Episodes

  • #46 Jan Sramek: California Forever - Building the Next Great American City

    #46 Jan Sramek: California Forever - Building the Next Great American City
    Jan 13 2026

    In this episode, I sit down with Jan Sramek, Founder and CEO of California Forever, to talk about one of the most ambitious development efforts in the country: they're building the next great American city.

    Chapters

    0:00 — Why This Conversation Matters

    02:05 — Meeting Jan and the Origins of California Forever

    06:45 — Growing Up in the Czech Republic and Coming to America

    12:10 — What California Forever Is Actually Trying to Build

    17:55 — The Housing Crisis and Why Incremental Fixes Aren’t Enough

    23:40 — Walkability, Safety, and Designing for Families

    30:15 — Why Cities Should Work for Kids and the Elderly Alike

    35:50 — The Reality of Building a New City in California

    41:30 — Regulation, Risk, and the Cost of Not Building

    47:20 — Reviving American Manufacturing and Shipbuilding

    53:10 — Master Planning, Density, and Mixed-Use Neighborhoods

    59:00 — Learning from Traditional Urban Design

    1:04:45 — Community, Belonging, and Social Trust

    1:10:30 — What Success Would Actually Look Like

    1:15:40 — Long-Term Vision and Final Reflections


    CONNECT WITH JAN SRAMEK

    California Forever - Building the next great American city

    Jan Sramek | LinkedIn

    https://x.com/jansramek?s=11


    CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELL

    Newsletter: https://playbook.buildingculture.com/

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    https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/

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    CONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTURE

    https://www.buildingculture.com/

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • #45 Aleksandr Gampel: Reinventing Homebuilding with Mobile Micro-Factories and Cuby Technologies

    #45 Aleksandr Gampel: Reinventing Homebuilding with Mobile Micro-Factories and Cuby Technologies
    Sep 11 2025

    What if the future of affordable housing doesn’t come from prefab or 3D printing, but from building vertically integrated factories that travel to where homes are needed most?

    In this episode, I sit down with Aleksandr Gampel, co-founder and COO of Cuby Technologies, to talk about their radical approach: Mobile Micro-Factories. Instead of shipping oversized boxes across the country, they bring a full factory on-site – producing windows, panels, framing, and even helical piers locally, then assembling homes with unskilled labor.

    We get into why housing costs have exploded (up 40–50% since pre-COVID), how Cuby’s system cuts hard costs by reducing skilled labor, and why most prefab and modular ventures have failed. Aleks explains how their vertically integrated model works, why they’re targeting small-to-mid-sized builders instead of one-off homeowners, and what it will mean when dozens, or even hundreds, of mobile microfactories are running across the U.S.

    We also dive into design: steel tube framing, magnetic facades, and the surprisingly elegant logic behind Toyota’s production system applied to housing. If you’ve ever wondered how we might actually build cost-effective, durable homes at scale – without sacrificing beauty or quality – this episode is worth your time.


    CHAPTERS:

    00:00 Introduction to Housing Challenges

    02:53 The Concept of Mobile Micro Factories

    05:35 Manufacturing Process and Product Offerings

    08:24 Building Systems and Structural Integrity

    11:17 Cost Management and Market Strategy

    14:05 Design Flexibility and Market Demand

    17:07 Community Development and Housing Affordability

    19:53 Operational Dynamics of Mobile Micro Factories

    24:43 Building Efficient Factories with Unskilled Labor

    27:30 The Role of Automation in Construction

    28:54 Phased Business Plan for Housing Production

    30:34 Funding and Capital Efficiency in Startups

    32:33 Design Versatility and Limitations in Home Building

    34:10 Long-Term Vision and Growth Strategy

    35:15 Innovative Problem Solving in Construction

    39:13 Challenges of Prefabrication in the Housing Market

    41:33 Material Science Innovations for Housing

    43:11 The Journey of Co-Founding a Startup

    44:33 Connecting with Cuby Technologies


    CONNECT WITH ALEKSANDR GAMPEL

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamaleksandrgampel/

    Twitter/X: https://x.com/agampel1

    Cuby Technologies: https://www.cubytechnologies.com/


    CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELL

    Newsletter: https://playbook.buildingculture.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/austintunnell/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/

    https://twitter.com/AustinTunnell


    CONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTURE

    https://www.buildingculture.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/

    https://twitter.com/build_culture

    https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture/


    SPONSORS

    Thank you so much to the sponsors of The Building Culture Podcast!

    Sierra Pacific Windows: https://www.sierrapacificwindows.com/

    One Source Windows: https://onesourcewindows.com/


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    55 mins
  • #44 Ann Sussman and Kelsey Bradley: Cognitive Architecture – Stone Age Brains In A Modern World: What Neuroscience Can Teach Us About Making Places People Love

    #44 Ann Sussman and Kelsey Bradley: Cognitive Architecture – Stone Age Brains In A Modern World: What Neuroscience Can Teach Us About Making Places People Love
    Jun 26 2025
    What if the key to designing better cities wasn’t just in concrete, code, or cost, but in understanding how our brains actually work?In this episode, I talk with Ann Sussman and Kelsey Bradley of the Human Architecture and Planning Institute (HAPI) about a subject that’s as profound as it is underdiscussed: how our unconscious biology reacts to the built environment – and how that should change everything about how we design.Ann, architect and author of Cognitive Architecture and Kelsey, founder of Design Cause Inc., now Executive Director at HAPI, walk us through the neuroscience of placemaking. We talk eye tracking. Skin conductivity. Heart rate variability. And how our “Stone Age brains” are still calibrated for the Savannah, even when we’re stuck in a strip mall.This episode will validate what many of us feel but can’t quite explain why some places energize us, and others quietly drain us. The answers aren’t just aesthetic. They’re evolutionary.CHAPTERS:00:00 The Car-Free City: Oslo's Urban Transformation03:43 Human Architecture: Merging Biology and Design08:03 Understanding Human Experience: The Emotional Brain11:24 The Impact of Environment on Human Behavior18:37 The Influence of Modernism on Architecture23:28 The Threatening Nature of Suburban Design26:47 Measuring Human Responses: Biometrics in Architecture31:25 The Science of Emotions in Design33:52 The Power of Empathy in Leadership36:57 Designing for Human Flourishing40:07 The Impact of Built Environments on Mental Health45:35 Understanding Human Perception in Urban Design49:13 The Need for Beautiful and Functional Spaces53:00 The Future of Urban Planning and Community Well-beingMENTIONED RESOURCESBook: Cognitive Architecture: Designing for how we respond to the built environmentBook: Urban Experience & Designhttps://thehapi.org/Free course on "The Genetics of Design" – HAPI.org Courses Design Cause Inc. – Kelsey’s nonprofit building schools in AfricaCONNECT WITH ANN SUSSMANLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-sussman-a1a34a14/X: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-sussman-a1a34a14/ Ann’s Blog: https://annsussman.com/ The Genetics of Design: https://geneticsofdesign.com/about CONNECT WITH KELSEY BRADLEYLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseybradley/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseydeebradley/ CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELLNewsletter: https://playbook.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/austintunnell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/ https://twitter.com/AustinTunnellCONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTUREhttps://www.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/ https://twitter.com/build_culture https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture/ SPONSORSThank you so much to the sponsors of The Building Culture Podcast!Sierra Pacific Windows: https://www.sierrapacificwindows.com/ One Source Windows: https://onesourcewindows.com/
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • #43 Isaac French: You Can Just Do Things – How a First-Time Developer Built One Of The Most Beloved Retreat Brands In The Country

    #43 Isaac French: You Can Just Do Things – How a First-Time Developer Built One Of The Most Beloved Retreat Brands In The Country
    Jun 12 2025
    In this episode, I talk with Isaac French, founder of Live Oak Lake and one of the most thoughtful voices I’ve come across in the world of experiential real estate. Isaac’s story reads like an adventure novel: raised with eight siblings on a Texas farm, homeschooled, steeped in grit. Well before turning 30, he walked five acres of tangled brush – no money, just a vision – and figured out how to design and build a seven-cabin, Nordic-inspired retreat that went viral, grossed over $1M in bookings, and sold for $7M. All in under two years. And plenty went wrong along the way.He’s basically a case study in the idea: you can just do things.We talk about how Isaac blends hardware – design, layout, light – with software – hospitality, scent, story – to create spaces that are both deeply personal and universally resonant. He shares how a glitch in the Airbnb matrix led him to build a direct-to-consumer brand from scratch, and how beauty often begins by submitting to constraint, whether it’s the land, the budget, or your own limits.If you’ve ever wondered what it would mean to build with your soul, not just your spreadsheet, this one’s for you.CHAPTERS:00:00 Creating Community Through Built Environments03:48 The Journey of Live Oak Lake17:54 The Art of Hospitality and Experience27:40 Exploring New Urbanism and Placemaking36:54 The Power of Saying No39:02 Exploring Sacred Geometry and Beauty44:16 Biophilic Design and Human Connection49:45 The Role of Humans in Environmental Stewardship54:43 Navigating Success and Humility01:00:19 Future Visions and Community BuildingMENTIONED RESOURCES:Live Oak Lake | Modern Cabins in Waco, TexasCONNECT WITH ISAAC FRENCHEmail: i@isaacjfrench.comWebsite: https://www.isaacjfrench.com/ Twitter: https://x.com/isaacfrench_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaacfrench_LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaacjfrench/Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/c/IsaacFrench CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELLNewsletter: https://playbook.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/austintunnell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/ https://twitter.com/AustinTunnellCONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTUREhttps://www.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/ https://twitter.com/build_culture https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture/ SPONSORSThank you so much to the sponsors of The Building Culture Podcast!Sierra Pacific Windows: https://www.sierrapacificwindows.com/ One Source Windows: https://onesourcewindows.com/
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • #42 Charles Duff: North Atlantic Cities - The Forgotten Blueprint for the Future

    #42 Charles Duff: North Atlantic Cities - The Forgotten Blueprint for the Future
    May 29 2025
    New episode out now with Charles Duff, author of The North Atlantic Cities. This is one I’ve wanted to record for years, ever since I read his book. Charles lays out a vision of city building that’s neither skyscraper-packed Manhattan nor endless suburban sprawl, but something in between. Something tested, timeless, and deeply human.We talk about what makes cities like Amsterdam, London, and Boston so livable-and why they offer a roadmap for places like Oklahoma City and the Sunbelt. It’s not about replicating Parisian density or banning cars. It’s about building places where families can live in row houses, walk to a corner store, catch a train, and still have a backyard, space and privacy. It’s about recognizing that the built environment is one of our biggest levers for addressing the environment, culture, economics, and quality of life–all at once.Charles explains how a bunch of brick houses built by 17th-century merchants ended up creating one of the most resilient, beautiful, and efficient urban forms the world has ever seen. And he makes a compelling case that we don’t need to invent a new future, we just need to remember what already works.This one’s for anyone who cares about the intersection of beauty, density, and sanity in our cities. Hope you enjoy it–and if you do, go read the book. It’s changed the way I think about building.CHAPTERS:00:00 The Hidden Way of Building Cities05:08 Understanding North Atlantic Cities12:27 The Importance of Urban Density21:01 The North Atlantic Way of Building26:10 Lessons from North Atlantic Cities36:11 Living Conditions in 1600s Europe39:42 The Rise of the Dutch Middle Class43:35 Architectural Innovations in the Netherlands46:27 Contrasting Urban Developments: Paris vs. London48:50 The Modern Row House and Urban Density55:52 The Importance of Aesthetic in Urban Design01:01:46 Integrating Density with Community Needs01:05:45 Final Thoughts on Urban DevelopmentMENTIONED RESOURCES:Charles’ book- The North Atlantic Cities: https://lute-grasshopper-4hhr.squarespace.com/ CONNECT WITH CHARLES DUFFLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-duff-8a2486237/ Website: https://lute-grasshopper-4hhr.squarespace.com/ CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELLNewsletter: https://playbook.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/austintunnell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/ https://twitter.com/AustinTunnellCONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTUREhttps://www.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/ https://twitter.com/build_culture https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture/ SPONSORSThank you so much to the sponsors of The Building Culture Podcast!Sierra Pacific Windows: https://www.sierrapacificwindows.com/ One Source Windows: https://onesourcewindows.com/
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • #41 Joachim Tantau: Sacred Geometry, Beauty, and the Universal Language of Nature

    #41 Joachim Tantau: Sacred Geometry, Beauty, and the Universal Language of Nature
    May 15 2025

    In this episode, I sit down with Joachim Tantau–a cabinetmaker, artist, teacher, and occasional architect to explore the quiet power of sacred geometry. Joachim works at the intersection of tradition, craftsmanship, and cosmic math. His approach to design isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about uncovering the fundamental order embedded in nature, music, architecture, and even the movements of planets.

    We talk about how flowers, planets, and buildings all share hidden proportional systems; why the Golden Ratio keeps showing up in history and design; and how ancient builders created structures more efficient-and more awe-inspiring-than much of what we build today. We also dig into why beauty is not just a luxury, but a basic human need.

    If you’ve ever felt like modern buildings don’t quite “speak” to you, this might explain why.


    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The Role of Sacred Geometry in Design

    03:12 Exploring Sacred Geometry

    08:30 Understanding Sacred Geometry

    13:27 The Intersection of Geometry and Music

    17:03 Sacred Geometry in Architecture

    27:16 The Importance of Beauty in Design

    39:01 Geometry in Modern Engineering

    48:53 Rediscovering Wonder in the Modern World

    54:09 The Distinction Between Pleasure and Enjoyment

    01:00:17 Connecting Architecture with Nature and Geometry

    01:06:04 Ancient Architecture and Cosmic Proportions

    01:11:10 Teaching Sacred Geometry in Design

    01:17:26 Practical Applications of Sacred Geometry in Architecture


    CONNECT WITH JOACHIM:

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joachimtantau/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoachimTantau

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joachim-tantau-53849055

    Website: https://www.joachimtantau.com/home.html


    MENTIONED RESOURCES:

    The Hidden Geometry of Flowers: Living Rhythms, Form and Number by Keith Critchlow: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12293965-the-hidden-geometry-of-flowers

    The Dimensions of Paradise: Sacred Geometry, Ancient Science, and the Heavenly Order on Earth by John Michell : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1443804.The_Dimensions_of_Paradise

    Sacred Art in East and West by Titus Burckhardt: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/371784.Sacred_Art_in_East_and_West_1st_Edition


    CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELL

    Newsletter: https://playbook.buildingculture.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/austintunnell/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/

    https://twitter.com/AustinTunnell


    CONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTURE

    https://www.buildingculture.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/

    https://twitter.com/build_culture

    https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture/


    SPONSORS

    Thank you so much to the sponsors of The Building Culture Podcast!

    Sierra Pacific Windows: https://www.sierrapacificwindows.com/

    One Source Windows: https://onesourcewindows.com/


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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • #40 Inflation, Architecture, and the Death of Beautiful Buildings - a Yoeman Podcast Guest Episode

    #40 Inflation, Architecture, and the Death of Beautiful Buildings - a Yoeman Podcast Guest Episode
    May 1 2025
    A hundred years ago, people in small towns were building things that still stop us in our tracks. Two-story brick shops on the corner of Main and Commerce. Sturdy. Modest. Enduring. And beautiful.So the question is: what changed?I joined Geoff Graham on his Yeoman podcast, alongside Jaime Izurieta and Saifedean Ammous (author of The Bitcoin Standard), to try and unpack that question.We talk about why the small towns of the early 1900s could build beautiful things without credentialed architects, starchitects, or REIT funding... and why today, with all our global supply chains and five-star consultants, we mostly build disposable boxes.Turns out, there’s a connection between money, time preference, and architecture. And when the money got funny, everything else started to crack too – our neighborhoods, our supply chains, even our standards for beauty.It’s a wide-ranging conversation that touches on architecture, monetary policy, code creep, and how the over-financialization of everything is eroding our ability to build for the long haul.Take a listen if you’ve ever wondered why your grandparents' post office looks better than your city’s new civic center.CHAPTERS00:00 The Changing Landscape of Building and Time Preference02:51 Exploring the Intersection of Money and Architecture05:57 Historical Context: Building in Early 20th Century America09:01 The Role of Local Materials and Community in Architecture11:54 Understanding Time Preference and Its Impact on Building15:09 The Influence of Monetary Policy on Architectural Beauty17:50 The Shift from Hard Money to Inflationary Currency21:03 Regulatory Challenges and Their Impact on Construction23:57 The Disparity Between Wealth and Money26:56 The Future of Architecture in an Inflationary Economy40:47 Innovative Window Design and Egress Solutions41:32 The Rising Cost of Housing and Inflation's Impact42:32 Housing as a Store of Value45:18 The Competition for Homeownership47:26 Regulatory Challenges in Housing Production50:47 The Complexity of Modern Building Standards52:43 Energy Efficiency and Building Costs53:43 Inflation and Environmental Concerns56:29 The Future of Energy Production01:01:20 The Role of Nuclear Energy01:03:03 The Case for Sound Money and Bitcoin01:12:14 The Path to a Low Time Preference WorldCONNECT WITH THE GUESTSGeoff Graham: Host of the Yeoman Podcast, real estate developer​Yeoman Podcast Website: https://graham.dev/yeoman/Jaime Izurieta Varela: Architect, developer, urbanist​www.storefrontmastery.com https://x.com/izurietavarea https://www.linkedin.com/in/izurietavarea/ https://www.instagram.com/storefrontmastery/ https://www.facebook.com/public/Jaime-Izurieta/ Book: Mainstreet Mavericks Saifedean Ammous: Economist, Bitcoin advocate, author​Website: https://saifedean.com/Twitter (X): @saifedeanInstagram: @saifedeanPodcast: saifedean.com/podcastCourses: saifedean.com/coursesMENTIONED RESOURCESThe Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking https://saifedean.com/the-bitcoin-standardThe Fiat Standard: The Debt Slavery Alternative to Human Civilization https://saifedean.com/the-fiat-standardCONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELLNewsletter: https://playbook.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/austintunnell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/ https://twitter.com/AustinTunnellCONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTUREhttps://www.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/ https://twitter.com/build_culture https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture/ SPONSORSThank you so much to the sponsors of The Building Culture Podcast!Sierra Pacific Windows: https://www.sierrapacificwindows.com/ One Source Windows: https://onesourcewindows.com/
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • #39 Alli Thurmond Quinlan - The Field-Tested Guide to Terraforming Your City

    #39 Alli Thurmond Quinlan - The Field-Tested Guide to Terraforming Your City
    Apr 17 2025

    You’re not supposed to be good at everything. But somehow, Alli is.

    Architect, landscape architect, developer, GC, policy reformer, zoning translator, builder of teams, builder of trust, builder of actual buildings-it’s no wonder we spent the first five minutes of this episode just trying to list all the roles she plays.

    In this conversation, Alli joins me to talk about what it means to be a true generalist in an era obsessed with specialization. We cover her journey from flipping houses as a teenager to running a growing team at Flintlock Lab, directing the Incremental Development Alliance, and quietly (or not so quietly) reshaping how development works across the country-starting in her hometown of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

    We dig into building science, incremental housing, the limits of Revit, and why being a builder makes you a better architect (and vice versa). But we also get into the harder stuff-like learning to lead, facing city bureaucracy, and what to do when the guy reviewing your permit might genuinely want to run you over with his truck.

    This one’s as practical as it is philosophical, and it left me feeling more hopeful-and a little more fired up-about what’s still possible if we’re willing to roll up our sleeves and terraform our own backyards.


    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Community Engagement and Local Impact

    02:51 The Multifaceted Career of Ali

    05:51 Navigating Development and Housing Challenges

    09:09 The Unique Economy of Fayetteville

    11:56 Balancing Growth and Community Needs

    14:57 Career Trajectory and Intentionality

    18:06 Building Science and Sustainable Practices

    20:49 Design-Build Workflow and Efficiency

    24:07 Entrepreneurial Spirit in Development

    31:57 The Design-Build Approach: Learning Through Doing

    34:51 Scaling Up: The Challenges of Growth

    39:10 Understanding the Market: Design Meets Demand

    41:55 Terraforming Communities: The Role of Local Investment

    44:11 Building a Culture of Collaboration: The Fayetteville Experience

    49:50 Changing the Narrative: Zoning and Community Engagement

    57:04 Navigating Conflict: Building Relationships with City Staff

    01:08:20 Building Relationships in Local Governance

    01:15:06 Navigating Conflict with City Staff

    01:20:01 Growing a Business: Challenges and Changes

    01:26:09 Tools and Software for Efficiency

    01:34:00 Learning from Failures and Growth


    CONNECT WITH Alli

    • Flintlock Lab: flintlocklab.com

    • Incremental Development Alliance: incrementaldevelopment.org

    • Instagram: @flintlocklab

    • LinkedIn: Alli’s Profile


    CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELL

    Newsletter: https://playbook.buildingculture.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/austintunnell/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/

    https://twitter.com/AustinTunnell


    CONNECT WITH BUILDING CULTURE

    https://www.buildingculture.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/

    https://twitter.com/build_culture

    https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture/


    SPONSORS

    Thank you so much to the sponsors of The Building Culture Podcast!

    Sierra Pacific Windows: https://www.sierrapacificwindows.com/

    One Source Windows: https://onesourcewindows.com/


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    1 hr and 41 mins