Podcasts about Advancement

The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed rule changes that would bring a major shift in how scientific grants are awarded by U.S. government agencies. Under the current process, researchers submit grant proposals that are then vetted and scored by a committee of experts in that scientific field, with top-scoring proposals recommended for funding. If its proposed changes are enacted, the OMB would insert a political review into the process, allowing administration officials to determine whether grant proposals are aligned with administration priorities, regardless of their scientific merit. Those proposed rules are now in a public comment period. Holden Thorp, editor in chief of the Science family of journals, joins Ira to explain why he called the change “another red alert for American science” in a recent editorial. Guest: Dr. Holden Thorp is editor in chief of the Science family of journals, at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Other episodes you may enjoy: A Science Historian Tackles Ghostwriting In Scientific PapersWhat Do mRNA Funding Cuts Mean For Future US Research? Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Follow our show on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Bluesky @scifri and sign up for our newsletters. Got a science question that's keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

fWotD Episode 3332: Atlanta Compromise Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Friday, 19 June 2026, is Atlanta Compromise.The Atlanta Compromise (also known as accommodation or accommodationism) was a proposal put forth in 1895 by African American leader Booker T. Washington in a speech he gave at the Cotton States and International Exposition. He urged Black Southerners to accept segregation and to temporarily refrain from campaigning for equal rights, including the right to vote. In return, he advocated that Black people would receive basic legal protections, access to property ownership, employment opportunities, and vocational and industrial education. Upon the speech's conclusion, the white attendees gave Washington a standing ovation.Under the direction of Washington's Tuskegee Machine organization, the Compromise was the dominant policy pursued by Black leaders in the South from 1895 to 1915. During this period, the educational infrastructure for Black people improved, with a focus on vocational schools and schools for children. However, Southern states continued to aggressively adopt Jim Crow laws which codified segregation in nearly all aspects of life. Violence against Black people continued: over fifty Black people were lynched most years until 1922. Beginning around 1910 – contrary to the advice offered by Washington in his speech – millions of African Americans began migrating northward, relocating to major urban centers in the North.The proposal was met with opposition from other Black leaders – most notably W. E. B. Du Bois – who rejected the Compromise's emphasis on accommodation, and instead advocated for full civil rights and the immediate end of segregation. From 1903 until Washington's death in 1915, the two figures engaged in an extended public debate over the direction of African American advancement. In 1905, opponents of the Compromise formed the Niagara Movement, which served as the forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), established in 1909.The Atlanta Compromise ultimately failed to end segregation or secure equal rights for Black people in the South; those goals were not significantly advanced until the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Historians continue to debate the effectiveness of Washington's strategy as a means of advancing racial equality. In the first half of the 20th century, opinion was shaped by the views of Du Bois, who maintained that direct protest was a more effective path to equality than accommodation. Scholarship in the latter half of the century was more sympathetic to Washington, with many arguing that the overwhelming political and economic dominance of white society left him with no alternative. Scholars have also analyzed whether Washington's advocacy of accommodation reflected a genuine personal conviction or – conversely – was a tactical response to the social and political constraints of his time.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:06 UTC on Friday, 19 June 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Atlanta Compromise on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Salli.

In this summer-ready episode of "Transmission Interrupted," host Jill Morgan sits down with Dr. Andi Shane, Division Chief for Pediatric Infectious Disease at Emory and Medical Director of the Special Care Unit at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, to tackle the itchy, the icky, and the often misunderstood risks of summer: bugs, bites, and bathrooms. As families gear up for vacations, outdoor adventures, and the return to school, Jill and Dr. Shane break down the real dangers posed by bug bites and creepy-crawlies, offering practical guidance to parents for preventing itching, infections, and accidental exposures. They discuss best practices for using insect repellents on children, why covering up is sometimes easier said than done, and the importance of checking kids (and pets) for ticks—along with what tick-borne illnesses to watch out for as changing climates shift the landscape of risks across the country. The episode doesn't shy away from common but uncomfortable realities like head lice, exploring why these unwelcome visitors are more gross than genuinely dangerous, and shares expert strategies for dealing with them calmly. Dr. Shane also covers hand hygiene, safe management of public restrooms, and the influx of “cooties” when kids return to school, offering memorable and sometimes hilarious tips for keeping families healthy through the literal and figurative messes of summer. Wrapping up, Jill and Dr. Shane emphasize the ongoing importance of vaccination, regular pediatric care, and practical steps every parent can take to minimize risks and avoid unexpected hospital visits. Whether you're heading to camp, beach, or just the local playground, this episode is your guide to surviving and thriving through bugs, bites, and bathrooms. Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at info@netec.org. Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast. Guests Andi Shane, MD, MPH, MSc Professor of Pediatrics and Division Chief, Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease Marcus Professor of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Andi L. Shane, MD, MPH, MSc joined Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University in 2006 after completing an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a Pediatric Infectious Disease fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Prior to her fellowship, Dr. Shane earned a medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, followed by residency training with an additional year as a chief resident at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. Dr. Shane has broad experience and interests in the field of pediatric infectious disease, including but not limited to the prevention and management of diarrheal disease, neonatal sepsis, vaccine effectiveness, and the applications of probiotics to infectious disease prevention and mitigation. In addition, she is committed to the care of children with infections with special pathogens in protected care environments working with children's hospital preparedness teams. In her role as Marcus Professor of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, she serves as the Medical Director of Hospital Epidemiology for Children's, collaborating with the Children's infection prevention and industrial hygiene teams. Dr. Shane currently serves as the Division Chief of Infectious Diseases. She holds an adjunct appointment in the Hubert Department of Global Health and is an Emory Global Health Faculty Fellow. Host Jill Morgan, RN Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA Jill Morgan is a registered nurse and a subject matter expert in personal protective equipment (PPE) for NETEC. For 35 years, Jill has been an emergency department and critical care nurse, and now splits her time between education for NETEC and clinical research, most of it centering around infection prevention and personal protective equipment. She is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), ASTM International, and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) Resources NETEC - WebsiteNETEC - Transmission Interrupted PodcastNETEC - Resource LibraryNETEC - YouTube About NETEC A Partnership for Preparedness The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center's mission is to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response across health systems in the U.S. with the goals of driving best practices, closing knowledge gaps, and developing innovative resources. Our vision is a sustainable infrastructure and culture of readiness for managing suspected and confirmed special pathogen incidents across the United States public health and health care delivery systems. For more information visit NETEC on the web. NETEC Consultation Services Assess and Advance Your Readiness for Special Pathogens with Free, Expert Consulting. NETEC offers free virtual and onsite readiness consulting to help health care facilities and EMS agencies prepare for special pathogen events. Our targeted support services are delivered by experts selected and assigned to each inquiry based on the unique needs of your organization. Have a question? Ask a NETEC expert. For more information visit NETEC Consultation Services.

Stacy Stockard Caliva is a writer and graphic designer based in Lubbock, Texas. She serves as director of communications and marketing for the Texas Tech University Office of Advancement, where she oversees the voice of philanthropy across the university and shapes communications for prospective and current donors.A proud Red Raider, Stacy earned her JD from the Texas Tech University School of Law, along with both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas Tech's Department of Agricultural Education & Communications. She also served as the 2004–2005 Texas Tech Masked Rider and continues to support the tradition through her work on the Masked Rider Advisory Board.In addition to her professional work, Stacy is deeply involved in student life and spirit organizations at Texas Tech. She advises the Texas Tech High Riders spirit group, serves on the Raider Red Mascot Advisory Committee, and is a former recipient of the Texas Tech Outstanding Student Organization Advisor award. Stacy took her passion for the Masked Rider and Texas Tech history and turned it into her book, Long Live the Matadors: The Fearless History of Texas Tech's Masked Rider.https://www.stacystockard.com/https://www.amazon.com/Long-Live-Matadors-Fearless-History/dp/1682831949/ref=sr_1_1

The Baltic states are stalwart NATO members today, but their membership was not assured from the moment they restored their independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union. They fought to overcome the reticence of other allies, then proved themselves as devoted partners on battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq. Today, this alliance is once again in question. What does it mean to the Baltic states, and what does the future hold? Ben Gardner-Gill chats with Dr. Andris Banka about his research and cautiously optimistic view about what comes next.Baltic Ways is a podcast from the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies, produced in partnership with the Baltic Initiative at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of AABS or FPRI. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpribalticinitiative.substack.com

What if the most important thing a leader can do is help someone see possibilities they cannot yet see in themselves?In this episode of IngenioUs, Melissa Morriss-Olson sits down with Dr. Isabelle Cherney, President of Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about leadership, humanpotential, and the power of believing in others.Born and raised in Switzerland, Dr. Cherney brings a unique global perspective to her work as a university president. A developmental psychologist by training and a passionate advocate for women and children, she has dedicatedmuch of her career to understanding how people develop, learn, and discover their strengths.What emerges throughout this conversation is a powerful theme that has shaped both her personal journey and her leadership philosophy: the importanceof the "shoulder tap." Again and again throughout her life, someone recognized potential in her before she recognized it in herself and encouraged her to pursue opportunities she never imagined. Today, as president of one of the nation's few remaining women's universities, she strives to do the same forothers.Melissa and Dr. Cherney discuss:• Growing up in Switzerland and how living across cultures shaped herapproach to leadership• Her academic research on psychology, gender, and human development• The unexpected path that led her to the university presidency• What she has learned about leading as an introvert in a highly visible role• The creation of Mount Mary's Institute for the Advancement of Women and Children• Why women often hesitate to pursue leadership opportunities—and how we can change that• The importance of mentors, sponsors, and leaders who see possibilities in others• Her vision for the future of higher education and the need for greater flexibility, innovation, and collaborationThroughout the conversation, Dr. Cherney offers a compelling reminder that leadership is not about titles or authority. It is about helping people recognize their own potential and creating opportunities for them to thrive.Whether you are an aspiring leader, a seasoned professional, an educator, or someone seeking inspiration, this episode offers wisdom, encouragement, and practical insights about leading with empathy, courage, and purpose.About Dr. Isabelle CherneyDr. Isabelle Cherney is President of Mount Mary University, a Catholic university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dedicated to educating women and advancing social justice. A developmental psychologist, scholar, and higher educationleader, she has devoted her career to empowering individuals and expanding opportunities for women and underserved populations.Host: Dr. Melissa Morriss-OlsonPodcast: IngenioUs Leadership*Season 6: Extraordinary Women Leaders in Higher Education

Messenger RNA (mRNA) plays a literally central role in the functioning of life as we know it, shuttling information back and forth between the DNA where it is stored to the ribosome where it is used to produce proteins. RNA may even have been the first molecule to kick-start the origin of life. Today, scientists are learning how to manipulate mRNA to cure and prevent diseases, whether through vaccination or literally editing one's DNA. Jeff Coller explains how it all works and how mRNA is revolutionizing medicine as we know it. Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2026/06/15/357-jeff-coller-on-mrna-vaccines-and-bespoke-therapeutics/ Support Mindscape on Patreon. Jeff Coller received his Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is currently Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the RNA Innovation Center at Johns Hopkins University. He is co-founder of Tevard Biosciences and the Alliance for mRNA Medicines, and leads the REPAIRx consortium. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Web site Johns Hopkins web page Google Scholar publications "This May Be the Most Important Medical Story of the Decade," New York Times, April 9, 2026

Dr. Ashok K. Shetty is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics and Associate Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Texas A&M University, Naresh Vashisht College of Medicine. He is developing treatments for neurological and neurodegenerative disorders using stem cells and stem cell-derived products, such as extracellular vesicles. These are tiny vesicles secreted by stem cells that carry microRNAs and proteins. Once they make their way into the brain, they can induce beneficial changes in neural cells to improve brain function. Science takes up a lot of Ash's time, but when he's able to get a moment to himself, he enjoys spending time with family, cycling on a stationary bicycle, playing brain games like Sudoku, and going out to see movies at the theater. Ash earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, and he completed postdoctoral research at Montana State University and Duke University. Afterward, he joined the faculty at Duke University in the Division of Neurosurgery. He joined the faculty at Texas A&M University College of Medicine in 2011. In 2024, he was honored with the University Distinguished Professor Award from Texas A&M University, and he has also received the College of Medicine's Senior Research Excellence Award. In addition, Ash is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society for Neural Transplantation and Repair. He has received the Research Career Scientist Award from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, has been recognized among the "World's Top 1% of Scientists" across all scientific fields, and he was the 2025 honoree of Fast Company's World Changing Ideas. In this interview, Ash shares details about his life and his work in science.

In this episode, Dan and Stephanie sit down with Dr. Jake Porter for a thoughtful and honest conversation about one of the most debated — and often weaponized — passages in Christian marriage discussions: 1 Corinthians 7.What did Paul actually mean when he wrote about marital intimacy? How has this passage been misused to justify pressure, coercion, and “duty sex” within Christian relationships? And what happens when mutuality, context, and the heart of the Gospel are stripped away from the conversation?Together, they unpack the historical and relational context of Paul's words, explore the difference between covenant and control, and discuss how Scripture can be applied in ways that either foster safety and connection or deepen shame and harm.This episode is not about dismissing Scripture. It is about reading it carefully, relationally, and in the spirit it was intended.Topics include:Weaponized Scripture in marriage“Duty sex” and coercive interpretationsMutuality and consent in 1 Corinthians 7What Dr. Stephanie has heard in her NeuroDiverse Couples' WorkIs there such a thing as the sin of withholding?What Paul was addressing in the Corinthian churchHow pastors and couples can approach these conversations with wisdom and careA nuanced conversation about theology, relationships, and the difference between biblical intimacy and spiritual pressure. About Dr. Jake Porter:https://www.daringventures.com/Scripturally, Pastorally & Clinically Trained:EducationB.A., Elmira College, triple majors in Psychology, Music, Philosophy & ReligionM.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryTh.M. in Spirituality & Ethics, The Southern Baptist Theological SeminaryM.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Lamar UniversityEd.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dissertation: Affective Social Neurobiology & Student Formation: A Transdisciplinary Multimethod StudyProfessional Memberships & AffiliationsLead Professor for the Doctor of Professional Counseling Program  & Assistant Professor of Counseling, Kairos UniversityFaculty, International Institute of Trauma and Addiction ProfessionalsMember, Division 47 of the APA: Society for Sport, Exercise and Performance PsychologyMember, Division 43 of the APA: Society for Couple and Family PsychologyMember, Division 8 of the APA: Society for Personality and Social PsychologyMember, Society for the Advancement of Sexual HealthProfessional ServiceFounder & President, The International Association of Couple–Centered Recovery®Board of Directors, The Association of Partners of Sex Addiction Trauma Specialists (APSATS)Board of Directors, Christian Sex Addiction Specialists International (C-SASI)Professor of Counseling, Kairos University's Houston Graduate School of TheologyLicensure & CertificationsLicensed Professional Counselor, State of Texas (#78173)Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, State of Montana (#76171)Board Certified Counselor, National Board for Certified CounselorsCertified Sex Addiction Therapist – Supervisor, International Institute for Trauma and Addiction ProfessionalsCertified Multiple Addiction Therapist, International Institute for Trauma and Addiction ProfessionalsCertified Clinical Partner Specialist, The Association for Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma SpecialistsCertified Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider, The Integrative Psychiatry Institute Licensed Psilocybin Facilitator (FL-12de7070), State of OregonCertified Clinical Trauma Professional, International Association of Trauma ProfessionalsAdvanced TrainingsCoachRICE Executive Leadership Coach Training, Rice UniversityPACT Level III (Psychological Approach to Couple Therapy)Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Level IGottman Couple Therapy Level IEMDR Level I (EMDRIA–Approved Training)Emotionally Focused Therapy (Externship, Core Skills 1-4)Post–Induction Therapy (The Meadows Model), Pia Mellody 

Send us Fan MailCan you be genuinely happy and, even thrive,  as a single person? In this episode, Professor Elyakim Kislev, author of Happy Singlehood: The Rising Acceptance and Celebration of Solo Living, discusses the growing global trend toward singlehood and what the research says about happiness, loneliness, marriage, and solo living. We explore the difference between being alone and being lonely, why some people enter relationships out of fear of loneliness, and most importantly, what distinguishes happy singles from unhappy singles. Professor Kislev also discusses the concepts of social loneliness and emotional loneliness, common myths surrounding singlehood, and findings suggesting that many never-married older adults report high levels of well-being and life satisfaction. We also examine cultural pressures surrounding marriage and family formation, whether marriage itself improves health and happiness, how researchers study these questions, and what it really takes to build a meaningful, connected, and fulfilling life—whether you're single, married, dating, or somewhere in between.Professor Elyakim Kislev is a faculty member in the School of Public Policy and Government at The Hebrew University and a Research Fellow at the Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from Columbia University and holds master's degrees in counseling, public policy, and sociology. A Fulbright Fellow and recipient of the Award for Outstanding Fulbright Scholars, his research focuses on singlehood, family, well-being, and social policy. He is the author of Happy Singlehood: The Rising Acceptance and Celebration of Solo Living.Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match. Keep Causes or Cures Ad-Free with Listener SupportYou can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Follow Public Health is WeirdOr Facebook here.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her Newsletter here! (the bits not posted on socia media)Support the show

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are a senior fellow and faculty member in the Center for the Advancement of Public Action at Bennington College. She is the President of Beyond Plastics and former EPA Regional Administrator. Judith is co-author of the book The Problem with Plastic Judith Enck, a full professor in the History Department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) Allison Kavey, and Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute Robert Pondiscio.

1. Seth continue his review of Luke 13, examining healing on the Sabbath 2. No question in the inbox.3. Seth discusses Advancement and Josh Howrton.

In a truly fun episode, co-host Jill Francisco is back with co-host Tony Sipp and longtime friend of the podcast, Vanessa (Vinnie) Finley, CEO of NALA, The Paralegal Association.  Finley dishes on all that is new this year at NALA for its members and shares insider details about the upcoming 2026 NALA Conference & Expo, July 16-18 in Denver, Colorado. The theme is “Transforming today's paralegals into tomorrow's leaders.”  The paralegal profession is growing by leaps. Demands are increasing, technology is transforming the profession, new areas of practice are opening up, and nothing is as it was. Get insights into exciting new developments and roles for paralegal professionals, network with your peers, and get ahead. (All while you can earn up to 41 hours of CLE, including a keynote address from Michael Houlberg, JD, leader of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System.) Don't miss this year's conference and be sure to catch a Major League Baseball game at Coors Field, the absolutely dazzling home of the Colorado Rockies. And if you're flying in, you don't need a rental car, the Denver A Line, “the train to the plane” brings you directly from the airport to downtown Denver's Union Station.  Mentioned in This Episode: NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Email NALA Conference & Expo 2026 NALA Advanced Certified Paralegal Program College of the Canyons Certified Paralegal Exam Study Courses New NALA CP Practice App and Other Tools National Paralegal Day Visit Denver Eat Denver (Independent Network of Restaurants) Denver Grand Hyatt Denver Union Station Denver A Line, "The Train to the Plane" Denver 16th Street Free Shuttle Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nina Bandelj is Chancellor's Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Irvine, and past president of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics. Today we talked about her new book Overinvested: The Emotional Economy of Modern Parenting Dr Bandelj looks at the problem of parental burnout and "intensive parenting" from the perspective of an economic sociologist. She illustrates how we can learn a lot about the social and cultural forces effecting American parents by "following the money". She puts into a broader perspective many of the concerns about "intensive parenting" that  Meredith Elkins, PhD discussed in an earlier podcast this year. Dr Bandelj sociological perspective will helps parents appreciate some of the cultural and social forces that are effecting their everyday parenting  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/overinvested    

Homeopathy has become a bit like a game of telephone.A system of medicine grounded in clear principles — similars, totality, the single remedy, the minimum dose, and careful observation of response — has often been reduced to “take this remedy for that symptom,” or stretched to include any protocol, combination, detox, or nosode-based approach that uses potentized substances.In this episode, Denise Straiges and Alastair Gray ask what homeopathy actually is — and what it is not. They trace how the definition has shifted over time, from Hahnemann's original principles through later debates in education, pathology, germ theory, and modern prescribing trends.The question is not whether people can use homeopathic medicines in different ways. The question is whether all of those uses should be called homeopathy.For students, practitioners, and serious home prescribers, this conversation is an invitation to go back to first principles — and to ask whether the word homeopathy still means the medicine Hahnemann gave us.AHE is currently enrolling for fall. Find details and registration links for these and other upcoming events at AHE.online.June 16 @ 7 pm EST: Homeopathy & Integrative Wellness Session 1 with Denise Straiges (Free 4-session webinar series)June 17 @ 7 pm EST: Your Path to Becoming a Professional Homeopath: A Live Q&A for Future PractitionersJune 24 @ 7 pm EST: Inside AHE: Training Clinic and Student Life-An Open House for Future HomeoapathsHave a question you'd like Denise and Alastair to answer in a future episode? Leave us a comment!Strange, Rare & Peculiar is a weekly podcast with Denise Straiges and Alastair Gray of the Institute for the Advancement of Homeopathy and the Academy of Homeopathy Education.This season, we're focusing on truth — what it means to Aude Sapere (“dare to know”) in homeopathy today. From Hahnemann's original insights to the realities of modern practice, research, and education, Denise and Alastair bring over 50 years of experience to conversations that challenge assumptions and invite curiosity.

After two actual play episodes, we finally sat down to answer the important questions. Why was there a demon in the basement? Why were people making drugs out of supernatural whale juice? Why did our cult immediately choose violence as a conflict resolution strategy? And perhaps most importantly, how many times can you accidentally make things worse before it becomes your crew's official business model? As it turns out, the answer is "a lot." And somehow that's exactly how Blades in the Dark is supposed to work. Show Notes We wrapped up our Blades in the Dark series by pulling back the curtain on everything that happened during the score. Randall finally revealed what was actually going on behind the scenes, explaining the Grey Cloaks, the corrupt Bluecoats, the illegal refinery, and the fact that our crew only uncovered about thirty percent of the mystery. Somehow, despite missing most of the conspiracy, we still managed to completely ruin everyone's plans. From there, we dug into the mechanics that make Blades in the Dark feel different from traditional fantasy RPGs. We talked about consequences, stress, trauma, healing, advancement, and how the game expects complications to drive the story rather than stop it. Coming from games like Dungeons and Dragons and Pathfinder, we spent some time discussing how strange it feels when success and consequences regularly happen at the same time. The downtime system ended up being one of the most interesting parts of the discussion. Recovering from injuries, indulging vices, reducing heat, building territory, and even potentially spending time in prison all create opportunities for new stories instead of simply resetting everything between adventures. Apparently prison gangs and ghost cults can coexist surprisingly well. By the end of the episode, we came away with a better appreciation for how tightly the mechanics and setting work together. Blades in the Dark constantly rewards messy stories, weird complications, and players who are willing to embrace disaster. Which is fortunate, because disaster seems to be our party's greatest strength. Key Takeaways The crew only uncovered a fraction of the conspiracy surrounding the illegal refinery The Grey Cloaks hired the crew to expose corruption tied to the Bluecoats The operation involved trapped spirits, electroplasm extraction, and an imprisoned demon Blades in the Dark expects consequences to create new stories instead of ending them Stress and trauma are resources that players are encouraged to spend and manage Downtime activities allow characters to heal, reduce stress, train, and pursue projects Heat and Wanted Levels create long-term consequences for reckless crews Prison and faction politics can become entire story arcs in longer campaigns Claims and territory expansion give crews long-term goals beyond individual scores Advancement is tied to roleplaying choices and embracing character flaws The setting and mechanics are deeply connected, making the world feel integral to gameplay Our cult somehow solved a major criminal conspiracy while understanding only about thirty percent of what was actually happening Releasing a demon may not have been the original mission objective, but it certainly made the score memorable Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . I have been talking with Tomaso Poggio, Eugene McDermott professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT and the Director of the Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, and one of the founders of the field of computational neuroscience. Tomaso is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a founding fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. He develops models of brain function that illuminate human intelligence and builds intelligent machines that can mimic human performance His new book, Brains, Minds, Machines, The Mystery of Human Intelligence, the Enigmas of the Artificial, comes out this summer. We talk about learning in the brain and synaptic mechanisms, the role of sleep, what AI scientists should pay more attention to from neuroscience, other computational mechanisms in the brain besides neurons, connectomics, robotics, and… flies and worms. All this plus our usual look at today's AI headlines! Transcript and URLs referenced at HumanCusp Blog.        

After two actual play episodes, we finally sat down to answer the important questions. Why was there a demon in the basement? Why were people making drugs out of supernatural whale juice? Why did our cult immediately choose violence as a conflict resolution strategy? And perhaps most importantly, how many times can you accidentally make things worse before it becomes your crew's official business model? As it turns out, the answer is "a lot." And somehow that's exactly how Blades in the Dark is supposed to work. Show Notes We wrapped up our Blades in the Dark series by pulling back the curtain on everything that happened during the score. Randall finally revealed what was actually going on behind the scenes, explaining the Grey Cloaks, the corrupt Bluecoats, the illegal refinery, and the fact that our crew only uncovered about thirty percent of the mystery. Somehow, despite missing most of the conspiracy, we still managed to completely ruin everyone's plans. From there, we dug into the mechanics that make Blades in the Dark feel different from traditional fantasy RPGs. We talked about consequences, stress, trauma, healing, advancement, and how the game expects complications to drive the story rather than stop it. Coming from games like Dungeons and Dragons and Pathfinder, we spent some time discussing how strange it feels when success and consequences regularly happen at the same time. The downtime system ended up being one of the most interesting parts of the discussion. Recovering from injuries, indulging vices, reducing heat, building territory, and even potentially spending time in prison all create opportunities for new stories instead of simply resetting everything between adventures. Apparently prison gangs and ghost cults can coexist surprisingly well. By the end of the episode, we came away with a better appreciation for how tightly the mechanics and setting work together. Blades in the Dark constantly rewards messy stories, weird complications, and players who are willing to embrace disaster. Which is fortunate, because disaster seems to be our party's greatest strength. Key Takeaways The crew only uncovered a fraction of the conspiracy surrounding the illegal refinery The Grey Cloaks hired the crew to expose corruption tied to the Bluecoats The operation involved trapped spirits, electroplasm extraction, and an imprisoned demon Blades in the Dark expects consequences to create new stories instead of ending them Stress and trauma are resources that players are encouraged to spend and manage Downtime activities allow characters to heal, reduce stress, train, and pursue projects Heat and Wanted Levels create long-term consequences for reckless crews Prison and faction politics can become entire story arcs in longer campaigns Claims and territory expansion give crews long-term goals beyond individual scores Advancement is tied to roleplaying choices and embracing character flaws The setting and mechanics are deeply connected, making the world feel integral to gameplay Our cult somehow solved a major criminal conspiracy while understanding only about thirty percent of what was actually happening Releasing a demon may not have been the original mission objective, but it certainly made the score memorable Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Philippians 1:3-11 Rev. Dan Whang

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 offers a countercultural approach to Christian living in a noisy, distracted world. In this devotional, Whitney Hopler explores how living a quiet life can strengthen faith, reduce stress, and create a powerful witness for Christ. While modern culture often rewards constant visibility, strong opinions, and endless activity, Scripture encourages believers to pursue peace, focus on their God-given responsibilities, and find contentment in faithfully serving God through everyday work. Highlights God calls believers to make it their ambition to lead a quiet life. A quiet life helps create space for peace, focus, and spiritual growth. Social media and constant noise can distract us from what matters most. Minding our own business allows us to invest more deeply in real relationships. Everyday work can become an act of worship when done for God's glory. Faithful, peaceful living often earns the respect of others. Our worth comes from being God's beloved children, not from public attention. Living quietly creates opportunities to reflect Christ in a loud world. Join the Conversation What is one area of your life that feels especially noisy or distracting right now? How can you create more space for quiet, focus, and deeper connection with God this week? Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: How to Live a Quiet Life in a Loud WorldBy: Whitney Hopler Bible Reading:“…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 The benefits of being quiet often show up in well-being research I work with at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Leading a quiet life can be useful for stress relief, focus, creativity, and more. When we’re quiet, our minds can process and reflect on the constant stream of information coming at us every day. That can prevent us from becoming overwhelmed and help us discover what matters most. The constant barrage of messages competing for our attention reminds us that we live in a very loud world. Our society celebrates the people who shout their opinions – even about people and situations they don’t know personally. If we’re not trying to push others to pay attention to us, it can feel like we’re falling behind. But these verses from 1 Thessalonians show us that living quietly is a much wiser choice. It’s fascinating that the word “ambition” is connected with “a quiet life.” Usually, when we think of ambition, we think of getting noticed by other people. But God encourages us to be ambitious by minding our own business rather than trying to get other people’s attention. Minding our own business is challenging in this loud world. Our social media urges us to be monitoring other people’s lives and to keep updating them on our lives, whether or not they actually care. It also urges us to judge what’s happening in the world and to shout out our opinions on those situations, even if we haven’t studied them well enough to have informed opinions. But 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 describes another kind of ambition. We can be ambitious by making better choices, despite how society is pressuring us. We can stop wasting our time and energy by reclaiming our attention and choosing to invest it in what matters most – our relationships with God and the people we know personally, in real life. These Bible verses encourage us to work with our hands. There’s something sacred about using the hands God gave us to do our work. Whether we’re typing on computer keyboards, serving meals, fixing cars, performing surgery, or any other one of countless types of jobs, we use our hands somehow. Focusing on the work we do with our hands grounds us and reminds us that God created us to be productive and to contribute to our world. We can find fulfillment from doing our best at work. When we focus on doing the task in front of us with excellence and integrity, we can find a sense of purpose that doesn’t need a “like” or a “share” to be valid. Working with our hands while doing our best for God turns our daily chores and professional duties into a form of quiet worship. When we do so, we can win the respect of those around us. Other people are watching how we live. In this loud world that’s full of drama, people who are hardworking and peaceful stand out. Our quiet lives become powerful testimonies that show others our security comes from something much deeper than the latest trend. Living quietly also leads us to a healthy independence. When we work diligently and live simply, we’re able to bless others instead of burdening them unnecessarily. Living a quiet life doesn’t prevent us from speaking up. We can, and should, speak up against evil and share the Gospel whenever God leads us to do so. But living quietly does mean that we stop trying to prove our worth by calling out for attention and simply resting with confidence in our identities as God’s beloved children. In this fallen world, where too many people are shouting at each other, we can ambitiously choose a better lifestyle of quiet work and love. Intersecting Faith & Life: As you consider how to live a quiet life in a loud world, reflect on these questions: What’s one “loud” part of your life (social media, television, etc.) that you can quiet down this week to find more peace? How does the idea of minding your own business challenge you right now? In what ways can you see working with your hands on your daily tasks as a way to worship God? Why do you think society can make you feel guilty for seeking a simpler life? Who is one person you know just outside your inner circles of friends and family – someone like a neighbor or a coworker – who might be positively impacted by seeing you faithfully live a quiet life? Further Reading:Psalm 46:10Isaiah 30:151 Timothy 2:1-2Ecclesiastes 4:6Matthew 6:6 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy are all over the news and TV ads lately. Are they really a safe way to lose weight? Racquel Williams talks with medical professionals from Penn Medicine's Center for Weight and Eating Disorders about the benefits and risks of GLP-1s, plus how social media impacts body image and how mental health is connected to food. Then, Philly Pride is bigger than ever this year! Shara Dae Howard hits up the kickoff event at Sofitel Philadelphia to find out what's going on all month - including a performance by Patti LaBelle - and how the LGBTQ+ community feels about the Pride festival moving from the Gayborhood to the Ben Franklin Parkway.

In the second hour, Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote reacted to the breaking news that the Bears board of directors voted to advance the stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana. Is it a completely done deal or does the state of Illinois still have a chance to keep the Bears? Later, Rahimi, Harris and Grote opened the phone lines for Score callers to sound off.

Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote reacted to the breaking news that the Bears board of directors voted to advance the stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana. Is it a completely done deal or does the state of Illinois still have a chance to keep the Bears?

Joshua Shapiro LIVE, Thursday, June 4th, 2026, 6 PM ET Topic: The Field Between Worlds - Manifestation Beyond the Law of Attraction Bio: I am known as a Crystal Skull Explorer, a new author now (Title -Imagine Your Dream Comes True - a hybrid spiritual novel which takies place in Dreamland supported by The Gateway of Light) and public speaker. Since April of last year I have been the Guardian for the Gateway of Light, a trans-dimensional communication system which allows me to speak directly to all types of spirits, angels, dragons, galactics and more. I have written a number of books, the first one was Journeys of an Aquarian Age Networker (wandering spiritual travels on faith in 1982(,Mysteries of the Crystal Skulls Revealed with Bowen and Nocerino 1989, Journey of the Crystal Skull Explorers with my wife Katrina Head (deceased now an angle in Heaven known as Sha'Lomea) Travel Log 2 - Search for the Blue Skull in Peru 2014, Travel Log 1 - Mexico 2009 and Journey into the Unknown and Back Again Book #1 with Karen Tucker 2018 spiritual novel - the new book just released is a piece of Book #2 I saw my first Crystal Skull in San Jose an amethyst skull in 1982 and then met my co-authros Bown and Nocerino in California in 1988 - in 1991 I worked with the crystal skulls solo until I met my 2nd and 3rd wives and finally met Katrina Head in 2009 - we were always together. I started a spiritual center in 2022 that I still have a vision of called The Center for the Advancement of Humanity where I am only online but the Center supports three outer projects, the Crystal Skull World Peace Meditations on t he 13th of each Month -- The Gateway of Light - collecting the spiritual communications and supporting a website - Soul Family Gathering of Central Florida - public events for local spiritual soul family. Right now I rent a room near Orlando Florida - I am waiting for my next life companion to arrive to help support all these projects, I have 30 personal crystal skulls and I help obtain crystal skulls for individuals. I will be working on my next book in June called Scroll of the Rings which reveals via my contacts via the Gateway the true shape, form and history of our world. Websites: thegatewayoflight.com bit.ly/Joshua-s-Novel26 - webpage for new book bit.ly/csmeditation - world peace meditation cs.crystalskullexplorers.com - crystal skull main website social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuashapiro.cse/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystalskullexplorers17/ telegram: https://t.me/joshuashapiro417 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalskullexplorers/ TikTok: www.tiktok/@joshua.shapiro6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaShapiro-CSE

Wednesday, June 03, 2026

In this timely episode of Transmission Interrupted, host Jill Morgan sits down with Dr. Alex Isakov, Medical Director of the Emory Grady EMS Biosafety Transport Program, to explore the unique healthcare challenges presented by the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With eleven U.S. cities preparing to welcome visitors from 48 countries, the conversation digs into how the influx of international travelers brings both excitement and a complex spectrum of public health considerations. Dr. Isakov sheds light on the heightened vigilance required of frontline healthcare personnel, emphasizing the increased likelihood of encountering diseases not routinely seen in the United States, from vector-borne illnesses like malaria and dengue to the risks of global outbreaks such as measles or norovirus. The discussion also broadens beyond infectious diseases, touching on the operational demands that mass gatherings impose on health systems, including the management of injuries, heat illness, and crowd-related incidents. Dr. Isakov and Jill offer practical advice for both travelers and providers, highlighting the importance of vaccination, hand hygiene, and staying informed about evolving health risks. They stress the need for preparedness not just within host cities but nationwide, as World Cup attendees are expected to venture far beyond stadiums, making readiness a shared responsibility. As the countdown to kickoff continues, this episode offers essential insights for anyone charged with safeguarding public health during one of the world's largest sporting events. Guest Alex Isakov, MD, MPH Alex Isakov is the founding executive director of the Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) and a professor of emergency medicine at Emory University. He directs CEPAR's initiatives to enhance disaster resilience at Emory and in the broader community. He is also the director of Emory's Section of Prehospital and Disaster Medicine and leads Emory EMS. Alex serves as a co-lead for NETEC's EMS Workgroup. Host Jill Morgan, RN Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA Jill Morgan is a registered nurse and a subject matter expert in personal protective equipment (PPE) for NETEC. For 35 years, Jill has been an emergency department and critical care nurse, and now splits her time between education for NETEC and clinical research, most of it centering around infection prevention and personal protective equipment. She is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), ASTM International, and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Resources NETEC - Countdown to Kickoff: 2026 World Cup HCID PreparednessNETEC - Global Visitors, Local Preparedness: Dr. Laura Evans on World Cup Health StrategiesNETEC - Summer Travel Q&A: Expert Tips for Staying Safe and HealthyNETEC - World Cup 2026 Resource Library ExhibitNETEC - Transmission Interrupted Podcast About NETEC A Partnership for Preparedness The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center's mission is to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response across health systems in the U.S. with the goals of driving best practices, closing knowledge gaps, and developing innovative resources. Our vision is a sustainable infrastructure and culture of readiness for managing suspected and confirmed special pathogen incidents across the United States public health and health care delivery systems. For more information visit NETEC on the web. NETEC Consultation Services Assess and Advance Your Readiness for Special Pathogens with Free, Expert Consulting. NETEC offers free virtual and onsite readiness consulting to help health care facilities and EMS agencies prepare for special pathogen events. Our targeted support services are delivered by experts selected and assigned to each inquiry based on the unique needs of your organization. Have a question? Ask a NETEC expert. For more information visit NETEC's Consultation Services.

June 2, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson spoke with Dr. Tim Nash, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. They discussed inflation, tariffs, and USMCA renegotiation affecting auto sales and profit margins. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For university presses of all sizes, technology adoption is a constant necessity—yet the process can feel daunting, confusing, and even disruptive. Jana Faust (University of Nebraska Press) and Rachel Lee (UCANR) join the podcast to share their insights on technology adoption and change management. Rachel Lee is Director of Publishing at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (https://ucanr.edu), where she leads a dedicated team that publishes California Agriculture journal, books, and open access publications showcasing ANR's research and extension work. Outside the office, she enjoys trail running, biking, and exploring new destinations. anrpublications.orgJana Faust is the Manager of Digital Assets and IT at the University of Nebraska Press, where she leads initiatives in publishing technology. She manages projects ranging from ebook remediation to ensure compliance with the European Accessibility Act, to system implementations that improve transparency and efficiency across departments. In her spare time, Jana likes to read, knit, and crochet. nebraskapress.unl.edu

“What signs did I miss?” “Are people judging me?” “Should I even be in this field?” The suicide of a loved one triggers many thoughts and emotions in survivors. When the survivor is a mental health professional, those thoughts and emotions can be even more complicated, leading them to question their own skills and capabilities. On this episode we are joined by Dr. Andrew Devendorf, a psychologist who is also a survivor of suicide loss. He and Carin share their experiences in coping with the suicide of a loved one, how it impacted their professional lives, and how silencing the stigma can be. Our Actionable Intel provides resources for healing and connection. Andrew Devendorf, Ph.D., is a Military Behavioral Health Psychologist with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine. He serves as a subject matter expert in suicide prevention for the VA SAFEGUARD project.Resources mentioned in this episode: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: www.afsp.orgNational Alliance for Mental Illness: www.nami.orgMy Brother Went Missing, And The Search For Him Turned My World Upside Down, an article by Andrew Devendorf: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/missing-brother-search_n_5d67e1a5e4b063c341fc2782Surviving the Impossible: Reflections on Suicide Loss, an article by Andrew Devendorf: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/deeper-mental-health/202502/surviving-the-impossible-reflections-on-suicide-lossThe Hilliest Course I've Ever Run, a blog by Carin Lefkowitz: https://deploymentpsych.org/blog/staff-perspective-hilliest-course-i%E2%80%99ve-ever-run-coping-suicide-loved-oneAn Afterword to “The Hilliest Course I've Ever Run,” a blog by Carin Lefkowitz: https://deploymentpsych.org/blog/staff-perspective-afterword-%E2%80%9C-hilliest-course-i%E2%80%99ve-ever-run%E2%80%9D Calls-to-action: Keep the conversation going. If you're a survivor or suicide loss, reach out to trusted friends, colleagues, or organizations. Don't grieve alone. If you know a survivor, reach out to them.Share your impactful moment in the comments or via https://www.speakpipe.com/cdpp4pSubscribe to the Practical for Your Practice PodcastSubscribe to The Center for Deployment Psychology Monthly Email

This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . Studying human intelligence is a matter of neuroscience, and creating software is a matter of computing, so creating artificial intelligence would be at the intersection of those fields, called computational neuroscience, and I have with me one of the founders of that field. Tomaso Poggio is the Eugene McDermott professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT and the Director of the Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a founding fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. His home page says that he “develops models of brain function that illuminate human intelligence and builds intelligent machines that can mimic human performance.” Wow. His new book, Brains, Minds, Machines, The Mystery of Human Intelligence, the Enigmas of the Artificial, comes out this summer. Tomaso defines computational neuroscience, and then we talk about computation in the human brain, how large language models landed for him, holography, limitations of LLMs, and backpropagation equivalents in the human brain. All this plus our usual look at today's AI headlines! Transcript and URLs referenced at HumanCusp Blog.        

Jessica Fuentes speaks with Cameron Schoepp, professor and Graduate Studio Art Coordinator at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, about his experience as a grad student, TCU's MFA program, and advice for artists considering an MFA. “For me, one of the most important things in a graduate program is defending the time in the studio. That time in the studio is so important; you must allow the student time to work. It's easy to fill every moment of their day, and you have to guard against that.” See related readings here: https://glasstire.com/2026/05/31/art-dirt-talking-about-mfa-programs-with-cameron-schoepp/ Thanks to this week's podcast sponsor, CASETA, the Center for the Advancement and Study of Early Texas Art, which is presenting its annual Symposium and Texas Art Fair from Friday, June 19, through Sunday, June 21, at the Witte Museum in San Antonio. The Symposium includes a variety of lectures by Texas art experts, and the Art Fair offers collectors unique access to many tempting displays of Texas art. For a complete list of events and to register for the program, please go here: https://www.caseta.org/2026-caseta-symposium-texas-art-fair

In the world's top research labs and universities, the race is on to invent the ultimate learning algorithm: one capable of discovering any knowledge from data, and doing anything we want, before we even ask. In The Master Algorithm: How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World (Basic Books, 2018), Pedro Domingos lifts the veil to give us a peek inside the learning machines that power Google, Amazon, and your smartphone. He assembles a blueprint for the future universal learner--the Master Algorithm--and discusses what it will mean for business, science, and society. If data-ism is today's philosophy, this book is its bible. Pedro Domingos is a professor emeritus of computer science at the University of Washington. He is a winner of the SIGKDD Innovation Award, the highest honor in data science. A fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, he lives near Seattle. Gregory McNiff is a Managing Director in the New York office of the Blueshirt Group, an IR firm focused on technology; he has a strong interest in literature, culture, religion, science and philosophy (translation: he's an eclectic reader who is constantly missing deadlines for book review). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In the world's top research labs and universities, the race is on to invent the ultimate learning algorithm: one capable of discovering any knowledge from data, and doing anything we want, before we even ask. In The Master Algorithm: How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World (Basic Books, 2018), Pedro Domingos lifts the veil to give us a peek inside the learning machines that power Google, Amazon, and your smartphone. He assembles a blueprint for the future universal learner--the Master Algorithm--and discusses what it will mean for business, science, and society. If data-ism is today's philosophy, this book is its bible. Pedro Domingos is a professor emeritus of computer science at the University of Washington. He is a winner of the SIGKDD Innovation Award, the highest honor in data science. A fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, he lives near Seattle. Gregory McNiff is a Managing Director in the New York office of the Blueshirt Group, an IR firm focused on technology; he has a strong interest in literature, culture, religion, science and philosophy (translation: he's an eclectic reader who is constantly missing deadlines for book review). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science

In the world's top research labs and universities, the race is on to invent the ultimate learning algorithm: one capable of discovering any knowledge from data, and doing anything we want, before we even ask. In The Master Algorithm: How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World (Basic Books, 2018), Pedro Domingos lifts the veil to give us a peek inside the learning machines that power Google, Amazon, and your smartphone. He assembles a blueprint for the future universal learner--the Master Algorithm--and discusses what it will mean for business, science, and society. If data-ism is today's philosophy, this book is its bible. Pedro Domingos is a professor emeritus of computer science at the University of Washington. He is a winner of the SIGKDD Innovation Award, the highest honor in data science. A fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, he lives near Seattle. Gregory McNiff is a Managing Director in the New York office of the Blueshirt Group, an IR firm focused on technology; he has a strong interest in literature, culture, religion, science and philosophy (translation: he's an eclectic reader who is constantly missing deadlines for book review). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

In this episode of ACM ByteCast, Rashmi Mohan hosts 2025 ACM Fellow Cynthia Rudin, the Gilbert, Louis, and Edward Lehrman Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Statistical Science, Mathematics, and Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at Duke University, where she leads the Interpretable Machine Learning Lab. Her lab, which seeks to design predictive ML models that people can understand, focuses on areas including healthcare, criminal justice, and energy reliability. Among her honors, she has received the Squirrel Award for Artificial Intelligence from the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), as well as the IJCAI John McCarthy Award. Rudin was recently named an ACM Fellow for contributions to and leadership in interpretable machine learning and societal applications. In the interview, Cynthia clarifies the crucial distinction between "interpretable" and “explainable" AI and makes the argument that true interpretability is foundational to trustworthy, ethical AI. She shares her extensive field experience collaborating with Con Edison engineers on power grid maintenance, neurologists on medical diagnostics, and the Cambridge Police Department on crime series detection, countering the widespread industry myth that AI performance must be sacrificed for transparency. She describes an innovative paradigm her lab developed to solve the "interaction bottleneck" between data scientists and domain experts, leveraging "Rashomon sets" to generate millions of equally accurate models simultaneously, using human-computer interaction (HCI) tools to create visual, encyclopedia-like interfaces.

In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, host Jill Morgan sits down with Dr. Gaby Frank, internist and director of the Special Pathogens Center at Johns Hopkins, to provide clarity and insight on the current hantavirus outbreak. The conversation kicks off by demystifying essential public health terms like "isolation" and "quarantine," explaining their definitions and uses in the context of infectious diseases in the U.S. Jill and Dr. Frank then dive into the science behind hantavirus, specifically the unique Andes virus strain in Argentina and its rare but notable potential for human-to-human transmission, a distinction setting it apart from the many other hantavirus strains found throughout the Americas. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of how hantavirus is typically contracted—primarily from aerosolized rodent droppings rather than person-to-person transmission—and the actual risks associated with exposure. The episode highlights findings from a long-term study in Chile, which revealed only 3.3% of close contacts developed the disease, with greatest risk among household and romantic partners. Jill and Dr. Frank dispel some of the fear and misinformation circulating about hantavirus, stressing that while severe cases can occur, the general public's risk remains very low. Through expert perspective and practical advice, this episode underscores the importance of strategic preparedness and ongoing research, empowering listeners with the knowledge they need to stay safe and informed. Guest Maria (Gaby) Frank, MD, FACP, SFHM Professor of Medicine, PAR, Johns Hopkins University Director, Johns Hopkins Special Pathogens Center Dr. Frank is a hospitalist. Professor of Medicine PAR, and the Director of Johns Hopkins' Special Pathogens Center Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, one of the 13 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs). The Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) is a premier 1000-bed non-profit academic medical center within the larger Johns Hopkins Health System, one of the leading health care systems in the United States. The 5-hospital health system in the Baltimore-Washington area has 2513 beds (354 intensive care unit beds) and serves approximately 7 million people. JHH provides a full range of clinical services including specialty care for both adults and pediatric patients. The Johns Hopkins Hospital was ranked number one in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 22 years of the survey's 30-year history. Before joining Johns Hopkins, Dr. Frank was the Medical Director of the biocontainment unit at Denver Health and Hospital Authority. In her role as the medical director of BCU, she served as the site Principal Investigator for the NIH-sponsored ACTT trial and is actively involved in the National Emerging Special Pathogen Training and Education Center (NETEC) and Special Pathogens Research Network (SPRN). Dr. Frank received her medical diploma from the University of Buenos Aires in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and completed a residency in Internal Medicine and another in Emergency Medicine in Argentina. She immigrated to the U.S. in 2004, where she completed another Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Colorado, joining as faculty after graduation. Her areas of interest include emergent special pathogens, and disaster preparedness and response. Host Jill Morgan, RN Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA Jill Morgan is a registered nurse and a subject matter expert in personal protective equipment (PPE) for NETEC. For 35 years, Jill has been an emergency department and critical care nurse, and now splits her time between education for NETEC and clinical research, most of it centering around infection prevention and personal protective equipment. She is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), ASTM International, and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Resources From Mice to Medicine: Exploring Hantavirus and Protecting Healthcare TeamsNETEC Hantavirus InformationSBAR: Andes HantavirusNETEC Webinar Hantavirus Town Hall: Updates for Frontline StaffTransmission Interrupted PodcastNETEC Resource Library About NETEC A Partnership for Preparedness The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center's mission is to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response across health systems in the U.S. with the goals of driving best practices, closing knowledge gaps, and developing innovative resources. Our vision is a sustainable infrastructure and culture of readiness for managing suspected and confirmed special pathogen incidents across the United States public health and health care delivery systems. For more information visit NETEC on the web at www.netec.org. NETEC Consultation Services Assess and Advance Your Readiness for Special Pathogens with Free, Expert Consulting. NETEC offers free virtual and onsite readiness consulting to help health care facilities and EMS agencies prepare for special pathogen events. Our targeted support services are delivered by experts selected and assigned to each inquiry based on the unique needs of your organization. Have a question? Ask a NETEC expert. For more information visit: netec.org/consulting-services.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has presided over a UN Security Council meeting and highlighted China's efforts in promoting peace and providing assistance (01:02). Profits of China's major industrial firms rose more than 18 percent on a yearly basis during the first four months of the year (36:46). And Japan has enacted a law to establish a National Intelligence Council, but the move has drawn protests from citizens demanding explanations (22:51).

How do we know what a homeopathic remedy actually does?That question takes Denise and Alastair into one of the things that truly sets homeopathy apart: provings.In this episode, they talk about how remedy knowledge is gathered, why Hahnemann insisted that it come through experience — not “mere intellectual exertion” — and why the paper trail behind our materia medica matters. They also look at what happens when that trail gets muddy: incomplete provings, speculative remedy pictures, intellectual shortcuts, and remedies being used or sold without clear proving information.The conversation moves from Causticum and Hahnemann's own proving symptoms to Langhammer, Scholten's periodic table work, nosodes, isopathy, and the modern temptation to simplify what was never meant to be simplistic.If you've ever wondered where remedy pictures come from — or how to think more critically about what's in the materia medica — this episode is for you.Strange, Rare & Peculiar is a weekly podcast with Denise Straiges and Alastair Gray of the Institute for the Advancement of Homeopathy and the Academy of Homeopathy Education.This season, we're focusing on truth — what it means to Aude Sapere (“dare to know”) in homeopathy today. From Hahnemann's original insights to the realities of modern practice, research, and education, Denise and Alastair bring over 50 years of experience to conversations that challenge assumptions and invite curiosity.

It has been over a week since tragedy unfolded at the Islamic Center of San Diego, when two teenagers fatally shot three community members.The shock and mourning to follow has rippled across San Diego and the country.KPBS Midday Edition host Jade Hindmon sat down with two Muslim community leaders to talk about how they are processing last week's events and where healing begins.Guests:Khalid Alexander, president, Pillars of the Community, professor, San Diego City CollegeRamla Sahid, executive director, Partnership for the Advancement of New AmericansResources:Ways to help or get help in the wake of the Islamic Center shootingSan Diego Crisis Resources: Support Following Islamic Center Tragedy — City of San DiegoCAIR San Diego Community HubNational Center for Crisis and Bereavement

On May 15, Alberta and Ottawa announced updates to their MOU on carbon markets and energy policy, aimed at advancing a greenfield oil pipeline proposal to Asian markets by July 1, with possible construction readiness after September 2027. The agreement lowers industrial carbon compliance costs and introduces a TIER price floor (called a minimum transfer price), although industry groups still argue that costs remain too high. The new framework also introduces additional complexity and uncertainty around carbon markets. While the deal marks progress toward a West Coast oil export pipeline, key uncertainties remain regarding commitments to the Oil Sands Alliance Pathways CCS project, opposition in British Columbia, and the future of the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER). On May 14, the federal government also announced a national electricity strategy. The strategy includes plans for regional electricity planning, along with proposed measures such as extending the Clean Electricity ITC to certain intra-provincial transmission projects and a plan to consult on added flexibility to the CER. To help Peter and Jackie unpack this wave of policy announcements and their implications for carbon markets and investment, they are joined by Rachel Walsh, Director and Head of Carbon Strategy and Partnerships at BMO Capital Markets. Content referenced in this podcast: Government of Canada, Powering Canada Strong: A National Strategy for an Electrified Canadian Economy (May 14, 2026) Prime Minister's Office, Canada and Alberta strike agreement to diversify our exports, reduce emissions, and build a stronger economy (May 15, 2026) Prime Minister's Office, Implementation Agreement for the Canada-Alberta MOU of November 27, 2026 (May 15, 2026) Alberta Government, Release on the updates to the Canada-Alberta MOU Agreement (May 15, 2026) Studio.Energy, Carbon Competitiveness and Canada's Oil Industry (April 21, 2026) Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/ Check us out on social media: X (Twitter): @arcenergyinstLinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research Institute Subscribe to ARC Energy Ideas PodcastApple PodcastsAmazon MusicSpotify

In Stories of Struggle: The Clash over Civil Rights in South Carolina (U South Carolina Press, 2020), longtime journalist Claudia Smith Brinson details the lynchings, beatings, bombings, cross burnings, death threats, arson, and venomous hatred that black South Carolinians endured―as well as the astonishing courage, devotion, dignity, and compassion of those who risked their lives for equality. Through extensive research and interviews with more than one hundred fifty civil rights activists, many of whom had never shared their stories with anyone, Brinson chronicles twenty pivotal years of petitioning, preaching, picketing, boycotting, marching, and holding sit-ins. Participants' use of nonviolent direct action altered the landscape of civil rights in South Carolina and reverberated throughout the South. These firsthand accounts include those of the unsung petitioners who risked their lives by supporting Summerton's Briggs v. Elliot, a lawsuit that led to the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision; the thousands of students who were arrested and jailed in 1960 for protests in Rock Hill, Orangeburg, Denmark, Columbia, and Sumter; and the black female employees and leaders who defied a governor and his armed troops during the 1969 hospital strike in Charleston. Brinson also highlights contributions made by remarkable but lesser-known activists, including James M. Hinton Sr., president of the South Carolina Conference of Branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Thomas W. Gaither, Congress of Racial Equality field secretary and scout for the Freedom Rides; Charles F. McDew, a South Carolina State College student and co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; and Mary Moultrie, grassroots leader of the 1969 hospital workers' strike. These intimate stories of courage and conviction, both heartbreaking and inspiring, shine a light on the progress achieved by nonviolent civil rights activists while also revealing white South Carolinians' often violent resistance to change. Although significant racial disparities remain, the sacrifices of these brave men and women produced real progress―and hope for the future. For more information on this book, see storiesofstruggle.com Matt Simmons is an Assistant Professor of History at Emmanuel University where he teaches course in U.S. and public history. His research interests focus on the intersection of labor and race in the twentieth-century American South. You can follow him on X @matthewfsimmons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

In Stories of Struggle: The Clash over Civil Rights in South Carolina (U South Carolina Press, 2020), longtime journalist Claudia Smith Brinson details the lynchings, beatings, bombings, cross burnings, death threats, arson, and venomous hatred that black South Carolinians endured―as well as the astonishing courage, devotion, dignity, and compassion of those who risked their lives for equality. Through extensive research and interviews with more than one hundred fifty civil rights activists, many of whom had never shared their stories with anyone, Brinson chronicles twenty pivotal years of petitioning, preaching, picketing, boycotting, marching, and holding sit-ins. Participants' use of nonviolent direct action altered the landscape of civil rights in South Carolina and reverberated throughout the South. These firsthand accounts include those of the unsung petitioners who risked their lives by supporting Summerton's Briggs v. Elliot, a lawsuit that led to the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision; the thousands of students who were arrested and jailed in 1960 for protests in Rock Hill, Orangeburg, Denmark, Columbia, and Sumter; and the black female employees and leaders who defied a governor and his armed troops during the 1969 hospital strike in Charleston. Brinson also highlights contributions made by remarkable but lesser-known activists, including James M. Hinton Sr., president of the South Carolina Conference of Branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Thomas W. Gaither, Congress of Racial Equality field secretary and scout for the Freedom Rides; Charles F. McDew, a South Carolina State College student and co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; and Mary Moultrie, grassroots leader of the 1969 hospital workers' strike. These intimate stories of courage and conviction, both heartbreaking and inspiring, shine a light on the progress achieved by nonviolent civil rights activists while also revealing white South Carolinians' often violent resistance to change. Although significant racial disparities remain, the sacrifices of these brave men and women produced real progress―and hope for the future. For more information on this book, see storiesofstruggle.com Matt Simmons is an Assistant Professor of History at Emmanuel University where he teaches course in U.S. and public history. His research interests focus on the intersection of labor and race in the twentieth-century American South. You can follow him on X @matthewfsimmons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

"Almost all of the interventions that make us happier work because they make us feel more connected and more loved,' says Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D. Lyubomirsky is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the bestselling author of The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness—and her latest, How to Feel Loved (Harper Collins, 2026), paired with a mainstage TED talk. A Harvard and Stanford-trained scientist whose research has been featured in the New York Times, on podcasts, and in documentaries worldwide, she is one of the world's leading experts on the science of happiness 00:00 - What connects every happiness practice 03:24 - Why you should talk to strangers 04:41 - Kindness changes your DNA 08:32 - Money, power, & fame are overrated 10:36 - The case for reaching out to old friends 13:49 - Why 70% don't feel loved enough 17:03 - The walls we walk around with 18:52 - The radical curiosity mindset 23:55 - How to really listen  28:19 - AI as a companion 31:05 - The relationship SEAsaw 39:00 - When introverts act extroverted 43:40 - The conversation to have tomorrow Referenced in the episode:  For more about Lyubomirsky & her research, visit her website: https://sonjalyubomirsky.com/  Buy her new book: https://a.co/d/04sCyQSj  Listen to her mainstage TED talk: https://youtu.be/pdRWeK9f02w?si=1vV8cwwsSHeCMZ3y  For more about Nicholas Epley's research & upcoming book, visit his website: https://www.nicholasepley.com/ We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: podcast@mindbodygreen.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FLASHBACK FRIDAYS: Gregg Braden is a five-time New York Times best-selling author, researcher, educator, lecturer and internationally renowned as a pioneer bridging science, spirituality, and human potential.From 1979 to 1991 Gregg worked as a problem solver during times of crisis for Fortune 500 companies, including Cisco Systems where he became the first Technical Operations Manager in 1991.He continues problem-solving today as he merges modern science and the wisdom of our past to reveal real-world solutions to the issues that challenge our lives. His research has led to 15 film credits and 12 award-winning books now published in over 40 languages.Gregg is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and is active with visionary organizations including the HeartMath Global Coherence Initiative and The Arlington Institute. He has presented his discoveries in over 30 countries on six continents and has been invited to speak to The United Nations, Fortune 500 companies and the U. S. military.The United Kingdom's Watkins Journal lists Gregg among the top 100 of “the world's most spiritually influential living people” for the 7th consecutive year, and he is a 2020 nominee for the prestigious Templeton Award, established to honor “outstanding individuals who have devoted their talents to expanding our vision of human purpose and ultimate reality.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/next-level-soul-podcast-with-alex-ferrari--4858435/support.Take your spiritual journey to the next level with Next Level Soul TV — our dedicated streaming home for conscious storytelling and soulful transformation.Experience exclusive programs, original series, movies, tv shows, workshops, audiobooks, meditations, and a growing library of inspiring content created to elevate, heal, and awaken. Begin your membership or explore our free titles here: https://www.nextlevelsoul.tv

In this episode of the Pipeliners Podcast, Russel Treat speaks with Tyler Tunic of the SGA Natural Gas Association about workforce engagement, industry collaboration, and the evolving role of trade associations in the natural gas industry. Tyler discusses his transition from working in the industry to joining SGA, as well as the importance of leadership development, committee engagement, and creating meaningful learning opportunities for the next generation of pipeline professionals. The conversation also explores how organizations like SGA, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America Foundation, and Young Pipeline Professionals USA are helping connect industry professionals, strengthen workforce development, and create long-term value across the natural gas sector. Visit PipelinePodcastNetwork.com for a full episode transcript, as well as detailed show notes with relevant links and insider term definitions.

In Episode 118 of Strange, Rare & Peculiar, Denise Straiges and Alastair Gray begin with a question from the AHE teaching clinic, which opens into a discussion of Hahnemann's evolving understanding of chronic disease, the “1816 problem,” and why relapsing chronic conditions required him to ask deeper questions about disease, miasms, and cure.In this episode:Why medical language still matters in homeopathyDisease names, homeopathic diagnosis, and individualizationThe “1816 problem” and Hahnemann's Chronic DiseasesPsora, miasms, and the classification of diseaseFlexner-era confusion and the loss of homeopathic clarityListener comments on "homeopathy snobs" and the availability of OTC remediesStrange, Rare & Peculiar is a weekly podcast with Denise Straiges and Alastair Gray of the Institute for the Advancement of Homeopathy and the Academy of Homeopathy Education.This season, we're focusing on truth — what it means to Aude Sapere (“dare to know”) in homeopathy today. From Hahnemann's original insights to the realities of modern practice, research, and education, Denise and Alastair bring over 50 years of experience to conversations that challenge assumptions and invite curiosity.

Ralph speaks to Dr. Marina Nord of the V-Dem Institute about this year's V-Dem Democracy Report and how the Trump Administration is dismantling democracy in the US. Then, Ralph welcomes Dr. Ralph Estes to discuss corporations' shady accounting practices.Dr. Marina Nord is a postdoctoral research fellow at the V-Dem Institute. She is co-author of V-Dem's Democracy Report 2026: “Unraveling The Democratic Era?”.Only six countries during the 21st century have registered larger one-year drops on the aggregate Liberal Democracy Index [than the United States] —and all of them are coups. If you look at the last almost 250 years (so for which we have data going back to 1789), there were only thirty-five instances of more rapid dismantling of democracy—almost all of them were either military coups or international interventions.Dr. Marina NordWe do not measure [Trump's] words. We measure how institutions function de facto. And what is a lot more important for us is not only what he says, but how other institutions (checks and balances) function to constrain him. And one of the things that we see, for example, is that Congress is not constraining him in any way. And this is very, very serious, because if you have a President who violates the law, who violates the Constitution, you should have the judiciary who stand up, the Supreme Court who should stand up to protect the Constitution. You should have the Congress who is not allowed to [abdicate power to the executive]. And this is something that is very, very concerning, a lot more concerning than what Trump is saying. What I find a lot more concerning is that there are no checks and balances to constrain him.Dr. Marina NordWhen looking at the data, we also looked at the countries who managed to stop autocrats similar to Trump. And we tried to analyze which factors contributed to stopping democratic backsliding and turning it around. So research shows that, of course, there is no single recipe, but there are several combinations of factors that may help. One of them is: use whatever institutional safeguards that you still have in the United States…The second thing that we know that still works quite well is robust societal action. And by that we mean not only demonstrations similar to the No Kings protests, but sustained protests, mass pro-democracy protests…And then, of course, one of the things that still should be a possibility to turn things around is the midterm elections.Dr. Marina NordDr. Ralph Estes is Emeritus professor of business and accounting at American University in Washington, D.C., co-founder and vice president of The Center for Advancement of Public Policy, and Emeritus Trustee at the Institute for Policy Studies. He is the author of several books, including Tyranny of the Bottom Line: Why Corporations Make Good People Do Bad Things and Fight the Corpocracy, Take Back Democracy: A Mad As Hell Guide for the 99%.The public has no way of fairly evaluating a corporation except through the press, what it sees in corporate press releases and their claims about being, for example, environmentally responsible and very favorable to customers. And there are no measures on that. Corporation doesn't give us any. Corporation produces a set of financial statements. You won't know how relevant those financial statements are to you and me. They're not relevant at all… In terms of social performance, there's nothing in the corporate reports, the formal reports, that is reliable. Again, you're stuck with what the corporation claims or what the politicians who are lobbying for contributions will admit corporations do… But this is a problem. If the corporation doesn't report it, if the citizens don't know about it, the politicians can try to do something, but they have to start from scratch.Dr. Ralph EstesNews 5/15/26* We begin this week with a bombshell story from Latin America. This week, El País broke what they are calling “Hondurasgate,” an expose centering on leaked audio recordings of conversations between President Donald Trump, Argentinian President Javier Milei and former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández – who was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison on drug trafficking charges in the U.S. but pardoned by Trump last year. In these leaked recordings, the three current and former heads of state discuss the creation of a “channel of spreading fake news with the intention of misinforming and destabilizing” Leftist governments in the region, including those of Gustavo Petro in Colombia and Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico. According to this report, the leaks reveal the involvement of another world leader – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – in the decision to pardon Hernández. El País writes the leaks prove the pardoning of Hernández was “not a gesture of clemency, but the down payment of a broader agreement.” Expect more damning information to come out as more recordings are unearthed, even if so far the American media has largely blacked out this stunning story.* At the same time the Trump administration is seeking to subtly undermine governments like Mexico's, they are executing considerably less subtle covert operations there as well. On March 28th, an explosion blew up the car of alleged narco Francisco Beltran just outside Mexico City. CNN now reports that, while “Mexican authorities have maintained extreme secrecy around the explosion,” multiple sources confirm that this was “a targeted assassination,” carried out by the CIA. Not only that, this operation is reportedly just one of several assassinations carried out by the CIA against rank-and-file cartel members on foreign soil which began last year. Troublingly, CNN notes these operations could be illegal under Mexican law, which prohibits foreign agents from participating in law enforcement operations without the express permission of the federal government. Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico's Secretary of Security released a statement indicating that the Mexican government has not granted any such permission, writing “The Government of Mexico categorically rejects any version that seeks to normalize, justify, or suggest the existence of lethal, covert, or unilateral operations by foreign agencies on national territory.”* One ironic aspect of the joint right-wing destabilization effort and CIA covert operations campaign both currently underway in Mexico is the fact that the Sheinbaum government has affected a stunning reduction in murders throughout the country. According to Mexico Solidarity Media, the daily average of intentional homicides has been reduced by 40% between the beginning of the Sheinbaum administration in October 2024 and April 30, 2026, with that last month hitting the lowest level in over a decade – comparable in fact to the United States. We can only hope that Sheinbaum is able to stay the course and continue to drive down the murder rate while simultaneously avoiding the destabilization campaigns being waged against her government.* In Colombia, another state targeted in the Hondurasgate plot, Ivan Cepeda continues to consolidate progressive forces in that country ahead of the presidential election, aiming for a first round victory. This week, Luis Gilberto Murillo, a center-left presidential candidate, dropped out and endorsed Cepeda. While Murillo never rose very high in the polls, he has held high positions in the Colombian government – including Minister of Environment and governor of the department of Choco as well as Colombia's ambassador to the United States and later foreign minister under Gustavo Petro.Colombia One notes that this is the second such withdrawal in recent weeks, with Senator Clara López doing the same, indicating a serious intention among the progressive forces in Colombia to stave off a second round of the presidential election, which could see the right-wing consolidate against Cepeda in a way they have thus far been unable to do ahead of the first round.* Meanwhile, El Salvador's Nayib Bukele, a standard bearer for the Latin American Right and a close ally of President Trump, is mired in a new scandal involving his dealings with the MS-13 gang and his ensuing attempts to silence the press. According to PBS, last month the Salvadoran outlet El Faro, in conjunction with PBS FRONTLINE released a documentary titled The Deal: Trump, Bukele & the Gangs of El Salvador, which “uncovered evidence that Bukele's administration had offered privileges to gang leaders in prison in exchange for a reduction in homicides and voter support in territories the gangs controlled.” Now, in retaliation for publishing this story, Bukele has reportedly “frozen the personal assets of two of [El Faro's] shareholders,” including editor-in-chief Carlos Dada who said in a press conference that “These are not fiscal measures…They are political measures trying to silence us.” This article notes that the facts presented in The Deal are particularly damning to Bukele, because of his public claims that he “would never negotiate with gangs” because it would grant them legitimacy. Just as it is ironic that the Trump administration is seeking to destabilize the Mexican government while it dramatically reduces murders, so too is it ironic that it is seeking to bolster the Bukele regime even as it carries out secretive deals with the very gangs the U.S. claims to be fighting.* In a wholly different part of the world, the centrist Labour Party government of Keir Starmer in the UK is teetering on the brink of collapse. Starmer's popularity has been declining precipitously ever since he entered office, but the crisis of confidence from within his own party accelerated after the disastrous results of the May 7th local elections. Now, according to CNN, over 100 members of his party in Parliament are calling for him to resign, but the only way to trigger a leadership challenge is for at least 81 Labour MPs to coalesce around a single challenger – and as yet, none have crossed that threshold. Starmer himself has refused to stand down, challenging any other claimants to come forward. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has come the closest to openly challenging Starmer, even resigning his post in the government but stopping short of formally announcing a leadership challenge, the BBC reports. For now, Starmer continues to cling to power but each day could be his last at No. 10.* Turning to American foreign policy news, this week the Senate voted down yet another War Powers Resolution on Iran – the seventh such attempt since the war began in late February. What is notable about this resolution is that it won the support of the most GOP Senators yet – Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – yet still failed by a margin of 50-49 because Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania crossed party lines to vote against the resolution. This from CBS. Even with Fetterman's disloyalty, this vote is significant for the number of Republicans who broke ranks, perhaps indicating a growing unease with the war and particularly its impact on the price of consumer goods, beginning with gasoline and cascading from there.* In more congressional news, Southern states are scrambling to act in the wake of the Callais decision. In South Carolina and Mississippi, state officials have rejected attempts to call special sessions to redraw congressional maps before this year's midterms. But, NPR reports Alabama is moving towards a new map that, like Louisiana, will likely include just one single largely Black, Democratic-leaning congressional district. However, even though some of these states are holding off on redrawing these districts today, it does not mean those districts will be safe tomorrow. And in Tennessee, where the legislature is moving ahead with a plan to do away with the state's majority Black 9th congressional district in a special session – resulting in a revolt by Democrats in the legislature – the Republicans are retaliating by stripping all Democrats from their standing committee seats for “creating disorder,” per StateAffairs.com. Expect this process to get more contentious, and plain uglier, as it grinds ahead.* Next, a story in Fortune highlights the cost of data center construction. According to this story, the nearly 50,000 permanent residents of the California ski resort town of Lake Tahoe – which regularly attracts 25 to 28 million visitors annually – will soon be disconnected from their traditional power source, NV Energy. NV supplies the power to Liberty Utilities, which services the area directly, and NV has informed Liberty that it will stop providing power after May 2027. That power will instead be redirected to data centers, leaving Liberty Utilities less than a year to find another power source. This story notes that “Northern Nevada has become one of the fastest-growing data-center corridors in the country,” with Google, Apple, and Microsoft all having built or planning to build facilities in the area. Gallingly, just last fall NV Energy's director of business development said the company was “eager to serve the new industrial load” but that it would not “impact [their] existing customer base.” This is a troubling preview of what may come as data center expansion continues unchecked.* Finally, in a story that proves once again that corporate greed knows no limits, the Lever is out with a new report on a class-action lawsuit by consumers against “private equity-backed bowling giant Bowlero.” According to the Lever, the suit accuses Bowlero of executing a “‘multi-year anticompetitive scheme to consolidate bowling centers,' which has led to skyrocketing bowling prices, deteriorating lanes, and ‘the veritable destruction of the decades-old pastime of bowling in America.'” The numbers back up this narrative. Bowlero, which had just six locations in 2012, has exploded to 350 today. The company is said to control roughly 35 percent of U.S. bowling revenue – and 95% of all lanes in some markets – as well as acquiring the Professional Bowling Association itself. As with any monopoly, once it had cornered the market Bowlero proceeded to jack up prices, even using AI to do so algorithmically. In a sense, this is a story we have all heard too many times to be surprised, but we can still be shocked by the base greed of corporate executives, even in something as seemingly anodyne as the bowling industry.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Influential scholar W.E.B Du Bois lived through many significant periods for Black Civil Rights in America, from being born just 5 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, documenting Reconstruction, and the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century. He was also a New Yorker, living for 10 years in Brooklyn Heights before moving to Ghana, where he died the day before the March on Washington at the age of 95. A new two-hour documentary, 'W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause,' tells the full life story Du Bois, as part of PBS's American Masters series. Director Rita Coburn discusses her work on the film, premiering on May 19 at 9pm. Photo by Bettmann via Getty Images: W.E.B. DuBois (1868-1963), American educator, editor and writer who helped create the (NAACP) National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Undated Photograph. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gregg Braden is a five-time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, international educator and renowned as a pioneer in the emerging paradigm based in science, social policy and human potential. From 1979 to 1991 Gregg worked as a problem solver during times of crisis for Fortune 500 companies, including Cisco Systems, where he became the first Technical Operations Manager in 1991. He continues problem-solving today as his work reveals deep insights into the new human story, and how the discoveries inform the policies of everyday life and the emerging world. To date his research has led to 15 film credits and 12 award-winning books now published in over 40 languages Gregg is the proud recipient of numerous awards including The Walden Award for New Thought, The Illuminate Award for Conscious Visionaries and he is listed in the United Kingdom's Watkins Journal among the top 100 of “the world's most spiritually influential living people” for the 7th consecutive year. He is a nominee for the prestigious Templeton Award, established to honor “outstanding living individuals who have devoted their talents to expanding our vision of human purpose and ultimate reality.” Gregg is actively involved in visionary organizations and think tanks including the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), The Evolutionary Leadership Organization, The Laszlo Institute of New Paradigm Research and The Arlington Institute. He has presented his discoveries in over 30 countries on six continents and has been invited to speak to The United Nations, Fortune 500 companies and the U. S. military. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.