begun discussions with my digital colleague at work, “Copilot.ai.” We are cooking up a convo titled: “Strategic LinkedIn Growth Plan.” and it has already resulted in a new tagline and about me section. Something even more accurate, AND also more compelling. We are not in a binary experience. We are in a spectrum of shades. A vast sea of grey.

Why am I doing ANY of This!?

This brings up a deeper question. “Why do I create anything?” …am I trying to help others learn from my experience (or even my mistakes), OR, am I trying to reach a broader audience? Is this therapy, Lisa? Should I also get real therapy, Betty?

Well, the answer to all of that is “YES.” This might not have to be a this-or-that dichotomy. What’s the point of helping only a few when you can help many? If the algorithm likes it, then that is where I find myself. Those are my “Given Circumstances” to plug a theater gem. To go deeper still, things are not inherently good or bad. It is the labels we put on them that make them blessed or evil.

Outcome

New About Me

After a long discussion with Copilot.AI (which uses a slow work deep dive of ChatGPT) I had a plan. The plan included a better about me section on linked in. I used the same conversation channel and came up with a new about me for Linked in, and it contained twice the number of allowed spaces. So I worked on removing inaccuracies and used Copilot to cut it down even further until it read more like a story:

“If you’re here, you’re probably curious about the space where creativity, learning, and community meet—and how a little play can change the way we grow and work. That’s the space I live in.

I’m David Kolmer, a creative strategist, instructional designer, professional learner, and community builder. My path has taken me from theater stages to podcast studios, from SCUBA-beach classrooms in Thailand to boardrooms in St. Louis. Through all of it, one belief has stayed constant: learning should be memorable, meaningful, and, whenever possible, fun.

At the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED), I design and support learning experiences that help professionals thrive in a rapidly changing industry. Whether I’m building microlearning, shaping a curriculum, or crafting a multimedia story, I focus on curiosity, clarity, and real‑world application. I want learners to feel engaged, not obligated.

Storytelling sits at the center of my work. My theater roots taught me that people don’t remember information—they remember experiences. Every learning journey has a narrative arc, and every learner is the hero of their own story. That mindset shapes everything from my instructional design to my podcasting.

I’m also a lifelong experimenter with tools and frameworks. From Articulate 360 and 7TAPS to Photoshop, video, and podcasting platforms, I love exploring new ways to bring ideas to life. My portfolio spans eLearning, video, audio, and live facilitation, each project a chance to test, iterate, and improve.

Community fuels me. I’ve presented at ATD events, supported GamiCon, facilitated workshops, and connected with countless learners and creators. I believe professional growth is a shared adventure — one built on curiosity, generosity, and a willingness to try new things even at the risk of initial failure.

If you’re passionate about reimagining learning, exploring the power of play, or building communities of practice, I’d love to connect. Let’s see what we can create together. ~~~

Portfolio: DavidKolmer.com/portfolio
Blog: ImprovementDave.com
Podcast: GAMELAYER.fm“

Conclusion

We are not in a binary experience. We are in a spectrum of shades. A vast sea of grey.

IF we move toward the singularity where machines and humans grow together, we will have the same problems we have always had. The new Generative AI we have built is now based on the human mind. Why are we so surprised it has shortcomings? It is just becoming more human.

Listen to David Kolmer on GAMELAYER RADIO

QUOTE: “A thoughtful, steady plan is exactly the right instinct. LinkedIn rewards consistency, clarity of message, and genuine engagement—not frantic posting. Since you’re already operating at a high level in L&D, creative strategy, and community building, you have a strong foundation. What you need now is a system that compounds over time.” ~Copilot.AI

Why Focus is My Word of the Year

Every year, I pick a word. The first one was at the end of 2022; I picked “honesty” retroactively. Because I wasn’t really being honest with myself about my personal and professional development. As I continue using these words, I’m realizing that both of those forms of development help each other. It’s a symbiotic relationship. When I develop myself professionally, my personal life benefits and vice versa.

Previous Years Words

You can review previous posts that I created in January to read up on my path. Others were “Consistency“, “Integrated“, and last year was “Novelty“. This year I will Focus.

I’ve got to the point where I realize that I’m not choosing these words. It’s not really accurate to say that these words choose me, either. Seeing as they’re just a verbal representation of ideas. It’s more like the ideas have found me, and I’m allowing them to shape me. (If you can subscribe to the ideas of Elizabeth Gilbert and Rick Rubin; that ideas exist separately from the humans that find them.)

Why Focus after Novelty?

Last year, I spent time remaining mostly sober and seeking out novelty. Novelty is about saying yes to experiences, seeking out new opportunities, and doing as much as you can. Then those experiences leave impressions or memories on your mental timeline. This, in turn, expands your perception of time. Since time is a construct of the mind anyway, our perception of it is all that matters. Broadening our experiences in the name of making our lives feel longer may be the closest thing we will ever get to time travel.🧘

I: spoke at conferences, pretended I started my own conference, started a podcast, recorded live podcasts, continued certifications in Game Learning, and developed a card game about my industry… …all while spending time with my family, updating a rental propery and learning how to play Pokémon Go.

Screenshot

You can read my post from 2025 if you want to learn about novelty.

I have noticed my “words of the year” tend to expand and then contract. Go out, try new things, and then reel it back in. Like an ebb and flow, like an inhale in an exhale. Like contrasting values to create a physical form on a two-dimensional surface.

Novelty was about expanding, saying yes to new things, whereas Focus is about contracting. I selected focus, and then the word opportunity came to me; something about that didn’t feel right. Having a year of novelty and then a year of seeking out opportunity. Somehow it seemed to distort the balance like a double yin and not enough yang.

Focus

I need more focus. I need to focus more on what really matters. Spending time with my kids while they are still young and still need me. I need to focus on opportunities that provide a return. In this way, it’s all connected anyway, but this is a better way to frame it.

Was it not enough that my wife shared, “You need to focus, David.”

My mom also said, “You are always running somewhere lately. You are always in a hurry.”

That’s not like me. That’s not how I naturally am. The year of Novelty turned me into a scattered runner. Trying to do more novel things, and I need to round that off. This morning I had a realization after an early set of yoga with some black coffee. I had a good feeling, and it came to me as a visual… I tried to recreate it with Adobe Firefly, and it isn’t half bad…

This morning, I had a realization. This place I am visualizing has a certain mental buoyancy. You effortlessly float above all the sludge. All the worry, all the dread, all the ignorance, and all the drunkenness. Like a small raft floating over an ocean of beasts, poison, and misdirection. Not hydroplaning over the ocean, and not sinking either. Between the layer of dark oily liquids and the thick air, hovering, balanced.

Focus = Relaxed + Aware

I was listening to the first episode of 10% happier, the podcast by Dan Harris. He had his master instructor, Joseph Goldstein, on the show. They were talking about a new book. They’re writing where they’re using. Dr. Goldstein‘s catch phrases on how to be better at meditating… things like “When you are sitting, realize you are sitting.” Or “Just try again, just keep trying.” Or “Mara, I see you.” Mara here being the embodiment or physical representation of ignorance or temptation.

The part of the discussion that really stood out to me was absolutely fundamental. The idea of being both relaxed and aware. That really is the goal of meditation, isn’t it? It’s the goal of all religions. If you’re too relaxed to get all spaced out. If you’re too aware, you start to get too deep and start worrying about things. Things that don’t matter or that you can’t control. It is obvious, and it is easier said than done.

This Must Be the Path!

I wanted to find a single word that represented both of these things: being relaxed and aware. I’m not 100% certain that when I went back to the word, focus, I hit the mark. I do feel it fits the bill. I really don’t feel like I’m forcing a square peg into a round hole. Feels more like I loosely inserted a round peg into a square hole. It fits, but there’s some empty space around it. It doesn’t wiggle, there’s still room for improvement, and if you’ve read any of my stuff you kind of know that that’s my thang.

I SEE YOU MARA!

CASTIN’ PODS – Step 4: Broadcast

Hosting determines where your podcast lives, but broadcasting determines where people listen. All you do is copy the RSS feed link from your host. Then you can paste it into as many podcast aggregation sites as you want, and they will play your show!

Apps like Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music etc. will offer your show on their platform.

In the image above, the data is sent back to Podbean via RSS feed too.

Fine Print

Spotify will host video, but RSS feeds generally distribute audio only. That’s fine—most podcast listeners expect audio.

If you need to edit an episode after publishing, then upload a new version to your host. The new file will replace the old one across platforms.

Your Show is Playing, Now What

Well, you can sit back and relax. Focus on finding your next show topic or person to have on your show.

Get it Out There

Now that you have the show, you can also create some buzz around it. Be sure to mention that you have a Podcast so people know about it. The easiest way to do this is to mention it to potential guests on your show.

REELS

When you use Riverside or Descript, they automatically generate 1-minute reels for you. You can download these and share them on Social Media. While you are at it you can start social media pages for your show. It won’t hurt!

View this post on Instagram

Write About Your Show

Another way to get the news out is to write about your show. A simple way to do this is to use the Newsletter function on LinkedIn. If that is not your vibe, then create a blog on WordPress.com or a Newsletter on something like Substack or Ghost. These are good places to paste your show notes and your transcripts. They also provide a vehicle for releasing paid content after you get the show off the ground.

Are you Game?

Speaking of sharing your show, I would like to introduce my Podcast. GAMELAYER is a series of personal interviews. I interview a wide variety of professionals who have used Gamification both inside and outside of the learning industry. Season 1 opens asking, “What is Play?” “What are Games and why do we love them?” Season 2 is widening to the Game of the Entrepreneur.

Check it out! www.GAMELAYER.fm

Now it’s Your Turn

Go build your Podcast!

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CASTIN’ PODS – Step 2: Edit

Editing video or audio isn’t fun for most people. Unfortunately, it’s also where you’ll spend most of your time if you want a high-quality podcast. Some podcasts skip editing, relying on the value of the conversation or the novelty of the guests. If there is one optional step, this is it, but these days, it really isn’t optional. Now that celebrities are involved, and the word PODCAST has become a common household word, professional editing has become essential.

Most online platforms will record and then allow you to edit on the web. These web-based editors are always limited by nature. Having all of the options that a computer-based editor will have is not practical for bandwidth reasons. That being said, they have enough for a podcast.

Easier Editing

Here are some tips and tricks:

Use a dog whistle (or another signal) to mark sections that need cutting. The microphone picks it up, even if listeners don’t hear it. (Dogs will hate your show if you don’t take it out in post-production.)
Accept silence—don’t feel the need to fill every moment with talking. Keep it natural.
Use AI enhancement. Platforms like Riverside.com offer AI-enhanced audio, remove pauses, analyze content, and even suggest edits.

In fact, now that AI is getting better at thinking on its own, it can:

Remove dead air automatically with one click.
Adjust sensitivity for removing filler words like “um” or “uh.”
Generate transcripts
Highlight off-topic sections, letting you decide whether to keep or cut them.

Get Your Intro/Outro Straight

Having a prerecorded introduction and outro (Conclusion) to your show is a huge time saver in editing. An additional benefit is the repeated content forms branding around the show. The listener remembers the opener, and it sets the stage and creates a memorable experience.

Export

Once you’re satisfied, Riverside lets you upload directly to Spotify or other platforms. You can also download the files to add branding or for backup purposes. Direct upload is faster. Spotify will take a video file and host it as a video. Then it “broadcasts” the audio to Podcast apps (which is the next step).

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CASTIN’ PODS – Step 1: Record

There is no single best way to create audio for a podcast. Every path has pros and cons. The main difference comes down to your comfort level with cost versus quality. Generally speaking, a higher cost should offer a higher-quality output, but don’t pay for more than you need.

Content Rights

Another topic I want to bring up at the start of creating a podcast is ownership and rights. You don’t want to create a podcast with a song or recording you don’t own. If that podcast gets popular, you will get sued and lose a lot of money. Or even worse, your show would be taken down! 🤣

Here is some free music that is searchable by tempo, mood, genre etc: https://www.sessions.blue/

FREE Options

Phones

The most readily available (and free because you already have it) option is recording a phone conversation. Smartphones now allow you to record audio or even video calls. If you go this route, invest in a quality microphone that connects to your mobile phone. If the person you’re interviewing isn’t with you, they will have a lower-quality microphone, and that’s OK. Filters available on Adobe and iPhone use artificial intelligence to enhance recordings, making them sound more professional. This technology is not perfect, but it does sound better than a thin, condensed sound.

Online Meeting Apps

Another free option for long-distance conversations is letting Zoom, Facebook Messenger, or Google Hangouts record your call. This is convenient because it’s free and widely accessible. However, it comes with quality concerns. If someone has lag or poor internet, Zoom will “bake” that bad audio and video incident directly into the recording. There’s no way to separate or filter it out later. You’d have to cut parts of the conversation or settle for low-resolution footage, which I don’t recommend.

Another take on this idea is something I like. If part of the recording gets damaged, then take it out. That part was not meant to be; the universe didn’t like that part. This will work up to a certain point. As soon as the flow of the conversation is severely damaged, this lovely idea falls apart. Maybe your guest is very proud of a very important point, which gets edited out because of bad audio.

Sound Recording Software

I am just going to say it. I LOVE AUDACITY for sound editing…

https://www.audacityteam.org/

A technical but free option is if everyone records audio locally on their computer using freeware like Audacity. The challenge here is that you’ll end up with separate audio files that aren’t synced. You’ll need to collect the files, align them in Audacity, and mix them down to a single track. This takes more time and effort. There’s frustration with logistics—waiting for files, losing files, or struggling to sync audio correctly. So, this is what quality looks like in the Free space.

Near-Free

This is where I landed, because paying a little bit of money saves time and frustration.

My first attempt was Adobe Podcast. At the time, it was still in testing, and I lost audio due to connection issues. It was frustrating, though I understand the platform has improved since then. Adobe Podcast is audio-only, which is good for low-bandwidth situations. However, in today’s podcasting world, video clips for reels and social media are often expected.

The option I use now is Riverside. I pay for the basic plan—$29 a month, or $24 if billed annually. I think of it as paying for time back. https://riverside.com/

The Benefits

Audio is recorded locally on each participant’s computer, then uploaded to the cloud and synced.
High-resolution WAV and MP4 files are stored online, so you never lose access.
AI-powered editing tools isolate audio issues (like barking dogs or mic placement problems).
Automated post-production includes one-minute reels highlighting the most engaging parts of your conversation.

Other Paid Options

Riverside works for me, but it is definitely not the only option; others on the market include:

StreamYard.com
Descript.com
Exemplary.ai

The options presented here for Step 1 Recording will also work for Editing, which is the next step. You can edit audio on a smartphone, but I wouldn’t wish that on even my enemies.

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CASTIN’ PODS – Introduction

linked to Free Resources

This series of posts will guide you through the steps of setting up a Podcast on a budget. Each post will have a video at the top and supportive content below. Posts have navigation links at the bottom of each page.
(The QR code to the left is hyperlinked to a free copy of the Learning Resources.)

Promo Video

Welcome to Castin’ Pods, your resource on how to create a podcast on the Cheap. My name is … David Kolmer. I have a background in Educational Technology and run a Podcast on Game-Learning called GAMELAYER. At GAMELAYER.FM Read more about that show here: Gamelayer Post

I have created a course that walks you through these steps one by one, evaluating options you have on a value-based system of comparing trade-offs between cost and Time Saved.

Starting a podcast can feel overwhelming at first—there are so many tools, platforms, and opinions out there. But the truth is, you don’t need to overcomplicate it. Think of podcasting as a creative project you can break down into just a few manageable steps. Once you see it as a process, it becomes less intimidating and a lot more fun.

Introduction Video

Step 1: Record

Recording is just as easy as it sounds. You get in front of a recording device and push record. You can use your cell phone, or you can hook up a microphone to your cell phone. Hook up a USB microphone (like a Blue Yeti) to your laptop. Make sure you are in a space that doesn’t have a lot of extraneous noise. It also isn’t a bad idea to sit in a muted space like a:

Linen closet
Closet full of clothes
Bedroom with blankets and towels around you

Step 2: Edit

Editing is where you polish things up. You don’t have to be a professional sound engineer. Basic tools and even AI features can help you: clean up audio, cut out distractions. This will make your podcast sound more professional.

Step 3: Host

Once your episode is ready, you’ll need a place to store it online. Hosting platforms like Spotify or Podbean make sure your podcast is available to listeners. In other words, they handle the technical side of distribution. In my 4 steps, I call this: Broadcast.

Step 4: Broadcast

Finally, you share your podcast with the world. Through RSS feeds, your show gets pushed out to apps like Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music. Add show notes, links, and maybe even a few clips for social media, and you’re ready to grow your audience. Like damp seeds in the warm sun.

Summary

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Event Security Blunder: DAVELEARN’s Overzealous Guard Incident

Overactive security led to negative participant experiences at the recent event DAVELEARN, a “smaller learning conference” which took place at the GAMELAYER.fm studios from November 10th to November 14th, 2025, in St. Louis, MO. Sources claim there was an overactive security guard on site, who reportedly refused entry to participants in the event that they could not present their badge.

CEO of the event, Dave, made a statement an hour ago from the mainstage at GAMELAYER STUDIOS:

“Team DAVELEARN apologizes for the actions of our overzealous security guard. We received some reports late last night, November 11th, 2025, that they were refused entry for having the wrong type of badge. We outsourced security for this event, and it appears that the proper vetting process for asset selection was not completed. Our sources indicate that this employee was dishonorably discharged from their local militia. We are releasing any more specifics at this point, but rest assured, this former employee was reprimanded and is no longer with us.”

Images of the imposter have been recovered from HD security camera footage.

Sources earlier this morning (11:07 AM November 20, 2025), including potential DAVELEARN Conference attendee Sheila B. Robinson, revealed on the professional Social Media app LinkedIn that “[She] couldn’t get past security at the convention center without wearing [her] badge and lanyard. ([She] was holding it in [her] hand one day, and they hassled [her]).”

SOURCE: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7396945595891998720?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7396945595891998720%2C7397153589778894848%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287397153589778894848%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7396945595891998720%29

A response to the post was delivered at the front doors of GAMELAYER STUDIOS by the DAVELEARN team’s Vice President of Human Resources, “Dave the HR guy,” to a sizable and eager press attendance. Due to a significant magnetic frequency disturbance in the area, there is no audio or video footage available for that official statement. However, text-based copies of the address were captured on pen and paper in real time.

“Thank you for attending this press update. Team DAVELEARN has received additional information regarding the previous employee on our security team, who is known only as ‘DAVE’, who we have confirmed entered into the position under a false identity. Our sources indicate he was only admitting attendies whose badge included the word ‘SECURITY’ on it at the South entrance. We would like to confirm that this was not the direction that was provided by team DAVELEARN, and in addition, we would like to apologize for any negative attendee experiences. This man was not of sound mind; he believed he was a reincarnation of Napoleon Bonaparte XIV, who recently passed away on the 10th of March, 2023. It is our promise that this will never happen again at any DAVELEARN event.”

Sources on site who witnessed the apprehension of the Security Guard formerly known as “Dave” state that he was found digging through the ashes of the stump that was lit on fire during the DAVELEARN event. The man who self-identified as a reincarnation of Napoleon Bonaparte XIV began to yell that he was on a crucial and pivotal mission, collecting scientific samples of the remains of the fire that needed to be analyzed by the proper authorities in what he called the “MO cave-dweller community.”

A person walking down the street where GAMELAYER STUDIOS is located observed, “Why do all these DAVES look like clones. What sort of conspiracy is this?”

Man Declares that His Solo Learning Qualifies as a Learning Conference of 1

“I figure just because I am capitalizing on some FREE terrible coffee at Lowe’s and solving a problem with my cedar deck at home, it doesn’t mean I can’t pretend this is just like coffee you might get at a conference.”
-Kolmer reported to Linked In what he had said on Facebook:

It was reported that instead of traveling to DEVELEARN in Las Vegas, David Kolmer stayed home: hung vintage glass LED lights on his home, purchased items at a hardware store (Where he also scored a few free cups of coffee), started a large fire in the backyard, and then went camping in the cold. Kolmer also reported removing skeletons from his front yard.

Vintage-Style Glass LEDs

VIDEO FOOTAGE

Safety is our Number 1 Priority.

Team DAVELEARN takes great pride in the level of security we provide at our events. “Dave is a fantastic security guard. He is beyond professional.” Recounted the team’s leader, who is named Dave.

Tree Trimming Skill Practice

“Trimming of trees with chainsaws was a very large part of the DAVELEARN event”, recalled its single participant, David Kolmer.

Lighter Fluid Safety Training

Kolmer also reported “Starting a big fire out in the back yard.” as something that happened during the scheduled events of the Davelearn Conference.

The following day, Kolmer admired the progress the fire had made on the stump. Just after that, a neighbor called him and asked if he knew he had burning leaves in the yard, and he shared that he did and thanked the neighbor for the call.

Tent Camping Simulation

Kolmer overshared with his concerned neighbor one the phone, and stated that they had a fire because they had been camping in the cold.

After discussing how cold it was outside that night, Kolmer reported that he will be working with the BALSA Foundation, providing learning sessions for young entrepreneurs on Brand and Marketing via Podcasting and Videocasting (Vodcast or Vidcast).

Announced collaboration with The Balsa Foundation

Video Footage

At the end of the interview, Kolmer shared that they had started the “week of intensive learning and confernece-esque activites.” By packing up the plastic skeletons back into their plastic bags, they live in. The skeletons were stowed away between the basement shelves and the floorboards at the time of the interview.

The conference of one, that might have never happened, or maybe it did.
Reports are not clear; there certainly were a lot of pictures.

GAMELAYER RADIO Launched

Hello! Thank you for reading, and I am sorry I have been a stranger. If you follow any of my social media feeds, you might have seen that I launched a Podcast last Friday. The launch was a success and included more than just a Podcast. I would like to share my experience starting a Podcast with a Newsletter and Marketing plan.

WELCOME TO PLAY

Do No Skip Analysis

Let’s be honest. There are a lot of podcasts out there, and the competition has just raised the bar. Instead of competing against my neighbor like I would have in 2004, I am competing with celebrity superstars from Conan O’Brien to Monica Lewinsky. This has been a slow progression, but the landscape has really changed over the last couple years.

This is why it is so important to really think out what you want your show to be about. It needs to be something you love, but it also needs to be niche and novel. The only way to pull listeners’ attention away from TV actors discussing what it was like to make their sitcom is to discuss something you really know or really like.

Which “Host” Platform?

Where you host your Podcast is not all that important to your listeners because you can link all the episodes as sound files via RSS to other platforms. That being said, each platform will offer you a unique experience around price, analytics, and storage.

My main criterion was unlimited storage for free. I don’t mind paying a bit to make the show, but I don’t want to pay forever to have it hosted because eventually I would probably end up stopping paying, not to mention I just do not want to spend that much money.

At the end, I had it narrowed down to Red Circle or Spotify. I love Red Circle as a host, and I really think I want to have another show on there soon, but Spotify recently acquired Anchor, and that brand has so much weight to it. At a certain point, I realized I was using my decision on which platform to choose to put off the launch of my show. So I just went with Spotify because it is HUGE, Free, and has unlimited storage. The last piece was that the analytics from Spotify are certified, so it would be easier to accept sponsors if that ever happens… You never know!

How Do I Record?

I started out using Adobe Podcast, and I really like that platform for recording podcasts. The interface is beautiful and intuitive. Unfortunately, the app crashed a lot, and I even lost some of my recordings. Also, the AI voice enhancer sometimes made me sound like I was someone else, and some of my editors even thought I had a third person on my show. I was shocked that Adobe did not perform, and that really is a first for me. I have grown to respect the Adobe brand, and I love it. Photoshop, Premiere, and Adobe Audition are all environment staples. I even use Adobe Audition to craft the more complex audio for the GAMELAYER show itself. I feel like Adobe Podcast has potential but it has yet to realize it.

I ended up going with Riverside.fm, and I absolutely love it. I am on the lowest paid tier, and the only thing I wish I had was downloadable transcripts (something I definitely want to have), but I think I have some other ideas on how to get those.

Marketing

This is a topic that I wanted to streamline on the cheap. I ended up using a free Buffer account, which lets me connect to up to 3 Social Channels. That’s not a lot, but I am thinking about where I want to be anyway. So far, I am at a branded channel at Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. However, I am not that jazzed about being on Facebook, and I might just post links on the top of that page and abandon it for Blue Sky. If you are interested, I would recommend following the Instagram because I am mostly going to produce REELS from the show. (In addition to the Podcast of course, which I share in the next section.)

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/gamelayer.fm/
LINKED IN! https://linkedin.com/company/gamelayerfm
YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@GAMELAYERfm
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/gamelayer.fm/

(The most recent reels appear at the bottom of this post.)

Another thing I have done that I need to build out more is look into SubStack. I was going to park all of my transcripts there, but I have found it can do so much more, like generate a newsletter, build a community, and even have paywalls for monetized content. I have hosted that at www.gamelayer.fm

Links to the Show

Last but not least, I would like to share the apps that I have chosen to include in the show so far. Please reach out to me on LinkedIn if you want to see this on another app or if you want to be on GAMELAYER!. In this section, I will paste unique versions of how I can share my Podcast using this WordPress web page.

Pocket Cast

Pocket Cast is quickly becoming my favorite Podcast APP, second only to Apple Podcasts.

Apple Podcast

You can never overlook the app that started it all, Apple Podcasts!
(I have not found a way to embed the player on WordPress, but I did get a QR code.)

Apple Podcasts link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gamelayer/id1804386590
QR link to Apple Player:

Spotify Podcast (Formerly Anchor

Next up, we have Spotify, which now owns Anchor and seems to be the largest host for the moment. All the stars are posting their shows there, which really lends itself to longevity. Some features are missing for the small fish like me, but to be honest, I just don’t care.

This last one is just fun. It is an RSS feed developed right in WordPress, so that’s neat! It is not a stand-alone Podcast player, so it only works here on this web page, but I like it because it showcases how easy it is to just paste your RSS feed somewhere and create a Podcast player! So fun!

210 Engagement Is the Game | Dave Smiderle – GAMELAYER

Guest: Dave Smiderle http://www.scentreservices.comIn this episode of GAMELAYER, David Kolmer talks with DaveSmiderle about game-enhanced learning, entrepreneurship, attention, creativity, and why life may be best understood as a series of side quests.Dave brings experience as a former associate dean,consultant, recording artist, micro-farmer, and industrial-organizational psychology expert. The conversation starts with Pokémon, geocaching, and alternate reality games, then moves into motivation, learning design, and thevalue of experience.A central idea is that exploration and achievement may notbe opposites. David describes experience as his personal currency, while Dave shares how he gamified his return to live music by collecting glasses from open mic venues. Each glass became proof of a completed quest.The conversation reframes “gamification” as engagement. Dave argues that attention is one of today’s most valuable forms of commerce, and learning designers need experiences that compete for it. Games, simulations,and playful structures can help learners practice, persist, and connect.Dave also compares academia and entrepreneurship.Institutions offer infrastructure and support, but can slow innovation. Entrepreneurship offers freedom, client impact, and flexibility, but requires clear value, delivery, and metrics.A major highlight is Dave’s Minecraft-based learning projectfor children ages 8–10. The game taught cybersecurity while supporting Indigenous language and cultural preservation through the Seven Grandfather Teachings, animal guides, and recorded voices from elders.The episode closes with reflections on play as practice andsurvival. Dave suggests humans may be wired for play because early games helped children rehearse adult skills. From theater to video games to chopping woodwith a wedge, the Daves explore how trying, playing, and reflecting change theway we learn.Guest BioDave Smiderle is a Canadian consultant, educator, recordingartist, former associate dean, and industrial-organizational psychology expert working in training, upskilling, change management, and game-enhanced learning.Key ThemesExperience as currency; life as side quests; engagement overgamification; academia vs. entrepreneurship; metrics and learning impact; Minecraft, cybersecurity, and Indigenous language preservation; play as practice, simulation, and survival.Notable MomentsGeocaching as the “OG” alternate reality game, eveningprimrose flowers opening at sunset, Kolmer’s “Blaster Master under the Buddha” story from Thailand, and Dave’s lesson from using a wood-splitting wedge after decades of relying on an axe.Pull Quotes“If you can make something into a game, then it just adds awhole other dimension.”“Attention is the commerce and the premium right now.”“The good things are the hard things.”“The purple frog jumps over the green fence.”Resources MentionedGeocaching, Pokémon Go, alternate reality games, Rabbitspodcast, Blaster Master, Minecraft, Kahoot, Seven Grandfather Teachings, Two-Eyed Seeing, Kirkpatrick’s Levels of Evaluation, Bartle taxonomy, Dungeons & Dragons, and Shakespeare.Alternate Reality Episode TitlesThe Purple Frog Jumps Over the Green FenceExperience Is the CurrencyEngagement Is the GameLife Is a Series of Side QuestsThe Play Is the ThingThe Wolf, the Wedge, and the SideQuestBlaster Master Under the BuddhaThe Human in the Game LoopCREDITSGAMELAYER RADIO is found wherever you get your podcasts. Transcripts and swag at Gamelayer.fmTheme Music by Caleb Willitz. calebwillitz.com/ calebwillitz.bandcamp.com/musicFound Sound on the "domain of play" borrowed from ⁠⁠Balance in the Spiritual Life Dharma talk by Sr. Trai Nghiem⁠⁠ ⁠https://youtu.be/yZag9LOp7uc?si=T2Qyfc-4y-XJoSOz&t=3301⁠SOCIAL MEDIAINSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/gamelayer.fm/ @gamelayer.fmLINKED IN! https://linkedin.com/company/gamelayerfmYOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@GAMELAYERfm

Recent Instagram Reels

I would like to close out by saying thanks for reading and post a widget that claims it will continuously update with the most recent Instagram Reels. So if you trust Good Ole’ Improvement Dave more than Social Media (Which I think you should.) you can bookmark this page and come back to it weekly to see what I’m up to. Or, of course, you could go to GAMELAYER.FM, but I am not thinking the Reels will live there at this point.