Merlin Mann

Last updated
Merlin Mann
Merlinmannwwdc2007.jpg
Merlin Mann at WWDC 2007
BornMerlin Dean Mann III
(1966-11-26) November 26, 1966 (age 57)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation Writer, blogger, podcaster
Nationality American
Education New College of Florida (BA)
Website
www.merlinmann.com

Merlin Dean Mann III (born November 26, 1966) is an American writer, blogger, and podcaster.

Contents

Early life and education

Mann was born Merlin Dean Mann III on November 26, 1966, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mann received a B.A. from New College of Florida. [1]

Career

Writing

In September 2004, [2] Mann founded and began the exclusive writing for 43 Folders, [3] [4] a blog about "finding the time and attention to do your best creative work." [2] The blog was last updated October 2011. [5] Mann coined and popularized the concept of "Inbox Zero", writing a series of articles in 2006 on 43 Folders, originally suggesting for an "Inbox DMZ". [6] Inbox Zero became associated with the Getting Things Done productivity strategy, and is a popular topic on Lifehacker . [7] [8] [9] In 2020 Mann stated he doesn't keep his inbox empty, and that the term has been misunderstood. [10]

Beginning in the mid-2000s, Mann wrote articles for Macworld , [11] Make (the "Life Hacks" series, with Danny O'Brien, February 2005 to November 2006), [12] and Popular Science (Ask a Geek series, 2005 to 2007). [13] [14]

On August 18, 2009, Mann announced that he was writing a book, to be entitled Inbox Zero, [4] about "how to reclaim your email, your attention, and your life." [15] In 2011, he announced that he was abandoning the project. [16] Mann also writes for his personal blog, Kung Fu Grippe.

Podcasting

As a companion to the 43 Folders blog, Mann launched the sporadically broadcast 43 Folders podcast in 2005. In 2007, Mann launched You Look Nice Today, an award-winning comedy podcast that bills itself as "A Journal of Emotional Hygiene", [4] an effort he created with Adam Lisagor and Scott Simpson. The show's run ended in 2015, but a spiritual successor called California King was created in its wake in 2020 with the same team. [17] Mann has also produced QPR: Quotidian Public Radio, an audio podcast launched in January 2009, which was billed as "audio comfort food for annoyed liberals in fleece". Mann was one of the hosts on the MacBreak video podcast, and a core host on the MacBreak Weekly audio podcast. Since 2008, he has scaled back his appearances on the series.

Merlin Mann and John Roderick Merlin Mann and John Roderick (16507109485).jpg
Merlin Mann and John Roderick

Beginning on January 18, 2011, Mann has co-hosted the weekly Back to Work podcast with Dan Benjamin on 5by5, [18] where they discuss subjects like productivity, [19] work life, [20] and true costs of doing business. [21] In September 2011, Mann launched Roderick on the Line, a weekly conversation with musician/writer John Roderick. [22]

In May 2015, Mann and technology blogger Jim Dalrymple started The Dalrymple Report podcast, more recently presented as "The Dalrymple Report with Merlin Mann", which continued through its 32nd episode on September 15, 2015. [23] In June 2015, Mann began a 10 podcast series with John Siracusa in collaboration with Relay FM called Reconcilable Differences, which has since been extended. In October 2016, Mann began a podcast titled Do By Friday with Alex Cox and Max Temkin. The show continued after Temkin's June 2020 departure. [24]

Mann has also appeared as a guest on other podcasts, including the CBC radio showpodcast Spark, The Chronicle of Higher Education's ProfHacker, [4] Scruffy Thinking,CMD+SPACE, and various episodes of Dan Benjamin's The Conversation.

Videos

In early 2009, Mann produced a short video series, Most Days. On February 26, 2007, Mann launched The Merlin Show, a video podcast primarily dedicated to long-form interviews. Mann has also published a long-running series of video shorts named That Phone Guy.

Other work

Mann has been described as the "inventor" of the Hipster PDA, [3] a paper-based, DIY personal organizer that uses design cues found in David Allen's Getting Things Done . Mann is also known for his work with Quicksilver, a program used for quickly executing actions from the keyboard in Mac OS X. [25]

Mann was a member of the Tallahassee, Florida-based indie rock band Bacon Ray from 1994 to 1999. [26] He started a cover song project of Will Oldham's song "I Am a Cinematographer". [27]

Personal life

Mann started treatment for attention deficit disorder in 2008, something which he says helped his focus. [3] He occasionally talks about his experiences with ADHD on his Back to Work podcast on the 5by5 network.

Mann resides in San Francisco, California, with his wife and child. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gmail</span> Email service provided by Google

Gmail is an email service provided by Google. As of 2019, it had 1.5 billion active users worldwide, making it the largest email service in the world. It also provides a webmail interface, accessible through a web browser, and is also accessible through the official mobile application. Google also supports the use of third-party email clients via the POP and IMAP protocols.

<i>Getting Things Done</i> Personal productivity system and 2001 book

Getting Things Done (GTD) is a personal productivity system developed by David Allen and published in a book of the same name. GTD is described as a time management system. Allen states "there is an inverse relationship between things on your mind and those things getting done".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Notepad++</span> Text editor and source code editor for Windows

Notepad++ is a free and open-source text and source code editor for use with Microsoft Windows. It supports tabbed editing, which allows working with multiple open files in a single window. The product's name comes from the C postfix increment operator; it is sometimes referred to as npp or NPP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Roderick (musician)</span> American musician and writer

John Morgan Roderick is an American musician, singer, songwriter, podcaster, and politician. He is the lead singer and guitarist of the rock band The Long Winters, was a touring member of the rock band Harvey Danger, and co-hosts the podcasts Roderick On The Line, and Omnibus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life hack</span> Trick to make life easier

A life hack is any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method that increases productivity and efficiency, in all walks of life. The term was primarily used by computer experts who suffer from information overload or those with a playful curiosity in the ways they can accelerate their workflow in ways other than programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Gruber</span> American technologist

John Gruber is a technology blogger, UI designer, and co-creator of the Markdown markup language. Gruber authors the Apple enthusiast blog Daring Fireball and produces its accompanying podcast, The Talk Show.

Lifehacker is a weblog about life hacks and software that launched on 31 January 2005. The site was originally launched by Gawker Media and is owned by Ziff Davis. The blog posts cover a wide range of topics including Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, Linux programs, iOS, and Android, as well as general life tips and tricks. The website is known for its fast-paced release schedule from its inception, with content being published every half hour all day long.

DonationCoder.com is a website hosting a community of programmers and software fans. It supports a donation-based model to organize and finance software development, and is one example of Donationware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Ihnatko</span> American journalist

Andy Ihnatko (born November 18, 1967) is an American tech author and former technology journalist for the Chicago Sun-Times. He is unmarried and currently resides in Massachusetts. He is a co-host on the Material podcast, on Relay FM's network. He also appears on Leo Laporte's podcasts, specifically MacBreak Weekly and TWiT, and is a regular on the MacNotables podcast hosted by Chuck Joiner, where he is often paired with fellow technology journalist Adam Engst. In September 2011, he launched an ongoing podcast called The Ihnatko Almanac with Dan Benjamin on Benjamin's 5by5 Studios network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outlook.com</span> Microsoft webmail service

Outlook.com, formerly Hotmail, is a free personal email service offered by Microsoft. This includes a webmail interface featuring mail, calendaring, contacts, and tasks services. Outlook can also be accessed via email clients using the IMAP or POP protocols.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gmail interface</span> Overview of the interface of Googles email service Gmail

The Gmail interface makes Gmail unique amongst webmail systems for several reasons. Most evident to users are its search-oriented features and means of managing e-mail in a "conversation view" that is similar to an Internet forum.

Brazzers is a Canadian pornographic video production company with headquarters in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and legal domicile in Nicosia, Cyprus. With an online network consisting of thirty-one hardcore pornography websites, the company's slogan is "World's Best HD Porn Site!". The site contains 10,036 videos, which were published by 33 different sites. Their network of sites features 2,340 pornstar models.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gina Trapani</span>

Gina Marie Trapani is an American tech blogger, web developer, writer, and technology executive.

Dan Paul Benjamin is a software developer, user interface designer, writer, and podcaster. He is the founder of 5by5 and owner of Bacon Method.

Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service developed by Google. Launched on April 24, 2012, Google Drive allows users to store files in the cloud, synchronize files across devices, and share files. In addition to a web interface, Google Drive offers apps with offline capabilities for Windows and macOS computers, and Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. Google Drive encompasses Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, which are a part of the Google Docs Editors office suite that permits collaborative editing of documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, forms, and more. Files created and edited through the Google Docs suite are saved in Google Drive.

Ghacks Technology News is a technology blog created by Martin Brinkmann in October 2005. Its primary focus is on web browser and Windows tips, software, guides and reviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mailbird</span> Desktop email client software app

Mailbird is a desktop email client for Microsoft Windows, compatible with Windows 7 and all later versions. As well as sending and receiving emails, Mailbird includes managing calendar events and contacts from different email providers, social media, task management, file share, and video-conferencing integrations. Mailbird is offered via paid subscription, but also includes a free version.

IQTELL was a productivity app that allowed users to manage email, tasks, projects, calendars, contacts, Evernotes and more in a single app. IQTELL was available as a web app, as well as an iOS and Android app. All user information was automatically synced between all devices. iOS and Android apps supported offline access. The app could be used to implement concepts and techniques described in the book Getting Things Done by David Allen.

Revision3 was a San Francisco–based multi-channel television network that created, produced and distributed streaming television shows on niche topics. Founded in 2005, it operated as a subsidiary of Discovery Digital Networks since 2012. The network produced technology and gaming oriented programming in tandem with traditional comedic, political, DIY, and movie-related content. On March 31, 2017, Discovery Communications closed the website.

A fantasy podcast is a podcast related to or discussing the fantasy genre, which usually focuses on the magical, supernatural, mythical, or folkloric. Fantasy stories are set in fictional universes or fantasy worlds that are often reminiscent of the Middle Ages and the early modern period. Despite having a fictional setting, fantasy stories can contain or reference locations, events, or people from the real world. Characters in these stories often encounter fictional creatures such as dwarves, elves, dragons, and fairies. Common types of fantasy podcasts are audio dramas, narrated short stories, role-playing games, or discussions and reviews of fantasy topics such as fantasy films, books, games, and other media. The intended audience of a fantasy podcast can vary from young children to adults. Fantasy podcasts emerged from storytelling and the creation of the radio. Fantasy podcasts have often been adapted into television programs, graphic novels, and comics. Fantasy podcasts are a subgenre of fiction podcasts and are distinguished from science fiction podcasts and horror podcasts by the absence of scientific or macabre themes, respectively, though these subgenres regularly overlap.

References

  1. 1 2 Mann, Merlin (2015-03-17). "Merlin's Bio - Merlin Mann". merlinmann.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.[ self-published source ]
  2. 1 2 Mann, Merlin (2007-08-19). "About 43 Folders". 43folders.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.[ self-published source ]
  3. 1 2 3 Anderson, Sam (2009). "In Defense of Distraction" (print, online article). New York Magazine (May 25): 6. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jones, Jason B (2009-09-11). "The ProfHacker Podcast: Merlin Mann and the First Person Transitive". The Chronicle of Higher Education . Archived from the original on 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  5. Mann, Merlin (2009-01-09). "The Monthly Pimp: January '09 Edition". 43folders.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.[ self-published source ]
  6. Merlin Mann. "Fresh Start: The Email DMZ | 43 Folders". 43folders.com. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  7. "Inbox Zero - Tips, Tricks and Hacks for Doing Everything Better | Lifehacker". Lifehacker. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  8. Dan Silvestre (21 November 2017). "GTD Gmail: Inbox Zero and Optimized Email Workflow". dansilvestre.com. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  9. "How to weed wack your inbox down to zero - Getting Things Done®". Getting Things Done®. 14 June 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  10. Bernal, Natasha (2 January 2020). "Everything you thought you knew about inbox zero is wrong | WIRED UK". Wired UK. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  11. See, for instance, Mann, Merlin D. (2005). "Secrets of Mac superheroes: The inbox makeover" (online article). Macworld (April 26). Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  12. See, for instance, makezine Staff (2006). "Latest from Merlin Mann [Life Hacks series, with Danny O'Brien]" (online article). Make Magazine (Makezine) (November 20). Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016. Individual article pages at this magazine suggest 41 articles from these two authors, indicating a wider span than 2005 to 2006, but specific citation could only be found to support a conclusion of eight Life Hack articles. Further sourcing is needed to support any more.
  13. See, for instance, How 2.0 Geeks (2007). "Fourteen Things Geeks Can Teach the World" (online article). Popular Science (March 20). Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2016.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) Note, links to further specific Mann articles, from this article, are inoperable.
  14. See, for instance, Mann, Merlin (2005). "Ask a geek: Merlin Mann—Q: What is tagging?" (online article). Popular Science (June 23). Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  15. "I'm Writing a Book. | Inbox Zero". Archived from the original on November 4, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
  16. Burkeman, Oliver (22 December 2016). "Why time management is ruining our lives". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  17. Today, You Look Nice. "California King". California King. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  18. Mann, Merlin & Benjamin, Dan (2016). Back to Work (podcast). Austin, TX, USA: Dan Benjamin and 5by5 Productions. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016. The first broadcast was on January 18, 2011 ("Alligator in the Bathroom" Archived 2016-03-09 at the Wayback Machine , and episode 263, "The Working Definition of Love" Archived 2016-03-26 at the Wayback Machine , was broadcast on March 15, 2016.
  19. See, for instance, Mann, Merlin & Benjamin, Dan (2011-01-25). Back to Work #2: Picture of a Boat (podcast). Austin, TX, USA: Dan Benjamin and 5by5 Productions. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  20. See, for instance, Mann, Merlin & Benjamin, Dan (2011-03-08). Back to Work #7: Vocational Wheel (podcast). Austin, TX, USA: Dan Benjamin and 5by5 Productions. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  21. See, for instance, Mann, Merlin & Benjamin, Dan (2012-01-31). Back to Work #52: Walk the Coastline, Bitches (podcast). Austin, TX, USA: Dan Benjamin and 5by5 Productions. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  22. Ward, Lisa (18 February 2020). "Game Plan: A Musician/Podcaster Starts Thinking About Retirement". WSJ. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  23. Dalrymple, Jim & Mann, Merlin (2015). The Dalrymple Report (podcast). San Francisco, CA, USA[ verification needed ]: loopinsight.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: location (link)The first broadcast was on May 18, 2015, entitled "Fish and Lumber, and episode 32, entitled "You Hacked My Matrix," was broadcast on September 15, 2015.
  24. Nicole Carpenter (23 June 2020). "Former employees accuse Cards Against Humanity of a racist and sexist office culture". Polygon. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  25. A further, similar product in this market is The Omni Group's OmniFocus.
  26. "Bacon Ray | Rock Music". Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
  27. "I am a Cinematographer | A Power Pop Cover Project". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2007.

Further reading