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338: Rebuilding When Your Fundraising Flatlines (Andy Price)SUMMARYSpecial thanks to TowneBank for bringing these conversations to life and for their commitment to strengthening nonprofit organizations. Learn more about how they can help you at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking.When your fundraising model stops producing results, how do you rebuild your organization's financial health while keeping your team and board engaged? In episode #338 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Andy Price, CEO of the Grand Canyon Council, Boy Scouts of America, shares the leadership principles and practical strategies that helped him turn years of deficit into sustained financial growth. Andy explains how he identified the warning signs of stagnation, rebuilt donor confidence, and diversified income streams to ensure long-term stability. He also shares insights on strengthening board partnerships through transparency, trust, and accountability. ABOUT ANDYAndy is the CEO of BSA's Grand Canyon Council, based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he has led a remarkable organizational turnaround since 2018. Under his leadership, the Council has achieved five consecutive balanced budgets, diversified revenue streams, and restored trust with key stakeholders. Before joining the Grand Canyon Council, Andy served as Chief Operating Officer of the Circle Ten Council in Dallas, Texas - one of the largest Scouting councils in the country - where he oversaw financial operations, membership growth, and program innovation across 24 counties. Earlier, as CEO of the Golden Spread Council in Amarillo, Texas, Andy led significant growth in both youth participation and fundraising, earning multiple Journey to Excellence honors. Andy began his career in banking before transitioning to nonprofit leadership, bringing a disciplined, results-oriented approach to financial management and strategic planning. His career in Scouting has spanned more than 25 years, including key roles in Georgia and Alabama councils, where he helped launch new programs and expand outreach.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESRevenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm GladwellLearn more about the Grand Canyon Council at grandcanyonbsa.orgReady for your next leadership opportunity? Visit our partners at Armstrong McGuire & Associates at armstrongmcguire.comLearn more about the Mastermind Leadership Program (pmanonprofit.com/mastermind)
They kill. Then they smile for cameras, clock in for work, or go grocery shopping. In this chilling Hidden Killers investigation, we explore “The Performance of Normal” — the haunting calm that follows murder. Starting with Bryan Kohberger, who prosecutors say was seen casually shopping hours after the brutal Idaho student murders, we dive deep into the psychology behind that eerie stillness. Why do some killers seem completely composed after committing horrific crimes? From John List, who ate lunch next to his wife's body before vanishing for 18 years… To Dennis Rader (BTK), who left a Boy Scout camp to murder and came back by morning to flip pancakes for the troop. To Chris Watts, who went to work just hours after killing his pregnant wife and daughters. To Stephen McDaniel, who gave a TV interview about his “missing” neighbor — the same woman he had just murdered. To Colonel Russell Williams, a respected Canadian military commander smiling for charity photos days after taking a life. To Tyler Hadley, the Florida teen who killed his parents, then threw a party with their bodies hidden in the next room. To Susan Smith, the mother who tearfully begged for her children's return after drowning them herself. And Ian Huntley, the school caretaker who joined the search for two girls he had already murdered. This episode examines the psychology of composure — how killers weaponize calmness, and why society so often mistakes it for innocence. It's not just what they do. It's what they don't. Because sometimes, evil doesn't look like rage. It looks like control. It looks like “normal.”
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
They kill. Then they smile for cameras, clock in for work, or go grocery shopping. In this chilling Hidden Killers investigation, we explore “The Performance of Normal” — the haunting calm that follows murder. Starting with Bryan Kohberger, who prosecutors say was seen casually shopping hours after the brutal Idaho student murders, we dive deep into the psychology behind that eerie stillness. Why do some killers seem completely composed after committing horrific crimes? From John List, who ate lunch next to his wife's body before vanishing for 18 years… To Dennis Rader (BTK), who left a Boy Scout camp to murder and came back by morning to flip pancakes for the troop. To Chris Watts, who went to work just hours after killing his pregnant wife and daughters. To Stephen McDaniel, who gave a TV interview about his “missing” neighbor — the same woman he had just murdered. To Colonel Russell Williams, a respected Canadian military commander smiling for charity photos days after taking a life. To Tyler Hadley, the Florida teen who killed his parents, then threw a party with their bodies hidden in the next room. To Susan Smith, the mother who tearfully begged for her children's return after drowning them herself. And Ian Huntley, the school caretaker who joined the search for two girls he had already murdered. This episode examines the psychology of composure — how killers weaponize calmness, and why society so often mistakes it for innocence. It's not just what they do. It's what they don't. Because sometimes, evil doesn't look like rage. It looks like control. It looks like “normal.”
In this episode, I'm joined by local politician Dan Helmer, who represents Virginia's 10th District in southern Fairfax County. I first met Dan when he visited my son's Boy Scout troop, and I've seen firsthand how dedicated he is to serving the Northern Virginia community. In this conversation, we explore his journey into public service, the realities of working in local government, and his practical advice for everyday people who want to get involved and make a difference. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that civic engagement begins locally and that anyone can play a role in creating positive change. Shout Outs and Plugs Dan Helmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danhelmer/ Dan Helmer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deldanhelmer/?hl=en Dan Helmer Website: https://danhelmer.com/ Virginia General Assembly Website: https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacQ1pO2cmMk1dF9B69elKlkMqTWvFRdhF1ERVRU7-bxnc0AjZTz447scQ3N-g_aem_6KV_-9cVlGTX1LFoc4Gs0Q If you have a question for the podcast call 571-336-6560 or leave a question via this Google Form. Five Minute Journal by Intelligent Change Affiliate Code: https://www.intelligentchange.com/?rfsn=4621464.017186 Tappy Card “Electronic Business Card” Affiliate Code: https://tappycard.com?ref:philip-wilkerson Please leave a rating/review of the Podcast https://lovethepodcast.com/positivephilter Intro music provided by DJ BIGyoks. Check out his Instagram and Soundcloud channel can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/beats.byyoks/ https://soundcloud.com/dj-bigyoks Outro music provided by Ryan Rosemond. Check out his Soundcloud channel here: https://soundcloud.com/brothersrosemond/albums Purchase "Forty Years of Advice" by Philip Wilkerson: https://a.co/d/2qYMlqu Leave Your Feedback by filling out this audience survey: https://forms.gle/ncoNvWxMq2A6Zw2q8 Sign up for Positive Philter Weekly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/g-LOqL Please follow Positive Philter: Positive Philter Facebook Page Positive Philter Twitter Positive Philter Instagram If you would like to support the podcast, please consider donating to the Positive Philter Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/positivephilter Positive Philter was selected by FeedSpot as Top 20 Positive Thinking Podcasts on the web. https://blog.feedspot.com/positive_thinking_podcasts/ Jeff's Anti-Hunger Fund The Positive Philter Podcast is dedicated to Jeff Kirsch. A long-time supporter of the show and a major influence on this show's growth. Please support the careers of future advocates by donating to the Jeff Kirsch Fund for Anti-Hunger Advocacy. This fund was named after Jeff Kirsch for his decades of service in fighting hunger and inequality. Link to fund: https://frac.org/kirschfund Pats for Patriots If you are a member of the #MasonNation, please consider sending a Pats for Patriots. Pats for Patriots are a free and easy way to thank, recognize, show appreciation for a Mason colleague or student who has taken the time to do something kind, generous or thoughtful towards others. For more information, visit: https://forms.office.com/r/HRZGvhdJEA We have received more than 2,000 nominations from the Mason community so far. Keep those nominations coming in! Steam Pilots Program Steam Pilots, Inc. is a Virginia-based 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Their goal is to improve the state of STEAM education in America. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. They achieve this through pro bono programs delivered to K-12 students and institutions in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Steam Pilots is hoping to raise funds for STEAM kits, supplies, and modest stipends for the interns who work with me. Currently, they have an urgent need for 3D Printers, Robotics Kits, and Cybersecurity teaching tools. Link to GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/38eeaed2
A short review, because I just watched Netflix's "My Father, the BTK Killer" and I need to talk about it.This isn't another documentary glorifying a serial killer. This is Kerri Rawson's story. She's the daughter of Dennis Rader, the BTK killer who murdered 10 people over nearly two decades while pretending to be a normal dad.Imagine finding out your Boy Scout leader father, who danced with you to John Denver and took you on family vacations, is one of America's most notorious serial killers. That's Kerri's reality. And 20 years later, she's still processing it.This show hit...differently. Because it's not about him. It's about the wreckage he left behind. The family trying to make sense of the senseless. The daughter asking herself how she didn't see the monster living in her house.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/we-saw-the-devil-a-true-crime-podcast--4433638/support.Website: http://www.wesawthedevil.comPatreon: http://www.patreon.com/wesawthedevilDiscord: https://discord.gg/X2qYXdB4Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/WeSawtheDevilInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/wesawthedevilpodcast.
The Seattle school board nixed plans to bring back school resources officers. CNBC’s Joe Kernen didn’t pull any punches when confronting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries about the government shutdown. There’s a new ‘Sober-Curious’ fad gaining steam across Washington State. // LongForm: GUEST: Congressman Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) on the historic Middle East peace deal brokered by the Trump Administration and an update on the government shutdown. // Quick Hit: Stealing from Boy Scouts, fighting for beach access, and swastikas in Issaquah.
On Today's Episode –Mark starts us out talking about the Peace Accord Pres. Trump just got done, all the while, the Left keeps saying all he's doing is golfing. Brandon dives into history, about those in power getting blamed for when a shutdown happens. Is it interesting though that this Trump Narrative of him being a racist – came to fruition only after he decided to run as a Republican. We talk election, Chicago, and a bunch of other topics.Tune in for all the Fun Project 21 Ambassador Brandon Brice is a conservative political commentator from Detroit, Michigan, and a former op-ed columnist for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Detroit News, Washington Times, Ebony and MSNBC's The Grio.With a career spanning Capitol Hill, state government, grassroots movements and national media platforms, he has become a leading voice challenging conventional narratives and encouraging independent thought through legislative dialogue.An advocate for education reform and school choice, Brandon's media presence includes appearances on MSNBC, Fox News, CGTN America, Al Jazeera, Newsmax, C-SPAN, NPR, BET, The Daily Signal and other major outlets, where he delivers clear, solutions-driven commentary on today's most pressing political concerns, including privacy rights and agendas affecting freedom of speech.He has spoken at Princeton University, the American Enterprise Institute and the Hamilton Society, offering sharp analysis on policy, governance and civic engagement.Brandon's political career began at Howard University, where he earned his Bachelor's in Business Administration, followed by a Master's in Global Affairs from Rutgers University. While at Howard, he served on Capitol Hill under former U.S. Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert, gaining firsthand experience in legislative operations and federal strategy.In 2010, Brandon was appointed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as Director of Education and African-American Affairs, where he led early childhood education and urban development initiatives across Newark, Camden and Trenton. In 2021, he was appointed by Delaware Governor John Carney to the State Magistrate Screening Process, contributing to the review and selection of judicial candidates.Over his career, Brandon has raised more than $2 million in campaign funds and held influential fellowships with the Heritage Foundation, United Nations Foundation, National Urban League, United Way of Delaware and the Veterans Empowerment Organization of Georgia. He currently serves on the boards of the Caesar Rodney Institute, Lincoln Club of Delaware, Great Oaks Charter School and the De Mar Va Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and cofounded the 100 Black Men of Delaware Chapter. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.Brandon's voice in conservative media continues to grow as he champions economic empowerment and educational freedom. Through his on-air commentary and speaking engagements, he challenges voters to explore their full range of political choices and rethink the status quo—reminding America that true power begins with informed decision-making.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Think of yourself as a host or hostess on your job—initiate conversations, volunteer help, keep your antenna up for anyone who needs a word of encouragement. This is how we show Christ's love in a world that is starving for kindness and compassion. I've heard one of the Boy Scout's mottos is to “leave it better than you found it.” Imagine how much nicer our worlds would be if we all practiced that regularly—leaving everything better than we found it. If your goal for every relationship was to leave that person better than you found him or her, how would that improve your relationships? It means you would be thinking about the other person and not about yourself—which is a really good thing. No doubt you would listen more than you talk, you would offer to help where you could, you would offer words of encouragement. People don't remember so much what we do or how well we do it, but they do remember how we made them feel. Have you ever thought about how you make other people feel? I'm sure you've thought about how other people make you feel. But let's reverse that and ask ourselves, “How do I make other people feel?” Some people make us feel insignificant. Others intimidate us. Some people make us feel like failures. They may not intend to give off those vibes, but something in their manner or the way they treat you gives you that impression. Stop and ask yourself: Do I unintentionally do that to others? I have learned I can send negative messages to others because of my tendency to be very project oriented and very focused on getting a job done. In the process, I can miss opportunities to recognize people along the way and let them know they are important to me. I've become very intentional about changing that bad habit and I intentionally try to connect with others, especially strangers or people who look a little left out. What kind of messages do you send to others? Do they sense you are a caring person; do you exude an attitude of acceptance and warmth? Do you initiate connections—with greetings, asking questions, and starting conversations? It isn't hard—and it's very rewarding. Don't forget—people remember how you make them feel, so do what you can to make them feel cared for and important.
Why do we invest millions changing customer behavior but ignore how people behave inside companies?In this thought-provoking conversation, behavioral scientist and author Matt Wallaert returns to Change Wired to explore the next evolution of behavioral science: internal change.We discuss why most organizations treat employee behavior as fixed or random — and what it takes to build systems where people grow continuously, without relying on luck, politics, or the next big program.
271. Ways to Engage with Youth, Teens, and Gen Z in Church and at Home with Dr. Kara Powell *Transcription Below* 1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV "so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well." Kara Powell, PhD, is the chief of leadership formation at Fuller Theological Seminary, the executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute, and the founder of the TENx10 Collaboration. Named by Christianity Today as one of "50 Women to Watch," Kara serves as a youth and family strategist for Orange, and she also speaks regularly at national parenting and leadership conferences. Kara has authored or coauthored numerous books, including Faith Beyond Youth Group, 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future, 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, Growing With, Growing Young, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, and the entire Sticky Faith series. Kara and her husband, Dave, are regularly inspired by the learning and laughter that come from their three young adult children. Questions and Topics We Cover: What insights do you have to share on Gen-Z? When it comes to navigating intergenerational tensions, how can we practically turn our differences into superpowers and unite together? In your most recent book, entitled, Future-Focused Church, you begin with writing that the brightest days of the church are still ahead. What led you to that realization? Thank You to Our Sponsor: WinShape Marriage Other Episodes Mentioned from The Savvy Sauce: 127 Generational Differences with Hayden Shaw 2 God-Honoring Relationship Between a Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law with Author of The Mother-in-Law Dance, Annie Chapman Stories Sampler from The Savvy Sauce Stories Series: 233 Stories Series: Surprises from God with Tiffany Noel 235 Stories Series: Ever-Present Help in Trouble with Kent Heimer 242 Stories Series: He Gives and Takes Away with Joyce Hodel 245 Stories Series: Miracles Big and Small with Dr. Rob Rienow 246 Stories Series: Experiencing God's Tangible Love with Jen Moore Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“ Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“ Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” *Transcription* Music: (0:00 – 0:11) Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 2:13) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here. I'm thrilled to introduce you to our sponsor, Winshape Marriage. Their weekend marriage retreats will strengthen your marriage while you enjoy the gorgeous setting, delicious food, and quality time with your spouse. To find out more, visit them online at winshapemarriage.org. I am so honored to introduce my guest for today, Dr. Kara Powell. She is the Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary and the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute. She's also founder of the 10x10 Collaboration and named by today as one of 50 women to watch. She is also extremely humble and insightful as she's going to discuss how we can leverage the power of stories and questions in our relationships at church and in our family and in beyond, and this is to model the life of Jesus. Make sure you also stay tuned in through the end because she's going to share a plethora of conversations and questions specifically to ask when we're engaging in conversation with young people, whether that's our own children and teens or our grandchildren or people in the community or our churches. It's some questions that you don't want to miss. Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Kara. Dr. Kara Powell: (2:07 - 2:09) Oh, it's so good to be with you and your audience, Laura. Laura Dugger: (2:09 - 2:13) Well, I'd love for you just to first give us a snapshot of your current life and share what's led you to the work that you get to do today. Dr. Kara Powell: (2:14 - 4:06) Yeah, absolutely. So, let's see. I'll start with family. Dave and I have been married for I think 27-ish years, and we have three kids who are 24, 22, and 19. Our youngest is a college freshman, and so we're technically empty nesters, but I actually like the term open nesters better because our kids come back, which we love. They come back in the summers and sometimes after college. And we actually, since I live in Pasadena, California, which had the fires in January, we actually have another 22-year-old young woman living with us, which we love. So, we love having my husband, Dave, and I love having young people around, whether it's our own three kids or the young woman who's living with us. And I'm also a faculty member at Fuller Seminary, and while I certainly teach periodically, my main roles at Fuller actually have to do with leadership beyond Fuller. I'm the chief of leadership formation at Fuller, so I oversee all of Fuller's non-degree offerings, and then I'm the executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute, which is a research center that studies the faith of adolescents. And I love that question, what got me to the work that I do today? Well, God would be the answer to that, but I was a long-term youth pastor here in Southern California at two different churches, loved teenagers, and Fuller was getting ready to start a new research center that was going to listen to the needs of parents and leaders, and then do research to answer those needs. And that really intrigued me, because I love young people, and I love research, and I love real-life ministry and family. And so, I thought, well, I would love to hear more about that center, and I've been at Fuller now for over 20 years. Laura Dugger: (4:07 - 4:17) Wow, that's incredible. And quick side note, I'm just so sorry for everything that you all endured in January with all the fires. Dr. Kara Powell: (4:17 - 4:39) Yeah, it's heartbreaking, and in some ways, in many ways, devastating. And I'm grateful for how God is working through churches and working through God's people. So, there's all sorts of bright spots in the midst of the pain. But yes, please pray that churches and God's people would be salt and light, because it's going to be a few years of rebuilding. Laura Dugger: (440 - 4:43) Yes, Lord Jesus, may that be true. Amen. Dr. Kara Powell: (4:43 - 4:44) Yeah, thank you. Laura Dugger: (4:45 - 5:17) And I know with your background, you've studied practical theology, and you also have this broad knowledge of psychology. But some churches haven't studied psychology as much, and so I think that typically leads to less of an appreciation for it. But my fear is that they may miss out if they completely ignore it. So, will you share some of the benefits that you've seen that come from applying God's truth from any of theologies? Dr. Kara Powell: (5:17 - 8:14) Yeah, yeah. Well, at Fuller Seminary, we have two schools. One is our School of Mission and Theology, which I'm an alum of and a faculty member in. And the other is our School of Psychology. And so, Laura, you asked a question that's right at the heart of what we love about training leaders and therapists. And in fact, my favorite statue at Fuller, the title of it is Planting the Cross in the Heart of Psychology. And that's exactly what we believe. So, you know, God's made us as holistic people. And I love thinking both about how is our theology driving us as well as our psychology. And you know, one way to think about our psychology, a colleague of mine at Fuller talks about people's losses and longings. And that phrase has been so helpful for me. Like, what are people's losses and longings? And how is that connected with how they're responding? So, so much of our work at the Fuller Youth Institute relates to young people. And I remember coaching a senior pastor who was experiencing a lot of resistance to prioritizing young people from senior adults. And what the senior pastor realized is, of course, I shouldn't say of course, but in this particular church, when he was saying we need to prioritize young people, those over 60 felt like, wait, that means I'm not going to be a priority. People who are older often already feel that here in US culture. And so, no wonder that was intimidating, that was threatening, that felt like a loss to those senior adults. And so, I love what the senior pastor ended up doing is he implemented one of our principles of change that we recommend, which is people support what they create. And so, if you want to build ownership, then how can you involve as many people as possible in creating whatever you're trying to develop? And so, the senior pastor went to the senior adults and apologized for sending a message that, you know, made them feel like they were not going to be priority. And instead, he said, how can we make this church a church that your grandkids would love to be part of? And that connected with those, you know, post 60, most of whom were grandparents, whether their grandkids live locally, or, you know, globally, they wanted their church to be a place where their grandkids and other young people would connect. And so, you know, he turned senior adults feeling like they were peripheral, to really feeling like they were partners in what God was doing in the church. And so, yes, I would invite us all to think about what are people's losses and longings? And how is that contributing to how they're responding to whatever we're all experiencing? Laura Dugger: (8:15 - 10:20) Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. Friends, I'm excited to share with you today's sponsor, Winshape Marriage. Do you feel like you need a weekend away with your spouse and a chance to grow in your relationship together at the same time? Winshape Marriage is a fantastic ministry that provides weekend marriage retreats to help couples grow closer together in every season and stage of life. From premarital to parenting to the empty nest phase, there is an opportunity for you. Winshape Marriage is grounded on the belief that the strongest marriages are the ones that are nurtured, even when it seems things are going smoothly, so that they're stronger if they do hit a bump along their marital journey. These weekend retreats are hosted within the beautiful refuge of Winshape Retreat, perched in the mountains of Rome, Georgia, which is a short drive from Atlanta, Birmingham and Chattanooga. While you're there, you will be well fed, well nurtured and well cared for. During your time away in this beautiful place, you and your spouse will learn from expert speakers and explore topics related to intimacy, overcoming challenges, improving communication and more. I've stayed on Winshape before and I can attest to their generosity, food and content. You will be so grateful you went. To find an experience that's right for you and your spouse, head to their website, windshapemarriage.org/savvy. That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E marriage.org/S-A-V-V-Y. Thanks for your sponsorship. Well, Kara, you've also done so much research on young people and just in general, I'd love to hear what insights do you have on Gen Z? Dr. Kara Powell: (10:20 - 14:16) Yeah, yeah. Well, we at the Fuller Youth Institute, we have spent a lot of time studying and doing research on Gen Z, which tends to be those who are 14, 15 and up. Our very youngest teenagers are all actually now Gen Alpha, but we'll talk about Gen Z. And as we've looked at the research, we've landed on three words which we think well describe Gen Z. First, they are anxious. And if we look at young people today, they do have unprecedented levels of mental health challenges, anxiety, depression, stress, even suicidal thoughts. And so, we do a lot of training to help parents and leaders understand mental health and how they can be a safe space and get young people the help they need. So, this is an anxious generation. This is an adaptive generation. This generation is so creative and entrepreneurial and visionary. You know, while there's a lot of downsides to technology, technology also helps young people know more about what's wrong in the world and sometimes take steps to make what is wrong right and restore God's justice to our world. And so, this is an adaptive and creative generation. And then in addition to being anxious and adaptive, this is a diverse generation. Here in the U.S., we crossed a line in 2020. In the midst of everything else that happened in 2020, we crossed a line where now 50% of those under 18 are young people of color. So, for your audience to just keep that in mind that 50% of those under 18 are white and 50% are young people of color and that percentage of young people of color is likely going to continue to grow. So, I would say those are three key attributes to this generation. And then, you know, when it comes to what this generation is experiencing spiritually, I really appreciate what my friend and fellow podcaster Carey Nieuwhof has described with young people that they are both in revival and retreat. And, you know, we see data for both. There's so much that's encouraging about how young people are responding to Jesus. They're open to Jesus. We're seeing this especially on college campuses. They're responding in mass on college campuses in some really beautiful ways. Both InterVarsity and Crew are seeing that. But then this generation is also in some ways distancing themselves from the institutional church. Springtide Research Institute did some study of 13- to 25-year-olds and found that 13- to 25-year-olds in the U.S. are almost three times as likely to say they've been hurt by organized religion as trust organized religion. So, our 13- to 25-year-olds are distrustful, a little cynical about institutional religion. And so, we have our work cut out for us to build trust back. And let me just say, sadly, we have earned young people's lack of trust by the way that by our moral failures, by the way that we have not been as loving as Jesus wants us to be and as young people want us to be. And so, the good news is the way that we re-earn trust with young people is by little acts of kindness and consistency. So, anybody listening can rebuild trust with a young person. The research on trust shows it's not about heroic acts. It's about sending a text and saying, hey, I'm praying for you. It's about remembering a young person's name at church. It's about showing up at a young person's soccer game. So, in the midst of this generation and being both revival and retreat, there are practical steps that any adult can take. Laura Dugger: (14:17 - 14:36) Wow, that's so good. You've got ideas now coming to me for how to pour into even the youth group. This is probably a very random idea, but how great would it be to have a Google calendar of all of their events and then whoever in the church is available to go support? That would just be a practical way. Dr. Kara Powell: (14:36 - 15:45) Okay, so, Laura, you have just named actually one of my favorite ideas that a church that is here in Los Angeles is doing. They created a Google calendar and volunteers as well as parents can add information. But then what this church did, they started with a Google calendar and then it's a church of about 300 people. And so, they have now started every Sunday morning. They have a slide with what's happening in young people's lives for the next week. So-and-so is in a play. So-and-so has a basketball game. So-and-so has a Boy Scout activity. And so, adults in the church, often senior adults who have some extra time, are showing up at kids' events. Plus, every week they're prioritizing young people. So, when you're a young person in that church and every week there's a slide about you and your friends and what's happening, that says something to the young people sitting there. So, yeah, you're-I actually love that idea. And especially for smaller churches, I think that's one of the big advantages of smaller churches is we can be more intimate and caring. So, yes, let's please do that. Laura Dugger: (15:46 - 16:00) Oh, that's so good. I love hearing how that played out. And now I'm also curious because you mentioned it's Gen Alpha behind. Do you have any insight onto them as well? Dr. Kara Powell: (16:00 - 16:27) Well, you're going to have to have me back because we are just-we received a grant from the Lilly Endowment, who's funded much of our research to study Gen Alpha. And they're just getting old enough that we really can, quite honestly. And so, like literally this week we are working on survey questions for Gen Alpha. And we'll have more in the next year about what's similar between Gen Z and Gen Alpha, as well as what's different. So, I'd rather wait and save that for later. Laura Dugger: (16:28 - 16:34) That sounds great. I'm especially interested in that generation. That is all four of our daughters would fall within that. So, I can't wait to hear your findings. Dr. Kara Powell: (16:34 - 16:36) Yeah. Laura Dugger: (16:38 - 17:15) And I think it's also bringing up, I'm going to link to a previous episode, Generational Differences with Hayden Shaw, because I don't know if you feel this same way. I think millennials especially got pegged as the generational bias put on them was actually confused with their life stage. And Hayden's the one who wrote about that and drew that to our attention. So, that's helpful to sift out as we're thinking of young people too, because sometimes older generations can look down on younger generations and see some of the shortcomings. Do you see that as well? Dr. Kara Powell: (17:16 - 18:55) Oh, for sure. For sure. I think we compare young people to who we are now instead of remembering our 13 and 19 and 25 year old self. And so, I mean, that's one of our biggest pieces of advice when it comes to young people is instead of judging them, how do we journey with them? How do we really empathize with what they're experiencing? And when we are tempted to judge young people, let's just start at, well, let's just stop and ask ourselves, would we want to be a young person today? It's so very challenging to be a young person today. I mean, mental health alone, like if I think about my tendency to, as a teenager myself, to compare myself with others, to be worried that I was left out. I mean, if there was a cell phone that showed me everything my friends were doing without me, and I'm stuck at home, like no wonder that young people feel more anxious. I think I would really be struggling with anxiety if I was a teenager now. I mean, honestly, even at my age, I don't check social media on Friday night or Saturday night, because I might be, Dave and I might be having leftovers and either working or watching a movie on Netflix. And I go on social media and my friends are out with their husbands and having this phenomenal time. And at my age, that makes me feel insecure, let alone imagine being a 13 or 18- or 22-year-old and navigating that. So, so yes, I think how can we empathize instead of finger point? Laura Dugger: (18:56 - 19:12) Oh, and you write about how to navigate intergenerational tensions. How can we practically turn our differences into superpowers and unite together? And I guess, especially in the church? Dr. Kara Powell: (19:12 - 22:39) Yeah, yeah, great question. So, one of our books is called Three Big Questions That Change Every Teenager. And we studied young people to try to understand the deep questions driving them. And we landed on three. Identity, who am I? Belonging, where do I fit? And purpose, what difference can I make? Identity, belonging and purpose. And those are that's such a helpful framework to understand young people and to empathize with them. First off, I would say all of us are wrestling with identity, belonging and purpose. And when I feel emotional heat about an issue, if I feel insecure about something, it's usually because it's pricking at my identity, belonging or purpose. And so, that helps us realize that we navigate those questions, too. But then also for the we who are parents, stepparents, grandparents, mentors of young people, you know, if a young person we care about is doing something that feels a little odd, a little askew, a little bit, that's not like them. If we can take a step back and ask, OK, what are they wrestling with? Is it identity? Is it belonging? Is it purpose? That helps us empathize and know how to either ask a better question or, you know, give a little bit of hope rooted in whether that's rooted in scripture or in our own experience. And so, yes, with our with our three kids, when I take a step back and ask, OK, they're saying something that feels odd or unlike them or I'm surprised this is provoking this response in them. Is it is it their identity, belonging or purpose that's at play here? It's like the penny drops and I come to understand. So, I would say, you know, if we can wear those identity, belonging and purpose lenses, that really helps us understand young people. The other thing and, you know, I'm a professor, so I would give myself about a C plus in what I'm going to share next. OK, so if this is something I'm working on, it's this it's never make a statement if you can ask a question instead, never make a statement if you can ask a question instead. And so, the more that we can ask questions about what young people are experiencing, like why, why, you know, in a very nonjudgmental way, like I'm just curious. And I start a lot of my questions with that. I'm curious. I'm curious, like what does tick tock mean to you? Then, you know, that that can open up a real conversation instead of them feeling like we're somehow judging them for their technological use. I was proud of myself yesterday. Like I said, I give myself about a C plus on this. But yesterday I was talking to my daughter about something. And I asked her, like, well, because she had stepped up to lead something. And so instead of offering my advice, I said to her, well, you know, what do you think you did well as you were leading? And is there anything that you would want to do differently? And we were in the line of a fast-food place. And I thought, yes, way to go. I ask questions instead of making statements, instead of offering my opinion. So, and sometimes we have to offer our opinion, for sure. But just as a general rule, we can ask questions, especially the older our kids get. They respond to that better than us always sharing what we think. Laura Dugger: (22:39 - 22:47) Well, and I also think you're even modeling this in the way you share stories is humility. So, when you partner that together, that seems very powerful. Dr. Kara Powell: (22:48 - 23:53) Yeah, yeah, absolutely. My one of my kids said something so interesting. At Mother's Day, my husband asked each of them to share something that they appreciated about me and which was wonderful to receive that affirmation. And one of them and I I'm not going to reveal the gender here because I haven't asked this child permission to share this. But what my child said was that I was asking them for advice in a way that made it feel more like we were becoming friends. And I had asked this child for advice in the last couple of months about a couple situations. And so, again, my kids are 19, 22 and 24. So, you know, it's different with younger kids. But for those of us with older kids, it was significant to this child of mine that I was asking them for advice. And so, I want to keep doing that. I want to keep doing that. So, because I truly do want their perspective. Yeah, I truly do want their perspective. And it means something to them when I do. Laura Dugger: (23:54 - 25:28) Yes, absolutely. And I'm thinking back, this may have been like episode three back in 2018. But I talk with Annie Chapman. She had written the book, The Mother-in-Law Dance. And what you're saying, she pointed out that what makes us a great parent and especially a great mother, the first half of our children's life or the first portion of our children's life at home, it's the opposite of the latter years. And so, you're right. You're not probably going to ask your five-year-old for advice. But at your kids' phases, that is significant. Did you know you could receive a free email with monthly encouragement, practical tips and plenty of questions to ask to take your conversation a level deeper, whether that's in parenting or on date nights? Make sure you access all of this at TheSavvySauce.com by clicking the button that says Join Our Email List so that you can follow the prompts and begin receiving these emails at the beginning of each month. Enjoy. This discussion with young people is also tied into your recent and optimistic book. So, I'll hold it up here. It's in and you did co-author this with Jake Mulder and Raymond Chang. So, it's entitled Future-Focused Church, and you begin with writing that the brightest days of the church are still ahead. So, what led you to this optimistic realization? Dr. Kara Powell: (25:28 - 26:23) Yeah. Yeah. Well, first, God, you know, this is where being a practical theologian comes into play. Like I'm always trying to understand what is God up to in this situation and just the way that God is constantly working, redeeming, recreating. So, you know, that's the heart of my optimism and Jake and Ray's optimism as fellow co-authors. And then also Future-Focused Church is based on research we did with over a thousand churches where we journeyed with them in the change process and just the way that they were able to make changes that made them more loving, made them more hospitable to young people. So, it's, you know, it's people like your listeners and churches like those that your audience is part of. That's what made us optimistic is to see how God is working through actual churches. Laura Dugger: (26:25 - 26:40) I love that. And even near the beginning, it was on page 26, you succinctly gave a definition of a future-focused church. So, will you share that definition and also elaborate on each one of the facets? Dr. Kara Powell: (26:40 - 29:17) Yeah, yeah. So, it starts with a group of Jesus followers. And, you know, if you look at the original Greek for church, ekklesia, it's not a building. We use that phrase incorrectly when we say, you know, I'll meet you at church and we mean a building. It's actually those who are called out or from. So, it's always people in the New Testament. And so, we believe a church is a group of Jesus followers who seek God's direction together. And that's really important to us is this isn't about what Kara, Jake and Ray think you should do or what the church down the street is doing or even what your denomination is doing. It's you seeking God's direction together. So, and we could have stopped there, honestly, a group of Jesus followers who seek God's direction together. But then because of the time we've spent with over a thousand churches, because of our commitment to young people, because of what we see happening these days, we added three what we call checkpoints, three things that we think should be priorities for churches these days. One is relationally discipling young people. And, you know, we were intentionally using the words relationally discipling. It's not just entertaining. It's not just standing near young people at worship service. But how are we actually investing in young people? And then secondly, modeling kingdom diversity. Again, if you look at our country ethnically and racially, we are a diverse country. And so, how can we model that? How can our churches reflect what our neighborhoods are? And then thirdly, tangibly loving our neighbors. Jesus said that, you know, they will know that we are Christians by our love for another, for each other, as well as our love for neighbors. And so, how can we make sure that we are really a place that is salt and light? As I mentioned, you know, we are trying to be in Pasadena as churches these days as we're recovering from the fires. So, we encourage churches to look at those three checkpoints in particular. But then again, we want churches to figure out what God is inviting them towards. So, maybe that's more prayer. Maybe that's being more involved globally in evangelism, you know, whatever it might be. Seek that direction together. But then what we try to do is give a map to get there, because a lot of churches know what they want to change, but don't know how to bring about change. And so, that's actually what the bulk of our book is about, is helping leaders know how to move their church from here to God's direction for them. Laura Dugger: (29:18 - 30:27) And that's incredible that you walked with so many churches through that process. But I was especially encouraged by you being partial to sharing stories. And so, we recently did an entire stories series on The Savvy Sauce, and it was so compelling and faith building. I can link to a sample of those in the show notes. But you write about stories shaping culture. And I just I want to share your quote and then ask you how we can actually implement this. So, your quote is from page 57, where you write, “Organizational culture is best communicated and illustrated by stories. As well modeled by Jesus, one of the best ways to shift the culture of a church is through the disciplined and consistent telling of clear and compelling stories that invite a different culture and way of being.” So, Kara, how have you seen this done well? Dr. Kara Powell: (30:27 - 33:10) Yeah, yeah. Well, I think about whatever system we're in, whether it's our families or whether it's our churches or whatever organization we're in. Yeah, our stories become really the key messages of what our culture is. And so, I want to go back to that church that we were talking about that had a Google calendar and now does a Sunday announcement every week of kids' events. Well, that church is also capturing stories of the 81-year-old who showed up at the 16-year-old soccer game, who didn't even know her all that well, but just had a free Thursday afternoon and knew that she was playing. And the pastor who was also on the sidelines at that soccer game, who ended up talking to both the parents of the 16-year-old and the 81-year-old. And so, that became a story for that church of how different generations are supporting young people. And so, that pastor has told that story multiple, multiple times. You know, I just think about in our family, our kids love hearing our stories. And that's part of how they I mean, it's a big, a big theme and how they come to know what it means to be a Powell. So, you know, earlier I said, you know, I said, never make a statement if you can ask a question instead. I think the exception to that, Laura, is if we're going to tell a story because stories communicate so much. One of our one of our children is struggling with being anxious about something. And I was anxious last night. I never lose sleep. I so rarely lose sleep. But I did last night. I was up for about an hour and a half in the middle of the night, finally ended up having a prayer time. And that helped me go back to sleep. But I'm looking forward to telling my child, who's also struggling with anxiety, that story of me experiencing some, you know, 3:00 a.m. anxiety and what eventually helped me is kind of reflecting on a mantra I feel like God's given me. And I want to share that with my child, not to nag them, but just to let them know that, you know, in our family, this is how we want to try to respond to anxiety. And maybe my story can be helpful for you the next time that you're struggling with it, which might be today. So, so, yes, the more that we can share our present and our past experiences, whether it's as individuals, families, organizations, the more that we communicate the cultural values that we want. Laura Dugger: (33:11 - 33:45) That's so good. And I love how you're relating that to parents as well, because from the very youngest ages, tell me a story. And if it's like if we remember a story of them when they're a child, they just grasp onto that. And we when we're tired at the end of the night, if we run out of our stories, we love even just reading aloud true stories of other people, too. OK, and I'm partnering then thinking of stories and one of your facets about I love how you said it. I'd love for you to repeat. Is it strategically discipling, relationally discipling? Dr. Kara Powell: (33:45 - 33:46) Yeah. Laura Dugger: (33:46 - 35:03) OK, so my brother and sister's church, I'm just going to highlight theirs because I love something that both of them are doing with our nieces and nephews. They just have them, the youth, write down three names of somebody in a different generation above theirs that they would enjoy getting to know, spending time with. And then they get matched with one of those people and they enter a yearlong mentorship relationship. And I'm just thinking, one, their mentors all happen to be open nesters. And the male and female who have mentored our nieces and nephews, the female took our nieces, would send them a copy of a recipe, say, get these groceries this week. I'm coming to your house on Tuesday and we're going to cook all of this together and have it ready for your family dinner. Just so practical and that they just build a love for each other. And then a similar thing with our nephews, where whatever that mentor's skill was, he was great at even making, I think, wood fired pizzas and just showing them practical skills, but relationally investing. And you see the youth's growth and maturity from that discipleship. Dr. Kara Powell: (35:03 - 36:17) So, yeah, that's awesome. And not only the young people, but the adults, too. Like what's been so great, Laura, is, you know, while much of our research has looked at how adults change young people and how churches change young people, every time we study that, we see how young people change adults and churches, too. So, you know, for that male and female who are mentoring your nieces and nephews, how they come to understand more about themselves, God, life, scripture, as they're spending time with young people, that's just really, really powerful. So, I also want to highlight, I love how your example, how it starts by asking young people, like who are some adults that you would like to spend more time with that you look up to? And, you know, we would do that with our kids when we needed babysitters. Like who are some adults that you would like to get to know and how wonderful then that we could ask those adults, especially if they were of babysitting age, to come and be with our kids. And that way we were getting the babysitting we needed and our kids were getting the mentoring that they needed. So, so, yes, I think, you know, giving a young person some agency and who they spend time with, that's really beautiful in that example. Laura Dugger: (36:18 - 36:21) Oh, that's and that's genius for a family life. Dr. Kara Powell: (36:21 - 36:22) Yeah, exactly, exactly. Laura Dugger: (36:23 - 36:39) Well, you also share some other helpful tips for churches, such as considering questions like, would anyone miss our church if it closed down? So, do you have any other practical tips that you want to make sure we don't miss? Dr. Kara Powell: (36:39 - 40:19) Yeah, yeah. I think, yeah, I'll offer a few questions that we have found really helpful. And I'll start with questions when your kids are in elementary and then I'll give a couple of questions when your kids are older. So, so one of the questions that we love asking at dinner when our kids were in elementary was, how did you see God at work today? And I will say that when I first raised that question, one of my daughters said, “Well, mommy, I can't answer that question. And I said, why not?” She said, “Well, I don't have a job. How did you see God at work today? So, then we had to say, well, how did you see God working today?” And I, you know, and equally important as our kids asking that question is that we were, excuse me, as our kids answering that question is that we were answering that question. And so, so, you know, any way that you can involve meaningful sharing, whether it's a dinner, whether it's a bedtime and that you are sharing, too. So, so that that's been a great one for our family. And then when your kids get older, a couple come to mind. One is two pairs of questions actually come to mind. One is, you know, the phrase never make a statement. Maybe you can ask the question said sometimes we do need to offer our advice as parents, our perspective. And I have found when I do that with my kids is now that they're late young adults, if I ask them first, well, what do you disagree with and what I said and give them an opportunity to critique what I said, then and then I ask a second question. OK, well, what might you agree with and what I said? They're far more open to sharing what they agree with if they first have had a chance to critique me. So, I offer that as in those moments when you do need to offer your opinion or perspective, how can we still make it a dialogue? One way is to invite your kid to critique you. And they'll probably point out things that you do need to reconsider, or at least it's good to hear those from your young person. Another pair of questions that that I have found so helpful with our kids is as they get older and really come to own their own faith. I love asking our kids, what do you now believe that you think I don't believe? And what do you no longer believe that you think I still believe? So, what do you now believe that you think I don't believe? And what do you no longer believe that you think I still believe? What I love about that is that it's making overt that our faith is going to continue to change and grow. And that's true for all of us. And it also makes differences discussable, because I'd far rather know how my kids' faith is changing and how it's different or similar than mine than not know. And, you know, as we've asked our kids those questions over the years, sometimes their answer is like, not much has changed. Like, you know, but other times they do have different opinions that they want to share with me. And then I try to have that non-defensive, oh, OK, well, I'm curious. Then again, starting phrase with I'm curious and then asking a question has given us some of the best conversations. So, you can get really tangible. How did you see God at work today? But then as your kids get older, ask questions that that are more open-ended and can help you really understand where your kids are at. Laura Dugger: (40:20 - 41:15) I love that. And I'm just thinking if people are listening like I listen to podcasts, it's when I'm on the go, when I'm doing a walk in the morning or if I'm cleaning around the house. And if you don't get a chance to take notes, we do have transcripts available now for all these episodes, but I would think so many people have written in about dialogue and questions for teenagers and how to handle. And I love the way you responded to all of that. So, even grab the transcript and write down those questions and try them at dinner or bedtime tonight. But then even thinking of churches for practical tips, what do you have as far as hospitality and the impact that it could make if we're building relationships through hospitality? But you also call out three ways to build relationships through sharing meals, sharing stories and sharing experiences. Dr. Kara Powell: (41:15 - 43:08) Yeah, absolutely. You know, I think you've named it, Laura. How do we have a hospitable, open heart and open churches? And I just want to go back to this question. Like, is our church a place that our kids and our grandkids would want to be part of? And if we keep asking that question, I think it helps us prioritize the next generation and make space for them at our meals, within our stories and within our experiences. Now, I will say this, you know, I talk so much about intergenerational relationships and bringing the generations together. Like, I do think there's a time and a place for 16-year-olds to be on their own and 46-year-olds to be on their own and 76-year-olds to be on their own. It's just finding that balance of when do we bring all the generations together? And then when do we want to have those special life development, life stage development conversations ourselves? And most churches are swinging far more toward we keep generations separate and need to swing the pendulum back to how can we have shared meals together? How can we serve together in ways that are shared? And, you know, I'll just say this last thought when it comes to sharing experiences, especially those that are service. You know, a lot of churches have young people who are serving. They're in children's ministry, they're in sound, they're in tech, etc. And that's awesome. And I think the question becomes, like, how can that young person be more than just a warm body who passes out graham crackers? And how can I think, OK, I'm teaching third graders and I'm also trying to mentor this 15-year-old who's working with me with the third graders and same with sound. So, you know, anytime you're interacting with young people, it's an opportunity to influence, especially as you're sharing more about yourself. Laura Dugger: (43:10 - 43:15) Love that. And you seem like an idea person as well. So, I'm going to bounce another idea. Dr. Kara Powell: (43:16 - 43:16) Yeah. Laura Dugger: (43:16 - 43:45) What I'm gathering is obviously we're keeping Jesus at the center and you're not downplaying the need for scripture or Bible study. And those kind of things but also adding there is value in I'm thinking shared experience. Specifically, I'm thinking of pickleball. It's something that appeals to a wide age range. What if your church had invested in a pickleball sport to do something that could bring people together? So, what are your thoughts on that? Dr. Kara Powell: (43:45 - 45:22) Yeah. Yeah. Pickleball, you know, senior adults who need tech help from teenagers. That's another great way to connect people. I mean, any kind of shared interest 1 Thessalonians 2:8 is such an important scripture passage for me when it comes to discipleship. And Paul writes that we were delighted to share with you not just the gospel, but our very lives. And so, how can we share life, whether it's pickleball, whether it's pizza? I'm running out of alliteration here. I was trying to do something else that started with P. And for leaders who are listening, how can you take what you're already doing and make it more intergenerational? So, that's the other thing we like to tell churches is whether it's pickleball or whether it's well, we're already serving at the local homeless center to help people who are unhoused. Well, instead of that only being a youth event, maybe make that an all church event and see if adults come who can be mentoring young people. So, you know, I love what one church did. Many churches have done this, actually, when they're looking for small group for homes where small groups can be for young people instead of going to like the parents of the teenagers. What if we go to our senior adults or our open or slash empty nesters and see if they'll open their homes? Because then it's bringing more adults into contact with young people. And those adults who open their homes can also open their lives. So, yeah, just continuing to ask, how can we make this more of a connection across generations? Goodness. Laura Dugger: (45:22 - 45:39) And you have so many ideas and some of these are mentioned in this book, but you've also written many more helpful resources. So, will you give us an overview of the other books that you've authored and share a bit of what we might find if we read? Dr. Kara Powell: (45:39 - 46:42) Yeah. So, our most recent book, as you've mentioned, is Future Focus Church, and that's especially geared to help leaders know how to move a ministry from where they are now to where God wants it to be. It's been so great to journey with leaders through that. Probably our best book that offers a ton of questions you can ask young people is Three Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, where we get into identity, belonging and purpose, which I mentioned. And we have over 300 questions that an adult, whether it's a family member or a mentor or a neighbor or congregant can use with young people. And then the last one I'll offer is The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family comes out of our previous Sticky Faith research. How do you help young people have faith that lasts? We have a special chapter in that book for grandparents. So, for any grandparents who are listening, that whole book and that chapter is a great resource. But also we have had a lot of parents, stepparents say that The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family has been one of their favorite books. Laura Dugger: (46:43 - 47:02) That's incredible. I'll have to link to those in the show notes for today's episode. But I'm sure you're aware we are called The Savvy Sauce because Savvy is anonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, what is your Savvy Sauce? Dr. Kara Powell: (47:03 - 48:16) That's a really good question, Laura. OK, I'll say I'll share the first thing that came to mind when you asked it. Gosh, probably 10 or 12 years ago, I read a book and from the book I adapted a phrase for my work life and my personal life, which is if it's not a definite yes, it's a no. As a busy mom, as a busy employee, as a busy leader, I see potential in so many things. And so, I want to say yes to so many things. And then I end up tired. I end up empty. I end up not being able to say yes to something maybe better that comes a month later because I've already committed to, you know, plan my seventh graders camping trip or give a talk or, you know, whatever it might be. And so, that phrase, we made it a six-month experiment in the Foley Youth Institute as well as in our family. Like it's not a definite yes, it's a no. And it really helped us say no to things, trim and I think find a much more manageable pace. So, as we pray, as we pray, it's not a definite yes, it's a no. That's been game changing for me. Laura Dugger: (48:17 - 48:57) Well, I love how much you've modeled applying these things at your work or in our church, but also in our family life. It's all transferable. And Kara, this has just been a super special conversation because you've been on my list to have a conversation with for over a decade, probably since I got my hands on Sticky Faith. And I just appreciate we've been talking as we were praying before we were recording. You desire so much, not only for young people, but for all people to experience this abundant life in Christ. And I'm so grateful for you and just want to say thank you for being my guest. Dr. Kara Powell: (48:57 - 49:03) Oh, my pleasure, Laura. And thanks to you and how you serve your audience as well as our world. It's been an honor. Laura Dugger: (49:04 - 52:19) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news. Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved. We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him. That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started. First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process. And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today. And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.
Episode 76 is all about "Nancy Drew & the Mystery of Crocodile Island", in which the Clue Crew heads back to the Everglades for another Floridian adventure. Join your hosts Rose and Shelley as they discuss near-chompings, the ins-and-outs of owning a joke shop, the probability of snakes falling from the ceiling, how to infiltrate a Boy Scout tour, and why it's important to fire your crocodiles. In better news, Nancy leaves a note, there's nearly an impromptu submarine trip to Mexico, and a new PGA pro golfer is discovered during the course of crime. Rated 8 out of 12 Lord CharmingsRecommendations:The Butcher and the Wren & The Butcher Game by Alaina UrquhartWeapons (movie)The Knight and the Moth by Rachel GilligSupport the showhttps://www.instagram.com/itsacluepodcast/
October is in full swing, and we're cracking open the door to the other side! We've got terrifying Ouija board tales pulled from Reddit's darkest corners: a haunted doll harboring the sinister Tall Man, a Boy Scout camp session that unleashed something calling itself The Beast, and a pair of mischievous twins whose Ouija board session spiraled so far out of control that their mom ended up possessed. But what's October without costumes and curiosities? Corinne is serving sexy, brooding Edgar Allan Poe and Sabrina is dripping in blood as Carrie. Our studio is crowded with haunted objects plus our ghost cam, cat ball, and EMF reader keeping us on edge. Will the spirits behave, or are we in for a month-long haunting? Links to Reddit stories in this episode: BoyScout Story Tall Man Thetruthishere Get tickets to the October 8th live show here. Watch the video version here. Have ghost stories of your own? E-mail them to us at twogirlsoneghostpodcast@gmail.com New Episodes are released every Thursday and Sunday at 12am PST/3am EST (the witching hour, of course). Corinne and Sabrina hand select a couple of paranormal encounters from our inbox to read in each episode, from demons, to cryptids, to aliens, to creepy kids... the list goes on and on. If you have a story of your own that you'd like us to share on an upcoming episode, we invite you to email them to us! If you enjoy our show, please consider joining our Patreon, rating and reviewing on iTunes & Spotify and following us on social media! Youtube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Discord. Edited by Jaimi Ryan and produced by Emma Leventer and Jaimi Ryan, original music by Arms Akimbo! Disclaimer: the use of white sage and smudging is a closed practice. If you're looking to cleanse your space, here are some great alternatives! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
STRANGE Cases of MIssing BOY SCOUTSBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.
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What does 40 years in commercial real estate teach you?In this episode, we sit down with Allen Buchanan — one of the most respected veterans in brokerage — to talk about the habits, mistakes, and mindset that make or break a CRE career.We dig into:
Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Paulie welcomes back Dr. Greg Rockhold, a seasoned educator and leader with nearly 30 years of experience and service, including on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Known for his thought-provoking LinkedIn posts, Dr. Rockhold joins to discuss one of his most pressing concerns: the lack of preparation first-year teachers receive before being thrown into the classroom “frying pan.”Together, they explore why teacher preparation programs often fall short, how systemic issues leave new educators vulnerable to burnout, and what schools and districts can do to better support them. The conversation also touches on the potential of simulations and artificial intelligence as game changers in teacher training and education at large—tools that could revolutionize how educators build skills before they ever step into a classroom.Key Topics CoveredThe hidden challenges first-year teachers face in today's classrooms.Why traditional teacher preparation programs aren't enough.The critical role of leadership in supporting and retaining new educators.Lessons from the Marine Corps and Boy Scouts about preparation and adaptability.How simulations and AI could transform teacher training and student learning.Practical steps districts can take to reduce teacher turnover and empower staff.Why Listen?If you're a school leader, teacher, policymaker, or parent, this conversation will shed light on the realities of teaching and why so many educators leave the profession early. You'll walk away with actionable insights on how to create systems that prepare, support, and sustain teachers—because when teachers thrive, students do too.
I had Mike Benner on to discuss the 1991 movie 'The Last Boy Scout'. Hell yeah.
Episode Title: Operation Golf Club Entrapment Pt. 1Episode SummaryAaron and Devin return with updates on their fitness journeys and an unexpected development: Aaron has actually ridden his bike to work twice (before school schedule changes made it impossible). Devin shares his calf injury saga from pushing too hard in marathon training, though he's recovered with just weeks before the big race. Both hosts continue their intermittent fasting journeys with surprising consistency.The episode takes a dramatic turn when Aaron and Brian Duncan execute "Operation Golf Club Entrapment" - leaving a complete set of clubs on Devin's patio while he's away. What follows is a spirited debate about whether Devin should take up golf for business development purposes, complete with counteroffers and negotiations.The conversation shifts to more serious territory as Aaron voices concerns about his son's school requiring iPad use for everything - homework, assignments, announcements - with zero paper alternatives. This sparks a broader discussion about technology addiction, the damage done to the "iPad generation," and whether schools are making things worse by mandating constant screen time while parents try to limit it at home.Episode DescriptionWhen golf clubs appear on your patio and iPads dominate your kid's education.Join Aaron and Devin for an episode covering calf injuries, intermittent fasting wins, and the great golf club ambush of 2025. Plus, a thought-provoking discussion about whether schools are undermining parents' efforts to limit screen time.In this episode:Aaron's bike commuting update (he did it twice!)Devin's calf injury and recovery just weeks before marathonBrian Duncan's golf club "gift" and the entrapment debateShould Devin become a golf guy for business development?Aaron's Boy Scout considerations and Civil Air Patrol historyMajor parenting concern: Schools requiring iPads for everythingTechnology addiction and setting limits for kids (and ourselves)The damage we've done to the iPad generationAI hype versus AI realityPerfect for: Parents concerned about screen time in schools, dads managing fitness setbacks, anyone who's ever been peer-pressured into a new hobby, and listeners who appreciate honest conversations about technology's impact on kids."I don't want to send my kids to school after... I put a hard stop on all of our screens at home... and then sending them to school to be on the iPad all day."Connect with the Cycling Dads:For golf business development strategies: Ask Aaron (but not Devon)For real estate needs: Contact Devon at Remax ResultsFor technology parenting concerns: We're all struggling togetherSponsors:Remax Results (Devon's company and studio headquarters)Brian Duncan's Golf Club Redistribution Program (apparently)
Pastor Jarrod Walls delivers a powerful message about finding God's presence and purpose in the midst of life's storms. Drawing from Matthew 14:22-33 and 1 Peter 4:12-13, he explores how hardship isn't something to be surprised by, but rather an opportunity for spiritual growth and deeper intimacy with Christ.In this sermon, Pastor Jarrod shares practical insights about different types of people who face storms - from the perpetually surprised to the prepared "Boy Scout" types - and encourages believers to become like the "old farmer" who remains calm because he knows who commands the storm. Using the familiar story of Jesus walking on water, he reveals how God sometimes sends us into difficult situations not to harm us, but to show us His glory and build our faith.
We kick off Survivor Season 49 with a new approach from us and a wild start from the cast. We compare the U.S. premiere to Australian Survivor: Heroes v Villains and Global All-Stars vibes, break down both challenges, and talk through the early tribe dynamics on Blue, Red, and Yellow. You will hear why Rizzo and Savannah are already getting extra attention, how Alex and Jake formed a quick bromance, why Yellow clicked from day one, and what went wrong for Blue at Tribal. We also walk through the “journey” twist, the shoe bandit bit, and where we think the power will sit heading into Episode 2.00:00 Welcome and why we went in with minimal prep this season02:50 What we watched during the break and why Aussie Survivor hits different05:40 The edit, star power, and why Rizzo and Savannah pop07:05 Alternates explained and how Jason and Mick slid into Yellow08:10 Early reads on Savannah and Rizzo09:00 Tribe roll call: Blue, Red, Yellow and first strengths11:45 First beach marooning challenge breakdown15:50 Why Yellow won and how communication beat brute force17:45 Alex vs. Rizzo on the journey, the puzzle copy moment, and the dig20:45 Red's big return, Rizzo's story, and Blue's supportive read on Alex22:40 Blue alliance threads: Jake, Alex, Sophie, Jeremiah24:10 Red's first camp dynamics, Savannah's job choice, and Nate's “superhero team” lens27:00 Yellow camp chemistry, Matt's Boy Scout energy, Steven's social game30:30 The shoe bandit bit and why it matters more than it looks33:10 Building real alliances vs. naming people as “pull-ins”36:20 Immunity and reward challenge breakdown40:20 Where Annie and Nicole struggled on the maze board and why Yellow cruised43:10 Blue's Tribal priorities and the Shot in the Dark question45:20 Nicole's exit, what the vote says, and Blue's path forward47:00 Episode 2 preview signals and our early favoritesYellow is synced on communication and roles. That wins early challenges.Red has observant playmakers. Savannah clocks small details and lets others talk.Blue showed promise with Alex and Jake but needs cleaner puzzle coordination.The journey twist still rewards awareness. If you finish first, scramble your puzzle.Social framing matters on day one. “Gym bro” bonds and quiet investigator reads can shape a tribe.Being the mom or dad figure is fine if you deliver in challenges and avoid over-managing.Secret pairs inside a bigger group are already forming on Blue.Tribal was about keeping challenge strength. Nicole's social upside was not enough this early.“We wanted to go in like you do, without overchecking every little detail.”“Australian Survivor feels like old-school Survivor trying to make a blockbuster. Different vibe, still works.”“If you finish your puzzle first, mess it up. Make them earn it.”“Yellow did not win on strength. They won on communication.”“Everyone thinks an alliance is ‘theirs.' That is how you get voting blocs.”“Confidence plays. Overconfidence paints a target.”Enjoying the coverage? Follow and subscribe, drop a 5-star review, and share this episode with a Survivor friend. Tag us with your Episode 2 predictions using #GeekFreaksPod.What was your biggest Episode 1 surprise and who are your early winner picks? Send questions and hot takes for next week's mailbag. Use #GeekFreaksPod or message us on Instagram or Twitter.
This week, the Contessa sits down with longtime friend and Houston community leader Tracy Dieterich — a philanthropist, activist, husband, and proud girl dad whose world revolves around his family and his passion for giving back. From his roots in a modest household to becoming Senior Vice President, partner, and shareholder in the commercial insurance industry, Tracy has always believed we have a responsibility to serve others. His journey was shaped early on by his mentor and Big Brother, Kelly, who sparked his love of travel and broadened his horizons. Though he didn't take his first trip to Europe until age 32, Tracy has since explored the world while dedicating his life to building meaningful relationships and making an impact at home. Tracy shares how connection is at the heart of everything he does — from founding the Men's Toolbox Lunch to encourage men to gather vulnerably and authentically, to championing causes like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Dress for Success Houston, the Houston Symphony, and the Boy Scouts of America. He and his wife, Valerie, will even co-chair the upcoming Dress for Success Gala together. Tune in to hear how Tracy has built a life centered on connection, purpose, and generosity — and why he believes true success comes from giving back.
What are the differences between a healthy masculinity and macho masculinity—big differences. In better days, the Boy Scouts, Goodwill Industries, the Salvation Army, and some other Christian charities were, indeed, thoroughly Christian. I brought out the importance of Law Enforcement, a strong military, and the Second Amendment, and the necessity of men and women on the force and in the military being men and women of character and virtue.
When you and your guest - both former Boy Scouts - talk about summer camp, rifle shooting, and accidentally shooting the clothes line holding all of the targets up at the range. From our episode with Jeff Polaschek
(Recorded 9/18/2025.)Ryan and I are joined by his old troop mate Kiernan. He talks to us about his time in Cub Scouts and Eagle Scouts, his experience as a soccer referee, and the places he's traveled.
I'm taking a look at Bigfoot sightings in Idaho this week, in Custer County, in honor of Dr. Jeff Meldrum, who sadly passed away last week. A one of the few mainstream scientists to take the Bigfoot phenomenon seriously, Dr. Meldrum brought a keen scientific eye to footprints, behaviors, and other evidence of the legendary creature's existence. He was a longtime professor of anthropology at Idaho State University, so this week I'm examining Sasquatch stories from the state he was best known for. A river rafter has rocks thrown at him by an unseen creature, a man hears something monstrous stalking around outside his tent, a camp staffer hears horrifying screams at night outside his cabin, Boy Scouts see a Bigfoot cross the trail in front of them as they hike, and a hunter sees a Sasquatch walking along a ridge. Do you think Bigfoot roams the Gem State?Chapters:0:21 - Jeff Meldrum: Remembering a Legend4:22 - River rafter has rocks thrown toward him while hiking near Sheepeater Hot Springs11:26 - Possible stalking outside a campers' tent in the White Knob mountains19:02 - Possible vocalizations heard by staff at Redfish Lake near Stanley27:00 - Hiking deaf Boy Scouts have midday sighting near Cape Horn Lake35:11 - Hunter has early morning sighting near Challis#bigfoot #idaho #jeffmeldrum #custercounty #cryptozoology Links!Follow us on Social media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oddanduntold/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oddanduntoldWebsite: https://www.oddanduntold.comEmail me! : jason@oddanduntold.comMerch Store: https://oddanduntold.creator-spring.comBigfoot Howls in New York: https://youtu.be/JnO1VTbsmUY?si=5cqpJmzy1Jp5jzg5Bear or Bigfoot? with Josh Diaz: https://youtu.be/4i6AdmT_aQ0?si=QJXliYDGQxEP1aw0Ross Pond Bigfoot Encounter?: https://youtu.be/-C5KwYgP3po?si=KpScBM3pM8JQ1ihbBFRO Bigfoot Sightings - Custer County, Idaho: https://www.bfro.net/GDB/show_county_reports.asp?state=id&county=CusterCheck out Riversend, the band behind "Moonlight," our awesome theme music!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1yIwfeu2cH1kDZaMYxKOUe?si=NIUijnmsQe6LNWOsfZ2jPwRiversend Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiversendbandRiversend Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riversendband/
NATO allies confer after Russian incursions, Brad Littlejohn on holding Apple accountable, and Collin Garbarino reviews Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. Plus, a Boy Scout saves a life, Matthew West's new song offers hope, and the Tuesday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from Planted Gap Year, where young adults combine Bible classes, hands-on farming, and outdoor adventure. More at plantedgapyear.orgFrom PrayMore, a new app for churches to share prayer requests with members and send reminders to pray. Free trial available at praymore.com/worldAnd from iWitness. Powerful audio dramas bringing faith, courage, and history to life in unforgettable ways. iwitnesspod.com
September 16, 2025 - Dale Colee joined Byers & Co to preview Pharmacy Facts with Friends that will include information on the Boy Scouts' Dueling Pianos and HSHS St. Mary's Hospital's 10th Annual Share Walk for Remembrance and Hope events. Listen to the podcast now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Read the article at comedywham.com Episode #360 Terrence Yon talks with Valerie Lopez about Early influences and the Boy Scouts motto Discovering comedy and improv in Austin Producing, teaching, and how he adapted the Boy Scout motto into a lifelong philosophy Recorded September 2025 at Fallout Theater Podcast Studio Follow Terrence Linktree - linktr.ee/laughatyon YouTube - youtube.com/@laughatyon Instagram - laughatyon Facebook - facebook.com/IMustBeGhost Terrence can be seen and heard: The Crossover - where standup meets short-form improv. 3rd Saturdays 8:30pm at ColdTowne Theater Tin Foil Hat Club Podcast On the Rise Comedy - Dates TBA Follow @ComedyWham on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, and Tiktok If you'd like to support our independent podcast, check out our Patreon page at: Patreon.com/comedywham . You can also support us on Venmo or Paypal - just search for ComedyWham.
In this episode, Brian welcomes Bennett from the Broadcasting Seeds podcast. Bennett shares his lifelong interest in cryptids, particularly Bigfoot, which began with his childhood fascination with mythology and creatures like the Loch Ness Monster. The conversation covers Bennett's various encounters with Bigfoot, including a traumatic experience as a child during a Boy Scouts camp in Illinois and a tense encounter in Alaska during his military service. Bennett also discusses high strangeness phenomena, such as unexplained smells and sounds, and explores theories around the possible bioluminescence and defensive mechanisms of Bigfoot. Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our Sponsors00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:25 Childhood Fascination with Bigfoot 02:27 First Encounter: Boy Scouts in Illinois 13:27 Military Encounter in Alaska 19:35 Exploring the Allegheny National Forest 25:13 Mysterious Encounters and Strange Findings 25:29 Bluff Charge Incident and Unexplained Drag Marks 26:53 The Blair Witch Stick Structures 27:45 Gifting Experiment and Strange Discoveries 29:35 Nighttime Camp Intrusions and Camera Malfunctions 33:31 Near-Death Experience and Aura Perception 36:45 High Strangeness and Glowing Eyes 41:56 The Importance of Open-Minded Research 45:44 Podcast Promotion and Closing RemarksBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sasquatch-odyssey--4839697/support.
Hour 1 of A&G features... Charlie Kirk's killer caught & Jack's Boy Scout event Katie Green's Headlines! Joe kills all of the joy in forgetting C.O.W. & C.O.W. Clips of the Week Mailbag! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hour 1 of A&G features... Charlie Kirk's killer caught & Jack's Boy Scout event Katie Green's Headlines! Joe kills all of the joy in forgetting C.O.W. & C.O.W. Clips of the Week Mailbag! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
List: Things boy scouts should sell door to door HR 3 full 2201 Fri, 12 Sep 2025 17:54:45 +0000 OHUm2km9vbsQiuNG8Ijy29vMY4bKZHHY news MIDDAY with JAYME & WIER news List: Things boy scouts should sell door to door HR 3 From local news & politics, to what's trending, sports & personal stories...MIDDAY with JAYME & WIER will get you through the middle of your day! © 2025 Audacy, Inc. News False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?
In this podcast, we talk about the problem of the “uniform police” in Scouting and how Scout leaders can encourage proper wear of the Scout uniform without turning it into a negative experience. The Scouting uniform is a powerful symbol of belonging, but when leaders focus too much on patches, badges, and Class A rules, it can distract from the true values of Scouting America. We'll share practical Scoutmaster advice, leadership tips, and ways to build Scout spirit, promote inclusion, and keep the Boy Scouts of America uniform meaningful without becoming the dreaded “uniform police.”
List Nominations: Things Boy Scouts Should Sell door to door HR 3 full 2157 Thu, 11 Sep 2025 18:11:21 +0000 i4cbLrPbmSy2DoiteaBEvikZsWBzXWa8 news MIDDAY with JAYME & WIER news List Nominations: Things Boy Scouts Should Sell door to door HR 3 From local news & politics, to what's trending, sports & personal stories...MIDDAY with JAYME & WIER will get you through the middle of your day! © 2025 Audacy, Inc. News False https://player.amperwavepod
Hour 3 of A&G features... Zelensky's message for European nations... Global Warming data is misleading... Malcolm Gladwell reverses course on Trans Athletes... Jack's Boy Scouts experience! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hour 3 of A&G features... Zelensky's message for European nations... Global Warming data is misleading... Malcolm Gladwell reverses course on Trans Athletes... Jack's Boy Scouts experience! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr. Wilson is a research chemist and coordinator of the Cannabis Research Program in the Chemical Sciences Division at the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Greensboro College followed by a M.S. degree in Chemistry from the same institution. He then moved south to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Central Florida, training in the lab of Prof. Andres D. Campiglia. In a wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the influence of 2000's television shows such as CSI on Brent's interest in forensic science and analytical chemistry, and how an informal interview at a poster session ultimately led to the position he now holds at NIST. Dr. Wilson shares how he navigated the educational landscapes in forensic science and chemistry, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. We discuss the evolution of cannabis standards and analytical characterization in recent years, and Brent shares his perspective on the importance of standards in general, the birth of a reference material, and the significant effort it takes to bring these materials to the point where analytical scientists like us can purchase them. Dr. Wilson also describes some of his work on low-temperature emission spectroscopy techniques, where molecule exhibit much narrower and specific emission bands compared to room temperature detection. Brent also shares more about the life of a scientist within NIST, from day-to-day activities, competing for federal funding, and more. Finally, Dr. Wilson shares some professional advice, including the importance of being prepared and adaptable, the value of talking with people at conferences, and the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships over the course of one's career.
In this week's episode, I take a look back at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Summer 2025. This coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Ghost in the Serpent, Book #1 in the Ghost Armor series, (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) at my Payhip store: FALLSERPENT50 The coupon code is valid through September 15, 2025 (please note the shorter expiration date). So if you need a new audiobook this fall, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 267 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is September 5, 2025 and today I'm doing a review roundup of the movies and streaming shows I saw in Summer 2025. Before we do that, we will have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing and audiobook projects. First up, this week's coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Ghost in the Serpent, Book One in the Ghost Armor series (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) at my Payhip store. That is FALLSERPENT50. This coupon code will be valid through September 15th, 2025 (exactly one week). So if you need a new audiobook to listen to as we head into fall, we have got you covered. Now for an update on my current writing and audiobook projects. I am pleased to report that the rough draft of Blade of Flames, which will be the first book in my new Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series is finished. The rough draft came at about 90,000 words long, which was what I was aiming for. Next up, I will be writing a short story set as sort of a bonus in that plot line called Thunder Hammer and that will be the backstory of one of the characters in Blade of Flames. And when Blade of Flames comes out (which will hopefully be later this September), newsletter subscribers will get a free ebook copy of Thunder Hammer. So this is an excellent time to subscribe to my newsletter. I am also 8,000 words into Cloak of Worlds. At long last, I am coming back to the Cloak Mage series after nearly a year's absence. Longtime listeners will know the reason was that I had five unfinished series and I wanted to spend the summer of 2025 finishing the unfinished ones and focusing up so I will only have three ongoing series at any given time. I'm hoping Blade of Flames will come out before the end of September and Cloak of Worlds before the end of October, and after that I will be able to return to the Rivah series at long last. In audiobook news, recording is finished on Shield of Power. That will be excellently narrated by Brad Wills and hopefully once it gets through processing and quality assurance and everything, it should be showing up on the various audiobook stores before too much longer. Hollis McCarthy is about halfway through the recording of Ghost in the Siege, which was, as you know, the last book in the Ghost Armor series that just came out. And if all goes well, the audiobook should be coming out probably in October once everything is done with recording and quality assurance and all that. So that is where I'm at with my current writing and audiobook projects. 00:02:34 Main Topic: Summer 2025 Movie/TV Roundup So without further ado, let's head into our main topic. The end of summer is nigh, which means this time for my summer movie review roundup. As is usual for the summer, I saw a lot of movies, so this will be one of the longer episodes. For some reason I ended up watching a bunch of westerns. As always, the movies are ranked from least favorite to most favorite. The grades of course are totally subjective and based on nothing more than my own opinions, impressions, and interpretations. Now on to the movies. First up is the Austin Powers trilogy, the three movies of which came out in 1997, 1999, and 2002. The Austin Powers movies came out just as the Internet really got going in terms of mass adoption, which is likewise why so many Austin Powers and Dr. Evil memes are embedded in online culture. Despite that, I had never really seen any of them all the way through. They've been on in the background on TBS or whatever quite a bit when I visited people, but I've never seen them all. But I happened upon a DVD of the trilogy for $0.25 (USD), so I decided for 25 cents I would give it a go. I would say the movies were funny, albeit not particularly good. Obviously the Austin Powers movies are a parody of the James Bond movies. The movies kind of watch like an extended series of Saturday Night Live skits, only loosely connected, like the skit is what if Dr. Evil had a son named Scott who wasn't impressed with him or another skit was what if a British agent from the ‘60s arrives in the ‘90s and experiences culture clash? What if Dr. Evil didn't understand the concept of inflation and demanded only a million dollars from the United Nations? What if Dr. Evil was actually Austin's brother and they went to school together at Spy Academy? Michael Caine was pretty great as Austin's father. Overall, funny but fairly incoherent. Overall grade: C- Next up is Horrible Bosses, a very dark and very raunchy comedy from about 14 years ago. It came out in 2011. Interestingly, this movie reflects what I think is one of the major crises of the contemporary era, frequent failures of leadership at all levels of society. In the movie Nick, Dale, and Kurt are lifelong friends living in LA and all three of them have truly horrible bosses in their place of employment, ranging from a sociopathic finance director, the company founder's cokehead son, and a boorish dentist with a tendency to sexual harassment. At the bar, they fantasize about killing their horrible bosses and then mutually decide to do something about it. Obviously, they'd all be prime suspects in the murder of their own bosses, but if they killed each other's bosses, that would allow them to establish airtight alibis. However, since Nick, Dale and Kurt are not as bright as they think they are, it all goes hilariously wrong very quickly. Bob Hope has a hilarious cameo. If the best “crude comedies” I've seen are Anchorman, Zoolander, Tropic Thunder, and Dodgeball, and the worst one was MacGruber, I'd say Horrible Bosses lands about in the middle. Overall grade: C Next up is Cowboys and Aliens, which came out in 2011. Now I almost saw this in 2011 when it came out, but I was too busy to go to the theater in July of 2011, so I finally saw it here in 2025 and I would say this was almost a great movie, like the performances were great, the concept was great, the scenery was great, the special effects were great, and the story was packed full of really interesting ideas, but somehow they just didn't coalesce. I'm not entirely sure why. I think upon reflection, it was that the movie is just too overcrowded with too many characters and too many subplots. Anyway, Daniel Craig portrays a man who wakes up with no memory in the Old West, with a mysterious bracelet locked around his wrist. He makes his way to the town of Atonement, and promptly gets arrested because he is apparently a notorious outlaw (which he doesn't remember). While he is locked in jail, space aliens attack the town. The aliens, for unknown reasons, abduct many of the townspeople, and Daniel Craig's character, who is named Jake even if he doesn't remember it, must lead the town's effort to recover their abducted citizens. Harrison's Ford has an excellent performance as this awful cattle baron who nonetheless has virtues of courage and fortitude that you can't help but admire. An excellent performance. That said, the movie was just too packed, and I thought it would work better as a novel. After I watched the movie, it turned out that it was indeed based off a graphic novel. Novels and graphic novels allow for a far more complex story than a movie, and I don't think this movie quite managed to handle the transition from a graphic novel to a film. Overall grade: C Next up is Heads of State, which came out in 2025. This was kind of a stupid movie. However, the fundamental question of any movie, shouted to the audience by Russell Crow in Gladiator is, “are you not entertained?!?” I was thoroughly entertained watching this, so entertained I actually watched it twice. Not everything has to be Shakespeare or a profound meditation on the unresolvable conflicts inherent within human nature. Anyway, John Cena plays Will Derringer, newly elected President of the United States. Idris Elba plays Sam Clark, who has now been the UK Prime Minister for the last six years. Derringer was an action star who parleyed his celebrity into elected office (in the same way Arnold Schwarzenegger did), while Clarke is an army veteran who worked his way up through the UK's political system. Needless to say, the cheerful Derringer and the grim Clarke take an immediate dislike to each other. However, they'll have to team up when Air Force One is shot down, stranding them in eastern Europe. They'll have to make their way home while evading their enemies to unravel the conspiracy that threatens world peace. So half action thriller, half buddy road trip comedy. The premise really doesn't work if you think about it too much for more than thirty seconds, but the movie was funny and I enjoyed it. Jack Quaid really stole his scenes as a crazy but hyper-competent CIA officer. Overall grade: C+ Next up, Captain America: Brave New World, which came out in 2025 and I think this movie ended up on the good side of middling. You can definitely tell it went through a lot of reshoots and retooling, and I suspect the various film industry strikes hit it like a freight train. But we ended up with a reasonably solid superhero thriller. Sam Wilson is now Captain America. He's not superhuman the way Steve Rogers was and doesn't have magic powers or anything, so he kind of fights like the Mandalorian – a very capable fighter who relies on excellent armor. Meanwhile, in the grand American political tradition of failing upward, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who spent years persecuting The Hulk and whose meddling caused the Avengers to disband right before Thanos attacked, has now been elected President. To Wilson's surprise, Ross reaches out and wants him to restart the Avengers. But Ross (as we know) did a lot of shady black ops stuff for years, and one of his projects is coming back to haunt him. Wilson finds himself in the middle of a shadowy conspiracy, and it's up to him to figure out what's going on before it's too late. I was amused that lifelong government apparatchik Ross wanted to restart the Avengers, because when the Avengers had their biggest victory in Avengers: Endgame, they were essentially unsanctioned vigilantes bankrolled by a rogue tech billionaire. Overall grade: B- Next up is Ironheart, which came out in 2025. I'd say Ironheart was about 40% very weird and 60% quite good. It's sort of like the modern version of Dr. Faustus. The show got some flak on the Internet from the crossfire between the usual culture war people, but the key to understanding it is to realize that Riri Williams AKA Ironheart is in fact an antihero who's tottering on the edge of becoming a full-blown supervillain. Like Tony Stark, she's a once-in-a-generation scientific talent, but while she doesn't have Stark's alcohol problems, she's emotionally unstable, immature, ruthless, indifferent to collateral damage and consequences, and suffering from severe PTSD after her best friend and stepfather were killed in a drive-by shooting. This volatile mix gets her thrown out of MIT after her experiments cause too much destruction, and she has to go home to Chicago. To get the funds to keep working on her Iron Man armor, she turns to crime, and falls in with a gang of high-end thieves led by a mysterious figure named Hood. It turns out that Hood has actual magic powers, which both disturbs and fascinates Riri. However, Hood got his magic in a pact with a mysterious dark force. When a job goes bad, Riri gains the enmity of Hood and has to go on the run. It also turns out Hood's dark master has become very interested in Riri, which might be a lot more dangerous for everyone in the long run. Overall, I'd say this is about in the same vein as Agatha All Along, an interesting show constructed around a very morally questionable protagonist. Overall grade: B Next up is A Minecraft movie, which came out in 2024. I have to admit, I've never actually played Minecraft, so I know very little about the game and its ecosystem, only what I've generally absorbed by glancing at the news. That said, I think the movie held together quite well, and wasn't deserving of the general disdain it got in the press. (No doubt the $950 million box office compensated for any hurt feelings.) One of the many downsides of rapid technological change in the last fifty years is that the Boomers and Gen X and the Millennials and Gen Z and Gen Alpha have had such radically different formative experiences in childhood that it's harder to relate to each other. Growing up in the 1980s was a wildly different experience than growing up in the 2010s, and growing up in the 2010s was an even more wildly different experience than growing up in the 1960s. Smartphones and social media were dominant in 2020, barely starting in 2010, and implausible science fiction in 2000 and earlier, and so it was like the different generations grew up on different planets, because in some sense they actually did. (A five-year-old relative of mine just started school, and the descriptions of his school compared to what I remember of school really do sound like different planets entirely.) The Minecraft game and A Minecraft Movie might be one of those generation-locked experiences. Anyway, this has gotten very deep digression for what was essentially a portal-based LitRPG movie. A group of people experiencing various life difficulties in a rural Idaho town get sucked into the Minecraft world through a magic portal. There they must combine forces and learn to work together to master the Minecraft world to save it from an evil sorceress. As always, the fundamental question of any movie is the one that Russell Crowe's character shouted to the audience in Gladiator back in 2000. “Are you not entertained?” I admit I was entertained when watching A Minecraft Movie since it was funny and I recognized a lot of the video game mechanics, even though I've never actually played Minecraft. Like, Castlevania II had a night/day cycle the way Minecraft does, and Castlevania II was forty years ago. But that was another digression! I did enjoy A Minecraft Movie. It was kind of crazy, but it committed to the craziness and maintained a consistent creative vision, and I was entertained. Though I did think it was impressive how Jack Black's agent managed to insist that he sing several different times. Overall grade: B Next up is Back to School, which came out in 1986 and this is one of the better ‘80s comedies I've seen. Rodney Dangerfield plays Thornton Melon, who never went to college and is the wealthy owner of a chain of plus-sized clothing stores. His son Jason is attending Great Lakes University, and after Thornton's unfaithful gold-digging wife leaves him (Thornton is mostly relieved by this development), he decides to go visit his son. He quickly discovers that Jason is flailing at college, and decides to enroll to help out his son. Wacky adventures ensue! I quite enjoyed this. The fictional “Great Lakes University” was largely shot at UW-Madison in Wisconsin, which I found amusing because I spent a lot of time at UW-Madison several decades ago as a temporary IT employee. I liked seeing the characters walk past a place where I'd eat lunch outside when the day was nice, that kind of thing. Also, I'm very familiar with how the sausage gets made in higher ed. There's a scene where the dean is asking why Thornton is qualified to enter college, and then it cuts to the dean cheerfully overseeing the groundbreaking of the new Thornton Melon Hall which Thornton just donated, and I laughed so hard I almost hurt myself, because that is exactly how higher ed works. The movie had some pointless nudity, but it was only a few seconds and no doubt gets cut in network broadcasts. Overall grade: B Next up is Whiskey Galore, which came out in 1949 and this is a comedy set in Scotland during World War II. The villagers living on an isolated island have no whiskey due to wartime rationing. However, when a government ship carrying 50,000 cases of whiskey runs aground near the island, wacky hijinks ensue. I have to admit the first half of the movie was very slow and deliberate, gradually setting up all the pieces for later. Then, once the shipwreck happens, things pick up and the movie gets much funnier. Definitely worth watching both as a good comedy movie and an artifact of its time. A modicum of historical knowledge is required – if you don't know what the Home Guard is, you might have to do some Googling to understand the context of some of the scenes. Regrettably, the version I watched did not have captioning, so I had to pay really close attention to understand what the characters were saying, because some of the accents were very strong. Overall grade: B Next up is Happy Gilmore 2, which came out in 2025. This was dumb and overstuffed with celebrity cameos but thoroughly hilarious and I say this even though it uses one of my least favorite story tropes, namely “hero of previous movie is now a middle age loser.” However, the movie leads into it for comedy. When Happy Gilmore accidentally kills his wife with a line drive, he spirals into alcoholism and despair. But his five children still love him, and when his talented daughter needs tuition for school, Happy attempts to shake off his despair and go back to golf to win the money. But Happy soon stumbles onto a sinister conspiracy led by an evil CEO to transform the game of golf into his own personal profit center. Happy must team up with his old nemesis Shooter McGavin to save golf itself from the evil CEO. Amusingly, as I've said before, the best Adam Sandler movies are almost medieval. In medieval fables, it was common for a clever peasant to outwit pompous lords, corrupt priests, and greedy merchants. The best Adam Sandler protagonist remains an everyman who outwits the modern equivalent of pompous lords and corrupt priests, in this case an evil CEO. Overall grade: B+ Next up is Superman, which came out in 2025 and I thought this was pretty good and very funny at times. I think it caught the essential nature of Superman. Like, Superman should be a Lawful Good character. If he was a Dungeons and Dragons character, he would be a paladin. People on the Internet tend to take the characterization of superheroes seriously to perhaps an unhealthy degree, but it seems the best characterization of Superman is as an earnest, slightly dorky Boy Scout who goes around doing good deeds. The contrast of that good-hearted earnestness with his godlike abilities that would allow him to easily conquer and rule the world is what makes for an interesting character. I also appreciated how the movie dispensed with the overused trope of the Origin Story and just got down to business. In this movie, Lex Luthor is obsessed with destroying Superman and is willing to use both super-advanced technology and engineered geopolitical conflict to do it. Superman, because he's essentially a decent person, doesn't comprehend just how depraved Luthor is, and how far Luthor is willing to go out of petty spite. (Ironically, a billionaire willing to destroy the world out of petty spite is alas, quite realistic). Guy Gardener (“Jerkish Green Lantern”) and the extremely competent and the extremely exasperated Mr. Terrific definitely stole all their scenes. The director of the movie, James Gunn, was quite famously fired from Disney in 2018 for offensive jokes he had made on Twitter back when he was an edgy young filmmaker with an alcohol problem. I suppose Mr. Gunn can rest content knowing that Superman made more money than any Marvel movie released this year. Overall grade: A- Next up is Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, which came out in 1988. This was a very strange movie, but nonetheless, one with an ambitious premise, strong performances, and a strong artistic vision. It's set in post WWII Los Angeles, and “toons” (basically cartoon characters) live and work alongside humans. Private eye Eddie Valiant hates toons since one of them killed his brother five years ago. However, he's hired by the head of a studio who's having trouble with one of his toon actors, Roger Rabbit. Roger's worried his wife Jessica is having an affair, and Valiant obtains pictures of Jessica playing patty cake (not a euphemism, they actually were playing patty cake) with another man. Roger has an emotional breakdown, and soon the other man winds up dead, and Roger insists he's innocent. Valiant and Roger find themselves sucked into a dangerous conspiracy overseen by a ruthless mastermind. This movie was such an interesting cultural artifact. It perfectly follows the structure of a ‘40s film noir movie, but with cartoons, and the dissonance between film noir and the cheerfulness of the toons was embraced and used as a frequently source of comedy. In fact, when the grim and dour Valiant uses the toons' comedy techniques as a tactical improvisation in a moment of mortal peril, it's both hilarious and awesome. Christopher Lloyd's performance as the villainous Judge Doom was amazing. (I don't think it's a spoiler to say that he's villainous, because his character is named Judge Doom and he's literally wearing a black hat.) Like, his performance perfectly captures something monstrous that is trying very hard to pretend to be human and not quite getting it right. And the amount of work it must have taken to make this movie staggers the mind. Nowadays, having live actors interact with cartoon characters is expensive, but not unduly so. It's a frequent technique. You see it all the time in commercials when a housewife is smiling at an animated roll of paper towels or something, and Marvel's essentially been doing it for years. But this was 1988! Computer animation was still a ways off. They had to shoot the movie on analog film, and then hand-draw all the animation and successfully match it to the live film. It wouldn't have worked without the performance of Bob Hoskins as Eddie Valiant, who plays everything perfectly straight in the same way Michael Caine did in A Muppet Christmas Carol. So kind of a strange movie, but definitely worth watching. And it has both Disney and Warner Brothers animated characters in the same movie, which is something we will never, ever see again. Overall grade: A Next up is K-Pop Demon Hunters, which came out in 2025. Like Who framed Roger Rabbit?, this is a very strange movie, but nonetheless with a clear and focused artistic vision. It is a cultural artifact that provides a fascinating look into a world of which I have no knowledge or interest, namely K-pop bands and their dueling fandoms. Anyway, the plot is that for millennia, female Korean musicians have used the magic of their voices to keep the demons locked away in a demon world. The current incarnation is a three-woman K-Pop group called Huntrix, and they are on the verge of sealing away the demons forever. Naturally, the Demon King doesn't like this, so one of his cleverer minions comes up with a plan. They'll start a Demon K-Pop Boy Band! Disguised as humans, the demon K-Pop group will win away Huntrix's fans, allowing them to breach the barrier and devour the world. However, one of the Huntrix musicians is half-demon, and she starts falling for the lead demon in the boy band, who is handsome and of course has a dark and troubled past. Essentially a musical K-drama follows. I have to admit I know practically nothing about K-Pop groups and their dueling fandoms, other than the fact that they exist. However, this was an interesting movie to watch. The animation was excellent, it did have a focused vision, and there were some funny bits. Overall grade: A Next up is Clarkson's Farm Season Four, which came out in 2025. A long time ago in the ‘90s, I watched the episode of Frasier where Frasier and Niles attempt to open a restaurant and it all goes horribly (yet hilariously) wrong. At the time, I had no money, but I promised myself that I would never invest in a restaurant. Nothing I have seen or learned in the subsequent thirty years has ever changed that decision. Season 4 of Clarkson's Farm is basically Jeremy Clarkson, like Frasier and Niles, attempting to open a restaurant, specifically a British pub. On paper it's a good idea, since Clarkson can provide the pub with food produced from his own farm and other local farmers. However, it's an enormous logistical nightmare, and Clarkson must deal with miles of red tape, contractors, and a ballooning budget, all while trying to keep his farm from going under. An excellent and entertaining documentary into the difficulties of both the farming life and food service. I still don't want to own a restaurant! Overall grade: A Next up is Tombstone, which came out in 1993. The Western genre of fiction is interesting because it's limited to such a very specific period of time and geographical region. Like the “Wild West” period that characterizes the Western genre really only lasted as a historical period from about 1865 to roughly 1890. The Western genre was at its most popular in movies from the 1940s and the 1960s, and I wonder if it declined because cultural and demographic changes made it unpopular to romanticize the Old West the way someone like Walt Disney did at Disneyland with “Frontierland.” Of course, the genre lives on in different forms in grittier Western movies, neo-Westerns like Yellowstone and Longmire, and a lot of the genre's conventions apply really well to science fiction. Everyone talks about Firefly being the first Space Western, but The Mandalorian was much more successful and was basically a Western in space (albeit with occasional visits from Space Wizards). Anyway! After that long-winded introduction, let's talk about Tombstone. When Val Kilmer died earlier this year, the news articles mentioned Tombstone as among his best work, so I decided to give it a watch. The plot centers around Wyatt Earp, played by Kurt Russell, who has decided to give up his career in law enforcement and move to Tombstone, Arizona, a silver mining boomtown, in hopes of making his fortune. However, Tombstone is mostly controlled by the Cowboys outlaw gang, and Earp is inevitably drawn into conflict with them. With the help of his brothers and Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer's character), Earp sets out to bring some law and order to Tombstone, whether the Cowboys like it or not. Holliday is in the process of dying from tuberculosis, which makes him a formidable fighter since he knows getting shot will be a less painful and protracted death than the one his illness will bring him. Kilmer plays him as a dissolute, scheming warrior-poet who nonetheless is a very loyal friend. Definitely a classic of the Western genre, and so worth watching. Overall grade: A Next up is Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, the eighth Mission Impossible movie. Of the eight movies, I think the sixth one was the best one, but this one comes in at a close second. It continues on from Dead Reckoning. Ethan Hunt now possesses the key that will unlock the source code of the Entity, the malicious AI (think ChatGPT, but even more obviously evil) that is actively maneuvering the world's nuclear powers into destroying each other so the Entity can rule the remnants of humanity. Unfortunately, the Entity's source code is sitting in a wrecked Russian nuclear sub at the bottom of the Bering Sea. Even more unfortunately, the Entity knows that Hunt has the key and is trying to stop him, even as the Entity's former minion and Hunt's bitter enemy Gabriel seeks to seize control of the Entity for himself. A sense of apocalyptic doom hangs over the movie, which works well to build tension. Once again, the world is doomed, unless Ethan Hunt and his allies can save the day. The tension works extremely well during the movie's underwater sequence, and the final airborne duel between Hunt and Gabriel. I don't know if they're going to make any more Mission Impossible movies after this (they are insanely expensive), but if this is the end, it is a satisfying conclusion for the character of Ethan Hunt and the Impossible Mission Force. Overall grade: A Next up is Deep Cover, which came out in 2025. This is described as a comedy thriller, and I didn't know what to expect when I watched it, but I really enjoyed it. Bryce Dallas Howard plays Kat, a struggling comedy improv teacher living in London. Her best students are Marlon (played by Orlando Bloom), a dedicated character actor who wants to portray gritty realism but keeps getting cast in tacky commercials, and Hugh (played by Nick Mohammed), an awkward IT worker with no social skills whatsoever. One day, the three of them are recruited by Detective Sergeant Billings (played by Sean Bean) of the Metropolitan Police. The Met wants to use improv comedians to do undercover work for minor busts with drug dealers. Since it plays 200 pounds a pop, the trio agrees. Of course, things rapidly spiral out of control, because Kat, Marlon, and Hugh are actually a lot better at improv than they think, and soon they find themselves negotiating with the chief criminals of the London underworld. What follows is a movie that is both very tense and very funny. Kat, Marlon, and Hugh are in way over their heads, and will have to do the best improv of their lives to escape a very grisly fate. Whether Sean Bean dies or not (as is tradition), you will just have to watch the movie and find out. Overall grade: A Next up is Puss in Boots: The Final Wish, which came out in 2022. I don't personally know much about the history of Disney as a corporation, and I don't much care, but I do have several relatives who are very interested in the history of the Disney corporation, and therefore I have picked up some by osmosis. Apparently Disney CEO Michael Eisner forcing out Jeffrey Katzenberg in the 1990s was a very serious mistake, because Katzenberg went on to co-found DreamWorks, which has been Disney's consistent rival for animation for the last thirty years. That's like “CIA Regime Change Blowback” levels of creating your own enemy. Anyway, historical ironies aside, Puss in Boots: The Final Wish was a funny and surprisingly thoughtful animated movie. Puss in Boots is a legendary outlaw and folk hero, but he has used up eight of his nine lives. An ominous bounty hunter who looks like a humanoid wolf begins pursuing him, and the Wolf is able to shrug off the best of Puss In Boots' attacks. Panicked, Puss hides in a retirement home for elderly cats, but then hears rumors of the magical Last Wish. Hoping to use it to get his lives back, Puss In Boots sets off on the quest. It was amusing how Little Jack Horner and Goldilocks and the Three Bears were rival criminal gangs seeking the Last Wish. Overall grade: A Next up is Chicken People, which came out in 2016. A good documentary film gives you a glimpse into an alien world that you would otherwise never visit. In this example, I have absolutely no interest in competitive chicken breeding and will only raise chickens in my backyard if society ever collapses to the level that it becomes necessary for survival. That said, this was a very interesting look into the work of competitive chicken breeding. Apparently, there is an official “American Standard of Perfection” for individual chicken breeds, and the winner of the yearly chicken competition gets the title “Super Grand Champion.” Not Grand Champion, Super Grand Champion! That looks impressive on a resume. It is interesting how chicken breeding is in some sense an elaborate Skinner Box – like you can deliberately set out to breed chickens with the desirable traits on the American Standard of Perfection, but until the chickens are hatched and grow up, you don't know how they're going to turn out, so you need to try again and again and again… Overall grade: A Next up is The Mask of Zoro, which came out in 1998. I saw this in the theatre when it came out 27 years ago, but that was 27 years ago, and I don't have much of a memory of it, save that I liked it. So when I had the chance to watch it again, I did! Anthony Hopkins plays Diego de la Vega, who has the secret identity of Zorro in the final days before Mexico breaks away from the Spanish Empire. With Mexico on the verge of getting its independence, Diego decides to hang up his sword and mask and focus on his beloved wife and daughter. Unfortunately, the military governor Don Montero realizes Diego is Zorro, so has him arrested, kills his wife, and steals his baby daughter to raise as his own. Twenty years later, a bandit named Alejandro loses his brother and best friends to a brutal cavalry commander. It turns out that Montero is returning to California from Spain, and plans to seize control of California as an independent republic (which, of course, will be ruled by him). In the chaos, Diego escapes from prison and encounters a drunken Alejandro, and stops him from a futile attack upon the cavalry commander. He then proposes a pact – Diego will train Alejandro as the next Zorro, and together they can take vengeance upon the men who wronged them. This was a good movie. It was good to see that my taste in movies 27 years ago wasn't terrible. It manages to cram an entire epic plot into only 2 hours and 20 minutes. In some ways it was like a throwback to a ‘40s movie but with modern (for the ‘90s) production values, and some very good swordfights. Overall grade: A Next up is Wick is Pain, which came out in 2025. I've seen all four John Wick movies and enjoyed them thoroughly, though I've never gotten around to any of the spinoffs. Wick is Pain is a documentary about how John Wick went from a doomed indie movie with a $6.5 million hole in its budget to one of the most popular action series of the last few decades. Apparently Keanu Reeves made an offhand joke about how “Wick is pain” and that became the mantra of the cast and crew, because making an action movie that intense really was a painful experience. Definitely worth watching if you enjoyed the John Wick movies or moviemaking in general. Overall grade: A The last movie I saw this summer was Game Night, which came out in 2016. It was a hilarious, if occasionally dark comedy action thriller. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams play Max and Annie Davis, a married couple who are very competitive and enjoy playing games of all kinds. Jason has an unresolved conflict with his brother Brooks, and one night Brooks invites them over for game night, which Max resents. Halfway through the evening, Brooks is kidnapped, with Max and Annie assume is part of the game. However, Brooks really is involved in something shady. Hilarity ensues, and it's up to Max and Annie to rescue Brooks and stay alive in the process. This was really funny, though a bit dark in places. That said, Max and Annie have a loving and supportive marriage, so it was nice to see something like that portrayed on the screen. Though this also leads to some hilarity, like when Annie accidentally shoots Max in the arm. No spoilers, but the punchline to that particular sequence was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Overall grade: A So no A+ movie this time around, but I still saw a bunch of solid movies I enjoyed. One final note, I have to admit, I've really come to respect Adam Sandler as an entertainer, even if his movies and comedy are not always to my taste. He makes what he wants, makes a lot of money, ensures that his friends get paid, and then occasionally takes on a serious role in someone else's movie when he wants to flex some acting muscles. I am not surprised that nearly everyone who's in the original Happy Gilmore who was still alive wanted to come back for Happy Gilmore 2. So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show enjoyable and perhaps a guide to some good movies to watch. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.
Back on the feed: Stories of Stage, Scouts, and raising a good Texan.Welcome back to 78644 Podcast! In this episode host Steven Collins chats with Texas theatre legend Jaston Williams, known for Greater Tuna and his new show High Heels and Cowboy Boots at Paramount Theatre. Jaston shares funny and heartfelt stories from his long stage career, including Boy Scout mischief, friendship with Joe Sears, and life in Lockhart. He opens up about raising an adopted son, finding humor in tough times, and why laughter matters. With tales of small-town characters and deep reflections on family and race, Jaston brings his signature charm and wit to the mic.Guests in This Episode:Jaston Williams - Texas theatre legend on his new show High Heels and Cowboy Boots at the Paramount Theatre.What's Inside:Jaston Williams shares stories from his new show High Heels and Cowboy Boots.His memories of growing up, being a Scout, and early stage days.The deep friendship behind Greater Tuna and how it lasted through fame.Why laughter matters, even in hard times, and life in Lockhart today.Episode Breakdown:[00:00] - Jaston Williams on High Heels and Cowboy Boots and stage life[01:42] - Funny memories from Boy Scouts and wild childhood stories[02:25] - The long friendship behind Greater Tuna and its 35-year run[05:16] - Jaston on Lockhart locals, humor, and real Texas characters[06:10] - Talking parenting, race, and raising a kind son in a small townFollow Our Guests:Paramount Theatre: https://www.instagram.com/paramountaustin/ / https://www.austintheatre.org/ Follow our Host:Steven Collins: https://www.instagram.com/deadmanonlineThis Episode is Sponsored by:Wella Foods: https://www.instagram.com/wellafoods/Thunderbird Bar: https://www.instagram.com/thunderbirdbar/ PrintingSolutionstx: https://www.instagram.com/printingsolutionstx/ Gaslight-Baker Theatre: https://www.instagram.com/gaslightbaker/ Courthouse Nights: https://www.instagram.com/courthousenights/ Crystal Glaze Photography: https://www.instagram.com/crystalglazephotography/ Gray Beard Films: https://www.instagram.com/graybeardfilms/ Texas Hatters - HishatLady: https://www.instagram.com/hishatlady/Follow 78644 Podcast:Website: https://www.78644podcast.com/Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/people/78644-Podcast/100089192381124/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/78644podcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@78644PodcastSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/78644/exclusive-content
Episode SummaryErin and Rachel wallow through an elderly man's grief journey with Pixar's critically acclaimed Up (2009). They argue the beautiful art and cute sidekicks aren't enough to redeem this (admittedly beloved) film, especially since the (admittedly moving) love story invokes the classic “dead wife” trope. We'll keep sailing our balloon house onto the next one, please and thank you. Episode BibliographyAdler, S. (2008, August 7). 'Up' And Coming: 3-D Pixar Movie Tells A 'Coming Of Old Age' Story, Director Says. MTV. https://web.archive.org/web/20100318060539/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1592302/story.jhtmlThe Associated Press. (2009, May 12). Q&A: Pete Docter. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/qampa-pete-docter-83783/Berardinelli, J. (2009, May 26). Up (United States, 2009). ReelViews. https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/upBlock, A. B. (2009, November 17). Anatomy of a Contender: ‘Up'. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/anatomy-contender-91440/Brooks, X. (2009, March 19). Curtain will go Up on this year's Cannes with 3-D yarn | Cannes 2009. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/mar/19/up-first-animation-to-open-cannes-film-festivalChen, D. (2009, May 28). Marketing Up's Asian-American Lead Character. SlashFilm. https://www.slashfilm.com/503927/marketing-ups-asian-american-lead-character/Coconut Press. (2023, August 16). The Making of Up: Pixar Travels to Venezuela 4k. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXCHlcrMgLYCorliss, R. (2009, May 7). Going Up. TIME. https://web.archive.org/web/20090513203932/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1896685-1,00.htmlCorliss, R. (2009, May 28). Up, Up and Away: Another New High for Pixar. Time Magazine. https://time.com/archive/6688401/up-up-and-away-another-new-high-for-pixar/Docter, P. (Director). (2009). Up [Film]. Pixar Animation Studios.DVDFilmBonus. (2023, July 16). Up 2009 ( Pixar ) Making of & Behind the Scenes. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPQuzPm73foErikson E.H., & Erikson, J.M. (1982). Life cycle completed. W.W. Norton & CompanyFreer, I. (2009, October 3). Up. Empire Online. https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/movie-2-review/Hartlaub, P. (2009, May 27). Oakland's Fentons Creamery in Pixar film 'Up'. SFGate. https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Oakland-s-Fentons-Creamery-in-Pixar-film-Up-3297072.phpHauser, T. (2016). The Art of Up. Chronicle Books LLC.Hogan, R. (2009, June 1). Pixar's Up review. Den of Geek. https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/pixars-up-review-2/Horn, J. (2009, May 10). up, up and away. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-10-ca-up10-story.htmlHornaday, A. (2009, May 29). Up. The Washington Post. https://web.archive.org/web/20091027073954/http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/up,1156226.htmlKhoo, I. (2015, July 13). Pregnancy Loss: The Surprising Movie That Understands Miscarriage. HuffPost Canada. https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/pregnancy-loss-the-surprising-movie-that-understands-miscarriag_n_7786224King, S. (2009, May 28). Jordan Nagai, 'Up'. Los Angeles Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20121106123435/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/28/entertainment/et-jordanpete28The Korean Face of Pixar's Latest Star. (2009, June 3). The Chosun Daily. https://www.chosun.com/english/people-en/2009/06/03/NXQOOEMZNUTRQNAZ7NTDTTGBUU/Ksieh, K. (2009, May 29). Jordan Nagai as Russell in UP. Channel APA. https://web.archive.org/web/20121110102130/http://www.channelapa.com/2009/05/jordan-nagai-as-russell-in-up.htmlMedia Action Network for Asian Americans. (2009, September 2). ASIAN AMERICAN MEDIA WATCHDOG GROUP PRAISES DISNEY/PIXAR'S "UP" FOR CREATING ASIAN AMERICAN PROTAGONIST. MANAA. https://web.archive.org/web/20090902105114/http://www.manaa.org/up_press_release.htmlMeinel, D. (2014). Empire is out there!?: The spirit of imperialism in the Pixar animated film ‘Up'. Traces. NECSUS. https://necsus-ejms.org/empire-spirit-imperialism-pixar-animated-film/#_edn12Meinel, D. (2016). Pixar's America. Palgrave MacMillan. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-31634-5_7Morgenstern, J. (2009, May 14). Reaching for the Sky, 'Up' Fails to Soar - WSJ. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124226358415817813Piane, C. (2010, April 9). EWP Honors Pixar Films And Jordan Nagai At 44th Anniversary Visionary Awards 4/19. Broadway World. https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/EWP-Honors-Pixar-Films-And-Jordan-Nagai-At-44th-Anniversary-Visionary-Awards-419-20100409Press Release. (2009, November 8). Interview: Pete Doctor on Disney/Pixar's UP. Major Spoilers. https://web.archive.org/web/20100208140509/http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/27376.htm/Rechtshaffen, M. (2009, May 12). Up - Film Review. The Hollywood Reporter. https://web.archive.org/web/20120315171219/http://www1.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/up-film-review-1003972156.storySchilling, V. (2019, September 15). Boy Scouts ‘have been one of the worst culprits' of cultural appropriation. ICT. https://ictnews.org/news/boy-scouts-have-been-one-of-the-worst-culprits-of-cultural-appropriation/Tell Me More Staff. (2013, September 9). Angry Asian Man Not So Angry : Code Switch. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/09/09/219725276/angry-asian-man-not-so-angryUp (2009 film). (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_(2009_film)Wooden, S.R., & Gillam, K. (2014). Pixar's boy stories: Masculinity in a postmodern age. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Young, S. (2020, January 16). Exploring the dead wives in family movies trope. Nerdist. https://nerdist.com/article/dead-wives-family-movies-dolittle/Zacharek, S. (2009, May 29). Up. Salon. https://www.salon.com/2009/05/29/up_review/
Aviation Career Foundation & PhilosophyDarren Pleasance's aviation journey began serendipitously at age 13 in Livermore, California, sparked by witnessing model airplane flying in a local park (02:32)Boy Scouts aviation merit badge provided first airplane flight experience with troop leader who was also a flight instructorAirport proximity advantage allowed daily after-school bicycle rides to Livermore Airport for hands-on learningMentorship network development through open hangar visits led to free flight instruction from CFI named DougAccelerated certification timeline: solo at 16, private at 17, commercial instrument flight instructor at 18College funding strategy utilized flight instruction income to pay for education expensesLife decision framework established early: "When faced with difficult decision, choose one that makes for better story" (07:03)McKinsey departure decision after 14 years applied this principle to join Google despite financial spreadsheet analysisAlaska bush pilot choice over completing engineering master's degree exemplified same philosophyCareer diversification approach created multiple aviation experiences: corporate jets, glider towing, competition aerobatics, bush flyingMedical Certification Challenges & AdaptationsColor vision deficiency discovery at age 16 during first medical examination created major career obstacle (09:16)Initial medical restriction: "not valid for night flight or color signals" threatened professional pilot aspirationsDemonstrated ability waiver process required FAA flight examination demonstrating ability to distinguish aviation-relevant colorsTesting requirements included: identifying plowed vs. unplowed fields, recognizing taxiway centerline lights, runway edge lights, beacon colorsAirline career impact: even with eventual first-class medical clearance, airlines wouldn't hire pilots with any medical history complicationsBlessing in disguise outcome: forced exploration of diverse aviation opportunities including John Travolta corporate pilot work, competition aerobatics, P-51 flyingCorporate Experience IntegrationMcKinsey consulting foundation provided comprehensive business function exposure across marketing, sales, finance, organizational strategy (05:58)High-tech specialization and sales/marketing focus opened door to Google global team leadership opportunity14-year tenure built expertise in helping management teams improve business performance worldwideDiverse client experience across multiple industries and business functions created versatile skill setGoogle and Cisco leadership roles combined with continuous aviation involvement maintained dual expertise (12:51)Weekend flying commitment included teaching aerobatics at Bedford Airport's Executive Flyers AviationCompetition aerobatics involvement led to EAA board connections and industry networkingP-51 flying experience enhanced aviation credibility and public profileAOPA Leadership Vision & QualificationsUnique qualification combination merged deep aviation passion with Fortune 500 business leadership experience (12:51)200+ employee organization requires substantial business management capabilitiesPublic speaking requirements for member events, donor relations, political advocacy, airport community relationsAviation credibility essential for representing pilot community interests and understanding operational challengesAdvocacy experience needed for communicating aviation value to non-pilot stakeholdersCurrent aircraft ownership maintains grassroots GA connection through Sea Ray amphibious aircraft and RV-6 ownership (15:11)Recent flying examples: Priest Lake, Idaho seaplane fly-in participation, formation flying with friendsBackcountry flying engagement demonstrates continued hands-on small aircraft experienceCost-conscious operations understanding through Rotax-powered aircraft ownershipComprehensive Member Service PortfolioBase membership value proposition at $89 annually provides extensive pilot support services (20:40)Pilot Information Center staffing includes deep maintenance experts available for technical problem-solvingInternational flight planning assistance covers Canada, Bahamas, and worldwide destinations with step-by-step guidanceAircraft purchasing support through aviation finance group connections and escrow service coordinationDocumentation and process guidance for complex aviation procedures and regulatory compliancePilot Protective Services enhancement for additional $85 annually adds critical legal and medical advocacy (21:43)Medical packet review service ensures special issuance applications meet FAA requirements before submissionLegal representation availability for FAA enforcement actions, violations, or incident responsesSpecialized expertise access for navigating complex regulatory interactions and protecting pilot certificatesRisk mitigation approach prevents multi-month delays from incomplete FAA submissionsMedical Certification Support & Modern ChallengesGrowing mental health certification complexity requires specialized AOPA medical services guidance (30:28)Young pilot medication history increasingly common for anxiety, depression, ADHD treatments during teenage yearsHistorical automatic disqualification being replaced with thoughtful case-by-case evaluation by FAADocumentation requirements becoming more complex but achievable with proper preparation and advocacyDr. Susan Northrup leadership as Federal Air Surgeon working to reduce special issuance backlogsProcessing timeline improvements under current FAA medical leadership showing measurable progress (30:28)Six-month to one-year timelines still common for special issuance cases with complex medical historiesBacklog reduction efforts ongoing but substantial volumes still creating extended wait timesProfessional pilot impact demonstrated through airline pilot medical deferral experiences requiring months of career uncertaintyLegislative Advocacy & Infrastructure ProtectionAirport infrastructure comparison highlights US aviation system advantages over international counterparts (35:56)5,000 public use airports in US with only 500 having control towers enables widespread GA access3,500 airports with instrument approaches create weather-independent national transportation networkGermany comparison: only towered airports permitted instrument approaches, severely limiting utility aviationEuropean model limitations restrict general aviation to VFR-only operations at uncontrolled airportsATC privatization opposition based on international precedent analysis and stakeholder influence concerns (33:32)User fee implementation in privatized systems creates barriers to flight training, safety practices, and airport utilizationAirline influence concentration through deeper financial resources shapes privatized ATC board decisionsAirspace allocation shifts favor commercial operations over general aviation access and utilitySafety degradation risks from reduced flight training frequency due to per-operation fee structuresEducational Programs & Future Pilot DevelopmentHigh school aviation program expansion reaching 30,000 students across 1,500 schools nationwide (23:49)Four-year curriculum structure provided free to participating schools regardless of economic constraintsTeacher training programs enable non-pilot educators to deliver aviation content effectivelyCareer pathway diversification beyond traditional airline pilot focus to include corporate, firefighting, medevac, bush flying opportunitiesProfessional development support helps students understand aviation industry breadth and alternative career pathsPilot shortage solution approach emphasizes local flight school importance over centralized training facilities (38:19)Military pilot percentage decline requires civilian-trained pilot pipeline expansion for airline recruitmentLocal flight school network at thousands of airports provides distributed training capacityAirport closure threat directly impacts airline pilot production capability and national transportation infrastructureMember Engagement & Growth StrategyFlight instructor advocacy role critical for membership growth and student pilot introduction to AOPA services (45:41)Historical membership introduction pattern: CFIs recommended AOPA alongside essential equipment and educational materialsCurrent engagement decline among flight instructors requires renewed education about AOPA value propositionStudent pilot free membership for six months provides risk-free introduction to organization benefitsCareer-long value proposition extends beyond private pilot training through professional aviation transitionsPublic advocacy responsibility for aviation community members to educate non-pilot population about airport importance (47:55)Medical evacuation services utilizing local airports for emergency patient transportFirefighting operations depend on airport infrastructure for aerial suppression activitiesEconomic development impact through business aviation supporting local employment and commercePilot training pipeline at local airports directly feeds airline industry personnel requirements
When most teenagers are worried about getting their driver's license, David Hahn was busy building a nuclear reactor in his mom's backyard shed using smoke detectors, camping lanterns, and an alarming amount of duct tape. Meet the "Radioactive Boy Scout" who turned earning a merit badge into a federal nuclear incident.In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore the jaw-dropping true story of a 17-year-old Michigan teenager who catfished the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, stockpiled radioactive materials from household items, and successfully built a functioning neutron source that contaminated an entire neighbourhood in what became one of America's most bizarre nuclear accidents.From dismantling hundreds of smoke detectors for americium to posing as "Professor Hahn" to trick government scientists into sending him nuclear reactor blueprints, David's quest for atomic energy turned suburban Michigan into a Superfund cleanup site and sparked a major nuclear security investigation costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.Join us as we dive into how one ambitious Boy Scout's backyard science experiment nearly irradiated five city blocks, fooled federal agencies, and became one of the most terrifying examples of DIY nuclear physics and teenage overachievement in American history. Spoiler alert: it doesn't end well for the Nuclear Boy Scout.https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiotshttps://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiotsArtist: Sarah Cheyhttps://www.fiverr.com/sarahcheyAnimation: Daniel Wilsonhttps://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/Music: Andrew Wilsonhttps://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheepWant to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4675161203933184
Today we are continuing our series of interviews with LDS Church Education System employees. Today's guest is extra special, as he resigned from his seminary teaching position just days before the filming of this episode!Riley Davis was born into the church and grew up in a very traditional Mormon family in Utah. As the son of an LDS bishop, Riley struggled with depression due to religious scrupulosity in his youth, but found healing and growth through church youth programs like the Boy Scouts of America—an experience that inspired him to continue working with youth for the rest of his life. After serving a mission in Buenos Aires, Riley eventually became a math and science teacher but was soon presented with an opportunity to work for CES as an LDS seminary teacher.Riley also shares with John insights into the current state of the CES program and where it may be headed in the future.Content Warning: This episode discusses self-harm. Please listen with care.___________________YouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:One-time or recurring donation through DonorboxSupport us on PatreonPayPalVenmoOur Platforms:YouTubePatreonSpotifyApple PodcastsContact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media:Insta: @mormstoriesTikTok: @mormonstoriespodcastJoin the Discord
Teenaged Sabrina Wang has the distinction of being one of the first girls--Asian American or otherwise--to earn the coveted rank of Eagle Scout in what is now known as Scouting America. Formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America, the organization recently fully embraced a significant rebranding, opening its programs now to girls and LGBTQ+ youth while retaining traditions like the Scout Oath and mission. Sabrina's enthusiasm for becoming a Scout speaks volumes to the success of this effort. And her attaining the rank of Eagle Scout speaks volumes to her leadership abilities and determination.
This episode, which is co-hosted with Delaney Chieyen Holton, features Dr. K. Ian Shin discussing his recently published book, Imperial Stewards: Chinese Art and the Making of America's Pacific Century (Standford UP, 2025). Imperial Stewards argues that, beyond aesthetic taste and economics, geopolitics were critical to the United States' transformation into possessing some of the world's largest and most sophisticated collections of Chinese art between the Gilded Age and World War II. Collecting and studying Chinese art and antiquities honed Americans' belief that they should dominate Asia and the Pacific Ocean through the ideology of imperial stewardship—a view that encompassed both genuine curiosity and care for Chinese art, and the enduring structures of domination and othering that underpinned the burgeoning transpacific art market. Tracing networks across both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans, K. Ian Shin uncovers a diverse cast of historical actors that both contributed to US imperial stewardship and also challenged it, including Protestant missionaries, German diplomats, Chinese-Hawaiian merchants, and Chinese overseas students, among others. By examining the development of Chinese art collecting and scholarship in the United States around the turn of the twentieth century, Imperial Stewards reveals both the cultural impetus behind Americans' long-standing aspirations for a Pacific Century and a way to understand—and critique—the duality of US imperial power around the globe. Ian Shin is Assistant Professor of History and American Culture at the University of Michigan, where he is also a core faculty member in the Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies Program. In addition to Imperial Stewards, his articles and reviews on topics that range from the Boy Scout movement in New York's Chinatown to the role of colleges and universities in 19th-century U.S.-China relations to the history of museums of American art have appeared in Amerasia Journal, Journal of Asian American Studies, Journal of American-East Asian Relations, and Connecticut Historical Review. Donna Doan Anderson is the Mellon research assistant professor in U.S. Law and Race at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Delaney Chieyen Holton is a Ph.D. candidate in Art History at Stanford University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
This episode, which is co-hosted with Delaney Chieyen Holton, features Dr. K. Ian Shin discussing his recently published book, Imperial Stewards: Chinese Art and the Making of America's Pacific Century (Standford UP, 2025). Imperial Stewards argues that, beyond aesthetic taste and economics, geopolitics were critical to the United States' transformation into possessing some of the world's largest and most sophisticated collections of Chinese art between the Gilded Age and World War II. Collecting and studying Chinese art and antiquities honed Americans' belief that they should dominate Asia and the Pacific Ocean through the ideology of imperial stewardship—a view that encompassed both genuine curiosity and care for Chinese art, and the enduring structures of domination and othering that underpinned the burgeoning transpacific art market. Tracing networks across both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans, K. Ian Shin uncovers a diverse cast of historical actors that both contributed to US imperial stewardship and also challenged it, including Protestant missionaries, German diplomats, Chinese-Hawaiian merchants, and Chinese overseas students, among others. By examining the development of Chinese art collecting and scholarship in the United States around the turn of the twentieth century, Imperial Stewards reveals both the cultural impetus behind Americans' long-standing aspirations for a Pacific Century and a way to understand—and critique—the duality of US imperial power around the globe. Ian Shin is Assistant Professor of History and American Culture at the University of Michigan, where he is also a core faculty member in the Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies Program. In addition to Imperial Stewards, his articles and reviews on topics that range from the Boy Scout movement in New York's Chinatown to the role of colleges and universities in 19th-century U.S.-China relations to the history of museums of American art have appeared in Amerasia Journal, Journal of Asian American Studies, Journal of American-East Asian Relations, and Connecticut Historical Review. Donna Doan Anderson is the Mellon research assistant professor in U.S. Law and Race at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Delaney Chieyen Holton is a Ph.D. candidate in Art History at Stanford University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/asian-american-studies
In which a Detroit-area teen overachieves in Boy Scouts by trying to build a nuclear reactor in a potting shed, and Ken only wants capitalized toys. Certificate #50176.
Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz in conversation with Steve Grant, author of the memoir MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home. With rave reviews in The New York Times, the Washington Post, The New Yorker and The Atlantic, the memoir MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home is one of the hottest literary debuts in recent memory. Steve is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and has been a marketing consultant and behavioral economist for more than 25 years. He's also an Eagle Scout and led the rebranding effort to transform the Boy Scout of America into Scouting America and is the only person I have personally met who has both been shot by a mass shooter and has also made a movie about a mass shooter. Find Steve at www.stevegrantworks.com and on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/stevegrant_mailman.
Allison Schreiber is entering her seventh year as an early morning seminary teacher in New Braunfels, Texas—an experience she describes as one of the most joyful and spiritually rich callings of her life. Fluent in German and Russian, Allison served in the Russia Moscow Mission before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Brigham Young University, along with certification in International Color Consulting. Her dedication to sacred spaces led her to intern with the Temple Construction department, contributing to the designing of temples in Houston, Boston, and Nauvoo. A born leader and meticulous planner, Allison has worn many hats across decades of youth and community service, serving extensively in the Young Women organization. She's chaired committees, organized record-breaking Boy Scouts of America district events, and served on BSA Woodbadge staff for three consecutive years after completing the prestigious leadership training herself. Whether designing a youth conference or directing a camporee, Allison brings creativity, discipline, and a touch of grace to every detail. In her seminary classroom, Allison blends her vast experience with a personal mission: to make early morning Seminary not just bearable but transformational. Through intentional leadership moments and peer-supported learning, she cultivates a classroom culture where students feel empowered to plan, lead, and strengthen one another in faith. Links
***Make sure to listen for a special announcement about an informational meeting we will be having on August 19 to discuss our trip to Italy. Go to ourtruecrimepodcast.com to register for the zoom meeting.*** Thirteen-year-old Danny Joe Eberle didn't want to get up that morning. It was far too early, and like any kid his age, he just wanted to stay curled beneath the covers. But duty called—just as it had every morning before. It was 5:45 a.m. on Sunday, September 18, 1983, when Danny Joe dragged himself out of bed, dressed quietly, and slipped out the door. Alongside his older brother, he delivered newspapers. He pedaled into the gray morning light and made his usual stop at the corner convenience store to pick up the day's bundle of Omaha World-Herald newspapers. Like he always did, Danny sat in the parking lot, rolling each newspaper tightly and stuffing it into his canvas bag. What Danny Joe didn't know was that someone was watching. Danny Joe made three stops, three familiar porches in a neighborhood he knew like the back of his hand. And then, the deliveries stopped. So did Danny Joe. Join Jen and Cam of Our True Crime Podcast as we discuss ‘From Boy Scout to Serial Killer: John Joubert.' Listener Discretion is by @octoberpodVHS All music is by our EP @theinkypawprint Sources: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/serial-killer-john-joubert-days-slaying-kids-article-1.3501029 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/12/06/Kidnapped-childs-body-found/7156439534800/ http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-13-year-olds-dead-body-turns-up Pettit, Mark (1990). A Need to Kill. New York City: Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-0785-3. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811001915/http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/predators/john_joubert/index.html Ressler, Robert K.; Shachtman, Tom (1992). "Death of a Newsboy". Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Hunting Serial Killers for the FBI. New York City: St. Martin's Press. pp. 93–112. ISBN 0312078838. https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/boys-murdered-in-1983-to-be-memorialized-by-new-crime-victims-monument-in-sarpy-county/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0645494/ https://allthatsinteresting.com/john-joubert https://law.justia.com/cases/maine/supreme-court/1992/603-a-2d-861-0.html https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5dA8AAAAIBAJ&sjid=Jy4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3678,1755520 https://books.google.com/books?id=gngG9zPmNKMC&pg=PA64 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/17/Child-killer-executed-in-Nebraska/9576837576000/ https://www.ketv.com/article/john-joubert-full-documentary/44390709 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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