Podcasts about Cdx

Send us a textWhat does the FDA jurisdiction for LDTs mean for the labs? Do they need to worry? How do they need to change the way they operate?In this episode, I talk with Dr. Thomas Nifong, a clinical pathologist and VP of CDX operations at Acrovan Therapeutics, about the recent FDA ruling on laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) issued on May 6th, 2024. We discuss the implications of considering LDTs as medical devices, requiring regulation, and explore the authority of FDA versus CLIA. The conversation also covers historical contexts, practical implications of regulatory changes, and the roles of organizations like CAP, ACLA, and AMP in legal challenges against the FDA. We dive into the differences in requirements between CLIA and FDA, New York's alternative approval route, and potential impacts on lab operations and compliance. Join us for an insightful conversation filled with essential information for those in the field of molecular pathology.00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement00:24 FDA's New Rule on Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs)01:58 Recording the Podcast: A Casual Lunch Conversation03:47 Understanding FDA's Authority Over Medical Devices08:07 Disputes and Legal Challenges12:03 Practical Implications and Industry Reactions12:47 Understanding FDA's Focus: Safety and Efficacy14:11 The Role of CMS and Medical Necessity14:48 Congressional Involvement and Legal Authority16:06 Impact on Labs and Future LDTs18:33 Quality Systems and Compliance20:16 Modifications and Software Updates21:16 Conclusion and Next StepsSupport the showBecome a Digital Pathology Trailblazer get the "Digital Pathology 101" FREE E-book and join us!

Seit sieben Jahren gibt es die #CDX, die Cultural Development Experience, als Veranstaltung für alle, die sich mit Kulturwandel und Change-Management beschäftigen. Und noch immer gibt es großen Bedarf für das gemeinsame Lernen und den Erfahrungsaustausch. Der Kulturwandel ist in der Otto Group schon 2015 gestartet, doch ein Ende ist nicht in Sicht – kann es auch gar nicht, da die kulturelle Transformation ein kontinuierlicher Prozess ist, der in Zeiten von Multikrisen relevanter denn je ist. Das Gute ist: Alle Organisationen stehen vor ähnlichen Herausforderungen. Und wer fleißig übt, zum Beispiel mutige Entscheidungen zu treffen, transparent zu kommunizieren und Silos aufzubrechen, kann schon beim nächsten Change-Prozess davon profitieren. Mit Bianca Lammers und Svenja Reinecke aus dem Kulturwandel 4.0-Team der Otto Group sprechen wir über Learnings aus sieben Jahren #CDX, die Rolle des Top-Managements und konkrete Tipps für Organisationen, die noch am Anfang ihres Kulturwandels stehen. Über den Kulturwandel der Otto Group: https://www.ottogroup.com/de/strategie/kulturwandel.php Das Kulturwandel-Kollektiv: https://www.ottogroup.com/de/public/kulturwandel-kollektiv/ Rückblick zur CDX24: Otto Group auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ottogroup/ Otto Group auf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottogroupcom/ Impressum: https://www.ottogroup.com/de/impressum/

Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC (LSE:HEMO, OTC:HOPHF) CEO Dr Vladislav Sandler talked with Proactive about the company's recent operations update. In the interview, Sandler detailed three key areas of focus: the HEMO-CAR-T program, the CBR platform, and CDX bispecific antibodies. Starting with the HEMO-CAR-T program, Hemogenyx has added an additional clinical trial site at a prestigious US medical center. Sandler emphasised that this expansion will enhance the trial's scope and speed up the timeline. He also revealed plans to include pediatric indications, potentially transforming treatment options for children with acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Sandler provided insights into the CBR (Chimeric Bait Receptor) platform, describing it as an advanced immunotherapy aimed at reprogramming innate immune cells to combat infections and certain cancers. The platform is in the development and testing phase, with promising results so far. Lastly, Dr Sandler discussed progress with KD bispecific antibodies, developed initially for treating relapsed refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Hemogenyx is advancing this candidate through INDe-enabling studies, highlighting its potential in bone marrow transplant conditioning and pediatric indications. "We have a chance to make a real difference in the lives of these kids and their families," said Dr Sandler, underlining the company's commitment to pioneering new treatments. #Hemogenyx #CAR_T #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy #ClinicalTrials #PediatricCancer #AcuteMyeloidLeukemia #Biotechnology #DrVladislavSandler #ProactiveInvestors #MedicalInnovation #CBRPlatform #Pharmaceuticals #HealthcareInnovation #ProactiveInvestors #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

In the fast-paced field of life sciences, digital pathology is poised to be a game-changer. In this episode, we sit down with Grace Lee and Douglas Clark of Agilent Technologies to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with companion diagnostics (CDx). Clark kicks off, shedding light on the current levels of digital pathology adoption in both clinical trials and practice. Thereafter, Lee outlines several opportunities and the associated regulatory hurdles, looking at areas such as the utilization of whole slide images for companion diagnostic interpretation. Pointing to the amplified scrutiny on Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) and the emerging CDx guidelines in the EU and China, she emphasizes the importance of aligning with agencies: “Oftentimes we are trying to manage changes in the CDx world by providing regulators with evidence that assay performance has not changed.” Clark echoes these sentiments, first highlighting the challenges posed by image variability and the resultant disparities in CDx interpretation and scoring, and then offering an optimistic outlook on the transformative potential of AI in the realm of multiplexing assays. For a deep dive into the opportunities presented by digital pathology and CDx development, tune into the full episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world goes ga-ga over game violence; Sega reports horrible losses & Doom redefines PC gaming! These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in February 1994.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events. Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book Get us on your mobile device: Android:  https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly92aWRlb2dhbWVuZXdzcm9vbXRpbWVtYWNoaW5lLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz iOS:      https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/video-game-newsroom-time-machine And if you like what we are doing here at the podcast, don't forget to like us on your podcasting app of choice, YouTube, and/or support us on patreon! https://www.patreon.com/VGNRTM Send comments on Mastodon @videogamenewsroomtimemachine@oldbytes.space Or twitter @videogamenewsr2 Or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vgnrtm Or videogamenewsroomtimemachine@gmail.com Links: If you don't see all the links, find them here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/103514526 7 Minutes in Heaven: Batman The Animated Series Video Version:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/103482653     https://www.mobygames.com/game/5525/batman-the-animated-series/ Corrections: January 1994 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/january-1994-100523595 Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/     https://ko-fi.com/post/PC-FX-Sales-W7W1SYM97     https://archive.org/details/AtariCorporationAnnualReport1994 1994: Atari launches showcase 33     https://archive.org/details/cashbox57unse_18/page/33/mode/1up Taito goes 3D     Sanyo Links With Taito On 3-D Video Game System, Newsbytes News Network, February 23, 1994 Aussie's launch game regulations     CRACKDOWN ON VIDEO GAMES, COURIER-MAIL, February 15, 1994 Tuesday British politicians target sex and violence in games and anime     British politicians try to curb Japanese 'manga', Japan Economic Newswire, FEBRUARY 17, 1994, THURSDAY Knesset bill calls for game censorship     KNESSET BRIEFS, The Jerusalem Post, February 17, 1994, Thursday, NEWS; Pg. 14 Singapore moves to ban games     Ban on video games with too much violence and sex, Agence France Presse -- English, February 19, 1994 08:02 Eastern Time Video game violence scare reaches China      JOJO MOYES reports on recent allegations linking brutality and pornography in video games and real life violence., South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), February 20, 1994, Sunday Edition; Pg. 4 Sega takes the lead!     Sega gains in key video-game segment, United Press International, February 14, 1994, Monday, BC cycle Sega enters electronics market     Sega to break into electronic notebook market, Japan Economic Newswire, FEBRUARY 14, 1994, MONDAY         Sega Moves Into Electronic Toys;  Lead Item Is a Learning Aid, Pico, A Hit Among Japanese Preschool Set ADWEEK, February 14, 1994, All Southeast EditionSouthwest EditionWestern Advertising News Edition, Section: CLIENT NEWS         https://segaretro.org/IR_7000_Communicator Howard Lincoln becomes Chairman of the Board     Howard Lincoln appointed chairman of the board of Nintendo of America, Inc., Business Wire, February 15, 1994, Tuesday          NINTENDO NAMES NEW CHIEF IN COMEBACK BID, Charleston Gazette (West Virginia), February 16, 1994, Wednesday, Section: News; Pg. P2D     Nintendo plots leap over Sega, USA TODAY, February 16, 1994, Wednesday, FINAL EDITION, Section: MONEY; Pg. 1B Sega drops forecasts     Nikkei closes week on a higher note, Financial Times (London,England), February 19, 1994, Saturday, London; Section: World Stock Markets (Asia Pacific); Pg. 19         Sega blames strong yen for decline; Analysts say competition has eaten into margins, The Independent (London), February 19, 1994, Saturday, Section: BUSINESS & CITY PAGE; Page 19.        Sega sounds losses warning, Evening Standard (London), February 18, 1994, Section: Pg. 33     Soaring Sega grounded by European slump; Stock Tumbles 25% On Earnings Outlook, The Nikkei Weekly (Japan), February 7, 1994, Section: INDUSTRY; Pg. 9      Nintendo workers first to feel NAFTA     NAFTA claims first U.S. victims: Nintendo takes Seattle plant south, The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia), February 7, 1994, Monday, FINAL EDITION, Section: BUSINESS; Pg. D9, Byline: SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER Sega to beef up overseas production     Sega to step up overseas production, Japan Economic Newswire, FEBRUARY 25, 1994, FRIDAY Sony gathers devs     Japan - Sony Links With 200 Video Game Software Firms,Newsbytes, February 1, 1994, Tuesday Nintendo disses CDs     "Experts baffled by break-ins on Internet, St. Petersburg Times (Florida), February 13, 1994, Sunday, City Edition, BUSINESS; TECH TALK; Pg. 9H; DIGEST        Nintendo announces long-awaited format for Project Reality; 64-bit state-of- the-art video game system will employ the fastest storage media available, Business Wire. February 10, 1994, Thursday"     Nintendo intends to play with solid state over CD-ROM, The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia), February 12, 1994, Saturday, FINAL EDITION, Section: BUSINESS; Pg. H3, Byline: N.Y. TIMES NEWS SERVICE     https://vgprintads.tumblr.com/post/77390106108/strider-genesismega-drive-simpsons     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64 3DO slashes prices     3DO cuts price on multiplayer, United Press International, February 22, 1994, Tuesday, BC cycle           Matsushita cuts price of new video game, The Daily Yomiuri, February 19, 1994, Saturday      Matushita buys into Interplay     Universal Studios Parent Teams Up With Video, Computer Game Outfit, Associated Press Worldstream, February 10, 1994, Thursday 21:47 Eastern Time, Section: Financial pages Laseractive goes 3D     http://videogamekraken.com/laseractive-by-pioneer-corporation        Pioneer Develops 3-D Software For Laser Disk Player, Newsbytes, February 23, 1994, Wednesday         https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/44971/PEASJ1012/3D-Museum        https://youtu.be/bF2Y6v6GXhE?si=ZV-wsiG4HRiwZhaw    NEC launches Laseractive     https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20055%20%28February%201994%29/page/n81/mode/1up?view=theater Sega looks to license Saturn tech     https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n17/mode/2up      Court dismisses Fairchild claims     Nintendo wins patent infringement ruling; federal judge dismisses Fairchild, Semiconductor lawsuit, Business Wire, February 17, 1994, Thursday       https://patents.google.com/patent/US4095791A/en        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System_Game_Pak#Design_change Commodore takes on Sega         Amiga Format, Feb. 1994, pg. 10 Sega announces CDX     https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20055%20%28February%201994%29/page/n61/mode/1up?view=theater        https://segaretro.org/Sega_Multi-Mega JVC to launch X-Eye     https://segaretro.org/Wondermega        https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20055%20%28February%201994%29/page/n61/mode/1up?view=theater Sonic goes Third     Release of the new "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" takes country by storm, Wednesday, Feb. 2     Sega celebrates "Hedgehog Day" with release of "Sonic 3", Business Wire, February 2, 1994, Wednesday         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_3#Release Nintendo goes big on Ken Griffey promotion     Nintendo's promotional grand slam; limited-edition Griffey baseball card, available with new Nintendo video game, Business Wire, February 28, 1994, Monday Nintendo doesn't like vowels     https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n117/mode/1up?view=theater Viacom goes multimedia     https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater      Viacom's win only a start Much lies ahead in merging companies, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, February 16, 1994, Wednesday, Section: BUSINESS; Section F; Page 1 Acclaim shows off animation system     https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater         https://youtu.be/qgsyw9r-sc4?si=mOi8bIyDF6nM39G7     Gregory Fischbach Part 2 - Acclaim - https://www.patreon.com/posts/47720122 Core goes it alone     https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater Game makers go after Chinese pirates     Mainland Super Marios upset overseas video-game makers, South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), February 19, 1994, Business; Pg. 1     https://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/11/the-chinese-gaming-console-with-the-jackie-chan-seal-of-approval/     Microsoft wants further action against fakers, South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), February 22, 1994, Business; Pg. 1 MAS Systems brings arcade controls into the home     https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20055%20%28February%201994%29/page/n63/mode/1up?view=theater     https://kotaku.com/arcade-stick-pioneers-die-in-tragic-accident-1846700437 Doom gets reviewed     https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n3/mode/2up        https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n35/mode/2up     https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n43/mode/2up Artist Graphics brings 3D acceleration to the PC     https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_115/page/n9/mode/2up        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmKKyiTCWNc  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xONCBNipb8k        Master your games with the Games Master     https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n17/mode/2up       https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_123/page/n151/mode/1up?q=master&view=theater     https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n31/mode/2up A1200 CD drive a no go     https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-070/page/n10/mode/1up     https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-070/page/n13/mode/1up Xplora 1 released     https://www.mobygames.com/game/11394/xplora-1-peter-gabriels-secret-world/      https://archive.org/details/cashbox57unse_20/page/26/mode/1up?view=theater     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7EKnhIG6zY&list=PLqIy1v23IZFyTQUIdgVecQ0so94iiF48z Aris goes MPEG     https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater     https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater Microprose's international offices go un-renamed     https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n17/mode/2up Thalion loses key talent     Amiga Format, Feb. 1994, pg. 10     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalion_Software Apple announces entry into settop box market     BUSINESS IN BRIEF Apple plans interactive device for TV sets, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, February 11, 1994, Friday, BUSINESS; Section D; Page 3     Japan's Pioneer, U.S. Oracle Corp. Announce Multimedia Tie-up, Associated Press Worldstream, February 16, 1994, Wednesday 04:35 Eastern Time HP licenses CD32     https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-070/page/n13/mode/1up Atari ST User reviews The Whole Internet     https://archive.org/details/wholeinternetuse00krol/mode/2up        https://archive.org/details/Atari_ST_User_Issue_097_1994-02_Europress_GB/page/n89/mode/2up      Recommended Links: The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ Gaming Alexandria: https://www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/ They Create Worlds: https://tcwpodcast.podbean.com/ Digital Antiquarian: https://www.filfre.net/ The Arcade Blogger: https://arcadeblogger.com/ Retro Asylum: http://retroasylum.com/category/all-posts/ Retro Game Squad: http://retrogamesquad.libsyn.com/ Playthrough Podcast: https://playthroughpod.com/ Retromags.com: https://www.retromags.com/ Games That Weren't - https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/ Sound Effects by Ethan Johnson of History of How We Play. Copyright Karl Kuras  

As expected, the U.S. Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged for the fifth consecutive time, while maintaining cuts are likely still to come. In today's episode, Portfolio Managers Winnie Jiang, Chris Heakes, and your host, Erika Toth, break down the latest announcement. They also discuss the path to rate normalization, alternatives to HISA ETFs, and Energy. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. ETFs mentioned in the podcast: BMO Money Market Fund ETF Series (Ticker: ZMMK) BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (Ticker: ZSP) BMO Ultra Short-Term Bond ETF (Ticker ZST) BMO USD Cash Management ETF (Ticker: ZUCM)* BMO USD Cash Management ETF (USD Units) (Ticker: ZUCM.U) BMO Ultra Short-Term US Bond ETF (USD Units) (Ticker: ZUS.U) BMO Ultra Short-Term US Bond ETF (US Dollar Accumulating Units) (Ticker: ZUS.V) BMO Equal Weight Oil & Gas Index ETF (Ticker: ZEO) BMO Covered Call Energy ETF (Ticker: ZWEN) ZMMK, total returns as at 2024/02/29: 1yr: 5.08%, 2yr: 3.87%, SI: 3.45% ZST, total returns as at 2024/02/29: 1yr: 5.37%, 3yr: 2.53%, 5yr: 2.26%, 10yr: 1.88%, SI: 1.95% ZEO, total returns as at 2024/02/29: 1yr: 15.65, 3yr: 30.45%, 5yr: 13.41%, 10yr: 1.13%, SI: 1.18% ZWEN, total returns as at 2024/02/28: 1yr: 9.12% *Changes in rates of exchange may also reduce the value of your investment. Disclaimers: Annualized Distribution Yield: This yield is calculated by taking the most recent regular distribution, or expected distribution, (excluding additional year end distributions) annualized for frequency, divided by current NAV. The yield calculation does not include reinvested distributions. The viewpoints expressed by the Portfolio Manager represents their assessment of the markets at the time of publication. Those views are subject to change without notice at any time. The information provided herein does not constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy, or an offer to sell securities nor should the information be relied upon as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This communication is intended for informational purposes only. Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although such statements are based on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations. Investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. In connection with any forward-looking statements, investors should carefully consider the areas of risk described in the most recent prospectus. The Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by the Manager. S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (“S&P”) and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”), and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by the Manager. The ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the Index. This podcast is for information purposes. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax or legal advice to any party. Particular investments and/or trading strategies should be evaluated relative to the individual's investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. ®/™Registered trademarks/trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence.

JCO PO authors Lauren C. Leiman and Dr. Emma Alme share insights into their JCO PO article, “Recommendations for the Equitable and Widespread Implementation of Liquid Biopsy for Cancer Care”. Host Dr. Rafeh Naqash and guests discusses increasing access to liquid biopsy for cancer, reviewing the barriers and examining the proposed solutions. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Rafeh Naqash: Hello and welcome to JCO Precision Oncology Conversations, where we bring you engaging conversations with authors of clinically relevant and highly significant JCO PO articles. I'm your host, Dr. Rafeh Naqash, Social Media Editor for JCO Precision Oncology and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma. Today, we are excited to be joined by Lauren Leiman, Executive Director of BloodPAC, and Dr. Emma Alme, Public Policy Director at Guardant Health. They are both authors of the JCO Precision Oncology article titled "Recommendations for the Equitable and Widespread Implementation of Liquid Biopsy for Cancer Care."  Our guest disclosures will be linked in the transcript.  For the sake of this conversation, we will refer to each other using our first names. So, Lauren and Emma, welcome to the podcast and thank you for joining us today. Lauren Leiman: Thank you for having us. Dr. Emma Alme: Thank you so much.  Dr. Rafeh Naqash: So, this article is an opinion piece that addresses something that is emerging and current and tries to connect it to something that is futuristic also and hopefully, will address a lot of different needs relevant to patients with cancer. For starters, since our audience is pretty diverse, could you tell us what the BloodPAC is? Since the article is somewhat a combined piece from different stakeholders, could you explain what this BloodPAC Consortium is as an entity and what is its role for this BloodPAC? Lauren Leiman: Sure, this is Lauren Leiman. The BloodPAC was formed almost seven years ago as an initial commitment to the White House Cancer Moonshot back in 2016. I was the head of external partnerships and had this idea with a colleague of mine, Dr. Jerry Lee: Could you accelerate the development and approval of liquid biopsy assays for cancer patient benefit if you were able to create some standards and frameworks for the field broadly, and also if you could aggregate data to support those standards and frameworks? So, we brought together about 20 different organizations across pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic partners, foundations funding in the space, government agencies, all to think through can we create these frameworks, are we willing to submit data. We were extremely successful in that first round, and by the end of 2016, we were able to have our first data deposit into- we built a BloodPAC Data Commons, which is housed in Chicago and was created by Dr. Bob Grossman up there. In 2017, when it became clear that the last administration was not going to continue the White House Cancer Moonshot, we became an independent non-profit 501(c)(3). And we have grown substantially since that time from those original 20 different organizations to about 66 different organizations today, across all those areas again, including today, payers, which is very exciting. And we have added on to our mission statement one word that we will discuss today, which is very exciting, which is “accessibility”. After our five-year anniversary and even slightly before then, we decided that we really feel that we have been able to contribute, as a community, to accelerating the development and approval of these tests. But, in actuality if we don't get them into patients' hands, what is the point of all of our hard work? So, we added the word "accessibility." Today, we have these 66 different organizations that collaborate, essentially, to compete. They're pulling together projects and deliverables in about ten different working group areas to contribute products to the liquid biopsy community to help accelerate those three things. Dr. Rafeh Naqash: Thank you for explaining that. That seems like a very important initiative.  Now, when you say that you're contributing data, does it mean that different companies and entities are contributing patient-level data so that you can pool that and assess what is the utilization, what is the utility, what is the payer-related aspects, coverage aspects. Is that all part of the initiative?  Lauren Leiman: It is. We started with the idea, which is kind of scary, I think, for a lot of different companies: Are you willing to submit your protocols essentially, pre-analytical data? I think, much to the FDA's surprise, I was kind of, “Of course, everyone should be willing to do this, they should absolutely do this, it'll be really exciting. Why wouldn't they?” And I think others were a little skeptical that these companies who are highly competitive including Emma's company, Guardant, would be willing to contribute data. And in fact, Guardant is probably one of the first ones, first two at the table to actually submit their data which was just extremely exciting. And the data was around mostly protocols and pre-analytical variables, what tube types are you using? As we moved on, our pharmaceutical partners did submit full clinical trials with deidentified patient data, which was extremely exciting.   Today, our Data Commons sits in two different areas or visibilities for our members. One is membership-only data that only our members can see, so have been been contributed by them potentially sometimes for certain projects we're working on. And then we also have an open segment of our Data Commons that's open to the public, that includes published data and studies that anyone can take a look at and see. Our goal is to continue to open up all of our data over time, so that anyone can take a look at it. We are, I think, the leading liquid biopsy repository.  As we move into the future though, I think because we are mostly an organization that has pharmaceutical companies and diagnostic partners, we are company driven, aggregating large sums of research data is not necessarily their goal. And so to try to identify an area of mutually beneficial interests for everyone, I do think that over the next year or two, you'll see a potential shift or pivot in the use of Data Commons to where the industry is today which is probably, hopefully a little bit more coverage focused. How do we pivot from being a source of aggregated research to a source of identifying and approving the value of liquid biopsy to the full community? And again, that's for the full spectrum all the way through payers and the coverage of these tests, which I do think would add a tremendous amount of value to everyone on the life cycle of this industry but would also add a tremendous amount of value for access in getting these tests into patients' hands.  Dr. Rafeh Naqash: Of course, you importantly covered a bunch of different concepts. One is data democratization, which is extremely important in the current day and age for different people in the public domain if they have access to data, they can do a lot of interesting and important things and add to the overall understanding of what we know or don't know in this space of liquid biopsy utilization. And then, of course, the aspect of disparities and coverage assessments.  Now, going to Emma, for the sake of our listeners, some of them are trainees, and many of them are oncologists, perhaps many are patients. What is the current landscape for liquid biopsies? Where do we use them, and what are the general approaches and principles of where things stand?  Dr. Emma Alme: That's a great question, and it really spans the cancer care continuum. And I think the space where it's most established is in the advanced cancer stage for therapy selection. So that's where we actually have some even FDA approved assays for liquid biopsy, with Guardant 360 test being one of them. It's comprehensive genomic profiling to identify actionable biomarkers to get patients on targeted therapy. So that's where it's really been integral to precision medicine. And we're seeing an increase in utilization of liquid biopsy as the technology becomes more established. It's not just in cases where tissue is insufficient now. Most recently, we've seen NCCN guidelines and non-small cell lung cancer change for concurrent testing for liquid biopsies. So that's been an exciting trend in adoption.   And then as you move across the cancer care continuum, there's residual disease monitoring and response, where we can actually use ctDNA to look at a patient's response to therapy, even after surgery - is there still ctDNA there? Instead of just having imaging as an option, we can actually look sooner to see how the patient is responding and if there is still cancer present. So that's a really exciting place where we're seeing growth in liquid biopsy. And then moving even earlier, before a patient even has cancer, there's a tremendous opportunity for liquid biopsy in early cancer detection. I think that's something that has been previously discussed on this podcast and we see it a lot in popular media. But it's not just for multi-cancer, we have the opportunity for single cancer as well liquid biopsy tests in cancer screening.  That's a really exciting space, really thinking about the accessibility of these tests. Because a lot of cancer screening modalities today are hard for a lot of patients to access. And it requires going to a medical facility. So if the first step is a blood test, that really opens that up to communities that traditionally have been left out of screening. So I think there's a huge opportunity there, not just when we're thinking about screening for cancers that don't have screening modalities currently, but also screening for those that do, where maybe a first non-invasive step can really open the door to patients who don't have access.  So it's a long answer to say that, really, it's across the entire cancer care continuum. We see a lot of opportunity here for liquid biopsy to be a way to advance the field but also increase access for patients who have been left out of precision medicine. Dr. Rafeh Naqash: I think access is definitely the focus here. And I can give you my example. So I do early phase drug development and I do a lot of research in liquid biopsies and ctDNA monitoring. In the center of care, I treat people with lung cancer also and there have been instances, probably about a year or a year and a half back, where a patient could not come to the clinic. The clinic wasn't done and on my to-do list for that individual patient, I put in ctDNA testing just to remind me when I see the patient, to get it done. But the patient didn't make it to the clinic. Surprisingly enough, mobile phlebotomy was available. And later I came to know that this is something that can be done and provided to the patient at their home and you can still get the same results, which was very surprising in a good way. And it did help in making some treatment decisions for some patients who, sometimes in a state like Oklahoma, which is where I am based, we have a significant rural population and people drive six hours for some of our trials, especially the early phase trials. And then if you tell them, “Well, if you don't make this appointment, XYZ cannot get done,” it doesn't necessarily change things for them. So something of this sort definitely helps. Now, going to Lauren, I noticed this interesting sentence in the article, "fork in the road," where you describe, based on the current practices and policies, in the direction that we're going in, we can either increase or deepen the divide and disparities or decrease it. Could you tell us a little bit more about what currently exists on the disparity side and how do you see us narrowing that gap in the near future and implementing something that is equitable? Lauren Leiman: What's exciting about this paper is I think as we are talking about trying to condense this discussion down to something that's really digestible for everyone in the community, there are six barriers that we've identified. And I also should start by saying the working group that we have within BloodPAC that wrote this paper is intended to look at two different areas. One is that broadly, liquid biopsy still isn't available for the majority of the population domestically here in the US so that's a problem. In addition, it's clearly not available in underserved areas, and that's an even deeper divide. So we're kind of at this fork in the road because it's not broadly accessible to the majority of patients today. And so we have this moment in time where we're able to make a decision to bring everyone along with us, which is very exciting but also will take a lot of work. And these six barriers that the paper identifies, I think are very clearly articulated. They are: lack of uncertainty around test performance, the lack of familiarity with this technology, inconsistent payer coverage is an issue, mistrust of the medical establishment - especially in underserved areas, fear of discrimination in seeking this kind of technology, and the difficulty with terminology.  I think that the whole liquid biopsy community has a role to play in addressing these six areas. I think that BloodPAC, in particular, as a consortium and a collaborative process for 66 different organizations that work in the field, we have a role to play, most certainly in helping to address specifically some of these areas. We have working groups that specifically address reimbursement and policy, so that would obviously fall into payer coverage of these tests. We have working groups creating lexicons both in the molecular residual disease area, as well as our multi-cancer early detection areas. So creating terminology and lexicons that are consistent across the entire community and also digestible for patients, which is really important. And so mitigating these barriers is going to be a collaborative process across all stakeholders in the liquid biopsy field. And I think BloodPAC is uniquely positioned to address many of these  because of our diverse stakeholders and membership, which is exciting. But I do think that this is the perfect moment in time now to start addressing these challenges, and we shouldn't wait much longer, as we think through how we can bring everyone along with us and make sure we're not leaving anyone behind. Dr. Rafeh Naqash: As this entity or consortium, as you call it BloodPAC, has moved forward, this is a question for both of you, Emma and Lauren. Emma, I guess you can start. How were things five years back? What are some of the things that you have been able to achieve, and where do you potentially see the next five years? Dr. Emma Alme: I think we have made a lot of strides on the coverage side when it comes to advanced cancer testing for liquid biopsy. By no means are we there by any stretch of imagination, but we're starting to see some coverage adoption, which does make a huge difference because at the end of the day, that's so important to ensure equitable access. Especially when we're talking about a technology that has the potential to close some of the barriers in precision medicine because of the fact that you don't need access to some of the medical facilities, as you pointed out earlier, rural patients don't have access to. Because transportation is not necessarily a barrier here the way it is for some for some of these other treatment aspects. But if you don't have consistent pay or coverage, that's a place where you're really going to see drop off in terms of patients not getting equitable care and not getting standard of care as liquid biopsy enters into that realm.  The increase we've seen in private payers adopting coverage, the way we see Medicare coverage for advanced cancer liquid biopsy, is encouraging. We've seen states adopt legislation to require coverage of biomarker testing, that's passed in 15 states now, thanks to the work of the American Cancer Society and a broad coalition of stakeholders. I think that's beginning to make a difference, but we have a long road to go. We still, on the MRD side, that's just emerging. And so one space where we have some recommendations on this is continued evidence generation - continue to gather that clinical utility data that will support payer adoption increasing on the advanced cancer side, but then moving across that cancer care continuum to those other types of liquid biopsy tests. I think that's hugely important and there's a role for BloodPAC to play in that as well, especially in making sure that we bring everyone to the table to have these conversations on what is the evidence that, we need to generate, what should that look like, what are the standards to ensure that everyone feels confident in these tests. That's one area that we're really excited to see.  And I also think another space is on the diversity in clinical trials. It's so important to make sure that when we are bringing these tests to market, the data that we gather to support that is representative of all patients who can benefit. It is so important to make sure that the tests work, but also to build confidence in all of the people who are going to get these tests and feel like, “Okay. I know that this test works for patients that look like me, too.” And so that is something that at Guardant we are working really hard on. We read out our clinical trial, ECLIPSE, for our blood based test screening for colorectal cancer a little over a year ago, and we were really happy to be able to say that our trial was representative of the US population, particularly for Black Americans, where colorectal cancer incidence is increasing, 30% to 40% higher rates of mortality, in Black patients than White patients for CRC. So it's especially important to make sure that the population is representative in the clinical trial of the patients who will benefit.   And I think we are seeing companies increasingly realize their responsibility in that space and it's something that we can all really prioritize moving forward with things like making sure transportation is accessible to patients, making sure that clinical trial materials are accessible, culturally sensitive in a broad set of languages. There are a lot of different activities. You have mentioned mobile phlebotomy earlier, that can be incorporated into trials working with community centers and not just academic medical centers to ensure that the trials are taking place close to where patients live and work. This is a tractable problem and I think we've made a lot of headway in the five years. But looking to the future, there's still a lot more we can do together to ensure that work continues. Dr. Rafeh Naqash: All excellent points. And I completely agree with you. Bringing the trial to the patient is more important and likely to lead to better outcomes than the patient driving six hours to a facility to come on for trial.  So, the question for Lauren that I have from a physician or scientist standpoint, is what gets covered or does not get covered is not necessarily that I know about in my daily clinic of 15-20 patients. What is the difference between different states having different coverage policies for something like this? If it's the same payer in state A and the same payer in state B, why is the coverage policy in state B different from that in state A? And what are some of the things we can do locally and at a national level to help bridge some of these disparities and gaps? Lauren Leiman: I'm going to hand that question over to Emma. This is her bread and butter.  Dr. Emma Alme: That is such a great question, and I wish I had a more satisfactory answer for you. The reality is that when it comes to diagnostics, coverage is really a patchwork, compared to when we think about drugs whether it's FDA approved, we expect to be covered. With diagnostics, it's really up to the insurer. And I keep going back to the advanced cancer space because that's where we see the broadest coverage because it has been around the longest. But we see broad coverage from Medicare for these types of tests. But, for private payers, it's really a patchwork. We see a lot of payers only just starting to cover these tests, maybe where there's a CDX indication with an FDA-approved drug we see it, but not more broadly for tumor profiling. Especially not for the larger, more expensive comprehensive genomic profiling panels that are more expensive. I think you can extrapolate the obvious reasons why that might be. But, as this is being moving into NCCN guidelines, we see very slow adoption by some private payers.  And you touched on the legislation in different states. This coalition on American Cancer Society has been spearheading is trying to pass state-level legislation that will align coverage with a strong, robust set of evidence, and that's an FDA-approved companion diagnostic indication, medicare coverage, whether it's an NCD National Coverage Determination, a Local Coverage Determination, or National Clinical Practice Guidelines like NCCN, so really a robust set of evidence. And so this is resonating with state legislators across the country where we are seeing that take off in 15 states. But the political climate is different in different states so there are differences in terms of which state will adopt this, some of the differences are in language that they put into this. But even now that these are passing, we're seeing differential implementation, some plans are not necessarily reading this legislation and saying, “Okay, I have to cover all the tests that Medicare covers.” They are thinking that maybe they have some agency to put on other medical necessity criteria. So I think there's a lot that will play out on the individual state level to see how this nets out. But it's really kind of how different insurance companies and plans are interpreting these mandates, are interpreting guidelines, etc.  But you touched on the differences between the states and one of the things that has actually been shown in data from the precision medicine coalition is that even when you change insurance coverage for one individual plan, it doesn't necessarily translate into adoption in the direct correlation that you would expect. And part of that is because it's such a patchwork and it's so chaotic. Providers don't necessarily know for their patients which plan will cover, which one won't. They're very hesitant to subject their patients to out of pocket costs and so you get providers being reticent to order liquid biopsy just because of this coverage landscape. And so there really is that need not just to go step by step but get broader coverage for these patients across the board.  And so I think the long term vision is can we get to a change at the federal level. That's hard compared to the state level. It's a long road ahead. That's why I started this with I don't have a satisfactory answer. There is still a lot of chaos ahead even though we made some progress along the way. Dr. Rafeh Naqash: I completely agree. Lots of things to do together. But, in my daily role as a physician or a scientist, I come across situations where a patient's situation was denied for liquid biopsy, then the company went and appealed or insurance doesn't want to pay for it, and then they ask for peer-to-peer review, which is a lot of time and energy on the provider's side, the physician's side, even for as simple as a CAT scan for cancer, let alone a liquid biopsy. I started thinking at that time, is there a scenario where if I were ordering a Guardant or a foundation or any liquid biopsy for that matter, can they not provide additional support where I don't have to do a peer to peer and I can spend time and energy concentrating on the more important patient issues that are right in front of me, rather than having to wait for an insurance company to call me at a certain time of the day where I may or may not be available and then having to reschedule the call and spend another 30 minutes to them explaining. So I don't know if you guys on the other side of the aisle also think about some of these issues, but could that be a scenario that could potentially be implemented in the near future?  Dr. Emma Alme: Yes, absolutely. This is something that we at Guardant think about a lot. One of the challenges is that, as a laboratory offering liquid biopsy, you are an ancillary provider, and so I think you touched on it, a lot of this role falls to you as the physician to secure prior authorization and to be the patient's advocate. And not all plans – this is often true for Medicare Advantage – allow the laboratory to be the one to, for example, initiate prior authorization and provide the medical necessity information to make sure that that test is approved by the insurance company, and then to be the advocate for that patient in appeal process as you mentioned. And I think there is a lot of education that needs to happen among policymakers to make some tweaks to this process to ensure that the patient can have access, that the laboratory can be involved in the process where it makes sense, to smooth out this process.   And exactly right, I think you touched on a place where it is a huge burden for providers. There are places where the laboratory is best equipped to move the patient through that process and there's a lot of red tape that we can help overcome. And that's not specific to liquid biopsy. I think that's true across the diagnostics industry. But you're exactly right that it is another hurdle to access is if this is a process that has a lot of red tape. So I'm pleased to hear you think about this the same way.  Dr. Rafeh Naqash: I'm glad you guys are having those conversations, having conversations is the first important step to make a change in the near future.  If there's a patient listening out there and that patient has gotten a recent bill of $5,000 for liquid biopsy, what are some of the steps that you would like to highlight for them from a patient standpoint so that they can advocate for themselves? And should they talk to the physician in the company? Should they directly approach the company to not have that additional financial toxicity in situations where it may not be covered?   Lauren Leiman: I would 100% encourage those patients to please reach out to the company. I can only speak for Guardant but we have a patient access program. Our team calls any patient that's going to have more than $100 out of pocket because our goal at Guardant is to make sure that patients have access to the testing they need to inform their treatment and get the best possible care. I think we're all aligned across these companies across both- like we want to make sure that we are lowering the burden for cancer patients. There's already so much stress on these patients initiating treatment. They don't need to have the added stress of battling insurance. So we're here to help and no patient should be on their own in that space. So please tell your patients to reach out to the company in those instances, but I would hope that they would already have gotten outreach from the company in the first place. Dr. Rafeh Naqash: I often discuss with some of my colleagues about the financial burden of cancer care, unfortunately, that people tend to have. And I remember this scenario a couple of months back where a patient of mine, when I sat down in the clinic room, they had this big, thick folder with them. And after I finished the discussion about what was going on with the cancer, they said, "Could you help figure this out?" And they opened this folder. It had so many bills, and one of the bills was obviously a liquid biopsy bill. And that was my understanding, too, that there is a lot of resources available to these people. And eventually things worked out. The company took the cost of whatever was not being covered by the insurance. But again, you touched upon an aspect in the article about educating the physicians, the providers. I think definitely a lot of work needs to be done there so that the patients can advocate for themselves and the healthcare providers can advocate for the patients, too, like having those checks and balances and those resources present and in the institutions where these people get cared for or knowing what's the right way to channelize these issues and to whom within the companies, so that all of this gets taken care within a timely period, so that the patient doesn't come back with the same issue six months later, “I still have this bill,” that even if it's being sent to the patient or their family by mistake, it does add a lot of psychological pressure.   So I think a lot of things potentially need to be done in that space, and hopefully you guys are still doing that and continue to do that, make progress in that space to help mitigate and alleviate some of that patient level burden, which is extremely crucial in their care. Lauren Leiman: I think what's interesting about what we're looking at now is BloodPAC is thinking through these financial challenges, the coverage challenges for someone who's probably made it to an academic center to access these tests to begin with. And so to go back a little bit in the conversation, I think there still are challenges, which I'd love to hear more about from the experience of a clinician. But we have talked about, does mobile phlebotomy access everyone? Is it capable of providing access for everyone? I don't know. There's new technologies that we are looking at, like home blood collection. Most of the companies that we work with right now, they're not getting enough quantity. The quantity isn't there. But is that something that we should be pursuing? Because as you've already said, people drive six hours, and sometimes you can't make that drive. And sometimes a mobile phlebotomy lab is not able to get those six hours away. There's a limit on how far they can go. That's a huge challenge.  I'm also fascinated by the idea that if you were to eliminate coverage as an issue, so if we were to say we're offering tests for free, is there still the educational barrier, the understanding barrier that we are not putting enough emphasis on? I don't know the answer to that question. I think there is a large element to that, though. And I think that when you say education, I have asked colleagues, "Okay, guys, who are we educating? Are we educating the clinician on specific tests? Are we educating the community health worker somewhere else outside of an academic center? Are we educating the patients themselves? Do they need to really understand exactly what this kind of futuristic technology is and what it can do for them?" Those are a lot of permutations of what if, what if, what if, what is the barrier? And so to take a step back, the reality is for that big bucket of individuals that I talked about at first, yes, coverage is going to be the primary barrier for them. But if you were to remove that barrier for some individuals, I think you still have a lot of challenges left ahead of you, which is essentially what the paper is saying. But I think that that is the really big question that I still have in my mind. If we can eliminate coverage, what's left and how do we address it? Dr. Rafeh Naqash: To that point, I would like to add also- you pointed out educational barriers and there's definitely educational barriers on the provider side also, physicians, whether it's academic or community, that's a different discussion altogether. And this is not just one example, but this is an example that I'm giving because there's several other examples similar I've seen where somebody gets a liquid biopsy done in the community setting, or maybe even in an academic setting somewhere else. And somebody like me who deals with some of these results, I do a lot of precision medicine, I do a lot of genomics, but that's not everybody's interest or forte. That's not something that everybody's necessarily interested in or I try to read each and every detail in a report and understand implications, and not everybody necessarily thinks that that's the best utilization of their time. And I have identified a lot of patients that have been in the system within our state or outside our state where liquid biopsy two years back showed a certain potential germline mutation with a very high variant allele frequency and never got any germline testing. And then I see the patient and I start connecting the dots and the patient gets germline testing done - patients is positive, children are positive, children get XYZ procedures done as part of surveillance or mitigation strategies to prevent future cancers, which again, prevention is cure. At the end of the day, you catch something earlier, as we all know, higher chances for cure.  So I think that part of education, we still need to do a lot more on educating the providers, the physicians, or making it somewhat easy, like is there a way that, well, if you have a potential finding of a germline mutation, let's say on a report, instead of just mentioning the potential of germline mutations, maybe we can go to the next level and offer free germline testing and free genetic counseling and make sure that you communicate with that provider versus the responsibility being on the provider or the physician that, “Hey, did you read this carefully? Did you miss something? Did you not miss something?” This is something I have come across and we're actually doing a project right now looking at some of that and analyzing the data and the percentage is pretty significant, and hopefully, if and when the results of that project are published, you will understand how much of a difference it actually can make in the lives of patients and their families to catch something early.  Dr. Emma Alme: I think you raise a really good point and your example of germline testing along with tumor profiling is a good example of the kinds of questions that we'll encounter as liquid biopsy moves across that cancer care continuum. So I think we do have to be thinking about what kind of education will we be giving to providers for how they integrate, for example, MRD liquid biopsy testing with standard of care imaging, what does that patient management process look like? On the early cancer screening side, what happens when you get a positive test for a patient? What does that diagnostic workup look like? Especially when there isn't necessarily a standard of care screening pathway- isn't a diagnostic pathway. Whose responsibility is that? There are so many outstanding questions through how we think about provider education across this board that really will take all stakeholders together to really formulate what this looks like.  I think you raise a really good point. Right now, I think we all have more questions than answers, but I think it's an important place for us all to be working really hard on right now, to ensure that this doesn't roll out in a way where there is confusion, especially where the providers offering liquid biopsy, maybe primary care physicians who aren't necessarily, as you said, going to be well versed in the literature on liquid biopsy, thinking about these tests report the way that you are right now. There's a lot of work to be done there. Dr. Rafeh Naqash: Absolutely. It was a pleasure talking to both of you about the science, logistics, and payer aspects. A couple of quick minutes on both of you as individuals. I like to start with you, Lauren, can you tell me briefly, what's your background? How did that background connect to what you're doing today? And what else have you learned in this process? Lauren Leiman: Sure. I am Lauren Leiman. I'm the Executive Director of BlooPAC. My backgrounds are primarily in communications and business and developing collaborations that are mutually beneficial for all participants. I have worked in finance. I've worked in Africa for many years for an economist and really decided during that time that health care and health initiatives were really what interests me and ended up working in a melanoma foundation for many, many years, developing interesting collaborations between academic institutions and funding formats, and took that to the White House for the first White House Cancer Moonshot as the Head of External Partnerships, and work towards identifying collaborations between different government agencies and different companies, as well as straight corporate commitments to the Cancer Moonshot, which was “a decade of progress in half the time”, the mission statement.  And having worked in melanoma for a while and working at the Moonshot, I'd heard about this liquid biopsy technology. It's out there and I thought it was pretty cool. I have melanoma in my family, and was like, wouldn't it be really interesting if you could get your blood drawn and just tell me if I have melanoma as opposed to kind of scanning my body every six months? And my colleague Jerry Lee, at the time kind of dropped a ream of paper on my desk and said, “Read this.” So I'm neither MD nor PhD, I'm a lowly MBA, who went home and read through everything and came back and said, “You don't have a science problem. You have the collaboration problem, you need to work together, you need to share your data and share your information, which was kind of the birthplace I guess for BloodPAC - could we again, aggregate our data, bringing together these experts in the field to help accelerate the development and approval and accessibility of these technologies. That is my background. Again, an interest in things, going back to Africa and the time I spent there, I'm heavily interested in underserved populations, not just domestically but globally. My hope is that eventually BloodPAC starts really engaging in how do we increase access for all to these really exciting new tests? I do receive, BloodPAC and I as the executive director, receive calls probably once a month from different startups around the world saying, “Good luck with all your $500 test. I want a $5 test, how are we going to get there?” Which you know, I think is the absolute goal for everyone. But slowly but surely, I think we are going to work towards increasing access for all not just domestically here and not just underserved populations here in the US, but hopefully locally as well. Dr. Rafeh Naqash: Thank you, Lauren. Same question to you, Emma. Could you tell us about your background and how it led to your current work and some of the things you learned? Dr. Emma Alme: Absolutely, my background began on the science side. I did a PhD in biochemistry at UCSF University of California, San Francisco. About halfway through my PhD, which I think is a realization many have, I discovered that I loved talking about science and thinking about science and reading about science, but it would be okay if I didn't have to pick up a pipette again. At the time, I was so invigorated by all of the research going on around me but realized that, similar to what Lauren said, it wasn't the science that was the barrier in a lot of cases of this research really reaching patients and changing their care. There were so many policy barriers that were standing in the way of that that I felt like I really wanted to help tackle and so I was fortunate in the fact that there are a lot of fellowships out there for PhDs in science to move into policy roles and serve as science advisors, so I did a smattering of those all around DC. I worked at the National Academy of Science. I worked at NIH and then I went to Congress, where I was a Health Policy Fellow for Anna Eshoo and got to interact with so many different companies in the biotech space and learn about all of their amazing technology, including liquid biopsy that folks were working on where there again, were so many barriers to adoption, where there were policy solutions, and I got really excited to work on that. It was the perfect nexus of my background and biochemistry and genetics and health policy.  And so the opportunity came up to work on policy for Guardant who was really thinking about those issues. And so I jumped at the chance to spend all of my time thinking about how do we increase access for patients? How do we make sure that this innovation actually gets into their hands through changes in coverage and reimbursement? And also thinking about most of the things that we've been talking about today - diversity in clinical trials, how we brought in education for patients and providers. So it's been a really exciting space to work in. It's been super fun to get to help the Guardant work with BloodPAC and I think it's an amazing group of collaborators that brings me a little bit back to my academic roots in terms of enjoying the kind of conversations that all these folks have together as we think about standards. That's been a really exciting place for me to sit in the health policy world combining all of that experience together. Dr. Rafeh Naqash: Thank you so much. It looks like all of you within the BloodPAC and perhaps outside the BloodPAC are people driven by a common vision and mission and hopefully will succeed in all of those things that you're trying to achieve. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to talk to you guys and thank you for publishing in JCO Precision Oncology. Hopefully we'll see more of your work with regards to implementation and some of the next steps that you're taking and perhaps even the data for some of these studies that you're combining together, within JCO Precision Oncology in the near future. Dr. Emma Alme: Thank you so much for having us.  Lauren Leiman: Thank you.  Dr. Rafeh Naqash: Thank you for listening to JCO Precision Oncology Conversations. Don't forget to give us a rating or review and be sure to subscribe, so you never miss an episode.  You can find all ASCO shows at asco.org/podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guests' statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Leiman COIs: Stock and Other Ownership Interests:Company: Illumina Company: Eli lillyAlme COIs:Employment: Company: Guardant Health  Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Company: Guardant Health  

Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC (LSE:HEMO, OTC:HOPHF) Dr Vladislav Sandler joins Proactive's Stephen Gunnion after the pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical group raised £3.5 million, which will be utilized to progress its lead product candidate, Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells (HEMO-CAR-T), into human trials following the lifting of a clinical hold. The HEMO-CAR-T therapy is focused on treating relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukaemia. Despite the challenging market conditions, particularly for biotech firms, Sandler said HemoGenyx successfully secured the necessary funds. He highlighted the company's efficiency and ability to progress with minimal funds, contrasting the struggles faced by other micro-cap companies in raising capital. Looking forward, Sandler said the company plans to advance its clinical trials and continue development on its CBR platform and CDX bispecific antibody, albeit at a potentially slower pace due to funding limitations. As a development-stage company, HemoGenyx anticipates further funding needs but remains committed to efficient and fast-paced progress, seeking various funding sources. Sandler expresses long-term aspirations for HemoGenyx to save lives and generate significant returns for investors. #HemoGenyx #Biotech #Fundraising #HemaCarty #AcuteMyeloidLeukaemia #ClinicalTrials #Pharmaceuticals #Investment #DevelopmentStageCompany #Innovation #ProactiveInvestors #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

MILANO (ITALPRESS) - "Sono convinto che Marsilio, che è stato un ottimo governatore, verrà premiato dai suoi cittadini. Se leggiamo che l'unica cosa di cui si parla è il fatto che abiti a Roma... sono delle cose che dimostrano la pochezza degli avversari", ha detto il presidente della Regione Lombardia, Attilio Fontana.xm4/ads/gsl

MILANO (ITALPRESS) - "Sono convinto che Marsilio, che è stato un ottimo governatore, verrà premiato dai suoi cittadini. Se leggiamo che l'unica cosa di cui si parla è il fatto che abiti a Roma... sono delle cose che dimostrano la pochezza degli avversari", ha detto il presidente della Regione Lombardia, Attilio Fontana.xm4/ads/gsl

“Start with 'why?' Why should I care about this data in the first place?"  Join us this week as Devon chats with Nathan Wood from SpectrumAEC about data, technology, and their relationship with the construction industry.  Nathan C. Wood is the Executive Director of Construction Progress Coalition (CPC), a grassroots non-profit initiative to educate AEC professionals about the need for open interoperability standards between project delivery stakeholders. Nathan's experience with Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), Lean process improvement, and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) has led him to realize how even proven technology solutions can result in lost ROI when the needs of people and process are not addressed. Nathan balances his passion for data insights and stakeholder empathy through pragmatic adoption strategy, driving digital standards adoption in design and construction. When not fighting for open standards, Nathan also supports construction transformation as Chief Enabling Officer of SpectrumAEC, delivering speaking engagements, research publications and Design Thinking workshops. Register for the Advancing Prefabrication Conference with the discount code: PODCAST10 Watch a clip of this in person podcast! Read more about CDX & learn more about the AEC Integration Summit!

Playlist   Track Time Start Time Opening and Introduction (Thom Holmes) 11:57 00:00 1.    Herbie Hancock, Herbie Hancock Demonstrates The Rhodes Piano (1973 Rhodes). A terrific flexi-disc produced by Rhodes and narrated by Hancock who tells an interesting story about his first encounter with the instrument on a Miles Davis session and then he walks the keyboard through a series of effects. He speaks with the authority of a proud electronics tinkerer who understands the nuances that make this instrument so beloved by jazz musicians. This flexi-disc was originally delivered in the November 8, 1973 issue of Down Beat magazine. I provide both sides of the disc, in entirety. Tunes included during the demonstration include parts of Watermelon Man, Maiden Voyage, and The Spook. Soloist, Rhodes Electric Piano, Voice, Herbie Hancock. I thought it would be wisest to lead off this podcast with an overview of the Rhodes even though it is out of chronological sequence, being from 1973. We then go back a few years to hear tracks in proper time order. 12:48 11:57 2.    The Don Ellis Orchestra, “Open Beauty” from Electric Bath (1967 Columbia). Alto Saxophone, Flute, Soprano Saxophone, Joe Roccisano, Ruben Leon; Baritone Saxophone, Flute, Bass Clarinet, John Magruder; Bass, Dave Parlato, Frank De La Rosa; Bass, Sitar, Ray Neapolitan; Congas, Bongos, Chino Valdes; Drums, Steve Bohannon; Leader, Trumpet, Don Ellis; Percussion, Alan Estes; Piano, Clavinet, Fender Electric Piano Fender, Mike Lang; Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Ron Starr; Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Piccolo Flute, Clarinet, Ira Schulman; Timbales, Vibraphone, Percussion , Mark Stevens; Trombone, Dave Sanchez, Ron Myers, Terry Woodson; Trumpet, Alan Weight, Bob Harmon, Ed Warren, Glenn Stuart. 5:33 24:44 3.    Miles Davis, “Stuff” from Miles In The Sky (1968 Columbia). I think this was Miles' first album recorded using the Fender Rhodes, played by Herbie Hancock. See the opening tracks from this podcast for a story about this session from Hancock. Bass, Ron Carter; Drums, Tony Williams; Piano, Fender Electric Piano, Herbie Hancock; Tenor Saxophone, Wayne Shorter; Trumpet, Miles Davis. 16:59 30:14 4.    Joe Zawinul, “The Soul Of A Village (Part II)” from The Rise & Fall Of The Third Stream (1968 Vortex). Zawinul, along with Hancock, was an early adopter of the Fender Rhodes. Cello, Kermit Moore; Double Bass, Richard Davis; Drums, Freddie Waits, Roy McCurdy; Percussion, Warren Smith; Piano, Fender Electric Piano, Joe Zawinul; Tenor Saxophone, Arranged by, William Fischer; Trumpet, Jimmy Owens; Viola, Alfred Brown, Selwart Clarke, Theodore Israel. 4:16 47:10 5.    Oliver Nelson and Steve Allen, “Go Fly a Kite” from Soulful Brass (1968 Impulse). Another Steve Allen record, whom we heard from in part 1 playing the Wurlitzer Electric Piano. Here is a selection from an album on which he plays the Rock-Si-Chord and occasional piano. Arranged by Oliver Nelson; Rock-Si-Chord, piano, Steve Allen; Drums, Jimmy Gordon; session musicians, Barney Kessel, Bobby Bryant, Larry Bunker, Roger Kellaway, Tom Scott; Produced by Bob Thiele. 2:30 51:24 6.    J & K “Mojave” from Betwixt & Between (1969 A&M, CTI). “J” is J.J. Johnson (trombonist) and “K” is Kai Winding (trombonist). Their ensemble included Roger Kellaway playing the electric clavinette. An example of using the clavinet in jazz. This was most likely a Hohner Clavinet Model C which had just been introduced in 1968. Recorded at Van Gelder Studios during late 1968. 2:31 53:54 7.    Albert Ayler, “New Generation” from New Grass (1969 Impulse). An electric harpsichord played by Call Cobbs adds some subtle comping to this buoyant tune written by Ayler, Mary Parks, Rose Marie McCoy. Baritone Saxophone, Buddy Lucas; Design Cover And Liner, Byron Goto, Henry Epstein; Drums, Pretty Purdie; Electric Bass, Bill Folwell; Piano, Electric Harpsichord, Organ, Call Cobbs; Producer, Bob Thiele; Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Seldon Powell; Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Albert Ayler; Trombone, Garnett Brown; Trumpet, Burt Collins, Joe Newman; Vocals, The Soul Singers. 5:06 56:22 8.    Bill Evans, “I'm All Smiles” from From Left To Right (1970 MGM). Piano, Rhodes Electric Piano, Bill Evans; Bass, John Beal; Conducted, arranged by Michael Leonard; Double Bass, Eddie Gomez; Drums,Marty Morell; Guitar, Sam Brown; Liner Notes, Harold Rhodes, Helen Keane, Michael Leonard; Produced by Helen Keane. For his 24th solo album, the long-established jazz pianist Evans took his turn playing both the Fender Rhodes and Steinway acoustic piano on this album, as two-handed duets no less. Liner notes were written by Harold Rhodes, inventor of the Rhodes Electric Piano. 5:42 1:01:24 9.    Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Research Arkestra, “Black Forest Myth” from It's After The End Of The World - Live At The Donaueschingen And Berlin Festivals (1971 MPS Records). You can hear Sun Ra enticing other-worldly sounds from a Farfisa organ beginning at about 1:35. Recorded in 1970. Of the many electronic keyboards heard elsewhere on this album (and occasionally on this track), here the Farfisa is heard the most. Farfisa organ, Hohner Electra, Hohner Clavinet, Piano, Performer, Rock-Si-Chord, Spacemaster, Minimoog, Voice, composed by, arranged by, Sun Ra; ; Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Abshlom Ben Shlomo; Alto Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Danny Davis; Alto Saxophone, Flute, Oboe, Piccolo Flute, Drums, Marshall Allen; Baritone Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Flute, Danny Thompson; Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Drums, Pat Patrick; Bass, Alejandro Blake Fearon; Bass Clarinet, Robert Cummings; Drums, Lex Humphries; Drums, Oboe, Flute, James Jackson; English Horn, Augustus Browning; Mellophone, Trumpet, Ahk Tal Ebah; Oboe, Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Leroy Taylor; Percussion African, Other Fireeater, Dancer , Hazoume; Percussion Hand Drums, Nimrod Hunt; Percussion, Other Dancer, Ife Tayo, Math Samba; Photography By, Hans Harzheim; Producer, Liner Notes, Joachim E. Berendt; Tenor Saxophone, Percussion, John Gilmore; Trumpet, Kwame Hadi; Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Alan Silva; Voice, June Tyson. 9:07 1:07:05 10.Joe Scott And His Orchestra, “Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head” from Motion Pictures - The NOW Generation (1970 Mainstream). Listen for the Rock-Si-Chord in electric harpsichord mode. Bass, Charles Rainey; Cello, Charles McCracken, Gene Orloff, George Ricci, Maurice Bialkin;  Drums, Alvin Rogers, Joe Cass; Flute, Alto Flute, Bassoon, Tenor Flute, George Dessinger, Joe Soldo, Joseph Palmer, Philip Bodner; Flute, Flute Tenor, Alto Flute, Bassoon, Walt Levinsky; French Horn, Donald Corrado; Guitar, Jay Berliner, Stuart Scharf; Keyboards Rock-Si-Chord, Frank Owens; Mastered By Mastering, Dave Crawford (2); Percussion, Joseph Venuto; Piano, Frank Owens; Producer, Bob Shad; Trombone, Buddy Morrow, Tony Studd, Warren Covington, Wayne Andre; Trumpet, Bernie Glow, James Sedlar, John Bello, Mel Davis; Viola, Emanuel Vardi, Harold Coletta, John DiJanni, Theodore Israel; Violin, Aaron Rosand, Arnold Eidus, Emanuel Green, Frederick Buldrini, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, Joseph Malignaggi, Jules Brand, Leo Kahn, Lewis Eley, Mac Ceppos, Max Pollikoff, Paul Gershman, Peter Buonoconsiglio, Raymond Gniewek, Rocco Pesile, Winston Collymore. 2:28 1:16:12 11.The Phoenix Authority, “One” from Blood, Sweat & Brass (1970 Mainstream). Note the Rock-Si-Chord. Arranged by Ernie Wilkins; Bass, Charles Rainey; Drums, Grady Tate, Herbie Lovelle; Flute, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Chris Woods, Hubert Laws; Guitar, David Spinosa, Kenneth Burrell; Organ, Piano, Rock-Si-Chord, Frank Anderson, Frank Owen; Producer, Bob Shad; Trombone, Benny Powell, George Jeffers; Trumpet, Joseph Newman, Lloyd Michaels, Ray Copeland, Woody Shaw. 2:43 1:18:38 12.The Phoenix Authority, “Sugar, Sugar” from Blood, Sweat & Brass (1970 Mainstream). Listen for the Rock-Si-Chord. Arranged by Ernie Wilkins; Bass, Charles Rainey; Drums, Grady Tate, Herbie Lovelle; Flute, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Chris Woods, Hubert Laws; Guitar, David Spinosa, Kenneth Burrell; Organ, Piano, Rock-Si-Chord, Frank Anderson, Frank Owen; Producer, Bob Shad; Trombone, Benny Powell, George Jeffers; Trumpet, Joseph Newman, Lloyd Michaels, Ray Copeland, Woody Shaw. 3:34 1:21:20 Sun Ra's flare for electronic sound in performance is demonstrated in the following three tracks that make excellent use of the several keyboards, the Farfisa organ, Minimoog, and Rock-Si-Chord. 13.Sun Ra And His Astro-Intergalactic-Infinity-Arkestra,' “Discipline No. 11” from Nidhamu (Live In Egypt Vol. II) (1974 El Saturn Records). Recorded at Ballon Theater, Cairo, Egypt December 17, 1971. Sun Ra playing several electronic keyboards in turn, the organ, Minimoog, and Rock-si-Chord. What I hear is some organ (Farfisa?) in the opening, then Sun Ra turns to a wild exchange between the Minimoog (monophonic) and Rock-Si-chord (polyphonic) during the second half of the track. Alto Saxophone, Congas, Larry Northington; Alto Saxophone, Flute, Danny Davis, Hakim Rahim; Alto Saxophone, Flute, Oboe, Marshall Allen; Baritone Saxophone, Pat Patrick; Baritone Saxophone, Flute, Danny Thompson; Bass Clarinet, Elo Omoe; Composed By, Arranged By, Piano, Organ, Minimoog, Rock-Si-Chord, Sun Ra; Engineer Recording Engineer, Tam Fiofori; Percussion, Lex Humphries, Tommy Hunter; Photography By, Sam Bankhead; Photography Liner Photo, Mike Evans; Producer, Infinity Inc. And The East; Tenor Saxophone, Percussion, John Gilmore; Trumpet, Congas, Kwame Hadi; Vocals, June Tyson. 9:31 1:24:52 14.Sun Ra And His Astro-Intergalactic-Infinity-Arkestra,' “Cosmo-Darkness” from Live In Egypt Vol. I (Nature's God) (Dark Myth Equation Visitation) (1972 Thoth Intergalactic). Beginning around 0:26, you get an example of Sun Ra's rhythmic, trace-like playing of the Rock-Si-Chord. Alto Saxophone, Congas, Larry Northington; Alto Saxophone, Flute, Danny Davis, Hakim Rahim; Alto Saxophone, Flute, Oboe, Marshall Allen; Baritone Saxophone, Pat Patrick; Baritone Saxophone, Flute, Danny Thompson; Bass Clarinet, Elo Omoe; Composed By, Arranged by, Piano, Organ, Minimoog, Rock-Si-Chord, Sun Ra; Engineer Recording Engineer, Tam Fiofori; Percussion, Lex Humphries, Tommy Hunter; Photography By, Sam Bankhead; Photography Liner Photo, Mike Evans; Producer, Infinity Inc. And The East; Tenor Saxophone, Percussion, John Gilmore; Trumpet, Congas, Kwame Hadi; Vocals, June Tyson. 2:05 1:34:25 15.Sun Ra And His Astro-Intergalactic-Infinity-Arkestra,' “Solar Ship Voyage” from Live In Egypt Vol. I (Nature's God) (Dark Myth Equation Visitation) (1972 Thoth Intergalactic). This track features Sun Ra and the Minimoog in an extended solo. Alto Saxophone, Congas, Larry Northington; Alto Saxophone, Flute, Danny Davis, Hakim Rahim; Alto Saxophone, Flute, Oboe, Marshall Allen; Baritone Saxophone, Pat Patrick; Baritone Saxophone, Flute, Danny Thompson; Bass Clarinet, Elo Omoe; Composed By, Arranged by, Piano, Organ, Minimoog, Rock-Si-Chord, Sun Ra; Engineer Recording Engineer, Tam Fiofori; Percussion, Lex Humphries, Tommy Hunter; Photography By, Sam Bankhead; Photography Liner Photo, Mike Evans; Producer, Infinity Inc. And The East; Tenor Saxophone, Percussion, John Gilmore; Trumpet, Congas, Kwame Hadi; Vocals, June Tyson. 2:40 1:36:30 Herbie Hancock mastered an array of keyboards, including the Fender Rhodes and several ARP models in the next three tracks tracing only two years in his musical journey. 16.Herbie Hancock, “Rain Dance” from Sextant (1973 Columbia). Patrick Gleason provides beats and beeps using the ARP 2600 and ARP Soloist. Bass Trombone, Tenor Trombone, Trombone Alto Trombone, Cowbell, Pepo (Julian Priester); Congas, Bongos, Buck Clarke; Drums, Jabali (Billy Hart); Effects Random Resonator, Fundi Electric Bass Fender Electric Bass With Wah-Wah And Fuzz, Double Bass, Mchezaji (Buster Williams); Electric Piano Fender Rhodes, Clavinet Hohner D-6 With Fender Fuzz-Wah And Echoplex, Percussion Dakka-Di-Bello, Mellotron, Piano Steinway, Handclaps, Songs by Mwandishi (Herbie Hancock); Synthesizer, Mellotron, John Vieira; Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Piccolo Flute, Afoxé Afuche, Kazoo Hum-A-Zoo, Mwile (Benny Maupin); ARP 2600, ARP Soloist, Dr. Patrick Gleeson; Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Mganga (Dr. Eddie Henderson). 9:19 1:39:08 17.  Herbie Hancock, “Palm Grease” from Thrust (1974 Columbia). Hancock himself plays all the keyboards and synthesizers on this album. Drums, Mike Clark; Electric Bass, Paul Jackson; Electric Piano Fender Rhodes, Clavinet Hohner D-6, Synthesizer Arp Odyssey, Arp Soloist, Arp 2600, Arp String, written by Herbie Hancock; Percussion, Bill Summers; Producers, David Rubinson, Herbie Hancock; Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Alto Flute, Bennie Maupin. 10:36 1:48:18 18.Herbie Hancock, “Nobu” = ノブ from Dedication = デディケーショ(1974 CBS/Sony). Fascinating recording because it is Hancock solo with an assortment of keyboards, including the Fender Rhodes and multiple ARP models. Piano, Fender Rhodes, Arp Pro Soloist, Arp Odyssey, Arp 3604, Arp 2600, Arp PE-IV String Ensemble, composed by Herbie Hancock; Engineer, Tomoo Suzuki; Producer, David Rubinson. 7:33 1:58:46 The analog synthesizer became a regular companion of the Fender Rhodes in jazz, leading up to the end of the 1970s. 19.Bobbi Humphrey, “My Little Girl” from Satin Doll (1974 Blue Note). The great jazz funk flutist Bobbi Humphrey released a series of albums around this time that often-featured fantastic synthesizer players. Here you can pick out the Minimoog by Don Preston and the ARP (Odyssey?) by Larry Mizell. The synths included here are in contrast to the more experimental sounds that Herbie Hancock was issuing at the same time. Flute, Vocals, Bobbi Humphrey; ARP Synthesizer, Larry Mizell; Minimoog, Don Preston; Bass, Chuck Rainey; Congas, King Errison; Drums, Harvey Mason; Electric Piano Fender Rhodes, Fonce Mizell, Larry Mizell; Guitar, John Rowin, Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin; Percussion, Roger Sainte, Stephany Spruill; Piano, Jerry Peters; Produced by Chuck Davis, Larry Mizell; Trumpet, Fonce Mizell. 6:39 2:06:19 20.Ramsey Lewis, “Jungle Strut” from Sun Goddess (1974 Columbia). Another mainstream jazz artist who found many interesting sounds to accompany his electric piano. ARP, ARP Ensemble, Piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer electric piano, Ramsey Lewis; Congas, Drums, Derf Rehlew Raheem, Maurice Jennings; Electric Upright Bass Fender, Cleveland Eaton; Guitar, Byron Gregory; Synthesizer Freeman String, Ramsey Lewis; Tambura, Percussion, Maurice Jennings; Vocals, Derf Rehlew Raheem; Written by, R. Lewis. 4:40 2:12:54 21.  Ramsey Lewis, “Tambura” from Sun Goddess (1974 Columbia). ARP, ARP Ensemble, Piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer electric piano, Ramsey Lewis; Drums, Tambura, Congas, Percussion, Maurice Jennings; Electric Upright Bass Fender, Cleveland Eaton; Guitar, Byron Gregory; Written by R. Lewis. 2:52 2:17:32 22.Clark Ferguson, “Jazz Flute” from RMI Harmonic Synthesizer And Keyboard Computer (1974 Rocky Mount Instruments, Inc.). Not an instrument often used in jazz, so I turn to the company's demonstration album for a sample of this more advanced in the RMI keyboard family. RMI Harmonic Synthesizer, Clark Ferguson. 2:43 2:20:24 23.  Fernando Gelbard, “Sombrero De Flores” from Didi (1974 Discos Redonde). A straight-up jazz track from Argentine musicial Gelbard that features both the Fender Rhodes and the Minimoog. Fender Rhodes, Minimoog, Fernando Gelbard; Bass, Ricardo Salas; Congas, Vocals, Ruben Rada; Drums, Norberto Minichillo; Fender Rhodes, Minimoog, Fernando Gelbard; Percussion, Effects, Miguel "Chino" Rossi; Producer, Alberto M. Tsalpakian, Juan Carlos Maquieira; Tenor Saxophone, Horacio "Chivo" Borraro. 7:25 2:23:04 24.  Fernando Gelbard, “Mojo Uno” from Didi (1974 Discos Redonde). This track features an outrageously unique Minimoog part that is akin to something you would hear from Sun Ra. Fender Rhodes, Minimoog, Fernando Gelbard; Bass, Ricardo Salas; Congas, Vocals, Ruben Rada; Drums, Norberto Minichillo; Fender Rhodes, Minimoog, Fernando Gelbard; Percussion, Effects, Miguel "Chino" Rossi; Producer, Alberto M. Tsalpakian, Juan Carlos Maquieira; Tenor Saxophone, Horacio "Chivo" Borraro. 2:00 2:30:28 25.Jan Hammer “Darkness / Earth In Search Of A Sun” from The First Seven Days (1975 Atlantic). On this track you get to hear (I think) three different synthesizers all fit for Hammer's purpose, the solo Moog, Oberheim fills, and Freeman strings. Producer, Engineer, Piano, Electric Piano, Moog, Oberheim, and the Freeman string synthesizer; digital sequencer, Drums, Percussion, Composed by, Jan Hammer. 4:29 2:32:26 26.Larry Young's Fuel, “Moonwalk” from Spaceball (1976 Arista). CDX-0652 Portable Moog Organ, Minimoog , FRM-S810 Freeman String Symphonizer, Organ Hammond B-3, Fender Rhodes, Piano, Larry Young Jr.; Bass Rickenbacker, Dave Eubanks; Hohner Clavinet , Piano, Minimoog, Julius Brockington; Drums Ludwig Drums, Zildgian Cymbals, Percussion, Jim Allington; Guest Special Guest Star, Larry Coryell; Guitar, Danny Toan, Ray Gomez; Percussion, Abdoul Hakim, Barrett Young, Clifford Brown, Farouk; Producer, Terry Philips; Tenor Saxophone Selmer, Soprano Saxophone Selmer, Flute Armstrong, Vocals, Al Lockett; Vocals, Paula West. 5:32 2:36:52 27.Larry Young's Fuel, “Startripper” from Spaceball (1976 Arista). CDX-0652 Portable Moog Organ, Minimoog , FRM-S810 Freeman String Symphonizer, Organ Hammond B-3, Fender Rhodes, Piano, Larry Young Jr.; Bass Rickenbacker, Dave Eubanks; Hohner Clavinet , Piano, Minimoog, Julius Brockington; Drums Ludwig Drums, Zildgian Cymbals, Percussion, Jim Allington; Guest Special Guest Star, Larry Coryell; Guitar, Danny Toan, Ray Gomez; Percussion, Abdoul Hakim, Barrett Young, Clifford Brown, Farouk; Producer, Terry Philips; Tenor Saxophone Selmer, Soprano Saxophone Selmer, Flute Armstrong, Vocals, Al Lockett; Vocals, Paula West. 4:44 2:42:22 28.Wolfgang Dauner, “Stück Für Piano Und Synthesizer Op. 1” from Changes (1978 Mood Records). Dauner is one of the only jazz players to utilize the massive EMS Synthi 100. Written, produced, recorded, Steinway C-Flügel piano, EMS Synthi 100, Oberheim 4 Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer, Wolfgang Dauner. 9:51 2:47:04 29.Wolfgang Dauner, “War Was, Carl?” from Grandison - Musik Für Einen Film (1979 Zweitausendeins). More analog synthesizer jazz from Germany. C-flute, Alt-flute, Baß-flute, Manfred Hoffbauer; Oboe, English Horn, Hanspeter Weber; Percussion, Drums,  Jörg Gebhard; Piano, Synthesizer, Percussion, Conductor, Wolfgang Dauner. 1:12 2:56:54 30.Wolfgang Dauner, “Intellektuelles Skalpell” from Grandison - Musik Für Einen Film (1979 Zweitausendeins). C-flute, Alt-flute, Baß-flute, Manfred Hoffbauer; Oboe, English Horn, Hanspeter Weber; Percussion, Drums,  Jörg Gebhard; Piano, Synthesizer, Percussion, Conductor, Wolfgang Dauner. 1:26 2:58:06   Opening background music: 1) Sun Ra And His Astro-Intergalactic-Infinity-Arkestra,' “The Light Thereof” from Live In Egypt Vol. I (Nature's God) (Dark Myth Equation Visitation) (1972 Thoth Intergalactic) (5:14). Farfisa organ playing from Sun Ra. 2) Oliver Nelson and Steve Allen, “Green Tambourine” from Soulful Brass (1968 Impulse) (2:28). Steve Allen plays the Rock-Si-Chord. 3) Oliver Nelson and Steve Allen, “Torino” from Soulful Brass (1968 Impulse) (2:02). Steve Allen plays the Rock-Si-Chord. Opening and closing sequences voiced by Anne Benkovitz. Additional opening, closing, and other incidental music by Thom Holmes. See my companion blog that I write for the Bob Moog Foundation. For a transcript, please see my blog, Noise and Notations. I created an illustrated chart of all of the instruments included in this podcast, paying special attention to the expressive features that could be easily adopted by jazz musicians. You can view it on my blog, Noise and Notations.  

Despite turbulent markets in 2023, the ETF industry continues to thrive, providing Canadian Investors with new options for growth. Portfolio manager Alfred Lee and your host, McKenzie Box, take a deep dive into the themes driving demand and the benefits ETFs have to various user types. McKenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Alfred Lee, a Portfolio Manager and ETF Specialist at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. BMO ETF 2024 Industry Outlook Report ETFs mentioned in the podcast: BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF (Ticker: ZEB) BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (Ticker: ZAG) BMO Discount Bond Index ETF (Ticker: ZDB) BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (Ticker: ZSP) Visit the BMO ETF Centre Disclosure: The viewpoints expressed by the Portfolio Manager represent their assessment of the markets at the time of publication. Those views are subject to change without notice at any time. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax or legal advice to any party. Investments should be evaluated relative to the individual's investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although such statements are based on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations. Investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. In connection with any forward-looking statements, investors should carefully consider the areas of risk described in the most recent simplified prospectus. The Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by the Manager. S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (“S&P”) and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”), and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by the Manager. The ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the Index. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in exchange traded funds. Please read the ETF Facts or prospectus of the BMO ETFs before investing. Exchange traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the BMO ETFs, please see the specific risks set out in the BMO ETF's prospectus. BMO ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase the risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. BMO ETFs are managed by BMO Asset Management Inc., which is an investment fund manager and a portfolio manager, and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. This podcast is for information purposes. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax or legal advice to any party. Particular investments and/or trading strategies should be evaluated relative to the individual's investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. ®/™Registered trademarks/trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence.

Paul Beresford and Lou Welebob of Agilent Technologies discuss how partnerships are vital in addressing the evolving needs of pharma for complex diagnostics and CDx development.   Discussions center around the importance of working with pharmaceutical companies to drive medical innovation and improve patient outcomes, helping to speed up the process of bringing the right treatments to the right patients at the right time.   Topics discussed include the importance of broadening technological focus on immunohistochemistry, such as bridging into digital biology and imaging as well as multiplexing. Spatial biology is touched upon, specifically looking at how spatial profiling can be used to determine cell proximity within the tumor microenvironment, potentially correlated to drug efficacy.   Looking ahead, both speakers point to the potential to use machine learning in key areas such as the development of assays for use across laboratories globally.   To discover the full range of insights from life sciences, diagnostics and applied chemical markets specialist Agilent Technologies, listen to the full podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the U.S. earnings season closes out, portfolio managers Alfred Lee, Omanand Karmalkar, and your host, Erika Toth, inspect companies' report cards—putting the “Magnificent Seven” under the microscope. They also discuss dividend strategies, Canada's inflation rate, Energy, and U.S. dollar-denominated ETFs. Read the episode summary. Erika Toth is the Director of ETF Distribution for Eastern Canada at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Alfred Lee and Omanand Karmalkar, Portfolio Managers and ETF Specialists at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. Disclosure: The viewpoints expressed by the Portfolio Manager represent their assessment of the markets at the time of publication. Those views are subject to change without notice at any time. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax or legal advice to any party. Investments should be evaluated relative to the individual's investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although such statements are based on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations. Investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. In connection with any forward-looking statements, investors should carefully consider the areas of risk described in the most recent simplified prospectus. The Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by the Manager. S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (“S&P”) and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”), and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by the Manager. The ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the Index. The BMO ETFs or securities referred to herein are not sponsored, endorsed or promoted by MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”), and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such BMO ETFs or securities or any index on which such BMO ETFs or securities are based. The prospectus of the BMO ETFs contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI has with BMO Asset Management Inc. and any related BMO ETFs. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in exchange traded funds. Please read the ETF Facts or prospectus of the BMO ETFs before investing. Exchange traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the BMO ETFs, please see the specific risks set out in the BMO ETF's prospectus. BMO ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase the risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. BMO ETFs are managed by BMO Asset Management Inc., which is an investment fund manager and a portfolio manager, and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. ®/™Registered trademarks/trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence.

In its latest announcement, the Bank of Canada held interest rates steady at 5%, opening the door to speculation. In today's episode, portfolio managers Matt Montemurro, Omanand Karmalkar, and your host, Mckenzie Box, discuss the central banks' downgraded outlook and when it could reach its 2% inflation target. They also explore a barbell strategy, dividend stocks, market volatility and the U.S. earnings season. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Matt Montemurro and Omanand Karmalkar, Portfolio Managers and ETF Specialists at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on Thursday, October 26, 2023. ETFs mentioned in the podcast: BMO Ultra Short-Term Bond ETF (Ticker: ZST) BMO Short-Term US TIPS Index ETF (Ticker: ZTIP) BMO Discount Bond Index ETF (Ticker: ZDB) BMO Canadian High Dividend Covered Call ETF (Ticker: ZWC) BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (Ticker: ZSP) BMO USD Cash Management ETF (Ticker: ZUCM) BMO Canadian High Dividend Covered Call ETF (Ticker: ZWT) Disclosure: The viewpoints expressed by the Portfolio Manager represent their assessment of the markets at the time of publication. Those views are subject to change without notice at any time. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax or legal advice to any party. Investments should be evaluated relative to the individual's investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although such statements are based on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations. Investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. In connection with any forward-looking statements, investors should carefully consider the areas of risk described in the most recent simplified prospectus. The Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by the Manager. S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (“S&P”) and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”), and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by the Manager. The ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the Index. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in exchange traded funds. Please read the ETF Facts or prospectus of the BMO ETFs before investing. Exchange traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the BMO ETFs, please see the specific risks set out in the BMO ETF's prospectus. BMO ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase the risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. BMO ETFs are managed by BMO Asset Management Inc., which is an investment fund manager and a portfolio manager, and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. ®/™Registered trademarks/trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence.

Welcome back to the Wall Street Skinny with Kristen and Jen!  To kick off today's episode, we answer listener questions about:Ownership and EPS (earnings per share) dilution when analyzing companies using the Treasury Stock Method in corporate finance.  We unpack the concept of a relative value trade, specifically a high yield vs. investment grade trade in the credit derivatives market of CDS and CDX.  Then we switch gears to discuss a single name credit analysis in the context of a rumored leveraged buyout by a private equity firm and the potential impact on a company's existing bond holders.  And finally we dive into the concept of the yield curve, explaining how the term structure of interest rates not only reflects current monetary policy, growth & inflation expectations, and risk appetites...but also impacts nearly everything financial decision you make in your daily life!Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Summary: Another way to attract birds to your backyard is to provide nesting possibilities. Join Kiersten and Cheryl as they talk about what kinds of nest boxes you can provide for your backyard birds.   For our hearing-impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: Birdhouse Features: Features of a Good Birdhouse: https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/features-of-a-good-birdhouse Find the birds near you and the best house for them: Right Bird, Right House:  https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/right-bird-right-house/ Nest Box designs by species: https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses Troubleshooting birdhouses for landlords: https://nestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/nest_box_troubleshooting_20110126_final.pdf Winter Roost Boxes: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/will-birds-use-nest-boxes-to-roost-in-for-warmth-during-the-winter/   Transcript  Kiersten: Intro: We started The Feathered Desert to inform listeners in the southwest about how to feed wild birds successfully and responsibly. We wanted our listeners to know what kind of food to feed to attract the kinds of birds you wanted to see in your backyard. It occurred to me the other day that Cheryl and I have yet to talk about the other way to attract birds to the backyard and that is using nest boxes. So, today's episode is all about the nest box.   Cheryl: Just like bird feeding, putting up birdhouses in your yard has evolved over the years to incorporate seasonal bird behavior and new scientific discoveries. To truly give the birds outside the best chance at surviving our constantly changing world, there are new guidelines for putting up birdhouses. It's not a one size fits all device any more. You don't just put up something that looks great to you and has a hole with a perch under it and see what happens. By observing bird behavior in the wild we've determined the best ways to offer birds a safe and secure home for raising young. Following these guidelines is the best way for you to attract even more birds to your yard and enjoy them for generations to come.   Kiersten: First of all, let's start off with features of a good birdhouse. These features are specific to birdhouses used for nesting, also referred to as nest boxes. There are a few important features for usable nest boxes and they apply to a box you make yourself or one that you purchase. First make sure the wood is untreated and unpainted. The best woods to use are cedar, pine, cypress, or for larger boxes, non-pressure treated CDX exterior grade plywood. Second, use galvanized screws for construction. These hold up better than nails and are easier to remove when repairs are needed. Third, make sure the roof is sloped and hangs over the main body of the house by 2-4 inches over the opening and 2 inches along the sides. This will help keep out rain even when it gets heavy and the wind is whipping wildly and will also help defend against predators. Adding ¼” cuts under all three edges of the roof will help funnel water away from the house, like rain gutters on our own houses. Fourth, a recessed floor helps keep the nest dry and prolongs the life of the box. Drainage holes on the floor are important, just in case water gets in. You can cut away the corners of the floor if you're making it yourself or drill 4 holes approximately 3/8” to ½” in diameter on the floor of a premade box. Sixth, to regulate the temperature the walls should be at least ¾” thick. We also want ventilation holes in both side walls, this is especially important in the heat of the southwest. There should be two holes at the top of each wall with 5/8” diameter.   Cheryl: Seventh, predator prevention. Predators are something that birds have to deal with naturally, but remember we are offering them a house that they are not making themselves. When they make their own nest, they disguise it from the predators such as snakes, raccoons, chipmunks, and outdoor domestic cats. The box that we're offering can stick out like a sore thumb so we need to take a few precautions. First, no perches under the opening! The birds don't need them and it's like a welcome mat for predators. Add baffles to the structure where you've mounted the nest box. Using collar baffles or stovepipe baffles work great on poles and smaller trees. Noel guards, a wire mesh tube attached to the front of the house, is a good way to protect an opening on a box mounted on a tree that is too large for a baffle. Eight, make sure the opening of the box is the correct size for the birds you want to attract. Remember before when I said there are no one size fits all birdhouses? This is where some of our new information comes in to play. Each species of bird desires a specific size hole for their house. It is very important that the hole in the house is the correct size for the species of bird you want to attract. For example, an American Kestrel needs a hole 3” in diameter, a Northern Flicker needs a hole 2 ½” in diameter, and chickadees need a hole 1 1/8” in diameter. Hole size is also important in deterring non-native birds such as European Starlings and House Sparrows. Nine, rough up the interior wall beneath the opening. Rough walls help the chicks get out when it's time to fledge. You can use course sandpaper or cut long horizontal grooves into the wood below the opening. Tenth, make sure the back is slightly extended above and below the box to give you room to easily mount it on your pole or tree. Eleventh, last but not least you want one side to be hinged so it can be opened after nesting season for easy cleaning access. Now, we know this is a lot to remember but we'll share a link in our show notes so you can look up this list later.   Kiersten: That's a perfect segue way into cleaning! This is also new and different from when we used to put up those cutesy birdhouses many moons ago. Do you need to clean your nest box out in between seasons? Yes! It's very important to clean out old nesting material every year. That why we're making one of the walls hinged. Removing old nesting material makes sure bacteria and detrimental insects are not passed from one family to the next. Typically, just opening the side panel and removing any plant matter that you find inside is enough, but if you had some especially dirty tenants, using a little warm water and plant-based soap (something like Simple Green or Seventh Generation) to remove poop is a good idea. Clean out your nest box after the last fledgling has left and you don't see any activity around the box for about ten days. When cleaning remember to protect yourself, as well. Use a dust mask and gloves to prevent any zoonotic disease transfer.     Cheryl: Speaking of seasonal activities, when should I put out my nest box? In the southwest have your nest box mounted and ready for visitors by mid-February. This is typically when our year-round residents begin looking for nesting sites and when our part-time residents are migrating in.             You can leave your nest box up year-round once you've found the perfect spot. To prevent unwanted guests such as European Starlings, bees, wasps, or squirrels from taking up residence in the off season you can close up your house. Plug up the opening and cover the ventilation holes like you might do for a cabin you only use in the spring or summer. To prevent honey bees or wasps from colonizing the nest box spray some non-stick cooking spray on the inside of the top of the box. This makes it too slippery for the insects to climb on. When it comes time for nesting season again, open everything up and give it a quick spring cleaning.   Kiersten: Where should I put my nest box?             This all depends on what bird species your box is made for. Every species has a preferred habitat. To help you decide which species you may want to attract go to nestwatch.org (I'll put the link in our show notes) and they have an interactive page called Right Bird, Right House. This is so cool! You put in what region you live in and what habitat surrounds your house. I put in the Southwest and the desert and it showed me which birds are in my area, where to attach my house, and what kind of house to build or buy. It tells you everything you need to know such as when they nest, how high the box should be, which direction it should be facing, and if they are in decline in your area. Some of the birds they show for the desert southwest are the barn owl, the Bewick's wren, brown-crested flycatcher, the elf owl, and the Say's Phoebe. If you live in the White Mountains or summer in a cabin you might put up a house for the black-crested titmouse, the bridled titmouse, the mountain bluebird, or the pygmy nuthatch.             Now a note of caution in the Phoenix Valley, in the severe heat that we get here you need to be extra careful with where you put up a nest box. It should be in an area that is shaded almost all day. If you don't have any area like that or you can't put up a device to add shade, you may not want to place a nest box in your yard.   Cheryl: If you put up a nest box but no one seems to be moving in, be patient. It can take up to a year for a nest box to be noticed and used. If you see some interested parties that just aren't buying, maybe you've put it in the wrong place or maybe mounted it too high or too low. There could be other things wrong that we don't see but the birds do. Nest Watch from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a trouble-shooting guide for nest box landlords that you can access online. And we'll post that link in our show notes.   Kiersten: One last thing about nest boxes that I didn't even think about until I did the research for this episode. The question came up as to whether birds would use a nest box to roost in the winter? I'd never even thought about that, but as we just discussed we should be closing them up outside of breeding season.  So… you can actually have a roosting box for your overwintering birds! What's the difference between a nest box and a roosting box? The design of each box is vastly different. A well-designed roost box prevents the birds' body heat from escaping, so it will have fewer ventilation holes than a nest box. The entrance hole will be near the bottom of the box to prevent the rising warm air from escaping which is opposite of the nesting box. Inside the roosting box there will be several perches to allow multiple birds to roost as opposed to an open area in a nest box where a nest can be made. Staggering the perching will allow for everyone to have their own spot but still be close enough to snuggle for warmth. Roughing up the sides is a great way to encourage clinging birds such as woodpeckers or creepers to use the box. Roosting boxes are usually larger than a single-family nest box to accommodate species that huddle in the winter. Hinging the top panel allows for easy cleaning after the winter season. This could be a great option for our Phoenix Valley residents who can't use a nest box because their yards are short on shade. These are not as readily available to purchase already made, but we'll post a few links that have blueprints for making your own.   Cheryl: Just like feeding birds, placing nest and roost boxes in your yard should only be done if you are willing to take the time to do it right. You must have the time and motivation to use the correct products, place it in the best place, provide predator prevention, and be willing and able to clean it properly. If this is not something you can do in your own yard, reach out to your local birding groups and see if there are any community nest projects you could help with. Schools and daycares often get students to create nest boxes and mount them near their facilities. Maybe you can offer to help them out.             If you do decide to put up a nest box, consider taking the next step and joining Project Nest Watch at Cornell. This is a citizen scientist program that teachs you how to monitor nest boxes for scientific studies. The data you record watching the birds you're already watching can help further our understanding of bird behavior.   Kiersten: That's Nest Boxes in a nutshell. If you're interested in putting one up in your yard please check out our show notes and use the links we've provided to get more information to help you successfully offer your backyard birds a great place to raise a family. A future note: We will be taking a break in September 2023 but we'll be back with new  full-length episodes in October!

On this episode of Roger the Wild Child Show: Nashville edition, we are joined by country music, artist,  Savannah Rae!SAVANNAH RAE is an all-American country singer-songwriter who proudly hails from San Antonio, Texas. Her fast rise as an artist has been a whirlwind of opportunities that include touring intimate and large venues, performing on the main stage of the Texas State Fair where she opened for Jason Aldean, appearances on the American Music Awards and on NBC's The Voice, along with being a brand ambassador for Boot Barn, Country Outfitter, C Force Water by Chuck Norris, and Miranda Lambert's clothing line, Idyllwind.Savannah recently released a country & Tejano infused anthem called “Pushing Up Daisies (Chupando Gladiolas).” Backed by hard hitting and catchy instrumentation, she stays out in front of the music with her power and intensity, while adding a Latin flair all her own. Produced by BMG's Jeff Huskins (Clint Black, Mark Chesnutt, Little Texas), this is truly a one-of-a-kind track that has seen radio play all across the world from Brazil, Columbia, Argentina, Ireland, and everywhere in between. This track also propelled her to win the Dirt Road FM Award for Country Riser of the Year. Following up PUD, Savannah released a 90's reminiscent ode to country called “All Hat,” written by Drew Womack (Lonestar) & Savannah herself and produced by Jeff Huskins (BMG). The song charted on all major Texas Radio Charts (T3R, CDX, & TCMC) and continues to do so, whilst garnering attention from stations all over the world in Scotland, UK, and France.2022 was a breakout year for Savannah Rae, but she is just getting started with additional releases already scheduled well into 2023.******Roger the Wild Child Show: Nashville is streamed live every Wednesday night 9pm ET/ 6pm PT on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. The show is rebroadcasted on 20+ different podcast platforms. Each week they talk with up-and-coming artists, legends of country music and other influencers to the Nashville scene. Roger is joined by co-hosts Megan Bennett, Patrick James and Kristen Kae.  Wanna know what's the nitty gritty from music city?  Elise Harper has your Nashville Music News! Check out the video/audio podcasts and the rest of our linksLinkTree https://linktr.ee/wildchildradio

We're back for Episode 108! In this episode Cody and Eric catch up on the news +  Battle Of The Systems: Best 8-Bit Cartridges - Parsec (Ti99/4A) vs Temple of Rom (TRS-80 Color Computer)  We are doing news for the first monthly episode and then "catching up" later in the month.   Episode Guide ---------------- 8:57 - Quick Questions 46:35 - Patreon Song 51:18 - Eric's Take  1:08:59 - Cody's Corner 1:19:00 - News 2:34:27 -  Battle Of The Systems: Best 8-Bit Cartridges - Parsec (Ti99/4A) vs Temple of Rom (TRS-80 Color Computer)   News -     (Cody) -Chinese McDonalds Handheld https://kotaku.com/mcdonalds-chicken-nuggets-tetris-gameboy-handheld-china-1850475895  (Eric) Space Popo is a fixed shooter with a difference for MSX - https://ramokromok.com/articles/space-popo-is-a-fixed-shooter-with-a-difference-for-msx.1425/  (Cody) Evercade Update! https://www.timeextension.com/features/everything-revealed-at-the-evercade-showcase-vol-1  Evercade Showcase Volume 2  (Indie Special 2 more titles)  Updates – Edit controls per game    https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/02/blaze-announces-three-new-evercade-carts-and-shares-2023-roadmap  (Eric) New issue of Pico-View for May - https://nerdyteachers.com/PICO-8/Pico-View/?issue=5  (Tim) Phøde Universal Optical Drive emulator – This is an up and coming, one-size-fits-all ODE, this will work on Philips CD-i, Sega Dreamcast, Sega Saturn, Playstation & Sega CD 1, CD2, XEye, CDX consoles  https://3do.dev/products/phode-drive-emulator  (Cody) - Fix it Felix JR Update! https://brokenbytes.itch.io/fix-it-felix-jr/devlog/531650/fix-it-felix-jr-version-11  (Eric) - Stunning new Rogue game for Oric – Wizard's Lair - https://ramokromok.com/articles/stunning-new-rogue-game-for-oric-wizards-lair.1424/  (Cody) - Aqua Ippan , new Metal Slug-like demo out https://www.indieretronews.com/2023/05/aqua-ippan-this-love-letter-to-metal.html  (Cody) Mega Man The Sequel Wars - https://www.indieretronews.com/2023/05/mega-man-sequel-wars-top-quality-fan.html#more  (Tim) - Movie video game tie in hype continues, could we be getting a Wipeout movie from the same director as the Grand Turismo movie?  https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/05/random-gran-turismo-director-gets-hopes-up-about-wipeout-movie  (Eric) Lego Pac-Man arcade game - https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/pac-man-arcade-10323  (Cody) Free Marathons for all! https://alephone.lhowon.org/  (Tim) - WARNING – SORE SUBJECT! Intellivision Amico 'Exclusives' Shark! Shark! And Astrosmash Are Coming To Switch   https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/05/intellivision-amico-exclusives-shark-shark-and-astrosmash-are-coming-to-switch  (Cody) New Mame Title finally playable! https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/05/20-years-later-mitchell-corps-gamshara-is-finally-playable-in-mame  (Tim) Analog Duo PC Engine / Turbo Grafix system goes on Pre Order – But no inclusion of OpenFPGA but is using AnalogOS so not open to devs.  https://www.analogue.co/duo  (Eric) Wrestlequest delayed until Aug 8th - https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2023/05/30/wrestlequest-gets-august-release-date  (Cody) NEWS OF THE WIERD  LGR's new Teddy Bear PC -https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/05/random-youtuber-lgr-rescues-20-year-old-teddy-bear-pc  Sega Saturn Controller “Bum Bags” at Zara Childrens Clothier https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/05/random-fashion-retailer-zara-is-selling-sega-saturn-bum-bags-for-some-reason  Please give us a review on Apple Podcasts! Thanks for listening! You can always reach us at podcast@pixelgaiden.com. Send us an email if we missed anything in the show notes you need. You can now support us on Patreon.  Thank you to Henrik Ladefoged, Roy Fielding, Matthew Ackerman, Josh Malone, Daniel James, 10MARC, Eric Sandgren, Brian Arsenault, Retro Gamer Nation, Maciej Sosnowski, Paradroyd, RAM OK ROM OK, Mitsoyama, David Vincent, Ant Stiller, Mr. Toast, Jason Holland, Mark Scott, Vicky Lamburn, Mark Richardson, Scott Partelow, Paul Jacobson, and Adam from Commodore Chronicles for making this show possible through their generous donation to the show.   Support our sponsor Retro Rewind for all of your Commodore needs! Use our page at https://retrorewind.ca/pixelgaiden and our discount code PG10 for 10%

As second quarter earnings results trickle in, two Canadian banks fell short of analysts' expectations. On today's episode, portfolio managers Alfred Lee, Chris McHaney and your host, Mckenzie Box, examine the markets' initial reaction. They also discuss higher loan-loss provisions, gold prices, factor-based ETFs, the U.S. debt ceiling deadline, and investing in China. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Alfred Lee and Chris McHaney, Portfolio Managers and ETF Specialists at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. ETFs mentioned in the podcast: BMO Equal Weight Global Gold Index ETF (Ticker: ZGD) BMO Junior Gold Index ETF (Ticker: ZJG) BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF (Ticker: ZEB) BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (Ticker: ZAG) BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (Ticker: ZSP) BMO MSCI China ESG Leaders Equity Index ETF (Ticker: ZCH) Disclosure: Commissions, management fees and expenses (if applicable) all may be associated with investments in BMO ETFs and ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds. Please read the ETF facts or prospectus of the relevant BMO ETF or ETF Series before investing. BMO ETFs and ETF Series are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the BMO ETFs or ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds, please see the specific risks set out in the prospectus. BMO ETFs and ETF Series trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase the risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination.   BMO ETFs are managed by BMO Asset Management Inc., which is an investment fund manager and a portfolio manager, and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds are managed by BMO Investments Inc., which is an investment fund manager and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. The viewpoints expressed by the Portfolio Manager represent their assessment of the markets at the time of publication. Those views are subject to change without notice at any time without any kind of notice. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax or legal advice to any party. Investments should be evaluated relative to the individual's investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. The Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by the Manager. S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (“S&P”) and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”), and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by the Manager. The ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the Index. The BMO ETFs or securities referred to herein are not sponsored, endorsed or promoted by MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”), and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such BMO ETFs or securities or any index on which such BMO ETFs or securities are based. The prospectus of the BMO ETFs contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI has with BMO Asset Management Inc. and any related BMO ETFs. ®/™Registered trademarks/trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence.

Kyle and James get into it over using local judges.  This episode includes our two pieces from the lives shows from CDX.  We have merchandise! Check out our FB page.From Maine, With Love - An Allagash Brewing PodcastCome hear the ins and outs of beer and brewery life with Allagash Brewing Company.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

The Canadian Dairy XPO returned to a live trade show format this week for the first time since 2019. The dairy showcase celebrated the return by playing host to the third edition of the Calves For A Cause auction to benefit London Children's Health Foundation. CDX founder Jordon Underwood notes that the Calves For A... Read More

In the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse, investors are left wondering: what's next? On today's special episode, portfolio managers Alfred Lee, Om Karmalkar, and your host Kevin Prins look for signs of contagion in other regional banks and analyze what cards the Fed has to play. They also discuss where the trouble began, inflation, volatility in the bond market, a silver lining for equities and ways to capitalize on Canadian banking. Read the episode summary.  Kevin Prins is the Managing Director, Head of ETFs and Managed Accounts Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management. He is joined on the podcast by Alfred Lee and Omanand Karmalkar, Portfolio Managers and ETF Specialists at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. ETFs mentioned in the podcast: BMO Equal Weight US Banks Index ETF (Ticker: ZBK) BMO Covered Call US Banks ETF (Ticker: ZWK) BMO Long Federal Bond Index ETF (Ticker: ZFL) BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF (Ticker: ZEB) BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (Ticker: ZWB) BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (Ticker: ZSP) BMO Dow Jones Industrial Average Hedged to CAD Index ETF (Ticker: ZDJ) Disclosure: The viewpoints expressed by the Portfolio Manager represent their assessment of the markets at the time of publication. Those views are subject to change without notice at any time without any kind of notice. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax or legal advice to any party. Investments should be evaluated relative to the individual's investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. The Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by the Manager. S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (“S&P”) and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”), and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by the Manager. The ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the Index. Commissions, management fees and expenses (if applicable) all may be associated with investments in BMO ETFs and ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds. Please read the ETF facts or prospectus of the relevant BMO ETF or ETF Series before investing. BMO ETFs and ETF Series are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the BMO ETFs or ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds, please see the specific risks set out in the prospectus. BMO ETFs and ETF Series trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase the risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination.   BMO ETFs are managed by BMO Asset Management Inc., which is an investment fund manager and a portfolio manager, and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds are managed by BMO Investments Inc., which is an investment fund manager and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. BMO Global Asset Management is a brand name under which BMO Asset Management Inc. and BMO Investments Inc. operate. ®/™Registered trade-marks/trade-mark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence.

The latest U.S. consumer-price data came in hotter than expected, with core inflation proving more resilient than economists were forecasting in January. In today's episode, portfolio managers Chris McHaney, Alfred Lee and your host, Mckenzie Box discuss why inflation is sticky, and how markets should be braced for additional volatility ahead. They also discuss whether a new tax on share buybacks could spell bigger dividends for U.S. companies, as well as the impact that President Biden's ‘Buy American' campaign could have on mid-cap stocks in that country. Read the episode summary. Mckenzie Box is Director of Product and Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management. She is joined on the podcast by Alfred Lee and Chris McHaney, Portfolio Managers and ETF Specialists at BMO Global Asset Management. The episode was recorded live on February, 15, 2023. ETFs mentioned in the podcast: BMO Balanced ETF (Ticker: ZBAL) BMO Growth ETF (Ticker: ZGRO) BMO US Aggregate Bond Index ET (ZUAG) BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF (Ticker: ZAG) BMO US Dividend ETF (Ticker: ZDY) BMO S&P US Small Cap Index ETF (Ticker: ZSML) BMO S&P US Mid Cap Index ETF (Ticker: ZMID) Disclosure: The viewpoints expressed by the Portfolio Manager represent their assessment of the markets at the time of publication. Those views are subject to change without notice at any time without any kind of notice. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax or legal advice to any party. Investments should be evaluated relative to the individual's investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. The Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by the Manager. S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (“S&P”) and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”), and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by the Manager. The ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the Index.  Commissions, management fees and expenses (if applicable) all may be associated with investments in BMO ETFs and ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds. Please read the ETF facts or prospectus of the relevant BMO ETF or ETF Series before investing. BMO ETFs and ETF Series are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the BMO ETFs or ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds, please see the specific risks set out in the prospectus. BMO ETFs and ETF Series trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase the risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination.   BMO ETFs are managed by BMO Asset Management Inc., which is an investment fund manager and a portfolio manager, and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds are managed by BMO Investments Inc., which is an investment fund manager and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. BMO Global Asset Management is a brand name under which BMO Asset Management Inc. and BMO Investments Inc. operate. ®/™Registered trademarks/trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence.

In this weeks episode, Sean and Catherine had the privilege of sitting down with Scott Kelly of Precision Construction at the Deck Superstore's CDX event! Scott is an amazing builder with a great attitude towards the industry and life in general. Tune in! Interested in getting a free audible book? Click the link! : www.audibletrial.com/e4YbNO

In this episode, Megan McCausland, Scientific Advisor for Flow Cytometry at Q2 Solutions, and Scott Bornheimer, Associate Director of Medical and Scientific Affairs at BD Biosciences talk about the enormous potential of flow cytometry as a clinical diagnostic tool.  Currently, pharma companies are looking for simplified, standardized flow cytometry tests to help with enrolling patients and understanding outcomes in their studies.  In the longer term, Megan McCausland notes what will lead to the use of flow as a CDx: “I think the drug development landscape really continues to evolve towards more personalized medicine. As this happens, biomarkers and their potential translation into companion diagnostics are playing an ever-increasingly important role. The regulatory bodies are pushing, perhaps even expecting, this co-development of biomarkers and treatments with CDx really becoming vital to regulatory approval and clinical use.” - Megan McCausland To learn more visit q2labsolutions.com/flow-cytometry

Joe Kelly from CDX Nashville joins the podcast today to fill us in on the integral role CDX has been playing in in Country music for over two decades. Find out more about their charts and radio distribution services on today's epsiode!Learn more about CDX at https://cdxcd.comYou can support Texas Toast by following us on social medias (@texastoastpod), giving a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, subscribing on YouTube and MOST IMPORTANTLY, sharing the show with a friend! Intro song: "The Ride" by Jon Stork Outro song: "You Can Go To Hell" by Phineus RebSupport the show

This is audio from RQM+ Live! #58, recorded 14 July, 2022. To join us live for future shows and ask your own questions, please view and sign up for upcoming events in the Knowledge Center at our website. Companion diagnostics (CDx) are critical to patient safety when taking potentially life-saving drugs, e.g. in oncology. CDx can help identify which patients will benefit from a specific drug treatment to improve patient outcomes and identify those patients who have an increased risk for serious side effects from a certain treatment. Hence, CDx are essential in the evolution of precision medicine “providing the right therapy to the right person and the right time” and helps tackle rising healthcare costs, by minimizing drug use to only those who will definitely benefit from a drug. CDx is an in-vitro diagnostic medical device which are governed by the IVDR in Europe and need to undergo a CE-marking process with a Notified Body to place the CDx on the market. The CE-marking conformity assessment includes a separate consultation procedure between the NB and a medical authority, depending on who is responsible for the authorization of the corresponding medicinal product. The regulatory framework for drugs and CDx (IVDs) in Europe are governed by two different European legislations with separate registrars. The terminology of these two legislations is not fully aligned which leads to confusion across all stakeholders, the medicinal agencies, the Notified Bodies and the CDx manufacturer. A notified body working group on CDx has taken on this challenge, trying to align multiple notified bodies and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on the expectations for CDx. Our expert panel includes TÜV Rheinland's CDx Teamlead Rolf Thermann, who is also the leader of the notified body CDx working group. Rolf's role includes building a successful team of experts for auditing and certification of CDx manufacturers, interacting with key opinion leaders in the field of personalized medicine/CDx and establishing communication channels with relevant authorities. In this show, we discuss areas of confusion in industry and notified bodies, and what manufacturers can expect, including: Where is the line between a CDx and a non-CDx IVD? What data is required for CDx approval for both scenarios: CDx co-developed with the drug, or a follow-on companion diagnostic? What does the consultation process between the notified body and the EMA look like? Why do manufacturers need to do double work in the approval process? The manufacturer pays for EMA to review both the drug and CDx, but EMA only provides approval for the drug. Then the manufacturer must pay the notified body and again EMA to review and assess the CDX to obtain specific CDx approval from the notified body. We'll kick off this panel discussion with a brief presentation by CDx expert Rolf Thermann. Our panel also includes Heike Moehlig-Zuttermeister and Carlos Galamba – both of whom are RQM+ VPs of Intelligence & Innovation, and former BSI IVD Technical Team Managers and IVDR implementation leaders. Heike and Carlos are now working on the consulting side of industry, supporting manufacturers with challenging IVDR submissions. Panelists: Rolf Thermann, Ph.D. – Teamleader Companion Diagnostics, TÜV Rheinland Carlos Galamba, MSc – Vice President of IVD Intelligence & Innovation, RQM+ Heike Möhlig-Zuttermeister​, Ph.D. – Vice President of IVD Intelligence & Innovation, RQM+ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/deviceadvice/message

Mike Green, portfolio manager and chief strategist at Simplify Asset Management, joins Forward Guidance to make sense of the market turmoil that has caught investors off guard so early on in 2022. Green tells Jack Farley why he thinks the rotation from growth stocks to the so-called “inflation-trades” (energy, industrial, and commodity stocks, for example), might have gotten ahead of itself. Green examines the mechanics of how passive flows distort price discovery and cause tendencies for the market to drift steadily higher while also raising the risk of extreme downward price movements. He explains how options overlays can take advantage of this environment and discusses his decision to bring those products to investors in an ETF wrapper. Green also discusses Simplify's new credit hedge ETFs, AGGH and CDX. Green argues that inflation will relent soon, and that the future rate hikes priced into the bond market likely overstate how far the Federal Reserve will actually raise rates. Mike Green on Twitter @profplum99 Simplify on Twitter @SimplifyETFs Jack Farley on Twitter @JackFarley96 Blockworks on Twitter @Blockworks_ __ BCB is Europe's leading provider of business accounts and trading services for the digital asset economy. With a dedicated focus on institutional payment services, BCB Group provides business banking, cryptocurrency and foreign exchange market liquidity for some of the world's largest crypto-engaged financial institutions. BCB Business Accounts allow businesses to load fiat currency and cryptocurrencies for payments, operations and trading purposes. BCB's clients can trade FX and cryptocurrencies quickly and at scale, with market-leading value. BCB's BLINC network is the European crypto industry's first instant settlements network and one of the first real-time payment networks of its kind to allow free, real-time transactions across fiat and digital currencies. For more information, please visit https://www.bcbgroup.com/jack __ Two papers Green discusses: Xavier Gabaix & Ralph S. J. Koijen, “In Search of the Origins of Financial Fluctuations: The Inelastic Markets Hypothesis”: https://www.nber.org/papers/w28967 Lasse Heje Pedersen, “Sharpening the Arithmetic of Active Management”: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2849071 _ If you like this episode be sure to subscribe to our newsletter at https://blockworks.co/newsletter

This episode of Chasing Compliance is for those working on regulatory submissions for in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) medial devices. Today we talk to our resident Performance Evaluation Report (PER) expert, Bethany Hosford provides suggestions on how to improve your EU IVD regulatory submissions including PERs and their associated documents. 2:15 – Brief background of the In vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) and the Performance Evaluation Report (PER) 3:15 – Items to tackle prior to beginning to write PER 4:15 – Bethany's recommendation for starting the PER process Collect as many source documents as possible (eg design files, technical file, risk documentation etc) early int he process.Collect and review all clinical and analytical data available. Try to identify gaps early. Plan the report – what is your strategy? What claims do you need to support? Which General Safety and Performance Requirements (GSPRs) apply?Write your Performance Evaluation Plan (PEP). Clearly characterize your data sources information and strategy for the PER. 6:30 – Tips for finding clinical data or addressing gaps for challenging IVDs. Bethany answers the question, what do you do if you device is mentioned in several articles, but it isn't a focus? 9:15 – Do you need to consider your audience when preparing a PER? If yes, how should you do that? 10:30 – What is the best approach for reviewing and summarizing data? Should it be done piecemeal or holistically. 12:00 – Tips for writing associated documents such as the Analytical Performance Report (APR), Scientific Validity Report (SVR), and Clinical Performance Report (CPR). 14:10 – What is required to determine scientific and clinical validity in the case of a companion diagnostic (CDx) or other IVD? Where is this information found? BRCA – Gene which is highly associated with the development of breast cancer 18:00 – When is enough data enough? How do you know you have enough clinical data? What if you don't have clinical data, what should you do? 20:45 – Bethany's tips for preparing to write a PER. Key takeaways: Understand the scope of your document.Ensure you have a well-defined, MDR/IVDR compliant purpose statement.Identify your claims and make sure you have the data to support those claims.Make sure your data, claims, purpose, and scope are all aligned prior to writing.Ensure you have all appropriate tests and documentation pertaining to the IVD under evaluation. 24:45 – What to do if you find you are missing data or have data gaps during the writing process. 28:45 – What should you do if you don't fully understand the device you are working on or how to best summarize clinical or analytical data? 30:15 – Summary of topics discussed up to this point and Bethany's tips for staying organized throughout the PER writing process. 33:45 – Generally, how long does it take to write a PER? What are your tips for pacing? 35:15 – Bethany's tips for finalizing a PER. 40:00 – What is the value of templates in the PER writing process?

This episode features Air Force Materiel Command's Commander's Initiatives Group Director Kimberly Norman, and Procurement Analyst Barbaralee Mariano Kelleher, who discuss the AFMC CDX office and how it is accelerating innovation initiatives. They talk about what CDX's mission is and the progress that has been made through the AFMC We Need initiative. In addition, the ladies share how the AFMC workforce can engage with CDX to get additional resources and help solve problems out in the field. Acronyms: AFMC – Air Force Materiel Command If you would like to share feedback on the podcast, please submit via thecontractingexperience@gmail.com. Register at https://www.dvidshub.net/ to access transcripts of the podcast.

《阴阳双剑》点击小黄条，玩刀哥同款手游，领88元红包，海量喜点，喜马拉雅VIP。输入刀哥专属礼包码：“VIP520”，升级更快，玩的更爽。关注“7477手游”微信公众号，输入“刀哥”更有神秘礼包免费送。公众号二维码※ 本文章发布于订阅号：百车全说，订阅号阅读更加方便，欢迎关注上次我们聊完旅行车之后，很多人在下面留言，想聊一聊斯巴鲁的傲虎，刚好在2021年3月3日的时候，全新斯巴鲁傲虎上市了，31.28万-33.08万的定价也是非常的傲娇，比之前2020款27.08万-31.08万的价格还涨了一些，让我猛然间有点看不懂斯巴鲁的定价策略。因为，斯巴鲁在中国其实是一个小众品牌，凭借进口车的身份，配合斯巴鲁旗下大名鼎鼎的翼豹WRX STI系列车型作为性能图腾，还有BRZ这种价格不高、但是乐趣十足的小跑车……这些产品的推出，加上水平对置发动机、高安全性和良好的四驱性能，使得斯巴鲁在中国一部分车迷心中积累了一定的口碑。当然，今天我们主要聊的还是这台全新推出的斯巴鲁傲虎。掰着指头算一算，第一代斯巴鲁傲虎从1994年在纽约车展上亮相，到现在已经是第六代车型了，比我们熟悉的奥迪Allroad系列的历史其实还要再早6年，而在奥迪Allroad正式亮相的2000年，斯巴鲁傲虎已经作为一款独立车型，从力狮车型系列里分离出来了，所以相比之下，其实斯巴鲁玩这种跨界旅行车可以说是行业老大哥的地位。可是，就是这样一位老大哥，为啥在国内市场越来越吃不开呢，到底是产品有问题还是市场政策有问题，又或者是那一句千年不变的“消费者不懂车”？带着这些问题，我自己也是小小的研究了一下，在此也与各位分享一下。全新傲虎到底新在哪？我们先来聊一聊这台新出的斯巴鲁傲虎，因为这台车的外观和内饰，相比过去确实是有了一定的升级，比如基于SGP平台打造、全新的外观设计语言、内饰竖向的11.6寸大屏、最新的EyeSight 4.0驾驶辅助系统……首先，我们来聊一聊这个SGP平台。斯巴鲁这个SGP平台，全称叫做“Subaru Global Platform”，这也是这么多年以来斯巴鲁车辆平台的首次更新，未来斯巴鲁的很多产品也都将出自这个平台，除了针对安全性、行驶性能、舒适性和环保方面进行提升之外，最为核心的就是在这套平台下诞生的产品，未来还会搭载多种类型的动力系统，包括汽油发动机、混合动力和纯电动力。简单来说，就是斯巴鲁这套SGP平台下的产物，在安全性方面会比以往更好，并且今后的动力总成的适配性更强。其次，我们来聊一聊全新傲虎的动力系统。之前很多人都说，对于斯巴鲁傲虎这台车，或者说对于所有的斯巴鲁出品的车辆，你永远不能光看它的表面，更要看它的内在，比如水平对置发动机、四驱系统等等，但是如果你看过或者开过之前老款2.0T版本的傲虎，你对现款车型最直观的感受肯定是“想当年猛虎有蛮力，看如今病虎不如鸡”。在2015年-2017年时候，斯巴鲁曾经推出过2.0T的傲虎（同期还有2.0T版本的力狮），发动机输出功率达到了241马力/350牛米，那个动力输出和现在这套169马力/252牛米的2.5L发动机简直是天壤之别，不过比较惨淡的是，之前2.0T版本的傲虎和力狮，在当年总共卖了也就不到500台。回到现款车型使用的2.5L发动机来看，很多人可能会疑惑，为什么这套发动机的排量看上去挺大的，但是账面上的动力输出就这么一点？其实原因很简单，就是因为技术太老了。我们都知道，斯巴鲁过去其实也有一套代号FB25的发动机，搭载在上一代傲虎和力狮上面，而上一代FB25的发动机的技术水平其实更加落后，只有进气侧AVCS（主动阀门控制系统）、PFI（燃油进气道喷射），而且还没有可变气门正时（VVI），换言之这套发动机实际的技术水平也就是2003年左右，比已经停产的锐志上的那颗5GR发动机还要老，而现在用的这颗2.5L发动机，主要的改变就是把之前FB25的燃油进气道喷射（PFI）换成了燃油直喷（GDI），而且这个新机头的直喷压力最多只有15Mpa，并不是现在流行的35Mpa高压直喷，然后斯巴鲁给这套发动机再加了一套排气侧AVCS，其他就没了。换言之，斯巴鲁就是把自家的旧棉袄拿出来，缝三年、补三年、缝缝补补又三年，看上去是在衣服上绣了几朵花，实际上还是那件旧棉袄。所以，现在这个2.5L发动机，其实就是一套十多年前发动机，进行细微优化后的产品，在总体上并没有做太大改进，而这就导致这颗发动机的燃烧模型比较古老，不管是排放还是功率，各个方面都不是很优秀，加上这颗发动机还采用的是低压直喷，所以尾气中的颗粒物比较难控制，进而在面对国6B排放标准的时候，需要加一套颗粒捕捉器，进一步牺牲性能，于是就有现在这个169马力/252牛米的数据。当然，斯巴鲁这么弄倒不是说轻视国内市场或者区别对待，因为这个2.5L版本的车型，在斯巴鲁最为重视的美国市场也是主力车型，只有在Onyx和Limited两个顶配版本上，才有那台无缘中国市场的2.4T发动机，而国内的斯巴鲁目前在卖的就这点车，也没有混动或者新能源车型来满足积分政策，面临国内巨大的排放双积分压力，斯巴鲁根本没有多余的正积分来引进一款搭载2.4T发动机的车型。除了这颗2.5L发动机之外，很多人其实还有一个疑惑点，那就是为啥斯巴鲁目前在售的车型都要用CVT变速箱？其实主要原因就是因为它的这套代号“ACT-4”的四驱系统，而目前斯巴鲁在售车型里采用的全时四驱系统中，这套系统不仅是历史是最长的，也是驱动力分配变动量最大的一套系统。这套ACT-4的四驱系统，在变速箱的后端装备了电控多片离合器式的限滑差速器来驱动前后轮，正常状态下的前后轮扭矩分配被设置在60:40，在行驶过程中，通过探测驱动轮的滑移量和发动机扭矩，这套四驱系统可以根据不同情况，能做到从完全前驱状态（100：0）一直调整到前后轴完全连接状态（50:50），所以，这套四驱系统可以看作类似于前置前驱车的特性，在湿滑路面行驶时，后轮哪怕是出现一点点滑动，车辆都能瞬间将中央差速器锁死变成前后轴完全连接的状态，以此来防止侧滑，再加上车辆动态控制系统（VDC）会在车辆即将失控的状况下及早介入，所以说这套系统最根本的目的，是确保在低摩擦力路面上行驶的可靠性和通过性，而不是追求运动性，因为斯巴鲁自家主打运动性的四驱系统，是搭载在WRX STI上面的DCCD全时四驱系统。虽然说斯巴鲁的这套四驱系统很不错，但是这个代号ACT-4的四驱系统有个BUG，就是变速箱和四驱系统是分不开的，所以在匹配的时候很麻烦（斯巴鲁原来用4AT用了好久），斯巴鲁本身就是个小厂，也没有那么多的人力、物力和精力去做复杂的匹配，而现在用的这套CVT变速箱使用了链条传动，可以承受很高的扭矩，这样就把CVT一个老大难的问题解决了，从而可以给动力更强的发动机装备，并且CVT变速箱不仅可以省油，平顺性也是相当不错，加上斯巴鲁为这套CVT变速箱，在运动模式逻辑、模拟档位、换挡拨片等等方面做了运动化调校，对于一般人来说，日常驾驶表现其实还是过得去的。当然，你如果想要更运动的性能，这样的CVT变速箱肯定是无法满足的，斯巴鲁其实也知道这个CVT无法满足更强的运动需求，所以你会发现，真正主打性能和运动的斯巴鲁车型，要么像BRZ那样用AT变速箱，要么和WRX STI那样用手动变速箱。其实这一点我觉得斯巴鲁做的还是挺有意思的，而且给我一种这家车厂就像是一家小饭店的感觉，首先他们的菜单里绝对不会出现什么鲍鱼、海参之类的高价菜，但是老板又有一些拿手的硬菜（比如WRX STI、BRZ），你如果只是想随便吃点，那菜单里也有一些家常小炒（森林人、力狮、傲虎），甚至还会有价格更低，但是也挺下饭的菜品（XV）。再者，我们来聊一聊这套EyeSight系统。我们都知道，斯巴鲁的这套EyeSight系统一直会和动力系统去做紧密的匹配和调校，上一代搭载涡轮发动机的斯巴鲁车型，在国内都没有配备EyeSight系统，主要原因就是斯巴鲁还没做好与涡轮车匹配的EyeSight系统。简单来说，斯巴鲁EyeSight驾驶辅助系统主要具备4项功能：防碰撞制动系统（PCB）、全车速自适应巡航控制系统（ACC）、起步油门误操作预防功能和警报与提示功能，其实本质上和本田的Honda Sensing类似，都是“视觉智能化科技”，属于给车辆提升附加值和安全性的产品，只是由于斯巴鲁很久都没有这种比较“时髦”的科技配置，促使这个EyeSight系统让不少人觉得很新奇。最后，不论斯巴鲁的产品究竟如何（其实还可以），任何一家车企都是以赚钱为目的，而斯巴鲁以目前现有的产品来看，似乎很难满足中国市场的需求，但是这就导致越不满足需求、销量就越低，销量不断走低之后，斯巴鲁估计自己也没啥兴趣去满足中国市场，万一造出来了还是卖不掉怎么办，大家都是出来卖的，谁也不愿意拿自己的销量去赌，斯巴鲁只要自己保证单车利润，能做到不亏钱，那就皆大欢喜，毕竟美国市场才是斯巴鲁的重中之重。况且，就算引入2.4T发动机，就算价格比现在定的再便宜一些，其实买的人估计也不会比现在能增加多少，斯巴鲁在中国基本上没什么钱去搞营销，整个销售体系在国内也被庞大集团一家独占，至于什么坚持、情怀、工匠精神……这些都只能说说而已，作为车企首要任务是赚钱活下去，看看当年的萨博，现在坟头都长草了。所以，与其去强行顺应市场作出一些改变，还不如先半死不活的造车卖车，等装备CB18发动机的傲虎和森林人进入国内之后，再通过与丰田的合作，实现CB18发动机与丰田THS混动技术的融合，通过混动车型的销售来满足积分需求，进而再引入口碑和招牌车型。在我看来，斯巴鲁这个品牌你说它聪明吧，它其实挺傻的，中国市场这么大一块蛋糕摆在它面前，结果自己不仅不会吃，而且连吃饭的家伙也跟不上，自己还要面对积分和油耗双重难题，弄的旗下招牌车型根本进不来。但是，你说斯巴鲁傻吧，它其实也挺聪明的，至少斯巴鲁明白，自己应该造个什么样的车，而不是像那个和它合作的日系厂家一样，在消费者看不见的地方偷偷摸摸的减配点东西，有点大智若愚的感觉，也算是小厂的坚持吧。斯巴鲁傲虎的竞争对手？没有！傲虎的竞争对手都有哪些？在30万左右的价位，很难找到一款像傲虎这么特殊的车。虽然很多网站都将傲虎归类为中型SUV，但我觉得这并不贴切，准确来说这是一款介于轿车与SUV之间的中型跨界旅行车，同理，自家的XV是低一级别的紧凑型跨界旅行车，斯巴鲁在售的只有森林人是非常标准的SUV。如果非要说傲虎像什么，它很像奥迪的Allroad系列和沃尔沃的Cross Country系列，既保留了轿车的驾驶感、操控感，同时兼具SUV的高通过性。但即使是这两个系列中最便宜的A4 allroad quattro探索家（41.88万）和V90 Cross Country B5 AWD智远版（44.79万），指导价都远超傲虎。即使是目前优惠巨大的V90CC智远版，裸车大概38万左右，落地也要43万左右，而中期改款后的A4 allroad去年底刚刚上市，优惠还没有到位，稍微带点配置就要奔着落地45万去了。所以，傲虎在这个价位没有直接竞争对手。有意思的是，选择傲虎的人，当初很多是在同价位的SUV中纠结，而非看上去更相似的旅行车。也许每一位傲虎车主都有一颗“撒野”的心，他们更加在意通过性，大多数旅行车是没有通过性可言的，而傲虎在通过性和装载性上都得到了相应的保证，唯一美中不足的，就是这台车在驾驶的时候，你会有一种这不像一台斯巴鲁的感觉，因为斯巴鲁引以为豪的就是水平对置发动机带来的低重心，但是傲虎为了保证离地间隙和通过性，把离地高度弄的挺高的，所以这也带来了一个矛盾点，想越野这台车性能又不是特别够，想在城市道路或者高速路去跑，又没有传统的旅行车那么舒服，只有在非铺装路面或者坑洼路面上，才能比较好的体会这台车到底“香”在哪里。除了类似于斯巴鲁傲虎这样的旅行车之外，我们再来聊一聊，同价位可以买到什么样的SUV，因为傲虎这台车实际上就是在切旅行车和SUV之间的夹缝。以傲虎现在的售价来看，主流点的SUV有丰田汉兰达（23.98-30.68万）、福特锐界（22.98-30.98万）、福特探险者（30.98-39.98万）、大众途昂（29.99-45.99万）、别克昂科旗（27.99-37.99万）、雪佛兰开拓者（22.99-32.99万），当然还有之前我们聊过的六缸大自吸现代帕里斯帝（29.88-32.98万）。你会发现，这个价位的合资SUV，至少已是7座中型SUV的级别，甚至像探险者、途昂、昂科旗、开拓者和帕里斯帝这样的已经上至中大型SUV了。而在这些车当中，以30万左右裸车的预算，除了探险者和帕里斯帝你只能买到低配以外，其他车都已经可以买到中配、甚至高配了。并且，这些SUV相比傲虎来看，不仅通过性更好，收起第三排座椅后也有一定的装载能力，在家用层面，每一款车都更加符合主流群体的审美取向与使用习惯。但傲虎身上有一样特质是这些车没有的，那就是调性，最后选择傲虎的人，我只能说他们身上“生活的重担”压得还不够沉，花钱去彰显调性并不是谁都有条件做到的。同样的预算，再看一看豪华品牌紧凑型SUV，它们的中低配普遍比傲虎更便宜。比如宝马X1（27.98-33.98万）、凯迪拉克XT4（25.97-39.17万）、林肯冒险家（24.68-34.58万）、沃尔沃XC40（26.48-38.58万）、讴歌CDX（22.98-34.98万）。而且除了冒险家，其他车都有比较可观的优惠，动不动就好几万。你也许会说以上这些车都低了一个级别，没可比性。那么以同样的预算，你还可以买到优惠巨大的二线豪华中型SUV，凯迪拉克XT5全系最低配落地甚至已经跌到30万左右，比傲虎最低配的定价还便宜，再加个几万块甚至可以落地XT6了，这可是高一级别的6/7座中大型SUV。与此同时还有沃尔沃XC60，2.0T高功率的T5版本低配落地32万以内，也相当贴近傲虎裸车的定价。此外还有英菲尼迪QX50、路虎发现运动版、揽胜极光、讴歌RDX……它们的低配车型优惠后也都掉入了傲虎的价格区间之中，甚至更低。所以对比这些SUV车型来看，游走在夹缝之中的傲虎，其实并不能剩下多少的生存空间，看重实用性的客户，可以去选择合资7座的中型甚至中大型SUV，看重品牌力的客户，也有大把的豪华品牌SUV可选，以至于傲虎成为了一款无法吸引主流购买力的车，也注定是一款只属于少数人的大玩具。顺带一提，很多傲虎的潜在买家都在担心水平对置发动机的养护费用，这一点大可放心，因为水平对置发动机在日常维护保养的费用，与普通的发动机并没有什么特别大的差别，你需要担心的，更多是将来不巧发动机坏了需要大修，或者一些需要修理的配件没有库存，需要从海外发货，那么你就要面临漫长的等待。傲虎适合什么样的人？应该是什么样的人适合傲虎那么，什么样的人适合傲虎？我觉得答案一定是“少数人”，如果用一句话来概括傲虎这台车，那就是：傲虎这种SUV和旅行车的结合体，不一定样样都拔尖，但它每一样都会一点。按照常理来看，这种“中庸”的车型应该非常符合国内市场的胃口，因为这种车做的其实和丰田有异曲同工之妙，都是属于80分主义下的产物，可为什么斯巴鲁的接受度还是这么低？我觉得，这里面除了国内外文化差异的因素以外（旅行车的小众窘境，就是典型的由文化差异导致的结果），更多原因还是出在傲虎自己身上。首先，傲虎在国内的定价实在是没什么诚意，北美2.5L版本26000多美金起售，折合人民币17万多，同样标配EyeSight（但是美版配备的是EyeSight 3.0，国内是介于3.0和4.0之间的产品），拉到国内定一个31.28万起的售价。而我们之前聊过的现代帕里斯帝，北美32000多美金起售，折合人民币21万左右，在国内也只定到了29.88万起。同样都是进口车，帕里斯帝在北美起价还高了6000美金，相当于4万人民币，别忘了它还是3.5L的V6发动机，交着更高的排量税，结果回过头来定价和傲虎差不多，所以就让人有点看不懂，斯巴鲁玩的到底是哪一出？其次，全新傲虎并没有带来特别大的改变。除了外观变动、内饰升级，在发动机、变速箱、四驱系统上并没有肉眼可见的改进，这次最大的遗憾，就是没有引入新的2.4T水平对置发动机，但回过头想想，曾经2.0T的傲虎卖到了35.98万，如果2.4T引进了，按照斯巴鲁在傲虎上惯用的高冷定价风格，怕不是奔着40多万去了。至于和同价位SUV对比，傲虎产品力和性价比上的不足会被无限放大，摆在明面上的东西也没做好：过于保守的内饰、老旧的动力系统、羸弱的动力……同时对于绝大多数追求实用性的客户来说，进口车的维修保养反而是个累赘，而且2.5L的排量，会让自己每年的车船税都多交一点。对于主流消费者来说，以上不管是哪一样小问题，单拎出来一个就足够让消费者把傲虎从意向车型中移除，但是，傲虎作为同价位极少数的跨界旅行车，它身上所展现出的特殊性，确实能够取悦那些少数的、追求个性的消费者。所以，傲虎这台车在国内就变的很挑剔，而且不是你在挑傲虎的毛病，是傲虎在挑你适不适合做它的车主。音频图文更新在订阅号：百车全说每期抽三条留言，每人赠168元的“芥末绿”燃油添加剂一瓶点击订阅，每周三，周六更新会有提醒新听友可以搜索：百车全说2014，百车全说2015，百车全说2016，往期300多个小时的节目可供收听

《阴阳双剑》点击小黄条，玩刀哥同款手游，领88元红包，海量喜点，喜马拉雅VIP。输入刀哥专属礼包码：“VIP520”，升级更快，玩的更爽。关注“7477手游”微信公众号，输入“刀哥”更有神秘礼包免费送。公众号二维码※ 本文章发布于订阅号：百车全说，订阅号阅读更加方便，欢迎关注上次我们聊完旅行车之后，很多人在下面留言，想聊一聊斯巴鲁的傲虎，刚好在2021年3月3日的时候，全新斯巴鲁傲虎上市了，31.28万-33.08万的定价也是非常的傲娇，比之前2020款27.08万-31.08万的价格还涨了一些，让我猛然间有点看不懂斯巴鲁的定价策略。因为，斯巴鲁在中国其实是一个小众品牌，凭借进口车的身份，配合斯巴鲁旗下大名鼎鼎的翼豹WRX STI系列车型作为性能图腾，还有BRZ这种价格不高、但是乐趣十足的小跑车……这些产品的推出，加上水平对置发动机、高安全性和良好的四驱性能，使得斯巴鲁在中国一部分车迷心中积累了一定的口碑。当然，今天我们主要聊的还是这台全新推出的斯巴鲁傲虎。掰着指头算一算，第一代斯巴鲁傲虎从1994年在纽约车展上亮相，到现在已经是第六代车型了，比我们熟悉的奥迪Allroad系列的历史其实还要再早6年，而在奥迪Allroad正式亮相的2000年，斯巴鲁傲虎已经作为一款独立车型，从力狮车型系列里分离出来了，所以相比之下，其实斯巴鲁玩这种跨界旅行车可以说是行业老大哥的地位。可是，就是这样一位老大哥，为啥在国内市场越来越吃不开呢，到底是产品有问题还是市场政策有问题，又或者是那一句千年不变的“消费者不懂车”？带着这些问题，我自己也是小小的研究了一下，在此也与各位分享一下。全新傲虎到底新在哪？我们先来聊一聊这台新出的斯巴鲁傲虎，因为这台车的外观和内饰，相比过去确实是有了一定的升级，比如基于SGP平台打造、全新的外观设计语言、内饰竖向的11.6寸大屏、最新的EyeSight 4.0驾驶辅助系统……首先，我们来聊一聊这个SGP平台。斯巴鲁这个SGP平台，全称叫做“Subaru Global Platform”，这也是这么多年以来斯巴鲁车辆平台的首次更新，未来斯巴鲁的很多产品也都将出自这个平台，除了针对安全性、行驶性能、舒适性和环保方面进行提升之外，最为核心的就是在这套平台下诞生的产品，未来还会搭载多种类型的动力系统，包括汽油发动机、混合动力和纯电动力。简单来说，就是斯巴鲁这套SGP平台下的产物，在安全性方面会比以往更好，并且今后的动力总成的适配性更强。其次，我们来聊一聊全新傲虎的动力系统。之前很多人都说，对于斯巴鲁傲虎这台车，或者说对于所有的斯巴鲁出品的车辆，你永远不能光看它的表面，更要看它的内在，比如水平对置发动机、四驱系统等等，但是如果你看过或者开过之前老款2.0T版本的傲虎，你对现款车型最直观的感受肯定是“想当年猛虎有蛮力，看如今病虎不如鸡”。在2015年-2017年时候，斯巴鲁曾经推出过2.0T的傲虎（同期还有2.0T版本的力狮），发动机输出功率达到了241马力/350牛米，那个动力输出和现在这套169马力/252牛米的2.5L发动机简直是天壤之别，不过比较惨淡的是，之前2.0T版本的傲虎和力狮，在当年总共卖了也就不到500台。回到现款车型使用的2.5L发动机来看，很多人可能会疑惑，为什么这套发动机的排量看上去挺大的，但是账面上的动力输出就这么一点？其实原因很简单，就是因为技术太老了。我们都知道，斯巴鲁过去其实也有一套代号FB25的发动机，搭载在上一代傲虎和力狮上面，而上一代FB25的发动机的技术水平其实更加落后，只有进气侧AVCS（主动阀门控制系统）、PFI（燃油进气道喷射），而且还没有可变气门正时（VVI），换言之这套发动机实际的技术水平也就是2003年左右，比已经停产的锐志上的那颗5GR发动机还要老，而现在用的这颗2.5L发动机，主要的改变就是把之前FB25的燃油进气道喷射（PFI）换成了燃油直喷（GDI），而且这个新机头的直喷压力最多只有15Mpa，并不是现在流行的35Mpa高压直喷，然后斯巴鲁给这套发动机再加了一套排气侧AVCS，其他就没了。换言之，斯巴鲁就是把自家的旧棉袄拿出来，缝三年、补三年、缝缝补补又三年，看上去是在衣服上绣了几朵花，实际上还是那件旧棉袄。所以，现在这个2.5L发动机，其实就是一套十多年前发动机，进行细微优化后的产品，在总体上并没有做太大改进，而这就导致这颗发动机的燃烧模型比较古老，不管是排放还是功率，各个方面都不是很优秀，加上这颗发动机还采用的是低压直喷，所以尾气中的颗粒物比较难控制，进而在面对国6B排放标准的时候，需要加一套颗粒捕捉器，进一步牺牲性能，于是就有现在这个169马力/252牛米的数据。当然，斯巴鲁这么弄倒不是说轻视国内市场或者区别对待，因为这个2.5L版本的车型，在斯巴鲁最为重视的美国市场也是主力车型，只有在Onyx和Limited两个顶配版本上，才有那台无缘中国市场的2.4T发动机，而国内的斯巴鲁目前在卖的就这点车，也没有混动或者新能源车型来满足积分政策，面临国内巨大的排放双积分压力，斯巴鲁根本没有多余的正积分来引进一款搭载2.4T发动机的车型。除了这颗2.5L发动机之外，很多人其实还有一个疑惑点，那就是为啥斯巴鲁目前在售的车型都要用CVT变速箱？其实主要原因就是因为它的这套代号“ACT-4”的四驱系统，而目前斯巴鲁在售车型里采用的全时四驱系统中，这套系统不仅是历史是最长的，也是驱动力分配变动量最大的一套系统。这套ACT-4的四驱系统，在变速箱的后端装备了电控多片离合器式的限滑差速器来驱动前后轮，正常状态下的前后轮扭矩分配被设置在60:40，在行驶过程中，通过探测驱动轮的滑移量和发动机扭矩，这套四驱系统可以根据不同情况，能做到从完全前驱状态（100：0）一直调整到前后轴完全连接状态（50:50），所以，这套四驱系统可以看作类似于前置前驱车的特性，在湿滑路面行驶时，后轮哪怕是出现一点点滑动，车辆都能瞬间将中央差速器锁死变成前后轴完全连接的状态，以此来防止侧滑，再加上车辆动态控制系统（VDC）会在车辆即将失控的状况下及早介入，所以说这套系统最根本的目的，是确保在低摩擦力路面上行驶的可靠性和通过性，而不是追求运动性，因为斯巴鲁自家主打运动性的四驱系统，是搭载在WRX STI上面的DCCD全时四驱系统。虽然说斯巴鲁的这套四驱系统很不错，但是这个代号ACT-4的四驱系统有个BUG，就是变速箱和四驱系统是分不开的，所以在匹配的时候很麻烦（斯巴鲁原来用4AT用了好久），斯巴鲁本身就是个小厂，也没有那么多的人力、物力和精力去做复杂的匹配，而现在用的这套CVT变速箱使用了链条传动，可以承受很高的扭矩，这样就把CVT一个老大难的问题解决了，从而可以给动力更强的发动机装备，并且CVT变速箱不仅可以省油，平顺性也是相当不错，加上斯巴鲁为这套CVT变速箱，在运动模式逻辑、模拟档位、换挡拨片等等方面做了运动化调校，对于一般人来说，日常驾驶表现其实还是过得去的。当然，你如果想要更运动的性能，这样的CVT变速箱肯定是无法满足的，斯巴鲁其实也知道这个CVT无法满足更强的运动需求，所以你会发现，真正主打性能和运动的斯巴鲁车型，要么像BRZ那样用AT变速箱，要么和WRX STI那样用手动变速箱。其实这一点我觉得斯巴鲁做的还是挺有意思的，而且给我一种这家车厂就像是一家小饭店的感觉，首先他们的菜单里绝对不会出现什么鲍鱼、海参之类的高价菜，但是老板又有一些拿手的硬菜（比如WRX STI、BRZ），你如果只是想随便吃点，那菜单里也有一些家常小炒（森林人、力狮、傲虎），甚至还会有价格更低，但是也挺下饭的菜品（XV）。再者，我们来聊一聊这套EyeSight系统。我们都知道，斯巴鲁的这套EyeSight系统一直会和动力系统去做紧密的匹配和调校，上一代搭载涡轮发动机的斯巴鲁车型，在国内都没有配备EyeSight系统，主要原因就是斯巴鲁还没做好与涡轮车匹配的EyeSight系统。简单来说，斯巴鲁EyeSight驾驶辅助系统主要具备4项功能：防碰撞制动系统（PCB）、全车速自适应巡航控制系统（ACC）、起步油门误操作预防功能和警报与提示功能，其实本质上和本田的Honda Sensing类似，都是“视觉智能化科技”，属于给车辆提升附加值和安全性的产品，只是由于斯巴鲁很久都没有这种比较“时髦”的科技配置，促使这个EyeSight系统让不少人觉得很新奇。最后，不论斯巴鲁的产品究竟如何（其实还可以），任何一家车企都是以赚钱为目的，而斯巴鲁以目前现有的产品来看，似乎很难满足中国市场的需求，但是这就导致越不满足需求、销量就越低，销量不断走低之后，斯巴鲁估计自己也没啥兴趣去满足中国市场，万一造出来了还是卖不掉怎么办，大家都是出来卖的，谁也不愿意拿自己的销量去赌，斯巴鲁只要自己保证单车利润，能做到不亏钱，那就皆大欢喜，毕竟美国市场才是斯巴鲁的重中之重。况且，就算引入2.4T发动机，就算价格比现在定的再便宜一些，其实买的人估计也不会比现在能增加多少，斯巴鲁在中国基本上没什么钱去搞营销，整个销售体系在国内也被庞大集团一家独占，至于什么坚持、情怀、工匠精神……这些都只能说说而已，作为车企首要任务是赚钱活下去，看看当年的萨博，现在坟头都长草了。所以，与其去强行顺应市场作出一些改变，还不如先半死不活的造车卖车，等装备CB18发动机的傲虎和森林人进入国内之后，再通过与丰田的合作，实现CB18发动机与丰田THS混动技术的融合，通过混动车型的销售来满足积分需求，进而再引入口碑和招牌车型。在我看来，斯巴鲁这个品牌你说它聪明吧，它其实挺傻的，中国市场这么大一块蛋糕摆在它面前，结果自己不仅不会吃，而且连吃饭的家伙也跟不上，自己还要面对积分和油耗双重难题，弄的旗下招牌车型根本进不来。但是，你说斯巴鲁傻吧，它其实也挺聪明的，至少斯巴鲁明白，自己应该造个什么样的车，而不是像那个和它合作的日系厂家一样，在消费者看不见的地方偷偷摸摸的减配点东西，有点大智若愚的感觉，也算是小厂的坚持吧。斯巴鲁傲虎的竞争对手？没有！傲虎的竞争对手都有哪些？在30万左右的价位，很难找到一款像傲虎这么特殊的车。虽然很多网站都将傲虎归类为中型SUV，但我觉得这并不贴切，准确来说这是一款介于轿车与SUV之间的中型跨界旅行车，同理，自家的XV是低一级别的紧凑型跨界旅行车，斯巴鲁在售的只有森林人是非常标准的SUV。如果非要说傲虎像什么，它很像奥迪的Allroad系列和沃尔沃的Cross Country系列，既保留了轿车的驾驶感、操控感，同时兼具SUV的高通过性。但即使是这两个系列中最便宜的A4 allroad quattro探索家（41.88万）和V90 Cross Country B5 AWD智远版（44.79万），指导价都远超傲虎。即使是目前优惠巨大的V90CC智远版，裸车大概38万左右，落地也要43万左右，而中期改款后的A4 allroad去年底刚刚上市，优惠还没有到位，稍微带点配置就要奔着落地45万去了。所以，傲虎在这个价位没有直接竞争对手。有意思的是，选择傲虎的人，当初很多是在同价位的SUV中纠结，而非看上去更相似的旅行车。也许每一位傲虎车主都有一颗“撒野”的心，他们更加在意通过性，大多数旅行车是没有通过性可言的，而傲虎在通过性和装载性上都得到了相应的保证，唯一美中不足的，就是这台车在驾驶的时候，你会有一种这不像一台斯巴鲁的感觉，因为斯巴鲁引以为豪的就是水平对置发动机带来的低重心，但是傲虎为了保证离地间隙和通过性，把离地高度弄的挺高的，所以这也带来了一个矛盾点，想越野这台车性能又不是特别够，想在城市道路或者高速路去跑，又没有传统的旅行车那么舒服，只有在非铺装路面或者坑洼路面上，才能比较好的体会这台车到底“香”在哪里。除了类似于斯巴鲁傲虎这样的旅行车之外，我们再来聊一聊，同价位可以买到什么样的SUV，因为傲虎这台车实际上就是在切旅行车和SUV之间的夹缝。以傲虎现在的售价来看，主流点的SUV有丰田汉兰达（23.98-30.68万）、福特锐界（22.98-30.98万）、福特探险者（30.98-39.98万）、大众途昂（29.99-45.99万）、别克昂科旗（27.99-37.99万）、雪佛兰开拓者（22.99-32.99万），当然还有之前我们聊过的六缸大自吸现代帕里斯帝（29.88-32.98万）。你会发现，这个价位的合资SUV，至少已是7座中型SUV的级别，甚至像探险者、途昂、昂科旗、开拓者和帕里斯帝这样的已经上至中大型SUV了。而在这些车当中，以30万左右裸车的预算，除了探险者和帕里斯帝你只能买到低配以外，其他车都已经可以买到中配、甚至高配了。并且，这些SUV相比傲虎来看，不仅通过性更好，收起第三排座椅后也有一定的装载能力，在家用层面，每一款车都更加符合主流群体的审美取向与使用习惯。但傲虎身上有一样特质是这些车没有的，那就是调性，最后选择傲虎的人，我只能说他们身上“生活的重担”压得还不够沉，花钱去彰显调性并不是谁都有条件做到的。同样的预算，再看一看豪华品牌紧凑型SUV，它们的中低配普遍比傲虎更便宜。比如宝马X1（27.98-33.98万）、凯迪拉克XT4（25.97-39.17万）、林肯冒险家（24.68-34.58万）、沃尔沃XC40（26.48-38.58万）、讴歌CDX（22.98-34.98万）。而且除了冒险家，其他车都有比较可观的优惠，动不动就好几万。你也许会说以上这些车都低了一个级别，没可比性。那么以同样的预算，你还可以买到优惠巨大的二线豪华中型SUV，凯迪拉克XT5全系最低配落地甚至已经跌到30万左右，比傲虎最低配的定价还便宜，再加个几万块甚至可以落地XT6了，这可是高一级别的6/7座中大型SUV。与此同时还有沃尔沃XC60，2.0T高功率的T5版本低配落地32万以内，也相当贴近傲虎裸车的定价。此外还有英菲尼迪QX50、路虎发现运动版、揽胜极光、讴歌RDX……它们的低配车型优惠后也都掉入了傲虎的价格区间之中，甚至更低。所以对比这些SUV车型来看，游走在夹缝之中的傲虎，其实并不能剩下多少的生存空间，看重实用性的客户，可以去选择合资7座的中型甚至中大型SUV，看重品牌力的客户，也有大把的豪华品牌SUV可选，以至于傲虎成为了一款无法吸引主流购买力的车，也注定是一款只属于少数人的大玩具。顺带一提，很多傲虎的潜在买家都在担心水平对置发动机的养护费用，这一点大可放心，因为水平对置发动机在日常维护保养的费用，与普通的发动机并没有什么特别大的差别，你需要担心的，更多是将来不巧发动机坏了需要大修，或者一些需要修理的配件没有库存，需要从海外发货，那么你就要面临漫长的等待。傲虎适合什么样的人？应该是什么样的人适合傲虎那么，什么样的人适合傲虎？我觉得答案一定是“少数人”，如果用一句话来概括傲虎这台车，那就是：傲虎这种SUV和旅行车的结合体，不一定样样都拔尖，但它每一样都会一点。按照常理来看，这种“中庸”的车型应该非常符合国内市场的胃口，因为这种车做的其实和丰田有异曲同工之妙，都是属于80分主义下的产物，可为什么斯巴鲁的接受度还是这么低？我觉得，这里面除了国内外文化差异的因素以外（旅行车的小众窘境，就是典型的由文化差异导致的结果），更多原因还是出在傲虎自己身上。首先，傲虎在国内的定价实在是没什么诚意，北美2.5L版本26000多美金起售，折合人民币17万多，同样标配EyeSight（但是美版配备的是EyeSight 3.0，国内是介于3.0和4.0之间的产品），拉到国内定一个31.28万起的售价。而我们之前聊过的现代帕里斯帝，北美32000多美金起售，折合人民币21万左右，在国内也只定到了29.88万起。同样都是进口车，帕里斯帝在北美起价还高了6000美金，相当于4万人民币，别忘了它还是3.5L的V6发动机，交着更高的排量税，结果回过头来定价和傲虎差不多，所以就让人有点看不懂，斯巴鲁玩的到底是哪一出？其次，全新傲虎并没有带来特别大的改变。除了外观变动、内饰升级，在发动机、变速箱、四驱系统上并没有肉眼可见的改进，这次最大的遗憾，就是没有引入新的2.4T水平对置发动机，但回过头想想，曾经2.0T的傲虎卖到了35.98万，如果2.4T引进了，按照斯巴鲁在傲虎上惯用的高冷定价风格，怕不是奔着40多万去了。至于和同价位SUV对比，傲虎产品力和性价比上的不足会被无限放大，摆在明面上的东西也没做好：过于保守的内饰、老旧的动力系统、羸弱的动力……同时对于绝大多数追求实用性的客户来说，进口车的维修保养反而是个累赘，而且2.5L的排量，会让自己每年的车船税都多交一点。对于主流消费者来说，以上不管是哪一样小问题，单拎出来一个就足够让消费者把傲虎从意向车型中移除，但是，傲虎作为同价位极少数的跨界旅行车，它身上所展现出的特殊性，确实能够取悦那些少数的、追求个性的消费者。所以，傲虎这台车在国内就变的很挑剔，而且不是你在挑傲虎的毛病，是傲虎在挑你适不适合做它的车主。音频图文更新在订阅号：百车全说每期抽三条留言，每人赠168元的“芥末绿”燃油添加剂一瓶点击订阅，每周三，周六更新会有提醒新听友可以搜索：百车全说2014，百车全说2015，百车全说2016，往期300多个小时的节目可供收听

《阴阳双剑》点击小黄条，玩刀哥同款手游，领88元红包，海量喜点，喜马拉雅VIP。输入刀哥专属礼包码：“VIP520”，升级更快，玩的更爽。关注“7477手游”微信公众号，输入“刀哥”更有神秘礼包免费送。公众号二维码※ 本文章发布于订阅号：百车全说，订阅号阅读更加方便，欢迎关注上次我们聊完旅行车之后，很多人在下面留言，想聊一聊斯巴鲁的傲虎，刚好在2021年3月3日的时候，全新斯巴鲁傲虎上市了，31.28万-33.08万的定价也是非常的傲娇，比之前2020款27.08万-31.08万的价格还涨了一些，让我猛然间有点看不懂斯巴鲁的定价策略。因为，斯巴鲁在中国其实是一个小众品牌，凭借进口车的身份，配合斯巴鲁旗下大名鼎鼎的翼豹WRX STI系列车型作为性能图腾，还有BRZ这种价格不高、但是乐趣十足的小跑车……这些产品的推出，加上水平对置发动机、高安全性和良好的四驱性能，使得斯巴鲁在中国一部分车迷心中积累了一定的口碑。当然，今天我们主要聊的还是这台全新推出的斯巴鲁傲虎。掰着指头算一算，第一代斯巴鲁傲虎从1994年在纽约车展上亮相，到现在已经是第六代车型了，比我们熟悉的奥迪Allroad系列的历史其实还要再早6年，而在奥迪Allroad正式亮相的2000年，斯巴鲁傲虎已经作为一款独立车型，从力狮车型系列里分离出来了，所以相比之下，其实斯巴鲁玩这种跨界旅行车可以说是行业老大哥的地位。可是，就是这样一位老大哥，为啥在国内市场越来越吃不开呢，到底是产品有问题还是市场政策有问题，又或者是那一句千年不变的“消费者不懂车”？带着这些问题，我自己也是小小的研究了一下，在此也与各位分享一下。全新傲虎到底新在哪？我们先来聊一聊这台新出的斯巴鲁傲虎，因为这台车的外观和内饰，相比过去确实是有了一定的升级，比如基于SGP平台打造、全新的外观设计语言、内饰竖向的11.6寸大屏、最新的EyeSight 4.0驾驶辅助系统……首先，我们来聊一聊这个SGP平台。斯巴鲁这个SGP平台，全称叫做“Subaru Global Platform”，这也是这么多年以来斯巴鲁车辆平台的首次更新，未来斯巴鲁的很多产品也都将出自这个平台，除了针对安全性、行驶性能、舒适性和环保方面进行提升之外，最为核心的就是在这套平台下诞生的产品，未来还会搭载多种类型的动力系统，包括汽油发动机、混合动力和纯电动力。简单来说，就是斯巴鲁这套SGP平台下的产物，在安全性方面会比以往更好，并且今后的动力总成的适配性更强。其次，我们来聊一聊全新傲虎的动力系统。之前很多人都说，对于斯巴鲁傲虎这台车，或者说对于所有的斯巴鲁出品的车辆，你永远不能光看它的表面，更要看它的内在，比如水平对置发动机、四驱系统等等，但是如果你看过或者开过之前老款2.0T版本的傲虎，你对现款车型最直观的感受肯定是“想当年猛虎有蛮力，看如今病虎不如鸡”。在2015年-2017年时候，斯巴鲁曾经推出过2.0T的傲虎（同期还有2.0T版本的力狮），发动机输出功率达到了241马力/350牛米，那个动力输出和现在这套169马力/252牛米的2.5L发动机简直是天壤之别，不过比较惨淡的是，之前2.0T版本的傲虎和力狮，在当年总共卖了也就不到500台。回到现款车型使用的2.5L发动机来看，很多人可能会疑惑，为什么这套发动机的排量看上去挺大的，但是账面上的动力输出就这么一点？其实原因很简单，就是因为技术太老了。我们都知道，斯巴鲁过去其实也有一套代号FB25的发动机，搭载在上一代傲虎和力狮上面，而上一代FB25的发动机的技术水平其实更加落后，只有进气侧AVCS（主动阀门控制系统）、PFI（燃油进气道喷射），而且还没有可变气门正时（VVI），换言之这套发动机实际的技术水平也就是2003年左右，比已经停产的锐志上的那颗5GR发动机还要老，而现在用的这颗2.5L发动机，主要的改变就是把之前FB25的燃油进气道喷射（PFI）换成了燃油直喷（GDI），而且这个新机头的直喷压力最多只有15Mpa，并不是现在流行的35Mpa高压直喷，然后斯巴鲁给这套发动机再加了一套排气侧AVCS，其他就没了。换言之，斯巴鲁就是把自家的旧棉袄拿出来，缝三年、补三年、缝缝补补又三年，看上去是在衣服上绣了几朵花，实际上还是那件旧棉袄。所以，现在这个2.5L发动机，其实就是一套十多年前发动机，进行细微优化后的产品，在总体上并没有做太大改进，而这就导致这颗发动机的燃烧模型比较古老，不管是排放还是功率，各个方面都不是很优秀，加上这颗发动机还采用的是低压直喷，所以尾气中的颗粒物比较难控制，进而在面对国6B排放标准的时候，需要加一套颗粒捕捉器，进一步牺牲性能，于是就有现在这个169马力/252牛米的数据。当然，斯巴鲁这么弄倒不是说轻视国内市场或者区别对待，因为这个2.5L版本的车型，在斯巴鲁最为重视的美国市场也是主力车型，只有在Onyx和Limited两个顶配版本上，才有那台无缘中国市场的2.4T发动机，而国内的斯巴鲁目前在卖的就这点车，也没有混动或者新能源车型来满足积分政策，面临国内巨大的排放双积分压力，斯巴鲁根本没有多余的正积分来引进一款搭载2.4T发动机的车型。除了这颗2.5L发动机之外，很多人其实还有一个疑惑点，那就是为啥斯巴鲁目前在售的车型都要用CVT变速箱？其实主要原因就是因为它的这套代号“ACT-4”的四驱系统，而目前斯巴鲁在售车型里采用的全时四驱系统中，这套系统不仅是历史是最长的，也是驱动力分配变动量最大的一套系统。这套ACT-4的四驱系统，在变速箱的后端装备了电控多片离合器式的限滑差速器来驱动前后轮，正常状态下的前后轮扭矩分配被设置在60:40，在行驶过程中，通过探测驱动轮的滑移量和发动机扭矩，这套四驱系统可以根据不同情况，能做到从完全前驱状态（100：0）一直调整到前后轴完全连接状态（50:50），所以，这套四驱系统可以看作类似于前置前驱车的特性，在湿滑路面行驶时，后轮哪怕是出现一点点滑动，车辆都能瞬间将中央差速器锁死变成前后轴完全连接的状态，以此来防止侧滑，再加上车辆动态控制系统（VDC）会在车辆即将失控的状况下及早介入，所以说这套系统最根本的目的，是确保在低摩擦力路面上行驶的可靠性和通过性，而不是追求运动性，因为斯巴鲁自家主打运动性的四驱系统，是搭载在WRX STI上面的DCCD全时四驱系统。虽然说斯巴鲁的这套四驱系统很不错，但是这个代号ACT-4的四驱系统有个BUG，就是变速箱和四驱系统是分不开的，所以在匹配的时候很麻烦（斯巴鲁原来用4AT用了好久），斯巴鲁本身就是个小厂，也没有那么多的人力、物力和精力去做复杂的匹配，而现在用的这套CVT变速箱使用了链条传动，可以承受很高的扭矩，这样就把CVT一个老大难的问题解决了，从而可以给动力更强的发动机装备，并且CVT变速箱不仅可以省油，平顺性也是相当不错，加上斯巴鲁为这套CVT变速箱，在运动模式逻辑、模拟档位、换挡拨片等等方面做了运动化调校，对于一般人来说，日常驾驶表现其实还是过得去的。当然，你如果想要更运动的性能，这样的CVT变速箱肯定是无法满足的，斯巴鲁其实也知道这个CVT无法满足更强的运动需求，所以你会发现，真正主打性能和运动的斯巴鲁车型，要么像BRZ那样用AT变速箱，要么和WRX STI那样用手动变速箱。其实这一点我觉得斯巴鲁做的还是挺有意思的，而且给我一种这家车厂就像是一家小饭店的感觉，首先他们的菜单里绝对不会出现什么鲍鱼、海参之类的高价菜，但是老板又有一些拿手的硬菜（比如WRX STI、BRZ），你如果只是想随便吃点，那菜单里也有一些家常小炒（森林人、力狮、傲虎），甚至还会有价格更低，但是也挺下饭的菜品（XV）。再者，我们来聊一聊这套EyeSight系统。我们都知道，斯巴鲁的这套EyeSight系统一直会和动力系统去做紧密的匹配和调校，上一代搭载涡轮发动机的斯巴鲁车型，在国内都没有配备EyeSight系统，主要原因就是斯巴鲁还没做好与涡轮车匹配的EyeSight系统。简单来说，斯巴鲁EyeSight驾驶辅助系统主要具备4项功能：防碰撞制动系统（PCB）、全车速自适应巡航控制系统（ACC）、起步油门误操作预防功能和警报与提示功能，其实本质上和本田的Honda Sensing类似，都是“视觉智能化科技”，属于给车辆提升附加值和安全性的产品，只是由于斯巴鲁很久都没有这种比较“时髦”的科技配置，促使这个EyeSight系统让不少人觉得很新奇。最后，不论斯巴鲁的产品究竟如何（其实还可以），任何一家车企都是以赚钱为目的，而斯巴鲁以目前现有的产品来看，似乎很难满足中国市场的需求，但是这就导致越不满足需求、销量就越低，销量不断走低之后，斯巴鲁估计自己也没啥兴趣去满足中国市场，万一造出来了还是卖不掉怎么办，大家都是出来卖的，谁也不愿意拿自己的销量去赌，斯巴鲁只要自己保证单车利润，能做到不亏钱，那就皆大欢喜，毕竟美国市场才是斯巴鲁的重中之重。况且，就算引入2.4T发动机，就算价格比现在定的再便宜一些，其实买的人估计也不会比现在能增加多少，斯巴鲁在中国基本上没什么钱去搞营销，整个销售体系在国内也被庞大集团一家独占，至于什么坚持、情怀、工匠精神……这些都只能说说而已，作为车企首要任务是赚钱活下去，看看当年的萨博，现在坟头都长草了。所以，与其去强行顺应市场作出一些改变，还不如先半死不活的造车卖车，等装备CB18发动机的傲虎和森林人进入国内之后，再通过与丰田的合作，实现CB18发动机与丰田THS混动技术的融合，通过混动车型的销售来满足积分需求，进而再引入口碑和招牌车型。在我看来，斯巴鲁这个品牌你说它聪明吧，它其实挺傻的，中国市场这么大一块蛋糕摆在它面前，结果自己不仅不会吃，而且连吃饭的家伙也跟不上，自己还要面对积分和油耗双重难题，弄的旗下招牌车型根本进不来。但是，你说斯巴鲁傻吧，它其实也挺聪明的，至少斯巴鲁明白，自己应该造个什么样的车，而不是像那个和它合作的日系厂家一样，在消费者看不见的地方偷偷摸摸的减配点东西，有点大智若愚的感觉，也算是小厂的坚持吧。斯巴鲁傲虎的竞争对手？没有！傲虎的竞争对手都有哪些？在30万左右的价位，很难找到一款像傲虎这么特殊的车。虽然很多网站都将傲虎归类为中型SUV，但我觉得这并不贴切，准确来说这是一款介于轿车与SUV之间的中型跨界旅行车，同理，自家的XV是低一级别的紧凑型跨界旅行车，斯巴鲁在售的只有森林人是非常标准的SUV。如果非要说傲虎像什么，它很像奥迪的Allroad系列和沃尔沃的Cross Country系列，既保留了轿车的驾驶感、操控感，同时兼具SUV的高通过性。但即使是这两个系列中最便宜的A4 allroad quattro探索家（41.88万）和V90 Cross Country B5 AWD智远版（44.79万），指导价都远超傲虎。即使是目前优惠巨大的V90CC智远版，裸车大概38万左右，落地也要43万左右，而中期改款后的A4 allroad去年底刚刚上市，优惠还没有到位，稍微带点配置就要奔着落地45万去了。所以，傲虎在这个价位没有直接竞争对手。有意思的是，选择傲虎的人，当初很多是在同价位的SUV中纠结，而非看上去更相似的旅行车。也许每一位傲虎车主都有一颗“撒野”的心，他们更加在意通过性，大多数旅行车是没有通过性可言的，而傲虎在通过性和装载性上都得到了相应的保证，唯一美中不足的，就是这台车在驾驶的时候，你会有一种这不像一台斯巴鲁的感觉，因为斯巴鲁引以为豪的就是水平对置发动机带来的低重心，但是傲虎为了保证离地间隙和通过性，把离地高度弄的挺高的，所以这也带来了一个矛盾点，想越野这台车性能又不是特别够，想在城市道路或者高速路去跑，又没有传统的旅行车那么舒服，只有在非铺装路面或者坑洼路面上，才能比较好的体会这台车到底“香”在哪里。除了类似于斯巴鲁傲虎这样的旅行车之外，我们再来聊一聊，同价位可以买到什么样的SUV，因为傲虎这台车实际上就是在切旅行车和SUV之间的夹缝。以傲虎现在的售价来看，主流点的SUV有丰田汉兰达（23.98-30.68万）、福特锐界（22.98-30.98万）、福特探险者（30.98-39.98万）、大众途昂（29.99-45.99万）、别克昂科旗（27.99-37.99万）、雪佛兰开拓者（22.99-32.99万），当然还有之前我们聊过的六缸大自吸现代帕里斯帝（29.88-32.98万）。你会发现，这个价位的合资SUV，至少已是7座中型SUV的级别，甚至像探险者、途昂、昂科旗、开拓者和帕里斯帝这样的已经上至中大型SUV了。而在这些车当中，以30万左右裸车的预算，除了探险者和帕里斯帝你只能买到低配以外，其他车都已经可以买到中配、甚至高配了。并且，这些SUV相比傲虎来看，不仅通过性更好，收起第三排座椅后也有一定的装载能力，在家用层面，每一款车都更加符合主流群体的审美取向与使用习惯。但傲虎身上有一样特质是这些车没有的，那就是调性，最后选择傲虎的人，我只能说他们身上“生活的重担”压得还不够沉，花钱去彰显调性并不是谁都有条件做到的。同样的预算，再看一看豪华品牌紧凑型SUV，它们的中低配普遍比傲虎更便宜。比如宝马X1（27.98-33.98万）、凯迪拉克XT4（25.97-39.17万）、林肯冒险家（24.68-34.58万）、沃尔沃XC40（26.48-38.58万）、讴歌CDX（22.98-34.98万）。而且除了冒险家，其他车都有比较可观的优惠，动不动就好几万。你也许会说以上这些车都低了一个级别，没可比性。那么以同样的预算，你还可以买到优惠巨大的二线豪华中型SUV，凯迪拉克XT5全系最低配落地甚至已经跌到30万左右，比傲虎最低配的定价还便宜，再加个几万块甚至可以落地XT6了，这可是高一级别的6/7座中大型SUV。与此同时还有沃尔沃XC60，2.0T高功率的T5版本低配落地32万以内，也相当贴近傲虎裸车的定价。此外还有英菲尼迪QX50、路虎发现运动版、揽胜极光、讴歌RDX……它们的低配车型优惠后也都掉入了傲虎的价格区间之中，甚至更低。所以对比这些SUV车型来看，游走在夹缝之中的傲虎，其实并不能剩下多少的生存空间，看重实用性的客户，可以去选择合资7座的中型甚至中大型SUV，看重品牌力的客户，也有大把的豪华品牌SUV可选，以至于傲虎成为了一款无法吸引主流购买力的车，也注定是一款只属于少数人的大玩具。顺带一提，很多傲虎的潜在买家都在担心水平对置发动机的养护费用，这一点大可放心，因为水平对置发动机在日常维护保养的费用，与普通的发动机并没有什么特别大的差别，你需要担心的，更多是将来不巧发动机坏了需要大修，或者一些需要修理的配件没有库存，需要从海外发货，那么你就要面临漫长的等待。傲虎适合什么样的人？应该是什么样的人适合傲虎那么，什么样的人适合傲虎？我觉得答案一定是“少数人”，如果用一句话来概括傲虎这台车，那就是：傲虎这种SUV和旅行车的结合体，不一定样样都拔尖，但它每一样都会一点。按照常理来看，这种“中庸”的车型应该非常符合国内市场的胃口，因为这种车做的其实和丰田有异曲同工之妙，都是属于80分主义下的产物，可为什么斯巴鲁的接受度还是这么低？我觉得，这里面除了国内外文化差异的因素以外（旅行车的小众窘境，就是典型的由文化差异导致的结果），更多原因还是出在傲虎自己身上。首先，傲虎在国内的定价实在是没什么诚意，北美2.5L版本26000多美金起售，折合人民币17万多，同样标配EyeSight（但是美版配备的是EyeSight 3.0，国内是介于3.0和4.0之间的产品），拉到国内定一个31.28万起的售价。而我们之前聊过的现代帕里斯帝，北美32000多美金起售，折合人民币21万左右，在国内也只定到了29.88万起。同样都是进口车，帕里斯帝在北美起价还高了6000美金，相当于4万人民币，别忘了它还是3.5L的V6发动机，交着更高的排量税，结果回过头来定价和傲虎差不多，所以就让人有点看不懂，斯巴鲁玩的到底是哪一出？其次，全新傲虎并没有带来特别大的改变。除了外观变动、内饰升级，在发动机、变速箱、四驱系统上并没有肉眼可见的改进，这次最大的遗憾，就是没有引入新的2.4T水平对置发动机，但回过头想想，曾经2.0T的傲虎卖到了35.98万，如果2.4T引进了，按照斯巴鲁在傲虎上惯用的高冷定价风格，怕不是奔着40多万去了。至于和同价位SUV对比，傲虎产品力和性价比上的不足会被无限放大，摆在明面上的东西也没做好：过于保守的内饰、老旧的动力系统、羸弱的动力……同时对于绝大多数追求实用性的客户来说，进口车的维修保养反而是个累赘，而且2.5L的排量，会让自己每年的车船税都多交一点。对于主流消费者来说，以上不管是哪一样小问题，单拎出来一个就足够让消费者把傲虎从意向车型中移除，但是，傲虎作为同价位极少数的跨界旅行车，它身上所展现出的特殊性，确实能够取悦那些少数的、追求个性的消费者。所以，傲虎这台车在国内就变的很挑剔，而且不是你在挑傲虎的毛病，是傲虎在挑你适不适合做它的车主。音频图文更新在订阅号：百车全说每期抽三条留言，每人赠168元的“芥末绿”燃油添加剂一瓶点击订阅，每周三，周六更新会有提醒新听友可以搜索：百车全说2014，百车全说2015，百车全说2016，往期300多个小时的节目可供收听

Let's digest the root causes of this AEC's vs reward dilemma, before debating if it's possible to find a one-size-fits-all contract solution. When Owners decide that quality and reliability outwieighs bottom dollar bids, how will your business pivot to deliver more value in a future with alternative contract environments?   Interviewees: Rob Fischer, Director of Membership, Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) Brittanie Campbell Turner, Managing Director & Podcast Host, Constructrr   Josh Bone @BIM2theBone & Jeff Sample @IronManOfIT   Show Links CURT Technology & Productivity Summit - https://www.curt.org/events/event-detail/?EventID=603 OS2 Initiative - https://www.curt.org/resources/os2/ Constructrr Podcast - http://constructrr.com/ Construction Blockchain Constortium - https://www.constructionblockchain.org/ Adam Grant on Negotiating (Results vs Relationships) - https://www.ted.com/talks/worklife_with_adam_grant_the_science_of_the_deal John Macomber - Follow the Money - https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=37399 Youtube How to Charge For a Logo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE53O1PzmNU Karen Martin - Clarity First - https://www.amazon.com/Clarity-First-Organizations-Outstanding-Performance/dp/1259837351#ace-g6796040015

Let's digest the terminology of prefab, before debating if the reward is worth the risk. When Owners decide that prefabrication is the new gold standard, will you be ready to deliver? Guests: Briana Williams - StructionSite Amy Marks - Autodesk - @queenofprefab Episode Clarification: "Amy noted that since our interview, 'Intelligent Materials' has now been replaced with "Advanced Building Products" Show Note Links: Spearin Gap - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Spearin Boyde C. Paulson - https://medium.com/@vikofnorway/influence-curve-or-inverted-complacency-curve-954aceeb48bf John Macomber - Follow the Money - https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/40671%282003%29129 Autodesk & FMI Report on Trust - https://constructionblog.autodesk.com/autodesk-fmi-study/ Careers at The Walsh Group - http://www.walshgroup.com/careers.html      

Together, we'll digest the root causes of innovation burnout, before debating the role of culture and leadership to break through it.  Ultimately, we must decide which innovation battles that are worth fighting for, and which ones need a little more time to incubate. Before investing the resources necessary to deliver innovation, ensure the cultural health of the organization is ready. Episode Guests: Tooey Courtemanche | CEO, Procore [@tooeyprocore, @ProcoreTech] Alison Hart | Project Solutions, Mortenson [@MAMortensonCo] Satyam Verma | Partnerships, Pype [@PypeInc] Mark Ciszewski | Sales Director, Revizto [@Revizto] Johnathon Grammer | Quality Director, Rogers O'brien [@JGrammer_, @Rogersobrien] Special thanks to AEC Next | SPAR 3D and Procore Groundbreak for Inviting us to their conferences for these interviews.  **Show Links** Revizto CDX Webinar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awKE7G8HZMU Learn how Mortenson is leveraging Pype at the enterprise level - https://pype.io/case_study/mortenson/ Listen to Tooey's Keynote Address from the 2019 Procore Groundbreak -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zpVoRlgfFc Research on the Five stages of Burnout - https://www.winona.edu/stress/bntstages.htm The Innovation Burnout Syndrome - http://www.ideachampions.com/weblogs/archives/2018/02/the_dark_side_o.shtml Download the ELECTRI RFI Report at - www.ConstructionProgress.org/ELECTRI McKinsey: Why Most Digital Transformations Fail: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/transformation/our-insights/why-do-most-transformations-fail-a-conversation-with-harry-robinson

We'll digest how measurement impacts our incentive to innovate, before debating the return on investment of learning from failures. What changes in measurement are required to drive innovation in construction? How can AEC professionals, project owner/operators, and technology solutions provide a new level of transparency and accountability to thrive in the digital age? What metrics will drive the right behavior changes and deliver measurable improvements to the bottom line?   Guest Perspectives: Ken Schneider, UA Local 268 St. Louis | @UAFIRE_UAVDC Mike Zivanovic, UA Local 597 Chicago | @VDCmikeZ Stephan Schnell, UA Local 467 San Jose | @stephanlschnell Damon Hernandez, AEC Hackathon | @MetaverseOne Kalyn Lengieza, StructionSite | @Just_Ducky Dixon Wright, US Insurance Services | @KDixonWright   Special thanks to 2019  Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Technology Conference and AEC Next | SPAR 3D for providing space to record these interviews.    Learn more about the UA Training Initiatives at https://UA.org/training Attend an upcoming AEC Hackathon - https://aechackathon.com/upcoming-events StructionSite user? Check out SmartTrack - https://structionsite.com/smarttrack/  Learn what Surety Resource Connection has been up to - https://sbrm-data-exchange.com/meetings Learn about Eli Goldratt and his "Theory of Constraints" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_constraints Deloitte Article - ‘Rewriting the Rules for the Digital Age' https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/HumanCapital/hc-2017-global-human-capital-trends-gx.pdf

What is the balance between talk and action to drive innovation in the AEC Industry? If innovation requires a new level of ‘coopetition', what is the separation between transparency and intellectual property? What can AEC professionals learn from other industries about the ‘art and science' of innovation? How must leadership adjust adjust their mindset and strategy to harness technology's full potential?   Guests Jeff Sample @ironmanofit | Director of Strategy @eSUB Travis Voss @pwrliftnerd | Technology Manager, Mechanical Inc. Nick Tillford @yandellnick | BIM/VDC Manager, ‘Steel Fabricator  

  In this episode, we'll digest the value of connected data across the design, construction, and operation phases, before we debate the challenge of delivering the right information to the right person at the right time. Together, we'll understand the role of standards and contract incentives to protect our Common Data Environment (CDE) from design collaboration phase to facility operations and maintenance. Guest Perspectives: Carl Veillette [@CarlVeillette], VP Product, BIMTrack (@BIMTrack)  Kelly Cone [ @gkellycone ], VP of Industry Strategy, ClearEdge3D [@ClearEdge_3D] Todd Wynne [ @todd_wynne ], VP of Strategy & Partnerships, Joe Williams [ @vdcjoe ], VP of Global Industry Insights, Bluebeam [@Bluebeam]  

What is an Application Programming Interface (API)? How can API integrations address our Shared Pains with manual re-entry of data from application to application?  What data and process standards are required for open-API solutions to work as advertised? Who is already implementing open-API integrations? Interviewees: Jordan Hoff, PPM Manager, Trimble [@TrimbleCorpNews] Ajoy Khrishnamoorthy, VP of Product Strategy, Vertical Construction, Acumatica [@ajoyk, @Acumatica]  Jason Ramsey, Founder & CEO, Construction BI [@ConstructionBI] Caleb Taylor & Ed Gonzalez, Co-Founders, BuildR [@CalebTaylor_22, @gedwardgo, @buildrtech] Watch Procore's “Daddy, What's an API?” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNekVhM7BgA Learn more about Trimble PPM Solutions at https://gc.trimble.com/product-categories/project-management Learn more about Acumatica's Cloud ERP for Construction at https://www.acumatica.com/industries/construction/ Learn more about ConstructionBI at https://constructionbi.com/ Learn more about BuildR at https://buildrtech.com/ For more detail on the Open-API movement outside of Construction, visit https://www.openapis.org/

DIGEST: What are the different categories of diversity? DEBATE: Do we truly understand the risk of not accepting diverse opinions or ideas? DECIDE: How do we move beyond Surface Level Equality and focus on the value of Interpersonal Diversity? DELIVER: What is the role of leadership (both top-down and bottom-up) to drive this cultural transformation?   Guest Perspectives: Danielle Dy Buncio, VIATechnik [@DDyBuncio] Tauhira Hoossainy, Milwaukee Tool [@MilwaukeeTool] Uchenna Okoye, Skanska USA [@UchennaOkoye5 ] Frank Moore, Autodesk [@AutodeskAEC] Walker Lockard, CPC Executive Vice President [@walker_lockard] Related Discussion Topic Links Tayo Rockson - Communicate With Impact Meyers-Briggs Explanation (by Stephen Colbert) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r36wnaSqJtw  Free Personality Assessment - www.16personalities.com DiSC Profile Information- https://www.thediscpersonalitytest.com/data/shopcart7/content_db/Sample%20DiSC%20Classic%20Team%20View%202014.pdf Birkman Map Example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHPq7TZiMKo Blind Recruitment Article - https://www.fastcompany.com/3057631/how-blind-recruitment-works-and-why-you-should-consider  

This episode brings together a diverse group of industry and technology professionals to discuss strategies and solutions to our collective Shared Pains with data transparency and interoperability. Find out how the Construction Progress Coalition is connecting these different perspectives together around a Common Data Exchange (CDX) approach to measuring and reducing the waste an inequality that has plagued construction for generations. Jimmy Forsberg - Skanska (GC, Sweden) Mark Decker -  Jacobsen (GC, Utah) Danielle Edberg - Procore (Software, California) Nancy Novak - Compass Data Centers (Owner, Virginia) Dave Burns - McCarthy (GC, California) Matt Daly - StructionSite (Software, California)

We digest the root causes of unreliable as-builts; in order to debate which project stakeholders have the most incentive - and influence - to replace analog documentation standards with digital performance requirements. Hearing from these different perspectives, remember….the role is yours to decide which of these innovations applies to your situation, and where to begin.   Guest Interviews:  Allen Angle, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) @allenangle Connor Christian, InEight @cmchristian330 Todd Sutton, Zachry Construction @justgeekit Mike Boyle, InEight Darren Roos, Bernards @darren_roos     A million small connections: Designing the new NY bridge    

Digest - Why is there so much waste generated in the Submittal process? Debate - How technology streamline the submittal process without losing the value of their intent? Decide - Of these necessary changes to the process, what are the barriers in which we can control? What roadblocks exist externally that we cannot control? Deliver - How might a CDX Playbook help project teams communicate their unique workflow requirements through a common digital language?   Guest Interviews: Brianna Halfhide, Clark Pacific Ian Coates, Autodesk, @IanCoates Ian Brown, Baronne Steel Paul Doherty, The Digit Group

Digest - what are the root causes of late design changes? Debate - How can data and mobile collaboration help us to predict or prevent their impacts? Decide - What do you do when the contract incentive is to maximize your profit….at the project's expense? Deliver - How might a CDX Collaboration Session between GC and impacted Trade Contractors resolve our  #SharedPains of lost time and waste through the Request for Quotation (RFQ) to Potential Change Order (PCO) exchange. Guest Interviews: Myles M Martin, M3 Design Group, @BIM_A_Team DJ Phipps,XL Construction, @Phipps_DJ Travis Voss, Mechanical Inc., @pwrliftnerd Kris Lengieza, Procore Inc, @gieza0527 Josh Newland, Procore Inc, @JoshNewland   SHOW NOTES Procore explains the API [funny] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNekVhM7BgA   Spearin Gap [wiki] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Spearin New AI powered Gmail can write emails for you [news] -  https://www.techspot.com/news/74533-new-ai-powered-gmail-feature-can-write-emails.html

Digest the full extent of our #SharedPains with reliable data exchanges across each delivery phase. Hear a debate from different stakeholder perspectives about their ideal solutions, and decide how best to initiate a crucial conversation with your project leader or company executive that will deliver the intended result.    Digest: What data should we be collecting? Debate: Who helps or hurts our ability to track field data? Decide: How is government trying to become a part of the solution? Deliver: What are the changes needed? Guest Interviews: David de Yarza, www.Builderbox.io, @David_Bldrbx Lilian Magallanres, www.Bluebeam.com, @lilymagallanes Philip Lorenzo, www.StructionSitecom, @PhilipGLorenzo    

Note: We've rearranged episodes a bit here to better coordinate with guest schedules, so the names mentioned as next episodes in our last podcast was incorrect. Instead of Debbie Torraca, this week we have Esther Zimmerman -- we'll be back next week with Debbie Torraca.  Summary: Esther Zimmerman is a long-time FDSA student and has been a participant in AKC events for over 40 years. She's been teaching dogs and their people since the early 1980's.   Currently, she is the head competition obedience instructor at MasterPeace Dog Training in Franklin, MA, where she teaches multiple classes at all levels, and coaches many private students. Over the years, Esther has evolved her own special blend of the art and science of dog training, acquired through years of experience, extensive reading, and continuing education at conferences and seminars. She is well known for her patience, compassion, honesty, and humor, along with an unfailingly positive attitude toward both dogs and handlers. She feels it's the trainer's job to have the dogs WANT to play the obedience game, not to make them do it, and that there is no reason to use compulsion for the sake of a ribbon. Her many high-scoring students are proof of this, as they earn advanced titles, many with non-traditional obedience breeds. Esther herself competes with Schipperke, and she has finished the only Champion/Utility Dog Excellent in the history of Schipperke, and three additional Champion/Utility dogs. She also put three UDX legs on Presto, a Golden Retriever, who died of cancer at an early age. Links MasterPeace Dog Training in Franklin, MA Next Episode:  To be released 3/16/2018, featuring Debbie Torraca to talk about exercises, including exercise for puppies! TRANSCRIPTION: Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, an online school dedicated to providing high-quality instruction for competitive dog sports using only the most current and progressive training methods. Today we'll be talking to Esther Zimmerman. Esther is a long-time FDSA student and has been a participant in AKC events for over 40 years. She's been teaching dogs and their people since the early 1980's.   Currently, she is the head competition obedience instructor at MasterPeace Dog Training in Franklin, MA, where she teaches multiple classes at all levels, and coaches many private students. Over the years, Esther has evolved her own special blend of the art and science of dog training, acquired through years of experience, extensive reading, and continuing education at conferences and seminars. She is well known for her patience, compassion, honesty, and humor, along with an unfailingly positive attitude toward both dogs and handlers. She feels it's the trainer's job to have the dogs WANT to play the obedience game, not to make them do it, and that there is no reason to use compulsion for the sake of a ribbon. Her many high-scoring students are proof of this, as they earn advanced titles, many with non-traditional obedience breeds. Esther herself competes with Schipperke, and she has finished the only Champion/Utility Dog Excellent in the history of Schipperke, and three additional Champion/Utility dogs. She also put three UDX legs on Presto, a Golden Retriever, who died of cancer at an early age. Hi Esther, welcome to the podcast! Esther Zimmerman: Hi Melissa. I'm really happy to be here. Thanks for asking me to do this. Melissa Breau: I'm excited to chat. To get us started, do you want to briefly just share a little bit about who your dogs are now and what you're working on with them? Esther Zimmerman: I'd love to, but I have to start by talking about Jeeves, my Champion UD Rally X1 NW3 Schipperke, who passed away a few weeks ago at age 14-and-a-half. He was really an amazing ambassador of the breed. He was a perfect gentleman with all people, dogs of all ages and temperaments. He was that priceless known adult dog that we all want our puppies to meet because he's just so good with them. After surviving several serious illnesses as a youngster, he gave me a very profound appreciation of just how much our dogs do for us and with us when playing the games we love. I was grateful every day he was alive and he is really sorely missed. It's very fresh still because it was only a few weeks ago. Melissa Breau: I'm sorry to hear that. Esther Zimmerman: Thank you. Elphaba is my 9-year-old Schipperke. She happens to be Jeeves's niece. She has her CDX, which, when she earned it, included the group out-of-sight stays. Those were a real challenge for her. She doesn't like other dogs looking at her. But we persisted and succeeded. She's almost ready for the utility ring. She's the first and only nosework Elite 2 Schipperke and is a real little hunting machine in that sport. She also has her Fenzi TEAM 1 and TEAM 1 Plus titles. Friday is my 3-year-old Schipperke. His titles at this point are an NW1 and TEAM 1, 1 Plus and 1-H. He just passed his 1-H, which was very exciting. He's teaching me the importance of patience, a trait that I already have an abundance of, but he really requires it in spades. He really does. He can try my patience sometimes, but he keeps me honest as far as that goes. He's got tons of obedience skills under his collar, but there's no way he's ready for AKC competition. I'm hoping maybe by next year. And then I have Taxi, my 17-month-old Golden Retriever. He's had a Gold spot in an Academy class almost every semester since I brought him home as a baby puppy. He's got great potential, like all of our dogs do. I hope that we get to reach the goals I have in mind. He's a typical, happy, fun-loving dog. He's a real joy. And that's the three dogs that I have right now. Melissa Breau: How did you originally get into dog sports? Esther Zimmerman: It's interesting, because back in the beginning I didn't have my own dog. I didn't have my own dog until I was 15, but I've been training dogs since I was 5 years old. I grew up in New York City, and every apartment superintendent had a dog that they were more than willing to let me borrow. I read every dog and dog-training book in the library, much to my mother's dismay, because that's all I read, and with those dogs, I switched what I was doing based on whatever the advice was that the author of that book gave. So I had a real eclectic education as far as training dogs. Not my own dogs, and I did something different all the time. The very first dog show I ever attended was Westminster in 1969. School was closed because we had a snowstorm, but the trains were running. Westminster's on Monday and Tuesday, always has been. So the trains were running and off I went with my tokens, and I went to Westminster. I was in heaven. I had no idea they had 50 percent absenteeism because of the snowstorm, and I thought that the most beautiful dog there was the Basenji. I did not get a Basenji. Melissa Breau: OK. Esther Zimmerman: The very first obedience trial I ever went to was the Bronx County Kennel Club, and there I saw a woman in a wheelchair competing in Open with her Labrador Retriever, which just blew my mind. I couldn't conceive of such a thing, that not only was this dog doing all this amazing stuff, but that his handler was in a wheelchair. She was around for a really, really long time and quite well known on the East Coast and in New England as a competitor. So I got Juno, my first dog, was a German Shepherd. I got him from an ad in the newspaper — the best way to get a dog, right? Melissa Breau: Of course. Esther Zimmerman: She was one of two 10-month-old puppies who were so fearful that they were climbing over each other in their pen, trying to get away from me. So of course I said, “I'll take that one.” That was Juno. I used the same kind of eclectic training with her, doing something different each week based on what book I was reading from the library. It did apparently work, though, because seven years later, after I got married and moved to Massachusetts, I joined the New England Dog Training Club, which is the oldest still-existing dog-training club in the country. That summer we entered our first trial, we earned our first leg, and I got my first high-in-trial on this fearful dog Melissa Breau: Wow. Esther Zimmerman: And that's how somebody gets really hooked on this sport. The first time you go in the ring, you win high-in-trial, you want to do that again. Melissa Breau: Oh yeah. Esther Zimmerman: And coincidentally, my first paying job as a teenager was as kennel help at Captain Haggerty's School For Dogs. He's actually pretty well known. He used to train dogs for movies a lot out in Hollywood. But their training approach was “Break 'em and make 'em.” They would get dogs in there for boarding and training, and they went home trained. They were not happy, but they went home trained. It was absolutely pure compulsion, which as a teenager was really eye-opening and a little bit scary, actually. Melissa Breau: I can imagine. Esther Zimmerman: So that's how I got started in dog sports. Melissa Breau: Wow. You've really been doing it almost your entire life, but in an interesting, different story. Esther Zimmerman: Yes. Yes. Melissa Breau: You mentioned that it's been eclectic, and it's been a little bit here, a little bit there in terms of reading, but what really got you started on your positive training journey? What got you hooked there? Because I certainly know that's where you are now. Esther Zimmerman: I think this is a good time for us to talk about Patty Ruzzo, because she's a big part of that whole journey. In the early 1980s there was a really tight-knit group of us training at Tails-U-Win in Connecticut, and together we had our first exposures to Karen Pryor and Gary Wilkes and John Rogerson and others who totally and completely changed the way we were training and how we even thought about training. We were all attending every seminar we could go to, every clinic we could go to, we were reading dog magazines. I was amassing a huge personal library of dog books. That was all before the Internet, before YouTube, before Facebook. Patty was an interesting person. She was a really quiet force to be reckoned with. She was a great competitor, she had a great rapport with her dogs, anyone who saw her in the ring with her magnificent Terv, Luca, will always remember what that looked like. They had such a presence about them, and it's an image I always aspire to. It's one of those things that if you close your eyes, you can still picture it all these years later. So Patty was my friend, she was my training buddy, she was my coach. We were determined to pursue a force-free, reward-based approach to training. The first thing we eliminated were the leashes and collars. No more leashes, no more collars. We stopped any physical corrections. As our skills and understanding got better, we were able to even avoid applying psychological pressure to the dogs, and that was a big deal. My dog at that time was a Schipperke, Zapper. She was a dog that really pushed us to examine what we had been doing, and to see what we could accomplish with this new — to us — approach. She became my first utility dog. Patty was a really tremendously creative person. She was continually trying and then discarding ideas. It could be dizzying to try and keep up with her, sort of like Denise. Patty passed away twelve years ago. It was a real tragedy for the world of obedience and for me personally. Several of us from that original group have worked to fill the void by becoming instructors and trainers in our own right. We all made that commitment to stay positive, and I think the group of us really has done a good job of that. Melissa Breau: Denise brought up the fact that you knew Patty when she and I were talking about having you on. In case anybody doesn't really know the name, do you mind sharing a just little bit more about the impact she had on the sport in the area, just a little more about her background, or her history, and the role that she played? Esther Zimmerman: She had multiple OTCH dogs, she competed at the games in regionals and did really, really well at those. She had a Sheltie, she had a Border Collie, and then Luca, the incomparable Luca. And then she got a Whippet. It's a dog like that that really tests your mettle and your commitment, and she was totally committed to being positive with this dog. When I tell you that he not able to do a sit-stay of any sort until he was 2-and-a-half, I really mean it, and she just would keep saying, “Don't worry, he'll do it. Don't worry about it, he'll do it,” and that “Don't worry about it” is something that I say all the time to my students. “But my dog's not doing that.” “Don't worry about it. He will. Eventually.” And she was just like that. I'll tell a little anecdote, and this will tell you everything you need to know about Patty and the influence that she had on people. She had two sons. The younger one was about 4 when this happened. They had gone grocery shopping, and they came home and he wanted to help her unload the groceries. So what did he want to carry up the stairs? Take a guess. Melissa Breau: The eggs? Esther Zimmerman: The eggs. The eggs of course. So he goes up the stairs, and of course he trips and falls and drops the eggs. She hollers up the stairs, “Are you OK?” He says, “Yes. Six of the eggs did not break.” So just that switch, six of the eggs broke, six of the eggs did not break — that's how she raised her children to focus on the positive. Melissa Breau: Part of the impressive part is that back then, nobody was doing that. There weren't people achieving those kind of things with positive training, and a lot of people were saying it could not be done. Esther Zimmerman: Right. So the early dogs — it would not be fair to say that she was totally positive with the early dogs. But by the time Luca came along, it was very, very positive, and by the time Flyer, the Whippet, came along, it was totally positive. She didn't get an OTCH on him, things happened, and then she passed away. But there was and she put it out there in the competitive world the way nobody else was at that point in time. Melissa Breau: We've danced around this question a little bit now, but how would you describe your training philosophy now? Esther Zimmerman: That's a good question. My philosophy is fairly simple, actually: Treat the dogs and handlers with kindness and patience. I could probably stop right there, but I won't. But really, kindness and patience. Break things down into manageable pieces for each of them. Use varied approaches to the same exercise because dog training isn't “one size fits all.” The theory, learning theory, applies equally, but not necessarily the specific approach that you use to help them understand. I try to use a lot of humor to diffuse tension in classes, in private lessons. People are a little bit nervous, or a little bit uptight, so I try to make people laugh. If they can laugh, they feel better about themselves, and what just happened isn't nearly as important as they thought it was. I try to be supportive when the dog or person is struggling to learn something. We've all been there, we've all done that, it's not easy. We're trying to teach new mechanical skills to people. They're trying to teach new things to their dogs. That's a hard combination, and I really respect people who make the effort to do that. At the same time I encourage independent thinking and problem-solving for the handler and for the dog. I cannot be there all the time when the handler is working with their dog. No instructor can. Even with the online classes, we can't be there. So if we give the handler the tools to come up with solutions to the problems on their own, now we've really accomplished something. Let them figure out how to solve the problem on their own. That's a big deal to me. I don't want to be spoon-feeding the answer to every little thing that's happened there. So I applaud all their successes, however small. We celebrate everything. My students know that I always advocate for the dog. Whatever the situation is, I'm on the side of the dog, and I urge them to do the same thing when they find themselves in other places, other situations, where perhaps the atmosphere is not quite so positive, or it's stressful for some reason. Advocate for your dog. You're the only one that's looking out for them, and they're counting on us to do that for them. So I really, really urge people to do that. And it's not just about using a clicker and cookies, or any kind of a marker and cookies. It's about having empathy for a creature who is trying to communicate with us while at the same time we are struggling to communicate with them. It's all really very simple, but none of it's very easy. So that's my philosophy. Pretty simple, don't you think? Melissa Breau: Simple but not necessarily easy. Esther Zimmerman: But not easy. But not easy, yeah. Melissa Breau: You mentioned you've been in dog sports in one variety or another for … you said since you were 15, I think. Esther Zimmerman: A long time, a long time. I was 22 years old the first time I set foot in the ring. Melissa Breau: OK. Esther Zimmerman: So now people can do the math so they'll know how old I am. Melissa Breau: As someone who's been in dog sports for that long, what are some of the biggest changes you've seen over the last ten or so years? Esther Zimmerman: Well, for even longer than that, but the sport of AKC obedience has changed dramatically since I started. Classes have been added and deleted, exercises have been added and deleted. The OTCH — the Obedience Trial Championship — was introduced in 1977, and they added the UDX in either 1992 or 1993. I couldn't find the definitive answer for that, and I couldn't remember off the top of my head. The group stays, as of May 1, have been safer in the novice classes and totally eliminated in Open. They've added a new and interesting and challenging exercise to Open. Jump heights have been lowered twice. My little German Shepherd, she jumped 32 inches when we started. Now she would have jumped probably 20 inches. There are tons of exceptions from that, from the … once their jump height now, for the really giant breeds, the heavy-boned breeds, the short-legged breeds, the brachycephalic dogs, they just have to jump three-quarters their height at the shoulder, so that's a big change. Now you've got to remember all of this has been done with the hope of drawing more people into competition. All of it has been done with the accompanying drama, controversy, charges of dumbing-down the sport, nobody's ever happy with whatever the changes are. But we survived all these changes, and as far as what changes do I want to see in the sport, I don't really want to see any more for a little while. I think we need to give things a chance to settle down, I think we need to give people a chance to simmer down, because this was a very controversial thing, getting rid of stays. And then people need time to train the new Open exercise and give that a try. New people coming up will not know that things were different. The command or cue discrimination exercise won't be something that you teach for Open. As opposed to people who are in a little bit of a panic now, if they've got their CDX and they're going on to a UDX, or they've got their UD, they have to go back and teach a new exercise, and not everybody's happy about that. But I think it's all going to shake out in time, as it usually does. People resist change because inertia is really a powerful force, and I think we need to move on. So that's how I see the changes in the sport. I'm very passionate about the sport, or I wouldn't still be doing it, and I try and go with the flow with all these changes that have happened. Melissa Breau: Do you think, or maybe you could talk about, how the addition of other dog sports has changed obedience in particular? I feel like originally it was really conformation and obedience, and now there's nosework and tricks and all sorts of things. Esther Zimmerman: I think that one of the reasons for the decline in obedience entries is the proliferation of alternate sports. When I started, like you said, it was basically confirmation, obedience, tracking, herding, and field. That was pretty much it. Look at what's been added, not only in sports in general, but there are multiple organizations now that offer their own variations on some of these previously existing activities. I'm just going to rattle these off. Besides those we have rally, we have agility with various venues, earthdog, flyball, multiple venues for nosework, lure coursing, barn hunt, dock diving, parkour, freestyle, weight-pulling, Frisbee, carting, sled dog, treibball, tricks, IPO, French ring. That's without even really thinking about it terribly very much I came up with that list. And I'm sure there are ones that I have overlooked. So depending on what part of the country you live in, there are many options to choose from on any weekend. And some of these sports, at the beginner level at least, seem to offer more immediate gratification with a shorter investment of training time than AKC obedience. This can be quite appealing for some competitors. When you get to the upper levels of almost any of these activities, sports, training matters. It really matters. But there's another influence on competition, and I think that's the advent of the private training center. Back in the day, if you wanted to train your dog, you went to a training club. Once you got out of the puppy class you were encouraged to join that club. In order to join that club you had to attend meetings, you had to help out, you set up equipment, you swept the floor, you rolled up mats in the gymnasium, you stewarded the annual trial, and sometimes you became an assistant to a trainer that was already at the club. You became part of something. Now don't get me wrong. Again, training centers like MasterPeace, where I work, offer far more than the clubs ever could. MasterPeace has classes and activities seven days a week, morning, noon, and night. But most of the people come for that class, and turn around and go home, so their exposure to the notion of competition may be more limited than it was when they went to a club. So only AKC clubs can put on an AKC trial. Without the clubs, there are no trials. Several New England clubs no longer exist because of the lack of membership. They had to just fold up and go away. So consider that. Consider … I want people to consider joining their local club. Support them. If you want to be able to compete, there have to be people working to put on the trials. Another thing: I also want to put in a plug for experienced exhibitors to become judges. I don't care what your activity is. I'm an AKC Open provisional judge now. In case anyone has missed the stat, the average age of judges is getting higher and higher. Without new, younger judges in the pipeline, competition will disappear, because sooner or later these judges have to retire. They can't go on forever, and there have to be new people coming up to step up and judge. Competition requires judges. The other thing is that becoming a judge really changes your perspective of your sport. It's so easy to criticize the judge from outside the ring: “He didn't see this,” “He didn't see that, “She missed this,” “She did something wrong.” Yeah, try stepping behind the clipboard and see how hard it really is to keep all the rules and regs in mind, to see everything that's going on, mark it all down. Yeah, it's not that easy, guys. But I encourage everybody to do it, because how else will we go on? The other thing: I can only compete in New England. I go to my national specialty occasionally, not that much anymore, but I have traveled. But in this area there seems to be an improvement in the general competitive environment. Experienced handlers seem to be a little more welcoming of newbies, and more supportive of each other, than maybe five years ago. But those of us in the FDSA world would like to think that training overall is moving in a positive direction. Again, in my area, we have pockets of people devoted to that concept, but we're surrounded by more traditional training. That can feel a bit isolating. But the ripple effect that we talk about is a real thing. We do reach out to support each other, and we have an influence on what other people decide to do when we show how we behave with our dogs when we're in public, when we're at competition. People are watching when you don't think they're watching, and seeing you celebrate with your dog, even if things haven't gone quite well — they don't miss that, and that's an important thing for them to see. So yeah, things have changed a lot. Things have changed a lot. Melissa Breau: Yeah, for sure. Esther Zimmerman: But I'm hopeful for the future, very hopeful for the future. Melissa Breau: You mentioned FDSA in there, and I'm really curious: What led you to the Academy? How did you wind up there? Esther Zimmerman: I first encountered Denise at a seminar, and she's a dynamic presenter. She's got all this energy, talks really fast, is very excited, she's also passionate about what she does, committed to it, and her message just resonated with me in a way that nothing had since Patty. So I started following her blog — there's a lot of information there. Before FDSA, she offered an online course of relationship-building through play through another organization. I thought the idea was intriguing, but was really uncertain of how that could possibly work. So I got a working spot with Elphaba, and as we all know, it works great. It was a fabulous class, and I've been a devotee of the Academy since its inception. So that's how I came to FDSA. Melissa Breau: We talked through and you had a ton of experience before that point, so what is it that keeps you involved in coming back? Esther Zimmerman: This is a really easy one for me. I love dogs. I love dogs, number one. I love training, number two. I personally love how detail-oriented competition obedience is. It's not for everybody, I understand that, but I love that aspect of it. I love every training session, I love every class I teach, I love every lesson that I give, because every single one of them is different. I really love how my classes are a level playing field. Everyone who comes to the sport is a newbie, regardless of their professional and personal fields of expertise. I have doctors, I have veterinarians, I have lawyers, I have chefs, I have people who are really accomplished in their respective fields who are all starting at the same place when they come to dog training. None of that other stuff matters in the least. And I'm dealing with all the different breeds that come to me. That makes me a better instructor and trainer. I think to some degree people like to bring their non-traditional breeds to me since I have Schipperke. I think they think I will have a different sympathy and empathy for the perception of what we can expect from the non-traditional breeds, and to a degree that is correct, because I don't feel, “Oh, it's a terrier, it can't do that.” “It's a sighthound, we can't expect it to be able to do that.” Right? “It's a fill-in-the-blank, and therefore…” Yeah, there are predilections, but we can be successful, if we work at it and if we want it, with most breeds. And with FDSA specifically, I love how we have access to such a wide variety of subjects, world-class instructors from different parts of the world, and we never have to get out of our jammies if we don't want to. Melissa Breau: That makes me think of Sue's competition, her PJ competition, of everybody posting pictures of themselves training in their PJs. Esther Zimmerman: Exactly. And I don't know if you saw it, somebody was talking about FDSA swag that they bought, I think it was a sweatshirt or something, and I said, “How come there are no FDSA pajamas?” Melissa Breau: Yeah, we are looking at that. This is an aside, but I found onesies, pajama onesies, that you can get with your logo on them online somewhere, and I was sharing them with the other instructors, like, “I don't know, I think this should be what we wear to camp.” I think it got vetoed. But I don't know, I still think it's a good idea. Esther Zimmerman: That might be a little small for some of us. Melissa Breau: It's pajamas. Footie pajamas. One-piece footie pajamas. Esther Zimmerman: Hey, why not? You know some people would take you up on that. Melissa Breau: Right. This has been a lot of fun, but since this is your first time here, I want to ask you the three questions that I used to ask on almost every episode, but now that people have been on once or twice, we haven't gone back to them. The first question is simply, What's the dog-related accomplishment that you are proudest of? Esther Zimmerman: I'm not going to limit it to just one. I have a couple of things to say. Melissa Breau: OK. Esther Zimmerman: I'm really proud of the titles that I've earned with my dogs, with the Schipperke. Some of them have been firsts for the breed, which is really a nice thing to be able to say. What I'm most proud of, though, is how much I appreciate the partnership that I develop with my dogs as we go along. I have a bunch of candid photos that people have taken, and almost every one of them shows me looking right into my dog's eyes, and my dog looking right back into my eyes. I cherish those pictures and that feeling that I have. It's so special, and I can conjure that up at a moment's notice. I almost get choked up every time I talk about it, because it's just me and my dog, and everything else just goes away. That is something that I'm proud of, that I have that connection with my dogs. Melissa Breau: That's beautiful. I love that. Esther Zimmerman: Thank you. The second thing is that I love to share in the accomplishments of my students. That brings me so much joy, that they are finding success and happiness in this sport, and I'm just thrilled for all of them, every little thing that they do, and it doesn't always translate to a ribbon. If a person can come out of the ring when they have not qualified, and come to me and say, “Did you see that drop on recall?” or “Did you see how she worked articles?” when maybe that's something they've been struggling with and the dog did it — even if something else went badly, then I've done my job of teaching that person to focus on the positive and not worry about the rest of it, because we can make that better too. Those are the things I'm really proudest. Melissa Breau: I love that. Our second and second-to-last question is, What is the best piece of training advice that you've ever heard? Esther Zimmerman: I've got a couple of things here too. Melissa Breau: OK. Esther Zimmerman: I do like to talk. Melissa Breau: That makes for a good podcast, so we're good! Esther Zimmerman: Patty said, “When in doubt, put a cookie on it.” That's it. That simple statement can address so many issues. When in doubt, put a cookie on it. Sheila Booth said — I don't know if too many people know who she is, but in Schutzhund circles, IPO circles, I think she's a little better known — but Sheila Booth said, “They can do at 4 what they couldn't do before.” So she's saying what they can do at age 4, they couldn't do before then, which again speaks to patience and not showing prematurely. I firmly believe the dogs will tell you when they're ready to show, and don't rush it. There's no rush. Take your time, put in the work, and you'll be way happier. There are Flyers, there are dogs you can take out at 1 or 2 and accomplish great things, but for the most part, not so much. I have a saying that I say to my students, so much that one of them embroidered it on a vest for me. In class it always comes out when someone says, “How come my dog did that?” I always say, “Too far, too fast, too much, too soon.” Don't go too far too fast. Don't do too much too soon. That's how it got embroidered on my vest. That's my biggest piece of training advice to put out there. Don't go too far too fast. Don't do too much too soon. Melissa Breau: I love that. That's awesome. Esther Zimmerman: Thank you. Melissa Breau: It has a certain sing to it. Too far, too fast, too much, too soon. Last question for you: Who is somebody else in the dog world that you look up to? Esther Zimmerman: This is going to sound like a cliché, but I really admire Denise. In addition to being an outstanding dog trainer and instructor, she's a really smart businessperson. She works harder than any five people I know, she's created something unique with FDSA, and surrounds herself with other smart people who help keep it running smoothly and efficiently, specifically you, Melissa, and Teri Martin. Melissa Breau: Yeah, Teri's fantastic. Esther Zimmerman: And then Denise's generosity to the dog training community always impresses me. There's so much free material and information out there, the blog and these podcasts are free, of course, she joins in the conversations on the various Facebook pages and gives training advice there, she does her live Facebook sessions are free. I think the scholarships for free Bronze-level classes and the contests for free Bronze-level classes are amazing at making education available to everybody, even if you have limited means. It's just a wonderful thing to put out there for people. And then of course the inception of TEAM — that was also just brilliant. It's brought high-quality titling opportunities to anyone, anywhere, anytime. It forces people to pay attention to detail. There's a lot of precision required right through from basic foundation skills through the advanced levels. People who do that are pretty well prepared for success in other types of competition. It was a brilliant concept and brilliant in execution. I don't know what Denise has in store for the future, but I know she's been teasing us about something new coming in April, I don't like being teased like that, but I also can't wait to see what it's going to be, because it's going to be great. I know it is. So I have to say it's Denise. Melissa Breau: I will say that she is by far the most productive person I know. She gets more done in a few hours a day than most people do in a week. Esther Zimmerman: I don't know. It boggles my mind. It just boggles my mind. Melissa Breau: You're not the only one. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast, Esther! This has been great. I really appreciate it. This has been fun. Esther Zimmerman: I know it took us a little bit of time to be able to connect. I had a cold. I hope I sound OK, because my voice was shattered last week. It was worth the wait. It was a lot of fun, and I'm very honored that you decided to ask me to do this. Melissa Breau: Well, I'm definitely glad that you could. And thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in! We'll be back next week, this time with Debbie Torraca, to talk about exercise for puppies. If you enjoyed this episode, I hope you guys will consider hopping over to iTunes and leaving us a review. I know I mentioned this in our last couple of episodes, but reviews really help the show! We've gotten a few new ones since I've started including this request, like this one from Schout: “Melissa does a great job interviewing accomplished guests. Filled with useful insights and funny anecdotes.” Thank you Schout, whoever you are! And, while you're there, if you haven't already, I hope you'll subscribe to have our next episode automatically downloaded to your phone as soon as it becomes available. CREDITS: Today's show is brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Special thanks to Denise Fenzi for supporting this podcast. Music provided royalty-free by BenSound.com; the track featured here is called “Buddy.” Audio editing provided by Chris Lang.

Summary: Sue Yanoff graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York in 1980. After three years in private practice she joined the US Army Veterinary Corps. While on active duty she completed a three-year residency in small animal surgery at Texas A&M University, and became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. She retired from the Army in 2004, after almost 21 years on active duty. After working for a year on a horse farm in Idaho, she returned to Ithaca to join the staff at Cornell Veterinary Hospital as their second surgeon. Sue retired from Cornell in December of 2009. After all her on call schedule was interfering with those dog show weekends. The following month she started working for shelter outreach services. A high quality, high volume spay neuter organization. About the same time Sue joined her colleague, a physical therapist and licensed veterinary technician to start a canine sports medicine practice at the Animal Performance and Therapy Center in Genoa, New York. The practice is limited to performance dogs, and now she's joined the team here at FDSA to teach a class on canine sports medicine for performance dog handlers. Next Episode:  To be released 9/22/2017, featuring Cassia Turcotte — we'll talk about positive gun dog training, and her upcoming class on channeling dog's natural instincts for high level behaviors while they are in drive. TRANSCRIPTION: Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports podcast, brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, an online school dedicated to providing high quality instruction for competitive dog sports using only the most current and progressive training methods. Today we'll be talking to Sue Yanoff. Sue graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York in 1980. After three years in private practice she joined the US Army Veterinary Corps. While on active duty she completed a three-year residency in small animal surgery at Texas A&M University, and became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. She retired from the Army in 2004, after almost 21 years on active duty. After working for a year on a horse farm in Idaho, she returned to Ithaca to join the staff at Cornell Veterinary Hospital as their second surgeon. Sue retired from Cornell in December of 2009. After all her on call schedule was interfering with those dog show weekends. The following month she started working for shelter outreach services. A high quality, high volume spay neuter organization. About the same time Sue joined her colleague, a physical therapist and licensed veterinary technician to start a canine sports medicine practice at the Animal Performance and Therapy Center in Genoa, New York. The practice is limited to performance dogs, and now she's joined the team here at FDSA to teach a class on canine sports medicine for performance dog handlers. Hi Sue. Welcome to the podcast. Sue Yanoff: Hi Melissa. Thanks. Melissa Breau: I'm looking forward to chatting. I think that most of the students who have been with FDSA for any period of time have probably seen your dogs in one class or another. But for those that haven't, do you want to just tell us a little bit about the dogs you have now, and what you're working on with them? Sue Yanoff: Sure. My older beagle is Charm. She's 12 years old. She's a breed champion. She has her UD, her rally excellent, MX, MXJ, and TD. She's pretty much retired from performance right now, but I am still doing tracking with her, and would like to get a TDX on her. And then my younger beagle, Ivy, who has been in a lot of Fenzi classes is six years old. She's also breed champion. She finished her mock last year. She has her rally novice title, and a TD, and she has two legs towards her CDX. Melissa Breau: Well congrats. Those are some seriously impressive stats, especially with beagles. Sue Yanoff: Thanks. Melissa Breau: So how did you get your start in dog sports? What got you started there? Sue Yanoff: A beagle. Between my sophomore and junior year as an undergraduate here at Cornell, I went home to visit my parents, and I also went to visit the vet I used to work for when I was in high school, and there was a little beagle puppy with a cast on his hind leg coming out of anesthesia, and I picked him up, and I cuddled him. I said oh I want to take this puppy home, and they said well you can because his owners had him for just a couple of days and then their little boy broke his leg, and they were going to pick him up from the vet that afternoon, and take him to the animal shelter. So some phone calls were made, and I got the puppy and took him back to college with me, and I didn't know anything about dog training. I had never heard of crate training, so I would just leave him in my apartment, that I shared with two roommates, while I went to class, and of course he destroyed things, and did all the naughty things that puppies do. So I thought I need to do something, and I enrolled him in the kindergarten puppy class at the local dog-training club. That's how it got started, and I ended up getting a CDX on that dog while I was in Vet school, and that got me started in dog sports. Melissa Breau: Wow. So to go from, you know, never having done anything dog training wise before, to a CDX. That's pretty impressive Sue. Now I'd imagine being both the sports dog handler and the vet has led to some pretty unique insights into each field. How has being involved in both influenced your views in each of those? Sue Yanoff: Yeah, that's an interesting question. As a dog trainer all my dogs have, at one point in their careers, been injured, and I know what it's like to have to restrict your dog's activity. You can't train them. You can't show them. It's very frustrating, and so as a vet when I have to tell a client okay you can't train, you can't show, you have to restrict your dog for weeks, or months sometimes, I know how frustrating that can be, and how hard it can be, but I also understand where they are coming from so I think I can see it from both sides. Melissa Breau: Is there anything in particular about veterinary medicine that sports handlers often just don't understand? Sue Yanoff: Yeah. I don't think it's just sports handlers. I think it's a lot of people. Veterinary medicine is a science, and the decisions that we make have to be based on science, and not just what people think, or what they heard, and so when you're making a decision about what the best diagnostics are for a condition, or how best to treat the condition, it has to be based on a series of cases, not just on what somebody thinks, and I go a lot based on what I learn at continuing education conferences, and what I read in the veterinary literature. Because papers that are published in peer reviewed journals are scrutinized to make sure that the science behind the conclusions are valid. So while, you know, it's fine for somebody to say well I did this with my dog and he did great. What I want to make my decisions on is what worked well for many dogs, dozens, or hundreds, or thousands of dogs, and not just something that might have worked for your dog where we don't' even know if the diagnosis was the same. So I think I want people to know that veterinary medicine is a science, and we have to make our decisions based on science. Melissa Breau: I think that, you know, especially with the internet these days it's very common for people to turn to their favorite local forum, and be like well what should I do, but… Sue Yanoff: I know like let me get advice from everybody, and I know it's hard to make decisions when it involves your dog and you're emotionally involved, and that's one of the reasons I want to teach this class, to give people information that they can use to make those hard decisions. Melissa Breau: What about the reverse? Are there things about sports that you think most vets just they don't understand? Sue Yanoff: Oh yes. Yes there's a lot. Unless you're a vet who's involved in this thing, most vets don't understand the time and the effort, and the emotion, and the money that goes into the training, and the trialing that we do. They don't understand the special relationship that we have with our dogs when we put the time and effort into training them. I have had dogs that were wonderful pets, and I loved them but I never showed them for one reason or another, and there is a different relationship when you accomplish something special with that dog. So I think that's important thing. The other thing that most vets don't understand, and might not agree with, but I have had some clients where we have diagnosed an injury, and said okay we need to restrict activity, and do the conservative treatment route, and they say I will but my national specialty is next week, and she's entered in whatever class. Or they say I have a herding finals coming up in two weeks, and I really want to run her in those trials, and I'm okay with that if the dog has an injury that I don't think is likely to get much worse by doing a little more training, or trialing, then I'll say okay. Well let's do this in the meantime, and when you're done with your national or with your specialty or whatever, come on back and we'll start treatment. So I think a lot of vets would not understand that point of view, but I'm okay with it as long as I don't think that it's going to do serious harm to the dog, and as long as the owner understands that there's, you know, a slight chance that things could get worse. Melissa Breau: I think it's really kind of interesting that you focused a little bit on performance dogs. So I wanted to ask about what led you to that, I guess, to focus on that. Was it your own interest just in the being involved with sports when you joined the practice in New York? Sue Yanoff: Yeah. No. It's my own interests. I'm mostly retired. I've retired from three different jobs now, so I don't have to do this sports medicine stuff to make a living, and to pay my mortgage. So I became interested in it when I joined the practice at Colonial Veterinary Hospital about the same time my colleague Lynn joined it. She's a physical therapist. She was a physical therapist for people for 20 plus years before she decided she wanted to work on animals, so she went to vet tech school to become a vet tech, and get some animal education. And I remember when I first met her she said to me well what do you think about physical therapy for dogs, and I thought I don't know anything about it. So the more I learned about it, the more I realized how important it is, and I did a lot of reading, and I went to continuing education about sports medicine, and about the same time, like a few years later, the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation was getting going so the whole topic of canine sports medicine was getting more popular and people were learning more about it. So the more I learned about it, the more I liked it and of course since I did dog sports, I understood what's involved in dog sports. So when Lynn and I started this little practice, we did see pets for the first year or two, but then we said you know what, we don't want to deal with people. Performance dog people, in general, their dogs are better trained. They're better behaved, which make it easier to examine them. Not all of them but most of them. They're definitely more committed to doing what needs to be done to get their dog better. So they are more willing to put the time into it, and the work for treating, and rehabbing the dog, and the money that it costs to get their dogs better if the need surgery, or other treatments. So, you know, when Lynn and I started seeing more and more animals we said okay, we're not doing pets any more. We're just going to work on performance dogs. Melissa Breau: Now I want to talk a little bit about your upcoming class. So in some ways it's the first of it's kind here at FDSA. Do you mind sharing a little bit about what students can expect to learn? Sue Yanoff: Well basically the goal of the class is to, in the words of a friend of mine that I was discussing this with, is to make people better consumers of healthcare, for their animals. I want to give them information about the various injuries that the dogs can get, and how they are diagnosed, and what the treatment options are, and what's the best chance to get them back to competition. I want them to understand the importance of a good sports medicine exam. When I was a surgeon when I saw an animal for an injury, or a lameness, I would examine the leg that was lame. Most of the time, we knew which leg was lame and I would examine that leg and tell them what surgery I think the dog needs, and that was that. With a sports medicine exam, I examine the whole dog. At times I don't even know which leg is lame, because the owner doesn't know which leg is lame. We come with a history of knocking bars, or popping weaves, or not being as active, and they think there might be something wrong, but they're not sure. So it's a totally different type of exam from when I just did surgery to now doing sports medicine. So I want people to understand that, and I just want them to be able to make informed decisions if and when they have to deal with an injury. Melissa Breau: I'd imagine it was probably pretty hard to decide what things to fit into the class and what things were kind of beyond the scope of what you could cover in those six weeks. So what are some of the common types of injuries that you'll be discussing in those six weeks? Sue Yanoff: Yeah. It was really tough. When I started writing lectures, I had no idea how much material I was eventually going to cover. So people can go to the website to look at the course summary to see what we cover from week to week. But three of the common injuries that we see in sports medicine are injuries to the muscles and tendons of the shoulder, the biceps and supraspinatus specifically. Injuries to the iliopsoas muscle which ten or so years ago I never heard of, and now it's a very commonly diagnosed injury. And then, also talking about cranial cruciate ligament injuries because just based on a recent thread on the Fenzi Alumni Facebook page, there's a lot of information out there about cranial cruciate ligament injuries, and some misinformation. We have a whole lecture just on cranial cruciate ligament injuries to give people, you know just the basic facts of what's based on science. What's not based on science. What the options are, because there's always options. There's no one best way to treat almost anything. So those are probably the three most common things that people know about that they'll learn. But there's a ton of other stuff in the class. Melissa Breau: Now I know that the syllabus mentions prevention a little bit, and I wanted to know if you could talk for a minute about the role that prevention plays when it comes to these types of injuries. You know, how much should sports handlers focus on preventing problems? If you can, even beyond that, are there skills that they should teach that would make dealing with these kinds of problems, should they occur, easier before there's ever actually a problem for them to be worried about. Sue Yanoff: Yes. Well prevention is always best, and as far as preventing injuries in dogs the bottom line is that we don't know what we can do to prevent injuries. Everything that we know is based on the human literature, and some horse literature, but there are no studies in veterinary medicine for dogs as to anything that's proven to prevent injuries. So we have to just extrapolate from the human literature, but there certainly are lots of things. In fact my sample lecture is my lecture on preventing injuries, and that's a freebie for anybody to go read. But one of the most important things to keep your dog thin and fit, and there's some really good Fenzi classes on canine conditioning. So I think that's important. The other thing that is important that I notice that a lot of handlers don't do because I compete with my clients, I compete with all the people and I can see that they don't' spend enough time warming their dogs up before the competition, and cooling the dog down after the competition. Now for an obedience trial, the warm up is probably not as important as something like field trials, or agility trials, and certainly lure coursing. But I think those three things, conditioning, warm up, and cool down will go a long way to helping to prevent injuries. And then, as far as what they can teach their dog that will help, there's two things. On is to teach your dog to allow a hands on examination, including lying on their side while I examine them. Most of the dogs that I see are pretty good about it. Some of them will, you know, will fuss a little at first, but they pretty much relax into it. But I've had a few dogs where there's no way we can lay them on their side to examine them, and I can barely get in a good standing exam. So it'd be really nice to be able to have your dog do that, and I know that Deb's Cooperative Canine Care class, I'm sure, can help with that. Then the other thing that's important is best gait to diagnose a lameness is a trot, and a lot of my patients either won't trot nicely on a leash. They want to bounce around, or pull, or run. Or they won't trot on a leash next to the owner without looking up at the owner, and that kind of throws the gait off a little. So to teach your dog to have nice straight trot, on leash without looking up at you would be another thing that would make my life a little bit easier. Melissa Breau: I mean I definitely wouldn't have thought of that second one. The first one definitely made sense, having the dog lay on its side and being able to be calm while its examined, but it never would have occurred to me that it would be important to have a forward motion where the dog wasn't looking at you for diagnostic purposes. Sue Yanoff: Right. That's why it's really nice when we get show dogs, confirmation dogs that know this skill. I mean we get the job done, but there are certain things that can make it easier for the dog, the owner, and me. Melissa Breau: Obviously there's a limited amount you can do remotely when it comes to canine medicine, so how are you doing the different levels in the class and what will and won't be covered in class. Sue Yanoff: Right. Well the first thing I want to say is I will not make any diagnoses over the phone or online, and the reason for that is that, you know, in order to give advice on diagnosis and treatment, you have to establish a veterinary client patient relationship, and in most states, at least in New York state, that means you have to see the client, and the dog in person. So while I can answer people's questions, and look at video, and say well you know it could be this, and it might be this, and you might want to get these diagnostic tests, and if it's this then this treatment works, and if it's that, this treatment works. I don't want people to sign up for the class expecting me to diagnose their dog online. So with that said, there's going to be two levels. Bronze which is the typical bronze level, and then silver, and with this new working silver level that Fenzi has, I think that all of the silver spots will be working silver spots because there'll be no gold spots. So it's mainly a discussion class, but I want the silver students to be able to at least post photographs. They can even post radiographs, or x-rays if they want to. If we mutually agree that a video would be helpful they can post a video of their dog, and they can ask any question they want. They can ask general questions about the material. They can ask specific questions about their dog. They don't have to pick one dog. They can ask specific questions about any dog they want to. I want there to be a lot of discussion because I think everybody, me, the silver students, and the bronze students will learn a lot from the discussions, you know as much if not more so than from the lectures. So I'm hoping to have some really active silver students. Melissa Breau: Hopefully, you know, having said that you will now get even more of them, than you would have otherwise. I think that, that will be a real appeal for students to know that you really want an active silver group. Sue Yanoff: Right, and then the other things that they should understand is there's so much material that we could cover, but this class is basically covering injuries, and not specifically hereditary or developmental disorders like hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia, or OCD. I mean those are common in sports dogs, but that could be a whole class in itself. So I really had to limit some things so we're going to be talking about injuries that they can acquire. Melissa Breau: So maybe in the future if this class does well, huh? Sue Yanoff: Maybe, and when I want to spend another huge amount of time writing these lectures, so. Melissa Breau: You mentioned earlier treatment decisions for dogs can be super hard, you know whether their a performance dog, or just a pet. So I'd imagine that one of the major benefits to this class would be that students will feel significantly more informed when they have those kinds of decisions to make in the future. First of all, would you agree with that? It sounds like from what you said earlier, you would, and then do you have any advice for students who may be facing those kinds of decisions now? Sue Yanoff: Yes. So yes the class will provide a lot of information for the students to help them make better decisions about their dogs medical care, but what they need to know for now, are two things that I think are important. One is to get a diagnosis. It's really hard to make a treatment plan without at least having an idea of what's going on, and general practitioners are great. I have a lot of respect for general practitioners because I was one for five years, but they're not specialists in any one subject. So unless the cause of the lameness is very obvious, you might have to see an expert, and there are two experts that can be used for sports dogs. One is the board certified surgeon, which is what I am, and more, and more board certified surgeons are realizing that sporting dogs, performance dogs, are a little bit different from pets, and so they're dealing with them a little bit better, although there's still some that do what I used to do, just look at the leg. Look at the injury, and not look at anything else. But then this new specialty of sports medicine and rehabilitation, there's more and more vets being trained, and being board certified in that specialty. So that would be another specialist to go see if your general practitioner, you know, is not sure about what might be going on. The other thing is that I'm a big fan of all the therapists that are out there. Massage therapists, and the physical therapists, and the people that do acupuncture, and chiropractic, but if they're not also veterinarians, then they may not be able to make the diagnosis. They could look at things that might be causing the dog pain or discomfort that might be secondary to the diagnosis. But sometimes treating the symptoms is all you need to do, but sometimes treating the symptoms won't cut it. You need to know what the diagnosis is so you know specifically what you have to treat, and we'll discuss all that in the class. Melissa Breau: What I was going to say is that I know this was in the questions I sent over, kind of in advance of our call, but I'm curious…you kind of mentioned some specific certifications. Is there anything out there, or do you have any recommendations if students are trying to find a good specialist or kind of get advice on where to look? Is there any, I guess, any way for them to kind of vet on their own, okay this is a person who really, probably is going to be good for a sports dog versus this is somebody who maybe doesn't have as much of a background in that. Sue Yanoff: Yes. Well I mean both these specialties have websites. American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, and on the websites you can look up to see who in your state is board certified, and you can also look up to see what their special interest is. So, I mean, for the sports medicine and rehab vet's then obviously their specialty is sports medicine and rehab. But for the board certified surgeons some of them are more geared towards, you know, sports medicine versus just plain old surgery. The other thing is, you want to, if you're going to see a board certified surgeon, you want to see somebody that deals with a lot of performance dogs, if possible, and you also want to deal with somebody who understands, and agrees with the importance of physical therapy postoperatively, because there are still some veterinary surgeons out there that don't think dogs need physical therapy post op. They just, you know, restrict the activity until the surgery is healed, and then say okay well gradually get him back to normal, and it's like what does that mean, or what do you do. So I truly believe that the surgery is only half of the story, and that physical therapy, post operative physical therapy, guided by a knowledgeable person, and there are certifications in physical therapy for both veterinarians and technicians, where they can get some, you now, advanced training outside of vet school and tech school, on physical therapy. There's a lot of human physical therapists that are now doing veterinary physical therapy, and you know, while I don't know how good they are, you know the Fenzi alumni Facebook page is a great resource if you say okay I need a physical therapist in this area. Can you recommend somebody, or I need a good sports medicine vet or surgeon in this area, can you recommend somebody. The Fenzi Alumni Facebook page is a great resource, and also just talking to friends, and you know it won't hurt to ask your veterinarian what's your experience with this condition, how many have you done, and what's your success rate? People are a little reluctant to do that, but no good veterinarian is going to be insulted if you ask them that, and they should be able to answer. Melissa Breau: I think that's a great piece of advice, just being comfortable asking that kind of question of your vet, or your veterinary surgeon. I mean if you don't ask, you can't know, right. Sue Yanoff: That's true. Melissa Breau: So I wanted to end with the same few questions that I ask everybody that comes on, at the end of the interview. So the first one is, what is the dog-related accomplishment that you're proudest of? Sue Yanoff: Yeah, I thought about it, and it'd have to be the UD on my older beagle now, Charm because Charm is a dog that switched me from you know traditional training to positive reinforcement training, and I had shown her nine times in utility, and nine times she NQ'ed, and people just kept telling me well she's just not putting in any effort. You need to correct her harder, or you need to make her do it. And so the more times she  NQ'ed, the harder I was on her until the final time in utility, I gave her the hell signal and she just sat there, and she basically said nope. I'm done, not doing it. So I thought to myself, there's got to be a better way, and that led to positive reinforcement training, which led to the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, and after a few weeks off from training, I retrained Charm pretty much all the utility exercises using positive reinforcement, and about nine months later I showed her in utility again, and she got the UD in four shows. So I am really proud of Charm. I feel bad for all the stuff I did to her before I crossed over, but now that I train with positive reinforcement, there's just no comparison. So I'm very proud of Charm for getting her UD. Melissa Breau: Congrats. Sue Yanoff: Thanks. Melissa Breau: So the second questions that I usually ask is, what is the best piece of training advice that you've ever heard? Sue Yanoff: Yeah. Now this is a hard one, because I've been taking classes at FDSA since pretty much Denise started, and there's so much good information, and great advice. But if I had to pick one I'd say it's acclimation, and that is because I've had people tell me don't ever let your dog sniff. Wherever you go new, don't let them sniff. They have to be paying attention to you, like all the time, and it's like you know what. I've tried that with Ivy for a few weeks, and it almost drove both of us crazy. So when I learned about acclimation I thought, yep. This is it. This is the best piece of advice I've gotten. Melissa Breau: And especially I'd imagine with Beagles, that nose, you know. It's a real thing so. The last question is, who is someone else in the dog world that you look up to? Sue Yanoff: Yeah, well it's not anybody that's known in the dog world, because she doesn't teach classes, and she doesn't have a blog, and she, you know, doesn't do anything online. But she's a friend of mine who I've known since college. We met through dogs. When I was getting a CDX on my first beagle, she was getting a CDX on her first keeshond and since then she has been put multiple notches in herding titles, and some agility titles on her border collies, but she's also put multiple OTCHs on her Keeshonds, and all of her OTCHd kees are also breed champions, some of them bred by her. So there's a lot of, you know, trainers out there who have trained another dog other than a border collie, or a golden, or a sheltie whatever to an OTCH, and they do it once, and they never do it again. But Marian has, I think had, at least four or five, if not six champion OTCH keeshonds, and she's got a young keeshond coming up now that just finished her CD with six scores or 199 or above, and one score of 200. So I'm sure that's a future OTCH. So you know, I don't agree with everything she does in her training, but her dogs are really good, and they are happy in the ring, and they love her, and she gets OTCHs on keeshond's over, and over, and over again. So I admire her. Melissa Breau: That is quite the accomplishment. Well thank you so much for coming on the podcast, Sue. Sue Yanoff: It was fun. Thanks Melissa. Melissa Breau: It was fun, and thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in. We'll be back next week with somebody that I've gotten lots of requests for. Cassia Turcotte will be here to talk about positive gun dog training, and her upcoming class on channeling dog's natural instincts for high level behaviors while they are in drive. If you haven't already, subscribe to our podcast in iTunes, or the podcast app of your choice, to have our next episode automatically downloaded to your phone as soon as it becomes available. CREDITS: Today's show is brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Special thanks to Denise Fenzi for supporting this podcast. Music provided royalty-free by BenSound.com; the track featured here is called “Buddy.” Audio editing provided by Chris Lang and transcription written by CLK Transcription Services.