Podcasts about caa

We're back in Florida as we sit down with Lauren Bradley, CAA who is the AD at Orlando's Lake Buena Vista H.S. Lauren has an incredible background as an Athlete, Coach, and AD and today she shares her journey along with some BEST PRACTICES on The Educational AD Podcast!

Destiny Brightman, CAA was an Outstanding Head VB Coach before becoming the longtime AD at Florida's Orange Park High School and she's BACK with another great segment on WEDNESDAY WISDOM! This is The Educational AD Podcast!

This episode of Habibi House features a dynamic double feature with two powerful Arab women: Abeer — a sharp, rebellious Palestinian-Bulgarian comedian — and Rolla — a filmmaker and creative force behind the upcoming Arab-led thriller The Visitor.Together, Abeer and Rolla explore what it means to create authentic, dangerous, culture-shifting art as Arab women navigating censorship, shame culture, and an entertainment industry afraid to say "Free Palestine" with its chest.Topics include:Why Rolla was dropped by CAA for posting about genocideZionism in Hollywood and how it impacts Arab creativesThe double standard Arab women face in content creation and family expectationsChristian Palestinians & the myth of a "Muslims vs. Jews" conflictThe power of satire, AI in storytelling, and new paths for Arab cinemaRolla's bold upcoming film The Visitor — Get Out meets Occupation

Mutual respect and trust between leaders at a Community Action Agency (CAA) is essential to the stability of the organization. Without a strong relationship between a CAA board chair and executive director, difficulties can arise that have legal implications, such as not meeting fiduciary duties or making decisions without proper authority. Executive directors are responsible for day-to-day management of the CAA while the board of directors oversees the CAA's governance and strategic objectives. A secure, collaborative relationship between the board chair and executive director ensures a CAA stays focused on its mission, maintains legal compliance, and completes its goals .In this episode of CAPLAWCast, Dynamic Duos: A Culture of Respect, Executive Director Lori Schwartz and Board Chair Paul Krabbenhoft of Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership (CAPLP) in Minnesota, discuss key aspects of the executive director, board chair relationship, including the importance of clear and consistent communication, their shared philosophy for encouraging board engagement, and how they work together while sticking to their designated roles.

The podcast is making another visit to Hawaii. UIAAA Connection #242 – Bill Villa, CAA, Executive Director – HIADA, is now available. Bill grew up on Oahu and graduated from Kamehameha High School, where his love for basketball took root. He played on the JV team at the University of Hawaii and later coachedmiddle school basketball at his alma mater. After years in the private sector, Bill returned to education as Director of Athletics at Mid-Pacific. He later served 12 years as a college AD at Chaminade before accepting his current role. Bill reflects on the legacy of HIADA and its influential leaders. His advice: learn continuously, get certified, and prioritize balance in all areas of life. Please Listen, Learn, and Share! You can subscribe to UIAAA TV on YouTube! This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 155 - Fred Specktor - Agent In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with agent Fred Specktor (CAA). Fred has actually seen it all—now in his 90s, he joined the mailroom at MCA (before its dissolution) after graduating college, and he's been in the business ever since. After a stint as movie mogul Lew Wasserman's assistant at MCA, Fred was fired, and he recounts his journey bouncing between outfits until landing at CAA where he has represented top Hollywood talent for the past four decades. Fred's long career as an agent is populated with moments such as networking at a car accident and attending an acting class with Jack Nicholson, and he shares many of them with us throughout the episode. We also discuss the differences in Hollywood, moviegoing, and filmmaking between today and the previous century, and we learn how he still tackles his work with verve after a lifetime on the job. Plus, Fred makes his prediction for the future of the movies. - If you enjoy listening to Fred, we recommend reading THE GOLDEN HOUR. Fred's career and life is one of the subjects of the novel which was written by previous guest (and Fred's son) Matthew Specktor (Season 2, Episode 146). - This episode is sponsored by Aputure & Barco

Training camp is over and it's almost time to set up the tailgates, so naturally, we're talking hoops on this lovely August evening! With the CAA dropping the full schedule for the 2025-26 season, we've now got a full picture of the road to DC and UNCW's unprecedented 20-game home schedule. The Seahawks will have to find their footing on the road in January, but things set up nicely for Trask to be rocking in February. With 60 days until the first exhibition game, a few thoughts on the roster, too!

On this episode of "The Founder's Sandbox", Brenda speaks with Donovan Ryckis; CEO of Ethos Benefits, the nation's leading fiduciary benefits consultant in mid- -large market employers. Ethos Benefits was founded in 2016, after a chance request from a client of Donovan when he operated as a financial advisor--the client was faced with an increase in the companies' health insurance bill for the companies' employee plan that would have had a financial burden that threatened the sustainability of the company.   ‘Ethos' represents the guiding principle, character, or spirit of a person or organization. It's the ‘why' that drives decision-making and fuel's purpose.   Through Donovan's origin story we will have our eyes opened as business owners to the potential risks of employer sponsored healthcare plans and how to mitigate these risks. You can find out more about Donovan and Ethos at: www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis Upcoming master class on August 14th https://ethosbenefits.com/ https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/ For a limited time only access the documentary: It's not personal, it's just  healthcare. https://ethosbenefits.com/documentary/     Transcript:  00:04 Welcome back to the Founder's Sandbox. I am Brenda McCabe, your host on this monthly podcast. It reaches  business owners and entrepreneurs who learn about building resilient, scalable, and 00:32 purpose-driven companies, all with great corporate governance. I am Brenda McCabe, and I am your host. And the guests that come to the podcast are not only those founders and business owners who are sharing their experiences, but also corporate directors,  investors,  and professional service providers who, like me, want to use the power of the private enterprise, small, medium, and large, to create change for a better world. 01:00 Through storytelling here and a recreated  sandbox,  my goal is to equip  one startup founder or one business owner at a time to build a better world through great corporate governance. Today, my guest is Donovan Rikas.  He is joining the podcast as CEO of Ethos Benefits, the nation's leading fiduciary benefits consultant in the mid to large market employer space. 01:29 So I'm absolutely delighted to bring in a professional service provider in  the employer benefits area, which  we're going to  unpeel  this  sector  today in the podcast. it's fascinating. So thank you, Donovan, for joining me today. Thank you, Brenda. Thanks for having me. Excellent. So  the company you and Chelsea, your wife and president of Ethos Benefits, 01:59 was founded in 2016, which wasn't that  long ago.  But it happened serendipitously.  You got a chance request because at that time, you were a financial advisor, right? Yes. When  your client was faced with an increase  in the company's health insurance bill for their employee plan,  pardon me, that would have had such a financial burden,  it would have threatened the sustainability of 02:27 the company and that's your client. So what did you do Donovan? What was the origin  of Ethos Benefits? Thank you. Yeah, so that's exactly right. I started as a financial advisor.  So Ethos Benefits was formerly a registered investment advisory, which was Jay Donovan Financial.  And one of the interesting things that are a little bit different on the security side versus the insurance world is 02:56 the ability to  license and designate yourself as a fiduciary advisor to your clients.  So that's really important and that's kind of where we started as financial advisors. So that essentially means that you're not gonna be commission-based with variable commissions based on what you wanna sell and the client doesn't really understand, right? You're gonna be  transparent with how you earn any compensation. 03:23 and you're not gonna have any conflicts of interest that might change  the recommendations or advice that you're giving them. So it's gonna be flat fee and you get to work with them directly instead of working for the financial institutions and the insurance companies kind of in the background that are actually the ones incentivizing. Cause  it's this odd relationship where it's like you think the financial advisor is working for you but they're actually incentivized by the institutions  that they're representing. Very important clarification because we do have a question 03:53 further on, which is, you know, what, what, how does the 401k management, right about employers 401 plan, mirror that of healthcare benefits? Yeah, for sure. You'll start to see some of those. So that's how we're working as financial advisors. And that's an important distinction as we get into an explanation of 04:22 the whole healthcare industry and how that works. So you're exactly right. I was working as a financial advisor, working with business owners  because they had more kind of complicated planning and tax structures and things that I could do to really make a difference.  And what I realized is when most of them had commission-based advisors, they'd rush to sell a product, mutual funds  with upfront loads and REITs that had  proprietary commissions and all this kind of stuff. And then they would leave without worrying about any of the 04:52 tax consequences,  you know, islets or trusts or even wills, right? Like all these extra things that business owners needed to set up their own personal wealth, but also their company, their 401k, maybe combining a defined benefit plan. So that was kind of the niche I chose.  And it was incredibly lucrative. I loved it.  Was doing exactly what I wanted to do until that client kind of asked me for that help, like you alluded to. 05:21 And it was 40 % increase on his health insurance. He said, my broker says, this is it. There is nothing else. Can you help? And I didn't know any idea. Like I had no idea about health insurance or what I do. But yeah, just- No, no. problem. 05:39 And certainly as a financial advisor, it kind of seemed like going backwards and beneath me. didn't really want to do it, but I was like, I could hear the panic in his voice. And I was like, yeah, absolutely. Just send me everything you have. And after about three weeks, basically making as many connections in the industry and learning as much as I could and trying different things, we basically mitigated that increase entirely. 06:05 And he actually came three points under where he was currently today before that increase. And we didn't take away any benefits from employees. We didn't put them in smaller  HMO networks. We didn't increase deductibles or increase their premiums. None of the usual tricks.  So this was a like for like solution. We actually improved the plan a bit and came in under.  And it really made me realize in that moment, it wasn't my experience or my education or my smarts that 06:34 may be able to do this,  it was a lack of conflicts  in compensation and incentives,  right? Because his broker does about $7 billion a year annually.  I didn't come in with more market knowledge, leverage, or experience. I just didn't have conflicts of interest and compensation. That's what  started me down this path.  And  back then,  you hadn't yet  created Ethos Benefits with that name. 07:03 So when I did a little bit of research,  I couldn't have been more delighted that you actually reached out to to be featured on the founder sandbox because of two reasons, you the word fiduciary, right?  It was in  your basically your call to action, right? Or your or the definition of company. So,  you know, you  are  the governance of a company goes way beyond making a profit for shareholders. 07:32 the duty of care, the duty of loyalty and the duty of obedience is really the underpinning elements of  fiduciary duty. And on your website, you say our ethos is simple fiduciary first. So we're going to appeal that in here in a minute here. So act in the best interest of those we serve,  no matter the cost. You also on the website,  you you had a purpose ethos represents the guiding principle. 08:01 character or spirit of an organization or a person is the why that drives decision making and feels purpose. So I,  I looked like I was reading what next act advisors may consult a firm is about is just really finding those purpose driven. So  with that, I wanted to just, you know, ask you,  what was that you had that first client that first aha moment, and 08:29 How long did it take you and did when did you realize that this could be a a career change for you, right? Rather than a financial advisor, you were actually actually a health care benefits advisor, right? Yeah, I mean, I think I think the first moment is, you know, being being a financial advisor was very lucrative. And I like the people I was working with. I liked working with entrepreneurs and business owners and and, you know, just 08:58 I found them inspiring and I was curious about the things they're doing. And  I think that kind of lifts everybody up when you keep a circle like that, right? Like you  push yourself harder, you learn, educate and do different things.  So I love the clients I was working with. Like I said,  maybe  working on personal wealth for individuals though, isn't the most rewarding thing you could be doing. seeing that... 09:25 Don't get me wrong, I was paid well enough. It would have took me a long time to figure out that it wasn't very personally fulfilling.  But seeing that first case, mean, the first thing I did when I got that successful proposal back, before I presented it to the clients is I was looking at the math  of what does this cost? What difference does this make per paycheck to all the individuals in this planet? And then I'd look at somebody, my God, this person's got a wife and two kids. Look at the difference in premium there. 09:54 I was calculating my work in return to the average American worker and realizing like me putting myself aside to  proactively, strategically go after this problem instead of making a decision for my own personal commission, looking at how much that impacted everybody. And that was powerful. 10:20 I'm going on 20 years in financial services and every aspect of it, I've seen people who prioritize commissions over, you know, a better product, a better outcome for an individual. But the idea that that could be done on scale to where you're now making that decision for yourself over 200, 500, 2000, 3000 employees, like that's pretty disgusting, right? So seeing that that kind of impact could be made. 10:49 I mean, it was  it was really not a question after that I knew I was transitioning my business. Excellent. Excellent. So  my own path  after 25 years in Europe  was quite an eye opening experience when I came back to the United States, I am a US citizen, but I had to get you know, I've been working for myself and I had to get self insured. So  I got back this is like 11:18 12 years ago, I got the Affordable Care Act for dummies from my local library.  I had not yet transferred my tax certification to the United States takes quite a few years when you've been gone so long.  So you because you do have to sub venture tax returns and all that. And then  I ran into I met Marshall Allen, the author of never pay the first bill and the other ways to fight the healthcare system and when 11:46 Marshall Allen actually spoke at  a graduate or alumni event of University Chicago. And  I was, you know, reading these books. And you know, eventually,  I got my own broker to help me get onto the exchange. But it every year has been  an experience.  I'm fortunate to be part of a  membership organization through which  for small  and medium sized businesses and I get  PPO through 12:14 I won't mention names, but  I was  blessed because just  and I'm 12 years in the United States, you have to knock on a lot of doors to actually get health care when you are a small business  owner  and really  understand what  you are paying for,  not only your premiums of what are the services  that are provided. So can you talk about  the average 12:44 premium for a family of four and some of the  numbers that you discovered  and believe  we as a country could actually improve  on the outcomes, healthcare outcomes with the actual spend we have today, right? Yeah, we're getting the numbers are pretty wild. mean, I feel like we're really kind of getting to a breaking point with it.  You know, 13:12 For what I work on, employer-sponsored healthcare, 186 million Americans are covered under employer-sponsored healthcare plan. These plans can average increases anywhere from seven to 10 % annually. We see a lot of reports that come out that kind of measure these things. Kaiser Family Foundation does one, Milliman Index is another one. So there's a lot of studies that kind of measure this annually and changes for employers across the board. 13:41 What we saw this year for 2025 was the average cost for a family of four under employer sponsored health care plan is $35,119, which is just an astonishing number. That is unaffordable for an employer. That's unaffordable for an employee. And it's unaffordable for them to split that cost as well, which is how these, yeah, that's how they're structured in some way or another. 14:11 And another number to know that kind of governs this is the ACA affordability percentage, which is essentially where employers have to contribute, they have to contribute enough to keep the premium under this amount, which is 9.02 % this year. So premium for one of your employees cannot exceed 9.02 % of their take-home pay. 14:39 And this is updated on an annual basis, correct? Correct. Yeah, it fluctuates a little bit, but it's always right at 9, 8.5, 9.2, it's balanced up and down. But that's a pretty astonishing number too. And I see a lot of companies that are basically designing their contribution just to stay under that. it's, obviously they'd love to do more, but with the way these costs increase annually, sooner or later, they get to that point. 15:07 where they're kind of designing it just to be under 9 % of the employee's income. Okay, that's  astonishing.  And I'm happy that you  are working nationwide now with employer benefits with companies that, what's the size of the companies that you typically sell to? So we only work with large employers these days. And if we have somebody come in a little bit under, we have some associate agencies that we can kind of refer them to. 15:36 I'd say our minimum is usually like 250 eligible employees all the way up to 5000. Yeah, so anywhere in that mix. Excellent. So when again, I first met you was unaware because you've basically become nationwide in the last what two, three years, right? I'd say around COVID. Yeah, I took off right. So when I was speaking with you spent some time on the website. 16:06 I was trying to understand the sales alignment. So how you reach customers, those employees that have 250 between 250 and 5,000 employees, right? My first reaction was, OK, Donovan, go in with either of these benefits. You do a cost down, right? You've done, you basically work yourself out of the job. You corrected me. So for my audience, so how? 16:32 does ethos benefits work for a company, right?  What is that?  Is it is it an annual  engagement  talk walk me through the work you Yeah, I mean, things are happening on a daily like when we break down our scope of services, we'll actually show them like,  these are daily, these are weekly tasks, these are monthly, quarterly and annual because there's so much happening.  So  we're talking about the employee benefit space. Yes, it's  the 17:01 kind of designing consulting for the annual premium for a 12 month period. I think that's what people first consider.  But there's also a ton of compliance factors that have to happen throughout the year that that company has to fill out, right? Could be anything from section  125s,  5,500s,  wrap documents, all kinds of notices and disclosures  that need to be done.  Also, you know, we deal with benefits administration. So that's... 17:29 How are the employees making elections, seeing premiums? Is that integrating into payroll?  So functions like that with eligibility in and out of the company  adjusting that.  But also we kind of discussed and talked about the fact that health care is incredibly complex. So all the same market influences, where the market's at, interest rates,  inflation, all that kind of stuff affects  health care rates just like any other company in the market. 17:58 but it also gets as granular as  new medical procedures, new drugs, new generic drugs that are now an option.  It can even go down, you know, locally or regionally to where we get a new CFO in a hospital group and that starts changing the reimbursement rates that they're requesting from the insurance. So we see that where kind of a CFO comes in and they start flexing, making life difficult in a particular region or with a hospital group. 18:28 So all these things are kind of coming together and changing every single day.  Also the fact of the sheer amount of bills,  claims that come through.  So what we see on average,  this is a pretty crazy number, but  what we see on average is 18 claims  per employee per year. Okay, that's a lot.  That's a lot. So if we had just a hundred employees, that'd be 1800. 18:56 basically accounts payable  into the company. And that's part of our job too, because as you might imagine, hospitals make tons of mistakes on the bills, about 80 % of the bills have mistakes.  And then we also have to make sure that those are coming in at fair reimbursement rates to the company, because what hospitals bill is a spectrum for the exact same procedure. And the only difference is the payer. It's not the patient, it's not the complexity, it's not the physician, like it's literally 19:25 just the insurance card that can affect that difference in reimbursement rates. So all these things kind of come together where, yes, it  very much is a daily  task for me and my team on different things that we're working on. And- Are you an advocate in any way for the employees? Yes,  very much. So, you know, it's two, there's two complicated ecosystems at the same time that we're trying to navigate. 19:52 One is certainly the healthcare finance, which is what we're working with the company. But healthcare delivery for employees and members is just as complicated and confusing as far as where do I go? What is this gonna cost? What's the next step? Can I get a second opinion? How would that work? Right? And also helping navigate them to their highest cost or their lowest cost, highest quality and understanding what that is and giving them options to seek care at. 20:21 at lower prices if that's available. Excellent.  So your  delivery platform, is it like a customer success team  that  is assigned solely to that client? How does it work? Yeah, so it's kind of different. every employer is starting at a different place. They also have different ideas of where their end place or where their goal is. 20:49 healthcare delivery, kind of working on some things like that, there might be a couple of different ways we handle it. One might be having a direct  primary care provider. So the idea of a direct  primary care provider is basically same day, next day appointments with your primary care physician  and 30 to 60 minute visit times, not the average, which is seven minutes with a PCP, which is what most people get across the country.  And  with that DPC provider, you can also do things like 21:18 stitches,  blood work, get generic meds. So we're talking about more of a comprehensive service when you actually need it, not  the 14, 18 day  primary care. So that might be one of the ways we help with healthcare delivery.  It might be a nurse concierge where they have a nurse that they can help find providers,  navigate them. That might be a part of it.  So it kind of depends. then also  a lot of the times are 21:47 Our team will basically act as a care coach, where if they have anything going on, they can just call us. We'll help them set appointments, navigate them towards care, help them with their ID problems. Fantastic. Anything else you'd like to share or shed some light on the service offering of ETHOS benefits? So we're going to jump into a legal question in a minute here. 22:13 Yeah, I mean, it always just depends on the employer.  what I would say is generally they find everything we do to be  more comprehensive. And I think that's just the nature of the fact that we're not seeking compensation from the insurance providers or working with the client, because  it's my belief that we don't have a single thing to sell to an employer.  Employers have a health care problem. And we're here to solve that and work through that in any 22:42 way that they need at that given time.  So we're not,  you know, pushing those solutions are having those conflicts.  It's an excellent segue down into  current lawsuits  that are popping up with respect to,  first of all 401k, lawyer, and now healthcare benefits. So before we jump into that some specific cases, you know, for my listeners, what does fiduciary mean? 23:12 in your business model, right? Please. Yeah. So fiduciary for us is certainly always acting in the best interest of those that you represent. It's the highest standard of care.  So you mentioned a couple of things  earlier, loyalty, obedience. I think the biggest thing where companies may think they're acting as a fiduciary and they're not, because while we carry that duty to our employers and our clients, 23:40 Employers have that duty to all of their employees. And that's something that are kind of educating them because a lot of them don't realize it. But  I think the big duty that is  left out or misunderstood is the duty of prudence.  Okay. So did they go far enough in investigating solutions and understanding the problem and working through it and having a committee within the company to kind of help go through that? Because what I mean, in a compensation package, there is nothing more important 24:10 than the cost of health care and the options in health care, right? And how those decisions are being made.  So I see the duty of  prudence being the kind of  most 24:23 I, the duty with the most opportunity, let's say, maybe, maybe the most misunderstood because  the employer sometimes think, well, you know, the broker came in and he showed me one or two other options.  This is the least worst option. Therefore that's what we're doing. And I think that's enough. Right.  And that is not the case.  And it's only until there's a 40 % increase due, right. It doesn't employer say  my business is not sustainable. 24:51 So actually healthcare is what not the number two or number three expense  in the company's PNL today. Correct. Right. So walk me through some of these  recent lawsuits.  Yeah, I think we have companies like J &J and JP Morgan. Speak to me about that. 25:14 Yeah, J. J. J. P. Morgan, Wells Fargo. A lot of them are almost they're copied and in some parts of the complaint,  because it's very much the same thing. the first one we saw was  Lewandowski versus Johnson and Johnson. And this is for their health care plan. You know, they're a Fortune 50 company.  I think they somewhere around 160,000 employees. 25:42 and they have a benefits committee and a benefits team of 16 or 18 people. So a big team of people to help make these decisions, understand them and vet them. And the lawsuit is basically for their decision of pharmacy benefit manager. So a pharmacy benefit manager essentially sets the price for any drugs that employees could get within the plan. And it lays out 35 or so specific examples of drugs 26:12 but basically they agreed to pay  up to  13,000 times  the cost of the drug that's available, just cash pay.  employee and employer funds are agreeing to pay that kind of multiple on a drug that's available without insurance, much, much cheaper.  And the  lawsuit is brought by the plaintiffs, who are they? 26:40 am Lewandowski. So she's she's the plaintiff. And then I believe as it's developed, other employees have kind of came on. So 13,000 was it do you know, I know that you're not directly involved in this case. Nor should you speak to it if that is the case. But is the transparency of the data? Can you get that data if you were an employee to then understand the 27:09 multiples that your employer plan has agreed to pay to the pharmacy benefit. I'm aghast. 13, I think the number is 13,226. So when this came out last January, the first thing I did is I read through the whole complaint. It was like 130 pages went through all these. So for all the drugs that were mentioned, I ran 27:40 J &J's prices, again, Fortune 50, 150, 160,000 employees. So you would assume they're getting leveraged prices, they're making great decisions, all those kinds of things. I ran those prices against what my clients were paying. And in the smallest, like I think our smallest in my book of business, like 100 insured employees somewhere around there, they were paying 94 % less. 28:06 for the same, for one fill of all the same drugs. So the math worked out to be like 135,000 for J &J for one fill of each of those. And my clients were like 3000 or 4000, don't know, it's all my LinkedIn. posted the public letter as soon as it came out. But I basically price referenced them. So it's not a question of leverage or buying power, know, all the ridiculous things you hear. 28:34 when you're talking to  an insurance broker for these types of decisions,  it's literally, it comes down to that question of prudence. Like,  how did you vet these decisions?  Do you know how the pharmacy benefit manager is getting paid? Do you know what these drug benchmarks are against the cash price?  And that's  where I think this lawsuit is gonna be a slam dunk. Like, there is no reason for a company that size with that big of a benefits committee to hire such a conflicted PBM, is what they call it. 29:04 You heard it here on the founder sandbox. So stay tuned for  any other  lawsuits that are  worthy of mention. Do all of them? Are they all related to the pharmacy benefit manager conundrum?  There's there's all kinds of lawsuits. I think the PBMs are the lowest hanging fruit because it's so easy to benchmark. But certainly the same arguments exist with  hospital reimbursement rates. 29:33 And we're starting to see those as well. Excellent. Well, thank you  for sharing  a bit more  details on  the  recent,  I guess,  health care benefits in the news, right? Lawsuits.  Going to get a little bit technical here. 29:57 because you allowed me to.  the framework of the CAA of 2020 and 2021, that's the minimum set of standards for activities to benchmark health care plans.  And so  what are they?  Because it then leads into  some of the common sense strategies  that employers can deploy immediately.  So can you walk? Because this is just as yesterday, it's actually during the pandemic. What's the CAA? 30:27 of 2020, 2021. Thank you. Yeah. So that's the interesting part of this. So the reason I said a decade ago, over a decade ago, I was waiting for these health care lawsuits to happen. It's because Arissa has always stated that  employers have this fiduciary responsibility, just like they had with  401k. The problem has been, and the reason these lawsuits didn't come sooner, is that health insurance companies  make this data hard to access. 30:56 different carriers were released different amounts.  And there was no set of compliance standards for employers to understand this is how I go about making it, making these decisions and benchmarking these decisions, right? Like  it was all just too vague, too opaque. The data was too gagged and withheld from the employers.  So the starting point of how do I know I'm being prudent or not, that's kind of what wasn't known prior to the  CAA of 2021. 31:27 So  the CAA  basically defined a set of minimum standards  that you have to do to even pretend like you're being a prudent fiduciary for your healthcare plan. So there's four things, but there's three main things. I'll mention the fourth thing as well, because there's funny stuff about that.  So the first one  should be the most obvious, and  it's kind of our founding story, which is understanding 31:53 your broker compensation before you enter into any arrangement or agreement for your upcoming plan. So that should not only be how much,  it should be when, what type of bonus is there. If you're looking at carrier A, B, and C, really what it says is you should know what is their compensation for carrier A, B, and C before you make an arrangement, because they will be different. And that will change the recommendation, the advice, the conversation that you're having with that broker. 32:23 is critical. That is so critical. And  in reading these transparency commission  disclosures from  brokers, it is wild, the stuff that they put in there and how conflicted their advice is.  One of them that I looked at last week said, broker acknowledges that their parent company has equity in the insurance carriers that they're recommending. Oh my gosh. So they're essentially saying, 32:52 We are an insurance company that's going to bias our recommendations to the own companies we have equity in. It's like, that's no longer a party you should take advice from, right? 33:07 Okay, so that's part one.  Yeah, no, this is this is  and you know,  I without it's gonna get too technical because the gag clause and  the prescription DC reporting so that you know, basically CAA has provided the set of benchmarks, right, which  you need to at least checkmark right before you actually do. 33:35 engage or decide on your employer benefit plan.  Yeah. To be in compliance with your fiduciary duty, particularly that of prudence. Yeah.  Yeah. And I think companies shouldn't look at as a checkmark. I think if they apply it with a good faith effort, they'll see like, oh,  it's not compliance. This is a framework  for making better decisions.  Right.  And that's what it's meant to do. It's meant to say, 34:05 Know your compensation, know your drug benchmarks,  and  eliminate any gag clauses to your data because you need your data to make decisions. So I think if companies make a faith effort, they'll automatically get better outcomes. That's the way here. Excellent. Well, thank you, Donovan. I want to give me this time to actually  speak about  how to contact you,  your company. But more importantly, 34:34 There is  you're hosting a webinar on August 14, which is right around the corner. Can you  give us some more details?  The details will be in the show notes,  but speak to the event that ethos benefits is hosting on August 14 2025. Thanks. Yeah, thank  you.  Yeah. So on the 14th, we're doing a fiduciary workshop masterclass, which is basically understanding what your 35:03 what your duties are, how to get through them, how to navigate them, how to have this framework for decision making and document that process as well. And it's all geared towards just achieving those better outcomes for your company, eliminating any of these risks and really creating positive results for your people. Excellent. And any information with respect to how to reach out to you beyond the- Yeah, sorry. the registration is on a banner on the top of our 35:33 on our homepage. So ethos benefits.com. If you connect with me on LinkedIn, LinkedIn,  Donovan, ragas, you can find it there as well.  Great. Well, I'm coming to the  part of my podcast, which  brings us back to the sandbox.  In my work, I'm all about working with purpose driven, scalable, and resilient companies. 36:00 And so I ask my guest, what is the meaning of each of those terms? What does purpose mean to you? 36:08 Purpose, what does it mean to you? That's such a big question that you can go a lot away from. You know, I feel like purpose should be almost like a hidden driver. It's almost not like a well-considered thing. It's just kind of driving you forward.  I think our purpose  is progress,  right? Like if something can be done better, it should be and just kind of moving forward with that. 36:35 We're trying to move one company at a time, but also the industry and better outcomes  for the country. 36:43 And that good feel factor when you get up in the morning and know that you're doing good, right? Yeah, absolutely. Let's just sleep well at night. Right? Yes. Amazing. How about resilience? You did share with me off  camera that yeah, while you abandoned the financials,  advisory role, it took almost five years, right to really find product market fit, right  and build this because it's a very unknown right industry. 37:12 unknown service within a very, very  complex industry, right? Yeah. So resilience for you, what does that mean?  Yeah, I think you're right. You know, it took us a while because we were sharing such a wildly different message than what people were hearing from their brokers. And sometimes they look at you and be like, well, you're small, they're big, that must mean they're right, right.  So I think resilience is being able to go from 37:42 failure to failure without any loss in energy, right? So when something doesn't go your way and you have an obstacle, an outcome that is less than desired, it's about being able to push on still without losing any of your optimism or energy. And that's all we do. So. Thank you for what you do. And scalable. What does scalable mean? 38:07 Scalable is certainly about having an actual documented process. I think when you're getting into something new as a company or a new system or procedure process, if it's not something that everybody in the company could repeat in the same way that I do, just inherently the way I do it because of my background and education, if it's not repeatable for everybody and everybody doesn't understand the purpose for those steps, 38:36 the outcomes from those steps, like the end result, it's definitely not gonna be scalable. Thank you. Final question. Did you have fun on the sandbox today? I did. Thank you so much for having  me. Thank you, Donovan.  So to my listeners, if you liked this episode with Donovan Rikas from Ethos Benefits,  sign up for the monthly release of founders, business owners, corporate directors, and professional service providers that share their experiences. 39:06 and how to build with strong governance a resilient, scalable, and purpose-driven company to make profits for good. Signing off for this month, thank you very much. Have a great day.  

In this episode, Hilliard sits down for an in-depth, over 2-hour conversation with SELWYN SEYFU HINDS Showrunner/Creator of WASHINGTON BLACK the new hit series on HULU!HIGHLIGHTS: The Source Magazine in the late 90s and the climate of Hip-Hop, going from Guyana to Brooklyn in the height of Classic Rap, the night Biggy Smalls died, his college years at Princeton, becoming an author, moving to LA to write screenplays, pitching tips and how he and his team cast and produced Washington Black and so much more! More about him:Selwyn most recently served as the creator, showrunner, and executive producer of the epic adventure series WASHINGTON BLACK, an adaptation of Esi Edugyan's esteemed novel of the same name, which recently premiered on Hulu. He previously served as a writer/producer on Jordan Peele's reboot of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, penning the critically hailed episode “Replay,” which made him a finalist in the Drama Teleplay category for the 2020 Humanitas Prize.He has a number of films in development including PRINCE OF CATS, the adaptation of Ronald Wimberly's graphic novel, at Legendary; and 1000 MILES, based on the memoir Running A Thousand Miles For Freedom by William and Ellen Craft. He and Mad Massive Entertainment currently have an overall deal with UCP, where he is developing a television adaptation of Usher's seminal album, Confessions.Previously, Hinds served as Editor-in-Chief of the hip hop magazine The Source in the late-‘90s, and created the Vertigo comic-book series Dominique Laveau: Voodoo Child. He is represented by CAA, Entertainment 360, and Del Shaw Moonves.Subscribe, like, follow, share & 5-star review!Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"WWW.SCREENWRITERSRANTROOM.COMMerch (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Hilliard Guess on all social media@Hilliardguess.bsky.socialIG: @ScreenwritersRantRoomGuest:@SelwynhindsBTS: @wmb.photographyWE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIPS AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ :Screenwritersrantroom@gmail.com

This conversation is with Lisa Shultz Lisa, founder of The Verdura Method, is a certified nutritionist, personal trainer, and wellness coach who has worked with top professionals from Apple, Disney, Lionsgate, and CAA. After surviving a traumatic accident in her 20s that completely reshaped her view on health, she's built her mission around helping others heal, thrive, and embrace ageless living. We're diving deep into how cultural norms fuel our fear of aging, what we can learn from the world's ‘Blue Zones,' simple nutrition hacks for lasting energy, exercise strategies for every age, and how to rewrite the narrative on aging for good.   Connect with Lisa: https://www.verduramethod.com/ https://www.yelp.com/biz/verdura-method-los-angeles-3 https://www.instagram.com/itslisaschultz/   How you can stay in touch with Linda: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube SoundCloud "Proud Sponsors of the Sisterhood of S.W.E.A.T" Essential Formulas

The podcast makes another visit to Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #239 – Andrew Blanchard, CAA, Assistant Principal – West Jordan High School, is now available. Andrew Blanchard grew up in West Jordan and now serves as assistant principal at his alma mater. He played college basketball at Salt Lake Community College and St. Martin's University in Washington. Over 11 seasons, he led both boys' and girls' basketball programs at two high schools. His career also includes serving as athletic director at two differentschools. Andrew brings a strong coaching and leadership background into administration. His advice: find a dependable mentor and remember that the athletic director shapes the identity and culture of the entire athleticdepartment through visibility, integrity, and example. Please Listen, Learn, and Share! You can subscribe to UIAAA TV on YouTube! This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify,Stitcher, and YouTube.

Jamaal Parham, part of the directing duo Jams and Bash, talks to Oren and Matt about how they approach their business without the cheesiness. From a start working exclusively with Broadway productions, they've become a CAA-recognized brand in sports comedy.Matt discusses how the dream of never looking at a spreadsheet isn't realistic in filmmaking, or at least not in building a career in it. And Jamaal shares secrets on how they connect with decision-makers through targeted social media strategies that go beyond traditional PR, advertising, or social thinking.**Key lesson:** A lot of directing is really hosting. Don't get it? Check out this amazing episode!https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1729641/https://www.jamsandbash.com/---Matt's Endorsement: Chris Moran | Creative Breakdowns on TikTok and his tutorials on the Vox aesthetic https://www.tiktok.com/@chrismoran__Oren's Endorsement: order your pet meds from https://discountpetmedication.biz/ and the use Amazon to monitor for deals on what you want, like a Dyson v11, and get a great deal on Prime Week.Jamaal's Endorsement: "The Black Pack" book by Artel Great https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/the-black-pack/9781978838130/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to FUN KIDS SCIENCE WEEKLY - REACH FOR THE SKY SPECIAL – the podcast that explores the future of aviation – from the design and sustainability of future planes to the people who keep them flying and make sure our experience special. One of those people is Helen Leadbetter who works for the Civil Aviation Authority as the Zero Emissions Flight & Hydrogen Challenge Lead. I met up with her so she could tell me more about the work she and the CAA do to prepare for a greener future. Here’s Helen Leadbetter, from the Civil Aviation Authority. And Amy and Zac dive into the sustainable side of aviation, both for when aircraft are in service and after they retire. From smart new materials and greener fuels to recycling and reusing.Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Please welcome Dan Spokojny, the founder of FP21, a research and advisory group focused on reforming the State Department's conduct of U.S. foreign policy.Dan started on the hill, working on congressional policy, then as a diplomat for the State Department. Since then, he formed FP21 to help the State Department improve its organization and processes.This is part II of a two-part episode, so let's get started.---You can learn more about FP21 here: https://www.fp21.org/---One CA is a product of the Civil Affairs Association and brings in people who are current or former military, diplomats, development officers, and field agents to discuss their experiences on the ground with a partner nation's people and leadership.We aim to inspire anyone interested in working in the "last three feet" of U.S. foreign relations.  To contact the show, email us at CApodcasting@gmail.com,  or look us up on the Civil Affairs Association website at www.civilaffairsassoc.org  ---Feedspot, the podcast industry ranking system, rated One CA Podcast as one of the top 10 shows on foreign policy. Check it out at:https://podcast.feedspot.com/foreign_policy_podcasts/--- Special Thanks to Weirdlysound for the sample of July Instrumental by Noah Cyrus.Retrieved from: ⁠https://youtu.be/HgB9QFdFnZk?feature=shared⁠#CAA, #FP21org, #Dan_Spoko, #Civil_Affairs

Left leaning media continues to cover Epstein which means Trump is doing good; Joe Biden gets a book deal through his agency CAA; the Democrats' official Twitter account going after Trump over grocery prices; the leading candidates for the 2028 presidential nominees; the head of HR that was caught in the Coldplay kisscam viral moment has also left Astronomer; Lara Trump not running for office in North Carolina. 

Left leaning media continues to cover Epstein which means Trump is doing good; Joe Biden gets a book deal through his agency CAA; the Democrats' official Twitter account going after Trump over grocery prices; the leading candidates for the 2028 presidential nominees; the head of HR that was caught in the Coldplay kisscam viral moment has also left Astronomer; Lara Trump not running for office in North Carolina. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Jordan, Commish, Pitt Girl, Lord of the Spreadsheets Kevin, Big Sky Brigit and eventually Beth, along with our VP of Podcast Production Arthur. IT'S OUR 300TH EPISODE (we think) We discuss Commish's Southland Media Days Trip, Big Sky Brigit's Big Sky Media Days trip, some Anthropologie tailgate wear that'll likely break your budget, MC Harbaughs, the CAA adds Sacred Heart, Jimbo Fisher to the ACC, Memphis' flirtation with the Big XII and then pretending like nothing happened, Soar the American Conference mascot, UFL Breaking News, Skip Holtz unable to save Birmingham, Cookie Monster at the Brickyard 400, then SUPER SICKO SPINNING SELECTION SEASON PREVIEW FORECAST: SSSSSPF aka the 5SPF for the the Southland Conference and Missouri Valley Football Conference preview and much, much more!!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Please welcome Dan Spokojny, the founder of FP21, a research and advisory group focused on reforming the State Department's conduct of U.S. foreign policy.Dan started on the hill, working on congressional policy, then as a diplomat for the State Department. Since then, he formed FP21 to help the State Department improve its organization and processes.A quick note: I found that the introduction had a gap. One of the voice channels fell out, so on 27 July I updated a corrected version. Sorry about that. This is part I of a two-part episode, so let's get started.---You can learn more about FP21 here: https://www.fp21.org/---One CA is a product of the Civil Affairs Association and brings in people who are current or former military, diplomats, development officers, and field agents to discuss their experiences on the ground with a partner nation's people and leadership.We aim to inspire anyone interested in working in the "last three feet" of U.S. foreign relations.  To contact the show, email us at CApodcasting@gmail.com,  or look us up on the Civil Affairs Association website at www.civilaffairsassoc.org  ---Feedspot, the podcast industry ranking system, rated One CA Podcast as one of the top 10 shows on foreign policy. Check it out at:https://podcast.feedspot.com/foreign_policy_podcasts/--- Special Thanks to Weirdlysound for the sample of July Instrumental by Noah Cyrus.Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/HgB9QFdFnZk?feature=shared#CAA, #FP21org, #Dan_Spoko, #Civil_Affairs

The podcast makes another visit to Florida. UIAAA Connection #237 – Tammie Talley, CAA, Director of Athletics – Duval County Public Schools, is now available. Tammy Talley grew up in Jacksonville before moving to Crescent City,where she competed in multiple sports. A collegiate volleyball athlete, Tammy later served as the building athletic director at two schools before stepping into her current leadership role. She shares insights from her work on the LTC518 development team, helping launch the course in Austin. Tammy also holds the position of secretary for the FIAAA. Her advice to new and experienced athletic directors includes finding a reliable mentor and never hesitating to ask questions that lead to growth, clarity, and stronger leadership. Please Listen, Learn, and Share! You can subscribe to UIAAA TV on YouTube! This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox,Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

Greg previews the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) from a stylistic and betting standpoint, examines the rosters of every team in the conference with Hofstra play by play voice Dylan Brett & Greg gives his projected order of finish for the conference for the 2025-26 season!Podcast Highlights2:48-Betting trends & styles of the Coastal Conference11:31-Examination of each CAA team rosters with Dylan Brett36:28-Greg's projected order of finish for the CAA

Go to kushydreams.com and use Promo Code JOMBOY at checkout to get 20% off your next order!Join Talkin' Jake for a wild All-Star Week recap on Wake n Jake! From the Celebrity Softball Game and exclusive player interviews to catching a Home Run Derby ball and partying at CAA, Jake shares all the behind-the-scenes action and unforgettable moments. Don't miss the best MLB All-Star content, player stories, and insider highlights—timestamps included for every epic moment+++++Timestamps:0:00 Crazy All-Star Week2:10 Celebrity Softball Game19:34 All the Players We Talked To30:00 I Caught a Home Run Derby Ball33:25 CAA Party 

Join Jordan, Commish, Pitt Girl and Big Sky Brigit, along with our VP of Podcast Production Arthur. We discuss the Club World Cup Final, Jordan needing help with EA CFB 26, Commish creating the Committee in the game, La Tech joining the Sun Belt, 5 Star Punter commits to Mississippi State, Himalayan Salt Lamps for NCAA teams?, Mr. Met falling off the stage, Shane Van Gisbergen wins again, SUPER SICKO SPINNING SELECTION SEASON PREVIEW FORECAST: aka the 5SPF, we preview the CAA and the Ivy League and much, much more!!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the writing skills I am asked about the most is, “How do I get emotion on the page?” People ask this no matter what genre they are writing, because no one wants to produce a manuscript that is flat and unengaging. Emotion is the key, but figuring out how to inspire your reader to feel something is a tricky thing to learn and an even trickier thing to master.In her debut novel, Slanting Towards the Sea (Simon & Schuster, July 2025), Lidija Hilje has mastered it. The story feels so raw and so real—and English is not even Lidija's first language! It's a remarkable achievement. I'm excited to speak with Lidija about her path to publication and how she figured out how to get the emotion of her characters onto the page.Links from the Pod:Article from Jane FriedmanGuide on Literary Fiction from LidijaLidija's website: www.lidijahilje.comAuthor Accelerator book coaches Barbara Boyd and Nita CollinsHey everyone, it's Jenny Nash. This episode happens to feature an Author Accelerator book coach. Author Accelerator is the company I founded more than 10 years ago to lead the emerging book coaching industry. If you've been curious about what it takes to become a successful book coach, which is to say, someone who makes money, meaning, and joy out of serving writers, I've just created a bunch of great content to help you learn more. You can access it all by going to bookcoaches.com/waitlist. We'll be enrolling a new cohort of students in our certification program in October, so now's a perfect time to learn more and start making plans for a whole new career.Transcript below!EPISODE 456 - TRANSCRIPTJennie NashHey everyone, it's Jennie Nash. This episode happens to feature an Author Accelerator book coach. Author Accelerator is the company I founded more than 10 years ago to lead the emerging book coaching industry. If you've been curious about what it takes to become a successful book coach—which is to say, someone who makes money, meaning, and joy out of serving writers—I've just created a bunch of great content to help you learn more. You can access it all by going to bookcoaches.com/waitlist. That's bookcoaches.com/waitlist. We'll be enrolling a new cohort of students in our certification program in October, so now's a perfect time to learn more and start making plans for a whole new career.Multiple Speakers:Is it recording? Now it's recording, yay. Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. I don't remember what I'm supposed to be doing. Alright, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay, now one, two, three.Jennie NashHey writers, I'm Jennie Nash, and this is the Hashtag AmWriting podcast, the place where we talk about writing all the things; short things, long things, fiction, nonfiction, pitches, and proposals. Today I'm talking with Lidija Hilje, the author of the novel Slanting Towards the Sea. And what we're talking about is how to capture emotion on the page—the most elusive thing in the entire writing universe. Lidija lives in Croatia. She's a former lawyer who I know because she became a book coach through Author Accelerator. This is her first novel, and it's something else. As a longtime book coach, it's really hard for me to read for pleasure anymore, because it's so hard not to see the writer at work and the seams of the creation. But Slanting Towards the Sea—I saw none of that. I fell wholly into the story and became lost in it; the olive trees and the sea, the pain of these people and this love triangle, and also just the love that they had for life and each other. It's almost unbearably raw—the way life itself can feel sometimes. And yet, since I know Lidija and her story to becoming a writer, I also know how much work it took to create this feeling and emotion. I'm so excited to speak with Lidija today, and so excited for people to hear about her and her story. So welcome, Lidija. Thanks for coming onto the podcast.Lidija HiljeThank you so much for having me and for this incredible introduction. I'm so honored.Jennie NashWell, before we get started, I want to read the jacket copy for Slanting Towards the Sea, so that our listeners can hear the bones of the story that you wrote. Is that okay if I read it for our listeners?Lidija HiljeAbsolutely. Thank you so much.Jennie NashOkay.Ivona divorced the love of her life, Vlaho, a decade ago. They met as students at the turn of the millennium, when newly democratic Croatia was alive with hope and promise. But the challenges of living in a burgeoning country extinguished Ivona's dreams one after another—and a devastating secret forced her to set him free. Now Vlaho is remarried and a proud father of two, while Ivona's life has taken a downward turn. In her thirties, she has returned to her childhood home to care for her ailing father. Bewildered by life's disappointments, she finds solace in reconnecting with Vlaho and is welcomed into his family by his spirited wife, Marina. But when a new man enters Ivona's life, the carefully cultivated dynamic between the three is disrupted, forcing a reckoning for all involved. Set against the mesmerizing Croatian coastline, Slanting Towards the Sea is a cinematic, emotionally searing debut about the fragile nature of potential and the transcendence of love.That's it! What a—what a—what a summary, right? So I want to start by talking about the genre of this book, Lidija. As a book coach, you specialize in helping people write literary fiction. And you're extremely articulate about defining exactly what it is. And I'd like to just start there, by talking about how you see this novel, where it's positioned and, um, and your sense of it in, as a—in the genre, um, categories, if you will. Um, and I'll share with our listeners before you answer that English is not your first language—which is something we're going to talk about from a writing perspective, but just from a listening perspective, to give people some context for that. So let's talk about—let's talk about genre.Lidija HiljeYeah, well, genre is one of my favorite topics as a book coach, and so naturally it is something I love talking about. So the first book I ever wrote, which is now safely shelved in a drawer at the bottom of a drawer, was women's fiction. And the reason why it was women's fiction was that because I was learning how to write, I was learning how to weave a story together. And in doing so, I was trying to find some commonalities in stories—like how stories work, how you develop them, how you develop a character arc, how you wrap it up towards the end. And—but my intention always was to write literary. I was just not very good at doing it. And so I kind of—like all the feedback that I got throughout my—from developmental editors—it was like geared towards kind of channeling the book towards women's fiction. And this is something that really still strikes me as a book coach: how different it is to coach literary fiction as opposed to genre fiction, which is more formulaic. So basically, that first book is safely shelved. And when I started writing this book, I was working really hard at trying to make it not be formulaic. And actually, one of the book coaches from our community helped me. I had a conversation with Barbara Boyd where I outlined my story for her, and she said there was this moment where I kind of did something in my outline…what could basically be called a cop-out—so that… I killed a character, basically, so that the…you know, that the book would close neatly, right? And so she called me out on it and said—because I talked to her specifically because she coaches literary fiction but didn't like or coach women's fiction—and I thought that perspective was something I needed. And so she said, "Why are you killing that character?” And that was the wake-up moment for me, because that was the moment when I realized that in doing so, that was the typical moment where a writer kind of goes toward the genre. And where the interesting thing in the literary fiction genre lies is exploring, you know, what happens when you don't kill the character—when you don't take the easy way out. And so, genre-wise, what I, you know—I run a book club for writers, and we read a lot of literary fiction. And so, I was constantly trying to figure out, like, what is it about these books that, you know, define genre? And in studying these books, there are several things, and I could talk about this, I guess, for centuries, but I'll try to...Jennie NashI—I love it. Let's do it.Lidija HiljeSo basically, in literary fiction, there are many things that genre fiction also has. There are themes, there are character arcs—you know, a character might grow, though not necessarily. But basically, it's much less clear than in genre fiction. In genre fiction, for instance, you have—especially in women's fiction—you will have a woman who is shy and then she becomes confident toward the end. Or you have a horrible, you know, self-obsessed character who learns their lesson toward the end of the book. It's really clear-cut. The reader can latch on to what the problem is without thinking too much about it. And literary fiction does the opposite. It fans out a little bit. It touches on many different things that kind of seem unrelated, but they are related. And this is a problem in writing it, as well as coaching it, because as a coach or as a writer, you have to be aware of all these things. You have to beware of how these things tie together so that you have the idea of this through line that goes throughout the story, whereas the reader might not be catching on as fast but does have the confidence that you, as the writer, are going to get them there, if that makes sense.Jennie NashOh, it makes so much sense. So when you were working on—I actually remember reading some opening, maybe the opening chapters of the novel that has been shelved. When I read those pages, they struck me as if they had that feeling of literary fiction. Was that your intention with that novel as well?Lidija HiljeYes, it was. It was just that I was unable to... I came to writing late. I mean, I was always a writer in the sense that I was always writing something, but I came to writing fiction and specifically books very late. It was 2017 when I started writing that book in Croatian. And the first, you know, contact with any craft or writing happened in 2019 when I finished the draft and I translated that book into English, and I started looking for ways of pub... you know, publishing that book and realized that the first draft is not the last draft. Like that was the—like it was—sometimes it's so funny to think like how recently I didn't know anything about publishing or writing at all. So basically, I did want that book to be literary fiction. I always wanted to do, you know, to write the type of fiction that I wrote in Slanting [Slanting Towards the Sea], and obviously I hope to, you know, hone my craft in the future, but it wasn't—it wasn't on that level. And the first developmental editor that I worked with in 2019, she was giving me all the logical advice that you can give someone, which is... hone the character arc you are telling here, show, you know, all those things that we tell our clients when we work with them as book coaches. But what it did is it completely stripped the literary part from it, and it made me write in scene, which is not how literary fiction is written. You know, like, one of the differences between commercial fiction and literary fiction is that you don't necessarily write in scenes. You write in summaries, and you write in postcards, which is the type of a scene that goes deeper instead of forward, if that makes sense. So you're not kind of—nothing changes for the protagonist, the protagonist doesn't realize anything, they don't decide on a new course of action, nothing new happens, but the reader's understanding of the character happens. And this is also true when you're looking at the character arc on the, you know, scope of the whole novel. Like in literary fiction, it will often be that, you know, that the character doesn't change much in terms of, like what I said before—she was shy and she stopped being shy, right? It will just be that the reader's understanding of the character deepens. And so my first book was an attempt at literary fiction, but it was not an execution. You know, the execution didn't really match that, and I feel like the advice that I got from my early developmental editor was just kind of trying to put me in the confines of commercial fiction. Which is... you know... understandable. You know, and I'm great— I'm even, like, today—I'm grateful for it because you first have to learn how to walk and then you can run, right? So I did have to go through the process of learning how to write a good scene, of learning how not to tell, of learning how to hide the seams that you—that you were talking about—you need to hide your fingerprints as a writer. And that was my learning book. I learned a lot from writing it, but by the time I was done with it, it was not—it didn't—it was not a bad book, and I got a lot of full requests for it, but it was not—it did not end up being what I had hoped for it.Jennie NashSo, in 2017, when you started that book, you said you came to writing late. Do you mind sharing where you were in your life, if you want to share your age or what you were doing in your life, just to give us some context for what you mean by that—by coming to it late?Lidija HiljeSo yeah, so 2017 was one of the hardest years in my life, I think. I think it's just the moment where I was around 35, I think. I would have to do the math, but mid-30s. And I had just been fired for the second time after my second maternity leave. And, you know jobs in my profession, which is—I was an attorney—were scarce, and I opened my own law firm. And I sat there in my law office, you know, a woman working as an attorney in Zadar, Croatia. It was not, you know, I was not having like flocks of clients, you know, going through the door. And you had to sit there from 8am to 4pm, which is our work time. And I had, um, ii had um... I started writing basically to pass the time. And I was writing just the scenes that I was interested in that, you know, brought me joy and then I, you know, wrote the intermittent scene, and the book grew and grew. And by the time I had finished it, which was a year and a half later, you know, it became... It just became a thing that I was—it took over it took over my whole life. I could not, you know and financially it was a difficult time for us as well. We had reached—my husband and I, like I said mid 30's—and we had kind of peaked career wise here in Croatia. So basically, what people don't understand about Croatia is that even if you're a brain surgeon, or if you're a lawyer, or if you're a programmer—like my husband—the money you make is not much more than the average wage. And so, you know, we were at the top of our game professionally, but not earning enough to make ends meet. And so we had started thinking about moving to Ireland basically, which is the, you know, IT hub for the... in Europe. And in thinking about it, I was sitting in my law office and I was basically crying my eyes out thinking if I go there, I'm going to be stripped of my identity as an attorney. I had been working toward that for basically 15, 20 years. And in trying to get over that pain of working towards something that in Ireland, it's not going to mean anything because, you know, the legal system is so very different and my use of language was not, you know, it's still not really good. Like professional English is not the same as this spoken English, you know, everyday English. And so, in kind of trying to accept that we are going to move and I'm going to be stripped of that identity as a lawyer, I was, in a way, you know, to make it easier for myself, I started accepting all the things that I didn't want to look at, which is I hated my job.Jennie NashRight, right.Lidija HiljeI loved being in a courtroom, like that was a good part of it. But everything else, you know, the intellectual part of it, like thinking about law, applying law to a certain case was interesting to me. But everything else was horrible. And so, once I accepted that, and my husband got a job, you know, like working for... as a freelancer for an outside company, and we could stay in Croatia, I was like, "And what am I going to do now? I can't go back to being a lawyer." And so, because his wage was a little bit more than, you know, for the first time, he could afford for me to go, you know, to take a year off and to see what I could do. And so, for a while, I interned at a foreign literary agency—that didn't go anywhere. Then I wrote, you know, a copy for a startup that didn't end up, you know, paying me. So that was kind of like—I was at the end of my rope by the, you know, toward the end of that year. And then I encountered the Author Accelerator program for book coaches, and I had during that year I had connected with writers and I have realized that basically the legal knowledge really translates beautifully into book coaching. So it was kind of like, you know, working on a story, or if you're working on a case, or working on a book, it's kind of a similar thing, similar logic applies. And so it was a… you—you know, it was, I know I'm mixing a little bit the books coaching and legal and, you know, writing careers...Jennie NashNo, it's fascinating.Lidija HiljeBut they are so intertwined in my life, yeah.Jennie NashI mean, it's fascinating the way that you trained yourself on story, basically. And I remember the conversation when you approached Author Accelerator, because you were nervous about being able to meet the requirements of our program because of your language—that English is not your first language. But I, I mean, we have a system whereby it's you try it, you know, if—if you'd meet the requirements, you meet them and if you don't, you don't. And it struck me that your grasp of story was so profound. That I didn't know... you know, it was one conversation about your grasp of the written language. But, um, you were... you were very nervous about your ability to do the work of book coaching in another language. And it's just interesting from where we sit now, so I want to circle back to the book itself and the novel and what you accomplished in it, because it really does have the thing that so many writers are always trying to do, and they talk about it—it is so elusive. Which is this capturing this feeling, emotion, letting the reader sit in the mirror of what those characters are feeling, and you feel it your own self, and that it, you know, when it, when it works, it's, it's like a magic trick. And it strikes me that you came at that very deliberately. It was not accidental. Is that fair to say? Would you believe that?Lidija HiljeI think I always wanted to write about... I always wanted to write quiet stories. And for quiet stories to work, you have to make the quiet things loud in a way. And the loud things are the emotions. And so yes, yes, it was always my goal. I was not always good at it... in writing emotion. But yeah, like during that process of writing that first book, I struggled with it a lot. I struggled with what I guess happens a lot of the time when we are writing is that we're trying very hard for the reader to see things the way we are seeing them. And this counter-intuitively causes the very reverse effect. You know the reader—is the more you're trying to make them listen to you, the more you're trying to, you know, impose your view of things on them, the more they resist. So the trick is basically, and I'll make it sound very easy, it's not easy at all to execute, but the trick is to kind of, you know, to try to find a way and to deliver that emotion without judgment. Like, this is what I'm feeling, or this is what my character is feeling. And not trying to explain it, not trying to get compassion, not trying to get the reader to feel anything. Like, you're just putting things out in the ether, and you're allowing the reader to do their own math. And this is something you can do in literary fiction, which is more open-ended, right? And the readers of genre fiction, I do need more hand-holding in that sense that they will not maybe work as hard as the literary reader. So yeah, I did work very hard. And, you know, the first book, the “shelved” book, really got to a point where I couldn't do that work anymore. But when I started Slanting [Slanting Towards the Sea]… the literally... the first scene in Slanting [Slanting Towards the Sea], came out the way it did. Like that's…Jennie NashOh wow!Lidija HiljeIt didn't change. We had this meeting of writing friends and one of them said, let's exchange, like, let's read 500 new words and I was not working on anything. I had been focusing on book coaching at that moment—that was 2021. And I went to the moment in that room when she is thinking about her ex-husband, you know, when the protagonist is thinking about her ex-husband, and it just came out the way it is. I don't think I changed basically more than three words since that scene came out the way it is. And so...Jennie NashOh, that's amazing. I want to... I want to read some of the lines from that opening scene, if I can, to give the readers... I mean the listeners a sense of what we're talking about. So here's how Slanting Towards the Sea begins.I open his socials and sift through his photos. I know their sequence like I know the palm of my hand. Better even, because I can never memorize what my palm looks like, how the life line twirls into the love line, how it begins tight and uniform, but then turns ropey. It scares me to look at it, to trace the lines, to see where they might lead me in years to come. But I know Vlaho's photos by heart.And it goes on from there. It's, it's just, it's so haunting. And, and the whole, the whole novel is, is that, has that feel to it. So when did you, when did you know that with this story you had it? You knew with the other one that you couldn't get it back, or that it wasn't going to happen. When did you begin? Was it after the sharing of that scene where you thought, oh, I've got this?Lidija HiljeI knew that I could write a scene, but there's a difference, you know, a postcard. I would call this a postcard. This is the typical example of a postcard, a scene where nothing changes for the protagonist and she doesn't understand anything new, but it kind of deepens the reader's understanding of, you know, her situation. So I knew I could write it, which is something I struggled with, with the first book, but I—there's a long road from doing one good postcard and then, you know, writing an entire book, which in literary fiction you have this additional, you know, challenge. You do a ratio basically of normal scenes and summaries, and postcards, and you have to maintain that ratio throughout the book. So, um, yeah for the... relatively early in the book I had submitted that first scene for some competitions. And I got great feedback. It won a critique match, writing a competition in the literary fiction category. And it was long listed in the BPA Pitch Prize in the UK. So I knew that... you know... you know... that the opening of the book was working. So that was good. But from then on, it was such a struggle, because you read the book, and so you know, it has dual timelines; it spans 20 years. I was struggling so bad trying to figure out whether I should do, you know, the past in flashbacks? Whether I should alternate timelines? How do I set this massive story up, which has, you know, the past, and, you know, the present, which happens over a span of... I don't know... five or six months in the present timeline. So I struggled with it a lot. But the thing that I struggled with the most was accountability. So basically, for the first year and a half—for the first year—I wrote, I think, maybe 150 pages. They were not very well set up. I was unsure of them, and I would always push the book backwards to work on client stories. And so what really changed the game for me was when I—I have this program that I run in summertime and one of our book coaches was in that program, Nita Collins. And after the program ended, we partnered up. And so she was my accountability—you know partner, as well as…you know, feedback giver and cheerleader and all the things. And so, you know, I still struggled with how to set up all the things and how to build up the narrative, which I think is really hard for people to coach literary fiction, because you can basically only offer solutions that are kind of geared towards tropey, right? So the author really does have to do all the work, in that sense, but she was absolutely instrumental in terms of me getting the pages down and just seeing if the pages hit the mark or didn't, why they didn't, you know, talking to her, just voicing, talking about the book. And so this went on for a year and within one year I had a full first draft and from then on it was a quick revising process and within three months I had three agent offers. So it was a fast process from then on, from having the first draft, to getting an agent.Jennie NashWell, big shout out to Nita Collins and the Author Accelerator community. I love that a connection happened for you guys. It's really beautiful the way you describe it. So can you explain why you decided it was time to go out to agents? With the first book you decided... this is not going to go anywhere. I'm putting it aside. And with this one, very soon after you finished the first draft, you decided to pitch. What was that decision-making process like for you?Lidija HiljeSo I want to be completely honest. I didn't shelve the first project because I thought it was not, I could not get it to a level. I was convinced that it was on a level, and I had pitched it, but I had been rejected over 100 times. So basically the industry decided for me that it wasn't going to happen. And one of the things that was really hard for me in that first book is that I set it in the US, which I've never been to the US. So it made it very difficult, but I felt like if I set the book in Croatia, I would, like the cultural perspective would overpower the quiet narrative. And I thought that I couldn't do it. And so I, you know, in Slanting [Slanting Towards the Sea], this is the base of the book. Like, it's, you know, I've found a way to weave the cultural perspective as seamlessly as I could. But the pitching process—I basically... I had the first draft done when I had decided to pitch the book. It was a little bit—to be honest, I was a little bit hasty. I had applied for The Muse & the Marketplace conversation with agents. You could...Jennie NashLike the speed dating.Lidija HiljeYeah, like the speed dating. And so I purchased a few tickets for that. And this was done for two reasons. The first one was to, you know; give myself a goal to work towards—to kind of make it all go faster. And the second goal was to see how the industry looks at this. And if there are any issues that they have with the, you know, with the book or with how it's set up, I would rather know sooner than later. And so, because they were reading not just the pages—they were reading, like, 10 pages, a synopsis, and a query letter—which I would also wholeheartedly recommend writing during the writing phase. Preferably, you know, toward the end of the first draft, you would have to do the pitching materials, because they inform so much of... they make you really focus on what the book is about and kind of drawing out the themes and the plot and kind of parsing all those things out. So I told myself: if I go there, and if I get some, you know the best thing that could happen is I could get some full requests. The worst thing that could happen was they will tell me that I'm not there, that my writing is not there, and that the and/or that the book doesn't hold together. And so what happened is, I was... I had just finished my first draft, but I knew that the ending wasn't right. I had the wrong ending. So I knew I had to rewrite the last third of the book, at least. And I went on to that conference, and out of five agents I had talked to, four had requested a full manuscript—toward, like, when I had it. So it was a huge, you know, confidence builder, and that summer I really, really—I can't, it's really amazing what happened—I just, I was so energized, and I just, you know, I don't know, it's like a visit from the muse, even though it's just work. But it felt—I felt very inspired, and I completely rewrote the book, basically, and that gave it the ending that it needed to have, which was also one of the fights against the genre confinements which I had kind of put on myself. So yeah, so that was the decision that I should be doing that, and at the same time, I wanted to be, like, 100% sure that when I sent the manuscript out, it would be finished—that it would be the best that I can make it by myself, you know, and, you know, for Nita to read it, for a couple of beta readers that I've really trusted—and they have the same taste in books that I do—to read it. And only with that feedback was I really ready to send it out to agents.Jennie NashSo—the—we'll get to what happened with the agents in a minute. But I want to return to something that you said about the culture of Croatia and the role that it has in the story, and you called it foundational. And it really feels both the setting of the country, meaning the land, there's... there's a lot you write about, um, the sea, and the food that comes from the sea, and the winds that travel, um, both on the sea and on the land, and there's olive trees that play a large part in this story. So there is a lot about the country itself, and then there's, there is a lot about the, the culture and the, the changing bureaucracies and politics and things that are going on. And it's interesting that you spoke in your own life about contemplating leaving the country, because your characters at some key points, contemplate leaving as well. So there's—there was very much about the constraints of the world of this place, and that's part of what the, you know, it's interesting that you talk about it as your concern was that it would overwhelm the story, but it's part of, for me, what the container in which that emotion happened. It felt not separate from the story, but a really critical component of it. The way these characters lived on the land, and in this place, and what that allowed them to do,—or to be—or not be and how they bumped up against it. It was... It's really like you have a historian's grasp of that, your world, was that something you were conscious of while you were writing as well?Lidija HiljeYes. I was always worried about writing, you know, a Croatian perspective. Like that was always a big concern for me because I, you know, when you're looking at literature and what interests readers, it's either, you know, the book set in the UK and US, which is kind of the clear narrative, it doesn't, it's, it's a pervasive culture that we all understand when it kind of becomes invisible, or, you know, a background noise, it doesn't really affect the narrative. Whereas the other interesting things that readers, when they want to travel somewhere, they will want to go somewhere exotic, you know, whether it's Nigeria or, you know, Eastern Asia, Japan, China, you know? So it felt like Croatia is different, but not different enough, you know? And so it's, it's kind of like almost like it makes the reader constantly forget that they're in Croatia, while at the same time kind of jarring them when you remind them of the differences, and this was one of the, one of the, you know, key points of my work with Nita, was when she would just notice things like, what is, you know, what is the, why are there, there are no dividers in the hospital between the beds? And it's just like... and now I realize that I have to explain how our hospitals look like, and it's not like yours. Or the difference in the tides, which in America are, you know, over, over, I don't know how many feet, and in Croatia they're just, um, and we talked about it when you were here in Zadar as well. So it's just like, it's very similar to America, but not quite. And that was very frustrating at times to try to depict. But on the other hand, in writing Ivona, I wanted to, I feel, I have felt and still feel a lot of frustration with my country. I love it, but I have been planning, like there have been multiple, you know, periods in my life when I had hoped to leave, just because how frustrating it is to live here sometimes with the bureaucracy and just the way the mentality is here and everything. So basically in writing her story, I wanted to air out those grievances in a way. To give them voice, to examine them, to see what they are, and like everything, you know, it's not black or white, it's the way we are here, and it's also the way I am, you know. I notice this when I interact with people from other areas, and they say that us Croats and, you know, Balkan people are very, you know, always like, always complaining about something, which is true, we are. And so, yeah, so it's difficult. It's difficult because I wanted that to be a part of the story. And at the same time, you know, there, you know, there is the possibility of the American reader who doesn't see that it's a part of the culture here, basically. That they could look at Ivona, and say, you know, why does she just not snap out of it?Jennie NashHmm…Lidija HiljeAnd, you know, it's almost like saying to me to snap out of the issues that I had as I was like, trying, you know, like banging my head against the wall, trying to get my career going, and t's not working. Like whatever you're, you're trying—like it's easier for me to make it in the US, never having set a foot there, than in Croatia.Jennie NashRight.Lidija HiljeI mean, my book is being published in the US; it's still not being published in Croatia, just for the record. So it's really hard, and it's really hard to make that a part of the book, but not have it, like, weigh the book all the way down. So it was a process. It's like all the things you try and miss and, you know, sometimes you go overboard, and then you have to pull back, and you have to be careful not to go too deeply into your own experience and just feel that the character is separate from you, and obviously she has some different issues than I had and a different occupation, but a lot of her grievances are mine as well.Jennie NashWell, that yearning and, can… I guess confusion really does come across. The how will I, how will I live? How will I love? How will I spend my days? I mean, these are the questions of our life, and they're the questions of this character in—as she goes through what she's experiencing. That they're, they're both mundane questions and, and, you know, the most profound. And, and the way you capture it... I mean, that was just to circle back to my initial idea of talking about how to capture emotion on the page, you know, which is the work of a novel. That's what it's for. That's its point. And it's just so hard to do. And you just did it on so many levels in a language that's not your first. And it really is just extraordinary and moving. And in preparing to talk to you today, I read a lot of the early reviews—people who got advanced readers copies, 'cause the book comes out in July, 2025, and we're speaking a few months before that time. So it's not fully out in the world, but it's enough that, um, I can see that reaction rippling through the readers and, and certainly through the, um, professional, um, colleagues and, you know, who've blurbed the book. But this idea of it being—the word people kept using was “moving.” And there was a lot of words like “tender” and “haunting,” you know, people really felt what it sounds like you intended them to feel. So how, from where you sit now, how does that—how does it feel to have gotten that feedback from some of the writers you admire? And to know that it did… it works doing what you want it to do? How does that feel?Lidija HiljeOh, it's, it's impossible to talk about that because I guess I'm typically Croatian in the way that it's easier for me to sit in my failures than to sit in my successes. So it's absolutely incredible. I mean, when you get a blurb from Claire Lombardo, who is, you know, I absolutely adore her books and I think she's insanely talented, you know, and for her, you know, she used the words “humane,” and that really—I was so moved by that. So my… kind of my goal is for, for people to see the humanity in these, these characters. And so it's really, it's really amazing. It's, it's beyond, you know, some of the, you know, I got really great blurbs from authors I really, really deeply admire: Thao Thai, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, Amy Lin, and Madeline Lucas, and as well, you know, Claire Lombardo, whom I mentioned. It's really incredible. It's so life affirming for me, you know, to be able to do that. But like I said, it's always, you know, when I'm reading the reviews, which I probably shouldn't be doing, I'm always focusing on the few that are not—just not feeling it. And then I have to remind myself it's not—this is not a book for anyone, for just everyone. And it's, you know, it's a journey. It's still, like you said, early days. I'm learning to be an author, to grow an even thicker skin in that sense. But yeah, it did feel great to get those beautiful reviews. And I'm so grateful to them for reading and donating their time to me.Jennie NashI mean, it's so not fair what I want to say. It's so not fair. But I want to ask anyway. Quite a few of the reviews said they can't wait for your next book, which, you know, it's like you're not a machine. You've just done this one. But are you thinking about that? Are you… do you have thoughts about that?Lidija HiljeYeah, I am trying to work on my new book. But, you know, I'm admiring the writers who put out a book a year. That's definitely not going to be me. There's an insane amount of work in putting the book out. You know, there's invisible work that goes behind the screen, you know, that people don't see, but it's happening and it takes up a lot of time. And there's also this emotional, you know, it's, it's—it's difficult sitting in, like… you're trying to make this your career. You wrote your heart on the paper and you're offering it to the world. And now you're suspended in this period when you put it out and you're waiting to see how it's received, whether someone tramples on it or whether it's upheld. And so it's a difficult, emotionally difficult place to be in, and I'm one of those writers who struggle to create when I'm not, you know, when I'm feeling… when I'm feeling stressed. So work on my second novel is going slowly. I've gotten to page 100, but then I realized it needed, you know, I needed to make some changes, so I'm back to page 30. So it's a, you know, it's a—it's a process. I think, you know, writing literary fiction takes time. It takes self-examination; it takes a lot of reading of other people who have done it successfully—the type of novel that you're trying to execute. So, so yeah, I'm trying to work on it, but, um, but it may, it may be a while.Jennie NashAll right. I know—that's why it wasn't fair to even ask. Um, so back to… I just want to pick up the story back to—you got the three or the four, um, agent requests, and you, you finished the novel, and, um, and you pitched to them. Can you just share what all unfolded? Because… it was pretty extraordinary.Lidija HiljeSo, basically, what happened was I didn't pitch all the four agents that had requested the pages. I had the first querying experience, which is what I said—you know 100 rejections. I took a long, hard look at it and realized that many of the time I was querying the wrong agents, genre-wise, which, you know, I was not aware of at the time. So a lot of those rejections were basically because I was querying a women's fiction book to literary agents. And that was one thing. And the other thing is… I was pretty, you know, unselective with whom I was querying the first time around. And the second time around, I was really intentional with the type of agent and their reputation and the connections within the industry—you know, just much more aware, approaching it much more professionally in terms of, you know, just wanting a good fit that would actually be able to do something for me, you know, to sell the book. And so a friend who had, you know, she had given me a referral to her agent—that didn't pan out. I gave that agent a month, an exclusive. And when that didn't pan out, I basically sent the query to my now agent, Abby Walters, at CAA. And, you know, it was a form on the website. I didn't even write her an email. It was just a form. So I didn't think that anyone would read it, basically. And I got—quickly I got like five or six requests, right out of the gate, those maybe first 10 days. And by the end of the second week I had gotten an offer of representation from Abby. And I followed up with the rest of the agents. The total, uh, the total number of, uh, full requests ended up being, I think, maybe nine out of 20, 25 queries. And, uh, I got three offers of representation, um, from fantastic agents. And, uh, deciding was hell. I was—I was—it was horrible to be in a position where you had to say no to an agent that you admire and that you would genuinely love to work with, but you know, for some reasons I chose Abby and I'm really happy with working with her. She's fantastic. I—I, you know, love her to death. And yeah, so that was the story of getting an agent. It was—it was—it was pretty quick and painless, I have to say, the second time around.Jennie NashRight, from 100 rejections with the first one to—to nine full requests and three offers on—on this one, that's an extraordinary swing, for sure. And I love the—the way that you approached it the second time with that intention. It just says everything about the kind of person and writer you are, and the book landed with Simon & Schuster and will be coming out soon, and I can't wait to share it with our listeners. It's a beautiful, beautiful novel. I just—I cherished reading every page, and we had the really great good fortune of my taking a vacation to Croatia and coming to your town and meeting you and walking through the town with you, and I treasure that for so many reasons. But having read the book, I felt like I could taste it and see it in a really special way, having had a tour of your city with you. So that, for me, was just a special—a special part of it too.Lidija HiljeThank you so much, Jennie. But actually, you kind of were a part of that, because when I thought about the places where Ivona would take a seer to, you know, to see, I had our tour in my—you know, on my mind, because I was thinking, like, what would she show someone who's from another place? Like, where would she take him? And it wouldn't be the things I showed you. I mean, I showed you some of the big things that you have to see when you're here. But I took you to the places that are more intimate to me, like more personally important to me.Jennie NashYeah.Lidija HiljeAnd so this is—this is what's behind the scene where she shows him her school. And, you know, so, yeah… you know, real life.Jennie NashOh, that's amazing. That's amazing. Well, yeah, I did get to see where you went to school and where the law office was. And—and one of the things that's really stayed with me was we went to a bookstore and it… Um, and it—just knowing what your life in books has been, Lidija, and how you've studied them and how you've worked to become a writer of the caliber that you are. And that bookstore was so small, and it had mostly books in Croatian, and it was not anything like the kind of bookstore that one would think would spark a major literary career. And it… that just has stuck with me, because you—you made your own bookstore, right? You found your own literary community. You found your own career and way, and it's just been a joy to watch and to cheer you on. And thank you for coming and talking with us today.Lidija HiljeThank you so much for having me, and all the encouragement over the years. I'm really grateful for that as well.Jennie NashAll right, well, until next time, for our listeners—keep your butt in the chair and your head in the game. Jess LaheyThe Hashtag AmWriting podcast is produced by Andrew Perella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Brooke Berry, Head of Creator Development at Snapchat joins Sara Rosas, Director of Partnerships at Innovate Marketing Group to discuss how Snapchat is reshaping their creator culture! Tune in now!About the guest: Brooke began her career in 2012 working with writers, directors, and producers in Scripted Television at Creative Artist Agency (CAA). During her time at CAA, she worked her way up to become the assistant to a Scripted TV Literary Agent, where she learned how a show goes from conception to launch. She left CAA in 2014 to expand her experience and work at digital talent companies like Fullscreen, Big Frame, and AwesomenessTV. During her time at AwesomenessTV, Brooke worked on the Talent Partnerships team, helping bridge the gap between sales, content, distribution, and creators. She then leveraged her expertise in content strategy, marketing, and creators to become the first social media manager for VidCon, where she ran social media for the convention, shaped their editorial voice, and expanded their social reach. Now as the Head of Creator Development at Snapchat, Brooke's work with creators, celebrities, and talent has been integral in helping creators of all kinds find success in a highly competitive market, strengthening Snapchat's relationship with creators. Whether Brooke is educating creators on the platform, advising on content strategy or facilitating partnerships, she is a strategic advisor guiding creators along their journey on Snapchat.Follow Brooke on LinkedIn!EventUp is brought to you by Innovate Marketing Group. An award-winning Corporate Event and Experiential Marketing Agency based in Los Angeles, California. Creating Nationwide Immersive Event Experiences to help brands connect with people. To learn more, click here⁠⁠.At Innovate Marketing Group, we've curated a collection of free resources designed to help you elevate your events and marketing efforts. Whether you're planning a company retreat or navigating the latest event trends, our tools, reports, and checklists are here to support your success and keep you at the forefront of innovation. Click here to learn more!Follow us!Find us on ⁠⁠LinkedIn, ⁠⁠⁠⁠EventUp Podcast, and ⁠⁠Instagram

Michael Ovitz is the legendary co-founder of Creative Artists Agency, where he transformed Hollywood's talent business and built the most powerful force in entertainment. In his time at CAA, Michael shaped the trajectories of artists, filmmakers, and companies, including actors Tom Cruise, Kevin Costner, Bill Murray, Sylvester Stallone, and Barbra Streisand, filmmaker Steven Spielberg, author Michael Crichton, talk show host David Letterman, the Coca Cola Company, and many, many more. Michael transitioned from entertainment to investing thirty years ago, advising Marc Andreesen and Ben Horowitz on the creation of a16z, and most recently, partnering with Ali Hamed as Chairman of Treville Capital Group. Ali has twice been a past guest on the show, and those conversations are replayed in the feed. Our conversation begins with Michael's formative influences from his upbringing, early lessons that shaped his relentless drive, and origins of CAA. We cover his fascination with creativity, CAA's culture of empowerment, honesty, and momentum, and frameworks for building businesses, assessing talent, focusing on relationships, and learning from new industries. We then turn to Michael's recent work with Ali at Treville. We discuss the beginning of their partnership, the process of scaling, the building of momentum, and the systems that foster accountability, relentless follow-up, and refreshing of relationships. Michael closes with candid reflections on his mistakes and life lessons that continue to shape his remarkable path. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership

UNCW Director of Athletics Mike Oblinger stops by for his annual summer check-in just as college sports enters a new era thanks to the House Settlement and the seismic changes resulting from revenue sharing. Among the topics we covered: - Mike reflects on his second full academic year in Wilmington, with the Seahawks again hanging multiple banners while experiencing plenty of success beyond competition. - The Seahawk Club and fundraising is reaching new heights - Another offseason, another shift in NIL - Numerous facilities projects, both big and small - More progress for the women's basketball program - The men's basketball scheduling philosophy - Channeling the MBB momentum for athletics as a whole - The changing landscape of the CAA and the league's health as a whole

AD Insider, in collaboration with the NIAAA and Human Kinetics, is proud to present an exclusive interview with Jeremy Schlitz, CAA, Athletic Director for the Madison Metropolitan School District (WI).In this special feature, Schlitz shares insights from his chapter on "Communication" in the newly released NIAAA's Guide to Interscholastic Athletic Administration - 2nd Edition.----------------------------------------------------...Inside the BookNIAAA's Guide to Interscholastic Athletic Administration - 2nd EditionEbook - Click HerePaperback - Click HereThe National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) strives to preserve, enhance, and promote education-based athletics through the professional development of athletic administrators. The NIAAA's Guide to Interscholastic Athletic Administration, Second Edition, is the organization's primary text to further that mission.Designed for current and aspiring administrators, the text addresses the role and responsibilities of an administrator as well as the skills essential for managing an athletic program that provides quality sport opportunities for student-athletes. The second edition features many new contributors, all experienced professionals who bring fresh and diverse perspectives to the issues affecting today's administrators.Packed with advice, examples, and tools, this guide equips you to excel in the complex, demanding, and rewarding role of athletic administrator.Support the show

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)  have published their latest report into the standards of service provided to disabled travellers, and those with limited mobility, through UK airports. RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Anna Bowles, from the CAA, to find out the rankings and how they are scored. #RNIBConnect Image Shows RNIB Logo, White Background With RNIB in Bold Black Letters With A Solid Pink Line Below

On June 18, 2025, the Supreme Court released its decisions for two circuit splits arising under the Clean Air Act (CAA) provision regarding judicial venue: EPA v. Calumet Shreveport Refining, L.L.C. (23-1229), and Oklahoma v. EPA (23-1067). Decided 7-2 and 8-0, respectively, the outcome of these cases hinged on the Court's interpretation of the CAA's […]

CAA, Wasserman top first round NBA picks; New Balance plants its Flagg; NHL eyeing adding games to regular season and ESPN bullish on PLL

On this episode of The Bluebloods, Zach McKinnell is joined by Timothy Rosario from FCS Football Central on SI to discuss the projected over/under win totals for every team in the CAA ahead of the 2025 college football season. All this & more right here on The Bluebloods!

On June 18, 2025, the Supreme Court released its decisions for two circuit splits arising under the Clean Air Act (CAA) provision regarding judicial venue: EPA v. Calumet Shreveport Refining, L.L.C. (23-1229), and Oklahoma v. EPA (23-1067). Decided 7-2 and 8-0, respectively, the outcome of these cases hinged on the Court’s interpretation of the CAA’s unique venue provision, 42 U.S.C. § 7607(b)(1). The CAA states that challenges to “nationally applicable” actions may be filed only in the D.C. Circuit. 42 U.S.C. § 7607(b)(1). Conversely, challenges to CAA actions that are “locally or regionally applicable” may generally be filed only in the appropriate circuit court for the region. Id. But there is an exception: actions that are “based on a determination of nationwide scope or effect” must be filed in the D.C. Circuit “if in taking such action the Administrator finds and publishes that such action is based on such a determination.” Id.In Calumet, the Court ruled 7-2 that the “EPA’s denials of small refinery exemption petitions are locally or regionally applicable actions that fall within the “nationwide scope or effect” exception, requiring venue in the D.C. Circuit.” Similarly, in Oklahoma, the Court ruled 8-0 that “EPA’s disapprovals of the Oklahoma and Utah state implementation plans are locally or regionally applicable actions reviewable in a regional court of appeals.” Tune in as Jimmy Conde and Garrett Kral offer a breakdown of these decisions.Featuring:James Conde, Partner, Boyden Gray PLLCModerator: Garrett Kral, Administrative and Environmental Law Attorney--To register, click the link above.

During this mid summer break check-in I announce the launch of CAA Matters, the first comprehensive professional development and wellness curriculum designed specifically for the Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant profession. After years of development, I'm piloting the program with 4 NSU AA programs and expanding offerings to both AA programs and Pre-Anesthesiologist Assistant students.In this episode:Discovering almost no research or resources existed for CAA wellnessTeaching a pilot program to four NSU AA programs starting in JulyReceived over 100 applications for just three Pre-AA paid internship positionsEnrolling now for a special version of CAA Matters specifically for the Pre-AA communityIf you're an AA educator or program leader interested in bringing CAA Matters to your AA students, or if you're a Pre-AA student wanting to join the program, check the show notes for sign-up links or email awakenanesthetist@gmail.com for more information.Book a CAA Matters Discovery CallYou can now text me! Questions/SuggestionsSign up to learn how you can join the first Pre-AA cohort of CAA Matters and get a rare head start in AA school. Learn More+Check out my Pre-AA Highlight on IGStay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter- for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers. Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube! Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

On this episode of The Bluebloods, Zach McKinnell is joined by Timothy Rosario from FCS Football Central on SI to preview the CAA entering the 2025 college football season. In the first part of the official CAA preview, the two discuss the biggest storylines and dark horse teams in the conference. What Is The Future Of The CAA After More Losses During Conference Realignment This Offseason? Can Monmouth or Stony Brook Take The Next Step And Push For A Share Of The CAA Title? Who Are The Biggest Dark Horses In The CAA Entering Next Season? All this & more right here on The Bluebloods!

Today on Coast To Coast Hoops I talk to Ryan McIntyre of the Sports Gambling Podcast Network about the mid-major teams he sees value in and the landscape of the CAA, Missouri Valley Conference, Atlantic 10, & American Conference!Link To Greg's Spreadsheet of handicapped lines: https://vsin.com/college-basketball/greg-petersons-daily-college-basketball-lines/Greg's TikTok With Pickmas Pick Videos: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregpetersonsports?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Webb: ResiliencePlastic has become an omnipresent part of childhood, with most toys made from this enduring material. But what if there were a better way—something sustainable, durable, and just as fun? Webb Knudsen, CEO and founder of Playper, has created a solution. Playper produces planet-friendly, buildable toy sets made from an innovative material called “Playper board.” These toys not only spark children's imagination but are also designed to reduce plastic waste.Webb explained, “Playper is award-winning, planet-friendly, buildable playsets and storytelling card sets designed for imagination-inspiring pretend play.” He continued, “We make our toys out of a material called Playper board. It's durable, thick, and flexible… you can spill water, ketchup, whatever on it and wipe it right off.”Playper's toys are designed to endure even the roughest play while inspiring creativity. They feature a unique tongue-and-groove slotting system, creating a satisfying “click” when assembled. This system ensures that kids can build and rebuild their toys, offering hours of hands-on engagement.The company has already gained traction, with products available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Walmart.com, and in dozens of independent toy stores. Webb's mission to create sustainable toys has resonated with parents seeking alternatives to plastic. “There's a lot of demand for more sustainable toy options,” Webb said. “The majority… of all toys are made out of plastic. I really felt like there had to be a better way.”In addition to its environmental focus, Playper emphasizes education. Webb described how the toys' storytelling elements and social-emotional learning features set them apart. “They teach kids about their emotions,” he said. “That's a real big segment within toys.”Playper is also raising capital through WeFunder, allowing everyday people to invest in the company. “I wanted the average person to be able to invest in our business,” Webb explained. “It really is the type of business that resonates with normal everyday people.”By creating toys that prioritize sustainability and imagination, Webb and Playper are building a better future for kids and the planet.tl;dr:Playper creates durable, eco-friendly toys from paper to reduce plastic waste and inspire kids' creativity.The toys are available nationwide, including at Barnes & Noble, and emphasize storytelling and education.Webb Knudsen credits his success to resilience, adapting through challenges to refine Playper's products.Playper is raising capital via WeFunder, inviting everyday people to invest in its sustainable mission.Webb's leadership, team-building skills, and passion for innovation drive Playper's growth and impact.How to Develop Resilience As a SuperpowerWebb Knudsen identifies his resilience as a key superpower, enabling him to persevere through challenges. “When things don't go well, I get back up, brush myself off, and keep going,” he shared. Webb keeps two motivational reminders at his desk: an image of a frog refusing to be swallowed with the caption “never give up,” and a quote from tennis player Vitus Gerolitis, “Nobody beats Vitus Gerolitis 17 times in a row.” These keep him grounded, reminding him to stay persistent despite setbacks.Webb shared that Playper's journey has not been an overnight success. The company has faced numerous challenges, from refining its materials to pivoting product lines. Through trial and error, Webb and his team found the right formula for sustainable, buildable toys. Their persistence paid off, with Playper now sold nationwide at Barnes & Noble and in independent toy stores. Webb's ability to adapt and keep moving forward, even after setbacks, exemplifies his resilience.Tips for Developing Resilience:Focus on the Bigger Picture: Remind yourself of your mission and the purpose behind your work.Stay Motivated with Visual Cues: Use quotes or images that inspire perseverance to keep you grounded during tough times.Adapt and Pivot: Learn from failures and try new approaches until you find what works.Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge milestones, even small ones, to maintain momentum.Draw Inspiration from Loved Ones: Spend time with those who remind you of your “why,” like Webb does with his kids.By following Webb Knudsen's example and advice, you can make resilience a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileWebb Knudsen (he/him):CEO & Founder, PlayperAbout Playper: Playper is a forward-thinking toy brand that makes build-it-yourself storytelling playsets designed to spark imagination and parent-child bonding - with zero plastic waste. Our products use PlayperBoard®, a unique ultra-durable material that's kid-safe, toxin-free, and recyclable. Our “Buildable Storytelling” format is STEAM-accredited and built for brand expansion. We're backed by the former CEOs of Fisher Price, J. Crew, and Dell, and Chief Brand Officer of Mattel. We're led by former execs from Mattel, LEGO, Spin Master, and more.Website: playper.comX/Twitter Handle: @PlayperKidsCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/PlayperToysOther URL: wefunder.com/playperBiographical Information: Webb Knudsen is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with a deep track record in consumer brands.As Vice President at the private equity firm Partnership Capital Growth (PCG), Webb leads deal sourcing and investment strategy. PCG, an 18-year-old firm focused on health and wellness brands—from food & beverage to supplements and fitness—has made 35 investments and deployed over $500M across three funds and SPVs, achieving a 2x+ MOIC through 18 exits and six thriving portfolio companies.Webb is also Founder and Managing Partner of Knudsen Capital (KC), a bicoastal family office investing in early-stage, high-growth companies aiming to improve lives. Under his leadership, KC has backed about 40 consumer brands, with four acquisitions and standout returns including one company valued at 10x and another at 30x. The KC portfolio has realized a 3.3x MOIC across its investments.Before investing, Webb built a dynamic operating career across entertainment, tech, and media—holding leadership roles in sales, BD, and marketing at companies like Lucasfilm, Crisp, Aarki, and Millennial Reach. He began in film and media at Walden Media and CAA, and co-founded two startups before stepping in as CEO of Playper, a sustainable toy company for kids.Webb holds a dual degree in Sociology and Speech Communication from Pepperdine. He's a dad of four, Cub Scout Den Leader, dog lover, snowboarder, and music lover, and has lived in 4 countries and 20 cities.X/Twitter Handle: @WebbKnudsenPersonal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/webb.knudsenLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/webbknudsenInstagram Handle: @WebbKnudsenSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Kingscrowd, and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "How to Spin $1 of Advertising into $10!" He'll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you'll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don't miss it!Join us on June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern for the Superpowers for Good Live Pitch—streaming on e360tv, where purpose-driven founders take the virtual stage to present their active Regulation Crowdfunding campaigns to a national audience of investors and changemakers. Selected startups are chosen for their commitment to community, alignment with NC3's Community Capital Principles, and their drive to create real-world impact. Thanks to sponsors DNA and DealMaker, this event is free to watch and amplifies the voices of underrepresented and mission-aligned entrepreneurs. Don't miss this inspiring evening where capital meets purpose—tune in to discover and support the next wave of impact-driven innovation.SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.Join Dorian Dickinson, founder & CEO of FundingHope, for Startup.com's monthly crowdfunding workshop, where he'll dive into strategies for successfully raising capital through investment crowdfunding. June 24 at noon Eastern.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

if you have any feedback, please send us a text! Thank you!In this episode of the CSA Vital Times podcast, host Dr. Ludwig Lin explores the role of Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs). He speaks with anesthesiologists who have experience working alongside CAAs and navigating the legislative efforts to establish a CAA system in clinical practice. The episode also features a CAA who is a leader in education and practice management. This introductory conversation aims to familiarize California listeners with the CAA model, share key insights, and spark interest in this emerging aspect of anesthesiology care. 

Looking for walkable charm, great schools, and Silicon Valley convenience — all in one neighborhood?Welcome to Sunnyvale's Heritage District — a rare blend of historic character, downtown energy, and family-friendly living, right in the heart of the Bay Area.In this series, we spotlight the best neighborhoods across the Bay — so you can explore what it's really like to live like a local. Whether you're relocating, investing, or just dreaming about your next move, this is the place to start.

This week's THINK TANK guest is Kristy Belden, CAA - the Associate AD for Bishop Moore Catholic in Orlando. Kristy does a great job at her school and she's shares a little bit about her experience as a THINK TANK Member and why YOU should join her! It's FREE and by the way, you also get Paid! This is The Educational AD Podcast!

We're back in Texas and this time we're visiting with the very successful AD on Episcopal HS in Houston, Mr. Jason Grove. Jason is a CAA and today he shares his athletic journey along with some Best Practices on The Educational AD Podcast!

In this week's Akem's Analysis, Samuel Akem will be examining the Big Sky Conference and discussing where he see the teams ranked in the preseason. We will also examine whether QB proficiency makes a difference in a team's success. The data shows that it may not be as important as some think. Villanova is following the trend of teams leaving the CAA and joining the Patriot League. What does this mean for the CAA going forward? We will also be talking about the NCAA v. House Settlement being approved and all the changes that are coming along with it. There is a new governance model and NIL Go clearinghouse platform.0:00 - Intro 3:41 - My Initial Big Sky 2025 Preseason Poll 12:59 - Is QB Proficiency As Important To FCS Success As We Think? 23:18 - HERO Sports Preseason Top-25 Poll 29:02 - Villanova Leaving The CAA 36:16 - The NCAA v. House Settlement Has Officially Been Approved 55:48 - EA Sports College Football 26 Will Pay Schools For Team Usage 57:40 - ChatGPT Jokes of The Week 1:00:10 - Final Thoughts 1:02:31 - End

Thibs gone Its the players fault KAT and Brunson numbers Haliburton is the best PG in the game Knicks coaching history Knicks still a CAA hotbed   For all pod and video content hit up -> WWW.THEESAMD.COM   Follow: Twitter https://twitter.com/TheeSamD Pod Twitter https://twitter.com/TheeSamDPodcast Subscribe -> YouTube   Never Forget: #phillywillALWAYSletYOUdown #blackvoicesmatter

Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to novelist  Matthew Specktor, whose new book, The Golden Hour: A Story of Family and Power in Hollywood, is out now and getting rave reviews. Matthew spoke to us about growing up behind the scenes in Hollywood as the son of an icon of the film industry, Fred Specktor, a super-agent of A-list Hollywood talent who is still going strong at 92 years old. With a roster of clients that included everyone from Robert DeNiro, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Danny Devito and many, many more, Matthew was brought up in and around the film business and had a firsthand look. Part memoir, part biography, part cultural history & part fiction, The Golden Hour has been priases in outlets such as NPR, the New York Times, the Kirkus Review, the LA Times and many more for it's unique look into Hollywood and the battle between art vs. commerce and much more. As this is his third book based on his take on Hollywood, Matthew is getting name-checked alongside iconic LA based, Hollywood centric authors such as Joan Didion and William Goldman and getting praise from authors like Jonathan Lethem and Griffin Dunne. High praise indeed. We get into that as well as how Matthew formed the book and the basis of his exploration into his family and the city formed him, shortly. Matthew's behind-the-scenes stories of how Hollywood was created in the second half of the twentieth century at Tinseltown institutions like MCA, William Morris and CAA beginning in the 1950s and where we are today, 70 years later a a large part of this episode. But we also hear personal stories about pranks the pre-rat pack played on him and his best friend Renee Estevez (daughter of Martin Sheen) in high school, what LA restaurants his family ate on special occasions, the cars and vanity plates of super agents in the City of Angelss and the movie theaters and books that shaped his youth on the Westside of Los Angeles. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast and if you've never had David Lynch tell you, you were more an artist than a deal maker at 13, take a listen because Matthew Specktor has. Everyone has a story.

For the fifth time in program post-season history Mississippi State starts NCAA Tournament play in the Tallahassee Regional. The previous four trips have produced championships in 2007 and 2018, with both clubs advancing ultimately to the College World Series. The Diamond Dogs face runaway CAA champs Northeastern, while #9 national seed Florida State faces Bethune-Cookman. The regional is paired with the Corvallis tournament and #8 seed Oregon State.

Episode 510 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features James Andrew Miller, the best-selling author of many books including on CAA, ESPN, Saturday Night Live, and HBO. In this podcast, Miller discusses the end of Around The Horn after a 23 year run and nearly 5,000 episodes; why the show was successful for so long; the show's true success as an incubator of young sports TV talent; praise for Tony Reali for being ego free as an on-air talent; whether Horn deserves criticism for being part of a sports TV culture of quick sports takes and thereby devaluing larger sports discourse; why ESPN would end a show that still draws more than 300,000 annually; the future of Pardon The Interruption from Jim's perspective and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2024-25 CAA Coach of the Year, Pat Skerry, joins this week's episode of ​⁠. When Pat Skerry was hired at ​⁠ in 2011, the program had 15 straight losing seasons. Now, Skerry has led the basketball team to four straight 20+ win seasons. The 2024-25 season was special for the Towson men's basketball team. On top of having the coach of the year, Towson won the CAA regular season championship for the second time in four years. Tyler Tejada was also named the CAA Player of the Year. Skerry has been a longtime coach including stops at Pittsburgh, Providence, Rhode Island, Charleston, and current league competitors William & Mary and Northeastern. Skerry also was a top Division 3 player playing for Tufts University. Hear about Towson's 2025-26 roster, what has went into Towson's recent success, and some of his thoughts regarding the NCAA basketball landscape. This episode is available wherever you listen to your podcasts. Make sure to subscribe to the podcasts YouTube channel ​⁠ for more sports content. Enjoy the episode!Sneak Peak- 00:00-00:37NBA Playoffs Round 2 Discussion- 00:37-06:38Intro- 06:38-14:38Offseason Workouts, NABC Basketball Clinics, Learning from Other Coaches- 14:38-18:19Transfer Portal Philosophy, Paying Players- 18:19-22:16Towson MBB 2024-25 Year, 2025-26 Roster, Gauging Success- 22:16-28:48Recruiting in the DMV, What Separates Towson from DMV Schools- 28:48-32:27Critiquing the NET/NCAA Basketball Committee- 32:27-35:39Coming into a Program with 15 Straight Losing Seasons, Coaching Nick Timberlake, Player Development- 35:39-42:47Playing Style Impact on Coaching Career, NESCAC History, Getting Stamped in D1- 42:47-47:49Break- 47:49-47:59Coaching Tyler Tejada, Getting Tyler & Dylan Williamson to Return to Towson, Getting Players to the Next Level- 47:49-56:52Advice to Coaches Trying to Maintain Success, Coaches Partnering Forward Program- 56:52-01:03:24Rapid Fire (Best Jerseys in CBB, Favorite CAA Arena, Statement for Mid Major Basketball)- 01:03:24-01:05:09Starting 5: Hardest Working Players- 01:05:09-01:07:14Outro- 01:07:14-01:07:51

"Everyone tells me I'm terrifying." The powerhouse agent talks about being a woman in a male-dominated world and growing the careers of artists like David Guetta, Marlon Hoffstadt and more. What does it take to become a powerhouse agent in the male-dominated electronic music industry? No one can answer this question better than Maria May, a name that might be familiar to anyone who's had a brush with big-ticket dance music over the past 30 years. May is a longtime agent at CAA, or Creative Artists Agency, one of the largest booking agencies in the world. She was first hired a little over a decade ago to expand its representation of electronic music, back when the company saw that DJs were primed to become the new rockstars. She now looks after major acts like David Guetta, Paul Kalkbrenner, Marlon Hoffstadt and Sara Landry. But she isn't just a fierce businesswoman. She's also a tireless advocate for equity and inclusion in club culture. In this conversation recorded live at the International Music Summit in Ibiza, she talks about the obstacles she's faced over the course of her career as she's actively rebuilt the rooms in which major decisions are made. She was first inspired by her involvement in Britain's illegal rave scene, she recalls, which turned her onto the power of activism and showed her how on-the-ground organising can lead to real-life policy change. She also addresses the negative narrative taking hold of the music industry and the opportunities at hand to make positive, collective change. Listen to the episode in full. -Chloe Lula

My guest today is Michael Ovitz. Michael is the legendary talent agent and Co-Founder of CAA or Creative Artists Agency and he is joining me on Invest Like the Best for a second time. Michael started CAA in 1975 and over the next 20 years, he built it into the world's most formidable talent agency, changing Hollywood forever. He shares insights into how he identifies exceptional people across diverse fields - from Hollywood directors like Steven Spielberg to tech founders like Alex Karp of Palantir and venture capitalists like Marc Andreessen. Michael is a force whose expertise extends beyond just people, as he has also become a master in creating institutional momentum, which you'll hear in his involvement with the MoMA, Gulfstream, and more. We discuss his "pilot's checklist" for evaluating talent, the importance of time as his most valuable resource, and why he believes maintaining excellence is critical in any field. Please enjoy my conversation with Michael Ovitz. Subscribe to Colossus Review. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ramp. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Ramp is the fastest-growing FinTech company in history, and it's backed by more of my favorite past guests (at least 16 of them!) than probably any other company I'm aware of. Go to Ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. – This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. I think this platform will become the standard for investment managers, and if you run an investing firm, I highly recommend you find time to speak with them. Head to ridgelineapps.com to learn more about the platform. –  This episode is brought to you by AlphaSense. AlphaSense has completely transformed the research process with cutting-edge AI technology and a vast collection of top-tier, reliable business content. Imagine completing your research five to ten times faster with search that delivers the most relevant results, helping you make high-conviction decisions with confidence. Invest Like the Best listeners can get a free trial now at Alpha-Sense.com/Invest and experience firsthand how AlphaSense and Tegus help you make smarter decisions faster. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes: (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best (00:06:56) Spotting Talent and Building Institutions (00:08:01) The MoMA Story: Transforming an Art Institution (00:19:35) The Importance of Relationships and Time (00:24:32) Building Successful Boards and Teams (00:34:02) Insights on Leadership and Momentum (00:44:49) Building Blackstone and CAA (00:56:32) The Power of Momentum (00:57:25) Overcoming Fear of Failure (01:01:52) Strategic Partnerships and Global Influence (01:17:32) The Importance of Excellence (01:18:22) Mentorship and Legacy (01:34:00) The Future of Media and Technology (01:41:36) Pursuit of Happiness and Lifelong Learning