Jess and I bonded over the 8:00 a.m. breakfast buffet.

Instant conference buddies, we planned our agendas, shared our notes, and hunted for power outlets together. On the last day, we vowed to stay in touch. One year later, our fast-made friendship had faded into a conference-born fling.

You probably have your own Jess.

From your first boss to your former client, it’s easy to lose touch with peripheral connections. Once valued, they become latent first-degree connections. You held these lost connections close then, so take action to revive them now.

These five requests work because they promise a rewarding interaction, stimulating the brain chemical dopamine that controls motivation.

Seventeen percent of Americans listen to podcasts at least once a month, according to Edison Research. And with the popularity of break-out hits like Serial and 99% Invisible, that number is expected to rise. 

Podcasters are extremely prolific in the tech space. Which ones are worth listening to, however? Here are seven podcast suggestions for local listeners. 

Boston Content held its first-ever Field Day last month, and we learned exactly how valuable it can be to get out of the office. Whether it was a simple change of scenery or something about the collaborative atmosphere ingrained at WeWork, the day proved to be a productivity-booster for everyone involved.

The second iteration was held this past Tuesday, and we learned a different lesson: Taking a little time to learn about what other content marketers are doing can go beyond boosting productivity; it can kick start your creativity and open your eyes to new ways of creating great content.