Podcasts about aspirations

Ferit Hoxha is a career diplomat with over 35 years of experience in the foreign service of the Republic of Albania. Since March 2026, he has been serving as Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Mr Hoxha has had a distinguished and extensive career in multilateral diplomacy and international relations, representing the Republic of Albania at the highest international levels. He has served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2009–2015; 2021–2024), where he led the Albanian delegation during Albania's tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (2022–2023) and twice held the Presidency of the Security Council. He has also served as Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the European Union (1998–2001; 2024–2026), as well as Ambassador to France (2001–2006). From 2018 to 2021, he served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO. Within the central administration, Mr Hoxha has held the positions of Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2006–2009) and Director General for Political and Strategic Affairs (2015–2018). Throughout his career, he has contributed actively to multilateral processes and has held senior roles within international organizations, including Vice-President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Vice-President of the UNICEF Executive Board, and chair of key processes within the United Nations Security Council and UNESCO frameworks. Mr Hoxha graduated from the University of Tirana with a degree in French Language and Literature. He is fluent in English, French, and Italian. He has been awarded high national and international distinctions, including the rank of “Grand Officer” of the National Order of Merit of the French Republic and “Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy.” This event is part of the Future-Proofing Europe Project, which is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Jonas Knox talks about how the Knicks not winning the title would be better for the NBA, thoughts on an NFL team that might not be quite ready for good things following the latest update in their saga, one guy who's gotta accept what's happening and give it up, Andy Furman stops by to hand out some winners, Kawhi gets interviewed in the Aspiration investigation, and more! #2pros #fsrweekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you look under the word "variety" in the dictionary, you'll find this episode of Dirty Thirty. It's time for 30 more minutes of the best content from this week on Dirty Mo Media! Leading us off, Denny Hamlin and the Actions Detrimental crew detail his run from the back to win at Nashville Superspeedway. Denny also breaks down his conversation with teammate Christopher Bell after the final restart. On The Dale Jr. Download, Dale explains why Denny Hamlin is the current clear-cut favorite for the Cup Series championship and how Toyota's overall speed may not last forever. Door Bumper Clear welcomes a guest everyone has been asking for: Cleetus McFarland! Danny Stockman, aka Downforce Danny, also joins the fray to discuss Cleetus's aspirations in NASCAR, including a future bid for the Daytona 500. Finally, Dale Jr. welcomed rapper and TV personality Vanilla Ice into the Arby's studio. The two discuss their first meeting at a Las Vegas nightclub, Vanilla's career surge from Ice Ice Baby, and the prized car in his collection with a special connection to Dale Earnhardt Sr. It's variety you can't find anywhere else — all in 30 minutes! Check out Dirty Mo Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As Adam Silver calls for the NBA's Kawhi Leonard probe to wrap up and Aspiration's co-founder gets 14 years behind bars, Pablo investigates how Steve Ballmer covered his tracks on a side deal of his own — and with the SEC on the case. Former DOJ prosecutor Lou Manzo returns to make sense of the relationship between a billionaire and a fraudster, while David Samson is finally convinced that the richest owner in sports has lost credibility.(Additional reporting by Anita Bennett)• Take the PTFO audience survey• Subscribe to Pablo's newsletter• Subscribe to "Nothing Personal with David Samson"Previously on PTFO:• Part I: The Silent Superstar and the Rotten Apple Tree• Part II: An Argument with Mark Cuban• Part III: The Mystery Investor, the No-Show Payday and the "Smoking Gun"• Part IV: Steve Ballmer, the Other Cuban and the $118 Million Infusion• Part V: Steve Ballmer's "Inconceivable" Donation, the $20 Million Guarantee and a Head on a Spike• Part VI: An IRL Showdown with Mark Cuban• Part VII: The Briefcase, Ballmer's Social Network and Aspiration's House of Cards• Part VIII: Uncle Dennis, Ballmer's $50 Million Sprint and the Side Deal That Wouldn't Die• Part IX: Ballmer's Tree Money, the Whistle-Blowers and the Document You've Been Waiting For• Part X: Steve Ballmer's Victim Impact, the Man Who Prosecuted Aspiration and the Abacus of Incarceration(Pablo Torre Finds Out is independently produced by Meadowlark Media and distributed by The Athletic. The views, research and reporting expressed in this episode are solely those of Pablo Torre Finds Out and do not reflect the work or editorial input of The Athletic or its journalists.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, we had to do a show today. The Knicks took Game 1 of the NBA Finals over the Spurs. Jalen Brunson was the hero of New York again. What a clutch performance. Wemby did not have a great game. Was it nerves? (10:30) Adam Silver spoke before Game 1. He had some big stories to speak on: Aspiration and the Clippers, expansion, NBA Europe. (21:20) Rob Manfred met with the media on Wednesday. Everything he says is important right now. Let's breakdown all the topics he chose to hit on from CBT to a strike to the Dodgers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yes, we had to do a show today. Wrapping up my time in Germany, but had a few minutes to spare! The Knicks took Game 1 of the NBA Finals over the Spurs. Jalen Brunson was the hero of New York again. What a clutch performance. Wemby did not have a great game. Was it nerves? (10:30) Adam Silver spoke before Game 1. He had some big stories to speak on: Aspiration and the Clippers, expansion, NBA Europe. (21:20) Rob Manfred met with the media on Wednesday. Everything he says is important right now. Let's breakdown all the topics he chose to hit on from CBT to a strike to the Dodgers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fast Track! Mason and Ireland discuss the comments from Adam Silver regarding the Clippers and Aspiration situation. The guys are joined by the biggest Spurs fans they know, Michelle Beadle! Game of Games, plus Supercross Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cleveland Browns are funny. Myles Garrett has been traded to the Rams. Two months we were told it would never happen! (13:20) AJ Bown has been traded. Can you believe it? Was this a shocker? (20:20) What is going on with the Chicago Bears new stadium? Why haven't they picked a location? Why aren't shovels in the ground? Are they headed to Indiana? (29:00) Aspiration update! The co-founder was sentenced to 14 years in jail! (39:05) The NBA finals is almost here! Spurs vs Knicks. Have you seen this get-in prices? (45:30) Stephen A Smith was in the Financial Times. Is he going to run for President? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cleveland Browns are funny. Myles Garrett has been traded to the Rams. Two months we were told it would never happen! (13:20) AJ Bown has been traded. Can you believe it? Was this a shocker? (20:20) What is going on with the Chicago Bears new stadium? Why haven't they picked a location? Why aren't shovels in the ground? Are they headed to Indiana? (29:00) Aspiration update! The co-founder was sentenced to 14 years in jail! (39:05) The NBA finals is almost here! Spurs vs Knicks. Have you seen this get-in prices? (45:30) Stephen A Smith was in the Financial Times. Is he going to run for President? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This talk was given by Diana Clark on 2026.06.01 at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. ******* For more talks like this, visit AudioDharma.org ******* If you have enjoyed this talk, please consider supporting AudioDharma with a donation at https://www.audiodharma.org/donate/. ******* This talk is licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License

LLUC SP BaccalaureateSpeaker: Randy Roberts

Send us Fan MailWhat if everything you've been told about change, motivation, and stress is missing the most important piece — your brain?This week I'm joined by Lisa Riegel, educator by training, strategist by practice, and someone who has dedicated her career to translating brain science into language and tools that actually help people feel more self-aware, regulated, and in control. Lisa is the creator of the NeuroWell Framework and the Aspirations to Operations Commitment Framework, and whether she's working with Fortune 500 leaders, school systems, or individuals navigating their own lives, her message is the same: real change starts in the brain.In this conversation we cover so much ground, and I think you're going to find it as accessible and practical as I did. We talk about:Why 80% of the thinking happening in your brain right now is unconscious — and what that means for your behavior, your reactions, and your relationshipsMeet Bob and Harold — Lisa's brilliant, accessible way of explaining how your amygdala and thalamus work together to filter reality and trigger your stress responseThe four states of wakefulness (calm, alert, alarm, fear) and exactly what happens neurologically when you burn outWhy change is so hard — and why most change initiatives, in organizations and in our personal lives, fail before they even beginThe difference between outcome goals and action goals, and why that distinction is everythingWhy we don't know what our body feels like when we're happy — and a simple morning practice to start changing thatThe power of identifying not just what stresses you out, but why — and how uncovering the underlying fear gives you genuine self-controlWhy celebration is the most underused and misunderstood tool in leadership, parenting, and self-developmentHow to create your own resilient inner bubble in a world that feels increasingly out of controlLisa brings so much warmth and wisdom to this conversation, and her ability to take complex brain science and make it feel immediately usable is truly a gift. This one is for the leaders, the parents, the burnout survivors, and anyone who has ever wondered why they keep reacting in ways they don't intend to.Resources:Free Masterclass:  The Alchemy of the Perimenopause PortalAyurvedic Dosha Quick Reference GuideAbhyanga Self Massage GuideWeekend Nervous System ResetNourished For Resilience Workbook Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram

SJV: A relatively new band but with high aspirations When someone loves what they do, no matter how challenging it is, they will definitely do it. That's what happened in the life of Jessie Paath, a wife, mother of her children, working three jobs, and also the vocalist of the SJV band (Sedulur Jawa Victoria). - Ketika seseorang menyukai apa yang dikerjakan, seberapa berat pun tantangannya, pasti akan dilakukan. Itulah yang terjadi dalam hidup seorang Jessie Paath, seorang istri, ibu dari anaknya, mempunyai tiga pekerjaan yang juga sebagi vokalis dari band SJV (Sedulur Jawa Victoria).

Bill Frost (BillFrost.tv, BillFrost.substack.com, X96 Radio From Hell) and Tommy Milagro (SlamWrestling.net) forsake Memorial Weekend to talk Harland Williams' Wingman, Nicholas Cage's Spider-Noir, new seasons of Criminal Minds: Evolution and Deli Boys, For All Mankind spinoff Star City, Craig Ferguson: American on Purpose, William H. Macy's Speed Demon, the finales of The Boys, Euphoria, and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Rasslin' News, Widow's Bay, Saturday Night Live UK, The Audacity, Hacks, Your Friends & Neighbors, Rooster Fighter, and more.Drinking: Vodka from OFFICIAL TV Tan sponsor Sugar House Distillery.Yell at us (or order a TV Tan T-shirt) @TVTanPodcast on Threads, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, or Gmail.Rate us and comment: Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, YouTube, Amazon Podcasts, Audible, TuneIn Radio, etc. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tvtanpodcast.substack.com

On a brand new Shortcast (Mortcast but short ... get it?) Jeff talks about how the NBA has lost it's shine because they've transitioned from aspiration to relatability. How the league thrives on daydreaming about things you will never be able to do as an average person ... which is why Victor Wembanyama might be the key to making the NBA remember what it once was. Enjoy the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailBall Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, continue their "Road to '26" interview series with the ultimate insider—the longest-serving President in the history of U.S. Soccer and current Senior Lecturer of Economics at Columbia University, Sunil Gulati. Known as "The Leader" of the modern American soccer infrastructure, Sunil's reign saw the sport take its most significant strides in our nation's history. From the "soccer in a desert" era to spearheading successful World Cup bids, he has quite literally lived it all.We challenge the professor with some analytical rigor and dive deep into his legacy, covering:The 1994 vs. 2026 Contrast: How the global "sales pitch" changed from an era when the American soccer market was purely theoretical to the reality of the upcoming World Cup.The Economist's Lens: The exact economic hurdles and incentive structures that had to be cleared during the early days of MLS and the professionalization of the USSF.Highs & Lows of the Presidency: The proudest moments watching the USWNT reach legendary status, the true directive behind hiring Jurgen Klinsmann, and a candid look back at how the trying times of the 2017 collapse in Trinidad changed his view on player development.Aspirations for 2026: What a "successful" tournament actually looks like for this country on July 20th, 2026, beyond just the performance on the pitch.Whether you want to understand the business behind the beautiful game or get a masterclass in where American soccer has been and where it's going, this is an episode you cannot miss.Follow the show on X and/or Instagram (@BallWatchingSTL)! Find our guest interviews and all episodes in video form on YouTube by searching https://www.youtube.com/@ballwatchingSTL. Be sure to hit subscribe and turn notifications on!Hoffmann Brothers is the 2025 presenting sponsor of Ball Watching! Headquartered right here in St. Louis for over 40 years, Hoffmann Brothers is a full-service residential & commercial provider, providing Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Drains, Sewer, Water Heaters, Duct Cleaning, Electrical and Appliance Repair services. Visit them online at hoffmannbros.com!Make The Pitch Athletic Club & Tavern (thepitch-stl.com) your St. Louis CITY SC pregame and postgame destination for all your food and drink needs! Tell them your friends at Ball Watching sent you... Shop in-store or online at Series Six (seriessixcompany.com) and receive a 15% discount  on all orders storewide using code "BALLWATCHING" at checkout!

Will the budget changes reconnect young and disaffected Australians to the benefits of the economy? Is Angus Taylor's vision likely to arrest the decline in support to One Nation? Is the ALP open to creating a sovereign wealth fund as outlined by Pauline Hanson? Treasurer of Australia, Dr Jim Chalmers joins Marija and Mark to discuss last week's budget, Angus Taylors' reply and the challenges of ‘getting it right' in today's volatile political and economic landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to talk about a new initiative that would provide $25,000 for first-time home buyers' down payments if they have contributed two years of national service. Ambassador Emanuel also tells Jon if he believes the Bears would still be in Chicago if he […]

Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to talk about a new initiative that would provide $25,000 for first-time home buyers' down payments if they have contributed two years of national service. Ambassador Emanuel also tells Jon if he believes the Bears would still be in Chicago if he […]

Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to talk about a new initiative that would provide $25,000 for first-time home buyers' down payments if they have contributed two years of national service. Ambassador Emanuel also tells Jon if he believes the Bears would still be in Chicago if he […]

Man, I don’t know how else to say this — this one got me. I sat down with Christian Zeron, the guy behind the Theo N. Harris Instagram, and what started as a watch-world conversation turned into one of the most honest, wide-open talks about hunting, identity, manhood, and what it means to find something that actually moves you. That’s the kind of episode this is. Christian grew up in New Jersey selling vintage Rolexes in college and built a marketing company around it. He’s sharp, he’s articulate, and — up until about six months ago — he had zero connection to the hunting world. Then a client invited him on a hunt in Kentucky and, well, here we are. He killed his first turkey this spring, he’s already got hog hunts lined up in Texas and a dove trip to Argentina on the books, and the guy is all in. Completely, unapologetically, joyfully all in. What I love about Christian is that he brings this fresh set of eyes to our world. He’s not pretending to be someone he’s not. He’s a Ralph Lauren, vintage shotgun, lever-action rifle kind of guy who gets genuinely emotional talking about his late grandfather while butchering his first bird. That’s real. That’s the stuff hunting is actually made of, and it’s the stuff that’s really hard to explain to people who haven’t lived it. We go deep on the watch world and what Rolex figured out about aspiration and identity that most brands never do. We talk camo as identity, Sitka vs. First Lite, Yeti coolers, LVMH, Omega, Casio — and somehow it all connects back to hunting, brand building, and what it means to be a man who collects experiences instead of just stuff. Plus, we dig into what I’m trying to build with Bridger Watch and Christian gives me some real, unfiltered marketing advice on how to position it against Garmin and Apple. This is the kind of conversation that makes you want to call your old man, fire up a steak, and go outside. Strap in. Episode Sponsors onX Hunt If you’re serious about hunting out west, onX isn’t optional — it’s foundational. We’re talking land ownership, access layers, terrain intel, and a full suite of tools built for every phase of the hunt: planning, preparation, and execution. The difference onX makes is simple. It’s confidence. Confidence that you’re in the right spot. Confidence that you’re legal. Confidence that you can find your way back to the truck when the day goes long and the country gets weird. Download the onX Hunt app and become an Elite member today. Use code TRO for 20% off your membership. Website: onxmaps.com Bridger Watch I set out to build a better smartwatch for the hunting community — plain and simple. I was frustrated. I kept pulling my phone out 100 times a day to check onX in the field and thought, why can’t we just have the map on our wrist? So we went down the rabbit hole and built what I genuinely believe is the best smartwatch ever made for hunters. If you’re a watch guy and a hunter, this was built for you. Use code TRO at checkout. Website: bridgerwatch.com Timestamp Chapters 0:00  —  Intro & Sponsor — onX Hunt 1:45  —  Sponsor — Bridger Watch 3:00  —  Welcome Christian Zeron | Who Is This Guy? 5:30  —  From Jersey to the Deer Woods — How a Watch Guy Found Hunting 9:00  —  Building a Marketing Company on the Back of Rolex 12:30  —  Christian’s First Turkey: Buck Fever, Clown Makeup, and Grandfather Moments 17:00  —  Why Hunting Hits Different — The Emotional Depth Non-Hunters Don’t Understand 20:30  —  Serving Elk Steak & The Pride of the Harvest 23:00  —  Where Does Christian’s Hunting Journey Go From Here? Argentina, Texas, Bear Hunts 26:30  —  Identity in the Hunting World — Camo Brands, Sitka, First Lite & the Yeti Effect 30:00  —  Decor, Taxidermy, and Why Rural Men Are More Aesthetic Than Manhattan Bankers 33:30  —  The Smartwatch Debate — Where Does a Luxury Watch Guy Land on Wearables? 37:00  —  Marketing Advice for Bridger Watch — What Rolex Got Right & What We Should Learn 40:30  —  The Watch World Deep Dive — Omega, Tag Heuer, LVMH, Casio & Vintage Markets 44:00  —  Lever Guns, Grandfather’s .35 Remington, and Planning Future Hunts 46:00  —  Wrap Up — Follow Christian & Final Thoughts 3 Key Takeaways 1. Hunting Connects You to Something Bigger Than the Kill Christian’s story about his late grandfather flooding back while he was butchering his first turkey is one of the most honest descriptions of why hunters hunt that I’ve heard in a long time. The harvest, the meat, the field dressing — it all becomes this vessel for memory and emotion and people you’ve lost. And it’s something you genuinely cannot explain to someone who hasn’t felt it. If you’ve ever felt your dad or your grandfather or someone you loved in a duck blind or a wall tent, you know exactly what Christian is talking about. That feeling doesn’t go away. It doesn’t get old. That’s why we keep going back. 2. Identity Is at the Core of Every Purchase Decision — Hunting Included Christian has been living inside luxury brand psychology for over a decade, and watching him apply that lens to the hunting world is genuinely eye-opening. Whether it’s Sitka gear, a Yeti cooler, or a vintage duck camo jacket — we are all making identity statements with every piece of kit we buy. And what’s fascinating is that hunters, who largely pride themselves on being no-nonsense, practical people, are actually some of the most identity-driven consumers out there. The trophy room, the curated camp setup, the brand of camo you wear — it all means something. Knowing that isn’t a bad thing. It’s human nature. 3. Lead With the Tool — Let the Lifestyle Follow Christian’s marketing insight for Bridger Watch — and honestly for any product in the outdoor space — is worth writing down. The temptation is to lead with the vibe, the lifestyle, the beautiful photos. But for a product that has genuine technical superiority in a specific use case, the smarter play is to lead with education and product proof first, and let the lifestyle layer build behind it. Rolex works because it’s 90% signal and 10% tool. A hunting watch should be the opposite: 90% tool, 10% signal. Prove what the product does for real people doing real things, and the identity follows naturally.

In this episode, Justine Reichman hosts Nina Oduro and Maame Boakye, co-founders of Black Women in Food and Dine and Diaspora, exploring the power of African food culture to connect communities, elevate Black women in the food industry, and promote social justice through culinary innovation. Keywords food justice, Black women in food, African diaspora cuisine, culinary innovation, community building, food equity, cultural competency, food storytelling Key  topics Food as a tool for community connection The role of cultural competency in food innovation Challenges and opportunities for Black women in the food industry Sound bites "Shift anger into action in food justice" "Media shapes culture and amplifies voices" "Black women in food need a platform" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Essential Ingredients Podcast 00:58 The Lens of Food: Personal Journeys 03:09 Connecting Through Food: The Birth of Dine Diaspora 08:14 Identifying Gaps in the Culinary Industry 12:26 Creating Unique Culinary Experiences 17:48 Justice on the Plate: Respect and Opportunity 22:37 Shifting Anger into Action in the Food Industry 29:15 The Necessity of Black Women in Food 31:19 Unmasking the Food Industry's Challenges 32:10 Purpose-Driven Strategies in Food 34:25 The Ecosystem of Food: Interconnectedness and Equity 36:22 Local Communities and Global Food Systems 38:06 Defining Equitable Food Systems 39:18 Transforming Diversity in the Food Industry 41:48 Shifting Mindsets for Equity 43:04 Honoring Black Women in Food 45:42 Opening Doors for Future Generations 47:41 Envisioning a Sustainable Food Future 49:01 Integrating Generations for Change 50:22 Dreams and Aspirations in the Food Industry

0:00 - High Five11:34 - Future Jokic MVP Aspirations29:39 - Aaron Rodgers and Ice Cream Talk

Author Jennifer Ashlock discusses the article, "Unequal Pathways: Family Background and Youth Computing Aspirations" published in Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World.

The new Husker QB wants more than just winning 8 games. Connor and Mike chimed in on his comments.

Do you find you have no time for prayer? These short easy-to-remember prayers can help you find time and stay close to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus! The transcription for this Podcast can be found at https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/aspirations-to-the-Blessed-Virgin-Mary.html

Karmanjakah is one of the most exciting bands in Metal right now. Their unique sound and their patience in songwriting I find very fascinating. Jonas and Viggo come so to discuss the writing process behind their phenomenal album "Diamond Morning". Subscribe for more podcasts and discussions around the world of Modern Metal.Chapters02:58 Emotional Activation Through Music06:04 The Art of Dynamics in Metal09:04 Album Artwork and Visual Identity12:00 The Role of Visuals in Music14:58 Language and Expression in Music20:02 Incorporating Hip-Hop into Metal26:55 Exploring New Musical Directions31:11 Embracing Individuality in Music35:28 Exploring Vocal Techniques and Musical Identity37:42 The Abstract Nature of Lyrics and Themes39:54 Influences and Inspirations Behind the Music45:42 Songwriting Techniques and Collaborative Creativity49:03 Aspirations for Growth and Touring51:24 Shoutouts and Musical Recommendations

5/13/26 (Co-Host Brian Adams) Lynn Griesemer, Amherst Town Councilor: Hampshire College's closing -- what we know and when we know it and maybe a silver lining for the town? Emily Boddy & Laura Erny, from ReConnect Western MA: “Digital Delusions—How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids.” Darcy DuMont & Paul Fenn, founder & Pres of Local Power: The green energy you think you've been buying isn't green—sorry; and more nukes?—sorry again. Larry Hott & Raeshma Razvi, from Mass Humanities: “ A People's Guide to the Revolution” -- aspiration, inspiration and reality.

Listen Ad Free https://www.solgoodmedia.com - Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free!

On February 3rd, 2026, Joe Pine released The Transformation Economy, which is a follow-up to The Experience Economy co-written with James Gilmore and published in 1999. They identified a key pattern of how economic offerings have evolved beyond commodities, goods, and services, and moved into experiences as well as transformations. Their prescient predictions about these underlying patterns in the late '90s took many years of convincing businesses of their merits. But after a few decades, their core ideas of The Experience Economy have taken root, and now it is much easier to see how consumers have shown that they are willing to pay for memorable experiences. Now Pine is back at it again with The Transformation Economy with ideas that have been there from the very beginning, but he told me that the world wasn't ready yet, and he wasn't ready either. About 5-6 years ago, Pine started to hear from designers at World Experience Organization events talking about the transformative intent behind their experiences. This was the catalyst indicating to him that it was time to finally write this book, and he started researching the topics of aspiration, positive psychology, human flourishing, and the dynamics of transformation. I had a chance to interview Pine about The Transformation Economy, and in my write-up below I provide an overview of some of his biggest ideas, some of my personal reactions, how they relate to the XR industry, and finally some of my disagreements on where value comes from. Despite some of my philosophical disagreements with Pine, I still see a lot of value in the frameworks laid out in his book. He describes a roadmap towards a future where the core values driving a critical mass of businesses have evolved to focus on helping their customers fulfill their deepest aspirations, find meaning and purpose, and promote human flourishing. Progression of Economic Value Pine & Gilmore first theorized about a hierarchy of economic value in a 1997 article titled: "Beyond Goods and Services: Staging Experiences and Guiding Transformations." They originally called it "The Economic Pyramid," and described it by saying, "The inexorable march of competitive forces drives the advancement of economic offerings over time: commodities are extracted from the environment to make goods, then delivered as services, which are scripted to stage experiences, which then guide those persons or enterprises in a transformation." "The Progression of Economic Value" figure from page 3 of Pine's The Transformation Economy (2026). Within their "Welcome to the Experience Economy" article in the 1998 issue of Harvard Business Review and in their 1999 book The Experience Economy, they started calling it "The Progression of Economic Value" as shown in the figure above. In The Transformation Economy on page x, Pine describes each of the five distinct economic genres as well as their associated verb / function, Extract Commodities (fungible stuff) Make Goods (tangible things) Deliver Services (intangible activities) Stage Experiences (memorable events) Guide Transformations (effectual outcomes) There is an inevitable gravity towards commodification, and the antidote is customization. This insight first came to Pine in 1994 after he wrote a book in 1993 titled Mass Customization: The New Frontier in Business Competition that explored how Mass Production was moving into Mass Customization. When customization is applied to a service, then it yields an experience. When customization is applied to an experience, then it has the potential to yield a transformation that could be life-changing. Here's how Pine & Gilmore described this progression to transformations in their original 1997 article, "The way out of the commodization trap in which so many service companies find themselves is to move up an echelon of value and stage an experience. But experiences are not the utmost in economic offerings. Just as customizing a good automatically turns it into a service, so customizing an experience turns it into something distinct. If you design an experience so in tune with what an individual needs at an exact juncture in time, you cannot help but change that individual — guiding him to (and through) a life-transforming experience. Transformations are a fifth economic offering, whose value far exceeds that of any other." Pine also says in The Transformation Economy that "Eliminating human contact is a surefire way to commoditize yourself." Technology has an inclination to move more and more towards automation and creating "frictionless experiences," but I see the value of human intuition, emotion, relationality, community, and meaning being a differentiating factor in the transformation economy. I suspect that it will be really beneficial to deliberately embrace friction and tension that comes from interacting with other humans as explored in the piece called Deep Soup. I see the movement towards the transformational economy as a bit of an argument against automating too many things with AI because people will be craving authentic human contact. Key Concepts and My Personal Experience of The Transformation Economy The Transformation Economy book is written with the intention to become a transformational experience within itself. There are many pointed questions throughout the book that helped shape my overall framing through the lens of my business. My first reading of the book was focusing on trying to understand the origin, development, and evolution of Pine's provocative ideas to explore within my interview with him. My ongoing second reading of the book has catalyzed me to reconceive some fundamental notions around my identity, as well as the story of why I do what I do with The Voices of VR Podcast. So much of my work has been driven by a fundamental impulse to bring about change in the world. My motivation to cover the frontiers of emerging technology with XR, AI, immersive storytelling, and experiential design has been because I've seen the transformative power of embodied and immersive experiences to potentially bring about some meaningful changes in the world. I'm also very much drawn to philosophical frameworks like Process Philosophy that provide some key metaphysical foundations leading to a paradigm shift around the underlying nature of experience and reality itself. Here's a graphic from Andrew Davis' upcoming Whitehead's Universe book that lays out some of the scaffolding of this paradigm shift from substance metaphysics to process-relational metaphysics. Davis, Andrew M. (Forthcoming in 2026). Whitehead's Universe: A Prismatic Introduction. Orbis Books. One of the key concepts that really stuck with me from Pine's The Transformation Economy was at the beginning of the third chapter that says, "All transformation is identity change." Pine cites Suzy Ross' definition of identity as "all the ways you can complete the statement ‘I am . . .' " He says "From / To" statements are also key where you might say, "I was X, now I am Y." I really resonate with these definitions of identity since they're very flexible and practical. Once I became aware of these "I am ..." statements, then I started to hear them all the time. I found myself naturally making and reflecting upon identity statements, which provide clues to changes that I aspire to. As an example, I've often found myself saying something to the effect of "I'm more a knowledge artist than a viable business person." So in essence, my aspirational, identity-transformation statement is "I am a terrible business person, but I aspire to become a thriving independent scholar and transformational change agent." Reading through The Transformation Economy has been really inspiring since it's the first business book I've ever read where I can really see myself in these frameworks. Pine has been giving me language to articulate the possible futures that I'd love to live into, but yet the business models around the transformation economy are still nascent, uncertain, not very well specified, and rapidly developing. Each business will have a unique blend of commodities, goods, services, experiences, and/or transformations that they'll be offering, and so it is unlikely that there will be a universal formula that works across all contexts. I'm still meditating on this statement where Pine claims that your business is what you charge for. He says on page 22, "A business ultimately defines itself by what it charges for. If you charge for undifferentiated stuff, you're in the commodities business. If you charge for tangible things, you are in the goods business. If you charge for the activities your people do, you are in the services business. So, economically, you are in the experience business if and only if you charge for the time customers spend with you." Pine says that experiences are inherently ephemeral, and sometimes the only thing you keep from it is the memory, which can fade over time. He contrasts this with his definition of transformations, which he shares on page 10 as, "Transformations are effectual outcomes that change individuals in a lasting way. Where experiences are memorable, transformations are effectual." This implies that the business offering of transformations actually has more of an ongoing time commitment. Businesses in the transformation economy will be helping "aspirants" (Pine's preferred term for customers in the transformation economy) achieve their aspirations of transforming from one state into another state over longer periods of time. Aspirants will need to invest time, be patient with results, make progress, but also deal with periodic regressions. I've been reckoning with how I am what I charge for, and I can't help but think about the logistical difficulty in trying to escape the real-time accounting of how we've conceived of value delivered

Dr. Kentaro Fujita, PhD, is a professor of psychology at The Ohio State University and an expert in the science of self-control and motivation. We discuss the best tools for developing strong self-control: to do more of what you aspire to and cease doing things you would like to avoid. We discuss why you need more than one form of willpower to achieve sustained motivation and overcome procrastination. Dr. Fujita also clarifies the data on the 2-marshmallow test, delayed gratification and intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation. Read the show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman Lingo: https://hellolingo.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Kentaro Fujita (00:03:08) Marshmallow Tests, Self-Control; Adult Modeling (00:08:24) Criticism of Marshmallow Tests, Learning Self-Control (00:15:08) Sponsors: David & Lingo (00:17:34) Movement & Motivation (00:21:42) Doing Hard Things; Exhaustion & Depletion Effect (00:29:02) Willpower vs Self-Control, Improving Self-Control (00:34:27) Aspiration or Fear for Motivation, Long- vs Short-Term Outcomes (00:40:55) Self-Control Toolkit, Tool: Failure & Exploration (00:46:44) Sponsor: AG1 (00:48:28) Motivation Warm-Up?, Tools: Mindset; Motivation Orientation (00:57:30) Imperfect Conditions, Self-Control Conflicts, Tool: Why vs How (01:05:25) Tool: "Whys" & Motivation Goals (01:11:26) Competition, Tool: Motivation Types (01:17:13) Sponsor: LMNT (01:18:33) Abstinence vs Moderation, Consistency vs Rigidity (01:27:48) Burnout; "Invisible" Goals, Single Goal & Trade-Offs (01:35:17) Intrinsic Motivation for Sustained Goals (01:40:16) Sponsor: Function (01:41:53) Meaning in Simple Tasks, Ikigai (01:49:03) Self-Control Failure, Tools: Distancing, 3rd Person & Heros (01:55:04) Words as Motivation, Visualization, Social Validation (02:03:51) Music, Anchors, Nostalgia (02:06:46) Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation, Job & Salary (02:14:11) Mindfulness & Taking Breaks, Wabi-Sabi & Imperfection, Ikigai (02:20:56) Future Directions (02:25:19) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've probably spotted those little circles of your friends' faces popping up on Facebook Reels. They look simple enough, but building them was a proper engineering challenge. In this episode, Pascal chats to Joseph and Subasree about Friend Bubbles, a feature that surfaces which of your close friends have been watching and reacting to the same Reels as you. We get into the details of how prefetching keeps things snappy without wrecking scroll performance, why the team's ML model had to move from survey-based friend rankings to real-time interaction signals, and the surprising discovery that showing fewer bubbles actually made the whole feature click. If you've ever underestimated a "simple" feature, this one's for you. Got feedback? Send it to us on Threads (https://threads.net/@metatechpod), Instagram (https://instagram.com/metatechpod) and don't forget to follow our host Pascal (https://mastodon.social/@passy, https://threads.net/@passy_). Fancy working with us? Check out https://www.metacareers.com/. Links https://engineering.fb.com/2026/03/18/ml-applications/friend-bubbles-enhancing-social-discovery-on-facebook-reels/  https://engineering.fb.com/2026/04/21/ml-applications/modernizing-the-facebook-groups-search-to-unlock-the-power-of-community-knowledge/  Timestamps Intro 0:06 Meet the Engineers: Backgrounds and Roles 1:53 Goals and Aspirations in Video Recommendations 4:20 The Origin of Friend Bubbles 4:41 Defining Success: Metrics and User Experience 5:40 Client-Side Constraints and Challenges 6:57 Feature Description: What Are Friend Bubbles? 8:31 Initial Challenges and Performance Issues 9:29 Architectural Changes for Performance 11:34 Impact of Performance on User Experience 15:14 Addressing Client-Side Challenges 16:58 Model Development: From Surveys to Interactions 20:07 Evolving the Model: Real-Time Data and User Interactions 23:35 Exploring Model Training and Performance 24:58 Feedback Loops and User Engagement 25:56 The Role of AI in Development 29:49 Collaboration Across Teams 32:17 Future Directions for Friend Bubbles 34:02 Safe Rollout Strategies for Features 35:22 Outro 37:31 Bloopers 38:27

"It's my honor to address the galactic senate..." Pablo Torre tells us about the emotions he felt when he found out about his Pulitzer Prize and who he told first, explains to the crew what's next in his reporting on Aspiration, Steve Ballmer, and the Los Angeles Clippers, gives his opinion on Mortal Kombat II, and stuffs Jeremy in a locker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Clippers await punishment, their owner is big mad at Pablo — and appears worried about what Aspiration's founder might have told the NBA. So Pablo and David Samson (finally) sit down with a special guest: Lou Manzo, the former DOJ prosecutor who investigated this whole tree-planting fraud in the first place, to go inside the courtroom, comb through footnotes and focus on the end game.(Additional reporting by Anita Bennett)Previously on PTFO:• Part I: The Silent Superstar and the Rotten Apple Tree• Part II: An Argument with Mark Cuban• Part III: The Mystery Investor, the No-Show Payday and the "Smoking Gun"• Part IV: Steve Ballmer, the Other Cuban and the $118 Million Infusion• Part V: Steve Ballmer's "Inconceivable" Donation, the $20 Million Guarantee and a Head on a Spike• Part VI: An IRL Showdown with Mark Cuban• Part VII: The Briefcase, Ballmer's Social Network and Aspiration's House of Cards• Part VIII: Uncle Dennis, Ballmer's $50 Million Sprint and the Side Deal That Wouldn't Die• Part IX: Ballmer's Tree Money, the Whistle-Blowers and the Document You've Been Waiting For• Subscribe to Pablo's newsletter for exclusive access, documents and invites• Subscribe to "Nothing Personal with David Samson"(Pablo Torre Finds Out is independently produced by Meadowlark Media and distributed by The Athletic. The views, research and reporting expressed in this episode are solely those of Pablo Torre Finds Out and do not reflect the work or editorial input of The Athletic or its journalists.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eshet Chayil 202

Trent, Brian and JKEBRNS get together to do the first offseason pod of the year. Is a Kawhi trade happening with or without the Pacers lottery pick? How does the Aspiration decision play into that as well. Could the Clippers compete in a league dominated by the Spurs and Thunder? 

The Supreme Court justice discusses the Declaration of Independence, how unchecked power threatens liberty, and what the Founders can teach future generations.

reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 2 Role, Function and Action of the Psychic, pg. 47This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/05/02/the-psychic-being-awakens-aspiration-in-all-parts-of-the-being/Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net  The US editions and links to e-book editions of SriAurobindo's writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com#Sri Aurobindo #The Mother #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #soul #psychic being #aspiration

Summary In this inspiring interview, filmmaker Brent Roberts shares his journey from wildly diverse backgrounds to creating a powerful documentary about Alzheimer's disease. The documentary shares the story of Luke, a 50 year old man in Iowa who is the 5th generation in his family to be diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer's disease. The film focuses on hope, humor, and the importance of end-of-life options. Discover how personal stories can transform perceptions and drive change in healthcare and society. keywordsAlzheimer's, documentary, end-of-life options, storytelling, mental health, caregiving, hope, humor, advocacy, film key topicsThe journey of creating 'Forgetting to Remember'The role of humor and hope in Alzheimer's storytellingAdvocacy for end-of-life options and medical aid in dyingResidential Assisted Living sound bites"This disease is such a thief in so many ways.""I'm here for a good time, not a long time.""Kick Alzheimer's in the Ballzheimer's"Chapters00:00 Introduction to Brent Roberts and His Journey07:58 The Connection with Luke and the Documentary12:14 The Power of Connection and Storytelling16:02 Finding Joy Amidst Alzheimer's21:19 Expanding Possibilities After Diagnosis24:40 Confronting Shame and Stigma29:27 Goals and Aspirations for the Film32:57 Navigating End-of-Life Conversations40:13 Being Open to Medical Assistance in Dying47:48 Humor and Hope in the Face of Alzheimer's56:49 Community and Collaboration in Filmmaking01:04:23 Podcast Intro Music Project (MASTER BOUNCE - OUTRO).mp3ResourcesLearn More or Donate Now: Forgetting to RememberForgetting to Remember on FacebookAlzheimer's Association Hilarity for Charity Legato Living - Residential Assisted LivingInspired Caring is THE family support & education program that helps families feel calm and confident to make better decisions faster. Inspired Caring is also offered as an annual membership tobusinesses to provide for the families they work with.Connect with Michele Magner:⁠Website⁠⁠E-mail⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠YouTube⁠Custom podcast music written and produced by Colin Roberts. He does custom songs for any occasion.

In this episode, we take a closer look at Anthropic's ambitious fundraising initiative to achieve $900 billion. We also discuss Musk's insights on Grok. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is presented by Create A Video – When people have high aspirations and fall short of them, it engenders discontent, according to Andrew Clark and Andrew Oswald. This is likely at the heart of so many young adults who expect to be welcomed into the ranks of "the elite," but find themselves shut out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-kaliner-show--6946691/support.Subscribe to the podcast All the links to Pete's Prep are free!Get exclusive content here!Media Bias Check: GroundNews promo code!Advertising and Booking inquiries: Pete@ThePeteKalinerShow.com  

West Bengal voted in the second phase of elections today. Watch #WritingOnTheWall, where ThePrint Editor-In-Chief takes you back to the signs on West Bengal's walls in 2011 and how the Left faced the double-blow, of politics of grievance & politics of aspiration. Part-2 of the two part series. Watch 2011 Writings on the Wall Part-1 here: https://youtu.be/M1jnVIw-yzs

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi – ZMM – 4/25/26 – The words of a koan always point to our original mind—our unobstructed, liberated mind—but the path of seeking clarity is not always so direct. Aspirations help us along, and bodhicitta is essential, but we still must contend with the moment that is arising, in this body and mind, and not some past or future mind. This talk during Apple Blossom sesshin points the listener into the wild, vast acreage of mountain grass on the Path. – From the Book of Serenity, Case 89 – Dongshan’s “No Grass”.

So, I sat down with Vilamoura — the Austin locals who are still grinding after all these years. And let me tell you, they've got dreams bigger than Texas. In this episode, band members Josh Huber and Don Shipman from Vilamoura discuss their journey, touring challenges, and the importance of supporting local music scenes. They share personal stories, future goals, and ideas to revive the local music culture in Texas.Tag a local band that needs a little encouragement!

The Jim Rome Show HR 2 - 4/23/26 Former NBAer and Bay Area media legend Tom Tolbert joins the show. Then, LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer jumped on X to remind everyone that he was the victim in this whole fraud scheme. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"People feel heard when they're spoken with."In this episode, Gerry shares insights on navigating workplace challenges in 2025, attracting and retaining top talent, and leadership lessons from his entrepreneurial journey. Discover strategies for diversifying your client portfolio, building a strong company culture, and improving hiring processes.As You Listen: 00:00 The Importance of Communication in the Workplace 01:18 Navigating Uncertainty in Business 04:38 Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Talent 08:27 Understanding Company Culture 09:54 Lessons from Entrepreneurship 11:58 Future Goals and Aspirations 13:40 Leadership Insights and Engagement Strategies 15:21 Podcasting and Sharing Knowledge"Uncertainty is a mosaic, not a portrait.""Stop talking and start listening to improve engagement."

This episode features Erick De La Rosa sharing his inspiring journey from juvenile system to community leader, emphasizing the importance of culture, healing, and using one's voice to impact future generations. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Erick De La Rosa's Journey Begins 03:55 The Adelante Program: A Path to Healing 05:35 Early Experiences 10:00 Reflections from the Sweat Lodge 13:35 Lessons Learned from Transitioning Home 20:05 Aspirations for the Future 22:20 Preparing for Fatherhood 26:06 Addressing Food Insecurities 29:23 Advice for the Next Generation 30:50 Closing Thoughts and Reflections To learn more about the National Compadres Network, please visit:  Website: https://nationalcompadresnetwork.org/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la.cultura.cura/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/national.compadres.network  Email: HGP@compadresnetwork.org 

Can you succeed without setting expectations & goals to hit?In Episode #520 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: riff on dreaming big: how our top‑level life aims can stay steady for decades while the reasons and execution evolve, whether you truly need a “big dream” to reach elite performance, how to cultivate direction in your twenties by chasing curiosity and I tease a 20‑year out‑of‑this‑world goal that's resurfaced from childhood. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:22) Decades, seasons of life and planning horizons(00:07:56) Hinting at a 20-year goal out of this world(00:10:29) Belief, luck, and the role of drive(00:14:29) Stumbling into success and the power of effort(00:18:14) Visualisation that works: mindset vs magic(00:23:01) Aspirations shift: presence over prestige(00:29:56) Massive Transformational Purpose and skill discovery(00:32:01) Follow your obsession? Benefits and pitfalls(00:36:00) Meaning, contentment and age(00:40:13) Small dreams, goals, and purposeful practice(00:45:26) Wrap-up and value-for-value sign-off Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast