Podcasts about backers

On this episode of the Established Podcast, we hear from Jillian Friot who is the CEO of the Global Venture Network and Donna Harris, the CEO of Builders and Backers.    Jillian and Donna were interviewed as part of our Established Network, Monthly Innovation Circle, and we continue to host these events on the third Thursday of every month. Sign up today at: http://est.us/TheMIC202   Get Involved! Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), and innovators, we invite you to join the Established Network, our digital hub where creativity, capital, and collaboration collide. https://established.network    Watch the episode on the Established YouTube Channel at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube   Thank you for listening, and as always, please check out the Established website and subscribe to the newsletter at: www.est.us    Subscribe to the Established podcast: https://theestablishedpodcast.com/     Startup of the Year helps diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs push their companies to the next level. We are a competition, a global community, and a resource. Startup of the Year is also a year-long program that searches the country for a geographically diverse set of startups from all backgrounds and pulls them together to compete for the title of Startup of the Year. Check out Startup of the Year at: www.startupofyear.com   Established is a consultancy focused on helping organizations with innovation, startup, and communication strategies. It is the power behind Startup of the Year. Created by the talent responsible for building the Tech.Co brand (acquired by an international publishing company), we are leveraging decades of experience to help our collaborators best further (or create) their brand & accomplish their most important goals. Check out Established at: www.established.us Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) - @EstablishedUs    Connect with us on Facebook - facebook.com/established.us

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MARC, a Dublin-based AI company, is changing how large real estate portfolios manage contract and expense data. Backed by investors including Jack Pierse (Wayflyer), Susan Spence (SoftCo), Tom Kennedy (Hostelworld), and more, founder Aaron Devitt built MARC to reinvent how critical asset management data is managed at scale. Since launching in 2024, MARC has scaled from 40-unit Irish property managers to 25,000-unit US-based owners. After seeing firsthand how poor property management practices affected renters and asset managers, then 22-year-old Devitt deferred from college to build proptech startup, Marc to serve as the contract-to-invoice truth layer for the property industry. MARC's AI agents turn buried vendor contracts into structured, live operational data, cutting work that typically takes 2-3 months down to a matter of seconds. Large property portfolios can involve thousands of vendor contracts covering services, licenses, and certifications. Critical details such as renewal dates, termination rights, escalation clauses, and fee structures are often scattered across inboxes, shared drives, and legacy systems, making budgeting, routine audits, asset sales and invoice comparison reviews slow and error-prone. MARC builds AI Contract Agents that locate, uncover, read, and structure every contract across fragmented organisations. MARC addresses this by deploying AI agents that plug directly into existing document stores, including email inboxes and SharePoint. The system automatically locates contracts, extracts key terms, and organises them into a live source of truth that teams can query instantly, enabling asset management teams to operate 200 times faster than humans. MARC also compares historically buried contract terms against monthly invoices, helping institutional operators identify discrepancies and over billings before they impact net operating income (NOI). Since launching in 2024, MARC has grown from serving local Irish property managers to working with institutional owners managing 5,000–35,000 units across the U.S. and Canada. Its customers now represent more than $80 billion in assets under management. After securing some of Ireland's largest property managers as customers, including Sherry Fitzgerald Lettings and DNG Lettings, in 2025, the MARC team began to serve institutional real estate owners across North America. The company now works with multiple operators managing between 5,000 and 30,000 residential units across more than 20 U.S. states. Today, MARC's customers represent a combined assets-under-management (AUM) figure of over $75 billion. "When you manage thousands of units, contract data directly affects asset values, but most teams can't access that data quickly or reliably," said Aaron Devitt, Founder and CEO of MARC. "On top of this, the relationship between the Accounts Payable (AP) systems and Contract Management Systems (CMS) have been historically disconnected, causing marginal and continuous over billing at scale. To the tune of many millions of dollars for larger residential portfolios." "This is why we built MARC, the connective layer between the CMS and the AP systems, ensuring every portfolio contract is accurate, up-to-date and being billed for accordingly, without thousands of human hours required to find, vet, and verify thousands of contracts." MARC has raised a $1 million pre-seed round from 23 angel investors, with no venture capital participation. Backers include Jack Pierse (Wayflyer), Tom Kennedy (Hostelworld), Susan Spence (SoftCo), Eoghan Quigley (Dublin Chamber of Commerce), and James McGann (Unmind), alongside multiple institutional real estate investors and U.S.-based multifamily executives. The funding is being deployed to advance the product and drive expansion into the North American market. "Backing founders like Aaron is how we continue to build Ireland's next generation of global technology companies," said Jack Pierse, co-founder of Wayflyer. "MARC is tackling a ...

Let's unpack what happened during the legislative session this week in Olympia, including: Rally for voter initiatives. Massive hearing on proposed millionaires' tax. Democrat-backed bill would make it harder for cities to clear homeless camps.

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jackie DiBartolomeo discuss the Richmond region's top business stories. This week they discuss a deal to buy Sports Backers Stadium, a round of a layoffs and Swedish Match and new housing coming to the Manchester neighborhood.

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan tackle gaming topics in our Miskatonic Debate Club (booth)! Part 2/2. Patreon Plug & Update Hey guys! Here is your friendly and loving reminder that MUP has a Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone has chosen to back and support us! You guys keep the lights on around here and we're so thankful for all of you.  Backers helped cultivate this very episode. The Discord Plug That's right! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Nate for editing this episode.  Main Topic Welcome everyone to our reoccurring segment, the Miskatonic University Debate Club! During this segment, we've polled our patreon backers for topics that the hosts will argue to the best of our ability. The goal here is to demonstrate healthy argumentation, to have fun, to stretch our own debate skills, and most importantly to share valid perspectives to opposing topics in our industry!  Classic versus Original Monsters Roll mitigations Dice verus gimmicks

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan tackle gaming topics in our Miskatonic Debate Club (booth)! Part 2/2. Patreon Plug & Update Hey guys! Here is your friendly and loving reminder that MUP has a Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone has chosen to back and support us! You guys keep the lights on around here and we're so thankful for all of you.  Backers helped cultivate this very episode. The Discord Plug That's right! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Nate for editing this episode.  Main Topic Welcome everyone to our reoccurring segment, the Miskatonic University Debate Club! During this segment, we've polled our patreon backers for topics that the hosts will argue to the best of our ability. The goal here is to demonstrate healthy argumentation, to have fun, to stretch our own debate skills, and most importantly to share valid perspectives to opposing topics in our industry!  Classic versus Original Monsters Roll mitigations Dice verus gimmicks

Creativity doesn't come with a handbook, so we're building our own. We swap notes on how solo game makers and artists actually get things done: setting a three-influence pillar to keep ideas fresh, designing from mechanics without losing theme, and navigating the murky last 5 percent where projects stall. Sarah shares how Bluebeard's Bride and Velvet Glove grew from triangulated influences, why a haunted hotel retreat unlocked a stuck chapter, and how tiny mint‑tin drawings rebuilt a drawing habit. Jay brings a crunchy “debt‑punk” concept where upgrades cost debt and the whole loop is about clawing your way back to zero, plus the reality of pacing work under the gaze of Kickstarter backers.We get candid about boundaries, voice, and trust. Backers deserve clarity, not personal disclosure, so we talk about communicating progress without oversharing. Editing is a partnership that should preserve tone, not sand it down. Accountability doesn't have to be a crowd; sometimes it's a weekly call with one trusted peer who will cheer, critique, and expect pages by Tuesday. And when screens drain you, physical making—ink sketches, pencils, binding, even painting minis—can refill the well in a way no doc can. Music becomes a quiet engine for focus too: looping Yes Yeah Yeahs for a vast, echoing dungeon vibe; dropping All Them Witches to score void‑cathedrals and space‑goth moods.There's a personal layer we don't gloss over: how early support—or the lack of it—shapes creative identity, and how we parent with privacy in mind while giving kids real access to tools, art, and music. We close with an “Ask One Forward” prompt for our next guests, the Bakers, about social media, kids, and creativity, and we lay out what's shipping: In The Pines in edit, Velvet Glove headed to editing, Prison Planet drafting, and more playtests on deck. If you care about game design craft, sustainable habits, and finishing strong without losing your voice, this one's for you.Enjoyed the conversation? Follow, share with a creative friend, and leave a review with your favorite trick for getting from 95 percent to done.Send us a textSupport the showThanks for listening to Diceology! If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Want to support the show and get exclusive content? Head over to Play Fearless or My Patreon to subscribe and join the community! Let's make this our regular thing!

We have a new Development Manager, Ryan McCracken! Ryan started in January, but we've seen him before. He won the inaugural Virginia Credit Union River City Half and he placed third at this year's Allianz Richmond Marathon. Hear more about his love of running, passion for donuts, and movie grading scale.

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan tackle gaming topics in our Miskatonic Debate Club (booth)! Part 1/2. Patreon Plug & Update Hey guys! Here is your friendly and loving reminder that MUP has a Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone has chosen to back and support us! You guys keep the lights on around here and we're so thankful for all of you.  Backers helped cultivate this very episode. The Discord Plug That's right! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Gene for editing this episode.  Bridgett's Pet Pick Shout Out New arrival and fan of the show Christine Fisher just shared an adorable cat, fast asleep near a window, with the following caption: This is Anna Mae, celebrating the warmth of every new day. And I just really appreciate the beauty and the simplicity of, “celebrating the warmth of a new day.”  Enjoy Anna Mae! And thank you for the reminder.  Main Topic Welcome everyone to our reOccurring segment, the Miskatonic University Debate Club! During this segment, we've polled our patreon backers for topics that the hosts will argue to the best of our ability. The goal here is to demonstrate healthy argumentation, to have fun, to stretch our own debate skills, and most importantly to share valid perspectives to opposing topics in our industry!  Conflict resolution – mediation narrative or hard rolled mechanics! Online conventions or in-person conventions  GM screen or no GM screen Pulp versus Classic Style Horror

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan tackle gaming topics in our Miskatonic Debate Club (booth)! Part 1/2. Patreon Plug & Update Hey guys! Here is your friendly and loving reminder that MUP has a Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone has chosen to back and support us! You guys keep the lights on around here and we're so thankful for all of you.  Backers helped cultivate this very episode. The Discord Plug That's right! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor Gene for editing this episode.  Bridgett's Pet Pick Shout Out New arrival and fan of the show Christine Fisher just shared an adorable cat, fast asleep near a window, with the following caption: This is Anna Mae, celebrating the warmth of every new day. And I just really appreciate the beauty and the simplicity of, “celebrating the warmth of a new day.”  Enjoy Anna Mae! And thank you for the reminder.  Main Topic Welcome everyone to our reOccurring segment, the Miskatonic University Debate Club! During this segment, we've polled our patreon backers for topics that the hosts will argue to the best of our ability. The goal here is to demonstrate healthy argumentation, to have fun, to stretch our own debate skills, and most importantly to share valid perspectives to opposing topics in our industry!  Conflict resolution – mediation narrative or hard rolled mechanics! Online conventions or in-person conventions  GM screen or no GM screen Pulp versus Classic Style Horror

The multibillion-dollar project Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on Chicago's South Side promises to be one of the largest private investments in the area. Backers of the project say it will be an economic boon for the area, creating jobs and affordable housing. But some residents are concerned about the economic and environmental impact the 128-acre park will have on the area. On today's In the Loop, who benefits from the forthcoming Quantum campus? We ask our panel: John F. Zasadzinski, professor of physics, Illinois Institute of Technology; Samir Mayekar, associate vice president and managing director of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; and Clifton Muhammad, member of the South Side Environmental Task Force. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

David Goerger of Denver Bills Backers on preparations for Saturday's playoff game full 254 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:46:00 +0000 TRj7nJqOSTgphDDSj5hweAQe4k6Wl3mE news & politics,news WBEN Extras news & politics,news David Goerger of Denver Bills Backers on preparations for Saturday's playoff game Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News & Politics News False https://pla

WBEN's Tom Puckett on Denver Bills Backers getting ready for Saturday's playoff full 60 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 22:44:15 +0000 8CfG1tpZGdjcOvSYvVqLejTaNIMOixcq news & politics,news WBEN Extras news & politics,news WBEN's Tom Puckett on Denver Bills Backers getting ready for Saturday's playoff Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News & Politics News False https://playe

It's an exciting weekend for Bills fans in Jacksonville as the team heads down to play the Jags in the Wild Card round Sunday. Mayor Bill tells us how fans are feeling.

Sports Backers is now offering fitness classes at the Sports Backers Fitness Studio! We have a crew of Fitness Warriors offering a variety of classes for $10 a session and it's the perfect way to keep up with your New Year's resolutions. Nan & Kam talked with Chanette Hawkes, one of the instructors that's currently teaching a circuit class. Come check 'em out!

The United Nations Security Council's first meeting of 2026 heard a global chorus of UN member states strongly denounce the United States' strike in Venezuela as a grave violation of the UN Charter, although a US representative defended it as a "surgical law enforcement operation".At Monday's emergency session, Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, urged Washington to heed the international community's "overwhelming voice", comply with international law and the UN Charter, halt actions that infringe on other countries' sovereignty and security, stop toppling Venezuela's government, and return to dialogue and negotiations as the path to a political solution.Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, seized and brought to the US on Saturday after a large-scale US strike in the South American nation, pleaded not guilty in federal court in New York on Monday to charges of narco-terrorism. Crowds of protesters gathered outside the courthouse, many voicing opposition to the US action against Venezuela.Sun expressed China's "deep shock" and strong condemnation of what he described as the "unilateral, illegal and bullying acts" of the US, and he called for Washington to ensure the safety of Maduro and his wife, and to release them immediately."The US has placed its own power above multilateralism and military actions above diplomatic efforts,"Sun said, warning that such actions pose a grave threat to peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean and even internationally.He said the US military strikes "wantonly trampled" on Venezuela's sovereignty and violated core tenets of the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereign equality, noninterference in internal affairs, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and prohibition of the use of force in international relations."The lessons of history are a stark warning," Sun said, adding that military means are not the solution to international problems, and the indiscriminate use of force will only lead to greater crises.He cited past US actions, such as bypassing the Security Council to launch military operations against Iraq, attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, and the imposition of economic sanctions, military strikes and armed occupations in Latin America and the Caribbean.Those actions caused persistent conflict, instability and immense suffering for ordinary people, he said.The envoy reiterated that China firmly supports the Venezuelan government and people in safeguarding their sovereignty, security and legitimate rights and interests, and supports countries in the region in upholding Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace.He called on the US to change course, cease bullying and coercive practices, and develop relations and cooperation with countries in the region on the basis of mutual respect, equality and noninterference in internal affairs.Addressing the UN meeting, US economist Jeffrey Sachs said that the US military action and ongoing pressure violate Article 2, Section 4 of the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, called these actions part of a long-standing US pattern of "covert regime change", citing a historical record of 70 such operations between 1947 and 1989 alone.The US should "immediately cease and desist from all explicit and implicit threats or uses of force against Venezuela", he said.Sachs said, "Peace, and the survival of humanity, depends on whether the United Nations Charter remains a living instrument of international law, or is allowed to wither into irrelevance."At the meeting, Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, also called for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife.The Russian envoy called the US military action in Venezuela a "crime cynically perpetrated" and a harbinger of a return to an era of "lawlessness", stressing that any conflicts must be resolved through dialogue as enshrined in the UN Charter.Backers of the US military operation in Venezuela, including Argentina, framed the action as a law-enforcement, anti-narco-terrorism step and argued it could open a path to restoring democracy.Representatives of many countries pushed back by arguing that democracy cannot be delivered through force and coercion, and that any political outcome must be decided by Venezuelans through peaceful and lawful means.Leonor Zalabata Torres, Colombia's UN envoy, said that "democracy cannot be promoted or defended through violence or coercion", and Venezuela deserves peace and democracy, prosperity and dignity, with a government whose sovereignty is defined by no one but the Venezuelan people and their institutions.Mexico's UN envoy, Hector Vasconcelos, warned that "regime change by external actors and the application of extraterritorial measures" is contrary to international law and that, historically, all such actions have done is to exacerbate conflicts and weaken the social and political fabric of nations.Paula Narvaez Ojeda, Chile's UN representative, noted that foreign interference caused extreme damage to her nation, and she stressed that democracy is best recovered through "the strength of organized citizens and through our institutions".Spain's representative to the UN, Hector Gomez Hernandez, said that democracy "cannot be imposed by force" and "force never brings more democracy".Brazil's UN ambassador, Sergio Franca Danese, said that international norms are "mandatory and universal" and do not allow for exceptions based on ideological, geopolitical or economic interests, such as the "exploitation of natural or economic resources".The envoy dismissed the notion that "the end justifies the means", saying that such reasoning lacks legitimacy and grants the strongest the right to define what is just or unjust while imposing decisions on the weakest.Representatives from other countries also emphasized that the US military intervention constituted a fundamental breach of the UN Charter and the principles of sovereign equality.France's representative said that when a permanent member of the Security Council violates the UN Charter, it "chips away at the very foundation of the international order".South Africa warned that "no nation can claim to be legally or morally superior" to another.Pakistan said that unilateral military action "contravenes these sacrosanct principles", while the A3 group, consisting of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Liberia, said full respect for states' sovereignty and territorial integrity under the UN Charter is an essential foundation for international cooperation and peaceful coexistence.

"Mayor" of the Buffalo Bills Backers of Jacksonville, Bill Koch on the upcoming weekend leading up to the Bills' playoff matchup with the Jaguars full 323 Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:30:00 +0000 cveii2RauxSc5XMBYwCw4EqyBjWzbzbX nfl,football,buffalo bills,jacksonville jaguars,bills mafia,news,jacksonville,wben,afc wild card round WBEN Extras nfl,football,buffalo bills,jacksonville jaguars,bills mafia,news,jacksonville,wben,afc wild card round "Mayor" of the Buffalo Bills Backers of Jacksonville, Bill Koch on the upcoming weekend leading up to the Bills' playoff matchup with the Jaguars Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News

Accelerates $3.6 million raise Peripheral Labs' 3D sports capture disrupting linearly. Neural radiance enables infinite replays enhancing tactical breakdowns globally. Backers champion metaverse sports convergence.Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: ⁠⁠https://aibox.aiAI Chat YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchaferJoin my AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustleSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Another year's over, so it's time to convene an Avengers movie's worth of Geek Show contributors to answer the only question that matters: what was good this year? Did Sinners live up to the hype? What was our pick of the Oscar race? Did 28 Years Later live up to Simon's extremely exacting standards of realism for Geordie accents?In this packed show, Graham and Rob are joined by Kat, Mike, Robyn, Aidan, Andrew, Simon and Caitlyn to talk about the first half of 2025 - everything from Nosferatu to Novocaine, Flow to Final Destination: Bloodlines. And there's also room at the end for our worst of 2025. You know what Graham's inflicted on himself for this podcast, but what film made Aidan feel like he was trapped in a room full of CGI zombies for two hours? Find out now!The second half of this year-end review is coming on the Uncut Network in a week's time, but there'll be more Pop Screen before the month's out, including our monthly bonus episode over on Patreon. Backers will also get weekly articles on Doctor Who and The Twilight Zone, our end-of-month round-up podcast Last Night..., plus several new written and audio features we're launching in 2026. To find out more, follow us on Bluesky, Facebook or Instagram.

Another year ends, and once more, it's time to reflect on our creative goals. I hope you can take the time to review your goals and you're welcome to leave a comment below about how the year went. Did you achieve everything you wanted to? Let me know in the comments. It's always interesting looking back at my goals from a year ago, because I don't even look at them in the months between, so sometimes it's a real surprise how much they've changed! You can read my 2025 goals here and I go through how things went below. In the intro, Written Word Media 2025 Indie Author Survey Results, TikTok deal goes through [BBC]; 2025 review [Wish I'd Known Then; Two Authors], Kickstarter year in review; Plus, Anthropic settlement, the continued rise of AI-narrated audiobooks, and thinking/reasoning models (plus my 2019 AI disruption episode). My Bones of the Deep thriller, pics here, and Business for Authors webinars, coming soon. If you'd like to join my community and support the show every month, you'll get access to my growing list of Patron videos and audio on all aspects of the author business — for the price of a black coffee (or two) a month. Join us at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn. Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. J.F. Penn books — Death Valley, The Buried and the Drowned, Blood Vintage Joanna Penn books — Successful Self-Publishing, 4th Edition The Creative Penn Podcast and my community on Patreon/thecreativepenn Unexpected addition: Masters in Death, Religion and Culture at the University of Winchester Book marketing. Not quite a fail but definitely lacklustre. Reflections on my 50th year Double down on being human. Travel and health. You can find all my books as J.F. Penn and Joanna Penn on your favourite online store in all the usual formats, or order from your local library or bookstore. You can also buy direct from me at CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com. I'm not really active on social media, but you can always see my photos at Instagram @jfpennauthor. J.F. Penn — Death Valley. A Thriller. This was my ‘desert' book, partially inspired by visiting Death Valley, California in 2024. It's a stand-alone, high stakes survival thriller, with no supernatural elements, although there are ancient bones and a hidden crypt, as it wouldn't be me otherwise! The Kickstarter campaign in April had 231 Backers pledging £10,794 (~US$14,400) and the hardback is a gorgeous foiled edition with custom end papers and research photos as well as a ribbon. As an AI-Assisted Artisan Author, I used AI tools to help with the creative and business processes, including the background image of the cover design, the custom end papers, and the Death Valley book trailer, which I made with Midjourney and Runway ML. The audiobook is also narrated by my J.F. Penn voice clone, which took a while to get used to, but now I love it! You can listen to a sample here. I published Death Valley wide a few months later over the summer, so it is now out on all platforms. J.F. Penn — Blood Vintage. A Folk Horror Novel, and Catacomb audiobook I did a Kickstarter for the hardback edition of Blood Vintage in late 2024, and then in 2025, worked with a US agent to see if we could get a deal for it. That didn't happen, and although there were some nice rejections, mostly it was silence, and the waiting around really was a pain in the proverbial. So, after a year on submission, I published Blood Vintage wide, so it's available everywhere now. My voice clone narrated the audiobook, listen to a sample here. I also finally produced the audiobook for Catacomb, which is a stand-alone thriller inspired by the movie Taken and the legend of Beowulf set in the catacombs under Edinburgh. I used a male voice from ElevenLabs, and you can listen to a sample here. The book is also available everywhere in all formats. J.F. Penn — The Buried and the Drowned Short Story Collection One of my goals for 2025 was to get my existing short stories into print, mainly because they exist only as digital ebook and audiobook files, which in a way, feels like they almost don't exist! Plus, I wanted to write an extra two exclusive stories and launch the special edition collection on Kickstarter Collection and then publish wide. I wrote the two stories, The Black Church, inspired by my Iceland trip in March, and also Between Two Breaths, inspired by an experience scuba diving at the Poor Knights Islands in New Zealand almost two decades ago. There are personal author's notes accompanying every story, so it's part-short story fiction, part-memoir, and I human-narrated the audiobook. I achieved this goal with a Kickstarter in September, 2025, with 206 Backers pledging almost £8000 (~US$10,600) for the various editions. I also did my first patterned sprayed edges and I love the hardback. It has head and tail bands which make the hardback really strong, gorgeous paper, foiling, a ribbon, colour photos, and custom end papers. The Buried and the Drowned is now out everywhere in all editions. As ever, if you enjoy the stories, a review would be much appreciated! Joanna Penn Books for Authors Early in the year, How to Write Non-Fiction Second Edition launched wide as I only sold it through my store in 2024, so it's available everywhere in all formats including a special hardback and workbook at CreativePennBooks.com. While I didn't write it in 2025, I made the money on it this year, which is important! I also unexpectedly wrote the Fourth Edition of Successful Self-Publishing, mainly because I saw so much misinformation and hype around selling direct, and I also wanted to write about how many options there are for indie authors now. The ebook and audiobook (narrated by human me) are free on my store, CreativePennBooks.com and also available in print, in all the usual places. If you haven't revisited options for indie authors for a while, please have a read/listen, as the industry moves fast! All my fiction and non-fiction audiobooks are now on YouTube After an inspiring episode with Derek Slaton, I put all my audiobooks and short stories on YouTube. Firstly, my non-fiction channel is monetised so I get some income from that. It's not much, but it's something. More importantly, it's marketing for my books, and many audiobook listeners go on to buy other editions especially non-fiction listeners who will often buy print as well. I'm one of those listeners! It's also doubling down on being human, since I human narrate most of my audiobooks, including almost all of my non-fiction, as well as the memoir, and short stories. This helps bring people into my ecosystem and they may listen to the podcast as well and end up buying other books or joining the Patreon. Finally, in an age of generative AI assisted search recommendations, I want my books and content inside Gemini, which is Google's AI. I want my books surfaced in recommendations and YouTube is owned by Google, and their AI overviews often point to videos. Only you can decide what you want to do with your audiobooks, but if you want to listen to mine, they are on YouTube @thecreativepenn for non-fiction or YouTube @jfpennauthor for fiction and memoir. The Creative Penn Podcast and my Patreon Community It's been another full year of The Creative Penn Podcast and this is episode 842, which is kind of crazy. If you don't know the back story, I started podcasting in March 2009 on a sporadic schedule and then went to weekly about a decade ago in 2015 when I committed to making it a core part of my author business. Thanks to our wonderful corporate sponsors for the year, all services I personally use and recommend — ProWritingAid, Draft2Digital, Kobo Writing Life, Bookfunnel, Written Word Media, Publisher Rocket and Atticus. It's also been a fantastic year inside my Patreon Community at patreon.com/thecreativepenn so thanks to all Patrons! I love the community we have as I am able to share my unfiltered thoughts in a way that I have stopped doing in the wider community. Even a tiny paywall makes a big difference in keeping out the haters. I've done monthly audio Q&As which are extra solo shows answering patron questions. I've also done several live office hours on video, and shared content every week on AI tools, writing and author business tips. Patrons also get discounts on my webinars. I did two webinars on The AI-Assisted Artisan Author, which I am planning to run again sometime in 2026 as they were a lot of fun and so much continues to change. If you get value from the show and you want more, come on over and join us at patreon.com/thecreativepenn We have almost 1400 paying members now which is wonderful. Thanks for being part of the Community! Unexpected goal of the year: Masters in Death, Religion and Culture at the University of Winchester During the summer as I did my gothic research, I realised that I was feeling quite jaded about the publishing world and sick of the drama in the author community over AI. My top 5 Clifton Strengths are Learner, Intellection, Strategic, Input, and Futuristic — and I needed more Input and Learning. I usually get that from travel and book research, but I wasn't getting enough of that since Jonathan is busy finishing his MBA. So I decided to lean into the learning and asked ChatGPT to research some courses I could do that would suit me. It found the Masters in Death, Religion and Culture at the University of Winchester, which I could do full-time and online. It would be a year of reading quite different things, writing academic essays which is something I haven't done for decades, and hanging out with a new group of people who were just as fascinated with macabre topics as I am. I started in September and have now finished the first term, tackling topics around thanatology and death studies, hell and the afterlife in the Christian tradition, and the ethics of using human remains to inspire fiction, amongst other interesting things. It was a challenge to get back into the style of academic essay writing, but I'm enjoying the rigour of the research and the citations, which is something that the indie author community needs more of, a topic I will revisit in 2026. I have found the topics fascinating, and the degree is a great way to expand my mind in a new direction, and distract me from the dramas of the author community. I'll be back into it in mid-January and will finish in September 2026. Book marketing. Not quite a fail but definitely lacklustre. I said I would “Do a monthly book marketing plan and organise paid ad campaigns per month for revolving first books in series and my main earners.” I didn't do this! I also said I would organise my Shopify stores, CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com into more collections to make it easier for readers to find things they might want to buy. While I did change the theme of CreativePennBooks.com over to Impulse to make it easier to find collections, I haven't done much to reorganise or add new pathways through the books. I'm rolling this part of the goal into 2026. I said I would reinvigorate my content marketing for JFPenn, and make more of BooksAndTravel.page with links back to my stores, and do fiction specific content marketing with the aim of surfacing more in the LLMs as generative search expands. I did a number of episodes on Books and Travel in 2025, but once I started the Masters, I had to leave that aside, and although I have started some extra content on JFPennBooks.com, I am not overly enthusiastic about it! I also said I would “Leverage AI tools to achieve more as a one-person business.” I use AI tools (mainly ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini) every day for different things but as ever, I am pretty scatter gun about what I do. I lean into intuition and I love research so I am more likely to ask the AI tools to do a deep research report on south Pacific merfolk mythology, or how gothic architecture impacted sacred music, or geology and deep time, rather than asking for marketing hooks. I intended to use more AI for book marketing, but as ever, I was too optimistic about the timeline of what might be possible. There's lots you can do with prompting, finessing things and then posting on various platforms, but I'm not interested in spending time doing that. My gold standard for an AI assistant is to feed it the finished book and then say, “Here's a budget. Go market this,” and not have to connect lots of things together into some Frankenstein-workflow. That's not available yet. Maybe in 2026 … Of course, I still do book marketing. I have to in order to sell any books and make money from book sales. We all have to do some kind of book marketing! I have my Kickstarter launches which I put effort into, as well as consistent backlist sales fed by the podcast, and my email newsletter (my combined list is around 60K). I have auto campaigns running on Amazon Ads, and I have used Written Word Media campaigns as well as BookBub throughout the year. This is basically the minimum, so as usual, must do better! I'm pretty sure I'm not the only author saying this! However, my business has multiple streams of income, and I have the podcast sponsorship revenue as well as the Patreon, plus sporadic webinars, which add to my bottom line and don't require paid advertising at all. Reflections on my 50th year I woke up on my 50th birthday in March in Iceland, by the Black Church of Budir out on the Skaefellsnes peninsula. As seals played in the sea and we walked in the snow over the ancient lava field under the gaze of the volcano that inspired Jules Verne Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and my short story, The Black Church, which you can find in my collection, The Buried and the Drowned. On that trip, we also saw the northern lights and had a memorable trip that marked a real shift for me. I've been told by lots of people that 50 is a ‘proper' birthday, as in one of those that makes you stop and reconsider things, and it has indeed been that, although I have also found the last few years of perimenopause to be a large part of the change as well. A big shift is around priorities and not caring so much what other people think, which is a relief in many ways. Also, I don't have the patience to do things that I don't think are worth doing for the longer term, and I am appreciating a quieter life. I'd rather lie in a sunbeam and read with Cashew and Noisette next to me then create marketing assets or spend time on social media. I'd rather go for a walk with Jonathan than go to a conference or networking event. In my Pilgrimage memoir, I quote an anonymous source, “Pilgrim, pass by that which you do not love.” It's a powerful message, and I take it to mean, stop listening to people who tell you what is important. Listen to yourself more and only pay attention to that which you feel drawn to explore. On pilgrimage, it might be turning away from the supposedly important shrine of a saint to go and sit in nature and feel closer to God that way. In our author lives, it might be turning away from the things that just feel wrong for us, and leaning into what is enjoyable, that which feels worthwhile, that which we want to keep doing for the long term. Let's face it, as always, that is the writing, the thinking, the imagination. As ever, I have this mantra on my wall: “Measure your life by what you create.” It's the creation side of things that we love and that's what we need to remember when everything else gets a little much. Many authors left social media in 2025, and while I haven't left it altogether, I don't use it much. I post pictures proving I am human on Instagram @jfpennauthor which automatically post to Facebook. I barely check my pages on Facebook though. I'm also still on X with a carefully curated feed that I mainly use to learn new cool AI things which I share with my Patreon Community. Double down on being human. Travel and health. Yes, I am a human author, and yes, I continue to age! When you've been publishing a while, you need to update your author photos periodically and I finally had a photoshoot I loved with Betty Bhandari Photography, which means I can add the new pics to my websites and the back of my books. Are you up to date with your author photos? (or at least within a decade of the last photoshoot?!) Here are a few of the pictures on Instagram @jfpennauthor. Healthwise, I gave up calisthenics as it was too much on top of the powerlifting and the amount of walking I do. I did another British Powerlifting competition in September in the M2 category (based on age) and 63kgs category (based on weight). Deadlift: 95kgs. Squat: 60kgs. BenchPress: 37.5kgs. While this is less overall than last year, I also weigh less, so I'm actually stronger based on lift to body weight percentage. I have also done a few pull-ups in the last week with no band, which I am thrilled with! On the travel side, Iceland was the big trip, and I also had a weekend in Berlin for the film festival, where I met up with a producer and a director around an adaptation of my Day of the Vikings thriller. That didn't pan out, as most of these things don't, but I certainly learned a lot about the industry — and why it doesn't suit me! Once again, I dipped my toe into screenwriting and then ran away, as has happened multiple times over the years. When will I learn? … Over the summer of 2025, I visited lots of gothic cathedrals including Lichfield, Rochester, Durham, York, and revisiting Canterbury, as part of my book research for the Gothic Cathedral book. I have tens of thousands of words on this project, but it isn't ready yet, so this is carried over into 2026 as it might happen then, depending on the Masters. I spoke at Author Nation in Las Vegas in November 2025, and before it started, I visited (Lower) Antelope Canyon, one of the places on my bucket list, and it did not disappoint. What a special place and no doubt it will appear in a story at some point! How did your 2025 go? I hope your 2025 had some wonderful times as well as no doubt some challenges — and that you have time for reflection as the year turns once more. Let me know in the comments whether you achieved your creative goals and any other reflections you'd like to share.The post Review Of My 2025 Creative And Business Goals With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Lovable leaps to $6.6B valuation on $330M raise, redefining software development paradigms. Iterative refinement via chat makes complex apps accessible. Backers eye billion-user potential.Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: ⁠⁠https://aibox.aiAI Chat YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchaferJoin my AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustleSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cheap Power Drives Libya to Become Bitcoin Mining HubUSDC Enters Intuit's Core Products With Circle Partnership as Stablecoins Move MainstreamMoonPay Targets $5 Billion Valuation With NYSE Owners as Backers

The  Comic Crusaders Podcast is back with another incredible guest! Host Al Mega sits down with writer and comic book creator C. Edward Sellner, known for powerful works like The Knight, Deadlands: Raven, and Deadlands: The Kid. In this exclusive interview, we dive deep into his brand-new Kickstarter project: Monarch of Manhattan Vol. 1: Arrival. Sellner shares his journey from comic fan to professional writer, breaking down how he transitioned from enjoying stories to creating them. From his early influences to the lessons he learned on Deadlands, Sellner has carved out a unique voice in the indie comic scene. The spotlight is on Sellner's latest creation, Monarch of Manhattan Vol. 1: Arrival. Described as a modern pulp fantasy mixed with a buddy-hero adventure, this series brings together myth, magic, and Manhattan. The story balances epic battles with grounded character struggles, creating a new kind of superheroic experience. Set in New York City, the comic captures the energy of Manhattan while weaving in timeless pulp inspirations. The buddy dynamic between the Monarch and his partner creates humor, heart, and high-stakes storytelling that fans won't want to miss. Sellner explains why Kickstarter was the right choice to launch Monarch of Manhattan. Backers get the chance to be part of the creative process and support indie storytelling at its best. From exclusive rewards to direct fan engagement, this campaign is about building community as much as it is about funding a comic. In this interview, fans will learn: How Monarch of Manhattan compares to The Knight and Deadlands The biggest creative challenges Sellner faced while writing this story Behind-the-scenes insights into his collaboration with the art team What themes and emotions readers can expect when they close the final page of Vol. 1 If you love modern pulp fantasy comics, superhero buddy tales, or indie Kickstarter projects, you need to check out Monarch of Manhattan Vol. 1: Arrival.

Backers expect the startup to revolutionize early detection. Its AI models analyze patient data faster than traditional methods. This funding positions the company as a major force in digital health.Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: ⁠⁠https://aibox.aiAI Chat YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchaferJoin my AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustleSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, Dominic Bowen hosts Dr. Amgad Fareid Eltayeb on The International Risk Podcast to examine Sudan's engineered famine, the influence of foreign backers, and the struggle of civilians caught between paramilitary violence and geopolitical ambition. They discuss how starvation, siege tactics, and external intervention have become central features of the war, driving one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Together they explore how regional power competition, gold extraction networks, and control of strategic corridors have shaped Sudan's collapse and undermined efforts to restore democratic governance.Dr. Eltayeb explains why the crisis in Sudan cannot be understood without acknowledging the role of external sponsors, how disinformation has distorted the narrative surrounding the war, and why famine is being used deliberately as a weapon against besieged populations. The conversation highlights the erosion of state institutions, the fragmentation of sovereignty, and the urgent need to centre civilian agency in any future political settlement.Dr. Eltayeb is a Sudanese politician, researcher, writer, and activist. He combines academic rigour with moral urgency. Lifelong commitment to truth-telling in the face of authoritarian violence, belief in citizen agency, and refusal to separate humanitarian imperatives from politics and power have defined his career. His training as a medical doctor was supplemented by postgraduate training in public health and research methods. He was one of the leading Sudanese revolutionaries that brought the December 2018 revolution to a triumph in toppling the Islamist regime of Omer Elbashir (1989 - 2019). After that, he worked as Assistant Chief of Staff to the Sudanese Prime Minister (2019–2021), where he helped the fragile democratic transition after decades of authoritarianism. Later, he worked as a political advisor to the UN political mission to Sudan (UNITAMS) following the October 2021 military takeover. Currently he is the executive director of Fikra for Studies and Development, a non-partisan Sudanese think tank.Since the recording of this episode, El Fasher has been seized, marking a grave and deeply consequential shift in the conflict, with far reaching humanitarian and political repercussions that sharpen the gravity of what Dr. Eltayeb describes.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe for our updates!Tell us what you liked!

A 50-year project to turn the world's strongest democracy into a playground for the rich...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has stalled or altered multiple proposed ballot initiatives. Backers of a campaign finance initiative are challenging his actions in court.

A year and a half after the abrupt collapse of Bonza, its erstwhile financier, Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners, is under the microscope again – and for all the wrong reasons. Its co-founder and former CFO have both been charged by the FBI over allegations of a jaw-dropping US$500 million fraud scheme, with accusations levelled of a complex web of lies and financial chicanery that left lenders and investors holding the bag. Jake and David dig into the charges and reflect again on how much 777 Partners' alleged dodgy dealings may have brought Bonza down. Plus, which carrier was Australia's most on-time airline in 2024–25 – and what do you do with a radioactive cat?

  The Invincible RPG Kickstarter, based on the popular comic and animated series, has significantly exceeded its funding goal. It utilizes the Year Zero Engine, known for games like “Tales from the Loop” and “Blade Runner RPG,” aiming to blend superhero action with deep interpersonal relationships. Backers can get a core rulebook, a Starter Set, […]

Today, Deezy goes over WHY Aster pumped as hard as it did. And can we use this information to buy the NEXT Aster? Maybe looking at YZi Labs investments is a good starting point… 

President Donald Trump is orchestrating a deal to transfer TikTok's U.S. operations from Chinese control to a consortium of American investors, with several of his closest billionaire allies and major tech firms poised to take majority control of the platform. The White House has confirmed Trump will sign an executive order on Thursday finalizing the arrangement that keeps TikTok operational for its 170 million American users.https://wilwaldon.com

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Lubbock County Commissioner Cary Shaw points out what few have wanted to let voters know:via facebook: Today [Monday] we finished the budget. Is it as low as I would like, no but it is a good start. For all the hollering about budget cuts I want everyone to know just what is going on. The budget has grown over 80,000,000 dollars in the past 5 years. That is 80 million. We keep being told a growing county has to have more money. Well during this time 1 year population growth was 1.3 percent and 3 years it was 1.2 percent, and 1 year it is projected to drop a hundred or so. At the rate it was going 16 million average per year 6 more years it would have doubled what it was in 2020. This is not sustainable for the people in Lubbock county. The judge said it is a sad day for Lubbock county but I say it is a great day for Lubbock county residents.” [emphasis added]Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Bob Albritton and other Texas A&M regents just will not stop pushing the Leftist agenda and reverse discrimination at A&M. Now, Aggies name a DEI supporter as acting-president for Texas A&M.Abbott's THC regulation is a mess: Senator Perry Requests State Agencies Create New Regulations on Hemp-Derived THC 21-Year Age Minimum for Purchasing THC Products Adopted by Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission – only covers licensed booze sellers! Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

09-22-25 The Mason Crosby Show Interviews: The Producers of The Japanese Packer Backers! full 563 Mon, 22 Sep 2025 18:12:26 +0000 nnomjwnj71Uq97HX0vSaYZS6rAeM69X4 sports Packers Coverage sports 09-22-25 The Mason Crosby Show Interviews: The Producers of The Japanese Packer Backers! Best Packers Coverage on 105.7FM The FAN. Home of the statewide Green and Gold Post Game Show with Bill Michaels and Gary Ellerson. Also hear players coaches and our Football insiders. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Sports False http

More than 14 years after the Christ Church Cathedral was wrecked in an earthquake, there's a new, scaled down proposal on the table. Backers hope the plan will see the cathedral reopen by late 2030 at a cost of $90 to $95 million, but there's still a big funding shortfall. Keiller MacDuff reports.

Backers of a casino proposed for Times Square have reversed course on a proposal to create a $22 million fund benefiting residents of a nearby affordable housing complex. Plus, the Central Park Conservancy says it's time to ban horse-drawn carriages. Also, a judge has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement to improve conditions at their hold rooms in downtown Manhattan. And finally, WNYC's Mike Hayes hit the Jersey Shore to see how voters are feeling about the upcoming race for governor.

Episode 46 - NFL Positional Rankings - Line Backers + MLB Trade Deadline + NHL News!This week, we are looking briefly all over the sports work. News out of the NFL + our positional rankings are here for another week, with Line Backers. We have a good bit to talk about in the Golf world with the Wyndham Championship. News in the NHL, MLB Trade Deadline and More! Don't forget about our livestream for the MLB and the Finals on Saturday/Sunday on TikTok, YouTube, Rumble, and More!But that's not all—we're unpacking all of our power rankings, spotlighting the hottest storylines heading this week. Tune in to see what else we chat about. Join Huf, Mackey, Jesse, & Ace for the best analysis, bold predictions, and updates from across the sports world this week. Plus, don't miss our red-hot picks on Instagram and X—we're absolutely crushing it in NHL, NBA, and CBB betting! Tune in for your all-in-one sports fix this week!NHL | NBA | MLB Live Streams are Back!Catch us every Saturday/Sunday at 9:30 AM EST on YouTube, Rumble, and TikTok!All Live Stream Links: Hit The Books LIVEConnect with Us!All LinksWebsiteFollow Us for Daily Free PicksCatch daily free picks across all our social platforms: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! Don't miss out on those extra chances to win!All LinksWebsiteContact UsEmail: contact@HitTheBooksPod.com WebsiteSocial Media and MoreExclusive Zencastr Discount!Save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan. Use our special link and code to get started: ZencastrOffer Code: HitTheBooksAffiliate Links: Fanatics - https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/MAEOoJ GolfBalls.com - https://golfballs.sjv.io/mO1Mre NBA Store - https://nbastore.vwz6.net/xLoMXA NFL Shop - https://nflshop.k77v.net/DyaoAj 

Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, we discuss the winners of the day in the always eventful backs on backers drill which kicked off with the team throwing on the pads for the first time. While their chemistry overall is a work in progress, Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf showed once again what they're able to do in the red zone. Broderick Jones didn't participate in team drills, but it doesn't appear his absence from those will be much longer. Troy Fautanu impressed with a couple of wins over TJ Watt in one-on-one drills. What were Alan's main takeaways from the day? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stupid ways to get injured - Hot Bob Check-In - Steelers training camp is back and Its BACKS on BACKERS - Cornell Stewart - Beyonce and Garth Brooks - Avatar Fire and Ass - Will we ever get on the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame - Have anything fun for the show or want to say hi.. Listen on iHeartRadio click the little mic and leave us a talkback messageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Post-Gazette insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo recap a rainy practice at Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. They explain why the fireworks of a padded practice will need to wait after coach Mike Tomlin's squad was forced inside by stormy weather. And they anticipate storylines to watch when players can start hitting full-speed Wednesday. From Kaleb Johnson wanting to prove he can handle pass protection in the backs-on-backers drill like Jaylen Warren did a few years back; to Derrick Harmon, Jack Sawyer and Yahya Black making their debuts in a hard-hitting setting; to Broderick Jones proving he's ready to handle left tackle duties following the departure of Dan Moore Jr. via NFL free agency; and Jalen Ramsey showing the physicality he can bring to the secondary. Gerry also recaps a conversation with OC Arthur Smith as he incorporates new faces like Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and Jonnu Smith into the offense.

Chris and Steve talk about the NFL executive top 10 linebackers list and talk about the Bills that almost made the cut.

Ever wondered how independent filmmakers create high-production value films on tight budgets? Join us as director Emelie Claxton and producer Cindy Allen reveal the ingenious strategies that transformed their short film “Doggone” from an impossible dream into a festival success story. From raising an impressive amount through crowdfunding to turning one movie theater into six different shooting locations, they share the practical wisdom they gained along the way.This episode unpacks the power of collaboration, the importance of working with specialists rather than doing everything yourself, and the game-changing “big board” technique that kept everyone on set informed and aligned. You'll hear how breaking traditional filmmaking rules, rekindling old friendships for fundraising, and trusting in specialized talent created a film that audiences are falling in love with.Whether you're an actor, filmmaker, or film enthusiast, this conversation offers valuable insights into maximizing resources and creating meaningful stories that connect with audiences. Don't miss their final inspiring advice: “Don't say no to yourself.”Send us a textFor our listeners, CFA's teamed up with We Make Movies to get you a discount on production management services, including access to comprehensive production insurance and workers' comp for your next shoot. Visit wemakemovies.org/insurance and use code CFA23 on your intake form for 10% off your quote.Calling all actors! Take 25% off your membership at WeAudition with code: CFA25 Website: www.cinematographyforactors.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cinematographyforactors TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cinematographyforactors Cinematography for Actors is a community aimed at bridging the gap between talent & crew through our weekly podcast & community events. Our weekly show supports the filmmaking community through transparent, honest & technically focused interviews with the goal of elevating the art of effective storytelling.

An Iranian official is meeting with European ministers today for nuclear talks. Meanwhile, two of Iran's allies are presenting a united front over the conflict. We keep hearing about tariffs pushing up prices, we'll look at why that hasn't happened yet. A man's been arrested for allegedly trying to kidnap the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. Plus, a Tampa Bay Rays player was dramatically carted off the field last night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today's episode, you will learn a series of vocabulary words that are connected to a specific topic. This lesson will help you improve your ability to speak English fluently about a specific topic. It will also help you feel more confident in your English abilities. 5 Vocabulary WordsCampaign (Noun): A coordinated series of activities and efforts to raise money or support for a project or cause. Example Sentences:The startup launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the development of their new app.The campaign was promoted through social media to reach a wider audience.Successful campaigns often have a clear message and engage with potential backers effectively.Backer (Noun): An individual who supports a crowdfunding project by contributing money or resources.Example Sentences:The project exceeded its funding goal thanks to the generosity of numerous backers.Backers are often offered rewards or incentives in exchange for their support.Keeping backers informed about the progress of the project is crucial for maintaining their trust.Pledge (Noun / Verb): A commitment to donate a specific amount of money to a crowdfunding campaign.Example Sentences:She made a pledge to contribute $100 to the crowdfunding campaign for the new gadget.The campaign saw a surge in pledges after a high-profile endorsement.Campaign organizers track pledges to gauge how close they are to reaching their funding goal.Milestone (Noun): A significant point or stage in the progress of a crowdfunding campaign, often tied to specific funding goals or project achievements.Example Sentences:Reaching the first milestone of $10,000 was a major achievement for the crowdfunding campaign.Milestones are often celebrated and used to update backers on the campaign's progress.The project set several milestones to encourage continued support and investment.Reward (Noun): An incentive or benefit offered to backers in exchange for their support of a crowdfunding project.Example Sentences:Backers who contributed $50 received a special edition of the product as a reward.Rewards are often tiered based on the amount of the pledge to attract more supporters.The campaign included creative rewards to encourage higher levels of backing.A Paragraph using the 5 vocabulary wordsCrowdfunding is a process of raising funds from a large number of people, typically through the internet. In a typical crowdfunding campaign, a project initiator sets a funding goal and offers rewards to individuals who pledge to contribute money. These rewards can be anything from a simple thank-you message to a physical product or service. As the campaign progresses, it often reaches milestones that can unlock additional rewards or benefits for backers. The success of a crowdfunding campaign depends on the ability to attract a large number of backers who are willing to support the project.If you want to sign up for the free daily English vocabulary newsletter, go towww.dailyenglishvocabulary.com

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports senior officials from almost 50 nations, but not the U.S., are gathering to drum up more weapons and ammunition for Ukraine.

US Senator Lindsay Graham has just tweeted an article titled “Greta Thunberg sets sail with Gaza flotilla that aims to break Israeli naval blockade,” adding the comment, “Hope Greta and her friends can swim!” Australian Zionist think tanker Arsen Ostrovsky somehow outdid Graham, tweeting “Oh look, the little jihadi Greta Thunberg is trying to get into Gaza, to show solidarity with Hamas. It would be so sad if something were to happen to her flotilla…” There's not a lot that can shock me about Israel and its supporters these days. But if you'd traveled back in time a few years ago it would be hard to explain to someone how we got to a timeline that includes Israel supporters openly advocating the assassination of Greta Thunberg. Reading by Tim Foley.

Amnesty International is now calling Israel's mass atrocity in Gaza “a live-streamed genocide” due to the way this nightmare is unfolding right in front of us on the screens of our devices around the world, and public support for Israel is plummeting in the United States. Zionists are losing control of the narrative, and they know it. And they are not taking it well. Reading by Tim Foley.

Where's the line between an autobiographical comic and a semi-autobiographical one — between "based upon" and "inspired by"? And when does the whole thing veer directly into fiction?? Plus... Dave Kellett shares real numbers from his recent Kickstarter, and we arrive at a jaw-dropping conclusion: Bluesky is it.The Webcomics Handbook will publish a visual breakdown of Dave's analytics on April 14th.Today's showWhere to draw the line on an autobio comicMalignant ProcrastinationSusan MacTaggart's Personal AffirmationDave shares actual numbers from his KickstarterThe Wrong Way Show: Toy Story's WoodySummaryIn this episode of ComicLab, hosts Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar share insights on navigating autobiocomics, exploring the balance between fiction and fact in storytelling. The conversation highlights the significance of making personal stories compelling and meaningful for audiences. In this conversation, Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar explore the intricacies of storytelling in comics, mainly focusing on autobiographical narratives. They discuss the importance of engaging and meaningful stories, emphasizing that readers seek entertainment and context in narratives. The duo also addresses the common issue of procrastination among creators, urging them to take action and start their projects, regardless of the fear of failure. They highlight that creativity thrives on making choices and moving forward rather than getting bogged down in details.After Susan MacTaggart drops by to share a personal affirmation for one of ComicLab's $10 backers, Dave Kellett discusses the success of Kellett's recent Kickstarter campaign for his book 'Anatomy of Dogs'. He and Brad explore the sources of backers, the impact of social media platforms like Blue Sky, and the importance of converting followers into actual supporters. The discussion highlights the effectiveness of Kickstarter as a platform for creators and the changing landscape of social media engagement. In this conversation, Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss the intricacies of running a successful Kickstarter campaign, the impact of social media on funding, and the importance of maintaining quality in production. They share insights on financials, the long-term benefits of Kickstarter projects, and how to build a sustainable career as an independent cartoonist. The discussion emphasizes the need for careful planning and the value of mental health in the creative process.TakeawaysSmall acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.Every interaction with fans can create memorable moments.Autobiocomics need to be engaging, not just factual.Never let the truth hinder a good story.Context and meaning are crucial in storytelling.It's essential to make personal stories relatable.Readers care more about the story than the facts.Becoming a writer means crafting meaningful narratives. Give yourself the leeway to make your story interesting.Readers care about the entertainment value of a story.Autobiographical comics often lack excitement and meaning.Injecting fiction can enhance storytelling.Stories should have a purpose for the reader's life.Procrastination can hinder creative aspirations.Start with small segments of your story to gain momentum.Character designs will evolve; start drawing.Don't let the fear of failure prevent you from creating.Every choice made in storytelling contributes to the overall narrative.This was my most successful Sheldon Kickstarter ever.I did not use Twitter at all.Blue Sky works for reaching backers.The second source was my Patreon for Drive.You need to be able to convert those readers into backers.Those numbers are fake numbers on social media.Kickstarter is a must-use for cartoonists.The highest percentage of backers came from Kickstarter sources.I was afraid to leave Twitter and Instagram.The impact of social media on crowdfunding is significant. The utility of Kickstarter must remain intact for success.Social media platforms can significantly impact funding outcomes.Quality production is crucial for maintaining a good reputation.Kickstarter profits can be amortized over several years.Building a mailing list from backers is essential for future campaigns.Mental health can improve by choosing the right social media platforms.Planning ahead for stretch goals is vital to avoid pitfalls.Every Kickstarter project contributes to a larger career strategy.Quality materials enhance customer loyalty and future sales.Understanding financials helps in making informed decisions. You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Multnomah County’s Preschool For All program has overshot its goals in each of its first three years, and this year is no exception. The county's coal was to support 3,000 slots, but it expects to have capacity for 3,800 3 and 4-year-olds in the 2025-2026 school year. Still, that number is far below demand, with nearly double the amount of applications filed every year than there are slots available. Backers hope capacity will be sufficient by 2030, when the county aims to offer 11,000 slots and meet its goal of universal access. County voters approved the Preschool For All ballot measure in 2020 and the program opened in the 2022-23 school year. The preschool effort is funded by a 1.5% marginal tax on earnings of more than $150,000 per year for an individual and over $200,000 for households.  Leslee Barnes, director of the Preschool and Early Learning Division at Multnomah County, and Patrick Earnest, director of the St. James Child Development Center, join us to talk about the program.

Julian covers the recent Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London. Headlined by Jordan Peterson, featuring Konstantin Kisin, Ayan Hirsi Ali, Jonathan Pageau, and Eric Weinstein, the conference positioned itself as an inspiring cultural gathering focused on reclaiming Western values.  Behind the scenes, a hedge-fund billionaire new media baron, conservative libertarian think tank, shady funding source in Dubai, and an evangelical English aristocrat use the prestige of ARC and its celebrity figureheads to popularize a very specific political, economic, and religious agenda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices