Podcasts about Army

Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, 30-year Army veteran, former Chief of Staff to Secretary Colin Powell, and Senior Fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, discusses the deep structural rot he believes is consuming American democracy and its military empire. Drawing on his experience from Vietnam through the Iraq WMD debacle, Wilkerson argues that the United States has become a force as much for evil as for good, and that the current war against Iran represents the most reckless and dangerous expression of that trajectory yet. He traces the unravelling of legitimate statecraft from the post-Cold War squandering of peace dividends, through 9/11 and the institutionalisation of torture under George W. Bush, to what he describes as the Caligula-like presidency of Donald Trump—whom he regards as history's most brazen grifter and the architect of an illegal war of choice. Wilkerson raises urgent alarm about Pete Hegseth's injection of Christian Zionist ideology into the Pentagon's ranks, the militarisation of domestic law enforcement, the looming threat of cancelled midterm elections, and the very real spectre of a second American civil war. A searing, unflinching conversation with one of Washington's most candid and consequential insiders. Get full access to Savage Minds at savageminds.substack.com/subscribe

Joe Kent on why we actually went to war with Iran. Joe Kent is a former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and the President's principal counterterrorism advisor, who served 20 years in the U.S. Army with 11 combat deployments fighting terrorist networks with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces, and U.S. Army Special Operations Command, earning six Bronze Stars. Joe also a Gold Star husband whose first wife, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent, also served and was killed while fighting ISIS in Syria in 2019.  Paid partnerships with: Ethos: Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/TUCKER Audien Hearing: Learn more about how Audien can help you or someone you love hear better. Call 1-800-453-2916 or visit https://HearTucker.com Dutch: Get $50 a year for vet care with Tucker50 at https://dutch.com/tucker Joi + Blokes: Use code TUCKER for 50% off your labs and 20% off all supplements at https://joiandblokes.com/tucker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Coffee Talk with Bryan and Marie, we sit down with Steven Nihipali — father of five, musician, and U.S. Army veteran whose story carries both pride and pain. Steven served seven years in the Army as a 42R (saxophone player), but his path took a sharp turn when he was assigned to convoy security in Mosul, Iraq during OIF 5–6. His deployment ran from August 2008 to September 2008, a period that left a lasting impact on his life and health.Nearly a decade after returning home, Steven medically separated from the military and was eventually rated 100% by the VA, with support from the Wounded Warrior Project. His journey is one of resilience, identity, fatherhood, and learning to rebuild after service.Join Bryan and Marie for a grounded, heartfelt conversation about music, war, recovery, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward.

Jack MacTavish is a retired United States Army Colonel and author of action-adventure and espionage fiction. Over a military career spanning more than 36 years in both the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, he served in airborne, special operations, and joint assignments, including roles supporting U.S. Army Special Operations Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. His operational experience took him across multiple global regions, including Afghanistan, Korea, Haiti, Central and South America, and the Middle East. In addition to his military service, MacTavish has supported missions within the U.S. Intelligence Community as a contractor. MacTavish is the author of Royal Diamonds (2026), his debut novel, which blends action-adventure, espionage, and historical intrigue. His writing is informed by firsthand experience, emphasizing realism, operational authenticity, and the complexities of modern conflict and global power dynamics. He currently resides in North Carolina, where he continues to write and remains an advocate for veteran causes, including support for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey there, Believers! This week, I welcome Trevor back to unravel the mystery of the Shroud... he explains how both history and science may confirm its legitimacy, and what that would mean! Join us as we dig deep into the Shroud of Turin!Have an experience that you'd like to share?Holler at me: thebumppodcast@gmail.comFeel led to donate to The BUMP Podcast?Check out www.buymeacoffee.com/thebumppodcastPick up my books!Army of God- https://a.co/d/0S3HttWTerror by Night- https://a.co/d/2tIy8yYMeet all your survival and EDC needs here!www.squatchsurvivalgear.comUse Promo Code BUMP26 to save 15% sitewide! Outro Song:"Oh, My Soul" Written and Performed by Ray Messer Jr.

Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠⁠⁠Join The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠⁠⁠Dive into the monumental return of BTS on Notorious Mass Effect with Analytic Dreamz. After completing military service and a multi-year hiatus, BTS unleashes their first full-group album in years: ARIRANG, dropping March 20, 2026. The title track "SWIM" delivers alternative upbeat pop vibes centered on resilience and moving forward, with RM leading lyrics that explore identity, growth, and universal emotions inspired by the traditional Korean folk song "Arirang."This episode breaks down the high-stakes comeback rollout: the historic March 21 concert at Gwanghwamun Square—livestreamed globally on Netflix to over 190 countries—marking their first full-group performance since 2022. Analytic Dreamz covers the emotional depth of the Netflix documentary BTS: The Return (premiering March 27), directed by Bao Nguyen, which chronicles their Los Angeles reunion, intense studio sessions, brotherhood, and the psychological pressures of reinvention after years apart.From massive fan demand spiking light stick resale prices and search volumes to the cultural significance of performing on Korea's historic "King's Road" stage, this segment highlights how BTS elevates from global entertainers to national symbols. Explore themes of honoring the past while forging a new path, the power of ARMY's economy, and the multi-platform event reshaping K-pop's global impact.Hosted by Analytic Dreamz on Notorious Mass Effect—your source for in-depth analysis of music's biggest moments.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/exclusive-contentPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠⁠Join The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠⁠Dive into the monumental return of BTS on Notorious Mass Effect with Analytic Dreamz. After completing military service and a multi-year hiatus, BTS unleashes their first full-group album in years: ARIRANG, dropping March 20, 2026. The title track "SWIM" delivers alternative upbeat pop vibes centered on resilience and moving forward, with RM leading lyrics that explore identity, growth, and universal emotions inspired by the traditional Korean folk song "Arirang."This episode breaks down the high-stakes comeback rollout: the historic March 21 concert at Gwanghwamun Square—livestreamed globally on Netflix to over 190 countries—marking their first full-group performance since 2022. Analytic Dreamz covers the emotional depth of the Netflix documentary BTS: The Return (premiering March 27), directed by Bao Nguyen, which chronicles their Los Angeles reunion, intense studio sessions, brotherhood, and the psychological pressures of reinvention after years apart.From massive fan demand spiking light stick resale prices and search volumes to the cultural significance of performing on Korea's historic "King's Road" stage, this segment highlights how BTS elevates from global entertainers to national symbols. Explore themes of honoring the past while forging a new path, the power of ARMY's economy, and the multi-platform event reshaping K-pop's global impact.Hosted by Analytic Dreamz on Notorious Mass Effect—your source for in-depth analysis of music's biggest moments.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/exclusive-contentPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

IMS Radio – Be The Best Podcast – Season 1, Episode 6 The Terps had a huge, three-overtime win against Virginia. The Be The Best Podcast welcomes LSMs AJ Larkin and Trevor Owens to the show. Larkin and Owens talk about their paths to College Park, how NIL has changed the way they view career opportunities, and how mentoring players is part of the culture in the lacrosse program. We then review Maryland's win over Virginia and then quickly review three games of national interest – Ohio State's rock fight win over Denver, Notre Dame's big defensive effort against Michigan, and North Carolina's win over Penn State. We then preview Maryland's upcoming game against Penn State before making picks on three other of next weekend's games – Army at North Carolina, Michigan at Johns Hopkins, and Cornell's visit to Princeton. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Histotical Huntsville Foundation, Original foot Soldierhtat helped to Shape the Modern-Day  Civil Rights Laws, Educational Life Advancement, & Economic Black Middle ClassArmy was born: in Jackson, Mississippi more than 95 years ago.He Grew up on Farish Street, a historically Black business district known as the “Black mecca of Mississippi.”  His childhood was shaped by racial violence:  His father, Army Daniel Sr., was killed in racial violence. His mother later died after struggling with that loss.   These early experiences helped shape his commitment to civil rights.Connection to the Civil Rights Movement While attending Alcorn State University, he met and became close friends with Medgar Evers.   They even played football together at Alcorn.   When Evers later became the NAACP field secretary, Daniel often traveled with him, serving as a driver and companion to meetings and civil rights events.   This is why he is described as a “civil rights foot soldier”—someone who worked behind the scenes supporting the movement rather than leading it publicly.Education and Career Studied physics and mathematics at Alcorn State.   Later became a teacher in Jackson, Mississippi. Received a National Science Foundation fellowship to pursue graduate study at Michigan State University.   He was nominated for a STAR teaching award while teaching at Jim Hill High School in the 1960s.   Personal Life Married Frances Daniel, whom he met at Alcorn State. They had six children.   Historical SignificanceDr. Army Daniel Jr. represents the type of people often called “foot soldiers” of the Civil Rights Movement—individuals who worked on the ground helping organize, transport activists, attend meetings, and support leaders. These people formed the backbone of the movement even though they are not widely known historically. © 2026 Building Abundant Success!!2026 All Rights ReservedJoin Me on ~ iHeart Media @ https://tinyurl.com/iHeartBASAmazon ~ https://tinyurl.com/AmzBASAudacy:  https://tinyurl.com/BASA

Will Leviathan Drive WW3? (Iran, Jerusalem, the Army of God)Dan Duval releases a rapid-response update interpreting recent global tensions as the possible opening stage of World War III. Referencing reports that the United States and Israel had bombed Iran, he frames the developments through a prophetic and spiritual warfare lens.Duval also discusses what he describes as the influence of Leviathan. He links this concept to elements of Kabbalah, including the “kosher serpent” doctrine and the concept of twin messianic figures Messiah ben Joseph and Messiah ben David, which are called twin leviathans. He argues that political Zionism and emerging ideas of universal consciousness form part of a hidden spiritual agenda that ultimately leads toward global governance through the catalyst of World War III.According to Duval, unseen powers manipulate opposing sides in geopolitical conflicts in order to maximize chaos and bloodshed, with particular focus on Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. He situates these developments within a biblical end-times framework, citing passages from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 11), Second Epistle to the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 2), and Book of Zechariah (Zechariah 14). He interprets current events as setting the stage for the rise of the Antichrist and escalating end-times conflict, while calling believers to respond through spiritual authority, prayer, and alignment with heaven.

➡️ Buy your own Geopolitics of the Western Pacific Map Print: https://decoding-geopolitics-shop.fourthwall.com/➡️ Watch the full interview ad-free, join a community of geopolitics enthusiasts and gain access to exclusive content on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingGeopolitics➡️ Sign up to my free geopolitics newsletter: https://stationzero.substack.com/This is a conversation with General HR McMaster - one of the most experienced, respected and impressive military and national security thinkers and practitioners of our time. He is a military historian, Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, former National Security Advisor to Donald Trump in his first term and a former three star general in the U.S. Army - who among other things commanded US troops during the Gulf War in the biggest tank battle since the 2nd world war and who has been called the “best brigadier general of our time” and “the pre-eminent warrior-thinker of the 21st century”. As we're recording this, the United States and Israel are two weeks into a war with Iran, and the war in Ukraine is still grinding on. And General McMaster has been warning for years that these - and other conflicts - aren't separate crises - but that they're part of one connected, escalating struggle between the West and an axis of authoritarian aggressors. In this conversation, we get into why he thinks the West is dangerously underestimating this threat, what's really driving Putin's strategy and why does Trump keep refusing to increase pressure on him, whether starting a war with Iran war was a good decision and how will it end, whether the West still even exists if U.S. president threatens to take Greenland or why is the momentum of escalating and cascading events only picking up steam - and what comes next.

Army Wives, Sally Pressman gets real about toxic mom cliques, blocking out negative parenting narratives and easy ways to cheat the unrealistic beauty standards women still face. Follow @SallyPR81 on Instagram Follow the "I Choose Me" Podcast on Instagram and TikTok Follow Jennie on Instagram, TikTok, and FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

White House aide Stephen Miller announced yesterday he believes the fraud uncovered in government transfer payments could be so great - if recovered it could balance the federal budget. This as Nick Shirley has now uncovered fraud in California that appears to dwarf what's been discovered in Minnesota. Steve Moore reacts. The Vice President responds to the idea there s any daylight between him and the President on efforts in Iran as two more senior Iranian leaders have been killed. But the Straight of Hormuz continues to be at a standstill and President Trump is leaning heavily on NATO nations to help secure the Straight to get oil moving to market once again. Army veteran and Director of the Center to Advance Security in America James Fitzpatrick discusses his recent case for the strike on Iran as both legal and America First. Another activist judge says Americas kids must continue with the shot schedule, or something - totally undermining RFK Jr.'s executive leadership on the issue. And the Washington Post says Chicago is stone cold broke and better act fast. -For more info visit the official website: https://chrisstigall.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisstigallshow/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisStigallFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.stigall/Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/StigallPodListen on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/StigallShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“How do we respond to the claim Jesus was just a wise teacher?” This question opens a discussion on the true nature of Christ, while also addressing concerns from new converts about finding a parish in communion with Rome, the historical use of priestly vestments, and the implications of Jesus’ words in John 20:17 regarding the hypostatic union. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 01:45 – How do we respond to the Claim Jesus was Just a Wise Teacher? 10:56 – I'm new to the faith, getting baptized soon, and I'm going back into the Army. I've seen a lot of heretical things in parishes. As I move to a new station, how do I navigate making sure I'm in a parish and diocese that is in communion with Rome? 18:56 – When did Catholic priests start using vestments? 22:07 – I am dogsitting for a family member who is out of town, and they have tarot cards in the house. What should I do with them? 30:49 – In John 20:17 Jesus calls God “my God and your God.” Is Jesus worshipping the Father because of the hypostatic union? Would that have also been the case before the Incarnation? Does the Holy Spirit worship the Father? 36:49 – If Jesus would be born today, would he still have died for our sins, considering how bad things are? 43:58 – When Moses wrote the creation story, what were his sources — where did he get it from? 48:40 – I am in OCIA. I am feeling spiritual attacks and temptation to backslide. Are these attacks to be expected as I enter the final weeks before entering the Church? 50:57 – What are good books to read or something to listen to learn about the faith? I watch you guys and Joe Heschmeyer. I want to dive into some more source material, like the stuff you guys draw from. 53:20 – Why is Joseph not mentioned much in the Bible?

From 'Baseball Isn't Boring' (subscribe here): Bradfo catches up with Tigers Prospect and West Point Grad Derek Berg to talk Connelly Early, his transfer from Army to Virginia, his debut in the Big Leagues, and more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get all of our episodes! Writer and former U.S. Army intelligence officer Harrison Mann joins the show to talk about the U.S–Iran war and what a ground invasion could actually look like. They discuss Harrison's resignation from the Defense Intelligence Agency over U.S. support for the Gaza genocide, his assessment of the first weeks of the conflict with Iran, internal divisions within the military and intelligence community, and the risks of shifting the rules of engagement and permissive attitudes toward civilian casualties. They then explore potential ground invasion scenarios, including special raids on nuclear facilities, the proposal to seize Kharg Island, the feasibility of occupying territory along the Strait of Hormuz, and the broader trajectory of the conflict. Read Harrison's piece “I Was a US Intelligence Analyst. Here's What a Ground Invasion of Iran Could Look Like.” Sign Win Without War's petition to Congress against spending more taxpayer dollars on the Iran war via an upcoming supplemental funding bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March 17, 2026: Five major AI models shipped in a single week in February. Your company's training budget grew 5%. Cathie Wood told Bloomberg this morning that AI is already pushing productivity above trend and projects it hits 6% annually — Goldman Sachs says there's no macro evidence of it yet. Both can be right, and today we explain why. Plus: FedEx's blueprint for an AI agent workforce across 50% of its operations, the real argument against traditional corporate training programs, and the full financial math on Meta's reported 15,000-person layoff — including whether the company leaked it on purpose to let Wall Street price in $160 billion in market cap before a single cut is confirmed.

Writer and former U.S. Army intelligence officer Harrison Mann joins the show to talk about the U.S–Iran war and what a ground invasion could actually look like. They discuss Harrison's resignation from the Defense Intelligence Agency over U.S. support for the Gaza genocide, his assessment of the first weeks of the conflict with Iran, internal divisions within the military and intelligence community, and the risks of shifting the rules of engagement and permissive attitudes toward civilian casualties. They then explore potential ground invasion scenarios, including special raids on nuclear facilities, the proposal to seize Kharg Island, the feasibility of occupying territory along the Strait of Hormuz, and the broader trajectory of the conflict.Read Harrison's piece “I Was a US Intelligence Analyst. Here's What a Ground Invasion of Iran Could Look Like.”Sign Win Without War's petition to Congress against spending more taxpayer dollars on the Iran war via an upcoming supplemental funding bill.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Jane: If something goes poorly, I'm like, okay, how can we fix this?Rob: I don't really accept constraints... I want to always find a way around the issue.Imagine a drive-thru where you can order your favorite coffee with a single app click, arrive at the pickup spot, and leave in seconds—no line, no waiting, no tipping. This seamless experience is the vision of Jane Lo and Rob Whitten, co-founders of p!ng, a fully automated drive-thru system designed to solve the inefficiencies of traditional drive-thrus.The idea was born out of frustration. Rob, a robotics expert and father of three, described how bad drive-thru experiences with his daughters inspired the project. “My three daughters made me go through a bunch of drive-throughs. It was a terrible experience, and Jane told me to stop complaining one day and just fix it,” he shared. Jane, a marketing and customer experience expert, immediately saw the potential. Together, they combined their skills to create what Rob calls “the nerd's revenge for bad drive-throughs.”The technology behind p!ng is as impressive as its simplicity. Customers use an app to place their orders, which are prepared only when they approach the pickup location. Sensors and geofencing track vehicles, ensuring orders are ready precisely when needed. Rob explained, “We wanted you to leave p!ng feeling victorious and like you're living in the future. It's nice and simple on the surface, but underneath, there's a bunch of really cool tech happening.”Jane and Rob's innovative system is already making waves among consumers, who appreciate the speed and ease of the experience. “Our customers were like, ‘This is amazing. Why doesn't this already exist?'” Jane said. Yet, traditional venture capitalists often didn't understand the scope of the problem. “If you're someone wealthier, you probably have an assistant or a fancy espresso machine. You're not likely to be in that drive-thru lane,” she explained.To fund their vision of revolutionizing drive-thru convenience, the pair turned to regulated investment crowdfunding on Wefunder, where everyday people can invest in their mission. “It's awesome because good customers make great investors and vice versa,” Rob noted.By combining cutting-edge robotics with a deep understanding of customer needs, Jane and Rob aren't just solving a problem—they're creating an entirely new experience. p!ng shows how innovation and impact can work hand in hand to redefine convenience.tl;dr:Jane Lo and Rob Whitten founded p!ng to create a frictionless, fully automated drive-thru experience.They combined expertise in robotics and customer experience to revolutionize how people get coffee.Traditional VCs didn't see the problem, so they turned to crowdfunding to fund their vision.Jane's adaptability and Rob's determination to overcome constraints drive their ability to innovate.p!ng's technology simplifies the customer experience while showcasing the potential of robotics.How to Develop Adaptability and Problem Solving As a SuperpowerJane and Rob's superpowers center on adaptability and a refusal to accept limits. Jane describes herself as an “adapter,” someone who embraces change and thrives in uncertain situations. “If something goes poorly, I'm like, okay, how can we fix this?” she explained. Rob, on the other hand, described his ability to challenge constraints: “I don't really accept constraints... I want to always find a way around the issue.” Together, these superpowers enable them to tackle challenges head-on and innovate in ways others might overlook.When Jane was recovering from hip replacement surgery, she adapted by learning to solder at home so she could contribute to p!ng's pilot project. “We made like a hundred of them or something,” she said, referring to the wiring components she assembled. Meanwhile, Rob shared his story of running a two-football-field-long hose to solve a water shortage during a robotics test at Amazon, demonstrating his determination to overcome obstacles quickly and creatively.Tips for Developing the Superpower:Push your boundaries by tackling things you fear or find uncomfortable.Embrace change as an opportunity for growth rather than something to avoid.Interrogate constraints instead of accepting them—ask “how can I solve this?” rather than “can I?”Use AI tools creatively to brainstorm and find out-of-the-box solutions.Focus on the next step instead of dwelling on failures or setbacks.By following Jane and Rob's example and advice, you can make adaptability and problem solving a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Invest in Ending Organ Shortages!Guest ProfileJane Lo (she/her):Co-founder, p!ngAbout p!ng: p!ng is the fastest autonomous coffee drive-thru in the galaxy — a compact, robotics and AI-powered pod that serves premium specialty drinks in under a minute with virtually no wait and a radically better customer experience. Designed by veterans of Amazon Robotics, iRobot, and SharkNinja, p!ng delivers the speed, consistency, and convenience today's on-the-go consumers crave, whether that's during the chaotic morning rush or afternoon beverage side quest.Website: pingthru.comCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/pingthrucoffeeCompany Instagram Handle: @pingthrucoffee Other URL: wefunder.com/pingBiographical Information: I grew up in the Bay Area and after graduating from UC Berkeley, began my career in healthcare consulting and biotech. These experiences made one thing clear: I wanted to work as close to the end consumer as possible. I returned to school to earn my MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, then moved into product marketing, brand marketing, and media production for consumer brands including Samsonite and SharkNinja. I met Rob, my co-founder, at SharkNinja, working on the same kitchen appliances development team. I found my true passion in Customer Experience analytics at Forrester Research, heading up a team of analysts and working as an advisor to Fortune 500 executives. I used data to show companies how well they are delivering for customers (or not), and what they could do to improve. Over time, I realized that even with good intentions and well-resourced teams, many companies struggle to create real change. Today, I use my love of working with and understanding customers to build joy-inducing experiences that make everyday life better.LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jane-lo-pingRob Whitten (he/him)Co-founder, p!ngBiographical Information: Rob Whitten is the co‑founder of p!ng, the wicked fast robotic coffee drive‑thru. Raised in Loudon, NH, he attended West Point and served as an Army infantry officer before settling in Billerica, MA in 2004.With a degree in Systems Engineering and a Master's in Program Management, Rob has spent his career solving complex problems across defense, consumer electronics, and e‑commerce. He has led high‑performing teams at BAE Systems, iRobot, SharkNinja, and Amazon Robotics, working on projects including autonomous manipulation, robotics sortation, and grocery automation.In 2023, frustrated by long drive‑thru experiences with his daughters, he co‑founded p!ng to reinvent the model through automation.Outside of work, Rob enjoys riding his Harley with Jane, competing in triathlons, skiing, hiking, traveling, cooking, and crafting epic Star Wars lawn decorations.LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rob-whitten-pingthruInvest in Career Success!Support Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include rHealth, Frontier Bio, and Rise Up at Work. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact Members(We're grateful for every one of these community champions who make this work possible.)Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Hiten Sonpal, RISE Robotics | John Berlet, CORE Tax Deeds, LLC. | Justin Starbird, The Aebli Group | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Mike Green, Envirosult | Nick Degnan, Unlimit Ventures | Dr. Nicole Paulk, Siren Biotechnology | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Superpowers for Good Live Pitch – Private Investor Session: Immediately following the March 17, 2026, live broadcast at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT, investors are invited to join an exclusive private Zoom session to engage directly with the presenting founders—BRG Therapeutics (Dale Walker), GigaWatt (Deep Patel), My Diabetes Health (Dr. Prem Sahasranam), and rHEALTH (Eugene Chan). In this dedicated off-air environment, participants can ask deeper questions about strategy, traction, deal terms, and impact while exploring their active Regulation Crowdfunding campaigns in real time. Watch the live pitches on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, LG Smart TVs via e360tv, LinkedIn, YouTube, or Facebook—then continue the conversation in the private investor session where capital and clarity come together. Register free to get access to both events.SuperCrowd Impact Member Networking Session: Impact (and, of course, Max-Impact) Members of the SuperCrowd are invited to a private networking session on March 17th at 1:30 PM ET/10:30 AM PT. Mark your calendar. We'll send private emails to Impact Members with registration details. Upgrade to Impact Membership today!SuperCrowdHour March: This month, Devin Thorpe will explore how investors can align profit with purpose in a powerful session titled “Why You Should Make Money with Impact Crowdfunding.” As CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., Devin will share practical insights on generating financial returns while driving measurable social and environmental impact through regulated investment crowdfunding. Register free to get all the details. March 18th at Noon ET/9:00 PT.SuperCrowd26 featuring PurposeBuilt100™: This August 25–27, founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders will gather for a three-day, broadcast-quality global experience focused on disciplined capital formation, regulated investment crowdfunding, and purpose-driven growth. We're bringing together leading voices in impact investing, compliance, digital marketing, and circular economy innovation to deliver practical frameworks, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies. The event culminates in the PurposeBuilt100™ Showcase, recognizing 100 of the fastest-growing purpose-driven companies in the U.S. Register now to secure your seat and get all the details. August 25–27, streaming worldwide.Share the application for the PurposeBuilt100™: Purpose-driven founders deserve recognition. The PurposeBuilt100™ application window is now open—celebrating the fastest-growing companies building profit with purpose. If you know a founder creating real impact and real growth, please share this opportunity. Applications are free and confidential. Explore the program and apply today: PurposeBuilt100.com.Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Nominate your MedTech, BioTech or Life Sciences company for the prestigious TAG Awards. The deadline is quickly approaching! Apply before March 13! Use the discount code SUPERPOWER to save 20%!Save the Date! October 20th and 21st will be the Crowdfunding Professional Association Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit for 2026. This is the event of the year for everyone in the crowdfunding ecosystem.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 10,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.Manage the volume of emails you receive from us by clicking here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

There's a big difference between being busy and building something that lasts. Many entrepreneurs don't realize they're stuck in that gap. They're working hard, juggling responsibilities, hustling nights and weekends — but the business isn't really moving forward. In this episode of Building Better Developers, Army veteran and founder of Skillful Brands, Antwon Person, breaks down what actually creates forward momentum in a business. And it's not hype, hacks, or grinding harder. It's mindset, structure, and knowing when to leverage. The Entrepreneurial Mindset Isn't About Hustle — It's About Structure When Antwon left a 22-year military career and stepped into entrepreneurship, he brought discipline and leadership with him. What he discovered quickly, though, was that discipline alone doesn't build a company. Like many new entrepreneurs, he was busy. Very busy. But busy didn't mean structured. He realized something that most founders eventually learn the hard way: being busy in your business does not build a business. You can answer emails all day. You can tweak branding, post on social media, and chase opportunities. But without structure underneath those actions, you're just reacting — not building. That realization changed everything. Instead of chasing more tactics, he looked for clarity — and found it by connecting with someone who already had a blueprint. Momentum without structure leads to burnout. Structure without momentum leads to stagnation. The entrepreneurial mindset requires both — in the right order. Why Your First Mentor Doesn't Need to Be in Your Industry There's a common mistake new entrepreneurs make: assuming they need a mentor who does exactly what they do. Antwon disagrees — at least in the beginning. When you're building the foundation of a business, the fundamentals are universal. Every business needs clear goals, defined processes, the right mindset, and repeatable systems. At the early stage, what you need most isn't industry secrets — it's business fundamentals. He sees too many entrepreneurs jumping into advanced marketing tactics before they've validated their structure. They're polishing something that hasn't been built properly yet. It's like trying to optimize a machine that hasn't been assembled. Don't work on Phase 3 problems while you're still in Phase 1. Build proof of principle first. Everything else comes after. Once your foundation is solid and revenue is predictable, niche-specific coaching becomes powerful. But without a base, advanced tactics won't stick. The $10K Rule and the Leverage Phase One of the most practical insights from this conversation is Antwon's revenue-based approach to scaling. Up to around $10K per month, many entrepreneurs can manage operations solo — if they have structure. Beyond that point, things change. The workload compounds, communication increases, tasks multiply. Growth creates friction. That's where leverage becomes necessary. Instead of calling it "growth mode," Antwon frames it as entering the leverage phase — and that shift in language matters. Leverage means delegation, systems that support scale, clear onboarding, and defined ownership. Without it, revenue growth just creates exhaustion. With it, growth becomes sustainable. Hiring help isn't about spending money. It's about buying back focus and multiplying capacity. Why Hiring a VA Feels Hard — and How to Fix It For many entrepreneurs, hiring a virtual assistant feels overwhelming. There's hesitation: Will they understand what I need? Is it worth the cost? Will this just create more work for me? Antwon has lived through that. In the early stages, bringing on VAs felt like adding another job to his plate — confusion, repetition, miscommunication. The problem wasn't the VA. It was the lack of onboarding and structure. So he built a system. Now, every VA goes through a clear onboarding process, alignment with company mission and goals, defined task management inside tools like Monday or Asana, and screen-recorded walkthroughs for clarity. Instead of typing long explanations, he records a short screen demo showing exactly what he wants done and attaches it to the task. That single change reduced confusion dramatically. He also emphasizes ownership — VAs aren't treated like task robots, they're treated like team members. That shift alone changes performance. Stop Networking to Sell — Start Networking to Serve Too many entrepreneurs approach networking with one goal: sell. Antwon flips that completely. When he meets someone new, he focuses on learning who they are, understanding what partners they're looking for, offering value first, and leveraging connections instead of pushing services. He even shared a small but practical tactic he picked up in a free mastermind group — placing a QR code on his Zoom background so people could instantly access his information. Not a sales pitch. A friction reducer. And those small adjustments compound over time. The strongest networks aren't built on transactions. They're built on trust, value, and long-term reciprocity. Side Hustle vs. Company: The Real Mindset Shift One of the most important distinctions Antwon makes is between running a business and building a company. A business depends on you. A company operates beyond you. A business can generate income. A company can generate legacy. If your goal is supplemental income, operating as a side hustle may be fine. But if your goal is generational wealth or long-term impact, the mindset must shift. You have to design something that can function without your constant involvement — documented systems, delegated responsibilities, clear structure, leadership beyond yourself. And that shift starts internally. Because the hardest part of entrepreneurship isn't marketing or operations. It's believing you don't have to do it all yourself. The Real Blocker Is Mindset Throughout this episode, one theme keeps resurfacing: mindset is the biggest barrier. Not lack of information. Not a lack of opportunity. Mindset. Entrepreneurs stall because they listen to too many voices, hesitate to start, refuse to delegate, treat a business like a hobby, or avoid structure. Once the mindset shifts, everything else becomes simpler. Not easy — but simpler. Final Takeaway If you feel stuck in your business right now, ask yourself: Are you building something structured — or just staying busy? Have you proven your foundation? Have you entered the leverage phase? Or are you still operating like a side hustle when your goal is a company? Forward momentum doesn't come from more hustle. It comes from clarity, structure, and the willingness to step into the next phase of growth. That's the entrepreneurial mindset shift that changes everything. Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

For perspective on Israel's killing of one of Iran's most senior leaders, Ali Larijani, and the head of Iran's Basij internal security force, Amna Nawaz spoke with Alan Eyre and Joel Rayburn. Eyre was part of the Obama administration's negotiating team for the nuclear deal with Iran and is now at the Middle East Institute. Rayburn is a retired Army colonel and is now at the Hudson Institute. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

84 MinutesPG-13Lee Enfield is an Army vet and the proprietor of En Bloc Press. Lee joins Pete to comment on a long Twitter thread by Catgirl Kulak in which he details the history of military service and the weakening of America's military. Lee gives his opinion of the information presented in the thread and how the US military has fallen so far. This was episode 951.EnBlocPress.comCatgirl Kulak's Tweet Content on SubstackPete and Thomas777 'At the Movies'Support Pete on His WebsitePete's PatreonPete's SubstackPete's SubscribestarPete's GUMROADPete's VenmoPete's Buy Me a CoffeePete on FacebookPete on TwitterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-quinones-show--6071361/support.

What makes a character so compelling that readers will forgive almost anything about the plot? How do you move beyond vague flaws and generic descriptions to create people who feel pulled from real life? In this solo episode, I share 15 actionable tips for writing deep characters, curated from past interviews on the podcast. In the intro, thoughts from London Book Fair [Instagram reel @jfpennauthor; Publishing Perspectives; Audible; Spotify]; Insights from a 7-figure author business [BookBub]. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community and get articles, discounts, and extra audio and video tutorials on writing craft, author business, and AI tools, at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn This episode has been created from previous episodes of The Creative Penn Podcast, curated by Joanna Penn, as well as chapters from How to Write a Novel: From Idea to Book. Links to the individual episodes are included in the transcript below. In this episode: Master the ‘Believe, Care, Invest' trifecta, how to hook readers on the very first page Define the Dramatic Question: Who is your character when the chips are down? Absolute specificity. Why “she's controlling” isn't good enough Understand the Heroine's Journey, strength through connection, not solo action Use ‘Metaphor Families' to anchor dialogue and give every character a distinctive voice Find the Diagnostic Detail, the moments that prove a character is real Writing pain onto the page without writing memoir Write diverse characters as real people, not stereotypes or plot devices Give your protagonist a morally neutral ‘hero' status. Compelling beats likeable. Build vibrant side characters for series longevity and spin-off potential Use voice as a rhythmic tool Link character and plot until they're inseparable Why discovery writers can write out of order and still build deep character Find the sensory details that make characters live and breathe More help with how to write fiction here, or in my book, How to Write a Novel. Writing Characters: 15 Tips for Writing Deep Character in Your Fiction In today's episode, I'm sharing fifteen tips for writing deep characters, synthesised from some of the most insightful interviews on The Creative Penn Podcast over the past few years, combined with what I've learned across more than forty books of my own. I'll be referencing episodes with Matt Bird, Will Storr, Gail Carriger, Barbara Nickless, and Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer. I'll also draw on my own book, How to Write a Novel, which covers these fundamentals in detail. Whether you're writing your first novel or your fiftieth, whether you're a plotter or a discovery writer like me, these tips will help you create characters that readers believe in, care about, and invest in—and keep coming back for more. Let's get into it. 1. Master the ‘Believe, Care, Invest' Trifecta When I spoke with Matt Bird on episode 624, he laid out the three things you need to achieve on the very first page of your book or in the first ten minutes of a film. He calls it “Believe, Care, and Invest.” First, the reader must believe the character is a real person, somehow proving they are not a cardboard imitation of a human being, not just a generic type walking through a generic plot. Second, the reader must care about the character's circumstances. And third, the reader must invest in the character's ability to solve the story's central problem. Matt used The Hunger Games as his primary example, and it's brilliant. On the very first page, we believe Katniss's voice. Suzanne Collins writes in first person with a staccato rhythm—lots of periods, short declarative sentences—that immediately grounds us in a survivalist mentality. We care because Katniss is starving. She's protecting her little sister. And we invest because she is out there bow hunting, which Matt pointed out is one of the most badass things a character can do. She even kills a lynx two pages in and sells the pelt. We invest in her resourcefulness and grit before the plot has even begun. Matt was very clear that this has nothing to do with the character being “likable.” He said his subtitle, Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love, doesn't mean the character has to be a good person. He described “hero” as both gender-neutral and morally neutral. A hero can be totally evil or totally good. What matters is that we believe, care, and invest. He demonstrated this beautifully by breaking down the first ten minutes of WeCrashed, where the characters of Adam and Rebekah Neumann are absolutely not likable, but we are completely hooked. Adam steals his neighbour's Chinese food through a carefully orchestrated con involving an imaginary beer. It's not admirable behaviour, but the tradecraft involved, as Matt put it—using a term from spy movies—makes us invest in him. We see a character trying to solve the big problem of his life, which is that he's poor and wants to be rich, and we want to see if he can pull it off. Actionable step: Go to the first page of your current work in progress. Does it achieve all three? Does the reader believe this is a real person with a distinctive voice? Do they care about the character's circumstances? And do they invest in the character's ability to handle what's coming? If even one of those three is missing, that's your revision priority. 2. Define the Dramatic Question: Who Are They Really? Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling, came on episode 490 and gave one of the most powerful frameworks I've ever heard for character-driven fiction. He explained that the human brain evolved language primarily to swap social information—in other words, to gossip. We are wired to monitor other people, to ask the question: who is this person when the chips are down? That's what Will calls the Dramatic Question, and it's what he believes lies at the heart of all compelling storytelling. It's not a question about plot. It's a question about the character's soul. And every scene in your novel should force the character to answer it. His example of Lawrence of Arabia is unforgettable. The Dramatic Question for the entire film is: who are you, Lawrence? Are you ordinary or are you extraordinary? At the beginning, Lawrence is a cocky, rebellious young soldier who believes his rebelliousness makes him superior. Every iconic scene in that three-hour film tests that belief. Sometimes Lawrence acts as though he truly is extraordinary—leading the Arabs into battle, being hailed as a god—and sometimes the world strips him bare and he sees himself as ordinary. Because it's a tragedy, he never overcomes his flaw. He doubles down on his belief that he's extraordinary until he becomes monstrous, culminating in that iconic scene where he lifts a bloody dagger and sees his own reflection with horror. Will also used Jaws to demonstrate how this works in a pure action thriller. Brody's dramatic question is simple: are you going to be old Brody who is terrified of the water, or new Brody who can overcome that fear? Every scene where the shark appears is really asking that question. And the last moment of the film isn't the shark blowing up. It's Brody swimming back through the water, saying he used to be scared of the water and he can't imagine why. Actionable step: Write down the Dramatic Question for your protagonist in a single sentence. Is it “Are you ordinary or extraordinary?” or “Are you brave enough to love again?” or “Will you sacrifice your principles for survival?” If you can't answer this with specificity, your character might still be a sketch rather than a person. 3. Get rid of Vague Flaws, and use Absolute Specificity This was one of Will Storr's most important points. He said that vague thinking about characters is really the enemy. When he teaches workshops and asks writers to describe their character's flaw, most of them say something like “they're very controlling.” And Will's response is: that's not good enough. Everyone is controlling. How are they controlling? What's the specific mechanism? He gave the example of a profile he read of Theresa May during the UK's Brexit chaos. Someone who knew her said that Theresa May's problem was that she always thinks she's the only adult in every room she goes into. Will said that stopped him in his tracks because it's so precise. If you define a character with that level of specificity, you can take them and put them in any genre, any situation—a spaceship, a Victorian drawing room, a school playground—and you will know exactly how they're going to behave. The same applies to Arthur Miller's Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, as Will described it: a man who believes absolutely in capitalistic success and the idea that when you die, you're going to be weighed on a scale, just as God weighs you for sin, but now you're weighed for success. That's not a vague flaw. That's a worldview you can drop into any story and watch it combust. Will made another counterintuitive point that I found really valuable: writers often think that piling on multiple traits will create a complex character, but the opposite is true. Starting with one highly specific flaw and running it through the demands of a relentless plot is what generates complexity. You end up with a far more nuanced, original character than if you'd started with a laundry list of vague attributes. Actionable step: Take your protagonist's flaw and pressure-test it. Is it specific enough that you could place this character in any situation and predict their behaviour? If you're stuck at “she's stubborn” or “he's insecure,” keep pushing. What kind of stubborn? What kind of insecure? Find the diagnostic sentence—the Theresa May level of precision. 4. Understand the Heroine's Journey: Strength Through Connection Gail Carriger came on episode 550 to discuss her nonfiction book, The Heroine's Journey, and it completely reframed how I think about some of my own fiction. Gail explained that the core difference between the Hero's Journey and the Heroine's Journey comes down to how strength and victory are defined. The Hero's Journey is about strength through solo action. The hero must be continually isolated to get stronger. He goes out of civilisation, faces strife alone, and achieves victory through physical prowess and self-actualisation. The Heroine's Journey is the opposite. The heroine achieves her goals by activating a network. She's a delegator, a general. She identifies where she can't do something alone, finds the people who can help, and portions out the work for mutual gain. Gail put it simply: the heroine is very good at asking for help, which our culture tends to devalue but which is actually a powerful form of strength. Crucially, Gail stressed that gender is irrelevant to which journey you're writing. Her go-to examples are striking: the recent Wonder Woman film is practically a beat-for-beat hero's journey—Gilgamesh on screen, as Gail described it. Meanwhile, Harry Potter, both the first book and the series as a whole, is a classic heroine's journey. Harry's power comes from his network—Dumbledore's Army, the Order of the Phoenix, his friendships with Ron and Hermione. He doesn't defeat Voldemort alone. He defeats Voldemort because of love and connection. This distinction has real practical consequences for writers. If you're writing a hero's journey and you hit writer's block, Gail said, the solution is usually to isolate your hero further and pile on more strife. But if you're writing a heroine's journey, the solution is probably to throw a new character into the scene—someone who has advice to offer or a skill the heroine lacks. The actual solutions to writer's block are different depending on which narrative you're writing. As I reflected on my own work, I realised that my ARKANE thriller protagonist, Morgan Sierra, follows a hero's journey—she's a solo operative, a lone wolf like Jack Reacher or James Bond. But my Mapwalker fantasy series follows a heroine's journey, with Sienna and her group of friends working together. I hadn't consciously chosen those paths; the stories led me there. But understanding the framework helps me write more intentionally now. Actionable step: Identify which journey your protagonist is on. Does your character gain strength by being alone (hero) or by building connections (heroine)? This will inform every plot decision you make, from how they face obstacles to how your story ends. 5. Use ‘Metaphor Families' to Anchor Dialogue and Voice One of the most practical techniques Matt Bird shared on episode 624 is the idea of assigning each character a “metaphor family”—a specific well of language that they draw from. This gives each character a distinctive voice that goes beyond accent or dialect. Matt explained how in The Wire, one of the most beloved TV shows of all time, every character has a different metaphor family. What struck him was that Omar, this iconic character, never utters a single curse word in the entire series. His metaphor family is pirate. He talks about parlays, uses language that feels like it belongs in Pirates of the Caribbean, and it creates this incredible ironic counterpoint against his urban setting. It tells us immediately that this is a character who sees himself in a tradition of people that doesn't match his immediate surroundings. Matt also referenced the UK version of The Office, where Gareth works at a paper company but aspires to the military. So all of his language is drawn from a military metaphor family. He doesn't talk about filing and photocopying; he talks about tactics and discipline and being on the front line. This tells us that the character has a life and dreams beyond the immediate scene—and it's the gap between aspiration and reality that makes him both funny and believable. He pointed out that a metaphor family sometimes comes from a character's background, but it's often more interesting when it comes from their aspirations. What does your character want to be? What world do they fantasise about inhabiting? That's where their language should come from. In Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a spiritual hermit, but his metaphor family is military. He uses the language of generals and commanders, and that ironic counterpoint is part of what makes him feel so rich. Actionable step: Assign each of your main characters a metaphor family. It could be based on their job, their background, or—more interestingly—their secret aspirations. Then go through your dialogue and make sure each character is consistently drawing from that well of language. If two characters sound the same when you strip away the dialogue tags, this is the fix. 6. Find the Diagnostic Detail: The Diagonal Toast Avoid clichéd character tags—the random scar, the eye patch, the mysterious limp—unless they serve a deep narrative purpose. Matt Bird on episode 624 was very funny about this: he pointed out that Nick Fury, Odin, and eventually Thor all have eye patches in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Eye patches are done, he said. You cannot do eye patches anymore. Instead, look for what I'm calling the “diagonal toast” detail, after a scene Matt described from Captain Marvel. In the film, Captain Marvel is trying to determine whether Nick Fury is who he says he is. She asks him to prove he isn't a shapeshifting alien. Fury shares biographical details—his history, his mother—but then she pushes further and says, name one more thing you couldn't possibly have made up about yourself. And Fury says: if toast is cut diagonally, I can't eat it. Matt said that detail is gold for a writer because it feels pulled from a real life. You can pull it from your own life and gift it to your characters, and the reader can tell it's not manufactured. He gave another example from The Sopranos: Tony Soprano's mother won't answer the phone after dark. The show's creator, David Chase, confirmed on the DVD commentary that this came from his own mother, who genuinely would not answer the phone after dark and couldn't explain why. Matt's practical advice was to keep a journal. Write down the strange, specific things that people do or say. Mine your own life for those hyper-specific details. You just need one per book. In my own writing, I've used this approach. In my ARKANE thrillers, my character Morgan Sierra has always been Angelina Jolie in my mind—specifically Jolie in Lara Croft or Mr and Mrs Smith. And Blake Daniel in my crime thriller series was based on Jesse Williams from Grey's Anatomy. I paste pictures of actors into my Scrivener projects. It helps with visuals, but also with the sense of the character, their energy and physicality. But visual details only take you so far. It's the behavioural quirks—the diagonal toast moments—that make a character feel genuinely alive. That said, physical character tags can work brilliantly when they serve the story. As I discuss in How to Write a Novel, Robert Galbraith's Cormoran Strike is an amputee, and his pain and the physical challenges of his prosthesis are a key part of every story—it's not a cosmetic detail, it's woven into the action and the character's psychology. My character Blake Daniel always wears gloves to cover the scars on his hands, which provides an angle into his wounded past as well as a visual cue for the reader. And of course, Harry Potter's lightning-shaped scar isn't just a mark—it's a direct connection to his nemesis and the mythology of the entire series. The rule of thumb is: if the tag tells us something about the character's interior life or connects to the plot, it's earning its place. If it's just there to make the character visually distinctive, it's probably a crutch. Game of Thrones takes character tags further with the family houses, each with their own mottos and sigils. The Starks say “Winter is coming” and their sigil is a dire wolf. Those aren't just labels—they're worldview made visible. Actionable step: Start a “diagonal toast” notebook. Every time you notice something strange and specific about someone's behaviour—something that feels too real to be made up—write it down. Then gift it to a character who needs more texture. 7. Displace Your Own Trauma into the Work Barbara Nickless shared something deeply personal on episode 732 that fundamentally changed how I think about putting pain onto the page. While starting At First Light, the first book in her Dr. Evan Wilding series, she lost her son to epilepsy—something called SUDEP, Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy. One day he was there, and the next day he was gone. Barbara said that writing helped her cope with the trauma, that doing a deep dive into Old English literature and the Viking Age for the book's research became a lifeline. But here's what's important: she didn't give Dr. Evan Wilding her exact trauma. Evan Wilding is four feet five inches, and Barbara described how he has to walk through a world that won't adjust to him. That's its own form of learning to cope when circumstances are beyond your control. She displaced her genuine grief into the character's different but parallel struggle. When I asked her about the difference between writing for therapy and writing for an audience, she drew on her experience teaching creative writing to veterans through a collaboration between the US Department of Defense and the National Endowment for the Arts. She said she's found that she can pour her heartache into her characters and process it through them, even when writing professionally, and that the genuine emotion is what touches readers. We've all been through our own losses and griefs, so seeing how a character copes can be deeply meaningful. I've always found that putting my own pain onto the page is the most direct way to connect with a reader's soul. My character Morgan Sierra's musings on religion and the supernatural are often my own. Her restlessness, her fascination with the darker edges of faith—those come from me. But her Krav Maga fighting skills and her ability to kill the bad guys are definitely her own. That gap between what's mine and what's hers is where the fiction lives. Barbara also said something on that episode that I wrote down and stuck on my wall. She said the act of producing itself is a balm to the soul. I've been thinking about that ever since. On my own wall, I have “Measure your life by what you create.” Different words, same truth. Actionable step: If you're carrying something heavy—grief, anger, fear, regret—consider how you might displace it into a character's different but emotionally parallel struggle. Don't copy your exact situation; transform it. The emotion will be genuine, and the reader will feel it. 8. Write Diverse Characters as Real People When I spoke with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer on episode 673—Sarah is Choctaw and a historical fiction author honoured by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian—she offered a perspective that every fiction writer needs to hear. The key message was to move away from stereotypes. Don't write your American Indian character as the “Wise Guide” who exists solely to dispense mystic wisdom to the white protagonist. Don't limit diverse characters to historical settings, as though they only exist in the past. Place them in normal, contemporary roles. Your spaceship captain, your forensic scientist, your small-town baker—any of them can be American Indian, or Nigerian, or Japanese, and their heritage should be a lived-in part of their identity, not the sole reason they exist in the story. I write international thrillers and dark fantasy, and my fiction is populated with characters from all over the world. I have a multi-cultural family and I've lived in many places and travelled widely, so I've met, worked with, and had relationships with people from different cultures. I find story ideas through travel, and if I set my books in a certain place, then the story is naturally populated with the people who live there. As I discuss in my book, How to Write a Novel, the world is a diverse place, so your fiction needs to be populated with all kinds of people. If I only populated my fiction with characters like me, they would be boring novels. There are many dimensions of difference—race, nationality, sex, age, body type, ability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, class, culture, education level—and even then, don't assume that similar types of people think the same way. Some authors worry they will make mistakes. We live in a time of outrage, and some authors have been criticised for writing outside their own experience. So is it too dangerous to try? Of course not. The media amplifies outliers, and most authors include diverse characters in every book without causing offence because they work hard to get it right. It's about awareness, research, and intent. Actionable step: Audit the cast of your current work in progress. Have you written a mono-cultural perspective for all of them? If so, consider who could bring a different background, perspective, or set of cultural specifics to the story. Not as a token addition, but as a real person with a real life. 9. Respect Tribal and Cultural Specificity Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer on episode 673 was emphatic about one thing: never treat diverse groups as monolithic. If you're writing a Native American character, you must research the specific nation. Choctaw is not Navajo, just as British is not French. Sarah described the distinct cultural markers of the Choctaw people—the diamond pattern you'll see on traditional shirts and dresses, which represents the diamondback rattlesnake. They have distinct dances and songs. She said that if she saw someone in traditional dress at a distance, she would know whether they were Choctaw based on what they were wearing. She encouraged writers who want to write specifically about a nation to get to know those people. Go to events, go to a powwow, learn about the individual culture. She noted that a big misconception is that American Indians exist only in the past—she stressed that they are still here, still living their cultures, and fiction should reflect that present reality. I took a similar approach when writing Destroyer of Worlds, which is set mostly in India. I read books about Hindu myth, watched documentaries about the sadhus, and had one of my Indian readers from Mumbai check my cultural references. For Risen Gods, set in New Zealand with a young Maori protagonist, I studied books about Maori mythology and fiction by Maori authors, and had a male Maori reader check for cultural issues. Research is simply an act of empathy. The practical takeaway is this: if you're going to include a character from a specific cultural background, do the work. Use specific cultural details rather than generic signifiers. Sarah talked about how even she fell into stereotypes when she was first writing, until her mother pointed them out. If someone from within a culture can fall into those traps, the rest of us certainly can. Do the research, try your best, ask for help, and apologise if you need to. Actionable step: If you're writing a character from a specific culture, identify three to five sensory or behavioural details that are particular to that culture—not the generic version, but the real, researched, lived-in version. Consider hiring a sensitivity reader from that community to check your work. 10. Give Your Protagonist a Morally Neutral ‘Hero' Status Matt Bird was clear about this on episode 624: the word “hero” simply means the protagonist, the person we follow through the story. It's a functional role, not a moral label. We don't have to like them. We don't even have to root for their goals in a moral sense. We just have to find them compelling enough to invest our attention in their problem-solving. Think of Succession, where every member of the Roy family is varying degrees of awful, and yet the show was utterly compelling. Or WeCrashed, where Adam Neumann is a narcissistic con artist, but we can't look away because he's trying to solve the enormous problem of building an empire from nothing, and the tradecraft he employs is fascinating. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, readers must want to spend time with your characters. They don't have to be lovable or even likable—that will depend on your genre and story choices—but they have to be captivating enough that we want to spend time with them. A character who is trying to solve a massive problem will naturally draw investment from the audience, even if we wouldn't want to have tea with them. Will Storr extended this idea by pointing out that the audience will actually root for a character to solve their problem even if the audience doesn't actually want the character's goal to be achieved in the real world. We don't really want more billionaires, but we invested in Adam Neumann's rise because that was the problem the story posed, and our brains are wired to invest in problem-solving. This connects to something deeper: what does your character want, and why? As I explore in How to Write a Novel, desire operates on multiple levels. Take a character like Phil, who joins the military during wartime. On the surface, she wants to serve her country. But she also wants to escape her dead-end town and learn new skills. Deeper still, her father and grandfather served, and by joining up, she hopes to finally earn their respect. And perhaps deepest of all, her father died on a mission under mysterious circumstances, and she wants to find out what happened from the inside. That layering of motivation is what turns a flat character into a three-dimensional one. The audience doesn't need to be told all of this explicitly. It can emerge through action, dialogue, and the choices the character makes under pressure. But you, the writer, need to know it. You need to know what your character really wants deep down, because that desire—more than any external plot device—is what drives the story forward. And your antagonist needs the same depth. They also want something, often diametrically opposed to your protagonist, and they need a reason that makes sense to them. In my ARKANE thriller Tree of Life, my antagonist is the heiress of a Brazilian mining empire who wants to restore the Earth to its original state to atone for the destruction caused by her father's company. She's part of a radical ecological group who believe the only way to restore Nature is to end all human life. It's extreme, but in an era of climate change, it's a motivation readers can understand—even if they disagree with the solution. Actionable step: If you're struggling to make a morally grey character work, make sure their problem is big enough and their methods are specific and interesting enough that we invest in the how, even if we're ambivalent about the what. 11. Build Vibrant Side Characters Gail Carriger made a point on episode 550 that was equal parts craft advice and business strategy. In a Heroine's Journey model, side characters aren't just fodder to be killed off to motivate the hero. They form a network. And because you don't have to kill them—unlike in a hero's journey, where allies are often betrayed or removed so the hero can be further isolated—you can pick up those side characters and give them their own books. Gail said this creates a really voracious reader base. You write one series with vivid side characters, and then readers fall in love with those side characters and want their stories. So you write spin-offs. The romance genre does this brilliantly—think of the Bridgerton books, where each sibling gets their own novel. The side character in one book becomes the protagonist in the next. Barbara Nickless experienced this firsthand with her Dr. Evan Wilding series. She has River Wilding, Evan's adventurous brother, and Diana, the axe-throwing research assistant, and her editor has already expressed interest in a spin-off series with those characters. Barbara described creating characters she wants to spend time with, or characters who give her nightmares but also intrigue her. That's the dual test: are they interesting enough for you to write, and interesting enough for readers to demand more? As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, characters that span series can deepen the reader's relationship with them as you expand their backstory into new plots. Readers will remember the character more than the plot or the book title, and look forward to the next instalment because they want more time with those people. British crime author Angela Marsons described it as readers feeling like returning to her characters is like putting on a pair of old slippers. Actionable step: Look at your supporting cast. Is there a side character who is vivid enough to carry their own story? If not, what could you add—a specific hobby, a distinct voice, a compelling backstory—that would make readers want more of them? 12. Use Voice as a Rhythmic Tool Voice is one of the most important elements of novel writing, and Matt Bird helped me think about it in a technical, mechanical way that I found really useful. He pointed out that the ratio of periods to commas defines a character's internal reality. A staccato rhythm—lots of periods, short sentences—suggests a character who is certain, grounded, or perhaps survivalist and traumatised. Katniss in The Hunger Games has a period-heavy voice. She's in survival mode. She doesn't have time for complexity or qualification. A flowing, comma-heavy style suggests someone more academic, more nuanced, or possibly more scattered and manipulative. The character who qualifies everything, who adds sub-clauses and digressions, is a different kind of person from the character who speaks in declarations. This is something you can actually measure. Pull up a passage of your character's dialogue or internal monologue and count the periods versus the commas. If the rhythm doesn't match who the character is supposed to be, you've found a mismatch you can fix. Sentence length is the heartbeat of your character's persona. And voice extends beyond rhythm to the words themselves. As I discussed in the metaphor families tip, each character should draw from a distinctive well of language. But voice also encompasses their relationship to silence. Some characters talk around the thing they mean; others say it straight. Some are self-deprecating; others are blunt to the point of rudeness. All of these choices are character choices, not just style choices. I find it useful to read my dialogue aloud—and not just to check for naturalness, but to hear whether each character sounds distinct. If you could swap dialogue lines between two characters and nobody would notice, you have a voice problem. One practical test: cover the dialogue tags and see if you can tell who's speaking from the words alone. Actionable step: Choose a key passage from your protagonist's point of view and read it aloud. Does the rhythm match the character? A soldier under fire should not sound like a philosophy professor at a wine tasting. Adjust the ratio of periods to commas until the voice feels right. 13. Link Character and Plot Until They're Inseparable Will Storr made the case on episode 490 that the number one problem he sees in the writing he encounters—in workshops, in submissions, even in published books—is that the characters and the plots are unconnected. There's a story happening, and there are people in it, but the story isn't a product of who those people are. He said a story should be like life. In our lives, the plots are intimately connected to who we are as characters. The goals we pursue, the obstacles we face, the same problems that keep recurring—these are products of our personalities, our flaws, our specific ways of being in the world. His framework is that your plot should be designed specifically to plot against your character. You've got a character with a particular flaw; the plot exists to test that flaw over and over until the character either transforms or doubles down and explodes. Jaws is the perfect example. Brody is afraid of water. A shark shows up in the coastal town he's responsible for protecting. The entire plot is engineered to force him to confront the one thing he cannot face. Will pointed out that the whole plot of Jaws is structured around Brody's flaw. It begins with the shark arriving, the midpoint is when Brody finally gets the courage to go into the water, and the very final scene isn't the shark blowing up—it's Brody swimming back through the water. Even a film that's ninety-eight percent action is, at its core, structured around a character with a character flaw. This is the standard I aspire to in my own work, even in my action-heavy thrillers. The external plot should be a mirror of the internal struggle. When those two are aligned, the story becomes irresistible. Will also made an important point about series fiction, which is where most commercial authors live. I asked him how this works when your character can't be transformed at the end of every book because there has to be a next book. His answer was elegant: you don't cure them. Episodic TV characters like Fleabag or David Brent or Basil Fawlty never truly change—and the fact that they don't change is actually the source of the comedy. But every episode throws a new story event at them that tests and exposes their flaw. You just keep throwing story events at them again and again. That's a soap opera, a sitcom, and a book series. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, character flaws are aspects of personality that affect the person so much that facing and overcoming them becomes central to the plot. In Jaws, the protagonist Brody is afraid of the water, but he has to overcome that flaw to destroy the killer shark and save the town. But remember, your characters should feel like real people, so never define them purely by their flaws. The character addicted to painkillers might also be a brilliant and successful female lawyer who gets up at four in the morning to work out at the gym, likes eighties music, and volunteers at the local dog shelter at weekends. Character wounds are different from flaws. They're formed from life experience and are part of your character's backstory—traumatic events that happened before the events of your novel but shape the character's reactions in the present. In my ARKANE thrillers, Morgan Sierra's husband Elian died in her arms during a military operation. This happened before the series begins, but her memories of it recur when she faces a firefight, and she struggles to find happiness again for fear of losing someone she loves once more. And then there's the perennial advice: show, don't tell. Most writers have heard this so many times that it's easy to nod and then promptly write scenes that tell rather than show. Basically, you need to reveal your character through action and dialogue, rather than explanation. In my thriller Day of the Vikings, Morgan Sierra fights a Neo-Viking in the halls of the British Museum and brings him down with Krav Maga. That fight scene isn't just about showing action. It opens up questions about her backstory, demonstrates character, and moves the plot forward. Telling would be something like: “Morgan was an expert in Krav Maga.” Showing is the reader discovering it through the scene itself. Actionable step: Look at the main plot events of your novel. For each major turning point, ask: does this scene specifically test my protagonist's flaw? If not, can you redesign the scene so that it does? The tighter the connection between character and plot, the more powerful the story. 14. The ‘Maestra' Approach: Write Out of Order If you're a discovery writer like me, you may feel like the deep character work I've been describing sounds more suited to plotters. But Barbara Nickless gave me a beautiful metaphor on episode 732 that reframes it entirely. Barbara described her evolving writing process as being like a maestra standing in front of an orchestra. Sometimes you bring in the horns—a certain theme—and sometimes you bring in the strings—a certain character—and sometimes you turn to the soloist. It's a more organic and jumping-around process than linear writing, and Barbara said she's only recently given herself permission to work this way. When I told her that I use Scrivener to write in scenes out of order and then drag and drop them into a structure later, she was genuinely intrigued. And this is how I've always worked. I'll see the story in my mind like a movie trailer—flashes of the big emotional scenes, the pivotal confrontations, the moments of revelation—and I write those first. I don't know how they hang together until quite late in the process. Then I'll move scenes around, print the whole thing out, and figure out the connective tissue. The point is that discovery writers can absolutely build deep characters. Sometimes writing the big emotional scenes first is how you discover who the character is before you fill in the rest. You don't need a twenty-page character worksheet or a 200-page outline like Jeffery Deaver. You need to be willing to follow the character into the unknown and trust that the structure will emerge. As Barbara said, she writes to know what she's thinking. That's the discovery writer's credo. And I would add: I write to know who my characters are. Actionable step: If you're stuck on your current chapter, skip it. Write the scene that's burning in your imagination, even if it's from the middle or the end. That scene might be the key to unlocking who your character really is. 15. Use Research to Help with Empathy Research shouldn't just be about factual accuracy—it's a tool for finding the sensory details that create empathy. Barbara Nickless described research as almost an excuse to explore things that fascinate her, and I feel exactly the same way. I would go so far as to say that writing is an excuse for me to explore the things that interest me. Barbara and I both travel for our stories. For her Dr. Evan Wilding books, she did deep research into Old English literature and the Viking Age. For my thriller End of Days, I transcribed hours of video from Appalachian snake-handling churches on YouTube to understand the worldview of the worshippers, because my antagonist was brought up in that tradition. I couldn't just make that up. I had to hear their language, feel their conviction, understand why they would hold venomous serpents as an act of faith. Barbara also mentioned getting to Israel and the West Bank for research, and I've been to both places too. Finding that one specific sensory detail—the smell of a particular location, the specific way an expert handles a tool, the sound of a particular kind of music—makes the character's life feel lived-in. It's the difference between a character who is described as living in a place and a character who inhabits it. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, don't write what you know. Write what you want to learn about. I love research. It's part of why I'm an author in the first place. I take any excuse to dive into a world different from my own. Research using books, films, podcasts, and travel, and focus particularly on sources produced by people from the worldview you want to understand. Actionable step: For your next piece of character research, go beyond reading. Watch a documentary, visit a location, talk to someone who lives the experience. Find one sensory detail—a smell, a sound, a texture—that you couldn't have invented. That detail will make your character feel real. Bonus: Measure Your Life by What You Create In an age of AI and a tsunami of content, your ultimate brand protection is the quality of your human creation. Barbara Nickless said that the act of producing itself is a balm to the soul, and I believe that with every fibre of my being. Don't be afraid to take that step back, like I did with my deadlifting. Take the time to master these deeper craft skills. It might feel like you're slowing down or going backwards by not chasing the latest marketing trend, but it's the only way to step forward into a sustainable, high-quality career. Your characters are your signature. No AI can replicate the specificity of your lived experience, the emotional truth of your displaced trauma, or the sensory details you've gathered from a life of curiosity and travel. Those are yours. Pour them into your characters, and they will resonate for years to come. Actionable Takeaway: Identify the Dramatic Question for your current protagonist. Can you state it in a single sentence with the kind of specificity Will Storr described? Is it as clear as “Are you ordinary or extraordinary?” or “Are you the only adult in the room?” If you can't answer it with that kind of precision, your character might still be a sketch. Give them a diagonal toast moment today. Find the one hyper-specific detail that proves they are not an imitation of life. And then ask yourself: does your plot test your character's flaw in every major scene? If you can align those two things—a precisely defined character and a plot that exists to test them—you will have a story that readers cannot put down. References and Deep Dives The episodes I've referenced today are all available with full transcripts at TheCreativePenn.com: Episode 732 — Facing Fears, and Writing Unique Characters with Barbara Nickless Episode 673 — Writing Choctaw Characters and Diversity in Fiction with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer Episode 624 — Writing Characters with Matt Bird Episode 550 — The Heroine's Journey with Gail Carriger Episode 490 — How Character Flaws Shape Story with Will Storr Books mentioned: The Secrets of Character: Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love by Matt Bird The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr The Heroine's Journey by Gail Carriger How to Write a Novel: From Idea to Book by Joanna Penn You can find all my books for authors at CreativePennBooks.com and my fiction and memoir at JFPennBooks.com Happy writing! How was this episode created? This episode was initiated created by NotebookLM based on YouTube videos of the episodes linked above from YouTube/TheCreativePenn, plus my text chapters on character from How to Write a Novel. NotebookLM created a blog post from the material and then I expanded it and fact checked it with Claude.ai 4.6 Opus, and then I used my voice clone at ElevenLabs to narrate it. The post Writing Characters: 15 Actionable Tips For Writing Deep Character first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Most leadership conversations center on the person out front. The one giving the orders. The one standing on the stage.I've always been fascinated by another side of leadership. The people who make the mission possible long before anyone sees the result.In this conversation, Rear Admiral James McNeal and I talk about a career spent supporting complex missions across the Navy. Logistics rarely grabs headlines, yet every operation depends on it. Ships move, teams deploy, and missions succeed because thousands of details line up exactly when they need to.James shares what decades of service taught him about responsibility, preparation, and the discipline required to lead in roles where success often goes unnoticed. We talk about the mindset of reservists, the trust required across teams, and the kind of leadership that holds an entire system together.

On today's episode I welcome Nitsan Joy Gordon, a dance movement therapist, IFS practitioner, and peacebuilder who lives in Israel. Nitsan shares about growing up in Israel, living near the border, and what it's like to live in a place where war and trauma have been part of daily life for generations. She also tells the story of how Internal Family Systems changed her own life. A powerful experience at Esalen with Dick Schwartz inspired her to use IFS in her work back home. Nitsan leads Together Beyond Words, an organization bringing Israelis and Palestinians together to transform pain through deep listening and connection. Her work is guided by the belief that pain that is not transformed is transmitted. After the attacks of October 7 and the immense grief and trauma that followed, Nitsan realized the need for healing had grown beyond what her organization had been doing. Today nearly 80 volunteers are offering ongoing support, and dozens of groups have been created where Israelis and Palestinians can process trauma, grief, and fear together. As you listen, I invite you to notice your own parts. What comes up for you as you hear these stories? What do you feel in your body? For me, this conversation was a reminder of the power of curiosity, one-on-one connection, and the courage it takes to stay present and open in our divided world. In This Episode We Talk About: • What it's like living in Israel today. • Nitsan's organization Together Beyond Words, which brings Israelis and Palestinians together to transform pain through shared healing. • The idea that "pain that is not transformed is transmitted." • A powerful IFS session she had with Dick Schwartz. • How the events of October 7 changed her work. • Why people need separate spaces to grieve before they can reunite. • When she realized the level of trauma requires an "army of healers." • How the Healing for Peace initiative grew from a handful of volunteers to nearly 80. • Why facilitators working in conflict zones are learning IFS tools like unblending and working with polarizations. About Nitsan Joy Gordon Nitsan Joy Gordon is a Dance/Movement Therapist, IFS therapist, and peacebuilder who has been working in Israel/Palestine for over three decades. Her work lives at the meeting point of movement, deep listening, and compassionate presence, creating spaces where pain shaped by conflict can be felt, witnessed, and transformed. She is the author of Together Beyond Words: Women on a Quest for Peace in the Middle East and the initiator of Army of Healers, an offering of safe spaces to feel and heal across deep divides. Learn more at: Together Beyond Words. About The One Inside I started this podcast to help spread IFS out into the world and make the model more accessible to everyone. Seven years later, that's still at the heart of all we do.  Join The One Inside Substack community for bonus conversations, extended interviews, meditations, and more. Find Self-Led merch at The One Inside store. Listen to episodes and watch clips on YouTube. Follow me on Instagram @ifstammy or on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger. I co-create The One Inside with Jeff Schrum, a Level 2 IFS practitioner and coach. Resources New to IFS? My book, The One Inside: Thirty Days to Your Authentic Self, is a great place to start. Want a free meditation? Sign up for my email list and get "Get to Know a Should Part" right away. Sponsorship Want to sponsor an episode of The One Inside? Email Tammy. 

Why do you care so much about what other people think? In this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, hosts Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider sit down with Army veteran, mental performance coach, and Skull Sessions podcast host Andy Riise to dismantle the most quietly destructive pattern in men's lives — the approval trap. There's a name for what's running in the background of your decisions, and it isn't a character flaw. It's biology. It's called Fear of Negative Evaluation, and it's one of the most studied psychological patterns in clinical research.The guys break down why your brain literally cannot tell the difference between social rejection and physical pain, why the audience judging you is half the size you think, and how approval seeking shows up in ways most men never connect to the root cause — over-committing at work, constant reassurance seeking in relationships, buying your kids' affection, and still chasing approval from people who haven't been in your life for decades. Understanding it is the first step to breaking free.In this episode, you'll learn:What Fear of Negative Evaluation is and why every man is dealing with it whether he knows it or notThe spotlight effect and the Cornell research that proves you're performing for half the audience you thinkHow approval seeking silently destroys your career, your relationships, and your sense of selfWhat "ghosts" are — and how to identify whose voice is still running in your headWhy it's not about not caring — it's about choosing deliberately what deserves your carePractical tools you can use this week to start breaking free from the approval trapFollow Andy:Website: https://andyriise.comTEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbNLu7JcZNAPodcast: https://www.skullsessionspodcast.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyriiseIf you've ever held back in a meeting, softened your opinion to keep the peace, or made a decision based on what someone else might think — this conversation will change the way you see yourself and the way you move through the world.Focus Now Training - helping leaders and teams build focus, resilience, and emotional control. Visit focusnowtraining.comSubscribe to Your Thursday Three Things — practical focus tools connected to each week's episode.Free and deep-dive versions available:https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.comOr text MTM to 33777 and we'll send the link straight to you.2026 Spartan Race Team:https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/spartan-race-2026More episodes & resources: https://mentalkingmindfulness.comIf this episode resonates, follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with one man who's trying to hold it all together.This episode was co-produced by Robert Lopez of www.cratesaudio.comHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Mary Beaver served in US Army Intelligence for eight years before being ghosted for her deep knowledge of classified programs involving ancient civilizations and technologies. She was given access to secure vaults where ancient artifacts were stored and also saw a captured giant being tortured to death. Mary claims to have possessed a Ultra Cosmic and Omni security clearance due to her detailed knowledge of Phoenician and also learned about the activation codes of 75 Space Arks, including Noah's Ark, which are hidden all over the world.Mary comes from a multi-generational US Army family where her father and grandfather served in the Army and were involved in classified programs that led to Mary being identified at a young age as a person of interest. Mary's great uncle (her grandmother's brother) was General Walter Bedell Smith, General Eisenhower's deputy during WWII and a former CIA Director (1950-1953). Website: https://www.adonnaofsol.us/Join Dr. Salla on Patreon for Early Releases, Webinar Perks and More.Visit https://Patreon.com/MichaelSalla/

The Army has awarded a mega contract to Anduril Industries that the U.S. military hopes will boost its ability to defeat drone threats. The Pentagon unveiled the $20 billion firm fixed-price deal Friday evening as part of its daily list of contract announcements. That announcement addressed the types of technologies involved, but was scant on details about the mission areas the capabilities would be applied toward. Under the agreement, Anduril will “consolidate current and future commercial solutions — including the proprietary, open-architecture, AI-enabled Lattice suite, integrated hardware, data, computer infrastructure, and technical support services — into a unified, mission-ready capability supporting the Army's evolving operational and business needs. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 12, 2036,” according to the contract announcement. A separate news release from the Army-led Joint Interagency Task Force 401 — which is focused on strengthening the U.S. government's drone defenses overseas and stateside — about the contract stated that the organization has “championed a groundbreaking enterprise-level agreement to provide a cutting-edge command-and-control solution through a strategic action.” Defense contractors are in the throes of becoming compliant with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification standards. And now, in response to findings from the Government Accountability Office, a senior Pentagon official said the department plans to evaluate and define outside variables that could hinder the defense industry's ability to comply with new standards set by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 model. According to a study published by the GAO last Thursday, the Defense Department has done significant work to build a comprehensive strategy for implementing CMMC 2.0 cybersecurity standards. However, the report found that the department has yet to completely identify factors beyond its control that risk the program's overall success. “CMMC planning documentation identifies processes that can help address external factors, including a program waiver process,” the report stated. “However, CMMC planning documentation does not systematically identify the external factors that could affect reaching each goal.” The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Silicon Bites Ep302 | 2026-03-15 | Make it make sense. Iran helped Russia attack Ukraine, but Russia is also providing data to Iran to target U.S. military assets in its confrontation with Iran. Yet Trump is lifting oil sanctions on Russia. None of it makes sense, unless we accept that Trump is acting to benefit Russia, whether he is fully conscious of that or not. I'm inclined to believe he knows what he's doing, when he makes decisions that provide strategic advantage to Vladimir Putin. As the war evolved against Ukraine, Russia absorbed drone technology from Iran, the infamous Shaheed, scaled production, and according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now supplying Shahed drones back to Iran for use against the United States and Israel. Reuters, quoting Zelenskyy's CNN interview broadcast on March 15, says he called it “100% facts” that Iran has used Russian-made Shaheeds against U.S. bases. Reuters also added an important caveat: not every Shahed used in the region can be cleanly attributed from public evidence, and the exact manufacturer is not always clear. The strongest version of the claim is this: Zelenskyy says Russia is now feeding the very drone ecosystem that Iran once fed into Russia's war on Ukraine. (Reuters)Reports are coming out today even, that claim China is manufacturing drones for use by both Russia and Iran. This is the axis of authoritarians in full alignment on this issue at least. That is one of many grotesque inversions, in an episode where we struggle to make sense of it all.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------SOURCES:Reuters, March 15, 2026 — Zelenskyy says Ukraine wants money and technology in return for Middle East drone help.Reuters, March 14–15, 2026 — Zelenskyy says Russia is supplying Iran with Shahed drones. AP, March 15, 2026 — Zelenskyy says talks are delayed and pushes back on Trump's dismissal of Ukrainian drone help.Reuters, March 13, 2026 — Zelenskyy says the Iran war distracts from Ukraine and that a Russian oil waiver could aid Moscow. Reuters, March 9, 2026 — Ukraine sent drone experts to protect U.S. bases in Jordan, Zelenskyy says. Reuters, March 10, 2026 — Ukraine sent air-defense teams to Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Reuters, March 5, 2026 — U.S. and Qatar discussed acquiring Ukrainian interceptor drones and jammers. Reuters, March 8, 2026 — Zelenskyy says Ukraine has unique drone experience and is ready to help partners. Bloomberg, March 13, 2026 — U.S. Army sent 10,000 interceptor drones to the Middle East that were used or developed for the Ukraine fight.The Guardian, March 12, 2026 — UK Defence Secretary says Putin's “hidden hand” lies behind Iranian drone tactics.Atlantic Council, March 12, 2026 — analysis arguing the Iran war highlights Ukraine's rise as a drone power. ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

Join the H-Hour Patron Community at patreon.com/hkpodcasts ***** Live-streamed to H-Hour patrons, this Icebreaker introduces returning guest Alex Brockdorff and runs through patron questions about his Army career and acting work. Alex explains that Sandhurst is designed as a training course—selection should mean candidates can pass—though passing out isn't proof of “excellence,” and new officers should “keep your mouth shut and listen.” He recalls finishing Sandhurst in 2008 and being sent rapidly to Iraq with QRH in Basra, initially stuck on watchkeeper duties until he pushed to go into the city, and later doing a full Afghanistan tour on Herrick 15. Now freelancing in film, he says insecurity drives stress but he's learned to “roll with the punches.” He describes pivoting into acting after watching Rafe Spall direct non-professional actors, and praises Warfare's immersion—real radios and live comms—saying, “Shit's going fully fucking sideways,” and arguing it should be heard loud in Dolby Atmos. Alex Brockdorff Is an actor and former soldier. He joined the Army in 2008 with deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan - in 2014 he left the military to pursue a career in film. He as appeared in a slate of films, network and streaming television dramas, and most recently he played Mikey in the critically acclaimed WARFARE (A24). https://www.alexbrockdorff.com/

Join the H-Hour Patron Community at patreon.com/hkpodcasts ***** In this H-Hour episode, I chat with actor and ex-Queen's Royal Hussars Officer Alex Brockdorff about breaking into film/TV via commercial crew work—starting as a runner and becoming a location manager to “keep a roof over my head” while pursuing acting—and why set life suits ex-military planning, teamwork, and initiative. Brockdorff praises the technical craft of production, contrasts commercials with long-form drama, and describes his unconventional audition for Warfare, the film's memory-based scripting, long takes, tight hours, and why it felt special, calling it “fucking grim” with “no sweeping strings” or “American Eagle” heroics. He recounts leaving the Army, bottoming out in 2015, seeking help through Combat Stress and HorseBack UK, and urges veterans to ask for help. ---- Alex Brockdorff Is an actor and former soldier. He joined the Army in 2008 with deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan - in 2014 he left the military to pursue a career in film. He as appeared in a slate of films, network and streaming television dramas, and most recently he played Mikey in the critically acclaimed WARFARE (A24). https://www.alexbrockdorff.com/

On March 12, 2026, Old Dominion University was the site of a horrific act of violence that has since been classified as an act of terrorism by the FBI. In this episode of Chaos Culture Radio, we analyze the shooting at Constant Hall, where a gunman targeting an ROTC classroom took the life of a beloved instructor before being neutralized by his own students.We're diving deep into the details of the case:The Attack: A timeline of the 10:43 AM shooting and the moment Mohamed Bailor Jalloh opened fire while shouting "Allahu Akbar."The Heroes of Constant Hall: The incredible story of the ROTC cadets who used a knife to subdue and kill the gunman, saving countless lives.The Perpetrator: Who was Mohamed Jalloh? We look at his 2016 conviction for attempting to support ISIS and his time in the Virginia National Guard.The System Failure: Why was a convicted terrorist sympathizer released from federal prison in late 2024, and how did he obtain a Glock 44 with an altered serial number?Honoring Lt. Col. Brandon Shah: A tribute to the dedicated ROTC instructor and retired Army officer who was killed in the line of duty.The Political Fallout: Examining the statements from President Trump and Governor Abigail Spanberger regarding the early release programs and campus security.Note: Our thoughts are with the Monarch community and the families of those injured. Counseling services are available through ODU for all students and staff.

On the next episode of the Zero Limits Podcast, host Matty Morris chats with Mick Albrecht — former Infantry and Intelligence soldier turned comedian.Mick served in the Australian Army for 11 years. He began his military career as a reservist with 25/49 Royal Queensland Regiment in Brisbane before transferring to full-time service. He later served as a paratrooper with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, deploying to the Solomon Islands.Mick then transferred to the Intelligence Corps, where he deployed to Timor and later completed two deployments to Afghanistan as part of the Special Operations Task Group, supporting combat operations conducted by the SASR and the 2nd Commando Regiment.In recent years, Mick has turned to comedy and now regularly features at stand-up comedy events. He has also teamed up with Kara Robinson as co-producer of Shellshocked Comedy AustraliaSend us a text however note we cannot reply through these means. Please message the instagram or email if you are wanting a response. Support the showWebsite - www.zerolimitspodcast.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=enHost - Matty Morris www.instagram.com/matty.m.morrisSponsors Instagram - @gatorzaustralia www.gatorzaustralia.com15% Discount Code - ZERO15(former/current military & first responders 20% discount to order please email orders@gatorzaustralia.com.au Instagram - @3zeroscoffee 3 Zeros Coffee - www.3zeroscoffee.com.au 10% Discount Code - 3ZLimits Instagram - @getsome_au GetSome Jocko Fuel - www.getsome.com.au 10% Discount Code - ZEROLIMITS

For years, Western diplomats and even parts of Israel's own security establishment insisted that the Lebanese Army was a neutral force separate from Hezbollah. But as rockets are now being launched from right next to Lebanese Army bases, reality is exposing the dangerous illusion: Hezbollah and the Lebanese state are no longer meaningfully separate.Join Our Whatsapp Channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GkavRznXy731nxxRyptCMvFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/AviAbelowJoin our Telegram Channel: https://t.me/aviabelowpulseFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulse_of_israel/?hl=enPulse of Israel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelVideoNetworkVisit Our Website - https://pulseofisrael.com/Donate to Pulse of Israel: https://pulseofisrael.com/boost-this-video/

Send a text Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."Ready for a next step? If this episode stirred something deeper and you're ready to move from insight into surrender, I created a short guided experience called From Awareness to Surrender. This mini course includes three short teachings, a guided exercise, and a prayer recorded over you to help you stop cycling and start responding differently—rooted in surrender, not striving.

Rod Bryant was once a Christian pastor with a thriving congregation of hundreds. Today, he teaches Torah to a global community of Noahides. In this conversation, Rod shares the remarkable journey that led him from growing up in a deeply devout Christian home in Louisiana to serving as a U.S. Army chaplain during the Gulf War, pastoring a large church, and ultimately leaving it all behind in pursuit of truth. What began as theological questions, especially about the nature of God, turned into a years-long search that led him to study Jewish texts, listen daily to Torah classes, and rethink everything he had once taught. Rod recounts the difficult moment when his search forced him to step away from the church he had built, sacrificing financial stability and reputation in order to follow where his study of Torah led him. Today he leads the Nativ Center, a community dedicated to teaching the Seven Noahide Laws and spreading universal ethical teachings rooted in the Torah. In this episode, he explains the Noahide path, the role of the Jewish people as a "light unto the nations," and why he believes the wisdom of the Torah offers a moral framework for the entire world.   This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors: ► PZ Deals   Download the app and never pay full price again!   https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp    _________________   ► Colel Chabad Pushka App   The easiest way to give Tzedaka   https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful   _________________   ► Givat Hashalva   Givat Hashalvah is a new, vibrant, Torah-centered community rising in Givat Ze'ev, only 20 minutes from the heart of Yerushalayim.   https://go.lyo.group/4rAkXCN   _________________   ► Ness Vacation Homes   EDEN GARDENS' LARGEST LUXURY HOME COLLECTION  Handpicked, high-end homes available exclusively through Ness. OPTIONAL PROGRAM-LEVEL PESACH EXPERIENCE  Upgrade your stay with a complete A–Z Pesach setup, including kitchen preparation, catered meals, and fully arranged details by Glatt Gourmet.   https://nessvacationhomes.com/   _________________   ►Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years! Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH   _________________   ► Town Appliance   Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp   https://www.townappliance.com https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp    _________________   ► Pesach with Bordeaux    Join us in Stamford, Connecticut for another spectacular, star-studded year This year, experience true relaxation, where every detail is taken care of. Rooms are filling quickly, don't wait!   Mention Meaningful Minute for a special deal!   Call/Text: 347-699-6120 www.pesachwithbordeaux.com   Chat with us on WhatsApp! https://wa.me/13476996120  

"God, where are You working in aviation that I can participate?" Throughout his life, Steve Russell, CEO and President of Jungle Aviation and Relay Service (better known as JAARS) has asked the Lord what He had in store next. That pattern continued when he earned his pilot's license; he wondered how the Lord would use that new skill to open doors for Kingdom impact. Little did he know God would use it to move him toward leadership in a global missions effort! Long before Russell arrived at JAARS, God was giving him experiences to prepare him for this season of service. Steve will share how the Lord led him from ministry as a youth pastor to the military, including leading a U.S. Army unit involved in the capture of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Later, God moved him into government service, including in the State of Oklahoma and the U.S. House of Representatives. Now, at JAARS, he leads a worldwide mission working to facilitate delivery of God's Word into the hardest-to-reach places in the world.  Steve will also explain JAARS' history and its historic connection to Wycliffe Bible Translators. Hear how you can pray for JAARS' pilots, mechanics, and technicians, and other aspects of the ministry of JAARS. Also check out their podcast, Uncharted.  The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria, Iran, and Bangladesh, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content, and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

Two views on the Revolution today, one from John Adams' diary, discussing a resolution to remove arms from disaffected colonists, who did not want to fight for America. Adams wanted the resolution to go further, urging colonists to take up all powers of government, repudiating the Crown's authority, but he settled for the one presented. It was a big escalation, and enforced spottily across the 13 colonies, but the Army also really needed the muskets. Meanwhile, Washington occupies the high ground around Boston, but that tactical advantage doesn't erase his concerns about smallpox. Are the British troops spreading it on purpose to his ragtag Army? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send a textAndy Yakulis—West Point graduate, former Army pilot, and Special Operations officer turned defense tech entrepreneur—joins Joe to talk about leadership, transition, and the rapidly changing nature of modern warfare.Recruited to West Point just days before September 11th, Andy entered the Army knowing he would serve during a generation defined by war. After flying Kiowa Warrior helicopters and spending nearly a decade in Special Operations, he became increasingly frustrated with the gap between the technology soldiers used in combat and what existed in the civilian world.Together, they discuss Andy's decision to leave the Army at 18 years to start Vector, a company focused on unmanned systems, as well as the challenges of military transition, the realities of leadership in the private sector, and how paying attention to what captures your curiosity might reveal the work you're meant to pursue.Watch the full interview on YouTube!Joe and Andy also discuss:Why physical fitness and sleep still shape Andy's decision-making as a CEOThe value of civilian education for military leadersThe “Saturday morning coffee test” for discovering what you're passionate aboutWhy veterans shouldn't feel pressure to find the perfect post-military job immediatelyThe challenge of leading teams in the private sectorWhy the future of warfare may shift from one operator controlling one drone to one operator orchestrating manyWhether you're transitioning out of the military, exploring entrepreneurship, or curious how technology is changing warfare, this episode offers insights on leadership, innovation, and pursuing work you feel called to do.A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Dunedain Systems is a veteran-founded defense technology company building Warmind, an AI platform that accelerates military planning, operations, and document generation. Warmind connects to your unit's data and learns how your warfighting function operates, delivering outputs tailored to your SOPs and operational context rather than generic AI responses. Whether your team is building OPORDs, running intel workflows, or generating CONOPs, Warmind handles the heavy lift so your staff can focus on decisions, not paperwork. Built by combat veterans who lived the problem firsthand, Warmind is already in use across SOCOM and the broader DoD. The beta is free for anyone with a .mil or .edu email at dunedainsystems.com.Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it's banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. Logistics Systems Incorporated (LSI) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business supporting DoD and federal civilian agencies with enterprise IT operations, global logistics support, cybersecurity, data, and mission support services. Founded by a veteran Army leader, LSI is known for operating inside

Godwin trusts his friend—and dog trainer—Curly to handle a minor “procedure." Watching the chaos inspires Uncle Si to relive one of his most agonizing Duck Commander moments and the pocketknife surgery he performed on himself afterward. Martin is stunned when Si casually reveals he ranked in the top five percent of the Army in his field, and John-David shares a retail insider lesson on the real reason prices always end in .99. Duck Call Room episode #534 is sponsored by: https://tecovas.com/duck — Get 10% off when you sign up for email and texts. https://rocketmoney.com/duck — Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster! https://trybeef.com/duck — Get 10% off your first TriTails box straight from their ranch to your door. https://timtebow.com/tree-duck/ — Get your copy of If the Tree Could Speak by Tim Tebow on Amazon today! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A man over in Spain tried to hack into his own vacuum cleaner robot, but instead, he accidentally hacked into 7,000 different vacuum robots—giving him direct access to live video feeds within people's homes. Basically, he discovered a backdoor within these Chinese-made robots that made them extremely insecure.This meant that if you had one of these vacuums in your home, he (and anyone else who knew about this feature) could literally see inside your home through the camera lens at the top of the unit.Let's go through the details of this case together.

Send a textToday's Daily Drop covers a mix of hard news, weird internet drama, and the usual military chaos.Peaches breaks down a KC-135 crash in Iraq that killed six Airmen, a major B-21 production expansion, and the continued ripple effects of David Goggins entering the Pararescue pipeline. On the Army side, leaders are pushing modernization through munitions production, autonomous systems, and new drone concepts designed to operate without traditional infrastructure. Meanwhile the Navy keeps rotating forces across the Pacific while the Marine Corps highlights real-world readiness moments—from marksmanship competitions to Marines pulling civilians out of a rollover accident.There's also a look at Space Force missile-warning satellites, Coast Guard rescues during a shutdown paycheck drought, and what the White House says the goals are for Operation Epic Fury.In other words: modernization, tragedy, recruiting exposure, and the usual government circus—all in one briefing. ⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Ones Ready intro and sponsor 01:10 Goggins pipeline update and episode recap 02:40 Army modernization and munitions expansion 03:35 New vertical takeoff reconnaissance drone concept 05:20 Mission autonomy office for connected unmanned systems 06:00 Old Dominion shooting and ROTC response 07:30 Navy Gerald R. Ford onboard fire update 08:20 LCAC 115 amphibious connector delivery 09:00 USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. destroyer commissioning 10:00 Pacific force rotation and cruiser phase-out 11:00 Marines rescue family in Camp Pendleton rollover 12:00 Marine Corps marksmanship competition East 13:00 Operator Training Summit Nashville announcement 14:30 KC-135 crash in Iraq and crew loss 15:50 B-21 bomber production expansion 16:40 B-21 testing with KC-135 tanker 17:30 Space Force missile warning constellation update 18:40 Vandenberg launch mission growth 19:30 Space Force medical summit 20:20 Coast Guard Antarctic mission completion 21:00 Maine fishermen rescue operation 22:00 Pentagon legal structure review 23:10 White House messaging on Operation Epic Fury 24:00 Wrap up and cSupport the showJoin this channel to get access to perks: HEREBuzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.comCollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLeteDanger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYDFND Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYHoist - Promo Code: ONESREADY...

A PAC headed up by former Delegate AC Cordoza is under fire for sending mailers out last weekend with imagery of the civil rights movement of the 1960's.  Virginia State Speaker of the House Don Scott said, "The Civil Rights Movement should not be used as a political prop" (even as U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer called the SAVE Act "Jim Crow, 2.0").  A video ad put together by a group of Black Community leaders in the group "GateKeepersVA" has also been burning up social media and is driving more contributions to attempt to catch the Eric Holder backed pro-redistricting campaign's $20 million warchest. Virginia congressional candidate, and one of the people that put the ad together, Waverly Washington joins Joe Thomas, Daily Signal Virginia correspondent, to explain how a kid who once visited his father in prison became a West Point graduate, Army officer, and now a pro-Trump fighter for Virginia's 7th Congressional District.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The difference between people who talk about winning… and people who actually win. In this Winning Ways solo episode, host Trent M. Clark breaks down the habits, mindset, and daily disciplines that separate high performers from everyone else. Drawing from decades in professional sports, entrepreneurship, and leadership coaching, Trent shares lessons learned from championship environments—lessons that apply directly to business, leadership, and life. From the power of hyper-learning to the reality of the Pain Exchange, this episode challenges listeners to take ownership of their habits, their discipline, and their results. Because winners don't stumble into success. They train for it daily. Key Takeaways from This Episode 1. Champions Are Hyper-Learners 2. Coaching Accelerates the Journey 3. The Pain Exchange: Discipline vs Regret   4. Beware the Four Losing Behaviors   5. Winners Take Responsibility for Results 6. Interested vs Committed 7. Winning Starts with the Day   Trent's Weekly Challenge Ask yourself one simple question: What is one habit you need to stop doing immediately? It might be: Sleeping in Procrastinating Poor preparation Lack of communication Remove that one behavior this week. Small habit changes create massive long-term results. Support the Olympic Mission Trent also highlights the journey of USA Skeleton athlete Andy Whittier, who is pursuing his Olympic dream while serving in the U.S. Army. Support Andy and learn more about his upcoming book "Life Head First." Resources Mentioned Leading Winning Teams – Trent M. Clark Bloom Growth Coaching System Andy Whittier Olympic Support Mission Connect with Trent M. Clark Podcast: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7GAwyvYA7OY1L2JOjegX7D Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/winners-find-a-way/id1578413577 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity Website: https://Leadershipity.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trentmclark/

After several weeks of endless Top 20 matchups, this week feels a bit like a breather as a good number of leagues get into conference play. D-Fly & Dixie are back to get you prepared for all the action.Mr. Lax904 himself, Ray Carnicelli, joins the show as this week's guest analyst. Carnicelli has been a vocal advocate of lacrosse in north Florida for more than three decades and is the play-by-play announcer for Jacksonville University and Flagler College. He shares his experiences helping to grow the game in greater Jacksonville and sits in on the game previews and the Give & Go.Harvard star midfielder Logan Ip sits down with D-Fly as the No. 4-ranked Crimson get set to take on No. 16 Penn in the Ivy opener for both teams. Ip discusses Harvard's fast start, the team leadership, Jordan Field, standout players for Harvard, international lacrosse, the Burrito Bowl, preparing for Penn and much, much more.GAME PREVIEWSALL GAMES SATURDAYNo. 14 Army (6-1, 1-1 Patriot) at Boston U. (4-2, 2-0) | noon | ESPN+ | Army -1.5/22.5Navy (5-2) at No. 12 Johns Hopkins (4-2) | 1 p.m. | ESPN+/ESPNU | JHU -2.5/23.5No. 4 Harvard (5-0) at No. 16 Penn (3-3) | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ | Harvard -2.5/23.5Virginia (3-3) at No. 10 Maryland (2-3) | 1 p.m. | B1G | Maryland -3.5/22.5No. 5 North Carolina (6-1) vs. No. 9 Penn State (4-2) | 6:30 p.m. | Corrigan Sports Network | UNC -1.5/26.5 GIVE & GOIn this week's NFL-themed Give & Go, the guys share thoughts on the recent NFL player movement and discuss the worst free agency moves and trades in league history.

Unified Special Operations commands are critical for allied nations to maintain the advantage over our adversaries. A single command structure enables interoperability at every level, from communications and equipment to tactics and acquisition, ensuring partner forces can train together, fight together, and answer to a common mission.From the Global Special Operations Foundation Symposium in Athens, Greece, Fran Racioppi sat down with retired Command Sergeant Major Warren Soeldner, a 10th SFG legend who now lives and works in Greece supporting the Global SOF community. Warren brought home the central tenet of modern allied warfare explaining that Special Operations Forces across nations solve problems together, build trust, and operate as one.He spoke about the importance of standing up capable national SOF commands, the evolving NATO environment and the realities of today's threat landscape. From Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the long-term strategic pressure posed by China and Iran, Warren emphasized that modern conflict cannot be viewed through a single lens. War now spans diplomatic, informational, military, and economic domains, and Special Forces play a critical role in shaping outcomes long before conflict becomes visible.This discussion returns to what Green Berets have always done best: building capability in partners, understanding history and culture, maintaining discipline and professionalism, and quietly shaping global security in ways few ever see.HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Introduction1:41 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast2:48 Building Relationships Across SOF Allies5:38 Joint Unified Command9:15 Defining “By, With, and Through”12:38 Russia-Ukraine War Impact on NATO15:08 NATO Interoperability Gaps17:28 NATO's Biggest Threat23:14 Students of History27:50 Special Forces in LSCO32:38 US Army Generations41:38 Defining the Green BeretQuotes“The whole theme for the week has been strength and unity.”“The dollar or euro goes a lot further for them when it's a unified command.” “The threat isn't waiting on 30 nations and their parliaments.”“It's important that NATO know, fight, train together.”“When one country is using one standard and the rest of the countries are using another standard, resupply becomes a lot harder for that country.”“At the end of the day, we're all out on the same battlefield and they're seeing what we're doing, we're seeing what they're doing.”“Russia is a huge threat right now. We may be getting to hyperfocused on that and forgetting other threats like China and Iran.”“We've lost that edge with the adversary. They have a long term plan. We don't.”“It requires our Green Berets to be students of history.”“I came up in an era where we did two things: Unconventional Warfare and Foreign Internal Defense.”“First you had to learn the culture.”“When I look at Large Scale Combat Operations, do we need artillery anymore?”“In that isolation is where you finetune the skills that you need for that mission.”“There's nothing special about being a Green Beret.”“I've always been a believer that the Green Beret is a symbol and it attracts greatness.”“At the end of the day, the Army's job is to close with and kill the enemy.”Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

Throwback Thursday (Originally aired: 11/30/25)Bunnie sits down with country music legend Craig Morgan for a powerful, emotional, and unexpectedly uplifting conversation. Craig opens up about his journey from growing up in Kingston Springs to serving in the Army and attending the elite Korean Ranger School—experiences that shaped the man and the musician he would become.He shares intimate memories of his humble beginnings, his first hunting trip with his mom, and the moment he realized music was his calling. Craig also reflects deeply on his faith, the loss of his son, and the resilience that carried him forward, along with the unwavering support of his wife, Karen, throughout their 37-year marriage.Craig reveals the incredible story behind his viral hit “The Father, My Son.” Written spontaneously at 4:30 AM and never meant for anyone to hear, the song took on a life of its own after he recorded it with Sonya Isaacs—eventually skyrocketing to number one on iTunes across all genres and landing him appearances on Ellen and Fox & Friends.From family and faith to farming, hunting, and the unexpected twists of his career, Craig's humility and gratitude shine through in every story he shares. This is Craig Morgan like you've never heard him before.Craig Morgan: WebsiteWatch Full Episodes & More: YouTubeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You belong to God's people.God's Word, our mirror, reveals all that He intends us to become as His redeemed people.Support the show

Kyle Steiner is a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran and combat leader who served in the Global War on Terror. He enlisted in the Army in 2005 and deployed to Afghanistan with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, serving in the Korengal Valley during some of the most intense fighting of the war. His experiences there were later captured in the acclaimed documentaries Restrepo and Korengal. During combat operations, Steiner was wounded in action and awarded two Purple Hearts after surviving multiple enemy attacks, including an RPG blast and a machine-gun round that struck and deflected off his helmet. He later went on to serve in U.S. Army Special Forces, conducting missions across the Middle East, Central America, and South America. Over the course of his career he became Ranger-qualified, Combat Diver-qualified, HALO-certified, and a graduate of the Special Forces Sniper Course. His assignments included service with SOCOM’s Crisis Response Force. Steiner’s military decorations include two Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, and the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device for valor. Today, he is the founder of Operator Mindset, a leadership and performance coaching platform focused on discipline, resilience, and purpose. He is also a husband, father, and speaker who shares lessons from combat, leadership, and personal transformation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ethan Thornton is the Founder and CEO of Mach Industries, a defense technology company developing next-generation unmanned systems and hydrogen-powered weapons platforms to redefine modern warfare and energy logistics. Ethan left MIT after one semester in 2023 to focus on building Mach full-time. Originally from Texas, Ethan grew up on a farm where he began prototyping weapons in high school. Funded through car tech jobs, knife and furniture sales, and small engineering projects. His early hands-on ingenuity and deep sense of urgency, intensified by the war in Ukraine—motivated him to accelerate U.S. innovation in unmanned aircraft and weapon systems to help deter China and strengthen national defense capabilities. Under his leadership, Mach Industries has attracted backing from top venture firms including Sequoia Capital, Khosla Ventures, and Bedrock, and has secured major U.S. Army contracts while expanding manufacturing operations. Ethan's work reflects a broader vision beyond defense. He frequently speaks on the strategic significance of Taiwan's semiconductor industry, the U.S. dollar's reserve status, the challenge of social decay and neo-feudalism, and the need for productive, post-partisan solutions that secure America's technological and economic future. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Go to https://calderalab.com/SRS. Use code SRS for 20% off your first order. Go to https://helixsleep.com/SRS for 25% off. Make sure you enter our show name after checkout so they know we sent you! Go right now to https://hillsdale.edu/SRS to enroll. There's no cost, and it's easy to get started. Ethan Thorton Links: X - https://x.com/ethanrthornton Mach Industries X - https://x.com/mach_industries Mach Industries - https://www.machindustries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices