POPULARITY
Categories
This week, Mike and Damien talk about making your backstories more impactful. They also create a quick example of a backstory that will give any GM plenty of things to work with.Social mediahttps://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/magickalhack.bsky.socialShow Email Thespellbookshow@gmail.comDamien's Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@magickalhackmakes4671Damien's Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/magickalhackhttps://www.cfru.ca/Listen - WEDNESDAYS at NOON AT CFRU 93.3 FMShow Notes:Your Geekmasters:Mike "The Birdman" - https://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialAlex "The Producer" - https://bsky.app/profile/dethphasetwig.bsky.socialFeedback for the show?:Email: feedback@thisweekingeek.netTwitter: https://twitter.com/thisweekingeekBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisweekingeek.netSubscribe to our feed: https://www.spreaker.com/show/3571037/episodes/feediTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-geek/id215643675Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Lit2bzebJXMTIv7j7fkqqWebsite: https://www.thisweekingeek.netMay 27, 2026
This week Peter & Mike review the Backstories games. Next week we will have a related design discussion about gimmicky components. _________________________ YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCrOtGhui_jdLdoQNI7PU4Pg X - @onestopcoopshop Discord - discord.gg/p4jX8AF Merch: one-stop-co-op-shop.creator-spring.com/ Donate to One Stop Co-op Shop - www.patreon.com/onestop Email - onestopcoopshop@gmail.com
Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting are each setting out their pitch to be the next Prime Minister. But do their stories of triumphing over adversity make them better politicians?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Backstories dictate how your character acts, feels, and works. Of course, they're just stories that we tell in our little heads, but they're important. So let's talk about them, especially the tropes most backstories rely on.What tropes do you hate? What tropes do you love? Those are the questions we ask ourselves today. We discuss some tropes and why we love/hate them and what makes a good backstory trope and what makes a bad backstory.Check here for all further information:You can find us on the Web under these Links: https://www.doubledm.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/doubledm.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/doubledmpod/?hl=de https://ko-fi.com/doubledmIf you want to reach out to us via E-Mail use: doubledmpod@gmail.comOur Midroll Music is "Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Our Outro Music is "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (imcompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wir haben die Macher des Kurzfilms " Eine Nacht in Tobrien" bei uns zu Gast und spielen zum ersten Mal ein Pen & Paper Spiel. In Kostümierung. Und starken Backstories zu unseren Figuren. Kann das gut gehen? Soviel sei gesagt: Felix und Florian, die Gäste und Spieleleiter, haben sich seither nicht mehr gemeldet. Zu Recht.www.tobrien.dehttps://youtube.com/@einenachtintobrien?si=JtnW0_y2FYqhG01nwww.instagram.com/einenachtintobrienKommentare, Feedback oder eure Ideen für weitere Episoden könnt ihr uns gerne über die sozialen Netzwerke oder per Mail an info@cine-swiss.ch zukommen lassen, folgt uns damit ihr nichts verpasst, abonniert und empfiehlt uns gerne weiter! Dangge! Merch! https://www.seedshirt.de/shop/cineswissSupporte uns unter:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cineswiss/subscribe Für exklusive Folgen oder einfach so hier: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cineswiss https://www.brugggore.ch https://wewillsee.chhttps://outnow.chhttps://www.excelsior-brugg.ch/de/home https://odeon-brugg.ch/ https://www.youtube.com/@cineswiss https://www.facebook.com/cineswiss https://instagram.com/cineswiss?igshid=1cjo0dgnqvsrd https://boxd.it/10TmB https://www.cine-swiss.ch
Bombas was already thriving—scaling rapidly, achieving billions in sales, and donating more than 200 million items to people experiencing homelessness—when founder David Heath recognized that the company's next phase of growth would require a different kind of leadership. He made the intentional decision to step aside as CEO, and Jason LaRose, a seasoned operator with experience scaling brands, was thoughtfully brought in—first as president, then as CEO—creating a seamless transition rooted in shared respect for Bombas' purpose, culture, and product excellence.We invited David Heath and Jason LaRose to share what it really takes to navigate a founder-to-CEO transition while preserving the soul of a purpose-driven company. They discuss the importance of humility, trust, and deep respect for what's already been built, as well as the discipline required to scale without disrupting culture or diluting mission. From Jason's intentional “listen-first” leadership approach to David's continued role as a strategic partner, their conversation reveals how purpose can act as a north star through change and growth. They also explore how Bombas continues to innovate, expand into new categories and channels, and grow its giving network, all while proving that purpose isn't a tradeoff to profitability, but a driver of it. For purpose-driven leaders, it's a compelling story of how one leader passes purpose to the next—and how impact can grow without losing what matters most.Listen for insights on:Recognizing when founder leadership must evolveBuilding trust before stepping into CEO roleScaling operations without compromising mission integrityProtecting culture during periods of rapid growthResources + Links:Watch this episode on YouTube!David Heath's LinkedInJason LaRose's LinkedInBombas Impact ReportBombas Giving Partner DirectoryPrevious Purpose 360 Episode: The Love That Bombas Socks Made (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 (00:13) - Meet David and Jason from Bombas (02:56) - Backstories (05:35) - How They Met (07:32) - The Germ of the Idea (10:13) - Jason's Start (14:30) - Dave's Role (16:46) - CEO Advice (18:30) - First 60 Days and Volunteering (20:41) - Expand Products (22:31) - Superior Production (24:18) - Moving Into Retail (25:55) - Giving Partners (28:17) - Looking to the Future (30:12) - Message to Young People (33:28) - Fast Track Questions (38:42) - Last Word (39:45) - Wrap Up
Ilai & Tamz join the pod. This one is focused more on introducing them bothEmily's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilaiset19Rachel's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t4ms3nThe Industry Perspective Socials!Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theindustryperspectiveNando's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwult_/P's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/douglas_coffeeThe Industry Perspective:Pulling back the curtain on your favorite bars and restaurants telling you what goes on behind the scenes with the establishments, the people that make it run and hopefully give you some insight into our perspective
In celebration of the 2026 NFL Draft, recruiting analyst Brian Smith presents backstories on the recruitments of several players expected to go in the first round: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame), Rueben Bain, Jr. (Miami), Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Francis Mauigoa (Miami), Caleb Downs (Ohio State), and Makai Lemon (USC) among them. From Mendoza's journey through Cal and Indiana to Love's explosive stint at Notre Dame, this is a can't-miss pre-draft episode. It spotlights Francis Mauigoa's impact at Miami, Carnell Tate's quiet confidence, and versatile athletes like Caleb Downs and Makai Lemon. Insights cover evaluation strategies—prioritizing Hall of Fame upside, versatility, and game tape over combine hype—while highlighting players' adaptability, injury risks, and leadership qualities. Will NFL teams regret passing on powerhouses like Bain or fail to unlock the potential in multi-threat backs? Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it's time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join the community: https://theportal.supercast.com/ Support us by supporting our sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Head to FANDUEL DOT COM to get started. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Want to make your characters better? Consider adding flaws to your character. What kinds of flaws are there and how do you add them in a way that's not disruptive to the game? Give this episode a listen and find out. #rpg #ttrpg #dnd #pathfinder #gmtips #playertips #tabletop #backstory Resources: Buy Me a Coffee! - ko-fi.com/taking20podcast www.taking20podcast.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taking20podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taking20podcast Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/taking20podcast.bsky.social WOTC TRPG Publishing Lead - https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4385555228/
Alex won his first ever razzle in order to put this episode together when he sources a hazy DIPA from Threat Beer Company. A mysterious benefactor sells Alex a Stone Stonewall bottle from 2005. Then rounding out the Bottleshare is the 2025 Toronado Barleywine Festival winner from Wonderous Brewing Co. and a love letter to Dark Lord from a bunch of basement dwellers in Chicago. In the Beer News, George Clooney gets involved in the NA beer game and Half Acre and Maplewood Brewery & Distillery merge to form a new Chicago beverage platform. For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation. Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram.
Mens Room Question: What would you like to see come back, or what came back to you?
Mens Room Question: What would you like to see come back, or what came back to you?
Escape rooms let your family cooperate in new and interesting ways. But do you prefer a physical, in-person escape room, a video game, or a board game experience? 0:00:00 Fact for 418 HTTP code 418: “I’m a teapot” Sponsor Message If you want help planning for your kid’s college education, set up a time for a free 15-minute call by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers. 0:05:00 What We’ve Been Playing Embers (our review)Lands of AmazementAspensVerdant Arizona 0:12:50 The Family Gamers Community We’re so happy to welcome new members! You can join the community on Facebook too. 0:13:30 #Backtalk You shared your purging regrets on Facebook and the #backtalk channel of the Discord. 0:19:25 Escape Rooms Physical escape rooms – we’ve done a few. Very cool but can feel high pressure. They’re great to do in a group, letting everybody work on different things. Doing it as a family is expensive! Video games are a much cheaper way to capture this style really well: Portal, The Room, Escape Academy Board Game “Escape Rooms” These range in size and playtime. Some are more puzzley, some are more narrative-driven. But any of them can be a great family experience. And we have reviewed a bunch of them – we’ll talk about six series here: EXIT series – Fairly immersive, with a plot and setting that hangs together. Everything you need is in the box. Wide variety of puzzles to write on, manipulate, cut, etc. But comes with a downside – that wide variety means you almost always run into a puzzle in the game that is not figure-out-able (for us). They come in a huge range of difficulty, including several that are appropriate to do with younger kids who are just barely reading. Unlike the other games in this list, we think they’re best with more than 2 players. There are also EXIT Kids games now! (Check out the EXIT games we’ve reviewed.) Unlock series – These require an app. Other than the app, completely card-based and re-settable to pass on to a friend to try. These also have a juvenile line now – Unlock Kids. Our experience has been really uneven. Some really great (Wizard of Oz, Star Wars). Others are just really weird, with puzzles don’t make sense. We generally recommend these, but use caution. Holiday Hijinks – probably our favorite compact escape-room type game. Packs a ton of puzzles into 18 cards and a web app. Full of puns, trivia, and holiday cultural references. Still best for very small groups, since there’s such a small space to work in. Family friendly, although younger kids will probably be frustrated that they don’t have the trivia knowledge to contribute unless they’re very knowledgeable about the holiday. (Check out our reviews and interviews about Holiday Hijinks.) Deckscape – feels like a “choose your own adventure” narrative. Mostly a deck of cards, but with a few accessories that made it more immersive. Puzzles could not be attempted more than once, which made the choices feel high-stakes. Best with 2-3 players, because you’re only looking at a few cards at a time – unless you’re willing to take your time and pass them around the table. (We reviewed Deckscape: The Mystery of El Dorado.) Backstories – not really an escape room, more of a narrative adventure. Work through decisions one at a time as a group. But not only re-settable, it’s replayable, with branching paths and different endings depending on the decisions made! Not exactly family-friendly. Lots of violence and some death. (Check out our Backstories reviews.) Star Trek: Cryptic – as Trek fans we really loved this one. Work through three different “chapters” in a Starfleet officer’s life, with very thematic puzzles. Pretty much re-settable, but you’ll get great value out of this one even if you only play it once – it takes 3-4 hours to do the whole thing, split into several sessions. Coded Chronicles (we reviewed Scooby Doo & The Goonies games) – also very narrative driven. But spreads out the responsibility to progress the narrative to all the players! There are multiple books to read in different character “voices”, even though the team is making decisions together. Also re-settable. Very family-friendly, even for kids who are unfamiliar with Scooby Doo or The Goonies. 0:42:00 New Backtalk Question Have you ever done an in-person escape room? If so, what did you think of it? If not, why not – cost, family-friendliness, or something else? Tell us on the #backtalk channel on our Discord, or in our Facebook community. Find Us Online: Facebook: @familygamersaa and thefamilygamers.com/communityTwitter (X): @familygamersaaInstagram: @familygamersaaTikTok: @familygamersaaBluesky: @familygamersaaThreads: @familygamersaaYoutube: TheFamilyGamers or join the Family Tabletop Community on Discord! thefamilygamers.com/discord Or, for the most direct method, email us! andrew@thefamilygamers.com and anitra@thefamilygamers.com. PLEASE don’t forget to subscribe to the show, tell your friends about the show, and leave us a review at Apple Podcast or whatever your podcast subscription source is. We’re also on Amazon Music, TuneIn, and Spotify. You can also now find us on YouTube Music! So pull it up and give us a listen while you’re toiling away at work :) Music for The Family Gamers Podcast is provided with permission from You Bred Raptors? The Family Gamers is sponsored by First Move Financial. Go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/familygamers to learn how the team at First Move Financial can help you pile up the victory points. The post Episode 418 – Escape Rooms appeared first on The Family Gamers.
Sean has internet issues when delivering the news, Mike has dual sport issues, Colin has on trail issues.
Shhh, don't tell anyone!
Backstories, who we are , and where we came from.
On this episode of Bounced From The Roadhouse:Special Guests in 4B: Tina Heinbaugh, PGA ProfessionalTina's First Stock ShowTina's Cowboy HatTrade ShowEvents Going onBrandon's MotorhomeDakota Sky StoneStock Show Back StoriesBeef Logic JerkyCreases in the JeansBoots n BeersThat's a Great QuestionBrook's Boot CountHoodies at the Stock ShowRanch RodeoQuestions? Comments? Leave us a message! 605-343-6161Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review and some stars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Michele Cobb joins host Jo Reed to dig into audiobooks built on backstory, beginning with Expert Witness, where Gabra Zackman delivers Anne Wolbert Burgess' account of trauma, justice, and the evolution of expert testimony with clarity and restraint. Next, they turn to A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever, a joyful, detail-packed oral history of the 1984 film Spinal Tap—an ensemble cast production led by Rob Reiner, where seemingly spontaneous commentary makes the audiobook the definitive way to experience the story. The episode closes with We Did OK, Kid, a reflective memoir in which Kenneth Branagh's elegant narration frames Anthony Hopkins's vulnerable reflections on craft, ambition, and a life shaped by performance. Together these audiobooks show how lived experience—whether in the courtroom, on a film set, or across a lifetime in acting—gains depth and resonance when shaped by a narrator who knows when to be restrained, playful, or quietly vulnerable. Audiobooks Discussed: Expert Witness: The Weight of Our Testimony When Justice Hangs in the Balance by Ann Wolbert Burgess with Steven Matthew Constantine, read by Gabra Zackman A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Story of Spinal Tap, written and read by Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer We Did Ok, Kid: A Memoir by Sir Anthony Hopkins, read by Kenneth Branagh with the author Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In today's episode we talk about Making Better Backstories With Plot Hooks. How do you craft backstories with plot hooks? What benefit does it give to the GM? How can it make your players more dynamic? We give you our thoughts and answer all these questions and more in today's episode.Leave us an email for feedback, questions, or thoughts at levelupyourgamingpodcast@gmail.comor Follow us on Facebook and engage with us at https://www.facebook.com/LevelUpYourGamingPlease leave us a review or a five star rating wherever you get your podcast.
CJ walks us through Paul's opening prayer to the Corinthians in verses 4-9 of 1 Corinthians. In this prayer of thanksgiving, we see that Paul reminds the Corinthians that their gifts are not their own and the glory belongs to God alone.
Hello to our wonderful Listen Local Listeners! On today's show we catch up with the man who has been to the ends of the earth and back, with stories that could match the "most interesting man in the world," Mr. Ben Nestrud. Backstories truly are the best, which make the guest segments so fun each time we have a new person on. In Ben's case we talk about all of the different lives he's lived - for lack of better term - and what led him to the Brainerd Lakes Area to settle down and start Ben's Marine and Motorsports. Plus, hear how he "rescued" the Listen Local Mobile Studio a few weeks back, and has since become the official "mobile repair guy" of the Listen Local Podcast! Thanks so much to Ben for coming in and telling his story which includes everything from his life in Okinawa, Japan with the Marines to testing the waters of MMA to landing right here in the BLA (with many stops along the way) and why he feels he found his "home" right here in Breezy Point, MN. After the guest segment, Ben sticks around to chat with the crew for their Local Happenings segment which include talk about Crosby's (and Minnesota's) new scoring champ, this weekend's Antique Snowmobile Rendezvous, a Chick-Fil-A update, and a big Fleet Farm announcement. Tune in for it all! And HUGE thanks to our 2026 sponsors Pequot Lakes and Gull Lake Sanitation, Hanneken Insurance, Craguns Legacy Courses, Party Time Rental and our PRESENTING SPONSOR Lakes Area CPAs! Instagram: ListenLocalMNBlazeAirMNWoodsToWaterMNNorthwoodsAgent Facebook:Listen Local MNBlazeAirMNWoodsToWaterMN
Zach opens our year-long study of first Corinthians with the first of two talks in an intro miniseries called Backstories. He walks us through Acts 18 where the church in Corinth is started, as well as the first three verses of 1 Corinthians. What we discover is that God is the main actor in this story of Paul and the Corinthians, and that it is His gospel of grace that is central to everything.
FOLLOW MEZZIAHS TWITCH HERE
Beat Migs! Tune in for some riveting classic rock history!
Eric Meyer and Brian Kardell chat with Jay Hoffmann and Jeremy Keith about Shadow DOM's backstory and long origins Mentioned Links Component Model Use Cases Shadow tree encapsulation theory The History of the Web XBL2: First Thoughts and Use Cases 'Web Components' email
AD-FREE EPISODE FOR $5+ PATRONS!Dungeon Court is back in session! Join Justices Murphy, Tanner and Axford, along with Bailiff Jake, as they pass judgement on your trials at the table!CREDITS:Sound Mixing and Editing by Trevor LyonDungeon Court Theme Song by Sam WeillerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to the forty-Seven official episode of Off Da Binge!
Caleb & Isaac sit down in the secondary studio to go over the shots we wish we had back! Retelling the stories of some our our WORST misses on game animals.
Your players' backstories are more than character flavor—they're the foundation for the best plotlines you'll ever write. In this episode of The Bearded Nerd Podcast, Brian shares a step-by-step guide to using player backstories to fuel your story arcs, worldbuilding, and emotional moments. Whether your players gave you a paragraph or a five-page essay, this episode will help you weave it all into your campaign naturally.
In this week's episode, we take a look at creating good backstories for characters and how that can advance the plot. We also discuss two articles about the problems of generative AI. This coupon code will get you 25% off the ebook versions of books in the Sevenfold Sword series at my Payhip store: SEVENBOOKS The coupon code is valid through October 13, 2025. So if you need a new ebook this fall, we've got you covered! Here are links to the articles mentioned in the episode. Writer Beware: https://writerbeware.blog/2025/08/01/return-of-the-nigerian-prince-a-new-twist-on-book-marketing-scams/ Ed Zitron: https://www.wheresyoured.at/the-haters-gui/ TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 271 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is October 3, 2025, and today we are looking at how to create character backstories. We'll also look at some good articles about the problems created by generative AI technology. If you hear occasional drumming noise in the background, it seems like the elementary school a few blocks from here is practicing their marching band. Hopefully it won't be too disruptive. First off, let's start with Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebook versions of books in the Sevenfold Sword Series in my Payhip store, and that coupon code is SEVENBOOKS. And as always, the coupon code and the link to my Payhip store will be available in the show notes. This coupon code will be valid through October the 13th, 2025. If you need a new ebook for this fall, we have got you covered. Now let's have a progress update on my current writing projects. As of this recording, I am 83,000 words into Cloak of Worlds, which will be the 13th book in the Cloak Mage series. I'm thinking the book will end up about 110,000 words, so hopefully I will finish up the rough draft next week. We'll see how things go. I'm also 8,000 words into Blade of Shadows, which will be the sequel to Blade of Flames from last month, and that will be my main project once Cloak of Worlds is published (hopefully by the end of October, if all goes well). In audiobook news, I'm very pleased to report that recording and all the work is done on Ghost in the Siege (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) and we will actually close out this episode with a preview from that audiobook. It's currently up on my Payhip store and probably Google Play as of this recording, but it should be showing up on all the other stores before too much longer. 00:01:52 Generative AI Now onto our next topic, which is two very good articles about the problems of generative AI I read recently. The first (and I'll have the links to both articles in the show notes) is from Writer Beware, which talks about how generative AI is causing a new round of super targeted scammers. These scammers feed your book into the chatbot, which then generates a highly personalized email praising the book and offering marketing services. I got a ton of these scam emails after Stealth and Spells Online, Ghost in the Siege, and Blade of Flames came out in the past couple months and a bunch more after Malison: The Complete Series did well on BookBub at the end of August. So if you are a writer and you publish a book and a few days later or perhaps even the very same day, you get a very detailed email praising the book with very specific plot points and offering marketing services, beware, it's probably a scam that will give you no value whatsoever for your money. Journalist Edward Zitron wrote a great article explaining in extensive detail why generative AI is a bad idea that's probably going to cause a serious market crash in the next few years. I admit I started out with a mildly negative opinion of LLM based generative AI tools in 2022 and 2023, but I wanted my opinion to be an informed one. I've experimented with them on and off and read a good bit about them and as I've experimented with them, my opinion has moved from mildly negative to highly negative and finally arriving at completely anti-AI this year. I never used AI for any of my books, short stories, or cover images. I experimented a bit with using AI images for Facebook ads, but people generally hated them, so I stopped entirely with that. In fact, Facebook ads have become far less effective this year because of all the AI stuff Meta has crammed into them, but more on that later. So why did I arrive at a highly negative opinion of AI? It's because these tools do not actually do what their advocates promise, they're hideously expensive to run, and the enormous costs and downsides significantly outweigh any benefits. In addition to the problems mentioned in the Zitron article like cost, false promises, economic bubbles, and the companies blatantly lying about their capabilities, I think the fundamental difficulty with generative AI is that it's essentially a cognitive mirror for its users, like a Narcissus Machine like I've called it before. What do I mean by this? In Greek myth Narcissus was enraptured by the beauty of his own reflection. LLM based AI is essentially very fancy autocomplete, which means it guesses the most likely response to your prompt based on a statistical likelihood. In other words, it ends up mirroring your own thoughts back at you. So I think LLMs are highly prone to inducing an unconscious confirmation bias in the user. Confirmation bias is a logical fallacy where one interprets new information as confirming one's preexisting beliefs. It's healthier to reevaluate one's beliefs based on new information that comes in, but with confirmation bias, you warp any incoming information to fit a preexisting belief. For example, let's say you have the preexisting belief that you're immortal and nothing can kill you, and then you accidentally shoot yourself in the arm with a nail gun and you bleed. The correct interpretation of this is no, you are not in fact immortal and you can in fact die. Someone suffering under confirmation bias would say the fact that they accidentally shot themselves in the nail gun in the arm with a nail gun and didn't die is proof that they're immortal. That's obviously a logical fallacy, but you see why it's called a confirmation bias. I think even highly intelligent people using LLMS are prone to this kind of confirmation bias because the AI model settles on what is the most statistically likely response to the prompt, which means that consciously or not, you are guiding the LLM to give you the responses that please you. This is why you see on the tragically hilarious side, people who are convinced they've invented a new level of physics with the LLM or taught it to become self-aware or think that the LLM has fallen in love with them. And on the outright tragic side, people who have serious mental breakdowns or blow up their lives in destructive ways because of their interaction with the LLM. Grimly enough, I suppose the problem is going to sort itself out when the AI bubble crashes, whether in a few months or a few years. As one of the linked articles mentioned, AI companies have no clear path to profitability, save for chaining together infinite NVIDIA graphics cards and hoping they magically stumble into an artificial general intelligence or a super intelligence. They're not going to and it's all going to fall apart. The downside is that this is going to cause a lot of economic disruption when it crashes. I know I'm very negative about AI, but in the end I see hardly any good results or actual benefits from the technology. Lots of technology products are becoming worse from having AI stuffed into them (like Windows 11 and Microsoft Office) and what a few good results have come about will not last because the data centers are burning cash like there's no tomorrow. So again, you can see the links to these articles in the show notes and those are my thoughts on generative AI at the moment. 00:07:04 Writing Backstory for Characters [Note: Contains some mild spoilers for early books in the Frostborn, Half-Elven Thief, The Ghosts, and Cloak Games series] Now let's move on to a happier and frankly more interesting topic and that is writing backstory for characters. I will define it, talk about why backstory is important, give three tips about writing effective backstories, and share examples of good backstories from my own work and other media. First of all, what is a backstory? It's what happens to a character before the story begins or details of situation that happens before the story begins. Very often you'll have characters who have preexisting pasts before the story begins. It's very rare the story will begin when the main character is born and go from there. Even if that is the case, then some of the supporting characters obviously will have backstories. One example of a backstory could be a detective who had a twin sister who is kidnapped, which explains why he gets overly invested when a similar case happens. An example of a location's backstory would be knowing that a particular country was once part of another one and split off after revolution or war. That detail influences how people in that country currently treat people in the other nation. And you can see that a backstory is also an important component of world building as well, especially for fantasy and science fiction novels, though even novels set in in the contemporary world like mysteries and contemporary romance will often have backstories as well that require world building, because the location is very often fictional or will have fictional elements to it. Now, why is backstory important? For one thing, it makes a story feel more realistic and “lived in”, for lack of a better word. It's not realistic that absolutely nothing of interest happened to the protagonist before the story begins, or that nothing from their past would influence their current beliefs, behavior, and decisions. Backstory also gives characters clearer reasons for doing things. Returning to the earlier example of detective who had a younger sister who was kidnapped. What if the detective was a very procedural and by the book until a sudden similar case happened? Backstory can explain his unorthodox methods and willingness to solve the case at any cost. Backstory can also drive the plot in many ways. Continuing with the detective example, the detective's knowledge of his little sister's case leads him to find similar patterns in the new case and sends him on a search to prove that the cases are connected. As we can see from that, backstory is also a good way to set up plot hooks for later characters, such as we could have our detective here with his twin sister who disappeared in circumstances similar to his current case. It could be a fantasy hero who had previous battles with orcs and explains why he doesn't like seeing orcs. It could be a contemporary romance heroine who is reencountering her old flame, in which case the backstory would be central towards the plot, essentially. And now for three tips for writing backstory. First, it's important to not stop the plot to reveal backstory. Infodumping is generally something to be avoided when you are writing a novel. A little bit of it is unavoidable, but you want to avoid infodumping as much as possible and to reveal only as much information as necessary, partly because that creates a less cumbersome read for the reader and partly because that can also inspire a sense of mystery that sort of helps hook the reader and propels them forward into the story. It's also good to only reveal backstory that serves the plot or provides key information. For example, you could have in your detective's backstory that he went to high school and he was only a mediocre student and graduated with a GPA of 2.9 while doing well in athletics. Unless that's actually relevant to the story or has some significance to the plot, it's probably best to not include that. You can always tell when a writer has done a lot of research on a particular topic like firearms or travel or the history of a particular country because they are going to put that information in the book whether you want it or not. And if you're inventing an elaborate backstory for your character, it's best to avoid that impulse and only bring in details from the backstory as necessary. It's also important not to have the characters tell each other backstory that they would already know. For example, if you have two characters who've been married for 20 years, it would not be good to have them appear in dialogue as, “As you know, beloved wife, we have been married for 20 years this Tuesday.” It would be better if it's important to the plot to reveal that information like they're going out to a 20th anniversary party or their friends are throwing them a 20th anniversary party, that kind of thing, rather than having it come out in sort of a cumbersome conversation like that. Additionally, it's also important to only do as much backstory as necessary. For your main character, you may need a good deal of backstory or for the antagonist, but for supporting characters, it's less important to have a fully realized background. You need just enough so that they feel realistic and can contribute to the plot without overburdening the plot with too many details. Now, a few examples from my own books, mild spoilers here, nothing major but mild spoilers. I have written characters who have one key backstory element that influenced the plot. Ridmark Arban from Frostborn would be one and his major backstory point is that he was unable to save his wife Aelia from being killed five years before the story starts. Later on, there would be additional backstory that comes out for him in relation to his father and his brothers, but that is the main backstory point that defines his character for easily the first half of the series. Another example would be Morigna, whose parents were killed by the dvargir and then she was raised by a mysterious sorcerer who called himself the old man. And that is a major defining part of her character, that backstory that happened before we meet her in the narrative. I've also written characters with a lot of backstory, and the chief example of that would be Calliande from Frostborn as well, where she wakes up in the first book with no memory of her past and discovering what her backstory actually is a major driving force in the first eight books of the series. So that is a good example. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but that is a good example of using backstory as a mysterious narrative hook to pull the characters forward. Rivah from Half-Elven Thief is another character of mine who has a lot of backstory. In the backstory, she was raised in a noble household, her mother died, her father was about to sell her into slavery, so she fled into the streets and then she met Tobell and became part of his thieving crew. Tobell suffered a serious injury, and the thieving crew broke up and Rivah had to sort of strike out on her own while coming under debt to the procurator Marandis. So there is a lot of backstory there and all of it is important to Rivah's character and I think I've done my best to sort of feed that into the story as necessary to drive the plot rather than hopefully unloading it all in a massive infodump. And I have written characters with very little backstory, and the prime example of those would be Caina and Nadia. In Caina's series, the series starts when she's 11 years old and living with her parents and we develop Caina as she goes along and follow her she grows to adulthood and then increasing prominence in her world. With Nadia, the very first scene in the book is her first day of kindergarten pledging allegiance to the flag, the United States, and the High Queen of the Elves, which is the first indicator that Nadia's world, while very similar as to ours, is nonetheless very different. Like Caina, the book's narrative starts when Nadia is very young and then we see her develop along the course of the books. In a good example of backstory used well from another book would be Aragorn from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, where Aragorn's backstory is extremely important because when the hobbits first meet him at The Prancing Pony in Bree, he's just this mysterious wanderer known as Strider. But later on, we learn that he's actually the last heir of Gondor and Arnor and the rightful king of Gondor. His desire to reclaim his heritage and fulfill the role destiny has prepared for him is a major part of his character and that actually grows organically out of his backstory. I'm not usually fond of prequels, but a good example of a prequel using backstory effectively would be the combination of the Andor TV show and the Rogue One movie, where they create this excellent backstory for the Star Wars movie [Episode IV]. They do it through good characterization so you can see all the motivations of the characters as they go about their various missions and errands. So hopefully that gives you a good look into the process of creating backstory and how best to use it for writing your own stories. So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found this show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes of the show at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week. And now let's close out with a preview of the audiobook of Ghosts in the Siege, as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy [audiobook excerpt follows].
(SPOILER) Your Daily Roundup covers my thoughts on the “Golden Bachelor,” Mel still didn't clarify anything for me, the women's backstories, and the first 1-on-1, Big Brothers penultimate episode and Vince is crashing out on the live feeds. Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Ads: Tropical Smoothie Café - Tropical Smoothie Cafe® brings the goodness – with made-to-order smoothies, bowls and food. You're on Tropic Time now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
(SPOILER) Your Daily Roundup covers my thoughts on the “Golden Bachelor,” Mel still didn't clarify anything for me, the women's backstories, and the first 1-on-1, Big Brothers penultimate episode and Vince is crashing out on the live feeds. Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Ads: Tropical Smoothie Café - Tropical Smoothie Cafe® brings the goodness – with made-to-order smoothies, bowls and food. You're on Tropic Time now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Video link: https://youtu.be/MLA_n7L1zWQ?si=eGR3qqXrah6TBY0f
In our first installment of Fragraphilia & Friends, we decide to bring in some high level sophistication, grace, and the ability the properly pronounce French words. We proudly welcome the wonderful Tracy Wan to the podcast.Throughout the episode we discuss Tracy's backstory, her upbringing, perfume-y fruits and stinky food. We also bond over her affinity for gauzy lens cinema and our shared love of Hitchcock films.Oh, and of course, she joins us for a pretty strong round of The Game. Watch out wantlist!Remember, friends - "You already have a no, so you could have a yes"If you don't already follow Tracy, which we're sure you do, we'll post these here just in case...TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@invisiblestoriesInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/theinvisiblestories/Substack - https://substack.com/@adaptedfromParis for Curious Noses - https://tracy.recleague.com/Perfumes Mentioned in this Episode: Belle du Jour by Eris Parfums / Dirty Flower Factory by Kerosene / Burberry Brit / Hawaiian Ginger by Calgon / Ralph by Ralph Lauren / Shalimar by Guerlain / Aqua Velva & Skin Bracer / Calyx by Clinique / Pulp by Byredo / A Grove by the Sea by Arquiste/ Mantes la Jolie by Astier de Villatte / Monstera by Xinū / Porter se Peau, Rauque, and Oeilleres by Roberto Greco / Vouloir Être Ailleurs by D'Orsay / Lift Me Up by Initio / Fille de Berlin by Serge Lutens / Rosae Mundi by Profumom Roma / Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle / Fruit Thieves by Paraphrase / Rotano by Maison d'ETTO / De Profundis and Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens / Bois D'Encens by Armani / Musc Tonkin by Parfums d'Empire / Rose of No Man's Land by Byredo / Babycat by Yves Saint Laurent / Vanilla Barka by Amouage / Misfit by Arquiste / Un Bel Amour D'été by Parfum d'Empire / Architect's Club by Arquiste / 1996 and La Tulipe by Byredo / Nuit de Bakelite by Naomi Goodsir / Gold, Rain Cloud, and Ink by Perfumer H / Lost Alice by Masque Milano / Un Bel Amour D'été by Parfums d'Empire / Arbole by Hiram Green / Zelen by Boka The Game:Fruto Oscuro by Eauso Vert / Open Sky by Byredo / Steam by Perfumer H / Romanza by Masque Milano / Buen Camino Extrait by Chronotope / Essence Rare by Houbigant (00:00) - - Intro, Backstories, and Film (07:56) - - Tracy's First Perfumes (17:15) - - Writing about Pulp by Byredo (25:34) - - Shopping and Samples and Recent Faves (34:32) - - Rodrigo Flores Roux, Jean-Claude Ellena, and Roberto Greco (40:06) - - Scents We've All Been Wearing (01:07:58) - - The Game Please feel free to email us at hello@fragraphilia.com - Send us questions, comments, or recommendations. We can be found on TikTok and Instagram @fragraphilia
Damon Shepard got into corrections to make a difference—but what he found inside nearly destroyed him. Raised by a single mother in St. Louis, Damon was inspired in high school to pursue a career in criminal justice. After falling short of becoming a police officer, he landed a job inside a juvenile correctional facility. But the reality was far from what he expected. Plagued by corruption, drugs, and a toxic environment, Damon was eventually set up and charged with bringing in contraband himself. Forced to resign and clear his name, he now speaks out about the truth behind the system. In this interview, Damon breaks down what really goes on behind bars—and how the people meant to protect can sometimes be part of the problem. #PrisonCorruption #JuvenileJustice #TrueCrime #CorrectionsOfficer #Whistleblower #LockedInWithIanBick #CriminalJusticeSystem #ExposingTheTruth Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Get 50% off the Magic Mind offer here: https://www.magicmind.com/IANB50. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Presented by Tyson 2.0 & Wooooo Energy: https://tyson20.com/ https://woooooenergy.com/ Use code LOCKEDIN for 20% OFF Wooooo Energy Buy Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop Timestamps: 00:00 A Sudden Accusation 00:12 Damon's Background & Early Dreams 01:51 Inspirations and Upbringing 04:16 Family, Education, and Ambitions 08:38 Trying and Failing the Police Academy 13:09 Learning Security on the Streets 17:21 Moving Up: School Safety Advocate 20:48 Lessons from Working with Kids 24:01 Environment and Upbringing in Crime 27:21 Transitioning into Corrections 29:28 Early Days Inside Juvenile Detention 32:22 Trouble Brewing: Drugs in the Facility 39:17 First Major Contraband Incident 44:11 Breakouts and Rising Tensions 52:14 Being Accused & Set Up Again 01:00:28 Corruption & Aftermath 01:08:13 Surviving on the Inside 01:12:27 The Kid's Backstories and Their Impact 01:15:26 What Kids Really Need 01:16:29 Losing Faith in the Justice System 01:19:43 The Problem Runs Deeper Than St. Louis 01:21:06 Moving Forward—A New Purpose 01:22:33 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts Powered by: Just Media House : https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Creative direction, design, assets, support by FWRD: https://www.fwrd.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode marks the one-year anniversary of the Open Book Podcast, so we thought we would do something a little different. We often ask our guests to share their journey as readers, including the earliest books that they read that really made an impression. For this special one-year anniversary episode, we're going to listen to a number of our guests from the past year and their thoughts about the books that made a difference to them when they were young.
What makes a good player character backstory? This week we discuss the ways backstory can open up new story possibilities and begin character journeys through your campaign. Backstories are about balancing the need for hooks that bring characters into the narrative with mysteries that are left open for the GM to build on with new surprises in the length of the campaign. Join us for a helpful discussion of the art of the player character background!
This week we are going to be exploring South Carolina from A to Z. That's the title of our sister podcast from which we will select topics that deserve a longer look that just 60 seconds.This time out we'll discuss the ambitious man whose name adorns a Christmas decoration; the aristocratic Royal Governor who just didn't "get" South Carolina; the once powerful leadership body in the colony that lost it's standing almost overnight; and the young, talented South Carolina legislature who had a real impact on our young republic as well as our state.
Matt and Sam share their carefully curated selection of new music for July, featuring unreleased Bruce Springsteen tracks, genre-bending collaborations, and high-energy summer anthems.Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/sam-new-music-july-2025/pl.u-z6lXtGxoYJ• Bruce Springsteen's "Unsatisfied Heart" from his newly released Tracks 2 collection, featuring seven previously unreleased albums• Lupe Fiasco's "Samurai" featuring Troy Tyler, imagining an alternate timeline where Amy Winehouse became a battle rapper• Lindsey Stirling's "Evil Twin" with Shuba, fusing classical violin with electronic and Bollywood influences• The bass-heavy "Daydreams" by Effin and Nightmare that demands quality speakers• Cold War Kids' biographical tribute "Any Day Now" about Richard Swift of The Shins• Daisy the Great's indie pop track "Rest of My Life" questioning relationships and permanence• The Dare's "Cheeky" bringing nostalgic hip-hop vibes reminiscent of Run DMC• Cardi B's "Outside" sparking a discussion about why rock musicians don't make diss tracks• Dropkick Murphys' nostalgic "Chesterfields and Aftershave" evoking memories of grandparents• The addictive beat of "High Horse" by Proper Monday Number• Bruno Mars' energetic minute-long Portuguese track "Bonde do Brunao"• Fitz and the Tantrums' formula-perfect "OK, OK, OK" closing out the mixFollow us on social media @superawesomemix on Instagram and Threads, and check out our video content on YouTube. Support the showVisit us at https://www.superawesomemix.com to learn more about our app, our merchandise, our cards, and more!
We're back! Stories from vacation and we missed you.Why Murphy got an emergency call from Jodi during her girls' weekend.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
FOLLOW MEZZIAHS TWITCH HERE
#Timmyboy #rescuecat #DomesticViolence #NationalDomesticViolenceHotline #news #cnn #espn #elonmusk #ufo キャッチャー キャッチャー #uap #nyc #nypost #sportsnews #trump #uae #japan #ukrainaterkini #pets #finland #actors #btc #bitcoin #crypto #aspcomedy #hacking #anime #trump #trumpnews #joerogan #joeroganexperience #newyork #podcast #newsong #interview #funny #politicalpodcast #comedy #TimSchuebel #timmyboycomedypodcast #JolynnCarpenter #1ComedyPodcastUSA #comedy #PGobblefarts #schuebeltim #timjolynnlittleman5148 #Timmyboy #JolynnCarpenter #MajorButtons #TimmyboyTopComedy #elonMusk #ufo #uap #nfl #ravens #politicalpodcast @SnapbackLive1 @south @jimihendrix @harlem @indianarobinson-dawes3160 @megmyers @megmyersbr6473 @megmyersofficial @abc7NY @news @RealWorldPolice @worldstarhiphop National Domestic Violenct Hotline 1-800-799-7233 Text BEGIN to 88788 https://www.thehotline.org/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=domestic_violence https://www.youtube.com/@timjolynnlittleman5148
Trump's comprehensive legislation package is advancing through Congress with a focus on tax cuts, border security funding, and military readiness, while including controversial Medicaid cuts as legislators make difficult trade-offs to achieve progress.• The "One Big Beautiful Bill" represents the first major legislative advancement in nearly four years• Chuck Schumer removed the bill's name in what many consider a petty political move• The Supreme Court ruled that lower court judges can no longer issue nationwide injunctions against federal policies• Justice Amy Coney Barrett delivered a rare public rebuke to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in her majority opinion• A $14.6 billion healthcare fraud operation was uncovered spanning multiple countries with 324 defendants including 96 medical professionals• Two Idaho firefighters were killed in a premeditated ambush while responding to a brush fire• Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faces criticism after evidence emerged she grew up in wealthy Westchester County rather than the Bronx as she claims• Jeff Bezos's $50 million three-day wedding celebration highlighted the contradiction of climate-conscious celebrities arriving on private jets• The University of Pennsylvania has complied with presidential mandates on transgender athletes in sports, stripping Lia Thomas of titles and reinstating Riley Gaines's proper rankingsSupport the showDON'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT EMERGENCY, PLUS, SAVE 15%: https://www.twc.health/elsa#ifounditonamazon https://a.co/ekT4dNOTRY AUDIBLE PLUS: https://amzn.to/3vb6Rw3Elsa's Books: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B01E1VFRFQDesign Like A Pro: https://canva.7eqqol.net/xg6Nv...
Hey there folks, this week we finish Sharp Ends, and we get into the bigger debates that the series offers! Next week, we'll be wrapping up all of The Great Leveler with a special guest! Beyond that, please be sure to follow us or subscribe on your podcatcher of choice, and leave a review on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever. It goes a long way to helping the podcast grow. You can also check out our Patreon at Patreon.com/Wordsandwhiskey Check it out! Another way you could help us out? Refer us to your friends. We love a good referral, don't we folks? Send us ANY questions to our twitter account, Instagram, or to our email. See you next week! Link: https://wordsandwhiskey.show/episode/260-sharp-ends-side-stories-and-backstories
Being sure to get enough sleep is one of the suggestions for people trying to lose or control their body weight. What's the connection? How does sleep affect weight loss? This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.webmd.com/obesity/features/cant-shed-those-pounds The English language is full of weird little phrases like: “Cut to the chase.” “Made from scratch.” Close but no cigar.” Where do these strange sayings come from? That's just one of the topics about our language I discuss with Erin McCarthy, VP/Editor-in-Chief of MentalFloss.com and author of the book Mental Floss: The Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words (https://amzn.to/443Ihfz). In our discussion she also discusses words people hate the most – but use anyway, and she tells the story of how McDonalds (the burger place) went to war with the dictionary. Ever wonder what you will be like in the future? How will you be different 10 years or 20 years from now? To help you understand who your future self will likely be and what you can do now that will help your future self later is Hal Hershfield. He is professor of marketing, behavioral decision making and psychology at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA and author of the book Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today (https://amzn.to/42Y2G4V) Honey has been used for centuries to treat burns and wounds. Is it effective for that? Well, it turns out to be more complicated than you might think. I'll explain why. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/medical-grade-honey-is-viable-tool-in-wound-care# Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to our beer and fun show. This week we have things like: Grape Nuts tangent Bugs & Beer Go go bankrupt, breweries! Stacey gives a full review of Firestone Walker Invitational 2025 The Wondering Don story. David Walker props. Give them what they want so you can get what you want. Keep it on a heat rack. Track 7 is closing? Living Spaces furniture store with $2 beers. We are all in a Black Hole. Downloadable: PerfectPour614.mp3 HOSTED BY: Nick, Rad Stacey, Mikey MUSIC BY: Sunburns and Paul From Fairfax. BEER AND SHOW-RELATED LINKS: SUPPORT THE SHOW AND BECOME A GOLDEN GOD! Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcast. You can also find us on Spotify and most podcast players. Perfect Pour's YouTube Channel. VOICEMAIL/TEXT LINE: 559-492-0542 Drop Us a Line: Email Perfect Pour. Join our free Lager Line Discord channel! Send Postcards or Samples to us: The Perfect Pour – co Mike Seay 2037 W. Bullard Ave #153 Fresno, CA 93711 Mikey's newsletter: Drinking & Thinking. Browse Mikey's Dorky Amazon Storefront.
The clothes you wear project an image to others. But those same clothes you wear influence you as well. Listen and discover how different clothes and different colors you wear change the way you act and even how you think of yourself. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/science/clothes-and-self-perception.html Think of all the different kinds of popular music there are: country, rock, hip-hop, pop, R&B, jazz and more. All that music came from somewhere. And those musical origins tell some fascinating stories. If you enjoy music, listen to my conversation with Kelefa Sanneh. He is a writer for The New Yorker, former pop music critic for the New York Times, contributor to the CBS Sunday Morning program and author of the book Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres (https://amzn.to/3npafT2). You are going to hear some great stories! Who hasn't found themselves in money trouble at some point? One big reason why that happens is that people don't closely examine how much money they earn or how they spend it. Interestingly, even people who think they do, often do not – according to my guest Jill Schlesinger. Jill is a certified financial planner, award winning business analyst for CBS News, host of the Jill on Money podcast and radio show and author of the book The Great Money Reset (https://amzn.to/3JGJ91e). If you want to get some sound financial advice and ways to get a clear view of your financial life, you'll want to hear what Jill has to say. A lot of Italian food tastes even better the next day with one big exception – pizza! While it may never be as good as fresh pizza, there is a way to reheat it that will bring that pizza back to life. Listen as I explain how to do it. https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cooksillustrated/how_tos/6453-the-best-way-to-revive-leftover-pizza PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off QUINCE: Indulge in affordable luxury! Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. TIMELINE: Get 10% off your order of Mitopure! Go to https://Timeline.com/SOMETHING HERS: Hers is changing women's healthcare by providing access to GLP-1 weekly injections with the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as oral medication kits. Start your free online visit today at https://forhers.com/sysk INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now! SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode is a recording of an X Space I had the pleasure of hosting on March 24th. It features a compelling debate between Kevin Brent Cook and Grain of Salt on Josh Mandell's precise and publicly stated prediction that Bitcoin would hit $84,000 on Pi Day, March 14th. Kevin argues that many are being fooled by randomness. Grain believes Josh is simply an elite trader — and maybe even tapped into something unconventional. Memories, multiverses, time loops? Who knows. ––– Offers & Discounts ––– Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix... Theya is the world's simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order. Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/ ––– Get To Know Today's Guests––– Grain of Salt on X: https://x.com/gkrizek Kevin Brent Cook on X: https://x.com/voltage_cloud Joe Carlasare on X: https://x.com/JoeCarlasare Josh Mandell on X: https://x.com/JoshMandell6 ––– Socials ––– Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs ––– Chapters ––– 00:00 - Intro 02:30 - Kevin, Grain of Salt and Joe Carlasare's Backstories 07:30 - Discovering Probability & Mental Models in Trading 12:30 - Why Kevin Created Risk Software for the Brain 17:30 - Grain's Bitcoin Origin Story & Full Send in 2017 22:30 - The Market Isn't Efficient: Arbitraging Belief and Behavior 27:30 - Was Josh's Prediction a Fluke or a Skill? 32:30 - The Power of Positioning and Mindset in Trading 37:30 - Memory, Multiverses & Numerology in Market Prediction 42:30 - The CME Gap, Sovereign FOMO & Options Mechanics 47:30 - Philosophical Clash: Rationality vs Comfort with the Unknown 52:30 - Closing Thoughts I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing. Thank you for listening!