Podcasts about branches

In this final sermon of the Romans 9–11 series, A Sharing Gospel, Robin Kinstead explores Paul's passionate hope for the salvation of ethnic Israel and the unity of both Jews and Gentiles under God's mercy. Through vivid imagery of broken pottery, beautiful feet, and now restored branches, Robin challenges us to reflect on our own attitudes—warning against hubris, calling us to humility, and encouraging us to step forward with holy chutzpah. With clear biblical teaching and a heart for mission, this sermon reminds us that God's promises are irrevocable and his mercy extends to all who place their faith in Jesus, the Messiah for both Jew and Gentile. 5 Questions to Think About: What does Paul mean when he says “all Israel will be saved,” and how should that shape our understanding of God's faithfulness? How have pride or spiritual complacency shaped your view of salvation? In what ways do you see yourself as a grafted branch in God's olive tree? How does humility impact the way you share your faith with others? What does boldness (chutzpah) in your walk with Christ look like this week? 3 Takeaways from the Message: God has not rejected Israel — His promises are still active, and a full inclusion is coming. Gentiles are grafted in by grace — not superiority or works, but through faith in Jesus. We are called to mission — to provoke others to faith, both Jews and Gentiles, with humility and courageous love.      

To mark its Durango opening, Sunward Credit Union launched a small business scholarship. By Connor Shreve. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/credit-union-branches-into-durango  This story is sponsored by M&R Plumbing and Durango Gelato Coffee & Tea. Support the show

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Hawthorn School for Girls in Toronto.Matthew 13:1-9: A sower went out to sow. Jesus at the lakeside. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables. He said, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!'The beauty of the hundredfold sown in souls. The Lord seems to speak with urgency, and with joy at the thought that his grace can indeed be sown in souls who will give many fruits, hundredfold. We have the desire to be that good soil, to make for a large tree, where the birds of the air can rest.The seed fell into a mystical soul of Saint Bridget of Sweden, that brought many visions, a deep contact with the infancy of Christ.The seed fell iinto the souls of these great saints. But it can fall into our soul too.Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.Thumbnail: Nativity, by Gerard David, 1495, Vienna Art History Museum

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Those wild and windy trials are a blessing! -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.     Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org   Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

SUPPORT YANKEE ARNOLD MINISTRIES WITH YOUR DONATION HEREhttps://yankeearnold.com/donate/REGISTER FOR DR. ARNOLD'S ONLINE CLASSES AT FLORIDA BIBLE COLLEGE OF TAMPA HEREhttps://www.floridabiblecollege.usOR EMAIL BOB GILBERT registrar@floridabiblecollege.usEMAIL DR. ARNOLD HEREyankee@yankeearnold.comVISIT OUR BOOKSTORE HEREhttps://yankeearnold.com/store/

John 15:1-8 fmhouston.com

Listen in as our Missionaries from France share their stories and message.

Listen in as Pastor Alex continues our sermon series The Narrow Path!

Aleisha Green (née Pryor) illustrates today the passage in John 15: “The Vine and the Branches”. John 15:1-17.

Join Kristie Branch and India Williams as they explore the roles of The Gardener, The Vine, and The Branches in John 15: 1-10.

This week we welcome the Founders of Four Branches Bourbon to the Bourbon Showdown! We sit down with co-founders RJ Casey and Harold Underdown as well as whiskey legend and raconteur Gregg Snyder to do a deep-dive on Four Branches Bourbon. Rj and Harold walk me through the history of this veteran owned brand and the meaning behind it, as well as how each branch of the military is represented and honored in its makeup and Gregg walks me through how this whiskey got to be as good as it is! We celebrate  4 grain and Four Branches on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast! 

Join us as we look at John 15:1-6 and really look at who the "branches" are, what it means to Abide in Christ , and what it is talking about when it says the branches get thrown in the fire.

Why is nothing happening? Todays guest Dan Owolabi talks about as a high achiever, it can be difficult to have quiet time, or down time. You may always wondering whats next for me? What is the next big thing? That voice may be quieter while working towards something, but once you achieve it, there's that voice again. It's important to remember that God calls us to do exactly what we need to be doing. So if he is calling you for quiet, what can you hear during that time?  In this episode, you'll discover…  What is a key trait to winning at work, and at home? (1:14) Leadership vs Manipulation (4:48) From head to heart when it comes to Christianity. (11:20) How Dan makes sure he wins at home. (36:44)   Dan's Bio:  As Branches Worldwide's Executive Director, Dan has extensive experience helping faith driven leaders develop influence with customers, colleagues, and their community. He served as a pastor at a megachurch in Ohio before accepting the invitation to become our founding director. In addition to serving as the Executive Director, Dan is also the author of “Authentic Leadership” and a co-founder of Owolabi Leadership. Dan holds a BA from Malone University, and a MA from Ashland University. He lives in Ohio with his wife Erica and two daughters. Dan has always believed that Authentic Leaders are servants first. That's why he has made it his mission to help others achieve exceptional results by leading from a mindset of serving. More about Branches here.    What's Next?  NEW!! Join the new RISE community. Check out my newest book, 'Rise and Go', HERE!

Something major just happened to the LDS Church in one of the world's most powerful—and most tightly controlled—nations. A quiet move by a foreign government has suddenly upended worship for hundreds of members and raised serious questions about the future of the Church in a place it’s long tried to operate under the radar. Why… Read More »The Beijing Shutdown: LDS Branches Forced to Close The post The Beijing Shutdown: LDS Branches Forced to Close appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this series, we are diving deep into the Gospel of John! Not only will this be a verse by verse study of John's Gospel, but this will be so much more.If you want a deep understanding of John, this is the study for you!Support This Ministry If You Have Been Impacted! Your Support Allows This Ministry To Create More Content & Resources That Equip Others.Find Everything On My Website RIGHT HEREOrder My Book "Fruitful"Support This MinistryJoin Our Online Church

The separation of powers is an important idea that ensures the coequal branches of government are accountable to each other.

Join us as we discuss how Michael Crowl, CEO of University Federal Credit Union, envisions growing virtually and via brick-and-mortar branches. Through use of client data, UFCU makes better investment decisions on where and when to expand to new markets.Send us a textPresented by Remedy ConsultingTechnology Contract Negotiation & System Assessments, T&C Improvements, and FI Strategic Planning.For more information on BankTalk:BankTalk WebsiteSubscribe to BankTalk NewsRemedy Consulting WebsiteRemedy LinkedInTo speak on the BankTalk Podcast, please email us.

For the last few weeks we have been unpacking what Justice is. We previously mentioned four key relationships: Us with God, Us with Ourselves, Us with Others, and Us with Creation. Today we will focus primarily on Us with Others and in particular with Branches of Hope.

How do you live with restraint in a world that celebrates indulgence? In the powerful conclusion of our Juicy Fruit series, Pastor Talaat McNeely explores the often-overlooked—but absolutely essential—fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control.In this message titled “Self-Control – The Pruned Branches,” you'll discover how spiritual maturity is forged through surrender, not willpower. Pastor Talaat walks us through four specific areas where believers are called to live with Spirit-led discipline—Speech, Spending, Sexuality, and Screen Time—and explains why pruning is God's process for our fruitfulness.Rooted in Galatians 5:22-23 and Romans 12:2, this message is both deeply convicting and refreshingly practical. You'll walk away with biblical tools to:✅ Renew your mind through Scripture✅ Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit✅ Reinforce boundaries that guard your growth✅ Run after holy habits that bear lasting fruitDon't miss this transformative episode that will challenge and equip you to live a life that reflects the self-controlled nature of Christ. Because the branches that bear the most fruit... are the ones that have been pruned.

Journals, Personal, Culture, Society, Education - Joliet Junior College

Aujourd'hui, Antoine Diers, Joëlle Dago-Serry et Jérôme Marty débattent de l'actualité autour d'Alain Marschall et Olivier Truchot.

Looking at this wonderful parable from John 15:1-8, we examine Jesus’ teaching in parables with application for us today.

Have you ever prayed for God to show up big—and wondered why He didn't?   Jesus says the kingdom doesn't come all at once… it comes like a seed.

Week 4 of SUMMER AT BETHLEHEM with Executive Pastor of Discipleship Kevin Miller. Pastor Kevin leaves us with 3 big questions to reflect on from John 15.

Remembering Air India flight 182 - lost off the coast of West Cork 40 years ago today...Madness - a great gig - but the clampers were out taking advantage...Truckers warn overgrown ditches and trees will cause a bad accident & lots more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I had a passing notion of a 'concerto for chainsaw and strings' after hearing this recording - this is a fumbling exploratory sound sketch in that direction." Tree disposal in Greenwich Park reimagined by Fiona Conn.

Get CRYPTID: The Creepy Card Battling Game https://cryptidcardgame.com/ Read our new wendigo horror novel https://eeriecast.com/lore Sign up for Eeriecast PLUS for bonus content and more https://eeriecast.com/plus SCARY STORIES TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Intro 1:17 The Hair Tree - From - WaxyMax 8:46 All the Wrong Angles - From - Ilikescarystories 17:12 Who is missing? - From - SirCampAlot 24:17 Don't go exploring abandoned houses in the woods - From - M.Lupellus 38:04 Nature is Beautiful and Dangerous - From - VirtiousSolitude 45:15 They made me leave - From - Anonymous 51:30 The Tale Of The Cursed Bottle - From - Anonymous Get our merch http://eeriecast.store/ Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/3YVN4twrD8 Follow the Unexplained Encounters podcast! https://pod.link/1152248491 Follow and review Tales from the Break Room on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! https://pod.link/1621075170 Follow us on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/3mNZyXkaJPLwUwcjkz6Pv2 Follow and Review us on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/darkness-prevails-podcast-true-horror-stories/id1152248491 Submit Your Story Here: https://www.darkstories.org/ Subscribe on YouTube for More Stories! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh_VbMnoL4nuxX_3HYanJbA?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Please note that the 1st part is in English, and the 2nd part is in Malayalam starting 6:54  mark.John 15:1-17John 15:5 – “ I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” ഞാൻ മുന്തിരിവള്ളിയും നിങ്ങൾ കൊമ്പുകളുംആകുന്നു; ഒരുത്തൻ എന്നിലും ഞാൻ അവനിലും വസിക്കുന്നു എങ്കിൽ അവൻ വളരെ ഫലംകായക്കും; എന്നെ പിരിഞ്ഞു നിങ്ങൾക്കു ഒന്നും ചെയ്‍വാൻ കഴികയില്ല.  ഞാൻ സാക്ഷാൽമുന്തിരിവള്ളിയും എന്റെ പിതാവു തോട്ടക്കാരനും ആകുന്നു.This verse clearly explains the relationship between Jesus and a true Christian. A whole plant of any kind has a life of its own. A vine plant is full with its branches.  When one branch is cut off from the vine plant, that branch  does not have a life of its own. It cannot bear fruit on its own.  It will be thrown into the fire, and it gets burned.  Similarly, when we are not with Jesus, we useless like a cut off branch which is useless.  The meaning of us abiding in Jesus and Jesus abiding in us are discussed. My name... Cicilysunny@gmail.com

Send us a textFour veterans from different military branches share how they created Four Branches Bourbon with a mission to honor fallen comrades and change the narrative around veterans and alcohol consumption through their message of "serve honorably, drink honorably."• Four Branches was founded by veterans from the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force—the only spirits company with founders from all four branches• The brand's origin connects to fallen CIA operative Greg, whose death 20 years ago inspired the founders to create a way to remember those who didn't return• Their mantra "don't drink to forget, sip to remember" encourages responsible consumption that honors memories rather than escapes them• The Continental Bourbon celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Continental Army, Navy and Marines with a 9-year Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 102 proof• Every aspect of the bottle design contains symbolism, from the four-sided shape to the "4" logo that represents all branches and those who serve "at the tip of the spear"• Four Branches donates 4% of gross revenue, with donated bottles having raised over $450,000 for veterans' charities and familiesVisit fourbranchescom to order online in 39 states or find Four Branches Bourbon in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, DC, Maryland, Florida, and Arizona.Bourbon carries stories within its amber depths—but rarely stories as powerful as those behind Four Branches. When veterans from the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force united to create a spirits company, they brought with them a mission that transcends the bottle.Four Branches began with a moment of reflection. One founder, haunted by memories of bringing home fallen comrades from combat zones, envisioned creating a bourbon to honor their sacrifice. What started as a simple tribute evolved into something extraordinary when the founders realized they represented each major military branch—a combination unprecedented in the spirits industry. Their backgrounds in special operations and intelligence shaped not just their approach to business but their core philosophy: "Serve honorably, drink honorably."This isn't marketing jargon. It stems from profound experience with the devastation of veteran suicide and substance abuse. As one founder poignantly explains, "We don't drink to forget—we sip to remember." This perspective transforms each pour into an opportunity for reflection rather than escape. Their Continental Bourbon, crafted to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America's first military branches, embodies this ethos. The nine-year Kentucky straight bourbon, bottled at 102 proof with a precisely balanced mashbill, carries within it centuries of American military tradition.What truly distinguishes Four Branches is their commitment to giving back. They donate 4% of gross revenue—a significant portion that demonstrates their priorities extend beyond profit margins. Their donated bottles have raised over $450,000 for veterans' charities in just two years. The bottle itself, with its four-sided design and meticulously crafted logo, contains hidden military symbolism that rewards the observant consumer with deeper meaning.Experience what happens when honor meets craftsmanship in a glass. Whether you're a veteran, first responder, or simply someone who appreciates thoughtful spirits with purpose, Four Branches invites you tovoice over Whiskey Thief If You Have Gohsts Add for SOFLSupport the showhttps://www.scotchybourbonboys.com The Scotchy bourbon Boys are #3 in Feedspots Top 60 whiskey podcasts in the world https://podcast.feedspot.com/whiskey_podcasts/

In this episode, Steph explores the significance of relationships in our lives based on 3 different types of people. We've all felt the struggle and stress around relationships to some degree and it often comes down to our resistance we have to what is real and true about that relationship. How can we release that resistance? By understanding the role of different relationships in our life—the leaves, branches, and roots. Each type of relationship offers something unique. By recognizing these dynamics, we can release resistance and expectations, leading to greater ease and appreciation for the people in our lives.Chapters00:00 Understanding Relationships Through Nature's Lens09:06 The Tree Analogy: Leaves, Branches, and Roots10:00 Embracing the Seasons of RelationshipsSign up for "The Impact Effect" newsletter at www.stephsaffer.com

What happens when your first community, your family, isn't a place of comfort, trust, or safety? In this raw and honest episode, we explore the quiet shame that so many carry: growing up without the support system we were taught to expect.Instead of feeling grounded by our roots, some of us felt isolated, dismissed, or even harmed. So we venture into the world seeking connection, looking for the love and stability we couldn't find at home.

We cannot faithfully look at a tree and hold tight to our idols of order and tidiness. A tree takes an axe to those idols, as it calmly grows with crooked branches. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t romanticize chaos or disorder, for it does strive to hold its shape and structure. It wants order and aims for structure. But it doesn’t simply topple over when its root is introduced to its first boulder. It doesn’t wait to grow until the ground below it and air above it is cleared of all obstacles. A tree reminds us that a fruitful life means growth, and growth is messy. It twists and bends. It warps and grasps. It lives and grows, mess and all. Governed by it’s Maker, a tree grows straight with crooked branches.

We cannot faithfully look at a tree and hold tight to our idols of order and tidiness. A tree takes an axe to those idols, as it calmly grows with crooked branches. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t romanticize chaos or disorder, for it does strive to hold its shape and structure. It wants order and aims for structure. But it doesn’t simply topple over when its root is introduced to its first boulder. It doesn’t wait to grow until the ground below it and air above it is cleared of all obstacles. A tree reminds us that a fruitful life means growth, and growth is messy. It twists and bends. It warps and grasps. It lives and grows, mess and all. Governed by it’s Maker, a tree grows straight with crooked branches.

In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake sits down with Rick Franco, Co-Founder of Four Branches Bourbon, and their newly appointed Strategic Advisor, Master Distiller Gregg Snyder. The conversation explores the brand's ties to military service, its approach to bourbon, and its expanding product lineup. We dive into Four Branches' signature Founder's Blend, a complex four grain bourbon, and what sets it apart in the premium whiskey landscape. We also discuss the inspiration and details behind their latest release: The Continental, a limited-edition small batch bourbon created in honor of the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Crafted with a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, The Continental is aged nine years and bottled at 102 proof. Named for the Continental Army, America's first formal military organization, this bourbon offers a flavor profile as layered as its history. Stream this episode on your favorite podcast platform, and if you enjoy what you hear, we'd love for you to leave us a review. We're incredibly grateful for your continued support over the past six years. A special thank you goes out to our amazing community of Patreon supporters—your support helps keep Bourbon Lens going strong! If you're enjoying the podcast, consider leaving a 5-star rating, writing a quick review, and sharing the show with a fellow bourbon enthusiast. You can follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. Want to go a step further? Support us on Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, Bourbon Lens swag, access to our Tasting Club, and more. Have questions, feedback, or guest suggestions? Drop us a line at Info@BourbonLens.com. Explore BourbonLens.com for blog posts, the latest whiskey news, our full podcast archive, and detailed whiskey reviews. Cheers, Scott & Jake Bourbon Lens

Listen in as Pastor Alex starts our new sermon series The Narrow Path!

What comes after the Fall? Redemption!In our "Branches" series, we've journeyed through Creation and the Fall. This Sunday, we're exploring the beautiful promise of "Redemption." God's plan from the beginning was to offer forgiveness and freedom through Jesus. But how does that change how we live day-to-day? How do we practice forgiveness when it's hard?Join us this week as we discover how Christ empowers us to bring redemption and forgiveness into our own lives and relationships.

The Jewish People : one golden menorah. Lighting the world together each in a unique wayChelek Chof Ches. Pg 60This week's sicha is sponsored in honor of:

What is it that a church does when it meets together? In Acts 2, the church commits itself to teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer. These have often been called the four marks of the church. We look at the importance of these marks and how they shape who we are as a church.

What if the beauty you're searching for is already all around you—and within you? In this inspiring conversation, award-winning poet Tory Tomberlin takes us deep into Beauty in the Branches, her evocative poetry collection that brings nature, memory, and emotion vividly to life. Whether you're a poetry enthusiast or simply craving a fresh perspective, this episode will awaken your senses and reconnect you with the wonder of the everyday.==========================================

As the private credit market continues to grow, investors are diversifying strategies across various asset classes. However, recent economic uncertainty could reshape the sector's ongoing evolution. In this episode, Leland Price from the FICC Market Structure and Liquidity Strategy team joins Jake Pollack, head of North America Credit Trading & Global Credit Financing, for a discussion on emerging challenges and opportunities in this space. From direct lending and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) to private credit ETFs, tune in to better understand the shifting landscape of private credit.     This episode was recorded on May 5, 2025.   The views expressed in this podcast may not necessarily reflect the views of JPMorgan Chase & Co, and its affiliates, together J.P. Morgan, and do not constitute research or recommendation advice or an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or financial instrument. They are not issued by Research but are a solicitation under CFTC Rule 1.71. Referenced products and services in this podcast may not be suitable for you, and may not be available in all jurisdictions. J.P. Morgan may make markets and trade as principal in securities and other asset classes and financial products that may have been discussed. The FICC market structure publications, or to one, newsletters, mentioned in this podcast are available for J.P. Morgan clients. Please contact your J.P. Morgan sales representative should you wish to receive these. For additional disclaimers and regulatory disclosures, please visit www.jpmorgan.com/disclosures © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Company. All rights reserved.

Last weekend we kicked off our series Branches and unpacked how we as humanity were intentionally created to live our purpose to Love God and Love People. We discovered that one of the best ways we can love God is by loving the image of God in one another. However, it doesn't take much to realize that humans aren't doing a great job of living out that purpose to love one another… right? Why is that? Join us this week as we continue unpacking the Genesis narrative and learn what went wrong in our quest to live out our communal purpose.

Another day in the resistance against Republican fascism. Republicons think 3 branches of Government Are “Trump, Putin & Elon Musk" Pete Hegseth, like all Republicons, is a coward and more! We discuss the madness __________________________________________________ Check out "The Tara Show" with Tara Devlin and Tara Dublin every Thursday 2PM EST on the Political Voices Network! www.youtube.com/@PoliticalVoicesNetwork Head on with Robyn Kincaid is on 5 nights a week! headon.live/ Tarabuster is among the independent media voices at APSRadioNews.com Tarabuster is also on rokfin.com/tarabuster BECOME A "TARABUSTER" PATRON: www.patreon.com/taradevlin Join the Tarabuster community on Discord too!! discord.gg/PRYDBx8 Buy some Resistance Merch and help support our progressive work! tarabustermerch.com/ Contact Tarabuster: tarabustershow@maskedfort.com Buy some Resistance Merch and help support our progressive work! tarabustermerch.com/ Keep the REAL liberal media going and growing! Support Tarabuster: www.paypal.com/paypalme/taradacktyl

REVIEW: Colleague Mary Anastasia O'Grady of the WSJ comments on the success of AMLO and his party, Morena, to achieve domination of all branches of government in the PRI fashion of the 20th century. More. 1913

Public confidence in all branches of government has been on the decline for years, but questioning of U.S. courts has taken center stage since President Trump returned to Washington. This is largely due to district courts having intervened over 180 times against the Trump Administration's agenda, prompting debate about the judiciary's independence and impartiality. Charles speaks with Tom Fitton, the President of Judicial Watch, who argues that public trust is further eroding due to judges acting like politicians. Later, Charles addresses the investigation into the potential misuse of President Biden's autopen during his administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Learning and loving to read is a journey for every child. Today, we're focusing on that particular moment when a child is building their reading confidence to make a leap from picture books to chapter books. It's an exciting time, but it's also high stakes: it presents a small window that can either launch a child into a love of reading on their own or intimidate them if they find it overwhelming. That's where Scholastic comes in. In today's episode, former elementary school teacher and current Editorial Director of Scholastic's Acorn early readers and Branches early chapter books lines, Katie Carella, is back in the studio with guest-host Billy DiMichele to talk about this magical moment in a child's literacy journey. And joining the podcast for the first time is Bernard Mensah, author of beloved Branches series Kwame's Magic Quest. Over the years, Branches has helped grow so many readers through highly illustrated, early chapter books that kids devour. Currently with 58 million books in print and 34 published series, the line has experienced a “meteoric” rise since we last spoke about this important line in 2019 when it had about 17 million books and about 25 series in print. Listen on to find out what's behind this meteoric rise, to get a glimpse of Kwame's magical world, and to learn about Bernard's passion for writing for the Branches age group and representing Ghanaian culture in children's books. And stay to the end for a read aloud sneak peek! →Resources About Branches: https://www.scholastic.com/site/branches.html About Kwame's Magic Quest: https://www.scholastic.com/site/branches/kwame-s-magic-quest.html Fuse #8 Blog Review from Betsy Bird: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2025/02/04/the-fast-paced-page-turning-adventure-series-thats-a-celebration-of-african-cultures-bernard-mensah-discusses-kwames-magic-quest/ More listening: Scholastic Reads! EVA-DORABLE: Rebecca Elliott Talks a Decade of the Owl Diaries, Eva the Owlet, and more! More listening: Scholastic Reads! Growing Readers with Branches and Acorn from 2019! →Highlights _Katie Carella: Editorial Director, Acorn & Branches, Scholastic _ “Having been a 1st-3rd grade teachers myself, I'm always excited to talk about that very exciting point in a child's reading journey where they begin to read books independently. You get to see that light go off and it's just the best feeling ever.” “All of the Branches books have a second grade reading level. But the books all feature really rich, layered plots so they do appeal to children across many grade levels. From Kindergarten, I'd say up through fourth and even fifth grade, especially now with reading levels behind where they should be. So it's more important than ever to have these “high-low” books. These books are high-interest, layered plots and yet written at a lower reading level.” “If a child chooses a book that's too easy for them the child can speed through it and they gain fluency and stamina. If they choose a book that's slightly too hard for them, the child might struggle, but if they want to read they will do the work. And they'll learn decoding skills along the way. So both experiences ultimately grow a child's vocabulary and their reading skill set.” “The accolades [for Kwame's Magic Quest] keep coming in…it was highlighted on Betsy Bird's Fuse #8 blog…I just wanted to say a quote she had in her blog, ‘it's amazing how much story Mensah and Nayo [the illustrator] are able to pack into this thing.' You are getting this really rich and magical world that Bernard has created but in this really digestible format.” _Bernard Mensah, Author, Kwame's Magic Quest _ “[Kwame's Magic Quest] has got that mix of authenticity, friendship, lots and lots of magic, some peril and danger, there's evil magicians and spells. I think it brings together a lot of things that you would typically find exciting if you wanted to read a book about magic or an epic adventure.” “[on working with the illustrator Natasha Nayo] Having an illustrator who came from the same background who understands the cultural context of some of things that I was trying to put across, I could rely on the art to do some of the talking for me. She brought her own unique flare.” “My son, when he was about five years old, I remember looking at his bookshelf and thinking to myself, well, I've managed to find stories for him or write something that speaks to his culture at every age. Where is the book that speaks to him from five to eight years old? And I couldn't find it so foolishly I thought to myself, well, I'll write it. And that's where the idea for Kwame's Magic Quest came from.” On what the characters would do over summer break, “By the end of the summer they would probably save the world again because that's what they do in every book. They come close to not doing it but they find a way to rally together and make magic safe again for everybody.” →Special Thanks Producers: Anne Sparkman, Allyson Barkan, and Maxine Osa Sound engineer: S. Shin Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl →Coming Soon The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2025

We would love to hear from you! Please send us your comments here. --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.