Podcasts about Beneath

Best of 2025: Brendon Burchard reveals the hidden driver behind human motivation: aliveness. Beneath success, purpose, and achievement, what people truly seek is energy, presence, and emotional vitality. He explains how boredom and disconnection quietly sabotage lives—and how daily practices of aliveness prevent burnout, bad decisions, and self-destruction.JOIN QOD CLUB. Ready to find your people? Join QOD Club and connect with a community of likeminded QOD listeners. Get weekly Monday Mentorship calls, Wednesday Book Club discussions, ad-free QOD episodes, and access to Money Mind Academy. Plus, online business trainings — marketing, social media, podcasting, and more — coming in January. Start your 30-day trial today for only $9!GET MY TOP 28 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Click here to get your free copy of “28 Books That Will Rewire Your Mindset for Success and Self-Mastery” curated by yours truly!Source: How To Achieve More Aliveness (1+ Hour Class!)Hosted by Sean CroxtonFollow me on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rather than offering a single answer or a definitive position, the programme unfolds as a carefully curated sequence of voices, each reflecting a lived experience that sits at the edge of what we understand. The structure is simple and deliberate. A series of interview clips, drawn from different lives and circumstances, are placed side by side, allowing patterns, tensions, and moments of resonance to emerge naturally.Throughout the episode, the host's presence is calm and unassuming. His interjections are sparse, thoughtful, and gently probing, offering space rather than direction. He treats each account with the same careful attention, neither affirming nor dismissing what is heard. This measured approach invites listeners to sit with uncertainty, to notice their own reactions, and to reflect on why such stories continue to move us.Taken together, the voices in this episode do not form an argument so much as a conversation across experiences. They ask what consciousness might be, how deeply it is tied to the body, and why encounters with death so often seem to reshape how people live. Beneath every clip runs a quieter thread: the human need to make sense of loss, to find continuity, and to feel that our lives are part of something larger than a single ending.This is an episode best approached without expectation, listened to slowly and with an open mind. It offers no answers, only the chance to reflect, to wonder, and perhaps to recognise something of your own questions in the voices of others. https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlifeMy book 'Verified Near Death Experiences' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXKRGDFP Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Quaranteam - Dave In Dallas: Part 8 Intruders! Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. October 26, 2020. Monday afternoon, Reena took lunch duties. Lunch was often individual or in small groups, but she really wanted a crack at cooking for everyone. She said it could be 'come and go' to still facilitate varied schedules around the house. Her idea was ramen. But, it wasn't just basic out of the package. Well, it was, but with a variety of add-ons. You could pick your flavor of ramen, then she'd prepared chopped carrots, nori, sesame oil, diced onion, spam, eggs (fried up for each bowl individually) and Korean red pepper powder that Jan had gotten added to the spice rack. Oh, Reena still cooked it up, but each bowl was individual, and made on request. When Jan came in for lunch, she laughed warmly. Beaming, Reena asked hopefully, "Just like mom would make?" Jan placed a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder. "Not exactly dear. This is ore like what my Caucasian aunt would make when she tried to be authentic." Reena's face and shoulders seemed to suddenly melt. Jan stepped in beside the teen, wrapping her arms around her. "And the one time I made fun of my aunt for it in my mother's hearing was the last. She pulled me aside and scolded me for being insensitive, and ungrateful. Mom said that ramen was always about making something tasty, with love and what ever ingredients were available." Jan made a point of looking over the prepped ingredients arrayed on the counter. "And this is exactly what you have done." She kissed Reena on her cheek. "Thank you. Thank you for the meal, and thank you for reminding me of two lovely, caring women in my life." Reena hugged her. Then she got the specifics of what Jan wanted and got busy making it. Dave stepped out of his office and got two steps down the hallway when Lupie found him. "Dave, could I use your office and computer for a bit? It's kind of urgent. I was in the middle of some trades and my laptop died." "Again?" Dave chuckled. Lupie looked chagrined and rolled her eyes. "Good thing you have your software installed in there already. Just log me off and do what you gotta do. How long do you need me to stay out?" "Rest of the afternoon?" "Okay." Dave started to walk away but Lupie snagged him by the shirtfront and tugged him towards her. They kissed softly. They didn't hear the small footsteps approaching. "Oh gag me with a tamale." Both adults laughed too hard to maintain the kiss. "I do need to get in there," Lupie said. A quick peck and she scampered into the office. Dave knelt down and wrapped Esme in a hug. "And you, rascal, need to give it a rest. We keep a lot out of your sight because; well because it should be out of your viewing. So give us a break on the kissing once in a while, huh?" "Yessir" her tone sounded reluctant, but the grin was hard to suppress. She took four quick steps away from him before turning. "Dave?" "Yes, sweetie?" "Thanks for making mom happy." "Never have I ever; used a pay phone," Reena said with a wicked grin. Shawna and all the ladies over thirty took a drink. Dave first reached into his pocket, pulled his hand back out, and tossed a quarter at Reena. Then he took a drink. Liv busted out laughing. "One of Dad's favorite songs!" she cried as she cackled loudly and leaned a bit too far over into Mel. They'd been going for over half an hour. And she and Mel had pre-gamed. "Song?" Reena asked. "Pay phones used to cost a quarter to make a call. Early nineties, there was a country breakup song called 'Here's a Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares'," Dave filled in. Reena pouted, then stuck out her tongue. "Okay, Lupie, your turn," Jan prompted. 'Never have I ever; done the splits." Reena threw one back. Liv joined her, while Dave laughed. "That laugh suggests a story," Nessa observed. "Yeah, yeah," Liv replied. "I was; oh, about ten or so?" "Eleven," Dave corrected. "Right. Anyway, the girlie girl types were saying I was not really a girl if I couldn't do the splits. So I did." Dave cleared his throat. Liv blushed. "On top of the monkey bars." All the older ladies burst out laughing. "Well, that showed them!" Shawna rejoined. "And I believe it's Dave's turn now." "Alright, never have I ever; taken a nude or semi-nude selfie." Reena's eyes bugged out. She reached for her drink, threw back a slug, then covered her face with her hand. Mel, Liv, and Nessa followed suit. That was no shock to anyone. Jan doing so caught a few looks. "Nope, not gonna talk about it." Jan's face was as red as Melanie's hair. "Okay, moving on; " "Not yet. Someone hasn't drunk." Dave said. He looked at Becca, clearing his throat. "What?! I've never sent nude selfies. You're the first guy I ever got naked for!" "I believe you." Then Dave held up his phone and waggled it. Becca's eyes got wide. "Oh, crap, I forgot about that!" The young blonde blushed about six shades of red before reaching for her drink. "Oh, this I gotta hear." Melanie breathed. Becca hid her face in her hands, peeking between two fingers. Lupie laughed loudly. "Okay, you busted me out, so spill." Becca looked pleadingly at Dave, then shrugged her shoulders, giving him a nod. "Loops, you remember that very first day, when the vax guy came around?" Lupie nodded in reply. "And you wondered why Becca was acting all embarrassed after I told you I'd accepted you both?" "Yes?; oh!" "I told you she'd be the one to say it was okay to tell you what happened? She just did." Lupie just nodded in reply. "Uh, care to fill the rest of us in?" Mel asked. "So the CDC guy came around mid-September. He got to Lupie's house first. She sent him over here with a letter asking that I request her and Becca, giving her reasons why I should say yes. After setting things up with Arthur, I texted both of them that I would make the request. Becca replied with a selfie. With her shirt and bra pulled up. Still have it by the way." Dave winked at Becca. "Shit, we shoulda thought of that! Right after the video call!" Liv groused, nudging Mel. "Another missed first." "Becca was weeks before that call, so still first. Well, first amongst this group, not first ever." "Oh, yeah?" Dave dodged. "Old girlfriend, long time ago. So, who's turn is it next?" Thankfully, they let it slide. October 27, 2020. Dave descended the stairs to see Olivia, Becca and Reena watching a 90's movie. The two teens were making a concerted effort to take in as much of the movies and songs that Dave had grown up with, particularly the ones he had physical copies of. Reena had taken some adjusting to the idea of watching without streaming. Not that they didn't stream at all. Last night, Dave had discovered several of his partners, including Reena, hadn't yet seen Hamilton. That required immediate correction. "Wow, really? It's a great story, well executed, and it's historical. I mean, yeah, they take some liberties, but Miranda was pretty true to the essence of the characters." "But history?" Reena whined. "It's just a bunch of old white guys." Dave looked askance at her. "You're sleeping with an old white guy." Reena's face fell, and Dave's heart with it. In a soft voice, she said, "You're not just an old white guy to me." Her head wasn't exactly hanging, but she didn't meet his eyes. Fuck, emotional landmine triggered. Splash damage accumulating. Dave got up swiftly, without rushing, to stand in front of her and take her in his arms. He kissed the crown of her head as her face nestled in his chest. "I'm sorry honey, I didn't mean to sound so disparaging." Reena slipped her arms around Dave and took him in a hug. Several others joined in, circling the pair in their arms. "Reena, honey?" Shawna prompted. "The guy who wrote it had a vision to make the story more interesting than 'just a bunch of old white guys. Give it a try. I think you'll like it." As often happened, Shawna was spot-on. This morning though, the trio were watching Dave's blu-ray of Twister. "You know, we'll have to watch this in April. Before or during the first severe thunderstorm warning." Dave said as he rounded the back corner to pass them without blocking their view. All three girls chuckled lightly and accepted the kisses Dave planted on them as he passed behind them on his way to the library. Entering, he found Vanessa lounging with a book. He took a seat in easy speaking distance without crowding her. "So, how are you settling in?" "Pretty well. It's; so peaceful here. I really expected a house with this many people in it to be more chaotic. I mean, there's a fun energy here, and a lot of life, but it's; so soothing here. Thank you, David. For accepting me, for just; being here to match with." "I'm enjoying having you here. Beyond the obvious, I mean." Nessa snickered at that. "You've slipped rather smoothly into the family and already I couldn't imagine this place, or us, without you." "That's so sweet, thank you." "Maybe once the whole state's vaccinated, we'll get some normalcy and get out to do the usual family things together." "When we get some normalcy again, you ought to marry Lupie." "I should marry all of you." "No. No, I don't feel that way. Lupie does. Olivia does. And maybe Janice. Shawna too, she has it bad for you. Becca is still young and sorting it all out. Same goes for Reena and Mel. I don't share that depth of bond. I wouldn't want to cheapen what they have with you by sharing a marriage ceremony when I don't have that connection. I damn well better be one of the bridesmaids though" A wry smile crossed Vanessa's face. "I care for you. I love you. I love this family. I am not in love with you." "If it weren't for this damn serum, you would be free to find someone to have that bond with." Vanessa's eyes watered. "Don't ever say that again." There was steel in every syllable. "I may not be in love with you, but this is one of the best relationships I've ever had. I have more joy; not mere happiness; joy in my life now than I have had in a very long time. If the serum caused this, then Thank God and bring it on. I wouldn't change what I have right now for anything. I know you care for me. I can feel it. I feel it from each of the others. What we have is special and I don't ever want to let it go." Dave stood and walked towards Vanessa. From one eye, a tear rolled down her cheek. "I haven't felt this safe and accepted since I was a little girl that didn't know what emotional pain was." She closed her eyes, surrendering, hopeful, to what he might do next. Dave bent down, bringing his face to hers. He kissed each eye gently. He kissed each tear streak. He kissed her gently on the nose, eliciting a small giggle. He kissed her lips, softly at first, growing firmer as she responded. She broke the kiss and opened her eyes in time to see his eyes opening. She could see the tears watering them. "You're going to make me fall in love with you aren't you?" "No. I'm going to give you every reason to, and let you decide." Dave reached underneath Vanessa and lifted her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him as he carried her. Olivia noticed them coming out of the library. With a small grin she began singing in a soft voice "Who; knows what to-morrow brings; in a world; few hearts survive ;” Dave tried scowling at her, but he couldn't get the grin off his face. As they neared the base of the stairs, Vanessa ceased her slow circuit of kissing Dave's cheek, neck and lips. "I think you better let me walk from here stud." Dave chuckled and lowered her feet to the floor. They rose up the stairs, side-by-side joined at the hips, shoulders, and lips. From below, they heard Olivia mutter "God that's hot." Reena Umm-hmmed her agreement. "My nipples are freaking diamonds right now." Entering the bedroom, Dave and Vanessa began removing each other's clothes, quickly, but without frenzy. They stood naked, at the end of the bed, kissing, holding and softly groping each other. Dave pressed in close and gripped Vanessa under the curve of her ass. He lifted her and tossed her into the middle of the bed. She squealed happily as she flew. Dave slowly crawled up the bed, kissing Vanessa as he went. He started by kissing the big toe of her left foot and proceeded down the top of her foot to her ankle. Then he switched to her right foot. When he reached her ankle, he continued laying soft, gentle kisses up her shin. Then again up her left shin. He avoided the backs of her calves, her kneecap and the inside of her knee. These spots were very ticklish for Vanessa. Becca loved the loss of control when Dave tickled her. Becca and Janice loved the counter play of tickling and sexual stimulation. Vanessa would mule-kick him through a wall if he tickled her. And be out of the mood. And be pissed for a few days. So no tickle-y He kissed his way up the tops and outsides of each leg. He kissed a wandering path around her abdomen, taking time at her belly button like a caravan merchant at an oasis. Vanessa moaned. Her belly button was one of her favorite places for Dave to play with. Dave began working his way upward again, kissing in a straight line that ran up from her navel between her tits. He looked up as he rose, seeing her eyes locked on him, hungry and happy. Pure joy radiated from her face. He reached the hollow of her neck and alternated kissing with light nibbling. Vanessa moaned again and shifted beneath him. This was another of her favorite spots. He kissed up to her jaw, across her jawline, to her lips. "Umm" Vanessa hummed as Dave settled in, his body pressing firmly against hers. He rested his weight on his elbows and knees (outside of hers) and took her hands in his, out to the sides of her head, their fingers interlaced. It was more sensual than sexual. After several minutes, Dave slipped his hands loose and moved lower for the next step. He broke the kiss. Vanessa whimpered and opened her eyes. She bit back a complaint about the end of the kiss, because she knew what was coming would be better. Dave kissed her chin, then her shoulder. He stroked the outside of each tit with his fingertips. He kissed from her shoulder down to the top of her tit. He kissed around her tit, never touching the areola. Then he placed tiny, soft kisses just at the border of her areola without brushing her nipple. Vanessa whimpered. His hand played with her other tit, likewise avoiding the areola. Vanessa squeaked as he took her nipple and areola in his mouth and suckled, flicking his tongue against her nipple. "Yes; ;” she clutched the sheets and writhed beneath him. It was delicious torture. He had her worked up and ready, but kept the foreplay going rather than enter her. One finger of his hand lightly brushed across her other nipple. Back and forth. Back and forth. Light pinch. "Oh, David, please baby." Dave chuckled. He met her eyes as he descended down her body again, taking less time than when he rose. He kissed her hip, then across her pelvis and down. He kissed her mound of Venus and descended with his mouth hovering over her labia, but not touching. He let his breath brush over her entrance. Then he pulled back further and kissed her inner thigh. He heard a strangled whine from above. He nibbled. He switched thighs. More shifting and squirming. Dave latched his mouth onto Vanessa's labia and suckled like a newborn. "Yes!" Her body lifted off the bed for several seconds. He flicked his tongue against her entrance before easing it inside of her. She let out a contented moan. He slid his hands along her sides and thighs. Dave lifted his eyes to look at Vanessa. Her eyes were closed in bliss. He moved marginally forward and took her clitoris into his mouth, massaging it with his lips and tongue. "Oh God!" her eyes flew open. Hands gripped sheets and pulled hard. Her feet lifted. Dave backed off, giving her a moment. He started crawling up the bed, over top of her. Vanessa pouted and locked eyes with him. Desire and need echoed back and forth between their eyes. Dave inserted himself into her wet, relaxed passage and slid forward purposefully. Vanessa issued a sound that was both a sigh and a moan signaling her satisfaction. Once again, Dave interlaced his fingers with hers. With his hands on top of hers, and all four hands beside Nessa's ears, Dave began to rock his body overtop of her. He held himself just low enough that his chest and ribs softly grazed over her erect nipples. With slow, gentle strokes, he raised the two of them towards ecstasy. Kissing softly, they communicated without words, just sighs, moans, and hums. Time stopped and the world fell away. Just two lovers wrapped in gauzy layers of lovemaking. Nessa's body trembled with anticipation for what felt like an eternity as Dave caressed and stimulated her, hitting all her pleasure spots just so, raising her gently to one delicious climax. He buried himself to the root within her as the dam burst forth. Her erotic writhing alternatively pushed him away and strove to swallow him within her. The oscillations of her wet passage seized his organ and sent him cascading over the cliff with her. Struck by the serum induced orgasm, Nessa clutched him tightly and howled her pleasure. When Nessa's grasp loosened, Dave slipped to lie beside her, holding her close. Drifting back into the conscious world, Nessa snuggled in close, draping an arm over him. "Hmm, so that's what the girls have been calling 'the full Dave', huh? I like it." Shawna's rotating early shift was today, allowing all of us to sit down as a family and finish discussing housing preferences. Mel came in from the kitchen once Shawna arrived. "We didn't quite get there last time, but with 12 or more people, we need a bigger kitchen." Lupie said emphatically. "Preferably with a double oven and a cooktop with five burners and a grill. Four burners and no grill is still okay. And gas, not electric." "Anything else for the kitchen?" "Well, an island, preferably with power to it, but with a cutting board top, and large enough for rolling out dough." Lupie paused, looking pensive. "Did I go too far?" "Not at all, that sounds great. Especially if I actually get to use it." Dave grinned back. Lupie smirked and rolled her eyes. "Oh, and one other condition; a nice big batch of tamales after we move in." Lupie's eyes danced. "Absolutely." "I was thinking," Reena said, "how about a backyard deck?" Dave interjected "Not really necessary. It would be good to have, but I can build a reliable deck. Especially with Livy involved. You can help too if you want." "If you can do renno, I may have work for you." Vanessa smirked. Dave laughed. "I still have a day job. Our house sure, but I'm not looking to make it a job. Oh, and what ever we get needs plenty of electrical outlets. If it's really necessary, I could run a few new breakers and circuits, but seriously, I'd rather stay away from that." Shawna looked alarmed. "Baby, I believe you when you say you've got skills, but I don't want you around one-ten, or worse, two-twenty." Dave returned with a scowling laugh, "That's why you turn it off at the box, dear." "Just be careful honey." "Yes, Peaches." That earned a laugh all around, as Shawna blew a kiss at him. Nessa looked at her. "Are you from Georgia?" "No, but my parents met there in college. Mom's from Georgia, Dad was just there for school. They raised me and my brother in St. Louis." "And you went there for your degree?" "Oh no. I knew I wanted to be a meteorologist since I was a young teen. I went to O U. With the National Weather Service center right there, I got experiences I could never have gotten elsewhere. Spent a good chunk of my upper-class and grad years chasing storms." "Sounds like a lot of fun." "Oh yeah." Nessa grinned with Shawna, then turned to Dave. "I have been asked to press the idea of the towers one more time. Not so much our immediate supervisor here, but the folks back in DC. Their argument is that it's more efficient." "Unbelievable." Dave managed to avoid grumbling. "You do realize that the same people that want to shove us into a shoebox are the same little hypocrites that scream their heads off when a CEO lays off workers to make his company more efficient. Both of them are promoting the math of what they want, ignoring what they don't, and neither actually gives a shit about the people they are using like pawns." Shawna, seated beside him, stroked his arm, a slight grin on her face. "Yeah, okay, I'll climb down off my soap box. But no, I do not want to live in an apartment tower. A neighborhood, sure. A diverse neighborhood sounds great. I'm not a fan of monochrome anyway." "Clearly," Nessa said. "Just looking around the room proves that." "I'm sorry, but the whole 'I know better than you' crowd pisses me off, whether it's the church variety, the lefty variety, or the old money variety." "Okay, okay," Nessa replied light heartedly. "I had to bring it up again. I've done so, and you've been quite clear. I'll get on the search tomorrow. It may take a bit, but I'm sure we can find something that meets our requirements." The conversation turned to other subjects, and the family splintered into little knots of discussions. Mel slipped back out to check on the meal she was making. Dave didn't know what it was, but it smelled really good. Well, he knew it was something with chicken. He decided to join Mel in the kitchen. "Hey, Mel, how's it goin'?" "Almost done." Mel turned her face to his and received the offered kiss. "Smells really good. Chicken soup?" "Chicken and dumplings. From scratch. I boiled the chicken earlier this afternoon. It's about time for me to mix the dumplings. After that, it'll be ready to eat in twenty minutes." Dave wrapped his arms around her, holding her close from behind as she watched the pot. "Perfect choice for a dreary day like today. And, I haven't had chicken and dumplings in a long time." "Well, I hope you like mine." "Oh, Mel," Dave said as he nuzzled his head against hers, "you know I like your dumplings." He traced the middle finger of each hand up her sides, pulling away before reaching her tits. She cackled, turning to face him. With a light smack on his shoulder she said, "You're an old lech," she stepped in for a kiss. "But you're my old lech." She waggled her eyebrows. Dave chuckled, resting his forehead against hers. Then the doorbell rang. "Go, I need to get on the dumplings anyway." Mel swatted him on the ass as he walked away. Jan was already at the door when Dave arrived. The soldier was just handing over the clipboard. Beside her stood a young black woman with her hair in several tight braids. She stood about 5'6", with eyes that appeared to prefer laughing, but bore the potential to penetrate obfuscation, a cute button nose and a bright red lipstick on her perfectly sized mouth. Large golden hoop earrings in her ears and tight black jeans on her legs were the only attire visible other than her thick coat. Given the near-freezing temperatures and drizzle that had gone on all day long, Dave could hardly blame her. The black handle and ribbing stood out starkly from the vivid, deep pink of her umbrella canopy. It looked thoroughly functional, and infinitely girlie; maybe a bit more Wednesday Addams than cheerleader, but that didn't bother Dave in the slightest. Jan handed the clipboard back to the soldier, who departed immediately. "Hello, my name is Janice, though I prefer Jan." She held out her hand, which was taken without trepidation. "And this is Dave." He likewise reached out and shook the lady's hand. "Come on inside. We were just about to sit down for dinner." "About twenty minutes," Dave supplied. "Mel; Melanie; is making chicken and dumplings." "Oh, that sounds really good. Especially with this weather." She pulled her roller case through the foyer and parked it just inside the living room. The ladies approached her, no more than three at once, and the early few drew her towards the center of the room as they greeted her and introduced themselves. Mel, having not taken a seat yet, exited to the kitchen again, reappearing barely a minute later. "It'll be about ten more minutes," she replied to the expectant faces that turned her way. Becca and Olivia immediately stood, heading to the kitchen. Apparently, it was their turn to set the table. The light conversations and sharing continued through the meal, interrupted only by nearly everyone asking for a second bowl (Dave had four, but made sure everyone else was done eating before the last two.) Of course, each family member took multiple opportunities to praise Mel for the quality of the meal, and the excellent choice for the dreary conditions. Dave listened in on the conversations around him, paying special attention to the ones involving the new arrival, Niki. Between his own conversations with her, he learned her full name was Nicole Lassiter, and she worked as the network administrator and network security administrator for a bank headquartered in Dallas. With all the losses, she was now over all computer issues that were not customer facing. Her little brother was still in college, hunkering down in the UGA dorms. Niki, her mom, and her dad each called him at least once a week both for their own peace of mind and to keep his spirits up. Niki's parents were recently vaccinated. Her mother had styled her hair before 'her baby girl' left for the Vax Center. The tight braids she wore were called a Senegalese twist. Since her mother was a hairdresser (not that she was seeing customers at the moment) she had extensions on hand to do her daughter up right. Niki's dad had just retired from road construction work, looking to open up a barbecue restaurant; right before the lockdowns hit. Dave also noticed a slight unsteadiness on occasion when Niki walked. It made him concerned for her well-being, but he wasn't sure how to bring it up without being rude. As the evening wore on, he noticed Niki making furtive glances his way. The next time she did, he made eye contact, lifting one eyebrow. She bit her lip and nodded. Dave rose from his seat and strode to her side. A few eyes followed them as he took her hand and led her upstairs. Dave guided her to the master bedroom. Niki quickly took a seat on the bed. "You know, I didn't ask you earlier: do you want to do this here, or in a separate room? Here, you're going to wind up with several other women in the bed as well. We still have a room you could wake up in with some privacy. Shawna and I use it sometimes to spend time together when she gets home from work, and she stores clothes in there so she can dress and not disturb anyone when she has an early morning shift, but nobody uses the bed in there." "No, here's fine, thank you." Looked pensive for a moment. And a little pained. "Are you okay? If you don't want to do this; " "No, no I'm fine, really. Well, I'm not fine, but you aren't the problem, not by a long shot. I pushed myself too hard this evening. I should have spent less time standing." Dave waited while she ordered her thoughts. "I haven't been completely honest with you, Dave. I only recently got to a point where I can walk without a cane. Over a year ago, I was t-boned by a drunk driver. Shattered my legs. It'd be a good bet that half the metal in this room, is in my bones right now." She let out an annoyed snort. "I used to run track. Even got a partial scholarship that helped me get my degree. I spent months in a wheelchair, and then a walker. After that, I moved up to those forearm crutches. During lockdown, I couldn't go to the doctor, so when I felt annoyed enough with the crutches I shifted to a simple cane. And now I've been walking without any aid for over a month, but it hurts like hell; and it's tiring." "You are one tough cookie." Dave said from the spot he'd taken beside her as she spoke. "I don't feel so tough. I feel beat up and worn out." Dave hugged her. "You want me to tuck you in and let you rest? We could do the imprinting tomorrow." "No, no I want to do this with you Dave. I just may need you to go easy. And probably help me undress." "Just to be clear, you're asking me to strip your clothes off, handle your body gently, and blow a load inside you?" Dave said with a hint of sarcasm. Niki giggled. "You seem man enough to handle the job." Dave answered her with a kiss, full on the lips, pressing firmly but with moderation. His hands drifted behind her shoulder blades. Niki responded, humming into the kiss and parting her lips. When Dave's tongue probed undemandingly, hers welcomed the visitor. Dave's hands roamed slowly, taking the first steps in learning the body of his newest lover. He enjoyed the feel of her in his hands. There was a looseness, as would be expected for an athlete that had been benched. Beneath that slight layer, there was a firm core. She was; exciting. And excited. Whatever she wanted in a man, she seemed to think Dave had it. Well, that and the serum had her amped up. Dave was finally getting past feeling guilty about that. Mostly. Dave started consciously directing his hands, seeking the buttons or clasps or zipper to loosen the neck of the tight black top she was wearing. Solid black panels with a black lace overlay stitched in at regular intervals. Finding the short zipper took no time at all. He next dropped his hands, seeking the hem of her shirt under her jeans waist. There was no hem. As his hands quested, he found bare hip, with cloth from the top still diving down her front and back. Just like a swimsuit. Then it struck him. He came up for air and play scowled at her. "You could have just said it was a bodysuit." She snickered. "Aw, where's the fun in that?" Dave kissed her. Then he gently shoved her backwards onto the bed. Her torso lay flat on the bed, her legs dangling off. Dave stood and faced her. Reaching down, he unbuttoned her jeans and lowered her zipper. Niki's eyes twinkled as Dave took hold of the cuff of her jeans and pulled them off. He missed the worried look in her eyes as the scars on her legs were exposed. That's because his eyes were locked on her trim brown legs. They stayed fixated on those lovely legs as he kneeled between them and began kissing her legs, first one then the other. All over her thighs, then, gently lifting, careful not to lift too high, he kissed her calves and shins. He lavished every inch of her legs with his lips and tongue. Niki moaned. Then she sniffled. Alerted, Dave brought his head up, locking his eyes on hers. Tears watered the bottom of her almond shaped sockets. "You make me feel beautiful again." "You always were." He kept his eyes on her as he kissed the inside of her knee. The kiss extended into suckling. He gave the spot a little nip, then moved his position by a few inches and giving the same attention, adding in a few strokes of his tongue tip. Niki's chest heaved. Dave could hear sobs amongst the moans as he switched to her other knee. He would have been alarmed except for the clearly cathartic tone. "Umm, David, please, I need you up here." With a grin, Dave worked his way, unhurried but not dawdling, up her leg, kissing and huffing hot breath on her exposed skin as he went. Reaching her fragrant core, Dave brought his fingers softly to the three little snaps holding the gusset of her bodysuit together. A gentle flick separated the two soaked flaps of cloth and revealed that Niki wore nothing underneath. The engorged, richly black outer labia of her nethers drenched in her arousal. Her inner labia petaled outward, yielding a peek at the pink interior. Dave blew one long, slow hot breath over her bare, quivering sex before latching his mouth on her. He suckled her lower lips as her back arched. Niki keened her pleasure while her arms beat a tattoo on the bed. "David, now, please, now." Dave shucked his shoes and quickly slipped his cargo shorts and boxers to the floor. In a flash, Dave was over top of her, dragging her up the bed like a leopard securing his prey in a tree. Niki's breath caught as he took charge of her body. The fire in her eyes was unmistakable. He kissed her deeply, then pulled away. With his eyes locked on hers, he moved himself to her entrance and pressed his cockhead just barely inside. The fluids leaked all over his throbbing cock touched her most sensitive places and set off a riot only attributable to the serum. Dave anchored her motions with his knees, pressed against her rear, but not enough to force her legs too far apart. "Fuck that was good." She paused for a deep breath. "Hmm, I'm all yours now Dave. Send me off to neverland, lover." Dave worked within her, slowly and gently at first, picking up pace slightly and a little more force when she signaled it was needed and acceptable. Her hums and moans continuously reminding him his actions were still mutually desired. His peak arrived and he shot hot ropes of cum with his cock buried deep in her, his cockhead brushing her cervix. Immediately, she shuddered, racked with the serum induced pleasure that forever locked her life with his. Dave held her in her throes until she went limp muttering "Imprinting; imprinting; imprinting ;” He rose, going to the bathroom to clean himself before returning with a wet washcloth and a hand towel to clean Niki. Once she was cleaned and dry, he snapped her body suit closed again and arranged her comfortably on the bed, beneath the covers. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead before heading downstairs to spend social time with the rest of his family. As he descended the staircase into the mild buzz of the other eight women happily sharing his life, his home, and his bed, Dave marveled at how amazing his life was. Chapter 10; Storm Winds. October 28, 2020 4:18am David's hand was halfway to the palmprint secured gun safe on the back side of his headboard before he realized he was even awake. With the vertical placement, and the; activity frequently occurring in the bed, he'd installed two Velcro loops to hold the pistol and magazine inside. He released the pistol and placed it on his chest before reaching back for the clip. Fortunately, only two hands and a part of one leg were draped over him at the moment. The four younger girls were in their rooms, leaving Lupie, Jan, Shawna, Vanessa, and his newest partner Nicole to share his bed. Nicole was one of the hands, and the partial leg. By consensus, the ladies decided she should get to curl up next to Dave for her imprinting sleep. Gingerly, Dave slipped free of his partners' limbs and slid down the bed onto the floor. Only then did he insert the magazine and work the slide. Flipping the safety on, he padded softly but quickly to the closet to grab a pair of shorts. He decided not to wear slippers this time. He might need the extra footing. Keeping close to the wall, he approached the bedroom door. With the door still shut, he took the safety off, but kept his finger out of the trigger well for the moment. Slowly, Dave eased the door open. Slipping through, he noticed a shape in the hallway, against the wall, at the top of the stairs. Too dark to identify an individual, the figure made the 'Join Me' signal his friend Carter had taught him long ago. He did not raise his weapon. Sliding along the wall silently, just the way he'd practiced at least once every year, Dave approached. Proximity gave the reassurance the lighting denied at a distance. Liv crouched in the hallway, pistol in hand, wearing only a light nightgown that reached most of the way to her knees. With a quick series of hand signals, Dave told Liv to follow at a distance as he prepared to descend the stairs as quietly as possible. Liv signaled back that she should lead, but apparently had no signal for why. Dave negated the suggestion, and started down the stairs. He reached the lower landing with no incident. His nerves had been raw as he got halfway down and the solid wall gave way to railing. Now he crouched on one knee, Liv a few steps up from the landing, but with good vision on the living room area, both of them listening. The nighttime chirping of mockingbirds was absent. No flutter of wings or rustle of raccoons, possums, or skunks. Out here on the wild edge of the metroplex, there was always something moving at night. Dave signaled for Liv to post up on the landing and then moved along the wall of the stairs, in front of the media center to the corner of the living room where the downstairs hallway started. He was now directly below the spot Liv had occupied when he first emerged from the bedroom. And just two steps from his secured gun closet recessed under the stairs and hidden behind a normal looking panel. Dave had only one twelve round magazine. Liv had purchased a larger safe and had a spare ten round magazine in addition to the one in her weapon. It was a bit awkward carrying it since she had no pockets, but Carter had taught a variety of firing stances, one of which allowed carrying something in the non-dominant hand. By the absence of natural sounds, somebody was outside. He did not know how many, or how they were armed, but he was sure they weren't here in the oh-my-god-it's-early hours for a friendly visit. He slid the cover for the pin pad open so he could punch in the unlock code. Dave heard a crashing thump at the door followed by cursing. The security door worked just fine. He didn't get a chance to smile though. The glass door at the back of the living room shattered from several rounds. Dave squared his body with the opening just as two men stepped through. The first man fell as Dave brought his weapon up. The second went down just as his head turned to his right to see Liv's position flanking their breach. Dave heard a tinkling sound from the entry. Someone was breaking the window in the front parlor. Now he was worried. The thick pillar at the free corner of the landing would give Liv scant protection against a firearm. Dave stayed low, stepping away from his corner. It gave him protection against someone firing from the sliding door breach, but he had no angle to fire into the entryway. With the furniture screening him from the glass door breach, he approached the arch between the entry and living room. Loud whispers drifted in from his right. The remaining attackers on the deck seemed to be hesitant about testing themselves against the defenses. He was straining to pick out words when a head began to resolve itself in the entry. Dave fired two rounds. The body fell. He held his position, weapon ready. Out back he heard an angry growl, "Hey, one of those women is my sister!" The reply was too low to understand the words, but the snideness came through clearly. As did the answering gunshot. What the hell is going on? They're shooting each other now? Hey, they don't need to be on my property for that! The fallen body in front of Dave slid backwards. Hands appeared from the foyer and the broken glass door, but they were empty. The hands gripped a pair of ankles of one downed man each and yanked them back to where the hands came from. This repeated for the second body near the glass door. Wet sickening sounds ensued, backed up by an occasional retching noise. Murmurs were heard. Someone said something about a marker and a bag. "David?!" Shawna's voice called from up the stairs. That wasn't the only sound from upstairs. Roscoe was barking his head off. Furtive whispers indicated some of his family were at the top of the stairs with Shawna. "Keep everyone up there. Open up the armory in the main closet and distribute weapons to the adults. Everything Lt. Malcolm Reed gave us is in there. Arm up and take defensive positions upstairs." That was a bluff. Hopefully enough of one to drive the attackers away. Dave was sure Shawna would recognize the name of the armory officer from Enterprise and catch on. The sounds from the foyer and back deck took on a hurried pace before Dave heard footsteps rushing away. Dave and Olivia exchanged glances, and then immediately darted their eyes back to the penetration points. This happened a few more times over the next several minutes. "Looks like we're clear." "Yeah, just stay on your toes." "I know. I grew up under the same guy that trained you, remember?" "Vividly." Cautious footsteps descended the stairs. "David, Olivia, it's Shawna. I'm coming down." Slowly, Shawna came into view, feet first on the exposed portion of the staircase. Her pink satin nightgown falling just past her knees gave her some coverage, but made Dave aware of the cold, damp air pouring in from both breaches. "Are you two okay? Is it safe?" "For now. We've got two big holes in the house, so maybe keep everybody up there where it's warm unless they're needed down here." Dave paused for a second. "Ask Nessa and Mel to look out the upstairs windows. See if they can spot these guys leaving, or lying in wait." Shawna disappeared upstairs, then came back down after a brief verbal exchange. Shawna came down to the lower landing and spoke briefly with Livy, giving her a hug. Then she came to Dave. She hugged him fiercely. Her voice shook as she said thickly, "For a little bit there, I thought I was going to lose you." "We held." Dave managed to keep most of the nervous tension and post-adrenaline shake out of his voice. By the look in her eye, Shawna wasn't fooled a bit. Dave led her to the beginning of the hallway, the cubby under the stairs. He whispered the passcode in her ear so she could unlock it. That had been the galling thing during the attack. His full stash of weapons had been right beside his shoulder, but he couldn't spare the attention to unlock it. Clearly, he needed to rethink his arrangements. Shawna handed out a thigh holster for him, which he only saw peripherally as he kept watch. The weight told him immediately she'd placed two pre-filled magazines in there for him. He pulled one out for a quick check. No use him having Livy's mags. "I go to the pistol range about every other month. Nothing fancy, but I'm a decent shot and I know the difference between ten mil and nine mil. What? It's a very satisfying skill to have, and a great way to blow off some stress." Dave chuckled and turned his head, with a quick lean to her and gave her a peck on the cheek. Then he stepped back out to his post. He felt Shawna walking out, so he moved to the other side of the hallway so she could make her way to Livy with the other thigh holster without crossing Dave's line of sight. She paused at his shoulder. "Dave, do you want the other weapons in there?" Dave thought for a minute. He knew which ones Shawna had to mean. He sighed, "Yeah. A tac vest and one of the MP5's. Tac vests should already have six loaded magazines in the pockets. Get two and give the other vest and weapon to Liv. Then find out if anyone upstairs has any weapons training. You said you shoot, how good are you?" Shawna handed out a vest first, which Dave quickly donned. "With silhouette targets, I can put four out of five rounds through the heart. Now, I haven't gotten to shoot since the lockdowns, but I was pretty regular before." She handed him one of the MP5's which Dave quickly slung over his head and shoulder, inserted a magazine he'd pulled from the vest and chambered a round, then safed the weapon. "Are those; ?" "Semiauto. Carter went to a lot of work to make sure we had everything we could legally have, but never anything illegal. They do have the integral noise suppressor. It was expensive as hell and took forever plus a mountain of paperwork, but it's all legal. At least in Texas." "God Bless Texas," she said with a gleam in her eye. Shawna gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before sauntering over to Livy, a thigh holster clutched in one hand, a tac vest in the other, and an MP5 slung over her neck. A second thigh holster, with a nine millimeter and magazines was strapped to her sleek, powerful thigh. Shawna handed off the gear to Olivia, then swiftly moved back to the concealed weapons closet. She was in there for quite a while before emerging. "There was only one more pre-loaded nine mil mag, so I had to load a few or just walk around with one. The second choice didn't sound viable." "Agreed." Dave grasped Shawna's bicep and pulled her in for a quick kiss on the cheek. She beamed at him after returning the kiss, then headed upstairs. Dave heard Liv saying something to Shawna as she passed by. An eternity and a short time later, two sets of footsteps descended the staircase. Melanie followed behind Shawna. "Carter and Liv both took me to the range several times. I even went to a tactical course once my aim was; acceptable. But only with pistol. I've never shot anything else." "Good enough. There's another thigh holster and pistol inside. What did Carter train you on? "Nine millimeter. He said it was so common it made a good starting point. Once with Liv, we rented shotguns at an outdoor range and I was decent with it." "Pistol will do fine. Shawna, help her get some magazines loaded. Has anyone called for police?" Mel swallowed nervously. "I didn't see anyone waiting in the back yard, but the deck;” "Yes?" "It's; disturbing. Dave, be careful." Dave nodded, as did Liv. Shawna spoke up as she followed Mel in. It was tight with two adults in there, but doable. At three it would have been cramped. "Lupie called. They didn't know how long before someone responds. They're stretched thin and the night shift is the least staffed." Wordlessly, she handed over a t-shirt she'd grabbed while she was upstairs. Dave slipped the tac vest off, donned the shirt, then the tac vest again. While he dressed, he spoke with his partners. "Fuck. Okay, here's what's gonna happen. You two take defensive positions on the stairs. One of you take the lower landing, one further up, just below the ceiling line. Then Liv and I will go out through the deck, and check the exterior all the way around." "I'll take the landing," Mel said. "I've had training with Carter, I should be the one exposed." "You sure?" Shawna prodded. "Yeah." "Okay, take your positions then." Dave kissed each one on the cheek before they walked away. When both had taken their places, Liv came over to him. Dave had one more instruction for Shawna. "Oh, and tell Lupie to call the police again, let them know we are clearing the grounds so they don't just shoot us on sight." Shawna nodded and crept upwards. Jan came down the stairs, bearing a pair of shoes for Dave and Liv, a pair of socks stuck into one shoe for each of them. After handing over the shoes, Jan headed back upstairs. They shod themselves quietly. "So, me on point?" Liv asked as she finished. "No, I'll take point, you cover me." "Dave, if anything happens to you, we're all in big trouble." "That's why you're watching my back. Otherwise, I'd go out there solo and leave you in charge here." "Like hell you would. I ain't some; " "I know you are capable, but I'm still going to shield you from as much risk as I can." Liv rolled her eyes. "Gee, I feel safe and offended all at once." Dave stared at her stony. "Are we done here? Ready to go?" "Shit, Dad really rubbed off on you. Yeah, let's do this." Olivia fell in behind Dave as he headed straight for the glass door breach. Both held their weapons ready, jutting forward with the strap taut around their necks and backs. Dave paused at the breach. "Off safe." "Roger." Dave examined the scene visible through the broken glass and the flapping curtain. Blood trails led out the breach from the various points where the bodies of the invaders had landed. He could see the legs of a few of them still on the deck. He turned his head to catch first Shawna's then Mel's eyes, nodded, and proceeded cautiously but swiftly out the breach. He swiveled right going out, knowing Liv would go left, just as her father had taught them for years. Each stopped at the furthest extension of the deck in their direction, scanning the deck and yard in a full semicircle, their backs to the house. There was no damage to the fence, and no apparent damage to the greenhouse or anything else in the backyard. The deck however; well, it wasn't damaged. The bodies on it were. Each had the pants and underwear pulled down and a huge bloody mess where the genitals once were. Blood continued to ooze out of the wounds, though clearly it had poured out initially. Dave signaled his intent to clear the greenhouse. Liv followed him. It didn't take long to clear. They emerged quickly, rescanning the backyard as they did. With Liv trailing, Dave exited the backyard through the side gate. The side yard showed no disturbance. In the front yard, they found the same gruesome sight as the back deck. Here though, they found an empty plastic baggie with blood spatter. And a few bloody fingerprints. The bag snagged under the heel of the corpse, ensuring the light wind was insufficient to blow it away. Dave and Liv finished the sweep, checking the other side yard, which showed no signs of disturbance. "I think we're safe, for now. These guys bugged out." "Yeah, but why did they cut their buddies' junk off?" Dave shivered, and not from the crummy weather. Well, maybe a little from the weather. He was barely dressed after all. "Let's get inside." Since the front door was still locked, they traipsed back through the side yard to the gate and came in through the broken glass door. "Coming in." Dave called before entering. "No sign of anyone out there." The relief on Mel and Shawna's faces was evident. Their shoulders relaxed slightly. "Can you two keep watch here? I'm gonna talk to the others, then we'll both get dressed, and then I'll call the police again." At the top of the stairs, four of Dave's partners wrapped him in hugs muttering their relief that he was still in one piece. He could see Lupie gazing at him, beseechingly as she held Esme close, soothing her. A loud bang against a door at the end of the hall reminded Dave of other necessities. "You better go let Roscoe out so he can see that we're all intact," Dave chuckled. As Olivia opened the door, Roscoe bolted from the room, turning only when she bellowed "Roscoe, Heel." That cut through his canine brain fog of 'defense mode'. He turned to her, sniffing as if checking on her condition. Liv knelt in front of him. She placed her hands on either side of his face and began stroking his neck and back while speaking softly, in calm tones. After a few whimpers, he started aggressively licking her face and putting his paws on her shoulders. Addressing his family, Dave said, "Liv and I need to get dressed. We need to call the police again, and we need to get those holes sealed." "Holes?" Jan asked. "Yeah, they busted in the sliding door and a window in the parlor. It's not quite as cold and miserable downstairs as it is outside, but it's close enough. For now, stay upstairs unless you have something you need to do down there. You can still run down to grab a book, or make meals or snacks. For tv, use the spare room that Shawna uses when she has morning shifts." "We could just use our laptops for streaming, Dave. We'll be fine." Reena added. She looked a bit bleary. To be fair, everyone seemed caught in some whipsaw state of alert and drowsy. Not surprising, given what they'd just been through. Dave patted her on the shoulder and kissed the crown of her head in appreciation. Releasing Reena, Dave knelt in front of Esme, who was showing clear signs of worry and strain. He enveloped her in his arms and held her close. "It's okay now, baby girl. We're all okay now." He held her, stroking her hair and back soothingly. After several minutes had passed, he loosened his grip and began to stand. Esme's arms immediately came up, wrapping Dave in a vise-grip hug. She didn't say anything, she didn't cry or whimper. She just clutched him tightly. Dave eyed Lupie, but she just looked back at him imploringly. He reached a hand out to her and she grabbed on immediately. He looked around at the others and saw the need for reassurance was still there. Olivia had already slipped into her room with Roscoe to get dressed. Becca, Reena, Jan, Nessa and Lupie all rushed to surround him the moment he waved his hand to 'bring it in'. Esme was wedged between Dave and Lupie. She finally relaxed her grip on Dave, and switched over to her mother. With a silent chuckle, Dave kissed Lupie on the cheek and slipped off to the master bedroom. Jan followed after him. "I thought I'd call the police and put it on speaker so you could talk to them while getting dressed." Dave nodded, then wrapped her in a hug and gave her a closed mouth kiss that was no less affectionate for its chasteness. Reluctantly, he released her and headed into the closet to collect some clothes. Jan dialed 911 as soon as Dave emerged. Police staffing was so low, all calls went through the emergency center. Long held habits are hard to break, though. Especially when those habits are codified in a manual. That's what they call 'procedure'. "911, what's your emergency?" "We called earlier about a break in. The people trying to break in have left, except the ones we shot," Dave called out in clear, even tones for the speaker. "Is anyone injured?" The operator droned, as if she been on duty too long, too many days in a row. "No, ma'am," Dave said. "No one in my family was hit, and the ones we shot are dead." "Are you sure they're dead?" "Yes ma'am. The guy that taught me how to shoot didn't teach me to miss. Besides, before they left, the invaders; mutilated the bodies. If they hadn't died from the gunshots, they'd have died from the blood loss." Dave was watching Jan's face when he mentioned the mutilation. Not the best choice, since he nearly fell over pulling on his cargo pants. It did allow him to see the flinch that briefly flitted across her face before she reasserted control. "Did you say mutilated, sir?" The tones were even, obviously someone that had worked 911 for years. Still, there were notes of 'oh shit' blended with 'what fucking else?' "I did." "Would you please specify the nature of the mutilation?" "The genitals of the deceased were removed." A short silence reigned on the line. "Could you repeat that sir?" The operator's voice sounded slightly more alert. Dave pulled his pre-tied sneakers on as he said, "the scrotum was removed from each of the corpses." This conversation was now added to the thick stack of reasons to be very glad of the distance between the master bedroom and Esme's bedroom. Lupie and the others had taken her there when Dave walked away. Between the walk-in closet and Dave's office, there was little chance sounds from the bedroom penetrated that far. "Are you certain the perpetrators have left?" "Yes ma'am, one of my partners and I swept the area; our yard anyway; and found no one remaining. All we found were the bodies that the survivors had drug back out of the house and carved up." "So the shooting happened inside the house?" "Correct." "I'm noting all this in the file sir. I'm appending this report to the prior calls your partner made requesting assistance. Since you are no longer in immediate danger, I am diverting the patrol response. They will get to you to you after attending to higher level calls." Even as she spoke, the woman's voice grew more exhausted, like a Walmart employee on Black Friday at about 3pm. "It's been almost an hour since the initial break in. Why has it taken so long?" "Sir, I'm not at liberty to discuss that, but I do apologize. I have no control over response times. I will dispatch a detective to investigate as well. Until then, please leave the scene undisturbed." "How long will that take? Can you give me an estimate?" "Probably a few hours, sir. There are very few detectives working night shift, so they'll likely hand this over to the dayshift investigators." "Hours? These guys busted in my sliding door and broke a large window in the parlor. It's making for quite a chilly cross breeze. And that's not even counting the blood stains and blood trails in my living room and entryway." Dave's voice had begun to rise. "Sorry, I'm trying to maintain a level tone here, but that's a bit difficult given what's happened and what you're telling me." The voice on the other end reached its most hollow state. "I'm sorry sir, I can't change those realities. Please understand that it will be three hours minimum before a detective would reach you. More likely it will be three hours before a detective is assigned to your case. Patrol won't take that long, but it won't be immediate." Dave took a deep, cleansing breath. It was only marginally useful, but it helped him keep his tone level. "And what is the longest likely time before a detective gets out here?" "Possibly six to eight hours sir." "That's; " Dave caught himself. And formed a plan immediately. "Fine. We'll be ready when the detective arrives." He hung up. Dave took a deep breath, staring intently at the far wall, fully aware of Jan quietly and patiently waiting off to his right. He rubbed his face, then snatched up his t-shirt and pulled it on. "Okay, let's meet with everyone else. I have a plan, and we can deal with this." Dave said as he stood. With a concerned look to Niki's slumbering form, he strapped the thigh holster in place and fastened the tac vest as he walked. The MP5 he slung over his neck and shoulder, then pulled around to his back. To be continued in part 9, Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts, for Literotica.

My friend Alex Cutini joins us to share his story: Alex Cutini grew up Catholic in Brazil, sensing early on that he was different from the other boys. At 18, his search for meaning led him to join the LDS Church, serve a mission a year later in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and eventually move to the United States to graduate from BYU-Idaho. Beneath the surface, the strain of hiding who he was grew into profound depression and moments of suicidal ideation. Coming out meant stepping away from the church and facing the heartbreak of family members who struggled to accept him. Yet alongside that pain came grace: a deep, enduring love with his husband Matt, now married for ten years, and unexpected, unwavering support from his mission president and the missionary and family who baptized him. As both of their families slowly learned how to love more fully, Alex found his way forward—toward healing, purpose, and ultimately becoming the CEO of Encircle, where his story now helps save lives. Alex then shares the story of Encircle, now serving communities through five locations across Utah. He honors Stephenie Larsen's original vision and courage in founding Encircle, and explains how that vision has grown into a lifeline for queer youth and their families. Encircle provides affirming clinical therapy, currently accepting new clients, alongside a wide range of free programs and services designed to create safety, connection, and hope. Together, these offerings reflect a simple but powerful mission: to ensure no young person or family has to navigate identity, mental health, or belonging alone. This is one of the most powerful podcasts we've ever done. Alex's coming-out story is profoundly moving as he shares his journey from shame to self-love and acceptance—traveling from darkness, depression, and little hope to light, happiness, and a deeper capacity to help others. I wish everyone—straight or queer—could hear his story. The principles and insights he shares have the power to help us all. Thank you, Alex, for being on the podcast and for your extraordinary work at Encircle. You are making a tremendous difference for good in our community, and you are one of my heroes. And to everyone involved with Encircle—thank you. I am deeply supportive of your lifesaving work. Links: Alex's Instagram: @alexcutini Alex's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcutini/ Encircle's Instagram: @encircletogether Encircle: https://encircletogether.org/

Creepypasta Scary Storyhttps://brett-schumacher-shop.fourthwall.com

Fluent Fiction - Danish: Mystery Beneath the Snow: A Christmas Treasure Hunt in Copenhagen Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-12-28-08-38-20-da Story Transcript:Da: I Nyhavn, København, var luften fyldt med juleduft og forventning.En: In Nyhavn, København, the air was filled with the scent of Christmas and anticipation.Da: Gaderne var pyntet med lys, og sneen faldt blidt over de farverige huse.En: The streets were adorned with lights, and snow gently fell over the colorful houses.Da: Midt i dette vinterlandskab stod Soren og Astrid.En: In the middle of this winter landscape stood Soren and Astrid.Da: Soren, en bibliotekar med en skjult passion for gamle kort, og Astrid, hans eventyrlystne barndomsveninde, kiggede spændt på en mystisk opdagelse.En: Soren, a librarian with a hidden passion for old maps, and Astrid, his adventurous childhood friend, looked excitedly at a mysterious discovery.Da: Det hele begyndte, da Soren fandt et gammelt kort gemt inde i en gammel julekugle, han havde arvet fra sin bedstemor.En: It all began when Soren found an old map hidden inside a Christmas ornament he had inherited from his grandmother.Da: Kuglen havde stået i en kasse på loftrummet i mange år.En: The ornament had been in a box in the attic for many years.Da: "Astrid, du skal se dette," sagde Soren og spredte det gulnede, skrøbelige pergament på bordet.En: "Astrid, you have to see this," said Soren and spread the yellowed, fragile parchment on the table.Da: Astrid, med lys i øjnene, stirrede på de kryptiske markeringer.En: Astrid, with light in her eyes, stared at the cryptic markings.Da: "Det ligner et skattejagtskort, Soren!"En: "It looks like a treasure map, Soren!"Da: udbrød hun, og hun havde allerede planer om eventyr.En: she exclaimed, and she already had plans for adventure.Da: Selvom Soren først var skeptisk over for kortets ægthed, blev han inspireret af Astrids iver.En: Although Soren was initially skeptical of the map's authenticity, he was inspired by Astrid's enthusiasm.Da: Han besluttede at samarbejde med hende.En: He decided to collaborate with her.Da: Sammen ville de bruge hans viden om kort og hendes evne til at løse mysterier.En: Together they would use his knowledge of maps and her ability to solve mysteries.Da: Dage gik med at dechifrere kortet.En: Days passed as they deciphered the map.Da: Skepsis fra andre truede med at kaste skygger over projektet, men Soren og Astrid lod sig ikke slå ud.En: Skepticism from others threatened to cast shadows over the project, but Soren and Astrid were undeterred.Da: De opdagede, at kortet førte dem rundt i København, til glemte gyder og hemmelige kroge.En: They discovered that the map led them around Copenhagen, to forgotten alleys and secret corners.Da: En aften før jul klatrede de op på en sneklædt tagtop i Nyhavn.En: One evening before Christmas, they climbed onto a snow-covered rooftop in Nyhavn.Da: De stod med blikket rettet mod et punkt, hvor kortet endelig skulle afsløres.En: They stood with their gaze fixed on a point where the map would finally be revealed.Da: Der, indgroet i tagstenene, fandt de en gammel kiste.En: There, embedded in the roof tiles, they found an old chest.Da: Inde i kisten lå en glemt historisk artefakt, smukt intakt og fyldt med fortidens skatte.En: Inside the chest lay a forgotten historical artifact, beautifully intact and filled with the treasures of the past.Da: Med denne opdagelse kunne Soren og Astrid bringe en ny udstilling til det lokale museum.En: With this discovery, Soren and Astrid could bring a new exhibition to the local museum.Da: Soren fik anerkendelse for sin dedikation til historien, og Astrid fandt glæden i selve eventyret.En: Soren gained recognition for his dedication to history, and Astrid found joy in the adventure itself.Da: Soren lærte at værdsætte det uventede og gav sin indre eventyrer lov til at blomstre, mens Astrid indså værdien i historie og viden gennem Sorens perspektiv.En: Soren learned to appreciate the unexpected and allowed his inner adventurer to flourish, while Astrid realized the value of history and knowledge through Soren's perspective.Da: De gik hen ad Nyhavns gader, sneen knirkede under dem, og de farverige lys reflekterede deres triumf.En: They walked down the streets of Nyhavn, the snow creaked beneath them, and the colorful lights reflected their triumph.Da: Og selvom skatten ikke var som forventet, havde de fundet noget langt mere værdifuldt - en ny forståelse for hinanden og verdens magi.En: And although the treasure wasn't as expected, they found something far more valuable—a new understanding of each other and the magic of the world.Da: Merry Christmas, sagde Astrid med et grin, og Soren kunne ikke lade være med at smile over de magiske øjeblikke, vinteren havde bragt dem.En: "Merry Christmas," said Astrid with a grin, and Soren couldn't help but smile at the magical moments winter had brought them. Vocabulary Words:scent: duftanticipation: forventningadorned: pyntetfragile: skræbeligeparchment: pergamentcryptic: kryptiskemarkings: markeringerauthenticity: ægthedenthusiasm: iverdeciphered: dechifrereskeptical: skeptiskcast shadows: kaste skyggerundeterred: lod sig ikke slå udforgotten: glemteembedded: indgroettiles: tagstenenechest: kisteartifact: artefaktintact: intakttreasures: skatterecognition: anerkendelsededication: dedikationflourish: blomstretriumph: triumfvaluable: værdifuldtreflection: reflekteredegaze: blikketadventurous: eventyrlystneperspective: perspektivrealized: indså

Writer/director Liz W. Garcia joins Jamie in this special movie episode to unpack the deeper themes and dramatic meaning of the 2000 Robert Zemeckis thriller What Lies Beneath. Follow Liz on Instagram, X & watch Space Cadet here.Follow @jamiestein and check out hollywoodreadings.com to learn more about his work.Support the show

THE DEVIL WITHIN — CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Episode Two: Merry Christmas, You're Barely Holding It Together Christmas movies aren't comforting because they're gentle. They're comforting because they tell the truth—quietly, sideways, and usually with jokes.

If retirement is supposed to bring freedom, why do so many people still feel unsettled, and what's behind that tension?  In this episode, we discuss:  Why fear persists even with a strong financial plan Dangers of letting the news cycle shape your outlook Why retirees often search for a "true sage" — and why that search fails The "Yada" reflective framework and techniques for cultivating presence, peace, and self-awareness Today's article is from our very own blog titled, When Knowledge Isn't Enough & The Quiet Fear Beneath Retirement. Listen in as Founder and CEO of Howard Bailey Financial, Casey Weade is joined by Les McDaniel to explore how news-driven anxiety, the search for certainty, and misplaced trust impact peace, and discover the Yada framework for cultivating presence and self-awareness. Show Notes: HowardBailey.com/540

On today's show we are talking about what I consider to be the number one risk in any construction project. This is one of those activities that forms part of the substrate of the project, but in a customer visible sense adds zero value to the project. It's necessary, but unwelcome. Furthermore, it's the number one area where subcontractors notoriously overcharge their clients. I'm talking about excavation, site preparation, backfill and grading. All of this falls into the category of dirt work.At the core of this work is a high quality geotechnical survey. The geotech tells you the condition of the soils beneath the surface. Some conditions might be suitable for construction, and others not. --------------*Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! Lately, it feels like something has shifted—not just in the headlines or online discourse, but in the emotional temperature of everyday life. Tension feels heavier. Anger escalates faster. Negativity seems to linger longer than it used to. In this episode of The Grave Talks, we take a closer look at what might be fueling that slow, unsettling boil beneath the surface of society. Paranormal investigator James Annito joins the conversation to explore whether this growing sense of unease is simply human nature under pressure—or if something darker is quietly amplifying it. We examine the impact of collective trauma, emotional contagion, and fear, while also questioning whether unseen forces may be feeding off chaos and division. From rising paranormal reports to the feeling that the atmosphere itself has changed, we dig into the shadowy overlap between psychology, spirituality, and the unknown. Is this just a rough chapter in human history, or are we navigating influences beyond what we can see? Understanding the source may be the first step toward regaining balance in a world that feels increasingly off-kilter. This is Part Two of our conversation. #TheGraveTalks #ParanormalDiscussion #DarkEnergy #CollectiveConsciousness #ShadowEntities #ParanormalPodcast #SpiritualAwakening #MassTrauma #UnseenForces #RealParanormal    Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

This Christmas, Paranormal Activity takes a darker turn…Join Yvette Fielding for a chilling festive special as she tells two of the most enduring and unsettling ghost stories ever whispered by candlelight.Wrapped in winter darkness and steeped in tragedy, these are hauntings that refuse to rest no matter the season.First, Yvette revisits The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, one of the most famous photographic ghosts in history.A sorrowful spirit said to roam the corridors of her Norfolk home, bound by betrayal, punishment, and a death shrouded in secrecy.What really stalks the halls of Raynham, and why has her presence endured for centuries?Then, across the snow-laden wilderness of Canada, we enter the grand yet ominous Banff Springs Hotel. Beneath its fairy-tale exterior lie tales of doomed brides, vanished families, and apparitions that appear when the hotel is quiet and the mountains close in.Guests check in… but some never truly leave.Perfect for listening by the fire, though you may want to leave a light on.A Create Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Appio Hunter, whose early life as a Portuguese-speaking Mormon kid, his journey through conversion therapy, and his eventual path to love, self-acceptance, and healing make for one of the most profound LGBTQ+ Mormon Stories ever shared on this channel.Raised between Southern California and Utah by a Brazilian mother and a father with deep pioneer-era lineage, Appio knew from age four that he was different. By adolescence, he recognized he was gay –just as he was absorbing the harsh anti-gay rhetoric embedded in Mormon culture of the era. What followed was years of masking, spiritual turmoil, self-hatred, and the crushing belief that he needed to be “fixed.”Appio was eventually ushered into LDS-supported Reparative Therapy, including talk therapy, group sessions, “baseball therapy,” and even a type of 12-step program designed to eliminate same-sex attraction. This path led him all the way to the early 1990s offices of senior LDS General Authorities –including Russell M. Nelson and Henry B. Eyring –where he was held up as a "success story" of conversion therapy.Beneath the surface of being the “poster boy” for Reparative Therapy, the cost was devastating: self-loathing, loneliness, suicidal ideation, and the tragic loss of peers who didn't survive the program. Ultimately, Appio's journey brought him toward authenticity and real love.This is a story of survival, identity, love, and liberation –a must-watch for anyone navigating faith transitions, LGBTQ+ issues, or the legacy of Mormon conversion therapy.___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! Lately, it feels like something has shifted—not just in the headlines or online discourse, but in the emotional temperature of everyday life. Tension feels heavier. Anger escalates faster. Negativity seems to linger longer than it used to. In this episode of The Grave Talks, we take a closer look at what might be fueling that slow, unsettling boil beneath the surface of society. Paranormal investigator James Annito joins the conversation to explore whether this growing sense of unease is simply human nature under pressure—or if something darker is quietly amplifying it. We examine the impact of collective trauma, emotional contagion, and fear, while also questioning whether unseen forces may be feeding off chaos and division. From rising paranormal reports to the feeling that the atmosphere itself has changed, we dig into the shadowy overlap between psychology, spirituality, and the unknown. Is this just a rough chapter in human history, or are we navigating influences beyond what we can see? Understanding the source may be the first step toward regaining balance in a world that feels increasingly off-kilter. #TheGraveTalks #ParanormalDiscussion #DarkEnergy #CollectiveConsciousness #ShadowEntities #ParanormalPodcast #SpiritualAwakening #MassTrauma #UnseenForces #RealParanormal    Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Send us a textLee and Simon circle from Christmas silliness to showers, cocktails, bureaucracy, and grief, using humour to hold off the end-of-the-world feeling while letting something tender through. Beneath the ramble, the episode quietly lands on memory, loss, and the strange intimacy of ordinary rituals.Related link:I Asked 64,182 People About “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells”. Here's What I Found Out: https://youtu.be/V5u9JSnAAU4?si=3bZKOd90pUXNdZFpGet in touch with Lee and Simon at info@midlifing.net. ---The Midlifing logo is adapted from an original image by H.L.I.T: https://www.flickr.com/photos/29311691@N05/8571921679 (CC BY 2.0)

Season 36, Episode 13 of our Serial Killers in History series. This episode examines one of North Africa's most notorious crimes and the execution that shocked the world.In the spring of 1906, authorities in Marrakesh make a discovery that will reverberate across continents. Beneath the packed-earth floor of a modest shoemaker's workshop, they uncover the remains of twenty-six women. Ten more bodies lie buried in a garden nearby. Thirty-six victims in total—women who came to a trusted craftsman for help and never walked out alive. What follows is a story of community betrayal, colonial politics, and a punishment so brutal that diplomats from New York to London demanded intervention. But the screaming from inside the marketplace walls continued for two days before...VICTIM PROFILE:The thirty-six women murdered by Hadj Mohammed Mesfewi remain largely unnamed in historical records—a final cruelty in a case dominated by its killer's infamy. They were working-class women from Marrakesh's medina, women who needed help with everyday tasks in a society where female literacy was rare. Some came to dictate letters to relatives in distant cities. Others needed shoes repaired. They were mothers, daughters, sisters who trusted a man their community trusted. They walked into his shop for legitimate business and vanished into the earth beneath his floor, their identities lost to time while their murderer's name lives in infamy.THE CRIME:Between 1902 and 1906, Mesfewi operated his shop near one of Marrakesh's public bathhouses, positioning himself perfectly to encounter women conducting business without male accompaniment. His method was consistent across all victims: he offered tea laced with narcotics, likely opium, rendering women unconscious. Once incapacitated, he killed them with a dagger and buried them beneath his workshop floor or in a garden he owned, using quicklime to accelerate decomposition. His seventy-year-old accomplice, a woman named Annah, assisted in the crimes until her capture in April 1906.KEY CASE DETAILS:The murders unraveled when families noticed a pattern—women who mentioned visiting Mesfewi's shop were never seen again. One young woman named Fatima escaped after growing dizzy from drugged tea, providing the first direct testimony against the shoemaker. When Annah was captured by a victim's family and forced to confess, she revealed the burial sites before dying from her injuries. Authorities excavating Mesfewi's workshop found twenty-six bodies, methodically buried with layers of quicklime. A second property yielded ten more victims. Forensic science in 1906 Morocco was rudimentary—no fingerprinting, no crime scene photography—so investigators relied on shovels, sketches, and eyewitness accounts to document the horror.HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND SOURCES:Mesfewi's crimes occurred during Morocco's final years of independence before European colonization. As his victims were being discovered in April 1906, diplomats gathered in Algeciras, Spain, carving up Morocco's future at an international conference. Within six years, the Treaty of Fez would establish the French Protectorate, ending twelve centuries of Moroccan sovereignty. European powers seized on Mesfewi's execution—he was sealed alive inside a wall in the Marrakesh marketplace—as evidence of "barbaric" Moroccan justice requiring European oversight. Contemporary newspapers from The Times and Democrat to the St. John Sun published detailed accounts and illustrations, framing the case within colonial narratives that justified intervention.RESOURCES AND FURTHER READING:For those who want to explore further:Wikipedia article on Hadj Mohammed Mesfewi provides comprehensive case details and contemporary source citations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadj_Mohammed_MesfewiMurderpedia entry includes execution details and victim count documentation: https://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/mesfewi-hadj-mohammed.htmYabiladi article examines the case from a Moroccan historical perspective: https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/94637/hadj-mohammed-mesfewi-morocco-serial.htmlFollow us on social media and visit mythsandmalice.com for more historical true crime.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/foul-play-crime-series/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How do parents support kids who've experienced stress without letting labels become their identity? In this Facing the Dark episode, Wayne and Dr. Kathy explore post-traumatic stress, attention struggles, and the growing role of AI in diagnosis, while carefully distinguishing between understanding a child's challenges and defining a child by them. Together they explain why beliefs shape behavior, why labels should only be used when they lead to real help, and how parents can speak truth, hope, and resilience over kids who are working through pain. This episode equips families to listen longer, look beneath the surface, and walk patiently with kids toward healing and confidence rooted in who God says they are.

 Thank you to everyone who answered the community polls, provided names, and decided what would happen in our campaign so far. I have no idea what happens next, but I'm excited to see where our campaign takes us. Keep an eye on the YouTube Community tab to stay engaged! Support the show

Christmas is not a light season. It is a revealing one.Beneath the music, the traditions, and the noise, this moment carries weight. It exposes what is real, what is disciplined, and what has only been decorated.In this episode, we are talking about the weight of Christmas and what it reveals about leadership, faith, and responsibility.

British members of Palestine Action on hunger strike are close to death, Israel's "ceasefire" is just a continuation of the famine, disease and slaughter Israel continues to deliver to the Palestinian people, and across the west, leaders express their deference to the genocidal killers, ship more weapons, and ban words and phrases that make fascists uncomfortable. The hunger strike continues In the British prisons As the courts refuse To reach a decision Will they judge this time As they have before That the crime is sending  Weapons to the war Because the terrorists here Are the Zionists Who'd try to hide A genocide It's a holocaust  And it's happening now A hundred thousand lives lost And no one knows how How many more Will ever be found  Under the rubble  Beneath the ground  Chorus The Palestinian people Beneath plastic sheets There's no ceasefire, just a famine  As history repeats History from the Nazis Brought down on the holy land Beside the bloody sea With an F-thirty-five at hand  Chorus As the Israelis go on With their endless killing spree  While Egypt plays the pawn With their new refinery And throughout the west  They ban phrases and words As our leaders do their best At being completely absurd Chorus

When I was hired to inspect a set of abandoned silos, I thought it would be a routine job — but deep underground, I discovered something horrifying that should have stayed buried. This chilling Creepypasta horror story combines the atmosphere of true scary stories with the terror of the unknown, pulling you into a nightmare where the silos aren't as empty as they appear. If you enjoy Creepypasta, horror stories, and scary stories, then prepare yourself for one of the darkest tales yet — because once you go down, you may never come back up.

Elf on a Shelf: Part 3 It's hard to punish a girl as good as Honey, but he'll try. Based on a post by LingeringAfterthought, in 3 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. In the second week of February, Honey Lane sat on a tall stool in the corner next to Zach's kitchen counter, sulking as she watched him walk slowly around the table at which sat a girl and two boys between the ages of 7 and 10. The dour silence of the spacious industrial loft suggested more that the children were completing a college entrance exam with a severe proctor, rather than completing Valentines to be distributed in class the following Monday. Honey crossed her long legs and sighed again, earning a piercing glare from Zach. She had been looking forward to helping Zach's niece and nephews with their Valentines for a couple weeks, Until she received a call from the Health Department, advising her to take precautions due to a Covid outbreak in her dumpy apartment complex. and now she was only allowed to observe the kids from five feet away. She crossed her arms and sighed again. This was the worst punishment ever. Zach continued circling the table, trying not to notice how Honey's folded arms pushed her tits together, the neckline of her fuzzy sweater dipping between them. Beneath the soft woven folds, the silken white skin of her tits probably still bore the red marks of his passion, his teeth and lips remembering the feel of her shuddering with pleasure under them only moments before his sister dropped her kids off for the afternoon. Jesus Christ; she just uncrossed and crossed her legs again, totally oblivious to the way she flashed him an upskirt every goddamn time she did it. Unless she wasn't oblivious to it; with Honey, it was hard to tell. Zach could tell that Honey was just dying to hop down from the stool, scamper over and huddle with Amarie, Fallon and Logan, as they wrote their names on the stupid little perforated papers and stuck a pencil through the pre-punched holes for a stupid commercial holiday that was supposed to celebrate love. Honey would ask them questions about their classmates, help them choose the right stupid Valentine message for the right classmate, put stickers and shit on the cards, and generally sprinkle that fairy dust that she seemed to bring to anything she did. She was a born nurturer and would make this whole thing magical for the kids, but it couldn't be helped. Honey had scared the shit out of him and she needed to learn a lesson. It would be hard, but he just had to be strong. She would not be getting out of this. Not this time. "Done!" Fallon yelled, slamming his pencil down on the table. Logan looked up from where he was working on his third personalized Valentine message, apparently trying to sign each of them in rudimentary calligraphy, and frowned, "You just put 'F' on all of them," he said in disgust, "It looks like you're giving them a bad grade; he said, shaking his head and returning to his careful scrivening. "I am. Everyone in my class is a jerk. What are these things supposed to mean, anyway? All these cards sound stupid. Like you'd really walk up to someone you like and say 'Let's swing!' I haven't asked a girl to swing in years. I'm too old for swinging," Fallon griped, looking at his Spiderman sticker cards. A snort of suppressed laughter came out of the corner of the room, followed by the sound of a body collapsing to the floor in a fit of coughing. "Fourth Fucking Place! On Your Face, Maggot!" Zach roared. In the corner, hidden among the gym equipment, Zach's friend and loyal wingman Terry promptly scrambled up into pushup position again without a word. "Thirty-two," the children said in unison, prompting Zach to put another dollar into a large money-stuffed jar labeled "Language Arts Scholarship" in the middle of the table. Amarie sighed and looked longingly over at Honey, who smiled ruefully and gave her a little wave from her stool. "Why is Miss Honey on the naughty stool, Uncle Zach?" she asked. "Cards," Zach ordered, walking over to block Amarie's view of Honey with his massive body. Amarie resignedly turned back to signing her pink and purple mermaid cards that came with scented tattoos. Zach knew Amarie would be a problem. She adored Honey, and there was very little that Amarie's big brown eyes and reddish curls couldn't talk him into. She had a tender heart that couldn't believe anyone deserved to be punished; especially not someone as soft and sweet as his Honey. Goddammit. Honey leaned forward and pressed her cheek against the tightly muscled wall of Zach's back, then reached her hand up under his t-shirt and began gently scratching him. She could feel the warmth of his skin seep through the tight cotton, and smiled as she snuggled into him, still grazing her fingernails across the skin of his back. Zach's mind flashed back to this morning when her nails were not so gentle as he pounded into her tight, wet pussy, her nails digging deep, scoring his flesh in her ecstasy. A noise of pleasure escaped him before Zach disguised it as a barking cough, and quickly stepped away until he was a safer distance away from the irresistible vixen sitting, most deservedly, on the naughty stool. Shaking his head to clear it, Zach tucked his t-shirt back into his jeans and folded his arms. "Miss Honey is on the naughty stool. I ll tell you why. The other day when I got back from the race in California where I had to drag Terry's ass across the finish line in Fourth Place Behind The Fucking Bubbleheads," Zach ranted, before pausing to collect himself and continuing. "I go over to get Miss Honey at her apartment and find her giving a fucking haircut to a naked guy in her fucking living room!" "You cheated, Miss Honey?" Fallon gasped in disbelief, at the same time Logan called out "Thirty-six!" Zach fished a five-dollar bill out of his wallet and put it into the jar, taking a one out for change. A foot stomped on the floor and he glanced up to see Honey with her hand raised in the air, outrage written on her face. He raised his hand, blocking his view of her face and the heart-melting effect it had on him, and looked away dismissively. "He was not naked! Cade had a towel on!" Honey yelled in protest. Zach strode over to her, took her chin in his hand, trying to think of something harsh and authoritative to say, but got distracted by her plump lower lip instead, remembering how it felt to suck it between his own and have her open her mouth, hungry to accept his tongue. He could smell the faint strawberry scent of her lip balm and closed his eyes, clenching his jaw in an effort not to kiss her. "No talking on the naughty stool," he murmured, his eyes dipping down to let his gaze rove over her soft tits, loosely wrapped in her fuzzy sweater. Honey smirked and kissed his palm. "Miss Honey would never cheat," Amarie said with resolute confidence. Honey nodded in agreement and thanks to the young girl, tossed her long hair over her shoulder and grinned up at Zach. "Towel or no towel, I still saw Cade's nuts when she was goin' after him with the Flowbee," Zach explained, turning from Honey as Logan opened his mouth with a look of question, "And no, 'nuts' doesn't count as a swear," Zach finished, pointing at Logan. Zach resumed his rounds of the table, continuing his story. "So, of course, I reacted like anybody else who saw another guy's nuts in his girlfriend's living room, and she has the balls to tell me not to yell because it's not good for Cade." "I think 'nuts' should be fifty-cents; 'balls' too," Logan said, thoughtfully. "They might not be swears, but they are; indelicate." Zach turned to Honey and silently mouthed the word "indelicate?" to her, a discomfited look on his face. Honey bit her lips, and another snort of laughter erupted from the corner where Terry was still in starting push-up position. "Fourth Place, Maggot! You Got Nothing To Laugh About Except The Size Of Your;" Zach roared, before pausing and breathing deeply and continuing in a calmer voice. "Anyway. Turns out, this guy Cade just got back from a tour and was dealing with some PTSD when he saw another guy's balls in his living room, too, only his girl wasn't exactly giving the other guy a haircut. So, after a bit of trouble, he was living on the streets. No job. No money. Nothing. Then, a few days ago, Honey sees him eating some of the food she left out for a stray cat," Zach said, his voice constricting as his throat tightened. He turned away from the kids to hide his face for a moment, only to meet Honey's deep blue eyes and a whole new set of problems; like not remembering anything he was talking about before. She reached up and stroked his cheek, and then he felt all the blood in his brain drain down below his belt. Fucking hell. "Miss Honey helped him, though, didn't she?" Amarie said expectantly, more as a statement than a question. "What? Yeah. Of course, she did," Zach said with exasperation, looking down into Honey's face, and trying not to laugh at her stubbornly set jaw. "Miss Honey never fucking heard of "stranger danger," or met a wreck of a person she couldn't care about. So, she takes this 'Cade' in, feeds him, gets him washed up, takes him shopping at the Salvation Army, and then takes his ass to the library to write up his fucking resume and apply for jobs, for cryin' out loud," Zach said, putting another two dollars into the jar before Logan could remind him. "When I got there, Cade was there in her living room with his nuts showing under the towel, getting a vacuum cleaner haircut, because he'd gotten a job interview with a moving company." "Yeah, but if she wasn't cheating, I don't see what she did wrong," Fallon said, applying a scented mermaid tattoo to the back of his hand. "Is this what mermaids smell like?" he wondered. "Yeah, well, just as I was cooling down, this 'Cade' starts in on me for letting Honey stay in that piece of crap apartment of hers and taking in homeless guys. Even had the nerve to ask me what woulda happened if he'd been some addict, or worse, if someone that got to thinking that she was his girlfriend?" Zach said, folding his arms and looking down at Honey, who looked quite unrepentant. "What? So, Miss Honey can't be nice because they might have problems or fall in love with her?" Amarie asked. "That's not fair! You wouldn't even like her if she wasn't happy and nice all the time because she was always worried about what would happen if the boys fall in love!" "Ugh. Love ruins everything. Maybe that's why these Valentines are all so stupid, so nobody actually falls in love; Fallon said, with an air of realization. "Yeah; and then girls can take the pencil from the card and jab anybody that wants to kiss them, too." "If the burden was placed on women to be preemptively hostile to avoid rejecting unwanted affections, it might explain the decline of romance in the modern era; and 'crap' is an excremental swear," Logan added offhandedly, not looking up from his fourth Valentine message. Zach's eyes grew wide, his jaw going slack as he looked at his oldest nephew with unnerved awe and added another dollar to the jar without argument. "They should really make these things with nunchucks; Fallon added, looking down at his Valentines, "Nobody can kiss you if you have nunchucks." "The point is, even a freaked out homeless guy knew that Miss Honey did something dangerous that nobody should ever do! You don't just grab strangers off the street and take them into your homes because there's a lot of crazies out there that will mess you up for no reason at all!" Zach ranted at the kids. A stomp from the corner made Zach turn back to where Honey waved her hand insistently in the air, her sweater pulling up and exposing a narrow bit of skin at her waist. The skin was pale and beautiful, like the rest of her, except where there was a slight bruise where his fingers had gripped her tightly as he pounded into her from behind in a haze of animalistic lust, only a few hours ago. "Yes?" he asked hoarsely, a dew of sweat breaking out over the back of his neck. Honey cleared her throat, "Okay; say someone threatened to kill you and then scared you to death for a whole year by following you around; and then one day you wake up at their house all beaten up and they tell you that they're going to keep you there and take care of you until you're better. Should you give them a chance, or just phone an Uber and get the heck out of there?" Honey asked, putting her hands on her hips. A peal of laughter rose out of the corner where Terry was, and Zach stomped his foot, ending it quickly. "I don't know. That person sounds scary, Miss Honey; Amarie said, her large eyes concerned. "That's just insane. That's like that movie where this crazy lady kidnapped this guy and makes him write books for her and then she smashed his legs with a sledgehammer when;" "Who the fuck is letting you watch 'Misery,' Fallon?" Zach roared. "YouTube," Fallon said, shrugging. "Jesus Fucking Christ; Zach said, waving down Logan's hand and stuffing more bills into the jar, then walked back to where Honey sat with a smirk on her face. Glaring down at her, he crossed his massive arms, and she crossed her legs again, squirming slightly on her stool. "Maggot, come watch the kids," he barked as Terry collapsed on the floor with a relieved sigh. "I wanna talk to you in the other room," he said, gripping Honey by the back of her neck and steering her up the stairs as she tried to control her giggles. "But there isn't another room; it's all just one big room. Even your bedroom is just a big shelf;" Honey began, until Zach steered her into the bathroom and locked the door. "Hey kids, what do you say we turn this into a dance party!" Terry yelled, and loud music quickly started blasting outside the bathroom door. "Did they just fucking compare me to Annie Bates?" Zach asked as Honey dropped to her knees, unzipped his jeans and took out his painfully excited erection. "Umm huh," Honey said, hungrily filling her mouth with his hard cock, as his hand gripped the back of her head. Zach's breath hitched as she began rubbing her tongue on the bottom of his mushroom head, clutching his flexing thighs. Groaning, he thrust back and forth slowly, watching his cock slide in and out of her wet lips. "Just for that, you're swallowing my load this time," Zach growled, gripping her hair tighter and thrusting deeper. Honey just wrinkled her nose and relaxed her throat, letting him plunge and withdraw, clenching his jaw, loving the noises he made as his excitement grew beyond his control. With a strangled moan, he thrust deep and watched her eyes widen when he swelled and throbbed down her throat, until he slowly pulled out and spilled the last hot pulses on her tongue. Honey's eyes glowed as she took him once more into her mouth and slowly slid back, cleaning him with her tongue, until the head of his cock slowly emerged from her wet lips and received a sweet kiss on the tip. He shook his head in amazement and lifted her up in his arms, overwhelmed again at the miracle of having her there with him, when there were so many ways that everything that had happened between them could have gone wrong. Still breathing raggedly, he bent down and kissed her, her eager and innocent passion for him touching him more deeply than he cared to admit. How in the hell had he managed to get this girl? Zach lifted her up and set her bottom on the bathroom countertop and stripped her sweater over her head, bending and going after her neck first. He loved the way she shivered when she felt his lips and teeth drag across the smooth skin, the way she completely lost herself to him. She was already panting those soft sighs against the top of his head when he freed her tits and took them in his mouth, and then he chuckled when she jumped at the sensation of it. God, he hoped she never changed. Diving in, he devoured her soft pale flesh, her rosy nipples tightening under his busy tongue. He reached down, pushed her skirt up, and moved the wet gusset of her panties aside. He laughed again, feeling the abundant slippery nectar between his fingers, leaving no doubt that she wanted him just as much as he did her. He wanted to taste her, to feel her hips rise up under his mouth, begging him for more, but he knew Honey could never stay quiet enough, even with Terry blasting a dance mix. Lifting his head from her tits, he returned to her mouth, her nose, her cheeks; God, he couldn't get enough of her. "Look at me," he said in a rough whisper, smiling when Honey's eyes opened obediently, seeking him through her haze of need. She bit her lips and whimpered when his fingers found her clit. "Don't you come until I say," he rasped, toggling her bud expertly. Honey moaned and wound her legs around him, pulling him closer, her back arching in restrained pleasure. "Umm; I can't do it; please; please; she begged, crying softly in loss when he slowed his ministrations, "No; she whimpered. "Don't you want to come on my cock, baby girl?" he said, finding his mark and sliding home into her warm welcome. "Now, come; he said, kissing her softly and pulling her hips to him as he thrust deep. "Ah;" Honey's cry was quickly contained by Zach's hand covering her mouth, his other hand holding her steady as he thrust into her and felt her shaking and squeezing around him as she came. If he hadn't just released in her mouth, there was no way he could resist filling her full of his cum again now. Instead, he just watched Honey's eyes roll back as she clung to him, letting her orgasm take her away until it left her weak and pliable in his arms. He held her against him, slowly moving inside her, waiting for her to recover. Always before, it had been a relentless push for the intense frenzied moment, almost blind to whatever person he was with, but with Honey that was all on its head. She was the experience, for him. Seeing her discover, taste, and feel was everything he wanted. He didn't want to feel a surge ripping through him if she wasn't there, too. It wasn't real; wasn't complete if she wasn't there with him. Fuck; he was gone for this girl. "There she is; he murmured when he saw her eyes clear and smiling into his again. Relieved, he thrust faster, joining their bodies together with more force, now that she was able to be present to it. "There's my girl; he said, smiling and kissing her again. "Zach; she said, smiling back at him for no reason other than thinking he was something wonderful. Looking at her, he started shaking his head, "God, Honey; I don't know what I was thinking. I mean, it scared the fuck out of me; thinking what could've happened to you; but Amarie's right. I couldn't stand it if you were any other way," Zach rasped, lifting her off the counter just to hold her closer to him. Honey wrapped her arms and legs around him, clinging to him as he kissed her desperately, plunging into her again and again. "Promise me; promise me you'll never change; he panted, lifting her and pressing her against the wall as his need grew. "Oh Zach; it's coming; uh; uh; uh; uh;" Honey's squeals were again silenced, this time by Zach's lips. Thrusting with joyous abandon, Zach filled her again and again, pushing into her body, his release tearing through him, made complete only by her embrace, pouring into her his need, his heart, his everything; because she was the only one he wanted to have it. A short while later, Zach and Honey slunk out of the bathroom, carefully primped and looking like nothing at all had happened. They needn't have bothered, though, because the children were transfixed with a story Terry was telling, with his foot on the table and his pants leg pulled up to show a small wound on his ankle. "And I'm screaming bloody murder, of course, because when something in the desert bites you, in your head it's always a rattlesnake, right?" he asked, to the unanimous agreement of the three children. "Well, then your Uncle Zach doesn't even miss a beat and he just picks me up, throws me over his shoulder and continues on the race like nothing happened!" "Whoa! He's really strong! You're like 500 pounds or something!" Fallon exclaimed. "Why didn't he just call for help?" Logan asked, frowning. "No coverage. This race was the middle of nowhere; and Zach figured I'd get the anti-venom faster if he brought me with him, not to mention all the things that woulda crawled up to bite me all alone out there in the desert. So, like a hero, your uncle carried me more than three miles through the desert and dumped me down only after he'd crossed the finish line," Terry said, nodding. "And what's a 'bubblehead?'" Amarie asked. "Well, you see, sweetheart, a 'bubblehead' is;" "A bubblehead is someone who works on a submarine where there's nowhere good to practice running for a race; and who give you no end of shit when you fucking come in fourth place after them, carrying an idiot with a fucking kangaroo rat bite on his goddamn ankle! Back on your face, Maggot!" Zach roared, "Fallon, go sit on Uncle Terry's back, over there," Zach said, pointing to the corner where Terry was getting back into pushup position, and then he took out his wallet and dropped the entire thing into the Language Arts Scholarship jar. "All right, kids, I'm gonna tell you the story the right way, now; Released from the naughty stool, Honey happily buzzed around the apartment, making cupcakes with Amarie, giving pointers to Logan who had decided to fold each of his Valentines into a different origami animal, and bringing water to the profusely sweating Terry, over Zach's obscene objections. At the end of the day, after the kids and Terry had gone home, Honey and Zach had nearly fallen asleep on the sofa when a knock at the door jerked them back awake. Zach seemed to expect it, though, and winked at Honey before getting up and going to the door. "Where do you want it?" the visitor's familiar voice asked, though their face was obscured by a large cardboard box. "Yeah, put them in the storage area, through there; we'll go through it all later," Zach said, pointing out the way to a uniformed Cade. "Cade! You got the job! That's great!" Honey squealed. "Yeah, well it's just moving stuff around, but I can make something of it," Cade called to her over his shoulder as he carried the box to the area Zach had specified. "And what is all this? Are you letting him stay with you until he's got a place of his own?" Honey asked Zach, her eyes shining as she wrapped her arms around him. "Not exactly. Cade's staying at your place. Actually, it's his place, now. This is your place. That's your stuff he's moving in here," Zach explained. "Wait, what? You're moving me out of my apartment?" Honey asked, getting up and looking into the boxes Cade was moving in. "It's a shitty apartment. My foot went through the floor," Zach said in disgust, walking over and enjoying the view as Honey bent over and tried to pull something out of the bottom of one of the larger boxes. "That's because you stepped on one of the soft spots!" Honey's voice said, muffled by the cardboard. "If you stayed to the path I showed you, it wouldn't have; wait a minute, you just gave my apartment to Cade? What am I going to tell my landlord?" Honey said, dropping whatever it was she was trying to lift out of the box. "I don't think the guy who owns your building's gonna mind; Zach said, scratching his chin and looking around the room with a slight smile. "Of course, he's going to mind! He minds everything! Unless it has to do with a toilet that looks like it's sinking through the floor, he; wait a minute; Zach, did you just buy my apartment building?" Honey asked, pulling her head out of the box and frowning at him. "It was really cheap. Saved them the cost of condemning it, really," Zach said with a shrug, taking her hand and pulling her against him. "I'll have Terry and Cade fix it up, rent it out. Maybe find some more guys that need a break; Cade's got some contacts at the homeless vets place." "What, so Cade's one of your guys now, too? Like Terry? I was going to make Cade my Terry! You took my Terry?" Honey asked. "Well, it's not like you knew what to with him, anymore. I have Cade training with us for next year's race, too. I'll make him carry Terry when he gets a hangnail or some other damn thing," Zach said. "Took my apartment; actually my whole apartment building; and you took my Terry. Didn't even ask. I can't believe this," Honey grumbled. "Just so you know, one of these days, I'm gonna need you to marry me and have some babies, too. Good ones, okay? None of those 'well, maybe they'll grow out of it' babies," Zach said. Honey bit her lips like she was hiding a smile and crossed her arms, "That's not how you ask someone to marry you; she said, trying to sound more upset than she felt. "I wasn't asking. Now, was I?" Zach said, lifting her over his shoulder and giving her bottom a spank before carrying her back to the living room. "Do you remember that time I slapped you and called you an 'overbearing ass?' This; Honey said, gesturing to their entire situation, "This is what I was talking about." "Hmm," Zach said, putting her down on her feet, then stretching back on the sofa, making a space for her under his arm, as he turned on the TV. Honey huffed in disgust, but curled up against him anyway, taking the remote and turning it to a movie she liked, just to make a point. Zach only smiled, pulling her closer with his arm. "That apartment was mine; she mumbled, the warm rise and fall of his chest and the steady beat of his enormous heart already lulling her to sleep. Zach smiled down at Honey, stroking a lock of hair away from her face, grateful and relieved that she hadn't put up more of a fuss. Leaning down, he kissed the top of her head, "Yeah, well; so am I. Happy Valentine's." Based on a post by Lingering Afterthought, in 3 parts, for Literotica.

✨ Support the show with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium (Ad-Free)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- Settle into deep, uninterrupted rest with this 8-hour sleep soundscape combining a warm crackling fireplace, soothing white noise, and powerful 2 Hz delta wave binaural beats. The gentle fire creates a cozy, comforting atmosphere, while the steady white noise masks distractions and calms the nervous system. Beneath it all, 2 Hz delta waves guide your brain into the deepest stages of non-REM sleep, supporting full-body restoration, healing, and long-lasting rest throughout the night. --

Podcast audio: The post Talk by Jo An Sensei “The Narrow Path Beneath Our Feet” first appeared on The Village Zendo.

Beneath the command tower of Queen Muad, Devon and Avis sit in a small prison cell. The same place they have been sitting for quite some time, thinking of how to break out. Outside Queen Muad, Neil and Kid are hiding out in the mountains, thinking of how to break in. When a good opportunity presents itself, both pairs take their shot.Music and Sound Effects:“Intro” by Abigail McDonald“Remorse of a Murderer” by Anna Dager & Hanna Ekström at (www.epidemicsound.com)“Horror Ambiance Long” by klankbeeld at Freesound.org“Low Intensity Water Drip” by Epidemic Sound at (www.epidemicsound.com)“Sad Clowns” by Alexandra Woodward at (www.epidemicsound.com)“Goldfinch: Flight to the North” by Axletree at Freemusicarchive.com (CC BY 4.0)“Revelation” by Anna Dager & Hanna Ekström at (www.epidemicsound.com)“Circles Dissolving” by Anthony Earls at (www.epidemicsound.com)“Tvivel” by Hanna Ekström & Anna Dager at (www.epidemicsound.com)“Rememberance” by Fabien Tell at (www.epidemicsound.com)“Weapon of Choice” by Fabien Tell at (www.epidemicsound.com)“Bonus: All in a Garden Green (Orchestral Version)” by Axletree at Freemusicarchive.com (CC BY 4.0)

This week on The BiG Scuba Podcast, Gemma and Ian chat to Jason Pritchard. Adventure has always been at the heart of who Jason is. Ever since His first dive back in 2009, he has been captivated by the mysteries of the ocean — from uncovering hidden wrecks to exploring the unknown. What started as curiosity soon became a calling. By 2018, Jason had earned his certification as a professional instructor, and today, as a PADI Course Director. He is very proud to help shape the next generation of divers through calm, safety-first guidance and real-world experience. For Jason, shipwrecks are the ultimate adventure. Each one tells a story, a blend of history, danger, and discovery frozen in time beneath the waves. Diving isn't just a pastime; it's stepping into another world, one where every shadow might hold a secret waiting to be found. In 2022, he faced his toughest challenge yet: a life-threatening bend caused by a PFO. That experience could have ended his diving journey, but instead, it reshaped it. It taught him discipline, patience, and a deep sense of gratitude for every single dive he makes. These days, Jason is diving deeper, exploring legendary wrecks like Scapa Flow, advancing his technical diving, and preparing for the next frontier: rebreathers. Jason recently become Sidemount qualified, adding another level of flexibility and efficiency to his dives. Beneath the waves, Jason finds peace, focus, and an endless sense of wonder. No matter how far he travels or how deep he explores, Jason will never lose sight of the simple joy of discovery. Every puddle, big or small, holds its own adventure. That spirit of curiosity keeps Jason pushing boundaries, chasing secrets, and living the ultimate underwater journey. Social Media Links Insta/Tiktok @jason_inthe_argonaut , Insta @themidlandsidc, FB @Jason Pritchard The BiG Scuba Podcast is proudly supported by Narked at 90 – "Beyond Technical." Whether you're new to diving or thinking about moving into tech, they can help guide you with the best kit and advice.

A slow weave of some of the past year's Field Recordings, from a child playing in the snow to a brass band playing Christmas carols in the street. Father and daughter build a snowman in the backyard, Copenhagen, Denmark on 2nd January 2025 – by Joyce de Badts Cracking the ice underfoot over a frozen puddle, Low Bentham, North Yorkshire, UK in early January 2025 – by Charlotte Petts Ice on Queen's Park Pond, Glasgow, Scotland in January 2025 – by Katie Revell “Recorded using a contact microphone at Queen's Park pond on the Southside of Glasgow, during a cold snap in January. The pond had frozen over (which doesn't happen often), and people were walking and skating on it. One person asked if I was measuring the thickness of the ice. I handed my headphones round a group of kids, and it was fun to watch their reactions to the sci-fi noises…” Snow slowly melting from a bridge next to Ribblehead viaduct, North Yorkshire, UK in early January 2025 – by Charlotte Petts Listening to the river flow as the snow melts into the water from the fields nearby,  River Wenning, Bentham, North Yorkshire, UK in early January 2025 – by Charlotte Petts Tawny Owls voicing the starry dark, the foot of Dartmoor, UK at 5am on 3rd January 2025 – by Kirsteen McNish “I stood on the doorstep to look at the stars because of the ice bright visibility and heard them calling to each other.” Primal scream atop Bernal Hill, San Francisco, USA on 20th January 2025 at 9am – by Kristina Loring “A group of organizers had distributed flyers in our neighborhood for a timely cathartic moment atop the large mountain park that overlooks the city of San Francisco and the bay. It was organized to coincide with the swearing-in of the newest conservative American regime on Inauguration day. But one's rage can't be limited to whoever is in the presidential office. We scream for a litany of injustices—an endless list that cannot be exhausted here. Many rages filled my lungs that day and escaped my mouth in an inarticulate howl. Beneath the rage was a yearning for: Justice for Palestinians everywhere. Justice for trans folks everywhere. Justice for refugees everywhere.” Dead leaves on a silver birch, Stanton Moor, Derbyshire, UK on 5th February 2025 – by Rose de Larrabeiti “I took myself to Derbyshire for a few days in early February. I walked up to Stanton Moor with my dog Rosie (not named by me!) looking for a Bronze Age stone circle called the Nine Ladies. Nearby were silver birches with their dead brown leaves rustling in the wind.” Babble of Ta Ta Creek spring, British Columbia, Canada in early February 2025 – by PJ Howe “Here is a little recording of our local spring. We hiked through 2ft of snow in the -10 temps to the head of our local creek. Due to the deep cold we are in, the ice formations around the spring are spectacular. The quiet babble of the creek makes this such a special place.” Geothermal mud pools in Rotorua, Aotearoa (New Zealand) on 8th February 2025 – by Will Coley Woodpecker in back garden, south-east London, UK on 14th February 2025 – by Cesar Gimeno Lavin “This morning I was delighted to find that, after quite a few months, this woodpecker has returned! Back to the very same tree. I love how the sound echoes around the garden.” ‘Silence' in Doubtful Sound, Aotearoa (New Zealand) on 15th February 2025 – by Will Coley Steam train arriving and then departing, Haworth, West Yorkshire, UK on 17th February 2025 – by Cesar Gimeno Lavin Walking in the dry, squeaky-crunchy snow on Elm Street in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada on 22nd February 2025 – by Laura Nerenberg “The snow was delightfully squeaky and I took every chance I could to stomp around…” The last performance of the world's largest pipe organ, Philadelphia, USA on 22nd March 2025 – by Alex Lewis “Thousands of people gathered on Saturday, March 22nd at Macy's in Philadelphia, PA to hear the last performances of the Wanamaker Organ – possibly the world's largest pipe organ – as the department store marked its final weekend in business. This is an excerpt from the final recital by John Wanamaker Grand Court Organist Peter Richard Conte. My wife gave this piece the unofficial title: ‘an elegy for in-person shopping'.” Squeaky frogs, Watcarrick, near Eskdalemuir, Scotland on 25th March 2025 – by Geoff McQueen ‘Hands Off' March, New York, USA on Saturday 5th April 2025 – by Jon Moskowitz Nightingales at Knepp, Sussex, UK in April 2025 – by Charlotte Petts “…from my camp out at the Knepp estate last week – managed to creep up pretty close to a nightingale singing in the shrubby hedgerows. Absolutely gorgeous to fall asleep to them calling out to each other through the night.” Cows in Los Lagos de Covadonga, Asturias, Spain in May 2025 – by Sarah Kramer and Nina Porzucki  Bells heard through a window, Vilnius, Lithuania in the morning on 26th May 2025 – by Eleanor McDowall Creek bed, Lerderderg State Park on Wurundjeri Country, Australia in May 2025 – by Camilla Hannan Bingo on a roasting Saturday evening in Derbyshire, June 2025 – by Andrew Conroy ‘Little Tibet', Parco nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise, Italy in June 2025 – by Cosmin Sandu River through wood, Boise River, USA on 22nd June 2025 – by Ariana Martinez “This tape was gathered in Boise, Idaho with a contact microphone affixed to a tree root partially submerged in the Boise River.” Dawn chorus, Lopez Island, USA in 2025 – by Joe Harvey-Whyte Primary night watch party after Zohran Mamdani's win, Brooklyn Masonic Temple, New York on Wednesday 26th June 2025 – by Rachel Humphreys Protest after the vote, Westminster, London, UK on 2nd July 2025 – by Eleanor McDowall Ringing the peace bell, Hiroshima, Japan on 14th July 2025 – by Lisa Hack Knossos Palace, Crete, Greece on 17th July 2025 at 11.30am – by Giles Stokoe Pans protest outside Downing Street, London, UK at 6pm on 25th July 2025 “Hundreds gather outside Downing Street banging pots and pans as Israel's blockade continues to cause the starvation of Palestinians in the Gaza strip. 120 people – 80 of them children – have been confirmed dead from famine as of 26th July. In the last 24 hours two babies have died from malnutrition. Nearly 1000 Palestinians have been shot to death by Israeli soldiers whilst queuing for food.” Goats going home, Sabugueiro, Serra da Estrela, Portugal, late evening on 13th August 2025 – by Katherina Lindekens Gongs, Glastonbury Tor, Somerset, UK on 21st August 2025 – by Barny Smith Waves on a shingle beach, St Leonards-on-Sea, UK, late September 2025 – by Eleanor McDowall New York Mayoral Election Results, Paul's, Brooklyn, NY, USA on 4th November 2025 – by Brian Pester Democratic Socialists of America election night party, Bushwick, NY as Hell Gate NYC livestream called the race at 9.44pm on 4th November 2025 – by Kalli Anderson Inside a rainwater collection tank, London, UK on 10th November 2025 – by Cesar Gimeno Lavin 2 minutes silence from the rooftop of St Paul's Cathedral, Rememberance Sunday at 11am, 2025 – by Joe Harvey-Whyte Unknown instrument in the subway at two minutes to midnight, Metropolitan / Lorimer St station, New York, USA on 12th November – by Jonah Buchanan “Descending the stairs, I was disappointed to see a two-digit number in the wait time for the train. the music started a couple minutes later. they had a pedal and an instrument i couldn't identify. i wouldn't say it was dreamy, and there's not really a synonym i can find that captures it. maybe bewitching…” UK farmers tractor protest on the day of the budget, Rupert Street, Soho, London, UK at 14.29 on 26th November 2025 – by Clare Lynch “16th century Soho fields being ploughed in protest by 21st century musical tractors.” Cows grazing in the fog, Cerro, on the Lessini Mountains, North of Verona, Italy in late November 2025 – by Davide Erbogasto “…some cows were grazing in the field, regardless of the rain, fog or snow. Their bell kept me company through the week.” Crystal Palace Band playing at the Crystal Palace Christmas Tree lights turn-on, London, UK on 29th November 2025 – by Alan Hall First big snow of the season, Pittsburgh, USA on 2nd December 2025 – by Dennis Funk “This first big snow was really dreamy. It started late in the night after I'd gone to bed, and had already stopped by morning. When I woke up there was the shock of a white, white world and a few inches on the ground. I got lost in the stillness of the day, and watched little heaps tumble from branches when a breeze rattled through.”

We live in a world full of noise, distractions, and things that promise meaning but leave us empty. Beneath it all is a simple question: Are we chasing what's trivial, or are we carrying what truly matters?When Scripture speaks of the glory of God, it describes something weighty, real, and transformative. An encounter with God's glory exposes what is empty and draws us into a life of substance, purpose, and eternal significance.

With satire and tenderness, they move through summer snowmen in discount aisles and the uncanny moment when a Christmas song in Lidl seems to narrate the shopping experience in real time — a festive loop of: Scan. Beep. Smile. Repeat.Beneath the humor, the episode asks what remains human when meaning is constantly being packaged. The answer is quiet and radical: presence, boundaries, and off-screen gestures that don't scale.The episode closes with gratitude and a musical gift: WAW — “Silent Night (Reimagined)”, following a recent #1 spot on The Cork's Playlist (third Advent week). Thanks to Neill and to everyone listening, sharing, and supporting this non-profit podcast.Detlef Schlich is a rock musician, podcaster, visual artist, filmmaker, ritual designer, and media archaeologist based in West Cork. He is recognised for his seminal work, including a scholarly examination of the intersections between shamanism, art, and digital culture, and his acclaimed video installation, Transodin's Tragedy. He primarily works in performance, photography, painting, sound, installations, and film. In his work, he reflects on the human condition and uses the digital shaman's methodology as an alter ego to create artwork. His media archaeology is a conceptual and practical exercise in uncovering the unique aesthetic, cultural, and political aspects of media in culture.WEBSITE LINKS WAW Official YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@WAWBand"The Niles Bittersweet Song" WAW BandcampSilent NightIn a world shadowed by conflict and unrest, we, Dirk Schlömer & Detlef Schlich, felt compelled to reinterpret 'Silent Night' to reflect the complexities and contradictions of modern life.https://studiomuskau.bandcamp.com/track/silent-nightWild Atlantic WayThis results from a trip to West Cork, Ireland, where the beautiful Coastal "Wild Atlantic Way" reaches along the whole west coast!https://studiomuskau.bandcamp.com/track/wild-atlantic-wayYOU TUBE*Silent Night Reimagined* A Multilayered Avant-Garde Journey by WAW aka Dirk Schlömer & Detlef Schlichhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAbytLSfgCwDetlef SchlichInstagramDetlef Schlich ArTEEtude I love West Cork Artists FacebookDetlef Schlich I love West Cork Artists Group ArTEEtudeYouTube Channelsvisual PodcastArTEEtudeCute Alien TV official WebsiteArTEEtude Detlef Schlich Det Design Tribal Loop Download here for free Detlef Schlich´s Essay about the Cause and Effect of Shamanism, Art and Digital Culturehttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/303749640_Shamanism_Art_and_Digital_Culture_Cause_and_EffectSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/arteetude-a-podcast-with-artists-by-detlef-schlich/donations

When The Aging Well Podcast launched, it began with a simple mission: translate science into practical wisdom for living longer, healthier, and more purposeful lives. But along the way, something deeper emerged. Patterns in physical health, emotional resilience, and social well-being kept pointing to something beneath the surface — a Spiritual problem.In this episode, Corbin turns the mic on Dr. Jeff Armstrong to talk about the origins of the …We Have a Spiritual Problem podcast, why “Spiritual” doesn't mean “religious,” and how spiritual wellness is inseparable from aging well. They explore how the SPIES model led to the creation of a new platform — and what this deeper layer means for the future of health, wellness, and personal growth.Please, support The Aging Well Podcast by hitting the ‘like' button, subscribing/following the podcast, sharing with a friend, and….BUY the products you need to… age well from our trusted affiliates and support the mission of The Aging Well Podcast*.The Aging Well Podcast merchandise | Show how you are aging well | Use the promo code AGING WELL for free shipping on orders over $75 | https://theagingwellpodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/promo/AGINGWELLAuro Wellness | Glutaryl—Antioxidant spray that delivers high doses of glutathione (“Master Antioxidant”) and the all new Copper Pepptide (GHK-Cu) | 10% off Code: AGINGWELL at https://aurowellness.com/agingwellpodcastBerkeley Life | Optimize nitric oxide levels | Purchase your starter kit at a 15% discount | Use the promo code: AGINGWELL15 | https://berkeleylife.pxf.io/c/6475525/3226696/31118Oxford Healthspan | Primeadine®, a plant-derived spermidine supplement | 10% off code: AGINGWELL | https://oxford-healthspan.myshopify.com/AgingWellJigsaw Health | Trusted supplements. “It's fun to feel good.” | Click the following link and use the discount code AGINGWELL for 10% off: https://www.jigsawhealth.com/?rfsn=8710089.1dddcf3&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=8710089.1dddcf3Prolon | The Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) is a revolutionary five-day nutrition program scientifically formulated to mimic the effects of a prolonged water fast while still allowing nourishment - supporting the benefits of fasting without the challenges and risks that come from water-only fasts. | For the best available discount always use this link: https://prolonlife.com/theagingwellpodcastL-Nutra Health | The medical division of L-Nutra, focused on helping people manage and potentially reverse chronic health conditions, like type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity, using personalized, lifestyle-based programs grounded in evidence, not prescriptions. | Use this link: https://l-nutrahealth.com/theagingwellpodcastThrive25—Your personal longevity advisor | https://www.thrive25.com/early-access?via=william-jeffreyFusionary Formulas | Combining Ayurvedic wisdom with Western science for optimal health support. | 15% off Code: AGINGWELL | https://fusionaryformulas.com?sca_ref=9678325.IHg5xYhdOzzke8ZrDr Lewis Nutrition | Fight neurodegeneration and cognitive decline with Daily Brain Care by Dr Lewis Nutrition—a proven daily formula designed to protect and restore brain function. | 10% off code: AGINGWELL or use the link: https://drlewisnutrition.com/AGINGWELLTruDiagnostic—Your source for epigenetic testing | 12% off Code: AGEWELL or use the link: https://shop.trudiagnostic.com/discount/AGEWELL*We receive commission on these purchases. Thank you.

Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Secrets Beneath the Vines: Mateo's Quest for Truth and Dreams Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2025-12-21-08-38-20-es Story Transcript:Es: Bajo el ardiente sol de verano en Mendoza, los viñedos se extienden como un manto verde sobre las colinas.En: Under the scorching summer sun of Mendoza, the vineyards stretch like a green mantle over the hills.Es: El aire tiene el dulce aroma de uvas maduras y tierra fresca.En: The air has the sweet aroma of ripe grapes and fresh earth.Es: Es Navidad, pero para los trabajadores del viñedo, es un día como cualquier otro.En: It's Christmas, but for the vineyard workers, it's a day like any other.Es: Mateo, uno de ellos, está concentrado en su sueño secreto: ahorrar suficiente dinero para tener su propia granja.En: Mateo, one of them, is focused on his secret dream: saving enough money to have his own farm.Es: Mateo siempre ha sido cauteloso.En: Mateo has always been cautious.Es: En el viñedo, la situación se ha vuelto tensa porque Javier, uno de los trabajadores, ha desaparecido misteriosamente.En: In the vineyard, the situation has become tense because Javier, one of the workers, has mysteriously disappeared.Es: Los murmullos se escuchan por los campos y las miradas de sospecha giran hacia Mateo.En: Whispers are heard across the fields, and the looks of suspicion turn towards Mateo.Es: Él sabe que debe resolver el misterio de Javier no solo para limpiar su nombre, sino también para proteger su futuro.En: He knows he must solve the mystery of Javier not only to clear his name but also to protect his future.Es: Una tarde, sentado bajo la sombra de un viejo árbol, Mateo decide investigar por su cuenta.En: One afternoon, sitting under the shade of an old tree, Mateo decides to investigate on his own.Es: Recuerda la última vez que vio a Javier, cerca de los barriles junto al almacén.En: He remembers the last time he saw Javier, near the barrels by the warehouse.Es: Con cuidado, comienza a rastrear sus pasos.En: Carefully, he begins to trace his steps.Es: Sabe que no puede hacerlo solo, así que busca la ayuda de Sofía, una compañera en la que confía plenamente.En: He knows he can't do it alone, so he seeks the help of Sofía, a colleague he trusts completely.Es: Sofía es ingeniosa y valiente.En: Sofía is ingenious and brave.Es: Juntos, trabajan después de sus turnos, revisando discretamente las áreas donde Javier solía pasar su tiempo.En: Together, they work after their shifts, discreetly checking the areas where Javier used to spend his time.Es: Un día, mientras exploran el almacén, encuentran un pequeño cuaderno escondido entre las herramientas.En: One day, while exploring the warehouse, they find a small notebook hidden among the tools.Es: Las páginas muestran cifras y nombres, y Mateo comienza a unir las piezas.En: The pages show figures and names, and Mateo starts to piece things together.Es: La verdad es aterradora.En: The truth is terrifying.Es: Los números son registros de un lucrativo contrabando de vino.En: The numbers are records of a lucrative wine smuggling operation.Es: Esto podría estar relacionado con la desaparición de Javier.En: This could be related to the disappearance of Javier.Es: Con determinación, Mateo decide enfrentarse al propietario del viñedo, un hombre de mal carácter, conocido por su desinterés por los demás.En: With determination, Mateo decides to confront the owner of the vineyard, a man of ill temper, known for his disregard for others.Es: La confrontación es tensa.En: The confrontation is tense.Es: Mateo, armado con las pruebas del cuaderno, revela lo que ha descubierto.En: Mateo, armed with the evidence from the notebook, reveals what he has discovered.Es: El dueño, acorralado, no tiene más opción que admitir la verdad.En: The owner, cornered, has no choice but to admit the truth.Es: La policía es llamada, y la operación de contrabando se desmantela.En: The police are called, and the smuggling operation is dismantled.Es: Javier es finalmente encontrado, a salvo, pero escondido para protegerse tras descubrir el secreto peligroso del viñedo.En: Javier is finally found, safe, but hidden to protect himself after discovering the vineyard's dangerous secret.Es: Con el misterio resuelto, Mateo es reconocido por su valentía.En: With the mystery solved, Mateo is recognized for his bravery.Es: El propietario del viñedo, obligado por las circunstancias, ofrece a Mateo un acuerdo justo que le permite empezar a reunir lo que necesita para su propia granja.En: The owner of the vineyard, compelled by the circumstances, offers Mateo a fair deal that allows him to start gathering what he needs for his own farm.Es: Mateo se siente más confiado que nunca.En: Mateo feels more confident than ever.Es: Ha demostrado que puede enfrentar cualquier desafío que se le presente.En: He has proven he can face any challenge that comes his way.Es: Con un nuevo sentido de propósito, Mateo sabe que está más cerca de alcanzar sus sueños, mientras el sol continúa iluminando las colinas de Mendoza.En: With a new sense of purpose, Mateo knows he is closer to reaching his dreams, as the sun continues to illuminate the hills of Mendoza. Vocabulary Words:scorching: ardientevineyards: los viñedosmysteriously: misteriosamentewhispers: los murmullossuspicion: la sospechashade: la sombranotebook: el cuadernofigures: las cifrassmuggling: el contrabandolucrative: lucrativoconfrontation: la confrontaciónwarehouse: el almacénbravery: la valentíatense: tensadetermination: la determinaciónowner: el propietariodisregard: el desinterésevidence: las pruebaspolice: la policíadismantled: desmantelarhidden: escondidosafe: a salvoterrifying: aterradorachallenge: el desafíopurpose: el propósitoscandal: el escándalocolleague: la compañeradangerous: peligrosogentleman: el caballerobargain: el acuerdo

The Christmas story is famous for what it gives us, but we often miss what it shows us. Beneath the familiar narrative of a baby in a manger is a pattern for navigating your most difficult relationships, your most embarrassing failures, and your most uncomfortable conversations. This Sunday, we're discovering how an ancient arrival becomes a modern manual for everyday life. You'll never see Christmas the same way again.

Antarctica is like a giant frozen mystery, hiding incredible secrets under all that ice!

GUEST: Kareem Allam, Leader of Vancouver Liberal party, running for mayor in the next election, and former Chief of Staff for Mayor Ken Sim Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: Secrets Beneath the Museum: The Bunker Project Unveiled Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2025-12-19-08-38-20-nl Story Transcript:Nl: Onder de imposante muren van het Rijksmuseum lag een geheim.En: Under the imposing walls of the Rijksmuseum lay a secret.Nl: Een donkere plek, gevuld met oude verhalen en vergeten schatten.En: A dark place, filled with old stories and forgotten treasures.Nl: In deze geheime bunker kwamen Lieke, Bram en Sanne samen.En: In this secret bunker, Lieke, Bram, and Sanne gathered together.Nl: Het was winter, en buiten dwarrelde de sneeuw zachtjes naar beneden, maar hierbinnen was het stil en mysterieus.En: It was winter, and outside the snow gently drifted down, but inside it was quiet and mysterious.Nl: De drie vrienden waren bezig met hun eindproject voor de geschiedenisles.En: The three friends were working on their final project for history class.Nl: Ze hadden gekozen voor "Verborgen Geschiedenissen", en waar beter om die te vertellen dan in een verborgen bunker?En: They had chosen "Hidden Histories," and what better place to tell those than in a hidden bunker?Nl: Lieke, altijd nauwgezet, had alles gepland.En: Lieke, always meticulous, had planned everything.Nl: Sanne had de meest kleurrijke ideeën, en Bram zorgde met zijn technische wijsheid voor indrukwekkende effecten.En: Sanne had the most colorful ideas, and Bram provided impressive effects with his technical wisdom.Nl: "We moeten iets bijzonders doen," zei Lieke.En: "We need to do something special," said Lieke.Nl: "Iets dat iedereen verrast."En: "Something that will surprise everyone."Nl: "Ik kan een hologram maken," stelde Bram voor.En: "I can make a hologram," Bram suggested.Nl: "We kunnen historische figuren laten 'verschijnen'."En: "We can have historical figures 'appear'."Nl: "En ik teken achtergronddecors," voegde Sanne enthousiast toe.En: "And I'll draw background sets," added Sanne enthusiastically.Nl: Haar ogen glinsterden bij de gedachte aan schilderijen van mystieke landschappen.En: Her eyes sparkled at the thought of paintings of mystical landscapes.Nl: Maar de feestdagen kwamen dichterbij en de tijd begon te dringen.En: But the holidays were approaching, and time was running out.Nl: Ze raakten het niet eens over hoe ze hun project uniek konden maken.En: They couldn't agree on how to make their project unique.Nl: Lieke voelde de druk om het beste te leveren.En: Lieke felt the pressure to deliver the best.Nl: Het project had invloed op hun cijfers, en ze wilde indruk maken op de leraar.En: The project impacted their grades, and she wanted to impress the teacher.Nl: Toen kreeg Lieke een idee.En: Then Lieke had an idea.Nl: "Wat als we de bunker gebruiken als metafoor voor verborgen verhalen?"En: "What if we use the bunker as a metaphor for hidden stories?"Nl: stelde ze voor.En: she proposed.Nl: "Met hologrammen en Sanne's visuals vertellen we zoveel mogelijk verhalen in een interactieve presentatie."En: "With holograms and Sanne's visuals, we can tell as many stories as possible in an interactive presentation."Nl: De dag van de presentatie brak aan.En: The day of the presentation arrived.Nl: In de bunker was de spanning te voelen.En: In the bunker, the tension was palpable.Nl: Lieke keek naar de kleine groep medestudenten en de strenge blik van hun geschiedenisleraar.En: Lieke looked at the small group of fellow students and the stern gaze of their history teacher.Nl: Ze begon met zelfvertrouwen hun verhaal over verborgen geschiedenis.En: She began their story about hidden history with confidence.Nl: Maar net op het hoogtepunt bleef de technologie steken.En: But just at the climax, the technology stalled.Nl: Het hologram bevroor en hun zorgvuldig gecomponeerde visuele achtergrond verdween.En: The hologram froze, and their carefully composed visual background disappeared.Nl: Lieke's hart sloeg sneller, maar ze herstelde zich.En: Lieke's heart raced, but she recovered.Nl: Ze opende haar mond en begon verder te vertellen zonder technische hulp.En: She opened her mouth and began to continue telling the story without technical help.Nl: Haar woorden brachten de verhalen tot leven.En: Her words brought the stories to life.Nl: Bram en Sanne hielpen improviserend mee, gebruikmakend van Sanne's tekeningen en Bram die geluidseffecten maakte met objecten om hen heen.En: Bram and Sanne helped improvise, using Sanne's drawings and Bram creating sound effects with objects around them.Nl: De presentatie eindigde met een daverend applaus.En: The presentation ended with thunderous applause.Nl: Hun leraar glimlachte en gaf hen hoge cijfers.En: Their teacher smiled and gave them high marks.Nl: Lieke realiseerde zich dat improvisatie hun boodschap persoonlijker had gemaakt.En: Lieke realized that improvisation had made their message more personal.Nl: De presentatie was levendig en memorabel.En: The presentation was lively and memorable.Nl: Dus, in het koude licht van de bunker, leerde Lieke dat flexibiliteit even waardevol is als voorbereiding.En: So, in the cold light of the bunker, Lieke learned that flexibility is as valuable as preparation.Nl: Soms moet je de geschiedenis laten spreken, zonder plan, maar vanuit het hart.En: Sometimes you have to let history speak, without a plan, but from the heart.Nl: Samen met Bram en Sanne keerde ze tevreden terug naar de wereld boven, waar kerstlichten vrolijk fonkelden in de sneeuw.En: Together with Bram and Sanne, she returned satisfied to the world above, where Christmas lights cheerfully twinkled in the snow. Vocabulary Words:imposing: imposantebunker: bunkermeticulous: nauwgezethologram: hologramclimax: hoogtepuntpalpable: te voelenstern: strengeimprovisation: improvisatieinteractive: interactievecomposition: compositiemystical: mystiekeflexibility: flexibiliteittwinkled: fonkeldengathered: samenkwamenhidden: verborgenmetaphor: metafoorenthusiastically: enthousiastpresentation: presentatiethunderous: daverendconfidence: zelfvertrouwenmysterious: mysterieuswisdom: wijsheiddrifted: dwarreldeimpressive: indrukwekkendepossess: bezittenrecover: hersteldesparkle: glinsterencarefully: zorgvuldigexpression: uitdrukkingimpact: invloed

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Unveiling Secrets Beneath Oslo: A Snowstorm's Serendipity Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2025-12-19-23-34-01-no Story Transcript:No: Det begynte med en varslet snøstorm over Oslo.En: It started with a forecasted snowstorm over Oslo.No: Byens innbyggere trakk innendørs.En: The city's residents moved indoors.No: Oppe ved Holmenkollen Ski Jump hastet Sigrid seg gjennom snøflakene.En: Up by Holmenkollen Ski Jump, Sigrid hurried through the snowflakes.No: Hun lette etter et sted å søke ly.En: She was looking for a place to seek shelter.No: Hun hadde hørt om et bunker under bakken, et sted med hemmeligheter fra svunnen tid.En: She had heard about a bunker underground, a place with secrets from a bygone time.No: Samtidig var Lars allerede i bunkeren.En: Meanwhile, Lars was already in the bunker.No: Han hadde ansvaret for stedet og holdt styr på de gamle dokumentene og gjenstandene der inne.En: He was responsible for the place and kept track of the old documents and items inside.No: Hans kjærlighet for Norges historiske arv var grunnen til at han ofte tilbrakte tid i det skjulte rommet.En: His love for Norway's historical heritage was the reason he often spent time in the hidden room.No: Da Sigrid tok seg inn i bunkeren, var det første gang de så hverandre.En: When Sigrid entered the bunker, it was the first time they saw each other.No: "Hvem er du?En: "Who are you?"No: " spurte Lars forsiktig.En: Lars asked cautiously.No: Sigrid svarte med et smil, selv om ansiktet hennes var rødt av kulden.En: Sigrid responded with a smile, even though her face was red from the cold.No: "Sigrid, journalist.En: "Sigrid, journalist.No: Stormen tvang meg hit.En: The storm forced me here."No: "De sto der, to fremmede, bundet sammen av været utenfor.En: They stood there, two strangers, bound together by the weather outside.No: Sigrid virket selvsikker, men Lars var skeptisk.En: Sigrid seemed confident, but Lars was skeptical.No: "Hvorfor er du her virkelig?En: "Why are you really here?"No: " spurte han.En: he asked.No: Sigrid nølte litt, men bestemte seg for å være ærlig.En: Sigrid hesitated a little but decided to be honest.No: "Jeg vil finne en unik julehistorie," sa hun til slutt.En: "I want to find a unique Christmas story," she finally said.No: "Kanskje noe ingen har hørt om før.En: "Maybe something no one has heard about before."No: "Lars, først nølende, bestemte seg for å gi henne en sjanse.En: Lars, first reluctant, decided to give her a chance.No: "Bli med meg," sa han.En: "Come with me," he said.No: "Men du må love å bruke informasjonen med respekt.En: "But you have to promise to use the information with respect."No: "De gikk gjennom bunkeren.En: They walked through the bunker.No: De gamle steinveggene ga ekko fra fortiden.En: The old stone walls echoed the past.No: Hyller var fylt med dokumenter og gjenstander som visket om glemte historier.En: Shelves were filled with documents and items that whispered of forgotten stories.No: Sigrid og Lars begynte å utforske sammen, de mistroiske blikkene ble erstattet med nysgjerrighet.En: Sigrid and Lars began to explore together, their distrustful looks replaced with curiosity.No: De fant et rom som virket annerledes.En: They found a room that seemed different.No: Der, blant støvete kasser, lå en gammel ark av velour.En: There, among dusty boxes, lay an old sheet of velvet.No: Under den skjulte stoffet en liten, utsøkt statue av en Nok-prosjekt fra 1800-tallet.En: Under the fabric, a small, exquisite statue from a Nok-project of the 1800s was hidden.No: Det var en betydelig oppdagelse som knyttet norsk ingeniørkunst med historiens gang.En: It was a significant discovery that connected Norwegian engineering with the course of history.No: "Fantastisk!En: "Amazing!"No: " utbrøt Sigrid, lyset fra en lommelykt reflekterte i øynene hennes.En: exclaimed Sigrid, the light from a flashlight reflecting in her eyes.No: "Dette er historien jeg lette etter.En: "This is the story I was looking for."No: " Med denne oppdagelsen forstod Lars at noen hemmeligheter kan deles, spesielt hvis de bringer folk sammen.En: With this discovery, Lars realized that some secrets can be shared, especially if they bring people together.No: Snøstormen begynte å lette.En: The snowstorm began to ease.No: Sigrid og Lars så på hverandre med nye øyne.En: Sigrid and Lars looked at each other with new eyes.No: "Takk," sa Lars, litt overrasket over sin egen åpenhet.En: "Thank you," said Lars, a little surprised by his own openness.No: "Vi burde jobbe sammen oftere.En: "We should work together more often."No: "Sigrid nikket, fylt av takknemlighet.En: Sigrid nodded, filled with gratitude.No: "Ja, det burde vi.En: "Yes, we should.No: Tenk på hva vi kan finne neste gang.En: Imagine what we can find next time."No: "Da de trådte ut fra bunkeren, møtte de en verden dekket av snøens glans.En: As they stepped out of the bunker, they were met with a world covered in the brilliance of the snow.No: Julens ånd hang i luften, og en ny forståelse mellom dem.En: The spirit of Christmas hung in the air, and a new understanding between them.No: Sigrid forlot bunkeren med en historie som ville engasjere hennes lesere, og Lars med en ny tro på verdien av samarbeid.En: Sigrid left the bunker with a story that would engage her readers, and Lars with a new belief in the value of collaboration.No: Verden var fremdeles kald, men det var varmere i deres hjerter.En: The world was still cold, but it was warmer in their hearts.No: De gikk hver sin vei, men med en felles tanke om fremtidige eventyr.En: They went their separate ways, but with a shared thought of future adventures. Vocabulary Words:forecasted: varsletsnowstorm: snøstormresidents: innbyggereindoors: innendørshurried: hastetsnowflakes: snøflakeneshelter: lybunker: bunkerunderground: under bakkensecrets: hemmeligheterbygone: svunnenheritage: arvdocuments: dokumenteneitems: gjenstandenecautiously: forsiktigstrangers: fremmedeconfident: selvsikkerskeptical: skeptiskhesitated: nølteunique: unikreplaced: erstattetcuriosity: nysgjerrighetechoed: ga ekkoforgotten: glemteexquisite: utsøktsignificant: betydeligdiscovery: oppdagelseease: lettegratitude: takknemlighetbrilliance: glans

More than 3,800 Starbucks baristas have joined a nationwide strike since mid-November. They're demanding increased staffing, more predictable hours, and better wages. To talk about the exploitation of service workers like baristas, host Allen Ruff is joined by Annie McClanahan who says that the struggle of Starbucks workers to get a fair contract is very common across low-wage service work. More than 80% of the nation's workforce is in the service sector. It's made up of doctors, lawyers, and restaurant workers, all united in the ways that their labor can't be scaled up, automated, or outsourced. McClanahan describes how this sector also includes 75% of the folks earning minimum wage or sub-minimum wage, folks who are more likely to live below the poverty line and less likely to be protected from maximum hour or minimum wage protections. Because service work doesn't produce a “product” in a classical sense and because this labor is often racialized and feminized, service work is excluded from labor reforms and regulations.  McClanahan outlines a few ways that service workers become prey to “super-exploitation” – through intensifying and surveilling technologies and through the informalization of policies and contracts. The result is that service workers get stuck in what McClanahan calls “reproductive rifts” where people who deliver groceries can't afford groceries, or people who provide childcare can't afford their own childcare.  McClanahan says that conceptualizations of capitalism that are tied to industrial manufacturing are complicated by the rise of the service sector, which requires a different relationship between wages and technology. They also talk about the outsized influence of the National Restaurant Association and the difference between gig work and the service industry, namely that gig workers aren't paid hourly but through wage algorithms that are black boxed. Gig work draws on traditions of tipped work but adds to it forms of technological exploitation from wage algorithms and GPS systems, management by app, and the targeting of migrant workers for this kind of labor.  Meanwhile, rank and file Starbucks workers are making demands. And McClanahan says that service workers are drawing on tactics of domestic worker unions that aren't just about wages, but about rent control, mutual aid, and more.  Annie McClanahan is an Associate Professor of English at University of California, Irvine. She writes about U.S. popular culture, political economy, and contemporary capitalism and is the author of Dead Pledges: Debt, Crisis, and 21st Century Culture. Her second book, Beneath the Wage: Tips, Tasks, and Gigs in the Age of Service Work, is forthcoming in 2026. Featured image of Starbucks workers rally and march in 2022 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0). Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate hereThe post From Tips to Gigs to the Picket Line appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

In this seasonal episode, hosts Allison and Mandy explore the deeper meaning of the Winter Solstice, Yule, and the ancient roots beneath modern Christmas. Together, they reflect on this sacred turning point in the Wheel of the Year—a time long honoured as the return of the light after the darkest night.They begin with the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, symbolizing stillness, death and rebirth, and the quiet trust that light always returns—even when growth isn't yet visible.The conversation then moves into Yule, an ancient Pagan celebration rooted in Norse, Germanic, and Celtic traditions. Through symbols like evergreens, fire, the hearth, sacred animals, and communal feasting, Yule represents humanity's ritual response to the turning of the sun.Allison and Mandy also explore how Christmas came to sit at this time of year, explaining how early Christianity layered itself over existing Solstice festivals—preserving many pre-Christian symbols that still live on today.The episode gently reframes our relationship with darkness, reminding listeners that it was once seen as fertile, womb-like, and sacred—not something to fear.Listeners are offered simple, modern ways to honour the season, including candle rituals, ancestral remembrance, time in nature, storytelling, and allowing rest and stillness.The episode closes with a powerful reminder: you don't have to choose between traditions. Solstice, Yule, and Christmas can coexist—and the season belongs to everyone.“The light was never lost. It was only waiting to be remembered.”⸻Contact & OfferingsFor intuitive readings, mentorship, and spiritual support with Allison at The Luminant Soul, reach out at:

Christmas is just around the corner, and Mike has a lot of gifts for you today on this special Christmas episode of The Power of God and Anime Podcast! He joins in the 12 Days of Christmas Anime series here at Beneath the Tangles by looking at a Christmas party in DENKI-GAI and comparing how… Read More 12 Days of Christmas Anime, Day 5 x The Power of God and Anime Podcast, Episode 34: DENKI-GAI and Our Christmas Party

Deep sea hydrothermal vents reveal a hidden world where life thrives without sunlight, forcing scientists to rethink how ecosystems can exist in extreme heat, pressure, and darkness. Nearly two kilometers beneath the Pacific Ocean, superheated fluids erupt from the seafloor at Endeavour, creating environments that challenge everything we thought we knew about life on Earth and how it survives. Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are not isolated deep ocean curiosities, they actively influence the chemistry of the entire Pacific Ocean. In this episode, scientists explain how minerals and iron released at Endeavour can be traced thousands of kilometers across the ocean, fueling productivity far from the vents themselves and connecting deep ocean processes to surface ecosystems in surprising ways. Ocean Networks Canada enables this discovery through one of only two cabled deep-sea observatories in the world, allowing scientists to monitor volcanic activity, chemistry, and biodiversity in real time. This episode explores why Endeavour is one of the most important natural laboratories on the planet, what it teaches us about the origins of life, and how it may even help us understand life beyond Earth. Surprising insight: the fluids released at Endeavour do not disappear into the ocean, they can be chemically traced across the entire Pacific, meaning deep-sea activity shapes ocean life on a planetary scale.   Help fund a new seagrass podcast: https://www.speakupforblue.com/seagrass Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow Connect with Speak Up For Blue Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube    

In Episode 19 with Archangel Metatron, and our final channeled segment of 2025 with Archangel Metatron and Wendy Gayle, Metatron answers The Listeners Questions. Metatron aswers questions such as, how many dimensions of earth are there? What is ringing in the ear? What does seeing an owl represent? Why is time moving so quickly and what is 2026 going to bring? Mayra Rath is a spiritual hypnotherapist specializing in Past Life Regression Therapy , ET Abduction Therapy and QHHT Hypnosis. With over 26 years of experience, she has guided countless individuals through transformative journeys into their past lives, helping them uncover deep-rooted patterns and heal emotional wounds and traumas connected to previous incarnations.Based in Los Angeles, Mayra conducts sessions through her private practice, Soul Signs Hypnosis. ikMayra frequently shares her expertise through public lectures on the profound subject of past lives, quantum hypnosis, spirit guides, working with Archangel Metatron.Mayra Rath is a Spiritual Hypnotherapist specializing in Past Life Regression Therapy and QHHT Hypnosis. With over 25 years of experience, she has guided countless individuals through transformative journeys into their past lives, helping them uncover deep-rooted patterns and heal emotional wounds and traumas connected to previous incarnations.Based in Los Angeles, Mayra conducts sessions through her private practice, Soul Signs Hypnosis, both in-person and remotely.Connect with me Website: https://www.soulsigns.netSocial Media:TIKTOK:@SoulSignsHypnosisInstagram:@SoulSignsHypnosisFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1009959799420939 Youtube: @SoulSignsHypnosisPODCAST: Past Lives with Mayra Rath (Apple & Spotify)#pastlivespodcast #starseedmeaning #starseedactivations #qhhtpractitioner #qhhtsessions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a near-future world ravaged by the memory-wiping virus X9, brilliant young scientist Andrea Santiago discovers a suppressed cure hidden by the powerful Biotech Pharmaceuticals. Having once been recruited into the system she now seeks to dismantle, Andrea grapples with betrayal, moral compromise, and the overwhelming cost of truth. https://www.instagram.com/sarantosmelogia Get to know the writer: What is your screenplay about? X9 explores what happens when the boundaries between human emotion and artificial intelligence blur. It's a sci-fi thriller wrapped around a deeply human question: what defines love, loyalty, and consciousness when technology begins to feel? Beneath the futuristic setting lies a story about redemption, sacrifice, and the fragile line between creator and creation. What genres does your screenplay fall under? It's primarily a sci-fi thriller with strong psychological and emotional drama elements. Think Ex Machina meets Blade Runner 2049, but with the emotional core of Her. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie? Because X9 reflects where we are right now — standing at the crossroads of ethics, emotion, and evolution. It's a visual and emotional experience that invites audiences to question their relationship with technology and each other. It's thrilling, thought-provoking, and cinematic in a way that blends spectacle with soul. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! On the outside, it's a stately 24-room mansion—brick, elegant, and frozen in time. On the inside, the Historic Hannah House in Indianapolis feels like it's still holding its breath. Today on The Grave Talks, we step inside the world of Alexander Hannah, a man who left Indiana for the gold rush and returned home with enough fortune to build a grand estate… and possibly hide a much darker secret. For generations, whispers have circulated that Hannah quietly used his home as a stop on the Underground Railroad, sheltering those fleeing slavery in the basement below. According to legend, one tragic night turned that act of courage into catastrophe—transforming the cellar into a mass grave for those who never made it to freedom. Are these stories just local lore, or does the house itself remember exactly what happened? Joining us are paranormal investigator and volunteer Brooke Boyer, and Bud Kelly, event coordinator at the Hannah House. They've spent countless hours within its rooms, listening to the knocks, voices, cold spots, and disembodied footsteps that seem to echo from another time. Is Alexander still watching over his home? And are the souls that may have perished there still trying to tell their story? This is Part Two of our conversation. #TheGraveTalks #HannahHouse #HistoricHannahHouse #HauntedIndiana #IndianapolisHistory #UndergroundRailroad #HauntedMansion #ParanormalPodcast #TrueGhostStories #HistoricHauntings #GhostsOfIndiana #ParanormalInvestigation  For more information about the mansion, tours and investigations, visit their website at historichannahmansion.com or search Historic Hannah House on Facebook. Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

On today's page, Zevachim 93, the Talmud teaches that even a trace of sacrificial blood must be treated with the same care as the entire offering. Beneath the technical details lies a profound moral vision about the holiness of life itself. If no drop of blood is expendable, how should that change how we see human dignity? Listen and find out. To support Tablet and make a tax-deductible donation, click here

Michael Bernstein has spent his entire career solving problems most people never see.As a college student given only $1,000 to last four years, Michael had no safety net and no days off. To survive, he built a sweater business from scratch, negotiating directly with his uncle, who owned one of the largest U.S. sweater mills. With no family discounts and a one-time credit, Michael would buy closeouts at full price and resell them on campus. He struck a deal with the Dean for premium selling space, expanded to 20 colleges across the East Coast, and became the mill's largest buyer—all while attending classes. By senior year, he had generated more than a million dollars in sales and graduated able to buy his first car in cash. That relentless resourcefulness carried into his career, where he rose to senior roles in a $2.5B apparel company and later invented the MRI-safe, metal-free plastic snap that transformed hospital gowns and has now been used in over 30 million gowns worldwide.Early on, he developed a small but revolutionary innovation in healthcare: an MRI-safe, metal-free plastic snap for hospital gowns. It seems like a minor detail — until you learn it's now been used in over 30 million gowns worldwide, changing how hospitals think about safety, laundering, and patient dignity. That experience taught him something essential: the right material, used in the right place, can disrupt an entire institution.Years later, while touring a sustainable brewery, Michael noticed something that didn't match the marketing. Beneath all the environmentally friendly messaging sat hundreds of virgin-wood pallets — the backbone of the operation and a major driver of deforestation. At that moment, the problem crystallized: sustainability messaging meant nothing if the infrastructure underneath it was still destroying forests.This sparked a new question:What if the materials we throw away could replace the materials we're overusing?That insight led Michael to apparel waste — a global problem he knew intimately from decades in the textile industry. Denim scraps, cotton remnants, and discarded clothing are burned or buried by the millions of tons each year. If textile waste could be re-engineered into a strong, injection-molded material, it could become the base of products that currently rely on wood or virgin plastic.This wasn't recycling.This was redesigning waste into something new.More Info: Bernastic.comSponsors: Become a Guest on Master Leadership Podcast: Book HereAgency Sponsorships: Book GuestsMaster Your Podcast Course: MasterYourSwagFree Coaching Session: Master Leadership 360 CoachingSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/masterleadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, host Jason Blitman sits down with Alex Snodgrass (aka The Defined Dish) to talk all things book club menus—how to plan them, why they matter, and how food can deepen the reading experience. Using Alex's recent book club gathering for Conform as a case study, the conversation expands to include Conform author Ariel Sullivan, who joins to unpack the creative collaboration behind the menu and the meal. As part of our celebration of people doing interesting things with books, Ariel also shares a peek into her ambitious storytelling vision—including how her series isn't just a trilogy, but a trilogy of trilogies.Alex's invite, menu, recipes, photos, and MORE conversation can be found over on the Gays Reading Substack. Alex Snodgrass is a food lover, health enthusiast, and founder of the popular blog and social media outlet The Defined Dish. She is a recipe developer and food stylist from Dallas, where she lives with her husband and two young daughters. She is a master at substituting clean ingredients to create bold flavors in the kitchen and her recipes are perfect for any level of home cook. In 2018, Alex won the "Most Inspired Weeknight Dinners" Saveur Blog Award, and she continues to share her love for creating special moments around the dinner table.Ariel Sullivan is the author of Conform and Beneath. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two sons, and their two French bulldogs. Growing up a military brat, Ariel moved every two years as a perpetual new kid; Ariel often observed from the outskirts, where a deep love of reading was born. When she isn't writing, Ariel loves to read everything from poetry to psychology, bake with her sons, listen to live music, and travel.Sign up for the Gays Reading Book Club HERESUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! CONTACT! hello@gaysreading.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! On the outside, it's a stately 24-room mansion—brick, elegant, and frozen in time. On the inside, the Historic Hannah House in Indianapolis feels like it's still holding its breath. Today on The Grave Talks, we step inside the world of Alexander Hannah, a man who left Indiana for the gold rush and returned home with enough fortune to build a grand estate… and possibly hide a much darker secret. For generations, whispers have circulated that Hannah quietly used his home as a stop on the Underground Railroad, sheltering those fleeing slavery in the basement below. According to legend, one tragic night turned that act of courage into catastrophe—transforming the cellar into a mass grave for those who never made it to freedom. Are these stories just local lore, or does the house itself remember exactly what happened? Joining us are paranormal investigator and volunteer Brooke Boyer, and Bud Kelly, event coordinator at the Hannah House. They've spent countless hours within its rooms, listening to the knocks, voices, cold spots, and disembodied footsteps that seem to echo from another time. Is Alexander still watching over his home? And are the souls that may have perished there still trying to tell their story? #TheGraveTalks #HannahHouse #HistoricHannahHouse #HauntedIndiana #IndianapolisHistory #UndergroundRailroad #HauntedMansion #ParanormalPodcast #TrueGhostStories #HistoricHauntings #GhostsOfIndiana #ParanormalInvestigation  For more information about the mansion, tours and investigations, visit their website at historichannahmansion.com or search Historic Hannah House on Facebook. Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

On the 3rd Nightmare Before Christmas... On the sweltering evening of July 14, 1982, a call came into the Waco Police Department that would shatter the community's sense of safety. Two teenage boys, fishing near the shores of Lake Waco at Speegleville Park, had stumbled across a scene no one could have imagined. Beneath a tree lay a teenage boy. His hands were bound tightly behind his back, a gag shoved into his mouth, sunglasses still shielding his eyes. His chest had been punctured repeatedly. Moments later, officers discovered two more bodies scattered across the park. In that moment, Lake Waco would forever be etched in the memory of a town that had lost its innocence. Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast, entitled "The Lake Waco Murders." Murders: Day 3:12 Nightmares Before Christmas". Thank you to our incredible team: Listener discretion by Edward October @octoberpodVHS. Executive Producer/Music by @theinkypawprint  Sources:  https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075726/http://www.lakewacomurders.com/html/Melendez%20Pleads%20Guilty.PDF https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_Lake_Waco_murders https://www.kwtx.com/2022/07/13/lake-waco-murders-40-years-later-attorneys-believe-wrongfully-convicted-man-executed/ https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/25/opinion/the-wrong-man.html?src=pm https://www.amazon.com/Careless-Whispers-Lake-Waco-Murders/dp/0671646060 https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Texas_Gavel_Awards&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=19539 http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1991_795370/conviction-overturned-inmate-now-seeks-a-job-deeb.html https://www.texasmonthly.com/true-crime/the-murders-at-the-lake/ http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/3-decades-after-brutal-killings-last-defendant-10858867.php https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081445/http://www.lakewacomurders.com/html/indictments%20near%20teenagers%20deaths.PDF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices