Podcasts about Africa

In this episode, we welcome Raymond Ibrahim back to the show. He is an author, translator, columnist, and vocal critic of Islam. He is an expert in Islamic history and doctrine and is fluent in English and Arabic. He is the author of multiple books including “Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War Between Islam and the West”, “Defenders of the West: The Christian Heroes Who Stood Against Islam”, and his newest book “The Two Swords of Christ: Five Centuries of War between Islam and the Warrior Monks of Christendom”. In this interview, we discuss why there is so much ignorance as to the true tenets of the Islamic religion, his commentary on the targeting of Christians by Muslims in Africa, an overview of “the Crusades”, an overview of the Templar Knights and the Hospitallers, how Muslims use slavery as a tool of warfare, how Muslims are taught to pretend to assimilate into countries that they hope to conquer in the future, and much more. Let's get into it… Episode notes and links HERE. Donate to support our mission of equipping men to push back darkness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're talking about the 405 Winchester today, which is President Theodore Roosevelt's legendary medicine gun for lions. To this day, that statement remains one of the most effective presidential endorsements of any product ever. We will discuss more details of how that cartridge performed for Theodore Roosevelt in Africa, plus I'll also cover the history and performance specs of the cartridge, it's strengths and limitations, some other hunting stories involving it, and some recommendations on the best use cases for the round.  Sponsor: Get in touch with me to make your Africa hunting dreams come true on a hunt in South Africa. We offer outstanding hunting safaris, simplified hunt logistics, assistance with many of the pain points associated with a hunt, and up front pricing with no extra fees. We just opened bookings for 2027 and still have a few spots remaining for May, October, and November 2026. Visit bestsafarihunt.com or email me at john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com to learn more. Make sure to state that you're a podcast listener and I'll give you a special bonus! North Fork produces several projectiles that are outstanding choices for the 405 Winchester that take the performance of the cartridge to the next level. You can purchase North Fork bullets in the .411 and .413 bore diameters (as well as many others: .308, .338, .375 caliber, etc.) directly from the North Fork web site, from MidwayUSA, or from our network of other distributors all over the world. Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!

The United Arab Emirates has become the largest state investor in Africa. It's spending billions of dollars across the continent; building ports, power plants and renewable energy projects. We look at why Emirati companies are expanding so rapidly, and find out how much this investment is reshaping economies.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by Sameer Hashmi(Picture: General view of Berbera Port and Bebera city in Somaliland in the Horn of Africa, on 31st August 2021. Dubai-based port operator DP World and the Government of Somaliland, opened a container terminal at Berbera Port in June 2021. Credit: Getty Images)

Send us a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

Life is full of obstacles and echoes of our past brokenness—especially when we're stepping into something new. But are we going to let those doubts and fears rob us of everything God has planned for us? This week on the Known Legacy Podcast, the guys sit down with Mike Elkins, a missionary with His Voice Global. Mike shares his powerful story: from running a successful company to hearing God's clear call to leave it all behind and pursue full-time ministry in Africa. He opens up about wrestling with past wounds and self-doubt, yet ultimately taking that bold leap of faith—moving his entire family to South Sudan to serve orphans and vulnerable communities. Tune in as Mike inspires us all to step out courageously, trusting God to pour out His grace, bring healing, and empower us to do extraordinary things for His Kingdom. Learn more about Mike's ministry and how you can get involved at hisvoiceglobal.com. Join us for this faith-stirring conversation that will challenge you to overcome obstacles and embrace God's calling on your life. New episode dropping now—don't miss it! To learn more about Mikes Ministry go to hisvoiceglobal.com Wake Up, Gear Up, and Come Alive! Take a break from the noise and step into a weekend designed just for you—a time to rest, recharge, and rediscover who God created you to be. Whether you're running on empty or just need to hit pause, this retreat is your invitation to refocus on your purpose and build deeper connections with other men on the journey.  What's Included: Intentional time to slow down and breathe Dynamic worship & powerful teaching sessions Epic cornhole tournament Basketball, disc golf, gaga ball, 9 square, horseshoes & lawn games Archery & archery tag Indoor activity center: foosball, ping-pong, carpet ball, board games & movie nights Meaningful conversations & memories that last  Cost: $300     per person (double room occupancy)  $400     per person (single room occupancy) ⚠️ Spots are limited — don't wait to sign up! Scholarships available!  Email: bill@knownlegacy.org for more info. https://knownlegacy.org/mens-retreat Chapters (00:00:01) - Known Legacy Podcast(00:01:12) - Question of the Day(00:01:46) - Bill on His Thanksgiving Dinner(00:04:43) - Bill and Travis Try Cranberries For A Week(00:07:32) - Missionary Mike Elkins on FaceTime(00:07:58) - Thanksgiving at the Olympics(00:09:34) - The Chaos Man(00:12:37) - Married Christian: The Calling of God(00:16:39) - Married Man on His Love for Megan(00:18:40) - Mike's Journey From Divorce to On Course(00:22:18) - One missionary's call back into the field(00:25:07) - God's plan for me in South Sudan(00:29:59) - "I Love It When I Am Alone With You"(00:30:19) - Another 20 Years of Serving the World(00:32:55) - What A Desire For Men!(00:34:40) - His Voice Global: Fast Five(00:35:29) - 3 Questions for the Christmas Season(00:36:43) - Favorite fruit of Uganda(00:37:15) - No Legacy Podcast: Mike's Funeral

Matt Maasdam is a Navy SEAL veteran, business leader, and Democratic candidate for Congress from Michigan. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Matt served over 20 years in the U.S. Navy, deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and the Pacific, and working in some of the world’s most challenging environments. His military career included serving as the lead instructor for Hell Week at SEAL training and being selected as a Military Aide to President Barack Obama. After leaving active duty, Matt transitioned to the private sector, holding leadership roles at Under Armour and founding two e-commerce businesses. He brings hands-on experience in team building, job creation, and supporting working families. Matt lives in mid-Michigan with his wife, Laura, a fellow Navy veteran, their two sons, and their cat, Captain America. Guided by service, integrity, and teamwork, he is running for Congress to deliver practical solutions and unite communities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you think of countries in Africa, it is unlikely that Gabon will be one of the first to cross your mind.  It is entirely possible that some of you might never ever heard of Gabon.  Considered “Earth's last Eden,” Gabon is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, yet very little is known about it because not much has ever happened there to make it into the news. In fact, one of the biggest things to have ever happened there took place 1.7 billion years ago. Learn about the history of Gabon on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Mint Mobile Get your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Chubbies Get 20% off your purchase at Chubbies with the promo code DAILY at checkout! Aura Frames Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/DAILY. Promo Code DAILY DripDrop Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code EVERYTHING for 20% off your first order. Uncommon Goods Go to uncommongoods.com/DAILY for 15% off! Subscribe to the podcast!  https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Austin Oetken & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/  Disce aliquid novi cotidie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first decade of the 21st century saw the beginning of huge changes in African diaspora music. Afrobeats and amapiano were still in the cradle, but a new spirit was in the air. In this program, we return to that crucial decade to hear some of the bold new ideas bubbling up in Africa. We'll hear Buraka Som Sistema from Angola and Portugal, Nigerian rapper 9ice, an Akon remix of Amadou and Mariam, and a then emerging American rock band with a bright future ahead of them, Vampire Weekend. Produced by Wills Glasspiegel. Originally broadcast in 2009.

Burkina Faso's military government says it has stopped an attempt to assassinate junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, just hours after soldiers allegedly plotted to remove him and other senior officials. The latest plot follows years of coups and instability in the West African nation.We then turn to Africa's digital frontier, where disinformation is evolving fast. Generative AI and deepfakes are being used to manipulate videos and images, especially during elections. In Uganda, authorities are warning political actors to campaign ethically, while experts demonstrate how to spot fake content. The episode explores both the fragility of power and the fragility of truth.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Blessing Aderogba, Ayuba Iliya, Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Technical Producer: Terry Chege Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Step into history this Wednesday morning as legendary 1960s Civil Rights Activist Willie Mukasa Ricks joins our classroom. Mukasa Ricks, who marched shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), brings a powerful, first-hand perspective to the urgent report on the abduction of Nicolas Maduro. Before Mukasa Ricks delivers his insights, we’ll also speak with the Faith Brothers. We will also honor the resilience of Altadena, California, by reflecting on the anniversary of its wildfires, with Rochelle Jones sharing her moving story. Plus, Baltimore activist Kim Poole will ignite our global consciousness by previewing her transformative trips to Kenya and Somaliland. This is not just another broadcast—it’s The Big Show, your gateway to critical conversations and change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

Is the link between oil and geopolitics starting to diminish? Has climate consensus fractured just as clean energy hits escape velocity? And are batteries, not barrels, becoming the true source of power and security?In the first episode of Season 17 of Cleaning Up, Michael Liebreich and Bryony Worthington unpack a turbulent start to 2026. From shock geopolitical moves in the Americas and riots in the Middle East to the curious calm of a $60 oil price, they explore whether fossil fuels still move the world the way they once did. The conversation ranges from the collapse of climate multilateralism and Europe's energy malaise to the unstoppable rise of electrification, batteries, and system-level clean energy solutions across China, India, Africa, and the “rest of the world.”Leadership Circle:Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, Alcazar Energy, Davidson Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live.Discover more:The Electrification Staircase: https://www.watts-next.eu/ Kingsmill Bond on Cleaning Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2bsoCOznXkArunabha Ghosh on Cleaning Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMrn-JewoCoRachel Kyte on Cleaning Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1m2lm2n_EECatch up on Season 16 of Cleaning Up: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe8ZTD7dMaaDWQkhmAsaQ28p0h3Lw5I6v

African governments are weighing in after Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro was arrested and flown to New York following a US operation in Caracas. Ghana and South Africa have criticised the move, while the African Union says it is watching events with great concern. We also hear how ordinary people in Accra, Ghana, view the unfolding crisis.Plus, we then turn to AFCON in Morocco, where excitement on the pitch contrasts with frustration off it. Many fans say high flight costs and poor travel connectivity are making it difficult to follow their teams in person.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Blessing Aderogba, Ayuba Iliya, Keikantse Shumba, Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Technical Producer: Terry Chege Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

It's Tuesday, January 6th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Nigerian Muslims killed 32 Christians since Christmas Killings of Christians continue unabated in Nigeria, reports TruthNigeria.com. Islamist terrorists have killed at least 32 Christians since Christmas, and burned down hundreds of homes in the Adamawa, Kebbi, and Plateau states. Congressman asserts Nigerian Christians targeted for their faith On January 1st, Republican U.S. Congressman Riley Moore of West Virginia weighed in on X. He wrote, “If there were any remaining doubts that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted for their faith in Jesus Christ, this should end that debate.  This isn't about land usage, ‘climate change,' or any other argument the Left wants to make. “This is persecution of our brothers and sisters for their faith in Christ, plain and simple. ISIS is telling Christians they have an opportunity to ‘spare their blood' if they convert. Our brothers and sisters will not bend the knee to anyone but our Lord and Savior.” Also, late last week, the Islamic-supported Allied Democratic Forces carried out a deadly nighttime incursion, killing at least 15 people in the Lubero territory of Congo, Africa. 20 Iranians have died in protests in 78 cities Iranian protests enter Day 9 where at least 20 people have died in the unrest. Protests have been cited in 78 cities across 26 provinces, reports Iran International.  According to The Times on Sunday, Iran's Supreme Leader has a backup plan in place — to abscond to Russia should his security forces fail. North Korea shot hypersonic missiles Sunday North Korea successfully fired off several hypersonic missiles on Sunday, connecting with targets 700 miles away in Korea's East Sea. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un called it a “very important strategic task to maintain and expand a powerful and reliable nuclear deterrent.”  Back in 2019, China deployed hypersonic technology. But the United States has yet to deploy its hypersonic technology — it is still in the testing phase.  Number of foreigners in Austria, Belgium and UK skyrocketing Remix News reports that over 41% of the population of Vienna, Austria's capital, is foreign born. And 50 percent of first-graders do not understand German. Also, Muslim students now account for 41.2 percent of all elementary school students, while Christian students fell to 34.5 percent. Plus, Austria, Belgium, and the United Kingdom have the highest percentages of babies born to immigrants — above 30%. Venezuelan dictator and wife plead not guilty The Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both arrested by the U.S. government over the weekend, appeared in a New York City Court Monday to face charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy. and weapons offenses. They entered pleas of innocence to the charges. Psalm 37:9 is clear: “Evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the Earth.” China financed $60 billion loans to Venezuela Come to find out China has been a major player in Venezuela since 2000. The Council on Foreign Relations reports that Venezuela ate up $60 billion of Chinese loans accounting for fully half of all the money that China loaned to South America over the years. And China has been taking in about 80% of Venezuelan oil exports of late. Rubio objects to Iran, China, & Russia propping up Venezuela Appearing on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio objected to America's enemies propping up Venezuela in America's backyard. Listen. RUBIO: “We don't need Venezuela's oil. We have plenty of oil in the United States. What we're not going to allow is for the oil industry in Venezuela to be controlled by adversaries of the United States. You have to understand. Why does China need their oil? Why does Russia need their oil? Why does Iran need their oil? They're not even in this continent. “This is the Western Hemisphere. This is where we live, and we're not going to allow the western hemisphere to be a base of operation for adversaries, competitors and rivals of the United States. We want to see the oil proceeds of that country benefit the people of Venezuela. “Why have 8 million people left Venezuela? Eight million: the single largest mass migration probably in modern history, left Venezuela in 2014 because all the wealth of that country was stolen to the benefit of Maduro and his cronies in the regime, but not to the benefit of people of Venezuela. You know how destabilizing 8 million migrants is? “The number one fear that Brazil has, that Colombia has, that all these countries in the region have about what's happening in Venezuela and our involvement is they're afraid of another mass migration event. That's what they feel. This is deeply destabilizing stuff. ”It's not going to continue to happen. They are not going to come from outside of our hemisphere, destabilize our region in our own backyard, and us have to pay the price for it, not under President Trump.” Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Uruguay & Spain upset about Maduro The governments of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain have issued a statement airing their disagreement with the U.S. military actions taken against Venezuela over the weekend.   The statement appealed to what they called the “principles of the United Nations Charter.” Trump upset that drug cartels are running Mexico and Columbia President Donald Trump has also told the U.S. press that something has to be done with Mexico. He told Fox News that the  drug cartels are running the country.  Plus, he called Columbia a “sick country” run by a “sick” president who “likes to sell Cocaine to the United States.” Trump said he's not going to be doing this very long.   And the president said, “Cuba is ready to fall” as well.  But let us all remember Who rules. Psalm 22:28-29 says, “For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the Earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive.” Dallas street preachers handcuffed and detained without cause Here in America, street preachers connected with a “Reformed Baptist evangelistic ministry, [Testimonies of God], committed to the supremacy of Scripture and the advancement of Christ's Gospel,” were handcuffed and detained by police officers in Dallas a few weeks ago. The Christian Post reports that an officer had required the evangelists to get off the public sidewalk and cross the street — an order the preachers believed was unlawful. So far, no charges have been filed in the case. 15 states still allow trans surgeries and drugs for kids Two hospitals in left-wing Colorado have decided to stop writing prescriptions for sex-change drugs for children, reports 9-News. Children's Hospital and Denver Health have cited warnings from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. Colorado was the faux-sex-change capital of the world in the 1980s and 1990s.   Sadly, 15 states still allow gender-based mutilation or gender-debilitating drugs for kids including Colorado, California, Oregon, Illinois, and New York. Japanese restaurant paid $3.24 million for bluefin tuna And finally, a Japanese sushi chain set a record for the price paid for a fish yesterday.  The Japan Times reports that Sushi Zanmai paid $3.24 million for a Pacific bluefin tuna at Tokyo's fish auction. That's an astounding $6,600 per pound! Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, January 6th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Welcome to Your Movie Rocks, an Alternate Ending podcast hosted by Mandy Albert. For every episode, Mandy will watch a movie assigned by her guest host, followed by a lively discussion. There's only one rule: no matter what the movie does to her, Mandy is only allowed to love it. The first year of Your Movie Rocks ends on a very special episode, in which Mandy is joined by her former student Ali Roberts (@deranged_hands on Instagram), now a film student and filmmaker. And, it turns out, a tough player of the YMR game, assigning Mandy the appalling-looking direct-to-video animated feature Life's a Jungle: Africa's Most Wanted. But by God, Mandy will find the good and the beautiful about this ungainly piece of Madagascar-sploitation, and have a great time doing it.

It’s been quite some time since I have responded to “mail” so I have curated five questions to address:. What are your thoughts on the Maduro and VZ kerfuffle? How do you fix the defense acquisition system and fraud? What should the US Navy do in the 21st century? How did GEN Paul Emil Lettow-Vorbeck do it? Are American SOF capable of 21st century mission success? References: Soryu (16SS) class Attack Submarine – SSK Robert Gaudi African Kaiser: General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck and the Great War in Africa, 1914-1918 David Smith The East Africa Campaign 1914–18: Von Lettow-Vorbeck's Masterpiece (Campaign, 379) RAND wish-casting on drones in 2015. Slaughterbots (2017) Slaughterbots: if human: kill() (2021) How are Drones Changing Modern Warfare? Sun Tzu The Art of War Carl von Clausewitz On War Miyamoto Musashi A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy H. John Poole The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO's Contribution to Warfare Christian Brose The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare Qiao Liang & Wang Xiangsui Unrestricted Warfare: China’s Master Plan to Destroy America My Substack Email at cgpodcast@pm.me

Isn't it kind of weird how Archer was a huge cultural thing for a minute? Then a group of extremists called themselves ISIS and the whole show started the flush into irrelevance. But at the very least we got a few good memes out of it. So in that spirit, we'd like to do a movie in reference to the Kenny Loggins obsession Archer had. To that end we have Danger Zone(1996). Billy Zane and Robert Downey Jr are dudes in Africa. Downey is running “toxic waste” on behalf of an evil corporation because this is the nineties. Bad things happen and Downey disappears and Zane flees Africa. Then he … Continue reading "Popcorn 256: Tokyo Danger"

Happy New Year ! we back for 2026

Send us a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

Regenerative practices lead to higher quality and much higher prices in year one and, over time, to lower costs, which makes the regenerative business case in certain cash crops that are exported (spices, tea, coffee, etc.) so strong that it almost spreads on its own. Nothing is easy, but this is really hopeful. In this conversation with Thekla Teunis and Gijs Boers, founders of Grounded, Grounded Ingredients and Grounded Investment Company, we discuss why quality is intimately linked to regenerative practices.We talk about why we don't need transition finance in many cases, but we do need philanthropic capital to figure out what regenerative looks like in specific circumstances. When that research and development (in other sectors we would call that R&D ) is done, it can be rolled out profitably and relatively easily with more commercially focused, return- driven capital.We talk about why it's easier to act regeneratively in many places in the Global South (easier, not easy). And we talk about the why of super hands-on investing. Knock knock- there are regenerative barbarians at the gate. What if we do private equity right and use it as a tool for good?More about this episode.==========================In Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food podcast show we talk to the pioneers in the regenerative food and agriculture space to learn more on how to put our money to work to regenerate soil, people, local communities and ecosystems while making an appropriate and fair return. Hosted by Koen van Seijen.==========================

From 1885 to 1908, King Leopold II of Belgium owned the Congo as his own personal colony. What transpired there over the course of his reign has credibly been called "the vilest scramble for loot that ever disfigured the history of human conscience." Forced labor, slavery, disease, destruction, and destabliziation led to millions of deaths in one of the lesser known mass trauma events in human history. This is the story of the Congo Free State in Central Africa.  This episode is Part 1 in a series on the Belgian Congo. It takes a look at the origins of humanity in Africa, the Congo as a geographic and human region, the Congo River, the development of agriculture, slavery, and society in the Congo before European arrival, the Indian Ocean Slave Trade vs. the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, the arrival of the Portuguese in the Congo, the motivations for African Imperialism, the intensification of the slave trade as a result of European arrival, the resulting disruption and destabilization, and more. Future episodes will discuss Leopold's acquisition of the Congo as a colony, the resulting atrocities, resistance and reform movements, and the full story of the Congo Free State.  -Consider Supporting the Podcast!- Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify! Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory Check out my podcast series on Aftersun, Piranesi, Arcane, The Dark Knight Trilogy, and Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent Try my podcast series "Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart"-- What led to the rise of Nazi Germany? The answer may surprise you…Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? To what extent are ordinary people responsible for the development of authoritarian evil? This 13 part podcast series explores these massive questions and more through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who collaborated or resisted as the Third Reich expanded. You'll not only learn about the horrifying, surprising, and powerful ways in which the Nazis seized and maintained power, but also fundamental lessons about what fascism is-how to spot it and why it spreads. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that everyone can apply to the present day. Check it out on my Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory. Try my podcast series "Piranesi: Exploring the Infinite Halls of a Literary Masterpiece"-- This podcast series is a deep analysis of Susanna Clark's literary masterpiece "Piranesi." Whether you are someone who is reading the novel for academic purposes, or you simply want to enjoy an incredible story for it's own sake, this podcast series goes chapter by chapter into the plot, characters, and themes of the book..."The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; it's kindness infinite." Piranesi lives in an infinite house, with no long-term memory and only a loose sense of identity. As the secrets of the House deepen and the mystery of his life becomes more sinister, Piranesi must discover who he is and how this brings him closer to the "Great and Secret Knowledge" that the House contains. Touching on themes of memory, identity, mental health, knowledge, reason, experience, meaning, reflection, ideals, and more…Piranesi will be remembered as one of the great books of the 21st century. Hope you enjoy the series as much as I enjoyed making it. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory. Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter.

Summary In this episode, Cultivating Curiosity host Jeff Ikler reflects on his love of year-end "Best Books" lists and why reading sits at the heart of his podcast and personal life. He welcomes lists from institutions like The New York Times and the New York Public Library, seeing them as both a defense against book banning and a source of discovery, connection, and generosity. For Ikler, books spark curiosity, deepen empathy, and create bonds—whether through gifting or thoughtful conversation with authors. He also underscores podcast hosts' responsibility to read their guests' work in full, arguing that preparation honors both listeners and writers. Ultimately, Ikler finds himself drawn to books that slow him down through careful observation and reflection, or expand his understanding through deeply researched history, reinforcing reading as both nourishment and refuge. Three Major Takeaways Reading lists are acts of resistance, curiosity, and connection—not just recommendations. Thoughtful reading is essential to meaningful conversation, especially in podcasting. The most rewarding books either sharpen our attention to the present or deepen our understanding of the past. Jeff's favorite books in 2025 Crossings – How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet by Ben Goldfarb. Quoting from the book jacket, "Creatures from antelope to salmon are losing their ability to migrate in search of food and mates; invasive plants hitch rides in tire treads, road salt contaminates lakes and rivers; and the very, very noise of traffic chases songbirds from vast swaths of habitat." In this beautifully crafted book, Goldfarb makes the case that overpasses and underpasses are essential for reducing the deaths of animals and humans who inevitably come into brutal contact with one another. One of the chief takeaways in our era of divisiveness is that road ecologists and other scientists, insurance companies, and government officials are working collaboratively to solve problems. They have different goals for doing so, but they're working effectively at the intersection. You can access my two-part podcast interview on Getting Unstuck–Cultivating Curiosity with Ben in episodes 347 and 348. The Comfort of Crows – A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl. This title came from one of last year's best books, and it did not disappoint. Quoting from the book jacket, "Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: fifty-two chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year." How often do you read a chapter or passage because the writing is so moving? If you're interested in slowing down and seeing more of your immediate world, this is a great place to start. This small volume is a course in observation and reflection. Challenger – A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham. Like many Americans who watched the Space Shuttle Challenger break apart just seventy-three seconds into its mission, I thought I knew the story, but I was so wrong. As the book jacket explains, "…the Challenger disaster was a defining moment in twentieth-century history–one that forever changed the way America thought of itself and its optimistic view of the future. Yet the full story of what happened, and why, has never been told." I was moved to head-shaking anger after reading how decisions were made and bungled. Higginbotham's explanation of a highly complicated topic is beautifully presented. The book is a primer on the dangers of overly complex and competing bureaucracies and ego. Remember Us – American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and a Forever Promise Forged in World War II by Robert M. Edsel with Bret Witter. Remember Us documents twelve lives connected to the American Military Cemetery near the small village of Margraten, Netherlands. Approximately 8,300 Americans who helped liberate the Netherlands from the Nazis and the grip of fascism during World War II are buried there. One of these was a Black American soldier who, along with a company of other Black Americans, dug the graves under the harshest weather conditions. The cruel irony is that Black soldiers worked in segregated and mostly non-combat roles in a war fought to eliminate tyranny and oppression. The cemetery is remarkable because local Dutch citizens have taken it upon themselves to adopt each grave and visit it weekly. This practice reflects the citizens' ongoing gratitude, and their visits ensure that the soldiers are always remembered for their sacrifice. There is a waiting list of citizens who wish to adopt a grave. Raising Hare—a Memoir by Chloe Dalton. This title has made almost every list I've come across. From the jacket cover, "…Dalton stumbles upon a newborn hare—a leveret—that had been chased by a dog. Fearing for its life, she brings it home, only to discover how difficult it is to rear a wild hare." Dalton deftly and wisely navigates caring for the hare as a house guest versus a pet, a choice that lets the hare move between the wild of the nearby woods and the security of her home. Like Renkl, Dalton has a keen eye for observation, one that put me in her home and garden as a witness to their interactions. Origin — A Genetic History of the Americas by Jennifer Raff. When I was growing up, I watched or read with almost religious fervor anything National Geographic produced featuring Louis Leakey, a paleoanthropologist and archaeologist. I was in awe of how he dug through the layers of time to find bones and artifacts from our earliest ancestors. Leakey's work was critical in demonstrating our human origins in Africa. So, when my friend Annette Taylor, a researcher of evolutionary psychology and biology, shared an article featuring Professor Jennifer Raff, an anthropologist and geneticist trying to rewrite the history of human origins in the Americas, I knew I had to invite her on my podcast. As a history enthusiast, I found it especially rewarding to co-host, along with Annette, a discussion with Professor Raff on podcast episode 358 about how and why early peoples migrated to and within North America. Raff has a talent for simplifying complex topics and making listeners comfortable with uncertainty. Scientists have theories and are constantly testing and revising them. We don't yet know for sure how early peoples arrived here or why they migrated, but that's the beauty of science and history. There is always more to discover. If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name by Heather Lende. I read this book decades ago and was as captivated then as I was this year by Heather Lende's storytelling ability. Adapted from the back cover, "As both the obituary writer and social columnist for the local newspaper (in Haines, Alaska, population about 2,500), Heather Lende knows better than anyone the goings-on in this breathtakingly beautiful place. Her offbeat chronicle brings us inside her — and the town's — busy life." Why read about a small town in Alaska? Maybe because it helps us look critically at our own lives. Like Renkl and Dalton, Heather Lende has an eye for detail, but also the humanity beneath the detail. She has graciously agreed to be my guest in podcast episode 400 this coming February. The most interesting books read in 2025 by his friends and colleagues Steve Ehrlich – The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul by Connie Zweig.  Zweig writes from a Jungian perspective that is accessible to anyone who thinks about old and new agendas, internal and external, as we transition to later life, and reflect on what we want to hold on to, and what we're prepared to let go of to live an authentic life.   Cindy House – What Just Happened by Charles Finch. It's one person's experience of the terrible year that was the pandemic lockdown, with all the fear, uncertainty, and strangeness I had forgotten. I loved his cultural observations and witty take on one of the weirdest years of our lives. I am so glad this particular record exists.  By Edgington – The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer. I first read the book in 2013, then again in '24, and now I read and refer to it every year. Singer's book is what propelled me to join his Temple of the Universe, where Mariah and I now live on the grounds. It's filled with inspiration and simple, almost homely wisdom: "The moment in front of you is not bothering you; you're bothering yourself about the moment in front of you!" Spencer Seim – To Possess the Land by Frank Waters. It follows the life of Arthur Manby, who came to the New Mexico territory in 1885 from England. He quickly tried to cash in by calling parcels of land his own. He quickly ran into resistance, often by force, and had to learn the hard way that the land of New Mexico in those days was a bit more complicated. Charlotte Wittenkamp – Shift by Ethan Kross. Kross examines Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning and the notion that we always have the freedom to choose how we respond - even to the atrocities Frankl had to put up with in a WWII concentration camp. Kross examines and supports, with scientific findings, various ways we can shift our perspectives to gain easier access to that freedom of choice. Paul McNichols – E-Boat Alert by James F. Tent. The book offers a nearly forensic yet highly readable analysis of the threat posed by the E-Boats of the German Kriegsmarine to the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944. It covers the development, use, strengths, and limitations of these fast, maneuverable craft, as well as their impact on the Normandy landings on D-Day and the weeks thereafter. The most interesting part is the chain of events that ultimately led to their neutralization. Annette Taylor – My Name is Chellis, and I'm in Recovery from Western Civilization by Chellis Glendinning. Chellis writes affectionately and respectfully about eco-psychology and nature-based peoples from whom members of Western Civilization could learn a lot. Sue Inches – The Light Eaters – How the unseen world of plant intelligence offers a new understanding of life on earth by Zoe Schlanger. A thrilling journey that leads the reader from an old paradigm of plants as separate inanimate objects, to the true nature of plants as sensing, alive beings who communicate with the world around them. An inspiring example of how human understanding of the world around us is making progress! Rich Gassen – The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. Priya teaches us how to have better parties, events, and relationships through her writing. I used this book's information (along with her podcasts) to plan a better 10-year anniversary party for the Campus Supervisors Network community of practice I lead at UW-Madison — making it exclusive, inviting, and tailored to those who attended. Mac Bogert – Renegades by Robert Ward. After some time as a college professor, Bob decided to try journalism. He spent twenty years interviewing folks from Waylon Jennings to Larry Flynt, and, damn, he's good at it! Hunter Seim – Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. The novel is set during World War II, from 1942 to 1944. It mainly follows the life of antihero Captain Yossarian, a U.S. Air Force B-25 bombardier. The term "Catch-22" itself refers to a paradoxical situation in which contradictory rules or circumstances trap a person. In the novel, Yossarian discovers that he can be declared insane and relieved from duty if he requests it, but by requesting it, he demonstrates his sanity. Remarkably accurate in describing organizational dysfunction and bureaucratic absurdity. It was the perfect book to read in 2025. Bill Whiteside – I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNally. I wondered whether this memoir by a New York restaurateur (who hates the word "restaurateur" and much else), who suffered two strokes and survived a suicide attempt, would live up to its social media hype. It does.

It's almost the 250th anniversary of America's founding. Not only did the Revolution define the fate of the continent, Dr. Richard Bell argues it was a harbinger for the rest of the world. On this episode, we explore how he discovered that, and how that argument can shape our understanding of world events.From the publisher: In this revelatory and enthralling book, award-winning historian Richard Bell reveals the full breadth and depth of America's founding event. The American Revolution was not only the colonies' triumphant liberation from the rule of an overbearing England; it was also a cataclysm that pulled in participants from around the globe and threw the entire world order into chaos. Repositioning the Revolution at the center of an international web, Bell's narrative ranges as far afield as India, Africa, Central America, and Australia. As his lens widens, the “War of Independence” manifests itself as a sprawling struggle that upended the lives of millions of people on every continent and fundamentally transformed the way the world works, disrupting trade, restructuring penal systems, stirring famine, and creating the first global refugee crisis. Bell conveys the impact of these developments at home and abroad by grounding the narrative in the gripping stories of individuals—including women, minorities, and other disenfranchised people. The result is an unforgettable and unexpected work of American history that shifts everything we thought we knew about our creation story.Our other episode with Richard Bell, where we focused on his book, "Stolen," can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000506680498Richard Bell's website can be found at https://www.richard-bell.com/Information on his book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265/the-american-revolution-and-the-fate-of-the-world-by-richard-bell/AxelbankHistory.com is designed by https://www.ellieclairedesigns.com/Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

In this special Year In Review episode, Through a Therapist's Eyes looks back at a year of growth, connection, and meaningful conversations in mental health. We celebrate reaching 58,462 all-time downloads, surprising platform shifts (hello Firefox!), and listeners tuning in from across the U.S. and around the world—from Brazil, Hong Kong, and Europe to Japan, Africa, and beyond. The episode has a special "Down the Rabbit Hole" challenge pitting Adam vs Kyle, and highlights chosen by the team. With Kasie's return and honest reflections from the team on what they love—and struggle with—about being therapists, this wrap-up blends insight, humor, and gratitude while setting the stage for what's ahead in 2026. Tune in to see the 2025 Year in Review Through a Therapist's Eyes  

New on Fringe Radio Network for 2026 is the latest offering from Chris White: Vine Abiders.Chris White is an American filmmaker, author, and podcaster known for his work in Christian theology, apologetics, and biblical studies.  He hosts the Bible Prophecy Talk podcast, focusing on end times news and theology and more recently, the Vine Abiders Podcast, in which he explores themes in Holiness, Wesleyan traditions and Early Church teachings. White directed the 2024 documentary film Once Saved Always Saved?, a thought-provoking examination of the doctrine of eternal security in Christianity. His broader contributions include missionary work in Africa, lecturing on topics like the occult, New Age beliefs, biblical prophecy and ancient astronaut theories.Notes:Welcome back to the Vine Abiders study. We are continuing our walk through the Sermon on the Mount. Last week, we began looking at Jesus' “new commandments” in Matthew 5:21–22, where He equates anger with murder. This week, we move into verses 23–26, which are still about anger, but focus more on its consequences.This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit https://vineabiders.substack.com/

YOUR DRAW.Since Lois chose Africa over love, Clark has to deal with his new partner at the Daily Planet: Cat Grant. Too bad they have to deal with a country-loving assassin. Carter Hall checks in on Lois as a favor to Clark, but makes a move?! Chloe is missing and it's driving Oliver CRAZY...horny. Tess is somehow better as Clark's sidekick than his villain. Keri Lynn Pratt (Drive Me Crazy) makes her first appearance as DC Comics original character Cat Grant.Michael Shanks (Stargate, Saving Hope) returns as DC Comics original character Carter Hall, a.k.a. Hawkman. Bradley Stryker (Untamed, Magazine Dreams) makes his first appearance as DC Comics original character Deadshot.Jessica Parker Kennedy (Black Sails, The Flash) returns as DC Comics original character Bette San Souci, a.k.a. Plastique. As always, enjoy the show and LEAVE THOSE FIVE STARS!

Africa Being the Next Grain Market for the U.S., Part 1 Africa Being the Next Grain Market for the U.S., Part 2 Dairy Needs Biosecurity Plans   00:01:05 – Africa Being the Next Grain Market for the U.S., Part 1: Today's show starts with two segments from Guy Allen, the senior economist at the IGP Institute, and Peter Goldsmith, director and principal investigator of the Soybean Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois, as they discuss how Africa could be the next big market for U.S. growers.    00:12:05 – Africa Being the Next Grain Market for the U.S., Part 2: Guy and Peter continue the show explaining challenges and barriers to opening the market.  Articles on AgManager.info - Should U.S. Growers Look to Africa as the Next Big Market? Understanding Africa's Food and Oil Demand Trends Understanding Africa's Soy Import Demand Selected Import Markets for Soybeans, Meal and Oil   00:23:05 – Dairy Needs Biosecurity Plans: K-State dairy specialist, Mike Brouk, ends the show saying every dairy needs a biosecurity plan whether it's for bird flu, New World Screwworm or foot and mouth disease.       Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.   Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Shelby Varner and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.   K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer

World news in 7 minutes. Wednesday 7th January 2026.Today : France Ukraine coalition. Europe Denmark support. US UN condemnation. Chile Kast approves. Bolivia protests. CAR president again. Somaliland Israel. Yemen Saudi UAE feud. And a good travel partner.SEND7 is supported by our amazing listeners like you.Our supporters get access to the transcripts and vocabulary list written by us every day.Our supporters get access to an English worksheet made by us once per week.Our supporters get access to our weekly news quiz made by us once per week.We give 10% of our profit to Effective Altruism charities. You can become a supporter at send7.org/supportWith Stephen DevincenziContact us at podcast@send7.org or send an audio message at speakpipe.com/send7Please leave a rating on Apple podcasts or Spotify.We don't use AI! Every word is written and recorded by us!Since 2020, SEND7 (Simple English News Daily in 7 minutes) has been telling the most important world news stories in intermediate English. Every day, listen to the most important stories from every part of the world in slow, clear English. Whether you are an intermediate learner trying to improve your advanced, technical and business English, or if you are a native speaker who just wants to hear a summary of world news as fast as possible, join Stephen Devincenzi, Juliet Martin and Niall Moore every morning. Transcripts, vocabulary lists, worksheets and our weekly world news quiz are available for our amazing supporters at send7.org. Simple English News Daily is the perfect way to start your day, by practising your listening skills and understanding complicated daily news in a simple way. It is also highly valuable for IELTS and TOEFL students. Students, teachers, TEFL teachers, and people with English as a second language, tell us that they use SEND7 because they can learn English through hard topics, but simple grammar. We believe that the best way to improve your spoken English is to immerse yourself in real-life content, such as what our podcast provides. SEND7 covers all news including politics, business, natural events and human rights. Whether it is happening in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas or Oceania, you will hear it on SEND7, and you will understand it.Get your daily news and improve your English listening in the time it takes to make a coffee.For more information visit send7.org/contact or send an email to podcast@send7.org

Mike Waltz is an American politician, diplomat, author, businessman, and retired U.S. Army Colonel, a combat-decorated Green Beret with 27 years of military service and the first retired Special Forces officer elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Born in Florida, to a family steeped in military tradition as the son and grandson of Navy Chiefs, Waltz graduated from Stanton College Preparatory School in Jacksonville, Florida, before attending Virginia Military Institute (VMI), earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in 1996. Commissioned as an Army lieutenant upon graduation, he excelled by graduating from elite Ranger School and selection for the Green Berets, deploying worldwide on multiple combat tours to Afghanistan (starting in 2000), the Middle East, and Africa, while serving in the Pentagon under Secretaries Rumsfeld and Gates and as a counterterrorism advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney. Waltz served three terms as Republican Congressman from Florida's 6th District (2019–2025), resigning to become National Security Advisor in President Trump's second administration (January–May 2025) before his September 2025 Senate confirmation as the 32nd U.S. Representative to the United Nations, where he currently serves. A successful business owner, he co-founded Metis Solutions, a strategy and intelligence firm that grew to hundreds of employees worldwide and was acquired for $92 million; he authored the bestseller Warrior Diplomat recounting his military and policy experiences, along with Hard Truths on Green Beret leadership, with proceeds benefiting veterans' charities, and he continues media commentary on defense and foreign policy. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code SRS to turn $5 into $300 in bonus bets if your bet wins—see full terms and responsible gaming resources at https://dkng.co/audio. Go to https://drinkag1.com/SRS to get their best offer—plus, for a limited time, receive a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order (while supplies last). Sign up and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/srs. #ad Get 27% off sitewide at https://helixsleep.com/SRS, exclusive for listeners of the Shawn Ryan Show—enter our show name after checkout! Mike Waltz Links: X - https://x.com/michaelgwaltz IG - https://www.instagram.com/michaelgwaltz Warrior Diplomat - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1612346316 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT AFRICA'S SHIFT TO RUSSIAN MERCENARIES Colleague Ambassador Edmund Fitton-Brown. Ambassador Edmund Fitton-Brown examines the strategic shift in Africa, where nations are rejecting Western oversight. He explains how regimes now favor partnerships with Russian mercenaries and Iran to avoid governance conditions, allowing these actors to plunder gold and uranium resources unchecked. 1936 ABYSSINIAN SOLDIERS

SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys Idi Amin comes to power in Uganda, a military strongman, he lets his military run wild across the nation in a nearly decade long reign of terror. Amin, however, is a drunken, paranoid, monster. He purges his military, worried that someone would depose him. He imagines invasions of the British, Americans, Tanzanians, and the Israelis massing on his border. Finally, he invades Tanzania, sparking the Kagera War. This is the story of the fall of Idi Amin. Part 1/4 SOURCES: Tony Avrigan, Martha Honey. War in Uganda: The Legacy of Idi Amin. Ogenga Otunnu. Crisis of Legitimacy and Political Violence in Uganda, 1890-1979. Ogenga Otunnu. Politics and the Military in Uganda, 1890-1985. Yehudit Ronen. Libya's Intervention in Amin's Uganda: A Broken Spearhead. Tom Cooper. War and Insurgencies of Uganda. 1971-1994 George Roberts. The Uganda-Tanzania War, The Fall of Idi Amin, and the Failure of African Diplomacy. Alicia Decker. In Idi Amin's Shadow: Women, Gender, and Militarism in Uganda Mark Leopold. Idi Amin: The Story of Africa's Icon of Evil

This episode is a replay from the Dogma Debate archive. Originally released as Episode 472, this conversation features a debate with a Christian missionary living in Africa. It's one of the more discussed episodes from earlier seasons, revisiting core questions about belief, evangelism, and worldview. While new episodes are on the way, we're highlighting past conversations that listeners continue to revisit and engage with.

New tax laws in Nigeria are drawing criticism just days after taking effect, with many citizens worried about rising costs, shrinking incomes and pressure on small businesses. The government insists the reforms are designed to make the system fairer and more efficient, but scepticism remains over how the money will be used. We unpack what the new laws actually change and hear from officials defending the policy.We also turn to health, as experts warn that stress-induced overeating is becoming a major problem across Africa, driven by economic pressure, urban life and uncertainty.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Blessing Aderogba, Makuochi Okafor, Keikantse Shumba, Priya Sippy, Bella Twine Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Technical Producer: Terry Chege Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Today's guest is Steve Mann, a global entrepreneur, philanthropist, and mentor whose life work centers on one powerful truth: stories shape who we become.   Steve has lived and worked across the world, from Africa to Southeast Asia, founding businesses, supporting charitable foundations, and learning firsthand that wisdom isn't meant to be stored… it's meant to be shared.   He believes storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to create connection, pass down values, and build a legacy that lasts far beyond us. His new book, Stories That Shape Us, is a practical guide for parents, grandparents, and mentors who want to strengthen relationships and pass down wisdom, joy, and love to the next generation.   Steve Mann reminds us that stories are how wisdom, values, and love survive generations. Your story matters more than you think.  

This Wednesday morning, don’t miss a truly transformative broadcast as Public Enemy’s Minister of Information, Professor Griff, takes over our classroom! Professor Griff will reveal how Hip-Hop/Rap and iconic artists like Nicki Minaj are shaping the minds of young people, challenging you to consider the powerful influence of music on our community. He’ll also unpack the Global Plan for Africa and what it means for young Black people right here at home—insights you won’t hear anywhere else. Before Griff, respected therapist Dr. Jason Anthony shines a spotlight on the urgent issues facing our youth, and media analysts Wayne Gilman and Reggie Thomas break down how Donald Trump has forever changed the way the media tells the news. Plus, naturopathic doctor Baruch will explain why Black-Eyed Peas are a life-changing tradition every Black family should embrace on New Year’s Day. The Big Show kicks off at 6 amET, 5 am CT, 3 am PT, and 11 am BST on WOLB 1010 AM & wolbbaltimore.com, and on WOL 1450 AM & woldcnews.com. Call 800-450-7876 to get your voice heard, and listen live on TuneIn Radio, Alexa, and across the DMV on 104.1 HD3 FM, 93.9 HD3 FM, and 102.3 HD3 FM. This isn’t just another show—it’s your chance to join a dynamic, empowering conversation that impacts our community’s future. Tune in, share your perspective, and be part of the movement. All programs are free on your favorite podcast platform. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram and watch your Black Ideas come to life on the radio!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don’t miss your chance to hear from one of the world’s foremost experts on global affairs: University of Houston’s African Studies Professor Gerald Horne, joining our classroom this Monday morning. Dr. Horne will break down the explosive Maduro kidnapping and reveal how its ripple effects could reshape the balance of power for China, Russia, and the rest of the world. He’ll also shed light on urgent issues like slavery in East and North Africa, bombings in Nigeria, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, and the looming threat of a possible attack on Iran. Before Dr. Horne, acclaimed political blogger Brandon will expose the deep divisions the Maduro arrest is causing within the MAGA movement—insights you won’t hear anywhere else, and the possibility of another government shutdown. This is not just another broadcast—it’s your front-row seat to the stories shaping our lives and the world around us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s the big invertebrate episode I’ve been promising people! Thanks to Sam, warbrlwatchr, Jayson, Richard from NC, Holly, Kabir, Stewie, Thaddeus, and Trech for their suggestions this week! Further reading: Does the Spiral Siphonophore Reign as the Longest Animal in the World? The common nawab butterfly: The common nawab caterpillar: A velvet worm: A giant siphonophore [photo by Catriona Munro, Stefan Siebert, Felipe Zapata, Mark Howison, Alejandro Damian-Serrano, Samuel H. Church, Freya E.Goetz, Philip R. Pugh, Steven H.D.Haddock, Casey W.Dunn – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790318300460#f0030]: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. Hello to 2026! This is usually where I announce that I'm going to do a series of themed episodes throughout the coming year, and usually I forget all about it after a few months. This year I have a different announcement. After our nine-year anniversary next month, which is episode 470, instead of new episodes I'm going to be switching to old Patreon episodes. I closed the Patreon permanently at the end of December but all the best episodes will now run in the main feed until our ten-year anniversary in February 2027. That's episode 523, when we'll have a big new episode that will also be the very last one ever. I thought this was the best way to close out the podcast instead of just stopping one day. The only problem is the big list of suggestions. During January I'm going to cover as many suggestions as I possibly can. This week's episode is about invertebrates, and in the next few weeks we'll have an episode about mammals, one about reptiles and birds, and one about amphibians and fish, although I don't know what order they'll be in yet. Episode 470 will be about animals discovered in 2025, along with some corrections and updates. I hope no one is sad about the podcast ending! You have a whole year to get used to it, and the old episodes will remain forever on the website so you can listen whenever you like. All that out of the way, let's start 2026 right with a whole lot of invertebrates! Thanks to Sam, warbrlwatchr, Jayson, Richard from NC, Holly, Kabir, Stewie, Thaddeus, and Trech for their suggestions this week! Let's start with Trech's suggestion, a humble ant called the weaver ant. It's also called the green ant even though not all species are green, because a species found in Australia is partially green. Most species are red, brown, or yellowish, and they're found in parts of northern and western Australia, southern Asia, and on most islands in between the two areas, and in parts of central Africa. The weaver ant lives in trees in tropical areas, and gets the name weaver ant because of the way it makes its nest. The nests are made out of leaves, but the leaves are still growing on the tree. Worker ants grab the edge of a leaf in their mandibles, then pull the leaf toward another leaf or sometimes double the leaf over. Sometimes ants have to make a chain to reach another leaf, with each ant grabbing the next ant around the middle until the ant at the end of the chain can grab the edge of a leaf. While the leaf is being pulled into place alongside the edge of another leaf, or the opposite edge of the same leaf, other workers bring larvae from an established part of the nest. The larvae secrete silk to make cocoons, but a worker ant holds a larva at the edge of the leaf, taps its little head, and the larva secretes silk that the workers use to bind the leaf edges together. A single colony has multiple nests, often in more than one tree, and are constantly constructing new ones as the old leaves are damaged by weather or just die off naturally. The weaver ant mainly eats insects, which is good for the trees because many of the insects the ants kill and eat are ones that can damage trees. This is one reason why farmers in some places like seeing weaver ants, especially fruit farmers, and sometimes farmers will even buy a weaver ant colony starter pack to place in their trees deliberately. The farmer doesn't have to use pesticides, and the weaver ants even cause some fruit- and leaf-eating animals to stay away, because the ants can give a painful bite. People in many areas also eat the weaver ant larvae, which is considered a delicacy. Our next suggestion is by Holly, the zombie snail. I actually covered this in a Patreon episode, but I didn't schedule it for next year because I thought I'd used the information already in a regular episode, but now I can't find it. So let's talk about it now! In August of 2019, hikers in Taiwan came across a snail that looked like it was on its way to a rave. It had what looked like flashing neon decorations in its head, pulsing in green and orange. Strobing colors are just not something you'd expect to find on an animal, or if you did it would be a deep-sea animal. The situation is not good for the snail, let me tell you. It's due to a parasitic flatworm called the green-banded broodsac. The flatworm infects birds, but to get into the bird, first it has to get into a snail. To get into a snail, it has to be in a bird, though, because it lives in the cloaca of a bird and attaches its eggs to the bird's droppings. When a snail eats a yummy bird dropping, it also eats the eggs. The eggs hatch in the snail's body instead of being digested, where eventually they develop into sporocysts. That's a branched structure that spreads throughout the snail's body, including into its head and eyestalks. The sporocyst branches that are in the snail's eyestalks further develop into broodsacs, which look like little worms or caterpillars banded with green and orange or green and yellow, sometimes with black or brown bands too—it depends on the species. About the time the broodsacs are ready for the next stage of life, the parasite takes control of the snail's brain. The snail goes out in daylight and sits somewhere conspicuous, and its body, or sometimes just its head or eyestalks, becomes semi-translucent so that the broodsacs show through it. Then the broodsacs swell up and start to pulse. The colors and movement resemble a caterpillar enough that it attracts birds that eat caterpillars. A bird will fly up, grab what it thinks is a caterpillar, and eat it up. The broodsac develops into a mature flatworm in the bird's digestive system, and sticks itself to the walls of the cloaca with two suckers, and the whole process starts again. The snail gets the worst part of this bargain, naturally, but it doesn't necessarily die. It can survive for a year or more even with the parasite living in it, and it can still use its eyes. When it's bird time, the bird isn't interested in the snail itself. It just wants what it thinks is a caterpillar, and a lot of times it just snips the broodsac out of the snail's eyestalk without doing a lot of damage to the snail. If a bird doesn't show up right away, sometimes the broodsac will burst out of the eyestalk anyway. It can survive for up to an hour outside the snail and continues to pulsate, so it will sometimes still get eaten by a bird. Okay, that was disgusting. Let's move on quickly to the tiger beetle, suggested by both Sam and warblrwatchr. There are thousands of tiger beetle species known and they live all over the world, except for Antarctica. Because there are so many different species in so many different habitats, they don't all look the same, but many common species are reddish-orange with black stripes, which is where the name tiger beetle comes from. Others are plain black or gray, shiny blue, dark or pale brown, spotted, mottled, iridescent, bumpy, plain, bulky, or lightly built. They vary a lot, but one thing they all share are long legs. That's because the tiger beetle is famous for its running speed. Not all species can fly, but even in the ones that can, its wings are small and it can't fly far. But it can run so fast that scientists have discovered that its simple eyes can't gather enough photons for the brain to process an image of its surroundings while it runs. That's why the beetle will run extremely fast, then stop for a moment before running again. Its brain needs a moment to catch up. The tiger beetle eats insects and other small animals, which it runs after to catch. The fastest species known lives around the shores of Lake Eyre in South Australia, Rivacindela hudsoni. It grows around 20 mm long, and can run as much as 5.6 mph, or 9 km/hour, not that it's going to be running for an entire hour at a time. Still, that's incredibly fast for something with little teeny legs. Another insect that is really fast is called the common nawab, suggested by Jayson. It's a butterfly that lives in tropical forests and rainforests in South Asia and many islands. Its wings are mainly brown or black with a big yellow or greenish spot in the middle and some little white spots along the edges, and the hind wings have two little tails that look like spikes. It's really pretty and has a wingspan more than three inches across, or about 8.5 cm. The common nawab spends most of its time in the forest canopy, flying quickly from flower to flower. Females will travel long distances, but when a female is ready to lay her eggs, she returns to where she hatched. The male stays in his territory, and will chase away other common nawab males if they approach. The common nawab caterpillar is green with pale yellow stripes, and it has four horn-like projections on its head, which is why it's called the dragon-headed caterpillar. It's really awesome-looking and I put it on the list to cover years ago, then forgot it until Jayson recommended it. But it turns out there's not a lot known about the common nawab, so there's not a lot to say about it. Next, Richard from NC suggested the velvet worm. It's not a worm and it's not made of velvet, although its body is soft and velvety to the touch. It's long and fairly thin, sort of like a caterpillar in shape but with lots of stubby little legs. There are hundreds of species known in two families. Most species of velvet worm are found in South America and Australia. Some species of velvet worm can grow up to 8 and a half inches long, or 22 cm, but most are much smaller. The smallest lives in New Zealand on the South Island, and only grows up to 10 mm long, with 13 pairs of legs. The largest lives in Costa Rica in Central America and was only discovered in 2010. It has up to 41 pairs of legs, although males only have 34 pairs. Various species of velvet worm are different colors, although a lot of them are reddish, brown, or orangey-brown. Most species have simple eyes, although some have no eyes at all. Its legs are stubby, hollow, and very simple, with a pair of tiny chitin claws at the ends. The claws are retractable and help it climb around. It likes humid, dark places like mossy rocks, leaf litter, fallen logs, caves, and similar habitats. Some species are solitary but others live in social groups of closely related individuals. The velvet worm is an ambush predator, and it hunts in a really weird way. It's nocturnal and its eyes are not only very simple, but the velvet worm can't even see ahead of it because its eyes are behind a pair of fleshy antennae that it uses to feel its way delicately forward. It walks so softly on its little legs that the small insects and other invertebrates that it preys on often don't even notice it. When it comes across an animal, it uses its antennae to very carefully touch it and decide whether it's worth attacking. When it decides to attack, it squirts slime that acts like glue. It has a gland on either side of its head that squirts slime quite accurately. Once the prey is immobilized, the velvet worm may give smaller squirts of slime at dangerous parts, like the fangs of spiders. Then it punctures the body of its prey with its jaws and injects saliva, which kills the animal and starts to liquefy its insides. While the velvet worm is waiting for this to happen, it eats up its slime to reuse it, then sucks the liquid out of the prey. This can take a long time depending on the size of the animal—more than an hour. A huge number of invertebrates, including all insects and crustaceans, are arthropods, and velvet worms look like they should belong to the phylum Arthropoda. But arthropods always have jointed legs. Velvet worm legs don't have joints. Velvet worms aren't arthropods, although they're closely related. A modern-day velvet worm looks surprisingly like an animal that lived half a billion years ago, Antennacanthopodia, although it lived in the ocean and all velvet worms live on land. Scientists think that the velvet worm's closest living relative is a very small invertebrate called the tardigrade, or water bear, which is Stewie's suggestion. The water bear isn't a bear but a tiny eight-legged animal that barely ever grows larger than 1.5 millimeters. Some species are microscopic. There are about 1,300 known species of water bear and they all look pretty similar, like a plump eight-legged stuffed animal with a tubular mouth that looks a little like a pig's snout. It uses six of its fat little legs for walking and the hind two to cling to the moss and other plant material where it lives. Each leg has four to eight long hooked claws. Like the velvet worm, the tardigrade's legs don't have joints. They can bend wherever they want. Tardigrades have the reputation of being extremophiles, able to withstand incredible heat, cold, radiation, space, and anything else scientists can think of. In reality, it's just a little guy that mostly lives in moss and eats tiny animals or plant material. It is tough, and some species can indeed withstand extreme heat, cold, and so forth, but only for short amounts of time. The tardigrade's success is mainly due to its ability to suspend its metabolism, during which time the water in its body is replaced with a type of protein that protects its cells from damage. It retracts its legs and rearranges its internal organs so it can curl up into a teeny barrel shape, at which point it's called a tun. It needs a moist environment, and if its environment dries out too much, the water bear will automatically go into this suspended state, called cryptobiosis. When conditions improve, the tardigrade returns to normal. Another animal has a similar ability, and it's a suggestion by Thaddeus, the immortal jellyfish. It's barely more than 4 mm across as an adult, and lives throughout much of the world's oceans, especially where it's warm. It eats tiny food, including plankton and fish eggs, which it grabs with its tiny tentacles. Small as it is, the immortal jellyfish has stinging cells in its tentacles. It's mostly transparent, although its stomach is red and an adult jelly has up to 90 white tentacles. The immortal jellyfish starts life as a larva called a planula, which can swim, but when it finds a place it likes, it sticks itself to a rock or shell, or just onto the sea floor. There it develops into a polyp colony, and this colony buds new polyps that are clones of the original. These polyps swim away and grow into jellyfish, which spawn and develop eggs, and those eggs hatch into new planulae. Polyps can live for years, while adult jellies, called medusae, usually only live a few months. But if an adult immortal jellyfish is injured, starving, sick, or otherwise under stress, it can transform back into a polyp. It forms a new polyp colony and buds clones of itself that then grow into adult jellies. It's the only organism known that can revert to an earlier stage of life after reaching sexual maturity–but only an individual at the adult stage, called the medusa stage, can revert to an earlier stage of development, and an individual can only achieve the medusa stage once after it buds from the polyp colony. If it reverts to the polyp stage, it will remain a polyp until it eventually dies, so it's not really immortal but it's still very cool. All the animals we've talked about today have been quite small. Let's finish with a suggestion from Kabir, a deep-sea animal that's really big! It's the giant siphonophore, Praya dubia, which lives in cold ocean water around many parts of the world. It's one of the longest creatures known to exist, but it's not a single animal. Each siphonophore is a colony of tiny animals called zooids, all clones although they perform different functions so the whole colony can thrive. Some zooids help the colony swim, while others have tiny tentacles that grab prey, and others digest the food and disperse the nutrients to the zooids around it. Some siphonophores are small but some can grow quite large. The Portuguese man o' war, which looks like a floating jellyfish, is actually a type of siphonophore. Its stinging tentacles can be 100 feet long, or 30 m. Other siphonophores are long, transparent, gelatinous strings that float through the depths of the sea, and that's the kind the giant siphonophore is. The giant siphonophore can definitely grow longer than 160 feet, or 50 meters, and may grow considerably longer. Siphonophores are delicate, and if they get washed too close to shore or the surface, waves and currents can tear them into pieces. Other than that, and maybe the occasional whale or big fish swimming right through them and breaking them up, there's really no reason why a siphonophore can't just keep on growing and growing and growing… You can find Strange Animals Podcast at strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net. That's blueberry without any E's. If you have questions, comments, corrections, or suggestions, email us at strangeanimalspodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

It's Monday, January 5th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Muslims in Congo, Africa kill 15 The New Year began in chaos and mourning for residents of Katanga village in North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reports International Christian Concern. As families gathered to welcome 2026, armed Muslim fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, carried out a deadly nighttime incursion, killing at least 15 people on Thursday, January 1. Working with the global Islamic State movement, the ADF is among the most dangerous terrorist groups in Congo. Venezuelan dictator captured in daring U.S. raid Venezuelans are celebrating in the streets. (Audio of celebration) Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro was seized by the United States Army's secretive Delta Force unit in a daring raid on his heavily-secured compound, reports the Daily Mail. CBS News reported that the ultra-elite Delta Force unit was behind the capture of Maduro, and his wife Cilia, in the early hours of Saturday morning. The couple was seized from their bedroom in the dead of night by U.S. forces as they slept, according to CNN. The raid did not lead to any U.S. casualties. The pair was snatched by helicopter from Caracas after they had been monitored by CIA spies, with President Donald Trump giving the order to take them two days ago. President Trump says Maduro and his government have conspired to flood the United States with illegal drugs, and will now face trial in the U.S. on drugs and weapons trafficking charges. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke at a Saturday press conference. RUBIO: “Nicolas Maduro had multiple opportunities to avoid this. He was provided multiple very, very, very generous offers, and chose instead to act like a wild man, chose instead to play around. “The 47th president of the United States is not a game player. When he tells you that he's going to do something, when he tells you he's going to address a problem, he means it. “The President doesn't go out looking for people to pick fights with. Generally, he wants to get along with everybody. We'll talk and meet with anybody. But don't play games. Don't play games while this President's in office, because it's not going to turn out well. I guess that lesson was learned last night, and we hope it will be instructive moving forward.” Biden's DOJ pressured FBI to raid Mar-a-Lago Newly-declassified documents show that President Joe Biden's Department of Justice pressured the FBI to conduct the infamous 2022 raid of then-former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home – even though the FBI repeatedly warned that such a raid was unwarranted, reports NewsBusters.org. In an X.com post last Tuesday, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, wrote, “FBI did not believe it had probable cause to raid Pres. Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, but Biden DOJ pushed for it anyway. Based on the records, Mar-a-Lago raid was a miscarriage of justice.” Grassley linked to the documents posted online, which detail communications between the DOJ and the FBI. Brent Bozell confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Last Thursday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Media Research Center founder Brent Bozell as U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, despite obstructionist tactics by Democrats, reports CNSNews.com. By a 53-43 vote, the Senate approved Bozell to fill the post vacated by former ambassador Reuben Brigety, who resigned in January. BOZELL: “I will communicate our objections to South Africa's geo-strategic drift from non-alignment toward our competitors including Russia, China and Iran. “I'll press South Africa to end proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice. “Second, I will advance the President's invitation to Afrikaners who wish to flee unjust racial discrimination. “I will support the President's call for the South African government to rescind its support for the expropriation of private property without compensation.” Bozell served as president of the Media Research Center from its founding in 1987 until May of this year when he stepped down to be ambassador. His son, David Bozell, now leads the Media Research Center. Mom upset school secretly socially transitioned her daughter A mother in Maine, named Amber Lavigne, had her parental rights usurped by school officials when a guidance counselor secretly gave her gender-confused 13-year-old daughter a chest binder and referred to her by using a male name and pronouns. A chest binder is used to flatten the breasts of a trans-identified girl to help her pretend to be a boy. With the help of the Goldwater Institute, Lavigne is taking the school to the Supreme Court, reports The Christian Post. LAVIGNE: “I don't want to lose my daughter to the state, even as she grows into an adult, I'll always be her mom.” When she confronted her daughter about the chest binder in her bedroom, she learned that the school guidance counselor had provided it.  LAVIGNE: “This situation really is about my parental rights being violated, about a social worker who had never even had a conversation with me, encouraging my child to keep secrets from me, to tell her, ‘Look, I'm not going to tell your mom, and you don't have to either.' So, she's bringing these breast binders home and hiding them in her room on me. That's distressing!” Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them;  male and female He created them.” (Watch Amber Lavigne's 4-minute video.) Arkansas Governor in hot water for celebrating Christmas And finally, secularists and atheists alike were predictably furious with Arkansas Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders this past Christmas, reports LifeSiteNews.com. It's just not that they found her professed love for Jesus Christ problematic. It's that she used her position as governor to spread the truth that Jesus Christ is the Savior of Mankind. On December 16, Sanders issued a declaration recalling that “more than two millennia ago in the little town of Bethlehem, far from the centers of power in first-century Rome, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born in a humble manger.” Sanders added that “on that first Christmas, Christ's arrival was unassuming” and “not focused on the wealthy or powerful but rather on the poor, powerless, and meek.” Sanders then approved an extra day off for state employees on December 26 “in order that [they] may spend this holiday with their families giving thanks for Christ's birth.” The God-hating Freedom From Religion Foundation was livid. In a letter to Governor Sanders, attorney Chris Line said, “State offices are not churches, and gubernatorial proclamations are not sermons. The governor is free to practice her religion privately, but she may not use the authority of the state to promote Christian doctrine as official government speech.” Governor Sanders tweeted, “The Freedom from Religion Foundation took issue with me closing state offices to celebrate Christmas and sent a letter demanding I rescind my proclamation. Christmas is not just a holiday; it's the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth. Meaning matters, we won't pretend otherwise.” Matthew 1:20-21 says, “What is conceived in Mary is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, January 5th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Hi all and welcome to the pod. There is some sobering news these last few days, and while ruminating about it I decided that the only way we are going to get through what is coming is with each other. With kindness, decency and being compassionate. With open hearts and open minds. With love and empathy. And, of course, with story! (hint: I'm talking about this podcast!) This episode I'm introducing you to Michelle Henderson, an all around groovy human who has really embraced her psychic ability and is using it to help all of us. She's gracious, she's funny and she wears her authority lightly, and I rest easier at night just knowing that she is here to do the work and help the rest of us navigate the world! To read more about this bright light in the darkness visit her website! To check out her Insta click here! And to buy any of her books click here! I greatly appreciate everyone who listens, and if you want to show some love for the pod, please write a review or leave a rating. I would be so, so very grateful! Your bit of beauty is this musical composition, "Waloyo Yamoni", created and arranged by Christopher Tin. Seriously, after the news this week this song and mash-up between the Lango language from Africa, they are lyrics from a rainmaking litany and it is quite simply the most gorgeous music I've heard in a long time!

Hi all and welcome to the pod. There is some sobering news these last few days, and while ruminating about it I decided that the only way we are going to get through what is coming is with each other. With kindness, decency and being compassionate. With open hearts and open minds. With love and empathy. And, of course, with story! (hint: I'm talking about this podcast!) This episode I'm introducing you to Michelle Henderson, an all around groovy human who has really embraced her psychic ability and is using it to help all of us. She's gracious, she's funny and she wears her authority lightly, and I rest easier at night just knowing that she is here to do the work and help the rest of us navigate the world! To read more about this bright light in the darkness visit her website! To check out her Insta click here! And to buy any of her books click here! I greatly appreciate everyone who listens, and if you want to show some love for the pod, please write a review or leave a rating. I would be so, so very grateful! Your bit of beauty is this musical composition, "Waloyo Yamoni", created and arranged by Christopher Tin. Seriously, after the news this week this song and mash-up between the Lango language from Africa, they are lyrics from a rainmaking litany and it is quite simply the most gorgeous music I've heard in a long time!

2026 preview, the US economy in 2026, Trump's Faustian pact with workers, Trump's inflation fetish, will we get Trump checks?, the global economy in 2026, China's 2026 outlook, the Ukraine-Russia war in 2026, will Zelensky survive 2026?, the EU in 2026, the EU's internal issues and unrealistic expectations, Mercosur, Israel in 2026, Africa in 2026, will the ruling classes shift from race to religion as a means of division, the left's complicated relationship with spirituality, the rise of Islam and the West, what's in store for the illicit economy in 2026, "Narco" Rubio, the Monroe Doctrine 2.0, Trump 2.0 as a crime syndicate, Cuba, the Miami faction, anti-Castro Cubans, Epstein, where the Epstein shit show is headedMusic by: Keith Allen Dennishttps://keithallendennis.bandcamp.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Belden was born into a family of Oxford Group leaders and committed activists. The Group set out “to change the world” and throughout his early years David devoted himself wholeheartedly to this challenge.  But while “carrying the message” in Africa, his life took an unexpected turn that led to his questioning some of principles and practices he had once taken uncritically for granted.David returned to Oxford University to write his doctoral dissertation on the Group's history, influence and shortcomings. He recently published a still more intimate account of his own journey toward personal and social transformation and change: The World Remakers' Child.This series affords a rare insider's view of the Group responsible for contributing no fewer than ten of A.A.'s Twelve Steps and yields fresh insights and challenges throughout. Mahatma Gandhi's grandson praised David's book for its “steady candor,” “humor about himself,” and “a thirst for a less harsh, more loving, and fairer world.”The first episode briefly introduces David's story to listeners after which he and Fr. Bill explore the life of Oxford Group founder Frank Buchman.                           Show notes:David Belden's book: The World Remakers' ChildDave's Oxford University Doctoral Thesis:https://www.academia.edu/27545723/The_Origins_and_Development_of_the_Oxford_Group_Moral_Re_Armament_For Sinners Only by A.J. Russell (used books are getting expensive. This is the cheapest I found)

Britain's empire was built on more than famous battles. In this live Redcoat History discussion, I'm joined by Cam Simpson and Jon Pick to explore Britain's forgotten frontier wars — from the North-West Frontier of India to Moorosi's Rebellion in southern Africa. We'll tackle the myths, the real fighting, and what life was actually like on the edge of empire — then open it up to your questions. Cam's new book can be purchased here - https://amzn.to/3LhZA8S  Sign up for my mailing list here - https://redcoathistory.com/2021/10/27/free-book-the-military-history-geeks-guide-to-the-anglo-zulu-war/ 

Happy New Year energy nerdsAs tradition demands (and lawyers insist), the first episode of the year is the annual ritual where Gerard, Laurent, and Michael boldly predict the future of the energy transition… and then publicly roast themselves for last year's bad calls.Before unleashing our 2026 Predictions, we do a mandatory rewind to the crystal-ball disasters of 2025: The 2025 prophecy graveyard:US oil production down in 2025 (MB — bold, brave… wrong)Oil at $40/bbl in 2025 (GR — oof)Geopolitics + broken supply chains + energy chaos = a better, more innovative world (LS — still hoping)A bloodbath for hydrogen in transportation (MB — disturbingly accurate)Record installs: Solar 700GW, EVs 20m, Batteries 200GWh (spot on)The death of all things labelled ESG, Climate, and Carbon (LS — prematurely optimistic)Scorecard: Gerard absolutely nailed Silver: from $30/oz to $60/oz in 18 months. BP technically survived 2025… but welcomed a new CEO, so partial credit at best.Michael wins overall, which he will remind us of repeatedly. After heroic levels of co-host sabotage, Laurent loses again, as is now canon.Our 2026 Predictions:

Send us a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

A joint investigation by The New York Times and The Examination reveals how demand for lead batteries has fueled lead poisoning in Ogijo, Nigeria.

Join hosts Henry Kaestner, Justin Forman, and Luke Roush as they preview the upcoming 2026 Faith Driven Investor Conference, exploring the transformative theme "Seeds vs. Silos" and what it means for how we steward capital in service of God's kingdom.Key Investment Topics:Understanding the J-curve of investing and why seed capital requires patience before bearing fruitThe convergence of giving, investing, and building into unified asset allocation focused on missionFirst-loss capital strategies: How philanthropic capital can unlock larger investment tranchesThe urgency of African investment: Addressing 80% of the world's poor by 2030 through market-driven solutionsRedefining risk from an eternal perspective rather than purely financial metricsPowerful Quotes:"We're planting these seeds and the seeds are planted in the ground and they go down. And with the J-curve, all of a sudden it's underground, it doesn't look like it's great, and then it comes back up someplace further away, far enough away from where you planted it so that maybe you don't even get credit for it." - Henry Kaestner"It's not a failure of the system, usually, in terms of people using the platform God's given them. It's usually a failure of nerve." - Luke Roush"The tragedy is when you go into some of these dark places, tragically we find that darkness is more coordinated than the church." - Justin FormanEpisode Description:Six years into the Faith Driven Investor Conference journey, the movement has reached an inflection point. What began as storming and forming is now transforming into coordinated action as investors, advisors, and fund managers converge around a unified mission: solving the world's greatest problems under God's power for His glory.This preview episode unpacks the conference theme "Seeds vs. Silos," challenging investors to move beyond accumulation mindsets (the barns and silos of our age) toward scattering seeds that grow underground before bearing fruit in unexpected places. Henry, Justin, and Luke explore how the J-curve of investing mirrors spiritual growth—requiring faith during the valley period when capital is deployed but results aren't yet visible.The conversation addresses critical shifts in the faith-driven investing ecosystem: the three-sided marketplace now including river guide advisors, the convergence of philanthropic and investment capital into unified asset allocation maps, and real-world examples of first-loss capital unlocking larger investment opportunities in emerging markets. With top-quartile performers now visible across virtually every asset class—from multifamily real estate to African venture funds—the movement has matured beyond feel-good stories to demonstrable excellence because of, not despite, biblical values. The hosts issue a clarion call for urgent action in Africa, where 80% of the world's poor will live by 2030, and challenge investors to rethink risk from an eternal perspective rather than merely financial metrics.

In this episode, Surita Sandosham, President and CEO of Heifer International, shares how one of the world's most established development organizations is reimagining the fight against hunger and poverty through locally led, systems-based solutions. With more than 80 years of experience and work spanning 19 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, Heifer International partners with smallholder farmers, especially women, to build sustainable, climate-resilient food systems. The conversation explores how farmers move from subsistence to thriving producers by strengthening social capital, building profitable value chains, and creating cooperative models that unlock market access, finance, and long-term resilience. Surita explains why women and youth are central to transforming agriculture, particularly in contexts where women face barriers to land rights, credit, and decision-making, and where young people often see farming as an unattractive future. From self-help groups and savings models to partnerships that enable mechanization and entrepreneurship, the discussion highlights how dignity, agency, and opportunity are created at the community level. The episode also dives into the Personal Transformation Index, a data-driven framework developed with academic partners to measure confidence, leadership, decision-making, and civic engagement among farmers. The results reveal how social capital and values-based development translate into stronger livelihoods, reduced household conflict, shared decision-making, and greater participation in local governance. Throughout the conversation, Surita reflects on the urgency of global food insecurity, the limitations of working in isolation, and the importance of long-term partnerships with governments, multilaterals, businesses, and donors. The episode closes with a powerful reminder that ending hunger is not only about food production, but about building inclusive systems where farmers are recognized as producers, leaders, and stewards of the planet. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 350+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

Episode 206 with Robert Hornsby and Franck Tcheukado, Co Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer of Jobomax Homes, a West African real estate developer focused on delivering secure, high quality housing for Africans in the diaspora and on the continent.Robert brings a unique perspective as a former US Air Force veteran turned entrepreneur, while Franck brings deep operational leadership from managing construction and project delivery across multiple West African countries. Together, they explore why housing is one of Africa's most underappreciated economic challenges and one of its most powerful opportunities.In this episode, they explain how Jobomax Homes was created to address the trust barriers that have historically prevented diaspora capital from flowing into African real estate. The conversation explores why issues such as land title insecurity, fragmented project management, and limited access to housing finance have held the sector back, and what it takes to build a reliable alternative.Robert and Franck share how Jobomax delivers an end to end homebuilding model that brings structure, transparency, and accountability to the process of buying and building homes from abroad. They discuss maintaining international construction standards while working with local labour, and how this approach supports skills development and strengthens local construction ecosystems.What We Discuss With Robert Hornsby and Franck Tcheukado Why Africa's housing deficit is as much a trust and finance challenge as it is a construction problem.How structured real estate development can unlock diaspora investment into West African housing markets.Delivering quality housing at scale while building local talent and strengthening construction value chains.The role of housing in long term wealth creation, women's economic participation, and formalising property ownership.What the next decade could look like for African real estate, including technology adoption and the evolution of housing as an investable asset.Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Carnegie Mellon University Africa Is Building the Next Generation of African Tech and Engineering Leaders? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Robert:LinkedIn - Robert Hornsby and Jobomax HomesConnect with Franck:LinkedIn - Franck TcheukadoMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don't do it alone. If you'd like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: www.etkgroup.co.ukinfo@etkgroup.co.uk