56: Year in review and awards Sarah: How is everyone? What did I miss? Alex D: It is the final episode of 2020 for Troublesome Terps, the podcast about topics that keep Interpreters' Help up at night and oh boy, what a year it has been the longest year ever in history ever recorded. We don't know, but we will dissect every little day. That's what we're going to do today. It has been a year of big changes for interpreting. But as I said, we'll get to that. First off, let's welcome the other hosts and we are complete tonight, I can tell you. But first of all, hello to Edinburgh. Jonathan, how are you tonight? Jonathan: I'm doing very well, it's been a fun day and work especially never, which is a good thing, talking about a man who's always busy working is fantastic to have him with us again, Alexander Gansmeier. Alex G: So glad I could make the time truly, truly, it's an honor. You know, it's an honor to [00:01:00] be here. It's an honor just to be nominated. But I'm not even nominated. So I don't Alex D: It Alex G: Even know Alex D: Was Alex G: Why I'm Alex D: So Alex G: Saying Alex D: Difficult Alex G: That. Alex D: To get past your secretary. Alex G: You know, Alex D: We're Alex G: I Alex D: Glad Alex G: Told Alex D: We Alex G: Her to just Alex D: Like Alex G: Turn Alex D: We Alex G: Down Alex D: Made Alex G: All Alex D: It. Alex G: The calls. I just, Alex D: Yeah. Alex G: You know, out of office permanently, but Jonathan: It was Alex G: Then. Jonathan: The bodyguards, bodyguards, it scared me. Alex G: It wasn't the singing I told him to stop singing, you know, the Bodyguard soundtrack, but they just wouldn't. So anyways, you know, talking about singing lovely songs with lovely voices, let's talk about Sarah Hickey because she's also here and she has a lovely voice of Alex D: Ms. Sarah: Thank Alex G: The entire Sarah: You so much. Alex G: Panel. Sarah: I don't have a lovely singing voice, though, but but I do think so. Yeah. You know, to sing. Alex D: You do sing Sarah: Yeah. Alex D: And you have your own musician in the house for Sarah: Yes, Alex D: Practice Alex G: We Sarah: That's Alex G: Saw. Alex D: And Sarah: True, and Alex D: Have fun. Sarah: I sing Alex D: Yeah. Sarah: To him sometimes if he wants to or not. This is a poor guy. I have a professional who has Alex G: Right. Sarah: A terrible voice. Well, Jonathan: So Sarah: Yes. Jonathan: There was a running joke in our house that two of our children loved me to sing them to sleep in the joke so they could get sleep quickly so we wouldn't have to hear me sing anymore. Alex G: Ha [00:02:00] Sarah: It's going Alex G: Ha. Sarah: To be my approach to. Alex G: I Alex D: Yeah, Alex G: Love that. Alex D: As long as it works, you know. Alex G: Yeah, whatever does the job right. Alex D: Exactly, Alex G: And speaking Alex D: Exactly. Alex G: About doing the job, we actually did a lot this year. So this year Alex D: Sergei's Alex G: Not only Alex D: From hell. Alex G: Did well, but it was a good segue way since we're announcing them. But, you know, this year a lot happened, not just things, the unspeakable things that we shall speak of, but also lots of great episodes, lots of changes, as Alex was saying in the intro. And I think one of the biggest things technically happened in December of twenty nineteen. But since we're going a year back from the last year in review, we figured it kind of still counts. And one of the biggest things was Sarah joining the panel as a permanent host. Yeah, Alex D: Yeah, yeah. Alex G: Fireworks, champagne. Sarah: A. Alex G: Applause. Alex D: Yes, it was a small step towards more gender representation, I'm not going to say gender parity, but Alex G: Well, at Alex D: A Alex G: Least Alex D: Small Alex G: We're Alex D: Step. Alex G: Fulfilling the German gender quota, 25 percent, Sarah: I tried [00:03:00] Alex G: So we're Sarah: To get Alex G: Way Alex D: Oh, Sarah: In Alex G: Ahead Alex D: Wow. Sarah: As much Alex G: Of time. Sarah: As I can to make up for it. Yeah, Alex D: Yes. Sarah: Exactly. Jonathan: So if there's a German gender quota, is that just like a German quota, because we're waiting for a German quota? Alex D: Way Sarah: Yeah, Alex D: Over the quota. Yeah, Sarah: Definitely, Alex D: Whatever the quota is, we're way over it. Sarah: This is a very German podcast. Alex G: Oh, Alex D: Isn't it? Yeah, Alex G: Too Alex D: Exactly. Alex G: Funny, you know, that actually could be a really cool thing, we could do an episode in like French one, in German one and whatever, and then have somebody interpret them and do like a little competition, like whoever interprets the episode best. Alex D: Like Alex G: You know, Alex D: A. Alex G: Who has who has the objectively best interpretation? Sarah: And Alex D: An Jonathan: Or Alex D: Interpreting Jonathan: I could just slip Alex D: Battle. Jonathan: Into Glaswegian. Sarah: A good. Alex G: Oh, Jesus. Alex D: I think translators do translation slams Right, so we could do Alex G: Yeah, Alex D: We could do Alex G: Exactly, Alex D: An interpreting slam, Alex G: Totally. Alex D: Why Sarah: Yeah, Alex D: Not? Sarah: And then we have an interpreter for you as well. Jonathan. Alex D: Yeah, that goes straight into the bucket list, that one noted for next year. Jonathan: What kind of book are we talking about, because it looks. Alex D: It's a it's Alex G: Like. Alex D: A very big bucket anyway, Jonathan, since we were speaking [00:04:00] about you, at least the two of us had the chance to get together in person this year, which was Alex G: Both. Alex D: This was before we did albums, I think Jonathan: No, Alex D: Just on the. Jonathan: You refuse to hug me going, I think if I can, I hope everyone in the university. Yeah, I left the day before Brussels went into first grade and I was very glad I got in, but that was fantastic in the live and just some really honest students. And I think that I've done some crazy talks before, plus the first time that I almost feel like blowing up a balloon in public. Alex D: Yes, so that was tell us a little bit about that. That was a lesson at Logan University. So shout out to Demi Krista Leader. Jonathan: Who's there and Alex D: Oh, Jonathan: Then Alex D: Yeah, Jonathan: You Alex D: True. Jonathan: Take me in and I was talking there about I was supposed to be talking about something really cool because I brought people into invisibility, which is totally not a controversial subject, [00:05:00] and they may have been using it with her class. And she said, would you come and lecture on it? Which was great fun. So I lecture on interactor invisibility, using a balloon, a piece of string and Alex D: I Jonathan: Kind Alex D: Was Jonathan: Of Alex D: There Jonathan: What Alex D: To Jonathan: My Alex D: Witness Jonathan: Other purpose Alex D: Yeah, Jonathan: And Alex Alex D: I forget Jonathan: Is to witness. Alex D: We have photographic evidence, though. Jonathan: Me, I Alex D: Yeah, Jonathan: Haven't seen Alex D: I Jonathan: Any photos. Alex D: Took a couple of photos. Jonathan: They need to come out. But the problem is they realize that if you take the bill into the piece of string before you blow up it, really hard to blow up. So I got like, really great. I look like a hamster Alex G: The. Alex D: Yes. Jonathan: And I look like a hamster. They just run a marathon. Alex D: You Jonathan: And Alex D: Did struggle of it? Yes. Jonathan: I did struggle a little bit. So future I did a version of that talk for a university actually recently. And it didn't have the bullet in it because I have learned my lesson. Alex D: Yeah, that's true. Well, in other troublesome news, and we also got a new logo, was that also in the sub? No, I think that was early this year. Alex G: I think that was yeah, that was early this year where we got the new logo and Sarah: Yeah, Alex G: Also. [00:06:00] Sarah: Definitely after I joined. Alex G: Yes, Alex D: True, Alex G: Because it was Alex D: But Alex G: Like a whole redesign Alex D: To Alex G: And Alex D: Celebrate Alex G: We also redid Alex D: The occasion, Alex G: Our Alex D: Yes. Alex G: Website and we also got a new intro music, Alex D: Yeah, Alex G: So it Alex D: Short Alex G: Was like a whole little Alex D: And sweet, Alex G: Rebranding Sarah: A whole Alex D: Yeah. Sarah: Makeover. Alex G: That happened in 2020. A home makeover. That's right. Alex D: Make over exactly. Jonathan: Although talking about makeovers, I mean, we really need pics of the year, but there was an episode idea Alex G: I Alex D: How could Jonathan: Of Alex G: Thought Jonathan: The. Alex D: We forget? Alex G: That should have been a category Segre of the year. Jonathan: Have no secret of my own know Alex G: Oh, Jonathan: Sacred Alex G: I'm sorry. Jonathan: Section, and there was a crazy episode Alex D: It's Jonathan: Idea Alex D: Cigarets Jonathan: From Alex D: All the way down. Jonathan: From about three years ago where we jokingly were really Parata to think it was only the three of us at the time, those for us to take the host of Troublesome Terps and give us a Troublesome Terps fashion makeover, Alex G: That's Alex D: That Alex G: True. Alex D: Was your idea? Jonathan: Since Alex D: Yes, Alex G: That Jonathan: She is Alex G: Was Alex D: Yep. Alex G: Your Jonathan: Like Alex G: Idea. Jonathan: The detail of InterpretBank fashion Alex D: And God Jonathan: Night. Alex D: Knows we need a. Jonathan: Obviously you can't do that because, well, how many people can you get in a shop, but you know where you [00:07:00] can go shopping again? But that's still a daft episode idea. Alex D: Yeah, Alex G: Absolutely. Alex D: Well, I could be online shopping maybe, who knows? Sarah: Yeah. Alex G: My God, yeah, but I think most of those Alex D: Yeah. Alex G: Things that we just talked about were in the before times, right? This was in the in the before. Alex D: Yes. Alex G: And then March came around and Alex D: Long, long time ago. Alex G: Yeah, it was about like 15, 15 years ago when March Alex D: I think Alex G: Happened. Alex D: Actually, Jonathan, that may have been the last time I went to a pub before the lockdown was with you, come to think of it. So, yeah, definitely in the before time. Alex G: And Alex D: And Alex G: I Alex D: Then Alex G: Remember those Alex D: The seething Alex G: Pubs, Alex D: Thing hit, didn't it? Alex G: The SCIC, Alex D: And the thing. Alex G: There's too many see things now. Alex D: Yeah, Alex G: Oh. Alex D: And Sarah, you were still in Ireland back in the time and then you sort of moved in kind of. No, not in the middle of the pandemic, maybe sort of Sarah: Pretty Alex D: Between Sarah: Much, Alex D: The first and the second wave. Sarah: Yeah, at the time, we thought it might be the middle, but it wasn't, you know. Alex D: Yeah, yeah, Sarah: Yeah, Alex D: Yeah, who knows, right? Sarah: Yeah, I found out also I [00:08:00] found out that I was pregnant on the first day of the lockdown in Ireland. So it was bad timing because of all the restrictions and good timing that I didn't have to explain to all of my friends why I suddenly don't drink alcohol anymore because I wasn't seeing anybody anyway. So that was pretty good. Alex D: Oh, Sarah: But yeah, Alex G: That's Alex D: True. Alex G: Good, Sarah: This year Alex G: That's Sarah: Was Alex G: Good. Sarah: Not boring for us. We yeah, we moved country then within that we moved house twice, just had a baby, the first one. And so yeah, this year has been interesting for me. Alex D: Yeah, rather eventful. Sarah: I just figured I'd do it all at once and at the worst possible moment. Alex G: Yo, yo, Alex D: Sure, Alex G: Yo, why not Alex D: Just Alex G: Like. Alex D: Get it over with. Sarah: Because, Alex D: Yeah, Sarah: You know, I like a challenge, Alex D: Yeah. Sarah: So, Alex G: Oh, Sarah: Yeah. Alex G: My goodness. Jonathan: Nimdzi must have been completely overworked when all of that hit, because if there's ever a time where you need market starts and where someone needs to keep tabs on what's going on, it's when you have a worldwide pandemic and no one has [00:09:00] any data on anything. So Nimdzi must have gone from we were producing reports to oh my goodness, everyone wants us. No. Sarah: Yes is actually fairly true. We've been really busy and we've had a lot of custom projects and so basically up until my maternity leave, I was just handling custom projects. And I talked to colleagues recently who told me they're busy with more custom projects alongside our. Alex G: The regular workload. Sarah: Regular market research reports as well. Yes, so it's time for sure. Alex D: Yeah, I just came across the InterpretBank index you did last year, I think, and said, well, shame we're not going to have that this year because Sarah's on maternity leave. So you'll have to catch up next year, then. Sarah: Exactly like we are going to do an early in, like probably around spring 20, 21, basically as soon as I'm back where we getting into our flagship report, the number one, the Nimdzi, one hundred. And we're [00:10:00] going to do the InterpretBank index at the same time, basically. And Alex G: Oh, Sarah: We Alex G: That's so nothing to do. Sarah: Know Alex D: Yeah, Sarah: It'll be an Alex D: It's Sarah: Easy Alex D: Going to Sarah: Start Alex D: Be a really Sarah: Back for me. Alex D: Calm Sarah: Yes, Alex D: Year. Jonathan: The Sarah: Smooth. Jonathan: Thing is, with all the characters and I've noticed I don't know if anyone else has noticed elsewhere, but the agencies, the agency balance of power seems to have shifted. So there seemed to be so many agencies who just launched into remote InterpretBank perhaps overly so. Alex G: Oh, Jesus, yes. Jonathan: And Alex G: Oh, my Jonathan: Others Alex G: God. Jonathan: Who, like I haven't heard from since, well, for a long time, and Alex G: But Jonathan: It Alex G: Then Jonathan: Seemed Alex G: There's Jonathan: Like. Alex G: Also on the flip side, Jonathan, exactly what you were saying, you know, a lot of agencies you haven't heard from a long time, but then there's like for each agency that's kind of just fizzled out. There's like 10 more who just sprung up like mushrooms all over the place. And they're like, hey, we're offering RSI. And you're like, what do you do? Well, we offer RSI. Yeah, but what does that mean? [00:11:00] And they actually Alex D: All topics Alex G: Have no Alex D: Or Alex G: Idea. Alex D: Languages. Alex G: Like, it's just one I actually one time engage with one of the project managers who sent out this email blast to probably like 500 interpreters. And she had just just no idea, like, none. And I was just like, OK, this is. This is. Jonathan: I have had conversations where it's been clear that only one person in the conversation understood that everything worked, I think the thing is, is that we kind of should have expected that because that's what crises do. And if we're honest, there have been as many clueless, clueless as there have been many interpreters who had to get up to speed really quickly, as there have been agencies that have had no knowledge. And I think it was something we were talking about before we started the show is that I think I've been proud of her. A lot of interpreters have coped. There have been fewer big fights and arguments than I expected. And I think actually interacting is going to be OK [00:12:00] through this. You know, everyone everyone talks about market disturbance and mark overhaul and blah, blah, blah. On the future of InterpretBank, I guess a lot of us have lost a lot of work and I don't know how many have even managed to come back, but I think long term we're going to see a stabilized ship and we won't go back to the way things were before. But I think we've learned a lot from this Alex D: Well, that's Jonathan: And Alex D: For sure. Jonathan: I can see a recovery coming. My main concern in the UK is I think we have a really big supply issue coming. And I don't think people realize how bad the UK supply issues, especially with the new visa regulations, are going to make it almost impossible to import. INTERRUPTING the UK's heading for a huge supply issue to other European countries because, hey, there's Downie. Sarah: It's kind of a common theme, actually, from what I've seen, talking to all sorts of different companies in different countries, that the lack of interpreters is [00:13:00] a common theme. I would agree, though, that probably even harder in the UK given the the new situation. But this whole you know, we don't have enough interpreters theme is sticking out everywhere. Alex D: Hmm, Jonathan: I Alex D: Interesting, Jonathan: Would see when Alex D: No. Jonathan: I would see one reason as a perceived lack of Interpreters' Help, because there is a general lack of understanding of what it takes to get good interpreters in the right places. And so they would be less of a supply issue if people would stop treating InterpretBank as a service that they can get any price, if you like, at any time, if you like. Sarah: Yeah, I would agree that it's definitely like it's the perception, so this is something that people say when we talk to them that there's a lack of interpreters. But I also pointed out to people before that there is not actually a lack of interpreters. It's just a matter of getting the right people into the right jobs, Alex D: It's Sarah: Of Alex D: A Sarah: Course. Alex D: Mismatch. Sarah: But, you know. Yeah, exactly. It's a mismatch. Morsal Yeah. Alex D: But I think you were onto something else sort of very early on, which is the whole issue of acoustic shock and bad sound, which I think kind of started with the whole [00:14:00] terrible situation at the translation bureau. So actually on in onsite meetings. But it's become a really big issue, at least sort of in my bubble, but also from from what I hear from sort of the wider context is that people are really struggling with bad sound and actually had that today. I was working in a meeting through an as platform and occasionally the sound was really atrocious. So I don't know how far you've been able to sort of watch that situation in recent months, but you were certainly on to something that will keep us busy for a long time to come, I'm afraid. Sarah: Yeah, I would say that this requires a lot more in-depth research, probably on a different level than what we're doing. I just found that it was a like an interesting topic also that affects the interpreting community and the market. But of course, we're not going into it from that kind of scientific point of view, let's say. But what I liked, let's say after [00:15:00] what happened in Canada, the translation bureau was taking was and is taking it very seriously that really, you know, yes, it happened and it was bad. But I like that they're really making an effort to improve the situation where I don't know if that can be said across the board everywhere. But for me, that shows that they are being very professional about it. I don't know if that's the case with all the RSI companies, but that's just more you know, I really couldn't single anyone out here. But I guess the positive take away from that is that at least it's becoming more of a topic that people are aware of right before it may have happened to some people and they wouldn't maybe have realized that this was a common theme maybe, whereas now at least it's becoming more of a topic. So hopefully it can you know, it will push people to try and resolve this at least. Jonathan: I mean, I give a really cool info, think what [00:16:00] we call it. I've been working on I hope I'll be able to drop this in the show notes for this. I've got a resource buyer's guide for interrupting covering from the buyer site, as I think we tend to talk to speakers. Buyers can do a whole lot. So I've got like a two page very well graphic buyer's guide. I'm going to be finishing up soon. That will just go out. And I've already gotten a couple of buyers and if we don't know half of this stuff and I thought, yeah, it's stuff that we take for granted. You need to say to people, you know, if you're working with Interpreters' Help, what we hit are some of the things you need to be thinking about and what you need to be thinking about. The buying stage shows the people you need to be working alongside that that stuff helps. Alex G: You know, I'm kind of of two minds about the whole sound issue with our side, because on the one hand, the thing that I found is because we're all hearing the same thing. If the song is really bad, the clients will hear the same stuff that you're hearing. And usually it gets resolved much faster [00:17:00] because everybody is hearing the same crappy input. So if you if we as interpreters literally just can't do it, neither can they. And they will immediately fix it. Or they will just say, you know what, we're just going to move on. This is not working, that it's actually happened a few times throughout this year. We're just presentations have just gotten cut where we're the client, which is like we can't hear you if you can fix it within the next five minutes. We're just moving on. Alex D: I'm sorry, Alex G: But then. Alex D: Next. Alex G: Exactly next but then on the flip side, because the clients hear exactly what we're hearing, sometimes it's more difficult for for us to explain to them what you're hearing is fine for listening only, but it's not enough for interpreting. And Alex D: That's Alex G: They were. Alex D: The tricky Alex G: And then Alex D: Bit. Yeah. Alex G: And that's the tricky bit because, you know, just listening will totally be fine. Like it would be OK, listening if somebody speaks, this is please if anybody's out there listening, anybody who is like a manager or whatever do not use Apple iPods for your interpreter conference call. This is literally the bane of my existence in 2020 Alex D: Yeah, [00:18:00] Alex G: Because Alex D: But Alex G: Everybody's doing it. Alex D: Not just for you, by the way, but the thing where people say, you know, this is fine, I mean, this even happens to interpreters because it is just different just to listen to something and then having to interpret yourself. So even as a seasoned interpreter, you might say this is kind of OK, but then, you know, when is your shift? And you have to do it is, oh, my God. And it's really bad, you know. Alex G: Yeah, but I also found that it varies widely between interpreters, even because some interpreters will hear one thing and be perfectly capable of like filling in the blanks themselves or kind of coping with the with the audio, whatever it may be. And then the next person, their partner will try to do it as well, and they will struggle massively. So even among interpreters, the actual perception of what the sound is like is vastly Alex D: That's Alex G: Different Alex D: A very Alex G: Sometimes. Alex D: Subjective yeah. Alex G: Yeah, it's very subjective, which makes it even more difficult. Jonathan: But the thing is, I was consulting on a job recently, there was a proper team that was a completely remote job, properly vetting, and I had built a team of interrogators myself. And I couldn't listen to the interpreters because the setup, but I [00:19:00] could listen to what the interpreters were having to interpret. And my talk was, OK, I know what level this conference is out. So rather than screaming and shouting about the oracle, saying, I wrote for every team in the organization said for the speakers to send their best, given the quality of speakers that you have, I've noticed some issues. Here are some possible ways of resolving them. And because I didn't mention the word interpreters until like two thirds of the way there in the email and I was talking about for them to send their best and frame that. As you know, you've got some rather named speakers here. Here are some issues you might want to talk to them about to make sure that they come across well, because that really matters to them. The sound wasn't perfect on the second day, but it was a lot better because suddenly the event managers and people were able to email speakers and go forward. And the people who own the event and say, oh, you don't want this event to go bad. So maybe we can fix this. And as soon as we make it about the interpreters, we're not going to get any way to. But, you know, you speakers want to send [00:20:00] their best efforts resolvable and sometimes some issues just to get resolved. Then people want to resolve it. If you make it in their interests. The moment we make it about the Interpreters' Help go good, aren't you? You can cope. Alex D: I had the same situation today, actually, and it was a very high level thing, but even, you know, on that high level, sometimes you could you would get very, very bad sound. And you think, how is that possible? You know, I mean, why don't they have a proper microphone? Why are they using the built in mike from the laptop and, you know, all these things that we see again and again. So they're still, I think, a lot to do. But it's my impression is that mostly the problem is really an input problem, because what I see a lot as well is people, including interpreters, blaming the platforms. And yes, I know that compression going on and stuff like that. But the most serious problem in my experience at least, is usually on the input side. So lack of a microphone, pad, microphone, no microphone at all in [00:21:00] sufficient bandwidth, those kinds of things, that is usually where the bottleneck starts. So it's not always or not necessarily the platform. I don't know if that's something that you see as well in Alex G: Yeah, Alex D: Your experience. Alex G: Totally. And I was actually talking to a colleague of mine about that as well. We were discussing Hub's and, you know, I've worked a lot of jobs this year, was fortunate enough to be able to do so. And I like it for a variety of reasons. But the thing is, except for. I want to say two jobs except for two jobs where the equipment company actually provided the professional microphone equipment like they actually did the entire technical setup on the client side, it was still completely remote with only like four managers or whatever on the on the client side in their own premises. We were in the hub, but that was all perfect. As soon as it comes through the teams, WebEx, whatever it is, it's just going to be equally as [00:22:00] poor as what you get if you're doing it from your own interpreting studio, your home office or whatever. So the the actual sound quality is not actually a huge selling point for the hub, which pains me to say because everything else in the hub is really great, but it is an input issue. And I've actually seen managers on executive level like C Suite people who just said, no, I don't want to use a microphone. It doesn't look nice on camera. I don't want to do it. And then I'm like, well, you know, if this is the level that we're talking here, there's nothing we can do because they know they sound horrible. Everybody else is using a microphone, but they don't want to do it. Alex D: I mean, they don't have to use a headset as other mikes out there, you know, if you're afraid to look bad. I mean, come Alex G: It's Alex D: On. Alex G: You know, but there's there's nothing much you can do, and that's why Alex D: I know Alex G: It's Alex D: That's a tricky situation. Alex G: It's a tricky situation. Jonathan: It is massively and it's massively to do with the robustness of Internet connection. So until, you know, if you're heating fan, if the entire proceeding fanboys noise, it's [00:23:00] not because of a platform as because someone is going to turn around. And I think there's a lot that we can do about raising awareness about how people can help themselves. And I think this is a test of our I'm going to see this more than once on this episode is a test of our credibility. And if I'm honest, let's be honest. If I'm honest, we haven't done ourselves any favors preparing for this, because for years we've sold interpreting as the invisible service. We've sold into everything as available when you need it. And now we need to go see it and tell people you need to make guess what you call a good all the stuff that we've been telling people, they're their they're giving us back. And yet we're not realizing that, you know, the way we talk about Terraplane for 50 years or 100 years, I guess doesn't work in the modern world anymore. And so we need to rethink how we talk. I'm sure we're going to have an episode on this at some point. We need to rethink. We're talking about there and we need to be more [00:24:00] aware of it. If we want people to pay for it, make the scene better. We need to make the case in their terms that they need to sign better. Alex D: Yeah, I don't want to put you on the spot, Sarah, but did you hear anything about how all these platforms were doing sort of financially or overall during this year? Because, I mean, there's been quite a bit of media buzz, you know, about the big players and how well they were doing sort of in the in the how do you say sort of hot on the heels of Zoome and the others who were growing quite a bit. Did you hear any anything about that? Sarah: Yeah, definitely, especially the hours platforms have been doing really well this year. Yeah, which to me makes complete sense, of course, with all the people weren't able to meet on site anymore, everything had to be moved online. So even people who would have never considered hours before suddenly were forced to if they wanted to make any money at all. Right. So, yeah, even other types of [00:25:00] virtual interpreting technology companies were doing really well with your remote interpreting or also over the phone interpreting. If you're looking at, of course, a lot of the medical InterpretBank had to be like some were still done in person. Yeah, but of course, especially given the coronavirus situation, a lot of that was moved to remote interpreting as well, of course, due to also protect Interpreters' Help and clients alike. So those companies are doing well, too. But to me, especially as I stood out, it really, let's say, came into its own this year. I mean, I don't want to say it is perfect on all levels there, but I mean, it came from being maybe an option or something that people were reluctant to try to do something that suddenly everyone was trying because they had to. So it was just more, you know, the it became the solution to the problem without maybe like it's [00:26:00] maybe not perfect to, like, readdress some issues already, but it was the solution because without it, what would we have done? You know. Alex D: And just as a follow up question to two of you, I had a very interesting conversation a few months ago now with a very tech savvy colleague and a colleague said, well, it's interesting to see these developments of the RSA platforms, especially this year. But I'm I'm pretty sure that all the big platforms, i.e. the Zoom's and WebEx and possibly Microsoft teams of the world, will just integrate interpreting as a feature. And Zoom has already done that, at least to some extent. It's nowhere near, you know, InterpretBank, Couto and all the others. But do you do you think that's a possibility, that the big platforms will just add that as a feature and that these dedicated Ossi platforms will, you know, will come to the end of the road and maybe only serve, you know, edge cases or something like that? Alex G: Yeah, sorry. But, [00:27:00] Sarah, go ahead. Sarah: I don't see that happening now, so I said yes and no, because I do think they will integrate it more if they're smart and they seem to be very smart and they're doing very well. But I do think that for anyone who's really interested in getting more professional interpreting services online, they will resort to the ARCI platforms because those are not the platforms. Like if you're looking at Zoom and Google and WebEx, all of them, they started out as, let's say, just video conferencing platforms that then add like multilingualism as an add on the platforms. They started out with being just about multilingualism. Like the whole point of their existence is to bring a multilingual conference online. They have that point of view from those types of conferences. They usually have people who are interpreters or interpreters and have that background [00:28:00] knowledge so they can make this whole multilingual web conferencing experience a lot more professional, both for the audience as well as for the interpreters. So I think for anyone looking for something like that, you know, they will go to the outside platforms, they will win in this field. But of course, for anyone who's just. Yeah, well, we you know, we don't know anything. We just know Zoome and we love Zoome. And we just want a little bit of this, you know. Yeah, of course. You know then Zoome will win because Zoome is the biggest winner overall. Yeah. For video conferencing. So of course people will use that as well. And what I've seen from a lot of our other platforms as well, they found ways to integrate with sumthin because a lot of the times their clients want to use Zoome. But I do think that it makes the experience more complicated, unnecessarily complicated as well. So because the RSI platforms usually can do what Zoome can do for that purpose, [00:29:00] but they do the multilingual aspect a lot better. And it's sometimes people are resistant to switch to a different platform. Alex G: But then I think it's also it. Yes, it makes it more complicated if you add zoom to, I don't know, interactive or whatever, but for whom? Not for the client. Do you know what I mean? So at the end of the day, the person who pays for them, it's not going to be any more or less complicated because they just set up the zoom link and then they just send it out to the contractor they integrated into their website. So there are definitely multiple steps involved, but not necessarily for the client at the end of the day. Sarah: I do think that's true, but I do think you get more like better features for your whole or multilingual conference, you know, conferencing experience if you're going Alex G: Yeah, Sarah: With the other platforms. Alex G: Which is very true, but I've I've used a few platforms using Zoom and the the I don't know how to say this delicately, Alex D: Maybe don't. Alex G: But Jonathan: We Alex G: So Jonathan: Went to. Alex G: So [00:30:00] the the people joining the the conferences to, you know, as participants, they sometimes were struggling to log onto the zoom meeting with their language, which is like a a like a click, a link and a passcode. If we told them to have to log on to another platform that because everybody's heard of Zoom at this point, you know, at least you know what Zoom is. And if you told them that they have to go on this website, maybe actually register with their email address and then click on this and then select a language or whatever, you know, I'm not sure that that would have necessarily gone so well, whereas if it says German Zoome French Zoome English and then you just click on it and then you're logged on. So I think a lot of the, the, you know, you just remove as many barriers, remove as much friction as possible and. Alex D: They've done that way very well, yeah, that's Alex G: Yeah, Alex D: True. Alex G: And I think also it [00:31:00] depends on I partially agree with what you were saying, Sarah, about the multilingualism part for me in Germany as as an interpreter working with German and English. The number of conferences that I do usually per year with more than one language, more than one language per. I can usually count on two hands. Alex D: That's the German market, though, Alex G: That Alex D: Isn't it? Alex G: Is the Alex D: That's Alex G: German market, Alex D: Rather Alex G: So this Alex D: Specific, Alex G: Is very specific. This Alex D: Yeah. Alex G: Is very specific for the German market, for the German market, with German and English. And if you only need to go back and forth, nobody's going to use an R as a platform. They will all use them. They will all use Microsoft team. They will all use like a Frankensteinian situation with WebEx and Google Hangouts, Google or whatever it is. As soon as it's about more multiple languages and then going with relaid, then that's been the case where, like you said, the multilingualism, [00:32:00] the actual multilingualism comes in. That's when I've seen people actually use ARCI platforms. Sarah: Yeah, I think that's a really good way of putting it where, you know, the two can have the initials maybe in this area as well. And for me personally and first of all, I also agree people like what they know. Yeah. For me, my favorite way to have a video conference is with Google Hangouts, because that's what we use that Nimdzi. Yeah. And it's I find it the easiest. Like, I just click on it and everyone is there and it's fantastic. I don't you know, it's so easy. Whereas for me, I use Zoom, we're using Zoom right now, but I can zoom already to annoying. You know, I personally I don't like to set up all the stuff I can do it, I can do it, but I don't enjoy it, you know. So I avoided if I can. Alex D: It's it's more work for the it's more work for the host. That's true. And I just wanted to give in a fun fact, I tried to find out when we started using Zoom, it was definitely before 2018. So [00:33:00] we definitely did it before. It was cool. Alex G: Where Alex D: Probably Alex G: The zoom Alex D: 2017 Alex G: Out is. Alex D: Or something. Jonathan: I was Alex D: Yeah. Jonathan: Going to say, you know, I'm no I don't have a huge amount of experience and interesting stuff, I'm waiting for the next big merger and acquisition. I'm waiting for a large tech company to swallow up another platform. I don't I think that's quite likely that they might just say, you know, we've seen these tech companies swell up smaller companies because it's easier for them to do that and to develop capabilities themselves. I think I wouldn't be surprised if at least one current company I'm not going to name any. And, you know, it wouldn't surprise me if least one company becomes a company of some big tech giant and that would confer could confirm advantage on them. The other thing is, is that I'm learning more and more of the InterpretBank is such a huge multi headed thing that [00:34:00] any attempt to forecast the future of InterpretBank can only be answered with the question which InterpretBank where? Because you know, what happens in private market there in Scotland could be entirely different to what happens, will be entirely different to what happens in institutional InterpretBank Brussels, then you get government mandated contracts overseas. You know, there's so many things going on. And I my lesson from this year has been I don't know as much about the breadth of interrupting as I thought I did, and neither does anyone else. Sarah: Yeah, Jonathan: Maybe apart from Nimdzi, Sarah: That's. Jonathan: Nimdzi probably know everyone. Alex G: Apart from Sarah, who is head of global interpreting research. Sarah: I know, but it's true, this is the big challenge, right? You, on the one hand, want to have an overview of interpreting in general and the interpreting world and the global interpreting market. And there are some common themes. But then it gets so different when you [00:35:00] look at like every country individually and within that or that in every type of interpreting and then within the countries of different types of interpreting. And so it can go super deep. You can do individual studies and all those different segments or the overall one. And ideally, you want to know a little bit about all of them to get a good idea. Alex G: But you know what's really funny, just just because you were mentioning there was this I remember there was this a few months ago, there was this. And I want to say it was like a blowout fight, but it was it was definitely a little scuffle going on on Twitter about working conditions in conference interpreting across different countries. And some people from Europe were remarking on working conditions in Latin America and how that's completely impossible. And they could not even fathom working like this. How could anyone? And then somebody was like, well, we work like this all the time. What Alex D: Yeah, Alex G: Do you mean? Alex D: Welcome to the New Normal. Alex G: You know? And yeah. So it's just really interesting if you compare one market, one country with another one and you think yours is the absolute gold standard like I was just doing [00:36:00] 30 seconds ago, and then you just think, oh, everybody has to work like this and everybody who doesn't work like this is kind of beneath me. So it's really interesting that that kind of still exists and that, you know, due to the power of social media, we actually get to see those conversations happen sort of in real Jonathan: We Alex G: Time. Jonathan: Probably should go into the Troublesome Terps awards, and I just wanted to share Alex G: Very Jonathan: One Alex G: True. Jonathan: Story. I was chatting to someone on Twitter. I don't think it was this year, but we were talking about, you know, there was a Twitter channel on InterpretBank jokes. And I told the story of, you know, someone was talking about how you have to know exactly what you're going to do his job. And I said, you know, a typical in person, interesting job in my market likely is going to involve simultaneous interpreting on a tour. And I said, you know, my favorite joke, which happened last year was a job where I counted and I use something like four interrupting modes within an hour and a half. And I was like, and I love that because that's why, you know, I was on stage, I [00:37:00] was doing dialog and Alex D: It's Jonathan: The Alex D: Fun, Jonathan: Interpretbank Alex D: Yeah. Jonathan: Got used to Alex G: Yeah, Jonathan: As fun. Alex G: It's really fun. Jonathan: And I was told on Twitter, that's not professional, Hidir. They expect you to use more than one more than a job. And I'm like, if I said to my clients, I can't use more than one more the job, I'd never get any work. Sarah: But also, Alex, as you were saying, I think this can this can just apply to almost all aspects of life, though, as well, right? Because Alex G: Yeah, Sarah: Sometimes I talk Alex G: Totally. Sarah: When I was living in Ireland, I was talking to people in Germany about certain aspects, you know, and people were like, oh, my God, how can you live like this? How can people live like this? And it's not that outrageous. I don't even want to name any specific examples, but just, you know, I mean, like, well, people have like this all the time. And I have adjusted to it and then I do the opposite until I figure out things in Germany. And it would be the same reaction sometimes, you know, and it's just like, yeah, well, you know, it's always what you used to hide. And in certain areas, we are also very spoiled and take something in a certain culture to be super, super important. And in another culture, everyone's like, nobody cares. No, [00:38:00] this is not important. Whatever. Jonathan: But we need to have we need to have like a mini series, some point code that we talked a little bit this year about diversity, and I think we need to do like a mini series on the diversity of InterpretBank Alex G: That would Jonathan: And Alex G: Be really Jonathan: Deliberately Alex G: Cool. Jonathan: Pick because we've sampled some markets. I think we should deliberately picked the the InterpretBank. You didn't know you didn't know about. Alex D: So the the unknown unknowns of interpreting. Jonathan: It's not like Alex G: Oh, my God, Jonathan: It's Alex G: You did Jonathan: Not Alex G: Not Jonathan: George Alex G: Just Jonathan: W. Alex G: Do Jonathan: Bush Alex G: That. Jonathan: Or Alex G: Oh. Sarah: Very Jonathan: Donald Rumsfeld Sarah: Mysterious. Jonathan: That's with us from anyway Alex D: Yes, overused quote. Jonathan: To talking about talking about to build battery powered transportation devices otherwise known as. Alex G: They are moving into the known unknown, right? Alex D: Yeah, well, the Alex G: Or Alex D: Known Alex G: They actually Alex D: Knowns, Alex G: The no, no. Yeah, this Alex D: Who Alex G: Is Alex D: Knows, Alex G: Definitely a known known. Alex D: Who Alex G: Well, Alex D: Knows, Alex G: Who knows? That's Sarah: To Alex D: Who Alex G: Right. Sarah: Have Alex D: Knows? Sarah: A nice, like Segway time melody or like a gong or something. Alex D: Yeah, I need to I need to come up with a jingle or something Alex G: I think we need, like Alex D: That Alex G: One of the little Alex D: De Alex G: Scooter Alex D: De de de de. Alex G: Melodies, like I was like and then it's like Sarah: Oh, Alex G: That was Sarah: Yeah, Alex G: Our Segway, Sarah: I [00:39:00] like it. Alex G: Get it? Alex D: And then it crashes into a wall somehow. Alex G: So Jonathan: But linguistically, the Alex G: That's Jonathan: Best known Alex G: Our Jonathan: New Alex G: Segway go. Jonathan: Rating for linguistic with the best known Norma's Professor Chomsky. Gansmeier is like Sarah: I love Chomsky's. Alex G: We'll fix Jonathan: My Alex G: That impulse. Alex D: What is Jonathan: Wife, Alex D: Happening? Jonathan: Kosko additional. Alex G: Oh, dad. Oh, can we do like a little dad joke jingle every time somebody makes that joke? We just got like the Jonathan: Somebody. Alex G: The. Alex D: That Chuck. Jonathan: It is like one person Alex G: You, Jonathan: To make sure that that Alex G: Tacho. Sarah: Yeah, mightiness, Jonathan: Is going to turn Sarah: Super Jonathan: Into. Sarah: Happy that now he is allowed to make dad jokes. Alex D: Yes, finally. Alex G: Oh, OK. Sarah: It's. Alex D: Welcome to the club, man. Alex G: Ok, but what happened to mom jokes, huh? Alex D: Oh, mom, oh, mom, Sarah: Yeah, Alex D: Jokes are Sarah: Exactly, Alex D: Very different Sarah: Is that fair? Alex D: From dad jokes. Alex G: Yeah, Alex D: Yeah. Jonathan: You know what mom jokes are Alex G: Is Jonathan: Called Alex G: That a thing? Jonathan: Husbands. Alex G: Oh, Alex D: That was it Alex G: Very Alex D: Was that Alex G: Nice. Alex D: At that Joe Graham Joe. Alex G: Yes. Alex D: Hmm, yes. Jonathan: So someone [00:40:00] was jokingly going to watch someone saying a cartoon once that said, you know, never question your wife's decisions because you were one of them. Sarah: Nice. Alex D: Good point, Sarah: Yeah. Alex D: Yes. Alex G: So very good point. Alex D: Yes. Alex G: Ok, but I do think what Jonathan was saying is very true, that after about an hour of recording the Troublesome Terps awards show, we should actually start moving towards the Troublesome Terps awards. Jonathan: So Alex G: How about that? Jonathan: You have more secrets than the Oscars. Alex G: Well, you know. Alex D: We're just having a hard time imagining you sort of rolling onto the stage with the Segway to pick up Alex G: A Alex D: Your Alex G: Little Alex D: Award, Alex G: Segway Alex D: Jonathan. Alex G: That. Jonathan: Ok, Sarah: Love Jonathan: Dear Sarah: It. Jonathan: Listeners, can you do a gif of all the Troublesome Terps heads on a sacred slowly moving Alex G: Yes, Jonathan: Onto stage, please, Alex G: We Jonathan: For this, Alex G: Will do Jonathan: And Alex G: A. Jonathan: We will make it like the gift for the show if anyone knows how to make GIFs are going to. Alex D: I can try, I Alex G: Yeah, Alex D: Can try. Alex G: We'll Jonathan: Still, Alex G: Figure it out. We will Alex D: Ok. Alex G: Make this work. Jonathan: Before Alex G: I will learn Photoshop Jonathan: Before Alex G: For this. Jonathan: We actually give any awards. Sarah: This is the most important job we've Alex G: This Sarah: Had Alex G: Is Sarah: In a while. Alex G: This is now the mission Alex D: Yes. Alex G: Of 20. Alex D: Jonathan [00:41:00] Jonathan: She Alex D: Is Jonathan: Wanted Alex D: Doing his best to sort of segway Jonathan: To see Alex D: Us Jonathan: My Alex D: Into Jonathan: Husband. Alex D: The Alex G: I Alex D: Show, Alex G: Know. Alex D: Come on. Jonathan: I'm trying to be the mature one for the first time in my entire life. Alex D: Ok, should we all just mute ourselves and let you do let you Jonathan: Ok, Alex D: Do your thing? Jonathan. Jonathan: So we beforehand we were talking about our favorite episode, guests and moments, so I'm going to jump in, first of all, the people that I have to see, my favorite episode that I'm going to decide because I couldn't decide between vicarious trauma and the episode with Lauren God. And I think I'm just going to the episode of what was great fun, but I think I'm just going to tip it into vicarious trauma because I still think we have a mental health issue. We have lots of interaction in InterpretBank remote and probably did not make any of them any better. But I think that was the second episode that I'm aware of that was done on mental health. I think we need to come back to it because I don't think we're done with it. And I think, sadly, Alex D: Quite Jonathan: I Alex D: The Jonathan: Have Alex D: Opposite. Jonathan: To say up [00:42:00] until OK, even though I don't think InterpretBank takes mental health seriously enough, we talk we we talk so much about great sound and so much about, you know, business skills and so much about ISO standards, can we get an ISO standard that says interpreter should get mental health support? Because we have standards for that. We care more about the thickness of booth walls than we care about the mental health of our interpreters. That is Alex D: Yes, Jonathan: Not right. Alex G: Hmm, Alex D: That is a good point, Alex G: Yeah, Alex D: Very Alex G: But Alex D: Good Alex G: You Alex D: Point. Alex G: Seem to be right on the money, Jonathan, because we also asked our listeners what they want to see in 2021, you know, covered on this show. And there were a few mentions where they were saying mental health implications of ours, ie, how to mitigate mental health issues, stress management. And, you know, I think there's definitely a big interest of coming, you know, coming back to this topic. So I definitely think we should put it on the let's put it on the short list. Jonathan: Unless they do sharks, [00:43:00] I'm only five foot six. Alex G: You. Sarah: That the. Alex D: Alex, tell us about Alex G: That's Alex D: Your favorite episode Alex G: Ok. Alex D: Of the year. Alex G: Yeah, so I I couldn't I couldn't choose, I can't choose. Alex D: You can give us a short list, Alex G: Yeah, I Alex D: See what, Alex G: Do Alex D: Ed? Alex G: Have a short list, I do have a short list of six feet long short list. No, but I basically it's for me I couldn't choose because the episodes that I'm torn between are very, very different. So I'm torn between don't be a bully and starting out as an interpreter on the one hand. And then the tech trouble with Josh and getting wordly with Lakshman on the other hand. And I think I can't choose because they're very different because the first to the bullying episode in the starting out episode, it's just it's like a good old fashioned Troublesome Terps episode. The way we started this out, you know, just the four of us chatting, discussing a topic kind of like Alex D: Kind of like we're doing now, you mean? Alex G: Kind of like we're doing now, but [00:44:00] also kind of like how we designed or designed how we envision the products in the first place. You know, just having a chat in the pub with your interpreting mates, just discussing different topics. So those are kind of like throwback episodes that also cover really relevant and important topics. And then on the other hand, we've got the Teche episodes with the fantastic, knowledgeable guests who give us a lot of input and really nice, you know, things to kind of chew on. So I can't I can't choose. Don't make me choose. I'm going to move myself and I don't make me choose. I'm not going to choose. Alex D: Sarah, what about you? I'm going to go last. Sarah: Yes, I had two favorites as well, the first one was Jonathan's was a vicarious trauma one because same as I think it's a really important topic that's not being talked about enough. And it's a good thing that we are starting to talk about it. And Alex D: It's Sarah: It Alex D: When Sarah: Was. Alex D: You've researched before as well, haven't you? Sarah: Yes, I Alex D: Yeah. Sarah: Did research about it for Nimdzi, and that's when I became kind of fascinated and also shocked with the topic, let's say, anyway. So I [00:45:00] think it's a very, very important topic. I want to talk about it more, not just this one, also mental health in general. And yeah, I find it fascinating if that's OK to say I don't know. I don't mean this in a in a bad way, just that there's so much that we still don't know or haven't talked about yet. And so that was a really, really interesting conversation. And then I also love the episode with Lakshman from Wordly because I like my episodes particularly troublesome. And that was very troubling. Troublesome. Alex D: That was one Sarah: I Alex D: Of them. Sarah: Don't know Alex D: Yeah. Sarah: What the word is, but it was really good. I think we had a really strong, interesting conversation, especially between Jonathan and Lakshman, who were both experts on the topic, I would say. And yeah, so I thought that was out of the ordinary, which is what I like, so. Alex D: Yeah, I think that sums it up quite, quite nicely, I'm biased with my choice of favorite episode. I mean, they were all great [00:46:00] in their own way, but I really enjoyed doing the episode with with Josh about interpreting technology because it was kind of a fun crossover of the two big projects I've been working on this year and just working on Techforword with Josh just made this year. So, so, so much better than it would have been without it. So that that gets my vote as the favorite episode of the year. And we should probably take a look at the audience favorites. And we have. Alex G: We said. Alex D: Speaking of short lists, we have a short list Alex G: We do. Alex D: For the the final three for the favorite episodes of 20/20, according to to our audience. And we have, first of all, starting out as an interpreter, which was that was really a fun one because we streamed it live on YouTube. So people who had the chance to join in and ask questions and give comments, which was a lot of fun, definitely something we should do [00:47:00] again next year. We have number two, don't be a bully. And then number three, know your worth. So where we had Julia Hogan to to talk about business stuff, which we hadn't done in a while. Alex G: Hmm. But again, since we the previous business episode was one of the most successful episodes we've ever had and again, Alex D: Still Alex G: This Alex D: Is, Alex G: One. Alex D: Actually. Alex G: Yeah, and again, this one was super successful. So people are interested in business stuff. Who'd have thunk? Sarah: Which is good, Alex D: I would Sarah: Right? Alex D: Thank. Alex G: Yeah, Sarah: Because it's also Alex G: Right. Sarah: An important aspect of interpreting. Alex G: We only cover important aspects of InterpretBank in case, you know, in case anybody Jonathan: We Alex G: Was wondering. Jonathan: Start we still haven't yet done an episode on InterpretBank Care or. Alex D: All the nail salons are closed now. Jonathan, don't you know? Jonathan: Get a great manicure, I have no idea. Alex G: Oh, trust me, I've had a colleague who did her manicure in the booth. Alex D: I know Sarah: For Alex D: It's Sarah: Me, Alex D: The worst. Alex G: It Sarah: No. Alex D: Oh, Alex G: Is the worst. Well, [00:48:00] Sarah: As long Alex G: The Sarah: As it's Alex G: Nail Sarah: Not a Alex D: Let's Sarah: Pedicure. Alex G: Polish Alex D: Not Alex G: Remover, Alex D: Let's not Alex G: Yeah, Alex D: Go there, Jonathan: But Alex D: Please. Alex G: No, Jonathan: We're Alex G: No, no. Jonathan: Not we are not doing an episode on the most disgusting things that happened in the Great. Sarah: Well, maybe just Alex G: But Sarah: A Alex G: We Sarah: Little Alex G: Could easily fill an Sarah: Like. Alex G: Hour Alex D: Easily. Alex G: Anyways. Alex D: Any Alex G: Alex, Alex D: Who, Alex G: Go ahead. We have a winner out of the Alex D: Yes, Alex G: Short list, some episode Alex D: Drum Alex G: One Alex D: Drumroll. Alex G: For. Alex D: And the favorite episode of 20/20 is no, you worked with Julia. So there you have it. That was the favorite episode for our audience. And it's kind of backed up by our statistics as well, which we like to look at. So that's that's very accurate. Alex G: That was a good one. Yeah. Alex D: That was a very good one. Yes, so we should do some some business stuff again next year as well. Moving right along to the favorite guest of 20/20, Alex G: Mm hmm. Mm hmm. Alex D: Should we do a quick lightning round [00:49:00] among the hosts about favorites? Alex G: No. Sarah: Yeah, let's Alex D: It's Sarah: Not Alex D: Like asking who's your favorite child? Sarah: Go. Jonathan: So I was going Alex G: Exactly. Jonathan: To say. Sarah: I only have one so far, so it's easy. Alex G: Fair enough, Alex D: Yeah, that is easier. Alex G: So for me would be none, that doesn't work. Jonathan: I have four going on, five, so, you know, Alex D: Hmm, lots Jonathan: In Alex D: Of Jonathan: Terms Alex D: Choice. Jonathan: Of free for gas, can I just say I'm going to show my diplomatic side? I have been impressed at the breadth and depth of expertize that our guests have had this year. We've I can honestly say we haven't had a single guest on the show and thought, how is this going to actually work? And we've had I mean, you don't hate it because we have the best friend, Ed, on the planet. We've had shows where technically it has been a challenge to make the final [00:50:00] site so good. And so do I have a favorite guest. I wonder, Alex D: All of Jonathan: Though, Alex D: Them Jonathan: At some point I thought Alex D: Of. Jonathan: You were like, you're going to start a boxing match. But ideally we can have the gentlemen's agreement by the end. That was good. Alex D: Yeah, I Jonathan: And Alex D: Know that was all right. Jonathan: I think, Madalena, of all of our guests impressed me this year. Picking a favorite guest is a really, Alex D: Impossible. Jonathan: Really. Really. Yeah, I can. I Alex D: It's Jonathan: Can. Alex D: Impossible, and yet our wonderful listeners have managed, so here Jonathan: They Alex D: Is Jonathan: Had 50 children. Alex D: Yes, here is the short list, the final three for our favorite guests of 20/20. No. One is Josh Goldsmith, who was on in February, I think the the top tech trouble episode. Then number two, we have Madalena Paolo, who is in a podcast in her own right. If you don't know what happens for translators to check it out and we talk to her about online presence, building your website, that kind of thing. And of course, Julia, with the no, you're with [00:51:00] business episode. So who gets to announce the winner? Sarah, Alex G: Sarah, Alex D: Do you want to announce the Alex G: Sarah. Alex D: Winner will give a quick drum roll. Sarah: It's Julia Alex D: Hey, Sarah: Again. Alex G: Hey, Alex D: Who would have thought? Alex G: Yeah. Jonathan: Can I just say our work was going smoothly than the Oscars? Sarah: Yes, Alex D: Yes, Sarah: Much faster. Alex G: Yeah, it's Alex D: Now, Alex G: Much faster. Alex D: No envelopes, nothing, Alex G: I was going to say, Sarah: There's also no speeches, Alex G: Which is. Sarah: Though, so, Alex D: No speeches. Sarah: Yeah, Alex D: Yeah. Sarah: I actually I want to break the rule with a favorite guest because I forgot about someone very important that I want to mention, if that's OK. Yeah, because Alex D: Go ahead, Sarah: I Alex D: I'll Sarah: Really, really enjoyed Alex D: Cut it Sarah: The Alex D: In Sarah: Episode Alex D: Afterwards. Sarah: With Go with a Tony Posada because. Yeah. From InterpretBank in crisis regions, because he told us all sorts of crazy stories that were actually true, which are hard to believe. And as shocking as some of them were, I could listen to him tell stories like that all day long. [00:52:00] So I really enjoyed that as well. Alex D: He should Jonathan: This Alex D: Do an audio Jonathan: Is. Alex D: Book one day. Sarah: Yes, I agree he should maybe I should mention that to him. Alex G: Yeah, he's got the voice for it two. Jonathan: The other thing that we should do is, you know, it was every director who I was interviewing on inside interpreting my other project, and she said, you know, interpreters, when you talk to them generally kind of give this context. We don't make a difference. But then when you ask them to tell stories, you hear what they really do. And I think making more space for interpreting stories is really important because the War Stories is one of my favorites once called them. They're really formative for young professionals because then they realize, you know, university says this and then you figure out, you know, in real life, you know, I've had some interpreters. So, you know, if I turned up to a job and the conditions weren't just right, I would walk. Well, I've had jobs where the conditions were interesting. And I realized walking out is kind of the least professional [00:53:00] thing Alex D: It's Jonathan: To do. Sometimes Alex D: Not an Jonathan: It's Alex D: Option. Jonathan: Just just have to say, OK. Alex G: Well, but some people would disagree to that. I've had that conversation on Twitter as well. Jonathan: And is the thing is, is the war stories of where you really get the discussion and where you where you find that from people, you know, how do we react to this? And I had caused a couple of weeks ago, I thought it was going to go into my longest running ever because in one morning I had two colleagues. I thought, what better way to respond to difficult times and to run my story Alex G: Hmm. Jonathan: In an episode with. Alex G: But you know what, the thing is about guests as well, and I also don't have a favorite one. I have a couple of favorite ones. But, you know, we talked about this before. We actually started the official recording for the episode. I think it's you know, we want to do more episodes where it's just the four of us. But there are so many interesting topics with such knowledgeable people and such experts [00:54:00] in the field that you always want to get them on because you want to get their input. And then it's another episode with the guests. So there are so many great guests because they know so much about great topics that it's really difficult to choose because how could you? They're all you know, it's like apples and oranges all over the board. And yeah, it's just it's just really great. And I'm also I think, Jonathan, you were saying it. I was really impressed at the caliber of people coming onto the show and also kind of just the knowledge they share so freely. You know, like even Lakshman, I was actually thinking when he was doing the episode, going into the episode, I was thinking that he was going to be a lot more guarded than he was. And it was really open, like an open book, really ready to listen, just join the conversation with us. And that really impressed me. Jonathan: The other thing that surprised me, I was looking at the submissions that we had, you know, with suggestions from our listeners and there's a lot of things where where some of the topics I'd seen before, what the topics I'm thinking, [00:55:00] oh, I knew that that topic existed, but I didn't realize that that was something that people would like us to cover. And someone suggested having a panel of experience. And I would quite happily have a kind of summit style focused episode. I know that would be insane to edit, but, hey, it's not my job. Alex G: Well, we could also moderated, but, you know, saying like, OK. Jonathan: We've already moderated a series of already moderated an international panel. Alex G: Which was also an experience. Alex D: Yes, you're right. Yeah, I think this is probably a good time to to wrap up with a shout out to the audience, and if you have ideas for topics and guests, keep them coming. The ones that you've submitted in other form are duly noted. Alex G: Absolutely. Alex D: Some are very, very precise, very hands on. Others are a bit more general, like ethics. A lot of people were asking about ethics. So what we're going to have to think about what [00:56:00] that could be, because I think we've talked about various angles of ethics, like both manners and social media etiquette and stuff like that. So maybe it's time to up to update one of those. That's something. Well, we'll think about. And yeah, it's. Jonathan: What's the most unethical thing you've ever done in interrupting various. Alex D: Yeah, well, outside Alex G: The Alex D: One, Alex G: Manicure comes into mind the no Alex D: Yeah, pilley Alex G: But Alex D: Peeling an orange. Alex G: Right, which, you know, over Christmas time is actually quite nice because it gives you the Christmas tree smell. But I was wondering I was thinking about some of the comments were referring to very current, you know, of the moment, let's say, challenges the interpreting space was facing. And we've done some quick take things. You know, remember when the Donald Trump interpreter situation Alex D: The subpoena. Alex G: Happened? You have the subpoena. So we did a quick take on that. So I'm wondering if should we do more quick takes on [00:57:00] like actual current stuff? Because I feel like a lot of our episodes are kind of I don't want to use the word timeless because it seems very, you know, grand for what we're doing. But Sarah: I can Alex G: Sort Sarah: Interpretbank Alex G: Of. Sarah: Diva tameness. Alex G: Yeah, Alex D: It. Alex G: Yeah, but, you know, if anybody wants to do more quick takes, let us know that, because I think there's always fodder for that. But I don't know if if this is what we do. I'm kind of torn. Yeah, I'm kind of torn because on the one hand, it would be interesting because there's definitely enough to sort of go around. Alex D: Yeah, the big topics were present themselves. I mean, the whole Trump thing, that was kind of obvious, we knew we kind of had to do something on that. So I think when that comes but comes up, we'll do it. Jonathan: We can never forget our agreement to deal with the things that keep Interpreters' Help a night. Alex G: That is very true. Jonathan: And I think I have some ideas and ethics, I think traditionally in ethics, we've talked about it from a certain point of view. I'm aware that my colleagues and sign language interpreting have [00:58:00] a very different basis for discussing ethics and I've seen among conference interpreters. And so I could see there being a lot of scope to bring in interpreters from different backgrounds and just have a chat. Alex G: Yeah, Alex D: We'll do Alex G: But Alex D: That. Alex G: I think in general, it's definitely safe to say that we are all looking forward for 2020 to end, not that twenty twenty one is going to start any different. But, you know, Alex D: Fingers crossed. Alex G: Fingers crossed, that'll definitely change trajectory throughout the year, Sarah: Twenty Alex G: But. Sarah: Twenty one will be the year of the vaccine. Alex D: Well, yes, Alex G: Hopefully, Alex D: Yes, Alex G: Hopefully. Alex D: No, pretty pretty sure about that. Yeah. Alex G: But what we should definitely not close the show out without saying is thank you to everyone who still listens to us, who supported us, who joined us on the podcast, either as guest host or as an audience through the live episodes who submitted their responses to the various [00:59:00] surveys we've sent out. We couldn't do this show without you what we could, but it would be really Alex D: Be Alex G: Bad Alex D: Less Alex G: And boring Alex D: Less fun. Alex G: And Alex D: Yeah, Alex G: Yeah, much less fun. So thank Alex D: Exactly. Alex G: You very much for that. And we have a lot of cool stuff planned for 2021 and some surprises, some unplanned still in Alex D: Shenanigans. Alex G: Just stations shenanigans. But yeah, definitely more cool things to come. So stay tuned. Don't don't forget about us in Alex D: Yes, Alex G: The quiet holiday Alex D: Exactly, Alex G: Holiday period. Alex D: Yeah. Make sure you get some some proper time off to to relax. Um, yeah. And the best way to stay up to date is our website, Troublesome Terps, dot com, our various social media profiles on Twitter and Facebook. And of course, we have a YouTube channel, which isn't exactly brand new, but I've been filling it up with all the the old episodes of Back Catalog is now up on our own YouTube channel as well. And I have a feeling we'll be using it more for live streaming as well. Yes, [01:00:00] Alex. Alex G: Can I say it, can I say. Like unsubscribed. Alex D: Yes, I did I did want to make one final appeal, which is not at all about the Troublesome Terps, it's it's about Matya. I don't know. Some of you may know Cura and Franchesco, but zanella to Italian interpreters based here in Brussels, freelance interpreters working for the institutions mostly. I first learned about them during their blog, which they started a few years ago, and they posted about a lot about running and cooking. And the running part was very inspiring. The cooking was was not something I could aspire to do as well as they do. In any case, they gave birth to Matya, a brilliant little kid, and Muchea has a very rare disease. So currently what and Francesco are doing is running a go fund me a fundraiser to raise money for Matya so he he can beat all the expectations [01:01:00] that were made and, you know, grow up to be a brilliant young boy and young men. So we will have the link in the show notes. And if you can, it would be really great if you could give a little bit of money to this fundraising campaign. That's that's all we ask of you for this holiday. And with that, we're signing off for today and for this year. And we hope to see you soon next year. Take care of yourself. Stay safe, stay sane and bye bye. Alex G: Happy holidays, happy new Year by Sarah: In Alex G: Everybody. Sarah: The new year.