Podcasts about brussels belgium

George Halford sits down with Jill Stalnaker to explore her unique journey—from growing up in Brussels Belgium and Michigan to moving to Cookeville at age 9, eventually homeschooling through middle school. Jill opens up about how a traumatic divorce five years ago became a catalyst for personal growth and achievement. As a teen she served with churches in France and Germany, inspired by her father's international career as a criminal defense attorney and author—but charted her own path. Now working in the mental health field, Jill shares how her faith has guided and continues to inspire her career and life. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Episode 166: TDS is RAW Week 12 - Road to Wrestlemania 41 Tonight on the TDS Wrestling Show Podcast & Pro Wrestling World us boyo's discuss what happened in Brussels Belgium this past Monday on WWE RAW. A "Solid Ass" Show (as Stone Cold Steve Austin would say) The road to Wrestlemania 41 continues with so much anticipation going into it. This is a crazy year in WWE so far! Drop those comments below guys!!

„Collecting with the female side“In this episode, I speak with Belgian art collector Walter Vanhaerents, who began collecting art in the mid-1970s and was named one of the top 200 collectors of our time by artnews. What started as a personal passion has evolved into a dynamic, multigenerational project. Over the decades, the collection has undergone several realignments, reflecting not only shifts in the art world but also Walter's own life journey, his individual attitude towards collecting and his deep knowledge about contemporary art. After the early death of his brother, Walter had to step into the family's construction business at a very young age. Art became a transformative space for him - one that connected him with his emotional and spiritual side, allowing for deeper self-discovery. He collects intuitively, guided by passion and sensitivity.Since 2007, the Vanhaerents Art Collection has been housed in a repurposed industrial building in the heart of Brussels, presenting regularly changing exhibitions. In recent years,Walter's children Els and Joost have taken on increasingly active roles, bringing fresh perspectives and new energy into the collection.We talk about personal development, spirituality, and the emotional core of collecting, as well as the evolution of a family legacy shaped by three distinct voices.Recorded March 10, 2025, language english, 35 min.We're recording via the internet, glitches in sound quality may occur.Portrait of Walter in front of the work "The death of James Lee Byars", photo by Karel DuerinckxMore information here:https://vanhaerentsartcollection.comhttps://www.artbasel.com/stories/why-i-collect-art-walter-vanhaerents?lang=dehttps://initiartmagazine.com/2011/04/26/walter-vanhaerents/https://www.artnews.com/art-collectors/top-200-profiles/walter-vanhaerents/https://van-horn.net/podcast-1/

Joinas I discuss the Aew Revolution PPV, John Cena's Heelturn, Cody vs Cena and Raw in Brussels Belgium

Pour Another Round is back in Brussels, Belgium, visiting with Julien at WOLF Sharing Food Market and the microbrewery that exists there. Surrounded by a more upscale food court of sorts, the beer is brewed on-site, only 31 meters - about 101 feet for us American folk - from the bar where it's being poured.While our tastebuds were drooling over the 17 different restaurant options, our conversation is still all about the beer that Julien is brewing at WOLF!With WOLF's micro setup, they bring you the benefits of high-quality craft beers available only at WOLF, more environmentally friendly consumption, more sharing with customers and better control over purchases and products.WOLF has a partnership with Belgoo Brewery, a craft brewery specialising in high fermentation and organic beers, and a handful of their beers are also available at WOLF.Santé. Follow Pour Another Round:Facebook: /PourAnotherRoundPodInstagram: @PourAnotherRoundPodWebsite: pouranotherround.com  Follow Pour Another Round: Facebook: /PourAnotherRoundPodInstagram: @PourAnotherRoundPodWebsite: pouranotherround.com

Pour Another Round heads across the pond and visits with Yvan from Brasserie de la Senne in Brussels, Belgium. Yvan is a passionate brewer and brewery owner and brings you the Brussels People's Beer! In our very first episode from Belgium, Yvan talks with us about quality and the desire to always do better.  From the beginning, Brasserie de la Senne has brewed bitter beers - bitterness is the key characteristic of their beers. Why? They wanted to brew beers to their liking that could no longer be found on the market. You'll also find really solid low alcohol beers at Brasserie de la Senne (no N/As though!). The Taras Boulba (4.5%) is “the” beer for quenching your thirst and you still get amazing flavor!Brasserie de la Senne takes great pride in being a local brewery and focused on the Brussels region through and through. Exports are limited, however, their beers are available in a dozen countries, with a leading presence in the United States, Italy and Japan. Follow Pour Another Round:Facebook: /PourAnotherRoundPodInstagram: @PourAnotherRoundPodWebsite: pouranotherround.com Follow Pour Another Round: Facebook: /PourAnotherRoundPodInstagram: @PourAnotherRoundPodWebsite: pouranotherround.com

Episode 149 - all notes from the show can be found at www.zippingaroundtheworld.com on the home page.  Scroll to find Episode 149.   Don't forget to subscribe to the show!  Tell your friends and social media. Help the show, at no cost to you! Use my travel credit card links. Leave me a comment on my website under the comments tab if you have ever used any of my travel tips or locations.  Also, leave me a rating and kind comment in Itunes as well.

Brussels, Belgium, August 15, 2024: Discourse by Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji Maharaj

Brussels, Belgium, August 15, 2024: Discourse by Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji Maharaj

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR. Updates from day 143 of the conflict: International NGO Human Rights Watch, citing what it says is a 30% decline in the daily average number of aid trucks entering Gaza in recent weeks, accused Israel today of failing to comply with last month's International Court of Justice order to take "immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip." Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said yesterday that his country will continue to target Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon even if a temporary cease-fire agreement is reached with Hamas in Gaza. UKRAINE. Today is day 732 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates: Marking this weekend's two-year anniversary of the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians have been killed during the war. More than 20 European heads of state and government are meeting today in Paris in a joint show of support for Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron, host of the conference, said the summit will focus on strengthening aid to Ukraine as the Russian invasion enters its third year. U.S. POLITICS. Former President Donald Trump won Saturday's Republican presidential primary in South Carolina, winning 47 of the state's convention delegates, compared to 3 for rival Nikki Haley, who previously served as governor of the state. WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT. Reports say President Joe Biden will meet tomorrow with the top four congressional leaders - House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell - for discussions centered on a proposed 95 billion dollar emergency security aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific, and on the need to pass government funding measures ahead of March 1 and March 8 deadlines to avert partial government shutdowns. U.S. SOCIAL MEDIA. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments today on the legality of laws passed in Florida and Texas that restrict the ability of large social media companies to moderate content on their platforms that the companies deem objectionable. Neither of the state laws have gone into effect due to ongoing litigation. NATO. The Hungarian parliament is expected to vote today to ratify Sweden's NATO membership bid - the final vote needed to make Sweden the alliance's 32nd member. GLOBAL SECURITY. Speaking today at the opening of the U.N. Human Rights Council summit in Geneva Switzerland, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world is becoming "less safe by the day," and that participants in conflicts in places including Congo, Gaza, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Sudan are showing a disregard for international law. SOUTH KOREA. Government officials in South Korea said today that junior doctors in the country have four days to end their nearly week-long strike or face penalties, including the possibilities of criminal prosecution and suspension of medical licenses. EUROPEAN FARMING. Farmers from across Europe are taking part in protests today outside the European Union's headquarters in Brussels Belgium. Reports say tractors driven by protesting farmers have disrupted traffic throughout the city and that police are maintaining a heavy security presence around the European Council building, where the 27-nation bloc's agriculture ministers are meeting. SOUTH CHINA SEA. Reuters reports that satellite imagery shows a new floating barrier across the entrance to the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea - a site of frequent run-ins between Philippine ships and Chinese coast guard vessels. The Philippine Coast Guard claimed last week to have observed Chinese boats deploying barrier floats at the site. BRAZIL. Tens of thousands of...

BE Chocolat, Initiator of Tastes.BEnoit is BElgian Master Chocolatier graduated from Ceria Culinary Institute in Brussels Belgium, and was Chocolate Chef at the Belgian Pavilion in Shanghai World Expo. Co-owned with his wife Sylvie Fortin - CEO's you Should Know here in CT!!!BE Chocolat is exclusively using Callebaut Fairtrade Finest Belgian Chocolate.Production is hand made at our beautiful Atelier BE Chocolat in Fairfield CT USA in small batches to preserve the subtleness of tastes of premium ingredients."To BE or not to BE",.... this is the ultimate question.

Do you ever wish you could tackle that never-ending to-do list in record time? Us too! In this episode, Carl Richards chats with Dr. Mike Van Thielen and they explore tricks and strategies for slashing your to-do list in half. Whether you're a busy professional, a parent juggling a million things, or just someone who wants more free time, we've got your back. Tune in and let's chat about the art of getting things done faster and smarter."Dr. Mike Van Thielen is a health and wellness expert, best selling author, international keynote and motivational speaker, and world record holder. He has been involved in optimal health practices, anti-aging and regenerative medicine, sports performance, nutrition, and supplementation for over three decades.As a top swimmer in his native Belgium, he gained interest in optimizing health and athletic performance. Dr. Van Thielen graduated from the University of Brussels (Belgium) in 1993 witha bachelor's degree in physical education and in 1995 with a master's degree in physical therapy. He served as the assistant coach and physical therapist for Belgian Olympic swimmers in preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Besides being well-versed in various health applications, Dr. Mike Van Thielen also holds various business and marketing certifications. He has vast business experience and a proven record of establishing and developing successful business operations.Dr. Mike has owned multiple anti-aging clinics in central and northeast Florida and developed a successful system to create  customer loyalty that boosted new customer referrals and resulted in retaining more than 90% of existing customers. In 2008, he founded a company that certified health care professionals in health and wellness programs, sensible weight loss, and natural non-invasive cosmetic procedures, and trained over 1,000 professionals in just 5 years. Dr. Mike sold the business in 2014 and has since dedicated himself to biohacking and bioregenerative medicine applications.Connect with Mike:http://www.clarigenz.comFollow Mike on social media:Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/clarigenzInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/clarigenz/?hl=enGot a comment, idea for a topic, or would you like to be a featured guest on Speaking of Speaking? Reach out to Carl: askcarl@carlspeaks.ca And check out the website for more tips: https://carlspeaks.ca/Book Carl for your next summit, podcast, or live event:https://carlspeaks.ca/contact-carl/If you're a coach, consultant, subject matter expert or speaker and are looking to start your own podcast, Carl and his team can help you strategize a show that fits your brand and your budget. Head on over to Podcast Solutions Made Simple to get started:https://podcastsolutionsmadesimple.comand, don't forget to check out the brand new podcast! It's a podcast all about podcasting. So if getting into the podcast space keeps alluding you , this is the show for you! If you're a seasoned podcaster, this is the show for you! Check it out here:https://podcastsolutionsmadesimple.buzzsprout.com/Give it a listen, give us a rating, leave us a comment, and subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcast!

Nicole Bordelais & Jörg Heinrichs are school leaders at Internationale Deutsche Schule in Brussels Belgium the school where Reinventing Education co-host Rob Macleod has taught for the last 5 years.   We have worked closely with Nicole and Jorg over the last few years using the 3 Types Of School model to guide school development. We wanted the opportunity to reflect on the work we have done together including the practicalities of how the concept of the 3 types of school was introduced to the school community, pros and cons as well as next steps.     We hope you find this discussion interesting and perhaps it inspires some ideas for how the 3 types of school model in your school's context. If you are interested in establishing what kind of school context you are currently in, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found by clicking here.

Our guest for this Living to 100 Club Podcast is Dr. Mike Van Thielen. It is a conversation about the many ways we can overcome barriers to tapping our true potential and unleashing our superpowers. Dr. Van Thielen is the author of  the newly released book, The IZOD Method – Unleash Your Superpower: Optimize Productivity & Focus, Free Up Valuable Time, Live Stress-Free, and Upgrade Body and Brain. What are the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to unlock our highest potential and reach our goals? Is it possible to be in the “zone” – being at our peak performance – on demand. Or is it just a fluke when it happens. We discuss the importance of a sense of purpose, taking control of our agenda, and measuring progress toward our goals. Join us as we look at strategies to maintain a positive mindset, unlock our potential, and remain stress-free. Mini Bio As a top swimmer in his native Belgium, he gained interest in optimizing health and athletic performance. Dr. Van Thielen graduated from the University of Brussels (Belgium) in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He then complete a master's degree in physical therapy in 1995. He served as the assistant coach and physical therapist for Belgian Olympic swimmers in preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Dr. Mike himself is an All American and is a current World Record Holder in swimming. He also holds 31 U.S. National Titles. Dr. Mike moved to Florida in 1997, and after managing several pain management clinics, he pursued his master of science in Oriental medicine. He also pursued his bachelor of science in professional health studies. Dr. Mike is a licensed physical therapist, a licensed acupuncture physician, a doctor of Oriental Medicine. He also has a PhD in holistic nutrition. Besides being well-versed in various health applications, Dr. Mike Van Thielen has a vast business experience and a proven track record of establishing and developing successful business operations. Currently, he is an international keynote speaker, bestselling author, and a mentor to those who want to live life to their fullest. For Our Listeners Mike's Website: Biohacking Unlimited Podcasting Award for 2023 Feedspot RSS News Reader has selected again the Living to 100 Club Podcast as among the Best Aging Podcasts to Follow in 2023. Seventh place out of the top 60 - nice! Thanks to all of our listeners for tuning in, and to our guests for the great conversations.

Our guest for this Living to 100 Club Podcast is Dr. Mike Van Thielen. It is a conversation about the many ways we can overcome barriers to tapping our true potential and unleashing our superpowers. Dr. Van Thielen is the author of the newly released book, The IZOD Method – Unleash Your Superpower: Optimize Productivity & Focus, Free Up Valuable Time, Live Stress-Free, and Upgrade Body and Brain. What are the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to unlock our highest potential and reach our goals? Is it possible to be in the “zone” – being at our peak performance – on demand. Or is it just a fluke when it happens. We discuss the importance of a sense of purpose, taking control of our agenda, and measuring progress toward our goals. Join us as we look at strategies to maintain a positive mindset, unlock our potential, and remain stress-free. Mini Bio As a top swimmer in his native Belgium, he gained interest in optimizing health and athletic performance. Dr. Van Thielen graduated from the University of Brussels (Belgium) in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He then complete a master's degree in physical therapy in 1995. He served as the assistant coach and physical therapist for Belgian Olympic swimmers in preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Dr. Mike himself is an All American and is a current World Record Holder in swimming. He also holds 31 U.S. National Titles. Dr. Mike moved to Florida in 1997, and after managing several pain management clinics, he pursued his master of science in Oriental medicine. He also pursued his bachelor of science in professional health studies. Dr. Mike is a licensed physical therapist, a licensed acupuncture physician, a doctor of Oriental Medicine. He also has a PhD in holistic nutrition. Besides being well-versed in various health applications, Dr. Mike Van Thielen has a vast business experience and a proven track record of establishing and developing successful business operations. Currently, he is an international keynote speaker, bestselling author, and a mentor to those who want to live life to their fullest. For Our Listeners Mike's Website: Biohacking Unlimited Podcasting Award for 2023 Feedspot RSS News Reader has selected again the Living to 100 Club Podcast as among the Best Aging Podcasts to Follow in 2023. Seventh place out of the top 60 - nice! Thanks to all of our listeners for tuning in, and to our guests for the great conversations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest for this Living to 100 Club Podcast is Dr. Mike Van Thielen. It is a conversation about the many ways we can overcome barriers to tapping our true potential and unleashing our superpowers. Dr. Van Thielen is the author of  the newly released book, The IZOD Method – Unleash Your Superpower: Optimize Productivity & Focus, Free Up Valuable Time, Live Stress-Free, and Upgrade Body and Brain. What are the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to unlock our highest potential and reach our goals? Is it possible to be in the “zone” – being at our peak performance – on demand. Or is it just a fluke when it happens. We discuss the importance of a sense of purpose, taking control of our agenda, and measuring progress toward our goals. Join us as we look at strategies to maintain a positive mindset, unlock our potential, and remain stress-free. Mini Bio As a top swimmer in his native Belgium, he gained interest in optimizing health and athletic performance. Dr. Van Thielen graduated from the University of Brussels (Belgium) in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He then complete a master's degree in physical therapy in 1995. He served as the assistant coach and physical therapist for Belgian Olympic swimmers in preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Dr. Mike himself is an All American and is a current World Record Holder in swimming. He also holds 31 U.S. National Titles. Dr. Mike moved to Florida in 1997, and after managing several pain management clinics, he pursued his master of science in Oriental medicine. He also pursued his bachelor of science in professional health studies. Dr. Mike is a licensed physical therapist, a licensed acupuncture physician, a doctor of Oriental Medicine. He also has a PhD in holistic nutrition. Besides being well-versed in various health applications, Dr. Mike Van Thielen has a vast business experience and a proven track record of establishing and developing successful business operations. Currently, he is an international keynote speaker, bestselling author, and a mentor to those who want to live life to their fullest. For Our Listeners Mike's Website: Biohacking Unlimited Podcasting Award for 2023 Feedspot RSS News Reader has selected again the Living to 100 Club Podcast as among the Best Aging Podcasts to Follow in 2023. Seventh place out of the top 60 - nice! Thanks to all of our listeners for tuning in, and to our guests for the great conversations.

Our guest for this Living to 100 Club Podcast is Dr. Mike Van Thielen. It is a conversation about the many ways we can overcome barriers to tapping our true potential and unleashing our superpowers. Dr. Van Thielen is the author of the newly released book, The IZOD Method – Unleash Your Superpower: Optimize Productivity & Focus, Free Up Valuable Time, Live Stress-Free, and Upgrade Body and Brain. What are the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to unlock our highest potential and reach our goals? Is it possible to be in the “zone” – being at our peak performance – on demand. Or is it just a fluke when it happens. We discuss the importance of a sense of purpose, taking control of our agenda, and measuring progress toward our goals. Join us as we look at strategies to maintain a positive mindset, unlock our potential, and remain stress-free. Mini Bio As a top swimmer in his native Belgium, he gained interest in optimizing health and athletic performance. Dr. Van Thielen graduated from the University of Brussels (Belgium) in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He then complete a master's degree in physical therapy in 1995. He served as the assistant coach and physical therapist for Belgian Olympic swimmers in preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Dr. Mike himself is an All American and is a current World Record Holder in swimming. He also holds 31 U.S. National Titles. Dr. Mike moved to Florida in 1997, and after managing several pain management clinics, he pursued his master of science in Oriental medicine. He also pursued his bachelor of science in professional health studies. Dr. Mike is a licensed physical therapist, a licensed acupuncture physician, a doctor of Oriental Medicine. He also has a PhD in holistic nutrition. Besides being well-versed in various health applications, Dr. Mike Van Thielen has a vast business experience and a proven track record of establishing and developing successful business operations. Currently, he is an international keynote speaker, bestselling author, and a mentor to those who want to live life to their fullest. For Our Listeners Mike's Website: Biohacking Unlimited Podcasting Award for 2023 Feedspot RSS News Reader has selected again the Living to 100 Club Podcast as among the Best Aging Podcasts to Follow in 2023. Seventh place out of the top 60 - nice! Thanks to all of our listeners for tuning in, and to our guests for the great conversations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thomas Sjöberg is from Belgium, now lives in Finland and has his fiancée in the USA. Together with his job as a brewery consultant and beer judge, this takes him around the world several times a year. During his youth, he discovered Belgian Trappist beers and decided to make it more than a hobby. After moving to Finland, the opportunity arose to jump on the slow-starting craft beer bandwagon. Along the way, he completed almost every beer sensory training course there is. Finally, the first job in a brewery in Estonia followed by one in Sweden and next the job as Head Brewer in Estonia at another brewery. In the podcast, Thomas talks about this exciting journey and his current projects....

Known as the 'Houdini of Health', Dr. Mike is regarded to be a pioneer in the fields of health, wellness, nutrition and peak performance. Dr. Mike's credentials in his field are equaled by few others and his revolutionary book Health 4 Life – User Manual has become the ultimate guide for many in their quest to regain control of their health and perform at maximum potential. Dr. Mike Van Thielen, PHD. HOLISTIC NUTRITION - WELLNESS EXPERT – AUTHOR – KEYNOTE and MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, has been involved in optimal health practices, sports performance, nutrition and supplementation for nearly three decades. As a top swimmer in his country of origin, Belgium, he gained interest in optimizing health and athletic performance. Dr. Van Thielen graduated from the University of Brussels (Belgium) in 1993 as a Bachelor in Physical Education and in 1995 as a Master in Physical Therapy. He served as the Assistant Coach and Physical Therapist for Belgian Olympic swimmers in preparation for the Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996). Dr. Van Thielen moved to Florida in 1997, and after managing several pain management clinics, he pursued to receive his Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine and his Bachelor of Science in Professional Health Studies from the Florida College of Integrative Medicine in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Van Thielen is a licensed Physical Therapist, a licensed Acupuncture Physician and a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, with certifications in Injection Therapy, Homeopathy and Homotoxicology, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Non-Invasive Cosmetic procedures. He also received his PhD. in Holistic Nutrition from the College of Natural Health.   Links  DR. MIKE VAN THIELEN Project Mindfully Outdoors Aqua Tabs Letters from camp on sale for only .99 Sponsors Ardent Outdoors Engle Coolers Buck Knives    

Known as the 'Houdini of Health', Dr. Mike is regarded to be a pioneer in the fields of health, wellness, nutrition and peak performance. Dr. Mike's credentials in his field are equaled by few others and his revolutionary book Health 4 Life – User Manual has become the ultimate guide for many in their quest to regain control of their health and perform at maximum potential. Dr. Mike Van Thielen, PHD. HOLISTIC NUTRITION - WELLNESS EXPERT – AUTHOR – KEYNOTE and MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, has been involved in optimal health practices, sports performance, nutrition and supplementation for nearly three decades. As a top swimmer in his country of origin, Belgium, he gained interest in optimizing health and athletic performance. Dr. Van Thielen graduated from the University of Brussels (Belgium) in 1993 as a Bachelor in Physical Education and in 1995 as a Master in Physical Therapy. He served as the Assistant Coach and Physical Therapist for Belgian Olympic swimmers in preparation for the Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996). Dr. Van Thielen moved to Florida in 1997, and after managing several pain management clinics, he pursued to receive his Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine and his Bachelor of Science in Professional Health Studies from the Florida College of Integrative Medicine in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Van Thielen is a licensed Physical Therapist, a licensed Acupuncture Physician and a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, with certifications in Injection Therapy, Homeopathy and Homotoxicology, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Non-Invasive Cosmetic procedures. He also received his PhD. in Holistic Nutrition from the College of Natural Health.   Links  DR. MIKE VAN THIELEN Project Mindfully Outdoors Aqua Tabs Letters from camp on sale for only .99 Sponsors Ardent Outdoors Engle Coolers Buck Knives    

With David Duncker (Host), Hannover Heart Rhythm Center - Germany, Rodrigue Garcia (Host), University hospital of Poitiers - France & Pedro Brugada (Guest), University Of Brussels, Brussels - Belgium. In this episode, Prof David Duncker and Dr Rodrigue Garcia speak with Prof Pedro Brugada. They will talk about 30 years of Brugada syndrome - about the beginning, changing approaches and the future.    

Raf Meert is actually an architect, but in his chest also beats a heart for history, especially the history of beer. Over years of painstaking work, he has developed a completely new view of the history of Faro, Lambic and Geuze. In the process, he uncovered many secrets and demystified myths and legends surrounding this fascinating beverage. Of course, you don't just make friends with that, but Raf has a broad back and a huge amount of expertise, which he lets us share in today's BierTalk...

Maarten is Co-Founder and CEO at Soda. They are a Brussels Belgium-based, open-source data observability and monitoring platform for a modern data stack that helps you address both data quality and trust. They are ensuring high-quality, trusted data is available to enable confident decision-making for data teams. Maarten shares how Soda was started, the advantages of an open-source platform, and what data reliability and observability mean today. Find out how they are enabling data teams to discover, prioritize, and resolve data issues. Show Notes: Check out Soda.io: https://www.soda.io/ Become a part of the Soda community: https://soda-community.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pf67xl6u-n3wexBNDl71VC6vK8fSPjg#/shared-invite/email Check out the Soda Podcast: https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/sodapodcast Soda Core OSS Data Reliability Engineering-As-Code: https://www.soda.io/oss Soda Cloud: https://www.soda.io/cloud Connect with Maarten on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartenm/ Learn more about data reliability through our data governance resources: https://www.hashmapinc.com/datagovernance On tap for today's episode: Nespresso all around! Contact Us: https://www.hashmapinc.com/reach-out

Gray Media White House Correspondent Jon Decker joins us live from Brussels Belgium where President Biden has been meeting with other world leaders

Photo: #Ukraine: Seeking an EU welcome. John Fund @johnfund   @NRO,  in Brussels, Belgium https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/814795.html John H. Fund  @johnfund   @NRO, political journalist, currently national-affairs columnist for National Review Online and a senior editor at The American Spectator. Regular on Fox News. 

Brian speaks with Madeleine Lamont. Madeleine is an incredibly talented Toronto artist. She has exhibited her work in museums and galleries both nationally and internationally and has been the recipient of grants and awards, from the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Arts Council. She has received public commissions from the Art On Public Lands, Visual Arts Centre of Clarington and the Koffler Gallery in Toronto. Her work is in numerous private and public collections. Most notably her painting Standing Bear, from the Night Elegy exhibition, Christine Klassen Gallery, 2015, was purchased by the Government of Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs to be installed in the New Nato Chancery Building in Brussels Belgium.

Show Subjects; We do a test to see if you have a dirty mind. Andrew from Brussels Belgium joins us live. The Dutch company Royal DSM may be acquiring First Choice Ingredients in Germantown Wisconsin. The Salvation Army is ringing their bells for charity. Funguy The Entertainer has the positive message of the day. Ford's [...] The post #411 – Dirty Minded – Andrew From Belgium – Salvation Army – Retro Ford Truck – DSM to Acquire First Choice appeared first on What Happened.

Unrest has spread across the continent as countries bring in measures to curb infections. Austria has returned to a full national lockdown as demonstrations against new restrictions aimed at curbing Covid-19 infections spread across Europe. People clashed with police in the Netherlands and Belgium. Also in the programme: At least five people have been killed after a car ploughed into a Christmas parade in the US state of Wisconsin; Chile heads for a divisive headed run-off as far right surges; and Afghanistan's healthcare system on the brink of collapse. (Photo: People take part in an anti-coronavirus measures protest in Brussels Belgium, 21 November 2021. Credit: EPA).

In this volume of "Shot Glass Diaries," Ian recalls a day trip that he took with his friend Lydia during their European vacation to Brussels, Belgium. Among the activities they participated in while in the city for the day, they participated in a waffle making workshop, walking food tour, and sampled some of the history, views, and architecture.....and some chocolate....that the city is so well known for!Go to Rolling-Acre.com and use the promo code "StrongWords" to get $10 off your next order!Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @IanStrongWords. You can also email the show at StrongWordsPodcast@gmail.com.Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, leave a rating, write a review, and share the social media posts and spread the strong words! Please and thank you!

We discussed: issues of self-publishing a book, Icelandic art history, book publishing, book distribution, making a living as a freelance writer, and career goals.   People + Places mentioned: Kopa Printer - https://kopa.eu Iceland Air - https://www.icelandair.com   3 artist she is watching: Vivian Suter - https://www.gladstonegallery.com/artist/vivian-suter/works Diana Scherer - http://dianascherer.nl Stefan Rinck - https://www.stefanrinck.de     http://www.sarahschug.com http://www.isleofartbook.com https://www.instagram.com/sarahponyyy   Audio editing by Jakub Černý Music by Peat Biby     Supported in part by: EEA Grants from Iceland, Liechtenstein + Norway – https://eeagrants.org               And we appreciate the assistance of our partners in this project: Hunt Kastner – https://huntkastner.com + Kunstsentrene i Norge – https://www.kunstsentrene.no  

We discussed: issues of self-publishing a book, Icelandic art history, book publishing, book distribution, making a living as a freelance writer, and career goals.   People + Places mentioned: Kopa Printer - https://kopa.eu Iceland Air - https://www.icelandair.com   3 artist she is watching: Vivian Suter - https://www.gladstonegallery.com/artist/vivian-suter/works Diana Scherer - http://dianascherer.nl Stefan Rinck - https://www.stefanrinck.de     http://www.sarahschug.com http://www.isleofartbook.com https://www.instagram.com/sarahponyyy   Audio editing by Jakub Černý Music by Peat Biby     Supported in part by: EEA Grants from Iceland, Liechtenstein + Norway – https://eeagrants.org               And we appreciate the assistance of our partners in this project: Hunt Kastner – https://huntkastner.com + Kunstsentrene i Norge – https://www.kunstsentrene.no  

Hey!  My name's Aurélie, I'm from Brussels (Belgium) and I'm studying translation from Spanish & English to French Last year, before going to university, I looked for Youtube content about that kind of studies and I didn't find a lot, so here it is! Hope that's gonna be helpful!  If you have any questions, you can write them in the comments of the Youtube video or Instagram post My Youtube channel: Belgian Accent Podcast or https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy6F2hz5bb65QqIqlnW98dA My Instagram account: @belgianaccent.podcast or https://www.instagram.com/belgianaccent.podcast/  Photo by Artem Page on Unsplash --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/aurelie-chure/message

In this week's episode - we have Eugene Lumpkin - The Strategic DesignerEugene is a multi-disciplined multi-faceted designer that uses creativity and design thinking methodology to come up with innovative ideas to solve problems, not only fashion but social and ecological problems alike. Growing up in the Midwest, he completed his degree in Clothing Design from the University of Minnesota. He began designing private label collections for Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, the Takashimaya department stores, and a signature collection for American designer Alexander Julian. He extended his portfolio of work into Canada and started his own label out of Italy. All this happened before landing in New Year city to further advance himself working for the world-renown Perry Ellis. Eugene and I met through our exclusive Global Executive Master's program studying strategic design and management at Parson School of Design. The unique opportunity has given Eugene the opportunity to envision, research, study, and design new sustainable business models in apparel that will help improve the lives of people and create more balance and well-being for our planet. Eugene and I instantly vibe as we are both passionate about sustainability and both talk about how to incorporate strategic design and design thinking as tools to revolutionize the fashion and apparel industry. We recorded this episode with Eugene from his studio, in Brussels Belgium,  Atelier Tens.You can follow Eugene's journey LinkedIn Eugene Lumpkin IG: Design Studio @ateliertens | @ateliertens Management Brand- MQC- Maison Quincaillerie | @maison_qc 

Hello to you in Brussels, Belgium Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is 60 Seconds, your daily dose of hope, imagination, wisdom, stories, practical tips, and general riffing on this and that.How many times have you been in “conversation” with someone and realized they were busy compiling competitive talking points? Or, maybe what began as a civil discourse erupted into an argument. Facilitating pre-trial focus groups as a litigation consultant taught me that most everybody wants to say something against you, your client, your case, and justice in general.Practical Tip: I learned the hard way; but I learned. To head off competition in dialogue use thoughtful questions and intentional listening. Here are my 3 tried and true tips for any conversation:1. Would you tell me more about that?2. How did you arrive at that position?3. Could you make room for this idea as well as the one you already hold?Bonus Tip: Abandon the word “Why?” It sets up a defensive posture and serves no one. This is the place to thrive together. Come for the stories - stay for the magic. Speaking of magic, I hope you'll subscribe, follow, share a nice shout out on your social media or podcast channel of choice, including Android, and join us next time! You're invited to stop by the website and subscribe to stay current with Diane, her journeys, her guests, as well as creativity, imagination, walking, stories, camaraderie, and so much more: Quarter Moon Story ArtsProduction Team: Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicAll content and image © 2019 - Present: for credit & attribution Quarter Moon Story Arts

Show notes: Welcome to Comfort's Corner for May 26th, 2021. This week on Comfort's Corner we have a special newsmaker segment with board members of the North American Transit Alliance (NATA) and the International Association of Public Transit (UITP) discussing the results of a new survey on private contracting in public transit agencies. UITP completed the study on behalf of NATA and conducted interviews with transit agencies from around the world. The results of this study and give a rich, diverse, and global picture of contracting in public transit. You can download a copy of the report from the UITP website. If your agency would like a presentation about the results of the study, contact Julia Gessner at NATA. In transit news, Paul covers: Kevin Quinn appointed as the new CEO of TransLink. Greyhound Canada ceases all operations in Canada on May 13. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is taking steps to curb fraud and abuse. Union City, CA is bringing back The Flea microtransit service to BART stations. Finally, we hear from Elea Carey in her messaging minute talking about how to leverage the media for hiring at your agency. Next week we have Jeremy Yap of Public Transport, Policy and Planning for the Land Transport Authority in Singapore speaking with Paul in another segment on public transit around the world. Show transcript: Paul Comfort: This is Transit Unplugged. I'm your host Paul Comfort. Great to be with you on another edition of Comfort's Corner, where we bring you the inside story and what's happening in and around the transit industry. Today, we've got a great show for you got some big headline news stories to give you. And then after that, we'll be going into an in-depth interview with the North American Transit Alliance in UATP. It's a great interview with them. Um, and I'll tell you more about it in just a moment. We'll be talking about a new study on contracting and that'll take up most of today's show now on to headline news.  my successor as MTA Baltimore's CEO, Kevin Quinn was announced this week that the TransLink Board of Directors have appointed him Kevin Quinn to serve as the agency's next Chief Executive Officer. When we'll begin the role on July 19th and relocate to the Metro Vancouver, British Columbia area from the Baltimore, Maryland area. I've talked to Kevin multiple times this week, and very excited for him. And I know that he will be greatly missed at MTA. The TransLink folks are in for a great new CEO and, and Tony Gugliotta the Chair of TransLink's Board of Directors said. "We look forward to welcoming Kevin Quinn to the TransLink enterprise, which will benefit from his bold, innovative and customer centered approach to leadership." Congratulations to Kevin and to Holly Arnold, who will step in. She's been the deputy CEO for a while at MTA. She stepping up to be the interim CEO at the Maryland Transit Administration headquartered in Baltimore. On to some interesting news due to sustained ridership declines in Ontario and Quebec, Greyhound Canada is discontinuing all operations on its remaining routes in Ontario and Quebec and permanently closed all services in Canada effective May 13th. This announcement has no impact on Greyhound lines operation in the U S which will continue to operate cross border express service on the following routes when the border reopens Toronto to New York, Toronto to Buffalo Montreal, the New York Montreal to Boston, Vancouver to Seattle. Greyhound Lines, Inc, as a separate entity from Greyhound Canada, but a sad day when the inner-city bus Greyhound, Canada ceases to continue to operate their services. On to another interesting story out of Honolulu, Hawaii. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is beginning to take steps to institute better. Internal auditing measures through a report presented by a group within the HART Board of Directors. The Permitted Interaction Group or PIG, which consists of half the board was tasked with reviewing suggestions from the American Public Transportation Association about HART's internal auditing practices. The report that PIG published, included 10 changes that should be implemented. One of the more substantial changes would implement an outsourced independent, internal audit function for HART. And they would report their findings to the committee, which is then charged with managing follow up actions resulting from the audit. The recommendations from the PIG also suggested that the audit committee establish a fraud and corruption hotline with an independent provider. The hotline would be both for internal sources within Hart and external complaints from outside the authority.  And now onto what a big trend is happening right now. And that is micro transit. I've been telling you about it as matter of fact, if you did not listen to our last Comfort's Corner from two weeks ago, I encourage you to go back and listen to it. It in it, and the final part of the program and the future of public transportation. I gave a heartfelt description of how I thought micro transit could help us add in equity and inclusion in a lot of cities are moving toward micro transit. One of them is in Union City, California. They're reviving a micro transit program from the 1970s that uses vans to help people get to and from its industrial business district, the BART station and parts of the Dakota neighborhood. This being the 2020s though, the Flea as they call it this time around, we'll take advantage of technology to provide on demand van service. The pilot program is set to launch this week and operate for 22 months. A Bay Area quality air quality management district grant will cover most of the $818,000 costs. And the city transit funds will pick up the balance. City officials hope the Flea will fill some of the gaps in regular bus service and be flexible enough for commuters to take advantage of. And now onto our newsmaker interview on this week's Comfort's Corner. It's a great interview with a UITP, which is the International Public Transit Union, the director of strategy Sylvain Haon and members of the North American Transit Alliance, including board chair, Brad Thomas, president of First Transit. The NATA Treasurer, Matt Wood, who is COO of National Express Transit Corporation here in North America and NATA a board member, Arnaud Legrand, who is CEO of RATP Dev along with Strategic Communications Manager, Julia Gessner. I interview them. Regarding the just released UITP study on contracting and transit the value and benefits of private contracting in North America and internationally to meet passenger needs. It's a great in-depth interview. I know you'll enjoy it on this edition of Comfort's Corner. Thanks for being with us and stay safe out here. This is Transit Unplugged and I'm your host Paul Comfort. We are on a newsmaker interview with Comfort's Corner. We like to travel around the world and talk to leading transit industry leaders about breaking news. And we've got breaking news for you today because UITP, the International Transit Union had just completed a brand-new study called Contracting and Transit The Value and Benefits of Private Contracting in North America and Internationally to Meet Passenger Needs. And we have with us on the newsmaker hotline. Sylvain Haon who is Senior Director of Strategy at UITP calling us today from where Sylvain, where are you at today in the world Brussels Belgium. We also have on the on the newsmaker interview hotline, Brad Thomas, who was President of First Transit and the Chairman of the North American Transit Alliance. Brad, welcome. Brad Thomas: Good morning. Paul Comfort: And we also have Clement Michel, who is the was the CEO of Keolis North America. And it just been promoted to an amazing new job at corporate headquarters. He's now in Boston, but headed to Paris, Clement. Welcome. And tell us the name of your new title you're gonna have. Clement Michel: Oh, I don't remember. But the HR transformation so safety sustainable development and HR. Yes. Paul Comfort:  So Clementis one of the founders there's of the North American Transit Alliance, along with Brad and other CEOs. And he is on the Board and is Vice Chair, the I guess the outgoing Vice Chair, but the current Vice Chair of our organization. We also have my good friend, Matthew Wood, who is a Chief Operating Officer of National Express and the Treasurer and a Board member of North American Transit Alliance. Matt, thanks for being with us. Matthew Wood: Thank you, Paul. Good morning, everyone. Paul Comfort: Good morning. And then we also have Julia Gassner. Julia is with First Transit and she's also basically the Vice Chair of the working group North American Transit Alliance, and has really been involved in integral in this study that was just completed. That was commissioned by NATA, but conducted by an independent third-party which is UITP. Thanks for being with us today, Julia. Julia Gessner: Thanks for having me. Paul Comfort: So, let me set it up. Uh this group, actually, Brad, let me ask you first right off Brad. Why don't you tell us some about the North American Transit Alliance what your role is and why you commissioned this study? Brad Thomas: Sure. Well, first, first things first the North American Transit Alliance has made up of the six largest.  public transit contracting companies in North America. So that is First Transit, Keolis MV transportation, National Express, Transdev, and RATP Dev. And we formed the North American Transit Alliance in 2020, really to advocate for policies that promote public transportation.  We knew that together we could bring more value supporting the industry as a group than we could. As individual organizations. And I think really the, the pandemic really served as you know, serves as catalyst. It got this group together more quickly than we may have otherwise, but it really, it demonstrated the need for our organization because we were able to advocate on behalf of the private contracting industry to get the support that we needed to continue to operate. During COVID. And that was, that was obviously extremely important for these organizations and the, and all the folks who worked with us. Paul Comfort: So the, the organization to me kind of reminds me of like an airline association, right? So you've got, you know, Southwest and United and American, but they formed together to work on Capitol Hill for things that affect them and also to promote their industry, it would, would that be a good analogy? Brad Thomas: Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, you know, we believe sincerely in the value of private contracting. We believe this, we're passionate about it, and we believe the value that we in the value that we can bring to the market. We've got the experience, the expertise, the bandwidth, the resources, the ability to get best practices from all over the globe and deliver them to local transit authority. So we, we really do you know, we, we believe in what we can bring to the market. But prior to this, we really didn't have a group that really represented us.  and you know, we, we felt that that was important. Um, and we felt that there were a lot of issues that we needed to have a voice in. Um, and that has given us the vehicle to be able to do that. Paul Comfort: And so why did NATA choose to commission, you know, this study with UITP? Brad Thomas: Well, again, I mean, we knew the value.  that private contracting brings to the market. We knew that, but we needed to, we really needed to challenge ourselves and to bring in what we felt. It important that we bring in a third party to kind of confirm what we believe. Um, and we've contacted UITP. We talked to them about the best way to do that and what we kind of would be set. What we settled on was. Looking at private contracting around the globe, going all over the world to see the different models that are used throughout the rest of the world and to talk to the customer, talk to the agencies and, and to get their perspective on private contracting or private contractors bring to their market. And ultimately the study, I mean, I think it's an amazing study. And I think it was you know, tremendous that the findings in it are tremendous. The ideas in it are just, you know, really amazing. We got we got folks from all over the world to talk about their experience and ultimately now in North America, we can look at those expand. There were people from North America, too, in the, in, in the study. So. People and people can look at the study and see what we're doing here in North America, what's happening in the rest of the world. And now we can kind of look at it and say, you know, where what other things could we be doing? What other models could be using? What other, what other ideas should we be bringing to North America from the rest of the world? And, and, you know, what might work in my community better than maybe, you know, how I'm operating today, where, you know, how could we improve? It's always best to get, you know, best practice when you can, when you can get best practice and you can see what others are doing and what's been successful in other places. And you can then, and the ability to bring that to your local community. Um, you know, that's the best of you know, that's the best of the, of the, of the industry. Um, and you can, you can bring it into your, you know, your local community. So I think that's ultimately what this study proved Atlas. There's amazing things happening in North America, and there are amazing things happening in the rest of the world. Now, people get to see all of those in one place and kind of look at them and see what's, you know, get some new ideas. Paul Comfort: That's wonderful. Excellent. Well, thank you, Brad. That's a great kind of intro to it.  now I want to turn to Sylvain from UITP. Sylvain thank you for being with us today. You've been kind of overseeing this study from the beginning. And why don't you tell us a little bit about UITP, just like Brad did about NATA and explain to listeners who may not be familiar. I know that you're basically like the APTA for the rest of the world outside of outside of the United States. So tell us about your organization. You guys are phenomenal and a huge organization and really the leading transportation, public transportation organization in the world. Sylvain Haon: Um, thank you. Thank you for those nice words. That's a better introduction that we'll do. I actually UITP a couple of things which are important for UITP. We are a global organization, as you rightly say. So we have members from more than a hundred countries. We have, I think the latest count is 1700 members from across the world. We are multi-stakeholders so our members come from. Um, the industry, they can manufacturers IT systems providers, et cetera. Um, there are public transport operators.  so running the services. And, and the authorities as well, whether it's a transit authority a city authority, a regional, federal, it depends on, it depends from country to country in a couple of cases of another country, transport authority as members and we represent public transport. But, you know, in a very broad sense on one more as, you know, the, the, the. And the difference  between mass transit and other forms of sharing equitable, but the transport is blurred. So w we, we believe we really, really represent the situ at-large in putting new mobility to the actors, um et cetera. And our mission is really to work with our members to advance public transport. In a sense of developing knowledge had been done to learn from each other, working together to develop solutions. Make the case core urban and public transports towards decision makers of various kinds. So being the voice of the sector and repeating days after days that there won't be sustainable cities in the future, if there is not a good transit system. Um, and we bring all those people also together in various ways and forms so that they can exchange and network with each other. Paul Comfort: Excellent. And we want to do a shout out to our good friend, the UITP Secretary General Muhammad Mezghani, who was really the world's leading transit, you know official, I guess, representing all these folks. So he's been a good friend to me personally, and to I've been on this podcast before and just wanted to make sure we acknowledged him. So I also want to acknowledge Arnaud Legrande who has joined us now on the podcast Arnaud is the CEO of RATP Dev USA.  Arnaud thank you for joining us today. Arnaud Legrand: Yeah, it's good morning.  Sorry to be late, but that's, that's operations Paul Comfort: better, late than never. Right. And, and he's also a founding member and a board member of the North American Transit Alliance. So great to have everybody on the show. So we were talking about Arnaud, and for our listeners is this study that's been commissioned by NATA and had this third-party organization independent, globally known for their work in public transportation to conduct this study that really provides a review of private contracting services in and outside of North America. The study includes case studies based on interviews with leaders at transit agencies and the varying contract models are looked at, and it shows the study shows that they were influenced by the context, the culture and the history of each location and the case studies point to the benefit of private contracting and best practices. In partnership relations. And I think it's important Sylvain that you actually interviewed, like Brad has said before, you weren't like talking to the contractors themselves, per se. You were talking to the transit agencies who contract out, you're saying to them, Hey, tell us about contracting. Tell us about the model you use. Are there benefits? Are there downsides to this? Let's get a full picture. So tell us overall, your, your, you know, kind of the overall summary of the study and any key points that you found coming out of it. Sylvain Haon: It's exactly this it's there are various ways various governance models for, for, um transit. I'm going to try to use the right terminology and there are various governance models each of them as its merits and they have a very good performance, but there is one thing we thought to our discussion with NATA. We it was the right time to highlight is. If she goes from contracting, how do you make it successful? How do you, how do you create benefits out of the model? Because there are various ways to do it and you need to make things properly to create the proper framework, to have the proper contracts so that it delivers its uh the benefits and that you maximize the benefits from or from contracting. And that's what  and the city really Looked at the movement of the theory of this, but a lot also through interviews discussions with authorities, as you're saying, who have contracted that we have services in various ways in various places of the world, as you put in, because that means you also have various even certain environments, so that changes the way you can do things. How, what made them successful what was important? What were the key elements to make the most out of it? Um, I mean what comes out of this?  I think a few key points is there's not one recipe, but there are a few things which you find always again, again, again, the first one is you have to create a partnership with your contractors.  and that's very key. It's not the process and the way you manage a contract does not stop the way that you sign it. It's probably starts to a certain extent. And it's this is a complex situation. I need to have a partnership. I would say the second, the second element for me, which is critical is in one way or the other, your customer as to be the center of this partnership. I don't know the distribution, so, and that's important because it's, then it's very natural when you have an organization, which is focused on the contractual  agreement and the governance to be reminded constantly that at the end of the day, it's about the customer, the way it moves around or to attract or to deliver good services. And I think that's a very important part for our sector. It's says we'd never repeated enough for our sector, such as such as ours and consequently. It's not all about the financial performance. And I think you people are, I think that's tracking into the study. If you look at the KPIs and the contracts, if you look at the best offer from the contractors, it's a complex mix of various type of KPIs including both end customer satisfaction, but not necessarily. It's not about being the cheapest. It's about being the, the, the, the one who with the best service. Paul Comfort: It's good. So it's not a lot of times people think that contracting is primarily just to save money. I mean, and. When I used to work in the industry when I did averages, basically what it came out to our studies was that a contractor can, a lot of times do the work, maybe 20% cheaper than the transit agency itself can was the numbers a few years ago.  but it's not just about that, is it you're saying the contractors also have seen improvement in customer satisfaction rates in safety rates and an on-time performance and other key performance metrics. And where can people find this study? Before I start talking to the members of NATA, do you have it up on your website? Sylvain Haon: Absolutely  UITP.org. You will find other publications. Paul Comfort: And then the North American Transit Alliance will also has an up on our website as well. So people want to access the study. It's not real long, it's less than 40 pages long. And it's a, it's an easy read. There's an executive summary up front and then all of the various case studies and then some findings at the end. So it's organized very well. Again, I want to thank you and congratulate UITP for putting out such a scholarly work that really did a good analysis and kind of compare and contrast models across Europe, Australia, and the United States and Canada on contracting. And the, the big story I think coming out of it is that contracting provides benefits, great benefits that transit agencies, number one, especially number two, if it's done in a partnership model like is like has done across Europe and Clement Michel um, you've really created a partnership model there in Boston where your company has done some rail work there. And what did, what, what did you see? What did you find from the study? Did you find what were the key salient points for you? Clement Michel: Uh I I really, really did. I appreciate it because it enabled us to ask ourselves a couple of key questions  what's our worth as a private contractors to, to public entities. Uh and amongst them, you mentioned it some of the work that was highlighted in the, in the study is the fact that there is a what would be a bit more innovative for the North American market, and it'd be more common in the other places mechanism that drives  the contractor to work on increasing the ridership and the revenue.  And since we've made this a contractual demands  in in Boston, we've seen pre COVID some, some ridership growth around 5% on the commuter rail.  and, and that is really what we're here for to, to, to increase the attractiveness of the, of the services. So we have more sustainable communities and more inclusive communities. So, so we, we can really see how we're driving marketing, we're driving some of the research we're driving redesign on networks and on April 5th this year, We completely redesigned the commuter rail network, which is not commuter rail specific now to, to actually yeah, be more inclusive and, and increasing the ridership and helping the communities  come out of COVID-19 uh this, this has been highlighted by Sylvain at UITP, and there's a, a few other examples across the world that, that really, really a make me extremely optimistic about the place of public transit in general and the private contractors in particular, into helping our communities to thrive. Paul Comfort: Very good. Arnaud Legrande as a board member of NATA and a head of RATP Dev a big international company that does work in places like Paris, et cetera. What did you find from the study that was that was poignant to you. Arnaud Legrand: I, I think as rightly said before but by Sylvain and also by Clement, I think there is one very important aspect. Is the collaboration between the authority and our companies.  I think as you said, our companies are generally used to operate in very different contexts in different environments, under different regulations. So it's very good to bring all those experience and the studies. It's a very good support for screening all of this, and we can bring this kind of  put on potential solution to our client, which are the agencies. And they benefit from, from these different return of experience and, and together, we are able to improve the service. And, and, and I think that that's really what is important and what is really about for the future is, is really to be able to, to move this transit system or transit service to another era for the moment I'm used to say that in the US transit is mainly not only, but it's mainly seen as a social service, which is very important, but we should be more attractive. We should continue to bring service to the people we really need a we're are really dependent of the transit system. And now we need to attract also the people that can compete with the system with their own means of transport being taxis, Ubers, or the individual car, because we know that the future of all the cities. It's really to get more people in a smooth in one vehicle instead of having one people per vehicle. And I think our companies are able to bring solutions to bring innovation and to bring peppermints. As we mentioned, that will together contribute to the satisfaction of the passengers will ultimately is the final customer of the service. Paul Comfort: Excellent. And Matt Wood from National Express and a Board Member of NATA. Um, now that we've identified that this study that UITP did identified the benefits public transit being contracted out there are great benefits to it from the agencies that they talk to around the world. And they've also identified an increase in key performance metrics, especially when they work in partnership . Going forward, kind of like, I think everybody in the world, especially in north America now rolling out across the world, we're thinking post pandemic. And so what is the role of contracting now based on the study and your knowledge of the industry coming out of COVID. Matthew Wood: But I think this report is very timely. Paul, as everyone has pointed out the ridership demographic and the traditional demand patterns post pandemic will undoubtedly change. We we've talked about the need to attract choice ridership. In addition to those that are traditionally dependent on public transit. So the question now becomes one of. Of equity and the ability for contractors to provide flexible and, and quick to market solutions to attract that choice ridership and really what that means is a better connection to jobs, schools, other basic social activities, economic empowerment, inequity. Um, I think we have a unique opportunity here to rethink how we meet the demands of both the underserved and choice riders it and not to mention this is a solution and an opportunity to reduce traffic congestion and, and, and pollution. Um, we're getting smarter both as, as agencies and contractors are introducing more flexible and less costly transportation operator options. Um for instance, the use of mass micro transit first and last mile solutions are really creating a bridge between the traditionally underserved areas and more mainstream transit corridors. So I think when we talked about contracting. Gives transit, traditional transit agencies, the flexibility to implement these services quickly, and a more modified or more specific solution that meets the needs of that individual community and transit authority. So the study is very timely and I think it points out some great opportunities for all of us as contractors and how we can benefit the transit agencies. Paul Comfort: That's great. Brad, back to you. Um, speaking of COVID and, and we just have a few minutes left, but I also want to get Julia in to talk about the three key findings after you during the COVID 19 pandemic. And I know we're not completely out of it yet, but during the peak of the pandemic, tell us about what contractors were doing. Brad Thomas: Well, you know, great question. And I think it's not specific solely to contractors. I mean, it really, the whole transit industry, it's important for people to understand this industry never stopped. We never stopped operating in the, in the darkest days of COVID. And as you say, we're not through COVID yet.  but we're certainly hopefully on the, on the, on the other side of it you know, this, it, even in the darkest days we were operating. We operated. We operated from the beginning, you know, til today. And we provided transportation to essential workers folks who needed to go to work police and firemen, you know, doctors, nurses, all sorts of things. We provided transportation to grocery stores for people who had to, you know, people who had to, so they could go out and do their shopping. We provided medical transportation, you know, transportation to medical appointments, to therapeutic appointments, to think things, medical care that people needed that was ongoing, that people that people needed to continue to get medical services, those things are absolutely necessary. And it proved to me beyond what I had already known, honestly, but it proved the essential nature of what it is that we do in the communities, in which we operate and how essential the service is to that community. And how much a part of the infrastructure we are, that's an, you know, so that was, that was, to me, one of the, one of the great things that come out of, you know, the darkest moments, which is, you know, COVID, it's been a horrible thing, but it just showed how, how amazing this industry is and how, how much we do for the communities we serve. The other thing that it shouldn't that I want to make sure we, that we mentioned is the fact that our the employees, our partners. We're on the frontline throughout COVID drivers, technicians, ditch dispatchers, supervisors, managers, all these folks in all across the industry private privately contracted services and public contracts, contracted services. They were out there every day. They were on the frontline. They'd been on the frontline. They never came off the frontline and they're still there. And that is a Testament. To how amazing the people are, who in this industry who put, who worked for this and work in this industry and sacrifice day in and day out to make sure that people can get to the essential destinations, they need to get to very humbling for me as leader of an organization. I'm sure I speak for it for the rest of the leaders of, you know, for all the leaders of organizations throughout North America and the rest of the world. Um, very humbling when you see, when you, when you see just how hard these people, these folks worked and the fact that they are, they're still out there, they're still doing it. They are so passionate and they're so dedicated. Paul Comfort: Excellent. All right. We're going to do a quick lightning round, as they say. And maybe if each of you could give me a closing comment on the study, it maybe 30 seconds. And then Julia, we'll close out with you to talk about the three final what the summary of the study, and then what the plan is to roll the study out. Sylvain from UITP give us your final take on things. Sylvain Haon: I would say I would really encourage people to read the survey, the study, to look at the diversity of situations and each of them, which is lessons for other transit agencies around the world, actually, no matter what, some of them there is really through diversity of approaches, you really have a lot to find in this study. Paul Comfort: Thank you.  Arnaud Legrande. Arnaud Legrand: Yes I would, I would really encourage people to read it.  I think it's very instructive. Uh it's whether or not you do already contract or, I mean, it's, it's a source of inspiration that will give you not, as you said at the beginning, not one recipe, but plenty of recipes. And then you can pick up and you can decide whether or not it applies to you or it's benefit for your organization. So it's a very good source of information. Read it. Paul Comfort: Thank you, Matt Wood. Matthew Wood: I think it's a very great, it's an excellent study and I encourage everyone to take a read. Um, but my takeaway is that you're not constricted or refined to one contracting model, that there are different models that meet the individual demands of different agencies. And, and finally the flexibility within inherently within the contracting model. I think that's very important. Paul Comfort: Wonderful. Clement? Clement Michel: Not much not to say what is that to say apart from the fact that  we are willing as a, as a group and as individual companies to, to really partner and we recognize that public interests is a, is a, is a critical. And ad, and it's owned by elected officials and, and technicians, agencies and we're here to serve. Paul Comfort:  Wonderful Brad, the Chair of NATA. Brad Thomas: Yeah, I think, listen, everybody said some great things about the study and it is a tremendous study. I think it really proves that what we all believe, which is there's, there's a value in contracting. Um, but I do think that the other thing that that the, the, to me, the overarching theme that comes out of this is the best solutions to any challenges, to any problems are the, getting the best from all parties. And the fact of the matter is that when you can bring the best. From the public sector and the best from the private sector. And you can bring any, can put them together and get a really good, productive partnership. That's when you get the best ideas, that's when you get the best solutions. And I think that's what the study show proved out was the fact that when you get the best from all parties involved, You get the best solution and that's, what's ultimately best for the writer. And that's what most important thing. Paul Comfort: Very good. And now Julia Gessner, can you tell us what are the three big takeaways are from the study and then tell us how the plant's going to be rolled out and how people in our audience might actually get a chance to meet some of the folks on this call and what's going to happen going forward. Julia Gessner: So to start the main three points that we pulled away from this study from the contracting perspective is that. You know, contracting, as we've all said, it exists all around the world in many different forms, it's all influenced by the history and the culture and the context and the area. Um, all of the study participants discuss numerous benefits. That was part of the goal of this study was to understand what works in private contracting. And a lot of them saw improvements in KPIs collaboration on. Um, and innovative services. And as we, every single person, I think on this call, I said, this was built on private contracting being a partnership. Um, collaboration was the key right now. This is a really exciting time in transit. Um, we're all looking at what we can do. Every industry is coming out of COVID. But now with transit, you have mobility as a service, you have electric vehicles, you have autonomous vehicles, there's a lot going on in the technology space and to have contractors who truly see themselves as the partners be a part of that now is a great time or We're considering adding a partner. If you don't have one or looking at how you can work more with your current. Um, so to continue, you are rollout of this study. As I said, this is a really timely study because of COVID, but this is also a very, very great study to look at. Long-term it's a very relevant study now, and I think it will be very, very relevant for many years to come. We are looking now at reaching out to different trade organizations, looking at how we can speak more about the study. We do have a few interviews that we know are coming up in different trade publications. Um, and we're also looking at how we can make sure all of our team members are really well educated on what happened, what the study found and how we can continue to advocate for private contracting, which we all know is can be a great for cities and towns and just getting people moving. Paul Comfort: So if there's an organization or representative, let's say from the North Dakota Transit Association or from the US Conference of Mayors or something like that, that would like to have a presentation to them about this study, how would they contact you to see if they could make that happen? Maybe we could have some of the board members and somebody from UITP actually come for a half hour, 45 minute presentation and share with them the study. How would they reach you? Julia Gessner: Absolutely. They can reach me at my NATA email address which is Julia period. Gessner N a transit alliance.org. Um, I'll make sure I have that direct link to you, Paul. Um, and yeah, we would be more than happy to present this study to anybody who would be who is interested in learning more. Paul Comfort: That's right. So to Julia dot G E S S N E R. at na transit alliance.org, that's your email address? And so I encourage our listeners. I've, I've read the study. It's phenomenal.  the UITP team did a great job. Um, Sylvain do you want to name that? Just real briefly, the folks who worked on this, we want to acknowledge them.  you had one staff person that was a real key. And then Didier, if you could take your mute off and tell us who they were. I think we'd like to acknowledge that as well. Sylvain Haon: No, absolutely. I'm thank you for this opportunity. I think we need to the tremendous work done by our colleague, Greg Gregory G-code is is a native from Quebec, Canada. And he's actually left us to go back to Canada in the meantime.  but Greg did a great job and anybody needs and thanks to him. We have this and he worked out with Didier his team who is a legit, he's a recognized expert in call centers on construction contractor contracting, sorry, in a, in public transport. Paul Comfort:  That's right. And we hope to do a webinar soon with a UITP so that anyone can join and get more in-depth information. Keep your eye out for that. Thanks for being with us today on comfort corner. This newsmaker interview with the board members, many of the board members from the North American Transit Alliance. Um, and also Sylvain from UITP and Julia.  we thank you for being with us and if you need more information about the study. Go to the two websites that we mentioned UITP or the North American Transit Alliance website. Thank you so much. And thank you guys for being on the show. Tris Hussey: And now our messaging minute with Elea Carey, talking about messaging for recruiting in your agency. Elea Carey: Hi, I'm Elea Carey, a communications consultant who loves working with public transit agencies. I frequently searched the news for positive stories about public transit to share with my networks. And lately I've been seeing a lot of stories about agencies, hiring new employees that got me thinking about how your media relations strategy can help you fill empty roles. Now, of course, when you're hiring, you'll be using all the regular channels, like your social media, LinkedIn, and the local and national job sites to promote your open positions, depending on how solid your media relations are. You might also be able to place a news story with your local media about job openings. You improve your chances of getting coverage. If you can peg your hiring news to some other broader development and easy one would be if you're expanding service. But you might also peg your story to broader economic news, a local story, like a new employer coming to town or graduation season. Even if you don't have an immediate hiring story to push out, make sure that jobs information is evident in other press releases you put out. Today's news reader will be tomorrow's job seeker. If you'd like to talk about media relations strategy or anything else related to communications and public transit. Look me up on LinkedIn. My first name is spelled E L E A. Last name C a R E Y. Tris Hussey: Thank you for listening to this week's Comfort's Corner with members of the NATA board and UI ITP talking about their recent study about private contracting in the transit industry. Next week, Paul is talking to Mr. Jeremy Yap, the Chief Executive for Public Transport, Policy and Planning for the Land Transport Authority in Singapore. This is sure to be a very interesting session from another one of our international guests. We hope you tune in and until then ride safe and ride happy.

I thought this episode was going to be shorter but turns out having a guest on the podcast always makes it a little more fun! I had by 21st birthday in Brussels and went to this crazy cool event called Museum Night Fever. Tune in to listen to Emily and I reminisce. What have you been 'bynging' on? Follow @byngepodcast on Instagram for episode updates. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

On this week's show:- The Bridge, a new English-speaking theatre for Brussels- Belgium's coronavirus rules: the latest decisions- Administrative headache for Brits seeking Belgian nationality- Our pick of events in Brussels (and online) for the coming week

Mike Keenan, The Retirement Coach, describes a trip to Brussels, Belgium.

Mattman and Mell come on the podcast this week to tell us about their moped journey . It started in Brussels Belgium and some how now Crazy Wayne is involved. I hope you enjoy this weeks episode ...

When we think about messaging, we typically think of what we say about our work to the outside world. Although that's important to be sure, some would argue that what we say internally is just as, if not more, important. In this episode of Messaging on a Mission we hear from Phil Finch, a former VP of communications at a large not-for-profit, Sharon McIntosh, a world-renowned expert in internal communications, and Sara Jackson, executive director of Internal Comms Pro.    Key Takeaways Experience -Internal communications start with the leadership team and the focus with which they run the organization.  -Everyone thinks they can do internal comms. Common Mistakes -Focussing on the channels, not the content -Asking questions of employees too infrequently -Ignoring the leadership team's role -Many people under-communicate. It's really hard to over-communicate in a professional environment. Advice -Employee comms is a continuous process, it's not a one and done. -Two-way communication is critical. Listening is just as important as telling.  -Start small and expand over time as you are able. Five Future of Internal Communications -Superior employee experience, not just words  -Employees expect a consumer-grade experience  -Internal comms professionals as internal digital marketers -Collaboration between functions, such as internal comms and human resources -Messaging internally will require an approach of “intra-preneurship.” Perfection is no longer required.   Useful Links And Then Communications, https://andthencomms.com/ A brief history of Internal Communications, http://blog.tribeinc.com/2015/12/18/a-brief-history-of-internal-communications/ Internal Comms Pro, https://www.internalcommspro.com/   Episode Guests SHARON MCINTOSH. Sharon McIntosh is president of And Then Communications. With more than two decades of communications experience, she has a passion for creating and executing new ideas to drive employee engagement at organizations both great and small. Before starting And Then Communications, she served as PepsiCo's vice president of Global Internal Communications, overseeing the company's efforts to connect with its more than 274,000 employees worldwide. She and her team launched a number of innovative employee initiatives, including the company's first social media training (SMART U), a social tool to share internal news externally, and PepsiCo's award-winning employee ambassador program. Before joining PepsiCo in 2004, Sharon spent a number of years at Sears and Waste Management.    SARA JACKSON  Sara is the Executive Director of The Internal Comms Pro Collective and host of the podcast, Internal Comms Pro: The Podcast. Internal Comms Pro's mission is to collectively raise the value of the internal communications industry. Sara has extensive experience and expertise in internal and external communication and has developed locally- and nationally-recognized engagement programs and partnerships. Prior to starting her own company, Sara worked in both public and private sectors, particularly with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cincinnati Reds. Sara was recognized as a 40 under 40 award winner, a ranking of the most influential young people in business. Sara resides in Fort Thomas, KY with her two daughters, Gracie and Ella.   PHIL FINCH  Philip Finch is a marketing and communications consultant based in Boston, MA.  Phil has more than 30 years of professional experience helping companies, organizations, and individuals craft award-winning strategies to deliver measurable results. He has worked in several industries including financial services, healthcare, education, technology, and consumer products, where he worked with clients on new product development and introduction, building and growing client relationships through strategic communication programs, and leveraging internet capabilities. For 15 years, Phil was Vice President of Communications at Fenway Health, a healthcare and research organization with a mission to serve the LGBTQAI+ community.  At Fenway, Phil was responsible for a variety of integrated marketing communications functions including, public and media relations, marketing, direct mail, internal and external communications strategies, internet management, and brand development.  He also oversaw the organization's fundraising efforts during a successful $15 million capital campaign. Phil earned a Bachelors Degree from Cornell University and holds a Masters Degree from Emerson College and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in Brussels Belgium.  

For this installment, we go back to 5th of December 1972, Brussels Belgium. The recording was produced by a taper named “OPUS 5”, it is a very good to borderline excellent stereo recording but it needed some help. I explain … Continue reading →

CIP S1 E25 – Alastair Clarke | MB PNP | Show Notes Alastair Clarke Immigration lawyer practicing in the Province of Manitoba located in the heart of Canada. Manitoba is clearly the second best province in Canada. I lived there with my wife and two kids while I was attending law school at the University Manitoba. My whole career got its start at Robson Hall. Welcome Alastair thanks for joining us. Why don't I start off by telling our listeners a little bit about you? Alastair was born and raised in Edmonton, Canada. He has worked and lived in more than 20 cities around the world including Winnipeg (current home), Toronto (Canada), Montreal (Canada), Kingston (Canada), Victoria (Canada), Vancouver (Canada), New York City (USA), Washington, DC (USA), Tokyo (Japan), Esmeraldas (Ecuador), Brussels (Belgium), Herstmonceux (UK) and Bordeaux (France). Alastair provides legal services in English, French, Spanish and Japanese. Alastair Clarke: Legal Experience Alastair began working with immigration issues as a student leader at the University of Victoria in 1996. For almost 20 years, Alastair has been active with immigrant communities. Alastair's current legal practice encompasses all areas of immigration and refugee law, including Manitoba Provincial Nominee (MPNP) applications [ which is the topic we will be covering today], family sponsorships, another temporary resident applications. In addition, Alastair has extensive experience conducting hearings and appeals at all levels of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and at the Federal Court of Canada including many sponsorship appeals, deportation appeals, misrepresentation appeals, and a whole host of others. Alastair and I have quite a few things in common. He was also a former Junior High School teacher before becoming a lawyer. Alastair's broad work experience helps his clients from every corner of the globe: Canadian Embassy (Washington, DC; 2002 – 2003); Inter-American Court of Human Rights (Costa Rica; 2003); Global Youth Action Network (New York City; 2003 – 2004); United Nations Millennium Development Goals Project (New York City; 2004); Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (Kingston, Ontario; 2007); Society of Professional and Graduate Students (Queen's University; 2007-2008) Ontario Bar Association Executive (Toronto, Ontario; 2007 – 2008); Briefly Speaking/ JUST Editorial Board (Toronto, Ontario; 2005 – 2012); Unison Health and Community Services Legal Aid clinic (Toronto, Ontario; 2009 – 2013) Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (Toronto, Ontario; 2012 – present); Manitoba Bar Association (Winnipeg, Manitoba; 2013 – present) Alastair's career in law focuses on social justice issues, professionalism and fighting to make sure people are treated fairly. After graduating from one of Canada's top law schools, Queen's University (Faculty of Law) in Kingston, Ontario, he articled at Green and Spiegel LLP, an immigration law boutique on Bay Street in Toronto, Ontario. From 2007 to the present, Alastair has provided more than 50 presentations, on a volunteer basis, to community groups, lawyers and paralegals. In particular, he trained Legal Clinic staff at their annual training retreats in 2009 and 2010, funded by Legal Aid Ontario. In 2012, Alastair joined the faculty at Seneca College in Toronto and taught Immigration and Refugee Law to post-graduate students. In Winnipeg, Alastair has provided guest lectures to law students at the University of Manitoba (Faculty of Law). How did you get into immigration? Topics covered in the Episode: What is the Manitoba PNP - General Overview Are there any options available for foreign nationals to immigrate directly to MB without having first worked in the Province? How can the PNP be used to transition foreign workers to PR status in Canada? Are there any options for low-skill workers or is the program just restricted to skilled workers? Where do you see the MB PNP headed for the future? Any upcoming changes or things the listeners should be aware of? Top 3 - 5 practical tips for submitting applications OR Top 3 - 5 most common errors people make when submitting their applications to the MB PNP. How can people reach you? Clarke Immigration Law: http://www.apply2manitoba.ca/ Alastair's e-mail: clarke@apply2manitoba.ca Alastair's Blog: http://www.apply2manitoba.ca/blog/ “Silly Rules” of Immigration Law: http://www.apply2manitoba.ca/repost-silly-rules-immigration-law/ MPNP: From Temporary Status to PR Status: http://www.apply2manitoba.ca/mpnp-temporary-status-pr-status/ MPNP: How to Apply …. and Tips: http://www.apply2manitoba.ca/mpnp-how-to-apply/ Western Canada Line Dance Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyanG4BelGg Time Stamped Quick Reference Guide In order to help you jump to the areas of most interest to you, I have included below some time stamps for some of the significant topics covered in this episode. 3:57 – Who is Alastair Clarke? 11:28 – How he got into immigration. 16:30 – Overview of the Manitoba PNP. 18:37 – Are there any options available for foreign nationals to immigrate directly to MB without having first worked in the Province? 21:30 – How can the PNP be used to transition foreign workers to PR status in Canada? 26:52 – Are there any options for low-skill workers or is the program just restricted to skilled workers? 28:20 – Where do you see the MB PNP headed for the future? Any upcoming changes or things the listeners should be aware of? 39:06 – Top 3 practical tips for submitting applications OR Top 3 most common errors people make when submitting their applications to the MB PNP. 44:38 – How to contact Alastair Clarke.

Twenty years ago, beginning on April 6 1994, more than 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda in a horrific genocide that spanned 100 days. Genocide continues to be a tragic global issue. Paul Rusesabagina, whose autobiography “AN ORDINARY MAN,” inspired the film “Hotel Rwanda,” will join us from Brussels Belgium.