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Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticJoin The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0KThe latest Segment of Notorious Mass Effect has Analytic Dreamz analyzing Harry Styles' triumphant return with his fourth solo album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally., which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 dated March 21, 2026, earning 430,000 equivalent album units in its first week (ending March 12).Analytic Dreamz details the massive performance: 291,000 pure sales (including a record-breaking 186,000 vinyl copies—the highest weekly vinyl sales for a male artist in the modern era, surpassing his own Harry's House mark of 182,000), 138,500 streaming equivalent albums from 140.31 million on-demand streams across its 12 tracks, and minimal track equivalents. This marks the biggest album week in five months, the largest by a solo male since Morgan Wallen's I'm the Problem (493,000 in May 2025), and Styles' fourth consecutive No. 1 debut—joining him with Alicia Keys as the only solo artists (male or female) to achieve four straight No. 1 bows from debut albums.The album, released March 6, 2026, via Erskine/Columbia and executive produced by Kid Harpoon, draws from post-tour life inspirations with funky basslines and dance-floor energy. Lead single “Aperture” debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100—Styles' third career leader—and topped Streaming Songs while hitting Top 10 on Pop and Adult Pop Airplay.In the UK, it debuted at No. 1 with 183,000 units (career-best opening, surpassing Harry's House's 113,000), including 66,000 vinyl sales—the largest physical release of 2026 there. Singles “American Girls” hit No. 1, with “Aperture” at No. 4 and “Ready, Steady, Go!” at No. 5.The rollout featured multiple physical variants (7 vinyls, 6 CDs, cassettes, deluxe boxed sets with merch) to drive sales, plus a 20,000-fan Manchester concert filmed for Netflix.Analytic Dreamz breaks down the Top 10 Billboard 200 that week, including holdovers from Bruno Mars, Morgan Wallen, Bad Bunny, and more, underscoring Styles' dominance in pop.Tune in for an in-depth look at how Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. cements Harry Styles' chart legacy and sets the bar for 2026 pop releases.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/exclusive-contentPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
St. Patrick's Day is here… and so is the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. This is our second and final St. Patrick's Day special, and we are going out with a bang. The Irish Rovers, The High Kings, Socks in the Frying Pan, and nearly twenty more artists are on tap. Pour something green. Turn it up. Let's celebrate Patrick's Day on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #751 - - Subscribe now at CelticMusicPodcast.com! May Will Bloom, The McDades, Possibly Irish, Sean Heely and Beth Patterson, The Langer's Ball, Boxing Robin, Almost Seamus, The High Kings, FIRELIGHTX3, The Irish Rovers, Sue Tillotson & Jim Cunningham, The Druids Irish Folk Band, Poitin, Whiskey Bay Rovers, Alex Sturbaum, CaliCeltic, Socks in the Frying Pan, The Leftovers, Jiggy, Celtic Cross GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Enjoy seven weekly news items with what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Subscribe now and get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 FOR 2026 This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create this year's Best Celtic music episode. You have just three weeks to vote this year. Vote Now! You can follow our playlist on YouTube to listen to those top voted tracks as they are added every 2 - 3 weeks.c G THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC 0:13 - May Will Bloom "I'll Tell Me Ma" from I'll Tell My Ma 2:32 - WELCOME 5:22 - The McDades "Telegraph Reel/The Silver Platter" from Telegraph Reel/The Three Sisters 9:17 - Possibly Irish "Drunken Sailor" from Voyage Home 12:08 - Sean Heely and Beth Patterson "The Banks/Madame Neruda" from Stir the Blood to Fire 15:30 - The Langer's Ball "Whiskey in the Jar" from The Singles Collection 2023 - 2024 18:22 - Boxing Robin "Aires de Pontevedra, Dans Loudieg" from The View From Here 22:17 - Almost Seamus "Black Velvet Band" from Almost Seamus 26:39 - FEEDBACK 31:05 - The High Kings "The Irish Roar Instrumental" from single 34:09 - FIRELIGHTX3 "The Fairies Song" from The Fairies Song - Single 38:00 - The Irish Rovers "The Barley Mow" from Drunken Sailor 40:32 - Sue Tillotson & Jim Cunningham "Maine - Ly Magic (feat. The Bonnie Loch Fiddlers)" from Water Horse 43:10 - The Druids Irish Folk Band "Starry Plough" from The Starry Plough 46:30 - Poitin "Tuesday from 6 p.m." from Simple Pleasures 49:17 - Whiskey Bay Rovers "Roll Down" from Taverns and Tides 52:34 - THANKS 54:40 - Alex Sturbaum "Hollow Poplar" from Windjammer 58:45 - CaliCeltic "The Humours of Whiskey - Stick to the Craytur - Paddy's Panacea" from West of Shannon 1:03:17 - Socks in the Frying Pan "Beetlejig Beetlejig Beetlejig!" from Waiting for Inspiration 1:06:49 - The Leftovers "Wexford Town" from Heart of Buffalo 1:10:18 - Jiggy "Fonn" from single 1:14:31 - CLOSING 1:15:32 - Celtic Cross "Slán go Fóill (Goodbye for Now)" from single 1:19:15 - CREDITS Support for this program comes from Hank Woodward. Support for this program comes from Dr. Annie Lorkowski of Centennial Animal Hospital in Corona, California. Support for this program comes from John Sharkey White, II. Support for this program comes from International speaker, Joseph Dumond, teaching the ancient roots of the Gaelic people. Learn more about their origins at Sightedmoon.com Support for this program comes from Cascadia Cross Border Law Group, Creating Transparent Borders for more than twenty five years, serving Alaska and the world. Find out more at www.CascadiaLawAlaska.com The Executive Producer for St Patrick's Month is John Sharkey White, II. The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather and our Patrons on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Visit our website to follow the show. You'll find links to all of the artists played in this episode. Todd Wiley is the editor of the Celtic Music Magazine. Subscribe to get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. Plus, you'll get 7 weekly news items about what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Best of all, you will connect with your Celtic heritage. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Finally, remember. Clean energy isn't just good for the planet, it's good for your wallet. Solar and wind are now the cheapest power sources in history. Real change starts when we stop allowing the ultra - rich to write our energy policy and run our government. Let's choose affordable, renewable power. Clean energy means lower costs, more freedom, and a planet that can actually breathe. Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/. WELCOME TO THE IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic musician and host of Pub Songs & Stories, where every song has a story and every episode is a toast to Celtic and folk songwriters. And what a week it has been. This past Sunday, March 8, we wrapped up the very first Irish & Celtic Music PodFest and Arts Market — and it was a fantastic afternoon. Big thanks to Kinnfolk, The Muckers, and May Will Bloom for bringing the music. Huge thanks to The Lost Druid Brewery for hosting us. Thanks to all the incredible vendors who showed up despite the threat of rain — and the eventual downfall of it. And thank you to everyone who braved the weather to celebrate Irish and Celtic music with us. You are all amazing. A very special thank you to Matt for his absolutely brilliant work behind the scenes. This event wouldn't have happened without him. And thank you to Maia for helping out at the table. If you want more Celtic music in Atlanta, there's a great Irish session up in Sandy Springs. I also play around Atlanta throughout the year. And mark your calendars — Irish Fest Atlanta is every November, and Stone Mountain Highland Games every October. Now it is St. Patrick's Day week. This is our second, and final, St. Patrick's Day special. So let's make it count. This podcast is for fans of all kinds of Celtic music. We're here to build a diverse Celtic community and support the incredible artists who so generously share their music with you. If you hear something you love today, email the artist and tell them you heard them here. These are not corporate acts. They are small indie musicians who rely on people like you to keep creating. Please show your generosity. Buy a CD, Album Pin, shirt, digital download, or join their community on Patreon. You can find links to all of today's artists in the shownotes, along with show times, at celticmusicpodcast.com. You can also subscribe and follow the show there, so you never miss an episode. We'd love to have you with us every week. Oh! And if you weren't able to pick up an album pin from The Muckers, Kinfolk and May Will Bloom. Visit their websites so you can buy one. There were still some limited - edition pins available. THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST! You show up. Week after week, you show up. And because of that, so does this podcast. Your support carries this show through every season. The quiet weeks and the chaotic ones. The technical headaches and the moments when everything just clicks. You make it possible to keep Celtic music alive and moving in the world. Music and art won't solve everything. But they matter. They connect us. And your generosity keeps that connection going, funding new episodes, the Celtic Music Magazine, the graphics, and our long - suffering engineer who makes me sound like I know what I'm doing. This is the second, and final, St. Patrick's Day special of 2026. It wouldn't have happened without you. None of this would have. In return for your generosity, you get early access to episodes, music - only editions, free MP3s, exclusive stories and interviews, and your voice in the Celtic Top 20, helping crown the best Celtic bands and songs of the year. So from the bottom of my Celtic heart. Thank you. Slàinte! A special thanks to our new and continued Patrons of the Podcast: Moose, James Anderson, Isobel McMahon, Stanton Lawrence, Chris Connell, cahwyguy HERE IS YOUR THREE STEP PLAN TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST Go to our Patreon page. Decide how much you want to pledge every month, $4, $12, $25. Keep listening to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast to celebrate Celtic culture through music. You can become a generous Patron of the Podcast on Patreon at SongHenge.com. TRAVEL WITH CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We don't see everything. Instead, we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos. Learn more about the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/ #celticmusic #irishmusic #celticmusicpodcast I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK What are you doing today while listening to the podcast? Send me a photo from your St Patrick's Day celebrations or any new audio recordings you got for the holiday. Email me at follow@bestcelticmusic. Edward Wojtan emailed for show #748: "Great response on the podcast. Thanks for reading it in public to help people understand your position. As someone more literate than I once said, "The love of money is the root of all evil." Keep it up. REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT PODCAST! The Celts can write some great rebel songs. cheers," Mike S emailed a photo: "HI Marc, Catching up on the podcast as I shovel out from the snow storm here in Northern Virginia Also getting my sound plans together for our winter concert series at the Old Brogue in Great Fall VA. First up will be Sean Healy and KEvin Elam. We've got six great concerts coming up so really looking forward to that. Wish you the best with the Irish & Celtic Music PodFest. Sounds like it will be a great event! Cheers! John Sharkey White, II sent a message on Patreon to a news article, titled "Is Digital Dead? The rise of physical media in Gen Z". He wrote "Physical media isn't dead yet! Encourage people to actively search out CDs from their favorite bands." You can read the article on our website.
This week, on the show, I thought I'd explore a little more about how the Thirteenth Hour sequel is going, especially in one small area. Logan and Aurora, the main characters from the original Thirteenth Hour are last seen on a small island off the coast of the mainland. (I talked a little about the island in episode 522.) They learn to be pretty self sufficient there, but I also imagined that they exchanged ideas, customs, clothes, food, and other parts of life with some other groups of people nearby - the half elf community located on the other side of the island and the town of Ravenvale, which has a number of shops, a market where they occasional sell food they have harvested and things they've made as well as pick up supplies, and an inn where they sometimes splurge for a weekend getaway.I have often thought that in their youth, growing up in the Aquarian orphanage, they would have eaten a lot of soup, since that is cheap and can be easily made. But I also imagined that in the forested region they lived in, which was intended to be temperate in nature, would have been too cold for crops like rice but okay for grains grown on some of the farms nearby. The main export of Aquaria would have been lumber, paper, fur pelts, and crops like wheat and other grains which were often sold raw or manufactured into dry goods like noodles. I imagined locals would have found all sorts of ways to consume said noodles, so recently, when I was cooking dinner, I wondered if stir fried noodles (lao mien / chow mien - a staple at most American Chinese restaurants) could have also been something they ate. I don't see why not. Stir frying over an open fire or a large fire in the hearth would totally be possible, and it's basically what every Chinese restaurant does. Frankly, it'd be a lot safer and less messy outside or in a space with good ventilation, like in a fireplace, as it tends to produce a fair amount of smoke sometimes and oil get over everything. That said, once you have your ingredients cut up, it takes mere minutes to sear everything before you have a meal. Things do need to be cut up in little pieces so it's possible to cook them quickly but again, totally doable. The only part that would be challenging would be obtaining the noodles as well as some oil so doesn't all stick to the pan. These things I figured Logan and Aurora could trade for in Ravenvale. I also imagined them strolling through the market, sampling some of the street foods there, watching them be prepared right there in the open, and then taking those techniques with them back home to their island to test out.Pictures: https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2026/03/16/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-553-thirteenth-hour-sequel-update-4-worldbuilding-the-food/∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞Once Upon a Dream, the second Thirteenth Hour soundtrack, is now out in digital form! It is out on most major streaming services such as Bandcamp, Spotify, and YouTube Music. (If you have no preference, I recommend Bandcamp since there is a bonus track there and you will eventually be able to find tapes, CDs, and special editions of the album there as well.)-Check out the pixelart music videos that are out so far from the album:-->Logan's Sunrise Workout: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7SM1RgsLiM-->Forward: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9VgILr1TDc-->Nightsky Stargazing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S0p3jKRTBo-->Aurora's Rainy Day Mix: https://youtu.be/zwqPmypBysk
Join this channel to get access to perks such as Weekly Zoom Calls & Private Discord!! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4BqTVQA1pCwe9QaEPwD3MQ/join Free 30 Day Trial to Go2Lister https://www.go2lister.com/mike Have restricted Books, CDs or DVDs? Get a 50/50 profit split with Max! More information can be found here! https://www.getmaxxaccess.com/ I help teach people how to make money selling books on Amazon, leveraging the platform's vast reach and the profitability of reselling used books. How to sell books on Amazon? Selling books on Amazon can be an excellent side hustle or a full-time endeavor, particularly if you enjoy thrifting through places like Goodwill for hidden treasures. How to start selling on Amazon is accessible, and with my guidance on how to sell books, DVDs, CDs, and other media, beginners can quickly learn the ropes. Utilizing Amazon FBA streamlines operations, allowing sellers to focus more on sourcing and less on logistics. As a reselling coach, I provide tutorials and guidance on navigating challenges like ungating and optimizing listings for maximum visibility and sales. Whether you're looking for a part-time side hustle or aiming to become a full-time reseller, I will teach you the ins and outs of thrifting books and selling books online and can pave the way to creating passive income streams and achieving business growth.
Michele Blood was a successful songwriter and rock singer in Australia and, after a near-fatal car accident, while in the hospital with many serious injuries, she created positive Affirmation Songs that not only healed her body but also took her to worldwide success. These Affirmation Songs affect the left and right hemispheres of the brain--lyrics, the left hemisphere, and melody and music, the right hemisphere, so the new, positive messages go straight to the subconscious mind. This is why millions of people worldwide have downloaded her Affirmation Power Songs. These songs cover healing, success, money, joy and confidence, and they uplift the person immediately.In addition to creating Magnet To Success™ products and seminars worldwide, her public Mystical Success Events have been held in over 26 countries. Michele has co-written and created over 80 books, music CDs, audio programs, TV shows and videos on positive thought, mind transformation, and meditation. Her latest work is The World's First Manifestation Video Book – Michele's new video book, "Manifestation Through The Power Of Mysticism." She maintains that this works faster and more effectively than any other method to create success and wellness. Her powerful apps are The Magnet To Money App, www.MagnetToMoneyApp.com, and The Manifestation Video Book App, www.ManifestationVideoBook.com. Today, Michele's work continues through her newest creation -- the True Prayer App -- designed to bring daily spiritual awakening, healing and peace to people everywhere. Jack Canfield, Author of "Chicken Soup For The Soul," says, "Michele Blood's energy is incredible. She is a walking billboard for what she teaches, a high-vibration being. I thank her for the work she is doing in the world. I love it, and she's right about the two hemispheres of the brain working together through her Affirmation Power Music Songs. Everything moving in harmony. Beautiful." After many years of meditation, Michele's Kundalini awakened and transformed her consciousness. Michele now teaches others how to live a Successful Life and experience Divine Oneness. Her Mystical Experience webinars and live streams have assisted people globally to transform their lives to the positive. Through her Teachings and Light Transmissions, people awaken and experience what they say is the impossible. They awaken to their true purpose and begin their path to Enlightenment. She has shared the stage and worked with Bob Proctor, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Jack Canfield and many other transformational Authors and Teachers. Her latest book is The Magic Of Affirmation Power and her latest album is Create Miracles: Positive Affirmation Songs To Harmonize your Mind and Life. And her Magnet To Money App uplifts millions worldwide.She offers our audience the following free gifts:The “Stop Thought” audio program and her positive affirmation music album, “Songs for Success.”You can download the free gifts by going to:https://www.MicheleBlood.com/YourBestVersionTo learn more and follow Michele:https://www.TheMysticalExperience.comhttps://www.YouTube.com/MicheleBloodhttps://www.Instagram.com/TheMysticalExperiencehttps://www.Facebook.com/TheMysticalExperience
In this episode of Disrupting Divorce, Rhonda sits down with Brett Ward, a nationally recognized family law attorney and litigation leader at Blank Rome, to unpack a topic that many people have never heard of: alienation of affection. But this conversation goes far beyond one legal concept. Together, Rhonda and Brett explore when mediation works, when it does not, and why so many people find themselves stuck in divorce processes that are not actually serving them. They talk candidly about power imbalances, lack of financial transparency, the importance of legal strategy, and what clients should be looking for in the professionals guiding them through divorce. They also dive into how social media is shaping modern family law cases and why public humiliation can intensify already painful situations. This is a grounded, insightful conversation for anyone navigating divorce and trying to understand their options more clearly. In This Episode, We Cover: What "alienation of affection" means and why it still exists in a small number of states The difference between mediation and litigation — and when mediation may not be the right fit Why power imbalances matter in divorce negotiations The warning signs that mediation may actually be putting someone at a disadvantage The role of trust, communication, and financial transparency in choosing the right divorce path How social media can impact family law cases Why clients need to be active participants in their divorce process The importance of building the right support team, including legal, financial, and emotional support Key Takeaways: One of the strongest themes in this conversation is that not every divorce belongs in mediation. While alternative dispute resolution can be valuable, Rhonda and Brett both emphasize that it can become harmful when there is: a history of control or intimidation poor communication lack of transparency hidden assets fear-based decision-making unresolved abuse dynamics Brett shares that mediation requires a certain level of trust and balance. Without that, the process can simply repeat the same unhealthy power dynamic from the marriage. Another powerful takeaway is the reminder that divorce should not just happen to you — it should happen with you. Clients deserve strategy. They deserve advocacy. And they deserve professionals who will communicate clearly and involve them in the process.
Seven hundred and fifty episodes. One massive St. Patrick's Day party. This week the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast brings you over 90 minutes of Celtic music handpicked for the season. From traditional sessions to indie originals, the craic is mighty. It's St Patrick's Day on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #750 - - Subscribe now at CelticMusicPodcast.com! Lane to the Glen, The Byrne Brothers, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Aisling Drost Byrne, Brendan McCarthy & Conal O'Kane, Tony Christie & Ranagri, Countercurrent, Ed Miller, Tartanic, Shannon Heaton, Brad Tuck, Liesel Wilson, Socks in the Frying Pan, Irish Millie, The Drowsy Lads, Liz Carroll, SeaStar, We Banjo 3, The Haar, Release the Craicen, Julien LOko Irish Band, Wild Colonial Bhoys, Will Macmorran, Wolf Loescher GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Enjoy seven weekly news items with what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Subscribe now and get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 FOR 2026 This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create this year's Best Celtic music episode. You have just three weeks to vote this year. Vote Now! You can follow our playlist on YouTube to listen to those top voted tracks as they are added every 2 - 3 weeks. THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC 0:12 - Lane to the Glen "The Sailor's Farewell : The Sweat House : The Steampacket (Reels)" from Lane to the Glen 3:23 - WELCOME 5:12 - The Byrne Brothers "Poppy Leaf Hornpipe (feat. Colin Farrell) [Traditional], Stevie the 3 Legged Alligator, Banna Swing Reels [Colin Farrell/Byrne Brothers]" from Living the Dream 9:17 - Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh "An Chiúrach Bhléinfhionn" from Ar Uair Bhig An Lae - The Small Hours 13:25 - Aisling Drost Byrne, Brendan McCarthy & Conal O'Kane "Widow Well Married / For the Love of Music / Paddy Hiudaí's" from JUMP OUT OF IT 16:56 - Tony Christie & Ranagri "Whiskey You're the Devil" from The Great Irish Songbook Volume ll 19:53 - Countercurrent "Sweet Potato Ghost" from Flow 22:48 - Ed Miller "The Jeely Pice Song" from Live At The Cactus Cafe 26:18 - Tartanic "Maggie's Tale" from Unleashed 27:38 - FEEDBACK 32:56 - Shannon Heaton "Sweetest Blooms Suite" from Perfect Maze 38:41 - Brad Tuck "The Ploughboy (The Fox Hunt)" from On These Waters 41:30 - Liesel Wilson "Inverness Gathering / Bog an Lochan / The Nine Pint Coggie / Lexie MacAskill" from The Path 46:18 - Socks in the Frying Pan "When I'm Gone" from Return of the Giant Sock Monsters from Outer Space 50:35 - Irish Millie "Slip Reels" from GRACE 53:52 - The Drowsy Lads "Angel Band (Remastered)" from Time Flies 59:23 - Liz Carroll "Spinning Out of the Turn | Tom and Martin" from Lake Effect 1:02:20 - SeaStar "The Quiet in Repose" from The Treekeeper Awakens - RPM 2026 1:06:27 - THANKS 1:10:59 - We Banjo 3 "Island Orchard" from String Theory 1:15:01 - The Haar "Star of the County Down" from The Lost Day 1:18:54 - Release the Craicen "The Fause King on the Road" from Live! Songs on a Boat 1:22:38 - Julien LOko Irish Band "Cooley's Reel" from Storms 1:24:53 - Wild Colonial Bhoys "Merry Ploughboy" from Century 1:28:37 - Will Macmorran "Ejs" from Glen Echo 1:31:23 - CLOSING 1:32:45 - Wolf Loescher "At Home with the Exiles" from Immigrant Songs 1:37:33 - CREDITS Support for this program comes from Cascadia Cross Border Law Group, Creating Transparent Borders for more than twenty five years, serving Alaska and the world. Find out more at www.CascadiaLawAlaska.com Support for this program comes from Hank Woodward. Support for this program comes from Dr. Annie Lorkowski of Centennial Animal Hospital in Corona, California. Support for this program comes from John Sharkey White, II. Support for this program comes from International speaker, Joseph Dumond, teaching the ancient roots of the Gaelic people. Learn more about their origins at Sightedmoon.com The Executive Producer for St Patrick's Month is John Sharkey White, II. The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather and our Patrons on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Visit our website to follow the show. You'll find links to all of the artists played in this episode. Todd Wiley is the editor of the Celtic Music Magazine. Subscribe to get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. Plus, you'll get 7 weekly news items about what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Best of all, you will connect with your Celtic heritage. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Finally, remember. Clean energy isn't just good for the planet, it's good for your wallet. Solar and wind are now the cheapest power sources in history. Real change starts when we stop allowing the ultra - rich to write our energy policy and run our government. Let's choose affordable, renewable power. Clean energy means lower costs, more freedom, and a planet that can actually breathe. Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/. WELCOME THE IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST * Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic musician and also host of Pub Songs & Stories. Every song has a story, every episode is a toast to Celtic and folk songwriters. Discover the stories behind the songs from the heart of the Celtic pub scene. This podcast is for fans of all kinds of Celtic music. We are here to build a diverse Celtic community and help the incredible artists who so generously share their music with you. If you hear music you love, please email the artists to let them know you heard them on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. These musicians are not part of some corporation. They are small indie groups that rely on people just like you to support their music so they can keep creating it. Please show your generosity. Buy a CD, Album Pin, Shirt, Digital Download, or join their community on Patreon. You can find a link to all of the artists in the shownotes, along with show times, when you visit our website at celticmusicpodcast.com. Email follow@bestcelticmusic to learn how to subscribe to the podcast and you will get a free music - only episode. ALBUM PINS ARE CHANGING THE WAY WE HEAR CELTIC MUSIC I got an email from Discmakers, my CD manufacturer, saying they were forced to raise their prices because of tariffs by our president. This is a tax on Americans. So if you love CDs, remember that the prices will go up. So please support those higher priced CDs. But there is an option for those who don't want to buy CDs and for those who want a better alternative for the environment. It's the Album Pin. Album Pins are lapel pins themed to a particular album. You get a digital download of the album. Then you can wear your album. All of my latest Album Pins are wood - burned and locally produced. This makes them better for the environment. And they are fun and fashionable. If you want to learn more about Album Pins, you can read more about them on my celtfather.Substack.com or just buy one at magerecords.com THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST! Thank you for your loyal and generous support through the good and the bad. Through the ups and the downs. Thank you for your generosity to help fund this show and the Irish and Celtic music movement. All we have is music and art. It's not a lot. But it is something. And it brings you new episodes of this podcast every week. It pays for our Celtic Music Magazine, our graphics and our engineer who puts up with my nonsense and makes me sound halfway decent. Your kindness is rewarded with early access to episodes, music - only editions, free MP3s, exclusive stories and interviews, and you also get to vote in the Celtic Top 20, helping to select the best Celtic bands and songs of the year. A special thanks to our new and continued Patrons of the Podcast: Tracy O'Shea, James Wolfe, Russell Kolts, Whitney Novak, Noirlapin, Donna Hawkes HERE IS YOUR THREE STEP PLAN TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST Go to our Patreon page. Decide how much you want to pledge every month, $4, $12, $25. Keep listening to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast to celebrate Celtic culture through music. You can become a generous Patron of the Podcast on Patreon at SongHenge.com. TRAVEL WITH CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We don't see everything. Instead, we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos. Learn more about the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/ #celticmusic #irishmusic #celticmusicpodcast I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK What are you doing today while listening to the podcast? Send me a photo. If you're in a Celtic band, send me an audio recording of you performing live. Just audio. I'll use it in a podcast episode later this year. Email me at follow@bestcelticmusic. Tracy Lucky emailed a photo: "Standing ovation. Hi Marc, I just wanted to drop a line to give a standing ovation for your incredibly eloquent response to the critique e mail you received. I absolutely loved it. Yes, politics are sometimes unpleasant to hear about but it important, now more than ever, to stand by kindness and justice for everyone. Also, for anyone who thinks Celtic music isn't inextricably tied to politics, you haven't been listening hard enough. You may lose some followers over your stance, but I just backed you here to help minimize whatever impact that may have. I love to listen to your podcast while working as it makes my day pass so much faster. Beshaba (attached) seems to like the happy tunes as well while she stares at me like a wee gremlin. She especially likes your album Selcouth and always comes for a little visit when I play it." Cristen Y posted on Patreon: "Hello there! I've been exploring my Irish and Scottish Heritage and have enjoyed supporting you here on Patreon and listening to the podcast. I was curious if you knew of any artists or albums that feature keening songs. I know keening is associated with grieving so I can imagine that there is a sacredness to it and it may not be considered to be respectful to record. I would love any insight you have. Also, I saw your Celtfather post about standing up for the things we love and care about. Thank you for modeling courage and using your voice and platform to speak out against the atrocities occurring because of our current administration. I also hope that you recognize the resistance of making music and elevating the voices of other artists; that in and of itself is admirable! Onward!"
It's one thing to thank God before a meal. It's another thing entirely to thank Him before sending off a tax payment. For many Christians, taxes are rarely associated with gratitude. They often feel like a burden—an interruption to our financial plans or resources we'd rather use elsewhere. But Scripture invites us to view taxes through a very different lens. Instead of seeing them merely as a loss, believers can see them as a reminder of God's provision and His sovereignty, and as an opportunity to live with integrity. Why Taxes Stir Frustration Few topics unite people quite like a shared dislike of paying taxes. It's easy to think, if I could just keep that money, I could do something better with it. And when government policies conflict with our convictions—or headlines highlight waste or corruption—resentment can grow even stronger. Yet Scripture calls us to approach the issue differently. Instead of responding with frustration alone, the Bible encourages gratitude, humility, and trust in God's sovereign rule. In Matthew 22:17, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with a political question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Jesus responded by asking for a coin and pointing to the image stamped on it. His reply has echoed through history: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” (Matthew 22:21) This answer was remarkable. Taxes under Rome were deeply unpopular. Rome was an occupying force, and tax revenue helped sustain a system that oppressed God's people. Yet Jesus did not call for revolt or avoidance. Instead, He acknowledged that paying taxes fits within God's ordering of society while making it clear that our ultimate allegiance belongs to God. Coins may bear Caesar's image, but our lives bear God's image—and they belong fully to Him. Trusting God's Sovereignty The apostle Paul reinforced this principle in Romans 13:6–7, writing during the reign of Nero—hardly a model of righteous leadership: “Because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God… Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” Notice what Paul does not say. He doesn't ground obedience in the goodness of government. Instead, he points to the sovereignty of God. Paying taxes, then, is not primarily an expression of confidence in a human system. It is a recognition that God ultimately rules over nations, leaders, and history itself. Taxes Reveal God's Provision There is another perspective on taxes that believers often overlook. Before you pay a single dollar in taxes, something has already happened: God has provided. A mentor of mine, Ron Blue, often says around tax time, “Taxes represent God's provision.” If God had not provided income, there would be no taxes to pay. Think about it. Taxes imply that: Work was available. Income was earned. Needs were met. Daily bread was provided. In other words, taxes—uncomfortable as they may feel—are evidence that God has supplied what we need. Gratitude allows us to see provision before we see loss. Instead of asking only, How much am I paying? We can ask, What does this reveal about God's faithfulness? Integrity in a Culture of Loopholes This perspective also shapes how Christians respond during tax season. In a world full of shortcuts, loopholes, and justifications, believers are called to something different: integrity. Honesty in financial matters—especially the ones no one else sees—forms Christlike character. Filing accurately, reporting honestly, and paying what is owed becomes an act of discipleship. It's a quiet but powerful testimony of a life shaped by trust in God rather than self-protection. Turning Taxes into a Spiritual Discipline Finally, paying taxes can even become a spiritual discipline. Each time you write that check or submit that payment, let it prompt you to pray. Pray that God would guide leaders with wisdom, justice, and humility. Pray for policies that protect the vulnerable and promote the common good. Pray for leaders who recognize their need for God's guidance. You may disagree with those leaders. You may even oppose their policies. But Scripture reminds us they are still people made in God's image—people who need God's help just like the rest of us. In a culture eager to complain, believers have the opportunity to respond differently. When tax season arrives: Remember the Owner: God owns everything, including the income from which taxes are paid (Psalm 24:1). Recognize the Provider: Taxes remind us that God has provided resources in the first place. Respond with Integrity: Honesty reflects a heart that seeks to honor Christ. Reframe with Gratitude: Thank God for His provision rather than focusing only on what is owed. Respond with Prayer: Let taxes prompt intercession for leaders and systems of government. When viewed through the lens of Scripture, even something as mundane—and often frustrating—as taxes can remind us of deeper truths: God provides, God rules, and God calls His people to live with gratitude and integrity. Go Deeper: Our Ultimate Treasure If you'd like to explore these themes of stewardship, gratitude, and God's ownership more deeply, consider reading Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Devotional to Faithful Stewardship. This devotional walks through the biblical foundations of money and stewardship, helping readers see that financial decisions are ultimately spiritual decisions. Over 21 days, you'll discover how Scripture reshapes the way we think about earning, spending, saving, giving—and even paying taxes. You can learn more or order your copy at FaithFi.com/Shop. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I've inherited about $100,000 and don't know how to invest it. I'm 75, retired, debt-free, and living on a pension and Social Security. What are some safe options—like CDs or high-yield savings—that still give me access to the money if needed? My husband and I are separated. He's retired and receiving Social Security and a pension, while I'm still working. Can I claim spousal Social Security benefits on his record while we're separated, and would that reduce his benefit? I'm 56 and have about $310,000 in an old 401(k) and $268,000 in my current one. With market volatility, I'm considering moving the old account into a 10-year fixed annuity for safety. Is that a wise move? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Christian Community Credit Union | AdelFi Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Season 8 turns the volume up as Dangerous Dave dives into one of the biggest pop phenomena of the late 1980s — New Kids on the Block, the boyband that helped invent the modern blueprint for teen pop superstardom.We rewind to 1989 in What Happened Way Back When, exploring obscure songs, cult films, and television highlights from a year where pop culture, youth identity, and arena-sized entertainment were evolving rapidly. Retro Headlines from both the UK and the US help set the stage for a world where MTV ruled youth culture, CDs were replacing cassette tapes, and teen pop was about to explode globally.In a huge Dangerous Deep Dive, Dave explores the full history of New Kids on the Block — from their Boston origins and producer Maurice Starr's vision, through their breakthrough album Hangin' Tough, to the arena-filling success of Step by Step. Each album is explored in detail with song highlights and commentary on how the band built one of the first global boyband empires. The episode also looks at the group's split, their later reunion, and the lasting legacy they left behind for the entire boyband industry.Elsewhere in the episode:
We're back to talk about is it a Faded Salmon shirt or a Pink Shirt? Write into april5k@gmail.com to let us know. Also, do you still have your Compact Discs? Spin Magazine has an article about how CDs are still huge in the United Kingdom. And were the Tea Leaves correct? Will Phoebe find love via the Universe? And please, let the healing begin between Joey and Rachel. https://seinfeldpodcast.libsyn.com/website www.patreon.com/wrightonnetwork
Irish Millie is wasted. The Brobdingnagian Bards are in love… with alcohol. And the Gothard Sisters will send you down the road with a smile. Every song has a story worth telling. We've got the full spectrum from rowdy to reverent. Pull up a stool. Music from May Will Bloom, Brobdingnagian Bards, Rogue Diplomats, Irish Millie, The Gothard Sisters This is Pub Songs & Stories #313 0:21 - May Will Bloom "I'll Tell My Ma" from Single 2:40 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES Every song has a story, every episode is a toast to Celtic and folk songwriters. Discover the stories behind the songs from the heart of the Celtic pub scene. I am your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. If you're new to the show, please follow us. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. 5:32 - NEWS What's the Secret Word? Unlock your secret reward now. Celtic Protest Songs on Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. Maggie McGuinness show February album writing month Still making videos + Taking a step back from social media Booking gigs for St. Patrick's Day Preparing for Irish & Celtic Music PodFest 13:20 - Rogue Diplomats "Come Out Ye Black And Tans" from Whiskey Picnic 16:41 - UPCOMING SHOWS Mar 12: St Patrick's Day Music Party on Bandcamp Apr 4-11: Sherwood Forest Faire, Paige, TX with May Will Bloom and Brobdingnagian Bards Apr 17-19: JordanCon, Atlanta, Ga Apr 24-26: StellarFest, Duluth, Ga Apr 25: The Lost Druid Brewery, Avondale Estates, Ga May 30: The Lost Druid Brewery, Avondale Estates, GA 19:25 - STORY OF LOVE SONG TO ALCOHOL 24:10 - Brobdingnagian Bards "Love Song to Alcohol' from Another Faire to Remember 28:33 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. Come hike with me on the Isle of Skye in 2027. The ads on this podcast pay for some of the hosting and podcast editing. My time producing the show is paid for by my… 29:49 - THANK YOU GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON Thank you. Truly. Your support is the reason I'm still making music, telling stories, and showing up month after month. Patreon is how modern, independent musicians survive and thrive. Album Pins and CDs help get me on the road and in front of live audiences, but my day-to-day livelihood—the time it takes to write, record, podcast, film, and share—comes directly from Patrons of the Arts. As we continue into a new year, Patreon is where everything comes together. Patrons receive a brand-new song download every month. These are exclusive tracks you won't find anywhere else—works in progress, experiments, and finished songs that come straight from my creative desk to you. You'll also get regular updates when there's news to share, behind-the-scenes blogs, short and long-form videos, and access to a growing archive of bootleg concert recordings and special performances. You can join for as little as $5 a month. That small commitment adds up to real stability. It buys time to write songs. It funds recording and production. It keeps the creative engine running without chasing algorithms or trends. And if supporting financially isn't possible right now, that's okay. You can still join Patreon for free and receive regular updates, thoughts, and stories as they happen. Being part of the community matters, whether you're pledging or simply listening along. Patreon isn't just support—it's collaboration. It's how these songs, podcasts, and ideas exist at all. If you'd like more details, just email follow@celtfather. I'd love to have you along for the journey this year. 31:37 - COMMENTARY - THANK YOU WHAT YOU DID FOR US 34:55 - Irish Millie "WASTED" from Between Then And Now 42:38 - QUEST & CHORUS of THE GOTHARD SISTERS The Gothard Sisters are three sisters Greta, Willow and Solana. They are contemporary Celtic folk multi-instrumentalists, composers, performers and songwriters. Blending Celtic, folk, world, classical and new age musical influences, the Gothard Sisters bring songs to life with violin, acoustic guitar, mandolin, bodhran, djembe, whistle and vocal harmonies, creating music that is "vivid, inspirational and captivating." (Tim Carroll, Folk Words Review 2018) Raised and homeschooled by artists in the Pacific Northwest, USA, the Gothard Sisters grew up immersed in nature, imaginative play and traditional folk and classical music. Their music takes inspiration from folk music traditions around the world, timeless stories, new age and classical records, and nature itself. Writing and recording near their home in the Pacific Northwest, USA, the band has released 11 albums and performed over 2,000 live shows over the course of their career. 48:46 - The Gothard Sisters "See You Down the Road" from Moment in Time Complete the Quest to Unlock your secret reward now. 52:40 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Before we go, a quick reminder: caring about Celtic culture also means caring about the land that shaped it. The songs we love were born from fields, coasts, forests, and villages that depend on a healthy planet. Climate action doesn't have to be loud or perfect. It starts small. Walk when you can. Choose renewable energy if it's available to you. Support artists, farmers, and local businesses who care about the earth. Reduce waste. Reuse what you can. Leave a place better than you found it. When we protect the land, we protect the music, the stories, and the generations yet to sing them. Sláinte—and thank you for listening. Join the Quest and Sing Along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
Is pushing for Memory Master worth it — and what happens if your child doesn't make it? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Amy Jones sits down with veteran CC moms Courtney Bradshaw and Tunrade Schumann to talk about how to challenge your kids with Classical Conversations memory work without overwhelming them or pushing too hard. Whether you're aiming for Memory Master, Subject Master, or just want your child to engage more deeply with the Foundations curriculum, this conversation is full of warm, practical wisdom for every homeschool family. Tunrade shares how her family dove headfirst into Memory Master from day one, with all four kids eventually earning the title — and each one also having that one hard year where it didn't quite come together. Those years, she says, turned out to be among the most valuable. Her daughter once went back as a Challenge A student to earn the one cycle she'd missed years earlier, simply because it still mattered to her. Tunrade herself has spent the last two years earning Mom Memory Master alongside her kids, with a third planned as her capstone. Courtney offers a beautifully different perspective — her family never completed community Memory Master, but has celebrated Subject Masters, a "Master Swordsman" scripture challenge, and countless informal moments where the content showed up in unexpected ways: a college Western Civ class, a Challenge speech, a paper. She's candid about the seasons of life — including adopting three children mid-journey — that meant mom simply wasn't available, and why that's okay. The conversation turns practical in the back half, with both moms sharing specific tips: starting with six weeks of consistent daily review, using CDs and flip books for independent study, leveraging Christmas break to tackle early weeks, pairing up with another Memory Master family for accountability and fun, and tailoring review methods to each child's learning style. Motivation strategies include review game parties, community check-ins, and Tunrade's beloved family tradition: a full week of unlimited screen time after Memory Master — which, she notes, usually loses its charm by day two. The episode closes with a reminder that the real reward isn't the blue shirt. It's a child who knows how they learn, trusts their own mind, and isn't afraid of hard things. What You'll Learn: - The full Memory Master continuum — from Subject Master all the way to the National Memory Master Contest - How two experienced CC families approached Memory Master very differently — and both thrived - Why the hidden benefits of Memory Master have almost nothing to do with memorization - What to do when life gets hard and Memory Master just isn't happening this year - Practical, age-by-age tips for making memory work fun (trampolines, hopscotch, hand motions & more) - How to use Christmas break strategically to get ahead on proofs - Creative ways to celebrate and motivate kids through the February doldrums - Why kids who earn Memory Master aren't scared of hard things later in life - How Tunrade earned Mom Memory Master — and why Courtney is already eyeing it for her last round This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by: Summit Ministries Do you want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endure, and friends and faith for life? Summit's Student Conferences equip young Christians with the hope, clarity, and confidence they need to follow Jesus boldly in today's world. It's not just about getting apologetics answers. Students learn how to live winsomely and bravely in today's world. Visit summit.org/cc before March 31, 2026, and lock in the early bird rate. Save an additional $250 when you use the code CC26. Want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endures, and friends and faith for life? Grab their spot now at summit.org/cc Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome & Introduction 00:22 — Amy's Homeschool Journey & Why This Topic Matters 00:48 — The Memory Master Continuum: Subject Master to National Contest 03:39 — Meet Courtney Bradshaw: 12 Years of CC, Academic Advisor & 7 Kids 06:30 — Meet Tunrade Schumann: 12 Years of CC, Social Media Director & Graduating Her First 09:18 — What It Means to "Graduate" as a CC Mom 12:09 — Why the Memory Content Is So Rich (and Funny College Moments) 13:21 — Tunrade's Family Memory Master Journey: All Four Kids, Every Cycle 15:09 — Mom Memory Master: When Your Kid Proofs You 16:15 — The Hard Year Every Child Had — and What They Learned From It 18:14 — How a Challenge A Student Went Back for the Cycle She Missed 20:06 — Courtney's Journey: Subject Masters, a Scripture Challenge & Meeting Kids Where They Are 25:28 — Subject Master Deep Dive: Latin, Geography & Leaning Into What They Love 28:34 — It's Not All or Nothing: Finding the Right Level for Your Family 30:33 — Practical Tips: How and When to Start Preparing for Memory Master 32:05 — Making Memory Work Fun: Trampolines, Hopscotch, Hand Motions & More 33:09 — Using Christmas Break to Get Ahead on Proofs 35:39 — Learning Styles: Why What Works for One Child Won't Work for Another 38:55 — The Proofing Timeline: What to Expect and When 40:09 — Keeping Kids Motivated Through the February Doldrums 41:35 — Review Games, Study Dates & Building Friendships Through Memory Master 44:09 — How Tunrade's Family Celebrates: The Week of Unlimited Screen Time 45:14 — The Real Reward: Kids Who Know How They Learn and Aren't Scared of Hard Things 46:33 — Closing Encouragement & Finding Your CC Community
#405 In this episode, Guy welcomed returning guest White Eagle Medicine Woman Suraj Holzwarth to discuss the Crystal Skull Method (CSM), a hands-on energy modality described as a next-level, "quantum" evolution of cranial sacral therapy synthesizing ancient practices and working with 32 skull points and 32 body points. The method aims to activate the pineal, pituitary, thalamus, and hypothalamus for total health, longevity, and expanded consciousness, emphasizing intention, trauma integration, and ethical readiness as more "light" activates. Suraj explained the pineal gland's role in serotonin/melatonin, intuition, and spiritual connection, and describes CSM's use of dual-hand electromagnetic holding, breathwork to "decalcify" and expand "beams of light," grounding to regulate intensity, and practitioner finger/element techniques to balance heat and coolness. They also explored sacred geometry—especially the Sri Yantra and torus field—as a grid CSM builds around the skull and body. The episode included information about a nine-day CSM training in Port Macquarie, Australia (Nov 20–28, 2026) and directs listeners to whirlingrainbow.com. About Suraj: White Eagle is the founding director and Drum Keeper of the GrandMother Drum International Peace Project and the 501c3 non-profit Whirling Rainbow Foundation based in Homer, Alaska. She is internationally known as a shamanic healer, seer, trance-medium, author, speaker, teacher, ceremonial and performance artist of Native American and European ancestry. She has since traveled over a million miles touching a million people in 20 countries with the 7 ft, crystal inlaid, thundering heartbeat of the world's largest drum of its kind, Grandmother Drum, and promoting unity, peace, tribal reconciliation, and earth sustainability. Her award winning CDs include "Journey of the Heart", "Songlines of the Soul", "Living Waters of Grace" and "Holy Ground". She is the author of "The Magic Bundle" children's book, and "Songs of A New Earth" songbook. White Eagle is also the director and co-producer of the award winning documentary film "GrandMother Drum: Awakening the Global Heart", selected as the Top 20 Spiritual Films at the Tel Aviv Spirit Film Festival. She is the founder and director of the Rainbow Fire Mystery School (RFMS) operating in Alaska, Hawaii and Peru and has led thousands of shamanic workshops, ceremonies and training globally for over 35 years. Starting with the acclaimed "Language of One" and "Heart of One" online spiritual programs, White Eagle has now expanded the RFMS to over a dozen certified online shamanic training programs. She is also the creator, director and lead instructor of the certified shamanic methods of Balancing the Shields© Community Mother DrumKeepers Training© and The Crystal Skull Method©.In 2013, White Eagle launched the Global Blue Flame Planetary Grid ceremony, activating and renewing the earth's grid in a one day ceremony annually with 62 trained groups worldwide. Key Points Discussed: (00:00) - Awakening the Human Light Body: The Crystal Skull Method Explained! (00:54) - Podcast Setup and Visuals (01:24) - Guest Intro and CSM Preview (04:04) - What Is Crystal Skull Method (06:42) - Pineal Gland and Benefits (13:07) - Shadow Work and Integration (22:15) - Sacred Geometry and Human Potential (29:11) - Sri Yantra and Torus Field (34:40) - Beams of Light Breathwork (45:37) - Training in Australia and Certification (51:35) - Closing Links and Farewell How to Contact Suraj Holzwarth:www.whirlingrainbow.com About me:My Instagram: www.instagram.com/guyhlawrence/?hl=en Guy's websites:www.guylawrence.com.au www.liveinflow.co
In today's episode, I'm making two little riffs that I think will be background music for the pixelart Rocketeer game I've been working on. One is a little somber piece to accompany the "RIP" scene when Cliff kicks the bucket. I've made a serious one here, but I thought I might vary what is written on the gravestone to reflect what you did, if I can figure out how to do that. Like, for example, if you blew yourself up with a grenade, the gravestone might read, "Cliff Secord, 1911 - 1936, chowderhead."https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-552-and-like-a-hood-ornament-94-updates-on-the-rocketeer-vs-the-third-reich-video-game-7/The second riff is probably the verse to some kind of ending song, while the credits play. I was undecided on whether to do any music with words in it, but this one came to me one day (while driving, naturally), and I thought it might fit. If not, then for a future Thirteenth Hour soundtrack. But since the game is really about Cliff going to rescue Peevy, I thought it could be a song about friendship, mentorship, or maybe the love fathers have for their sons (since Peevy is a kind of father figure to Cliff). More to come next week!∞∞∞∞∞∞∞Once Upon a Dream, the second Thirteenth Hour soundtrack, is now out in digital form and on CD! It is out on most major streaming services such as Bandcamp, Spotify, and YouTube Music. (If you have no preference, I recommend Bandcamp since there is a bonus track there and you will eventually be able to find tapes and special editions of the album there as well.) The CDs are out now!-Check out the pixelart music videos that are out so far from the album:-->Logan's Sunrise Workout: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7SM1RgsLiM-->Forward: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9VgILr1TDc-->Nightsky Stargazing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S0p3jKRTBo-->Aurora's Rainy Day Mix: https://youtu.be/zwqPmypBysk∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ Signup for the mailing list for a free special edition podcast, a demo copy of The Thirteenth Hour, and access to retro 80s soundtrack!Like what you see or hear? Consider supporting the show over at Thirteenth Hour Arts on Patreon or adding to my virtual tip jar over at Ko-fi. Join the Thirteenth Hour Arts Group over on Facebook, a growing community of creative people.Have this podcast conveniently delivered to you each week on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, Tunein, and Googleplay Music.Follow The Thirteenth Hour's Instagram pages: @the13thhr for your random postings on ninjas, martial arts, archery, flips, breakdancing, fantasy art and and @the13thhr.ost for more 80s music, movies, and songs from The Thirteenth Hour books and soundtrack.Listen to Long Ago Not So Far Away, the Thirteenth Hour soundtrack online at: https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/ or Spotify. Join the mailing list for a digital free copy. You can also get it on CD or tape.Website: https://13thhr.wordpress.comBook trailer: http://bit.ly/1VhJhXYInterested in reading and reviewing The Thirteenth Hour for a free book? Just email me at writejoshuablum@gmail.com for more details!
Today, I am joined by Robin Singh of Peepal Farm. An ex-hacker and ex-techie, Robin today runs Peepal Farm, an animal rescue and awareness organization that helps animals heal and be heard. He lives on-site in a mud house, grows his own food and brews and sells Kombucha.His bumpy career start in 1997-hacking Internet accounts and selling bootleg CDs-had landed surprisingly smoothly, when a misspelled e-mail landed him a job in the US in 2003. That same year, he started a technology service that helped tens of thousands independent artists sell their digital goods directly to consumers.In 2010, with all the checkboxes checked on the societal template, he had a crisis of meaning of sorts, and he came back to India to try and be happy perpetually. It was his pursuit of happiness that put him on the path to purpose. It was eventually on that path where he stumbled upon happiness after having given up on it.The Happiness Happens ebook and paperback are available for purchase now, but, if you love a beautiful hardcover like I do, that will be available here in the U.S. on May 19, 2026. Check out my instagram post for this episode to see just how gorgeous it is. To connect with Robin: https://peepalfarm.org/Peepal Farmhttps://instagram.com/peepalfarmRobinhttps://instagram.com/locaterobinTo buy the book, Happiness Happens: https://a.co/d/007JJtajMentioned in this episode:India: Land of Ahimsa documentary: https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/mayur75/the-land-of-ahimsa-feature-length-documentaryTo connect with me:Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @didyoubringthehummusDYBTH merch now available! Check out the shop here: https://did-you-bring-the-hummus.myspreadshop.comFor more info on my Public Speaking 101 program: https://www.didyoubringthehummus.com/publicspeakingforactivistsContact me here or send me an email at info@didyoubringthehummus.comSign up for meditation sessions hereSign up for The Vegan Voyage, to sponsor the podcast, book meditations packages, or sign up for my Public Speaking program hereJoin my Podcast Fan Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/didyoubringthehummus/To be a guest on the podcast: https://www.didyoubringthehummus.com/beaguest©2026 Kimberly Winters - Did You Bring the Hummus LLCTheme Song ©2020 JP Winters @musicbyjpw
Am Anfang stand die Erschöpfung – und die Erkenntnis, dass wir öfter auf unseren Körper hören sollten, wenn er uns etwas mitteilen will. Andrina Bollinger hat zugehört und neue Kraft gefunden, wie man auf dem zweiten Album der Zürcher Musikerin eindrücklich hört. «Island of Way Back» ist das neue Sounds! Album der Woche. Wir haben Vinyl, wir haben CDs – wir verschenken sie an euch! Und zwar jeweils live in unserer Sendung auf Radio SRF 3, Montag bis Freitag nach 20 Uhr.
Elle accompagne nos ruptures, nos fêtes, nos trajets en voiture, dans les embouteillages, nous aide à nous endormir ou au contraire nous maintient éveillés. La musique est constamment présente, que ce soit dans les petits instants du quotidien que dans les moments-clé de nos vies. On l'associe à une personne, on se souvient de celles qu'on écoutait en boucle à l'école et puis il y a celles qu'on ne peut plus supporter d'entendre. Mais l'avènement du numérique a aussi bouleversé nos pratiques d'écoutes. Aujourd'hui, plus besoin d'emmener ses cassettes ou ses CDs partout. Grâce aux plateformes de streaming, des milliers de chansons sont disponibles en quelques clics. En 2024, 752 millions de personnes ont payé un abonnement à une plateforme de streaming musical, un chiffre en augmentation. Si la musique est omniprésente, cette évolution interroge sur notre manière de la consommer, la façon dont se construisent nos goûts musicaux. S'il est possible de l'emmener partout, de l'écouter dans sa bulle avec ses écouteurs, sommes-nous plus individualistes avec la musique ? Avec : • Vladimir Cagnolari, adjoint au directeur de RFI en charge de la Musique • Thomas Louail, chargé de recherche au CNRS et co-fondateur et directeur de Mixtapes, le laboratoire commun du CNRS et Deezer • Blick Bassy, chanteur, auteur-compositeur, producteur, guitariste et percussionniste camerounais. Son dernier album intitulé Mádibá, est sorti en 2023, le prochain est prévu pour début 2027. Actuellement en tournée, il sera en concert à Paris au Théâtre du Châtelet le 3 avril 2026. Il est également l'auteur de La bataille des imaginaires africains – pourquoi la culture décidera de l'avenir du continent (Les Livres du Ministère) qui sortira le 25 mars 2026. Programmation musicale : ► Fille parfaite - Céline Banza ► Lep - Blick Bassy.
What if the biggest crisis in construction isn't AI adoption, it's that we hand over $100M assets with no instruction manual?In this episode of KP Unpacked, KP Reddy sits down with David Niewiadomski, former Turner Construction executive turned Shadow Ventures operator, to answer a haunting question: if your building could talk, what would it say? The answer isn't pretty. "You don't do scheduled maintenance. You didn't check the caulk joints before the warranty expired. You take me for granted." Dave spent 17 years in the contractor trenches, pre-con, estimating, project management, and walked away to solve the data handoff problem that makes every asset transfer feel like buying a car with no owner's manual.The conversation weaves between tactical AI workflows (how to automate bid leveling in two weeks, why Claude told KP he was "out of his depth" and should call Barry) and systemic industry failures. Why do cars come with organized manuals regardless of manufacturer, but $100M buildings get handed over with incomplete data scattered across expired Procore servers? Why don't architects visit existing hospitals before designing new ones? Why do facilities teams get involved after walls are already placed? And why, when KP's uncle kept every oil change receipt in a three-ring binder to maximize car resale value, don't we track building maintenance the same way?Key topics covered:Why IT departments are the #1 barrier to AI adoption, not capability, cost, or interest, just permissionsHow Dave would automate bid leveling in two weeks using Claude Cowork if corporate let him tinkerWhy pre-con departments are perfect AI targets: small teams, high expertise, Excel-heavy workflowsThe moment Claude told KP to escalate to Barry because he was out of his depth—and what that means for mentoring juniorsIf your building could talk: "40% of my caulk joints are cracking and my exterior warranty just expired"Why cars have consistent owner's manuals but $100M buildings don't, the automotive vs. construction data gapHow organized building data determines which deals asset managers skip during due diligenceThe CapEx vs. OpEx disconnect: design teams optimize construction cost, ignore 20-year maintenance nightmaresWhy facilities teams review drawings after decisions are locked and walls are already placedThe hospital prototype problem: architects don't visit 50 existing hospitals to learn what breaks and what costs too muchWhy grocery store GMs kept selling corporate-spec'd deli coolers on eBay, and corporate couldn't update specs fast enoughHow technology creates deflation everywhere (Blockbuster to Netflix, $20 CDs to Spotify), except constructionWhy RFIs and change orders eat 10-20% of contract value, and AI's first impact will be waste reduction, not bid pricesWhether contractors will pass 30-40% AI cost savings to owners (answer: no, they'll pocket it until competition forces pricing down)Why mid-sized GCs will adopt AI faster than Turner, fewer people, less federal red tape, more agilityThe union robotics challenge: layout robots worked in NYC, but full automation requires labor negotiationWhy institutional knowledge walks out the door with employee turnover, and Procore data disappears when subscriptions endThe three-ring binder standard: why we track car maintenance for resale value but not $100M building systemsIf you're an owner frustrated by incomplete building handoffs, a contractor wondering where AI automation starts, or a facilities manager tired of inheriting broken systems with zero documentation, this episode will make you realize the problem isn't innovation, it's that we never solved basic organization.Listen now.BuildingWorks & Brookwood Sponsors
Elle accompagne nos ruptures, nos fêtes, nos trajets en voiture, dans les embouteillages, nous aide à nous endormir ou au contraire nous maintient éveillés. La musique est constamment présente, que ce soit dans les petits instants du quotidien que dans les moments clés de nos vies. On l'associe à une personne, on se souvient de celles qu'on écoutait en boucle à l'école et puis il y a celles qu'on ne peut plus supporter d'entendre. Mais l'avènement du numérique, a aussi bouleversé nos pratiques d'écoutes. Aujourd'hui, plus besoin d'emmener ses cassettes ou ses CDs partout. Grâce aux plateformes de streaming, des milliers de chansons sont disponibles en quelques clics. En 2024, 752 millions de personnes ont payé un abonnement à une plateforme de streaming musical, un chiffre en augmentation. Si la musique est omniprésente cette évolution interroge sur notre manière de la consommer, la façon dont se construisent nos goûts musicaux. S'il est possible de l'emmener partout, de l'écouter dans sa bulle avec ses écouteurs, sommes-nous plus individualistes avec la musique ? Avec : • Vladimir Cagnolari, adjoint au directeur de RFI en charge de la musique •Thomas Louail, chargé de recherche au CNRS et co-fondateur et directeur de Mixtapes le laboratoire commun du CNRS et Deezer. • Blick Bassy, chanteur, auteur-compositeur, producteur, guitariste et percussionniste camerounais. Son dernier album intitulé Mádibá, est sorti en 2023, le prochain est prévu pour début 2027. Actuellement en tournée, il sera en concert à Paris au Théâtre du Chatelet le 3 avril 2026. Il est également l'auteur de La bataille des imaginaires africains – pourquoi la culture décidera de l'avenir du continent (Les Livres du Ministère) qui sortira le 25 mars 2026. Programmation musicale : ► ►
This beloved Psalm, describing God shepherding us through green pastures and dark valleys, is set to the well-known traditional Irish air ‘The Parting Glass.' In this Psalm, we hear themes of restoration for our souls, accompaniment through challenging times, and the hope of a feast and a future of goodness and mercy.Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback versionVisit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s, CDs, and videos for The Lord's My ShepherdFind out more about the Habits for the Spirit course: an 8-week online course exploring habits and daily spiritual practices to promote wellbeing in body, mind, and spiritFollow Kiran's monthly reflections on Bless My FeetPsalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe
Once obsolete technology is making a comeback with Gen Z.
On the Saturday March 7, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet hip-hop artist, motivational speaker, author, and community advocate D.O. Gibson. He set a Guinness World Record for the longest freestyle rap. It’s wild. 8 hours and 45 minutes in 2003 at a Toronto car show, he tours internationally, and has sold tens of thousands of CDs independently, hitting #1 on U.S. college hip-hop radio charts. He runs his own label and does youth-focused work like his "Stay Driven" school tours, illustrated children's books (e.g., "The Story of How Young Duane Gibson"). He's also been recognized as a Top Outstanding Black Canadian and received awards for his impact. His latest single "Learned from the Greatest" is streaming everywhere, and the key tagline from his promo is: “I learned from the greatest — now it's my turn to pass it on.” The song leans into themes of legacy, mentorship, influence, and paying it forward—fitting for an artist who's been in the game for decades and now focuses on inspiring the next generation. Then, we get to know writer, actor, and graphic designer Ann McDougall. Her book A Ghost in the Room - provides a very Canadian history of ghosts and the paranormal by combining intriguing stories from individual museums with her own personal research into how believers, practitioners, and charlatans alike all engage with the spirit world today. She made it her mission to explore as many supernatural activities as possible first-hand! She researches Toronto’s Mackenzie House, the site of a well-documented ghost, the hoax that is nevertheless known to this day as “Canada’s most haunted house,” the first Canadian radio broadcast of a séance in 1936 and travels to a Niagara Falls Casino to see a celebrity TV medium who claims to speak to “the other side” live on stage among many other stories.
On the Saturday March 7, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet hip-hop artist, motivational speaker, author, and community advocate D.O. Gibson. He set a Guinness World Record for the longest freestyle rap. It's wild. 8 hours and 45 minutes in 2003 at a Toronto car show, he tours internationally, and has sold tens of thousands of CDs independently, hitting #1 on U.S. college hip-hop radio charts. He runs his own label and does youth-focused work like his "Stay Driven" school tours, illustrated children's books (e.g., "The Story of How Young Duane Gibson"). He's also been recognized as a Top Outstanding Black Canadian and received awards for his impact. His latest single "Learned from the Greatest" is streaming everywhere, and the key tagline from his promo is: “I learned from the greatest — now it's my turn to pass it on.” The song leans into themes of legacy, mentorship, influence, and paying it forward—fitting for an artist who's been in the game for decades and now focuses on inspiring the next generation. Then, we get to know writer, actor, and graphic designer Ann McDougall. Her book A Ghost in the Room - provides a very Canadian history of ghosts and the paranormal by combining intriguing stories from individual museums with her own personal research into how believers, practitioners, and charlatans alike all engage with the spirit world today. She made it her mission to explore as many supernatural activities as possible first-hand! She researches Toronto's Mackenzie House, the site of a well-documented ghost, the hoax that is nevertheless known to this day as “Canada's most haunted house,” the first Canadian radio broadcast of a séance in 1936 and travels to a Niagara Falls Casino to see a celebrity TV medium who claims to speak to “the other side” live on stage among many other stories.
Welcome to The Real Brian Show, where curiosity meets multi-passionate exploration! In this episode, The Real Brian is flying solo and kicking things up a notch by bringing the show back to video for the first time in years. https://youtube.com/therealbrian While originally planned as a co-hosted episode, I dedicate this episode to The Flash, who recently suffered the loss of two beloved cats, Siber and Suma. GO CHECK OUT THE YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THIS EPISODE! So I've been seeing this growing trend of ditching streaming services in favor of owning physical media like CDs and DVDs! It's been fun to watch. So, naturally with my curiosity, I'm questioning whether this is a fleeting fad or the start of a long-term shift back to intentional, active media consumption. What are ye thoughts? Whatcha doing? Let TRB know your thoughts on physical versus digital media! Also, since I'm creeping in my car, amidst a fresh Colorado snowfall, I dive into the ongoing struggles with a rotator cuff injury and the journey through pain management. Fun times, but I'm seeking the proactive strengthening and pain management route, so SUCK IT PAIN! Chapters 00:00:00 BACK ON VIDEO!! 00:00:24 This episode is dedicated to The Flash after the loss of Siber and Suma 00:00:50 Creepin' in the car, recording an episode! And what The Real Brian Show is all about. 00:01:28 Rotator cuff tear and seeking proactive strength and pain management 00:05:12 The movement from digital media to physical media! Trend or long-term solution? 00:11:51 Supporting musicians directly Welcome to The Real Brian Show! Thanks for joining me! I am SO glad you're here! This is THE show for the multipassionate. We get to nerd out on all of the best things life has to offer! Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/iamtherealbrian Patreon: https://patreon.com/realbrianshow Music Spotify Playlists: TRBS 2026 Playlist on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0EprZvxDDnvRiExPyc0mEF?si=701914d867114060) TRB's GLORIOUSNESS (New Music) Playlist on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/user/geechao/playlist/6qr3H7qrrlyMYROQhj3cGo?si=yQV1BJgqT8CZ5gFdvJwsOA) The Captain Influence Playlist on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/49ppCbP5CFvEHE7shtNgSc?si=628An5g9R-uhwmYuSg0Utg) Subscribe to The Real Brian Show Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-real-brian-show/id1160475222 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3UsRunmoQzHkrWbwmAjmLM?si=e76f534378ec4b8f YouTube: https://youtube.com/therealbrian Support The Real Brian Show Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/iamtherealbrian Patreon: https://patreon.com/realbrianshow AMAZON LINK: Any time you purchase something off of Amazon, please consider using the TRBS affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3OVl49o Affiliate links mean I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. This helps support the channel at no additional cost to you! Connect With TRB and The Show! Website: https://realbrianshow.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamtherealbrian/ TRBS Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/realbrianshow/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/iamtherealbrian
Tunes: O'Farrell: Humours of Glen, Daniel the Sun, Daniel the Sun, Yemen o Knock, Galloway Tom, Castle Town Hunt, Bannocks of Barley Meal James Oswald: Mary Scott William McGibbon: Mary Scot John Brysson: Humours of Glen, John Brysson/Stephen McNally: Humours of Glen Matt Seattle: Humours of Glen Neil Gow & Sons: The Humours of Glen Broadside Courtesy of Jack Campin: The Humours of Glen John Rook: Humours of Glen Goodman: The Humours of Glyn(n), The Humours of Glynn Goodman Tunes Trio ( Mick O'Brien, Emer Mayock, Aoife Ní Bhriain ) The Humours of Glynn, Eliza Ross: Alasdair of the Stoups, The Big Foot of the Deceitful One Nicolas Brown: Daniel the Sun, +X+X+ Check out the Goodman Tunes Trio's ( Mick O'Brien, Emer Mayock, Aoife Ní Bhriain ) Album Here: https://goodmantunestrio.bandcamp.com/album/more-tunes-from-the-goodman-manuscripts Check out Nicolas Brown's Album here: https://nicolasbrown.bandcamp.com/album/good-enough-music-for-them-who-love-it Read Matt Seattle's Humours of Glen Common Stock article here: https://j3site.lbps.net/index.php/common-stock/archive-issues/369-common-stock-june-2017 Read Jack Campin's book/website here: http://www.campin.me.uk/ More Notes to come soon, or email me for links to the different settings. Tunebook https://www.patreon.com/posts/season-10-6-part-152449049?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Here are some ways you can support the show: You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag You can also take a minute to leave a review of the podcast if you listen on Itunes! Tell your piping and history friends about the podcast! Checkout my Merch Store on Bagpipeswag: https://www.bagpipeswag.com/wetootwaag You can also support me by Buying my Albums on Bandcamp: https://jeremykingsbury.bandcamp.com/ You can now buy physical CDs of my albums using this Kunaki link: https://kunaki.com/msales.asp?PublisherId=166528&pp=1 You can just send me an email at wetootwaag@gmail.com letting me know what you thought of the episode! Listener mail keeps me going! Finally I have some other support options here: https://www.wetootwaag.com/support Thanks! Listen on Itunes/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wetootwaags-bagpipe-and-history-podcast/id129776677 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QxzqrSm0pu6v8y8pLsv5j?si=QLiG0L1pT1eu7B5_FDmgGA
Join this channel to get access to perks such as Weekly Zoom Calls & Private Discord!! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4BqTVQA1pCwe9QaEPwD3MQ/join Free 30 Day Trial to Go2Lister https://www.go2lister.com/mike Have restricted Books, CDs or DVDs? Get a 50/50 profit split with Max! More information can be found here! https://www.getmaxxaccess.com/ I help teach people how to make money selling books on Amazon, leveraging the platform's vast reach and the profitability of reselling used books. How to sell books on Amazon? Selling books on Amazon can be an excellent side hustle or a full-time endeavor, particularly if you enjoy thrifting through places like Goodwill for hidden treasures. How to start selling on Amazon is accessible, and with my guidance on how to sell books, DVDs, CDs, and other media, beginners can quickly learn the ropes. Utilizing Amazon FBA streamlines operations, allowing sellers to focus more on sourcing and less on logistics. As a reselling coach, I provide tutorials and guidance on navigating challenges like ungating and optimizing listings for maximum visibility and sales. Whether you're looking for a part-time side hustle or aiming to become a full-time reseller, I will teach you the ins and outs of thrifting books and selling books online and can pave the way to creating passive income streams and achieving business growth.
Tim Conway Jr Show Hour 3 (3.5) Tim Conway Jr. keeps the night moving with everything from horse racing nostalgia to L.A. gridlock and fast-food smackdowns. He shares his all-time favorite horse race call, gets into Target’s massive $2 billion push to revamp grocery and baby products, and looks ahead to the Oscars as road closures are already creating headaches around Hollywood. Add in the still-delayed LAX people mover, and it’s another classic case of Los Angeles being in no rush to finish anything. The hour also serves up a full-on Burger War as Petros & Money put McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s to the taste-test challenge. Then it’s sports and traffic with a salute to Kings captain Anze Kopitar on his 1,500th game, a look ahead to next year’s Super Bowl at SoFi on Valentine’s Day, and a warning about major congestion from slab repairs at the 210 and 605 interchange. To top it off, the crew dives into the unlikely comeback of CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Es schimmelt, muffelt und bricht - trotzdem kann Papier über 2000 Jahre alt werden. Damit es auch in Zukunft überlebt, kümmern sich Fachleute mit Mundschutz, Handschuhen und Pinsel um die Schriftstücke. Dabei geht es auch um "Datenspeicherung auf Papier" - denn Papier hält länger als Festplatten und CDs. Ein Podcast von Julie Metzdorf (BR 2025)
Bandcamp Friday Edition of DarkCompass Bands which we think your should check out right now Mute The Saint – The Fall of Sirius Smoke Fairies – She Sells Sanctuary Weedpecker – Mirrors Old Machines – Dark Space Beyond Mausoleum Gate – Witches Circle Abstracted – Axis Sweetpool – Noone believes anything anymore Le Zok – Nuuksio De Lorians – A Ship of Mental Health Bandcamp Friday is an event on Bandcamp.com where 100% of the price of sales of songs goes to the artist. It’s a monthly thing. If you like the bands we play on DarkCompass, go to bandcamp and buy the artist merch, CDs, Vinyl and downloads to support them. Find me and what I listen to on Bandcamp – https://bandcamp.com/darkcompass
** PLEASE SUBSCRIBE ** Featured in WYGYFF Episode 41: Accomplished soul, funk, rock and jazz drummer Manny Kellough. His impressive credits encompass 25 years playing with Billy Preston, including most of his biggest hits; Larry Graham and Graham Central Station – as The Deacon heard on “The Jam” and other classics; Ray Charles; the Rolling Stones; Freddie Hubbard; Barry White; Quincy Jones; and many others. His Preston recordings include the mega-hits "Outa-Space," "Space Race," "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothin' From Nothin'." For more than 20 years he has led The Manny Kellough Jazz Quartet, having released CDs and a DVD under that name. RECORDED SEPTEMEBER 2025 Hosted by Scott "DR GX" Goldfine — musicologist, author of “Everything Is on the One: The First Guide of Funk” and creator/host of the popular TRUTH IN RHYTHM podcast — "Where'd You Get Your Funk From?" is the latest interview show brought to you by FUNKNSTUFF.NET. Where'd You Get Your Funk From (WYGYFF) is an open format video and audio podcast focusing on the here and now, with a broad range of creative and artistic guests sharing fascinating stories, experiences, and perspectives. WYGYFF is a welcoming avenue to newer and independent musical acts as well as established and still active musicians of any genre; authors; filmmakers; actors; artists; collectors and archivists; radio & podcast personalities; journalists; scholars; sound techs; promoters; photographers; and other creative people. A common thread, is the show's standard opening question: Where'd you get your funk from? This is much deeper than it may seem as the answer need not be strictly about funky music, as not everyone has found the funk. It could hit on whatever type of music touches their soul or pleasure centers. Additionally, the question extends beyond music. Paraphrasing George Clinton, funk is whatever it needs to be to get you over the hump. Thus, guests can explain where they got their grit, perseverance, inspiration, talent, creativity, character or other qualities that shaped them into who they are today. This serves as a springboard into candid, in-depth and engrossing conversations. LEGAL NOTICE: All video and audio content protected by copyright. Any use of this material is strictly prohibited without expressed consent from original content producer and owner Scott Goldfine, dba FUNKNSTUFF. For inquiries, email info@funknstuff.net. Get your copy of "Everything Is on the One: The First Guide of Funk" today! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1541256603/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1541256603&linkCode=as2&tag=funknstuff-20&linkId=b6c7558ddc7f8fc9fe440c5d9f3c400
In this recap episode, guest co-host Clare Solly joins Lesley Logan to unpack one of the most uncomfortable topics for women: money. They revisit Tess Waresmith's powerful reminder that money is just a tool, and good people should not be afraid to build wealth if they want to create real impact. From talking openly with friends about finances to knowing exactly where your money is going, this conversation makes financial independence feel less intimidating and far more actionable. If you've been avoiding your numbers, this is your nudge to start. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:The importance of good people actively seeking wealth for causes.Overcoming the fear of discussing money openly with your friends. Tracking where your money goes to gain true financial independence. Separating short-term cash savings from long-term market investments. Finding trusted financial help and utilizing free educational resources. Episode References/Links:Poland Contrology Pilates Conference - xxll.co/poland Vintage Friends & Contrology Brussels - xxll.co/brussels Pilates On Tour® London - https://xxll.co/pot OPC Spring Training - https://opc.me/events Wealth With Tess – https://wealthwithtess.com/savvyWealth with Tess Substack - https://wealthwithtess.substack.com/Ep 352: Tess Waresmith - https://beitpod.com/tesswaresmithClare Solly Website - https://www.claresolly.com/Ep 19: Clare Solly - https://beitpod.com/ep19Rocket Money - https://www.rocketmoney.comAcorns - https://www.acorns.comSubmit your wins or questions - https://beitpod.com/questions If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Clare Solly 0:00 We should be in control of our money because nobody else cares. Lesley Logan 0:04 Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 0:43 All right. Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host, Clare Solly, is joining us today to dig into the money-savvy convo I have with Tess Waresmith in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened to that one, you missed out. You missed the fuck out. I'm just gonna say it right now. She's amazing. We had her back. We're having Clare back. Clare, just in case people don't remember you being part of the recaps, like, a year and a half ago, and from your amazing episode. Who are you? What do you rock at?Clare Solly 1:10 I am Clare Solly, I feel like I rock at being me right now.Lesley Logan 1:14 That's the best answer no one ever gives that.Clare Solly 1:16 You know, I feel it's funny. I feel like I'm like, I have nothing super exciting, like, like, publicly going on, but I've got a lot of, like, internal stuff happening. I rock, just being a general cheerleader for anybody I come across and feeling free to talk about money widely. So I'm actually, like, this podcast, or this, this episode really got me excited. So I'm excited to be here and talk about it. And I'm, bonus, I'm here in Vegas with you recording in like, I'm across the desk from you.Lesley Logan 1:43 I know it's really fun. That's why she's got Brad's lovely, masculine background. That's true. So, you guys, Clare is here, you're visiting, and we have these recaps to do, because I was in Sacramento on Tuesday, and I was like, hey, I have to do a little bit of work. Do you want to work with me? And that is the, like, just the testament to her, and also, like, my amazing skills, (inaudible) to work alongside me, but.Clare Solly 2:07 It was a total arm twist. I'm like, not gonna lie. I was like, walking in through the door. Like, can I see the studio? Lesley Logan 2:13 Well, but also, like, but the divine timing of these two episodes that we're recording together, this one and next week. Because, like, there are topics I think that you'd actually really be interested in, not that Brad wouldn't be interested in the money one, he absolutely wants, he loves Tess, but also the skincare one. Clare Solly 2:27 I mean, two more perfect episodes for me. There were not so. Lesley Logan 2:31 Yeah, I agree. Well, today, you guys, is March 5th, 2026, and it's Name Tag Day. So on the first Thursday in March, which is on March 5th this year, duh. You guessed it, wearing name tags. On this day people become more human and pay more attention to the people who pass by them or who they pass by every day, with over 7 billion people in the world, it can be easy to feel alone and small. Name Tag Day allows everyone to be in the spotlight a little. On Name Tag Day, you're not a nameless Joe passing by in the neighborhood. Instead, when you pass by, everyone knows your name and connects with you, which is the whole aim of Name Tag Day. So Clare, are you gonna wear a name tag today? Clare Solly 3:07 I love this. I actually, absolutely will. I feel like I'm horrible at names. I feel like that's my like, negative superpower. I try really hard to remember people's names. And I mean, in our society, you like, tell people your name once when you introduce yourself to them, and then you don't know it again. I've called people by the wrong name so many times. But the tricky thing is, like, where do you wear your name tag? Lesley Logan 3:27 Oh, I love where do you wear it? Clare Solly 3:29 I like to wear mine, like, down on my hip. I mean, I'm like, a giant so my hip is, like, everyone's eyeline, but I feel like it messes up, like, unless you have, like, a really cute one, like the Hello, my name is, sticker, like, messes up. Like, your your top hat, it gets in your hair.Lesley Logan 3:43 So many top, oh, my hair is all over. It just peels it right off. And then also, like, depending on the material of your top, ladies, I mean, so I kind of wish that like this, maybe I should have a name tag that's magnet, and I can just put it any like, you know what I mean, so it's one I can use every year. But I am someone who is like, oh, I'm gonna put it down my hip. But then when you, if you're sitting for the meeting, you know, like that's a problem. So I ended up putting it on my bag as if that's helpful. And it's not because it's now that I think about it. So I probably am the reason why this name tag digs is because I'm really good at remembering faces of people. I can remember like when we worked together on retail. I can remember what people bought, I can remember when we saw them last. I remember who they bought the gift for, and I cannot remember their name, like, it takes a few times. And so I I'm very aware of this. And people like, it's a choice. And I'm like, I don't think you understand that like, the fact that I can remember everything you said to me, like, I'll say people, I'm like, oh, I remember you, but I don't remember your name. And they're like, oh, it's this one. Like, we met two years ago at this thing. I'm like, oh, that's right, it was in DC, you had so and so with you, and they look at me like I'm a crazy person, because I can remember the details of the event, but not your name. So maybe this is my day. Clare Solly 4:47 Maybe it's your day. Lesley Logan 4:48 Yeah, so it's not too late, if you're listening to this in the evening, go put your name tag on before you go to the bar. Why not, you know? Clare Solly 4:52 Why not. Lesley Logan 4:53 All right, so you guys, we are days away from going to Poland, so we'll be in Poland for a few days. I guess it's like the 20, 20th of the 22nd so you should come with Karen Frischmann, and I don't know when I'm coming back, as I was talking to my friend Clare, like I'm really aiming to travel, like I combine the travels and it might be like 2028 so xxll.co/poland that I'm gonna go to, technically, I'll be in Bruges, but we've been saying Brussels. So, you know, same country, just a difference, but it's at Els Studio. Pilatels we with Karen Frischmann, Els and my friend Ignacio. We all study with Jay Grimes together. That one's almost sold out. It's xxll.co/brussels but yes, we'll be in Bruges, and then after a second honeymoon in France, Brad and I will be at POT London. That is almost sold out, and at the time that this episode is dropping, you can still get the 10% off that ends like literally next week. So xxll.co/pot, at the time we're recording, I have a few spots left in my Sunday workshop, and just because London is different than Poland, doesn't mean that I'll get there any sooner. So you're gonna want to go. And then when we come back, we have spring training. So if you are Pi-curious, Pilates curious, or you're advanced practitioner who's just struggling with some exercises, you're going to want to be in that week long training. You want to go to opc.me/events is where you want to go, because that is where we are having a lot of fun. And if you're on the events list and you get you'll never miss the early bird. You'll miss you'll get all the bonuses. So go there. Lesley Logan 6:18 Okay, before we get into this recap, Clare, you're taking over the questions the next two weeks. So what do you want to ask me?Clare Solly 6:24 I am. So, you know, I noticed that we're at 650 episodes like, wow, how did that happen? That's not the question, sorry. And that was too easy. But since this is the Be It Pod, what is your next big Be It item, Lesley? Lesley Logan 6:40 Oh my God, there's a few I can't tell you guys just yet, or kind of like they're not public yet. But what I'll tell you that is public, and you'll actually experience on the show, I am being it till I see it as a solo podcast. Clare Solly 6:52 Oh. Lesley Logan 6:53 So don't worry, the interviews are not going away. I just want to reduce how many we have. We did a habit series, which was a longer series, and it was combined with guest episode. And then I did a week about burnout, and then a week about self-love. The self love one was the week of Valentine's Day. I think that's appropriate. And so I want your topics that you want me to nerd out about. You guys, you can go to beitpod.com/questions, and just so topics for Lesley to talk about. And so basically, like, I want to take a topic and then do two episodes on it, so Tuesday, Thursday. So we're not going to change your cadence of when your episodes come, but I feel like you couldn't have, like, I would have been too stressed out to do a solo episode ever when we first started the pod, and now that we're 600 something episodes in, and I do all these FYFs, I'm like, I think I'm ready to, like, take on maybe one one week or two weeks a month, of just like, owning the podcast myself and giving you the information from my perspective and and hopefully holding space for topics you want to know about. And that's a little scary for me, because I won't be able to let someone else's light shine and then, like, bounce off of them. I have to, like, shine it myself. Clare Solly 7:59 I just kind of want to reiterate what you're saying, because I think it's really, really important for all your listeners, especially this is the Be It Pod, and it's something you and I have talked about incessantly in our lives. So you've done 650 episodes, five, I want to say it's like been five and a half years, almost six years, that you've been doing this, and you're just now ready to start out on your own. So everybody who's listening. You don't have to take that long, but you also can take that long. And then just want to reiterate, too. If you have a question, text us at 1-310-905-5534, or submit it at beitpod.com/questions.Lesley Logan 8:36 That's what, I want your topics. I want your questions, I want your wins. They all go in the same place. I know that's weird, because it's just questions. But like, maybe the questions will inspire a podcast series. But I just, I know, I think I was probably ready sooner than before. But like, it's a big deal to change the how you run your show. Like, it means I have to, like, tell everyone on the team what I want to do, and then they have to, like, adjust everything. And like, you know, it used to be a little like tugboat that I was doing this business, and now it's kind of more like a yacht, and I have to, like, it's harder to turn a yacht around. Clare Solly 9:04 It's harder to turn a yacht around. Lesley Logan 9:06 It's not a cruise ship. We're not that big yet, but it is a you have to be a little bit more cautious about how you turn. There's little tug boats out there. All right.Clare Solly 9:18 Well, should we talk about Tess Waresmith now? Lesley Logan 9:20 I think we should. Tess is an accredited financial counselor, trademark, and the founder of Wealth with Tess, a platform dedicated to financial education for women, she teaches an approachable investing and money fundamentals that support independence and long term security. Tess's work centers on helping women build enough financial stability, to have options later in life, including the ability to step back from work and retire with confidence.Lesley Logan 9:49 I really am so glad she's in my life. I we've had her on the pod before, and I was just like obsessed with her. I've done her course actually, and I just think that like, we need more women like her talking about money, because she does it in such an honest way. And she's vocal about what's going on in our world and how it's affecting, like, your money, not rich people's money. And we've been, like, kind of conditioned. I think that, like, rich people know what to do when they get money. And so she said on the pod that I really love she's like, money is a tool. It's not either good or bad or evil, it's just a tool. And she really made the argument that, like, good people should actively seek to acquire more money because they make a bigger impact and donate to causes that you care about. I couldn't agree more, because, like, look, there's a lot going on, and we're like, what's my $20 going to do? But you know, if you have money that you are able to, like, have extra of, you're more likely to give it to local causes that inspire you based on your own life experiences. Maybe you donate to a local cause, like, we donate to the SPCA because I want to adopt all the rescue dogs, and I cannot, and they're here, and my money goes farther with them here. You know, there's people right now who are needing, like, rent help or health care support, and like, if you have an extra $100 you can give it to people and so I think we should, those of us who have a heart actually should be the ones with the money. Clare Solly 11:06 I agree. I agree. And I think to, sort of to, like, piggyback onto that thought, too, giving money, you have to decide if you want to see it in action or not. Like you you give locally because you want to see it in action. But some people want their money to go farther, and they don't need to see it in action. So figure out what you care about. I love that.Lesley Logan 11:23 What a great point, Clare, because I do think that sometimes we go, oh my god, what are people going to think that I'm not giving to like the environment or like the home, like, there I had someone on early in the podcast who talked about, like, if you can take what you care about and you can give to that, whether it's time or money, you will see change. And if someone else cares about something different, and they focus on that, I think we, as especially as women, feel this pressure that we have to, like, care about all the cares. And, and you should have some empathy for all the cares, but also you'll you're you'll exhaust yourself and your mind, and then you'll be too busy to actually like, go and acquire the wealth that gives you the independence and freedom to choose how you spend your money and who gets that money. And I do think that, like, we'd be in a different place right now if more people had some independence be due to finances. I think some people don't leave terrible jobs because of money, and that means bosses can be abusive and they can't, you know, there's just different things that if we if the. Clare Solly 12:21 I was one of them. Lesley Logan 12:22 Yes, oh my gosh, yes. I know. So, like, I don't know. I just, I really, but I think we need to continue to remind ourselves that money is a tool. Clare Solly 12:31 Yeah, well, in my podcast with you, way, way, way back when, I'm sure your team will put it in the show notes, I want to say it's episode 19, single, double digits, baby. I was early on, but I was the woowoo side of this. Like money is energy, and it is a measure on the energy you as a human put into something that your company gives back to you so you can use, you know, because we're not in the days of of goats trading, you know, the goat that you farm for the milk that I need. So go back and listen to that podcast, everybody. That's your homework. But one thing I loved, and actually, I kind of want to, I have two things. I'm gonna I'm gonna take it. I love that she said, we're afraid as women, especially, to talk with our friends about money, and I think we need to like because we are afraid of money, because we've been trained to be afraid of money and not spending it or spending it when we have it, and then, you know, so we as women kind of are trained to go between feast and famine, because we don't talk about what people have. And bonus, we're all so used to the Instagram version of everybody, so like, I, you know, I'm jealous of like and like, you're one of my best friends. And I tell you, I'm like, I'm jealous of your lifestyle, and you're like, girl, you were seeing the tip of the iceberg. And but like, well, and then we'll talk about things, and we'll talk about a minute, and it's sometimes not directly bank account related, but we'll talk about things like you just mentioned you found this great person you've been wanting, and you, you know, you bargain chopped for it because you wanted this purse and. Lesley Logan 14:04 Yeah. I wanted this purse. It's not cheap. And I was like, well, I don't want to spend that much, but I want to, I want to buy it. So I'm just gonna wait and be patient. And I think, like, I do think I had, I have had friends who are like, because they care. They're like, well, how much was it? I'm like, I'll tell you, because if you want this bag, you should know, don't pay more than I paid. You can get it.Clare Solly 14:23 Yeah, yeah. And it's all like, what we value versus how much we have and, and I think one thing too, that she said was, like, don't overspend what you make. And I think that, you know, I think there's a little bit of gappage in there, but if you're really trying to control yourself, like, yeah, make sure that you can, you can pay close to what your credit cards are. Lesley Logan 14:42 Well and there's so many tools now, like, there's and I think that are different than what we had when we were growing up, which was just like a piece of paper and a budget, you know, like a checkbook. Do you remember, doing the checkbook and doing the math. And I think that, like, you know, it's true, especially because in our lifetimes, our moms finally had permission to get their own bank account, their own loans, you know, and their own credit cards. I'm like, that's crazy, that in our lifetimes. So it's, it's, it's clear that the education about that. But I, if people ask me, you know, about different things, like, I'm very honest, like, you know, we got, you didn't know I had a new car, and it's a car that I've wanted for over 10 years. And I literally said, you know, like, this is a write off.Clare Solly 15:22 And I totally thought you borrowed a car from a friend. When you picked me at the airport, I was like, how did you borrow your dream car from a friend? That's amazing.Lesley Logan 15:29 Yeah, well, I mean, like, because I don't, like, I don't put a ton of of the stuff on the internet, because people will make up a different story about it. And, like, I but I am really honest with in our coaching business, we'll tell people like, this is why you should set your business up this way, because these things are write offs, and you'll get these kinds of things. And, like, the reality is the rich got richer because they know how the loopholes are right. And like, am I a fan of, like, a flat tax for everybody so there's no write offs, but yeah, because I think the world of Pilates is a better place, and there will still be someone who finds a loophole for it. But like, I actually do want my tax dollars to work for the people that do have less. Like, I actually want to be like, yeah, this my tax money goes to the health care and the housing and the education of the people coming because, like, like, it's this funny joke that I'm very much stuck on. But like, I don't, I don't have children, so who is going to take care of me when I am older, right? Like. Clare Solly 16:17 You now is going to take care of you when you're older, right? Lesley Logan 16:19 Yeah, right. So like, you know, I need to have money for that. And I also want people who are not me to be educated in a way that they could support me when I'm in need. I don't want someone who, you know what I mean. So I think, like, I wish more people thought like that. I do think that anyone listening to this podcast does care about how others are, and so, you know, yes, it's voting, and yes, it's all these different things. But also, until the government actually works for the people, we women are more likely to spend our money in our communities and support other people. And so we need to understand how the game is played and use it. And maybe it means, like, figuring out, you know, maybe it's using, like, something like a Rocket Money to figure out where your money is going. I don't know. They don't sponsor the show, but if someone knows them, I'll take a commercial ad from them, I'll take that money and I'll give it to the SPCA. But like, I think if you don't know where your money is going yet, that's the first place to start, you know.Clare Solly 17:14 Yeah and to, like, to start the conversation. This kind of goes into my second point, or my second you know, love it Be It item from this. I think, like, one of the conversation starters that you can have with your friends, it's easier than, hey, Lesley, how much do you make annually? Because, like, that's also a touchy subject, and sometimes we don't want to share that, but maybe start talking about the economy and the stock market being different things, and talk to your friends about, like, what they're interested in and if they invest, and how they invest, because she mentioned a whole bunch of things, 401(K), Roth IRA, a regular IRAM. She also said the thing about investing for her, her niece, you can do that for yourself. You can throw $100 in a Rocket Money account, an Acorns account, just a regular savings account, a CD like start talking to your friends about how they make their money work for them. And if they're not, like, find a buddy. And like, start going down and share things. Like Lesley and I, we shuttle things back and forth to each other all the time about, like, business and how to invest and things like that. And like, it's not mind blowing, earth shattering, and sometimes it's a reiteration, but we do talk about money, and I'm so glad I have you to be able to talk about money openly. It's so great.Lesley Logan 18:29 Well, I agree same. I mean, like, the thing is, you who told me, because, like, I work for Equinox, and they told me, in my benefits package, there's a 401(K), right? And there's a program, and they did, like, some sort of matching up to some amount of money. And my male trainer was like, Do you are you doing the 401(K)? And I was like, Oh no, I don't really know what to do. And he's like, you just say you want it, like, and they'll just take the money out. And like, I didn't know. No female around me had told me to do it. And I'm not saying that they're at fault. Like, I could have done the research. But like, sometimes we all have so much going on, and so like, making sure that our friends know these things, or at least your colleagues, like, hey, yeah, did you hear that they're doing a match on the 401? K, I upped my like, announce that. Because everyone wins, by the way, everyone wins whenever, when you're, when, when that happens. And retirement does affect us all. Like, it's just going to if you're, if your family members don't, aren't set up for retirement, it's going to negatively affect you in some way. Either they're gonna need more from you, or they're gonna be working forever and you're gonna have less time with them. So I think that's important. So that happened, and then, because I have friends and clients like my business of just teaching people who obviously people have private session Pilates, they have a little bit more money, I let them talk about what they were doing when they were talking about investing, or they're talking about their stocks are down, I would go tell me like, tell me more how that works. Like, I just got curious, and I learned from them. I learned how one of my friends borrowed money from her parents, and she did it the right way so that she'd like pay a loan back, and then she was able to use that in her taxes to write some stuff off. Like, you, people will share with you, but sometimes we're not asking the questions. We just hear them talk about, oh, I'm, I'm, I'm buying this house, or, like, I got, like, I had a friend who was like, Oh yeah, I'm doing, I'm doing a remodel. And I was like, oh, that must be, like, I didn't, like, how long did you save up money for that? Right? She's like, Oh, I did this HELOC. And I was like, Oh, my God, what's a HELOC, right? I don't know these things. I'm a first time homeowner. I don't know anything. What I know is everything fucking is on, on us to fix. But guess what? It's not because we had the AC go down and because our neighbors mentioned something they had, we had checked the right box when it came to our homeowner's insurance. When our AC broke, that motor's $3,000 and Brad was able to do X, Y and Z with the homeowner insurance. And guess what? It's and so we would have been out $3,000 that we didn't need to be. And I think this is where, like talking with your friends, talking with your neighbors, asking what they're doing, if they don't want to tell you, you'll find out. Their body language will shift. They'll get really weird, and then you'll know interesting they don't want to talk about that. I don't have to have a judgment towards it, but I'll find someone else. Yeah, no, I agree. Women, let's talk about money more. Clare Solly 20:58 Let's talk about money more. Okay, all right, so let's talk about those Be It Action Items. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo in preparing or weathering volatility, stock market crashes and building substantial wealth? She advised, money invested in the stock market should be funds you do not need for the next three to five years. It's your fund money, guys. Organize finances by their intended timeline and purpose. Clearly separate short term needs, cash savings from long term goals and keep more money in cash, such as high yield savings account during the uncertain times. This serves two purposes. It provides a safety net to cover expenses without being forced to sell investments, and it prevents emotional and panic-driven decisions. I mean, I have, like, a rule of thumb, because I live in New York City, I have two months of rent saved up, because you never know what's gonna happen.Lesley Logan 21:52 No, I think that that's wise. And thanks for sharing what you're doing. I think, like, you know, Tess was honestly on the pod. She's like, yeah, I'm having, I have, I actually have more cash on hand now. Yeah, it's a little more uncertain right now. And when we were recording this, we're like, it'll be interesting to see when this comes out. Like, what's going on. And I, I asked her, like, I DM-ed her, I said, Hey, your episodes coming out in March. Like, is there anything you want to add? And she's like, I really stand by. Like, the things that I said, and, and, and she and so one of the things that she said in the Be It Action Items is just like, no one cares about your money more than you do. Clare Solly 22:20 No one cares. Lesley Logan 22:21 No one cares about your money more than you do. So if you care about your money, she actually said to go, like, go, I want you to go with the show notes. She has a free guide, and it's been 20 minutes reading it. It takes 20 minutes, and just pick one next action step. Like, honestly, I think we overwhelm ourselves by all the different things that there is to do, the CDs, the 401(K)s. But like, if you start with like, one thing. And for those of you who are employed, like, is there a 401(K)? Are you maxing out it? I know that they've made changes to, like, how much you can max out. So are you maxing out to the new changes? You know, I believe everyone should just have an accountant, because these tax laws are so freaking ridiculous, and your accountant needs to know what your goals are. So you might need to sit down. Maybe your next action step is like, what are my money goals? Like, you know, I'm 43 so my goals now are different than my goals when I was 33 right? So what does that look like? Are they understanding? You know, Brad and I've been very vocal, like, we talked to our accountants all the time. When we bought went to buy our car. We were very specific about, like, Okay, if we buy it this week versus the next week, because it's at the end of the year versus the beginning of the year. Like, what are the risks and losses and pros and cons, and I think that that's important stuff. So obviously, we work for ourselves versus being employed. And, you know what? With chatGPT, you could literally ask it, hey, this is who I am, this is how much I make. This is what's going on. Like, what do you think? Like, I mean, obviously I would, I would research anything it says. But like, there's tools right now to take action so you can be educated one step at a time, you know?Clare Solly 23:40 Yeah, and to kind of piggyback on that. You guys didn't talk about this, but one thing that came to mind when you were talking is, if your gut is saying one thing, and your accountant or your investment person is telling you another, go get a second opinion. Just like a doctor, it's okay to get a second opinion. If you're not feeling like something might be off, like, in it, you don't have to invest with somebody to go do that. Just go, like, call somebody up and say, Hey, I got this advice. They may or may not be like, be able to help you. And so you try to, have to try a second, second opinion, but.Lesley Logan 24:09 You might, and also you should, because if they're like, if your gut is going, hmm, they seem a little shady, then move on. Like, listen to your gut with that. And in fact, Tess's first episode with us really talks about, like, finding those wealth people, or how to do it yourself. So it just depends on, like, you know, what your capabilities are. I will say, like, Brad and I do have someone that we trust helping us, because maybe it'll be different now that we're like, have help with the ADHD, but it just felt like a little bit more than we could take on in this particular moment. But they're very clear, very communicative. We checked with, you know, Tess's fees and all that stuff, so we're making sure that we're making sure that we're not getting screwed over like but so there's just different help out there. And you can also go to Tess as a certain a Substack that is free. Clare Solly 24:49 Really? Lesley Logan 24:50 Yes, it's free. Clare Solly 24:51 Oh I'm signing up. Lesley Logan 24:52 I know I know. Me too, because I like her honesty about everything. I like her attitude. I like she her, you guys, when she teaches you how to actually manage your own accounts, you can literally just do it like I'm just, I have just have a problem with, like, starting new things sometimes, and this is one of them. Obviously, therapy will help, but, and next year could be different, but where I am today, but you can do it like it's, I will. I watched it, I was like, I can do this right now. And I actually opened up my own high yield savings account without Brad did myself. Like, I'm so excited, because that money is what's taking us on our second honeymoon, his and mine. Like, we that was the goal of this particular account that we opened. But she's such good information. You're gonna go to wealthwithtess.substack.com and you can grab it for free. So I (inaudible).Clare Solly 25:36 And Tess is gonna be super proud of you. Like, that's amazing. Lesley Logan 25:39 I know. Clare Solly 25:40 Like, I mean, because we should, again, back to what we first said. We should be in control of our money, because nobody else cares.Lesley Logan 25:46 Yeah, I mean, that's very true. And so anyways, if we can live with anything, it's go take one piece of action on educating yourself about your money that Tess has for you. It's all free out there. And then there's ways to invest if you want to know more. I'm Lesley Logan. Clare Solly 25:58 And I'm Clare Solly. Lesley Logan 26:00 Thanks for joining us today. I hope you had fun with Claire and I if you miss Brad, he'll be back in a couple weeks. Don't worry, he's not going anywhere. But we are so grateful for you, and I can't think of a better episode to share with a friend than our money episodes with Tess and Clare. So you can listen to the woo one. You can listen to the legit one. You can listen to this update. Not that yours is not legit, but I guess how should I say it. You can listen to the dry one. What is it? What's the opposite of woo, like. Clare Solly 26:26 Grounded in fact. I don't know.Lesley Logan 26:29 Grounded. I don't know. It's not I, I think that like everything in moderation, including moderation, yeah. So well listen to both of them, and then go take some action steps that work for you. And until next time, Be It Till You See It. Clare Solly 26:39 Go do your homework. Lesley Logan 26:40 Do it. Lesley Logan 26:42 That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 27:24 It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 27:29 It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 27:33 Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 27:40 Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 27:44 Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Clare Solly 27:57 All right, so let's talk about, no, wait, we have to pause.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
In this Hobosode I see what's left on the car ding voicemails and call all of the numbers, just to see who will pick up. In the end I don't fool any new people, but I have a nice reunion with a few of the old ones and I'm able to completely empty all of the voicemails from last Dingtember. Thanks, Raising Kane, for sponsoring this one. The opening song is by Henrik. The background music is Switch Lanes by Emergency Pizza Party. The end song is yamiga69 by Jeff.LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW: To find out more about the music you hear on this show, visit our page of artists. For a bit of history and a studio tour, this is a good starting page. Request a prank call and find links related to shows at snowplowshow.com. If you're searching for a specific thing said in a show, shitbradsays.com is a great resource for that.SUPPORT THE PLA: For extra weekly shows, subscribe on Patreon, Spotify, or Apple. Get our t-shirts and stickers at our TeePublic store. Get coins, vinyl records, CDs, and more on our Bandcamp page. We also have thing in our Zazzle store in our Spreadshirt store. Buy important things for us at PLA's wishlist or Brad's wishlist, but most importantly, please tell your friends, family, and strangers about all about us.JOIN THE COMMUNITY: Add PLA on Prankcast for live shows, add PLA on Facebook, add Snow Plow Show on Facebook, add PLA on X, add PLA on Tik Tok, add PLA on Bluesky, add PLA on Tumblr, add PLA on YouTube, add Snow Plow Show on YouTube, PLA on Twitch, PLA on Instagram, join a Prank Call Discord, the PLA Reddit, add RBCP on Instagram, add RBCP on X, add RBCP on YouTube, and leave a voice message for the show at 814-422-5309.PLA FRIENDS AND STAFF: Nik Caesar from scary-art.com is the unofficial PLA artist. Buy PLA designs from Nik's Spreadshirt store. You might also like the cactus and PLA designs in Laugh Track Matt's store. Clownsec does a lot of cool things for PLA so go honk the PLAnet. Watch JIAD's Calls of Mass Confusion and listen to a few of the prank call shows over at World of Prank Calls. Joe DiVita and Vista Blue do lots of music for us, but so do lots of other people, so visit the SPS music page for a very incomplete list.GAME WITH PLA Join us Animal Crossing addicts by becoming our friends on Switch. If you're into GTA5, join the PLA Radio crew.
In this episode of Car Con Carne, James VanOsdol welcomes Josh Chicoine, the creative force behind Cult Canyon, to discuss the release of the debut album, Smoke Tricks. The conversation delves into the evolution of Josh's musical projects, from the raw energy of the M's and the acoustic harmonies of Cloudbirds to the collaborative and sophisticated sound of Cult Canyon. Key Highlights: The Making of Smoke Tricks: Josh explains how the album, initially inspired by string arrangements recorded in 2019, was brought to life through a grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). Creative Collaborations: The album features contributions from talented musicians like Alison Chesley, Susan Voelz, and Dave Max Crawford, as well as backup vocals from Melissa Busch-Wolford and Lindsay Weinberg. DIY Spirit: Josh shares his experiences with the DIY approach to music, from producing and promoting records to filming music videos with a GoPro and a vintage VHS filter. The Influence of Chicago: The city of Chicago serves as a backdrop for the album, with Josh reflecting on his relationship with the city and the local music scene. Second Hand News: Josh and James discuss his involvement in the Fleetwood Mac tribute band, Second Hand News, and the transgenerational appeal of the legendary band's music. Album Information: Item Details Artist Cult Canyon Album Title Smoke Tricks Release Date March 13, 2026 Label Rattleback Records Release Show The Hideout, March 14, 2026 This episode is brought to you by Exploding House Printing. Based in Hermosa, they specialize in screen printing, embroidery, and custom merch for bands and brands. Visit explodinghouseprinting.com for a quote. Episode Transcript (Note: Auto-generated transcript; errors are possible) James VanOsdol: This right here is Car Con Carne. Car Con Carne is a Q101 podcast. I'm James VanOsdol. Car Con Carne is brought to you by Exploding House Printing. They’re based in Hermosa and they specialize in screen printing, embroidery, and custom merch for bands and brands. Check them out on explodinghouseprinting.com. Get a quote, see all the people, businesses, bands, and brands that they’ve worked with. Explodinghouseprinting.com. (Theme song plays) James VanOsdol: So, after the Golden Line EP a few years ago, Cult Canyon is set to release its debut album, Smoke Tricks, on March 13th. The album will be released on lovely vinyl via Rattleback Records and the release will be celebrated with a live show at The Hideout the following night. Josh Chicoine, whose creative resume is deep, impressive, and familiar, joins me in the car on a rainy, dreary, just kind of shitty transitional winter-into-spring night. Josh Chicoine: Muck, winter mix. James VanOsdol: Let’s talk about Cult Canyon. We’re here, the album’s almost out as we’re sitting here talking about it. Josh Chicoine: It is. James VanOsdol: A lot of us came to know you from your time with the M’s earlier this century. Have you metaphorically moved from the garage to the living room with these projects? Josh Chicoine: It feels like I have. I mean, there was definitely a lot of garage influences happening with the M's. Certainly a DIY spirit. James VanOsdol: That kind of raw immediacy. Josh Chicoine: Yeah, I think we were trying to—well, it was of the time too. So this was the early 2000s, there was a lot of that stuff rolling around. And we kind of fit into that mix and just wanted to bring our own little flavor, which is heavily melodic, a lot of singing, a lot of gang vocals, which is one of my favorite things to do. And still, I guess, pop ethos, you know? Major and minor chords, nothing crazy. But yeah, we got done with that and I started a three-piece singing group called Cloudbirds and did that for about three years with a couple of guys that were in the M’s also, Joey King and Glenn Russell. And that was definitely in the living room. That was acoustic guitars, sometimes we had electric, but mostly acoustic music and three-part harmonies and very folky. And it was a real welcome relief, I’d say, to almost 10 years of loud guitars and bashing drums and shouting vocals. James VanOsdol: You weren’t pounding kids anymore. Josh Chicoine: We were not. We were not, and we kind of got started late anyway. So by the time 2009 rolled around, I was probably in my mid-30s, early 30s, everybody was kind of getting into their 30s. So being on the road was just awful. I think I was about ready to have my first child. And so yeah, the whole kind of idea shifted. And so we just couldn’t sustain that. So being in a singing group and just three guys, a lot easier to organize practices and singing some sweet melodies and harmonies, and that was more my style. And I kind of chased that for a little while, and then I had a new band called Sabres and I tried to do the rock thing again in 2014 and self-released that record, put a lot of time into that record. And it was another big record. And I found out I was just really tired. The DIY thing is that you have to do it yourself. So that means producing the record, promoting the record, getting all the artwork together, getting five people—now more grown people—to get together for any rehearsal, any show. I thought it was going to maybe be a bit easier, but it just wasn't. It wasn't easy, so I had to put that down. James VanOsdol: DIY is hard. We’re doing DIY right now in a car on urban radio in 2026. I do it in my car with a couple of cheap—see how the world has shifted for us both. Josh Chicoine: It has. I might say for the better. James VanOsdol: One would argue or could argue that, yeah. We’re our own bosses. Josh Chicoine: I think so. Yeah, there you go. James VanOsdol: You’re the CEO of Cult Canyon. Josh Chicoine: I am the CEO of Cult Canyon. I have a lot of contributors and collaborators, which I’m very thankful for. James VanOsdol: Let’s talk about some of them. Alison Chesley is a contributor. Josh Chicoine: She is. She is actually appearing on the latest record. To go back to the Golden Line EP in 2019, so right before COVID, I released an EP called Josh Chicoine and it was called Dream Believers. And I was imagining this trajectory where the next bunch of songs would include a string quartet. And so in 2019, early 2019, I recorded three songs including with Susan Voelz, who’s a good friend also. James VanOsdol: She’s delightful. Josh Chicoine: Yeah, she’s delightful, she’s an old friend, she’s a great contributor, what a great spirit. And with her and a few other string players. And then COVID came, so I sat on this thing. And I sat on this thing for quite a while because part of the DIY situation that we’re in now is that there’s so much noise and there’s so many competing avenues for attention, including your couch doing nothing. That’s a big one. James VanOsdol: Yeah. Josh Chicoine: Yeah, so I sat on it and I didn’t know what I was going to do. And so I applied for a grant. It was really the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events here in Chicago, they have an individual artist program, DCASE. James VanOsdol: DCASE. Shout out to DCASE. Josh Chicoine: They have a grant program every year, and I applied and I said, you know, I’m coming back into making things and this is what I want to do. I want to make a rock record in the city of Chicago using Chicago musicians out of Chicago studios. And that was really the kind of impetus to be like, okay, what do I want this Cult Canyon thing to be? And so that’s when I looked back at those Golden Line songs, which are really lush string arrangements done by our good friend Dave Max Crawford of Poi Dog Pondering and the Total Pro Horns. And he does a fantastic job. I’ve been collaborating with him since the M’s, he did a lot of those string arrangements and horn arrangements and stuff, so he’s really adept and really tasteful. And so I was just like, why not bring it into everything that I’m doing and make Cult Canyon more of a catch-all and a place where, for one, I can do what I want and I can do it with others that I want to do it with, people that I love. And yeah, Alison Chesley, I met her through Susan because playing with quartets, you end up having a large stable of artists because people are busy or they want more money than you want to give them or can give them on any given night. So I was able to meet and reach out to a bunch of string players and continually find new ones in town that can fill a role for a time. And happily, Alison is on this record on a tune called Good Bad Habits. James VanOsdol: I love it. And the album sounds great. Now, we’re recording this right before it comes out, like I said. The album is Smoke Tricks. We’ve had—we, the public—have experienced some of it already. Real Sublime is a single. You shot a video for this one. Josh Chicoine: I did. James VanOsdol: Was that your house you shot it in? Josh Chicoine: That was at my house, yeah. James VanOsdol: Very tastefully appointed. Josh Chicoine: Thank you. That’s all due to my wife. James VanOsdol: You’ve got you in a convertible on the lakefront. Josh Chicoine: That’s my buddy Al’s ‘67 Oldsmobile. James VanOsdol: That’s badass. Josh Chicoine: Pretty badass. We all need a buddy like Al. Al’s the best. James VanOsdol: Convertible on the drive, clearly different time of year from when we’re recording this. Josh Chicoine: Yeah. James VanOsdol: And is that the lake you jumped into or did you shoot that— Josh Chicoine: Yeah, jumped into the lake. Another good friend of mine is a Great Lake jumper, Dan O’Conor. James VanOsdol: He’s a celebrated Great Lake jumper. Josh Chicoine: They continually celebrate Great Lake jumper. I think he did it for five years straight every day. And yeah, so I started going out there and doing that. So it wasn’t so far afield to imagine, because what are videos now? I don’t even know what they are. But for this one, it was like, all right, Al, let’s get in a car, let’s drive around. I got this GoPro, I’ll stick it to your car, drive around, and then let’s go to the lake and let’s jump in the lake. James VanOsdol: So it doesn’t necessarily tie back to the lyrics or the theme? Josh Chicoine: I don’t think so. I mean, but maybe somebody sees something that I don’t. I think that’s part of my MO, at least, is to leave enough fog to allow for some interpretation. But yeah, this is more of kind of a performance, roll around, get some good footage, put a 1989 VHS filter on it and make it look cool and get it out. James VanOsdol: And you’re a fan of film and what can be done with movies. Josh Chicoine: Yeah, for sure. I mean, I love film, I love movies, I love music movies. For eight years I was the co-founder and director of the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival. And we were all over the place throughout the city. And we would show movies from all over the world, like 33 countries usually were represented each year. And that was just, for me, was fascinating to figure out how to build something like that that could last and to raise money for it, you know, practicing all these adult skills that being in a van in a band on tour you’re not really practicing too much. James VanOsdol: Do you miss doing CIMMfest? Josh Chicoine: There’s a lot of it that I do. I really miss just the people and the spirit. I mean, we had an incredible group of volunteers that would come every year and really they were the ones that were able to activate this thing. And so I loved sitting around and dreaming, I loved building marketing materials, if only because then I could have something to go and take to people that I knew and a network that I was building. And I thought it was really a cool thing for the city and it really got me in touch with a lot of old friends and made so many new friends and it kept me—this was right after the M’s, and the M’s were kind of media darlings and played a lot of shows and, you know, I knew a lot of club owners and I knew publicists and I knew all that network. So it kind of allowed me personally to stay connected to that world. And coming out of there, that’s what my kind of career goals were. I was just like, okay, I want to stay in this world, I want to stay connected to these people. So it was my friend Ilko Davidov, who’s a Bulgarian filmmaker, and it was his concept. And I was just sort of the right person that was able to come and hoodwink a bunch of people into coming on board and giving me a bunch of money and being able to try to make this thing into a sustainable institution. We never quite got there. It’s always resource-light and operations-heavy. And never quite got there, but still just some great memories and really happy and really proud of what we were able to build. James VanOsdol: Thinking about film and music and making short music films, I’ve wondered this out loud on this podcast before, but I feel like this is a golden moment. This is the time for artists to explore that side of things. I mean, it’s not like the 1980s when I grew up, when videos were bankrolled by record labels and there were millions of dollars. Like, you grabbed a GoPro, you sit it on the dash—like, this is a real opportunity for creative expression, I think. I just don’t know if enough independent artists are taking advantage of it. Josh Chicoine: I mean, if you look at—I’ll have to disagree, I feel like, you know, the barriers are down and people now, everybody’s got a pretty decent camera in their pocket at all times. Since the barriers are down and since everybody’s got a camera, you can do whatever you want, put it up there, and not going to say it’s good, most of it’s not, most of it’s schlock. But you at least have the opportunity to make something that’s decent and the technology affords it. You don't even need to be great at editing. You can cobble stuff together. You really can. I mean, I use a really cheap editing software. James VanOsdol: Can I ask? Josh Chicoine: It’s called CapCut. And the same company, I can’t remember what they’re called, the TikTok corporation, ByteDance. It’s a ByteDance product. And I got it because it was cheap and another friend of mine was using it. And he was making some cool stuff, so I was just like, all right, I’m just going to dive in and start doing stuff. And so that’s what I did. James VanOsdol: That’s DIY. Roll up your sleeves, let’s get to it. Josh Chicoine: Yeah, it’s just—I had spent CIMMfest was so much about favors and so much about waiting for favors from people that you were either getting a deep discount from or not paying at all. And I know the pain, you know? And it’s real. So if you have any kind of means by which you can get a hold of this stuff, then it’s just about putting the work in and, you know, time is mine to give or throw away. So, yeah, it’s just sort of—I keep getting better and better, I mean other people can be the judge of that, but I feel pretty good about what I’ve been able to do with hardly any resources. James VanOsdol: It’s pretty cool. Josh Chicoine: Yeah, it’s pretty cool. James VanOsdol: All right, going back to this album Smoke Tricks again, available on March 13th. Bitter Birdies is how we begin. If you listen close, actually you don’t even need to listen that closely, there are dogs barking at the beginning of the song. Josh Chicoine: Yeah, Ralfy. James VanOsdol: I was going to ask. Josh Chicoine: It’s my doggie. James VanOsdol: And you were aware when you were recording the dog was part of it, right? Josh Chicoine: Yeah, well, my producer, my co-producer on this was Todd Rittmann and Todd Rittmann was in US Maple. I don’t know if you remember that band. Affiliated with Cheer-Accident, of course. James VanOsdol: Of course, always interesting. Josh Chicoine: Yes. Now he’s in Dead Rider, for everybody out there who’s watching, check out Dead Rider. Yeah, he’s fascinating, he’s got a great little studio called Shy Diamond Studio down in Logan, just north of Fullerton. And, you know, him and I kind of cobbled this thing together. And I never expected that the piano tracks were the final. So I would just make demos at my house and then I would send them to Todd and I’d be like, “Here’s what I’m thinking for this song,” and then we would try and fit it in somehow. And he was just—he’s like a maestro. He was just like, “I love it, you’re never taking away the dog’s bark. We’re keeping it in there 100%.” So I was like, “All right, let’s go.” Piano sounded fine, sounded good, it’s my piano in my living room. I loved it, and that’s my boy Ralfy. So he’s my spirit animal and I’m glad he’s on the record too. James VanOsdol: Good boy, Ralfy. Josh Chicoine: He’s a very good boy. James VanOsdol: On this song, I know you want people to interpret songs as, you know, as any artist would suggest, like you want to feel a connection, right? But you do mention “stuck here in Chicago” in that song. Were you feeling—do you feel a weird relationship with the city? Josh Chicoine: I think I love Chicago. It’s my favorite city. It’s especially my favorite city to come back to. I don’t know if you’ve ever leave for like a little while, but when you come back, it’s just like—ah. Especially when you’re driving back home and like you catch that first glimpse of the skyline. That is a moment. It’s real. So, I mean, when I got that grant from DCASE, it was like, “Oh no, now I got to write a record.” They called your bluff. Every time for me, at least, I decide to write a record, I have to figure out how to write a record again. And that—it’s like a lot of introspection and a lot of like, “Who am I now? What am I going to write about now?” And it takes a long—it took me a long time. And Bitter Birdies kind of came about based upon that piano that opens it up. I had that piece for a long time, but sort of like lyrically I wasn’t quite sure. And my wife and I are going to be married 25 years in June. James VanOsdol: Congratulations, that’s a big milestone. Josh Chicoine: Thank you. It’s been wonderful. But seven years into our relationship, there was a breakup. Post-college, I mean I was dating her since I was 19. I’ve known her for a long time. So yeah, moved to Chicago, joined a band, you know, our lives were diverging. And so we broke up. And she went—she quit her job, she was like working at a financial firm downtown. I was in a band, so you can see divergence. For sure. But yeah, she quit her job, she went on walkabout in Europe for six months. And I took myself back to that time. And that time was sort of very freeing and very fun at the beginning, and then the longing just really set in and, you know, the longer my notes and messages would go to her, the shorter and shorter that they came back to me. So it appeared like she was moving on and there was something really heart-wrenching about that for me. So yeah, that song was about that. So, you know, she was having this really great experience and seeing all new things and new people and I was here stuck in Chicago. So I was living in a loft space where Salvage One is now off of Hubbard, between Wood and Wolcott. With these crazy artist people and there were raves and I was making a bunch of music. So it was just like this Kevin Bacon Quicksilver life that I was living. And I just started to really miss her, no matter what I was just like, “What if she came back here and she lived with me in this hovel and we could do this together?” And that’s sort of the kind of emotional impulse that I felt from writing that and wanting to get out of it, you know, wanting to get out of that space. So nothing against Chicago, I love Chicago, but you know there’s definitely moments where you’re just like, “Okay, get me out of here.” James VanOsdol: Write what you know. Josh Chicoine: That’s I think what I came back to and when I was confronted with that idea and I keep a quote book and Louise Bourgeois said that, “If you’re not writing about yourself, then it doesn’t mean anything.” And I’m parsing—I’m screwing that quote up, but I really took that to heart. So I was like, “Okay, well then I am going to write about myself and my experiences because it’s all that I have really that I could feel a connection with.” Oh, it’s okay up there. I got an ambulance. Ambulance, police car, normal stuff. Stuck in Chicago. Here we are. James VanOsdol: Run Red Lights, which I don’t recommend. I mean, I recommend the song. Who’s doing the backup vocals on that? Josh Chicoine: Yeah, so that’s my friend Melissa and Lindsay. Melissa Busch-Wolford and Lindsay Weinberg. And they play with me in a Fleetwood Mac tribute band called Second Hand News. James VanOsdol: Good segue. I was going to ask about that. Because the backup vocals have a really nice texture in that song in particular. Josh Chicoine: Thanks. James VanOsdol: And that actually dovetails perfectly to the question about working and being part of Second Hand News because you play with those harmonies which are magical. Clearly you bring some of that back to Cult Canyon. Josh Chicoine: Yeah, I think it for me it’s always sort of been there. You can hear it in the M’s, you can hear it if you listen to Sabres, you can hear it there too. Certainly with Cloudbirds it was very much about the harmonies. And yeah, as I started to enter into this promo world of Cult Canyon, I was just trying to like think about things that were a common thread. And harmonies, singing—that’s how I kind of come up with ideas. I just kind of start with the voice, have something on the guitar that’s fine. I’m a mediocre guitar player but it’s really about voice and vocals. And so when I started playing in Second Hand News, you know, I had never been in a band with women before. I’ve played music with women before, but not in a band. So it was sort of like, “Oh, this whole another resource that I would love to bring into this project.” And they were so game and, you know, they brought their whole selves to it and I think it really shows in the recording. James VanOsdol: I love it. Since we’re on the topic of Fleetwood Mac, Tusk. Misunderstood classic or big awful mess? Josh Chicoine: Can it be both? Depends on which side you’re on, yeah. I was really naive about Tusk and I had it in my record collection just from a bunch of records that somebody gave me. And I think at one point the—because there’s two record sleeves in it—they both got kind of separated. So all of a sudden I had four record sleeves separated and I was like, “Wait a minute, this is a quadruple album? This is crazy.” But it wasn’t. There’s a record sleeve that hides another record sleeve that has the record in it. That’s how much money and wasteful money that they had. Because that’s coming off Rumours. Like, they could do whatever they wanted. Lindsey Buckingham could do whatever he wanted. And he really did. He really did. And some of it, you know, it could be argued that he shouldn’t have done it, but we still play a bunch of jams off of there. The title track to me is still one of the coolest songs of the 1970s. Super cool. I mean, there’s a lot on there that are really unheralded. Think About Me is another really good one that we love to play. James VanOsdol: Sara’s on that too, right? Josh Chicoine: Oh God, I’m going to get killed by my bandmates. Sara’s on there, yeah, it’s on there. Let’s say yeah, when no one’s looking it up. But yeah, we play Sara all the time and it’s like seven minutes long and the audience loves it and Melissa crushes it. And yeah, those are just really fun songs to play. And the audiences are crazy. It’s like there’s 18-year-olds there. James VanOsdol: I was going to say. Josh Chicoine: There’s 88-year-olds there. James VanOsdol: It’s one of those bands that is transgenerational. My daughter, who’s heading towards 21, Stevie Nicks is probably a top five artist for her. For her birthday a few years ago I took her to see Stevie Nicks at the United Center and it was this magical night for her. Like, we walked out of the United Center and she said, “I only cried three times.” I’m like, “What do you mean you cried?” “Well, you know, during Gold Dust Woman and... oh gosh, what else did she cry during? Dreams, Rhiannon, and Landslide.” Of course, classics. But I mean it is interesting how maybe millennials didn’t give a shit, but suddenly like Gen Z is full on board with Stevie Nicks. Josh Chicoine: I take it back to that dude who was on the skateboard chugging cranberry juice and all of a sudden Dreams became something. But it just feels like it’s cyclical. It keeps coming back, those songs are just so classic. Timeless, absolutely timeless. And the recordings of them were amazing. So it just seems like they’re just not going to go away, which is great for Second Hand News. Yeah, I mean we played the Metro a couple weeks ago. That’s amazing. James VanOsdol: That’s nuts. Josh Chicoine: Yeah. I love it. James VanOsdol: And to your point, like all ages get into it. That’s something you don’t get to experience necessarily in the M’s or Cult Canyon. Josh Chicoine: It’s different. Yeah, it’s different for sure. And I think that we—I’ve been told this by a lot of audience members after the show and they’re just like glowing coming out after scream-singing at us for two hours. And they just say like, “You bring so much joy.” And I really feel that. Like, we do. I mean the band is killer. And so the band in Second Hand News, the guitar player, bassist, drummer, Mike, Mike, and Dan, they play in Cult Canyon too. So they’re the ones who are the backing band on this Cult Canyon record. So I just was just enamored with this whole group and just because we had such good times together on stage and in front of giant crowds and harmonizing and singing and playing those classic songs. So it was just kind of a natural little pivot to bring them into my songwriting and I was really happy that they did. James VanOsdol: I love that. So Rattleback Records, easily a favorite record store of mine. Josh Chicoine: Mm-hmm. James VanOsdol: Releasing the album on vinyl. How important was it for you to have this as a record, as an LP? Josh Chicoine: It was critical for me. I think one of the things—so I released the Sabres record in 2014. And it kind of, like many, many, many, many, many records out there, it just kind of gets—it’s like, “Okay, it’s out there,” and then you tell your friends and then it just doesn’t really go anywhere. James VanOsdol: And that ambitious ordering of 500 records turns into, “Okay, we’re still sitting on 250.” Josh Chicoine: I have a lot of CDs. Let’s put it to you that way. Hit me up if you want a CD by Sabres. I’ll just give it to you. It’s got—anyway. Yeah, so I think I was determined to at least try and make a stink with this Cult Canyon record. And I really liked it. And so one of the first things I did was I talked to my friends in the AM Slingers, who are another Rattleback band and they’re friends of mine too. And I knew that Paul over at Rattleback had put out a 7-inch of theirs. And by put out, I mean he paid for it. So he facilitated the production and then, you know, created a connection between the band and the record store. Really love that idea, you know? It’s going to be DIY anyway, it’s all about building community bit by bit by bit. So I was introduced to Paul kind of—I don’t even remember when, it’s probably a year ago now, if not more. And he was really intrigued and I sent him a bunch of songs including the Golden Line EP, which he really loved. And that just gave me a lot of confidence, and so I took this Smoke Tricks record and I was like, “I’m really looking for somebody to help me out with this.” And he was game and continues to be game. James VanOsdol: I love that. Josh Chicoine: It was his dream to have a boutique record store. And that happened, and then it was his dream to have a boutique little tiny record label. So that happened. James VanOsdol: I’ve never been in that store, by the way, where it hasn’t been busy. Josh Chicoine: Oh good. James VanOsdol: No, I mean I love going there. Like, they’ve got one of the best, I think, mixes of new and used and their prices are very reasonable. Josh Chicoine: I agree. I agree. Yeah, they have a lot of cool chotchkies around, good t-shirt collection. It’s like a proper record store. James VanOsdol: And I mean if you’re one of those budget-bin divers like there’s dollar records, you’ll hurt your knees going through them, but I mean there’s occasionally gold to find in there. Josh Chicoine: I agree. It’s everywhere. James VanOsdol: But yeah, it’s a cool place, I mean right over there on Clark Street. And I love just that kind of brand extension for Rattleback. Like it makes so much sense. Josh Chicoine: I love that. I love that for Paul, I love that we were able to become a part of that and we’re putting on a showcase of Rattleback Records artists May 29th at the Burlington. James VanOsdol: Nice. Which for the record, one of the loudest rooms in Chicago. Josh Chicoine: That’s right. We’ll do what we can, but I mean it’s hard, it’s like a lot of hard flat surfaces and they didn’t do any soundproofing or nothing. So, yeah. James VanOsdol: That’s good. That’s part of its charm. Josh Chicoine: It’s part of the charm. Yeah, yeah, you know what you’re getting into when you go back there. Just bring earplugs, what’s the big deal? James VanOsdol: Just bring ear—that’s—if you bring earplugs, you’re good. Josh Chicoine: Yeah, that’s right. James VanOsdol: But if you go deaf, I mean who better to go deaf from? Josh Chicoine: Yeah, that’s a badge of honor. It’s a badge of honor. I mean it’s not a good recommendation, I would say. But if you want good earplugs, just go to Sensaphonics down there on Milwaukee Avenue. Shout out. Yesterday was National Hearing Day and I got myself fitted for a new pair of earplugs. James VanOsdol: Smart. Josh Chicoine: And it basically—it’s no joke. No, it’s no joke if you listen to a lot of live music. It basically just turns the volume down. The clarity is still there versus sticking toilet paper in your ears or those foam things. James VanOsdol: Exactly what they feel like. Or those like pool noodles shrunk down. Josh Chicoine: Yeah, that’s right. They’re good if you want to sleep. If you’re like on tour and everybody else snores in your hotel room, then those are really effective. James VanOsdol: For sure. All right, so Smoke Tricks is the album. It’s awesome. It comes out on March 13th. The Hideout is the release show on March 14th. And onward and upward. What a great record, you really did it. Josh Chicoine: Thanks, man. I really appreciate it. That was nice talking to you. Are we done? Is this the wrap? James VanOsdol: This is the wrap. Josh Chicoine: All right, love it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Martin in back this week with CD's in hand! What was once the foot and then became a magnet is now a foot again! One Prime Plus is cheaper? It's in the Long Tail! Pigeons, pasta, post, and passwords. Say that five times. Yodelayheehoo! Long Weekend 00:00:00 Labour Day
In this mailbag episode, David answers two practical listener questions about managing unexpected financial opportunities. One listener recently paid off their mortgage and now has an extra $3,000 per month to invest, while another is navigating the tax implications of inheriting an IRA. David walks through several potential options for putting extra cash to work- ranging from CDs and brokerage accounts to fixed annuities- while also clarifying the complex withdrawal rules tied to inherited retirement accounts. Here's some of what we discuss in this episode:
Today, Clark explains the confusion around how various interest rates are set, from savings & CDs, to credit cards and car loans. He explores the "K-shaped" economy, where a flood of cash into savings and CDs drives down returns – even at online banks, and how the "convenience trap" can cost consumers thousands on all kinds of loans. Also, good news at the grocery store: the "store brand revolution" is working. After years of price hikes, name brand giants are finally slashing prices on snacks to win back customers. How Interest Rates Are Set : Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Groceries: Big Brand Price Cuts: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: My 7 Rules for Using Credit Cards - Clark Howard Best Place to Get a Car Loan - Clark Howard How To Buy a House in 9 Steps - Clark Howard NYT: After Years of Increases, PepsiCo Pledges to Cut Prices on Snacks Are Car Wash Memberships Worth It? - Clark Howard What Is Umbrella Insurance and Do You Need It? - Clark Howard 5 Ways To Start Living Below Your Means - Clark Howard The 7 Money Habits of People Who Become Wealthy - Clark Howard Clark.com resources: Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com / Ask Clark Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wednesday's 7am hour of Mac & Cube started off with a recap of Alabama's loss to Georgia, Auburn's much needed win over LSU, and the rest of the SEC action from Tuesday night; then, Ryan Silverfield, Arkansas head coach, tells us what Spring Ball is going to look like, why he left Memphis to take the Arkansas gig, and what to expect from this team; later, Cole tries to figure our why DVDs and CDs are back; and finally, Greg explains his love of his "Country Rap" playlist. "McElroy & Cubelic In The Morning" airs 7am-10am weekdays on WJOX-94.5!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send a textMartin Belmont was about 11 or 12 years old, a kid growing up in England, when he asked his parents to buy him a guitar. The first record he got was “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley. Around that time, The Shadows, out of London, were a popular instrumental group. America had The Ventures, England had The Shadows. Young Martin was fascinated by the look and sound of Hank Marvin's Fender Stratocaster. In art school, Martin made friends with other guitarists and musicians and after leaving school, he moved to London. Through a mutual friend, he met the members of two bands, Help Yourself and Brinsley Schwarz. The Brinsleys were in need of a roadie. Martin played that role for about a year before forming his own band, Ducks Deluxe. They signed with RCA, the label Martin's childhood hero Elvis had been on. The next band he co-formed along with guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and keyboardist Bob Andrews was The Rumour, best known for backing Graham Parker with Andrew Bodnar on bass and Steve Goulding on drums. The rest, as they say, is history.Photo courtesy of Martin Belmont.Save on Certified Pre-Owned ElectronicsPlug has great prices on refurbished electronics. Up to 70% off with a 30-day money back guarantee!Euclid Records – Buy and sell records.A gigantic selection of vinyl & CDs. We're in St. Louis & New Orleans, but are loved worldwide!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Thanks for listening to Frets with DJ Fey. You can follow or subscribe for FREE at most podcast platforms.And now, Frets is available on YouTube. There are a lot of fun extras like videos and shorts and audio of all episodes. Subscribing for FREE at YouTube helps support the show tremendously, so hit that subscribe button! https://www.youtube.com/@DJFey39 You can also find information about guitarists, bands and more at the Frets with DJ Fey Facebook page. Give it a like! And – stay tuned… Contact Dave Fey at davefey@me.com or call 314-229-8033
This week, someone called the cops, someone got rejected by their family and somehow, a convo about CDs becomes a mini breakdown. Enjoy! Fancy supporting us on Patreon? Find out more here. Follow us and get in touch on Instagram here. Follow us on Facebook here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do you build a creative life that spans music, writing, film, and spiritual practice? Alicia Jo Rabins talks about weaving multiple creative strands into a sustainable career and why the best advice for any creator might simply be: just make the thing. In the intro, backlist promotion strategy [Written Word Media]; Successful author business [Novel Marketing Podcast]; Alliance of Independent Authors Indie Author Bookstore; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Alicia Jo Rabins is an award-winning writer, musician, performer, as well as a Torah teacher and ritualist. She's the creator of Girls In Trouble, a feminist indie-folk song cycle about biblical women, and the award-winning film, A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff. Her latest book is a memoir, When We Are Born We Forget Everything. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights, and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Building a sustainable multi-disciplinary creative career through teaching, performance, grants, and donations Trusting instinct in the early generative stages of creativity and separating generation from editing Adapting and reimagining religious and cultural source material through music, writing, and performance The challenges of transitioning from poetry to long-form prose memoir, including choosing a lens for your story Making an independent film on a shoestring budget without waiting for Hollywood's permission Finding your creative voice and building confidence by leaning into vulnerability and returning to the practice of making You can find Alicia at AliciaJo.com. Transcript of the interview with Alicia Jo Rabins Joanna: Alicia Jo Rabins is an award-winning writer, musician, performer, as well as a Torah teacher and ritualist. She's the creator of Girls In Trouble, a feminist indie-folk song cycle about biblical women, and the award-winning film, A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff. Her latest book is a memoir, When We Are Born We Forget Everything. So welcome to the show, Alicia. Alicia: Thank you so much. I'm delighted to be here. Joanna: There is so much we could talk about. But first up— Tell us a bit more about you and how you've woven so many strands of creativity into your life and career. Alicia: Yes, well, I am a maximalist. What happened in terms of my early life is that I started writing on my own, just extremely young. I'm one of those people who always loved writing, always processed the world and managed my emotions and came to understand myself through writing. So from a very young age, I felt really committed to writing. Then I had the good fortune that my mother saw a talk show about the Suzuki method of learning violin—when you start really young and learn by ear, which is modelled after language learning. It's so much less intellectual and much more instinctual, learning by copying. She was like, that looks like a cool thing. I was three years old at the time and she found out that there was a little local branch of our music conservatory that had a Suzuki violin programme. So when I was three and a half, getting close to four, she took me down and I started playing an extremely tiny violin. Joanna: Oh, cute! Alicia: Yes, and because it was part of this conservatory that was downtown, and we were just starting at the suburban branch where we lived, there was this path that I was able to follow. As I got more and more interested in violin, I could continue basically up through the conservatory level during high school. So I had a really fantastic music education without any pressure, without any expectations or professional goals. I just kept taking these classes and one thing led to another. I grew up being very immersed in both creative writing and music, and I think just having the gift of those two parts of my brain trained and stimulated and delighted so young really changed my brain in some ways. I'll always see the world through this creative lens, which I think I'm also just set up to do personally. Then the last step of my multi-practice career is that in college I got very interested in Jewish spirituality. I'm Jewish, but I didn't grow up very religious. I didn't grow up in a Jewish community really. So I knew some basics, but not a ton. In college I started to study it and also informally learned from other people I met. I ended up going on a pretty intense spiritual quest, going to Jerusalem and immersing myself after college for two years in traditional Jewish study and practice. So that became the third strand of the braid that had already been started with music and writing. Torah study, spiritual study, and teaching became the third, and they all interweave. The last thing I'll say is that because I work in both words and music, and naturally performance because of music, it began to branch a little bit into plays, theatre, and film, just because that's where the intersection of words, performance, and music is. So that's really what brought me into that, as opposed to any specific desire to work in film. It all happened very organically. Joanna: I love this. This is so cool. We are going to circle back to a lot of this, but I have to ask you— What about work for money at any point? How did this turn into more than just hobbies and lifestyle? Alicia: Yes, absolutely. Well, I'm very fortunate that I did not graduate college with loans because my parents were able to pay for college. That was a big privilege that I just want to name, because in the States that's often not the case. So that allowed me to need to support myself, but not also pay loans, which was a real gift. What happened was I went straight from college to that school in Jerusalem, and there I was on loans and scholarship, so I didn't have to worry yet about supporting myself. Then when I came back to the States, I actually found on Craigslist a job teaching remedial Hebrew. It was essentially teaching kids at a Jewish elementary school who either had learning differences or had just entered the school late and needed to be in a different Hebrew class than the other kids in their grade. That was my first experience of really teaching, and I just absolutely fell in love with it. Although in the end, my passion is much more for teaching the text and rituals and the wrestling with the concepts, as opposed to teaching language. So all these years, while doing performance and writing and all these things, I have been teaching Jewish studies. That has essentially supported me, I would say, between 50 and 70 per cent. Then the rest has been paid gigs as a musician, whether as a front person leading a project or as what we call a sideman, playing in someone else's band. Sometimes doing theatre performances, sometimes teaching workshops. That's how I've cobbled it together. I have not had a full-time job all these years and I have supported myself through both earned income and also grants and donations. I've really tried to cultivate a little bit of a donor base, and I took some workshops early on about how to welcome donations. So I definitely try to always welcome that as well. Joanna: That is so interesting that you took a workshop on how to welcome donations. Way back in, I think 2013, I said on this show, I just don't know if I can accept people giving to support the show. Then someone on the podcast challenged me and said, but people want to support creatives. That's when I started Patreon in 2014. It was when The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer came out and— It was this realisation that people do want to support people. So I love that you said that. Alicia: It's not easy. It's still not easy for me, and I have to grit my teeth every time I even put in my end-of-year newsletter. I just say, just a reminder that part of what makes this possible is your generous donations, and I'm so grateful to you. It's not easy. I think some people enjoy fundraising. I certainly don't instinctively enjoy it, but I have learned to think of it exactly the way that you're saying. I mean, I love donating to support other people's projects. Sometimes it's the highlight of my day. If I'm having a bad day and someone asks for help, either to feed a family or to complete a creative project, I just feel like, okay, at least I can give $36 or $25 and feel like I did something positive in the last hour, even if my project is going terribly and I'm in a fight with my kid or something. So I have to keep in mind that it is actually a privilege to give as well as a privilege to receive. Joanna: Absolutely. So let's get back into your various creative projects. The first thing I wanted to ask you, because you do have so many different formats and forms of your creativity—how do you know when an idea that comes to you should be a song, or something you want to do as a performance, or written, or a film? Tell us a bit about your creative process. Because a lot of your projects are also longer-term. Alicia: Yes. It's funny, I love planning and in some ways I'm an extreme planner. I really drive people in my family bonkers with planning, like family vacations a year in advance. In terms of my creativity, I'm very planful towards goals, but in that early generative state, I am actually pure instinct. I don't think I ever sit down and say, “I have this idea, which genre would it match with?” It's more like I sit on my bed and pick up my guitar, which is where I love to do songwriting, just sitting on my bed cross-legged, and I pick up my guitar and something starts coming out. Then I just work with that kernel. So it's very nebulous at first, very innate, and I just follow that creative spirit. Often I don't even know what a project is, sometimes if it's a larger project, until a year or two in. Once things emerge and take shape, then my planning brain and my strategy brain can jump on it and say, “Okay, we need three more songs to fill out the album, and we need to plan the fundraising and the scheduling.” Then I might take more of an outside-in approach. At the beginning it's just all instinct. Joanna: So if you pick up your guitar, does that mean it always starts in music and then goes into writing? Or is that you only pick up a guitar if it's going to be musical? Alicia: I think I'm responding to what's inside me. It's almost like a need, as opposed to, “I'm going to sit down and work.” I mean, obviously I sit down and work a lot, but I think in that early stage of anything, it's more like my fingers are itching to play something, and so I sit down and pick up my guitar. Sometimes nothing comes out and sometimes the kernel of a song comes out. Or I'm at a café, and I often like to write when I'm feeling a little bit discombobulated, just to go into the complexity of things or use challenging emotions as fuel. I really do use it as a—I don't know if therapeutic is the word, but I think it maybe is. I write often, as I always have, as I said before, to understand what I'm thinking. Like Joan Didion said—to process difficult emotions, to let go of stuck places. So I think I create almost more out of a sense of just what I need in the moment. Sometimes it's just for fun. Sometimes picking up a guitar, I just have a moment so I sit down and mess around. Sometimes it's to help me struggle with something. It doesn't always start in music. That was a random example. I might sit down to write because I have an hour and I think, I haven't written in a while. Or I do have an informal daily writing thing where I'll try to generate one loose draft of something a day, even if it's only ten pages. I mean, sorry, ten words. Joanna: I was going to say! Alicia: No, no. Ten words. I'm sorry. It's often poetry, so it feels like a lot when it's ten words. I'll just sit down with no pressure, no goal, no intention to make anything specific. Just open the floodgates and see what comes out. That's where every single project of mine has started. Joanna: Yes, I do love that. Obviously, I'm a discovery writer and intuitive, same as you. I think very much this idea of, especially when you said you feel discombobulated, that's when you write. I almost feel like I need that. I'm not someone who writes every day. I don't do ten lines or whatever. It's that I'll feel that sense of pressure building up into “this is going to be something.” I will really only write or journal when that spills over into— “I now need to write and figure out what this is.” Alicia: Yes. It's almost a form of hunger. It feels to me similar to when you eat a great meal and then you're good for a while. You're not really thinking of it, and then it builds up, like you said, and then there's a need—at least the first half of creativity. I really separate my generation and my editing. So my generative practice is all openness, no critique, just this maybe therapeutic, maybe curious, wandering and seeing what happens. Then once I have a draft, my incisive editing mind is welcome back in, which has been shut out from that early process. So that's a really different experience. Those early stages of creativity are almost out of need more than obligation. Joanna: Well, just staying with that generative practice. Obviously you've mentioned your study of and practice of Jewish tradition and Jewish spirituality. Steven Pressfield in his books has talked about his prayer to the muse, and I've got on my wall here—I don't talk about this very often, actually — I have a muse picture, a painting of what I think of as a muse spirit in some form. So do you have any spiritual practices around your generative practice and that phase of coming up with ideas? Alicia: I love that question, and I wish I had a beautiful, intentional answer. My answer is no. I think I experience creativity as its own spiritual practice itself. I do love individual prayer and meditation and things like that, but for me those are more to address my specifically spiritual health and happiness and connectedness. I'm just a dive-in kind of person. As a musician, I have friends who have elaborate backstage rituals. I have to do certain things to take care of my voice, but even that, it's mostly vocal rest as opposed to actively doing things. There's a bit of an on/off switch for me. Joanna: That's interesting. Well, I do want to ask you about one of your projects, this collaboration with a high school on a musical performance, I Was a Desert: Songs of the Matriarchs, and also your Girls in Trouble songs about women in the Torah. On your website, I had a look at the school, the high school, and the musical performance. It was extraordinary. I was watching you in the school there and it's just such extraordinary work. It very much inspired me—not to do it myself, but it was just so wonderful. I do urge people to go to your website and just watch a few minutes of it. I'm inspired by elements of religion, Christian and Jewish, but I wondered if you've come up against any issues with adaptation—respecting your heritage but also reinventing it. How has this gone for you. Any advice for people who want to incorporate aspects of religion they love but are worried about responses? Alicia: Well, I have to say, coming from the Jewish tradition, that is a core practice of Judaism—reinterpreting our texts and traditions, wrestling with them, arguing with them, reimagining them. I don't know if you're familiar with Midrash, but just in case some of your listeners aren't sure I'll explain it. There's essentially an ancient form of fanfic called Midrash, which was the ancient rabbis, and we still do it today, taking a biblical story that seems to have some kind of gap or inconsistency or question in it and writing a story to fill that gap or recast the story in an interestingly different light. So we have this whole body of literature over thousands of years that are these alternate or added-on adventures, side quests of the biblical characters. What I'm doing from a Jewish perspective is very much in line with a traditional way of interacting with text. I've certainly never gotten any pushback, especially as I work in progressive Jewish communities. I think if I were in an extremely fundamentalist community, there would be a lot of different issues around gender and things like that. The interpretive process, even in those communities, is part of how we show respect for the text. When I was working with the high school—and I just want to call out the choir director, Ethan Chen, who has an incredible project where he brings in a different artist every two years to work with the choir, and they tend to have a different cultural focus each time. He invited me specifically to integrate my songwriting about biblical women with his amazing high school choir. I was really worried at first because most of them are not Jewish—very few of them, if any. I wanted to respect their spiritual paths and their religious heritages and not impose mine on them. So I spent a lot of time at the beginning saying, this project has religious source material, but essentially it is a creative reinterpretive project. I am not coming to you to bring the religious material to you. I'm coming to take the shared Hebrew Bible myths and then reinterpret those myths through a lens of how they might reflect our own personal struggles, because that's always my approach to these ancient stories. I wanted to really make that clear to the students. It was such a joy to work with them. Joanna: It's such an interesting project. Also, I find with musicians in general this idea of performance. You've written this thing—or this thing specifically with the school—and it doesn't exist again, right? You're not selling CDs of that, I presume. Whereas compared to a book, when we write a book, we can sell it forever. It doesn't exist as a performance generally for an author of a memoir or a novel. It carries on existing. So how does that feel, the performance idea versus the longer-lasting thing? I mean, I guess the video's there, but the performance itself happened. Alicia: I do know what you mean. Absolutely. We did, for that reason, record it professionally. We had the sound person record it and mix it, so it is available to stream. I'm not selling CDs, but it's out there on all the streaming services, if people want to listen. I do also have the scores, so if a choir wanted to sing it. The main point that you're making is so true. I think there's actually something very sacred about live performance—that we're all in the moment together and then the moment is over. I love the artefacts of the writing life. I love writing books. I love buying and reading books and having them around, and there's piles of them everywhere in this room I'm standing in. I feel like being on stage, or even teaching, is a very spiritual practice for me, because it's in some ways the most in-the-moment I ever am. The only thing that matters is what's happening right then in that room. It's fleeting as it goes. I'm working with the energy in the room while we're there. It's different every time because I'm different, the atmosphere is different, the people are different. There's no way to plan it. The kind of micro precision that we all try to bring to our editing—you can't do that. You can practice all you want and you should, but in the moment, who knows? A string breaks or there's loud sound coming from the other room. It is just one of those things. I love being reminded over and over again of the truth that we really don't control what happens. The best that we can do is ride it, surf it, be in it, appreciate it, and then let it go. Joanna: I think maybe I get a glimpse of that when I speak professionally, but I'm far more in control in that situation than I guess you were with—I don't know how many—was it a hundred kids in that choir? It looked pretty big. Alicia: It was amazing. It was 130 kids. Yes. Joanna: 130 kids! I mean, it was magic listening to it. And yes, of course, showing my age there with buying a CD, aren't I? Alicia: Well, I do still sell some CDs of Girls in Trouble on tour, because I have a bunch of them and people still buy them. I'm always so grateful because it was an easier life for touring musicians when we could just bring CDs. Now we have to be very creative about our merch. Joanna: Yes, that's a good point because people are like, “Oh yes, I'll scan your QR code and stream it,” but you might not get the money for that for ages, and it might just be five cents or whatever. Alicia: Streaming is terrible for live musicians. I mean, I don't know if you know the site Bandcamp, but it's essentially self-publishing for musicians. Bandcamp is a great way around that, and a lot of independent musicians use it because that's a place you can upload your music and people can pay $8 for an album. They can stream it on there if they want, or they can download it and have it. But, yes, it's hard out there for touring musicians. Joanna: Yes, for sure. Well, let's come to the book then. Your memoir, When We Are Born We Forget Everything. Tell us about some of the challenges of a book as opposed to these other types of performances. Alicia: Well, I come out of poetry, so that was my first love. That's what I majored in in college. That's what my MFA is in. Poetry is famously short, and I'm not one of those long-form poets. I have been trained for many years to think in terms of a one-page arc, if at all. Arc isn't even really a word that we use in poetry. So to write a full-length prose book was really an incredible education. Writing it basically took ten years from writing to publication, so probably seven years of writing and editing. I felt like there was an MFA-equivalent process in the number of classes I took, books I read, and work that went into it. So that was one of my main joys and challenges, really learning on the job to write long-form prose coming out of poetry. How to keep the engine going, how to think about ending one chapter in a way that leaves you with some torque or momentum so that you want to go into the next chapter. How many characters is too many? Who gets names and who doesn't? Some of these things that are probably pretty basic for fiction writers were all very new to me. That was a big part of my process. Then, of course, poets don't usually have agents. So once it was done, I began to query agents. It was the normal sort of 39 rejections and then one agent who really understood what I was trying to do. She's incredible, and she was able to sell the book. The longevity of just working on something for that long—I have a lot of joy in that longevity—but it does sometimes feel like, is this ever going to happen, or am I on a fool's errand? Joanna: I guess, again, the difference with performance is you have a date for the performance and it's done then. I suppose once you get a contract, then for sure it has to be done. But memoir in particular, you do have to set boundaries, because of course your life continues, doesn't it? So what were the challenges in curating what went into the book? Because many people listening know memoir is very challenging in terms of how personal it can be. Alicia: Yes, and one thing I think is so fascinating about memoir is choosing which lens to put on your story, on your own story. I heard early on that the difference between autobiography and memoir is that autobiography tries to give a really comprehensive view of a life, and memoir is choosing one lens and telling the story of a life through that lens, which is such a beautiful creative concept. I knew early on that I wanted this to be primarily a spiritual memoir, and also somewhat of an artistic memoir, because my creativity and my spirituality are so intertwined. It started off being spiritual, and also about my musical life, and also about my writing life. In the end, I edited out the part about my writing life, because writing about writing was just too navel-gazing. So there's nothing in there about me coming of age as a writer, which used to be in there, but that whole thing got taken out. Now it's spiritual and musical. For me, it really helped to start with those focuses, because I knew there may be things that were hugely important in my life, absolutely foundational, that were not really going to be either mentioned or gone deeply into in the book. For example, my husband teases me a lot about how few pages and words he gets. He's very important in my life, but I actually met him when I was 29, and this book really mainly takes place in the years leading up to that. There's a little bit of winding down in the first few years of my thirties, but this is not a book about my life with him. He is mentioned in it. That story is in there. Having those kinds of limitations around the canvas—there's a quote, I forget if it was Miranda July, but somebody said something like, basically when you put a limitation on your project, that's when it starts to be a work of art. Whatever it is, if you say, “I'm taking this canvas and I'm using these colours,” that's when it really begins, that initial limitation. That was very helpful. Joanna: It's also the beauty of memoir, because of course you can write different memoirs at different times. You can write something about your writing life. You can write something else about your marriage and your family later on. That doesn't all have to be in one book. I think that's actually something I found interesting. And I would also say in my memoir, Pilgrimage, my husband is barely mentioned either. Alicia: Does he tease you too? Joanna: No, I think he's grateful. He is grateful for the privacy. Alicia: That's why I keep saying, you should be grateful! Joanna: Yes. You really should. Like, maybe stop talking now. Alicia: Yes, exactly. I know. Marriage, memoir—those words should strike fear into his heart. Joanna: They definitely should. But let's just come back. When I look at your career— You just seem such an independent creative, and so I wondered why you decided to work with a traditional publisher instead of being an independent. How are you finding it as someone who's not in charge of everything? Alicia: It's a great question. The origin story for this memoir is that I was actually reading poetry at a writing conference called Bread Loaf in the States. This was 16 years ago or something. I was giving a poetry reading and afterwards an agent, not my agent, came up to me and said, you know, you have a voice. You should try writing nonfiction because you could probably sell it. Back to your question about how I support myself, I am always really hustling to make a living. It's not like I have some separate well-paying job and the writing has no pressure on it. So my ears kind of perked up. I thought, wait, getting paid for writing? Because poetry is literally not in the world. It's just not a concept for poets. That's not why we write and it's not a possibility. So a little light turned on in my brain. I thought, wow, that could be a really interesting element to add to my income stream, and it would be flexible and it would be meaningful. For a few years I thought, what nonfiction could I write? And I came up with the idea of writing a book about biblical women from a more scholarly perspective, because I teach that material and I've studied it. I went to speak to another agent and she said, well, you could do that, but if you actually want to sell a book, it's going to have to be more of a trade book. So if you don't want an academic press, which wouldn't pay very much, you would have to have some kind of memoir-like stories in there to just sweeten it so it doesn't feel academic. So then I began writing a little bit of spiritual memoir. I thought, okay, well, I'll write about a few moments. Then once I started writing, I couldn't stop. The floodgates really opened. That's how it ended up being a spiritual memoir with interwoven stories of biblical women. It became a hybrid in that sense. I knew from the beginning that this project—for all my saying earlier that I never plan anything and only work on instinct, I was thinking as I said that, that cannot be true. This time, I actually thought, what if, instead of coming from this pure, heart-focused place of poetry, I began writing with the intention of potentially selling a book? The way my fiction writer friends talked about selling their books. So that was always in my mind. I knew I would continue writing poetry, continue publishing with small presses, continue putting my own music out there independently, but this was a bit of an experiment. What if I try to interface with the publishing world, in part for financial sustainability? And because I had a full draft before I queried, I never felt like anyone was telling me what to write. I can't imagine personally selling a book on proposal, because I do need that full capacity to just swerve, change directions, be responsive to what the project is teaching me. I can't imagine promising that I'll write something, because I never know what I'll write. But writing at least a very solid draft first, I'm always delighted to get notes and make polish and rewrite and make things better. I took care of that freedom in the first seven years of writing and then I interfaced with the agent and publisher. Joanna: I was going to say, given that it's taken you seven to ten years to do this and I can't imagine that you're suddenly a multimillionaire from this book. It probably hasn't fulfilled the hourly rate that perhaps you were thinking of in terms of being paid for your work. I think some people think that everyone's going to end up with the massive book deal that pays for the rest of their life. I guess this book does just fit into the rest of your portfolio career. Alicia: Yes. One of the benefits of these long arcs that I like to work on is, one of them—and probably the primary one—is that the project gets to unfold on its own time. I don't think I could have rushed it if I wanted. The other is that it never really stopped me from doing any of my other work. Joanna: Mm-hmm. Alicia: So it's not like, oh, I gave up months of my life and all I got was this advance or something. It's like, I was living my life and then when I had a little bit of writing time—and I will say, it impacted my poetry. I haven't written as much poetry because I was working on this. So it wasn't like I just added it on top of everything I was already doing, but it was a pleasure to just switch to prose for a while. It was just woven into my life. I appreciated having this side project where no one was waiting for it. There were no deadlines, there was no stress around it, because I always have performances to promote and due dates for all kinds of work. It was just this really lovely arena of slow growth and play. When I wanted a reader, I could do a swap with a writer friend, but no one was ever waiting for it on deadline. So there's actually a lot of pleasure in that. Then I will say, I think I've made more from selling this than my poetry. Probably close to ten times more than I've ever made from any of my poetry. So on a poetry scale, it's certainly not going to pay for my life, but it actually does make a true financial difference in a way that much of my other work is a little more bit by bit by bit. It's actually a different scale. Joanna: Well, that's really good. I'm glad to hear that. I also want to ask you, because you've done so many things, and— I'm fascinated by your independent film, A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff. I have only watched the trailer. You are in it, you wrote it, directed it, and it's also obviously got other people in, and it's fascinating. It's about this particular point in history. I've written quite a lot of screenplay adaptations of my novels, and I've had some various amounts of interest, but the whole film industry to me is just a complete nightmare, far bigger nightmare than the book industry. So I wonder if you could maybe talk about this, because it just seems like you made a film, which is so cool. Alicia: Oh yes, thank you. Joanna: And it won awards, yes, we should say. Alicia: Did we win awards? Yes. It really, for an extremely low-budget indie film, went far further than my team and I could ever have imagined. I will say I never intended to make a film. Like most of the best things in my life, it really happened by accident. When I was living in New York— I lived there for many years—the 2008 financial collapse happened and I happened to have an arts grant that gave a bunch of artists workspace, studio space, in essentially an abandoned building in the financial district. It was an empty floor of a building. The floor had been left by the previous tenant, and there's a nonprofit that takes unused real estate in the financial district and lets artists work in it for a while. So I was on Wall Street, which was very rare for me, but for this year I was working on Wall Street. Even though I was working on poems, the financial collapse happened around me, and I did get inspired by that to create a one-woman show, which was more of a theatre show. That was already a huge leap for me because I had no real theatre experience, but it was experimental and growing out of my poetry practice and my music. It was a musical one-woman show about the financial collapse from a spiritual perspective, apparently. So I performed that. I documented it, and then a friend who lives in Portland, Oregon, where I now live, said, “I'm a theatre producer, I'd like to produce it here.” So then I rewrote it and did a run here in Portland of that show. Essentially, I started to tour it a little bit, but I got tired of it. It was too much work and it never really paid very much, and I thought, this is impacting my life negatively. I just want to do a really good documentation of the show. So I wanted to hire a theatre documentarian to just document the show so that it didn't disappear, like you were saying before about live performance. But one of the people I talked to actually ended up being an artistic filmmaker, as opposed to a documentarian. She watched the archival footage, just a single camera of the show, and said, “I don't think you should do this again and film it with three cameras. I think you should make it into a feature film. And in fact, I think maybe I should direct it, because there's all this music in it and I also direct music videos.” We had this kind of mind meld. Joanna: Mm. Alicia: I never intended to make a film, but she is a visionary director and I had this piece of IP essentially, and all the music and the writing. We adapted it together. We did it here in Portland. We did all the fundraising ourselves. We did not interface with Hollywood really. I think that would be, I just can't imagine. I love Hollywood, but I'm not really connected, and I can't imagine waiting for someone to give us permission or a green light to make this. It was experimental and indie, so we just really did it on the cheap. We had an amazing producer who helped us figure out how to do it with the budget that we had. We worked really hard fundraising, crowdfunding, asking for donations, having parties to raise money, and then we just did it and put it out there. I think my main advice—and I hear this a lot on screenwriting podcasts—is just make the thing. Make something, as opposed to trying to get permission to make something. Because unless you're already in that system, it's going to be really hard to get permission to make it. Once you make something, that leads to something else, which leads to something else. So even if it's a very short thing, or even if it's filmed on your phone, just actually make the thing. That turned out to be the right thing for us. Joanna: Yes, I mean, I feel like that is what underpins us as independent creatives in general. As an independent author, I feel the same way. I'm never asking permission to put a book in the world. No, thank you. Alicia: Exactly. We have a vision and we do it. It's harder in some ways, but that liberation of being able to really fully create our vision without having to compromise it or wait for permission, I think it's such a beautiful thing. Joanna: Well, we're almost out of time, but I do want to ask you about creative confidence. Alicia: Hmm. Joanna: I feel I'm getting a lot of sense about this at the moment, with all the AI stuff that's happening. When you've been creating a long time, like you and I have, we know our voice and we can lean into our voice. We are creatively confident. We'll fail a lot, but we'll just push on and try things and see what happens. Newer creators are struggling with this kind of confidence. How do I know what is my voice? How do I know what I like? How do I lean into this? So give us some thoughts about how to find your voice and how to find that creative confidence if you don't feel you have it. Alicia: I love that. One thing I will say is that I always think whatever is arising is powerful material to create from. So if a lack of confidence is arising, that's a really powerful feeling to directly explore and not just try to ignore. Although sometimes one has to just ignore those feelings. But to actually explore that feeling, because AI can't have that, right? AI can't really feel a crisis of confidence, and humans can. So that's a gift that we have, those kinds of sensitivities. I think to go really deep into whatever is arising, including the sense that we don't have the right to be creating, or we're not good enough, or whatever it is. Then I always do come back to a quote. I think it might have been John Berryman, but I'm forgetting which poet said it. A younger poet said, “How will I ever know if I'm any good?” And this famous poet said something like—I'm paraphrasing—”You'll never know if you're any good. If you have to know, don't write.” That has been really liberating to me, actually. It sounds a little harsh, but it's been really liberating to just let go of a sense of “good enough.” There is no good enough. The great writers never know if they're good enough. Coming back to this idea of just making without permission—the practice of doing the thing is being a writer. Caring and trying to improve our craft, that's the best that we can have. There's never going to be a moment where we're like, yes, I've nailed this. I am truly a hundred per cent a writer and I have found my voice. Everything's always changing anyway. I would say, either go into those feelings or let those feelings be there. Give them a little tea. Tell them, okay, you're welcome to be here, but you don't get to drive the boat. And then return to the practice of making. Joanna: Absolutely. Great. So where can people find you and your books and everything you do online? Alicia: Everything is on my website, which is AliciaJo.com, and also on Instagram at @ohaliciajo. I'd love to say hello to anyone who's interested in similar topics. Joanna: Brilliant. Well, thanks so much for your time, Alicia. That was great. Alicia: Thank you. I love your podcast. I'm so grateful for all that you've given the writing world, Jo.The post Creative Confidence, Portfolio Careers, And Making Without Permission with Alicia Jo Rabins first appeared on The Creative Penn.
J.I. Packer once wrote, “What matters in life is not what you make of it, but what God makes of it for you.” That contrast becomes especially clear when it comes to money. When circumstances shift, and uncertainty rises, the quiet question surfaces: Will there be enough? Our culture tells us peace comes through self-provision—earning more, saving more, planning better. But Scripture invites us into a different posture: resting in a Father who provides. Look at the Birds: Provision Begins with Relationship In Matthew 6:26, Jesus directs our attention upward: “Look at the birds of the air…your heavenly Father feeds them.” Birds don't build financial models or stockpile reserves. Yet God sustains them. Jesus' point isn't irresponsibility—it's relationship. Behind every plan, paycheck, and effort stands a God who sees, knows, and provides. Throughout Scripture, this truth repeats like a steady drumbeat: Abraham climbs Mount Moriah in obedience, and God provides a ram (Genesis 22:13–14). The widow of Zarephath runs out of resources, and God sustains her jar of flour and jug of oil (1 Kings 17:14–16). Peter wonders how to pay the temple tax, and Jesus provides the exact coin in a fish's mouth (Matthew 17:27). From Genesis to Revelation, God's provision is precise, purposeful, and personal. Every Need, Not Every Wish Paul echoes this promise in Philippians 4:19: “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Notice what Paul doesn't say. He doesn't promise every want, preference, or wish list. He promises to meet every need. And that supply doesn't flow from our economy, our income, or our investments—it flows from God's riches. Provision is not sourced in us. It's sourced in Him. Jesus Is Our Provision The truth goes even deeper. Jesus doesn't just provide—He is our provision. In John 6:35, He says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger.” Peace, then, is not found in financial comfort or problem-free living. It's found in the presence of Christ. When we forget this, we drift into two familiar traps: Fear: What if there isn't enough? Self-reliance: I'll make sure there's enough. Both pull us away from trust. The Source Behind Everything We Have Scripture reminds us that God provides not only resources but the ability to obtain them. Moses tells Israel, “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). Our skills, opportunities, work ethic, and even our capacity to earn—all come from Him. When that truth settles in, something shifts. Financial security stops being something we manufacture and becomes something we receive. Trusting God as provider doesn't lead to inactivity. It frees us to work, plan, save, and give with joy. Our efforts become acts of stewardship rather than self-provision. Money becomes a place of spiritual formation rather than fear. That's why Jesus teaches us to pray for “daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Not because God lacks resources—but because our hearts need daily dependence. Daily bread cultivates daily trust. Where Are You Looking for Provision? Take a moment to ask: Am I looking to my paycheck for security? My savings? My plans for the future? Or the hand of a Father who feeds the birds and calls me His child? Whether you're in a season of abundance or a season of need, Jesus doesn't just promise provision—He gives Himself. And He invites you to trust Him day by day. When we trade fear for faith, striving for surrender, and self-reliance for dependence, we discover the deep joy of resting in a Father who sees and provides. Go Deeper: A Daily Journey of Trust This is the journey explored in Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Devotional to Faithful Stewardship. It's an invitation to trust God as Provider, Owner, and Treasure in every financial decision. You can pick up a copy—or place a bulk order for your church or small group—at FaithFi.com/Shop. And if you're using the FaithFi app, you'll find excerpts woven into the first 21 daily Rhythms, helping you connect your financial decisions with your spiritual life each day. Start today by establishing a new rhythm—seeing your money not as your security, but as an opportunity to trust the God who provides. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I'm 65 and plan to work for another 5 to 6 years. I have $65,000 in a Roth IRA that hasn't been invested. I've heard suggestions ranging from corporate bonds and CDs to an ETF. How should I think about investing this money? I'm 60, with a $700,000 pension lump sum, and am considering a buffered-income variable annuity for a few years before taking withdrawals. Is that a wise move? My husband and I are pastors with small 401(k)s. We're curious about crypto—can we move funds directly from a 401(k) to invest in it, and is that advisable? When financing a car, is it better for a married couple to put the loan in one spouse's name or both—and does that change later in life? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship List of Faith-Based Investment Fund Families IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Fidelity® Wise Origin® Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Welcome back to The After Show But Later! In Episode 312, Daniel and Luis dive into everything from the Dodgers' epic win to wild Halloween stories, childhood memories, and some hilarious behind-the-scenes moments.From baseball parades and spooky costumes to 90s nostalgia, gaming, and even a “Switch Witch” debate — this one's packed with laughs, real talk, and all the randomness you love from The After Show But Later!Plus, the guys get into:⚾ Why this Dodgers series was legendary
This episode of The Underground Lounge: After Hours turns into a soulful, grown, and wildly unfiltered conversation as the crew welcomes Grammy-nominated/Winner R&B staple Raheem DeVaughn to the couch. From the moment he steps in, the vibe is family. What starts with playful banter about his name and Ramadan quickly expands into a rich conversation about culture, hometown pride, and the evolution of DC nightlife, from mumbo sauce debates to the city's go-go era and how things shifted post-Covid.Raheem takes listeners back to his origin story, revealing how he went from being a scholarship track athlete to dropping out of college to pursue music full time, despite the understandable concerns from his parents. He opens up about grinding through open mics across DC, Baltimore, and Philly, moving CDs out the trunk before the industry caught up, and eventually landing his first major label deal.The conversation then shifts into a powerful breakdown of independence, ownership, and why artists must understand the business as much as the art. Raheem explains his direct-to-consumer strategy, selling music through tiered fan support and physical collectibles, vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and exclusive drops, proving there's still value in tangible art in a streaming era.And because it's After Hours, things don't stay strictly business. The energy turns spicy when the crew addresses a viral clip from his live show, leading to candid talk about stage theatrics, intimacy, and the undeniable connection between R&B and real-life romance. Raheem breaks down the art of performance, studying comedians to sharpen his timing, and why creating an escape for fans, whether through laughter, music, or love songs, is the ultimate goal.Insightful, funny, sensual, and packed with game, this episode blends grown man wisdom with After Hours chaos in the best way possible. When the Love King pulls up, the conversation doesn't just flow, it pours.
This week, on the show, my brother and I are discussing a RPG system he created based on the world of The Thirteenth Hour. This is a work in progress based on a number of RPGs set in that world that we have already done but also with an eye toward creating your own world. In other words, it's meant to be light on rules and structure, heavy on customizability and individuality. So although you could create games based on the fantasy world in the Thirteenth Hour books, you could also use the engine to create games for your own books and worlds. Jeremy and I do the first of likely several of these over the next year as we do play testing with some new Thirteenth Hour RPGs. I have set up a page I will be adding to on itch.io that has the draft of the document we're discussing and will be the site of future updates.Check out Jeremy's work over at Pixel Grotto, CBR.com, and Classic Batman Panels on IG. If you are of the DnD persuasion, his articles on DnD Beyond may be right up your alley, and you can view his entire portfolio here. You can also check out his latest book, where he is a co-author: Pathfinder Adventure Path: No Breath to Cry, the ecology and exploration TTRPG with Three Sail Studios, Mappa Mundi, and their most recent game, Gallows Corner: A Peasants' Revolt RPG. Thanks, Jeremy, for coming on the show! ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞Once Upon a Dream, the second Thirteenth Hour soundtrack, is now out in digital form! It is out on most major streaming services such as Bandcamp, Spotify, and YouTube Music. (If you have no preference, I recommend Bandcamp since there is a bonus track there and you will eventually be able to find tapes, CDs, and special editions of the album there as well.)-Check out the pixelart music videos that are out so far from the album:-->Logan's Sunrise Workout: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7SM1RgsLiM-->Forward: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9VgILr1TDc-->Nightsky Stargazing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S0p3jKRTBo-->Aurora's Rainy Day Mix: https://youtu.be/zwqPmypBysk∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ Signup for the mailing list for a free special edition podcast, a demo copy of The Thirteenth Hour, and access to retro 80s soundtrack!Like what you see or hear? Consider supporting the show over at Thirteenth Hour Arts on Patreon or adding to my virtual tip jar over at Ko-fi. Join the Thirteenth Hour Arts Group over on Facebook, a growing community of creative people.Have this podcast conveniently delivered to you each week on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, Tunein, and Googleplay Music.Follow The Thirteenth Hour's Instagram pages: @the13thhr for your random postings on ninjas, martial arts, archery, flips, breakdancing, fantasy art and and @the13thhr.ost for more 80s music, movies, and songs from The Thirteenth Hour books and soundtrack.Listen to Long Ago Not So Far Away, the Thirteenth Hour soundtrack online at: https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/ or Spotify. Join the mailing list for a digital free copy. You can also get it on CD or tape.Website: https://13thhr.wordpress.comBook trailer: http://bit.ly/1VhJhXYInterested in reading and reviewing The Thirteenth Hour for a free book? Just email me at writejoshuablum@gmail.com for more details!https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2026/03/02/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-551-welcome-my-brother-jeremy-as-we-talk-the-infinite-games-system-a-thirteenth-hour-ttrpg-system/
Exploring the essence of karma, Krishna Das explains how conscious spiritual practice and selfless living can transform the patterns that guide our incarnation.Check out Krishna Das's book and CDs, Flow of Grace, for an expansive explanation of the Hanuman Chalisa and more!This week on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das gives wisdom on:The essence of karma and the seeds that we plant for the futureIndividual karma, global karma, cultural karma and ancestral karmaTransforming our reactions to all that arises in the momentWhat perpetuates negative karmaThe spiritual law of cause and effect: how love generates love, anger generates anger, and intention shapes realityKnowing that we are here in this incarnation for a reasonThe many forms that spiritual practice can come in and finding what resonates with youHow to live selflessly and cultivate compassion, even when feeling lost or searching for meaning"Every action, every thought, is a karma which has an effect at one point or another. Whatever it is right now is a result of the past of our own karmas, the karmas of the world, the karmas of our culture, our family, and our own particular personal stuff. That can't be changed because it is here, it's in the moment. What can be changed is howSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
John Treacy Egan is a Broadway star. He's an actor and a singer. He's perhaps best known for his work in The Producers, where he started off playing Franz Liebkind. Then he took over the role of Roger De Bris. Then he graduated to the leading role of Max Bialystock. And he was in the film version too. He's also been in many other shows including The Little Mermaid, Jekyll and Hyde, Bye Bye Birdie, Sister Act and Guys and Dolls. And he's been in a whole bunch of movies and tv shows as well including The Knick, Nurse Jackie and Boardwalk Empire. And as a singer he's released two CDs and been on various Broadway cast albums. This guy does everything. My featured song is “New York City Groove” from the Made In New York album by my band Project Grand Slam. Spotify link. —----------------------------------------------------------- The Follow Your Dream Podcast:Top 1% of all podcasts with Listeners in 200 countries! Click here for All Episodes Click here for Guest List Click here for Guest Groupings Click here for Guest Testimonials Click here to Subscribe Click here to receive our Email Updates Click here to Rate and Review the podcast —---------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH JOHN:www.officialjohntreacyegan.com —---------------------------------------- ROBERT'S LATEST RELEASE: “MA PETITE FLEUR STRING QUARTET” is Robert's latest release. It transforms his jazz ballad into a lush classical string quartet piece. Praised by a host of classical music stars. CLICK HERE FOR YOUTUBE LINK CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS —--------------------------------------- ROBERT'S RECENT SINGLE “MI CACHIMBER” is Robert's recent single. It's Robert's tribute to his father who played the trumpet and loved Latin music.. Featuring world class guest artists Benny Benack III and Dave Smith on flugelhorn CLICK HERE FOR YOUTUBE LINK CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS —-------------------------------------- ROBERT'S LATEST ALBUM: “WHAT'S UP!” is Robert's latest compilation album. Featuring 10 of his recent singles including all the ones listed below. Instrumentals and vocals. Jazz, Rock, Pop and Fusion. “My best work so far. (Robert)” CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL VIDEO CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS —---------------------------------------- Audio production: Jimmy RavenscroftKymera Films Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast: Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.comEmail Robert - robert@followyourdreampodcast.com Follow Robert's band, Project Grand Slam, and his music: Website - www.projectgrandslam.comYouTubeSpotify MusicApple MusicEmail - pgs@projectgrandslam.com
What do a slip jig, a sailor's lament, a whiskey - soaked anthem, and a timeless Irish air all have in common? They're all in episode 748 of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast — and you won't want to miss a single track - - Subscribe now at CelticMusicPodcast.com! Irish Millie, Alex Sturbaum, Kera - Lynne Newman, Kinnfolk, Jenny and the Weazels, Tiller's Folly, Sean Heely, Beth Patterson, Lane to the Glen, Sue Tillotson, Jim Cunningham, Jim Tillotson, Dan Possumato, Kevin Burke, Frances Cunningham, Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones, The Far North, Shades of Green, The Muckers, Rogue Diplomats, The High Kings GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Enjoy seven weekly news items with what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Subscribe now and get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 FOR 2026 This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create this year's Best Celtic music episode. You have just three weeks to vote this year. Vote Now! THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC 0:07 - Irish Millie "Slip Jig" from GRACE 1:55 - WELCOME 5:05 - Alex Sturbaum "Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part / The Coachman's Whip / My Maryanne (feat. Kera - Lynne Newman)" from Slash 8:26 - Kinnfolk "The Hat Song" from The Knotted Circle 13:48 - Jenny and the Weazels "The Goldfinch (Live at the Jackson Theater)" from Single 18:33 - Tiller's Folly "Far End of the Road" from Far End of the Road 22:34 - FEEDBACK 25:57 - Sean Heely and Beth Patterson "Socair Ort, a Dhòmhnaill, Seall!" from Stir the Blood to Fire 30:31 - Lane to the Glen "Aughamore : The Bog of Allen : Tom Maguire's Fancy (Reels)" from Lane to the Glen 34:02 - Sue Tillotson & Jim Cunningham "Bonnie Ship the Diamond / Celtic Society Quickstep (feat. Jim Tillotson)" from Water Horse 37:21 - Dan Possumato "Da Eye Wifey (feat. Kevin Burke & Frances Cunningham)" from An Teachín Gorm 39:57 - Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones "The Galtee Mountain Boy" from Let Ye All Be Irish Tonight 43:19 - THANKS 45:39 - The Far North "Sailor And The Sea" from Songs For Weathering Storms 49:08 - Shades of Green "I'm Irish" from Conversations We Never Had 51:46 - The Muckers "Whiskey Tango" from Whiskey Tango 56:37 - Rogue Diplomats "Come Out Ye Black And Tans" from Whiskey Picnic 59:57 - CLOSING 1:00:56 - The High Kings "Red Is The Rose" from Decade: Best Of The High Kings 1:04:05 - CREDITS Support for this program comes from Dr. Annie Lorkowski of Centennial Animal Hospital in Corona, California. Support for this program comes from International speaker, Joseph Dumond, teaching the ancient roots of the Gaelic people. Learn more about their origins at Sightedmoon.com Support for this program comes from Cascadia Cross Border Law Group, Creating Transparent Borders for more than twenty five years, serving Alaska and the world. Find out more at www.CascadiaLawAlaska.com Support for this program comes from Hank Woodward. The Executive Producer for St Patrick's Month is John Sharkey White, II. The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather and our Patrons on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Visit our website to follow the show. You'll find links to all of the artists played in this episode. Todd Wiley is the editor of the Celtic Music Magazine. Subscribe to get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. Plus, you'll get 7 weekly news items about what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Best of all, you will connect with your Celtic heritage. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Finally, remember. Clean energy isn't just good for the planet, it's good for your wallet. Solar and wind are now the cheapest power sources in history. But too many politicians would rather protect billionaires than help working families save on their bills. Real change starts when we stop allowing the ultra - rich to write our energy policy and run our government. Let's choose affordable, renewable power. Clean energy means lower costs, more freedom, and a planet that can actually breathe. Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/. WELCOME THE IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST * Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic musician and also host of Pub Songs & Stories. Every song has a story, every episode is a toast to Celtic and folk songwriters. Discover the stories behind the songs from the heart of the Celtic pub scene. This podcast is for fans of all kinds of Celtic music. We are here to build a diverse Celtic community and help the incredible artists who so generously share their music with you. If you hear music you love, please email the artists to let them know you heard them on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. These musicians are not part of some corporation. They are small indie groups that rely on people just like you to support their music so they can keep creating it. Please show your generosity. Buy a CD, Album Pin, Shirt, Digital Download, or join their community on Patreon. You can find a link to all of the artists in the shownotes, along with show times, when you visit our website at celticmusicpodcast.com. Email follow@bestcelticmusic to learn how to subscribe to the podcast and you will get a free music - only episode. IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODFEST Join us Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 12 to 6 PM for the Irish & Celtic Music PodFest and Arts Market at The Lost Druid Brewery in Avondale Estates, Georgia. Spend the afternoon surrounded by live Celtic and folk music from Kinnfolk, The Muckers, May Will Bloom, and Marc Gunn. Grab a pint, enjoy the tunes, and share the energy of a true Celtic gathering. While the music plays, explore our Arts Market filled with handmade crafts, art, and unique gifts from local creators. It's a celebration of music, creativity, and community — all in one place. Come for the songs. Stay for the spirit. We'll see you at The Lost Druid on March 8.
How can trauma become a catalyst for creative transformation? What lessons can indie authors learn from the music industry's turbulent journey through technological disruption? With Jack Williamson. In the intro, Why recipes for publishing success don't work and what to do instead [Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast]; Why your book isn't selling: metadata [Novel Marketing Podcast]; Creating a successful author business [Fantasy Writers Toolshed Podcast]; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn. Today's show is sponsored by ProWritingAid, writing and editing software that goes way beyond just grammar and typo checking. With its detailed reports on how to improve your writing and integration with writing software, ProWritingAid will help you improve your book before you send it to an editor, agent or publisher. Check it out for free or get 15% off the premium edition at www.ProWritingAid.com/joanna This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Jack Williamson is a psychotherapist, coach, and bestselling author who spent nearly two decades as a music industry executive. He's the founder of Music & You, his latest nonfiction book is Maybe You're The Problem, and he also writes romance under A.B. Jackson. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Finding post-traumatic growth and meaning after bereavement, and using tragedy as a catalyst for creative transformation Why your superpower can also be your Achilles heel, and how indie authors can overcome shiny object syndrome Three key lessons from the music industry: embracing change, thinking creatively about marketing, and managing pressure for better creativity The A, B, C technique for PR interviews and why marketing is storytelling through different mediums How to deal with judgment and shame around AI in the author community by understanding where people sit on the opinion-belief-conviction continuum Three AI developments coming from music to publishing: training clauses in contracts, one-click genre adaptation, and licensed AI-generated video adaptations You can find Jack at JackWilliamson.co.uk and his fiction work at ABJackson.com. Transcript of the interview with Jack Williamson Jo: Jack Williamson is a psychotherapist, coach, and bestselling author who spent nearly two decades as a music industry executive. He's the founder of Music & You, his latest nonfiction book is Maybe You're The Problem, and he also writes romance under A.B. Jackson. Welcome to the show. Jack: Thank you so much for having me, Jo. It's a real honour to be on your podcast after listening all of these years. Jo: I'm excited to talk to you. We have a lot to get into, but first up— Tell us a bit more about you and why get into writing books after years of working in music. Jack: I began my career at the turn of the millennium, basically, and I worked for George Michael and Mariah Carey's publicist, which I'm sure you can imagine was quite the introduction to the corporate world. From there I went on to do domestic and international marketing for a load of massive artists at Universal, so the equivalent of the top five publishers in the publishing world that we all work in. Then from there I had a bit of a challenge. In December 2015, I lost my brother, unfortunately to suicide. For any listener or any person that's gone through a traumatic event, it can really make you reassess everything, make you question life, make you question your purpose. When I went through that, I was thinking, well, what do I want to do? What do I want out of life? So I went on this journey for practically the next ten years. I retrained to be a psychotherapist. I created a bucket list—a list of all the things that I thought maybe my brother would've wanted to do but didn't do. One of the things was scatter his ashes at the Seven Wonders of the world. Then one of the items on my bucket list was to write a book. The pandemic hit. It was a challenge for all of us, as you've spoken about so much on this wonderful podcast. I thought, well, why not? Why not write this book that I've wanted to write? I didn't know when I was going to do it because I was always so busy, and then the pandemic happened and so I wrote a book. From there, listening to your wonderful podcast, I've learned so much and been to so many conferences and learned along the way. So now I've written five books and released three. Jo: That's fantastic. I mean, regular listeners to the show know that I talk about death and grief and all of this kind of thing, and it's interesting that you took your brother's ashes to the Seven Wonders of the world. Death can obviously be a very bad, negative thing for those left behind, but it seems like you were able to reframe your brother's experience and turn that into something more positive for your life rather than spiralling into something bad. So if people listening are feeling like something happens, whether it's that or other things— How can we reframe these seemingly life-ending situations in a more positive way? Jack: It is very hard and there's no one way to do it. I think as you always say, I never want to tell people what to do or what to think. I want to show them how to think and how they can approach things differently or from a different perspective. I can only speak from my journey, but we call it in therapeutic language, post-traumatic growth. It is, how do you define it so it doesn't define you? Because often when you have a bereavement of a loved one, a family member, it can be very traumatic, but how can you take meaning and find meaning in it? There's a beautiful book called Man's Search for Meaning, and the name of the author escapes me right now, but he says— Jo: Viktor Frankl. Jack: Yes. Everyone quotes it as one of their favourite books, and one of my favourite lines is, “Man can take everything away from you, apart from the ability to choose one thought over the other.” I think it's so true because we can make that choice to choose what to think. So in those moments when we are feeling bad, when we're feeling down, we want to honour our feelings, but we don't necessarily want to become them. We want to process that, work through, get the support system that we need. But again, try to find meaning, try to find purpose, try to understand what is going on, and then pay it forward. Irrespective of your belief system, we all yearn for purpose. We all yearn for being connected to something bigger than ourselves. If we can find that through bereavement maybe, or through a traumatic incident, then hopefully we can come through the other side and have that post-traumatic growth. Jo: I love that phrase, post-traumatic growth. That's so good. Obviously people think about post-traumatic anything as like PTSD—people immediately think a sort of stress disorder, like it's something that makes things even worse. I like that you reframed it in that way. Obviously I think the other thing is you took specific action. You didn't just think about it. You travelled, you retrained, you wrote books. So I think also it's not just thinking. In fact, thinking about things can sometimes make it worse if you think for too long, whereas taking an action I think can be very strong as well. Jack: Ultimately we are human beings as opposed to human doings, but actually being a human doing from time to time can be really helpful. Actually taking steps forward, doing things differently, using it as a platform to move forward and to do things that maybe you didn't before. When you are confronted with death, it can actually make you question your own mortality and actually question, am I just coasting along? Am I stuck in a rut? Could I be doing something differently? One of the things that bereavement, does is it holds a mirror up to ourselves and it makes us question, well, what do we want from our life? Are we here to procreate? Are we here to make a difference? Some of us can't procreate, or some of us choose not to procreate, but we can all make a difference. And it's, how do we do that? Where do we do that? When do we do that? Jo: That's interesting. I was thinking today about service and gratitude. I'm doing this Master's and I was reading some theology stuff today, and service and gratitude, I think if you are within a religious tradition, are a normal part of that kind of religious life. Whether it's service to God and gratitude to God, or service and gratitude to others. I was thinking that these two things, service and gratitude, can actually really help reframe things as well. Who can we serve? As authors, we're serving our readers and our community. What can we be grateful about? That's often our readers and our community as well. So I don't know, that helped me today—thinking about how we can reframe things, especially in the world we're in now where there's a lot of anger and grief and all kinds of things. Jack: That's what we've got to look at. We are here to serve. Again, that can take different shapes, different forms. Some of us work in the service industry. I provide a service as a psychotherapist, you serve your listeners with knowledge and information that you gather and dispense through the research you do or the guests you have on. We serve readers of the different genres that we write in. It's what ways can we serve, how can we serve? Again, I think we all, if we can and when we can, should pay it forward. Someone said this to me once in the music industry: be careful who you meet on the way up and how you treat them on the way up, because invariably you'll meet them on the way down. So if you can pay forward that kindness, if you can be kind, considerate, and treat people how you want to be treated, that is going to pay dividends in the long run. It may not come off straight away, but invariably it will come back to you in some way, shape, or form in a different way. Jo: I've often talked about social karma and karma in the Hindu sense—the things that you do come back to you in some other form. Possibly in another life, which I don't believe. In terms of, I guess, you didn't know what was going to happen to your brother, and so you make the most of the life that we have at the moment because things change and you just don't know how things are going to change. You talk about this in your book, Maybe You're The Problem, which is quite a confronting title. So just talk about your book, Maybe You're The Problem, and why you wrote that. Put it into context with the author community and why that might be useful. Jack: Thank you for flagging my book. I intentionally crossed out “maybe” on the merchandise I did as well, because in essence, we are our own problem. We can get in the way, and it's what happened to us when we grew up wasn't our fault, but what we do with it is our responsibility. We may have grown up in a certain period or a climate. We didn't necessarily choose to do that, but what we do with that as a result is up to us. So we can stay in our victimhood and we can blame our parents, or we can blame the generation we are in, or we can blame the city, the location—however, that is relinquishing your power. That is staying in a victim mindset rather than a survivor or a thriver mindset. So it's about how can we look at the different areas in our life. Whether that is conflict, whether that is imposter syndrome, whether that is the generation we're born into. We try to understand how that has shaped us and how we may be getting in our own way to stop us from growing, to stop us from expanding, and to see where our blind spots are, our limitations are, and how that may impact us. There's so much going on in the moment in the world, whether that is in the digital realm, whether that is in the geo-climate that we're in at the moment. Again, that's going to bring up a lot for us. How can we find solutions to those problems for us so that we continue to move forward rather than be restricted and hindered by them? Jo: Alright. Well let's get into some more specifics. You have been in the author community now for a while. You go to conferences and you are in the podcast community and all this kind of thing. What specific issues have you seen in the author community? Maybe around some of the things you've mentioned, or other things? How might we be able to deal with those? Jack: With authors, I think it is such a wonderful and unique industry that I have an honour and privilege of being a part of now. One of the main things I've learned is just how creative people are. Coming from a creative industry like the music industry, there is a lot of neurodivergence in the creative industries and in the author community. Whether that is autism, whether that is ADHD—that is a real asset to have as a superpower, but it can be an Achilles heel. So it's understanding—and I know that there is an overexposure of people labelling themselves as ADHD—but on the flip side to that, it's how can we look at what's going on for us? For ADHD, for example, there's a thing called shiny object syndrome. You've talked about this in the past, Joanna, where it's like a new thing comes along, be it TikTok, be it Substack, be it bespoke books, be it Shopify, et cetera. We can rush and quickly be like, “oh, let me do this, let me do that,” before we actually take the time to realise, is this right for me? Does this fit my author business? Does this fit where I'm at in my author journey? I think sometimes as authors, we need to not cave in to that shiny object syndrome and take a step back and think to ourselves, how does this serve me? How does this serve my career? How does this work for me if I'm looking at this as a career? If you're looking at it as a hobby, obviously it's a different lens to look through, but that's something that I would often make sure that we look at. One of the other things that really comes up is that in order for any of us to address our fears and anxieties, we need to make sure that we feel psychologically safe and to put ourselves in spaces and places where we feel seen, heard, and understood, which can help address some of the issues that I've just mentioned. Being in that emotionally regulated state when we are with someone we know and trust—so taking someone to a conference, taking someone to a space or a place where you feel that you can be seen, heard, and understood—can help us and allow us to embrace things that we perceive to be scary. That may be finding an author group, finding an online space where you can actually air and share your thoughts, your feelings, where you don't feel that you are being judged. Often it can be quite a judgmental space and place in the online world. So it's just finding your tribe and finding places where you can actually lean into that. So there'd be two things. Jo: I like the idea of the superpower and the Achilles heel because I also feel this when we are writing fiction. Our characters have strengths, but your fatal flaw is often related to your strength. Jack: Yes. Jo: For example, I know I am independent. One of the reasons I'm an independent author is because I'm super independent. But one of my greatest fears is being dependent. So I do lots of things to avoid being dependent on other people, which can lead me to almost damage myself by not asking for help or by trying to make sure that I control everything so I never have to ask anyone else to do something. I'm coming to terms with this as I get older. I feel like this is something we start to hit—I mean, as a woman after menopause—is this feeling of I might have to be dependent on people when I'm older. It's so interesting thinking about this and thinking— My independence is my strength. How can it also be my weakness? So what do you think about that? You're going to psychotherapist me now. Jack: I definitely won't, but it's interesting. Just talking about that, we all have wounds and we all have the shadow, as you've even written about in one of your books. And it's how that can come from a childhood wound where it's like we seek help and it's not given to us. So we create a belief system where I have to do everything myself because no one will help me. Or we may have rejection sensitivity, so we reject ourselves before others can reject us. So it's actually about trying, where we can, to honour our truths, honour that we may want to be independent, for example, but then realising that success leaves clues. I always say that if you are independent—and I definitely align a hundred percent with you, Joanna—I've had to work really hard myself in personal therapy and in business and life to realise that no human is an island and we can't all do this on our own. Yes, it's amazing with the AI agents now that can help us in a business capacity, but having those relationships that we can tap into—like you mentioned all of the people that you tap into—it's so important to have those. I always say that it's important to have three mentors: one person that's ahead of you (for me, that would be Katie Cross because she's someone that I find is an amazing author and we speak at least once a month); people that are at the same level as you that you can go on the journey together with (and I have an author group for that); and then someone that is perceived to be behind you or in a younger generation than you, because you can learn as much from them as they can learn from you. If you can actually tap into those people whilst honouring your independence, then it feels like you can still go on your own journey, but you can tap in and tap out as and when needed. Sacha Black will give you amazing insights, other people like Honor will give you amazing insights, but you can also provide that for them. So there's that safety of being able to do it on your own. But on the flip side, you still have those people that you can tap into as and when necessary as a sounding board, as information on how they were successful, and go from there. Jo: No, I like that. If you're new to the show, Sacha Black and Honor Raconteur have been on the show and they are indeed some of my best friends. So I appreciate that. I really like the idea of the three mentor idea. I just want to add to that because I do think people misunderstand the word mentor sometimes. You mentioned you speak to Katie Cross, but I've found that a lot of the mentors that I've had who are ahead of me have often been books. We mentioned the Viktor Frankl book, and if people don't know, he was Jewish and in the concentration camps and survived that. So it's a real survivor story. But to me, books have been mostly my mentors in terms of people who are ahead of me. We don't always need to speak to or be friends with our mentors. I think that's important too, right? Because I just get emails a lot that say, “Will you be my mentor?” And I don't think that's the point. Jack: Oh, I a hundred percent agree with you. If you don't have access to those mentors—like Oprah Winfrey is one of the people that I perceive as a mentor—I listen to podcasts, I read her books, I watch interviews. There is a way to absorb and acquire that information, and it doesn't have to be a direct relationship with them. It is someone that you can gain the knowledge and wisdom that they've imparted in whatever form you may consume it. Which is why I think it is important to have those three levels: that one that is above you that may be out of reach in terms of a human connection, but you can still access; then the people at the same level as you that you can have those relationships and grow with; and again, that one behind that you can help pave the way for them, but also learn from them as well. So a hundred percent agree that that mentor that you are looking for that may be ahead of you doesn't necessarily need to be someone that is in a real-world relationship. Jo: So let's just circle back to your music industry experience. You mentioned being on the sort of marketing team for some really big names in music, and I mean, it's kind of a sexy job really. It just sounds pretty cool, but of course the music industry has just as many challenges as publishing. What did you learn from working in the music industry that you think might be particularly useful for authors? Jack: The perception of reality was definitely a lot different. It does look sexy and glamorous, but the reality is similar to going to conferences. It's pretty much flight, hotel, and dark rooms with terrible air conditioning that you spend a lot of time in. So sorry to burst the illusion. But I mean, it does have its moments as well. There is so much I've learned over the years and there's probably three things that stand out the most. The first one was I entered the industry right at the height of the music industry. In 2000, 2001. That was when Napster really exploded and it decimated the music industry. It wiped half the value in the space of four years. Then the music industry was trying to shut it down, throwing legal, throwing everything at it, but it was like whack-a-mole. As soon as one went down such as Napster, ten others popped up like Kazaa. So you saw that the old guard wasn't willing to embrace change. They weren't willing to adapt. They assumed that people wanted the formats of CDs, vinyls, cassettes, and they were wrong. Yes, people wanted music, but they actually wanted the music. They didn't care about the format, they just wanted the access. So that was one of the really interesting things that I learned, because I was like, you have to embrace change. You can't ignore it. You can't push it away, push it aside, because it's coming whether you like it or not. I think thankfully the music industry has learned as AI's coming, because now you have to embrace it. There's a lot of legal issues that have been going on at the moment with rights, which you've covered about the Anthropic case and so on. It's such a challenge, and I just think that's the first one. The second one I learned was back in 2018. There was an artist I worked on called Freya Ridings. At that time I was working at an independent record label rather than one of the big three major record labels. She had great songs and we were up against one of the biggest periods of the year and trying to make noise. At the time, Love Island was the biggest TV show on, and everyone wanted to be on it in terms of getting their music synced in the scenes. We were just like, we are never going to compete. So we thought, we need to be clever here. We need to think differently. What we did is we found out what island the show was being recorded on, and we geo-targeted our ads just to that island because we knew the sync team were going to be on there. So we just went hard as nails, advertised relentlessly, and we knew that the sync people would then see the adverts. As a result of that, Freya got the sync. It became the biggest song that season on Love Island, back when it was popular. As a result of that, we built from there. We were like, right, we can't compete with the majors. We have to think differently. We need to do things differently. We need to be creative. It wasn't an easy pathway. That year there were only two other songs that were independent that reached the top 10. So we ended up becoming a third and the biggest song that year. The reason I'm saying that is we can't compete with the major publishers. But the beauty of the independent author community is because we have smaller budgets—most of us, not all of us, but most of us—we have to think differently. We have to make our bang for our buck go a lot further. So it's actually— How can we stay creative? How can we think differently? What can we do differently? So that would be the second thing. Then the third main lesson that I learned, and this is more on the creative side, is that pressure can often work against you, both in a business sense, but especially creativity. I've seen so many artists over the years have imposed deadlines on them to hand in their albums, and it's impacted the quality of their output. Once it's handed in, the stress and the pressure is off, and then you realise that actually those artists end up creating the best material that they have, and then they rush to put it on. Whether that's Mariah Carey's “We Belong Together,” Adele with her song “Hello,” Taylor Swift did the same with “Shake It Off”—they're just three examples. The reason is that pressure keeps us in our beta brainwave state, which is our rational, logical mind. For those of us that are authors that are writing fiction, or even if we are creating stories in our nonfiction work to deliver a point, we need to be in that creative mindset. So we need to be in the alpha and the gamma brain state. Because our body works on 90-minute cycles known as our ultradian rhythm, we need to make sure that we honour our cycle and work with that. If we go past that, our creativity and our productivity is going to go down between 60% and 40% respectively. So as authors, it's important—one, to apply the right amount of pressure; two, to work in breaks; and three, to know what kind of perspective we're looking at. Do we need to be rational and logical, or do we need to be creative? And then adjust the sails accordingly. Jo: That's all fantastic. I want to come back on the marketing thing first—around what you did with the strategic marketing there and the targeted ads to that island. That's just genius. I feel like a lot of us, myself included, we struggle to think creatively about marketing because it's not our natural state. Of course, you've done a lot of marketing, so maybe it comes more naturally to you. I think half the time we don't even use the word creative around marketing, when you're not a marketeer. What are some ways that we can break through our blocks around marketing and try to be more creative around that? Jack: I would challenge a lot of authors on that presumption, because as authors we're in essence storytellers, and to tell a story is creative. There's a great quote: “One death is a tragedy. A thousand deaths is a statistic.” If you can create a story, a compelling narrative about a death in the news, it's going to pull at the heartstrings of people. It's going to really resonate and get with them. Whereas if you are just quoting statistics, most people switch off because they become desensitised to it. So I think because we can tell stories, and that's the essence of what we do, it's how can we tell our story through the medium of social media? How can we tell a story through our creative ads that we then put out onto Facebook or TikTok or whatever platform that we're putting them out—BookBub, et cetera? How can we create a narrative that garners the attention? If we are looking at local media or traditional media, how can we do that? How can we get people to buy in to what we're selling? So it's about having different angles. For me with my new romance book, Stolen Moments, one of the stories I had that really has helped me get some coverage and PR is we recorded the songs next door to the Rolling Stones. Now that was very fortunate timing, very fortunate. But everyone's like, “Oh my God, you recorded next door to the Rolling Stones?” So it's like, well, how can you bring in these creative nuggets that help you to find a story? Again, marketing is in essence telling a story, albeit through different mediums and forms. So it's just how can you package that into a marketable product depending on the platform in which you're putting it out on. Jo: I think that's actually hilarious, by the way, because what you hit on there, as someone with a background in marketing, your story about “we recorded an album for the book next door to the Rolling Stones”—it's got nothing to do with the romance. Jack: Oh, the romance is that the pop star in the book writes and records songs. Jo: Yes, I realised that. But the fact is— For doing things like PR, it's the story behind the story. They don't care that you've written a romance. Jack: Yes. Jo: They're far more interested in you, the author, and other things. So I think what you just described there was a kind of PR hook that most of us don't even think about. Jack: I'm sure a lot of authors already know this, so it's a good reminder, and if you don't, it's great. It's called the A, B, C technique. When you get asked a question, you Answer the question. So that's A. You Build a bridge, and then you go to C, which is Covering one of your points. So whenever you get asked a question, have a list of things you want to get across in an interview. Then just make sure that you find that bridge between whatever the question is to cover off one of your points, and that's how you can do it. Because yes, you may be selling a story, like I said, about writing the songs, but then you can bridge it into actually covering and promoting whatever it is you're promoting. So I think that's always quite helpful to remember. Jo: Well, that's a good tip for things like coming on podcasts as well. I've had people on who don't do what you just mentioned and will just try and shoehorn things in in a more deliberate fashion, whereas other people, as you have just done with your romance there, bring it in while answering a question that actually helps other people. So I think that's the kind of thing we need to think about in marketing. Okay, so then let's come back to the embracing change, and as you mentioned, the AI stuff that's going on. I feel like there's so many “stories” around AI right now. There's a lot of stories being told on both sides—on the positive side, on the negative side—that people believe and buy into and may or may not be true. There's obviously a lot of anger. There's, I think, grief—a big thing that people might not even realise that they have. Can you talk about how authors might deal with what's coming up around the technological change around AI, and any of your personal thoughts as well? Jack: I was thinking about this a lot recently. I mean, I guess everyone is in their own ways and forms. One of the things that came up for me is we have genre expectations and we have generation expectations. When we look at genres, you will have different expectations from different genres. For romance, they want a happily ever after or a happy for now. For cosy mysteries, they expect the crime to be solved. So we as authors make sure we endeavour to meet those expectations. The challenge is that if we are looking at AI, we are all in our own generations. We might be in slightly different generations, but there are going to be different generation expectations from the Alpha generation that's coming up and the Beta generation that's just about to start this year or next year because they're going to come into the world where they don't know any different to AI. So they will have a different expectation than us. It will just be normal that there will be AI agents. It will just be normal that there are AI narrators. It will be normalised that AI will assist authors or assist everyone in doing their jobs. So again, it is a grieving period because we can long for what was, we can yearn for things that worked for us that no longer work for us—whether it's Facebook groups, whether it's the Kindle Rush. We can mourn the loss of that, but that's not coming back. I mean, sometimes there may be a resurgence, but essentially, we've got to embrace the change. We've got to understand that it's coming and it's going to bring up a lot of different emotions because you may have been beholden to one thing and you may be like, yes, I've now got my TikTok lives, and then all of a sudden TikTok goes away. I know Adam, when he was talking about it, he'll just find another platform. But there'll be a lot of people that are beholden to it and then they're like, what do I do now? So again, it's never survival of the fittest—it's survival of the most adaptable. I always use this metaphor where there are three people on three different boats. A storm comes. And the first, the optimist, is like, “Oh, it'll pass,” and does nothing. The pessimist complains about the storm and does nothing. But the realist will adjust the sails and use the storm to find its way to the other side, to get through. It's not going to be easy, but they're actually taking change and making change to get to where they need to go, rather than just expecting or complaining. I get it. We are not, and I hate the expression, “we're all in the same boat.” I call bleep on that. I'm not going to swear. We're not all in the same boat. We're all in the same storm, but different people are going through different things. For some, they can adjust and adapt really quickly like a speedboat. For others, they may be like Jack and Rose in the Titanic on that terrible prop where they're clinging to dear life and trying to get through the storm. So it's about how do I navigate this upcoming storm? What can I do within my control to get through the storm? For some it may be easier because they have the resources, or for some of us that love learning, it's easy to embrace change. For others that have a fear mindset and it's like, “Oh, something new, it's scary, I don't want to embrace it”—you are going to take longer. So you may not be the speedboat, but at some point we are going to have to embrace that change. Otherwise we're going to get left behind. So you need to look at that. Jo: The storm metaphor is interesting, and being in different boats. I feel I do struggle. I struggle with people who suddenly seem to be discovering the storm. I've been talking about AI now since 2016. That's a decade. Jack: Yes. Jo: Even ChatGPT has been around more than three years, and people come to me now and they're talking about stories that they've seen in the media that are just old now. Things have moved on so much. I feel like maybe I was on my boat and I looked through my telescope and I saw the storm. I've been talking about the storm and I've had my own moments of being in the middle of the storm. Now I definitely do struggle with people who just seem to have arrived without any knowledge of it before. I oscillate between being an optimist and a realist. I think I'm somewhere between the two, probably. But I think what is driving me a little crazy in the author community right now is judgment and shame. There are people who are judging other people, and there's shame felt by AI-curious or AI-positive people. So I want to help the people who feel shame in some way for trying new technology, but they still feel attacked. Then those people judge other authors for their choices to use technology. So how do you think we can deal with judgment and shame in the community? Which is a form of conflict, I guess. Jack: Of course. I think with that, there's another great PR quote: “If it bleeds, it leads.” Especially in this digital age, there's a lot of clickbait. So the more polarising, the more emotion-evoking the headline, the more likely you are to engage with that content—whether that is reading it or whether that's posting or retweeting, or whatever format you are consuming it on. So unfortunately, media has now become so much more polarising. It's dividing us rather than uniting us. So people are going to have stronger positions. There's so much even within this to look at. One is, you have to work out where people are on the continuum. Do they have an opinion on AI? Do they have a belief? Or do they have a conviction? Now you're not going to move someone that has a conviction about something, so it's not worth even engaging with them because they're immovable. Like they say, you shouldn't talk about sports, politics, and religion. There are certain subjects that may not be worth talking about, especially if they have a conviction. Because they may not even be able to agree to disagree. They may not be willing or able to hear you. So first and foremost, it's about understanding, well, where are those people sitting on the continuum of AI? Are they curious? Do they have an opinion, but they're open to hearing other opinions? Do they have a belief that could be changed or evolved if they find more information? That's where I think it is. It's not necessarily our jobs—even though you do an amazing job of it, Joanna—but a lot of people are undereducated on these issues or these new technologies. So in some cases it's just a case of a lack of education or them being undereducated. Hopefully in time they will become more and more educated. But again, it's how long is a piece of string? Will people catch up? Will they stay behind? Are they fearful? I guess because of social media, because of the media, as they say, if you can evoke fear in people, you can control them. You can control their perspectives. You can control their minds. So that's where we see it—a lot of people are operating from a fear mindset. So then that's when they project their vitriol in certain cases. If people want to believe a certain thing, that's their choice. I'm not here to tell people what to think. Like I said earlier, it's more about how to think. But I would just encourage people to find people that align with you. Do a sense test, like a litmus test, to find where they sit on the continuum and engage with those people that are open and have opinions or beliefs. But shy away or just avoid people that have convictions that maybe are the polar opposite of yours. Jo: It's funny, isn't it? We seem to be in a phase of history when I feel like you should be able to disagree with people and still be friends. Although, as you mentioned, there's certain members of my family where we just stay on topics of TV shows and movies or music, or what books are you reading? Like, we don't go anywhere near politics. So I do think that might be a rule also with the AI stuff. As you said, find a community, and there are plenty of AI-positive spaces now for people who do want to talk about this kind of stuff. I also think that, I don't know whether this is a tipping point this year, but certainly— I know people who are in bigger corporates where the message is now, “You need to embrace this stuff. It is now part of your job to learn how to use these AI tools.” So if that starts coming into people's day jobs, and also people who have, I don't know, kids at school or people at university who are embracing this more—I mean, maybe it is a generational thing. Jack: Yes. Look, there were so many people that were resistant to working from home, or corporations that were, and then the pandemic forced it. Now everyone's embraced it in some way, shape, or form. I mean, there are people that don't, but the majority of people—when something's forced on you, you have to adapt. So again, if those things are implemented in corporations, then you're going to see it. I'm seeing so many amazing new things in AI that have been implemented in the music industry that we'll see in the publishing industry coming down the road. That will scare a lot of people, but again, we have to embrace those things because they're coming and there's going to be an expectation—especially from the younger generations—that these things are available. So again, it's not first past the post, but if you can be ahead of the wave or at least on the wave, then you are going to reap the rewards. If you are behind the wave, you're going to get left behind. So that's my opinion. I'm not trying to encourage anyone to see from my lens, but at the same time, I do think that we need to be thinking differently. We need to always embrace change where we can, as we can, at the pace that we can. Jo: You mentioned there AI things coming down the road in the music industry. And now everyone's going, wait, what is coming? So tell us— What do you see ahead that you think might also shift into the author world? Jack: There are three things that I've seen. Two that have been implemented and one that's been talked about and worked on at the moment. The first, and this will be quite scary for people, is that major record labels—so think the major publishers on our side—they're all now putting clauses in their contracts that require the artists that sign with them to allow their works to be trained by their own AI models. So that is something that is now actually happening in record labels. I wouldn't be surprised, although I don't have insight into it, if Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, et cetera, are potentially doing the same with authors that sign to them. So that's going to become more standardised. So that is on the major side. But then on the creative side, there are two things that really excite me. The music AI platforms that we're hearing about, the stories that we've seen in the press, and it's the fact that with a click of a button, you can recreate a song into a different genre. I find it so fascinating because if you think about that—turning a pop song into a country song or a rap song into a dance song—the possibilities that we have as authors with our books, if we wish to do so, are amazing. I just think, for example, with your ARKANE series, Joanna, imagine clicking a button and just with one click you can take Morgan Sierra and turn her into a romantic lead in a romance book. Jo: See, it's so funny because I personally just can't imagine that because it's not something I would write. But I guess one example in the romance genre itself is I know plenty of romance authors who write a clean and a spicy version of the same story, right? It is already happening in that way. It's just not a one-click. Jack: Well, I think you can also look at it another way. I think one of the most famous examples is Twilight. With Twilight and Stephenie Meyer, if she had the foresight—and I'm not saying she didn't, just to clarify—but fan fiction is such a massive sub-genre of works. And obviously from Twilight came 50 Shades of Gray. Imagine if she had the licensing rights like the NFTs, where she could have made money off of every sale. So that you could then, through works that you create and give licence, earn a percentage of every release, every sale, every consumption unit of your works. There are just so many possibilities where you can create, adapt, have spinoffs that can then build out your world. Obviously, there may need to be an approval process in there for continuity and quality control because you want to make sure you're doing that, but I think that has such massive potential in publishing if we wish to do so. Or like I said, change characters. Like Robert Langdon's character in Dan Brown's books—no longer being the kind of thriller, but maybe being a killer instead. There's so many possibilities. It's just, again, how to think, not what to think—how to think differently and how we can use that. So that's the second of three. Jo: Oh, before you move on, you did mention NFTs and I've actually been reading about this again. So I'm usually five years early. That's the general rule. I started talking about NFTs in mid-2021, and obviously there was a crypto crash, it goes up and down, blah, blah, blah. But forget the crypto side—on the blockchain side, digital originality, and exactly what you said about saying like, where did this originate? This is now coming back in the AI world. It could be that I really was five years early. So amusingly—and I'm going to link to it in the notes because I did a “Why NFTs Are Exciting for Authors” solo episode, I think in 2022—it may be that the resurgence will happen in the next year, and all those people who said I was completely wrong, that this may be coming back. Digital originality I think is what we're talking about there. But so, okay, so what was the other thing? Jack: So the third one is the one that I'm most excited about, but I think will be the most scary for people. Obviously consumption changes and formats change. Like I said, in music I've seen it all the time—whether it's vinyl to cassettes, to CDs, to downloads, to streaming. Again, there's different consumption of the same format, and we see that with books as well, obviously—hardbacks, paperbacks, eBooks, audiobooks. Now with the rise of AI, AI narration has made audiobooks so much more accessible for people. I know that there are issues with certain people not wanting to do it, or certain platforms not allowing AI narration to be uploaded unless it's their own. The next step is what I'm most excited about. What I'm seeing now in the music industry is people licensing their image to then recreate that as music videos because music videos are so expensive. One of my friends just shot a music video for two million pounds. I don't think many authors would ever wish to spend that. If you can license your image and use AI to create a three-minute music video that looks epic and just as real as humanly possible, imagine if those artists—or if we go a step further, those actors—license their image to then be used to adapt our books into a TV series or a film. So that then we are in a position where that is another format of consumption alongside an audiobook, a paperback, an eBook, hardcover, special edition, and so on and so forth. It potentially has the opportunity to open us up to a whole new world. Because yes, there are adaptations of books that we're seeing at the moment, but for those of us that are trying to get our content into different formats, this can be a new pathway. I'm going to make a prediction here myself, Joanna. Jo: Mm-hmm. Jack: I would say in the next five to ten years, there will be a platform akin to a Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Apple Plus, where you can license the rights to an image of an actor or an actress. Then with the technology—and you may need people to help you adapt your book into a TV series or a film—that can then be consumed. I just think the possibilities are endless. I mean, again, I think of your character and I'm like, oh, what would it be if Angelina Jolie licensed her image and you could have her play the lead character in your ARKANE series? I mean, again, the possibilities potentially are endless here. Jo: Well, and on that, if people think this won't happen—1776, I don't know if you've seen this, it's just being teased at the moment. Darren Aronofsky has made an American revolutionary story all with AI. So this is being talked about at the moment. It's on YouTube at the moment. The AI video is just extraordinary already, so I totally agree with you. I think things are going to be quite weird for a while, and it will take a while to get used to. You mentioned coming into the music industry in 2000, 2001—I started my work before the internet, and then the internet came along and lots of things changed. I mean, anyone who's older than 40, 45-ish can remember what work was like without the internet. Now we are moving into a time where it'll be like, what was it like before AI? And I think we'll look back and go like, why the hell did we do that kind of thing? So it is a changing world, but yes, exciting times, right? I think the other thing that's happening right now, even to me, is that things are moving so fast. You can almost feel like a kind of whiplash with how much is changing. How do we deal with the fast pace of change while still trying to anchor ourselves in our writing practice and not going crazy? Jack: Again, it's that everything everywhere all at once—you can get lost and discombobulated. I always say be the tortoise, not the hare—because you don't want to fly and die. You want pace and grace. Everyone will have a different pace. For some marathon runners, they can run a five-minute mile, some can run an eight-minute mile, some can run a twelve-minute mile. It's about finding the pace that works for you. Every one of us have different commitments. Every one of us have different ways we view the industry—some as a hobby, some as a business. So it's about honouring your needs, your commitment. Some of us, as you've had people on the podcast, some people are carers. They have to care. Some people are parents. Some people don't have those commitments and so can devote more time and then actually learn more, change more as a result. So again, it's about finding your groove, finding your rhythm, honouring that, and again, showing up consistently. Because motivation may get you started, but it's habit and discipline that sees you through. Keep that discipline, keep that pace and grace. Be consistent in what you can do. And know where you're at. Don't compare and despair, because again, if you look at someone else, they may be ahead of you, but the race is only with yourself in the end. So you've got to just focus on where you are at and am I in a better place than I was yesterday? Am I working on my business as well as in my business? How am I doing that? When am I doing that? And what am I doing that for? If you can be asking yourself those questions and making sure you're staying true to yourself and not burning out, making sure that you are honouring your other commitments, then I think you are going at the pace that feels right for you. Jo: Brilliant. Jo: Where can people find you and your books and everything you do online? Jack: Thank you so much for having me on, Joanna, today. You can find me on JackWilliamson.co.uk for all my nonfiction books and therapy work. Then for my fiction work, it is ABJackson.com, or ABJacksonAuthor on Instagram and TikTok. Jo: Well, thanks so much for your time, Jack. That was great. Jack: Thank you so much. The post Post-Traumatic Growth, Creative Marketing, And Dealing With Change with Jack Williamson first appeared on The Creative Penn.