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The Milwaukee Brewers scored six runs in the opening inning and prevailed over the Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, 9-3, but not without a serious cause for concern. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe break down what they saw at American Family Field, from the electric pro-Brewers crowd to an interesting starting-pitcher decision by former Brewers manager Craig Counsell. The Jackson Chourio injury is top-of-mind; will he be OK enough to play in this series going forward? They discuss the aggressive start, the Game 2 pitching plan, old friend Aaron Civale, an interesting Counsell comment and more. In Three Up Three Down (36:46), they discuss the NLDS roster decisions that stick out and Peralta's big outing. In Remembrew When (54:00), JR looks back at another six-run outburst in Brewers playoff history. And in Curt Blanche (59:30), Curt wonders how players really feel about Counsell. Music intro from bensound.com. Musical cues (in order): "I Got What You Want" (Extended Version) by Gloria Tells, "Arriving at Dusk" by American Legion and "Screaming Fool" by Andreas Dahlback, all from www.epidemicsound.com.
The Season 3 Premiere begins with the return of a friend, and she's keeping secrets. Arriving determined to bring her friends "home", everyone's left wondering what that means. It all comes down to trust. Ready for the ride? Join Club 86 Visit our Merch Store Visit our Website Socials: Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and the Discord Desert Skies is made by Jared Carter. He does voices, and writes, and edits the sounds and stuff. The show is Executive Produced by Michael Freiberg. He's the one who makes sure people hear it. Music featured this episode: Gone to the Mall - One Two Feet Simple Lullaby - William Claeson The Unconquered Son - Dian Shuai Blooming Emotions - Megan Wofford Get Up and Get Out - Soleil Getting Lost - Lupus Noctei Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Yep, it's the Chicago Cubs. The Milwaukee Brewers know their first-round opponent and also know that the National League Division Series will get started at 1:08 p.m. Saturday. Can the Brewers send Craig Counsell packing or will their heated rival stand in the way? Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe look at the matchup and then take reader questions on a variety of topics like Jacob Misiorowski, rally towels, Joey Ortiz, Rhys Hoskins and more. Music intro from bensound.com. Musical cues (in order): "I Got What You Want" (Extended Version) by Gloria Tells, "Arriving at Dusk" by American Legion and "Screaming Fool" by Andreas Dahlback, all from www.epidemicsound.com.
Welcome back to Delta Green: Convergence. After a stake out in the woodland of Buck's stud ranch and a close encounter of the third kind our agents pursued an unidentified flying object across the Groversville farmland. Fearing they are each compromised by the strange protomatter infecting the population it could be mere hours before they succumb to whatever is happening to their bodies. Arriving at an abandoned barn Peggy scouts ahead uncovering an alien operation beyond anything our agents could imagine This is Mystery Quest, a roleplaying podcast where we play a variety of one-shot RPG's with a rolling cast of special guests. Check out Delta Green here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/236576/delta-green-the-role-playing-game You can pick up Convergence here : https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/415615/delta-green-convergence Podcast: https://www.pickaxe.uk/mystery-quest Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/MysteryQuest Follow the Cast: Tom: @AngoryTom Dan: @apocplayers Lydia: https://twitch.tv/squidgame Ravs: @Ravs_ Danann: @apocplayers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From the Drug Violence of Miami to Colombia: His DEA Journey to the Cali Cartel. His early start in Law Enforcement was as a part-time police officer on the Jersey Shore, which eventually led to his role in one of the most dangerous assignments in law enforcement history, Chris Feistl's career is a story of grit, perseverance, and determination. His journey took him from the drug violence of Miami to Colombia, where he helped dismantle the infamous Cali Cartel, a saga now immortalized in books, podcasts, and Netflix series like Narcos. Chris Feistl is our guest on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available for free on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcast platforms. “Miami was chaos during those years,” Feistl recalls. “The violence from the Cocaine Cowboys was unlike anything most Americans could imagine. We were in the middle of a war.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. The Cocaine Cowboys Era After joining the DEA following his service as a Virginia Beach police officer, Feistl was assigned to Miami, Florida, ground zero for the cocaine trade in the late 1970s and 1980s. The era was defined by the so-called “Cocaine Cowboys,” traffickers who turned Miami into the epicenter of cocaine smuggling and drug-related violence. Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin . One incident still stands as a symbol of the times. On July 11, 1979, a brazen daytime shootout erupted inside a liquor store at Dadeland Mall. Armed with submachine guns, assailants gunned down rivals in what police described as a “Wild West-style” shootout. Their escape vehicle, later found abandoned, was stocked with weapons and bulletproof vests, earning the nickname “war wagon.” “Miami was the Wild West,” Feistl explains. “Every arrest could turn into a gunfight. That's the environment we lived in daily.” From the Drug Violence of Miami to Colombia: His DEA Journey to the Cali Cartel. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. From Miami to Colombia While in Miami, Feistl's investigations often led back to Colombian suppliers. By the early 1990s, his path took him directly to Colombia itself. Arriving just after Pablo Escobar's death, Feistl shifted focus to the emerging powerhouse of the drug world: the Cali Cartel. “The Cali Cartel was unlike Escobar's Medellín Cartel,” Feistl said. “They operated with a corporate structure, independent cells reporting to managers. It made them more sophisticated and harder to infiltrate.” At the height of its reign between 1993 and 1995, the Cali Cartel controlled more than 80% of the global cocaine market, raking in billions annually. Robert Bonner, former DEA Administrator, once called them “the most powerful criminal organization in the world. No drug organization rivals them today or perhaps any time in history.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms. Taking Down the Cali Cartel Partnering with fellow DEA agent David Mitchell, Feistl joined a special task force charged with dismantling the cartel. Together, they spent years tracking the cartel's leaders, an effort that culminated in the arrest of the Cali “Godfathers” and the collapse of one of history's most powerful crime syndicates. “Our mission was clear,” Feistl says. “We had to take them down. It wasn't easy, but the Cali Cartel was too big, and too dangerous to continue unchecked.” From the Drug Violence of Miami to Colombia. His success earned him some of the DEA's highest honors, including the Administrator's Award of Honor and multiple Distinguished Service medals from the Colombian government. The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Legacy in Media and Pop Culture Chris Feistl's extraordinary career has been documented across media platforms, ensuring his story reaches far beyond law enforcement circles. He co-authored the book After Escobar: Taking Down the Notorious Cali Godfathers and the Biggest Drug Cartel in History, offering readers a first-hand account of the operations that brought the cartel down. Netflix's hit series Narcos dramatized his work in Season 3, introducing millions of viewers to the complexities of the Cali Cartel. Feistl has also appeared on Drug Lords: The Cali Cartel (Netflix), Narco Wars (National Geographic), Finding Escobar's Millions (Discovery), and German Cocaine Cowboy (Prime Video). His journey and story resonates across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and beyond. Beyond television, he has become a frequent guest on top podcasts including the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, sharing his expertise on platforms like their website along witt Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. He's appeared on This American Life, Game of Crimes, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, and The Adam Carolla Show. On the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show's Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and more fans can continue to follow his journey. From the Drug Violence of Miami to Colombia: His DEA Journey to the Cali Cartel. Looking Back After 26 years with the DEA, 12 of them spent in Colombia, Feistl retired in 2014 as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division. Looking back, he often reflects on the risks, the victories, and the lives lost along the way. “We were fighting something much bigger than ourselves,” Feistl says. “But if our work saved lives and slowed the violence, then it was worth it.” From the drug violence of Miami to Colombia, Chris Feistl's DEA journey to the Cali Cartel remains one of the most compelling law enforcement stories of modern history. Through books, Netflix, and podcasts, his legacy continues to educate, inspire, and remind the world of the human cost of the global drug trade. Be sure to check out our website . Be sure to follow us on MeWe , X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. You can help contribute money to make the Gunrunner Movie . The film that Hollywood won't touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary “gift” to help ensure the making of his film at agunrunnerfilm.com . Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer. You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website . The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. Get the latest news articles, without all the bias and spin, from the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Medium , which is free. Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo. From the Drug Violence of Miami to Colombia: His DEA Journey to the Cali Cartel. Attributions After Escobar Wikipedia Narcos Netflix All That Is Interesting Wikipedia Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
“You can live in Vietnam for $1,000 a month… but will you be happy, healthy, and secure doing it?”Adrie and I are gonna be here again, but in different roles - she's the host and interviews me. Adrie asks me about the real cost of living in Vietnam after nine years as expats in Ho Chi Minh City. When we first arrived, we thought everything would be dirt cheap — almost free. But as we settled into long-term life, we learned that costs depend entirely on the lifestyle you want to live.This conversation was a fun mix of stories from our early days, lessons we've learned the hard way, and advice I wish someone had told me when we first moved here. It's not just about whether you can survive on a backpacker budget — it's about whether you can thrive here long-term with savings, health insurance, and a lifestyle you actually enjoy. Key Talking PointsFirst impressions vs. reality – Vietnam feels cheap at first, but costs add up quickly.Wide price ranges – from 10k coffees to 110k Starbucks, lifestyle choices shape your budget.Can you live on $1,000/month? Long-term essentials – pensions, health insurance, transportation, and gym memberships are often overlooked.Simple but rich lifestyle – Vietnam makes it easier to spend less on consumer goods, but temptations (international food, travel, shopping) are always there.Chapters[00:00] Arriving in Vietnam – first impressions and naïve expectations.[07:00] The shock of real rent prices in Ho Chi Minh City.[13:00] Street food vs. Western comforts: how your lifestyle changes your budget.[19:00] Hidden costs expats forget: pensions, insurance, gyms, and groceries.[29:00] Big question: Can you live on $1,000/month in Saigon?[45:00] Why a simpler life in Vietnam can actually feel richer."Send me a message!"This Season is sponsored by Premier Dental.Discover the potential of a confident and healthy smile with the excellent dental clinic in Ho Chi Minh Support the show
In this episode, Bridget Farrands and Ian Hardie open up about the twists and turns of their career and leadership transitions. Bridget reflects on stepping out of the corporate fast lane into a portfolio of advisory and board roles, while Ian shares lessons from moving across industries, countries, and cultures into top executive positions. Bridget also talks about her book Lost in Transition, which introduces a three-phase framework—Arriving, Surviving, and Thriving—to help leaders navigate new roles. Together, they discuss earning trust in unfamiliar territory, balancing humility with decisiveness, staying resilient through uncertainty, and shaping a meaningful “next chapter.”Bridget Farrands is a consultant, coach and author specializing in transition and identity. She works internationally with leaders and teams to create thriving workplaces, drawing on over 20 years' consulting experience across sectors. Co-author of Leadership Transitions, she helps executives navigate the personal and organizational challenges of new roles. Ian Hardie is an advisor, consultant and executive coach who helps leaders and organizations create impactful learning and growth experiences. Formerly with Sephora, LVMH and London Business School, he now works internationally, drawing on decades of experience in talent development. He also chairs Wave for Change, a social inclusion charity.Links from the episode: Bridget's book ‘Lost in Transition'Bridget's coaching and consulting homepageBridget's LinkedIn profileIan's LinkedIn profileThanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast
A Cheated-on Halloween Spectre Dead husband returns for revenge on wife and lover. Based on a post by LitEro Cat. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. The thin curtain between the living and the dead realms is weakest on All Saints Eve. Wraiths like me begin to cross into the living domain at the stroke of local midnight, but at the 3AM. witching hour, the veil briefly ceases to exist. For one hour, we can easily cross both ways. At midnight on All Saints Day, the curtain becomes impenetrable and we are stuck on either side until the next Halloween. I'm here in my former bedroom in San Diego, to avenge my murder, by my not-so-loving wife, not merely to watch her sleeping naked with my former best friend. Dead exactly one year, I've had that long to practice my deathly powers. Our atoms are spread to a tenth of our former density which allows us to appear to fly and to pierce denser objects. The only real new power we have is to affect gravity at a tiny level. That is how I can pull the sheet off my wife and her lover. I can see and feel quite well, even hear, taste, and smell the fresh scent of sex from my bed. The taste of pheromone is strong, especially when I raise her leg and lick her pussy or his shrunken cock. He is still coated in their mixed cum, so she chose not to lick him clean, as usual. I spread her pussy lips and see his cum oozing out of her. So, she shaved her red bush for him. When I lick her clit, she stirs. "Oh Bill, I can't go again. Isn't twice in an hour enough for you?" I started moving his hand off her tit, which wakes him. I raise his dick and squeeze it, as I shove some dense air hard on his balls. Twice in an hour? I was lucky to get it twice a month. "Ow! Kim, there's no need to hurt me. I was asleep. Is that how you treated Ken after sex? No wonder he was always grumpy. Don't treat me like that, or you can end up like he did." "Are you seriously threatening me? You woke me by fingering my pussy and rubbing your cock against my ass." She rolled onto her back, knees up and apart, pussy spread and leaking, big tits sloping sideways to her pits. Her red hair formed a halo around her head. She was as beautiful as I remembered, and gave me an ecto-hard on; well we don't have blood to do it, so ectoplasm has to "fill in" for it. Did I mention that we have no use for clothes so we are naked and use ectoplasm to disguise that when needed? Today, it wasn't needed. My cock swelled bigger than in life, at the thought of eating her. As soon as she dozed off again, I drifted down from the ceiling, planted my face on her wet pussy, and lapped up some cream pie on my way to her clit. My tongue pushed her hood side-to-side until it presented her hard pearly glans. I sucked and nibbled it just as she liked. She gasped and her head shot hard left. A long groan escaped her as her chest, tits and neck flushed. I still had the skills. "Oh Bill, oh. I said no more tonight. I thought you hated cream pie. Ken used to nibble on my clit like that and eat his cum. I forgot how much I miss that. Bill?" Her bright green eyes squinted. Bill was lightly snoring. Angered, she straddled his face, pulled his jaw open and spread her wet pussy to let his spent cum fill his own mouth. His body spasmed and tried to force her off, but she gripped the back of his neck and held on. He had no choice but to swallow his salty cream. He sputtered; she laughed. Seeds of discontent planted, I floated away to look for my laptop. It was in its usual place. In my small desk drawer, sat my collection of flash drives including a new pack of three. I had to create a scalpel to cut open the pack then plugged a new one into the PC. With a delicate touch, I opened WordPerfect and began typing these notes. Once I get them to admit on my USB recorder who killed me and how, I can send that to the police and have my revenge. It's 8AM. and they are eating, naked, as I listen in. They are planning to attend a one-year ceremony for me. Watching my ex bustle around the kitchen makes her sweet ass jiggle, her tits dance, and two cocks stiffen. Bill swings her around to straddle his lap and slides her smoothly onto his cock. Though I hate her, I still crave her fucking awesome body. "Oh, you feel so good, deep inside me. Bill, how long have you practiced that move? I think the first time you pulled that on me, was four years ago, when Ken insisted we go to a carnival commando, all of us. He made the mistake of removing my panties in front of you; then flashing my bare pussy as proof. That was the first time I saw your cock too, when you guys both stripped in front of me. We laughed, but that was the start for us, wasn't it?" "Yes. I recall Ken squeezing my dick and passing it to you to stroke and watch it swell. At the carnival, both of us kept spinning you so your dress flew up and you flashed everyone around. We all laughed. It wasn't until later that night, in this very kitchen, that I pulled that move and impaled you on my cock the first time. Your dress settled on us and we both felt the sparks. Then Ken came in with some wine. You went for glasses, but the fool didn't know I had just claimed your snug pussy. He must have seen me stuffing my cock away, yet said nothing. I guess he trusted us." Four years? I was a fool. That's, that's when she started refusing me sex. So they were fucking for three years before my death. Maybe if I embarrass her enough, and make her blame Bill, I can get them arguing. That will be tough since she likes exposing herself, if she can't be blamed. Wait. Is that the mourning dress she's wearing? It's backless, low on top and high on bottom. At least it's black. It's a cocktail dress for seduction, hardly for mourning. No panties or bra, just a diamond pendant to draw attention to her shapely tits. It tapers at the waist, then has a wide zipper to the bottom. I can work with that. My ceremony was at a small church. The front entrance was across a creek with a 100-foot bridge over it. Parking was near the bridge, then we had to walk it, and everyone took a moment to absorb the quiet landscape. Ignoring the gossip about disrespecting me, they walked hand-in-hand to the bridge. She shook free and walked a step ahead of him; a pretense of respect. Once she was free of him, I acted. Before she reached the middle of the bridge, I lifted her skirt to her ribs exposing her sweet ass and wanton pussy to all our old friends. She fought the dress and scowled at Bill. When she straightened up, I pushed both narrow straps off her shoulders and down to her waist. Both luscious bouncy tits, capped with hard nipples, lit up in the bright sunshine. She squealed, bringing more attention to her beautiful tits. Then glared at Bill, who shrugged innocently. She turned to go back to the car, but Bill stopped her and reminded her how inappropriate it would be to miss her husband's ceremony. She was expected to praise me from a lectern. Her angry glare burned through Bill. He dropped back a few more steps, yet the back of her dress went up above her waist in the breeze I created. Bill had to choose whether to risk telling her. He chose to stay quiet and, with the others, watched her big round naked ass wiggle across the bridge. In the church, Bill wisely chose to sit in the first row, but across the aisle from where Kim sat. The minister came to Kim and clipped a small wireless microphone to her dress. Then he started a recording of the event, to give Kim later. Finally, he opened the meeting and said a few general words. Then he introduced Kim, my "grieving" wife. When she moved into the narrow aisle, I moved her hand behind her and unzipped her dress, then slid it off. With the dress on the floor, she stood naked except for her shoes. She gasped and froze, leaving her sexy, inappropriate ass exposed to everyone. She glanced at Bill who threw his hands up. The minister had a perfect full frontal view, and stood open-mouthed. Now she was finally embarrassed; not at being naked, but at believing that everyone thought She had deliberately stripped. After a long red-faced moment where the entire front row drooled over her big swinging tits, she bent, exposing her pussy and ass hole, as she exclaimed in a loud voice that She didn't do that and it was a cheap prank by her former friend, Bill. As soon as she touched her dress, I licked her pussy which made her squeak and fall on the floor face up and legs apart, facing the gathering and making a lovely spectacle. Dress in hand, big tits dancing, she stumbled to her feet then ran past the minister, to the rest room, while the congregation sat in stunned silence. I flew through the restroom door and stared at her confused face and beautiful naked body. She leaned against a wall and tried sorting things out. When she covered her face with both hands, I ran two ecto-fingers into her wet pussy with care. She gasped. When I rubbed her clit side-to-side and sucked it, she shouted my name. The little wireless microphone caught it. The gathering assumed that was in grief. Her eyes closed, her hands gripped the wall; she began gasping louder. I edged her toward a loud orgasm; she groaned when I stopped. Edging her again got her moaning and calling my name. Sweat ran down her naked body as she twisted and shouted a stream of obscenities until I reached her G spot and twisted another finger into her tight ass. "Oh, Yes, Yes, fuck me Ken. It must be you. Bill doesn't measure up to you. He doesn't know your tricks with my clit, or G-spot, or my ass. I forgot how much, Oh-Oh, I miss sex with you. I'm so sorry we killed you. It was Bill's idea to rub peanut oil in your Halloween mask before the party. Oh-Oh, fuck me harder. After you went into shock, I swapped your mask with a clean one. I'm so sorry! Please, Bill. Please Fuck me like I used to let you!" Someone was banging hard on the door. I leaned my head through it and saw it was Bill. It was time to share a new trick with her. I formed an ecto cock, a foot long. After licking her tasty twat, I pushed my new phantom cock fully into her and made it triple width so it rubbed her lower clit and her G spot together. Her eyes crossed. As she started to climax, I twisted my ecto-finger in her ass and gave her the most intense orgasm she ever had, one that she would never have again. The minister unlocked the door and he and Bill found her confused, rubbing her clit, and drooling on the floor. Bill helped her up and put her dress on her before carrying her out to the car. I rushed home and finished typing these notes and saved them to the flash drive before my murderers arrived. As they pulled into the driveway, I opened the garage door, pulled my bike off the hangers, and rode it past them and down the road. Since they couldn't see me, all they saw was a "living" bike pedal away on its own. I flew back inside quickly. When they approached the only kitchen entry, they found it blocked by all the canned goods from the open pantry. Kim screamed. Epilogue: She accused Bill of stripping her in front of the gathering; he denied it and could not convince her. They broke up that night. The next day, police arrested them both for my murder and conspiracy. The church recording and all the witnesses to the spontaneous confession gave probable cause. I decided to hang around longer than I intended. Since I missed my window to return to the land of the dead, I watched the trial, conviction, and start of their life sentences. While I'm stuck here with the living, I visit Kim in her prison cell and fuck her daily. She scares her Hispanic cellmate when she shudders and cums. The Latina is convinced it's voodoo. The doctor thinks she is epileptic and treats her with stupefying meds and restraints. On random days, during her lunch period, I strip her in front of the lesbian prisoners and guards, bend her over a table, and fuck her to shivering orgasms as they watch. She finishes her lunch naked. I won't say what I do to Bill, daily. Nor what the Sexual predators make sport of doing, after they saw him bent over bare-assed. It will be Halloween every day for her, until I cross back. Revenge is so sweet. Jan's Ghost Guest Pam wants her house back and haunts a housewarming. LitEro Cat Ghost Guest A month after buying a distressed house, then getting it into 'move-in' shape, we threw a housewarming party for friends and new neighbors. Everything was going smoothly that day, I even kept my weekly tennis outing that Saturday. On the way home, I picked up the Deli order and just needed to change into a casual party outfit, before the guests arrived. Arriving home ,I saw the drier had failed to dry the laundry, including my intended party wardrobe choice. So I left on my tennis outfit and helped Jake set out the beverages and snacks. Then the doorbell rang, and I greeted my first guests. The few neighbors who came, were less outgoing than I hoped. Jake invited coworkers their spouses, and his hunting buddies. I invited a few couples, too. They seemed to form their own groups, with shielded whisperings whenever they looked at me or my husband, Jake. I approached one whom I knew from work, Bev, and asked about the secrecy. "Well, Jan, you know; a notorious single woman died in this house. The agent must have told you." She hadn't. Bev filled me in; "Pam was in her forties, divorced, and had a reputation for sleeping around, yet she was bitter and miserable when she got sick. She died suddenly, and no one went to her funeral. She loved this house, especially her 'meditation' room, which you converted into your workout room. Thanks for the open invitation, but don't expect any more to come. Jake's den was her 'special guest' room where she 'entertained.' Some say she still haunts this place and they won't enter." "Isn't that silly, believing in ghosts?" I smirked. A glass slid across the buffet table and crashed on the floor, though no one was near the table. The crowd hushed and stared. "No worries.” I assured them all. “Someone must have bumped the table. Jake, would you clean that up?" House Tour. I continued to show the house. When I got to the meditation room, something swiftly unzipped and pulled my short tennis skirt to the floor. No one was near me. As I quickly fixed it and reached up to show pull bar on the Nautilus exercise machine, my crop top pulled off me with so much force, it pulled me off balance, then it flew across the room. Some guests trembled in fear, others simply smiled knowingly, and looked around. Before I let go of the pull bar, to fetch my top, my bra unclipped and flew across the room. As if baring my tits to my guests wasn't enough, something bonded my grip to the bar and held my arms straight up. Every man there tented his slacks. Still in denial, and refusing to be embarrassed, I begged, "Great gag. Who's doing this?" "Say what I say, or more punishment comes." came a hoarse voice in my ear. Startled, I looked around and shouted to empty air, "No. I won't say that. Who are you?" The crowd of about 15 people looked at me and stared at my dangling tits. Then, my mouth spoke Pam's words, "Everybody Join Me. Show Off Your Tits. Come Look At Mine And Feel Them." Two women then bared their tits, staring at me, entranced. Their men approached me and felt my tits. They pinched my nipples, shrugged, and walked away. When they approached the door, it slammed shut. No one could open it. Though my arms were still held up, Pam was more annoyed and pulled my skirt to the floor again. I shrieked and stood topless in my sheer thong. My guests began to understand my connection to Pam. The same two men circled me and examined my ass with their eyes and fingers as others felt panic rise. Pam finally released my grip, and I sat at the workout bench. The ghost named Pam then forced my arms down, made them unzip the men, and extract their stiff cocks. "Repeat for me, Pam ordered. Then I declared her words; “These Two Happily Married Men, And Others Of You, Frequented My Guest Room, And Tasted My Charms." Pam controlled my hands as I jerked the two men, as their wives and other guests watched. The men resisted, yet stepped out of their slacks as if in a trance, and felt up my flawless ass. When I strained to stop jerking the men, Pam whispered, "Still resisting? Okay." I was pressed onto my back, lying on the workout bench. I was Still stroking two big, stiff cocks, my thong got yanked, then started to slide down. When my minimal bush appeared, the two topless women gasped and rubbed themselves; their husbands smiled. The loss of my thong exposed my stiff clit. Seeing no harm in Pam's control, I began to enjoy showing off my body without shame. Several men moaned, including Jake. When the loss of the thong exposed my swollen labia, as the stretchy little cloth fell to my feet, I was deliciously naked in my housewarming, in front of my captive audience. To keep up appearances, I shouted, "Someone help. What's happening?" I wondered if they could see how wet I was. "We tried to warn you.” Bev said. “Pam was a vindictive bitch. She's not done with you yet." "Well, this is my house now and I make the rules." That may have been too much for Pam to accept. She whispered, "Really? Let's move to the weight bench and see." Against my will, Both my tits rose up as if pulled by my nipples, then dropped heavily. My mouth dropped with the sudden pain. Looking down, I saw my nipples being twisted and pinched though no one touched me. Something kicked my feet apart and spread my lips open for my guests. I felt a cold chill lick me, and then something unseen enter my pussy. It felt bigger than any cock I'd ever had in me. The pain matched the pleasure it gave. My clit shifted and jumped from its hood. I felt teeth scraping it. When my tits were squeezed and released, with my nipples twisting up tall and hard, I screamed out an ear-piercing climax. Hanging my gasping head, I fell to my knees and pulled the two cocks I still held; to my mouth. Already at the edge, my tongue lapping their cocks was enough to make both cum around and in my mouth. As I swallowed their cum, a chilly finger twisted into my ass. I came again and fell on my chest as the cold finger fucked my ass. I'm No stranger to anal, and that was still something wonderful and new. The two wives, already knowing their husbands had sought out Pam for casual sex, watched their men cum on me. Their fingers were quietly in their panties, jilling their pussies and rubbing their clits. They twisted their tall nipples and climaxed when their husbands did. Everyone watched the two women fully strip, then attack each other's husband expecting their stiffness to last longer after their release. Pam smiled knowing the town's secrets and seeing that one exposed. The icy finger left my ass; I sighed. Though I began believing, I said, "This is an elaborate trick. I still won't believe in ghosts." "Really? Explain This." Speaking Pam's words, I said, "No one has helped Jan arrange anything in this room, so no one knows what's in Jan's closet. Yet I do." The closet door swung open, revealing a box which fell open, off the high shelf. In it were several vibrators. One of them lifted up and moved to my hand. Still naked, cum covered, and several feet from anyone, I levitated a few feet. Turned to face the weight bench face down, I felt an angled pillow move under me. When I lay across it with my hips on it, I knew my bare ass was offered to all. With my legs pulled apart, my rear hole and special rear view of my swollen, wet pussy were clearly lit. I heard someone whisper, "Beautiful pussy." I sighed with pride. A spanking paddle flew out of the closet and slammed my ass hard on one cheek. Jake later told me my ass flushed bright red as I screamed. My arms were pinned so I had no defense against the hard whack on my other cheek. "Believe Me Now, Bitch?" "No!" "Now you're just being stubborn. Or are you starting to enjoy this? Can't have that." My sexy cheeks spread, my lusty pussy on display, Pam showed everyone my winking, crinkled hole. The vibrator in my hand flew up and twisted itself into my pussy before turning on. Another vibrator flew from the box and wormed its way into my ass before turning on. The paddle went high, then slapped one cheek hard before rising again and slapping the other. I groaned and climaxed again as if full of two, big cocks. Bev said, "Jan, give up. She will just continue to torture you until you do.” Give her what she demands. Then The fun will end." "OK. I believe you, Pam. Are you satisfied, bitch? Show yourself. What do you want?" In Pam's voice, "I want my home back. But I know I need someone to be my contact. If you refuse, then you must move out." I answered, "If you can live here peacefully with us, we can have fun together. May I have my clothes back?" "Not yet, Jan. Let's move to the new den." I flew off the bench and landed in front of my guests. Bev passed me a napkin to wipe the cum off my face. In the den, Pam spoke through me again, "My Queen bed took most of this room. This is where I fucked most of the men here, and went down with several women. Jan should know who her neighbors are." Jake flew up a few feet, threw up his arms, and his shirt flew off. The rest of his clothes flew off next and he was as naked as I was. Everything on his desk slid to the floor as Jake gently lay on his back there with his stiff cock pointing up. His knees came up with a grunt as his cock bent stiffly down. He moaned, "oh, so cold," as a misty image of a beautiful, shapely, greenish, young woman appeared above him with her cheeks sucking on his cock. Many terrified fingers pointed; Bev said, "That's her; that's Pam.” Another said; “I'd know her perfect tits and ass anywhere. Oops." Her secret was out. It was not to be the last. Pam pointed at Bev and in Pam's voice she said. "Yes, Bev and I were lovers. Jake here was one of my clients for several years, though Jan didn't know. I pushed him to buy my house from probate, so we could continue to fuck, with a provision. I wanted him and Jan to be my daily lovers and all my other clients to be welcome here in my bed. Jake agreed. Do you agree, Jan? Watch what I can make your husband do for me and in you." Jake lurched and grunted several times as he launched a fountain of cum into Pam's mouth and through her head. The plume of cum fell back through her and landed on his balls. "Bev, come lick this up. Jan, we await your decision." Pam was All smiles as Bev approached Jake, hungry for his cum, her clothes fell off with each step. By the time she spread his legs, she was tit-slinging naked in front of her neighbors, yet she didn't mind. She lifted his balls and began licking them clean, his shaft, his crown, and sucking the last of his cream from him. He was so thrilled with the intense warmth of her mouth, he came again, nearly filling her cheeks. I'd never seen my husband launch his cum like that, or Bev naked and hungry like that. When I approached, Bev was sharply bent over. I knelt behind her, spread her smooth cheeks and licked her wrinkled hole as my thumb pumped her pussy and spread her tangy juice around her anus. When I gently shifted her clit, she gifted me with a flood of her nectar. I fingered myself and mixed my juice with hers. The taste made me dizzy. She made Jake cum again and swallowed it all. I stood and settled my sex against her warm ass. Pam, still floating above them, rotated until her legs spread around me and I saw, then tasted her chilly, soaked pussy. Nearly as dense as when alive, I mumbled into her sweet-tasting pussy, "Yes, Yes. I accept. I want this pussy daily and I want all of you to feel free to visit us like this. We'll also have a monthly party for all of you. Thank you, Pam." Based on a post by LitEro Cat, for Literotica.
Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, Paul Ward sits down with Arkady Milgram, a former Soviet citizen who risked everything to pursue freedom in America. Arkady shares his journey from growing up under communist rule to becoming a successful financial planner in California. Along the way, he reflects on the emotional moments of leaving his homeland, building a new life from scratch, and reuniting his family. His story is a heartfelt reminder that freedom comes at a cost—and with limitless opportunity. ⏱️ Timestamps + Topics 00:05 – Welcome from Paul Paul introduces Arkady Milgram, a Russian immigrant who built a life and career in America. 00:51 – Meet Arkady Milgram Arkady shares his gratitude and excitement to tell his story. 01:22 – Life in the Soviet Union Arkady describes his childhood under communist propaganda and his early curiosity about the West. 02:59 – Cracks in the Narrative Discover how an American magazine article helped shift Arkady's understanding of the U.S. 05:01 – The Dream of Leaving Learn how Arkady used Israel's “family reunification” program as a legal route to escape. 07:40 – The First Step to Freedom Arkady recalls the emotional moment stepping off the plane in Vienna—and realizing he was free. 09:14 – Stateless in Italy He explains the three-month transition in Rome, applying for refugee status in the U.S. 11:32 – Arriving in Los Angeles With support from distant relatives and Jewish organizations, Arkady begins his new life in LA. 13:41 – His First Job in America From unloading furniture in Hollywood to biochemistry work, Arkady dives into American work life. 15:35 – From Biochemistry to Business Why Arkady transitioned from lab work to entrepreneurship—and how he started a travel agency. 17:34 – Discovering Financial Planning Arkady finds his true calling helping others navigate personal finance through education. 20:25 – How to Reach Arkady He shares his phone number and open-door policy for financial conversations—no pressure, just help. 23:28 – Reuniting with Family Hear the emotional story of how he brought his parents and extended family to the U.S. 26:12 – A Love Letter to America Arkady closes with powerful reflections on freedom, family, and what it means to be American.
A Cheated-on Halloween Spectre Dead husband returns for revenge on wife and lover. Based on a post by LitEro Cat. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. The thin curtain between the living and the dead realms is weakest on All Saints Eve. Wraiths like me begin to cross into the living domain at the stroke of local midnight, but at the 3AM. witching hour, the veil briefly ceases to exist. For one hour, we can easily cross both ways. At midnight on All Saints Day, the curtain becomes impenetrable and we are stuck on either side until the next Halloween. I'm here in my former bedroom in San Diego, to avenge my murder, by my not-so-loving wife, not merely to watch her sleeping naked with my former best friend. Dead exactly one year, I've had that long to practice my deathly powers. Our atoms are spread to a tenth of our former density which allows us to appear to fly and to pierce denser objects. The only real new power we have is to affect gravity at a tiny level. That is how I can pull the sheet off my wife and her lover. I can see and feel quite well, even hear, taste, and smell the fresh scent of sex from my bed. The taste of pheromone is strong, especially when I raise her leg and lick her pussy or his shrunken cock. He is still coated in their mixed cum, so she chose not to lick him clean, as usual. I spread her pussy lips and see his cum oozing out of her. So, she shaved her red bush for him. When I lick her clit, she stirs. "Oh Bill, I can't go again. Isn't twice in an hour enough for you?" I started moving his hand off her tit, which wakes him. I raise his dick and squeeze it, as I shove some dense air hard on his balls. Twice in an hour? I was lucky to get it twice a month. "Ow! Kim, there's no need to hurt me. I was asleep. Is that how you treated Ken after sex? No wonder he was always grumpy. Don't treat me like that, or you can end up like he did." "Are you seriously threatening me? You woke me by fingering my pussy and rubbing your cock against my ass." She rolled onto her back, knees up and apart, pussy spread and leaking, big tits sloping sideways to her pits. Her red hair formed a halo around her head. She was as beautiful as I remembered, and gave me an ecto-hard on; well we don't have blood to do it, so ectoplasm has to "fill in" for it. Did I mention that we have no use for clothes so we are naked and use ectoplasm to disguise that when needed? Today, it wasn't needed. My cock swelled bigger than in life, at the thought of eating her. As soon as she dozed off again, I drifted down from the ceiling, planted my face on her wet pussy, and lapped up some cream pie on my way to her clit. My tongue pushed her hood side-to-side until it presented her hard pearly glans. I sucked and nibbled it just as she liked. She gasped and her head shot hard left. A long groan escaped her as her chest, tits and neck flushed. I still had the skills. "Oh Bill, oh. I said no more tonight. I thought you hated cream pie. Ken used to nibble on my clit like that and eat his cum. I forgot how much I miss that. Bill?" Her bright green eyes squinted. Bill was lightly snoring. Angered, she straddled his face, pulled his jaw open and spread her wet pussy to let his spent cum fill his own mouth. His body spasmed and tried to force her off, but she gripped the back of his neck and held on. He had no choice but to swallow his salty cream. He sputtered; she laughed. Seeds of discontent planted, I floated away to look for my laptop. It was in its usual place. In my small desk drawer, sat my collection of flash drives including a new pack of three. I had to create a scalpel to cut open the pack then plugged a new one into the PC. With a delicate touch, I opened WordPerfect and began typing these notes. Once I get them to admit on my USB recorder who killed me and how, I can send that to the police and have my revenge. It's 8AM. and they are eating, naked, as I listen in. They are planning to attend a one-year ceremony for me. Watching my ex bustle around the kitchen makes her sweet ass jiggle, her tits dance, and two cocks stiffen. Bill swings her around to straddle his lap and slides her smoothly onto his cock. Though I hate her, I still crave her fucking awesome body. "Oh, you feel so good, deep inside me. Bill, how long have you practiced that move? I think the first time you pulled that on me, was four years ago, when Ken insisted we go to a carnival commando, all of us. He made the mistake of removing my panties in front of you; then flashing my bare pussy as proof. That was the first time I saw your cock too, when you guys both stripped in front of me. We laughed, but that was the start for us, wasn't it?" "Yes. I recall Ken squeezing my dick and passing it to you to stroke and watch it swell. At the carnival, both of us kept spinning you so your dress flew up and you flashed everyone around. We all laughed. It wasn't until later that night, in this very kitchen, that I pulled that move and impaled you on my cock the first time. Your dress settled on us and we both felt the sparks. Then Ken came in with some wine. You went for glasses, but the fool didn't know I had just claimed your snug pussy. He must have seen me stuffing my cock away, yet said nothing. I guess he trusted us." Four years? I was a fool. That's, that's when she started refusing me sex. So they were fucking for three years before my death. Maybe if I embarrass her enough, and make her blame Bill, I can get them arguing. That will be tough since she likes exposing herself, if she can't be blamed. Wait. Is that the mourning dress she's wearing? It's backless, low on top and high on bottom. At least it's black. It's a cocktail dress for seduction, hardly for mourning. No panties or bra, just a diamond pendant to draw attention to her shapely tits. It tapers at the waist, then has a wide zipper to the bottom. I can work with that. My ceremony was at a small church. The front entrance was across a creek with a 100-foot bridge over it. Parking was near the bridge, then we had to walk it, and everyone took a moment to absorb the quiet landscape. Ignoring the gossip about disrespecting me, they walked hand-in-hand to the bridge. She shook free and walked a step ahead of him; a pretense of respect. Once she was free of him, I acted. Before she reached the middle of the bridge, I lifted her skirt to her ribs exposing her sweet ass and wanton pussy to all our old friends. She fought the dress and scowled at Bill. When she straightened up, I pushed both narrow straps off her shoulders and down to her waist. Both luscious bouncy tits, capped with hard nipples, lit up in the bright sunshine. She squealed, bringing more attention to her beautiful tits. Then glared at Bill, who shrugged innocently. She turned to go back to the car, but Bill stopped her and reminded her how inappropriate it would be to miss her husband's ceremony. She was expected to praise me from a lectern. Her angry glare burned through Bill. He dropped back a few more steps, yet the back of her dress went up above her waist in the breeze I created. Bill had to choose whether to risk telling her. He chose to stay quiet and, with the others, watched her big round naked ass wiggle across the bridge. In the church, Bill wisely chose to sit in the first row, but across the aisle from where Kim sat. The minister came to Kim and clipped a small wireless microphone to her dress. Then he started a recording of the event, to give Kim later. Finally, he opened the meeting and said a few general words. Then he introduced Kim, my "grieving" wife. When she moved into the narrow aisle, I moved her hand behind her and unzipped her dress, then slid it off. With the dress on the floor, she stood naked except for her shoes. She gasped and froze, leaving her sexy, inappropriate ass exposed to everyone. She glanced at Bill who threw his hands up. The minister had a perfect full frontal view, and stood open-mouthed. Now she was finally embarrassed; not at being naked, but at believing that everyone thought She had deliberately stripped. After a long red-faced moment where the entire front row drooled over her big swinging tits, she bent, exposing her pussy and ass hole, as she exclaimed in a loud voice that She didn't do that and it was a cheap prank by her former friend, Bill. As soon as she touched her dress, I licked her pussy which made her squeak and fall on the floor face up and legs apart, facing the gathering and making a lovely spectacle. Dress in hand, big tits dancing, she stumbled to her feet then ran past the minister, to the rest room, while the congregation sat in stunned silence. I flew through the restroom door and stared at her confused face and beautiful naked body. She leaned against a wall and tried sorting things out. When she covered her face with both hands, I ran two ecto-fingers into her wet pussy with care. She gasped. When I rubbed her clit side-to-side and sucked it, she shouted my name. The little wireless microphone caught it. The gathering assumed that was in grief. Her eyes closed, her hands gripped the wall; she began gasping louder. I edged her toward a loud orgasm; she groaned when I stopped. Edging her again got her moaning and calling my name. Sweat ran down her naked body as she twisted and shouted a stream of obscenities until I reached her G spot and twisted another finger into her tight ass. "Oh, Yes, Yes, fuck me Ken. It must be you. Bill doesn't measure up to you. He doesn't know your tricks with my clit, or G-spot, or my ass. I forgot how much, Oh-Oh, I miss sex with you. I'm so sorry we killed you. It was Bill's idea to rub peanut oil in your Halloween mask before the party. Oh-Oh, fuck me harder. After you went into shock, I swapped your mask with a clean one. I'm so sorry! Please, Bill. Please Fuck me like I used to let you!" Someone was banging hard on the door. I leaned my head through it and saw it was Bill. It was time to share a new trick with her. I formed an ecto cock, a foot long. After licking her tasty twat, I pushed my new phantom cock fully into her and made it triple width so it rubbed her lower clit and her G spot together. Her eyes crossed. As she started to climax, I twisted my ecto-finger in her ass and gave her the most intense orgasm she ever had, one that she would never have again. The minister unlocked the door and he and Bill found her confused, rubbing her clit, and drooling on the floor. Bill helped her up and put her dress on her before carrying her out to the car. I rushed home and finished typing these notes and saved them to the flash drive before my murderers arrived. As they pulled into the driveway, I opened the garage door, pulled my bike off the hangers, and rode it past them and down the road. Since they couldn't see me, all they saw was a "living" bike pedal away on its own. I flew back inside quickly. When they approached the only kitchen entry, they found it blocked by all the canned goods from the open pantry. Kim screamed. Epilogue: She accused Bill of stripping her in front of the gathering; he denied it and could not convince her. They broke up that night. The next day, police arrested them both for my murder and conspiracy. The church recording and all the witnesses to the spontaneous confession gave probable cause. I decided to hang around longer than I intended. Since I missed my window to return to the land of the dead, I watched the trial, conviction, and start of their life sentences. While I'm stuck here with the living, I visit Kim in her prison cell and fuck her daily. She scares her Hispanic cellmate when she shudders and cums. The Latina is convinced it's voodoo. The doctor thinks she is epileptic and treats her with stupefying meds and restraints. On random days, during her lunch period, I strip her in front of the lesbian prisoners and guards, bend her over a table, and fuck her to shivering orgasms as they watch. She finishes her lunch naked. I won't say what I do to Bill, daily. Nor what the Sexual predators make sport of doing, after they saw him bent over bare-assed. It will be Halloween every day for her, until I cross back. Revenge is so sweet. Jan's Ghost Guest Pam wants her house back and haunts a housewarming. LitEro Cat Ghost Guest A month after buying a distressed house, then getting it into 'move-in' shape, we threw a housewarming party for friends and new neighbors. Everything was going smoothly that day, I even kept my weekly tennis outing that Saturday. On the way home, I picked up the Deli order and just needed to change into a casual party outfit, before the guests arrived. Arriving home ,I saw the drier had failed to dry the laundry, including my intended party wardrobe choice. So I left on my tennis outfit and helped Jake set out the beverages and snacks. Then the doorbell rang, and I greeted my first guests. The few neighbors who came, were less outgoing than I hoped. Jake invited coworkers their spouses, and his hunting buddies. I invited a few couples, too. They seemed to form their own groups, with shielded whisperings whenever they looked at me or my husband, Jake. I approached one whom I knew from work, Bev, and asked about the secrecy. "Well, Jan, you know; a notorious single woman died in this house. The agent must have told you." She hadn't. Bev filled me in; "Pam was in her forties, divorced, and had a reputation for sleeping around, yet she was bitter and miserable when she got sick. She died suddenly, and no one went to her funeral. She loved this house, especially her 'meditation' room, which you converted into your workout room. Thanks for the open invitation, but don't expect any more to come. Jake's den was her 'special guest' room where she 'entertained.' Some say she still haunts this place and they won't enter." "Isn't that silly, believing in ghosts?" I smirked. A glass slid across the buffet table and crashed on the floor, though no one was near the table. The crowd hushed and stared. "No worries.” I assured them all. “Someone must have bumped the table. Jake, would you clean that up?" House Tour. I continued to show the house. When I got to the meditation room, something swiftly unzipped and pulled my short tennis skirt to the floor. No one was near me. As I quickly fixed it and reached up to show pull bar on the Nautilus exercise machine, my crop top pulled off me with so much force, it pulled me off balance, then it flew across the room. Some guests trembled in fear, others simply smiled knowingly, and looked around. Before I let go of the pull bar, to fetch my top, my bra unclipped and flew across the room. As if baring my tits to my guests wasn't enough, something bonded my grip to the bar and held my arms straight up. Every man there tented his slacks. Still in denial, and refusing to be embarrassed, I begged, "Great gag. Who's doing this?" "Say what I say, or more punishment comes." came a hoarse voice in my ear. Startled, I looked around and shouted to empty air, "No. I won't say that. Who are you?" The crowd of about 15 people looked at me and stared at my dangling tits. Then, my mouth spoke Pam's words, "Everybody Join Me. Show Off Your Tits. Come Look At Mine And Feel Them." Two women then bared their tits, staring at me, entranced. Their men approached me and felt my tits. They pinched my nipples, shrugged, and walked away. When they approached the door, it slammed shut. No one could open it. Though my arms were still held up, Pam was more annoyed and pulled my skirt to the floor again. I shrieked and stood topless in my sheer thong. My guests began to understand my connection to Pam. The same two men circled me and examined my ass with their eyes and fingers as others felt panic rise. Pam finally released my grip, and I sat at the workout bench. The ghost named Pam then forced my arms down, made them unzip the men, and extract their stiff cocks. "Repeat for me, Pam ordered. Then I declared her words; “These Two Happily Married Men, And Others Of You, Frequented My Guest Room, And Tasted My Charms." Pam controlled my hands as I jerked the two men, as their wives and other guests watched. The men resisted, yet stepped out of their slacks as if in a trance, and felt up my flawless ass. When I strained to stop jerking the men, Pam whispered, "Still resisting? Okay." I was pressed onto my back, lying on the workout bench. I was Still stroking two big, stiff cocks, my thong got yanked, then started to slide down. When my minimal bush appeared, the two topless women gasped and rubbed themselves; their husbands smiled. The loss of my thong exposed my stiff clit. Seeing no harm in Pam's control, I began to enjoy showing off my body without shame. Several men moaned, including Jake. When the loss of the thong exposed my swollen labia, as the stretchy little cloth fell to my feet, I was deliciously naked in my housewarming, in front of my captive audience. To keep up appearances, I shouted, "Someone help. What's happening?" I wondered if they could see how wet I was. "We tried to warn you.” Bev said. “Pam was a vindictive bitch. She's not done with you yet." "Well, this is my house now and I make the rules." That may have been too much for Pam to accept. She whispered, "Really? Let's move to the weight bench and see." Against my will, Both my tits rose up as if pulled by my nipples, then dropped heavily. My mouth dropped with the sudden pain. Looking down, I saw my nipples being twisted and pinched though no one touched me. Something kicked my feet apart and spread my lips open for my guests. I felt a cold chill lick me, and then something unseen enter my pussy. It felt bigger than any cock I'd ever had in me. The pain matched the pleasure it gave. My clit shifted and jumped from its hood. I felt teeth scraping it. When my tits were squeezed and released, with my nipples twisting up tall and hard, I screamed out an ear-piercing climax. Hanging my gasping head, I fell to my knees and pulled the two cocks I still held; to my mouth. Already at the edge, my tongue lapping their cocks was enough to make both cum around and in my mouth. As I swallowed their cum, a chilly finger twisted into my ass. I came again and fell on my chest as the cold finger fucked my ass. I'm No stranger to anal, and that was still something wonderful and new. The two wives, already knowing their husbands had sought out Pam for casual sex, watched their men cum on me. Their fingers were quietly in their panties, jilling their pussies and rubbing their clits. They twisted their tall nipples and climaxed when their husbands did. Everyone watched the two women fully strip, then attack each other's husband expecting their stiffness to last longer after their release. Pam smiled knowing the town's secrets and seeing that one exposed. The icy finger left my ass; I sighed. Though I began believing, I said, "This is an elaborate trick. I still won't believe in ghosts." "Really? Explain This." Speaking Pam's words, I said, "No one has helped Jan arrange anything in this room, so no one knows what's in Jan's closet. Yet I do." The closet door swung open, revealing a box which fell open, off the high shelf. In it were several vibrators. One of them lifted up and moved to my hand. Still naked, cum covered, and several feet from anyone, I levitated a few feet. Turned to face the weight bench face down, I felt an angled pillow move under me. When I lay across it with my hips on it, I knew my bare ass was offered to all. With my legs pulled apart, my rear hole and special rear view of my swollen, wet pussy were clearly lit. I heard someone whisper, "Beautiful pussy." I sighed with pride. A spanking paddle flew out of the closet and slammed my ass hard on one cheek. Jake later told me my ass flushed bright red as I screamed. My arms were pinned so I had no defense against the hard whack on my other cheek. "Believe Me Now, Bitch?" "No!" "Now you're just being stubborn. Or are you starting to enjoy this? Can't have that." My sexy cheeks spread, my lusty pussy on display, Pam showed everyone my winking, crinkled hole. The vibrator in my hand flew up and twisted itself into my pussy before turning on. Another vibrator flew from the box and wormed its way into my ass before turning on. The paddle went high, then slapped one cheek hard before rising again and slapping the other. I groaned and climaxed again as if full of two, big cocks. Bev said, "Jan, give up. She will just continue to torture you until you do.” Give her what she demands. Then The fun will end." "OK. I believe you, Pam. Are you satisfied, bitch? Show yourself. What do you want?" In Pam's voice, "I want my home back. But I know I need someone to be my contact. If you refuse, then you must move out." I answered, "If you can live here peacefully with us, we can have fun together. May I have my clothes back?" "Not yet, Jan. Let's move to the new den." I flew off the bench and landed in front of my guests. Bev passed me a napkin to wipe the cum off my face. In the den, Pam spoke through me again, "My Queen bed took most of this room. This is where I fucked most of the men here, and went down with several women. Jan should know who her neighbors are." Jake flew up a few feet, threw up his arms, and his shirt flew off. The rest of his clothes flew off next and he was as naked as I was. Everything on his desk slid to the floor as Jake gently lay on his back there with his stiff cock pointing up. His knees came up with a grunt as his cock bent stiffly down. He moaned, "oh, so cold," as a misty image of a beautiful, shapely, greenish, young woman appeared above him with her cheeks sucking on his cock. Many terrified fingers pointed; Bev said, "That's her; that's Pam.” Another said; “I'd know her perfect tits and ass anywhere. Oops." Her secret was out. It was not to be the last. Pam pointed at Bev and in Pam's voice she said. "Yes, Bev and I were lovers. Jake here was one of my clients for several years, though Jan didn't know. I pushed him to buy my house from probate, so we could continue to fuck, with a provision. I wanted him and Jan to be my daily lovers and all my other clients to be welcome here in my bed. Jake agreed. Do you agree, Jan? Watch what I can make your husband do for me and in you." Jake lurched and grunted several times as he launched a fountain of cum into Pam's mouth and through her head. The plume of cum fell back through her and landed on his balls. "Bev, come lick this up. Jan, we await your decision." Pam was All smiles as Bev approached Jake, hungry for his cum, her clothes fell off with each step. By the time she spread his legs, she was tit-slinging naked in front of her neighbors, yet she didn't mind. She lifted his balls and began licking them clean, his shaft, his crown, and sucking the last of his cream from him. He was so thrilled with the intense warmth of her mouth, he came again, nearly filling her cheeks. I'd never seen my husband launch his cum like that, or Bev naked and hungry like that. When I approached, Bev was sharply bent over. I knelt behind her, spread her smooth cheeks and licked her wrinkled hole as my thumb pumped her pussy and spread her tangy juice around her anus. When I gently shifted her clit, she gifted me with a flood of her nectar. I fingered myself and mixed my juice with hers. The taste made me dizzy. She made Jake cum again and swallowed it all. I stood and settled my sex against her warm ass. Pam, still floating above them, rotated until her legs spread around me and I saw, then tasted her chilly, soaked pussy. Nearly as dense as when alive, I mumbled into her sweet-tasting pussy, "Yes, Yes. I accept. I want this pussy daily and I want all of you to feel free to visit us like this. We'll also have a monthly party for all of you. Thank you, Pam." Based on a post by LitEro Cat, for Literotica.
Breaking stereotypes and redefining what relationships can be!
In Episode #248 of the XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar is joined by Rick McMurray — drummer of Northern Irish rock legends Ash — for a deep dive into their brand-new ninth studio album, Ad Astra. Arriving just two years after Race the Night, Ad Astra finds Ash in rocket-fuelled form. Featuring collaborations with Graham Coxon and a wild cover of “Jump in the Line,” the record fuses ferocious riffs with reflective moments, showing a band still evolving three decades in. In this episode, Rick talks about the making of Ad Astra, the madness behind “Fun People” (and working with Coxon), the defiance/hope at the heart of “Give Me Back My World,” why the “Jump in the Line” cover made sense now, and how songs like “My Favourite Ghost” and “Keep Dreaming” bring balance. He also reflects on being “lifers, not part-timers,” Ash's place in today's scene, and taking the new songs on the road. XS Noize Podcast Guests Over 240 episodes in, XS Noize has welcomed legends and trailblazers, including: Matt Berninger, Saint Etienne, D:Ream, Gavin Rossdale, The Farm, Snow Patrol, John Lydon, Will Sergeant, Ocean Colour Scene, Gary Kemp, Doves, Gavin Friday, David Gray, Anton Newcombe, Peter Hook, Razorlight, Sananda Maitreya, James, Crowded House, Elbow, Cast, Kula Shaker, Shed Seven, Future Islands, Peter Frampton, Bernard Butler, Steven Wilson, Travis, New Order, The Killers, Tito Jackson, Simple Minds, The Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder, Gary Numan, Sleaford Mods, Michael Head — and many more. Find The XS Noize Podcast's complete archive of episodes here.
UConn Hockey Coach Mike Cavanaugh joins us to preview the season as the Huskies come in number 10 in the nation.
The Brewers achieved a franchise-record 97 victories, the best record in baseball and the top seed for the upcoming playoffs, and now comes a week of waiting before the division series begins. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe explore the questions surrounding the postseason like which matchup -- Cubs or Padres -- would be better for Milwaukee and what questions stand out when it comes to the postseason roster. Will Jacob Misiorowski be on it? What about Rhys Hoskins? Does the offense's struggles in September portend anything at all? What happened to Isaac Collins? Also, please forgive the slap-happy hosts recording after a 40-40 Packers tie. In Three Up Three Down (42:35), we've got managers flipping pancakes, Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich at leadoff. In Remembrew When, JR looks back at a different wild day of season finales (59:00). In Curt Blanche (1:04:45), Curt takes the playoff format to task, and JR offers a take you probably didn't expect. Then, JR is joined by Sal Frelick (1:13:45) who, among other topics, discusses his crazy home run from the 2024 playoffs. Music intro from bensound.com. Musical cues (in order): "I Got What You Want" (Extended Version) by Gloria Tells, "Arriving at Dusk" by American Legion and "Screaming Fool" by Andreas Dahlback, all from www.epidemicsound.com.
In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Zilla Jones about her debut novel, The World So Wide (Cormorant Books, 2025). Felicity Alexander should be charming audiences at New York's Metropolitan Opera, not under house arrest in Grenada in October 1983, as rumours swirl that United States troops are preparing to invade.Born and raised in Winnipeg, the daughter of a Grenadian woman and an absent white father, Felicity is blessed with enviable beauty and an extraordinary singing voice. Arriving in London to study opera in 1965, she finds early success and joy on stage, as well as a sense of belonging in the arms of the charming Claude Buckingham. Members of the West Indian Students Association, Claude and his friends are law students and activists. They plan to return to Grenada to overthrow the corrupt dictator, “Uncle” Percy Tibbs. Felicity and Claude's intense affair cannot survive their diverging destinies. Claude brings revolution to Grenada and becomes a minister in the new Black Pearls of Freedom government; Felicity devotes herself to music, conquering the racism and sexism of the opera world to rise to international stardom. The brighter she shines, the more she struggles to find her place and purpose in life.Her career in ascendance, Felicity accepts an invitation to perform in Grenada. The red sky of revolution calls to her almost as much as the hope of Claude's embrace. But their reunion is interrupted by a coup. Surrounded by soldiers and guns, Felicity's voice is born anew. Zilla Jones is an African-Canadian anti-racist educator, lawyer, mother, and singer of Caribbean, Chinese, and European heritage, writing on Treaty 1 territory (Winnipeg). She was born in the UK and now lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is a winner of the Journey Prize, a finalist for The Writers' Trust Bronwen Wallace Emerging Writers Award, and a finalist for the CBC Short Story Prize. Her writing has appeared in many literary journals including Event Magazine, The Fiddlehead, Prairie Fire, The Malahat Review, and Bayou Magazine. 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
In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Zilla Jones about her debut novel, The World So Wide (Cormorant Books, 2025). Felicity Alexander should be charming audiences at New York's Metropolitan Opera, not under house arrest in Grenada in October 1983, as rumours swirl that United States troops are preparing to invade.Born and raised in Winnipeg, the daughter of a Grenadian woman and an absent white father, Felicity is blessed with enviable beauty and an extraordinary singing voice. Arriving in London to study opera in 1965, she finds early success and joy on stage, as well as a sense of belonging in the arms of the charming Claude Buckingham. Members of the West Indian Students Association, Claude and his friends are law students and activists. They plan to return to Grenada to overthrow the corrupt dictator, “Uncle” Percy Tibbs. Felicity and Claude's intense affair cannot survive their diverging destinies. Claude brings revolution to Grenada and becomes a minister in the new Black Pearls of Freedom government; Felicity devotes herself to music, conquering the racism and sexism of the opera world to rise to international stardom. The brighter she shines, the more she struggles to find her place and purpose in life.Her career in ascendance, Felicity accepts an invitation to perform in Grenada. The red sky of revolution calls to her almost as much as the hope of Claude's embrace. But their reunion is interrupted by a coup. Surrounded by soldiers and guns, Felicity's voice is born anew. Zilla Jones is an African-Canadian anti-racist educator, lawyer, mother, and singer of Caribbean, Chinese, and European heritage, writing on Treaty 1 territory (Winnipeg). She was born in the UK and now lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is a winner of the Journey Prize, a finalist for The Writers' Trust Bronwen Wallace Emerging Writers Award, and a finalist for the CBC Short Story Prize. Her writing has appeared in many literary journals including Event Magazine, The Fiddlehead, Prairie Fire, The Malahat Review, and Bayou Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature
Arriving in London, the investigators settle into the city's shadows, where old secrets, new contacts, and unseen dangers begin to intertwine.Keeper: Matthew DawkinsGuest players: Eddy Webb and Bridgett JeffriesMusic by: Halgrath and Ager Sonus. We have also used the Lovecraftian Compilations by Cryo Chamber. Used with permission by Cryo Chamber.Our Champions of the Red Moon: Martin Heuschober, Simon Cooper, Julia, Camilla, Bob de Lange, Cameron, Graham Barey, Doug Thomson, Lily, Maciej, Black Templar, Dennis Sadecki and Leonhardt.Web: https://www.redmoonroleplaying.comiTunes: http://apple.co/2wTNqHxAndroid: https://www.subscribeonandroid.com/feeds.simplecast.com/oYuoCFr6Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/RedMoonRoleplayingSpotify: https://spoti.fi/30iFmznRSS: http://www.redmoonroleplaying.com/podcast?format=rssPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/RedMoonRoleplaying
Send us a textRed White & Screw Part 1: Fright Nights at Universal & Hot Nights at Secrets | Episode 211In this episode of The Swing Nation Podcast, the top-rated podcast about non-monogamy and swinging, Dan and Lacy sit down to recap their recent Swinger Society Red White & Screw Takeover at Secrets Hideaway Resort.Arriving early, the duo kicked things off with some thrills at Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights before diving headfirst into the weekend. Thursday began with a lively meet-and-greet featuring games and Drag Queen Bingo, followed by an epic dance party under the tiki hut where new DJs set the perfect vibe for the takeover.By Friday, things were in full swing with a high-energy pool party that ended with Dan using his magic wand to give poolside orgasms. Later, Dan and Lacy joined their BFFs Daphne and Mike to host a wild room crawl—until a drunk guest refused to leave and shook things up. This action-packed first part of their recap sets the stage for an even hotter Part 2 you won't want to miss.- The Swing Nation - Main Website Quick Navigation Website: -- (Find all our social media links & more!)- Swinger Society - Our Website to meet, connect & events Swinger Society Discord Our Facebook Group- Swinger Websites -Kasadie 90 day free trialUsername: TheSwingNation SDC 14 day free trial Username: TheSwingNation** Use code 36313 for 14 days free! **- Merch & More -Order Your Merch Here!- Lacy's Fun Links -VIP OnlyFansPREMIUM OnlyFans-- THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS --IKNOWMYSTATUS: Test Like a Porn StarUse Code LifeStyle and get 15% OFFShameless Care: ED MedicationUse Code TSN at checkout for $30 off your order!Promescent® Make Love Longer, It's Time for Great SexUse Code SwingNation for 5% off!Sing it Bikinis: adjustable one-size styles, thoughtfully crafted to flatter every body type.Support the show- Thank you for the support! -
Two Iranian dentists who took the scenic route to British dentistry, Sara Khandan and Mahan Mohaghegh's story reads like a masterclass in adaptability. From Tehran to Debrecen University in Hungary, then straight into the UK without ever having set foot in the country before, their journey showcases both the challenges and rewards of international dental careers. Now transitioning from NHS to private practice, they share candid insights about navigating visa dependencies, cultural differences between healthcare systems, and why being top of your class doesn't guarantee an easy path. Their conversation reveals how different countries approach dentistry, from Hungary's more invasive techniques to the UK's preventive focus, and why sometimes the most circuitous routes lead to the most rewarding destinations.In This Episode00:01:15 - Arriving in the UK without ever having visited before00:03:30 - Why they chose Hungary for dental education over Iran00:05:30 - First impressions of Hungary and cultural differences00:08:25 - Military service requirements forcing early departure from Iran00:10:15 - Financial challenges of studying abroad00:13:10 - Hungarian education system: oral exams and luck factors00:17:00 - Working in Hungary's NHS-equivalent system00:19:15 - Cultural differences: Eastern European "egg" vs Western "peach"00:25:15 - The decision to move to the UK post-Brexit00:29:50 - Landing NHS jobs sight unseen00:34:10 - Learning UK dentistry systems and mentorship importance00:38:30 - NHS complaint system challenges00:40:25 - The band system frustrations00:43:25 - Visa dependency limiting job opportunities00:47:00 - Transition to private practice00:52:55 - Future aspirations: cosmetics vs surgical specialisation00:59:15 - Darkest day: fear and uncertainty in early UK days01:03:25 - Blackbox thinking01:06:40 - TMJ dislocation during extraction01:10:25 - Being top of class vs visa reality check01:14:20 - Best dental lectures and mentorship value01:18:20 - Fantasy dinner party01:20:55 - Last days and legacyAbout Sara Khandan and Mahan MohagheghSara Khandan and Mahan Mohaghegh are Iranian-born dentists who graduated from the University of Debrecen in Hungary before relocating to the UK. After three years of practice in Hungary's public healthcare system, they moved to the UK and completed two and a half years in the NHS before transitioning to private practice. Sara is pursuing advanced cosmetic dentistry training, whilst Mahan is focusing on surgical procedures and implant dentistry. Both are planning to eventually open their own practice within the next five to six years.
This is the VIC 4 VETS, Weekly Honored Veteran. SUBMITTED BY: The Washington Guard Jack Jackson Jack Jackson was born in Sullivan, Indiana and grew up on a small farm near Crown Point. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at Purdue University. Jack later went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management at Pepperdine University. After graduating from Purdue University, Jack worked for a brief period at General Motors. However, Jack felt the call of his country and joined the United States Marine Corps, where he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant. Jack then went off to flight training to become a Marine Aviator. Jack’s tenacity and courage were quickly demonstrated as a combat aviator in Vietnam. Arriving in November 1968, Jack flew over 600 combat missions. A highly decorated veteran, Jack is the recipient of four Distinguished Flying Crosses, 33 Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal (with combat V), a host of campaign medals and, most recently, the Legion of Merit for Service to His Country. Returning from Vietnam, Jack attended the United States Naval Test Pilot School, testing aircraft for the United States military. Subsequently, he was the aide-de-camp for a Two Star General. He left active duty as a Marine Captain in 1977. Jack remained active in the service of his country by staying in the Marine Corps Reserves and achieved the rank of Colonel. He was called back to active duty for Desert Shield where he served as a Harrier Instructor Pilot. Jack continued to play an important role in the defense of his country as a key person in the Boeing Company (previously McDonnell Douglas). Jack became a test pilot at Boeing Company in January 1978. He tested virtually every type of U.S. fighter aircraft as well as two Russian fighters, accumulating over 10,000 flight hours. He is also the nation’s most experienced VSTOL pilot. In January 2004, he retired from his position as Chief Pilot-Production Test with Boeing Company where he was responsible for all production activities. Jack is actively involved in his church where he is a deacon. He was the parliamentarian for the Second Congressional District Caucus in 1996 and 2008. He is also a member of the following organizations: V.F.W.; American Legion; National Aeronautical Association; Association of Naval Aviation; Marine Corps League; Vietnam Veterans; National Association of Parliamentarians; and The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Jack was also on the Boeing Management Club Board of Directors. He was the Chief Test Pilot for Production at the Boeing Company from 1996 until 2004. Jack was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2002. He served as president of the largest freshman class in the history of the state of Missouri. He was Chairman of the Veterans Committee, Chairman of the Joint Committee On Terrorism, Bioterrorism, and Homeland Security; and he was a member of the Appropriations - Public Safety and Corrections and Ways and Means Committees. Jack has been married for 57 years to the former Arleen Henderlong. They have three children and eight grandchildren. Jack is the recipient of the National Aeronautic Association’s “Elder Statesman of Aviation for 2004” Award. He received the Aviation Week and Space Technology 1999 Laurels Award. He also received the “Legislator of the Year Award” from the Missouri Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars in June 2003, 2005, and 2006 and the “Legislator of the Year Award” from the American Legion in 2004. He received the 2006 Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture Award. He also received the National Aide-de- Camp award from the National Commander of the National VFW. After leaving the legislature in 2006, Jack started his own small business of public speaking and an aircraft charter business. ________________________________________________________________ This Week’s VIC 4 VETS, Honored Veteran on NewsTalkSTL.With support from our friends at:Alamo Military Collectables, H.E.R.O.E.S. Care, Monical’s PizzaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fans Are Arriving In Ireland for Steelers game Sunday full 393 Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:59:01 +0000 1OLnnWUJ6rfx0lnJNgwu7HK77yJwDFUX news,a-newscasts,top picks The Big K Morning Show news,a-newscasts,top picks Fans Are Arriving In Ireland for Steelers game Sunday The Big K Morning Show 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News News News News news News News News News News False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?
The Milwaukee Brewers are National League Central champion after a 4-2 week, but Sunday's champagne celebration also came with the knowledge that starter Brandon Woodruff is likely out for another postseason. Brewers reporter Todd Rosiak joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss the implication of an injury-riddled week, with unsettling developments on Trevor Megill, José Quintana and William Contreras, not to mention Woodruff. Is Jacob Misiorowski of being left off the postseason roster altogether? Same for Rhys Hoskins? Are the Brewers better off as the 2-seed, when they wouldn't wind up facing the Cubs in the division series? Don't worry, there's still time to meditate on the marvel of the Milwaukee Brewers putting themselves on the cusp of setting a franchise record for wins while maintaining the best record in baseball. In Three Up Three Down (39:45), the guys discuss yet another standout showing from Quinn Priester, a defensive play that saved Saturday's game and the exorcism of an old playoff demon. In Remembrew When (54:00), JR looks back at the first clinch (and an epic Bob Uecker call). In Todd's Take of the Week (58:00), some advice for Brewers fans as they embark on yet another postseason journey. Then, JR chats with Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (1:02:30), joined by team translator Daniel de Mondesert. They discuss his Venezuelan upbringing, his transition to stateside baseball and those playoff home runs last season. Music intro from bensound.com. Musical cues (in order): "I Got What You Want" (Extended Version) by Gloria Tells, "Arriving at Dusk" by American Legion and "Screaming Fool" by Andreas Dahlback, all from www.epidemicsound.com.
fWotD Episode 3062: Thomas J. Hudner Jr. Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 22 September 2025, is Thomas J. Hudner Jr..Thomas Jerome Hudner Jr. (August 31, 1924 – November 13, 2017) was a United States Navy officer and naval aviator. He rose to the rank of captain, and received the Medal of Honor for his actions in trying to save the life of his wingman, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War.Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, Hudner attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and the United States Naval Academy. Initially uninterested in aviation, he eventually took up flying and joined Fighter Squadron 32, flying the F4U Corsair at the outbreak of the Korean War. Arriving near Korea in October 1950, he flew support missions from the aircraft carrier USS Leyte.On December 4, 1950, Hudner and Brown were among a group of pilots on patrol near the Chosin Reservoir when Brown's Corsair was struck by ground fire from Chinese troops and crashed. In an attempt to save Brown from his burning aircraft, Hudner intentionally crash-landed his own aircraft on a snowy mountain in freezing temperatures to help Brown. In spite of these efforts, Brown died of his injuries and Hudner was forced to leave Brown's body behind, as a rescue helicopter could not fly in the dark and Hudner had suffered his own injuries in the landing.Following the incident, Hudner held positions aboard several U. S. Navy ships and with a number of aviation units, including a brief stint as executive officer of USS Kitty Hawk during a tour in the Vietnam War, before retiring in 1973. In subsequent years, he worked for various veterans' organizations in the United States. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner is named for him.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:31 UTC on Monday, 22 September 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Thomas J. Hudner Jr. on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Aria.
Clinically Dead, Walking with Jesus for 44 Hours - NDE Miracle!: Robert Marshall. When Robert Marshall went into cardiac arrest, he was clinically dead—no heartbeat, no breath—for 44 hours. During that time, he says he was fully conscious in heaven, with Jesus. What he witnessed was beyond anything imaginable: harmonic trees, divine light, and a mission he didn't want but ultimately accepted.
Japan's Top Business Interviews Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo, Japan
“Japan's strength in rule-based processes has become its weakness in today's information age.” “In Japan, leadership succeeds when data removes uncertainty and consensus replaces command.” “Risk is not avoided in Japan; uncertainty is — and data is the antidote.” “To lead here, map out every cause and effect until the team sees clarity in the decision.” “Leaders thrive by respecting tradition first, then carefully opening the door to innovation.” Evan Burkosky is the Founder and CEO of Kimaru, a Tokyo-based decision intelligence startup helping supply chain leaders use AI-powered digital twins for faster, smarter decisions. Previously he was Sales Director at Meltwater Japan, Country Manager Japan for Dynamic Yield, CEO of Tourism Builder, Consultant at J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, Business Development Manager at e-Agency Japan, and CEO and founder of Konnichiwa-Japan. His career arc reflects the adaptability required to succeed as a foreign leader in Japan. Arriving more than two decades ago with the intention of building a seafood import venture, he instead navigated into marketing, technology, and eventually decision intelligence. His journey highlights both the challenges and the opportunities of leadership in a country where consensus, process, and tradition dominate corporate life. Evan Burkosky's journey in Japan reflects adaptability, persistence, and the ability to lead in one of the world's most intricate corporate cultures. He arrived with entrepreneurial ambitions in seafood imports, then pivoted into consulting, marketing, and digital transformation before co-founding Kimaru, a Tokyo decision-intelligence startup that uses AI-powered digital twins to model choices for supply-chain leaders. The platform maps cause and effect, runs permutations, and recommends the best course — a data-driven approach that mirrors Japan's approvals ritual, the ringi-sho, but at machine speed. Burkosky argues that Japan's post-war management strengths — codified rules, painstaking manuals, and consensus routines — now slow responsiveness. What worked on factory floors in the industrial era hinders agility in the information age. Leaders must honour those norms while introducing flexible, analytical decision-making that accelerates progress without eroding trust. He frames nemawashi, the informal alignment process, and ringi-sho as unavoidable realities, but insists they can be supported, not replaced, by decision intelligence. The core obstacle in Japan is often mislabelled as risk aversion. In fact, the real issue is uncertainty avoidance: once teams can see the variables and likely outcomes, they will embrace bold choices. Data removes ambiguity; probability calms fear. Burkosky's leadership method is to construct decisions like equations — define assumptions, model scenarios, quantify trade-offs — until stakeholders feel clarity and consent to move. Trust, however, cannot be commanded. Western “shoot-from-the-hip” decisiveness tends to trigger resistance. In Japan, credibility grows when leaders explain why a proposal fits the rules-based system, show the data, and respect the process. That mix of transparency, patience, and cultural translation builds executive presence and employee engagement. Language fluency is another multiplier. By opening meetings in Japanese and persisting long enough to establish competence, Burkosky found prospects opened up. He has sold millions of dollars' worth of software entirely in Japanese, signalling commitment and cultural respect that unlock deeper relationships. Ultimately, Burkosky defines leadership as being “the example that people willingly choose to follow.” In Japan, that means balancing safety and tradition with methodical innovation; using data to reduce uncertainty; and aligning stakeholders through nemawashi rather than bypassing them. Done well, this approach preserves harmony while restoring speed — and turns Japan's famed process discipline into a competitive advantage for the digital era. What makes leadership in Japan unique? Japan's corporate system prizes rules, manuals, and consensus — legacies of manufacturing excellence that ensured quality but now slow adaptation. Leaders who respect these foundations while introducing analytical speed fare best. Why do global executives struggle? Top-down authority often fails because stakeholders expect thorough, evidence-rich explanations. Executives must make the logic visible — mapping assumptions, scenarios, and ROI — so that decisions feel safe within the existing framework. Is Japan truly risk-averse? Burkosky reframes the issue as uncertainty avoidance: when data clarifies outcomes, teams are willing to act decisively. Leaders who quantify probabilities transform “risky” ideas into acceptable bets. What leadership style actually works? Replace “shoot-from-the-hip” heroics with patient, mathematical storytelling. Explain how the strategy fits the rules-based culture; run the numbers; and secure alignment through nemawashi and ringi-sho. How can technology help? Decision intelligence and digital twins of decisions let organisations test permutations quickly and surface recommended actions — a sped-up ringi-sho that supports consensus with evidence. Does language proficiency matter? Yes. Opening in Japanese and holding the floor builds credibility; Burkosky has closed multi-million-dollar deals entirely in Japanese, deepening trust and rapport. What's the ultimate leadership lesson? “Be the example others choose to follow.” In Japan, that means reducing uncertainty with data, aligning people through process, and pacing change with respect. Timecoded Summary [00:00] Evan Burkosky traces his path from Canada's West Coast fishing life to Japan, then into consulting, marketing, and data-driven transformation work that led to co-founding Kimaru in Tokyo. [05:20] He explains Kimaru's purpose: model decisions, create digital twins of choices, run permutations, and recommend actions — effectively a sped-up ringi-sho that equips managers with evidence for alignment. [12:45] Burkosky describes Japan's rules-based culture as a strength turned constraint in the information age, arguing that leaders must respect consensus processes while introducing data-accelerated decision-making. [20:10] He reframes “risk aversion” as uncertainty avoidance and shows how probability, modelling, and clear logic unlock bolder choices once ambiguity is reduced. [28:30] Practical playbook: explain strategy mathematically, align stakeholders through nemawashi and ringi-sho, and avoid Western “shoot-from-the-hip” leadership that triggers resistance. [36:00] Language matters: by starting in Japanese and maintaining it through the opening minutes, he signals competence and respect — a habit linked to multi-million-dollar wins. [42:15] He closes with a definition of leadership as example-setting that others willingly follow, achieved in Japan by balancing safety and tradition with methodical innovation. Author Credentials Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie “One Carnegie Award” (2018, 2021) and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award (2012). As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across all leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs, including Leadership Training for Results. He has written several books, including best-sellers Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery, along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His works have also been translated into Japanese. Greg also produces six weekly podcasts and three weekly YouTube shows on Japanese business and leadership.
Who was Josef Mengele, and was he the most evil doctor on Earth? Today, we take a closer look at the horrific stories of one of the scariest doctors. We'll talk about Mengele's early life, his education, arrival at Auschwitz, Mengele's obsession with heterochromia, the victims of Josef Mengele, his escape from justice, and other interesting topics. Welcome to CAMP!
» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/Dan Koe has built a reputation around deep thinking and high output, but in this conversation, he strips productivity down to its fundamentals. No hacks, no hype, just a grounded breakdown of how to create focus, structure your time around creativity, and make work feel meaningful again.We unpack how identity shapes output, the cost of always chasing growth, and why doing less (but better) is often the smartest move. If you're overwhelmed, distracted, or feel like you're always “on,” this one offers a sharp reset.00:00 Introduction01:30 Arriving in Arizona and first impressions of Scottsdale03:25 College life, switching majors, and chasing business ideas06:11 Trying seven business models before finding traction08:57 Learning to build an audience while selling services11:14 Posting content without a product figured out yet13:49 The challenge of being a young coach15:42 How to build authority when you're inexperienced21:15 Daily routine, writing-focused business, and content flow25:43 Avoiding big teams and staying hands-on with content27:19 Authenticity vs optimisation in the creator economy32:09 Why people connect with your deeper philosophy36:15 Dialling in diet and the illusion of progress39:07 Writing consistently without relying on motivation43:04 The real value and stigma around online courses54:18 Clarity comes from doing, not waiting to find purpose58:07 Buying flashy cars and getting over material status01:00:28 Business is the ultimate vehicle for self-development01:06:11 Rebuilding his software startup from scratch in Japan01:10:56 Turning down ideas like starting a dream gym» Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life - https://www.digitalplaybook.net/» Transform your physique - https://www.thrstapp.com/» My clothing brand, THRST - https://thrstofficial.com» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/» Join @WHOOP and get your first month for free - join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst» Follow Dan«YouTube: https://www.youtube/com/DanKoeTalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedankoe/Website: https://thedankoe.com/
This meditation again explores the "Arriving Sequence" from Phillip Moffit and Dharma Ground. These 3 steps of 1) arriving, 2) being available and 3) aligning with our values and what inspires us is such a useful practice for formal meditation and for life in general.
In this episode of the Language on the Move Podcast, Brynn Quick speaks writer, illustrator, filmmaker and Academy Award winner Shaun Tan. Shaun is best known for illustrated books that deal with social and historical subjects through dream-like imagery. His books have been widely translated throughout the world and enjoyed by readers of all ages. In the episode, Brynn and Shaun discuss his award-winning 2006 book The Arrival, which is a migrant story told as a series of wordless images. In the book, a man leaves his wife and child in an impoverished town, seeking better prospects in an unknown country on the other side of a vast ocean. He eventually finds himself in a bewildering city of foreign customs, peculiar animals, curious floating objects and indecipherable languages. With nothing more than a suitcase and a handful of currency, the immigrant must find a place to live, food to eat and some kind of gainful employment. He is helped along the way by sympathetic strangers, each carrying their own unspoken history: stories of struggle and survival in a world of incomprehensible violence, upheaval and hope. For more Language on the Move resources related to this topic, see Life in a New Language, Discrimination by any other name: Language tests and racist immigration policy in Australia, Intercultural Communication – Now in the third edition, and Judging Refugees. If you liked this episode, be sure to say hello to Brynn and Language on the Move on Bluesky! For additional resources, show notes, and transcripts, go here. 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
Ōama, aka Temmu Tennō, ascended the throne in the Kiyomihara Palace--a rennovated version of his mother's Later Okamoto Palace. Here he ruled with a tremendous amount of authority, continuing the leverage the Ritsuryo system to centralize power in the throne. We'll look at the layout of the palace, and also talk a little bit about what life was like for the members of the court who were serving Oama, and the state at large. For photos, diagrams, and more, see our blog at: https://sengokudaimyo.com/episode-134 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan. My name is Joshua and this is episode 134: An Image of the Court at Kiyomihara Maro sat under the eaves of the hall to which he was assigned. The journey from Mino hadn't been so hard, but he was still far from his family, back home. He knew as much as they did that serving at the court of the Great Lord was a tremendous opportunity. He would be at the heart of the court, in the presence of those running the country, and he could learn a lot from them. After passing his internship, he would have a chance to prove himself. If he worked hard, he could look forward to continued promotion, with the greater stipend and influence that came with it. Maro had no illusions that he would someday be at the top of the court hierarchy, but perhaps he could make some modest improvements in his station. His elder brother was expected to inherit their father's position back in Mino, but the court provided a different opportunity. Maro had always been a quick learner, and had learned to read and write at an early age, devouring whatever knowledge he could get his hands on – and that had helped make him that much more desirable to the court. Now he was learning the ins and outs of how it worked, mostly by doing odd jobs while observing the various interactions, the politics, and the rhythm of it all. Life at the Court really was something. And yet he still felt homesick. And so here Maro sat, looking out at the full moon in the sky, its light so bright that he barely needed any other illumination. Maro wondered at the idea that his family might be looking up at the same moon at the very same time. As that image took hold, he could feel in the experience a poetic verse. He took out one of the wooden slips used for labels and notes, scraped off the previous writing, and began jotting down his composition. He only got through a couple of lines before he heard his name being called, and since he was on night duty he put down the brush and the wooden slip. Poetry would have to wait. With everything put back away, he rushed off to find out what new task awaited him. So here we are, the year is 673 and we are at the start of a new era. Ohoama, aka Temmu Tennou, had defeated his enemies and was now in the process of taking the reins of power and officially ascending the throne. In so doing he was moving the capital from Ohotsu, on the shores of Lake Biwa, back to Asuka. Arriving back, he took up residence in what is called the Shima palace for a few days, presumably as they prepared the Okamoto Palace for him. At the same time, we are told that a “palace” was erected for Ohoama south of the Okamoto Palace, and this was called the Kiyomihara Palace. I'd like to spend this episode talking about this Kiyomihara Palace, and what life was like there, not just for Ohoama but for his new court. While we talked about some of the other palaces, this is perhaps one of the better known from the archaeological record, and it is the backdrop for so much that happens. Ohoama is even known as the Sovereign from Kiyomihara. So let's talk about what the palace consisted of, and what it was, and a little bit about what life was like there. In addition to that, we've discussed in previous episodes how Ohoama's ascension to the throne kicked off a whole new era in the evolution of the Yamato state, with numerous innovations and new paradigms in the idea of the ruler and the court and their relationship – so it's worth taking a closer look at the setting where all of that was happening, so we can try and put ourselves in the shoes of those doing the work, and understand their daily grind, as it were. There is unfortunately plenty about the Kiyomihara Palace that we don't know - it isn't like there is a detailed account of the palace in the records - but its ruins are probably the most complete of all those found in Asuka. This makes sense, given that it would have been built over the earlier palace sites. In fact, for the most part, the Kiyomihara Palace is just the Later Okamoto Palace, in other words where Takara Hime, aka Saimei Tennou, ruled, but updated and expanded to fit Ohoama's and his court's needs. Archeological work in Asuka has done some tremendous work to help us understand the Asuka Palace Site. By studying the various post holes, ditches, and other evidence, along with occasionally discarded items, we have a general idea of the palace's shape, and when we combine this with what we know from other sites—the Naniwa Palace ruins in Ohosaka, the Fujiwara palace ruins in Kashihara, and the Heijo-kyo ruins in Nara, among others—along with an understanding of how palaces were being built on the continent, we are able to piece together what we think was going on. Of course these interpretations aren't unanimous, and there are parts that scholars will no doubt quibble over—such as the use of the Ebinoko compound, which I'll talk about in a bit—but in general we have a picture of what things probably looked like, at least from a layout perspective, and how the site may have been used. To start, let's go back for a moment to the Toyosaki Palace in Naniwa, the first palace purpose built for the new governmental system being brought over from the continent. This was the palace of Karu Ohokimi, aka Koutoku Tennou, uncle to Naka no Ohoye. It was built in the aftermath of the Isshin Incident of 645, an architectural centerpiece of the Taika reforms. As you may recall, this was a massive undertaking. This palace was largely rectangular, and consisted of three compounds from south to north, ranging from most to least public. Most people would enter from the south gate, later known as the Suzaku-mon, the gate of the crimson bird of the south, a pattern that would generally hold true for other palaces. Entering the compound, you would find yourself in the Choshuden, a space holding two pavilions with several rooms where officials could change into or out of their official robes. The gates to the Choshuden would open at sunrise for the clerks and functionaries would enter. At the northern end of the Choshuden was the Southern gate of the Chodoin, the main working area of the court. There were 14 halls, or Chodo, each one dedicated to a different ministry. The size of these halls varied, likely based on importance or at least the size of their government portfolio. Most of the middle area of the Chodoin was open, but at the northern end was the gate to the Dairi, the inner palace. This gate was flanked by two octagonal buildings, and it led to an area between the Chodoin and the Dairi where there sat the building that would become the Daigokuden. This was the main audience chamber for meetings with the sovereign, who would preside and make pronouncements in the early morning hours, at the start of the day. To the north of the Daigokuden was the rest of the Dairi, where the sovereign's personal quarters lay, including the quarters for his consorts and children, maintained by his personal servants.And there were other gates into and out of the Dairi—after all, the palace was so large you didn't want to have to go through the Choushuden and Choudouin just to get to the sovereign's quarters. Those who lived in the Dairi and those who worked there would be able to have their own entrances and exits. Let's contrast all of this with the Okamoto Palace in Asuka. More precisely the Later Okamoto Palace. This was the successor palace to the Itabuki palace, both of which were built for Takara Hime, aka Kougyouku—and by this point Saimei—Tennou. In fact, Itabuki palace burned down at the end of 654, just as Takara Hime came to the throne a second time. This palace was, in total, maybe the size of the Chodoin of the Toyosaki Palace, if that. For one thing, there wasn't as much flat land easily available in the valley, but for another, the builders maybe didn't think they needed quite that much space and that many buildings. You see, while the Toyosaki palace in Naniwa was likely meant to model the kind of infrastructure necessary for the Tang court, in Chang'an, Yamato was still building up its fledgling bureaucracy. It wasn't like there were a flood of reports and correspondences coming in from all over the archipelago that had to be handled by an army of clerks. At least not yet. The Okamoto palace, from what we can tell, was also a rectangle, once again facing south , on the east side of the Asuka river. This palace did not necessarily have the same kinds of dedicated spaces as the Toyosaki Palace. The main gate that we know of was in the south, leading to a courtyard with another building—possibly the Ohoandono, alternatively the Ohoyasumidono or the Daianden. This may have been an audience hall for meeting with public officials. The ground here was covered in gravel, a fairly common thing for palace compounds. Though we don't know exactly what the buildings looked like, we have some idea based on the size and number of post-holes. We also haven't found any ceramic tiles in or around the ruins so far, which suggests that Okamoto Palace did not have ceramic tile roofs as were common on temple architecture, but instead were likely covered with wooden shingles, like the Itabuki Palace that used to be in relatively the same spot. From an archeological perspective, any tiled building of this size leaves a lot of indications behind: over the years tiles fall off, break, get buried, etc. Even if, as was common, the court meticulously dismantled the buildings down and reused as much as they could, we would still expect to see some tiles or tile fragments in the ground where the pillars are found, and yet we find nothing of the sort. To the east and west of the Ohoandono were long, narrow structures, oriented north to south rather than east to west. These are thought to have been the offices where government officials could do their work. Moving into the northern section of the palace, the ground was paved with river stones. There were two large buildings with small wings, running east to west, lengthwise, and situated on the same line as the Ohoandono. These may have been what have been called the To no Andono, or outer Hall, and the Uchi no Andono, the inner hall, and they would have been used for ceremonies for those of the appropriate rank. The middle hall it seems was modified from its original form. While it was similar in size and footprint to the hall north of it, the western wing of the southern hall at some point was destroyed—whether on purpose or accidentally—and it was replaced with what appears to have been a pond. On each side of this central area we see more space for buildings, but only some of the post holes have so far been uncovered. There were other buildings further in the northernmost third of the compound that were likely for the sovereign's private usage, as well as a well, and what may have been a building for some kind of semi-private religious ceremony. This palace, the Okamoto Palace, was essentially what Ohoama started from when he relocated the capital back to Asuka – but when he ascended to the throne, he did make a few changes. Most notable was the creation of something called the ebinoko-kuruwa, the Ebinoko enclosure. This was to the southeast of the main palace, and had a rectangular wall surrounding one large building and two smaller ones. Interestingly, the buildings would appear to be oriented in a symmetrical shape that would suggest a southern entrance, like the other palace compounds we've been discussing, and yet the gate was to the west, opening to the area between the Ebinoko enclosure and the main palace. And based on postholes and other evidence, there appear to have been at least four other rectangular buildings stretching out to the south, outside of the walls. Some have theorized that the large building in the Ebinoko was an early form of the Daigokuden, a ceremonial hall where Ohoama held court, rather than reusing the facilities of the old Okamoto palace. Alternately, perhaps it was actually more like the buildings of the Chodoin in Naniwa, where the different departments of the court actually did business, but here with all of the officials working in one, single building. A third idea that others have suggested that this was actually Ohoama's private residence—again, somewhat odd given the size and shape and the fact that there were the seemingly larger facilities of the Okamoto palace already right there for the taking. So which is it? We do have a clue in the record of the 15th day of the 9th month of 672, and the lines following it. According to the Aston translation of the Nihon shoki: He removed his residence from the Palace of Shima to the Palace of Okamoto. In this year a Palace was erected south of the Palace of Okamoto, and the Emperor removed his residence thither that same winter. This was called the Palace of Kiyomibara in Asuka. So it does seem like something was built south of Okamoto and that is where Ohoama resided. It is somewhat uncommon for a sovereign to reuse an old palace like this. Traditionally, sovereigns had regularly moved to new palaces, seemingly because of the attempts to avoid ritual pollution associated with death. Of course, it had been a while since Takara hime had passed away, and Naka no Ohoye had moved everything to Ohotsu, but nonetheless, is it possible that the Ebinoko kuruwa was built to, in some way, give Ohoama new quarters? We may never know for sure. There are plenty of inconsistencies. For one, if it was meant as a residence, I would expect more buildings for his consorts and others. There are also some things to note about the account in the Nihon Shoki. For one thing, although the initial account calls this the Kiyomihara Palace, the Chronicles also suggest that it wouldn't actually get that name until the 20th day of the 7th month of 686, about 14 years later. That record describes how a new era name was also announced: the Akamitori, or red bird, era. I don't want to get too much into it right now, but suffice it to say that a red, three legged crow is often depicted as the symbol of the sun; and the important south gate of the palace, the Suzaku-mon, is named for the vermillion bird of the south, one of the four guardian animals. When this era name—more commonly read as “Shucho”, today, since era names are commonly red in on'yomi reading rather than kun'yomi—well, when it was declared, we are told that the palace was titled the Palace of Kiyomihara of Asuka. What are we to make of this? Well, today, it is assumed that the Kiyomihara palace refers to the Okamoto Palace starting from the creation of the Ebinoko-kuruwa and its occupation during what is assumed to be Ohoama's rule. Earlier in the Nihon Shoki we are told that Ohoama was known as the Kiyomihara sovereign, and so even though that name technically wasn't applied to the palace until later, it makes some sense just to assume it applied from the start of Ohoama's renovations. One more thing that I would point out. While we talked about the original Okamoto Palace and the newly built Ebinoko enclosure, they were arranged as though around a large open area, like a courtyard. The original palace stood at the north, where one could enter the south gate of the palace, and then the Ebinoko enclosure sat on the east side of the courtyard, with its western gate between the two. The southern and western sides of the courtyard, on the other hand, followed the snaking flow of the Asuka River. From about 675 to 681, on or about the 17th day of the first month of the year, it's recorded that the court held an annual archery shoot in the court of either the West or South Gate—which would seem to refer to this large area. This makes sense, as the space is large enough to accommodate plenty of room for the range and for others to watch The archery exhibition was held here, in the space between the two compounds, like clockwork until 681, when we are just told that it was held in the “Courtyard”, which feels like it is referring to an area inside the main compound of Kiyomihara. There are no more mentions of the tradition after 681, though there is an archery shoot in front of the South Gate on the 5th day of the 5th month of 685, but that was probably done as part of the regular 5/5 celebrations—a holiday today known as Kodomo no Hi, or Children's Day, but more traditionally known as Tango no Sekku, the Iris festival. Some form of celebration on this date seems to have occurred throughout East Asia up until the modern day. Whether the archery stopped or just became such a standard thing that it was no longer noteworthy in the record, I can't really say. However, one can possibly imagine what it was like, with all of the courtiers out there watching as the arrows shot down the field. The occasional twang of bows and the faint whistle as it sped towards its target, hitting the target with a sharp thwack. Murmurs from the crowd regarding how well—or how poorly—any given person was doing. Beyond the courtyard and what we know of the two compounds—the Kiyomihara palace and the Ebinoko Enclosure—there is plenty still to discover. There were likely other compounds around the palace, possibly as an extension of the palace. And then there were the temples: west, across the river, was Kawaradera, and north of the palace and surrounding compounds was Houkouji, or Asukadera. There is even some evidence on the northwest edge of the compounds, southwest from Asukadera, of an ancient garden surrounding several manmade ponds. And so, the entire valley appears to have been filled with buildings and official spaces , running up against and being constrained by the natural features of the valley itself. As I mentioned above, there just isn't that much buildable space in the Asuka valley, compared to other places like Naniwa. And this contributed to one of the other problems that the court would have experienced: according to tradition, the front of the palace and other buildings were all oriented south, but for this location, this meant that they didn't face the expansive fields of the Nara basin, but instead they faced the mountains themselves. All in all, there was not much room here to grow, and yet the government and the court had grown, at least by all accounts. Though, how much had the court grown? Maybe not as much as we might expect, despite Ohoama's ambitions. First of all there had been the purge of the powerful ministers at the head of the Afumi court, but there are some startling omissions in the records from the beginning of Ohoama's reign. There is no mention of the Daijin, or Great Minister. There is no Minister of the Right or Minister of the Left. There is no Inner Minister, and there is no Great Minister of State. There are mentions of the “kugyou”, or “Ministers of State”, which traditionally includes the Daijin, but there is no mention of the Daijin, suggesting that the “kugyou” of this time may have only referenced the heads of the 8 ministries of the Dajokan, the Council of State. What does this mean? Many scholars interpret this period as a time of extremely centralized power. Coming off of his military victory, Ohoama seems to have ridden a wave of support and control. Combine that with the continued absorption of Tang dynasty propaganda-slash-government theory that saw the sovereign—the emperor—as the central authority, and one can see how Ohoama may have been able to do something that few sovereigns in Japanese history were able to actually do, which is to wield real power. This may seem odd for a position translated into English most commonly as “Emperor,” but as we've seen, in glimpses through the way they are depicted in the Chronicles, or through the archaeological record, which shows different loci of power and authority across the archipelago in ancient times, the Ohokimi, later dubbed the Tennou or Sumera no Mikoto, was not necessarily all powerful. Not only did they have to contend with rivals to the throne, but even various court nobles who made their way into the centers of power. From figures like Takeuchi no Sukune, to the Ohotomo, the Mononobe, and more recently the Soga—in all of these cases various nobles often held considerable power, though often in tension with one another. Sources of authority also varied. There were the individual religious centers through which families exercised some ritual authority, while there was also more secular authority in the various court positions. The Ohokimi certainly were respected, from what we can tell, and had a powerful source of authority going back to at least the holy kami of Mt. Miwa. They even spread that authority through their kannushi, their priests, which they sent out as an extension of the state. But they weren't entirely independent, either. But Ohoama seems to have reached a point where he did hold a tremendous amount of authority. Because there is another telling omission from the chronciles: we don't see any more Soga members. With the death of Soga no Akaye, the Soga family's influence seems to have disappeared this reign. We also don't see that much about other prominent families compared to earlier: we see the Mononobe as ambassadors, and we see the Nakatomi are still conducting rituals. But we don't see any of them rising to the same positions as their forebears. Instead, we see a lot of focus on the Princely class—those members who claim some descent from a previous sovereign, or even the current sovereign, and how they, themselves, are divided up with their own system of ranks that are outside the civil service ranking system. Speaking of civil service, it does always strike me that the ranking systems of various east Asian courts very much resemble the way that, even today, many modern bureaucracies create wage scales for their civil servants. In the US the most common such scale is the GS or “General Schedule” pay system. In that system, positions are associated with a particular grade, between 1 and 15, and federal employees are also referred to in terms of those grades. Grade typically reflects some level of seniority and pay. It isn't a one-for-one analogy, of course: the court ranks in Yamato were handed out by the sovereign, or at least through their authority, as were the various court positions, though I doubt that Ohoama was spending much personal time approving promotions for a low level clerk writing down inventories and suchlike—but who knows. But it does emphasize that this system is built to be a centralized bureaucratic monarchy, based on the continental model, and it now seems to have come into its own. The court seems to have bought into the idea, and now, intentionally or not, much of their own position in society was directly tied to the autocratic whims of the monarch, or Ohoama himself. Indeed, some of the first records from the year 673 are focused on the court and court system. The very first thing this entailed: a banquet on the 7th day of the first month of the new year. We are told that it was a “drinking party” or “shuen”, and boy does that draw some parallels with modern Japanese companies. We aren't exactly given the form of this party, but we do have later examples. There was likely a formal start, with various nobles set out at assigned seats based on their rank. It was an official event, so officials would have been expected to wear the appropriate clothing, including their caps of rank, letting everyone know exactly who's who, and reinforcing the social hierarchy imposed by the rank system in the first place. I suspect that it started with ritual and formality. Later, you would have the after party, where people might more freely mingle and drink and recite poetry. This was both an official and social occasion, because there really wasn't much of a line drawn between the two. As a ritual, it displayed Ohoama's power over the state through his ability to host them all. As a social function it was an important time in the political life of the court, where everyone was together, and you could find your cliques and supporters. Drinking alcohol, while being something that many enjoy for its own sake, was also a kind of religious observance. Sake was made to be offered to the kami, as well as to be used at parties. It was made from rice, the staple on which the agricultural success of the archipelago was based, and which held a particularly sacred place in other rituals and ceremonies. And then there was the poetry. As would be true for much of Japanese history, poetry infused all aspects of life at the court, and being able to compose good poetry was just as important to one's social standing as reading, writing, and other such skills. There were generally two kinds of poetry practiced at the court. There was the traditional Japanese poetry, or waka, with alternating verses of 5 or 7 syllables—more properly morae, but no need to get into that. Then there was poetry composed in the Sinitic style. Known as “Kanshi”, which translates directly as “Han Poetry”, this mimics the poetic forms brought over in literature from the continent. It required a certain amount of education to be able to compose and was based on the characters, or kanji, used. Kanshi can generally be divided into at least two categories. There is the Kotaishi, or the Old Style Poetry, which consists of poetic form used prior to the Tang dynasty. Then there is Kintaishi, or Modern Style Poetry, which is based on the forms from the Tang dynasty and later. Kintaishi is usually recognized for adhering to more rules of structure and composition, usually using lines of 5 or 7 characters, while Kotaishi is more fluid and less concerned with specific rules and rhythms. Poetry was also not necessarily a solo activity. It was common in later eras to arrange poetry competition, where the court would divide itself, much like the bureaucracy, between the Left and the Right. Each group would compose poetry, often on a set theme, and then put up the poems they felt were the best against those of the other side and then the entire court would listen and judge. The only tangible reward, assuming the sovereign was not so moved as to do something extraordinary, was bragging rights. And yet, that social capital was important among the nobles of the court. Image was extremely important to individuals, and embarrassment could be a political death sentence. And so many would work hard at these poems to make sure that they were the best they could be. At this point, though, we are still in the early years of many of these traditions. The poetry that we have appears to be less formulaic than we see in later eras, when there were so many precedents to which one was expected to adhere. Poems could be about feeling and were not required to hearken back to previous poems and poetic allusions. By the way, official events like this are also one of the ways that we get compilations of poems, later on. These events would get transcribed and then later those poems would be referenced, particularly if they were noteworthy or by noteworthy individuals. This kind of event may have been where a lot of the poems from works like the Man'yoshu and the Kaifusou, the earliest compilations of Waka and Kanshi, respectively. At some point I”d love to dig into the poetry more in depth, but for the moment, I think it is best to leave it there. Now besides one's skills at poetry there were other skills that the court was interested in. The court system that they had lifted from the continent was based, at least theoretically, on the idea of a meritocracy. The monarch, of course, was judged to be worthy to rule through the mandate of Heaven, which often demonstrated itself early in the regime through the Emperor's forces defeating their enemies, much as Ohoama had defeated his rivals in the Afumi court. However, for the rest of the government, the sovereign needed to make sure that he had qualified individuals. From an early point in history, people recognized that not everyone born into power and wealth was necessarily the best person to help run things. If you could only find those of the greatest intellect, discernment, and moral compass, then those are the ones you would want to have running things, right? And this is fine in theory. However, determining who has those qualifications can be a bit tricky. We talked about this back in episodes 71 and 72 when we talked about the Han dynasty more generally. In that case, while the civil service exam was open to any person, the reality was that only those with enough wealth and leisure time could afford to study to take the test. And so while it did open up opportunities for some, it did not truly apply equally across all classes of people. And this was likely fine with most of the ruling class at the time, since there were also still theories that there were different classes of people, and it simply reinforced their ideas that those in the lower classes just didn't have the same capabilities that they had. In the Yamato court early in Ohoama's reign it isn't clear to me exactly how individuals were being chosen for service. We know that rank was handed out as a reward for service, varying with the individual. Ohoama handed out rank at the end of 672 to those who had helped him to come to power, and then, on the 29th day of the 2nd month of 673, just two days after he formally ascended the throne, we are told that he conferred cap-rank on those who had performed good service, each according to their situation. Of course, that is about how promotions were rewarded. But what about how people entered into service in the first place? How did you get introduced to a job in the bureaucracy in the first place? Well for that we have Ohoama's pronouncement on the first day of the fifth month. He addressed the court and set it up as follows: First, anyone who would take a government position would begin their career as an “ohotoneri”. These were low level functionaries who supported the various bureaus as guards, messengers, and whatever else was needed. Previously, this all would have fallen under the general term of “toneri”, who were those members of the nobility who had been sent to serve in the royal palace. Aston translates this as a “chamberlain”, and thus equates oho-toneri—literally “great toneri”—as “high chamberlain”, though I'm not sure if that was actually the distinction or not. It looks like the term “toneri” itself may pre-date the Ritsuryo system, but now was being more standardized, with expanded categories of “toneri” within the system itself. Interestingly, there is only one other example I could find of Ohotoneri before the reign of Ohoama and that was in the account of Waketakeru no Ohokimi, aka Yuryaku Tennou, which makes me think that might be an anachronism. We definitely see “toneri” used since just before that reign and continuously onward, and we see them in regards to not just the royal house, but as the functionaries and servants in various places and for other aristocratic families, but the “ohotoneri” seem to have been specifically connected to the royal family… and thus the state. Ohotoneri, despite being quote-unquote “great” toneri, were at the relative bottom of the hierarchy. They were the night shift, the guards, the messengers, and the general go-fers. They were essentially paid interns. As they did their tasks, they were learning about how the various offices and ministries worked, and they were demonstrating their own aptitude. Based on how they did, they would then be assigned to various offices as seemed most suitable. There were also offices that were staffed by women. Though separate and distinct, women also had a role in the palace and thus the maintenance of the court and the state. They were to be selected for service regardless of their age or even whether they were married or not, but they fell under a separate set of rules from the men, because, well, patriarchy. So that's what happened when people were selected to serve, but who was selected? The chronicles don't say explicitly until a decree about three years later in the 4th month of 676, when it was decreed that all those from provinces outside of the Home Provinces could enter the service of the sovereign, no matter their family's rank, whether Omi, Muraji, Tomo no Miyatsuko, or Kuni no Miyatsuko. They would also allow men of quote-unquote “distinguished ability” enter service, even though they were commoners. From that we can surmise that when they are talking about “all” people really they are talking about “all” the nobility—the only people for whom the Nihon Shoki was really intended, if you think about it. Thus, logically it would seem that prior to this only members of the nobility were allowed to enter government service—but there is even more. Because before this pronouncement in 676, only people in the Home Provinces were theoretically allowed to enter government service. The Home Provinces, or Kinai, are traditionally the five provinces of Yamato, Kawachi, Izumi, Yamashiro, and Settsu. At this point, though, Izumi was still a part of Kawachi, so it would have just been the four. These provinces were likely the first lands to really come under Yamato's direct control, and as such they all held a certain pride of place. This is also where we assume that the powerful families of Yamato had their strongholds. Certainly the Soga, the Mononobe, and the Ohotomo all had claim to traditional land in and around this region. When the court had moved to Ohotsu it would have been the first time in many years that the capital was moved out of the Home Provinces, which was probably a large part of the dissent expressed at the time. How would you like it if your job up and moved two states away and forced you to relocate with them, likely at your own expense? In 676, though, the court decreed that it would no longer restrict itself to noble families of the Home Provinces, but instead would open up service, and the lucrative stipends that came with it, to members of the nobility in the rest of the archipelago. This seems particularly intriguing given the two swords we have from the time of Waketakeru no Ohokimi, aka Yuryua Tennou, in the 5th century, where elites had served—or at least claimed to serve—at his court. It is possible that during his day the influence of Yamato was more expansive, and that influence contracted after him. Or it could be that it was a different type of service that they had provided. And then there is the comment in Ohoama's decree that the court would also allow men of “distinguished ability” to also enter service, even if they were commoners. How very progressive. This seems clearly designed to suggest the meritocratic system that was the ideal, even if it was only truly observed in the breach. I can't help but think about how this symbolizes the court's expanded control across the archipelago, and the idea that all of the archipelago was truly under their control. It also meant that they had opened up the candidate pool to a wider audience. Does that mean that they were growing the size of the government, too? I also can't help but wonder how the old guard took this—the traditional families from the Home Provinces who suddenly found themselves competing with people from the periphery. Did they see them as equals, or the equivalent of upstart country bumpkins? And let's not even get started on anyone who joined government service as a Commoner. On the other hand, I suspect these new functionaries would have owed their position even more directly to the sovereign and the court, and they might not have strong familial ties to the local area. This is all just theory, but seems to follow with Ohoama's general efforts at centralization and accretion of power and authority to himself whilst further building out the structure that his brother, Naka no Ohoye, had set up. Along those lines, at the same time that the sovereign opened up membership in the court to those outside of the Kinai region, he also meddled with the incomes of the various Princes and Ministers. He insisted that those Princes and Ministers who were receiving taxes from fiefs in the West—by which I assume is meant western Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu—they should instead get their income from fiefs in the East. So he was taking away the western fiefs and instead swapping them with eastern fiefs. Those western taxes could then, presumably, come straight into the government coffers, and the princes and ministers would be connected with land in the east, which I suspect meant they would be expected to invest in those fiefs and encourage them to produce. This feels like it goes along with something from two years earlier, in 675, the third year of Ohoama's reign. In the second month of that year he abolished the serfs granted to the various Uji back in 664, and he abolished any claims by Princes—Royal or otherwise—as well as Ministers and Temples to any mountains, marshes, islands, bays, woods, plains, and artificial ponds. It seems clear that he claimed the right of eminent domain to himself and the state. By extension, all land effectively belonged to Ohoama, and everyone else became, de facto, his tenants. They paid taxes up to him, and he had the right to grant or take away the land as he saw fit. I can't imagine that went over well with those who had lost their rights to those lands, but either he compensated in them in some other way or his power had grown such that they didn't dare to oppose him. Certainly not everyone was happy. In 677, Saita no Fubito no Nagura was banished to the island of Izu for apparently scoffing—or otherwise disrespecting—Ohoama. Well, it says his vehicle, but Aston notes that this is probably just a polite euphemism for the sovereign himself. But that rebuke seems to have been pretty light compared to two years earlier when a man—we aren't even given his name, assuming it was known, hiked up the hill east of the palace, cursed Ohoama, and then cut his own throat. How it was known that he had been cursing anyone isn't explained—though perhaps he had written it down or otherwise communicated his intentions. Either way, it was certainly a rebuke. But if it phased Ohoama, we can't tell. He did give those on duty that night a step in rank, presumably for the trauma they had experienced in dealing with everything. Possibly related—we are told that same month there was a great earthquake. So was that thought to be the curse being fulfilled? There is nothing to connect them except that the one immediately follows the other. And yet, Ohoama would continue to rule as he saw fit. In fact, he would rule roughly 14 years, in total, right up to his death in 686. A rather substantial reign compared to so many other sovereigns. And he would continue to make his mark. Next episode we will continue our journey through the reign of Ohoama, aka Temmu Tenno. Until then, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts. If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page. You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com. Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now. Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.
In this episode of the Language on the Move Podcast, Brynn Quick speaks writer, illustrator, filmmaker and Academy Award winner Shaun Tan. Shaun is best known for illustrated books that deal with social and historical subjects through dream-like imagery. His books have been widely translated throughout the world and enjoyed by readers of all ages. In the episode, Brynn and Shaun discuss his award-winning 2006 book The Arrival, which is a migrant story told as a series of wordless images. In the book, a man leaves his wife and child in an impoverished town, seeking better prospects in an unknown country on the other side of a vast ocean. He eventually finds himself in a bewildering city of foreign customs, peculiar animals, curious floating objects and indecipherable languages. With nothing more than a suitcase and a handful of currency, the immigrant must find a place to live, food to eat and some kind of gainful employment. He is helped along the way by sympathetic strangers, each carrying their own unspoken history: stories of struggle and survival in a world of incomprehensible violence, upheaval and hope. For more Language on the Move resources related to this topic, see Life in a New Language, Discrimination by any other name: Language tests and racist immigration policy in Australia, Intercultural Communication – Now in the third edition, and Judging Refugees. If you liked this episode, be sure to say hello to Brynn and Language on the Move on Bluesky! For additional resources, show notes, and transcripts, go here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/art
In this episode of the Language on the Move Podcast, Brynn Quick speaks writer, illustrator, filmmaker and Academy Award winner Shaun Tan. Shaun is best known for illustrated books that deal with social and historical subjects through dream-like imagery. His books have been widely translated throughout the world and enjoyed by readers of all ages. In the episode, Brynn and Shaun discuss his award-winning 2006 book The Arrival, which is a migrant story told as a series of wordless images. In the book, a man leaves his wife and child in an impoverished town, seeking better prospects in an unknown country on the other side of a vast ocean. He eventually finds himself in a bewildering city of foreign customs, peculiar animals, curious floating objects and indecipherable languages. With nothing more than a suitcase and a handful of currency, the immigrant must find a place to live, food to eat and some kind of gainful employment. He is helped along the way by sympathetic strangers, each carrying their own unspoken history: stories of struggle and survival in a world of incomprehensible violence, upheaval and hope. For more Language on the Move resources related to this topic, see Life in a New Language, Discrimination by any other name: Language tests and racist immigration policy in Australia, Intercultural Communication – Now in the third edition, and Judging Refugees. If you liked this episode, be sure to say hello to Brynn and Language on the Move on Bluesky! For additional resources, show notes, and transcripts, go here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/language
The Brewers are officially in the playoffs after clinching a berth over the weekend, and the magic number is down to 8 to win the division (and the likely first-round bye that comes with it). But it was still just a week full of uneven pitching performances. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss the outlook for inconsistent Jacob Misiorowski, Brandon Woodruff (whose start was essentially skipped) and José Quintana (who left Sunday's start with an injury). Freddy Peralta ran his scoreless streak to 30 innings before it ended unceremoniously, but Pat Murphy believes he can improve in one specific way. Will all three first basemen really make the playoff roster? In Three Up Three Down (38:35), a new Brewers nemesis in born, outfield defense has been an adventure and a dramatic Saturday rally. In Remembrew When (56:30), JR looks back at the parallel-heavy recent clinches, including a Rowdy Tellez cameo. Curt Blanche (1:00:45) tackles stadiums and clinch celebrations. Then, JR is joined by Brewers associate manager Rickie Weeks (1:09:15), asking about his experience watching his old buddies in the alumni home-run derby, his role with the Brewers, the connections between his teams and this one and Milwaukee as a baseball haven. Music intro from bensound.com. Musical cues (in order): "I Got What You Want" (Extended Version) by Gloria Tells, "Arriving at Dusk" by American Legion and "Screaming Fool" by Andreas Dahlback, all from www.epidemicsound.com.
Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard, founder of LANcity, author of The Accidental Network, and widely known as the “father of the cable modem”, shares the story of how broadband was built and the lessons it offers for today's leaders navigating AI and emerging technologies. Arriving in the U.S. with $750 in savings, Yassini-Fard envisioned carrying “voice, data and video… over one cable instead of two” at a time when few believed homes would ever need to be connected. Over nine years, with just 13 employees and seven consultants, he built a working product, proved its reliability, and persuaded the cable industry to adopt it. By 1996, his team had driven device costs from $8,000 down to under $300 and helped create DOCSIS, the global broadband standard, released royalty-free to speed adoption. Reflecting on today's tech landscape, he cautions: “It's not just really money… you need more than that. It's a proven prototype and a product that actually does the talking.” Valuations without execution, he warns, will accelerate failure. Key lessons include: Prototype before scale: Capital is wasted without demonstrable performance in real environments. Treat infrastructure as strategy: Broadband enabled Silicon Valley, Netflix, telehealth, and remote work; leaders must model today's energy, compute, and connectivity constraints when sizing AI opportunities. Open standards matter: Royalty-free interoperability can turn a niche idea into an industry platform. Execution trumps valuation: LANcity beat Motorola and Intel with disciplined engineering, resilient supply chains, and relentless customer trials. Anchor to customer economics: Early users became advocates because the modem delivered day-to-day value. Looking forward, Yassini-Fard stresses that AI and robotics will stall without addressing power and infrastructure: “For some of these AI companies to be successful, they need gigawatts of power… it takes 10 years to build a nuclear reactor that gives you one.” He highlights quantum computing and network management as the next frontiers, and calls for workforce retraining in mathematics, physics, and the skilled trades that sustain digital systems. For executives evaluating platform bets or emerging technologies, this conversation offers a grounded blueprint: start with the prototype, model the infrastructure honestly, choose standards deliberately, and align capital with execution discipline.
Arriving at Cloud City, Kid Goku, Ichigo Kurosaki and Grimmbacca find themselves in an eating contest as Doctor Doom meets with the Marvel Alliance.GM - JustinDoctor Doom - KyleKid Goku - JoeIchigo Kurosaki - Hawk
Arriving on the scene in the late 60's and having a speaking career through the late 70's was one John Todd. Todd spun fantastic tales of being from a family of witches, a member of the Illuminati, had inside knowledge of the music, T.V. and entertainment industry and their satanic ways. People to this day believe what John Todd said was true. His speeches continue to spread through conspiracy circles as well. Who was John Todd? Is what he said factual? Or, was it all a sham, hiding the reality of what Todd was actually involved with? Let's take a look into the John Todd saga...Email us at: downtherh@protonmail.com
AP's Lisa Dwyer reports that ICE detainees are now arriving at a new detention center in Tennessee.
Mark Dailey and Mark Hamilton sit down on a nothersweltering Vancouver night to talk about the latest news in Formula 1 and get ready for the Italian Grand Prix from Monza. Looking for unique and authentic F1 merchandise? Check out www.racingexclusives.com! Check out The RaceWknd magazine here! Title music created by J.T. the Human: https://www.jtthehuman.com/ Contact & Feedback: Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you enjoy podcasts Email: scuderiaf1pod@gmail.com X: @ScuderiaF1Pod Join the conversation! Follow us on X @ScuderiaF1Pod Subscribe to the Scuderia F1 Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Please leave us a rating and review if you enjoyed the show! Thanks for tuning in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Brewers swept the Pirates and pulled closer to their goals, where it appears a playoff berth and first-round playoff bye are looking inevitable. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe explore the severity of the recent rash of bullpen injuries (and Christian Yelich), the likelihood of Quinn Priester as the No. 2 starter in the playoffs, the breakthrough performance by Jacob Misiorowski on Sunday and what type of extension would make sense for white-hot second baseman Brice Turang, who has become one of the team's most indispensable bats. Will Jake Bauers make the playoff roster? Is Brandon Woodruff all the way back? In Three Up Three Down (35:15), they ponder the elusive concept of the check swing, Aaron Civale's new landing spot and a late-season promotion for Jesús Made. In Remembrew When (53:15), George Scott hits a homer to break up a 1975 no-hitter with one batter to get. In Curt Blanche (58:15), Curt yells at clouds as football returns. Then, JR sits down with Brewers reliever Craig Yoho (1:06:00), whose role in the bullpen could get a bump after the rash of injuries. They discuss his crazy injury history -- including Tommy John surgery before he even became a pitcher, the development of his changeup, his unusually small signing bonus and his quick journey to the big leagues. Music intro from bensound.com. Musical cues (in order): "I Got What You Want" (Extended Version) by Gloria Tells, "Arriving at Dusk" by American Legion and "Screaming Fool" by Andreas Dahlback, all from www.epidemicsound.com.
"The Enemy of Thriving is Arriving." – Lee Brower "Live life deliberately- no finish lines." – Lee Brower "Knowing your 'So That' will inspire others to find their own 'So That'. “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” – John F. Kennedy
Climbing The Hill by Amadou Camara https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FK1RKBKL "I come from a place where survival was a victory, and every step forward was a quiet act of defiance." From the dusty streets of Dar es Salam in Guinea Conakry to the drafting tables of the United States, Climbing The Hill is the powerful true story of one boy's journey through poverty, loss, and unrelenting adversity toward a life shaped by hope, resilience, and purpose. Born into hardship, Amadou Camara faced a childhood where survival was never guaranteed. Yet even amid overwhelming circumstances, he dared to dream of a better life. With unwavering determination and strength, he carved a path forward, ultimately transforming himself from a struggling boy into a successful architectural designer in the U.S. This deeply moving memoir explores themes of perseverance, trauma, healing, and the transformative power of vision. More than a personal account, Climbing The Hill is a universal story for anyone who has ever fought to rise above their beginnings and believed in something greater beyond the struggle.About The Author Amadou Camara was born in Guinea-Conakry, where his childhood was marked by trauma, hardship, and the kind of silence that often surrounds suffering. In a world where abuse was normalized and children's voices were rarely heard, Amadou endured, but he also dreamed. His memoir is a testament to the strength it takes to survive when survival is not guaranteed, and to rise when the world teaches you to remain small. Arriving in the United States after winning the Diversity Visa Lottery in 2013, Amadou faced a new set of challenges: a foreign land, a new language, and the weight of starting over. But with the same resilience that carried him through his childhood, he built a life from the ground up-one rooted in purpose, healing, and hope. Today, Amadou lives in Madison, Wisconsin with his wife, Oumou, and their miracle daughter, Aicha. He is a professional architectural designer with a five-year degree in architecture, working at Flad Architects, one of the top Architectural companies in the U.S-He brings his passion for the built environment to every project he touches-shaping spaces that heal and reflect dignity, strength, and vision. Amadou wrote this memoir not only to reflect on his own path to healing but to give voice to the countless children still enduring abuse in silence. His message is simple yet profound: no matter where you begin, you have the power to choose how your story continues. Pain may shape us, but it does not define us. With courage, hope, and unshakable will, we can all build a life worth remembering.
Tonight, we pickup where we left off. After sharing the message of Jesus Christ with everybody on the Island, and after healing many in the name of Jesus Christ, God arranges to send a huge number of witness to Rome.
This is the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, the season change has come quickly here in the valley with the alpacas. Listen to catch up on what has been happening with the herd.Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it.You can contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Waterside Voices. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Fabio Reis has become one of the most respected foreign fighters in Thailand — but his journey was anything but easy. From getting bullied as a kid in Portugal, to discovering kickboxing after capoeira, to taking fights alone overseas. In this interview we talk about: 0:00 Quick Question Intro 1:33 Starting Fighting 8:55 Arriving in Thailand at PFC 12:35 Fighting In China 18:45 Thai Fight Bouts 22:58 Fighting Out Of Lamai in Samui 29:10 Venum life 34:50 Knocking out Rittewada 43:30 How To Pick a gym 46:10 It's An Investment Subscribe for weekly conversations with fighters, coaches, and insiders shaping the future of Muay Thai. Follow Fabio here: https://www.instagram.com/fabio_sensational_reis/ Want to dive deeper into the world of Muay Thai read: Muay Thai: The Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business Get it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/co46xdR
On the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes insider Ray Fittipaldo to react to the team's new three-year contract with RB Jaylen Warren. Were coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan right to lock the veteran up through 2027? Especially on the heels of the third-round selection of Kaleb Johnson in the NFL draft? And how does this heighten expectations for Warren within OC Arthur Smith's offense next to backfield mates like Kenneth Gainwell? Our duo ponders those questions, then wonders whether Aaron Rodgers or Justin Fields have more to prove when the Steelers face the New York Jets in NFL Week 1 on Sunday; how close DC Teryl Austin's defense can come to the "historic" label coach Mike Tomlin gave it in the preseason; and which NFL draft QB hopefuls and possible Steelers draft picks -- from Drew Allar to Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik and Garrett Nussmeier -- impressed during a busy first week of action.
We're one month away from more Milwaukee playoff baseball. The Brewers have held their own during this long stretch without an off day, including an excellent series in Toronto, but a couple sloppy losses made it an uneven week. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss the bullpen's fatigue, particularly without injured closer Trevor Megill. How big of a loss is he? When Rhys Hoskins comes back, what happens with a struggling Andrew Vaughn? Another check in with the rotation after a tough outing from Brandon Woodruff, but Quinn Priester and Freddy Peralta continue to be nails, Jacob Misiorowski bounces back and ... Erick Fedde is here now? In Three Up Three Down (30:00), they the Andruw Monasterio experience, Jackson Chourio's surging return and thoughts on a backup catcher. In Remembrew When (55:30), JR looks back at a season opener, when something unrelated to the Brewers happened that also happened this week. And in Curt Blanche (1:03:00), Curt discovers the previously unknown joy of a prominent aspect in traditional society. Then, JR sits down with Brewers veteran reliever Shelby Miller (1:11:15), discussing his first tenure with the Brewers (when he didn't pitch in the big leagues), his near no-hitter and what's worked so well this year. Music intro from bensound.com. Musical cues (in order): "I Got What You Want" (Extended Version) by Gloria Tells, "Arriving at Dusk" by American Legion and "Screaming Fool" by Andreas Dahlback, all from www.epidemicsound.com.
Arriving on the scene in the late 60's and having a speaking career through the late 70's was one John Todd.Todd spun fantastic tales of being from a family of witches, a member of the Illuminati, had inside knowledge of the music, T.V. and entertainment industry and their satanic ways.People to this day believe what John Todd said was true. His speeches continue to spread through conspiracy circles as well. Who was John Todd? Is what he said factual? Or, was it all a sham, hiding the reality of what Todd was actually involved with?Let's take a look into the John Todd saga.......Email us at: downtherh@protonmail.com
Let's show up and do the work, even when no one's clapping. Keep moving forward today with "Consistently Showing Up." If this episode was helpful and you want to leave a tip, simply go to AffirmationPod.com/TipJarThe sister episode to this one is Episode 237 I am Loving and Showing Up for Myself https://AffirmationPod.com/LovingAndShowingUpReady to change the way you think and start seeing real results?Want to start thinking more positively and feel more confident?Secure your one-on-one affirmations coaching spot at AffirmationPod.com/CoachingWANT MORE EPISODES LIKE THIS ONE? Episode 393 I've turned my life around https://AffirmationPod.com/TurnedMyLifeAround Episode 336 Arriving at a New Level https://AffirmationPod.com/NewLevel Episode 203 Affirmations for Success https://AffirmationPod.com/ForSuccess LISTENER LOVE
What's up pixel perverts? Today we're blighting the surface for undesirables, rapidly switching discs, realizing the guards can hit, scraping metal out of the dirt, locating the only doctor in the world, experiencing goblin poetry, refusing to serve drinks to miners, dreaming of D Block, goofing into a slur, beating the prisoners, staring down a moral choice, changing hearts and minds, rushing the goblin narrative, playing with piss, and producing an unforgivable font mistake. In the absence of god you must have medicine. 00:00:00 Clair Obscur 00:04:10 Intro 00:05:42 Arriving at The Frontier 00:12:32 Talon 00:16:00 Talon Indoors 00:34:40 Talon Mines 00:39:38 Mid-Cave Miner Hangout 00:49:40 Graveyard 00:53:16 Hostages 01:02:55 Real Net 01:07:22 Outro Patreon: patreon.com/retroam Bluesky: @retrogradeamnesia.bsky.social YouTube: www.youtube.com/@RetrogradeAmnesia E-Mail: podcast@retrogradeamnesia.com Website: www.retrogradeamnesia.com
Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player. Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Let yourself rest… Let the blankets hold you, Soft as the tide that returns each night To kiss the shore. PAUSE… There is just this breath, And then the next. A rhythm like waves, Arriving, Departing. PAUSE… Inhale slowly— Let it fill you like moonlight on water. Exhale— And begin to drift. Join our Premium Sleep for Women Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Sleep podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here --> https://bit.ly/sleepforwomen Join our Premium Meditation for Kids Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Kids podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here → https://bit.ly/meditationforkidsapple Hey, I'm so glad you're taking the time to be with us today. My team and I are dedicated to making sure you have all the meditations you need throughout all the seasons of your life. If there's a meditation you desire, but can't find, email us at Katie Krimitsos to make a request. We'd love to create what you want! Namaste, Beautiful,