Podcasts about Alder

In this episode of Skip the Queue, host Paul Marden speaks with Andy Hadden, founder of the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Scotland. Andy shares the remarkable journey from his sporting background and early property career to discovering wave technology in the Basque Country, which inspired him to bring inland surfing to Scotland. Despite starting with no money and no land, Andy raised over £100 million and built one of the world's most advanced inland surf destinations. He explains how Lost Shore Surf Resort combines world-class waves with a strong community focus, sustainability initiatives, and partnerships with schools and universities to deliver real social and economic impact.Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden, with co host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn. Show references:  Lost Shore Surf Resort website: https://www.lostshore.com/Andy Hadded on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-hadden-94989a67/Andy Hadden is the founder of Lost Shore Surf Resort, Scotland's first inland surf destination and home to Europe's largest wave pool. Opened in November 2024 near Edinburgh, Lost Shore is the country's largest sports infrastructure project since the Commonwealth Games and now attracts a truly international audience of surfers, families, and brands. With a background in insolvency and investment surveying, Andy led the venture from concept to completion - securing major institutional backing and building a multidisciplinary team to deliver a world-class destination. Long before 'ESG' was a buzzword, he embedded environmental and social value into Lost Shore's DNA, helping set new benchmarks for responsible development. As home to the Surf Lab with Edinburgh Napier University, Lost Shore also serves as a global hub for performance, product R&D, and surf therapy. Live from the show floor, we'll also be joined by:Bakit Baydaliev, CEO/ Cofounder of DOF Roboticshttps://dofrobotics.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakitbaydaliev/Hamza Saber, Expert Engineer at TÜV SÜDhttps://www.tuvsud.com/enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hamzasaber/David Jungmann, Director of Business Development at Accessohttps://www.accesso.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjungmann/Kristof Van Hove, Tomorrowlandhttps://www.tomorrowland.com/home/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristof-van-hove-2ba3b953/ Transcriptions:  Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast about attractions and the amazing people who work with them. I'm your host, Paul Marden, and with my co-host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival, we're coming to you from IAAPA Expo Europe. This is the first of three episodes from the show floor that will come to you over the next three days. Firstly, I'm joined today by Andy Hadden, the founder of Lost Shores Surf Resort.Paul Marden: Andy, tell us a little bit about your journey. You've opened this amazing attraction up there in Scotland where I was on holiday a couple of weeks ago. Tell us a little bit about that attraction. Why this and why in Scotland?Andy Hadden: Well, I grew up locally and I came from more of a sporting family than so much of a business family. My father was the international rugby coach for a while and I played a lot of sport. Paul Marden: Oh, really? Andy Hadden: Yeah, yeah. So we always had this thing about there wasn't enough facilities here in Scotland because Scotland is a place which doesn't necessarily have all the resources and the access to funds and everything else like that. But one thing we noted with, you know, if you created facilities, whether they be good tennis facilities, good 4G football pitches, whatever it was. It allowed the environment around it to prosper, the communities around it to prosper. And, of course, I was a charter surveyor by trade, so I worked in insolvency and then in investment. So I sold two sites to that market. Andy Hadden: But I always surfed. I always surfed. So whilst I was down in Birmingham in England, when I actually got an email in 2012 talking about some, you know, some surfy thing that might have been happening in Bristol, I called the head of destination consulting up and I said, 'this sounds like nonsense, to be honest', because I surf and you can't really be talking about real surfing waves here. It's got to be something, you know, different. He said, 'No, no, there's these guys in the Basque country.' So I took a flight over there and that day changed everything for me. Paul Marden: So what was it that you saw? Andy Hadden: I went to see what was back then a secret test facility in the mountains of the Basque Country. It was very cloak and dagger. I had to follow the guide and give me the email address. I found this all very exciting. When I went and actually saw this facility, I realised that for the decade before that, there'd been all these amazing minds, engineers and surfers working on what they believed could be, you know, a big future of not just the inland surfing movement that's now burgeoning into a multi-billion dollar global movement, but it could really affect surfing. And if it was going to affect surfing as a sport, and it's now an Olympic sport because of these facilities, they wanted to make sure that it was a very accessible piece of kit. So surfing, it could affect surfing if ran by the right people in the right ways and really communicate that stoke of the sport to the masses.Paul Marden: So what is it that you've built in Edinburgh then? Tell me a little bit about it.Andy Hadden: So we've delivered a wave garden cove, which is a 52-module wave garden, which is about the size of three football pitches, and it can run hundreds of waves an hour, touch of a button and it can run in skiing parlance anything from green runs right through to sort of black powder runs. And the beauty of it is you can have people that are the better surfers out the back and just like at the beach at the front you've got their kids and learning how to surf on the white water. So we're finding it to be a really amazing experience— not just for surfers who are obviously flocking to us, but already here in Scotland, eight months in, tens of thousands of new surfers are all coming back and just going, 'Wow, we've got this thing on our doorstep.' This is blowing our minds, you know. Paul Marden: Wowzers, wowzers. Look, I'm guessing that the infrastructure and the technology that you need to be able to create this kind of inland wave centre is key to what you're doing. That you've got to access some funds, I guess, to be able to do this. This is not a cheap thing for you to be able to put together, surely.Andy Hadden: Yeah, correct. I mean, you know, I have questioned my own sanity at times. But when I started 10 years ago, I had no money and no land. But I did have some property expertise and I wanted to do it in Edinburgh, a close-up place that I cared about. So we have excellent networks. For a few years, you know. Whilst we've ended up raising over  £100 million in structured finance from a standing start, it took me a couple of years just to raise £40,000. And then I used that to do some quite bizarre things like flying everyone that I cared about, you know, whether they were from the surf community or... Community stakeholders, politicians, and everyone over to the test facility to see themselves— what I could see to sort of—well, is it? Am I just getting carried away here? Or is there something in this? And then, on top of that, you know, we sponsored the world's first PhD in surf therapy with that first $5,000. So now we have a doctor in surf therapy who now takes me around the world to California and all these places. How does business actually really genuinely care about, you know, giving back? And I'm like, yeah, because we said we're going to do this once.Andy Hadden: We got to do it right. And it took us a decade. But yeah, we raised the money and we're very happy to be open.Paul Marden: So I mentioned a minute ago, I was holidaying in Scotland. I bookended Edinburgh— both sides of the holiday. And then I was in Sky for a few days as well. There's something about Edinburgh at the moment. There is a real energy. Coming up as a tourist, there was way too much for me to be able to do. It seems to be a real destination at the moment for people.Andy Hadden: Yeah, well, I think, coming from the background I came from, if I knew I was going to deliver a surfing park in the edge of Edinburgh, I then wanted to do it in the least risky way possible. So to do that, I felt land ownership was key and three business plans was also very key. Edinburgh's in need of accommodation regardless, and Edinburgh's also in need of good places, a good F&B for friends and family just to go and hang out on the weekends. And then, of course, you have the surfing, and we've got a big wellness aspect too. We also sit next to Europe's largest indoor climbing arena. And we're obviously very well connected in the centre of Scotland to both Edinburgh and Scotland. So, so many things to do. So, yeah, I mean, the Scottish tourism landscape has always been good, but it's just getting better and better as we see this as a future-proof marketplace up here. You know, we're not building ships anymore.Andy Hadden: Well, in fact, we got a contract the other week to build one, so maybe that's wrong. But the point is, we see it as a very future-proof place because the Americans are flagging, the Europeans are flagging, and they just want to feel like they're part of something very Scottish. And that's what we've tried to do in our own special way.Paul Marden: And when you think of coming to Scotland, of course, you think about surfing, don't you? Andy Hadden: Yes, who knows. Paul Marden: Exactly, exactly. Look, you had some recent high-profile support from Jason Connery, the son of the late James Bond actor Sean Connery. How did that come about?Andy Hadden: Well, I think we've got, there's a real Scottish spirit of entrepreneurialism that goes back, you know, probably right the way through to the Enlightenment where, you know, I'm sure. I'm sure a lot of you know how many inventions came from Scotland. And this is, you know, televisions, telephones, penicillin. I mean, just the list goes on.Andy Hadden: Of course, you know, that was a long, long time ago, but we still feel a lot of pride in that. But there seems to be a lot of people who've had success in our country, like someone like Sir Sean Connery. These guys are still very proud of that. So when they see something— very entrepreneurial— where we're using a lot of local businesses to create something bigger than the sum of its parts. And to do it truly— not just to be a profitable private business, which is what it is, but to give back 18 million into local economy every year, to work with schools in terms of getting into curriculums. We've got Surf Lab. We work with universities, charities, and so on. They really want to support this stuff. So we have over 50 shareholders, and they've each invested probably for slightly different reasons. They all have to know that their money is a good bet, but I think they all want to feel like they're part of creating a recipe. For a surf resort, which we believe there'll be hundreds of around the world in the next few years. And we can create that recipe here in Scotland. That's hopefully another example of Scottish innovation and entrepreneurialism.Paul Marden: So you've got the test bed that happened in the Basque Country. You've got Scotland now. Are there surf resorts like this elsewhere in the world?Andy Hadden: Yeah, there are eight other open in the world. There's actually, there's various technologies. So there's about 25 different surf parks open at the moment. But there's... doesn't under construction. Pharrell Williams has just opened one in Virginia Beach a few weeks ago there in America. And what the equity, I think, is looking at quite rightly, the big equity, you know, the type that go right, if this really is a, you know, kind of top golfing steroids in that property developers can look at them as.Andy Hadden: You know, excellent ways to get through their more standardised property place, residential, office, industrial. Usually they have to do that in a kind of loss-leading way. But if you look at this as a leisure attraction, which councils and cities actually want because of the benefits, and it makes you money, and it increases the prices of your residential around it. I think developers are starting to realise there's a sweet spot there. So the equity, the big equity, I think, is about to drop in this market over the next couple of years. And it's just waiting for the data set to enable them to do that.Paul Marden: Wow. I guess there's an environmental impact to the work that you do, trying to create any big... a big project like this is going to have some sort of environmental impact. You've put in place an environmental sustainability strategy before it was mainstream as it is now. Tell us some of the things that you've put in place to try to address that environmental impact of what you're doing.Andy Hadden: Well, we're in a disused quarry. So it was a brownfield site. So already just by building on it and creating an immunity, we're also adding to the biodiversity of that site. And we're obviously there's no escaping the fact that we're a user of energy. There's just no escaping that. So the reality is we've got as much sustainable energy use as we can from air source heat pumps to solar. And we're looking at a solar project. So it becomes completely self-sustaining. But we also, the electricity we do access from the grid is through a green tariff. But you'll see a lot of the resorts around the world, this is going to become the sort of, the main play is to become sort of sustainable in that sense. Where we really fly is with the S and ESG. And like you say, the reason we were the world's first institutionally backed wave park, of course, we like to think it was purely down to our financials. But the reality is, they started saying, 'Wow, you're as authentic an ESG company as we've come across.'Andy Hadden: And it's the same with our mission-based national bank. So, because we didn't really know what that meant, we just knew it was the right thing to do. So we fit squarely into that ESG category, which I know is a tick box for a lot of funds, let's face it. There's a lot of them that really want to do that. There's a lot of investors out there that want to do it. But let's understand our place in the system, which is we're really market leading in that area. And I think that's very attractive for a lot of funds out there. But the S in ESG is where we really fly with all the work we're doing socially around the site.Paul Marden: So talk to me a little bit about that. How are you addressing that kind of the social responsibility piece?Andy Hadden: Well, two examples would be we're not just looking at schools to come here to surf. That's an obvious one. They'll go to any attraction to surf if you could go to Laser Quest, go up to visit the castle, do whatever. But we reverse engineered it. We got schools coordinated to go around the headmasters and the schools and say, 'Well, Look, you're all teaching STEM, science, technology, engineering, maths, for 9 to 13-year-olds. And you're all looking for outdoor learning now, which is definitely a big part of the future in education in general. Can you allow us to create some modules here? So we've got six modules that actually fit into that STEM strategy. For instance, last week, there was a school in learning physics, but they were using surf wax on a surfboard friction.Paul Marden: Amazing.Andy Hadden: So these kids so it works for schools and headmasters which is very important and for parents and it obviously works for the kids and they love it and the reason we do that and we give that it's all at discounted low times and everything is because it's a numbers game they come back at the weekend and so on so that's example one and another would be we've created a surf lab with Napier University, a higher education. So we sponsored the world's first doctor. It got a PhD in surf therapy, but then the university was like, 'hold on a minute, you know, this is good marketing for us as well'.Andy Hadden: This surf lab, which has the infrastructure to host great competitions, but also PhD students can come down and learn engineering. They can learn sustainable energy. So we've got more PhD students working there. And this higher university collaboration has not only led to Alder kids coming down but other universities in the area are now what can we do with lost shore now that's cool and fun so we're working with the other universities in town too so that's a couple of examples alongside the standard, employing local people and actually having the economics of putting money into the local economy.Paul Marden: It's interesting, isn't it? Because... So for many people, ESG, and especially the social responsibility piece, feels a little bit worthy. It feels an altruistic move for the organisation to go and do those things. But you've hit on the quid pro quo what do you get back for doing all of this stuff well you're bringing in these kids you're enriching their learning, you're helping them to learn valuable skills but you're also giving them a taster of what life is like at the the resort and seeing the benefit of the return visits that flow from that is crazy.Andy Hadden: You know, I like to think we've fought as hard as anyone to ingrain this stuff in your DNA because we're year one. And of course, we have our cash flow difficulties like everyone does. You know, you don't know how to... run the place for the first three months or that's what it feels like even though you've done all this preparation and so on and so forth but at no point does anyone turn around and go let's get rid of the schools program let's get rid of the university partnership and that's why i think it's very important to build it into your dna because it doesn't have to be this zero-sum game that people attribute you know or we're giving here so that means we have to take over here it's like there's cute ways to do everything you can do the right thing but also drive traffic for your business and it's very good right. It's good reputation, because the people that stay there, when they see that we're doing this stuff, they feel like they're part of it, and then they want to book again. So I believe it doesn't have to be a zero-sum game, but it is a different way of creating a business— that's for sure.Paul Marden: For sure. So there's going to be a listener out there, I'm sure, with a crazy idea like you had a few years ago. What advice would you give for somebody just starting out thinking of opening a business in the leisure and attraction sector?Andy Hadden: I would just try your best to make it as simple as possible. I think it was Yves Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, who said, 'One of the hardest things in life is to make it simple. It's so easy to make it complex.' And when you're dealing with a business plan, it's very exciting, right? Well, what if we get into this market? What if we do this? And splitting it all into those components. I think arm yourself with very good people around you. They don't even have to be part of the company. If you've been a good person in your life, I'm sure you've got friends who you can tap into. Everyone knows an architect. Everyone knows an accountant. Everyone knows a lawyer. You're a friend of a friend. Andy Hadden: And I think just overload yourself with as much information to get you to the point where you can be assertive with your own decisions. Because at the end of the day, it's going to come down to you making your own decisions. And if you've got a very clear path of what success and failure looks like, understanding that it ain't going to look like your business plan. As long as it's got the broad shapes of where you want to go, it can get you out of bed every day to try and make things happen. So, yeah, just go for it. Really, that's it.Paul Marden: See where it takes you. So look, in the world of themed entertainment, we talk a lot about IP and storytelling and creating magical experiences. Are any of these concepts relevant to a destination like yours?Andy Hadden: Yeah, well, you know, technically, from an IP perspective, you know, we're using the WaveGround Cove technology. You know, we've purchased that. So from a strictly business perspective, you know, we have access to their sort of IP in that sense and we deliver that. But I think for us, the IP is the destination. It's so unique, it's so big that it becomes defendable at scale. So it does sound like a bit of an all-in poker hand. But it would be more risky to go half in because these things are very hard to build. But when they are built, they're also very hard to compete with. So as long as your customer experience is good enough. You're going to maintain a kind of exclusivity in your locality for long into the future. So, yeah, there's obviously IP issues in terms of technologies. But for us, it was all about creating a destination with three business plans that's greater than the sum of its parts. And if we can do that in our location, then it's very hard to compete against, I would say.Paul Marden: Andy, it sounds like such an exciting journey that you've been on. And one year in, that journey has still got a long way to play out, doesn't it? You must be on quite the rollercoaster. Well, surfing quite a wave at the moment, if I don't mix my metaphors so badly.Andy Hadden: Yeah, we're just entering maybe the penultimate phase of the sort of 20-year plan. You know, we've gone through our early stages, our fundraising, our construction. We've gone through the very hard sort of like getting the team together and opening year one. And we're just starting to go, 'OK, we understand we've got data now'. We understand how to run this place now. So I think we now want to push through to stabilise the next two or three years. And then hopefully we've got a lot of irons in the fire globally as well. Hopefully we can go to the next phase, but we'll see what happens. Worst case scenario, I just surf a bit more and try and enjoy my lot.Paul Marden: Well, Andy, it's been lovely talking to you. I've been really interested to hear what you've been up to. This was only a short snippet of an interview. I reckon there's some more stories for you to tell once you're into year two. So I'd love for you to come back and we'll do a full-on interview once you've got year two under your belt. How's that sound to you?Andy Hadden: Absolutely, Paul, and thanks very much for the platform.Paul Marden: Next up, let's hear from some of the exhibitors on the floor. Bakit.Paul Marden: Introduce yourself for me, please, and tell me a little bit about where you're from.Bakit Baydaliev: We have two companies located in Turkey, Istanbul, and Los Angeles, USA. We develop attractions, equipment, but not just equipment— also software, AI, and content, games, and movies. Paul Marden: Oh, wow. So you're here at IAPA. This is my very first morning of my very first IAAPA. So it's all very overwhelming for me. Tell me, what is it that you're launching at IAAPA today?Bakit Baydaliev: Today we're launching our bestseller, Hurricane. It's a coaster simulator. In addition to that, we're also launching a special immersive tunnel, Mars Odyssey. We're sending people to Mars, we're sending people to space, and the story, of course, may change. After you install the attractions, you always can create different kinds of content for this attraction. It's completely immersive and what is very unique for this attraction is edutainment. Theme parks, science centres, space centres, and museums all benefit from it. It's not just to show and entertain, but also educate and provide a lot of useful information for people. Paul Marden: So what would you say is unique about this? Bakit Baydaliev: There are several factors. First of all, it's equipment. We have a very special software that amazingly synchronizes with the content and it doesn't create motion sickness at all. Paul Marden: Oh, really? Bakit Baydaliev: This is very important. Independently on the speeds, which is... We have very high speeds in our simulators. In addition to that, we have special effects, unusual effects, which feel like cold, heat, sounds.Paul Marden: So it is truly 4D, isn't it?Bakit Baydaliev: Completely. In addition to that, it's interactive content. It's not just the content which you can sit and... watch and entertain yourself and get a lot of useful information, but also you can interact. You can play games, you can shoot, you can interact. And of course, the most important thing which makes this attraction innovative is the educational aspect.Paul Marden: I find that really interesting that you could see this ride at a theme park, but similarly you can see it as an educational exhibit at a science centre or space centre. I think that's very interesting.Bakit Baydaliev: Very, very. Especially, you know, the standard experience for space centres, science centres, and especially museums, it's just walking around, touch some stuff. Some you may not even touch it. It's exponents which you can watch, you can read, it's very nice. But it's even better when you let people live it in real with a nice simulation atmosphere environment, like immersive tunnel.Paul Marden: Absolutely. Bekit, thank you so much for joining us on Skip the Queue, and I look forward to enjoying one of the rides.Bakit Baydaliev: Please ride, and you will be amazed.Hamza Saber: My name is Hamza. I work for TÜV SUD Germany. Our main job is to make sure attractions are safe, parks are safe. We do everything from design review to initial examination of rides, to yearly checks and making sure that we push the standards and the norm to the next level and cover everything that comes in new in the industry as well to make sure this industry stays safe and enjoyable for people. Paul Marden: It's so important though, isn't it? At an event like this, you don't have a sexy stand with lots of really cool rides to experience, but what you do is super important.Hamza Saber: Yes, I guess it's not one of the big colourful booths, but it's at the heart of this industry. It's in the background. If you look at the program for the education, there is a lot of safety talks. There is a lot of small groups talking about safety, trying to harmonise norms as well. Because if you look at the world right now, we have the EN standards. We have the American standards and we're working right now to try to bring them closer together so it's as easy and safe and clear for all manufacturers and operators to understand what they need to do to make sure that their guests are safe at the end of the day.Paul Marden: So Hamza, there's some really cool tech that you've got on the stand that's something new that you've brought to the stand today. So tell us a little bit about that.Hamza Saber: So as you can see, we have one of the drones right here and the video behind you. So we're trying to include new technologies to make it easier, faster, and more reliable to do checks on big structures like this or those massive buildings that you usually see. You can get really, really close with the new technologies, the drones with the 4K cameras, you can get very, very precise. We're also working on AI to train it to start getting the first round of inspections done using AI. And just our expert to focus on the most important and critical aspects. So we're just going to make it faster, more reliable.Paul Marden: So I guess if you've got the drone, that means you don't have to walk the entire ride and expect it by eye?Hamza Saber: No, we still have to climb. So what we do is more preventive using the drones. So the drones, especially with the operators, they can start using them. And if they notice something that does not fit there, we can go and look at it. But the actual yearly inspections that are accepted by the governments, you still need to climb, you still need to check it yourself. So the technology is not right there yet, but hopefully we're going to get there. Paul Marden: We're a long way away from the robots coming and taking the safety engineer's job then. Hamza Saber: Yes, exactly. And they don't think they're going to come take our jobs anytime soon. Using technology hands-in-hands with our expertise, that's the future.Paul Marden: It must be so exciting for you guys because you have to get involved in all of these projects. So you get to see the absolute tippy top trends as they're coming towards you.Hamza Saber: Yeah, for sure. Like we're always three years before the public knowledge. So it's exciting to be behind the scene a little bit and knowing what's going on. We're seeing some really fun and creative ideas using AI to push the attractions industry to the next level. So I'm excited to see any new rides that will be published or announced at some point this week.Paul Marden: Very cool. Look, Hamza, it's been lovely to meet you. Thanks for coming on Skip the Queue.Hamza Saber: Yeah, thank you so much.Kristof Van Hove: My name is Kristof. I live in Belgium. I'm working for the Tomorrowland group already now for three years, especially on the leisure part.Paul Marden: Tell listeners a little bit about Tomorrowland because many of our listeners are attraction owners and operators. They may not be familiar with Tomorrowland.Kristof Van Hove: Yeah, so Tomorrowland is already 20 years, I think, one of the number one festivals in the world. Actually, already for the last years, always the number one in the world. And what makes us special is that we are not just a festival, but we are a community. We create. special occasions for people and it starts from the moment that they buy their tickets till the festival we make a special feeling that people like and I think we create a world and each year we work very hard on new team that goes very deep so not only making a festival but we go very deep in our branding not only with our main stage but we also make a book about it we make gadgets about it so it's a completely.Paul Marden:  Wow. Help listeners to understand what it is that you're doing new here at the moment. You're blending that festival experience, aren't you, into attractions.Kristof Van Hove: Yeah, that's right. So because we are already 20 years on the market building IP, the more and more we really are able to create a complete experience, not only the IP as a brand, but also all the things around it. We have our own furniture. We have our own plates. We create actually all elements that are needed to build a leisure industry project. And that makes it magnificent. I think we are capable now, with everything that we do in-house, to set up and to facilitate water park and attraction park projects completely. Paul Marden: So, have you got any attractions that are open at the moment? Kristof Van Hove: Well, we have the Ride to Happiness, of course, the coaster that is built in Plopsaland three years ago. That is already now for five years the number one steel coaster in Europe and the fifth steel coaster in the world. So this is a project we are very proud of. Besides that, we have already a lot of immersive experiences. And we are constructing now a secret project that will be announced in the beginning of next year somewhere in Europe.Paul Marden: Give us a little sneak peek what that might look like.Kristof Van Hove: It's not that far from here. Okay, okay, excellent. So it's more an outdoor day project that we are constructing. That for sure will be something unique. Excellent.Paul Marden: So look, you're already planning into 2026. Help listeners to understand what the future might look like. What trends are you seeing in the sector for next year?Kristof Van Hove: Well, I think more and more the people expect that they get completely a deep dive into branding. I don't think that people still want to go to non-IP branded areas. They want to have the complete package from the moment that they enter. They want to be immersed. With everything around it, and they want a kind of a surrounding, and they want to have the feeling that they are a bit out of their normal life, and a deep dive in a new environment. And I think this is something that we try to accomplish. Paul Marden: Wow.David Jungmann: David Jungman, I'm the Director of Business Development here at Accesso, based in Germany. I'm super excited to be here at IAPA in Barcelona. We're exhibiting our whole range of solutions from ticketing to point of sale to virtual queuing to mobile apps. And one of the features we're calling out today is our Accesso Pay 3.0 checkout flow, which streamlines donations, ticket insurance, relevant payment types by region on a single simple one-click checkout page.Paul Marden: What impact does that have on customers when they're presented with that simple one-click checkout?David Jungmann: Well, as you guys know, conversion rate is super important. The number of clicks in an e-commerce environment is super important. And because we're at IAAPA Europe, we've got guests here from all over Europe. Different regions require different payment types. And it's important to not overload a checkout page with like eight different types for, let's say, German guests, Dutch guests, Belgium guests, is to be able to only offer what's relevant and to keep it short and sweet. And then rolling in additional features like donations, ticket insurance and gift cards, stuff like that.Paul Marden: Amazing. So get your crystal ball out and think about what the world in 2026 is going to be like.David Jungmann: I think this year was a little bit soft in terms of performance for the parks, certainly in Europe, what we've seen. I think what that will mean is that maybe some will consider, you know, really big capex investments. But what that also means is they will get creative. So I envision a world where, instead of buying new protocols for 20 million, maybe some operators will start thinking about how can we make more out of what we've got with less, right? How can we be really creative? And I think there's a lot to uncover next year for us to see.Paul Marden:  Sweating their assets maybe to be able to extend what they do without that big CapEx project.David Jungmann:  Yes, how can we keep innovating? How can we keep our experience fresh? Without just buying something very expensive straight away. And I think that's what we see.Paul Marden: What is going to be innovating for Xesso and the market that you serve?David Jungmann: Well, for us, it's really about that streamlined, consistent guest experience, but also tying into things like immersive experiences, right, where you could maybe change the overlay of an attraction and feed in personalised information that you have for your visitors and collect it during you know the booking flow when they enter the venue and feeding that into the actual experience i think that's something i'm excited about.Paul Marden: I think that there is a missed opportunity by so many attractions. There's so much data that we build and we collect the data, but oftentimes we don't bring it together into a central place and then figure out the ways in which we want to use it. There's so much more you can do with that rich data, isn't there?David Jungmann: 100% exactly. And I don't just mean from a marketing perspective. I mean from an actual experience perspective. Let's say you ride through Dark Ride and all of a sudden your name pops up or your favorite character pops up and waves hello to you. That's the type of stuff you want to do, not just market the hell out of it.Paul Marden: Absolutely. Look, David, it's been so good to meet you. Thank you ever so much. And yeah, thank you for joining Skip the Queue. David Jungmann: Thanks, Paul. Have a great day at the show. Paul Marden: Isn't it great? I mean, we have got such an amazing job, haven't we? To be able to come to a place like this and be able to call this work.David Jungmann: Absolute privilege. Yes, absolutely.Paul Marden: Now, before we wrap up, Andy and I wanted to have a little chat about what we've seen today and what we've enjoyed. Why don't we sit down? You have clearly returned to your tribe. Is there a person in this place that doesn't actually know you?Andy Povey: There's loads. I've been doing the same thing for 30 years. Paul Marden: Yeah, this ain't your first radio, is it? Andy Povey: I'm big and I'm loud, so I'd stand out in a crowd. I mean, there are all fantastic things that I should put on my CV. But this is really where I feel at home. This industry continues to blow me away. We're here, we're talking to competitors, we're talking to potential customers, we're talking to previous customers, we're talking to people that we've worked with, and it's just all so friendly and so personally connected. I love it.Paul Marden: It has been awesome. I've really enjoyed it. Although I'm beginning to get into the Barry White territory of my voice because it's quite loud on the show floor, isn't it? Andy Povey: It is. It's actually quieter than previous shows, so I don't know why, and I don't know whether... Maybe I'm just getting old and my hearing's not working quite so well, but... You used to walk out of the show and you could almost feel your ears relax as they just stopped hearing and being assaulted, I suppose, by machines pinging and blowing.Paul Marden: It really is an assault on the senses, but in the very best way possible. Andy Povey: Absolutely, absolutely. I feel like a child. You're walking around the show, you're going, 'Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow.' Paul Marden: So what has been your highlight? Andy Povey: Do you know, I don't think I could give you one. It really is all of the conversations, the connections, the people you didn't know that you hadn't spoken to for two years.Paul Marden: So for me, my highlight, there was a ride that I went on, Doff Robotics.Andy Povey: I've seen that, man.Paul Marden: So it was amazing. I thought I was going to be feeling really, really sick and that I wouldn't enjoy it, but it was amazing. So I had Emily with the camera in front of me. And within 10 seconds, I forgot that I was being recorded and that she was there. I was completely immersed in it. And I came off it afterwards feeling no motion sickness at all and just having had a real good giggle all the way through. I was grinning like, you know, the Cheshire Cat. Andy Povey: A grinning thing. Paul Marden: Yeah. So, tomorrow, what are you looking forward to?Andy Povey:  It's more of the same. It really is. There's going to be some sore heads after tonight's party at Tribodabo. We're all hoping the rain holds off long enough for it to be a great experience. But more of the same.Paul Marden: Well, let's meet back again tomorrow, shall we? Andy Povey: Completely. Paul Marden: Let's make a date.Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to today's episode from IAAPA Expo Europe. As always, if you've loved today's episode, like it and comment in your podcast app. If you didn't like it, let us know at hello@skipthequeue.fm. Show notes and links can also be found on our website, skipthequeue.fm. Thanks to our amazing team, Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle from Plaster Creative Communications, Steve Folland from Folland Co., and our amazing podcast producer, Wenalyn Dionaldo. Come back again tomorrow for more show news. The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

This one was a roller coaster, so strap in for the ride (and try not to throw up)!  Several big items have come up before the City Council and Plan Commission lately, and District 2 Alder Bill Baker is right in the middle of them.  I talked to Bill about sidewalks, the upcoming referendum & community survey, Sunshine Place, Derby District and the Communications committee.  Whew!In the show open, I shared what happened when I tried to attend the "town hall" for the Derby District, as well as my thoughts on the totally unnecessary can of worms we're opening up by revisiting the city sidewalk policy.  

Alder and Ashley Road Services | 21st September 2025 | Matthew Hosier | Recommissioned Leadership by Gateway Church

NB! Guttegarderoben schmeller i gang en ny Livepod hos Bastard Burgers på Solli plass, fredag 26. September! Vi åpner dørene kl 18:30 mens show start er fra kl 20:00. Vi gleder oss til å se dere alle igjen til en kveld full av latter og god stemning! Kom alene eller ta med deg hele vennegjengen, alle er velkomne og vi ser frem i mot å se dere igjen!! :)00:00 Introduksjon03:20 Barnebursdag som aldri før06:17 Ungdom og privatøkonomi09:28 Skolens rolle og økonomisk læring12:29 Foreldrenes ansvar for økonomisk forståelse15:17 Forskjeller i økonomisk oppdragelse18:30 Tips for førstegangskjøpere av bolig24:50 Foreldres ansvar og barnas økonomiske forståelse27:54 AI og overvåkning i samfunnet30:30 Fremtiden med AI og arbeidsmarkedet34:07 AI's innvirkning på menneskeheten37:13 Generasjonsforskjeller og teknologisk avhengighet37:40 Best når jeg er singel42:39 Søken etter eventyr 45:14 Alder og livsvalg48:20 Forhold og forandring51:17 Moderne forhold og SoMeLik, del og abonner på alt av Guttegarderoben. Takk skal dere ha, vi setter pris på dere alle! :)==SOSIALE MEDIER==https://www.instagram.com/@guttegarderobenhttps://www.tiktok.com/@guttegarderoben SANGER FRA GARDEROBEN VOL. 14Video: Varshan KFoto: Kirubel

Today I'm going ALL IN with Chris Van Dusen, a serial entrepreneur turned venture capitalist and senior partner at Solyco Capital. Chris shares how a career-ending baseball injury unexpectedly launched him into entrepreneurship, leading to multiple exits—including one for $75 million—and ultimately into venture capital. We dig into the highs and lows of building businesses, the reality of raising money, and the difference between lifestyle businesses and scalable ventures. Chris also breaks down how his firm flips the script on traditional venture investing, why people matter as much as products, and what investors really look for before writing a check. If you've ever thought about raising money, scaling big, or just want to hear the raw truth from someone who's been in the trenches, this is an episode you don't want to miss.We Meet: Chris Van Dusen, Senior Partner at Solyco CapitalConnect:Connect with Rick: https://linktr.ee/mrrickjordanConnect with Chris: https://www.solycocapital.com/chris-van-dusen/ Subscribe & Review to ALL IN with Rick Jordan on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RickJordanALLINAbout Chris: Chris Van Dusen is a Senior Partner at Solyco Capital as well as Chief Growth Officer and Partner in 3 exits through Acquisition. Solyco, is a vertically integrated investment firm that delivers capital solutions for late-stage startup and growth companies. They take a private equity approach to venture capital. Solyco builds its portfolio of assets brand by brand - instead of through specific categories. Once the investment is secured, a partner led team is deployed on secondment to work alongside the portfolio company's executive team. In 2022 Van Dusen joined Solyco. He is the last partner to be brought on by the firm. He manages sourcing of capitalization and serves in CMO and CRO roles for the brands in the portfolio. Chris Van Dusen is a successful marketing and growth professional with extensive early stage and capitalization experience. Prior to joining Solyco, he launched marketing agency Parcon LLC. He was a partner in an Orange County liquor distillery, Surf City Still Works, where he led the successful merger with Kimo Sabe. He is formally the Chief Growth Officer (CGO) of Balanced Health Botanicals (BHB) in Denver, CO which he successfully exited in 2021. Chris received his Bachelor's degree in Economics from the College of William and Mary. He is active in the community and has held a variety of board seats at institutions like the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) and the Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF). In addition to his non-profit work, Chris is a National Board member of Alder, a member of Entrepreneurs Organization(EO), and has traveled extensively speaking on a variety of topics. A life-long athlete he also has a black belt in Jiu Jitsu.

UP Early with Babz Rawls-Ivy: Alder Jeanette Morrison "Q House Fall Ball" by WNHH Community Radio

Ranking in ChatGPT is now one of the most urgent challenges in digital marketing. With millions of Australians using AI search every week, the question for in-house marketers isn't whether ChatGPT is shaping buyer journeys anymore, it's how to make sure your brand is visible where and when it matters most. In this episode of the Smarter Marketer Podcast, James Lawrence is joined by Rocket's Head of SEO, Joe Alder, to unpack the latest research and share practical advice on what it really takes to rank in ChatGPT.Key Takeaways:Why traffic from ChatGPT converts at over 5x the rate of traditional search traffic, and what that means for marketersThe two ways ChatGPT sources information, and how each affects your visibilityThe technical dos and don'ts that determine whether your site can be read by ChatGPTHow to structure copy so it's more likely to be cited in AI searchThe kinds of content that are consistently favoured in AI responsesWhy authority now means brand mentions, reviews, listicles and awards, not just backlinksThe hard truth about measurement: why click-through rates from ChatGPT are so low, and what you can do to track your traffic from AI searchGuest:Joe Alder is the Head of SEO at Rocket Agency, leading all SEO services and projects. With over 8 years of experience, Joe has implemented complex SEO campaigns for B2C, B2B and government organisations, working with notable brands such as Amazon, Qudos, P&O Cruises, PE Nation, Fujitsu and Coates. Since the launch of ChatGPT, he and his team have been at the frontline of AI search optimisation - running first-hand tests across thousands of queries, analysing data from Australia's top websites and guiding brands on how to adapt their SEO strategies for an AI-driven future.Find Us Online:James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/ Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/ Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/Buy Smarter Marketer:Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm About the Podcast:This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.

Ringwood and Alder Road Services | 7th September 2025 | Matthew Hosier | Recommissioned through Opposition by Gateway Church

Join us for a recorded conversation with a Yale student, Elias Theodore, running for Ward 1 Alder-ship as they share their platforms, visions, and responses to critics about Yale's role in New Haven politics.

Er Trump døden nær? Vi dykker ned i konspirationshavet. I dag falder der dom i Henrik Sass Larsen sagen. Ukraine har måske fundet Ruslands akilleshæl. Vært: Amalie Schroll Munk. Medvirkende: Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, chefanalytiker, Global Risk Management. Mathias Sindberg, journalist på Information.

Recruiting Future is currently on summer break, and the regular show will resume next week. I didn't want to leave you with nothing to listen to over Labor Day weekend, though… The Alder Hour is my show with Purple Acorn, which live streams on LinkedIn every Monday afternoon. Every show features an interview segment, and I wanted to share here three of the best interviews we've had so far, showcasing three of the smartest people in the industry. Keep listening to hear: Master Burnett from HireBrain discussing the ways AI can augment hiring Madeline Laurano, the founder of Aptitude Research, talking about the impact of AI on the vendor  landscape Laurie Ruettimann from Punk Rock HR warning us about the end of work as we know it.

Alder Road Service | 24th August 2025 | Alex Doidge | The Power of Touch by Gateway Church

The best tool to connect with your clients is in your hands! We've compiled a list of applications that make compliant communication through the phone a lot easier. Listen to learn more!   Read the text version   Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.   Phone & VolP Resources: AgencyBloc Phone.com RingCentral Zoom Phone   Call Recording Application Resources: AgencyBloc's Plus Suite Integrity's MedicareCENTER Recordia Telephony Service Senior Market Sales CallRecording Solution TTEC Mobile Record and Store Now   Ritter Resources: eBooks & Guides Field Notes Episode Playlist The Ritter Blog   References:   Tautimes, Mari. “Should Insurance Agents Use Text Messages to Communicate with Clients?” Western Asset Protection Blog, Western Asset Protection, 16 May 2019, info.westernassetprotection.com/blog/should-insurance-agents-use-text-messages-to-communicate-with-clients Dice, Zach. “VoIP vs. Company Cell Phones: Which Is Best for Your Business?” Dice Communications Blog, Dice Communications, 3 Nov. 2022, dicecommunications.com/six-key-differentiators-between-company-cell-phones-and-voip Alder, Steve. “HIPAA Training Requirements.” HIPAA Journal, HIPAA Journal, 21 May 2023, www.hipaajournal.com/hipaa-training-requirements/                            “Telephone Consumer Protection Act 47 USC § 227.” Federal Communications Commission, Federal Communications Commission, www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/tcpa-rules.pdf Accessed 22 July 2024. Alder, Steve. “The Use of Technology and HIPAA Compliance.” HIPAA Journal, HIPAA Journal, 27 Nov. 2023, www.hipaajournal.com/the-use-of-technology-and-hipaa-compliance/  “Worldwide Texting Statistics.” Vermont State Highway Safety Office, State of Vermont, 20 June 2018, shso.vermont.gov/sites/ghsp/files/documents/Worldwide%20Texting%20Statistics.pdf Staff in the Office of Technology. “Can-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business.” Federal Trade Commission, 17 Jan. 2024, www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business   Follow Us on Social!  Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

In the quiet English village of Alder Vale, an old stone bridge stands as more than just a crossing... it's a keeper of whispers, promises, and a truth long buried beneath its arches. When intuitive guide Nell Rowan is drawn there by a series of strange coincidences, she uncovers a tale of love, loss, and forgiveness that has echoed for generations.This atmospheric Rowan Files cozy mystery blends English folklore, gentle tarot reading, and healing storytelling into an unforgettable journey through countryside mystery and folk wisdom. Perfect for listeners who enjoy slow storytelling, British mystery podcasts, and heartfelt tales set in rural village life.

The Covenant Nation Men's ConferenceBy Mr Leke Alder9th August 2025

Banking on Heaven's Resources (Hills Business Breakfast) Guest Speaker: Leke Alder Date: Saturday 02 August, 2025

Alder Road Service | 3rd August 2025 | John Hosier | The Aroma of Christ by Gateway Church

Our first story comes to us from Nita Maddox. A determined single mom navigates the challenges of working four jobs and trying to buy her dream business, a local video store. Amidst this chaotic life, a quirky encounter with an unexpected suitor leads to a surprising turn of events. Just as everything seems to fall into place, a sudden, life-altering incident challenges her newfound stability and reshapes her entire world. Nita calls her story Perfect Blue House. Thanks for listening. Nita Maddox is a multi-generational Montanan, born and raised in Whitefish. She has a passion for adventure, even if it is finding something exciting in the produce area at the grocery store. Nita is here on this planet to be seriously playful on the journey. Next up is Joyce Gibbs. As a third grader in Montana, Joyce convinces her parents to get pet rabbits, only to discover their true intention is to breed them for food. Despite an early mishap with the first litter, she learns the harsh realities of farm life. This unique upbringing shapes her understanding of where food comes from, leading to a memorable, albeit somewhat grisly, childhood experience. Joyce calls her story, Stew and Pot. Thanks for listening. Joyce Gibbs was raised in Missoula, Montana, tramping through the woods. She grew up to become an artist, builder, and tiler. She is a resilient, creative, and adventurous woman. After a brief stint in New York City and then in New Orleans, she bought a dilapidated railroad house on Missoula's Historic Northside and spent the next 15 years remodeling it and making it her own. When she is not busy building beautiful spaces with her tile installations at Joyce of Tile, you can find her riding her motorcycle, gardening and playing. Amanda Taylor was raised in a devout Christian community, and was committed to purity, vowing to save herself for marriage. This conviction was challenged when she moved to Switzerland and met a captivating man. A spontaneous trip to a luxurious hot spring with him leads to a pivotal moment of self-discovery, forcing her to confront her deeply held beliefs. Amanda calls her story Hallelujah. Thanks for listening. Amanda Taylor resides in Missoula with her cat Ted. As a child, she spent summers visiting her grandparents in Alder, Montana. Her earliest memory of Butte is her grandma taking her to the Butte Walmart and buying her a Reba McIntyre poster. She no longer has the poster, but she still loves Reba.

The city's longest tenured alder, Walter Burnett Jr., is stepping down at the end of the month after 30 years leading the 27th ward. While the Mayor will choose the replacement alder, Burnett Jr. is hopeful the seat will stay in his family. Executive producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran discuss Burnett Jr.'s legacy in the ward, his potential successor Walter Burnett III, and reports that the alder is on a shortlist to lead the Chicago Housing Authority. Plus, the city is way behind on lead pipe removals, and would you stay in Michael Jordan's former Highland Park mansion turned Airbnb? Good News: Build Coffee and Books Bookclub Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Learn more about the sponsors of this July 15 episode: Top Marks Prep – Receive 15% off when you use the link Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger speaks with Todd Walker, the director of marketing at NWH, who has been with the company for 38 years. They discuss the evolution of the wood industry, particularly the commercialization of alder, changes in marketing strategies over the decades, and the importance of storytelling in connecting with consumers. Todd shares insights on the challenges facing the wood industry, the value of quality products, and the role of women in the industry. The conversation emphasizes the need for education and communication to shift consumer perceptions and promote sustainable practices in the wood business. Top 5 Takeaways: Todd Walker has been with NWH for 38 years and helped pioneer the commercialization of alder woodMarketing has evolved significantly with the advent of the internet and social mediaStorytelling is crucial for connecting with consumers about wood products and their benefitsThe wood industry faces challenges from substitute products and needs better education to change consumer perceptionsQuality wood products can be more sustainable than cheaper alternatives, appealing to younger generations who value sustainability Chapters  00:00 Introduction to Todd Walker and NWH  03:04 The Evolution of Alder and NWH's Role  06:00 Marketing Changes Over 38 Years  08:59 The Importance of Storytelling in Wood Marketing  11:56 The Shift in Consumer Perception of Wood  14:52 Challenges Facing the Wood Industry  18:04 The Value of Quality in Wood Products  21:02 The Role of Women in the Wood Industry  23:52 Connecting with the Next Generation of Consumers  26:38 Todd's Accomplishments and Leadership Philosophy  29:38 Conclusion and How to Connect with NWH The Woodpreneur Podcast brings stories of woodworkers, makers, and entrepreneurs turning their passion for wood into successful businesses - from inspiration to education to actionable advice. Hosted by Steve Larosiliere and Jennifer Alger  For blog posts and updates: woodpreneur.com See how we helped woodworkers, furniture-makers, millwork and lumber businesses grow to the next level: woodpreneurnetwork.com Empowering woodpreneurs and building companies to grow and scale: buildergrowth.io Connect with us at:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodpreneurnetwork/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodpreneurnetwork/ Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/woodpreneurnetwork Join our newsletter: podcast.woodpreneur.com/ You can connect with Todd at: https://nwh.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-walker-505867339/ https://www.instagram.com/northwesthardwoods/

This was recorded on a clear summer morning in Trail Gulch in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, Siskiyou County, California. I set the mic up in an Alder thicket, not far from Trail Gulch Creek, near the edge of a large meadow. Much of the area burned in a large wildfire in 2021, but the trees and vegetation growing near and along the creek in the immediate area were untouched, with the help of the nearby meadow which provided a natural fire break. The recording starts at dawn, a little before the first birds began to sing, and continues into the morning. Many different birds are heard in this recording, including- American Robin, Lazuli Bunting, Swainson's Thrush, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Steller's Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, and others.There is a little more air traffic on this recording than I'd like, but I didn't think it was so bad that I couldn't share this otherwise beautiful soundscape with you. I hope you enjoy it.

Chris Alder, an executive coach and Zen priest, shares his fascinating journey from working as a chef at ski resorts around the world to finding his calling in spirituality and coaching. He recounts the experiences that shaped his passion for meditation, including a life-changing retreat in India and his ongoing exploration of traditions from different cultures. Chris talks about integrating his Zen background into his coaching practice, learning to embrace it more as his unique brand, and how it attracts clients seeking deeper transformation. He also reflects on the importance of owning one's unique “And," those passions outside of work that truly light us up. Chris encourages listeners to lead with what makes them come alive and to be unashamedly themselves, as it's our authentic interests that create genuine connections both personally and professionally. Episode Highlights · Chris shares how stepping fully into his identity as a Zen priest and weaving his spirituality into his coaching has helped him stand out and attract the right clients. · He emphasizes that our hobbies and passions (“Ands”) are our true differentiators and bring light and energy into our lives, workplaces, and relationships. · Chris encourages people to own their unique interests and passions without shame or fear, highlighting that it's how you talk about what you love, not what the interest is, that draws people in. · His story evolves from adventuring in the physical world (like snowboarding across European borders) to exploring the inner world through meditation and spiritual practice, showing that adventure can be both outward and inward.

Hva om nøkkelen til mer energi, bedre helse og ekte livsglede ikke er å presse deg hardere, men å finne glede i motstand?Hva hvis det ikke er kroppen din det er noe galt med, men historiene du har blitt fortalt om hva som er “riktig”, “godt nok” eller “sunt”?Og hva om du, uansett alder, form eller livssituasjon, fortsatt har en indre superhelt i deg, som bare venter på å bli vekket til live?I denne episoden av Level Up har jeg med meg Elizabeth Lingjærde – journalist, PT, forfatter og et levende bevis på at det aldri er for sent å føle seg sterk, fri og levende. Hun deler hvordan motstand, fysisk og mentalt, faktisk er veien til ekte glede, og hvordan vi kan snu hverdagsrutiner og treningsmotstand til noe som gir kraft, frihet og mestring.Følg Elizabeth på Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/supermygg1/Mer fra Elizabeth Lingjærde:https://www.norli.no/boker/dokumentar-og-fakta/livssyn-og-selvutvikling/selvutvikling/livsstilsendring-som-gir-resultater-uansett-alderKjøp boken min "Finn Din Superkraft!" her:https://www.annikenbinz.com/finndinsuperkraftFå ukentlig påfyll her:https://www.annikenbinz.com/epost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

December 14-20, 1991   This week Ken welcomes former preacher, home school all star and current comedian behind the new Blonde Medicine lp "Almost a Grown Man", Jeremy Alder. Ken and Jeremy discuss growing up religious, Hannibal Lecktor's cell in Manhunter, birthdays, being 12, growing up in Texas, having to sneak TV at grandparents and friends houses, TV Guide's excellent writing, parents vs teens views on Beverly Hills 90210, the genius of Jane Pratt, Car 54, Where Are You? and the awful movie, the early 90s boom of movies based on old TV shows, being totally traumatized by the Christian appocalyptic scare film A Theif in the Night, The Rabbit VCR multipier, not knowing who certain products are for, Christmas movies, It's a Wonderful Life, how Ken feels Frosty the Snowman is blasphemous, how Madonna was best gotten in touch with via TV Guide, In Living Color, America's Funniest People, National Geographic Explorer, Ken's ultimate fear of deep water animals, treasure hunting scams, Silk Stalkings, when it's "Too Hot to Sleep", the religious Madonna episode of MacGuyver, cults, A Place for Mom, creepy non-discript low rent ads, suckling pigs, how it's not what you're eating it's what's eating you, detention, Michael Jordan, fake names, Waco, Santa lap time, simple folk at Christmas, Unsolved Mysteries, attemps at diversity, Bob Hope, Strays, Doogie Howser, Tracy Ullman Show, Real Stories of the Highway Patrol, Top Cops, The Simpsons, Can't Buy Me Love, Ken's small handful of celebrity impressions, Youth Group "Slave Auctions" for charity, when Jamacians were the #1 villain in action cinema, Austin, square dancing, wearing a cowboy hat, Ken's quest for "The Best of the Worst" and how Beavis and Butthead will never die. 

In today's episode of Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and JL Warren go back into the womb to discuss whether or not we want the truth and what it would take to get us to believe in god. Maggie in Canada, asks for some advice on how to respond to a variation of Pascal's Wager that involves two babies discussing the possibility of something more than just the womb. The problem with this wager is it ignores all other gods and afterlifes. The minute you start asking questions about the details, this argument falls apart. Where does the one baby that believes there is more get the information from? Al in CA watched a movie and now wants to know if the truth is really wanted. Knowing true things helps a person make rational, more informed decisions and increases the odds of survival. People who have problems with evolution because of their god concept will reduce their ability to believe true things and can show intellectual dishonesty. To prevent this dishonestly, allow yourself to ask questions. When wanting to know true things, think of Alder's Razor that suggests that a claim is not worth debating if it can't be settled through observation or experimentation. Daniel in Australia wants to know what would change the hosts' position about their god beliefs. This depends on the god claim; some god claims are different from others. We need a predictive model that utilizes the god concept to make better and more accurate descriptions about reality other than the ones we currently employ. What is the difference between a god action and a non-god action? Why do miracles that are supposed to come from god fall apart every time we investigate them? The god evaluation needs to stand on its own merit and be independent of Biblical prophecies. Rather than thinking the hosts owe you something, try to listen to the questions they are asking you if you are sincerely interested in what they have to say. Thank you for tuning in this week! Kelley Laughlin joins us to close out the show and state the question of the week: What would the title of Jesus' autobiography be?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.

This was recorded on a cold spring night beside rapids on the swiftly flowing North Fork of the Salmon River in Klamath National Forest, Siskiyou County, California. The Salmon River is part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and is free of dams and significant flow diversions of any sort. The river and its watershed are located entirely with the remote and rugged Klamath Mountains in far northern California. I strapped the mic to an Alder tree such that it was overhanging the water at the river's edge, which had nothing to do with the fact that I forgot to bring my tripod, I swear.

Wylie Dufresne is the chef and owner of Stretch Pizza in New York. He was born 1970 and grew up in Rhode Island. He trained at the Culinary Institute and started working with chef Jean-George Vongerichten in 1994, taking on the role of chef de cuisine at Jean-Georges. In 1999 he became the chef at 71 Clinton Fresh Food, and in 2003 opened his experimental restaurant WD-50, where he explored the possibilities of molecular gastronomy in his cooking, reaching global fame. In 2013, he opened a second restaurant, Alder, in the East Village. Dufresne then moved on to use his technique and focusing on dough, first at Du Donuts, and then at his latest restaurant, Stretch Pizza, where he pays respect to the classic New York slice. The recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available for free in the World of Mouth app: https://www.worldofmouth.app/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're kicking off June with a new episode of "What Are We Building?" To start, I shared some thoughts and reflections around my handling of the interview and comments from City Council Alder Mike Jacobs, before giving an update on some new businesses coming to town.  Then, I had a lovely conversation with Alder Cassi Benedict where she shared her experience serving on City Council and working with city staff.  Among other things, we talked about the importance of respectful communication, how stop signs are more complicated than you might think, the upcoming referendum, and balancing the community's needs vs wants.

A married woman in a poly relationship is planning to visit a boyfriend who lives in a different city for a month. But since they made these plans, she started seeing yet another man. Should she tell the guy she plans to visit about the new guy? Should she do it before the trip so he can pull the rip cord if he needs to? Can you peg your dom? She is a switch, so she knows both sides of the dom/sub dynamic. Her dom wants her to peg him, but she worries she'll slip into dom mode. Dan coaches her on how to stay submissive in her head. Our guest this week is Jeremy Alder. The former fundamentalist Christian pastor made a U-turn and became a comedian instead. Their loss is our gain- Alder is dryly funny, sweet and bold in the face unkind, hypocritical Christianity. He and Dan talk about the disaster of homeschooling, buying guns for loved ones, and having a slutty phase after leaving the church. And, a gay man has been getting together with a guy for 10 years in a casual, friends-with-benefits style arrangement. Nobody in his life knows about this relationship. But after 10 years, the guy is suddenly not responding to any of the caller's texts. Is this a cruel, cowardly break-up? Or much worse? Q@Savage.Love. 206-302-2064 This episode is brought to you by Hims, providing affordable access to ED treatment, online. Start your free online visit today at Hims.com/Savage. Foria is an all natural health & sexual wellness company with product lines using the power of plant actives & CBD to effectively enhance intimacy, sexual pleasure, daily wellbeing, and relief from discomfort. Get 20% off your first order by visiting ForiaWellness.com/Savage This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp.com: Making professional counseling accessible, affordable, and convenient – so anyone who struggles with life's challenges can get help, anytime, anywhere. For 10% your first month, go to Betterhelp.com/savage. Dan Savage is a sex-advice columnist, podcaster, psychic cartographer, author, and creator of the It Gets Better Project. From rosebudding, to watersports, hankie codes to harnesses and with a dose of progressive politics, Dan Savage has been cultural force for sex positivity for a long, long time.

The guys kicked things off with an epic potato discussion where Ross shared his genius combo of mashed potatoes with Gruyere cheese and tzatziki sauce while Colton described his wild Aloha Slut Potato creation on the griddleRoss got himself a brand new GMC Sierra 1500 truck and the crew dove deep into vehicle upgrades including tonneau covers bed extenders and roof racks with plenty of practical tips for truck ownersShop organization became a major topic as Ross spent his weekend completely rearranging his workspace for better efficiency and material flow which got everyone talking about the best ways to set up woodworking shopsJess dropped some serious knowledge about the history of screws starting from ancient wooden olive presses all the way to modern Torx heads and explained why NASA has the most expensive screws in the worldThe sandwich trivia segment was absolutely incredible as Ross proved he really is a sandwich aficionado by nailing questions about everything from Italian porchetta to Vietnamese banh mi sandwichesColton shared updates on his new house purchase which got complicated when half the land was already sold to someone else but they worked out a deal that saved them around 65 thousand dollarsBaby watch continues as Crystal is getting close to her due date with little Charlie expected around July 3rd and the guys shared some hilarious pregnancy stories and adviceRoss blew everyone away with whiskey knowledge by revealing the most expensive bottles ever sold including a 2.8 million dollar Bushmills and explaining why aged spirits cost so much moneyThe nuggets section covered cabinet building tricks with Jess explaining how to keep divider panels perfectly square using scrap wood spacers and Ross sharing why drills work better than impact drivers for long structural screwsWedding season is keeping Colton busy while he finishes up his kitchen cabinet project and prepares for the big move to their new property with plans for livestock and maybe an above ground pool setup

In this episode of the Come Hang Podcast, host Sterling and co-hosts Carl and Troy connect with Ed Alder, a significant figure in their lives, to discuss his military service, educational impact, and the legacy of the Alder family. The conversation explores Ed's journey from his childhood in Salt Lake to his experiences in the Navy, the influence he had as a teacher and principal, and the importance of family history. Ed shares heartfelt stories about his life, his family, and the values that shaped him, emphasizing the importance of community and support.

With businesses already having to outlay huge costs, a fintech company is helping them reap some rewards through frequent flyer points.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the last five months, the excellent people at Purple Acorn have been broadcasting the Alder Hour live on LinkedIn on Monday afternoons. It's an hour-long show where I team up with my co-hosts Rhona Pierce from Perceptible Studios and Jocelyn King from Virgil HR to talk about TA and HR headlines we've spotted during the week, analyze real-life workplace dilemmas, debate what's trending and what's ending in recruiting and interview a different guest every week. I am dropping the audio podcast version of this week's show in the Recruiting Future feed so you can take a listen to what we've been doing. I'd love to know what you think and whether I should drop the show into this feed more regularly. This week, we covered the merging of technology and HR departments, AI bias, mental health at work, why the use of Resumes is way past its sell-by date, and RecFest founder Jamie Leonard dropped in to talk about the most significant issues for TA Leaders at the moment. You can catch the Alder Hour weekly on my LinkedIn profile, via The Purple Acorn LinkedIn page, or on their YouTube channel. Let me know whether I should drop more Alder Hour episodes into this feed in the future. Enjoy the show

Chicago Way w/John Kass (05/12/25): This week, Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin to look at why he thinks Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson perpetuating a patronage scheme by steering ‘PlayStreets’ contracts away from Latino wards and into wards where Mayor Johnson is trying to curry favor. Also, Ald. Lopez also hints […]

Eric grew up in Boise, Idaho, where he enjoyed most outdoor activities, but skiing quickly established itself as the favorite. Mountain biking made a brief bid for his affection, but it wasn't until he joined a road biking group in the Bay Area about a decade ago that things really escalated. Since then, he's rotated through a series of hobbies involving expensive equipment and varying degrees of personal risk, including road biking, mountain biking, and, more recently, backcountry skiing. A regular resident of the “pain cave,” Eric operates under the firm belief that happiness is merely the reward for those willing to suffer for it. When not testing the limits of what the human body should reasonably tolerate, he's experimenting with clean eating trends and cold plunging in the freezing creek behind our house. His ideal vacation involves both biking and skiing on the same day, presumably to avoid any risk of relaxation. Eric finds great joy in the Mi Duole riding group, where shared objectives and mild lunacy seamlessly co-exist.

Jeremy and Dan sit down for a fun conversation about the importance of finding your people in comedy. They dig into Jeremy's surprising path from life as a preacher to chasing laughs onstage. Plus, they swap some unforgettable stories — including a New Year's Eve show that went completely off the rails.Jeremy AlderHomeschooled in the heart of Texas by fundamentalist missionary parents with apenchant for conspiracy theories, Jeremy's childhood was anything but conventional.Steeped in a world of alternative facts and fervent beliefs, he learned early on to findthe humor in life's absurdities.Now married with children of his own, Jeremy's material delves into the trials andtribulations of growing up homeschooled, the complications of religion, the mysteriesof marriage, the chaos of parenting, and the existential crisis of aging—all with ahealthy dose of skepticism and silliness, dry wit and charm.https://www.jeremyalder.comArt of Bombing:"Nobody Had a Podcast Called The Art of Bombing" Theme by John Hult https://johnhult.bandcamp.com/album/half-a-life-to-recoverBumpers provided by https://www.facebook.com/joenicolamusic Website: https://www.artofbombingpod.com/ Links: https://linktr.ee/artofbombingpodHosts:Dan Bublitz Jr: http://www.danbublitz.com/ Larry Smith: https://larrysmithcomedy.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-art-of-bombing-a-comedy-podcast--5788059/support.

Alder's Razor: If something cannot be settled by experiment or observation, then it is not worthy of debate.Sagan Standard: Positive claims require positive evidence, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.Grice's Razor: Conversational implications are to be preferred over semantic context for linguistic explanations.Chekhov's Gun: If it appeared in foreshadowing, it will likely be used in the future. Epileptic Trees: The wild, off-the-wall theories that happen when you are looking for Chekov's gun. THE SOURCES: https://www.sahilbloom.com/newsletter/the-most-powerful-decision-making-razorshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophical_razorhttps://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChekhovsGunhttps://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EpilepticTreeshttps://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WildMassGuessinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chekhov%27s_gun#:~:text=Chekhov's%20gun%20(or%20Chekhov's%20rifle,fired%20at%20some%20later%20point. Donate to Palestinian Children's Relief Fund::www.pcrf.netDonate to Mutual Aid Funds: https://www.folxhealth.com/library/mutual-aid-fundsGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the heels of a tough budget season, and with looming federal funding cuts, Mayor Branndon Johnson is hoping to get ahead of what is shaping up to be yet another grueling budget fight. On Monday, he signed an executive order launching a budget working group and a review of city spending. Alex Nitkin from the Illinois Answers Project explains how this could set the stage for difficult budget considerations like staffing and service cuts. Plus, we discuss high “bonuses” for ward aides, the city's reparations task force, and this weekend's Cherry Blossom festival. Good News: Off Beat Tour Get more from City Cast Chicago when you become a City Cast Chicago Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Learn more about the sponsors of this April 25 episode: Babbel – Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames – Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Moats Entertainment – Save $5 with code CityCast Paramount Theatre – Save $5 off each ticket with Code CityCast. Offer is good for up to 4 tickets  Cozy Earth – Use code COZYCHICAGO for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Here's your local news for Thursday, April 10, 2025:We get the answer to another lingering question from last week's local election,Hear the details on a new investigation that tracked the exploding use of bail jumping charges in Wisconsin,Respond to some open records FAQs,Hear what's biting in the Madison area,Check in on the Mingos' rollercoaster of a season,And much more.

Ben and Dr D have all the news that's fit to print and then some, including…Ben takes a side in Pritzker's fight with unions. Much love for the great Karen Lewis. Shoutout to CTU for their new contract. Suburban election results in Orland Park and Aurora—yes, we cover it all. And a few words about the 35th Ward's new and old aldermen. One went to Lane, the other Whitney Young. After that, they have lots in common.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lora is short on rent again...but her roommate Blake makes her an offer she can't refuse. When she holds up her end of the bargain she realizes she got way more than she signed up for and Blake likes her a lot more than he's been letting on.Book Credit: Short on Rent by May Alder

  Free up your work week by using a digital appointment scheduler. Spend more time with clients and less time managing your calendar.   Read the text version   Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.   Resources: 3 Insurance Business Tools You Absolutely Can't Live Without: https://ritterim.com/the-ultimate-agent-resource-list/ Best Practices for Video Calls: https://lnk.to/8jc7x9 Digital Marketing for Insurance Agents: Our Top Tips to Boost Business: https://ritterim.com/blog/digital-marketing-for-insurance-agents-our-top-tips-to-boost-business/ Free eBooks & Guides: https://ritterim.com/guides/ Get Your PlanEnroll Site: https://ritterim.com/planenroll/ How to Stay Compliant During All Medicare Sales: https://lnk.to/41gE4C Meet Your Sales Specialist: https://ritterim.com/meet-your-sales-team/ MedicareCENTER: https://ritterim.com/integrity-tools/#medicarecenter Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing: https://app.ritterim.com/public/registration/ What Are Agents Responsible for Under HIPAA: https://ritterim.com/blog/what-are-agents-responsible-for-under-hipaa/ Where It All Begins: Obtaining Permission to Contact for Medicare Sales: https://ritterim.com/blog/where-it-all-begins-obtaining-permission-to-contact-for-medicare-sales/ The Ultimate Agent Resource List Pt 3: Staying Organized: https://ritterim.com/blog/the-ultimate-agent-resource-list-pt-3-staying-organized/    Appointment Schedulers: Acuity: https://acuityscheduling.com/ Google Workspace: https://workspace.google.com/resources/appointment-scheduling/ Microsoft Bookings: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/scheduling-and-booking-app OnceHub: https://oncehub.com/ SimployBook.me: https://simplybook.me/en/   References: Lurie, Matt. “20 Integrable Scheduling Tools for Small Business Systems.” Ruby, 11 Nov. 2024, https://www.ruby.com/blog/20-of-the-best-small-business-appointment-scheduling-tools-and-apps/. “Acuity Scheduling: Online Appointment Scheduling Software.” Acuity, https://acuityscheduling.com/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Acuity Scheduling and HIPAA.” Acuity : Scheduling, https://help.acuityscheduling.com/hc/en-us/articles/16689567523597-Acuity-Scheduling-and-HIPAA. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Agencybloc's AMS+ Solution for Health, Group Benefits, & Senior Insurance.” AgencyBloc Insurance Agency CRM, https://www.agencybloc.com/ams/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Appointment Scheduler.” Radius Help Center, https://help.radiusbob.com/en/articles/5448715-appointment-scheduler. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Compare All Microsoft 365 Plans.” Microsoft, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/compare-all-microsoft-365-business-productss. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Free Appointment Booking System.” SimplyBook.Me - Free Appointment Booking System, https://simplybook.me/en/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Google Workspace.” Google Workspace: Secure Online Productivity & Collaboration Tools, Google, https://workspace.google.com/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) & Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act - Microsoft Compliance.” Microsoft Compliance | Microsoft Learn, https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/compliance/regulatory/offering-hipaa-hitech. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “HIPAA Compliance with Google Workspace and Cloud Identity.” Google Workspace Admin Help, Google, https://support.google.com/a/answer/3407054. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “HIPAA for Professionals.” HHS.Gov, 19 July 2024, https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/index.html. “Microsoft 365 - Subscription for Productivity Apps: Microsoft 365.” Microsoft 365 - Subscription for Productivity Apps | Microsoft 365, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Online Appointment Booking Software - Unmatched Free Plan.” OnceHub, https://oncehub.com/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Online Appointment Scheduling with Google Calendar.” Google Workspace, Google, https://workspace.google.com/resources/appointment-scheduling/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Online Bookings and Appointment Scheduling: Microsoft 365.” Online Bookings and Appointment Scheduling | Microsoft 365, Microsoft, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/scheduling-and-booking-app. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Productivity Apps for Business Owners & Entrepreneurs | Google Workspace Individual.” Google Workspace, Google, https://workspace.google.com/individual/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. Alder, Steven. “The Use of Technology and HIPAA Compliance.” The HIPAA Journal, https://www.hipaajournal.com/the-use-of-technology-and-hipaa-compliance/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “What Is a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA)?: TechTarget.” Healthtech Security, TechTarget, 14 Feb. 2022, https://www.techtarget.com/healthtechsecurity/feature/What-Is-a-HIPAA-Business-Associate-Agreement-BAA. “What Is Our Online Scheduler Solution?” Producer Max The Agent-Centric Platform, https://www.producermax.com/Online-Scheduler.html. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.   Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Sarah Thompson is the chef of Casa Playa in the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts and is a Culinary Institute of America graduate who spent many years working in New York City at restaurants like Marea and Alder, but when taking a job with Enrique Olvera and Daniela Soto-Innes at Cosme, she fell in love with Mexican cuisine. When that restaurant wanted a variation of it called Elio in Las Vegas she was tapped as the executive chef. They opened right at the same time the pandemic hit, so after months of openings and closings and instability on the Las Vegas strip it closed. However, she was able to convince the Wynn to let her take over the space and serve her form of Mexican cooking.Casa Playa serves coastal Mexican food, but it's not attached to any specific region. She has no sentimental background with a grandmother in Michoacán or anything like that, so she doesn't try to insinuate that she does and just lets the flavors work together as she sees fit. She even whips the masa for her tamales with coconut oil. It's a very particular environment, running a restaurant inside of a casino. The way people dine is different. They often come in large groups. She has a late-night taco menu for those that want to stop in for a quick bite before during or after going to a club or some kind of attraction. The lighting is beyond her control at times. These unique attributes also give her an opportunity to do things a little differently. It's a really fascinating world in Las Vegas. I know it seems like a place I wouldn't like, but I've never really gone there for all of the money and excess and nightlife that it has a reputation for. I've always appreciated just the weirdness of Las Vegas which is everywhere, though sometimes you have to peel back what's on the surface.Read more at New Worlder.

This week, the team is back from a much-needed break and ready to break down the big news in Madison and across Wisconsin.

Alder Mannheim forward Luke Esposito Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I may not be interested in the career my parents pushed me into, but I have them to thank when I meet my handsome boss on the first day of my internship after college graduation. He's the only man ever to spark my interest—some may say obsession. Hoping the old adage is true that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, I spend the summer baking, searching for the recipe that will have my boss tasting and falling in love with more than just my desserts. A Taste of His Angel is a standalone, spicy short story featuring Shayla & Bailey's parents, Miranda & Sherman, which takes place nearly twenty years before The Guardian's Angel. All characters are 18+. Please read the Author's Note at the beginning of the book. Happily ever after guaranteed. Get the eBook: https://bit.ly/4jcI5Cr Amazon: https://bit.ly/4bTdqrh Their Angels Series: https://bit.ly/4bWKjTS Big Boys of Berenson Trucking: https://bit.ly/420AiRc ♥ ♥ ♥ AR – Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AuthorAlexaRiley BRAND NEW ALEXA RILEY: https://bit.ly/3h0y68D AR Taboo: https://bit.ly/3YcaWwL ♥ ♥ ♥ RMR Website: https://bit.ly/3ifFIyw Weekly New Release: https://bit.ly/30iDete Follow Read Me Romance on Instagram: https://geni.us/uUVdVeY Join Read Me Romance Headquarters on FB: https://geni.us/IdL7B

Now we follow an open access road into the Buzzard Swamp proper, encountering many new species, such as Common Yellowthroats, Field Sparrow, House Wren, and various flycatchers. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 Creative Commons music is from Josh Woodward. Learn how to support the show at https://songbirding.com/support Support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songbirding This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

The Department of Justice sues Illinois and Chicago over immigration laws after Brandon Johnson agrees to testify on Capitol Hill with other sanctuary city mayors. Alder is ousted from City Council meeting and 102-year-old Chicago Bears matriarch, Virginia McCaskey, dies. Reset dives into these and other top local stories in our Weekly News Recap with Chicago reporter for Axios Carrie Shepherd, WBEZ city politics reporter Mariah Woelfel and president of Better Government Association David Greising. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

As threats of mass deportations in Chicago continue, we check in with WBEZ's Adriana Cardona-Maguigad on how city officials, advocacy groups, and community members are preparing for the worst. Block Club Chicago's Patrick Filbin also joins us to discuss a proposed housing development in Lincoln Park, a punk rock record label pushing for landmark status, and a 10-foot igloo! Good News: Jaja's African Hair Braiding We're doing a survey to learn more about our listeners. We'd be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it's only 7 minutes long. You'll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City swag. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Learn more about the sponsors of this Jan. 23 episode: Babbel – Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

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