Podcasts about bookstores

What if the problem isn't competition itself—but what happens when competition becomes disconnected from cooperation? In this episode of Inspire Change with Gunter, psychologist Gunter Swoboda examines our drive to compete and why constantly measuring ourselves against other people can undermine the very growth we're trying to achieve.Competition isn't inherently destructive.  But when it becomes untethered from collaboration, shared purpose and mutual respect, the goal can quietly shift.Instead of asking “How can I improve?”, we begin asking:“How do I rank?”And those are two very different psychological orientations.Gunter explores the distinction between ego involvement and task involvement within achievement psychology.With ego involvement, success depends heavily upon comparison. Did I win? Did I outperform someone else? Where do I stand in the hierarchy?Task involvement redirects that competitive energy toward mastery, learning and personal improvement.The competition hasn't necessarily disappeared.The opponent has changed.Instead of constantly trying to surpass someone else, we can begin competing with the person we were yesterday.As Gunter puts it:“Task involvement is about your own growth, not others' ranking.”The episode also explores why cooperation doesn't necessarily sit in opposition to competition. In Gunter's framing, cooperation can provide a broader ethical structure within which healthy competition operates.Because sustainable achievement doesn't require somebody else to lose.Whether we're talking about work, leadership, relationships or everyday interactions, many of us may be competing far more often than we realize.Who gets credit? Who gets the last word? Who appears more successful? Who was right? Who won?Recognizing those moments gives us an opportunity to redirect the instinct.The question becomes less: “Did I beat them?” And more:“Did I get better?”That shift—from winning to growing—can create a healthier relationship with achievement, other people and ultimately ourselves.And stay through the end of the episode, as Gunter shares what's coming next for Inspire Change while he's away—and hands the microphones over to Showrunner Miranda Spigener-Sapon and Co-Executive Producer DeVonna Prinzi for the October launch of our brand-new series: THE FILMS THAT MADE USChapter HighlightsIntroduction: Competition and CooperationWhen Competition Becomes ToxicHierarchy, Comparison and RankCooperation as the Foundation for Healthy CompetitionAchievement Goals: Ego vs. Task InvolvementWhy Task Involvement Is More SustainableShifting the Goal from Winning to GrowingApplying Higher Competition in Everyday LifeWhat's Next: Introducing The Films That Made UsGratitudeWe want to extend a huge thank you to our listeners in Fairborn, Grafton, Cleveland, and Cincinatti for holding Ohio's spot at #2 on the Top 10 USA listeners list. And to our Global Listeners, we extend our gratitude to our listeners in Seoul (sowl) for bringing South Korea (to changed from at) #4 and Marseilles (mahr-say) pushing (changed tense to match the sentence) France to #3! CONGRATULATIONS!! you made the Top Listeners List.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/inspire-change-with-gunter--3633478/support.PatreonIf this episode resonates with you and you'd like to go deeper into practical exercises and guided reflection, Gunter offers extended self-development resources and exercises through our Patreon community: www.patreon.com/inspirechangeSponsorDistil UnionThis episode of Inspire Change with Gunter is brought to you by Distil Union, creators of beautifully designed, functional everyday carry accessories that help bring organization, simplicity, and intention into your daily life.Distil Union blends craftsmanship with thoughtful design to help you carry what matters most — without the clutter.

California court rules Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco illegally seized thousands of ballots. LAHSA gets the green light to keep pursuing millions in federal funding. And Vroman's Bookstore gets new owners. Plus, more on Morning Edition. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comSupport the show: https://laist.com

From the September/October 2026 edition of The Scottish Rite Journal.  Any accompanying photographs or citations for this article can be found in the corresponding print edition.Make sure to like and subscribe to the channel!  Freemasons, make sure you shout out your Lodge, Valley, Chapter or Shrine below!OES, Job's Daughter's, Rainbow, DeMolay?  Drop us a comment too!To learn how to find a lodge near you, visit www.beafreemason.comTo learn more about the Scottish Rite, visit www.scottishrite.orgVisit our YouTube Page: Youtube.com/ScottishRiteMasonsJoin our Lost Media Archive for only $1.99 a month!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv-F13FNBaW-buecl7p8cJg/joinVisit our new stores:Bookstore: https://www.srbookstore.myshopify.com/Merch Store: http://www.shopsrgifts.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scottish-rite-journal-podcast--3134571/support.

What does it actually mean to be strong?In this episode of Inspire Change with Gunter, Gunter Swoboda explores the difference between combativeness and genuine strength, examining how men can learn to equate winning, dominance and confrontation with being strong.  The episode looks at five values that patriarchal systems can hand men: territory, hierarchy, acquisition, competition and combativeness. While competition and assertiveness can have constructive roles, they can become damaging when they are disconnected from cooperation, respect and emotional awareness.Gunter examines what happens when the drive to compete becomes a drive to win at all costs—and how that mindset can show up not only in obvious conflict, but in everyday conversations, relationships and disagreements.At the center of the discussion is an important distinction:Being assertive is not the same as being aggressive.Assertiveness allows a person to communicate their needs, boundaries and perspective while still respecting the other person.Aggression, by contrast, can turn communication into a contest in which the objective becomes defeating or overpowering someone else.The episode also explores reactive versus responsive communication.When we react, we often allow emotion, ego or the desire to win to determine what happens next. Responsive communication creates something different: space and choice. That brief pause can allow us to decide how we actually want to communicate rather than simply responding to the emotional intensity of the moment.Gunter also discusses the damaging role of contempt in relationships. When disagreement becomes personal, dismissive or degrading, the conflict is no longer simply about the issue being discussed. The relationship itself begins to suffer.The alternative isn't weakness.It is a different understanding of strength.True strength doesn't require winning every argument.It can mean being able to hold your position while remaining open to another person's perspective. It can mean setting a boundary without attacking someone. It can mean disagreeing without turning the other person into an enemy.Gunter offers practical ways to begin developing this kind of assertiveness and emotional intelligence, including learning to recognize reactive patterns and deliberately creating space before responding.The goal isn't to eliminate competition or disagreement.It's to develop a healthier relationship with them.Because when combativeness becomes disconnected from cooperation, competition can become toxic. But when competition is paired with respect, collaboration and self-awareness, it can become a vehicle for growth rather than domination.And ultimately, practicing assertiveness is not something we master overnight.As Gunter puts it: “Practicing assertiveness is like building a muscle.”The more intentionally we practice it, the more natural it becomes.Key TopicsThe five values patriarchy hands men: territory, hierarchy, acquisition, competition and combativenessThe difference between being combative and being strongHow combativeness manifests in everyday life and relationshipsThe relationship between combativeness, insecurity and ego needsThe impact of contempt on relationshipsReactive versus responsive communicationThe difference between assertiveness and aggressionCreating space and choice before respondingRespectful communication during disagreementPractical approaches to developing assertivenessBuilding emotional intelligence through practiceUsing communication to strengthen relationships and personal growthTakeawaysCombativeness can mask insecurity and ego needs.True strength is assertiveness, not aggression or winning.Contempt can be deeply damaging to relationships.Responsive communication creates space and choice rather than immediate reaction.Disagreement does not have to become combat.Assertiveness allows people to communicate clearly while maintaining respect.Practicing new communication patterns can strengthen emotional intelligence and relationships.Competition can be healthier when it remains connected to cooperation.Chapter HighlightsIntroduction: Combativeness vs. StrengthHow Combativeness Damages RelationshipsThe Distinction Between Assertiveness and AggressionReactive vs. Responsive CommunicationHandling Disagreements with Respect and UnderstandingConclusion: Redefining Strength Through RespectGratitudeWe want to extend a huge thank you to our listeners in Denver and Boulder who brought Colorado to #6 on the Top 10 USA listeners list. And to our Global Listeners, we extend our gratitude to our listeners in Mumbai for bringing India back up to #10! CONGRATULATIONS!! you made the Top Listeners List.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/inspire-change-with-gunter--3633478/support.PatreonIf this episode resonates with you and you'd like to go deeper into practical exercises and guided reflection, Gunter offers extended self-development resources and exercises through our Patreon community: www.patreon.com/inspirechangeSponsorDistil UnionThis episode of Inspire Change with Gunter is brought to you by Distil Union, creators of beautifully designed, functional everyday carry accessories that help bring organization, simplicity, and intention into your daily life.Distil Union blends craftsmanship with thoughtful design to help you carry what matters most — without the clutter.

In this episode of the Inventory Genius Podcast, I unpack a money mystery from a business owner running three retail locations while feeling completely suffocated by debt. We dive deep into why high-interest balances aren't always the main culprit behind cash flow nightmares—and how erratic daily and weekly debits can silently destroy your business from the inside out. I walk through the exact steps we took to eliminate her most damaging debits, consolidate her debt into a single predictable monthly payment, and shift her operations from survival mode back into growth. Key Takeaways Unpredictable Debt is the Real Monster: The hidden killer for cash flow isn't always the balance itself—it's the chaos created by automatic daily and weekly withdrawals pulling from your account at random times. Cash Flow Chaos Paralyzes Decision-Making: When you wake up every morning wondering which debits will hit your account, you lose the mental clarity needed to manage inventory, handle payroll, or plan for growth. Target the Most Harmful Payment First: Tackle the daily cash-draining debits first to regain immediate breathing room before trying to address your entire balance sheet. Knowledge vs. Operating System: Knowing where a leak exists isn't enough; you need a repeating system that helps you identify cash flow traps and fix them every single week. Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Inventory Genius Podcast, I unpack a money mystery from a business owner running three retail locations while feeling completely suffocated by debt. We dive deep into why high-interest balances aren't always the main culprit behind cash flow nightmares—and how erratic daily and weekly debits can silently destroy your business from the inside out. I walk through the exact steps we took to eliminate her most damaging debits, consolidate her debt into a single predictable monthly payment, and shift her operations from survival mode back into growth. Key Takeaways Unpredictable Debt is the Real Monster: The hidden killer for cash flow isn't always the balance itself—it's the chaos created by automatic daily and weekly withdrawals pulling from your account at random times. Cash Flow Chaos Paralyzes Decision-Making: When you wake up every morning wondering which debits will hit your account, you lose the mental clarity needed to manage inventory, handle payroll, or plan for growth. Target the Most Harmful Payment First: Tackle the daily cash-draining debits first to regain immediate breathing room before trying to address your entire balance sheet. Knowledge vs. Operating System: Knowing where a leak exists isn't enough; you need a repeating system that helps you identify cash flow traps and fix them every single week. Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe

it is finally time for the autumn diaries and we couldn't be MOREE excited eep!! If you're looking to build the ultimate autumn tbr, we've got you covered. from cozy, low-stakes fantasy and small-town witchy romances to moody dark academia and gothic classics, we are breaking down our absolute must reads for the season.we're sharing our personal favourites, our latest additions, and the stories we can't stop thinking about.Books Mentioned in This Episode:Witchy Vibes & Everyday MagicThe Ex Hex (Series) by Erin SterlingThe Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu MandannaA Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu MandannaWeyward by Emilia HartHeartless Hunter & Rebel Witch by Kristen CiccarelliCozy & Enchanting FantasyThe Spellshop by Sarah Beth DurstEmily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Fairies by Heather FawcettThe Knight and the Moth by Rachel GilligSilver Elite (Series)Twilight & ACOTAR (Our cozy re-reads!)Dark Academia & Secret SocietiesThe Secret History by Donna TarttBabel by R.F. KuangIf We Were Villains by M.L. RioBunny by Mona AwadBlood Over Bright Haven by M.L. WangThe Academy by Erin HildebrandThe Exorcism of Faeries by J.L. VampaGothic ClassicsFrankenstein by Mary ShelleyJane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëRebecca by Daphne du MaurierWuthering Heights by Emily BrontëThe Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar WildeMysteries, Thrillers & SleuthsWild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghyMurder at the Bookstore by Sue MinixA Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly JacksonThe Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn BarnesAnd Then There Were None by Agatha ChristieRomance & HeartwarmingThe Seven Year Slip by Ashley PostonIf It Makes You Happy by Julie OliviaYou, Again by Kate GoldbeckMy Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna LevineBefore the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu KawaguchiGraphic NovelsWitches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabassep.s we know that cara's video and audio are slightly out of sync at times and will try to work on a solution for the future on this as we are not 100 percent sure whyy this kept happening! Sorry if this gets a bit annoying to watch!! to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠tiktok⁠⁠⁠ or subscribe to us on youtube ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ (leo's booktube) ! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ - current book of the month is 'rebecca' by daphne du maurier).if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: ⁠⁠⁠thematchadiariespod@gmail.com⁠⁠

Amy and John talk about recent travels in Japan including great museums, treasure halls full of ancient art and manuscripts, and travel by ferry vs. shinkansen. (Don't miss the Paseo ferry if you're traveling between Kure, Hiroshima and Matsuyama on Shikoku). John introduces a great outdoor museum in Osaka for architecture lovers, and a naval museum. Amy introduces Nara e-hon—which replaced illustrated emaki scrolls of the Heian and Kamakura periods—that started in the Muromachi period (1336-1573) and remained popular through the Edo period). Published in Kyoto (not Nara) they were one of Japan's first codices to use this particular illustration style. The co-hosts also talk about what they're reading and Amy introduces a blast from the past for Asian literature: Dawson's Bookstore in Los Angeles, which is still going, but in an alternate form. Join them for their romp around Japan's book history! The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

The multi-talented Chicago-area comedian Debbie Sue Goodman returns with her latest “Talk Over Tea” and “Through The Bookshelf” with a heartfelt message of the power of coffee, tea, good conversation and getting past the bullies! Debbie is also an actress, music artist & winner of the Best Comedian Award for 3 straight years and gives us an update on her previous works including “Dating Dilemmas”, “Still Single”, “Still Dating”, “My Husband the Stranger”, “The Moving Nightmares” plus shares lots of great stories behind her works and more! Check out the amazing Debbie Sue Goodman and her latest releases on all major platforms and www.stillsingle.com today! #debbiesuegoodman #chicago #actress #comedian #talkovertea #throughthebookshelf #coffee #tea #bookstore #friendship #bestcomedianaward #datingdilemmas #stillsingle #stilldating #myhusbandthestranger #themovingnightmares #spreaker #spotify #iheartradio #spotify #apple #youtube #anchorfm #podbean #bitchute #rumble #mikewagner #themikewagnershow #mikewagnerdebbiesuegoodman #themikewagnershowdebbiesuegoodman   Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mike-wagner-show--3140147/support.

This week on the Big Show is about Pagan Pride, the Race to Wrigley, and how a long day can and should affect your characters.We came up with the topic of "physicality in writing" because we did a twelve-hour day in Reno on Saturday, selling books at the Pagan Pride Festival. We had a great time, talked to lots of people, and sold books, but it was still a twelve-hour workday. Then we did our annual Race to Wrigley on Sunday to support Chicago Cubs charities. We used to dream about doing these little things and more without having to balance a forty-hour work week on top of it, but now we find out that...yeah. Advil is our friend.When you send your characters on their Hero's Journey, and we used Luke Skywalker as an example, achievement and finding your dreams always come with a physical price. The Luke we saw at the beginning of the "Star Wars" saga is way different than the one we saw at the end. We talk about how the writer should be mindful of physical challenges from the Hero's Journey in their books.Of note:- In addition to our regular podcast, we feature writers from around the world to chat with us on Wednesdays. Have a look at our Writers page for more information.- Cassidy does a daily YouTube called The Life of a Writer with her views of her own craft and perspective on being an independent writer.- Please preorder Battle Born Bride.

He started with one small shop in London. He has since resuscitated both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. In this episode of Stephen Dubner's new TV talk show, James Daunt tells Stephen exactly how he does it. If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, you can watch it on YouTube or Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From the September/October 2026 edition of The Scottish Rite Journal.  Any accompanying photographs or citations for this article can be found in the corresponding print edition.Make sure to like and subscribe to the channel!  Freemasons, make sure you shout out your Lodge, Valley, Chapter or Shrine below!OES, Job's Daughter's, Rainbow, DeMolay?  Drop us a comment too!To learn how to find a lodge near you, visit www.beafreemason.comTo learn more about the Scottish Rite, visit www.scottishrite.orgVisit our YouTube Page: Youtube.com/ScottishRiteMasonsJoin our Lost Media Archive for only $1.99 a month!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv-F13FNBaW-buecl7p8cJg/joinVisit our new stores:Bookstore: https://www.srbookstore.myshopify.com/Merch Store: http://www.shopsrgifts.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scottish-rite-journal-podcast--3134571/support.

Are boys actually less emotional than girls—or do they simply learn very early which emotions they're allowed to show?In this episode of Inspire Change with Gunter, psychologist Gunter Swoboda examines how boys learn to manage, conceal and communicate their emotions from childhood—and how family, peers and the adults around them can shape that development long before boys have the language to explain what's happening.Research into children's emotional expression reveals an important distinction: what a child feels and what a child displays are not necessarily the same thing.Boys learn to adjust emotional expression depending on who is watching, what response they expect and what displaying vulnerability may cost them socially.As Gunter asks:“Are boys less emotional than girls?That's the wrong question.”The episode explores the early architecture of emotional suppression and what Gunter describes as the development of the masculine introject—the internalized expectations through which boys begin learning what being male is supposed to look like.Peer culture can narrow that emotional vocabulary even further.Fear, sadness, tenderness and vulnerability may carry social consequences, particularly as boys grow older and become increasingly conscious of their standing among other boys.“Fear costs a boy his standing among his mates.”  Gunter also examines the role adults play in this process. How parents and caregivers respond when a boy is frightened, hurt or distressed can influence how he eventually learns to regulate—and whether he feels safe expressing—those emotions.The episode also looks at the decline of rough-and-tumble play, not simply as physical activity but as an informal emotional curriculum through which children can learn boundaries, regulation, trust, negotiation and how to read one another.Ultimately, this isn't about making boys more emotional.They already are emotional.It's about creating environments in which boys can develop a broader emotional vocabulary without learning that connection, intimacy or vulnerability threatens their identity.Because, as Gunter puts it: “Boys' capacity for intimacy is trained out early.” And if it can be trained out, perhaps we can become much more intentional about helping boys preserve it.Chapter HighlightsIntroduction and Episode OverviewAre Boys Really Less Emotional?What Research Reveals About Children's Emotional DisplaysThe Early Architecture of Emotional SuppressionPeer Culture and the Narrowing of Emotional ExpressionHow Early Relational Skills Become RestrictedThe Crisis of Connection in Adolescent BoysAdult Responses and Meta-Emotional PhilosophyRough-and-Tumble Play as an Emotional CurriculumStrategies for Fostering Emotional Openness in BoysBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/inspire-change-with-gunter--3633478/support.PatreonIf this episode resonates with you and you'd like to go deeper into practical exercises and guided reflection, Gunter offers extended self-development resources and exercises through our Patreon community: www.patreon.com/inspirechangeSponsorDistil UnionThis episode of Inspire Change with Gunter is brought to you by Distil Union, creators of beautifully designed, functional everyday carry accessories that help bring organization, simplicity, and intention into your daily life.Distil Union blends craftsmanship with thoughtful design to help you carry what matters most — without the clutter.

Have you ever hit that ultimate milestone—a product going viral and cash pouring in—only to look at your bank account later and ask, "Where did all the money go?" In this episode of the Inventory Genius Podcast, I'm solving a classic money mystery: how scaling up your product options can quietly drain your cash flow. I share the story of a client who expanded her inventory after a massive viral surge. She added new colors, add-ons, and product lines, expecting momentum to double. Instead, product complexity created stock sitting in boxes, frozen cash on shelves, and confused customers closing their tabs. I walk you through how we stripped back the complexity, simplified her offer, and uncovered where her profit was hiding—plus why you need a reliable operating system to spot these leaks consistently month after month. Key Takeaways: The "More Options" Trap: Adding variations, bundles, and extra product lines feels like growth, but it often ties up your liquid cash in stagnant inventory. Confused Customers Don't Buy: Too many near-identical choices lead to decision fatigue. When options overwhelm customers, they hesitate and close the browser. Hidden Cash Leaks: Cash flow issues aren't always caused by low traffic or poor marketing. Often, your money is sitting quietly on shelves as unsold stock. Growth via Subtraction: Sometimes true scale doesn't mean adding more; it means taking away enough complexity so your best products can shine. Knowledge vs. Operating Systems: Spotting a single cash leak once is good, but having a repeatable operating system is what keeps your business profitable long term. Reflection Questions for Your Business: What product complexity is currently hiding in your catalog? Do you have cash frozen in unsold boxes or variations sitting on shelves? Where can you simplify your offer so it's easier for your customers to buy? Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe

Have you ever hit that ultimate milestone—a product going viral and cash pouring in—only to look at your bank account later and ask, "Where did all the money go?" In this episode of the Inventory Genius Podcast, I'm solving a classic money mystery: how scaling up your product options can quietly drain your cash flow. I share the story of a client who expanded her inventory after a massive viral surge. She added new colors, add-ons, and product lines, expecting momentum to double. Instead, product complexity created stock sitting in boxes, frozen cash on shelves, and confused customers closing their tabs. I walk you through how we stripped back the complexity, simplified her offer, and uncovered where her profit was hiding—plus why you need a reliable operating system to spot these leaks consistently month after month. Key Takeaways: The "More Options" Trap: Adding variations, bundles, and extra product lines feels like growth, but it often ties up your liquid cash in stagnant inventory. Confused Customers Don't Buy: Too many near-identical choices lead to decision fatigue. When options overwhelm customers, they hesitate and close the browser. Hidden Cash Leaks: Cash flow issues aren't always caused by low traffic or poor marketing. Often, your money is sitting quietly on shelves as unsold stock. Growth via Subtraction: Sometimes true scale doesn't mean adding more; it means taking away enough complexity so your best products can shine. Knowledge vs. Operating Systems: Spotting a single cash leak once is good, but having a repeatable operating system is what keeps your business profitable long term. Reflection Questions for Your Business: What product complexity is currently hiding in your catalog? Do you have cash frozen in unsold boxes or variations sitting on shelves? Where can you simplify your offer so it's easier for your customers to buy? Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe

Welcome back to my series where I grade the cities I've lived in on whether they are defying gentrification. We are tackling one of the poster children of American gentrification, Washington, DC, with my new rubric. You can listen above or read more below.How Do I See Gentrification Affecting DC?So much has been written about how gentrification has affected DC. I want to honor all of that writing and scholarship, and continue to sharpen my own writings and analysis about such topics, like this article I wrote for Greater Greater Washington almost a decade ago, upon the release of Derek Hyra's book Race, Class, and Politics in the Cappuccino CityMuch of that prior scholarship uses the looser definition of poor people being replaced by rich people, which allows for Black wealthy people to replace white poor people, which is outlined in this Capital B Atlanta article that I analyzed a few weeks ago. DC has been run by a Black mayor since the 1970s. Beloved “mayor-for-life” Marion Berry has stated that he didn't intend for improvements that he made to the city, some of which could be construed as gentrification, to actually be gentrification.However, he and others didn't anticipate how mass Black job loss, underpayment, and undervaluing of properties that cause many forms of Black wealth to be taxed, directly by the government and indirectly by other forces of society, would affect our ability to thrive past the Civil Rights Movement and into the late 20th and early 21st century.In addition, blame for gentrification in DC has also been lazily applied to certain infrastructure improvements that don't cause gentrification elsewhere, i.e., the bike lane, which in Greensboro, my hometown, has existed in Black and poor neighborhoods for years, and those communities have not seen dramatic change.That being said, my rubric puts numbers on my feelings and how people feel about neighborhood change. The concept of defying gentrification already alludes to Black people being able to thrive even though they pay more in rent. It asks us to examine if Black students are doing well in their schools amidst all these changes. It asks us if Black business exists as an ecosystem of commerce, not a token of capitalism.Yes, without apology, this rubric grades how well Black folks can thrive in the regions I've spent time on the ground. And with Black folks being the most marginalized in large metro regions, as shown in study after study, this is how I landed where I landed.Grab your favorite beverage as I outline how I graded DC, and pop over to the full rubric to understand how I graded DC. (Scroll down to the PS section on that post to get back here)First of all, my number twos, the things we are doing great at:* Spiritual spaces of all faiths that affirm and delight in Black, disabled, feminist, and/or queer lives* Comprehensive public transit exists for more than just paratransit users* Bookstores and Libraries that affirm all authors and all readers* Parks, playgrounds, waterfronts, and other natural resources/outdoor activities not closed off to the public* Black, LGBTQ, disabled, and feminist community centers and events* A way to get out of town that's not your personal vehicle (if you even have one).* Art and creative spaces for all skill and desire levels* Culturally competent non-medical hair and body careThat's a lot of things. And it only scratches the surface of how these spaces and amenities make gentrification less of a downer. However, we do have to talk about what got ones and .05s and why those things can negate everything above.What got a one?* Thriving entrepreneurship and gainful employment are available to more than white, straight, able-bodied, wealthy people.* Wraparound medical care* Food that provides both joy and basic nutritional needs in all neighborhoods* Schools that affirm Black children K-12, no matter their ability level or perceived behaviorEverything that is a two, starts to care less if you're hungry, sick, broke, and your kids are being mistreated.In DC, only some neighborhoods have these vital things. Only some neighborhoods have some of the 2s as well, but those 2s are nice-to-haves; these 1s are vitals. And now to the thing we all need: shelter.DC scored a 0.5, like all cities, on its housing measure. While there are efforts to support homeownership, to support renters who fall behind on rent, and to rapidly re-house families, these programs have all seen budget failures over the last 2-4 years, during a time when shelter saved lives above and beyond what's normally needed, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.If these avenues had worked, I'd be writing this post from DC, instead of Baltimore.This is why this rubric is still very personal and very biased. However, every researcher brings a bias to the table. The way we get away from that bias is by inviting you, the public, to share your thoughts and to take our surveys for yourself. You can do that for DC by pressing the button below. You can also comment and let me know what you want added to the rubric.https://form.jotform.com/262383869171063And you can come by next week to see how I graded Baltimore and how I see Baltimore's gentrification showing up!Until next time,KristenPS: Come journal with us if gentrification and related land/propery based trauma has you down this coming Thursday from 8-10 pm Eastern. RSVP here.PPS: I have a number of books on DC's gentrification in my Bookshop.org store. Support me as you build up your knowledge of gentrification in DC. Get full access to Defying Gentrification with Kristen Jeffers at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe

Americans throw away 320 million books every year. How do some of them find a second life? Zachary Crockett is just browsing. This episode was originally published on December 8th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's no chance that a person who's been to Columbus hasn't come across a building designed by the firm Moody Nolan.The Schottenstein Center, Ohio Union, a few Columbus Metropolitan Library branches, and even the new terminal at the John Glenn Airport have all been designed by the Moody Nolan firm.The business was started by Curtis Moody, and now his son, Jonathan Moody, has carried on his father's legacy as CEO since 2020.Independent bookseller Linda Kass is known for bringing top literary talent to town to discuss issues of the day.An author in her own right, Linda's latest novel is set in Columbus in the pivotal year of 1969, at a fictional high school where students are navigating real-world events that reverberate today.Good storytelling is important because it shows the world that we are more similar than we are different. Not a single group of people is a monolith, and everyone contains multitudes.Filmmaker Damon Mosley tells stories through his love of music, his community, and his sneakers.We're talking to these unique individuals on this week's Fascinating Ohio.Guests:Jonathan Moody, CEO, Moody NolanLinda Kass, author, World News from Waverley High/founder and owner, Gramercy BooksDamon Mosley, writer, producer and filmmaker

There's no chance that a person who's been to Columbus hasn't come across a building designed by the firm Moody Nolan.The Schottenstein Center, Ohio Union, a few Columbus Metropolitan Library branches, and even the new terminal at the John Glenn Airport have all been designed by the Moody Nolan firm.The business was started by Curtis Moody, and now his son, Jonathan Moody, has carried on his father's legacy as CEO since 2020.Independent bookseller Linda Kass is known for bringing top literary talent to town to discuss issues of the day.An author in her own right, Linda's latest novel is set in Columbus in the pivotal year of 1969, at a fictional high school where students are navigating real-world events that reverberate today.Good storytelling is important because it shows the world that we are more similar than we are different. Not a single group of people is a monolith, and everyone contains multitudes.Filmmaker Damon Mosley tells stories through his love of music, his community, and his sneakers.We're talking to these unique individuals on this week's Fascinating Ohio.Guests:Jonathan Moody, CEO, Moody NolanLinda Kass, author, World News from Waverley High/founder and owner, Gramercy BooksDamon Mosley, writer, producer and filmmaker

He started with one small shop in London. He has since resuscitated both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. He tells Stephen Dubner exactly how he does it. If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, you can watch it on YouTube or Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From the September/October 2026 edition of The Scottish Rite Journal.  Any accompanying photographs or citations for this article can be found in the corresponding print edition.Make sure to like and subscribe to the channel!  Freemasons, make sure you shout out your Lodge, Valley, Chapter or Shrine below!OES, Job's Daughter's, Rainbow, DeMolay?  Drop us a comment too!To learn how to find a lodge near you, visit www.beafreemason.comTo learn more about the Scottish Rite, visit www.scottishrite.orgVisit our YouTube Page: Youtube.com/ScottishRiteMasonsJoin our Lost Media Archive for only $1.99 a month!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv-F13FNBaW-buecl7p8cJg/joinVisit our new stores:Bookstore: https://www.srbookstore.myshopify.com/Merch Store: http://www.shopsrgifts.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scottish-rite-journal-podcast--3134571/support.

A bat flew into The Book Burrow.It could have simply flown back out. Instead, it chose KStew.This week we're telling the full story of the bat that flew through the bookstore, sent everyone running, touched KStew, landed by the Book Burrow sign, and started an unexpected rabies adventure about 20 minutes before Book Club. We also manage to talk about actual books. Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom gets five stars from both of us, we're getting ready for the sold-out Practical Magic party, Book Club is growing, Halloween has taken over the store, and apparently our decorations are making people nervous. Then there's small-business donations, cinnamon possibly trying to kill us, and all the other nonsense that somehow makes the list.Basically: books, bats, bookstore life and bad decisions.

She Used Our Bookstore for Her Affair With a Salon WriterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cheat-stories-official--5689182/support.#CheatingStories #RelationshipDrama #Infidelity #Storytime #Betrayal #cheatstoriesThis episode includes AI-generated content.

WSFI's Angela and Matthew Tomlinson are  joined by Wes Ricchio, the founder, with his wife, Ann, of the Holy Family Catholic Bookstore in Kenosha, Wisconsin on WSFI's Shareathon.  Special tribute to Fr. John Richetta, who has touched so many lives and was instrumental in founding this wonderful apostolate. We are still $1975 shy of our target which allows us to create and distribute  great programs such as this one on the air. Please know,  by supporting our apostolate you and your loved ones intentions  are remembered at each Mass offered by WSFI 88.5 FM and WSFV FM Catholic Radio.    Please Visit Donate - WSFI Radio

What if one of the most beloved songs in American music is also a remarkably precise psychological portrait of childhood shame? For the closing chapter of The Songs That Made Us, Gunter turns to Dolly Parton's deeply personal “Coat of Many Colors”—a song born from poverty, childhood humiliation, a mother's love and one little girl's attempt to understand why something she treasured became a reason for others to ridicule her.At its heart is a powerful psychological distinction:The coat wasn't what created the shame. The schoolyard did.Through Dolly's childhood story, Gunter explores the social psychology of humiliation, attachment, memory and what happens when children begin seeing themselves through the judgments of others.But Dolly's story contains something else.Before she ever enters that schoolyard, her mother gives the coat meaning.Through storytelling, love and reassurance, something created from material deprivation becomes an object of pride.Psychologically, that act resembles reappraisal and co-regulation—a parent helping a child interpret an experience in a way that can protect their developing sense of self.It doesn't prevent the humiliation that follows.But it gives Dolly another story about who she is.The episode examines the important separation between poverty and shame. Material deprivation is one experience. Being taught by other people that your circumstances make you less worthy is another.And childhood shame can linger precisely because it is social. We learn something about ourselves by watching how other people respond to us.Yet Coat of Many Colors ultimately demonstrates another extraordinary human ability:We can retell the story.Dolly transformed an experience of childhood humiliation into music. The music became recognition for millions of people. And a deeply personal memory became part of a much larger cultural legacy. Perhaps that is one reason the song has endured.It doesn't simply tell us what happened to Dolly Parton. It gives language to something many people have lived themselves.Key TopicsDolly Parton and the story behind Coat of Many ColorsChildhood poverty, shame and humiliationWhy deprivation and shame are different psychological injuriesAttachment and the protective role of parental reassuranceReappraisal and co-regulationThe social psychology of the schoolyardThe “looking-glass self” and how children internalize others' judgmentsChildhood experiences and adult identityStorytelling as a way of transforming painful memoriesHow personal experience becomes cultural legacyWhy recognition gives certain songs extraordinary staying powerChapter HighlightsIntroduction: Coat of Many Colors and Its SignificanceThe Song's History and Original RecordingDolly Parton's Childhood and the Story Behind the CoatChildhood Shame, Attachment and IdentityHumiliation and the Looking-Glass SelfReappraisal, Co-Regulation and Emotional ResilienceTransforming Personal Stories into Cultural LegacyWhy Coat of Many Colors Continues to EndureObjects, Shame and Changing the NarrativeClosing Reflections and Mental HealthGratitudeWe want to extend a huge thank you to our listeners in Denver for bringing Colorado up to #10 on the Top 10 USA listeners list. And to our Global Listeners, we extend our gratitude to our listeners in Beirut for bringing Lebanon to #20 for the very first time! And to our listeners in Modena for pushing Italy to #19! CONGRATULATIONS!! you made the Top Listeners List.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/inspire-change-with-gunter--3633478/support.PatreonIf this episode resonates with you and you'd like to go deeper into practical exercises and guided reflection, Gunter offers extended self-development resources and exercises through our Patreon community: www.patreon.com/inspirechangeSponsorDistil UnionThis episode of Inspire Change with Gunter is brought to you by Distil Union, creators of beautifully designed, functional everyday carry accessories that help bring organization, simplicity, and intention into your daily life.Distil Union blends craftsmanship with thoughtful design to help you carry what matters most — without the clutter.

This week's Book Picks comes from Cheryl Mckeon from The Book House/Marketblock Books in Albany, NY and Cassidy Washburn from Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs NY and Manchester VT for our selections this week.

Ever feel like you're working around the clock, carrying a packed schedule, but somehow left wondering where all the money went at the end of the month? In this episode, I walk you through a classic "money mystery" involving a busy client who thought she was running one business, when in reality, she was running three. We dive into how blending multiple revenue streams distorts your financial reality, hides profit drains, and keeps you stuck. Plus, I share a personal story of how I fell into this exact same trap in my own retail journey and why having a repeatable operating system is the key to fixing it for good. Key Takeaways The Danger of the Blended View: Lumping different revenue streams into one profit and loss statement hides which parts of your business make money and which ones quietly subsidize losses. The Organic Growth Trap: Businesses that naturally expand by adding service or product offerings (like a home decor shop offering interior design) often forget to untangle their costs, margins, and operating expenses. Clarity Drives Action: Once you separate your revenue streams, you gain the visibility needed to adjust pricing, manage cost of goods, and control margins so every entity stands on its own. Knowledge vs. Operating System: Spotting a financial leak once is great, but building a repeatable system is what allows you to find hidden opportunities week after week. Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe

Ever feel like you're working around the clock, carrying a packed schedule, but somehow left wondering where all the money went at the end of the month? In this episode, I walk you through a classic "money mystery" involving a busy client who thought she was running one business, when in reality, she was running three. We dive into how blending multiple revenue streams distorts your financial reality, hides profit drains, and keeps you stuck. Plus, I share a personal story of how I fell into this exact same trap in my own retail journey and why having a repeatable operating system is the key to fixing it for good. Key Takeaways The Danger of the Blended View: Lumping different revenue streams into one profit and loss statement hides which parts of your business make money and which ones quietly subsidize losses. The Organic Growth Trap: Businesses that naturally expand by adding service or product offerings (like a home decor shop offering interior design) often forget to untangle their costs, margins, and operating expenses. Clarity Drives Action: Once you separate your revenue streams, you gain the visibility needed to adjust pricing, manage cost of goods, and control margins so every entity stands on its own. Knowledge vs. Operating System: Spotting a financial leak once is great, but building a repeatable system is what allows you to find hidden opportunities week after week. Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe

Welcome back to my series where I grade the cities I've lived in on whether they are defying gentrification. This week, my beloved hometown, Greensboro, North Carolina, is the first to get a deep dive. Before we get into said dive, I want to note that this will be one of the most biased of my reviews, because of my relationship with said city. I did my best to give the town the number grade of 67, and stop there. But I was just on the ground, speaking on how we can do better in our city with food and public resources, while a police shootout happened down the street where five officers shot at a man, who was later pronounced dead. That's not gentrification, but gentrification does have something to do with how our city is perceived and how violence happens. So, let me go ahead and get into that.How does gentrification show up in Greensboro?In Greensboro, Guilford County, and surrounding areas, it looks like public housing removal, but also land densification, without affordability and subsidization of newer homes for existing people. And now, with the state having to approve our budget, this could look a lot worse when it comes to what is valued and if people have value just for living, not for their property and its location. Folks who have been struggling to make ends meet and keep a home can SOMETIMES resort to violence. But being pressured to keep food on the table and clothes on backs is a silent violence, and yes it can kill.So what grade did I give Greensboro?First up, take a look at the original report card for the full criteria. I scored on a 28-point scale, then divided the 19.1 by 28 to get the classic number grade of 71% for Greensboro.Now to walk through how I graded each point, with a specific emphasis on two things that stood out during my last visit, housing and schools.Greensboro scored a 0.5 on my housing measure which I've listed here for clarity: Basic housing that doesn't exceed 30% of one's income at the poverty level and for those under the area median income.2- Housing that meets and exceeds these standards, happily and fully.1- Housing that meets these standards, but begrudgingly and with an outside emphasis on mixed-income areas and market-rate areas, without ensuring those who need housing and have no or low income are housed.0.5- People who can pay for housing are unhoused, and of course those who can't are unhoused by default.In just that short time I was home, I saw a whole empty swath where Smith Homes, a housing project that was adjacent to my childhood home, was gone. Grassed over with a backhoe in the middle of the acreage that also used to include significant tree cover and streets. I know there are rebuilding plans, but whatever is supposed to be built is not even groundbroken and off schedule, and is only tagged as affordable, which may not mean subsidized. Most folks wouldn't understand the difference, but developers do and exploit that to build homes that may be more affordable than the current market rate, but not equitably priced to people's actual incomes or lack thereof.I also saw so many folks camped in wooded areas. Which isn't a problem if people want that. However, it looked like an extension of the neglect that has been going on in town for years, belied by a 2010-2020 government and nonprofit partnership to end homelessness that still meets, but is struggling to meet all the needs of folks.I don't know what kind of resources to offer here, besides folks understanding that not every house is going to break completely even, but again, we have a conservative General Assembly controlling our budget, so things are suddenly looking bleak for affordable and subsidized housing relief.I will say, continue to be kind to our homeless population, and if you can offer housing, please consider it. Also, be mindful that downtown is a centralized, clustered area that does offer some benefits to people, and not everyone who is sitting or walking around is a danger to you or completely unresourced.I also want to add that this is a problem in every city, but at the moment, considering what it used to be, we are in crisis. Now, to the thing that stood out next, my school measure. It's listed in the report card as follows:Schools that affirm Black children K-12, no matter their ability level or perceived behavior.2- Every school, no matter who runs it or how much that might put a target on their backs, believes that Black children can thrive. This investment in Black kids reaps across all children, as in many schools, they are the most marginalized.1- Only a handful of schools, and they are ones you have to apply to and/or pay for, are affirming of Black children.0.5- No schools affirm Black children, and they may be terrorizing them and contributing directly, without shame, to the school-to-prison pipeline.I would give our county school system a 1.5. Only because not only did I see homes in addition to the public housing community torn down; my third elementary school, Archer, is torn down. My first, Wiley, may also be torn down, and I don't have the heart at the moment to confirm and see yet another empty lot of memories leveled. My second, Peck, is now also a middle school, but they do have adequate space, in theory, but folks have told me they are overcrowded. All three of these schools serve a majority student population of color and sit in neighborhoods that are majority people of color. Black students are the majority of those students of color.I felt extremely affirmed as a child, and my mom wasn't the only Black teacher or principal even at a white-majority school. But North Carolina is now a world of school vouchers for private and tuition-based religious and charter schools. Some of these schools don't have the mandate to treat all children well. And many of these students have to travel extra time to get to their school, even on the school bus. Our countrywide district is battling that misdirection of state funding, changes in federal funding, and a lack of money for building maintenance. I think some of the buildings will be replaced and reopened, but only if the money is there for it. We also have a former student running the district for the first time, who believes in its power for all students, but who has their hands tied in so many areas.Other areas where Greensboro scored under a 2 are as follows:* Thriving entrepreneurship and gainful employment are available to more than white, straight, able-bodied, wealthy people. (1)* Wraparound medical care (1)* Food that provides both joy and basic nutritional needs in all neighborhoods (1)* Public transit exists for more than just paratransit users (1)* A way to get out of town that's not your personal vehicle (if you even have one). (1)Most cities also score 1s on these measures, but for a Southern city that claims it's beyond racism and classism and even queer/transphobia, some of these measures are not where they need to be. Here, we can continue to increase funding for entrepreneurship, especially in communities of color, supplementing what health insurance doesn't cover in humane ways, increasing funding and headway for public transit and non-car interstate travel; and making sure every neighborhood has access to and training on how to prepare fresh foods.And finally, let me share with you the things we get 2s on* Art and creative spaces for all skill and desire levels* Culturally competent non-medical hair and body care* Spiritual spaces of all faiths that affirm and delight in Black, disabled, feminist and/or queer lives* Bookstores and libraries that affirm all authors and all readers.* Parks, playgrounds, waterfronts, and other natural resources/outdoor activities not closed off to the public.* Black, LGBTQ, disabled, feminist, and other community centers and community events.This wasn't always the case for several of these points, even when we had better housing and schooling options. This is what is attracting college students to come and stay and folks like me to consider splitting more of our time between Greensboro and the cities that helped us build our careers. Oh, and Happy Pride Greensboro and happy 20th anniversary of the parade and festival this weekend!Final ThoughtsWe have to fix our housing crisis. We have to start printing more newspapers again(I didn't grade this, but the empty News and Record lot downtown was one of the last things I saw before I got on the train). We have to get those schools rebuilt and reopened, even if the headcount is smaller. If we don't, everything else that I've graded above will fall by the wayside.I'm rooting for you, because last weekend just confirmed that I'll never stop loving my hometown, even if she's not the right fit for me right now.Next up on the city grades, my most recent town is Washington,DC. Its housing situation and school situation are different, but you'll find out why its core grades are almost the same for different reasons.Meanwhile, if you're a citizen who would love to learn more about how my Defying Gentrification framework can help you be a concerned and caring citizen, planner, REALTOR, or developer, I'm doing another one of my workshops. It will be right here on Substack, and all paid annual members will have access. I'll have a date set in the next newsletter. I also can tell you that I'll be launching a mastermind later this year, for those of you who come to the workshop and want to do even more deep work so that you can get your professional credits like AIA, AICP, and other licensures. Email me at theblackurbanist@gmail.com if you are curious and want to help me shape that offering.Our next free journalling group for victims of gentrification and other land-based traumas meets again on Thursday, September 17, from 8-10 pm Eastern. Come listen to some music and do some guided journaling and storytelling. Register here.Until next time,Kristen Get full access to Defying Gentrification with Kristen Jeffers at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe

From the July/August 2026 edition of The Scottish Rite Journal.  Any accompanying photographs or citations for this article can be found in the corresponding print edition.Make sure to like and subscribe to the channel!  Freemasons, make sure you shout out your Lodge, Valley, Chapter or Shrine below!OES, Job's Daughter's, Rainbow, DeMolay?  Drop us a comment too!To learn how to find a lodge near you, visit www.beafreemason.comTo learn more about the Scottish Rite, visit www.scottishrite.orgVisit our YouTube Page: Youtube.com/ScottishRiteMasonsJoin our Lost Media Archive for only $1.99 a month!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv-F13FNBaW-buecl7p8cJg/joinVisit our new stores:Bookstore: https://www.srbookstore.myshopify.com/Merch Store: http://www.shopsrgifts.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scottish-rite-journal-podcast--3134571/support.

This week's Book Picks comes from Jim Havener from Green Toad Bookstore in Great Barrington, MA James Conrad from The Golden Notebook in Woodstock, NY for our selections this week.

Have you ever felt like your business is doing everything right on paper—great sales, happy customers, top-of-the-tier products—yet your bank account tells a completely different story? In this episode, I break down a real-world money mystery featuring a client doing over $1 million in revenue who hadn't been able to take a consistent paycheck in months. We dig into how we audited their inventory, pinpointed the hidden cash leak in their best-selling product, and implemented two simple strategic moves: building a recurring monthly offer and optimizing Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). The result? An extra $135,000 in revenue over 12 months without adding new products or burning out on marketing. Key Takeaways Look Beyond the P&L: A product-based business generating seven figures can still suffer from severe cash flow leaks if inventory aren't optimized. Double Down on What Works: Stop spreading energy across your entire catalog. Build scalable, recurring offers around your proven hero product. Ask the Two Essential Questions: How do I sell more of this? How do I keep more of what I'm selling? Knowledge vs. Operating System: Fixing one cash leak gives you a temporary win; having an operating system ensures you catch every leak, every week, consistently. Memorable Quotes "It wasn't about doing more. It wasn't about adding new products, paying for marketing, or just hustling harder. It was about looking closely at something that already existed..." "Knowledge doesn't create change in a business. It really, truly doesn't. But an operating system? Now that does." Next Steps & Resources Ready to stop guessing and start locating the hidden cash in your inventory? Learn More: Explore the Inventory Genius Operating System to build a consistent financial cadence. Connect: Follow along for weekly financial strategies to help you make more profit and keep more cash! Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe More About the Episode Sponsor:T&O Strategic Advisory (http://www.tostrategicadvisory.com/) - Offering a wide range of tax and accounting services, including entity election and S-Corp advisory.

The All Local 4pm Update for Monday, September 1st, 2026

Have you ever felt like your business is doing everything right on paper—great sales, happy customers, top-of-the-tier products—yet your bank account tells a completely different story? In this episode, I break down a real-world money mystery featuring a client doing over $1 million in revenue who hadn't been able to take a consistent paycheck in months. We dig into how we audited their inventory, pinpointed the hidden cash leak in their best-selling product, and implemented two simple strategic moves: building a recurring monthly offer and optimizing Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). The result? An extra $135,000 in revenue over 12 months without adding new products or burning out on marketing. Key Takeaways Look Beyond the P&L: A product-based business generating seven figures can still suffer from severe cash flow leaks if inventory aren't optimized. Double Down on What Works: Stop spreading energy across your entire catalog. Build scalable, recurring offers around your proven hero product. Ask the Two Essential Questions: How do I sell more of this? How do I keep more of what I'm selling? Knowledge vs. Operating System: Fixing one cash leak gives you a temporary win; having an operating system ensures you catch every leak, every week, consistently. Memorable Quotes "It wasn't about doing more. It wasn't about adding new products, paying for marketing, or just hustling harder. It was about looking closely at something that already existed..." "Knowledge doesn't create change in a business. It really, truly doesn't. But an operating system? Now that does." Next Steps & Resources Ready to stop guessing and start locating the hidden cash in your inventory? Learn More: Explore the Inventory Genius Operating System to build a consistent financial cadence. Connect: Follow along for weekly financial strategies to help you make more profit and keep more cash! Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe More About the Episode Sponsor:T&O Strategic Advisory (http://www.tostrategicadvisory.com/) - Offering a wide range of tax and accounting services, including entity election and S-Corp advisory.

More than 1,500 new independent bookstores have opened nationwide since 2020, according to the American Booksellers Association. And the pace is accelerating: the ABA recorded more than 600 new store openings in 2025 alone. Paradoxically, the big drivers of the boom are online retail and social media. We'll explain. Also on this morning's show: what Canadian tariffs mean for cars and housing, plus a preview of this week's G20 summit in Asheville, North Carolina.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:How BookTok is powering a brick-and-mortar bookstore boom

More than 1,500 new independent bookstores have opened nationwide since 2020, according to the American Booksellers Association. And the pace is accelerating: the ABA recorded more than 600 new store openings in 2025 alone. Paradoxically, the big drivers of the boom are online retail and social media. We'll explain. Also on this morning's show: what Canadian tariffs mean for cars and housing, plus a preview of this week's G20 summit in Asheville, North Carolina.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:How BookTok is powering a brick-and-mortar bookstore boom

In episode 515 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Andy Hunter, founder and CEO of Bookshop.org, a certified B Corp online book retailer supporting independent bookstores. Listen in as Hunter explains the book retailer's mission and revenue-sharing marketplace model (0:47), his career journey that led to launching Bookshop.org (2:40), and what's driven its…

No city (or metro region) is defying gentrification. All of them are failing at it.I feel that in my bones and soul when I step out of my creative studio and into a world where the train might be cancelled after I made the 15-20 minute walk to the station, and I can only get to McDonald's on foot within 5 minutes.A world where my younger cousins in school may not be valued because they're Black, but maybe they have a good doctor, an amazing community recreation center, and someone to make their hair look dope? I know they probably don't say dope for any reason anymore, but still, we are all aging and growing on this round planet with dwindling water together.That's why I decided to take cities back to school this fall and grade their performance! I did a more qualitative measure of this back in 2018-2019, and now I want to put a number on this work, so you all can more easily measure your city's progress and improve on areas that would be graded “needs improvement” on a traditional report card. A version of this report card is also in The Defying Gentrification Playbook.I graded the six metros/cities I've lived in (Greensboro; Washington, DC; Baltimore; Kansas City; Raleigh; Durham) and four cities I would consider living in (Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Atlanta) I counted the core city elements and included adjacent counties if they behave as suburban satellite business districts and villages, not just the legacy city limits and their central business districts. Still, my 13 rubric points for metro regions may not be your 13.However, as a scholar of cities for nearly two decades and a multiply marginalized person as a regular human in cities for 40 years, I feel like my rubric covers everything.I've created a JotForm survey to capture cities and specifically metro regions I haven't been able to include in this series and to test the validity and reliability of my rubric so that this measure can be expanded. I also added a block so that you can tell me what I missed, so it can be added in. My rubric is very US-centric, but a lot of what I'm grading is affected by US federal law. I'd love to see how a Vienna or Hong Kong or London would look in my metric. That's where this survey comes in. Take the survey.Over the next few weeks, as I celebrate my tenth anniversary of dropping everything and moving from Kansas City to Washington, DC, out of my own volition, on the assumption that I could thrive in the District, I'll share my personal grades of cities/regions I've lived in or frequently visited. Over time, I'll update the grades based on what you've told me.This is our bridge between our Black August series on what I can control as a Black queer feminist disabled urbanist, the elders that guide me spiritually, and the on-the-ground facts of what is and isn't present in a city that tickles my Black queer feminist disabled urbanist spidey senses!Now let's get to those things I'm grading on!What's On The Report CardJotform will not let me give cities zeros in its automatic grade setting. It's very similar to my retired middle school teacher mom, who always stopped her Fs in her classroom grades at a 60. Her logic is that a 0 is hard to recover from, but a 60 is fixable. 0.5 signals fixable, but needs fixing.As I mentioned at the beginning, no city achieved a perfect score. The highest grade achieved was a 78, a low C, and the lowest grade was a 67, a high F. The average grade is a 73, which is a low D. Not failing, but barely passing. You'll have to come back in subsequent weeks to find out which cities failed and why. But I will tell you this week what I graded them on, in no special order of importance:Art and creative spaces for all skill and desire levels2- Both amateur and professional artists have somewhere to go that fulfills their need for creativity and a livelihood for their work.1- Only amateur or only professional artists have somewhere to go to practice their art and craft. There's also no real pipeline between the two types of artists, and professional artists are often not homegrown.0.5- No art at all, at least not in visible spaces.Thriving entrepreneurship and gainful employment are available to more than white, straight, abled, wealthy people.2- Both thriving entrepreneurship and gainful (above a living wage based on the MIT calculator) employment are present in folks who aren't straight, white, cis, male, and have family wealth1- Only one or the other is present in non-straight, white, cis, male, and family wealthy folks. Tokens are made of the few people who stand out, because it's not normal; it's extraordinary.0.5- Nobody is working or owning businesses besides the straight white cis male with family wealth. Or others are working, but for under a living wage.Wraparound medical care2- Yes, with a care center that's not a hospital, with all specialties present or able to be referred in-house, an urgent care and pharmacy that are open 24 hours, and accept all insurances and genders.1- Yes, the care center is there, but it's not all inclusive of hours, specialties, genders, and insurances. Or there's just a hospital.0.5- No hospital, no care center.Culturally competent non-medical hair and body care2- You have hair salons for all textures, hair care for all textures in all of your beauty supply stores, and you have practitioners of all types of non-medical or quasi-medical body care sensitive to all skin types and tones and sizes.1- You have these spaces, but they have documented issues with diverse hair types, skin tones, and body sizes0.5- No spaces will even accept a non-white, skinny, straight-haired person into their establishmentsFood that provides both joy and basic nutritional needs in all neighborhoods2- The food is fun and nutritious1- The food is fun or nutritious, not both0.5- There's no food at all. This is not a food desert; this is apartheid.Public transit exists for more than just paratransit users2- Public transit of all types runs for 24 hours a day1- Public transit exists, but outside of paratransit, there are restrictions on its timing, where it takes people, and what type of vehicles/trains there are.0.5- Even disabled folks can't get transportationSpiritual spaces of all faiths that affirm and delight in Black, disabled, feminist and/or queer lives2- All faiths have somewhere to go where their gender, sexual orientation, skin color, size, national origin, and their politics are affirmed and loved in the pursuit of good morality or a divine presence. These places also honor that there are different faiths, or lack thereof, and that's ok. These places respect a gray area, but have clarity on right and wrong that doesn't dehumanize people.1- Some houses of faith behave like the above, but they are few and far between, making it harder for people to plug in and for the communities to have a positive impact on the community.0.5-Houses of faith are all hateful, dogmatic, and even actively terrorizing those that don't believe in their tenets.Schools that affirm Black children K-12, no matter their ability level or perceived behavior.2- Every school, no matter who runs it or how much that might put a target on their backs, believes that Black children can thrive. This investment in Black kids reaps across all children, as in many schools, they are the most marginalized.1- Only a handful of schools, and they are ones you have to apply to and/or pay for, are affirming of Black children.0.5- No schools affirm Black children, and they may be terrorizing them and contributing directly, without shame, to the school-to-prison pipeline.Bookstores and libraries that affirm all authors and all readers.2- Specialized bookstores and libraries exist, and the regular ones honor books that aren't written by white, straight, cis, and male authors.1- Only specialized bookstores and libraries exist, or the regular ones are hostile to readers that aren't white, cis, straight, or male.0.5- No bookstores or libraries exist at all, except for maybe an aisle in Walmart, Target, Dollar Tree, or Dollar GeneralParks, playgrounds, waterfronts, and other natural resources/outdoor activities are not closed off to the public.2- These resources and activities are free and open to the public.1- These outdoor resources have a price tag, or they are partially operated by private entities.0.5- They don't exist at all or are all privatized with no kind of public accessBlack, LGBTQ, disabled, feminist, and other community centers and community events.2- All community centers and events understand that communities overlap and could need support services and culturally competent activities and vendors. They also provide safety for their primary audience of people, while being welcoming.1- Community centers and events for specific groups exist, but they don't serve others or understand intersectional identities or the need for core community safety.0.5- No community centers at allBasic housing that doesn't exceed 30% of one's income at the poverty level and for those under the area median income.2- Housing that meets and exceeds these standards, happily and fully.1- Housing that meets these standards, but begrudgingly and with an outside emphasis on mixed-income areas and market rate areas, without ensuring those who need housing and have no or low income are housed.0.5- People who can pay for housing are unhoused, and of course those who can't are unhoused by default.A way to get out of town that's not your personal vehicle (if you even have one).2- You have an airport that flies internationally, a train station that can take you to all corners of your country and possibly into others, and you have rental cars, rideshares, bikeshares, and trails connected to other cities.1- You have a handful of the above, but not everything0.5- You have none of this besides private vehiclesWhat else stood out with these cities and their initial gradesMost cities had perfect scores on the following measures:* Art and creative spaces for all skill and desire levels* Culturally competent non-medical hair and body care* Spiritual spaces of all faiths that affirm and delight in Black, disabled, feminist and/or queer lives* Bookstores and libraries that affirm all authors and all readers.* Parks, playgrounds, waterfronts, and other natural resources/outdoor activities not closed off to the public.This is not surprising in that these are the easiest things for any city to provide, often without political pushback, although some libraries are under fire for being so diverse, equitable, and inclusive.This is also in line with how movements and lifestyle changes that emerged and became more mainstream during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected and stuck with certain sectors of society, like houses of faith and arts spaces.No city scored above 0.5 on housing, because most cities, even the most progressive ones in the spaces above, meet the standard that warrants a 1. This is a measure I am most looking forward to your feedback on. Same with community centers. I've heard some community centers really struggle with how to be in community and properly handle conflict resolution and intersectional identity. This might actually go down because of things you share with me.In the meantime, Greensboro, my beloved hometown, is up first on a deep dive analysis. I'll be sharing its scores and sharing specific places that fill in the gaps, along with city-specific ways the gaps that aren't filled can be filled.Your city might be a failure now, but by the end of this, it will be a winner!Before you go…I'm bringing classifieds back! All you need to know about how this will work, plus an order form, is right here in the application. All ads will follow my announcements in this section of the newsletter and can start running as soon as the next newsletter. I also have a solid editorial calendar in place through the end of the calendar year, so we can talk about ideal placement too!I am currently in Greensboro for a panel on my colleague and friend Marrianne LeGrecco's book on food justice in Greensboro, Everybody Eats. We'll be at Scuppernong Books on Elm Street this afternoon from 4-6 pm.If you want my guidance on anything, especially on how to respond to ads in the classifieds, I'm booking 90-minute strategy sessions! This is a great way to have me help you plan something, namely your career or funding strategy, and they are rebookable!Thanks to everyone who came to the inaugural Making New Fantasies: A Defying Gentrification Workshop, which we decided to do on every third Thursday as a virtual journaling workshop around processing what cities do and don't do for us. Registration is free, and you can register at this link. Join us in September if you want encouragement to write your own stories and make your own plans to make your community better.Get The Defying Gentrification Playbook full-color PDF for just $19.99Finally, for one last time, grade your city!Until next time,Kristen Get full access to Defying Gentrification with Kristen Jeffers at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe

The spoken languages in Hong Kong and Taiwan differ, with Cantonese being spoken in Hong Kong and Mandarin preferred in Taiwan, but the two territories use traditional Chinese characters for reading and writing. This has created a strong bond between them in the field of book publishing, with many books which are published in Taiwan being sold in Hong Kong. This year, authorities in Hong Kong have cracked down on booksellers under national security laws. Hong Kong's government argues they are necessary steps to maintain stability in the territory, but critics say they're crushing dissent. Concern is now being felt in the publishing industry in Taiwan. Joyce Li from BBC Chinese is based in Taipei, and Abel U, also from BBC Chinese, is based in Hong Kong, and they join to share their insights.Since 2024, a neighborhood in the Moroccan capital of Rabat has been undergoing demolition and eviction operations carried out by Moroccan authorities. Residents have been left uncertain about their futures, and the lack of transparency has also left people questioning what the real reasons are, behind the demolition campaign. Hanan Razek from BBC Arabic, has been following the story and speaking to locals.The last day of exams is always a big deal. It's when you might blow off some steam and have some fun with your friends after some tough months of studying. For a recent pharmaceutical technology student in eastern Nigeria, he left his last exam and ended up going viral on social media due to a special gift that was waiting for him, a goat. Adesola Ikulajolu of BBC Pidgin reported on the story.The Fifth Floor is at the heart of global storytelling on the BBC World Service, bringing you the best stories from journalists in the BBC's 43 language services. We're here to help you make sense of the stories making headlines around the world; to excite your curiosity and to get to grips with the facts. Recent episodes have investigated Russia's youth armies and how they make soldiers of Ukrainian children; featured the BBC team who were the first journalists to the site of the Nigerian school kidnappings and reflected the effects of internet blackouts in Iran, Uganda and India. If you want to know more about Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, and the legacy of Hugo Chavez; or how Vladimir Putin's network of deep cover spies operates; or why Donald Trump signed an executive order granting white South Africans asylum in the US, we have all those stories and more.This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with BBC journalists from all around the world. Presented by Faranak Amidi. Produced by Laura Thomas, Caroline Ferguson and Hannah Dean. (Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

Are Barnes & Noble author events going away? Not exactly. But the days of walking into a bookstore, asking for a signing, and expecting the store to supply the audience are rapidly disappearing—and that may actually be good news for authors who know how to create a compelling event.In this episode, we unpack what's really happening with Barnes & Noble events and the much bigger shift taking place in bookstore marketing. Because bookstores still want authors. They still want events. What they increasingly don't want is a table, a stack of books, and an author waiting for random shoppers to stop by.The question authors need to answer has changed from “Will you host me?” to “Why will people come?”And that distinction matters.We talk about why bookstores need authors to approach events as business partnerships rather than free promotional opportunities, what makes an event worth putting on the calendar, and why the traditional solo signing is often one of the weakest formats you can pitch.Then we get into what does work.For fiction authors, that might mean creating a multi-author genre night, themed reader event, or conversation that gives fans more than one reason to attend. For nonfiction authors, it could be a workshop, panel, demonstration, or locally relevant discussion tied to an issue your community already cares about.We also break down what belongs in a strong Barnes & Noble event pitch—including the piece far too many authors leave out: your plan for getting people there.That means local media, community calendars, book clubs, organizations, newsletters, social promotion, partnerships, and the local relationships you've already started building.And if Barnes & Noble isn't saying yes yet? We explain why libraries, indie bookstores, book clubs, community organizations, and smaller venues can become the proof that makes the next bookstore much more willing to take a chance on you.Because local book marketing compounds. One successful event can lead to another. Booksellers talk. Librarians talk. Communities remember authors who show up prepared, promote professionally, and bring something worthwhile to the room.If bookstore events are part of your marketing plan, this episode will help you stop thinking like an author asking for space—and start thinking like an event partner a bookstore actually wants to work with.If you find this episode useful, subscribe, share it with an author who's trying to land more bookstore events, and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.Send us your feedback!Order Penny's latest book, Think Local Sell Global and start building a book sales strategy you have more control over!

From the July/August 2026 edition of The Scottish Rite Journal.  Any accompanying photographs or citations for this article can be found in the corresponding print edition.Make sure to like and subscribe to the channel!  Freemasons, make sure you shout out your Lodge, Valley, Chapter or Shrine below!OES, Job's Daughter's, Rainbow, DeMolay?  Drop us a comment too!To learn how to find a lodge near you, visit www.beafreemason.comTo learn more about the Scottish Rite, visit www.scottishrite.orgVisit our YouTube Page: Youtube.com/ScottishRiteMasonsJoin our Lost Media Archive for only $1.99 a month!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv-F13FNBaW-buecl7p8cJg/joinVisit our new stores:Bookstore: https://www.srbookstore.myshopify.com/Merch Store: http://www.shopsrgifts.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scottish-rite-journal-podcast--3134571/support.

Clinical psychologist Bee Lim knew her illustrated book on trauma, Welcome Home: Healing Trauma and Reclaiming Wholeness, couldn't be a standard paperback—and that she wasn't willing to give up her IP, therapeutic arc, or choice of illustrator, her husband, concept artist Joel Timpson. In this episode, Bee shares why she chose the custom publishing route, hired her own publicist, and planned a multicountry launch. She also discusses the constraints of marketing a book as a regulated health professional. Sponsor This podcast is proudly sponsored by Gatekeeper Press — your partner in premium independent publishing. Empowering authors with expert guidance, 100% rights, 100% royalties, and global distribution. From editing to marketing, their all-inclusive services help you publish professionally and confidently. Gatekeeper Press — Where Authors Are Family. About the Host Anna Featherstone is ALLi's nonfiction adviser and an author advocate and mentor. A judge of The Australian Business Book Awards and Australian Society of Travel Writers awards, she's also the founder of Bold Authors and presents author marketing and self-publishing workshops for organizations, including Byron Writers Festival. Anna has authored books including how-to books and memoirs, and her book Look-It's Your Book! about writing, publishing, marketing, and leveraging nonfiction is on the Australian Society of Authors recommended reading list. When she's not being bookish, Anna's into bees, beings, and the big issues of our time. About the Guest Dr. Bee Teng Lim is a clinical psychologist whose work explores the subtle wounds of trauma: the fracture of identity, the inheritance of silence, and the ways we adapt to survive. Born in Malaysia, trained in New Zealand, and now based in Australia, she is fluent in Mandarin and several Asian dialects and is known for her commitment to inclusive, trauma-informed care. She is the author of Welcome Home: Healing Trauma and Reclaiming Wholeness. She is the cofounder of Mind Health Collective, a Sydney-based psychology practice that serves clients internationally, and BeTuned, a game-based therapeutic and performance platform.

When you've trimmed every line item, negotiated every bill, and cut every unnecessary expense, but your profit margins still aren't adding up—what do you do next? In this episode, I share a story about a hard-working client who found himself completely exhausted after attempting to squeeze blood from a stone. He had done everything right: boosted top-line revenue, improved margins, and audited his expenses line by line. Yet, the math still wasn't mathing. Instead of hunting for micro-expenses to shave down, we stepped back and looked at a foundational piece of his business: his Point-of-Sale (POS) system. By making one strategic pivot to replace a tool that no longer served him, we triggered a domino effect that eliminated a whole cluster of hidden app subscriptions and tech stack add-ons—putting $710 back into his bank account every single month. Key Takeaways Stop Squeezing Dry Lemons: Cost-cutting is essential, but when an expense line is tapped out, trying to "squeeze harder" won't yield results. You have to start asking a completely different question. Identify Foundational Tech: A single core platform (like a POS system) often forces you to stack secondary apps, subscriptions, and integrations just to keep it functioning. The Domino Effect of One Pivot: Replacing one foundational tool can instantly eliminate hidden peripheral costs that sit underneath your operations. Advice vs. Operating Systems: Catching a single cash leak gives you a one-time win; having a repeatable operating system allows you to identify and fix structural profit drains every single week. Resources & Next Steps Ready to stop guessing and start keeping more of what you earn? Learn more about the Inventory Genius Operating System to build sustainable profitability into your product-based business. Enjoying the show? Subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help other product-based business owners unlock their profit potential! Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe

When you've trimmed every line item, negotiated every bill, and cut every unnecessary expense, but your profit margins still aren't adding up—what do you do next? In this episode, I share a story about a hard-working client who found himself completely exhausted after attempting to squeeze blood from a stone. He had done everything right: boosted top-line revenue, improved margins, and audited his expenses line by line. Yet, the math still wasn't mathing. Instead of hunting for micro-expenses to shave down, we stepped back and looked at a foundational piece of his business: his Point-of-Sale (POS) system. By making one strategic pivot to replace a tool that no longer served him, we triggered a domino effect that eliminated a whole cluster of hidden app subscriptions and tech stack add-ons—putting $710 back into his bank account every single month. Key Takeaways Stop Squeezing Dry Lemons: Cost-cutting is essential, but when an expense line is tapped out, trying to "squeeze harder" won't yield results. You have to start asking a completely different question. Identify Foundational Tech: A single core platform (like a POS system) often forces you to stack secondary apps, subscriptions, and integrations just to keep it functioning. The Domino Effect of One Pivot: Replacing one foundational tool can instantly eliminate hidden peripheral costs that sit underneath your operations. Advice vs. Operating Systems: Catching a single cash leak gives you a one-time win; having a repeatable operating system allows you to identify and fix structural profit drains every single week. Resources & Next Steps Ready to stop guessing and start keeping more of what you earn? Learn more about the Inventory Genius Operating System to build sustainable profitability into your product-based business. Enjoying the show? Subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help other product-based business owners unlock their profit potential! Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe

What is it about a bookstore? You walk in planning to browse for a few minutes, and somehow an hour later you're still wandering the stacks with an armful of books you can't seem to put down. For this week's episode, our guest host, MJ Franklin, and the producer Sarah Diamond take a field trip to a local bookstore, McNally Jackson Seaport, at the southern tip of Manhattan. There, they talk with the owner, Sarah McNally, about what it's actually like to run a bookstore. Then MJ sits down with Jennifer Harlan, an editor at the Book Review, to talk about The Times's new bookstore crawl series, the bookstores she grew up loving and why bookshops seem to be having a moment. Of course, no bookstore episode would be complete without some book recommendations. MJ and Jen share some of their favorite books about bookstores and booksellers, including a romance set in a small-town bookshop and a memoir about living inside Shakespeare and Company in Paris. Books discussed on this episode: “Switzy,” by Emma Cline “Delicate Edible Birds,” by Lauren Groff “Book Lovers,” by Emily Henry “Monogamy,” by Sue Miller “Time Was Soft There: A Paris Sojourn at Shakespeare and Co.,” by Jeremy Mercer “The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore,” by Evan Friss “A Marvelous Light,” by Freya Marske “The Rachel Incident,” by Caroline O'Donoghue Listen to and Follow ‘The Book Review' Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We Want to Hear From You We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode, and about the Book Review's podcast in general. You can send them to thebookreview@nytimes.com. Credits “The Book Review” podcast is hosted this week by MJ Franklin and produced by Amy Pearl, Sarah Diamond and Patricia Sulbarán. The show is edited by Tracy Mumford and mixed this week by Daniel Ramirez. Special thanks to Dahlia Haddad and Brooke Minters. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week's Book Picks comes from Kira Wizner from Merritt Bookstore in Millbrook, NY and Lily Bartels from Open Door Bookstore in Schenectady, NY for our selections this week.

The $8,000/Month Profit Leak Hiding in Plain Sight Every product-based business has a money mystery, and in this episode, I'm solving a big one. I recently sat down with a client whose business was generating over $2 million in annual revenue, yet she had almost nothing left in profit at the end of the year. When we dug into her numbers, we found a massive cash leak that was quietly draining $8,627.50 out of her business every single month. The culprit? Free shipping disguised as a customer perk. In this episode, I walk you through how we uncovered this hidden expense, how we used real data—not emotion—to make a tough call, and how fixing this single line item instantly transformed her bottom line. What We Cover in This Episode: The $8,000 Mystery: How a $2M+ business was bleeding cash despite strong sales. The High Cost of "Free": Why free shipping is often a hidden profit killer rather than a strategic perk. Overcoming the Fear of Losing Customers: Why the fear of changing a policy is often worse than the reality. Data Over Emotion: How side-by-side math made the decision to end free shipping completely obvious. Why You Don't Need More Advice: The difference between guessing your way to profit and using an operating system to build it on purpose. Key Takeaways: "Profit leaks rarely look dramatic. They look like a nice little thing you're doing for your customers, or a policy set up years ago that nobody has revisited. Cutting a cost isn't a gut decision—it's a data decision." — Ciara Stockeland Data removes the panic: When you analyze real numbers side-by-side (revenue gained vs. potential customer drop-off), the strategic choice makes itself. Revenue does not equal Health: Growing top-line sales without protecting your margin just creates the illusion of success. Focus on systems: Knowing your numbers is only step one; you need a financial operating system to consistently surface leaks and protect your cash flow. Resources & Next Steps: Stop guessing your way to profit and start building it on purpose! Work with Me: Learn more about the Inventory Genius Operating System and how we help product-based business owners uncover hidden cash. Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and leave a review so other business owners can find hidden cash in their numbers too! Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe

John David wrote The Bystander, which is ironic because at the end of the show, he himself becomes a bystander. Hey, we never claimed to be a tightly-run ship. That's why we're not buying any property on Palm Beach island. Well, one of many reasons. Oh yeah, remember how we kept talking about death in the previous segment? The Bystander is about someone who catches a mass shooting being thwarted by a good guy with a gun...but not all is as it seems. More murder and more mystery. How perfect. Oh yeah, and Nick Swardson dropped by.You can buy John's books or read his musings at https://byjohndavid.substack.com/!This guest was booked using PodMatch! Interested in being a guest on the show? Reach out to us at https://www.podmatch.com/member/tombarnardpodcast.

Today's guest is a Kentucky neighbor who has both a specific reading project and a dilemma we know is shared by many readers. Emily Holladay is a pastor in Frankfort, Kentucky, where she lives with her family. As a newish mom, Emily is still finding her outside-of-parenthood hobbies, but reading has been a constant throughout her life. Emily's a member of a book club at Carmichael's Bookstore, which happens to be Anne's local bookstore. When Emily completed her guest submission form and told us about her struggles with completing her Carmichael's bingo card, Anne couldn't wait to talk about this reading challenge with Emily. Emily also often finds herself browsing Libby for her next read. She often feels like every book that's top of mind for her is also on everyone else's mind, and suspects she would be happier if she had an assortment of backlist books on her radar that might be available on Libby right when she wants them. Anne has ideas for Emily, and we'd love to hear your suggestions too: please share the titles and tips you'd like to share with Emily by leaving a comment on our show notes page, where you'll also find the list of titles discussed today. Every week here on the podcast, we share an hour of enthusiastic book talk, and our podcast stays free for all to enjoy. A lot goes into crafting this hour of free bookish entertainment every week, and while we love what we do, that's why we value your support so much. Not only does it help the finances work, it's a huge morale booster to hear that you value what we do here every week. If you want to help us keep producing high-quality, human-made work like we do every week, there are many ways to support us, and we hope you can find one or even several that are right for you. If you'd like to support us financially, that's easy to do by joining our Patreon community, becoming a member of the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club, visiting our shop, or buying Anne's books. To everyone who has already supported us in any of these ways, thank you so much. And if financial support isn't an option for you right now, or even if you're already a financial supporter, there are great free ways that support us as well. Simple actions make a big difference, like subscribing to our email list, subscribing to or following our podcast on your favorite app or player, sharing a post, a story, or an episode on social media, or by telling a friend to listen in. No matter which of these actions you take, know that our team is grateful. We truly couldn't do this without you. Thank you for listening, and thank you for supporting our show. Chapters 05:49 Meet Emily 14:48 Emily's search for books to fill her book bingo card 33:28 The Guncle by Steven Rowley 37:02 Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell 39:47 The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson 42:52 My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh 48:18 Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker 55:02 Marce Catlett: The Force of a Story by Wendell Berry  57:11 Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri 1:03:02 Open Throat by Henry Hoke 1:06:43 What will Emily read next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices