Podcasts about Bhutan

The Ecosystem of Exile Politics: Why Proximity and Precarity Matter for Bhutan's Homeland Activists (Cornell UP, 2024), relays the events in Bhutan that led to the exodus of one-sixth of the population, and then recounts the activism by Bhutan's refugee diaspora that followed in response. Susan Banki asserts that activism functions like a physical ecosystem, in which hubs of activism in different locations interact to pressure the home country. For Bhutan's refugee mobilizers, physical proximity offers advantages in Nepal and India, where organizing protests, lobbying, and collecting information about government abuse in Bhutan is aided by being close to the homeland. But in an ecosystem of exile politics, proximity is both a boon and a bane. Sites proximate to Bhutan can be spaces of risk and disempowerment, and refugee activists rarely secure legal, political, and social protection. While distant diasporas in the Global North may not be in precarious situations, they cannot tap into the advantages of proximity. In examining these phenomena, The Ecosystem of Exile Politics adds to theoretical understandings of exile politics and to empirical research on Bhutan and its refugee population. Susan Banki is an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. She studies the political, institutional, and social contexts that explain the roots of and solutions to human rights violations and social justice abuses, with a specific focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

The Ecosystem of Exile Politics: Why Proximity and Precarity Matter for Bhutan's Homeland Activists (Cornell UP, 2024), relays the events in Bhutan that led to the exodus of one-sixth of the population, and then recounts the activism by Bhutan's refugee diaspora that followed in response. Susan Banki asserts that activism functions like a physical ecosystem, in which hubs of activism in different locations interact to pressure the home country. For Bhutan's refugee mobilizers, physical proximity offers advantages in Nepal and India, where organizing protests, lobbying, and collecting information about government abuse in Bhutan is aided by being close to the homeland. But in an ecosystem of exile politics, proximity is both a boon and a bane. Sites proximate to Bhutan can be spaces of risk and disempowerment, and refugee activists rarely secure legal, political, and social protection. While distant diasporas in the Global North may not be in precarious situations, they cannot tap into the advantages of proximity. In examining these phenomena, The Ecosystem of Exile Politics adds to theoretical understandings of exile politics and to empirical research on Bhutan and its refugee population. Susan Banki is an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. She studies the political, institutional, and social contexts that explain the roots of and solutions to human rights violations and social justice abuses, with a specific focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are so many vulnerable populations around the world, and it's hard to keep up with them all. One group that sustained very serious abuse is the Hindu community in the Asian nation of Bhutan. Oddly, for centuries there existed a comity between Hindus and Buddhists that was inspiring to see. In Nepal, many people practice both. So it's quite disheartening to learn that over 20 years ago, the despotic Buddhist king of Bhutan expelled over 100,000 Hindu citizens of Nepali heritage. For 2 decades these hardworking people lived in cramped huts in refugee camps in Nepal before being dispersed to welcoming countries. In these episodes we talk with Narad Adhikari from the Global Bhutanese Hindu Organization about this travesty that he, his family and many dear friends survived and ultimately thrived. This one is a heartbreaker, kids. But very inspirational. Theme music "Nigal."

In der heutigen Folge sprechen Calso und Zetti mit Weezel über die Kredite, die der IWF und die Weltbank im Rahmen der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit vergeben.Dabei werfen sie einen Blick auf die historische Entwicklung dieser Instrumente und welche Folgen die Kredivergabe für Länder des globalen Südens hat. Eine besondere Rolle hierbei spielt die Frage, welche Handlungsmöglichkeiten Staaten und Individuen haben, wenn die Verschuldung bereits eingeteten ist. Kann Bitcoin eine Lösung sein? Hört rein und findet es heraus...Von und mit: - Calso - Weezel - ZettizettlerProduziert und geschnitten: ZettiHier könnt ihr uns eine Spende über Lightning da lassen: ⚡️nodesignal@getalby.comZusätzlich haben wir auch einen Silent Payment Link: sp1qq0a2rles9y32ffmj0eawvjglgqsgj7hq99ers580l98k42a7rh9szq3sa50fh2e5lwf22fxcjy0qw88u72vlj328qr39da245sq4nrskuqvvv5l4Neben dem Podcast findet ihr uns auch auf YouTubeFür Feedback und weitergehenden Diskussionen kommt gerne in die Telegramgruppe von Nodesignal und bewertet uns bei Spotify und Apple Podcasts, das hilft uns sehr. Folgt uns auch gerne bei Nostr:npub1n0devk3h2l3rx6vmt24a3lz4hsxp7j8rn3x44jkx6daj7j8jzc0q2u02cy und Twitter.Blockzeit: 934510Der angesprochene Artikel zum ThemaVortrag beim 3. Bitcoinforum in IngolstadtDie Puppenspieler / Hidden Repression bei AprycotBitcoin ist sozial mit WeezelUmweltkosten von nicht-digitalem Gold mit WeezelKwame Nkrumah, Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism (London: Thomas Nelson, 1965)Cheryl Payer, 1974, The Debt Trap: The IMF and the Third WorldIn eigener Sache:Folge zum CFA-FrancTimestamps:(00:00:00) Einführung(00:02:39) Weezels Hintergrund und Projekte(00:05:24) Entwicklungshilfe und Wasserprojekte(00:08:13) Neokolonialismus und Entwicklungshilfe(00:11:01) Theorien der Entwicklung: Modernisierung vs. Dependenz(00:14:02) Mechanismen der Abhängigkeit und Souveränität(00:16:53) Erfolgreiche Beispiele und Herausforderungen in Afrika(00:19:46) Einführung in den Schuldenkolonialismus(00:23:38) Neokolonialismus und seine Auswirkungen(00:25:46) Die Rolle von IWF und Weltbank(00:29:36) Der Kreislauf der Verschuldung(00:33:28) Zinsmechanismen und Machtverhältnisse(00:38:28) Bitcoin als mögliche Lösung?(00:44:02) Die geopolitischen Implikationen von Schulden(00:44:23) Finanzielle Unabhängigkeit und Goldkäufe(00:46:32) Bhutan und Bitcoin-Mining als Lösung(00:50:18) Herausforderungen für den Globalen Süden(00:53:30) Rohstofffluch und wirtschaftliche Abhängigkeit(00:57:00) Umweltfolgen des Goldabbaus(01:01:36) Individuelle Handlungsmöglichkeiten und Bitcoin(01:07:15) Die Herausforderungen der Stablecoins und Bitcoin(01:09:46) Chinas Einfluss auf die Weltwirtschaft(01:12:25) Die Rolle des IWF und der Weltbank(01:17:39) Entwicklungszusammenarbeit: Chancen und Risiken(01:24:21) Abschlussdiskussion und Ausblick(01:26:49) Boosts

If you are after more conversations from #UWRF25, take this latest highlight session with you on your early commute or as you unwind after a busy day.In this illuminating conversation, Scottish historian and author Sam Dalrymple goes back in time to when, as recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait—was bound together under the single imperial banner known as the Indian Empire, or simply the Raj. Join host Husnara Khanom as Dalrymple explores five partitions and Asia's enduring legacy of war, exile, and division.You can enjoy this latest highlight session, recorded live at our 2025 Festival, at ubudwritersfestival.com/media and on podcast platforms including Spotify and Simplecast.

Those who hope to honor God and advance Jesus' Kingdom face powerful opposition from spiritual, physical, and psychological enemies. Successful launching and long term fruitfulness depends on recognizing and, in dependence on the Holy Spirit, waging war against those enemies.

"Sometimes just doing more is not the solution." In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with David Mendes, a bilingual podcaster, medical writer, and creator of Papa PhD. Originally from Portugal, raised in Belgium, and now based in Montreal, David shares his journey through academia, translation, and eventually podcasting as a form of rebellion and reinvention. This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. After completing his PhD in biology, David faced the all-too-familiar crossroads many graduate students encounter: a lack of academic jobs, identity loss, and the anxiety of "what now?" Instead of pushing harder on a path that didn't feel right, he started talking to other postgrads—scientists, entrepreneurs, creatives—about what came after their degrees. Those conversations became Papa PhD, a podcast now more than 300 episodes strong. David opens up about the evolution of the show, from a passion project to a growing community of global listeners navigating career uncertainty. He shares how podcasting transformed his sense of self, taught him how to connect, and gave him the confidence to speak onstage. Along the way, they talk about creative rituals, the magic of sci-fi and philosophy, Portuguese comfort food, Japanese art, and the importance of laughing with other humans. David's insights on imposter syndrome, over-pedalling, and finding your own flavour of success are deeply honest and profoundly useful. His advice to rebels in waiting: don't compare, don't wait until you're "ready"—just get in the game. The world needs your version of the thing. Quoteable Quotes "Sometimes just doing more is not the solution." — David Mendes"You're depriving the world of your flavour of the thing." — David Mendes"It's the unknown that brings up imposter feelings." — David Mendes"The world needs more Rebecca, Rebecca." — Michael Dargie"Sometimes you've got to stop pedalling and look around." — David Mendes Episode Highlights Academic Reboot | Why David created Papa PhD for grad studentsFrom Language to Life Science | Medical writing and translation workPermission to Pivot | Letting go of the professor pathPodcast Confidence | How speaking into a mic changed everythingScience Meets Art | Supporting a PhD student's neuron-inspired paintingsVIP Guest List | Who David dreams of getting on the podcastSlow Down | The over-pedalling analogy that explains burnoutFood of Home | Portuguese codfish and egg tartsCultural Curiosity | Why Japan and Bhutan top his travel listAdvice to Rebels | Don't compare—do your version of the thingImposter Syndrome | Talk to it, but don't let it drive Links From Episode Papa PhD Website (https://papaphd.com/)David on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmendesdasilva/) David on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PapaPhD) David on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/papaphdpodcast/) Threads (https://www.threads.com/@papaphdpodcast) X (https://x.com/PapaPhDPodcast) Get Your Copy of Michael's Book: "BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable" Indigo | Barnes & Noble | MichaelDargie.com

In this episode, I take you along for one unforgettable day in Bhutan that perfectly captures the country's culture, spirituality, and everyday life.The day begins dressed in a traditional gho before heading high into the Himalayas for the Druk Wangyel Festival at Dochula Pass. With clear skies, snow-capped peaks in the background, and vibrant performances by the Royal Bhutan Army, this festival is one of Bhutan's most visually striking and patriotic celebrations.After the festival, we descend into the Punakha Valley, stopping for lunch before setting off on a walk through authentic Bhutanese countryside. This walk takes us through Sopsokha Village and Teopronghu Village, passing rice paddies, prayer flags, family homes, and locals going about their daily lives — offering a real glimpse into rural Bhutan away from the usual tourist trail.Check out my previous Bhutan episodesEpisode 1 Interview with Ugyen Rinzin - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/winging-it-podcast/id1559489384?i=1000743770563Episode 2 - IMMERSIVE Hiking to Tiger's Nest Monastery - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/winging-it-podcast/id1559489384?i=1000744754502Episode 3 - Days 1-3 solo episode - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/winging-it-podcast/id1559489384?i=1000745691316Episode 4 - Interview with a female monk - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/winging-it-podcast/id1559489384?i=1000747763604

Markets are deep in risk-off mode as crypto winter tightens its grip. The ECB and Bank of England both held rates, with the BoE signaling it may be nearing the end of its easing cycle. UK political turmoil hit the pound, while tech stocks continued to unravel — AMD plunged 17%, Qualcomm disappointed, and Alphabet slid after announcing a massive increase in AI spending. Precious metals saw extreme volatility again, with silver crashing 15%, gold slipping, and oil falling after the U.S. and Iran agreed to hold talks. In macro data, German factory orders surged, but Eurozone retail sales fell, raising concerns about consumer demand. In crypto, Bitcoin dropped to $69,000, pushing the market back into Extreme Fear. Bhutan appears to be selling BTC it has mined since 2019, ETH hovered near $2,000, and scrutiny intensified around Trump-linked World Liberty Financial. CME also hinted it may explore issuing its own token.

Make your travel life smoother with these great (mostly free) travel apps.   On today's show, you'll learn about the best recommended travel apps for planning, to save money, transportation, lodging, food and activities, getting around, security, translation, plus some solid travel tips from the world travelers on my recent Bhutan adventure as well as highly rated travel apps from other hard core travelers. COMPLETE SHOW NOTES  See a list of all the apps mentioned on today's show. Get FREE Travel Planners, Checklists and Packing Lists for ATA adventures (and each month you will get an email from Kit with links to all future Travel Planners (no spam promise!).  Get the monthly newsletter here. CONTACT KIT Resources  RECOMMENDED TOUR COMPANIES ******* EMAIL ME FOR PROMO DISCOUNT CODES***** Saily Affordable eSIM Overseas Mobile Phone Plans - No need to insert a physical SIM card when you travel.  Buy just the data you need to avoid expensive roaming charges.  Use Promo Code SPECIAL5 to save 5% Travel Insurance:  Quickly and easily compare rates and policies from different companies - no need to give any identifying information unless you decide to buy!  The best way to find the right policy for your adventures.  High Altitude Travel Insurance: Most insurance policies do NOT cover high altitude adventures.  Check out Rise & Shield for your next mega adventure! Train For Your Adventure  Ask Becki at Trailblazer Wellness to customize an at home, online personal training program for your upcoming adventure using whatever equipment you already have!  You'll get phone consultations, instruction videos and a plan to give you the best chance of success.  Becki offers a FREE initial phone consultation to see if you are a good fit.  AND she offers ATA listeners a 10% discount! Buy Me a Beer Want to support the program?  You can always buy me a coffee or beer - thanks! Tinggly:  Give Gift Experiences instead of stuff - plus your loved one gets to choose! Promo Code ACTIVETRAVEL saves up up to 20% Amazon Kit's Picks   Please use my Amazon link to access your Amazon account.  Even if you don't purchase any of my recommendations, I get credit for anything you DO purchase - at no additional cost to you, you'll be helping to support the show and keeping it AD FREE:) SUBSCRIBE to Active Travel Adventures (fantastic adventure destinations) Join the Active Travel Adventures Facebook Group Follow ATA on Instagram Follow ATA on Pinterest (C) Active Travel Adventures, LLC - All Rights Reserved  

Medical missionaries often feel powerful emotional burden from moral injury, and it is a leading cause of departure from the mission field. But we have learned proven methods of preventing and dealing with moral injury. Use God’s powerful methods to protect yourself and your team, and to grow in wisdom and spirit!

In this episode of Driving Inspector Success, Mike Crow shares powerful lessons on showing up in business, in family, and in life. From exploring the potential of AI and creative breakthroughs to reflections on Will Smith's Pole to Pole journey and Bhutan's happiness philosophy, Mike challenges us to think beyond money and focus on meaning. He reveals why purpose, connection, and balance are the real success markers and invites you to experience that transformation firsthand at Mission26.com.Get your tickets to Mission 26 and have your best year ever!Mission 26 Unlock the Power of Mike's #1 Referral-Generating Marketing SystemGet full details here... BBM+ Who is Mike Crow?Mike Crow is a Marketing and Business Expert who has built and managed multiple 7-figure businesses, including two 7-figure inspection firms.For the past 15 years, he's coached thousands of other inspection business owners and has personally helped 100+ companies grow to $1,000,000+ in annual revenue. He has also helped multiple single-inspector operations earn 6-figure annual revenues (some surpassing $300,000).Mike can teach any entrepreneur how to systematize and market their business to achieve their personal and professional goals.

In this episode of Driving Inspector Success, Mike Crow shares powerful lessons on showing up in business, in family, and in life. From exploring the potential of AI and creative breakthroughs to reflections on Will Smith's Pole to Pole journey and Bhutan's happiness philosophy, Mike challenges us to think beyond money and focus on meaning. He reveals why purpose, connection, and balance are the real success markers and invites you to experience that transformation firsthand at Mission26.com.Get your tickets to Mission 26 and have your best year ever!Mission 26 Unlock the Power of Mike's #1 Referral-Generating Marketing SystemGet full details here... BBM+ Who is Mike Crow?Mike Crow is a Marketing and Business Expert who has built and managed multiple 7-figure businesses, including two 7-figure inspection firms.For the past 15 years, he's coached thousands of other inspection business owners and has personally helped 100+ companies grow to $1,000,000+ in annual revenue. He has also helped multiple single-inspector operations earn 6-figure annual revenues (some surpassing $300,000).Mike can teach any entrepreneur how to systematize and market their business to achieve their personal and professional goals.

Bhutan Series w/ Breathe Bhutan Interview with Nun at Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery - Life as a Buddhist Nun in Modern BhutanIn this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery, an all-female Buddhist nunnery located above the Punakha Valley in Bhutan. This episode offers a rare look into the lives of Buddhist nuns and the important role this nunnery plays in supporting women within Bhutan's monastic system.Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery was established to provide both religious and practical education to nuns from across Bhutan, many of whom come from rural and remote regions. Alongside intensive training in Buddhist philosophy, meditation, chanting, and ritual practices, the nuns also study English, computer skills, and vocational crafts—helping prepare them for life both within and beyond the monastery.During my visit, the nunnery was preparing for final examinations, offering a unique insight into the academic structure of monastic life. You'll also hear immersive background sounds from the nunnery itself, adding context to the daily rhythm of study, prayer, and discipline.Following the introduction, I share a 10-minute interview with one of the resident nuns, conducted in English. In our conversation, she explains her daily routine, what she has studied over the years, her perspective on Buddhism in Bhutan, and what life looks like after completing the nine-year monastic education. She also shares why visitors should take the time to visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery and one key idea from Buddhism that she believes everyone should understand.This episode offers a thoughtful, grounded look at female monastic life in modern Bhutan, blending spiritual insight with real-world structure and purpose.

Bhutan ist ein Land, das Glück wichtiger nimmt als Wachstum – und genau dort setzt diese Folge an. Gelesen von Stefan Barth nach einem Text von Andreas Hottenrott führt Sie die Reportage ins Reich des Drachenkönigs, wo Bruttonationalglück Staatsziel ist, Klöster und Regierungsgebäude unter einem Dach leben und Natur nicht ausgebeutet, sondern geschützt wird.​Sie begegnen König Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck und Königin Jetsun Pema, erfahren, warum der Monarch Linienflug statt Privatjet wählt und wie tief Buddhismus, Mitgefühl und Bescheidenheit das Land prägen – von Strassenhunden in der Pandemie bis zur Alltagsnähe des Königspaares. Die Reise führt weiter zu Dzongs und Klöstern, über den Dochula-Pass zu Himalaya-Panoramen, in Werkstätten des Instituts für Zorig Chusum, zu Trekkingrouten und Raftingflüssen sowie in ikonische Hideaways wie die Amankora-Lodges und COMO Uma Punakha.​Ein besonderes Highlight ist der Blick in die Zukunft: die entstehende Gelephu Mindfulness City im Süden Bhutans – eine achtsame Modellstadt, die Spiritualität, Ökologie, Bildung und Innovationskraft miteinander verbindet. Eine Podcastfolge für alle, die sich für Himalaya-Kultur, nachhaltigen Luxus und die Frage interessieren, wie ein Land Glück, Tradition und Moderne neu denkt.​Werde Teil von Seazen Voyager I ist Ihr Ticket in die Seazen Welt – jetzt abonnieren und viermal im Jahr tief eintauchen in kunstvolle Reportagen, Fine Dining, Wein & Cocktails, Sport & Natur sowie inspirierende Reisen in die Schweiz, Europa und die Ferne. Sichern Sie sich für nur CHF 79.– pro Jahr vier hochwertige Seazen Bookazines im Print, den vollen digitalen Zugang zum kompletten Archiv und 20% Early-Bird-Vorteil auf ausgewählte Seazen Events – inklusive.​Jetzt abonnieren, einloggen und sofort auf alle bisherigen Ausgaben zugreifen – für mehr Reiseinspiration, bessere Hotelentscheidungen und Geschichten, die länger bleiben als der Check-out. https://seazentravel.com/product/voyager/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After experiencing Bhutan — a destination that sat at the very top of my travel list for years — I found myself in an unexpected place. Not rushing to plan the next trip, not chasing the next highlight, but sitting in a quiet lull and asking myself a simple question: what places won't leave my mind now?In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I share 16 places I can't stop thinking about travelling to right now — not as a bucket list, not as recommendations, but as an honest reflection on how travel inspiration shifts over time.Some of these destinations are familiar and grounding. Others are remote, challenging, or expansive in ways that feel both exciting and intimidating. From places shaped by silence and space, to cultures that feel like crossroads, to one destination that represents a deep exhale after years of movement, this episode explores why certain places keep calling — even when you're not ready to book a flight.Rather than counting down landmarks, I talk candidly about:What draws people to these places in the first placeWhy they keep resurfacing in my mindHow travel motivation changes after a trip that truly deliversThis is a reflective, solo episode for travellers who've ever finished a big trip and thought, “What now?”

In this episode of Revolutionize Your Retirement, host Dori Mintzer talks with Helen Hirsh Spence, founder of Top 60 Over 60, about reframing aging in the 21st century and confronting both external and internalized ageism. Helen shares her own story of becoming a social entrepreneur in her late 60s after a 35-year leadership career in education, and how subtle experiences of invisibility and lowered expectations led her to recognize ageism in herself and in the culture around her.The conversation dives into what ageism looks and sounds like, everyday comments, workplace nudges to retire, birthday-card humor, and “senior moment” jokes, and why these messages quietly erode confidence, opportunity, and health. Helen introduces the idea of “longevity literacy” and a “longevity mindset,” noting that we now live 20–30 years longer than previous generations and need a new life map beyond the old “learn–earn–retire” model. She and Dori discuss how people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond can pivot, re-skill, and design non-linear lives that include multiple purposes and periodic reinvention.Helen also talks about her work with individuals and organizations: helping older adults surface purpose, strengths, and an “entrepreneurial mindset,” and helping employers become age-ready by recognizing the value of older workers' experience and institutional knowledge. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, stepping out of one's comfort zone, building multi-generational connections, and cultivating supportive networks that challenge limiting beliefs about aging.About the Guest – Helen Hirsh SpenceHelen Hirsh Spence is a trailblazing advocate for longevity literacy and a leading voice in the fight against ageism. She is the founder of Top 60 Over 60, a niche consultancy and thought-leadership platform that challenges outdated stereotypes about aging and showcases the value of older adults in today's workforce and society.Before launching her social enterprise in her late 60s, Helen spent more than 35 years as a senior leader in public and private education, including roles as a language teacher, secondary school principal, founding executive of the Ontario Principals' Council, and head of an all-girls school in Ottawa. A lifelong learner and traveler, she has done volunteer advisory work in Honduras, Bolivia, the Canadian Arctic, India, and Bhutan, and even climbed Kilimanjaro at 58.Key Topics We CoverLongevity literacy and the new map of life: living 20–30 years longer and outgrowing the learn–earn–retire model.Longevity mindset: reframing expectations, health span, and the opportunities of extra decades.Purpose in later life: self-awareness, revisiting values, multiple evolving purposes, and getting out of your comfort zone.The entrepreneurial mindset (for business or life): creativity, spotting opportunity, re-skilling, and embracing change.Connect with Helen Hirsh SpenceWebsite & Resources: Top 60 Over 60 – articles, talks, media, and program information.LinkedIn: Age Sense - Fresh perspectives & insights on shifting demographics, longevity & age inclusivity, reflectionsWhat to do next: Click to grab our free guide, 10 Key Issues to Consider as You Explore Your Retirement Transition Please leave a review at Apple Podcasts. Join our Revolutionize Your Retirement group on Facebook.

Note: This episode originally aired in October 2023. Snow leopards are among the hardest animals to find in the wild, both because of how rare they are, and because their coats are adapted to provide camouflage that makes them hard to see against the rugged mountain landscape they call home. With an estimated 4,000-6,500 snow leopards remaining in the wild, conservationists have been working in snow leopard range countries across Asia to build a more stable future for these big cats. And recently, Bhutan reported some good news: the population of snow leopards in that country has increased by nearly 40% since 2016. In this episode, you'll hear from Dechen Dorji, Senior Director for Asia on WWF's Wildlife Conservation team. He talks about the many characteristics that make snow leopards unique (5:07), the threats that have caused snow leopard populations to decline (13:01), and what we can learn from Bhutan's recent success to help snow leopards thrive across all 12 range countries they call home (17:52). Links for More Info:  WWF Snow Leopard page Press Release: Bhutan National Snow Leopard Survey Dechen Dorji bio

New @greenpillnet pod out today!

Whether you’re a seasoned team member or preparing for your first trip, short-term mission trips have the potential to make a meaningful global impact. In this conversation, we’ll highlight five key principles that help ensure our efforts contribute to lasting, sustainable change in the communities we serve.

Solo Episode - Bhutan Series w/ Breathe Bhutan - Days 1–3: Everest Views, Sand Mandala Art, Epic Walks & A Breakfast with a LamaIn this solo episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I take you through Days 1 to 3 of my journey in Bhutan, sharing the sounds, stories, and real travel context behind one of the world's most fascinating destinations.From the unforgettable flight into Paro Airport with Himalayan views stretching all the way to Mount Everest, to my first encounters with Bhutanese food, culture, and daily life — this episode is designed to give you a true sense of what it feels like to arrive and begin travelling in Bhutan.I break down how travel in Bhutan actually works, including flights, visas, costs, accommodation standards, weather in December, and why guided travel is essential to experiencing the country properly. You'll hear about traditional sand mandala art, gentle acclimatisation walks through the Paro Valley, and the rhythm of life in Bhutan's cities and temples.The episode finishes with one of the most memorable moments of the trip: breakfast at a hilltop temple overlooking Thimphu called Wangditse Lhakhang, followed by a translated conversation with a Bhutanese lama, where we talk about happiness, belief, spirituality, and life in Bhutan today. A cool way to finish the episode!This is an audio-only episode built to let your imagination do the work — placing you right there through natural sound, reflection, and honest storytelling.In this episode, I also mention the two accommodations I stayed at, called Tiger's Nest Camp and Access Suites Hotel, both of which were fantastic!All in all, this is a classic episode to break down my first three days in Bhutan. For more information on Tiger's Nest, check out my immersive episode on the hike below.https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/winging-it-podcast/id1559489384?i=1000744754502https://open.spotify.com/episode/5R95iDSlJm84s1GjfMgHQK?si=bYR8RKubRWa4tX0_OWMmuAMy first episode of the series takes a deep dive into Bhutanese culture, Buddhism, and history through a great guy I met in Thimphu called Ugyen Rinzin. Check out this episode below. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/winging-it-podcast/id1559489384?i=1000743770563https://open.spotify.com/episode/1a4hmlsGoLvYmNRP52f2ps?si=x7UVHkJlRiKeczeYCKRxUAWhat You'll Hear in This EpisodeFlying into Paro and why it's one of the most spectacular landings in the worldWhat it really costs to travel in Bhutan and how the visa and tour system worksFirst impressions of Bhutanese culture, architecture, and daily lifeTraditional Bhutanese food explained — from chilli and cheese to butter teaThe meaning behind sand mandala art and impermanence in BuddhismGentle walks and hikes used to acclimatise to Bhutan's altitudeMorning sounds and views overlooking Thimphu from a remote temple (Wangditse Lhakhang)A translated interview with a lama on happiness, belief, and spiritualityWhy do authentic experiences in Bhutan rely so heavily on local...

Australia's 2026 migration plan introduces major changes, with the permanent migration intake set at 185,000 visas and international student visa numbers increasing to 295,000. The government is also implementing stricter student visa screening for applicants from India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, citing a rise in fraudulent visa applications. In conversation with registered migration agent Vaibhav Patel, we break down changes made to Australia's immigration policy in 2025 and discuss what migrants and international students can expect in 2026.

Gần đây, Bộ Di trú Úc đã nâng mức evidence level, tức mức kiểm tra hồ sơ, từ 2 lên 3 đối với du học sinh đến từ Ấn Độ, Nepal, Bangladesh và Bhutan. Quyết định này xuất phát từ việc cảnh sát Ấn Độ phát hiện một hệ thống làm bằng giả đại học quy mô lớn, ảnh hưởng nghiêm trọng đến hồ sơ visa du học.

Australia has introduced a series of changes to its international student visa program, tightening assessment settings for applicants from four South Asian countries, namely India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

IMMERSIVE – Bhutan Series w/ Breathe Bhutan – Hiking to Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) EPICIn this immersive, audio-only episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I take you with me as I hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) in Bhutan — one of the most iconic and spiritual hikes in the world.This episode starts early in the morning in Paro, with pre-hike nerves, breakfast, and my first distant glimpse of Tiger's Nest clinging to the mountainside. From there, we journey to the trailhead and begin the steady uphill climb through pine forests, open valleys, and sweeping mountain views.As I hike, I share real-time reactions, heavy breathing, and honest reflections as the monastery slowly reveals itself through the trees. About halfway up, I stop at the famous café for a much-needed coffee — and the first truly jaw-dropping view of Tiger's Nest sitting impossibly in the distance, tucked into the mountains.From there, the trail continues toward the most iconic viewpoints on the hike, where the scale of the monastery really sinks in. I take you to the famous photo spots before descending hundreds of steps, crossing bridges and waterfalls, and finally entering the temple itself.Inside Tiger's Nest, there are no cameras — only flickering butter lamps, chanting monks, incense in the air, and a deep sense of stillness. I reflect on what it felt like to experience the monastery without distractions, and why this hike is considered one of the most unforgettable experiences in Bhutan.The episode finishes with the walk back down to the parking lot, lunch in Paro, practical hiking tips, and reflections on why Tiger's Nest isn't just something you visit — it's something you feel.This episode is part of my Bhutan Series, recorded while travelling with Breathe Bhutan, a locally owned tour company creating immersive, meaningful journeys across Bhutan.If you've ever wondered what it's really like to hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Nate McClennen engages with Wangchuck Wangchuck and Tashi Dendup to explore Bhutan's innovative approach to learner-centered practices. Learn how Bhutan connects education with its community, culture, and environment to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and sustainability. Through a whole-school approach, Bhutan is not only enhancing student engagement but also aligning its education system with its Gross National Happiness philosophy. This conversation highlights impactful lessons on transforming education systems to prepare learners for the complexities of the 21st century. Outline (00:00) Introduction to Place-Based Education (03:42) Welcome to Bhutan (06:34) Understanding Bhutan's Context (11:37) Evolution of Education in Bhutan (17:45) Place-Based Education in Practice (21:37) Student and Teacher Impact (29:12) Lessons Learned and Key Takeaways Links Watch the full video here Read the full blog here Center for School Curriculum and Development Ministry of Education and Skills Development Teton Science Schools  

In this episode, @geoengineering1 interviews Athar Hussain, physicist and professor of atmospheric science at COMSATS University, Pakistan, about his recent study examining how SAI could influence malaria transmission across South Asia. Using the VECTRI malaria model, the research compares an unmitigated high-emissions pathway (RCP8.5) with the GLENS-SAI scenario, which stabilizes global temperatures at 2020 levels, across seven countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.The discussion highlights that while SAI could reduce overall malaria transmission intensity across much of the region by lowering vector density, entomological inoculation rates (EIR), and case numbers, its effects are spatially uneven, with localized increases projected in parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Nepal. The conversation also explores the public-health implications of these shifts, the potential risks and trade-offs of solar geoengineering, and the importance of region-specific strategies, local expertise, and international collaboration in addressing climate-related health risks.Paper: Hussain, A., Shoaib, M., & Latif, M. (2025). Malaria transmission dynamics under climate change and solar geoengineering in South Asia: a GLENS-based assessment. Malaria Journal, 24(1), 439. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05666-2To stay updated on all things geoengineering-related, subscribe to:Carbon Removal Updates Substack: https://carbonremovalupdates.substack.com/Solar Geoengineering Updates Substack: https://solargeoengineeringupdates.substack.com/

First off — Happy New Year. To kick off the year, this week's episode of the Wealth Formula Podcast is a solo one from me. I spend the episode walking through my outlook for 2026 and sharing a few predictions for how I think this cycle is going to play out. Lately, I keep hearing the same question phrased in different ways. The economy feels tight, but markets are holding up. Growth is coming in stronger than expected, inflation is easing, and yet a lot of the signals people usually rely on just don't seem to be lining up. That disconnect is really the starting point for this episode. Rather than reacting to headlines or making short-term calls, I wanted to step back and talk through the mechanics of what's actually driving this environment — and why it looks so different from the cycles most of us learned about. A lot of it comes down to debt, policy constraints, how capital moves today, and the growing influence of technology. When you start looking at those pieces together, some of the things that feel confusing begin to make a lot more sense. This isn't meant to be alarmist or overly optimistic. It's simply an attempt to frame the environment clearly so you can think about it more intelligently — especially if you're deploying capital or deciding whether it makes sense to sit on the sidelines. If you've felt like the economy and the markets aren't really speaking the same language right now, I think you'll find this episode useful. Transcript Disclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI and may not be 100% accurate. If you notice any errors or corrections, please email us at phil@wealthformula.com.  You need to be out of the dollar and into the investor class because that that widening gap between those who have, who own things, who own assets and those who do not is gonna continue to widen. Welcome everybody. This is Buck Joffrey with the Wealth Formula Podcast, and today I am going to do something a little bit different. I’m gonna kind of give you. My perspective, maybe predictions I dare say about, uh, the upcoming year in 2026, how I look at it, what I think, uh, uh, is likely outcome and why. Not that I am any smarter than any of you on this stuff, but I’ve actually kind of sat down and, and thought about, you know, the things that are going on in the macroeconomic. Side of things and, um, put some stuff together and, uh, hopefully you’ll enjoy it. We’ll have, uh, that right after these messages. Wealth formula banking is an ingenious concept powered by whole life insurance, but instead of acting just as a safety net, the strategy supercharges your investments. First, you create a personal financial reservoir that grows at a compounding interest rate much higher than any bank savings account. As your money accumulates, you borrow from. Your own bank to invest in other cash flowing investments. Here’s the key. Even though you’ve borrowed money at a simple interest rate, your insurance company keeps paying you compound interest on that money even though you’ve borrowed it at result, you make money in two places at the same time. That’s why your invest. Get supercharged. This isn’t a new technique. It’s a refined strategy used by some of the wealthiest families in history, and it uses century old rock solid insurance companies as its backbone. Turbocharge your investments. Visit Wealthformulabanking.com. Again, that’s wealthformulabanking.com. Welcome back everyone, and, uh, happy New Year to you. I forgot to even say that in the intro. How rude of me. Hopefully you had a great holiday, you had a great Christmas, and you’re bringing in the new year with a vision of health and wealth and PO prosperity and all that stuff. So anyway, let’s talk a little bit about, uh, you know what I am. Kinda looking at for 2026. Now, when you think about, well, what are these predictions and what could they be and all that, um, interest rates, inflation markets, you know, uh, let’s set the foundation for how I’m thinking about it, because everything else really kind of builds on it. And the most important thing to understand is that debt. Is really now I think the main character in the economy. I know we, people have been talking about this for a very long time, but I think, I think the debt issue is really, really becoming something that cannot be ignored, and I’ll get into that in a while. Obviously, I’m not saying that inflation and interest rates don’t matter. They matter enormously. Uh, those are the things that people actually feel, right? Higher prices, higher mortgage rates, higher insurance costs. What I’m saying is that the level of debt now determines really how decisions on those things are made from policy makers. You know, how do they respond to inflation and interest rates, recessions market stress. What debt does is it actually kinda limits the range of choices around how policy makers react to all these things. So once you see that, the behavior of the economy starts to, I think, make a lot more sense. So let’s start with. Sovereign debt, and I’m gonna start really basic here because the question is, you know, what exactly is sovereign debt? Okay. And sovereign debt is the money a government owes, okay? In the US it exists because the government consistently spends more than it collects in taxes, and that gap is called the deficit. When that happens year after year, you have an accumulation of debt. Now, when debt is low, it’s, it’s pretty manageable, right? But when debt gets very large, it starts to influence policy decisions, and that’s where we are right now. Uh, here’s the key mechanic that I think most people don’t really think about, right? Governments don’t pay off debt the way you and I, you know, pay off our debt, like mortgage or whatever. They always refinance it, right? So when the US government borrows money, it issues bonds. That’s how it does, those bonds have maturity dates, and when you buy a bond, you’re, you know, you’re loaning the government money. So when a bond matures, the government owes that principle back to you. Right? So that’s, that’s kind of how well we talk about, we talk about debt, but the government doesn’t save money over time to pay off that bond. Like, I mean, that’s the way you would think about it for you and me, right? I mean, at some point you’re like, ah, I really need to pay off this debt. I’m just gonna pay it off with this money that I saved. Instead, what they do is when a bond comes due, it issues a new bond and uses the money from that new bond to pay back the old one. Okay. Now, if that sounds familiar, uh, to you, it’s because it’s pretty much what we would call in plain English refinancing, right? Now imagine though, the government issued a bond a few years ago when interest rates were near zero. That bond matures today, interest rates are much higher, right to pay off the old bond. The government issues a new one at today’s higher rates. So the debt doesn’t disappear, it just becomes more expensive to carry, right? I mean, it’s just like you got a mortgage, you know you had a, a great rate, but you only got it for seven years and all of sudden you gotta refinance it. Gosh, all of a sudden that rate went really higher and your payments are much higher, and the debt payments going up, you know, for the government, what adds to that deficit? It’s a really, really vicious cycle. Now, take that process and multiply it across trillions of dollars of debt. Now you can start seeing why interest rates matter so much in a high debt system. Now, what makes this especially important right now is that for over the last several years, the US issued a very large amount of short-term debt. Short-term debt matures quickly, and that means large portions of government debt. Come due every year and have to be refinanced at whatever the interest rate exists at the time. So even if deficit stock growing tomorrow, which they won’t, the government would still need smooth functioning financial markets just to keep refinancing what it al what already exists now. This is why the economy has become so sensitive to interest rates, liquidity and confidence. Higher interest rates increase the cost of refinancing, right? We’ve mentioned that already. And that pushes deficits higher and forces even more borrowing. So I mentioned liquidity. What is that? Well, liquidity is about how easily money moves through the system. When liquidity is good, bonds are easily absorbed. Banks lend markets function normally, and when liquidity dries up, refinancing becomes fragile. That stress. Stress in the market spreads quickly. And then finally, confidence I mentioned too. Why does confidence matter? Well, confidence matters because investors need to believe that the system is gonna hold together. When confidence weakens, guess what happens? Well, what would happen if you think about it with a loan, a higher risk loan? While investors demand higher yields like refinance, it becomes even more expensive. And problems compound fast. Now, this is why Pol policymakers are extremely uncomfortable with high borrowing costs, reduced lending, falling asset values, and deep recessions. Recessions, by the way, don’t make debt easier to manage. They make it harder by reducing tax revenue and worsening debt ratios. Now that brings me to a, something that I am feeling sort of back and forth with. Um. You know, a listener who sent me some commentary about, you know, the fear of going back to 1970s, eighties style interest rates. But the thing is that I just don’t think that comparison works, and here’s why. Okay, so in the 1970s, the US had far less debt. Interest rates could go very high without threatening the government’s ability to refinance itself. Now today, with debt much larger relative to the economy, very high rates don’t just fight inflation. They stress the entire financial structure, right? You can’t just say, oh, we’re gonna make super high rates because the cost of all that debt the government has is gonna be extraordinarily expensive. Now, that doesn’t mean that rates can’t rise. It means policymakers have far less tolerance for how high and how long rates can stay elevated. It’s a completely different system from the 1970s and eighties. So I think trying to put things into that context is probably not, um, not a, a good way to think about it. So why am I fo focusing on this right now? Uh, instead of a few years ago, because again, we stu we didn’t suddenly become a high debt economy this year. So what changed? Well timing a massive amount of debt that was issued at very low interest rates, as I mentioned before, is now maturing and being refinanced at much higher rates, and that shift is no longer theoretical. It’s happening in real time. Last year, much of that low uh, rate, debt was still in place. Interest costs hadn’t fully reset, but going into 2026, they have no, I, I keep talking about, you know, how much we’re paying an interest, right? Because again, that’s a big difference between now and the 1970s when you could have, you know, you didn’t have as much debt so you could pay more interest on it. Right now, the US is now spending roughly a trillion dollars a year just on interest. Her perspective, right? I mean, what’s a trillion dollars? Uh, what does that even mean for the normal person? Well, for Perce perspective, that’s the defense budget. $1 trillion. It’s more than Medicare, more than most major federal programs. And the thing is that money doesn’t do anything, right. It doesn’t create growth. It just services past borrowing. And this is the point where debt stops being background noise, kind of an annoyance that people just say, well, we’ll kick it to the next generation. It start starts actively shaping, uh, policy decisions because it’s, it’s a thing that you gotta pay for. You gotta keep paying for it. So the takeaway I want you to carry forward is simple. We now live in a system where policymakers don’t have the luxury of letting things break when debt is low. Governments can tolerate deep recessions like you saw in the seventies and eighties and long recoveries. When debt is high, they can’t because even small shocks can just really get outta control quickly. And that’s the framework I think, uh, that I’m using as we move into interest rates, inflation, and what all this means for markets going into 2026. So let’s talk about interest rates. You’ve heard me say that I think that interest rates are gonna come down. Um, they’re gonna continue to tick down a little bit. I don’t think a lot, but I do think there’ll probably be at least one more rate cut. I think, you know, you’re probably gonna have some, um, uh, some lowering in the 10 year and, and the bond market in general. Uh, but interest rates are not gonna go back to 2010, right? They just aren’t. And. The 2010s were not normal. There were a very specific period created by very specific conditions, right? Inflation was persistently low, uh, but just wouldn’t go up. Globalization, uh, push prices down. Capital was abundant. Debt levels, well, they were high, but they’re rising, but they hadn’t become what they are now. And because of that, central banks could hold rates near zero without much consequence. That environment, unfortunately, does not exist now. So today, debt is much higher. Inflation risk is real again, and investors expect to be compensated for lending money long term. So even when rates decline from current levels, they do not return, uh, they will not return to where people, uh, anchor them psychologically. If they’re thinking about the 2000 tens, they’re gonna settle higher. Within the 2000 tens baseline, you see policymakers are kind of stuck if rates, uh, say too high for too long. We mentioned this before. Refinancing government debt becomes increasingly expensive. Interest costs rise, deficits, widen, and then you get that financial stress that’s spreads through the credit markets. But if rates are pushed too low for too long, borrowing accelerates. And that’s. When inflation resurfaces and confidence in the currency weakens, so then that’s the tug of war. So policymakers, uh, you know, they, they can no longer choose between high rates and low rates. They’re gonna be choosing how to manage, uh, the trade-offs, right? So what’s gonna happen is that you’re gonna see that rates are gonna move within a range. Uh, they come down when something breaks, they move back up when inflation pressures recurrent. Um, that’s why volatility matters more than the exact. Level of rates going forward, in my opinion. So we’re, we’re not returning to free money. We are also not headed to a permanent 1970 style high rate world. What we are doing is entering a time where borrowing costs matter. Again, refinancing is not guaranteed, and rate swings are part of the system, and that naturally leads to the question of inflation. So once you understand why rates. You know, don’t go back to the 2010. The next question becomes, uh, well, if policymakers can’t keep rates high for long and they can’t push them back to zero either, then what are they actually trying to ac accomplish? Well, the answer is that, that the goal is kind of shifted for decades. Economic policy was focused on disinflation, um, you know, pushing inflation lower and lower. Over time, uh, and inflation was actually treated as a failure, and that made sense. In a world with lower debt in a high debt world, that logic sort of breaks down, right? Deflation, which is actually falling prices, increases the real value of debt. Think about that for a moment. Like just in terms of. You know, you have a mortgage and you know, sometime, you know, your parents might have like a 30 year mortgage or something like that, that they’ve had for 25 years. They’ve been paying it off and it’s great. But the bigger thing to notice is the amount of money that they borrowed is actually very small in real world dollars because it’s, you know, 25 years later. See, inflation is bad when it’s, you know, you’re dealing with it, but inflation is. Good at one other thing, which is it’s good at eroding debt. It will make, uh, the amount of the value of the, you know, the actual money that you owe on debt lower over time. So that’s why you can’t have deflation, right? You can’t have deflation because that increases the real value of the debt. It discourages spending, slows growth and makes refinancing harder. So in today’s system, deflation is way, way more dangerous than moderate inflation. And so because of that inflation really isn’t something that I think is quite as important that has to be eliminated at all costs. That, you know, you have to be right at 2%, which is, you know, kind of what the, the fed his, his target is, right? Instead, what you gotta do is you gotta manage it. Of course, that doesn’t mean you want runaway inflation. What they wanna do is have enough inflation to keep nominal growth positive and prevent debt burdens from become heavier again. Why? What do I mean by that? You gotta have enough inflation to erode the debt that we have, right? So this is why that 2% inflation target should be understood. As, you know, kind of aspirational, but not absolute because having a little higher inflation, yeah, it hurts people. It’s, uh, it hurts people on a day-to-day basis, but actually helps with that. So even at, uh, you know, inflation sell a bit higher than, than, than the, you know, 2% fed target say it’s 4%, it’s actually eroding, uh, you know, it is eroding purchasing power, but it’s also eroding debt. It’s, it’s stabilizing debt dynamics. From the system’s perspective, of course that’s helpful. But for us, we’re paying for things on a day-to-day basis to see the cost of eggs and all that. It’s, it’s frustrating, right? And that tension between system stability and personal cost, it’s one of the defining features of the economy heading into 2026. So when you see policymakers tolerate inflation, uh, longer. Then you think they should or step in quickly When markets kind of wobble, it’s not confusion or incompetence, it’s actually constraint because debt limits the available choices. Rates are managed within a range. Inflation is guided and not eliminated. Now put those together and you get the environment we’re moving into, which is an economy where markets can look. Resilient, even while people feel stretched, right? I mean, that’s kinda what we’re feeling. Everybody’s like, oh, these markets are doing fantastic, you know? But then, you know, you look at consumer confidence, it goes down. It’s been going down every month. This is an environment where asset prices recover faster than wages, and we’re understanding how policy reacts becomes a real advantage. So that’s kind of my macro setup for 2026. Um, you know, with that framework, we can start looking into the first prediction I’ll make. And again, these are not, you know, crazy predictions. Uh, they are just generalized things that I think you’re gonna see. So, like the first one is that the markets will stop being reliable proxy for the economy. You could argue that’s already happened, right? Markets in the economy kind of stopped correlating. We saw it after the financial crisis, right? We saw it very clearly even during COVID. The decoupling itself is not new. What’s new is that that decoupling is no longer temporary. It’s become the baseline that’s become the new normal. Uh, for most of modern history people had a fairly reliable mental model, right? You probably do. If you grew up in the eighties and nineties, uh, as a kid or whatever, when the economy felt bad, layoffs, we growth falling in con incomes, markets usually reflected the pain. Right. Sometimes there was a gap. Sometimes markets recovered a little earlier, but eventually things kinda re converged. The economy healed. We just caught up in the markets and lived experience kinda lined up. Now that’s the model that most people still have in their heads, and that’s why so many people feel so confused right now. I mean, I feel confused by it. So what’s changed going into 2026? You know, it, it is, it’s structural Now. We’re no longer living in a system where policy intervenes only during emergencies. We are, uh, in a system where policy is always on, debt is permanently high, rates are actively managed, inflation is tolerated rather than eliminated. And as a result of that, markets aren’t really necessarily responding primarily to how. The economy feels to people they’re responding. Uh, you know, it’s responding to refinancing needs. Liquidity management. Uh, confidence preservation. That’s a very different signal. COVID is the clearest example of that ship, but it’s, it’s important to understand it correctly. So in 2020, the economy was literally shut down, right? Unemployment exploded. Uh, small businesses were collapsing, right? Like, this is COVID and yet markets bottom quickly. We saw that and then bam. All time highs, even though life kind of felt terrible for a lot of people. And that wasn’t because the economy was healthy, it was because policy overwhelmed fundamentals. And at the time that felt extraordinary. It felt very different. Like this doesn’t make any sense. What’s different now is that we’re still using the same playbook but with out in obvious crisis. So intervention is no longer reactive. It’s, you know, uh, it’s preventative. So what do I predict for 2026? Well, markets are gonna stop being a reliable proxy for economic health. Uh, you, you people can just stop talking about that. Like it, like it, it means anything anymore. Markets going to increasingly reflect how constrained policymakers are and how much liquidity is in the system, and how aggressively risk is being managed. They’re not gonna, the markets are not gonna tell you. About affordability, wage pressure, or whether life feels easier or harder for people. Right. Those are completely gonna, those are, it’s just a standard thing now that those are uncorrelated and the gap is not, uh, abnormal anymore. It’s. The operating environment. So what do you do with that information? Well, for an individual investor, this environment requires a real mindset shift, right? You can’t rely on your gut anymore. You can’t say, man, I feel like this economy doesn’t feel good. So the market’s gonna look at the, I mean, you, you, you know, a lot of people feel like the economy doesn’t feel good to them because of inflation, because of what happened with interest rates and all that stuff, right? But look it, you’ve got. Record breaking, uh, stock market numbers. You can’t rely on your gut anymore. Your gut is telling you the economy feels bad. For many people, that’s absolutely true. Costs are high. Again, things feel tight, and the instinct is to wait to sit in cash. To assume markets would reflect that pain, but that instinct used to work. And in this system it doesn’t because markets are no longer pricing in how the economy feels. They’re pricing policy response. Liquidity and constraints. So if you wait for the economy to feel good before you act, it’s gonna be way too late. So instead of asking, does the economy feel weak, you need to start asking different questions. You need to ask how constrained policymakers are, how quickly liquidity will return if markets wob on it, and where capital tends to flow first when policy steps sit. In other words. You gotta start really thinking about investing, right? Like you gotta, like right now. Now I’ve talked, I’ve beat this over many times before, but you know, you have, if you’re, if you’re saving money right now and you’re looking and you are wondering what to do, look for things that are on sale now. I spent real estate’s on sale right now. Right? Get your money into the markets one way or another. That’s what I would say. Whatever it is that you want to invest in. Don’t let your money just erode because this lack of correlation is, it’s a really, really important thing and it’s, it’s gonna continue to happen and you know what else is gonna happen Because of that, you’re gonna see an increasing widening up the wealth gap. People whose income is tied primarily to wages are, are gonna experience that inflation directly, right? Their money’s trapped in the real economy where costs rise faster than income. But investors on the other hand, have an opportunity to participate in the markets that are supported by this sort of unnatural infrastructure that I just mentioned, right? As asset prices are gonna continue going up. Now, I’m not here to judge whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, I’m just telling you how it’s functions. So the investor class increasingly benefits from asset appreciation, right? Early access to liquidity. While lower income groups often can participate in that upside. Even as their cost of living rise, because they’re not in the markets, they’re not, they don’t own assets. So again, you have to stop, you know, using how the economy feels is your primary investing signal. If you wanna protect and grow your wealth in this environment, you need to understand how policy reacts, how you know liquidity moves, how assets behave when the system is under constraint. And in other words, uh, you know. Frankly, you just need to be part of the winning class, which is the investor class. Alright, so that’s kind of, uh, hopefully that made sense to you. Here’s another prediction for you, and this is probably more related to some of the things that we talk about usually, but I’ll say that multifamily and commercial real estate are going to finish their washout, and the window is gonna start to really close again. I’ve talked about this. Before, you’ve probably heard me say this, but let’s talk about multifamily and commercial real estate again, because you know, this audience doesn’t need just theory. You’ve already lived through the pain or the past two years you’ve seen deals blow up, capital calls go out, refinancings fail. So the real question going on in 2026 is not whether real estate breaks. It’s already, it already did. It already did. The real question is how much longer this phase lasts and what replaces it. My view is that 2025 into early 2026, um, represents the final phase of this unwind in the beginning of stabilization. I’m not predicting an immediate boom, not a return to 2021 by any means, but the end of obvious distress. So what’s happened already from 2022 to 2024? Multifamily and commercial real estate absorbed the fastest rate shock in modern history. Many of you lived through that. I lived through that. It’s painful. Debt costs doubled or tripled. Cap rates moved hundreds of basis points. You know, bridge debt structures broke, uh, refinancing assumptions collapsed. Now, a lot of the deals, I mean, I would say most of the deals, uh, uh, that, you know, kind of imploded, uh, shared the same DNA, you know, peaking price, uh, purchases, uh, during peak prices in 2021, early 2022. Uh, you know. Floating rate thin or negative cash flow based on, you know, the rates at the time. Maybe it was positive business plans that were really dependent on refi and rent growth. Um, those deals though, have largely already defaulted, recapitalize, or, you know, they’re being quietly handed back. And that matters because markets don’t keep breaking the same wave forever. If, if you’re seeing right now and if you’re in our investor club, you are. 30% discounts on a regular basis. Right? On a regular basis compared to the peak. Don’t assume that’s gonna last. That this is the key point I wanna make very clearly. If you’re looking at multifamily or commercial deals today that are trade trading at that 30% below where they were a couple years ago, you should not assume that window stays opening. Definitely because the level of discount there, uh, the level of discount exists because. Dried up liquidity, uh, because of that violent rate reset, uh, uncertainty. But here’s the thing, markets don’t stay frozen forever and as soon as pricing stabilizes, even at higher cap rates, which are going to be higher than they were, because you’re not gonna see interest rates down at zero, capital is gonna start to move again. And stabilization doesn’t require rates to go back to zero. It just requires some level of predictability. So here’s the sequence of what happens first, you know, the distress slows, uh, you see less and less defaults, and then slowly but surely cap rates stop expanding, right? That alone brings back buyers. Then as rates drift mo lower and volatility declines, lenders reenter selectively, debt becomes a billable again. It’s not cheap. It’s definitely usable and that brings more liquidity. When I say liquidity, in this context, I’m talking about just more deals getting done. And once liquidity returns, cap rates don’t stay wide forever. They compress, right? It’s competition. And again, when they compress, they’re not gonna go back to 2021 levels, but enough to meaningfully lift asset values from distressed pricing. This can happen faster than people expect, right? People underestimate the fact that there is an enormous amount of capital sitting on the sidelines right now in money market funds, short term treasuries, private capital, waiting for clarity. That capital isn’t, you know, permanent. The moment investors believe that rates of peak, that prices of stabilized downside risks is contained, that money starts to chase yield. When it does the transition from, nobody wants this, everyone wants exposure again, can happen surprisingly fast. In other words, I’m not saying I think this will happen in 26, but the shift from a market that is on sale, which I’ve described it as to a market that is starting to look a little frothy, can really be just a couple of years. And in that situation, I’d rather be a net seller, right? You wanna be accumulating. During this phase of for sale so that you can sell in froth. So what this means is that the market is, you know, uh, is not a market to wait for everything to feel perfect, because by the time it does, the obvious discounts are gonna be gone. And if you wait for perfect clarity, you’re gonna be competing, you competing with institutional capital, with large private funds and, and, and yield hungry money coming outta cash. The opportunity is not assuming distress lasts forever. It is. It’s in recognizing when the market is transitioning from forced selling, which is what is happening even now to price discovery. So ultimately, the prediction is this multifamily and commercial real estate, that that washout is completed in 2026 and the window created by distress really starts to close. Deep discounts don’t persist. Once market stabilized, which I think is what’s gonna happen, and then I think you’re gonna start to see a shift. You’re gonna start to see more deals, more liquidity, and that’s gonna return faster than people expect. In other words, this is gonna be the end of, you know, sort of this bargain basement, you know, panic pricing. And once real assets stabilize and liquidity returns, attention inevitably turns, uh, to the currency, those assets are priced in. Which brings us to the prediction number three. That dollar, okay, the dollar doesn’t collapse, but it does continue to erode. It slowly leak, right? Let’s talk about the dollar, ’cause you hear about this all the time, right? A nausea, you hear the, the weakening of the dollar. Um, this is one of those topics that where people tend to jump to extremes. You know, on one side you hear the dollar is about to collapse. On the other side you hear the dollar’s strong and everything’s fine. I think, um, the truth is somewhere in, in the middle. And my prediction for 2026 is simple. Um, again, the dollar doesn’t really explode. It doesn’t get replaced. It can just continues to erode slowly but surely. And that’s how reserve currencies actually behave when debt gets high. Right. So why no collapse, right? Because you got like people out there, uh, worried about the collapse of the US dollar. The US dollar is gonna remain dominant, not because it’s perfect, but because there’s no real alternative at scale. There just isn’t. Okay? There’s no other currency with markets as deep, as liquid and as widely used for trade debt and collateral. So, you know, reserve currencies, you know, you hear about the, the worry about us being the reserve currency. Well, reserve currencies don’t disappear overnight. They erode gradually, but they don’t disappear overnight. And that erosion shows up not as a crash, but again as persistent inflation, right? It’s rising, you know, real asset prices, which is again, where you wanna be, and a slow loss of purchasing power over time. Again, that brings us back to the whole issue of debt we were talking about, right? So in a highly indebted system, policymakers are not incentivized to aggressively defend the currency at all costs, right? So very high interest rates might strengthen the dollar in the short term, but they also make debt harder to service and financial stress worse, right? So instead of choosing strength or collapse. Um, you know, policy drifts towards tolerance, right? Inflation is allowed to run a little hotter than people expect, because again, it’s gonna erode that debt. The currency weakens slowly, therefore, rather than violently, right? Again, currency weakening. It’s that, it, it’s so entwined with this idea of inflation because debt becomes easier to manage in real terms. And one of the things I hear, and I’ve been sort of in these conversations back and forth with, um. At least one of you out there, uh, in, in emails is that, you know, I hear, uh, that, that, that there’s a, a serious problem for interest rates because of, you know, China, uh, selling US treasuries. And because of that you might get the collapse of the dollar. In fact, in this conversation, it was not only about China, but also Europe. Which, you know, I hadn’t actually heard anybody mention that before, but I guess that’s out there in the ecosystem and some of the newsletters. Now, all that sounds scary, but it really misunderstands how the system actually works. What exactly happens when someone or a country sells treasuries? Well, they don’t dis, they, they don’t just destroy the dollars. What they’re doing is they just swap $1 asset for another, right? The dollars don’t even lead the system. They change hands. So this idea of China selling off all it t trade, well, China’s been, uh, reducing its treasury holdings for years and the dollar hasn’t collapsed. The market absorbed it because treasuries are the deepest, most liquid market in the world. And then this idea of Europe, of of Europe actually dumping treasuries because, you know, they’re not happy with Donald Trump and what he’s doing in Ukraine and all that, that would be an absolute nightmare for, for Europe. That would hurt their own economy. That’s the last thing that an indebted government wants. So foreign selling, yeah, sure it’s gonna move yields, but it, it’s not gonna implode the dollar. But the reality of the, uh, erosion of the dollar is real. I don’t think anybody questions that anymore, and I think that is another reason that you need to be buying. Real assets. You need to be buying equity. You need to be on the side of the investor class. Okay? That’s, that’s how you combat all of this. So the real takeaway here ultimately is that, you know, it isn’t, uh, to abandon the dollar, right? It isn’t. It’s, it’s just to stop pretending that holding cash is neutral. It’s not, it, most of your wall suits and assets that, that can’t adjust. You know, they can’t grow as, you know, as, as asset prices grow, then you’re making a bet on currency stability that literally no one believes is, is going to be the base standard anymore. Everybody knows, every economist, every country, every everywhere knows that these currencies are eroding. You don’t freak out about the dollar, but don’t, don’t, don’t be like heavily in dollars. Start getting into the markets. Alright, well, you know, I’m talking a lot about esoteric macro stuff, but let’s kind of get into some stuff that you might think is fun, more fun maybe. Okay. You, a lot of you are into Bitcoin. Well, I think that, you know, Bitcoin is gonna continue to mature. And the next look, leg up looks like, you know, because of more adoption, not because of hype, which isn’t maybe not as, as, as fast and violent, but it’s, it’s, it’s a lot more predictable. For those of you who are still unfortunately listening to the likes of Peter Schiff about Bitcoin, you gotta stop doing that because Bitcoin is not tulips. Right? A lot of people still talk about it like it’s a fad that could just vanish. We’re long past that phase. Bitcoin is, is, is a $2 trillion asset and in the history of the world, there has never been a $2 trillion asset that went to zero. Is it volatile? Yeah, it is. It can absolutely continue to be wildly volatile, but you’re not going to zero. And my prediction is not overly crazy. It’s just that. Bitcoin is going to continue to increase in price, but it’s not become, not because of speculative, uh, you know, because it’s a speculative trade anymore, right? I think it’s because of adoption. Uh, adoption is going to become the real meaningful driver of market capitalization. So what do I mean by that? It just means more people are seeing it as a real asset, and it has to become, when it becomes a real asset class, everyone has to have some of it. Every major institution has to have some of it because it’s an its own asset class. And when they do that, it just drives up the entire market capitalization of that asset. And when you have an asset that has a finite amount, which in the case of Bitcoin, there will never be more than 21 million Bitcoin. You have constant adoption, constant slow, but persistent growth in market capitalization, the asset has to become more expensive. Now, what do I mean by this adoption? Well, places that you would never think in a million years, a few years ago, that that would be buying Bitcoin or you know, ETFs, B to Bitcoin ETFs are doing. So Harvard. Harvard is a great example. Because it’s not, it’s not crypto influencer, right? It’s actually one of the most conservative, brand sensitive pools of capital in the world. But their endowment management, uh, disclosed roughly 443, uh, million dollars in its position in BlackRock, uh, BlackRock, iShares Bitcoin, Bitcoin Trust, which is ibi for those of you who, who, uh, don’t know, that’s how you can just go to your New York Stock Exchange and, and buy. Bitcoin ETFs with ibit. Now, whether you love this whole Bitcoin idea or hate it or whatever, that’s a signal that is increasingly treated like a portfolio asset. It’s not a fringe experiment, and it’s not only universities. Uh, institutional comfort is it’s just there, right? Um, custody, uh, custody regulated vehicles, positioning, size, risk controls, those kinds of things are all become part of the Bitcoin uh, environment. Many countries are already holding meaningful amounts of Bitcoin. Uh, even the US has, there’s a, there is a formalized Bitcoin reserve. Now we aren’t actively buying it, but here’s an interesting thing with Bitcoin, you can, when it is, uh, the way that the US is accumulating Bitcoin is through seizures. Alright? Bad guy gets caught. His boats, his house and his Bitcoin get, uh, confiscated. So the US will sell the house, they will sell the gold, they will sell the boats, but they will keep the Bitcoin. What does that tell you? You know? And, and there’s a lot of nations that are actually openly holding and, and buying Bitcoin. I mentioned the US China. This always seems to be, uh, you know, anti Bitcoin. Well, they actually own quite a bit the UK, Ukraine, Bhutan, El Salvador. Bottom line is there’s a big change in narrative, right? That this is a real asset. So this is something that, you know, even if it’s 1% of a major, uh, institution’s assets or less than that, or whatever, it’s part of it. And that adoption alone can move prices from, from here. And that’s what I think a lot of people miss because they’re like, well, you already had a big move and you know, instead a hundred, it’s 80 or 90 or a hundred, whatever. It’s, it’s not going much better, bigger than that. Well, Bitcoin is, is actually really small relative to global pools of capital. So at this stage, adoption alone. Not even the crazy mania of the past can make a non-trivial increase in market capitalization and therefore a mark, you know, a non-trivial increase in the actual price of Bitcoin. All it’s gonna take, and you’re gonna see this, you’re gonna see more endowments, you’re gonna see more sovereign wealth pool, pensions, mod model portfolios, all they guys daisy side, when you know, even with a small allocation. It doesn’t take too much to overwhelm the available float because Bitcoin is scarce and a lot of it’s held tightly. So as far as Bitcoin goes, what do I think is gonna happen? I believe all time highs are gonna get challenged. They’re gonna get broken again in 2026, not because again, everyone’s suddenly becoming a crypto maximas, but because adoptions could just gonna continue to grow. The wild card, I should say, is that the US moving from, we hold. What we seized in terms of Bitcoin to actively acquiring reserves could be enormous catalyst. And there is a lot of talk about this right now. Um, if the market ever believes that the US is a consistent buyer, even in a constrained budget neutral way, that changes the psychology fast. And in that scenario, I think 200,000 plus, uh, $200,000 plus Bitcoin by the end of 2026 becomes very plausible. Zooming out. I’ve said this before, you may think I’m crazy, but again, because of adoption, I think that Bitcoin is at a million dollars five to seven years from now. So what does that mean for you? Well, I mean, I think at the end of the day, if you don’t own some, you might want to, I’m not gonna give you financial advice, but again, just like Harvard’s doing it, you know, major, major endowments are saying, well. You know, maybe we’ll just buy, like, you know, 2% of that, 2% of our, our, uh, endowment will be made of something like that, right? Uh, you know, it’s just even a very small amount, but exposure to it makes a lot of sense. So I think that is something to highly consider if you are still on zero when it comes to Bitcoin. All right, now here’s my last, uh, prediction. You may have heard me talking about this before as well, that AI becomes a deflationary force that policy makers finally wake up to. And I think this is actually one of the most important and misunderstood economic developments, um, that is currently already out there. But I think it’s, it’s gonna be really recognized. By the end of 2026. Okay. Artificial intelligence is gonna stop being just a tech story, and it’s gonna become a macroeconomic story. I think that by the end of 2026, artificial intelligence is clearly, uh, you know, it’s clearly, um, going to be boosting corporate earnings while beginning to materially reshape the labor force. Um, and what’s gonna happen is that central banks and policymakers are gonna start treating it. Is a genuinely deflationary force over the next several years, and they’re gonna try to have to figure out what to do about it. And again, going back to our earlier conversation, because deflation is really a real problem for a country with an enormous amount of debt. So let’s get a little bit into the whole deflationary uh, conversation. So artificial intelligence at its core is a productivity machine, right? It allows companies to produce more. Without, with fewer inputs, fewer hours, fewer people, fewer stakes and productivity always shows up in profits before it shows up in everyday life. Right now, lower cost per transaction, faster execution, fewer people doing the same amount of work, widening margins without price increases. That’s the tell. That’s when profits rise without raising prices, something deflationary is happening underneath the surface. The biggest impact there is the labor market, right? It’s gonna be impossible to ignore. And this is where the conversation really shifts because artificial intelligence doesn’t need to eliminate jobs outright to matter. It only needs to reduce the number of people required to do it, right? So you’re thinking the labor markets, you’re gonna see a lot of this. You’re gonna see more slowing in hiring. Um, even while productivity expectations rise, and I think by late 2026, the public conversation is gonna change from will artificial intelligence affects jobs someday to why aren’t companies hiring the way they used to? And of course, that’s when people are gonna start paying attention and they’re gonna notice it’s deflationary because it’s going to be because artificial intelligence is gonna push down the cost. Of services, administration, customer support, research, and eventually decision making itself. That’s why it’s, it’s deflationary, it’s structural, right? Just think of all those things you can do for so much cheaper. That is what deflation is, right? And again, we mentioned before deflation is not something central banks are comfortable with because of debt and because debt heavy systems rely on nominal growth. Deflation makes debt heavier in real terms as opposed to what we said before, which is that inflation actually erodes debt. And that is a, a very, very challenging problem. And by 2026, I think you’re gonna hear a lot about this, you know, policy problem that we have. Which is innovation versus, you know, deflation. You make a lot of money, but are still worried about retirement. Maybe you didn’t start earning until your thirties. Now you’re trying to catch up. Meanwhile, you’ve got a mortgage, a private school to pay for, and you feel like you’re getting further and further behind. Now, good news, if you need to catch up on retirement, check out a program put out by some of the oldest and most prestigious life insurance companies in the world. It’s called Wealth Accelerator, and it can help you amplify your returns quickly, protect your money from creditors, and provide finance. Financial protection to your family if something happens to you. The concepts here are used by some of the wealthiest families in the world and there’s no reason why they can’t be used by you. Check it out for yourself by going to wealthformulabanking.com. Alright, well, so that’s basically it for my, uh, predictions. And I know I’ve kind of. Off on many different tangents, so hopefully it’s useful to you at least to start thinking and doing some of your own research. Bottom line is this, I mean, as, as a investor, what can you do? I think the big story here is understanding that, um, you need to be out of the dollar and into the investor class because that that widening gap between those who have. Who own things, who own assets, and those who do not is gonna continue to widen. And so, you know, my best, uh, won’t call it advice, but my own belief is that it is a, it is a very good time to look around and look for assets that are underpriced because I think everything is going to expand and it’s gonna ex expand. Uh, and you don’t wanna be caught, you know, on the, uh, dollar side of that equation. So. That’s it for me this week on Wealth Formula Podcast. Happy New Year. I’ll see you next week. If you wanna learn more, you can now get free access to our in-depth personal finance course featuring industry leaders like Tom Wheel Wright and Ken McElroy. Visit wealthformularoadmap.com.

In this week's biggest Bitcoin and crypto stories, we break down the regulatory earthquake happening in 2026. SEC Chair Paul Atkins confirms the "innovation exemption" for crypto firms is coming in January, while Canada's central bank pushes for "good money" stablecoins and the UK launches an unprecedented tax crackdown that affects 48 countries.But it's not all regulation—we cover the incredible story of a solo Bitcoin miner who turned $86 into $271,000 using rented hashpower on NiceHash, while Bhutan commits $1 billion in Bitcoin to build its "Mindfulness City."On the darker side, a CNN/ICIJ investigation reveals how Circle K has profited MILLIONS from crypto ATM scams, with 150+ victims losing over $1.5 million since January 2024.Plus: Trump signals he may pardon Samourai Wallet's Keonne Rodriguez, Russia proposes up to 5 years prison for unregistered Bitcoin miners, and Canada's refugee asylum crisis hits a historic milestone of 504,000+ claimants.⁠Discord:   / discord   A part of the CBP Media Network: ⁠www.twitter.com/CBPMediaNetworkThis show is sponsored by: easyDNS - https://easydns.com EasyDNS is the best spot for Anycast DNS, domain name registrations, web and email services. They are fast, reliable and privacy focused. With DomainSure and EasyMail, you'll sleep soundly knowing your domain, email and information are private and protected. You can even pay for your services with Bitcoin! Apply coupon code 'CBPMEDIA' for 50% off initial purchase Bull Bitcoin - ⁠⁠https://mission.bullbitcoin.com/cbp⁠⁠ The CBP recommends Bull Bitcoin for all your BTC needs. There's never been a quicker, simpler, way to acquire Bitcoin. Use the link above for 25% off fees FOR LIFE, and start stacking today.256Heat -⁠ https://256heat.com/ ⁠ GET PAID TO HEAT YOUR HOUSE with 256 Heat. Whether you're heating your home, garage, office or rental, use a 256Heat unit and get paid MORE BITCOIN than it costs to run the unit. Book a call with a hashrate heating consultant today.

The first thing that you will notice when entering into the once-forbidden kingdom of Bhutan are its stunning landscapes. The second thing that will probably catch your eye are the tremendous number of erect phalluses that people paint on their walls. In today's report, I want to explain why the man responsible for the striking designs might just be the original spiritual grifter. Drukpa Kunley was a former monk who, in the 1400's, promised more than 1000 women than he would give them the gift of enlightenment just so long as they slept with him.

In this week's biggest Bitcoin and crypto stories, we break down the regulatory earthquake happening in 2026. SEC Chair Paul Atkins confirms the "innovation exemption" for crypto firms is coming in January, while Canada's central bank pushes for "good money" stablecoins and the UK launches an unprecedented tax crackdown that affects 48 countries.But it's not all regulation—we cover the incredible story of a solo Bitcoin miner who turned $86 into $271,000 using rented hashpower on NiceHash, while Bhutan commits $1 billion in Bitcoin to build its "Mindfulness City."On the darker side, a CNN/ICIJ investigation reveals how Circle K has profited MILLIONS from crypto ATM scams, with 150+ victims losing over $1.5 million since January 2024.Plus: Trump signals he may pardon Samourai Wallet's Keonne Rodriguez, Russia proposes up to 5 years prison for unregistered Bitcoin miners, and Canada's refugee asylum crisis hits a historic milestone of 504,000+ claimants.⁠Discord:   / discord   A part of the CBP Media Network: ⁠www.twitter.com/CBPMediaNetworkThis show is sponsored by: easyDNS - https://easydns.com EasyDNS is the best spot for Anycast DNS, domain name registrations, web and email services. They are fast, reliable and privacy focused. With DomainSure and EasyMail, you'll sleep soundly knowing your domain, email and information are private and protected. You can even pay for your services with Bitcoin! Apply coupon code 'CBPMEDIA' for 50% off initial purchase Bull Bitcoin - ⁠⁠https://mission.bullbitcoin.com/cbp⁠⁠ The CBP recommends Bull Bitcoin for all your BTC needs. There's never been a quicker, simpler, way to acquire Bitcoin. Use the link above for 25% off fees FOR LIFE, and start stacking today.256Heat -⁠ https://256heat.com/ ⁠ GET PAID TO HEAT YOUR HOUSE with 256 Heat. Whether you're heating your home, garage, office or rental, use a 256Heat unit and get paid MORE BITCOIN than it costs to run the unit. Book a call with a hashrate heating consultant today.

Bhutan Series w/ Breathe Bhutan - A Conversation with Ugyen Rinzin - Bhutan's History, Buddhism Basics + Modern Bhutanese Culture In this opening episode of my Bhutan Series, I sit down for a deep, thoughtful conversation with Ugyen Rinzin, a Bhutanese local from Paro, to explore the heart and soul of one of the world's most fascinating countries.Recorded in Thimphu, Bhutan, this episode is a beginner-friendly introduction to Bhutan's history, Buddhist philosophy, and modern Bhutanese culture, told through the lived experience of someone who grew up before television and the internet arrived in the country.We unpack what makes Bhutan so unique — from its deep-rooted connection to Buddhism, its people-first philosophy, and the idea of Gross National Happiness, to how the younger generation is navigating a rapidly changing world.If you've ever wondered:What is Bhutan really like?How does Buddhism shape everyday life in Bhutan?Why is Bhutan considered one of the most meaningful travel destinations on Earth?— this episode is the perfect place to start.Across the Bhutan Series, you'll hear:Conversations with local Bhutanese voicesImmersive episodes on hiking, culture, food, and daily lifeSolo breakdowns explaining how travel in Bhutan actually worksThis is not just a travel podcast episode — it's an invitation to slow down, listen, and understand Bhutan on a deeper level.

Hans Van Eyghen's book The Epistemology of Spirit Beliefs (Routledge, 2023) assesses whether belief in spirits is epistemically justified. It presents two arguments in support of the existence of spirits and arguments that experiences of various sorts (perceptions, mediumship, possession, and animistic experiences) can lend justification to spirit-beliefs. Most work in philosophy of religion exclusively deals with the existence of God or the epistemic status of belief in God. Spirit beliefs are often regarded as aberrations, and the falsity of such beliefs is often assumed. This book argues that various beliefs concerning spirits can be regarded as justified when they are rooted in experiences that are not defeated. It argues that spirit-beliefs are not defeated by recent theories put forth by neuroscientists, cognitive scientists or evolutionary biologists. Additional arguments are made that traditional theistic belief is epistemically linked to spirit beliefs and that unusual events can be explained in terms of spirit-activity. The Epistemology of Spirit Beliefs will be of interest to researchers and advanced students working in philosophy of religion, religious epistemology, ethnography and cognitive neuroscience. Tiatemsu Longkumer is a faculty of Anthropology at Royal Thimphu College, Bhutan. His Ph.D. work is on Indigenous Religion and Christianity among the Nagas of Nagaland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Hans Van Eyghen's book The Epistemology of Spirit Beliefs (Routledge, 2023) assesses whether belief in spirits is epistemically justified. It presents two arguments in support of the existence of spirits and arguments that experiences of various sorts (perceptions, mediumship, possession, and animistic experiences) can lend justification to spirit-beliefs. Most work in philosophy of religion exclusively deals with the existence of God or the epistemic status of belief in God. Spirit beliefs are often regarded as aberrations, and the falsity of such beliefs is often assumed. This book argues that various beliefs concerning spirits can be regarded as justified when they are rooted in experiences that are not defeated. It argues that spirit-beliefs are not defeated by recent theories put forth by neuroscientists, cognitive scientists or evolutionary biologists. Additional arguments are made that traditional theistic belief is epistemically linked to spirit beliefs and that unusual events can be explained in terms of spirit-activity. The Epistemology of Spirit Beliefs will be of interest to researchers and advanced students working in philosophy of religion, religious epistemology, ethnography and cognitive neuroscience. Tiatemsu Longkumer is a faculty of Anthropology at Royal Thimphu College, Bhutan. His Ph.D. work is on Indigenous Religion and Christianity among the Nagas of Nagaland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

Hans Van Eyghen's book The Epistemology of Spirit Beliefs (Routledge, 2023) assesses whether belief in spirits is epistemically justified. It presents two arguments in support of the existence of spirits and arguments that experiences of various sorts (perceptions, mediumship, possession, and animistic experiences) can lend justification to spirit-beliefs. Most work in philosophy of religion exclusively deals with the existence of God or the epistemic status of belief in God. Spirit beliefs are often regarded as aberrations, and the falsity of such beliefs is often assumed. This book argues that various beliefs concerning spirits can be regarded as justified when they are rooted in experiences that are not defeated. It argues that spirit-beliefs are not defeated by recent theories put forth by neuroscientists, cognitive scientists or evolutionary biologists. Additional arguments are made that traditional theistic belief is epistemically linked to spirit beliefs and that unusual events can be explained in terms of spirit-activity. The Epistemology of Spirit Beliefs will be of interest to researchers and advanced students working in philosophy of religion, religious epistemology, ethnography and cognitive neuroscience. Tiatemsu Longkumer is a faculty of Anthropology at Royal Thimphu College, Bhutan. His Ph.D. work is on Indigenous Religion and Christianity among the Nagas of Nagaland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology

My 2025 Review of My Travels, Winging It, Personal Goals + What Is To Come in 2026.In this bonus New Year's Day episode of Winging It, I'm taking a deep dive into my 2025 travel year, the evolution of the podcast, and what's coming next in 2026.I break down the numbers behind my travels — 22 flights, 90,000km flown, nine countries, three new destinations — but more importantly, I reflect on the moments that shaped me as a traveller and storyteller. From seeing wild elephants in India to sharing breakfast with a Bhutanese monk overlooking Thimphu, this episode is about perspective, purpose, and how travel changes over time.I also open up about the realities of running a long-form travel podcast, including burnout, why I'm stepping back from guest-heavy interviews, and why immersive, sound-rich storytelling is where Winging It is heading next.If you're interested in slow vs purposeful travel, how travel content is evolving, or what it's really like to juggle full-time work with global adventures, this episode pulls the curtain back.In this episode, I talk about:My full 2025 travel recap across Asia, Europe, Australia, and North AmericaWhy Bhutan was my favourite country and Bangkok my favourite cityThe most surreal travel moment of my life (and why it changed me)What I learned after releasing 57 podcast episodes in one yearWhy immersive travel podcasts matter more than everHow travel priorities shift as you get olderThe behind-the-scenes reality of podcasting, pitching, and guest fatigueBecoming a dual UK–Canadian citizen and what that means for future travelA full preview of my Bhutan podcast series is coming in 2026Upcoming trips, travel ideas, and where Winging It is heading nextThis episode is part travel reflection, part creator reality check, and part forward-looking roadmap for anyone who loves meaningful, honest travel stories.

"People are referring to me as a medical miracle." Jo Giese is an award-winning journalist, author, and lifelong hiker who knows firsthand the wild ups and downs of adventure. In this episode, Jo chats with Luis about where she loves to hike, her love of waterfalls, her new memoir, You'll Never Walk Alone, her life changing accident, her determination and grit, getting around without an Achilles, finding her path, getting herself whole again, her trip to Bhutan, making the audio recording for her new book, Support Road Dog Podcast by: 1. Joining the Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/roaddogpodcast 2. Subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you listen on. GO SLEEVES: https://gokinesiologysleeves.com HAMMER NUTRITION show code: Roaddoghn20 Listeners get a special 15% off at https://www.hammernutrition.com DRYMAX show code: Roaddog2020  Listeners get a special 15% off at https://www.drymaxsports.com/products/ LUNA SANDALS "Whether I'm hitting the trails or just hanging out, LUNA Sandals are my favorite. They're designed by Barefoot Ted of Born to Run and made for every adventure—ultra running, hiking, or just kicking back. Its minimalist footwear that's good for your feet!" Check them out and get 15% off at lunasandals.com/allwedoisrun. Allwedoisrun.com Jo Giese Contact Info: IG: https://www.instagram.com/giesejo/ Website: https://www.jogiese.com Email: jo@jogiese.com Luis Escobar (Host) Contact: luis@roaddogpodcast.com Luis Instagram Kevin Lyons (Producer) Contact: kevin@roaddogpodcast.com yesandvideo.com Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Original RDP Photo: Photography by Kaori Peters kaoriphoto.com Road Dog Podcast Adventure with Luis Escobar www.roaddogpodcast.com

Since 2023, a series of global AI summits has brought together world leaders to advance international dialogue and cooperation on artificial intelligence. Building on this momentum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the India AI Impact Summit, which will take place in New Delhi in February 2026. As the first summit in the series to be hosted in a Global South country, the AI Impact Summit aims to amplify Global South perspectives and advance concrete action to address both the opportunities and risks of AI. On December 8, 2025, the CSIS Wadhwani AI Center will host S. Krishnan, Secretary of India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), for a livestreamed fireside chat with Wadhwani AI Center Senior Adviser Gregory C. Allen. Secretary Krishnan, who leads India's national AI strategy, will outline India's policy priorities and share insights into the goals and global aspirations shaping the upcoming AI Impact Summit. He will also offer a comprehensive look at the central role MeitY plays in driving innovation across India's AI ecosystem. Secretary Krishnan brings more than 35 years of experience in public service, having joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1989. Prior to his current role, he served as the Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department in the Government of Tamil Nadu. He has also served as Senior Advisor in the Office of the Executive Director for India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bhutan at the International Monetary Fund, and has represented India in the G20 Expert Groups on International Financial Architecture and Global Financial Safety Nets. Secretary Krishnan holds a bachelor's degree from St. Stephen's College in Delhi.

"Highest high alpine environments where nothing can live naturally all the way down to lush jungle forest ripe with every type of plant and animal and water flying downhill everywhere." Meghan Hicks is an accomplished ultrarunner and iRunFar.com's Editor-in-Chief. Anna Frost is a professional mountain, trail and ultra runner. In this episode Meghan and Anna chat with Luis about Bhutan, the Snowman Trek, making her way through the Trans Bhutan Trail, the terrain of Bhutan, having a guide, the history of the Trans Bhutan Trail, the unexpected things that happened on the trail, getting sick, and how to see their daily posts documenting the journey. Support Road Dog Podcast by: 1. Joining the Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/roaddogpodcast 2. Subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you listen on. GO SLEEVES: https://gokinesiologysleeves.com HAMMER NUTRITION show code: Roaddoghn20 Listeners get a special 15% off at https://www.hammernutrition.com DRYMAX show code: Roaddog2020  Listeners get a special 15% off at https://www.drymaxsports.com/products/ LUNA SANDALS "Whether I'm hitting the trails or just hanging out, LUNA Sandals are my favorite. They're designed by Barefoot Ted of Born to Run and made for every adventure—ultra running, hiking, or just kicking back. Its minimalist footwear that's good for your feet!" Check them out and get 15% off at lunasandals.com/allwedoisrun. Allwedoisrun.com Meghan Hicks Contact Info: IG: https://www.instagram.com/annafrosty FB: https://www.facebook.com/annafrosty/ https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/rinzin-dorji-anna-frost-meghan-hicks-trans-bhutan-trail-2025-11-15 Anna Frost Contact Info: https://www.annafrosty.org iRun Far: https://www.irunfar.com/about-irunfar/meghan-hicks Luis Escobar (Host) Contact: luis@roaddogpodcast.com Luis Instagram Kevin Lyons (Producer) Contact: kevin@roaddogpodcast.com yesandvideo.com Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Original RDP Photo: Photography by Kaori Peters kaoriphoto.com Road Dog Podcast Adventure with Luis Escobar www.roaddogpodcast.com

What is a call? How does a person know if God is calling them to mission service? Join in a discussion as these and other questions are addressed.

Sovereign Gold-Backed Token Gets Launched In Bhutan If the monetary order looks entirely different ten years from now, at least you can say you saw the handwriting on the wall. We're seeing the shift on a day-to-day basis, and the latest move towards gold as money is that Bhutan in South Asia has just launched a sovereign gold-backed token. Vince explains what happened, and gets you caught up to speed on all of the latest precious metals news, so to find out more, click to watch the video now! - To find out more about the latest drill results from Fortuna Mining, go to: https://fortunamining.com/news/fortuna-expands-southern-arc-mineralization-with-drill-intercept-of-1-7-g-t-au-over-29-6-meters-and-a-further-2-0-g-t-au-over-20-0-meters-from-dsdd574-at-the-diamba-sud-gold-project-senegal/ - To get access to Vince's research in 'Goldfix Premium' go to: https://vblgoldfix.substack.com/ - Get your free copy of Arcadia's Silver Report here: https://goldandsilverdaily.substack.com/p/arcadia-silver-report-an-overview - Get access to Arcadia's Daily Gold and Silver updates here: https://goldandsilverdaily.substack.com/ - Join our free email list to be notified when a new video comes out: click here: https://arcadiaeconomics.com/email-signup/ - Follow Arcadia Economics on twitter at: https://x.com/ArcadiaEconomic - To get your copy of 'The Big Silver Short' (paperback or audio) go to: https://arcadiaeconomics.com/thebigsilvershort/ - Listen to Arcadia Economics on your favorite Podcast platforms: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/75OH2PpgUpriBA5mYf5kyY Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/arcadia-economics/id1505398976 - #silver #silverprice #gold And remember to get outside and have some fun every once in a while!:) (URL0VD) This video was sponsored by Fortuna Mining, and Arcadia Economics does receive compensation. For our full disclaimer go to: https://arcadiaeconomics.com/disclaimer-fortuna-silver-mines/Subscribe to Arcadia Economics on Soundwise

In Part II of our Bhutan adventure series, we dive deep into the trekking and camping experience that makes Bhutan one of the world's top bucket-list adventure destinations. If you've ever wondered what it's really like to hike in the Himalayas, stay in remote campsites, his episode gives you an authentic, first-hand look.  We take a four day hiking and camping adventure and add in several days hikes on our 12 day exploration of the mystical 'Land of the Thunder Dragon", Bhutan.  I walk you through our day-to-day trekking experience—trail conditions, altitude, weather, campsite life, tents, food, support crew, and unforgettable Himalayan views. You'll hear practical advice for preparing for multi-day trekking in Bhutan, how to navigate the elevation and when to climb up to visit Tiger's Nest (Paro Taktsang), and what makes Bhutanese trekking uniquely rewarding compared to more often visited countries. Whether you're planning your own Bhutan trek or simply dreaming of hiking in one of the planet's most pristine mountain landscapes, this episode will inspire and prepare you for the adventure. ⭐ In This Episode You'll Learn: What to expect on Bhutan's multi-day treks Insider look at campsites and trekking challenges How camping works in Bhutan (tents, toilets, dining tents, crew) Typical trekking in altitude & terrain Weather patterns and how to prepare for Himalayan conditions Why Bhutan's "High Value, Low Impact" model makes trekking here unique ⭐ This Episode Is Perfect For: Adventure travelers • Trekkers • Hikers • Campers • Himalayan travelers Travelers over 50 • Bucket-list seekers • Eco-travelers Anyone dreaming of Bhutan or high-altitude trekking ⭐ Resources Mentioned: Recommended Bhutan trekking tour companies (Bhutan requires a guide).  EMAIL ME for the current Promo Codes Bhutan Gateway Travel for trekking and custom cultural experiences  Active Adventures to take a milder adventure in a small group tour setting Active Travel Adventures Bhutan Travel Planner - free download for monthly Newsletter subscribers Gear checklist for multi-day Himalayan treks Part I of this Bhutan series (culture + highlights) COMPLETE SHOW NOTES  See important links for planning your adventure, photos, videos and more cool info about today's show. Get FREE Travel Planners, Checklists and Packing Lists for ATA adventures (and each month you will get an email from Kit with links to all future Travel Planners (no spam promise!).  Get the monthly newsletter here. CONTACT KIT Resources  RECOMMENDED TOUR COMPANIES ******* EMAIL ME FOR PROMO DISCOUNT CODES***** Saily Affordable eSIM Overseas Mobile Phone Plans - No need to insert a physical SIM card when you travel.  Buy just the data you need to avoid expensive roaming charges.  Use Promo Code SPECIAL5 to save 5% Travel Insurance:  Quickly and easily compare rates and policies from different companies - no need to give any identifying information unless you decide to buy!  The best way to find the right policy for your adventures.  IMPORTANT!  High Altitude Travel Insurance - Many travel insurance companies do NOT cover you when you are at higher altitudes!  Be sure to check your policy BEFORE your Grace Period expires!  If you will be trekking at high altitudes, consider my affiliate, Rise & Shield to cover your adventure. Train For Your Adventure  Ask Becki at Trailblazer Wellness to customize an at home, online personal training program for your upcoming adventure using whatever equipment you already have!  You'll get phone consultations, instruction videos and a plan to give you the best chance of success.  Becki offers a FREE initial phone consultation to see if you are a good fit.  AND she offers ATA listeners a 10% discount! Buy Me a Beer Want to support the program?  You can always buy me a coffee or beer - thanks! Amazon Kit's Picks   Please use my Amazon link to access your Amazon account.  Even if you don't purchase any of my recommendations, I get credit for anything you DO purchase - at no additional cost to you, you'll be helping to support the show and keeping it AD FREE:) SUBSCRIBE to Active Travel Adventures (fantastic adventure destinations) Join the Active Travel Adventures Facebook Group Follow ATA on Instagram Follow ATA on Pinterest (C) Active Travel Adventures, LLC - All Rights Reserved  

Naveed Akram, the surviving suspect of the Bondi Beach mass shooting, is charged with fifty-nine offences including fifteen counts of murder, as well as committing a terrorist act. He was charged at his bedside in hospital, after coming out of a coma. His father, Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police during the attack, which targeted Australia's Jewish community at an event celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. Also: the head of the World Health Organisation calls for the immediate release of health workers who are believed to be detained in south-western Sudan. The authorities in the Indian capital, Delhi, roll out strict measures to curb air pollution, that has been in the severe category for the past few days. The tiny mountain kingdom of Bhutan has announced it will spend a billion dollars of the country's reserves to build what it's calling a "mindfulness city." And scientists warn that nature photographers are causing irreparable harm to the endangered Galaxy Frog in India. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Exploring the entangled relationships between food, culture and society in India, this edited collection Food, Culture and Society in India: Social, Political, Economic and Cultural Perspectives (Berghahn Books, 2025) brings together empirically grounded research across diverse regions and contexts. Organised into four sections – Food, Culture and Identity; Food, Memory and Migration; Food, Livelihood and Nutrition; and Food, Consumption and Media – it highlights the complex role food plays in shaping identity, mobility, labour and representation. Drawing from a range of disciplinary perspectives, the volume contributes to broader conversations in sociology, social anthropology, international development, geography, cultural studies and food studies, offering a textured account of contemporary foodways and their significance in everyday Indian life. Dr. Tiatemsu Longkumer, Senior Lecturer in Anthropology at Royal Thimphu College, Bhutan, researches indigenous religion and Christianity among the Nagas, Buddhism in Bhutan, and Generative AI in education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Crypto News: J.P. Morgan arranges landmark U.S. Commercial Paper issuance on Solana Public Blockchain for Galaxy Digital Holdings. Coinbase opens Solana DEX access as CeFi and DeFi converge. Fed will start QE (money printing) tomorrow. Brought to you by ✅ VeChain is a versatile enterprise-grade L1 smart contract platform https://www.vechain.org/ 

Watch the full podcast! https://chinauncensored.tv/programs/podcast-317 There are many ways the CCP tries to take over other countries' territory. There's military invasion (Tibet). Political invasion (Hong Kong). Piecemeal land acquisition (Bhutan). And now the CCP's latest technique has made Indian people FURIOUS.

Hollywood has no shortage of scandals and tragedies, but some of the most haunting cases involve celebrities who simply vanished without a trace, leaving behind nothing but mysterious clues and unanswered questions.IN THIS EPISODE: Showbiz is full of not just celebrities, but also of crime and murder. But even stranger are those cases where someone famous simply disappears without a trace, and without an explanation. *** North Carolina's Great Dismal Swamp is full of horror stories – but the worst might be the fact that the swamp appears to swallow people alive. (Swallowed Alive In Great Dismal Swamp) *** A weeping man called the police to tearfully apologize for murdering his victims… but that didn't stop him from continuing to kill again and again. (The Weepy Voiced Killer) *** In Hindu culture, it is believed if certain post-death rituals are not conducted on those who have passed away, the deceased's family would not prosper and there would be misfortunes aplenty. One family in Bhutan had to learn that the hard way. (The Stoning Ghost of Sombek) *** An apparent incident involving a “gigantic cigar-shaped UFO” somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean in May 1963 wasn't reported for almost 20 years, when a witness to the event finally came forward through a written letter of the incident. (The Atlantic UFO of 1963) *** In a beautiful little town in North Wales, children ran through the graveyard, searching for little men with big eyes and long ears. They were searching for strange fairy folk – the ‘brownies' of Bangor. (The Brownies of Bangor) *** Serial killer Ed Gein was caught and arrested for his crimes in November of 1957 – but that didn't mean Gein's neighbors would see the end of his influence on their lives. (Selling Ed Gein) *** Four people take a trip to France and stay at hotel that appeared too good to be true – because it was. (The Hotel Out of Time)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Lead-In00:01:14.243 = Show Intro00:03:53.086 = Celebrity Disappearances00:22:45.040 = ***Vanishing of Rising Starlets00:41:12.991 = ***The Hotel Out Of Time00:51:58.573 = Brownies of Bangor00:59:38.807 = Selling Ed Gein01:10:24.653 = The Stoning Ghost of Sombek01:16:27.320 = ***Atlantic UFO of 196301:25:08.070 = Swallowed Alive in Great Dismal Swamp01:37:17.857 = Weepy Voiced Killer01:45:19.052 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakSOURCES and RESOURCES:“Celebrity Disappearances” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ykbkmdgf,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4ys7xjg9“Selling Ed Gein” by Romeo Vitelli for Providentia: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/uypuz8um“Swallowed Alive In Great Dismal Swamp” by Eric Luis for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/vd3sp6ywBOOK: “Dred: A Tale Of The Great Dismal Swamp” by Harriet Beecher Stowe: https://amzn.to/3cewYfe“The Weepy Voiced Killer” by Orrin Grey for The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/29w99jdc“The Hotel Out of Time” from Strange Company: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/jhnzy2bc“The Atlantic UFO of 1963” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/z2j2zp88“The Stoning Ghost of Sombek” by Rajesh Rai for Kuensel Online: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/d5hxz7cw“The Brownies of Bangor” by Dr. Beachcombing for Strange History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3dbx7p85,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/42a8v9nu=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: February 22 & 24, 2021EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/CelebritiesVanishedABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness #HollywoodMysteries #MissingCelebrities #UnsolvedDisappearances #TrueCrime #CelebrityMysteries #ColdCases #MissingPersons #UnexplainedVanishings #HollywoodSecrets

Over the last fifteen years living and ministering in South Asia, Brian, a leader with Operation Mobilization, has witnessed numerous changes. One aspect that hasn't changed is openness to the gospel. Brian will explain where Christian persecution usually begins and how it can feature a mix of family, community, and/or the government coming against the church and against new followers of Jesus. Emphasizing that God is the one who changes hearts and minds, Brian shares how, when we read the New Testament, we see that God is sovereign even over the persecution He allows His children to endure. "[Christian persecution] causes believers to grow in their faith." Brian says, "I think it's a real witness that this faith is so much bigger than what is happening to me in this world." OM's mission is to grow the church and mobilize followers of Christ to go and make disciples, teaching them to obey everything the Lord has commanded. Brian will share specific stories of how Christians in Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka are being mobilized to spread the gospel where they are and take Jesus into new communities where there aren't any churches. One story you will hear is that of a young girl, only 6 or 7 years old, who so passionately shared Jesus with her classmates that her teacher said, "Why don't you share this message with the entire school?" You'll also hear about a witch doctor who saw his son healed after praying for healing in the name of Christ. Discover how you can get involved in missions—whatever stage of life you're in—and what Brian considers the most vital qualities for those who desire to serve and reach out among unreached people groups or in foreign nations. Pray for persecuted Christians in South Asia to run the race with boldness and increased fervor for the Lord. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like India, China and Iran throughout the year, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.