Podcasts about Alliance

Leslie welcomes back Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, to explore why the coming year could be a turning point for U.S. manufacturing. He breaks down how easing interest rates, clearer trade policy, and a steadier economy may finally give manufacturers the confidence to invest, expand, and hire after several uneven years. Scott and Leslie also look at the growing wave of factory openings and why the real impact often shows up after construction—when workers are hired and local supplier networks take shape. The conversation digs into tariffs and trade policy, including what “tariff predictability” means for businesses and how the U.S.–China manufacturing relationship is shifting toward supply-chain security. Leslie and Scott close by examining workforce challenges, new short-term training pathways, and the growing competition between manufacturing and AI data centers for workers, energy, and materials. Overall, the episode offers a clear-eyed but optimistic look at what's ahead for American manufacturing. AAM's website is AmericanManufacturing.org and their YouTube channel is youtube.com/@AmericanMfg (where you can watch episode's of AAM's podcast, "The Manufacturing Report") If you want to listen to episodes of "The Manufacturing Report," visit AmericanManufacturing.org/Podcast. Their handles on X and BlueSky are @KeepItMadeInUSA, and @keepitmadeinusa.bsky.social, respectively. Scott's handle on X is @ScottPaulAAM.

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY Guest: Henry Sokolski. Sokolski explains a three-stage strategy to disable enemies via information warfare and alliance disruption, noting U.S. military containment strategies remain outdated.1930

In April of 2013, 57 year old Dallas native Ronald Shumway quit his job and sold his home. His social media posts claimed he met a man and moved to Austin to be with him. But something wasn't quite right. No one had seen packing or moving out.True Crime Quickie from Tempe, Arizona in 2016 involving a beloved teacher named Eileen Yellin.Promo for Mythical True Crimehttps://www.patreon.com/c/rainbowcrimesIntro: Shire Girl by David FesilyanOutro: Beating Heart by David RendaResources: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/suspect-wanted-in-connection-to-oak-cliff-mans-murder-confesses/287-66665566https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2016/january/oak-cliff-corpse-mystery-ronnie-shumway/https://thecinemaholic.com/ronald-shumway-murder-where-is-christopher-colbert-now/https://dallasvoice.com/colbert-claims-self-defense-shumway-murder/https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/dallas-man-pleads-guilty-to-strangling-landlord-burying-in-yard/https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/man-who-posed-as-dead-neighbor-arrested-dallas-police/107907/https://dallasvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dallas-Voice-03-04-16.pdfhttps://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2016/07/28/phoenix-protection-order-eileen-yellin-cathy-baker/87587950/https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/police-2-women-found-dead-in-apparent-murder-suicidehttps://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2016/07/29/celebration-life-event-planned-sunday-tempe-teacher-killed-murder-suicide/87708934/#:~:text=Known%20as%20%60%60Doc%2C''%20Yellin%20taught%20at%20Tempe,Alliance%20and%20student%2Dactivist%20group%20Stand%20and%20Serve.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beyond-the-rainbow-podcast--4398945/support.

Are you tired of feeling trapped in the chaos of scaling, with too many projects and not enough clarity on what actually drives growth? In this episode, host Cameron Herold sits down with Josh Post, COO of Cabochon Group and longtime COO Alliance member, for an emotionally raw, practical conversation about breaking out of operational overwhelm.Josh reveals how he went from reluctant family business leader to proven integrator, leading turnarounds, managing conflict, and creating systems real teams can actually use. From delegating all the right things to mastering financial fluency, you'll get the strategies and truth bombs most COOs wish they had known at the start.If you're hungry to escape burnout and unlock your next level as a second-in-command, listen now to avoid the expensive mistakes nearly everyone makes while scaling. This episode delivers unfiltered wisdom you won't find anywhere else, and the urgency to take action before chaos catches up with you.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – Why most owners don't know how their business really makes money (and what to do about it)[03:25] – The journey from accidental entrepreneur to turning around failing operations[06:00] – Exclusive lessons learned surviving and thriving inside – a family business[10:19] – How Josh navigated a tense partner buyout and instantly simplified everything[13:46] – Choosing the right leadership roles: birth order, strengths, and painful missteps[16:09] – The only books and frameworks that actually moved the needle (and why “just-in-time learning” beats old-school reading habits)[20:22] – From swinging hammers to overseeing finance – demystifying numbers when you're not a CPA[26:42] – Weekly pulse meetings, candid conflict, and the real CEO-COO dance[29:04] – How fractional COO work revealed the true bottlenecks in small business growth[33:13] – The most costly mistake COOs make (and how Josh trains owners to finally be “all in”)About the GuestJosh Post is an industry-recognized Business Turnaround Expert and Fractional Chief Operating Officer who specializes in business recovery, optimization, and rapid growth. Between his position as a COO with The Cabochon Group of Companies and his work as an Independent Expert, he manages a diverse portfolio of over $57 Million spanning several industries.From streamlining operations and accounting to marketing and even acquisition, The Cabochon Group of Companies is the ultimate business support hub where businesses can access a unified strategy from a single source of seasoned professionals that provide a comprehensive, integrated experience.As a Fractional COO and Business Advisor Josh leverages his expertise to provide businesses with targeted, one-on-one guidance on the critical challenges threatening operations. Through resources like his signature business assessment, the Business MRI, he's able to hone in on the root issues, tailoring strategies that work.He credits the COO Alliance for helping him to overcome imposter syndrome, teaching him how to harness his strengths as a Galvanizer and Enabler to drive execution and momentum at scale.

My comedy news show Unredacted Tonight airs every Thursday at 7pm ET/ 4pm PT. My livestreams are on Mon and Fri at 3pm ET/ Noon PT and Wednesday at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT. I am one of the most censored comedians in America. Thanks for the support!

I break down the single most critical masculine trait every man needs to master this year: self-control. I explain why true masculinity isn't about suppressing your emotions or killing your aggression, but rather channeling that intense energy into mastery and leadership. I also share four practical pillars you can use immediately to stop reacting to the chaos around you and start leading your life with power under command.SHOW HIGHLIGHTS00:00 - The Single Most Important Masculine Trait02:57 - Why Masculinity Itself Isn't the Problem06:16 - The Cost of Losing Control08:14 - Pillar #1: The Power of the Pause10:04 - Pillar #2: Channeling Aggression into Mastery12:54 - Pillar #3: Disciplining the Body First14:31 - Pillar #4: Ending the Need for Validation15:44 - True Masculinity is Power Under Command***Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worthPick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/Heard about attachment but don't know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To AttachmentCheck out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your RelationshipBuild brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance. Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they're looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | SpotifyFor more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

The Steve Gruber Show | AI, Open Borders, and Political Violence: The Silent War on America's Soul --- 00:00 - Hour 1 Monologue 19:00 – Brendan Steinhauser, CEO of the Alliance for Secure AI. Steinhauser explains why Meta's decision to pause teenage access to AI characters is a positive first step. He argues that stronger safeguards are still needed to protect minors as artificial intelligence rapidly expands. 27:54 – Joe Rieck, Vice President of Sales at Longevity. Rieck discusses why Longevity built an all-in-one nutritional shake grounded in real science instead of hype. He explains how clean ingredients and kidney- and gut-friendly formulas are redefining daily nutrition. Visit LongevityWellness.co and use promo code GRUBER. 37:58 - Hour 2 Monologue 46:47 – Norton Rainey, CEO of ACE Scholarships. Rainey explains why School Choice Week 2026 deserves celebration. He discusses how school choice empowers families and expands educational opportunity. 56:30 – Gregory Wrightstone, geologist, Executive Director of the CO₂ Coalition, and bestselling author of A Very Convenient Warming. Wrightstone revisits claims from Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth as the film turns 20 years old. He challenges its assertions and argues that modest warming and higher CO₂ levels benefit humanity. 1:05:25 – Rep. Jay DeBoyer, Chair of the Michigan House Oversight Committee, representing the 63rd District in Clay Township. DeBoyer discusses how recent Kornak charges highlight what he calls missteps by Attorney General Dana Nessel involving a closed state case. He explains why oversight and accountability matter. 1:24:08 – Sal Nuzzo, Executive Director of Consumers Defense. Nuzzo examines the European Union's targeting of American companies. He discusses how international regulations could impact U.S. businesses and consumers. 1:33:51 – Cassie Smedile, Republican strategist and Vice President of Communications at Coign. Smedile breaks down Trump baby accounts, proposed working-family tax cuts, and the broader economic outlook. She explains how these policies could impact everyday Americans. 1:42:32 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber wraps up the show with commentary on the day's major stories. He offers perspective on politics, culture, and current events shaping the national conversation. --- Visit Steve's website: https://stevegruber.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stevegrubershow Truth: https://truthsocial.com/@stevegrubershow Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/stevegruber Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevegrubershow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevegrubershow/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Stevegrubershow Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/TheSteveGruberShow

The transatlantic alliance is facing its most serious test in decades. President Donald Trump's aggressive push to assert control over Greenland—combined with mounting pressure tactics against U.S. allies—has accelerated a quiet but consequential shift in Europe's strategic thinking.In this episode, Ambassador Daniel Fried, Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council and a former senior U.S. diplomat deeply involved in NATO and European security policy, joins us to discuss how harsh rhetoric and failed coercion fractured long-standing assumptions about American leadership.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Building a premium home services brand goes far beyond offering great marketing or competitive prices; it's about vision, culture, and empowering your team. In this inspiring episode of The Better Than Rich Show, host Mike Abramowitz welcomes legendary business leader and author Cameron Harold (“Vivid Vision”, “Double Double”, “The Second in Command”) for an actionable deep dive into scaling service companies, building lasting culture, and creating real leverage as an owner.  Cameron shares the mindsets and mechanics behind transforming 1-800-GOT-JUNK? from $2 million to over $100 million in six years—explaining five foundational levers every growth-minded business owner should master. The conversation covers vivid visioning, strategic price increases, “cult-like” cultures that attract top talent, free PR, operational delegation, and how leaders truly scale by investing in their people.   Timestamps: [00:00] Intro: Mike welcomes Cameron and sets the stage [00:31] Dream 100 goals, mastermind connections, and Cameron's business journey [09:30] How to make vision part of weekly and quarterly business rhythms [10:39] Why customers care about your growth mission [18:28] Selling to the true decision maker (female buyers) [19:41] Adopting tech early: online booking and increasing direct web sales [22:05] Reducing cost, increasing profits, and meeting modern buyer expectations [23:21] Leveraging PR: Press pitch angles and media momentum [28:30] Sharing wins for lasting impact—Cameron's “Digital Trifecta” method [30:15] The five timeless growth levers for any leader [33:42] Investing in your leaders: training, check-ins, and ongoing development [36:38] Operational skill-testing and real-world coaching for managers [39:08] The case for delegation and avoiding bottlenecks [41:21] Moving from tactician to business builder: mindset and peer learning [43:31] When to hire executive assistants, operations leadership, and COOs [45:14] Structuring your team for growth: revenue, then back-end support [46:12] Sales/marketing launch tactics: branding, visibility, and referral programs [48:31] Optimizing the sales funnel and identifying biggest leverage points [50:35] The importance of visibility on business metrics [51:15] “Better Than Rich”—Cameron shares his life philosophy [52:30] Contact info for Cameron and learning more about COO Alliance  [54:00] Mike's final gratitude and Cameron's closing thoughts  Key Quotes Vision without execution is hallucination. If you don't have an executive assistant, you are one. The path of least resistance is to delegate and grow your people. Employees will listen to an outside expert more than they'll listen to you. You'll always run a small business if you keep saying, I'm the only one who can do this.  Key Takeaways  ● Clarity of vision powers growth — Crafting a detailed “Vivid Vision” rallies teams and unlocks strategic direction. ● Charge like a premium brand — Raising your prices and positioning as the top tier creates margin for excellence and talent. ● Build a culture people want to join — Treat culture as a magnet for employees and customers, not just an internal perk. ● Free PR is your untapped megaphone — Pitching unique, repeatable story angles gets you noticed without a massive budget. ● Invest in your leaders to multiply results — Scaling happens when you consistently develop your managers and delegate with intention.  Links Mentioned  ● Cameron Herold Website: https://cameronherold.com/  ● COOALLIANCE Podcast: https://cooalliance.com/podcasts/  ● Cameron Herold's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00845CG2S/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=ae58d421-3a31-4aa9-8c31-47281e3ee829&store_ref=ap_rdr&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=9c67f461-05f2-4cbf-8974-49aa3571fad1  ● Better Than Rich BTR 

Warrior from Grindstone Tribe shares his full journey—growing up Catholic, walking away, realizing “being a good guy isn't enough,” and getting saved at a Greg Laurie Harvest Crusade in Angel Stadium.Then life gets wild:✅ Six years serving in Thailand (Chiang Mai + Bangkok)✅ Culture shock, language barriers, and ministry in a Buddhist context✅ Returning to America and seeing the nation differently✅ Leading in Christian education (now at Richmond Christian School)✅ Joining Men's Alliance because his adult son invited him✅ Going through Carry the Fire and getting challenged to communicate the gospel clearly✅ Getting patched together in the same classIf you've ever wondered if your story “counts,” this one will hit you.Sign up for Start the Fire training NOW: https://carrythefiretraining.comFollow Men's AllianceInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mensalliancetribe/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mensalliancetribeTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mensalliancetribeWebsite - https://www.mensalliancetribe.com/Explore Battlefield Coaching today and find yourself a Coach with experience overcoming a battle you are currently facing - https://battlefieldcoaching.comOrder the Book - Answer With Truth: The Ambassador's Field Manual for Leading Your Family Spiritually - https://amzn.to/3BmnuKV

On this Salcedo Storm Podcast: Zack Smith is a Senior Legal Fellow and Manager of the Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy Program at The Heritage Foundation. He previously served for several years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Florida.

00:00 Intro01:11 Taiwan Holds Emergency Military Drills03:55 Thousands of Chinese Fishing Boats Form Barriers at Sea04:36 U.S., Taiwan Issue Joint Statement on Pax Silica05:08 Japan PM: U.S. Alliance at Risk if Japan Avoids Taiwan Conflict05:59 Zhang Youxia Showed Real Military Credibility on U.S. Tour13:21Starmer: UK Doesn't Have to Choose Between U.S., China15:50 China Concerned Venezuela May Cooperate With U.S.18:34 China to Import Canadian Canola After Carney-Xi Talks19:58 Tencent Eyes Cloud Data Centers Across Middle East21:11 Chinese Man Sentenced for Role in Scamming $37M22:08 Chinese Dissident Sues X, Alleges CCP Behind Suspension

Connecting with teenage daughters can feel like trying to break through a locked door—especially when rejection, distance, and silence start to replace the closeness you once had. In this Q&A episode, I'm joined by Uncle Joe as we tackle two deeply relatable questions from dads who are doing their best but feel stuck, unsure, and disconnected.   We dive into what it really takes to win a teenage daughter's heart without forcing connection, why consistency matters more than instant results, and how dads can stop taking rejection personally while still staying emotionally available. We also address marriage and money decisions, showing how curiosity, values, and asking better questions can transform conflict into teamwork. This episode is packed with wisdom, reassurance, and practical strategies for dads who refuse to give up on their kids or their marriage.     Timeline Summary [0:00] Welcoming listeners to the final Q&A episode of January 2026 [2:37] A dad's question about connecting with his 14-year-old daughter [4:10] Why teenage girls often pull away during adolescence [4:33] Recommended reading: Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters [5:12] Learning what matters to your daughter to win her heart [6:35] Why genuine interest builds emotional safety [7:16] Consistency over comfort when facing rejection [8:08] Not internalizing rejection from teenage daughters [8:57] How facial expressions communicate disappointment [9:15] "Aim for the heart" and understanding a child's unique wiring [10:19] Engaging with your daughter's interests without trying to be "cool" [11:21] Alliance member perspective on grit and perseverance [12:37] Why daughters notice effort even when they don't respond [13:03] Dr. Lisa Damour's insights on never giving up [14:08] Why your daughter will remember whether you stayed or quit [15:11] Second question: marriage, money, and trust [16:34] How "telling" shuts down conversations with your wife [17:08] Leading with curiosity instead of control [18:10] Asking questions that invite reflection and teamwork [19:36] Validating your wife's values before problem-solving [21:11] Enabling vs. empowering family members [23:23] Using shared family values as a decision-making framework [26:18] Why aligned values reduce conflict in marriage [29:18] Faith, provision, and living out core values [30:57] Resources for dads raising teenagers [31:16] Where to find all episode links and next steps     Five Key Takeaways Winning a teenage daughter's heart requires consistency, not instant validation.  Rejection isn't personal—it's developmental, and dads must stay steady through it.  Genuine curiosity builds connection far more than control or correction.  Asking better questions reduces marriage conflict, especially around money and family decisions.  Shared values create clarity, alignment, and peace in family decision-making.      Links & Resources Guiding Teenage Girls Into Adulthood (Dad Edge Episode): https://thedadedge.com/guiding-teenage-girls-into-adulthood-with-dr-lisa-damour/ Dr. Lisa Damour Website: https://drlisadamour.com/ Dr. Lisa Damour on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisa.damour/ Dr. Lisa Damour on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSt8mu1taNYAHTufbYwqglFHoevbZgNQl Dr. Lisa Damour on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Ldamour Dr. Lisa Damour on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisadamourphd Dr. Lisa Damour Podcast: https://drlisadamour.com/resources/podcast/ How to Manage a Meltdown (PDF): https://drlisadamour.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/LD_Bookmarks_How_to_Manage_a_Meltdown.pdf Meg Meeker on The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/meg-meeker/ Episode Show Notes & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1432   Closing Remark If this episode encouraged you to stay the course with your kids or approach your marriage with more curiosity and patience, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. Your consistency today becomes your children's security tomorrow. Go out and live legendary.

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Brenna Bailey-Davies about seeing self-publishing from both sides of the page, how editorial work shapes the writing process, and how to balance client work with creative work. They also discuss practical lessons authors can take from professional editing, how to handle editorial feedback with confidence, and what it means to understand the publishing process from draft to proofread. About the Host Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors, and her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine. She serves as the campaigns manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with Rock Paper Scissors; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with The Sense of Death; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. About the Guest Brenna Bailey-Davies (she/her) is an editor and writer based in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), Alberta, Canada. Through her company, Bookmarten Editorial, she edits science fiction, fantasy, and romance for indie authors and traditional publishing companies, with a focus on stories that include queer representation. She also writes sapphic contemporary romance under the pen name Brenna Bailey and has published five novels, with many more in progress.

This edWeb podcast is part of a series of WebBriefs hosted by The Alliance of Former Chief State School Officers.The meeting recording can be accessed here.This edWeb podcast, hosted by the Alliance of Former Chief State School Officers, explores the pursuit of happiness as a foundational American ideal and its modern applications in positive psychology to boost student outcomes.The session opens with the pursuit of happiness from the Declaration of Independence, drawing on National Constitution Center insights into Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin's debates on this right as essential to liberty and self-governance.Next, an overview of positive psychology traces its origins to Martin Seligman, its founding father, who shifted focus from pathology to strengths, well-being, and flourishing. This leads into Shawn Achor's acclaimed TED Talk, rooted in his Harvard research—where he earned over a dozen teaching awards for the university's most popular positive psychology course—demonstrating how optimism training enhances productivity, reading, and math scores in schools and businesses.The presentation concludes with open dialogue among Alliance members, sharing personal experiences of pursuing happiness in educational leadership and policy.Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Jessie Kwak about THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO FINDING COMMUNITY, including practical strategies for building a strong writing community, how to connect with other writers at author events, approaches for overcoming isolation and joining the right groups for your goals, tips for confident author networking and collaboration, and ways a supportive creative community can fuel your writing career and keep you motivated.   Interview video at https://bit.ly/TIAPYTPlaylist Show notes, including extensive summary, at https://www.theindyauthor.com/episodes-all   If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author! https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple   Jessie Kwak is an author, storyteller, and business book ghostwriter living in Portland, Oregon. When she's not writing, she can be found sewing, mountain biking, and exploring the Pacific Northwest (and beyond). She is the author of thriller novels, two series of space scoundrel sci-fi crime novels, and a handful of productivity books including From Chaos to Creativity and From Solo to Supported.   Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer's Digest" magazine. She is a Partner Member and Team Member at the Alliance of Independent Authors.

In this solo episode, I pull back the curtain on everything happening inside the Dad Edge ecosystem as we close out January and head into February. If your marriage feels disconnected, your health slipped during the holidays, or you've been looking for real skills—not motivation—this episode lays out exactly what's available and how to plug in.   I share my own story of marriage struggle, why only a small percentage of couples truly feel connected, and how becoming a student of marriage completely changed the trajectory of my relationship. From February's marriage-focused tactical agenda inside the Dad Edge Alliance, to the 1st Phorm 8-week challenge, to major announcements around preview calls and the Men's Forge event, this episode is about clarity, opportunity, and intentional action for men who want their marriage and leadership to look different in 2026.     Timeline Summary: [0:00] Keeping the blooper and why imperfection matters in fatherhood [1:35] Larry reflects on the first 10–12 years of marriage struggles [2:27] When marriage turns into co-parenting and roommate syndrome [3:07] Becoming a student of marriage and why things finally changed [3:27] Only 12% of marriages report deep connection [3:52] Introducing the Dad Edge ecosystem [4:11] Overview of the Dad Edge Alliance [4:50] February tactical agenda inside the Alliance [5:09] Why February always focuses on marriage skills [5:28] Week 1: Attraction, identity, and masculine presence [6:11] Week 2: Leading without chasing or needy energy [6:35] Week 3: Boundaries that create desire [6:55] Week 4: Emotional safety and attraction [7:39] Why February is the best month to join the Alliance [8:01] Roommates to Soulmates cohort selling out quickly [8:41] Holiday weight gain and the need for a physical reset [9:01] 1st Phorm Dad Edge 8-week challenge overview [9:42] Challenge dates and community support [10:19] January Dad Edge 1st Phorm Dad of the Month recognition [11:01] Alliance preview call announcement [11:24] What men will learn on the preview call [12:17] Moving away from social media noise [14:06] Men's Forge 2026 announcement [14:51] Why this event is different [15:41] Where to find all links and next steps [16:04] Gratitude and closing encouragement     Five Key Takeaways Most men were never taught how to lead a marriage, which is why skill-building—not willpower—creates change. Attraction in marriage evolves, and men must adapt leadership, presence, and identity. Boundaries and emotional safety create desire, not chasing or people-pleasing. Physical health fuels confidence and leadership, especially inside marriage. Community accelerates growth, when men commit to accountability and action.     Links & Resources: Dad Edge Alliance (Marriage, Parenting, Health, Leadership): https://thedadedge.com/alliance Dad Edge Alliance Preview Call: https://thedadedge.com/preview 1st Phorm Dad Edge 8-Week Challenge: https://1stphorm.com/dadedge Men's Forge 2026 Event: https://themensforge.com All Episode Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1431     Closing Remark Gentlemen, if you want your marriage, health, and leadership to look different in 2026, this is your moment to engage. Thank you for your continued support, your reviews, and your commitment to doing the work. From my heart to yours—let's continue to live legendary.

Could live selling be the next big opportunity for indie authors? Adam Beswick shares how organic marketing, live streaming, and direct sales are transforming his author career—and how other writers can do the same. In the intro, book marketing principles [Self-Publishing with ALLi]; Interview with Tobi Lutke, the CEO and co-founder of Shopify [David Senra]; The Writer's Mind Survey; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn; Alliance of Independent Authors Indie Author Lab. Today's show is sponsored by ProWritingAid, writing and editing software that goes way beyond just grammar and typo checking. With its detailed reports on how to improve your writing and integration with writing software, ProWritingAid will help you improve your book before you send it to an editor, agent or publisher. Check it out for free or get 15% off the premium edition at www.ProWritingAid.com/joanna This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Adam Beswick is a bestselling fantasy author and an expert in TikTok marketing for authors, as well as a former NHS mental health nurse. Adam went full-time as an indie author in 2023 and now runs AP Beswick Publications. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes How Adam scaled from garden office to warehouse, with his wife leaving her engineering career to join the business Why organic marketing (free video content) beats paid ads for testing what resonates with readers The power of live selling: earning £3,500 in one Christmas live stream through TikTok shop Mystery book bags: a gamified approach to selling that keeps customers coming back Building an email list of actual buyers through direct sales versus relying on platform algorithms Why human connection matters more than ever in the age of AI-generated content You can find Adam at APBeswickPublications.com and on TikTok as @a.p_beswick_publications. Transcript of interview with Adam Beswick Jo: Adam Beswick is a bestselling fantasy author and an expert in TikTok marketing for authors, as well as a former NHS mental health nurse. Adam went full-time as an indie author in 2023 and now runs AP Beswick Publications. Welcome back to the show, Adam. Adam: Hi there, and thank you for having me back. Jo: Oh, I'm super excited to talk to you today. Now, you were last on the show in May 2024, so just under two years, and you had gone full-time as an author the year before that. So just tell us— What's changed for you in the last couple of years? What does your author business look like now? Adam: That is terrifying to hear that it was that long ago, because it genuinely feels like it was a couple of months ago. Things have certainly been turbocharged since we last spoke. Last time we spoke I had a big focus on going into direct sales, and I think if I recall correctly, we were just about to release a book by Alexis Brooke, which was the first book in a series that we had worked with another author on, which was the first time we were doing that. Since then, we now have six authors on our books, with a range of full agreements or print-only deals. With that focus of direct selling, we have expanded our TikTok shop. In 2024, I stepped back from TikTok shop just because of constraints around my own time. We took TikTok shop seriously again in 2025 and scaled up to a six-figure revenue stream throughout 2025, effectively starting from scratch. That means we have had to go from having an office pod in the garden, to my wife now has left her career as a structural engineer to join the business because there was too much for me to manage. We went from this small office space, to now we have the biggest office space in our office block because we organise our own print runs and do all our distribution worldwide from what we call “AP HQ.” Jo: And you don't print books, but you have a warehouse. Adam: Yes, we have a warehouse. We work with different printers to order books in. We print quite large scale—well, large scale to me—volumes of books. Then we have them ordered to here, and then we will sign them all and distribute everything from here. Jo: Sarah, your wife, being a structural engineer—it seems like she would be a real help in organising a business of warehousing and all of that. Has that been great [working with your wife]? Because I worked with my husband for a while and we decided to stop doing that. Adam: Well, we're still married, so I'm taking that as a win! And funnily enough, we don't actually fall out so much at work. When we do, it's more about me being quite chaotic with how I work, but also I can at times be quite inflexible about how I want things to be done. But what Sarah's fantastic at is the organisation, the analytics. She runs all the logistical side of things. When we moved into the bigger office space, she insisted on us having different offices. She's literally shoved me on the other side of the building. So I'm out the way—I can just come in and write, come and do my bit to sign the books, and then she can just get on with organising the orders and getting those packed and sent out to readers. She manages all the tracking, the customs—all the stuff that would really bog me down. I wouldn't say she necessarily enjoys it when she's getting some cranky emails from people whose books might have gone missing or have been held up at customs, but she's really good at that side. She's really helped bring systems in place to make sure the fulfilment side is as smooth as possible. Jo: I think this is so important, and I want everyone to hear you on this. Because at heart, you are the creative, you are a writer, and sure you are building this business, but I feel like one of the biggest mistakes that creative-first authors make is not getting somebody else to help them. It doesn't have to be a spouse, right? It can also be another professional person. Sacha Black's got various people working for her. I think you just can't do it alone, right? Adam: Absolutely not. I would have drowned long before now. When Sarah joined the team, I was at a position where I'd said to her, “Look, I need to look at bringing someone in because I'm drowning.” It was only then she took a look at where her career was, and she'd done everything she wanted to do. She was a senior engineer. She'd completed all the big projects. I mean, this is a woman who's designed football stands across the UK and some of the biggest barn conversions and school conversions and things like that. She'd done everything professionally that she'd wanted to and was perhaps losing that passion that she once had. So she said she was interested, and we said, “Look, why don't you come and spend a bit of time working with me within the business, see whether it works for you, see if we can find an area that works for you—not you working for the business, the business working for you—that we maintain that work-life balance.” And then if it didn't work, we were in a position where we could set her up to start working for herself as an engineer again, but under her own terms. Then we just went from strength to strength. We made it through the first year. I think we made it through the first year without any arguments, and she's now been full-time in the business for two years. Jo: I think that's great. Really good to hear that. Because when I met you, probably in Seville I think it was, I was like, “You are going to hit some difficulty,” because I could see that if you were going to scale as fast as you were aiming to— There are problems of scale, right? There's a reason why lots of us don't want a bloomin' warehouse. Adam: Yes, absolutely. I think it's twofold. I am an author at heart—that's my passion—but I'm also a businessman and a creative from a marketing point of view. I always see writing as the passion. The business side and the creating of content—that's the work. So I never see writing as work. When I was a nurse, I was the nurse that was always put on the wards where no one else wanted to work because that's where I thrived. I thrive in the chaos. Put me with people who had really challenging behaviour or were really unwell and needed that really intense support, displayed quite often problematic behaviours, and I would thrive in those environments because I'd always like to prove that you can get the best out of anyone. I very much work in that manner now. The more chaotic, the more pressure-charged the situation is, the better I thrive in that. If I was just sat writing a book and that was it, I'd probably get less done because I'd get bored and I wouldn't feel like I was challenging myself. As you said, the flip side of that is that risk of burnout is very, very real, and I have come very, very close. But as a former mental health nurse, I am very good at spotting my own signs of when I'm not taking good care of myself. And if I don't, Sarah sure as hell does. Jo: I think that's great. Really good to hear. Okay, so you talked there about creating the content as work, and— You have driven your success, I would say, almost entirely with TikTok. Would that be right? Adam: Well, no, I'd come back and touch on that just to say it isn't just TikTok. I would say definitely organic marketing, but not just TikTok. I'm always quick to pivot if something isn't working or if there's a dip in sales. I'm always looking at how we can—not necessarily keep growing—but it's about sustaining what you've built so that we can carry on doing this. If the business stops earning money, I can't keep doing what I love doing, and me and my wife can't keep supporting our family with a stable income, which is what we have now. I would say TikTok is what started it all, but I did the same as having all my books on Amazon, which is why I switched to doing wide and direct sales: I didn't want all my eggs in one basket. I was always exploring what platforms I can use to best utilise organic marketing, to the point where my author TikTok channel is probably my third lowest avenue for directing traffic to my store at the moment. I have a separate channel for my TikTok shop, which generates great traffic, but that's a separate thing because I treat my TikTok shop as a separate audience. That only goes out to a UK audience, whereas my main TikTok channel goes out to a worldwide audience. Jo: Okay. So we are going to get into TikTok, and I do want to talk about that, but you said TikTok Shop UK and— Then you mentioned organic marketing. What do you mean by that? Adam: When I say organic marketing, I mean marketing your books in a way that is not a detriment to your bank balance. To break that down further: you can be paying for, say for example, you set up a Facebook ad and you are paying five pounds a day just for a testing phase for an ad that potentially isn't going to work. You potentially have to run 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ads at five pounds a day to find one ad that works, that will make your book profitable. There's a lot of testing, a lot of money that goes into that. With organic marketing, it's using video marketing or slideshows or carousels on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook—wherever you want to put it—to find the content that does resonate with your readers, that generates sales, and it doesn't cost you anything. I can create a video on TikTok, put it out there, and it reaches three, four hundred people. That hasn't cost me any money at all. Those three, four hundred people have seen my content. That's not TikTok's job for that to generate sales. That's my job to convert those views into sales. If it doesn't, I just need to look at the content and say, “Well, that hasn't hit my audience, or if it has, it hasn't resonated. What do I need to do with my content to make it resonate and then transition into sales?” Once you find something that works, it's just a case of rinse and repeat. Keep tweaking it, keep changing or using variants of that content that's working to generate sales. If you manage to do that consistently, you've already got content that you know works. So when you've built up consistent sales and you are perhaps earning a few thousand pounds a month—it could be five figures a month—you've then got a pool of money that you've generated. You can use that then to invest into paid ads, using the content you've already created organically and tested organically for what your audience is going to interact with. Jo: Okay. I think because I'm old school from the old days, we would've called that content marketing. But I feel like the difference of what you are doing and what TikTok—I think the type of behaviour TikTok has driven is the actual sales, the conversion into sales. So for example, this interview, right? My podcast is content marketing. It puts our words out in the world and some people find us, and some people buy stuff from us. So it's content marketing, but it's not the way you are analysing content that actually drives sales. Based on that content, there's no way of tracking any sales that come from this interview. We are just never going to know. I think that's the big difference between what you are doing with content versus what I and many other, I guess, older creators have done, which is— We put stuff out there for free, hope that some people might find us, and some of those people might buy. It's quite different. Adam: I would still argue that it is organic marketing, because you've got a podcast that people don't have to pay to listen to, that they get enjoyment from, and the byproduct of that is you generate some income passively through that. If you think of your podcast as one product and your video content is the same—these social media platforms—you don't just post your podcast on one platform. You will utilise as many platforms as you can, unless you have a brand agreement where a platform is paying you to solely use their platform because you or yourself are the driver for the audience there. I would say a podcast is a form of organic marketing. I could start a podcast about video marketing. I could start a podcast about reading. The idea being you build up an audience and then when you drop in those releases, that audience then goes and buys that product. For example, if you've got a self-help book coming out, if you drop that into your podcast, chances are you're going to get a lot more sales from your audience that are here to listen to you as the inspirational storyteller that you are from a business point of view than what you would if you announced that you had a new crime novel coming out or a horror story you've written. Your audience within here is generally an author audience who are looking to refine their craft—whether that be the writing or the selling of the books or living the dream of being a full-time author. I think it's more a terminology thing. Jo: Well, let's talk about why I wanted to talk to you. A friend of ours told me that you are doing really well with live sales. This was just before Christmas, I think. And I was like, “Live sales? What does that even mean?” Then I saw that Kim Kardashian was doing live sales on TikTok and did this “Kim's Must Have” thing, and Snoop Dogg was there, and it was this massive event where they were selling. I was like, “Oh, it's like TV sales—the TV sales channel where you show things and then people buy immediately.” And I was like, “Wait, is Adam like the Kim Kardashian of the indie author?” So tell us about this live sale thing. Adam: Well, I've not got that far to say that I have the Kim Kardashian status! What it is, is that I'm passionate about learning, but also sharing what's working for me so that other authors can succeed—without what I'm sharing being stuck behind a paywall. It is a big gripe of mine that you get all these courses and all these things you can do and everything has to be behind a paywall. If I've got the time, I'll just share. Hence why we were in Vegas doing the presentations for Indie Author Nation, which I think had you been in my talk, Jo, you would've heard me talking about the live selling. Jo: Oh, I missed it. I'll have to get the replay. Adam: I only covered a short section of it, but what I actually said within that talk is, for me, live selling is going to be the next big thing. If you are not live selling your books at the moment, and you are not paying attention to it, start paying attention to it. I started paying attention about six months ago, and I have seen constant growth to a point where I've had to post less content because doing one live stream a week was making more money than me posting content and burning myself out every single day for the TikTok shop. I did a live stream at the beginning of Christmas, for example. A bit of prep work went into it. We had a whole Christmas set, and within that one live stream we generated three and a half thousand pounds of organic book sales. Jo: Wow. Adam: Obviously that isn't something that happened overnight. That took me doing a regular Friday stream from September all the way through to December to build up to that moment. In fact, I think that was Black Friday, sorry, where we did that. But what I looked at was, “Right, I haven't got the bandwidth because of all the plates I was spinning to go live five days a week. However, I can commit to a Friday morning.” I can commit to a Friday morning because that is the day when Sarah isn't in the office, and it's my day to pack the orders. So I've already got the orders to pack, so I thought I'll go live whilst I'm packing the orders and just hang out and chat. I slowly started to find that on average I was earning between three to four hundred pounds doing that, packing orders that I already had to pack. I've just found a way to monetise it and engage with a new audience whilst doing that. The thing that's key is it is a new audience. You have people who like to consume their content through short-form content or long-form content. Then you have people who like to consume content with human interaction on a live, and it's a completely different ballgame. What TikTok is enabling us to do—on other platforms I am looking at other platforms for live selling—you can engage with an audience, but because on TikTok you can upload your products, people can buy the products direct whilst you are live on that platform. For that, you will pay a small fee to TikTok, which is absolutely worth it. That's part of the reason we've been able to scale to having a six-figure business within TikTok shop itself as one revenue stream. Jo: Okay. So a few things. You mentioned there the integration with TikTok shop. As I've said many times, I'm not on TikTok—I am on Instagram—and on Instagram you can incorporate your Meta catalogue to Shopify. Do you think the same principle applies to Instagram or YouTube as well? I think YouTube has an integration with Shopify. Do you think the same thing would work that way? Adam: I think it's possible. Yes, absolutely. As long as people can click and buy that product from whatever content they are watching—but usually what it will have to do is redirect them to your store, and you've still got all the conversion metrics that have to kick in. They have to be happy with the shipping, they have to be happy with the product description and stuff like that. With TikTok shop, it's very much a one-stop shop. People click on the product, they can still be watching the video, click to buy something, and not leave the stream. Jo: So the stream's on, and then let's say you are packing one of your books— Does that product link just pop up and then people can buy that book as you are packing it? Adam: So we've got lots and lots of products on our store now. I always have a product link that has all our products listed, and I always keep all of the bundles towards the top because they generate more income than a single book sale. What will happen is I can showcase a book, I'll tap the screen to show what product it is that I'm packing, and then I'll just talk about it. If people want it, they just click that product link and they can buy it straight away. What people get a lot of enjoyment from—which I never expected in a million years—is watching people pack their order there and then. As an author, we're not just selling a generic product. We're selling a book that we have written, that we have put our heart and soul into. People love that. It's a way of letting them into a bit of you, giving them a bit of information, talking to them, showing them how human you are. If you're on that live stream being an absolute arse and not very nice, people aren't going to buy your books. But if you're being welcoming, you're chatting, you're talking to everyone, you're interacting, you're showcasing books they probably will. What we do is if someone orders on the live stream, we throw some extra stuff in, so they don't just get the books, they'll get some art prints included, they'll get some bookmarks thrown in, and we've got merch that we'll throw in as a little thank you. Now it's all stuff that is low cost to us, because actually we're acquiring a customer in that moment. I've got people who come onto every single Friday live stream that I do now. They have bought every single product in our catalogue and they are harassing me for when the next release is out because they want more, before they even know what that is. They want it because it's being produced by us—because of our brand. With the lives, what I found is the branding has become really important. We're at a stage where we're being asked—because I'm quite well known for wearing beanie hats on live streams or video content—people are like, “When are you going to release some beanie hats?” Now and again, Sarah will drop some AP branded merch. It'll be beer coasters with the AP logo on, or a tote bag with the AP logo on. It's not stuff that we sell at this stage—we give them away. The more money people spend, the more stuff we put in. And people are like, “No, no, you need to add these to the store because we want to buy them.” The brand itself is growing, not just the book sales. It's becoming better known. We've got Pacificon in April, and there's so many people on that live stream that have bought tickets to meet us in person at this conference in April, which is amazing. There's so much going on. With TikTok shop, it only works in the country where you are based, so it only goes out to a UK audience, which is why I keep it separate from my main channel. That means we're tapping into a completely new audience, because up until last year, I'd always targeted America—that's where my biggest readership was. Jo: Wow. There's so much to this. Okay. First of all, most people are not going to have their own warehouse. Most people are not going to be packing live. So for authors who are selling on, let's just say Amazon, can live sales still work for them? Could they still go live at a regular time every week and talk about a book and see if that drives sales, even if it's at Amazon? Adam: Yes, absolutely. I would test that because ultimately you're creating a brand, you're putting yourself out there, and you're consistently showing up. You can have people that have never heard of you just stumble across your live and think, “What are they doing there?” They're a bit curious, so they might ask some questions, they might not. They might see some other interactions. There's a million and one things you can do on that live to generate conversation. I've done it where I've had 150 books to sign, so I've just lined up the books, stood in front of the camera, switched the camera on while I'm signing the books, and just chatted away to people without any product links. People will come back and be like, “Oh, I've just been to your store and bought through your series,” and stuff like that. So absolutely that can work. The key is putting in the work and setting it up. I started out by getting five copies of one book, signing them, and selling them on TikTok shop. I sold them in a day, and then that built up to effectively what we have now. That got my eyes open for direct selling. When I was working with BookVault and they were integrated with my store, orders came to me, but then they went to BookVault—they printed and distributed. Then we got to a point scaling-wise where we thought, “If we want to take this to the next level, we need to take on distribution ourselves,” because the profit lines are better, the margins are bigger. That's why we started doing it ourselves, but only once we'd had a proven track record of sales spanning 18 months to two years and had the confidence. It was actually with myself and Sacha that we set up at the same time and egged each other on. I think I was just a tiny bit ahead of her with setting up a warehouse. And then as you've seen, Sacha's gone from strength to strength. It doesn't come without its trigger warnings in the sense of it isn't an easy thing to do. I think you have to have a certain skill set for live selling. You have to have a certain mindset for the physicality that comes with it. When we've had a delivery of two and a half thousand books and we've got to bring them up to the first floor where the office is—I don't have a massive team of people. It's myself and Sarah, and every now and again we get my dad in to help us because he's retired now. We'll give him a bottle of wine as a thank you. Jo: You need to give him some more wine, I think! Adam: Yes! But you've gotta be able to roll your sleeves up and do the work. I think if you've got the work ethic and that drive to succeed, then absolutely anyone can do it. There's nothing special about my books in that sense. I've got a group called Novel Gains where I've actually started a monthly challenge yesterday, and we've got nearly two and a half thousand people in the group now. The group has never been more active because it's really energised and charged. People have seen the success stories, and people are going on lives who never thought it would work for them. Lee Mountford put a post up yesterday on the first day of this challenge just to say, “Look, a year ago I was where you were when Adam did the last challenge. I thought I can't do organic marketing, I can't get myself on camera.” Organic marketing and live selling is now equating to 50% of his income. Jo: And he doesn't have a warehouse. Adam: Well, he scaled up to it now, so he's got two lockups because he scaled up. He started off small, then he thought, “Right, I'm going to go for it.” He ordered a print run of a few of his books—I think 300 copies of three books. Bundled them up, sold them out within a few months. Then he's just scaled from there because he's seen by creating the content, by doing the lives, that it's just creating a revenue stream that he wasn't tapping into. Last January when we did the challenge, he was really engaged throughout the process. He was really analytical with the results he was getting. But he didn't stop after 30 days when that challenge finished. He went away behind the scenes for the next 11 months and has continued to grow. He is absolutely thriving now. Him and his wife—a husband and wife team—his wife is also an author, and they've now added her spicy books to their TikTok shop. They're just selling straight away because he's built up the audience. He's built up that connection. Jo: I think that's great. And I love hearing this because I built my business on what I've called content marketing—you're calling it organic marketing. So I think it's really good to know that it's still possible; it's just a different kind. Now I just wanna get some specifics. One— Where can people find your Novel Gains stuff? Adam: So Novel Gains is an online community on Facebook. As I said, there's no website, there's no fancy website, there's no paid course or anything. It is just people holding themselves accountable and listening to my ramblings every now and again when I try and share pills of wisdom to try and motivate and inspire. I also ask other successful authors to drop their story about organic marketing on there, to again get people fired up and show what can be achieved. Jo: Okay. That's on Facebook. So then let's talk about the setup. I think a lot of the time I get concerned about video because I think everything has to be on my phone. How are you setting this up technically so you can get filmed and also see comments and all of this kind of stuff? Adam: Just with my phone. Jo: It is just on your phone? Adam: Yes. I don't use any fancy camera tricks or anything. I literally just settle my phone and hit record when I'm doing it. Jo: But you set it up on a tripod or something? Adam: Yes. So I'll have a tripod. I don't do any fancy lighting or anything like that because I want the content to seem as real as possible. I'll set up the camera at an angle that shows whatever task I'm doing. For example, if I'm packing orders, I can see the screen so I can see the comments as they're coming up. It's close enough to me to interact. At Christmas, we did have a bit of a setup—it did look like a QVC channel, I'm not going to lie! I was at the back. There was a table in front of me with products on. We had mystery book bags. We had a Christmas tree. We had a big banner behind me. The camera was on the other side of the room, but I just had my laptop next to me that was logged into TikTok, so I was watching the live stream so I could see any comments coming up. Jo: Yes, that's the thing. So you can have a different screen with the comments. Because that's what I'm concerned about—it might just be the eyesight thing, but I'm like, I just can't literally do everything on the phone. Adam: TikTok has a studio—TikTok Studio—that you can download, and you can get all your data and analytics in there for your live streams. At the moment, I'll just tap the screen to add a new product or pin a new product. You can do all that from your computer on this studio where you can say, “Right, I'm showcasing this product now,” click on it and it'll come up onto the live stream. You just have to link the two together. Jo: I'm really thinking about this. Partly this is great because my other concern with TikTok and all these video channels is how much can be done by AI now. TikTok has its own AI generation stuff. A lot of it's amazing. I'm not saying it's bad quality, I'm saying it's amazing quality, but— What AI can't do is the live stuff. You just can't—I mean, I imagine you can fake it, but you can't fake it. Adam: Well, you'd be surprised. I've seen live streams where it's like an avatar on the screen and there is someone talking and then the avatar moving in live as that person's talking. Jo: Right? Adam: I've seen that where it's animals, I've seen it where it's like a 3D person. There's a really popular stream at the minute that is just a cartoon cat on the stream. Whenever you send a gift, it starts singing whoever sent it—it gets a name—and that's a system that someone has somehow set up. I have no idea how they've set it up, but they're literally not doing it. That can run 24 hours a day. There's always hundreds and hundreds of people on it sending gifts to hear this cat sing with an AI voice their name. Yes, AI will work and it will work for different things. But I think with us and with our books, people want that human connection more than ever because of AI. Use that to your advantage. Jo: Okay. So the other thing I like about this idea is you are doing these live sales and then you are looking at the amount you've sold. But are you making changes to it? Or are you only tweaking the content on your prerecorded stuff? Your live is so natural. How are you going to change it up, I guess? Adam: I am always testing what is working, what's not working. For example, I'm a big nerd at heart and I collect Pokémon cards. Now that I'm older, I can afford some of the more rare stuff, and me and my daughter have a lot of enjoyment collecting Pokémon cards together. We follow channels, we watch stuff on YouTube, and I was looking at what streamers do with Pokémon cards and how they sell like mystery products on an app or whatnot. I was like, “How can I apply this to books?” And I came up with the idea of doing mystery book bags. People pay 20 pounds, they get some goodies—some carefully curated goodies, as we say, that “Mrs. B” has put together. On stream, I never give the audience Sarah's name. It's always “Mrs. B.” So Mrs. B has built up her own brand within the stream—they go feral when she comes on camera to say hi! Then there's some goodies in there. That could be some tote socks, a tote bag, cup holders, page holders, metal pins, things like that. Then inside that, I'll pull out a thing that will say what book they're getting from our product catalogue. What I make clear is that could be anything from our product catalogue. So that could be a single book, it could be six books, it could be a three-book bundle. There's all sorts that people can get. It could be a deluxe special edition. People love that, and they tend to buy it because there's so much choice and they might be struggling with, “Right, I don't know what to get.” So they think, “You know what? I'll buy one of them mystery book bags.” I only do them when I'm live. I've done streams where the camera's on me. I've done top-down streams where you can only see my hands and these mystery book bags. Every time someone orders one, I'm just opening it live and showcasing what product they get from the stream. People love it to the point where every stream I do, they're like, “When are you doing the next mystery book bags? When are you doing the next ones?” Jo: So if we were on live now and I click to buy, you see the order with my name and you just write “Jo” on it, and then you put it in a pile? Adam: So you print labels there and then, which I'll do. Exactly. If I'm live packing them—I'm not going to lie—when I'm set up properly, I don't have time to pack them because the orders are coming in that thick and fast. All I do is have a Post-it note next to me, and I'll write down their username, then I'll stick that onto their order. I'll collect everything, showcase what they're getting, the extra goodies that they're getting with their order, and then I'll stick the Post-it on and put that to one side. To put that into context as something that works through testing different things: we started off doing 60 book bags—30 of them were spicy book bags, 30 were general fantasy which had my books and a couple of our authors that haven't got spice in their books—and the aim was to sell them within a month. We sold them within one stream. 60 book bags at 20 pounds a pop. What that also generated is people then buying other products while we're doing it. It also meant that I'd do it all on a Friday, and we'd come in on a Monday and start the week with 40, 50, 60 orders to pack regardless of what's coming from the Shopify store. The level of orders is honestly obscene, but we've continuously learned how best to manage this. We learned that actually, if you showcase the orders, stick a Post-it on, when we print the shipping labels, it takes us five minutes to just put all the shipping labels with everyone's orders. Then we can just fire through packing everything up because everything's already bundled together. It literally just needs putting in a box. Jo: Okay. So there's so much we could talk about, but hopefully people will look into this more. So I went to go watch a video—I thought, “Oh, well, I'll just go watch Adam do this. I'm sure there's a recording”—and then I couldn't find one. So tell me about that. Does [the live recording] just disappear or what? Adam: Yes, it does. It's live for a reason. You can download it afterwards if you want, and then you've got content to repurpose. In fact, you're giving me an idea. I've done a live today—I could download that clip that's an hour and 20 minutes long. Some of it, I'm just rambling, but some of it's got some content that I could absolutely use because I'm engaging with people. I've showcased books throughout it because I've been packing orders. I had an hour window before this podcast and I had a handful of orders to pack. So I just jumped on a live and I made like 250 pounds while doing a job that I would already be having to do. I could download that video, put it in OpusClip, and that will then generate short-form content for me of the meaningful interaction through that, based on the parameters that I give it. So that's absolutely something you could do. In fact, I'm probably going to do it now that you've given me the idea. Jo: Because even if it was on another channel, like you could put that one on YouTube. Adam: Yes. Wherever you want. It doesn't have a watermark on it. Jo: And what did you say? OpusClip? Adam: OpusClip, yes. If you do long-form content of any kind, you can put that in and then it'll pull out meaningful content. Loads of like 20, 30 short-form content video clips that you can use. It's a brilliant piece of software if you use it the right way. Jo: Okay. Well I want you to repurpose that because I want to watch you in action, but I'm not going to turn up for your live—although now I'm like, “Oh, I really must.” So does that also mean—you said it's UK only because the TikTok shop is linked to the UK— So people in America can't even see it? Adam: So sometimes they do pop in, but again, that's why I have a separate channel for my main author account. When I go live on that, anyone from around the world can come in. But if I've got shoppable links in, chances are the algorithm is just going to put that out to a UK audience because that's where TikTok will then make money. If I want to hit my US audience, I'll jump on Instagram because that's where I've got my biggest following. So I'll jump on Instagram and go live over there at a time that I know will be appropriate for Americans. Jo: Okay. We could talk forever, but I do have just a question about TikTok itself. All of these platforms seem to follow a way of things where at the beginning it's much easier to get reach. It is truly organic. It's really amazing. Then they start putting on various brakes—like Facebook added groups, and then you couldn't reach people in your groups. And then you had to pay to play. Then in the US of course, we've got a sale that has been signed. Who knows what will happen there. What are your thoughts on how TikTok has changed? What might go on this year, and how are you preparing? Adam: So, I think as a businessman and an author who wants to reach readers, I use the platforms for what I can get out of them without having to spend a stupid amount of money. If those platforms stop working for me, I'll stop using them and find one that does. With organic reach on TikTok, I think you'll always have a level of that. Is it harder now? Yes. Does that mean it's not achievable? Absolutely not. If your content isn't reaching people, or you're not getting the engagement that you want, or you find fulfilling, you need to look at yourself and the content you are putting out. You are in control of that. There's elements of this takeover in America—again, I've got zero control over that, so I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I'll focus on areas that are making a difference. As I said, TikTok isn't the biggest earner for my business. My author channel's been absolutely dead for a good six months or so. But that means I get stagnant with the content I'm creating. So the challenge I'm doing at the minute, I'm taking part to create fresh content every day to recharge myself. I've got Instagram and Facebook that generate high volumes of traffic every single day. And usually if they stop, TikTok starts to work. Any algorithm changes—things will change when it changes hands in America—but primarily it still wants to make money. It's a business. If anything, it might make it harder for us to reach America because it will want to focus on reaching an American audience for the people that are buying TikTok shop. But they want it because they want the TikTok shop because of the amount of money that it is generating. It's gone from a small amount of people making money to large volumes of businesses across the entire USA—like over here now—that are reaching an audience that previously you had to have deep pockets to reach, to get your business set up. Now you've got all these businesses popping up that are starting from scratch because they're reaching people. They've got a product that's marketable, that people want to enjoy. They want to be part of that growth. I think that will still happen. It might just be a few of the parameters change, like Facebook does all the time. Jo: Things will always change. That is key. We should also say by selling direct, you've built presumably a very big email list of buyers as well. Adam: Yes. I've actually got a trophy that Shopify sent me because we hit 10,000 sales—10,000 customers. I think we're nearing 16,000 sales on there now. We've got all that customer data. We don't get that on TikTok. We haven't got the customer data. Jo: Ah, that's interesting. Okay. How do you not though? Oh, because—did they ship it? Adam: So if you link it with your Shopify and you do all your shipping direct, the customer data has to come to your Shopify, otherwise you can't ship. When TikTok ship it for you—so I print the shipping labels, but they organise the couriers—all the customer data's blotted out. It's like redacted, so you don't see it. Jo: Ah, see that is in itself a cheeky move. Adam: Yes. But if it's linked to your Shopify, you get all that data and your Shopify is your store. So your Shopify will keep that data. They kept affecting how I extracted the shipping labels and stuff like that, and just kept making life really difficult. So I've just switched it back. I think Sarah has found an app that works really well for correlating the two. Jo: Yes, but this is a really big deal. We carp on about it all the time, but— If you sell direct and you do get the customer data, you are building an email list of actual buyers as opposed to freebie seekers. Which a lot of people have. Adam: Absolutely, and that's the same for you. If you send poor products out or your customer has a poor experience, they're not going to come back and order from you again. If your customer has a really good experience and opens the products and sees all this extra care that's gone in and all the books are signed, then they've not had to pay extra. There was a Kickstarter—I'm not going to name which author it was—but it was an author whose book I was quite excited to back. They had these special editions they'd done, but you had to buy a special edition for an extra 30 quid if you wanted it signed. I was like, “Absolutely not.” If these people are putting their hands in their pockets for these deluxe special editions, and if you're a big name author, it's certainly not them that have anything to do with it. They just have other companies do it all for them. Whereas with us, you are creating everything. Our way of saying thank you to everyone is by signing the book. Jo: I love that you're still so enthusiastic about it and that it seems to be going really well. So we're almost out of time, but just quickly— Tell people a bit more about the books that they can find in your stores and where people can find them. Adam: Yes. So we publish predominantly fantasy, and we have moved into the spicy fantasy world. We have a few series there. You can check out APBeswickPublications.com where you will see our full product catalogue and all of my books. On TikTok shop, we are under a.p_beswick_publications. That's the best place to see where I go live—short-form content. I'll post spicy books on there, but on lives, I showcase everything. I also have fantasy.books.uk, where that's where you'll see the videos or product links for the non-spicy fantasy books. Jo: And what time do you go live in the UK? Adam: So I go live 8:00 AM every Friday morning. Jo: Wow. Okay. I might even have to check that out. This has been so great, Adam. Thanks so much for your time. Adam: Well, thank you for having me.The post Selling Books Live On Social Media With Adam Beswick first appeared on The Creative Penn.

I sit down with Mark Walsh for a wide-ranging and unfiltered conversation about the collapse of meaning in modern life and how it is impacting men in particular. We explore why young men feel lost, why modern psychology and culture are failing them, and what it actually takes to stay grounded in an increasingly chaotic world.We talk about masculinity, embodiment, faith, community, and why comfort-driven modernity is producing anxiety rather than fulfillment. This is a challenging conversation that does not offer platitudes, but it does offer a path forwardSHOW HIGHLIGHTS00:00 - The Death Cult of Modernity01:21 - What Is Really Happening to Young Men06:15 - Meaning, God, and the Collapse of Culture10:28 - Why Modern Life Feels Insane16:10 - The Gender Divide and Radicalization23:47 - Why Men Feel Politically Homeless31:30 - Joker Energy and Cultural Breakdown36:27 - The Four Reconnections Men Need44:16 - Feminism as Ersatz Religion48:20 - What Modern Psychology Gets Wrong54:22 - How Men Become Embodied Again***Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worthPick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/Heard about attachment but don't know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To AttachmentCheck out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your RelationshipBuild brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance. Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they're looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | SpotifyFor more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

RV PODCAST NEWS EDITIONEpisode 586 - January 26, 2026Hey everybody, welcome to the RV Podcast News Edition. I'm Mike Wendland, and this is where we cut through the press releases, the hype, and the corporate spin to talk about what is really happening in the RV world.Now, quick programming note. If you are listening to this later in the week, we are watching a massive winter snow and ice storm that has affected campgrounds, travel plans, and even caused park closures across large parts of the country. Winter storm Fern has affected a huge swath of the country, 2,300 miles long, from Texas all the way to the East Coast. Ten states have reported more than a foot of snow. Many areas reported in excess of a half inch of ice. In some areas, an inch was reported, bringing down tree limbs across power lines. Well over a million customers have lost electric power and some may be without it for a week or more because of infrastructure damage and terrible road conditions.And as the snow, ice, and sleet slowly move off the eastern coast today, a massive cold front of arctic air is plunging much of the nation to dangerously cold temperatures. In the south, where temps rarely go below freezing, single-digit readings are being reported this morning.Obviously, this has affected many thousands in the RV Community. Fulltimers, even snowbirds who thought they were escaping the worst of winter in the mod south, are struggling to stay warm and keep the water running.The full affect of this storm is still be assessed but from everything we've been able to learn, RVers in the affected areas are reporting frozen water pumps at many campgrounds, propane shortages in the most affected areas and in some cases, no power. We've had reports from dozens of RVers impacted by the snow and overall, most say they are getting by. Most laid in plenty of bottled water, extra food, and made sure they had full tanks of propane and extra fuel for generators. One RVer - John, who lives in his Alliance fifth wheel in Missouri - said his biggest challenge was all the snow and ice piled on top of his slide out. He says the frigid air behind the snow isnt going to allow much melting and he is planning to get a ladder to clear the snow off.In Arkansas, a full-time couple - Sarah and Jim - said they wish they followed their friend's advice to haul their Jayco south towards Florida. “We have gone through two tanks of propane so far and the roads are so bad we can't get out to get them filled.” Her campground still has electricity but she said the lights have flickered and she expects she'll have to switch to generator power as the ice on the power lines is not melting.Perhaps the best assessment came from Ted, a Tennessee fulltimer, who lives in a fifth wheel on his own property along the Tennessee River.. “Most of us know what to do,” he said. “We can handle a week without power. We have a full fresh water tank and I have a 100 gallon propane tank to supplement the tanks in our rig. So we're dressed in heavy clothes and have extra blankets on the bed. This too shall pass.”Let's hope soon.Sop the storm dominates the RV news this week. But coming up, RVers are demanding a real voice with manufacturers, not a hand-picked group of industry insiders, and the response to that idea has been overwhelming.We will look at why campground reservations feel harder than ever to get, even as more parks are built. We will take a closer look at what is really happening in state parks, where long overdue upgrades are coming with some real tradeoffs. We will talk about used RV prices finally settling back toward reality.And we will have a little fun calling out how RV manufacturers keep copying each other's ideas, sometimes so closely it is honestly laughable.Before we get started…. a quick word about the RV Lifestyle Community at RVCommunity.com.If you are tired of ads, algorithms, and social media drama, this is different. It is a private, ad free community built by RVers, for RVers. Real conversations, real advice, real friendships.It is social media the way it SHOULD be.Learn more at RVCommunity.com.STORY 1 — It's Time RVers Had a Real VoiceFor years now, RVers have been talking among themselves about what is wrong with today's RVs.Too many quality issues. Too many poorly designed floorplans. Too many features that look great on a showroom floor but fail miserably in real life.And too often, it feels like no one in the industry is really listening.That thought hit home last week after a listener sent us a message that stopped us cold. He asked a simple but powerful question.Why don't RVers have a direct voice with manufacturers?With massive consolidation among RV manufacturers and dealers, buyers now have fewer real choices than ever before. You walk onto a mega dealer lot and see hundreds of rigs, but when you look closer, many are variations of the same designs, built by the same corporate parents, with the same lingering quality concerns.For many people ready to buy, the problem is not just price.It is confidence.They do not see the RV they actually want. And they are afraid to buy because of what they hear about reliability and workmanship.That is a terrible place for any industry to be.So it raises a bigger question.Who is speaking for real RVers?Right now, manufacturers mostly hear from dealers, sales teams, investors, and marketing departments.What is missing?Us.The people who actually live in these RVs. The ones who discover what works and what fails after thousands of miles of potholes, rainstorms, campground hookups, and real world use.Most feedback today is scattered across Facebook groups, YouTube comments, and forums. Thoughtful insights get buried in noise.That is not a system designed to build better RVs.It is a system designed to build frustration.So here is the idea that sparked a huge response.What if RVers spoke with one clear, organized, constructive voice?Imagine a live, moderated RVer Town Hall. Not a complaint fest. Not a shouting match. A serious conversation where experienced RVers present real world recommendations to manufacturers.Full timers and part timers. Fifth wheels and motorhomes. Retirees, families, weekend travelers.Talking about what actually matters.Build quality. Smarter layouts. Easier maintenance. Durability over decoration. Designs that match how people really camp.If structured properly and promoted well, manufacturers would pay attention. When customers speak thoughtfully and collectively, industries listen.Before we build anything like this, we want to hear from you.If you had five minutes with RV executives and engineers, what would you tell them?Not angry rants.Real ideas.Leave us a voicemail or send us an email at RVPodcast.com. We may feature your ideas on the podcast and use them as the foundation for a future live RVer Town Hall.This is not about tearing down manufacturers.It is about helping them build RVs that truly serve the people who buy them.Because the best RVs will not be created in boardrooms alone.They will be created when real RVers are finally heard.TRAVEL PLANNING WORKSHOP PROMOBefore we move on, a quick reminder.On February 5, I am hosting a live RV Travel Planning Workshop. This is where I walk you through how to plan smarter routes, find better campgrounds, avoid common mistakes, and build trips that actually match how you want to travel.It is practical, hands on, and you will walk away with a plan you can use immediately.Details and registration are available through our site, and I would love to have you join me.STORY 2 — Campgrounds Are Expanding, But Reservations Are Tighter Than EverHere is something RVers keep asking.If more campgrounds are being built, why does it feel harder than ever to get a reservation?On paper, things look good. New private parks are opening. Existing parks are adding sites. States are investing in infrastructure.But in practice, availability feels tighter than ever.RVers are traveling more often and staying longer. More parks are shifting toward monthly and seasonal stays for predictable income. Reservation systems make booking easier, but also more competitive.The result is a paradox.More campgrounds exist. But fewer open dates feel available.For RVers, this means planning earlier, being flexible, and sometimes looking beyond the most obvious destinations.STORY 3 — State Parks Are Upgrading, With Strings AttachedState parks are getting long overdue upgrades.New electrical systems. Rebuilt bathhouses. Extended sites for larger rigs.But these improvements come with tradeoffs.California has seen higher fees and reservation windows that fill in minutes. Florida has fewer first come, first served sites. Michigan's modernization brings 50 amp service and sewer hookups, but also higher nightly rates and tighter booking rules.Better infrastructure. Higher costs. Less spontaneity.State parks are still incredible values, but the old days of pulling in on a whim are fading fast.STORY 4 — Used RV Prices Are Finally Coming Back to EarthUsed RV prices continue to soften.Inventory is up. Buyers are cautious. Dealers are negotiating again.But buyers are selective.Condition matters. Maintenance records matter. Build quality matters.This shift is healthy. Confidence is returning, and patience is finally being rewarded.STORY 5 — Manufacturers Keep Copying Each Other, And It's Getting ObviousNow let's have a little fun, because this is one of those things you cannot unsee once you notice it.RV manufacturers love to talk about innovation.But if you walk a major RV show floor, you quickly realize how much copying is really going on.Case in point, the dinesk, that combination dining area and desk that slides, expands, and adapts depending on how you are using it.It was a standout feature in Brinkley RV models, clever, functional, and genuinely useful for how people live and work on the road.Fast forward to the Tampa RV SuperShow.Suddenly, a new Montana ad is showcasing a remarkably similar setup. And Winnebago rolls out a new towable with a nearly identical movable desk and dining combo.Coincidence? Not likely.And here is the part that makes industry veterans chuckle. Brinkley itself has been told that their dinesk concept resembles a similar idea introduced years ago by another fifth wheel manufacturer.In other words, the copying goes back generations.This is how the RV industry often works. One company takes a risk. Others watch carefully. And once the market responds, suddenly everyone has their own version.Sometimes that is healthy competition.But other times, it leads to stagnation. Instead of improving the idea, manufacturers simply replicate it, sometimes poorly, sometimes without understanding why it worked in the first place.The real opportunity here is not copying.It is listening.RVers know what features actually improve life on the road. They know what gets used every day, and what becomes a gimmick by the third trip.If manufacturers spent more time listening to real RVers and less time copying the rig across the aisle, innovation might actually mean something again.CLOSINGWhen you step back and look at all of this together, a pattern emerges.RVers want better built rigs. They want campgrounds they can actually access. They want state parks that balance upgrades with affordability. And they want to be heard.The RV lifestyle is thriving, but growth brings pressure. How the industry responds now will shape the next decade of RVing.Thanks for listening. We'll be back Wednesday with another Stories from the Road episode.

In this insightful episode, Grayson Harris sits down with Bennett Weiner, the newly appointed CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org).As we move through 2025 and look toward 2026, the landscape of philanthropy is shifting rapidly. Bennett shares his expertise on the critical importance of nonprofit transparency, the "evolving" nature of accountability standards, and how organizations can navigate a world where AI bots may soon outnumber humans.Key TakeawaysThe Power of Accreditation: Unlike rating systems that use arbitrary letter grades, Give.org focuses on a 20-standard evaluation process covering governance, finances, and privacy.The Information Gap: A startling 2025 survey revealed that only 32% of Americans were aware of federal grant reductions. Nonprofits must proactively educate their donors rather than assuming they know the challenges.The "Founder Syndrome" Risk: Bennett discusses the importance of objective governance and why the transition from a founder-led "passion project" to an adult, governed organization is vital for long-term survival.AI Policy is Non-Negotiable: With the rise of generative AI, nonprofits need clear policies on oversight and accuracy verification to maintain trust. ---------------------------About Charity ChargeCharity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

Send us a textLife and parenting often feels so fraught, so overwhelming, and so frustrating. We're navigating unprecedented attacks on queer and trans folks and youth. Of course, as parents, we stay vigilant, trying to anticipate what might come next so we can support and protect our kids. But even as we hunt for answers to all our practical questions, we still need something else to keep us going: sources of hope, grounding, and inspiration. Today, we get to offer you just that through the incredible work of BAGLY, the Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth—a youth-led, adult-supported organization that has spent nearly fifty years building safe spaces, affirming identities, and lifting up queer and trans young people. For half a century, BAGLY has been a beacon of belonging, envisioning a future where LGBTQ+ youth not only survive, but shine, shaping Boston and far beyondSpecial Guest: Elliott-Timothy ViridianElliott-Timothy Viridian is an educator, writer, poet, and essayist from the greater US South. Viridian has written extensively about his upbringing, black feminist politics, and black masculinities within and around the Southern Black tradition. Viridian has spoken and continues to speak across the country on queer issues & rights.Special Guest: Evander RagsdaleEvander Ragsdale (he/they) is a freshman at Skidmore College studying English. He has been with BAGLY for over a year and spends his free time writing and playing ultimate frisbee.Special Guest: Kris ChoKris Cho (any/all) is a queer Korean American poet and educator hailing from Mid-Missouri. They currently work at BAGLY as the Youth Leadership and Advocacy Coordinator. Prior to BAGLY, Kris worked as a Bargaining and Campaign Strategy Coordinator for the Massachusetts Teachers Association and a Slam Poetry Coach at John D. O'Bryant School for Mathematics and Science, where they are currently a poet-in-residence. They are a 2023 Best of the Net nominee, a 2024 RWW Poetry Fellow, and 2025 Periplus Fellow. Their debut chapbook Chosun Cowboy (Abode Press) will be published in 2026.Links from the Show: Bagly websiteJoin Mama Dragons todayIn the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today. Support the showConnect with Mama Dragons:WebsiteInstagramFacebookDonate to this podcast

Carry the Fire is the most important thing we do in Men's Alliance—because it trains men to become better ambassadors for Christ.But in 2026, we're bringing that training out of the “back corner”… and making it accessible to more people.✅ Start the Fire is our new 100% online apologetics training: • 10 self-paced lessons • short videos + notes + quick quizzes • can be completed in about 3 hours total • built for everyone (women, teens, church groups, families) • based on the book Answer with Truth • and it's only $39 (priced to train, not to profit)This training equips you to:Explain the gospel. Answer tough questions. Represent Christ.It's also now the prerequisite for Carry the Fire—so if you're aiming for your Men's Alliance patch, this is your first step.➡️ Get it at https://carrythefiretraining.com (or Men's Alliance website → Training)Follow Men's AllianceInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mensalliancetribe/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mensalliancetribeTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mensalliancetribeWebsite - https://www.mensalliancetribe.com/Explore Battlefield Coaching today and find yourself a Coach with experience overcoming a battle you are currently facing - https://battlefieldcoaching.comOrder the Book - Answer With Truth: The Ambassador's Field Manual for Leading Your Family Spiritually - https://amzn.to/3BmnuKV

In this week's episode of the Infinite Potential of Being Human Podcast Nicky is joined by Connor Beaton, leading men's work facilitator, speaker, teacher, and coach.Connor shares his journey with Man Talks, a platform focused on male empowerment and personal development, and the importance of addressing men's work through a conscious lens in today's landscape and cultural context.They dive into the unique circumstances that are shaping the societal experience of men, the impact of fatherlessness, and the complexities of attachment trauma. Creating a space for our collective emotional growth and healing through a lens of our maturation.This is such an important conversation to be having at this time on our planet, so that we can rise and heal together. If you are wanting to dive deeper into the unique experience of men while exploring our collective similarities, this episode is for you.—You'll Learn:How men often create their own initiation processes through life collapsesInsight on the unique circumstances that are shaping the experience of men in today's societyThe fundamental role of ‘need' in attachment developmentStrategies for connection, secure attachment, trust, and expressing mutual needs And lot's more!— Connor Beaton is a leading men's work facilitator, speaker, teacher, and coach. For over a decade, he has helped men and women around the world navigate their darkness and grow in the realms of self-leadership, relational depth, emotional resilience, and sexual intimacy. After the unspoken rules of traditional masculinity left him homeless and on the edge of suicide, Connor founded ManTalks — a global organization that supports individuals in healing their relationship with masculinity, within themselves, their communities, and their intimate partnerships.He is the founder of The Alliance, a private community of men committed to high-integrity living and self-mastery, and the creator of several transformational programs, including How to Work With Men, The Shadow Course, The Porn Detox, and the Men's Self-Leadership Program. These offerings equip men with the tools to confront their inner sabotage, reclaim clarity and power, and lead from a place of depth and discipline.Connor is also a sought-after international speaker, the host of the top-ranked ManTalks Podcast, and a mentor to men ready to do the deep work of purpose, healing, and transformation. Whether through 1-on-1 coaching or immersive men's weekends, his mission is clear: to help men face the parts of themselves they've avoided and live with grounded clarity, responsibility, and heart.For more information:Discover the Alliance: https://mantalks.com/alliance/Check out the Man Talks Podcast:  https://www.youtube.com/ManTalksAnd find him on Instagram: @mantalks— Ready to Go Deeper? Access Nicky's FREE Discovering Freedom Masterclass: https://nickyclinch.lpages.co/the-discovering-freedom-masterclass/In this powerful masterclass, you'll:Identify the root of the repeating patterns that have been running your lifeDiscover who you truly are beyond the fears and stories that have kept you stuckLearn the foundations of the BodyMind Maturation Method™ and how to use it in your own lifeTake your first step toward creating lasting freedom in your relationships, work, and self-expressionThis is your invitation to go beyond surface-level change and start transforming at the root.— Connect with Nicky: Visit my website: https://nickyclinch.com/ Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicky_clinch/ Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickyclinchmaturation Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/nicky-clinch-surrender---Remember:  Transformation always feels uncomfortable – until it doesn't. Your next breakthrough might just be on the other side of what feels like falling apart.

Ce lundi 26 janvier, la véracité du discours du Premier ministre canadien à Davos concernant les agissements des États-Unis a été abordé par Emmanuel Combe, professeur à l'université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne et à la Skema Business School, Léonidas Kalogeropoulos, PDG de Médiation & Arguments, et Olivier Lluansi, professeur au CNAM et auteur de "Reindustrialiser, le défi d'une génération", dans l'émission Les Experts, présentée par Raphaël Legendre sur BFM Business. Retrouvez l'émission du lundi au vendredi et réécoutez la en podcast.

One of the most notable international initiatives of the Trump Administration has been its pursuit of Greenland. Recently the President has declared that the island is a national security issue and the US needs sovereignty over Greenland. It is currently an autonomous territory under the Danish flag. As of this recording, the US has stated … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – US threat to own Greenland is causing Europeans to rethink its longtime alliance with US – January 25, 2026 →

Orna Ross, director of the Alliance of Independent Authors, introduces ALLi's new guidebook, Sell More Books, now available for pre-order. The book focuses on practical, sustainable book promotion and challenges the idea that promotion is only for loud authors with big budgets. Ross explains how authors of all styles and temperaments can design promotional strategies that suit their work, their readers, and their energy. From direct sales and crowdfunding to newer AI-assisted tools, she looks at what's changing in book promotion and why, even in an AI-driven landscape, human connection remains central. Sponsor This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookfunnel. Do you have reader magnets, ARCs, and direct digital sales? Want to join multi-author promotions? Thousands of authors trust BookFunnel for seamless delivery and real human support. Visit BookFunnel.com. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Show Notes Sell More Books can be found on SelfPublishingStore.com About the Host Orna Ross launched the Alliance of Independent Authors at the London Book Fair in 2012. Her work for ALLi has seen her named as one of The Bookseller's "100 top people in publishing". She also publishes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction and is greatly excited by the democratizing, empowering potential of author-publishing. For more information about Orna, visit her website.

Trump sees any rules-based multilateralism as undermining American power and will no longer negotiate with or in a group. The middle power phenomenon is here to stay with truth in America lost. With Germany, France, Japan, Canada, and much of Europe exploring this new world, is this time for a new NAM?  Watch this week's #NationalInterest with Shekhar Gupta. 

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: Survival Alliance: A Hopeful Concord Amidst Turmoil Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2026-01-24-08-38-20-nl Story Transcript:Nl: In de grauwe schemer van een verlaten supermarkt dwaalde Bram door de kapotte gangen.En: In the gray twilight of an abandoned supermarket, Bram wandered through the broken aisles.Nl: Zijn adem was zichtbaar in de koude lucht, terwijl scherpe sneeuwwind zijn wangen kleurde.En: His breath was visible in the cold air, as the sharp snow wind colored his cheeks.Nl: Het was winter en ieder voedingsmiddel gaf een kans op overleving.En: It was winter, and every bit of food offered a chance at survival.Nl: De planken waren bijna leeg, met slechts een enkele blik bonen hier en daar.En: The shelves were almost empty, with only an occasional can of beans here and there.Nl: Bram schudde zijn hoofd, hij had meer nodig voor zijn groep.En: Bram shook his head; he needed more for his group.Nl: Zijn gedachten gingen uit naar Sanne, die hopeloos thuis op medicijnen wachtte.En: His thoughts went out to Sanne, who was hopelessly waiting at home for medicine.Nl: Ze was zwak, en ze had de medicijnen snel nodig.En: She was weak and needed the medicine quickly.Nl: De geluiden van krakend glas braken de stilte, en Bram verstijfde.En: The sounds of cracking glass broke the silence, and Bram froze.Nl: Hij trok zijn capuchon dichter om zijn gezicht.En: He pulled his hood tighter around his face.Nl: Hij had geruchten gehoord over andere groepen die hier rondneusden.En: He had heard rumors of other groups nosing around here.Nl: Gevaar loerde om elke hoek, en hij moest voorzichtig zijn.En: Danger lurked around every corner, and he had to be cautious.Nl: Bij het gangpad van de medicijnen stopte hij.En: At the medicine aisle, he stopped.Nl: Niets.En: Nothing.Nl: Alles was weg.En: Everything was gone.Nl: Hij zuchtte dieper dan de stille sneeuwstorm buiten.En: He sighed deeper than the silent snowstorm outside.Nl: Wat nu?En: What now?Nl: Hij keek om zich heen naar de gebarsten muren en doorweekte tegels.En: He looked around at the cracked walls and soaked tiles.Nl: En toen hoorde hij stemmen, laag en dralend, maar dreigend nabij.En: And then he heard voices, low and lingering, but threateningly close.Nl: Het was Kees en zijn groep.En: It was Kees and his group.Nl: Er was altijd een gespannen relatie geweest tussen hun groep en die van Bram.En: There had always been a tense relationship between their group and Bram's.Nl: Concurrentie om spullen kon snel uit de hand lopen, vooral nu er zo weinig was.En: Competition for supplies could quickly get out of hand, especially now that there was so little left.Nl: Bram klemde zijn hand om het mes in zijn zak.En: Bram gripped the knife in his pocket.Nl: In plaats van te vechten, zoals zijn instinct hem vertelde, haalde hij diep adem en stapte hij naar voren.En: Instead of fighting, as his instinct told him to, he took a deep breath and stepped forward.Nl: "Kees," begon hij, zijn stem verrassend vast, "we doen hier allemaal ons best om te overleven."En: "Kees," he began, his voice surprisingly steady, "we're all doing our best to survive here."Nl: Kees keek op, zijn gezicht half verborgen onder een dikke sjaal.En: Kees looked up, his face half-hidden under a thick scarf.Nl: "Wat wil je, Bram?"En: "What do you want, Bram?"Nl: "Een oplossing.En: "An answer.Nl: Samenwerking.En: Cooperation.Nl: Jij en ik weten dat er niet veel over is om voor te vechten.En: You and I both know there's not much left to fight for.Nl: Waarom niet delen?En: Why not share?Nl: Jouw mensen, mijn mensen, we kunnen het samen beter doen."En: Your people, my people, we can do better together."Nl: Kees was stil, zijn ogen zoekend naar een spoor van bedrog.En: Kees was silent, his eyes searching for a hint of deceit.Nl: Maar Bram's oprechtheid straalde helder in de donkere gang.En: But Bram's sincerity shone brightly in the dark aisle.Nl: Na een lange minuut knikte Kees langzaam.En: After a long minute, Kees nodded slowly.Nl: "Deal."En: "Deal."Nl: Die dag verlieten Bram en Kees, schouder aan schouder, de supermarkt, elk met een handvol schamal verzamelde benodigdheden, maar met iets veel waardevollers — hoop.En: That day, Bram and Kees, shoulder to shoulder, left the supermarket, each with a handful of scantily gathered supplies, but with something much more valuable—hope.Nl: Hoop op een betere wintervooruitzicht voor iedereen.En: Hope for a better winter outlook for everyone.Nl: Bram voelde de kou niet meer zo intens.En: Bram didn't feel the cold as intensely anymore.Nl: Er was een sprankje warmte in zijn hart, een nieuw besef dat samenwerken soms het beste wapen is tegen de vijandigheid van de wereld buiten.En: There was a spark of warmth in his heart, a new realization that cooperation is sometimes the best weapon against the hostility of the world outside.Nl: Het was een stap naar een nieuwe toekomst, een waarin overleven iets minder wreed leek in de harde wintermaanden.En: It was a step toward a new future, one in which surviving seemed a bit less cruel during the harsh winter months. Vocabulary Words:twilight: schemerabandoned: verlatenwandered: dwaaldevisible: zichtbaarsurvival: overlevingoccasional: enkelehopelessly: hopelooscracking: krakendlurking: loerdecautious: voorzichtigaisle: gangpadsoaked: doorweektelingering: dralendthreateningly: dreigendtense: gespannencompetition: concurrentiescantily: schamalspark: sprankjehostility: vijandigheidweapon: wapenoutlook: vooruitzichtrealization: besefgripped: klemdedeceit: bedrogsincerity: oprechtheidfrozen: verstijfderumors: geruchtencooperation: samenwerkingstep: stapgathered: verzamelde

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  The only time NATO's Article 5 was invoked, Europeans bled alongside Americans. To dismiss that sacrifice is to misunderstand history, alliances, and honor itself. Thucydides warned us long ago: when societies forget the bond between thinkers and warriors, both suffer. Europe hasn't forgotten. That's why the anger is real.

On this episode @Travis_156 & @Um_Actually_ catch up on a couple weeks of DC news Including:Hodson BATB writerFirst Look at LoboMaxima in MOT& Much More!

We've got a Corey Goode court update and it appears to the man has been lying to the judge. Checking in with James Rink as he interviews Jay Essex again. We get a lot of fascinating info. Atlantis was destroyed by manga, Corey Goode is being mislead by the Alliance and was tricked by the Annunaki, dolphins say there's going to be a tsunami, and Jay was actually Joan of Arc!If you enjoyed the show, please Like & Subscribe to our channel and share the links. This show can be found @hiddeninplainsightradio on Instagram and @thehiddenpod on Twitter.iTunes Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-in-plain-sight/id1488538144?i=1000459997594Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zsntvl63Do7m9gNTD8Za2?si=MczvbuMlRuCbmWChclVUZAYouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRejWJs0hn8pefj5FiE7ZQRumble Link: https://rumble.com/c/c-389525If you want to support the show, check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hiddeninplainsightpod

In his first seven years in office, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis had a lot of challenges and tragedies to contend with: the COVID-19 pandemic; the 2021 Marshall Fire and other climate disasters; shootings in Boulder, Highlands Ranch, Colorado Springs and Evergreen. These events defined his governorship, as did, what he's heralded as, some big-ticket policy wins: free full-day kindergarten and universal preschool, cutting the income tax, and wooing the Sundance Film Festival to Boulder. But during his final State of the State address this month, Polis made it clear there's still work to be done in his lame-duck year. CPR's Bente Birkeland, KUNC's Lucas Brady Woods and The Colorado Sun's Jesse Paul discuss what's on the governor's to-do list, how policy clashes with his own party could play out this session and the pressures from a  White House that seems bent on punishing Colorado. Catch up on our latest coverage: Purplish: Get ready for a new legislative session under Colorado's Gold Dome Colorado Matters: Polis talks advancements on Colorado agenda amid federal pressure The Colorado Sun: Colorado's governor gave his 8th and final State of the State speech. We analyzed everything he said. The Colorado Sun: House declines to override Trump veto of bill to complete water pipeline in southeastern Colorado Tina Peters from CPR, KUNC and The Colorado Sun Purplish: A rare veto showdown at the State Capitol Purplish: Why is Douglas County so worked up about home rule? Purplish: Some Colorado cities plan to ignore new housing density laws Purplish: The embattled Labor Peace Act  Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Purplish's producer is Stephanie Wolf. Megan Verlee is CPR News' executive producer of podcasts. Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey. The theme music is by Brad Turner.

Recorded 2026-01-23 02:00:25

Simon's Friday morning update for James O'Brien's programme on the UK's LBC.#Trump #Starmer #NATO #Davos #WEF #WEF2026 #simonmarks #LBC #news #uspolitics #ukpolitics #carney #jacksmith

At a moment of growing tension across the Atlantic, Europe is quietly questioning one of its most critical assumptions: can it rely on the United States as a long-term energy partner?In this timely episode of Energy Vista, Leslie Palti-Guzman sits down with Marco Margheri, Chairman of the World Energy Council Italy and affiliated with ENI in Washington, DC, to unpack Europe's deepening energy anxiety and what it reveals about a rapidly shifting global order.This conversation goes beyond gas molecules. Leslie and Marco dig into: Why Europe's post-war assumptions about codependence with Russia, China, and the U.S. are no longer viable The emerging role of oil and gas companies as strategic actors in an era of geopolitical volatility Why Italy's energy diversification strategy offers lessons for the rest of Europe How the U.S.–China AI and energy race is reordering global priorities, faster than Europe may realizeCandid, thoughtful, and unscripted, this episode is a must-listen for anyone trying to understand where European energy security is heading and whether the transatlantic relationship can adapt.

00:01 – Cold open, welcome back, Season 7 kickoff, and server shout-outs 06:45 – Technical chaos, camera setup banter, and live-stream realities 13:30 – Sponsor spots, giveaways, and community appreciation 20:05 – Cheesecake giveaways, shipping stories, and community reactions 27:10 – Arc timing clarification and “final weekend” discussion 33:00 – Starfleet Academy talk, Trek fandom reactions, and internet discourse 39:20 – Transition to STFC focus and interim schedule discussion 46:10 – January progress check: what players focused on this arc 52:40 – Prep mindset for Galactic Rush and future content pacing 01:00:30 – How January choices impact February efficiency 01:07:45 – Spending styles: whales vs grinders vs planners 01:15:20 – Community goal-setting across ops levels 01:23:10 – What “finishing a loop” really means in modern STFC 01:31:40 – Alliance tournaments, repair tokens, and resource drains 01:39:15 – Player burnout, pacing issues, and expectation management 01:47:05 – Interim events as a strategic reset window 01:55:30 – Trust, communication, and Scopely's recent improvements 02:03:50 – Community feedback, long-term planning, and realism checks 02:12:40 – Final thoughts on preparation, flexibility, and adaptation 02:21:10 – Wrap-up, reminders, shout-outs, and sign-off

In the latest edition of the No-Till Farmer podcast — brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, No-Till Farmer President and CEO Mike Lessiter caught up with Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Executive Director of the Modern Ag Alliance, following her TED TALK-style presentation at the 2026 National No-Tillage Conference in St. Louis. Burns-Thompson discusses the work being done to protect farmers' choices in crop protection tools, reflects on her ag journey and dives deeper into the important role everyone in conservation agriculture plays and much more.

We explore the future of the Western military alliance following Greenland de-escalation. Plus: Winkreative’s Ariel Childs on Great Britain’s new colours for the America’s Cup and the Oscar nominationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Part 2 of this video, I dive into the works of Dostoyevsky, Nietzsche, and Kant to share five psychological pillars that will help you build inner sovereignty and resilience. We explore the necessity of integrating your aggression and choosing meaningful suffering over empty comfort. Finally, I challenge you to speak the truth even when it risks your social approval, as this is essential for maintaining trust in yourself.SHOW HIGHLIGHTS00:00 The 5 Psychological Pillars from Great Philosophers2:02 Why Comfort is Not Meaning12:57 Choosing Truth Over Approval20:28 Recap: The 5 Pillars of Manhood***Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worthPick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/Heard about attachment but don't know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To AttachmentCheck out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your RelationshipBuild brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance. Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they're looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | SpotifyFor more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

In this episode, Dr. Karen Litzy discusses the critical issue of falls among the elderly with Nikesh Patel, PT, a physical therapist and executive director of the Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation. They explore alarming statistics on falls, the need for proactive prevention strategies, and the SAFE Act, which aims to address fall risks and improve the quality of life for older adults. The conversation emphasizes the importance of advocacy and the role of physical therapists in preventing falls and promoting independence in aging individuals.   Takeaways        Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in people over 65. ·      Many falls are preventable, and physical therapists play a key role in prevention. ·      The healthcare system is often reactive rather than proactive regarding fall prevention. ·      The SAFE Act aims to provide fall risk assessments through physical therapy. ·      Therapists are underpaid and need to advocate for better compensation. ·      The SAFE Act could be the first legislation to include therapists in preventive care under Medicare. ·      Advocacy for the SAFE Act requires storytelling and personal experiences. ·      The economic impact of falls extends beyond healthcare costs to workforce participation. ·      Aging does not mean losing independence; proactive measures can help maintain it. ·      The importance of persistence in advocacy efforts for healthcare legislation.   Chapters 00:00 Understanding the Fall Crisis in America ·      09:59 Proactive Approaches to Fall Prevention ·      20:10 The SAFE Act: A Legislative Solution ·      29:56 Advocacy and the Role of Physical Therapists ·        More About Nick: Working at the intersection of clinical care, public policy, and prevention. Nikesh Patel is a physical therapist and the Executive Director of the Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality & Innovation, also known as APTQI.   APTQI represents organizations committed to improving access to high-quality physical therapy — and right now, they're championing bipartisan legislation in Congress called the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly Act, or the SAFE Act.   Resources from this Episode APTQI APTQI on LinkedIn APTQI on Instagram   Jane Sponsorship Information: Book a one-on-one demo here Mention the code LITZY1MO for a free month   Follow Dr. Karen Litzy on Social Media: Karen's Instagram Karen's LinkedIn   Subscribe to Healthy, Wealthy & Smart: YouTube Website Apple Podcast Spotify SoundCloud Stitcher iHeart Radio

A historic reset is unfolding in 2026—and the stakes couldn't be higher. In this powerful episode of The Staksast, Erick Stakelbeck is joined by ambassador Yechiel Leiter, Israel's Ambassador to the United States, for a wide-ranging, no-spin breakdown of what's next for Israel, America, and the Middle East as massive protests spread across Iran.   Ambassador Leiter explains why the Iranian people—92 million strong—are rising up after decades under the boot of the mullahs, a regime that has starved its own citizens of basic necessities while funneling billions to terror proxies worldwide. If the ayatollahs fall, Leiter says, the ripple effects could be seismic—opening the door to a new era of regional peace… and maybe even something he calls the “Cyrus Accords.”   We also dig into: Why Iran's missile program isn't just regional—it's aimed at the United States How Iran funds its terror empire: Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis Behind the scenes of the Trump–Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago meeting The surprising new signals coming out of Damascus—and Israel's cautious talks with Syria The growing “Qatar over Israel” deception—and why Israel remains America's most reliable strategic partner This is a must-watch conversation about peace through strength, the battle against state-sponsored terror, and the future of Judeo-Christian civilization Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SEGMENT 13: NATO'S DECLINE AND THE GREENLAND CRISIS Guest: Gregory Copley Copley argues the Greenland controversy reveals deeper fractures signaling NATO's erosion. Discussion examines how the alliance has weakened through neglect and diverging interests, European defensiveness over Arctic claims, and whether the transatlantic security architecture built after World War II can survive current political and strategic pressures.

SEGMENT 14: EMERGING SUNNI OR ISLAMIC NATO IN ASIA Guest: Gregory Copley Copley explores the potential formation of a new security alliance among Sunni Muslim nations in Asia. Discussion covers the strategic drivers behind such a coalition, which countries might participate, how this Islamic NATO could reshape regional power dynamics, and implications for Western alliances and Middle Eastern stability.

In this Q&A episode, I'm joined once again by Uncle Joe for a deep, honest conversation around one of the most painful places a man can find himself—feeling unwanted, disconnected, and hopeless in his marriage. We respond to a question from a husband who hasn't felt physical or emotional connection from his wife in over two years, and we unpack what really breaks down in marriages long before intimacy disappears.   This conversation goes far beyond surface-level advice. We talk about why most men were never trained for marriage, how resentment quietly builds, why treating marriage like a contract destroys connection, and how changing your internal narrative can shift everything. We also bring in perspectives from men inside the Dad Edge Alliance to show how humility, coachability, and intentional skill-building can restore trust, safety, and leadership at home. If your marriage feels distant or stuck, this episode offers clarity, hope, and a path forward.     Timeline Summary [0:00] Welcoming listeners to the third Q&A episode of January 2026 [1:19] Uncle Joe returns and the power of community-driven wisdom [2:13] Introducing a listener's marriage question about rejection and hopelessness [2:55] Why only 12% of married couples report feeling deeply connected [3:33] Asking the most important question: what have you actually learned about marriage? [4:26] Joe reflects on personal failure, divorce, and hard-earned lessons [5:14] Why hope exists if attraction once existed [5:35] How complacency and busyness quietly push marriage to the back burner [6:02] Marriage compared to learning an instrument—you can't wing it [7:21] Resentment, skill gaps, and whether marriages can truly be restored [8:05] Marriage as a covenant, not a contract [8:55] How destructive inner narratives shape behavior and connection [9:43] Transactional expectations and why they kill intimacy [10:41] Why "nice guy" energy erodes respect and attraction [11:30] Listening to understand instead of listening to defend [12:12] Mutual submission, humility, and shared leadership in marriage [13:15] Alliance member insight on asking for feedback from your wife [14:16] Faith, unity, and intentionally doing life together [15:49] Receiving feedback without ego or defensiveness [17:14] Emotional bank accounts and the power of daily deposits [18:50] Gottman's 5:1 and 10:1 ratios for healthy marriages [19:40] Giving your wife permission to coach you [20:45] Why conflict isn't the enemy—avoidance is [22:00] Reframing the role of a wife as a strengthener, not a subordinate [23:17] "It's not me vs. you, it's us vs. the problem" [23:43] Larry shares a personal season of anger and choosing humility [25:16] How couples can build something better than what they had before [25:51] Episode wrap-up and where to find resources     Five Key Takeaways Most men were never taught how to lead a marriage, and guessing your way through it creates disconnection.  Marriage breaks down through narratives and resentment long before intimacy disappears.  Treating marriage like a covenant—not a contract—changes everything.  Emotional deposits made consistently rebuild trust and safety over time.  When couples unite against the problem instead of each other, restoration becomes possible.      Links & Resources Dad Edge Alliance: https://thedadedge.com/alliance The Legendary Marriage Book: https://thedadedge.com/legendarybook Episode Show Notes & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1429     Closing Remark If this episode resonated with where you're at in your marriage, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. You don't have to figure this out alone—skill-building, humility, and brotherhood can change the direction of your marriage and your family. From my heart to yours, go out and live legendary.

Let's talk about Europe's alliance, Greenland, and Americans....

Sacred Jedi Texts is back! Hayley and Brian are joined by James Hewings to discuss The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams, which should be the final "DARTH" novel covered on SJT. Can the Jedi and Sith work together to fight off a common enemy? Tune in to find out! Also, speedy recovery to missing SJT Jedi Council member Suds, who was dealing with a mild case of the Blue Shadow virus.Novel covered: Star Wars: The Old Republic - Fatal Alliance, by Sean Williams.EMAIL: SPARCPODCAST@GMAIL.COMTWITTER: https://twitter.com/SourcePagesCastINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thesourcepagespodcast/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SPARCPODCASTSPaRC's Podcast Buddies:Across the Bifrost: The Mighty Thor - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/across-the-bifrost-the-mighty-thor-podcast/id1572200841Dan and Ian Have Questions - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dan-and-ian-have-questions-podcast/id1587402809Commute: The Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/commute-the-podcast/id1552657624Segabits - https://segabits.com/Machtails From the Cantina - https://www.facebook.com/machtailsfromthecantina/Rebel Force Radio Presents "The Babu Freaks" - https://www.rebelforceradio.com/shows/category/BaJacked Kirby - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jacked-kirby/id1248146026So Weird So Fun - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/so-weird-so-fun-swsf-friends-through-fandom/id1793135012Star Wars YOU-niverse - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-you-niverse-podcast/id1704904756

Alicia Menendez is in for Nicolle Wallace, covering the text messages between Norway's Prime Minister and Donald Trump amid the threats to annex Greenland. After Norway's PM asked to take the temperature down, Donald Trump insinuated that due to Norway's lack of support in giving Trump the Nobel Peace Prize, he was no longer interested in pursuing peace.Later, Alicia covers the Trump administration's threat to escalate the situation in Minneapolis, where there are already 3000 federal officers deployed, putting residents on edge. This all comes after protests erupted due to the killing of Renee Nicole Good. Good was shot dead by an ICE officer.For more, follow us on Instagram @deadlinewhTo listen to this show and other MS NOW podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.