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On this episode of The Smylie Show, host Smylie Kaufman is joined by three-time Ryder Cup winner and 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell. Smylie and Graeme begin by turning the clock way back to Graeme's college days, where he played for Smylie's grandfather Alan at UAB - and joined many Kaufman family holiday dinners in the process! Graeme then details his experience playing in four Ryder Cups, including the famous European comeback win at Medinah in 2012. He tells some great stories about his partnership with Rory McIlroy, including whether Rory would assume a playing captaincy role with the Ryder Cup headed to Ireland in 2027. Tune into the channel next week for wall-to-wall #RyderCup coverage! #Bethpage CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro and Disclaimer 03:00 - Graeme McDowell joins the show 04:00 - UAB and the Kaufman family connection 17:30 - Keegan Bradley's captaincy 25:30 - Ryder Cup experiences & stories 59:39 - Predictions for Bethpage
Struggling with patients rejecting periodontal therapy? In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share proven strategies to increase patient acceptance of conservative periodontal therapy, highlight the oral-systemic health connection, and provide simple verbal skills for hygienists to boost gum disease treatment acceptance and grow hygiene-driven production.
What do you do when your spouse has shifted back toward you… some… but is still distant? More distant than you would like? Do you have to just accept it, accept the lack of intimacy and connection? Is that the relationship you are stuck with? Some connection. Still married. But not the warmth, love, and connection you do want? That is the question posed to me. Mary reports that her husband returned after a number of months of separation. But now, some time later, after his return, the connection is not where it needs to be. It isn't where Mary wants it to be. What do you do, Mary wonders? Accept it? Make peace with the fact that her spouse does not want an intimate relationship with her? I delve into Mary's question (which may also be your question) about what to do when the connection is still not there, even after some improvement. I suggest 3 steps for Mary (and perhaps you) to take. And yes, we start at acceptance. But that is not about giving up! Listen below. RELATED RESOURCES: Yet Connection and Disconnection 3 Levels of Connection Acceptance - What IS That? Save The Marriage System The Lone Ranger Tool Package
Life doesn't always go the way we plan. Sometimes the best thing we can do is stop fighting reality and find a way forward. In this episode of Simply Said, Polly shares a simple four-step approach—Accept, Appreciate, Adapt, and Act—to help you move through challenges with more clarity and less stress. Acceptance isn't about approval, it's about freeing yourself from resistance. Appreciation helps you notice what's still working, even in hard times. Adaptation invites you to pivot when life changes course. And action grounds it all with small, doable steps that fit the moment you're actually in. This is a framework you can use in everyday situations—from unexpected setbacks to major life changes. When you stop fighting what is and start responding to it, you'll find more energy, peace, and purpose in the process. For more on how to live well, do good, and be happy, join our Simply Said Community at pollycampbell.substack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Arthur makes an unlikely comeback in the 1880 Republican Convention in this episode. The story is a little more complex than it's often told, and involves a bit more of Arthur's skill than is often mentioned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
David Waldman and Greg Dworkin voice the patriotic, uplifting, free thinking that this nation needs and deserves. Accept no substitutes! You know Tyler Robinson. Tyler can check that box off, although you, and humanity in general seem to be an abstract concept to him. What outsiders don't get is that Tyler loaded his rifle with skibidi bullets to join the Pepe elite in brain rot Valhalla… And, to show the sort of love that only he and Mark David Chapman can truly understand. Utah Governor Spencer Cox hoped this wasn't about him. None of us do. Plenty of others where Tyler came from. Some people think of Charlie Kirk as an inspirational, encouraging speaker. Some people see him as a speaker who inspired and encouraged violence and hatred. Charlie demonstrated how one could be both. Plenty of others where Charlie came from. No one can say a bad word about Kirk. Not if they want to keep their job… or life. Kari Lake has noticed that school shootings keep occurring at schools. MAGA knows that no true MAGA would ever commit a violent act, and anyone who says so won't see tomorrow. MAGA was too lefty for Charlie, and Charlie was too lefty for Groypers. That makes Donald K. Trump the FDR of our time, except from the shoulders up rather than the hips down. There also are a lot of things that Trump fears more than fear itself. For instance, Trump is hiding from Chicago down in Memphis, while ICE attempts to sucker punch the wind out of the Windy City. South Korea has Trump filling his pants as if they designed the assembly line. Everybody seems more scared of Trump than Brazil was of Bolsonaro. Kathy Hochul endorses Zohran Mamdani. It's about time, and it is the time.
This week, Oz and Fluent salute a friend of show making big college advancements and unpack civilian obsessions with street culture; The Boys discuss the murder of Charlie Kirk and why Black people are not obligated to care; Oz recaps his viewing of the Netflix doc Unknown Caller: High School Catfish; Plus, your listener letters and the Top 3 STFUs. Pour Up! Song of the Week: Radio Galaxy- "Anewknocki" Become a Patreon for bonus content, Discord access and MORE! Patreon.com/OpinionsWhileBlack
God is clearly calling us just as he called the children of Israel. We only have two choices. Accept the call or reject it. What will it be?
Service and Sacrifice - Matthew 20:17-28‘Cursed by anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.' And the people shall say, ‘Amen.' - Deut. 27:19‘Accept atonement, O LORD, for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and do not set the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of your people Israel, so that their blood guilt be atoned for.' So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD. - Deut. 21:8-9Those who reject biblical truth have always promoted godless ideas that have very bad consequences in the real world. Now those ideas are more accessible than ever online and on social media. 1 in 3 college students say it's okay to use violence to stop speech you disagree with (FIRE).Jesus knows what awaits Him, but still goes - V. 17-191st statement of deathMatt. 16:21-22From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.2nd statement of deathMatt. 17:22-23As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.”3rd statement of deathMatt. 20:17-19And on the way said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and He will be raised on the third day.”Crucifixion was reserved for the worst of the worst criminals – those Rome wanted to make examples of. What neither the Jewish nor Roman officials understood was that they would be fulfilling prophecy.But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:5-6The Disciples are more concerned about their glory than Christ's suffering - V. 20-24The sons of Zebedee were John and James, and Salome was their mother. It's possible she was Mary's sister, which meant she was Jesus' aunt (Draw your own conclusion by studying Matthew 20:20-28; 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41; 16:1-8; John 19:25).Unfortunately, their faith was still very selfish and focused in on “what's in it for me” mentality. They also wanted to be viewed as greater than their fellow disciples. Far too often, we are just like them.The first cup Jesus refers to is the “cup of judgment” due wicked sinners (Psalm 11:6, 75:8; Isa. 51:17, 22; Jer. 25:15, 17, 28; Rev. 14:10, 18:16).The second cup Jesus refers to is the cup of salvation given to those whose faith is in God and sins forgiven by Christ (Psa. 116:13; Matt. 26:27).Greatness in God's eyes is gained through servant leadership - V. 25-28In response to the disciples pride, Jesus gave instructions in verse 26-27 that have changed not just true Christian practice but affected every leadership structure in cultures heavily influenced by Christianity – Jesus introduced to the world “servant leadership.”Notice Jesus doesn't criticize their ambition to be great – He channels it! By Jesus' definition every Christian can be great, no matter how simple their life position and natural talents. Everyone can do what Jesus did – serve others as He served the world.Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church. - Col. 1:24Jesus Christ sacrificed to actualize salvation for all who repent and believe. We make sacrifices to give others access to that saving message!
Reviewing Study Article 26 from the June 2025 Watchtower Study Edition. Topics of discussion: End times or last days, and mixed messages from the Governing Body Subscribe to the JW Review Podcast HERE (Apple/iTunes), HERE (Spotify), or HERE (Amazon) Support MJF Apologetics through Patreon HERE WhatsApp or Signal: please contact me directly for my number Email me HERE
The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: A message to Leftists of all stripes and their adherents in media, colleges & universities, and all other institutions in which Leftists thrive or have taken control: We will not quit. Political polarization is not a problem unless, like the Left, you cannot abide anyone existing with whom you disagree – and don't kid yourself, political polarization has always been defined as existing because conservatives will not abandon their beliefs and defer to those on the Left.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Good win for the future at the State Board of Education.Another positive oil and gas rig count report from Baker Hughes.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com
What margin of victory will make YOU happy with Nebraska tomorrow? We also have an update on our Raiola Heisman poll!
Sometimes you have to be the strong one who stands up and says the hard things that others would rather suppress. Not to be confused with the opinions of people who feel oppression is a means of collecting clout, but the real people willing to share the facts about a situation that have been skewed by multiple perceptions. At one point do we have to place accountability on the correct people for doing the wrongs, even if it is a challenge against their power and prestige? Why is the judicial branch of government not held in check?How willing are you to do the right actions rather than the silent thing? Do you stand up for what you believe in, or do you roll over under someone else's influence easily, abandoning your own principles for the sake of their acceptance? That doesn't mean you have to go involving yourself in things you have no business being a part of just to appear a hero, but choose your battles wisely for the sake of human life. Nobody is entitled to commit violent crime against people in the pursuit of life and happiness.Mental illness is a sickness amongst the weak that should not be excused or tolerated. It should be addressed with accountability towards the person who is capable of doing the wrong regardless of the why. We can make change happen through non-violent actions. It's called TALKING ABOUT IT. Taking responsibility needs to be part of the majority, not the minority. This country needs to overcome the sickness, not succumb to it just because it is too difficult to process. Don't fall into the category that is the problem just because you are too lazy to be held accountable. Now is the time that you have to fight for the things you believe in, even if it is hard to be the black sheep. You will find YOUR people and THRIVE more than ever when you rid your life of the people weighing you down. Fly your flag high if
"It's just fate, Mom. I'm the Slayer. Accept it." Ian Carlos Crawford and Zachary Patton Garcia talk all the recent set pic leaks and rumors about the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival. CONTACT: slayerfestx98@gmail.com Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/slayerfest98 Buy our stuff on etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Slayerfestx98 Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Slayerfestx98 Follow us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slayerfestx98.bsky.social Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slayerfestx98 Follow us on insta: https://www.instagram.com/slayerfestx98/ Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/slayerfestx98 Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Slayerfestx98
In this episode, James dives into 2 Chronicles 30:1–9, 26–27 and King Hezekiah's call to return to the Lord. After God gave Hezekiah 15 more years of life, he used that time to bring God's people together in worship and repentance. James challenges listeners to move beyond religion, labels, and tradition, and to embrace true unity and relationship with Christ. Will you accept God's invitation to return, repent, and live for Him?
Click here to Shop Affirmation Decks, Oracle Decks, and more! Use Promo code: RCPODCAST20 for 20% off your first order! Today's Power Affirmation: My moments turn out the best because I make the best of the way my moments turn out! Today's Oracle of Motivation: We all face unexpected adversity in life. Loss of income. Illness in the family. Someone steals your Fruity Pebbles. These moments always sneak up when you least expect them, causing internal mayhem in the form of anxiety, depression, and even anger. Although Fruity Pebbles theft should be punishable by lashings, what's done is done and cannot be changed. Accept your disposition and make the best of what comes next! For the rest of your life, your moments will ALWAYS turn out the best if you make the best of the way your moments turn out! Designed to Motivate Your Creative Maniac Mind The 60-Second Power Affirmations Podcast is designed to help you focus, affirm your visions, and harness the power within your creative maniac mind! Join us daily for a new 60-second power affirmation followed by a blast of oracle motivation from the Universe (+ a quick breathing meditation). It's time to take off your procrastination diaper and share your musings with the world! For more musings, visit RageCreate.com Leave a Review & Share! Apple Podcast reviews are one of THE most important factors for podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a second to leave the show a review on Apple Podcasts! Click this link: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Hit “Listen on Apple Podcasts” on the left-hand side under the picture. Scroll down under “Ratings & Reviews” & click “Write A Review” Leave an honest review. You're awesome!
In this video, I share my top 7 tips to help you minimize injury risk in rugby. From building strength and fitness to improving technique, managing training load, and recovering properly, these are the exact strategies I use to keep players strong, fit, and ready all season.In this episode: 00:00 Intro01:52 Tip 1: Accept the Risk of Rugby04:03 Tip 2: Get Strong05:57 Tip 3: Get Fit07:08 Tip 4: Improve Your Technique08:21 Tip 5: Expose Yourself to Game Stresses10:04 Tip 6: Manage Your Load12:00 Tip 7: Manage Your Recovery13:20 Wrap upPlaybookJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show
Every marriage and long-term relationship has a “dark side”—the flaws, fears, and hidden traits that inevitably come to light over time. In this episode of The Happily Ever After Divorce Podcast™, Sara Khaki and Shawna Woods explore the concept of the 'dark side' in relationships, discussing how partners can recognize and accept each other's flaws. They delve into the importance of understanding what each partner is capable of, the impact of willful ignorance, and the necessity of open communication to bring hidden issues to light. The discussion emphasizes that acknowledging and addressing these darker aspects can lead to personal growth and stronger relationships.
People matter more than position, and leadership starts with taking care of others. Doing that right means a million acts. SUMMARY Those are lessons Lt. Col. Steven “Meathead” Mount '08 shares with listeners in the Season 4 premier of Long Blue Leadership. For Col. Mount, becoming a pilot was a major milestone, but becoming a husband and father had the biggest impact. Don't wait, listen today and become a better leader tomorrow. SHARE THIS PODCAST FACEBOOK | LINKEDIN COL. MOUNT'S TOP LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Adoption shaped my understanding of support and love. Leadership is about lifting others to achieve their best. Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal and professional growth. Balancing family and career is a continuous challenge. It's important to have tough conversations as a leader. Resilience is key to overcoming setbacks in life and career. Listening more than talking is essential for effective leadership. Recognizing the importance of support systems can enhance leadership effectiveness. Leadership is defined by consistent, everyday actions. The military community thrives on teamwork and mutual support. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Leadership Lessons 06:43 The Impact of Adoption on Leadership 14:53 Navigating Challenges at the Academy 22:49 Career Path and Opportunities in Aviation 33:31 Balancing Family and Military Career 44:18 Continuous Improvement as a Leader ABOUT COL. MOUNT BIO Lt. Col. Steven “Meathead” Mount is a decorated officer in the United States Air Force with a career marked by leadership, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to mentoring the next generation. A command pilot with thousands of flight hours, he has served in a variety of demanding roles across multiple aircraft and theaters, bringing a wealth of experience in both combat and peacetime operations. Beyond the cockpit, Lt. Col. Mount is widely recognized for his ability to lead diverse teams through complex challenges, foster innovation, and develop leaders at every level. His career reflects not only technical expertise but also a people-first leadership philosophy that emphasizes accountability, resilience, and service. Known by his call sign “Meathead,” he brings both humility and humor to the serious business of leading Airmen. His story is one of dedication to mission and country, but also of shaping culture, inspiring others, and leaving a lasting impact on the Air Force community. CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor: Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Ryan Hall | Director: Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor: Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer: Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org ALL PAST LBL EPISODES | ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS TRANSCRIPT SPEAKERS Guest, Lt. Col. Steven Mount '08 | Host, Lt. Col. Naviere Walkewicz '99 Naviere Walkewicz Welcome to the first episode of Season 4 of Long Blue Leadership, the podcast where we share insights on leadership through the lives and experiences of Air Force Academy graduates. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. We're kicking off this season with a story that shows how our earliest experiences can shape the kind of leaders we become. Lt. Col. Steve Mount, Class of 2008, call sign “Meathead,” didn't fully realize that truth until later in life. Adopted as an infant, he came to understand that love and support aren't guaranteed. They're gifts. Over his 17-year career, Col. Mount has flown missions across a wide range of aircraft, from the C-130 to special operations to the U-2. And today, he's in command. But through every stage, one belief has stayed with him: People succeed not only through their own efforts, but because someone believed in them. In this conversation, we'll talk about how those early lessons have shaped criminal mom's approach to leading airmen, mentoring the next generation of pilots, balancing mission and family and building teams that are rooted in trust. His story is a powerful reminder that leadership isn't about the me game, it's about lifting others so they can achieve their best. So what better way to start our new season? Col. Mount, welcome to Long Blue Leadership. Lt. Col. Steven Mount Thank you so much, ma'am for having me. I really do appreciate this opportunity to at least try to share some of my stories, experiences and honestly, if anything touches base with those who listen in and resonates, that's why I'm glad to be here. Naviere Walkewicz Well, let's start right with a way for them to connect with you. You mentioned your call sign is Meathead. Let's start there. Lt. Col. Steven Mount OK, I'll do my best to tell the story as quickly as I can. And the fun thing about being a pilot — but also I think this plays true in any type of storytelling environment — is, you know, only 10% of the story has to be true when it comes to your call signs. So to start… Oh my gosh— I know there's some friends out there who are going to laugh at this, especially of mine. Going through pilot training… The last part of the pilot training, when I was in the T-1s, when you get to that last part, you know, after you've gone through all the ups and downs, you kind of celebrate a little bit more. And that's what I've done. I had gone out with a couple of my rugby brothers that I played with at the Academy, and we'd gone out to just a country, a little country dance hall, and, you know, we're just enjoying and celebrating. And one of my rugby brothers introduced me to one of his friends through his wife, and this individual, who I didn't know much about at the time, had said— I said, “Yeah, I'm starting T-1s here and all that good stuff. And I immediately, immediately — especially in the celebratory mood I was in — thought, “Oh, this is another awesome student that's coming through. Like, hey, let me start giving you the tidbits. Let me start laying out what to expect.” And that's how I treated this individual for the rest of that evening. You know, we're dancing and having fun and just talking it up. And it was a good evening. It was really good evening. Come Monday morning, I get the word I'm flying with this new instructor in the T- 1s. And I had no idea who this individual was. I did not recognize the name at all. And I asked our flight schedule, like, “Who's this?” Is like, “Oh, it's a new person coming in. I think you're one of his first flights back in the T-1s training wise.” And I was like, “Well, OK, I'm ready to go.” And I sit down, and then this instructor sits down right across from me, and it's a major and sure enough, it's this, the person I thought was a student at the Texas dance, the country dance hall that we were at. Naviere Walkewicz Oh boy! Lt. Col. Steven Mount He looks me up and down. Oh, it was one of those moments of shock, of like, “What do I… Where do I go from here?” And he looks me up and down, he goes, and he laughs, and he goes, “Man, you are just such a meathead.” And so that's where it started. And call signs and nicknames— sometimes, some people like, wanna try change it throughout their careers and try to like, “No, that's not who I am. I don't want that to define me.” So as I'm leaving pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, I'm heading towards my first assignment in Tucson, Arizona for the EC-130 and I'm like, “OK, here we go. I'm gonna start fresh. I'm not that meathead that went through the Academy playing rugby. I'm not that meathead in pilot training to I just like to have fun. Just like to have fun. I do my own thing, and I'm gonna start fresh.” And I get out, and one of the very first meetings I had in the new squadron was with the DO, Lt. Col. Reimer. He sits down with me, and he says, “Come on in, because I'm in blues. He goes, come on in. Sit down. And then he's just quiet. I'm like, this is interesting. He looks me up and down and goes, “Yeah, you definitely look like a meathead.” And I'm like, “Whoa.” So sure enough, the major that I flew with was really good friends and had flown with this squadron, told this DO about me, and the DO got through his spiel, introduced me to my first flight commander before I deployed in Afghanistan, and goes, “Hey, this is Meathead. Take care of him. He's a good one.” I was like, “No, no, everyone, please, let's stop.” And then throughout the years, things kept happening that just reinforced the call sign, Meathead. I got into U-2s, me and a buddy, also pilots. We popped both tires on a T-38 at Long Beach Airport, and we closed down the airport for about five hours. It was on the local news. Not happy about that. And then there were multiple times where I tried to, like, get rid of the Meathead persona, the callsign, but I think it was finally solidified on a CNN interview on one of my U-2 deployments, where the lady interviewing us goes, “OK, we can't use your real name. So what name should we use? And before I could even say anything, one of my buddies just pops up and goes, “ It's Meathead.CNN lady, use Meathead.” And I was like, “OK.” And then international news in that interview, I am Capt. Meathead. And I never got away from the call sign, Meathead. Naviere Walkewicz We are gonna find that clip of Capt. Meathead. Lt. Col. Steven Mount It is out there, just U-2… I think the article under CNN: “U-2 spy plane carries out the mission against terrorist organizations.” You know, not that I didn't remember what it was called. Naviere Walkewicz Well, I would say you heard it here first, but you didn't. You heard it maybe, if you heard it in the U-2 world or what have you. But we're gonna find it again. And so we're gonna resurrect here first, but we're so glad you're here. Yes, yes, this is awesome. And you know, I think one of the things I really enjoyed in our early conversation, and what we're gonna share today is how you kind of look back and you are very grateful and thankful for the upbringing you have. And so let's kind of go back to the fact, you know, not a lot of our guests share kind of their background, and the fact that you share that you were adopted. What did that kind of, what role did that play in your life? And, you know, was it insignificant? Or, you know, what did you glean from that? Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yeah, I really appreciate that question. And honestly, I really appreciate you giving the opportunity to kind of share that. It has played a huge role in my life. Adopted 11 months. And what it did for me is set the foundation of the family. It may not necessarily be one you have, it's the one who who's there for you, who supports you, who loves you. And then, honestly, the other part about being adopted, which I kind of— there were struggles, like, it wasn't perfect, but there were struggles in my mind where I wanted to show that those who adopted me, I wanted to show them that I could be more and thank them, you know, on a daily basis, for everything they had done for me, supporting me. So that drove me, that motivated me to get into the Academy, or even— back up, even like, do well in high school, get into the Academy, become a pilot. All of that was the basis of— I want to show that in a weird way, I want to show that your investment was worth it. You know, you found me, you gave me the love and support. So I'm going to give back to you by showing you what you were able to, you know, give a second chance, small, little child. And then the— but the other side of that, and I don't know how many of those who are adopted, who feel like this sometimes. Can't be the only one, but I can at least convey it here. There's a sense of, you know, “Why? Why was I adopted?” You know, what really happened in the sense that those who biologically brought me into this world, was I not worthy enough? Was I just a bad situation. And so there's that part I keep motivational wise to be like, “Well, I'm going to show them what they're missing out on.” And I know that's more of the negative kind of side of the whole internal conflict of being adopted. But I would be lying if I didn't say that that was part of the drive that kept me going throughout those years. Naviere Walkewicz Something that came to my mind when you were saying that was, you know— when did you find out? And how old were you to kind of start having those, those thoughts and questions, you know, not only why, but how do I show that I am worthy? Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, so my mother and father did an amazing job of, I remember, I can't remember the name of this particular book, but there was a book that she had given me that she read to me, and that, throughout the years, as I she utilized, helped me start reading and whatnot. And the basis of the book was, you know, cartoon with a little bit of words, is, “You were not purchased, you know, you were not bought at a store. You know you were, you were brought in and chosen and to be a part of a family.” So she, she wanted to have this idea that I always knew, that was adopted. She never wanted to surprise me, or she never wanted to be like, one day, like, “Hey, just so you know…” She did an awesome job of leading into that, Hey, you were adopted. But don't look at it as this, ‘We went to the store and we picked out the one we liked.' It's more of a, ‘We wanted you in our family.' And that's where it started.” It started, “We wanted a bigger family.” Whether they were, at the time, not able to grow or have themselves, they decided that, “We still want to grow a family. So let's look through adoption as a means.” So she had that book, I remember that book, and then the other book, which I still love to this day, and I got a copy for my kids, I Love You Forever, and how she would read that book to me every single night with the words, “…and I love you forever, like you for always. As long as you're living, my baby, you'll be.” That showed me that it didn't matter where I came from. This was my mom, you know, this was my family. So she did a really good job laying that foundation for me, for who I've become to be. Naviere Walkewicz So would you put your parents in that bucket of inspirational leaders for you that have shaped you? And are there others? Lt. Col. Steven Mount One-hundred percent. Like I said, the foundational piece of being that inspirational leader, to me in the sense of working on it all the time, right? It's not simple but accepting people for who they are. Where they're at in life. Accept them for their faults, accept them for the things that they don't like about themselves, but just accepting them and giving them the support, giving them the love that they need to show them, that they can do anything, I like to think for the most part, I'm an example of that because of what my parents did for me. Naviere Walkewicz So, as a young boy, and you talked a little bit about this, you wanted to prove to them. So Was that something you feel over time, you continue to develop this desire to show your worth? And where have you seen that show up I guess even throughout your going— maybe even at the Academy, how has that kind of formed you as a leader individually? Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, yes. So the showing the worth, the showing the value, or paying it back and showing my parents, once again, I use the word “investment” like it was good— I was good investment. Like I was a good return on investment. But it's helped when I've gone through those struggles, when I've gone— because the first time I put in for the Academy and… back up just a little bit. My dad likes to tell a story that I even told my fifth-grade teacher that she was, you know, “What do you want to do?” I was like, “I'm gonna be a pilot.” I said nothing else. Like, I want to be pilot. I want to fly. And then I had had an awesome mentor whose son, at the time, was going through the process of the Academy, sophomore year in high school, and she helped me with that. Good ol' Mrs. Williams, amazing. When I first initially applied for the Academy, I did not get it. I got a “Sorry, you are not competitive at this time.” Here starts some of those moments in your life to where, like, “OK. How can I bounce back? Do I accept the rejection, or do I find another means?” And even when that happened, that first time, my parents, they were like, “It's OK, it's OK. You don't need to…” They were always like, “You don't need to prove anything else. We love you, regardless.” I was like, “No, I need to prove this.” So I found other means, and I was, I will say, blessed in the sense that at that time, my running back coach for the high school reached out to the Academy. This happened early my senior year, and reached out and was like, “Hey, we have, I have someone who I think might do well for your program.” And then, sure enough, I got invited to come out for a football recruiting visit and I sat down with Fisher Deberry, and he just goes, “Would you like to play for this program?” And once again, I was like, “Wait a minute. No, no. I already got rejected. You know, I already gotten the…” But obviously I was going through my head, but all I said was, “Yes, sir, I would love to play for this program. I'd love to go the Academy.” And he made it happen. And I got recruited, and I got the invite to come out, to go the United States Air Force Academy. Wow. And once again, that only happened because my parents, they said, “Hey, we don't care what happens. We love you. Support you. You make the decision and we're here behind you.” And then I had a coach who was like, “I got you. I've seen what you do. I support this.” And went out on a limb for me. And then, in a sense, I guess Fisher DeBerry was also like, “I'm taking this football recruit, I hope he makes it through the Academy. So the love and support is, was there throughout. Naviere Walkewicz What a path, I mean, that is quite unique. And, yeah, that's something to just kind of sit in a little bit, right? You know, the path of to your point, it just comes from support. And obviously you have to do the things to make sure that when the opportunity presents itself, you're ready to take that step, but what an incredible story of those who have supported you. Let's talk about a little bit before we kind of get into I think, what I think is the next real moment in your life — when you talk about becoming a father in your family. But while you're at the Academy, I'm just curious what more you learned about yourself as a leader, because you no longer had to prove to your parents that you were worthy of their investment, right? Like this is investment, right? Like this is a new season of your life. What did that look like for you as a leader? Lt. Col. Steven Mount The challenges and the experiences I had the Academy — and I know I talked about this in one of my interviews previously with the foundation — was that I had to I went through my sophomore year and the rigors of academics, of the military side, of sports. It was taking this toll. I will say this many times. I'll continue to say I'm not the smartest crayon in the shed. Naviere Walkewicz Wait, did you say crayon in the shed? Lt. Col. Steven Mount I did. A little mixture of the sharpest tool in the box, exactly. I love it! I'm glad someone caught it. That's perfect! But yes, hard work was probably the foundation of what the Academy taught me was you persevere by hard work. You do the day in; you do the day out. You get after it. Because I was not getting after it after sophomore year. My GPA was not the best, and I had to approach my sophomore year, which very fortunate, because I had done my best to put in the time with the football program. But obviously I was losing ground in the academic side and that came back to almost biting, in the sense that I could have failed out. So I had had one of those— Once again, my father being an amazing mentor himself, whether he knows it or not. And I talked to him, and I said, “Dad, I think I have to quit football. I don't think I can continue with this, the rigors of all of this with the Academy.” And he goes, “Well, what was your dream?” I was like, “My dream was to fly.” He goes, “Well, did you go there to play football? Or did you go there to fly?” And that was an easy answer. But then I was thinking about all those coaches and mentors and those who helped me get to where I was, and I never really quit at something, and that's what it felt like. It really felt like I was quitting. I was quitting my teammates. I was quitting my coaches. And that weighs heavy on your soul, for all those out there who just are struggling, like, “Should I continue?” But my dad was right. My priorities weren't to become a football player, because I wasn't gonna be. I wasn't going to be. I wasn't going to become, you know, some — who can I name drop? — Chad Hall, you know, going to the NFL, doing amazing things. I wasn't going to be out there starting on, maybe third if they still have fourth string… maybe fourth string. So my dad helped me with those priorities by, once again, just being supportive. He never said one way or the other. He said, “What do you want to do?” And so I had that hard conversation with him, and went down to the Field House, and I said, “I apologize. I have to quit so I can concentrate on what I want to do for my dreams.” And once we had that was hard, that was very difficult. So that was one of the challenges at the Academy presented, and how I bounced back from that was you always go two ways. You always go into the woe is me and you know, just kind of beat yourself up and just hold on to that, that pride and ego being shattered. Or you can find a community, a support group, that will be there with you. And I found that almost immediately with my rugby brothers. They're just like me. They're like, “Hey, we just like to hang out at our own little table at Mitchell Hall. We like to just come out, play the sport, do what you love to do, athletic wise, and you'll have some more free time, obviously, for academics.” Not that I'd utilize that correctly still, but that's what it took to get me through those next couple years, that and my amazing roommates. I think all of us Academy grads and those who are going through right now, a support of a good roommate is huge. I that, uh, I appreciate the question, because now it's just dawning on me how much I just really appreciate my roommates at the Academy for their support as well. Very similar to my parents, it's like, “Hey, I don't care what you do, but I'm here to support you, love you regardless.” So I got a lot of that the Academy, and that's what helped get me through. Naviere Walkewicz That's amazing. I think there's a couple of things I want to dig into a little bit. The first one is, you know, I think deciding to have that tough conversation where, one, you felt like you're already prideful, and you're having to, I'm putting in air quotes, “quit.” Can you talk about how you approached that, other than, I know you went and did it. But I think sometimes one of the most challenging things we can do as leaders is have a tough conversation when it involves us either stepping back or taking a step down from what seems to be the trajectory of what's next. And so I'm just— if you could just share a little bit more about that, I think that would be helpful. Lt. Col. Steven Mount So, and I just want to clarify: As leaders, we have to recognize and we have to have the courage to have the tough conversations, because that wouldn't be the first time that I'd have to make a decision in that regard, or have the tough conversations to where it was gonna affect me personally or those around me. You deal with it understanding, one, give yourself a little bit of grace. Give yourself a little bit of grace in the sense that whatever tough decision you have to make, you're not alone. And I imagine you might not always be the first person who had either to make that decision or was going through something like that. I was not the only one going through something at that time like that. I didn't know that. And so I've had other conversations where others were like, “Yeah, I also, you know how to make that type of call to not play anymore or give up something, because my priority was this...” You know, what was driving me to succeed was something else, and that followed me well throughout my career, because I've had many, many tough conversations. I've had the tough talk as a leader. I've had to tell someone that, “I'm sorry, your dreams to become a pilot…” It's not going to happen because of their performance. I've had conversations on how to get through those tough moments and said how to get on the other side. And I know it's like a broken record, but it just comes through with the support of being there for that individual or being there to guide them to the next step. And I had that. I had that when I made that tough decision. I had someone want to give myself grace. Two, I realized I was not alone. And three, I had the support to get from this side of that tough decision bridge to the other side. And because that support was there, I learned that, and I learned to pass that on from all my leadership opportunities, to be like, “Let me be the one who guides you over this bridge. It's not gonna be fun. There's gonna be parts are gonna hurt. It's gonna be painful. But I will be next to you to get to the other side, to where we can get back to a good place. We get back to what really matters and get back to succeed in maybe another sense.” So the tough convos as leaders, you have to have those tough convos. Do not shy away from them. They're gonna happen, whether you like it or not. Naviere Walkewicz I'm really glad you shared it that way, because I think it created a pathway to how to approach it, to your point. You know, it they're not comfortable, they're not designed to be that way. But if you start it with, you know, being that support in mind, and how to get someone, even if you're giving the worst news, the worst news where, “This was your dream, you're not gonna be able to do it because of this. And here's now where we're at, and how can I help you succeed through that?” I think that's what a wonderful lesson you just shared. And so I want to dive now into your career, because you had a really broad career, one that's not a traditional path, and I want to understand why it looked that way. So C-130, EC-130, Special Ops, you— talk a little bit about how you navigated that and what was the driving reasons behind that navigation? Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, ma'am. So something you said earlier, which I really liked, I really love to try to convey to those around me, and actually, I've gone through some of these conversations over the last month and a half with younger instructor pilots. Luck is just the crossroad of opportunity and being prepared, and I'm pretty sure someone super smarter than me said that. I barely remembered. But the opportunities that present themselves to me for what I wanted to do, for my goals in the Air Force. So thankfully, even getting through pilot training, that was, in itself, amazing, transformational. Getting those wings, right? Getting those wings because pilot training, just like my Academy career, I had some ups and downs and some challenges but was able to get through because the sense of me becoming a pilot was first and foremost to fly. I want to be up there in the sky. I want to rush past the clouds. I want to touch the highest point I can. I want to be a pilot's pilot. And then right behind that was I want to accomplish the mission for whatever platform or whatever weapon system I'm given, aircraft wise. So those are my two biggest priorities. And that helped me understand that I had some failures of pilot training when I got to my first assignment, EC-130s. But that was perfect for me. That was— I never knew that. I never knew that in pilot training, that the EC-130 would fulfill me in that sense of my sense of purpose as much as it did. And I'm and getting out there, like said, four or five deployments to Afghanistan, as well as multiple TDYs. I was doing the mission, and I was happy, because I was— that's exactly what I wanted to do. That's exactly what young Meathead Mount was built for. But there were parts of me that still wanted to do more. Like, I felt like I could do more. I could be— I could help out more. I could— it's just itching, or not itching, but just burning in the back. It's like, “Hey, you are built for so much more. You can do more. Let's look for those opportunities.” So, funny enough, the first opportunity I had at that time, or I thought I had, was I reached out to— it's no longer around — but the 6th Special Operations Squadron at Duke Field. It was a combat aviation advisory mission. These individuals got to travel the world. I got to learn languages. Literally, they were sent to school to learn languages, to embed with other nations, to build those relationships, to be on the ground but still flying multiple different aircraft. I was like, “That's awesome. That sounds like me. That sounds like something I can do, and I can bring value to the table, and all the above.” So I put in my application; it was immediately rejected. In their eyes, I did not have the experience yet. I did not have what they were looking for, understandable. So here I am in another situation to where, like, “OK, well, what do I— is there any other means or ways that I can continue to fulfill my purpose as a pilot and get after the mission? Because that's what I really wanted to do, get after mission, whatever that looks like. I thought the sticks was an opportunity. They had said no to me, that's fine. And then I had an amazing friend reach out. He goes, “Hey, I heard you're getting a little long winded out there at EC-130s. You should put an application in for the U-2.” And I was like, “What are you talking about? I have no jet experience, other than the T-1. I don't have that background to be that type of caliber pilot.” He goes, “Nope, nope. They're looking for good guys and girls. They're looking for those who are motivated to do the mission. And if you could fly, you can fly, if you can't, well, you know, they'll figure that out, and they'll send you home.” And I was like, “OK.” And so I submitted for the U-2, put my application in, they call me out, and it's a two-week interview. The first week they have you in service dress, and you meet all the leadership, and you meet all the other pilots, and just have conversations. That's all, they just wanna get to know you. You know, “What's your true motivation for being here?” And I explained it, just like I've explained to you: “I wanna fly. I wanna do the mission. I wanna be a pilot's pilot. I wanna do all the cool stuff.” And they go, “OK.” Well, week two, they put you in U-2, a two-seater. They have two-seater trainers. They put you in a U-2. They give you all the weekend prior to study, and they say, “Cool, let's see what you got.” And they have an instructor, he instructs, he does his best to give you tidbits on how to safely land the U-2. And you have three days. You have two training flights and then a sort of assessment evaluation flight on that third day, and oh my gosh, did I ever humble myself as a pilot when I realized how horrible I truly was. I felt like I could not land the U-2 safely. I felt like I was messing everything up. I felt like— as soon as we got done with that third day of flying, and we got back into the squadron, and I remember the IP just being like, and then, you know, walks away because they have to talk to the squadron commanders. They have to go talk to the other leadership there. And once again, I find myself like, “OK, I 100% failed. I mean, I gave it my best. I gave it everything I had. But, you know, here I am gonna fall short again.” And they do this. And I realized this afterwards, that they do this, they do that like wait game, you know, they keep you in suspense for a reason. And I waited, it felt like hours and hours and hours. I imagine it probably might only be like hour, hour and a half. And a squadron commander called me in. He goes, “Yeah, the IP definitely didn't like some of this, some of these, these type of landings, some of this airmanship you're showing. I didn't really like this. But overall, he says you're a nice enough guy, so do you want the job?” And I was like, “Whoa.” And it blew my mind. And that was awesome. That was awesome because once again, leading up to that moment, it was the support of my friend who reached out. It was the support of my wife being like, “Yeah, I think you can do this.” And I had even called, my parents were like, “I had this opportunity to fly this really unique aircraft. It's going to be challenging. What do y'all think?” They're like, “Hey, we love you. Go get it.” And I was like, no other words of advice, no other like, inspiring — you know, my dad, a Florida farm man, was just like, “No, I think he'll do fine. We love you and just let us know how it goes.” I was like, man, I'm really missing out in motivational speeches. But you know what? The sentiment is there, and that's all I need. So I got that position, did a few years with the U-2. And then towards the end of the U-2 career, I got word from another friend saying the 6th Special Operations Squadron is growing. “We are looking for readily qualified and experienced people.” Naviere Walkewicz And this is the one that rejected you. Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, ma'am, I got rejected last time. He goes, “It's OK. Put in another application. You know, you're a little more experienced now, you've got a little bit more under your belt.” And I said, “OK,” and I put in an application, it got rejected again, and here I am, like, “What is going on?” My buddy reached out to me— Naviere Walkewicz Your name is blacklisted in that group across the board. Like, “Oh, there's that Mount guy. Cross it out.” Lt. Col. Steven Mount But I think that ended up being somewhat of a blessing. It was like, “Wow, This guy is motivated to come out here.” Because they had seen the last application years ago. They'd seen this one. And I think the word finally got around that's like, “Hey, he's actually really motivated to come try out, at least for this mission.” And so once again, from good mentors, they're like, “Go ahead, try it out. Put the application in one more time, see what happens.” I did, got picked up for assessment selection. It's another week, week and a half interview. They challenge you mentally, they challenge you physically. They put you in situations to see how you react. I don't wanna give too much away for that process, even though, you know, unfortunately that process is not there anymore. But after that grueling week, they once again, here I am in front of another squadron commander, and here they are opening my life in front of them, and they're saying, “Well, we don't like this. We definitely don't like this. Tell us a little more about this,” you know. And that was about an hour interview, sit down, and it's not just the squadron commander. It was leadership — four or five individuals. It was an Army lieutenant colonel's flight doc behind them, you know, kind of doing that very watching, waiting, assessing, and another one of the situations, I'm like, oh, “Here we go. I don't think it's gonna happen.” But then at the end of that interview, they sit down, squadron commander stands up and goes, “Welcome to the 6th.” And the only things I can think of — and I know a lot of listeners or viewers out there do the same thing, and I tell this to my young when they get their wings, I tell them this as well — think of that first person, or persons, that when something amazing happens to you, you immediately reach out to them and you tell them, “Thank you for the support, thank you for the love, thank you for believing in me when others didn't.” And that's exactly what I did after that one. I called my wife, and I called my parents. I said, “It happened. We got it. I got it,” you know, because it wasn't just me, and I know those experiences going from one mission to the next, and those setbacks have— I get to share these stories all the time with these young instructor pilots that I'm with, as well as students, because I get to utilize it as a leadership tool to be like, “Don't give up on yourself. That's first and foremost. And then even if you believe you might give up on yourself, trust me, there's someone like me or your family members or your squadmates, they won't give up on you. And just remember that.” And that's why I get to share these stories throughout my career, of like, “Hey, I failed at this. Look where I'm at now, because I had the support and because I kept going, Hey, I failed at this. Look how it played out. I'm here.” So a lot of my transition from different platforms and different experiences has helped shape that leadership side of me to say, simply put, “It's OK to fail, all right?” I mean, you're never going to succeed if you have this tried and failed a couple times, right? So, right, Naviere Walkewicz Wow. Well, I want to go into— because you've mentioned this a couple times. We've talked about your parents, but you know, to have a career that's successful and to navigate that, you talked about your wife. So I'm curious if you can share with listeners who have to maybe the word is not choose between. But how do you navigate the importance of your marriage and that relationship with your profession, and trying to succeed in that trajectory, whatever that trajectory is for you. So maybe you can talk a little bit about how that, how that worked throughout all of those transitions. Lt. Col. Steven Mount Oh, OK. I usually do better at this from a better half nearby, which she is, in a sense. She's trying to work out and give me her working space right now, which I love. I'm gonna start with this. It's not easy. It is work. It is reps, the day in, the day out. It's not easy. I don't believe I've ever had a convo with someone when they're trying to balance the work and family life to where it's like, “Oh, that was easy, you know, I just do this and they do this, and we're good to go.” No, it is constant conflict of schedules. It is sharing what's going on. It's the ups and downs. So I'd like to start with that: It's not easy. And if anyone ever tells you it is easy, please ask them how they're doing it, and then spread their wise words of wisdom to all of us. Because that's probably the first thing: It's not easy. Once you recognize that you can get past understanding like, “OK, I'm not alone in this, that this is not easy, and I can start talking and sharing my experiences and seeing from those who seem to have it together. What are they doing to make it work? So I start there. It's not easy. Second, you have to be a team. I think there's a lot of us that think that, and my wife definitely did initially, and that was on me, that she thought that my career was the most important, that what I did and how I executed the mission and where I was going, that that was the No. 1 priority. And I found it that's not the case. I found that's not the case, because, sure, when we didn't have kids yet, and we were in Tucson, it's a little easier, because I would go on my deployments, and she would go to the job, she would go to work, and she had and she supported that, because I was out there, you know, fighting the good fight, accomplishing a mission, doing everything the Air Force needed me to do. And that's what she knew was important for me. So she supported that through and throughout, and she supported it to where I imagined, to the sense of she didn't feel like she could speak to say things that maybe I would like in the sense of me doing my mission, or coming home from Afghanistan with some of my experiences. Ahe felt that maybe sometimes, that she didn't have a word to convey to like, “Hey, this really scared me.” Or, “Hey, when you were gone, I saw the news and I was frightened. And you know, when I saw this happen, I just wanted to reach out to you, and I just want to make sure you're OK.” And she never felt initially like that she could convey those feelings, because it might affect me. It might affect my, you know, mentality while being overseas and down range. So she held that in, she held it in. She kept strong. She put on the “I'm here to support you” and I feel bad, you know, thinking back on that, that I should have given her the space to like, “Tell me what you're feeling. Tell me what you're going through. I don't want you to, I don't want you to struggle in silence. If you know you see something or there's something that scares you, let me know.” And unfortunately, I didn't learn that lesson until way, way later in my career, because she'd always kept that strength in and even when we started having kids, she still did. I kick myself all the time now that— we got to California, in the U-2s, we had an incident down range to where they needed me to bump up my deployment out there, to get out there to take care of the situation. And I'd asked, I was like, “Well, how much sooner do you need me?” Because we had just had our first son. You know, the dynamic's changing. The family dynamic is changing, and especially with your first born. And they said, “We need you to leave in about a week.” Here I was once again. And I know we have kind of kind of mentioned that I was I was in the mean mentality I was in. I was gonna be a pilot's pilot. I was gonna get the mission done. I was going to do everything I could to prove myself, and if my country needs me to be out there in a week to take care of this mission, that my family and my wife will understand. And that was that was not the way I should look at it. It really wasn't. But because I was not seeing her as a teammate, and she held it in — and thank goodness we had her mother-in-law. We had some family come out and support with a new baby. But I could tell that was one of the first times to where looking back on it now that maybe I could have said, “Can you find someone else?” You know, maybe I should have what I'm doing, hopefully you're doing now and teaching others. You have to balance that family with mission and the prioritize what is truly important at that moment. And that's something I failed to do at that time. It would happen again later on, but thankfully— so when I got to the 6th Special Operations Squadron, and at this time, especially after we had our second child in California, the wife had mentioned more. She started coming out of the shell like, “Hey, I do need you a little bit more now. I need you, and I need to be able to express and convey what I do and don't like.” And I was listening, but I was not listening the way she needed me to listen. I was not being that teammate on my side. So I heard, “Hey, I just need more support with the family. So whatever career decision we make next, let's align that.” And I was in my head, I was like, “Yes, you're absolutely right.” That's why the 6th Special Operations Squadron, when I got that interview and I picked up, it was so important, because I had family in that area, and family could get to us easier. So I was thinking, “Awesome. I have the support system for you there. I got the assignment. You're going to be taken care of.” I can tell that's not yet what she was wanting. And I will credit good old Col. Valentino. I was spinning up to go to Lebanon with the team, and we're about to have our third child. And here I was once again, like, “Yep, gotta get back to the mission. Gotta show my value. Gotta get in there, do it.” And the wife understands. We have two kids already. We're gonna have a third. So we've already had two. We kind of know how this goes. We're good to go. But I could tell, once again, looking back, everything's— that she wasn't happy, but she was ready to put up that wall again, to be like, “OK, I have to support him. Have to support what he does, and I have to, because that's what the military is asking me. That's what this new community…” And then Col Valentino, he came down. He goes, “Hey, are you about to have another child?” And I was like, “Yes, sir.” He goes, “When?” And I gave him the date. And he goes, “Your deployment date is like, a month after that.” I was like, “Yes, sir. This is our third child. We'll be good to go. I have the support system for the wife now, and she'll be taken care of. Good to go.” And he goes, “No, you're staying home. I don't need you.” He goes, “Did you want to ask me if there's anyone else wants to go so you can be there for your wife and your family?” And that blew my mind, that just, I don't know. It came out of nowhere for someone in a leadership role to say, “No, I'm not gonna send you on this deployment. I want you to be there with your family.” And that held in tight, and from then on, everything changed, and how I led and how I would push the mission. But I wouldn't do it to the extent of, could I not help someone balance their family life with their mission? And that took too long for me to realize. So what I say to everyone out there, it's not easy, but you come home from a long day and you're mentally exhausted and the mission is not going good, or you're getting ready for deployment, take a moment, sit down and just talk with your teammate at home. You have to look at it as teammates. They are your partner. They will be just like I mentioned before. They will be your support system through thick and thin, because they've probably seen you at your worst, and they want you to be at your best. But you can't do that unless you take care of that home front and treat them as your teammate. Because I am still, to this day, trying my best to become the man that I hope that she sees in me and that she wants me to be one day, but I had to fail in seeing it back then so that could see it now. And I think that's one of these things I want to convey. Not easy, and they have to be your teammates. Naviere Walkewicz Thank you for sharing that. And I think to have a leader that showed you that, which is, now you've imprinted that in your leadership style. You're thinking about the airmen that you come across and how to help them navigate some of those tough choices, but doing it with a, you know, a bigger view of not just the mission, but, like, how do you fit in that with your family? I think that's so powerful, and I'm really glad you shared that, because I know that some of our listeners and our viewers, that's gonna resonate with them as well, because they're gonna remember a time when, “Wow, I didn't even ask if I didn't have to go, or if I didn't have to do this, just because I'm so used to jumping when you say, jump,” right? And I think sometimes it's OK. It's OK. Just a question, like, I'm willing and ready to jump. I just want to make sure is someone else able to do it too because of these reasons, right? So I love that you share that. Lt. Col. Steven Mount And those leaders have to know their people enough in that regard to also know because ultimately, when you get the mission, then yes, that's what we signed up for, yes. But those leaders know their people, and they know what situation they're in. For example, there's a few times in Special Operations to where we're going on another deployment. But we knew our people, and we knew that some did not have the balance at home, and things were not looking the best they could. “Hey, we can help you out. We can give you all the resources you need. We don't need you on this deployment.” But that takes good leaders, recognizing and taking care of their people and understanding that these individuals cannot be effective down range or where they go if their home life is not taken care of. So, I know that is something that's been talked about for all my leadership training for all the years, but actually applying it is going to start with our future leaders coming up to realize, know your people, know where you can take care of them so that they can take care of the mission. Naviere Walkewicz That's right. That's right. So this has been incredible. I think the underlying lesson that you shared with us is, obviously having belief in yourself and doing the work and proving your worth, so to speak. But I think it's also recognizing that support network. So if I may ask, you, I have two questions. The first one is, what are you doing to be a better leader every day? Yourself, like, what is something you are actually doing to be a better leader? Lt. Col. Steven Mount Oh my gosh. Well, I'm recognizing I know I'm not doing it right. Knowing that I'm about taking command already has the underlying nervousness and anxiety, and I realized taking command, why I have these emotions is because I'm afraid to fail, which that makes sense. That makes sense to any logical human being out there. That's like, yeah, I get that. But I have to realize, in that same token, it's OK to fail. It's OK to make mistakes. It's OK that some days you go in there, you're not gonna get it all right. This last year as a director of operations, I've walked out of that building, and there's days been like I didn't accomplish anything. I've messed things up. I didn't do this right. Why am I here? They could have found someone better. And then there were days where, like, yes, I did it, right? I got something accomplished. And on those days, I realized it's because I was taking care of the people and people's needs. And once again, when that happened, they were able to take care of the mission. And that's one of the things that every day I go into work and I ask myself, “Who can I help out? Who needs the motivational kick? Who needs someone to just talk with them? Who needs to share their story?” Because that's what leaders, ultimately, are. We take care of the people. And if I can go in there and just help one person every single day, I would like to think that that's a small success. So that's one thing I'm constantly working on. And it is an effort. It's not easy. It's not easy because you are taking so much and leaders, I don't care what level you're on, all the way from your very first flight command, all the way to your mission command, aircraft commander, all the way to where I am now. You're going to take a lot on your shoulders. You're going to bear, you know, the burden of others, pains, their grief, their successes, their failures. So I guess that's also answer that question. Get ready for that. OK? Because a good leader will do that. They will bear they will help hold the weight. They will support those who need it the most. And we got to do it day in, day out, the reps they have to. So I think I answered the first question, I apologize, was it was. Naviere Walkewicz The second question is coming. So you're good, you're good. OK. What's something that you know now after having your 17-plus years in the in the military, but also just your life experience — but what's something you know now that you would share with a leader to kind of shorten that timeframe of, like learning those painful things to be better, right? So what would be something you'd share? Lt. Col. Steven Mount Something I'd share to close that learning gap? Because once again, my call sign is Meathead— I learned lessons the hard way. Do your best to listen more than you talk. Do your best to just take the experiences of others, talk to others, but just listen. Just hear them. Just hear them. I believe that a lot of the things that I could have prevented may have already been told to me, or may have already been, you know, mentored to me, but I just didn't listen. Maybe they said something and “I was like, well, that doesn't jive with being cool or being a pilot, so I'm not gonna listen to that.” I'm pretty sure all of these lessons that hopefully either conveying or passing on, in a sense, I think I learned them early on. I just, I just didn't listen. So for all the leaders out there, do your best to listen, listen more than you talk. It will be wonders. Naviere Walkewicz Oh my gosh, that's just outstanding. And I what I really appreciate about that is, you know, you talked about how you're doing things to get better every day, but even just in the moment, you recognize like that's such an important piece of that is taking the time to listen and reflect so that you can actually really pick up on those cues, maybe, that someone needs your support. So yes, well, this has been incredible. As we wrap up today's episode, I keep coming back to something you said, which was all someone needs to do is just support you. Yeah. So here's the takeaway, leadership is found in how we show up for our people and how we believe in them, and how we remind them that they are capable for more than what they think they are. The question we can always ask ourselves today is, who needs me to believe in them right now? And you actually said that really well. So Col. Mount, I just want to thank you for joining us for this episode of Long Blue Leadership. Is there anything else you want to leave with our listeners today? Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes. I don't think I'll ever be that leader that does one great act, and everyone's like, that's a great leader. I don't think I'll ever be that leader that gives like, one great speech, like, that's it. He nailed it. He's a great leader. No, if I'm gonna leave something with all of those you know at the Academy and the leaders in the Air Force now — which, by the way, thanks all of you. Me too, man, thank you for your service. You have no idea how much the world needs us right now, so you get out there and see it. So sorry. That was an aside. But thank you to everyone who's at the Academy now, who have served, whose families have served and will continue to serve. But one thing I'll leave to all those young leaders: Your leadership is defined by the acts, the million acts every day, not just by one act, not just by, like I said, not just by one amazing thing that you do. It's defined on you being there, and a million acts per day over a lifetime of your career, of showing up, showing that you care. That's huge, showing that you're fair and consistent. And they will see that your people will see that that those million acts day in day out, of how you treat them, and how you present yourself as a leader. And they will watch. They will watch, and if they can see that you care, and if they can see that you are doing those million acts day in, day out, and you're in there and you're in the grind and you're in the mud with them, they will give you everything, they will, and it's amazing to see, it really is, but that starts with you as the leader. So yeah, that's it, it's those million acts every day of a lifetime career that shows that you're a leader. Naviere Walkewicz Well, we are so glad that you're out there leading and influencing so many. We're grateful for all of your years and more that you will do. Thank you so much. Lt. Col. Steven Mount Thank you so much for the opportunity. I really, really enjoyed this. Thank you. Naviere Walkewicz Good. Thank you for joining us for this edition of Long Blue Leadership. The podcast drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on all your favorite podcast apps. Send your comments and guest ideas to us at socialmedia@usafa.org, and listen to past episodes at longblueleadership.org. KEYWORDS Leadership, Resilience, Mentorship, Adoption / Family Foundation, Support Network, Perseverance, Tough Conversations, Mission & Family Balance, Trust, Listening The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation
We live in a world where visibility is easy but true recognition feels rare. Social media shows us curated versions of each other, yet the human need to be deeply seen — for who we really are — remains unmet.In this reflection, I explore what it truly means to be seen, beyond likes, followers, and surface-level validation. It's about understanding, presence, curiosity without judgment, and the courage to show up as our imperfect, unpolished selves.You'll hear why chasing visibility can leave us emptier, how labeling and rushing to judge disconnects us, and why the real path to being seen begins with learning to see others.If you've ever felt invisible, misunderstood, or pressured to perform for acceptance, this is for you.Listen in, pause, and ask yourself:Am I really being seen… or just being noticed?Love Shikha
It's back to school and back to routines and for me that means a new season of podcasting and starting this one off with how to maximize our time while our kids are in school. Insane to say but I now have a high schooler and in my many years of having school age children I've learned so much about how to use this time to have time for yourself, get the things done that you need to, catch up with people that you love, fitness & nutrition, take care of appointments and errands… without wasting any time. My goal of this podcast is to give you a really helpful framework for laying out how you will spend those precious hours while your kids are in school. If we don't plan, the time can see like it goes by soooo fast. But if we do have a plan and we don't have wasted or distracted time in between things, we can get so much done and by the time it's school pickup, you feel accomplished and organized and energized and ready to give them the best of you, not the distracted half paying attention version of you. Our days all look different but as mothers that all love our kids and want as much quality time with them as possible, spending the time you aren't with them strategically, will bring so much joy to your life. Get Clear on Your Top Priorities Start with “radical clarity” on what truly matters to you. Take time to define what fulfillment, success, and joy mean in your life. Identify your biggest goals and why they're important – this clarity becomes your compass for how to spend your days. List the things you never seem to have time for… both big and small. Maybe it's projects like organizing the closets or family photos, pursuing a passion or side-business, getting back into shape, or finally starting that project. Connect each task to a purpose. For each priority or goal, be clear on why it matters. For example, you might not love the act of meal-prepping lunches, but you do love the outcome of healthier meals and smoother evenings. When you know why a task is important (to your health, career, family, etc.), it's easier to commit time to it. You're designing your life around what matters most to you, not just reacting to whatever comes up. Plan Your Day, Don't Wing It Design each school-day with intention. Map out your day before it starts... even down to hourly blocks if possible. We're just not good enough to wing it consistently and expect great results. As productivity expert Stephen Covey famously said, “The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” In other words, slot your highest-value activities into your calendar. If working out, writing a chapter of your book, or having an uninterrupted block for work projects is a priority, schedule it into the hours your kids are at school. Identify your MITs (Most Important Tasks) each morning. A great habit is to choose the top 2–3 tasks that will make your day feel successful if nothing else gets done. Write these down and tackle them early in the day. Batch and align tasks to the right times. Group similar tasks together and do them at the optimal times of day. For example, if you have high-energy or creative time in the morning, use that for deep work or exercise. Save low-energy tasks (like tidying up or answering non-urgent emails) for the later afternoon slump Be realistic and time-conscious. Don't overload your day with a massive to-do list that ignores the realities of time… that just leads to frustration. Remember, we all have the same 24 hours; it's how we use them that counts. Make the Most of School Hours: High-Value Activities to Consider When your kids are at school, think of it as your prime time to tackle the things that are hardest to do when they're around. Plan these hours as if they're gold… because they are! Here are some categories and examples of productive, fulfilling things you can do while the kids are in class: Invest in your health and energy: Get your workout in... go for a run, hit the gym, take a yoga or Pilates class, or do a workout video at home. Prioritize meal prep and nutrition: plan healthy dinners for the week, prep ingredients, or cook in batches. Maybe even schedule that dentist appointment or physical therapy session you've been putting off. Taking care of your physical well-being will boost your energy and mood for the rest of the day. Do deep work or professional tasks: Use the quiet time to focus on work projects or passion projects without interruptions. This could mean building your business (developing a product, marketing, content creation), working on tasks for your job that require concentration, or even starting a side hustle from home. It might be the perfect window to record a podcast episode or write that book or blog you've dreamed about while the house is silent. If you're pursuing a career goal like earning a certification or applying for jobs, dedicate a block of time to that. Treat these school hours as your “deep focus” sessions to really move the needle on work that matters to you. Learn and grow: Take an online course or use the time to read personal development or business books, listen to inspiring podcasts, or practice a hobby (paint, play an instrument, write in a journal). These hours are a gift for personal growth… seize them to feed your mind and passion. Knock out home and life admin tasks: Get your household organized so that evenings can be more relaxed. For example, do the laundry and cleaning in the morning so you're free to play with the kids later. Declutter a room or tackle that messy closet. Run errands strategically: if grocery shopping with your children feels like a nightmare, do it solo while they're at school (or order groceries online for delivery). Take the car for service, go to the bank, or handle appointments (haircuts, doctor visits) during this window. By handling errands and chores now, you won't have them weighing on you during family time. Nurture your relationships and social life: It's healthy and energizing to connect with other adults when you have some free time. Plan a coffee date or lunch with a friend or your spouse once in a while during school hours. Join a local moms' group meetup, or simply call a family member to catch up. Human connection and laughter can recharge you. Also, if you and your partner can swing it, the occasional daytime date while kids are in school... even just a walk or lunch together… can be a fun way to reconnect without needing a sitter. Take care of YOU (self-care time): Yes, productivity includes self-care, because if you burn out, nothing else works well. So don't feel guilty about using some school time for yourself. In fact, schedule it in. Maybe that means enjoying quiet “me time” to recharge: take a relaxing bath, sit in a park with a coffee, or simply revel in the silence at home to meditate or pray. It could be booking a massage, facial, or therapy session guilt-free, since you're not missing family time to do it. Eliminate Distractions and Time-Wasters Guard those school hours from distractions. It's easy to lose precious minutes (which turn into hours) by checking texts, scrolling social media, or getting pulled into emails constantly throughout the day. Identify your personal time-wasters… and nix them. Take an honest look at where your time tends to “leak” away. Is it the rabbit hole of social media? Random online shopping? Unplanned chats with a neighbor or lengthy coffee breaks? We often don't realize how these add up. Use productivity tricks to stay focused. Many parents find techniques like time blocking helpful. Time blocking means scheduling a fixed block (say 9–10:30am) for a specific task or category of tasks… and during that block, you only do that. Accept that things won't always go as planned. We can craft the perfect schedule on paper… and then life happens. Kids get sick, the school calls, the car battery dies, you hit an unexpected wall of fatigue, etc. Productivity experts who are parents stress that you must expect interruptions as a normal part of life rather than an exception. Don't overload yourself or chase perfection. It's tempting to use every kid-free minute to “get everything under the sun done” – and set unrealistically high expectations. It's far better to do a few important things well (and include some self-care) than to do 20 things and be too exhausted to enjoy the evening with your kids. So be realistic and kind to yourself when planning your week. Use habits and routines to stay consistent (but adapt when needed). Establishing regular routines can automate your productivity. For instance, if you always exercise right after school drop-off, soon it becomes second nature and requires less willpower. Maybe 10–11am is always devoted to your top work project, or perhaps you do a 15-minute mindfulness meditation at the same time daily. Routines build momentum and reduce decision fatigue. Celebrate what you did get done. At the end of the day, acknowledge and appreciate the things you accomplished... both the personal (“kept the house running, paid the bills”) and professional. Too often we focus on what we didn't do. Change that habit! Even if your day went off the rails, maybe you managed to comfort a sick child or have an important conversation.. those count too. By recognizing the value in all you do (paid and unpaid), you maintain a positive mindset. Productivity isn't just about checking boxes; it's also about feeling fulfilled. If you ended the day with your kids safe, fed, and loved, and you moved the needle on one personal goal (no matter how small) – that's a win. Plan Your Days, Love Your Afternoons Maximizing your kid-free hours is ultimately about being intentional… with your time, your habits, and your choices. By planning ahead and aligning your daily actions to your biggest priorities, you create a life where your important work and your family time can both flourish. Instead of feeling like the school day “just flies by” in a blur of busy-ness, you'll see tangible progress on your goals and still have energy in the tank when it's time for pickup. That's the true reward here: you get to fully enjoy the afternoons and evenings with your children, being present instead of preoccupied. So remember, a great plan is really about freedom, the freedom to spend your time on the things that light you up and the freedom to be the parent (and person) you want to be. With a little structure and a lot of consistency, you can turn your school-hour routine into a powerhouse of productivity and fulfillment. Plan your days around what matters most, execute those plans with focus (and a dash of flexibility), and watch how much awesome stuff you get done before the school day is even over.
A terrorist attack killed six Israelis and wounded more than 20 at a bus stop in Jerusalem. Israel raided the West Bank town where it says the gunmen came from. At the same time, Israel's military is assaulting Gaza City, destroying high-rise buildings as the U.S. gives Hamas an ultimatum to accept a new ceasefire proposal. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Too many of us treat emotions like junk we stuff in a closet—hoping they'll never resurface. But the truth is, suppressed emotions always leak out, stealing memories, peace, and purpose.In this powerful episode of the Mind Bully Podcast, Norense Odiase shares his journey from numbing emotions during his Texas Tech basketball days to discovering the biblical framework for emotional healing. Through personal stories of loss, resilience, and even a run-in at the airport, he shows how unchecked emotions keep us silent, while honest expression sets us free.Norense introduces a 4-step process—Acknowledge, Accept, Address, Express—rooted in both Scripture and lived experience. If you've ever felt like you're drowning in silence, scrolling to escape, or “working” to numb the pain, this episode is for you.What You'll Learn:Why suppressing emotions leads to memory gaps and burnoutHow silence and shame are strategies of the enemyThe connection between self-love and emotional honestyWhy vulnerability is strength, not weaknessA practical 4-step framework to process emotions in a healthy, Christ-centered wayKey Scriptures:Ephesians 6:13 – “Having done all, to stand.”Romans 14:23 – “Anything not of faith is sin.”1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast your cares on Him, because He cares for you.”Galatians 5:22–23 – Fruit of the SpiritMemorable Quotes“Suppress less. Express more.”“The enemy wants your silence—because silence kills your spirit.”“Love demands discovery—sit with your emotions and see them clearly.”“God didn't give you emotions to bury them. He gave them to guide you back to Him.”Spotify: Mind Bully PodcastApple: Mind Bully Podcast
Accepting the current circumstances will help you manifest!
A terrorist attack killed six Israelis and wounded more than 20 at a bus stop in Jerusalem. Israel raided the West Bank town where it says the gunmen came from. At the same time, Israel's military is assaulting Gaza City, destroying high-rise buildings as the U.S. gives Hamas an ultimatum to accept a new ceasefire proposal. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen about Donald Trump issuing his "last warning" to Hamas about accepting a Gaza ceasefire deal, as well as Yemen's Houthis claiming responsibility for a drone strike on an Israeli airport.
For review:1. A drone launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels evaded Israeli air defenses and smashed into the Ramon Airport terminal in southern Israel on Sunday. The unmanned aerial vehicle struck the passenger terminal at the airport north of Eilat, causing damage, according to airport authorities.2. President Trump Warns Hamas to Accept Terms for Hostage - Ceasefire Deal.According to the reported proposal, Hamas would release all 48 hostages, living and dead, on day one, while Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian terrorists with blood on their hands, and thousands of other prisoners.In addition, the IDF would call off its conquest of Gaza City and would remain outside the city, according to the report.The two sides would engage in talks over the end of the war under the personal oversight of President Trump, and the ceasefire would continue as long as negotiations last.3. Lebanon's cabinet on Friday welcomed a plan by the Army that would disarm Hezbollah and said the military would begin executing it, without setting a timeframe for implementation and cautioning that the Army had limited capabilities. But it said continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon would hamper the Army's progress. 4. President Zelensky Responds to Russian President Putin: "He can come to Kyiv."5. China said Saturday that its military monitored the passage of Australian and Canadian warships through the Taiwan Strait, criticizing their presence in the sensitive waterway as “causing trouble.”6. Marines from the 3rd Marine Division trained with the Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) in recent weeks after the system arrived July 10 in Japan, the Marine Corps said. 7. The Air Force and Sierra Nevada Corporation have started flight tests on the service's next-generation “doomsday plane.”Flight tests for the E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Control, or SAOC, are being held at the Aviation Innovation and Technology Center in Dayton, Ohio, the company said in a Wednesday release.
new Vicious Rumors plus Accept, Nashville Pussy, King Kobra and more! Your underhanded overture
We're back to celebrate the past, present, and future of rock with a new edition of the Decibel Geek Times! Aaron Camaro has curated a thorough list of the notable rock world losses, memorable album anniversaries, and some upcoming music to get excited about. In this episode, we're paying tribute to legends like Steve Grimmett, Elvis Presley, Frankie Banali, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, while also marking major milestones for bands including Motörhead, Murderdolls, Accept, Stryper, Mudvayne, FireHouse, Black Sabbath, Ratt, Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Michael Schenker Group, and Status Quo. We'll also shine a light on brand new music from Gunslinger, Supernaughty, Helloween, Vicious Rumors, and Babylon A.D. It's a solid block of rock talk that takes you through the circuits of time. We hope you enjoy Decibel Geek Times and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're back to celebrate the past, present, and future of rock with a new edition of the Decibel Geek Times! Aaron Camaro has curated a thorough list of the notable rock world losses, memorable album anniversaries, and some upcoming music to get excited about. In this episode, we're paying tribute to legends like Steve Grimmett, Elvis Presley, Frankie Banali, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, while also marking major milestones for bands including Motörhead, Murderdolls, Accept, Stryper, Mudvayne, FireHouse, Black Sabbath, Ratt, Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Michael Schenker Group, and Status Quo. We'll also shine a light on brand new music from Gunslinger, Supernaughty, Helloween, Vicious Rumors, and Babylon A.D. It's a solid block of rock talk that takes you through the circuits of time. We hope you enjoy Decibel Geek Times and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are You “Too Sensitive”—Or Just Misunderstood? What if the emotional overwhelm and self-criticism you experience aren't signs of weakness—but powerful signals from a part of you that's been misunderstood? If you're a highly sensitive person (HSP), this episode will feel like home. You'll discover how to stop seeing your sensitivity as a flaw and begin understanding it as the foundation for deep emotional intelligence, intuition, and healing. Todd Smith, a facilitator of The Work of Byron Katie and an HSP himself, gently unpacks how societal standards, internalized beliefs, and emotional wounds can keep you stuck in a cycle of self-doubt—even when you “know better.” In this episode, you'll learn: Why self-criticism often comes from internalized perspectives that aren't even your own How to spot and stop the hidden habit of judging yourself through other people's eyes A process to emotionally shift the part of you that still believes you're not enough—so it stops draining your energy Press play to begin experiencing the deep self-acceptance you've been longing for. Todd Smith, founder of True Inner Freedom Dreaming of a stress-free, balanced life? Visit trueinnerfreedom.com and complete the HSP Stress Survey. Gain clarity on your stress triggers and enjoy a free 15-minute Inner Freedom Call designed to guide you toward lasting inner peace and fulfillment. Are you a highly sensitive person (HSP) or someone who identifies as hypersensitive or neurodivergent? This podcast is dedicated to helping highly sensitive people (HSPs) navigate overwhelm and stress by using The Work of Byron Katie—a powerful method for questioning stressful thoughts and finding true inner freedom. We dive deep into stress management strategies, coping with stress, and stress relief methods specifically tailored for HSPs. Learn how to manage emotions, especially negative ones, and explore effective stress reduction techniques that go beyond the surface to address the root causes of anxiety and pressure. Whether you're interested in learning how to lower stress, handle stress and pressure, or reduce stress through practical techniques, we provide insights and support based on The Work of Byron Katie. Discover how this transformative approach can help you decrease stress, find inner peace, and create balance in your life. Join us to learn about various coping strategies for stress, all designed to support HSPs in their journey toward emotional well-being.
Do you avoid conflict—or use it to grow your influence? In this episode, AJ and Johnny share a science-backed framework for conflict resolution that transforms tense moments into opportunities for trust and leadership. Drawing on John Gottman's research on relationships and Google's Project Aristotle findings on high-performing teams, they reveal why conflict isn't a problem to eliminate—it's a chance to deepen respect and build long-term influence. You'll learn a step-by-step system to handle everyday workplace and relationship conflicts without burning bridges: lead with value, accept responsibility, show empathy, and present solutions that create buy-in. With stories from clients like Marcus, a consultant at BCG, AJ and Johnny show how mastering conflict resolution can make you the person others turn to when stakes are high. If you've ever felt conflict-averse, this episode gives you practical tools to stay calm, confident, and in control. What to Listen For [00:00:00] Why avoiding conflict costs you influence [00:00:56] How conflict avoidance limits your “career chessboard” moves [00:01:27] The science of conflict: shifting from “me vs. you” to “us vs. the problem” [00:02:43] The High-Value Conflict Framework explained [00:03:28] Step 1: Lead with value to disarm defensiveness [00:03:54] Step 2: Accept responsibility without weakness [00:06:23] Step 3: Use empathy and “we” language to build trust [00:07:26] Step 4: Present options, not ultimatums [00:09:18] Why well-resolved conflicts create stronger bonds [00:11:03] Client story: how Marcus became the go-to conflict solver [00:11:29] Why mastering conflict is the ticket to influence A Word From Our Sponsors Stop being over looked and unlock your X-Factor today at unlockyourxfactor.com The very qualities that make you exceptional in your field are working against you socially. Visit the artofcharm.com/intel for a social intelligence assessment and discover exactly what's holding you back. Indulge in affordable luxury with Quince. Upgrade your wardrobe today at quince.com/charm for free shipping and hassle-free returns. Grow your way - with Headway! Get started at makeheadway.com/CHARM and use my code CHARM for 25% off. Ready to turn your business idea into reality? Sign up for your $1/month trial at shopify.com/charm. Need to hire top talent—fast? Claim your $75 Sponsored Job Credit now at Indeed.com/charm. This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at mintmobile.com/charm Save more than fifty percent on term life insurance at SELECTQUOTE.COM/CHARM TODAY to get started Curious about your influence level? Get your Influence Index Score today! Take this 60-second quiz to find out how your influence stacks up against top performers at theartofcharm.com/influence. Check in with AJ and Johnny! AJ on LinkedIn Johnny on LinkedIn AJ on Instagram Johnny on Instagram The Art of Charm on Instagram The Art of Charm on YouTube The Art of Charm on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Looking 4 Healing Radio with Dr. Benjamin Benulis – In this episode, Coach Ramsina and I break down five essential keys that make the difference between falling off track… and finally reaching the results you've been after. A simple framework (AAA: Aware, Acknowledge, Accept) to stop emotional eating in its tracks - Why community is the ultimate accelerator for success...
Looking 4 Healing Radio with Dr. Benjamin Benulis – In this episode, Coach Ramsina and I break down five essential keys that make the difference between falling off track… and finally reaching the results you've been after. A simple framework (AAA: Aware, Acknowledge, Accept) to stop emotional eating in its tracks - Why community is the ultimate accelerator for success...
0:00 - Earlier this morning, the news broke that Nik Bonitto has signed a shiny new contract extension with the Broncos. Now, let's talk to someone who knows way more than us about the Broncos, Bonitto, and contract extensions: ESPN's Jeff Legwold, our Broncos Insider.19:20 - Vic offered Carmelo Anthony an olive branch on behalf of Nuggets fans, and Melo didn't take it. Strap in, everyone. Here comes another good ol' fashioned Moser rant about Melo.32:29 - We love the new deal for Nik Bonitto. Everything about it is perfect: the price, the terms, the incentives, you name it.
What if the very “stay positive” mindset you've been praised for is actually keeping you stuck? In this solo episode of The Scratch Golfer's Mindset Podcast, I call out toxic positivity for what it is: emotional avoidance dressed up as optimism. We dig into why the golf world has gone too soft, how repressing anger and discomfort quietly drains your energy and focus, and why elite performers train themselves to operate when conditions are far from perfect. You'll learn how to replace false cheer with authentic optimism—the relentless belief in yourself to handle hard things—using a simple three-step framework: Acknowledge, Accept, Act. We'll talk negativity bias, energy management, and why sitting with uncomfortable emotions turns them into teachers and fuel. In this episode, you'll learn: The difference between toxic positivity and authentic optimism Why “be happy all the time” backfires on the course and at work How negativity bias hardwires you to scan for threats—and what to do about it The Acknowledge → Accept → Act playbook to perform under pressure How to use anger and discomfort as focused fuel, not dead weight If you're ready to stop plastering a smile over struggle and finally play (and live) to your potential, this one's for you. Get your pencils ready and start listening. 1-1 High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching: If you're serious about getting out of your own way and playing to your potential, click here to schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call to learn how I can help you make playing to your potential a habit. High-Performance Hypnosis Guided Audios: Ready to get a taste of hypnosis? Click here to choose from one of my unique hypnosis audios to help you accelerate improvement in a specific area of your game. Click here to read my Ultimate Guide to Golf Hypnosis. Purchase the Wicked Smart Practice Plan Formula: Click here to learn how to practice with intention and what to do to get the most out of your practice sessions to drop your scores - fast. Use the code “salter” at checkout to save 10%. Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter Download my “Play Your Best Round” free hypnosis audio recording. High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course. Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist Twitter: @parsoverbogeys Key Takeaways: Toxic positivity = emotional avoidance. It looks noble but blocks growth, honesty, and results. Authentic optimism is belief + behavior. “This is hard—and I can handle it. Now act.” Acknowledge, Accept, Act is the reset loop that turns emotions into execution. Negativity bias is real. Your brain defaults to threat-scanning; train optimism, presence, and focus deliberately. Operate when it's not perfect. Elite golfers perform amid discomfort, not after it disappears. Key Quotes: “At its core, toxic positivity is emotional avoidance disguised as optimism.” “Life isn't sunshine and rainbows—and neither is golf. Train for the valleys, not just the peaks.” “Authentic optimism says: this hurts—and I can handle it. Then it moves.” “Emotion is energy. Repress it and it leaks; face it and it fuels.” “Write it down: Acknowledge. Accept. Act. That's how you play to your potential.” Time Stamps: 00:00: Understanding Toxic Positivity 04:15: The Dangers of Emotional Avoidance 09:16: The Reality of Negative Emotions 13:44: Why We Engage in Toxic Positivity 17:34: The Cost of Seeking Approval 21:01: The Importance of Acknowledgment and Acceptance 24:51: Authentic Optimism as a Solution
The Mets and a struggling pitcher are at a crossroads
Even when life is good, it's easy to resist joy out of fear or discomfort. This episode reveals why we sabotage our own happiness and how to finally soften, stay present, and let joy all the way in. Have you ever felt like life is good, maybe even great, yet something inside you won't let you fully enjoy it? I've noticed this pattern in myself and realized that often we subtly shut out joy out of fear, discomfort, or self-protection. In this episode, I share honest reflections and practical steps to stop sabotaging your happiness so you can experience more peace, presence, and connection. Action Plan: - Name the resistance: Acknowledge out loud when you feel yourself pulling away from joy. - Stay in the moment longer: Allow hugs, laughter, or silence to linger without rushing to distraction. - Start a joy journal: Record times when joy knocked but you resisted, and explore why. - Practice receiving: Accept compliments and gifts without deflection to expand your capacity for joy. - Repeat joy affirmations: Use affirmations like “It is safe to feel this good” to retrain your nervous system. More from Megan YouTube | Website | Instagram
Pastor Patrick Carmichael & occasional guest speakers deliver God's Word at Christ Bible Church's weekly Sunday services. Mission Hills, California.
When you recognize anxiety, you can navigate it and transform your life from emotional chaos to joy, peace, and purpose. In today's complex world, understanding our mental health is crucial. Feeling anxious or overwhelmed is common, but managing these emotions leads to a happier, healthier, and kinder life. The first step in this transformative journey is to recognize anxiety. Recognize Anxiety for Mental Wellness To truly address anxiety, we must first recognize it. When we bring awareness to our feelings, we can identify triggers and decide how to respond. Often, we operate in a reactive state, which can result in unkind actions towards ourselves and others. Recognizing anxiety helps shift from automatic reactions to thoughtful actions. The Importance of Allowing Feelings Recognizing anxiety is only part of the solution. Allowing yourself to experience these feelings without judgment is crucial. By simply acknowledging anxiety, you reduce its power. Accept it as a temporary state rather than a definition of who you are. Investigate the Roots of Anxiety Once you've recognized and allowed the anxiety, delve into understanding its origins. Ask yourself when these feelings arise and in what situations they are most intense. This investigation is central to therapy and helps uncover the links between past experiences and current emotions. Nourish and Empower Yourself After identifying the source of your anxiety, it's time to nurture yourself. Simple actions, such as breathing exercises, doodling, or engaging in creative activities, can significantly reduce anxiety. These practices foster a calmer state of mind and promote more kind interactions. There are many ways to regulate and reset your nervous system to reduce anxiety. Read the full show notes and access all links. Website for Karen DeHaven Additional Resources to Help Navigate Anxiety Using Faith to Navigate Anxiety Caused by Social Media - Episode 376 Navigate Anxiety to Become a Speaker - Episode 370 What do you do when you feel anxiety? Cast your anxiety on Him - Episode 329 Reduce anxiety and get healthier with Amino Acid Therapy - Episode 387 Begin your journey to navigate anxiety by downloading the free eBook: A Guide To Alleviating Anxiety by Developing Health Habits for a Healthy Mind. Book reference: Radical Compassion by Tara Brach
Hey, it's Katie and I want to welcome you to this special bonus episode. It'll be here for you completely ad-free for the next week so you can get a feel of what it's like to be a PREMIUM member. If you'd like an easy ad-free experience for all of our podcasts - that's over 200 episodes each month, then JOIN PREMIUM today at https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Accept the Unknown Being ok with uncertainty is a difficult thing. You struggle with wanting to control how and when things will workout or the timing. But in this struggle it creates disharmony…stress and fear. What if you could accept the unknown, tolerate or even embrace the uncertainty of life…. The intention of today's healing meditation is to accept the unknown ... .reduce your stress and anxiety and make peace with not having control over things. Join our Premium Sleep for Women Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Sleep podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here --> https://bit.ly/sleepforwomen Join our Premium Meditation for Kids Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Kids podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here → https://bit.ly/meditationforkidsapple I'm so glad you're taking the time to be with us today. My team and I are dedicated to making sure you have all the meditations you need throughout all the seasons of your life. If there's a meditation you desire, but can't find, email us at hello@womensmeditationnetwork.com to make a request. We'd love to create what you want! Namaste, Beautiful,
Ep #86: EASE Framework: Decluttering Your Life During Career TransitionsSummary of the episodeIn this solo episode of noseyAF, host Stephanie Graham opens up about navigating over a year without steady film work and how she's using this unexpected time for personal growth. She introduces her EASE framework—Eliminate, Accept, Simplify, Expand—a decision-making approach she developed while decluttering her life and dealing with the film industry's ongoing challenges. From working on her first movie in months to starting a fellowship focused on community activism, Stephanie shares how she's creating space for new opportunities while letting go of what no longer serves her. This candid conversation explores the reality of freelance creative work, the importance of being a good neighbor, and practical strategies for finding ease during uncertain career transitions.What we talk aboutThe harsh reality of the film industry crisis and being out of work for over a yearStephanie's EASE framework: Eliminate, Accept, Simplify, Expand as a guide for life transitionsHer community activism project to bring a movie theater back to her neighborhood through the Change Collective fellowshipThe therapeutic process of decluttering physical spaces and digital lifeFinding acceptance when fighting against circumstances isn't workingCreating space for new ideas, relationships, and opportunities during career uncertaintyChapters00:09 - Seeking Expert Insight on Palestine04:05 - Navigating the Film Industry Crisis14:51 - Decluttering and Organizing as a Creative Journey20:07 - The EASE Framework: Decluttering Life and Creativity24:23 - Embracing Change: Letting Go and SimplifyingThings We MentionedChange Collective Fellowship - Civic leadership program for community organizersWe Strangers - Independent film directed by Anu Valia, now in limited releaseChatham Cinema - Former neighborhood theater that closed during the pandemicChicago Art Department - Artist residency programDirector Anu Valia and Production Designer Amelia SteelySpecial K Vanilla cereal (Stephanie's consistent breakfast choice!)All about... This Solo EpisodeYou're gonna love this raw, honest check-in—Stephanie's serving up real talk about career uncertainty mixed with practical wisdom and that signature warmth that makes you feel like you're chatting with your most insightful friend.Connect with StephanieCheck out my workFollow me on InstagramJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more...
Last week, at the very beginning of the breaking news of the Minneapolis Church shooting, ultra-liberal, Rosie O'Donnell posted a video automatically associating the shooter as a MAGA supporter. We all know now that was extremely incorrect, so DAYS later Rosie posted an apology. The question is, would you accept her apology? We know Producer Aaron's answer.
Originally recorded in January 2023. In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️
Grandpa Bill talks about Brain Gain focus as a super power to drive memory-recap of a formal workshop "Brain Armor" with Dr. Anthony MetivierIn a world drowning in digital noise and endless distraction, our most valuable asset—our focus—is under constant siege. We've become masters of "idle scrolling," a mindless, passive activity that promises connection but delivers only a fragmented, exhausted mind. The very device we hold in our hands, meant to be a tool for productivity and knowledge, has become a thief of our cognitive power.But what if you could reclaim that power? What if you could forge your focus into a superpower, not just for a fleeting moment, but as a core capability that drives a sharper memory and a more resilient mind? This is the essence of the A.R.M. Method, a framework for building "Brain Armor" strategies and exercises that transform your relationship with your own attention.A is for Awareness + Acceptance. The journey begins not with a new app or a complicated technique, but with radical honesty. We must first become aware of our current habits. Acknowledge the moments you reach for your phone out of boredom, the hours lost to social media feeds, the difficulty you have in staying present in a conversation or a task. This awareness isn't about judgment; it's about observation. Following awareness comes acceptance. Accept that this is where you are right now. Accept that your brain has been trained for distraction. This acceptance is the fertile ground from which real change can grow. Without it, you're fighting a shadow.R is for Response. Once you are aware and accepting, you are empowered to choose a different response. Instead of automatically reaching for your phone during a lull, what if you chose to notice your breath? Instead of letting your mind wander during a meeting, what if you brought it back gently to the speaker's words? This is where the Brain Armor exercises come in. These aren't just one-off tricks; they are intentional, repeatable actions designed to build new neural pathways. This could be a 5-minute meditation, a focused breathing exercise, or a single-tasking session where you dedicate your entire attention to one thing. The goal is to consciously override the old, automated response of distraction with a new, intentional one of focus.M is for Management. The final piece of the A.R.M. method is management. This is the ongoing, strategic maintenance of your mental state. It's about creating a lifestyle that supports focus and memory, rather than sabotaging it. This includes setting clear boundaries with technology (e.g., "phone-free" hours), building routines that prioritize deep work, and integrating practices that "relax all aspects of the mind." This isn't about being idle; it's about active, restorative rest. It's the difference between zoning out and consciously unwinding. Think of a mind that is well-managed as a sharp, finely-honed tool, not a dull, cluttered drawer.The A.R.M. Method is an antidote to the modern condition. It's a conscious choice to move from being a passive consumer of information to an active architect of your own mind. By embracing Awareness and Acceptance, choosing a new Response, and proactively Managing your mental well-being, you don't just fight distraction—you build a brain that is sharper, more resilient, and truly alive. This is the ultimate superpower, and it's within your reach.#TheARMmethod,#BrainArmor#FocusSuperpower#DigitalWellness,#MindfulLiving,#AttentionManagement,#MemoryBoost,#BeyondIdleScrolling,#ReclaimYourFocus,#CognitiveFitness,
Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes When You're Stuck, Ask This One Question August 29, 2025 | Episode 5170 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Ever feel completely stuck with no idea what to do next? Scott shares his go-to question that cuts through confusion and reveals your path forward. This simple yet powerful approach has helped countless people move from paralysis to action. You don't even need to write it down—just remember to use it when life throws you a curveball. Featured Story Scott opens up about a pivotal moment in a Home Depot parking lot during his first wife's terminal illness. Faced with a medical crisis and no clue how to help, he asked himself one question that changed everything. Within hours, he had hospice care arranged and a full support team in place. What seemed impossible became manageable through this simple but profound approach. Important Points Asking "What can I do?" always reveals a clear path forward, even in the most challenging situations. Your mind will give you an answer when you ask this question—but you might not like what comes up. Most of us hit rock bottom in different areas of our lives regularly, and that's actually normal. Memorable Quotes "What can I do? No matter how challenging the situation, answering that question always will reveal a clear path." "When you open a new door, you'll find a new opportunity. So start opening more doors." "Feeling empowered in this world that drains your energy is like a Tesla on a cross-country trip without a charging station." Scott's Three-Step Approach Ask yourself "What can I do?" when you feel stuck or overwhelmed. Accept whatever answer comes to mind, even if you don't want to hear it. Take action on that answer, whether you like it or not—that's where the magic happens. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dan is joined by the Northern Football Correspondent for ipapersport Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) to discuss the latest of Liverpool's pursuit of Alexander Isak. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Shedeur Sanders is still behind, but some still won't accept reality full 462 Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:57:35 +0000 H4FSx6nFXskYaGP3DHRoWGfiaohvRmUI nfl,cleveland browns,sports The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima nfl,cleveland browns,sports Shedeur Sanders is still behind, but some still won't accept reality The only place to talk about the Cleveland sports scene is with Ken Carman and Anthony Lima. The two guide listeners through the ups and downs of being a fan of the Browns, Cavaliers, Guardians and Ohio State Buckeyes in Northeast Ohio. They'll help you stay informed with breaking news, game coverage, and interviews with top personalities.Catch The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima live Monday through Friday (6 a.m. - 10 a.m ET) on 92.3 The Fan, the exclusive audio home of the Browns, or on the Audacy app. For more, follow the show on X @KenCarmanShow. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Sports False https://player.amperwave
Do you ever feel like you're drowning in guilt, shame, and Christian “shoulds” while trying to survive a toxic marriage, a brutal divorce, or the aftermath of both? What if I told you that letting go, accepting reality, and loving yourself isn't just a cliche, but it can actually change everything?In this episode of Flying Free, I dive into the “Let Go, Accept, and Love” tool (a.k.a. LAL, because who doesn't love an acronym?). Plus, you'll hear how one brave mama used these steps in the middle of a soul-crushing custody battle, and she came out stronger, freer, and a whole lot wiser.What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why believing the actual good news (and not the toxic “dirty worm theology”) matters more than you think.The three steps of the LAL toolHow one Flying Free member used LAL to survive a painful separation from her child with compassion instead of despair.The messy, real-life lessons another member learned during her custody evaluation, and why showing humility beats trying to look like “Super Perfect Christian Mom.”Practical ways to prepare for divorce and custody evaluations without losing your sanity.Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question hereRelated Resources:Check out the Divorced Christian Woman Podcast, my newest podcast specifically for divorced women rebuilding their lives.The Mirror Bible is a refreshing Bible translation I highly recommend. Go follow Gretchen Baskerville's YouTube channel. Also check out a recent interview I did with her, “Do Marriage Intensives Help to Heal Abusive Marriages?”Need a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA)? Rhonda Noordyk will help you with financial clarity and advocacy in divorce.