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This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring classical trumpeter and soloist Imogen Whitehead, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Imogen Whitehead trumpet interview"   Find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here: https://bobreeves.com/blog/imogen-whitehead-trumpet-interview-the-other-side-of-the-bell-145/   About Imogen Whitehead: British trumpeter Imogen Whitehead is in demand across the UK and internationally, enjoying an increasingly diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral principal. A passionate advocate for new music, Imogen serves on the International Trumpet Guild's 'New Works' committee and has premiered numerous works by composers such as Sally Beamish and Stephen Dodgson. Many of these are featured on her recently released debut solo album, Connection. As a particular champion of the flugelhorn – an instrument often overlooked in the classical sphere – Imogen is dedicated to raising its solo profile through new commissions and arrangements. Her most recent commission, Ennui by Noah Max (for flugelhorn and piano), was supported by the Vaughan Williams Foundation and premiered in June 2025. Recent and upcoming highlights include concerto performances with Britten Sinfonia of Barry Mills' Trumpet Concerto (world premiere, July 2025) and Hummel's Trumpet Concerto (May 2025), the latter also featuring live on BBC Radio 3's In Tune. Imogen launched her solo album at London's iconic St Martin-in-the-Fields (May 2025), with further recitals at Proms at St Jude's (June 2025) and Wimbledon International Music Festival (November 2025). In addition to her position as Principal Trumpet with Britten Sinfonia, Imogen performs regularly as Guest Principal Trumpet with other leading orchestras internationally. In March 2025, she toured Germany and Belgium with Aurora Orchestra and Abel Selaocoe and next season joins the London Symphony Orchestra for a European tour. In recent years, she has performed in London's West End and played on major film soundtracks including Maestro and Saltburn. Imogen is currently Artist-in-Residence with St Martin's Voices and a member of the acclaimed wind and brass collective, Neoteric Ensemble. She is deeply committed to music education, community engagement, and equal opportunity, serving as an Associate and Mentor for GALSI (Gender and the Large and Shiny Instruments), an initiative promoting gender equality in brass and percussion. She is also involved in Britten Sinfonia's pioneering outreach work, has worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's 'Resound' education and community programme, and regularly leads masterclasses at conservatoires across the UK. Based in South West London, Imogen also volunteers as a befriender through the Wimbledon Guild. An alumna of the Royal Academy of Music, Imogen studied with professors including Mark David and Gareth Small and subsequently studied privately with Norwegian soloist Tine Thing Helseth. In April 2025, Imogen was awarded Associateship of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM).   Episode Links: imogenwhiteheadtrumpet.com Connection: Imogen's debut solo album GALSI: Gender and the Large and Shiny Instruments (www.largeandshiny.com) Imogen on Instagram (@imogen_trumpet) on YouTube (@imogentrumpet) on TikTok (@imogentrumpet) 'To Stay Open' by Charlotte Harding, outdoor performance on YouTube   Podcast Credits: "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Cover Photo Credit - Matthew Johnson Photographer Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

Hello again Pacific War Week by Week listeners, it is I your dutiful host Craig Watson with more goodies from my exclusive patreon podcast series. This is actually going to be a two parter specifically looking at the failure and responsibility of Emperor Hirohito during the 15 year war Japan unleashed in 1931. Again a big thanks to all of you for listening all these years, you are all awesome.   Hello everyone, a big thanks to all of you who joined the patreon and voted for this to be the next episode, you all are awesome.    Now I realize very well when I jumped into my former patreon episode on Ishiwara Kanji, I fell into a rabbit hole and it became a rather long series. I wanted to get this one done in a single episode but its also kind of a behemoth subject, so I will do this in two parts: this episode will be on Hirohito's failure and responsibility in regards to the China War from 1931-1941. The next one will cover Hirohito's failure and responsibility in the world war from 1941-1945.   I am not going to cover the entire life of Hirohito, no what I want is to specifically cover his actions from 1931-1945. Nw I want you to understand the purpose of this episode is to destroy a narrative, a narrative that carried on from 1945-1989. That narrative has always been that Emperor Hirohito was nothing more than a hostage during the war years of 1931-1945. This narrative was largely built by himself and the United States as a means of keeping the peace after 1945. However upon his death in 1989 many meeting notes and diaries from those who worked close to him began emerging and much work was done by historians like Herbert P Bix and Francis Pike. The narrative had it that Hirohito was powerless to stop things, did not know or was being misled by those around him, but this is far from the truth. Hirohito was very active in matters that led to the horrors of the 15 year war and he had his own reasons for why or when he acted and when he did not.   For this episode to be able to contain it into a single one, I am going to focus on Hirohito's involvement in the undeclared war with China, that's 1931-1941. For those of you who don't know, China and Japan were very much at war in 1931-1937 and certainly 1937 onwards, but it was undeclared for various reasons. If you guys really like this one, let me know and I can hit Hirohito 1941-1945 which is honestly a different beast of its own.   For those of you who don't know, Hirohito was born on April 29th of 1901, the grandson of Emperor Meiji. Hirohito entered the world right at the dawn of a new era of imperial rivalry in Asia and the Pacific. According to custom, Japanese royals were raised apart from their parents, at the age of 3 he was placed in the care of the Kwamura family who vowed to raise him to be unselfish, persevering in the face of difficulties, respectful of the views of others and immune to fear. In 1908 he entered elementary education at the age of 7 and would be taught first be General Nogi Maresuke who notoriously did not pamper the prince. Nogi rigorously had Hirohito train in physical education and specifically implanted virtues and traits he thought appropriate for the future sovereign: frugality, diligence, patience, manliness, and the ability to exercise self-control under difficult conditions. Hirohito learnt what hard work was from Nogi and that education could overcome all shortcomings. Emperor Meiji made sure his grandson received military training.   When Emperor Meiji died in 1912, Hirohito's father, Yoshihito took the throne as emperor Taisho. Taisho for a lack of better words, suffered from cerebral meningitis at an early age and this led to cognitive deficiency's and in reality the Genro would really be running the show so to say. When Taisho took the throne it was understood immediately, Hirohito needed to be prepared quickly to take the throne. After Meiji's funeral General Nogi politely told the family he could no longer be a teacher and committed seppuku with his wife. He wrote a suicide letter explained he wanted to expiate his disgrace during the russo japanese war for all the casualties that occurred at Port Arthur, hardcore as fuck. Hirohito would view Nogi nearly as much of an iconic hero as his grandfather Meiji, the most important figure in his life.   Hirohito's next teacher was the absolute legendary Fleet Admiral Togo Heihachiro who would instill national defense policy into him. Hirohito would be taught Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahans theories as all the great minds were taught at the time. Now I know it sucks but I cant delve deep into all this. What I want you to envision is a growing Man, instilled with the belief above all else, the Kokutai was most important. The Kokutai was the national essence of Japan. It was all aspects of Japanese polity, derived from history, tradition and customs all focused around the cult of the Emperor. The government run by politicians was secondary, at any given time the kokutai was the belief the Emperor could come in and directly rule.   If you are confused, dont worry, I am too haha. Its confusing. The Meiji constitution was extremely ambiguous. It dictated a form of constitutional monarchy with the kokutai sovereign emperor and the “seitai” that being the actual government. Basically on paper the government runs things, but the feeling of the Japanese people was that the wishes of the emperor should be followed. Thus the kokutai was like an extra-judicial structure built into the constitution without real legal framework, its a nightmare I know.    Let me make an example, most of you are American I imagine. Your congress and senate actually run the country, wink wink lets forget about lobbyists from raytheon. The president does not have actual executive powers to override any and all things, but what if all Americans simply felt he did. Thus everyone acted in accordance to his wishes as they assumed them to be, thats my best way of explaining Japan under Hirohito.    Emperor Taisho dies in 1926, and Hirohito takes the throne ushering in the Showa Era. He inherited a financial crisis and a military that was increasingly seizing control of governmental policies. Hirohito sought to restore the image of a strong charismatic leader on par with his grandfather Meiji, which was sorely lacking in his father Taishos reign. He was pressured immediately by the Navy that the national sphere of defense needed to be expanded upon, they felt threatened by the west, specifically by the US and Britain who had enacted the Washington Naval Treaty. Hirohito agreed a large navy was necessary for Japan's future, he was a proponent of the decisive naval battle doctrine, remember his teacher was Togo.    From the very beginning Hirohito intensely followed all military decisions. In 1928 the Japanese covertly assassinated the warlord of Manchuria, Zhang Zuolin. The current prime minister Tanaka Giichi had performed a thorough investigation of the incident and presented his report to Hirohito on December 24th of 1928. He told Hirohito he intended to court martial the criminals, purge the army and re-establish discipline. However the rest of Tanaka's cabinet wished to allow the army to deal with the matter and quiet the entire thing down. Hirohito responded by stating he had lost confidence in Tanaka and admonished his report. Hirohito allowed the army to cover up the incident, he sought to have it hushed up as well. Thus Hirohito had indulged the army in its insubordination and the kwantung army officers now felt they could take matters into their own hands.   Also in 1928 the Tanaka cabinet failed to endorse the international protocol banning chemical and biological warfare. The next year the privy council, pressured by the military, failed to ratify the full geneva convention of prisoners of war. Hirohito in response began doing something Emperor Meiji never had done, he began to scold officials to force them to retire from positions. Tanaka Giichi was bullied out. Hirohito then stated his endorsement of Hamaguchi Osachi as Tanaka's successors.   Just a few months after Hamaguchi cabinet formed, Hirohito overrode the advice of his naval chief of staff and vice chief of staff, Admiral Kato and Vice Admiral Suetsugu. The Americans and British were hinting they might form a naval alliance against Japan if she did not abide by the Washington Conference mandates on naval tonnage. Kato and Suetsugu refused to accept the terms, but prime minister Hamaguchi stood firm against them. The navy leaders were outraged and accused Hamaguchi of signing the treaty without the support of the Navy General Staff thereby infringing upon the “emperor's right of supreme command”. Two months after signing the treaty, Hamaguchi was assassinated and upon learning of this Hirohito's first concern apparently was “that constitutional politics not be interrupted”. The military felt greatly emboldened, and thus began the age of the military feeling “its right of supreme command”. Generals and Admirals fought back against arms reduction talks, discipline within the officer corps loosened, things spiraled out of control. Alongside this came the increasing cult of the emperor, that they were all doing this in his name.   When rumors emerged of the emerging Mukden Incident in 1931, Hirohito  demanded the army be reigned in. Attempts were made, but on September 18th of 1931, Kwantung army officer detonated an explosion at Liut'iaokou north of Mukden as a false flag operation. The next day the imperial palace were given a report and Hirohito was advised by chief aide de camp Nara Takeji “this incident would not spread and if the Emperor was to convene an imperial conference to take control of the situation, the virtue of his majesty might be soiled if the decisions of such a conference should prove impossible to implement”. This will be a key theme in Hirohito's decision making, protect the kokutai from any threats.   As the Mukden incident was getting worse, the Kwantung officers began to demand reinforcement be sent from the Korea army. The current Wakatsuki cabinet met on the issue and decided the Mukden incident had to remain an incident, they needed to avoid a declaration of war. The official orders were for no reinforcements of the Korea army to mobilize, however the field commander took it upon his own authority and mobilized them. The army chief of staff Kanaya reported to Hirohito the Korea army was marching into Manchuria against orders. At 31 years of age Hirohito now had an excellent opportunity to back the current cabinet, to control the military and stop the incident from getting worse. At this time the military was greatly divided on the issue, politically still weak compared to what they would become in a few years, if Hirohito wanted to rule as a constitutional monarch instead of an autocratic monarch, well this was his chance. Hirohito said to Kanaya at 4:20pm on September 22nd “although this time it couldn't be helped, [the army] had to be more careful in the future”. Thus Hirohito accepted the situation as fait accompli, he was not seriously opposed to seeing his army expand his empire. If it involved a brief usurpation of his authority so bit, as long as the operation was successful. Within two weeks of the incident, most of Japan had rallied being the kwantung army's cause. Hirohito knew it was a false flag, all of what they had done. Hirohito planned the lightests punishments for those responsible. Hirohito then officially sanctioned the aerial strike against Chinchou, the first air attack since ww1.   A message had gone out to the young officers in the Japanese military that the emperors main concern was success; obedience to central command was secondary. After the Mukden incident Prime Minister Wakatsuki resigned in december after failing to control the army and failing to contain the financial depression. The new Priminister Inukai took to action requesting permission from Hirohito to dispatch battalions to Tientsin and a brigade to Manchuria to help the Kwantung army take Chinchou. Hirohito responded by advising caution when attacking Chinchou and to keep a close eye on international public perception. Nevertheless Chinchou was taken and Hirohito issued an imperial rescript praising the insubordinate Kwantung army for fighting a courageous self defense against Chinese bandits. In a few more years Hirohito would grant awards and promotions to 3000 military and civil officials involved in the Manchurian war. When incidents broke out in Shanghai in 1932 involved the IJN, Tokyo high command organized a full fledged Shanghai expeditionary force under General Shirakawa with 2 full divisions. But within Shanghai were western powers, like Britain and America, whom Hirohito knew full well could place economic sanctions upon Japan if things got out of hand. Hirohito went out of his way to demand Shirakawa settle the Shanghai matter quickly and return to Japan.   And thus here is a major problem with Hirohito during the war years. On one end with Manchuria he let pretty much everything slide, but with Shanghai he suddenly cracks the whip. Hirohito had a real tendency of choosing when he wanted to act and this influenced the military heavily. On May 15th of 1932, young naval officers assassinated prime minister Inukai at his office. In the political chaos, Hirohito and his advisors agreed to abandon the experiment in party cabinets that had been the custom since the Taisho era. Now Hirohito endorsed a fully bureaucratic system of policy making, cabinet parties would no longer depend on the two main conservative parties existing in the diet. When the diet looked to the genro as to who should be the next prime minister, Hirohito wrote up “his wishes regarding the choice of the next prime minister”. Loyal officials backed Hirohito's wishes, the cult of the emperor grew in power. To the military it looked like Hirohito was blaming the party based cabinets rather than insubordinate officers for the erosion of his own authority as commander in chief. The young military officers who already were distrustful of the politicians were now being emboldened further.    After Manchuria was seized and Manchukuo was ushered in many in the Japanese military saw a crisis emerge, that required a “showa restoration' to solve. There were two emerging political factions within the military, the Kodoha and Toseiha factions. Both aimed to create military dictatorships under the emperor. The Kodoha saw the USSR as the number one threat to Japan and advocated an invasion of them, aka the Hokushin-ron doctrine, but the Toseiha faction prioritized a national defense state built on the idea they must build Japans industrial capabilities to face multiple enemies in the future. What separated the two, was the Kodoha sought to use a violent coup d'etat to do so, the Toseiha were unwilling to go so far. The Kodoha faction was made up of junior and youthful officers who greatly distrusted the capitalists and industrialists of Japan, like the Zaibatsu and believed they were undermining the Emperor. The Toseiha faction were willing to work with the Zaibatsu to make Japan stronger. Hirohito's brother Prince Chichibu sympathized with the Kodoha faction and repeatedly counseled his brother that he should implement direct imperial rule even if it meant suspending the constitution, aka a show restoration. Hirohito believed his brother who was active in the IJA at the time was being radicalized. Chichibu might I add was in the 3rd infantry regiment under the leadership of Colonel Tomoyuki Yamashita.   This time period has been deemed the government by assassination period. Military leaders in both the IJA and IJN and from both the Kodoha and Toseiha began performing violence against politicians and senior officers to get things done.    A enormous event took place in 1936 known as the february 26 incident. Kodoha faction officers of the IJA attempted a coup d'etat to usher in a showa restoration. They assassinated several leading officials, such as two former prime ministers and occupied the government center of Tokyo. They failed to assassinate the current prime minister Keisuke Okada or take control over the Imperial palace. These men believed Japan was straying from the Kokutai and that the capitalist/industrialists were exploiting the people of the nation by deceiving the emperor and usurping his power. The only solution to them was to purge such people and place Hirohito as an absolute leader over a military dictatorship.    Now the insurrectionists failed horribly, within just a few hours they failed to kill the current prime minister, and failed to seize the Sakashita Gate to the imperial palace, thus allowing the palace to continue communicating with the outside, and they never thought about what the IJN might do about all of this. The IJN sent marines immediately to suppress them. The insurrectionists had planned to have the army minister General Kwashima who was a Kodoha backer, report their intentions to Hirohito who they presumed would declare a showa restoration. They falsely assumed the emperor was a puppet being taken hostage by his advisers and devoid of his own will.   At 5:40am on February the 26th Hirohito was awakened and informed of the assassinations and coup attempt. From the moment he learnt of this, he was outraged and demanded the coup be suppressed and something I would love to highlight is he also immediately demanded his brother Prince Chichibu be brought over to him. Why would this be important? Hirohito believed the insurrectionists might enlist his brother to force him to abdicate. Hirohito put on his army uniform and ordered the military to “end it immediately and turn this misfortune into a blessing”. Hirohito then met with Kwashima who presented him with the insurrectionists demands to “clarify the kokutai, stabilize national life and fulfill national defense, aka showa restoration”. Hirohito scolded Kwashima and ordered him to suppress the mutiny. On the morning of the 27th Hirohito declared administrative martial law on the basis of Article 8 of the Imperial Constitution, pertaining to emergency imperial ordinances. Formally he was invoking his sovereign power to handle a crisis. Hirohito displayed an incredible amount of energy to crush the mutiny as noted by those around him at the time. Every few hours he demanded reports to be given to him by top officials and at one point he was so angry he threatened to lead the Imperial Guard division himself to go out and quell it. Hirohito met with Chichibu and its alleged he told his brother to end any relationships he had with the Kodoha members. By february 29th, Hirohito had firmly crushed the mutiny, most of the ringleaders were arrested. In april they were court martialed secretly without even given a chance to defend themselves in court and 17 were executed by firing squad in July. As a result of it all, the Kodoha faction dissolved and the Toseiha faction reigned supreme.    On the morning of July 8th of 1937 came the Marco Polo Bridge incident, a nearly identical false flag operation to what occurred at Mukden in 1931. Hirohito's reaction was first to consider the possible threat of the USSR. He wondered if the communists would seize the opportunity to attack Manchukuo. This is what he said to Prime Minister Konoe and army minister Sugiyama “What will you do if the Soviets attack us from the rear?” he asked the prince. Kan'in answered, “I believe the army will rise to the occasion.” The emperor repeated his question: “That's no more than army dogma. What will you actually do in the unlikely event that Soviet [forces] attack?” The prince said only, “We will have no choice.” His Majesty seemed very dissatisfied.    Hirohito demanded to know what contingency plans existed. After this he approved the decision of the Konoe cabinet to move troops into Northern China and fixed his seal to the orders of dispatch. The emperor had tacitly agreed to it all from the start. With each action taken for the following months, Hirohito would explicitly sanction them after the fact. In his mind he kept thinking about a fight with the USSR, he believed he had no choice in the China matter. All of his top ranking officials like Sugiyama would tell him “even if war with China came… it could be finished up within two or three months”. Hirohito was not convinced, he went to Konoe, to imperial conferences, to other military officials to get their views. None convinced him but as Hirohito put it  “they agreed with each other on the time factor, and that made a big difference; so all right, we'll go ahead.”     Two weeks into the conflict, the kwangtung army and Korean army were reinforced by 3 divisions from Japan and on July 25th were reaching Beijing. What did the man who was not responsible in such decision making say? On July 27 Hirohito sanctioned an imperial order directing the commander of the China Garrison Force to “chastise the Chinese army in the Peking-Tientsin area and bring stability to the main strategic places in that region.” Hirohito wanted a killing blow to end the war, and thus he escalated the incident. Historian Fujiwara Akira noted “it was the [Konoe] government itself that had resolved on war, dispatched an army, and expanded the conflict,” and Hirohito had fully supported it”   Chiang Kai-shek abandoned northern China pulling into the Interior and unleashed a campaign in Shanghai to draw the Japanese into a battle showcased in front of western audiences. Chiang Kai-shek tossed the creme of his military all into Shanghai to make it as long and explosive as possible to try and win support from other great powers. On August 18 Hirohito summoned his army and navy chiefs for a pointed recommendation. The war, he told them, “is gradually spreading; our situation in Shanghai is critical; Tsingtao is also at risk. If under these circumstances we try to deploy troops everywhere, the war will merely drag on and on. Wouldn't it be better to concentrate a large force at the most critical point and deliver one overwhelming blow? Based on our attitude of fairness, Do you, have in hand plans for such action? In other words, do we have any way worked out to force the Chinese to reflect on their actions?”   The chiefs of staff returned 3 days later with an aerial campaign to break China's will to fight and strategic cities needed to be seized. Hirohito gave his sanction and on August 31st gave the order “for the Dispatch of the North China Area Army. [D]estroy the enemy's will to fight and wipe out resistance in the central part of Hepei Province,” Over the course of weeks Hirohito sanctioned 6 troop mobilizations to the Shanghai area where the fighting had bogged down. Then he sanctioned 3 divisions from Taiwan to Shanghai, but for units in northern Manchuria to stand guard firmly in case the USSR attacked. The entire time this was happening both China and Japan referred to it as an incident and not a real war lest either of them lose the backing of their great power allies. Japan needed oil, iron and rubber from America, China was likewise received materials from the USSR/America/Britain and even Germany.    By november the war was not going well and Hirohito had the Imperial Headquarters established within his palace as a means to exercise his constitutional role as supreme commander, the army and navy would act in concert. For a few hours in the morning a few days every week, the chiefs of staff, army and navy ministers and chiefs of operations would meet with Hirohito. At these imperial conferences Hirohito presided over and approved decisions impacting the war. This was Hirohito's device for legally transforming the will of the emperor into the will of the state. Hirohito not only involved himself, sometimes on a daily basis he would shape strategy and decide the planning, timing and so on of military campaigns. He even intervened in ongoing field operations. He monitored and occasionally issued orders through commanders to subordinate units. Now I can't go through the entire 1937-1945 war and showcase all the things he did but I will highlight things I think we're important.    On November 9th, the Shanghai battle was finally falling apart for the Chinese as they began a withdrawal to the Nanking area some 180 miles away. The Japanese forces chased them and for the first time were really coming into direct contact with Chinese civilians, when it came to Shanghai most had evacuated the areas. The Japanese burned, plundered and raped villages and towns as they marched towards Nanking. On december 1st, Hirohito's imperial HQ ordered the 10th army and Shanghai expeditionary force to close in on Nanking from different directions, a pincer maneuver. Prince Asaka took command of the Shanghai expeditionary force and General Matsui commanded the Central China Area Army consisted of the Shanghai force and 10th army. Asaka led the forces to assault the walled city of Nanking with a population estimated to be 4-5 hundred thousand and it would fall on December 13th. Was there an order to “rape Nanking”, no. The Imperial HQ did not order the total extermination of the Chinese in Nanking, they had ordered an encirclement campaign. However, the standing orders at this time were to take no prisoners. Once Nanking fell, the Japanese began to execute en massage military prisoners and unarmed troops who surrendered willingly. There was a orgy of rape, arson, pillage and murder. The horror was seen in Nanking and the 6 adjacent villages over the course of 3 months far exceeding any atrocities seen during the battle for Shanghai or even the march to Nanking. General Nakajima's 16th division on its first day in Nanking was estimated to have murdered 30,000 POWs. Estimate range insanely, but perhaps 200,000 POW's and civilians were butchered over the course of 6 weeks.   Prince Asaka the 54 year old grand uncle to Hirohito and other members of the Imperial Family commanded the attack on Nanking and supervised the horrors. 49 year old General Prince Higashikuni chief of the army air force alongside Prince Kan'in knew of the atrocities occurring. Army minister Sugiyama knew, many middle echelon officers of the Imperial HQ knew. Hirohito was at the top of the chain of command, there is no way he was not informed. Hirohito followed the war extensively, reading daily reports, questioned his aides. It was under his orders that his army “chastise China”, but did he show any concern for the breakdown of his army's discipline? There is no documented evidence he ordered an investigation, all we are met with as historians is a bizarre period of silence. Hirohito goes from supervising the war with OCD precision, to silence, then back to normal precision. Did Hirohito show anything publicly to show angry, displeasure or remorse, at the time he energetically began spurring his generals and admirals on their great victories and the national project to induce “Chinese self-reflection”.    On November 24th Hirohito gave an after the fact sanction to the decision of General Matsui to attack and occupy Nanking. Hirohito was informed the city was going to be bombarded by aircraft and artillery and he sanctioned that as well. That was basically him removing any restrictions on the army's conduct. On December 14th the day after Nankings fall, he made an imperial message to his chiefs of staff expressing his pleasure at the news of the city's capture and occupation. Hirohito granted General Matsui an imperial rescript for his great military accomplishments in 1938 and gave the order of the golden early to Prince Asaka in 1940. Perhaps Hirohito privately agonized over what happened, but publicly did nothing about the conduct of his armed forces, especially in regards to the treatment of POW's.   Emperor Hirohito was presented with several opportunities to cause cease-fires or peace settlements during the war years. One of the best possible moments to end it all came during the attack on Naking when Chiang Kai-sheks military were in disarray. Chiang Kai-shek had hoped to end the fighting by enticing the other great powers to intervene. At the 9 power treaty conference in Brussel in november of 1937, Britain and the US proposed boycotting Japan. However the conference ended without any sanctions being enacted upon Japan. The Konoe government and Imperial HQ immediately expanded the combat zone. Chiang Kai-shek in desperation accepted a previous offer by Germany to mediate. Oscar Trautmann, the German ambassador to China attempted to negotiate with Japan, but it failed. China was offered harsh terms; to formally recognize Manchukuo, cooperate with it and Japan to fight communism, permit the indefinite stationg of Japanese forces and pay war reparations.    On January 9th of 1938, Imperial HQ formed a policy for handling the China incident which was reported to Hirohito. Konoe asked Hirohito to convene an imperial conference for it, but not to speak out at it  “For we just want to formally decide the matter in your majesty's presence.” Konoe and Hirohito were concerned with anti expansionists within the army general staff and wanted to prevent German interference in Japanese affairs. On January 11th, the policy was showcased and adopted, there would be no peace until Chiang kai-shek's regime was dissolved and a more compliant regime followed. Hirohito presided over the conference in full army dress uniform and gave his approval. He sat there for 27 minutes without uttering a word, appearing to be neutral in the matter, though in fact he was firmly backing a stronger military policy towards China.    The Konoe cabinet inaugurated a second phase to the China incident, greatly escalating the war. By this point in time Japanese had seen combat casualties at 62,007 killed, 160,000 wounded. In 1939 it would be 30,081 killed, 55,970 wounded, then 15,827 killed and 72,653 wounded in 1940. Major cities were under Japanese control ranging from the north east and south. Chiang Kai-shek fled to Chongqing, the war was deadlocked without any prospect of victory in sight.    On July 11 of 1938, the commander of the 19th division fought a border clash with the USSR known to us in the west as the battle of Lake Khasan. It was a costly defeat for Japan and in the diary of Harada Kumao he noted Hirohito scolded Army minister Itagaki “Hereafter not a single soldier is to be moved without my permission.” When it looked like the USSR would not press for a counter attack across the border, Hirohito gave the order for offensives in China to recommence, again an example of him deciding when to lay down the hammer. Konoe resigned in disgrace in 1939 having failed to bring the China war to an end and being outed by his colleagues who sought an alliance with Germany, which he did not agree with. His successor was Hiranuma a man Hirohito considered a outright fascist. Hiranuma only received the job because he promised Hirohito he would not make enemies of Britain or the US by entering in a hasty alliance with Nazi Germany. However his enter prime ministership would be engulfed by the alliance question.   In May of 1939 there was another border clash with the USSR, the battle of Khalkhin Gol. This one was much larger in scale, involving armored warfare, aircraft and though it seems it was not used, the Japanese brought biological warfare weapons as well. The Japanese had nearly 20,000 casualties, it was an unbelievable defeat that shocked everyone. Hirohito refrained from punishing anyone because they technically followed orders based on a document “outline for dealing with disputes along the manchurian soviet border” that Hirohito had sanctioned shortly before the conflict arose.   In July of 1939, the US told Hiranuma's government they intended not to renew the US-Japan treaty of commerce and navigation. Until this point Roosevelt had been very lenient towards Japan, but now it looked to him war would break out in europe and he wanted Japan to know they could expect serious economic sanctions if they escalated things. Hirohito complained to his chief aide de camp Hata Shunroku on August 5th “It could be a great blow to scrap metal and oil”. Then suddenly as Japan was engaging in a truce with the USSR to stop the border conflict, Germany shocked the world and signed a nonaggression pact with them. This completely contravened the 1936 Japan-German anti-comintern pact. Hiranuma resigned in disgrace on august 28th.    Hirohito was livid and scolded many of his top officials and forced the appointment of General Abe to prime minister and demanded of him “to cooperate with the US and Britain and preserve internal order”. Then Germany invaded Poland and began a new European War. Abe's cabinet collapsed from the unbelievable amount of international actions by January 14th 1940. Hirohito appointed Admiral Yonai as prime minister  and General Tojo to vice army minister. As we have seen Hirohito played a active role appointing high level personnel and imposed conditions upon their appointments.    Hirohito dictated what Yonai was to do, who he was to appoint to certain positions so on and so forth. When a large part of the military were calling for an alliance with Germany, Hirohito resisted, arguing Japan should focus on the China war and not ally itself to Germany unless it was to counter the USSR. Three months passed by and Germany began invading western europe. Norway fell, Denmark fell, Luxembourg, Belgium, the netherlands and then France, it was simply stunning. While Japan had been locked in a deadlock against China, Germany was crushing multiple nations with ease, and this had a large effect on asia. Britain, France and the Netherlands could not hope to protect their holdings in asia. But Hirohito kept pressuring Yonai not to begin any talks of an alliance, and the military leaders forced Yonai's cabinet to collapse.    So Hirohito stood by while Hiranuma, Abe and Yonai met each crisis and collapses. He watched as the China war went nowhere and the military was gradually pushing for the Nanshin-ron doctrine to open a southern war up with the west. Not once did he make a public effort on his lonesome to end the war in China. Japan's demands of China were unchanged, relations with the west were getting worse each day. The China war was undeclared, hell it was from the Japanese viewpoint “chastising China”. Japan was no respecting any rules of war in China, atrocities were performed regularly and for that Hirohito shared responsibility. For he alone was free to act in this area, he needed to act, but he did not. He could have intervened and insisted on respecting the rules of war, especially in regards to POW's and the results could have been dramatically different. Hirohito bore direct responsibility for the use of poison gas upon Chinese and Mongolian combatants and non combatants even before the undeclared war of 1937.    Then on July 28th of 1937 Hirohito made his first directive authorizing the use of chemical weapons which was transmitted by the chief of the army general staff prince Kan'in. It stated that in mopping up the Beijing-Tientsin area, “[Y]ou may use tear gas at suitable times.” Then on September 11th of 1937 he transmitted again through Kan'in the authorization to deploy special chemical warfare units in Shanghai. Gas weapons were one weapon the imperial HQ, aka Hirohito held effective control over throughout the China war. Front line units were never free to employ it at their own discretion, it required explicit authorization from the imperial HQ. During the Wuhan offensive of August to October 1938, imperial HQ authorized the use of poison gas 375 separate times. Hirohito authorized on May 15th of 1939 the carrying out of field studies of chemical warfare along the Manchukuo-soviet border.  In 1940 Hirohito sanctioned the first experimental use of bacteriological weapons in China, though there is no documented evidence of this, given the nature of how he micro managed everything it goes without saying he would have treated it the same as the poison gas. He was a man of science, a person who questioned everything and refused to put his seal on orders without first examining them. Imperial HQ directives went to unit 731 and as a rule Hirohito overlooked them. There again is no documents directly linking him to it, but Hirohito should be held responsibility for strategic bombing campaigns performing on cities like Chongqing. Alongside such horror Hirohito sanctioned annihilation campaigns in China. Such military campaigns were on the scale of what occurred at Nanking. Take for example the Hebei offensive which saw the infamous “three alls policy, burn all, kill all, steal all”.    Before Pearl Harbor and the ushering in of the war against the west, look at the scene that had unfolded. China and Japan were not officially at war until December of 1941. Not to say it would have been easy by any means, but look at the countless opportunities the man, emperor, so called god if you will, held in his hands to stop it all or at the very least stop escalating it. Why did he not do so? To protect the Kokutai. Above all else, the role and survival of the emperor's divinity over the people of Japan was always at the forefront of his mind. He did what he thought was always necessary to thwart threats internal and external. He allowed his military to do horrible things, because they did so in his name, and likewise they were a threat to him. I know its abrupt to end it like this, but for those of you who perhaps say to yourself “well he really was powerless to stop it, they would have killed him or something”, who chose suddenly to intervene in 1945 and made the decision to surrender?

What if the emptiness you feel despite your success isn't a sign you're broken, but a signal you're ready for something deeper? In this episode, Andrew Anderson, a transformational coach for high-achieving business leaders, shares his remarkable journey from elementary school playground helper to teaching career to becoming the guide that successful entrepreneurs call when they have "problems money can't solve." Through two pivotal relationships, Xavier, a Belgian mentor he met at 19 who still coaches him 21 years later, and Kevin Hall (former VP of Franklin Covey), who saw potential in him during his darkest season.  Andrew discovered how to help others move from survival to thriving, from playing defense to playing offense with their lives. From reconnecting with Xavier during his friend's divorce and flipping their mentor-mentee dynamic, to standing in the Virgin River at Zion National Park receiving divine inspiration to write a book that would later save a man's life, Andrew reveals how the right relationships at the right time don't just change your business trajectory but reshape your entire identity and calling. His approach cuts through years of traditional therapy in hours, helping clients rewire neural pathways and reconnect with who they truly are beneath the pain. Andrew reflects on honoring the versions of ourselves that went through hard things, why most people are playing not to lose instead of playing to win, and how a single conversation can absolutely change the trajectory of a career, relationship, or life.   [00:04:42] What Andrew Does: Solving Problems Money Can't Solve Shows up in three or four important roles each day First as a son of God Husband supporting wife who homeschools and does foot zoning Father to seven children [00:07:25] The Origin Story: Fourth Grade Playground Met Lap, a Vietnamese student who spoke zero English Became his playground buddy through the universal language of play Lap helped Andrew with math; Andrew helped him with sports First recognition of unique ability to see needs and show up for individuals [00:10:50] The Unique Ability Discovery References Dan Sullivan's Strategic Coach concept Like Marcus Colius told Kevin: "This is the Holy Spirit working through you" Unique abilities reveal themselves through stewardship, not searching [00:16:06] The Transition: From Teaching to Coaching Six years as a classroom teacher Went through separation and divorce that felt like life was over Lost career, marriage, and family simultaneously Left teaching, sold real estate for one year, then started coaching agents [00:20:00] Client Success Story: "Jared" Nearly million-dollar business but struggling with drug addiction, porn addiction Couldn't have children for several years, had hard time keeping money Worked at deep unconscious level to find root causes of self-sabotage Process took hours, not years - created new neural pathways [00:24:33] Playing Offense vs. Defense Andrew's 76-year-old dad's wisdom: "Play to win, don't play not to lose" Most people in life are playing defense, trying to get out of pain First day and a half with clients: playing defense but with love, not resistance [00:27:37] Xavier: The 21-Year Friendship Met in Belgium when Andrew was 19, Xavier was 28-29 Still FaceTimes to this day after 21 years Has visited Andrew's home three times, supports his retreats Andrew's best friend and coach for deepest heart and soul questions [00:29:26] Kevin Hall: The Professional Catalyst Met summer 2015 during Andrew's transition period Former VP of Sales at Franklin Covey, worked with Stephen Covey Author of "Aspire" teaching 10 powerful words Saw something in 29-year-old Andrew during training event Took Andrew under his wing in group coaching [00:32:04] The Book That Saved a Life Standing in Virgin River at Zion National Park at Kevin Hall's event God said: "You're gonna write a book" Title: "Strength of the Oak, Strength of the Willow" Two things keeping him from suicide: the Bible and Andrew's book   KEY QUOTES "Single conversation is guaranteed to change the trajectory of a career, a relationship, or a life. Any single conversation absolutely can." - Andrew Anderson (quoting Susan Scott) "You need to honor and respect that version of you because you would not be doing what you're doing and helping who you're helping or anything without having gone through that experience." - Xavier (to Andrew) "You gotta play to win. Don't play not to lose." - Andrew's 76-year-old dad "It's really hard to move forward while you're looking back." - Andrew Anderson "If you want to find yourself, you're gonna have to lose yourself. And if you're looking for happiness, the best way to find it is to give and do it unconditionally." - Andrew Anderson (referencing Jesus) CONNECT WITH ANDREW ANDERSON

Catherine, David & Matt preview the 2025 tennis season's denouement - the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, Italy. Part One (00:00) - With Matt reporting from the ground in Bologna, the team look ahead to the first two quarter finals; France vs Belgium, and defending Champions Italy vs Austria. How will Italy cope with the absence of their two best singles players Sinner & Musetti? And can Paul Henri Mathieu complete a redemptive arc from devastating defeat as a player in the 2002 final, to captaining a winning French side in 2025?Part Two (33:22) - A preview of the second two quarter finals; Spain vs Czechia - a tie that many think will determine the outcome of the whole competition - and Germany vs Argentina. Does David Ferrer have questions to answer and a point to prove as Spain captain? And after of years of saying he'd never play the Davis Cup in its new format, why is Alexander Zverev lining up for Germany?Part Three (53:47) - Punchy predictions for how the week will unfold and who will be holding the trophy come Sunday. You can keep up to date with the Davis Cup Finals on the Davis Cup Instagram, TikTok and X, you can sign up to the free official Davis Cup newsletter at Daviscup.com and you can follow all the action on the newly updated World Cup of Tennis app, which brings together the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge. Search 'World Cup of Tennis' on App Store or Play Store to download for freeBecome a ⁠Friend of The Tennis Podcast⁠Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠new merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Talk tennis with Friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Barge! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (daily at Slams and weekly the rest of the year, featuring Matt's Stat, mascot photos, Fantasy League updates, and more)Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (@thetennispodcast)Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's Morning Espresso dives into one of the wildest World Cup qualifying weekends yet, from Haaland firing Norway back to the World Cup and Ireland's fairytale in Budapest to Portugal, England, France and Ukraine all shaping the road to 2026. Jason breaks down the stakes for Germany, Denmark–Scotland, Belgium's wobble, Concacaf Decision Day drama with Curacao, Suriname and Haiti, plus what's next for the USMNT after a statement win over Paraguay and Mexico's mounting pressure at home.There's also a full run through the NWSL playoffs and Trinity Rodman's future, big moves in the global soccer business world, and a fresh Refill of stories from One Knox's double to wild scenes in Argentina. The SDH Network is always Around the Corner from Everywhere, every morning with your soccer caffeine hit.

Unstoppable drones over military bases? In this explosive interview, UK journalist Christopher Sharp, Editor-in-Chief of The Liberation Times, joins Matt Ford to break down the mysterious drone incursions shutting down airports and buzzing nuclear bases across Europe.From Belgium to Denmark, Sweden to Germany, unidentified drones are breaching restricted airspace, outmaneuvering jamming systems, and baffling military forces. Are these Russian? Chinese? Or… something far more extraordinary?Chris Sharp has been leading global reporting on these incursions — from the Langley drone swarms to the RAF Lakenheath incidents — and tonight, he brings the latest intel, context, and uncomfortable questions the mainstream media refuses to ask.In this episode: • Why European governments can't stop these drones • Whether these craft show UAP-like anomalies • Why jamming systems are failing • How intelligence agencies may be hiding the real origin • The eerie similarities to the 2019–2020 Midwest drone wave • Why no government is shooting these drones down • The media “blackout” on the drone/UAP connection • The mysterious patterns seen in New Jersey, Denmark, Belgium & more • What insiders fear these drones might actually beChristopher Sharp also discusses the coming documentary “The Age of Disclosure,” starring senior intelligence officials and former U.S. leaders — and why it may be the most important film on UAPs ever made.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-trouble-show-with-matt-ford-uap-politics--5808897/support.Sponsorship Inquires:  sponsors@thegoodtroubleshow.comSubstack:  https://substack.com/@thegoodtroubleshowLinktree: https://linktr.ee/thegoodtroubleshowPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheGoodTroubleShowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodTroubleShowTwitter: https://twitter.com/GoodTroubleShowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegoodtroubleshow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodtroubleshowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Good-Trouble-Show-With-Matt-Ford-106009712211646Threads: @TheGoodTroubleShowBlueSky: @TheGoodTroubleShow

In the 83rd episode of the Co-production Podcast, Cineuropa's Editor Domenico La Porta, and co-producers Nadia Turincev (Akka Films, Switzerland) and Eva Kuperman (Stenola, Belgium) discuss the co-production of Sevda, directed by Ufuk Emiroglu.The Co-production Podcast is a collaboration between Cineuropa and Eurimages.  Each episode welcomes producers to share best practices and to inspire new industry-wide collaborations in Europe and beyond.--- Cineuropa is co-funded by Creative Europe.

"We were living in a museum" - Sofie MullerIn this episode of Three Food Memories, you'll meet Belgian artist Sofie Muller. On Sofie's menu: a cocktail that packs a punch, a soup that makes you cry, and a dinner in the dark.Sides include: growing up in a museum, why creating art is better than housework, and what it takes to show the ingredients of the soul. This episode was recorded at Fox Jensen Gallery on Gadigal land. Sofie's social cause is: art as a form of healing. Not a cure, but a space where pain can exist, where silence can speak, and where people may feel seen and recognised. She says "My work isn't a statement, but an invitation: to look more slowly, to feel more honestly, and to meet ourselves and others with greater softness."Send us a textTo find out more about the project and Savva - head to threefoodmemories.comInsta - @savvasavas @threefoodmemoriesEmail us at threefoodmemories@plated.com.au, we'd love to hear from you! TFM is produced and edited by Lauren McWhirter with original music by Russell Torrance.

Welcome to season 2 of Meet the CIO, TechCentral's podcast series that dives into the minds of South Africa's top technology leaders. Meet the CIO is brought to you by NTT DATA – where global experience meets local impact. After a highly successful first season featuring CIOs from across the corporate landscape, we're kicking off season 2 with a conversation with Khaya Mbanga, chief information and digital officer at BDO South Africa, where he also heads the firm's growing BDO Digital division. BDO is one of the world's largest professional services firms, specialising in audit, tax and advisory. Headquartered in Belgium, its name comes from the three founding firms – Binder, Dijker and Otte – that merged to form the organisation. In this wide-ranging episode, Mbanga reflects on his career journey through consulting, FMCG and mining; how he first got into technology; and the evolution of the CIO role into one that now straddles digital strategy, cybersecurity, AI and organisational change. He also unpacks his passion for artificial intelligence, including his involvement in the IITPSA Special Interest Group on AI and Robotics, and offers his perspective on how AI will reshape auditing, tax and broader business functions in South Africa. From managing hallucinations in large language models to rethinking talent pipelines, Mbanga shares candid insights into both the opportunities and risks ahead. Topics covered include: • What it means to be the CIDO of BDO South Africa • Career background across consulting, FMCG and mining • His first computer and how he got into technology • Robotic process automation in the mining sector • How AI will transform auditing and tax • Dealing with the risk of AI hallucinations in data-sensitive environments • The broader impact of AI on South African business • Technology talent shortages and what skills CIOs need today • His favourite productivity hacks and tools Don't miss this great opener to the new season of Meet the CIO. If you missed any of the interviews from season 1, you can find them all on TechCentral. TechCentral

Long jumper Shay Veitch launched himself to within one centimetre of what is now New Zealand's oldest athletics record in Belgium in July. On the brink of his 25th birthday & a fresh Kiwi summer, Shay shares the intriguing story that has led him back to the town in which he started via Thailand, China & Dunedin. 

Welcome back to another episode of wasted content! We are back with another Halloween episode and we brought some of the greatest beer from Belgium to try. St. Bernardus Wit - 5.5% - WitbierTripel - 8% - TripelPrior 8 - 8% - DubbelAbt 12 - 10% - Quadrupel

The grandson of Al Capone’s barber and a former Benedictine Monk, Pastor Smarto has pastored several congregations and was a college professor for years; as well as working professionally with prisoners and ex-offenders for over three decades. He is known nationally as a keynote conference speaker, speaking about restorative justice, prisoner aftercare, and the educational methods most effective with prisoners. He was honored to speak at the Prisoner Reentry White House Conference in November of ‘07. Don’s research has led to meetings with judges and wardens in other countries including Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, France, Belgium, England, Italy, Russia, Kenya, Canada, and Mexico. He was NGO Delegate to the United Nations Conference on the Treatment of Offenders in Milan, Italy in ‘85 and had meetings with President Ronald Reagan, Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger and Attorney General Edwin Meese. As a nationwide consultant, Don Smarto has played a key role in the development of ex-offender programs. He is the Chairman of prison ministry collaborations in Texas and Pennsylvania, and has been a consultant to the State of Florida Juvenile Justice System in the area of mentoring. a Quoted in the New York Times, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, L. A. Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Orlando Sentinel, Dallas Morning News, Denver Post, and the Washington Post about gangs, school shootings, prison conditions, and prison reform, Don Smarto has appeared on hundreds of radio and television shows. His professional experiences have included: Juvenile and Adult Probation Officer, Assistant Superintendent of a Maximum Security Facility, Director of an Adolescent Offender Drug Treatment Program (featured nationally on NBC News), and Director of an Ex-Offender Transition Program (which included mentoring/counseling/education). Don trained probation officers for four years at Sangamon State University (Illinois), and taught criminal justice courses at Wheaton College and Trinity University (Illinois) for twelve years. He has authored 16 books. Three of which are about restorative justice that became college text books. Smarto has also authored national magazine articles and contributed to several reference works in psychology and sociology. As member of the American Correctional Association (ACA) for twenty-seven years, Don frequently presents conference workshops. He is a past member of the Fraternal Order of Police, and has received numerous awards. Don Smarto also ministered for years with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and served on Illinois Governor Edgar's Gang Task Force, Attorney General Ryan's Council on Child Abuse, and the DuPage County Board's Blue Ribbon Commission on Jail Overcrowding (author of the final report). As a leader, this man of God has been the President of three national organizations including the Institute of Prison Ministries, where he led a research team of sociologists studying programs affecting recidivism. He has visited over 1200 prisons in 12 countries and has ministered with Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship. Don Smarto has also hosted a daily Dallas radio show called Parenting Today's Youth with 29,000 listeners each day. For more information, go find some of his articles at youthdirect.org and check out his multiple books on Amazon.

Happy Sunday... good morning! Hope your day is fun and fruitful. In this talk is our LETTER 0329

Hey where did you go? Here, there and everywhere – particularly Belgium! We're catching you up with what's been going on with life and the podcast before we sit down with Bob Sylvester to take the mega awesome epic trip … Continue reading →

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, host Doreen Cumberford and co-host Megan Norton are joined by Erin Meyer-Cherneux —author, cultural anthropologist, and visual artist —for  a rich discussion about belonging, transnational identities, and the beauty of multicultural living.Erin shares her journey from a small town in Texas to making a home in vibrant Brussels, raising four bilingual and multicultural children, and finding inspiration and connection in places like Normandy. She discusses the unique challenges and joys of building community in internationally transient environments and distills wisdom from her own life, including her experiences as an author and her love for art and long-distance swimming.Together, they explore the importance of belonging—not just to a place, but to oneself and to humanity as a whole. The conversation covers everything from the meaning behind painting walls blue, to modeling connection for children, grieving friendships in expat circles, and drawing life lessons from World War II history.Key Topics CoveredErin's journey: From Texas to Belgium and finding both love and a sense of homeRaising multicultural, multilingual children and navigating family identityThe practice and philosophy of belonging in global, transient communitiesHow Erin's book, D Day Lessons for Today: How to Create Your Future History, draws life lessons from history for facing personal challengesThe importance of intuition, self-knowledge, and “belonging to oneself”Initiatives like open water swimming across continents and art as transformative practiceThe resilience, adaptability, and richness found in the expat experienceCultivating curiosity, empathy, and connection across culturesHow artifacts, traditions, and physical spaces (like blue-painted rooms and rugs) can foster a sense of homeMemorable Quotes“Brussels is my heartbeat and Normandy is my soul sigh.” – Erin Meyer Charnu“Belonging means belonging to yourself first—when I feel least like I belong, that's when I'm not paying enough attention to myself.” – Erin Meyer Charnu“You can pick and choose the best of the different worlds that you live in.” – Erin Meyer Charnu“We all belong to the human race—and that diversity of expression is what makes the world so rich and colorful and wonderful.” – Erin Meyer Charnu“When you connect with someone, you realize you're both human and have similar desires, even if they're expressed differently.” – Erin Meyer CharnuFurther ResourcesErin's Book: D Day Lessons for Today: How to Create Your Future HistoryEducation First (EF) D-Day Anniversary Commemorative ExhibitThe Belonging Project (hosted by Megan Norton)Connect With ErinErin Meyer-Cherneux: Author, artist, coach, and cultural anthropologist based in Brussels and NormandyThank you for listening to Nomadic Diaries!If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to subscribe and share your favorite moments on social media. For more stories and resources on global living and finding community wherever you are, follow us or reach out via our website.Sign-off:Masalama, sayonara, and hasta luegoSupport the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

EPISODE 626 - Suzanne Parry - The Soviet Experience Through Historical Fiction, Pentagon Tour, Iron Maiden of StockholmRaised in a quiet rural corner of western New York State, I didn't always want to be a writer. I was, however, always surrounded by books. Bookcases in every room. Entire walls of them. My mother was an avid reader and regular trips to the library were part of my childhood. My stepfather was a creative writing professor and words floated through the rooms and into the nooks and crannies of that pre-Civil War era farmhouse. Books weren't my escape so much as they were part of my daily diet. At twenty I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish and “write a book” was on it. That list included both measurable things like “learn five foreign languages” and “complete a significant athletic achievement” and less quantifiable items like “make the world a better place.” During the Cold War of my high school and college years, I very much wanted to help reduce the possibility of conflict between the US and the USSR.I earned a bachelor's degree at Purdue University, and then continued my Russian studies at the Pushkin Russian Language Institute in Moscow. I studied Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, received a Master's in 1982 and started a career in public service with the US Department of Defense. My work in the Office of the Secretary of Defense focused on European security issues between NATO, Warsaw Pact, and neutral nations. While at the Pentagon I helped negotiate the Conference on Disarmament in Europe, the first security agreement of the Gorbachev era. At the Stockholm talks as we often called the CDE, a number of my European colleagues jokingly called me the “Iron Maiden of Stockholm” in a not altogether flattering reference to British PM Margaret Thatcher, the original tough-as-nails female negotiator. The many months I spent crafting an agreement with diplomats from thirty-five nations, sitting at a table alongside NATO colleagues and opposite Soviet and Warsaw Pact counterparts, was my great honor.After this heady time, I put most of my energy into raising a large family (requiring its own negotiating skills). Funny enough, having a family was not on that list and yet today I would say without hesitation that the most impactful (and most difficult) thing I've ever done is raise four children. I lived in several countries, including the former Soviet Union, Belgium, Sweden, Singapore, and Germany. Throughout adulthood I've been a committed runner. I've completed dozens of marathons in more than twenty countries, including the fifty-six-mile Comrades Marathon in South Africa. I eventually landed in the wonderful and welcoming city of Portland, Oregon as a single parent. There, I coached high school cross country and track at a large public high school before deciding it wasn't too late to dust off that forty-year-old list and write a book.I now divide my time between Portland and Washington, DC, but also travel for fun, for research, and best of all, to visit my children and grandchildren.https://suzanneparrywrites.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

K-State women's forward Nastja Claessens will be overseas in her country Belgium this working with the national team. Claessens is expected to return to the K-State team next week.

We open this week's briefing with a look at twin suicide blasts shattering the capitals of nuclear powers India and Pakistn. We then unpack India's foiled bioterror nightmare: Delhi markets, temples, and offices contaminated with ricin derrived from castor bean mash. Across the Atlantic, Europe's drone ghost returns with heat-cloaked incursions over U.S. nuke bunkers in Belgium and Sweden's military airstrips, testing NATO's hybrid-war nerves. Stateside, Secretary Rubio slaps FTO labels on four Antifa cells in Germany, Italy, and Greece, unleashing asset freezes to gut leftist terror's anti-American veins. An expanded written version of this report can be found in this week's Threat Journal newsletter. You can subscribe for free by visiting www.ThreatJournal.com. A link to this issue will be sent to you immediately via email. AlertsUSA Homepage http://www.AlertsUSA.com – (Homeland Security Alerts for Mobile Devices) AlertsUSA on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alertsusa AlertsUSA on Twitter https://twitter.com/alertsusa Threat Journal on Twitter https://twitter.com/threatjournal Threat Journal Homepage https://www.ThreatJournal.com

In this inspiring episode of For All the Marbles, Bart interviews Alex Sechopoulos, the 26-year-old Head of Sales and Operations for Mixly USA, a groundbreaking company that bridges music, mixology, and technology. From humble beginnings at a Canadian winery to helping pioneer an innovation that lets you literally taste your favorite song, Alex shares how mentorship, family influence, and sheer driveshaped his entrepreneurial journey. Together, Bart and Alex explore the creative spark behind Mixly's “Taste the Music” activation, the emotional intelligence behind great sales, and the deeper meaning of balancing ambition with well-being.Major Takeaways / Learnings:Entrepreneurship starts with exposure and mentorship. Alex learned the ropes of running a business by helping at a family-owned winery and being mentored by leaders like Tony and Edie Mack.Work ethic is in your DNA, but growth is a choice. Discipline, humility, and curiosity were traits Alex absorbed from his hardworking parents and mentors.Creativity meets data at Mixly. Mixly's concept, matching music's 28 data parameters (from tempo to energy) with flavor science, was born at a Spotify hackathon by co-founder Henry in Belgium, blending art, emotion, and food science.Sales is about trust and curiosity. Alex emphasizes that success comes from helping clients solve problems and having fun while doing it, “We sell fun.”Scale through purpose. Whether catering to 20 people or 10,000, Mixly focuses on delivering emotional, memorable, and shareable experiences, what Bart calls “Instagramable, not Googleable.”Fulfilment over fear. Entrepreneurship's greatest reward is ownership of both success and failure: “If I fail, it's because of me. If I succeed, it's because of me.”Balance drive with grace. Bart and Alex discuss the power of “Do your best but don't give it your all,” which means preserving your energy for life beyond work.Organization is liberation. Alex admits that learning to systemize his thoughts and tasks transformed his productivity and peace of mind.Memorable Quotes:We sell fun.” – Alex Sechopoulos“Give me the ball. If I fail, it's because of me; if I succeed, it's because of me.” – Alex“Do your best—but don't give it your all.” – Bart & Alex's shared insight on balance“Taste the music. Every song can become an experience.” – Mixly's mission“It's not about what you can do; it's about what you can do to help them.” – Alex on customer focus✨ Why It Matters / How to Use It:This episode reminds entrepreneurs, creatives, and leaders that innovation often lives at the intersection of emotion, science, and service. Whether you're building a company or leading a team, success comes from curiosity, connection, and consistency and remembering that fun is a strategy, nota distraction. Alex's story proves that passion with purpose and a willingness to keep learning can turn even the wildest ideas into global movements.Resources:Bart Berkey | LinkedInWebsite: Mixly USALinkedIn: Alex Sechopoulos

TrulySignificant.com presents Christopher Wyze. Chris is debuting two new Christmas songs. He is coming back to our studio for a second time on the heals of winning the 2025 Blues Blast Music Awards. Enjoy our conversation on what's important in life. We riff about Dr. Viktor Frankl, Sigmund Freud, and Bill Halamandaris. Christopher Wyze & the Tellers has won the 2025 Blues Blast Music Award for Best New Artist Debut Album for their thirteen-track release, Stuck in the Mud. The album, which landed on multiple blues charts around the world, received critical acclaim for its raw storytelling and powerful, fresh take on contemporary blues.Presented by Blues Blast Magazine, the Blues Blast Music Awards recognize excellence across the spectrum of blues styles and artists. A panel of blues industry professionals select nominees. Fan voting from around the world determines the winners. Joining Wyze & the Tellers in this year's winner's circle include Tab Benoit, Derek Trucks, Charlie Musselwhite, Shemekia Copeland, Bobby Rush, and Keb' Mo,' among others.“We haven't toured. We made a record of our original music — and let the music do the traveling,” shares frontman Christopher Wyze. “People told us we had to be out there gigging for the record to get noticed. We wrote, recorded, released, and built a fanbase around the world without ever hitting the road.”The band of veteran blues musicians was formed specifically to record ‘Stuck in the Mud,' with members all meeting for the first time in the studio. In the time between recording ‘Stuck in the Mud' and their follow-up live album, ‘LIVE in CLARKSDALE,' they played a single live gig — the live album performance – a fact that has made the group's rise all the more improbable.The band recorded ‘Stuck in the Mud' in two of America's most iconic musical locations: Clarksdale, Mississippi and Muscle Shoals, Alabama — both deeply rooted in the blues and roots traditions that inspire Wyze's sound. It burst onto the scene in late summer of 2024 and quickly gained traction worldwide, with listeners streaming in 90 countries. A string of radio and streaming charting successes propelled the album, along with nine of its singles. The album landed #1 hits with “Back to Clarksdale” (RMR) and the title track, “Stuck in the Mud” (iTunes Blues Charts: Germany, Mexico). It climbed onto multiple Blues Charts: in U.S., U.K., France, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium and Australia. ‘Stuck in the Mud' ended the year at #38 out of the Top 200 Blues Albums ranked by Roots Music Report (RMR) – one of just 3 albums by debut artists to break into the top 50.“When I first heard Christopher Wyze, I felt something raw, honest, deeply rooted in the blues – and unique,” said Johnny Phillips. “I've seen more than a few acts through the years. He's not trying to be anyone else. He's telling his stories — doing it with soul, grit, and a harmonica that cuts straight through. We're proud to have him on the Big Radio Records label. This award is a testament to what happens when you make good music.”Christopher Wyze & the Tellers are currently working on new material and planning select live performances in 2026.Listen to ‘Stuck In The Mud': cwyze.lnk.to/StuckInTheMudAlbumPRFor more information, visit christopherwyzeandthetellers.com.About the Blues Blast Music Awards:Founded in 2008, the Blues Blast Music Awards are presented annually by Blues Blast Magazine, the largest weekly internet blues publication in the world, with over 44,000 subscribers across all 50 U.S. states and more than 90 countries. The awards honor both independent and major label artists. The complete list of winners can be found at www.bluesblastmagazine.com/2025-blues-blast-music-award-winners-announced/.About Big Radio Records:Big Radio Records, based in Memphis, operates under the legendary Select-O-Hits distribution company, founded in 1960 by Sam Phillips, the man who discovered Elvis Presley and launched Sun Records. Big Radio Records is run by Sam's nephew, Johnny Phillips, who signed Wyze after hearing his recordings.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/success-made-to-last-legends--4302039/support.

It's a great day in Jesus Christ, amen. Good morning, this here is DAY 25 ☕️ FIRST BOOK — GEC Truth Study " s t u d y " November 14, 2025. Thank you!⎯JC. ★ Support this podcast ★

Anneke Lucas breaks her silence about life inside a hidden world of power, exploitation and control. In this exclusive HERETICS conversation, she sits down with Andrew to share her experiences growing up inside an elite European network, how it operated behind closed doors, and what it takes to reclaim your mind, body and soul after extreme trauma. SPONSORS: Start fresh at tryfum.com/products/zero-crisp-mint . Over 500,000 people have already made the switch — no nicotine, no vapor, no batteries. Just flavor, fidget, and a fresh start. Get up to 45% off Ekster with my code ANDREWGOLDHERETICS: https://partner.ekster.com/andrewgoldheretics  Use Code ANDREW FOR 25% OFF Plaud Note: https://bit.ly/4nJWt7j  Plaud Note Pro: https://bit.ly/423JiWv  Grab your free seat to the 2-Day AI Mastermind: https://link.outskill.com/ANDREWS2  Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at https://mintmobile.com/heretics  Start your MyHeritage journey now with a 14-day free trial using my link: https://bit.ly/AndrewGoldMyHeritage Without going into graphic detail, Anneke explains: - How certain high-status circles used private estates and castles for secret gatherings - Why she believes she was used as a pawn in high-level blackmail operations - The strange “training” and psychological programming methods she was exposed to as a child - The way money, prestige and secrecy can protect predators for decades - How rumours around powerful figures create a “Jimmy Savile phenomenon” where people suspect, but no one speaks - Her perspective on global networks, elite clubs and meetings often discussed in connection with influence and geopolitics - Why she believes some public figures and celebrities may have been deeply conditioned from a young age - The long journey of healing, de-programming and rebuilding a real sense of self Throughout the interview, Andrew presses on the questions many are afraid to ask: How deep does this go? Who knew? How is it possible that ordinary families can become involved? What does this say about the way power really works – in Belgium, Europe and beyond? #heretics #annekelucas #truecrime  Join the 30k heretics on my mailing list: https://andrewgoldheretics.com  Check out my new documentary channel: https://youtube.com/@andrewgoldinvestigates  Andrew on X: https://twitter.com/andrewgold_ok   Insta: https://www.instagram.com/andrewgold_ok Heretics YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewgoldheretics Chapters: 0:00 Anneke Lucas Highlights 01:45 The Belgian Elite & Network of Abuse 07:45 Satanic Rituals 15:19 The Global Network 16:45 Who Was Involved? 20:05 The Jimmy Saville Phenomenon 24:57 The German Mind Control Training 27:58 The Making of a Famous French Sex Slave 35:01 The Bilderberg Group 37:05 Was Rockefeller a Satanist? 40:45 Are Celebrities Being Programmed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Thursday, November 13th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Russia bans three Baptist churches Forum 18 reports that Russia continues to crack down on Protestant churches. Russian courts banned three Baptist churches last month for not registering with the government. The congregations are part of the Council of Churches Baptist communities. The group has seen at least 10 of its churches banned. These bans have increased over the last year. Authorities often accuse such churches of “unlawful missionary activity.” However, the Baptist churches continue to meet despite the prohibitions and potential fines. When told not to teach in the name of Jesus, the Apostles said in Acts 5:29, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” European countries upset with Russia's drones European countries are investing in anti-drone systems as Russia continues to fly drones into their regions. Russia is testing NATO borders, flying drones as far as Germany, Denmark, and Belgium. Countries that border Russia, like Lithuania, are building public defense programs to prepare for any crisis. Listen to comments made to CBN News by Vice President Tomas Godliauskas of Lithuania's National Defense. GODLIAUSKAS: “We develop kind of a strategy, how we are preparing our citizens militarily and how we're preparing all the rest of the citizens to build the resilience of our population.” UPS plane crashed in Kentucky, killing 3 aboard and 11 on ground In the United States, a UPS flight tragically crashed in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday evening last week. The plane crashed just after takeoff, leaving a trail of destruction through businesses and roads. The incident killed the three UPS crew members on board as well as 11 more people.  UPS said in a statement, “Words can't express the sorrow we feel over the heartbreaking Flight 2976 accident. . . . We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of our colleagues, and to the loved ones of those in the Louisville community.” Supreme Court to hear transgender sports case The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in cases involving transgender sports next year. The cases come from Idaho and West Virginia. In 2020, Idaho became the first state to require people to compete in sports according to their biological sex. West Virginia passed a similar law in 2021.  Lower courts blocked the laws. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the cases by next June. Listen to comments made to CBN News by Jonathan Scruggs with Alliance Defending Freedom. SCRUGGS: “Men are coming into women's sports and taking away podium slots and scholarships. “Just in the West Virginia case alone, since the male athlete there started participating, he's taken away over 400 slots of women and displaced girls, 1,100 times.” International Olympic Committee likely to ban transgenders In a related story, BBC Sport reports the International Olympic Committee is likely to ban transgenders next year. The decision would prohibit men, pretending to be women, from competing in women's categories. The ban would likely take effect before the 2028 Summer Olympics to be held in Los Angeles, California.  13th county in America bans abortion Dickens County, Texas is now the 13th county in the nation to outlaw abortion. County leaders voted on Monday in favor of passing a Sanctuary County for the Unborn Ordinance. Dickens County has a population of 1,725 people. And it is the eleventh county in Texas to outlaw abortion. Augustine's influence felt today And finally, today is the birthday of Augustine of Hippo!  The renowned Christian theologian was born on November 13, A.D. 354 in what is modern-day Algeria, Africa.  Augustine's early life was marred by prodigal living. His mother faithfully prayed for him for years before his eventual conversion in his 30s. This took place after he providentially encountered Romans 13:13-14. The verses say, “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in … drunkenness … and sensuality. … But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”  Augustine would go on to become Bishop of Hippo, a Roman province in North Africa. An able scholar, he turned his mind to the theological battles of his day, producing Christian classics like Confessions and The City of God.  Augustine's life and work would have a dominating influence on Western civilization. The Protestant Reformers, in particular, would quote him extensively in their efforts to reform the church over a thousand years later. Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, November 13th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Way back in January - and what feels like ten years ago to me - I set out a bunch of bicycle adventure goals for me in 2025. In a challenging year, I wasn't sure how I'd measure up but as I always like to do, I gave the goals a once over to see how I did. So on this episode we give it a scorecard treatment, but also a sneak preview of the final piece of 2025 adventuring that manages to check one of the boxes! 2025 Bike Adventure Goals Scorecard Celebrating plans already made, and taking care of yourself Sort of? A big ebike trip – maybe two. Taking the bike on a ride only the ebike can do… extra distance per day? Twice as fast? Looking at a push west and maybe north too. Points for trying with the Lake Ontario trip. Something international – you non-US folks have been very patient with this America-centric pod. We'll see if we can get wheels down someplace I need a passport. Check! Helllloooo Canada! I also got to do off-pod adventures in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Belgium… no biking but a lot of walking and exploring. West coast – what, you thought I wouldn't hit the Pacific coast? Pffft… find another podcast! Probably summer. Check! Mysterious Oregon trip! More bike adjacent adventures – exploring someplace where I ride, a bike gets used, but it's not necessarily the full focus. Europe trip was an adventure but not bike-adjacent. But I have a small one coming up in a few weeks that is absolutely out of left field in terms of location, but wholeheartedly checks the box, so CHECK. Shall we do a preview? (You'll have to listen to get that one!)

What happens when your personal data is misused or stolen — can you really take a company to court?

In this episode of the AI Agent & Copilot Podcast, John Siefert is joined by Stijn Geeroms, Vice President Business Solutions, Cegeka, for a conversation on Cegeka being named Microsoft's Partner of the Year for supply chain.Key TakeawaysAbout the company: Cegeka is a global IT company headquartered in Belgium. It has around 10,000 professionals across Europe and North America. Geeroms describes Cegeka as a "Microsoft-first partner," as it offers solutions for the various Microsoft solution areas. The company also specializes in a number of industries. "We're very proud to also be recognized by Microsoft on our journey," he says.Key efforts and vertical industries: Since the start, Cegeka has been focusing on manufacturing. More specifically, it has honed in on process manufacturing. When saying they "focus efforts" in a particular area, Geeroms clarifies that this refers to four layers: added capabilities, pre-configuration, understanding industries, and agents. Before the introduction of AI, Geeroms notes, "We might have said that ERP might break productivity, but it was mainly streamlining their processes and giving them insight." But now, it's bringing new opportunities for productivity with Microsoft solutions.Customer example: Cegeka recently went live with a large pharma customer. "We went live in almost nine months, which I think, for that industry, is very fast and a broad scope," Geeroms explains. It involves planning, warehousing, sales, procurement, and more. Because they focus on pre-configuration, they were able to accelerate the adoption and validation processes required for that industry. Now, Cegeka is working with that customer on implementing agents and automation to make the platform more efficient.Market demands: The rapid transformation that Cegeka was able to do with that customer demonstrates the pace of change as well as the pace of innovation that AI is bringing. "They demand from us a solution fitting to their requirements as fast as possible...Once they're on it, they're continuously thinking of improvement on optimization," he says. This is what the market is demanding. "It's no longer a one-shot; it's like a life method." Visit Cloud Wars for more.

Good morning. Thank you dear friend for being you. God loves you. And this here is DAY 24 ☕️ FIRST BOOK — GEC Truth Study " s t u d y " November 13, 2025. God bless you!⎯JC. ★ Support this podcast ★

Matthieu Mehuys is an award-winning author and landscape architect on a mission to create a greener, healthier world. His journey began on a family farm in Belgium, where, from the age of three, he was captivated by the magic of turning tiny seeds into vibrant plants.After earning a Master of Engineering in Landscape Architecture, Matthieu landed what he thought was his dream job, but quickly realized he was stuck in a system that didn't align with his purpose. Frustrated and unfulfilled, he took a bold leap: quitting his 9-to-5 job to embark on an epic quest around the globe. Along the way, he worked on some of the world's most breathtaking gardens and pioneering eco-projects, shaping his vision for how people can live in harmony with nature.Today, Matthieu runs an international landscape architecture and consulting business, designing biodiverse, ecological, and high-value developments, gardens, and farms. He helps clients around the world create stunning, low-maintenance spaces that work with nature to restore ecosystems and maximize land potential.Matthieu's Links:Website: https://www.paulownia-la.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthieumehuys/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthieumehuys/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthieu-mehuys-64b0b5111/Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-regenerative-design-podcast/id1756295578The Impatient Entrepreneur's links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpatientEntrepreneurPod⁠LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theimpatiententrepreneurpod/⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimpatiententrepreneurpod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheImpatientEntrepreneurPod⁠Online: https://www.theimpatiententrepreneurpod.comConnect with us⁠⁠: https://www.theimpatiententrepreneurpod.com/contact⁠Kwedar & Co.'s links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kwedarco⁠LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kwedarco⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwedarco⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KwedarCo⁠Online: www.kwedarco.comConnect with us: https://www.kwedarco.com/book-consultation

I’m in Belgium! Here’s everything that went wrong with loading 2 billion breached email addresses… Sponsored by Report URI https://www.troyhunt.com/weekly-update-477/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this year FIFPRO Asia/Oceania released a new campaign aimed at targeting the scourge of Anti-Asian racism, shining a light on a subject rarely discussed. The general secretary of FIFPRO Asia/Oceania, Shoko Tsuji, as well as former Japan national team goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima join us for a very special episode where we look at their own experiences with racism, why this report is important and what steps can be taken to stop the scourge of racism in the game. Be sure to follow The Asian Game on all our social media channels: X: https://twitter.com/TheAsianGame IG: https://instagram.com/theasiangame Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheAsianGamePodcast 

SummaryIn this episode, Tim Hamilton and George O'Connor dive into the 1988 Belgium horror comedy 'Rabid Grannies.' They explore the film's plot, character dynamics, and the unique aspects of Belgian cinema. The conversation touches on the film's practical effects, the chaos that ensues when the grannies turn into monsters, and the aftermath of the horrific events. They also reflect on the themes of the film, compare it to other horror classics, and discuss the potential for a sequel.TakeawaysRabid Grannies is a unique blend of horror and comedy.The film is notable for its practical effects and over-the-top gore.Character dynamics play a crucial role in the film's narrative.The transformation of the grannies is a pivotal moment in the story.The film critiques familial greed and betrayal.Belgium's film industry is less known for horror compared to other countries.The movie's runtime is surprisingly short at just over an hour.The grannies' ability to mimic voices adds a layer of horror.The conversation highlights the importance of story in horror films.Tim and George express a desire for a sequel to Rabid Grannies.Follow Tim on letterboxd!https://letterboxd.com/search/tjhamilton/See the Seddy Bimco watchlist! Email us at seddybimcoe@gmail.com Most art by Tim Hamilton Music by Tim Hamilton Check out the Seddy website. Website: https://www.seddy-bimco-part-2-the-re... Links: https://linktr.ee/seddybimco Check out George O'Connor's books: https://www.georgeoconnorbooks.com/ Check out Tim Hamilton's books: https://timhamiltonrwf.gumroad.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A report suggests that a de facto partition of Gaza is increasingly likely, Thailand suspends a Trump administration-brokered Cambodia peace deal, Hannibal Gaddafi is released on a $900,000 bail, China is reportedly targeting the U.S. military with rare Earth export curbs, A new “TRUMP” party launches in Belgium, Senator Elizabeth Warren seeks a probe of U.S. agencies' partisan shutdown messages, SoftBank sells its entire Nvidia stake for $5.8 billion, The International Olympic Committee considers a blanket ban on trans women in the Olympics, Canada loses its measles-free status after 27 Years, and a study claims that speaking multiple languages is associated with slower aging.

Scott and Joris look more closely at the situation at Cercle Brugge, praise Felice Mazzu's impact at OHL and ask questions of Westerlo. They also find time to say nice things about Anderlecht and probe Belgium's upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: The case of the Nord Stream pipeline bombing may finally be solved. The undersea gas line was once a vital link between Russia and Europe—but instead of uniting the continent, the investigation is tearing it apart. The U.S. government shutdown is having real consequences for America's allies. Over $5 billion in weapons sales to NATO partners and Ukraine are now frozen, putting key defense deals in jeopardy. European nations are deploying anti-drone units to Belgium after a swarm of drones was spotted over a nuclear power plant—raising new fears of Russian hybrid warfare. And in today's Back of the Brief—Japan's military is dealing with an unexpected threat. Not from Beijing or Pyongyang, but from bears. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.  Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Goldbelly: Impress your friends and family. go to https://GOLDBELLY.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code PDB. BUBS Naturals: Live Better Longer with BUBS Naturals. For A limited time get 20% Off your entire order with code PDB at https://Bubsnaturals.com  Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Fertility Docs Uncensored is hosted by Dr. Carrie Bedient from the Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center, and Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center. This week, the docs welcome Dr. Nadine Al Kaisi, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Eggcellent Fertility, who brings an international perspective to the fertility field. Dr. Al Kaisi has practiced reproductive medicine across Germany, Spain, Belgium, and London, giving her a unique understanding of how fertility care differs around the world. In Germany, for example, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) is not routinely performed and is used only in specific cases, such as when both partners carry a genetic condition or when sperm morphology is abnormal. Unlike in the US, much of fertility treatment in Germany is covered by insurance, creating a hybrid system that includes both public and private options. German laws impose strict limitations on fertility options outside of IVF. Egg freezing is restricted to married individuals, and same-sex couples are not eligible for treatment. Sperm donation is permitted but tightly regulated, with minimal information about the donor. At age 16, the donor-conceived child is able to contact the donor. Dr. Al Kaisi also explains how clinics in Germany perform natural cycle IVF, freeze embryos at the pronuclear stage, and transfer only one embryo per cycle. Other European countries, such as Spain and the Czech Republic, have more liberal practices—similar to the United States—though surrogacy remains prohibited. This is an interesting perspective on the different ways IVF is done in other countries. This podcast was sponsored by RMA New York. 

Unknown aerial objects are breaching Europe's nuclear facilities including Belgium's Doel Nuclear Plant and NATO bases housing US nuclear weapons, with military officials admitting interception technology has failed to capture a single object despite coordinated incursions across Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Spain since September 2025, mirroring the unsolved New Jersey drone mystery of 2024 and historical UFO sightings over nuclear sites dating back to Malmstrom Air Force Base in 1967.To see the VIDEO of this episode, click or copy link - https://youtu.be/jSzuUtfgmmAVisit my website with International UFO News, Articles, Videos, and Podcast direct links -www.ufonews.co00:00 - UAP Over Nuclear Plants03:42 - UAPs over Brussels05:24 - Zero UAPs Intercepted06:10 - Why Europe Stays Silent07:38 - Russia Blamed, Zero Evidence09:12 - Trump Said Shoot UAPs DownBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/strange-and-unexplained--5235662/support.

On this week's episode of The Joy of Football, we first have our usual 'Three of the Best', featuring players (and managers) from Manchester City, Spurs, Chelsea and more! Then, we NEED to talk about Belgium, Barca, Newcastle and Fulham - for a variety of reasons. Next is Martin's Letter from the Gantry, about Wolves and the 'Spice Girls of the day'. Next is Neil's VOICE OF PASSION, where he explains the struggle managers have with games, immediately following an International Break. And we end with a quick Stoppage Time, in which Neil raises the choice to remain on your 'country's time' whilst playing in VASTLY different time zones. Join Neil Barnett (former Chelsea touch-liner announce and football journalist) alongside the voice of the Premier League Martin Tyler in celebrating the greatest addiction in the World!  [Chapters] 00:00 Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd  UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5  Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on  Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/  Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF  Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc  Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/  Contact us via: therevivelounge@gmail.com  Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz  Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/  For incredible football artwork, check out: https://linktr.ee/marclobodaart  A massive thank you to our Patreon Supporters:  Nick Parmenter Hillary Abbott Daniel Butigan Tommy Mck Katie Watson Benjamin Fairclough Nathan A Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If French rugby is fine wine, the Boks uncorked it, chugged it straight from the bottle, and smashed the glass on the way out. The Springboks have once again marched into Paris like uninvited houseguests, stomping mud across the carpets, smashing the crockery, and pocketing a few heirlooms for good measure. France looked overrated, outmuscled, and utterly unable to dent the Bok defence, while the refereeing circus gave us scrums that made no sense, a red card that raised eyebrows, and yellows that felt more like lottery tickets. Rassie's substitutions were bold, Siya's leadership was immense, and Esterhuizen looked every bit the golden key to unlock this side. Sasha or Manie — who's really the man (hint, it's still Pollard)? Meanwhile, the 9s are bringing the heat, but KLA might not be it. Beyond Paris, the Northern Hemisphere chorus of “we're undercooked” rang out again, conveniently forgetting that the shoe is on the other foot every June. Italy toppled Australia, leaving us wondering if Joe Schmidt's fire has fizzled. Scotland spooked themselves against New Zealand in what quickly became the DMac show. England scraped past Fiji, though the islanders could easily have stolen it, with refereeing once again in the spotlight. Wales, poor Wales, were left licking wounds after Argentina gave them another bruising reminder of reality. And in the background, World Cup qualification permutations rumble on: Namibia struggling, Belgium proving they're more than just chips. It was a weekend of broken narratives, hot takes, and Southern Hemisphere swagger, and we're here to stir the pot with all the banter you can handle. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show

Leave it to San Diego to have an oddity like being home to possibly the only Schaerbeek Cheery grove outside of Belgium. Chad who's behind Lyon's Peak Brewing has painstakingly bought them to Jamul to focus on one time of beer, the Handgeplukte Kriek.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: The latest sign that Washington may be gearing up for something big south of the border. Satellite imagery shows one of America's most formidable attack aircraft—the AC-130J Ghostrider—has been deployed to the region. The Kremlin is pushing back on reports that Vladimir Putin has sidelined his long-time foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, after a failed attempt to organize a Trump summit. Another mystery in the skies over Europe. Flights were halted again after another drone sighting near one of Belgium's busiest airports, raising new concerns about airspace security. And in today's Back of the Brief—North Korea is rattling sabers again, threatening “offensive action” after a U.S. aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea just a day after its latest missile launch. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Tax Relief Advocates: End your tax nightmare today by visiting us online at https://TRA.com  Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold DeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/BRIEF and use promocode BRIEF at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sixteen-year-old Eli shares how type 1 diabetes shaped his outlook on life, sports, and empathy—turning challenge into motivation and inspiring his dream of becoming an endocrinologist. Go tubeless with Omnipod 5 or Omnipod DASH * Dexcom G7 CONTOUR NextGen smart meter and CONTOUR DIABETES app Get your supplies from US MED  or call 888-721-1514 Tandem Mobi  twiist AID System Free Juicebox Community (non Facebook) Eversense CGM Medtronic Diabetes Drink AG1.com/Juicebox Touched By Type 1 Take the T1DExchange survey Type 1 Diabetes Pro Tips - THE PODCAST Use code JUICEBOX to save 40% at Cozy Earth  Apple Podcasts> Subscribe to the podcast today! The podcast is available on Spotify, Google Play, iHeartRadio, Radio Public, Amazon Music and all Android devices The Juicebox Podcast is a free show, but if you'd like to support the podcast directly, you can make a gift here or buy me a coffee. Thank you! * Omnipod Wilmot E, et al. Presented at: ATTD; March 19-22, 2025; Amsterdam, NL. A 13-week randomized, parallel-group clinical trial conducted among 188 participants (age 4-70) with type 1 diabetes in France, Belgium, and the U.K., comparing the safety and effectiveness of the Omnipod 5 System versus multiple daily injections with CGM. Among all paid Omnipod 5 G6G7 Pods Commercial and Medicare claims in 2024. Actual co-pay amount depends on patient's health plan and coverage, they may be higher or lower than the advertised amount. Source IQVIA OPC Library. Disclaimer - Nothing you hear on the Juicebox Podcast or read on Arden's Day is intended as medical advice. You should always consult a physician before making changes to your health plan.  If the podcast has helped you to live better with type 1 please tell someone else how to find it!

Sixteen-year-old Eli shares how type 1 diabetes shaped his outlook on life, sports, and empathy—turning challenge into motivation and inspiring his dream of becoming an endocrinologist. Go tubeless with Omnipod 5 or Omnipod DASH * Dexcom G7 CONTOUR NextGen smart meter and CONTOUR DIABETES app Get your supplies from US MED  or call 888-721-1514 Tandem Mobi  twiist AID System Free Juicebox Community (non Facebook) Eversense CGM Medtronic Diabetes Drink AG1.com/Juicebox Touched By Type 1 Take the T1DExchange survey Type 1 Diabetes Pro Tips - THE PODCAST Use code JUICEBOX to save 40% at Cozy Earth  Apple Podcasts> Subscribe to the podcast today! The podcast is available on Spotify, Google Play, iHeartRadio, Radio Public, Amazon Music and all Android devices The Juicebox Podcast is a free show, but if you'd like to support the podcast directly, you can make a gift here or buy me a coffee. Thank you! * Omnipod Wilmot E, et al. Presented at: ATTD; March 19-22, 2025; Amsterdam, NL. A 13-week randomized, parallel-group clinical trial conducted among 188 participants (age 4-70) with type 1 diabetes in France, Belgium, and the U.K., comparing the safety and effectiveness of the Omnipod 5 System versus multiple daily injections with CGM. Among all paid Omnipod 5 G6G7 Pods Commercial and Medicare claims in 2024. Actual co-pay amount depends on patient's health plan and coverage, they may be higher or lower than the advertised amount. Source IQVIA OPC Library. Disclaimer - Nothing you hear on the Juicebox Podcast or read on Arden's Day is intended as medical advice. You should always consult a physician before making changes to your health plan.  If the podcast has helped you to live better with type 1 please tell someone else how to find it!  

This week on Paranormal Activity: Monday Mailtime, Producer Dom unpacks two listener stories that challenge the boundaries of time, memory, and the spaces we think we understand.First, Daniel takes us to the cobbled alleys of Bruges, Belgium, where a mysterious art gallery seemed to appear out of nowhere and then vanish without a trace.Inside, the portraits didn't just watch him… one of them moved.Was it an artistic illusion, or did Daniel step into a place lost to history?Then, Ben shares what happened during a quiet winter in Sheffield, while housesitting for his cousin.In the attic sat an old Remington typewriter, silent for decades.Or so he thought.When the keys began clicking on their own, it felt like more than just coincidence, especially when one key pointed to a message from beyond the grave.Two stories. Two impossible places.One question: Can the past ever really let go?A Create Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are talking about The United Nations Open Source Week, Digital Public Infrastructure, and Digital sovereignty with guest Tiffany Farriss & Mike Gifford. We'll also cover Local Association (EU Sites Project) as our module of the week. For show notes visit: https://www.talkingDrupal.com/528 Topics Drupal at the United Nations Open Source Week The Role of Open Source in Digital Governance Global Collaboration and Open Source Initiatives Challenges and Opportunities in Open Source Adoption The Role of Open Source Program Offices Understanding Digital Public Infrastructure The Importance of Digital Sovereignty Challenges and Opportunities in Digital Public Goods Balancing Innovation and Standardization The Impact of Market Capture on Innovation Funding Open Source as Public Infrastructure Future of Drupal in Global Digital Infrastructure Resources Funding Open Source like public infrastructure chaos gone global UN digital NEDCamp 2023 Keynote Enshittification Recording https://govstack.global/ https://www.sovereign.tech/ https://www.drupal.be/en/drupal-eu-government-day-2026 https://govstack.global/ https://sdgs.un.org/goals https://chaoss.community/ https://www.un.org/digital-emerging-technologies/content/open-source-week-2025 Tiffany's talk about Drupal at UN EvolveDigital NYC summit on Nov 20-21 Guests Tiffany Farriss - www.palantir.net farriss Mike Gifford - accessibility.civicactions.com mgifford Hosts Nic Laflin - nLighteneddevelopment.com nicxvan John Picozzi - epam.com johnpicozzi Maya Schaeffer - evolvingweb.com mayalena MOTW Correspondent Martin Anderson-Clutz - mandclu.com mandclu Brief description: Are you looking to create a website for a local Drupal association? There's a project on drupal.org to help you get started. Module name/project name: Local Association (EU Sites Project) Brief history How old: created in Oct 2023 by Jeremy Chinquist (jjchinquist) of drunomics and Drupal Austria Versions available: dev version only Maintainership Security coverage - opted in, no coverage until stable Documentation guide available to help with setup Number of open issues: 49 open issues, 4 of which are bugs No usage stats available Module features and usage This is an unusual project because it's designed to help you quickly create a Drupal website but it doesn't follow any of the usual patterns I've seen: a distribution, composer project template, or Drupal site template Instead, the recommended path is to clone the repo local, and run a setup script. That creates your DDEV project, runs a composer install and then drush site install, and even runs a drush uli so you can log into your built site with a single click once it's done Along the way it will install a couple of custom modules. One populates a multitude of default content, so you have a populated site including navigation as your starting point. It will look like a clone of the 2022 Drupal Netherlands site, though there have been ongoing tweaks to the overall setup, with the most recent in June of 2025. The other custom module provides some additional layouts for use with layout builder, and the project also includes a theme meant to be customized. As you may have guessed by now, this project started when the Dutch Drupal Association rebuilt their website in 2022, and wanted to share their work with other local associations. Drupal France was the first to adopt it, and there was a BoF at DrupalCon Lille in 2023 to discuss sharing it more widely. Following that, an international workgroup began collaborating to establish this project and it was adopted by Drupal associations in Belgium, Germany, Norway, Finland, and London, England. Since today's topic is about positioning Drupal on the international stage, I thought it would also be interesting to talk about how local Drupal associations have also formed their own federation to reduce effort

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Claudia Winkleman The rise and rise of the Strictly and Traitors star Lisa Nandy apologises for breaking rules on football regulator job Quentin Willson dies Jeremy Clarkson and James May pay tribute to former Top Gear host Fung Wong Philippines braces for super typhoon as nearly a million evacuate Modern dating Why women are hiding their boyfriends on social media US cleaning woman shot and killed after arriving at wrong home UK military to help protect Belgium after drone incursions Will a new mutated flu strain cause a rough winter Ever feel the need to switch off Your vagus nerve might hold the key Inquiry to review rising levels of youth inactivity

Dive into a fascinating conversation with Charly Kevers, the CFO of Carta, as he reveals how his company is revolutionizing private equity and venture capital through a connected ecosystem for investors and portfolio companies. Discover Charly's remarkable journey, from his roots in Belgium and France to pivotal roles at Tesla, Salesforce, and HP. He'll share invaluable insights on building strategic CEO partnerships, leveraging AI for financial efficiency, and navigating high-growth hardware businesses. Whether you're an aspiring CFO or an experienced leader, Charly's advice on curiosity, communication, and embracing risk will inspire you to excel in the ever-evolving world of finance. Don't miss this deep dive into the future of leadership and technology!

Today, Laura spoke to the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who has said she retains confidence in the BBC's leadership, as the corporation prepares to apologise over the way it edited a Donald Trump speech.Adam and Henry discuss the political ramifications of that interview, as well as other accusations made in the letter by Michael Prescott, a former independent external adviser to the BBC's editorial guidelines and standards committee.BBC chair Samir Shah will provide a response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Monday. Plus, we learned today that UK military personnel and equipment are being sent to Belgium to help it bolster its defences after drones were spotted near the main airport, Zavantem. But how much do we know about the drones and their origin?You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Laura Kuenssberg and Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray. The social producer was Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Des drones non identifiés ont survolé la base de Kleine Brogel Air Base en Belgique, provoquant une alerte de défense et enquête en cours.Traduction :Unidentified drones flew over Belgium's Kleine Brogel Air Base, triggering a defence alert and ongoing investigation. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

The BBC's director general, Tim Davie and the CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness have resigned, after a leaked memo raised concerns about bias at the broadcaster. Also: King Charles leads Remembrance Sunday commemorations in London. UK military personnel and equipment are being sent to Belgium after suspected Russian drone incursions and Super Typhoon Fung-wong makes landfall in the Philippines.

We meet Ginny and Hartley Neel, Executive Directors of the Estate of Alice Neel, and the artist's daughter-in-law and son. We explore her current exhibition in Belgium at Xavier Hufkens.Alice Neel is widely recognised as one of the great American painters of the twentieth century. Her success, however, has largely been posthumous. In the past decade, interest in her work has grown exponentially, with a series of landmark exhibitions and art historical studies firmly cementing her position on the international stage.Neel's oeuvre is fascinating on two counts: not only was she an incredibly gifted painter, but also an astute and idiosyncratic chronicler of some of the most tumultuous decades in American history. While she also painted landscapes and still lifes, Neel is best known as a painter of people. Her sitters included artists, writers, intellectuals and family members, as well as people living on the margins of society, particularly immigrants. Deeply committed to equality and social justice, Neel was interested in the human struggle for survival, and in mankind's capacity for resilience in the face of hardship and deprivation. With her distinctive brushwork and remarkable feel for colour, Neel succeeded in capturing the inner psychological depths of her sitters. Her commitment to truth and dedication to figuration—unfashionable during her lifetime—ensured that her work remained permanently out of kilter with avant-garde movements such as abstract expressionism, pop art and minimalism. Yet her uncompromising approach gave rise to a unique and highly individualistic body of work that continues to exert an influence on contemporary artistic production.Alice Neel Still Lifes and Street Scenes runs until 22 November 2025 at Xavier Hufkens, Van Eyck, Brussels, Belgium. Follow @XavierHufkensThe first retrospective dedicated to the artist in Italy, 'Alice Neel: I Am the Century' is now open @PinacotecaAgnelli at in Turin, Italy – on view through 6 April 2026. Special thanks to the Estate of Alice Neel and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels for making this conversation possible. #aliceneel #xavierhufkens #pinacotecaagnelli Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.