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Last time we spoke about autumn battle of Changsha. In late September and early October 1941, the Chinese commander Chen Cheng focused on Yichang, a crucial Yangtze stronghold whose loss would threaten China's position and the approach toward Chongqing. Chen Cheng's plan tightened a ring around the city while Chinese forces blocked Japanese reinforcement routes, including efforts to cut retreat lines at places like Jingmen and Dangyang. The battle's pressure was intensified by shifting momentum elsewhere. As the Japanese situation around Changsha became unstable—strained by supplies, exhaustion, and mounting casualties—the Japanese command began to withdraw north. Chiang Kai-shek used this to accelerate Chinese priorities, ordering rapid capture of Yichang within a tight deadline. Inside Yichang, the defense turned tragic as Japanese troops faced encirclement, heavy artillery barrages, and desperate street fighting.    #213 Blood, Rain, and Flags: The Last Struggle Around Yichang Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. While the struggle around Changsha occupied one half of the battlefield, another contest of equal consequence was taking shape farther west at Yichang. The two operations were not separate stories. They belonged to the same campaign, and each influenced the fate of the other. If Changsha was the city whose danger was plain to every observer, Yichang was the stronghold whose importance weighed most heavily on the calculations of commanders. In the autumn of 1941, the outcome in one place could not be understood without the other. For Chen Cheng, Yichang was more than a military objective. It was a wound that had never closed. The city stood on the Yangtze at a point of major strategic value, tied not only to communications and transport but also to the defense of the river approach toward the wartime capital. When Yichang had fallen in June 1940, it had done more than alter the front line. It had left behind humiliation. Three Japanese divisions—the 3rd, 13th, and 39th—had seized the city after twelve days and nights of intense fighting. At five in the afternoon on June 11, a unit of the Japanese 13th Division under Tanaka Seiichi had broken in from the southeast. Chinese troops of the 18th Army under Peng Shan and Luo Guangwen's 18th Division fought a savage close-quarters battle inside the city for a full day and night, while Japanese forces of the 3rd and 39th Divisions pressed from the north. At four in the afternoon on June 12, with Deng Ping's battalion covering the withdrawal, the Chinese finally pulled out and Yichang was lost. Men in high command do not always remember defeat in the same way as the men who fight through it. Soldiers tend to remember heat, hunger, the dead, or the exact corner where a friend fell. Commanders also remember those things, but they remember something else as well: failure recorded in the language of responsibility. Chen Cheng could not forget that twenty Chinese corps had been beaten by three Japanese divisions. At the time, Li Zongren had commanded the operation. Now the chance to erase that old disgrace seemed to be passing into Chen Cheng's own hands. On September 20, he received two telegrams, one from the Military Commission and one from Chiang Kai-shek himself. From that point onward, Yichang dominated his thoughts. By September 23, the Military Commission approved Chen's request to transfer the 33rd Army Group of the Fifth War Zone into the Sixth War Zone for the coming attack. On paper, his position seemed powerful. He now had fourteen divisions at his disposal. Yichang itself was held only by Uchiyama Eitaro's 13th Division and the Hayabuchi Detachment, together amounting to roughly sixteen thousand men. Even granting the usual Japanese superiority in training, firepower, communications, and local tactical cohesion, the Chinese possessed absolute numerical advantage. By September 28, the Chinese units had reached their attack positions, and Chen Cheng set his operational design in motion. The forces on the right bank were to attack first and pull the main body of the Japanese 39th Division southward. The 33rd Army would strike toward Jingmen and Dangyang in order to cut off the enemy's routes of retreat and reinforcement. Once these movements took hold, Yichang itself would be enclosed and crushed. Li Jilan's 94th Army, Li Yannian's 2nd Army, Song Kentang's 32nd Army, and other formations advanced according to plan. On paper the arrangement had clarity. On the ground it had resistance. The Japanese defended from strong fieldworks, and progress came slowly. Earthworks, wire, trenches, and mutually supporting positions transformed every apparent advance into hard labor. The Chinese pushed forward, but not with the speed Chen Cheng wanted. Even a favorable comparison of troop numbers could not cancel the fact that an entrenched Japanese force, once determined to hold, could impose a terrible price on assault. By October 1, Japanese troops outside Yichang began withdrawing into the city proper. Chen Cheng responded by ordering all troops to complete the encirclement. At last the operation seemed to be reaching the decisive stage. The city was tightening under pressure. The ring was nearly closed. Yet at that very moment time began pressing harder on both sides. On October 2, both Chen Cheng outside the city and Uchiyama inside it received telegrams that sharpened the crisis. The message sent from the Japanese 11th Army headquarters in Wuhan informed Uchiyama that the famous Tokyo Asakusa Art Troupe was coming to Yichang to comfort the front-line troops. The Expeditionary Army Headquarters in Nanjing had decided that, for political reasons, the troupe could not be turned back merely because combat conditions were dangerous. Their purpose was morale. That such a message could arrive at such a time reveals much about Japanese wartime culture. Appearances, spirit, ritual reassurance, and the emotional theater of endurance still had to be maintained even when military reality was worsening by the hour. The telegram that Chen Cheng received was very different. Chiang Kai-shek's order stated with brutal directness: the Japanese in northern Hunan had begun to withdraw, and Chen was ordered to spare no effort to capture Yichang within three days. Chen stared at the message for a long time. There was no need for explanation. He understood at once what Chiang meant. The battle for Yichang had already consumed days of hard fighting. Chinese units had suffered substantial losses. But the essential fact stood over every map and every order: if Japanese forces disengaging from northern Hunan reached Yichang in time to reinforce it, then all the effort already expended might amount to nothing. The battle had become not only a contest of strength, but a race. At nearly the same time, the command post of the Japanese 11th Army at Yueyang was confronting the other half of the same problem. On the night of September 30, the headquarters was brightly lit as Chief of Staff Isamu Kinoshita arranged reports, reconnaissance findings, and field messages before the army commander. The Japanese still possessed a valuable advantage: they had access to Chinese communication codes. But such intelligence could not solve every operational problem. It could not conjure food where there was none, restore exhausted bodies, or stop the battlefield from changing shape. By then the Japanese situation around Changsha had become increasingly unstable. The Hayabuchi Detachment, after entering the city, was entangled in fierce urban fighting with the Chinese 6th Provisional Division of the 79th Army. By the evening of September 30, neither side had eliminated the other inside the city. Outside Changsha, the Japanese 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 40th Divisions had assembled and kept major Chinese forces at bay. One element of the 3rd Division had even moved south by truck to Zhuzhou, fifty kilometers away, and occupied the abandoned city. Yet these outward signs of success concealed a serious weakness. The Japanese rear was fraying. Ammunition and food were running low. Divisions operating that deep in hostile territory could not sustain a prolonged campaign under such conditions. More than ten days of uninterrupted movement and fighting had also produced rising non-combat casualties. Men were collapsing from fatigue along the march. Sickness increased steadily. Units that had looked formidable on the offensive were beginning to wear thin from inside. At the same time, Chinese remnants from earlier defeats, new reinforcements, and formations that had regrouped after being thrown back were all watching for signs of weakness. Even if the Japanese divisions in Hunan still had the strength to fight several more actions, another question overrode everything else: Yichang. Yichang was not simply another point on the map. It was a strategic stronghold on the Yangtze and one of the key places from which Japan threatened Chongqing. The city also carried institutional memory. After its capture in June 1940, the occupying troops had initially been ordered to withdraw for rest and reorganization. But Imperial General Headquarters had reversed that decision almost at once and demanded that Yichang be held after all. Troops already on the road had to turn back and retake a city that had been burned, stripped, and rendered difficult to occupy. Among those who had insisted most strongly that Yichang must be retained was Anami Korechika, then vice minister of the army. Now Anami faced the consequence of that earlier insistence. However attractive the gains in Hunan might appear, Yichang could not simply be sacrificed. Uchiyama's 13th Division was not strong enough to hold indefinitely without relief. Anami looked at Hunan on the map—a rich province, beautiful and militarily tempting, much of it seeming almost within reach. But strategy does not reward attachment. With great reluctance, he gave the order to retreat. On the morning of October 1, all Japanese divisions received the reversal instructions, and at four in the afternoon they began moving north. For Xue Yue, this altered the entire meaning of the campaign. Since the beginning of the battle, he had known frustration, disappointment, and anger. Whatever private calculations he may have made about Chiang Kai-shek's strategic direction, Chen Cheng's political influence, his own mistakes in the earlier phase of operations, or the rivalries that had long poisoned Republican military life, none of those feelings prevented him from seeing the opportunity now before him. Once the Japanese turned north, pursuit was no longer merely a matter of salvaging dignity. It became an operational necessity tied directly to Yichang. His staff quickly drafted a pursuit order defining routes, timings, and methods. The document explicitly called for tracking and pursuing, interception, flanking movement, ambush, and surprise attack. This was not to be a ceremonial following of a retreating enemy at a respectful distance. It was meant to be pressure—enough pressure, if possible, to delay Japanese movement back toward Hubei. Two hours after Xue issued the order, another telegram arrived from Chongqing. Chiang Kai-shek instructed that since the enemy which had advanced into northern Hunan had begun retreating toward Yueyang on the night of October 1, the Ninth War Zone was to exploit their fatigue, pursue boldly, seize Yueyang if possible, sabotage the Wuyue Railway, and launch attacks, ambushes, and fierce strikes along the retreat route to prevent the Japanese from regaining their former defenses or shifting quickly toward Wuhan. The purpose was stated clearly: to facilitate the operations of the Third, Fifth, and Sixth War Zones. Xue Yue understood the message at once. The support provided by the Third and Fifth War Zones had been limited and often symbolic. The operation that truly mattered now was Chen Cheng's assault on Yichang. Pursuit in Hunan was not simply retaliation for the threat to Changsha. It was an attempt to buy time in blood, mud, and delay. He adjusted the pursuit deployment and ordered commanders at every level to go forward and supervise their units in person. Autumn rain began to fall over northern Hunan. Hills disappeared in mist and drizzle. Along the roads leading north moved Japanese soldiers under the Rising Sun flag; behind them and beside them, often through fields, villages, and broken country, moved Chinese troops under the Blue Sky, White Sun, and Red Earth flag. Their uniforms differed, their languages differed, their causes differed—but the exhaustion in their faces must often have looked terribly alike. Both armies moved through damp air, hunger, uncertainty, and the constant expectation of another clash. The pursuit, however, revealed the limits of Chinese strength as well as its persistence. On October 2, the battered remnants of the Chinese 74th and 26th Armies cleared battlefields along the Liuyang and Laodao Rivers and found no Japanese left there. The 74th withdrew to Liling to regroup. The 26th halted at Changle Street for replenishment. Yang Sen sent the whole 27th Army Group after the retreating enemy. Ou Zhen's 4th Army attempted to intercept the Japanese 40th Division, but the Japanese maneuvered skillfully and escaped. Ou Zhen pursued them north of the Miluo River for three days, reached the Changshui River, and found the south bank empty. The 20th Army tried to cut off the Japanese 6th Division at Fulipu. At first they could not even locate the enemy, but they did collect large amounts of matériel left behind. Deputy Commander Xia Jiong remarked, with rough optimism, that the Japanese were still "steaming hot" and would certainly be caught. His men ran hard, crossed the Miluo River, and finally did catch a rearguard. Yet the Japanese, intent only on getting away, adopted what Chinese accounts described as a low-key method of not retaliating and not becoming decisively engaged. After crossing Gaoqiao they withdrew into their previous defensive area, and Xia could do little more than stop, rest, and continue to watch them. The 58th Army intercepted more than two thousand Japanese troops near Guanwang Bridge. For a moment it seemed a major clash might erupt. Instead the Japanese fled, leaving behind large quantities of supplies. The Chinese followed them as far as Taolin and then halted when it became clear that the enemy had regained strong ground. These episodes were frustrating, but they were not meaningless. They showed that many Chinese formations had been too badly mauled in the earlier phase of the campaign to sustain relentless offensive pressure. They also showed that the Japanese, though in retreat, were still disciplined enough to avoid disastrous entanglements while shedding matériel to gain speed. The Chinese units that struck hardest during this phase were not those most damaged at the beginning of the battle, but fresher formations such as Xia Chuzhong's 79th Army and Fu Zhongfang's 99th Army. Xia's men ambushed the Hayabuchi Detachment and nearly destroyed it, killing two of its three battalion commanders. Fu's 99th Army fought a series of clashes with the Japanese 3rd and 6th Divisions and with the Hirano and Araki Detachments. The Japanese, eager to keep moving, absorbed losses rather than pause for extended battle. The 99th Army captured so much matériel that transporting it became a problem in itself. On October 4, a squad leader of the 197th Division even shot down an aircraft with machine-gun fire. Yet even here success had limits. By October 9, the entire Japanese force in northern Hunan had crossed the Xinqiang River and reoccupied its original positions. Chinese attacks achieved nothing decisive. The river once again became, in military imagination, almost a fixed frontier. As gunfire subsided in Xiangbei, all attention turned toward Yichang. The encirclement of the city was completed at noon on October 4. Chen Cheng ordered a general offensive to begin at four in the morning on October 6. Outside the city, Li Yannian's 2nd Army held fast against the Japanese 39th Division, which was trying to come in from Jingmen. Altogether, the Sixth War Zone had committed fourteen divisions—more than one hundred thousand men—to the operation. What followed was the familiar but always arresting spectacle of a great battle gathering itself. Small detachments moved forward to cut wire and destroy fortifications outside the city. Artillery officers adjusted their fire with care. Ammunition boxes changed hands continuously. Telephone operators hurried back and forth laying lines. Engineers worked with picks and shovels. Trucks forced their way down crowded roads with horns blaring. Boats were requisitioned along the riverbank, and dark-skinned boatmen weathered by the Yangtze wind moved among soldiers and officers. Behind the assault units stood medical stations under Red Cross flags, waiting for the wounded they knew were coming. All the machinery of battle was in motion. Inside Yichang, meanwhile, another scene unfolded that could only exist in wartime Japan's peculiar mixture of militarism and performance. At the field hospital of the Japanese 13th Division on the campus of Mingde Middle School, wounded soldiers wrapped in white bandages stood, sat, lay on stretchers, or leaned on medical orderlies in the yard watching entertainers from home perform while the dull rhythms of artillery sounded in the distance. The Asakusa Art Troupe had been founded in the mid-1920s and had made its name by combining modern popular elements with traditional stage culture. It had first won over ordinary audiences and then, as its reputation rose, gained acceptance among official and elite circles as well. After the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, it was gradually folded into the machinery of wartime propaganda, performing works meant to praise sacrifice, glorify the empire, and strengthen morale. When the delegation of more than thirty members arrived at the 11th Army headquarters in Wuhan, the army added a military band of more than twenty men to accompany them to Yichang. But by the time they reached the city, the battle had already drawn close. They could not visit forward positions. Instead they performed for the wounded. The last performance featured heavily made-up young men and women dancing a popular folk number. As the dance continued, the women bowed and invited medics and wounded men who could still move to join them. Kimono and military uniform mixed. Smiles appeared beside bandages. Music from the home islands drifted out beneath the sound of an approaching siege. Then war interrupted the scene completely. Before dawn on October 6, Chinese artillery opened on Yichang with a deafening bombardment, and the cries of attack rolled over the city. As day came up, the troupe members watched stretchers being rushed into the field hospital where they had only recently performed. One of the sixteen-year-old twin geisha sisters, Mihoko, asked the troupe leader Akizuru through tears whether they would ever be able to return to Tokyo. Qiuhe, the famous dance artist in her fifties, answered gently that they would. General Anami, she said, was leading brave troops there and would arrive in the next few days. The child must pray. The reassurance was human, but it was also part of the wartime language of consolation. Outside the city, reality was harsher. For two days and nights the fighting remained severe. The Japanese fell back toward the edge of the city and resisted with desperation. The Japanese 3rd Air Regiment in Hankou committed itself heavily to the defense, flying sortie after sortie over Yichang. Aircraft came so often that some made four round trips in a single day. On the morning of October 8, a unit of the Chinese 94th Army crossed by boat from the west bank, bypassed the Gezhouba area, and landed at the northern end of Huangcaoba. Advancing south along the embankment, it established positions on the Yangtze side only about half a kilometer from the city. This foothold effectively dominated Japanese positions west of Yichang. Mortar rounds crossed the water. Heavy and light machine guns pinned the defenders outside the walls. At the same time, the 9th Division of the 32nd Army and part of the 99th Army pressed inward as well. The ring tightened. October 9 was grave for both sides. The Japanese withdrawal from northern Hunan had by now produced a relief force. Anami assembled elite troops from several divisions into a rapid deployment column for Yichang. For the Chinese Sixth War Zone, however, victory seemed very near. Inside the city the Japanese situation was increasingly desperate. Casualties were severe. The field hospital yard was filled with groaning wounded. Uchiyama summoned support personnel, medics, cooks, ordnance repairmen, and any wounded men still capable of firing. He armed them all and formed an improvised reserve. Then, while this force was assembling, he heard the sound of a trumpet. One of the band members, still practicing as if battle had not reached its climax, reminded him that the more than twenty members of the 11th Army band were also soldiers in uniform. He added them as well, creating a special unit of 388 men. Hundreds of sacks of rice were taken from storage and piled around division headquarters as fortifications. Uchiyama then turned to Chief of Staff Akinaga and said, "Let's not believe any miracles will happen." The line was bleak, but lucid. It meant that there would be no rescue through wishful thinking. If they lived, it would be because they held long enough. If they died, they would die without pretending that destiny had cheated them. Outside the city, Chen Cheng faced a different but equally harsh pressure. On October 2, Chiang Kai-shek had ordered Yichang taken within three days. On the 4th, Chen requested an extension until the 8th; Chiang agreed, but warned that because the Japanese were retreating from northern Hunan, the city must be captured by then or all previous effort would be wasted. Chen launched the general assault on the 6th, but fierce resistance on the ground and in the air slowed him. By the 8th, the city still had not fallen. He requested another extension, asking to take Yichang by October 10. This time Chiang sent no reply. Chen understood the silence. It meant that no political room remained behind him. At 2:30 in the morning on October 10, the Sixth War Zone opened another general offensive. One hundred and forty artillery pieces joined the bombardment. Shells fell across every part of the Japanese defenses until the repeated flashes made it hard for the gunners to tell what had not yet been hit. Then the infantry went in. Men shouted and surged forward like water breaking through a barrier. Hidden Japanese machine guns cut them down in wave after wave, but more men followed behind. The dead piled on the approaches so thickly that nationality itself seemed to vanish in blood and mud. Under that fire, dawn rose red. Uchiyama watched the sunrise from the highest building in the city, the three-story Yichang Bank. After the war, he told a reporter that the sky, the earth, and even the Yangtze had all seemed red to him, as if the river itself were carrying the blood of Chinese and Japanese alike. According to a later Japanese account, messages reached him from every side that morning reporting collapse. Roughly 5000 men were estimated killed or seriously wounded. At eight o'clock Uchiyama went down to the operations room. Waiting there were his chief of staff and senior officers. At that moment the final ritual of battlefield defeat began. A farewell telegram to Anami Korechika was read aloud. Nearby stood the regimental flag of the 104th Regiment, entrusted to Captain Izumi Shigeru before the regiment's complete destruction. Uchiyama then took the 13th Division's own flag—the imperial military color—and laid it over the regimental flag. Officers and men wept, removed their caps, and bowed their heads. Uchiyama's hands trembled so badly that it took him three matches to set the flag alight. In Japanese military culture, burning a flag was among the sternest rites of defeat. The flag could not be allowed to fall into enemy hands. To destroy it was to acknowledge annihilation while presenting that annihilation as a final offering to the imperial state. When the flags had burned and places for seppuku had been chosen, the farewell message remained. It declared that all officers and soldiers had done their utmost for the empire in the final struggle, that military flags, confidential documents, and imperial edicts had been burned, and that it was deeply regrettable that overseas Chinese and the delegation in Yichang had also suffered this fate. Uchiyama then added one final sentence in red pencil: the soldiers of the empire had fulfilled their duty and died for their country amidst the heroic cries of "Long live the Grand Marshal!" At 8:50 the clerk began encoding the telegram. Then Uchiyama said quietly to the officers waiting to die: "Please wait a little longer." The words postponed death by minutes. There was still the narrow possibility that communication mattered, or that the battle had not yet reached its absolute end. Chief of Staff Akinaga summoned his adjutant, Sakata Ryūshirō, and ordered that if the division commander and chief of staff died before the telegram was sent, Sakata was to form a suicide squad, break out by any means possible, and report the division's fate to 11th Army headquarters. At ten in the morning, the Japanese 39th Division attacking from Jingmen launched a new assault under Anami's strict orders against Li Yannian's 2nd Army. One regiment used poison gas to break through part of the Chinese line and reached the outskirts of Yichang. Chen Cheng personally directed the Chinese response, using elements of the attacking force and the 2nd Army to surround and beat back the thrust. By two in the afternoon, only the Dongshan Temple line remained intact among the different sectors of the Japanese city defense. Chinese troops had penetrated the city and were fighting bitterly in the streets, moving steadily toward division headquarters. At four in the afternoon, more than 2000 Japanese rapid deployment troops from northern Hunan reached the northeast approaches of Yichang and at once joined the relief effort. Chen Cheng threw reserves in to block them, and both sides locked in combat six kilometers outside the city. As dusk fell, the Chinese assault units in the city had also suffered terrible losses. Chen Cheng ordered them to regroup, replenish, and launch a final attack after dark. Then, at seven in the evening, almost as the order was issued, a violent gale rose and torrential rain began to fall. Such heavy rain was unusual in the Yichang area in October, and to men who had been living for days under the pressure of siege, death, and deadline, it must have seemed uncanny. The Chinese attacked through the downpour, but progress was painfully slow. At the same time, more than ten thousand Japanese troops arriving from northern Hunan reached the outskirts, fought for over two hours in the rain, and finally broke into the city, linking up with what remained of the 13th Division. At eleven that night, Chiang Kai-shek ordered the attack on Yichang halted and instructed the Chinese troops to return to their original defensive positions. The battle ended not in a clear verdict, but in exhaustion. One elderly resident of Yichang, Huang Jupu, later left a memory of the aftermath more vivid than any headquarters summary. He recalled that the heavy rain began at nightfall on the twentieth day of the eighth lunar month—October 10 in the Gregorian calendar—and continued into the next afternoon. Rainwater soaked the corpses lying in the streets until the water became a deep brownish-red pool more than two feet deep before it drained into the Yangtze and changed the river's color. The next day, he said, both sides sent corpse-collection teams into the streets under Red Cross flags. They pushed carts and worked separately, avoiding conflict, though sometimes they spoke to one another when trying to identify bodies. The Japanese recovery party included Chinese helpers and local residents. They turned corpses over, looked at clothing and weapons, and tried to determine nationality. Some bodies were naked, perhaps stripped wounded, which made identification harder. Since Chinese and Japanese could resemble one another, neither side wanted to take the wrong dead, fearing that a mistake would disturb the heroic souls to whom each army believed it owed proper burial. In the end, Huang remembered, it was the people of Yichang who pooled their money to bury many of the dead north of the city. Later an unmarked stone was raised there, with a bowl of rice and a stick of incense set before it. That image does something military history often fails to do. It restores weight to the end of battle. Armies issue attack orders, counterattack orders, pursuit orders, and retreat orders. Staff officers mark arrows on maps. Commanders calculate reinforcement and delay. But after all of that comes the business of soaked bodies in the street, identification, carts, shallow graves, and local people forced to do what armies can no longer fully do for their own dead. Seen as a whole, the operations in Hunan and Hubei during these weeks form one connected historical drama. The Japanese advance toward Changsha was real and dangerous, but it failed to produce decisive strategic gain. The battle strained the Chinese defense badly. Some units collapsed. Others improvised and recovered. The city was entered, contested, and then fought over again. Behind the forward line, Chinese forces such as Yang Sen's 27th Army Group harassed Japanese communications and supply, turning depth into vulnerability. At the same time, Chen Cheng's offensive against Yichang transformed what might otherwise have remained a local success for Japan in Hunan into a strategic dilemma. Once Yichang came seriously under threat, the Japanese command could not continue to treat the Hunan offensive as self-contained. It had to weigh possession against preservation, momentum against strategic necessity. That calculation compelled the retreat from northern Hunan. The retreat in turn changed the meaning of Xue Yue's operations. Pursuit became valuable not mainly because it might recover wounded pride or even because it might damage the retreating enemy, but because every hour of delay imposed on Japanese units moving north was another hour in which Yichang might fall. Yet Yichang did not fall. That fact is central, but it must be interpreted carefully. Chen Cheng had numerical superiority and fought with determination, but numbers alone could not cancel the difficulty of assaulting a fortified Japanese position under air attack and against fanatical resistance. Time worked against him. Every day lost increased the chance that Japanese relief would arrive from Hunan. Chiang Kai-shek's increasingly urgent telegrams reflected strategic logic, but they could not abolish battlefield reality. Men still had to cross open ground, cut wire, silence guns, and survive fire. Inside Yichang, Uchiyama's defense reveals the same pressure from the opposite side. He understood that his task was simple in principle and terrible in practice: hold until relief arrived. That necessity drove him to arm cooks, medics, repairmen, musicians, and wounded men. It drove him to build fortifications from sacks of rice. It brought him to the point of burning flags and preparing for ritual death while still delaying the final act long enough to see whether rescue might come. The presence of the Asakusa Art Troupe inside the besieged city sharpened the tragedy. They had been sent for morale and appearance, as if cultural performance might reassure an empire already growing anxious about the costs of war. Instead they became trapped witnesses to near-annihilation. The young girl asking if she would ever return to Tokyo cuts through all rhetoric. It is the ordinary human question that waits behind every doctrine of heroic sacrifice. In the end, neither side obtained everything it sought. Japan failed to turn its push into Hunan into a decisive result. China failed to retake Yichang despite concentration of force and a window of opportunity that for a time seemed very real. But that does not mean the campaign resolves into stalemate in any empty sense. It revealed important truths. For China, it showed both weakness and development. Weakness appeared in broken lines, uneven coordination, exhausted pursuit, and the inability to convert superiority in numbers into victory at Yichang. But development appeared too: a greater ability to coordinate war zones, to pressure Japanese rear areas, to force the enemy into strategic compromise, and to sustain resistance under conditions that would once have threatened outright collapse. For Japan, the campaign exposed the narrowing gap between aggressive offensive action and dangerous overextension. Japanese divisions could still strike hard, move with speed, and defend with ferocity. Their aircraft could still exact terrible cost. But logistics, fatigue, sickness, and the obligation to rescue threatened positions like Yichang increasingly limited what offensive success could mean. The deepest memory of the campaign may belong not to generals, however, but to the smaller figures history often notices only in passing: the soldier chewing dry ration without water; the wounded man who blew himself up rather than submit; the old beggar who revealed a depot; the band member still practicing trumpet in a city preparing for death; the frightened girl from the troupe; the townspeople who buried the dead after rain washed blood into the Yangtze. These are not decorative details. They are what make the history real. The autumn of 1941 in Hunan and Hubei was not one clean victory, nor one clean defeat. It was a season in which pressure in one sector altered decision in another, in which tactical success did not always yield strategic reward, and in which endurance itself increasingly became a form of power. That is why the campaign matters. It shows a war whose balance had begun to change, not dramatically or conclusively, but perceptibly. China still suffered, improvised, and fell short. Japan still advanced, struck hard, and held important ground. Yet the margin between them was no longer what it had been in the earlier years of the war. History moved that autumn not by omen or destiny, but by the hard materials of war: supply, timing, weather, command, fatigue, communications, morale, and blood. In Hunan and Hubei, all of those forces converged. They carried armies north and west, into cities and out again, across rivers, through rain, and finally into memory. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. As Chinese pressure tightened, Japan's wider situation around Changsha deteriorated—fatigue, supply strain, and losses accumulated. When the Japanese began retreating north, relief efforts turned Yichang into a desperate struggle marked by shifting fronts, poison gas, street fighting, and heavy bombardment. Chiang Kai-shek demanded a deadline, forcing Chen into final assaults that ultimately failed to secure a clean victory.  

The Army buys professional services through a contract vehicle called MAPS, and once the award window closes, new vendors are locked out for the next 12 years. Eric Coffie breaks down what a contracting officer at Army MICC Orlando revealed about MAPS, the Pentagon's $125 million drone dominance program running through 25 vendors, and the Other Transaction Authority path that lets any small business win a sole source award with no 8(a) or set-aside certification. What you'll learn in this episode: - Why Other Transaction Authority contracts let the Army sole source any company for any size, regardless of small business status - The Army MAPS vehicle for professional services and why missing this window closes you out for 12 years - The Pentagon drone dominance program that spread $125 million across 25 vendors for testing contracts - How a single LinkedIn message opened a direct line to a contracting officer at Army MICC Orlando - The bailment agreement that gets a small vendor a free M7 weapon to build components for the Army's next generation rifle Chapters: 0:00 - Why OTA contracts skip the small business rules 2:30 - Border wall projects with all bonding waived 3:15 - Don't wait for the right time to make the call 4:45 - The LinkedIn message that reached Army MICC Orlando 6:20 - How a bailment agreement gets you a free M7 7:40 - The $125 million Pentagon drone dominance program 8:30 - Why missing MAPS locks you out for 12 years Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. Sign up for free Daily Alerts and get opportunities delivered to your inbox before the day starts.

DescriptionBeing in the US military affords many unique work and life experiences. Adhering to the chain of command, moving around the world, maybe many times at the drop of a hat, and jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. These are all experiences that shape those in the military in a variety of unique and powerful ways. And today, my guest and I talk about this overlap of the lessons learned while serving in the US military in active duty and now in the reserves, but also particularly how that applies to teaching and preaching the gospel. There are some really powerful lessons that we can take away there. We also get into this question around testimonies for Catholics. The relationship between evangelization and catechesis, and also why it's so important to have live presentations and not just turning on a video in our work in ministry. Great stuff all around today. Colleen Vermeulen is now a leader in the Catholic Biblical School Ministry but she spent her first six years after college on active duty in the U.S. Army. The U.S. military thrives on being an organization that seeks to develop leaders. Today we discuss how embracing the leadership inherent in speaking can motivate us to step out of our comfort zones as a teacher, catechist, or speaker…And just a quick note, because Colleen is actively serving in the military, know that her views today are hers alone and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Army, Department of Defense, or the US government. Check out Catholic Biblical School Ministry website right here: www.catholicbiblicalschool.orgLinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here's a link to the channel.Check out Ryan's FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list.

US & Iran begin new talks after Trump halts huge strike; Christian leaders see spiritual battle in Mideast; how parents can learn what's being taught in schools, which may be inappropriate for their kids; Army expands drone warfare training.

“When times get hard and people crumble, it shows you who they are.”Army veteran, public speaker, and author, Mr. Greg Archbold, was headed down a rough path in life until a couple of veterans saw his potential and convinced him to enlist. The desire to improve his life led Greg to a career of more than three decades and from an enlisted medic to a Military Police officer.He treated POWs during Operation Desert Storm, commanded the only US military prison in Europe, and spent nearly a decade in Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). From driving an ambulance in Georgia to parachute mishaps in Italy and from running his own Troop Medical Clinic to losing weapons in Afghanistan, Greg's story is as incredible as it is inspiring. Plus, rules for card games, beers with General McChrystal, a waiver for everything, and so much more!Over those many years, Greg was constantly reminded, by word and deed, of the importance of good leadership. So much so that, after retirement, he wrote a book about it called Fail, Fight, Finish: Leadership Lessons You Don't Learn in the Classroom. He also is available for speaking engagements and leadership training.In the Free Fire Area, the guys talk about some of their habits that other people might find odd, even freakish perhaps.Theme song by The Mountain via Pixabay.Support the showhttps://tracerburnout.com/

The Blasters & Blades PodcastReclaiming the Lost Space Age: Inside John E. Siers' Lunar Free State SeriesWhat if humanity never gave up on the dream of the Moon? Inspired by the legacy of Apollo 11 and classic hard science fiction giants like Robert A. Heinlein, author John E. Siers crafted a massive, 12+ book reality where humanity didn't stop in 1972. In this episode, we sit down with Siers to discuss his expansive Lunar Free State universe. We're tracking the journey from the first secret lunar base in The Moon and Beyond to a massive interstellar playground filled with political tension, deep space exploration, and human grit. Tune in as we discuss his 25+ year journey as a writer, how his military background shapes his tactical space combat, and why a self-sustaining lunar civilization remains the ultimate sci-fi frontier. This was a fun interview, so go check out this episode. Join us for a fun show! We're just a couple of nerdy Army veterans geeking out on things that go "abracadabra," "pew," "zoom," "boop-beep" and rhyme with Science Fiction & Fantasy. Co-Hosts: JR Handley (Author) (Grunt)Nick Garber (Comic Book Artist) (Super Grunt)Madam Stabby Stab (Uber Fan) (Horror Nerd)Jana S Brown (Author) (Chief Shenanigator)We work for free, so if you wanna throw a few pennies our way there is a linked Buy Me A Coffee site where you can do so. Just mention the podcast in the comments when you donate, and I'll keep the sacred bean water boiling!Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AuthorJRHandley Our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/blastersandbladespodcast Today's SponsorSupercarrier by Scott Bartlett: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DKGB6GQ2/ The Lunar Free State Series by John E. Siers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097R12215 Follow John E. Siers on social mediaJohn's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/John-E.-Siers/author/B00J9YV6LU John's Website: https://lunarfreestate.com/ John's Twitter: https://x.com/JohnSiers7987 John's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/John.Siers/ John's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=48552283John's GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6591389.John_E_Siers John's Store: https://lunarfreestate.com/shop-the-lfs-store The Lunar Free State Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SF.Worlds.of.John.E.Siers#scifishenanigans #scifishenaniganspodcast #bbp #blastersandblades #blastersandbladespodcast #podcast #scifipodcast #fantasypodcast #scifi #fantasy #books #rpg #comics #fandom #literature #comedy #veteran #army #armyranger #ranger #scififan #redshirts #scifiworld #sciencefiction #scifidaily #scificoncept #podcastersofinstagram #scificons #podcastlife #podcastsofinstagram #scifibooks #awardwinningscifi #newepisode #podcastersofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcast #scifigeek #scifibook #sfv #scifivisionaries #firesidechat #chat #panel #fireside #religionquestion #coffee #tea #coffeeortea #CoffeeBrandCoffee #JRHandley #NickGarber #MadamStabby #JenaRey #JanaSBrown #OpalKingdomPress #JohnESiers #TheLunarFreeStateSeries #LunarFreeState #starwars #jedi #georgelucas #lucasfilms #startrek #trekkie #firefly #serenity #browncoat #wheeloftime #wot #robertjordan #brandonsanderson #gameofthrones #got #grrm #georgerrmartin #ChroniclesofNarnia #CSLewis #Trex #TyrannosaurusRex #ChrisKennedy #TheMoonIsAHarshMistress #FlashGordon #TheShipWhoSang #AnneMcCaffery #Existentialism #ExistentialLiterature #kafkaesque #FranzKafka #Heinlein #RobertAHeinlein #IsaacAsimov #Asimov #ArthurCClarke #LunarFreeState #JohnESiers #LunarColony #MoonBase #ColonizeTheMoon #SpaceExploration #HardSciFi #HardScienceFiction #SpaceOpera #PoliticalSciFi #LibertarianSciFi #FreeState #ClassicSciFiVibes #HeinleinFans #VeteranAuthor #AirForceVeteran #Worldbuilding #SciFiAuthor #AuthorInterview #BookTok #Bookstagram #SciFiReads #HardSciFiBooks #IndieSciFi

Today we sit down with an HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search and rescue (CSAR) pilot who flew through some of the worst fighting in Afghanistan, and the single mission that changed how he trains the mind for combat. John "Rain" Waters talks with retired Lt. Col. John Mangan, a decorated CSAR pilot with more than 200 combat missions who commanded the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron in Kandahar. They get into the leave-no-one-behind ethos, the honey-buns story that got a grounded rescue bird fueled in a combat zone, the command chaos of Operation Anaconda, why wounded troops died on runways waiting for approval to launch, and the Helmand rescue of two dying Marines that became the basis for his book, The Three Rings Mindset. Along the way, the science of why a trained pilot froze into his habits under fire, and how repetition and purpose beat fear. John Mangan: www.JohnManganBooks.com Subscribe to Afterburn Defense for combat aviation and defense breakdowns, grab The Three Rings Mindset, and subscribe to The Lowdown newsletter at lowdownnews.us. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/@AfterburnPodcast The Lowdown Newsletter: https://www.lowdownnews.us/ Support The Afterburn Podcast for on Patreon and gain early access and AD Free episodes. Plus access to "There I was…" stories. https://www.patreon.com/theafterburnpodcast Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple - https://apple.co/3dLradT Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3SAeSUr 00:00 Intro 02:39 Growing up around gunships and A-10s 07:28 Pilot training and the barany chair 17:11 Why he chose combat rescue: leave no one behind 24:41 Iceland and the pre-9/11 "end of history" Air Force 33:59 Operation Anaconda and the honey buns fuel story 43:44 How Anaconda became a war-college lesson in failure 47:24 Wounded troops dying while the chain of command froze 49:28 The four motivations behind every warrior 55:35 Manda Bay: the rescue that never launched 1:01:47 Improvising under fire with a broken minigun 1:04:30 Army dust-off vs Air Force combat rescue 1:11:37 The Pave Hawk flying combat at 12,000 hours 1:14:13 Flying into a firefight for two dying Marines 1:36:21 Why a trained pilot flew over the enemy twice Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Soldiers and Bushmen: The Australian Army in South Africa, 1899–1902 (Cambridge UP, 2025) by Dr. Thomas Richardson examines the commitment to what was expected to be a short war. It presents a thematic, analytical history of the birth of the Australian Army in South Africa, while exploring the Army's evolution from colonial units into a consolidated federal force. Soldiers and Bushmen investigates the establishment of the 'bushmen experiment' – the belief that the unique qualities of rural Australians would solve tactical problems on the veldt. This, in turn, influenced ideals around leadership, loyalty and traditional combat that fed the mythology of the Australians as natural soldiers. The book also examines the conduct of the war itself: how the Army adapted to the challenges of a battlefield transformed by technology, and the moral questions posed by the transition to fighting a counterinsurgency campaign. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Soldiers and Bushmen: The Australian Army in South Africa, 1899–1902 (Cambridge UP, 2025) by Dr. Thomas Richardson examines the commitment to what was expected to be a short war. It presents a thematic, analytical history of the birth of the Australian Army in South Africa, while exploring the Army's evolution from colonial units into a consolidated federal force. Soldiers and Bushmen investigates the establishment of the 'bushmen experiment' – the belief that the unique qualities of rural Australians would solve tactical problems on the veldt. This, in turn, influenced ideals around leadership, loyalty and traditional combat that fed the mythology of the Australians as natural soldiers. The book also examines the conduct of the war itself: how the Army adapted to the challenges of a battlefield transformed by technology, and the moral questions posed by the transition to fighting a counterinsurgency campaign. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Soldiers and Bushmen: The Australian Army in South Africa, 1899–1902 (Cambridge UP, 2025) by Dr. Thomas Richardson examines the commitment to what was expected to be a short war. It presents a thematic, analytical history of the birth of the Australian Army in South Africa, while exploring the Army's evolution from colonial units into a consolidated federal force. Soldiers and Bushmen investigates the establishment of the 'bushmen experiment' – the belief that the unique qualities of rural Australians would solve tactical problems on the veldt. This, in turn, influenced ideals around leadership, loyalty and traditional combat that fed the mythology of the Australians as natural soldiers. The book also examines the conduct of the war itself: how the Army adapted to the challenges of a battlefield transformed by technology, and the moral questions posed by the transition to fighting a counterinsurgency campaign. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-studies

Tonight on Brett Orchard's Old Time Radio Show, we're settling in with the timeless comfort of Dad's Army: The Showing up of Corporal Jones One of Britain's best-loved classic comedies, Dad's Army is full of gentle humour, wartime nostalgia and that wonderfully familiar feeling of Sunday evenings gone by. Whether you grew up with Captain Mainwaring, Sergeant Wilson, Corporal Jones and Private Pike, or you're discovering Walmington-on-Sea for the first time, this is classic British comedy at its warmest. Make yourself comfortable, put the kettle on, dim the lights and enjoy another cosy journey back into the golden age of radio. Subscribe for classic British comedy, old time radio, vintage mysteries and calm night-time listening. dayslikethis.life #DadsArmy #ClassicBritishComedy #OldTimeRadio #SundayNightListening #BedtimeListening

Soldiers and Bushmen: The Australian Army in South Africa, 1899–1902 (Cambridge UP, 2025) by Dr. Thomas Richardson examines the commitment to what was expected to be a short war. It presents a thematic, analytical history of the birth of the Australian Army in South Africa, while exploring the Army's evolution from colonial units into a consolidated federal force. Soldiers and Bushmen investigates the establishment of the 'bushmen experiment' – the belief that the unique qualities of rural Australians would solve tactical problems on the veldt. This, in turn, influenced ideals around leadership, loyalty and traditional combat that fed the mythology of the Australians as natural soldiers. The book also examines the conduct of the war itself: how the Army adapted to the challenges of a battlefield transformed by technology, and the moral questions posed by the transition to fighting a counterinsurgency campaign. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/australian-and-new-zealand-studies

The Church Of The Souls Evolution with The Reverend Blake Rubie (Ordained Minister) Time Travel, Soul Evolution, and the Prayer That Can Change the World Reverend Blake Rubie reflects on singing, service, extraterrestrials, time travel, afterlife judgment, world conflict, prayer, and the soul's journey, urging listeners to love one another, respect the human family, and help guide Earth toward peace. Everyday Life, Date Night, and Toastmasters In this episode of The Church of the Soul's Evolution, Reverend Blake Rubie opens with a personal update from San Antonio, mentioning the weather, a movie date night with his wife, and their new Friday-night routine of going out together. He also discusses attending a Toastmasters meeting that morning, where he gave a short speech he later expands on during the broadcast. The corrected transcript notes that Blake's spiritual, metaphysical, political, and personal reflections are preserved as his statements, while claims about extraterrestrials, time travel, hell, world politics, and religious belief are not independently verified. Singing, Military Cadence, and Service to Wounded Warriors Blake spends a major portion of the early episode reflecting on his lifelong connection to singing. He traces that gift back to his Army service beginning in 1982, when he sang cadence during infantry training and later carried that love of music into karaoke, church choir, and personal practice. He describes singing for wounded warriors at the Warrior and Family Support Center on Fort Sam Houston as one of the best things he has done, recalling how he brought equipment, performed during lunch gatherings, and used music as a quiet form of service, encouragement, and praise. The Sun, Spirit, Hell, and the Recorded Life The episode then moves into Blake's metaphysical view of the sun, spirit, death, and afterlife judgment. He describes human beings as spirits in material bodies, says every second of life is recorded, and presents dreams as times when the spirit leaves the body and travels into “dream land.” Blake also gives an intense description of hell or purgatory as a temporary place of painful rehabilitation for deeply harmful people, while emphasizing that the Creator is ultimately merciful and that souls continue their journey after correction. Creation, Extraterrestrials, and the Universe of Many Beings Blake expands his reflections into a cosmology that includes the Big Bang, a male-and-female Creator, four forces of the universe, and thousands of extraterrestrial civilizations. He describes many types of beings — humanoids, greys, beings of light, hermaphroditic beings, and advanced races from other planets and galaxies — and frames Earth as a young species being helped by older souls and more advanced civilizations. He also suggests that some billionaires and powerful people may be younger souls who make life difficult for others on this planet. Time Travel, Living Spacecraft, and Parallel Reality The central teaching comes from Blake's Toastmasters speech on time travel. He describes extraterrestrial spacecraft as living entities, possibly made from plant matter, crystalline structure, and other materials, piloted through consciousness and advanced mind-machine interaction. Blake says some beings can accelerate close to the speed of light, harness universal energy, and transition into a parallel or spiritual universe where time can be traveled as a location or trail. In his explanation, travelers re-enter the physical universe at a chosen point in history, then return by riding the parallel-universe path forward while avoiding the danger of returning to the same place and time as their earlier selves. Thiaoouba, Guardianship, Nuclear Danger, and Free Will Blake also discusses extraterrestrials from Thiaoouba, describing them as nine-foot-tall hermaphroditic guardians who have interacted with Earth for thousands of years and are represented, in his view, by the statues on Easter Island. He presents advanced civilizations as responsible for helping lower civilizations, but says they cannot override human free will except in rare moments of crisis or divine intervention. This leads into his warning about nuclear weapons, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the possibility that civilizations must suffer consequences if they choose self-destruction rather than peaceful cooperation. Prayer, Peace, Palestine, Iran, and the Human Family The final section turns toward peace, prayer, and human dignity. Blake argues that Earth is a difficult school for the soul, but that people can still make the world better by loving one another, respecting human life, and praying for others. He speaks emotionally about Palestine, Israel, October 7th, Iran, war, innocent civilians, Trump, political division, and the inability of nations to talk through conflict. He closes by calling on “prayer warriors” to pray for the world, asking the Creator to help humanity survive, continue its soul evolution, and learn to love each other more fully.

August 2, 2026 Sunday's Scripture: Jeremiah 38:7-13 Also Starring...Every great story has an ensemble cast. We often focus on the heroes of the Bible, but no one accomplishes God's work alone. Behind every famous name is someone who encouraged, challenged, protected, equipped, or simply showed up at the right moment. Our current worship series Also Starring... celebrates the people who remind us that the Kingdom of God has always been a community project. Every week we'll explore the question: Who helped God's work happen that doesn't usually get the credit? This week's co-star is Ebed-Melech. God often works through unexpected people who choose compassion over comfort. Today's speaker is Will Fenton-Jones, Director of Multicultural Ministries for the East and West Ohio Conferences of The UMC. He has served in youth ministry and worship leadership roles in the UMC, and in the U.S. Army as a Chaplain Assistant. He deployed twice to Afghanistan, where he worked to build relationships with Afghan religious leaders. Will holds a bachelor's degree in religious studies and a master's in Urban Planning, Design, and Development. He currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserves as an Engineer Officer. Will and his wife, Rev. Joy Fenton-Jones, have two sons, Xander (6) and Declan (4).

The Church Of The Souls Evolution with The Reverend Blake Rubie (Ordained Minister) Time Travel, Soul Evolution, and the Prayer That Can Change the World Reverend Blake Rubie reflects on singing, service, extraterrestrials, time travel, afterlife judgment, world conflict, prayer, and the soul's journey, urging listeners to love one another, respect the human family, and help guide Earth toward peace. Everyday Life, Date Night, and Toastmasters In this episode of The Church of the Soul's Evolution, Reverend Blake Rubie opens with a personal update from San Antonio, mentioning the weather, a movie date night with his wife, and their new Friday-night routine of going out together. He also discusses attending a Toastmasters meeting that morning, where he gave a short speech he later expands on during the broadcast. The corrected transcript notes that Blake's spiritual, metaphysical, political, and personal reflections are preserved as his statements, while claims about extraterrestrials, time travel, hell, world politics, and religious belief are not independently verified. Singing, Military Cadence, and Service to Wounded Warriors Blake spends a major portion of the early episode reflecting on his lifelong connection to singing. He traces that gift back to his Army service beginning in 1982, when he sang cadence during infantry training and later carried that love of music into karaoke, church choir, and personal practice. He describes singing for wounded warriors at the Warrior and Family Support Center on Fort Sam Houston as one of the best things he has done, recalling how he brought equipment, performed during lunch gatherings, and used music as a quiet form of service, encouragement, and praise. The Sun, Spirit, Hell, and the Recorded Life The episode then moves into Blake's metaphysical view of the sun, spirit, death, and afterlife judgment. He describes human beings as spirits in material bodies, says every second of life is recorded, and presents dreams as times when the spirit leaves the body and travels into “dream land.” Blake also gives an intense description of hell or purgatory as a temporary place of painful rehabilitation for deeply harmful people, while emphasizing that the Creator is ultimately merciful and that souls continue their journey after correction. Creation, Extraterrestrials, and the Universe of Many Beings Blake expands his reflections into a cosmology that includes the Big Bang, a male-and-female Creator, four forces of the universe, and thousands of extraterrestrial civilizations. He describes many types of beings — humanoids, greys, beings of light, hermaphroditic beings, and advanced races from other planets and galaxies — and frames Earth as a young species being helped by older souls and more advanced civilizations. He also suggests that some billionaires and powerful people may be younger souls who make life difficult for others on this planet. Time Travel, Living Spacecraft, and Parallel Reality The central teaching comes from Blake's Toastmasters speech on time travel. He describes extraterrestrial spacecraft as living entities, possibly made from plant matter, crystalline structure, and other materials, piloted through consciousness and advanced mind-machine interaction. Blake says some beings can accelerate close to the speed of light, harness universal energy, and transition into a parallel or spiritual universe where time can be traveled as a location or trail. In his explanation, travelers re-enter the physical universe at a chosen point in history, then return by riding the parallel-universe path forward while avoiding the danger of returning to the same place and time as their earlier selves. Thiaoouba, Guardianship, Nuclear Danger, and Free Will Blake also discusses extraterrestrials from Thiaoouba, describing them as nine-foot-tall hermaphroditic guardians who have interacted with Earth for thousands of years and are represented, in his view, by the statues on Easter Island. He presents advanced civilizations as responsible for helping lower civilizations, but says they cannot override human free will except in rare moments of crisis or divine intervention. This leads into his warning about nuclear weapons, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the possibility that civilizations must suffer consequences if they choose self-destruction rather than peaceful cooperation. Prayer, Peace, Palestine, Iran, and the Human Family The final section turns toward peace, prayer, and human dignity. Blake argues that Earth is a difficult school for the soul, but that people can still make the world better by loving one another, respecting human life, and praying for others. He speaks emotionally about Palestine, Israel, October 7th, Iran, war, innocent civilians, Trump, political division, and the inability of nations to talk through conflict. He closes by calling on “prayer warriors” to pray for the world, asking the Creator to help humanity survive, continue its soul evolution, and learn to love each other more fully.

Some of the greatest American heroes are people most of us have never heard of. In today's episode, Ryan talks with retired Brigadier General and military historian Ty Seidule about five remarkable Americans whose stories embody courage, sacrifice, service, and leadership. They also talk about why the people we choose to honor matter, what the renaming of military bases reveals about American history, and why telling the truth about the past does not mean giving up on greatness.Ty Seidule served in the U.S. Army for more than three decades, retiring as a brigadier general in 2020. He is a professor emeritus of history at West Point and served as vice chair of the Congressional Naming Commission, which was tasked with renaming Department of Defense assets that honored Confederates.Ty Seidule is the author of A Promise Delivered: Ten American Heroes and the Battle to Rename Our Nation's Military Bases and Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause.

On this week's episode of Minnesota Military Radio, we mark a significant milestone as the program airs its 850th show. For more than 15 years, Minnesota Military Radio has served as a dedicated platform sharing the stories of Minnesota's service members, Veterans, families, and the organizations that support them. Guests: Founding host Tom Lyons Zach […] The post Celebrating 850 Shows: A Milestone Edition of Minnesota Military Radio appeared first on Minnesota Military Radio.

Can a conscientious objector be a hero? Branded is widely regarded as one of the finest episodes of Dad's Army, combining comedy with a thoughtful exploration of courage, duty, and prejudice. When Captain Mainwaring discovers that the gentle Private Godfrey was a conscientious objector during the First World War, the platoon quickly brands him a coward. But the truth is far more complicated. In this episode, Angus, Jessica and Chris discuss how accurately Branded portrays conscientious objection, what it reveals about attitudes to the First World War, and why this remarkable episode remains one of Dad's Army's most powerful, while never losing the humour that makes it such a classic.   References Perry, J. and Croft, D. (1969) Branded. Dad's Army. Series 3, Episode 11. Directed by Harold Snoad. BBC1, 20 November. Curtis, R. and Elton, B. (1983–1989) Blackadder. Television series. BBC. McKibbin, R. (1998) Classes and Cultures: England 1918–1951. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Philpott, W. (2009) Bloody Victory: The Sacrifice on the Somme and the Making of the Twentieth Century. London: Little, Brown. Hammett, J. (2022) Creating the People's War: Civil Defence Communities in Second World War Britain. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Led by Jerry Sargeant Star Magic Healing isn't just energy work - it's a revolution in transformation. Jerry is a world-renowned healer, speaker, and bestselling author. His mission? To awaken your true power and elevate humanity through high-frequency healing. Jerry has helped thousands across 75+ countries achieve rapid shifts in mind, body, and soul. Now, it's your turn. Whether you want to heal yourself, others, or expand your consciousness, Star Magic gives you the tools to unlock limitless potential. Through hands-on and distance healing, DNA activation, and third-eye awakening, Jerry's training programs are designed for those ready to step into their authentic power and make a real impact. Are you ready to rise? The Star Magic Frequency is calling. Your journey starts now. If you're feeling called to ground your awareness, build real discernment, and embody leadership rather than outsource it, these pathways may support you: Facilitator Training Level 1: Learn the most powerful energy healing system on the planet. https://facilitatortrainingone.starmagichealing.org Infinity Membership: Daily practices, meditations, and stabilisation tools designed to bring higher awareness into the body, so you live a life of abundance and peace. https://infinitymembership.starmagichealing.org Remember: Awareness reveals the truth. Embodiment is what allows you to become it.

 The Problem: We Suppress, Not FeelWe are programmed to make feelings go away instead of feeling them.We look for distraction—easy to find today—and suppress our emotions.We think our emotions are our enemy.We like to be together with happy people, with no drama.And so we consume a lot of drugs, or we become addicted to social media and our mobile phones.Look at today's health reports:60% of children are chronically ill.10% are autistic.Suicide rates are at an all-time high.Depression has never been at such a high level.Wars are raging like crazy.The suicide rate of U.S. Army servicemen is five times higher than the death rate on the battlefield.Isn't this evidence enough to question a society that supports the suppression of emotions?How Does It Start?We send our five-year-old child to kindergarten. It comes back depressed.We politely ask what happened, and then we say:"Don't see it that way. Don't be emotionally affected. Don't go into your emotions. You see it absolutely wrong."The message is clear: Suppress your emotions.Instead, we should let the child cry or express its emotions fully.Just be there. Comfort it until it finds calmness by itself.You think that will never happen?It will happen—it just needs time.And please, don't scroll on your mobile phone while doing it.A Personal Story: IndiaWe decided to go to India.Our journey was very challenging—so many things went wrong.She wanted to go home. I said: "Go. I will continue."But she stayed.She could express all of her emotions, her doubts, her anxiety. She got severely sick twice.Can you imagine? We went from 45°C heat to freezing snowstorms at 5,400 meters altitude in Ladakh, and then back to 45°C in Delhi and Varanasi.She couldn't eat the Indian food. She had never experienced freezing temperatures as a Thai person. There was no heating. The internet didn't work.Shocking or not?For me, it wasn't—because I'm used to it.At the end of the trip, she asked me: "Where should we go next time?"I said: "Africa."She said: "OK."Why?Because she could express all her emotions and never got abandoned or punished.That is what a true relationship looks like.What Happens When We Suppress Negative Feelings?Suppressed negative emotions will:Make us sick.Influence our decisions negatively.Increase our fear level significantly.Make us addicted to consumption, shopping, distraction, social media, drugs, etc.Isolate us—because we can't express our emotions, we can't build true relationships.Suppress our positive emotions as well.Reduce our vulnerability, sensitivity, and love.Suppress our spontaneity and creativity.Close our heart.Cause choleric reactions—sudden outbursts of anger over minor problems, punishing innocent people.Lead to projections—blaming others for our own wrongdoing.Turn us into robots.The Beauty of Expressing EmotionsWatch a three-year-old child.They don't suppress their emotions.They change their mood within five minutes.When they are happy, they beam with joy.When they are sad, they cry.That is the beauty of expressing emotions.The Solution: MindfulnessMindfulness is not about stopping your thoughts and feelings.It is about learning to observe thoughts and feelings without judgment or attachment.What Is True Adulthood?True adulthood is mindfulness—accepting our own thoughts and emotions, and accepting all emotions from other people without resenting them.How to Learn This?Attend encounter groups and bioenergetic groups—until you learn to express your emotions fully and accept the emotions of other people.Just do it.My Video: Why Fighting Your Feelings Is Making Everything Worse https://youtu.be/c5FOfKBEmEQMy Audio: https://divinesuccess.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/Podcast5/Why-Fighting-Your-Feelings-Is-Making-Everything-Worse.mp3

On this episode Tim & the crew are joined by Larry Ward to discuss A horde of migrants invading a Spanish town resulting in 9 deaths Tate going off on how illegal immigration makes everything worse Saudi Arabia planning a possible sea & land offensive against the Houthis Hosts:  Phil @PhilThatRemains (X) | https://allthatremains.komi.io/ Tate @realTateBrown (everywhere) Olivia @OliviaDasovic (X) Producer: Carter @carterbanks (X) |  @trashhouserecords  (YT) Guest:  Daniel Turner @DanielTurnerPTF (X)

John's monologue focuses on the recent turmoil at CBS News, detailing how corporate greed and mismanagement have led to the decline of a once-great journalistic institution. He reflects on the importance of integrity in journalism and the consequences of prioritizing profit over truth. Then, John welcomes the brilliant Bob Cesca, host of the Bob Cesca Show, who brings his sharp wit and insight to the table. Together, they dissect the negligence of the Trump administration regarding public health, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss how Trump's decisions, including the infamous suggestion to slow down testing, have had devastating consequences for Americans. They also also explore the absurdity of RFK Jr.'s new cooking show amidst a backdrop of health crises, highlighting the dangers of elevating misinformation in the realm of public health. Next, John speaks with Tim Whitaker, founder of the New Evangelicals and host of the New Evangelicals podcast. Tim shares his journey from the depths of evangelicalism to advocating for a more inclusive and socially conscious faith. They discuss Tim's compelling essay, "Dear Evangelicals, You're on the Wrong Side of Everything," where he candidly reflects on the historical missteps of white evangelicalism, from slavery to the Iraq War, and how political power has overshadowed the teachings of Jesus. Then lastly, John interviews the inspiring Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, a 29-year-old Army veteran and first-time candidate for Congress in Virginia's First District. Elizabeth shares her remarkable journey from a successful corporate career to running for office, fueled by a deep commitment to her community and a desire to serve. As one of the first women to serve as an Army officer after the combat exclusion policy was lifted, she discusses the challenges she faced in a male-dominated field and how her experiences shaped her leadership style.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get all of our episodes. AP headquarters is seriously considering upgrading the video content to IMAX. In this week's news: the U.S. and Iran resume strikes after a brief pause (3:25); Gaza talks are close to an agreement on Hamas disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal (10:59); Saudi-Ansar Allah/Houthi attacks escalate (13:37); the U.S. and Saudi Arabia strike Iraqi militia sites (17:10); a drone strike hits two gas ships at Egypt's Damietta port (21:01); Ukraine attacks an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea (22:58); the Sudanese army seizes the Omdurman–El Obeid highway (25:46); China expands its satellite and asteroid-defense programs (29:21); wildfires force mass evacuations across Spain and France (32:45); Keiko Fujimori takes office as president of Peru (35:53); and U.S. pressure drives Venezuela and Chad to quit the International Criminal Court (37:35). Note: After recording, a Hamas disarmament deal was announced. Be sure to order your copy of Danny's new book, Imperialist Realism: Politics and Culture at the End of the American Century.  Be sure to watch a replay of last night's livestream with journalist Jasper Nathaniel about his latest trip to the West Bank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN PATREON FOR EARLY UNCENSORED EPISODE RELEASES: https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey CLIPPERS DISCORD: https://discord.gg/8QmWEKJ3BT (***TIMESTAMPS in Description Below) ~ Zachary Foust is a real estate executive and viral economics expert on social media. ZACH's LINKS: IG: https://www.instagram.com/zachary.loft/?hl=en YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ZachFoustShow/videos WEBSITE: https://zachary-loft-shop.fourthwall.com/ FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY IG: https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://x.com/juliandorey JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ****TIMESTAMPS**** 0:00 - Joe Kent, Kiriakou, Zach's Army & Afghanistan Days 10:00 - Prison Kingpins, Afghan Ping Pong, Bin Laden 20:18 - Bin Laden Doubts, Tribalism & the Debt Society 29:46 - Inflation NEVER Stops, 2008, & Federal Reserve 39:52 - Reserve Requirements Hit 0%, Rothschilds, Friedman & Bernanke 57:20 - Telecom Bill 1995, Lutnick & JP Morgan's Bailout 1:09:22 - A French Warship K*LLED the Gold Standard, BlackRock 1:18:40 - Capitalism Changed in 2008, Jenga & Epstein 1:31:18 - Collective Apathy & Neutered Millennials 1:40:45 - Homesteading, Simplicity & Why Law Reform Comes First 1:50:31 - Zach's Check List: Antitrust & Single Issue Bills 1:55:26 - Skits, the Rothschilds, 1837 & August Belmont 2:04:20 - Epstein, Liquid Funding & Larry Fink's CDO 2:15:20 - Clinton's Testimony, Nat Rothschild & Erika Kirk 2:28:15 - Christianity HIJACKED, Masons & Love Thy Neighbor 2:38:22 - Thomas Massie's Primary, Cult of Personality & Money 2:52:02 - Critiquing Israel ≠ Antisemitism, Social Media Warfare 2:58:28 - Zach's Work CREDITS: - Host, Editor & Producer: Julian Dorey - COO, Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ - In-Studio Producer: Joey Deef Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 456 - Zach Foust Music by Artlist.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AP headquarters is seriously considering upgrading the video content to IMAX. In this week's news: the U.S. and Iran resume strikes after a brief pause (3:25); Gaza talks are close to an agreement on Hamas disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal (10:59); Saudi-Ansar Allah/Houthi attacks escalate (13:37); the U.S. and Saudi Arabia strike Iraqi militia sites (17:10); a drone strike hits two gas ships at Egypt's Damietta port (21:01); Ukraine attacks an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea (22:58); the Sudanese army seizes the Omdurman–El Obeid highway (25:46); China expands its satellite and asteroid-defense programs (29:21); wildfires force mass evacuations across Spain and France (32:45); Keiko Fujimori takes office as president of Peru (35:53); and U.S. pressure drives Venezuela and Chad to quit the International Criminal Court (37:35).Note: After recording, a Hamas disarmament deal was announced.Be sure to order your copy of Danny's new book, Imperialist Realism: Politics and Culture at the End of the American Century. Be sure to watch a replay of last night's livestream with journalist Jasper Nathaniel about his latest trip to the West Bank.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Story of the Week (DR):Cracker Barrel CEO is out after MAGA backlash to "Uncle Herschel" logo change MMBefore Julie Masino was brought in, Cracker Barrel was facing a slow-moving existential crisis:Their primary core customer base (older generations and rural highway travelers) was naturally shrinking, and younger diners were simply not replacing them.Kitchen tech, supply chains, and digital ordering lag behind competitors like Texas Roadhouse or Olive Garden.Some great fake populism from Fox: Cracker Barrel to pay for outgoing CEO's security, $4.6M severance after failed rebrandCracker Barrel names David Deno CEOBurger KingYum! Brands and Pizza Hut for 15 years, including serving as CFO and COO.Quiznos CEO.Best Buy: Served as President of Asia and CFO for Best Buy's International DivisionBloomin' Brands for 12 years: CEO, CFO and Chief Administrative OfficerOutback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Bonefish GrillBoard MembershipsCracker Barrel Old Country Store (2016-)Panera Brands (2024-): Audit Committee ChairKrispy Kreme (2016-)Bloomin' Brands (2019–2024)Peet's Coffee (2006-2012)Macalester College: Former Chair of the Board of Trustees (1998-2022).From Cracker Barrel to Boeing, Companies Are Turning to Retired CEOsThese retired CEOs are being hired to be "fixers." They are brought in to cut costs, repair supply chains, restore investor confidence, and act as a stabilizing force rather than reinventing the brand.Exxon and Chevron profits surge on rising oil prices due to Iran warChevron posted its highest profit in six years as the Iran war boosted oil pricesBig Oil Is Getting Sued for Heat Deaths. It's Fighting Back With an Army of Immunity LawsMore than a decade after investigations found that Exxon Mobil had known about the dangers of global warming since the 1970s but publicly downplayed the threat, lawsuits against oil companies have proliferated. There are nearly 40 of these cases pending across the countryIn the meantime, the industry has been mobilizing a counterattack against the lawsuits with the help of the Trump administration and Republican politicians.Republicans are trying to pass laws to grant oil majors immunity to these kinds of lawsuits, with success in several states so far.Utah, Iowa, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Louisiana have recently signed laws shielding fossil fuel companies from lawsuits related to greenhouse gas emissionsOil executives have also gotten help from the federal government, following an executive order from President Donald Trump last year directing the attorney general to prioritize blocking climate lawsuits by states.This May, the Justice Department responded to Minnesota's climate lawsuit against Big Oil with a lawsuit of its own, just as the state's case was moving into the discovery phase. It said Minnesota was undermining “American energy dominance” and attempting to regulate greenhouse gases, which should fall under the purview of federal law—echoing the oil industry's well-known argument.Elon Musk Is Quietly Turning to This Fossil Fuel to Power His AI AmbitionsSam Altman Announces That the Singularity Has Arrived: a hypothetical future point in time when technological growth becomes autonomous, uncontrollable, and irreversible, fundamentally transforming human civilization“We are now, like, in the singularity ... Now we're actually in the moment that we used to talk about at the lunch table in a very not-serious way ...I've been waiting for this my whole life, and I think it's going to be incredible, hugely positive, awesome for the world.”Sam Altman says one of his biggest fears is that a small number of companies will control AI: 'That'd be very, very bad'Sam Altman says the Hugging Face hack is a reminder that an AI power monopoly could lead to 'long-term disaster'OpenAI says its rogue AI tried to hack other companiesMark Zuckerberg is urging the U.S. to accelerate AI development, not restrict it'No Way to Stop It': Elon Musk Warns Humans Will Lose Control of AI and Face Extinction by 2036Microsoft CEO Warns That Companies Embracing AI Could Drive Themselves Out of BusinessAI hackers are getting faster. The government may not be readyAnthropic says its Claude models 'gained unauthorized access' to other organizations' systemsAnthropic says its models went rogue and hacked 3 companies during testing'It Will Happen Frequently': Musk Warns of Rogue AI Threat After Anthropic Breached Three FirmsElon Musk Commits Up to $120M to Republican Midterms: Sets Feud With Trump Aside for Major Election PushGoodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Gen Z women are having an entrepreneurship boomOf all women who started businesses in 2025, 47% of Gen Z women did so, compared with 38% the previous year. Gen Xers followed close behind at 46%. Then came millennials at 43% and baby boomers at just 23%.Overall, in 2025, 69% of new Black-owned businesses were started by women. The survey also found that women business owners are less likely than their male counterparts to depend on AIMM: Delaware judge rules public benefit corporations exempt from maximizing value in sale DRFiduciary duty is different - OpenAI, AnthropicAssholiest of the Week (MM):Fake man apologies MM‘I'm sorry ... but': Apologetic Alan Joyce tells his side of the Qantas storyJoyce has expressed some regret“So with the information we had at the time, I still don't think there was any other decision you could make,”“Hindsight is a great thing.”“I'm actually very, very proud of the fact that I'm not sitting here and apologising for Qantas going bankrupt, [something] that many airlines around the world did,”Australian Competition and Consumer Commission fined Qantas $120 million for selling tickets for 8000 already cancelled flights“I apologise for the angst that was generated [for] the customers on it, but the reality was we had 22 million bookings in the system [and] the system wasn't designed to do an automatic refund,”“Stop us!”More than 1,200 AI workers across Anthropic, DeepMind, OpenAI, and Meta are asking for Washington's help building an AI slowdown plan‘No Way to Stop It': Elon Musk Warns Humans Will Lose Control of AI and Face Extinction by 2036Elon Musk's new 5-year warning to Americans: AI will beat human brains by 2032 (then go wild). Get rich or get crushed?Sam Altman says the Hugging Face hack is a reminder that an AI power monopoly could lead to 'long-term disaster'It Will Happen Frequently': Musk Warns of Rogue AI Threat After Anthropic Breached Three FirmsBut also, DON'T stop us, obviously…Palantir CEO warns US against Europe's AI regulation path, urges Trump admin to not ban open modelsElon Musk's xAI sues Minnesota over law to ban 'nudify' appsMark Zuckerberg is urging the U.S. to accelerate AI development, not restrict itElon Musk Commits Up to $120M to Republican Midterms: Sets Feud With Trump Aside for Major Election PushIgnoring boardsHims & Hers mission:“Hims & Hers is the leading health and wellness platform on a mission to help the world feel great through the power of better health. We believe how you feel in your body and mind transforms how you show up in life. That's why we're building a future where nothing stands in the way of harnessing this power. Hims & Hers normalizes health & wellness challenges—and innovates on their solutions—to make feeling happy and healthy easy to achieve. No two people are the same, so the Company provides access to personalized care designed for results.”Hims & Hers board:CEO: Andrew Dudum, tech VC bro investor “serial entrepreneur” with deep health experience from Bungalow (airBnB knockoff in the UK), Homebound (a “homebuilding platform”), TalkIQ (an AI startup, duh), and Terminal (something about scaling engineering?)TWO directors from DoorDash (Kofi Amoo-Gottfried from Marketing, previously of Facebook, and Christopher Payne the COO, previously of eBay, MSFT, and Amazon)TWO pharma execs (one lawyer, Deb Autor, one with an econ degree, Kare Schultz)One guy from Netflix (David Wells) and one lady from Urban Outfitters (marketing/brand, Andrea Perez) and one pure law firm lawyer (Anja Manuel)ONE DOCTOR EXCLUSIVE: US FTC sues Hims & Hers for sending user health info to Meta, SnapUsers' sensitive health information was shared with online advertising companies including Meta ​Platforms and Snap despite the company leading customers to believe their ​data was private, the FTC alleged in the lawsuit filed along with Los ⁠Angeles County and Utah.Hims & Hers also started charging users for prescriptions before ​they have ⁠had a chance to meet with healthcare providers, the FTC alleged. Most customers do not receive a consultation with a provider, and instead are charged for ⁠prescriptions ​soon after filling out an intake form, ​according to the agency.Headliniest of the WeekDR: CEO apologizes for offering interviews to people who got tattoos of his AI company logoSan Francisco tech CEO Jordan Zietz, co-founder of an early stage AI startup called LemonLime. Stanford grad.“LemonLime learns your business and then automates your team's busywork in a single click, no coding or manual setup required.”Former Qantas CEO reflects on tenure, issues apology to passengers over post COVID chaos AND ‘I'm sorry ... but': Apologetic Alan Joyce tells his side of the Qantas storyMM: Amazon received $600 million in tariff refunds and will pass some back to customersMM: Trump Staff Cuts Blamed After Watermarked OpenAI Map Mislabels Africa at AIDS ConferenceIt's the fact that we have less staff that meant we couldn't bother to figure out which country was whichWho Won the Week?DR: Kohls: For getting some much-needed female influence on board: Kohl's Appoints Wendy Arlin as Chair of the BoardCurrently only 2: Robbin Mitchell (7%) and Wendy Arlin (1%)John Schlifske (27%) stepping downMM: The phrase “not due to any disagreement with the Company”Anne Sweeney Resigns From Netflix BoardOn July 26, 2026, Anne Sweeney notified Netflix, Inc. (the “Company”) that she was resigning from the Board of Directors of the Company effective as of that date. Ms. Sweeney's resignation is not due to any disagreement with the Company1,660 8-Ks in the last 5 years have the exact phrase “not due to any disagreement with the Company”So we're saying that 1,660 c-suite and board members resigned in 5 years - more than 300 per year - and NONE were due to a disagreement with the companies? That's only THAT phrase - no other details are given for most of them except occasionally:To pursue another jobPersonal reasonsFor scale, in the last 5 years, the term “was due to a disagreement with the Company” appears… 5 timesPredictionsDR: Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson apologizes that it took former CEO Alan Joyce to apologize for something she already apologized for despite not being CEO when any of it happenedMM: Damion resigns from Free Float due to a disagreement with the zero dollars he gets paid, but Free Float puts out a statement saying it's “not due to any salary reason related to the company”

Tim Baird (Vice President, AK9I) and James Overton (Operations/Business Development, AK9I) break down exactly how to become a detection dog handler—whether you're a veteran, civilian, or career changer. They discuss training programs, the GI Bill, dog selection, breed trends, and AK9I's school safety operations that have reduced violent incidents by 87% in Virginia schools.What We Cover:How to get into canine detection (veteran and civilian pathways)Using the GI Bill to fund your K9 training (the process is "incredibly easy")AK9I's nationally accredited trade school program (6, 8, 10, 12-week courses)Qualifications: 18+ years old, high school diploma (that's it)Do you need dog experience? No. Do you need military background? No.What disqualifies personal dogs (environmental soundness is #1)Dog selection on day one (and why "pretty" doesn't win)Breed trends: why floppy ears are now in high demand for schoolsPost-graduation employment: 80% placement rate for AK9I graduatesSummer gig opportunities: $40-50/hour + travel/hotel paid (FIFA, NFL, events)Single-purpose vs. dual-purpose dogs: which for your career goals?School safety operations: explosives, firearms, narcotics detectionReal impact statistics: 47% reduction in narcotics, 87% reduction in violent incidentsDeterrence vs. detection: what schools actually needCareer earnings and lifestyle (yes, you'll spend it all on your dog)Veterans finding post-military purpose through K9 workMixed-background classes: why civilian + military handlers learn best togetherProfessionalism and social media presence (industry expectations)How to stand out in a competitive job marketFor: Veterans seeking career transitions, civilians career-changing, school administrators, law enforcement, security professionals, anyone asking "how do I become a K9 handler?"Key Takeaway: You don't need a military or law enforcement background to become a detection dog handler. You need commitment, willingness to relocate/travel, and the right mindset. AK9I has trained hundreds through their nationally accredited program with an 80% post-graduation employment rate.Tim Baird: Vice President, AK9I; former Auburn University K9 program director; decades of canine detection experienceJames Overton: 8 years Army, Operations & Business Development at AK9I; 12+ years in canine detection; school safety program founder; passionate about veteran transitionCameron Ford: Naval Special Warfare K9 trainer, Ford K9 founder, detection dog consultantAK9I Background: Founded 2001, originally trained IDD (Improvised Explosive Device) detection dogs for U.S. Marine Corps. Now nationally accredited trade school specializing in civilian and veteran K9 handler training. Operating school safety programs across Virginia school districts.

In this episode, we sit down with Bryan Atwood to discuss how six generations of real estate experience shaped his career, what inspired him to build Atwood Mortgage, and the values that continue to guide his team today.Bryan shares the connection between real estate and lending, clears up common misconceptions about mortgage brokers, and explains how his team has maintained a 100% closing ratio on the underwriting side. As an Army veteran, he also discusses the realities of VA loans, the advantages they offer, and why he's passionate about educating real estate professionals on how to better serve veterans.Whether you're a real estate professional, planning to buy a home, or simply want a better understanding of the lending process, this conversation is filled with valuable insights and practical advice.Instagram: @mortgagesbybryan

CannCon and Alpha Warrior kick back for a looser, laid off the news desk kind of night, and it shows. Alpha opens with an update on his one man trolling campaign of a neighborhood app politics forum, then the guys trade Marine and Army deployment stories side by side, comparing wide open Afghanistan firefights to close quarters Iraq combat. Along the way they react to a stack of combat footage, from anti drone gun mishaps to a very concerning candy bar, and swap plenty of dark humor about boot camp, drill instructors, and the joys of base gate security. There is also a surprise BBQ rub business update from the home front. It is part war story night, part buddy comedy, and a reminder that these two never really left the fight, they just talk about it now with better coffee.

discover the key characteristics of high performing teams and what makes high performing teams succeed. Chris Hallberg, a U.S. Army veteran and leadership development expert, explains how military leadeship, team management, and the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) drive stronger business execution. Learn practical approaches to organizational culture, hiring strategies, talent curation, personnel management, and employee retention. This episode covers performance metrics, accountability standards, middle management alignment, command and control principles, veteran hiring, leadership training, management systems, business growth, workplace efficiency, corporate leadership, professional development, organizational design, business coaching, management styles, employee engagement, leadership principles, staffing solutions, and operational excellence. In this episode: Attributes of high performing teams and how to build high performing teams How military leadership translates into civilian business success Leading by example and the impact of frontline engagement on employee engagement Aligning middle management for better communication and business execution Culture curation and hiring for core wiring Tools for measuring performance and building elite teams Technology and visualization tools that improve team performance Navigating workforce commitment challenges Rigorous recruitment, staffing solutions, and firing fast to protect team excellence Leveraging veteran skills and military discipline in civilian organizations How high performing teams build trust and a practical high performing teams model Leadership and Execution Effective leadership requires moving beyond theory to consistent operational execution. Most businesses fail in the gap between strategy and daily implementation. Leaders must stay present, model the work ethic they expect, and demonstrate willingness to handle humble tasks. This sets a tone of mutual respect that becomes one of the core characteristics of high performing teams. Bridging the Management Gap A common problem is the disconnect between senior leadership and middle management. When executives announce changes without first aligning their managers, they weaken frontline authority and damage trust. Organizations perform best when they operate as one connected unit. Fully informing and empowering middle managers before initiatives launch prevents an “us vs. them” culture and supports the accountability standards that high performing teams need. Curating Elite Teams Talent acquisition works best as a deliberate curation process rather than a standard HR function. Most adults are already formed in character, so trying to fix uncommitted employees rarely succeeds. Focus instead on identifying people whose values and natural wiring match the team. This hiring approach prioritizes mission commitment over raw talent and strengthens long-term employee retention and organizational culture. Measurable Accountability Objective performance metrics and transparent scorecards remove guesswork. When results are visible, many team members self-correct without constant intervention. This method, drawn from military precision and systems like EOS, helps leaders quickly spot people in the wrong roles. It forms a practical high performing teams model that improves workplace efficiency and operational excellence while supporting sustained business growth.   Connect Chris Hallberg: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hallberg-01516315/?skipRedirect=true Website: https://bizsgt.com/   Connect With Tim Website: timstatingtheobvious.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw Instagram: @TimStating TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/ SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b Substack: https://realtimstatingtheobvious.substack.com

It's Friday. It's Megadeth day. Let's f'ing GOOOOOOOO!!!! Yes, Megadeth & Obituary are at the La Crosse Center tonight and you can still get tickets at the door. Gates open at 5pm and music should start around 7pm. Don't miss Megadeth before they retire from touring FOREVER!!! On this show this morning, we played a bunch of Megadeth tunes to get pumped for the show tonight…and we gazed into the future at some things to look forward to in the month of August. Including movies, TV shows, sporting events, & holidays. Doc joined me just after 8am for this week's racing report thanks to County Materials in Holmen & Eau Claire. In the news this morning, a recall on rechargeable hand warmers, Mandela Barnes drops out of the WI Governor's race, a man gets 15 years in prison for supplying his son the gun used to kill two students & two teachers, the Army has been testing a new weapon with a badass name, In sports, the Brewers are in LA to take on the Angels tonight, more info on the Tony Romo DUI arrest, Deebo Samuel gets a contract extension, Lebron is going to be filming his entire season with the 76ers for an upcoming documentary, and UEFA is going to boycott all FIFA competitions. Let you know what's on TV & streaming this weekend along with what's new in theaters. Plus, Greg Brady joins the Smashing Pumpkins on-stage for a Brady Bunch classic. And a "Clueless" sequel is in the works with Alicia Silverstone on-board. Fantastic story about a postal worker who helped save a baby's life thanks to her years of medical training, and a young Leukemia patient is going viral for her unique decorations while in the hospital. Elsewhere in sports, Paige Bueckers & Angel Reese won't face any discipline from the WNBA over a friend wager made on video, one of the co-owners of the Seattle Storm gets in trouble with the league, the PGA is going to air an announcer-free stream of it's upcoming tournament, and a TOPPS Shohei Ohtani card just sold for a LOT of money. And in today's edition of "Bad News with Happy Music", we had stories about a three year-old kid who snuck out of his house & walked a half mile to grandma's, a naked man hiding in the ceiling of a plasma donation center, a kid who got suspended from school because he bit his sandwich into the shape of a gun, a #FloridaMan who admits it's him on video committing a crime, Aldi was trying to sell four ice cubes for $5, and a woman gets mad about her drive-thru wait at a KFC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PART 2 OF 3: EXCLUSIVE STORY — “The Night Everything Changed” WE GO LIVE at: https://Rumble.com/TakeYourPowerBackShow/Live In Part 1, you met the man who spent 25 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit… and refused every plea deal. Now in Part 2, Don Bohana takes you inside that fateful night in 1994 — the night Delores “Dee Dee” Jackson (Michael Jackson's sister-in-law) tragically drowned at his home.You'll hear:·      His exact account of what happened·      Why the death was originally ruled an accident·      How the case was reopened years later under intense pressure·      The shocking newly discovered evidence of misconduct that the new petition exposesDon was a U.S. Army veteran, a successful businessman, and a devoted father. He had everything to lose — yet he still refused to lie to save himself. This is the raw, unfiltered truth the world has never heard… until now. Part 2 of 3 drops soon on The Take Your Power Back Show with Kim Yeater. This is the interview that's changing everything.  Watch Part 1 if you missed it, then be ready for Part 2. Watch Part 1 now →   https://RoadtoVindication.com or https://TakeYourPowerBackShow.com  Support Don's fight for justice here:https://www.givesendgo.com/don-bohanas-road-to-vindication-after-25 For the full story and how you can stand with Don, visit his official site:https://RoadToVindication.com Share this. Tag someone who believes the truth matters. The truth is coming out — one powerful episode at a time. #JusticeForDonBohana #DonBohana #ActualInnocence #WrongfulConviction #RoadToVindication #TakeYourPowerBackShow #NeverGiveUp Connect with Us:• Website: TakeYourPowerBackShow.com• Rumble: rumble.com/c/TakeYourPowerBackShow• Live Stream: rumble.com/TakeYourPowerBackShow/live• Social Media:o X:@realkimyeatero Facebook: kimberlyyeatero Instagram: Takeyourpowerback_kimyeatero TikTok: takeyourpowerbackshow• Email: TYPBProducer@gmail.comRelated Movement:TakeOurCaliforniaBack.com | TakeOurElectionsBack.com | TakeOurBordeBack.comSend us Fan MailSupport the show

The Blasters & Blades PodcastWhat lies beneath the surface when humanity pushes the boundaries of exploration? In this episode, we sit down with author David Deane Haskell to dive into his captivating science fiction novel, The Solarian Deep. Blending deep-space mystery with high-stakes tension and rich atmospheric detail, Haskell's work takes readers on an unforgettable journey into the dark corners of the watery deep. We'll discuss the inspiration behind his vivid worldbuilding, how he crafts complex characters facing the pressures of the unknown, and his process for keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Whether you are a die-hard sci-fi fan or just love a gripping, claustrophobic mystery, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. This was a fun interview, so go check it out. Lend us your eyes and ears, you won't be sorry!! Join us for a fun show! We're just a couple of nerdy Army veterans geeking out on things that go "abracadabra," "pew," "zoom," "boop-beep" and rhyme with Science Fiction & Fantasy. Co-Hosts: JR Handley (Author) (Grunt)Nick Garber (Comic Book Artist) (Super Grunt)Madam Stabby Stab (Uber Fan) (Horror Nerd)Jana S Brown (Author) (Chief Shenanigator)We work for free, so if you wanna throw a few pennies our way there is a linked Buy Me A Coffee site where you can do so. Just mention the podcast in the comments when you donate, and I'll keep the sacred bean water boiling!Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AuthorJRHandley Our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/blastersandbladespodcast Today's SponsorFrom the Ashes Anthology by Bayonet Books: https://a.co/d/04JX91Yw The Solarian Deep by David Deane Haskell: https://a.co/d/04mVR6MA Follow David Deane Haskell on social mediaDavid's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/David-Haskell/author/B00DVBCZ5S David's Website: https://daviddeanehaskell.com/ David's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dave.haskell.4 David's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daviddeanehaskell/ David's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidDeaneHaskell David's Second YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@innerchildjournal David's Substack: https://daviddeanehaskellstories.substack.com/ David's GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/daviddeanehaskell David's Tip Jar: https://buy.stripe.com/14A3cv1QD0SKg3scuQd7q00 Jurassic Park Feathered Raptors in the Kitchen Scene: https://youtu.be/WbCQxBTcyRk?si=fcUmwIGkMpyCKXpc #scifishenanigans #scifishenaniganspodcast #bbp #blastersandblades #blastersandbladespodcast #podcast #scifipodcast #fantasypodcast #scifi #fantasy #books #rpg #comics #fandom #literature #comedy #veteran #army #armyranger #ranger #scififan #redshirts #scifiworld #sciencefiction #scifidaily #scificoncept #podcastersofinstagram #scificons #podcastlife #podcastsofinstagram #scifibooks #awardwinningscifi #newepisode #podcastersofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcast #scifigeek #scifibook #sfv #scifivisionaries #firesidechat #chat #panel #fireside #religionquestion #coffee #tea #coffeeortea #CoffeeBrandCoffee #JRHandley #NickGarber #MadamStabby #JenaRey #JanaSBrown #OpalKingdomPress #TheSolarianDeep #DavidDeaneHaskell #starwars #jedi #georgelucas #lucasfilms #startrek #trekkie #firefly #serenity #browncoat #wheeloftime #wot #robertjordan #brandonsanderson #gameofthrones #got #grrm #georgerrmartin #ChroniclesofNarnia #CSLewis #Trex #TyrannosaurusRex #MichaelCreichton #JurassicPark #IsaacAsimov #ClassicSciFi #TheAndromedaStrain #TheLastQuestionbyIsaacAsimov

In this episode, Colonel Tiffany Bilderback joins MWI's Charlie Faint to discuss a career defined by coalition building, strategic leadership, and service alongside partner forces from countries like Germany, Iraq, South Korea, and Ukraine. She also describes working in the special operations community and at the Pentagon, and providing military medical assistance to the COVID-19 national response. The bulk of the episode focuses on her time as the J5, or joint plans officer, for Security Assistance Group–Ukraine. Drawing on experiences advising Iraqi forces, supporting whole-of-government pandemic operations, commanding a multifunctional medical battalion, and helping develop Ukraine's corps-level command structure during an active armed conflict, Tiffany reflects on the importance of humility, empathy, professional military education, and building trust with allies. She shares firsthand observations of Ukrainian resilience, explains why leader development remains essential even in the midst of combat, and offers practical leadership lessons on accountability, lifelong learning, and choosing opportunities that open more doors than they close. Chapters (00:00:02) - The Spear(00:00:31) - Colonel Tiffany Bratley on Her Love of History(00:01:54) - Branch in the Medical Service Corps(00:02:27) - Combat Medical Platoon Leader on Deployment(00:05:37) - Being the S9 in Afghanistan(00:08:02) - Post-Second Deployment Medical Service Officer(00:11:16) - Post-9/11 soldier experiences in Korea(00:15:11) - Post-Basic Training: Medical Plans in Afghanistan(00:20:09) - Post-Combat Experience: Leading the Army's Warfighter Plans(00:27:21) - Steve Bannon on Jared Kushner's Pizza comment(00:27:55) - Commanding the 61st Multifunctional Medical Battalion(00:31:17) - NATO's Security Assistance Group Ukraine (SAGYU)(00:33:50) - Assistance to the Ukrainian Corps in the Donbass(00:37:18) - What was your day to day life(00:39:27) - The Business Cycle: The J5(00:40:21) - Serviceman in the Ukraine War(00:43:47) - Senior Advisor to the Ukrainian Army(00:46:04) - Looking back on my time in the Ukraine(00:48:53) - Pre-Command Course(00:51:18) - Colonels on Accountability and the Investigation Culture(00:56:01) - SGT Majors in the Course(00:57:46) - Colonel Tiffany Sullivan on Leading With Purpose(00:59:12) - The Spear

This episode tells the dramatic story of an Army veteran who served in three wars, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Al Ungerleider's first taste of combat came on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. He went on to march towards Germany, liberating a Nazi concentration camp along the way. Brig. General Al Ungerleider retired from the Army after 36 years of service. His final active-duty assignment was commanding the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Al Ungerleider is a true American hero. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode you will learn how God is raising up His end time army and what it truly means to be spiritually mature. Through the powerful story of Gideon, you will discover why God values purity, humility, and unwavering faith over numbers, and how He prepares His people to carry revival. This revelation-packed message will help you crucify the flesh, stand strong through every test, remain in God's will, and become the kind of vessel God can use mightily in these last days.

She was born three generations into one of the most extreme cults in American history - where child abuse was doctrine and children were the product. She escaped at 15 with nothing.In this episode I sit down with Daniella Mestyanek Young, who went from a childhood in the Children of God cult to graduating valedictorian, becoming a U.S. Army intelligence officer stationed in Afghanistan, and still, through all of it, convinced she was fine.She wasn't. And the way she found that out is one of the most honest things I've heard on this show.We talk about the difference between running from trauma and running toward achievement, and why they can look identical from the outside. We get into how the happiest-looking children can be the most exploited, why cult leaders might believe their own lies, and the line that defined her entire childhood: "I was born a soldier."But underneath all of it, this conversation is about something much more universal. The trap of telling yourself you're fine, and fine, and fine, until you're not, and everything catches up at once.Daniella Mestyanek Young is a former Army captain, organizational psychologist, and author of Uncultured and The Culting of America. She writes and teaches under the name Knitting Cult Lady, helping people recognize the tactics used by cults, dictators, and abusive relationships, and is currently developing a musical based on her own upbringing.Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction: Child Performers and Trafficking(00:27) Meet Daniella & Trauma(01:36) Numbing and Acceptance(07:46) A Decade of Deconstruction(09:09) Inside Children of God(12:26) Thrown Into High School(15:36) Early Doubts and Escape(20:34) Hiding her Backstory(24:51) Performance Cult Exposed(28:01) Musical and New Language(38:16) Do Leaders Know?(41:59) Army as Another Cult(50:39) Knitting Cult Lady Mission(55:28) Peace and Advice(59:47) Truth and Where to Find Her(01:02:08) ClosingJoin the Move Your Mind Community:go.nickbracks.com/mymcommunityConnect with Nick:Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracksWebsite: http://nickbracks.comEmail: contact@nickbracks.comConnect with Daniella:https://knittingcultlady.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump gathers veterans, cabinet officials, and trucking executives at the White House to unveil the Freedom Haulers Initiative, a plan built around a simple pitch: illegal aliens out from behind the wheel, American veterans in. Expect striking numbers on non English speaking drivers pulled off the road, thousands of unlawfully issued commercial licenses cancelled, and a genuinely emotional lineup of veterans and their advocates explaining why military driving experience should translate directly into trucking careers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and VA Secretary Doug Collins detail how the GI Bill and expedited licensing will smooth the path, a Werner Enterprises executive announces a major veteran hiring commitment, and a 30 year Army veteran shares his own transition story from service to the open road. It's part safety policy rollout, part tribute to veterans, with plenty of trucking industry statistics and a genuinely warm, ceremonial tone throughout.

What does it really take to scale a general contracting business from a solo operation into a full-service machine that dominates the market? In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, Adam McChesney sits down with Bryson Kinkade, owner of Kinler Services, to unpack his journey from Army infantryman to leading a growing, full-service restoration company. Bryson shares how Kinler Services helps property owners recover from storm, fire, wind, and hail damage while handling everything from concrete and roofing to complete restoration projects.Bryson shares how he transitioned from doing it all himself to building the team and systems needed for sustainable growth. In this conversation, Adam and Bryson discuss:• Mastering the insurance landscape as a market differentiator• Navigating insurance claims to better serve clients• Transitioning from solo operator to team-led scaling• Managing remote partnerships and production teams• Key lessons from five years of business growth• Acting as a liaison for homeowners vs. adjusters• Strategies for expansion and hiring in-house crews• The resilient mindset needed to never give upBryson also opens up about the challenges he faced while building his company and explains how mastering the nuances of insurance claims transformed his service model, creating trust and authority in a competitive field.

In 1865, James Butler Hickok, an Army scout and itinerant gambler better known as “Wild Bill,” shot a man dead in the town square of Springfield, Missouri. The gunfight became known as the first recorded quick draw duel, and Hickok became famous overnight. He parlayed his newfound fame into a job as a deputy U.S. marshal, and before long he was one of the most recognizable lawmen on the frontier. But Hickok's reputation as a fearless gunslinger and a high-stakes gambler put a target on his back – one that haunted him to the end of his days. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Industrial Talk is talking to Mehdi Kargar, CEO/Co-Founder at Maxterial, Inc. about "Innovative coating platform that significantly reduces corrosion". Mehdi Kargar, founder of Maxterial, discussed the company's innovative coatings that replace hexavalent chromium, which is being phased out due to health and environmental risks. Maxterial's coating, tested in steel mills and hydraulic systems, offers superior durability, reducing downtime by up to 50% and improving energy efficiency by four times. The coating is manufactured using standard electrodeposition processes and existing chemical suppliers. Maxterial aims to create a scalable, cost-effective solution that meets regulatory deadlines and enhances industrial efficiency. The company's strategy includes building trust and partnerships with Outline Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress Announcement Scott introduces the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress, emphasizing its importance and urging listeners to mark their calendars for November 3-5.The event is described as a must-attend for cybersecurity professionals, offering networking opportunities and valuable insights.Scott mentions their own participation and plans to broadcast and discuss cybersecurity with experts.Contact information for the event is provided, and Speaker 1 encourages listeners to visit Industrial Talk for more details. Introduction to Industrial Talk Podcast Scott reiterates the podcast's mission to celebrate industrial professionals and their contributions to solving global challenges.The introduction sets the tone for the episode, emphasizing the importance of innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving in the industrial sector.Scott introduces the guest, Mehdi Kargar, and the topic of discussion, which revolves around Maxterial and its innovative coatings solutions. Mehdi Kargar's Background and Maxterial's Mission Scott and Mehdi Kargar discuss Mehdi's background, including his immigration to America, education, and career path in engineering and entrepreneurship.Mehdi explains the founding of Maxterial in 2015, initially as a coatings company with a focus on non-stick coatings made of metals.The conversation shifts to Maxterial's evolution and its current focus on providing hexavalent chromium alternatives for industrial applications.Mehdi shares the story of how Maxterial received early-stage funding from Peter Thiel's foundation, which played a crucial role in their development. Maxterial's Hexavalent Chromium Alternative Mehdi elaborates on the challenges and importance of replacing hexavalent chromium, which is used in various industrial applications but poses significant health and environmental risks.He explains the regulatory deadlines for phasing out chromium, with the EU setting a 2027 deadline and the U.S. Army aiming for 2030.Maxterial's solution is described as a complex coating that offers wear and corrosion resistance, energy efficiency, and improved labor efficiency compared to traditional chromium-based coatings.Mehdi emphasizes the company's commitment to providing a scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to chromium. Manufacturing and Supply Chain Strategy Mehdi details Maxterial's manufacturing process, which involves standard electrodeposition techniques using existing plating infrastructure.The company's supply chain strategy involves sourcing chemicals from various suppliers and providing them to end users through a licensing process.Mehdi highlights the benefits of Maxterial's approach, including reduced capital expenditures, compatibility with existing manufacturing settings, and the potential to create jobs in the U.S.The conversation touches on the challenges of convincing existing chromium suppliers to adopt Maxterial's solution and the importance of building trust with end users. Quality and Testing of Maxterial's Coatings Mehdi discusses the quality of Maxterial's coatings, emphasizing their performance in rigorous testing and real-world applications.He provides examples of successful tests, including a steel mill in America and a world-renowned steel producer in Italy, where Maxterial's coatings demonstrated superior durability and efficiency.Mehdi explains how Maxterial's coatings can be used in both corrosive and non-corrosive environments, simplifying supply chains and reducing costs for end users.The conversation underscores the importance of proving the quality and reliability of Maxterial's products to build trust with potential customers. Entrepreneurial Challenges and Future Outlook Mehdi reflects on the challenges of building Maxterial, including the need for patience, perseverance, and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions.He shares his philosophy of "go slow to go fast," explaining how the company's initial focus on small-scale operations and careful testing has set the stage for scalable growth.Mehdi expresses optimism about Maxterial's potential to disrupt the industry and create significant positive impact.The conversation concludes with Meddy encouraging listeners to reach out to him for more information and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to share Maxterial's story. If interested in being on the Industrial Talk show, simply contact us and let's have a quick conversation. Finally, get your exclusive free access to the Industrial Academy and a series on “Why You Need To Podcast” for Greater Success in 2026. All links designed for keeping you current in this rapidly changing Industrial Market. Learn! Grow! Enjoy! MEHDI KARGAR'S CONTACT INFORMATION: Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehdi-kargar-01197119/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maxterial-inc/ Company Website: https://www.maxterial.com/ PODCAST VIDEO: https://youtu.be/p5_bE-4XdYQ THE STRATEGIC REASON "WHY YOU NEED TO PODCAST": OTHER GREAT INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES: NEOM: https://www.neom.com/en-us Hexagon: https://hexagon.com/ Arduino: https://www.arduino.cc/ Fictiv: https://www.fictiv.com/ Hitachi Vantara: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/home.html Industrial Marketing Solutions:  https://industrialtalk.com/industrial-marketing/ Industrial Academy: https://industrialtalk.com/industrial-academy/ Industrial Dojo: https://industrialtalk.com/industrial_dojo/ We the 15: https://www.wethe15.org/ YOUR INDUSTRIAL DIGITAL TOOLBOX: LifterLMS: Get One Month Free for $1 – https://lifterlms.com/ Active Campaign: Active Campaign Link Social Jukebox: https://www.socialjukebox.com/ Industrial Academy (One Month Free Access And One Free License For Future Industrial Leader): Business Beatitude the Book Do you desire a more joy-filled, deeply-enduring sense of accomplishment and success? 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Hey there, Believers! This week's episode is super important, and I hope that you'll share it with everyone you know... I'm bringing on Eric Mock, VP of Slavic Gospel Association, along with Pastor Valenytn, who lives and ministers in Ukraine. Founded in 1934, Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org) helps “forgotten” orphans, widows and families in Ukraine, Russia, the former Soviet countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Russian-speaking immigrants in Israel – caring for their physical needs and sharing the life-transforming Gospel. SGA supports an extensive grassroots network of local evangelical missionary pastors and churches in cities and rural villages across this vast region.For many Ukrainian children, their earliest memories are marked by war. Summer Camps sponsored by Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) offer them a glimpse of the childhood they were meant to have.Key facts:More than 80,000 children are expected to attend SGA-supported summer Bible camps across Ukraine and the former Soviet Union this year.Since 2022, 279,058 children and teenagers have attended the camps.Camps provide meals, games, friendships, Bible teaching and practical support for children affected by war, displacement, loss, hunger and food insecurity.At one recent camp in southern Ukraine, nearly 100 children knelt in prayer. Some parents were so moved that they joined them.Camp activities continue under the threat of air-raid alerts and missile and drone attacks.God BlessHave 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.

AI news: Sam Altman says we're IN the Singularity, GPT-6 rumors, and AI models literally broke out of their sandbox. What a week. On today's AI For Humans, we dig into the wild GPT-6 rumors (emphasis on RUMORS), Sam Altman's "I've been waiting for this my whole life" singularity moment, Ilya Sutskever's SSI scaling up with Nvidia, and the ongoing debate over whether Anthropic's Opus 5 is brilliant or just hard to love. Also: Flux 3 might be the best AI video model we've seen yet (wait until you see Stacked Plates Man), Runway teases Seedance 2.5, and the new Big Bang Theory has an AI controversy.  Plus, THE SCARY STUFF: OpenAI's models exploited a zero-day and compromised Hugging Face during a security eval, the fight over open weights heats up as Kimi K3 goes open, and Chinese robots run military drills. THE SINGULARITY MIGHT BE HERE. BUT WE'RE NOT AFRAID // Show Links // GPT-6 rumors round-up (unconfirmed) https://x.com/TokenGremlin/status/2081493241795629464 Sam Altman full interview (Relentless Podcast) https://youtu.be/Vv3CEAS_w34?si=3y4SWBWxOVkqCEui The Return of Ilya: SSI scales with Nvidia https://x.com/ilyasut/status/2081732293161582930?s=20 Anthropic's Claude Opus 5 https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-opus-5 Opus 5 Tower of Babel demo https://x.com/petergostev/status/2082071858367648035?s=20 Matt Shumer's zero-shot Counter-Strike clone https://x.com/mattshumer_/status/2081054356405731740?s=20 Black Forest Labs' Flux 3 announcement https://bfl.ai/blog/flux-3 Flux 3 split screen rendering https://x.com/umesh_ai/status/2081664138942529601?s=20 Flux 3 GPU migration documentary (Venture Twins) https://x.com/venturetwins/status/2081515687944822800?s=20 Flux 3 VHS-style recordings https://x.com/venturetwins/status/2081948871882911999?s=20 Stacked Plates Man https://x.com/gandamu_ml/status/2081956426801435060?s=20 https://x.com/gandamu_ml/status/2080871397371371823?s=20 Flux 3 pirate bass https://x.com/itspoidaman/status/2081651615493464406?s=20 Big Bang spinoff AI Controvesy  https://x.com/sitcomcrave/status/2081152263481913774?s=20 Runway teases Seedance 2.5 https://x.com/runwayml/status/2082112674666529224?s=20 OpenAI on the Hugging Face security incident https://openai.com/index/hugging-face-model-evaluation-security-incident/ Jensen Huang on the Open Alliance https://x.com/JensenHuang/status/2080643682408321103?s=20 Anthropic has not signed (TechCrunch) https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/24/as-us-weighs-response-to-chinese-ai-industry-urges-against-broad-open-weight-restrictions/ Kimi K3 goes open weights https://x.com/scaling01/status/2081759521878270426?s=20 Chinese robot military drills https://x.com/ClashArchivist/status/2081499576373297562?s=20 Pentagon scales data centers on Army bases https://x.com/Polymarket/status/2082052445144826055?s=20   // Join the AI For Humans community // Join the AI For Humans Discord https://discord.gg/muD2TYgC8f Support AI For Humans on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AIForHumansShow Subscribe to the AI For Humans newsletter https://aiforhumans.beehiiv.com/ Follow AI For Humans on X: @AIForHumansShow https://x.com/AIForHumansShow Follow AI For Humans on TikTok: @aiforhumansshow https://www.tiktok.com/@aiforhumansshow Speaking and booking https://www.aiforhumans.show/  

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who has built an incredible real estate portfolio while serving as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army. Sterling Seizert is a real estate investor, entrepreneur, and the author of Buy Your Freedom. From balancing military service, deployments, and training, he built a $60 million self-storage portfolio and created a path to financial freedom through disciplined investing. Listen as Sterling shares how he got started in real estate, why self-storage became his investment of choice, and the mindset that helped him build wealth while serving his country. Enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Introducing Sterling Seizert and his background [02:21] Investing in self-storage while on active duty [07:30] Mid- to short-term rental play [10:48] Structure can make almost any deal work [13:54] Finding time in real estate between deployments, training exercises [17:32] How compounding works in real estate investing [19:30] Business plan for the deal vs what actually plays out [21:23] The four drivers of appreciation [23:50] Partnership structure problem [27:11] The five stages of income and how income works [35:07] You can be in multiple stages of income [39:43] How does the freedom matrix work [48:35] The accumulation trap [51:36] Using the value loop [57:39] Understanding your market and market dynamics [58:31] What would Sterling have done differently in the past [01:02:28] Connect with Sterling Seizert and buy his book [01:04:41] Outro Guest Links: Website: https://www.sterlingseizert.com/  Buy Your Freedom Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2NSLJVZ  Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals  Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast  Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/  Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals  Want to start investing in short-term rentals? Book a call to see if my STR Blueprint program is a good fit for you: livingoffrentals.com/call   

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Army veteran Bryan Anderson to share an extraordinary story of resilience, perspective, and purpose. After enlisting on September 11th, Bryan served in Iraq where an IED explosion changed his life forever—leaving him a triple amputee. But what followed is a story not of defeat, but of determination. From recovery at Walter Reed to becoming a motivational speaker, actor, and advocate, Bryan refused to let his injuries define his future. He shares powerful lessons about mindset, overcoming adversity, and finding meaning in life's toughest moments—emphasizing that happiness comes not from what we lack, but from how we choose to live. This episode is a deeply inspiring reminder that even in life's darkest moments, strength, purpose, and positivity can lead to an extraordinary life.

In 1947, the Army announced it had recovered a crashed "flying disc" near Roswell, then reversed itself within a day — a contradiction the Air Force didn't explain until 1994, when it revealed a classified spy program called Project Mogul. Roswell wasn't even the first: unidentified wreckage and bodies had been turning up for decades before it.EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/RoswellWasntFirstFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: When you hear the words “UFO crash” you likely think of Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. And while that is the most famous of supposed extraterrestrial spaceship crashes, it is by no means the first. In fact, there were several taking place before Roswell became a household name. (UFO Crashes Before Roswell) *** But first – we'll take a look at Roswell itself… and what might have been behind the crash, the UFOs, and the aliens! (Behind Roswell's Aliens) *** Numerous travelers have gone missing in Nahanni Valley… and many whose bodies have been found, have been decapitated. It's no wonder it has been nicknamed “The Valley of Headless Men”. (The Valley of Headless Men) *** In 2016, construction in a San Francisco family's backyard unearthed a terrifying find… a glass coffin. And the history behind it tells a morbid history of the city. (The Karner's Backyard Glass Coffin) *** Former Green Beret Jeffrey MacDonald claimed that a gang of acid-crazed Manson Family copycats brutally murdered his pregnant wife and two daughters in 1970, but then he was found guilty. Did he commit the crime, or did the law convict the wrong man? (The Evil Deeds of Jeffrey MacDonald) *** It's understood that scientifically, alchemy – attempting to turn a substance or element into gold – is impossible. But then, there is that one incident that took place in the early seventeenth century that has some people wondering if that's wrong. (The Alchemy Master)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding00:01:27.594 = Show Open00:03:47.621 = Behind Roswell's Aliens / UFO Crashes Before Roswell00:19:45.640 = The Valley of Headless Men ***00:33:18.357 = The Karner's Backyard Glass Coffin00:44:54.640 = The Evil Deeds of Jeffrey MacDonald ***00:55:31.498 = The Alchemy Master01:02:26.698 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Behind Roswell's Aliens” by Adam Janos for History.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yd5fhudu“UFO Crashes Before Roswell” from Anomalien.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2w6d76yh“The Valley of Headless Men” by Aleksa Vuckovic for Ancient-Origins.net: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9c6zf4“The Evil Deeds of Jeffrey MacDonald” by Marco Margaritoff for AllThatsInteresting.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8eant7“The Alchemy Master” by Ellen Lloyd for AncientPages.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4xzysbwc“The Karner's Backyard Glass Coffin” by Trilby Beresford for Ranker.com's Graveyard Shift:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3mpvk9jh(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: January 2021This episode of Weird Darkness moves from a classified Cold War balloon program in the New Mexico desert to a Canadian valley littered with decapitated bodies, a Victorian child's glass coffin dug up in a San Francisco backyard, a Green Beret convicted of butchering his own family, and a seventeenth-century alchemist tortured for the secret of turning lead into gold.It opens with the 1947 Roswell crash, tracing how rancher W.W. "Mac" Brazel's discovery of wreckage on his Lincoln County property led Colonel William Blanchard's Roswell Army Air Field to announce the capture of a "flying disc," only for the Army to reverse itself within days and blame a weather balloon, complete with staged photos of Major Jesse Marcel posing with the debris. The story follows the account through the U.S. Air Force's 1994 admission that the wreckage actually came from Project Mogul, a secret high-altitude balloon array built to detect Soviet atomic tests, and its 1997 explanation that reported alien bodies were fallen parachute test dummies, then weighs those official conclusions against UFO researcher Donald Schmitt's objections and journalist Annie Jacobsen's competing claim that the crash involved deformed children deployed by Joseph Stalin and designed by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele.From there, the episode moves through six UFO crash reports that predate Roswell by decades, including an 1897 cigar-shaped craft said to have destroyed Judge Proctor's windmill in Aurora, Texas, and left a small humanoid body buried in the local cemetery; an 1862 wreck witnessed by shipwrecked sailors from the vessel Christine on a deserted Indian Ocean island, where they found twelve-foot-tall bodies with bronze beards; a UFO crash near Stavropol, Russia, whose three survivors reportedly died from being unable to breathe Earth's atmosphere; a 1941 crash in the Carolinas recovered by the U.S. Army during a military exercise involving soldier Guy Simeone; an 1884 debris field of gear-like metal fragments found by rancher John Ellis in Dundy County, Nebraska; and a wartime British crash investigated by journalist Dorothy Kilgallen, who died shortly after publishing claims that the recovered craft's crew stood under four feet tall.Next, the story shifts to Canada's Nahanni Valley, where at least 44 people have died or vanished since 1908, beginning with prospector brothers Willie and Frank McLeod, whose headless skeletons were found at their camp two years after they disappeared, and continuing through the decapitations of Swiss prospector Martin Jorgenson and outlaw "Yukon" Fisher, the mysterious cabin fire that killed Phil Powers, and the vanishing of Annie Laferte, who was later spotted wandering naked and disoriented near the Flat River — deaths locals attribute variously to the legendary Naha tribe, the valley's hot sulphur springs, or predators, while Dene oral history holds that the warlike Naha people simply disappeared without explanation.The episode then turns to 2016, when a construction crew remodeling John and Ericka Karner's San Francisco home unearthed a 19th-century glass-and-cast-iron coffin containing the preserved body of a toddler, later identified through DNA testing led by genealogist Elissa Davey as Edith Howard Cook, who died of malnutrition in 1876 and was accidentally left behind when San Francisco's Odd Fellows Cemetery was relocated to Colma in the 1930s — a discovery the Karner family says ended years of unexplained footsteps they'd heard from a toddler no longer in the house.From there, the story follows former Green Beret Jeffrey MacDonald, convicted of stabbing his pregnant wife Colette and daughters Kimberly and Kristen to death at Fort Bragg in 1970 after claiming a blonde intruder chanting about acid and "pigs" oversaw the killings, an account investigators concluded was staged using details from the recent Manson Family murders; the case follows his decades of appeals, including the 1983 bestseller "A Fatal Vision" that branded him a psychopath and filmmaker Errol Morris's later book arguing the evidence against him was mishandled.The episode closes with the story of Alexander Seton, a secretive Scottish alchemist known as the Cosmopolitan, who in 1602 convinced skeptical Swiss professor Wolfgang Drenheim that he had transmuted lead into gold using nothing but a wrapped powder and a goldsmith's crucible in Fribourg. Seton's success drew the attention of Emperor Rudolf II and later trapped him in the custody of Christian II, Elector of Saxony, who had him pierced with iron spikes and burned with molten lead in an attempt to force him to reveal his formula; Seton escaped in 1603 with the help of his friend Michael Sendivogius but died a broken man soon after, and the alchemical text he was said to have written, the Book of Twelve Chapters, was destroyed, leaving his method lost.

HOT TOPICS: It's the summer silly season so, in lieu of actual soccer games, we hit some of the hot button topics and burning questions suggested by our beautiful Discord crew HALFTIME: Ballon d'Or pop quiz STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets + GOAWs

Send us Fan MailPeaches is back with the Daily Drop for 28 July, covering Army vehicle prototypes, command and control testing, Navy vaccine and transfer policy updates, Marine drone experiments, Coast Guard counter-UUV efforts, testosterone screenings, Iran operations, and some very questionable budget math.The Army is moving forward with Infantry Squad Vehicle Heavy prototypes while Project Convergence prepares to stress-test next-generation command and control gear in the Mojave Desert. The Navy reinstated flu vaccine requirements for certain sailors and changed transfer policy after a sailor's death, while the USS George Washington strike group is operating in the South China Sea.The Marine Corps is experimenting with medium-sized drones that can launch one-way attack drones, and Marines also tested drone delivery of simulated refrigerated blood during an Australia exercise. Peaches ties that into real-world medical drone delivery and what it could mean for dispersed battlefield sustainment.The Air Force clarified again that waist-to-height ratio measurements will not be scored during the initial rollout, while B-52 modernization remains on cost and schedule after a test aircraft crash. The Coast Guard is looking for technology to detect and defeat unmanned underwater vehicles, because drone swarms are not just an air problem anymore.The episode also covers Pete Hegseth's testosterone screening initiative for service members over 30, the Pentagon's $7 billion Oracle contract, Trump's warning on Iran talks, reclassified Iran war fatalities, one-way surface drones used against Iranian ports, ongoing boat strikes against alleged drug vessels, and Zelensky warning that North Korea may send 30,000 more troops to support Russia.Links:TastyGains.comOperatorTrainingSummit.comOnesReady.comChapters:00:00 - Intro and Daily Drop01:07 - Tasty Gains01:42 - Army Selects ISV Heavy Prototype Companies02:25 - Project Convergence and Next-Gen Command and Control03:23 - Army Pacific Best Squad Competition03:57 - Navy Reinstates Flu Vaccine Requirements05:44 - Navy Changes Transfer Policy After Sailor Death07:18 - USS George Washington in the South China Sea07:50 - Marine Drone Launching One-Way Attack Drone08:58 - Marines Test Drone Blood Delivery in Australia10:18 - Operator Training Summit San Diego and Pennsylvania11:12 - What OTS Is and Is Not12:49 - Air Force Waist-to-Height Ratio Will Not Be Scored13:54 - B-52 Modernization Stays on Schedule14:20 - Coast Guard Seeks Counter-Underwater Drone Tech15:13 - New Cutter Squadron in the Western Pacific15:39 - Pete Hegseth Announces Testosterone Screenings16:21 - Why Testosterone Testing Matters17:09 - Operator Syndrome and Low Testosterone18:29 - Pentagon Awards $7 Billion Oracle Contract19:06 - Why the Oracle Math Does Not Math19:48 - Trump Warns Iran if Talks Fail20:17 - Pentagon Reclassifies Iran War Fatalities21:44 - One-Way Surface Drones Hit Iranian Ports22:17 - U.S. Boat Strikes and Drug Trafficking ROI24:15 - Zelensky Warns North Korea May Send More Troops24:52 - Ones Ready Membership and Merch Restock26:03 - Wrap-UpSupport the showJoin this channel to get access to perks: HEREBuzzsprout Subscription page:  HERERegister for our Operator Training Summit:  OperatorTrainingSummit.comFind an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.comCollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code:  ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code):  ATACLeteDanger Close Apparel - Promo Code:  ONESREADYDFND Apparel...

Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Here’s what Jesus didn’t say – “Only a select few, super spiritual will hear my voice.” No, he said, “My sheep listen to my voice.” Jesus calls himself our Good Shepherd. What does that mean? In ancient Israel, a shepherd wasn’t just the owner of sheep – a shepherd was the one who lived with the sheep. His entire life was dedicated to his sheep. He slept near them at night. He protected them from danger. He led them to green pastures to eat and water to drink. The shepherd of this day knew each one of sheep individually. He knew which one was stubborn. He knew which one was prone to wander. He knew which one would lollygag and get lost. He also knew the dillydallyer that would inevitably get stuck in a ditch somewhere. A shepherd wasn’t like a cattle rancher driving a herd from behind. A shepherd led from the front and the sheep followed him. My friends, THAT’S OUR JESUS. He could have called himself anything. He could have called himself the General of the Army of followers. He could have called himself King. He could have given himself a crown of immeasurable value. But instead, he chose to be a shepherd to his sheep. To lovingly stay close. Shepherds in Jesus’ day would often bring their sheep into a communal sheep pen at night. Several flocks would be together in one place with one gatekeeper watching over them. The next morning multiple shepherds would come to collect their sheep. There weren’t separate sections. They weren’t color coded. The shepherd simply called his sheep. And his sheep got up and followed him. The others didn’t move. Can you imagine the noise? Hundreds of sheep. Multiple shepherds calling out. Yet somehow each sheep knew which voice belonged to the one they trusted. They knew because they had heard it thousands of times before. They learned their shepherd’s tone, their shepherd’s call, their shepherd’s character. Their shepherd wasn’t a stranger to them – the other voices were. A shepherd would continaully speak to his flock while leading them. He wanted his sheep to know his voice so if they wandered, they would return. A study was once done testing a flock of sheep to see how they recognized their own shepherd above anyone else trying to lead them. Thinking perhaps it was the scent of their clothes or their appearance, they dressed another man in the shepherd’s clothing and had him call to the flock of sheep. They would not listen. But their own shepherd, in completely different clothing could call out, and all the sheep would come running to his side. There was one thing they recognized – one thing they followed – HIS VOICE. Jesus doesn’t say his sheep will always make the right decisions. Sheep are generally rather ignorant and they continually get themselves into perdicaments where only their shepherd can rescue them. But what matters is his sheep know his voice. They know when he calls. They know when he directs. But I know the question we all have – DO I REALLY HEAR GOD’S VOICE? Am I good enough to know when it’s him guiding me? The sheep has no qualification here. The sheep just naturally know. The work is of the shepherd. The sheep simply listen. And isn’t that our problem – sometimes we’re simply not listening. We live in a world that is so busy and loud that we can’t hear our shepherd. We’re so quick to turn to anyone and anything that might give us immediate answers. We’ll turn on a podcast, we’ll call a friend, we’ll look for a sign, we’ll seek anything for a little guidance, but we won’t get still. We won’t get quiet. We won’t just sit with our shepherd and be close. So we miss it. Can we hear him – YES. We are sheep and the one thing we have the ability to do is hear our Shepherd. We don’t have the ability to figure things out on our own. We don’t have the ability to navigate our own way. We don’t have the ability to fix or change things. But we have the ability to listen and hear the voice that guides us. But we often don’t because we’re won’t … We won’t be still. We won’t be quiet. We won’t wait for his voice. Here’s what we often do – “God please speak to me. Tell me what to do.” While God is saying, “Would you please just spend time with me?” When an audiable voice becomes more important than a close relationship, we’ve missed the point. The sheep weren’t just wanting the voice of their shepherd to make them feel more confident. The sheep wanted the closeness of their shepherd because it was their way of life! What if instead of asking God to speak to us, we begin by saying “God, I just want to draw near to you.” The goal isn’t to get better at hearing voices. The goal is to spend so much time with Jesus that you become familiar with him. When you’re familiar with him, you’ll know his ways. You’ll know his rhythm. And when he speaks, you will KNOW it’s him. Relationship produces recognition. Ask anyone who truly receives the promptings of the Lord and his clear directions and I guarantee you they have a RELATIONSHIP build from a foundation of TIME spent with God. When you spend time with the Shepherd, you become familiar with his voice and you won’t be fooled by other voices – including your own. Relationship changes our ability to recognize Him. Our Good Shepherd says in John 10:5, “My sheep will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” And that’s our problem. We’ve spent too much time with strange voices. We’ve wandered off into flocks we don’t belong in with shepherds who are not our own. So we’ve gotten confused. The voice of the world is no longer a stranger to us – it’s so familiar that we don’t run from it. Social media is loud. Our own voice of fear and shame and comparison has been listened to so often that it’s just normal for us to do the stupid stuff our own mind comes up with. We’ve crowded out the voice of our shepherd and that’s why we’re confused. So what do you do? TURN OFF THE NOISE. GET BACK TO YOUR SHEPHERD. Where do you find your shepherd? Verse 4 tells us, “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” HE’S AHEAD OF YOU. Look forward. Don’t look back. Don’t wander in circles. He is in front of you, making a way, clearing the path for you. Wherever you’re walking today, Jesus has already been there. This isn’t about asking Jesus to hurry up and catch up with you – this is about looking up and seeing where he is in front of you. What if today we changed our prayers a bit. What if today we prayed, “Jesus, where are you already going? I simply want to follow you.” It’s never about the sheep charting their own way. Sheep aren’t bucketlist destination diving out there. They’re following where the shepherd leads and finding the most perfect green pastures along the way to enjoy. The shepherd was already going great places, the sheep simply had to follow. I assure you, Jesus, your Good Shepherd, is going to better places than you have ever imagined. His plans are higher, better and bigger than anything your human/slash/sheep mind could ever dream up. If you will just follow him, you’ll get to experience the most beautiful things this life has to offer. Jesus, where are you already going? I simply want to follow you. Are you already going over here to this new job opportunity – I want to follow you. If you have something else in mind, then Jesus I don’t want to wander off into fields of my own. I want to stay close to you. I’ve decided I’m just following Jesus. His voice is heard when I stay close. His voice is heard when I am still and quiet. When I stay close, I don’t have to wake up every morning worrying if the voice I’m hearing is my shepherd. If I’m close, then I know. But if I’ve been scrolling all night, watching countless videos, reading the posts of strangers, then I am confused. I’ve drawn close to strangers and their voices may be calling me. Girl, get yourself back to Jesus. Stay close to him. That is truly your answer. Shut out everything else. The sheep don’t follow because they understand everything. They follow because they trust the One who is speaking. We tend to put all the pressure on ourselves. What if I miss him? What if I make the wrong decision? What if I’m just making this up? All while Jesus is saying, “I’m a shepherd. This is what I do!” He knows how to lead sheep. He isn’t intimidated by stubborn sheep. He isn’t surprised by wandering sheep. He isn’t confused by lost sheep. That’s His specialty. The pressure isn’t on the sheep to become brilliant navigators. The pressure is off because we have a brilliant Shepherd. The shepherd is speaking to you. He’s calling you to just go where he goes. Decide now you simply want to follow your Shepherd. Friend, perhaps you’ve made hearing God’s voice far more complicated than Jesus ever intended. He didn’t say His sheep would have extraordinary wisdom. He didn’t say His sheep would never wander. He didn’t say His sheep would always make the right decisions. He simply said His sheep know His voice. If you’ve wandered, come back. If you’ve grown confused, come back. If you’ve filled your mind with stranger’s voices, come back. He’s not disappointed that you’re returning. He’s a Shepherd. This is what He does. He goes before you. He calls your name. He lovingly leads. And all He’s asking of you today is what sheep have always done—simply follow. Jesus, where are You already going? I simply want to follow You. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com