Podcasts about Black Friday

Jonathan Cohen, CMO of Onyx Global Group (Pure Daily Care & Aquasonic), joins Phillip and Alicia to trace the arc from Amazon-first launches to TikTok Shop dominance. This week, we unpack the unmeasurable and explore what it actually means to cede your marketing playbook to a creator economy that doesn't need your permission. Control Is Overrated, Anyway Key Takeaways Creators are the new CMOs. Brands don't cascade strategy; creators build their own. Amazon reviews are still currency. Early investment in social proof compounds over the years. Sampling is a long game. Expect results two to three months out, not just the week of Black Friday. TikTok Live provides free focus groups. Real-time customer feedback can greenlight a new product line and unlock new growth opportunities. You can't dashboard everything. The brands with staying power are building habits, not just conversions. "The creators are our mini CMOs. They build their own marketing plans, their own talking points, their own strategies to sell our products." — Jonathan Cohen [00:22:08] "We have cut checks for tens of thousands of dollars to creators we've never spoken to before." — Jonathan Cohen [00:22:07] "If you brush your teeth, you're an Aquasonic potential customer." — Jonathan Cohen [00:45:28] "You're building habits. And there's no better investment in brand than that — because those habits stick with them a lot longer than the ad dollar you spent to get them there." — Phillip Jackson [00:47:50] Associated Links: Check out Future Commerce on YouTube Check out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and print Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce world Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Genna James is a super popular cam star, creator, and chaos technician — and this one gets nasty in the best way. We go deep into the cam world from someone who actually lives there: marathon live sessions, thousands of people watching in real time, chat going bonkers, and what it feels like to be on camera while the whole room is watching you cum.She tells the Black Friday fuck-machine story, gets into collabs with other women and her neighbor, and breaks down the requests she gets nonstop — from the regular stuff to the truly unhinged. We also hit cam-room etiquette, audience control, where she likes the cumshot, and whether she's thinking about making the jump into mainstream.Welcome to the Season 5 Premiere, welcome to EP 214: "The Tit Factor" with Genna James.Watch the video version of the show on YouTubeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIuCkOl_XummXVdu1t3XOuQFollow Genna JamesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypnkgf (@mypnkgf)Follow the showInstagram: https://instagram.com/sexparty.fm (@sexparty.fm)Twitter: https://twitter.com/sexpartyfm (@sexpartyfm)Follow Dustin Instagram: https://instagram.com/dustin.rybka (@dustin.rybka)Twitter: https://twitter.com/dustinrybka (@dustinrybka)Sex Party with Dustin Rybka

Ian sits down with Mike Manheimer, Chief Customer Officer at Postscript, to unpack how brands turn SMS into a revenue engine. Mike shares why Black Friday and Cyber Monday expose marketers who under-communicate, how Postscript aligns marketing and customer success under one leader, and why incrementality is the only metric that matters in e-commerce. Key Takeaways: · Under-communication kills revenue. During high-intent moments, hesitation leaves dollars on the table. · E-commerce buyers care about one thing: making more money. Marketing strategy must tie directly to incremental revenue. · Community drives pipeline. The fastest way into tight-knit markets is by creating spaces for customers to connect. · B2B marketers are too risk-averse. Owned data and bold experimentation win. · AI will redefine marketing. Don't just buy tools — start building. Episode Timestamps: *(06:40) Black Friday mistakes: Why brands under-message at the worst time *(17:09) Trust Tree: What Postscript does and how the buying process really works in e-commerce *(46:22) The Playbook: Community-led pipeline and customer advisory boards Sponsor: Pipeline Visionaries is brought to you by Qualified.com. Qualified helps you turn your website into a pipeline generation machine with PipelineAI. Engage and convert your most valuable website visitors with live chat, chatbots, meeting scheduling, intent data, and Piper, your AI SDR. Visit Qualified.com to learn more. Links: · Connect with Ian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianfaison/  · Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemanheimer/  · Learn more about Postscript: https://www.linkedin.com/company/postscriptio/  · Learn more about Caspian Studios: https://www.linkedin.com/company/caspian-studios/about/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Southern Cross Media suffered a 17% drop in profit in its first result since merging with Seven West Media… but its CEO didn’t deliver the update. Adore Beauty’s profit has faceplanted 70% after Black Friday blowout… but it’s betting on bricks and mortar to save its glow. Donald Trump has promised to hike global tariffs to 15% across the board - after the US Supreme Court blocked his earlier tariffs. _ Download the free app (App Store): http://bit.ly/FluxAppStore Download the free app (Google Play): http://bit.ly/FluxappGooglePlay Daily newsletter: https://bit.ly/fluxnewsletter Flux on Instagram: http://bit.ly/fluxinsta Flux on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flux.finance —- The content in this podcast reflects the views and opinions of the hosts, and is intended for personal and not commercial use. We do not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, statement or other information provided or distributed in these episodes.__See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I sat down with Rose MacKenzie, Clinical Manager at Mira, to discuss hormone tracking and why it matters from puberty through menopause. Rose has over a decade of experience as a natural family planning instructor and has helped countless women understand their hormonal patterns.   Key Topics: Why hormone tracking matters at every age If you have functioning ovaries, your hormones fluctuate and impact everything about you The limitations of period tracking apps Most apps use outdated calendar methods and only 4 out of 74 studied apps were actually accurate How the Mira fertility tracker works An at-home hormone monitoring system that tracks estrogen, LH, progesterone, and FSH through urine testing My personal experience At 46 and in perimenopause, I've been using Mira for two months and the data has been fascinating Understanding perimenopause Why this phase is so confusing and how tracking can give you back control Failed ovulation attempts What happens when your body tries to ovulate but doesn't succeed (common in perimenopause, PCOS, and postpartum) Timing progesterone supplementation Why taking it on a set day (like day 14) might not align with YOUR body's actual ovulation The importance of FSH Why this often-ignored hormone deserves more attention, especially 6+ years before menopause Who can benefit from tracking From teens to postmenopausal women, including those who've had hysterectomies or ablations Let's dive in! Thank you for joining us today. If you could rate, review & subscribe, it would mean the world to me! While you're at it, take a screenshot and tag me @jennpike to share on Instagram – I'll re-share that baby out to the community & once a month I'll be doing a draw from those re-shares and send the winner something special! Click here to listen: Apple Podcasts – CLICK HERESpotify – CLICK HERE Connect with Guest - Instagram | @mirafertility Facebook | @mirafertility Website | miracare.com | Use code "2JENNPIKE20" at checkout for 20% off your order   This episode is sponsored by: withinUs | Use the code JENNPIKE20 at withinus.ca for a limited time to save 20% off your first order and 20% off your first subscription order St. Francis | Go to stfrancisherbfarm.com and save 15% off your all your orders with code JENNPIKE15  Eversio Wellness | Go to eversiowellness.com/discount/jennpike15 and save 15% off every order with code JENNPIKE15 /// not available for "subscribe & save" option Free Resources: Free Perimenopause Support Guide | jennpike.com/perimenopausesupport Free Blood Work Guide | jennpike.com/bloodworkguide The Simplicity Sessions Podcast | jennpike.com/podcast Get 20% on thewalkingpad.com using code "JENNPIKE20" Get discounts at happybumco.com using code "JENNPIKE" *code doesn't apply with Black Friday sale* Programs: Ignite: Your 8-Week Body Transformation Program | https://jennpike.com/ignite The Peri & Menopause Project  - Join the Waitlist | jennpike.com/theperimenopauseproject Synced Virtual Fitness Studio | jennpike.com/synced Services: Work With Jenn | https://jennpike.com/work-with-jenn/ Functional Testing | jennpike.com/testing-packages Business Mentorship | The Audacious Woman Mentorship:  jennpike.com/theaudaciouswoman Connect with Jenn: Instagram | @jennpike Facebook | @thesimplicityproject YouTube | Simplicity TV Website | The Simplicity Project Inc. Have a question? Send it over to hello@jennpike.com and I'll do my best to share helpful insights, thoughts and advice.

How do you protect millions in revenue during your busiest hour of the year when your entire business depends on digital performance? At Perform 2026, I caught up with Alex Hibbitt, Engineering Director responsible for the customer platform at Storio Group, to unpack what happens when observability moves from an engineering afterthought to a board-level priority. Storio Group was formed from the merger of Photobox and Albelli, bringing together multiple brands and five separate e-commerce platforms into one unified customer journey. That consolidation created opportunity, but it also exposed risk, especially during peak trading from Black Friday through Black Sunday and into the Christmas rush. Alex shared what it really looks like when downtime is non-negotiable. At peak, Storio's platform can generate up to 1.5 million euros per hour. A single poorly timed incident is not simply a technical problem, it is a direct threat to revenue and customer trust. Before partnering with Dynatrace, the team was relying heavily on centralized logging, processing over a billion log lines a day and depending on engineers to manually interpret signals. It was reactive, labor intensive, and left too much to chance. What stood out for me was how cultural change led the transformation. Rather than imposing a new tool from the top down, Alex and his team built a maturity model engineers could relate to, created internal champions, and framed observability as risk management and business protection. The result was a reported 65 to 70 percent reduction in log costs, a 50 percent drop in mean time to detect overall, and up to 90 percent improvement for the most severe incidents. We also explored how unifying logs, metrics, and traces into a single AI-driven platform helped Storio move from reactive firefighting to proactive detection. During one Black Sunday alone, three major issues were identified early enough to avoid an estimated 4.5 million euros in potential impact. This conversation goes beyond tooling. It is about protecting customer experience, safeguarding revenue during peak demand, and building an engineering culture that embraces change. If your organization is wrestling with cloud costs, fragmented monitoring, or the pressure to deliver flawless digital performance under load, there are some powerful lessons here.

In this episode, we break down exactly what you need to prepare for a Financial Needs Analysis - whether you're working with Chris or just want to get your financial house in order on your own.   The 7 Essential Items You Need: Monthly Spending Pull 3 months of bank and credit card statements. Print them out and lay them side by side with a highlighter - you'll be amazed at what you discover about subscription services and spending patterns. Investment Statements RSPs, TFSAs, RESPs, pensions, LIRAs - gather everything. These are your money makers and your ticket to retirement. Liabilities Mortgages, car payments, credit cards, any long-term loans. We need the full picture of what you owe. Insurance Policies Most people have no idea what coverage they actually have, when it expires, or what it's worth. Time to find out. Income Details Know what you actually make weekly, monthly, or how you're taking money from your business. You'd be surprised how many people can't answer this off the top of their head. Corporate Information If you have a corporation or holding company, we need those details too. Your Goals What are you actually saving for? Retirement isn't one-size-fits-all, and your spending will change through different life stages. Key Takeaways Not all debt is bad debt We shared the conversation we had with our son Sam about his car payment and why paying off 0% interest debt early isn't always the smartest move. Healthcare costs matter As we age, healthcare becomes a major expense. We need to plan for it now, not when we're already facing those bills. Time is money Getting organized before your financial meeting saves everyone time and gets you better, more accurate planning. Couples need full transparency Even if you keep some accounts separate, we need to see the complete picture to plan your future together. Let's dive in! Thank you for joining us today. If you could rate, review & subscribe, it would mean the world to me! While you're at it, take a screenshot and tag me @jennpike to share on Instagram – I'll re-share that baby out to the community & once a month I'll be doing a draw from those re-shares and send the winner something special! Click here to listen: Apple Podcasts – CLICK HERESpotify – CLICK HERE Free Resources: Free Perimenopause Support Guide | jennpike.com/perimenopausesupport Free Blood Work Guide | jennpike.com/bloodworkguide The Simplicity Sessions Podcast | jennpike.com/podcast Get 20% on thewalkingpad.com using code "JENNPIKE20" Get discounts at happybumco.com using code "JENNPIKE" *code doesn't apply with Black Friday sale* Programs: Ignite: Your 8-Week Body Transformation Program | https://jennpike.com/ignite The Peri & Menopause Project  - Join the Waitlist | jennpike.com/theperimenopauseproject Synced Virtual Fitness Studio | jennpike.com/synced Services: Work With Jenn | https://jennpike.com/work-with-jenn/ Functional Testing | jennpike.com/testing-packages Business Mentorship | The Audacious Woman Mentorship:  jennpike.com/theaudaciouswoman Connect with Jenn: Instagram | @jennpike Facebook | @thesimplicityproject YouTube | Simplicity TV Website | The Simplicity Project Inc. Connect with Chris: Instagram | @chrisborsellino Finance Discovery Session | Book Here Have a question? Send it over to hello@jennpike.com and I'll do my best to share helpful insights, thoughts and advice.

The following article of the E-Commerce & Retail industry is: “How to Capitalize on Buen Fin, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday” by Julian Coulter, General Director, Google Mexico.

Tune in as the team discusses:Why Black Friday is a prime opportunity for land investors, not consumersPreparing Black Friday promotions weeks in advance instead of waiting until the last minuteCreative land deal incentives like dollar-down offers, discounted surveys, and bundled dealsUsing urgency, scarcity, and FOMO to drive buyer actionHow and why to increase email frequency over Black Friday weekendThe power of owning and nurturing your buyers listLeveraging email opens, clicks, and CRM data for targeted follow-upWhy land beats gadgets as a long-term, generational assetHow defaults and churn can actually strengthen the land investing model TIP OF THE WEEKMark: Prepare your Black Friday land promotions early and make them bold—irresistible offers paired with urgency move inventory fast.Scott: Don't be afraid to increase email frequency during Black Friday; buyers expect it, and urgency drives decisions.Mike: Focus on your buyers list—it's the only marketing asset you truly own, and Black Friday is the perfect time to reward it.Jon: Create a clear countdown and cadence with your emails so buyers feel the ticking clock and take action.WANT MORE?Enjoyed this episode? Dive into more episodes of AOPI to discover how to build real passive income through land investing.UNLOCK MORE FREE RESOURCES:Get instant access to my free training, a free copy of my Bestseller Dirt Rich Book, and exclusive bonuses to accelerate your land investing journey—it's all here: https://thelandgeek.ac-page.com/Podcast-Linktree."Isn't it time to create passive income so you can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want?"

For Amazon sellers, discovery determines everything. If customers can't find your products, nothing else matters. What many sellers haven't realized is how quickly Amazon's discovery engine is changing. Amazon is moving beyond traditional keyword-driven search toward AI-powered, intent-based answers through Rufus. This impacts how products are surfaced, compared, and ultimately purchased. In this episode of The Opportunity Podcast, we're joined by Jon Tilley, CEO and co-founder of ZonGuru, to unpack what this change means for sellers. For years, growth on Amazon centered around search volume, keyword placement, and ranking tactics. But Amazon is now interpreting intent, not just indexing terms. The platform is increasingly focused on understanding what shoppers are trying to accomplish, not simply what they typed into the search bar. That changes how listings should be structured and how images communicate value. It changes how sellers approach visibility, conversion, and long-term positioning. In our conversation, we discuss what sellers are getting wrong, which outdated techniques are still being used, and what it will take to stay competitive heading into 2026.If you're building or scaling on Amazon, this episode will help you understand where the platform is heading and how to position your business for what comes next. Topics Discussed in this episode: How Rufus and AI-based discovery are changing the Amazon marketplace (04:59) Rufus's big impact on Black Friday 2025 (09:23) How Amazon sellers can convert more using Rufus (11:40) How to make listing images more readable for Rufus (15:25) The aspects of your listing that matter most for visibility and ranking (18:26) Outdated techniques that Amazon sellers still use (21:10) Services ZonGuru offers that can help sellers optimize for Rufus (24:25) How to stay ahead as an Amazon seller in 2026 (27:52) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter ZonGuru Free Readiness Report Special Offer: 25% OFF on 3+ AI-Mapped Listings Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to optimize your Amazon listings for AI-based discovery.

Did you like the episode? Send me a text and let me know!!Stop Waiting for Perfect: How Perfectionism Kills Your DreamsEpisode SummaryPerfectionism isn't protection—it's procrastination in disguise. Discover why "good enough" is the only path to greatness and how waiting for the perfect moment costs you opportunities, time, and money. Learn to launch your "ugly babies" and use real-world feedback instead of endless revisions.What You'll LearnWhy perfectionism is actually a mask for fearHow analysis paralysis causes you to miss critical opportunitiesThe 80% rule: Why B-minus work beats A+ work that never shipsWhy being a perfectionist is selfish (and hurts others)Practical strategies: time limits, the three-edit rule, and launching imperfect productsKey Timestamps00:00 - Introduction: Perfectionism as a Major Hurdle 02:00 - Analysis Paralysis & Missing Opportunities 03:00 - Why Good Enough Wins 05:00 - Perfectionism as a Mask for Fear 06:00 - "It's Not the Right Time" - The Biggest Lie 07:00 - Being Perfect is Selfish: Someone Needs Your Message 09:00 - Executed Plans Beat Perfect Plans 10:00 - Time Limits & The 3-Edit Rule 12:00 - Take the Four Hurdles of Stop QuizKey Insights"You're not a perfectionist, you're a coward." - John Lee Dumas"If you don't do it, the universe is gonna find somebody else to do it instead." Stop waiting. Someone needs YOUR message in YOUR voice.The 80% Rule: Ship at 80% complete. Real feedback creates better products than isolated perfection.Practical Strategies5-Minute Rule: Set a timer. When it goes off, ship it.Three-Edit Rule: After 3 revisions, launch it.Progress vs. Perfectionism: Launch and iterate with feedback, don't edit endlessly without it.Free ResourceTake the 3-minute Four Hurdles of Stop Quiz: TUEpodcast.net/quizSeries: The Four Hurdles of StopPart 1: Imposter Syndrome | Part 2: Perfectionism (Thi Reclaim your "zone of genius" by letting Opus Clip automatically turn your long-form podcast into dozens of viral-ready shorts—start your free trial today at podnationopus.com For a 15% discount on your first purchase go RYZEsuoerfoods.com use code PODNA15 Thank you for being a Skoobeliever!! If you have questions about the show or you want to be a guest please contact me at one of these social mediasTwitter......... ..@djskoob2021 Facebook.........Facebook.com/skoobamiInstagram..... instagram.com/uepodcast2021tiktok....... @djskoob2021Email............... Uepodcast2021@gmail.com Skoob at Gettin' Basted Facebook PageAcross The Start Line Facebook Community Find out what one of the four hurdles of stop is affecting you the most!!Black Friday coaching Sale now!! 65% off original price! go to stan.store/skoob to book your appointment and take advantage of this limited time offer! On Twitter @doittodaycoachdoingittodaycoaching@gmailcom

For Amazon sellers, discovery determines everything. If customers can't find your products, nothing else matters. What many sellers haven't realized is how quickly Amazon's discovery engine is changing. Amazon is moving beyond traditional keyword-driven search toward AI-powered, intent-based answers through Rufus. This impacts how products are surfaced, compared, and ultimately purchased. In this episode of The Opportunity Podcast, we're joined by Jon Tilley, CEO and co-founder of ZonGuru, to unpack what this change means for sellers. For years, growth on Amazon centered around search volume, keyword placement, and ranking tactics. But Amazon is now interpreting intent, not just indexing terms. The platform is increasingly focused on understanding what shoppers are trying to accomplish, not simply what they typed into the search bar. That changes how listings should be structured and how images communicate value. It changes how sellers approach visibility, conversion, and long-term positioning. In our conversation, we discuss what sellers are getting wrong, which outdated techniques are still being used, and what it will take to stay competitive heading into 2026.If you're building or scaling on Amazon, this episode will help you understand where the platform is heading and how to position your business for what comes next. Topics Discussed in this episode: How Rufus and AI-based discovery are changing the Amazon marketplace (04:59) Rufus's big impact on Black Friday 2025 (09:23) How Amazon sellers can convert more using Rufus (11:40) How to make listing images more readable for Rufus (15:25) The aspects of your listing that matter most for visibility and ranking (18:26) Outdated techniques that Amazon sellers still use (21:10) Services ZonGuru offers that can help sellers optimize for Rufus (24:25) How to stay ahead as an Amazon seller in 2026 (27:52) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter ZonGuru Free Readiness Report Special Offer: 25% OFF on 3+ AI-Mapped Listings Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to optimize your Amazon listings for AI-based discovery.

This partnership between Dr. Mamina Turegano and Obagi bridges the gap between clinical dermatology and holistic wellness by uniting Obagi's 35-year legacy in skin science with the world-class expertise of Dr. Mamina Turegano. As a triple board-certified dermatologist, internist, and dermatopathologist, Dr. Turegano brings a rare, 360-degree perspective to hair and scalp health, emphasizing how internal factors like nutrition and lifestyle manifest on the surface. Her background makes her the quintessential advocate for the new Nu-Cil BioStim™ Scalp Serum, a "root-level" innovation designed to fortify follicles and re-densify hair. By highlighting the serum's proprietary BioStim™ Complex and its ability to reduce dry hair fall by 32% in just two weeks, she validates the formula's medical-grade efficacy. The collaboration is a natural fit, as both the doctor and the brand prioritize research-backed results and cellular-level repair. Together, they provide listeners with a sophisticated, science-first approach to achieving visibly fuller, healthier hair.In this episode, Dr. Mamina Turegano also discusses:Going viral with her mom's weird beauty banana peel hackThe social media dilemma for doctors: balancing professionalism with authenticityHer personal 20-year hair loss struggle and the challenge of finding non-irritating solutionsThe clinical trials supporting the efficacy of the Nu-Cil Biostim Scalp SerumWhy scalp health is the key to stopping hair lossThe future of skin–genetics will personalize your dermatology treatmentWe hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Dr. Mamina Turegano's journey and the growth of Obagi. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more.Be sure to check out Obagi at www.obagi.com and on Instagram at @obagimedicalRated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPostThis episode is brought to you by WavebreakLeading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver.Most eCommerce brands don't email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year.From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI.Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co

This week's episode is one that I know will resonate deeply with so many of you. I sat down with my friend Dr. Sonya Jensen, a naturopathic physician practicing in BC, to talk about her incredible new book, Heal Your Hormones: Reclaim Yourself.   Chapters: 5:12 - The Path That Chose Her 12:45 - Understanding Your Body's Language 24:30 - Hormones, Emotions & Mental Health 38:15 - Cycle Syncing & Hormonal Identity 47:20 - Unlearning Patterns & Generational Conditioning 1:02:45 - Natural Support & Testing 1:15:30 - Three Steps to Reclaim Yourself in 2026   Let's dive in! Thank you for joining us today. If you could rate, review & subscribe, it would mean the world to me! While you're at it, take a screenshot and tag me @jennpike to share on Instagram – I'll re-share that baby out to the community & once a month I'll be doing a draw from those re-shares and send the winner something special! Click here to listen: Apple Podcasts – CLICK HERESpotify – CLICK HERE Connect with Guest - Instagram | @drsonyajensen Facebook | @drsonyajensennd Book | GET YOUR COPY HERE Website | drsonyajensen.com   This episode is sponsored by: withinUs | Use the code JENNPIKE20 at withinus.ca for a limited time to save 20% off your first order and 20% off your first subscription order St. Francis | Go to stfrancisherbfarm.com and save 15% off your all your orders with code JENNPIKE15  Eversio Wellness | Go to eversiowellness.com/discount/jennpike15 and save 15% off every order with code JENNPIKE15 /// not available for "subscribe & save" option Free Resources: Free Perimenopause Support Guide | jennpike.com/perimenopausesupport Free Blood Work Guide | jennpike.com/bloodworkguide The Simplicity Sessions Podcast | jennpike.com/podcast Get 20% on thewalkingpad.com using code "JENNPIKE20" Get discounts at happybumco.com using code "JENNPIKE" *code doesn't apply with Black Friday sale* Programs: Ignite: Your 8-Week Body Transformation Program | https://jennpike.com/ignite The Peri & Menopause Project  - Join the Waitlist | jennpike.com/theperimenopauseproject Synced Virtual Fitness Studio | jennpike.com/synced Services: Work With Jenn | https://jennpike.com/work-with-jenn/ Functional Testing | jennpike.com/testing-packages Business Mentorship | The Audacious Woman Mentorship:  jennpike.com/theaudaciouswoman Connect with Jenn: Instagram | @jennpike Facebook | @thesimplicityproject YouTube | Simplicity TV Website | The Simplicity Project Inc. Have a question? Send it over to hello@jennpike.com and I'll do my best to share helpful insights, thoughts and advice.

In this episode, I'm giving you a front seat to the teaching assistants I've had in my classroom for years… except they're not people. They're systems. Predictable, powerful routines that quietly run the room so I can actually teach with FAR fewer low-level disruptions.I'm walking you through the non-negotiable routines that have transformed my classroom from chaotic to calm, and how you can start implementing them immediately.What You'll Learn:Why routines are the purest form of proactive classroom management (you'll hear me nerd out about this A LOT)How a tight entry routine sets the tone before you say a wordWhat makes a starter task actually reduce low-level disruption (and how to do it right)The early finisher routine that stops you from needing to be split into 10 different humans just to respond to the needs popping upHow to fix the messy middle with visual transition slidesWhy exit tasks are more than reflection, they're behaviour goldHow “turn-it-in trays” help you triage learning without drowning in markingThe exit routine that prevents the Black Friday stampede

Is the early 2024 equity rally finally facing a reality check? Join Mark Longo and Kevin Green, Senior Markets Correspondent at Schwab Network, as they break down a wild week in the futures options markets. From "rotation trades" in the indices to the aftermath of a "Black Friday" in silver, we cover the moves that matter. In this episode, we dive into: Equities: Is the recent pullback a healthy correction or the start of something deeper? We analyze the massive 0DTE flow in the E-mini S&P 500 and a curious 22-day downside hedge in the 6,500 puts. Plus, a look at the carnage in small caps and concerning trends in commercial real estate. Metals: We recap the "blow-off top" in Silver. With implied volatility hitting near triple digits, is the stampede over, or are traders just reloading for the next run? Kevin shares his boots-on-the-ground experience from the physical silver market. Agriculture: Soybeans are back on the menu! We explore the spike in July soybean calls and how South American production targets are shifting the narrative for 2026.

Is the early 2024 equity rally finally facing a reality check? Join Mark Longo and Kevin Green, Senior Markets Correspondent at Schwab Network, as they break down a wild week in the futures options markets. From "rotation trades" in the indices to the aftermath of a "Black Friday" in silver, we cover the moves that matter. In this episode, we dive into: Equities: Is the recent pullback a healthy correction or the start of something deeper? We analyze the massive 0DTE flow in the E-mini S&P 500 and a curious 22-day downside hedge in the 6,500 puts. Plus, a look at the carnage in small caps and concerning trends in commercial real estate. Metals: We recap the "blow-off top" in Silver. With implied volatility hitting near triple digits, is the stampede over, or are traders just reloading for the next run? Kevin shares his boots-on-the-ground experience from the physical silver market. Agriculture: Soybeans are back on the menu! We explore the spike in July soybean calls and how South American production targets are shifting the narrative for 2026.

Every four years the world stops for the World Cup… but today we’re asking: what’s your World Cup? Not football. Not cricket. YOUR personal final. The event where you turn into a different human being. Is it the family Christmas lunch, where Auntie starts drama in the first half and by dessert it’s emotional extra time?Is it Black Friday, where you enter the mall calm and come out like a war veteran with one air fryer and trust issues? Is it your office year-end function, where Sipho from accounts suddenly thinks he’s Drake after two ciders? Hang out with Anele and The Club on 947 every weekday morning. Popular radio hosts Anele Mdoda, Frankie du Toit, Thembekile Mrototo, and Cindy Poluta take fun to the next level with the biggest guests, hottest conversations, feel-good vibes, and the best music to get you going! Kick-start your day with the most enjoyable way to wake up in Joburg. Connect with Anele and The Club on 947 via WhatsApp at 084 000 0947 or call the studio on 011 88 38 947Thank you for listening to the Anele and the Club podcast..Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 to 09:00 to Anele and the Club broadcast on 947 https://buff.ly/y34dh8Y For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/gyWKIkl or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/K59GRzu Subscribe to the 947s Weekly Newsletter https://buff.ly/hf9IuR9 Follow us on social media:947 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/947Joburg/ 947 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@947joburg947 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/947joburg947 on X: www.x.com/947 947 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@947JoburgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I'm interviewing Courtney Townley, author of The Consistency Code. If you're a woman stuck in the cycle of temporary fixes - the boot camps, the detoxes, the one-size-fits-all programs that promise everything but deliver short-term results - this conversation is for you. Today, we cut through the BS of wellness culture in the most loving, direct way possible. No shame, no guilt, just real talk about what it actually takes to create lasting transformation. Chapters: [8:32] What Health Really Means [18:11] Courtney's Turning Point [25:12] The Two-Part Stress Equation [33:12] Practical Self-Awareness Tools [49:37] Health as Self-Expression Let's dive in! Thank you for joining us today. If you could rate, review & subscribe, it would mean the world to me! While you're at it, take a screenshot and tag me @jennpike to share on Instagram – I'll re-share that baby out to the community & once a month I'll be doing a draw from those re-shares and send the winner something special! Click here to listen: Apple Podcasts – CLICK HERESpotify – CLICK HERE Connect with Guest - Instagram | @gracegrit Facebook | @gracegritllc The Consistency Code | GET YOUR COPY Website | graceandgrit.com   Free Resources: Free Perimenopause Support Guide | jennpike.com/perimenopausesupport Free Blood Work Guide | jennpike.com/bloodworkguide The Simplicity Sessions Podcast | jennpike.com/podcast Get 20% on thewalkingpad.com using code "JENNPIKE20" Get discounts at happybumco.com using code "JENNPIKE" *code doesn't apply with Black Friday sale* Programs: Ignite: Your 8-Week Body Transformation Program | https://jennpike.com/ignite The Peri & Menopause Project  - Join the Waitlist | jennpike.com/theperimenopauseproject Synced Virtual Fitness Studio | jennpike.com/synced Services: Work With Jenn | https://jennpike.com/work-with-jenn/ Functional Testing | jennpike.com/testing-packages Business Mentorship | The Audacious Woman Mentorship:  jennpike.com/theaudaciouswoman Connect with Jenn: Instagram | @jennpike Facebook | @thesimplicityproject YouTube | Simplicity TV Website | The Simplicity Project Inc. Have a question? Send it over to hello@jennpike.com and I'll do my best to share helpful insights, thoughts and advice.

Is the "Gold Rush" of 2025 just the beginning? In this episode of The Futures Rundown, host Mark Longo is joined by Dana Samuelson, Founder and President of the American Gold Exchange, to dissect one of the most unprecedented years in the history of precious metals. From gold shattering all-time highs to silver's "Black Friday" volatility and the rise of the "debasement trade," we dive deep into the forces driving the 2026 commodities market. Whether you're a seasoned futures trader or a physical metal collector, this episode provides the expert insight you need to navigate these "scary" markets. In This Episode, We Explore: The Unprecedented Bull Run: Why Dana Samuelson, a 46-year market veteran, calls the recent action in gold and silver unlike anything seen since 1980. The "Debasement Trade": How global tariffs, the shifting status of the US Dollar, and central bank demand are fundamentally altering gold's value proposition. Silver's Wild Ride: A look at the "Indian Influencer" effect, industrial demand from the EV battery sector (Samsung), and why silver is facing a physical supply squeeze. The Gold-to-Silver Ratio: Analyzing the massive divergence and subsequent "catch-up" trades that rocked the second half of 2025. Bitcoin vs. Gold: Is BTC truly "Digital Gold"? We discuss the bifurcation of investors and where both assets fit in a modern portfolio. The Trading Pit: A breakdown of the week's movers, including Nat Gas reversals, the Yen's resurgence, and the most active contracts on the CME (10-Year Notes, Nasdaq Micros, and more). "We've seen industry going directly to the supply chain source to secure silver for the future... we've never seen anything like this." — Dana Samuelson

On a snowy Black Friday in November 2024, a 22-year-old experienced hiker from Quebec set out alone to climb one of the most remote peaks in New York's Adirondack Mountains—a challenging 18-mile journey he expected to complete in a single day. When he didn't return as planned, what followed was one of the most extensive search operations in Adirondack history, involving dozens of elite forest rangers battling brutal winter conditions for over a week. This is the story of Leo Dufour, a university student studying to become a teacher who had already conquered 32 of the legendary 46 High Peaks, and the extraordinary efforts to find him in a wilderness that doesn't always give up its secrets. It's a reminder that even the most prepared among us are never more than one wrong turn away from the unforgiving power of the mountains. 00:00 Introduction to Disaster Strikes 00:42 Leo Dufour's Quest in the Adirondacks 03:00 The Challenge of Allen Mountain 07:09 The Search and Rescue Efforts 12:47 The Aftermath and Lessons Learned 24:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreaon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/ References: "New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Statement on Recovery of Missing Canadian Hiker Leo DuFour." DEC Press Release, May 10, 2025. "Update: State Police seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing hiker in the town of Newcomb." NYS Police Press Release, December 2024. Lynch, Mike. "Remains of missing Canadian hiker found." Adirondack Explorer, May 2025. Lynch, Mike. "Missing hiker: What we know so far, as search enters 5th day." Adirondack Explorer, January 22, 2025. Lynch, Mike. "Search for Canadian hiker shifts to recovery." Adirondack Explorer, March 28, 2025. "DEC: Body of missing hiker Leo DuFour found May 10 off Mt. Allen Mountain trail." The Adirondack Almanack, May 12, 2025. "Due to treacherous conditions, search for Leo DuFour transitioned to recovery mission." The Adirondack Almanack, December 10, 2024. "Extensive search underway in the Adirondacks for missing Canadian hiker." NCPR News, December 4, 2024. "Rangers had to divert resources during Allen Mt. search to rescue solo searcher." NCPR News, December 10, 2024. "DEC: No signs of missing hiker Thursday." Adirondack Daily Enterprise, December 5, 2024. "Hikers find body of missing person on Allen Mountain." My NBC5, May 2025. "Body of Missing Hiker Is Found 5 Months After He Vanished in the Adirondacks." The New York Times, May 29, 2025. The Globe and Mail (Canada): "U.S. authorities find body of missing Quebec hiker in New York state's Adirondacks." May 11, 2025. Advnture: Clarke, Julia. "Body of 22-year-old Canadian hiker found 5 months after vanishing on snowy Adirondacks mountain." May 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

-Rob dives into global intrigue as C-17 cargo planes head toward the Middle East, Cuba teeters on fuel collapse, and he declares Trump is playing “3D chess” while the Ayatollah studies checkers. -On the Newsmax hotline, Philip Patrick of Birch Gold joins Rob to break down gold's rollercoaster ride—down $1,000, back up $500—and why central banks are stacking precious metals like it's Black Friday for bullion. Today's podcast is sponsored by : RELIEF FACTOR - You don't need to live with aches & pains! Reduce muscle & joint inflammation and live a pain-free life by visiting http://ReliefFactor.com  QUINCE CLOTHING - Refresh your wardrobe with Quince.  Go to http://Quince.com/NEWSMAX for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (http://patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the world's athletes compete for Winter Olympic Gold, Walmart has secured a podium finish of its own – becoming the first retailer to skate past the $1 trillion market cap milestone. But is this value retail rally a high-speed slalom to success or a slippery slope? In this episode of Magic Markets, The Finance Ghost and Mohammed Nalla unpack why US consumers might be ditching big brands for private labels and dollar stores. Closer to home in South Africa, they discuss why shrinking into prosperity can work for apparel, but not for grocery. Moe explores how Walmart has entrenched itself as a dominant US retailer through a relentless focus on fulfilment and logistics. With the chain in its infancy in South Africa (having just opened their third store), Walmart faces a fierce battle for the notoriously price-sensitive South African consumer's wallet.  While Shoprite builds a world-class omnichannel empire, powered by an army of Sixty60 scooters, Pick n Pay finds itself in dire straits. The market is valuing its core business at less than zero once you strip out its pure-play discounter, Boxer. Is there a chance for Woolworths and SPAR to claw back some market share here? Can Walmart make a dent? Today's Topics: How Walmart garnered ‘Big Tech'-esque success (and why Moe is so optimistic) Why Shoprite is no longer just a grocer, but a fulfilment engine that competitors struggle to replicate. Why Boxer was up 11% this past year while PnP continues to struggle, and what this says about grocery scale economics. Why SPAR's franchise model is struggling to compete with the centralised power of omnichannel retail. A look at why the US's Dollar Tree and Dollar General are flying high while high-street discretionary spend is hitting a wall. Get in touch: The Magic Markets Website @MagicMarketsPod, @FinanceGhost, and @MohammedNalla (all on X) Pop us a note on LinkedIn Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Please speak to your personal financial advisor. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction & the Latest in Magic Markets Premium(00:01:37) - The Retail Temperature Check: Resilience vs. Reality(00:02:32) - The Kirkland Shift: Why Consumers Are Choosing Value Over Brands(00:03:44) - Walmart's $1 Trillion Milestone: Is Grocery The New Big Tech?(00:05:18) - Winning the Wallet: How Logistics and Apps Drive Margin Mix(00:06:52) - The Sixty60 Ecosystem: Can Competitors Catch Shoprite's Engine?(00:09:09) - JSE Retail Realities: A Shocking Year For Apparel(00:10:45) - Black Friday vs. Christmas: Online vs. In-Store Demand(00:12:30) - The Boxer Multiplier & Pick n Pay's Zero-Valuation Problem(00:15:15) - Fashion vs. Grocery & Shrinking Into Prosperity(00:16:38) - Valuation Sensitivity: Why Quality Stocks Can See Share Price Slumps(00:18:20) - Boxer & The Power Of The Discount Model(00:19:38) - SPAR's Struggle: Can the Franchise Model Survive Omnichannel?(00:22:17) - International Benchmarks: Comparing Walmart, Costco, and the UK's Tesco(00:26:35) - Conclusion

Imagine ERP systems that spot cyber threats before they strike, using AI to predict outages and banish reactive support forever. How close are we to invisible, proactive defense that keeps businesses unbreakable? Dive into the future where data and smarts outpace chaos.=====In this compelling episode of the Future of ERP podcast, SAP's Jens Bernotat, head of strategy, portfolio, and ecosystem management for SAP Support, shares transformative insights on evolving ERP customer support. He outlines a future where support becomes invisible through prevention, hyper-proactive with deep customer data insights, and accelerated by AI-driven recommendations. Jens emphasizes data's starring role in pattern detection via AI analytics, addresses change management for teams shifting from routine tickets to complex missions and AI curation, and reveals key KPIs like customer effort scores and health metrics. Practical advice includes starting with quick-win AI use cases, fostering team experimentation, and crafting transformation roadmaps. Listen now and rethink what ERP can do for your organization!⁠⁠⁠⁠Download Episode Transcript⁠⁠⁠⁠Useful Links: ⁠SAP Cloud ERP⁠Follow Us on Social Media!SAP S/4HANA Cloud ERP: LinkedIn=====Guest: Jens Bernotat, Head of Strategy, Portfolio and Ecosystem Management, SAP Customer Support at SAPJens joined SAP in 2007 as Vice President in the Corporate Strategy Group. Here, he has guided high impact programs with a focus on maintenance and support strategy, portfolio and commercial design. From 2011, Jens was driving strategy for Maintenance Go-To-Market, where he designed commercial transformation programs to the Cloud and new support offerings.Since 2017, Jens is driving SAP's maintenance and support strategy, orchestrating maintenance phases, end dates and the portfolio of support offerings. Jens also leads Ecosystem management, defining the setup of how partners deliver support to our customers.Host 1: Richard Howells, SAPRichard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP's ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.Follow Richard Howell on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠Host 2: Oyku Ilgar, SAPOyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP's digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.She holds dual bachelor's degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master's degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape.Oyku's ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠SAP Community⁠=====Key Topics: ERP support, proactive support, AI analytics, customer health, data patterns, change management, Black Friday uptime, support automation, ERP transformation, cyber prevention

Did you like the episode? Send me a text and let me know!!Escaping the Competence Trap: Why Delegation Fails & How to Spot AI Hiring FraudAre you a CEO or just the world's most expensive janitor? In this episode of Business Conversations with PI, we dive deep into the "Superman Complex" and the hidden traps that stop entrepreneurs from scaling.We break down the mathematical framework of the Zone of Genius, why 73% of delegation attempts fail, and the terrifying new rise of AI deepfakes in remote hiring.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The Competence Trap: Why doing what you're "good at" (like spreadsheets or tech fixes) is actually killing your revenue.The 73% Failure Rate: Why most offshore hiring turns into a "Hidden Cost Spiral" and "Management Quicksand."AI Deepfakes in Hiring: How scammers use real-time AI filters to fake their identity in Zoom interviews—and how to protect your business.Nearshore vs. Offshore: Why time zones and "physics" are the secret keys to successful global collaboration.The 20% Itch Rule: Pat Flynn's strategy for exploring new ideas without crashing your core business.1. What is the "Zone of Genius" in business?It is the work that produces the highest ratio of abundance and satisfaction for the time spent. Unlike the "Zone of Competence," it creates a biological flow state where friction disappears.2. Why do most delegation attempts fail?According to data, 73% of offshore projects fail because owners treat hiring like a "vending machine," leading to subpar work that the owner eventually has to redo at a much higher internal cost.3. How do I spot AI deepfakes during a remote interview?Rigorous talent selection is now a defense mechanism. Use real-time verification, tighter vetting processes, and "Nearshore" hiring to ensure cultural and professional alignment.The "Bamboo Tree" PhilosophyScaling a business is like watering a bamboo tree. You might see nothing but dirt for five years, but once the root system is built, you can grow 90 feet in six w Reclaim your "zone of genius" by letting Opus Clip automatically turn your long-form podcast into dozens of viral-ready shorts—start your free trial today at podnationopus.com For a 15% discount on your first purchase go RYZEsuoerfoods.com use code PODNA15 Thank you for being a Skoobeliever!! If you have questions about the show or you want to be a guest please contact me at one of these social mediasTwitter......... ..@djskoob2021 Facebook.........Facebook.com/skoobamiInstagram..... instagram.com/uepodcast2021tiktok....... @djskoob2021Email............... Uepodcast2021@gmail.com Skoob at Gettin' Basted Facebook PageAcross The Start Line Facebook Community Find out what one of the four hurdles of stop is affecting you the most!!Black Friday coaching Sale now!! 65% off original price! go to stan.store/skoob to book your appointment and take advantage of this limited time offer! On Twitter @doittodaycoachdoingittodaycoaching@gmailcom

In this episode, I'm sharing exactly what I would do differently if I could go back and train my 35-year-old self. This one's packed with practical advice for women 35+ who want to build real, lasting strength. Key Topics: The Mindset Shift Why training smarter beats training harder every time Moving beyond aesthetic-only goals to functional strength that serves you for decades The importance of being a lifelong student of your own body The Two Most Neglected Movement Patterns Hip hinging: deadlifts, good mornings, hip thrusts - and why your lower back pain might be telling you something Upper body strength: why you can't skip it (and no, you won't get bulky) My Ideal Training Splits for Women 35+ Option A: 4-Day Upper/Lower Split Monday: Lower body (hinge-focused) Tuesday: Upper body (push/pull) Wednesday: Rest/walk/mobility Thursday: Lower body OR The Body (Pilates/barre fusion) Friday: Upper body Weekend: Rest or additional lower body Option B: 3-Day Full Body Split Day 1: Full body (hinge + pull emphasis) Day 2: Rest/cardio/mobility Day 3: Full body (squat + push emphasis) Day 4: Rest Day 5: Full body (posterior chain emphasis) Sets, Reps & Real Talk 3-4 working sets (after warmup sets!) 6-10 reps for main lifts, 10-15 for accessories Why your first set doesn't count Training to failure vs. training to form collapse What to Stop Doing Endless circuits that leave you exhausted Prioritizing cardio over strength when your goal is body composition Changing programs every few weeks out of impatience Letting the scale dictate your worth The Cardio Question Daily walking (8-12K steps) 1-2 short metabolic finishers per week (8-12 minutes max) Zone 2 cardio for recovery, not depletion Let's dive in! Thank you for joining us today. If you could rate, review & subscribe, it would mean the world to me! While you're at it, take a screenshot and tag me @jennpike to share on Instagram – I'll re-share that baby out to the community & once a month I'll be doing a draw from those re-shares and send the winner something special! Click here to listen: Apple Podcasts – CLICK HERESpotify – CLICK HERE This episode is sponsored by: withinUs | Use the code JENNPIKE20 at withinus.ca for a limited time to save 20% off your order St. Francis | Go to stfrancisherbfarm.com and save 15% off your all your orders with code JENNPIKE15  Eversio Wellness | Go to eversiowellness.com/discount/jennpike15 and save 15% off every order with code JENNPIKE15 /// not available for "subscribe & save" option Free Resources: Free Perimenopause Support Guide | jennpike.com/perimenopausesupport Free Blood Work Guide | jennpike.com/bloodworkguide The Simplicity Sessions Podcast | jennpike.com/podcast Get 20% on thewalkingpad.com using code "JENNPIKE20" Get discounts at happybumco.com using code "JENNPIKE" *code doesn't apply with Black Friday sale* Programs: Ignite: Your 8-Week Body Transformation Program | https://jennpike.com/ignite The Peri & Menopause Project  - Join the Waitlist | jennpike.com/theperimenopauseproject Synced Virtual Fitness Studio | jennpike.com/synced Services: Work With Jenn | https://jennpike.com/work-with-jenn/ Functional Testing | jennpike.com/testing-packages Business Mentorship | The Audacious Woman Mentorship:  jennpike.com/theaudaciouswoman Connect with Jenn: Instagram | @jennpike Facebook | @thesimplicityproject YouTube | Simplicity TV Website | The Simplicity Project Inc. Have a question? Send it over to hello@jennpike.com and I'll do my best to share helpful insights, thoughts and advice.

In this episode, we discuss Chris's career transition from custom construction to financial services, the business opportunity in financial literacy education, and how families can build generational wealth through proper licensing and planning. Key Topics Discussed Chris's Career Journey 20+ years as a custom builder and general contractor in Toronto Notable projects: National Ballet, Casa Loma, Ontario Art Gallery, Casino Rama, luxury homes in Bridal Path and Forest Hill Challenges of relocating construction business from Ontario to BC The decision to transition careers at 45 years old The Career Transition Moving from construction to financial services Getting licensed through Insurance Council of British Columbia Completing provincial-level exams at Okanagan College The intimidation and pressure of returning to formal education in mid-40s The Business Opportunity Three pathways: personal finance management, one-on-one client consulting, or building a team/agency Teaching financial literacy to Canadian families Flexibility to work from home and control your own schedule Ability to pass business to family members (spouse, children) - keeping it as generational wealth Why This Matters Now Rising cost of living outpacing wage increases Mortgage rates doubling for many families Need for additional income streams Opportunity to learn financial literacy while earning The Licensing Process Provincial-level certification through Insurance Council of British Columbia Post-secondary education requirement (Okanagan College) Not a weekend course - legitimate professional designation Minimum 70% passing grade required Family Legacy Component Licensed business can transfer to spouse and children Keeps client relationships within the family unit Different from traditional firms where clients "roll up" to the company Creates true generational wealth opportunity Work-Life Balance Benefits No commuting (Chris previously spent ~1 day/week in vehicle) Flexible schedule for family events and activities Ability to work while traveling Geographic freedom - clients across Canada via virtual meetings Success Stories Rebecca Matthews: Went from multiple six figures in debt to running one of the fastest-growing agencies, earning $250K/year Team members earning from $500-2000/month part-time to $250K+ full-time Couples working together successfully in the business   Let's dive in! Thank you for joi ning us today. If you could rate, review & subscribe, it would mean the world to me! While you're at it, take a screenshot and tag me @jennpike to share on Instagram – I'll re-share that baby out to the community & once a month I'll be doing a draw from those re-shares and send the winner something special! Click here to listen: Apple Podcasts – CLICK HERESpotify – CLICK HERE Free Resources: Free Perimenopause Support Guide | jennpike.com/perimenopausesupport Free Blood Work Guide | jennpike.com/bloodworkguide The Simplicity Sessions Podcast | jennpike.com/podcast Get 20% on thewalkingpad.com using code "JENNPIKE20" Get discounts at happybumco.com using code "JENNPIKE" *code doesn't apply with Black Friday sale* Programs: Ignite: Your 8-Week Body Transformation Program | https://jennpike.com/ignite The Peri & Menopause Project  - Join the Waitlist | jennpike.com/theperimenopauseproject Synced Virtual Fitness Studio | jennpike.com/synced Services: Work With Jenn | https://jennpike.com/work-with-jenn/ Functional Testing | jennpike.com/testing-packages Business Mentorship | The Audacious Woman Mentorship:  jennpike.com/theaudaciouswoman Connect with Jenn: Instagram | @jennpike Facebook | @thesimplicityproject YouTube | Simplicity TV Website | The Simplicity Project Inc. Connect with Chris: Instagram | @chrisborsellino Finance Discovery Session | Book Here Have a question? Send it over to hello@jennpike.com and I'll do my best to share helpful insights, thoughts and advice.

Why Profit Matters More Than Sales in Indie RetailSales growth is often treated as the goal in retail.But without profit, growth just creates more pressure.In this episode of Resilient Retail Game Plan, we look at why profit isn't optional for independent retailers, and how better stock decisions change far more than just the numbers.I'm Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality.This isn't about chasing turnover.And it's not about discounting everything to keep cash moving.It's about making deliberate, data led decisions that protect margin, reduce stock pressure, and give you room to breathe.I'm joined by Paola Majuli, Stock Doctor and former senior merchandiser at global retail brands, to unpack what actually happens when retailers stop reacting and start managing stock with intention.Together, we talk through real client results, what the numbers are showing after six months and a year, and why confidence often returns once the chaos settles.In this episode, we cover:Why profit, not cash flow alone, keeps retail businesses sustainableWhat blanket discounting really costs you over timeHow retailers increased sales while holding less stockWhy margin awareness changes decision makingWhat better stock management does for confidence and clarityHow strategic discounting differs from panic discountingWe also talk about Black Friday, overstock, pricing confidence, and why being selective about what you discount can actually drive stronger results than putting everything on sale.If you're running an independent shop and feel stuck in a cycle of buying, discounting, and hoping for the best, this episode will help you think more clearly about how profit, stock, and confidence fit together.Chapters00:00 Why profit isn't optional01:13 The real problem with blanket discounting04:08 What the numbers show after six months and a year06:27 Pricing, margin, and confidence10:09 Why stock decisions matter more than people realise12:36 How better data changes behaviour17:47 Smarter Black Friday strategies23:44 What confidence looks like in profitable businessesLinksStock Doctor: https://stockdoctor.netResilient Retail Club: https://www.resilientretailclub.comListen on your favourite podcast app: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcastEnjoying the show?DM your takeaways or questions to @resilientretailclub on Instagram.And if the podcast's useful, please follow, rate, and review — it helps more product businesses find us.Mentioned in this episode:Check out the Stock DoctorFind out more at stockdoctor.net

Send Jackie A Message!Another Pilates studio just opened down the street. Another yoga space launched with “expert teachers” and a “welcoming community.” And suddenly, referrals feel slower, growth feels harder, and you're wondering what actually makes a studio stand out anymore.In this episode, Jackie Murphy breaks down exactly how one Pilates studio generated $81,605 in revenue over a single Black Friday weekend—and why it had nothing to do with luck, hustle, or having “better teachers.”You'll learn why the old boutique fitness playbook (word-of-mouth and hoping people find you) no longer works, how omni-channel marketing and paid ads now drive growth, and why changing less and repeating what works is the real path to sustainable profit.Jackie walks you through the strategy behind the sale: waitlists, consistent messaging across every platform, ads that supported (not replaced) organic marketing, and why a $226 ad spend produced a 359x return.If competition feels intimidating right now, this episode will show you how to stop reacting—and start leading.Timestamped Outline[00:00] Why competition feels louder in 2026[02:30] The $81,605 Black Friday case study[05:30] Change less, evaluate more, repeat[07:30] Omni-channel marketing explained[10:00] Why Black Friday doesn't start on Black Friday[12:30] Email + SMS + ads working together[15:00] The $226 ad spend breakdown (359x ROAS)[18:00] Why ads work better when they support organic[21:00] Long-term nurturing vs short-term sales[24:00] Setting big goals without attaching fear[27:00] Why this is possible for your studio tooKey Takeaways Competition isn't the problem—unclear messaging is“Great teachers” is not a differentiator anymoreSustainable profit comes from repeating proven campaignsOmni-channel marketing makes buying easierAds amplify what's already working organicallyYou don't need a massive ad budget to get massive resultsLong-term trust builds high-ticket sales like annual membershipsPull Quotes“Change less. Evaluate more. Repeat.”“Black Friday doesn't start on Black Friday.”“Ads don't replace organic marketing—they support it.”“People don't buy the first time they see something.”“You don't need hustle. You need a plan.”FAQ (AEO-Optimized)Why doesn't word-of-mouth work like it used to for yoga studios? Because the industry is more saturated. Consumers have more options and need clearer messaging to choose.Do yoga and Pilates studios really need paid ads now? Yes—organic marketing alone no longer reaches enough people. Ads help amplify what's already working.How much should studios spend on ads for campaigns like Black Friday? There's no one number, but this case study shows that even low ad spend can produce high returns when paired with strong messaging.Is Black Friday still worth it for boutique studios? Yes—when it's planned in advance, supported by trust, and aligned with your long-term strategy.What makes a Black Friday sale successful?Work with Jackie Murphy Say Hi on Instagram @studioceoofficial 3 Marketing Mistakes Yoga & Pilates Business Owners Make: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/3-marketing-mistakes Join The Studio CEO Program: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/studioceo

Did you like the episode? Send me a text and let me know!!Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Turn Self-Doubt Into Your Success CompassEpisode SummaryDiscover how to transform imposter syndrome from a career-blocking obstacle into a powerful navigation tool for entrepreneurial success. Learn practical strategies to overcome self-doubt, stop overworking to prove yourself, and embrace your accomplishments.What You'll Learn About Imposter SyndromeHow to recognize when you're crediting success to luck instead of your hard workWhy feeling unworthy of praise sabotages your growthThe surprising truth: imposter syndrome means you're heading in the RIGHT directionHow to stop saying "yes" to everything and burning outPractical techniques to use self-doubt as a positive guideKey Timestamps00:00 - Introduction: Imposter syndrome as a directional guide 02:00 - Stop crediting success to luck or timing 03:00 - Recognize your own hard work and accomplishments 04:00 - The overworking trap: proving yourself vs. burning out 06:00 - Learning to say no strategically 07:00 - Feeling unworthy of praise and success 09:00 - Accepting compliments and accolades 10:00 - Using imposter syndrome as a compass 11:00 - Take the Four Hurdles of Stop QuizResources MentionedFree Quiz: Discover which of the Four Hurdles of Stop affects you most Visit: TUEpodcast.net/quizAbout The Undiscovered EntrepreneurJoin Skoob(Skoobelievers) as we explore the four hurdles that stop entrepreneurs: imposter syndrome, perfectionism, fear of failure, and general fear. This is part 1 of a 3-part solo series designed to help you get across the start line.Key Takeaway"The hurdles aren't in the way—the hurdles ARE the way." When you feel imposter syndrome, you're exactly where you need to be. Use it as confirmation you're pursuing meaningful growth.Episode Type: Solo Series: Four Hurdles of Stop (Part 1/3) Next Episode: Overcoming Perfectionism#ImposterSyndrome #Entrepreneurship #SelfDoubt #BusinessMindset #Entrepreneur Reclaim your "zone of genius" by letting Opus Clip automatically turn your long-form podcast into dozens of viral-ready shorts—start your free trial today at podnationopus.com For a 15% discount on your first purchase go RYZEsuoerfoods.com use code PODNA15 Thank you for being a Skoobeliever!! If you have questions about the show or you want to be a guest please contact me at one of these social mediasTwitter......... ..@djskoob2021 Facebook.........Facebook.com/skoobamiInstagram..... instagram.com/uepodcast2021tiktok....... @djskoob2021Email............... Uepodcast2021@gmail.com Skoob at Gettin' Basted Facebook PageAcross The Start Line Facebook Community Find out what one of the four hurdles of stop is affecting you the most!!Black Friday coaching Sale now!! 65% off original price! go to stan.store/skoob to book your appointment and take advantage of this limited time offer! On Twitter @doittodaycoachdoingittodaycoaching@gmailcom

In this episode, I sit down with sports scientist and nutrition expert Barbara Burke to discuss why building muscle is the ultimate game-changer for women in perimenopause and beyond. We bust myths about "bulking up," explore how muscle acts as your organ of longevity, and get practical about what it really takes to build and maintain strength. Barbara shares her personal journey with frozen shoulder, the power of starting small, and why three 30-minute sessions per week might be all you need. If you've been making excuses about strength training, this conversation will inspire you to finally get started.   Chapters: [2:36] Global Perspectives on Women & Strength  [5:00] Women as Athletes of Everyday Life [5:47] Breaking Through Limiting Beliefs  [7:11] Why Muscle is Magic  [8:49] The Realistic Prescription  [12:14] Recovery is Where Growth Happens  [17:34] Starting When You're Exhausted  [22:15] The Weight Debate [26:38] Injury Loops & Joint Pain [30:08] The Belly Fat Connection [32:17] Reps, Sets & Training to Failure [37:14] Barbara's Frozen Shoulder Journey  [42:01] The BIG Framework  [44:38] Nutrition Ratios & Supplements  [49:16] Three Simplicity Tips to Get Started    Let's dive in! Thank you for joining us today. If you could rate, review & subscribe, it would mean the world to me! While you're at it, take a screenshot and tag me @jennpike to share on Instagram – I'll re-share that baby out to the community & once a month I'll be doing a draw from those re-shares and send the winner something special! Click here to listen: Apple Podcasts – CLICK HERESpotify – CLICK HERE Connect with Guest - Instagram | @strongwithbarbara Top Tips to Start Your Strength Routine | Get Your FREE Copy Here Power & Balance Online Course | Access Here Your Thrive Formula | Access Here Website | optimum-you.com   This episode is sponsored by: withinUs | Use the code JENNPIKE20 at withinus.ca for a limited time to save 20% off your order St. Francis | Go to stfrancisherbfarm.com and save 15% off your all your orders with code JENNPIKE15  Eversio Wellness | Go to eversiowellness.com/discount/jennpike15 and save 15% off every order with code JENNPIKE15 /// not available for "subscribe & save" option Free Resources: Free Perimenopause Support Guide | jennpike.com/perimenopausesupport Free Blood Work Guide | jennpike.com/bloodworkguide The Simplicity Sessions Podcast | jennpike.com/podcast Get 20% on thewalkingpad.com using code "JENNPIKE20" Get discounts at happybumco.com using code "JENNPIKE" *code doesn't apply with Black Friday sale* Programs: Ignite: Your 8-Week Body Transformation Program | https://jennpike.com/ignite The Peri & Menopause Project  - Join the Waitlist | jennpike.com/theperimenopauseproject Synced Virtual Fitness Studio | jennpike.com/synced Services: Work With Jenn | https://jennpike.com/work-with-jenn/ Functional Testing | jennpike.com/testing-packages Business Mentorship | The Audacious Woman Mentorship:  jennpike.com/theaudaciouswoman Connect with Jenn: Instagram | @jennpike Facebook | @thesimplicityproject YouTube | Simplicity TV Website | The Simplicity Project Inc. Have a question? Send it over to hello@jennpike.com and I'll do my best to share helpful insights, thoughts and advice.

In this episode of Mazi's World, we sit down with the illustrious producer Mikey Strange. We explore the making of his Black Friday album release, The Gang's All Here, and how he curated a lineup featuring underground legends like Mr. MFkin' esquire and Daniel Son. Mikey breaks down the evolution from Fruity Loops to the MPC, his "minimalist" approach to drumless beats, and why he's always looking for the weird, off-the-wall samples that define his sound. Roll It!

From Systems Engineer in Aeronautics via many clouds to becoming an SRE in Observability! That's the path from our guest, Alexandra Franz who is a Lead Product Engineer in SRE at Dynatrace. Tune in and learn how their team plans ahead for expected high traffic around Black Friday, Cyber Monday or the Super Bowl. We discuss how regional traffic patterns and differences in available hardware get factored in for capacity management and cost control. We also learn why global cloud outages are stressful - but - how those incidents can also be the reward for a good SRE.Make sure to connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrafranz/

On "The Lead" - a "Black Friday" for MN sports executives... journalists arrested by the Feds... and another protest in Minneapolis. Then Jason goes "In Depth" with Sean Kershaw from the City of St. Paul - is this a particularly bad year for pot holes? (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

We all want massive change, but most of us quit because we think growth has to be hard, perfect, and intense. In this episode, I share why consistency beats motivation every single time, and how the smallest daily actions are actually shaping who you're becoming. Inspired by James Clear's Atomic Habits, I dive into how your environment, your routines, and your reactions to inconvenience are creating your future. You don't become powerful by doing things perfectly, you become powerful by showing up repeatedly. Get ready to stop breaking the chain and start becoming the person you say you want to be. Check out our Sponsors: Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at http://shopify.com/happy SKIMS - The SKIMS Holiday Shop is now open at https://SKIMS.com. Let them know we sent you by choosing Earn Your Happy podcast in the dropdown after you purchase. Brevo - Head to http://brevo.com/earn and use the code HAPPY to get 50% off Starter and Business Plans for the first 3 months of an annual subscription. Aura Frames - save on the perfect gift at https://auraframes.com/ - get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames with promo code EARN at checkout. Northwest Registered Agent - Build your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Visit www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidearn Blinds.com - The Black Friday deals at https://www.blinds.com/ are going strong all month long! Save $50 off when you spend $500 or more - use code EARN at checkout.  HIGHLIGHTS How habits are identity in action. Why “all or nothing” keeps you stuck. How to reduce friction so you stop quitting. The power of shrinking habits so you can't fail. Why small rewards rewire your brain for consistency. How inconvenience becomes a training ground for who you're becoming. RESOURCES Apply for the Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind HERE! Get on the waitlist for Mentor Collective Mastermind HERE! Try glōci for 40% off your first order with code HAPPY at checkout - head to getgloci.com FOLLOW Follow me: @loriharder Follow glōci: @getgloci

Leah Georgantas took over a struggling multi-brand fashion boutique with no business experience, lost most of her suppliers overnight, then rebuilt it into one of Australia's most recognisable fashion brands by posting relentlessly on social media. In this interview, the founder of Girls With Gems breaks down how raw,unfiltered content, six to nine posts per day, and authentic storytelling helped her scale through Covid, build a cult-like community, and launch a private label brand that now drives half the company's revenue. What you'll learn in this interview: • How posting 6–9 times per day built a loyal ecommerce community • Why relatable content outperformed polished fashion campaigns • How Girls With Gems scaled through Covid while others stalled • The exact mindset shift that unlocked sustainable social growth • Why Leah refuses to participate in Black Friday promotions • How Sneaky Link grew into 50% of total revenue • The risks and rewards of launching a private label brand • How to manage burnout while scaling a fast-growing business • Why authenticity compounds faster than performance marketing • How to build brand narratives without oversharing online By the end of this episode, you'll understand how to grow an ecommerce brand through storytelling, community, and relentless execution — without copying competitors or waiting for the perfect strategy. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ → Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH LIA GEORGANTIS Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/liagirlswithgems/ GWG Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/girlswithgems/ Website→ https://www.girlswithgems.com/ FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast⁠

This week, Chris and I dive deep into a question we've been getting a lot since our town hall event with Sarah Swain, Rebecca Matthews, and Elisa Kitz (which had almost 2,000 registrants!): Why are permanent tax shelters considered an asset class?   I'll be honest—this was a concept that completely confused me until about 4-5 years ago. I grew up being taught that insurance is an expense, never an investment. But understanding how certain life insurance policies can provide liquidity, tax advantages, and long-term value has been game-changing for our family—both personally and professionally. In this episode, we break down: The difference between whole life and universal life insurance Why insurance should be the foundation of your financial house (not just the pretty stuff on top) How permanent policies build cash value you can borrow from tax-free Why getting insured young matters more than you think The connection between your health records and insurance premiums This might feel like a big topic to grasp, but stick with us. We're here to help you understand what you weren't taught growing up.   Timestamps & Chapters [2:53 - 4:33] Why This Topic Matters Now Questions coming in about permanent tax shelters as an asset class How life insurance can offer protection AND build long-term value Jenn's journey from seeing insurance as an expense to understanding it as an investment [4:33 - 7:00] What Are Permanent Tax Shelters? Two types: Whole life and universal life insurance How they differ from term insurance (which is like "rent") Why these policies are structured differently for every person [7:00 - 10:20] Whole Life vs. Universal Life Whole life: Invested through the insurance company, pays dividends, safer/more conservative Universal life: Invested through markets, higher growth potential Companies we work with have been paying dividends for over 100 years [10:20 - 13:20] The Trust Factor Why people are hesitant to invest (lack of education, past bad experiences) Importance of transparency: where money goes, how returns work, paperwork to back it up Finding advisors who customize to YOUR needs, not just sell hot products [13:20 - 17:00] The Foundation Analogy Chris's building background: insurance is like the foundation of a house TFSAs, RRSPs, FHSAs are the "pretty stuff" on top If the foundation isn't solid, everything collapses when markets slip Different types of insurance: life, critical illness, disability [17:00 - 20:20] Why We Have Different Policies Individual needs vs. family goals Whole life for lending money back to yourself Universal life for stronger growth through market investments [20:20 - 23:40] Term vs. Permanent Insurance Explained Term insurance: Pay for protection for 10, 20, 30 years—when it expires, you're done (or renew at a much higher rate) Example: $75/month at age 30 becomes $500/month at age 65 Permanent insurance: Pay for a set period (often ~20 years), then you're covered for life [23:40 - 26:40] Health & Insurance Qualification Medical Insurance Bureau (MIB) has access to ALL your medical records Even minor things (like getting imaging for headaches) can flag you and increase premiums Jenn's story: Great health rating, lower premium Chris's story: One seizure from paintball at 21 flagged him for years [26:40 - 30:00] The Integrity Factor Insurance companies will test for things like nicotine in your hair if you claim to be a non-smoker Lying on applications can void your entire policy Smokers can requalify as non-smokers after 12 months nicotine-free and cut premiums in half [30:00 - 35:20] Why We're Talking About This Jenn's perspective: Health and wealth are connected Financial stress impacts health; lack of finances prevents getting health support The gap in what we weren't taught as adults, parents, business owners Teaching preparedness so people know what questions to ask [35:20 - 40:00] How Permanent Policies Build Cash Value Example: $100/month → $25 to insurance, $75 to investment Money grows tax-free inside the policy You can borrow from it with minimal or zero tax (depending on timing) Compare to RRSPs: 100% taxed at withdrawal at your marginal rate Insurance companies are great at saving from taxation; investment companies are great at making money—permanent policies combine both [40:00 - 43:00] The Self-Lending Strategy Build cash value you can borrow from tax-free or with greatly reduced tax Use for home repairs, helping kids, investments, etc. You can put in $300-500/month—insurance still only costs $25, rest goes to your investment fund [43:00 - 46:00] Inflation & Long-Term Planning Average Canadian couple needs $2.5-3 million to retire comfortably Inflation designed to be ~2.5% annually Example: Bag of milk was $2-3 twenty years ago, now $6-9, will be $20 in the future If you're only making 2.5% interest, you're just keeping up with buying power—not growing wealth Importance of reviewing statements together as a couple (even when uncomfortable)     Key Highlights & Takeaways ✅ Insurance as Foundation, Not Expense: Permanent life insurance should be viewed as the foundation of your financial house—not a bill, but an investment that protects everything else you build on top. ✅ Two Types of Permanent Policies: Whole Life: Conservative, dividend-based, great for self-lending Universal Life: Market-invested, higher growth potential ✅ Tax Advantages: Money grows tax-free inside permanent policies, and you can borrow from your cash value with minimal or zero tax (unlike RRSPs, which are 100% taxed at withdrawal). ✅ Get Insured Young: Health changes, medical records, and age all impact premiums. The younger and healthier you are when you get insured, the better your rates—and they're locked in for life. ✅ The MIB Knows Everything: The Medical Insurance Bureau has access to all your medical records. Even minor health events (like imaging for headaches) can flag you and increase premiums. ✅ Inflation is Real: The average Canadian couple will need $2.5-3 million to retire comfortably. If your money is only growing at 2.5%, you're just keeping up with inflation—not building wealth. ✅ Self-Lending Strategy: Permanent policies allow you to build a "personal bank" you can borrow from for major expenses, investments, or helping family—without traditional loan approval processes. ✅ Transparency Matters: Any advisor should be able to explain exactly where your money is going, how returns work, and provide full paperwork. If they can't, walk away. ✅ Health & Wealth Are Connected: Financial stress impacts your health, and lack of finances prevents you from getting the health support you need. They're not separate—they're intertwined.   Let's dive in! Thank you for joining us today. If you could rate, review & subscribe, it would mean the world to me! While you're at it, take a screenshot and tag me @jennpike to share on Instagram – I'll re-share that baby out to the community & once a month I'll be doing a draw from those re-shares and send the winner something special! Click here to listen: Apple Podcasts – CLICK HERESpotify – CLICK HERE Free Resources: Free Perimenopause Support Guide | jennpike.com/perimenopausesupport Free Blood Work Guide | jennpike.com/bloodworkguide The Simplicity Sessions Podcast | jennpike.com/podcast Get 20% on thewalkingpad.com using code "JENNPIKE20" Get discounts at happybumco.com using code "JENNPIKE" *code doesn't apply with Black Friday sale* Programs: Ignite: Your 8-Week Body Transformation Program | https://jennpike.com/ignite The Peri & Menopause Project  - Join the Waitlist | jennpike.com/theperimenopauseproject Synced Virtual Fitness Studio | jennpike.com/synced Services: Work With Jenn | https://jennpike.com/work-with-jenn/ Functional Testing | jennpike.com/testing-packages Business Mentorship | The Audacious Woman Mentorship:  jennpike.com/theaudaciouswoman Connect with Jenn: Instagram | @jennpike Facebook | @thesimplicityproject YouTube | Simplicity TV Website | The Simplicity Project Inc. Connect with Chris: Instagram | @chrisborsellino Finance Discovery Session | Book Here Have a question? Send it over to hello@jennpike.com and I'll do my best to share helpful insights, thoughts and advice.

This is the very first BTS episode with my brand coordinator, Kayleigh McNaughton, and it's the behind-the-scenes look at how we think about rooms, connection, and proximity in our business and our lives. We talk about why rooms change people, and why most people miss the opportunity before it even begins. We break down what makes a room magnetic, why discomfort is a sign you're in the right place, and how being around people who are already living your next level collapses time. Tune in to why belief is often borrowed before it becomes embodied, and how protecting your dreams sometimes means choosing new rooms. Check out our Sponsors: Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at http://shopify.com/happy SKIMS - The SKIMS Holiday Shop is now open at https://SKIMS.com. Let them know we sent you by choosing Earn Your Happy podcast in the dropdown after you purchase. Brevo - Head to http://brevo.com/earn and use the code HAPPY to get 50% off Starter and Business Plans for the first 3 months of an annual subscription. Aura Frames - save on the perfect gift at https://auraframes.com/ - get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames with promo code EARN at checkout. Northwest Registered Agent - Build your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Visit www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidearn Blinds.com - The Black Friday deals at https://www.blinds.com/ are going strong all month long! Save $50 off when you spend $500 or more - use code EARN at checkout.  HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introducing BTS and why I wanted these conversations. 07:00 What “Rich Girl Rules” really means. 09:15 The fastest way to collapse time in your growth. 12:30 Kayleigh's story of betting on herself. 19:30 Why do people hesitate to invest in rooms? 24:30 Why discomfort is proof you're in the right room. 32:00 How do you borrow belief until it becomes your identity? 35:00 Tips to protect your dreams from people who shrink them. 39:00 Why mentors collapse time faster than anything else. 41:00 Inside our Mentor Collective and Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind. 46:00 Why the right room makes you stop overthinking. 52:00 The do's and don'ts of creating powerful rooms. 59:00 How to create spaces people never forget. RESOURCES Apply for the Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind HERE! Get on the waitlist for Mentor Collective Mastermind HERE! Try glōci for 40% off your first order with code HAPPY at checkout - head to getgloci.com FOLLOW Follow me: @loriharder Follow glōci: @getgloci

Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS takes us on deep dive into the world of digital marketing, with a strong focus on Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The host breaks down the key differences and relationship between these two critical components of a successful online strategy. The discussion covers the entire customer journey, from the pre-click phase, where the user is first searching for information, to the post-click phase, where the goal is to convert the user into a customer.A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to practical, actionable advice for improving conversion rates. This includes a detailed look at crafting effective Calls to Action (CTAs), optimizing landing pages, and leveraging analytics to make data-driven decisions. The host also shares a valuable tip on using brackets in headlines to increase click-through rates. This episode features a friend / guest from Canada

I used to think being “attached” meant being committed. But what I've learned through business, faith, and some pretty brutal pivots is that attachment is often the very thing slowing us down. In this episode, Chris and I break down why detachment (or as I used to call it, “unattachment”) is one of the most powerful skills you can build as a high performer. We talk about 4 four places of detachment and the lessons I learned from releasing the need to be seen. The fastest growth comes when you release control over how things unfold, who gets the credit, what it looks like to others, and when it all happens. Check out our Sponsors: Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at http://shopify.com/happy SKIMS - The SKIMS Holiday Shop is now open at https://SKIMS.com. Let them know we sent you by choosing Earn Your Happy podcast in the dropdown after you purchase. Brevo - Head to http://brevo.com/earn and use the code HAPPY to get 50% off Starter and Business Plans for the first 3 months of an annual subscription. Aura Frames - save on the perfect gift at https://auraframes.com/ - get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames with promo code EARN at checkout. Northwest Registered Agent - Build your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Visit www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidearn Blinds.com - The Black Friday deals at https://www.blinds.com/ are going strong all month long! Save $50 off when you spend $500 or more - use code EARN at checkout.  HIGHLIGHTS Why “unattachment” is your greatest business superpower. How detachment saved our $2.5M Fintech mission when we were told we couldn't launch. The leadership shift that comes from letting go of credit. Worrying about what it looks like to others leads to bad decisions. Letting go of timelines so you stop living in waiting energy. How detachment frees you from anxiety, comparison, and “needy” energy. RESOURCES Apply for the Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind HERE! Get on the waitlist for Mentor Collective Mastermind HERE! Try glōci for 40% off your first order with code HAPPY at checkout - head to getgloci.com FOLLOW Follow me: @loriharder Follow Chris: @chriswharder Follow glōci: @getgloci

Join Christina Warren and Brett Terpstra as they navigate the freezing Minnesotan cold without running water, delve into the intersection of tech and political turmoil, and explore the latest in AI agents and multi-agent workflows. Dive into a whirlwind of emotions, tech tips, and political ranting, all while contemplating the ethics of open source funding and AI coding. From brutal weather updates to philosophical debates on modern fascism, this episode pulls no punches. Sponsor Copilot Money can help you take control of your finances. Get a fresh start with your money for 2026 with 2 months free when you visit try.copilot.money/overtired. Show Links Crimethinc: Being “Peaceful” and “Law-Abiding” Will Not Stop Authoritarianism Gas Town Apex OpenCode Backdrop Cindori Sensei Moltbot Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Host Updates 00:21 Brett’s Water Crisis 02:27 Political Climate and Media Suppression 06:32 Police Violence and Public Response 18:31 Social Media and Surveillance 22:15 Sponsor Break: Copilot Money 26:20 Tech Talk: Gas Town and AI Agents 31:58 Crypto Controversies 37:09 Ethics in Journalism and Personal Dilemmas 39:45 The Future of Open Source and Cryptocurrency 45:03 Apex 1.0? 48:25 Challenges and Innovations in Markdown Processing 01:02:16 AI in Coding and Personal Assistants 01:06:36 GrAPPtitude 01:14:40 Conclusion and Upcoming Plans Join the Conversation Merch Come chat on Discord! Twitter/ovrtrd Instagram/ovrtrd Youtube Get the Newsletter Thanks! You’re downloading today’s show from CacheFly’s network BackBeat Media Podcast Network Check out more episodes at overtiredpod.com and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Find Brett as @ttscoff, Christina as @film_girl, Jeff as @jsguntzel, and follow Overtired at @ovrtrd on Twitter. Transcript AI Agents and Political Chaos Introduction and Host Updates Christina: [00:00:00] Welcome back. You’re listening to Overtired. I’m Christina Warren. Joined as always by Brett Terpstra. Jeff Severns. Guntzel could not be with us this week, um, but uh, but Brett and I are here. So Brett, how are you? How’s the cold? Brett: The cold. Brett’s Water Crisis Brett: So I’m going on day four without running water. Um, I drove to my parents last night to shower and we’re, we’re driving loads of dishes to friends’ house to wash them. We have big buckets of melted snow in our bathtub that we use to flush the Toyland. Um, and we have like big jugs with a spout on them for drinking water. So we’re surviving, but it is highly inconvenient. Um, and we don’t know yet if it’s a frozen pipe. Or if we have [00:01:00] a bad pump on our, well, uh, hopefully we’ll find that out today. But no guarantees because all the plumbers are very busy right now with negative 30 degree weather. They tend to get a lot of calls, lots of stuff happens. Um, so yeah, but I’m, I’m staying warm. I got a fireplace, I got my heat’s working Christina: I mean, that’s the important thing. Brett: and that went out, that went out twice, in, twice already. This winter, our heat has gone out, um, which I’m thankful. We, we finally, we added glycol to our, so our heat pumps water through, like, it’s not radiators, it’s like baseboard heat, but it, it uses water and. Um, and though we were getting like frozen spots, not burst pipes, just enough that the water wouldn’t go through fast enough to heat anything. So we added glycol to that [00:02:00] system to bring the freeze point down to like zero degrees. So it’s not perfect, but we also hardwired the pump so that it always circulates water, um, even when the heat’s not running. So hopefully it’ll never freeze again. That’s the goal. Um, and if we replace the well pump, that should be good for another 20 years. So hopefully after this things will be smoother. Political Climate and Media Suppression Brett: Um, yeah, but that, that’s all in addition to, you know, my state being occupied by federal agents and even in my small town, we’ve got people being like, abducted. Things are escalating quickly at this point, and a lot of it doesn’t get talked about on mainstream media. Um, but yeah, things, I don’t know, man. I think we’re making progress because, um, apparently Binos [00:03:00] getting retired Christina: I was going to say, I, I, I, I heard, I heard that, and I don’t know if that’s good or if that’s bad. Um, I can’t, I can’t tell. Brett: it’s, it’s like, it’s like if Trump died, we wouldn’t know if that was good or bad because JD Vance as president, like maybe things get way worse. Who knows? Uh, none of these, none of these actual figureheads are the solution. Removing them isn’t the solution to removing the kinda maga philosophy behind it. But yeah, and that’s also Jeff is, you know, highly involved and I, I won’t, I won’t talk about that for him. I hope we can get him monsoon to talk about that. Christina: No, me, me, me too. Because I’ve, I’ve been thinking about, about him and about you and about your whole area, your communities, you know, from several thousand miles away. Like all, all we, all we see is either what people post online, which of course now is being suppressed. [00:04:00] Uh, thanks a lot. You know, like, like the, oh, TikTok was gonna be so terrible. Chi the, the Chinese are gonna take over our, uh, our algorithms. Right? No, Larry Ellison is, is actually going to completely, you know, fuck up the algorithms, um, and, and suppress anything. I, yeah. Yeah. They’re, they’re Brett: is TikTok? Well, ’cause Victor was telling me that, they were seeing videos. Uh, you would see one frame of the video and then it would black out. And it all seemed to be videos that were negative towards the administration and we weren’t sure. Is this a glitch? Is this coincidence? Christina: well, they claim it’s a glitch, but I don’t believe it. Brett: Yeah, it seems, it seems Christina: I, I mean, I mean, I mean, the thing is like, maybe it is, maybe it is a glitch and we’re overreacting. I don’t know. Um, all I know is that they’ve given us absolutely zero reason to trust them, and so I don’t, and so, um, uh, apparently the, the state of California, this is, [00:05:00] so we are recording this on Tuesday morning. Apparently the state of California has said that they are going to look into whether things are being, you know, suppressed or not, and if that’s violating California law, um, because now that, that, that TikTok is, is controlled by an American entity, um, even if it is, you know, owned by like a, you know, uh, evil, uh, billionaire, you know, uh, crony sto fuck you, Larry Ellison. Um, uh, I guess that means we won’t be getting an Oracle sponsorship. Sorry. Um, uh, Brett: take it anyway. Christina: I, I know you wouldn’t, I know you wouldn’t. That’s why I felt safe saying that. Um, but, uh, but even if, if, if that were the case, like I, you know, but apparently like now that it is like a, you know, kind of, you know, state based like US thing, like California could step in and potentially make things difficult for them. I mean, I think that’s probably a lot of bluster on Newsom’s part. I don’t think that he could really, honestly achieve any sort of change if they are doing things to the algorithm. Brett: Yeah. Uh, [00:06:00] if, if laws even matter anymore, it would be something that got tied up in court for a long time Christina: Right. Which effectively wouldn’t matter. Right. And, and then that opens up a lot of other interesting, um, things about like, okay, well, you know, should we, like what, what is the role? Like even for algorithmically determined things of the government to even step in or whatever, right now, obviously does, I think, become like more of a speech issue if it’s government speech that’s being suppressed, but regardless, it, it is just, it’s bad. So I’ve been, I’ve been thinking about you, I’ve been thinking about Jeff. Police Violence and Public Response Christina: Um, you know, we all saw what happened over the weekend and, and, you know, people be, people are being murdered in the streets and I mean that, that, that’s what’s happening. And, Brett: white people no less, Christina: Right. Well, I mean, that’s the thing, right? Like, is that like, but, but, but they keep moving the bar. They, they keep moving the goalpost, right? So first it’s a white woman and, oh, she, she was, she was running over. The, the officer [00:07:00] or the ice guy, and it’s like, no, she wasn’t, but, but, but that, that’s immediately where they go and, and she’s, you know, radical whatever and, and, and a terrorist and this and that. Okay. Then you have a literal veterans affair nurse, right? Like somebody who literally, like, you know, has, has worked with, with, with combat veterans and has done those things. Who, um, is stepping in to help someone who’s being pepper sprayed, you know, is, is just observing. And because he happens to have, um, a, a, a, a gun on him legally, which he’s allowed to do, um, they immediately used that as cover to execute him. But if he hadn’t had the gun, they would’ve, they would’ve come up with something else. Oh, we thought he had a gun, and they, you know what I mean? So like, they, they got lucky with that one because they removed the method, the, the, the weapon and then shot him 10 times. You know, they literally executed him in the street. But if he hadn’t had a gun, they still would’ve executed. Brett: Yeah, no, for sure. Um, it’s really frustrating that [00:08:00] they took the gun away. So he was disarmed and, and immobilized and then they shot him. Um, like so that’s just a straight up execution. And then to bring, like, to say that it, he, because he had a gun, he was dangerous, is such a, an affront to America has spent so long fighting against gun control and saying that we had the right to carry fucking assault rifles in the Christina: Kyle Rittenhouse. Kyle Rittenhouse was literally acquitted. Right? Brett: Yeah. And he killed people. Christina: and, and he killed people. He was literally walking around little fucking stogey, you know, little blubbering little bitch, like, you know, crying, you know, he’s like carrying around like Rambo a gun and literally snipe shooting people. That’s okay. Brett: They defended Christina: if you have a. They defended him. Of course they did. Right? Of course they did. Oh, well he has the right to carry and this and that, and Oh, you should be able to be armed in [00:09:00] these places. Oh, no, but, but if you’re, um, somebody that we don’t like Brett: Yeah, Christina: and you have a concealed carry permit, and I don’t even know if he was really concealed. Right. Because I think that if you have it on your holster, I don’t even think that counts as concealed to Brett: was supposedly in Christina: I, I, I don’t, I don’t, I don’t. Brett: like it Christina: Which I don’t think counts as concealed. I think. Brett: No. Christina: Right, right. So, so, so, so, so that, that, that wouldn’t be concealed. Be because you have someone in, in that situation, then all of a sudden, oh, no. Now, now the, the key, the goalpost, okay, well, it’s fine if it’s, you know, uh, police we don’t like, or, or other people. And, and, and if you’re going after protesters, then you can shoot and kill whoever you want, um, because you’ve perceived a threat and you can take actions into your, to your own hands. Um, but now if you are even a white person, um, even, you know, someone who’s, who’s worked in Veterans Affairs, whatever, if, if you have, uh, even if you’re like a, a, a, you know, a, a gun owner and, and have permits, um, now [00:10:00] if we don’t like you and you are anywhere in the vicinity of anybody associated with law enforcement, now they have the right to shoot you dead. Like that’s, that’s, that’s the argument, which is insanity. Brett: so I’m, I’m just gonna point out that as the third right came to power, they disarmed the Jews and they disarmed the anarchists and the socialists and they armed the rest of the population and it became, um, gun control for people they didn’t like. Um, and this is, it’s just straight up the same playbook. There’s no, there’s no differentiation anymore. Christina: No, it, it, it actively makes me angry that, um, I, I could be, because, ’cause what can we do? And, and what they’re counting on is the fact that we’re all tired and we’re all kind of, you know, like just, [00:11:00] you know, from, from what happened, you know, six years ago and, and, and what happened, you know, five years ago. Um, and, and, and various things. I think a lot of people are, are just. It kind of like Brett: Sure. Christina: done with, with, with being able to, to, to, right. But now the actual fascism is here, right? Like, like we, we, we saw a, a, you know, a whiff of this on, on, on January 6th, but now it’s actual fascism and they control every branch of government. Brett: Yeah. Christina: And, um, and, and, and I, and I don’t know what we’re supposed to do, right? Like, I mean it, because I mean, you know, uh, Philadelphia is, is, is begging for, for, for them to come. And I think that would be an interesting kind of standoff. Seattle is this, this is what a friend of mine said was like, you know, you know Philadelphia, Filch Philadelphia is begging them to come. Seattle is like scared. Um, that, that they’re going to come, um, because honestly, like we’re a bunch of little bitch babies and, um, [00:12:00] people think they’re like, oh, you know the WTO. I’m like, yeah, that was, that was 27 years ago. Um, uh, I, I don’t think that Seattle has the juice to hold that sort of line again. Um, but I also don’t wanna find out, right? Like, but, but, but this is, this is the attack thing. It’s like, okay, why are they in Minnesota? Right? They’re what, like 130,000, um, Brett: exactly Christina: um, immigrants in, in Minnesota. There are, there are however many million in Texas, however many million in Florida. We know exactly why, right? This isn’t about. Anything more than Brett: in any way. Christina: and opt. Right, right. It has nothing, it has nothing to do with, with, with immigration anyway. I mean, even, even the Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal who a, you know, ran an op-ed basically saying get out of Minnesota. They also, they also had like a, you know, a news story, which was not from the opinion board, which like broke down the, the, the footage showing, you know, that like the, the video footage doesn’t match the administration’s claims, but they also ran a story. Um, that [00:13:00] basically did the math, I guess, on like the number of, of criminals, um, or people with criminal records who have been deported. And at this point, like in, you know, and, and when things started out, like, I guess when the raid started out, the, the majority of the people that they were kind of going after were people who had criminal records. Now, whether they were really violent, the worst, the worst, I mean that’s, I’m, I’m not gonna get into that, but you could at least say like, they, they could at least say, oh, well these were people who had criminal records, whatever. Now some, some huge percentage, I think it’s close to 80% don’t have anything. And many of the people that do the, the criminal like thing that they would hold would be, you know, some sort of visa violation. Right. So it’s, it’s, it’s Brett: they deported a five-year-old kid after using him as bait to try to get the rest of his family. Christina: as bait. Brett: Yeah. And like it’s, it’s pretty deplorable. But I will say I am proud of Minnesota. Um, they have not backed [00:14:00] down. They have stood up in the face of increasing increasingly escalated attacks, and they have shown up in force thousands of people out in the streets. Like Conti, like last night they had a, um, well, yeah, I mean, it’s been ongoing, but, uh, what’s his name? Preddy Alex. Um, at the place where he was shot, they had a, like continuing kind of memorial protest, I guess, and there’s footage of like a thousand, a thousand mins surrounding about 50, um, ICE agents and. Like basically corralling them to the point where they were all backed into a corner and weren’t moving. And I don’t know what happened after that. Um, but thus far it hasn’t been violent on the part of protesters. It’s been very violent on the part of ice. I [00:15:00] personally, I don’t know where I stand on, like, I feel like the Democrats are urging pacifism because it affects their hold on power. And I don’t necessarily think that peace when they’re murdering us in the street. I don’t know if peace is the right response, but I don’t know. I’m not openly declaring that I support violence at this point, but. At the same time, do I not? I’m not sure. Like I keep going back and forth on is it time for a war or do we try to vote our way out of this? Christina: I mean, well, and the scary thing about voting our way out of this is will we even be able to have free elections, right? Be because they’re using any sort of anything, even the most benign sort of legal [00:16:00] protest, even if violence isn’t involved in all of a sudden, talks of the Insurrection Act come Brett: yeah. And Trump, Trump offered to pull out of Minnesota if Minnesota will turn over its voter database to the federal government. Like that’s just blatant, like that’s obviously the end goal is suppression. Christina: Right, right. And, and so to your point, I don’t know. Right. And I’m, I’m never somebody who would wanna advocate outwardly for violence, but I, I, I, I, I don’t know. I mean, they’re killing citizens in the streets. They’re assassinating people in cold blood. They’re executing people, right. That’s what they’re doing. They’re literally executing people in the streets and then covering it up in real time. Brett: if the argument is, if we are violent, it will cause them to kill us. They’re already killing Christina: already doing it. Right. So at, at this point, I mean, like, you know, I mean, like, w to your point, wars have been started for, for, for less, or for the exact same things. Brett: [00:17:00] Yeah. Christina: So, I don’t know. I don’t know. Um, I know that that’s a depressing way to probably do mental health corner and whatnot, but this is what’s happening in our world right now and in and in your community, and it’s, it’s terrifying. Brett: I’m going to link in the show notes an article from Crime Think that was written by, uh, people in Germany who have studied, um, both historical fascism and the current rise of the A FD, which will soon be the most powerful party in Germany, um, which is straight up a Nazi party. Um, and it, they offered, like their hope right now lies in America stopping fascism. Christina: Yeah. Brett: Like if we can, if we can stop fascism, then they believe the rest of Europe can stop fascism. Um, but like they, it, it’s a good article. It kind of, it kind of broaches the same questions I do about like, is it [00:18:00] time for violence? And they offer, like, we don’t, we’re not advocating for a civil war, but like Civil wars might. If you, if you, if you broach them as revolutions, it’s kind of, they’re kind of the same thing in cases like this. So anyway, I’ll, I’ll link that for anyone who wants to read kinda what’s going on in my head. I’m making a note to dig that up. I, uh, I love Crime Fake Oh and Blue Sky. Social Media and Surveillance Brett: Um, so I have not, up until very recently been an avid Blue Sky user. Um, I think I have like, I think I have maybe like 200 followers there and I follow like 50 people. But I’ve been expanding that and I am getting a ton of my news from Blue Sky and like to get stories from people on the ground, like news as it happens, unfiltered and Blue Sky has been [00:19:00] really good for that. Um, I, it’s. There’s not like an algorithm. I just get my stuff and like Macedon, I have a much larger following and I follow a lot more people, but it’s very tech, Christina: It’s very tech and, Brett: there for. Christina: well, and, and MAs on, um, understandably too is also European, um, in a lot of regards. And so it’s just, it’s not. Gonna have the same amount of, of people who are gonna be able to, at least for instances like this, like be on the ground and doing real-time stuff. It’s not, it doesn’t have like the more normy stuff. So, no, that makes sense. Um, no, that’s great. I think, yeah, blue Sky’s been been really good for, for these sorts of real-time events because again, they don’t have an algorithm. Like you can have one, like for a personalized kind of like for you feed or whatever, but in terms of what you see, you know, you see it naturally. You’re not seeing it being adjusted by anything, which can be good and bad. I, I think is good because nothing’s suppressing things and you see things in real time. It can be bad because sometimes you miss things, but I think on the whole, it’s better. [00:20:00] The only thing I will say, just to anyone listening and, and just to spread onto, you know, people in your communities too, from what I’ve observed from others, like, it does seem like the, the government and other sorts of, you know, uh, uh, the, you know, bodies like that are finally starting to pay more attention to blue sky in terms of monitoring things. And so that’s not to say don’t. You know, use it at all. But the same way, you don’t make threats on Twitter if you don’t want the Feds to show up at your house. Don’t make threats on Blue Sky, because it’s not just a little microcosm where, you know, no one will see it. People are, it, it’s still small, but it’s, it’s getting bigger to the point that like when people look at like where some of the, the, the fire hose, you know, things observable things are there, there seem to be more and more of them located in the Washington DC area, which could just be because data centers are there, who knows? But I’ve also just seen anecdotally, like people who have had, like other instances, it’s like, don’t, don’t think [00:21:00] that like, oh, okay, well, you know, no one’s monitoring this. Um, of course people are so just don’t be dumb, don’t, don’t say things that could potentially get you in trouble. Um. Brett: a political candidate in Florida. Um, had the cops show up at her house and read her one of her Facebook posts. I mean, this was local. This was local cops, but still, yeah, you Christina: right. Well, yeah, that’s the thing, right? No, totally. And, and my, my only point with that is we’ve known that they do that for Facebook and for, for, you know, Twitter and, and, uh, you know, Instagram and things like that, but they, but Blue Sky, like, I don’t know if it’s on background checks yet, but it, uh, like for, uh, for jobs and things like that, I, I, I don’t know if that’s happening, but it definitely is at that point where, um, I know that people are starting to monitor those things. So just, you know, uh, not even saying for you per se, but just for anybody out there, like, it’s awesome and I’m so glad that like, that’s where people can get information out, but don’t be like [00:22:00] lulled into this false sense of security. Like, oh, well they’re not gonna monitor this. They’re not Brett: Nobody’s watching me here. Christina: It is like, no, they are, they are. Um, so especially as it becomes, you know, more prominent. So I’m, I’m glad that that’s. That’s an option there too. Um, okay. Sponsor Break: Copilot Money Christina: This is like the worst possible segue ever, but should we go ahead and segue to our, our, our sponsor break? Brett: Let’s do it. Let’s, let’s talk about capitalism. Christina: All right. This episode is brought to you by copilot money. Copilot money is not just another finance app. It’s your personal finance partner designed to help you feel clear, calm, and in control of your money. Whether it’s tracking your spending, saving for specific goals, or simply getting the handle on your investments. Copilot money has you covered as we enter the new year. Clarity and control over our finances has never been more important with the recent shutdown of Mint and rising financial stress, for many consumers are looking for a modern, trustworthy tool to help navigate their financial journeys. That’s where copilot money comes in. [00:23:00] With this beautifully designed app, you can see all your bank accounts, spending, savings and goals and investments all in one place. Imagine easily tracking everything without the clutter of chaotic spreadsheets or outdated tools. It’s a practical way to start 2026 with a fresh financial outlook. And here’s the exciting part. As of December 15th, copilot money is now available on the web so you can manage your finances on any device that you choose. Plus, it offers a seamless experience that keeps your data secure with a privacy first approach, when you sign up using our link, you’ll get two months for free. So visit, try. Copilot money slash Overtired to get started with features like automatic subscription tracking so you never miss a renewal date and customizable savings goals to help you stay on track. Copilot money empowers you to take charge of your financial life with confidence. So why wait Start 2026 with clarity and purpose. Download copilot money on your devices or visit. Try copilot money slash [00:24:00] overti today to claim you’re two months free and embrace a more organized, stress-free approach to your finances. Try copilot.money/ Overtired. Brett: Awesome that I appreciate this segue. ’cause we, we, we could, we could be talking about other things. Um, like it’s, it feels so weird, like when I go on social media and I just want to post that like my water’s out. It feels out of place right now because there’s everything that’s going on feels so much more important than, Christina: Right. Brett: than anything else. Um, but there’s still a place for living our lives, um, Christina: there are a absolutely. I mean, and, and, and in a certain extent, like not to, I mean, maybe this is a little bit of a cope, but it’s like, if all we do is focus on the things that we can’t control at the expense of everything else, it’s like then they win. You know? Like, which, which isn’t, which, which isn’t even to [00:25:00] say, like, don’t talk about what’s happening. Don’t try to help, don’t try to speak out and, and, um, and do what we can do, but also. Like as individuals, there’s very little we can control about things. And being completely, you know, subsumed by that is, is not necessarily good either. Um, so yeah, there’s, there, there are other things going on and it’s important for us to get out of our heads. It’s important, especially for you, you know, being in the region, I think to be able to, to focus on other things and, and hopefully your water will be back soon. ’cause that sucks like that. I’ve been, I’ve been worried about you. I’m glad that you have heat. I’m glad you have internet. I’m glad you have power, but you know, the pipes being frozen and all that stuff is like, not Brett: it, the, the internet has also been down for up to six hours at a time. I don’t know why. There’s like an amplifier down on our street. Um, and that has sucked because I, out here, I live in a, I’m not gonna call it rural. Uh, we’re like five minutes from town, [00:26:00] but, um, we, we don’t. We have shitty internet. Like I pay for a gigabit and I get 500 megabits and it’s, and it’s up and down all the time and I hate it. But anyway. Tech Talk: Gas Town and AI Agents Brett: Let’s talk about, uh, let’s talk about Gas Town. What can you tell me about Gastown? Christina: Okay. So we’ve talked a lot about like AI agents and, um, kind of like, uh, coding, um, loops and, and things like that. And so Gastown, uh, which is available, um, at, I, it is not Gas Town. Let me find the URL, um, one second. It’s, it’s at a gas town. No, it’s not. Lemme find it. Um. Right. So this is a thing that, that Steve Yy, uh, has created, and [00:27:00] it is a multi-agent workspace manager. And so the idea is basically that you can be running like a lot of instances of, um, of, of Claude Code or, um, I guess you could use Codex. You could use, uh, uh, uh, co-pilot, um, SDK or CLI agent and whatnot. Um, and basically what it’s designed to do is to basically let you coordinate like multiple coding agents at one time so they can all be working on different tasks, but then instead of having, um, like the context get lost when agents restart, it creates like a, a persistent, um, like. Work state, which it uses with, with git on the backend, which is supposed to basically enable more multi-agent workflows. So, um, basically the idea would be like, you get, have multiple agents working at once, kind of talking to one another, handing things off, you know, each doing their own task and then coordinating the work with what the other ones are doing. But then you have like a persistent, um, uh, I guess kind of like, you know, layer in the backend so that if an agent has to restart or whatever, it’s not gonna lose the, [00:28:00] the context, um, that that’s happening. And you don’t have to manually, um, worry about things like, okay, you know, I’ve lost certain things in memory and, and I’ve, you know, don’t know how I’m, I’m managing all these things together. Um, there, there’s another project, uh, called Ralph, which is kind of based on this, this concept of like, what of Ralph Wickham was, you know, coding or, or was doing kind of a loop. And, and it’s, it’s, it’s a, it’s kind of a similar idea. Um, there’s also. Brett: my nose wouldn’t bleed so much if I just kept my finger out of there. Christina: Exactly, exactly. My cat’s breath smells like cat food. Um, and um, and so. Like there are ideas of like Ralph Loops and Gastown. And so these are a couple of like projects, um, that have really started to, uh, take over. So like, uh, Ralph is more of an autonomous AI agent loop that basically like it runs like over and over and over again until, uh, a task is done. Um, and, and a lot of people use, use Gastown and, [00:29:00] and, and Ralph together. Um, but yeah, no Ga gastown is is pretty cool. Um, we’ll we’re gonna talk about it more ’cause it’s my pick of the week. We’ll talk about Molt bot previously known as Claude Bot, which is, uses some, some similar ideas. But it’s really been interesting to see like how, like the, the multi-agent workflow, and by multi-agent, I mean like, people are running like 20 or 30 of them, you know, at a time. So it’s more than that, um, is really starting to become a thing that people can, uh, can do. Um, Brett: gets expensive though. Christina: I was, I was just about to say that’s the one thing, right? Most people who are using things like Gastown. Are using them with the Claude, um, code Max plans, which is $200 a month. And those plans do give you more value than like, what the, what it would be if you spent $200 in API credits, uh, but $200 a month. Like that’s not an expensive, that’s, you know, that, that’s, that, that, like, you know what I mean? Like, like that, that, that, that, that, that’s a lot of money to spend on these sorts of things. Um, but people [00:30:00] are getting good results out of it. It’s pretty cool. Um. There have been some open models, which of course, most people don’t have equipment that would be fast enough for them to, to run, uh, to be able to kind of do what they would want, um, reliably. But the, the AgTech stuff coming to some of the open models is better. And so if these things can continue, of course now we’re in a ram crisis and storage crisis and everything else, so who knows when the hardware will get good enough again, and we can, when we as consumers can even reasonably get things ourselves. But, but in, in theory, you know, if, if these sorts of things continue, I could see like a, a world where like, you know, some of the WAN models and some of the other things, uh, potentially, um, or Quinn models rather, um, could, uh. Be things that you could conceivably, like be running on your own equipment to run these sorts of nonstop ag agentic loops. But yeah, right now, like it’s really freaking cool and I’ve played around with it because I’m fortunate enough to have access to a lot of tokens. [00:31:00] Um, but yeah, I can get expensive real, real fast. Uh, but, but it’s still, it’s still pretty awesome. Brett: I do appreciate that. So, guest Town, the name is a reference to Mad Max and in the kind of, uh, vernacular that they built for things like background agents and I, uh, there’s a whole bunch, there are different levels of, of the interface that they kind of extrapolated on the gas town kind of metaphor for. Uh, I, it was, it, it, there were some interesting naming conventions and then they totally went in other directions with some of the names. It, they didn’t keep the theme very well, but, but still, uh, I appreciate Ralph Wig and Mad Max. That’s. It’s at the very least, it’s interesting. Christina: No, it definitely is. It definitely is. Crypto Controversies Christina: I will say that there’s been like a little bit [00:32:00] of a kerfuffle, uh, involved in both of those, uh, developers because, um, they’re both now promoting shit coins and, uh, and so that’s sort of an interesting thing. Um, basically there’s like this, this, this crypto company called bags that I guess apparently like if people want to, they will create crypto coins for popular open source projects, and then they will designate someone to, I guess get the, the gas fees, um, in, um, uh, a Solana parlance, uh, no pun intended, with the gas town, um, where basically like that’s, you know, like the, the, the fees that you spend to have the transaction work off of the blockchain, right? Like, especially if there’s. A lot of times that it would take, like, you pay a certain percentage of something and like those fees could be designated to an individual. And, um, in this case, like both of these guys were reached out to when basically they were like, Hey, this coin exists. You’ve got all this money just kind of sitting in a crypto wallet waiting for you. [00:33:00] Take the money, get, get the, the transaction fees, so to speak. And, uh, I mean, I think that, that, that’s, if you wanna take that money right, it’s, it’s there for you. I’m not gonna certainly judge anyone for that. What I will judge you for is if you then promote your shit coin to your community and basically kind of encourage everyone. To kind of buy into it. Maybe you put in the caveat, oh, this isn’t financial advice. Oh, this is all just for whatever. But, but you’re trying to do that and then you go one step beyond, which I think is actually pretty dumb, which is to be like, okay, well, ’cause like, here’s the thing, I’m not gonna judge anyone. If someone who’s like, Hey, here’s a wallet that we’re gonna give you, and it has real cash in it, and you can do whatever you want with it, and these are the transaction fees, so to speak, like, you know, the gas fees, whatever, you know what you do. You, even if you wanna let your audience know that you’ve done that, and maybe you’re promoting that, maybe some people will buy into it, like, people are adults. Fine. Where, where I do like side eye a little bit is if you are, then for whatever reason [00:34:00] going to be like, oh, I’m gonna take my fees and I’m gonna reinvest it in the coin. Like, okay, you are literally sitting on top of the pyramid, like you could not be in a better position and now you’re, but right. And now you’re literally like paying into the pyramid scheme. It’s like, this is not going to work well for you. These are rug bulls. Um, and so like the, the, the, the gas town coin like dropped like massively. The Ralph coin like dropped massively, like after the, the, the Ralph creator, I think he took out like 300 K or something and people, or, you know, sold like 300 K worth of coins. And people were like, oh, he’s pulling a rug pull. And I’m like, well, A, what did you expect? But B it’s like, this is why don’t, like, if someone’s gonna give you free money from something that’s, you know, kind of scammy, like, I’m not saying don’t take the money. I am saying maybe be smart enough to not to reinvest it into the scam. Brett: Yeah. Christina: Like, I don’t know. Anyway, that’s the only thing I will mention on that. ’cause I don’t think that that takes [00:35:00] anything away from either of those projects or it says that you shouldn’t use or play around with it either of those ideas at all. But that is just a thing that’s happened in the last couple of weeks too, where it’s like, oh, and now there’s like crypto, you know, the crypto people are trying to get kind of involved with these projects and, um, I, I think that that’s, uh, okay. You know, um, like I said, I’m, I’m not gonna judge anybody for taking free money that, that somebody is gonna offer them. I will judge you if you’re gonna try to then, you know, try to like, promote that to your audience and try to be like, oh, this is a great way where we, where you can help me and we can all get rich. It’s like, no, there are, if you really wanna support creators, like there are things like GitHub sponsors and there are like other methods that you can, you can do that, that don’t involve making financial risks on shit coins. Brett: I wish anything I made could be popular enough that I could do something that’s stupid. Yeah. Like [00:36:00] I, I, I, I’m not gonna pull a rug pull on anyone, but the chances that I’ll ever make $300,000 on anything I’m working on, it’s pretty slim. Christina: Yeah, but at the same time, like if you, if you did, if you were in that position, like, I don’t know, I mean, I guess that’d be a thing that you would have to kind of figure out, um, yourself would be like, okay, I have access to this amount of money. Am I going to try to, you know, go all in and, and maybe go full grift to get even more? Some, something tells me that like your own personal ethics would probably preclude you from that. Brett: I, um, I have spent, what, um, how old am I? 47. I, I’ve been, since I started blogging in like 1999, 2000, um, I have always adhered to a very strict code and like turning down sponsors. I didn’t agree with [00:37:00] not doing anything that would be shady. Not taking, not, not taking money from anyone I was writing about. Ethics in Journalism and Personal Dilemmas Brett: Like, it’s been, it’s a pain in the ass to try to be truly ethical, but I feel like I’ve done it for 30 some years and, and I don’t know, I wouldn’t change it. I’m not rich. I’ll never be rich. But yeah, I think ethics are important, especially if you’re in any kind of journalism. Christina: Yeah, if you’re in any sort of journalism. I think so, and I think like how people wanna define those things, I think it’s up to them. And, and like I said, like I’m not gonna even necessarily like, like judge people like for, because I, I don’t know personally like what my situation would be like. Like if somebody was like, Christina, here’s a wallet that has the equivalent of $300,000 in it and it’s just sitting here and we’re not even asking you to do anything with this. I would probably take the money. I’m not gonna lie, I don’t, I don’t, I don’t [00:38:00] know if I would promote it or anything and I maybe I would feel compelled to disclose, Hey, Brett: That is Christina: wallet belongs to me. Brett: money though. Christina: I, I, right. I, I, I might, I might be, I might feel compelled to com to, to disclose, Hey, someone created this coin in this thing. They created the foam grow coin and they are giving me, you know, the, the, the gas fees and I have accepted Brett: could be, I’d feel like you could do it if you were transparent enough about it. Christina: Yeah, I mean, I, I, I think where I draw the line is when you then go from like, because again, it’s fine if you wanna take it. It’s then when you are a. Reinvesting the free money into the coin, which I think is just idiotic. Like, I think that’s just actually dumb. Um, like I just, I just do like, that just seems like you are literally, like I said, you’re at the top of the pyramid and you’re literally like volunteering to get into the bottom again. Um, and, or, or b like if you do that and then you try to rationalize in some way, oh, well, you know, I think [00:39:00] that this could be a great thing for everybody to, you know, I get rich, you know, you could get rich, we could all get money out of this because this is the future of, you know, creator economy or whatever. It’s like, no, it’s not. This is gambling. Um, and, and, and, and you could make the argument to me, and I’d probably be persuaded to be like, this isn’t that different from poly market or any of the other sorts of things. But you know what? I don’t do those things either. And I wouldn’t promote those things to any audience that I had either. Um, but if somebody wanted to give me free money. I probably wouldn’t turn it down. I’m not gonna pretend that my ethics are, are that strong. Uh, I just don’t know if I would, if I would, uh, go on the other end and be like, okay, to the Moom, everyone let, let’s all go in on the crypto stuff. It’s like, okay, The Future of Open Source and Cryptocurrency Brett: So is this the future of open source is, ’cause I mean like open source has survived for decades as like a concept and it’s never been terribly profitable. But a [00:40:00] lot of large companies have invested in open source, and I guess at this point, like most of the big open source projects are either run by a corporation or by a foundation. Um, that are independently financed, but for a project like Gastown, like is it the future? Is this, is this something people are gonna start doing to like, kind of make open source profitable? Christina: I mean, maybe, I don’t know. I think the problem though is that it’s not necessarily predictable, right? And, and not to say that like normal donations or, or support methods are predictable, but at least that could be a thing where you’re like, they’re not, but, but, but it’s not volatile to the extent where you’re like, okay, I’m basing, you know, like my income based on how well this shit coin that someone else controls the supply of someone else, you know, uh, uh, created someone else, you know, burned, so to speak, somebody else’s is going to be, uh, [00:41:00] controlling and, and has other things and could be responsible for, you know, big seismic like market movements like that I think is very different, um, than anything else. And so, I don’t know. I mean, I, I think that they, what I do expect that we’ll see more of is more and more popular projects, things that go viral, especially around ai. Probably being approached or people like proactively creating coins around those things. And there have been some, um, developers who’ve already, you know, stood up oddly and been like, if you see anybody trying to create a coin around this, it is not associated with me. I won’t be associated with any of it. I won’t do it. Right. Uh, and I think that becomes a problem where you’re like, okay, if these things do become popular, then that becomes like another risk if you don’t wanna be involved in it. If you’re involved with a, with a popular project, right? Like the, like the, like the creator of MPM Isaac, like, I think there’s like an MPM coin now, and that, that he’s, you know, like involved in and it’s like, you know, again, he didn’t create it, but he is happy to promote it. He’s happy to take the money. I’m like, look, I’m happy for [00:42:00] Isaac to get money from NPMI am at the same time, you know, bun, which is basically like, you know, the, you know, replacement for, for Node and NPM in a lot of ways, they sold to Anthropic for. I guarantee you a fuck load more money than whatever Isaac is gonna make off of some MPM shitcoin. So, so like, it, it’s all a lottery and it’s not sustainable. But I also feel like for a lot of open source projects, and this isn’t like me saying that the people shouldn’t get paid for the work, quite the contrary. But I think if you go into it with the expectation of I’m going to be able to make a sustainable living off of something, like when you start a project, I think that that is not necessarily going to set you up for, I think that those expectations are misaligned with what reality might be, which again, isn’t to say that you shouldn’t get paid for your work, it’s just that the reason that we give back and the reason we contribute open source is to try to be part of like the, the greater good and to make things more available to everyone. Not to be [00:43:00] like, oh, I can, you know, quit my job. Like, that would be wonderful. I, I wish that more and more people could do that. And I give to a lot of, um, open source projects on, on a monthly basis or on an annual basis. Um, Brett: I, I give basically all the money that’s given to me for my open source projects I distribute among other open source projects. So it’s a, it’s a, it’s a wash for me, but yeah, I am, I, I pay, you know, five, 10 bucks a month to 20 different projects and yeah. Christina: Yeah. I mean, I think it’s important, but, but I, I don’t know. I, I, I hope that it’s not the future. I’m not mad, I think like if that’s a way where people can make, you know, a, a, an income. But I do, I guess worry the sense that like, if, if, if, I don’t want that to be, the reason why somebody would start an open source project is because they’re like, oh, I, I can get rich on a crypto thing. Right? Like, ’cause that that’s the exact wrong Brett: that’s not open source. That’s not the open source philosophy. Christina: no, [00:44:00] it’s not. And, and so, I mean, but I think, I think if it already exists, I mean, I don’t know. I, I also feel like no one should feel obligated. This should go without saying that. If you see a project that you like that is involved in one of those coins. Do you have a zero obligation to be, uh, supportive of that in any way? And in fact, it is probably in your financial best interest to not be involved. Um, it, it is your life, your money, your, you do whatever you want, gamble, however you want. But, uh, I, I, I, I do, I guess I, I bristle a little bit. Like if people try to portray it like, oh, well this is how you can support me by like buying into this thing. I’m like, okay, that’s alright. Like, I, I, if you wanna, again, like I said, if you wanna play poly market with this, fine, but don’t, don’t try to wrap that around like, oh, well this is how you can give back. It’s like, no, you can give back in other ways. Like you can do direct donations, you can do other stuff. Like I would, I would much rather encourage people to be like, rather than putting a hundred dollars in Ralph Coin, [00:45:00] give a hundred dollars to the Ralph Guy directly. Apex 1.0? Brett: So, speaking of unprofitable open source, I have Apex almost to 1.0. Um, it officially handles, I think, all of the syntax that I had hoped it would handle. Um, it does like crazy things, uh, that it’s all built on common mark, GFM, uh, like cmar, GFM, GitHub’s project. Um, so it, it does all of that. Plus it handles stuff from like M mark with like indices. Indices, and it incorporates, uh. Uh, oh, I forget the name of it. Like two different ways of creating indices. It handles all kinds of bibliography syntax, like every known bibliography syntax. Um, I just added, you can, you can create insert tags with plus, plus, uh, the same way you would create a deletion with, uh, til detail. Um, and [00:46:00] I’ve added a full plugin structure, and the plugins now can be project local. So you can have global plugins. And then if you have specific settings, so like I have a, I, my blogs are all based on cramdown and like the bunch documentation is based on cramdown, but then like the mark documentation. And most of my writing is based on multi markdown and they have different. Like the, for example, the IDs that go on headers in multi markdown. If it’s, if it has a space in multi markdown, it gets compressed to no space in common Mark or GFM, it gets a dash instead of a space, which means if I have cross links, cross references in my document, if I don’t have the right header syntax, the cross reference will break. So now I can put a, a config into like my bunch documentation that tells Apex to use, [00:47:00] um, the dash syntax. And in my Mark documentation, I can tell it to use the multi markdown syntax. And then I can just run Apex with no command line arguments and everything works. And I don’t know, I, I haven’t gotten adoption for it. Like the one place I thought it could be really useful was DEVONthink, Christina: Mm-hmm. Brett: which has always been based on multi markdown, which. Um, is I love multi markdown and I love Fletcher and, um, it’s just, it’s missing a lot of what I would consider modern syntax. Christina: Right. Brett: so I, I offered it to Devin think, and it turned out they were working on their own project along the same lines at the same time. Um, but I’m hoping to find some, some apps that will incorporate it and maybe get it some traction. It’s solid, it’s fast, it’s not as fast as common Mark, but it does twice as much. Um, like the [00:48:00] benchmarks, it a complex document renders in common mark in about. Uh, 27 milliseconds, and in Apex it’s more like 46 milliseconds. But in the grand scheme of things, I could render my whole blog 10 times faster than I can with cramm down or Panoc and yeah, and, and I can use all the syntax I want. Challenges and Innovations in Markdown Processing Brett: Did I tell you about, did I tell you about, uh, Panoc Divs? The div extension, um, like you can in with the panoc D extension, you can put colon, colon, colon instead of like back, take, back, take backtick. So normally, like back ticks would create a code block with colons, it creates a div, and you can apply, you can apply inline attribute lists after the colons to make, to give it a class and an ID and any other attributes you wanna apply to it. I extended that so that you can do colon, [00:49:00] colon, colon, and then type a tag name. So if you type colon, colon, colon aside and then applied an attribute list to it, it would create an aside tag with those attributes. Um, the, the only pan deck extension that I wish I could support that I don’t yet is grid tables. Have you ever seen grid tables? Christina: I have not. Brett: There, it’s, it’s kind of like multi markdown table syntax, except you use like plus signs for joints and uh, pipes and dashes, and you actually draw out the table like old ASCI diagrams Christina: Okay. Brett: and that would render that into a valid HTML table. But that supporting that has just been, uh, tables. Tables are the thing. I’ve pulled the most hair out over. Christina: Yeah, I was gonna say, I think I, they feel like tables are hard. I also feel like in a lot of circumstances, I mean obviously people use tables and whatnot, but like, [00:50:00] only thing I would say to you, like, you know, apex is, is so cool and I hope that other projects adopt it. Um, and, uh, potentially with the POC support as far as you’ve gotten with it, maybe, you know, projects that support some of POC stuff could, could, you know, uh, jump into it. But I will say it does feel like. Once you go into like the Panoc universe, like that almost feels like a separate thing from the markdown Flavors like that almost feels like its own like ecosystem. You know what I mean? Brett: Well, yeah, and I haven’t tried to adopt everything Panoc does because you can als, you can also use panoc. You can pipe from Apex into Panoc or vice versa. So I’m not gonna try to like one for one replicate panoc, Christina: No, no. Totally Brett: do all of panoc export options because Panoc can take HTML in and then output PDFs and Doc X and everything. So you can just pipe output from Apex into Panoc to create your PDF or whatever Christina: And like, and, and like to, [00:51:00] and like to me, like that seems ideal, right? But I feel like maybe like adopting some of the other things, especially like, like their grid, you know, table, things like that. Like that would be cool. But like, that feels like that’s a, potentially has the, has the potential, maybe slow down rendering and do other stuff which you don’t want. And then b it’s like, okay, now are we complicated to the point that like, this is, this is now not becoming like one markdown processor to rule them all, but you Brett: Yeah, the whole point, the whole point is to be able to just run Apex and not worry about what cex you’re using. Um, but grid tables are the kind of thing that are so intentional that you’re not gonna accidentally use them. Like the, the, the, the impetus for Apex was all these support requests I get from people that are like the tilde syntax for underline or delete doesn’t work in Mark. And it, it does if you choose the right processor. But then you have to know, yeah, you have to [00:52:00] know what processor supports what syntax and that takes research and time and bringing stuff in from, say, obsidian into mart. You would just kind of expect things to work. And that’s, that’s why I built Apex and Christina: right? Brett: you are correct that grid tables are the kind of thing, no one’s going to use grid tables if they haven’t specifically researched what Christina: I right. Brett: they’re gonna work with. Christina: And they’re going to have a way that has their file marked so that it is designated as poc and then whatever, you know, flags for whatever POC features it supports, um, does. Now I know that the whole point of APEX is you don’t have to worry about this, but, but I am assuming, based on kind of what you said, like if I pass like arguments like in like a, you know, in a config file or something like where I was like, these documents or, or, or this URL or these things are, you know, in this process or in this in another, then it can, it can just automatically apply those rules without having to infer based on the, on the syntax, right. Brett: right. It has [00:53:00] modes for cram down and common mark and GFM and discount, and you can like tell it what mode you’re writing in and it will limit the feature set to just what that processor would handle. Um, and then all of the flags, all of the features have neg negotiable flags on them. So if you wanted to say. Skip, uh, relax table rendering. You could turn that off on the command line or in a config file. Um, so yeah, everything, everything, you can make it behave like any particular processor. Uh, but I focus mostly on the unified mode, which again, like you don’t have to think about which processor you are using. Christina: Are you seeing, I guess like in, in circumstances like, ’cause I, in, in my, like, my experience, like, I would never think to, like, I would probably like, like to, I would probably do like what you do, which is like, I’m [00:54:00] going to use one syntax or, or one, you know, processor for one type of files and maybe another and another. Um, but I, I don’t think that like, I would ever have a, and maybe I’m misunderstanding this, but I don’t think I would ever have an instance where I would be like mixing the two together in the same file. Brett: See, that’s my, so that’s, that’s what’s changing for me is I’m switching my blog over to use Apex instead of Cramdown, which means I can now incorporate syntax that wasn’t available before. So moving forward, I am mixing, um, things from common mark, things from cram down, things from multi markdown. Um, and, and like, so once you know you have the option Christina: right. Then you might do that Brett: you have all the syntax available, you start doing it. And historically you won’t have, but like once you get used to it, then you can. Christina: Okay. So here’s the next existential question for you. At what point then does it go from being, you know, like [00:55:00] a, a, a rendering engine, kind of like an omni rendering engine to being a syntax and a flavor in and of itself? Brett: That is that, yeah, no, that’s a, that’s a very valid question and one that I have to keep asking myself, um, because I never, okay, so what to, to encapsulate what you’re saying, if you got used to writing for Apex and you were mixing your syntax, all of a sudden you have a document that can’t render in anything except Apex, which does eventually make it its own. Yeah, no, it is, it’s always, it’s a concern the whole time. Christina: well, and I, I wouldn’t even necessarily, I mean, like, and I think it could be two things, right? I mean, like, you could have it live in two worlds where, like on the one hand it could be like the rendering engine to end all rendering engines and it can render, you know, files and any of them, and you can specify like whatever, like in, in, in like a tunnel or something. Like, you know, these files are, [00:56:00] are this format, these are these, and you know, maybe have some sort of, you know, um, something, even like a header files or whatever to be like, this is what this rendering engine is. Um, you know, with, with your projects to have it, uh, do that. Um. Or have it infer, you know, based on, on, on, um, the, the logic that you’re importing. But it could also be one of those things where you’re like, okay, I just have created like, you know, the omni syntax. And that’s a thing that maybe, maybe you get people to try to encourage or try, try to adopt, right? Like, it’s like, okay, you can always just use common mark. You can always just use GFM, you can always just use multi markdown, but we support these other things too, from these other, um, systems and you can intermix and match them. Um, because, because I, I do feel like at a certain point, like at least the way you’re running it yourself, you have your own syntax. Like, like, you know. Brett: yeah. No, you have perfectly encapsulated the, the major [00:57:00] design concern. And I think you’re correct. It can exist, it can be both things at once. Um, but I have like, nobody needs another markdown syntax. Like there are so many flavors right now. Okay. There may be a dozen. It’s not like an infinite number, but, but there’s enough that the confusion is real. Um, and we don’t need yet another markdown flavor, but we do need a universal processor that. Makes the differentiations less, but yeah, no, it’s, I need, I need to nail down that philosophy, uh, and really like, put it into writing and say, this is the design goal of this project, uh, which I have like hinted at, but I’m a scattered thinker and like, part of, part of the design philosophy is if someone says, Hey, [00:58:00] could you make this work? I just wanted a project where I could say, yeah, I’m gonna make that work. I, I, I’m gonna add this somewhat esoteric syntax and it’s just gonna work and it’s not gonna affect anything else. And you don’t have to use it, but if you do, there it is. So it’s kind of, it was designed to bloat to a circuit certain extent. Um, but yeah, I need to, I need to actually write a page That’s just the philosophy and really, really, uh, put, put all my thoughts together on that. Christina: Yeah, no, ’cause I was just kind of thinking, I was like, ’cause it’s so cool. Um, but the way that I would’ve envisioned using it, like I, I still like, it’s cool that you can mix all those things in together. I still feel like I probably wouldn’t because I’m not you. And so then I would just have like this additional dependency that it’s like, okay, if something happens to Apex one day and that’s the only thing that can render my documents, then like, you know what I mean? And, and, and if it’s not getting updated [00:59:00] anymore or whatever, then I’m kind of like SOL, um, Brett: Maku. Do you remember Maku? Christina: vaguely. Brett: It’s, the project is kind of dead and a lot of its syntax has been incorporated into various other processors. But if you built your whole blog on Maku, you have to, you have to be able to run like a 7-year-old binary, um, and, and it’ll never be updated, and eventually you’re gonna run into trouble. The nice thing about Unix based stuff is it’s. Has a, you can stop developing it and it’ll work for a decade, um, until, like, there’s a major shift in processors, but like, just the shift to arm. Like if, if Maku was only ever compiled for, uh, for, uh, Intel and it wasn’t open source, you would, it would be gone. You wouldn’t be able to run it anymore. So yeah, these things can happen. Christina: [01:00:00] Well, and I just even think about like, you know, the fact that like, you know, like some of the early processors, like I remember like back, I mean this is a million years ago, but having to use like certain, like pearl, you know, based things, you know, but depending on like whatever your backend system was, then you moved to PHP, they maybe you move, moved to, you know, Ruby, if you’re using like Jekyll and maybe you move to something else. And I was like, okay, you know, what will the thing be in the future? Yeah. If, if I, if it’s open source and there’s a way that, you know, you can write a new, a new processor for that, but it does create like, dependencies on top of dependencies, which is why I, I kind of feel like I like having like the omni processor. I don’t know if, like, for me, I’m like, okay, I, I would probably be personally leery about intermingling all my different syntaxes together. Brett: to that end though, that is why I wanted it in C um, because C will probably never die. C can be compiled on just about any platform. And it can be used with, like, if you have, if you have a Jekyll blog and you wanna [01:01:00] incorporate a C program into a gem, it’s no problem. Uh, you can incorporate it into just about any. Langu

Every woman who feels the pressure rising knows she's meant for more. In this episode, I sit down with my friend Dr. Gabrielle Lyon to talk about what it takes to build the capacity to handle big dreams, big stress, and big seasons of growth. Gabrielle shares why muscle is the organ of longevity, why you can't outwork your biology, and how your body is the fastest way to change your mental state. Tune in to learn how to build a body and a mindset strong enough to carry your biggest dreams. Check out our Sponsors: OSEA - Give your skin a rest with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code EARN at https://oseamalibu.com/ Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at http://shopify.com/happy SKIMS - The SKIMS Holiday Shop is now open at https://SKIMS.com. Let them know we sent you by choosing Earn Your Happy podcast in the dropdown after you purchase. Brevo - Head to http://brevo.com/earn and use the code HAPPY to get 50% off Starter and Business Plans for the first 3 months of an annual subscription. Aura Frames - save on the perfect gift at https://auraframes.com/ - get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames with promo code EARN at checkout. Northwest Registered Agent - Build your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Visit www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidearn Blinds.com - The Black Friday deals at https://www.blinds.com/ are going strong all month long! Save $50 off when you spend $500 or more - use code EARN at checkout.  HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Building stronger humans starts with the body. 03:15 The ethos behind The Forever Strong Playbook. 08:30 How fitness mirrors entrepreneurship. 11:45 Dr. Gabrielle's tip to build mental grit. 17:00 How do you use your body to move your mind? 20:00 Why health can't be optional for high performers. 29:15 The freedom pyramid of thought, action, and discipline. 35:15 Where do you start when your health feels overwhelming? 39:00 How protein creates freedom from food noise. 42:00 Why women need more protein as they age. 48:30 Why midlife is just the beginning. 49:15 How people transform in 6–12 months. 51:00 How to join Dr. Gabrielle's book giveaway. RESOURCES Get your copy of Dr. Gabrielle Lyon's new book, The Forever Strong Playbook HERE! Learn more about Gabrielle's telehealth practice, Strong Medical HERE! Listen to The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show podcast HERE! Apply for the Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind HERE! Get on the waitlist for Mentor Collective Mastermind HERE! Try glōci for 40% off your first order with code HAPPY at checkout - head to getgloci.com FOLLOW Follow me: @loriharder Follow glōci: @getgloci Follow Dr. Gabrielle: @drgabriellelyon

Could live selling be the next big opportunity for indie authors? Adam Beswick shares how organic marketing, live streaming, and direct sales are transforming his author career—and how other writers can do the same. In the intro, book marketing principles [Self-Publishing with ALLi]; Interview with Tobi Lutke, the CEO and co-founder of Shopify [David Senra]; The Writer's Mind Survey; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn; Alliance of Independent Authors Indie Author Lab. Today's show is sponsored by ProWritingAid, writing and editing software that goes way beyond just grammar and typo checking. With its detailed reports on how to improve your writing and integration with writing software, ProWritingAid will help you improve your book before you send it to an editor, agent or publisher. Check it out for free or get 15% off the premium edition at www.ProWritingAid.com/joanna This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Adam Beswick is a bestselling fantasy author and an expert in TikTok marketing for authors, as well as a former NHS mental health nurse. Adam went full-time as an indie author in 2023 and now runs AP Beswick Publications. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes How Adam scaled from garden office to warehouse, with his wife leaving her engineering career to join the business Why organic marketing (free video content) beats paid ads for testing what resonates with readers The power of live selling: earning £3,500 in one Christmas live stream through TikTok shop Mystery book bags: a gamified approach to selling that keeps customers coming back Building an email list of actual buyers through direct sales versus relying on platform algorithms Why human connection matters more than ever in the age of AI-generated content You can find Adam at APBeswickPublications.com and on TikTok as @a.p_beswick_publications. Transcript of interview with Adam Beswick Jo: Adam Beswick is a bestselling fantasy author and an expert in TikTok marketing for authors, as well as a former NHS mental health nurse. Adam went full-time as an indie author in 2023 and now runs AP Beswick Publications. Welcome back to the show, Adam. Adam: Hi there, and thank you for having me back. Jo: Oh, I'm super excited to talk to you today. Now, you were last on the show in May 2024, so just under two years, and you had gone full-time as an author the year before that. So just tell us— What's changed for you in the last couple of years? What does your author business look like now? Adam: That is terrifying to hear that it was that long ago, because it genuinely feels like it was a couple of months ago. Things have certainly been turbocharged since we last spoke. Last time we spoke I had a big focus on going into direct sales, and I think if I recall correctly, we were just about to release a book by Alexis Brooke, which was the first book in a series that we had worked with another author on, which was the first time we were doing that. Since then, we now have six authors on our books, with a range of full agreements or print-only deals. With that focus of direct selling, we have expanded our TikTok shop. In 2024, I stepped back from TikTok shop just because of constraints around my own time. We took TikTok shop seriously again in 2025 and scaled up to a six-figure revenue stream throughout 2025, effectively starting from scratch. That means we have had to go from having an office pod in the garden, to my wife now has left her career as a structural engineer to join the business because there was too much for me to manage. We went from this small office space, to now we have the biggest office space in our office block because we organise our own print runs and do all our distribution worldwide from what we call “AP HQ.” Jo: And you don't print books, but you have a warehouse. Adam: Yes, we have a warehouse. We work with different printers to order books in. We print quite large scale—well, large scale to me—volumes of books. Then we have them ordered to here, and then we will sign them all and distribute everything from here. Jo: Sarah, your wife, being a structural engineer—it seems like she would be a real help in organising a business of warehousing and all of that. Has that been great [working with your wife]? Because I worked with my husband for a while and we decided to stop doing that. Adam: Well, we're still married, so I'm taking that as a win! And funnily enough, we don't actually fall out so much at work. When we do, it's more about me being quite chaotic with how I work, but also I can at times be quite inflexible about how I want things to be done. But what Sarah's fantastic at is the organisation, the analytics. She runs all the logistical side of things. When we moved into the bigger office space, she insisted on us having different offices. She's literally shoved me on the other side of the building. So I'm out the way—I can just come in and write, come and do my bit to sign the books, and then she can just get on with organising the orders and getting those packed and sent out to readers. She manages all the tracking, the customs—all the stuff that would really bog me down. I wouldn't say she necessarily enjoys it when she's getting some cranky emails from people whose books might have gone missing or have been held up at customs, but she's really good at that side. She's really helped bring systems in place to make sure the fulfilment side is as smooth as possible. Jo: I think this is so important, and I want everyone to hear you on this. Because at heart, you are the creative, you are a writer, and sure you are building this business, but I feel like one of the biggest mistakes that creative-first authors make is not getting somebody else to help them. It doesn't have to be a spouse, right? It can also be another professional person. Sacha Black's got various people working for her. I think you just can't do it alone, right? Adam: Absolutely not. I would have drowned long before now. When Sarah joined the team, I was at a position where I'd said to her, “Look, I need to look at bringing someone in because I'm drowning.” It was only then she took a look at where her career was, and she'd done everything she wanted to do. She was a senior engineer. She'd completed all the big projects. I mean, this is a woman who's designed football stands across the UK and some of the biggest barn conversions and school conversions and things like that. She'd done everything professionally that she'd wanted to and was perhaps losing that passion that she once had. So she said she was interested, and we said, “Look, why don't you come and spend a bit of time working with me within the business, see whether it works for you, see if we can find an area that works for you—not you working for the business, the business working for you—that we maintain that work-life balance.” And then if it didn't work, we were in a position where we could set her up to start working for herself as an engineer again, but under her own terms. Then we just went from strength to strength. We made it through the first year. I think we made it through the first year without any arguments, and she's now been full-time in the business for two years. Jo: I think that's great. Really good to hear that. Because when I met you, probably in Seville I think it was, I was like, “You are going to hit some difficulty,” because I could see that if you were going to scale as fast as you were aiming to— There are problems of scale, right? There's a reason why lots of us don't want a bloomin' warehouse. Adam: Yes, absolutely. I think it's twofold. I am an author at heart—that's my passion—but I'm also a businessman and a creative from a marketing point of view. I always see writing as the passion. The business side and the creating of content—that's the work. So I never see writing as work. When I was a nurse, I was the nurse that was always put on the wards where no one else wanted to work because that's where I thrived. I thrive in the chaos. Put me with people who had really challenging behaviour or were really unwell and needed that really intense support, displayed quite often problematic behaviours, and I would thrive in those environments because I'd always like to prove that you can get the best out of anyone. I very much work in that manner now. The more chaotic, the more pressure-charged the situation is, the better I thrive in that. If I was just sat writing a book and that was it, I'd probably get less done because I'd get bored and I wouldn't feel like I was challenging myself. As you said, the flip side of that is that risk of burnout is very, very real, and I have come very, very close. But as a former mental health nurse, I am very good at spotting my own signs of when I'm not taking good care of myself. And if I don't, Sarah sure as hell does. Jo: I think that's great. Really good to hear. Okay, so you talked there about creating the content as work, and— You have driven your success, I would say, almost entirely with TikTok. Would that be right? Adam: Well, no, I'd come back and touch on that just to say it isn't just TikTok. I would say definitely organic marketing, but not just TikTok. I'm always quick to pivot if something isn't working or if there's a dip in sales. I'm always looking at how we can—not necessarily keep growing—but it's about sustaining what you've built so that we can carry on doing this. If the business stops earning money, I can't keep doing what I love doing, and me and my wife can't keep supporting our family with a stable income, which is what we have now. I would say TikTok is what started it all, but I did the same as having all my books on Amazon, which is why I switched to doing wide and direct sales: I didn't want all my eggs in one basket. I was always exploring what platforms I can use to best utilise organic marketing, to the point where my author TikTok channel is probably my third lowest avenue for directing traffic to my store at the moment. I have a separate channel for my TikTok shop, which generates great traffic, but that's a separate thing because I treat my TikTok shop as a separate audience. That only goes out to a UK audience, whereas my main TikTok channel goes out to a worldwide audience. Jo: Okay. So we are going to get into TikTok, and I do want to talk about that, but you said TikTok Shop UK and— Then you mentioned organic marketing. What do you mean by that? Adam: When I say organic marketing, I mean marketing your books in a way that is not a detriment to your bank balance. To break that down further: you can be paying for, say for example, you set up a Facebook ad and you are paying five pounds a day just for a testing phase for an ad that potentially isn't going to work. You potentially have to run 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ads at five pounds a day to find one ad that works, that will make your book profitable. There's a lot of testing, a lot of money that goes into that. With organic marketing, it's using video marketing or slideshows or carousels on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook—wherever you want to put it—to find the content that does resonate with your readers, that generates sales, and it doesn't cost you anything. I can create a video on TikTok, put it out there, and it reaches three, four hundred people. That hasn't cost me any money at all. Those three, four hundred people have seen my content. That's not TikTok's job for that to generate sales. That's my job to convert those views into sales. If it doesn't, I just need to look at the content and say, “Well, that hasn't hit my audience, or if it has, it hasn't resonated. What do I need to do with my content to make it resonate and then transition into sales?” Once you find something that works, it's just a case of rinse and repeat. Keep tweaking it, keep changing or using variants of that content that's working to generate sales. If you manage to do that consistently, you've already got content that you know works. So when you've built up consistent sales and you are perhaps earning a few thousand pounds a month—it could be five figures a month—you've then got a pool of money that you've generated. You can use that then to invest into paid ads, using the content you've already created organically and tested organically for what your audience is going to interact with. Jo: Okay. I think because I'm old school from the old days, we would've called that content marketing. But I feel like the difference of what you are doing and what TikTok—I think the type of behaviour TikTok has driven is the actual sales, the conversion into sales. So for example, this interview, right? My podcast is content marketing. It puts our words out in the world and some people find us, and some people buy stuff from us. So it's content marketing, but it's not the way you are analysing content that actually drives sales. Based on that content, there's no way of tracking any sales that come from this interview. We are just never going to know. I think that's the big difference between what you are doing with content versus what I and many other, I guess, older creators have done, which is— We put stuff out there for free, hope that some people might find us, and some of those people might buy. It's quite different. Adam: I would still argue that it is organic marketing, because you've got a podcast that people don't have to pay to listen to, that they get enjoyment from, and the byproduct of that is you generate some income passively through that. If you think of your podcast as one product and your video content is the same—these social media platforms—you don't just post your podcast on one platform. You will utilise as many platforms as you can, unless you have a brand agreement where a platform is paying you to solely use their platform because you or yourself are the driver for the audience there. I would say a podcast is a form of organic marketing. I could start a podcast about video marketing. I could start a podcast about reading. The idea being you build up an audience and then when you drop in those releases, that audience then goes and buys that product. For example, if you've got a self-help book coming out, if you drop that into your podcast, chances are you're going to get a lot more sales from your audience that are here to listen to you as the inspirational storyteller that you are from a business point of view than what you would if you announced that you had a new crime novel coming out or a horror story you've written. Your audience within here is generally an author audience who are looking to refine their craft—whether that be the writing or the selling of the books or living the dream of being a full-time author. I think it's more a terminology thing. Jo: Well, let's talk about why I wanted to talk to you. A friend of ours told me that you are doing really well with live sales. This was just before Christmas, I think. And I was like, “Live sales? What does that even mean?” Then I saw that Kim Kardashian was doing live sales on TikTok and did this “Kim's Must Have” thing, and Snoop Dogg was there, and it was this massive event where they were selling. I was like, “Oh, it's like TV sales—the TV sales channel where you show things and then people buy immediately.” And I was like, “Wait, is Adam like the Kim Kardashian of the indie author?” So tell us about this live sale thing. Adam: Well, I've not got that far to say that I have the Kim Kardashian status! What it is, is that I'm passionate about learning, but also sharing what's working for me so that other authors can succeed—without what I'm sharing being stuck behind a paywall. It is a big gripe of mine that you get all these courses and all these things you can do and everything has to be behind a paywall. If I've got the time, I'll just share. Hence why we were in Vegas doing the presentations for Indie Author Nation, which I think had you been in my talk, Jo, you would've heard me talking about the live selling. Jo: Oh, I missed it. I'll have to get the replay. Adam: I only covered a short section of it, but what I actually said within that talk is, for me, live selling is going to be the next big thing. If you are not live selling your books at the moment, and you are not paying attention to it, start paying attention to it. I started paying attention about six months ago, and I have seen constant growth to a point where I've had to post less content because doing one live stream a week was making more money than me posting content and burning myself out every single day for the TikTok shop. I did a live stream at the beginning of Christmas, for example. A bit of prep work went into it. We had a whole Christmas set, and within that one live stream we generated three and a half thousand pounds of organic book sales. Jo: Wow. Adam: Obviously that isn't something that happened overnight. That took me doing a regular Friday stream from September all the way through to December to build up to that moment. In fact, I think that was Black Friday, sorry, where we did that. But what I looked at was, “Right, I haven't got the bandwidth because of all the plates I was spinning to go live five days a week. However, I can commit to a Friday morning.” I can commit to a Friday morning because that is the day when Sarah isn't in the office, and it's my day to pack the orders. So I've already got the orders to pack, so I thought I'll go live whilst I'm packing the orders and just hang out and chat. I slowly started to find that on average I was earning between three to four hundred pounds doing that, packing orders that I already had to pack. I've just found a way to monetise it and engage with a new audience whilst doing that. The thing that's key is it is a new audience. You have people who like to consume their content through short-form content or long-form content. Then you have people who like to consume content with human interaction on a live, and it's a completely different ballgame. What TikTok is enabling us to do—on other platforms I am looking at other platforms for live selling—you can engage with an audience, but because on TikTok you can upload your products, people can buy the products direct whilst you are live on that platform. For that, you will pay a small fee to TikTok, which is absolutely worth it. That's part of the reason we've been able to scale to having a six-figure business within TikTok shop itself as one revenue stream. Jo: Okay. So a few things. You mentioned there the integration with TikTok shop. As I've said many times, I'm not on TikTok—I am on Instagram—and on Instagram you can incorporate your Meta catalogue to Shopify. Do you think the same principle applies to Instagram or YouTube as well? I think YouTube has an integration with Shopify. Do you think the same thing would work that way? Adam: I think it's possible. Yes, absolutely. As long as people can click and buy that product from whatever content they are watching—but usually what it will have to do is redirect them to your store, and you've still got all the conversion metrics that have to kick in. They have to be happy with the shipping, they have to be happy with the product description and stuff like that. With TikTok shop, it's very much a one-stop shop. People click on the product, they can still be watching the video, click to buy something, and not leave the stream. Jo: So the stream's on, and then let's say you are packing one of your books— Does that product link just pop up and then people can buy that book as you are packing it? Adam: So we've got lots and lots of products on our store now. I always have a product link that has all our products listed, and I always keep all of the bundles towards the top because they generate more income than a single book sale. What will happen is I can showcase a book, I'll tap the screen to show what product it is that I'm packing, and then I'll just talk about it. If people want it, they just click that product link and they can buy it straight away. What people get a lot of enjoyment from—which I never expected in a million years—is watching people pack their order there and then. As an author, we're not just selling a generic product. We're selling a book that we have written, that we have put our heart and soul into. People love that. It's a way of letting them into a bit of you, giving them a bit of information, talking to them, showing them how human you are. If you're on that live stream being an absolute arse and not very nice, people aren't going to buy your books. But if you're being welcoming, you're chatting, you're talking to everyone, you're interacting, you're showcasing books they probably will. What we do is if someone orders on the live stream, we throw some extra stuff in, so they don't just get the books, they'll get some art prints included, they'll get some bookmarks thrown in, and we've got merch that we'll throw in as a little thank you. Now it's all stuff that is low cost to us, because actually we're acquiring a customer in that moment. I've got people who come onto every single Friday live stream that I do now. They have bought every single product in our catalogue and they are harassing me for when the next release is out because they want more, before they even know what that is. They want it because it's being produced by us—because of our brand. With the lives, what I found is the branding has become really important. We're at a stage where we're being asked—because I'm quite well known for wearing beanie hats on live streams or video content—people are like, “When are you going to release some beanie hats?” Now and again, Sarah will drop some AP branded merch. It'll be beer coasters with the AP logo on, or a tote bag with the AP logo on. It's not stuff that we sell at this stage—we give them away. The more money people spend, the more stuff we put in. And people are like, “No, no, you need to add these to the store because we want to buy them.” The brand itself is growing, not just the book sales. It's becoming better known. We've got Pacificon in April, and there's so many people on that live stream that have bought tickets to meet us in person at this conference in April, which is amazing. There's so much going on. With TikTok shop, it only works in the country where you are based, so it only goes out to a UK audience, which is why I keep it separate from my main channel. That means we're tapping into a completely new audience, because up until last year, I'd always targeted America—that's where my biggest readership was. Jo: Wow. There's so much to this. Okay. First of all, most people are not going to have their own warehouse. Most people are not going to be packing live. So for authors who are selling on, let's just say Amazon, can live sales still work for them? Could they still go live at a regular time every week and talk about a book and see if that drives sales, even if it's at Amazon? Adam: Yes, absolutely. I would test that because ultimately you're creating a brand, you're putting yourself out there, and you're consistently showing up. You can have people that have never heard of you just stumble across your live and think, “What are they doing there?” They're a bit curious, so they might ask some questions, they might not. They might see some other interactions. There's a million and one things you can do on that live to generate conversation. I've done it where I've had 150 books to sign, so I've just lined up the books, stood in front of the camera, switched the camera on while I'm signing the books, and just chatted away to people without any product links. People will come back and be like, “Oh, I've just been to your store and bought through your series,” and stuff like that. So absolutely that can work. The key is putting in the work and setting it up. I started out by getting five copies of one book, signing them, and selling them on TikTok shop. I sold them in a day, and then that built up to effectively what we have now. That got my eyes open for direct selling. When I was working with BookVault and they were integrated with my store, orders came to me, but then they went to BookVault—they printed and distributed. Then we got to a point scaling-wise where we thought, “If we want to take this to the next level, we need to take on distribution ourselves,” because the profit lines are better, the margins are bigger. That's why we started doing it ourselves, but only once we'd had a proven track record of sales spanning 18 months to two years and had the confidence. It was actually with myself and Sacha that we set up at the same time and egged each other on. I think I was just a tiny bit ahead of her with setting up a warehouse. And then as you've seen, Sacha's gone from strength to strength. It doesn't come without its trigger warnings in the sense of it isn't an easy thing to do. I think you have to have a certain skill set for live selling. You have to have a certain mindset for the physicality that comes with it. When we've had a delivery of two and a half thousand books and we've got to bring them up to the first floor where the office is—I don't have a massive team of people. It's myself and Sarah, and every now and again we get my dad in to help us because he's retired now. We'll give him a bottle of wine as a thank you. Jo: You need to give him some more wine, I think! Adam: Yes! But you've gotta be able to roll your sleeves up and do the work. I think if you've got the work ethic and that drive to succeed, then absolutely anyone can do it. There's nothing special about my books in that sense. I've got a group called Novel Gains where I've actually started a monthly challenge yesterday, and we've got nearly two and a half thousand people in the group now. The group has never been more active because it's really energised and charged. People have seen the success stories, and people are going on lives who never thought it would work for them. Lee Mountford put a post up yesterday on the first day of this challenge just to say, “Look, a year ago I was where you were when Adam did the last challenge. I thought I can't do organic marketing, I can't get myself on camera.” Organic marketing and live selling is now equating to 50% of his income. Jo: And he doesn't have a warehouse. Adam: Well, he scaled up to it now, so he's got two lockups because he scaled up. He started off small, then he thought, “Right, I'm going to go for it.” He ordered a print run of a few of his books—I think 300 copies of three books. Bundled them up, sold them out within a few months. Then he's just scaled from there because he's seen by creating the content, by doing the lives, that it's just creating a revenue stream that he wasn't tapping into. Last January when we did the challenge, he was really engaged throughout the process. He was really analytical with the results he was getting. But he didn't stop after 30 days when that challenge finished. He went away behind the scenes for the next 11 months and has continued to grow. He is absolutely thriving now. Him and his wife—a husband and wife team—his wife is also an author, and they've now added her spicy books to their TikTok shop. They're just selling straight away because he's built up the audience. He's built up that connection. Jo: I think that's great. And I love hearing this because I built my business on what I've called content marketing—you're calling it organic marketing. So I think it's really good to know that it's still possible; it's just a different kind. Now I just wanna get some specifics. One— Where can people find your Novel Gains stuff? Adam: So Novel Gains is an online community on Facebook. As I said, there's no website, there's no fancy website, there's no paid course or anything. It is just people holding themselves accountable and listening to my ramblings every now and again when I try and share pills of wisdom to try and motivate and inspire. I also ask other successful authors to drop their story about organic marketing on there, to again get people fired up and show what can be achieved. Jo: Okay. That's on Facebook. So then let's talk about the setup. I think a lot of the time I get concerned about video because I think everything has to be on my phone. How are you setting this up technically so you can get filmed and also see comments and all of this kind of stuff? Adam: Just with my phone. Jo: It is just on your phone? Adam: Yes. I don't use any fancy camera tricks or anything. I literally just settle my phone and hit record when I'm doing it. Jo: But you set it up on a tripod or something? Adam: Yes. So I'll have a tripod. I don't do any fancy lighting or anything like that because I want the content to seem as real as possible. I'll set up the camera at an angle that shows whatever task I'm doing. For example, if I'm packing orders, I can see the screen so I can see the comments as they're coming up. It's close enough to me to interact. At Christmas, we did have a bit of a setup—it did look like a QVC channel, I'm not going to lie! I was at the back. There was a table in front of me with products on. We had mystery book bags. We had a Christmas tree. We had a big banner behind me. The camera was on the other side of the room, but I just had my laptop next to me that was logged into TikTok, so I was watching the live stream so I could see any comments coming up. Jo: Yes, that's the thing. So you can have a different screen with the comments. Because that's what I'm concerned about—it might just be the eyesight thing, but I'm like, I just can't literally do everything on the phone. Adam: TikTok has a studio—TikTok Studio—that you can download, and you can get all your data and analytics in there for your live streams. At the moment, I'll just tap the screen to add a new product or pin a new product. You can do all that from your computer on this studio where you can say, “Right, I'm showcasing this product now,” click on it and it'll come up onto the live stream. You just have to link the two together. Jo: I'm really thinking about this. Partly this is great because my other concern with TikTok and all these video channels is how much can be done by AI now. TikTok has its own AI generation stuff. A lot of it's amazing. I'm not saying it's bad quality, I'm saying it's amazing quality, but— What AI can't do is the live stuff. You just can't—I mean, I imagine you can fake it, but you can't fake it. Adam: Well, you'd be surprised. I've seen live streams where it's like an avatar on the screen and there is someone talking and then the avatar moving in live as that person's talking. Jo: Right? Adam: I've seen that where it's animals, I've seen it where it's like a 3D person. There's a really popular stream at the minute that is just a cartoon cat on the stream. Whenever you send a gift, it starts singing whoever sent it—it gets a name—and that's a system that someone has somehow set up. I have no idea how they've set it up, but they're literally not doing it. That can run 24 hours a day. There's always hundreds and hundreds of people on it sending gifts to hear this cat sing with an AI voice their name. Yes, AI will work and it will work for different things. But I think with us and with our books, people want that human connection more than ever because of AI. Use that to your advantage. Jo: Okay. So the other thing I like about this idea is you are doing these live sales and then you are looking at the amount you've sold. But are you making changes to it? Or are you only tweaking the content on your prerecorded stuff? Your live is so natural. How are you going to change it up, I guess? Adam: I am always testing what is working, what's not working. For example, I'm a big nerd at heart and I collect Pokémon cards. Now that I'm older, I can afford some of the more rare stuff, and me and my daughter have a lot of enjoyment collecting Pokémon cards together. We follow channels, we watch stuff on YouTube, and I was looking at what streamers do with Pokémon cards and how they sell like mystery products on an app or whatnot. I was like, “How can I apply this to books?” And I came up with the idea of doing mystery book bags. People pay 20 pounds, they get some goodies—some carefully curated goodies, as we say, that “Mrs. B” has put together. On stream, I never give the audience Sarah's name. It's always “Mrs. B.” So Mrs. B has built up her own brand within the stream—they go feral when she comes on camera to say hi! Then there's some goodies in there. That could be some tote socks, a tote bag, cup holders, page holders, metal pins, things like that. Then inside that, I'll pull out a thing that will say what book they're getting from our product catalogue. What I make clear is that could be anything from our product catalogue. So that could be a single book, it could be six books, it could be a three-book bundle. There's all sorts that people can get. It could be a deluxe special edition. People love that, and they tend to buy it because there's so much choice and they might be struggling with, “Right, I don't know what to get.” So they think, “You know what? I'll buy one of them mystery book bags.” I only do them when I'm live. I've done streams where the camera's on me. I've done top-down streams where you can only see my hands and these mystery book bags. Every time someone orders one, I'm just opening it live and showcasing what product they get from the stream. People love it to the point where every stream I do, they're like, “When are you doing the next mystery book bags? When are you doing the next ones?” Jo: So if we were on live now and I click to buy, you see the order with my name and you just write “Jo” on it, and then you put it in a pile? Adam: So you print labels there and then, which I'll do. Exactly. If I'm live packing them—I'm not going to lie—when I'm set up properly, I don't have time to pack them because the orders are coming in that thick and fast. All I do is have a Post-it note next to me, and I'll write down their username, then I'll stick that onto their order. I'll collect everything, showcase what they're getting, the extra goodies that they're getting with their order, and then I'll stick the Post-it on and put that to one side. To put that into context as something that works through testing different things: we started off doing 60 book bags—30 of them were spicy book bags, 30 were general fantasy which had my books and a couple of our authors that haven't got spice in their books—and the aim was to sell them within a month. We sold them within one stream. 60 book bags at 20 pounds a pop. What that also generated is people then buying other products while we're doing it. It also meant that I'd do it all on a Friday, and we'd come in on a Monday and start the week with 40, 50, 60 orders to pack regardless of what's coming from the Shopify store. The level of orders is honestly obscene, but we've continuously learned how best to manage this. We learned that actually, if you showcase the orders, stick a Post-it on, when we print the shipping labels, it takes us five minutes to just put all the shipping labels with everyone's orders. Then we can just fire through packing everything up because everything's already bundled together. It literally just needs putting in a box. Jo: Okay. So there's so much we could talk about, but hopefully people will look into this more. So I went to go watch a video—I thought, “Oh, well, I'll just go watch Adam do this. I'm sure there's a recording”—and then I couldn't find one. So tell me about that. Does [the live recording] just disappear or what? Adam: Yes, it does. It's live for a reason. You can download it afterwards if you want, and then you've got content to repurpose. In fact, you're giving me an idea. I've done a live today—I could download that clip that's an hour and 20 minutes long. Some of it, I'm just rambling, but some of it's got some content that I could absolutely use because I'm engaging with people. I've showcased books throughout it because I've been packing orders. I had an hour window before this podcast and I had a handful of orders to pack. So I just jumped on a live and I made like 250 pounds while doing a job that I would already be having to do. I could download that video, put it in OpusClip, and that will then generate short-form content for me of the meaningful interaction through that, based on the parameters that I give it. So that's absolutely something you could do. In fact, I'm probably going to do it now that you've given me the idea. Jo: Because even if it was on another channel, like you could put that one on YouTube. Adam: Yes. Wherever you want. It doesn't have a watermark on it. Jo: And what did you say? OpusClip? Adam: OpusClip, yes. If you do long-form content of any kind, you can put that in and then it'll pull out meaningful content. Loads of like 20, 30 short-form content video clips that you can use. It's a brilliant piece of software if you use it the right way. Jo: Okay. Well I want you to repurpose that because I want to watch you in action, but I'm not going to turn up for your live—although now I'm like, “Oh, I really must.” So does that also mean—you said it's UK only because the TikTok shop is linked to the UK— So people in America can't even see it? Adam: So sometimes they do pop in, but again, that's why I have a separate channel for my main author account. When I go live on that, anyone from around the world can come in. But if I've got shoppable links in, chances are the algorithm is just going to put that out to a UK audience because that's where TikTok will then make money. If I want to hit my US audience, I'll jump on Instagram because that's where I've got my biggest following. So I'll jump on Instagram and go live over there at a time that I know will be appropriate for Americans. Jo: Okay. We could talk forever, but I do have just a question about TikTok itself. All of these platforms seem to follow a way of things where at the beginning it's much easier to get reach. It is truly organic. It's really amazing. Then they start putting on various brakes—like Facebook added groups, and then you couldn't reach people in your groups. And then you had to pay to play. Then in the US of course, we've got a sale that has been signed. Who knows what will happen there. What are your thoughts on how TikTok has changed? What might go on this year, and how are you preparing? Adam: So, I think as a businessman and an author who wants to reach readers, I use the platforms for what I can get out of them without having to spend a stupid amount of money. If those platforms stop working for me, I'll stop using them and find one that does. With organic reach on TikTok, I think you'll always have a level of that. Is it harder now? Yes. Does that mean it's not achievable? Absolutely not. If your content isn't reaching people, or you're not getting the engagement that you want, or you find fulfilling, you need to look at yourself and the content you are putting out. You are in control of that. There's elements of this takeover in America—again, I've got zero control over that, so I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I'll focus on areas that are making a difference. As I said, TikTok isn't the biggest earner for my business. My author channel's been absolutely dead for a good six months or so. But that means I get stagnant with the content I'm creating. So the challenge I'm doing at the minute, I'm taking part to create fresh content every day to recharge myself. I've got Instagram and Facebook that generate high volumes of traffic every single day. And usually if they stop, TikTok starts to work. Any algorithm changes—things will change when it changes hands in America—but primarily it still wants to make money. It's a business. If anything, it might make it harder for us to reach America because it will want to focus on reaching an American audience for the people that are buying TikTok shop. But they want it because they want the TikTok shop because of the amount of money that it is generating. It's gone from a small amount of people making money to large volumes of businesses across the entire USA—like over here now—that are reaching an audience that previously you had to have deep pockets to reach, to get your business set up. Now you've got all these businesses popping up that are starting from scratch because they're reaching people. They've got a product that's marketable, that people want to enjoy. They want to be part of that growth. I think that will still happen. It might just be a few of the parameters change, like Facebook does all the time. Jo: Things will always change. That is key. We should also say by selling direct, you've built presumably a very big email list of buyers as well. Adam: Yes. I've actually got a trophy that Shopify sent me because we hit 10,000 sales—10,000 customers. I think we're nearing 16,000 sales on there now. We've got all that customer data. We don't get that on TikTok. We haven't got the customer data. Jo: Ah, that's interesting. Okay. How do you not though? Oh, because—did they ship it? Adam: So if you link it with your Shopify and you do all your shipping direct, the customer data has to come to your Shopify, otherwise you can't ship. When TikTok ship it for you—so I print the shipping labels, but they organise the couriers—all the customer data's blotted out. It's like redacted, so you don't see it. Jo: Ah, see that is in itself a cheeky move. Adam: Yes. But if it's linked to your Shopify, you get all that data and your Shopify is your store. So your Shopify will keep that data. They kept affecting how I extracted the shipping labels and stuff like that, and just kept making life really difficult. So I've just switched it back. I think Sarah has found an app that works really well for correlating the two. Jo: Yes, but this is a really big deal. We carp on about it all the time, but— If you sell direct and you do get the customer data, you are building an email list of actual buyers as opposed to freebie seekers. Which a lot of people have. Adam: Absolutely, and that's the same for you. If you send poor products out or your customer has a poor experience, they're not going to come back and order from you again. If your customer has a really good experience and opens the products and sees all this extra care that's gone in and all the books are signed, then they've not had to pay extra. There was a Kickstarter—I'm not going to name which author it was—but it was an author whose book I was quite excited to back. They had these special editions they'd done, but you had to buy a special edition for an extra 30 quid if you wanted it signed. I was like, “Absolutely not.” If these people are putting their hands in their pockets for these deluxe special editions, and if you're a big name author, it's certainly not them that have anything to do with it. They just have other companies do it all for them. Whereas with us, you are creating everything. Our way of saying thank you to everyone is by signing the book. Jo: I love that you're still so enthusiastic about it and that it seems to be going really well. So we're almost out of time, but just quickly— Tell people a bit more about the books that they can find in your stores and where people can find them. Adam: Yes. So we publish predominantly fantasy, and we have moved into the spicy fantasy world. We have a few series there. You can check out APBeswickPublications.com where you will see our full product catalogue and all of my books. On TikTok shop, we are under a.p_beswick_publications. That's the best place to see where I go live—short-form content. I'll post spicy books on there, but on lives, I showcase everything. I also have fantasy.books.uk, where that's where you'll see the videos or product links for the non-spicy fantasy books. Jo: And what time do you go live in the UK? Adam: So I go live 8:00 AM every Friday morning. Jo: Wow. Okay. I might even have to check that out. This has been so great, Adam. Thanks so much for your time. Adam: Well, thank you for having me.The post Selling Books Live On Social Media With Adam Beswick first appeared on The Creative Penn.

So many people ask me, “How did you actually build this?” And the truth is, there was no overnight success, no viral moment, and no magic shortcut. I didn't grow up with connections. I didn't even graduate high school. What changed everything was following one powerful, repeatable sequence. In this episode, I break down the 4 exact moves that took me from feeling invisible to building real credibility, relationships, and momentum. This path is 100% duplicatable. Get ready to see what's possible when you decide to put yourself on the map. Check out our Sponsors: Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at http://shopify.com/happy SKIMS - The SKIMS Holiday Shop is now open at https://SKIMS.com. Let them know we sent you by choosing Earn Your Happy podcast in the dropdown after you purchase. Brevo - Head to http://brevo.com/earn and use the code HAPPY to get 50% off Starter and Business Plans for the first 3 months of an annual subscription. Aura Frames - save on the perfect gift at https://auraframes.com/ - get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames with promo code EARN at checkout. Northwest Registered Agent - Build your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Visit www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidearn Blinds.com - The Black Friday deals at https://www.blinds.com/ are going strong all month long! Save $50 off when you spend $500 or more - use code EARN at checkout.  HIGHLIGHTS The 4-step sequence that built my credibility. Why investing before you feel “ready” changes how you show up. The moment I stopped waiting to be invited and built my own stage. Why credibility is created NOT granted. How relationship capital becomes your greatest long-term asset. RESOURCES Apply for the Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind HERE! Get on the waitlist for Mentor Collective Mastermind HERE! Try glōci for 40% off your first order with code HAPPY at checkout - head to getgloci.com FOLLOW Follow me: @loriharder Follow glōci: @getgloci

In today's online world, the people who win aren't always the most talented. They're the ones who are instantly clear, relatable, and impossible to forget. In this episode, I'm joined by Ashley Brock, an ads and messaging expert who has scaled her business to multiple 7-figures and managed over $200M in ad spend, to break down the Rainmaker Messaging Framework. It is the exact system she uses to help entrepreneurs get found, get remembered, and get paid. We talk about how to craft messages that land, how to speak to different buyer types, how to use specificity to create urgency, and MORE. Tune in to learn how to become findable, unforgettable, and effective in a world full of competition. Check out our Sponsors: Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at http://shopify.com/happy SKIMS - The SKIMS Holiday Shop is now open at https://SKIMS.com. Let them know we sent you by choosing Earn Your Happy podcast in the dropdown after you purchase. Brevo - Head to http://brevo.com/earn and use the code HAPPY to get 50% off Starter and Business Plans for the first 3 months of an annual subscription. Aura Frames - save on the perfect gift at https://auraframes.com/ - get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames with promo code EARN at checkout. Northwest Registered Agent - Build your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Visit www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidearn Blinds.com - The Black Friday deals at https://www.blinds.com/ are going strong all month long! Save $50 off when you spend $500 or more - use code EARN at checkout.  HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 How Ashley went from agency life to building a nearly 8-figure business. 05:45 What the algorithm change really means for your business and your visibility. 07:45 What is The Rainmaker Messaging Framework? 10:30 Why articulation matters more than just “what you say.” 13:45 The 4 buyer types and how to stop selling only to yourself. 16:45 Why specificity creates necessity in your content and ads. 20:00 How to create taglines people actually remember. 23:15 Why do people forget you if they can't repeat what you do? 31:30 What to avoid in your messaging that's silently killing conversions. 34:00 Why connection beats perfect scripts on camera. 38:15 How insider language builds instant trust. 40:30 Why does creativity require space? 44:45 How to protect your energy before recording content. 51:30 Why hiding your credibility is costing you sales. 53:30 What to do if you feel like you “don't have credibility yet.” 57:15 Ashley's 5-day challenge and how to start winning with ads. RESOURCES Join Ashley's Win With Paid Ad 5-Day Challenge HERE! Learn more about Ashley and her programs HERE! Watch Ashley on YouTube HERE! Apply for the Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind HERE! Get on the waitlist for Mentor Collective Mastermind HERE! Try glōci for 40% off your first order with code HAPPY at checkout - head to getgloci.com FOLLOW Follow me: @loriharder Follow glōci: @getgloci Follow Ashley: @ads.with.ashley

I've made a move that might be the most shocking thing I've ever done… I unsubscribed from all the brands I love. Not because I hate shopping (I very much don't), but because I realized something bigger. In this episode, Chris and I break down the concept of the 97% that is silently killing your biggest goals and how most of what's pulling at you every day isn't for you. I share how I'm reassessing everything that takes up my brain space, from inbox clutter to beauty routines, and why even “small” interruptions are secretly costing you hours of momentum. Get ready to choose what truly deserves your attention. Check out our Sponsors: Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at http://shopify.com/happy SKIMS - The SKIMS Holiday Shop is now open at https://SKIMS.com. Let them know we sent you by choosing Earn Your Happy podcast in the dropdown after you purchase. Brevo - Head to http://brevo.com/earn and use the code HAPPY to get 50% off Starter and Business Plans for the first 3 months of an annual subscription. Aura Frames - save on the perfect gift at https://auraframes.com/ - get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames with promo code EARN at checkout. Northwest Registered Agent - Build your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Visit www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidearn Blinds.com - The Black Friday deals at https://www.blinds.com/ are going strong all month long! Save $50 off when you spend $500 or more - use code EARN at checkout.  HIGHLIGHTS The decision I made that even Chris didn't see coming. The 97% that steals your focus. How even self-care routines can become hidden stressors. How “harmless” distractions steal hours of your day. The mindset shift elite performers use to protect their attention. Ways to start deflecting distractions without burning out. RESOURCES Apply for the Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind HERE! Get on the waitlist for Mentor Collective Mastermind HERE! Try glōci for 40% off your first order with code HAPPY at checkout - head to getgloci.com FOLLOW Follow me: @loriharder Follow Chris: @chriswharder Follow glōci: @getgloci

Plenty of craziness in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. We had the Denver Broncos sending Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills home in overtime then finding out that Bo Nix will miss the rest of the postseason with a broken ankle then hearing that the loss cost Sean McDermott his job. In the late game on Saturday evening, the San Francisco 49ers finally ran out of steam and fell to Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks defense. CJ Stroud couldn't find his Houston Texans receivers early in the game against the New England Patriots and the NFL's scariest defense will be heading home. And then Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay held on in overtime against Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson to send the LA Rams to the conference championship and the Chicago Bears home. Chris and the fellas break everything down from the Divisional Round and give the Conference Championships a lookahead. Best show talking ball out there. (00:00:00) - NFL Divisional Reactions (00:08:30) - Best & Worst Flights (00:16:35) - Broncos vs Bills: Josh Allen, Bo Nix & Sean McDermott (00:52:15) - Broncos vs Patriots Lookahead (00:59:57) - Rams vs Bears (01:20:35) - Jeff Hafley Hired By Miami Dolphins (01:31:45) - Seahawks vs 49ers & Rams at Seahawks Lookahead (01:50:20) - Patriots vs Texans (02:13:15) - Locals Landline Presented By Zone (02:28:30) - BetMGM Moments Have some interesting takes, some codebreaks or just want to talk to the Green Light Crew? We want to hear from you. Call into the Green Light Hotline and give us your hottest takes, your biggest gripes and general thoughts. Day and night, this hotline is open. Green Light Hotline: ‪(202) 991-0723‬ Also, check out our paddling partners at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Appomattox River Company ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get your canoes, kayaks and paddleboards so you're set to hit the river this summer. Green Light's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can catch all the latest GL action: If you want some Black Friday merch, check out our sale:https://greenlightpodcast.shop/?fbclid=PAZnRzaAOR1RFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAad3Jup6i1N2qH77pK8eUeSbKt2Y0OXMldIw1dRTq_xDRuY3Ctp99Qj4pfyGAw_aem_w9tp_XwGL-ZptFIHvlrM1g Green Light with Chris Long: Subscribe and enjoy weekly content including podcasts, documentaries, live chats, celebrity interviews and more including hot news items, trending discussions from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA are just a small part of what we will be sharing with you.

Good things happen to boring money. In this episode, I sit down with David Bach, a 10X New York Times bestselling author and serial entrepreneur who's built 7-9 figure businesses, to talk about why wealth is built through consistent habits. We dive into the 20-year anniversary of The Automatic Millionaire, the belief systems he had to break around money, and why making more doesn't automatically make you richer. David shares about mini retirements, designing your life intentionally, why waiting for “someday” is costing you more than you think, and the practical money moves every entrepreneur and woman needs to know. Tune in to learn why boring money habits create extraordinary wealth. Check out our Sponsors: Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at http://shopify.com/happy SKIMS - The SKIMS Holiday Shop is now open at https://SKIMS.com. Let them know we sent you by choosing Earn Your Happy podcast in the dropdown after you purchase. Brevo - Head to http://brevo.com/earn and use the code HAPPY to get 50% off Starter and Business Plans for the first 3 months of an annual subscription. Aura Frames - save on the perfect gift at https://auraframes.com/ - get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames with promo code EARN at checkout. Northwest Registered Agent - Build your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Visit www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidearn Blinds.com - The Black Friday deals at https://www.blinds.com/ are going strong all month long! Save $50 off when you spend $500 or more - use code EARN at checkout.  HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 David's favorite things about living in Florence. 03:00 How social life in Italy changes creativity and business. 05:15 Why you shouldn't wait to “retire” to live your life. 07:30 Celebrating 20 years of The Automatic Millionaire. 11:45 The lesson David's grandmother taught him about risk. 14:30 Why fear never fully goes away for entrepreneurs. 16:00 Why women must be in charge of their finances. 21:15 Why women live longer but retire with less money. 23:30 Surviving meningitis and the wake-up call it created. 29:45 What would you do if you had 3 years left? 33:30 The money belief David had to break. 36:15 The boring portfolio strategy. 41:00 Why you should stop chasing crypto and trends. 42:15 How to pay off your mortgage faster. 43:45 Why cash is not the same as a credit line. 45:45 You don't need to be rich to start investing. 47:00 Why you should teach kids to invest early. 52:30 Who do you want to meet in the future? RESOURCES Get The Automatic Millionaire 20th Anniversary Edition HERE! Grab Smart Women Finish Rich HERE! Listen to the first chapters for FREE on The David Bach Show podcast HERE! Learn more about David Bach HERE! Apply for the Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind HERE! Get on the waitlist for Mentor Collective Mastermind HERE! Try glōci for 40% for first time customers using code HAPPY at checkout HERE! FOLLOW Follow me: @loriharder Follow glōci: @getgloci Follow David: @davidlbach

Episode 402: On July 31, 1987, an ordinary summer afternoon in Edmonton, Alberta, ended in catastrophe. A powerful tornado cut through the city's southeast, killing 27 people and leaving entire neighbourhoods destroyed in minutes. In this episode, we examine the second-deadliest tornado in Canadian history through firsthand survivor accounts and direct statements from officials who faced a disaster few believed could happen in a major Canadian city. The day would later become known as “Black Friday,” a name repeated in municipal histories and anniversary coverage. On July 31 itself, it was still just another Friday afternoon. Episode Sources: Tornado, a report : Edmonton and Strathcona County, July 31st, 1987 : Alberta Public Safety ServicesEdmonton Tornado (1987) | The Candian EncyclopediaBELLWEATHER KENNELS CANADA - EDMONTON TORNADO 1987 by Tom TaylorEdmonton Tornado | WikipediaThe Edmonton Tornado | Environment CanadaBlack Friday changed city, survivors | CBC NewsThis Was the Worst Tornado in Canada's History | Reader's DigestJul 30, 1988, page 92 - Edmonton Journal at Newspapers.com™From the Edmonton community on RedditEdmonton Journal front page story of the Edmonton tornado July 31, 1987 (Black Friday)Regina Cyclone | Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Divisional Round football! We have eight teams remaining in the Super Bowl LX NFL Playoffs. Chris and the fellas run through the matchups and give their takes. Do the Denver Broncos have a shot against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills? How do the Seattle Seahawks matchup against the San Francisco 49ers if they don't have Sam Darnold? Will the New England Patriots offense tame the Houston Texans defense? Who will handle the weather better in Chicago - the Bears or the Rams? Chris also runs through the coaching cycle highlighted by John Harbaugh being hired by the New York Giants, Mike Tomlin stepping down from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike McDaniel's popularity. (00:00:00) - NFL Divisional Round Previews (00:07:25) - Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (00:36:19) - San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (01:02:55) - Houston Texans at New England Patriots (01:26:40) - LA Rams at Chicago Bears (01:51:35) - John Harbaugh Hired By The New York Giants & Mike Tomlin Steps Down From The Pittsburgh Steelers Have some interesting takes, some codebreaks or just want to talk to the Green Light Crew? We want to hear from you. Call into the Green Light Hotline and give us your hottest takes, your biggest gripes and general thoughts. Day and night, this hotline is open. Green Light Hotline: ‪(202) 991-0723‬ Also, check out our paddling partners at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Appomattox River Company ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get your canoes, kayaks and paddleboards so you're set to hit the river this summer. Green Light's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can catch all the latest GL action: If you want some Black Friday merch, check out our sale:https://greenlightpodcast.shop/?fbclid=PAZnRzaAOR1RFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAad3Jup6i1N2qH77pK8eUeSbKt2Y0OXMldIw1dRTq_xDRuY3Ctp99Qj4pfyGAw_aem_w9tp_XwGL-ZptFIHvlrM1g Green Light with Chris Long: Subscribe and enjoy weekly content including podcasts, documentaries, live chats, celebrity interviews and more including hot news items, trending discussions from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA are just a small part of what we will be sharing with you.