Podcasts about Bad Reputation

Mom explores new wild side, first date, years after divorce. By Eva_Adams  - Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. University  The pale vanilla thickly painted cinder block walls that framed a small high window above the twin bed reminded me of the inside of a prison, but to my son his new dorm room was freedom – at last. I almost didn't even get the brief glimpse of where he would be living for the next year. At first, he insisted he could carry up his boxes and suitcases himself, as he didn't want to introduce his new roommate to his newly single, middle-aged mom. I even promised not to dance or sing while there, but maybe it was the fact that I mentioned those possibilities for ultimate peer embarrassment that got me dismissed shortly after the luggage entered the room.My son was about to test out his suburban survival skills, and at 18 he was ready. Somehow, amid or maybe because of my many mistakes, he had turned out well. There was nothing else to say that I hadn't told him already that he would be willing to hear. So I gave him a discreet hug in the stairwell with no other students around. “I love you, honey.” “Love you too, mom.” And he jogged back up the stairs to his new life, while I retreated back to the car and the four-hour drive home. With the green blur of trees in my peripheral vision and nothing but an endless, straight two way freeway ahead for the next 80 miles, I turned up the end of Joan Jett's “Bad Reputation,” just before it segued into the next hit on my 80s dance music playlist. I remembered dancing in the bathroom to Madonna's “Like a Virgin” while putting on too much eyeliner ahead of a college party with my best friend Wendy back when we were virgins. But truth be told, I managed to stay one all through college too. Wendy and I were on the phone last month as she celebrated her 48th birthday, wondering why we tried so hard to be perfect, rather than having more fun when we were in our 20s. She was always prettier than me – at least guys thought so – with her highlighted shoulder length blonde hair, blue eyes and high cheekbones. So experiencing the inevitable part of aging of becoming invisible in public was hitting her harder than me. Her blonde highlighted hair was about 5 inches shorter than college and she still had her high cheekbones etched with the outer edges of wrinkles near her eyes. Like me, Wendy had probably only gained about 5 pounds since college, but unlike me, it looked to be mostly muscle from her part time job as a yoga instructor. If she had cellulite, I had yet to see it. But like most women, Wendy could be her own worst critic even while protesting the unfairness that women are so judged by their looks. She said, “I was in the customer service line in Home Depot last week, but the clerk came around the desk to show some gal in a short tennis dress to the hardware aisle for the right size wood screws for her project. Hello – it's not as if I wasn't already standing there. Am I invisible?” “Maybe you need to wear a short sports dress for errands. You could still carry it off,” I said. “Yoga dresses are in style now.” “That's not the point, it's about fairness,” Wendy said. “Hey we got that attention when we were her age and didn't complain,” I said. “Yeah, we made quite a pair. But unfortunately we didn't do anything with it! Not really,” she said. “What do you mean?” I asked. “We were too good, too uptight, always trying to do the right thing, stupidly trying to have morals,” she said. “Don't you ever think about it and wonder why?” “Yeah, if I had known I would marry my college boyfriend three years after graduation only to get dumped as our kids reached whatever age he considered viable so he could leave to fuck a zillion others. Yes, I would have said a yes a few times instead of no to any number of other guys in college,” I said. “We followed the rules. But for what?” she asked. “For the nice, appropriate boys who deemed us marriage material,” I said. “But what was the alternative? ” “Rob Winslow.” “You always did fall for bad boys.” “Yeah,” she sighed, nodding unseen against the phone. “He was gorgeous, but there was not enough penicillin on the planet to make me want to really find out how he managed to have a different voluptuous babe every night of the week.” “Well you ended up well – or at least you're not divorced.” “True,” she said, but quickly changed the subject to our kids, and we spent the rest of our call rattling on about this and that. But that call stuck with me. I couldn't get it out of my head. Ever since then, I began to notice not getting noticed. In stores, restaurants and the occasional music venue, I was 48 and invisible. Maybe Wendy was right. Maybe we should have been less careful and more care free in our youth if this was where we were headed. I starting thinking, “So what is stopping me now?” Was it maybe the disbelief that a guy would not care about stretch marks he had no role in creating, or the extra five pounds? And what about my butt? It still felt round and muscular, but the wrong light highlighted the cellulite that no amount of dieting seemed to fix. I didn't mind some wrinkles like the happy ones around my eyes, but not the ones around my chin. Those wrinkled just showed I gritted my teeth at night, the tension of getting through the last several years revealing itself. Maybe I needed botox. My next insecure thought was my house. I had moved to a smaller home, a townhome, after the divorce and I had not even invited anyone over for dinner yet. The thought of having some unknown new person in my home was daunting let alone my bathroom. I'd need to store sex toys elsewhere for starters. I had too many of those really. I guess I kept thinking that with the right one I wouldn't need to actually go on a date. But so far it hadn't worked. I was also hesitant about going from a 24-year marriage into some new serious relationship. I had needs, yet no experience with casual sex. It's one thing to jump into the deep end with casual affairs at 21, but how does one even do that at my age? It would take courage to be naked with someone now. Courage I wasn't sure I had. What was it Anais Nin said? “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.” Hell, I was living it – at least the shrunk part. My days were measured in coffee packets, dish detergent pods, and Netflix episodes at a rate of one each per day at the same time every day. I left the house mostly for the grocery store, and my most regular social interaction was taking my dog to a park with several neighbor dogs. The pup had a more active social life than I did. Seeing that quote always resonated with me. It was like seeing a “you are here” dot on a map at the mall. However, as my thoughts wandered during the drive, I remembered one of her lesser-known quotes. It was that Nin quote that awakened the motivation to move from that safe dot on a map of my small world to where I wanted to go. When I got home, I found the card with the Anais Nin quote a friend had given me years ago and taped it at eye level by the bathroom mirror. “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” I resolved to blossom. Home, 4 September 2021 My son was no doubt enjoying his freedom from parents and I was ready to enjoy my freedom from day-to-day parenting. I had had a few dinner dates with two different acquaintances over the past year, but nothing further. What could I really do? No teenager likes to think of his mom out on a date let alone meet the guy in the kitchen. Bringing the date home would have been too much. I spent my first kid-free week cleaning out closets, donating things I no longer needed and scrubbing everything, marveling at how the floors and kitchen stayed clean with just me. But with nothing else to clean, and my house ready for anything, it was time to either leave it, or invite someone over. I chose the latter. I had kissed Don goodnight in his truck after our second dinner date a few months ago. It was brief but nice. Was I turned on? I was too nervous to fully connect like that. But it felt pleasant enough – and I liked that he hit the right range for the occasion and my mood. His lips felt soft and open against mine with slight but not crushing pressure. His tongue entered my mouth without invading it. His withdrawal left me wanting a bit more, looking forward to more even as he came around the side to open my door so I could teeter in heels I was unaccustomed to wearing to my porch. But then it was summer. Between work, family visits and our respective vacations, we had exchanged just a few texts in the past few months. So, I texted him, and offered to cook dinner. “You what?” Wendy asked. “I told him to come to my place and I'd cook.” “You know what that means!” Wendy said, her voice one level below shouting. “That I'll probably make something basic like meat and potatoes. I don't really know what he likes beyond what he ordered at that Italian restaurant, and I don't remember what he ordered on our first date.” “No! You just offered yourself on a platter.” “Actually I had planned to serve dinner on the deck.” “I'm serious,” Wendy hissed, cupping her hand around the phone, but lowering her voice. “Didn't you see that episode of ‘Coupling'?” “I'm not remembering.” “Saying ‘I'll cook' means come over and sleep with me, and I'll cater.” “I doubt some guy will think that. It's just our third date.” “Exactly! How long since you've been on a date?” “So things have changed over the past 20 years? And how would you know?” “First, women at the yoga studio talk. I hear a lot. Actually maybe dating hasn't changed much – but you were unrealistic about expectations 20 years ago too.” “Well I'm not worried about what he thinks. Actually, I hope he does think that.” “This doesn't sound like you. What are you thinking?” “I've thought about what we talked about last month – that invisibility is growing by the day and opportunities to live, really live are shrinking. I'm tired of caring too much about what people think, and not enough about what I want.” “So what do you want?” “I want to stop being good and start having fun. I want to get past the divorce, to be rechristened, reintroduced to touch, to life.” “He is an IT guy, maybe he can reboot you,” Talia said, calmer now, giggling. “Let's hope!” 10 September 2021 The third dress hit the floor in a ring and I stepped out. I still didn't know what to wear – just what not to wear. What I wanted was a casual dress with a zipper for the fun drama of unzipping it later. But the first one emphasized the extra inch of tummy that had remained since childbirth. The second one fit, but would be hard to shimmy out of due to the shape. I had hoped the green one would work, but was starting to realize most of my clothes reflected my conservative upbringing – not the figure I still mostly had from keeping up dance work out videos. The skirts tended to hit midcalf and covered all of my chest and most of my arms too. I was going for classy, but the result was frumpy. How had I never noticed this? Before, I picked an outfit based on color and favored greens and browns as my auburn hair clashed with most colors. I thought of just wearing jeans and a blouse. That would give options to take off one and not the other. That worked well in college. The difficulty of wrestling off jeans tended to break the mood and offer a natural stopping point. But this was a new phase and for that, I considered a new plan. I decided to go for all or nothing. I was not going to divvy out body parts in hopes of cultivating respect. I planned to just kiss my date and decide by feel – not some preconceived notion of appropriateness, I hung a green wrap dress on the towel rack in the bathroom to drop out the wrinkles in the steam. I pulled the faucet on and set it to 40 degrees Celsius and waited for the water to heat. My breasts could charitably be called athletic at almost a B cup. My waist, still indented with a slight trace of abs, could be seen somewhere above the stretch marks. I ran my hands from the sides of my indented waist along the swell of my hips that were firm and brushed down the sides of my thighs, trying to imagine what someone else would think. My legs were long, slightly thin and muscular, but freckled with a few broken veins. Like the rest of me, they felt better than they looked. Maybe it could be dark tomorrow night I thought as I slide the shower door shut and let the tepid water I'm sure every woman has a similar list of faults, but if we dwell there, we could too easily loose any motivation for action or connection. I needed to think more like a guy. But soon found that to be better, but not entirely worry-free either. What if everything doesn't work as it should? This had not been tested fully in almost three years now. Like other divorced couples, the sex had ended before the marriage actually did. How long had it been since I had had an orgasm that didn't involve batteries I wondered as I circled my breasts with suds? I took the shower nozzle out of the hook and set it to pulse as I rinsed the lather down my puffy pink nipples to my abs and watched the stream of water run down my pale thighs. My senses sprung to attention at the closest thing to touch my skin had felt in way too long. I aimed the pulsing jet at the small triangle of dark auburn hair and gasped as the jet slid through the slit to my most sensitive spot. Awakened, but not satisfied, I turned off the shower, patted myself dry and dove on the bed face down. I needed to test this, and to do so I needed to replicate the tools I'd have Saturday, well the ones that would be on hand that I had myself, which meant fingers. I was going on a third date and ready to entertain the idea sex with the first man since my husband, since by 20s. But I was not ready for the idea of bringing battery-operated devices to the evening so I needed to replicate the tools or lack of them I'd have on hand for the ending. I used to be able to have orgasms just from thrusting, but it had been years, and I tried to remember what worked as I lifted my hips and tapped the auburn hair with my finger and then slowly circled my hips against the mattress. Soon the slickness parted my lips as I tapped. I moved my hand down and pushed my index finger inside about two inches before it caught on a ring of muscles – at least I think it was a muscle – not really sure. I imagined my favorite moment, when a guy is turned on and knows he is wanted. It's something about the look in his eye, the confidence when he knows that he has just the tool you most need, and it is in his hands waiting for entrance. More wetness pooled against my finger and I pushed further with my curved finger until I hit an even more sensitive spot and my hips contracted against it. I imagined it was Don and not my finger, thrusting into me now, as I thrust against my finger and then bent it in rhythm to my twisting hips. But there I remained on the edge. How long had it been? Ten minutes? I wondered as I thrusted to no relief. I arched my back and pinched one nipple hard. The combined sensation worked, finally as I felt a new focus and a familiar clench in my abs. It wasn't an orgasm, not yet, but it would be. It seemed to build like rumbles of an approaching thunderstorm, small contractions at first that floated outwards to my long limbs when a bolt seized through, releasing me back to consciousness, back to myself. I rolled to my back, panting as I lay on the cool sheets. * * * 11 September 2021 “Come in. What can I get you to drink?” I asked, a bit breathless from running down the stairs to answer the door. But instead of answering he opened his arms for a hug. I smiled, my cheekbone pressing against his solid chest with only my thin green wrap dress between us felt grounding. His presence in the entryway of my home sent flutters through my torso, but his touch calmed me. My head barely grazed the top of his shoulder even on tiptoes in my bare feet. After a couple years of doing everything myself, I felt instantly safe dwarfed by his size. His head was shaved bald, and I liked the simplicity and honesty of how he dealt with the hair loss some might have agonized over. It suited him. I found an almost full whisky bottle someone had brought to a house party a few years ago that I had only used to make fudge, and poured him some in a glass with ice. I knew much more about fixing dinner than drinks, and hoped that was to his liking. We took my wine and his whisky to the deck. I was relieved the weather cooperated so well – mid 70s with a slight breeze as I had yet to buy a comfortable indoor couch. My townhome, an end unit, was private as townhomes go, backing to thick woods. My only adjacent neighbor's home was set back so my deck that wrapped around the side of my house was not in view. There was a narrow strip of common ground that connected to a just the side yard of my next closest neighbor, but that neighbor rarely made use of that gate to his yard. So I led Don out to my outdoor paradise. A dining table to one side and then a comfy outdoor sectional sofa pushed into a corner of my deck, a deck that was bigger than my living room. He sat in the middle so I sat with my back propped against him and my legs outstretched, again enjoying the feel of his bulk, softness and hardness combined, as I leaned against his chest with his arm draped over my shoulder. After chatting about our work from home conditions and summer vacations, I swiveled to face him and traced fingers from the dark hair on his calf up to his thigh that was mostly covered by long cargo shorts. Probably not subtle, but I was done with subtle. He soon responded, whether it was to my fingers or the eye contact, I can't say, but I got the reaction I desired. He leaned toward me for a kiss. If it had been awhile since having an orgasm with someone else in the room, it had been way longer, years, since I had been thoroughly kissed, and I was enjoying the secondhand sweetness of the whiskey. I don't know why kissing stopped a few years before sex, but it had. I suddenly felt awkward not remembering how to move my mouth in response to another moving object. When we both needed air, he moved to my neck, putting every nerve ending on high alert as I arched neck and back to give him more access. His kisses trailed down to the curve of my breasts pushed to their best advantage by the push up bra, giving me almost the perception of cleavage. I realized that perception would soon be replaced by actual data, and I briefly wondered whether bras might be an area in life where it was best not to over promise and under deliver, or whether by the time a guy got a bra off he was generally feeling more optimistic than critical. Thankfully any thoughts and doubts evaporated as Don's mouth dipped yet again from my neck to the V of the wrap dress while his finger found my nipple through the admittedly thick layers of push up bra and pinched. “Yes,” I exhaled, my neck bent around his head and my mouth kissed the top of his head as it dipped further to kiss the nipple he had just assaulted. I pulled his head into my chest and arched my back. “Yes, more, please.” I said though muffled against his hair. One hand scooped that breast from the push up bra and with his mouth spread wide taking in most of it; he deftly unhooked the front clasp of my bra with his other hand. I pulled at the shoulders of the dress, spreading the V shape held by a side tie even wider to free my breasts for his tongue. “Sensitive?” “Very.” “I love it.” By Eva_Adams for Literotica

Mom explores new wild side, first date, years after divorce. By Eva_Adams  - Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. University  The pale vanilla thickly painted cinder block walls that framed a small high window above the twin bed reminded me of the inside of a prison, but to my son his new dorm room was freedom – at last. I almost didn't even get the brief glimpse of where he would be living for the next year. At first, he insisted he could carry up his boxes and suitcases himself, as he didn't want to introduce his new roommate to his newly single, middle-aged mom. I even promised not to dance or sing while there, but maybe it was the fact that I mentioned those possibilities for ultimate peer embarrassment that got me dismissed shortly after the luggage entered the room.My son was about to test out his suburban survival skills, and at 18 he was ready. Somehow, amid or maybe because of my many mistakes, he had turned out well. There was nothing else to say that I hadn't told him already that he would be willing to hear. So I gave him a discreet hug in the stairwell with no other students around. “I love you, honey.” “Love you too, mom.” And he jogged back up the stairs to his new life, while I retreated back to the car and the four-hour drive home. With the green blur of trees in my peripheral vision and nothing but an endless, straight two way freeway ahead for the next 80 miles, I turned up the end of Joan Jett's “Bad Reputation,” just before it segued into the next hit on my 80s dance music playlist. I remembered dancing in the bathroom to Madonna's “Like a Virgin” while putting on too much eyeliner ahead of a college party with my best friend Wendy back when we were virgins. But truth be told, I managed to stay one all through college too. Wendy and I were on the phone last month as she celebrated her 48th birthday, wondering why we tried so hard to be perfect, rather than having more fun when we were in our 20s. She was always prettier than me – at least guys thought so – with her highlighted shoulder length blonde hair, blue eyes and high cheekbones. So experiencing the inevitable part of aging of becoming invisible in public was hitting her harder than me. Her blonde highlighted hair was about 5 inches shorter than college and she still had her high cheekbones etched with the outer edges of wrinkles near her eyes. Like me, Wendy had probably only gained about 5 pounds since college, but unlike me, it looked to be mostly muscle from her part time job as a yoga instructor. If she had cellulite, I had yet to see it. But like most women, Wendy could be her own worst critic even while protesting the unfairness that women are so judged by their looks. She said, “I was in the customer service line in Home Depot last week, but the clerk came around the desk to show some gal in a short tennis dress to the hardware aisle for the right size wood screws for her project. Hello – it's not as if I wasn't already standing there. Am I invisible?” “Maybe you need to wear a short sports dress for errands. You could still carry it off,” I said. “Yoga dresses are in style now.” “That's not the point, it's about fairness,” Wendy said. “Hey we got that attention when we were her age and didn't complain,” I said. “Yeah, we made quite a pair. But unfortunately we didn't do anything with it! Not really,” she said. “What do you mean?” I asked. “We were too good, too uptight, always trying to do the right thing, stupidly trying to have morals,” she said. “Don't you ever think about it and wonder why?” “Yeah, if I had known I would marry my college boyfriend three years after graduation only to get dumped as our kids reached whatever age he considered viable so he could leave to fuck a zillion others. Yes, I would have said a yes a few times instead of no to any number of other guys in college,” I said. “We followed the rules. But for what?” she asked. “For the nice, appropriate boys who deemed us marriage material,” I said. “But what was the alternative? ” “Rob Winslow.” “You always did fall for bad boys.” “Yeah,” she sighed, nodding unseen against the phone. “He was gorgeous, but there was not enough penicillin on the planet to make me want to really find out how he managed to have a different voluptuous babe every night of the week.” “Well you ended up well – or at least you're not divorced.” “True,” she said, but quickly changed the subject to our kids, and we spent the rest of our call rattling on about this and that. But that call stuck with me. I couldn't get it out of my head. Ever since then, I began to notice not getting noticed. In stores, restaurants and the occasional music venue, I was 48 and invisible. Maybe Wendy was right. Maybe we should have been less careful and more care free in our youth if this was where we were headed. I starting thinking, “So what is stopping me now?” Was it maybe the disbelief that a guy would not care about stretch marks he had no role in creating, or the extra five pounds? And what about my butt? It still felt round and muscular, but the wrong light highlighted the cellulite that no amount of dieting seemed to fix. I didn't mind some wrinkles like the happy ones around my eyes, but not the ones around my chin. Those wrinkled just showed I gritted my teeth at night, the tension of getting through the last several years revealing itself. Maybe I needed botox. My next insecure thought was my house. I had moved to a smaller home, a townhome, after the divorce and I had not even invited anyone over for dinner yet. The thought of having some unknown new person in my home was daunting let alone my bathroom. I'd need to store sex toys elsewhere for starters. I had too many of those really. I guess I kept thinking that with the right one I wouldn't need to actually go on a date. But so far it hadn't worked. I was also hesitant about going from a 24-year marriage into some new serious relationship. I had needs, yet no experience with casual sex. It's one thing to jump into the deep end with casual affairs at 21, but how does one even do that at my age? It would take courage to be naked with someone now. Courage I wasn't sure I had. What was it Anais Nin said? “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.” Hell, I was living it – at least the shrunk part. My days were measured in coffee packets, dish detergent pods, and Netflix episodes at a rate of one each per day at the same time every day. I left the house mostly for the grocery store, and my most regular social interaction was taking my dog to a park with several neighbor dogs. The pup had a more active social life than I did. Seeing that quote always resonated with me. It was like seeing a “you are here” dot on a map at the mall. However, as my thoughts wandered during the drive, I remembered one of her lesser-known quotes. It was that Nin quote that awakened the motivation to move from that safe dot on a map of my small world to where I wanted to go. When I got home, I found the card with the Anais Nin quote a friend had given me years ago and taped it at eye level by the bathroom mirror. “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” I resolved to blossom. Home, 4 September 2021 My son was no doubt enjoying his freedom from parents and I was ready to enjoy my freedom from day-to-day parenting. I had had a few dinner dates with two different acquaintances over the past year, but nothing further. What could I really do? No teenager likes to think of his mom out on a date let alone meet the guy in the kitchen. Bringing the date home would have been too much. I spent my first kid-free week cleaning out closets, donating things I no longer needed and scrubbing everything, marveling at how the floors and kitchen stayed clean with just me. But with nothing else to clean, and my house ready for anything, it was time to either leave it, or invite someone over. I chose the latter. I had kissed Don goodnight in his truck after our second dinner date a few months ago. It was brief but nice. Was I turned on? I was too nervous to fully connect like that. But it felt pleasant enough – and I liked that he hit the right range for the occasion and my mood. His lips felt soft and open against mine with slight but not crushing pressure. His tongue entered my mouth without invading it. His withdrawal left me wanting a bit more, looking forward to more even as he came around the side to open my door so I could teeter in heels I was unaccustomed to wearing to my porch. But then it was summer. Between work, family visits and our respective vacations, we had exchanged just a few texts in the past few months. So, I texted him, and offered to cook dinner. “You what?” Wendy asked. “I told him to come to my place and I'd cook.” “You know what that means!” Wendy said, her voice one level below shouting. “That I'll probably make something basic like meat and potatoes. I don't really know what he likes beyond what he ordered at that Italian restaurant, and I don't remember what he ordered on our first date.” “No! You just offered yourself on a platter.” “Actually I had planned to serve dinner on the deck.” “I'm serious,” Wendy hissed, cupping her hand around the phone, but lowering her voice. “Didn't you see that episode of ‘Coupling'?” “I'm not remembering.” “Saying ‘I'll cook' means come over and sleep with me, and I'll cater.” “I doubt some guy will think that. It's just our third date.” “Exactly! How long since you've been on a date?” “So things have changed over the past 20 years? And how would you know?” “First, women at the yoga studio talk. I hear a lot. Actually maybe dating hasn't changed much – but you were unrealistic about expectations 20 years ago too.” “Well I'm not worried about what he thinks. Actually, I hope he does think that.” “This doesn't sound like you. What are you thinking?” “I've thought about what we talked about last month – that invisibility is growing by the day and opportunities to live, really live are shrinking. I'm tired of caring too much about what people think, and not enough about what I want.” “So what do you want?” “I want to stop being good and start having fun. I want to get past the divorce, to be rechristened, reintroduced to touch, to life.” “He is an IT guy, maybe he can reboot you,” Talia said, calmer now, giggling. “Let's hope!” 10 September 2021 The third dress hit the floor in a ring and I stepped out. I still didn't know what to wear – just what not to wear. What I wanted was a casual dress with a zipper for the fun drama of unzipping it later. But the first one emphasized the extra inch of tummy that had remained since childbirth. The second one fit, but would be hard to shimmy out of due to the shape. I had hoped the green one would work, but was starting to realize most of my clothes reflected my conservative upbringing – not the figure I still mostly had from keeping up dance work out videos. The skirts tended to hit midcalf and covered all of my chest and most of my arms too. I was going for classy, but the result was frumpy. How had I never noticed this? Before, I picked an outfit based on color and favored greens and browns as my auburn hair clashed with most colors. I thought of just wearing jeans and a blouse. That would give options to take off one and not the other. That worked well in college. The difficulty of wrestling off jeans tended to break the mood and offer a natural stopping point. But this was a new phase and for that, I considered a new plan. I decided to go for all or nothing. I was not going to divvy out body parts in hopes of cultivating respect. I planned to just kiss my date and decide by feel – not some preconceived notion of appropriateness, I hung a green wrap dress on the towel rack in the bathroom to drop out the wrinkles in the steam. I pulled the faucet on and set it to 40 degrees Celsius and waited for the water to heat. My breasts could charitably be called athletic at almost a B cup. My waist, still indented with a slight trace of abs, could be seen somewhere above the stretch marks. I ran my hands from the sides of my indented waist along the swell of my hips that were firm and brushed down the sides of my thighs, trying to imagine what someone else would think. My legs were long, slightly thin and muscular, but freckled with a few broken veins. Like the rest of me, they felt better than they looked. Maybe it could be dark tomorrow night I thought as I slide the shower door shut and let the tepid water I'm sure every woman has a similar list of faults, but if we dwell there, we could too easily loose any motivation for action or connection. I needed to think more like a guy. But soon found that to be better, but not entirely worry-free either. What if everything doesn't work as it should? This had not been tested fully in almost three years now. Like other divorced couples, the sex had ended before the marriage actually did. How long had it been since I had had an orgasm that didn't involve batteries I wondered as I circled my breasts with suds? I took the shower nozzle out of the hook and set it to pulse as I rinsed the lather down my puffy pink nipples to my abs and watched the stream of water run down my pale thighs. My senses sprung to attention at the closest thing to touch my skin had felt in way too long. I aimed the pulsing jet at the small triangle of dark auburn hair and gasped as the jet slid through the slit to my most sensitive spot. Awakened, but not satisfied, I turned off the shower, patted myself dry and dove on the bed face down. I needed to test this, and to do so I needed to replicate the tools I'd have Saturday, well the ones that would be on hand that I had myself, which meant fingers. I was going on a third date and ready to entertain the idea sex with the first man since my husband, since by 20s. But I was not ready for the idea of bringing battery-operated devices to the evening so I needed to replicate the tools or lack of them I'd have on hand for the ending. I used to be able to have orgasms just from thrusting, but it had been years, and I tried to remember what worked as I lifted my hips and tapped the auburn hair with my finger and then slowly circled my hips against the mattress. Soon the slickness parted my lips as I tapped. I moved my hand down and pushed my index finger inside about two inches before it caught on a ring of muscles – at least I think it was a muscle – not really sure. I imagined my favorite moment, when a guy is turned on and knows he is wanted. It's something about the look in his eye, the confidence when he knows that he has just the tool you most need, and it is in his hands waiting for entrance. More wetness pooled against my finger and I pushed further with my curved finger until I hit an even more sensitive spot and my hips contracted against it. I imagined it was Don and not my finger, thrusting into me now, as I thrust against my finger and then bent it in rhythm to my twisting hips. But there I remained on the edge. How long had it been? Ten minutes? I wondered as I thrusted to no relief. I arched my back and pinched one nipple hard. The combined sensation worked, finally as I felt a new focus and a familiar clench in my abs. It wasn't an orgasm, not yet, but it would be. It seemed to build like rumbles of an approaching thunderstorm, small contractions at first that floated outwards to my long limbs when a bolt seized through, releasing me back to consciousness, back to myself. I rolled to my back, panting as I lay on the cool sheets. * * * 11 September 2021 “Come in. What can I get you to drink?” I asked, a bit breathless from running down the stairs to answer the door. But instead of answering he opened his arms for a hug. I smiled, my cheekbone pressing against his solid chest with only my thin green wrap dress between us felt grounding. His presence in the entryway of my home sent flutters through my torso, but his touch calmed me. My head barely grazed the top of his shoulder even on tiptoes in my bare feet. After a couple years of doing everything myself, I felt instantly safe dwarfed by his size. His head was shaved bald, and I liked the simplicity and honesty of how he dealt with the hair loss some might have agonized over. It suited him. I found an almost full whisky bottle someone had brought to a house party a few years ago that I had only used to make fudge, and poured him some in a glass with ice. I knew much more about fixing dinner than drinks, and hoped that was to his liking. We took my wine and his whisky to the deck. I was relieved the weather cooperated so well – mid 70s with a slight breeze as I had yet to buy a comfortable indoor couch. My townhome, an end unit, was private as townhomes go, backing to thick woods. My only adjacent neighbor's home was set back so my deck that wrapped around the side of my house was not in view. There was a narrow strip of common ground that connected to a just the side yard of my next closest neighbor, but that neighbor rarely made use of that gate to his yard. So I led Don out to my outdoor paradise. A dining table to one side and then a comfy outdoor sectional sofa pushed into a corner of my deck, a deck that was bigger than my living room. He sat in the middle so I sat with my back propped against him and my legs outstretched, again enjoying the feel of his bulk, softness and hardness combined, as I leaned against his chest with his arm draped over my shoulder. After chatting about our work from home conditions and summer vacations, I swiveled to face him and traced fingers from the dark hair on his calf up to his thigh that was mostly covered by long cargo shorts. Probably not subtle, but I was done with subtle. He soon responded, whether it was to my fingers or the eye contact, I can't say, but I got the reaction I desired. He leaned toward me for a kiss. If it had been awhile since having an orgasm with someone else in the room, it had been way longer, years, since I had been thoroughly kissed, and I was enjoying the secondhand sweetness of the whiskey. I don't know why kissing stopped a few years before sex, but it had. I suddenly felt awkward not remembering how to move my mouth in response to another moving object. When we both needed air, he moved to my neck, putting every nerve ending on high alert as I arched neck and back to give him more access. His kisses trailed down to the curve of my breasts pushed to their best advantage by the push up bra, giving me almost the perception of cleavage. I realized that perception would soon be replaced by actual data, and I briefly wondered whether bras might be an area in life where it was best not to over promise and under deliver, or whether by the time a guy got a bra off he was generally feeling more optimistic than critical. Thankfully any thoughts and doubts evaporated as Don's mouth dipped yet again from my neck to the V of the wrap dress while his finger found my nipple through the admittedly thick layers of push up bra and pinched. “Yes,” I exhaled, my neck bent around his head and my mouth kissed the top of his head as it dipped further to kiss the nipple he had just assaulted. I pulled his head into my chest and arched my back. “Yes, more, please.” I said though muffled against his hair. One hand scooped that breast from the push up bra and with his mouth spread wide taking in most of it; he deftly unhooked the front clasp of my bra with his other hand. I pulled at the shoulders of the dress, spreading the V shape held by a side tie even wider to free my breasts for his tongue. “Sensitive?” “Very.” “I love it.” By Eva_Adams for Literotica

Steady Freedy. It doesn't rhyme, but it should because that's what singer/songwriter Freedy Johnston has been. Since the early 90s, Freedy has been releasing consistently wonderful music with his crystal clear voice - never phoning it in and never anything less than great. But, his career got off to a wobbly start and might not have happened at all. He sold part of his family farm in Kansas to finance his second album, Can You Fly, in 1992. Luckily, this move paid off and launched his career. That seminal album has just been remastered and re-released on vinyl and cd for the first time and shows the artist coming into his own. We discuss the album and how it sounds to him now as well as the rest of his career like his biggest hit "Bad Reputation", working with Butch Vig, and how that farm story ended. What you'll find is that while his music is calm and collected, Freedy the man has a very different personality. Enjoy!  www.freedyjohnston.com

"Can You Fly" Yes, Freedy Johnston did his California Thing and it was immortalized on his 1992 album Can You Fly. When you're an artist you can go one of two ways: east or west and he Kansas-born singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston went east, landing in New York after college. Firmly planted in the 212, Johnston worked odd jobs and wrote songs and after keeping at it, he signed with the fledgling indie label Bar/None and that kicked off a career that has yielded classic albums like This Perfect World, Never Home, Back On The Road To You and, of course Can You Fly, which, after almost 30 years is available again in a remastered on CD and clear vinyl pressing. More on that in a second. Johnston has worked with Butch Vig, Aimee Mann, T-Bone Burnett, The Embarrassment and John Dee Graham, he's played all over the world, been praised by everyone from Rolling Stone to The New York Times, had a hit song with "Bad Reputation," played Conan, SXSW and signed to a major label. It's a partial list, but you get the idea: Freedy Johnston has had quite a career. With a new album on the way, Johnston has never sounded better. And Can You Fly has never sounded better either; a storming set of jagged pop like Trying To Tell You I Don't Know and In The New Sunshine along with wistful ballads like Tearing Down This Place and We Will Shine, Can You Fly is a timeless classic that remains dynamic and vital. www.freedyjohnston.com (http://www.freedyjohnston.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoembersmagazine.com) www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.alexgreenbooks.com (http://www.alexgreenbooks.com) Stereo Embers The Podcast: Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com (mailto:editor@stereoembersmagazine.com) BLUESKY + IG: @emberspodcast

Crypto's murky market making practices are finally getting sunlight. We sit down with Coinwatch co-founders Matt Jobbe and Brian Tubergen to uncover how market makers have been quietly influencing token prices, the call-option structures enabling extraction, and how shady tactics have hurt retail. Then, we explore how Coinwatch Track is bringing real-time transparency to the space using trusted execution environments (TEEs), giving projects verifiable insights into what market makers are really doing with their tokens—and why this might just restore trust and open the door for more liquid capital to enter crypto. ------

Send us a textWelcome to Guess the Year! This is an interactive, competitive podcast series where you will be able to play along and compete against your fellow listeners. Here is how the scoring works:10 points: Get the year dead on!7 points: 1-2 years off4 points: 3-5 years off1 point: 6-10 years offGuesses can be emailed to drandrewmay@gmail.com or texted using the link at the top of the show notes (please leave your name).I will read your scores out before the next episode, along with the scores of your fellow listeners! Please email your guesses to Andrew no later than 12pm EST on the day the next episode posts if you want them read out on the episode (e.g., if an episode releases on Monday, then I need your guesses by 12pm EST on Wednesday; if an episode releases on Friday, then I need your guesses by 12 pm EST on Monday). Note: If you don't get your scores in on time, they will still be added to the overall scores I am keeping. So they will count for the final scores - in other words, you can catch up if you get behind, you just won't have your scores read out on the released episode. All I need is your guesses (e.g., Song 1 - 19xx, Song 2 - 20xx, Song 3 - 19xx, etc.). Please be honest with your guesses! Best of luck!!The answers to today's ten songs can be found below. If you are playing along, don't scroll down until you have made your guesses. .....Have you made your guesses yet? If so, you can scroll down and look at the answers......Okay, answers coming. Don't peek if you haven't made your guesses yet!.....Intro song: The Man by Taylor Swift (2019)Song 1: Working For the Weekend by Loverboy (1981)Song 2: Jerusalem by Sinead O'Connor (1987)Song 3: Orphans by Beck (2008)Song 4: I Will by Alison Krauss & Tony Furtado (1992)Song 5: Albuquerque by Neil Young (1975)Song 6: Bad Reputation by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (1980)Song 7: Fake Frowns by Death Cab for Cutie (1998)Song 8: Wide Eyed Fool by Bettie Serveert (2003)Song 9: Fake Empire by The National (2007)Song 10: La vie en rose by Edith Piaf (1947)

LET'S DISCUSS WHO YOLANDA IS ....AND MORE!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brand-new715--2075014/support.

On this Monday edition of Sid & Friends in the Morning, Sid welcomes on former film producer and now convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein onto the program in an exclusive interview from Bellevue Hospital, where Weinstein is currently an incarcerated patient. In news of the day, the jury in Weinstein's NYC trial continues to deliberate on a potential verdict, chaos and riots unfold in Los Angeles in protest of President Trump and Border Czar Tom Homan's I.C.E. conducting raids in the West Coast county, Israeli forces intercept the ship carrying aid and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg as it prepares to dock on the shores of Gaza, and NYC Mayor Eric Adams takes new, but still too little late, action to combat anti-Semitism in New York City. Harvey Weinstein, Charles Gasparino, Miranda Devine, John Catsimatidis & Bruce Pearl join Sid on this Monday installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the SYNC Your Life podcast episode #324! On this podcast, we will be diving into all things women's hormones to help you learn how to live in alignment with your female physiology. Too many women are living with their check engine lights flashing. You know you feel “off” but no matter what you do, you can't seem to have the energy, or lose the weight, or feel your best. This podcast exists to shed light on the important topic of healthy hormones and cycle syncing, to help you gain maximum energy in your life.  In today's episode, I dive into cortisol and why it's been getting a bad reputation lately, when in reality, it's trying to help us survive. To learn more about adrenal health, check out more podcasts here on SYNC Your Life! Click here to learn more about our SYNC™ membership. To learn more about the SYNC™ course and fitness program, click here. To learn more about virtual consults with our resident hormone health doctor, click here. If you feel like something is “off” with your hormones, check out the FREE hormone imbalance quiz at sync.jennyswisher.com.  To learn more about Hugh & Grace and my favorite 3rd party tested endocrine disruption free products, including skin care, home care, and detox support, click here. To learn more about the SYNC and Hugh & Grace dual income opportunity, click here. Let's be friends outside of the podcast! Send me a message or schedule a call so I can get to know you better. You can reach out at https://jennyswisher.com/contact-2/. Enjoy the show! Episode Webpage: jennyswisher.com/podcast

In episode 223 of The Raised Rowdy Podcast, hosts Nicky T and Kurt Ozan sit down with Texas country artist Grant Gilbert for a real and wide-ranging conversation about the highs, lows, and everything in between when it comes to life in music. Grant opens up about his latest release Bad Reputation, the unpredictable nature […]

Mens Room Top 10

Part 2 of the Nuclear Mini-Series This is part two of my mini-series on nuclear power and whether it could be the clean energy solution we've all been waiting for.As I said before (and it bears repeating): fossil fuels kill about 8 million people every single year — more than the populations of Aotearoa and most of the Pacific Islands combined.Despite that, nuclear power remains the energy source we fear the most. But should we?In the last episode, we explored the science of nuclear — what it is, how it works, and why it's not nearly as scary as it sounds. In this episode, we dive into its history — a sometimes horrifying, sometimes absurd, and often misunderstood timeline that shaped our collective anxiety around nuclear energy.In this episode, I cover:The early discoveries of nuclear materials and radiationHow public fear around nuclear energy really beganThe rise of nuclear bombs and the race for atomic powerWhat actually happens inside a nuclear reactor (in plain English)The major nuclear disasters that shaped global perceptionWhat went wrong at Three Mile IslandWhat made Chernobyl so catastrophicWhy Fukushima shook public confidence in nuclear safetyKey quotes:“Nuclear energy got its hideous reputation before it had even powered a single light bulb.”“Creepy green glows and mutant fish? That's science fiction, not reality.”“Public anxiety about nuclear energy didn't actually start with power stations.”Books & Resources Mentioned:Here are the books and materials I mentioned for anyone who wants to explore:The Radium Girls by Kate MooreA gripping and enraging true story of the young women who painted glow-in-the-dark watch faces with radioactive paint — and paid the ultimate price. The Woman Who Knew Too Much by Gayle GreeneA biography of Dr. Alice Stewart, who studied radiation risks and stood up to the nuclear establishment. (Recommended for broader radiation safety context).Atoms and Ashes: A Global History of Nuclear Disasters by Serhii PlokhyCovers Six major nuclear incidents — including Chernobyl, Fukushima, and Three Mile Island — with historical and political analysis.If you want to go down the rabbit hole, I also recommend googling:“Radithor” (yes, that glowing bottled water was real)“Clarence Dally and Thomas Edison” (the first radiation death in the U.S).Find our full podcast via the website here:https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

00:00 - Intro00:59 - Welcoming the One and Only Poet!01:30 - Are Bald People Truly Unhappy?03:00 - This Is A Tattoo04:30 - How To Decipher Unknown Callers06:20 - The OG Podcaster07:00 - Netflix's ‘Adolescence' 08:30 - Sidemen Trolls Are The Worst09:45 - Poet Reveals His All-Time Favourite Podcast!11:00 - Who Do We Really Know?12:00 - MoTheComedian's Come up14:30 - The Ultimate Guide to Meeting ‘The One'15:00 - Poet Faces the Toughest Question Yet!15:50 - If We Could Get Away with One Crime…20:00 - The Craziest Things We've Done for Money!23:25 - Poet Showcases His Top Talents!24:30 - Why Luton Has a Bad Reputation!25:25 - What's REALLY Happening in Candy Shops?26:20 - Inside Poet's Morning Rituals!31:20 - Ice Baths vs. Iceland's Hot Springs32:30 - Have We Ever Been in Love?34:47 - Poet Opens Up About His Relationship Status!36:00 - Chloe's Wild Jamaica Adventures!37:30 - Why LA Just Isn't the Same Anymore39:00 - Australia: Beautiful but Deadly!40:00 - How Do You Know They're ‘The One'?42:00 - The Dark Side of Cheating Revealed!43:00 - YOUR Juiciest Dilemmas Answered!Poet joins us for a deep dive into wild relationship dilemmas, shocking money moves, and the unexpected truth about cheating. From the strangest payday he ever had to answering YOUR juiciest dilemmas. We also tackle Sidemen trolls, Netflix's ‘Adolescence,' the downfall of LA, Chloe's wild Jamaica adventures, and whether bald happiness is really a myth. Plus, Poet answers the toughest question he has ever faced.Listen to the FULL PODCAST and follow us on:Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4UjhcQP...Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@chloevsthewor...Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chloevsthew...Chloe: https://www.instagram.com/chloeburrows/?hl=enDilemmas: chloevstheworldsubmissions@gmail.com

Blag Dahlia of the Dwarves returns to the show to talk about the upcoming release of the 1989 Dwarves album Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows for Record Store Day 2025 (unreleased until now!)BLAG/DWARVEShttp://www.thedwarves.comhttps://www.blagdahlia.comhttps://thedwarves.bandcamp.comhttps://www.instagram.com/thedwarveshttps://www.instagram.com/blag_dahliahttps://www.facebook.com/TheDwarvesPCHInstagram - www.instagram.com/powerchordhourTwitter - www.twitter.com/powerchordhourFacebook - www.facebook.com/powerchordhourYoutube - www.youtube.com/channel/UC6jTfzjB3-mzmWM-51c8LggSpotify Episode Playlists - https://open.spotify.com/user/kzavhk5ghelpnthfby9o41gnr?si=4WvOdgAmSsKoswf_HTh_MgDonate to help show costs -https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/pchanthonyhttps://cash.app/$anthmerchpowerchordhour@gmail.comCheck out the Power Chord Hour radio show every Friday night at 8 to 11 est/Tuesday Midnight to 3 est on 107.9 WRFA in Jamestown, NY. Stream the station online at wrfalp.com/streaming/ or listen on the WRFA app.Special Thanks to my buddy Jay Vics for the behind the scenes help on this episode!https://www.meettheexpertspodcast.comhttps://www.jvimobile.com

We want to hear about a place you love that has defied its bad reputation. Maybe there's a drab local mall that's full of chain stores and overpriced frozen yogurt that strangely gives you a sense of comfort. Maybe you love eating at chain restaurants while traveling. Maybe all your high school friends dunk on your hometown, but it's the place you want to live forever.  Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes so please call in if you get disconnected. Or you can record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com. 

Welcome to the Jungle, listener, because Baconsale has begun The Final Countdown to finish our 1980s rock bracket. The previous episode was the Glory Days, when we could Jump to conclusions relatively easily. But now Joel, Kent, and Zack are experiencing a New Sensation of stress as each matchup tastes like Bad Medicine and each decision could give them a Bad Reputation. But We Won't Back Down from this journey we started, and in The Spirit of Radio we'll swallow our Pride and continue on until only One band remains Alone.   Join us on this Flight of Icarus to determine who plays the best Rock of Ages by pressing play.   If you'd like to Bark at the Moon along with us, you can download the advanced 80s rock bracket at Baconsale.com.

Why Do Estate Agents Have a Bad Reputation? Let's Set the Record Straight! In this episode, we're tackling the age old question: why do estate agents have such a bad reputation? Joining me is John Newhouse, Bossman of Roseberry Newhouse in Teesside and the proud winner of 'Best UK Estate & Letting Agent 2024'. Together, we're exploring the reasons behind the negative image of our industry and what we can do to change it. John shares his thoughts on how estate agents are often unfairly grouped with professions like traffic wardens and politicians. But with hundreds of glowing Google reviews and loyal clients trusting them with keys to their homes, it's clear that the reality is much more positive. Despite the trust we build, estate agents often struggle with repeat business, with many clients not returning after their initial transaction. But as John explains, it's not a question of service; it's about maintaining those connections and nurturing relationships over time. If you're tired of the negative stigma and want to help reshape the image of estate agents, this episode is for you. Listen, comment, and share your thoughts on how we can work together to turn things around.

Memory care can feel overwhelming—especially when you've heard horror stories or toured a community that didn't feel right. But not all memory care communities are the same, and knowing what to look for can make all the difference. In this episode, I answer Jan's question: Why do I hear so many bad things about memory care? I share real-life stories, common concerns, and most importantly—how to advocate for your loved one. We talk about creative care solutions, how to spot red flags, and why staff training is critical. You'll learn what questions to ask, when to trust your gut, and when it might be time to walk away. Dementia care is challenging, but with the right knowledge, you can find a community that truly supports your loved one's dignity and well-being.     CLICK HERE for our DOABLE DOWNLOAD with FULL SHOW NOTES Episode 62 – What a memory care community is like Episode 68 – Who to take your complaints to in a community setting Episode 99 – How to choose the right community Episode 110 – Tips for choosing a memory care community with Leslie Fuller of Inspired Senior Care Follow us on INSTAGRAM & YOUTUBE for more doable tips!   Need help finding senior living or care? BECOME A CLIENT TODAY! We can help with your search for senior living & care wherever you live! www.clearpathsls.com     Would you like to share your story and be a guest on our show?  Email us at connect@desperatelyseekingseniorliving.com www.desperatelyseekingseniorliving.com   ————————————— Hit subscribe ✅ and spread the word!

Freedy Johnston is a singer-songwriter whose storytelling and melodies strike deep chords. From the heartlands of Kinsley, Kansas, Johnston's works resonate with tales of heartbreak, alienation, and disappointment. His 1992 album, Can You Fly, won praise from none other than The New York Times, hailed as one of the finest of the year. Then came 1994's This Perfect World, produced by Butch Vig, spawning the hit "Bad Reputation" and earning Johnston the title of Rolling Stone's "songwriter of the year."Johnston's latest album, Back on the Road to You, featured collaborations with Aimee Mann, Susanna Hoffs, and Susan Cowsill, once again affirming his mastery in crafting soulful and unforgettable songs.Yet, there's more to Freedy Johnston than his music. His dedication extends to Joey's Song, a non-profit that raises awareness and funds for epilepsy research. Founded in memory of Mike Gomoll's son, Joey's Song unites musicians to support this critical cause. Johnston's heartfelt contributions underscore his commitment to wielding music as a force for good.Appleton based musician/animator/historian Frank Anderson acted as our special guest co-host for the interview. Code Zero Radio is an independent streaming rock station broadcasting out of Appleton, WI. Listen on the website or anywhere using your smart speaker.CodeZeroRadio.comYou can support the show by donating here:https://paypal.me/foxcitiescore#GibsonCommunityMusicHall #FreedyJohnston #FrankAnderson #LiveInterview

In this episode, Arlina Allen explores the truth about 12-step programs and dives deep into the common misconceptions, barriers, and unexpected benefits. Arlina shares her personal journey from resistance to transformation, highlighting how reframing common challenges—like the language of “character defects” and the concept of powerlessness—can make the 12 steps a powerful tool for healing. Key Takeaways: [01:06] – Why 12-Step Programs Are So Misunderstood [05:00] – Reframing the Good Wolf vs. Bad Wolf Parable [07:22] – The Problem with “Character Defects” [15:46] – The Illusion of Moderation: Can You Control Your Drinking? [25:14] – Why 12-Step Programs Get a Bad Reputation [28:46] – Rethinking the Role of God in Recovery [37:35] – Why Words Like “Alcoholic” Can Be Both Useful & Limiting [46:31] – The 12 Steps as a Structured Path to Change [50:49] – The 4th Step: Why Looking at Ourselves is So Hard [54:28] – Is AA a Cult? Debunking the Myth For full show notes, click here! How to Recover the Person You Were Meant to Be with Paul Churchill A Journey to Sobriety with Laura Cathcart Robbins How to Embrace Sobriety with Gillian Tietz Connect with the show: Follow us on YouTube: @TheOneYouFeedPod Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Follow us on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi Smooches! We haven't died, just fallen off the face of the earth for a bit. On this episode, which we recorded way back in October 2024, we talk with Emma Barry about her latest release, Bad Reputation. Because it took us so damn long to put out this episode, Emma Barry's next book, Bold Moves, will be releasing very soon! So, you're welcome for the shorter wait. Spoilers ahead!WHERE TO FIND USFind us on Instagram at:⁠https://www.instagram.com/makeoutalreadypod⁠Find us on Threads at:⁠https://www.threads.net/@makeoutalreadypod⁠Liz's author links:⁠https://linktr.ee/ellediazromance⁠Subscribe to Liz's YouTube channel:⁠https://youtube.com/@ellediazromance?si=dl14EFyyCtYoolui&sub_confirmation=1⁠Books/authors we mentioned:Emma Barry's incredible books: https://authoremmabarry.com/books-2/Mick Herron's Slow Horses thriller seriesGail Carriger's steampunk fictionLisa Kleypas' Devil in SpringKathy Yardley's urban fantasy

Menopause is a chapter in women's lives that brings a myriad of sometimes debilitating medical issues that can last for more than a decade. It's an area of medicine that for years has been overlooked and underfunded. Rhode Island PBS Weekly's Isabella Jibilian reports for our ongoing series, "Unequal Treatment." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Menopause is a chapter in women's lives that brings a myriad of sometimes debilitating medical issues that can last for more than a decade. It's an area of medicine that for years has been overlooked and underfunded. Rhode Island PBS Weekly's Isabella Jibilian reports for our ongoing series, "Unequal Treatment." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

We chat about Joan Jett's debut album after listening to it over the month of December 2024. We enjoyed it, were blown away by what she has become over the decades, but were also surprised by how it had a bit of everything (not always good). From 50s-style tracks to straight up rock, they were throwing it all at the wall here to see what stuck. But it's a must listen to understand the story of rock, particularly women in rock.

12 - What is to be done about these drones flying over New Jersey? Who is manning these drones? Who is flying these? 1205 - Caitlin Clark is making waves after her comments made post winning Women's Athlete of The Year. 1210 - Side question - Something that doesn't deserve the bad rep. 1220 - What if these drones are from Iran? Your calls and announcements for Caller of The Year. 1230 - NJ state Senator Jon Bramnick joins the program to discuss just what is going on with these drones flying over New Jersey. His dad is from South Philly? Is there any information on these drones? Dom and Jon go back and forth on what should be done and what Jon would do as governor on this issue. 1250 - NJ Assemblywoman Representative Dawn Fantasia joins us today to continue the conversation on the mystery drone flying over the state. How does she feel about Phil Murphy's response? Should the military intervene? Is this a failure of the Biden/Harris administration due to the timing of these flyovers? Do we know anything about the technology being used? What is the concern level? We listen to Jeff Van Drew's comments on the matter and get Dawn's reaction. 110 - Continuing with the drone talk as we take your calls. Some more side question talk. 120 - Capitol police stopped an attacker from injuring Nancy Mace over her transgender bathroom stance. Will Josh Shapiro veto the “Save Women's sports Act that will be coming to his desk? Your calls. 135 - They are planning a blockade down where the next 76ers arena will be built in order to show what the post-game gridlock will look like. Does Dom agree with this protest? 150 - Did Brett Favre take a dive? Should the sack record go back to its rightful owner? 2 - FBI Director Christopher Wray has resigned. Vindication for Catholics! 205 - A local kid is suing 11 food companies for giving him diseases previously unknown in children in generations prior. 210 - Your calls. 215 - Money Melody! 220 - Winner! 225 - Is Nickelback a good band? Has Dom Giordano gone far-left? 235 - NJ Congressman Jeff Van Drew joins the program today to discuss the drones flying all over the area and what is to be done on these. Why does Van Drew believe that these flyovers are organized by the Iranians? Should these things be shot down? Is anyone worried about EMP devices being on board these vehicles? How are all Congress members not concerned with what these are? Was there a deal between China and Iran? 250 - Lightning Round! Trust the Process.

In this episode, Brian and Justin delve into one of the most fragile topic of your relationship with your clients — “trust”. They explore the most common pitfalls, such as misleading clients, poor communication, and taking advantage of situations. Justin shares real-world examples of how quickly trust can erode, even from something as simple as a billing error or failing to notify a client of a shipment delay. They stress the importance of integrity, proactive communication, and taking responsibility for mistakes because trust is built over years and can be lost in seconds. Stay tuned to learn invaluable insights on maintaining long-term client relationships, how to avoid the common traps that could jeopardize your trust with clients.The Logistics & Leadership Podcast, powered by Veritas Logistics, redefines logistics and personal growth. Hosted by industry veterans and supply chain leaders Brian Hastings and Justin Maines, it shares their journey from humble beginnings to a $50 million company. Discover invaluable lessons in logistics, mental toughness, and embracing the entrepreneurial spirit. The show delves into personal and professional development, routine, and the power of betting on oneself. From inspiring stories to practical insights, this podcast is a must for aspiring entrepreneurs, logistics professionals, and anyone seeking to push limits and achieve success.Timestamps:(00:00) - Preview(00:37) - Trust is fragile(02:25) - Most common reason for losing trust (04:08) - Importance of timely communication during breakdown scenarios(07:07) - Dealing with emergencies while maintaining trust with integrity(10:55) - Long-Term Consequences of a Bad Reputation(12:00) - Taking Responsibility and Extreme Ownership(14:00) - Improper Invoicing(16:34) - Coming up…Connect with us! ▶️ Website | LinkedIn | Brian's LinkedIn | Justin's LinkedIn▶️ Get our newsletter for more logistics insights▶️ Send us your questions!! ask@go-veritas.comWatch the pod on: YouTube

On this episode I'm chatting with Louise Macnab, founder of JERMS - a brand creating A Holistic Approach to Gut Health and we're discussing why bacteria has a bad reputation? We touch on the mission to make gut health accessible to everyone, cutting through the gut health market which is becoming more and more saturated, why scientific credibility is crucial for building trust in health brands, the power of customer engagement through consultations and how it helps build community and loyalty, how Louise's background in law aids her in navigating business challenges and why bacteria is often misunderstood but so incredibly beneficial and essential for health. This podcast is brought to you by our mates at Shopify. Shopify is a key player that's revolutionising retail by empowering unified commerce across online, offline, and wholesale channels. With one of the largest and robust ecosystems among commerce platforms, we're excited to have them join us on this podcast journey. Check them out here. Checkout Factory here. Sign up to our newsletter here.

Most of us have ghosts that haunt our past. It can be easy to feel like the shame we feel about our history disqualifies us from being accepted into God's family. But when we dig through the genealogy of Jesus, we see how God is still profoundly at work at Christmas, and in our lives, no matter how messy our families are or what skeletons exist in our closet.Thanks for listening to the Christ Church Mequon Podcast. Find your next step and let us know how we can be praying for you at ChristChurchMequon.LIFE/Podcast. Hit that subscribe button and, until next week, God bless.

Eric interviews Hector Mardueño, the current owner of W. LIM Corporation. Hector describes the challenges he's faced and overcome since purchasing the company from its founder, William Lim. Lim had a reputation in the pond and water garden industry for making excellent pumps, but his business practices and personal interactions alienated many in the industry. Mardueño has worked diligently to change the company's image by prioritizing customer service and satisfaction while maintaining the high quality of the pumps. He's expanded the company's offerings into new markets and is exploring new technologies to expand the company's product lines. Mardueño feels his work has benefited the entire industry. Key Takeaways... ● Hector Mardueño acquired W. LIM Corporation from William Lim three years ago and has been working to overcome the negative stigma associated with the previous owner's business practices.   ● W. LIM pumps are known for their quality, durability, and efficiency, with some pumps lasting for over 20 years.   ● Mardueño kept the W. LIM name to capitalize on the brand recognition and to continue Lim's legacy in the industry.   ● Mardueño is working to expand W. LIM's product line to include submersible pumps and is exploring new filter technology.   ● Mardueño's focus is on improving the industry as a whole, as evidenced by his hosting of the All-American Koi Show.   Connect with Hector: https://wlimproducts.com/   Links to resources:    Contractor Sales Secrets: ContractorSalesSecrets.com   Water Garden Expo 2025: WGExpo.com   The All American Koi Show: AllAmericanKoiShow.com   Fitz Fish Ponds: Koi Trips   Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett   The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/   You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at: http://helixpondfiltration.com/    TWT Contractor Circle   TWT Contractor Power Circle   And follow his adventures in the pond world at: Instagram  Facebook  TikTok 

Our pick for December 2024 is Joan Jett's Bad Reputation, her first debut solo studio album after her band The Runaways called it quits. It was originally released independently in May 1980, self titled, then Jett signed with Boardwalk Records and it was re-released worldwide with this new title on January 23, 1981. It was pretty favourably received, with Jett having song writing credits on just 4 of 12 songs, with 5 singles being released. This was pre Jett forming The Black Hearts. Today Jett is recognized as one of the OG females of rock n' roll and is still going strong today. She's a legend. Dig in and see what you think...

NFL targeting the Lions?

Disclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books.In this episode, we sit down with contemporary romance author Emma Barry, who shares insights into her writing journey, her latest releases, and some incredible book recommendations. Emma writes about love, connection, and the ways we heal through relationships—all while balancing life as a college literature instructor and mother of twins. Here's what you can expect in today's episode:Discussion Highlights:Emma's New Release: Bad Reputation (https://amzn.to/3UnHUtY) —a celebrity romance featuring a Hollywood actor and an intimacy coordinator, perfect for fans of shows like Bridgerton and Outlander.Audiobook Excitement: The audiobook for Bad Reputation is narrated by Aaron Shedlock and Summer Wharton, who deliver standout performances.Chick Magnet (https://amzn.to/48mLRVA): A romance about a chicken influencer and her grumpy veterinarian neighbor. Yes, you heard that right—chicken influencers are real!Emma's Romance Journey: From a single Google search to devouring 200 romance novels while breastfeeding, Emma shares how her love for the genre ignited her writing career.Emma Barry's Book Recommendations:Slow Horses by Mick Herron (https://amzn.to/3UnHUtY) Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn (https://amzn.to/40hliPs) – My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (https://amzn.to/3Nzdvoy) We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian (https://amzn.to/3C4QWpa) A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel (https://amzn.to/4fcWDj7)Where to Find Emma Barry:Website: authoremmabarry.comInstagram: @authoremmabarryBlue Sky: @authoremmabarryGet More Book Recommendations with Bonus Podcast Episodes!Do you love discovering your next favorite read? You can get even more book recommendations with bonus podcast episodes exclusively on my Substack! I'm releasing 1-2 new weekly episodes with handpicked book suggestions to help you find your next great read. These bonus episodes dive deep into must-read books, new releases, and hidden gems across all genres.Sign up now to never miss an episode and keep your reading list fresh!https://wtrnblog.substack.com/Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: IP29FC0QKB6DV2UE

This episode of the Fresh Fiction Podcast features an engaging interview with author Emma Barry, promoting her new book BAD REPUTATION. Barry shares her journey into writing romance, influenced by favorites like LORD OF SCOUNDRELS. She discusses her 'Fly Me to the Moon' series, inspired by the 1960s Space Race, and the collaborative process to ensure scientific accuracy. The conversation explores writing characters with unique professions, particularly in STEM, and the creation of BAD REPUTATION, centered on an intimacy coordinator and a former typecast actor.  Balancing realism with storytelling, Barry touches upon toxic celebrity culture's impact and advocating for older protagonists. The interview highlights Barry's transition from teaching drama to Hollywood, emphasizing character development and research. It also covers personal anecdotes, from unwinding after writing marathons to time travel fantasies. The discussion wraps up with a look at Barry's forthcoming book BOLD MOVES, about a showrunner and his ex-girlfriend adapting her memoir for TV, and her aspirations to learn French.  Follow Emma Barry =  https://authoremmabarry.com/ Buy a Readers & 'ritas ticket for November 9th at https://rnr24.eventbrite.com Learn more about the Fresh Fiction Box at https://www.freshfictionbox.com  

Episode 32 -“This Day In History:  “1793 Marie Antoinette is Beheaded”, “1888 Eugene O'Neil is born”, “1923 The Disney Brothers Open Their First Studio”,  Ev reads another “Whacky Bumper Sticker”, and, Pasquale shares another “Two New Yorkers' Fortune Cooky”,  Eric is back with his “Eric The Travel Mensch's Travel Tip”. Please Like us AND SHARE on https://www.facebook.com/2newyorkers1000opinions/and follow us on X and Instagram or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. For more information on (MAC): My Autism Connection and  Worth Advocacy For more info on the weight-loss program Evelyn is a part of:https://optionsmedicalweightloss.com

Believe it or not, but Bobbie and Vince are back after a year with a new Bitter, Sweet & Twisted Records episode. In this one, they discuss what they found inside a copy of Thin Lizzy's "Bad Reputation" album.The music discussed in this episode is in our Spotify Episode #20 Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3fhnqmfhKIBvWJcGPLMzNR

Book Besties Season 7 Episode 7: Bad Reputation LiveThis week the Besties take a rom-com detour from spooky season to talk to author Emma Barry about her newest book Bad Reputation. This episode was filmed live at Novel Grounds in Chesapeake, Virginia. Join us all as we chat about our favorite reads; consent in Hollywood; and get a crowd of answers to the best question: Do vampires have sperm? This was such a fun episode to film. Special thanks to Novel Grounds owner Megan for hosting us and to Emma Barry for answering all our weird questions. Things talked about in this episode:Emma Barry: https://authoremmabarry.com/ Novel Grounds: https://novelgrounds.com/ Meet Molly and April, they bonded over books and became Book Besties. So, what do you do when you find your book bestie? Start a podcast of course. Hang out with April and Molly as they talk about everything they love and hate about books.

Join us every Sunday for an inspiring message. gracechurchcorpus.com

It must be one of the most-maligned professions out there - on a par, perhaps, with traffic wardens - but debt collectors perform a vital service to businesses and the wider economy. So why do we love to despise them? Evan Davis and guests discuss the industry's inner workings, from the public image of aggressive, burly bailiffs, to the reality of repayment plans prompted by artificial intelligence. We ask how most try to ensure they collect debts fairly, and also hear the other side of the debt story - how damaging and stressful it can be for businesses who desperately need the money.Plus, why do we find it so hard to talk about debt in the UK? We hear about the industry's efforts to tackle the stigma.Evan is joined by:John Pears, UK CEO, Lowell; Amon Ghaiumy, co-founder and CEO, Ophelos; Dana Denis-Smith, CEO and founder, Obelisk Support.Production team:Producer: Simon Tulett Researcher: Farhana Haider Editor: Matt Willis Sound: Dafydd Evans and Sarah Hockley Production co-ordinators: Rosie Strawbridge and Katie Morrison

Welcome to another episode of The Legacy Podcast! Today Legacy Digital's Q Moldrik is back on the podcast. Q's company just started a new service to take care of your business' bad reputation online. I just hired them to do some reputation management for several of my apartment buildings that had gotten a bunch of negative reviews online because of bad property managers. You're going to learn a lot of ways that they can improve your online presence, your online visibility, your online ratings and reputation all through these different hacks and strategies that they utilize. So I'm excited for her to share these things with you. You're gonna get a ton of value out of this episode.  //CONNECT WITH Q & LEGACY DIGITAL Website: https://www.legacydigital.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legacydigitalmedia_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legacydigitalmedia TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@UCw8qkgkeAwtJmM-d5fxiKmA  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legacy-digital-media-chs/ //CONNECT WITH TIM linktree.com/timbratz //ABOUT ME Tim Bratz is the Founder & CEO of Legacy Wealth Holdings, a leading real estate investment company. He focuses on vision-casting, marketing, & supporting his team of “A” players. He has built his company on integrity (doing what he said he was going to do), fairness (doing the right thing), & transparency (honesty is always the best policy). Tim has dedicated his professional life to studying wealth-building & personal finance. Working in real estate, Tim has learned how to create a passive income that allows him to live the lifestyle of his choice. His goal is to educate & empower others to become financially free through entrepreneurship & real estate investments. https://legacywealthholdings.com SUBSCRIBE NOW so you don't miss a single video! https://www.youtube.com/legacywealth

*5:00am:  Knocking On Family's Homes     *6:00am:   Cool Reason You Skipped School, Bridging The Generation Gap *7:00am:     Beyonce and Diddy Conspiracy, Names That Have a Bad Reputation *8:00am:     Bandle Music Game, Restricting Yourself From This *9:00am:     Cringe Worthy Feelings

Are you considering joining EXP Realty but have concerns based on what you've heard? In this video, we're tackling the most common myths about EXP Realty head-on and exposing the truth behind them. From accusations of being a pyramid scheme to claims that EXP agents only focus on recruiting and not selling homes, we're here to set the record straight.

Emily Dorezas and Amy look at the Johnny J lawsuit from all angles while incorporating Shannon's "I's" into an Ozzy Osbourne song. Also, Amy is convinced that the winery cast trip was in Georgia until Emily checked her a$%! They both agree that Heather and Gina should have told Shannon about the video, so they contemplate why they chose not to. For more Drama, Darling, and tons of content, subscribe to my Patreon: http://Patreon.com/dramadarlingElevate your health with AG1:https://drinkag1.com/dramadarlingGet 15% off at JenniKayne.comPromo Code: Drama15

Hour 2 - During the second hour of Mego, Fitzy, and Hart (he joins in the last segment) the crew talks about the new beef between Matthew Judon and Gresh and Fauria, and breaks down the potential narrative that hurts the New England Patriots in free agency. First, a dramatic reading of Judon's tweet at the midday show.Then, the case begins. Whose side are Mego and Fitzy on?Finally, what, in addition to the suck tax, is plaguing the Patriots from signing big name free agents?

It's All Been Done Radio Hour Commercial #247  Tina's #9 "Lyres"     Tina is trying to turn over a new leaf.    Visit our website http://iabdpresents.com Script books, clothing, and more at https://amzn.to/3km2TLm Please support us at http://patreon.com/IABD   Find more from It's All Been Done Radio Hour here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iabdpresents/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iabdpresents   A comedy radio show originally performed Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Boxland in Columbus, Ohio.       STARRING Kristin Green as Tina  GUEST STARRING  Beth Muir as Kat  Samantha Stark as Morgan  Joe Morales as Jacob    Narrated by Darren Esler  Foley Artist Megan Overholt  Podcast edited by Trulie Awesome Productions     Written by Kristin Green  Produced by Jerome Wetzel  Directed by Kristin Green  Music Director Kristin Green  Theme Songs composed by Nathan Haley, with lyrics by Jerome Wetzel  Technical Director Shane Stefanchik   When you post about us, hashtag #IABD   #youtuberadioplays #bestyoutubepodcastchannels

Brits have a bad reputation abroad – but what about Britain as a whole? To discuss how other countries look at Britain, Rafael Behr speaks to FT journalist Michael Peel, author of What Everyone Knows About Britain (*Except the British).  • “Looking at Britain from overseas made Brexit easier to see coming.” – Michael Peel  Buy What Everyone Knows About Britain (*Except the British) through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast    Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: Eliza Davis Beard. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson and artwork by James Parrett. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Potatoes, are they healthy?Potatoes have been around for centuries and are used across various cuisines. But they sometimes suffer a bad reputation, especially with low-carb diets rising in popularity. Let's talk about the humble potato and why they may not deserve all the hate…References:How to grow your own potatoes GUIDE:https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/potatoes/grow-your-ownDoctors Kitchen Podcast w/ Dr. Rupy AujlaRecipesCreamy Aubergine, Potato and Tempeh BakeNew Potato and Asparagus Salad with Ranch DressingBrain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/

Completing our ENTIRE coverage of the DC Extended Universe (see Parts 1 & 2 at the links below), Henry flies away with Blue Beetle then saves Atlantis in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom plus he also talks Bad Reputation, Lady Bird, and May (2002).Listen:DCEU Part 1DCEU Part 20:00 - Intro: Get Our 70+ Bonus Shows Below!2:34 - Review: Blue Beetle10:28 - Review: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom19:12 - Picks of the Week: Bad Reputation, Lady Bird, and May (2002)22:55 - Outro: Please Rate & Subscribe!Subscribe / Buy Bonus Shows / Contact:Film Buds LinktreeElle DeWeese Photography:Instagram: @ElleDeWeesePhotographyLLCFacebook: @ElleDeWeesePhotographyLLCWebsite: Elle DeWeese Photography LLC

Kid Rock is a musician, singer, rapper, and songwriter. His most recent album is "Bad Reputation." See him live on the "Rock the Country" festival tour.  www.rockthecountry.com www.kidrock.com

In this episode, Kate and Paul are in 1882 Sioux Falls looking at a murder victim within a very suspicious crime scene. With multiple suspects, one person's character is weighed heavily on the scales of justice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.