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Hello Youtube Members, Patreons and Pacific War week by week listeners. Yes this was intended to be an exclusive episode to join the 29 others over on my Youtube Membership and Patreon, but since we are drawing to the end of the Pacific War week by week series, I felt compelled to make some special episodes to answer some of the bigger questions. Why did Japan, or better said, why did Emperor Hirohito decide to finally surrender? It seems obvious on the face of it, but there is actually a lot more to it than bombs or Soviet invasions. I guess you can call this episode a teaser or a shameless plug for going over to my Youtube Membership or Patreon. There's honestly a lot of interesting subjects such as ‘why was the japanese army so brutal”, “Hirohito's war time responsibility”, “the 4 part Kanji Ishiwara series”. Thus if you liked this one please show some love and check out my other stuff on my Youtube Membership or over at www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel.   Stating all of that lets just jump right into it.   We first need to start off briefly looking at Emperor Hirohito.    Upon taking the throne, Emperor Hirohito in 1926 Hirohito inherited a financial crisis and a military that was increasingly seizing control of governmental policies. From the beginning, despite what many of you older audience members may have been told, Hirohito intensely followed all military decisions. Hirohito chose when to act and when not to. When the Kwantung Army assassinated Zhang Zuolin, he indulged their insubordination. This emboldened them to invade Manchuria in 1931, whereupon Hirohito was furious and demanded they be reigned in. Attempts were made, but they were heavily undermined by radicals. Hirohito could have put his foot down, but he chose not to. On September 22nd, at 4:20pm Hirohito said to the IJA Chief of General staff, Kanaya Hanzo “although this time it couldn't be helped, the army had to be more careful in the future”. Thus Hirohito again acquiesced to the military, despite wanting them to stop or at least localize the conflict. The military had disregarded his wishes, they should have been severely punished. Why did Hirohito not take a firmer stance?    Again for older audience members you may have heard, “hirohito was a hostage at the whim of his own military”. This narrative made it seem he was some sort of hostage emperor, but this is not the case at all. In fact Hirohito was instrumental in many military decisions from 1931-1945. The reason this, I will call it “myth” , went on was because after Japan's surrender, the US basically rewrote the Japanese constitution and covered up the Emperor's involvement in all the nasty stuff, to maintain control over Japan. Yeah it sounds a bit conspiracy esque, but I assure you it was indeed the case. This narrative held firm all the way until Hirohito's death, when finally meeting notes and personal accounts from those close to him came out, illuminating a lot. Though to this day, many records are still red -tapped.   The reason Hirohito did not stamp his foot down has to do with the Kokutai.    The Kokutai   So before I carry on, I have to explain what exactly is the Kokutai.    The Kokutai, loosely translated as "national essence," refers to the qualities that distinguish the Japanese identity. However, this concept is remarkably vague and poorly defined; even Japanese historians acknowledge this ambiguity. In contrast to Kokutai is seitai, or "form of government." While the Kokutai embodies the eternal and immutable aspects of Japanese polity—rooted in history, traditions, and customs centered around the Emperor—Japan's seitai has evolved significantly throughout its extensive history. For instance, shoguns governed for over 700 years until 1868, when the Meiji Restoration reinstated direct imperial rule.   Nevertheless, Emperor Meiji's direct authority came to an end with the adoption of the Meiji Constitution in 1889, which established a constitutional monarchy, introducing significant complexities into the governance system.   Article 4 of the constitution declares: “The Emperor is the head of the Empire, combining in Himself the rights of sovereignty, uniting the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, although subject to the consent of the Imperial Diet.” Under this framework, the Emperor alone possessed the power to appoint or dismiss ministers of state, declare war, negotiate peace, conclude treaties, direct national administration, and command the army and navy.   A glaring flaw in this arrangement is the inherent ambiguity of the Meiji Constitution. While it established a democratic parliament, it simultaneously afforded the Emperor absolute authority to usurp it. The document failed to clearly define the relationships between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and its language was intentionally vague. Most critically, the military—the army and navy—were not directly accountable to the civilian government.    So with the kokutai, the Emperor is a divine figure who embodies the state's sovereignty. It was not necessarily the Emperor's job to surrender on behalf of the official government of Japan, but he most certainly could do so, given the Japanese people still remained faithful to the kokutai.    Now Hirohito did not live an ordinary life. According to the imperial custom, Japanese royals were raised apart from their parents, at the age of 3 he was placed in the care of the Kwamura family who vowed to raise him to be unselfish, persevering in the face of difficulties, respectful of the views of others and immune to fear. One thing that was absolutely indoctrinated into him was to defend the kokutai. It became his top mission as a monarch, it was the only mission in many ways. At the very core of how he saw the world and how he acted, it was always to protect the kokutai.    So when the Japanese military began these insubordinate acts, Hirohito's primary concern was to the kokutai, ie: anything that threatened his imperial authority and the imperial institution itself. Although the military usurped his authority, the operations had been successful. Hirohito was not at all opposed to seeing his empire expand. He understood the value of manchuria, he was fully onboard with the military plans to eventually seize control over it, but these radicals were accelerating things to quickly for everyone's liking. He turned a blind eye, dished light punishments and carried on. However the local conflict escalated. It traveled to Shanghai by 1932 and here Hirohito took action. He understood Shanghai was full of western powers. Nations like Britain and America could place economic sanctions on Japan if things were allowed to get out of hand here. So he ordered General Yoshinori Shirakawa to bring the Shanghai expedition to a close.    During this period, two factions emerged within the Japanese military: the Kodoha, or “Imperial Way,” and the Toseiha, or “Control” faction. The Kodoha was founded by General Sadao Araki and his protégé, Jinzaburo Masaki. Their primary objective was a Shōwa Restoration aimed at purging Japan of corrupt politicians and businessmen, especially those associated with the zaibatsu. Composed mainly of young army officers, the Kodoha espoused a romanticized and radical interpretation of Bushido, idealizing pre-industrial Japan, which Araki believed had been tainted by Western influences. To achieve their goals, they resorted to assassinations and planned a coup d'état.   In response, the Toseiha faction was formed, initially led by Lt. General Tetsuzan Nagata and later by Hideki Tojo. Like the Kodoha, the Toseiha sought a Shōwa Restoration but adopted a more moderate and conservative approach. They recognized the importance of preserving traditional values while integrating Western ideals, advocating for a balanced perspective. The Toseiha promoted pragmatic military strategies to navigate the complexities of modern warfare. Although they acknowledged the existence of corrupt politicians and zaibatsu, they preferred to work within the existing political system, anticipating that future total wars would necessitate a strengthened industrial and military capacity. Their ranks primarily included promising graduates from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Academy, Army Staff College, and select naval members. The most significant distinction between the two factions was that the Toseiha explicitly rejected the use of a coup d'état in pursuit of their goals.   Between 1932-1936 radical officers, mostly of the Kodoha faction assassinated politicians and military leaders trying to usher in a showa restoration. You might be led to believe this was in the interest of Hirohito, you would be mistaken. Hirohito did not want a military dictatorship at the whim of the cult of the emperor. Ironic to say, given how WW2 turns out mind you. This really would have been a hostage situation. Hirohito wanted to maintain the exact ambiguous situation that was Showa Era Japan pre 1945. He saw this as the most ideal structure to defend the kokutai, because blame could not be placed solely upon his shoulders. He always maintained a get out of jail free card one could say.    The February 26 incident of 1936, was the climax of the Kodoha faction. They performed a mutiny trying to usher in a SHowa restoration. They assumed when their messenger came to the emperor he would join them and take direct rule. Instead Hirohito was furious. His first thought was the mutineers were trying to enlist his brother Chichibu to overthrow him. He dragged his brother who was a fraternizer amongst the kodoha members mind you, into a meeting, demanding he never associate with them again nor attempt to challenge him. Then Hirohito furious demanded the mutineers be dealt with. At one point he even threatened to lead the imperial guards to put them down. The coup failed, the kodoha faction was destroyed. Ironically the toseiha faction were the ones to do it and thus they became the defacto ruling clique.    The military, especially the kwantung army did not stop with their insubordination.    On July 8th of 1937 the Kwangtung army performed the Marco Polo Bridge incident, ushering in the second sino-japanese war. This was one of many false flag operations they had pulled off over the years. Upon being told about this Hirohito's first response was whether the USSR would invade Manchukuo over the matter. This is what he said to Prime Minister Konoe and army minister Sugiyama “What will you do if the Soviets attack us from the rear?” he asked the prince. Kan'in answered, “I believe the army will rise to the occasion.” The emperor repeated his question: “That's no more than army dogma. What will you actually do in the unlikely event that Soviet [forces] attack?” The prince said only, “We will have no choice.” His Majesty seemed very dissatisfied. Hirohito furious demanded to know what contingency plans existed and his advisors told him before he gave his red seal of approval to invade northern china.   Henceforth he micromanaged a lot of the military decisions going forward and he oversaw the forming and dissolving of numerous cabinets and positions when things went his way or did not in the military and political scene.  Emperor Hirohito was presented with several opportunities to cause cease-fires or peace settlements during the war years. One of the best possible moments to end it all came during the attack on Nanking when Chiang Kai-sheks military were in disarray. On July 11 of 1938, the commander of the 19th division fought a border clash with the USSR known to us in the west as the battle of Lake Khasan. It was a costly defeat for Japan and in the diary of Harada Kumao he noted Hirohito scolded Army minister Itagaki “Hereafter not a single soldier is to be moved without my permission.” When it looked like the USSR would not press for a counter attack across the border, Hirohito gave the order for offensives in China to recommence, again an example of him deciding when to lay down the hammer.   By 1939 the US began threatening sanctions for what Japan was doing in China. Hirohito complained to his chief aide de camp Hata Shunroku on August 5th “It could be a great blow to scrap metal and oil”. Hirohito was livid and scolded many of his top officials and forced the appointment of General Abe to prime minister and demanded of him “to cooperate with the US and Britain and preserve internal order”.   Fast forward a bit, with war raging in Europe Hirohito, on June 19th of 1940 Hirohito asked if chief of staff Prince Kan'in and Army Minister Hata “At a time when peace will soon come in the European situation, will there be a deployment of troops to the Netherlands Indies and French Indochina?” This question highlighted Hirohito's belief at that time that Germany was close to achieving victory, which led him to gradually consider deploying troops to French Indochina and the Dutch East Indies since neither of those parent nations was in a position to protect their territories and vital resources. Regarding the war in China, the Japanese aimed to stop the flow of materials entering China from places like Hong Kong. Hirohito received reports indicating that Britain would not agree to block the shipment of materials into China via Hong Kong. The military recognized that an invasion of Hong Kong might be necessary, which would mean declaring war on Britain. When this was communicated to him, Hirohito responded, “If that occurs, I'm sure America will enforce an embargo, don't you think?” In response, Kido, the lord of the privy seal, reassured him by stating, “The nation must be fully prepared to resist, proceeding with caution and avoiding being drawn into events instigated by foreign interests.”   Hirohito went through countless meetings, but eventually signed order number 458 authorizing the invasion of French Indochina, knowing full well the consequences. The US,UK and Netherlands began embargoes of oil, rubber and iron. In the words of Admiral Takagai “As time passes and this situation continues, our empire will either be totally defeated or forced to fight a hopeless war. Therefore we should pursue war and diplomacy together. If there is no prospect of securing our final line of national survival by diplomatic negotiations, we must be resolved to fight.” Hirohito understood the predicament full well, that each day Japan was wasting its oil reserves, if they were to strike it had to be quickly.   On October 13th Hirohito told his closest advisor Koichi Kido “In the present situation there seems to be little hope for the Japan–U.S. negotiations. If hostilities erupt this time, I think I may have to issue a declaration of war.”   The reason I am bringing up all this stuff is to solidify, Hirohito had agency, he was micromanaging and forming decisions. After the war broke out with the west, Hirohito did have the ability to stamp his foot down. Of course there could have been wild repercussions, his military could have usurped him with Chichibu, it was definitely possible. But you need to keep this mind set, as far as why Hirohito acts or doesn't, its always to protect the Kokutai. Thus one of the levers for peace, solely rested on Hirohito's perception if the kokutai could be retained or not.    From the outset of the Pacific War, Hirohito believed Germany was going to defeat the USSR. In line with his military leaders, they all believed Japan had to seize everything they could in the asia-pacific and thwart off the US until a negotiated peace could be met. Hirohito committed himself to overseeing the war, determined to achieve victory at any cost. He was a very cautious leader, he meticulously analyzed each campaign, anticipating potential setbacks and crafting worst-case scenario predictions. He maintained a skeptical view of the reports from his senior officials and was often harshly critical of high commanders.   While he did not frequently visit the front lines like other commanders in chief, Hirohito wielded significant influence over theater operations, shaping both planning and execution whenever he deemed necessary. Similar to his approach during the war in China, he issued the highest military orders from the Imperial Headquarters, conducted audited conferences, and made decisions communicated under his name. He regularly welcomed generals and admirals to the imperial palace for detailed briefings on the battlefront and visited various military bases, battleships, and army and naval headquarters. His inspections encompassed military schools and other significant military institutions, adding to his comprehensive involvement in the war effort.   Now the war went extremely well for Japan until the battle of Midway. This was as major setback, but Japan retained the initiative. Then the Guadalcanal campaign saw Japan lose the initiative to the Americans. Upon receiving the initial report of the Ichiki detachment's destruction, Hirohito remarked, “I am sure it [Guadalcanal] can be held.” Despite the numerous reports detailing the devastating effects of tropical diseases and starvation on his troops, he persistently demanded greater efforts from them. Hirohito exerted continuous pressure on his naval and land commanders to retake the island. On September 15th, November 5th, and November 11th, he requested additional Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) troops and aircraft to be allocated to the cause.   General Sugiyama expressed concerns about dispatching more IJA pilots due to their inexperience in transoceanic combat, preferring to reinforce the North China Army for an attack on Chongqing instead. Hirohito pressed the issue again, but Sugiyama responded that the IJA had diverted its air resources to New Guinea and Rabaul. Undeterred by the objections from senior commanders, Hirohito persisted in his demands. By late November, it became evident that Guadalcanal was a lost cause.   At an Imperial Headquarters conference on December 31st, 1942, the chiefs of staff proposed canceling the attempts to recapture Guadalcanal. Hirohito sanctioned this decision but stated, “It is unacceptable to just give up on capturing Guadalcanal. We must launch an offensive elsewhere.” He insisted on this point, leading to the selection of new strategic targets in the Solomons, north of New Georgia, and in the Stanley Range on New Guinea. Hirohito even threatened to withhold authorization for withdrawing troops from Guadalcanal until a new plan was established. He later opposed the withdrawal from Munda Airfield, as it contradicted the newly defined defensive line.   As the defensive perimeter in the central and northern Solomons began to crumble, Hirohito continued to insist that the navy engage in decisive battles to regain the initiative, allowing for the transport of supplies to the many soldiers trapped on various islands. When he learned of the navy's failure to reinforce Lae on March 3rd, he asked, “Then why didn't you change plans immediately and land at Madan? This is a failure, but it can teach us a good lesson and become a source of future success. Do this for me so I can have peace of mind for a while.” The phrase “Do this for me” would come to be his signature rallying cry.   After Guadal canal, it was loss after loss for Japan. By February of 1944, Hirohito forced Sugiyama to resign so Hideki Tojo could take his position as chief of the general staff, note Tojo was prime minister and army minister at this point. Hirohito worked alongside Tojo to plan some last ditch efforts to change the war situation. The most significant one was Operation Ichi-Go. As much damage as they did to China with that, Chiang Kai-Shek's government survived. Hirohito watched as island by island fell to the Americans. When the Americans were poised to take Saipan he warned Tojo “If we ever lose Saipan, repeated air attacks on Tokyo will follow. No matter what it takes, we have to hold there.” Saipan fell, so Hirohito stopped supporting Tojo and allowed his rivals to take down his cabinet by june 18th of 1944.    Hirohito remained resolute in his determination to wrest victory from the Allies. On October 18th, the Imperial Headquarters ordered a decisive naval engagement, leading to the Battle of Leyte Gulf. After the war, Hirohito publicly stated, "Contrary to the views of the Army and Navy General Staffs, I consented to the showdown battle at Leyte, believing that if we launched an attack and America hesitated, we might find an opportunity to negotiate." Leyte Gulf didnt work. The military began the kamikaze program. On new years day of 1945 Hirohito inspected the special last meal rations given to departing kamikaze units. Iwo Jima fell. Okinawa remained, and Hirohito lashed out “Is it because we failed to sink enemy transports that we've let the enemy get ashore? Isn't there any way to defend Okinawa from the landing enemy forces?” On the second day of Okinawa's invasion Hirohito ordered a counter landing by the 32nd army and urged the navy to counterattack in every way possible. It was a horrible failure, it cost the lives of up to 120,000 Japanese combatants, 170,000 noncombatants. The Americans lost 12,500 killed and 33,000 wounded. An absolute bloodbath.    The Surrender time   Now we come to the time period where Japan seriously began looking for ways to surrender. In Europe Germany was heading to its defeat and Japan knew this. As for Japan, their army in Burma had been annihilated. Their forces in China were faring better after Operation Ichi-go, having opened up a land corridor along the main railway from Beiping to Wuhan and from throughout Guangdong but still stuck in a deadlock stalemate, facing a guerrilla war that was costing them 64% of their military expenditures. They deeply feared once the Soviets finished up with Germany, they would undoubtedly turn east against Manchuria. With the Soviets attacking from the north, the US would attack from the south, perhaps landing in Shanghai and the home islands. The Kamikaze tactics were proving formidable, but not nearly enough. By 1945, 43% of the IJA were now stationed in Japan, Korea and Formosa, bracing for the final stand. Former prime minister Reijiro Wakatsuki came out of retirement in may of 1945, having heard Germany collapsed, to urge Hirohito and the Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki to open negotiations with the US as soon as possible. However he also said “the enemy must first be made to see the disadvantages of continuing the war”. To this Hirohito's chief counselor Makino Nobuaki said that “the ultimate priority is to develop an advantageous war situation.” Advisor admiral Kesiuke Okada said Japan should wait for “a moment favorable for us,” then make peace. Advisors Kiichiro Hiranuma and Koki Hirota advised the emperor to fight on until the end.   Now I want to bring in a key player to the surrender decision, that of Prince Konoe. Konoe was very close to Hirohito and understood the emperors mentality, especially how he viewed things in relation to the kokutai.    The senior statesman Prince Konoe had been consulting with Hirohito for over 18 months at this point trying to convey the message that if the war continued it would threaten the kokutai. Many months prior, he confided in the emperor's brother, Prince Takamatsu, that the army was suffering from “a cancer” in the form of the Toseiha faction. However, he noted that “Kido and others” did not share his perspective, while “his Majesty is relatively unconcerned with ideological issues.” For the past four years, he continued, the emperor had been advised and still believed that “the true extremists are the Kodoha faction.” In reality, the greater threat to the kokutai arose from the Toseiha faction. Konoe further asserted that if the war escalated, they would attempt to alter the kokutai.   Konoe speculated that whether the threat originated from communists within the nation, primarily referring to left-wing radicals in the Toseiha faction, or from the “Anglo-American enemy,” both would seek to preserve the emperor while pushing towards the country's communization.In his written report to the emperor on February 14, which Kido listened to attentively, Konoe elaborated on his conspiracy theory. He asserted that the Soviet Union regarded Japan as its primary threat in East Asia. The Soviets had allied with the Chinese Communists, the largest and most formidable Communist party in Asia, and were collaborating with the United States and Britain to drive Japan out of China. He warned that they would enter the war when the opportunity arose.   Defeat, he cautioned the emperor, was inevitable if the conflict persisted. However, he emphasized that a far greater fear was the potential destruction of the kokutai. The ongoing war was eroding the domestic status quo, unleashing forces that threatened Japan and its imperial institution from within as much as from external adversaries. The real danger lay in the emperor's and Kido's trust in the generals of the Toseiha faction, who were unintentionally facilitating the communization of Japan. Konoe implored for a swift peace settlement before a Communist revolution emerged, making the preservation of the kokutai impossible. Hirohito agreed with Konoe but stated “ To end the war would be “very difficult unless we make one more military gain.” Konoe allegedly replied, “Is that possible? It must happen soon. If we have to wait much longer, . . . [a mere battle victory] will mean nothing.” Hirohito replied “If we hold out long enough in this war, we may be able to win, but what worries me is whether the nation will be able to endure it until then.”   On February 15th of 1945, Hirohito's intelligence warned the Soviet Union would likely abrogate its Neutrality Pact with Japan. Even Tojo conceded there was a 50/50 chance the USSR would invade Manchuria. In March, the US began B-29 incendiary bombing raids over Tokyo, turning 40% of the capital into ash. On March 18th, Hirohito with some aides drove around the capital to witness the devastation. The civilians looked exhausted and bewildered to Hirohito. Factory production was collapsing, absenteeism was rising, instances of lese majeste were running rampant. For the next 5 months imperial family members and senior statesmen all began speaking to Hirohito about the “crises of the kokutai”. The threat Konoe had warned about for months was becoming the main talking point. It seemed like the Japanese people within the countryside and urban areas remained steadfast in the resolve to obey their leaders, work and sacrifice for their nation, but for how long would they feel so?    It was only after the battle for Okinawa was lost and 60 Japanese cities had been leveled by American incendiary bombs that Hirohito openly indicated he wanted to negotiate a surrender.   Kido's diary reveals the first clear indication that the emperor might be urged to consider an early peace on June 8, 1945, when Kido drafted his “Draft Plan for Controlling the Crisis Situation.” This marked a pivotal moment. It followed the unintentional bombing of the Imperial Palace, the complete loss of hope for saving Okinawa, and coincided with the day the Supreme War Leadership Council adopted the “Basic Policy for the Future Direction of the War.” With the fighting in Europe concluded, Japan found itself entirely isolated. Kido's plan, although vague, proposed seeking the Soviet Union's assistance as an intermediary to help Japan gain leverage in negotiations with its adversaries. By drafting this plan, Kido signaled the end of his long alliance with the military hard-liners. Hirohito's acceptance of it indicated his readiness for an early peace.   Hirohito was moved to an underground bunker in the mountains of Matsushiro in Nagano prefecture where upon those around him noted he fell into a deep depression. On June 22nd  Hirohito informed the Supreme War Leadership Council he wanted them to open diplomatic maneuvers to end the war. In early July Soviet Ambassador Jacob Malik broke off inconclusive talks with Hirota. Hirohito stepped in immediately and ordered a new special envoy be sent to Moscow. However Hirohito nor the Suzuki government had concrete plans on how to mediate a surrender through the Soviets. The only things they did prioritize was a guarantee of the emperors political position and retainment of the imperial system, ie the kokutai. This was taken into consideration rather than ending the war as quickly as possible to save the lives of millions.    From April 8, 1945, until Japan's capitulation, the Suzuki government's chief war policy was “Ketsugo,” an advanced iteration of the “Shosango” (Victory Number 3) plan for defending the homeland. The hallmark of this strategy was a heavy reliance on suicide tactics, including deploying a massive number of kamikaze “special attack” planes, human torpedoes launched from submarines, dynamite-stuffed “crash boats” powered by truck engines, human rocket bombs carried by aircraft, and suicide assaults by specially trained ground units.   While preparations for Operation Ketsu progressed, the Imperial Diet convened on June 9 to pass a Wartime Emergency Measures Law, along with five additional measures aimed at mobilizing the entire nation for this final battle. On the same day, the emperor, who had yet to initiate efforts to end the war, issued another imperial rescript in conjunction with the Diet's convocation, instructing the nation to “smash the inordinate ambitions of the enemy nations” and “achieve the goals of the war.” Concurrently, the controlled press launched a daily die-for-the-emperor campaign to foster gratitude for the imperial benevolence and, from around mid-July onward, initiated a campaign to “protect the kokutai.”   The Americans countered with their own propaganda aimed at breaking Japan's will to fight. B-29 bombers dropped millions of leaflets written in Japanese, announcing the next scheduled targets for bombing raids and urging surrender, while using the emperor to challenge the militarists. Leaflets bearing the chrysanthemum crest criticized the “military cliques” for “forcing the entire nation to commit suicide” and called on “everyone” to “exercise their constitutional right to make direct appeals [for peace] to the Emperor.” They asserted that “even the powerful military cliques cannot stop the mighty march for peace of the Emperor and the people.” One notable batch of seven million leaflets conveyed the terms of the “joint declaration” issued by the United States, Great Britain, and China. “Today we come not to bomb you,” they stated. “We are dropping this leaflet to inform you of the response from the United States government to your government's request for conditions of surrender.... Whether the war stops immediately depends on your government. You will understand how to end the war if you read these two official notifications.”   Amid pressures from imperial edicts to continue preparations for a final battle and focus solely on victory, the Japanese people were also subjected to an intense American psychological warfare campaign in addition to aerial bombardment. During late July and August, prefectural governors, police chiefs, and officers of the “special higher police” submitted reports to the Home Ministry detailing the rapidly deteriorating national morale.    Now on the other side, Roosevelt made it known back in January of 1943 at the Casablanca conference, the allies would only accept unconditional surrender. By 1945, the allies understood the predicament this left Japan with. On May 8th of 1945, Truman added “Japan's surrender would not mean the extermination or enslavement of the Japanese people” trying to indicate a non vindictive spirit. However the Kokutai question always remained ambiguous. State Department Joseph Grew, the former ambassador to Japan, began arguing to Truman they needed to make public a clear definition of the terms to persuade Japan to surrender. As he argued to Truman: Emperor Hirohito was seen as the key figure in Japan's surrender, likened to a "queen bee in a hive... surrounded by the attentions of the hive." Throughout the war, he was characterized in various ways—as a “puppet” of the militarists, a constitutional monarch, and a pacifist. Grew had immense faith in the influence exerted by what he referred to as the “moderates” surrounding the Japanese throne.    However many of Grew's colleagues argued the future existence of the monarchy was intolerable as it was akin to fascism. Many wanted to punish the emperor. Truman was in a tug of war. The Potsdam declaration issued on July 26th of 1945 came in the form of a ultimatum aiming to quicken japans surrender. Truman clarified the terms for the unconditional surrender at the end of its terms: "We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction." Zero mention of the emperor. Grew had argued to add “this may include a constitutional monarchy under the present dynasty.” But it was deleted from the article. The status of the emperor was not guaranteed, the kokutai was thus up in the air.    The next day, the Suzuki cabinet rejected the terms. The Japanese leadership and Hirohito were still banking and awaiting Soviet replies to their terms.    Lets talk about the Soviet talks now   Back on July 12th ambassador Naotake Satō sent this message to the Soviets: “His Majesty the Emperor, mindful of the fact that the present war daily brings greater evil and sacrifice upon the peoples of all the belligerent powers, desires from his heart that it may be quickly terminated. But so long as England and the United States insist upon unconditional surrender, the Japanese Empire has no alternative but to fight on with all its strength for the honor and existence of the Motherland”.  However the Soviets had made commitments to their allies, promising in fact to invade Japan to aid them.    As for the Soviets their primary objective was to ensure unrestricted access to the Pacific Ocean. The year-round ice-free areas of the Soviet Pacific coastline, particularly Vladivostok, could be blockaded by air and sea from Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Islands. Securing these territories to guarantee free access to the Soya Strait was their main goal. Secondary objectives included acquiring leases for the Chinese Eastern Railway, the Southern Manchuria Railway, as well as gaining control over Dairen and Port Arthur.   To achieve these aims, Stalin and Molotov prolonged negotiations with the Japanese, creating a false sense of hope for a Soviet-mediated peace. Simultaneously, in their discussions with the United States and Britain, the Soviets insisted on strict adherence to the Cairo Declaration, which had been reaffirmed at the Yalta Conference. This declaration stipulated that the Allies would not accept a separate or conditional peace with Japan; thus, the Japanese would need to surrender unconditionally to all the Allies. The Soviets aimed to prolong the war by opposing any efforts to dilute this requirement. This approach would provide the Soviets with the necessary time to complete the transfer of their troops from the Western Front to the Far East and to conquer Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, northern Korea, South Sakhalin, the Kuriles, and potentially Hokkaidō, starting with an assault on Rumoi. AUGUST 1945   Thus we come to at last the critical point, August of 1945.    The Americans prepared for the deployment of atomic bombs and for an invasion of southern Kyushu, known as Operation Olympic, scheduled to commence on November 1. At 8:15 A.M. on August 6, a single B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay dropped little boy, devastating much of the undefended city of Hiroshima, instantly killing an estimated 100,000 to 140,000 people and leading to the deaths of possibly another 100,000 over the next five years. At the epicenter of the explosion, “a light appeared 3,000 times brighter than the sun,” creating a fireball that emitted thermal radiation capable of “instantly scorching humans, trees, and houses.” As the air heated and rushed upward, cold air surged in to ignite a firestorm. Hours later, a whirlwind escalated the flames to their peak until more than eight square miles were virtually reduced to cinders. Subsequently, black, muddy rain filled with radioactive fallout began to fall. Two days later, using Japan's rejection of the Potsdam Declaration as a pretext, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. Then on August 9, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, resulting in the immediate deaths of approximately 35,000 to 40,000 people and injuring more than 60,000.   Meanwhile, in Tokyo, during the critical period between the Potsdam Declaration and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Emperor Hirohito remained silent about accepting the Potsdam terms. However, on July 25 and 31, he explicitly conveyed to Kido that the imperial regalia must be defended at all costs. The three sacred objects—a mirror, a curved jewel, and a sword—symbolized the legitimacy of his rule through the northern court and were integral to his identity as the divine sovereign. Hirohito's focus was on protecting these symbols of office, as he insisted on having them brought to the palace. This fixation on maintaining his symbols occurred during a pivotal moment when the pressing issue was whether to accept immediate capitulation. Reflecting on this, he was unprepared to seize the opportunity to end the war himself.   Prime Minister Suzuki, following his initial rejection of the Potsdam ultimatum, also saw no need for further action. His Cabinet Advisory Council, which included the president of Asano Cement, the founder of the Nissan consortium, the vice president of the Bank of Japan, and other representatives from the nation's leading business interests that had profited significantly from the war, convened on the morning of August 3. They recommended accepting the Potsdam terms, arguing that the United States would permit Japan to retain its non-military industries and continue participating in world trade.    Here are some reactions to the two bombs and invasion of Manchuria.    Yonai Mitsumasa said to admiral Takagi Sokichi, on August 12, that “I think the term is perhaps inappropriate, but the atomic bombs and the Soviet entry into the war are, in a sense, gifts from the gods [tenyu, also “heaven-sent blessings”]. This way we don't have to say that we quit the war because of domestic circumstances. I've long been advocating control of our crisis, but neither from fear of an enemy attack nor because of the atomic bombs and the Soviet entry into the war. The main reason is my anxiety over the domestic situation. So, it is rather fortunate that we can now control matters without revealing the domestic situation”.    Konoe's characterized the Soviet involvement in the war as “a godsend for controlling the army,”. Kido viewed of both the atomic bombings and the Soviet entry into the conflict as “useful” elements for ensuring a smooth transition. A nascent power struggle was unfolding, rendering the potential death toll—whether one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand—immaterial to those involved, as long as their desired outcome was achieved: an end to the war that would leave the monarchy intact and capable of managing the discontent that defeat would inevitably provoke. Throughout the final acts of this wartime drama, the Japanese “moderates” found it easier to capitulate to external pressures than to take decisive action on their own to conclude the war.   Another illuminating looks at Japan's elite's perspective on surrender terms was the document titled “Essentials of Peace Negotiations” (wahei kosho no yoryo). Drafted by Konoe and his adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Sakai Koji, after Konoe had reluctantly accepted a mission to Moscow, this document, stipulated the preservation of the emperor system, along with most of the imperial prerogatives, as the absolute minimum condition for peace. It defined the “original” or “essential homeland” as including the southern half of the Kurile Islands but showed a willingness to concede all overseas territories to the enemy, including Okinawa and the American-occupied Bonin Islands, as well as the southern half of Sakhalin. The “Essentials” also accepted complete disarmament for an unspecified period, thereby compromising on the issues of demobilizing and disarming the armed forces. More significantly, an “explanation” attached to the “Essentials” emphasized that “the main aim is to secure the imperial line and maintain the political role of the emperor.”    Why Japan surrendered   We come to it atleast after a long podcast. Why did Japan ultimately surrender?   The twin psychological shocks of the first atomic bomb and the Soviet entry into the war, combined with Kido's and the emperor's concern over escalating public criticism of the throne and its occupant, fueled an almost paranoid fear that, sooner or later, the populace would react violently against their leaders if the war persisted much longer. These factors ultimately led Hirohito to accept, in principle, the terms of the Potsdam Declaration.   At the first meeting of the six member constituents of the Supreme War Leadership Council, held from 10:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on August 9, Army Minister Anami Korechika, Chiefs of Staff Umezu Yoshijiro, representing the army, and Yonai, representing the navy, along with Tōgō, from the Foreign Ministry, were expected to discuss the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. Instead, the conversation revolved around whether to attempt a conditional surrender—specifically, should they insist on one condition, the preservation of the kokutai, or four?   After Suzuki addressed the assembly regarding the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the Soviet attack, Yonai, as recounted by Navy Chief of Staff Toyoda, was the first to speak, framing the issue in terms of four conditions. “Let's start to talk, Do we accept the Potsdam Declaration with no conditions? If not, and we wish to insist on attaching hopes and conditions, we may do so this way. First, preservation of the kokutai; then for the rest, the main items in the Potsdam Declaration: treatment of war criminals, method of disarmament, and the matter of sending in an army of occupation.” Thus, the participants identified what they perceived to be the ambiguous points within the Potsdam Declaration and used them as the foundation for their discussions.   The army insisted on four conditions: First, the preservation of the kokutai, which they considered distinct from the Potsdam Declaration itself. The other conditions proposed were, second, that the Imperial Headquarters assume responsibility for disarmament and demobilization; third, a prohibition on occupation; and fourth, the delegation of the punishment of war criminals to the Japanese government. The army equated the kokutai with the emperor's right of supreme command. Their self-serving desire for autonomous war crimes trials was based on the belief that the Allies would use such trials to politically indict the military. Consequently, army leaders aimed to preempt the activities of any international tribunal by conducting their own trials—similar to the approach taken by the uninvaded and unrepentant Germans after World War I.   Supporting the military's views during cabinet meetings that day were three civilian members of the Suzuki cabinet: Justice Minister Matsuzaka Hiromasa, Home Minister Yasui Toji, and Minister of Health Okada Tadahiko. At the imperial conference that night, which extended into the early hours of the tenth, Foreign Minister Tōgō's interpretation of the “preservation of the kokutai” referred solely to the safeguarding of the Imperial House or dynasty, rather than the continuation of Hirohito's reign.   Hiranuma, another advocate for the single condition, interpreted the kokutai as the “emperor's sovereign right to rule the state [not] deriving from national law. Even if the entire nation is sacrificed to the war, we must preserve both the kokutai and the security of the imperial house.” This discrepancy illustrated that there was no completely unified understanding of what the kokutai entailed; the debate over one condition versus four represented conflicting visions for the future of the Japanese state and masked the competition for political power that was already unfolding.   It remains doubtful whether the emperor and Kido initially sided with Tōgō against the four conditions proposed by the senior military leaders. A more likely inference is that both men retained sympathies for the hardliners, both military and civilian, who preferred to continue the futile war rather than surrender immediately and unconditionally. This may explain why, on August 9, Konoe had Hosokawa Morisada approach Navy General Headquarters to urge the emperor's brother, Prince Takamatsu, to pressure Hirohito (through Kido) to accept the Potsdam terms. Later that afternoon, Konoe enlisted the help of diplomat Shigemitsu Mamoru to persuade Kido to reconsider his stance on the four conditions. Ultimately, at the urging of Takamatsu and Shigemitsu, Kido did shift to support Tōgō's position.   At the end of the war, as at its beginning and throughout every stage of its progression, Emperor Hirohito played a highly active role in supporting the actions carried out in his name. From the very beginning of the Asia-Pacific war, the emperor played a significant role in the unfolding events around him. Prior to the Battle of Okinawa, he consistently advocated for a decisive victory. Afterward, he acknowledged the necessity of pursuing an early peace, although he did not favor an immediate cessation of hostilities. Instead, he wavered, steering Japan toward ongoing warfare rather than direct negotiations with the Allies. When the final crisis fully unfolded, the only option left was unconditional surrender. Even then, he continued to procrastinate until the atomic bomb was dropped and the Soviets launched their attack. The wartime emperor ideology that once sustained morale made it exceedingly difficult for Japan's leaders to accept the act of surrender. Aware of their objective defeat, yet indifferent to the suffering the war inflicted on their own people—as well as on the populations of Asia, the Pacific, and the West whose lives they had disrupted—the emperor and his military leaders sought a means to lose without appearing to lose. They aimed to mitigate domestic criticism following surrender while preserving their power structure.   Blinded by their fixation on the fate of the imperial house and committed to an overly optimistic diplomacy toward the Soviet Union, Japan's leaders missed several opportunities to end their lost war. Would Japan's leaders have surrendered more promptly if the Truman administration had “clarified” the status of the emperor before the cataclysmic double shocks of the atomic bomb and the Soviet entry into the war? Probably not. However, it is likely they would have surrendered to prevent the kokutai from being destroyed from within. The evidence suggests that the first atomic bomb and the Soviet declaration of war led Hirohito, Kido, and other members of the court to believe that continuing the war would inevitably result in that destruction. They recognized that the populace was war-weary and despondent, with rising hostility toward the military and the government, accompanied by increasing criticism of the emperor himself. More specifically, Kido and Hirohito were privy to Home Ministry reports, which contained information from governors and police chiefs nationwide. These reports indicated that citizens were beginning to label the emperor as an incompetent leader responsible for the deteriorating war situation.   This is the third variable, never spoken about. Many first look at the atomic bombs. Bigger brain people turn to the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria. But hardly anyone reads about how the collapse of Japan's social fabric, scared the shit out of the Emperor and his closest advisors. You can't have a kokutai, without a populace that worshiped you.    When the emperor expressed in February, “What worries me is whether the nation [could] endure” long enough to achieve victory, he was not merely voicing concern for the suffering of his subjects; rather, he feared that such suffering could lead to social upheaval—in short, revolution. At that time, he referred to the ordinary, war-related hardships of food shortages, air raids, devastated cities, destruction of homes, and the omnipresent grief from the loss of loved ones. The atomic bomb escalated death, pain, and suffering to unimaginably higher levels, intensifying the threat from within. After the bombings of Japan and two atomic bombs, Hirohito was in a dark way, given a golden get out of jail free card. Hirohito could now save his suffering people from further anguish by surrendering, allowing him to deflect responsibility for leading them into misery while adopting an air of benevolence and care. Indeed, Hirohito did care—though not primarily for the Japanese people, but rather for the survival of his own imperial house and throne.   After the bombing of Hiroshima, Hirohito delayed for a full two days before instructing Kido, shortly before 10 A.M. on August 9, to “quickly control the situation” because “the Soviet [Union]” had declared war. Kido immediately communicated with Prime Minister Suzuki, who began arrangements for an Imperial Conference scheduled for later that night. Following the seidan of August 10, Chief Cabinet Secretary Sakomizu took charge of drafting the “Imperial Rescript Ending the War” based on Hirohito's directives. Assisted by two scholars of the Chinese classics, Kawada Mizuho and Yasuoka Masahiro, Sakomizu worked tirelessly for over three days before submitting a version of the rescript to the Suzuki cabinet. After six hours of contentious discussion on the night of August 14, the cabinet modified and approved the document. Hirohito promptly signed it, and Shimomura and Kido persuaded him to record a suitably opaque final version for broadcast to the nation.   On the night of August 14, the Suzuki government notified the United States and other Allied nations that it had accepted both the Potsdam Declaration and the Byrnes letter of August 11. Accelerating the emperor's actions during this climactic moment of the unconditional surrender drama was the American psychological warfare campaign. When a leaflet dropped from B-29 bombers came into Kido's possession on the night of August 13 or the morning of the fourteenth, he conferred with the emperor and explained the gravity of the situation. The latest enemy leaflets were informing the Japanese people of the government's notification of surrender under one condition, along with the full text of Byrnes's response. If this continued, it would undermine the imperial government's reliance on secrecy to obscure the true nature of the lost war and the reasons for the prolonged surrender delay.   Given Kido's and the emperor's concerns about rising signs of defeatism, including criticism of the throne, immediate action was necessary to prevent the populace from acting on their own initiative. Thus, the second seidan was convened. At noon on August 15, the Japanese people gathered around their radio receivers and heard, for the first time, the high-pitched voice of their emperor telling them:    “After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure. We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration. To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors and which lies close to Our heart. Indeed, We declared war on America and Britain out of Our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from Our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement. But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone—the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people—the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest. Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers... The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is unsufferable”.   Clearly Hirohito sought to justify his decision to surrender by citing the dropping of the atomic bombs. He wanted to become the saviour of the Japanese people. Hirohito wanted to obfuscate the issue of accountability, to prevent expressions of strife and anger and to strengthen domestic unity around himself, to protect and raise the kokutai.  Interestingly, the surrender declaration to the civilian population was not the same one sent to the military. On August 17th Hirohito issued a second “rescript to soldiers and sailors” throughout the asia-pacific.   “ Now that the Soviet Union has entered the war against us, to continue . . . under the present conditions at home and abroad would only recklessly incur even more damage to ourselves and result in endangering the very foundation of the empire's existence. Therefore, even though enormous fighting spirit still exists in the Imperial Navy and Army, I am going to make peace with the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union, as well as with Chungking, in order to maintain our glorious national polity”.   The lesser-known August 17 rescript to the army and navy specified Soviet participation as the sole reason for surrender, while maintaining the kokutai as the primary aim. Dissembling until the end—and even beyond—it was noted that the emperor presented two different justifications for his delayed surrender. Both statements were likely true.   Months later Hirohito's said this about his decision to surrender “The main motive behind my decision at that time was that if we . . . did not act, the Japanese race would perish and I would be unable to protect my loyal subjects [sekishi—literally, “children”]. Second, Kido agreed with me on the matter of defending the kokutai. If the enemy landed near Ise Bay, both Ise and Atsuta Shrines would immediately come under their control. There would be no time to transfer the sacred treasures [regalia] of the imperial family and no hope of protecting them. Under these circumstances, protection of the kokutai would be difficult. For these reasons, I thought at the time that I must make peace even at the sacrifice of myself.”    There exists this sort of childish argument today whether it was the atomic bombs or the Soviet Invasion that caused Japan to surrender. However, this overlooks as I think I've explained in 9000 words jeez, the influence of the kokutai. Defending the kokutai was Hirohito's number one priority. The Soviets threatened it. Communism threatened it. What Japan perceived to be “democracy” threatened it. American victory threatened it. And the destruction of Japan's social fabric threatened it. I love this one piece of history, that I have only come across in one book, that being the main one I am using here.   On August 12th, Hirohito came to the imperial family to tell them he had made the decision to surrender. His uncle Prince Yasuhiko Asaka asked him whether the war would be continued if the kokutai could not be preserved. Hirohito replied “of course”.

Machine learning– and multilayer molecular network–assisted screening hunts fentanyl compounds Science Advances Fentanyl and its analogs are a global concern, making their accurate identification essential for public health. This article introduces Fentanyl-Hunter, a screening platform that uses a machine learning classifier and multilayer molecular network that covers more than 87% of known fentanyls to select and annotate fentanyl compounds using mass spectrometry (MS). Fentanyl-Hunter identified fentanyl members in biological and environmental samples. During biotransformation, 35 metabolites from four widely consumed fentanyl derivatives were identified. Norfentanyl was the major fentanyl compound in wastewater. Retrospective screening of these biomarkers across more than 605,000 MS files in public datasets revealed fentanyl, sufentanil, norfentanyl, or remifentanil acid in more than 250 samples from eight major countries, indicating the potential widespread presence of fentanyl.   Read this issue of the ASAM Weekly Subscribe to the ASAM Weekly Visit ASAM

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Send us a textJoin Drake and Marie as they explore how to write interiority using a 12 layer model. We go over everything from showing, to telling, to worldview and more! Writer's room (50% off for lifetime membership): https://writersroom.mn.co/plans/338439?bundle_token=196fd3965307a65eee0d1bf2bc6fa5a6&utm_source=manualMembership for Just In Time Worlds: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxvBH0EkwuHsQ9ryHHQNi2Q/joinGive us feedback at releasingyourinnerdragon(at)gmail(dot)comDiscord: https://discord.gg/vMrmBsF5fhMagicfall: http://magicfallnovel.com/Drake's Contact Details:Starving Writer Studio: https://www.starvingwriterstudio.com/Drake-U: https://class.drakeu.com/  - Use RYID25 for 25% off!Writer's Room: https://writersroom.mn.co/Marie's contact details:Books: https://mariemullany.com/booksJust In Time Worlds: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustInTimeWorlds?sub_confirmation=1writersofthefuture.com

Today marks 23 years since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the September 11 attacks. Among the dead were at least ten people originally from (or then residing) in Illinois. One of the six firefighters from Aurora who made the 16 hour drive to New York to help the victims of the World Trade Center attack reflects on the day that changed America forever.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.or

We all come to a point in our lives where we need more help to do the simple things on a daily basis. With a massive jump in aging boomers the need for independent and assisted living is on the rise.I recently toured one of these facilities and was amazed and how that industry is booming and also how much it costs for Mom and Dad to stay at one of these places.Do you have a lot of senior living facilities popping up in your area?Learn more about this type of housing and how insanely profitable it is right now.Thanks for listening! Please make sure to give us a 5* review and hit that subscribe button to support the channel! Email:  homebuildinghero@yahoo.comTwitter:  @building_heroFacebook:  www.facebook.com/homebuildingheroInstagram:  @homebuildingheroInsider Club:  https://mailchi.mp/062ece3a2b79/home-building-hero-podcast-email-list Thanks to our studio sponsor LP Building Solutions! To learn more about my homes visit Belman Homes andWhen you have a moment, pick up a copy of my new Amazon Best Selling book "Leadership Growth Hacks" at https://amzn.to/2ZBRuN3

Resistance bands can transform your calisthenics training—and in this video, I'll show you exactly how. From push-ups and dips to squats, lunges, and pull-ups, bands offer unique advantages over traditional weight vests or plates. They're cheaper, easier to travel with, faster to adjust, and incredibly versatile for both adding resistance and providing assistance on tough exercises.We'll break down: • Why bands are more economical and portable than weight vests • How to load resistance on push-ups, dips, and squats with simple band setups • Creative ways to use bands for unilateral leg training and core work • Assisted calisthenics variations (pull-ups, pistol squats, push-ups) • How to program band training for strength, hypertrophy, and enduranceWhether you're training at home, traveling, or just want more options in your workouts, bands give you the flexibility to build strength and muscle anywhere.

In this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we discuss some intel being shared in the LimaCharlie community.The Salt Typhoon cyber campaign, attributed to Chinese state-backed hackers, has been declared a national defense crisis by the FBI and allied intelligence agencies.A group identifying itself as “Scattered LapSus Hunters” has posted a threat on Telegram demanding that Google terminate two of its employees.A newly discovered WhatsApp vulnerability, now tracked as CVE-2025-55177, has triggered urgent security advisories, particularly for iPhone users.More than 1,000 developers were compromised in just over four hours on August 26 during an unprecedented, AI-assisted software supply chain attack targeting the npm ecosystem.Support our show by sharing your favorite episodes with a friend, subscribe, give us a rating or leave a comment on your podcast platform.This podcast is brought to you by LimaCharlie, maker of the SecOps Cloud Platform, infrastructure for SecOps where everything is built API first. Scale with confidence as your business grows. Start today for free at limacharlie.io.

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton James sits down with Holly Baldwin, Senior Customer Success Manager at DocuSketch, to uncover how restoration companies can transform an advanced documentation tool into a powerful sales and marketing engine.Holly shares her journey from her early days at Servpro to becoming a key leader at DocuSketch, where she now helps restoration professionals streamline operations, win more business, and deliver a true “white glove” customer experience.Key topics covered in this episode:Holly's career path from Servpro to DocuSketch.What DocuSketch really is and why it's more than “just a documentation tool.”The “no-cost pre-loss scan” strategy and why it's a game-changer for winning prospects.How restoration pros are using 360 tours and before/after portfolios to stand out from competitors.Real-world examples of DocuSketch saving companies thousands in liability claims.Overcoming objections like “we already sketch by hand.”The “access deactivation” follow-up tactic that keeps you top-of-mind with property managers.How to integrate DocuSketch with ERPs, marketing campaigns, and sales systems.Why Holly believes in systems over goals for consistent sales success.If you've ever thought DocuSketch was “just a documentation tool,” this episode will change the way you see it.Visit: https://www.docusketch.com/-----Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

Summary An increasing number of people in recent months have believed that they've made an important and novel scientific breakthrough, which they've developed in collaboration with an LLM, when they actually haven't. If you believe that you have made such a breakthrough, please consider that you might be mistaken! Many more people have been fooled than have come up with actual breakthroughs, so the smart next step is to do some sanity-checking even if you're confident that yours is real. New ideas in science turn out to be wrong most of the time, so you should be pretty skeptical of your own ideas and subject them to the reality-checking I describe below. Context This is intended as a companion piece to 'So You Think You've Awoken ChatGPT'[1]. That post describes the related but different phenomenon of LLMs giving people the impression that they've suddenly attained consciousness. Your situation If [...] ---Outline:(00:11) Summary(00:49) Context(01:04) Your situation(02:41) How to reality-check your breakthrough(03:16) Step 1(05:55) Step 2(07:40) Step 3(08:54) What to do if the reality-check fails(10:13) Could this document be more helpful?(10:31) More informationThe original text contained 5 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: September 2nd, 2025 Source: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/rarcxjGp47dcHftCP/your-llm-assisted-scientific-breakthrough-probably-isn-t --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

In this episode Lillie and I discuss the stigma surrounding Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT). MAT integrates FDA approved medication and counseling to support people in recovery from addiction, primarily opioid or alcohol use disorders. Medications help manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings, which improves retention in treatment and overall recovery outcomes. In this episode, we discuss why this can be controversial in recovery communities and how you can improve your chances of long-term recovery. Please visit our web site at: vanmeterwellnesssolutions.com Music-John Williams and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The Planets III, Mercury, The Winged Messenger

We're revisiting powerful conversations as part of our Archive Spotlight, where we highlight meaningful conversations from the past.In this episode we dive into the complex and often misunderstood world of assisted death, exploring the emotional, ethical, and deeply human sides of end-of-life choices. From eligibility requirements and shifting legislation to powerful stories of final moments.Originally published on February 8th, 2022.

Drew & Garden System discuss all things related to ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, other psychedelics, and dissociative identity disorder with Melissas Parker, LMHC.Thank you to our sponsors: (sponsorship of this episode does not indicate an endorsement of KAP or psychedelic therapies.)Healing Selves Therapeutics - https://www.healingselvestherapeuticspllc.com/Yvonne Fall, LPC -https://www.yvonnefalllpc.com/Resources:Maps.orghttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10979792/https://www.natalierusspsyd.com/therapy-harmhttps://www.yalemedicine.org/news/ketamine-for-depressionVisit acoupleofmultiples.com to join our private, online DID community ($10 or $30/monthly memberships), schedule consultations, and join our mailing list!Follow us on Instagram: @acoupleofmultiples, @note_to_selves, @seidi_gardensystem Follow us on TikTok: @seidi_gardensystem, @note_to_selves Follow us on Facebook: A Couple of Multiples - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556823127239 Visit our website: acoupleofmultiples.com to sign up for our mailing list, join our private, on-line community Hearts Multiplied, register for peer coaching, consultations, and workshops!

Relational Healing, Neuroplasticity, and the Power of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: An Interview with Dr. Alexa Altman, Ph.D. and Shira Myrow, LMFT In this episode, Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow, LMFT, about psychedelic-assisted therapy and how it supports trauma healing, neuroplasticity, and relational transformation. They explore how these treatments work, what integration really means, and how therapists can ethically and safely engage with this emerging field. About our guests:Dr. Alexa Altman and Shira Myrow, MFT, are co-founders of iPsychedelic Therapy. With backgrounds in trauma-informed psychology, spiritual counseling, and relational healing, they offer a holistic approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy that centers ethical care, integration, and transformational growth. Key takeaways: Psychedelics are not shortcuts—they act as amplifiers and accelerants in trauma work. Integration is a crucial part of psychedelic-assisted therapy and often overlooked. Clinicians must examine their own biases and seek robust training. Some clients are not appropriate for these treatments due to fragility or lack of therapeutic background. A safe therapeutic container, rigorous consent, and preparation are essential. Regulatory frameworks are still emerging and need clinician involvement. More info, transcripts, and full show notes: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano

Dylan is the founder of the ketamine-assisted therapy startup “Mindbloom” — He also shares what they've learned so far from running nearly 700 thousand guided ketamine sessions, his idea that "There's no magic pill, but there is a magic program". and how he's been dealing with a recent Wall Street Journal hit piece attempting to discredit his company. I also shared some of my own recent experiences with ketamine assisted somatic journeys and the impact that it's had on my own life. Learn More About Dylan + Mindbloom⚡ See if you would qualify for Mindbloom's Psychedelic Assisted Therapy

Welcome to the 9News podcast. A snapshot of the latest stories from the9News team including: Is an accused police killer being assisted by a member of the public? Hundreds feared dead in Afghanistan earthquake, and produce suppliers accused of price fixing. The biggest news stories in less than 10 minutes delivered three times a day,with reports from the 9News team across Australia and overseas. Subscribenow to make it part of your daily news diet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resources:  Rutherford Chapters (10th ed.): 174, 175, 177, 178 Prior Holding Pressure episode on AV access creation: https://www.audiblebleeding.com/vsite-hd-access/ The Society for Vascular Surgery: Clinical practice guidelines for the surgical placement and maintenance of arteriovenous hemodialysis access: https://www.jvascsurg.org/article/S0741-5214%2808%2901399-2/fulltext  KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Vascular Access: 2019 Update: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32778223/    Venous Hypertension   Definition A functioning AV circuit delivers high volume arterial flow towards a stenotic venous segment, causing buildup in pressure and venous hypertension. If there are few or no branching veins between the access and stenosis, thrombosis could occur   Etiology The most common etiology is venous stenosis caused by a history of vessel wall trauma by centrally-inserted venous devices such as tunneled and non-tunneled dialysis catheters, central lines, pacemakers, or defibrillator. In a study performed at a large academic medical center1, new hemodynamically significant central venous stenosis was associated with the duration of catheter dependence (26% in patients with CVCs for more than 6 months, versus 11% in patients with CVCs for less than 6 months). PICC lines can directly damage cephalic and basilic veins Venous stenosis can often go undetected until AV access creation occurs   Patient Presentation Symptoms of venous insufficiency will be present– most commonly regional edema, in the area of venous stenosis. If there are patent venous branches between the AV anastomosis and the stenotic area, swelling can occur throughout the arm. Pigmentation, induration, dermatosclerosis, and ulceration may also be observed. An extensive collateral network of veins may be visible throughout anterior chest, shoulder, or flank SVC obstruction can result in swelling of the head, neck and shoulders, as well as a feeling of head and neck fullness, airway compromise, and visual problems Normal palpable thrill can be replaced by a strong pulse Dialysis can be complicated by difficulty with needle access, recirculation syndrome, and arm swelling after dialysis sessions. Workup  Central vein thrombosis can be hard to detect on ultrasound because clavicle and sternum can block transmission Venography is essential to determine the presence and severity of venous stenosis or occlusion.   Prevention The ideal scenario is to avoid central dialysis catheters completely, and this involves evaluating CKD patients and placing AVF or AVG before the need for dialysis arises.  If a patient presents placement of an AVF/AVG, it is important to perform venography if a patient has a history of a central venous catheter or clinical signs of venous hypertension. A history of SVC obstruction from any cause can preclude permanent AV access creation in both upper extremities Treatment Endovascular approaches to venous outflow stenosis can be first-line treatment options, due to their minimal risk. They can also be performed at the same time as a diagnostic venogram. Angioplasty alone or with stenting are the endovascular options. In a study by Bakken et al2 that compared primary high-pressure balloon angioplasty versus stenting, primary patency was equivalent between groups, with 30-day rates of 76% for both groups and 12-month rates of 29% for angioplasty and 21% for stenting. Assisted primary patency was also equivalent with a 30-day patency rate of 81% and 12-month rate of 73% for the angioplasty group,  84% at 30 days, and 46% at 12 months for the stenting group. This study, along with others, shows that the major downside of endovascular interventions, whether angioplasty or stenting, often require repeat intervention and have poor long-term patency. For subclavian vein stenosis, angioplasty alone is appropriate due to its anatomical location that can put a stent at risk for extrinsic compression from the first rib and clavicle. Surgical bypass can be performed Possible bypasses include axillary-axillary, axillary-jugular, axillary-right atrial, and axillary-femoral. In these bypasses, the preferred conduits are autogenous saphenous or femoral veins. In cases where the proximal subclavian vein is obstructed, a jugular vein turndown can be performed. In this procedure the distal jugular vein is transected, sewed end-to-side at the distal subclavian vein, effectively acting as a bypass route for that obstructed segment. The Hemoaccess Reliable Outflow (HeRO) Vascular Access Device can be used as a hybrid approach, combining endovascular and open surgical techniques to bypass a central venous occlusion  and provide a reliable outflow for dialysis.  This device has a PTFE inflow limb that is sewn end-to-side onto the brachial artery. This limb is tunneled subcutaneously and connected to a silicone-coated nitinol outflow catheter that is inserted into a central vein and tracked directly into the right atrium. This effectively bypasses central venous stenoses. In the largest study to date on HeRO access grafts placed in 167 patients,3 HeRO primary and secondary patency was 48.8% and 90.8%, respectively, at 12 months. Interventions to maintain or re-establish patency were required in 71.3% of patients resulting in an intervention rate of 1.5/year. Access-related infections were reported in 4.3% patients. The authors concluded that HeRO device had performed comparably to standard AVGs and had proven superior to tunneled dialysis catheters in terms of patency, intervention, and infection rates. If no treatment options for venous hypertension or outflow obstruction  are available, an alternate AV access site can be created, either in the contralateral arm if the SVC is uninvolved, or through placement of femoral AV access or a peritoneal dialysis catheter.   Bleeding Access Site   Etiology and Risk Factors Bleeding can be caused by high venous pressure after dialysis, pseudoaneurysm rupture, or trauma. Patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) have a baseline elevated risk of bleeding due to uremia-induced platelet dysfunction and use of systemic anticoagulation within the hemodialysis circuit. Additional risk factors include dialysis through an AV graft, hypertension, longer duration of access use, and compromised integrity of the vascular access due to complications (clotting, infection) or invasive procedures. Dual antiplatelet therapy is also associated with overall bleeding events in ESRD patients. Dialysis patients could be on antiplatelet therapy for management of comorbid cardiovascular risk and/or patency of AV graft Patients with bleeding fistulas often present from their dialysis unit when standard digital pressure at the cannulation site fails to stop the bleeding. This is a very serious condition since most mature fistulas have high blood flow and the patients are at risk for hemorrhagic shock and death.    Initial Management  The first step of management is to obtain hemostasis. Elevate the limb above the level of the heart and apply firm and directed pressure at the site of bleeding using gauze for at least 30-40 minutes Milosevic et al4 reviewed non-operative management of bleeding fistulas and grafts and found that compared to standard dressings, the use of specialized hemostatic dressings decreased bleeding time at arterial and venous cannulation sites. These hemostatic materials included the IRIS compression bandage and cellulose-based, chitosan-based, poly-N-acetyl glucosamine-based, and thrombin-soaked dressings. There has been a “bottlecap method” described where the hollow side of a bottlecap is pressed on top of the puncture site. Maintaining pressure on the cap will cause the cap to fill with blood and clot, which tamponades the bleeding. The provider can also place a shallow figure-of-8 or purse string stitch just below the skin surface to aid in hemostasis. It is important to avoid placing the suture too deep as this can cause inadvertent fistula ligation. During this process, an assistant applies pressure just proximal and distal to the bleeding site to stop blood flow so the sutures can be placed. If these methods fail to achieve hemostasis, apply a tourniquet proximal to the fistula and tighten it until bleeding stops and the radial pulse is lost. This signifies complete occlusion of arterial inflow to the fistula. Tourniquet use should be limited to 3 hours or less, since limb ischemia beyond this timepoint is associated with permanent neuromuscular damage. Regardless of the method used for initial hemostasis, the patient is at risk for repeat hemorrhage, hematoma formation, vessel stenosis, and thrombosis. They should be evaluated by a vascular surgeon as soon as possible.  Definitive Management Definitive management depends on etiology of each case, and there are a variety of interventions that can be pursued (i.e. aneurysmorrhaphy for aneurysmal bleeding) If skin erosion over the conduit is present, it should be assumed that the AV access is infected and emergency intervention should be pursued. A jump graft can be placed through with healthy tissue.  A covered stent could be introduced through a separate percutaneous puncture site Finally, coagulopathy can be addressed by administering cryoprecipitate, DDAVP, erythropoietin, estrogen, tranexamic acid. Aneurysms and Pseudoaneurysms   Definition and Etiology Aneurysms involve all three layers of the vessel wall and they develop due to hemodynamic changes causing remodeling of the vein wall in an AV fistula. This is necessary for vein maturation, but becomes problematic if the post-anastomotic vein continues to dilate and becomes aneurysmal.  Aneurysms can also occur at anastomosis sites due to technical aspects of the surgery. Pseudoaneurysms only involve some layers of the vessel wall caused by repeated puncture for hemodialysis.  Both aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms can enlarge due to venous outflow stenosis causing increased intraluminal pressures. Both true aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms can lead to overlying skin erosion and subsequent hemorrhage, pain, AV access dysfunction, and cannulation difficulties.  Dialysis cannulation should be avoided at the aneurysmal sites to prevent bleeding complications. Diagnosis They can be diagnosed on ultrasound, which also provide information on flow rates, presence inflow/outflow/stenoses, and vessel diameters.  Indications for Treatment Treatment is indicated for aneurysms that are rapidly expanding or ulcerating through the skin surface. These are at high risk for rupture and hemorrhage, which is life-threatening. Treatment is also indicated when the aneurysm occurs at the anastomotic site of the AV fistula, the patient has a cosmetic concern, cannulation becomes difficult, there is concern for infection, or the patient has high-output heart failure that could be exacerbated by high flow through the fistula. Treatment is not indicated in asymptomatic aneurysms, regardless of their size. True  aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms are not prone to spontaneous rupture.   Treatment Options Aneurysmorrhaphy is the most common treatment. It involves the resection of the aneurysmal vein wall to restore a normal diameter and removal of excess skin. Anastomosis is performed along the lateral wall to prevent issues with cannulation along the suture line. Aneurysm resection with interposition grafting is also possible. If multiple aneurysmal segments require treatment, staging their repairs can allow for continuation of dialysis without needing to place a temporary dialysis catheter. AV access ligation is an appropriate alternative to AV access salvage in certain situations but usually requires excision of the aneurysm/pseudoaneurysm due to the potential to develop thrombophlebitis and the cosmetic appearance of the thrombosed segment. If there is concern for an infected pseudoaneurysm or aneurysm, surgery should include removal of all infected material. References   1. Al-Balas A, Almehmi A, Varma R, Al-Balas H, Allon M. De Novo Central Vein Stenosis in Hemodialysis Patients Following Initial Tunneled Central Vein Catheter Placement. Kidney360. 2022;3(1):99-102. doi:10.34067/KID.0005202021 2. Bakken AM, Protack CD, Saad WE, Lee DE, Waldman DL, Davies MG. Long-term outcomes of primary angioplasty and primary stenting of central venous stenosis in hemodialysis patients. J Vasc Surg. 2007;45(4):776-783. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2006.12.046 3. Gage SM, Katzman HE, Ross JR, et al. Multi-center Experience of 164 Consecutive Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow [HeRO] Graft Implants for Hemodialysis Treatment. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2012;44(1):93-99. doi:10.1016/j.ejvs.2012.04.011 4. Milosevic E, Forster A, Moist L, Rehman F, Thomson B. Non-surgical interventions to control bleeding from arteriovenous fistulas and grafts inside and outside the hemodialysis unit: a scoping review. Clin Kidney J. 2024;17(5):sfae089. doi:10.1093/ckj/sfae089

Abby and Patrick are joined by Dr. Josh West to talk about some remarkable developments in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in Australia. Josh explains to Abby and Patrick how the clinical trials he describes are better understood as an experiment in sustained psychotherapy rather than just testing a new drug, and how that experiment has profound psychoanalytic and psychodynamic salience. From the process of patient preparation to the details of “dose day” to the work of subsequent sessions of “integration,” Josh walks Abby and Patrick through how he and other clinicians do their work, and how they tackle the unique demands of maintaining a holding environment, navigating transference, precipitating psychic change, and providing help to patients who are working through end of life crises, longstanding pathologies, and other kinds of profound distress. Along the way, he provides vital context about the history of lab-based psychedelic research and the (mis)appropriation of indigenous traditions while assessing the practical, ethical, and legal challenges that arise when psychedelics become objects of psychopharmacological study, routinized treatment, and corporate investment. Josh's suggestions for further reading include: Michael Pollan, How to Change Your Mind Marc B. Aixalà, Psychedelic Integration  Merlin Sheldrake, Entangled Life Roberto Lovato, The Gentrification of Consciousness Other sources cited include:Robert Gordon Wasson, “Seeking the Magic Mushroom,” Life Andrei Znamenski, The Beauty of the Primitive: Shamanism and the Western ImaginationHave you noticed that Freud is back? Got questions about psychoanalysis? Or maybe you've traversed the fantasy and lived to tell the tale? Leave us a voicemail! (646) 450-0847A podcast about psychoanalysis, politics, pop culture, and the ways we suffer now. New episodes on Saturdays. Follow us on social media:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/OrdinaryUnhappinessTwitter: @UnhappinessPodInstagram: @OrdinaryUnhappinessPatreon: patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappinessTheme song:Formal Chicken - Gnossienne No. 1https://open.spotify.com/album/2MIIYnbyLqriV3vrpUTxxOProvided by Fruits Music

Episode 137: In this episode of Critical Thinking - Bug Bounty Podcast Justin Gardner and Joseph Thacker reunite to talk about AI Hacking Assistants, CSPT and cache deception, and a bunch of tools like ch.at, Slice, Ebka, and more.Follow us on twitter at: https://x.com/ctbbpodcastGot any ideas and suggestions? Feel free to send us any feedback here: info@criticalthinkingpodcast.ioShoutout to YTCracker for the awesome intro music!====== Links ======Follow your hosts Rhynorater and Rez0 on Twitter:https://x.com/Rhynoraterhttps://x.com/rez0__====== Ways to Support CTBBPodcast ======Hop on the CTBB Discord at https://ctbb.show/discord!We also do Discord subs at $25, $10, and $5 - premium subscribers get access to private masterclasses, exploits, tools, scripts, un-redacted bug reports, etc.You can also find some hacker swag at https://ctbb.show/merch!Today's Sponsor - ThreatLocker. Checkout ThreatLocker DAC!https://www.criticalthinkingpodcast.io/tl-dac====== This Week in Bug Bounty ======Vulnerability vectors: SQL injection for Bug Bounty huntersMozilla VPN Clients: RCE via file write and path traversal====== Resources ======Cache Deception + CSPT:dig @ch.atSearchlight Cyber ToolsSliceEbka-Caido-AIpostMessage targetOrigin bypass====== Timestamps ======(00:00:00) Introduction(00:01:26) Claude, Gemini, and Hacking Assistants(00:11:08) AI Safety(00:18:09) CSPT(00:23:26) ch.at, Slice, Ebka, & Searchlight Cyber Tools(00:45:19) postMessage targetOrigin bypass

AI in software development sounds like a dream, faster coding, cleaner refactoring, and technical reports that actually make sense to stakeholders. But, what's the bad news in the classic good news/bad news scenario? Poisoned training data, compliance risks, and systems that are brittle and will not scale.  This week on Feds At The Edge, Alex Gromadzki, Assistant Director of Data Science at US GAO, and Steven Toy, Senior Director, Cloud Infrastructure for ICF, unpack the opportunities and pitfalls of generative AI in federal software development. From source-citing AI to data security in the software lifecycle, they reveal why small, testable use cases may be the smartest way forward.   Listen now on your favorite podcast platform to hear how federal leaders can balance innovation with responsibility as AI reshapes the software development life cycle.          

On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, Charles Camosy, professor of moral theology and bioethics at the Catholic University of America, joins Federalist Senior Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle to discuss a rise in physician-assisted killing and share what it means to live and die well while resisting "eugenic death culture." You can find Camosy's book Living and Dying Well: A Catholic Plan for Resisting Physician-Assisted Killing here. If you care about combating the corrupt media that continue to inflict devastating damage, please give a gift to help The Federalist do the real journalism America needs.  

In this episode of Get Plugged In – AI Insights, Dale Hall, Managing Director of Research at the Society of Actuaries, sits down with Dr. Raymond Sheh, Associate Research Scientist at Johns Hopkins University and Guest Researcher at NIST. Together, they explore the concept of Vibe Coding, a new approach to AI-assisted software development that emphasizes intent over syntax. Dr. Sheh unpacks the benefits and the significant risks of relying on tools that “code by vibe,” especially within actuarial workflows. Whether you're a coding novice or an experienced modeler, this episode offers critical insights on how actuaries can use these tools responsibly—without losing rigor or control. To explore more tools and insights about AI in actuarial science, visit the SOA's AI landing page: https://www.soa.org/research/topics/artificial-intelligence-topic-landing Send us your feedback at AI-Insights@soa.org

Matt Muller, Field CISO at Tines, knows all about revolutionizing security operations through strategic AI integration and intelligent automation. In his conversation with Jack, Matt explores how traditional SOC models create problematic feedback loops where junior analysts make critical decisions while senior practitioners handle escalations, limiting learning and growth opportunities.  Instead, Matt envisions AI-assisted workflows where senior expertise gets encoded into intelligent systems that teach junior team members while they work, transforming security operations from reactive alert-chasing to proactive strategic defense. He also emphasizes communication skills, relationship building, and moving beyond being perceived as the team of no to become strategic enablers. Topics discussed: Evolution from banning ChatGPT to strategic AI integration in security operations, emphasizing augmentation over replacement strategies. Model Context Protocol implementation challenges and the importance of safe-by-default approaches when integrating emerging AI technologies into production. Traditional SOC tier models create problematic feedback loops where junior analysts make critical decisions but lack learning opportunities. AI-assisted workflows can transform security operations by encoding senior expertise into systems that teach while automating routine tasks. Practical approaches to AI adoption including demystification techniques, validation methods, and breaking complex problems into manageable components. Strategic implementation of AI agents in security workflows, particularly for non-deterministic tasks like phishing investigation and alert triage. Importance of maintaining human oversight and guardrails when deploying AI systems in critical security operations and incident response. Communication skills and relationship building as fundamental competencies for security practitioners working with both AI systems and human stakeholders. Safe experimentation with AI technologies through controlled environments and understanding system limitations before production deployment. Listen to more episodes:  Apple  Spotify  YouTube Website

Just over two years ago, the FDA issued its first draft guidance on clinical trials with psychedelic drugs. Now, HHS has hired a dedicated psychedelics advisor. This week, Reunion Neuroscience reported a mid-stage success with its short-acting psychedelic drug in postpartum depression.At a moment of increasing momentum – both in terms of research, funding and commercial promise – behind psychedelics, it's worth checking in with one of the leaders in the space: Cybin, a clinical-stage biopharma.In November, Cybin reported positive Phase 2 data for its major depressive disorder drug and has its sights set on next steps in the regulatory approval process.Pharma Editor Lecia Bushak brings us a conversation with Cybin CEO Doug Drysdale about "second-generation" psychedelics and how they are impacting the mental health treatment space.For our Trends segment, we're talking about recent updates to health data sharing on the federal level. Step into the future of health media at the MM+M Media Summit on October 30th, 2025 live in NYC! Join top voices in pharma marketing for a full day of forward-thinking discussions on AI, streaming, retail media, and more. Explore the latest in omnichannel strategy, personalization, media trust, and data privacy—all under one roof. Don't wait—use promo code PODCAST for $100 off your individual ticket. Click here to register! AI Deciphered is back—live in New York City this November 13th.Join leaders from brands, agencies, and platforms for a future-focused conversation on how AI is transforming media, marketing, and the retail experience. Ready to future-proof your strategy? Secure your spot now at aidecipheredsummit.com. Use code POD at check out for $100 your ticket! Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-onlineTikTok: @MMMnewsInstagram: @MMMnewsonlineTwitter/X: @MMMnewsLinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here.Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music.

One house. $60K a month. Assisted living is the most slept-on cash flow play in real estate.In this episode, Rich sits down with Serg Lupescu to break down how a single-family home can be converted into a high-performing assisted living facility—and why this niche is creating millionaire investors faster than almost any other strategy. From licensing and staffing to cash flow and scalability, Serg gives the full playbook.They cover:How to turn one house into $40K–$60K/month in revenueThe startup costs and systems you must have in placeWhy assisted living outperforms almost every other asset classThe biggest mistakes new operators make (and how to avoid them)How to scale from one property to a full portfolioIf you're serious about building wealth and want a business that makes real impact, assisted living is the move.Let's go.Join our investor waitlist and stay in the know about our next investor opportunity with Somers Capital: www.somerscapital.com/invest. Want to join our Boutique Hotel Mastermind Community? Book a free strategy call with our team: www.hotelinvesting.com. If you're committed to scaling your personal brand and achieving 7-figure success, it's time to level up with the 7 Figure Creator Mastermind Community. Book your exclusive intro call today at www.the7figurecreator.com and gain access to the strategies that will accelerate your growth.

Take a sneak peek at this month's Fertility & Sterility! Articles discussed this month are:   08:57 Trends in Use of Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy Before Dobbs, After Dobbs Leak, and After Dobbs Final Ruling 20:12 The impact of PGT-A on time to live birth in IVF. 32:02 A Nationwide Analysis of the Trends in Permanent Contraception Utilization Before and After the Dobbs Ruling   37:28 Use of assisted reproductive technologies for male and female infertility and perinatal outcomes  50:50 Assisted hatching decreases pregnancy outcomes in vitrified donor oocytes 56:42 Use of medically assisted reproduction and the risk of multiple live birth across sexual orientation groups—results from a national longitudinal cohort   View the August 2025 issue, Vol 124: Issue 2 - https://www.fertstert.org/issue/S0015-0282(25)X0008-X View Fertility and Sterility at https://www.fertstert.org/  

Harder look at Abraham; "Gerar"; What Abraham was doing; Strangers; Melchizedek vs Abimelech; Degenerating the people; Lifestyle; Assisted suicide?; Abraham's tithe; Human resources; Capitalism; Charity = Love; The culture of Nature's God; Revelation; Fasting; Ruth and Naomi; Burning furnace; Tree of Life; Fleeing the light; Abraham's vision; Jacobs dream; Ambassadors of God; Life's journey; Self-indulgence vs caring for one another; William the Conqueror; Covenants; Law of nations; Haran - dry place; Abraham's reputation; Feeding sheep; Trusting Abimelech?; Common reasons for divorce; Idolatry; Blame; Understanding Abraham; Life requires sacrifice; Waiting upon the Lord; How to follow Abraham and Christ; Righteousness of God; Abundance of life; "Pillow"?; Canaanites; Merchants of men; Smoking furnace?; Source of dominion; Caring through charity; Christ's institutions; Authors of confusion; Gen 15:17; Consequences of your choices; Isa 6:13; Being Doer's of the Word; Altars of charity; Iniquity of Rachel, Sarah, Leban; Manipulation; Deut 4:20; When to give?; Jer 11:4; Iron furnace = bondage; Rightly dividing charity; Satisfaction?; Coming to the well of Christ; God's timing; Being a stranger in Canaan; Jacob's leaving his comfort zone; Repentance; Freewill sacrifice; World of confusion and manipulation; Recognizing God's miracles; Rebekah vs Rachel; Dry bones?; Symptoms of being off the righteous way; Consuming fire; Jacob's dream; Messengers of God; Gen 29:1; Rachel's late arrival; Being Christ's Church; Symbolism of Jacob meeting Rachel; Are you submitting to God?; Laban's eye for gold; Laban's wife-swap; Seek Righteousness.

Fiona Forsyth chats to Paul Burke about her new historical thriller DEATH and the POET, Ghastly misogynists, Ovid, small town life in the ancient world, studying the classics.Death and the Poet 14 AD. When Dokimos the vegetable seller is found bludgeoned to death in the Black Sea town of Tomis, it's the most exciting thing to have happened in the region for years. Now reluctantly settled into life in exile, the disgraced Roman poet Ovid helps his friend Avitius to investigate the crime, with the evidence pointing straight at a cuckolded neighbour.But Ovid is also on edge, waiting for the most momentous death of all. Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome, is nearing his end, and the future of the whole Roman world is uncertain.Even as far away as Tomis, this political shadow creates tension as the pompous Roman legate Flaccus thinks more of his career than solving a local murder.Avitius and Ovid become convinced that an injustice has been done in the case of the murdered vegetable seller. But Flaccus continues to turn a deaf ear.When Ovid's wife, Fabia, arrives unexpectedly, carrying a cryptic message from the Empress Livia, the poet becomes distracted - and another crime is committed.Assisted by Fabia, the investigators get closer to the truth. But the truth will come at a price.Ovid hopes for a return to Rome - only to discover that he is under threat from an enemy much closer to home.FIONA FORSYTH I will never fully understand the Romans, and that is the challenge. I have loved the ancient world since I read my first Greek myth, Theseus and the Minotaur. After reading Classics at Oxford, I taught at a boys' public school for twenty-five years, but then my family moved to Qatar. There wasn't much call for Latin teachers, so I wrote, and now I am back in the UK, all the questions I have asked myself about the Romans over the years are turning into novels. I was once accused by a slightly indignant teenager of being in love with Cicero. This is not strictly true...Recommendations SJ Parris, DV Bishop, RM Cullen Harlequin is Dead, Nicola Upson, Robert Graves, Alan Massie, John Williams.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2025. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out 2026.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Welcome to the Sterile Technique Podcast! It's the podcast about Surgical Technology. Whether you are a CST or CSFA, this podcast helps you earn CE credits and improve your surgery skills in the OR. This episode discusses an article in the June 2025 issue of The Surgical Technologist, the official journal of the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). The article is titled, "Robotic-Assisted Sacrocolpopexy Steps: A Narrative". "Scrub in" at steriletpodcast.com and on Twitter, @SterileTPodcast (twitter.com/SterileTPodcast). This podcast is a Dybas Media production. Sound effects adapted from GarageBand and sindhu.tms at https://freesound.org/people/sindhu.tms/sounds/169065/ and licensed courtesy of https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/.

Peter Campbell is the principal consultant at Techcafeteria, a micro-consulting firm dedicated to helping nonprofits make more affordable and effective use of technology to support their missions. He recently published a free download powerpoint on Managing AI Risk and had time to talk with Carolyn about his thoughts on developing AI policies with an eye to risk, where the greatest risks lie for nonprofits using AI, and how often to review your policies as the technology changes rapidly.The takeaways: AI tools are like GPS (which is itself an AI). You are the expert; they are not able to critically analyze their own output even though they can mimic authority. Using AI tools for subjects where you have subject expertise allows you to correct the output. Using AI tools for subjects where you have no knowledge adds risk. Common AI tasks at nonprofits move from low-level risks such as searching your own inbox for an important email to higher-risk activities more prone to consequential errors, such as automation and analysis.Common AI risks include inaccuracy, lack of authenticity, reputational damage, and copyright and privacy violations.AI also has risk factors associated with audience: your personal use probably has pretty low risk that you will be fooled or divulge sensitive information to yourself, but when you use AI to communicate with the public, the risk increases for your nonprofit.How to Manage AI Risks at Nonprofits? Start with an AI Policy. Review it often as the technology and tools are changing rapidly.Use your own judgement. A good rule of thumb is to use AI tools to create things that you are already knowledgeable about, so that you can easily assess the accuracy of the AI output. Transparency matters. Let people know AI was used and how it was used. Use an “Assisted by AI” disclaimer when appropriate.Require a human third party review before sharing AI created materials with the public. State this in your transparency policy/disclaimers. Be honest about the roles of AI and humans in your nonprofit work.Curate data sources, and always know what your AI is using to create materials or analysis. Guard against bias and harm to communities you care about.“I've been helping clients develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) policies lately. AI has lots of innovative uses and every last one of them has some risk associated with it, so I regularly urge my clients to get the policies and training in place before they let staff loose with the tools. Here is a generic version of a powerpoint explaining AI risks and policies for nonprofits. “Peter Campbell, Techcafeteria _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.

Dr. James Burke with Willis Knighton Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery North discusses the advances of robotic surgery over the last several years and how this technique has improved patient outcomes, recovery times, and decreased hospital stay.

“I told you so starts here” Over the past 200 days (the first 200 of the second Trump term) many details have come to light that confirmed things that for years had been dismissed as “conspiracy theories.” Just this week, details that show that the FBI, under Trump's own AG, Jeff Sessions, had whistleblower testimony that they failed to follow up on regarding classified document leaks from then-Congressman Adam Schiff that were leaked to trigger embarrassing investigations into the President in time to impact the 2018 mid-term elections. Also this week, the Capitol Police Chief finally spoke out and confirmed that the President had asked for the National Guard be deployed to the Capitol building on January third. Three days before the deadly riots. Stories like this come from courageous independent investigative reporters like John Soloman at ‘justthenews.com' our guest, Walter Curt of ‘WCdispatch.com' who shares with us two stories. The first is of two teenage girls who allege that they were taken to get abortions by Fairfax County school officials without alerting their parents. Just now, we are learning that Governor Youngkin has announced that he is “directing the Virginia State police bureau of criminal investigation to open a full criminal investigation.” The second regards a group of former US intelligence officers that call themselves “the Steady State” who have endorsed their former co-worker in the intelligence field, Abigail Spanberger, for Virginia Governor. Keep Up With The Daily Signal   Sign up for our email newsletters:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.dailysignal.com/email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠     Subscribe to our other shows:    The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AFk8xjiOOBEynVg3JiN6g  The Signal Sitdown: https://megaphone.link/THEDAILYSIGNAL2026390376   Problematic Women:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://megaphone.link/THEDAILYSIGNAL7765680741   Victor Davis Hanson: https://megaphone.link/THEDAILYSIGNAL9809784327   Follow The Daily Signal:    X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://x.com/intent/user?screen_name=DailySignal Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Truth Social:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1    Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Assisted living for aged sheep

It's time for another round of business idea giveaways, this time with an AI-assisted theme to them! Pete McPherson from doyouevenblog.com and codeplaybook.com stopped by to help me out with these. (Side Hustle Show listeners get $100 off Pete's Code Playbook with our referral link. This is where he teaches non-coders how to build profitable web apps with AI.) He was last on just a few months ago in Ep. 659 talking about AI-coded apps. Tune in to Episode 689 of the Side Hustle Show to learn: 18 specific AI product ideas you could build How to validate demand before you code a single line Which ideas have the best exit strategy potential Tools and shortcuts to get your app launched fast Full Show Notes: 18 AI-Assisted Product Ideas You Could Build and Sell New to the Show? Get your personalized money-making playlist ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Sponsors: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mint Mobile⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Cut your wireless bill to $15 a month! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Indeed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Start hiring NOW with a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job post! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OpenPhone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Get 20% off of your first 6 months! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shopify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Sign up for a $1 per month trial!

In this essential episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Dr. Temple Grandin, one of the world's most influential voices on autism, sensory processing, and practical approaches to learning and healing. Together, they explore how therapeutic riding centers can do more than just offer horse time—they can create whole environments of sensory safety, meaningful skill-building, and community resilience.Dr. Grandin shares her personal experiences growing up autistic, her early fears and breakthroughs, and the real-life tools that helped her thrive—tools that every equine program can apply. From using turn-taking games to stimulate speech to setting up repair shops and greeter stations to build confidence and career readiness, this episode is a blueprint for any equine-assisted center aiming to have deeper impact. If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome ✨ What You'll Learn in This Episode:The Power of Observation & Following the Child (Starts at 01:00)How Rupert adapted Temple's three-step approach to help his nonverbal sonWhy nature and movement are essential for sensory integrationEquine Interaction & Sensory Patterns (Starts at 04:00)The three ways autistic kids respond to animalsWhat PET scans and OTs show about rhythm, balance, and the cerebellumWhy nature and gardens still matter even without horsesEarly Intervention with Church Play & Library Play (Starts at 07:00)Why many children can't afford to be on waitlistsTurn-taking games and imitation as entry pointsHow to tap into local retirees to fill gaps in early interventionTheory of Mind & Naturalistic Learning (Starts at 08:30)Flapping, spinning coins, and making daisy chains as foundational social engagementHow structured tasks lead to intellectual developmentHigh Expectations with Support (Starts at 14:00)Accommodating without overprotecting: ferry horns and dessert rulesWhy selling candy and hosting parties mattered for both Temple and Bill GatesPractical Skills, Tools & Trades (Starts at 20:00)From coat hangers to glue guns: the neuroscience of hands-on learningHow fixing things builds brains and self-worthRebuilding the Workshop Culture (Starts at 28:00)Why shop class should return to therapeutic barnsVisual thinkers vs. math thinkers: all kinds of brains need tactile trainingUsing retired mechanics, carpenters, and engineers as mentorsStructured Responsibility Around the Barn (Starts at 34:00)Real tasks: mucking, grooming, feeding, building stallsHow responsibility leads to confidence and safety awarenessSocial Skills Training through Greeting & Selling (Starts at 43:00)Simulating cookie sales, greeter roles, and party host behaviorControlled exposure to rejection and resilience buildingJob Skills, Routine & Community Integration (Starts at 51:00)Creating modern equivalents of paper routes with local volunteersWhy non-family bosses matter for skill-buildingTap into senior centers to address budget shortfallsThe Cost of Screen Time & the Value of Movement (Starts at 54:00)How too much tech stunts developmentWhat real-world vestibular tasks do for brain growthCognitive, Motor & Emotional Growth Through Challenge (Starts at 59:00)The science behind tool use, play, and heavy workBalancing boards, swings, and walking rails in arenas and homesMedication, Anxiety & Exercise (Starts at 67:00)Temple's 40-year experience with antidepressantsWhy burst exercise helps more than walkingHow low-dose meds plus movement can regulate fear systems

On this heartwarming episode of Working Like Dogs on Pet Life Radio, Marcie and Fenway chat with Diane Rampelberg, founder of Dustin's Paw a remarkable nonprofit based in Idaho. Since 2000, Diane has been pioneering canine-enhanced learning and therapy for children with disabilities. With her Canine Companions-trained facility dog, Leopold, by her side, Diane works as a Canine Modality Specialist, designing creative, interactive activities that help children achieve their therapeutic and educational goals. Diane shares how she collaborates with professional teams to unlock each child's potential through the powerful human–canine bond. Tune in to hear how she's transforming lives, one paw at a time.EPISODE NOTES: Paws, Play, and Possibility: Unlocking Potential with Canine-Assisted Learning Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

We unpack how AI is reshaping hiring decisions, shifting job roles, and creating new expectations for professionals — from engineers to marketers. They explore the rise of AI-assisted teams, the growing compensation bubble, why continuous learning is now table stakes, and how some service providers are quietly riding the AI wave.Featuring:Chris Benson – Website, LinkedIn, Bluesky, GitHub, XDaniel Whitenack – Website, GitHub, XSponsors:Outshift by Cisco: AGNTCY is an open source collective building the Internet of Agents. It's a collaboration layer where AI agents can communicate, discover each other, and work across frameworks. For developers, this means standardized agent discovery tools, seamless protocols for inter-agent communication, and modular components to compose and scale multi-agent workflows."Register for upcoming webinars here!

We interview Leopoldo Cabassa and Dani Adams about implementation sciences' role in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. We talk about the evidence for psychedelic assisted therapy, its implementation barriers and facilitators, the role of implementation science in moving psychedelic assited therapy from the clinic to the field, and we'll get them started on some excellent rants about implementation science. Discussed during the show: Trickett, E. J. (2011). From “water boiling in a Peruvian town” to “letting them die”: Culture, community intervention, and the metabolic balance between patience and zeal. American Journal of Community Psychology, 47, 58-68. Raghavan, R., Bright, C. L., & Shadoin, A. L. (2008). Toward a policy ecology of implementation of evidence-based practices in public mental health settings. Implementation Science, 3, 1-9. Palinkas, L. A., Allred, C. A., & Landsverk, J. A. (2005). Models of research-operational collaboration for behavioral health in space. Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, 76(6), B52-B60. https://socialwork.columbia.edu/directory/heidi-l-allen https://sites.wustl.edu/centerforpsychedelics/ @daniadams  

In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Tammy Nelson to discuss Ketamine Assisted Relational Psychotherapy (KARP) as a potential pathway to release old habitual thoughts and patterns of relating to your partner.

In this inspiring episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Melissa Connor, Executive Director of Renew Therapeutic Riding Center in Holland, Michigan. Recorded just weeks after Rupert visited the center, this conversation highlights what it takes to create a truly horse-centered therapeutic program—where equine well-being is as prioritized as human healing.Melissa shares her decades-long journey through the equine-assisted services field, how she shaped a program with excellence in horse care, and the practical systems Renew uses to maintain a thriving herd of 22 horses. From rider conditioning and pasture management to financial sustainability and healthy organizational culture, Melissa offers a rare, transparent view into what truly ethical equine-assisted work looks like behind the scenes. If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome ✨ What You'll Learn in This Episode:Creating a Culture of Equine Well-Being (Starts at 01:00)Why therapeutic horses deserve the same quality of care as competition horsesHow listening to horses and honoring their vocation sets the foundationThe importance of movement, friendship, and forage (the three F's)Evolving Out of the "Donated Horse" Mentality (Starts at 09:00)Melissa's early experiences with horses in VirginiaWhy therapeutic programs shouldn't accept broken-down or unsuitable horsesHow to reframe our value system when it comes to horses in serviceSetting Standards for Horse Acceptance & Retirement (Starts at 20:00)How Renew handles free leases and vet care capsWhy written agreements and ongoing owner relationships are criticalWhat happens when retirement is needed—but the owner steps backToplines, Thriving, and Conditioning (Starts at 29:00)Rupert's reaction to seeing three glowing, fit therapy horsesThe conditioning system at Renew: riding, groundwork, and professional lessonsWhy not all conditioning needs to involve riding—and how Teke work will integrateTime Management & Staff Structure (Starts at 37:00)How Renew blocks out weekly time for horse conditioningUsing shared digital logs and notes to communicate across staffWhy excellence in horsemanship is a hiring priorityFinding Skilled Riders for Conditioning (Starts at 41:00)Where and how Renew recruits advanced, balanced ridersWhy setting the bar high helps attract the right peopleBuilding a team of instructors with both equestrian and teaching skillsTurning Horses Out—Even in Michigan Winters (Starts at 47:00)How Renew designed their pastures and shelter for 24/7 turnoutThe mental and physical benefits of herd life and freedom to moveManaging blankets, individualized care, and daily wellness checksFunding a High-Standard Therapeutic Program (Starts at 56:00)Renew's journey from a small leased parcel to a built-from-scratch facilityStrategies that work: storytelling, Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary clubsWhy inviting donors to the farm changes everythingCommunity Culture, Conflict & Longevity (Starts at 1:10:00)How Renew fosters staff cohesion, continued education, and joy at workMelissa's perspective on conflict resolution and non-toxic leadershipBuilding systems that ensure sustainability beyond one leaderThe Future of Equine Assisted Services (Starts at 1:33:00)Why mentorship is urgently needed in our fast-growing fieldRecruiting not just horse people, but professionals in governance and financeMelissa's dream: long-term impact and positive life change with every ride

A judge denied the Trump Administration's request to unseal transcripts from the Epstein investigations. Assisted living homes prepare for questioning. The town of Stow changes it's name to "Dunkin" for the day. Stay in "The Loop" with WBZ News Radio.

Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sits down to talk about the biggest stories in church and state. This time: Theological reflections on the horrendous Texas flooding.12-year-old school girl sent home for celebrating Britain in Culture Celebration Day. Update from Church of England's General Synod: Gay Marriage on the rocks; clergy pension boost; no discussion of Israel boycott; no to "assisted dying".All that and much much more as ever!Apply for the Berrow and Longdon clergy vacancy! https://jobs.churchtimes.co.uk/jobs/Priest-in-Charge-in-West-Midlands-jn13857Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNYou make this podcast possible. Please support us!On Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendBuy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Daniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" and "Signs of the Times" Substacks: https://jamiefranklin.substack.com and https://signsofthetimesblog.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and much more https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.com Support the show

Dr. Zoë Harcombe is an intellectual powerhouse—a Cambridge graduate with degrees in economics and mathematics, a long-standing member of Mensa, and a fearless truth-seeker. In this episode, she brings her sharp insight and deep curiosity to a wide-ranging conversation that spans nutrition, public health, and the increasingly complex issue of free speech. Before dedicating herself to the world of diet and health in 2008, Zoë built a high-flying career in the corporate world. She held international roles in management consulting, manufacturing, and marketing across major global industries—from FMCG to telecoms—before focusing on Human Resources. She's worked on the inside of both Big Food (Mars Inc.) and Big Pharma (GSK), giving her a rare, insider's perspective on how these powerful sectors operate. At the height of her corporate journey, she served as Vice President of HR for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In this episode, Drs. Tro and Zoë talk about… (00:00) Intro (04:04) Dr. Zoë's career shift from working for Big Food to becoming a diet, health, and nutrition researcher  (08:04) Dr. Zoë's first book (see links below) (09:57) Calorie Counting versus eating a whole food diet featuring meat, fish, eggs, non-starchy vegetables, and yogurt (15:55) Vested interests and the possibility of change to the dietary guidelines (23:12) The war against free-thought and why you should keep your mind open to new ideas that contradict the majority opinion (36:33) The insane level of censorship of free speech in the UK (42:58) Assisted suicide, abortion, and climate change in the UK (53:31) Why the facts of nutrition contradict the guidelines (55:35) Dietary carbohydrates now versus in your grandparent's generation (01:05:37) What Dr. Zoë eats in a day (01:08:01) Dr. Zoë's hobbies and favorite activities (01:11:00) Outro For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening! Links: Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/ Dr. Zoe Harcombe: Website: https://www.zoeharcombe.com/ Books: https://www.zoeharcombe.com/my-books/ X: https://x.com/zoeharcombe Dr. Brian Lenzkes:  Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author Dr. Tro Kalayjian:  Website: https://www.doctortro.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/ Toward Health App Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together.  Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more.  Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888  Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US Learn more: https://doctortro.com/community/ 

Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier and convicted sex offender who became notorious for his involvement in a high-profile sex trafficking ring. Born on January 20, 1953, Epstein worked as a financier and was well-connected with various influential individuals, including politicians, business tycoons, and celebrities.Epstein's activities came to light in the early 2000s when he was investigated by law enforcement agencies for allegedly sexually exploiting underage girls. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor in Florida and was sentenced to 18 months in jail. However, he served only 13 months and was granted a controversial work release program.Epstein's case gained renewed attention in 2019 when he was arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. The indictment accused him of operating a vast network that recruited underage girls for sexual exploitation, with incidents alleged to have taken place in his luxurious residences in New York, Florida, and other locations.Epstein's connections to powerful figures, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Britain's Prince Andrew, and numerous other prominent individuals, raised significant concerns and led to widespread speculation about the extent of his activities and potential co-conspirators.Before he could stand trial for the federal charges, Epstein was found dead in his jail cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York City on August 10, 2019. The official cause of death was ruled as suicide by hanging, but his death sparked numerous conspiracy theories and allegations of foul play due to the high-profile nature of the case and the potential implications for those connected to Epstein.Epstein's death did not bring an end to the investigations surrounding his activities. Civil lawsuits against his estate, filed by numerous victims, continued, aiming to seek justice and financial compensation.Furthermore, government agencies and law enforcement authorities continued their efforts to uncover the extent of his sex trafficking ring and any possible co-conspirators involved.The case of Jeffrey Epstein remains a subject of public interest and scrutiny, highlighting the issue of sex trafficking and the abuse of power. It exposed the vulnerabilities of the justice system and raised questions about the influence of wealth and privilege.As the lawsuit between JP Morgan, Jes Staley and The USVI continues to roll on, I think it's important to look at the USVI and their behavior during the time Jeffrey Epstein was a resident there and in this episode that is exactly what we do and we are asking the question:Why didn't the USVI do more to stop Jeffrey Epstein?(commercial at 13:02)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:On Epstein's ‘Little St. Jeff's' island, a hideaway where money bought influence | The StarBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Dr. Reedy welcomes Dr. Alexa Altman where she discusses how psychedelics bring the unconscious material into consciousness. She talks about the importance of integration. Dr. Altman's Website: https://www.i-psychedelic.com 1. Single-dose psilocybin (25 mg) with psychological support for MDDJAMA – “Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder” psychiatryonline.org+15sunstonetherapies.com+15pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+15 Summary: Demonstrated strong antidepressant effects and good tolerability over follow-up. Email: info@hopkinspsychedelic.org 2. One-Year Follow-Up of Psilocybin for Depression Study: Long-term effects of psilocybin therapy for depression Johns Hopkins – “Psilocybin treatment for major depression effective for up to a year” Summary: 67% of participants remained in remission one year post-treatment. 3. MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Severe PTSD Randomized, placebo-controlled MDMA-assisted therapy Nature Medicine – “MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD” Summary: Significant reduction in PTSD symptoms, well‑tolerated in a diverse cohort. Contact (MAPS / Lykos Therapeutics): Email: info@maps.org 4. Psilocybin for Cancer-Related Anxiety & Depression Psilocybin in patients with life-threatening cancer PMC – “High-dose psilocybin produced large decreases in depressed mood and anxiety…” Summary: 80% of participants maintained significant symptom relief at 6 months. Website: heffter.org (contact via site) en.wikipedia.org 1. Johns Hopkins University Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research Psilocybin for depression, anxiety, addiction, and end-of-life distress Why it's top-tier: The first major U.S. institution to receive regulatory approval for psychedelic research in modern times.

Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier and convicted sex offender who became notorious for his involvement in a high-profile sex trafficking ring. Born on January 20, 1953, Epstein worked as a financier and was well-connected with various influential individuals, including politicians, business tycoons, and celebrities.Epstein's activities came to light in the early 2000s when he was investigated by law enforcement agencies for allegedly sexually exploiting underage girls. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor in Florida and was sentenced to 18 months in jail. However, he served only 13 months and was granted a controversial work release program.Epstein's case gained renewed attention in 2019 when he was arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. The indictment accused him of operating a vast network that recruited underage girls for sexual exploitation, with incidents alleged to have taken place in his luxurious residences in New York, Florida, and other locations.Epstein's connections to powerful figures, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Britain's Prince Andrew, and numerous other prominent individuals, raised significant concerns and led to widespread speculation about the extent of his activities and potential co-conspirators.Before he could stand trial for the federal charges, Epstein was found dead in his jail cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York City on August 10, 2019. The official cause of death was ruled as suicide by hanging, but his death sparked numerous conspiracy theories and allegations of foul play due to the high-profile nature of the case and the potential implications for those connected to Epstein.Epstein's death did not bring an end to the investigations surrounding his activities. Civil lawsuits against his estate, filed by numerous victims, continued, aiming to seek justice and financial compensation.Furthermore, government agencies and law enforcement authorities continued their efforts to uncover the extent of his sex trafficking ring and any possible co-conspirators involved.The case of Jeffrey Epstein remains a subject of public interest and scrutiny, highlighting the issue of sex trafficking and the abuse of power. It exposed the vulnerabilities of the justice system and raised questions about the influence of wealth and privilege.As the lawsuit between JP Morgan, Jes Staley and The USVI continues to roll on, I think it's important to look at the USVI and their behavior during the time Jeffrey Epstein was a resident there and in this episode that is exactly what we do and we are asking the question:Why didn't the USVI do more to stop Jeffrey Epstein?(commercial at 13:02)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:On Epstein's ‘Little St. Jeff's' island, a hideaway where money bought influence | The Star

It's lightning topic time! AI Assisted Coding, Archiving a Library, .NET MAUI XAML in .NET 10, 1 Month of Switch 2, CarPlay Live Activities, and new .NET MAUI 10 features. Follow Us Frank: Twitter, Blog, GitHub James: Twitter, Blog, GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter, Facebook, Website, Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by Adventureface ⭐⭐ Review Us (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/merge-conflict/id1133064277?mt=2&ls=1) ⭐⭐ Machine transcription available on http://mergeconflict.fm

Intro topic: Getting an entry-level jobNews/Links:Mario Kart 64 Fully Decompiledhttps://gbatemp.net/threads/mario-kart-64-decompilation-project-reaches-100-completion.671104/Q-Learning is not yet scalablehttps://seohong.me/blog/q-learning-is-not-yet-scalable/Grover's Algorithmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQWpF2Gb-gU&vl=enOrangePi has a RISC-V SBChttps://linuxgizmos.com/orangepi-rv2-a-cost-effective-risc-v-board-with-m-2-2280-slot-and-dual-gigabit-ethernet/Book of the ShowPatrickThe Will of the Many (James Islington)https://amzn.to/44DznszJasonThe Intelligence Traphttps://amzn.to/3TqoKCBPatreon Plug https://www.patreon.com/programmingthrowdown?ty=hTool of the ShowPatrick Pokemon Odysseyhttps://www.reddit.com/r/PokemonROMhacks/comments/1l9zdta/pok%C3%A9mon_odyssey_final_release/JasonNetflix Gameshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=6891422865930303475&hl=en_USTopic: WhySpeed up developmentCatch errors faster than type checking/compilingWriting tedious boilerplate codeAsk questions and learn local informationLook good for hiring managersHowExtensions for VSCode & other IDEs for inline suggestionsChat with a selection/fileCommand-line Tools run at the root directoryLocal vs CloudExamplesCopilot (VSCode extension)Use the experimental modeCursor (Custom IDE)Jumps to suggest changes in other placesSimilar to copilot experimental modeRooCode (VSCode extension) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

If medically assisted weight loss is part of your revenue stream, this episode is non-negotiable. I sat down with attorney, spa owner, and compliance educator Courtney Walker to unpack the current chaos around GLP-1s—semaglutide, tirzepatide, and the like. From cease and desist letters to compounding confusion to trademark traps, Courtney breaks down what's really going on and how you can move forward with confidence. Whether you're all-in on weight loss programs or just exploring, you need to know your legal and operational options. What you'll learn during this episode: What's changing around compounded GLP-1s—and why it matters for spa owners The real difference between legal risk vs. operational compliance How cease and desist letters work—and what to do if you receive one What pharmaceutical companies are targeting next How to vet pharmacies, avoid marketing violations, and stay in your lane legally Resources Mentioned in Episode #EP 440:  Legal Clarity on GLP-1s in Medically Assisted Weight Loss with Courtney Walker Courtney on Instagram: @itscourtapproved www.courtapprovedaesthetics.com Keep the conversation going inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Community by clicking here. IG / @addoaesthetics WEB / addoaesthetics.com YOUTUBE / @addoaesthetics LINKEDIN / @addoaesthetics   ABOUT THE SPA MARKETING MADE EASY HOST      About Your Host, Daniela Woerner Daniela Woerner is the founder and CEO of Addo Aesthetics, a leading community for aesthetic professionals, and the creator of the Growth Factor® Framework—a proven system that has helped 582 six- and seven-figure spa owners scale their businesses with strategy and systems. With nearly two decades in the aesthetics industry, Daniela has trained alongside top physician-dispensed brands, consulted with leading dermatologists, and helped thousands of spa professionals streamline their operations and maximize profitability. Her mission? To transform overworked aesthetic professionals into Spa CEOs—building a business and life they love with the strategic systems needed for long-term financial growth. As the host of the Spa Marketing Made Easy podcast, Daniela brings expert insights, real-world strategies, and in-depth conversations to help spa owners elevate their marketing, optimize their operations, and create sustainable success. With over 400 published episodes, 1 million+ downloads, and a ranking in the top 1% of all podcasts worldwide, Spa Marketing Made Easy is the go-to resource for spa and aesthetic professionals looking to level up. Tune in each week for actionable strategies, expert interviews, and inspiration to help you build a thriving, systemized, and scalable spa business!