Cool Change

About Cool Change

Cool Change is a weekly podcast from Chuck Allen: short, solo field notes from a life being lived. Each episode starts with something that actually happened, then works through what he's making of it, and lands on one question for you to carry into your week. It's for anyone navigating a transition, or just sensing that something deeper is asking for their attention. The through line is always the same: design a life that feels like you. More by design, less by default. The archive holds six years of conversations. New episodes are weekly solo field notes.

Publisher

Chuck Allen

Category

education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Jun 2020

Latest episode

23 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

10 of 87 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   23 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Romanticize Your Life

   Chuck Allen interviews himself on how to romanticize everyday life by creating intentional, luxurious "gourmet moments" to enhance daily experiences.

2. 

   10 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Take the Long Way Home

   Chuck Allen shares poignant reflections on embracing joy in ordinary moments, inspired by his friend's final journey in Oregon.

3. 

   18 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   When Passion Becomes Responsibility | with Mindy Crosato

   In this episode of Cool Change, Chuck sits down with Mindy Crosato, founder of Decadent Creations Bakery and The Collective Kitchen in Hillsboro, Oregon. If you live in the Portland area, there’s a good chance you already know her work. Mindy has built a reputation for excellence through years of consistency, creativity, and care. She’s earned awards, media recognition, and national attention, including a win on Food Network’s Chopped. This conversation goes deeper than accolades. Chuck and Mindy explore what happens when something you love becomes something you’re responsible for. They talk about the shift from artist to leader, the loneliness that can come with growth, the emotional cost of recognition, and the internal evolution required to sustain excellence over time. They also talk about pressure, intuition, experimentation, staying grounded, and why lasting things are often built through small steps taken with conviction. If you’ve ever felt called to build something meaningful, or wondered what it takes to keep going once the dream becomes real, this episode is for you.

Inside a recent episode

Romanticize Your Life

Published 23 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] They're creating some sense of meaning or something special about them. And, you know, for a long time, I've been talking about this idea of gourmet moments. And that's really what I'm talking about, romanticizing your life by creating these gourmet moments, moments that are otherwise mundane, rote, habitual. And we create a sense of special, something that's meaningful, something that's rich, full color by paying attention to them and choosing with intention and attention. why they get to be special, what gets to be meaningful about them. […]

Who has been a guest on Cool Change

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jillian Reilly
• Michelle Huebner
• Tim Doherty
• Colin Feldtman
• Lisa DeAngelis

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

44

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

70 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 68 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

79

Social presence

0

YouTube

63

Engagement

82

Contact Cool Change

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Cool Change